Update: We found our winners! However, it was a difficult decision. We had expected many good stories, but we hadn't expected such a vast variety of stunning, spooky, and breathtaking ideas. The Star Citizen community's incredible creativity amazes us over and over again. Please join us in congratulating the contest winners and thank you to all the fantastic and creative writers who sent in their stories. Happy Halloween, everyone! :first_place_medal: 1st Place: @JJ_Grove permalink :second_place_medal: 2nd Place: @RobCoxxy permalink :third_place_medal: 3rd Place: @Arcadeum permalink "Captain Smith walked onto the bridge, sweaty and dreading the outcome, only to stare in shock at the symbols that appeared on the radar..." Welcome to the Day of the Vara 2950 Story Contest! Why are we announcing a story contest, you ask? Well, let's take a look at the lore behind Day of the Vara: The holiday's origin began in 2557, when the crew of the exploration vessel 'Vara' disappeared in Hades. From then on, morbid tales of the crew returning from the dead to haunt those traveling in the system spread throughout the 'verse. Usually, the ghosts sabotaged the ship (draining vital systems or leading it far off course) or methodically haunted living crew members until someone went insane and vented the ship. Other stories focused on scavengers or scrappers entering derelict ships to find them filled with frozen bodies that came alive when least expected. Stories playing on the supernatural and fears of space travel are still a major part of the Day of the Vara. So, to celebrate the Day of the Vara, we want you to write your very own short horror story and share it with all of us. The authors of the three spookiest stories will be rewarded with sweet prizes! Rules: :rotating_light: Before you take pen to paper, please read the rules carefully. You can find them here. :books: Please post your spooky stories to the submission thread only. Maximum length of 3,600 keystrokes/characters, including spaces Submission language is English One submission per person Limit it to a spooky space-travel-related theme taking place in the Star Citizen universe The submission period ends on October 27 (11:59 PM Pacific) The CIG jury will judge your stories based on: Tension Creativity Rule adherence Prizes: :first_place_medal: 1st Place: Aegis Dynamics Reclaimer in-game Standalone ship with LTI (in-game lifetime insurance) :second_place_medal: 2nd Place: Aegis Dynamics Retaliator Bomber in-game Standalone ship with LTI (in-game lifetime insurance) :third_place_medal: 3rd Place: Anvil Aerospace F7C-S Hornet Ghost in-game Standalone ship with LTI (in-game lifetime insurance) Good luck everyone... and don't get lost in the darkness of the 'verse.