OCT. 18: CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE LAUNCHED!
Moderators: chrisbishop, Spectrum Strike Force
Now that the Halloween Challenge is completed, it is time for us to officially launch our second yearly Challenge event!
You have guessed! I'm talking about the Christmas Challenge (I admit the title of this post kind of gave it away

So now, for you who are interested, you can already write and submit a story for the Challenge. The rules are simples: Write a Captain Scarlet story (set in either of the two series) which contains a Christmas theme, a New Year theme, or related to it.
The Challenge lasts until the end of January 2016. You can send your submission to spectrum_hq@hotmail.com
For more details about the Challenge, I invite you to click the banner below. This will redirect you to our Christmas Challenge page.

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chrisbishop
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In expanding on the episodes "Lunarville 7 " and "Crater 101", Marion has stripped back the Spectrum characters to their canon origins (to the point where it reads as if we're looking at an original production-no idea how you did that, Marion, but kudos where it is well deserved).
It's a long time since I watched Fireball XL5, but the characters as they were represented in this story felt very real to my memories of them. The exploration of the Mysteron consciousness was masterful and plausible and I loved the nod to another well-known and much-loved TV series

Marion, never again say the river is dry; it certainly will never be when you produce fiction as good as this. I tip my hat to you, the master (or mistress) of the genre.
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Skybase Girl
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Looking forward to the story I know you're working on. Although you'll be hard pressed to top 'What Remains', IMHO, I am sure you will produce another fascinating insight into the characters and their lives...

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Marion
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And as it is tradition on this day, within the Christmas Challenge, we have the 'Captain Scarlet birthday story' for you:
THE DARK SIDE
by Marion Woods.
A journey to the dark side of the moon becomes fraught with danger for Captain Scarlet and for Captain Blue, as they return for a new mission to Crater 101. This story is also a 'Fireball XL5' crossover.
And we have also our first Christmas reposting:
CHRISTMAS PRESENCE
by Hazel Köhler.
A lonely evening transforms into a lovely one when Rhapsody receives an unexpected visit on Christmas Eve. ff 455 Christmas Challenge. This storry was originally posted on December 25, 2010.
Have a good reading everyone!
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chrisbishop
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On this week of Christmas, I offer you my contribution to the Christmas Challenge:
I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
by Chris Bishop.How does a mother fare during Christmas when Captain Scarlet of Spectrum is her son?
And to go with this story, a reposting, of the very first Christmas story I wrote for the Challenge, which was originally posted on December 23, 2002:
CINDY'S ANGEL
by Chris Bishop.
Trying to escape armed men who had taken an embassy on Christmas Eve, a young girl encounters a certain red-clad gentleman on the roof.
The Christmas Challenge continues in the following weeks! For those interested to participate, you have until the end of January to submit your own story! Just contact us at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com
Rules for the Christmas Challenge can be found on this page:
http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/christmas.htm
Be seeing you next week, where the Spectrum HQ will offer you a very special gift!
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chrisbishop
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This is the last day of December, and we're right in the middle of the Christmas Challenge! And as always, on this day we have our free calendar to offer you!
First, the story:
FIRST FOOTING
by Isabelle Saucier.
When Captain Ochre grudgingly accepted Captain Magenta's invitation to visit with his family for their New Year holiday, she was not prepared for what would happen next. (New Captain Scarlet story). ff 595
And for our calendar, the chosen subject for this year, is a reprisal of the very popular "Stand By for Action!" of some years ago, with montages of new action scenes features all the heroes of the classic series:
STAND BY FOR ACTION (PART 2)
A Captain Scarlet Calendar for 2016, by Caroline Smith (montages, backgrounds and captions), with Marion Woods, Isabelle Saucier (captions and beta-reading) and Chris Bishop (web presentation). ff 594.
As for the previous year, to download the calendar, you follow the link to the "Mysteron plc" page, where you can either access the online calendar, or access the download page, where you can get a PDF, Powerpoint presentation, or either of our two Word formats to download on your computer.
Enjoy!
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chrisbishop
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A most enjoyable story, Isabelle. Nice to see NCS Magenta looking less smarmy than usual...
The Calendar never ceases to amaze me - and this one is another triumph!
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Marion
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Mario is misunderstood, he just didn't get enough air time to prove himself...

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Isabelle
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That's the nice bit about writing for NCS: you can explore the more minor characters to your heart's content as not much is known about them, canon-wise. Isabelle has a flair for delving into the characters' emotions in a very absorbing and believable way. I have been to New York and also crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, so Ochre and Magenta' s experience felt very real to me!
My own Ochre/Magenta story has stalled on the production line because I got sidetracked, but hopefully it may see the light of day this year. May the Inspiration Fairy cast her wand over us all in 2016!
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Skybase Girl
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This week, we offer you two new stories for the Challenge:
[url+http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/fanfic/vmr/of_feelings_and_hope.htm]OF FEELINGS AND HOPE[/url]
Original series
by VMR. This story takes place in the same Christmas that the story X-Miss covers. With some of the captains away, Christmas just does not feel the same for the Angels. So Harmony decides to do something about it. ff 596.
CHRISTMAS FOR SOLDIERS
New series
by Adam Blue. Three soldiers back from their tour of duty are invited to spend Christmas with the family of a Spectrum officer. (New Captain Scarlet story). ff 597
The Christmas Challenge is still ongoing, and will last until the end of January. So if you have something you want to submit, you can contact us, through spectrum_hq@hotmail.com. Please allow a few days for beta-reading, should you require it.
Come back soon for more!
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chrisbishop
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VMR is offering another point of view of her previous Christmas story X-Miss? and puts the spotlight on Harmony. I'm glad to see the quiet Angel have her moment and be the hero of the situation.
Adam Blue chose to do a pre-Spectrum tale in the NCS universe. It's interesting to see what she imagined for the Svenson family and how they would react to other fellow soldiers being in a difficult situation for the Christmas holiday.
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Isabelle
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We close this 2015/2016 edition of the Challenge, with one new story and a reposted story:
Our new story is a New Captain Scarlet story, by regular contributor Skybase Girl:
THE PILGRIMS' WAY
When Flight Lieutenant Caroline Foster-Finch rescues a group of motorists stranded on a flooded causeway, she has no idea that her life is about to be changed for ever. A pre-Spectrum story. ff 598
And our reposted story was first published in 2008. Written by Marion Woods, it is now presented anew to you so you will rediscover it:
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
A newcomer on Cloudbase seems to stir Captain Blue's interest - and Symphony Angel's jealousy.
The Christmas Challenge is finished until next year... But in the meantime, new goodies are coming your way on Spectrum Headquarters. And if you have your own story you wish to submit, we invite you to do so! You can write within our many challenges, but you can also submit a Captain Scarlet story that has nothing to do with any of our challenges. A 'normal story', so to speak.
But hey, when it comes to Captain Scarlet, classic or new, there isn't anything normal about it... It's always extraordinary!
See you soon!
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chrisbishop
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Skybase Girl, 'The Pilgrim's Way' - another superb story! An interesting take on how one of the NCS Angel Squadron got her 'wings'! I especially liked the rescue at the beginning - very well written with a great feeling of setting, it was obvious you knew your subject well. You drew your character portraits with skill and a light touch, both the canon characters and your original characters, who rang totally true to this reader. I especially liked the old duffer Sir Peregrine


Nice to see Marion's reprint of 'Christmas Lights', I so did enjoy reading it again. I make a mention of possibly my favorite section of prose in the story:
“Hmm. Blue does seem rather taken with Lieutenant Jasmine… you don’t suppose…?”
“You gossip like an old fishwife, Brad.” Scarlet turned the page of his magazine. “Take my advice and leave things well alone.”
“Oh, I’m not going to get between Symphony and her prey… either of them,” Grey muttered, and returned to his article on diving off the coast of California.
Grey...what a snarky devil....
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Carrie
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Lovely story Chris! Sorry it's been so late in the reading! Christmas was hectic, but the good news is I have time to play catch-up and really give the stories the attention they deserve. (And ps...reading it on the smartphone is ok..but I have come back to the big screen to see all the nice artwork!!)
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Carrie
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And it's always good to see a re-posting of one of Marion's stories. Hopefully next Christmas, it will be 'Let There be Lights' !
Looking ahead to Valentine's Day, I know we have a few stories waiting in the wings; only one week to go!
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Skybase Girl
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