(This is something I found buried in my old creative writing folder. Not as good as what I'm currently working on, but I thought I'd post something since I don't have a single story up yet.)

They say the simulations are the most realistic training aids since live-fire exercises. It looks real, and believe me, it hurts like hell to get shot. For some reason I just think a taste of some real combat would help. When the boys from Lazuli's Lowlifes came through on their way to the fighting at Remagen, they made us really envy the sons-a-bitches. They go out and fight and act like it's their daily chore (which we're all sure it is) and just joke around when they survive near-death experiences. They truly are badasses.
   
   Of course, seeing an ACU pass through just makes us want to get out to Remagen even more. It doesn't even discourage us when they ship all the bodies back to base to be cremated. We strip whatever ammo and other supplies are left off of the body then take it to what we affectionately dubbed “The Oven.” The old chaplain holds a memorial service each week, but I figure it's useless. The boys are dead, no amount of begging is gonna bring them back.

   This daily routine of being bored all changed when Evan burst into the tent on some Wednesday
afternoon.

   “Guys! Guys!” He shouted, throwing the tent flaps aside. He was practically panting. He leaned on his rifle for support
   
   I sat up in my bunk. I motioned to the some of the guys who were reclining near the radio. They shut it off.

   “For fuck's sake,” I said, “calm down, Evan.”

   “Sarg... Sergeant Lazuli is dead! The PAC got him at the Remagen bridge!” He replied.

   Corporal Jenkins fell back onto his bunk. “Shit, man, I thought 'ole Lazzy was indestructible. Who's gonna lead the Lowlifes now?”

   Evan handed me a folder with some official papers in it. “Read this, Iggy.”

   “Seriously, who the fuck's gonna lead 'em?” Jenkins inquired to no one in particular.

   I got half way through the papers and my heart skipped a neat. I dropped them, and looked up at the ceiling.

   “I am...”

(As you can see, was supposed to be a series, but decided not to continue. Don't worry, I have a much better story in the works. No spoilers, though By the way, whoever can guess what game this was based off of gets a cake.)

Just noticed this.

Going to offer an incentive:  The person with the best short story will be given a prize.  The prize is undecided, but will be good.  Stories will be judged by myself and a few others once there are enough to judge them.

-stickified-

Holy cripe. A thread I made got stickied....*sniff*.....I'm getting...kinda emotional....
By the way, let me be a judge. I've won several regional creative writing tournaments and was a runner-up for the Golden Pen. I'm MORE than qualified. And, hell, if it weren't for me this whole thing wouldn't even exist right now. Just saying .

On another note, I've overcome my temporary writer's block and are experimenting with some ideas. That's one thing I recommend to all writers: FLESH OUT YOUR IDEAS! I know, it's tempting to skip character development so you can write an action scene, but character development is just as, if not more important than action. After all, why should I care that Bob died if I don't know anything about him?

Nick: I found it interesting you chose to write in the present-tense for a lot of your story. What made you choose this?

Okay. We have a good amount of people so far. I'm gonna set up a new thread called "Catalyst Gaming Short Story Compilation." Feel free to go ahead and post your best stories. Please put effort into them. I'm working on a fairly big one so it might be a few days before MY first one gets put up.

Good luck!

I'm working on a compilation of fan-fiction for OCRP and HL2RP. It will also include short-stories based on whatever the writer wants it to be. I will (obviously) write some stories, but this is going to be a COMPILATION. If you like writing, contact me with a PM or simply reply to this saying you're in, and I'll give you more details. I hope to get a fairly good base of authors.

Thanks,
JWIgnatius.

(Note: By good writer I don't mean you have to be like a freakin' Stephen King, I just mean you have to spell correctly, and make coherent paragraphs and plot lines.)

Locked.

You forgot to mention the part where I got you the most friggin important item on your list

OOC Section


OOC Name: JWIgnatius

IC Character Name: Matthew Wells

1) Please write a minimum of 3 paragraphs OOC'ly detailing why your character wishes to join the Combine Civil Authority and what lead your character to do so.

Matthew Wells has been living in City 45 for as long as he can remember (that is, because they wiped his memory upon transfer.) Before that, he was a promising student at a Combine-sanctioned learning facility. Matthew is a near-god with computers and electronics in general, and was allowed to own these devices. Little did he know the Combine were just using them to locate anticitizens, who were using pre-Combine computers as a means of secure communication. By giving Matthew a computer specially modified with Combine equipment, these communications could be intercepted and traced.

He continued to live his life in the facility, and was actually quite content. Because he was such a great asset to the Combine in the area, his living standards were nice, and he was allowed to socialize with other people who lived in the facility (who were all great minds, which, like him, were all being exploited). He made several friends. However, his life was about to change drastically.

The rebels in the area soon figured out they were being traced, and found out it was coming from the facility at which Matt was living. They attacked and "liberated" the facility. Only some citizens were freed, others were either killed in the crossfire or sent to live in nearby City 45. Matt was one of these people. He wasn't very happy about being sent to City 45. He had none of the benefits he had at the facility, and hated the place in general. By signing up for CCA, he could serve the cause he thought was right, and make sure that all anticitizens paid for their crimes.

2) Please detail your characters traits. (Eg, Pure, Lawful, Trustworthy)

Smart: especially when it comes to technology, but is quite knowledgeable in many subjects.

Pro-Combine: always saw things the way the Combine wanted him to.

Follows orders: does not hesitate to perform any action, and does anything he is ordered to very thoroughly.

3) Please provide 2 paragraphs about what you are expecting the Combine Civil Authority to be like for you and your character?

I am expecting the CCA to be a chance for me to roleplay a "tough-cop" while also making the server a better place to be. I expect the CCA to be a challenging yet fun role to try and fill, and am willing to be the best cop I can.

Matthew expects the CCA to be a demanding job, but is prepared. He expects to be given orders which he will follow and won't question anything he is asked to do.

4) Please provide a detailed back-story from an out-of-character perspective on your applying character. This section must be detailed and consist of a minimum of 300 words.

Matthew was jolted from his sleep at the sound of an explosion. It was close, not the ka-thud a distant explosion makes. It was a ear-shattering, abrasive sound that shook him physically. It was even so close that it caused the room to shake, putting the thin, rusting metal bars supporting his bed out of their misery. He yelped as his bed toppled over and dumped him five feet (he had the top bunk) into the floor. His face broke his fall.

"Shit!"

His roommate was already standing half-way out of the door to their room, watching as several Combine troops scrambled down the hallway. He stepped back inside, turned on the lights and shut the door. He was starting to get his issued clothing on when he noticed Matt lying on the floor.

"You okay, man?"
"No, I'm not, Evan. I think I broke my fucking face!"

Evan hopped across the room, still getting his pants on, and helped Matt off the floor. Then the sirens went off.

"That's not good." Matt said.

In his entire time at the facility, Matthew had never heard the sirens go off. Usually they just issue warnings through the PA. The shit must have really hit the fan this time. But they knew the drill, at least. If the siren went off, they were supposed to head down to the nearest shelter. For them, that was all the way across campus.

Matt got his clothes on while Evan looked out the window to see what was happening.

"I see gunshots. We need to get to the shelter, man!" Evan shouted. The explosions were becoming more frequent, the gunshots more prevalent.

The two left their room and started down the hallway. They rounded the first corner and froze when they saw three armed men enter the building through a hole that had been blown in the wall. Suddenly one of the men was shot through the throat, tainting his teammate behind him with blood. The man grabbed his neck as he was choking and fell over backwards. The other two men raised their weapons and fired in the direction the shot came from.

Matt took a turn that led to the main courtyard, gesturing for Evan to follow him. They emerged into the courtyard to find a full-blown firefight in progress. The facility guards were outnumbered. Evan and Matt made a dash for the shelter. Evan rounded a corner and shouted,

"There's the shelter! Come o-"

Matt was paralyzed as his face became soaked in the blood of his best friend. Evan made a sick gurgling sound, and fell backwards into Matthew's arms. Matthew couldn't speak. He pulled Evan away from the corner. Then his eyes rolled back into his head, and he died. Matt dropped Evan and started to run when something knocked him out. When he woke up, he was in a train. A voice came over the loudspeaker.

"Now arriving: City 45. Do your part and enlist in the Combine Civil Authority. Report anticitizen behavior."

Matt knew what he was going to do here.


OOC Details

1. How long have you played on role-playing servers in general? Ever since I got GMod, about 3-4 years.

2. How long have you played on serious servers? About 2 years is when I really got into them.

3. How long have you played on Catalyst Gaming? About 2 months now.

4. What Time zone are you in? Central Daylight Time.

5. In what country do you live? United States.

6. How old are you? 14 years.

7. What’s your most memorable quality RP experience? About 2 years ago, I can't remember the server name, but we actually were all RPing, no minges, everyone was doing their job. The whole thing was just one epic experience.

8. Do you consider yourself a good listener? Yes.

---

IC Section


Full Name: Matthew Christopher Neely
CID: 94253
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 3"
Hair Colour Brown
Eye Colour: Green
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Weight: 125 lbs.
Mental Distinctions: N/A
Mental Defects: N/A
Mental Advantages: Above-average mental capacity
Notable Qualities: N/A



1. Have you ever been detained or apprehended for a Sociostability Infringement before? If so, explain? No.

2. Do you regularly eat Combine Civil Authority Issued Rations? Yes.

3. Are you willing to give your life to the cause of the Universal Union? Yes.

4. Do you as a Citizen and future Civil Protection Member accept ALL actions performed by you and those under your command as your OWN responsibility? Yes.

5. Will you remain loyal and faithful to the Universal Union as long as you live? Yes.

6. Why do you want to join the Combine Civil Authority? To serve the greater good, to keep a stable environment and to enforce the law.




Please sign the attached oath using only blue or black pen.

[/b]

DENIED. Number 3 is too short.