Touching Survival

Write a flash fiction story (300 words or less) that captures the emotional and sensory experience of a Starfleet officer who touches the hull of a shuttlecraft that once saved their life. Through the act of touch, the protagonist recalls the moments of survival—the terror, the desperation, and the fleeting hope that carried them through a daring escape.

The story must focus on touch as the primary sense to convey the weight of the experience. Is the hull warm or cold? Smooth or scarred? How do these sensations trigger memories, emotions, or realizations about what they endured and how it changed them?

• Perspective: The story is told from the point of view of the officer. They may be alone, in reflection, or sharing the moment with someone else, but the experience of touch remains central.
• Setting: The scene could take place in a quiet Starfleet hangar, a repair bay, or even as part of a ceremonial event.
• Emotional Depth: Dive into the ensign’s inner thoughts and feelings as they process the significance of this small yet profound act.

Criteria

• Stories should be input in the text box.
• Stories should contain a maximum of 300 words. You can get your point across in much less than that? Great, go for it! :)
• Stories will be graded using the Bravo Fleet Fiction Rubric, which marks on the following criteria: Language, Style, & Mechanics; Adherence to Canon; Perspective; Characterization; Originality; Use of the Prompt.
• Stories must be written during the competition period and should not be a reuse of an existing story. Stories written before or after the competition begins will be disqualified. The BFMS publication date will be used.
• The story must be a single author post in BFMS and not a joint post with another author.