Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields who provides us with a photo prompt. Each week’s challenge is to write a 100-word story inspired by said photo prompt.
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
I traded in my goofiness for a little dystopian sci-fi this week. This one borrows a little from the sci-fi world inhabited by The L Squad.
If…
“Remember solar power?”
“I remember reading about it as a theory.”
“Well, yeah. If these things were solar-powered, we could be winning this war.”
“The sun hasn’t permeated the smog for decades.”
“I know. I’m saying if the Gar’roids didn’t have to retreat to a charging station so often, if they could charge as they fought, we could potentially repel this invasion.”
“It’s a little late to redesign our planetary defenses.”
“But if…”
“If ‘ifs’ were butterflies they wouldn’t be extinct. The XaXets are invading Earth, not some fantasy world where our gargantuan battle androids are powered by the sun.”
NobbinBlog 
Fascinating story – enjoyed reading it.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
Dear Nobbin,
Imaginative story. I must admit, I look around me and wonder what the aliens would want with this planet. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rochelle. I was wondering the same thing as I was describing the smog so thick the sun couldn’t penetrate it. Slaves. I’m going to go with slaves.
LikeLike
So that’s a no to solar power then? Hydro maybe, wind power? Have they tried burning coal…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Damn it, Iain. Where were you before the invasion with these ideas? It’s too late to redesign the planetary defenses after the invasion has commenced.
I’m imagining fossil fuels have been exhausted, thus the smog content. Hydro and wind could be some more ifs that the 100-word limit and the gruff character who just wants to get these robots charged and on their way wouldn’t allow the story to explore or allow me to fill those plot holes, which I did consider. To address the other plot hole, I think they’re using geothermal energy. That’s why it’s coming out of the ground. It could be wind or hydro. Why aren’t they built directly into the robots? Oh, look over there. What is that? I think you missed. What were we talking about?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some military tactician made some poor ecological choices at one time. Good one.
LikeLike
I think society made the poor ecological choices. Thank you.
LikeLike
Sounds like Earth deserves what is coming.
Good riddance!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Humanity at least. We can hope the new inhabitants are more ecologically aware.
LikeLike
Ouch. Maybe going all eco friendly didn’t turn out to be so good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s more a case of too little too late.
LikeLike
Garroids should have used portable battery. One down, replace with another meanwhile charge the drained one. Do I have to do everything even in future?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I think you just got drafted.
LikeLike
Imaginative.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Intriguing story, I really enjoyed it. Though it’s not too bad this week, as we’ve gotten a lot of rain, here in Hong Kong the sun has a hard time permeating the smog. Your story has true bits throughout though it’s fantasy. Nicely done! =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. My story has it’s basis in reality. We’re steadily marching in that direction. It looks like Hong Kong is leading the march. Those of us who drive hybrids and recycle are nothing compared to the corporations that place money over everything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true, sadly so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes. The sun can’t permeate the smog. That sounds like a horrible existence. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ll just have to learn to settle for smog tans instead of suntans. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A smog tan seems like it might be a bit grimy. :{
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a little filmy. It’s gray with a little orange hue. It’s kinda Trumpy. Oh yeah, it’s gross.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol yup
LikeLiked by 1 person