### <center> Antarctica has this mythical weight. </center>
### <center> It resides in the collective unconscious of so many people, </center>
### <center>  and it makes this huge impact, </center>
### <center>  just like outer space. </center>
### <center>  It's like going to the moon. </center>
<center> John Krakauer </center>


<center> ![Antarctica-Vapid2.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTwZAeypstz55HwYiPwZL2XfPuiny7qWdx3R1RLqDGg1k/Antarctica-Vapid2.gif) </center>
<center> image via @animate </center>
[]()
***





<center> It’s that time again. </center>

<center> The second installment of my Conspiracy Creative Writing Contest. </center>

<center> The original contest – [“What happened to Malaysia Flight 370?”](https://steemit.com/flight370/@v4vapid/100sbd-in-prizes-conspiracy-theory-creative-writing-contest-what-happened-to-malaysia-flight-370) - exceeded all expectations and was a huge success. </center>

<center> If you missed out on the first contest, here’s your chance to showcase your talent. </center>

#### <center> Edit: For reasons that escape me, I forgot to mention the previous winner - </center>
#### <center> @pulpworx </center>
#### <center>  and the amazing winning submission</center>
#### <center> [Flight of the Wrong Chords](https://steemit.com/flight370/@pulpworx/flight-of-the-wrong-chords-a-short-story-challenge-about-missing-flight-mh370-1000-words). </center>
#### <center> I urge you to have a read through, fantastic through and through, it may even help inspire some writers for the current contest. </center>



***

<center> This time I'm teaming up with Minnow Support Project (MSP) moderator extraordinaire @rhondak who runs the Fiction Workshop, the Steemhouse Fiction Trail (SFT) and the driving force behind [Steemshelves.com](http://www.steemshelves.com/) to help judge your fine-ass submissions! </center>

<center> Equally exciting is the fact that _Carol_, who's a book critic and editor with Perihelion Science Fiction, has also expressed interest in selecting _La creme de la creme!_ </center>


<center> http://weshapelife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Satellite-Images-Reveal-A-Huge-Pyramid-On-Antartica-1.jpg <center>



<center> Let’s get right to it then… </center>


***

## <center> Wild Conspiracy Theory Creative Writing  Contest </center>

### Writing Prompt
[]()
•	What’s happening in Antarctica?
•	What’s behind the heightened attention world leaders are directing towards the polar region?


### Background 
[]()
•	Over the span of the last 2 years prominent figures from all over the world have made pilgrimages to the frozen continent, but for reasons unknown.

<center> https://68.media.tumblr.com/8ee0b19cca862cda6fbb4e16210a1ae7/tumblr_no3n8mk9fZ1tchrkco1_500.gif </center>
[]()

### Recent High-Profile Visitors
[]()
[]()

#### Secretary of State [John Kerry](http://www.state.gov/secretary/travel/2016/t32/index.htm)
[]()
•	Visited McMurdoc Station / Ross Island Shelf / Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
•	He was the first Secretary and the most senior U.S. government official to ever travel to Antarctica.

#### Russian Orthodox Religious Leader – [Kirill]( https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/02/18/for-russias-church-leader-a-trip-to-antarctica-is-not-just-a-photo-op/)
[]()
•	Visited South Pole after meeting with Pope Francis in Cuba
•	Performed Religious Ceremony

#### 2nd Man on the Moon – [Buzz Aldrin]( https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cytl0pPWgAATjVw.jpg)
[]()
•	Medically evacuated from Antarctica

Rumors that former NSA director James Clapper and President Obama have also made clandestine visits. 


<center> http://mysticsauce.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/3.-Piramid-1-696x464-696x464.jpg </center>

## Rules
[]()
1.	Must resteem this post
2.	Must keep submission to 1000 words or less.
3.	Limited to 1 contest entry per account
4.    Submissions must be made in a separate post (not in comments please)
5.	Submissions have to include the lead tag: **“antarctica”**



<center> ![alien crash.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaWym5DrPs3dZtvecZS5mfsdMzMt3bF3FtGJLxTQbuicH/alien%20crash.jpg) </center>


## Winners
[]()
•	The winning submission will meet the rules criteria
•	Winners will be announced 7 days from the time of this posting (7-day payout)

## Prizes and Categories
[]()
* Overall Best  (First Prize - 50SBD)
* Most Humorous / Funny AF (10 SBD)
* Most Realistic (10 SBD)
* Best Style / Tone (10SBD)
* Best Line (10 SBD)

#### Bonus @v4vapid upvotes/resteems also in the mix

## All Kinds of Entries are welcome - Just be sure to include some conspiracy elements!

## Special thanks to @animate for lending their amazing talents.


***


### <center> Antarctica is a very alien environment, </center>
### <center> and you can't survive here more than minutes </center>
### <center> if you're not equipped properly </center>
### <center> and doing the right thing all the time. </center>
 <center> John Krakauer </center>

*** 

<center> ![neverending snowflake.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfAhuZNJcZVkm6gVnCwVonL3x7WkT3JyUXELug3gbfJpi/neverending%20snowflake.gif) </center> 

***

<center> ![Vapid-Bleed-SUPER-NEW.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNRX7s9kQgshwGn1fYvjKmSvWWK5GEuMXurevwixgC2EE/Vapid-Bleed-SUPER-NEW.gif) </center>

<center> ![V4vapid1.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcHnHxmpEtNMUdSC3YwwAzAejfFHkB4bh5jqHMg16rSL3/V4vapid1.png) </center>