So, throwaway for obvious reasons. I am in my mid30s. When I was 2 my dad remarried out of the blue and by the time I was 3, I had a new baby sister, D. In total, with all the stepkids and this new baby under one roof, there were 5 of us kids & even now as adults, we still consider ourselves siblings (even though my stepmom (SM) died in '09). Growing up life sucked because SM devolved to the point of abuse towards us older kids to spoil her little princess, D . Things like D got into trouble so all of us kids got whipped because she was the youngest so we should have stopped her from doing something to get into trouble. D would do things and laugh while we rushed to try and cover it up. D also was physically violent. I can't count the number of times she pushed me off of our trampoline, tried to literally drown me in the pool, or "accidentally" hit me with baseball bats or brooms or tree limbs. I once broke several fingers because she jammed the front wheel on my bike causing me to flip end over end. Then, she tormented me while my fingers were in the little metal casts by constantly trying to grab them or slam them into cabinet doors. My SM would punish me for "tattling" on D when she would hurt me because "it was an accident." I have been diagnosed with several stress disorders including PTSD from living through this hellscape of a childhood.
My other siblings either moved out or were kicked out over the years until there was no one left but me and D. I ran away from home as a young teen to get away from this situation (my dad was determined that my mom would never be allowed to have custody of me but that is another toxic story).
D became a teen mom, dropped out of school & was arrested several times. Then, her mom died which is terrible for anyone to deal with, I admit, and she continued to spiral. Her baby died under suspicious circumstances. She had several more children in rapid succession who each were eventually taken from her by the state for various reasons but most often for drugs. She was in & out of jail. My dad bent over backward trying to get her help, paying her fines, paying her rent, letting her live in his home, etc. She would rob him and run off again. He quit trying eventually after she stole $16,000 and some quilts that my deceased grandmother had made about a year ago.
She had disappeared for some time (I hadn't actually hadn't seen her in about 4 years). My brother called me yesterday in despair. She has resurfaced living in a rusted-out trailer with no power or running water. She has been on meth so much that she is skeletal and looks easily 60y/o. She has two toddlers with her (number 6&7, I think). My other siblings have rushed to her aid for the sake of the children. (I live 14 hours away in another state.) As of last night, D is at my brother's house now with her kids. Apparently, D started crying (like she always does) & saying that she is living like that because she "doesn't have anyone" and she's all alone.
My oldest sister called me on the way to see D at my brother's house and gave me a speel about how she needs us and my "Christian duty" and how we "don't want another child to die." But, F**K that! I will happily take in D's kids because they are innocent victims in all this but I NEVER will let that evil woman back into my life. I tried right after her mom died because I felt sorry for her (you know dead mom and dead child and all that). I let her move into my home. She tried to seduce my husband and stole from me WITHIN THE FIRST 3 DAYS!!! It might be wrong of me but just no, never again.

Hello!
Well its been a month since we saw history being made in the Crucible Theatre: Luca Brecel winning his first world title and becoming the first player from Continental Europe (and first player from Belgium) to win the title. The 2022-23 snooker season was chock full of shock results and a changing of the guard in many ways, and the next season doesn't intend to disappoint us at all! Will the fabled "Class of 92" return to winning ways, or has the Covid-19 pandemic itself become the necessary change that snooker may or may not have required for its long term future?
It'll be an interesting season for sure, as the World Snooker Tour will be returning to China as well, the first events to be held in the country since 2019. We already had the Hong Kong Masters last season, which set a record for the largest audience in snooker history, but unfortunately that event is not on the calendar this year, and the fate of the Turkish Masters hangs in the balance as well.
All that aside, lets look back at last season and see what changed for the community:

• We used a new format for all of our tournament discussion threads, where AutoModerator would be the post owner, using a structure that made it easy to repeat over all tournaments and to help keep things fresh. This helped to centrally manage all tournament discussion threads in a long-term sustainable format.
• The World Championship used an experimental form of the above, which was met with "mostly positive" feedback from the community, but which also caused some controversy and also some confusion with established users.
• We also refreshed our visual branding with a brand-new header image across both old and new Reddit, that best encapsulates snooker in the Theatre of Dreams.
• We also brought on some extra moderators to help keep our community inclusive, welcoming and positive for the season ahead.
• The stats showed our community continued to grow, with more messages and users joining us last season than in any previous season.

Based on your feedback shared over the course of the entire season, we're looking forward to the 2023-24 snooker season and want to provide you with transparency about how things will be handled with the Tournament Discussion threads, as well as other minor points that came up during the season.
​1. AutoModerator will continue to be the poster for all Tournament Discussion threads going forward.
At the start of last season, our main user who handled all TD threads quit Reddit. This led to a vacuum in relation to who should manage the threads in the future. We trialled using AutoModerator for all threads to provide consistency to the community and we believe this to be a net positive change which removes any kind of "ownership" concerns, as future moderation teams can continue the management of these posts. Therefore, effective immediately, any and all tournament discussion threads (for this season and all future seasons) will be scheduled posts through AutoModerator for the foreseeable future, and they will continue to be "one thread for the whole tournament", with the exception of the World Champs as discussed later.

1. No threads will be made for Qualifying rounds, with a specific set of notable exceptions.

Throughout last season, World Snooker Tour used a qualifying round for the vast majority of tournaments. This season, we expect that this will continue and these rounds are often only accessible to users through paywall platforms such as Discovery+, making them inaccessible to the majority of fans. They also don't generate a huge amount of interest from the community anyway, as during actual Qualifying sessions, little community posts were made, except for notable results.
Therefore, with that in mind, and as World Snooker Tour have decided they will continue with the Qualifying rounds format in subsequent season, official discussion threads for Qualifying rounds will not be made going forward (for this season or any other season), but we encourage the community to make new posts as required for any notable results or matches that people might feel they should watch or need to know about.
Two specific tournaments are exempted from this rule: those being the UK Championship and the World Championship. These two events are given more notability by World Snooker Tour, as well as more "meaningful" coverage that is also available for free, so it is reasonable to give them more attention on the sub than other events.

1. No threads will be made for the Championship League.

These tournaments are generally played behind closed doors and get little televised coverage. Since a large portion of the community is based in either the UK or Europe, where access to the events is limited to one stream on YouTube [which lacks commentary] and one stream on Facebook [which does have commentary], and these events have typically generated little interest due to their unique format, we don't think its in the best interests to provide a thread for discussion threads for either version of the Championship League, but -- like Qualifying rounds above -- you're more than welcome to post a new thread for notable results that you've seen mentioned on social media.

1. The televised rounds of the World Championship will use an updated thread format for this season.

Last season, we trialled an unusual format whereby Round One matches were in one thread, Round 2/Quarter Finals matches were split into two threads [one per table], Semi-Finals were covered in one thread and the Final was given a thread to itself.
Our intention was to make things more intuitive to navigate and to reduce the potential for spoilers, as people may be watching one match but not the other and end up being spoiled. However, feedback during the event showed that while many appreciated the format of the threads, others did not and it led to confusion, as people did not know what Table One or Table Two referred to.
We want to make these threads for the event easy to use: the World Championship is our premier event on the calendar and draws a lot more activity than any other event on the calendar, which means we want to make sure that everyone can use them. Across all of the threads for the World Championship, they amassed well over 17,500 comments alone. If we put all those comments into just one thread, they would be an extremely painful experience, not only for us moderators having to remove bad comments, but also for you trying to read the thread (as well as loading said thread!)
With this in mind, and based on your feedback, we are going to use a different format for these threads this season: again, like last season, your feedback will help us to shape a format that works for you but also makes it easier for us to moderate over the tournament. The new format will involve each individual round being given its own thread: no separation will be used for each table, as the designation was deemed confusing and unnecessary.

1. The sticky post for matches to be played on each day will continue, but with some specific exceptions

Along with the use of AutoModerator for owning the discussion threads themselves, we also provided a sticky post which detailed matches to be played per day for each stipulated session of that day, as well as other notable information relating to each session [eg matches cancelled because a player withdrew]. We believe that this information can be useful for fans, even if it is duplication of information provided by World Snooker Tour, so this will continue for all threads as required.
However, this information will not be provided for those tournaments played in Asia. This is because of timezone reasons, and matches will be played at times when most of the moderators will not actually be able to check what matches are being played and on what table. For those events, the sticky post will just detail some useful information not covered by the OP, if any: otherwise, no sticky post will be given.

1. The rule regarding "don't post threads with spoilers in the title" will be reviewed.

This has become a point of contention recently, as Reddit has made several changes that mostly make the rule redundant. However, we appreciate that a thread containing a spoiler can still be disruptive as not everyone will be aware of these features, or may not be using a version of Reddit where they exist. With that in mind, our moderators will be reviewing the specific rule and see if it needs to be tweaked or removed. We will provide updated information on this later in the year [but before the Champion of Champions commences]
​
Okay, long post over with! While the professional tour is taking a well-earned break, Q School is well underway to see who is joining (or rejoining) the tour. Let's all congregate again when the 2023-24 season recommences and enjoy the time to relax! :)
With regards,
- /snooker Moderation Team

So the external door has been moved forward here and it's left the old concrete door step inside now. It's a bit higher up than the rest of the subfloor, so was going to break away with the SDS and refill with cement. I noticed screwfix actually sell a waterproof cement from Bostik. Does anyone know if this is the right product for the job, or would I need to lay a sheet of dpm then top with regular cement first? Or would it just be easier to use liquid DPM and then cover with levelling compound?
Thanks

The Paladins were not particularly happy carting us out of my tower.
They didn't carry us, we just kind of walked in between them all of the way to the Temple. Kurtulmak maintained a neutral expression, even as we entered.
Galax was waiting for us, with Tallyn at his side. He took one look at me, then sighed. "So, it is true."
"Before we make any judgment calls, there is context." I said before any verdict could be reached.
"I am aware." He said. "Bahamut made himself known to both of you, you abandoned him in a foolish attempt at redeeming an evil God- and you somehow succeeded."
"It wasn't that hard, it might be because I didn't immediately damn him for simply existing." I glanced at Tallyn, who averted his gaze. "Did my brother tell you how he tried to kill me before Bahamut stopped him?"
"I was not aware." Galax remarked. "What I am more concerned about is the change in alignment."
"The what now?" I asked.
"Before, you registered as Lawful, that is, aligned with order. Now, you are neutral in that regard."
"Is that specifically bad..?" I asked.
"It's a clear indication that you have fallen out of Bahamut's favor specifically, as you have broken his tenets. However, your disobedience was not out of malice, which indicates your actions were intended for the betterment of all." He looked at Kurtulmak. "He, however, is very much Law aligned, and radiates Evil, which matches expectations."
Kurtulmak gave off a smug grin.
"Due to the circumstances, I must require he at least show some manner of allegiance to Bahamut, vestments, perhaps?"
"Try it and die." Kurtulmak threatened. "The entire town, aside from this quaint little temple, is in my domain, that I do not force them to bear my symbol proudly is magnanimity on my part."
I stepped between them. "Just a minute." I said. "We can't waste time on bickering. Kurtulmak has helped us in the past, events I believed to be Bahamut's work were his."
"Oh, how can you be certain?" Galax asked.
"Bahamut bluntly said it." I said. "And if Tallyn is hiding that from you, that is a lie of omission."
"I have not had an opportunity to give my report. My intention is to verify the truth." Tallyn replied. "The night we were transformed, Kurtulmak did specifically force us to sleep. The alternative was losing all of our memories, being blindly beholden to either Kurtulmak or Tiamat."
"I am the God of Kobolds." Kurtulmak stated. "I will not lead my people into bondage, even if they were Human to begin with."
"He also provided aid during the mine collapse." I said.
"Why help us?" Galax asked. "Why go out of your way when letting things happen may have benefited you in the long run?"
"Do you honestly expect me to trust Tiamat after everything he and her kind have done to ours?" Kurtulmak asked. "The ancient winds stir, hatred and spite toward the surface world extends toward all. When we are but vermin in the eyes of those who never knew the pain of subjugation, who would never understand the suffering that the destruction of a warren brings- When those who profess to be good slaughter mindlessly and are rewarded, do you honestly believe I could trust anyone?"
The Paladins tensed, their hands on their swords.
"You are no fool, neither is Bahamut. I know compromise will do nothing for our kind, yet my newest servant believes otherwise. I will prove him wrong, I will show him that doing things the 'right' way only ever leads to suffering. The only way to survive is to dismantle the system that oppresses us, and I refuse to let my people be harmed again."
"Is it your intention to play by the rules?" Tallyn asked.
"I always play by the rules." Kurtulmak replied. "You should be asking, are the rules fair to begin with?" He looked at Galax. "Now, as I understand it, your Warren is woefully unprepared for a war. Alone, I could not fight the foe you face, but alone I will ensure you have a chance. Together, perhaps, we will carve out a place in this world."
Galax met his gaze with a cold one of his own. "As long as Bahamut wills our cooperation, you shall have it." He said. "By Bahamut's will, we will not allow the corruption of our people to evil. If this is impossible for you-"
"I will play by the rules." Kurtulmak stated. "I will do with my servants as I see fit. After all, they are not yours." He turned around and started walking. "Ruuk Stingtail, you will follow. You have your duties to your Warren, after all."
I nodded and followed after.
As we walked, Kurtulmak addressed me. "You have been a very willing servant thus far. You have not complained, nor have you made any efforts to specifically negotiate a better situation for yourself." He looked at me from the corner of his eye. "Why?"
"You haven't given me a reason yet, Master." I replied. "Until you do, I will continue to do what I can."
He smiled. "Is that so?" He asked, before stopping and turning around. "Kneel." He said. I stopped and knelt. "Why do you kneel when I command you to?" He asked. "Do you feel nothing, submitting before me? No shame?"
I shook my head. "I've done it for Bahamut, why wouldn't I do if for you?" I asked. "I swore a vow to serve you, and to give my undying devotion to you, I keep my promises."
He smiled. "Good." He said. "I have plans for this town, and will see to their fruition. First and foremost is getting you something befitting of your service to me."
I nodded. "How will we announce your presence to the Warren, Master?" I asked.
"My plan is thus. Once you are outfitted, you will call for the Warren to gather, and you will publicly announce your service and fealty to me, your God and Master, and I will make the Barbarians' blood boil, I will awaken the bloodlust of the Fighters, for my domain is War, and they must recognize that to seek the path of either is to walk the path of blood."
We entered the town, Kurtulmak gestured for me to lead him through, to the craftsmen.
Everyone who was up at this hour greeted me warmly, then wondered as to the new face. I greeted them back, but didn't elaborate yet. There was only one person I knew at this hour who was doing any work, an Artificer named Tikkatik.
"Oh, Tallyn." He said as I entered her workshop. "Do you need something?"
I looked at Kurtulmak, who cast a spell, creating a still image. "This design is needed." He stated. "Make twenty-one to start, as quickly as you are able and willing. There will be Awakenings today."
Tikkatik looked at me, confused.
"Do it." I said. "And send the first one to me, I will need it."
"Very well. I thought Sorcerers did not do well with armor."
"This design will not hinder somatic components to the spell." Kurtulmak replied. "Your workings aid the Warren, be proud."
Her eyes widened, then with a determined expression, she nodded and started working.
We returned to the tower. He looked at me and said, "It will be some time before it is finished. Rest, finish your sleep. When I wake you, then it will be time."
"Thank you, Master." Following his command, I laid back down in my bed and fell asleep. As I slept, I dreamed of standing before an army of Kobolds, calling out to them, hearing their collective roar in response. I was powerful, they followed my command without hesitation.
"This is a vision of the past." Kurtulmak's voice echoed in my mind. "What you are feeling is my pride, what you see my nascent empire. This was the day that was taken from us."
There was a brilliant flash of light, followed by darkness as mountain descended upon us, crashing into the city. I could hear the screams of thousands before I was crushed. I opened my eyes to a brighter morning, Kurtulmak was sat on the floor, holding pieces of leather armor. I watched as he sliced his palm and spread the blood across it, but rather than be covered, the blood seeped into the leather, giving it a bright red coloration.
"Approach." He commanded, and I got up and approached. His movements were quick, strapping on the pieces of armor. It comprised of a breast plate and faulds, arm bands that went from my wrists to my elbows, and a pair of pauldrons, the right one bearing the symbol of a skull.
"This doesn't look very protective, Master." I pointed out.
"It is magical." He said. To demonstrate, he held his hand out, manifesting his spear, and stabbed me with it. Though he hit bare scale, it didn't puncture."This armor is your symbol of fealty to me, modeled after my own. I call it the Armor of the Kobold King, wearing this marks you as the leader of our kind, You will never remove it unless it is necessary, you will wear this with pride. Is this understood?"
"Yes, Master." I replied.
"We will abstain from declaring such, for the time being. Yet understand, this armor means you speak with my authority. Do whatever it takes to ensure our prosperity." He stepped away, looking me over, then nodded. "Yes, you wear it well. You look as strong as you are, your power shall be unmatched. In time, this lowly town will become the heart of a new empire."
"I don't know if the people would agree to that, Master." I replied. "We established the government we have because we didn't want the people's voices to be ignored."
"If you rule correctly, then they won't be ignored." He replied. "We will not need to take it by force, our Empire will come into being by their will. Now, stand tall, walk with pride, and speak with authority. It is time we address our subjects-to-be."
There were some proper channels I needed to go through, letters sent and received, permission granted, the news spread out for the people to gather in the town square. When I walked up to the stage where the Council addressed the people, the other Councilors were present, including Galax and Tallyn.
There was some murmuring at my appearance, some unease in the crowd. There were even more words when Kurtulmak stood beside me.
"Citizens of the Warren!" I called out. "Yesterday, we found something." All eyes were on me, most probably assumed it was the armor, or perhaps an armory. "An underground fortress known as Darastrixthurhi."
I could see several Kobolds' eyes widen, they understood what I was talking about. "And in those halls, I met a God." I proceeded to describe the situation as it had been, leaving nothing out. Several eyes flitted to Kurtulmak, connecting the dots even as I spoke of the agreement he had with me, and how Bahamut was willing to honor this.
"The Kobold who stands beside me is Kurtulmak." I spoke. "I have sworn myself into his service, yet this will not influence how I lead. He will make no claims over us, no demands. As with Bahamut, it is your choice whether or not to serve him as I do. Thus this gift he is about to give is done freely."
Kurtulmak simply raised his hand to the sky, his divine power pulsed through the air, and he spoke a single command. "I am War, embrace the power within you to fight."
All at once, thousands of Kobolds were overwhelmed by their Awakenings, the Barbarians straining to keep their sudden rage in check, the Fighters touching their hearts as bloodlust filled the. Kurtulmak leapt from the stage, his spear in hand. "Come to me and fight, direct your rage upon me, that you do not harm your fellow Kobold, turn your bloodlust upon me, that you do not slaughter your own. I shall temper you."
The fight that broke out as every new Berserker and Fighter charged at him was quick and brutal. No tricks, no magic, just Kurtulmak showing superior skill with just his spear. The newly Awakened were exhausted.
It made me realize that my stepping between him and Tallyn probably did more to save my brother's life than it protected him.
Kurtulmak held his spear out, pointing at them. "You are all who are capable of fighting. Understand when I say, if you wish for a life of peace, you will never touch a weapon again. But if you will fight to protect your Warren, then you will come to me to learn. You will not win this war by playing by the rules, but through the blood of your enemies."
With this said, he turned his back to them and leapt back onto the stage. I looked at the rest of the Councilors, their reactions were mixed, with the Clerics and Paladins still very much not a fan of the situation. "Galax." I said, holding my hand out to him. "For as long as our Gods act in peaceful alliance, so too do I promise myself and any who choose to follow Kurtulmak will only do what is necessary for our survival, and not a step more."
He stood up and approached me.
"That your master be redeemed." He said, taking my hand and shaking it.
"That the justice that was denied be delivered." I answered back.
I was certain Galax knew why I offered my hand to him. It was one thing to say there was peace between our Gods, it was another to show it. Bahamut spoke in actions, not mere words, and him refusing to do this much would be trouble.
The Council meeting after the fact was mostly just the others asking if I was insane and if I really thought this was going to end well.
I simply looked at them and said, "We have an army now that we didn't have a day ago." I left it at that.
When I returned to the Tower, Kurtulmak carving Draconic runes into them and muttering under his breath, I felt a rush of power flow through me, one I hadn't felt in a long time.
"So, you have achieved greater power." Kurtulmak stated.
"Yes, Master." I said. I had gained knowledge of a cantrip and a new spell. The cantrip was the creation of a handful of acid, while the spell granted me knowledge of how to enhance a weapon, albeit only for an hour- two if I used metamagic.
Not only this, but I was now aware of how I could use magic even with a weapon in hand.
"Nak." He said, standing up. "You are presently the most powerful Kobold in this town, myself excluded. Your insatiable desire to improve your craft is the reason for this. Be honored that you are superior to the rest."
While I felt a flash of pride in his praise, I shook my head. "I'm not superior." I said. "If I was, I would be leagues above them. No, my strength is the same as theirs, I've just been the one who doesn't waste an opportunity to practice."
He smirked in a way that indicated he found this amusing, maybe even quaint.
There was a knock at my door. He nodded, letting me know I could go. I walked downstairs and answered.
It was the other Sorcerers. "Come in." I said, and then entered. "Is something wrong?"
"We wanted to meet Kurtulmak." Goss said.
I blinked. "Uh, why?" I asked.
"He was- is- the first Kobold Sorcerer." Urak stated. "We have theory to guide us. Theory and experimentation. Our comparing notes is not enough, we need guidance, and there is no 'Bold with more experience than him."
Kashak nodded. "Not to mention, ever since they became Paladins, our friends have not wanted anything to do with us since we won't convert to their religion."
I sighed. "You don't make faithful by forced conversion." I muttered. "Alright, but bear in mind I am devoted to him, as per my vow, you cannot trust me to have your best interests in mind if it comes to doing what he needs me to do." I gestured for them to follow me, and they did. Once we were at the top floor, I held my hand out for them to stop.
"Master." I said. "The Sorcerers of our Warren wish to meet you."
Kurtulmak stood up and looked our way.
"They are fools seeking power, toss them aside." He said.
"We want nothing like that, great Kurtulmak." Garu spoke, bowing.
"He did not even waste any time brown-nosing." Kurtulmak remarked. "Your flattery needs work, and your theatrics make your insincerity more obvious. I have no place for sycophants, aspirants, usurpers, the avaricious, and traitors. Leave."
"But, your holiness-!"
Kurtulmak raised his spear at them. "Leave."
They quickly fled down the stairs, at least one of them outright fell. I winced.
"If even one of them was honest, only seeking truth, I might have entertained them. I have grown tired of tyrants driving our people to death." He returned to carving symbols into the armor. "I will give them two more chances. If they can learn to set aside their ambitions for the good of the Warren, I will grant them such a small boon. If they cannot, I will kill them, for they will endlessly seek to dominate, and we do not have the time or patience for that."
There was another knock. I heard him sigh, but he waved his hand. I went back down, opened the door, and saw a Human. "Uh, hi." He said. "I, uh... I wanted to speak with your God." He said.
I led him upstairs.
"Leave." Kurtulmak stated. "I will not meet with a Human, I do not care about your kind."
"I understand." The Human said. "Nonetheless, I still want to speak with you."
Kurtulmak stood up, pointing his spear. "Leave."
"I'm sorry, but I won't. Either let me speak with you, or kill me." The Human said. "I'm not afraid of dying."
Kurtulmak snorted, then pointed at the floor. The Human walked over to that spot and sat down. "What is your purpose here, Human?" He asked, "Not power, you would have cast aside your Humanity for such. You are not aligned with Bahamut or his faithful, so why are you here, and what makes you so bold as to even consider approaching me?"
"I wanted to know why we are immune." The Human said. "And why we can't use the powers that everyone else can."
"Why do you want to know?"
"So we have an answer."
Kurtulmak sighed, resting the butt of his spear on the ground and curling his arm around it so that he could lean against it. "The reason is twofold." Kurtulmak replied. "Tiamat wanted to ensure there would be no chance of the transformed ever remembering their Human lives. Driven mad with pain, they would lash out, killing their former friends and family, the horror driving them to repress their past identities, making it easier for Tiamat to wipe their memories entirely. Naturally, this precludes any Humans obtaining power."
The Human nodded. "I had a suspicion, thank you for the answer. I don't have anything to give in appreciation-"
"You could give me your Humanity." Kurtulmak stated. "As far as I am concerned, you only exist to aid us, to do the drudgery while we take care of the important things. I would make you all slaves, if it wasn't for the unfortunate reality that you might become Kobolds while in bondage."
The Human nodded. "I thought so." He said. I watched in surprise as he became a Kobold. "There."
Kurtulmak looked just as surprised as I was, impressed, even. "You are very brave." He remarked. "I hereby name you Kalith, in honor of such." He sat down across from Kalith, and held his hand out. "I am also aware of what you can be. My offer is thus- Serve me, pledge your fealty to me, work to ensure our ascension to a mighty empire, and I shall grant you power only you could wield."
"I'm a Warlock?" Kalith asked.
"You are nothing." Kurtulmak stated. "I can may you more."
Kalith nodded and took Kurtulmak's hand. He grew tense, his eyes wide, his mouth opening in a soundless scream. One of his eyes, the one I could see, turned from a light green to a pale yellow. When Kurtulmak let go of him, he slumped over, arms shaking as they held him up, his breathing heavy.
"Who am I, Kalith?" Kurtulmak asked.
"Master." Kalith breathed.
"Good. You will go forth and display your power before the Warren, and you will make known the Pact you have forged, and the price that is paid for power. You are mine now, you can either despair or rejoice, it does not matter to me."
Kalith looked at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fingers. "Huh, I should've done this a long time ago." He said. "Thank you, Master."
"Rejoicing it is." Kurtulmak remarked.
Kalith stumbled a little as he got up, I helped him get used to his legs before helping him down the stairs.
"Will you be okay?" I asked.
"Of course." He said. "There are other potential Warlocks out there, and for better or worse, we need them to awaken."
He left the Tower, and I waited for a few minutes, just in case someone else came by. The knock came just as I was about to head upstairs. "For fuck's sake..." I muttered as I opened the door. I didn't expect to see Tallyn.
"May I enter?" He asked.
I stepped aside and he walked in. Dressed in shining armor, proudly wearing the vestments of Bahamut, he looked at me coldly.
"Is your... master here?" He asked.
"Yes." I said. "Why?"
"I wish to speak with him." He stated, looking at the stairs. I sighed and gestured for him to follow me. "Is my being here an inconvenience?" He asked.
"The Sorcerers came by looking for power, Kurtulmak chased them off. We got our first Warlock not long after, you're the third person who's come by to see him."
"He chased the Sorcerers away?" He asked, he seemed surprised.
"He's not looking for minions. If they try again twice and they haven't figured out Kurtulmak actually does care about the Warren by then, he will kill them, because their ambition will endanger us at the worst possible time."
"Ruuk..." I looked at him. "Do you regret what you have done at all?"
"Do you?" I asked. I led him up the stairs, Kurtulmak was already waiting for us, spear in hand, pale yellow eyes glaring at Tallyn.
"Do you think you stand a chance, Paladin?" He asked. "I have not forgotten your actions."
Tallyn drew his sword, then handed it to me. "I did not come to antagonize." He said. "I have come to offer my limited service, as recompense for my actions."
"Don't even bother." Kurtulmak stated. "Accepting this would only lead you to resenting me more. You see me as one who has taken your brother away from you, who has lied to your God, who will lead your people astray." He walked toward Tallyn until he was face to face. "I would never accept the service of one who hates me. If you are truly sorrowful for your actions, you will renounce your God and accept me as your own."
"I would never." Tallyn hissed through gritted teeth.
"Then save your apologies for the ones you have wronged." Kurtulmak replied. "Starting with your brother."
Tallyn turned around, took his sword from me, and walked away. I heard the door to the Tower slam behind him.
"Did you have to antagonize him like that, Master?" I asked.
"Yes." He replied. "He is foolishly trying to reconcile his actions with his faith. He believes he was correct in punishing a traitor, his offer to me was nothing more than a means to quell his guilty conscience." Kurtulmak returned to his work on the armor. "Under less polite circumstances, I would have accepted and slowly corrupted him until he willingly consigned his soul to me. I told him exactly what he needed to hear."
"Given the opportunity to convert him, would you?" I asked.
"No." He replied. "Not only would it sour the deal I have with Bahamut, but it would also turn his followers against me even more. They are barely holding themselves back, even the mere notion that two of the miracles they experienced- indeed, the entire reason they were capable of revering him- was because I was feeling contrary that day." He looked at me. "Given the chance, would you?"
I shook my head. "No. But I would make him question his faith, force him to understand what it is he is looking for, and whether he is genuinely faithful, or simply struggling to reconcile with the pointless suffering we are dealing with."
"A good answer." He raised his hands up and began to chant an incantation. His eyes glowed with unfathomable power, the symbols on the armor began to glow, and then he lowered his hands. He picked up the armor, looked it over, then nodded before setting it aside and grabbing an unmarked one.
"Master, may I ask what you are doing?"
"Enchanting." He said. "I am creating a relatively rare magic armor that provides greater protection to the wearer. There is no way we will avoid combat, at some point, our enemies will grow impatient, and they will seek to kill us before long."
"So, it's like my armor?" I asked.
"No. The armor I gave you is a legend unto itself, a copy of the artifact that is mine. This will be less protective, but will still save lives."
"Is there any way I can help?" I asked.
"Not at present." He said. "You need to maintain your good image among the Warren, tomorrow, you will approach the Temple of Bahamut and request atonement. Say that, while you cannot forsake your vow to me, you wish to make amends. This will reduce tensions, will make you appear more reasonable and amenable to their desires, and will ensure that- when the time comes- they will leap to your defense, rather than risk their lives for a traitor."
"I will do as you command, Master." I replied.
He smiled. "I like you, Ruuk. You don't ask unnecessary questions. Now, you should go out there and lend your power to those who need it, you have a duty to your people, which is important for when you become their king."
"As you command, Master." I headed downstairs and stepped out into the town.
​
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I thought I'd do this little write up, summarizing the events of 4 comics that lead up to Street Fighter 6's story. You know, for people on limited data, or just unaware of the ongoing story. Enjoy :).
Ken is using his inherited wealth to invest in a new country in Asia to help the people and attract more investors in the country. With what else than hosting a fighting tournament. An NGO lead by Johann Petrovich is also part of the investments, in fact he invited Ken to the whole thing. An ancient arena is renovated for the tournament and the opening ceremony is due next day. Ken is in conflict with his father's company board if they should invest in this country at all because it's not profitable, and he is arguing with them on phone in a car, on his way to visit the site. Meanwhile, Luke is transporting Mel, Ken's son to the same site from somewhere else. Mel isn't happy about being dragged around the world by his father instead of camping with his friends like normal kids. Luke is trying to befriend him and cheer him up - he is a private millitary / security organization soldier working for Johann's NGO.
Ken arrives on size and is given a tour by Johann and his assistant, Kalima. Johann is a local who appears to have a deep care for his culture, and even the king shows up and gives Ken a piece of cloth that was placed on the mythical hero of the country after he gave his heart in a fight against an evil dragon, according to legend. Johann shows everyone a drone network that he wants to use to livestream the tournament from every possible angle.
Not everyone is happy with the events however. There are violent protests against the government opening up the developing country to foreign influence. Kalima, Johann's assistant tries to speak up so Ken may hear about these events from the opposition's point of view because she believes Ken is truly here to help the people, but is quickly silenced by Johann.
On his way to a hotel, Ken's car is attacked by protestors. The car is fired at by many cars, crashing and exploding. Ken survives but got shot, but a board member who was in his support and a long time friend, dies along with the driver. An unknown group drags Ken away. Mel is trying to reach his always busy dad unsuccessfully, but Luke tries to cheer him up with a similar outcome.
Next day, the opening ceremony starts in the morning. Johann is giving an inspiring speech, and Luke arrives with Mel. Suddenly the worldwide broadcasting is interrupted by a recording, where a shady figure is meeting with Ken, claiming he is a radical leader of the opposition responsible for the chaos and violence and thanking Ken for his investments and support in organizing all of it, and Ken says he is happy to do so because it's profitable for his foundation too, as he is money laundering the bets made in crypto on the upcoming fights.
The public is outraged and demands answers from Johann still standing on the podium. He refuses to comment at this time and says he will investigate. The drones fall and explode around people. Mel is escorted to safety by Luke, back to the NGO HQ. As far as the world knows Ken is funding terrorism now.
Ken wakes up in an unknown location. The people who dragged him away were interpol agents working for Chun Li. She shows him the news, and of course Ken is burning in rage and confusion, demanding to know if his son is safe. Unable to answer, Chun Li orders him to stay put as they investigate, she believes him but Interpol does not - and Ken being Ken, he breaks out and escapes custody trying to find Mel.
Meanwhile there is a meeting in the NGO HQ. Johann orders his PMC to hunt Ken down for the safety of everyone. Mel is watching this from a window, as Luke can't take his eyes off of him, feeling sorry for the boy. In a flashback, we see Luke's parents die in a terrorist attack when he was the same age as Mel. He volunteers to capture Ken alive instead, and bring him to justice - Johann agrees. Luke promises Mel to bring his dad back alive, and leaves with his commando.
Shortly after, the shady masked figure Ken was seen with on record, kidnaps Mel.
Ken is on the streets, still wounded, trying to find Mel. While helping up a boy who fell, the boy recognizes him from the news and screams for help, forcing Ken to run away into a dark house. There he is greeted by the masked man - who reveals himself to be Johann.
Chun Li's sister figures out that the Ken seen on record was created using deepfake. At the same time, Johann reveals his intentions: he is doing the exact same as what fake-Ken (created by millions of images his drones took of Ken before) is accused of: spreading chaos in developing countries and reaping profits, while having legit infrastructure investments as a cover up. He reveals that his drones used everywhere in the city for transporting goods and providing security survailance are also equipped with explosives, and projects an image of the blindfolded, tied to a chair Mel on the wall with a drone under his chair, presenting Ken with a choice:
Play his part in the narrative, and remote explode the bombs around the city, or the one under Mel explodes in 3 minutes. Then Johann simply leaves. Facing an impossible choice, Ken decides to push the button, and the bombs go off: just when Luke and his men kick in the door, finding Ken alone in the dark house with a remote in his hand.
A cloaked figure shows up as Luke arrests Ken, helping him escape. Finding templorarly shelter somewhere far away, the figure reveals herself to be Kalima, who assisted Johann because she loves her country and believed Johann truly wants to help with his investments and attempting to have the world recognize the country with the tournament. She claims to be the victim of Johann aswell.
Later on, the tournament starts with Johann giving another speech. As first contender he announces, Ken shows up in the ring - presumably signed up by Kalima under a fake name - to everyone's shock. Luke is present as head of security (completely unaware of Johann's true nature) with his PMC. Mel is also here, seeing his father for the first time in weeks. As Ken attempts to confront Johann, Luke stands between them and they fight - while Johann already opened up bets on the darkweb. Luke prevails over the wounded former world champion, and his men capture him. Seeing his defeat, Kalima confronts Johann as he is walking out, but he pulls a knife out from his cane and stabs her in the stomach, (most likely) killing her as she collapses in the hallway.
We are back in Li Feng's home as she informs her sister Chun Li that she did some research on Johann, and turns out he is quickly moving from one NGO to another, having legit charity and infrastructure construction operations all around the world, but always using a different name for each project: the only constant linking them is that his acronyms are always JP. Upon attempting to search the dark web for JP, her computer screen is filled with black error messages and one word: Shadaloo.
The last scene implies an unknown lenght timejump, and shows (the now somehow free/escaped but still chased after) Ken wandering into a large metropolis, looking for Mel.
(Edited for typos, I'm on phone)

England - A van crashed into our home 4.30am Tuesday, chasing someone on a bike who had stolen tools. The bike was clipped and the van went through our front door metres away from our bed. The driver immediately reversed out (causing further damage and potential collapse) and attempted to grab the detached bumper.
New 20mph signs have been painted on the road, however the force of the crash has split bricks and created severe cracks across the entire property. The van went through the garden wall, the front doohallway and produced cracks in the internal bedroom wall. It ripped the electric metre out of the floor and the gas also cut out but luckily the gas pipe stayed intact.
After days of assessment on the property, during which we were out on the street as the property was deemed structurally unsafe, it has been decided that the property is not able to be lived in for a few months.
We currently rent this property, and have met with our landlord/insurance company. The insurance can cover another property at a like-for-like price. For 4 years we have paid £435 p/m, which is unreflective of the current rental market. Insurance claims we can either continue to pay £435pm to our landlord and they will house us in a hotel room with no kitchen and poor wifi (I wfh and need high speed internet, this would increase our food bills dramatically), or we can stop paying our landlord for the duration and pay rent at the new property, meaning our rent doubles each month, plus paying for new deposits, estate agent fees, removal vans, potentially storage space, etc.
As this incident was not our fault, it seems ridiculous that all of this botheextra cost is on us, and I'm confident that as the driver of the van was solely responsible (driving recklessly) surely he is accountable for the upheaval of our lives/subsequent costs?
My partner's lung collapsed 2 weeks ago and he is supposed to be recovering at home with no stress/exercise - as you can imagine this is not what has happened. I'm worried how this is affecting his health, we really need some advice/answers. Thank you

So, currently I have a 2012 Safari Dicor. The car is extremely reliable (if maintained) and has spacious seating. I have two dogs, who are comfortably seated if I fold all the seats behind the driver and co-driver. I take my dogs to yearly trips, mostly Goa/Karnataka. FYI I am from Pune. Recently, the Tata Service centres have been quoting me way too much for simple stuff and most of the time spare parts aren't available for my Safari. Hence I have started to look for cars which have comparable space, reliability and endurance. (On one of the trips, one of my coolant hose ruptured which led to no coolant in the system, i was in the middle of nowhere and no mobile coverage, i was still able to drive about 40 kms stopping frequently to drive down the engine temperature, and once the hose was fixed, the car was perfect again). According to my research: 1. Jeep Wrangler - ticks all my boxes, but it's about 20 lacs over budget, I could wait 1 year if I can't find something similar. 2. XUV 700. 3. Ford Endeavour. 4. Toyota Hilux - with canopy mod 5. Toyota Highlander
Key points - 1. Needs to be reliable in bad road/weather conditions. 2. Ground Clearance 3. Spacious seating. 4. Ability to fold seats of second and third row completely to form a flat surface. 5. Within 50-60 lac range (on road).

I've searched Parametrek, u/brokenrecord's defense reply, the arbitrary list, and searching this and other forums as well as google without success so far. I don't think my expectations are reasonable, but I want to check first before giving up on them. I am even more obsessed with other categories Parametrek covers, and from them I know it doesn't include everything out there.
Price Range: Sub-$150 ideal. Sub-$50 fantasy.
Purpose: 1- offhand light for use in home/farm defense, and then incorporated into a syringe firing grip. Scanning and identification with a WML is irresponsible and illegal.
I would like to be able to change the lumens for momentary mode. I do not want the momentary function to only activate turbo mode, So Acebeam EC35 Gen II is out. I don't want Anduril's momentary system. I shouldn't need more than 200 lumens indoors; any more could blind from bounceback. When I step out the door, the furthest I would hope to illuminate is 182m away. It'd be nice for momentary to activate turbo at that point.
2- general EDC light. This is why I want the powerbank feature. Being away from an outlet with just what is on me and discharging my phone faster than I estimated is a current bothersome scenario. I probably need to lose this expectation.
Battery Type & Quantity: I have 2 18650 cells and a Nitecore __ charger. I guess I could pocket carry a 21700 but that might be awkward. 1 or 2xAA or some other cell would be fine. I am suspicious of integrated cells, but that might be emotional. I like being able to have spares and swap rather than lock the light down to a charger when dead. I can be convinced otherwise.
Size: Pocketable in jeans or shorts. I will pick a separate light for dress clothes scenarios. I do fine EDCing an 18650.
Type: Handheld. Right-angle didn't work for me in a firing grip, though I appreciate such lights for their headlamp function.
Main Use: Addressed in purpose.
Switch Type: Tail momentary. Ideally double-tailswitch or something like u/brokenrecord mentions for "defense". I want to be able to activate momentary for any brightness, and ideally for strobe.
Anything Else?

1. Do I need dual springs for syringe-grip firing to prevent flicker or turning off under recoil?
2. IP67 at least.
3. I have an Armytek Partner C2 Pro v3 XP-L (Warm). Believe it or not, I have practiced with changing the mode in an ice-pick grip with my pinky or ring finger. Should I rely on that? Probaby not lol. But I appreciated that light. I had 2- 1 for EDC and 1 mounted on a rifle with a momentary switch. This was so the UI is consistent. I lost the EDC one. It did much of what I ask for, but the lowest mode was 1.8lm and the mode side switch is probably less than ideal.
4. In fantasy land, hi-CRI would also be lovely. I can settle for a warm tint.

Again, I know I am asking for a car that can haul a couch and do 0-60 in under 3 sec, but there is the Jeep Trackhawk and Model Y amongst others that can do that haha, so I thought I'd at least make sure no such jack-of-all-trades light exits before I give up. Thank you for your time and insights!

FULL STORY BELOW
INJURIES / TLDR: Deep laceration caused by glass. I severed the tendon, an artery, a large vein, and sensory nerves. The laceration was almost bone-deep; it cut through all layers of skin, fat, and muscle. I did not feel it happen. After noticing it, the sensation I felt was pressure. Slight burning, but mostly an ache. It's similar to stubbing your toe or dropping something on top of your foot.
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED: There was a glass vase on the floor. Ironically, I put it there so it wouldn't fall off the end table and shatter or if my dogs knocked it over it would topple onto the carpet. Yeah... about that. This story gets even more ridiculous 😆
I was expecting a DoorDash delivery of Jamba Juice. I had actually reordered because what I received earlier was super melted. Anyway, in my excitement I went to the door, looked through the peephole, and when I didn't see the delivery I must've spun around or maybe I was about to skip across my living room. I'm not 100% sure what laws of physics were involved here exactly but whatever I was doing there was momentum.
What I remember clearly is feeling the lip of the vase around my foot; I either knocked it over and my foot went inside it or I tripped and my foot went down and into the vase. I didn't feel the injury happen so I thought I had shaken it off my foot. I heard the glass shatter.
I didn't notice the injury until I stood up but I don't know if I fell down completely or I tripped but regained my balance and didn't fall.
Either way, it's evident that my foot was at an angle and my body weight caused the glass to basically impale me. If you see the second picture, that was immediately after it happened. I thought all that had happened was the layers of skin had been peeled back, kind of like the first incision a surgeon would make. I had no idea it was deep. I thought I'd gotten my foot out of the vase in time.
I'm sitting there on the floor, looking around for anything I can use to stop the bleeding. I couldn't stop the bleeding. The first inkling that this was bad was when I realized that, no, this just is actually a bowl and this bowl keeps filling with blood and spilling over. The carpet beneath my foot quickly became a satirated puddle you could splash in.
Then the DoorDash driver shows up. Well, sh*t. I want my smoothie. In the notes I said to just leave it at the door, but this guy was knocking. I felt weird doing this but I politely yelled, "You can leave it! Thank you! Will leave you a great review."
I crab walked to the door; I had my lower left leg crossed over my right one so I could keep the wound elevated but horizontal and stable, and grabbed my smoothie.
The adrenaline kicked in. I'm sweating, I'm nauseous, and I'm thinking to myself, "I'm glad I don't drive stick anymore," "Does one call 911 for this?" I was going to show my Pops property nearby (I'm a Realtor) so I texted him.
Together with an unknown neighbor, they carried me to my dad's car. To this day, there are still little blood droplet stains trailing from my front door, down the stairs, and all the way to my dad's car. I felt like royalty. Carry me, peasants.
Urgent care unwrapped the shirts I was using to cover the wound. Sadly, one of the shirts was my favorite. When they did this the bowl of blood that was my foot drained out on their floor. This was during COVID restrictions so gloves went on immediately, I felt awkward about that if they told me not to worry about it, it's okay. Several nurses came in, put those dog potty training pads all over the floor. The main doctor came in, wondering what the hustle and bustle was for. He took one look at the wound and said, "Whoa. So, we don't have the supplies necessary to stop the bleeding, figure out what's going on, or treat it. Go to the ER right away." Because you've severed an artery.
They did bandage my foot so that was nice. They still charged us $350 for a blue bandage, some gauze, and minutes of their time. I apologized for the massacre in their clinic. Fair is fair.
I go to the ER. I think my dad must've provided them with the urgent care receipt and explained what happened as I was taken back pretty quickly.
Heart rate was fast. Adrenaline still flowing. The pressure is now turning into a sharp ache. All in all, I was in the ER for 4-6 hours. They were busy. Had x-rays done. Got a tetanus shot.
One of the most part things I've ever experienced was the doctor that was showing a needle at different depths into the wound to numb it for stitches. You'll have to trust me on this one but I've got a great pain threshold. What took place on that evening had my white-knuckle gripping the arms on the hospital bed and shaking. My arms were sore afterward.
That doctor thought the tendon was only partially torn so he had a nurse put my lower leg in a split with my foot at a 90 degree angle so the ends of the tendon could grow back together. It wasn't 90 degrees enough for him so I had to go through that again.
He was rather aggressive cleaning the area prior to stitches, and he had me try and lift my ankle, lift my big toe, etc. It was doing this, IMO, that finally severed the tendon completely.
Look at PICTURE #1 and PICTURE #2. My toe hadn't dropped until the doctor was moving my foot, having me try to lift it, etc. So, I should've had surgery at 2 weeks but instead had CT scans at 2 weeks and surgery a MONTH later. Honestly, I wasn't upset.
The injury had already started forming scar tissue so during the surgery, the wound was completely re-opened.
I have thick adhesions now so I can't curl my toes and if I'm standing, I can't lift my big toe. The circulation is weird, too. my left foot is always MUCH colder than my right one. Occasionally, the adhesion feels tight and cramps. It's a sensation I feel along the full length of the tendon. It's bizarre considering we don't feel our tendons.
The most painful thing post-surgery was Day 2 and Day 3 anytime the medicine wore off. The only more painful was my mom's death.
The nerve damage is mostly on the top left of my foot. It doesn't hurt but if I touch it it the sensation is a weird buzzy, prickly feeling. The deeper nerve damage is one of the reasons I didn't feel the injury happen and perhaps why it wasn't as painful as it should've been.
From injury to being able to walk was two months. A "complete recovery" took 4 months. I was on crutches for 6-8 weeks and then a boot.
I had PT for a few weeks. I didn't have health insurance so it was $80 each time, lasted only half an hour so I stopped going. There was a lot of atrophy; my lower left leg was nearly half the normal size. I'm not a runway model but I've got a great walk; and then I didn't. It's back now.
It's been almost two years and I'm only just now able to stand on my tip toes and flex my calf muscle.
If anyone's interested, I can update this post and add progress pictures.
INJURIES: Severed the EHL tendon.
Goes from the knee, to the ankle, and then to the big toe. You need this tendon when you walk and it allows you to lift your foot up and down at the ankle.

Hi there!
Just sending an updated list of things I've loved for quality of life.
But also things I didn't like and returned. I'll mark them below and put a quick explanation so you'll have a heads-up on them.
​
LOVE THESE

Fenix E03R v2.0 Keychain Flashlight
Learned about this flashlight from a recent Youtube video. But I love that it's simple to use and it's compact and powerful. Unlike the RovyVon A1, the buttons make SENSE. I didn't like the Rovyvon A.
Layrite Natural Matte Cream, 1.5 oz
Been experimenting with different pomades and I actually rather like this one! I've tried Suavecito, Reuzel, Hanz de Fuko, Old Spice, American Crew, Fix Your Lid, Dove Polishing Pomade, etc. But I actually like this one the best. I also like how it easily applies but it also easily washes off with water.
Ohropax Soft Foam Ear Plugs (10 Ear Plugs)
These are just earplugs. Some might say overpriced. But I love the little case that it comes with. Makes it fantastic for travel.
Swiffer Heavy Duty Refills, Ceiling Fan Duster, 11 Count
I love this ceiling fan duster. It extends out. It also turns entirely up or down and is adjustable. I just find it super handy for dusting. Best of all, when done, you just toss out the duster and pop in a new one. I love that you can do that.
3 Tier Mesh Utility Cart, Rolling Metal Organization Cart with Handle and Lockable Wheels, Multifunctional Storage Shelves for Kitchen Living Room Office by Pipishell (Black)
Not putting the direct link but just copy and paste that into Amazon. I love this thing! It's so useful! I basically cart this around to put my equipment and slide it from room to room. It's super easy to put together and makes it so much easier to move components around.
Elgato Wave Microphone Arm LP - Premium Low Profile Microphone Arm with Cable Management (Renewed)
Bought this on Amazon and can vouch for it. It's now replaced my RODE PSA1. I love how this holds my microphone in place but doesn't fill up the screen.
OGUNUOKI Shoe Covers Disposable Recyclable -100 Pack(50 pairs) 15.7'' Hygienic Shoe & Boot Covers Waterproof Non-slip Shoe Booties for Indoors
I haven't yet had a chance to test these but I bought these in case a plumber or handyman comes in our house with messy shoes. They can now just wear these covers for their shoes.
Sennheiser IE 200 In-Ear Audiophile Headphones
I absolutely love these headphones.
SKUPSY 20 Pcs Mini Clear Plastic Box Square Jewelry Earplug Pill Storage Box Case Container with Lid for Storage of Small Items, Crafts, Jewelry, Hardware
Love these for small compact storage of earplugs for travel or for just random things for travel.
Colgate Max Fresh Wisp Disposable Mini Travel Toothbrushes, Peppermint, 24 Count (Pack of 4)
I think these are a bit too much. But I took about 3 of them with me on a recent trip and they were awesome. It's just handy especially in airplanes.
Cuisinart 726-38H Chef's Classic Stainless 14-Inch Stir-Fry Pan with Helper Handle and Glass Cover
Love this thing. It's basically a stainless steel wok. So you just dump it in the dishwasher and it's clean. So its' easier to deal with than a carbon steel wok.
RODE Videomic Go 2
Fantastic little microphone
​
RETURNED THESE OR DID NOT LIKE THESE

8Bitdo Lite Bluetooth Gamepad for Switch Lite, Switch & Windows (Yellow Edition)
Doesn't work on all my Steam games. Not reliable. Returned it.
8Bitdo SN30 Pro Wireless Bluetooth Controller with Joysticks Rumble Vibration USB-C Cable Gamepad Compatible with Switch,Windows, Mac OS, Android, Steam (Gray Edition)
Doesn't work on all my Steam games. Not reliable. Returned it.
Arm & Hammer Ultra Max Antiperspirant Deodorant 1 Ounce Travel Size (Pack of 2)
Didn't like this. It's very tough and pasty.
Dickies Men's Light Comfort Compression Over-The-Calf Socks, Black (2 Pairs)
Didn't like this. It's too bulky to bring for travel.
Final VR3000 – in-Ear Gaming Headset with Microphone for PC Gaming, Consoles and VR equipments
Bought these headphones because people mentioned it had great soundstage. Sound is pretty thin on these. Not very good.
OMOTON Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad 10.2(9th/ 8th/ 7th Generation)/ 9.7, iPad Air 4th Generation, iPad Pro 11/12.9, iPad Mini, and More Bluetooth Enabled Devices, White
Thought this would be a super cool and compact keyboard for travel. The Escape key doesn't work. It's honestly botched. You have to press FN+Escape for it to work. Any product that forces someone to change a workflow for the worst is poor product design imo so back to Whole Foods Amazon it went.

Introduction:
The fitness industry is growing rapidly, with more individuals seeking guidance and support in achieving their health and wellness goals. As a personal trainer, it's crucial to stand out in this competitive field and demonstrate your expertise and credibility. One way to achieve this is by obtaining a reputable certification. Among the various options available, ACE (American Council on Exercise) certification is highly regarded and sets personal trainers apart from the rest. In this article, we will explore why ACE certification is valuable and how it can help you excel as a personal trainer.
The Importance of Certification in the Fitness Industry:
Certification holds significant importance in the fitness industry for both trainers and clients. It serves as a benchmark that showcases a trainer's competence, professionalism, and dedication to ongoing education. With the increasing demand for qualified fitness professionals, clients are more likely to choose trainers who hold recognized certifications. It provides a level of assurance and builds trust in the trainer's abilities to guide and support clients in achieving their fitness goals.
Understanding ACE Certification:
ACE is a globally recognized organization that offers certifications for fitness professionals, including personal trainers. ACE certification goes beyond assessing theoretical knowledge; it emphasizes practical application and real-world skills. It focuses on providing trainers with the knowledge and tools needed to design safe and effective exercise programs, motivate clients, and deliver high-quality training sessions.
The Rigorous Process of ACE Certification
To earn ACE certification personal trainers must go through a rigorous process that demonstrates their competency in various areas. The process typically includes:
1. Prerequisites: Trainers must possess a high school diploma or equivalent and hold a valid CPAED certification.
2. Study Materials and Exam Preparation: ACE provides study materials and resources to help trainers prepare for the certification exam. These materials cover topics such as exercise science, anatomy, physiology, program design, and client assessment.
3. Certification Exam: Trainers must pass the ACE certification exam, which assesses their knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and principles related to personal training.
4. Practical Experience: ACE emphasizes the importance of practical experience. Trainers must demonstrate their ability to apply the knowledge they have gained through hands-on experience in training clients effectively and safely.
Comprehensive Knowledge and Skills:
ACE certification equips personal trainers with comprehensive knowledge and skills to excel in their profession. The certification covers a wide range of topics, including:
1. Exercise Science: Trainers gain an understanding of exercise physiology, biomechanics, and how the body responds to physical activity.
2. Program Design: ACE certification provides trainers with the skills to create individualized exercise programs tailored to their clients' goals, needs, and abilities.
3. Client Assessment: Trainers learn various assessment techniques to evaluate clients' fitness levels, identify limitations or health concerns, and develop appropriate training strategies.
4. Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching: ACE certification includes education on basic nutrition principles and lifestyle modifications to support clients' overall well-being.
5. Communication and Motivation: Trainers develop effective communication and motivational skills to establish rapport, provide support, and empower clients to achieve their fitness goals.
Credibility and Recognition:
ACE certification is widely recognized and respected in the fitness industry. Holding an ACE certification sets personal trainers apart from those without certification or with lesser-known certifications. Clients value the credibility that comes with an ACE-certified trainer, knowing that they are working with a qualified professional who adheres to industry standards and practices.
Continuous Education and Professional Development:
ACE certification is not a one-time accomplishment; it represents a commitment to continuous learning and professional development. ACE-certified trainers are required to maintain their certification by earning continuing education credits. This ensures that trainers stay updated with the latest research, trends, and advancements in the fitness industry, enabling them to provide the best possible guidance and support to their clients.
Setting Yourself Apart as a Personal Trainer:
Obtaining ACE certification sets you apart as a personal trainer in several ways:
1. Expertise and Competence: ACE certification demonstrates your expertise and competence in the field of personal training. It validates your knowledge, skills, and ability to deliver safe and effective training programs.
2. Client Trust and Confidence: ACE certification builds trust and confidence in your clients. They know they are working with a qualified professional who understands their unique needs and can guide them toward their fitness goals.
3. Career Opportunities: ACE certification opens up a wide range of career opportunities. Gyms, fitness centers, and health clubs often prefer hiring ACE-certified trainers due to the organization's reputation and stringent certification process.
4. Client Attraction and Retention: ACE certification enhances your marketability and helps attract potential clients. Your certification serves as a powerful marketing tool, showcasing your commitment to excellence and increasing your chances of client retention.
Conclusion:
ACE certification plays a vital role in setting personal trainers apart in the fitness industry. By obtaining ACE certification, trainers gain comprehensive knowledge, practical skills, and the recognition needed to excel in their profession. The certification not only provides credibility and trust but also opens doors to career opportunities and client attraction. As a personal trainer, investing in ACE certification is a valuable step toward establishing yourself as a competent and highly qualified fitness professional.
FAQs:
Q1: Is ACE certification recognized internationally?
A1: Yes, ACE certification is recognized globally and highly regarded in the fitness industry worldwide.
Q2: How long does ACE certification remain valid?
A2: ACE certification is valid for two years. Trainers must earn continuing education credits during this period to maintain their certification.
Q3: Can I pursue ACE certification if I have no prior fitness or training experience?
A3: Yes, ACE certification is suitable for individuals with varying levels of experience. However, it's essential to study the provided materials thoroughly and gain practical experience before taking the certification exam.
Q4: Can I specialize in specific areas within personal training with ACE certification?
A4: Yes, ACE offers specialized certifications in areas such as group fitness, health coaching, and sports conditioning, allowing trainers to further specialize and expand their expertise.
Q5: How can I find ACE-certified personal trainers in my area?
A5: The ACE website provides a search directory where you can find ACE-certified personal trainers near you. Simply enter your location, and the directory will display certified trainers in your area.

Introduction

When it comes to transforming the look and feel of your home, you don't need to break the bank or audition for a home renovation show. By implementing some budget-friendly and DIY-worthy home improvement tips, you can instantly increase the appeal and value of your property. In this blog, we will share our top 5 tips that can help you achieve a remarkable home renovation without spending a fortune.

Why Invest in Home Improvement?

Home improvement goes beyond aesthetics; it is also about enhancing functionality and creating a space that works better for you. Whether you're considering a central air unit installation, door relocation, or upgrading your windows, investing in home improvement allows you to reinvest in your home and reap long-term benefits. As professionals dedicated to creating exceptional homes, it's essential to ensure that the improvements you make are both budget-friendly and add significant value.

1.Get Creative with Paint

Are you envious of the beautifully decorated homes with their captivating color palettes? Well, the secret to transforming the character of your home lies in a simple can of paint. Adding a fresh coat of paint can entirely revamp the ambiance and style of any room. You can explore modern color schemes online or personally visit the store to mix and match shades that resonate with your vision. The cost of paint is relatively low, with most gallons priced around $30. This is a stark contrast to the approximately $1,000 often spent on hiring professional painters.

2.Refresh Your Bathroom

The bathroom holds significant importance in any home, and it can be a deciding factor for potential buyers. To enhance the appeal of your bathroom without undertaking a costly complete overhaul, consider refreshing a few key elements. Start by applying a new layer of grout and caulk around the bathtub, tiles, and sink for a clean and polished look. Additionally, updating finishes such as sink spouts, handles, lighting, and mirrors can create a modern and inviting atmosphere.

3.Add Color to Your Outdoor Spaces

The exterior of your home is the first impression potential buyers will have, and it's crucial to make it count. Sprucing up your outdoor spaces with vibrant flowers and plants can add instant curb appeal. Landscaping is an excellent way to enhance the beauty of your home, and you don't have to spend a fortune. By taking on the task yourself, you can achieve a total transformation for under $100. Research flowers and plants that are native to your area and will attract bees and birds, creating a picturesque and eco-friendly environment.

4.Update and Enhance Your Finishes

Upgrading and adding finishes throughout your home is a fantastic way to breathe new life into your living spaces. Consider replacing cabinet and door handles, faucets, and light fixtures to achieve a fresh and modern aesthetic. Opt for contemporary options like bronze, rose gold, mod matte black, or sleek steel finishes. Don't forget about crown molding, which can add an elegant touch to any room. By acquiring materials from a home goods store and taking accurate measurements, you can make a significant difference in the overall appeal of your space.

5.Pay Attention to Filters

One of the most practical home improvement tips is to regularly check and replace your filters. Ensuring clean air and water for future homeowners is essential. Replace air filters every 90 days, or every 60 days if there are pets in the house. Cleaning out your vents is another crucial step to reduce allergies and minimize dust accumulation. Remember to keep track of when to change your water filters as well. To elevate your space further, consider updating filter covers. Vent covers are now available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and finishes, allowing you to add charm to this often overlooked aspect of your home.

Conclusion

By following these five easy home improvement tips, you can transform your space, enhance its appeal, and increase its value without breaking the bank. Whether you're repainting rooms, refreshing your bathroom, adding color to your outdoor areas, updating finishes, or paying attention to filters, these budget-friendly and DIY-worthy projects can have a significant impact on your home's overall look and feel. So, roll up your sleeves, unleash your creativity, and enjoy the satisfaction of creating a space that you and potential buyers will love.
​
5-Easy-Home-Improvement-Tip-to-Enhance-Your-Space-and-Boost-design-Appeal-home-interior-design-tips-in-thane.html

I need help and this forum has guided me so much so here is the deal. I am entering into a Ch 7 but have a car loan with a credit union and a personal loan with same credit union, therefore the cross collateral clause is in full motion meaning I have to discharge both or pay both if I want to keep my car.
I have a 1.5% interest on my car loan and owe 50K and 4% APR on my personal loan and owe 29K. My car’s KBB value is between 47-52K.
My attorney and basically everyone is saying to enter them both instead of essentially having to pay 79K + interest for my car. However, I am stuck because while I agree there is no way I can be financed for another vehicle before filing as I lost my six figure income and currently unemployed. The only way I am making income right now is with DoorDash delivery and if I lose my car I lose everything that’s anything. Also, even if I find a company to finance me I am going to be stuck with sub prime interest rates 25%+ and a car that’s not covered by warranty and high mileage which to me is a greater risk in the long run.
Perspective: went from making a solid 260K a year to making 2K a month with DoorDash. Humility is a beautiful thing 😉 but this car situation has me in absolute confusion. Thoughts?

4/5 stars
This is my first Tom Clancy book. I first knew about Rainbow Six by the PC game that was launched together with the book back in the 90's. The "Rainbow Six" brand became one of the most famous Tom Clancy games of all time, together with Splinter Cell. There are big differences between the book and the game, especially in terms of firefights even though the first game is an strategy game first and a first person shooter second.
The Rainbow group is quite interesting. The characters are typical military stereotypes, but good ones. The low point is that they are mainly American and British with token non-Anglo-Saxons just for show. The German Weber and the French Loiselle do receive good coverage but the really important stuff is done by English-speakers, either US or British heroes. The game is far more "international" with Italian, Spanish, Austrian, Swedish, Russian and Brazilian operatives - others would join the group in the following games. The game also has women and demolitions and recon soldiers. Clancy should talk more about the soldiers whose unit gives the title of the story. Instead many pages are wasted in dull moments. The soldiers' names and biographies aren't mentioned for the most part of the story; this was a huge plot hole as unimportant people got more lines than the Rainbow commandos. The author really got it wrong in this part. Even in the first Rainbow Six game each character had a small bio (the Brazilian has its bio all wrong, starting by his Spanish name, but that's better than nothing). Curiously the most interesting character is the ex-KGB colonel Dmitriy Arkadeyevich Popov, and his character development is the best in the story. Popov constantly contrasts his experiences in both sides of the Iron Curtain, gets a major participation in most of the plots and we even get a little glimpse into his personal life - his father was also from the intelligence service and we hear about his sister, Maria Arkadeyevna, just to show the ordinary public that Russian names have gender modifications. The Russians are always dividing opinions, and even an American flag waver as Tom Clancy showed admiration for them - as shown in this book and others like The Hunt for the Red October.
The rescue operations are great and the preparation plus execution are breathtaking, with a lot about CQB (Close Combat Battle) and hostage rescue know-how; this is the heritage that remained in the video game franchise, with the most recent one "Rainbow Six: Siege" being solely dedicated to it. The jungle battle, on the other hand was very anti-climatic and disappointing. The first mistakes are geographical, with Manaus being in northern Brazil, not the center. The author mentions only two rivers, but the region is the single largest riverine basin in the globe; some places are acessible only by boat and aircraft. The correct spelling for the river close to the Horizon facility would be "Rio Grande", not "Río Grande". Those mistakes are excusable but the battle description is not. The first mistake is that one does not wear kevlar helmets in thick jungle: it would stiffle the troops for no discernible gain in terms of protection. If you look Brazilian, French, Ecuatorian and Colombian jungle footage, you will see soft headgear (jungle hats and caps), amazingly enough the game is more accurate in this case, with the player able to equip its men with either light (cap), medium (hat) and heavy (balaklava) jungle equipment.
The jungle of the Amazon is way more enclosed than the jungles of Southeast Asia, with very tall trees and the like (which does get mentioned in the narrative) thus making the combat distances very short. Plus, the battle happened at night, narrowing the fighting distance even further; it is common for pointmen to carry shotguns because of the short distance. The Rainbow soldiers were not trained in jungle operations and they should be using assault rifles with 5,56mm or 7,62mm ammo, not the M10 submachine guns used in Close Quarters Battle in urban perimeter (again, the game was more faithful). The 7,62mm is better for thick jungle because it turns cover into concealment. The bad guys are using the HK G3, which is good but Brazilian Amazon is "FAL country", with the Belgian classic a favorite for me. The firefight was dull and one-sided, with the Rainbow unit winning not by superior skill and fieldcraft, but because they had a magic technological gizmo - Heart Beat sensor - that won the battle for them. Typical American mindset, and a wrong one. The small unit action I was expecting didn't really materialize, and the American tech won the day once again. The small unit tactics should have won the battle with a firefight and wounded commandos, not the pathetic turkey shot it was.
Another fine point was the choice of enemies, that today may be seen as ridiculous but after the fall of the Soviet Union the left was shacken to its core and only the ecologists remained, and they did proclaim such absurd ideas as shown in the book, with activists claiming part of Humanity should be eradicated; and by the means suggested in the book. The usage of terrorists from a defeated ideology was brilliant in the way it showed the uncertainty of the immediate post-Cold War period. The training moments are great and more than once I caught myself smiling while reading this book, with the mundane things that happen in the barracks and the jokes between the Americans and Brits. Other than that, the professionalism of the Rainbow operatives, and the planning before the action under the direction of the psychologist Dr. Bellow (inspired in "I Dream of Jeannie" maybe?), followed by the fast pacing close combat action after doors are blown up are the main prizes of this Tom Clancy classic.

4/5 stars
This is my first Tom Clancy book. I first knew about Rainbow Six by the PC game that was launched together with the book back in the 90's. The "Rainbow Six" brand became one of the most famous Tom Clancy games of all time, together with Splinter Cell. There are big differences between the book and the game, especially in terms of firefights even though the first game is an strategy game first and a first person shooter second.
The Rainbow group is quite interesting. The characters are typical military stereotypes, but good ones. The low point is that they are mainly American and British with token non-Anglo-Saxons just for show. The German Weber and the French Loiselle do receive good coverage but the really important stuff is done by English-speakers, either US or British heroes. The game is far more "international" with Italian, Spanish, Austrian, Swedish, Russian and Brazilian operatives - others would join the group in the following games. The game also has women and demolitions and recon soldiers. Clancy should talk more about the soldiers whose unit gives the title of the story. Instead many pages are wasted in dull moments. The soldiers' names and biographies aren't mentioned for the most part of the story; this was a huge plot hole as unimportant people got more lines than the Rainbow commandos. The author really got it wrong in this part. Even in the first Rainbow Six game each character had a small bio (the Brazilian has its bio all wrong, starting by his Spanish name, but that's better than nothing). Curiously the most interesting character is the ex-KGB colonel Dmitriy Arkadeyevich Popov, and his character development is the best in the story. Popov constantly contrasts his experiences in both sides of the Iron Curtain, gets a major participation in most of the plots and we even get a little glimpse into his personal life - his father was also from the intelligence service and we hear about his sister, Maria Arkadeyevna, just to show the ordinary public that Russian names have gender modifications. The Russians are always dividing opinions, and even an American flag waver as Tom Clancy showed admiration for them - as shown in this book and others like The Hunt for the Red October.
The rescue operations are great and the preparation plus execution are breathtaking, with a lot about CQB (Close Combat Battle) and hostage rescue know-how; this is the heritage that remained in the video game franchise, with the most recent one "Rainbow Six: Siege" being solely dedicated to it. The jungle battle, on the other hand was very anti-climatic and disappointing. The first mistakes are geographical, with Manaus being in northern Brazil, not the center. The author mentions only two rivers, but the region is the single largest riverine basin in the globe; some places are acessible only by boat and aircraft. The correct spelling for the river close to the Horizon facility would be "Rio Grande", not "Río Grande". Those mistakes are excusable but the battle description is not. The first mistake is that one does not wear kevlar helmets in thick jungle: it would stiffle the troops for no discernible gain in terms of protection. If you look Brazilian, French, Ecuatorian and Colombian jungle footage, you will see soft headgear (jungle hats and caps), amazingly enough the game is more accurate in this case, with the player able to equip its men with either light (cap), medium (hat) and heavy (balaklava) jungle equipment.
The jungle of the Amazon is way more enclosed than the jungles of Southeast Asia, with very tall trees and the like (which does get mentioned in the narrative) thus making the combat distances very short. Plus, the battle happened at night, narrowing the fighting distance even further; it is common for pointmen to carry shotguns because of the short distance. The Rainbow soldiers were not trained in jungle operations and they should be using assault rifles with 5,56mm or 7,62mm ammo, not the M10 submachine guns used in Close Quarters Battle in urban perimeter (again, the game was more faithful). The 7,62mm is better for thick jungle because it turns cover into concealment. The bad guys are using the HK G3, which is good but Brazilian Amazon is "FAL country", with the Belgian classic a favorite for me. The firefight was dull and one-sided, with the Rainbow unit winning not by superior skill and fieldcraft, but because they had a magic technological gizmo - Heart Beat sensor - that won the battle for them. Typical American mindset, and a wrong one. The small unit action I was expecting didn't really materialize, and the American tech won the day once again. The small unit tactics should have won the battle with a firefight and wounded commandos, not the pathetic turkey shot it was.
Another fine point was the choice of enemies, that today may be seen as ridiculous but after the fall of the Soviet Union the left was shacken to its core and only the ecologists remained, and they did proclaim such absurd ideas as shown in the book, with activists claiming part of Humanity should be eradicated; and by the means suggested in the book. The usage of terrorists from a defeated ideology was brilliant in the way it showed the uncertainty of the immediate post-Cold War period. The training moments are great and more than once I caught myself smiling while reading this book, with the mundane things that happen in the barracks and the jokes between the Americans and Brits. Other than that, the professionalism of the Rainbow operatives, and the planning before the action under the direction of the psychologist Dr. Bellow (inspired in "I Dream of Jeannie" maybe?), followed by the fast pacing close combat action after doors are blown up are the main prizes of this Tom Clancy classic.

4/5 stars
This is my first Tom Clancy book. I first knew about Rainbow Six by the PC game that was launched together with the book back in the 90's. The "Rainbow Six" brand became one of the most famous Tom Clancy games of all time, together with Splinter Cell. There are big differences between the book and the game, especially in terms of firefights even though the first game is an strategy game first and a first person shooter second.
The Rainbow group is quite interesting. The characters are typical military stereotypes, but good ones. The low point is that they are mainly American and British with token non-Anglo-Saxons just for show. The German Weber and the French Loiselle do receive good coverage but the really important stuff is done by English-speakers, either US or British heroes. The game is far more "international" with Italian, Spanish, Austrian, Swedish, Russian and Brazilian operatives - others would join the group in the following games. The game also has women and demolitions and recon soldiers. Clancy should talk more about the soldiers whose unit gives the title of the story. Instead many pages are wasted in dull moments. The soldiers' names and biographies aren't mentioned for the most part of the story; this was a huge plot hole as unimportant people got more lines than the Rainbow commandos. The author really got it wrong in this part. Even in the first Rainbow Six game each character had a small bio (the Brazilian has its bio all wrong, starting by his Spanish name, but that's better than nothing). Curiously the most interesting character is the ex-KGB colonel Dmitriy Arkadeyevich Popov, and his character development is the best in the story. Popov constantly contrasts his experiences in both sides of the Iron Curtain, gets a major participation in most of the plots and we even get a little glimpse into his personal life - his father was also from the intelligence service and we hear about his sister, Maria Arkadeyevna, just to show the ordinary public that Russian names have gender modifications. The Russians are always dividing opinions, and even an American flag waver as Tom Clancy showed admiration for them - as shown in this book and others like The Hunt for the Red October.
The rescue operations are great and the preparation plus execution are breathtaking, with a lot about CQB (Close Combat Battle) and hostage rescue know-how; this is the heritage that remained in the video game franchise, with the most recent one "Rainbow Six: Siege" being solely dedicated to it. The jungle battle, on the other hand was very anti-climatic and disappointing. The first mistakes are geographical, with Manaus being in northern Brazil, not the center. The author mentions only two rivers, but the region is the single largest riverine basin in the globe; some places are acessible only by boat and aircraft. The correct spelling for the river close to the Horizon facility would be "Rio Grande", not "Río Grande". Those mistakes are excusable but the battle description is not. The first mistake is that one does not wear kevlar helmets in thick jungle: it would stiffle the troops for no discernible gain in terms of protection. If you look Brazilian, French, Ecuatorian and Colombian jungle footage, you will see soft headgear (jungle hats and caps), amazingly enough the game is more accurate in this case, with the player able to equip its men with either light (cap), medium (hat) and heavy (balaklava) jungle equipment.
The jungle of the Amazon is way more enclosed than the jungles of Southeast Asia, with very tall trees and the like (which does get mentioned in the narrative) thus making the combat distances very short. Plus, the battle happened at night, narrowing the fighting distance even further; it is common for pointmen to carry shotguns because of the short distance. The Rainbow soldiers were not trained in jungle operations and they should be using assault rifles with 5,56mm or 7,62mm ammo, not the M10 submachine guns used in Close Quarters Battle in urban perimeter (again, the game was more faithful). The 7,62mm is better for thick jungle because it turns cover into concealment. The bad guys are using the HK G3, which is good but Brazilian Amazon is "FAL country", with the Belgian classic a favorite for me. The firefight was dull and one-sided, with the Rainbow unit winning not by superior skill and fieldcraft, but because they had a magic technological gizmo - Heart Beat sensor - that won the battle for them. Typical American mindset, and a wrong one. The small unit action I was expecting didn't really materialize, and the American tech won the day once again. The small unit tactics should have won the battle with a firefight and wounded commandos, not the pathetic turkey shot it was.
Another fine point was the choice of enemies, that today may be seen as ridiculous but after the fall of the Soviet Union the left was shacken to its core and only the ecologists remained, and they did proclaim such absurd ideas as shown in the book, with activists claiming part of Humanity should be eradicated; and by the means suggested in the book. The usage of terrorists from a defeated ideology was brilliant in the way it showed the uncertainty of the immediate post-Cold War period. The training moments are great and more than once I caught myself smiling while reading this book, with the mundane things that happen in the barracks and the jokes between the Americans and Brits. Other than that, the professionalism of the Rainbow operatives, and the planning before the action under the direction of the psychologist Dr. Bellow (inspired in "I Dream of Jeannie" maybe?), followed by the fast pacing close combat action after doors are blown up are the main prizes of this Tom Clancy classic.

This girl, so let me tell you she's a hot mess. Whatever, she can do the job well (not a great people person but can do the tasks at hand). She was giving me a ride to work, she worked at 10pm, I worked at 11pm. She got me at like 10:15, but then had me go in to cover for her and said she'd come in when my shift started. She was already going off about one of the cooks she was sleeping with blocked her, and had shown up (not working, just came in) to our restaurant drunk as fuck the day before and passed out in the back booths. So I was like, okay it's a bad day, I gotchu, thanks for the ride.
But 11pm rolls around, and we have 6 tables and I took them and sat them because I thought she would be in by then. I had to keep apologizing saying their server would be right with them, and had to go out to her car to wake her up. She wasn't responding, and passed out over a dab pen, I had to bang on her window. She wasn't in by 11:20, and I was getting calls on the phone, people want to all order, and I'm starting to panic and run back out and she's just zombified.
She was ignoring customers, walking around in a daze. We had 8 tables and she only took 2 of them. She was unresponsive half the time, 3 seperate tables wanted her name to make complaints. I knew I could not run the restaurant with that many people by myself. I simply can't. I thought she was tired but turns out she also took edibles right before as well. Customers didn't want her to serve them because they were afraid she'd spill coffee on them, and one of them asked me if she was on hard drugs. That's how fucked up she was.
I didn't want to get her in trouble, but luckily another server came in (just to eat, dressed casually) and I had him call our manager as they weren't answering me. I knew someone was going to report her anyways to our manager, but was worried they'd report her to the corporation and she'd be terminated. They had me send her home and she's so fucking pissed and passive aggressively posting shit right now. I didn't tell to be a snitch, smoke if you're gonna and can function. But I needed to shut down the restaurant if I was going to have no help.
The managers tried to tell me to "make it work and send her home" and I wasn't going too and just lock the fucking doors, but the visiting server hopped on board and helped me all night. He was a godsend at that moment. But this girl is trying to tell our manager it wasn't drug related and paint out that I'm just crazy to all our coworkers to cover up.
She passed out in the parking lot in her car until 5am. Why would I make that up? It was one of the most stressful days of my work career there. Now I have to go in tomorrow and explain to everyone why I "snitched". Next time I'm going throw her under the bus to everyone. I'm not trying to help next time.
Why would anyone get that fucking high and try to work? I don't understand. Now I feel like I'm crazy but the server who hopped on told me she was unresponsive in general as well, so I'd like to believe it was justified.
That's the end of my rant.
Edit; she claims she took 4-5 edibles, and then hit the dab pen.

Respect Juggernaut

This won’t hurt me! Nothing can!
♫Theme
Cain Marko was the son of nuclear scientist Kurt Marko, who worked in Alamogordo, New Mexico with Brian Xavier. After Brian died in a lab accident, Kurt married Brian’s widow Sharon for her family’s money, resulting in Cain becoming the stepbrother of the Xavier’s son Charles, the eventual founder of the X-Men. Kurt proved to be an abusive father to both Cain and Charles, which combined with Cain’s jealousy over his brother’s telepathy, fostered a lasting resentment between the two of them. After Kurt died saving them from another lab accident, Charles and Cain would end up serving with the army together in Korea. During their service, Cain would stumble across a cave that had a temple dedicated to the powerful mystic being known as Cyttorak. Touching a crimson gem at the heart of the temple, Cain was transformed into Cyttorak’s avatar on Earth, an unstoppable human Juggernaut. Shortly after, the cave collapsed, with Xavier barely managing to escape. Years later Cain would dig his way out and seek revenge on Charles for the perceived slights he had inflicted upon him. In doing so, Cain would come into conflict with the X-Men, Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Doctor Strange, and many other superheroes before eventually burying the hatchet with his brother. However, despite joining the X-Men and later Thunderbolts, Cain would return to being a villain each time. Throughout his life and various goals and motivations, only one constant has remained for Cain Marko. No matter the obstacle, he will never stop.
This respect thread is abridged due to Juggernaut’s large number of appearances. A full version is available on the Juggernaut Mega Respect Thread, with links to the unabridged sections posted where appropriate.

Key and explanation of periods where Juggernaut was stronger or weaker than normal

• [50%] Briefly lost half of his power after Black Tom absorbed it
• [X] Was made weaker by Cyttorak after deciding not to do his bidding anymore
• [T] Was made weaker by Cyttorak after he was angered by Juggernaut temporarily becoming Captain Universe
• [Kuurth] Became possessed by one of the Serpent's Asgardian Worthy named Kuurth after picking up his hammer
• [Once and Future] Had his power completely removed by Cyttorak but regained it after taking the place of an alternate universe Cain Marko, though it began to fade
• [Unstoppable] Was given more power by Cyttorak than he had given anyone else

Strength

Unabridged Force Field and Advancing Sections

Force Field

• Needs his helmet to use his force field - Uncanny X-Men #32
• Transforms a metal gauntlet into a new helmet - Amazing Spider-Man #628
• Can summon his helmet and armor out of thin air - Venom: The Madness #1
• Pushes Professor X's wheelchair back with a wave of force - Uncanny X-Men #13
• Stops a 10 ton rolling steel barrel with a current of energy and rolls it back through a wall and into Beast hard enough to knock him out - Uncanny X-Men #13
• Shoots globules of sheer energy, with a single one powerful enough to break a tree in half - Uncanny X-Men #46

Advancing

• Exerts enough pressure to buckle and shatter a metal wall that had 50 times the tensile strength of battleship steel - Uncanny X-Men #12
• [Limits] Loses his footing after some stairs he was climbing are turned to ice by Iceman - Uncanny X-Men #13
• Shatters a concrete power station by running through it - Amazing Adventures #16
• His powers let him swim in water even though he should be heavy enough to sink - Amazing Adventures #16
• [Limits] Sinks in water after Colossus knocks him into it unexpectedly - Spider-Woman (1978) #38
• Knocks Hulk over a hill and shatters it with a single charge - Hulk #172
• Walks through a building while Spider-Man was trying to pull him back - Amazing Spider-Man #229
• [Limits] Sinks to bottom of a 40 foot foundation of wet cement - Amazing Spider-Man #230
• Walks through miles of bedrock and fractures the tectonic plates under Manhattan, which results in a catastrophic earthquake months later - Amazing Spider-Man #629, 628-629
• Holds onto Thor's hammer as it’s returning to him and tackles him through five boxcars and into a building hard enough to shatter part of it and knock him out - Thor #411
• Knocks down a uh... certain skyscraper by charging into it - Spider-Man (1990) #16
• Literally walks over Thunderstrike when he tries to push him back - Thunderstrike (1993) #2
• Makes footprints in concrete - Professor Xavier and the X-Men (1995) #13
• Charges into War Hulk and pushes him through hundreds of meters of rock, though Hulk is eventually able to stop his advance - Hulk #457
  • War Hulk was strong enough to lift and throw one of the pyramids of Giza - Hulk #456
• Rams his fellow Exemplar Stonecutter through a stone staircase - Juggernaut (1999) #1
• [X] Him and Sasquatch collide into each other hard enough to create a large crater in the ground, with Juggernaut being the first to recover - Uncanny X-Men #422
• [X] Climbs through a pile of wreckage and causes the ground the shake and knock cars into the air - New Excalibur (2006) #6-7
• Fights evenly with World War Hulk and pushes him back, undermining the foundation of the X-Mansion, though Hulk is able to knock him away by sidestepping him and adding to his momentum - World War Hulk: X-Men 3
  • World War Hulk was strong enough to prevent the crust of a planet from splitting by shifting tectonic plates - Hulk (2000) #102
• [T] A Raft scientist says he has endless kinetic energy and is unstoppable once he begins charging - Thunderbolts #144
• [T] Charges downwards through 1.3 kilometers of bedrock - Thunderbolts #149
• [Kuurth] The X-Men try at least 42 plans to stop him from walking towards San Francisco that all prove ineffective, including:
  • Face shooting him with a unique energy annihilation beam
  • Teleporting him to the bottom of the sea and the heart of the sun
  • Siryn combining her sound energy with Dazzler's sound-to-light powers to generate an extreme intensity laser
  • Gambit and Rockslide combining their explosion powers to create a detonation that nearly exhausted Cecilia Reyes from the effort of protecting civilians with her force shield
  • Magneto throwing an aircraft carrier into him - Uncanny X-Men #542
• Charges through a force wall government scientists couldn't find a way to penetrate - Dark Avengers #181-182
• D-Cel, a mutant that can slow down kinetic motion to the point objects stop falling, can't stop Juggernaut from advancing towards her - Juggernaut (2020) #1

Unabridged Striking and Lifting Sections

Striking

• Creates an earthquake across a valley that causes a cliff to collapse by slamming the ground - Uncanny X-Men #33
• Stuns Hulk with his blows - Hulk #172
• Backhands a 3 ton steel ball thrown at him by Spider-Man through a building, causing its side to collapse - Amazing Spider-Man #230
• Incapacitates the Thing in three hits - Secret Wars II #7
• Backhands Rogue across Edinburgh and through a stone wall - Uncanny X-Men #218
• Punches Captain Britain through hundreds of meters of ground and incapacitates him with two more strikes - Excalibur (1988) #3
• Knocks out Professor Hulk after a prolonged fight while not wearing his armor or helmet - Hulk #402
  • Professor Hulk was strong enough to punch through doors capable of withstanding a nuclear blast - Hulk #410
• Levels a building with a punch - Deadpool: The Circle Chase #2
• Splinters apart the God Machine and the glacier it was on top of in an exchange of blows with Stonecutter and overpowers him - Juggernaut (1999) #1
• [X] Punches Rhino into a concrete wall hard enough to shatter it - Uncanny X-Men #435
• [X] Causes World War Hulk spit blood with a punch - World War Hulk: X-Men #2
• Punches a force field hard enough to create earthquakes registered at magnitude 4.6 and 8.0 - Hulk #602
• [Kuurth] Destroys more than half of the Raft island prison with a strike - Fear Itself #2, Thunderbolts #158
• [Kuurth] Punches Moonstone miles away - Thunderbolts #160-161
• [Kuurth] Strikes the ground hard enough to create a massive crater and a tremor registered at magnitude 0.6 - Thunderbolts #160-161
• [Kuurth] Levels Salem Missouri with a strike - Fear Itself: The Home Front #3, Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt #3
• [Once and Future] Makes Colossus spit blood with his punches and overpowers him - Amazing X-Men (2014) #17
• [Unstoppable] Slams the ground hard enough to create a massive crater - Amazing X-Men (2014) #19
• Knocks out Immortal Hulk after a prolonged fight with the help of D-Cel and a gamma radiation siphon - Juggernaut (2020) #1
• Shatters a metal vault door - Juggernaut (2020) #4

Lifting, pushing, pulling, throwing, grip, etc.

• Snaps a steel cable as if it were paper - Uncanny X-Men #12
• Sweeps the O5 X-Men aside - Uncanny X-Men #12
• Pulls Hulk's head from behind and starts to break his neck, though he overpowers him due to getting angry - Hulk #172
• Tears apart a solid concrete wall reinforced with steel - Spider-Woman (1978) #37
• Rips off and lifts the corner of a building - Amazing Spider-Man #230
• Lifts a tank by its turret and swings it onto another tank hard enough to wreck both of them - Marvel Team-Up #150
• [50%] Black Tom with half of his power suplexes a building - Marvel Team-Up #150
• Throws the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak into orbit - Marvel Team-Up #150
• Throws a boxcar into a weakened Thor hard enough to hurt him before lifting another one and ramming it into him - Thor #411
• Sends a pile of debris created from two boxcars getting thrown into him flying with a shrug - Thor #412
• Shatters a steel cocoon encasing him - Thor #412
• Sends tanks flying with a swipe of his arm - The All New Exiles (1995) #1
• Holds up a collapsing building - The All New Exiles (1995) #3
• Rips up a massive chunk of the street and throws it into a SWAT van hard enough to crumple it - Spider-Man (1990) #84
• Throws a truck through a building while weakened - Uncanny X-Men #361
• Rips off and swings the corner of a building while weakened - Uncanny X-Men #361
• Starts crushing Thor with a bear hug - Thor (1998) #17
• [X] Pushes a tank onto its back - X-Men (1991) #160
• [X] Flexes out of ice that was covering him - New Excalibur (2006) #2-3
• [X] Holds onto a metal beam with his fingers while being dragged underground until it snaps in half - New Excalibur (2006) #7
• [T] Pins down Luke Cage - Thunderbolts #150
• [Kuurth] Magneto can't stop his hammer after he throws it despite it being made of metal - Uncanny X-Men #541
• Rips off an icicle the size of a person and throws it through a Frost Giant - Punisher Kill Krew #3
• Swings an Asgardian dragon by the tail and into the ground hard enough to crater it - Savage Avengers (2019) #14

Unabridged Durability Section

Durability w/ Force Field/Armor

Blunt

• Only slowed down slightly by a continuous optic blast from Cyclops and a punch and kick from Angel - Uncanny X-Men #13
• [Limits] Angel is able to rip off his helmet after Beast loosens it - Uncanny X-Men #13
• Fine after Hulk strikes him in the back and tears up the rock under him - Hulk #172
• Fine after Colossus kicks him into a stone wall hard enough to make it collapse on them and knock Colossus out - Uncanny X-Men #102
• Started welding his helmet on with a laser torch, making it hard for Spider-Man to pull it off - Amazing Spider-Man #230
• [50%] Fine after Spider-Man yanks out a manhole cover he was standing on while he was stretching his webbing, so that it slingshots him into Black Tom hard enough to make a building collapse - Marvel Team-Up #150
• Started bolting on his helmet, making it hard for Colossus to rip it off - Marvel Team-Up #150
• Unharmed after getting struck with 1.37 kilotons of steel by Nimrod - Uncanny X-Men #194
• No-sells a punch from Rogue that shattered every window on a street - Uncanny X-Men #218
• His force field kills all of the momentum of Thor's hammer after he threw it at him - Thor #411
• Unharmed from Nova and Namorita throwing two boxcars into him - Thor #412
• No-sells a full force hammer strike from Thor - Thor #429
• Hurt but mostly unharmed after getting punched by Post-Crisis Superman - DC Versus Marvel #1
• Knocked out but quickly recovers after getting hurled from Canada to Hoboken by Onslaught - Uncanny X-Men #322
• Fine after War Hulk throws him from Giza to Cairo - Hulk #457
• Fine after getting punched through a concrete wall by War Hulk, though he's able to remove his helmet before he can get up - Hulk #457
• No-sells Spider-Man punching him with everything he had - Spider-Man (1990) #84
• Unharmed by a rain of blows from Thor that shatter the street around them - Thor (1998) #17
• Unharmed by a optic blast from Cyclops that he says had enough force to rip a small planet in half - Cyclops (2001) #1
• Fine after getting punched from Earth to Mars by Skaar - Hulk #602
• [T] Still able to fight after taking several attacks from Thor, Luke Cage, and Iron Man that make a large crater and shatter a cliff - Thunderbolts #150
• [Kuurth] Unharmed after Hope Summers with the powers of the X-Men flies into him hard enough to shatter a highway - Uncanny X-Men #541
• A non-Mjolnir Uru hammer shatters when Thor hits him with it - Thor (2018) #1
• [Limits] Thor makes him spit teeth by hitting him with a bigger Uru hammer, though Thor broke it and dozens more to knock him out - Thor (2018) #1
• Fine after getting punched into the sewers through part of a building and the street by Venom - Venom (2018) Annual #1
• Fine after getting punched through six stories of a building by Quicksand - Juggernaut (2020) #3
• His force field stops Swarm's bees from touching him - X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #19

Piercing/Cutting

• No-sells a bazooka shell - Uncanny X-Men #33
• A spinning helicopter blade breaks upon hitting him - Uncanny X-Men #33
• Isn't cut by Wolverine's claws - Uncanny X-Men #102
• No-sells a concentrated barrage from assault rifles and rocket launchers that would reduce a house to splinters - Amazing Spider-Man #229
• No-sells a point blank tank round - Marvel Team-Up #150
• [Limits] Shatterstar's swords that were forged in a dimension of magic and science are able to cut through his flesh and helmet - Spider-Man (1990) #16, X-Force (1991) #4
• No-sells several tank rounds - The All New Exiles (1995) #1
• [X] No-sells assault rifle rounds - X-Men (1991) #160
• [X] Sabretooth's claws gouge but don't cut through his helmet - X-Men (1991) #162
• [X] No-sells bullets while a knife shatters upon hitting him - New Excalibur (2006) #14
• [X] Still able to fight after getting slashed across the chest and back with a sword by another Juggernaut, and catches the sword in his hand - New Excalibur (2006) #15
• [X] Fine after getting blasted through a concrete wall by some firearm - New Excalibur (2006) #16
• Unharmed from Skaar hitting him with his sword - Hulk #602
• Survives but is knocked out after getting hit by a giant Asgardian rocket launcher - Punisher Kill Krew #4

Sound

• Unharmed by a sonic scream from Banshee that shatters the stone floor under him - Uncanny X-Men #103
• Unharmed by a sonic scream from Siryn - X-Force (1991) #3
• Fine after getting hit by a sonic scream from Siryn that causes a building to collapse - Deadpool (1994) #3-4

Heat

• Unharmed by jets of chemical flame - Uncanny X-Men #13
• The Human Torch’s flames can't penetrate his force field - Uncanny X-Men #13
• Unharmed from a speeding tanker truck crashing into him and exploding - Amazing Spider-Man #230
• No-sells a microwave blast from Firestar that caused his armor to glow white hot - Thor #412
• Unharmed by Firestar melting a pile of steel girders surrounding him - Thor #412
• Unharmed from a vat of molten metal being poured on him - Deadpool (1994) #2
• Hurt but mostly unharmed after falling into molten steel while weakened - Juggernaut (1997) #1
• Rocked but doesn't fall after Inferno blasts him with enough sheer energy to vaporize countless tons of titanium steel in a split second - Avengers (1998) #24
• [X] Was supposedly fatally burned but still able to move briefly after taking the brunt of a flammable liquid explosion that destroyed part of a building - Uncanny X-Men #420
• [Kuurth] Unaffected by Adam-X igniting his blood - Uncanny X-Men #542
• Unharmed by Pyro's flames - Uncanny X-Men (2019) #16

Cold

• Unharmed after falling into a frozen lake - Cyclops (2001) #1
• [X] Fine after getting knocked through a stone wall by a stream of ice from Iceman - Uncanny X-Men #411
• [Kuurth] His helmet is only slightly cracked after Iceman lowers its temperature to absolute zero and Colossus punches it - Uncanny X-Men #541

Electricity

• Unharmed by a 20,000 volt electric fence - Amazing Adventures #16
• No-sells a lightning bolt from Storm - Uncanny X-Men #102
• No-sells a full strength venom blast from Spider-Woman - Spider-Woman (1978) #37
• Hurt but mostly fine after Storm and Spider-Woman blast him with enough electricity to cause a ship to explode - Spider-Woman (1978) #38, Amazing Spider-Man #229
• Unharmed from a million volts arcing over him - Amazing Spider-Man #229
• No-sells Thor calling down a lightning bolt on him - Thor #412
• Still conscious after Bishop channels enough volts of electricity to maintain the city of Hoboken through him while weakened - Uncanny X-Men #322
• Unharmed by electrical blasts from the Max Dillon and Francine Frye Electros - Sinister War #4

Light

• Recovers in minutes from a strobe effect created by Dazzler that she thought would stun him for an hour - Uncanny X-Men #217
• No-sells a photon blast from Dazzler that used all her power and that she says would've punched a hole through a mountain - Uncanny X-Men #217-218

Energy

• Fine after Nimrod knocks him through a concrete wall and into a construction site hard enough to make a crater with an energy blast - Uncanny X-Men #194
• A God-Blast from Thor that crumbles the concrete foundation he was standing on only pushes him back - Thor #412
• Tanks an energy blast from Frankie Raye Nova while weakened - Doctor Strange (1988) #44
• Unharmed after getting hit by an energy blast from Stellaris that created a massive hole in the road - Thunderstrike (1993) #2
• Walks through a continuous bio-energy blast from Chamber, though he's a hurt a little - Generation X (1994) #61
• No-sells an energy blast from Black Tom - Generation X (1994) #61
  • Black Tom's energy blasts can wreck a tank - Spider-Woman (1978) #38
• [X] Survives getting hit by a plasma blast from Havok that created a trench in the ground - X-Men (1991) #162-163
• [Kuurth] Unharmed after Hardball blasts him with a sphere of energy that destroys part of Las Vegas and helps cause an earthquake that collapses skyscrapers - Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt #3-5
• Tanks a blast of the power cosmic from Cosmic Ghost Rider - Wolverine: Black, White & Blood #3

Chemical

• Unharmed by Night Thrasher's acid bombs - Thor #412

Adhesive

• His force field prevents Spider-Man's webbing from sticking to him - Amazing Spider-Man #229, Marvel Team-Up #150

Biological

• Still able to fight after his fellow Exemplar Conquest hits his pressure points - Juggernaut (1999) #1
• [T] Resists being mutated by the Terrigen Mists - Thunderbolts #146
• [Kuurth] Burns out nanites in his body designed to knock him out - Thunderbolts #145, 160
• [Kuurth] Starts dissolving Mercury after she fills his lungs with his internal fauna and antibodies - Uncanny X-Men #542
• Survives but is knocked out by a plant manipulator growing valerian inside of his body - X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #17

Matter Manipulation

• Nimrod's disintegrator beam affects a steel I-beam he was holding but not him - Uncanny X-Men #194

Phasing

• Hurt but still able to fight after Vision briefly phases his hand into his head before increasing his density - Hulk #403
• Unharmed by Viv Vision phasing into him and becoming tangible - Deadpool (2018) #2

Magic

• [Limits] Thor is able to create a cone that negates all mystical energy and removes Juggernaut's force field by making his hammer spin around them - Thor #429
• Unharmed after hurling Stonecutter into the core of God Machine, causing it to explode and release enough mystical energy to destroy a glacier - Juggernaut (1999) #1, Avengers (1998) #24
• [T] Still able to fight after getting hit by cannon shot that had poltergeists smelted into it that emerge out of his shoulder - Thunderbolts #156-157
• Unharmed by the Scarlet Witch's hexes - Uncanny Avengers (2015) #29

Soul/Life Force

• Only has a headache after D'Spayre consumes enough of his soul/life essence to give most mortals a coronary rupture - Juggernaut (1997) #1
• [T] Quickly recovers after running through a human mutated by the Terrigen Mists that could drain life force with a touch - Thunderbolts #146-147
• [Kuurth] Casts out Ghost and Satana after the former combines his intangibility with the latter's magic to try and free his soul from Kuurth/the Serpent's control - Thunderbolts #160

Power Absorption/Nullification

• Rogue can only absorb a portion of his power - Uncanny X-Men #218
• [Kuurth] Rogue trying to absorb his powers incapacitates her - Uncanny X-Men #542
• Cut off his link to Cyttorak while keeping his powers by using the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to make a new armor - Juggernaut (2020) #3-4
• A power dampener doesn't work on him - X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #14, 18
• The Human-Adaptoid can't use the Absorbing Man's powers to absorb Juggernaut's powers - X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #17

Mental

• His helmet protects him from any mental attack - Uncanny X-Men #13
• Unaffected by Professor X's telepathy - Uncanny X-Men #12
• Unaffected by Rachel Summers telepathy - Marvel Team-Up #150
• Eventually made a smaller helmet from scraps of the original that also protects him from mental attack, which he wears underneath it - Marvel Team-Up #150
• Resists Dazzler using light to hypnotize him - Uncanny X-Men #217
• Psylocke manages to hurt him through his helmet with a psycho blast, though it only stuns him for a moment - Uncanny X-Men #218
• Fine after getting stabbed with Psylocke's psychic knife while weakened - Uncanny X-Men #322
• Resists his fellow Exemplar Bedlam's telepathy - Juggernaut (1999) #1
• Captain Universe can't read his mind - Amazing Spider-Man #629

Durability w/o Force Field/Armor

Blunt

• Fine after Hulk swings him around hard enough to rip off his helmet and send him flying into a cliff - Hulk #172
• Fine after getting tackled from behind and through a wall by Colossus - Uncanny X-Men #183
• Unharmed from a building collapsing on him - Uncanny X-Men #183
• Fine after Rogue absorbs some of his power and throws and flies into him hard enough to create a massive crater in a rail line - Uncanny X-Men #218
• Still able to fight after getting pummeled for nearly a minute by Thor - Thor #429
• [X] Fine after getting tackled through a house by Sasquatch - Uncanny X-Men #432-433
• [X] Unharmed from a double-decker bus crashing into him hard enough to total itself - New Excalibur (2006) #3
• [X] A continuous optic blast from Earth 6141 Cyclops doesn't even slow him down - New Excalibur (2006) #3
• Survives getting thrown to Earth from orbit by Captain Universe - Amazing Spider-Man #629, 627
• [T] King Hyperion hurts his hand punching Juggernaut in the head repeatedly - Thunderbolts #153
• [Kuurth] Tanks getting tackled through the deck of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge by Colossusnaut - Uncanny X-Men #543
• [Kuurth] Still able to fight after getting pummeled by Colossusnaut hard enough to collapse a building - Uncanny X-Men #543

Piercing/Cutting

• No-sells a tank round - Excalibur (1988) #3
• [X] Unharmed by minigun rounds - Uncanny X-Men #433
• [X] Still able to fight after getting stabbed in the abdomen by Rhino's horn - Uncanny X-Men #435

Sound

• [Limits] Incapacitated by tight beam ultra high frequency sonics from Nimrod - Uncanny X-Men #194
• [T] Still able to stand after Iron Man blasts him with enough localized sound to put down a whole regiment - Thunderbolts #150

Cold

• Unharmed from getting encased in ice by Iceman - Uncanny X-Men #33
• [X] Unharmed from getting covered in ice by Earth 6141 Iceman - New Excalibur (2006) #2-3
• [Once and Future] Tanks getting launched into the air by a stream of ice from Iceman - Amazing X-Men (2014) #17

Heat

• [T] Hurt but mostly fine after getting hit by King Hyperion’s atomic vision - Thunderbolts #153

Gravity

• [X] Survives getting sucked in by Xorn's black hole along with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and ending up in the Mojoverse, though they survived as well - X-Men (1991) #164, Uncanny X-Men #460

Light

• [X] Unharmed after getting launched far into the distance by a photon blast from Dazzler

Energy

• No-sells a continuous energy blast from Nimrod right after he used one to create a large hole in a concrete wall - Uncanny X-Men #194
• [X] Fine after getting knocked through a thick stone wall by an energy blast from the Shadow King - New Excalibur (2006) #3
• Unharmed after getting knocked through a concrete wall and from Upper Manhattan to the New Jersey Palisades by an energy blast from Captain Universe - Amazing Spider-Man #627-628

Chemical

• [X] Unharmed by Mammomax's stomach acid - X-Men (1991) #164

Biological

• [X] Possibly unaffected by Polaris trying to reverse his blood flow with magnetism to knock him out - Uncanny X-Men #426

Mental

• Manages to keep moving out of hatred after Professor X attacks him telepathically, though he's knocked out with a second attack - Uncanny X-Men #13
• [Kuurth] Emma Frost is incapacitated from trying to affect his mind - Uncanny X-Men #541-542
• [Unstoppable] Rachel Summers can't read his mind - Amazing X-Men (2014) #19

Unabridged Endurance, Speed, Skill, and Temporary Powers Sections

Endurance and Regeneration

• Barely slowed down by enough sleeping gas to stop a herd of elephants and a gas that causes loss of balance - Uncanny X-Men #12
• Doesn't get tired - Amazing Adventures #16
• Starts to age rapidly due to strange forces in a dimension Eternity cast him into, but is able to remain young as long as he feels hate - Doctor Strange #182, Amazing Adventures #16, Hulk #172
• Doesn't need air, food, or water - Amazing Spider-Man #230, 629
• Quickly regenerates after getting stabbed in the eye and cut several times by Shatterstar's swords - Spider-Man (1990) #16, X-Force (1991) #4
• Still able to move after D'Spayre absorbs most of his power and uses it to reduce him to a skeleton, and quickly regenerates after getting it restored - Juggernaut (1997) #1
• [X] Seems like he needed air after being weakened - Uncanny X-Men #412
• [X] Later walked from somewhere in the Yellow Sea to South Korea however - New Excalibur (2006) #13-14
• [T] Needs air - Thunderbolts #145
• [T] Still able to fight after King Hyperion breaks his knee - Thunderbolts #153

Speed

• Grabs Angel and shoves him into the path of Cyclops optic blast before he can redirect it - Uncanny X-Men #13
• Nearly as fast as Beast and ducks under a tree swung by him - Amazing Adventures #16
• Catches a girder slingshot at him by Spider-Man - Amazing Spider-Man #230
• Slaps Speedball out of the air - Thor #412
  • Speedball was fast enough to dodge gunmen at point blank range - Speedball #1
• Tags Spider-Man with a backhand after tearing off some webbing he sprayed in his eyes - X-Force (1991) #4
• Smashes through a wall to catch two people falling - The All New Exiles (1995) #2
• Fights evenly with Conquest, who was fast enough to grab Quicksilver on the run - Juggernaut (1999) #1, Avengers (1998) #25
• Dodges energy blasts from two Sentinels using some kind of hovercraft - X-Men Forever (2001) #5
• [Kuurth] Catches up to a speedster called Nonstop - Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt #3
• [Kuurth] Colossusnaut says he's faster than him even as he runs into Kuurth and accelerates to 600 miles per hour - Uncanny X-Men #543
• [Once and Future] Tags Nightcrawler and Rachel Summers with backhands and knocks the former into Northstar despite Rachel warning them he would attack with her telepathy - Amazing X-Men (2014) #17

Skill

• [X] Fights well against someone with the full power of the Juggernaut using his skill and experience - Uncanny X-Men #436
• [X] Catches Dazzler after she blinded him by listening for her position - New Excalibur (2006) #19
• [T] Lets a Hand ninja get in close so he can grab him - Thunderbolts #148-149

Temporary Powers

Telepathy

• Somehow absorbed Professor X's telepathy after he tried to drain his powers with a machine - Uncanny X-Men #32
• Reads the O5 X-Men's minds to anticipate their moves - Uncanny X-Men #32
• Knocks out Jean Grey with a mental bolt - Uncanny X-Men #32
• Never used telepathy after this

Mystic Abilities

• Gained mystic abilities while trapped in the Crimson Cosmos - Uncanny X-Men #33, Doctor Strange #182
• Casts mystic spells that shrink Nightmare to his size and makes him collide into him when Nightmare was large enough to hold the Earth in his hands - Doctor Strange #182
• Him and Nightmare cast spells that shatter a chunk of rock and destroy bonds of cosmic force that held Eternity - Doctor Strange #180, 182
• Gave up his mystic abilities in exchange for having his youth restored - Hulk #172

Trion

• Became more powerful than ever after getting possessed by an evil spirit - X-Men (1991) #88
• Grows to giant size - X-Men (1991) #88, Uncanny X-Men #369
• Punches through the fabric of spacetime - X-Men (1991) #88

Captain Universe

• Became Captain Universe after being chosen by the Enigma Force - Amazing Spider-Man #629
• Traps Spider-Man in a force sphere and repairs fractures to the tectonic plates under Manhattan to prevent a catastrophic earthquake - Amazing Spider-Man #629

Kuurth

• Can fly - Thunderbolts #160-161
• Calls down lightning - Thunderbolts #158
• Colossus says his lightning could incinerate armies - Uncanny X-Men #543
• Possesses a man by touching him with his hammer - Uncanny X-Men #540
• Teleports back after Pixie teleports him to the bottom of sea, low Earth orbit, and the heart of the sun - Uncanny X-Men #542

Once upon a time, there was a man. A man who got everything he wanted. In the end it wasn’t enough. In truth, it could never be enough. No amount of power could change who he was. It could never quench his thirst for power. He was now and forever the Juggernaut. And he would never stop.

Based on a Dream
FDF Resolute, Sanctum Class Battlecruiser, en route to NT-2125 deep Fringe.
Mary had been rather intrigued by the concept of an observation deck on a ship. Curator ship designs didn’t even have windows let alone a whole deck. Yet, deck seemed a bit of a grand exaggeration now that she was standing in the room with the large window dominating one wall. The room was empty aside from herself. Though there were tables and chairs enough to fit a few dozen people easily. No doubt it was more in use if the ship should be hosting dignitaries over some important planet, or picturesque astronomical feature. En route to NT-2125 however they were instead enveloped in the Ink, a sight no one seemed keen on viewing.
Her education had of course touched on the existence of the Ink, but that was about it. She had no idea how it really was used to facilitate FTL travel. What she did know, now that she was looking at it, was that it was rather unpleasant to look at. She had seen purest black. The concept of looking at entirely nothing but a void was fine with her.
The Ink however… While she watched it slowly move around before her eyes it was like a vast ocean of some kind. An ocean of… incredible depth. When she had first stepped into the room and seen it dominating the large window she had thought it to be a mixture of blues, purples, and blacks. But the longer she watched the bubbles and lines slowly moving around she wasn’t sure if she were seeing color at all. Maybe she was seeing not the absence of light, but something opposite to it. As if the Ink gave off… anti-light.
She had no basis for this thought of course. No training, education, or experience to make her believe it was a real thing. Yet, if matter had anti-matter why couldn’t light have anti-light? After all the longer she looked the more if felt like she wasn’t really seeing anything. Nothing real anyway. More like… if she closed her eyes and rubbed against the eyelids and saw the attempts of her brain understand the shadows. Then there was the thought maybe she really was seeing something. Something just under the waves of its vast deep ocean of anti-light. After all, what was causing it to move? Were the waves, ripples, and bubbles purely random? Or was there something making it move?
As unpleasant as her line of thinking was, at least watching it gave her some small alone time on the otherwise crowded vessel. It also gave her an excuse to keep her headset muted. She would much rather deal with staring out at a vast ocean of anti-light than listen to the ship around her at this point. Yet, the moment she began to consider that she saw a flash in the bottom of her vision. Door opening. With a flick she started the program to let her headset gradually increase volume as her ears began to work again.
First sound, click of hard heel on metallic decking. Second sound, sharp intake of breath likely indicating surprise, anxiety, unease, or combination. Third sound, a tongue flicking against teeth before making a disapproving sucking sound. Fourth sound, fabric on fabric rubbing was very low and soft indicating luxury stitching and material. “Hello Director Obli.”
“Translator.” Came the curt reply, though said at a perfectly reasonable volume for normal speaking Mary winced a bit. Going from total silence to even the muted sounds she was getting now was rough at times. Especially as more just kept building. Even at this low level the sound of the ships began to return to her. The groan of metal, the hum of electricity, the distant murmur of people going about their tasks. She had no idea what she’d do without the headset to at least partially mute the world around her.
“Your bodyguards aren’t joining us?” Mary glanced over at the Huul’Rav in his custom suit. She couldn’t see his guards, but she could hear them just outside. She recognized Hrue from his breathing pattern, as smoking had done a number on his lungs. Based on the jingle of grenade tabs the other was Juul.
“If the Curators wanted me dead I highly doubt they’d create you just for the task. They’re more than powerful enough to have no need for subtlety or subterfuge.” Even though the director was talking to her he was looking out the window at the Ink. She could see the disdain on his face rather obviously. A hand moving up to nervously brush his furry chin, even as he tilted his horns side to side.
While he seemed focused on the Ink her mind returned to his curious comment. Did the Curators need to employ subterfuge? Of course they were powerful, but surely there was also use in subterfuge. Regardless, she had not been sent to kill the Director. Or anyone for that matter. She had no training in combat or related topics. He seemed to also be thinking about this though as he looked at her. “You aren’t here to kill me right?”
“No. I’m not here to kill you or anyone else.” She assured him. “I’m just here to facilitate communications during the negotiations.”
“It is curious though. Why the Custodians sent anyone at all…” He trailed off and while she was about to answer he turned and spoke first. “Actually do you mind if we talk somewhere else?” At the end his eyes darted to the window and the swirl of the Ink beyond.
“Certainly.” She nodded, and gestured to the door letting him go first.
“I appreciate it.” He commented and even as he stepped through the door Hrue stepped in front of him to lead, while Juul stepped up behind Mary to follow. “I will admit it spoils my plans a bit. I wanted to talk with you in private a little. But uh… I do not particularly enjoy looking at the Ink.” She could hear his breathing pattern change just being in the hallway, out of sight of the swirling anti-light.
“I’m sure we can find privacy elsewhere. Though I am unsure what kind of private chat you would like. I’m here strictly as a neutral party to facilitate negotiations.” She reminded him.
“As you’ve said many times.” Obli waved off her remark. “Anyway, since you’re new to this sort of thing I just want to introduce you to my underling since you’ll be working for him during the start of the talks.”
Mary frowned at this sudden revelation. “First, I don’t work for you, or your subordinate. I-”
“Are a neutral translator provided by the Curators.” He waved her off again as they walked. All around her she could hear the ship and its crew going about keeping the ship alive as it were. It was an older vessel and every creak and groan of stressed metal, or electrical spark continued to heighten her anxiety. She could not wait to get off this vessel and onto a planet. “I meant work for him in a more metaphorical sense. I know you likely expected to work with me throughout these talks but it’s just not how labor talks to management. They don’t get to start by talking to a Director. They’ll start with someone just important enough to garner attention but with no real power. If he fails, I swoop in and save things. If he succeeds I get to take credit in the end and talk about how I knew he was the man for the job.”
The further they walked from the observation deck and the Ink the more confident and in fact arrogant Obli got. She wasn’t particularly keen on his behavior but she had at least grown accustomed to it on the trip so far. “Why then did you spend most of this trip testing my abilities as a translator?”
“Because I was trying to figure out your angle.” He replied with a glance back over his shoulder as they reached a lift. The four of them filtered into it before Juul hit the button for the hangar deck.
“I don’t have an angle. I was instructed to come here and facilitate-” She began but he yet again waved her off.
“Neutral yes yes. But why? We’ve never needed nor requested Curator assistance for anything like this. We have a proven history of successfully ending labor disputes and organization efforts. So why have the curators bothered to send you? Shouldn’t you be trying to help keep the FDF from falling apart? Or spreading the word of the Curators to the masses or something? That is something they do right? Proselytize?” Mary was fairly confident Obli tried to be dismissive about the Curators just to make himself more comfortable. It was a minor enough annoyance to overlook. Though she wondered if it actually helped ease his fragile ego.
“The Curators do not proselytize no. They have no need. They exist. They act. They do not need the approval of others, nor belief in their correctness. I am here because I have been ordered to be here. I was told I must assist in negotiating between the belligerent parties on NT-2125 and observe the outcome. That is all. If the Curators have a deeper reason for sending me here I do not know it.” While she spoke she could already hear Obli clicking his tongue in disapproval. Hrue was trying, and failing, to breathe quietly. Juul was running her hand over a smooth metallic object in her right pocket, slowly turning it over.
“I know you are flesh and blood, but you’re more like your creators than I find comforting.” Obli very bluntly commented.
“I do not exist for your comfort.” Mary pointedly replied, which made Obli click his tongue in disapproval once more. By that point the lift stopped and the doors opened. The rush of sound from the hangar deck made her wince a moment as she had to deal with the sudden volume as she lowered her headset sensitivity.
“I don’t think you exist for your own comfort either.” Obli remarked, now smirking a little at her obvious discomfort. There was little she could do but cast a glare in his direction as the pain subsided and the sounds took on a more muted level. Looking out across the hangar she could see dozens of people moving around and working on the ship’s complement of shuttles, and fighters. No one was expecting combat, but that didn’t stop the captain from preparing anyway. While she was told most of the machinery operated at frequencies most species couldn’t hear it always gave her a headache to be around so many buzzing, grinding, churning machines.
“Regardless.” Obli continued. “I want to make it clear I have been authorized to extend to the Curators our most sincere intent to be friends. If there is anything we can do to make your job more comfortable let me know. And if you see fit to pass on anything you hear from the labor organizers direct compensation is on offer.”
“I am here as a neutral party.” She reminded him yet again. But he just spread his hands and smiled.
“We’re willing to pay for even what you would consider banter and gossip. Anything you hear. My subordinate is also authorized to compensate you but I’d prefer a direct copy.” He held out an encryption cylinder. While she had no intention of passing along anything she did take it. It might be useful for other reasons.
“I don’t have a bank account, you know. Or any credits.” When she told him this he looked entirely confused. “I am not paid for my efforts. Curators do not use currency of any kind. Resources are simply provided as needed.”
Director Obli’s look of pure disgust was even more obvious than when he’d been in the observation deck. “And here I thought they were civilized… But it’s then all the more important for you to start building up your own nest egg!” He began to pull a credit chip from his pocket but she waved him off.
“I’m not chipped nor do I have a slate.” This time he scoffed and looked confused even as he held it out.
“You can take the whole thing. How do you expect to pay for anything on the planet without credits?” He seemed genuinely baffled.
“I don’t expect to pay for anything on the planet. Your company has extended their most sincere intent to be friends after all.” As she tilted her head a little while looking at him Obli just snorted.
“Ah… This is why my assistant was babbling about an expense waiver. Yes… There are limits to it, you know. Food, drink, necessities only.” Mary just stared at him until he finally sighed and tucked the credit chip back into his pocket. “Fine. It’s best for you to go change now then, the shuttle will be leaving as soon as we hit real space.”
She was wondering why he’d brought her here directly. “And why am I changing?”
“Well, you can go as you are if you like. But this isn’t a Curator ship. The Resolute has to drop further away from the planet so the shuttle will be in space to close the gap to the planet. And, I mean clearly Curator tech never breaks or has any accidents but our poor mortal hands make poor mortal vessels.” Obli spread his hands as if to highlight his own soft, well manicured hands.
“Fine.” While her suit wasn’t as comfortable as her normal clothes she didn’t intend on being the only one killed by some sort of accident on the way to the planet. It would set a terrible precedent. So she walked away from Obli and his guards then towards the hangar’s locker room.
As she strode across the deck, stepping over fuel and coolant lines she tried to make some sense of the mass of sound around her. Obli no doubt thought she was beyond earshot when he spoke to his guards. “Strange bird. Easy on the eyes though.”
Hrue cleared his throat a moment to reply in a gravely, raspy voice. “Think the Curators made her to be attractive to most species somehow? Robot magic or something?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I still don’t know why they sent anyone at all. I don’t trust those damned machines.” Obli replied. She had expected this sort of reaction. It was in line with their comments during the trip.
Other than that most of the technicians, mechanics, and pilots moving around the hangar seemed much more focused on their work than anything else. Grumblings about the captain’s standards, and an apparent lack of spare parts. Based on the overall comments it seemed to be more about not wanting to do so much work rather than serious concerns over abilities to keep ships functional. Or so she hoped.
Once in the locker room she made her way to the back where a special case had been installed for her suit. While she would have preferred to travel on a Curator vessel she was glad to at least get a Curator suit. They didn’t have many organics, but the suits they made for her and the other Lifted were absolutely the best in terms of survivability, durability, and protection. Just not… comfort.
Since the locker room seemed to be empty she quickly stripped down, setting aside the encryption cylinder Obli had given her. For a moment she examined herself, along the deep red feathers of her head and neck, gradually turning to a sunburst yellow down her torso, and finally a rich deep blue along her legs and tail. Did species find her attractive? If the Curators had intended for this they likely would have included it in her training surely. Must just be Obli and his guards.
Stepping up to the Curator case she hit the activation button and then held perfectly still as the case opened, arms moving out to begin affixing the suit to her body. First she felt the snap of metal rings around her ankles, wrists, neck, hips, and ribs before the rest of the exoskeleton was built up around it. Then came the cool mesh of the inner suit pulled up underneath it and against her feathers. Next was the composites slotted into the outside, layered and overlapped for maximum coverage. Finally she prepared herself for the final step as two hoses connected to the metal collar around her neck. She hated this part.
When the liquid began to pump into the lining between the mesh and the composite layer it was ice cold and caused her to gasp and shudder as it filled in. It took a few minutes while she tried to carefully control her breathing and push past the cold. Once it was finally full the suit activated and the liquid turned solid, controlled by the sophisticated Curator chip in her skull. Her temperature quickly began to return to normal now and she took a slow deep breath in relief before taking the helmet the case offered last.
She refrained from putting the helmet on yet though, it wasn’t quite big enough for her taste and always rubbed her eartips. Walking back out into the hangar she could feel the suit somewhat flowing around her movements. It would turn liquid to move, then solid when it didn’t need to. She was also told it would go selectively rigid to deflect projectiles. A feature she hoped to never test.
Looking around a moment she saw Obli near the closest shuttle, speaking to someone wearing an executive pattern suit. Luxurious and comfortable, but she’d prefer the Curator suit in an emergency. Next to him was a human in a deep blue armored suit with steel accents. As she watched he draped a travel cloak over the shoulders of the suit. An interesting touch. Walking towards them she had to stop a moment to let a rumbling hangar tug pass. Several technicians rode in the back, carried to their next task.
Judging on the whine of the back left wheel she figured their next task might be to fix the tug itself. Either way she continued on up to Director Obli. “Translator. I’d like you to meet Kingus.” Obli gestured to the figure in the executive suit. Up close she could see through his helmet’s faceplate and examine the Nikvic inside. Rather stubby bone ridges. Rather young then for an executive.
“Translator.” He nodded to her.
“Kingus, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Mary, though translator is just fine as well.” She took an amicable approach for now.
“Yes. This is my bodyguard, Eli.” He gestured to the human next to him, who made for an imposing figure in his armor. With his helmet in place the steel visor reflected a distorted reflection of herself back at her.
“Ma’am.” He nodded and extended a hand out from under his cloak. Shifting her helmet to her left hand she carefully reached out to shake his hand in return.
“Eli, it’s nice to meet you.” The first human she’d found in the employ of the company. Though she knew most of the problems on the planet were related to their human miners. Allegedly at least.
“Nice to meet you as well ma’am.” His shake was firm but not aggressive. “We should be ready shortly. They’re loading the last of some food supplies and then we’re waiting on the marines.”
“Food supplies… I don’t even know what we’re taking down there. Argyle is a full fledged city. The problems its facing are related to labor terrorists. Not famine.” Kingus mentioned with a huff.
“It’s likely my food.” Mary answered. “The Curators were unsure how long I would be here and sent me with a full complement of prepared meals.”
“Oh.” Kingus coughed lightly. “Well… that’s fine then. I wasn’t aware you had special dietary needs. But the marines at least should be here. What’s taking them so long?” He tried to deflect a little and looked around.
As if summoned by his complaint she saw a group of human soldiers approaching the shuttle. The few times she had seen soldiers so far they’d been in smart uniforms and moving with purpose and sharp specific gestures. These… did not look nearly so impressive. Or poised. Instead the group just walked casually towards them, in a mixture of armor sets. Most had a haphazard drab olive green coat of paint but much of it was chipped and worn. Not to mention much of it was also covered in writing, drawings, and decals that she doubted were officially sanctioned.
Only the man in the lead looked to be in a truly official uniform set of armor. “I’m Lieutenant Barrow. I assume this is the shuttle we want?”
“Barrow, this is Kingus our Executive Labor Liason.” Director Obli introduced them. “This is our translator Mary.”
“Never seen one of you before. What species are you?” Mary turned to look at the soldier who’d spoken to her. He was just next to the officer, and his armor looked particularly beat up. She also noticed signs of scorch marks in several places. Unlike the single smooth faceplate of Eli’s armor his helmet looked more like a scowling face with golden lenses in the eyes.
“I am not an official species. I was Lifted by the Curators to act as a translator.” She informed him directly.
“Interesting. So you’re a bird. But you’ve got ears. What’s with the headset?” He gestured up at it as she reflexively reached up with her free hand to touch the side.
“There was a slight miscalculation in my creation and I find most settings to be… uncomfortably loud. The headset is to regulate the volume of my surroundings to prevent damage and discomfort.” She explained.
“What… wait. The Curators made a translator who gets hurt by sound? Am I understanding that right?” Mary frowned at his comment.
“That’s somewhat reductive.” She tried to deflect.
“Is it wrong?” He pressed.
“It’s not entirely inaccurate.” Disparaging on the work of the Curators wasn’t something she was comfortable with.
“That’s a fancy way of saying I’m right. So your job, which is listening to things, actively hurts you. Man… sucks to be you.” A few of the other marines snickered and giggled behind him as Mary frowned.
“Gunny, that’s enough.” Barrow finally waved off the other marine.
“Where’s the rest of your company? And the Major?” Obli asked now, thankfully moving things along.
“Elsewhere. He said if you’re not going to the planet yet he doesn’t see a reason to go either. My platoon and I are sufficient at this time. Once you’re ready to head down then the rest of the company will deploy.” Barrow shrugged. “You send your flunkey first he sends his flunkey too.”
“We have concerns about possible terrorist strikes on civilians during the labor talks. Are you sure a platoon is really sufficient?” Kingus asked.
The officer sucked in a breath, likely about to answer but Gunny cut him off. “Isn’t it interesting. All across the fringe you corporate types like to talk about how safe and secure your mining colonies are. Biding everyone to bring their families and get to work. Yet, the moment a union starts to form you start screaming about terrorists and how you need the military to keep order.”
“Gunny.” The officer hissed at him. Gunny waved it off a moment as the officer cleared his throat. “Your own reports suggest corporate security is robust enough to secure the city. We have no intel to suggest any threats of terrorist strikes by the miners are really valid. A platoon will suffice for now. If the situation changes the rest of the company can deploy very quickly I assure you.”
“Fine. But remember just because the miners in question are human doesn’t mean you can give them free reign. The FDF and by extension the marines rely on our funding to keep functioning.” Kingus replied.
“You never let us fucking forget.” Gunny muttered that barely under his breath. Neither Kingus or Obli seemed to pick up on this but Mary did.
“Many species across the Fringe have been generous enough to accept many human refugees. We obviously seek a future of cooperation and mutual success. This is not about humans being singled out. They have been given the same rights and contracts as all other species who join our corporate family.” Director Obli smiled and spread his hands in a friendly gesture. “We ask only that you protect the talks because they’re so important to our continued wellbeing as united front here on the Fringe. The Tide comes for us all and we must be ready. Together.”
“Well said Director.” Kingus nodded in support.
“Fucking please…” Gunny muttered and made some sort of gesture with his fist making a pumping motion in front of his hips. From the reports the Curators had given her, really what it seemed like was the humans massively increased their productivity, but in exchange wanted better treatment from the various industrial consortiums. The executives like Obli enjoyed the productivity but felt treating them better would set a bad precedent.
Across the fringe however humans had been getting their way more often than not. NT-2125 was by far the biggest, most high profile case, but she didn’t imagine it would be anything special. “Yes, well, we are here to keep you safe and make sure no one kills anyone. On either side.” The officer assured them and then gestured at the shuttle. “Shall we?”
“Have a nice flight Translator. Remember to call me.” Obli smiled and nodded at her.
“I’m sure we’ll be in touch, Director.” She finally pulled her helmet up and on, feeling it settle into place with a click and a soft hiss at it pressurized. The very tips of her ears were lightly pressed in by the sides which was why she’d waited this long to put it on. The marines began to board the shuttle first, shuffling along rows in the center to get into seats with metal shoulder restraints that would help hold them in place.
“Hey, so you’re a Lifted? What do the Curators want you here for? What’s the deal?” Gunny asked as he waited near the back for the others to shuffle in.
“I am not at liberty at this time to discuss the Curators or their work.” Mary’s forehead felt slightly warm as she answered him.
“Oh come on. There’s got to be something special the Curators want you here for.” Gunny insisted.
“I am not at liberty at this time to discuss the Curators or their work.” Mary’s forehead felt a bit warmer still.
“Gunny leave her alone.” Barrow instructed.
“C’mon why a translator at all? We’ve got earpieces! I’ve never seen a translator before, let alone a Curator one!” By now the other marines were seated and Mary began to shuffle up the row looking for a free seat.
“Ma’am you’ll need to take one of the jumpseats up front. These harnesses aren’t made for your Curator suit.” Barrow tapped one of the set of shoulder restraints. So she kept shuffling past the row of marines towards the front.
“I don’t rely on machine translation. I am fluent in over six hundred languages and forms of communication. I listen to all parties and ensure nothing is lost in translation.” She assured them.
“Only six hundred? I knew of a guy who was fluent in over six million forms of communication.” Gunny’s voice had a slightly different tone to it. Was he joking?
“Six million seems excessive. I assure you I am well trained for my job.” Now at the front of the shuttle she found the jumpseat in question. Yet, when she went to pull the seat down the dangerous whine and groan of the metal hinged did not inspire her with confidence. Still it was her mission so she settled into the seat and went about trying to figure out the harness.
Barrow approached her and pointed to the straps in order to help her out. “You’ll be fine. This is really just a precaution.” The Lieutenant nodded and gave her shoulder a pat. She smiled up at him then, her faceplate clear unlike their armor. It was thought to be better for non-verbal communication cues if people she spoke to could see her face. Kingus and Eli were the last to settle in seats nearby.
“Hey! Corpse!” Gunny called out as Eli settled into his seat and set the shoulder restraints with practiced ease.
“Excuse me?” Eli looked across the aisle at Gunny.
“You’re corporate security right? Corp-sec.” Gunny more carefully pronounced. But Mary was positive he hadn’t made a mistake earlier.
“I’m a private bodyguard. I work on contract.” Eli corrected him.
“Oh well anyway the fuck is with the cloak?” Gunny gestured at the deep blue cloak draped over Eli’s shoulders and body. “You’re in a suit right? Kind of the point of a space suit to be waterproof and somewhat heat proof and shit yeah? Kind of defeats the point of a cloak right? So what gives?”
“It’s about looking stylish. Something you clearly have no concept of Gunnery Sergeant.” Eli’s response seemed to take Gunny by surprise. The Gunny? Was Gunny a nickname or a title? Either way the marines around snickered and chuckled a bit though she could hear Gunny snort.
Barrow took the jumpseat next to her instead of one of the more secure seats. Possibly to help set her at ease. Which she appreciated. “So, Lieutenant. Do you expect this mission to be dangerous?”
“What? Protecting the talks? No. We’ve done this a few times so far. It’s pretty boring. No one has actually done anything. Usually there are some protests. Corp-sec shove people around. Both sides are upset. But no one dies. The talks advance. The miners get a bit more pay and benefits. Both sides are mutually annoyed with the other. And I’m sure in a few years it’ll all happen again.” Barrow shrugged and seemed entirely unconcerned.
“Don’t be so flippant.” Kingus said even as Barrow seemed to dismiss any concerns. “We’ve had some communications troubles from NT-2125. The work of labor agitators no doubt.”
“Communications troubles? Why are you telling us that now?” Barrow asked, showing some concern.
“I thought it was common knowledge?” Kingus sounded genuinely confused that Barrow was unaware of this. “Is it not? Executives on the ground have spoken of damaged communications systems, and delayed reports from outlying facilities.”
“Have there been delays in ore shipments? Or minerals or whatever?” Barrow asked.
“No. In fact due to our exemplary corporate structure we’re seeing increases across the board.” Kingus nodded, clearly proud of this fact.
“So… in your mind the labor agitators are breaking lines of communication. But not… the ore shipments which you find significantly more valuable?” Barrow asked, clearly not buying the idea.
“Don’t be complacent! Just because labor organizers have been rarely violent in the past doesn’t mean it will always be the case! I want your men on their highest alertness lieutenant!” Kingus stressed.
“Yes sir, I’ll be sure to pass that along.” Barrow assured him, even though Mary could tell by his tone that he had no intention of doing anything.
“What’s the planet like?” She asked next.
“The locals have called it Argyle.” Kingus answered. “It’s our largest mining operation and a highlight of our terraforming technology. A dozen zones have been established across the surface and ten of them are already fully habitable without a suit. We expect work to be done on six zones within the solar cycle, and shall open up another dozen to be finished within the next three solar cycles. Mineral and ore outputs are quadruple expectations. Mostly thanks to our unequaled refinery efficiency.”
“Or maybe cause you’re exploiting the shit out of your workers.” Again Gunny muttered this quietly enough to be missed by the others. Mary was settling into her seat as best she could when she heard the engines spool up. Inside the armored cockpit behind her she could hear the pilots flipping switches.
“Systems check complete. Echo shuttle requesting clearance for departure.” She wasn’t sure if that was the pilot or co-pilot. Deeper, possibly male.
“We got a flight plan?” Lighter possible female. Maybe that was the pilot?
“Yeah.” Navigator. Younger, more youthful. Not clear if male or female. “Not much to it. Follow the automated beacons. Their spaceport is big enough for Tagmax freighters so it should be easy peasy lemon squeezy.” Human definitely.
“We’re clear.” Co-pilot.
“Okay.” There was a moment where Mary’s hearing seemed to echo as she heard both the pilot in the cockpit and over the speakers in the hold at the same time. “We’re in real space and disembarking now. Remember to keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times until we come to a full and complete stop. We know you’ve got no choice in airlines today so suck it up because we’re all you got.” Also definitely human.
Gunny seemed to wiggle and settle in his seat, as if to take a nap. In general the marine chatter in the hold seemed very relaxed and calm. A good sign. The most nervous person was likely Kingus whose breathing she could tell was getting a bit quicker and more nervous. After another few seconds she heard the engine spooling get more intense and the shuttle picked up off the deck. Kingus tensed at this as his hands gripped the seat’s armrests more tightly.
While Mary wished she was in a superior Curator craft she was relatively relaxed. She’d flown many times, especially in her training to make sure she could translate even in stressful situations. Part of her wanted to mute her headset for now, to free herself of the need to listen to every jostle of the shuttle and the people within it, but she knew it was more important to maintain her ability to listen to the flight crew.
For several minutes however she mostly had to fight her growing desire to take a nap. Gunny’s breathing shifted into a soft and consistent snore so he already fell asleep. The gentle rumble of the ship around her and her secure nature also lent itself to a desire to nap… “Hey did we check the sensor calibration before we left?” Navigator.
“Yeah, total systems check. Everything cleared. I’m not seeing any problems.” Pilot.
“Uuuhhh… Okay.” Their tone implied things were not okay. She turned her head a little, and began to dial up her headset, ignoring the other sounds and focusing on the cockpit. Another minute went by as she just had the hum of the engines and marine chatter around her. “We’re sure the sensors were checked?”
“Yeah. Why what’s wrong?” Pilot.
“It’s just… uh… doesn’t make sense. I’m reading like… aaa lot of different atmospheres?” Navigator.
“Yeah. They’re terraforming it. So, a lot of different atmospheric readings.” Co-pilot.
“Sure but… some of these are… bizarre.. Like a… nitrogen? Maybe? And uh… ammonia.” She frowned as the Navigator said this.
“Maybe those are the natural planetary atmosphere. Listen, everything else I’ve got is reading fine.” Pilot.
“Ask ground maybe? Terraforming… accidents?” Navigator.
“Resolute this is Echo Two. Do we have any direct communication with Ground? Over.” Co-pilot. Pause. “No direct comms at this time. But the nav beacons are loud and clear.”
“Probably just some interference. I mean if they’ve had a terraforming accident it’s probably hell on comms.” Pilot.
“Yeah… probably.” Navigator, entirely unconvinced. As she listened she realized Barrow was staring straight at her. Did he suspect something? Was he on their channel?
“Something up?” He asked.
“The navigator thinks there might have been a terraforming accident on the planet.” She explained.
“What? How do you know that?” Barrows looked from her towards the armored door between them.
“I can hear them.” She explained simply.
“Did you say a terraforming accident?” Kinugs looked her way now.
“They say there’s strange atmospherics on the planet.” She revealed.
“I knew it! Labor agitators!” He huffed. “Tell your men to be ready for all manner of terrorism Lieutenant!”
“Mmhh…” Barrow's answer was noncommittal but seemed worried as he focused on Mary. She was still focused on the cockpit however.
“Was there a cruiser in orbit somewhere?” Co-pilot.
“The uh… Tartar or something. At least on the mission brief. We tracking it anywhere?” Pilot.
“I… no. I’ve got us, the orbital refinery platform, and the Resolute.” Navigator.
“Freighters? Shuttles? Corporate Yachts? Anything?” Pilot.
“Nnnnno.” Navigator.
“They aren’t seeing any other traffic in orbit.” She relayed to Barrow.
Barrow cleared his throat and seemed to trigger a mic in his helmet. “Guys, shut the fuck up. Gunny wake up.” A marine besides gunny slapped the man’s shoulder causing him to jerk in his seat and a knife seemed to appear in his hand.
“Wah?” He looked around.
“Something’s up.” Barrow mentioned. “No traffic, planetary comms are down, and terraformers are fucked up.”
Mary expected some smart comment but Gunny tucked his knife away and just listened. “Wait. A… freighter is taking off.” Navigator. “And I’ve got one leaving the orbital platform.”
“Ping them?” Co-pilot. Pilot must have nodded because he continued. “Pinging.” Pause. “Both are automated. Both report… systems are fine. No issues.”
“Nothing from ground? Emergency beacons? Distress? Nothing?” Pilot.
“Nothing.” Co-pilot confirmed.
“I mean… they’d be loath to stop shipping ore. Maybe it’s just really comms trouble and they aren’t flying anything right now. Cruiser might be on the far side assisting with some kind of… recovery effort? I don’t know.” Pilot.
“That might be the case…” The co-pilot did not in fact think that was the case. “Resolute, this is Echo two. Uh… do we have any further… mission details? Are we still go on landing? Over.” He sounded nervous. “We’re still go… they think it’s just comms trouble. But they’re prepping more shuttles now for possible rescue or support efforts.”
“I mean everything I’m seeing is clear. Not even rain clouds.” Pilot.
“They’re saying there’s comms failure on the planet. They’ve found automated traffic only. No distress calls.” Mary relayed. A moment later the pilot keyed in a direct channel and she heard the voice through Barrow’s helmet comm.
“Hey eltea. Just a heads up. We think there’s some kind of comms failure on the planet. And maybe a terraforming accident. No signs of hostile action though. Still prepped to land shortly. But uh giving you a heads up.” So they could talk to him but hadn’t.
“Appreciated. I’ll relay.” He acknowledged. Then she had to try and focus a bit harder as Barrow began to speak to his marines about the situation but the flight crew was still chatting.
“Entering atmo now. Any change in sensor reading?” Pilot.
“No. Area around Argyle looks… okay. Wait, that's the city right?” Navigator.
“Yeah. Uh. Maybe.” Pilot. The shuttle began to shake a bit harder though from what she had experienced before this was just normal for entering atmosphere. They were quiet as the shuttle rumbled. But after another minute the rumbling seemed to get worse instead of better. She was much more acutely aware of the groaning of the metal and just shuddering of everything around her. Kingus’ teeth were rattling and clicking especially. “Okay what the fuck.”
“Yeah… Yeah… Uh… fuck.” Co-pilot. What were they seeing? Just describe it outloud!
“I can’t turn it off. Ground has us locked into our corridor.” Navigator.
“Override!” Pilot.
“I can’t! I’m trying!” Navigator. The shuddering of the shuttle intensified further as it seemed to be moving around, like the pilot was trying to shake them out of whatever their path was and kept getting pulled in. “It’s not using any normal code! I’ve got no fucking clue what this is!”
“WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!” Mary winced at how loudly the Co-pilot yelled that. So far their voices had been full of stress and anxiety, but not fear, nor had they been loud.
“Jesus!” Pilot. What? What was it? “Look at it fucking move! Chaff! Flares! Dump everything!”
“Brace!” Mary cried out as she clutched her harness. She could hear the deployment of flares and chaff in a rapid series of bops and clanks. Then she could hear something hit the shuttle… But it wasn’t an explosion? Just a meaty metal crunch. Her body jerked hard in the harness as the shuttle around her began to spin, or jerk, or she had no idea but it was twisting violently!
“Fuck!” Pilot
“Watch it!” Co-pilot. Red lights immediately came on in the hold of the shuttle, she could hear as well as feel the violent collision as the port wing slammed into something. For a brief instant she could hear the shattering of glass before her hearing was just overwhelmed by the rest of the crash and the screaming around her. The force yanked her hard against the harness as she heard the terrifying screech of metal being pried apart as the hold and the cockpit sections of the shuttle seemed to detach.
Strapped to the jumpseat she could only watch in horror as the marines before her were suddenly spun in a different direction while Barrow and her were tumbling on the now suddenly exposed outside of the cockpit section. She was screaming as loud as her lungs could bear, but he was oddly quiet. As if resigned to their fate. She could see the city spinning around her, and the straps holding her began to give way as they were never intended for this. Barrow reached out and for a moment she reached towards him but then they hit something hard and her body was sent flying free of the seat.
[Continued in Comments]