I'm applying to any armed positions that pay a decent rate. There companies in this very big state that only want recent military or law enforcement applicants.
These places are always posting jobs. Do they find enough people with these backgrounds? If they find enough candidates, why do they always have jobs posted?

Demographics

• Gender: Male
• Race/Ethnicity: White
• Residence: Spokane-ish, Washington
• Income Bracket: Just barely too rich to get a Pell Grant
• Type of School: Public, not that competitive tbh
• Hooks (Recruited Athlete, URM, First-Gen, Geographic, Legacy, etc.): Military, autistic (is that even a hook)

Intended Major(s): Computer Science, except Cybersecurity at Florida Poly, Northeastern, UTSA (this was a mistake), UWF, UNH, Bama, UAH, USF, and UT, and Cyber Forensics at FSU
Academics

• GPA (UW/W): 3.98 UW, school doesn't weight (damn you, B+ in 9th grade English)
• Rank (or percentile): School doesn't rank
• # of Honors/AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/etc.: 1 Accelerated (Algebra in 8th), 7 Honors, 7 AP, 4 Dual Enrollment (IT Essentials, Digital Design, Cisco 1, Precalc)
• Senior Year Course Load: AP English Lit, AP Calc AB (only got through Unit 5, self studying the rest), AP Spanish Lang, Cisco 1, Honors Chemistry, Honors Civics, regular Economics (scheduling, wanted honors), and Drama.

Standardized Testing
List the highest scores earned and all scores that were reported.

• SAT I: 1520 (770 RW, 750M)
• AP: World History (4), US History (5), Computer Science A (5!), English Lang (3), English Lit, Calculus AB, Spanish Lang

Extracurriculars/Activities
List all extracurricular involvements, including leadership roles, time commitments, major achievements, etc.

1. FBLA, 2x national champion and state champion a bunch of times, mostly in computer-based events. Also served as chapter officer in sophomore and senior years.
2. CyberPatriot, qualified for semifinals and state round a lot but never nationals obviously. I mostly did Linux, but also hopped into Windows a bit and could've done Cisco in senior year if I wanted to.
3. NHS. It's NHS.
4. Washington State Knowledge Bowl, only submitted for RDs. Made it to regional finals but not state finals.
5. Political volunteering in the 2020 cycle for congressional candidate Chris Armitage and also Joe Biden.

Awards/Honors
List all awards and honors submitted on your application.

1. AP Scholar with Honor (that's not a fucking honor lmao)
2. National Rural and Small Town Recognition Scholar (also barely an honor but it got me a good scholarship at Bama)
3. Inland Northwest STEM Student of the Month from a TV station
4. Spokane Scholar in Social Studies (after applications, didn't submit obv)
5. National Merit Commended (didn't submit, by one point lmao)

Letters of Recommendation
(Briefly describe relationships with your recommenders and estimated rating.)
FBLA/CyberPatriot Advisor and Computer Science Teacher (9.5/10): Known him since I was in eighth grade, best one by far. Love the man, he loves me back.
Freshman-Junior English Teacher (8/10): Absolutely love her, her personality overlaps a lot with mine. Probably would've been useful if I was applying to UH-Manoa.
Counselor (?/10): Waived FERPA, never saw it. She was new this year, so it probably wasn't amazing.
Interviews
The Harvard guy graduated in the fucking 60s so it was really weird talking to him, especially given that he was my only in person interview. MIT was really nice, and we talked about tech stuff. He was actually one of the supervisors for their nuclear reactor when he was there too! However, Penn was probably the best one, even though we had to turn off our cameras because my Wi-Fi was bad. We connected a lot :)
Essays
My personal statement as originally submitted could've been better, and in fact, I did update it before my RD schools. It was about learning Spanish, but also trying to relate it into my autism. I definitely should've just stuck with one of the two.
*Decisions *
Acceptances:

• Florida State University (RD but accepted early)
• Washington State University (Rolling)
• University of New Hampshire (EA)
• Eastern Washington University (Rolling)
• University of Alabama, Blount Scholars Program (EA)
• University of Alabama Huntsville Committed! Best option for me overall because of location and finances. Rolling.
• Florida Polytechnic University (EA)
• University of Tampa (RD, accepted early)
• University of Texas San Antonio (EA)
• University of West Florida (Rolling)
• University of Maine (EA)
• University of South Florida (EA)
• University of Central Florida (EA)
• Pace University (RD, accepted early)

Waitlists:

• UMich, from an EA deferral. Surprised in a good way on this one, but still denied it.
• Northeastern. Eh, take it or leave it. Didn't want to get shoved into one of their international programs unless it was N.U.in anyway.

Rejections:

• Harvard (deferred REA)
• UPenn (RD)
• Brown (RD)
• MIT (RD)
• Columbia (RD)
• UNC Chapel Hill (EA, lmao what)
• Georgia Tech (EAII)
• Vanderbilt University (RD)

Additional Information:
Don't shotgun, you idiots. I only did because I had a fee waiver because I thought I would get a Pell Grant. If you don't, just do a couple safeties, a couple targets, and a reach. Also what the hell was that Chapel Hill rejection lmao
Applying to cybersecurity at UTSA was a mistake because that would've got me a BBA and not a BS.

What President Biden has done - Year Two Makes sexual harassment in the military a crime
Economy grows faster than China's for 1st time in 20 years - Strongest economic growth since 1984
Limits the release of mercury from coal-burning power plants
Kills ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi
$5 billion for electric vehicle chargers
Gives $7 billion in frozen Afghanistan funds to compensate 9/11 victims and provide humanitarian aid
Posts $119 billion budget surplus in January; first in over 2 years
Unites world against Russia aggression
Imposes stiff sanctions to stifle Russian economy
Led the Western world in defending Ukraine against Russia's invasion
Ends forced arbitration in sexual assault cases in the workplace
Reinstates California authority to set pollution standards for cars
Ends asylum restrictions for children traveling alone
Clarifies the role of podiatric medicine for Veterans
Reauthorizes and strengthens the Violence Against Women Act
Creates Amache National Historic Site as America’s newest national park
Makes lynching a federal crime
Initiates "use it, or lose it" policy on drilling on public lands to force oil companies to increase production
Releases one million barrels of oil a day for 6 months from strategic reserves to ease gas prices
Rescinds Trump-era policy allowing rapid expulsion of migrants at border and blocks them from seeking asylum
Expunges student loan defaults
Overhauled the US Postal Service's finances to allow the agency to modernize its service
Requires federal dollars spent on infrastructure to use materials made in America
Restores environmental reviews for major infrastructure projects
Launches $6 billion effort to save distressed nuclear plants
Provides $385 million to help families and individuals with home energy costs through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This is in addition to $4.5 billion provided in the American Rescue Plan.
Establishes national registry of police officers who are fired for misconduct
Lifts sanctions on the Rojava and other opposition-held territory in Syria
Tightens restrictions on chokeholds, no-knock warrants, and transfer of military equipment to police departments
Requires all federal Law enforcement officers to wear body cameras
$265 million for South Florida reservoir, key component of Everglades restoration
Major wind farm project off West coast to provide electricity for 1.5 million homes
Continues Obama administration's practice of posting log records of visitors to White House
Devotes $2.1 billion to strengthen US food supply chain
Round 6 student loan debt cancelation: $5.8 billion - This is in addition to $20.7 billion previously cancelled
Invokes Defense Production Act to rapidly expand domestic production of critical clean energy technologies
Enacts two-year pause of anti-circumvention tariffs on solar
Allocates funds to federal agencies to counter 300-plus anti-LGBTQ laws by state lawmakers this year alone
Round 7 of student loan cancellation: $6 billion to 200,000 defrauded borrowers - Bringing total to $31 billion
Relaunches cancer 'moonshot' initiative to help cut death rate
Expands access to emergency contraception and long-acting reversible contraception
Prevents states from banning Mifepristone -- a medication used to end early pregnancy that has FDA approval
Steps to ensure the safety of those seeking and providing abortion care, including by protecting mobile clinics
Protecting privacy, safety and security of patients, providers and clinics
21 executive actions to reduce gun violence
Climate Smart Buildings Initiative: Creates public-private partnerships to modernize Federal buildings to meet agencies’ missions, create good-paying jobs, and cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - Paying for today’s needed renovations with tomorrow’s energy savings without requiring upfront taxpayer funding
Safeguards access to health care, including the right to choose and contraception
Oversees effort to admit Finland and Sweden to NATO
Ends Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy
Operation Fly-Formula bringing needed baby formula – (19 missions to date)
Executive order protecting travel for abortion
Kills Al Qaeda leader and 9/11 architect Al-Zawahiri with no civilian casualties
Invested more in crime control and prevention than any president in history
As of August 2022, unemployment at 3.5% (50 year low)
Gas Prices drop below $4 a gallon
Provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors who are killed or injured in the line of duty
Round 8 of student loan cancellation: $3.4 Billion dollars of defrauded IT student loans have been cancelled
Reunites 400 migrant families separated under Trump
$1.66 billion in grants to transit agencies, territories, and states to invest in 150 bus fleets and facilities
Brokers joint US/Mexico infrastructure project - Mexico to pay $1.5 billion for US border security and processing source says
Blocked 4 hospital mergers that would've driven up prices and is poised to thwart more anti-competition consolidation attempts
Gets $1.5 billion in new border control security at the border and got Mexico to pay for it
Historic Police Reform
FIRST MAJOR GUN LEGISLATION IN 30 YEARS • $750 million to implement and run crisis intervention programs
• Ended boyfriend loophole – Previously only married people convicted of domestic abuse were banned from owning firearms. The new law extends it to people who are dating
• Requires gun sellers to register as Federally Licensed Firearm Dealers
• More thorough reviews of people ages 18-21 who want to buy guns
• New statutes against gun trafficking and straw trafficking
• Increases funding for mental health programs and school security
THE PACT ACT • Ensures high-quality health care screenings and services to veterans exposed to potential toxic exposure
• Extends period of time veterans have to enroll in VA health care from 5 to 10 years post discharge
• Codifies VA’s new process for evaluating and determining exposure and service connection for various chronic conditions
• Removes need for certain veterans and their survivors to prove service connection if diagnosed with one of 23 specific conditions
• Requires VA to conduct new studies of veterans health trends
• Provides critical resources to VA to ensure delivery of
• Invests in VA health care facilities by authorizing 31 major medical health clinics and research facilities in 19 states
THE CHIPS ACT • Provides $52.7 billion to secure domestic supply of American made semi-conductor chips, create tens of thousands of good-paying, union construction jobs and thousands more high-skilled manufacturing jobs, and catalyze hundreds of billions more in private
• $39 billion in manufacturing incentives
• $2 billion for the legacy chips used in automobiles and defense systems
• $13.2 billion in R&D and workforce development
• $500 million to provide international information communications technology security and semiconductor supply chain activities
• Provides a 25 percent investment tax credit for capital expenses for manufacturing of semiconductors and related equipment
THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OF 2022 Climate:
• Largest climate investment in history - Will reduce 40% amount of carbon released into atmosphere by 2030
• Defines greenhouse gases as a pollutant making them subjected to pollution laws
• $370 billion for U.S. energy security and fighting climate change
• Tax incentives for switching to electricity to power homes and vehicles
• $60 billion invested creating millions of new domestic clean manufacturing jobs and 550,000 new clean energy jobs
• Will quadruple the number of solar panels over the next 8 years
• Cuts energy bills by $500 to $1,000 per year
• Doubles battery storage on the grid
• Invests in disadvantaged communities
Health:
• $62 billion to extend subsidies for health insurance under the ACA
• Provides free vaccines (2023), $35/month insulin for Medicare patients, (2023) and caps out-of-pocket drug costs to an estimated $4,000 or less in 2024 and settling at $2,000 in 2025
• Lowers health care costs of the average enrollee $800/year in the ACA marketplace
• Allows Medicare to negotiate 100 drugs over the next decade, and requires drug companies to rebate price increases higher than inflation
Inflation Reduction:
• Significantly Lowers energy and health care costs for families
• Reduces Deficit by $313,000,000,000
• Closes tax loopholes used by wealthy: a 15% corporate minimum tax, a 1% fee on stock buybacks and enhanced IRS enforcement
• Protects families and small business making under $400,000 a year
The Cost • $485 billion of new costs would be offset with $790 billion of additional revenue and savings over a decade.
Total Revenue Raised: $737 billion
• 15% Minimum tax on corporations with profits exceeding $1 billion
• Prescription Drug Pricing Reform: $265 billion
• IRS Tax Enforcement: $124 billion
• 1% Stock Buybacks Fee: $74 billion
• Loss Limitation extension: $ 52 billion
Deficit Reduction:
• $313 billion dollars
STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS (Round 8 and by far the largest) • $20,000 for everyone with Pell Grants
• $10,000 for everyone else making less than $125,000 for individuals & $250,000 married couples
• Payments again paused until the end of 2022
• Payments for undergrad loans capped at 5% of your income (previously was 10%)
• This is addition to the 8 previous rounds of debt cancellation totally $35 billion
• 20-40 million people will benefit
• Codifies DACA into law - Allows dreamers (children of immigrants born in US) ability to work and stay in US
Declares Moonshot Style Effort to Cure Cancer • Hires Dr. Renee Wegrzyn as the inaugural Director of ARPA-H, a new agency to drive biomedical innovation
• Launches National Biotechnology and Manufacturing Initiative
• Cancer Cabinet’s progress towards delivering cancer detection tech and support for researchers across US
Infrastructure Projects in Individual States Created by Infrastructure Bill
All-Time Low Uninsured rate
10 million jobs—more than ever created before at this point of a presidency
3.5% unemployment rate—a near record low in the history of this country
Best Economic growth in over two decades (yes that has been adjusted for inflation)
More than 220 million Americans were vaccinated
Record small business creation
Round nine of student loan forgiveness - $1.5 Billion for defrauded college borrowers
Biden created DOJ task force dismantles human smuggling organization near Texas-American border
Intervened to prevent nation-wide rail strike which would have caused national economic disaster
Blocks Chinese investments in US tech
Eliminates statute of limitations for civil suits for people who were sexually abused as minors
Pardons thousands for simple possession of marijuana
Reevaluating how cannabis is classified. Currently it is schedule I like heroin - Meth & coke are schedule II
Reunited over 500 families separated at the border by Trump policies
Puts new limits on drone strikes including requiring the presidential approval
Brokered deal between Israel and Lebanon ending maritime boundary dispute and establish a permanent maritime boundary between them
PAWS Act: Requires zoos, commercial animal dealers, and research facilities to have contingency plans in place to evacuate and care for animals in an emergency or disaster situation
Increases veterans’' life insurance benefit coverage to $500,000. First increase in 17 years
Ensures US is not funding or participating in human trafficking of 3rd world-country workers through our contracts overseas
Enacts aggressive steps to improve quality of nursing homes
Codifies Gay Marriage into law - Protects Same-Sex and Interracial Marriage
Prohibits private possession of big cats and prohibits exhibitors from allowing direct contact with cubs
Electrifies US Postal trucks by 2026
Stops the forcing out of pregnant workers, or denying reasonable accommodations
Extended health care funding for the 9/11 first-responders and survivors
Streamlined Veterans home loans, provided way to transfer GI Bill benefits to new school, and provided support for survivors of military sexual trauma.
Year Two Accomplishments: 4.5 million jobs added in year two - Over 11 million jobs added in first two years
Unemployment rate at 50 year low
Cuts budget deficit in half - $1.4 trillion deficit reduction is the largest single-year reduction in US history
Greatest year in history for new small business applications - (over 10 million new businesses created)
Record number of Americans having health insurance
This Senate has confirmed 97 federal judges
Limit China’s technological development breaking decades of federal policy and represents most aggressive American action yet to curtail Beijing’s economic and military rise
Appointed more black women to the court than any president in history

Armenia and Greece sign military cooperation plan for 2023

The program for 2023 includes 21 activities, of which 15 will take place in Greece and 6 in Armenia:
• Joint training of Special Forces – Special Operations Forces.
• Co-training on Electronic Warfare.
• Participation in the Multinational Training Centre for Peace Support Operations.
• Exchange of experiences and lessons in Air Defence Systems.
• Staff exchange and visits to schools and multinational schools, as well as seminars.
• Staff meetings and talks on matters of mutual interest, with special emphasis on the field of Military Intelligence.
The signing of the Program confirms the strong military ties of the two countries and further strengthens the operational capabilities and the level of interoperability of their Armed Forces, contributing to the strengthening of the role played by Greece and Armenia in ensuring stability and security in the wider region.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/03/30/armenia-and-greece-sign-military-cooperation-plan-for-2023/

Cabinet approves military-technical cooperation agreement with Czech Republic

The Government of Armenia on March 30 approved the agreement on military-technical cooperation with Czech Republic which was signed in 2019.
The agreement envisages cooperation in military education, defense industry, military history and museology, as well as participation in peacekeeping missions abroad. It will be sent to the Constitutional Court to determine its compliance with the constitution, and in the event of receiving a positive response the agreement will be submitted to parliament for ratification.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107571

Border guards to take over the protection of road connecting Lachin Corridor to Armenia – PM

“But since the road connecting the Lachin Corridor to the Republic of Armenia was not completely ready, a temporary route was launched that entered the territory of the Republic of Armenia through the Kornidzor Bridge, then again into the territory of Azerbaijan, then again into the territory of the Republic of Armenia. According to the agreement reached, this route was supposed to operate until April 1, 2023,” the Prime Minister said.
He emphasized that the border guard troops will be stationed at the state border of the Republic of Armenia in the same positions where the units of the Ministry of Defense were stationed until now.
PM Pashinyan said the Azerbaijani side tried to present the situation as another “blockbuster.”
“This approach is at least not constructive. No change in the Armenian positions has occurred as a result of all this, with the difference that we intend to protect the area in question, unlike before, through Border Guard troops. In other words, the change that takes place is as follows: from the same positions along the state border of the Republic of Armenia, the units of the Ministry of Defense will withdraw according to the plan, and units of the Border Guard troops will be deployed in their place. We made the same proposal to Azerbaijan as well, so that the same would happen on Azerbaijan’s side. I hope that this process will take place without provocations,” Nikol Pashinyan stated.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/03/30/route-of-lachin-corridor-changes/

I have great hopes that the Azerbaijani forces will return to the designated places. Governor of Syunik

According to him, there is no panic in the border communities, but people are worried about the created situation.
Syunik Marz Governor Robert Ghukasyan has been in Tegh community for two days already. According to the report of the National Security Service, from April 1, the road connecting the territory of the Republic of Armenia to the Lachin Corridor will pass through the Kornidzor-Tegh route, only through the territory of the Republic of Armenia. According to the agreements reached yesterday between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the border guards of the two countries were to be deployed on both sides of the border along the above-mentioned section in the last days of March. According to the calculations of the Armenian side, the Azerbaijani side was located 100 to 300 meters ahead of the border at five points. "Radiolur" talked with Syunik Marz Governor Robert Ghukasyan.
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Against all challenges, we should not deviate from the development agenda of Armenia for a single moment. PM Pashinyan

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, Laurent Wauquiez, and the delegation led by him, who were on a two-day visit to the Syunik Province, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.
"Of course, we are in a very difficult period, and our country and the region are experiencing very difficult times. In this sense, such visits are also very important in terms of conveying moral strength and support, including political. I would like to emphasize the importance of your visit to the starting point of the Lachin Corridor and the Syunik Province and, of course, your messages regarding the existing situation."
"I would also like to hear your impressions from the visit. I hope you have noticed that despite all the problems, we are making very serious investment projects in the republic, including in the Syunik Province. massive construction works are being carried out: roads, schools, kindergartens, other infrastructures, because our approach is that despite all the challenges, we should not deviate for a moment from the development agenda of Armenia. Recently, the European Union's investment and economic plan was launched in Syunik Province, which is extremely important. We also hope that the presence of the EU civilian mission along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border will become an additional factor contributing to stability and security. I welcome you once again."
The President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France said,
"Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister.
This is the second time we are meeting, and I have the greatest respect for what you are doing for Armenia in this very difficult period. Last time I was very impressed with your strength and your will to move forward with very specific plans.
You are asking about my impressions from this visit. first of all, I want to say that it was very important for us to go to the Syunik Province and be the first French local authority to establish cooperation with the region, because we understand very well how important Syunik is for the territorial integrity of Armenia."
The parties emphasized the consistent efforts of the international community towards stability and peace in the region.
The interlocutors also discussed the prospects for the development of multi-sector partnership and the expansion of trade and economic ties. In this regard, the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between the Syunik Province and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region on March 29 was highlighted.
The Prime Minister noted that the Armenian Government consistently continues the policy of balanced territorial development, and in this regard, attached great importance to the strengthening of decentralized cooperation with France and the exchange of experience between regions. Nikol Pashinyan referred to the reform agenda of the Government of Armenia, measures being implemented to improve the investment environment. Laurent Wauquiez thanked for the information, noting that French companies are interested in doing business in Armenia.
The sides exchanged ideas on opportunities for implementing joint projects in the fields of agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and renewable energy.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107672.html

Whoever attacks Syunik will be attacking Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, says Laurent Wauquiez

“That’s why we decided to have a cooperation agreement between our region and Syunik province. The agreement was signed in a very meaningful place, in the Tatev Monastery. Cooperation will relate to healthcare, agriculture and education. I’ve said that whoever attacks Syunik will be attacking my region,” Wauquiez said, repeating his statement made at the signing ceremony earlier.
“This isn’t a dispute between two countries where borders aren’t clarified and it could last forever, this is a total disregard for human rights that are protected under all international conventions, this is a desire to destroy a nation, its culture and history, its memory. This is certainly Armenia’s struggle, Artsakh’s struggle, but this is also a bigger struggle, this is a struggle for all the values that we bear. This is a struggle for civilization and democracy. Protecting you means protecting all these values,” the French politician added.
He called for stronger reaction by the international community and international sanctions against Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
“It was decided not to buy Russian gas any more after the occupation of some parts of Ukraine, but is the Azerbaijani gas more acceptable? Why weren’t there any consequences for what happened, why are there no sanctions against the Aliyev regime? I share these questions with you and I am equally angered,” he said.
Wauquiez said that together with his 40-member delegation he visited Syunik province. “All members of my delegation can now say, I have been there, I have seen what’s happening, I know what’s happening. The Azerbaijani troops came and captured the parts from the sovereign territory of Armenia where we went just one day earlier.”
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107640.html

Nagorno Karabakh FM meets with Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes President Laurent Wauquiez in Yerevan

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107631.html

France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region to attempt humanitarian convoy passage into blockaded Nagorno Karabakh

“In 2019, we met with representatives of Artsakh and signed a cooperation agreement between my region and Artsakh. We’d adopted a political position in my region to confirm Artsakh’s right to independence, which led to serious pressures by Pan-Turkist terrorist organizations against me and my family. Why am I here today? Because I am well aware that the entire international attention is on Ukraine and there is a serious danger for Armenia and Artsakh to be forgotten in all of this. I am here to say that we are not forgetting you, you are not alone, and we shouldn’t allow the violations of international law in Armenia, Artsakh and Lachin Corridor to go unnoticed in silence,” Wauquiez said.
The President of the Regional Council of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes visited the entrance of the blockaded Lachin Corridor in Syunik to show to his countrymen the violations of international law, that 120,000 people on the other side are deprived of basic human rights.
“I was with the Governor of Syunik the moment he was notified that an advance had taken place the day before where we were located at that time [Tegh village]. I have witnessed and can testify about the violation of international law. I have also seen the Azerbaijani flags hoisted on the heights located in Armenian lands. And I had the chance to speak with displaced persons of Artsakh, whose words were deeply touching. As a politician, it is my duty to take action and be able to help you,” he said.
Wauquiez said that they want to organize a humanitarian convoy jointly with the organizations representing the Armenian community of France and try to deliver humanitarian aid to Artsakh.
“The convoy will be organized with our region’s support and will bear our region’s flag. It will approach the Lachin Corridor and we will demand passage to Artsakh. Either the convoy will pass and we will have a ray of hope, or the convoy will be barred and it will give us the opportunity to present this issue before international and European organizations, that once again the international law is being violated, and that actions must be taken,” Wauquiez added.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107638.html

Laurent Vauquier, President of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Region of France, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial

link

Azerbaijan has advanced troops 100 to 300 meters in five points, Armenia’s National Security Service says

After August 2022, a part of the road connecting the Lachin Corridor to Armenia was still passing through the Azerbaijani territory after the Kornidzor Bridge. That part of the road and its adjacent territory were controlled by the Russian peacekeeping forces.
According to the agreements reached yesterday between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the border guards of the two countries were to be deployed on both sides of the border along the above-mentioned section in the last days of March.
According to the NSS, there has been “misreading of maps” and in some places, the Azerbaijani side, without waiting for pre-arranged adjustments, started positioning and carrying out engineering works.
“According to the calculations of the Armenian side, there are five points, where the Azerbaijani side has advanced troops 100 to 300 meters further from the border. It has now been agreed that cartographers from both sides will correct the situation,” the National Security Service said.
“The Armenian side approaches the situation with the logic of not allowing escalation,” it added.
“The Armenian army did not have positions in the area in question, because positions are not located on the border line, but on the nearby strategic heights. And the protection of that part of the border should be transferred to the border guard troops, according to the agreement mentioned above,” SNS stated.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/03/30/azerbaijan-has-deployed-troops-100-to-300-meters-across-the-border-in-five-points-armenias-national-security-service-says/

Azerbaijani forces block Aghavno-Tegh section of Goris-Stepanakert highway – Police

According to the Ministry, the new Tegh-Kornidzor dirt road of Syunik marz bypassing the closed road, which connects to the new Kornidzor-Hin Shen road put into operation in August 2022 (Lachin Corridor), is already ready. Asphalting works of the Tegh-Kornidzor road are in progress.

Farmer in Artsakh comes under Azerbaijani fire

On March 30, the Martuni regional police department reported that at around 10:35 a.m. Hayk Zargaryan, a 29-year-old resident of Berdashen community of Martuni region was attacked by the Azerbaijani army while carrying out agricultural work with his “Belarus” tractor in the administrative area of the village.
No casualties were reported. Agricultural work was forced to stop. The information about the incident was passed on to the Russian peacekeepers.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/03/30/farmer-in-artsakh-comes-under-azerbaijani-fire/

Armenia, Malta keen to deepen bilateral relations

Ararat Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on Armenia’s vision on the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue as well as the efforts of the Armenian side to strengthen stability and peace in the South Caucasus.
Both sides emphasized the need to settle the existing issues exclusively through peaceful negotiations.
Minister Mirzoyan briefed the interlocutor on the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. He stressed the importance of taking practical steps in accordance with the targeted statements and calls already made by international partners. The implementation of the decision of February 22 of the International Court of Justice as well as the imperative to send an international fact-finding mission to the Lachin corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh was emphasized.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/03/30/armenia-malta-keen-to-deepen-bilateral-relations/

Armenia names Ambassador to Singapore

Armenian Ambassador to Indonesia Serob Bejanyan will from now on also cover Singapore.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107665.html

Iran appoints new Ambassador to Armenia

The Islamic Republic of Iran will appoint Mehdi Sobhani, the country’s Ambassador to Syria, as new envoy to Armenia, Iran’s Foreign Ministry informs.
Sobhani is described by the Ministry as an experienced diplomat.
Iran’s current Ambassador to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri was appointed in 2019 and assumed his mission in early 2020.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/03/30/iran-appoints-new-ambassador-to-armenia/

CSTO Secretary General warns of “risk of destabilization” due to situation in Nagorno Karabakh

“The tension in the Caucasus region persists as a result of the many years of disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Interfax news agency quoted the CSTO Secretary General as saying.
He warned of a serious risk of destabilization because of the risks relating to the situation in Nagorno Karabakh and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
“The situation in the Central Asian region is also tense, the threat of infiltration of extremist ideology and terrorist groups into the territory of CSTO allies is growing. The difficult threats coming from the territory of Afghanistan are especially concerning,” he said, adding that the organization is working to perfect its mechanisms of withstanding challenges and threats.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107647.html

CSTO “always ready” to send mission to Armenian-Azerbaijani border

“Regarding the Caucasian region, the organization is always ready to send a CSTO mission to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border pursuant to the interests of ensuring Armenia’s security, as well as to provide other assistance,” TASS news agency quoted CSTO Secretariat representative Yuri Shuvalov as saying after a joint meeting of the CSTO Secretariat and Joint Staff.
The assistance mechanisms are included in the CSTO Collective Security Council’s draft decision, which is pending, he added.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107650.html

Mher Sahakyan approached me and hit me without saying anything. Vladimir Vardanyan about the incident in the parliament

"The session of the committee was proceeding normally, at one point the process of discussion was disturbed, the MPs started talking quite loudly and I tried to urge Artsvik Minasyan and the rest of the MPs to return to the substantial discussion. After that, in response to my legitimate demand, MP Mher Sahakyan said that I cannot raise my voice against them, and I said that I was conducting the session and continue to conduct it. He approached me (we were already standing) and attacked me without saying anything, hit me and ran away," said Vardanyan.
According to Mher Sahakyan, as a result of the blow, a rather significant cut occurred in the eyebrow area. Vardanyan does not rule out that the blow was made with some kind of tool.
"It was quite a hard blow. I haven't passed the forensic examination yet, I will probably do it tomorrow," concluded Vardanyan.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107687.html

MP Mher Sahakyan was arrested in connection with the incident in the National Assembly

After the incident, Sahakyan was arrested and taken to the Police Department of the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs on the basis of a reasonable suspicion that he had committed a criminal act.
NA deputy Vladimir Vardanyan was taken to the "Nairi" medical center in order to receive medical treatment. The latter was recognized as a victim within the proceedings, and a forensic medical examination was appointed. A number of people who witnessed the incident were interrogated, the necessary investigative actions are also being carried out against the arrested M. with Sahakyan.
https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1107678.html

Armenian Prime Minister participates in opening of Summit for Democracy 2023

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated on March 29 in the Plenary Day of the official opening of the Summit for Democracy 2023 held online.
The Summit for Democracy is held at the initiative of United States President Joe Biden.
On Wednesday, March 29, the Summit for Democracy’s five co-hosts — the United States, Costa Rica, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, and Zambia — officially kicked off the Summit, with each co-host leader hosting a live, fully virtual, thematic, Leader-level plenary session. Plenaries will be interspersed with “spotlight interventions” by leading activists and civil society figures.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also delivered remarks.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107478.html

Armenia remains committed to the peace process with Azerbaijan’ – PM Pashinyan at Summit for Democracy 2023

"Along with strengthening the democratic institutions in our country, in September, 2022, we had to encounter an aggression against the internationally recognized territory of the Republic of Armenia, which resulted in the occupation of part of our sovereign territory by Azerbaijan. It was back in September that we felt the union of democracies and the clear condemnation of aggression against Armenia. I want to take this opportunity and extend our gratitude to the United States and other partners that helped us stop the further incursion through diplomatic engagement."
"Armenia feels strongly about the human rights violations across the world and there is a lot that we need to do together to prevent genocides, ethnic cleansings and atrocities. Whatever is happening with Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh today, the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan and the humanitarian crisis resulted by it, is definitely an attempt of ethnic cleansing of Armenians in NK. And we cannot turn a blind eye on that. At the same time, I reiterate that Armenia remains committed to the peace process with Azerbaijan. We are convinced that there is no alternative to the peaceful development of the region and that sticking to democratic values will help us find a way to peace."
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107479.html

Speaker Alen Simonyan might need second surgery on arm

Simonyan fractured his right arm on March 20 while training. He underwent surgery for the injury and was seen wearing an arm brace during his March 28 visit to Germany.
“The Speaker of Parliament might undergo a second surgery,” Simonyan’s spokesperson Tsovinar Khachatryan told ARMENPRESS, adding that the Speaker is feeling well.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107626.html

I am ready to serve in Artsakh, regardless of any post or position. Artur Davtyan's interview

Read the full thing at the link vv
https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1107709.html

Lithuanian officials have expressed their readiness to support Armenia in the security sector

The Secretary of the Security Council thanked the Lithuanian authorities for supporting the presence of the EU mission in Armenia.
Secretary Grigoryan presented to his Lithuanian colleagues the security environment created around Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the concerns about the possible escalation of Azerbaijan, as well as details about the humanitarian crisis in Lachin, stressing the urgent need to send an international fact-finding team to Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin corridor.
Lithuanian partners have expressed their readiness to support Armenia in security matters, especially in the field of cyber security.
https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1107690.html

The issue of Armenia's accession to the ICC will be resolved in an alliance way. Zakharova

The Russian Federation expects that the situation related to Yerevan's possible accession to the International Criminal Court (ICC) will be settled in an allied and mutually acceptable manner.
"This topic is a subject of discussion both in Moscow and during high-level contacts in Yerevan. I do not consider it necessary to publish the details of those contacts. Of course, we assume that this issue will be resolved in an allied and mutually acceptable way," Zakharova said in the briefing, answering the question of how Moscow views the fact that the Constitutional Court of Armenia has recognized the Rome Statute as compatible with the Armenian constitution.
https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1107602.html

Within the framework of the "Armenian Business Corner" project, 20 Armenian companies and 16 services were officially introduced to the American market

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1107651.html

More than 100 companies representing real estate and construction sectors under one roof. "Home-Expo" exhibition has started

RA Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan, highlighting the implementation of such measures, emphasized that last year in Armenia, a record 322 thousand square meters of building utilization rate was recorded, which is the highest rate in the history of independent Armenia.
The government and the Ministry of Economy cooperate in a special format with the "Armenian Association of Builders" and state and non-state organizations in the construction sector with the aim of making the sector more attractive and making investments more profitable," Kerobyan said.
The main sponsors of the exhibition are Red Invest Group, Defense Housing and ASEDL companies.
Marina Babakhanyan, marketing director of Defanse Housing, mentioned that at the "Home-Expo" exhibition, Defanse Housing is presenting the residential district in the adjacent part of the North-South highway, which is the largest development in the history of Armenia.
https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1107689.html

The NATO Secretary General intends to achieve Sweden's membership of the alliance by July

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1107648.html

Turkey approves Finland NATO membership bid

Any NATO expansion needs the support of all its members.
Finland will now be formally admitted into NATO at its next summit, taking place in July in Lithuania.
In a statement following the Turkish vote, the Finnish government said joining the alliance would strengthen the country's security, and improve stability and security in the region.
But his ongoing hostility to Sweden was clear - as he again accused the country of embracing Kurdish militants and allowing them to demonstrate on the streets of Stockholm.
Finland, a country with a 1,340km (832 mile) border with Russia and one of the most powerful arsenals of artillery pieces in Western Europe, is ditching its neutrality and joining the alliance in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow describes as a “special military operation.”
Russia's foreign ministry earlier condemned Finland's decision, saying it was ill-considered and based on Russophobic hysteria.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1107633.html

14 medical patients were transferred from Artsakh to Armenia through the mediation of ICRC. 11 people returned

Planned surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical facilities operating under the Artsakh Ministry of Health.
5 children are in the neonatal and resuscitation department in "Arevik" medical unit.
At the "Republican Medical Center", 5 patients are in the intensive care unit, 1 of them is in critical condition.
Until today, a total of 229 patients have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and accompaniment of the International Committee of the Red Cross
https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1107373.html

Tightened blockade of Artsakh discussed at Security Council sitting

Issues related to the defense of the Artsakh Republic, ensuring the security and the life-activity of the population of the Artsakh Republic under the conditions of the tightening of the blockade and unceasing provocations by Azerbaijan were on the agenda. State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan and Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Kamo Vardanyan delivered reports.
President Harutyunyan underscored the close and coordinated cooperation between the law enforcement agencies and civilian structures, public administration and local self-government bodies in the solution of urgent and long-term problems.
The President gave a number of instructions to the authorized bodies in the context of the discussed issues.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/03/31/tightened-blockade-of-artsakh-discussed-at-security-council-sitting/

Azerbaijan confirms participation European Weightlifting Championships 2023 in Yerevan

Azerbaijan will be represented by five athletes at the event.
The EWF European Weightlifting Championships 2023 is scheduled to take place 15-23 April in Yerevan, Armenia.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/03/31/azerbaijan-confirms-participation-european-weightlifting-championships-2023-in-yerevan/

Armenian PM, EU’s Michel discuss ongoing crisis caused by Azerbaijan’s illegal blocking of Lachin Corridor

The interlocutors discussed issues related to the ongoing crisis caused by Azerbaijan’s illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor. The sides exchanged thoughts on recent developments, Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiation process, peace agenda.
Nikol Pashinyan and Charles Michel emphasized consistent efforts to ensure stability and peace in the region.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/03/30/armenian-pm-eus-michel-discuss-ongoing-crisis-caused-by-azerbaijans-illegal-blocking-of-lachin-corrido

Donate to help our Soldiers and Heros

https://www.1000plus.am/en/

Reminder to not give any of these posts reddit premium awards, Donate that money to our Soldiers and Heros who need that money the most

Another reminder to please jot spread any misinformation and to not cause panic for no reason, read everything and understand everything correctly, our enemies want us to panic and to be stressed which will cause internal problems

So I have a brand new car (it’s a hybrid) with about 15k left on the loan. I’m wondering if I should sell it and buy a beater because I need to pay about 16k dollars for tuition to finish grad school next year. I’ve already pulled about 20k in student loans for last year, but with the interest rate pause ending in September I’d rather not add to that pile.
Thoughts?

I was awarded the Hudson and Holland Scholarship, but I’m confused on how much the awarding is? It says that it covers the rate for instate so does that mean my tuition comes down to instate or is the total I’m paying out of state minus instate?

HAVOC ZERO - DEER ISLE 🌿
Third Person PVE ⛺ / 1st Person PVP Zones ☠️ / Friendly, Social, Balance Gameplay / No Raid / DayZ Dog / Helis & Boats
Map: Deer Isle
Name: Havoc Zero DeerIsle PVE 1PP PVP Zones Helis Boats +
Direct: 185.240.135.38:2302
US Central Hosted/EU Playable - 120ms Ping for Western Europe, perfectly good ping for everyone! :) Hosted on a beefy, dedicated machine colocated at a datacenter with 10Gbps networking.
https://havoczero.com
Havoc Zero - Deer Isle is a new and already populated server, offering a PVE experience, with PVP zones for those wanting to choose when they risk it all. Chill out with us, meet some new people, explore the amazing Deer Isle map full of adventures and mysteries, build a base and grind through our cars, helis and now boats! We have custom trader locations, do our best to use stable mods, and look after the community.
Current population is mostly US and around 25 people at any given time. Really nice folks looking to grind out gear and vehicles, and do a bit of PVP when they feel like it :)
* Balanced grind, a lot of loot-only necessary items - Enjoy success at any play rate and style!
* Cars - custom and carefully selected, themed appropriately to the apocalypse. No silly supercars.
* DayZ Dog - Have a loyal companion alongside your travels, or to help with hunting.
* Boats and Helis - Explore Deer Isle's vast disconnected lands and mysteries in various ways
* Mighty's Military Gear - Armoured vests and helmets
* Tactical Flava - Variety of guns with attachment systems, more gear
* SCWS Weapons Pack - High quality, high calibre, rare and fun.
* MuchStuffPack and BaseBuildingPlus to expand on base, item and storage
* No drugs on our servers - Make money by looting gear, finding collectables, and hunting dangerous animals
* Beekeeping, Hunting, Collectables, Gun Running - Varied money making methods.
* More Stamina - No unlimited stamina silliness, but still much more than vanilla.
* Varied Zombies, mostly vanilla, military zombies are tougher!
* Custom Trader Locations
* Incredibly helpful, mature and chill community.
Join us on discord - Come hang out, or check out some more information!
https://discord.com/invite/MjxeTeC

This is the thread to ask and discuss general administration questions that don't really need a thread of their own. It will also double as a thread for ongoing events such as Policy, APS/BGRS, TD/Claims, etc., and may be used for various CANFORGEN's as they're released.
This thread will be renewed monthly, or when it's deemed a new one is needed.
Previous Administration Threads (includes COVID-19 Pandemic Threads) <--(yes, yes. I have to update it.)
RULES OF THE THREAD:

1. All participants are welcome; however, questions relating to Recruitment/Application Processes, Recruit Training (BMQ/BMOQ, PAT, DP1/QL3, BMQ-L/BMOQ-A, etc.) and Scheduling, and other questions relating directly or indirectly to joining the CAF belong in the Weekly Recruiting Thread and will be removed at the discretion of the moderators. Administrative questions relating to VOT/COT's, CT's, and In-Service Selection programs may be permitted.
   
2. When answering policy/administration questions, please provide references if available.
   
3. Participants are reminded of the subreddit rules and unsubstantiated rumour, exaggerated commenting, or blatant falsehoods will be removed. Keep it civil, and level-headed. Comments may be removed at moderator discretion, with or without warning.
   
4. Medical questions at mod discretion. Best answer is "Go talk to your Doc at your local Clinic/MIprovince. There are no verified medical personnel here, and this isn't a medical discussion thread.
   

USEFUL RESOURCES:

• Policies, standards, orders, directives and regulations from the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.
  
• Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI)
  
• Defence Administrative Orders and Directives (DAODs)
  
• Queen's Regulations and Orders (QR&O)
  
• Integrated Relocation Program / Relocation Directive
  
• Leave Policy Manual
  
• The Canadian Armed Forces Dress Instructions
  
• Canadian Armed Forces Drill and Ceremonial
  
• Military Pay Rates
  
• Temporary Duty Travel Instructions (CFTDTI)
  
• Joint National Council (Kilometric Rates & Meal Allowances)
  
• National Defence Act
  

If you find yourself struggling and in need of assistance, please reach out:
Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program
CAF Mental Health Resources
DISCLAIMER:
The information presented in this thread should be current, but things do change. Refer to your Orderly Room, BPSO, MICDU, SupervisoCoC, or other personnel as appropriate for the current official answer. This subreddit, moderators, and users hold no responsibility or liability as to the accuracy of information, given or received. All info here is presented as "at your risk."

Hi, I am a 15 year old Florida High School student.
I am very passionate about biology. My mother is terminally ill with Huntington's Disease, and it has inspired me to work with genetic research. I found out at 14 years old, and I genuinely thought I would end up rolling over and dying, but now I have gotten a grip on myself and my future and am very optimistic. I am going to be using my experiences to become a genetic engineer.
My qualifications right now:
-4.9 Weighted GPA
-A PSAT score of 1220
-Am in my school's drama club, STEM club (exclusive to the top 25 students in each grade), BETA Club, and Home Economics Club. I will be joining Choir and NHS (assuming I make it in, but my school has a very high NHS acceptance rate) next year.
-Am currently in 2 AP classes and will be taking 4 DE courses over the summer. I took AP CPS last year. I will have 6 APs, 4 DE courses (spread throughout the year), and an honors Theatre course next year.
-Volunteer once a week
-Outside of school, I sing, play the violin, write, and independently research biology (right now I'm on a CRISPR and TALENS kick)
By my graduation, I should have all of the following if I stay on track:
-A GPA of 5.45
-4 year Drama Club and STEM participation, 3 year Home Ec and BETA participation, and 2 year choir and NHS (assuming I make it in) participation
-12 APs and 18 DE credits. I will also graduate with my capstone diploma
-150+ volunteer hours
-7 years of playing the violin, 12 years of singing, and 6 years of writing.
I study for three SAT every day for an hour a day. I would LIKE to get over a 1500, but I have not taken the SAT before and do not want to get my hopes up.
I have already written my college essay. Obviously, it is not complete and I am going to ne editing it a lot until its time to submit it, but I've known what I wanted to write about ever since 8th grade. I would not be as into biology as I am right now if it weren't for Huntington's, so my essay is about my experience with growing up with an HD+ mother and how discovering biology and what it could do for both myself and the HD community turned my outlook on life around and gave me a complete direction in what I want to do in my life.
One thing that I'm worried about is awards and STEM related ECs. I unfortunately come from a very rural area in Florida that values agriculture over everything else and they believe the most academically stimulating thing you can do is graduate with your AA degree. I plan on trying to make it to state for science fair next year and registering for USABO, but there is nothing local that I can do. My parents also do not value academics as much as I do and would not be willing to pay for anything out of state, nor do they plan on helping me out financially with tuition whatsoever. If anybody has any idea of anything I could do online that will help boost me up then please let me know
I plan on applying to:
-Duke -Stanford -Harvard -Princeton -Johns Hopkins -Brown -Cornell -BostonU -UF -UCF -USF
Thank you!

I know this isn't the correct way to do life, I've historically made some bad financial decisions and I'm too skint to properly rectify them at the moment. So please reserve any judgement.
My credit rating is 497 and I need to get it above 560 to be approved for a tuition fee loan for a course I'm trying to do. I have a CCJ and a about 2(ish) grand of other debt. £1.2k of which is set to reach the 6 year mark next week. After it's wiped, will be credit score go up?
I'm chipping away at the CCJ and the smaller debts but not making particularly fast progress, so was hoping the removal of this would boost my score.

https://www.thecipherbrief.com/column_article/america-has-a-military-recruitment-problem-some-are-trying-to-fix-it
Some say the childfree culture, among other factors, are to blame. Smaller family units stop the push for surplus children to enlist. Declining birth rates overall drie up the human supply.

A homeless teenager reaches out to the Shil’vati on first day of the invasion of Earth.
This is a rewrite of my original story ‘Loyalist’.
Credit to u/bluefishcake for writing the original SSB story.
Pizzaulostin who has been beta reading since the beginning.
and u/BruhMomentGEE
Credit to u/HollowShel for getting me started with this!
This story is based in the SSB universe.
Previous
First
next
as always, comments are welcome.

Chapter 17:

Thanks to the author of Alien-Nation for editing this chapter!

Ruhal:

“We are sorry about the restraints. Your dossier has a security lock from the Office of Interior that I can’t even read, and all our supervisor could tell us was ‘interview with caution’,” one of the two agents explained.
I regarded my handcuffs with professional disapproval. They had a longer than regular chain for ambulatory movement and inmate processing, by the deep, I could even use them as garrote if needed. They had revealed the limits of their rank with that apology.
“No need to worry. I am sure this will be a formality in less than an hour,” I told them, if there was one thing that was in abundance on the planet Sky it was Interior and undercover commando trainees. I hoped this would probably be their most interesting case all month.
“So, would you care to explain how you are raising a human, that is also considered a military asset?” The agent inquired as she pulled out her slate.
“Of course, Klein surrendered himself and requested medical aid and refugee status. He was willing to answer essential questions regarding human culture that aided in liberating humanity into the Shil’vati Empire. He wouldn’t be safe on Earth anymore, and I mentioned that he was still important in writing my reports. If I had my slate, I could give you the relevant documentation,” I said in a conversational tone, without any of the emotions that weighed the story, and glossing over the specifics.
“No need. I have everything you submitted to the Interior, including his asset designation, the interrogation transcripts, and even his doctor’s contact info. To be honest with you it’s the only reason we haven’t interviewed you yet, even after a dozen calls about a ‘possible trafficked human’ since he arrived. Your information is corroborated with several other departments. The issue now is what the medivac scans found.” The agent pushed a slate towards me with medical notes bolded for emphasis ‘probable severe abuse’.
“The report shows a recent history of blunt force trauma, abrasions, and even muscle tearing, in short. It looks like the human has been systematically tortured for months. You also have recently requested restricted training armor in the human’s size.” The agent explained.
Ah, that was my mistake. I had been treating Klein as another child, just with some unique needs. It looks like there were other considerations, ones that I failed to see.
“I really do need my omni-slate to illustrate this, it’s on my desk right now if one of your assistants could get it?” I asked, hoping they got the suggestion to not leave me with only one interrogator in the room so they wouldn’t be graded too harshly.
They thankfully acquiesced without comment, and with my omni-slate in hand I pulled up the latest video of Klein practicing with me, the speed and brutality was difficult for me to sit through. Then, Klein pulled off his helmet seconds later, laughing in the rain. Unconcerned that, without armor, we could have just killed each other- I was grateful he had, else it might’ve been interpreted quite differently. “The bruising mostly from everyday participation at a Rakiri gym, and some remnants from before I got proper gear for baton practice. He heals extremely fast, and more so, he isn’t happy unless he exercises for at least an hour or two a day.”
I pulled up another video. Klein was sitting at the table bouncing his leg at an ever-increasing pace while trying to focus on a decently complex equation. He finally stood up and started pacing mouthing words as he skipped in time to an unheard rhythm.
“W-what’s he doing?” The agent asked, looking just a tad disturbed by the display of what seemed erratic behavior.
“A sort of dance while playing the song ‘a fine mesh net’ on his headphones. There was a monsoon that Shel weekend, and even I’m not crazy enough to fight in a thunderstorm like that. He does that around the house for an hour, and then finally settles in on a video game,” I explained to the agents, who were looking at me dubiously.
“So, you oversee an adolescent who is an intelligence asset, but also seems poorly fitted for Shil’vati life. Why the baton practice? Wouldn’t that make him even more dangerous, more of an outsider? Are you trying to sabotage his integration? Why not take him shopping, instead, or teach him beauty and self-care routines?” They were antagonizing. Countering every argument to see how I reacted. It seemed they could at least interrogate decently well.
“I hardly call a few quirks ‘poor fitting’. The baton practice is for obvious self-defense. Its intention is to make him dangerous,” I explained, letting the interviewers lead the conversation.
The back and forth went on for a while, but I presented a highlight reel of the last few months. Including a Rakiri gym video when Klein tried to flourish a wall climb and smashed his shoulder on the ledge while face planting into the mud.
The agents would not be arresting me today. They would need medical reports, and would require Klein, Hario, and Compassion Through Deeds to attest while truth scanned that these were sports injuries, and not some conspiracy to commit torture. We were also going to need to see an ICAD agent every two weeks for counseling. I had no idea what ICAD was, but I would investigate them later.
Finally, the agents appeared they were closing up the interview. I tried not to brace myself as they asked the complicated question. “One thing we need to know is, what is Klein to you? If he is just a crucial asset, then why haven’t you contacted a local volunteer family foster? Or was the military asset just a cover to find a male heir?”
I sighed, the truth wasn’t incriminating, but if I didn’t word it right, I would look like the worst sort of military tourist. “I had, originally, taken care of Klein as a key intelligence asset. Within that first week though, I had found that despite the decades of preparation, there wasn’t a process for someone to claim asylum as a child during first contact. He would be in military bureaucratic limbo without an advocate. We both know where he would end up.”
The room cooled by several degrees, which was a pity, I almost got the talkative agent to laugh at Klein’s antics. “Out of duty I investigated ways I could bring him home until I could find resources to place him in a stable situation with all the resources to help a xeno without a community. I found someone who was willing to help in exchange for reports on Klein’s adaptation to Shil’vati lifestyle. That’s Klein’s purpose as a military asset in my home.”
I continued. I was saying more on than I needed to, but if they did a follow up investigation later for some other incident, which was a when, not if, then I wanted this on record. “Klein has become part of this household though, despite, or maybe because, of his oddities. He may not be Shil’vati, but he seems to have integrated well. It’s why, while it was never my intention, when he is an adult, I will offer him full adoption, and title of home guardian.”
I watched the agents exchange looks, then the agent made a few taps on her slate. ‘Upper left, middle center, probably a message app’. I then listened for the telltale taps of a yes as a micro expression of a self-satisfied smile crossed the agent’s face. I decided to stop playing interviewee.
“So, you won the bet on if I would claim the human as my son, how long has that pool been building?” I asked folding my hands together.
The agent answered before she could think. “Two months… Wait!? How did you-”
The agent was cut off by the squawk of the slate’s speaker. “Agents you did well enough with the interview portion, however; you absolutely failed to secure the subject. Could you please illustrate to them why I stressed caution {petal of death’s veil}?”
The code name wasn’t one I had heard in decades, but I wasn’t going to snub an old handler. I kicked on my fast reaction mods to max speed and lunged over the table past the still sitting agents. I pirouetted and twisted the restraints into a loop as I brought them down over the left agent’s head and pulled back carefully, lightly touching the chain of my restraints around the neck of the agent before she could even react.
I kicked off my mods and caught my breath as time returned to normal. Both agents’ eyes went wide with shock as the one not about to be strangled tried to get away to pull out her weapon. “W-who are you!?”
“I’m going to slowly release you and put my hands up, is that everything you needed {hated old friend}?” I directed my question to the slate, using the code High Shil word to show I was playing along.
“More than enough. Agent! Holster your weapon and come back to the safe room. We need to go over security procedures,” the slate responded, and the very brief confrontation was over.
The agents walked out, and Siltan stomped in looking like she could bring about a thunderstorm by pure force of will. “We weren’t the only ones to get visits from the ‘majesty’s’ Interior today. Cee let me know that the Interior is also interrogated Reqellia as well.”
I now understood why these two rookies were here. It was a distraction for me. I grumbled as I picked up my slate and called Reqellia. Her face appeared a second later.
“By the Deep, it’s been a long day,” Reqellia breathed out as I heard a door slam, then she cursed some more.
“Tell me everything. Is Klein ok?” I asked.
“Cee says he’s fine and is waking him up. Klein might be getting a mod himself before she closes him up though because, oh- looks like it’s my day is going to get longer still. ICAD is here, and it’s a Hydrean in a Gearschilde clinic.” Reqellia hung up, and I stared at the phone in confusion.
It was time to find out what ICAD was.

Klein:

I blearily came to, as high powered, piercing white light flooded my half open eyes. I tried to move my arm to shield my face and found I couldn’t. Actually, I couldn't move or even feel anything from the neck down.
I started to panic as I turned my head, focusing on lettering on a terminal, tried to sigh, and felt what few muscles I could control turn to lead as I sank back on the medical bed. Thank the goddess, it was Shil and Gearschilde lettering on the slate and medical supplies.
“Good afternoon Klein, are you okay? Your heart rate spiked.” I heard Cee, or full name Compassion Through Deeds, speak and turned my head to see her. She wore a dark red lab coat and regarded me with unblinking cybernetic eyes. Most of her orange skin had been replaced with dark steel etched with stylized waves and swirls of silver. Her face still emoted in a pleasant smile, but had that uncanny valley look of unblemished synth skin. I looked down to see a dozen micro surgical tools still inside me.
I should have been screaming at the sight, but all I felt was relief and joy. “Yeah, I just worried for a half second that I had hallucinated the last few months and was actually on a back on Earth on some black-market operating table getting my kidney stolen.”
Cee was aghast. “Does that happen on Earth?”
I would shrug, but again, I couldn’t move, instead I responded. “Rumors of it happening, but I never knew anyone personally.”
Cee reassured me. “Well, good news Klein, you are on Sky, you are in a Gearschilde clinic where stealing vital organs is a legal, moral and religious crime of unrepentant severity. What I have done is remove your appendix, and let the sedatives wear off so we can discuss what you want in its place.”
“In place of my appendix? Why?” I asked, it wasn’t like I really needed the vestigial organ turn internal hand grenade.
“Customary in Gearschilde for surgery is to be about giving a better life than just taking from the body. So, any ideas of what would make your life better?”
I thought about the bruising, the constant having to put healing patches on, and the annoyance of doing so. I thought about the near fatality of almost blowing my appendix, and if something could have fixed the issue before it got out of hand. “What about a healing dispenser? I keep having to put on patches and gel at the end of the day, and if I miss a spot, I will pay for it later.”
Cee gave me a grateful expression. “That’s a perfect first implant. I was worried you were going to ask for something more aggressive. When I was your age, I got my first defensive mod, a retractable forearm knife. Of course, my next surgery was being stitched back together after accidently stabbing myself with it.”
I tried to chuckle, but I didn’t have control of my diaphragm for it. “So, what’s next?”
Cee explained. “Well, the fabricator in the other room is right now creating your implant. It shouldn’t take long; are you ok being immobilized for the next hour or so?”
I thought about it, and honestly, I was still surprised I wasn’t panicking. “No, but I’m going to get really bored just laying here, do the Gearschilde have any good myths or stories?”
I knew I was fishing in an untapped pool that was guaranteed to have something. I wasn’t expecting my doctor to be gleeful at the thought though. “Oh blessed be you child, I am a surgeon priest, half the reason I am in this vocation is to tell stories. I take it you know nothing about Gearschilde mythology, or even our history?”
It was on my list of rabbit holes to get into, but instead I binged the rest of Prince Of The Stars and cried, it was nice. “No, but I would love to hear them.”
“Well if you want to, every Shel we have open services and brunch. But since you are new to Gearschilde mythology we should start with one of my favorites. The story of the Hopestrider.”
The ceiling lights dimmed, and the sterile operating room felt surprisingly cozy as I leaned my head back. Listening to Cee starting up the tale. “Our sect requires us to lead what can best be called ‘child technician classes’. Learning to take care of machines, which includes us by the start of adolescence, if not before. It’s a critical life skill, and teaching it is considered an important part of our religious studies.”
‘Cyberpunk VeggieTales’ Squirrel brain chittered.
No one wants your opinion squirrel brain. I thought back.

Cee’s story: Hope Strider

“Long ago our world was full of harsh life. The valleys were often filled with poisonous mists and deadly predators that could rip apart even the strongest of our people. The mountain kingdoms were brutal fiefdoms that sent many to their deaths mining precious metals from the dangerous wastes of the valleys. Drilling into the heart of the mountains provided the power necessary to purify water, and later, steam engines turned those fiefdoms into empires. Expanding into the wastes using the lowest class of people as its foundation.”
Cee paused for dramatic effect. “Then, everything changed.”
“The ground shook, and the mountain kingdoms erupted in fire and molten rock. Radioactive dust from these now volcanoes made the centers of civilization barren and deadly. Only the wasteland colonies in the poisonous mists provided any refuge, and so king and commoner alike huddled in the once disposable outposts of a ruined world. Our story starts a generation after the calamity with an unlucky child.”
I heard a ding, Cee stopped as the ceiling lights came up. “Oh dear, let me stop for a second to get the implant.”
I leaned back and thought about her nightmare world. When Cee returned, I didn’t even bother to open my eyes, too engrossed in the imagery of the story. “What happened to the child?”
I could hear the whirring as she started to work. Her voice I realized had taken a more scripted cadence. She must have automated her voice so she could focus. “In a metalworker’s home, a child was born with broken legs and brittle bones. It was common in those days for such a child to die that way. It was their first born and the parents did everything they could to save them. A surgeon was called. The child lost their legs, but kept their life.”
“The child lived in the workshop. Kept warm by the hearth’s fire, even unable to walk, they were curious. Day in and out, they watched their parents construct machines that helped the community make food, filter the air, and defend the homes from the starving, mutated, monsters that circled the fortress walls. The child felt helpless though. Only able to crawl within the confines of the home or be carried around like cargo about the maze-like town of winding stairs and narrow passageways.
“They spent much of their time learning, sitting near the hearth to keep warm, they did the careful work of filing gears and wheels needed to control what could be automated as each hand replaced was another that could be spent doing something else critical to keep the community alive. Still, the child wanted to do more. They could not deliver what they made, and had to rely on others to help them at every turn in life.”
“Little did the child know that in the hearth a machine spirit lived, getting by eating scrap metal that fell in and sleeping at night on the bed of embers. The machine spirit saw the child’s wish, an invention without form, and turned it into a dream for the child, since new machines would mean new machine spirits to play with.”
That night the child saw themselves flying over the cold gray landscape on a pair of machine legs. Traveling the dangerous paths to other towns, and giving the isolated towns hope and community. The child awoke with joy and crawled over to his workbench littered with scrap metal, now children….”
Cee stopped talking and her voice went back to an unscripted rhythm. “I just realized we can’t do the practical part of this story. In class each kid gets a hope strider stuffy with snaps to attach legs they make. We give them bits of copper. Show them how to bend and hammer it, and how to bond it by wrapping the joint in solder and then applying heat with a soldering iron heated in their own toy ‘hearth’ with a safety cover. Still we get a daily small burn or cut, but that in itself is a valuable lesson in tool safety.”
It sounded adorable in a weird, steampunk way. “Sounds fun, so, new legs?”
Cee got the que, as much as I loved the story, and the talk about kindergarten metal shop, I was still immobilized on the operating table. I heard surgical whirring, and the scripted voice came back. “Yes, the child works all night until they fit the new legs on, and for the first time stand up on their own! The parents are overjoyed as they watch them move about the house and that afternoon, with the help of an iron bar as a cane, they walk around their community by themselves.”
“However, it isn’t long before the legs start to see wear and tear, but the child persists, not wanting to stop and fix the creaking joints, until one day the legs stop working altogether and they fall down in a twisting staircase. Carried back to the workshop, they rest for days to heal before they are able to work again. Constructing a new set from the remains of the old. Now…”

Klein:

Cee stopped again, but this time she had moved away from me and was putting the now bloody surgical tools into a sanitizing system. “We're done! I am going to start removing the nerve blocks, so you’re going to be sore, but if things get too painful, let me know. Please, try not to move anything but your hands right now, even then I would advise against it.”
My whole body had that pins and needles feel and I tried to move my fingers, but it was sporadic and jerky. Cee distracted me by explaining my new implant. “So, this implant is very basic. It can only be requested to send diagnostic data. The implant only administers more healing serum at a safe, steady rate if, and only if, it doesn’t detect any in your bloodstream. There is an injection site with a color change circle around it. It uses standard go, caution, stop colors to let you know if it’s functioning. I want to wave your omni-pad over the site and check the diagnostics at least once a day. It should hopefully catch if something like this is happening again.”
I tried to not move as I felt my body twitch. My gut felt like I had been run over, repeatedly. I asked, “why didn’t my medical monitoring implant catch this?”
Cee explained. “That’s only good for basic vitals. Near universal indicators of life and activity such as heart rate and blood pressure. The new implant will be able to scan for elevated protein counts. So, if one of your other internal organs starts to malfunction you can get a more unambiguous message that I hope you won’t ignore before getting medivac’d through the city.”
I chuckled a little at that, and it hurt. “Ow, ok, no movement. I thought it was just a pulled muscle or something.”
Cee looked down at me sternly, and her voice took on a deeper, more authoritative tone. “Child, more than enough Gearschilde have died thinking they can just, push themselves past their organic parts failing, if you have a torn muscle that hurts after you’ve used healing gel, then it’s serious enough you need to come see me, or another xeno-doctor, immediately. That’s why I hope your new implant can fix things before it gets to that point.”
Cee brightened after that and went back to the explanation of my implant. “Now that I scolded you, there is a color changing circle over your implant’s location. It will change color when the healing serum runs low, or and will start to flash in color, and try to ping your omni-pad if it detects a malfunction. The implant uses a standard Shil’ implant autoinjector, and it will reject anything not meant for red blood standard biology, but still be careful, it’s not a perfect filtering system. Today I’m giving you a set of autoinjectors I want you to use throughout the week. It's fortunate that your implant’s primary function will speed up your recovery time.”
Ok, that’s cool to know, but.
‘What happened to Hopestrider?!’ Squirrel brain demanded.
“So, the story, what happens next?” I asked as Cee helped me sit up. My stomach still hurt, but the feeling was in the overworked muscle category rather than a gut punch.
Cee started to explain as I put on what was essentially gym clothes. Soft, baggy pants and shirt with easy pull away tabs if they needed to remove the clothes quickly for checkups and surgical intervention. “Well, we don’t have time to go over the Hope Strider as a story, or even a summary, but if you want to, my husband teaches the child technician class during open services on Shel, you could sit in and listen.
Right now, I will give you a family crafted picture book that tells the core story of Hope Strider growing up, and making their first delivery. After that it’s a loose selection of legends that are attributed to Hope Strider as they grow older and more accomplished, but while I get that book, I need you to speak to someone.”
Cee led me out of the operating room, and into a comfortable looking lounge where a… Hydrean was sitting in an Imperial business uniform reading an omni-pad. My brain pulled everything I knew of Hydreans out. A rabbit hole I had dug into one rainy Shel on the public information repositories.
She, they, single gendered I reminded myself, looked up and smiled at me calmly, mouth closed for politeness. Their skin was grass green with artful patches of bark on her face and neck, the result of cosmetic scarification. They looked human, or Shil’oid, but that was purposefully done. Even the somewhat standard looking ‘desert walker’ Hydreans normally had more, or less, limbs than standard. Biological modification was at the root of all Hydrean technology, ancient as the stone ax to other species.
I thought about how contentious Hydrean/Shil relationships were said to be. Their arid home planet was off limits to all but certified personnel who had been trained how to handle the dangerous mix of flora/fauna that instead of being different groups, was just a single taxonomy that had no distinction between predator and prey. With their complex biology, a Hydrean needed to undergo extensive body modification just to exist off their home world.
Cee left the room with a friendly goodbye and offered assistance “Hello Klein, I am Ka’tel. It’s wonderful to meet you. I am with the Imperial Child Assistance Division, or ICAD. My job is to help interspecies fosters and adoptions. How are you feeling today?”
I caught a glimpse of her teeth as they spoke. Triangular, and made of burnished metal meant to tear off chunks of animal, plant, or even rock, whole and let their stomachs’ mix of acids dissolve it into something the rest their body could use.
‘The agent in charge of your welfare is a plant/animal hybrid with a diet of ‘yes’, your doctor is a wholesome orange 40K mechanicus, and your crush is a were-lion, you are not ok .’ Squirrel brain remarked.
“I’m actually pretty good, despite the surgery, it’s actually a common issue for humans.” I said to Ka’tel, because my life was weird before the aliens, squirrel brain was just being a pessimistic asshole.
“Really? Do you know what caused it?” Ka’tel asked.
“It just, happens? Gets irritated or infected and then you need to get it removed.” I said nonchalantly. Ka’tel made a mark on her omni-pad.
“How did you know? It seems dangerous if it can happen suddenly, and you mentioned it before you passed out.” Ka’tel asked tone friendly and conversational.
“Oh, the side of your stomach hurts. I was hoping it was just a pulled muscle bec- Dammit!” I just remembered what happened before I woke up here.
“The raid game! Ko’tasa would have had to substitute for me and she’s not well balanced for our team mix.” I said with a exasperated sigh.
Ka’tel cocked their head to one side, but the tone in her voice was humorous. “You were willing to ignore a possible life-threatening condition for a game?”
I explained, though I felt idiotic now. “I couldn’t tell. I get sore muscles all the time from gym, and sparing, and even from the auxiliary work, honestly my commandant doesn’t really know where to put me sometimes. Last week I helped with road clearing for the new town to go up a few [miles] away, and the girls could barely keep up with me.”
Ka’tel seemed to be enjoying my rambling. “Sounds like you really get put to work.”
“Not really? The auxiliary is the only work I do, and if I wanted to stop I just, can. It’s not like I need to worry about buying food.” I knew what I was saying seemed strange while living in the Imperium.
It was the first hint that Ka’tel was controlling her expressions when she seemed more attentive and… relieved? “That’s delightful news to hear! Is there anything about your living situation that bothers you?”
I paused and thought about it, and really couldn’t see anything. “Not really?”
“Anything, or anyone, you miss from Earth?” Ka’tel asked, stressing that last bit, dropping a mental bomb on my head and I froze, mouth partly open with a half formed response. When was the last time I even thought about Earth as more than an abstract concept? It hadn’t been [six months] since I left but…
I didn’t feel anything.
The last year I lived on Earth, it was like being a ghost. I saw people, I even talked to people, but it was like a thick plate of glass all around me. Today I felt color, and life, and things, but that last year on Earth?
Like radio static.
I looked at Ka’tel, and their expression was one of controlled neutrality. Why was I not freaking out?
I had a sensation of the room spinning. I asked, “No, I don’t really feel anything about Earth, is that normal?”
“I don’t know Klein, by most sentient standards what you went through was unusual, and from what little I know about humans that isn’t propaganda, it’s unusual for humans as well. What I do know is right now you seem happy and healthy, and that’s my top priority.” Ka’tel said as they stood and offered me a stiff plastic card with their contact details on it.
“We will be chatting every other week to see how you are adjusting. I might ask to visit you at the youth auxiliary depot, the gym or at home. I really am glad to see you are doing just fine, but if you ever need a way out, that card has an emergency signal function, just pull the plastic tab.” Ka’tel told me, and was about to open the door before I spoke up.
“How should I refer to you?” I asked, and once they realized, Ka’tel gave me a genuine, toothed, smile that was both menacing and goofy at the same time.
“Most people don’t learn enough Hydrean biology to ask. Her, that’s how everyone in the office sees me, and it’s more convenient socially.” She said, opening the door to an anxious looking Itaro standing next to a serious Ruhal and Reqellia.
“I need to speak to you Ruhal, and Reqellia, you should join us for this conversation as well.” Ka’tel said as she ushered me out.
Cee led us into a gaming room with a long table on one side, and a set of couches facing the wall to wall display on the other. She handed me an overloaded plate of cookies with bottle of water, and stepped out, closing the door behind us. “Eat those, your stomach has healed, but it’s going to need calories to fuel the recovery.”
Only then did I realize I was salivating at the smell of warm sugar, and flour made of Kasan grain, if I was identifying the green color correctly. I put the plate of cookies on the table, and snarfed them as I sat down.
After swallowing the fourth cookie semi-whole, I looked up to see Itaro’s face fighting a war between impatient, apprehensive, and hopeful. I stopped, realizing what I was doing, and sipped some water to stall for time.
I was about to pull my omni-pad out from my pockets when Itaro suddenly put her hand out to stop me. “Wait! Klein, I need to tell you something…”
She was silent for a long moment, what was she worried about?
“I… Like you, as, I find you…. Attractive, and I may have gotten a little…. overprotective when you got hurt.” Itaro said, her voice stuttering.
‘Oh, that makes things easy.’ Squirrel brain was for once, right.
“I like you too.” I said as I leaned over and kissed her.

///// Author’s Commentary

Wow! I couldn’t find a good stopping point so I just kept writing and writing and… It turned into something over 5 thousand words. I spent the last day trying to figure out clear up a few parts. This week I have some time off! So there will probably be another chapter sooner rather than later.

A homeless teenager reaches out to the Shil’vati on first day of the invasion of Earth.
This is a rewrite of my original story ‘Loyalist’.
Credit to u/bluefishcake for writing the original SSB story.
Pizzaulostin who has been beta reading since the beginning.
and u/BruhMomentGEE
Credit to u/HollowShel for getting me started with this!
This story is based in the SSB universe.
Previous
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as always, comments are welcome.

Chapter 17:

Thanks to the author of Alien-Nation for editing this chapter!

Ruhal:

“We are sorry about the restraints. Your dossier has a security lock from the Office of Interior that I can’t even read, and all our supervisor could tell us was ‘interview with caution’,” one of the two agents explained.
I regarded my handcuffs with professional disapproval. They had a longer than regular chain for ambulatory movement and inmate processing, by the deep, I could even use them as garrote if needed. They had revealed the limits of their rank with that apology.
“No need to worry. I am sure this will be a formality in less than an hour,” I told them, if there was one thing that was in abundance on the planet Sky it was Interior and undercover commando trainees. I hoped this would probably be their most interesting case all month.
“So, would you care to explain how you are raising a human, that is also considered a military asset?” The agent inquired as she pulled out her slate.
“Of course, Klein surrendered himself and requested medical aid and refugee status. He was willing to answer essential questions regarding human culture that aided in liberating humanity into the Shil’vati Empire. He wouldn’t be safe on Earth anymore, and I mentioned that he was still important in writing my reports. If I had my slate, I could give you the relevant documentation,” I said in a conversational tone, without any of the emotions that weighed the story, and glossing over the specifics.
“No need. I have everything you submitted to the Interior, including his asset designation, the interrogation transcripts, and even his doctor’s contact info. To be honest with you it’s the only reason we haven’t interviewed you yet, even after a dozen calls about a ‘possible trafficked human’ since he arrived. Your information is corroborated with several other departments. The issue now is what the medivac scans found.” The agent pushed a slate towards me with medical notes bolded for emphasis ‘probable severe abuse’.
“The report shows a recent history of blunt force trauma, abrasions, and even muscle tearing, in short. It looks like the human has been systematically tortured for months. You also have recently requested restricted training armor in the human’s size.” The agent explained.
Ah, that was my mistake. I had been treating Klein as another child, just with some unique needs. It looks like there were other considerations, ones that I failed to see.
“I really do need my omni-slate to illustrate this, it’s on my desk right now if one of your assistants could get it?” I asked, hoping they got the suggestion to not leave me with only one interrogator in the room so they wouldn’t be graded too harshly.
They thankfully acquiesced without comment, and with my omni-slate in hand I pulled up the latest video of Klein practicing with me, the speed and brutality was difficult for me to sit through. Then, Klein pulled off his helmet seconds later, laughing in the rain. Unconcerned that, without armor, we could have just killed each other- I was grateful he had, else it might’ve been interpreted quite differently. “The bruising mostly from everyday participation at a Rakiri gym, and some remnants from before I got proper gear for baton practice. He heals extremely fast, and more so, he isn’t happy unless he exercises for at least an hour or two a day.”
I pulled up another video. Klein was sitting at the table bouncing his leg at an ever-increasing pace while trying to focus on a decently complex equation. He finally stood up and started pacing mouthing words as he skipped in time to an unheard rhythm.
“W-what’s he doing?” The agent asked, looking just a tad disturbed by the display of what seemed erratic behavior.
“A sort of dance while playing the song ‘a fine mesh net’ on his headphones. There was a monsoon that Shel weekend, and even I’m not crazy enough to fight in a thunderstorm like that. He does that around the house for an hour, and then finally settles in on a video game,” I explained to the agents, who were looking at me dubiously.
“So, you oversee an adolescent who is an intelligence asset, but also seems poorly fitted for Shil’vati life. Why the baton practice? Wouldn’t that make him even more dangerous, more of an outsider? Are you trying to sabotage his integration? Why not take him shopping, instead, or teach him beauty and self-care routines?” They were antagonizing. Countering every argument to see how I reacted. It seemed they could at least interrogate decently well.
“I hardly call a few quirks ‘poor fitting’. The baton practice is for obvious self-defense. Its intention is to make him dangerous,” I explained, letting the interviewers lead the conversation.
The back and forth went on for a while, but I presented a highlight reel of the last few months. Including a Rakiri gym video when Klein tried to flourish a wall climb and smashed his shoulder on the ledge while face planting into the mud.
The agents would not be arresting me today. They would need medical reports, and would require Klein, Hario, and Compassion Through Deeds to attest while truth scanned that these were sports injuries, and not some conspiracy to commit torture. We were also going to need to see an ICAD agent every two weeks for counseling. I had no idea what ICAD was, but I would investigate them later.
Finally, the agents appeared they were closing up the interview. I tried not to brace myself as they asked the complicated question. “One thing we need to know is, what is Klein to you? If he is just a crucial asset, then why haven’t you contacted a local volunteer family foster? Or was the military asset just a cover to find a male heir?”
I sighed, the truth wasn’t incriminating, but if I didn’t word it right, I would look like the worst sort of military tourist. “I had, originally, taken care of Klein as a key intelligence asset. Within that first week though, I had found that despite the decades of preparation, there wasn’t a process for someone to claim asylum as a child during first contact. He would be in military bureaucratic limbo without an advocate. We both know where he would end up.”
The room cooled by several degrees, which was a pity, I almost got the talkative agent to laugh at Klein’s antics. “Out of duty I investigated ways I could bring him home until I could find resources to place him in a stable situation with all the resources to help a xeno without a community. I found someone who was willing to help in exchange for reports on Klein’s adaptation to Shil’vati lifestyle. That’s Klein’s purpose as a military asset in my home.”
I continued. I was saying more on than I needed to, but if they did a follow up investigation later for some other incident, which was a when, not if, then I wanted this on record. “Klein has become part of this household though, despite, or maybe because, of his oddities. He may not be Shil’vati, but he seems to have integrated well. It’s why, while it was never my intention, when he is an adult, I will offer him full adoption, and title of home guardian.”
I watched the agents exchange looks, then the agent made a few taps on her slate. ‘Upper left, middle center, probably a message app’. I then listened for the telltale taps of a yes as a micro expression of a self-satisfied smile crossed the agent’s face. I decided to stop playing interviewee.
“So, you won the bet on if I would claim the human as my son, how long has that pool been building?” I asked folding my hands together.
The agent answered before she could think. “Two months… Wait!? How did you-”
The agent was cut off by the squawk of the slate’s speaker. “Agents you did well enough with the interview portion, however; you absolutely failed to secure the subject. Could you please illustrate to them why I stressed caution {petal of death’s veil}?”
The code name wasn’t one I had heard in decades, but I wasn’t going to snub an old handler. I kicked on my fast reaction mods to max speed and lunged over the table past the still sitting agents. I pirouetted and twisted the restraints into a loop as I brought them down over the left agent’s head and pulled back carefully, lightly touching the chain of my restraints around the neck of the agent before she could even react.
I kicked off my mods and caught my breath as time returned to normal. Both agents’ eyes went wide with shock as the one not about to be strangled tried to get away to pull out her weapon. “W-who are you!?”
“I’m going to slowly release you and put my hands up, is that everything you needed {hated old friend}?” I directed my question to the slate, using the code High Shil word to show I was playing along.
“More than enough. Agent! Holster your weapon and come back to the safe room. We need to go over security procedures,” the slate responded, and the very brief confrontation was over.
The agents walked out, and Siltan stomped in looking like she could bring about a thunderstorm by pure force of will. “We weren’t the only ones to get visits from the ‘majesty’s’ Interior today. Cee let me know that the Interior is also interrogated Reqellia as well.”
I now understood why these two rookies were here. It was a distraction for me. I grumbled as I picked up my slate and called Reqellia. Her face appeared a second later.
“By the Deep, it’s been a long day,” Reqellia breathed out as I heard a door slam, then she cursed some more.
“Tell me everything. Is Klein ok?” I asked.
“Cee says he’s fine and is waking him up. Klein might be getting a mod himself before she closes him up though because, oh- looks like it’s my day is going to get longer still. ICAD is here, and it’s a Hydrean in a Gearschilde clinic.” Reqellia hung up, and I stared at the phone in confusion.
It was time to find out what ICAD was.

Klein:

I blearily came to, as high powered, piercing white light flooded my half open eyes. I tried to move my arm to shield my face and found I couldn’t. Actually, I couldn't move or even feel anything from the neck down.
I started to panic as I turned my head, focusing on lettering on a terminal, tried to sigh, and felt what few muscles I could control turn to lead as I sank back on the medical bed. Thank the goddess, it was Shil and Gearschilde lettering on the slate and medical supplies.
“Good afternoon Klein, are you okay? Your heart rate spiked.” I heard Cee, or full name Compassion Through Deeds, speak and turned my head to see her. She wore a dark red lab coat and regarded me with unblinking cybernetic eyes. Most of her orange skin had been replaced with dark steel etched with stylized waves and swirls of silver. Her face still emoted in a pleasant smile, but had that uncanny valley look of unblemished synth skin. I looked down to see a dozen micro surgical tools still inside me.
I should have been screaming at the sight, but all I felt was relief and joy. “Yeah, I just worried for a half second that I had hallucinated the last few months and was actually on a back on Earth on some black-market operating table getting my kidney stolen.”
Cee was aghast. “Does that happen on Earth?”
I would shrug, but again, I couldn’t move, instead I responded. “Rumors of it happening, but I never knew anyone personally.”
Cee reassured me. “Well, good news Klein, you are on Sky, you are in a Gearschilde clinic where stealing vital organs is a legal, moral and religious crime of unrepentant severity. What I have done is remove your appendix, and let the sedatives wear off so we can discuss what you want in its place.”
“In place of my appendix? Why?” I asked, it wasn’t like I really needed the vestigial organ turn internal hand grenade.
“Customary in Gearschilde for surgery is to be about giving a better life than just taking from the body. So, any ideas of what would make your life better?”
I thought about the bruising, the constant having to put healing patches on, and the annoyance of doing so. I thought about the near fatality of almost blowing my appendix, and if something could have fixed the issue before it got out of hand. “What about a healing dispenser? I keep having to put on patches and gel at the end of the day, and if I miss a spot, I will pay for it later.”
Cee gave me a grateful expression. “That’s a perfect first implant. I was worried you were going to ask for something more aggressive. When I was your age, I got my first defensive mod, a retractable forearm knife. Of course, my next surgery was being stitched back together after accidently stabbing myself with it.”
I tried to chuckle, but I didn’t have control of my diaphragm for it. “So, what’s next?”
Cee explained. “Well, the fabricator in the other room is right now creating your implant. It shouldn’t take long; are you ok being immobilized for the next hour or so?”
I thought about it, and honestly, I was still surprised I wasn’t panicking. “No, but I’m going to get really bored just laying here, do the Gearschilde have any good myths or stories?”
I knew I was fishing in an untapped pool that was guaranteed to have something. I wasn’t expecting my doctor to be gleeful at the thought though. “Oh blessed be you child, I am a surgeon priest, half the reason I am in this vocation is to tell stories. I take it you know nothing about Gearschilde mythology, or even our history?”
It was on my list of rabbit holes to get into, but instead I binged the rest of Prince Of The Stars and cried, it was nice. “No, but I would love to hear them.”
“Well if you want to, every Shel we have open services and brunch. But since you are new to Gearschilde mythology we should start with one of my favorites. The story of the Hopestrider.”
The ceiling lights dimmed, and the sterile operating room felt surprisingly cozy as I leaned my head back. Listening to Cee starting up the tale. “Our sect requires us to lead what can best be called ‘child technician classes’. Learning to take care of machines, which includes us by the start of adolescence, if not before. It’s a critical life skill, and teaching it is considered an important part of our religious studies.”
‘Cyberpunk VeggieTales’ Squirrel brain chittered.
No one wants your opinion squirrel brain. I thought back.

Cee’s story: Hope Strider

“Long ago our world was full of harsh life. The valleys were often filled with poisonous mists and deadly predators that could rip apart even the strongest of our people. The mountain kingdoms were brutal fiefdoms that sent many to their deaths mining precious metals from the dangerous wastes of the valleys. Drilling into the heart of the mountains provided the power necessary to purify water, and later, steam engines turned those fiefdoms into empires. Expanding into the wastes using the lowest class of people as its foundation.”
Cee paused for dramatic effect. “Then, everything changed.”
“The ground shook, and the mountain kingdoms erupted in fire and molten rock. Radioactive dust from these now volcanoes made the centers of civilization barren and deadly. Only the wasteland colonies in the poisonous mists provided any refuge, and so king and commoner alike huddled in the once disposable outposts of a ruined world. Our story starts a generation after the calamity with an unlucky child.”
I heard a ding, Cee stopped as the ceiling lights came up. “Oh dear, let me stop for a second to get the implant.”
I leaned back and thought about her nightmare world. When Cee returned, I didn’t even bother to open my eyes, too engrossed in the imagery of the story. “What happened to the child?”
I could hear the whirring as she started to work. Her voice I realized had taken a more scripted cadence. She must have automated her voice so she could focus. “In a metalworker’s home, a child was born with broken legs and brittle bones. It was common in those days for such a child to die that way. It was their first born and the parents did everything they could to save them. A surgeon was called. The child lost their legs, but kept their life.”
“The child lived in the workshop. Kept warm by the hearth’s fire, even unable to walk, they were curious. Day in and out, they watched their parents construct machines that helped the community make food, filter the air, and defend the homes from the starving, mutated, monsters that circled the fortress walls. The child felt helpless though. Only able to crawl within the confines of the home or be carried around like cargo about the maze-like town of winding stairs and narrow passageways.
“They spent much of their time learning, sitting near the hearth to keep warm, they did the careful work of filing gears and wheels needed to control what could be automated as each hand replaced was another that could be spent doing something else critical to keep the community alive. Still, the child wanted to do more. They could not deliver what they made, and had to rely on others to help them at every turn in life.”
“Little did the child know that in the hearth a machine spirit lived, getting by eating scrap metal that fell in and sleeping at night on the bed of embers. The machine spirit saw the child’s wish, an invention without form, and turned it into a dream for the child, since new machines would mean new machine spirits to play with.”
That night the child saw themselves flying over the cold gray landscape on a pair of machine legs. Traveling the dangerous paths to other towns, and giving the isolated towns hope and community. The child awoke with joy and crawled over to his workbench littered with scrap metal, now children….”
Cee stopped talking and her voice went back to an unscripted rhythm. “I just realized we can’t do the practical part of this story. In class each kid gets a hope strider stuffy with snaps to attach legs they make. We give them bits of copper. Show them how to bend and hammer it, and how to bond it by wrapping the joint in solder and then applying heat with a soldering iron heated in their own toy ‘hearth’ with a safety cover. Still we get a daily small burn or cut, but that in itself is a valuable lesson in tool safety.”
It sounded adorable in a weird, steampunk way. “Sounds fun, so, new legs?”
Cee got the que, as much as I loved the story, and the talk about kindergarten metal shop, I was still immobilized on the operating table. I heard surgical whirring, and the scripted voice came back. “Yes, the child works all night until they fit the new legs on, and for the first time stand up on their own! The parents are overjoyed as they watch them move about the house and that afternoon, with the help of an iron bar as a cane, they walk around their community by themselves.”
“However, it isn’t long before the legs start to see wear and tear, but the child persists, not wanting to stop and fix the creaking joints, until one day the legs stop working altogether and they fall down in a twisting staircase. Carried back to the workshop, they rest for days to heal before they are able to work again. Constructing a new set from the remains of the old. Now…”

Klein:

Cee stopped again, but this time she had moved away from me and was putting the now bloody surgical tools into a sanitizing system. “We're done! I am going to start removing the nerve blocks, so you’re going to be sore, but if things get too painful, let me know. Please, try not to move anything but your hands right now, even then I would advise against it.”
My whole body had that pins and needles feel and I tried to move my fingers, but it was sporadic and jerky. Cee distracted me by explaining my new implant. “So, this implant is very basic. It can only be requested to send diagnostic data. The implant only administers more healing serum at a safe, steady rate if, and only if, it doesn’t detect any in your bloodstream. There is an injection site with a color change circle around it. It uses standard go, caution, stop colors to let you know if it’s functioning. I want to wave your omni-pad over the site and check the diagnostics at least once a day. It should hopefully catch if something like this is happening again.”
I tried to not move as I felt my body twitch. My gut felt like I had been run over, repeatedly. I asked, “why didn’t my medical monitoring implant catch this?”
Cee explained. “That’s only good for basic vitals. Near universal indicators of life and activity such as heart rate and blood pressure. The new implant will be able to scan for elevated protein counts. So, if one of your other internal organs starts to malfunction you can get a more unambiguous message that I hope you won’t ignore before getting medivac’d through the city.”
I chuckled a little at that, and it hurt. “Ow, ok, no movement. I thought it was just a pulled muscle or something.”
Cee looked down at me sternly, and her voice took on a deeper, more authoritative tone. “Child, more than enough Gearschilde have died thinking they can just, push themselves past their organic parts failing, if you have a torn muscle that hurts after you’ve used healing gel, then it’s serious enough you need to come see me, or another xeno-doctor, immediately. That’s why I hope your new implant can fix things before it gets to that point.”
Cee brightened after that and went back to the explanation of my implant. “Now that I scolded you, there is a color changing circle over your implant’s location. It will change color when the healing serum runs low, or and will start to flash in color, and try to ping your omni-pad if it detects a malfunction. The implant uses a standard Shil’ implant autoinjector, and it will reject anything not meant for red blood standard biology, but still be careful, it’s not a perfect filtering system. Today I’m giving you a set of autoinjectors I want you to use throughout the week. It's fortunate that your implant’s primary function will speed up your recovery time.”
Ok, that’s cool to know, but.
‘What happened to Hopestrider?!’ Squirrel brain demanded.
“So, the story, what happens next?” I asked as Cee helped me sit up. My stomach still hurt, but the feeling was in the overworked muscle category rather than a gut punch.
Cee started to explain as I put on what was essentially gym clothes. Soft, baggy pants and shirt with easy pull away tabs if they needed to remove the clothes quickly for checkups and surgical intervention. “Well, we don’t have time to go over the Hope Strider as a story, or even a summary, but if you want to, my husband teaches the child technician class during open services on Shel, you could sit in and listen.
Right now, I will give you a family crafted picture book that tells the core story of Hope Strider growing up, and making their first delivery. After that it’s a loose selection of legends that are attributed to Hope Strider as they grow older and more accomplished, but while I get that book, I need you to speak to someone.”
Cee led me out of the operating room, and into a comfortable looking lounge where a… Hydrean was sitting in an Imperial business uniform reading an omni-pad. My brain pulled everything I knew of Hydreans out. A rabbit hole I had dug into one rainy Shel on the public information repositories.
She, they, single gendered I reminded myself, looked up and smiled at me calmly, mouth closed for politeness. Their skin was grass green with artful patches of bark on her face and neck, the result of cosmetic scarification. They looked human, or Shil’oid, but that was purposefully done. Even the somewhat standard looking ‘desert walker’ Hydreans normally had more, or less, limbs than standard. Biological modification was at the root of all Hydrean technology, ancient as the stone ax to other species.
I thought about how contentious Hydrean/Shil relationships were said to be. Their arid home planet was off limits to all but certified personnel who had been trained how to handle the dangerous mix of flora/fauna that instead of being different groups, was just a single taxonomy that had no distinction between predator and prey. With their complex biology, a Hydrean needed to undergo extensive body modification just to exist off their home world.
Cee left the room with a friendly goodbye and offered assistance “Hello Klein, I am Ka’tel. It’s wonderful to meet you. I am with the Imperial Child Assistance Division, or ICAD. My job is to help interspecies fosters and adoptions. How are you feeling today?”
I caught a glimpse of her teeth as they spoke. Triangular, and made of burnished metal meant to tear off chunks of animal, plant, or even rock, whole and let their stomachs’ mix of acids dissolve it into something the rest their body could use.
‘The agent in charge of your welfare is a plant/animal hybrid with a diet of ‘yes’, your doctor is a wholesome orange 40K mechanicus, and your crush is a were-lion, you are not ok .’ Squirrel brain remarked.
“I’m actually pretty good, despite the surgery, it’s actually a common issue for humans.” I said to Ka’tel, because my life was weird before the aliens, squirrel brain was just being a pessimistic asshole.
“Really? Do you know what caused it?” Ka’tel asked.
“It just, happens? Gets irritated or infected and then you need to get it removed.” I said nonchalantly. Ka’tel made a mark on her omni-pad.
“How did you know? It seems dangerous if it can happen suddenly, and you mentioned it before you passed out.” Ka’tel asked tone friendly and conversational.
“Oh, the side of your stomach hurts. I was hoping it was just a pulled muscle bec- Dammit!” I just remembered what happened before I woke up here.
“The raid game! Ko’tasa would have had to substitute for me and she’s not well balanced for our team mix.” I said with a exasperated sigh.
Ka’tel cocked their head to one side, but the tone in her voice was humorous. “You were willing to ignore a possible life-threatening condition for a game?”
I explained, though I felt idiotic now. “I couldn’t tell. I get sore muscles all the time from gym, and sparing, and even from the auxiliary work, honestly my commandant doesn’t really know where to put me sometimes. Last week I helped with road clearing for the new town to go up a few [miles] away, and the girls could barely keep up with me.”
Ka’tel seemed to be enjoying my rambling. “Sounds like you really get put to work.”
“Not really? The auxiliary is the only work I do, and if I wanted to stop I just, can. It’s not like I need to worry about buying food.” I knew what I was saying seemed strange while living in the Imperium.
It was the first hint that Ka’tel was controlling her expressions when she seemed more attentive and… relieved? “That’s delightful news to hear! Is there anything about your living situation that bothers you?”
I paused and thought about it, and really couldn’t see anything. “Not really?”
“Anything, or anyone, you miss from Earth?” Ka’tel asked, stressing that last bit, dropping a mental bomb on my head and I froze, mouth partly open with a half formed response. When was the last time I even thought about Earth as more than an abstract concept? It hadn’t been [six months] since I left but…
I didn’t feel anything.
The last year I lived on Earth, it was like being a ghost. I saw people, I even talked to people, but it was like a thick plate of glass all around me. Today I felt color, and life, and things, but that last year on Earth?
Like radio static.
I looked at Ka’tel, and their expression was one of controlled neutrality. Why was I not freaking out?
I had a sensation of the room spinning. I asked, “No, I don’t really feel anything about Earth, is that normal?”
“I don’t know Klein, by most sentient standards what you went through was unusual, and from what little I know about humans that isn’t propaganda, it’s unusual for humans as well. What I do know is right now you seem happy and healthy, and that’s my top priority.” Ka’tel said as they stood and offered me a stiff plastic card with their contact details on it.
“We will be chatting every other week to see how you are adjusting. I might ask to visit you at the youth auxiliary depot, the gym or at home. I really am glad to see you are doing just fine, but if you ever need a way out, that card has an emergency signal function, just pull the plastic tab.” Ka’tel told me, and was about to open the door before I spoke up.
“How should I refer to you?” I asked, and once they realized, Ka’tel gave me a genuine, toothed, smile that was both menacing and goofy at the same time.
“Most people don’t learn enough Hydrean biology to ask. Her, that’s how everyone in the office sees me, and it’s more convenient socially.” She said, opening the door to an anxious looking Itaro standing next to a serious Ruhal and Reqellia.
“I need to speak to you Ruhal, and Reqellia, you should join us for this conversation as well.” Ka’tel said as she ushered me out.
Cee led us into a gaming room with a long table on one side, and a set of couches facing the wall to wall display on the other. She handed me an overloaded plate of cookies with bottle of water, and stepped out, closing the door behind us. “Eat those, your stomach has healed, but it’s going to need calories to fuel the recovery.”
Only then did I realize I was salivating at the smell of warm sugar, and flour made of Kasan grain, if I was identifying the green color correctly. I put the plate of cookies on the table, and snarfed them as I sat down.
After swallowing the fourth cookie semi-whole, I looked up to see Itaro’s face fighting a war between impatient, apprehensive, and hopeful. I stopped, realizing what I was doing, and sipped some water to stall for time.
I was about to pull my omni-pad out from my pockets when Itaro suddenly put her hand out to stop me. “Wait! Klein, I need to tell you something…”
She was silent for a long moment, what was she worried about?
“I… Like you, as, I find you…. Attractive, and I may have gotten a little…. overprotective when you got hurt.” Itaro said, her voice stuttering.
‘Oh, that makes things easy.’ Squirrel brain was for once, right.
“I like you too.” I said as I leaned over and kissed her.

///// Author’s Commentary

Wow! I couldn’t find a good stopping point so I just kept writing and writing and… It turned into something over 5 thousand words. I spent the last day trying to figure out clear up a few parts. This week I have some time off! So there will probably be another chapter sooner rather than later.

I know, I know, you shouldn't withdraw from your ESOP in your 30s but hear me out:
My daughter goes to a private school that is therapeutic and is considered a medical expense for the purpose of doing taxes. We have about $35k in debt that we've consolidated into one loan back in January I think it's 11-12% interest. We have (hopefully only) one more year to pay for which is another $20k before she returns to public school.
Our other debts are:
~$16k in personal loans that will be paid off in about late 2024 ~$30k in car loans which will be paid off in early 2026 ~$12k in credit card debt $1,200 in other medical debt ~$2,500 to the IRS this year because I didn't realize I needed to reset my additional withholdings and a jump in tax brackets.
We both have loans from our 401ks out but I can get another loan is just under $32k.
My husband's ESOP generally performs very well but their products use forever chemicals and their supply chain doesn't have a good outlook and they're being sued by the local government for polluting the ground water.
My husband thinks we should withdraw from his ESOP to pay down debt and if it was just a normal tax rate, I would probably agree but the extra 10% makes it a 34% which is a lot.
But we still have the upcoming $20k tuition bill and the other loan for it which are medical expenses (the school sends us a letter each year explaining how to account for it in our taxes.)
Is it still considered medical expenses if we have a loan for it? If so should we consider doing the ESOP withdrawal to pay off debt or maybe just do it for the medical/tuition stuff?
I've done a good bit of research and been thinking about consulting a financial advisor on this but I thought I'd check here first in case this is just a really terrible idea.

Hello all! I'm planning to head to LA by the first or second week of April and am on the hunt for a decent roommate. I've seen some good offers on craigslist, but it seems like every other post is a scam or potential scam and I'd rather not have to deal with weeding out the bad apples if it can be avoided. I'd be happy to enter a short 1-3 month lease to test the waters and see if we're happy with each other, after which we can decide to renew or I can find housing elsewhere more easily after already being in the city.
I'm prior military and will be using my GI Bill to go to school in LA, which means my tuition is 100% paid for and I'll get a $3500 monthly stipend for living expenses. On top of that I plan to get a part-time job for extra income while going to school. I can provide proof of service and honorable discharge if needed. My resume and service experience is extensive enough that getting a job at a restaurant or bar will be a breeze when I arrive.
I've spent a bunch of time living in shared spaces both while active duty and as a civilian so I know how to be respectful of others space, time, and belongings. I'm very easy going and will not make a lot of noise, I clean up after myself, and plan on spending most of my time outside of the house anyway. My only vices are the very occasional social drinking and cannabis consumption. My max budget is $1k, but I'd *really* prefer to keep it around ~$600-800. I have a car and am 100% self-sufficient, just need a place to live. I'm also fine living with multiple roommates, but wouldn't be willing to share a bedroom unless it were just dirt cheap.
If anyone is interested in having me please comment or DM! I'll happily answer any questions about myself or my situation and will provide you with any additional info that I'm able to.

Hey everyone! I'm back, this time with another Leader Guide, for Croatia, covering the Croatia submod by u/AdriaticTzar that was integrated into the mod. I have to thank him for not only creating it almost singlehandedly the first place but also making himself available for questions over the last couple weeks. I really could not have done it without him!
The Guide will be over a couple parts, owing to Reddit's limit on images and characters, but also the amount of content Croatia now has. Also because of the limits the slides might seem a little cramped or cluttered, but as always please let me know what you think. Questions, comments, and corrections are always welcome! If you'd like to see just the leaders, check out my updated Leader Tree here.
You can find many historic parallels to OTL which are noted throughout, but also take note of the cool Ending Event each path has. They are a great additions.
As Croatia is constantly being worked on, any changes that may come from future updates/patches will be updated here as well.
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Starting Situation

Starting Situation
Starting Focus Trees
Econ./Mil./Tourism Trees Which Load AFTER the Uprising/Civil War Completes
Croatia is in a state of perpetual darkness, having been under the rule of the Ustaše for almost a decade. Led by Poglavnik (loosely translated as Chief) Ante Pavelić, the Ustaše, officially the Ustaša – Croatian Revolutionary Organization (UHRO), is ideologically a blend of Roman Catholicism, extreme Croat nationalism, and Fascism, whose goal of a Greater Croatia includes cleansing the country of religious and ethnic minorities (such as the Serbs, Jews, and Roma). The Ustaša are so ruthless and brutal, even Heinrich Himmler once remarked that the state was ‘ridiculous.’ Not included in their campaigns are the Bosnians who the Ustaše see as Muslim Croats, who live in an Autonomous Region in the center of the country. Economically, the Ustaša promotes a version of a planned economy called Croatian Socialism, which strives to create a non-Marxist Socialist system.
The Independent State of Croatia (NDH) was founded after the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941, and was set up as a condominium between Germany and Italy, splitting the country roughly in half along a line of demarcation. As such the economy of Croatia was tied to that of Germany and Italy, and with the economic stagnation in Germany, the economic collapse of Italy, and the high cost and toll of both cleansing the populace and hunting Partisans, the dawn of 1952 sees a Croatian economy in shambles. Pavelić and the Ustaša need to make major changes to keep Croatia afloat, and they might not necessarily be the ones to do it…
Homeguard/NDH Admin. UIs
Croatia is ruled over by Poglavnik Ante Pavelić, and is assisted by his Second-in-Command Andrija Artuković (widely seen as Pavelić’s successor). Artuković was responsible for enforcing the Racial Laws against the populace and so has been given the moniker the Architect of Terror. Along with Artuković, there is Jure Francetić, founder and leader of the 1st Standing Active Brigade, (originally known as the 1st Ustaša Regiment), nicknamed the ‘Black Legion’ after its use of black uniforms. Both he and the Legion are known for their fanatical loyalty to the Ustaša, and for brutality against the resistance. The last member of Pavelić’s inner circle is Mladen Lorković. Lorković is more moderate compared to the other members of the Ustaša in that he seeks to end the enforced Nazi policies, and reform the country along the lines of Italian Fascism. This is done behind the scenes, and with the help of Homeguard leader Ante Vokić, and Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) leader August Košutić.

• You can see The NDH Administration UI by clicking on the Croatian Coat of Arms, or šahovnica (chessboard), next to the Cabinet in the Country’s Political Tab.

Alongside the government, there is the Croatian Homeguard, the country’s military. It is led by Minister of Defence Ante Vokić. The Homeguard is currently divided, and its loyalty to the Ustaša is tenuous at best. Even Vokić is said to be conspiring with the Ustaša’s enemies, and will strike at the government if the Homeguard’s Influence is high while the Stability of the country is too low. But he will not move against Pavelić while he is still Poglavnik.

• If Stability is at zero or below and Influence is 50% or more, if Stability is below 30% or below and Influence is 60% or more, or if Stability is at 50% or below and Influence is 70% or more, Vokić will coup the government. This is checked every week.
• You can see The Croatian Homeguard UI by clicking on the Croatian Trefoil, next to the Cabinet in the Country’s Political Tab.

Pre-Uprisings

Pre-Uprisings
From game start, Croatia is trying to pull itself out of the economic hole created by Germany and Italy and regain some standing. To do that it will work to end German and Italian influence by abolishing the Demarcation Line, removing Italian garrisons in Italy’s zone, rebuilding its navy (whose size was limited by treaty on Italy’s order), giving the German concessions to leave, and removing SS units stationed in the German zone.
Concurrently, Croatia is still trying to rid itself of the Partisans, and with hopeful supplies from Germany, it will show no restraint. (The right side of the tree here has a few flavor events about the Ustaša attempt to stamp out dissent, told from the perspective of everyday people.) But Pavelić is not as safe as he thinks in Zagreb, and the Partisans will try for an assassination attempt. It will fail, but will only worsen the government’s pacification attempts.
Once the Demarcation Line has been abolished, and the pacification stepped up, internal matters can be taken care of: Purging the HSS, or uniting the Homeguard.

• For the last 10 years the HSS has been allowed to operate, and even holds an electoral alliance with the Ustaša in Parliament (Sabor). This can end, and Lorković’s ties with them outed and he tried for sedition. If put on trial, there will be a 60% chance he will be found guilty of undermining the state, and promptly executed. That also means there is a 40% chance he will be found not guilty by having the case against him dismissed… somehow. (At release, the percentages were 90 for not guilty, and 10 for guilty!)
• If the Homeguard are instead to be united, its members, mostly conscripts of different backgrounds and beliefs, will be educated in devotion to the Ustaša and Poglavnik. This will remove the ‘Divided Home Guard’ national spirit, and allow the training and editing of units.

With the internal issue dealt with, Croatia can look outward to Hungary-occupied Vojvodina. Wanting to unite all Croats beyond its border, Croatia can choose to initiate a border war to get it back.
Winning will see the state of Vojvodina being transferred over. Hungary will get the option to declare war to fight for it back. Croatia must keep the Hungarians at bay for 50 days and it will white peace. But, if Croatia manages to take Budapest, and get Hungary’s surrender rate over 50%, it will white peace and transfer the state of Prekmurje.
Losing the border war will see the state of Srem transferred to Hungary. Similar to Hungary, Croatia will get an option to declare war for the return of Srem, and will have the same peace conditions as if Hungary instigated the war.
A little over a week after the Border War was initiated or not, Partisans will conduct a brazen attack in the very heart of Zagreb at the Poglavnik’s Palace, with the intent of killing Pavelić. Their attack will be successful, but all involved will be killed by government reinforcement. Regardless, the decapitation of NDH leadership (not literally) will send Zagreb in chaos, and spur riots in Bosnian areas.

Chaos in Zagreb

Chaos in Zagreb
Before a new Poglavnik can be decided upon, the Supreme Ustaša Council will take over temporarily while a plan of action is drawn up. The Sabor, though only advisory, will be summoned and will pass measures to stamp out the little legal opposition left. Due to economic constraints, only one resistance group can be focused on, either:

• The Partisans
• The (Bosnian) Nationalists

Meanwhile, the inner-circle of the now deceased Pavelić, the three who have the best chance of being elected the new Poglavnik, will use the opportunity of the Sabor session to make their case and attack the other two. Each will raise his influence with the speech. Shortly thereafter the funeral arrangement will need to be tended too. Supporting Lorković’s plan of a small funeral will see his influence rise while Artuković’s and Francetić’s will fall. If the original plan of a grandiose funeral is approved, Artuković’s and Francetić’s influence will rise while Lorković’s will fall.

• If the Partisans were focused on and Serbia is Communist, the Generals will flee there and offer their services to the Serbian government. Their headquarters in Crikvenica will be destroyed.
• If it was the Bosnians, their autonomy will be revoked, and the leader of the Bosnian Autonomous Region, Mehmed Handžić, will be removed from office.

With one group decimated, an uneasy calm will fall across Zagreb. With the Ustaša Surveillance Service (UNS) working on leads on the other group, Zagreb will lose contact with units stationed around the county. Taking advantage of still existing, the Bosnians led by Handžić, or the Partisans led by Vladimir Bakarić will rise up against the government.

Uprising and/or Civil War

Uprising/Civil War Starting Situations
The Bosnians Uprising is treated like a revolt, but can not be tag switched to. The Republic of Bosnia has a small tree, but once completed will load a generic.
The Partisans rising up is treated like a civil war, and can be tag switched to by event. The Croatian Partisan Revolt has a small tree for rising units and guns to help it win. (See the Partisan Victory Section in Part 2)
​
Uprising/Civil War Events
The government will also get a small tree for rising units and guns to help it win. It will also get an event, ‘Deploying the Reserves.’ Of the three choices, each will help one of the three main Poglavnik contenders, raising their influence and lowering the others:

• the Homeguard for Lorković
• the Vojnica for Artuković
• the Black Legion for Francetić

Each will also rise units as well: two, three, and four respectively.
If the Legion was chosen, Francetić will ask for more autonomy. Denying his request will see his influence drop, while increasing the others. If accepted, it will raise his while lowering just Artuković’s. With more autonomy he will then request to lead the Legion personally. Denying his request will drop his influence and raise Artuković’s. If accepted, it will raise his while lowering Artuković’s. But letting him command will have dire consequences: his plane will be shot down, attacked by local Serbs, and die in hospital (This was his OTL death).
If the Bosnians rose up, the government will have only 60 days to defeat them, or risk defeat. In that case, Lorković will gain influence while Francetić’s and Artuković’s will fall.

• If Lorković is alive and has more influence than Francetić and Artuković, he will lead the Peasants’ Plot with Vokić, and Košutić and oust the Ustaša government. (See Lorković’s Section below).
• If Lorković is dead, whoever has more influence will be blamed for the defeat and arrested on trumped up charges. The Supreme Ustaša Council, acting as judge, juror, and executioner will find him guilty on all charges and sentenced to death, which will be immediately carried out. Artuković will be shot by the Legion, and Francetić hanged.

A new Poglavnik will be voted on shortly after.
Even if in a Civil War with the Partisans, the Bosnians may still rise up against both combatants. Weeks into the Civil War, reports will reach the government about Chetnik activities in Bosnia. Only if previously the Vojnica were called up as reserves, Artuković will press the need to send them in to quell any possible revolt. It will work, but in a joint Partisan-Chetnik operation Artuković will be assassinated when the bridge his train is on is blown up.
If the Vojnica were not called up, they cannot be sent in and so Bosnian Chetniks will rise up against the government and Partisans. The 60-day counter will start and lead to the same result as if it was against the Republic of Bosnia. The event that spawns the Chetnik Revolt allows for a tag switch to play as it, but currently has very little content.
With the Bosnians pacified and/or the Partisans destroyed, Croatia can declare victory, which will see Lorković’s influence drop a bit, while raising the others. The Poglavnik election can now finally be held. The Supreme Ustaša Council will, in the presence of the Sabor, announce the winner: he who has the most influence. Each leader is covered in his own section below.

• Lorković will have Branimir Jelić as his Second-in-Command, while Artuković or Francetić will have whoever has the second most influence as his Second, but if both are dead then will install Jelić

If it so happens that none of the three main contenders are left alive (the HSS was purged and Lorković found guilty, Francetić having died through the ‘Deploying the Reserves’ event chain, and Artuković blamed for the defeat in Bosnia) or all their influence is below 20%, Vokić and the Homeguard will coup the government. (See the Homeguard Coup’s Section below).
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General Notes

(The Agency icons created for Fascist and National Socialist government currently uses an incorrect icon, but will be fixed in an upcoming patch)
In the event that the Ustaša are ousted, whether from the Homeguard path, from Lorković (which will be explained below) or a victory for the Communists in the Civil War, the Ustaša Resistance national spirit will be added. About 20 days later the Crusader Revolt event and decision timer will trigger. This must not reach zero or the Crusaders (leftover Ustaša guerilla fighters) will launch a revolt that must be put down, or event switched to and played as. (See the Crusaders Section in Part 2)
When at war with Italy for Croatian Reunification, if Croatia can hold out for 50 days, it will prompt Italy to consider a peace proposal. But Croatia must have full control of its starting states (besides Srem and Slavonia) to ask. If so, Italy will always accept the peace, (but a Player led Italy may decline if Croatia does not control Zara, Fiume, and Istria) and will transfer Zara, Fiume, and Istria to Croatia.
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Lorković

Lorković Takes Control
With Mladen Lorković at the helm of the government, he wastes no time plotting behind the scenes, making deals with the Homeguard and the HSS. Once the deals are finalized, Lorković can strike at the Ustaša and overthrow it in the aptly named ‘Peasants’ Plot’ (named after the HSS). The Armed Forces will take over in a transitional role until the upcoming power struggle ends. The democratic HSS does not wholly trust the Homeguard under Lorković and Vokić, and their commitment to democracy for a future Croatia. This sets up a power struggle between the two groups.

• (The Peasants’ Plot was an OTL plot named the Lorković-Vokić Plot, hatched towards the end of WWII to switch sides and join the allies, like many other smaller Axis nations did. But it was uncovered and both Lorković and Vokić imprisoned and eventually executed.)

Homguard/HSS Power Struggle
The power struggle plays out through six events, and a pair of mutually exclusive foci. Choices made will increase the influence of the HSS, or the Homeguard. One such event ‘Dreams of a Free Bosnia,’ will either restore the Bosnian Autonomy, or puppet Bosnia, elevating it the national level.
By the end of the focus tree, the HSS will demand an immediate return to democracy and the resignation of Lorković. Lorković will call a meeting at his villa outside Zagreb, which can end in two ways:

1. If the HSS has more, or equal influence, Lorković will agree to the terms and both he and Vokić will retire from politics but will be appointed Chiefs in the new Armed Forces of Croatia. August Košutić and the HSS will be put into office. (See the Democracy Section in Part 2)
2. If the Homeguard has more influence, Vokić will barge into the meeting and arrest the HSS leadership and ban the party. Denouncing them as foreign agents, Lorković and Vokić will rule together in a Duumvirate. (For the Duumvirate, see the next Section)

Duumvirate

Lorković and Vokić's Duumvirate
Having pushed out the other Peasants’ Plot member, Lorković and Vokić will rule over Croatia equally, as Prime Minister and President, respectively. Wanting to embrace Italian Fascism, Lorković will almost immediately make enemies of the Homeguard. Unrest in its ranks will soar, and if not placated with concessions, the Homeguard will launch a coup and remove Lorković. (See the Homeguard Coup Section below)
But if the Homeguard was placated, Lorković can start to enact his vision for Croatia. The first one of which should be to completely ‘destroy the Ustaša’ (also a focus of the same name, which removes the Crusader Revolt timer). He will also move the economy away from ‘Croatian Socialism’ to ‘Croatian Corporatism,’ once again modeled on Italy’s.
With the groundwork set, Lorković will declare the Croatian State the Croatian Social Republic, and reform what’s left of the Ustaša into the Croatian National-Fascist Party. He will also ask for membership into Italy’s Mediterranean Pact, which will be accepted. As Croatia is now allied to Italy, when the focus ‘Ask for Zara and Rijeka’ is completed Italy will agree to the request.
The Croatian Social Republic will also get decisions to help Italy expand the Mediterranean Pact into the Balkans and Anatolia. Note that Albania, Greece, and Turkey, once annexed and puppeted, will be returned to Italy and become its puppets.
At the end of the focus tree, with Italy returning states via the ‘Ask for…’ focus, and taking Hungarian states through either the much earlier (border) war or Pact expansion, Croatia will have secured Lorković’s ideal borders, and can proclaim Reunification, which will lead to the World News Event and Ending Event for the Croatian Social Republic.

Homeguard Coup

Homeguard Coup
Ante Vokić of the Homeguard will coup the government if the weekly Stability Homeguard Influence check fails, if the three main contenders for Poglavnik are dead or influence is below 20% at the time of the election, or the military was not placated when Lorković turned to Italy.
If the coup occurred during the election, he will storm the Sabor and strongarm the Council to vote him in as Poglavnik. He will immediately use his powers to dissolve the government and abolish the whole system (including his minutes old office) and declare a Junta. If it was from any other case, he will storm the Sabor but it will make him the Military Dictator, and he’ll use his new powers to abolish the whole system.
The focus tree is short, for Vokić has two choices: to restore democracy (See the Democracy Section in Part 2), or continue to rule as a Junta.

Junta

Vokić Keeps the Junta
Declaring a state of emergency, Vokić will declare war on radicalism (whether on the right or left of the political spectrum). The first thing he will do is create an intelligence agency to deal with internal enemies, for ‘a healthy state needs a healthy security apparatus.’ One of the first groups he can go after are the Ustaša remnants, by taking ‘Purge the Ustaša’ which should be taken as soon as possible to remove the Crusader Revolt timer. He will then go after everyone else ( his interpretation of radicalism is a big tent): the Partisans, Bosnians, Chetniks, democrats, and socialists. On the bright side he will abolish the draconian Racial Laws of the old Ustaša.
Vokić has not just a political tree but an expansion tree as well. To start taking expansion foci, the entire military tree must be completed, and about the first third of the economic tree as well. The expansion tree focuses on three counties, Hungary, Italy, and Serbia. The first row of foci will prepare for the coming wars by building forts on the border, the second row will declare war, and the third will Croatianize the lands by changing names and removing foreign cores.
With his victory over the Italians, Hungarians, and Serbs, Vokić will gain the nickname, the Croatian Caesar, and can finally declare Croatia Reunified, which will lead to the World News Event and Ending Event for the Croatian State.

Artuković

Artuković Takes Power
Artuković Events
With Andrija Artuković having been elected Poglavnik, things will continue mostly business as usual. He must first though secure his position, which means the purging of suspected enemies. One of the first is the Homeguard. He can conduct a light purge, or a heavy one which will both remove any Homeguard Generals, but also the threat of a Homeguard Coup (as the Croatian Homeguard UI will be disabled).
Having also purged the government, Artuković can move to secure his position through the ‘Secure the Poglavnik’s Position’ focus. It unlocks a number of decisions to finally secure his rule, and will disable the NDH Administration UI. Once Serbia is puppeted, this category will give a unique decision that lets Croatia ‘take revenge’ on Serbia, more specifically, rampaging unrestricted through Belgrade.
After securing his rule, Artuković will look outward. As Lorković looked to Italy, Artuković will look to Germany, and will ask to join the Neue Ordnung. But there is only a 30% chance Germany will accept. If it does not, Artuković may choose to form his own faction, The Greater Croatian League.
The dream of a united Greater Croatia is not lost on Artuković. To ‘Claim Greater Croatia,’ which unlocks the expansion tree, the top third of both the economic and military trees must be completed. But farther down the political tree there is the focus ‘Integrate Greater Croatia.’ This unlocks decisions to core (and change the names) of the states included in Greater Croatia once they are owned. To do that, the expansion tree will give wargoals on Italy, and the owners of Banat, and Vojvodina and Srem.
The war with Italy will follow the normal path, except that in the peace deal Montenegro will also be transferred. Artuković can press his luck and ask for Slovenian lands as well, which Italy will accept if Croatia controls those states (Northern Trieste, Southern Trieste, Slovenia, Littoral, and Lubiana). If they are not controlled, there is still a chance Italy will peace out and transfer them, but it’s only 20%.
In addition to the decisions shown, there are also ones to declare war for certain states, like on Serbia if it owns Montenegro (and is not a Croatian puppet), or Italy if it owns the state of Slovenia, but Croatia owns Rejika and Zara, or lastly Hungary over the state of Prekmurje. Slovenia itself is not needed as part of Greater Croatia, but can be cored if owned.
Once the Slovenian states are owned and if the Republic of Slovenia does not exist, a Transitional Region will be created in owned Slovenian states and after a year will be cored.
Once the expansion tree is completed, Artuković can declare Greater Croatia, stretching from Trieste to Banat, from Prekmurje to Montenegro, complete with a new flag. This will give the World News Event. For the Ending Event, the rest of the other focus trees must be completed which will unlock the last focus in the political tree. With its completion the event will show; as a homage to the introduction event, Croatia’s dark night will get a lot darker.

Francetić

Francetić's Takes Power
Francetić Events
With Jure Francetić having been elected Poglavnik, he will get to work immediately to model Croatia after Romania’s Iron Guard, having a much greater emphasis on the Church than other leaders. But before he can do anything, there is the issue of Vjekoslav Luburić. Luburić was head of the concentration camps in Croatia and a cleanser during the war, and was known to be especially brutal, even by Ustaše standards. From the moment Francetić takes power, Luburić has been planning his coup and will execute it in 150 days. Before that time is up, Francetić must have Luburić executed, or set him up with his own little fiefdom in Srem. In either case it gets rid of him. (For his Coup, see the next Section)
With the Luburić issue settled, Francetić will start bringing Legionarism to Croatia, getting a Legionarism national spirit which will improve as more foci are completed. Like Artuković, he may purge the Homeguard as well. He can conduct a light purge, or a heavy one which will both remove any Homeguard Generals, but also the threat of a Homeguard Coup (as the Croatian Homeguard UI will be disabled).
Halfway through his political tree, Francetić will be made a Field Marshal and elevated to the position he deserves, and be known as the Conqueror of Drina. It will unlock numerous decisions to help secure not only his rule but Legionarism as well. One of the decisions can see him reach out to the US and offer a non-aggression pact, but with only a 20% success rate. Once unified, Francetić can declare Croatia officially neutral.
To begin the reclamation of Croatian lands, which unlocks the expansion tree, the top third of both the economic and military trees must be completed. The last focus in the political tree will reorganize the NDH into the Reorganized Croatian State, but observers will note the new state’s similarities to the Croatia of Ante Pavelić.
As for the expansion tree, Croatia will get wargoals on Italy, and the owner of Vojvodina, if not already owned. The war with Italy and its peace proposal will follow the normal route. At the end of the tree, Francetić will be able to proclaim Croatia reunified which will lead to the World News Event and Ending Event for the Reorganized Croatian State.

Luburić Coup

Luburić's and Filipović's Coups
Once Vjekoslav Luburić overthrows Francetić, it will send any stability left in the country into a tailspin. (It is advised that before the coup triggers, to conduct a heavy purge on the Homeguard so it will not coup once stability gets too low compared to its influence). In Luburić’s mind there is one thing and one thing only, to literally kill any and all dissent.
By the end of his short tree, Luburić will himself be overthrown by Miroslav Filipović (a once Franciscan friar and Ustaše military chaplain who headed concentration camps). After conducting his own round of purging, Filipović will declare that Croatians are not Slavs, but actually descendants of the Goths, and style Croatia as the Veliki Ostrogotski Rajh (the Great Ostrogothic Reich).
While concurrently planning and executing wars against Serbia and Italy, being the good Catholic he is, Filipović will write to the Vatican to report on the successful cleansing of the country. The Vatican will write back, excommunicating him from the Church. This will send him over the edge and lose what little sanity he has left. Spinning a story the Vatican invited him to Rome, Filipović will travel by boat… alone… to Rome via the Adriatic Sea. The war with Italy aside, he needs no protection for God will take care of him. Once an Italian ship spots him, he will be fired upon and drown as his boat sinks. With his body washing ashore days later, the government, now led by the collective Supreme Ustaša Council, will be left in a state of panic as society breaks down around it
Croatia will not last long and will implode. Bandits fight bandits, opposing Ustaše militias fight it out in the streets, the Chetniks and Partisans both rise up, and neighboring countries will conduct land grabs. Croatia is no more. “Croatia heard the beast say, come and see. And Croatia beheld…”
Croatian Collapse
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Link to Part 2