🌜STORMY LAGOON🌛
Start your survival journey today! We host a 1.19.4 survival server with features and custom items suggested by our community. Our server (and world) opened 1/4/2022. Our community has been around for 4+ years! Stormy Lagoon has a nice community. We have a thriving player economy, with player shops at the spawn's marketplace and player-ran warps around the map. With mcMMO installed for a competitive leaderboards (all abilities are disabled).
Server Version: 1.19.4, Java & Bedrock Server IP: play.stormylagoon.com Bedrock Port: 25566 (You do not need to use a port for Java!) Website: https://stormylagoon.com Discord: https://discord.gg/X9Ugfhm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joinmyminecraftserver7
What do we have to offer?
> 🔠• The 1.19.1 chat report feature has been disabled. > 📗• Well organized Discord text channels for guidance on all of the different server features. > 🔮• QOL commands such as /spawn, /tpa, /home and /back. > 🛑• Rules designed to let everyone have an enjoyable experience on the server, worry and lag free. > 👮‍• Mature and helpful staff ready to answer any questions you may have. > 🎁• Not P2W! No /fly from ranks. All ranks are obtainable via voting. > 📡• Crossplay between Java and Bedrock accounts on our server. Mobile, Xbox, PS4, all can join! > 🌷• Draw directly onto canvases on our server! Express your inner creativity. /artmap > 💎• Build large robust farms and sell your good at the player ran marketplace to other players. > 🏹• mcMMO has been completely reworked to just be leaderboards for friendly competition. > 🏡• An advanced land claiming plugin with custom flags to control your claims. > ⭐• Hundreds of custom tags and join messages you can choose from (voting rewards!). > 🍻• And countless other features. Come join our server today to explore everything together! > 🏳️‍🌈• We support and welcome everyone to our friendly server! :)
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Here are our easy to follow rules to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone who plays!

1. We support kind and respectful behaviour. Staff quickly calm toxic acts.
   1. Respect other players.
   2. Be helpful.
   3. No excessive swearing or offensive expressions/acronyms/jokes.
   4. No debating politics, religion, or spiritual belief systems.
   5. No talking about illegal substances and their usage.
   6. Obscene/inappropriate/explicit material is prohibited.
   7. No advertising other servers not affiliated with Stormy Lagoon.
   8. No linking/referring to material not allowed by the above mentioned rules.
   9. Keep chat in English.
2. Keep chat/signs/items civil and PG. Keep chat friendly and helpful for everyone playing.
3. Earn your own items. Begging/x-ray/exploits/cheating are anti-survival and not allowed.
4. Theft & Griefing is allowed in unclaimed territory. Griefing just to grief is not tolerated. Do not uglify something for fun.
5. Be mindful of lag. Keep mob farms and redstone fast. No AFK fish farms. (We allow for awesome farms!)

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Looking forward to meeting you on the Stormy Lagoon server!

🌜STORMY LAGOON🌛
Start your survival journey today! We host a 1.19.4 survival server with features and custom items suggested by our community. Our server (and world) opened 1/4/2022. Our community has been around for 4+ years! Stormy Lagoon has a nice community. We have a thriving player economy, with player shops at the spawn's marketplace and player-ran warps around the map. With mcMMO installed for a competitive leaderboards (all abilities are disabled).
Server Version: 1.19.4, Java & Bedrock Server IP: play.stormylagoon.com Bedrock Port: 25566 (You do not need to use a port for Java!) Website: https://stormylagoon.com Discord: https://discord.gg/X9Ugfhm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joinmyminecraftserver7
What do we have to offer?
> 🔠• The 1.19.1 chat report feature has been disabled. > 📗• Well organized Discord text channels for guidance on all of the different server features. > 🔮• QOL commands such as /spawn, /tpa, /home and /back. > 🛑• Rules designed to let everyone have an enjoyable experience on the server, worry and lag free. > 👮‍• Mature and helpful staff ready to answer any questions you may have. > 🎁• Not P2W! No /fly from ranks. All ranks are obtainable via voting. > 📡• Crossplay between Java and Bedrock accounts on our server. Mobile, Xbox, PS4, all can join! > 🌷• Draw directly onto canvases on our server! Express your inner creativity. /artmap > 💎• Build large robust farms and sell your good at the player ran marketplace to other players. > 🏹• mcMMO has been completely reworked to just be leaderboards for friendly competition. > 🏡• An advanced land claiming plugin with custom flags to control your claims. > ⭐• Hundreds of custom tags and join messages you can choose from (voting rewards!). > 🍻• And countless other features. Come join our server today to explore everything together! > 🏳️‍🌈• We support and welcome everyone to our friendly server! :)
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Here are our easy to follow rules to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone who plays!

1. We support kind and respectful behaviour. Staff quickly calm toxic acts.
   1. Respect other players.
   2. Be helpful.
   3. No excessive swearing or offensive expressions/acronyms/jokes.
   4. No debating politics, religion, or spiritual belief systems.
   5. No talking about illegal substances and their usage.
   6. Obscene/inappropriate/explicit material is prohibited.
   7. No advertising other servers not affiliated with Stormy Lagoon.
   8. No linking/referring to material not allowed by the above mentioned rules.
   9. Keep chat in English.
2. Keep chat/signs/items civil and PG. Keep chat friendly and helpful for everyone playing.
3. Earn your own items. Begging/x-ray/exploits/cheating are anti-survival and not allowed.
4. Theft & Griefing is allowed in unclaimed territory. Griefing just to grief is not tolerated. Do not uglify something for fun.
5. Be mindful of lag. Keep mob farms and redstone fast. No AFK fish farms. (We allow for awesome farms!)

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Looking forward to meeting you on the Stormy Lagoon server!

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 73%. (I'm a bot)

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia cannot start until Western allies send more military support.
In an interview with Yomiuri Shimbun, he said the situation in eastern Ukraine was "Not good".
There has been talk for some weeks of Ukraine launching a spring offensive against Russian forces.
A US-based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, last week suggested that Russia's own offensive was potentially losing momentum and concluded: "Ukraine is therefore well positioned to regain the initiative and launch counter-offensives in critical sectors of the current frontline."
Ukraine's allies have promised more tanks, artillery and longer-range missile systems.
Some countries are struggling to deliver what they pledged, while others are taking more time than expected to get the equipment to Ukraine.

Summary Source FAQ Feedback Top keywords: Ukraine^#1 counter-offensive^#2 military^#3 more^#4 tank^#5
Post found in /worldnews.
NOTICE: This thread is for discussing the submission topic. Please do not discuss the concept of the autotldr bot here.

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 28%. (I'm a bot)

Pro-Iranian forces in Syria said Friday that they have a "Long arm" to respond to further strikes on their positions, after tit-for-tat strikes involving the United States over the 24 hours prior.
The online statement, signed by the Iranian Advisory Committee in Syria, said strikes had left several fighters dead and wounded, without specifying their nationality.
"We have the capability to respond if our centers and forces in Syria are targeted," the statement said.
U.S. President Joe Biden, during an official visit to Canada, addressed the attack.
"I was informed by my national security team on the way over here about an attack in Syria yesterday. An Iranian-backed militant group used an unmanned aerial vehicle to strike one of our facilities, causing several American casualties," Biden said.
"Last night, U.S. military forces carried out a series of airstrikes in Syria targeting those responsible for attacking our personnel. My heart and deepest condolences go out to the family of the American we lost and wish a speedy recovery for those who were wounded," he added.

Summary Source FAQ Feedback Top keywords: strike^#1 Syria^#2 attack^#3 forces^#4 out^#5
Post found in /worldnews.
NOTICE: This thread is for discussing the submission topic. Please do not discuss the concept of the autotldr bot here.

Hello, fellow Valorant enthusiasts, I would like to propose a classic Reddit detectives venture.
Recently Saadhak said that an NA org was helping LOUD with the move to the States by providing training facilities and assisting in finding housing but then flaked last minute. For more you van check this thread: https://www.reddit.com/ValorantCompetitive/comments/120t5e7/pedro_mitke_saadhak_reveals_that_the_na_org_loud/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
The facts: 1. Saadhak also said on stream that the org is not a franchised team. 2. On separate interviews to the brazilian youtube channel Flow Games, Pancada and Tuyz/Cauzanzin/FroD said the Loud squad would live in the same building as the Sentinels guys.
The question: is there an NA org that isn't franchised and uses the same apartment as Sentinels?
It's possible the org doesn't use the building at all, but I thought it was an interesting fact to share with english speakers since the interview about where they would live was in portuguese.

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts and founders want to help african countries with their fiat currency inflationary issues. It seems like a great idea to use a cryptocurrency where everything is transparent and inflation would no longer be an issue. However I am from Sudan, a country run by dictators and all they care about is having power and being able to do whatever they want. I'm assuming that this is the case in multiple African countries as well that are run by dictators. Throughout 2019 to 2022 the people of Sudan had gone against the government in order to bring it down however on multiple occasions the government was actually able to completely blackout telecommunications and turn down the internet in the country. They did so in order to prevent anyone from being able to organize protests and to release media to international news channels as well. If the government was able to do this wouldn't they be able to destroy any cryptocurrency from functioning, as it would be a threat to their fiat currency and would prevent them from simply printing money? How would cryptocurrencies function without internet?

ABB FIA Formula E Championship
2023 São Paulo E-Prix
Wikipedia: Season 9 Teams & Drivers Season 9 Calendar
Session Times
Times are in Brasilia Standard Time (UTC-3:00)
Friday 24 Mar 2023

Session	Local	UTC
Practice 1	16:30 - 17:00	19:30 - 20:00

Saturday 25 Mar 2023

Session	Local	UTC
Practice 2	07:30 - 08:00	10:30 - 11:00
Qualifying	09:40 - ~10:55	12:40 - ~13:55
Race	14:00 - ~15:00	17:00 - ~18:00

​

• Timetable: here

São Paulo Street Circuit
São Paulo, Brazil
Circuit Diagram: here
Pitlane Map: here
Length: 2.933 KM (1.823 mi)
Turns: 11
Distance: 31 Laps + any additional laps
Live Streaming & Timing

• Official Live Timing: Here
• Official YouTube Channel: Here
• Official Twitch Channel: Here
• Official Facebook Page: Here
• Other Streams: Check MotorsportsStreams2 or MotorsportsReplays

Check out the official ABB Formula E Championship TV/Streaming Guide to find out more about coverage in your area.
YouTube Links:
Channel 4 Sports (UK and Ireland):
FP1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aTAg_VbjtI (Stream starts 5 minutes before session)
FP2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyw2U81hczg (Stream starts 5 minutes before session)
Qualifying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EZz1wcoOeQ (Stream starts 10 minutes before session)
Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK38iu4XQN8 (Stream starts 30 minutes before session)
Official YouTube:
FP1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txo_VlLbmCU (Stream starts 35 minutes before session with the FE Show)
FP2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2CCcxZWZtw (Stream starts 5 minutes before session)
Qualifying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2CCcxZWZtw (Stream starts 10 minutes before session)
Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIeElL3GC5U (Stream starts 30 minutes before session)

Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is an elusive beast that has eluded [official] detection for years. The current “big dog” Grand Theft Auto V was first released way back in September 2013, and has been available across two console generations (Xbox 360/PS3 and Xbox One/PS4). It will even be available natively on next-generation Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles, which is quite unprecedented in the gaming realm. So, while Rockstar seems reticent to just letting us wait in agony for any news on GTA 6, it is at least giving us some new updates on its two current hot properties: GTA Online and Red Dead Online.
In the case of the incredibly popular (and highly lucrative) GTA Online, Rockstar says that a big “summer update” is coming for gamers with a “fun mix of diverse” content to partake in. Even more interesting is the fact that the developers indicate that its “biggest update ever” is coming before the end of 2020. That update will include new Heists that will take place in a completely new location, which has definitely piqued our interests.
red dead online As for Red Dead Online, its next big update is actually arriving next week; on July 28th to be exact. Red Dead Online hasn’t exactly been teaming with new content, as the last big update for the online component of Red Dead Redemption 2 dropped way back in December 2019. However, Rockstar is promising a new Frontier Pursuit mode with a focus on “naturalism” and a new battle pass-type component, which is conveniently named Outlaw Pass. Finally, Rockstar says that it has addressed tons of bugs with the game and has taken community feedback to heart with this release, which is definitely appreciated.
In addition to the game updates on the way, Rockstar also took the time to address the well-being of its online communities. “We are also committed to ensuring that our games are fun for everyone and as safe as possible from modders, cheaters, hackers, and those who seek to harass other players,” said the company in its blog post.
“So far this year, we have taken action on hundreds of thousands of players caught violating community rules across both games. Please help us keep our communities safe and fun by reporting any sort of cheating either directly in-game or via our dedicated web reporting tools for both Red Dead Online and GTA Online.”
It's good to see that Rockstar is cracking down on those looking to spoil the fun for everyone, and its methods for “taking out” such offenders is among the best in the industry.

My gf (call her Lucy) and I have been dating for approximately 3.5 years at this point. We have lived together for 2.5 of those years. In August of last year, we moved from where we met to somewhere 4 hours away, back to my hometown so that I could go back to school. We were starting to get more serious, and I wanted to make enough money to give her the life she deserved (we both want a small 5 acre farm)
I gave her the option of staying with her family for a year while I went to school, so that she wouldn’t be removed from her support network, but she insisted she wanted to come with me, so we moved together.
Shortly after the move, we went on vacation 1,000 miles away, and while on vacation she had a psychotic break from reality. I’ll spare you some of the details, but essentially she thought she knew everyone she saw on the street, thinking random people were old enemies from her childhood. She would climb out the window at night instead of using the door and go sleep in the rain or go walking in the lake (she can’t swim)
Needless to say, this was terrifying for me, but she didn’t think anything was strange about her behavior.
I called her stepmom and told her about the situation, and sm said it reminded her of Lucy’s brother, Luigi. Luigi has diagnosed schizophrenia. Their biological mother has bipolar disorder. A great aunt also has schizophrenia.
I already knew about Luigi, but the other two were news to me. I had previously asked Lucy if she’d be willing to be evaluated for mental illnesses, but she said she never wanted to know.
Anyway, I obviously cut our vacation short and flew with Lucy back to her family. I made this decision in conjunction with her sm because she’d already had experience with this sort of thing, works in the medical field, and had the support network necessary for this.
Lucy was in full-blown psychosis for approximately 3 months, escaping from the hospital and her sm’s house a number of times, but always found again. She’s been “normal” now since January, and is wanting to come move back to me soon, but I’m getting cold feet.
I don’t know if I can live my life always wondering if tomorrow, my partner is going to fully be there, or if I’ll wake up to find that she’s been running out into the forest for hours and is never found again.
But on the other hand, this feels super scummy to me to even have these thoughts. Isn’t this basically like breaking up with someone because they got cancer? I don’t know what to do. Either choice feels like the wrong moral decision. I can’t be in a relationship that is this taxing on my mental health, but I also can’t break up with someone for something well outside their control.
TLDR; gf suffered a mental breakdown and I don’t know how to proceed.
What should I do?

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 25%. (I'm a bot)

Russia has already stationed 10 aircraft in Belarus capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, said Putin.
Published: 25 March ,2023: 09:22 PM GST Updated: 25 March ,2023: 09:50 PM GST. Russia has struck a deal with neighboring Belarus to station tactical nuclear weapons on its territory, Tass news agency quoted President Vladimir Putin as saying on Saturday.
Such a move would not violate nuclear nonproliferation agreements, Putin said, adding that the United States had stationed nuclear weapons on the territory of European allies.
"We agreed with Lukashenko that we would place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus without violating the nonproliferation regime," Tass quoted Putin as saying.
Russia will have completed the construction of a storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus by July 1, Putin said, adding that Russia would not actually be transferring control of the arms to Minsk.
Russia has already stationed 10 aircraft in Belarus capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, he said.

Summary Source FAQ Feedback Top keywords: nuclear^#1 weapons^#2 Russia^#3 Belarus^#4 tactical^#5
Post found in /worldnews.
NOTICE: This thread is for discussing the submission topic. Please do not discuss the concept of the autotldr bot here.

Women's Extreme Wrestling.... a promotion so bad it doesn't have it's own Wikipedia page. But according to Cagematch, the WEW Championship had eight champions but was vacated SEVEN TIMES with the last champion being Simply Luscious. We'll be starting from Luscious's reign and seeing who the lineal champion is. I've done it in two ways. The normal way (first person to beat the champ), and an lineal reign for just women
Like most lineal champion posts, the title can change hands in singles or multi-man matches (not counting tag matches, handicap matches or battle royals) and can't change hands via DQ or Countout. In the event of inactivity/retirement/death, then the lineal title reign ends with that person
​

• Simply Luscious (WEW 33: Nude Mat Divas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Taped December 14 2007, Aired March 24 2008) (Luscious defeated Jazz for the vacant championship to become the final champion)
• Hailey Hatred (Lucha Libre Femenil in Monterrey, Mexico - June 19 2009) (This was the Copa LLF Finals with Hailey wrestling as Dark Unicorn)
• Mickie Knuckles (NWA Underground Extreme Rules in Goshen, Indiana - June 27 2009)
• Ryan Phoenix (WPPF Wrestle War in Colona, Illinois - July 18 2009) (This was a 3-Way with Ian Rotten)
• Jason Hades (IWA Mid-South The Night The Lights Went Out In Bellevue in Bellevue, Illinois - July 25 2009) (This was a Tables, Ladders & Chairs match)
• GT Vega (DREAMWAVE Fighting For Our Friends in Streator, Illinois - July 31 2009) (This was a DREAMWAVE Alternative Championship Tournament Semi Final Match)
• Brubaker (DREAMWAVE Everybody Has A Price in LaSelle, Illinois - August 1 2009) (This was a DREAMWAVE Alternative Championship Tournament Finals)
• CJ Esparza (AAW A Reign Of Violence in Berwyn, Illinois - August 15 2009)
• Brett Gakiya (DREAMWAVE Mall Brawl Afternoon Show in Peru, Illinois - October 3 2009) (This was a 4-Way with Marshe Rockett & Samuray del Sol)
• Shane Hollister (AAW Massacre On 26th Street in Berwyn, Illinois - October 17 2009) (This was a 6-Way with Dan Lawrence, Jordan McEntyre, Mason Beck & Brubaker)
• Davey Vega (Lethal Wrestling Alliance in O'Fallon, Illinois - November 7 2009)
• Matthew Palmer (ACW Lone Star Classic in Austin, Texas - November 15 2009) (This was a Lone Star Classic First Round Match with Arik Cannon)
• Scot Summers (ACW Lone Star Classic in Austin, Texas - November 15 2009) (This was a Lone Star Classic Semi Final Match)
• Mike Dell (ACW Delusions Of Our Childish Days in Austin, Texas - December 20 2019)
• Shawn Vexx (ACW Guilty By Association 4 in Austin, Texas - January 17 2010)
• Darin Childs (ACW From Innocence To Insanity 4 in Austin, Texas - July 18 2010)
• Scot Summers (2) (ACW From Innocence To Insanity 4 in Austin, Texas - July 18 2010) (This was a Dog Collar Chain Match)
• RD Evans (ACW Lone Star Classic in Austin, Texas - November 14 2010)
• Matthew Palmer (2) (ACW Guilty By Association 5 in Austin, Texas - January 17 2011) (This was an I Quit Match)
• Davey Vega (2) (ACW Nothing Is As Real As A Dream in Austin, Texas - May 15 2011)
• Darin Childs (ACW Evolution Of The Revolution 2 in Austin, Texas - September 18 2011) (This was a Double Jeopardy Match in Jaykus Plisken & Shawn Vexx)
• Portia Perez (ACW Lone Star Classic in Austin, Texas - November 12 2011) (This was a Lone Star Classic First Round Match with Rachel Summerlyn)
• JT LaMotta (ACW Lone Star Classic in Austin, Texas - November 12 2011) (This was a Lone Star Classic Semi Final Match)
• ACH (ACW Lone Star Classic in Austin, Texas - November 12 2011) (This was the Lone Star Classic Finals)
• Aaron Epic (Beyond Wrestling Crises Precipitate Change Night 1 in North Andover, Massachusetts - November 19 2011) (This was the Tournament For Tomorrow Finals)
• Lince Dorado (BELIEVE XXXVII in Orlando, Florida - January 7 2012)
• Nick Fame (NWA Florida Underground Wrestling in Largo, Florida - February 28 2012)
• Deimos (NWA Florida Underground Wrestling in Largo, Florida - March 20 2012)
• Kyle Blizzard (NWA Florida Underground Wrestling in Largo, Florida - May 1 2012)
• Deathrow Jethro (NWA Florida Underground Wrestling/Iron Fist Pro in Orlando, Florida - May 19 2012)
• Jonathan Grover (Vintage Wrestling Dark Horizon in Sanford, Florida - June 9 2012)

LINEAL CHAMPIONSHIP ENDS HERE WITH JONATHAN GROVER AS LINEAL WOMEN'S EXTREME WRESTLING CHAMPION. GROVER WRESTLES TAG MATCHES & BATTLE ROYAL AFTER BECOMING LINEAL CHAMPION UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 2015
IF WE KEEP THE LINEAL CHAMPIONSHIP LINEAGE TO JUST WOMEN WRESTLERS THEN IT WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS

• Simply Luscious (WEW 33: Nude Mat Divas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Taped December 14 2007, Aired March 24 2008) (Luscious defeated Jazz for the vacant championship to become the final champion)
• Hailey Hatred (Lucha Libre Femenil in Monterrey, Mexico - June 19 2009) (This was the Copa LLF Finals with Hailey wrestling as Dark Unicorn)
• Mickie Knuckles (NWA Underground Extreme Rules in Goshen, Indiana - June 27 2009)
• Amy Lee (WSU Uncensored Rumble III in Union City, New Jersey - June 26 2010) (This was a Falls Count Anywhere Match)
• Jessicka Havok (WSU Breaking Barriers in Union City, New Jersey - November 6 2010)
• Angel Orsini (aka The Prodigette from ECW) (CWF Mid-Atlantic Ultimate Survivor in Burlington, North Carolina - November 20 2010)
• Mercedes Martinez (WSU The Final Chapter in Union City, New Jersey - January 22 2011) (This was a Ladder Match)
• Madison Eagles (SHIMMER 37 in Berwyn, Illinois - March 26 2011)
• Manami Toyota (CHIKARA King of Trios Night 3 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - April 17 2011)
• Ran YuYu (OZ Academy Starting Over in Tokyo, Japan - December 18 2011)
• Hiroyo Matsumoto (OZ Academy Gokuen Heaven: Evening Show in Tokyo, Japan - June 10 2012) (This was the OZ Academy Openweight Championship #1 Contender Tournament Finals)
• Tsukasa Fujimoto (Ice Ribbon New Ice Ribbon #396 in Saitama, Japan - June 13 2012)
• Tsukushi Haruka (Ice Ribbon New Ice Ribbon #398 in Saitama, Japan - June 23 2012)
• Neko Nitta (Ice Ribbon 19'O Clock Girls Pro Wrestling #122 in Saitama, Japan - June 29 2012) (This was a 19 O'Clock Girls Tournament Quarter Final Match)
• Aki Shizuku (Ice Ribbon 19'O Clock Girls Pro Wrestling #126 in Saitama, Japan - August 3 2012) (This was the 19 O'Clock Girls Tournament Finals)
• Hailey Hatred (2) (Ice Ribbon New Ice Ribbon #409: Muscle Venus 4th Anniversary in Tokyo, Japan - August 19 2012)
• Kyoko Kimura (Ice Ribbon New Ice Ribbon #414 in Saitama, Japan - September 8 2012) (This was a 3-Way with Tsukishi Haruka)
• Dark Angel (aka Sarah Stock/Sarita) (STARDOM 5Star Grand Prix Night 4 in Tokyo, Japan - September 17 2012) (This was a 5Star Grand Prix Match)
• Natsuki Taiyo (STARDOM 5Star Grand Prix Night 5: Afternoon Show in Tokyo, Japan - September 30 2012) (This was a 5Star Grand Prix Match)
• Yoshiko (STARDOM Season 9 Goddesses in Stars Night 4 in Tokyo, Japan - November 11 2012) (This was a 5-Way with Eri Susa, Hailey Hatred & Hiroyo Matsumoto)
• Io Shirai (STARDOM Golden Age in Tokyo, Japan - June 2 2013)
• Alpha Female (STARDOM 5Star Grand Prix Night 4 in Tokyo, Japan - September 15 2013) (This was a 5Star Grand Prix Match)
• Nanae Takahashi (STARDOM 5Star Grand Prix Night 5 in Tokyo, Japan - September 23 2013) (This was a 5Star Grand Prix Finals)
• Io Shirai (2) (STARDOM Season 14 Goddesses in Stars Night 4 in Tokyo, Japan - November 4 2013)
• Meiko Satomura (Sendai Girls in Tokyo, Japan - April 26 2014)
• Hiroyo Matsumoto (2) (Fortune Dream 1 in Tokyo, Japan - June 8 2014)
• Misaki Ohata (Ice Ribbon New Ice Ribbon #571 in Saitama, Japan - July 2 2014)
• Hikaru Shida (WAVE Catch the WAVE Finale in Tokyo, Japan - July 27 2014) (This was the Catch the WAVE Finals)
• Emi Sakura (Ray Produce 11th Anniversary Undercover Grow Battle in Tokyo, Japan - September 25 2014)
• Hikaru Shida (2) (Ray Produce 11th Anniversary Undercover Grow Battle in Tokyo, Japan - September 25 2014)
• Aja Kong (OZ Academy No Answer in Tokyo, Japan - October 13 2014)
• Sonoka Kato (OZ Academy Voyager in Yokohama, Japan - October 17 2015)
• Hiroyo Matsumoto (3) (OZ Academy 20th Anniversary in Yokohama, Japan - November 13 2016)
• Chihiro Hashimoto (Sendai Girls Joshi Puroresu Big Show in Niigata, Japan - July 15 2017)
• Ayako Hamada (Sendai Girls in Tokyo, Japan - April 19 2018)
• Misaki Ohata (2) (WAVE Saturday Night Fever April in Tokyo, Japan - April 21 2018) (This was a Catch the WAVE Block B Match)
• Ayako Hamada (WAVE Sunday WAVE Volume 35 in Tokyo, Japan - April 22 2018) (This was a Catch the WAVE Block B 3-Way with Arisa Nakajima)
• Rina Yamashita (WAVE Catch the WAVE Final Battle: Mika Iida Thanks For the Meal! in Tokyo, Japan - May 4 2018) (This was the Catch the WAVE Finals)
• Misaki Ohata (3) (WAVE Sapporo WAVE: Na Ma Ra 6 in Sapporo, Japan - June 3 2018)
• Takumi Iroha (WAVE Weekday WAVE Volume 116: Height Max! in Tokyo, Japan - June 28 2018)
• ASUKA (WAVE Aniversario WAVE in Tokyo, Japan - August 19 2018)
• Hana Kimura (Wrestle-1 Pro Wrestling Love in Yokohama, Japan - September 2 2018)
• ASUKA (2) (WAVE Fight Together in Tokyo, Japan - September 16 2018)
• Ryo Mizunami (WAVE Dai Shiwazu Nishi 18 Volume 2 in Tokyo, Japan - December 15 2018)
• Misaki Ohata (4) (WAVE Phase 1 Final - December 29 2018)

LINEAL WOMEN'S EXTREME WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP REIGN ENDS HERE AS OHATA RETIRED AFTER THIS MATCH

2 weeks ago, the Parliamentary Committee on food price inflation was held in the national capital about possible food price gauging. The committee invited 3 of the major grocery chains' CEO:

• Loblaws Cos. Ltd -> Mr. Galen Weston Jr.
• Metro Inc. -> Mr. Eric La Flèche
• Empire Co. Ltd. -> Mr. Michael Medline

According to the numbers:

Loblaws’ net earnings went from just over $1 billion in 2019 to $2.2 billion in 2022, and Empire Co.’s net earnings went from $387 million in 2019 to $746 million in 2022, Turnbull said.

On the other hand, the Grocery chains' CEOs denied the allegations. I don't want to get into details, as this is not the sub. My question is, does Winnipeg's inflation prices in groceries that bad compare to other major cities? Or are they worst than Winnipeg, so we don't need to worry too much?
family members, some colleagues, some of the people I know, and I have been patronizing farmers' markets, buying locals from local farmers, bakers, & ranchers in the last few years. So, I have done my part to support locals once in a while. It is quite pricey tbh. Do you want to share anything here or agree/disagree?

We are both middle aged, she is a little younger. I am male. We live in a fairly rural area, if that matters. We both have the same level of education from the same university in nearly the same field, both on academic scholarship. I grew up slightly more middle class. She grew up a little rougher in another state.
We are both successful in our chosen fields. She was the youngest to ever reach her management level, about 10 years ahead of the usual schedule. She is a big reader, usually going through 2-3 books a week. She doesn’t watch many movies or TV. She has a wider circle of friends than me, if that matters.
I was moderately successful at work and found a perfect fit and decided not to advance, despite being capable of climbing higher. I made enough and really liked what I did. I read mostly political, financial and scientific news.
I like writing and learning and have always had a knack for remembering words and using them. I keep it in check most of the time. Around my engineer friends I will let loose on word play and not have to hold back. I really enjoy these types of free rolling conversations.
Around my GF and some of our mutual friends I also keep it at a Middle school level 99% of the time. If somehow a bigger words comes up from an outside source they usually turn to me. They do the same for math or anything technical. I might drop a big word twice a year in this setting.
I have never adjusted my vocabulary significantly to my kids. They both have above average vocabularies in their teens. Her teen son is more like me than her. He trends a little more technical and occasionally drops word bombs and surprising facts.
Maybe twice a month in conversation with my GF I will use a word she doesn’t know. She has a wide vocabulary so it is pretty rare. I would never use a word that I know she doesn’t, or shouldn’t, know.
A good example is the word prescient. It is a great word, that most people should have come across many times by middle age. It condenses an entire sent nice into a single word. I know she has come across it multiple times.
If I use a word like prescient she just seems angry, like I am talking down to her, or making fun of her if she doesn’t know it. I am not trying to talk down. I’m trying not to talk down. I don’t do it on purpose, I just guess wrong that she knows it.
I feel like censoring myself to a 5th grade level 100% of the time would be exhausting for me and insulting to her. I don’t think I should have to tone it down that last 1-2% of the time.
AITA for not being more prescient about her vocabulary?

Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is an elusive beast that has eluded [official] detection for years. The current “big dog” Grand Theft Auto V was first released way back in September 2013, and has been available across two console generations (Xbox 360/PS3 and Xbox One/PS4). It will even be available natively on next-generation Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles, which is quite unprecedented in the gaming realm. So, while Rockstar seems reticent to just letting us wait in agony for any news on GTA 6, it is at least giving us some new updates on its two current hot properties: GTA Online and Red Dead Online.
In the case of the incredibly popular (and highly lucrative) GTA Online, Rockstar says that a big “summer update” is coming for gamers with a “fun mix of diverse” content to partake in. Even more interesting is the fact that the developers indicate that its “biggest update ever” is coming before the end of 2020. That update will include new Heists that will take place in a completely new location, which has definitely piqued our interests.
red dead online As for Red Dead Online, its next big update is actually arriving next week; on July 28th to be exact. Red Dead Online hasn’t exactly been teaming with new content, as the last big update for the online component of Red Dead Redemption 2 dropped way back in December 2019. However, Rockstar is promising a new Frontier Pursuit mode with a focus on “naturalism” and a new battle pass-type component, which is conveniently named Outlaw Pass. Finally, Rockstar says that it has addressed tons of bugs with the game and has taken community feedback to heart with this release, which is definitely appreciated.
In addition to the game updates on the way, Rockstar also took the time to address the well-being of its online communities. “We are also committed to ensuring that our games are fun for everyone and as safe as possible from modders, cheaters, hackers, and those who seek to harass other players,” said the company in its blog post.
“So far this year, we have taken action on hundreds of thousands of players caught violating community rules across both games. Please help us keep our communities safe and fun by reporting any sort of cheating either directly in-game or via our dedicated web reporting tools for both Red Dead Online and GTA Online.”
It's good to see that Rockstar is cracking down on those looking to spoil the fun for everyone, and its methods for “taking out” such offenders is among the best in the industry.

Hi everyone, this is DY from Unikeys
This is the second week since our opening, and I would like to thank our customers for your support. As a switch collector and keyboard enthusiast myself, it is my passion to discover switches, keycaps, and accessories that are new to the market and of great quality. Thus, we will keep exploring to find more fair-priced and high-quality products to provide a little bit more options to all of you.
Store Update:

1. The TX 2023 AP stabilizers are back in stock! We have all variants available, 1.2mm, 1.6mm, regular, and long-pole, you name it!
2. We have two new switches from KTT which are the Waverider tactile switches and the Bluecheese linear switches.
   1. I have sent samples of the Waveriders to Alexotos, Clackbait, 3ildcat, and MCZ studio. We will see how they feel about it after trying it out. Possibly build videos with the Waverider switch in the future
3. We also have two new switches from Haimu: The Smoothie R2 linear switch and the Rococo R2 tactile switch.
   1. The smoothie R2 stock is very limited as it is the last batch.
   2. The Rococo R2 switch is on a GB. The estimated fulfillment date is around April 15
4. Unikeys PBT Themed Keycap series: They are perfect for you if you are building a cute keeb for yourself or your girlfriend
5. The Shenpo Series: Great keycaps come with great values. They are what you are looking for if nostalgia is what you desire.

​

Welcome everyone to join our discord channel!

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on Facebook

Thank you, everyone. Hope we got what you are looking for!

Hi all, WarGroove 2 news inspired a replay which inspired looking back to something I wrote up during quarantine: giving each Advance Wars CO the Commander treatment (minus Sturm, Von Bolt, and the Days of Ruin folks). Polished it up and figured y'all might enjoy!
Andy: Hyper Repair (Speed: Fast/Range: All)
All friendly units over the entire battlefield are restored by 20%. This is identical to his COP in a way most of my Grooves aren’t, but the unique field-wide effect differentiates it from Mercia’s, healing more units but at a diluted rate. Especially helpful on teams with high-range attackers and naval battles, as Andy can help units without being anywhere near them.
Max: Max Force (Speed: Medium/Range: 2)
All units within two tiles of Max get guaranteed critical hits when dealing direct damage for the rest of the turn. I feel like adjusting crit rate is more in line with Wargroove’s aesthetic than a stat boost, and while it doesn’t help units that would crit anyway, it allows you to bulldoze ahead with an all-out attack without thinking too hard, which is Max’s claim to fame.
Sami: Victory March (Speed: Medium/Range: 1)
Capture an adjacent property and bring it to 100% HP; remember that Strongholds are not captured but destroyed, so they are unaffected by this Groove. Rather than boosting infantry (which would be super broken in a game that’s full of infantry) Sami leans into her Super COP and the more active nature of Commanders in Wargroove by capturing bases herself. This is an incredible ability, taking the actions of at least two units (defeating a building then capturing it) and condensing it into one, while both cutting off an enemy supply line and bringing your own to full power. It can even be used to heal allies in a pinch by providing plenty of reinforcement juice. With this in mind, it might be more appropriate at a slower charge rate.
Rachel: Covering Fire (Speed: Slow/Range: All)
Three missiles strike the opposing army, which deal 30% of Rachel’s maximum damage to all surrounding foes (everything within two tiles of the center, in a classic diamond shape). The first missile strikes the healthiest Commander. The second missile strikes the most expensive enemy unit (again, by health). The third missile strikes wherever it would lower the most amount of total HP. This monster of a Groove is essentially the same as in Dual Strike, but with a focus on the opposing Commander instead of regular infantry. While similar to Koji’s Sparrow Bomb, it deals less damage with less control, but at a much higher range and radius with a guarantee to hit the Commander at least once.
Jake: Block Rock (Speed: Fast/Range: 1)
Place a 10 HP boombox on an adjacent tile that loses 2 HP per turn, like Emeric’s Elder Shield. All Plains tiles within three spaces of the boombox have their movement penalty for wheeled units and aquanauts removed, and ranged units on these Plains tiles have +1 Range. While this is situational depending on the map, this allows our Plains expert to roll out his artillery and wagons with ease, and create pockets of extra range to get the jump on distant foes.
Nell: Lucky Star (Speed: Slow/Range: All)
All units in the field have a 50% chance to crit, regardless of circumstances. Like with Max, adjusting crit rate gives it a groovy feel, and making it field-wide allows this to be a potentially devastating power, but only with luck. Charge rate can be adjusted depending on how well it works.
Hachi: Merchant Union (Speed: Slow/Range: All)
You may deploy ground units from any village on land, and naval units from any village in the sea. Like Teleport Beam, this allows for amazing deployment opportunities, but trades Nuru’s ability to place a unit anywhere (and have it move instantly) with the ability to potentially produce multiple units all over the battlefield.
Olaf: Blizzard (Speed: Slow/Range: All)
Changes the biome to Ice and causes severe weather until your next turn. I’m surprised we don’t have a weather-setting Commander already, but Olaf fits the bill just fine, using WarGroove’s mechanics to impair the opposing team (and your own team if you’re silly enough that you don’t activate Olaf’s Groove at the very end of your turn).
Grit: Snipe Attack (Speed: Medium/Range: 2)
All ranged units within two spaces of Grit can move and attack in the same turn, but cannot critically hit. This may seem OP (playtesting would be nice to confirm) but considering the cost of Ballistae and Trebuchets, and the fact that Nuru can essentially do the same thing with a single unit without even needing a unit to start with, I think it’s a neat way to give Grit a new tool that isn’t just adding range.
Colin: Gold Rush (Speed: Fast/Range: Not Applicable)
Multiplies Colin’s gold by 150%. Unit costs remain the same, but this is a way to keep Colin’s role as the money master producing units willy nilly. If it proves OP it can be slowed down or have the percentage tweaked, but I think it’s in keeping with what Commanders can already do in terms of value. Remember to use this power before buying units!
Sasha: Market Crash (Speed: Fast/Range: All)
Resets the Groove Meter of all opposing Commanders to 0. I love Sasha’s role as an anti-COP player in Dual Strike, and this is in keeping with that niche. Her power is making sure the other team doesn’t have a power, and with proper play she can keep the whole battle on an even keel.
Kanbei: Morale Boost (Speed: Slow/Range: 3)
Creates an aura that envelops all spaces within three tiles of Kanbei. All allies that are in this aura during the enemy Commander’s turn strike first when attacked if they’re able to counterattack. This is an excellent defensive tool, discouraging opponents from attacking your troops for fear of taking massive damage in the process. However, be sure you take account of ranged opponents! (This is closer to Samurai Spirit than Morale Boost in terms of the COP, but I went with the classic name.)
Sonja: Enhanced Vision (Speed: Fast/Range: Self)
Causes Fog of War to take effect until the end of your next turn if it isn’t already implemented. Sonja gains an additional five tiles of vision, which is unimpeded by forests, mountains, walls, and reefs. Adding Fog of War is new to her, but otherwise our recon expert is entirely too situational. At least she doesn’t have bad luck anymore!
Sensei: Airborne Assault (Speed: Medium/Range: All)
Spawns an active Spearman with 80% HP at every Village under Sensei’s command. This isn’t a 1-1 equivalent to his SCOP, as these units can’t combine for an income boost or heal themselves as easily, and your Harpies don’t get a boost (by the name, I’d like to think the Harpies dropped the Spearmen off), but with enough properties you can create a free army from scratch. Groove speed can be adjusted, but I figured Medium because there aren’t as many properties in this game as Advance Wars and the mechanics are different enough that I don’t want a Groove that charges slow and is only used when you can’t get much out of your new troops because they’re too far from the action. Happy to talk about adjustments for this one.
Grimm: Haymaker (Speed: Fast/Range: 1)
Grimm strikes an enemy with a blow that deals 200% of regular damage, but he is unable to counterattack until your next turn. Grimm's gimmick in Advance Wars is high power but low defense, and I don't want to lower his actual defense considering the value of commanders, but this ability gives a similar disadvantage without fully crippling him. It's a similar Groove to Sigrid's, but doesn't regain health, isn't a guaranteed kill, can't target aerial opponents, and requires planning around his inability to counterattack. However, it charges much faster and can hit enemy structures and Commanders (at full health, this Groove hits a Commander for 90% damage and a Stronghold for 80% damage, yowza).
Eagle: Lightning Strike (Speed: Slow/Range: 6)
All aerial units within six tiles of Eagle may move again, but cannot crit. Let’s face it, they gave this game’s version of Lightning Strike to Caesar. This alternative only affects aerial units as a nod to Eagle's specialty, but it has far greater potential than Caesar's due to its wider range. The inability to gain critical hits is crucial for balance, but other adjustments are welcome.
Drake: Typhoon (Speed: Slow/Range: All)
Causes fair winds until the end of your turn. Sure, this has nothing to do with Tsunami or Typhoon, but frankly there are few ways to implement those abilities well in Wargroove (can't reduce fuel and mass damage to opponents is more Hawke's MO) and I already gave Sonja the Fog of War buff. The goal here is to instead give Drake his weather duo status with Olaf while providing a weather that greatly enhances his navy for a turn.
Jess: Overdrive (Speed:Medium/Range: 1)
Use this Groove on an adjacent Wagon to enter the Wagon, even if it contains another unit. Any units unloaded by this Wagon during this turn may act immediately. As with Drake, the lack of a fuel feature hurts our means of making a proper translation of Jess's abilities (Green Earth in general has it rough), so this ability taps into her role as a mover and shaker to quickly transport units to and from the fray. The perfect Commander for Wagon fans!
Javier: Tower Shield (Speed: Fast/Range: 1)
Select an adjacent friendly property (not including your Stronghold). As long as it remains in your control, this property and all units within two spaces of the property take 50% reduced damage from ranged attacks. As there are no Com Towers in Wargroove, this gives Javier his signature indirect damage reduction while making use of Wargroove’s unique capture mechanic, bulwarking your properties from distant fire and creating safe zones to counter long range assaults.
Hawke: Black Storm (Speed: Very Slow/Range: All)
Reduces 20% HP from all opponents, and restores 10% HP to all allies. This is a tremendous ability hampered by a slow charge time, and I didn’t want to go too far by restoring 20% HP to your buddies a la Advance Wars, but this straightforward nightmare of a Groove packs a serious punch.
Lash: Terrain Tactics (Speed: Fast/Range: Self)
Using this Groove casts a buff on Lash for the rest of the turn, but does not take an action. For the rest of the turn, Lash ignores movement penalties (beyond seas) and deals 10% extra damage for every defense point the terrain she's standing on provides. This versatile Groove lets Lash move quickly to engage or escape, and hit hard using terrain advantages. Pairs well with Emeric!
Flak: Brute Force (Speed: Fast/Range: 2)
Creates a visible aura around Flak until the beginning of the following turn: all units, friend or foe, have a 50% chance to crit regardless of circumstances within this aura. This plays with Flak's good and bad luck by giving him decent odds at a great assault, but bad odds for the counterattack. A risky play for a risky commander!
Adder: Sidewinder (Speed: Very Fast/Range: Self)
Using this Groove casts a buff on Adder for the rest of the turn, but does not take an action. Adder has +2 movement range until the end of this turn. This lets him weave in and out of battle, and its breakneck charging speed is perfect for a slippery snake.
Kindle: Urban Blight (Speed: Medium/Range: 4)
Reduce the HP of all opposing properties by 3, and restore the HP of all allied properties by 3 (this does not include strongholds). Given units can't actually exist on properties in WarGroove, Kindle goes from a CO specializing in fighting in cities to a Commander specializing in dismantling and reinforcing Villages and other properties.
Koal: Trail of Woe (Speed: Fast/Range: Weird!)
Must be used on a road, and grants the full length of the road +2 Defense for allied units until the beginning of your next turn. A situational power that leans into the road aspect of Koal rather than movement speed, and lets you safely approach using terrain that's good for speed but normally not protection.
Jugger: Overclock (Speed: Very Fast/Range: 1)
Deal 1-10 damage to an adjacent unit. I wanted to distinguish Jugger from Flak better than AW does, so this interpretation of RNG is far more drastic. Sometimes Jugger can knock out a Golem from 1 HP, sometimes all he does is 2 against a dog, but at least he isn't counterattacked! Charges extremely quickly for many rolls of the die.

Back First Next
This one is going to be a bit longer because a PM To me suggested I go ahead and do a long Chapter.
I hope you still enjoy. The final piece will be released tomorrow.
Memory Transcription: Captain Neil Campbell, United Nations ‘Black Watch’ Company #4
Date [standardized human time]: December 3, 2136
The company had four mortars, four American M2 heavy machine guns, twelve lighter man-portable machine guns, eight light close in AA guns of 40mm twin, every trooper had a stringer mark 7 light anti-air missile, they had four longer range SAM units, eight orbital interceptors dialed into one computer, and two anti-ship missile launchers. Right at that moment, every single weapon they had was singing a song of death.
The Cheetah would silence the battlefield every time its main railgun fired a slug. Meanwhile the two Eisenhower’s autocannons rained down death upon the Arxur. While the standard rifles, pistols, or light SAW weapons would not necessarily take out a Arxur with non-vital hit; the heavy machine guns the Americans provided did.
The Radios crackled with commands going in all sorts of directions.
"All units, gunship coming through at..." Zim hesitated as he figured the direction and coordinates given by the radar operator moments ago. "7 O'Clock, will crest hill in 1 minute thirty, four man-portables dial in."
"Dial 1." Two seconds later all at once, "Dial 2." from 3 people who quickly corrected to dials 2, 3, and 4. Zim nodded, "Confirmed 4 dials."
"Forty seconds to crest." Called back the radar operator.
Campbell made note of how well Zim was handling their current position despite being a civilian. He had deducted correctly that Zim being Mayor would make them very proficient at communication and coordination, as well as delegation. What Zim had just done in thirty seconds was identify a unassigned gunship, that is one that was not anticipated by the long range missiles, short range AA guns, or anything else and assigned four stingers to it now all pre-trained and waiting for their shot.
Thompson was calling over the radio to coordinate the mortars and machine gun fire before broadcasting to Williams in the Cheetah where she couldn't get fire support to so that the MBT could deliver a couple of devastating shots.
Assigned and targeted gunships popped up at longer range and died before they had a chance to properly stabilize themselves in the atmosphere or just after take off. Fighters swooped down only for lock on and incoming missile warnings to scream at them before their sensors had even adjusted to having ground under them.
The smell of metal, ash, and blood filled the air. Arxur trying to get through the pass found it an impassable death trap. They had never encountered alien races who used barbed wire, much less the sheer volume of mines, and the thing that truly caused the reptiles to fear were the hidden single shot tubes full of deisel fuel mixed with wood glue and then aerosolized before something would ignite the fumes. Watching your comrades incinerated and calls of your enemy to let them burn, had the Arxur shooting their own comrades just to silence their screams.
Arxur field commanders stood in the back, shooting those who turned to run from the frontline while the Black Watch fired on. Their mortars were positioned around the 7 kilometer radius of the inner caldera so that at any point within the caldera or around its brim; three mortars could have rounds flying towards target at any one time. As soon as anyone radioed for support, mortars were flying in their direction, pre-dialed coordinates and ranges meant it only took three seconds for a mortar round to be dialed in and on the way.
The pass into the castle was starting to become clogged with Arxur bodies. But they were making progress, slowly. Campbell counted by this point, that most of his forward foxholes had been destroyed, all of them set alight by their preparations, preventing the Arxur from using them, recovering unreachable wounded humans, or bodies. Anyone who couldn't fall back would rather die fighting and then sending their would be captures or devourers into an inferno with them.
Campbell knew however, he was running out of ground to give and soon he would have to kill soldiers. They may kill a hundred each but they would still fall eventually. He saw his gunner snap back and drop off the side of his command vehicle. A vehicle which was all but disabled now. He moved to him.
Scrambling up the vehicle and pulling the wounded soldier down off the MG mount to the ground, laying him softly against the bullet ridden tire of the rover. He held his hand, "MEDIC! Medic!" Campbell called then turned to his trooper.
Campbell checked the nametag to be sure, Muller. "Muller, Muller." Muller turned his head, his eyes were growing hallow. Campbell looked at the wound, part of his upper chest was just gone. His neck was bleeding as well. There was a lot of blood. Slowly, he watched Muller's light escape his eyes.
That is enough. He returned to a reflection off of the now vacant eyes of Muller. The ridge had figures at the top of it. He snapped looking for Sims, when he couldn't find him, he pulled his radio. "Sims! They’re trying to storm the top of the castle! Grid 7-Bravo. Blow it, now.” he was pointing and screaming at the figures when his cyber arm suddenly jerked and sent him face down into the ground, his helmet rolling off.
On queue, the ridge where a few shadowy figures had appeared turned into a cloud of dust and rubble as a fireball erupted from it, silencing the rest of the battlefield for a few moments. The explosion sent rock, dirt, and mud over the side in an avalanche at the would be mountaineers. Everyone attempting to storm the outside of the caldera at that 50 meter grid would be buried in a coming storm of mountainside.
Campbell reached over and picked up his arm, looking at the cybernetic carefully. He sat up and next to Muller for a moment while making sure the connectors would still be good. His pain registers had shut off as soon as it disconnected. The connector appeared intact, just jerked out of the cybernetic socket by the impact and his body weight as the anchor. The round had only destroyed the outer layer of synth-flesh designed to make it aesthetically pleasing as well as his uniform that had been torn covering it.
He put the arm back in with a twist and it rebooted. His radio barked, “Cannot hold the pass, we need more firepower. Yanks, you're up!”
----------------------
Memory Transcription: Lieutenant Williams, United Nations ‘Black Watch’ Company #4
Date [standardized human time]: December 3, 2136
Williams hated this, he called another target to his gunner and used his command machine gun to put down more rounds through the fraying camouflage around his tank. Tanks were supposed to be mobile bunkers not sitting ducks. Another high caliber plasma round bounced off their shield and their infantryman, Corporal Davies as he was introduced, the soldier turned the oldest M2 anyone had ever seen in the direction it came from.
Large caliber machine gun casings bounced off the hull top as they cascaded passed something scratched onto the side of the M2. It read in smaller and smaller scratches, “France, Philippines, Tunisia, France, Germany, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Iraq, Iraq II, Australia, Luna, Mars, The Cradle, Sillis.” The last two were still relatively fresh and easy to read.
“Williams, our forward positions are getting overrun by sheer weight of bodies, you’re up. See you on the other side.” Campbell called to the tank crew and their IFV escorts.
Good, tanks were not made to sit still. What the Arxur were about to find out is that tanks are scary when they are shooting at you but they are even scarier when moving at full speed and still shooting at you extremely accurately.
“Driver, full speed ahead into the pass, put the shield down to scrape the dirt so it will blown any remaining mines; loader, gunner eyes front.” He called out and then clicked his intercom off to switch on his radio, “Ripper 1 and 2, this is War Kitty, on our flank at 5 and 8 o’clock, staggered line fifty meter spread front, twenty to the side.”
That would put the IFVs Fifty meters behind him and twenty meters to each side. This was in case any orbital bombardment got through, even a rod from God would only get 1 vehicle then instead of multiple by the spacing.
A pair of affirmatives came back as the tank rolled forward and broke free of its camouflage to build up speed. Immediately the shield flared as soon as they broke the jungle with every single gun the Arxur had firing at them. Their small interceptor mini-phalanx on top shooting constantly to blow anything bigger than a rifle round out of the sky.
Meanwhile the IFVs pointed at muzzle flashes and sent bursts of .50 cal, 25mm, and 50mm in their direction. One Eisenhower was not a troop transport but strictly a gun platform, carrying a much heavier weapon. The only still used a proven 25mm chaingun.Williams pointed out another target, “Gunner 11, Loader HE.”
“HE Up!” The loader called.
“Sending.”
Williams’s gunner yelled back. The machine guns stopped for a second on the tank and suddenly the turret shuttered as the round was sent, the reward was a hillside that the Arxur were using for cover blowing up in a fireball of red, orange, and black smoke. Arxur body parts, dirt, and debris flying up into the air as the ground was stained with gray’s blood.
Williams wasn't going to hesitate with his ammunition. The nature of the railgun meant that the ammo no longer had large casings of propel behind them. Only the shell head was needed, that meant the tank was packed with four times the ammo of a chemical propellant tank.
The crew worked like a well oiled machine. Every ten seconds another main gun round. Between them, the three fifty’s and the 20mm beside the main gun did not stop shooting unless the gunner signaled.
It was grueling work, exhausting for the loader, mentally wearing for the gunner, forcing Williams to push his mind to the limit and glad for the stimulate that kept fatigue away from his mind. Their driver looking out like a truck driver who had been given too much caffeine but having to keep her jerks to a minimum. The objective was a smooth platform. The three drivers of the armored vehicles coordinating on their own private channel to keep moving through Arxur formations.
An hour passed, the tank rampaged. When they ran out of HE, they used HEAT, when that ran out, they switched to squash. When that ran out, they used the few anti-armor rounds they had brought.
Williams' voice was getting hoarse from calling targets, his hand vibrating from the shake of his command cupola gun. His body vibrated at a different frequency from the rumble of the engine and the quaking of the coaxial weapons.
Suddenly there was a clattering on the roof. Williams recognized it as someone foreign trying to get on the tank. There was clearly some slams against the roof of the tank. "I need help out here!" Davies called over the radio.
There was the distinctive sound of a body crushing under the tank tread that made the crew stop and debate opening the hatch to help. "Davies, what is going on out there? Davies!" Williams called in desperation.
Another few bangs on the room and their machine gunner outside had stopped replying, their shield had failed and rebooted several times, they must have got him with their boarding action. “Raider 2, we’ve got ants and War Kitty does too.”
He checked the shield read out, they had twenty seconds until reboot, twenty seconds to get these Arxur off of them.
Williams swung the turret to look at Raider 2 to see several Arxur attempting to board the tank and get the hatches open. “Raider 2, affirmative. Sorry about your gunner.” He heard the bang of Arxur landing on his hull, likely from the trees around them.
“Proceed with fly swatting, MG only. Gunner, Raider 2 at 7 and a half, full Coax.” The turret swung around, hitting an Arxur and sending him flying into a tree trunk with a sickening crunch before he fell in front of the tank tread. The MBT did not even notice crushing the creature and rolled on beyond the echo of crunching bone against the lower hull, which the loader noticed for a split second.
Pangs and hull tings echoed all around them as the IFV and tank exchanged small arms fire, clearing off their "pest problem" while not doing any significant damage to each other. Williams and his crew did not get time to celebrate.They had been rolling around the outside of the caldera. They moved from Arxur formation to formation; hitting Arxur units as fast as they could then trying to fade away before they could organize a counter attack.
They came back to the Caldera entrance for the fourth time, when they hit one of their own mines. Everyone in the tank was catapulted forward as the track blew off, the drive wheel on the left side seized and the tank nearly flipped, coming to thirty degrees to their right hand side. With a loud unearthly slam, every crew member was thrown to the floor after their heads banged off bulkheads with the whiplash.
Williams felt the ringing in his head, and the unholy headache of a concussion. His vision was fuzzy, he swore he head bells in his ears, his body felt distant; almost as if he were trying to tell his brain to radio control it. He held onto the side of the hull with one hand, trying to stand upon weak and unresponsive legs while his other hand held his aching head, “Status report.”
No one replied. He reached over to his gunner and found his head limp at an unnatural angle. He checked him, his neck was broken clean by the sudden slamming into the bulkhead. Williams ears were ringing, his body wanted to vomit, his eyes couldn’t see straight. He made out the face of his loader, Jenkins. Blood was trickling from his mouth as he laid on the floor in his loader section.
How did I get down here? Williams thought and reached for Jenkins, Jenkins gave a few spasms, spat up some blood and then his eyes glazed over until they were lifeless.
“Jenkins? Jameson? Cleo?” He called out, repeating it again and again tapping the crew intercom on his neck, weakly as he slowly got to his feet. His brain was not processing that his loader and gunner were dead.
“I’m still here.” Cleo answered with her distinctive southern accent. “But fuck, I wish I weren’t.”
His driver was alive but in a separate section from the rest of the crew. “Can… can you move? Fuck, My head.”
There was a loud pang and the feeling of air getting suddenly sucked out of the cabin. Cleo screamed out over the comms and then Williams could hear her heavy breathing. The blurring double vision making it hard to be certain of his movements. It felt like pushing through a heavy lake to get his body to move and his ears rang with the sound of an intense bell.
“Williams, Fuck… sorry Williams, but I can’t now. Damn suspension shaft just ripped through the bottom hull and into my leg.”“Stay where you are, I’ll come get you.”“No Sir, the shaft is impaling my escape hatch and all that racket outside is all Arxur hitting us on the top. Fuck…” Cleo yelled in pain as she tried to shift something.
Williams couldn’t hear the racket she was talking about. He was trying to process the idea that Cleo was hit and his emotions were screaming at him about his now dead loader and gunner. “Sir, set turret control to my station, I’m going to use the guns to cover you and the others. At least, until I bleed out.”“Cleo, we’re it.”
Williams knew saying the words meant his comrades were gone, but emotionally his brain was shut off now.There was a pause on the radio, just a few seconds. Williams slowly reached over and changed the turret control to driver operated.
“Alright, fine, grab your SMG and go out your escape hatch, I’ll hold them off and keep us looking scary. I’ve only got a little bit until I bleed out.”The turret started moving and Williams training kicked in through his concussion. He reached into his personal locker and pulled out the P90 as well as a few magazines and his survival kit, the kicked his escape hatch open out of the bottom of the tank and started to crawl beneath the stricken vehicle.
He kept crawling, heading for the forest, the sound of Arxur shouts and screams as well as gunfire getting quieter and quieter, until finally, Williams felt exhaustion overtake him and blackness closed in.
-------------------------------
Memory Transcription: Captain Neil Campbell, United Nations ‘Black Watch’ Company #4
Date [standardized human time]: December 4, 2136
Raider 2 slowly rolled back down the pass, free of Arxur pursuit. It was in sorry shape to look at. The Anti-Air missile launcher was hanging on by its wiring. The mini-phalanx was gone except the targeting camera which still tried to move the non-existent AMS turret with sparks frying off the frayed wires. The main chain gun barrel was ripped off and what still existed was melted. Seven holes let the night moonlight through.
Both of the tracks had damaged segments that made them rotate around their drive wheels in a funny lopsided pattern. But the IFV rolled back into the silent caldera except for its dying engine. “Raider 2, reporting. Vehicle mission killed.”
Campbell tapped his radio, “Good job, get out and get some food, then get back on the line, your infantry now.”
The Arxur had pulled back after the armour went out and rampaged for an hour. Raider 2 had to wait until darkness closed in to roll back into camp. They had heard the boom of the cannon and sound of the passing armour engines and tracks across the terrain around the caldera. Mortars had provided the armour support fire and now the entire castle smelled of Arxur blood and cordite residue. It was now four hours later and the Arxur hadn’t returned; yet.
The Arxur had not sent in a new wave. Likely in total shock at the armored platoons sudden sally out. Campbell approached the stricken Eisenhower IFV as it rolled to a stop and seemed to break down completely when the engine was shut off.
The crew staggered out, all of them had been wounded to some degree by spalling from their vehicle’s own metal. The flakes and shrapnel generated inside the vehicle from impacts on the outside had done a number on them. But the vehicle had somehow held together. Two of the three staggering figures were trying to carry a fourth trooper out.
Campbell walked over to see Williams with a head injury, one of his feet missing and tourniqueted at the calf as well as two of his fingers ripped off and taped together. “Where are the other vehicles?”
The IFV commander fell to his knees, exhausted after constant combat and adrenaline just broke down crying. The man had enough and couldn’t take anymore. Campbell reached down and slapped his across the cheek, “Oih, stiffen your lip and answer me. We can cry about it later.”
The IFV commander looked up and nodded at the heavy cybernetic arm that had just slammed him. “Sorry sir, just… They’re gone sir. War Kitty took a mine to the tracks, probably one of ours. Raider 1 went down to an ammo explosion, the crew were incinerated instantly. Best I can think sir is that the blow out panels had been welded shut by enemy small arms fire. We found Williams near War Kitty, the Arxur were running from the burning hull, it was still shooting at them.” He took a breath, tears staining his oil and gunpowder covered face.“The gunner must have died and fallen on the turret swing with a death grip on the trigger. We put a missile in her to make sure there was nothing for the scalies to savage.” The commander managed as his crewmates came over and knelt with him while a medic ran off with Williams on a stretcher, followed by a second medic grabbing the stretcher halfway through.
The medics having issues carrying their shotguns and a patient. Aliens don’t play by our rules, medics are still targets to them. Campbell thought to himself as he gave a pat to the IFV commander.“You did excellent, son, you and your crew. So did the rest of your unit. We’ll take it from here.” Campbell tried to use the platitudes to comfort but he knew within an hour those soldiers would be sleeping in a foxhole, with their crew SMGs and sidearms, as well as a helmet just like the rest of his men.
His radio squawked, “Captain, frequency thirteen.”He removed the radio forward several clicks until a shrill deep voice came across it. “Human Commander, respond.”
Campbell recognized it as an Arxur voice and he picked up his radio, “Speaking.” He pulled out his flask and took a swig of the whiskey he kept on his person as he listened.
“We have you surrounded, there is no need to die. We are willing to take you as honorable prisoners with honorable and fair treatment, I assure you. All you have to do—”
“I’m going to stop you, right there. I just watched a pair of glorified armoured lories and a metal assault box rip through your lines and shred your forces to pieces.” He paused and let that sink in, knowing he was insulting his equipment to play up just how badly the Arxur were bloodied.
Campbell continued with this insult tirade, “I heard my recon squad of the lightest infantry I have, wrecked a thousand of you; solid. Listened to it on the radio all while it happened.” He turned to the pass and took a look at the piles of bodies across it and the carnage that looks like something straight out of the Great War more than two centuries ago. Not something he expected to ever see in a modern war.
“I have enough of your bodies to build a replica of Edinburgh Castle out of using them as the mortar.”
“Human! We have you surrounded! This is your chance for mercy! Just surrender your prey to us and yourselves.” Campbell laughed into the radio, “Have you lost your mind; leaf-licking monkey?”
“Not at all, I’m as chipper as can be right now. Listen up, izzard.” He let the name sink in for a second.
“You have us surrounded? Good, we can fire in every direction and hit one of you. You want us? Come and get us.”He flicked the radio off and headed for the medical tent. He needed to hear it from his doc just how many of his troops could fight and how many were not going to last the night or just be dead weight at this point. He also heard they took a few Arxur, alive.
------------------
Memory Transcription: Lieutenant Father Christopher O’Malley , United Nations ‘Black Watch’ Company #4
Date [standardized human time]: December 4, 2136
O’Malley moved to another tarp covering a body that had been recovered. He slowly and silently whispered a prayer, taking the dog tag to give to the medic but using it to get the name and town of origin of the trooper. Taking careful note of the religion and following his training as well as a guidebook for the Catholic, agnostic, or protestant he found. He moved to last one, and finished his prayer.
Campbell was waiting for him at the end of the line of recovered bodies. “Captain.” He said, standing slowly and offering a weary salute. Chris could feel his arm getting tired, he had been going so long and knew he would need a stim to keep up the night.
Campbell saluted back, “Reverend, how bad is it?”
O’Malley looked at the bodies and sighed, “Well, never thought I’d see Clemson die but he did. Dove onto a detonator and set off a satchel charge to take as many as he could before the armour rolled out.” The reverend took out a cigarette and lit it up, taking a long drag from the white paper pipe that took nearly half of it out in one go, then exhausted all his lungs as he let the feeling of euphoria wash over him. The nicotine did its job, steadying his nerves and slowly making his shaking stop. His emotions at all the last rites he had performed starting to defray slowly.
"Father, how many today?" Campbell asked preparing himself. He knew Father O'Malley would have taken note of every time he had done last rites and done a proper headcountting as well.
O'Malley took another drag and nodded, "Thirty-Seven including the Americans who did not come back."
“Father, why do you do it? Why here?” Campbell asked as he took a seat on the ground next to the priest who was still kneeling.
“A shepard is to watch his flock and when the wolves come knocking, send the wolves back to the forest where they belong. With a bloodied nose or broken leg if needed.” O’Malley replied with a soft sigh as he took another drag, the cigarette already starting to come up towards its end.
“And how do you reconcile religion with aliens?” Campbell asked, genuinely curious as to the answer. O’Malley chuckled and pulled the cig from his lips to tap off the ashes, “That ain’t my place to be figurin’. I’m here as the chaplain, higher powers than I determine how we reconcile aliens. My job is to tend to the souls of my flock, seeing as there isn’t an atheist in a foxhole; that has gotten fairly complicated.”
Campbell nodded and pulled his whiskey flask to take another swig. It was down to less than a quarter left. “Captain, no offense but stuff will kill you.”
Campbell smiled at the gallows humour as the reverend chuckled with him for a few moments. “Never change, father.” he spoke as he stood up and started to walk back towards his command tent.
“Aye, aye, captain. Now I’ve got a special case to attend.” Campbell turned towards O’Malley as the chaplain rose and headed into the medical tent.“What’s that reverend?”
“An Arxur asked for a priest.” O’Malley stepped into the tent and headed for where he knew the patient was. It only took a few moments before he arrived at the side of the bed. The Arxur was handcuffed and collared to the cot. Both of his legs were blown off at the upper thigh. His chest was also bandaged from shrapnel that had been sent through it.
O’Malley took a seat on a folding chair and pulled the dim light of their medical tent. Blood stained the sterile sheet placed over the ground. He looked over to the gray with a pain of sympathy for his injuries. The Arxur was breathing laborious and gasping at the air as if it were fighting him. He leaned in, “Alright, my child, how may I assist you?”
Through wheezing breathes the Arxur replied, “I am no hatching.”
“Oh, you misunderstand, it is how a priest of our culture addresses someone who is more youthful than them.” O’Malley spoke slowly and he checked Arxur's pulse. Faint but for the moment steady. “Is there something I can do to make you more comfortable?”
“No, I am dying. Your docs as they are called said they cannot help.”
O’Malley cleared his throat, “You mean the medics.”
“Yes, they do not know enough and there is no surgeon here. Shrapnel has punctured my organs, I will die soon.”
O’Malley reached down to a clawed hand, his instinct was to pull away at the scales but he resisted it. He gripped the hand gently but firmly, his other hand placed near the Arxur’s mouth on his shoulder, showing vulnerability to the creature. “I am here, how may I comfort you in this hour? What is it you believe?”
“I…. I would rather know what you do, human.” O’Malley was taken aback by the request. He shook his head and resisted the urge to preach.
“I am a chaplain of our unit, I counsel the living, comfort the dying and give last rites to the dead. If that means I must learn your religion in your dying hour and console you with it, I will. Please explain what I must—”
“Human.” O’Malley silenced and listened to the Arxur speak, his mind slowly processing each word and ensuring he understood what the Arxur wished. He had trained long and hard, and he was not going to deny the wishes of a dying creature; not friend or foe. “Humor me. What is it that you believe?”
O’Malley took a moment and reached into his shirt, pulling out a small bible, he began to read a verse here and there, slowly explaining his religion, ensuring he focused upon the aspects of love, community, and companionship as well as faith. He spoke for an hour about love, mercy, and the strength of God as O’Malley believed in him.
He continued by explaining stories of the bible in short versions rather than reading verbatim. He explained the mercy and the concept of no atheist in a foxhole. O'Malley monitoring the Arxur's reaction, taking note of the tail as well as the face.
He realized the Arxur looked more peaceful than he had ever seen his species and paused, "If I remove your restraints, you won't attack me yes?"
The Arxur looked suddenly surprised and then nodded. O'Malley reached over to the buckles and clicked them off from the Arxur's wrists, waist, and neck. He did not immediately move but the creature managed a human version of a smile to show his appreciation. "Thank you, that is, more comfortable, please continue."
O'Malley continued explaining his beliefs and the story presented. He felt better preaching to a person who was able to push him away if they wished. It also began to feel less like talking to a prisoner and more like speaking with an old friend.
After intensely listening, the Arxur let out a severe ragged cough. Once the cough stopped, he was drooling blood onto his neck. “Human, my time comes. Please, lead me in a prayer, I did not believe in anything before now. But your warriors prove something supernatural about them. Now, I wish to believe in something as I draw my final breath.”
O’Malley nodded and started to give a prayer then stopped himself. He opened his small bible to Psalm and let his faith guide him. “Repeat after me and you may yet see the gates of Heaven, my friend.”
The Arxur turned his head weakly, “I am called, Grissen, can your lord forgive a wicked creature as I? The things I have—”
O’Malley squeezed the claw he held to get Grissen to be quiet and listen. “The Lord only cares that before your final moment you renounce your evil ways, genuinely mean your repentance, and accept him. If you repeat after me and truly believe in that; allow him to change your heart in that final moment, then yes.”
Grissen weakly nodded, “Proceed.”
“Repeat after me,” O’Malley waited to make sure Grissen was ready. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." O'Malley prepared his patience as Grissen repeated the words, slowly. The Arxur was having to speak very deliberately through his breathing. O'Malley could feel the pulse had quickened as well.
"He maketh me lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Grissen struggled but O’Malley's patience displayed that of the saints he spoke of. He calmly waited for the Arxur to catch up and gripped his hand to give him strength. Every stumble was a simple re-guiding from O'Malley with a smile.
Grissen's eyes showed remarkable recognition of O'Malley, never moving away from him as he listened intently, even managing to turn his head to face the priest fully.
His heart screamed for the pain this creature was in. Grissen’s voice was getting worse. He was drawing weaker, and unfocused with each passing word. He felt the agony in how his body shifted and his breathing struggled. The bloodshot eyes filled with torment but something else.
O'Malley recognized it as the desperation for acceptance, the desire to belong behind the pain. He had seen it so many times in someone's last hour. O'Malley hoped a surgeon would suddenly appear and save Grissen from this terrible slow way to die. His mind begged for such a miracle but his heart knew, it was too late.
He had administered too many last rites today but here he was giving another one. He felt his own tears forming in his eyes and fought them back.
Once Grissen finished the line, he resumed, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head in oil; my cup runneth over.”
Grissen's voice was getting lower in volume, almost what O'Malley thought an Arxur child would sound like. His eyes were no longer following O'Malley; he was only speaking the words, getting more monotone and laboured with each passing breath.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Grissen slowly repeated the words, “Surely…. Goodness and mercy… despite my evil… shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
“Amen.”“A…men….” Grissen’s grip slackened and he exhaled slowly, his chest deflated. His eyes glazed over and finally, his tongue fell from his lips across his cheek.
O’Malley reached up to feel his heart and felt no pulse. He was gone.
O’Malley gently placed the clawed hands across the chest in an X. He pushed the dried out tongue into the teeth and slowed the jaw. He noticed the smile upon Grissen’s lips that had formed in that last moment. He knew to leave well enough alone there. He reached up and closed the reptile’s eyes, slowly and gently. As he had done a dozen times today, every detail was precisely right.
He took a moment to admire how peaceful the gray managed to look in his final state of death. He pulled a notepad from his pocket and wrote on it, something he knew probably wouldn’t get done as no one had time to bury the dead. It wasn’t about if there was time, it was about the act of ensuring the last request was asked for and at least acknowledged.He placed the note between the hands, it had the image of a cross upon it and the words: “Protestant” upon it. This would signal to any human that he was to be given a protestant burial.
O’Malley paused, tears dripping from his eyes for his enemy as he spoke. “Lord above, take this one, Shelter this one, enemy-mine. For all are your’s in death, even those who would see your servant slain. I ask not for vengeance but that you take pity upon this soul as it departs for the next life. He repeated in your name before his final breath, accept him with warm smiles and open arms as I commend Grissen to your care. St. Peter, I ask you to not be cautious or repulsed but instead, nod to him as you read his many sins and then inform him, all is forgiven in his final hour even by his greatest enemies. Amen.”
O’Malley felt his body shaking as he opened his eyes.His cheeks were warm with tears, a smile of delight upon his face to save a soul just before it left, even if he could not answer the question of aliens before God. It had been a worthy peaceful time here in the tent. Something O’Malley knew all too well about war, it was not war that would end war but rather; understanding could bring it to a stop. He got up, his legs weak and knees wanting to lock. He struggled to hold his weight as he walked from the tent, trying to calm his emotions.
He stepped outside, walking back to his position on the line and pulled another smoke, he had not yet gotten to his lighter when the sound of gunfire ripped through the caldera again. Weapons lighting up as the Arxur assault began anew.
For O’Malley however, he couldn’t move. His chest burned. His heartbeat echoed in his ears. He watched the cigarette drop from his hand. He felt his strength drain from his legs as he fell over on his side. Machine guns and mortars tracers rippled across the valley. He felt warm blood pouring down his chest across his shoulder towards the ground.
He willed his eyes to look down and realized he was hit. His chest was heaving blood rapidly. His strength faded and slowly he felt his eyes become heavy.
He whispered a final prayer, “Dear Lord, hold Grissen at the gates; I wish to enter beside my friend.” His final thought as his eyes closed for good barely ten paces from the medical tent. “Amen.”