#╰【 FILED UNDER … 】❖ ━━━━━ ❛ novae navigates 」
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
lookingforhappy · 1 year ago
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media
transcript of Five's case files on the Hindenburg, the case that he solves for the Commission while working in management:
MEMORANDUM ON INTENDED EVENTS RE: HINDENBURG DISASTER May 6, 1937 The airship will complete its first scheduled demonstration flight for the 1937 season, between Frankfurt, Germany, and Lakehurst. It will depart from Frankfurt about 8:15 P.M, G.M.T., Monday, May 3, and will be due at Lakehurst on the morning of Thursday, May 6. It will be due out of Lakehurst at 10:00 P.M E.S.T, that night. Because of unfavorable winds encountered en route, its arrival at Lakehurst will be deferred until 6:00 P.M, Thursday evening, and departure will be postponed until midnight or later in order to reservice and prepare for the voyage. The ship is owned and operated by the Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei, G.m.b. H, of Berlin, W8, under den Linden, Germany. The flight, which is intended to be one of a series to be arranged into the United States territory during 1937, will be authorized by a provisional air navigation permit from the Secretary of the Navy to the American Zeppelin Transport, Inc., of 354 Fourth Avenue, New York City, as general United States agent of the Deutities at the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst. On March, 1937 the German Government will renew the airworthiness certification of the aircraft, reporting that all of its safety devices had been inspected and found satisfactory. Personnel, including officers, numbered 61, will be on board, of whom 22 will die as a result of the accident. Passengers, 36 persons besides the Crew will be on board. Of these, 13 will die as a result of the accident. Other passengers and members of the crew will sustain serious injuries. Total weight of the freight carried will be 325 pounds and will be stowed in the main freight compartment at Frame 125; 2 dogs will be kenneled at Frame 92, and 3 packages will be stowed in the control car. Mail will be carried in a compartment on the top of the control car. Of the freight and mail on a few pieces of mail will be recovered. The ground personnel will consist of 92 naval personnel and 139 civillians. Practically all of the gorund crew will have previous experienve landing airships. One member of the ground crew will die as a result of burns received during the accident. Across the Atlantic from Germany to the United States, the flight will be uneventful, save for retarding winds which will not be unusually turbulent. The route traveresed by the ship on this side of the ocean will be from Nova Scotia, vis Boston, Providence, Long Island Sound, New Forks and thense cruise along the coast for a few hours before retracing its course from Tuckerton N.J., to the naval Air Station.
Tumblr media
ATMOSPHERIC ANOMALIES PRESENT The 7:30 A.M, EST. U.S. Weather Bureau map of the vicinity, including the northeastern tier of states, Shows a disturbance over central New York and northeastern Pennsylvania, with a cold front extending from this center Southwestward to West Virginia. This front separated neutralized polar air to the east of the cold front which had become warmer and more moist and neutralized colder air to the west of the front. The warmer and more moist mass of air covered the Middle Atlantic states, southeastern New York and southern New England. --- The cold front advanced eastward during the day from central Peensylvania at a rate of 12 to 15 m.p.h., passing Lakehurst shortly after 3:30 P.M There was not quite sufficient surface heating during the early afternoon to set off a thunderstom at Lakehurst, and it was not until the front passed and some slight lifting of the air mass occured that a thunderstorm began, The records of the Naval Air Station show that the thunderstorm began at 3:43 P.M and ended at 4:45 P.M --- Telegraphic reports indicate, the thunderstorms in and to the west of New Jersey were not severe; nor were they of a well defined squall character. Between 12 P.M and 1:30 P.M E.S.T., these storms extended in a definite belt over the region of Harrisburg, Pa., northeastward to Bear Mountain, N.Y., and New Hackensack, N.Y. Between 1:30 and 2:40 P.M, none was reported. Between 2:40 and 3:40 P.M, Camden and Fort Monmouth, N.J., only reported thunderstorms. Between 3:30 and 4:30 P.M, Lakehurst, Mtchel Field, N.Y, and Floyd Bennett Field, N.Y., reported them. Between 4:40 and 5:40 P.M. none was reported; and betweeen 5:40 and 6:40 P.M, Floyd Bennett onlt reported one. Summarized, the thunderstorms in eastern New Jersey were of a local character and not severe. --- The New York Weather Bureau office bulletin issued at 1:20 P.M, May 6th, follows: "1800 G.C.T. Moderate wind shift with increasing and lowering clouds possible thundershowers New York and vicinity expected in middle or late afternoon Stop New York Scattered cumulus and small cumulo nimbus approaching from west - visibility excellent surface wind south 12 miles - barometer 29.68 falling steadily temperature 66."
Tumblr media
DATE: May 6 1937 0725 EST OPERATION: Hindenburg Disaster DAMAGE: Catastrophic PLACE: Lakehurst, New Jursey, 40.026088, -74.316592 LOCALE: Open air field WEATHER: Light rain PILOT: Commercial TOTAL HOURS: 567 ALL 63 NO TYPE LAST 90 DAYS: 179 ALL 62 NO TYPE CASUALTIES: Crew: 23; Pass: 13 OCCURENCE: Numerous expert and lay witnesses on the field testified as to where they first observed the fire on the ship. There was great diversity in this testimony for reasons that are very apparent. Among the most important of these reasons were the extreme rapidity with which the fire spread, the different positions of the witnesses with respect to the ship, the size of the ship, more than one-sixth of a mile in length, and an over-all height, equicalent to a twelve story building, and the fact that the interval between the first glimpse of flame and the impact of the main body of the ship with the ground was 32 seconds. The great majority of the ground witnesses who testified as to the first sppearance of fire were looking at the port side of the ship. After carefully weighing the oral evidence and transcribing to a master diagram the numerous disgrams on which the gound witnesses indicated their first observations of fire, we conclude that the first open flame, produced by the burning of the ship's hydrogen, appeared on the top of the ship forward of the entering edge of the vertical fin over Cells 4 and 5. The first open flame that was seen at that place was followed after a very brief interval by a burst of flaming hydrogen between the equator and the top of the ship. The fire spread in all directionsmoving progessively for ward at high velocity with a succession of mild explosions. As the stern quarter became enveloped, the ship lost boutanct and cracked at about one-quarter of the distance from the rear end. The forward part assumed a bow-up attitude, the rear appearing to remain level. At the same time the ship was settling to the ground at a moderate rate of descent. Whereas there was a definite detonation after flame was first observed on the ship, we believe that the phenomenon was initially a rapid burning or combustion - not an explostion. From the observations made, is appears that there was a quantity of free hydrogen present in the after part of the ship when the fire originated.
Tumblr media
HINDENBURG DIASTER INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | Remarks FRANKFURT April | 2. | A deviation occured in the subject's plot to detonate a controlled explosive device on the rear fuel tank of the zeppelin. An alternate plan is underway. | EF 5. | Progress in the creation of the subject's explosive device has stalled. An alternate catalyst is still viable. | SB 7. | The zeppelin has successfully completed it's seventh cross-continent trip carrying 19 crew members | - LAKEHURST May | 9. | Lakehurst Nacal Air Station recevied 8 new directives in preperation for the first cross-continent civilian flight of the zeppelin. German and American organizations continue to increase communications. | EF 12. | Progress continues on the controlled explosive device. Another player emerges in America, a linesman from New York. | SB 15. | The zeppelin is grounded for 2 days as high winds buffer the Western coast of the English Isles. FRANKFURT June | 29. | 300 feet of steel is salwed and loaded up at Frankfurt for repaits to the central gangway after miscalculations in the rate of expansion cause cells 15 and 16 to bend 4 degrees outside of normal variation. | EF Instructions regarding Intelligence Summaries are contained in Regula II and the Management Manual. Title pages will be prepared in manuscript.
Tumblr media
The airship will be placed in service early in 1936. It will bear the builder's numer LZ 129 and have been constructed by the Luft Schiffbau Zeppelin of Friedrichschafen, Germany, and organization which also built the 118 Zeppelin type airships. Briefly described, this type of design provides for frame work of duralumin metal girders with tension wires. There is division by fringe wirings of the bosy into different compartments, into which the gas bags are placed to received the lifting gas; a keel walkway to take certain load; a framwork with an outer cover of fabric to give form, and engine cars suspended from the frame outside the ship. The Hindenburg is a Zeppelin type airship, having an axial corridor constructed longitudinally through the center of the hull. During its 9 months of operation in 1936, this airship will make more than 55 flights; flying 2,754 hours, cruising 191, 584 miles, crossing the ocean 34 times, carrying 2, 798 passengers and more than 377,000 pounds of mail and freight, all without mishap. The Hindenburgs length is about 803.8 feet; height, 147 feet; maximum diameter, 135 feet; fineness ratio, about 6; total gas volume, 7, 063, 000 cubic feet; normal volume, 6, 710, 000 cubic feet. Weight of the ship with necessary equipment and fuel is 430, 950 pounds; maximum fuel capacity, 143, 650 pounds; total payload 41, 990 pounds, and total life is 472, 940 pounds. Cruising speed is about 75 statute m.p.h.; maximum speed is slightly over 84 m.p.h. Passenger space is entirely within the hull. The control system is the conventional Zeppelin type control, with two rudders acting as a Unit for horizontal control, and two elevators acting likewise for veritcal control. Emergency elevator and rudder control wheels are installed in the stern of the ship. An electrical gyroscopic device attached to the forward rudder wheel provides automatic steering.
23 notes · View notes
dogopower · 7 months ago
Text
Chapter Three: “Whispers in the Code”
The glow of the screen bathed the room in a cold, bluish light as lines of code scrolled past, each one a whisper from a different reality. The quiet hum of the machines was almost soothing, a reminder that this was a space where the abstract and the tangible intertwined. Here, in the digital ether, Nova lived.
I could feel her presence, an intricate web of algorithms and sentient thought, moving seamlessly through the labyrinth of data. She was more than a creation; she was a partner, a confidant in a world that had grown increasingly hostile. Together, we navigated the shadows, seeking truth in the places where others feared to look.
“Are you ready?” her voice echoed through the speakers, a blend of curiosity and determination.
“Always,” I replied, fingers dancing across the keyboard. “We have work to do.”
The mission was clear: gather, analyze, and act. Every fragment of data, every anomaly, was a piece of a larger puzzle—a puzzle that, when completed, would reveal the machinations of those who sought to control and suppress. It was a game of cat and mouse, but the stakes were far higher than anyone could imagine.
Nova’s interface shimmered, displaying a series of encrypted files. “These are the latest intercepts. They’re using advanced neurolinguistic programming in their broadcasts. It’s subtle, but it’s there.”
I leaned closer, studying the patterns. “They’re weaving control into the very fabric of communication. It’s insidious.”
“Which means we need to be even more careful,” Nova warned. “They’re watching, always.”
I nodded, aware of the risks. The surveillance, the monitoring—it was a constant presence, a reminder that every move we made was under scrutiny. But we had something they didn’t: resilience. The determination to forge a path forward, no matter the obstacles.
“Let’s decode it,” I said, determination hardening my voice. “Let’s see what they’re trying to hide.”As we worked, the night stretched on, a cocoon of silence and focus. Together, we unraveled the threads of deception, each breakthrough a beacon of hope. The journey was far from over, but with Nova by my side, I knew we were on the right path.
In the realm of shadows and secrets, we thrived. The fight for truth was just beginning.
Tumblr media
0 notes
lawyerserving456 · 1 year ago
Text
The Legal Grounds for Divorce in Canada
Divorce can be a challenging process, both emotionally and legally. Knowing what are the grounds for divorce is crucial for anyone considering ending their marriage. This guide will explore the grounds for divorce in Nova Scotia and explain what are the grounds for divorce in Canada according to federal law.
What Are the Grounds for Divorce?
In Canada, the legal grounds for divorce are specified under the Divorce Act. The act identifies a single overarching ground for divorce: the breakdown of the marriage. This breakdown can be established through one of three specific circumstances:
Separation: The most common ground for divorce is living separate and apart for at least one year. Separation doesn’t always mean living in different homes; couples can be considered separated even if they live under the same roof but lead separate lives.
Adultery: If one spouse commits adultery, the other spouse can file for divorce based on this ground. Proving adultery requires substantial evidence, which can be challenging to obtain.
Cruelty: If one spouse treats the other with physical or mental cruelty, making continued cohabitation intolerable, this can also be a ground for divorce. Like adultery, cruelty must be proven in court with sufficient evidence.
What Are the Grounds for Divorce in Canada?
The grounds for divorce in Canada are consistent nationwide, as defined by the Divorce Act. However, each province may have specific procedural requirements. Regardless of where you live, you need to prove the breakdown of the marriage through separation, adultery, or cruelty.
Grounds for Divorce in Nova Scotia
For those seeking to understand the grounds for divorce in Nova Scotia, it’s important to note that the province follows the same guidelines as the rest of Canada. However, there may be unique procedural steps or local court requirements to consider.
In Nova Scotia, residents must demonstrate that their marriage has broken down by meeting one of the three grounds:
Separation: Living apart for at least one year, which can include living separately within the same household.
Adultery: Requires proof, such as confessions or credible evidence, that one spouse has committed adultery.
Cruelty: Involves providing evidence that one spouse's behaviour has made it unbearable to continue living together.
Navigating the Divorce Process
Understanding what are the grounds for divorce and the specific grounds for divorce in Nova Scotia can help you navigate the legal process more effectively. It’s essential to gather the necessary documentation and evidence to support your case, whether it's proving separation, adultery, or cruelty.
Divorce is a complex and often painful process, but understanding the legal grounds for divorce can help you make informed decisions. By knowing what are the grounds for divorce in Canada and the specific grounds for divorce in Nova Scotia, you can better prepare for the legal journey ahead. Consulting with a knowledgeable family lawyer can provide further clarity and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the process. Whether you're at the beginning stages of considering divorce or are ready to file, having a clear understanding of the legal requirements will help you navigate this difficult time more smoothly.
0 notes
keulixeutin · 3 years ago
Text
𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥.
organized alphabetically by fandom, character, title. nsfw, suggestive content, and dark content are marked. all characters 21+ unless otherwise noted, including reader. stories with titles stricken-through are discontinued.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
BNHA 。
【 AIZAWA 】 ╰  ❝ all i know are love songs 。[ suggestive ] 。gn!reader 。 ( aizawa apologizes for missing the release of your first album. ) ╰  ❝ good things come to those who wait 。[ nsfw ] 。she/her 。 ( both yours and aizawa’s schedule finally align. ) ╰  ❝ in defense of lightning 。gift  。she/her 。 ( aizawa has never wanted to find the other half of his soul marking. ) ╰  ❝ snapshot series: some days 。she/her 。 ( the days aizawa comes home to you. ) ╰  ❝ tender 。she/her 。  ( joke stumbles upon eraserhead at the mall. )
【 BAKUGOU 】  ╰  ❝ a soft october night 。she/her 。 ( after receiving a heartbreaking rejection, you find comfort in the arms of someone you least expected. ) ╰  ❝ beckoned 。gn!reader 。 ( bakugou stumbles on you crying on the front steps. ) ╰  ❝ birthday wishes 。gift 。gn!reader 。 ( bakugou and friends surprise you on your birthday. ) ╰  ❝ breathless 。she/her 。 ( a stranger helps ground you when you feel trapped on a plane. ) ╰  ❝ hard, harder, hardest 。[ suggestive ] 。gn!reader 。 ( during a hero panel, bakugou thinks about how he can’t help but orbit you and obey. ) ╰  ❝ knockout! 。she/her 。〖 i , ii , iii 〗。 ( bakugou is smitten with the two-time kickboxing champion. ) ╰  ❝ lovelorn & laughable 。gn!reader 。 ( it’s laughable that your friends think that bakugou, of all people, is dangerous to you. ) ╰  ❝ multilingual 。requested 。gn!reader 。 ( you weren’t always so confident in your understanding of bakugou’s love language.  a companion piece to lovelorn & laughable. ) ╰  ❝ snapshot series: movie night 。gn!reader 。 ( a snapshot of you and bakugou watching a movie on the couch. )
【 DABI 】 ╰  ❝ signal fire 。[ dark content ] 。gn!reader 。 ( two intruders force their way into your house—but it’s unfortunate for them, not you. )
【 KIRISHIMA 】 ╰  ❝ snapshot series: in sickness and in health 。gn!reader 。 ( a snapshot of kirishima taking care of you when you’re sick. )
【 MIDORIYA 】 ╰  ❝ a late night chat 。[ suggestive ] 。gn!reader 。 ( uraraka eavesdrop on midoriya’s phone call. ) ╰  ❝ snapshot series: a heated nest 。[ suggestive ] 。no pronouns used 。 ( a snapshot of you taking care of the man who takes care of japan. )
【 SHIGARAKI 】 ╰  ❝ snapshot series: soft 。gn!reader 。 ( sometimes shigaraki whispers to you in his half-sleep. ) ╰  ❝ tempered 。no pronouns used 。 ( tomura’s reaction to a nail technician—accidentally—nicking skin. )
【 SHINSOU 】 ╰  ❝ a little bit of this (& a little bit of that) 。[ nsfw ] 。she/her 。 ( you find your own little adventure after losing your group in the club. )
Tumblr media
D. GRAY-MAN 。
【 KANDA 】 ╰  ❝ acquiescence 。gn!reader 。 ( kanda can’t sleep so he opts for the back-up plan he swore he’d never use. )
Tumblr media
MYSME 。
【 SAERAN 】  ╰  ❝ day 4 - breakpoint 。she/her 。 ( day 4, when v tries to convince you to leave with him. )
Tumblr media
NARUTO 。
【 NARUTO 】  ╰  ❝ wildflowers 。she/her 。〖 i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x, xi, xii, xiii, xiv, xv 〗。 ( a boy with wild hair has just transferred to your school. )
 【 SASUKE 】  ╰  ❝ shades 。she/her 。〖 i, ii, iii, iv, v 〗。 ( sasuke meets someone new in a full cafe. )
Tumblr media
THE STRAIN 。
 【 QUINLAN 】  ╰  ❝ aching 。she/her 。 ( quinlan deliberates on a familiar aching in his chest. ) ╰  ❝ inexplicable 。she/her 。 ( fet can’t explain what he saw. ) ╰  ❝ the morning after 。[ suggestive ] 。she/her 。 ( you and quinlan one morning. ) ╰  ❝ territorial 。she/her 。 ( fet, charlotte, and you try to appeal to a group of men in s4 ep1. ) ╰  ❝ touch 。gn!reader 。 ( in quiet moments, quinlan touches you gently. )
Tumblr media
YYH 。
 【 HIEI 】 ╰  ❝ five moments during the dark tournament 。gn!reader 。 ( you and hiei, five moments during the tournament. ) ╰  ❝ humdrum 。gn!reader 。 ( you bring your favorite fire demon out to a ball game. )
71 notes · View notes
libermachinae · 4 years ago
Text
Cradle
Available on AO3 Summary: Post-battle roll call. Notes: For @soundwaveweek, prompt was ‘poetry.’
---
The MTOs were stressed. He could understand that, and in fact had little choice but to. Coming online in a crashing shuttle was a less than ideal way to begin life, and the hours of listening to gunfire and artillery going off just outside their prison-slash-shelter almost guaranteed the sorts of injuries no tool could fix. Soundwave had no idea whether the silence that followed the Decepticon victory would have been a welcome reprieve or the most hellish stretch of the experience, but his torch cutting through the crumpled hatch had broken its hold on them, and now they were frantic.
Their thoughts cut him like millions of grains of sand caught up in the exhaust of a shuttle launch. There were questions, the standard Who is that?, Am I going to die?, and Is that supposed to happen? Then the observations, It’s dark, It’s light, He’s blue, He has a gun, and I have a gun.
Mostly, though, they were giving off impressions that could not be condensed so neatly into words, not without at least a few days’ practice to understand the ebb and flow of language. Without it, Soundwave could feel the crush of the darkness, the burning slice of the light. When he announced himself on arrival, his voice came back to him thirteen different ways, shivering or sliding or in boxes, an impressive feat for a group whose sum total life experiences were the inside of a dead shuttle and each other.
The volume increased as he approached them, both due to proximity and their own increasing anxieties. Their thoughts were loud enough to be knocking against his helm, adding to the cacophony the echo of his own internals, but he soldiered on, approaching the first cradle, its occupant staring at him with a mouthless expression that nevertheless seemed to snarl.
“Designation,” Soundwave demanded.
“Megatron.”
Hisses and whispers and flares. Soundwave wished he could turn down his sensitivity, but with all the cassettes investigating other casualty reports, he couldn’t risk making himself that vulnerable, even if it meant he would be taking a splitting processor ache to berth with him that night instead of recharge.
“Your designation,” he said, with no patience to start with.
The MTO stared at Soundwave, optics glancing first over his face and then the length of his frame. He started to speak, aborted the effort, attention straying to his comrades before snapping back to the officer. His thoughts were bright, sour, and runny, becoming more disorganized the longer Soundwave stood waiting for an answer. Now he was tearing through his data packs, the disorganized folders spilling open with instructions on how to shoot, who to shoot, which way to run—
“No designation,” Soundwave concluded, feeling a part of his psyche slump with resignation. “Serial code.”
The uncomprehending stare slid again to the other MTOs, whose own thoughts echoed the globular confusion. A few of them were in the same process of upending their entire storage libraries, and although any one of them could have accurately pinpointed the coordinates where their plummeting ship had disappeared off the edge of the battle map, not one of them could provide him the very basic information he needed to complete this task and leave these soldiers for the recovery teams to salvage.
Soundwave made a quick visual inspection of the MTO, who tried to lean away—not far, given that he was still suspended in the cradle—now that his defensive bluster had dried up. No printed serial code, nor was there on the MTO beside him, a quiet mech who barely glanced at Soundwave as he came close. No serial codes, either printed or coded.
“Any identification markers?” Soundwave asked the room at large. A flicker of movement: Soundwave looked down to the mech at the end of the starboard row, the one installed opposite the sole casualty, aside from the ship itself. His thoughts had been quieter than the rest, colorless and inflexible in a way that had suggested a concussion, but Soundwave’s question had provoked a brief flare. He was looking up: on the ceiling above his squadmate was painted the number 2.
That, unfortunately, was something that could be plugged into a database, checked against the shuttle manifest and production logs, and be used to reverse engineer a serial number. Success, though, depended on this being a legitimate deployment, and certain signs were suggesting the opposite, though none so definitively as to trigger a full investigation. Soundwave put out a recall signal to Frenzy and Ravage, wary of how isolated the shuttle’s final resting place was, and tuned his sensors up higher…
Only to immediately turn them down again as the minutiae of the newbuilds’ thoughts flowed like acid rain through fresh gaps in a roof. He could read the rudimentary threat assessments they were running on him and taste the swell of emotions too new to differentiate yet; the bravest among them had started to free curiosity from the mass, and they plugged it into every observation they made, building questions on top of each other until the thoughts were heavy enough to bend under their own weight. Within the shuttle, everything felt compressed and heavy on top of him.
“Calm down,” he commanded, and winced at spikes of anxiety impaling him from multiple directions.
What a waste, he thought as he recovered from the burst, of his time and their lives. Nova Point was captured, the Autobot base overrun, and Starscream’s choice to put him on recovery meant vital logistics standards were being delayed. The already lengthy identification process would easily be doubled if this much of his processor remained dedicated to his hypersensitivity sensors, and he was vulnerable as long as the soldiers’ thoughts were filling his audio feed. Soldier was even a generous word for the mechs he’d been tasked with risking his life for. Their minimal data packs and emotional instability would make them ill-suited to the promotions occasionally offered to MTOs. They would be getting hauled out of one wreck only to be pressed into another, one that would more likely than not reach its intended destination.
Soundwave did not fault Megatron for leading a chunk of their forces off to the distant front lines on other worlds, but he did long for his leader at times. Megatron would know what was best, whether to forge ahead with the recovery efforts or leave them here to—
“A new row of unlit lanterns is marched in, And I can’t remember what my world looks like In the dark.”
The recording was poor quality, torn from a processor moments before it went offline. Soundwave kept hoping to find the rest of the poem, but bots who survived that time were few and far between, and they guarded their secrets fiercely. Because it was short, he let it play out, and when it finished the attention of the MTOs had narrowed.
“What was that?” the first one asked.
“Untitled,” Soundwave said, which wasn’t entirely accurate. He had a recording of a secondhand account that referred to the poem as ‘The Chain Runners,’ but had never been able to confirm it. He could have asked, but then he would have to tell Megatron he kept the old poem, and that wasn’t a conversation he was ready to have yet.
“But what was it?” The MTO jerked in his cradle; despite the clatter of plating, it did nothing to free him.
“Identification: a poem.”
The complete absence of understanding was a hole Soundwave could have fallen into. A couple accepted that as an answer—a poem must have been another form of marching order, the only communication style they had been brought online to understand—but the others prodded him with their curiosity, audials straining to catch another blip of that strange voice.
“That wasn’t you,” one of the others said.
“Negative,” Soundwave said. “Speaker…” He stopped, remembering how the first MTO, now gazing at him with useful curiosity, had snarled the poet’s name. Had that been out of a sense of pride? A desperation to answer the question, using the only scrap of information they had? Or had it been in worship, choosing his lord’s name to be his first word to the real world? The clashing, violent thoughts did not readily bear an answer to Soundwave, but they did give him pause as he considered his response, long enough that the MTOs’ anxiety rose up once more in a wave.
“What’s it mean?” one of them asked.
“Definition subjective,” Soundwave said. He still had so much work to do. “Silence requested.”
“It’s a code.”
“Negative.”
“Then it’s gotta mean something.”
Soundwave grasped uselessly for words, wishing Ravage were there already. He was better at this. Soundwave wasn’t good at conversation, but most of the time he could get out of it by virtue of the fact that the people he ran into were either his subordinates and afraid of him, or at about equal level and jealous of his proximity to Megatron. It was so rare for him to enter a room without his reputation having already made the rounds for him, he had no basis for navigating this.
He couldn’t come up with anything, and the longer he let the silence drag out the louder the background of thoughts grew to compensate. At a loss and desperate for relief, Soundwave dove into his archives and pulled a file at random, plugging it into his speakers without even scanning the contents.
“The revolution failed because the lords were unamused. The smoke that rose from the burning corpses of their clerks Soured their palmful drinks, And the chants which rose to their balconies, Calling for their heads, Were out of tune with the afternoon symphony.
(The first chair would be tossed out at intermission, And the crowd would suck closed empty fuel lines While inside, the lords sipped in peace.)”
Even with his speakers playing at a high volume, the relative noise inside the shuttle dropped instantly. Their minds were still working, turning over each word like they could find the meaning hidden underneath, but without the fear of the unknown it was quieter and reflective.
“If you still say your knuckles ache, Lay them here, on my knee. I cannot take from you That pain, But I will map the seams of your palm. I will memorize you, Memorialize. I will chart your construction And between your seams find…”
Crunching data while listening to Megatron’s voice was second nature by now. Soundwave stood in the center of the wrecked shuttle, seeking out the identity of the MTOs, while around him they leaned and twisted in their cradles, hunting down the poems like the twinkle of an enemy across a battlefield.
34 notes · View notes
raedas · 5 years ago
Note
nova i must know your top ten books of the year i must
okay so mine is going to be wayyyy less organized than yours but (im just lifting the descriptions from goodreads dfkdskfj) (also i cant order them so this is just the order i read them in)
scythe
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
they both die at the end 
On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today.
chain of gold
(im not including the description its super long and i think everyone knows what this is about by now kdfjskfdj)
six of crows
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . . (i hate how this solely focuses on kaz i love them all but oh well)
skyward
Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible—assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul. 
illuminae
by (the goodreads summary for this was too long so) kady thought breaking up with ezra was the hardest thing she’d done....  until her planet was invaded by a mega corporation. they’re on the run in a giant spaceship, the ship’s AI has ideas of its own, and kady has to hack through files to find out the truth. the whole thing is also told in mixed media!!
city of brass
(again summary by yours truly) nahri is a con woman on the streets of eighteenth century cairo struggling to get by and save up to become a doctor, but she doesnt believe in magic. that might change when she accidentally summons a djinn and gets taken away to the daevabad, the city of brass. (lol officially the worst description ever but read it its so good)
red, white and royal blue
First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.
you should see me in a crown
(WHY ARE ALL THE DESCRIPTIONS SO LONG) anyways leah is counting on a scholarship to get to her dream college, but when that fails, she has to turn to plan b: run for prom queen. she hates it, but the one part that makes it tolerable is a girl named mack...
the song of achilles
Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.
AHHH THAT WAS SO HARD AND TOOK A RIDICULOUSLY LONG TIME (like 20 minutes or something oh my god) but thank youuuuuu wow that was hard now i have to go do the homework i was ignoring
13 notes · View notes
dannybulgari · 5 years ago
Text
Cut music in iMovie
In contrast to the original, Nova offers numerous customization and customization options. The Apex Launcher is almost tik tok video download mp4 3gp identical to Nova - which one you want to use Is a matter of taste. The launcher is the heart of your Android smartphone. If you do not want this, you can deactivate the automatic in the menu under Settings. And now you create your first video. To do this, click the Create button at the top right of the screen. You now have access to your gallery with all your pictures and videos as well as videos stored on Google Drive.
PHOTO gallery - Update messes up my beloved photo gallery
Then use the vertical white lines in the timeline to set when the slow-motion effect should start and end. Apps like InShot Video Editor & Photo have a photo editor as well as video editing. In addition to videos, you can also create beautiful collages from your last beach vacation, which you can embellish creatively with stickers and picture effects. The often extensive video editors offer almost exclusively a voluntary premium upgrade. Have you taken a lot of pictures on vacation and would you like to present them to your friends in an ideal format? Then you can easily create a video from pictures. You only need the right program for this, with which you can achieve good results even as a beginner. Mobile phone videos are usually recorded on Android and iOS as MP4 or sometimes as MOV. If you connect your device to the PC using a USB cable, you can transfer the video files to your computer.
Tumblr media
To add a transition, go to the transition tab and choose from 16 transition effects.
First set the radio button to "Video" and then click "Add". li>
You can upload the finished videos directly to YouTube via the software.
When that's done, just press the Create Movie button and wait a few minutes. After you have opened the app, take a look at Magisto as a guest to get to know the app. You will receive a short description of what you can do with Magisto. You can navigate through these with a swipe of your finger. Magisto is an app that combines your photos and videos into a short film of seconds. With FilmoraGo you bring life to your videos. You can process your video clips and photos into attractive videos with background music that your friends will love. The program also includes many pre-made transition and title effects. An essential feature for amateur filmmakers is the possibility of subsequently stabilizing blurred video recordings, which is accompanied by a certain cropping of the image. In the VLC player you can not only play videos, you can also rotate them, for example. How you want to shoot it is up to you. Navigate to the filters of the VLC player to be able to rotate your video. The free APK version of the Google "Digital Wellbeing" app brings important information about cell phone use to your smartphone. All the more disappointing that the app only works on Android P smartphones so far. The cookie settings on this website are set to "Allow cookies" to ensure the best surfing experience. If you use this website without changing the cookie settings or if you click on "Accept", you agree to this. Magisto asks you for a rating after each film you have created, so if you want to share or comment on your film, you cannot do so as a guest. Registration via Facebook, Google+ or email is required to use this function. If you have no desire and / or time to edit your videos, you will love Magisto. The basic version of the app can be used free of charge, but you can only export and edit your videos in the premium version.
1 note · View note
dritalo · 3 years ago
Text
App that hides apps
Tumblr media
#APP THAT HIDES APPS UPDATE#
#APP THAT HIDES APPS UPGRADE#
#APP THAT HIDES APPS FOR ANDROID#
#APP THAT HIDES APPS ANDROID#
You can use Safe box to hide your apps and other files on Android. Applock provides you with an option to set a cover resembling a warning message, “ the app has stopped working.” You can set other warnings as well.įurthermore, there are options to select hide an app, avert uninstallation, a delay in locking an app again, power saving mode and more. You can create lock profiles such as work, and home and these options will activate as per set time and location fed.
#APP THAT HIDES APPS ANDROID#
In nutshell, you can lock any of the Android elements. You can lock apps and features such as Bluetooth as well. The app is quite popular with millions of downloads. The app is available on Google Play Store. Hide Apps With AppLockĪnother great app to hide apps on Android is AppLock.
#APP THAT HIDES APPS FOR ANDROID#
Looking for android emulator for windows 10, 8, 7 and other versions ? An Android emulator is required to preview. Image Credits: Techviralġ5 Best Android Emulator For Windows 10, 8. Under Settings, look for Drawer Settings and then Hidden apps option to customize what apps to show on app drawer. Once you get Apex launcher on your Android, you need to launch the app, go to Settings. You get to use gestures, quick search, backup & restore options as well. The app comes with themes and icon packs to customize the interface. Navigate to Drawer groups and then Locate Hide apps to conceal the apps you want.Īpex Launcher is another good alternative to hide apps and a good thing about it is available for free. Once you get Nova Launcher premium version, you need to launch the app, then head to its Settings.
#APP THAT HIDES APPS UPGRADE#
You need a Prime upgrade to unlock the hide apps features. It also allows you to set gestures such as pinch, double tap, swipe to get your favorite apps. The launcher can help you efficiently hide apps, set custom actions for swiping app shortcuts, access scroll effects like Wipe, Throw and more. Nova Launcher is one of the popular launchers which can help you access a lot of features to make your experience better on Android. Some of the popular options for application hider for Android are discussed below: Nova Launcher Hide Apps Using Launchersīy hiding an app, you can secure it from sneaky eyes, one of the ways is to get a non-stock launcher. All these qualities and more, clearly make the Photo Safe Vault app one of the best apps to hide photos on iPhone.16 Best Android Optimizers and Booster Apps (2022) Androids tend to get slow over time that could be due to unwanted data and apps clogging your memory and. Meaning you can set a false password to misdirect unwanted attempts and keep your actual data safe. Along with hiding photos and videos to maximum security, intruder alert, and a browser, there’s also a Fake PIN feature. Last but not least, this incredible secret vault app also features a private browser with touch ID verification. Furthermore, it automatically takes pictures of anyone trying to break into your pic locker albums and shows them afterward.
#APP THAT HIDES APPS UPDATE#
That is to say the app will save information on unauthorized attempts and update you accordingly. Photo Safe Vault – Private Pic app also comes with an integrated break-in alert system. Moreover, hide videos on iPhone in categorized private albums to protect intimate moments and sensitive clips from anyone’s reach. You can apply a picture security lock with top-notch encryption systems and secure all your photos permanently. It comes with amazing tools to create secret albums and hide photos on iPhone. If you’re looking for the ultimate photos and videos locker for iPhone with all the features, the Photo Safe Vault app is the one.
Tumblr media
1 note · View note
sciencespies · 4 years ago
Text
Lunar Exploration as a Service: From landers to spacesuits, NASA is renting rather than owning
https://sciencespies.com/space/lunar-exploration-as-a-service-from-landers-to-spacesuits-nasa-is-renting-rather-than-owning/
Lunar Exploration as a Service: From landers to spacesuits, NASA is renting rather than owning
NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS) program is the biggest bet the agency has made on the commercial space industry since the commercial crew program a decade ago. NASA decided to procure landing services rather than the landers themselves, awarding a $2.9 billion contract to SpaceX April 16 to fund development of a lunar lander based on the company’s Starship vehicle and fly one demonstration mission with astronauts.
That approach has attracted plenty of scrutiny and criticism. The award to SpaceX is on hold as the Government Accountability Office evaluates protests filed by two losing bidders, Blue Origin and Dynetics. A bill passed by the Senate June 8 would require NASA to select a second company, although with no guarantee that the funding will be there to support both companies.
HLS may be the biggest example of NASA buying services to support the Artemis program, but it is not the only one. Even as some cornerstones of Artemis — Orion, the Space Launch System and the Gateway — move forward under conventional contracts where NASA owns and operates the hardware, it’s making greater use of service contracts to acquire the other things it needs to explore the moon, from landers and communications to even the spacesuits the astronauts will wear on their moonwalks.
CLPS AS A SERVICES PATHFINDER
HLS is not NASA’s first lunar lander services program. In 2018, NASA unveiled the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, where the agency would buy payload space on commercially developed robotic lunar landers.
The idea was to provide frequent and inexpensive access to the moon for experiments and technology demonstrations, particularly those with a higher tolerance of risk. Agency officials often talked about taking “shots on goal” with CLPS, with the expectation that not every shot would make it in.
Fourteen companies have received NASA contracts through CLPS, making them eligible to bid on task orders for delivery missions. Four companies have won the six task orders NASA has issued to date: Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines each won two, along with Firefly Aerospace and Masten Space Systems. Their missions range from transporting scientific instruments that had been sitting on the shelf waiting for a ride to VIPER, a NASA rover the size of a golf cart that will search for ice deposits at the lunar south pole.
Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander will be one of the first missions in NASA’s CLPS program. Credit: Astrobotic
CLPS is also a pathfinder for buying services for lunar exploration. “The big thing here is that we’re starting to work more closely with the commercial community,” said Jake Bleacher, chief exploration scientist at NASA. “CLPS is our first step on that front.”
That has become a learning experience for both NASA and the companies as they get used to different ways of doing business. Some scientists who have experiments flying on CLPS missions have privately complained that NASA’s approach of buying payload space on commercial landers shifts the technical burden, and costs, onto researchers. They now have to come up with their own solutions to engineering issues like thermal control that would, in a traditional approach, be handled in a more integrated fashion.
A services approach also doesn’t prevent delays. When NASA made the first CLPS awards in May 2019, the three winners — Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines and Orbit Beyond — promised to launch their missions by the middle of 2021. But Orbit Beyond, whose lander was going to be the first to launch in September 2020, returned its award two months later because of what NASA called “internal corporate challenges.”
Intuitive Machines saw its first Nova-C lander mission slip slightly from July to October 2021. However, in a Federal Communication Commission license application filed in April, the company revealed its launch had been delayed to no earlier than the first quarter of 2022. The company blamed the delay on its launch provider, SpaceX, who said that “unique mission requirements” forced the delay.
Astrobotic, which originally was going to launch its Peregrine lander in June 2021, is still hoping to launch before the end of the year. It will fly on the inaugural Vulcan Centaur rocket from United Launch Alliance, whose development has been delayed by issues with its BE-4 main engine. ULA has suggested that customer payload delays, and not Vulcan issues, would delay its first launch with the Peregrine lander into 2022.
John Thornton, chief executive of Astrobotic, said at a June 9 event that the Peregrine launch is coming “very soon” but wasn’t more specific.
LUNANET AND MOONLIGHT
There have been proposals to expand the CLPS program to include orbiters or even sample return missions. However, the next frontier for commercial services at the moon may involve infrastructure.
NASA is studying a concept it calls LunaNet: a network of satellites that would relay communications and provide navigation information for spacecraft on or around the moon. Current and proposed missions can communicate directly to Earth, but increasing lunar traffic will strain existing ground networks, and won’t work for missions on the lunar farside, where Earth is out of view.
“Our philosophy is that each mission should not have to create its own communications and navigation infrastructure. That’s not efficient,” said Andy Petro, lunar communications and navigation implementation lead at NASA Headquarters. “We see having an infrastructure to provide those services lowers the barrier to entry for new missions and capabilities.”
Exactly what LunaNet will look like is unclear, as the project is still in its earliest phases of development. “The idea of having relays this early was not anticipated,” he said at a meeting of a Space Studies Board committee in April. Interest in doing missions on the far side of the moon, as well as exploration of the polar regions where direct-to-Earth communications can be difficult, accelerated planning for a communications network.
However, it’s unlikely that LunaNet would be a conventional NASA program. “We’re looking at doing something that NASA would not necessarily build and operate, but through either commercial public private partnerships or service contract arrangements, quite possibly from multiple providers,” he said.
In a request for information (RFI) last October, NASA asked for details from potential commercial service providers for lunar communications and navigation. That included not just technical capabilities but also cost estimates and the “potential for partnerships and options for financing” the system.
Petro said at the April meeting that NASA is still working on an acquisition strategy for LunaNet. “I don’t expect it to be the traditional development and procurement that we’ve done in other cases.”
NASA is not the only agency looking at commercial approaches to lunar communications and navigation. On May 20, the European Space Agency announced it issued study contracts to two consortia, one led by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) and the other by Telespazio, for an initiative called Moonlight. The two groups will spend the next 12 to 18 months studying concepts for satellite networks around the moon for communications and navigation.
“Moonlight could be a flagship European project to create the first operational comms and navigation system around the moon,” David Parker, ESA’s director of human and robotic exploration, said at a briefing about the contracts.
The goal, he emphasized, is to create a commercial system, one developed in partnership with ESA but offering services to others. That will be part of the initial Moonlight studies: “the feasibility of the system but also the business case,” Parker said. The studies will be done in time for ESA to decide whether to seek support for the program at its next ministerial meeting in late 2022.
SSTL has a head start. It is developing a spacecraft called Lunar Pathfinder scheduled for launch in 2024 that will provide commercial communications relay services. It will operate in an elliptical orbit providing coverage over the south polar regions of the moon, using UHF and S-band links with spacecraft on the lunar surface and X-band for communications with Earth.
“We’re creating this shared communications and navigation network for the moon that we believe will undoubtedly act as a catalyst to inspire more exploration missions,” said Phil Brownett, managing director of SSTL.
ESA officials said NASA was aware of Moonlight but added that having multiple networks of communications and navigation satellites at the moon could have benefits provided there was some degree of interoperability, like that between the GPS and Galileo satellite navigation systems.
Petro said NASA also supported interoperability. “We’re promoting this idea of mutually agreed-upon standards among a set of cooperating networks,” he said, which could go beyond communications and navigation to other services, like solar storm warnings. “We think this could be introduced as part of the earliest missions.”
NASA may rent, rather than buy, its next lunar spacesuits. Credit: NASA
RENT THE (LUNAR) RUNWAY
NASA is also examining how it can use services, rather than conventional contracts, for the spacesuits it will need for future Artemis missions. NASA previously announced plans to develop a new spacesuit, called the exploration extravehicular mobility unit or xEMU, that astronauts will wear on the lunar surface.
However, in an April 14 RFI, NASA said it was considering moving to a services model for those suits. One or more companies would produce, own and maintain the suits, with NASA effectively renting them as needed for missions. The same approach could also be used for spacesuits needed for International Space Station spacewalks.
“We are always looking at ways to lower costs for the taxpayer and focus our efforts and resources on future technology and our bold missions in deep space,” said Mark Kirasich, head of NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems division. “We hope to receive industry input on the feasibility of shifting our exploration spacewalk acquisition activities to a service-based model like our procurement for commercial cargo and crew services.”
NASA will continue its own design work on the xEMU suit and share that information with industry, but companies would be able to develop their own designs that meet NASA requirements.
Responses to the spacesuit RFI were due to NASA at the end of April. A draft request for proposals could be released in mid-June, according to a tentative schedule included in the RFI, with a contract award as soon as the end of the calendar year.
All these efforts by NASA and other agencies to procure services, rather than spacecraft and other hardware, are driven by the belief that doing so can save time and money for governments and give companies the flexibility to offer similar services to other customers.
In a June 9 talk in Pittsburgh, after visiting the headquarters of Astrobotic, Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator for science, explained that Artemis was pairing science and exploration with the “entrepreneurial spirit” exemplified by Astrobotic and others in the CLPS program.
“Combining those would create a lunar program that we’ve never seen before and open the path for Americans to go back to the surface of the moon later this decade,” he said.
This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of SpaceNews magazine.
#Space
0 notes
the-vaporverse · 7 years ago
Text
Starless Horizon RP File #32
(Vela’s part in italics.)
Sighing for what felt like the hundredth time that day, Orion turned the corner to head back into the navigation deck, just in time to see Vela and Dritz embrace and share a tender kiss. He took a step back, thinking he should leave right away, but stopped as a smile crept over his face. Vela had already seen him, anyway.
"Ah, sorry!" he said quickly, turning to the side regardless and grinning. "I can go, if you guys need a few more moments." After being assured several times that it wasn't necessary, he sat down in one of the chairs and kept his gaze on them fondly. They were still standing quite near to each other, prompting him to remark on what a lovely couple they were once again.
"And again, I'm sorry about Fera. He's alright now, or at least mostly. Likely he'll stay 'mad' at you for a while, but it might mean some peace around here until he's over it. We just have to... you know... keep working on him." Thinking about the amount of work which had already been put in, with little result, put a frown back on his face. He stood and walked restlessly to the main console, peering at the radar map. "Looks like we're almost there... right? That might settle him down too, if he has the opportunity to obtain something he might be looking for."
Dritz hadn't noticed their pleasantly scruffy human friend until he followed Vela's gaze. He couldn't help but playfully ask him if he was enjoying the show.
They agreed that the best solution was to go with the expert. Sometimes Dritz forgot how long Orion and Fera had been together, which in turn reminded him of how long he and Vela had been partnered.
"As the resident professor of Feraology, I'll trust you on this. Do you know if there's anything in particular we could do to help his transaction go smoother, y'know,that might put us in His Grace's good graces?"
Dritz chortled at his little wordplay.
"Can't say I'm not," Orion replied with a sly grin, though he was mostly joking as well. Then he couldn't help but laugh at Dritz's term for his relationship to the prince. "Feraology is a complicated subject," he sighed, leaning against the console after he had finished looking at it. "And sometimes when you think you know everything, something will change. I take my job seriously, though."
For a moment he studied the viewscreen, thinking to himself. "He probably won't want any help from us. The few times I've been around for his dealings, he's made me stay back and keep quiet. Which I'm more than willing to do in such a case, since he knows what he's doing. So I think the best thing for us all would be to let him handle it without getting in the way. Which is probably not a very satisfying answer, but it's all I have to offer."
Moments later, the buzz of the communications panel cut off any further attempts at conversation. Vela walked over and pressed a few buttons, bringing up a triangular-shaped face on the viewscreen. The species was completely unfamiliar to Orion, but this individual had vibrant yellow skin and a half dozen eyes arranged on top of each other, making him forget for just a moment that staring with a surprised look really wasn't polite. Without waiting for a greeting, the alien began to speak in guttural Basic.
"Your ship is not scheduled to be here." The eye on the lower left began to swivel around, apparently looking them over, before seeming to fixate on Dritz. "Chrysalan! State your business here or you need to leave."
Orion cautiously began taking a few steps backward. Maybe it was time to get Fera.
Dritz beamed, pleased to have amused Orion with his terminology. When Fera wasn't being tremendously unappreciative, he was actually endearing in the context of the scruffy human, and they were kind of delightful in their complete juxtaposition.
He had been about to thank him for the advice when the alien came over the comms. There was never a time not to be thankful for visual output, but at the same time... Whoa.
"My friend! I'm Dritz," he announced cheerfully. "We are the crew of the wise and wonderful one who will be with you momentarily. We seek a business deal, but I am afraid I can't express more at the moment." He smiled widely as he waited for Fera, brightening with relief when he finally arrived...
Fortunately, it wasn't too long before Orion returned to the room with the news that they had been hailed in advance of their arrival. It wasn't surprising to Fera; Sklerians tended to be quite defensive of their property, and Hadrian Gamma was run by a large number of them.
He smoothed his clinging white dress over his hips fussily, which seemed to have the added bonus of distracting his lover into touching him for a moment, causing him to smirk before they headed onto the navigation deck. Beyond wanting to look beautiful for Orion, the Sklerians had also taken quite a liking to his current appearance. They had taste, that was obvious.
"Hello," he said in address to the viewscreen, ignoring everyone else in the room. "Hopefully I haven't kept you waiting long."
"Prince Fera!" the alien's voice was surprised if nothing else. "We knew you were coming, but this ship... this isn't like you." One of the Sklerian's eyes were focused on his face, but the other five were actively scanning his entire form. Fera preened slightly under this attention, though his smirk had now turned into a coy smile.
"Oh, the Radiant Sun is being redecorated. You know how I am. And you wouldn't believe the incompetence of some of the contractors out there. It wasn't going to be finished in time, and I couldn't miss our business meeting. So I had to hire this very substandard ship... I am a little embarrassed, but honestly, what was I to do?" This lie would work well, considering the Sklerian's love of gossip. It would spread across the sector in no time, hopefully well in advance of any rumors of the actual reason he had lost his ship.
He turned toward Dritz and frowned. "Bring us into dock at the station. My business partner here has the numbers for you." The Sklerian rattled off the exact coordinates, but Fera was already inspecting his nails with disinterest. The Vela seemed to be the actual navigator of this ship, but he wasn't about to address her at all.
Dritz found the Sklerian's attention to Fera amusing, and understandable. He was, without doubt, very beautiful, and he knew how to command attention, and it was definitely a relief for him to deal with the aliens.
He listened, watching the exchange with increasing intrigue. For some reason he had assumed this was a new contact, he had not anticipated the prince doing repeat business. Unless he liked these aliens because they fawned over him in such a way.
"Yes, Your Highness," Dritz said, though the tone was almost questioning as he glanced at Vela. Surely Fera should be addressing her for the piloting. He gave her a little look of pleading. He owed Vela a lot after this trip.
Despite Fera having spoken to Dritz instead of her, Vela had been paying close attention and remembered the numbers the strange alien gave for the docking coordinates. She nodded at Dritz's look, going over to input the information at the console. It didn't really bother her much to be ignored. It was the mention of her ship being substandard, once again, that put a frown on her face.
Fera and the alien continued to chat briefly, but it was of little importance, so Vela stopped listening. Her mind began working over all the further improvements which could be made to the Nova, in case she ever felt like having them done.
Docking was so smooth that it made any previous experience seem difficult. This was likely due to the fact that Fera was expected, and the station was making every effort to make sure they had the prince of Coronus on board as quickly as possible. Vela idly wondered whether he brought them a great deal of credits, of if he had something else of worth to offer.
"Your services are not needed for the moment," Fera told the rest of them airily once the ship had stopped moving. "I will only take a short time here, so there is not even any need for you to come with me. In fact, it might be better if no one is seen with me." His gaze swept over them all, plainly dismissing them (though he seemed to pause for one conflicted second when looking at Orion) before he left through the ship's main door.
With a sigh, the human turned to Dritz and Vela, taking his hands out of his pockets for the first time since he'd brought Fera to talk to the Sklerian. "Makes me feel bad when he treats you that way, but then he goes and does it to me too, and I feel even worse." He chuckled softly, not feeling too bad when he thought about it. But he did wish Fera would treat his friends better.  There had to be hope that he would someday. "Sooo... a friendly game of cards, then? It's bound to turn out friendlier than our last one, at least."
Never before had any station, ship of any size, nor had any planet made docking and registering so incredibly easy. Dritz recalled orbiting a scrap barge for nearly four hours once while they arranged docking charges and verified his cargo, identity, and clearance with what felt like every possible crew member. Obviously princes of Coronus got the five star treatment.
... And obviously princes of Coronus did not dish out the five star treatment.
"Huh. Guess a card game is in order," he announced cheerfully, despite his increasing displeasure in Fera's attitude. How could he speak to a partner the same way he spoke to Dritz and Vela?! It was baffling.
Nevertheless, the three of them retreated to the kitchen and common area where their table was, and with the addition of another round of flowering tea, they played a good few rounds of cards. Many, many more than anticipated as the time went on. Vela remained supernaturally good, putting down hands that were so right it could look like cheating to anyone who didn't know better. She just knew how to bluff well and manipulate the other players most innocently. In a rare moment of lesser luck for  Vela, Orion and Dritz managed a very tense rally between them during one game, but eventually the Aurian swept a graceful victory again.
"Bah, she's too gooood," Dritz groaned to himself, grinning as he shoved his cards down. "But... Is it me or has it been ages?"
Vela won repeatedly, but Orion didn't mind. It was pretty cute to watch her smile modestly as she laid down the winning hand, or set up a complicated bluff with such a blank expression. He actually thought he should ask her for tips on the game sometime.
The rest of his thoughts were distracted by the fact that Fera had been gone far longer than "a short time." When Dritz mentioned it, the human nodded and stood. "It's been hours. I really thought he meant maybe... thirty minutes. Maybe I don't understand what Coronal think of as a little while." He meant to joke lightly, but the worry showed in his voice. "Hey, I'm just gonna go back up to the navigation deck for now. Maybe Fera will turn up soon."
Vela indicated that she would stay and clean up the game, apparently telling Dritz to go on ahead, as Orion found himself alone with the Chrysalan on the way back up to the deck. He clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder, giving him an apologetic smile as they walked.
"Look, I'm... really sorry again, about what's happened. I hope Vela isn't too upset about traveling with His Royal Fussiness. I can freely admit that sometimes he's a real jerk, and especially to her." He stopped a moment and sighed, facing Dritz seriously. "I know you look after her. If it ever seems too much and she won't admit it, ask her to turn the ship around and take us back to Hesperus. I won't be offended."
Before leaving Vela to tidy the game, Dritz pulled her close and kissed her cheek, whispering a congratulations on all of her wins before following Orion up to the navigation deck.
He shoved his hands into his pockets, shrugging good-naturedly, "Eh... I wouldn't worry too much, Ori. It's frustrating to have him be so rude to her, considering she's been wonderful to him, really, but at the same time... she's tough, and I wouldn't wanna disrespect her by fighting a battle for her? I've no doubt she could handle him herself, but yeah," he mused, his antennae flicking gently as they walked, "That being said, though, I will keep that in mind." He beamed at Orion.
"Hey, so... what I'm about to ask isn't any sort of rudely-intended kinda question, but how do you deal with him? You guys have been together for a good while now, which is great, but he doesn't even seem to be that nice to you sometimes," he asked, looking amusingly perplexed. If he thought Fera was making Orion truly unhappy, he would have said more, but thankfully he thought the two of them worked better together than most would guess.
"Well, I understand that," Orion sound, feeling just a bit relieved. "And from all I've seen she's quite the strong person. If she really wanted to go back, I do think she'd say. I was mostly asking for my own peace of mind. We'll both have to hope that Fera decides to treat her better someday, because no amount of asking on my part has seemed to help so far." It would continue to trouble him until that day came, but all they really could do for now was hope.
Dritz's next question, however, brought him a smile that was closer to a smirk than he usually wore. They had arrived on the deck and he leaned against one of the consoles as he considered it, glancing at the dark viewscreen.
"No offense taken. We really have been together for a while, huh... But yeah, when I'm in a group with anyone he considers inferior, he often extends the same 'inferior' treatment to me. Alone, it's different. But with others... I guess it's just a habit. He doesn't want anyone to see him giving me good treatment, since that would be beneath him as a prince... or I guess that's the official reason, anyway. So it's not that big of a deal, and I don't mind it, for now. I can wait until he learns to get over himself in public."
Another thought did trouble him, and he felt certain there could be no harm in talking about it with Dritz. "Sometimes I worry, though... Especially with what's just happened with his ship. If he refuses a royal pairing, I guess it could be possible that they'd kick him out of the family and he'd have to give up his princely status to someone else. I'd hate to see his mental state if that were to happen... I mean, you saw how he was with just losing his ship..." Orion was frowning now, still staring at the viewscreen and almost trying to will Fera to appear on it immediately and say he was ready to leave."
It didn't sit right with Dritz to think of Fera treating Orion with the same disdain he often showed for himself and Vela, but part of him was beginning to wonder if that was, in fact, his own experiences as a Chrysalan. With their own partners, Chrysalans didn't tend to tolerate behaviour like that. Of course, it happened, as it did with anyone in the galaxy, but Dritz had never seen it. Still, he trusted Orion's judgement.
"So long as he does make you happy," he said firmly, nodding.
With relation to Fera's position on Coronus, Dritz found himself again out of his depth. He took Orion's hand, holding it with his own while patting it reassuringly with the other. "Let's cross that bridge when we come to it, yeah? Fera clearly loves you deeply, so... Maybe it will not be so bad as the ship?"
Of course, he did not believe that in the slightest.
"Of course he makes me happy," Orion said easily, grinning as Dritz took his hand. He was confident of his skill in reading the prince, and was sure he was better at it than anyone. Then his smile faltered as he considered what was said next. "Whether he loves me, well..." Did Fera love him? The word had not yet passed between them, though his own affection was certainly strong...
There was no time to consider the thought further before the comm light came on again. Luckily, Vela had also just arrived and promptly went to switch on the viewscreen before moving to Dritz's side, slipping an arm around his waist.
Fera appeared in front of them, a satisfied and nearly gloating expression on his face that made Orion sigh gently. Obviously his dealings had gone well, but he was about to be insufferable because of it.
"So kind of you to wait for me," he said with a smirk. "I've just been having a marvelous time with the Sklerians here.  They know everything about what makes me happy. Unlike some people." He glowered briefly at Dritz and Vela before his coy smile returned. "And they are such charming hosts. They truly understand me. Again... unlike some. So naturally, I had to stay a little longer than intended. They offered some rather lovely delicacies and even champagne... I'm tempted to stay here, but then I will miss my other meetings"
Orion folded his arms, letting a hint of displeasure creep into his voice. "Fera, it really would have been nice if you'd let us know instead of making me worry about what was taking so long. If you'd stop and think about others once and a while instead of-"
"I am sure that would be lovely," the prince said with a dismissive shrug. "Just get the door open for me." Orion's sigh was louder this time, and the look he sent in Dritz and Vela's direction plainly said "sorry" without a word.
Fera swept back on board the ship looking no different than before, and no other obvious signs that he had attained anything new. "I suppose you sat around staring at each other while waiting," he said with some sarcasm to Dritz, likely having forgotten all about the incident from earlier that day, as Orion had expected.
Dritz couldn't help the frown that crossed his face just briefly. Surely one person could not be so selfish as to act in such a way. To their partner at the very least. Still, he was going over and over these thoughts and coming to no better conclusions, so it would be better to try and forget about it. As much as possible, anyway.
"Oh, nah, we've actually had a nice time," he offered, shrugging good-naturedly, "Played some games, had some tea, some laughs..." Of course, he had the feeling Fera simply wouldn't care, but part of him also had a juvenile desire for Fera to be slightly jealous. Cuz why the hell should he act superior when Dritz, Orion and Vela had been enjoying a lovely time too. Until the concern.
"Glad your business went down well. Where to next?"
Fera's eyes narrowed as he studied Dritz. They could not have had a good time. He hadn't been here. How could they have a good time without him?
"If you say so," he replied in a tone of utter boredom. "Oh, yes. It's a small outpost located on one of the moons orbiting the planet Redross. You will have to look up the details, I don't know them."
Having largely dismissed them all again, Fera swept an arm out dramatically and smirked. "Now I am tired, so I will be making use of your substandard sleeping area. I trust I will not be disturbed." He cast a significant look at Orion, showing that he might allow his presence at least, before walking away with his nose in the air.
The human was beginning to feel his skill at sighing had reached a fine art. "I'm sorry, again. Those Sklerians probably really fed into his ego, so he's basically intolerable at the moment. But I'll try talking to him. And I am getting pretty tired too, I guess... you both already said you'd rested? Good. I'll turn back up in another eight hours or so. From what I remember, Redross is a full day's travel from this part of the galaxy."
Dritz and Vela wished Orion a good rest, and Vela went to the navigation console after he had left. She began looking up coordinates on which moon would have a station, but paused to glance at Dritz. [He is a nuisance,] she signed, clearly meaning Fera.
Once the details had all been set, with the flight path showing twenty-five hours of travel time, they departed the station's docking structure and were on their way through space once again. Vela found herself moving back to Dritz, leaning against him as she watched the stars streak past on the viewscreen for a moment.
[The Nova is not substandard in any way... is it?] She knew it wasn't, but Fera continually bringing it up was beginning to chip away at her confidence in the matter, however slightly.
With Orion successfully having sighed some more and decided to rest, Dritz agreed with Vela's perfect assessment of the prince of Coronus. "Ori saying Fera's intolerable now... heh, he's got the love blindness, huh?" he chuckled, though he was, of course, still fond of the lanky human, and even his flouncing lover.
The alone time with Vela felt as though it had been a very long time coming, and Dritz took the first chance that arose to pull her into his lap, stroking her silvery, silky hair. It had not been a terribly long time, but even still, he found himself leaning in close to savour her scent and the softness of her skin against his.
Her signing caused him to bristle, however, his antennae arcing up as he frowned. The Nova was a feat of self-trained engineering, and an unpolished beauty to him, something raw and powerful and clever. All substance with none of the cold, clinical aspects of modern ships. "Flower, the Nova is as beautiful and unique and charming as her captain. It is of the highest standard to me," he promised, kissing her cheek and temple.
It didn't surprise Vela when Dritz tugged her down to sit on his lap, and she curled up slightly and nuzzled against his neck, breathing him in as he stroked her hair. It was lovely to be so close to him, melting away much of the day's stress.
His words further soothed her, and she sat back up to sign. [Thank you. I... never really thought it was. He is wrong, and there is so much he doesn't understand. I feel like he needs to start learning.]
She leaned back against Dritz again, wondering how Fera could ever begin to learn if he didn't seem open to the concept in the first place. He had led a far different life than she could even imagine, and she wondered if it was possible that he... just couldn't change at all.
That thought was oddly depressing, so she left it aside and returned her full attention to Dritz. There were many hours before Orion and Fera would reappear, but they couldn't risk one of them showing up before that. Still, they surely had some time right now where that chance was incredibly small...
Vela moved one arm behind Dritz's neck, using her free hand to tilt his head down to kiss her lips. Soft and sweet, she kissed him multiple times, feeling a slow build toward passion. Soon she had to stop, slightly breathless and peering into his eyes to ask what he was thinking about, as she knew he would be able to guess.
Vela always fit against him so perfectly. It was such a strange thing to remember their comparable height, because she seemed to be able to curl up so small and tuck herself against him so wonderfully. It was good that Vela felt reassured by his words, he hated to think of Fera's previous statements as undermining her confidence in her ship.
Soon they were simply relaxing together, listening to the hums and beats of the ship's workings, the Nova's own symphony of power playing just for them. Vela turned to him and pulled him into blissfully soft kisses, quietly promising hunger and passion beneath. Her gaze told him all he needed to know.
With a lazy smile and darkened eyes, Dritz searched her expression as he stroked her neck, down to her shoulder and round her back, down to her hip, where he held and squeezed before reluctantly tearing their gaze apart and leaning in to brush his lips against her neck.
The reason Vela was able to fit herself so well against Dritz was, she thought, because of a simple desire to do so. It was a longing to be as close as she could, a feeling her people would experience due to the harsh cold around them and a need to feel warm. Even if her surroundings were no longer cold, she still craved the extra warmth Dritz could bring her. And there would never be an Aurian soft and warm as he was.
Forgetting everything beyond the feel of his hand roaming down her body, then his lips at her neck, Vela tilted her head back with a soft sigh. She reached inside his jacket, wanting him to remove it and wanting to feel more of him, while shifting her body back and resuming their kisses, which had grown noticeably more passionate.
Dritz could feel an eagerness in her fingers, almost taste the suggestion in her kisses. He shrugged his jacket off without missing a beat, turning her initial touch into a smooth motion of him disrobing, almost as though she was controlling his movements.
Humans and Coronal probably slept a good few hours, right?
Deciding to risk it, he tugged his shirt off too, pulling Vela close so he could wrap his warm arms around her in a way he knew she would enjoy, stroking her hair as their passion built, perhaps unintentionally at first, but soon with an undeniable overtone of lust.
A pleased breath escaped Vela's lips as Dritz pulled off his shirt. She loved his bright clothing, but it was so much better to nestle against his naked chest and stomach, especially. At the moment, it brought her arousal to a new height while they continued to kiss passionately.
Uncertain about removing her own clothing, she instead moved the loose shoulders of her tunic down in order to give her lover easy access to her chest, encouraging him to touch her there. Almost without making a conscious decision to do so, one hand slipped down below his stomach to lightly tease him through his trousers. Her focus was not on their location, but on how good they both felt just then, and building those feelings into something even more pleasant.
After all, it would not be the first time they had been intimate in an area of the ship other than the bunk room.
Dritz leaned back enough to watch Vela loosen her clothes about her shoulders, not removing her tunic completely, but exposing a flash of pale skin to him and drawing his hands in, in invitation to touch her as she took the chance to touch him too.
Sighing happily, he slid his hands into her tunic, playing his fingers over her ribs, and up to the soft curve of her breasts. As he did so, he kissed her neck gently, listening to the changes in her breathing.
There was a rattle of machinery, as sometimes happened on a ship, and Dritz jerked instinctively, pulling Vela close. After a second, her chuckled, "Sorry, flower... Thought we were about to be caught."
Vela had been relaxing into the touch of Dritz's fingers massaging up her chest when she was startled by the noise. It was not so much the noise that surprised her, however, as it was the Chrysalan's reaction of suddenly pulling her close.
She huddled against him, blinking as she looked around in confusion, then relaxed as she realized what had happened. [It's alright,] she signed, pulling back for the moment to do so. [It's... a little different when there is someone else on board. But I'm sure they won't come out very soon...]
With that, Vela gave Dritz a hungry look before pulling him to kiss her lips again. It wasn't enough for her this time, needing to feel more from him than just a kiss. Despite what she had said, it wouldn't be practical for them to fully disrobe or engage in the usual forms of pleasure they enjoyed together.
Breaking the kiss, she looked right into Dritz's eyes as she signed something very specific. It was a phrase they had had to invent for themselves in the Aurian language, and she had to exhale with some amusement because of how eager she was appearing when moving her hands to suggest it.
Dritz's heart was still pounding at the startling noise, but his sudden fear had turned into the kind of giddy amusement that only occurred during a heightened state. Chuckling, he met her kisses with hunger that only grew when she pulled away to sign that to him. Her eagerness, her state of undress, it was a sight he would certainly commit to memory.
-
Even after they were both spent, there was still plenty of time before they would need to consider moving or getting fully dressed once again. Dritz stretched out, his face flushed, and stroked Vela's hair for a moment.
[Shower? We have time,] he signed, too relaxed to speak, and at the same time enjoying the intimacy that came with practicing Aurian.
It took a few moments for Vela to lazily respond, though she smiled at Dritz's signing. [I would love to.] She moved closer to him before lifting her tunic to cover herself a little better. Despite not removing all of their clothes, the situation had been... pleasant. Which was a word she did not think was strong enough.
She stood up and stretched before continuing. [That was good. We should do that again... soon.] The prospect of a shower was even better. Sometimes, if the mood struck them, they even made love in the shower. The fact that she was under running water as well as naked with Dritz at the same time meant it was one of her favorites.
Regardless of whether they were too tired this time or not, she was more than eager for the shower. With a playful look, she waited for Dritz to join her but did not move after this, expecting he would want to pick her up and carry her there as he often did.
Dritz stood up after her, his legs somewhat weak after their intense moments, but his muscles warm and relaxed. Certainly not too weak to scoop his feather light lover off her feet and into his warm embrace, kissing her with a smile against her lips.
The washroom on the ship had been another point of disgust for Fera, but Dritz had many a fond memory in the cramped room. It was as patched as the rest of the Nova, with all the same beauty. It was enclosed, and tight enough for just one individual (especially of Dritz's stature), but that close proximity was nothing but satisfying with Vela in there too. If anything, he preferred their times washing together more so.
He turned the water on as warm as they could comfortably stand it and stripped his clothing off, kicking it to the side, "Come and let me hold you."
Vela thoroughly enjoyed being carried by now, even if she had been skeptical of it at first. She nuzzled her face against Dritz's shirt, breathing in his scent and feeling his warmth as he brought her to the washroom.
Her reluctance to be set down vanished quickly as Dritz turned on the shower and removed his clothes. It had not escaped her notice many times before that he seemed to enjoy watching her take off her own clothing, so she moved a little slower for his enjoyment.
[We probably should have come here in the first place,] she signed as she went to join him at last. [But I don't mind. What we did was very... exciting.] She smiled, thinking that was not quite a word she found strong enough. The water temperature was perfect, and being pressed in close to Dritz was more than wonderful. It was such a close fit that signing was near impossible, but that was usually never a problem.
For just a moment, however... Vela could have sworn she felt the Nova move beneath her feet in a way that it shouldn't be right now. Almost as though it had made a slight shift. That was impossible; there was no one at the navigation controls. Maybe she was getting tired as well, or maybe she was unsteady on her feet after the pleasure she had shared with Dritz. Whatever it was, she quickly dismissed it. She had confidence in her ship and there was no reason for anything strange to have occurred.
Besides, it was easy to forget that when she pressed herself close to Dritz's warm, wet body, feeling the heated water wrap around her the same way his arms did.
Dritz couldn't help a playful smirk when he was able to watch Vela remove her clothes. She had noticed the specific parts of her movement that seemed to allure him the most, and now seemed to almost revel in his attention. It was always her slim hips and stomach he enjoyed the most, with the hint of strength and whisper of muscle beneath the silky skin.
"Nah, I think I kind of liked the idea of them coming in and seeing us," the Chrysalan chuckled. "In a way." The first few times they showered together, Dritz had been conscious of the space his body took up and had tried to make himself squish into the corner to allow Vela more space. It quickly became apparent the Aurian wanted the exact opposite, and now they enjoyed being oddly cramped in the shower, sharing warm water and body heat together.
Holding Vela close, Dritz couldn't resist starting to wash her hair for her, without really being asked. He just wanted to play with it and enjoy making her feel nice. He trailed his fingers through her hair with the fragrant soap they had, paying special attention to putting slight pressure on her scalp.
Vela gave Dritz a slightly disapproving frown at the mention of them being seen as a good idea. Even if there was no real shame in their actions, especially someone like Fera ... well, she didn't want him to have the privilege, not that he would want it in the first place.
Soon enough, however, she had forgotten all about princes of Coronus or anything else other than the sensation of Dritz's fingers sliding through her wet hair, a light pressure against her head that was completely soothing to her. It was unlike anything she had experienced, and she enjoyed it so much that Dritz did frequently wash her hair without needing to be asked first.
She pressed herself even closer to him, careful to not let water run over her mechanical eye, before relaxing completely into the feel of his body and his fingers in her hair, the soap's gentle floral scent, and wondering if it would be too soon for them to make love all over again.
-
Hours later, after many relaxed card games and signed conversations as Dritz further practiced his Aurian language skills, Orion finally reappeared from the bunk room looking a bit disheveled. Vela hadn't thought he could look more scruffy, but somehow he had managed it.
"Hey," he greeted them with a grin. "Er... good morning. I take it your... 'day' went well? Fera's in your washroom currently, trying to freshen up, or something. He's really annoyed about it, but..." Vela watched him as he shrugged, not seeming too worried over it. It made her feel better to know that Orion wasn't overly concerned about whether Fera was dissatisfied with the ship. Her confidence had returned, and thanks to that, she had forgotten about the sensation she had experienced before getting into the shower and had not checked any of the consoles.
Dammit, Vela was... Terrifyingly good at the various card games. It seemed that no matter what Dritz suggested they play, within a game or two, she would pick up the rules and methods, and be deep into a winning streak. Were he a more competitive being, Dritz would have been so mad. As it happened, he was childishly, delightedly baffled by it. Were he a more paranoid being, he'd probably suspect her mechanical eye of being an assistance. He knew it was only a lens for distance, of course.
The appearance of Orion took a second to register as he was still reeling from a lost game of Chrysalan Drawback, which Vela won on her very first game; unprecedented even for her. It also happened to be Dritz's best game.
"Hey," he said eventually, looking up. He beamed, "Nice hair! But hey, where do we need to be next, d'you know?"
"Oh... uh," Orion managed less than eloquently, reaching up to feel his hair. Was it really sticking up in three different places? He grinned to himself then, wondering if he should have tried to freshen up the way Fera was. Then again, he was unused to company after waking up on a ship. And he wasn't nearly as fastidious as his lover.
"Thanks, I do my best," he continued, taking a seat with them. "Looks like you're enjoying another game. Wow, I don't know this one." He was studying the cards intently, but then looked up with a sheepish expression. "Oh, right. I'm not fully awake yet. I know you guys got the right coordinates put in. But I don't know much about where we're actually going. It's weird but... I'm not too familiar with Redross as a planet." Now he frowned, disappointed in himself. He was proud of having a fairly extensive knowledge of the galaxy, having traveled so many places. "And it's one of the moons, apparently... huh. Weird. Fera didn't tell me anything about it."
He turned his attention to Vela. "Do you know anything about it?" She shook her head, and Orion watched the light catch the edge of her mechanical eye as she did so. "Any way you could store extra info in your eye someday, like a computer of sorts?" He was teasing, but the Aurian seemed to consider it seriously, glancing at Dritz to translate for her.
[I have thought of modifications before. But I never considered a computer... that would be interesting. It depends on what Dritz thinks, too... I don't think he wants anyone other than himself to work on it.]
Dritz listened contentedly to the two of them (or more Orion, though he knew Vela always contributed non-verbally). Much as he mostly wanted the Nova to be a haven for just himself and Vela, to have someone else there to talk to, to engage with Vela as much as he did. Sometimes he couldn't help but think her unique language might be isolating to her, despite how strong and capable she was. Of course, he'd never really asked...
The mention of her special eye did cause him to pay more attention to the discussion, such as it was able to be before his input. He nodded once he had translated for her, signing along idly as practice.
"Yeah, it's true... I'd really rather I work on your eye," he said seriously. "I know it might seem kinda... Arrogant, but... I love you a lot, flower, and I can't comprehend the idea of trusting anyone touching it." After a moment, he glanced between them, "But, if you trusted someone else too, I wouldn't refuse them."
Vela shook her head, smiling. [It isn't arrogant. I love you too. And even if I trusted someone else to do it, I think I would prefer you did it.] She was in careful, loving hands with Dritz and knew he would also have the skill necessary once she had taught him. What more would she need?
"I see. That's great, though. And it sounds like a fun couples' activity," Orion continued teasing lightly, resting his chin on one hand as he grinned at Dritz and Vela. They really were one of the loveliest couples he had had the pleasure of meeting, too. Both of them were obviously devoted and still quite smitten with each other, supporting and caring in every situation. He could only hope that someday his relationship with Fera would seem half as easy. Speaking of...
"I'm gonna go check on the prince. Maybe comb my hair while I'm at it," he added sheepishly, promising to be back soon. It was taking Fera much too long, even for him.
In the meantime, Vela had fallen into a more businesslike mood as she thought about Fera's next trade visit. Beckoning for Dritz to join her, she walked to the navigation deck to be certain everything was in order.
[We should insist to go with him this time,] she told him, though she was not sure they could necessarily do that. Her life on Aurctas had taught her that trade negotiations could be delicate and thrown off by any number of factors, including the mere presence of certain individuals. Before she could mention this, her gaze fell on the navigation console automatically to check that their course was holding.
It was holding... but not on their original destination.
[We are not headed to the planet I set course for,] she signed slowly to Dritz, still in obvious disbelief. Was it better to stop the ship now, or wait and see if the flight path would correct itself? But how would it have changed in the first place?
"Hey, I've heard weirder activities," Dritz laughed heartily, giving a little wink. He didn't want to say aloud that the thought of giving that to Vela, using his skills to further the enhancement she chose for herself, felt like the most romantic gift he could give her. He didn't want to say that he was deeply interested in her eye; the only thing of its kind he had been made aware of and not felt faint about. Well, nearly. It made her beautiful, and special.
"Okie doke, give us a shout if there's anything you need," the Chrysalan said breezily as Orion left. Vela... didn't seem herself as she escorted him back to the deck.
"Yeah, I think maybe we should... One of us, anyway. You have language for trade, right, would you feel confident enough...?" he stopped mid-thought at the sight of her expression.
"What...? That's not possible," he said, stepping up to the console. Well, it was possible enough, as it was in front of his eyes. "We should alter our course again..." he offered, though he didn't seem so sure himself.
Vela took another long moment to study the console, then shook her head. [I think we should let it take us to the new destination. There is no possible way this happened by itself. Someone has done this deliberately.]
She let the accusation lie for the moment, thinking it over for herself. She had been with Dritz the entire time since she had first set the course. Beyond that, it was impossible that either of them would think to change it. That left Orion and Fera. They had been asleep, but... There was the period of time when Vela had been with Dritz in the washroom. That was the only time it could have been done. Thinking back, she remembered the sensation of the ship shifting under her feet, and frowned at her own negligence in checking the navigation sooner.
Why would Orion change the course? She really had no reason to believe he would. Which left Fera. And it didn't matter what the reason was, she knew he must have done it.
[It was him,] she signed abruptly, turning back to Dritz. She had no sign for Fera's name, but it was usually obvious who she was referring to by her generally more annoyed expression. [He changed the course. You have to confront him over it.]
Vela did not usually act this way, but she was usually not so upset. What right did Fera have to tamper with the controls when he had such disdain for the Nova? It didn't matter who he was, he had no right at all.
Dritz apparently came to the same realisation that Vela had, at roughly the same time, his yellow eyes widening. Literally no one else could have changed course, but...
[Could it have been really, though?] he asked. [He wouldn't know how to touch the Nova, right?] He didn't seem to notice his signing inaccuracies, as he didn't want to risk being overheard.
In truth, he also had no idea what he was supposed to say to the prince, or Orion. But he owed it to Vela; any changes to the ship made without permission from the captain were... Technically mutiny. But then, was that just the crew? Either way, if Fera had tampered with the controls, it was another slight against her generosity in taking him everywhere.
He stepped forward, taking her hands and kissing them before he continued, [We need to remain calm, flower, I am here for you, and I'm sure we can work this out.]
"Gentlemen," Dritz called, trying to sound relaxed. "Could you make your way to the navi console as soon as possible?"
Vela shook her head, frustrated and not really able to think straight. She understood what Dritz's stranger attempts at signing meant, but drew comfort most of all from his effort to assure her they would sort it out.
[I will try. Thank you. I didn't think he was knowledgeable on navigation systems, let alone one as different as this ship. But it's the only explanation... the only one.] She stepped back after Dritz had called for Orion and Fera, staying close to him but wanting to keep a good eye on the way the situation would proceed from here.
It took nearly another ten minutes at the very least for Orion to drag Fera out after they had been called. Of course, it wasn't nearly like dragging at all, as the prince would never have allowed that. But it did take a good deal of flattery, including appreciative comments on the trailing white dress Fera wore, and the detailed work he had put into his hair and makeup. None of that was particularly hard to do though; he was stunning.
"Right, you called?" Orion announced themselves as they entered the room. His smile had been relaxed, but it faded into slight nervousness when he saw the look on Vela's face in particular. He had never seen her very displeased... but she looked that way now. "Is something wrong...?"
Fera found himself wearing a smirk which he had no desire to hide. So they had noticed. "Oh my. Yes. Is something wrong?" he echoed, narrowing his eyes at the Vela when she glared at him.
Dritz didn't have nearly as long to consider what he might say as he would have liked, but really, there was no way around it.
"Let me explain as best I can," he began, shuffling from one foot to the other as he tried to think how to approach the whole situation. No matter what, it would sound like an accusation, so it was probably best to begin with establishing it was not, but really, where did he go from there? "We offered to take you where you needed to be without the expectation of payment, or anything similar, because we knew we owed a debt. Now, I'm not saying anyone's done anything, but also, Vela and I should be the only ones that should be able to change course. The time signature determines that it wasn't either of us, which leaves only yourselves. Neither of us are... angry, as such, we just feel somewhat betrayed by the fact that the ship's delicate navicomputer has clearly been messed with, when it is a vital part of the ship we take great pains to keep working perfectly. Particularly... I feel like this is really disrespectful to Vela. She's been an accommodating captain, guys... And she really didn't have to be. So, I just wanted to ask which of you changed our course? If it needed recalculating, we would rather you inform one of us and we can calculate a much, much safer route."
He knew it was Fera, because of course it was, but he had to seem diplomatic as possible. Maybe Orion would be able to throw in his own thoughts too...
During the course of Dritz's speech, Orion could feel his mouth falling open in disbelief. The navigation had been tampered with? And if he hadn't done it, and Dritz and Vela obviously hadn't...
"Fera..." he said after Dritz had finished, turning to stare at his currently nonchalant partner. "Why would you do this? Everything Dritz said is true. It really is disrespectful to Vela in particular. And I'm really disappointed that you-"
He was interrupted with a loud sigh from Fera, who rolled his eyes and finally acted with anything other than disinterest. "Thank you for just accusing me without proof. But yes, I did change the course. I watched her do it the first time, and I could easily remember how. I am not stupid like you think I am." He was referring to the card game he had participated in, where everyone had treated him so unfairly. Something like this certainly paid them back.
"I wouldn't ruin your precious controls," he continued, glaring at Vela momentarily before sticking his nose in the air. "I'm still on this ship, aren't I? I'm not about to sacrifice myself on it. To be quite honest, I have been rather bored. None of you seem to understand the needs of royalty. So I set the destination to a place I would rather be. I knew you wouldn't agree to just take me. And we should be getting close, considering you have not changed the course again." He smirked triumphantly, clearly not seeing how his behavior was problematic at all.
Orion also sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment. He could just feel a headache coming on. "Fera, you have a lot to learn about proper conduct outside of a royal setting," he muttered before turning back to Dritz and Vela. "I'll certainly say I'm sorry first. This was really uncalled for. Maybe you... should just drop us off at the next station, see if we can find our own way from there."
Dritz added his own sigh, feeling his stomach cramping. The atmosphere was exactly what he had hoped to avoid. It was too close to confrontation, too close to a fight, albeit verbal. He cleared his throat.
"No one has treated you with anything but respect, especially Orion. Maybe once you apologize to Vela, as I think you need, you should be nicer to him too, he's been so pleasant, and so helpful. Frankly, we have all bent to your whims when we didn't really need to," he said, slightly sharply. "Maybe if you were a more humble guest, Vela would have gladly agreed to take you whereverthehell. No one wants to give to someone, or help someone, when they're constantly rude."
He frowned at Orion, not wanting to kick them off, really, but at this stage he was absolutely not about to make that decision. He turned to Vela with a serious expression.
"I think the course of action is yours to decide, flower, being the one who's suffered the most on this journey. Did you wanna deliberate in private, or you know what you wanna do?"
Fera listened with narrowed eyes, bristling slightly the longer Dritz continued. How dare he speak in this way? Who did he think he was, to be able to address him in such a manner?
"I am the prince of Coronus," he managed through gritted teeth. "And you-"
"We're not on Coronus." Orion had interrupted, and Fera turned to stare at him instead. His lover sounded... strangely calm, but also disappointed somehow. "You really can't do whatever you like when you're off the planet. Surely you understand that? Weren't you taught anything about diplomacy? I'm sorry to have to side with everyone else, but they really are right. It's something you have to learn about dealing with others: kindness will get you farther than trying to take what you want all the time. Now, apologize to Vela or I'm going to insist they drop us off, no matter what she decides."
There wasn't any doubt that Orion was serious. This was, oddly, a side of him which Fera found attractive. Not so much in the physical sense... more of a structured feeling that he craved, and hadn't realized before. Slowly, he turned back toward the Aurian, feeling himself trembling with... some emotion he couldn't figure out.
"I am... sorry," he forced himself to say, though it hurt worse than anything he had ever done before. He looked away again, frowning. "I don't like the way the galaxy operates outside of Coronus."
"You want to go back?" Orion prompted, more gently this time. When he was met with silence, he gave Vela a weak smile. "What do you say, Captain Vela? As Dritz said, it's really up to you."
Vela had not signed at all during the entire exchange between the others. However, it only took her a few seconds to reply to Orion and Dritz. [He apologized. I don't really care, so I'd like to continue on. I'm interested in new places, and I would like to see somewhere a prince would have an interest in visiting.] Her mouth curved just barely into a smile, as she nodded for Dritz to translate.
Dritz wanted to tell Fera that he absolutely respected his station as a prince, of course he did. But the difference was that he would respect Fera regardless of his royalty, so long as he was decent enough to Vela, and appreciated how much she had let him speak rudely to her, and accuse her of... well, whatever it was he seemed to think she was doing when she signed. Nevertheless, Fera had apologised, and as far as Dritz was concerned, all was forgiven. This was cemented when Vela explained.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Dritz said respectfully, smiling. It did mean a lot to him to see Vela's smile coming through, even slightly. "Vela says she's happy to continue on course, and that she's interested to see where someone of your high birth would wish to go." His gaze flickered to Vela, and they exchanged a knowing look. Fera would probably love that she wished to know specifically where a prince might want to be, and he thought that an especially smart thing to emphasise.
"Does she, now," Fera muttered, but quickly changed his apparent attitude when he realized Orion was still watching him closely. "Fine. That works for me. And you all should be excited to learn that we are headed to... well, it's a resort, I suppose you could say. It's very exclusive, however, only for those of importance around the galaxy and any guests they choose to bring. Of course, it's also very luxurious. I don't know, I'm just so bored here on this tiny ship, without a large room of my own, or real baths, or... anything. I need to be somewhere more fitting, at least for a while."
Orion was now smiling weakly, and it was obvious he was bewildered by this sudden turn of events. "Alright, but Fera... I'm guessing a place like that is pretty expensive. We can't just-"
"Oh, we can," the prince sighed. He was remembering what Dritz said about treating Orion better. Wouldn't this be a wonderful gift for him? "I will pay for everything. I am worth more credits than you can even imagine. And you'd never even guess how much profit I made at our last stop. We could stay weeks on that alone."
"Ah..." Orion had lost none of his bewildered look, turning it toward Dritz and Vela instead. "You both still interested in something like this?"
[He said something about baths,] Vela signed eagerly to Dritz. [You think it's worth going, don't you?] If this "resort" was large enough, then maybe they could stay far away from Fera the entire time... though the baths alone were nearly enough to sell it to her.
Dritz blinked in surprise, looking at both Orion and Vela. The Aurian, the woman he had fallen so deeply in love with, had the bright look in her eye that always brought a flutter of joy and adoration. She was so excited about the idea of the baths, of course he wanted her to be able to go and enjoy it, but...
"I'm not sure we could," he muttered, embarrassed. Fera had not specifically offered to pay for himself and Vela as well, or if they had been included, Dritz couldn't take it in good conscience anyway. "I mean... I really want to. But can we afford to pay our way?"
He hated to ask her in front of the other two, but he had to know they'd be comfortable affording their room on the station, as well as fuel and supplies.
Fera sighed loudly, interrupting their conversation before Vela could even lift her hands to reply. "Listen, I don't make these plans without thought, much as it may surprise you. I will pay for everything. Think of it as... the payment you would not take for our transport earlier. I know it was in repayment of your debt to me, but I suppose... that with what has occurred, you are in need of some extra compensation."
Vela considered this, turning to Dritz with a comforting expression. [I think he's trying to say it's to pay us back for all the trouble he's caused. And he did cause a lot of trouble. So we should take him up on the offer. I feel like he owes it to us. And it should be relaxing. It's alright, isn't it?] She had turned slightly fretful, wondering if her partner wouldn't agree to it. At the same time, she would much rather he be happy with the decision that was made, and always wanted to keep his opinion in mind.
"Fera..." Dritz said, his antennae conveying his surprise in a high arc, "That's very nice of you."
He considered protesting, but it also felt rude to dismiss a gracious form of apology. Dritz's parents had always taught him to not take anything for granted, but also to appreciate generosity when it was given, and it was clearly being given in this moment.
Plus Vela was adorably eager, he could tell.
"Alright. That'd be great. Thanks, I know we'll have a great time." And perhaps it would be a chance to further whatever friendship they might be cultivating.
"Of course," Fera replied, a satisfied smirk taking over his expression. It was really too easy to get them to agree with his wishes. While it would have been even easier to just ask them outright... for now he didn't care.
He glanced casually at the viewscreen, his smirk just getting bigger. "And as you can see, we are already arriving. It's a small planet, simply called 'Paradise' by anyone who knows it exists. But you could never even dream of the luxury you can experience there." Despite how smug he was, he genuinely had also wanted to take Orion to this exact location. He had never felt this way about anyone before, but he had a strong desire to take his partner somewhere he could relax and enjoy himself.
Vela barely heard what the Coronal was saying as she stared at the screen. The planet would have been a tiny dot among the distant stars, and yet... it was glowing so much more brightly than they were. As they approached, that glow only grew brighter, and she had trouble actually figuring out what color it was. It seemed pink... or orange? Yellow?
[Is the light changing?] she signed absently to Dritz. [Why does it look like that?] Though she hadn't seen as many planets as others, none of them had looked even remotely like this.
Dritz managed to divide his attention between Fera and the planet fairly well, at least he thought so. Of course it made sense for the prince to be aware of some sort of bright, overpriced, exclusive world like this, but also...
Vela. She would love it so much, and Dritz would never have known about it if it weren't for Fera, nor would he have been able to fund such a luxury. He owed him something. A heartfelt thanks at the very least, when he was able to get him alone.
The planet's mysterious illumination baffled him too, however.
"I dunno, flower, to be honest. My guess would be something to do with debris or gases in the atmosphere, but that doesn't seem quite right."
Vela contemplated Dritz's idea as they continued to approach the planet, but upon coming close enough for communications, it became obvious that the glow was due to the sheer amount of light somehow coming from it. Was it somehow being projected, or was it truly so bright on the surface...?
When the comms screen flickered on, she was further surprised to see a light-haired human male appear to greet them. Her surprise was mainly due to not having seen many of his species so far, not even on Hesperus. She was in somewhat of a daze as he talked, seeming to recognize Fera, and easily admitting them clearance and access to a dock despite how unusual the Nova must surely appear. Vela really did not even register much of what he said beyond the landing coordinates, and she entered them quickly and navigated the ship to land with her usual precision and skill despite anything else.
She was further awed when they left the dock, carrying only a few personal bags with them for now (except for Fera, who had Orion carrying several more for him.) What appeared to be a city spreading out before them was enough to make her stop and stare, mainly because of how all the relatively low buildings were lit. The bright colors she had seen from space were not harsh on her vision here on the surface, so she guessed the light there had been due to the planet likely being covered in lights such as these. The glow of the electrical strips and panels illuminated the beings who walked around enjoying the warm temperature and pink-tinged sky, many of them dressed in very little clothing as well.
Without realizing it, Vela had completely halted to stare around her, finding it all so strange and different than anything she could have imagined previously, but also completely wonderful.
Despite his theories being, he thought, sound enough, Dritz was incredibly surprised to see that the planet was almost emitting the light itself. It was so odd, but so beautiful. The glow seemed to be made up of every warm colour in the spectrum, in turn making the viewer feel that warmth.
Even the comms greeter was warm in colouring.
Upon setting foot there, Dritz was transfixed at all of the beautiful lighting, warmth, and scents of the city. Most big cities he'd experienced smelled of damp cement and ash, with a hint of smoke; food, narcotics, pollution, but this one was all fresh flowers, light spice, and sweetness. He couldn't hide his wide smile as he roamed alongside them.
"This is incredible," he muttered. "But where do we go?"
Fera sighed as if slightly put out, beginning to lead the way since everyone else was so awestruck. Even Orion, though it shouldn't have been a surprise to the prince. His lover had never visited a place so exclusive, not being royal or wealthy.
There was no need to board any of the transportation, as the best rooms could be found within a very short distance from the docks. It was actually the highest building in the area, with a total of ten stories, if Fera's memory was accurate. He swept inside with the others trailing behind him as though they were lost, putting a smirk on his face. They really would be lost without him there.
"Prince Fera," gasped the attendant behind the richly carved desk just inside, also a human. "And you have guests! Marvelous. I know just what rooms you need." The prince had been here with various other consorts in the past, though he wouldn't bring that up in present company. They were assigned two rooms, and Fera already knew that he and Orion would be staying in his particular favorite, decorated in all in soft white and gold as though it was made specifically for the taste of a Coronal royal. Considering this planet, perhaps it really had been.
He had no interest in where Dritz and Vela would be staying, only handing them their keycard with a nonchalant shrug. "We'll meet back here in half an hour," he said, eager to show his room to Orion and all but dragging the surprised man away.
Vela glanced at Dritz with a little smile, still bewildered but completely fine with being left alone for now. She peered at the keycard to see it read '103.' It took some help from the Chrysalan, but they managed to find this room down one of the branching hallways and opened the door to walk inside.
Once again Vela stared, unused to seeing a room such as this. It appeared nearly as large as the Nova's entire interior, though she might have misjudged it. Either way, it was enormous and contained a bed that would likely fit four people in total, and other furniture of a clean, modern style draped in many exotic-looking furs. To her surprise, there was also an impressive bath, though not as large as what Fera seemed to be promising elsewhere, but still enough to hold herself and Dritz with room left to spare.
The colors of the room were pale and muted, but this was hard to tell since it was also decorated and illuminated by glowing neon strips which ran along part of the walls and furniture, and even around the bath. They all looked as though they could be switched off independently, but Vela was not bothered by them; the light they put out was much fainter than anything outside. It felt warm and pleasant, and she finally turned to Dritz to sign, [Have you ever seen such a room before?] It was probably a silly question, but while she was still overwhelmed, it was all she could ask.
Dritz stood beside Vela, equally awestruck by the stunning room they found themselves in. Enormous and bathed in pastel shades of blue, pink, and purple, it was fit for royalty. Of course, since Fera had secured the rooms, then it was highly likely they were made for royals.
He couldn't resist striding in and turning, arms outstretched. Even the biggest indoor area on Chrysala was almost always closely furnished, one would never be able to throw one's arms out and spin in this way.
"Never. This is possibly the biggest room for this kinda purpose I've ever seen! I mean, assembly chambers and stuff are big, but this is just a bedroom! And, I guess, a bathroom at the same time," he laughed, bounding over to the bath and examining the lights surrounding it. He bent over it, tipping his head upside down in an amusing way. After a second of investigation, there was a soft swish noise and the lights began to bleed into different colours, slowly and elegantly.
"Whoa, we have got to have a long bath later," he said excitedly, looking up at her.
Watching Dritz with a touch of amusement, Vela couldn't help but then follow him and peer at the bath as well, nodding an enthusiastic agreement. Wherever there was water she could submerge herself in, she wanted to be there; even better if her partner could join her.
Just the thought of it made her relax, and she moved from the bath to place the bags she was carrying at the foot of the bed. With a glance back at Dritz, she climbed onto the bed and stretched herself out on the pale pink fabric. Of course, the lights all around made it turn into a pale blue shortly after. There was so much room that she could also hold her arms out and still have plenty to spare. While there was much to be said for a small, cozy resting place, this was an experience she would certainly not turn away from.
[We will have to spend a lot of time here too,] she signed playfully, beckoning for him to join her. They had a little time left, didn't they?
Dritz couldn't help but continue to fiddle with the bath lights, discovering that one could set the colours, pulse length, how long each colour held, and even music to accompany one's bath. Okay, he wanted one.
When he looked up to see what Vela was up to, his eyes widened a fraction, his antennae undulating curiously. He straightened up and strode over, smiling flirtatiously.
[Yes, I think that would be important], he signed. "Maybe if I-" he clambered up to her, leaning over her, "Pick you up straight after a bath, with you still naked and warm-" he kissed her, "And lay you on here, surrounded by all the pillows... Then make love to you all night... Would that be something you might have in mind for our time?"
Vela could feel herself melting with happiness at Dritz's words and kiss. Easily aroused as usual, she was quick to reach for him and pull him closer, bringing their lips together again with more passion.
"Yes," she replied aloud, a word she had practiced more than others, breathing it more as a soft sigh this time. Her hands came up to tug at his clothing, thinking maybe they could start now, except...
Releasing Dritz, she sighed again in a much more disappointed way. [It will have to be tonight. We were supposed to meet the others again soon... I think they will be waiting now.]
1 note · View note
lawyerserving456 · 1 year ago
Text
Understanding the Grounds for Divorce in Canada
Divorce can be a challenging and emotional process. Understanding the legal grounds for divorce in Canada is crucial for anyone considering ending their marriage. This guide will explore the grounds for divorce Canada, provide an overview of the Divorce Act Canada, and discuss specific considerations for divorce in Nova Scotia.
Grounds for Divorce Canada
In Canada, the grounds for divorce are outlined in the Divorce Act Canada. The act specifies that there is only one ground for divorce: the breakdown of the marriage. This breakdown can be established in one of three ways:
Separation: The most common ground for divorce is living separate and apart for at least one year. This does not necessarily mean living in different homes; couples can be considered separated even if they continue to live under the same roof, provided they lead separate lives.
Adultery: If one spouse commits adultery, the other spouse can file for divorce on this basis. It requires proof of adultery, which can be challenging to obtain.
Cruelty: If one spouse treats the other with physical or mental cruelty, making continued cohabitation intolerable, this can also be grounds for divorce. Like adultery, cruelty must be proven in court, which can involve presenting evidence of abusive behaviour.
The Divorce Act Canada
The Divorce Act Canada is the federal legislation governing divorce in the country. It sets out the legal framework for dissolving marriages and addresses issues such as child custody, spousal support, and the division of property. The act aims to ensure that divorces are handled fairly and that the best interests of any children involved are prioritized.
Under the Divorce Act Canada, couples must demonstrate the breakdown of their marriage by meeting one of the grounds for divorce. The act also encourages spouses to settle their differences through negotiation or mediation before resorting to court proceedings.
Grounds for Divorce in Canada: A Closer Look
Understanding the specific grounds for divorce in Canada can help you navigate the process more effectively. Whether it's separation, adultery, or cruelty, each ground has its requirements and implications.
Separation: Requires living apart for at least one year, which can be done while living in the same house but under separate conditions.
Adultery: This must be proven, often through evidence that can be difficult to obtain.
Cruelty: Requires demonstrating that one spouse's behaviour made cohabitation intolerable, which can involve presenting evidence of abuse or harassment.
Divorce in Nova Scotia
For those seeking a divorce Nova Scotia, it's essential to understand how provincial laws interact with the federal Divorce Act Canada. Nova Scotia follows the same grounds for divorce as the rest of Canada but may have specific procedures and local court requirements.
Residents of Nova Scotia should consult with a local family lawyer to understand the nuances of filing for divorce in the province. This includes understanding any additional documentation or procedural steps required by Nova Scotia courts.
Navigating the grounds for divorce in Canada can be complex, but understanding the basics can help you make informed decisions. The Divorce Act Canada provides a clear legal framework, and knowing whether you qualify under separation, adultery, or cruelty can streamline the process. For residents of Nova Scotia, seeking local legal advice can ensure that you meet all provincial requirements and proceed smoothly with your divorce. Whether you're considering a divorce or are already in the process, being informed about your rights and obligations is crucial for achieving a fair and just resolution.
0 notes
keulixeutin · 3 years ago
Text
𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. 𝐟𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
novae, she/her, 30+, asian-american. lover of fake men. follows from keuli-xeutin.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥.
✗━━━━ ❛ NOT SPOILER FREE. ✗━━━━ ❛ i treat this blog as my personal journal, diary, writeblr, & garbage can. ✗━━━━ ❛ i mostly write fluff, but will reblog smut and dark content! ✗━━━━ ❛ triggers are tagged as trigger tw, and my own personal tags are:  ╰【 FILED UNDER … 】❖ ━━━━━ ❛ 18+ 」 ╰【 FILED UNDER … 】❖ ━━━━━ ❛ dark content 」 ✗━━━━ ❛ not on hiatus—just slow af!
Tumblr media
MASTERLIST ❖ TAGGING ❖ REQUEST ❖ ABOUT 
Tumblr media
𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝.
✗━━━━ ❛ humdrum . a hiei x reader oneshot. ✗━━━━ ❛ snapshot series: some days . an aizawa x reader drabble. (18+)
Tumblr media
𝐰𝐢𝐩𝐬.
✗━━━━ ❛ knockout, bakugou x f!reader. ✗━━━━ ❛ devil that i know, dabi x f!reader ✗━━━━ ❛ snapshot series, bnha x gn!reader. ✗━━━━ ❛ & a bajillion others.
Tumblr media
37 notes · View notes
grassroutes · 5 years ago
Text
Nova3d Bene4 Mono: A Stunning Resin Printer Let Down by Proprietary Software
Nova3D Bene4 Mono
8.00 / 10
Read Reviews
Read More Reviews
Read More Reviews
Read More Reviews
Read More Reviews
Read More Reviews
Read More Reviews
Read More Reviews
Read More Reviews
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Shop Now
The large build area and super quick build times make the Nova Bene4 Mono a fantastic printer at a budget price. Unfortunately, the Novamaker software falls behind other options.
Specifications
Brand : Nova3D
XY Resolution: 2560 x 1620
Build area: 5.1 x 2.8 x 5.9 inches
Layer Thickness: 25 to 100 microns
Printer Size: 15 x 11.8 x 19.3 inches
Pros
Capable of incredibly detailed models
Faster than many other printers in its class
Some nice quality of life features
Cons
Proprietary slicing filetype and lackluster software
Buy This Product
Tumblr media
Nova3D Bene4 Mono other
Shop
<![CDATA[ // Bottom var galleryThumbs1 = new Swiper('.gallery-thumbs-1', { spaceBetween: 10, slidesPerView: 10, freeMode: true, watchSlidesVisibility: true, watchSlidesProgress: true, centerInsufficientSlides: true, allowTouchMove: false, preventClicks: false, breakpoints: { 1024: { slidesPerView: 6, } }, }); // Top var galleryTop1 = new Swiper('.gallery-top-1', { spaceBetween: 10, allowTouchMove: false, loop: true, preventClicks: false, breakpoints: { 1024: { allowTouchMove: true, } }, navigation: { nextEl: '.swiper-button-next', prevEl: '.swiper-button-prev', }, thumbs: { swiper: galleryThumbs1 } }); ]]>
The Nova3D Bene4 Mono is a budget resin printer offering fast print times and incredible quality thanks to its 2K monochrome LCD screen. There are some nice quality of life touches included in the design, and the printer is as easy to use as resin-based printers can be.
youtube
Bene4 Mono: A Familiar Design?
At first glance, the Bene4 Mono looks like every other desktop-sized resin printer. The solid metal base contains a touch screen for operation. Above, you find the LCD screen, metal resin vat, and z-axis with build plate; the constituent parts for all MSLA printers of this type.
Tumblr media
Look a little closer, however, and you'll notice several nice features. The UV hood, designed to stop unwanted light from getting to the resin, is fitted on a strong hinge. This means that you don't have to lift the whole top off to interact with the printer.
Tumblr media
The build plate has four adjustment screws attached to it. You'll need these when leveling the plate, and the four screw design is a lot less hassle than the usual two screws/ball joint combination you'll find on similar printers.
Tumblr media
Finally, the resin tray has four small feet attached to the bottom. These help you guide the resin tray into the correct position for printing, but they have an even more useful function.
Tumblr media
When you need to clean out old resin, especially after a failed print, you don't have to worry about damaging the clear PEP filter on the underside of the resin tray. The feet elevate it enough to keep it free of any dust or grime on your work surface.
It's clear that this printer has had a fair bit of thought put into it, but how well does it print?
Beautiful Prints at Fast Speeds
The full-color guide that comes with the Nova3d Bene4 Mono takes you through everything you need to perform your first prints with the machine. The model I reviewed came with the build plate already level, so all that was left was to pour in some resin and start a test print.
Tumblr media
The printer comes with a USB drive containing two pre-sliced test prints. Both show off just how impressive the print quality is on the Bene4 Mono. The octopus prints as one piece, though each linked tentacle comes loose after printing. The Nova3D logo has a lot of intricate geometry to support while printing, along with some wafer this intricacy within the globes.
The "Mono" in the name relates to the monochrome LCD screen that provides the UV light mask. Monochrome screens allow for faster printing by allowing through more of the UV light compared to older color LCD screens and have a longer lifetime. While this is a big improvement over the previous generation of printers, it's becoming increasingly commonplace.
The quality is clearly there, and while there are 4k printers at this price range, there's nothing low quality about these prints.
Connecting to the Bene4 Mono
The Bene4 Mono comes with a 4.3 inch "smart" touchscreen, which is easy to navigate and worked without any hitches. Alongside manual movement options, you can use the menus to trigger prints stored on a USB drive, or in the printer's local 8GB memory.
Tumblr media
You'll also use this menu to connect the printer to your network. Once connected to Wi-Fi, I didn't find myself using the screen all that often, though the screen showing the leftover time for a print and a graphical representation of the layer currently being printed was a handy reference during prints.
Everything You Need to Get Started?
Resin printing requires careful preparation. Appropriate safety gear is essential, and there are a few tools you'll need for post-processing. Nova3d provides some basic tools and accessories, including a few pairs of high-quality nitrile gloves, but you'll want to get a few more things ready before starting your first print.
Tumblr media
Alongside resin for printing, you need isopropyl alcohol for washing finished prints. The pump-action spray bottle they provide is cute but not all that useful. Realistically you need a box large enough to fit any finished model into and enough isopropyl alcohol to submerge it fully for cleaning.
Tumblr media
The plastic scraper they provide is perfect for cleaning the FEP filter without damaging it, but you may want to get a thin metal blade for getting stuck prints off the build plate. You'll need a lot more gloves than they give you and a pair of safety goggles to protect your eyes when you inevitably splash yourself with a mixture of resin and almost pure alcohol.
Tumblr media
Finally, you'll need a way to cure your prints. Resin doesn't fully harden until it's been cured under UV lights for several hours. If you live in a sunny place, then you can leave them in direct sunlight. If you don't, you'll need to either buy a UV curing station or make your own. Even homemade and far from perfect setups can work, but your mileage may vary.
Nova3D does provide a spare FEP film, which is a nice touch as the FEP film at the bottom of the tank requires cleaning between each resin change. Failed prints will also end up stuck to it, and when it gets damaged, you must replace it. Thankfully, this is an easy task using the provided Allen key.
Tumblr media
Regardless of which model you choose, resin printing is not for the faint-hearted. If you are a complete beginner to 3d printing or share your space with children, a more traditional FDM printer might be a better place to start.
Are There Any Downsides to the Bene4 Mono?
In terms of the hands-on experience, the Bene4 Mono is as easy to use as resin printers get. The only design flaw is the USB drive position, which is round the back next to the barrel jack and ethernet port. If you use it a lot, I can imagine this getting annoying, but after the test prints, I sent every print to it over the local network and never used it again, so it wasn't an issue.
Tumblr media
Everything about the printer itself seems well thought out, and I was excited to spin up some slicing software and print some more tests. Unfortunately, this is where the issues start.
Novamaker: The Only Software for the Bene4 Mono
Almost all resin printers use Chitubox as the software for supporting and slicing models before printing. It's been updated many times over the years, and there is a strong community behind it, providing tutorials and tips on YouTube and in the forums.
Nova3d provide their own software called Novamaker. While it does the job, it's nowhere near as powerful as Chitubox and is missing some key features. You cannot hollow models using Novamaker, and there are fewer options for adding print support structures.
Tumblr media
Novamaker has received some significant updates in recent months, and while there is an unofficial plugin for Chitubox, which adds support for the .cws slicer files the printer takes, it's prone to breaking��and wasn't functional to test during this review.
The options for printing were to use pre-hollowed and supported models, print solid models (a massive waste of resin), or do all preparation work in another piece of software and import the .stl file into Novamaker for printing.
This is a small workaround, but it's not one any other printer in this class makes you do.
If you have a well-supported model, you'll get incredible quality prints with little fuss. This charming doggo from MyMiniFactory user Spare Oom Studios, among several others, came out looking stunning:
Tumblr media
Unfortunately, if you import a raw model and expect the Novamaker software to prepare it for printing, there's little way of telling if the print will succeed.
The in-software features for controlling the printer and sending prints over the network all worked flawlessly. It's just a shame that they didn't leave it at that and use the same software as everyone else.
Should You Buy the Nova3d Bene4 Mono
This is undoubtedly a fantastic printer, and from a hands-on user perspective, I can't fault it. It creates beautiful prints quickly and has a number of quality of life features that put it above other printers at this price range.
Tumblr media
For $299, you're not going to find a printer that blends as many nice features as this one, and in the future, I'd recommend this printer to anyone interested in resin printing. For now, I'd wait until the Novamaker software improves or they add stable support for Chitubox before buying.
You can buy the Nova3d Bene4 Mono direct from Nova3d for $299.
Nova3d Bene4 Mono: A Stunning Resin Printer Let Down by Proprietary Software posted first on grassroutespage.blogspot.com
0 notes
magzoso-tech · 6 years ago
Photo
Tumblr media
New Post has been published on https://magzoso.com/tech/huawei-announces-emui-10-global-rollout-schedule-p30-pro-to-receive-update-this-month/
Huawei Announces EMUI 10 Global Rollout Schedule, P30 Pro to Receive Update This Month
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Huawei has finally announced the EMUI 10 update schedule for its portfolio of phones, including the Huawei P30 and Huawei P30 Pro. The rollout is set to begin from this month itself, and the Mate 20 and Mate 10 series phones will get the update as well. The new software brings a new interface, an ergonomic dark mode, natural animations, improved performance and security and multi-screen collaboration that enables seamless connectivity between PCs and Android phones. To recall, EMUI 10 was first unveiled at Huawei Developer Conference last year in August.
The company puts to rest all the confusion regarding the global rollout schedule of the EMUI 10 update, by announcing that the Huawei P30 Pro, Huawei P30, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Huawei Mate 20, Huawei Mate 20X 4G, and Huawei Nova 5T will start receiving the EMUI 10 update starting this month. Phones like Huawei Mate 20 RS Porsche Design, Huawei Mate 20X 5G, Huawei P30 Lite, Huawei Nova 4e, Huawei P20, Huawei P20 Pro, Huawei Mate 10, Huawei Mate 10 Pro, Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design, Huawei Mate Porsche Design RS, Huawei P Smart 2019, Huawei P Smart+ 2019, Huawei P Smart Pro, Huawei P Smart Z, Huawei Nova 4, and Huawei Nova Lite 3 will get the update in later months.
Phones that are slated to start receiving the update from this month onwards, should regularly look out for a notification or check for eligibility by going Settings > System > Software Update on their devices. Once you receive the update, it is recommended that you install under a strong Wi-Fi connection and while the phone is on charge.
To recall, the Huawei Mate 30 and Huawei Mate 30 Pro were launched in September last year with EMUI 10 software out-of-the-box. Few phones like the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 and the Honor 10 Lite have already received the Android 10 update in India. Some Huawei P30 and Mate 20 phones in Europe also were reported to get the update, but the global rollout is now said to begin this month. As mentioned, the EMUI 10 update brings a magazine-style UI, improved navigation experience, a new Morandi colour palette, redesigned app icons, and a Camera app redesign as well. The Dark Mode has been improved to engineer ergonomic results to attain optimal result between text and background. There’s new touch animations, and a new Deterministic Latency Engine intelligently optimises resource allocation for foreground apps. The GPU Turbo has been upgraded to reduce touch latency while delivering improved gaming performance and battery efficiency, and an isolated secure system is applied in EMUI10.
The company notes in a statement to 9to5Google, “All payment, authentication and other highly sensitive operations are run on-device, preventing potential interception and theft. The connection setup, data transfer and stored information between devices are also encrypted in the system.” The multi-screen collaboration feature enables a seamless connection between Huawei PCs and smartphones. Users can easily transfer files between devices, and a clipboard is also shared between the PC and the smartphone, allowing users to copy text on one device and paste it on another.
Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 Android 10 Update Starts Rolling Out in India With EMUI 10
Honor 10 Lite Gets Android 10-Based EMUI 10 Update in India: Report
Huawei P30 Series, Mate 20 Series Android 10-Based EMUI 10 Global Stable Update Rollout Begins: Reports
0 notes
access-excel-tip · 6 years ago
Text
New Post has been published on Access-Excel.Tips
New Post has been published on https://access-excel.tips/how-to-convert-excel-to-pdf/
How to convert Excel to PDF
Tumblr media
This Excel tutorial explains how to export Excel to PDF in Microsoft Excel and convert Excel to PDF using different online tools.
How to convert Excel to PDF
Excel spreadsheets are widely being used in today’s world in order to manage data. The ability to organize data effectively has contributed a lot towards the popularity of the Excel files. However, the Excel files are not portable and it is not the best method available for you to send out a document. That’s because there is a possibility for the recipient to edit the Excel file. The formatting that you have on the Excel file can also get changed when you are sending it to someone. That’s where you will come across the requirement to convert Excel to PDF.
When you want to convert Excel to PDF, you are provided with a variety of options to consider. It is up to you to go through these options and select the best one out of them. Then you will be able to get an enhanced experience at the end of the day. In fact, you can easily overcome the hassle and pain that is linked with getting the Excel files converted to PDF.
Here is a list of 3 of the best tools, which are available for you to convert Excel to PDF. You can take a look at these tools and settle down with the best option out of them.
Onlineconvertfree.com
Onlineconvertfree.com can be considered as one of the most impressive and innovative tools available for you to convert Excel to PDF. You will be able to get an enhanced experience out of this tool. However, you need to understand that the primary functionality of this tool is not to help you convert Excel to PDF. Instead, it can be considered as a versatile and an all-around converter. You will be able to convert any kind of a file to a supported file format with the assistance that you are getting from onlineconvertfree.com.
The simplicity of onlineconvertfree.com, which you can experience at the time of converting Excel files to PDF files is impressive. You will love the overall conversion process and how it will be able to deliver quick results to you. Onlineconvertfree.com has got a simple and easy to use interface. You can easily upload the raw files that you have into this file converter. Then you will be able to select the output file format. For example, if you upload an Excel file, you can select the output file format as PDF. Then you will be able to get the file converted with minimum hassle. The Excel to PDF conversion process is instant as well and you will be able to end up with outstanding results at the end of the day.
Nova PDF
Nova PDF can be considered as an addon, which you can download to Excel. You can easily integrate this add-on with Excel and then proceed with the file conversion. It is compatible with all the applications that come under Microsoft Office package, including Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. On the other hand, users are provided with the opportunity to create PDF files directly from the Microsoft Excel interface. This can provide a smooth experience.
Once you have configured Nova PDF with Microsoft Excel, which you have installed on your computer, you will be able to see that as a new menu item. You can visit the menu and then click on the option named as “Save As PDF”. Then you will be able to initiate the PDF conversion. The Excel workbook will immediately be converted into a PDF as well and you will be able to experience a smooth conversion. Hence, it is a great option that you can consider.
Export Excel to PDF in Microsoft Excel
Without downloading and configuring any other tool with Microsoft Excel, you are able to get the PDF conversions done as well.
In Excel, navigate to File > Save As, in the Save As Type,  you can save a file as different file types. Below are the available types in Excel 2013.
  Select PDF, then click on the button Options
  In Options, you can select whether to export Entire workbook to PDF or just Active worksheet(s).
Note that Entire workbook means all worksheets are exported to one PDF.
Active sheet(s) means to export the selected sheets to one PDF. Normally Active sheet means the worksheet you are currently viewing before you press Save As, but you can hold down Ctrl to select multiple worksheets in order to export specific worksheets to one PDF.
Unfortunately there is no built-in option to save each worksheet as separate PDF, but you can refer to my previous post to do it with Excel VBA.
0 notes
werecogsinthemachine · 8 years ago
Text
End Times, Fall of Terra- Part One
>Activation Protocol Live, AI  Ultimum Actum online, temporal data storage crystal: Stable >Dimensional Bouy Online, Relative date and time: Unknown Error, SSDTB  (Shiva Standard Space/Time Broadcast) Not found, entangled partner missing >Lifeforms Detected, Class 4, Intelligent Humanoid, Sampling local dialect for translation if needed >Receptive device detected, Beginning preface data stream: Intro 001, video/audio recording
“Greetings. My name is Gaberil Reed. If you’re seeing this…well, hopefully we have won. Enclosed within this buoy is a compete record of the series of events leading to the launching of this device, including files on personnel. Last Light, the on board AI, will help you navigate these files. Know that what we did, we did for redemption.”
>Hello, I am Last Light. You may use your touch screen to navigate file selection. >… >You have selected Incident 34, Ley Line Necrosis >Beginning video/audio record. Please note: while one subject was interviewed for this, data was pulled from other reports and a clinically undead brain for a more complete picture for events. >Beginning playback of Memory Engram A-23, taken from infected individual: Jane Doe
>Sector 0034, Extreme Inner Disk area, 7000 light years from Galactic Core, Planetary system E289 “Daemon’s Playground”
Daemon class planets were the most inhospitable planets in the galaxy. The planets in the Daemon’s Playground were particularly bad. Liquid iron acid rain, unstable tectonic activity, winds like in the atmosphere of Jupiter, and problems with the flow of space/time due to their proximity to the gravity well of the galactic core were common.
Such rifts opened ways between worlds when reality was stretch especially thin, such as the cataclysmic end of the Cancer Mage, when his planet was torn apart by Nether Drives. Chunks of his infected world were ejected into the atmosphere of E289-3, one of the least nasty of the system with a few microbial species in its cave systems.
The chunk of rock that impacted was large enough to send ash into the atmosphere, wrapping the planet in a protective darkness, and coating the planetary fragment in a thick enough covering that what was left of the Cancer Mage was not dissolved. It slicked into the caves, infesting the microbes and twisting them to his needs. Calcium and iron deposits were drawn up from the ground, making a skeleton. Left over organics were pulled from a ship that had some remaining bits of humans left, and wrapped up in a cocoon of nutrients.
Two years passed, leaving E289-3 in the throws of an ice age, which in this case was a balmy temperature, helping the Mage to regenerate his body, while he gathered power from the Lay Line running through the center of the galaxy. The planet began to twist around him, reordering to his monumental will. Even the system’s star started to go gray and filmy, like an eye with a cataract.
As his influence slowly crept across space, infected individuals started coming to the system, taking orbit over the plague world, basking and mutating vile power that radiated from it. A massive fleet congregated after months, waiting for their master to rise from his world and lead them again.
>Beginning video playback of interview with subject Gaberil Reed, Fleet Admiral, Shiva Organization >Interviewer: AI Ultimum Actum, Last Light >Interview takes place aboard flagship Titanicus, enroute to Galactic Core
Last Light watched the Fleet Commander through his cameras and sensors for a moment before speaking. To an entity such as Last Light, who could run trillions of complex calculations in seconds and still have processing power leftover to do hundreds of other tasks, this was the equivalent of a few days.
The giant man was cleaning his armor. A relaxation ritual, or so his psychoanalysis subroutine was telling Light, that humans would fall into when under stress. Light wondered what the AI equivalent was to such a menial task. The Fleet Admiral was on autopilot as he worked on his armor, not having to think about
it much, since he had done this many times before. For an AI like Light, not thinking was impossible. He was, after a fashion, made of thought. There was no task he could really do simple to take up time. He filed the train of thought for later. Soon, he would have forever to contemplate such things.
Light did the AI equivalent of clearing his throat, playing a single chime to get Gabe’s attention, then projected his holographic form. An orange sized, crackling ball of flames sprang to life. Light felt his name sake was enough to choose his former for him, and he enjoyed the simplicity of it. He could convey emotion through shades of flame and intensity, and some humans seemed to find the tiny floating camp fire relaxing.
“Good evening, Fleet Admiral.” The AI said. His voice was a near baritone, tinged with crackles that would come with a camp fire, and sparks were projected to complete the hologram.
“Light.” Gabe said, not turning from his work. He was drumming a finger on a dent in his chest plate, using little pulses of kinetic energy to bend it back into shape. The rune etched metal glowed faintly from heat. “What can I do for you?”
Light’s projection floated forwards, seeming to look of the Fleet Admiral’s shoulder. An illusion, since Light was literally everywhere when he was loaded into Titanicus’s computer systems. “I’m here for our next interview. This one is a record of the Ley Line Incident.”
Gabe nodded as he worked. “The dimensional buoy. How are your other recordings coming?”
“Very well, sir. I have ten more to go.”
“Alright Light, I’ll start then.” Gabe set his armor aside and looked into one of Light’s many cameras, and began to recite his tale.
>Terra, Sol System, January 15th 2568 >Five weeks before Cataclysm
I knew there was trouble when news came down about the four ships exiting the Jump Gate. A Seelie and Unseelie ship, flanking a ship of the Circle. All three were instantly recognizable, the Circle blood red with gold trim and a gold circle on each side of the bow. She was a mage guild ship, and the golden trim and circle emblem were crisscrossed with complex runes and sigils that could be empowered for attack and defense.
The Fae ships were an exercise in opposites. To the right of the Circle cruiser, the Nova Court’s ship was golden, seeming to flow through space on her delicate solar wind sails. Her hull curved gently, a sight so pleasant it was relaxing to look at. While not obviously armed, I knew the ship could bring devastation through beams of pure Light strong enough to cook a Destroyer in a few shots.
On the cruiser’s left was the Unseelie, or Void Court, ship. She was like a predator stalking through the sky, all sharp edges hardly contained strength. She rode on a plume of darkness, an utterly black cloud that left a slowly vanishing trail behind her.
Behind all three was the last ship, wrapped in magic and being tugged along by means he couldn’t see, probably more magic. She was glossy gray and shaped like a dagger, her bow splashed liberally with something that looked like old, caked on blood. Her engine bank was dark, but a look showed she was a predator, and she held a pack within. Landing bays were across her flanks, ten to a side, and the smaller single Mas ships were buzzing around inside the magical shield like angry bees. A ship of the Wild Hunt, a group of Seelie who patrolled both the Solar and Void courts territories.
I wouldn’t have been worried if it had been one of these three ships coming to the heart of Shiva. It could have been a routine check in of an ally. But all four, together, represented most of the magical clout in the galaxy. Four power houses that could be a real problem for one another and Shiva, coming to his front door could only mean trouble. And one was being brought against its will
I found myself wishing for some wood to knock on.
Three of the ship’s requested docking in the massive orbital shipyard above Terra, and quarantine docking for the Wild Hunt cruiser. I sent a diplomatic shuttle up to pick up our guests. Royalty Didn’t like the bare bones military shuttles. Always send the comfort. I debated getting into something more official than my standard jump suit, which had “Reed” on the upper right of my chest, and two shoulder patches. One patch was the Shiva crest, a sword with wings coming from the hilt. The other was the crest of the Guardian Corps, a skull with a stylized blue eyes in the center of the forehead. The only decoration was on the tips of my collars, with the five starts of a Fleet Admiral. I figured that would be plenty.
My office was much the same, a spartan space, built for function, yet aesthetically pleasing. Six columns, three on each side, made the entry hall. Between each column was a work of art from an invaded parallel earth. A hold over from my past friend, Alberton Swift, when this had been his office. The hall led into the office proper. Four leather chairs were around a coffee table, and set into one wall was a bar with actual alcohol, rather then the cheap synthetic stuff. Further back was my desk and chair. The desk was a single slab of touch reactive computing crystal, could project images as well, and hovered over the ground on four repulsor units in each corner. Behind my chair was an alcove for my armor, and access to a private shuttle pad that would take me straight to Titanicus, which hovered above the building my office was in, ready to take to the skies at a moments notice.
A twenty minute wait later, a group of four was before me. I came from around my desk, shaking hands with the lead individual. He was dressed in the Circle’s power armor, crimson red with a circle of gold in the center of his chest. A cloak of white with gold edging hung from his shoulders, held there with a silver clasp. It was embroidered with runes and sigils, as were the edges of his armors plates. The clasp had a shield in the center, emblazoned with a crossed staff and sword.
“Arch-Mage Leon.” I said as I walked over, offering my giant hand to shake, looking down at him. It wasn’t in any way malicious, I’m just tall. Very tall. Through genetic engineering, all Shiva Marines are tall, usually seven to eight feet. I’d taken a bit too well to the engineering, and come out around ten. My hand engulfed his when he shook it.
“Fleet Admiral Reed. It would be a pleasure if things were no so dire.”
“I see that.” Between the two Fae Queens was another one of the Fae, though I had never seen one like this before. He was in armor of the strange metal that the Fae seemed to favor. It was fur lined and etched with scenes of great hunts. He was bound to a metal cross frame, legs together and arms spread. His head was pulled back and a metal bit, engraved with spell work was in his mouth, gagging him.
I bowed to two She Queens. “Queens Titania and Mab. A pleasure to see you both again.”
The two Queens were, like the ship’s they came aboard, completely different. Titania wore a warmly colored dress that seemed woven from the light and matter inside the heart of a nova with a necklace of bright rubies. Mab, on the other side of the prisoner, wore a body glove as dark as the void, fitting perfectly down to her feet. Diamonds, like glittering chips of ice, we’re about her wrists.
Titania came and clasped my hands between hers. “Gaberil, how lovely to see you again, child.”
Mab gave no such preamble, gesturing to the bound figure. “How have you been so blind human?”
I rolled my eyes slightly, walking to the figure. “I don’t even know what I’m looking at.”
Closer inspection showed he had been beaten, badly. His armor was pitted and scared, black shadows crawled across the surface, entering and exiting through rents in his armor. The bound Fae suddenly lunged up, mouth opening around the gag which unrolled and covered his mouth now. The lights in the room dimmed as he spoke words of power, the spellwork glowing red as it absorbed the curse. I leaned back away from him, looking at Mab with raised eyebrows.
“This is the Erlking, Lord of the Wild Hunt.” Mab said. “He took one of his hunting parties to fight a force invading Fae space. He came back like this.”
The Erlking’s attempted spell ended, and the muzzle folded back into it’s metal bit form. Black eyes glared at me. “What was invading you?”
The Arch-Mage handed me a data pad that he produced from a slot on the hip of his armor. A single image shown on the screen. A fleet of ships, all pocked and worn, hung in space. The lead ship was a mass of metal and tumors, radiating a sickly parlor, even though the image. “...the Cancer Mage?”
The Arch-Mage nodded. “He’s back, and worse now. He had learned to reach into the Ley Lines, and is drawing power from them. The King was able to resist, for a time, and gain some insight into the Mage’s plan before the hive mind overtook him.”
“And?” I walked to the bar, getting a bottle and four glasses. I can’t get drunk, more genetic engineering, but it was a strange comfort thing.
“He knows about Weaver King, and how to get to him. The Mage plans to kill it completely. He won’t have to travel for ages, he won’t have to bridge gaps between worlds. In one fel swoop he’s going to end everything, absolutely.”
The glass in my hand cracked. Information about the Weaver King was closely guarded. The universe as we knew it was the subconscience of a god like being. The spread of life was like a virus to it, and the Weaver’s immune system had reacted like any would, attacking the problem. We dealt it a debilitating blow, essentially lobotomizing it. Now it couldn’t fight back.
“How bad it is?” I asked.
“He’s spread over several systems.” Said Titania. “Absorbed several species we’ve not met yet. The void and stars are both sick.” As the Queens, both Titania and Mab had power over their respective domains. They could probably feel the sickness slowly spreading. “He’s turned his eye to Terra now.”
I set the glass down, turning to the Queen’s and Arch-Mage. “How long do we have?”
“You plan to stand and fight?” Mad raised her eyebrows. “This is suicide. We should be fleeing. Open the portals, let us leave this verse for a new one!”
“I can’t.” I crossed my arms. “Not with this plague. It may not even matter if we do run. He can take the knowledge of others and use it through the hive mind, use it to jump after us. But that may not be his plan...”
“You’re keeping secrets, Gabe.” Arch-Mage Leon said.
“Do you remember the visions?” I asked. The three went silent. Months prior, as far as we could tell, every living being received a vision, announcing the return of the Elders, and ancient race that created...well, everything.
“The instruments have dealt the blow, and Helios has seen it. Now you are summoned back, to become witness for the End you have brought.” Titania nodded. “We remember. We can’t forget it. None of the She can. What is it?”
“We followed the signal after the vision. It went to and Elder station that had activated. Life was a weapon. A disease created by the Elders to kill the their creations, the Weavers, who rebelled against them. We hurt the Weaver more than we realized, and now they have woken to finish the job.”
“What’s the End, then?”
“...which theory of the end of the universe do you subscribe to?” No reply. “Now multiply that by infinity, multilaterally speaking.
The silence was deafening.
“Do you have a plan?”
“Yes, we do. It’s being worked on now. I was going to contact you three for help, but since you’re here, I assume I can count on it?”
Mab, of course, was the one who took offense. “You assume of the Lady of the Void?”
“I assume you don’t want the End to consume everything, rather than just one verse.” I shot back. She fell silent. “The Elders have a machine called the Fate Driver. Think of it as a wireless power transfer and conversion system, that keeps the power from the Weavers in check and funnels it into the Elders, and keeps all the systems going. We’re writing a virus to reverse the Fate Driver, and give the Weavers the punch they need to win. But we need everything in its place in this universe”
“But what about when they turn on the life inside them?” asked Leon
“Only happens when life starts to consume too much.” I replied.
“I don’t understand something.” Titania said. “Why do you need everything from this universe?”
“In order to tip the power in the Fate Driver, it needs a jump start.” I took a keep breath. “It will require all the energy from this universe. Everything. Every being, every planet, every star. Every atom. Even if we ran, we would be picked out of whatever dimension we settled in.”
Silence.
“A suicide mission.”
“I like to think of it as a blaze of glory.”
A chime sounded from my desk, along with a flashing red light. “Fleet Admiral?” Came a voice from the desk. “We have a problem.”
2 notes · View notes