#Automation Allies

[gqattech]

Empowering Businesses with Automation Allies

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, businesses are increasingly turning to automation to streamline operations, boost efficiency, and stay competitive. At GQAT Technologies, our Automation Allies initiative is at the forefront of this transformation, offering innovative solutions to help companies harness the power of automation. Here’s how our cutting-edge automation services can empower your business to thrive in the digital age.

What Are Automation Allies?

Automation Allies, as offered by GQAT Technologies, is a suite of automation solutions designed to optimize business processes across industries. From robotic process automation (RPA) to artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, our services integrate seamlessly with your existing systems to deliver measurable results. Our goal is to act as your trusted partner, or "ally," in navigating the complexities of automation and unlocking new opportunities for growth.

As highlighted in the industry, automation is reshaping how businesses operate, with tools like RPA and AI agents driving significant cost savings and productivity gains. For instance, companies leveraging advanced automation systems have reported savings of up to $120 million in just weeks by optimizing high-stakes workflows. At GQAT, we tailor our solutions to meet your unique needs, ensuring maximum impact.

Key Benefits of Automation Allies

Our Automation Allies services are built to deliver tangible benefits that drive business success. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Enhanced Efficiency with Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

RPA is a game-changer for repetitive, rule-based tasks. Our Automation Allies platform uses intelligent bots to automate processes like data entry, invoice processing, and customer onboarding. By reducing manual effort, businesses can save time and redirect resources to strategic initiatives. For example, industry leaders have achieved 150,000 hours of annual savings by automating routine tasks.

2. AI-Powered Decision Making

Our AI-driven solutions, inspired by advancements like those from Automation Anywhere, enable context-aware automation. Using tools like the Process Reasoning Engine, we help businesses automate complex workflows with precision. Whether it’s analyzing customer data or optimizing supply chains, our AI agents make decisions faster and smarter, boosting productivity across the board.

3. Scalable and Modular Solutions

At GQAT, we understand that every business is unique. Our Automation Allies services are modular and scalable, allowing you to start small and expand as your needs grow. Similar to the modular packaging systems offered by Allied Technology, our solutions integrate seamlessly into existing workflows, ensuring flexibility and future-proofing your operations.

4. Cost Savings and ROI

Automation isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about profitability. By automating high-volume tasks like accounts payable or customer support, businesses can achieve significant cost reductions. One industry case study reported a $19 million reduction in provisioning costs through automation. With GQAT’s tailored approach, you’ll see a strong return on investment in no time.

5. Seamless Integration and Security

Our solutions prioritize connectivity and security. With built-in governance and enterprise-grade guardrails, we ensure your data remains protected while integrating with your existing systems. This aligns with industry best practices, such as those seen in Automation Anywhere’s CoE Manager, which centralizes initiatives and enhances security.

Real-World Impact

Businesses across sectors are already reaping the rewards of automation. For example, a manufacturing client using solutions similar to those offered by GQAT saw a 45% increase in production efficiency after implementing robotic palletizing and process automation. Another client in the financial sector streamlined KYC/AML workflows, reducing processing times by 30%. These success stories demonstrate the transformative power of automation when paired with the right expertise.

Why Choose GQAT’s Automation Allies?

At GQAT Technologies, we go beyond technology implementation. We act as your strategic partner, combining technical expertise with industry insights to deliver solutions that align with your goals. Here’s what sets us apart:

Customized Solutions: We design automation workflows tailored to your specific industry and business needs.

Expert Support: Our team of certified professionals, inspired by the expertise of companies like Alies Automation, ensures seamless implementation and ongoing support.

Global Perspective: Drawing from the global reach of partners like the Automation Alliance Group, we bring international best practices to your doorstep.

Focus on ROI: Our data-driven approach ensures measurable outcomes, from cost savings to enhanced productivity.

The Future of Automation

The automation landscape is evolving rapidly, with innovations like AI agents, cloud-based RPA, and flexible manufacturing systems leading the charge. As noted in industry reports, the global shipment of industrial robots reached over 505,000 units in 2024, underscoring the growing adoption of automation. At GQAT, we’re committed to staying ahead of the curve, offering solutions that prepare your business for the future.

Get Started with Automation Allies

Ready to transform your business with automation? GQAT Technologies’ Automation Allies is here to guide you every step of the way. Whether you’re looking to automate repetitive tasks, enhance decision-making with AI, or scale your operations, we have the expertise and tools to make it happen.

Contact us today at GQAT Technologies for a free consultation and discover how Automation Allies can empower your business to achieve more.

[enjustakelover0269]

I just spent an hour or so reading I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison aloud to my friend who’s never read or seen it before. He’s not paying attention and has been trying to sleep. He needs to be awake at 6am. :)

[fossilized-honey]

Man they’re super silly this episode

I love them

[thefloatingstone]

Anyway I stopped using the Shinegami Eyes extension after learning it was manually curated and NOT run by a bot that scans a person's social media for trigger words and reblogs and I was instead at the mercy of whoever was curating it's opinions on who was "an evil transphobe" and who was "a good supporter of LGBTQ rights" especially after it marked an objectively terrible person's name with green. Like "yeah they're an objectively bad person but they tweet all the right things so get to be green.

I'm not using a browser extension that's just a more efficient callout post.

[zentarablog]

Meet Ty Laskey

At Zentara.blog, we’re all about diving deep into fascinating topics and making complex ideas wonderfully easy to grasp. We couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to Ty Laskey, one of the brilliant human narrators who helps bring our audiobooks to life with clarity and enthusiasm! Ty brings a truly unique perspective to his narration. With a full career as a researcher in robotics and…

[dgf2099]

The Driver Suit Blog-Ranking The 2025 Throwbacks Schemes So Far...

By David G. Firestone Well, the throwback race is behind us, and, as pre the usual, I will rank the throwback schemes from best to worst. Let’s go! 1-Austin Cindric #2 Freightliner Throwback Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2025, based on Dale Earnhart’s 1979 Daytona 500 Rod Osterlund Racing #2 Buick. A If I had a favorite non-Goodwrench Dale Sr scheme, it would be this one. No disrespect for…

[beescake]

@topoillogical AGGGH love this so much... thank you for this!!!! immortalizing ur additions here

(x)

[scarletttries]

Write A Kiss Request: Kang Dae-Ho/Player 388 (Squid Game) x Reader...a kiss in a rush of adrenaline

(prompt list here) & 2025 Request List - requests open

..a kiss for Dae-Ho in a rush of adrenaline

You hadn't really thought about finding an ally in this awful place. Honestly you thought the desperation that filled the sad dorm every night would make everyone here focus on only looking out for themselves. But amongst the darkest times there is always a glimmer of hope in the kindness of others, and the Squid Games were no exception. After only the first game you found yourselves falling in with the previous winner Gi-Hun and the team of friends he seemed to so effortlessly gather around him. One of your teammates in particular seemed to have the innate ability to keep the lights of hope on in your heart when they could have so easily been extinguished - Dae-Ho.

The awkward former marine had been the first to offer you a seat with them, dusting off one of the metal steps you perched on as if he was pulling out a chair at a nice restaurant. It was easy to feel safe around him; his strong arms always settling him in the seat beside you, his kind eyes seeking reassurance you were okay as the games progressed, and his sweet smile telling you this situation would be over soon enough, even though you had no reason to believe him. The two of you were clearly drawn to each other as you entered the game of Mingle, Dae-Ho swearing on his life to keep you close no matter what. But with each passing round the crowd got more aggressive and desperate, the sea of frantic bodies pulling you apart in its current, even as you fought to stay together. After each round you managed to find each other again, only to be grabbed by different groups in the next round and left desperately hoping and praying you both would emerge safely when the doors unlocked again.

"Hold onto my hand." He said firmly as you reunited for the final round, a renewed intensity in his eyes knowing that he only needed to keep you safe for one more torturous minute of this terrible game. "In-ho thinks it will be two per room next, so I promise, me and you are going to be safe." He tried to sound confident, but even in the dim lights you could see his eyes were glistening on the edge of tears as he clung to your hand and braced himself for the wheel stop.

"Groups of Two!" The automated game voice called out for above, and suddenly you felt your whole body getting heaved upwards, the ground below you moving faster than you thought possible from this strange new angle. As you saw the spinning platform disappear from your view, your hands clung desperately to the shape moving at full pelt below you, everything happening in such a blur you couldn't make sense of it.

You heard a door slam and lock, and finally the same strong arms that had made you feel welcome in this strange, scary place gently lowered you back to your feet from where you had been resting over Dae-Ho's shoulder.

"I wasn't taking any chances that time." He laughed out with a nervous smile when he saw your awestruck expression. Rather than risk losing you in the crowd again, he'd just held you tightly and ran as fast as he could to the first free room, never looking behind him because he knew he had everything needed with him.

You stared up at his bashful grin, his head shaking apologetically for the rough way he had handled you, feeling the sheer weight of the situation finally sink in. You were safely through another game. Because of him.

"We're safe! You kept us safe!" You cried out excitedly, your heart hammering in your chest at the realisation, your skin tingling with electricity where his hand still rested lightly on your back until he was sure you wouldn't fall.

"I told you I'd keep you safe." He said simply, offering you a small smile that felt so sincere you couldn't stop yourself from crashing your lips against it. Your hands reached over his shoulders to thread through his long black hair, desperately pulling him closer as if in this moment you two were the only people here. Like you would always be safe if you could stay this close.

Not losing a moment Dae-Ho arms wrapped tightly around your waist, lifting your feet off the ground as he dragged you closer, diving into your kiss like it offered him salvation from your solemn surroundings. His teeth nipped against your bottom lip clumsily, all hungry desperation and making the most of every second, shutting out any noise from outside your little room; your little sanctuary, a place where everything would be okay.

As the lock on your door clicked open you both reluctantly parted, unsure if anything so sweet could exist in the rest of this foresaken place. Dae-Ho spoke first, goofy smile plastered across his face where once a worried grimace had been.

"We should go vote to leave, and then maybe I could buy you dinner with my winnings?"

[thewertsearch]

GG: Why not just turn it off then? TT: Keeps them both on their toes. GG: Who? TT: Jake and the responder. TT: Jake needs to be more skeptical. Rather than take a Pollyanna jackknife ass-first off whatever turnip truck is blowing through town that day, he's got to apply more critical reasoning to shit. TT: I keep telling him. TT: I keep telling him, dude, you got to be more like Jane. GG: These lectures I presume are roughly similar in complexion to those I'm familiar with? GG: Those wherein I have, and I quote, "got to be more like Jake?"

So, here's my initial read on Lil' Bro:

In simple terms, he's the kind of person that Rose thinks she is.

Skim Rose's conversations, and you'll get the impression of a cool-headed, impartial leader. She directs John's activities in the early Acts, 'coerces' Consorts and Sprites to do her bidding, and generally behaves as though she's in possession of all the facts, holds all the cards, and has the nerve to make the tough decisions.

All of this is false.

Rose Lalonde spends her entire session in an escalating state of barely-repressed terror. She has no idea what's happening, and spends most of her time backed completely into a corner, forced to rely on increasingly dubious sources of intel to stay abreast of events.

After her 'informants' run her around the Medium like a headless chicken, Rose finally snaps, sacrificing herself in a desperate last stand against Perfect Jack - and once her Dream Self wakes up, the first thing she tries to do is sacrifice herself again. Lalonde likes to talk a big game, but it's abundantly clear that she was never in control of the situation.

Lil' Bro, though?

This dude has robots monitoring his co-players. He's trained an AI secretary to manage his conversations, who apparently doubles as a tool to train psychological weaknesses out of his friends. He's even got an automated alert set up for Jane's own protection, and I'd bet Boondollars to donuts that Jake and Roxy have 'em too.

This guy actually is in control. He's deploying his forces, consolidating his resources and shoring up any perceived weaknesses in his allies. This is a type of Player I don't think we've ever seen before, and I'm very interested in what Sburb might have in store for him.

The closest analogue I can think of, really, is Vriska, who also captures and deploys her resources carefully. But while Vriska may take an occasional pawn, Lil' Bro is the first Player we've seen who's building an entire board.

[stardewremixed]

We need better marriage candidate advantages! Gifts, dinners, and occasional chores on the farm are nice, but....

Shane - starts taking care of the chickens and you get more eggs (double or triple from one chicken) or an extra chicken every year. Plus discounts at Marnie's. Oh and give me a room for Jas on the farm!!! Also he starts working at Pierre's after Joja closes and leads weekly AA meetings at the community center. Marnie also visits occasionally and brings gifts. Wanders into the forest sometimes and brings back forage.

Abigail - discounts at Pierre's, shopping on Wednesdays, and she goes adventuring with you in the mines (for some rare drops). Discounts at the Adventurer's Guild after she becomes a full-fledged member. Her parents visit on the farm and you get occasional gifts from them. Breaks up rocks on the farm (actual rocks in your inventory and occsisonal geodes).

Harvey - discounts at the clinic for the amount of times you're injured in the mines and he is the one who finds you and carries you home so you don't lose any items. Weekly energy tonics. And sometimes he plays jazz (Unlocks new music). Discounts at the bookseller (1.6) because he befriends the hot air balloon operator. And the man gets over his fear of heights and gets his chopper license. Can take you to Ginger Island for free.

Maru - weekly energy tonics since she works in the Clinic (yes, she should keep her job) and battery packs, plus her dad visits the farm cave and you get better drops in there. Robin visits too and says things like "oh, I saw such and such needed upgraded or repaired, so I did it. " Seb visits and might bring a gift. She also creates a working robot that can automate some farm chores at random. Joins the aerobics class at Caroline's.

Sebastian - discounts from Robin for upgrades and her shop, he occasionally goes adventuring with you in the quarry (for rare drops), and brings in a side income from his incredibly popular indie computer game. Brings gifts from his trips to Zuzu City. Hosts weekly jam sessions with Abigail and Sam on the farm. Organizes DnD game night at the community center - friendly to beginner's.

Leah - chops wood for you (actual wood in your inventory), crafts beautiful decor for your farm, and brings you delicious forage from the forest. Brings in a small income from her artistry. And she would also adventure with you in the secret woods (rare drops and better protection). Might buy you a drink or salad at the Saloon on occasion. Would absolutely dance with you at the Stardrop on Friday nights if you asked her.

Alex - Builds a ramp for George and then his grandparents occasionally visit the farm, bearing gifts. He chops wood and breaks up stone on the farm (actual wood/stone in your inventory). And let's start a food truck. Sells at his stand year round (and more than just ice cream), bringing in a small monthly income. He would be an excellent ally also on difficult adventuring levels (preventing you from getting surrounded). If you do go down, he's carrying you home so that you don't lose any items. Runs bingo at community center for the older townies (including his grandparents). Finally fixed the damn leak in Evelyn's roof.

Elliott - let's upgrade his beach cabin for a vacation getaway! He brings you home from the library with all sorts of useful knowledge. The man brings in an income selling his stories and poetry. Establishes a regular reading event at the library. Teaches writing classes at the Community Center. Discounts at Willy's (Willy is Elliott's great uncle in my headcanon). He would occasionally adventure with you on Ginger Island. Oh and I think you'd adopt Leo together and build a little treehouse on the farm.

Sam - income from Joja (or the movie theater), builds a skate park for the kids on town (a new post marriage heart event), and travels occasionally with his band (bringing in a sporadic income). Oh and he writes new songs for the jukebox at the Saloon. (Unlocks new music). Probably plays for the locals on Friday nights. Vincent would come stay with you on the farm, on occasion, so he would have a room. Plus Jodi would bring you dinners on Sundays. Kent would send you regular gifts in the mail. Also unlimited free games at the arcade (Sam's always buying).

Haley - has a photography show (like Leah does with her art) and decorates your farmhouse with occasional prints (new decor), plus an income from selling her services as a photographer. I like to think she works with Seb on the town website and adds her images. Brings gifts from her trips to Zuzu City. Scythes grass on occasion on the farm (actual grass and sometimes mixed seeds in your inventory). Would plant flowers in a farm garden with Evelyn. Emily would visit and bring gifts.

Emily - discounts at the Saloon, a small weekly stipend, and sells her clothes online, plus you get to join the weekly aerobics class at Caroline's with her (and if you have high hearts with Clint, you get discounts at the blacksmith too). Sometimes misc clothing, shoe, hat, and ring upgrades show up in your inventory. Haley would visit and bring gifts.

Penny - special events at the community center (she helps establish family-friendly activities and the community center is more active). She goes back to school for her official license and brings in a small income from teaching. Discounts on bus rides thanks to her mom, or cheaper bus repair if you aren't done yet. Better rewards at the library/museum when you donate items because of her friendship with Gunther. And she creates a playroom at the farm for Jas and Vincent (and your kids, of course). Pam might visit on occasion and bring gifts (and like Shane, Pam would attend the weekly AA meetings).

Okay... confession time... who are you marrying based on the above advantages?

[sweetkpopmusings]

hongjoong coworker headcanons <3

a/n: a whole bunch of people got laid off at my company today, so it only seems right that i cope by escaping into thoughts of coworker!ateez <3 please enjoy the precious gem that is coworker!hongjoong :,-) pics not mine~

content: fluff, nonidol!au | wc: 1k | warnings: none really! one mention of food | pairing: coworker!hongjoong x gn!reader | requests: open

everyone, and i mean absolutely everyone, wants to be mentored by hongjoong

they don’t care if they aren’t even in the same department as hongjoong

they just KNOW that he is the best ally and support system to have in the office

everyone also says his face is a workplace perk most people are too scared to say thing within earshot of hongjoong lmao

hongjoong knows everything people say about him, but he doesn’t let on

instead, he simply does his job and minds his business

things change when you start working at the company

you were hired in not only the same department, but same team as hongjoong

so your supervisor assigned hongjoong as your mentor

hongjoong, ever the professional, happily accepts and promises to train you well, so you can succeed in your new role

this all happens before you have a chance to learn hongjoong’s lore at the office

so you are wildly confused by the shocked and jealous stares from your coworkers as hongjoong walks you to your desk

it also feels suspicious that seemingly everybody is walking by your desk while hongjoong gives you a brief introduction to workflows, programs, etc.

but you, like hongjoong, are just trying to mind your business and do your job

which is actually super easy because hongjoong knows every single hack, automation, etc that means you can get your work done without being slowed down by tedious tasks

he’s a genius but so casual about it that you’re just sitting there like :-0 ??? how does he know everything ???

he chuckles when he sees your face and assures you that it’s just because he’s been there for ages and that soon enough you’ll be exactly the same way

you doubt it but appreciate his confidence in you LOL

at the end of your first week, hongjoong offers to take you to lunch

he says your boss is paying for it because it is “team bonding” so you agree 

what you didn’t know was that this team bonding would include hongjoong spilling ALL the tea in the office

he wasn’t gossiping in a cruel way, but he felt it was his duty, as your mentor, to give context on all the looks you were receiving

hongjoong finds it hilarious and adorable when you look at him with an absolutely shocked face

he just sits back while it sinks in for you, and, based on your reaction, hongjoong knows for sure that he finally has a friend in the office

he can tell that you won’t treat him like he’s different, which is a massive relief for him

so, from that day on, he makes it his mission to be both an amazing mentor AND a good friend

he stops by your desk for little check-ins and spends his breaks with you, whether sipping on coffee or walking around outside

hongjoong remembers everything you tell him about your life like he’s an incredible listener

you joke that it’s creepy he pays SO much attention to every detail you share and he says his resume didn’t say “detailed-oriented” for nothing

that is the moment you realize he is a complete dork LOL

speaking of dorky hongjoong

whenever he offers you a “cheer up!” or “you’ve got this!” it feels so much like a proud parent cheering on their child

he complains when you say this because “at least i should be an older brother but a DAD?!?!”

hongjoong is sulky but that goes away as soon as you buy him his favorite drink

you also changed his contact to “dad” but he doesn’t need to know that <3

he isn’t beating the dad/older brother allegations any time soon because he nags you once he gets comfortable with you 

it’s always with a smile on his face and full of care

but he will nag you about keeping your desk clean, using better handwriting, making your presentations more stylistic, etc

like sorry when did he become a judge instead of a mentor ???

it’s okay though because he lets you return the favor by nagging him constantly <3

hongjoong pretends not to like it when you nag him, but it fills his heart because that means you’re comfortable with him too :,-)

it also adds to everyone’s jealousy because you two are CLEARLY close and hongjoong finds their envy ridiculous and hilarious 

he definitely brags about how close you two are like he thinks you’re incredible and that everyone should be jealous they don’t know you like he does

somehow dating rumors start of course and when asked about it, you and hongjoong always reply with “wouldn’t you like to know”

hongjoong made you promise to give that answer because he thinks it’s fun to mess with everyone LMAO

he has so much fun with you that, to show his appreciation, hongjoong gets you a gift for your one-year anniversary at the company, including a handwritten note

he makes you promise not to open it while he’s with you because he doesn’t want either of you to feel awkward

later, once you read the note, you understand exactly why he requested this

the note starts with him praising your work ethic and improvement because he’s a proud mentor :,-)

at the end, he confesses that, before you started working there, he felt pretty isolated

it was like he was on an island or in a fish bowl, being watched from afar by everyone else

after that first lunch, and the many, many conversations you shared afterward, hongjoong finally felt like he belonged there

you made hongjoong feel like he belonged

that was something he was immensely grateful for, so he promised to pay you back by supporting you as a coworker and person, so you never felt like you were alone or an outsider

hongjoong tries to play it off the next time he sees you, but the sparkle in his eye when you thank him for being such a good colleague and friend reveals just how much he cherishes you in the workplace and beyond <333

[celestiamour]

Hii, firstly i just wanted to say that your writing is amazing and this is a myung-gi request!

Okay so basically, can it be set in the game where they have to get in a group and find the rooms. Then there’s the final round where you get into a group of 2 and that’s like the scene where he grabs jun-hee and they run. Okay so at that part, the reader who’s like a friend of myung-gi’s from before the squid games and coincidentally met him in there and has been sticking with him through out the game thinks that he’s gonna go with jun-hee in the final round so she starts panicking trying to find someone else but out of no where he grabs her and they get to one of the rooms in time. Then from there he basically confesses to her how he’s began developing feelings for her and that type of stuff, it’s up to you lol. (Obviously i don’t want jun-hee to die so you could just write she went with someone else if you want😭)

Thank you for doing my request if you do!

ft. lee myung-gi x gn! reader — squid game

╰₊✧ confessing his feelings to you during mingle┊0.6k words

contains: canon-typical violence, past lee myung-gi/kim jun-hee, probably ooc oops

he’s not going to pick you over her.

the realization hurts you more than you would like to admit. you’ve been loyal to him all this time, from when he became a fugitive from the law to when you found each other in the games. you helped him hide out and provided him with the essentials to survive without getting caught by police, and you defended him from thanos and nam-gyu when they tried picking fights with him after all he did— all of which put you at risk for protecting him. it wasn’t only because of you feelings for him, but it was also because he’s helped you out countless times in the past and would have done the same for you. 

and despite all you’ve done for him, you didn’t think he would pick you over his ex-girlfriend who was carrying his child. you can’t even blame him, you’re sure you would have done the same if you were in his shoes. she’s vulnerable and the one he was madly in love with, you were just a friend and a teammate. there was no way you could compare to her, and you needed to end this before you lost with a broken heart and a bullet in your skull. 

tightening your fist and hearing the automated voice call out for two players, you turned around and began looking for another player to pair up with. there weren’t enough rooms for everyone, so you needed to work fast among the crowd of people running around screaming in a panic. you didn’t know many people here, and knew even fewer allies, but there certainly would be someone who was alone and needed a partner. 

before you take more than two steps from your original spot, you suddenly feel a hand wrap around your wrist and pull you off the platform, almost tripping you in the process, and bringing you into the safety of a room within the span of seconds. it all happened so fast you could barely process it until a familiar voice called out to you, “why the hell did you turn your back on me and leave?! i thought we were in this together!”

“i thought… i thought you were going to pick jun-hee over me…” you confessed, lifting your gaze to look him in the face after taking a few deep breaths with your hands on your knees, “is she okay?”

“of course, she is. she has plenty of people looking out for her, i was just worried about you.” 

“worried about me?” you repeated, dumbfounded. 

“yes?!” he seemed upset by your assumption, like he couldn’t believe you thought otherwise. “again, we said we were in this together from the start. don’t tell me you actually thought i was going to abandon you.”

“well…” you couldn’t finish your response as the sound of screaming in guns firing interrupted you, and you couldn’t help but peek through the little mail slot of the door. there wasn’t anyone you recognize out there, but it sent shivers down your spine knowing that it could have you among them. 

myung-gi pulled you away and slid the blank space shut. he already knew the sequence of events unfolding in your mind, your fate if he had chosen to leave you behind in favor of his previous lover. he hated seeing you like that, imagining what could have happened when it didn’t. “i’ll pick you every time,” he said gently. “there’s no one else here who comes before you for me. what happened between me and jun-hee is in the past. i’ll still be in her life and will always care for her and our baby, but she isn’t the one i love anymore.”

“you don’t mean—”

“i mean it. i know that i still have a lot to prove after everything, but once we get out of here, i’ll be someone you deserve.”

“i don’t know what to say…”

“then don’t say anything, but just think about it, okay?”

[yesornopolls]

The article under the cut

Allies of Elon Musk stationed within the Education Department are considering replacing some contract workers who interact with millions of students and parents annually with an artificial intelligence chat bot, according to internal department documents and communications.

The proposal is part of President Trump’s broader effort to shrink the federal work force, and would mark a major change in how the agency interacts with the public. The Education Department’s biggest job is managing billions of dollars in student aid, and it routinely fields complex questions from borrowers.

The department currently uses both call centers and a rudimentary A.I. bot to answer questions. The proposal would introduce generative A.I., a more sophisticated version of artificial intelligence that could replace many of those human agents.

The call centers employ 1,600 people who field over 15,000 questions per day from student borrowers.

The vision could be a model for other federal agencies, in which human beings are replaced by technology, and behemoth contracts with outside companies are shed or reduced in favor of more automated solutions. In some cases, that technology was developed by players from the private sector who are now working inside or with the Trump administration.

Mr. Musk has significant interest in A.I. He founded a generative A.I. company, and is also seeking to gain control of OpenAI, one of the biggest players in the industry. At other agencies, workers from the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Mr. Musk, have told federal employees that A.I. would be a significant part of the administration’s cost-cutting plans.

A year after the Education Department oversaw a disastrous rollout of a new federal student aid application, longtime department officials say they are open to the idea of seeking greater efficiencies, as have leaders in other federal agencies. Many are partnering with the efficiency initiative.

But Department of Education staff have also found that a 38 percent reduction in funding for call center operations could contribute to a “severe degradation” in services for “students, borrowers and schools,” according to one internal document obtained by The Times.

The Musk associates working inside the Education Department include former executives from education technology and venture capital firms. Over the past several years, those industries have invested heavily in creating A.I. education tools and marketing them to schools, educators and students.

The Musk team at the department has focused, in part, on a help line that is currently operated on a contract basis by Accenture, a consulting firm, according to the documents reviewed by The Times. The call center assists students who have questions about applying for federal Pell grants and other forms of tuition aid, or about loan repayment.

The contract that includes this work has sent more than $700 million to Accenture since 2019, but is set to expire next week.

“The department is open to using tools and systems that would enhance the customer service, security and transparency of data for students and parents,” said Madi Biedermann, the department’s deputy assistant secretary for communications. “We are evaluating all contracts to assess effectiveness relative to costs.”

Accenture did not respond to interview requests. A September report from the Education Department describes 1,625 agents answering 462,000 calls in one month. The agents also handled 118,000 typed chats.

In addition to the call line, Accenture provides a broad range of other services to the student aid system. One of those is Aidan, a more rudimentary virtual assistant that answers basic questions about student aid. It was launched in 2019, during Mr. Trump’s first term.

Accenture reported in 2021 that Aidan fielded 2.2 million messages in one year. But its capabilities fall far short of what Mr. Musk’s associates envision building using generative A.I., according to the internal documents.

Both Mr. Trump and former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. directed federal agencies to look for opportunities to use A.I. to better serve the public.

The proposal to revamp the communication system follows a meltdown in the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, last year under Mr. Biden. As FAFSA problems caused mass confusion for students applying for financial aid, several major contractors, including Accenture, were criticized for breakdowns in the infrastructure available to students and parents seeking answers and help.

From January through May last year, roughly three-quarters of the 5.4 million calls to the department’s help lines went unanswered, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.

More than 500 workers have since been added to the call centers, and wait times were significantly reduced, according to the September Department of Education report.

But transitioning into using generative A.I. for student aid help, as a replacement for some or all human call center workers, is likely to raise questions around privacy, accuracy and equal access to devices, according to technology experts.

Generative A.I. systems still sometimes share information that is false.

Given how quickly A.I. capabilities are advancing, those challenges are potentially surmountable, but should be approached methodically, without rushing, said John Bailey, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former director of educational technology at the Education Department under President George W. Bush.

Mr. Bailey has since become an expert on the uses of A.I. in education.

“Any big modernization effort needs to be rolled out slowly for testing, to see what works and doesn’t work,” he said, pointing to the botched introduction of the new FAFSA form as a cautionary tale.

“We still have kids not in college because of that,” he said.

In recent weeks, the Education Department has absorbed a number of DOGE workers, according to two people familiar with the process, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the department’s security procedures and feared for their jobs.

One of the people involved in the DOGE efforts at the Education Department is Brooks Morgan, who until recently was the chief executive of Podium Education, an Austin-based start-up, and has also worked for a venture capital firm focused on education technology, according to the two people.

Another new staffer working at the agency is Alexandra Beynon, the former head of engineering at Mindbloom, a company that sells ketamine, according to those sources and an internal document.

And a third is Adam Ramada, who formerly worked at a Miami venture capital firm, Spring Tide Capital, which invests in health technology, according to an affidavit in a lawsuit filed against the Department of Government Efficiency.

None of those staffers responded to interview requests.

[strawberrybeans21]

Chapter 2: Hunger

“Half a dog.” 

“I told you not to tell me.”

“Can it, you muppets.” 

Kyle let out a chuckle, listening to the tiredness in Price’s voice. The banter between Ghost and Soap was actively giving his poor captain a migraine. 

He could definitely understand why. They had been on this helicopter ride since dusk and they had still a bit to go before they arrived. Which meant that Ghost and Soap had a million more jokes to tell each other.

Kyle flipped through the mission file on his lap, re-reading what they were heading into.

Mission Brief: Operation Silent Dawn

Objective:

Rescue a young girl, held captivity in a clandestine experimental facility. She has been subjected to inhumane testing, resulting in unknown abilities. Mission is to extract her safely and secure evidence of the facility’s illegal activities.

Mission Overview:

•Target: [REDACTED] (Subject 42)

•Location: High-security experimental facility, coordinates encrypted.

•Intel: The facility is run by an untraceable private organization conducting human experimentation. Security is heavily armed, and surveillance is omnipresent. [REDACTED] has shown signs of destabilizing powers—potential allies, or dangers, during the extraction.

Mission Priorities:

1.Secure [REDACTED]:

•Locate [REDACTED] cell and ensure her safety.

•Assess her mental and physical state upon retrieval.

•Be prepared for potential resistance, as she may not trust rescuers initially.

2.Neutralize Threats:

•Disable the facility’s security systems, including cameras, automated turrets, and containment measures.

•Avoid unnecessary casualties, but neutralize hostile personnel as needed.

3.Collect Evidence:

•Retrieve documentation, digital files, and physical proof of the organization’s illegal experiments.

•Ensure no incriminating data is left behind.

4.Exfiltrate:

•Extract [REDACTED] and the team via the designated evacuation route.

•Deploy countermeasures to prevent pursuit.

Team Composition:

Leader: Captain John Price, L.T Simon “Ghost” Riley

Long range specialist: L.T Simon “Ghost” Riley, Johnny “Soap” MacTavish

Recon Specialist: Kyle “Gaz” Garrick

Exfil: SGT. Nikolai Belinski

Potential Challenges:

•Enhanced Security: Recent intel suggests additional reinforcements have been deployed following a containment breach.

•Unpredictable Powers: [REDACTED] abilities are unknown, unstable, and may pose a threat to both her and the team.

•Limited Intel: The facility’s layout is only partially mapped, requiring on-the-ground adaptation.

Rules of Engagement:

•Maintain stealth for as long as possible to avoid full-scale alerts.

•Use non-lethal methods when feasible, but prioritize team safety.

•Do not engage [REDACTED] directly if she becomes volatile; attempt to de-escalate.

Timeline:

•Phase 1: Initial reconnaissance and infiltration.

•Phase 2: Disable facility security and locate [REDACTED].

•Phase 3: Secure [REDACTED], gather evidence, and initiate extraction.

•Phase 4: Evacuate to safehouse and debrief.

Success Criteria:

•[REDACTED] is safely extracted and stabilized.

•All team members are accounted for with no/minimal casualties.

•Evidence is retrieved to expose the facility’s operations.

Mission Codename: Silent Dawn

Prepare for deployment. The girl’s life—and the truth—depend on us.

“Captain, We are about the land.” 

Kyle’s head snapped up at Nik’s words as his captain and team members all made eye contact with each other. Price nodded, a silent acknowledgment of the growing tension of the situation.

“Okay lads. Let’s go get us a win, yeah?”

————————————————————

The cell was silent, save for the steady hum of fluorescent lights overhead. You sat on the cot, knees drawn to your chest, staring at the walls. Your breathing was shallow, trembling—an attempt to suppress the cold that radiated from your core. The aftereffects of the experiment still clung to you like a second skin: the weight of the chemicals they had pumped into your veins, the electric prongs they’d pressed to your temples, and the dissonant voices that now whispered incessantly in your mind.

You didn’t know how long you had been back in your cell. Time was again, a haze in this place, measured only by the shifts in your tormentors’ schedules and the monotony of three disgusting pig blood bags slipped under the door each day.

Your name was stripped from you, though you tried your hardest to keep it in your head. You clung to that shred of identity like a lifeline, but even now it was slipping. During the experiment, the scientists kept calling you “Subject 42.” It sounded clinical, inhuman. Like you were. A monster. 

You heard the door open as you were quickly grabbed and sedated, your limbs going weak as they strapped you to a gurney, the smell of alcohol and garlic burning your nose and throat like never before. You felt the feeling of needles pricking your skin, electrodes pressing to your scalp. “Hold still,” they had said, as if you had a choice. When the machines roared to life, your body convulsed involuntarily, your mind fracturing into a kaleidoscope of pain and colors you couldn’t name. Then there were the voices—soft at first, then loud, screaming, chanting incomprehensible words.

Now, in the quiet of your cell, they were still with you.

One whispered your name, almost tenderly. You whipped your  head toward the sound, but there was nothing there. There never was.

Your hands clenched into fists. The new experiments were doing something to you—changing you. You weren’t sure how much longer you could fight.  Last week, when you had screamed during one of their “tests,” the glass monitor in the observation room had shattered. You hadn’t even realized what you had done until you saw the evilness in the scientists’ eyes.

They’d called you ready, but dangerous.

The locks on your cell door were reinforced now, the walls lined with something you didn’t recognize but could feel—an oppressive hum that dulled your senses and dampened your abilities. You hadn’t even tried to fight it

A meal tray slid under the door, and you startled. You hadn’t heard the footsteps this time. You crawled toward it, the concrete floor cold against your bare skin. The blood was the same as always: disgustingly red and cold.

You picked at the bag, your appetite nonexistent.

But you were so hungry. Hungry for human blood.

“You can’t stay here forever,” a voice whispered again, louder this time.

You froze. “Shut up,” you hissed under your breath.

But the voice didn’t stop.

“They’ll come for you again, you know. They’re not done. They’ll never be done. You’ll die at this rate.”

You slammed your fist against the floor, your vision blurring with sudden tears. “Stop it!”

The lights flickered, and for a moment, the hum in the walls seemed to falter. Your breath hitched. The voice in your head subsided. You had thought it was your imagination until a loud boom shot through your ears, making you cover your ears in pain.

You didn’t know what had caused the sound and apparently nor did your kidnappers. You listened to the alarm that began to blare and the sounds of soldiers rushing down the hall. 

Seconds were feeling like minutes, hours. You shifted into the corner, covering your ears as the gunshots rang out. Your breath was stuttering in your chest, the warm tears falling down your face. If whomever didn’t kill you, your fear definitely would. You heard someone yell, multiple feet rushing down to the hall and directly in front of your cell.

You heard the locks on your cell door disengage. The metallic clinks sent shivers down your spine. You quickly rose from the cot, your body tense, muscles coiled.

The door opened, and two guards began to rush inside, their faces hidden behind black helmets. A third figure followed—a scientist in a pristine white coat.

“Grab her now!,” the scientist yelled. “There’s no time!.”

Your jaw tightened. The fire within you flared, and for the first time, you didn’t try to suppress it. The guards moved toward you, but the air in the room shifted. A low rumble echoed through the cell, and the fluorescent lights flickered again.

The whispers in your mind grew louder, coalescing into a single, commanding voice: “Fight.”

You didn’t hesitate.

The guards lunged, but you grabbed them both by the necks. The air seemed to ripple as you threw them backward, slamming them into the walls, the sickening cracks of their skulls vibrating through your ears. The scientist screamed, scrambling for the door and slamming down a button.

The oppressive hum in the walls grew deafening, but you pushed against it with everything you had. The fire inside you roared to life, consuming your fear, your pain, your doubt.

The walls cracked, and the reinforced locks shattered.

You stepped out of the cell, your heart pounding. The scientist fell back, fear numbing his body as he began to quietly plead. 

“Feed. Drink every drop.” The voice in your head commanded.

You pounced on him, his scream cut silent as you began to drink, the taste making your body shiver with ecstasy. You couldn’t stop, drinking well past the last time. The voices in your mind were now silent. You pulled your teeth out of his neck, just as you heard people round the corner.

2 men. In gear you had never seen before. You felt the fire in you diminishing as fear crawled back up your spine. You stood, your feet readying under you. 

They wouldn’t trap you again. You’d be damned. 

“Hey now…We aren’t—“ 

His sentence was cut short as you bolted down the hall, feet burning in pain as they slammed onto the broken glass around you. You could hear them chasing you, and it only made you move faster. 

Almost. Almost there.

“Woah there! We cannae have you running away, now can we?” 

You felt him scoop you up and toss you over his shoulder, making you thrash around like a cat in water. You watched as the rest began to get closer and for the first time in a while, you let yourself bawl.

“Soap, what did you do?!” 

“Nothin! The lass just started to cry!” 

“She’s traumatized you idiot!” 

You were taken into a warm embrace, your face pressed against someone’s chest as they held you there like a small baby. He looked at you and softly smiled.

“Hey there. I’m Gaz.” 

His hazelnut brown eyes were boring into your now puffy and red rimmed ones, making your heart start to calm down. You didn’t trust them, not for one bit. But it was nice to see someone smiling at you without malice for the first time in god knows how long. You said nothing in response, just softly nodded to show you understood. 

“Gaz. Her feet.”

You looked at the blood that had dripped into a pool under you and you immediately grimaced at the sight. Your head immediately turned as you heard movement. You gasped softly as a behemoth of a man and a burly man with a bucket hat stepped out of the facility's office and began to approach you.

You felt your breathing speed up, fear paralyzing you still as he got closer. He stopped, a comfortable amount of space between you two. He looked at your feet and sighed.

“Doesn’t look like there’s any glass stuck inside. Let’s wrap it and get the medic to check on it when we get back.” 

The two guys, Soap and Gaz, nodded in conformation. Soap pulled out some gauze and antiseptic, opening the packages.

“This will hurt lass, sorry in advance.”

Gaz held you carefully as Soap cleaned your feet, making you yelp in pain, grease warm tears feeling your eyes at the sting. You listened to Gaz’s soft words as he tried to calm you down, just as Soap wrapped your feet.

“Exfil is here. Everyone ready?”

“Always captain.”

You gripped Gaz as he carried you out of the facility, looking up only when he softly set you down in a helicopter chair. 

You were finally free. 

[firel-makes-music]

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Ruins of Aschimos (PMDA) is both a tabletop campaign and system I've been working on for the better part of three years, now. The first year was spent basically entirely on my own as I worked on the vision and intent of it- after that, testing with some of my friends began. Things quickly climbed from there. Today, I'd like to discuss the system- though, a lore post will come later.

Part of the reason I wanted to make PMDA as a system myself rather than take the easy answer and use someone else's was that a lot of systems chalked up to: A) Dungeons and Dragons with a thin veneer of Pokemon B) A system that is very unique, but not very much like Mystery Dungeon C) A system that was intended for a different kind of Pokemon game entirely, but was workshopped, homebrewed, or otherwise supported to be able to be transformed into a PMD format.

While projects like Pokerole and Pokemon Tabletop Reunited are great in their own rights, it's not the kind of game I wanted to host. I wanted something very close to the games- an ally phase, an enemy phase, tile-based dungeons and similar enough gameplay where one could feasibly run the actual game itself in an engine like Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Origins with a small amount of tweaking.

Thus, I started work on PMDA. Throughout the entirety of development, the core idea has remained the same: This should be a tabletop adaptation of PMD first, and its own system second. As such, every hallmark of basic PMD is here, from Reviver Seeds to tile-based grids and even the functionality of turns. There is no initiative. You choose the action order of your own team, then all enemies act after your team has. Moves have their own PP pools, you don't have a single agglomerate pool all of them pull from. Your Treasure Bag has limited space and gets upgraded as you complete missions. The same is true of your vault. All the things that seem like they should be a bit obvious for PMD to have.

But there's still a lot of custom content. New Looplets. New consumables. Almost every item from the mainline games has been adapted to PMD rather than adapting PMD to suit them. Here's a couple as an example.

All information about the game is stored in a single location. From Abilities and how they work to IQ skills, a lot needed tweaks to function in a tabletop rather than a video game, and I enjoy a lot of them. My players have been too. Abilities that were missing some of their mainline-game effects (Like Super Luck's item influencing powers) get re-included and adapted to PMD, as well. Jaze has been a big fan of that one, but Beatrice, their Ralts, is a lot more direct about it. I think, in executing the idea of making PMD work for the tabletop, I've succeeded. I've had more than one of my players tell me that it feels like they're playing the game, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, with their friends online. And that's the highest praise I could ask for.

In storing everything in one place, making an automated character sheet with Google Sheets was very very simple... At first. I could go on for hours about automation woes, but suffice it to say, everything works, which I didn't suspect would be possible without some custom programming for Foundry VTT. I do hope to make a VTT module for it eventually, but I haven't done real programming in years. But the ease of use has only increased as time has gone on and I've updated the sheet more and more. It's the kind of project I'm not sure I'll ever 'finish'.

So what, then, is the game actually like? PMDA is a game of stacking benefits and highly customized builds that reward specializing above all else while punishing your glaring weak points individually, but rewarding coverage as a team. Everyone is strongly encouraged to take a role, and while it isn't necessary, life gets a lot easier. Strangely, the best comparison that comes to mind is Final Fantasy, of all things. Jaze, the team's Absol, has been a mixed member of their team ranging from their Ice Beam attack to hit at a range to Knock Off to pry problematic items from the enemy. Their Future Sight attack is powerful but difficult to use. I'd call them akin to a Rogue job with a splash of magic, for an analogue. Their greatest asset so far has been Perish Song- something they've used to great effect against enemies they absolutely should not have feasibly survived, which is its own thing. Its status as a high-risk move is largely mitigated by their greatest supporting passive- the IQ Skill Nontraitor, which prevents their Perish Song from reaching allies' ears. Their greatest asset by far, though, has been Double Team, allowing them to align their stats to raw offense and evade attacks with quick thinking and good alignment of multiple clones rather than some nebulous evasion chance increase. All around, very well built for a level ~25 Pokemon.

The greatest student of specialization, however, is a Pokemon on another team altogether- player Flare, a Torchic with a streak of fury, she immigrated to Aschimos from a land far away, over sea and mountain. Her build is all offense, all the time- and though she has no points in Speed to facilitate accuracy or evasion, her offense is so finely focused that she can annihilate even Water-Rock types in just one attack. To get her melee build into the fray fast, she uses Flame Charge, which serves as a dash similar to Quick Attack over a far, far larger distance in this system- a unique move among its class, it doesn't stop until it hits something. If she misses, she goes careening into a wall- but this also serves to keep her out of danger if she does miss, a deliberate tactical decision. She makes use of Flame Charge alongside her Egg Move, Low Kick, to keep all enemies well out of arm's length between turns. Often, if one even does survive, they struggle to actually attack her at all. Combine that with her Agility, to cover glaring weakness (To great cost- it still has very low PP) and you have a berserker nuker who acts twice a turn with Speed Boost to no penalty. If you hit her and she's still standing, Blaze ensures she's hitting back three times as hard. And once you factor in her first (and only, thus far) IQ Skill, Sweeper, she restores a PP to the move that defeats an enemy every time- so her relatively low count of PP in Low Kick is rarely at risk. Specialization to the ninth degree, though, she's very helpless against any enemy at a poor angle to attack at- as this system has moves that affect at splash, or even direct-target orientation, if she isn't aligned enough with an enemy to charge at them she's in trouble. She knows this, expects it, and even anticipates it by letting their team's 'tank', a Totodile with the ability to take damage for their allies, handle the problem for her while she gets into position.

All of this to say- so far, the system has encouraged team play, and most of my players have eagerly participated in and facilitated that. Leveraging its existence as a tabletop system, a team of just one or two Pokemon doesn't work very well, though three can get by just fine. Mono-themed teams still work thanks to the fact stats are rather divorced from the species possessing them- you could build a physical Gardevoir here and make use of the elemental punches she got thanks to Gen 3, you could build an Absol that leans into their Special move pool while maintaining the supportive qualities rarely used in their species, or even take a Lucario and make a brave and unflinching tank out of them instead of a glass-cannon bruiser. I love that. You can really shape the Pokemon you love into working the way you want YOUR character to be, manifesting their personality into their build and vice-versa. It makes no sacrifices in customization to make characters work, giving Pokemon all manner of Looplets, Emera (which are permanent, here), IQ skills and more to characterize and build with rather than any complicated skill webs or arbitrary ability trees.

I could gush about the mechanics for hours- goodness knows I have- but in truth, the rules themselves are very much WIP while we play the campaign. And what a world it is. Stay tuned for insights on the first adventure module being written for the system, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Ruins of Aschimos.

If you want more right away, please, check out one of my players' blogs, as seen reblogged today- they've been running an in-character daily blog for PMDA and it's been a treat to see, not just for their insights and perspective, but because their passion for the world and characters is just so, so welcome.