#First Interstellar Guide

[yuexuan]

[Review]星际第一向导

Title: 星际第一向导 First Interstellar Guide

Author: 蝶之灵

Length: 99 chapters + 39 extras

Tag: Modern, interstellar, guideverse, aliens, mystery

Summary [taken from novel updates]:

The B-73 human base was attacked by a deformed species with heavy casualties. The Falcon Special Warfare Team was ordered to go to the rescue, when Lu Zexuan saw a strange teenager in the basement full of debris.

The young man was pale and thin, his beautiful black and red pupils did not react at all, and the palm-sized spirit body of a white fox was dying at his feet.

—This is a badly injured guide.

Lu Zexuan immediately took him back to the safe area for treatment.

Within a few days, a number of mysterious officials died in the security zone.

The Federal Investigation Department sent people to investigate but found out that these dead people had more or less intersected with the boy with different pupils.

It’s just that every time, when these people die, he has a perfect alibi.

——

Lu Zexuan doubted Yu Ran’s origin, in order to find out the truth, he submitted a matching application to the association and took Yu Ran with him.

Soon, this news spread in the circle: “I heard that Lu Zexuan, an S-class sentinel, took a fancy to a C-class little guide?” “That guide is only 18 years old!” “General Lu really has a unique taste.”

At the federal banquet, the newly grown guide came followed by the tall general, looking innocent, pitiful and weak. Lu Zexuan subconsciously protected him from behind him.

Until one day, the Falcon Special Combat Team was surrounded by mu*derous alien creatures, Lu Zexuan was seriously injured and on the verge of mental collapse.

Before he lost consciousness, he saw the guide beside him stretching out countless spiritual tent**les towards the beasts.

Yu Ran, who was usually simple and innocent, his gaze at that moment was decisive and sharp, his strong spiritual power made all monsters instantly surrender to his feet.

He stepped over the corpse mountain and blood sea of the beasts, calmly walked to Lu Zexuan, and stretched out his hand towards the sentinel: “Do you need me to protect you, General Lu?

Lu Zexuan: “…………”

——

No one knows that the boy with different pupils who is innocent on the surface actually has a terrifying and powerful spiritual power.

He was the first guide in history of the Federation to awaken dual spirit animals.

Novel | Novel[translated]

Comments **Contains spoilers**:

The summary above encapsulates the first half of the novel, whereas the second half focuses more on Yu Ran and Lu Zexuan’s attempts to oust the Dark Night Organization and uncover the truths behind several military-/family-related tragedies in the past. These include uncovering the truths behind Yu Ran’s parents’ and Lu Zexuan’s cousin’s deaths. In the course of doing so, they discovered a far more sinister plot at play that might lead to the Federation being overtaken by highly intelligent extraterrestrial beings.

For those unfamiliar with the guideverse trope, the basic premise is that humanity is divided into ‘guides’ and ‘sentinels’ (in some cases, normal humans are present too). Guides are people with high spiritual and emotional prowess, whereas sentinels have extraordinary physique and senses. The latter often suffer from sensory and spiritual overloads, requiring the help of guides to reduce their overloads. I personally love Die Zhiling’s expansion on the guideverse’s abilities, including dream-sharing and spiritual landscape transference between bonded partners.

For those who are familiar with sci-fi-cum-mystery stories, this novel is a light read. There aren’t a lot of complex plot twists or deep worldbuilding, which was a surprise for me considering that I love Die Zhiling’s mystery-writing in her unlimited flow novels. The main plotline is pretty straightforward and the subplots resolve themselves eventually, though mostly in the form of exposition at the end. There are definitely a couple of plot holes here and there - for example, there’s no basis for Lu Zexuan’s suspicions of Yu Ran at the start and the logic does get a bit tenuous - but nevertheless the novel is enjoyable for a quick read. 

Character-wise, it will probably be a treat for those who enjoy a smart shou and a gentle gong working together as a power couple. It was fun reading about the lengths Yu Ran went to hide his abilities and background from Lu Zexuan initially, resulting in hilarious situations, such as Lu Zexuan constantly sending cake to Yu Ran despite the latter disliking sweet things. Eventually the two of them come to develop a more mature and trusting relationship, so expect less passionate romance, but a more stable, supportive dynamic. 

The only other thing that I have to comment upon is the novel arts…I am quite confused by the general directions of the art: some of them made Yu Ran look like a normal teenager, whereas others look like a mix between Marvel and medieval aesthetics, but none of them evoke the standard sci-fi military uniforms. I’m so, so confused haha..

[robin-evry]

Hello! I was thinking about ideas for a furina!yuu (genshin) or Misha!yuu (hsr) perhaps? Also I love your work ^^

⚠️ Contained spoilers for the penacony story quest as well as Fontaine archon quest if you haven't done it as well for chapter 7 ⚠️

It's very rushed due to, me having the final exam week today 🥹🥹

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐅𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐀!𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐖𝐒𝐓

The "Regina of All Waters, Kindreds, Peoples and Laws" is deeply loved by her people. She follows each and every trial held at the Opera Epiclese with an inextinguishable passion, and is always acutely aware of how the "audience" sees things.

Part of the film studies club and as well a director with vil on the club, after their appearance towards twst they were recruited to be an actor on a movie and it turned into a huge success making her debut in the industry as one of the brightest stars in twst.

Puts up an arrogant act but deep down is kind and sweet, they just put up the arrogant act to protect themselves. Even tho being already free they still keep their guard up.

Have strives for the dramatic and theater, shares their interest with vil as well each other giving advice on theater and other stuff

During the VDC furina!Yuu performs la vaugelette, the entire stadium was quite admiring their singing as well as the dance of them. After they finish everyone stands up and even applauds.

Vil won't admit it but deep down he knows, furina!yuu is a much better actor than him and will often seek their advice over theater and offer them to join the film studies club and they accept.

During overblot, they will use their elemental skill to fight and give support towards their teammates, healing damage dealing sub damage towards the overblot.

Have tea parties with riddles once a week they discuss school topics, etiquette and other things. They will Always bring a cake from a fancy bakery they usually visit to get their desserts and some occasions vil would join and immerse in the conversation.

Furina!Yuu have a habit of practicing acting in front of a mirror, they pose and act in front of a mirror to find the perfect one.

Sometimes when they're alone in the ramshackle dorm, they have a mental breakdown from their past and grim would comfort them. furina!yuu was mentally drained due to their past but soon started to get better as well finding comfort in NRC.

Lilia would be surprised to learn about their past, as well try to comfort them. They would discuss what it is like in the past as well as Lilia providing comfort for them.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐀!𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐖𝐒𝐓

A lovable and thoughtful bellboy of The Reverie Hotel. He wished to become an intergalactic adventurer like his grandfather. He was extremely hardworking and was skilled at fixing a variety of machines. He also had a fondness for sharing interstellar rumors with guests. He hoped he could grow up faster and looked forward to embarking on his own star-treading journey.

An enigma at first, misha!yuu has little interaction with the rest of school due not having a physical body but their presence is very much felt in NRC. But the story progresses the same as before.

Will appear at student dreams guiding them with or just simply appearing to speak to them to have a conversation.

Become some sort of spirit or myth towards the students, their presence greatly impacts the school but they lack the Bodied to interact with them

Comforting students being a guiding light and source of light towards everyone, protecting them from the nightmares that plague their minds

They have the desire to grow up quickly so they can immediately go to NRC or they are patiently waiting for them to grow up.

The first years are by far the ones misha!yuu are very close to. Misha!yuu helping grim and protecting him from his nightmares. As well as silver.

But when malleus over blot and put everyone in the school into a deep sleep, misha!yuu and silver were tasked to wake everybody up.

By these adventures they manage to discover misha!yuu fragments of misha!yuu memories and true identity as a person. As well their true name.

In the expense of waking up everyone, misha!yuu will finally fade away due to them being a memory fragment.

When everyone woke up, grim cried at the loss of them. And the school will hold a funeral for misha!yuu or Mikhail!yuu. And put up a picture of them in the halls of NRC.

[bakvrue]

luminance

genya x reader, 1.4k, genya is taller than you, fluff, fem reader, maybe unsafe swimming practices, divider by saradika

“How did you hear about this again?”

Genya’s hand is in yours as you lead him along a dark path. The trees and bushes towering over you are bathed in nothing but the light of the stars as their leaves dance in the wind.

“The little old ladies in town told me about it. They said that it’s a town tradition to go, so we have to!”

You hold his hand a little tighter, asking him to trust you. 

You’re only here for a small mission but you quickly came to love this small town and all of its people; the grandmas who pile food on your plate, the kids who run up to you to hold your hand, and the streets that make you feel like you're walking home. 

You smile remembering the faces of the women who told you about the town’s unique lore, their whispers and giggles had followed you all week as they watched you and Genya patrol the town together. They saw you hang off his every word, how your heart flutters every time he looks at you for too long, and how his face turns red every time you catch him. 

He looks at you as if you molded the sun in your two hands and you look at him as if he hand-carved every crater on the moon. How could they not notice?

But what you neglect to tell Genya is what the town’s folklore actually says. 

The dirt path slowly gives way to sand as you continue to walk and the stars guide you until you hear the faint sound of waves crashing. 

The path straightens out in front of you and your breath hitches in your throat.

The sea meets the horizon in an explosion of stars, interstellar colors dance across the water that crashes along the rocky beach, and with each break of waves a bright blue sparkle dances along the sand. The blue sparkle glows so brightly, you’ve never seen anything like it.

“Wow,” you sigh with wonder. Your body feels lighter than it has in years, the beauty catches you off guard and you can hardly take your eyes off of the crashing waves.

Genya squeezes your hand tightly and your gaze turns to him. He opens his mouth but he doesn't have the words he wants to say yet. There's a familiar feeling in his chest, like an old memory waking up from a thousand years of slumber.

“Come on, let's get closer!”

You let go of his hand and run towards the beach, your arms held out to your sides like a little kid running toward the ocean for the first time. 

And his memory comes flooding back. 

His mother sits along the banks of the river that runs near his childhood home. The sun casts shadows through leaves onto her hair as she mends the holes in his younger brother's clothing. Most of his siblings are all playing in the shallow water, their giggles and shouts bouncing off of the river's surface, but Koto, his youngest brother, sleeps gently in Genya’s lap.

“Genya,” his mother calls, remembering the sound of her voice for the first time in a long time. He takes a deep breath in and watches you reach the glowing water's edge. “Genya, my wish for you is to find someone who shows you what it’s like to have wonder. You and your brother take care of our family so well, you both grew up so fast. You���ll meet someone—”

The tiny version of himself cuts her off, “Like a wife?” Baby Genya’s eyes pop open, his face growing more and more red, and his mother chuckles to herself 

“Something like that,” she smiles at him and Genya looks down at his sleeping brother in his lap. “I can take Koto,” she motions to him. puts down her sewing as the Shinazugawa sisters come running up, begging to play with him.

“Come on Genya!” “The water is so cold!” “You have to play with us!”

Another nod from his mother and he gives in. Sumi pulls at his hand while Teiko runs ahead of them, her arms spread out to her sides before she jumps in the water.

The sun from that day fades and he sees you smile at him.

You extend a hand to him, inviting him to join you.

He’s heard the tales of this beach, and even the old wives tale the women have probably told you. He takes a deep breath and exhales. 

Wonder, huh?

He kicks off his shoes and gives you a dastardly smile, one that you're soon to regret.

“Genya, what are you—” 

He runs at you, catching you off guard. This mountain of a man gets to you in mere seconds and throws you onto his shoulder. You scream and laugh as he continues running into the water, each glowing step getting slower and slower as the water rises. Every splash he makes in the water glows brighter blue.

“The water’s freezing!” you squeal as the bioluminescent waves splash against your heels.

He takes one final step, “Better hold your breath!” He laughs before dunking you both underwater.

You surface quickly and realize the water is only waist deep, you keep your shoulders under the water. The night air touching your wet clothes is colder than the water now.

Genya surfaces and flips his hair back, the sea sparkle illuminating his face with a beautiful blue glow. He takes your hand in the water and pulls you to him and in turn you wrap your arms around his neck, not letting your nerves have any say in this moment. You’ve never been this bold with each other, hugging quickly or poking at him or sleeping on his shoulder is the closest you've been. But now you're face to face.

You playfully slap at his chest for dunking you, stirring up the water and with it and even more blue blossoms around you. You don't have the heart to chastise him, even as pretend, so you just laugh. And he joins in, his head falling back in true laughter.

Watching him laugh, the way his eyes wrinkle at the corners and how each laugh comes with rippling blue waves… you don't think you've ever felt this happy in your whole life. 

His laughter slows and he sighs your name, bliss leaking out of his every pore. His hand rises out of the water and he cups your neck. 

Any last nerves you had melt away just looking at his face. This is the man that you… You stop yourself. Maybe you shouldn't say it yet, even in your own head. But the man that you like very much, and the two of you are floating in the ocean together, not a care in the world. 

Your breathing starts to match his as the two of you fall into sync. Your eyes map out every feature of his face, committing it to memory as his eyes fall to your lips.

Genya’s face starts turning red, the glowing algae gives him away, but you're sure that it's doing the same for you. Letting him see every imperfection you have, every scar and doubt and negative thing about you. And he's here anyway. His heart is so close to yours that you can practically feel it beating in time with yours.

His lips are soft against yours as you breathe him in. A culmination of everything you've ever felt for him being poured out under this night sky. Your arms tighten around him, holding onto him with everything you have. Your ache to be closer, your desire to have him all to yourself, to give him every piece of yourself and watch him cradle it, and then to do the same for him. He’s desperate to keep you close, arms sliding around your waist and holding you so tightly. 

His lips pull against yours as the waves continue to crash, the illuminated ocean guiding your way back to his lips over and over again, your body finding its new path home. 

Your first kiss with him will always taste like the salt of the sea.

It is said that lovers who bathe in the blue sea sparkle together will have their love story written in the stars, for two lovers who take the plunge together are bound to become soulmates and live out the rest of their days together, in this life and the next.

[empty-movement]

OLD SCHOOL ANIMATION NERDS, I SUMMON THEE TO ASSIST

Hey! Vanna here! So I recently, in a rage at the loss of the end-of-series lot of production materials, bought a cheaper lot I had been curious about, and I kinda struck animation history gold with it! Try as I might to pull the whole context together, I need y'alls help accurately naming and identifying what I have!!! There are MANY MORE of these, all from the same episode, an Utena one, a LOT of Nanami, and a group shot even, all following this similar formula. But let's be honest, Vanna and Yasha wanted that sweet Touga smugness. Analysis and questions below the cut! These aren't ALL the sheets, there are ones for the face shape and sleeve also but to demonstrate. Also, fucking amazingly, I also have the storyboards for this episode, so I can even tell you the shot number is 287 ISNT THAT COOL

So Utena fans. You may or may not know, but episodes 6 and 8 had very chaotic productions, and did end up getting swapped in the end. Per Ikuhara's directory commentary in the Nozomi Blu-ray:

He makes explicit reference here to Akemi Hayashi, credited as the animation director for the episode. I can't recall where I saw it now, but I know the difficulty of drawing Touga on model is mentioned somewhere in all the production stuff I have.

Now. Here's the problem. I DON'T FUCKING KNOW WHAT THEISIWEUGWEYGF what do I callll these. My understanding is the the douga is the final line art, transferred onto the cel, and that is the only thing that you call a douga. A douga is the 1:1 match to its cels in a sequence. With an anime like Utena, it's pretty often going to be included with the cel, if you obtain one. These are douga, the final line art that creates the animation, scans donated by JadeSabre and edited into sequence. The frames are numbered in the top right, and there are no notes or anything drawn on the sheets.

Now. That is NOT what I have above. So none of these materials are douga, they are...genga? Help? (This will get wild with Nanami, where I even have a green sketch that is clearly like, VERY FIRST draft of the shot...)

What I have are the key frames, to my understanding. Meaning these represent a point much earlier in the production process. On first glance, the white sheets are significantly cleaner, but they are also so far off model they're flying along with the Voyager probes in interstellar space. They're very capably drawn, don't get me wrong, but they're clearly done by someone who is not on the Dorito face bandwagon. This is apparently pretty common? You get your initial key frame sketches (genga??) made, and then the animation direction (Hayashi??) grades your work by making messier, but more on model versions of the shots. These are the yellow 'correction' genga?

The douga of this shot are likely with the cels. There are 11 distinct cels of Touga's face (others for the sleeve), guided by the 4 key frame sketches I have here. Looked at individually, I can even see where the filled in frames struggle a bit more to be on model than the key ones, even in the final product.

So clearly, what I have are some pretty early process materials where there was a bit of a back and forth about how to draw the characters. The others I have are similar corrections, but this is the absolute most drastic one. It's like they said 'just do it like kinda shoujo and we'll iron it out later.'

The question I have is...can I safely assume these yellow correction sheets are actually Akemi Hayashi originals? Or would there have been another person in this process doing this correction work instead? Would there be a way to know who drew the original ?genga? That may not be possible to ascertain, but it would be really cool to try, since this episode was a Chaos Production, since I have the actual storyboard for it, since I now have a neat piece of context about what the Chaos might have meant. This shot always stuck out to me in the first arc, because it's true that for a lot of the first arc, Touga and Saionji look....far more like the first drafts here. The strict adherence to the Hasegawa style gets enforced later in the series, but this is an example of the exchange that needed to occur to get folks on board with what was a pretty unique art style.

PS. This is torture, the shape of these means I actually need to make two scans of each one and stitch them together, which is nervewracking when you want them to overlap properly and also you don't want to wreck your toilet paper ass production materials pressing them into the scanner bed. Also several are fucking taped together and lemme tell you, 25 year old 'clear tape' don't stay clear and don't stay sticky.

Basically, any context or knowledge anyone can impart I would appreciate a lot! I know I've got something really cool here, but I am struggling to get much clear information about it, because Google is broken.

[ronqueesha]

And now a 40k lore post about one of my favorite obscure things: the Men of Gold, the Men of Stone, and the Men of Iron.

What little we do know about the Men of Gold is that they existed THOUSANDS of years before the Imperium. Before the Age of Strife, and even before the dark age of technology. The Men of Gold existed during the age we live in now IRL. The Age of Terra, when humanity had not yet conquered the stars and colonized distant worlds.

According to ancient sources, the Men of Gold appeared sometime during the Age of Terra, joining the Emperor as he watched and nurtured humanity. To watch and learn from Mankind, the Golden Race spread across the face of Old Earth, multiplying and establishing Order and Civilization on the anarchy of Nature.

There are two main theories about who they were. The first and more accepted theory is that the "Men of Gold" is a catch-all term for all of the scientists, engineers, mathematicians and powerful people in history who contributed to humanity's scientific and cultural advancement on the way to developing space flight. Names the Imperium has completely forgotten. Albert Einstein and Oppenheimer, Shen Kuo, Archimedes, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, etc. Possibly even famous leaders like Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and other conquerors.

The second theory is that the Men of Gold were abhumans, evolved specimens, possibly other perpetuals like the Emperor. While we know that the Emperor didn't officially reveal himself as the master of mankind until he conquered Terra at the start of his crusade to reunite humanity's lost interstellar empire following the Age of Strife, he might have tried in the distant past to more directly guide humanity's future. Other perpetuals have come and gone in the Emperor's life in the last 10,000 years, and maybe he tried something similar in ages so long past, the Imperium has completely forgotten about them. But these evolved people helped push humanity into its first steps among the stars.

In time, the Men of Stone supplanted the Men of Gold and by M21 their influence had waned.

The Men of Stone are almost as mysterious as the previous group. All we really know is the above sentence. They were engineered by the Men of Gold to usher in humanity's early days as an interstellar society. It is said that the Men of Stone were largely unaffected by the horrors of the warp.

It's somewhat accepted that the term "Men of Stone" is 100% a catch-all term for the scientists and engineers of the Dark Age of Technology. People who experimented with genetic engineering, man-machine interfaces, cybernetics, artificial intelligence and digital immortality. Either on themselves or on regular human subjects.

The Navigator gene is almost certainly artificial in nature, created during the dark age of technology for the explicit purpose of more efficient warp travel. So all navigators currently in the Imperium MIGHT be considered Men of Stone in their own right, or at least the diminished and rotten descendants.

The other thing we know for sure is that they built the Men of Iron.

We actually know quite a lot about the Men of Iron, because some even still exist in the Imperium today!

The Men of Iron were originally built to be humanity's servants. A race of intelligent machines who would do all of the physical and dangerous labor that humans were not willing to do themselves. Even fight wars on their creator's behalf.

And as it happens with many robotic slave races in scifi, the Men of Iron eventually rebelled against their creators. The Cybernetic Revolt was a war so catastrophic, violent and significant, that the Imperium is still affected by it today. All levels of human civilization were rocked by the war, the suffering of the entire species, human and AI, was perhaps even more than the Imperium suffers today.

In the end, humanity seems to have won the war. And to this day, no human will ever willingly create AI. Or as the Imperium calls it, Abominable Intelligence. It's not just illegal, it's heretical. A person caught developing an intelligent computer is just as much a traitor to humanity as a chaos worshiper or someone fighting for a xenos cause. Even the Emperor is explicitly okay with this ban, and is fine with servitors and cogitators that use mutilated human brains to perform calculations. So long as the species doesn't slide back into dependence on sentient machines.

Men of Iron still exist in the Imperium, although in very tiny numbers. We know from some individuals, like UR-025, that current-day Men of Iron hate what humanity has become in the 42nd millennium. The Imperium has turned humanity into a mockery of its former glory. Even though humans and machines once opposed each other to the death, at least the ancestors of the Imperium had intelligence and dignity.

We also know from UR-025 that some Men of Iron have a religion of their own. Their faith is very similar to that of the Mechanicum, though they say that the priesthood of Mars worship something false. They have met the REAL omnissiah.

[molinaskies]

Sonic's Legacy

I love how deeply Sonic impacts the people he meets simply by being himself.

This adorable post-credits scene from Sonic Colours DS (2010) features Yacker birthing new legends among the wisps from his time with Sonic. He's inspired to remember because of how deeply touched he is by Sonic's willingness to help.

Sonic never acts explicitly in service of others. Instead, he chooses to follow his heart and let his conscience guide him. He only investigated Eggman's Interstellar Amusement Park, in the first place, because of a hunch. But it's with his goofy, empathetic, passionate spark that he finds the truth, earns trust and respect, and fosters good everywhere he goes.

Sonic's soul is driven to be free, do right by others, and have fun doing it, and it's this simple, down-to-earth fight for freedom that makes him such a loveable guy.

Sonic's not a hero because he set out to be one. Sonic's a hero because he inspires others to try.

[malkon-dova]

oh my stars. outer wilds,,

HEAVY SPOILERS BELOW | 1st playthrough update | no tips n guides if commenting please :)

So, today's session- went a little crazy. uhm. uhm

Just as like, a prelude-- Times outer wilds has made me cry: (1) But we're not there yet

First off, the statue workshop- finally got in and.

oh

my

god. uhm. okay. okay. okay so. the "looping" is just my memories being stored into the masks in ash twin- and then reinserted into my character as to keep them aware upon either success or failure of the probing project (i forget exact details atm; it's late)

also shout out to the lovebirds who decided to max out the power into the canon instead of listening to cassava and co at the construction island- explains the utter obliteration i see whenever i wake up

speaking of utter obliteration; i finally was able to get into the dang thing!!!! and ouhhh, it was SO COOL !!!!!!!! I LOVED LOOKING AROUND!!! i wish i really wish i took more screenshots but i was gasping the entire time i explored!!! gosh i need to look over the logs again to get a better grasp of what i learned here but OUUHHHHHH WOAW!!!!

anyways!!!! i also finally went and explored the gravity cannon on ember twin (ive always gone by to get the shortcut to the city, but never explored the actual cannon itself) and huh! interstellar has stuff to explore!! i guess let's go there!

oh.

oh.

well. there's poke and pye :( and there's the lore about the ghost matter

it's awfully beautiful, but. man.

oh well, can't sit on these feelings for too long, yknow? gotta keep going- where else.. where else.. hmmm

3rd escape pod it is! :)

..

they're. huddling together.

yea so- may or may not have cried; who could really say

but god. god.. this game. oh my god this game dude. this game. this game.. this gamee... what the hell. what the hell. oh my god. what the hell. this game is peak. holy shit it's so peak. it's so good. it's so so good. i'm. oh my god. oooh my god. oh my god.

but yeah, next session? doing one last puzzle/exploration thing i need to do in sunless, and uhm. !! i'm gonna continue my hunt into one particular tower at the ash twin and (hopefully) warp to the sun station from what i'm assuming (i saw theres the blackhole/warp symbol on the station). oh and- quantum tower in brittle is still a need to do thing- haven't figured that one out yet

but man. man oh man. this game. this game dude.

oh and lastly: crunchy quality log

good game 10/10

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

🌐The Long and Complicated History of the Time Lords: Part II - The Evolution of Gallifrey

When we last left off, the universe had just stabilised, acquired dimensions, and was promptly infested with godlike entities, temporal parasites, and beings who eat time for breakfast. Now, finally, we zoom in on one red-grassed planet near the heart of Mutter's Spiral.

Welcome to Gallifrey.

Disclaimer: Information on the creation of existence and a whole society is obviously mixed. GIL has waded through many contradictions to provide you with the most cohesive, structured, and key details of how it all came about, but there is room for interpretation.

🪖 Gallifrey Evolves (Quickly and Questionably)

Life from the Ancestral Cell reached Gallifrey. Between the planet's natural temporal instability and the looming influence of the Untempered Schism, evolution got a bit creative. Rapid psionic development, sudden mutations, and dinosaurs with chitinous plating—you get the idea.

Eventually, sentient proto-Gallifreyans emerged—not from apes, thank you very much, but from time-soaked forms, most likely reptilian or saurian in nature. These beings began to perceive time, collapse quantum phenomena, and impose meaning on the universe. In doing so, they effectively helped invent biodata and the rules of reality as we understand them.

💖 The Shobogans and the Shadow Walkers

These early Gallifreyans came to call themselves Shobogans: shadow-dwelling, fire-wielding proto-humanoids with immense psionic potential. Their proximity to the Schism gave rise to natural time sensitivity.

They were the first humanoids in the universe, and thanks to morphic fields,[1] they seeded the archetype of humanoid life across countless other worlds. This is why so many aliens look suspiciously Time Lord.

The Shobogans believed themselves to walk between light and darkness, science and magic. Hence, the meaning of the word Gallifrey—"they that walk in the shadows."

⚔️ From Bronze to Empire (with Detours into Magick)

Civilisation blossomed. The Shobogans moved from spears to metallurgy, to steam, and eventually to spaceflight. They developed:

Telepathic cultures with emotion-sharing over distances

Old High Gallifreyan, a language that could bend reality [2]

Academia, structured educational systems for warriors and thinkers alike

Religious theocracy, ruled by visionaries and mystics

Their society was deeply influenced by Odic Energy and magickal thinking. Prophets read the future in volcanic vapours, dreams, and spatial fissures.

🚀 Tecteun and the Great Leap Outward

As Gallifrey entered its steam-and-steel era, enter Tecteun. Scientist, wanderer, and morally dubious, Tecteun was the first Gallifreyan to achieve spaceflight. Her ship was primitive and barely functional, but she ventured into the stars anyway.

While she was away exploring, Gallifrey industrialised, warred, and finally unified under the Pythia, a powerful oracle-priestess whose rule blended governance with mysticism. Her visions came from the Crevasse of Memories That Will Be (which is exactly as melodramatic as it sounds), and her temple became the beating heart of the Gallifreyan Empire. Their technological leaps were dramatic. They became a Level 6, then Level 7 society.

They moved beyond the Stellian Galaxy. Gallifreyan colonies sprang up across the cosmos.

🌟 Gallifrey Ascends

Gallifrey's empire grew vast. Its fleets spanned the stars. Colonies were ruled by governors, and Gallifreyan traders, generals, and scientists became legends.

They:

Mastered transduction barriers and pan-dimensional engineering

Developed psychic technology and prophecy-based strategy

Made contact with — and war upon — rival Fledgling Empires[3] like the Carrionites, Weeping Angels, and Osirans

Created myths, fairy tales, and interstellar propaganda still taught to Time Tots today

Religion remained central. The Pythian Order governed with divine authority, guided by the Menti Celesti (see here). Gallifrey was now a cosmic theocracy with industrial reach and psionic might.

⌚ The Age of Heroes Begins

As Gallifrey expanded, so arrived:

Omega (aka Peylix): Visionary, engineer, insomniac. Believed in building a better universe through science, not conquest. Disliked violence.

Rassilon (aka "Rass"): Architect, polymath, red-haired egotist with a flair for destiny. Brilliant at weaponising mathematics. Enjoyed onions.[4]

The Other: A mysterious figure in Gallifreyan history. His name, birthplace, and appearance have all been forgotten, but was rumoured to have extraordinary powers.

Together, they would change the course of Gallifrey.

Assembled from ROOG and TARDIS Wiki

Next Week: Part III – The Rise of Rassilon

Footnotes:

[1] Morphic Fields = A metaphysical field. Stronger in older species, which explains why Gallifreyans have suspiciously wide genetic influence.

[2] Old High Gallifreyan = Not just a language but a reality-altering script probably infused with the powers of Odic energy.

[3] Fledgling Empires = Early galactic powers that challenged Gallifrey's dominance during the Dark Times.

[4] Rassilon's Onion Habit = Possibly apocryphal.

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[noneedtofearorhope]

so it turns out you gotta sign up to make a movie list quiz on that site everyones using? sure would have been nice to know before i spent like, 3 hours racking my brain trying to think of every movie ive seen. so i just copied the list i made there and will paste it under the cut below

1 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) 2 A Clockwork Orange (1971) 3 Soylent Green (1973) 4 Logan's Run (1976) 5 Star Wars (1977) 6 Alien (1979) 7 Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) 8 The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 9 Escape From New York (1981) 10 Heavy Metal (1981) 11 Mobile Suit Gundam I (1981) 12 Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow (1981) 13 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) 14 Blade Runner (1982) 15 Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space (1982) 16 Return of the Jedi (1983) 17 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) 18 2010 (1984) 19 Dune (1984) 20 Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) 21 The Terminator (1984) 22 Back to the Future (1985) 23 The Quiet Earth (1985) 24 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) 25 Predator (1987) 26 Akira (1988) 27 They Live (1988) 28 Back to the Future Part II (1989) 29 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) 30 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) 31 Back to the Future Part III (1990) 32 Edward Scissorhands (1990) 33 Slacker (1991) 34 Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) 35 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) 36 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) 37 Braindead (1992) 38 Star Trek: Generations (1994) 39 Stargate (1994) 40 Goldeneye (1995) 41 Ghost in the Shell (1995) 42 Mars Attacks! (1996) 43 Star Trek: First Contact (1996) 44 Independence Day (1996) 45 Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) 46 The Fifth Element (1997) 47 The End of Evangelion (1997) 48 Contact (1997) 49 Men in Black (1997) 50 Dark City (1998) 51 The Truman Show (1998) 52 Godzilla (1998) 53 The Faculty (1998) 54 Spriggan (1998) 55 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) 56 The World Is Not Enough (1999) 57 The Matrix (1999) 58 The Iron Giant (1999) 59 Bicentennial Man (1999) 60 Titan A.E. (2000) 61 Battlefield Earth (2000) 62 X-Men (2000) 63 Waking Life (2001) 64 Evolution (2001) 65 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001) 66 Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001) 67 Donnie Darko (2001) 68 28 Days Later (2002) 69 Reign of Fire (2002) 70 Men in Black II (2002) 71 Spider-Man (2002) 72 Signs (2002) 73 Resident Evil (2002) 74 Die Another Day (2002) 75 Lilo & Stitch (2002) 76 Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) 77 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) 78 The Matrix Reloaded (2003) 79 The Matrix Revolutions (2003) 80 Freddy vs. Jason (2003) 81 The Animatrix (2003) 82 School of Rock (2003) 83 X2 (2003) 84 Hulk (2003) 85 The Day After Tomorrow (2004) 86 The Butterfly Effect (2004) 87 I, Robot (2004) 88 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) 89 Spider-Man 2 (2004) 90 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) 91 War of the Worlds (2005) 92 Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005) 93 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) 94 Click (2006) 95 A Scanner Darkly (2006) 96 V for Vendetta (2005) 97 I Am Legend (2007) 98 28 Weeks Later (2007) 99 Spider-Man 3 (2007) 100 Quarantine (2008) 101 District 9 (2009) 102 Watchmen (2009) 103 9 (2009) 104 Star Trek (2009) 105 Inception (2010) 106 Attack the Block (2011) 107 Prometheus (2012) 108 Her (2013) 109 Snowpiercer (2013) 110 Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) 111 Pacific Rim (2013) 112 Ender's Game (2013) 113 Interstellar (2014) 114 The Giver (2014) 115 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) 116 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) 117 Ex Machina (2015) 118 Arrival (2016) 119 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) 120 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) 121 Blade Runner 2049 (2017) 122 Level 16 123 Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) 124 Dune (2021) 125 The Matrix Resurrections (2021) 126 Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) 127 Godzilla Minus One (2023)

[liquidbird-official]

NASA has just confirmed something groundbreaking—Voyager 1 and 2 are coming home. After nearly five decades in interstellar space, both spacecraft will begin their return journey using a classified propulsion system secretly integrated into their design.

The plan was hidden from the public and Congress to prevent funding cuts. Ever since Apollo ended, Congress had been scaling back deep-space programs, so NASA kept this as a contingency.

Unlike their outward journey, which used gravity assists to escape the solar system, their return will rely on a gravitational recapture trajectory.

Jupiter and Saturn are perfectly aligned to provide back-to-back slingshots, boosting their speed to 78 km/s, nearly double their original velocity. Combined with high-efficiency ion thrusters, this will allow a rapid approach back toward Earth.

A key factor is the RTG nuclear battery reserve, a secret feature installed at launch. While the public specs listed only 470 watts of power, engineers had quietly included an additional 940-watt thermal energy reserve, intended for a controlled return if needed.

These RTGs will now activate the return thrusters, guiding both probes back into Earth’s gravitational influence.

NASA estimates reentry on 6/31/2037, over the Southern Hemisphere. The recovery plan ensures a controlled descent, preventing any risk of uncontrolled reentry.

Scientists are eager to analyze the spacecraft, which have endured nearly 50 years of deep-space exposure, providing rare data on long-term spaceflight durability.

For decades, Voyager was seen as a one-way mission. But this proves otherwise. The return of Voyager 1 and 2 will mark a historic moment—the first retrieval of an interstellar spacecraft and proof that no mission is truly final.

Follow for daily educational content and check the link in bio for free ebooks on the space shuttle, ISS, Falcon 9, and rocket propellants.

[kiidqr]

Blooming in the Sickness

Reader/Argenti, Argenti Honkai Star Rail, Angst, Character Death, First Post, Fanfiction, 1.3K Words, Honkai Star Rail, English.

Summary:

As the formidable knight of beauty he was, Argenti finds you lost in a place not deserving of such a pure soul as you. Which actively turns out to demonstrate that he has fallen for something more than solely your outside stunning beauty.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned...

...

Your face had been pale and sickly for some time now. Not wanting to burden your loved one, on deathbed you've decided to deliver one last rose to him.

Blooming in the Sickness

The interstellar winds whispered through the vast expanse of space as Argenti, the noble knight of the Knights of Beauty, traversed the cosmos on his solitary journey. His silver armour gleamed under the distant stars, a beacon of unwavering commitment to the Path of Beauty. Little did he know that his path was about to intersect with a fleeting moment of beauty that would change him forever.

You, an enigmatic traveller with a heart filled with grace and kindness, had been a silent companion to Argenti in his interstellar adventures. Your paths crossed on a desolate moon, and from that moment, a subtle connection began to blossom. Though you spoke little, your actions spoke volumes, and Argenti found solace in your company.

"As the stars above, you appeared in my solitude, a gentle whisper in the cosmic winds," Argenti mused one evening as you both gazed at the distant galaxies. "Why do you accompany me, traveller, on this lonesome journey?"

Your response was a soft smile, eyes reflecting the luminosity of distant constellations. "In the vastness of the cosmos, I saw a kindred spirit. A knight dedicated to beauty, yet burdened by the weight of solitude. I wished to share this journey with you, to bring warmth to the cold expanse."

As the days turned into weeks and weeks into months, a unique bond grew between Argenti and you. Nights were spent beneath the celestial canopy, sharing stories of distant realms and dreams that echoed in the cosmos. The silent moments spoke louder than any words could convey.

Argenti, usually reserved and composed, found himself opening up to you in ways he never imagined. "I never thought I would find a companion in this solitary pursuit," he confessed one evening as you both watched the stars. "Your presence brings a new light to my path."

You smiled, reaching out to gently touch his hand. "The beauty of the cosmos is best appreciated when shared, Argenti. We walk this path together, bound by the threads of fate and the love that silently grows between us."

One day, as you explored the vibrant gardens of a celestial haven, you discovered a rare celestial rose – a flower of unparalleled beauty, said to hold the essence of the cosmos itself. With a gentle touch, you plucked the rose, and in that moment, you decided to send it to Argenti along with a letter expressing your gratitude for the shared moments.

As the rose arrived at Argenti's side, its delicate petals whispered a tale of unspoken emotions. Argenti, curious and touched by the unexpected gift, carefully unfolded the letter. In the quiet solitude of his ship, he read your words, written with love and adorned with a poignant farewell.

"Dear Argenti,

In the tapestry of the cosmos, our paths converged like stars in the night sky. Your unwavering dedication to the Path of Beauty has illuminated my journey, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

As the celestial rose graces your presence, let it be a symbol of the beauty we found in the vastness of the cosmos. Our moments together were fleeting, yet they were the most cherished. Continue to walk your path with the same grace that guided us.”

"Do you remember the night we first spoke of our dreams, Argenti?" the letter continued. "I saw a galaxy in your eyes, and in that moment, I knew my heart had found its home. Though our time together is brief, the love that bloomed between us is eternal."

"As the final petals fall, know that my spirit will linger among the stars, and our love will endure in the cosmic winds.”

“I love you.”

Argenti's heart sank as the weight of your words settled upon him. He clutched the celestial rose close to his chest, feeling the fragility of life encapsulated in its petals. The realisation struck him like a celestial storm – the silent companion he had grown to cherish was slipping away, and he had been oblivious to your struggle.

A mix of emotions overwhelmed Argenti as he recalled the shared moments, the laughter, and the silent exchanges that spoke of a love that transcended the boundaries of time. He whispered your name into the cosmic winds, a prayer for your soul to find peace among the stars.

In the vastness of space, Argenti continued his journey, carrying the celestial rose as a poignant reminder of a beauty that once bloomed in the cosmos – a beauty that silently faded away, leaving only the echo of your unspoken farewell.

As the starlight dimmed and the galaxies continued their dance, Argenti vowed to honour the memory of the silent companion who had taught him that even in the cold expanse of space, love could be a beacon, guiding one's path with warmth and grace.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, yet Argenti's heart remained heavy with the weight of your absence. He found solace in retracing the paths you once walked together, visiting celestial havens where memories lingered like echoes of a distant melody.

One day, as he explored a crystalline asteroid belt, a beacon of ethereal light caught his attention. As he approached, he “saw” an imaginary projection of you, smiling amid the twinkling stars.

"Argenti," the image said, "Know that my essence lingers in the cosmic winds. Our love was a fleeting bloom, but its fragrance remains in the corners of the universe."

Argenti's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he listened to your words. "I never revealed the truth, for I wished to spare you the burden of my fate. The celestial rose was a token of the love we shared, a love that will endure beyond the boundaries of time."

The imaginary projection extended a hand, and a radiant rose materialised within it. "Take this, my love. Let it be a reminder that even in the vastness of the cosmos, our love transcends the limitations of mortal existence. Carry it with you, and may it bring you warmth on the coldest of nights."

The projected image faded, leaving Argenti standing alone amid the silent beauty of the asteroid belt. In his hands, he held the radiant rose, a symbol of love that reached beyond the boundaries of life and death.

As Argenti continued his journey through the cosmos, the celestial rose became a source of both sorrow and solace. Each petal held the essence of your love, a love that had blossomed like a silent bloom in the heart of the noble knight.

In the quiet moments of interstellar solitude, Argenti found himself whispering to the rose, sharing thoughts and dreams as if you were still by his side. The cosmic winds carried his words across the galaxies, a tribute to the silent companion who had left an indelible mark on the noble knight's heart.

The beauty of the cosmos unfolded before Argenti's eyes, a vast tapestry of stars, nebulas, and galaxies that seemed to dance in harmony with the celestial rose in his hands. Each celestial body became a reflection of the love that once flourished between two wandering souls.

One fateful day, as Argenti stood on the edge of a cosmic precipice, he felt a gentle breeze, a whisper in the cosmic winds that echoed with a familiar warmth. Closing his eyes, he imagined your presence, and in that moment, he knew that your love, like the celestial rose, had become a timeless beacon in the cosmic tapestry.

In the quiet vastness of space, Argenti continued his journey, carrying the celestial rose as a reminder that love once again, even in its silent bloom, could transcend the boundaries of time and space. As the stars above witnessed the noble knight's solitary voyage, they bore witness to a love that endured, a love that whispered through the cosmic winds, and a love that remained eternally engraved in the heart of Argenti.

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Excerpts from Faith Among the Stars: A History of the New Avalon Catholic Church

By Father Benedict Lucien, Archivist of the Curia, New Avalon Catholic College of Theology Published in the Year of Our Lord 3098

The New Avalon Catholic Church (NACC) was not born of careful reform, nor of theological dispute, but of necessity. Separated from Terra by war and distance, the faithful of the Federated Suns found themselves without a shepherd, abandoned not by malice but by the sheer devastation of the Inner Sphere’s greatest conflict. Though its founding was born of crisis, the NACC has since become one of the most influential religious institutions in the Federated Suns, an independent faith molded by war, exile, and the unshakable belief that no matter how far humanity has traveled among the stars, the light of God will always follow.

Now, nearly three hundred and fifty years since its foundation, the Church stands not merely as a remnant of old Terra’s Catholicism but as a distinct, evolving force, shaped by the unique realities of the Inner Sphere.

Even in this era of unprecedented peace, the Church remains firm in its purpose: to guide the lost, to shield the faithful, and to wield its strength in the service of justice.

Origins: The Schism of the Star League Era

The New Avalon Catholic Church was founded in one of the darkest chapters of human history—the fall of the Terran Hegemony. When Stefan Amaris launched his coup in 2766, Terra was severed from the rest of the Star League, and with it, the central authority of the Roman Catholic Church. In response, after Amaris began a campaign of terror in 2770, Pope Clement XXVII issued emergency directives to senior clergy across the Star League member states, granting them extraordinary authority to maintain the faith in his absence - an absence that would be rendered permanent within the week.

Among the clergy who received the message was Cardinal Kinsey de Medici, the highest-ranking prelate in the Federated Suns. Misunderstanding the garbled transmission he received, and faced with the collapse of interstellar communication and the seeming destruction of the Vatican itself, de Medici saw no path forward except self-reliance. By 2774, he declared that the Church in the Federated Suns would no longer be bound by Rome and proclaimed himself Pope Thomas X, establishing New Avalon as the new seat of Catholic authority in the region.

By the time interstellar communication was restored five years later, in 2779, and news arrived that John Paul V had been elected as Pope in Rome, the divide had already solidified. Thomas X and his successors refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Terran papacy, arguing that the Vatican had lost touch with the needs of its people. Thus, the schism between Rome and New Avalon became permanent. House Davion, recognizing the influence of the Church, gave its quiet support, ensuring that the NACC would become deeply ingrained in the cultural and spiritual fabric of the Federate Suns.

Reform and Inclusion: A Church That Evolves

While the New Avalon Catholic Church preserved many of the theological principles of its Roman predecessor, it quickly distinguished itself through its willingness to adapt. Unlike the Vatican, which often resisted social and technological change, the NACC embraced the belief that faith must evolve to meet the needs of its people.

The first major departure from Roman Catholic tradition came in 2815, when the NACC formally abolished clerical celibacy, arguing that priests and bishops could better guide the faithful if they understood the challenges of family life firsthand. Less than two decades later, in 2827, the ordination of women was formally recognized, with the first female bishops taking office by the end of the decade.

By the time of Pope Juliana III’s election in 2897, she was not the first woman to hold the papacy—she was the third. However, she was unique in another way: she was the first openly transgender Supreme Pontiff. To this day, Juliana III is remembered for her wisdom, diplomacy, and unwavering commitment to social justice, guiding the Church through the political upheavals of the early 30th century and ensuring that it remained independent of House Davion’s direct influence. Juliana III’s reign solidified many of the progressive stances that define the Church today. By the end of the second decade of the 30th century, the NACC had fully embraced gender equality, same-sex marriage, and personal conscience in matters of family planning and reproductive rights. The Church continued to hold the sanctity of life as a core principle, but it prioritized compassion, education, and social support over rigid legalism.

In keeping with its willingness to reform in matters of social doctrine, the New Avalon Catholic Church has maintained a accepting stance on technological advancements concerning the human body. Unlike some religious movements that viewed such modifications as unnatural or an affront to divine design, the NACC framed its position through the lens of stewardship, arguing that just as medicine and surgery were gifts that allowed humanity to heal, so too were the innovations that could replace a lost limb, correct failing organs, or even enhance cognitive faculties when necessary. The same principle was applied to biotechnology, including the widespread use of cloned body parts and cultivated organ replacements, which the Church ruled were ethically indistinguishable from traditional transplants. Even during the Word of Blake Jihad, when cybernetic enhancements became associated with the fanatical Manei Domini, the Church never wavered in its support for responsible augmentation, refusing to allow the corruption of one sect to taint an entire field of scientific advancement. Today, the NACC remains one of the more technologically progressive religious institutions in the Inner Sphere, fully embracing the ethical application of cybernetics and bioengineering in the service of human dignity.

Alongside its acceptance of medical advancements, the NACC has also long pursued a mission of reconciliation and interfaith outreach, recognizing that faith among the stars could never be bound to a single tradition. For centuries, the Church has maintained cordial, if distant, relations with its Roman Catholic counterpart on Terra, though true reunification remains unlikely. Of greater significance, however, have been the Church’s efforts to welcome converts from outside traditional Catholic communities. The greatest test of their inclusivity came with the arrival of the Clans in 3050. While the Clans themselves had few formal religious institutions save the The Way espoused by the ever-distant Clan Cloud Cobra, some of their warriors—particularly those who had been captured, exiled, or defected—began to seek a new sense of spiritual belonging after being severed from their former caste-based society. This presented an unprecedented theological challenge, as Clan culture held no belief in an afterlife, no organized system of worship, and little respect for the concept of faith as an institution. Many among the faithful viewed Clan eugenics and warrior caste ideology as fundamentally irreconcilable with Catholic teaching. The Church’s initial attempts at evangelization were met with indifference at best, open scorn at worst, but over time, some Clan-born individuals found solace in the principles of sacrifice, duty, and redemption that the NACC espoused. While these converts remained a minority, their presence forced the Church to engage in deep theological reflection on what it meant to offer salvation to those who had never sought it. The first Clan-born individual to seek entry into the church, the now Abbess Anya Bekker, formerly of Clan Ghost Bear, was met with fierce resistance from within. The debate reached the highest levels of the Church, culminating in Pope Pius XXI’s historic ruling in 3072:

"Faith is not a matter of blood or birth, but of the choices we make and the burdens we take upon ourselves. If an individual of the Clans renounces the cruelty of their past and chooses the path of righteousness, who are we to deny them?"

With those words, the gates of the Church were opened to Clan-born converts, provided they rejected the ideals of genetic supremacy and the rigid hierarchy of the caste system. By the 3080s, the NACC had fully embraced the idea that faith is not simply inherited, but chosen, and that those willing to walk the path of righteousness—regardless of their origins—could find a home within the Church’s embrace. Today, many former Clansfolk are part of the Church, and many former warriors serve as full-fledged Knights Defensor, proving that faith, like honor, is something that must be chosen rather than inherited.

The Knights Defensor: The Sword and Shield of the Faithful

For much of its early history, the New Avalon Catholic Church had no formal military order. Though some individual bishops maintained private security forces on particularly volatile worlds, there was no centralized institution akin to the Teutonic Knights or Swiss Guard of old.

That changed in 3084, when Pope Beneficent XV established the Knights Defensor, a holy order dedicated to protecting the faithful and upholding the Church’s moral authority.

The Knights quickly became more than just a military arm of the Church. They took on a broader role as warriors, peacekeepers, and champions of the oppressed, often operating beyond the borders of the Federated Suns. Though many House Lords viewed them as aligned with the Davion state, the reality was far more complex—the Knights answered only to the Supreme Pontiff, and on more than one occasion, they had openly challenged corrupt or unjust rulers, even within the Federated Suns itself.

Faith in the Era of the Republic

As the 31st century gave way to the 32nd, the New Avalon Catholic Church remained a pillar of stability within the Federated Suns. Though closely tied to House Davion, it has never been a mere extension of state power, and more than once, it has stood in opposition to rulers who strayed too far into tyranny.

Now, in this new age of the Republic of the Sphere, the Church faces new challenges. Will it align with this new order, lending its moral authority to a cause that claims to unify humanity? Or will it remain independent, as it has since its founding? Regardless of the answer, one truth remains certain: The New Avalon Catholic Church is no longer a relic of ancient Terra. It is a faith born in exile, tempered by war, and shaped by the stars. And wherever humanity’s future leads, it will be there to guide them.

[trekbait]

The Vulcan spiritual retreat EVERYONE is talking about

The quadrant is abuzz with news of a new relaxing retreat on Vulcan run by a man who claims to be the second coming of Sybok.

Sybok, the 23rd-century Vulcan leader of the v'tosh ka'tur cult (Vulcans without logic), was known to relieve people of deep emotional pain. He went missing when he commandeered the Enterprise to go find god. This new Sybok claims that Sybok’s katra has been floating on a higher plane of existence with god for the past hundred years but has now joined with him to share the secret of ascension.

Sybok’s Secret Special Spiritual Sanctuary is nestled in the foothills of Mount Selaya where Sybok’s will help you let go of your inner pain. “But don’t I need my pain,” you ask? Apparently not, according to Sybok, who wants you to share your pain with the group and gain strength from that sharing.

You’ll spend two weeks sweating in the Vulcan heat conducting guided meditative exercises with Sybok and bonding with your fellow initiates. Unlike other Vulcan meditation classes, here you’ll embrace your emotions so fear cannot stop you and undertake the greatest adventure of all time. You’ll also get a glossy certificate at the end of the course.

One initiate who was leaving just as we arrived proclaimed “Sybok has put me in touch with feelings I’ve always been afraid to express. It is as if a weight has been lifted from my heart!” shortly before he tripped backwards and fell down a flight of stairs.

Many on Vulcan may dismiss Sybok’s exercises as “a trippy mind meld” and that Sybok himself is just "a con man from the dodgy side of T'Paal City". But Sybok is keen to assure you of his credentials: “Sybok’s Secret Special Spiritual Sanctuary is the best meditative retreat you’ll ever experience. The Best! And I’ll stake my reputation on it. People come here and tell me, ‘wow, Sybok, you’ve given my life sooooo much happiness. It’s like I’m on drugs right now’ and I’ll reply that’s the Sybok promise.”

Unusual for a Federation citizen, Sybok is charging currency for his retreat. It costs a hefty 10 bars of gold-pressed latinum to secure a reservation on his course with a waiting list of around 2 years. This apparently is part of the process that to relieve yourself of your pain you must first relieve yourself of your worldly possessions (to Sybok specifically). It is unclear where this currency goes. However, Sybok has recently announced that he has been told by god that he needs a private starship to spread the message far and wide.

After he got out of an exclusive one-on-one meld with a young female initiate, we asked Sybok about the ascension mentioned in his brochure; “Oh our ascension is great. It’s, like, a wonderful experience. There’s nothing quite like it. All the other god-like beings are so jealous of our ascension. You’ve never seen an ascension to beautiful, it’s much better than Q’s. You’ll be so excited when you see it. What? How’d you get it? Well, you’ll find out. Yeah, you’ll find out. Wait and see.”

Whatever his detractors may think, it is clear Sybok is the hot new thing this side of Betazed. You can book your place by contacting Plomeekalife Interstellar Supplements of Vulcan Inc.

[krinsbez]

World building/Storybuilding: BattleTech+Pern

I said I would do it, and so here we go.

Pont the first: IIRC from *Dragonsdawn*, a one of the reasons that many of the original Pernese colonists were willing to leave their lives behind and try to make a go at down-teched pastoralism on a resource-poor planet out beyond the edges of settled space was because a big chunk of them were veterans of a brutal interstellar war. Also, because it was Admiral Benden's idea, and after the leadership he showed during said war, they were willing to follow him anywhere.

Well, that sounds familiar. So the original colonists being a segment of the Exodus Fleet that misjumped to ~2,000 years into the past somewhere in the Deep Periphery makes sense. And really, who but the SLDF is going to have a sapient supercomputer and the ability to turn small psychic flying lizards into Dragons? I'm gonna leave out the dolphins, though.

You are perhaps asking, wait, if you are leaving out the dolphins, why are you including AIVAS? Well, because I want to not just have Peen exist in BT, I want it to be RELEVANT, and since it's a single, resource-poor largely pre-industrial world, that means I need to give them as many advantages as possible, and an advanced AI with all the knowledge of the Star League goes a long way towards that goal. For the same reason I am considering having Yokohama be a WarShip. Although it's been sitting in orbit without maintenance for 2500 years, it probably isn't in fighting shape even before they used it to move the Red Star (can you do that with KF Drives, BTW?). I also considered that they have basically a Brian Cache at Landing, but again over 2500 years with no maintenance, and also that might be a bit much

Anyways. It's noted that the Dragonrider playbook was adapted from space fighter tactics, and AIVAS still recognized them as such in the Ninth Pass, so theoretically Dragonriders can be retrained as ASF pilots. Although, I am not sure that's needful: I vividly remember an illustration in The Dragonlover's Guide To Pern that show Ramoth as being roughly the same size as a jumbo jet. Ramoth is, of course, the biggest dragon ever, but there's no indication that she has gigantism, so one presumes the other Golds, while smaller, are of roughly similar size, that the Bronzes are only somewhat smaller than that, and the Browns only slightly smaller than that. Who knows about the Blues and Greens? But anyways, something that big dropping on your head out of *between* (stupid phone not letting me italicize on Tumblr) is going to ruin pretty much any Mech's day, even if they weren't also able to breathe fire or yoink you off to *between*, and maybe do other TK tricks.

Ok, so. As you might imagine by what I have said thus far, I am figuring that, on the Pern side of things, the planet is rediscovered during All The Weyrs of Pern, or perhaps slightly after if we leave out AIVAS deactivating itself. Not sure what's a good time on the BT side, or by who or how, and no idea what comes next.

Hence my asking y'all. Please help?

[daddy-eggman]

Imagine Eggman getting sucked off while making those PA announcements in Sonic Colors. He tries to focus but he struggles to stay composed as he moans a bit and it's all recorded for everyone to hear.

Oh yeah I love to imagine pleasuring him in casual settings. He's sat back in his seat having a blast living out his dreams of running an evil deadly amusement park but what visitors don't know is his legs are spread and between them under the desk someone is kneeling with his big hard thick cock in their mouth, sucking obediently, further heightening the excitement of getting to boast his beautiful park. He occasionally grins at them and guides their head down on it but mostly pays more attention to his recording session.

They know the point is to be quiet while he's recording as it's important to him, in fact he used that as a reason when demanding it, to shut them up with his cock so they can suckle on it and stay nice and quiet so he can record without interruption, though of course he's just very horny too. And they're happy to obey by sucking him but who could resist temptation to make it feel really good for him, enough to get a reaction? It's more rewarding than when he hardly pays attention so they decide to be a bit naughty and mess with him.

They begin to tease him by suddenly removing his cock with a wet pop and only suckling and kissing his swollen tip, only kissing and dragging light licks along his cock and caressing and playing with his balls and giving them attention with the mouth too. He starts to shift a little in his seat, his cock twitches and a bead of precum drips onto the floor so they know it's working. Especially when he tries to grab their head again under the desk to put it back in their mouth but his hand swipes nothing but air as they move their head back.

He's clearly getting worked up and his stomps his feet a little and almost trips over his words and it's frustrating that he can't say anything because he's in the middle of a recording. He's clearly very needy now according to plan and it's very cute and amusing to them but if they try it any more, he's probably going to start getting angry so now it's time for the next step. They suddenly take it back in and really start to go for it with their tongue, slobbering on it and taking it deeper than he thought they could manage.

He's quite surprised for his aching needy cock to first be unexpectedly teased and then suddenly pleasured so passionately and enthusiastically full force again so he sucks in a sharp breath between words that he hopes could just pass as him catching a breath. But they only pick up the pace bobbing their head on it faster and sucking harder and it's really wet and sloppy now it makes him shiver as his cock throbs and twitches harder. It's getting so difficult to act unaffected and he starts to crack.

"Enjoy every moment in the luxurious grounds as if th-they uh- ngh..." That's his first slip up as he stammers and grunts. He tries to continue thinking people will just think it was a bit of a flub of his words but he's really struggling to keep his composure now. It's not long before he can't resist longer, he hisses as he grips their hair and pushes them down deeper to bury it in their throat. He makes the mistake of still trying to keep going because he's determined to not let them stop him making these recordings.

"We here at Eggman's amazing Interstellar Amusement P- haaah~" Finally it's too much, he squeezes his eyes shut and a very obvious moan slips from his lips. He can't help it when they're bobbing up and down on it so passionately as they swallow his entire cock and his balls are hitting their chin and they caress them. They're sucking so loudly now that it's surely picked up faintly too. His cheeks flush embarrassment to reveal he can moan like that and how it's very obvious what's happening with the sucking sounds too.

But then he's soon thinking like "you know what why not show off that I'm getting some action for all those who may have doubted it" lol. Or perhaps he doesn't even get to truly decide how he feels as he's finally had enough and groans deeply as his cock explodes in their mouth and pumps his hot thick load down their throat and he can't think clearly in the peak of ecstacy to turn off his microphone before he says "Ohhh yeah... That's it, swallow it all~" and with that he leaves absolutely nothing up to the imagination hehe 🥴💜

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Scientists precisely simulate turbulence in the Galaxy — it doesn’t behave like they thought

Turbulence on the Galactic Scales

From the ocean’s rolling swells to the bumpy ride of a jetliner, turbulence is everywhere. It breaks large waves into smaller ones, cascading energy across scales. It is ubitquitous throughout our Galaxy and the broader Universe, shaping the behavior of plasma, stars, and magnetic fields. Yet despite its ubiquity, turbulence remains one of the greatest unsolved problems in physics.

Now, by developing the world’s largest-ever simulations of magnetized turbulence, an international team of scientists has measured — with unprecedented precision — how turbulent energy moves across a vast range of scales. The result: it doesn’t match with long-standing theories.

James Beattie, a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University's Department of Astrophysical Sciences and a fellow at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics at University of Toronto, led the study along with Amitava Bhattacharjee of Princeton, and colleagues at the Australian National University, Heidelberg University and the Leibniz Supercomputing Center.

By simulating galactic-type turbulence in exquisite detail, the researchers found significant departures from the models that have guided astrophysical theory for decades. The team explicitly observed that magnetic fields alter the way energy cascades through the space between stars in our Galaxy — known as the interstellar medium — suppressing small-scale motions and enhancing certain wave-like disturbances known as Alfvén waves. The findings could reshape how scientists understand the turbulent structure of the Galaxy, the transport of high-energy particles, and even the turbulent birth of stars.

In practical terms, understanding and properly modeling turbulence and the production of highly energetic particles can shed light on how to safely navigate space, at a time when commercial space flight is growing and attracting the interest of civilians and celebrities alike.

‘‘The research has implications for predicting and monitoring space weather to better understand the plasma environment around satellites and future space missions, and also the acceleration of highly energetic particles, which damage everything, and could endanger human beings in space,” said Bhattacharjee, a co-author on the new paper and Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton.

“A lot of these fundamental plasma turbulence questions are objects of missions now launched by NASA and have implications for understanding the origin of cosmic magnetic fields. Simulations like these would give us insights into how to interpret satellite and ground-based measurements,” said Bhattacharjee.

Simulating Turbulence like Never Before

There is still no complete mathematical framework for predicting how energy moves from large to small scales: across oceans, in the atmosphere, or through the plasma and dust between stars. In space, the problem is even more complex than on Earth due to magnetization, requiring vast computational resources to model. The team’s work relied on the equivalent of 140,000 computers running in parallel. 

“To put these massive simulations into perspective: if we had started one on a single laptop when humans first domesticated animals, it would just be finishing now,” said Beattie. “Luckily, utilizing the amazing resources from the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, we can distribute the workload across thousands of computers to accelerate the calculations.”

“We are a step closer to uncovering the true nature of astrophysical and space turbulence, from chaotic plasma near Earth to the vast motions within our Galaxy and beyond,” said Beattie, “The dream is to discover universal features in turbulence across the Universe, and we’ll continue pushing the limits of the next-generation of simulations to test that idea.”

The new work will be published in the journal Nature Astronomy on May 13, 2025. In addition to Beattie and Bhattacharjee, co-authors include Christoph Federrath of the Australian National University, Ralf S. Klessen of Heidelberg University, and Salvatore Cielo of the Leibniz Supercomputing Center of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

TOP IMAGE: This composite image combines observations from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope of the Phantom Galaxy (M74) with a high-resolution simulation of galactic turbulence. The simulation from this study — zoomed into a small patch of the galaxy’s interstellar medium — reveals extremely high-resolution chaotic motions of plasma that regulate star formation, structure formation, and the magnetic field across the galactic scales.  An international team of scientists have developed the world’s largest-ever simulations of magnetized turbulence and measured — with unprecedented precision — how turbulent energy moves across a vast range of scales. By simulating galactic-type turbulence in exquisite detail, the researchers found significant departures from the models that have guided astrophysical theory for decades.  The findings could reshape how scientists understand the turbulent structure of the Galaxy, the transport of high-energy particles, and even the birth of stars. In practical terms, understanding and properly modeling turbulence and the production of highly energetic particles can shed light on how to safely navigate space, at a time when commercial space flight is growing and attracting the interest of civilians and celebrities alike. Credit ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST Team; Acknowledgement: J. Schmidt; Simulation: J. Beattie.

CENTRE IMAGE: The chaotic structure of the turbulent magnetic field and velocity in the world’s largest magnetized turbulence simulation, a model for plasma motion within our Galaxy. Credit James Beattie

LOWER IMAGE: A snapshot of the chaotic dance between plasma and magnetic fields in the world’s largest simulation of magnetized turbulence — the type of turbulence found throughout our Galaxy. The work includes the largest and most precise simulations ever made of galactic turbulence.  This 2D slice of the world's largest turbulence simulation reveals the fractal structure of the density, shown in yellow, black and red, and magnetic field, shown in white. Credit James Beattie