#Radar Border Security

[10bmnews]

EOS-09 satellite set to be launched on May 18, will boost India’s border surveillance powers | India News - The Times of India

Isro is scheduled to launch the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) satellite on May 18 NEW DELHI: India’s surveillance power from the sky is set to get a big boost as Isro is scheduled to launch the PSLV-C61 mission carrying the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) radar imaging satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit on May 18. The launch is scheduled at 6.59 am IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.The…

[afloweroutofstone]

Hannah Arendt, who fled Germany in 1933, later wrote that long before Jews, Roma, gays, Communists and others could be herded into death camps, they had to be “denationalized” — excluded from the society that guaranteed their legal rights. Enlightenment thinkers had posited that just by virtue of existing, each person has inalienable rights. Arendt, however, observed that the “right to have rights” could be guaranteed only by a political community. Without a state to claim them as their own, people have no laws, no courts and no political mechanisms for protecting rights.

Arendt once said that “the generally political became a personal fate when one emigrated.” As a stateless person, she experienced that loss of rights — unable to get papers, hiding from the police, interned as an enemy alien in France — before making it to the United States. She was lucky. Her friend Walter Benjamin committed suicide in his eighth year of exile, when the French authorities blocked him from crossing the border ahead of advancing German troops...

A country that has pushed one group out of its political community will eventually push out others. The Trump administration’s barrage of attacks on trans people can seem haphazard, but as elements of a denationalization project, they fall into place...

The message, consistent and unrelenting, is that trans people are a threat to the nation. The subtext is that we are not of this nation...

The rights the Trump administration is taking away from trans people are relatively new. Only in the past few decades, for example, have clear legal procedures existed for changing the gender marker on identity documents, and only in the past few years have federal and some state authorities made the process fairly easy. But before transgender, gender-nonconforming and intersex people were recognized as a group — or groups — of people who had rights, many could blend in, fly below the radar. Now, in their new rightlessness, they are exposed...

Living with documents that are inconsistent or at odds with your public identity is no small thing. It can keep you from opening a bank account, applying for financial aid, securing a loan, obtaining a driver’s license and traveling freely and safely inside a country or across borders. I was once detained in Russia after a routine road check because an officer thought I was a teenage boy using his mother’s driver’s license.

It’s not just American identity documents that are being scrambled. Like all things American, Trump’s denationalization campaign affects people far beyond the United States. In late February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued visa guidelines, ostensibly designed to keep foreign trans athletes from competing in the United States, that seem to direct consular officers to deny entry to anyone whose gender markers appear different from their sex assigned at birth.

The new regulations require visitors, when filling out the paperwork to cross the border into the United States, to indicate the sex they were assigned at birth. Lucien Lambertz, a German curator who is trans and was planning a professional trip to the United States, told me they worried that they would be denied entry if they complied, indicating a birth sex different from the gender marker in their passport, but also if they didn’t comply.

Lambertz emailed the Foreign Ministry in their country to ask for guidance. “The issue is the subject of tense discussions here at the ministry, and your concerns are absolutely understandable,” the response read, in part. Ordinarily, the Foreign Ministry would suggest asking the U.S. Embassy, but by doing so, as the letter noted, Lambertz “would then ‘out’ yourself to them.”

Trans and nonbinary Germans fear that their country’s incoming conservative government may take its cues from the Trump administration. Far-right parties, ascendant in Germany and other European countries, have made the specter of “gender ideology” a centerpiece of their politics.

“Something has changed,” Heinrich Horwitz, a German choreographer, told me. Horwitz, who is nonbinary, was recently assaulted at the main train station in Vienna. The attacker was demanding to know whether Horwitz was “a girl or a boy.” Before they could make out what the attacker was saying, Horwitz instinctively tucked the Star of David they wear around their neck inside their shirt. “I thought that would be safer.” Horwitz, who was born in Munich in 1984, is the child of a Holocaust survivor. “I grew up with this idea that I could always go to the U.S. if the Nazis came back,” they told me. That no longer seems like an option.

You know how this column is supposed to end. I rehearse all the similarities between Jews in Germany in 1933 and trans people in the United States in 2025: the tiny fraction of the population, the barrage of bureaucratic measures that strip away rights, the vilifying rhetoric. The silence on the part of ostensible allies. (Trump spent about five minutes of his recent address to Congress specifically attacking trans people and 10 minutes attacking immigrants; the Democratic rebuttal mentioned immigrants once and trans people not at all.) Then I finish with the standard exhortation: The attacks won’t stop here. If you don’t stand up for trans people or immigrants, there won’t be anyone left when they come for you.

But I find that line of argument both distasteful and disingenuous. It is undoubtedly true that the Trump administration won’t stop at denationalizing trans people, but it is also true that a majority of Americans are safe from these kinds of attacks, just as a majority of Germans were. The reason you should care about this is not that it could happen to you but that it is already happening to others. It is happening to people who, we claim, have rights just because we are human. It is happening to me, personally.

[shewhowillrise]

DC x DP Prompt

“So as the reasons stated, Anti ECTO Acts are not only harmful as a back door into the security of the Meta Protection Acts, it’s bordering on species destruction. I’m appalled this has passed right under our noses.”

Batman’s spirited (eh) speech from earlier kept digging at a nerve in Constantine’s mind.

“You seem pensive, are you alright?” Think of the devil, and he appears with his dorky pointing ears in tow.

“What? Yeah,” Constantine started, “I’m just surprised is all. What with your son being an ecto being, thought this sorta stuff would be on your radar.”

He shrugged as he went to leave, but was stopped by a winged gauntlet, “my son?”

“Yeah,” Constantine said, “the bloke with the red mask. I mean, it’s obvious, what with the fact he needs to kill and consume souls just to stay whole and sane.”

Batman’s mouth turned thin, “explain.”

Constantine snorted before sobering, “oh you’re serious.” He got the patented hng in response.

“You’re son’s a revenant, at least without a proper magical check up to make sure. That’s the typical prognosis when a person comes back from the dead after mur-”

“What,” Batman interrupted, “is a revenant?”

“An ecto being that needs to feed on souls to stay alive, or their demise avenged. Basically, their soul is unbalanced, due to the fact that when they came back, only their rage does. To get all the other emotions, they must,” he makes a slashing motion across his neck, “others to get those emotions from. Or, who ever killed them is offed by the person of their choosing. Well,” he thinks for a second, “it’s not a conscious choice but someone their soul chooses. Once the original perp is dead, the rage will rest, which lets in all the other emotions to stay.”

Batman huffed.

“Honestly surprised that the clown’s still alive. The amount of theatrics your son contains, I bet whoever his soul chose, got quite the show.”

[theoneprecioustome]

[Fic] Aikoto Secret Santa 2024

Note: Written for the 2024 Secret Santa at the Aikoto Discord I run! The prompt requested was: “Makoto does his best to make Aigis’ first Christmas the best it can be.” Here’s my best attempt at it!

Title: Oh, look how they shine for you Word Count: 3940 words

.

.

.

“Makoto-san, I know this may seem sudden, but did you have a nice Christmas?”

Aigis must notice his confusion because she smiles, a pang of sadness in her eyes.

“I recently read that here in Japan, Christmas is to be spent with friends and with… someone special to you,” she explains, gaze darting to her hands. “I know the circumstances were not ideal, but it’d mean a lot to me to know you were able to make precious memories despite… well, everything.”

Makoto stares at her, thoughts going back to December. It wasn’t a joyous month, that’s for sure, but that’s not really the reason why he didn’t do anything for Christmas.

That reason is sitting before him now, self-consciously rearranging her bangs while she waits for him to reply.

Makoto swallows, sticking his hands inside his pockets to fight off the sudden urge to touch her.

“You’ve never celebrated Christmas, have you, Aigis?” He asks instead.

She blinks her pretty eyes at him, looking more at ease.

“I can’t say that I have. But I’m sure I will be able to do so this year, once we have secured our future.”

Aigis smiles brightly at him, encouraging and full of hope. Makoto finds that same hope blooming in his heart, and he makes up his mind right then and there.

He doesn’t want to wait that long.

Not if it means seeing her smile like that.

The next day, he borrows a few Christmas-themed magazines from Bunkichi and Mitsuko. He doesn’t know what he should go for, so he decides to go for a little bit of everything.

And so, Makoto gets to work.

First, he enlists the help of the most reliable person he knows.

“Christmas, you say?”

Makoto nods, reaching for his cup of tea.

“Yeah. I thought it’d be nice to do something together before the fight, and since Christmas kind of flew under-the-radar, why not do it right?”

“I see. It’s true we were all too preoccupied to think much of it, and it would be a nice change of pace,” Mitsuru agrees, thoughtful. Her eyes meet his over the border of her teacup, a smile playing on her lips. “I must say, you never cease to surprise me, Yuki. I never took you for the kind to care about Christmas.”

He looks away.

“I’m not.”

Mitsuru arches an eyebrow at that. “Oh?”

“…Aigis told me she has never celebrated Christmas before. That’s where I got the idea,” he admits, hoping it sounds less revealing than it does in his head.

“How thoughtful of you, Yuki. C’est magnifique!” Mitsuru chuckles, setting her teacup back on the table. “Very well, leave it to me. I’ll secure the tree and the decorations, as well as an appropriate menu. It may be late, but let’s make this an unforgettable Christmas for Aigis and for all of us, shall we?”

Makoto smiles back, relaxing. Now that Mitsuru is on his side, his plan suddenly seems more attainable.

“Let’s.”

Next, he recruits some partners-in-crime.

“Dude?! Who are you and what have you done with Makoto?”

“Junpei-san…” Ken mutters, shaking his head.

“Christmas, huh? And Mitsuru agreed to it?” Akihiko ponders, crossing his arms over his chest. “Alright, count me in.”

“I’m in as well,” Ken says, sheepishly scratching his cheek. “I’ve kind of missed it. Celebrating Christmas, I mean.”

Junpei pumps his fist up in the air, looking more excited than Makoto has seen him in a while.

“This is gonna be the best Christmas ever! Leave the decorating to Santa Junpei and his Reindeers, Makoto!”

Akihiko and Ken looks less than impressed at that.

“…His reindeers?”

“Please tell me he doesn’t mean us…”

With a chuckle, Makoto leaves them to it, shoulders considerably lighter now that he has their help.

By the time he sets-out to recruit his assistants, both of them already know all about it.

“We’ve been wondering what you’d like us to help with, Yuki-kun,” Fuuka tells him.

“If you want us to keep an eye on the guys, just say the word. Who knows what the dorm will end up looking like if you leave all the decorations to them,” Yukari adds with a playful eye roll.

“Actually,” Makoto starts, taking a hand to the back of his neck despite himself, “I had something different in mind.”

“Now I’m even more curious!” Fuuka giggles. “What is it, Yuki-kun?”

Truth be told, Makoto has kind of been dreading this moment. He knows there’s no way that what he’s about to say will sound like a normal, friendly gesture, but he has gotten this far and he can’t afford to get cold-feet now.

He steels himself, holding back a sigh.

“…This is going to be Aigis’ first Christmas, so I was wondering if you could help her find something appropriate to wear. I’ll pay for it.”

As expected, the girls don’t seem to miss it. Yukari’s eyebrows shoot up so high that they almost disappear into her hairline. Meanwhile, Fuuka just stands there gaping at him, her mouth forming a perfect o.

Makoto thinks nothing could possibly be worse than this.

Well, except maybe Nyx.

Maybe.

Yukari seems to get over it first. She clears her throat, shifting her weight from one foot to another.

“Y—you mean, you want us to take Aigis shopping?”

“…Yeah.”

“W—we’d be happy to! Right, Yukari-chan?” Fuuka chimes in, clasping her hands.

“…Duh!” Yukari gives him a thumbs-up. “You’ve come to the right place, Mister! We’ll find Aigis the cutest clothes.”

They—thankfully—leave it at that, but Makoto can practically feel the knowing look they exchange as soon as he turns his back on them.

…Oh, well.

He guesses there is no avoiding it, either way. After seeing him go through all this trouble, it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out that he—

“Woof!”

With a start, Makoto raises his face to find Koromaru trotting towards him.

“Woof, woof!”

He kneels down, smiling.

“Hey, there. I haven’t forgotten you, if that’s what you think.” He scratches Koromaru behind the ear, right in the spot he knows he likes. “…I have a special mission for you.”

“Woof?”

Makoto’s smile widens.

“Something only you can do, Koromaru.”

They only have a week to prepare, and they do so quietly and discretely.

Or, well, as discretely as they can muster.

Somehow, the only blunder happens one afternoon when Makoto and Aigis come back from school and run into Junpei messing around with a Santa hat and its matching beard.

It is entirely to Junpei’s credit that Aigis doesn’t seem to find this weird at all.

When January 30 finally rolls around, Makoto does his part, making sure to stall Aigis to give everyone enough time to prepare the dorm.

“Aigis, would you mind giving us a hand with the Student Council today?”

The Student Council never meets on Saturdays, but Odagiri and Chihiro were happy at the idea of getting more work done—especially if it meant doing him a service.

“I’d love to, Makoto-san,” Aigis says, just like he was hoping she would. “Please, lead the way.”

“Oh, Yuki-kun, Aigis-san. Come on in, we've been expecting you,” Odagiri welcomes them. As per usual, he is standing at the front of the classroom, arms crossed across his chest.

Aigis politely bows as Makoto closes the door behind them.

“Thank you for having me.”

“We're the ones who should be thanking you, Aigis-san. We appreciate you being willing to help us,” Chihiro says, standing up to properly return Aigis' bow. “Please, take a seat.”

As Chihiro guides Aigis through the different tasks, Makoto walks over to Odagiri.

“I owe you one,” he whispers, smiling at his friend.

Odagiri grins.

“Don't even mention it.”

The sun has just begun to set when they start towards the dorm. As if on cue, his phone vibrates with an e-mail from Yukari.

‘Everything’s all set! You two can come home now :)’

‘Thanks. We’re on our way.’

Makoto breathes a sigh of relief, pocketing back his phone. He risks a look at Aigis, deliberately schooling his expression to not give anything away. Luckily, Aigis isn’t looking at him; her stare is set on the ground, her lips curled up in a smile filled with contentment.

The same smile she tends to wear every time they walk home together, Makoto notices, his chest swelling with fondness.

“Surprise!”

When Makoto opens the door to the dorm, a mix of greens and reds greets them; their friends gathered at the centre of it, dressed in their best clothes.

Brightly coloured lights hang on the walls and garlands on the counter; the glass-panes are decorated with wreaths and stockings, and both the dining and coffee tables are covered in various dishes.

A big Christmas tree wraps up the scene. It stands proud and tall before the bulletin board, a Jack Frost doll at the top in place of the usual star.

“Everyone…!” Aigis gasps, her face lit up in surprise. “This is…”

“Absolutely amazing, ain’t it?” Junpei grins, gesturing around them. “I swear we’ve put the Paulownia Mall to shame right here!”

“Someone told us you’ve never celebrated Christmas before, Aigis…” Mitsuru starts with a chuckle and a meaningful glance at Makoto.

“…So we all figured there was no time like the present,” Akihiko continues, nodding so enthusiastically that his Christmas hat almost slips off his head.

“It’s a good chance for us, too,” Ken adds, eyeing Akihiko with amusement.

Fuuka giggles. “That’s right! We didn’t get to celebrate Christmas together last year, after all.”

“Woof, woof!”

“Merry January Christmas, Aigis!” Yukari cheers, walking towards them to link her arm with Aigis’. “Let’s get you all dolled up now, yeah? You come with us, too, Mitsuru-senpai, Fuuka!”

“You should go get changed too, dude!” Junpei tells Makoto, handing him a Christmas hat. “And you better put this on, you hear me? I even got Kirijo-senpai to wear one, so no buts!”

“Maaaaaan what’s taking them so long!”

Akihiko shrugs. “Beats me.”

“I guess it would be nice if they could be a little faster,” Ken mutters, “Yuki-san didn’t even take ten minutes.”

Junpei jumps to his feet, marching towards the stairs.

“I’m gonna go get them! We… can’t just…”

Hearing him trail of, Makoto looks up just in time to see Yukari and Fuuka walking down the stairs with Mitsuru in tow.

“Sorry for the wait, everyone!” Yukari grins, turning back to call over her shoulder, “Come on, don’t be shy, Aigis!”

“Um, r—right…”

Makoto’s heart gives a start. Before he even knows what he’s doing, he’s getting up, his feet carrying him towards the sound of her voice.

When his eyes land on her, that very same heart suddenly starts pounding.

Aigis is beautiful, he has always known that. But tonight, dressed in a long-sleeved gold dress that brings out the striking blue in her eyes, she is so ethereal that it’s almost painful.

“Whoa, Ai-chan…” Junpei manages, just barely. Makoto can empathize.

“When Yukari-san and Fuuka-san insisted we went shopping, I wasn’t expecting this,” Aigis admits, flustered. “Don't I look… odd?”

“Of course not, silly! You look beautiful. Right, Yuki-kun?”

“…Yeah.” It comes out sounding a little choked, a little breathless. So Makoto clears his throat and tries again, eyes locked with Aigis’. “…You look beautiful, Aigis.”

Her face brightens, a rosy hue taking to her cheeks.

“Well, then… I’m glad you think so, Makoto-san.”

Junpei looks from one to the other with raised brows.

“Uh, did I miss something or…?”

Yukari promptly elbows him in the side.

“Hey, are you all done over there?” Akihiko calls back from the couch, clueless. “I thought we were supposed to take a picture together!”

“Huh? Oh, yeah! I almost forgot!” Junpei snaps to attention, a grin quickly spreading across his lips. “Since Ai-chan wasn’t there for the last one, I thought it’d be cool to take another group picture!”

“That’s a great idea, Iori,” Mitsuru approves, walking to Yukari’s side. “A lot has changed since then. It’d be good to have a picture of us as we are now.”

“Senpai…” Yukari perks up, smiling up at her.

“In that case, I’ll print a copy for each of us,” Fuuka offers, adjusting her Santa hat.

Together, the five of them walk towards the Christmas tree, where they’re joined by Akihiko, Ken and Koromaru.

This time, when the timer goes off, they’re all looking at the camera—genuine happiness on their faces.

The rest of the night is a blur of laughter and great food, courtesy of the Kirijo Group.

Everyone seems determined to make the night last for as long as possible, but after the second Christmas cake, things naturally start to quiet down.

Mitsuru, Yukari and Fuuka are sharing a cup of green tea, while Akihiko, Ken and Junpei passionately discuss which Christmas-cake flavour deserves to be number one in the hearts of the Japanese population.

Meanwhile, Makoto and Aigis are sitting together with Koromaru, just enjoying each other’s company.

Wise beyond his years, their loyal companion chooses that very moment to spring to action.

“Woof, woof!” He barks at Aigis’ feet.

“Oh! It seems Koromaru-san wants to go for a walk.”

“I’ll join you, Aigis,” Makoto says, sending Koromaru a grateful glance that earns him another bark.

No one seems to suspect anything and, luckily, they all seem too cosy to volunteer to join them, so the three of them set out into the cold January night.

“Woof, woof!”

“Koromaru-san says that he would like to take a different route tonight,” Aigis translates. At Makoto’s nod, she chuckles and bends down to scratch Koromaru behind the ears. “Lead the way, Koromaru-san!”

“Woof!”

“Koromaru-san seems more motivated than usual tonight,” Aigis muses. “I wonder if the belated holiday cheer has gotten to him as well.”

“…Perhaps,” Makoto agrees, holding back a smile.

He knows exactly where Koromaru is taking them and why, of course, but he is not about to tell her that he has one more surprise in store for her.

He wants to see the look in her eyes when she sees it.

If the dorm took Aigis aback, Paulownia Mall positively leaves her awestruck.

She rushes forward, looking around her to take it all in. The snow-patterned banners and yellow lights hanging from the ceiling; the snowflake lights dancing across the walls and floor.

From what Makoto can remember, the only things missing are the Christmas trees and the ‘Christmas’ sign above the fountain, but the latter has been replaced by a ‘Welcome’ that does the job just as well.

“This is beautiful…! I didn’t know the mall could be decorated like this,” Aigis marvels. “I wonder what the occasion is.”

Makoto knows the answer to that, too. While Tanaka refused at first, muttering something about foolish, sentimental boys and ridiculous ideas that would only waste money, Makoto knew that he would get it done—if only to show that he could.

He keeps that to himself, a half-smile tugging at his lips.

“…Who knows?”

Aigis giggles and takes a hand to her heart, gaze darting around them.

“…Whatever it may be, I’m deeply grateful for it.”

Makoto’s smile broadens, warmth spreading across his chest.

“Do you want to take a look around, Aigis?”

“I’d love to!”

“Woof, woof!”

Both of them turn to find Koromaru hanging back. Three other dogs have come to join him, and they’re all excitedly wagging their tails.

“You can go play with your friends, Koromaru,” Makoto tells him, and Koromaru gives another bark before the pack heads towards the back of the mall.

“I wonder if Koromaru-san brought us here so we could look at the lights,” Aigis wonders, looking after him.

“…Maybe,” Makoto allows, eyes twinkling. “Let’s go, Aigis.”

She nods, her grin pleased.

“Yes!”

Together, they walk by the shops, stopping here and there to see the different shapes projected by the lights. When they get to the Crane Machine, Makoto wins Aigis a Jack Frost doll. So intrigued is she by the mechanism and its odds that she insists to try it herself, and they walk away with five more dolls to their name. Makoto can only hope that Elizabeth may have some obscure use for them.

Through it all, Makoto has to make a conscious effort to keep himself from staring too long at Aigis and the emotions flitting across her face; the curiosity, the joy, the wonder. They all tell a different story, and he finds them all just as captivating.

It seems unthinkable that Aigis would have once looked at all of this with a blank face, and not for the first time, Makoto is grateful for the change.

She looks so much happier now, and that alone makes him happy in turn.

Once Aigis is satisfied, they sit down on one of the benches by the ‘Welcome’ sign. An amiable silence wraps over them like a blanket, and Makoto would’ve closed his eyes in contentment, if it weren’t because he catches a glimpse of Aigis’ hands—one laying on her lap, the other on the bench right between them.

Within his reach.

Makoto swallows, shifting slightly. The temperature has dropped and he forgot his gloves, but he still takes his hand out of his pocket.

He rests it on his leg, aimless—hesitant.

Tomorrow, they may face the end of the world as they know it. Somehow, the thought of that seems far less scary than the possibility of ruining this.

Of ruining them.

Before Makoto can make up his mind, Aigis breaks the silence, raising her head to look up at the ceiling.

“I… am glad that we got to spend time like this before tomorrow, Makoto-san,” she says, almost like she can read his mind. “Now more than ever, I am certain that I want to do my best. I want to see a future where you are all smiling like you did today.”

Makoto smiles, leaning forward to get a better look at her face.

“What about you, Aigis? Did you have fun today?”

“Yes! It was wonderful.”

He allows himself to relax, then. If Aigis enjoyed herself, then the day was a success.

“I’m glad. I had fun, too.”

Aigis’ expression softens.

“I wish… I could always… with you...”

He blinks, his heart stuttering.

“Aigis…?”

She locks her gaze on him.

“Makoto-san… There’s something I want you to have. A gift, if you may.”

His brows furrow lightly and Aigis hurries to shake her head.

“It’s nothing much, really! But still, I’d… I’d like you to have it. Please.”

She is looking at him with an intensity that leaves him caught in her eyes, unable to do anything but nod dumbly at her. At his agreement, relief seems to wash away the nervousness on her face.

“Thank you!”

Aigis reaches inside her pocket. Then, she gently takes his hand in hers, dropping something inside it and wrapping his fingers around it. When she lets his hand go, Makoto takes a look and finds a screw sitting on his palm.

A charred screw.

His eyes widen.

“That’s one of my parts that had to be replaced after I collapsed at the Moonlight Bridge. I asked Mitsuru-san to have it sent to me,” Aigis explains, confirming his suspicions. “I… have grown since then. I’m not afraid, and I won’t give up… I’ll get up back up, no matter how many times it takes. I’ll fight by your side and protect you. This is the proof of my resolve, and I want you to have it… It’s… It’s a part of me.”

Makoto can only stare at her—at the way a blush takes to her cheeks; the way she absent-mindedly tucks her bangs away from her eyes, suddenly unable to meet his.

That is just fine with Makoto, because he is finding it increasingly hard to school his expression into something less, well, this.

Into something that won’t spell out to her that he is more than a little in love with her.

He looks down at the screw resting on his palm, floored and aching.

Truth is, Makoto has been wondering about it for a while now.

Ever since he met her, Aigis has helped Makoto discover so many wonderful things; about the world, and especially about himself. She has made him feel so many things he didn’t even know he was capable of feeling.

That’s why he poured his heart into offering her the best Christmas he possibly could. For once, there was something tangible that he could do for her, and he jumped at the chance to do it.

He meant to thank her for everything she has done for him.

But this…

Makoto closes his fingers around the charred screw.

Somehow, Aigis keeps giving him more and more of herself, without ever asking for anything in turn.

He has been trying to follow her example. He really has.

But, the truth is—

…There is something I want more than anything.

“O-oh yes… Umm…” Aigis fidgets a little in her seat, still not meeting his eyes. “Of course, if I had known we were celebrating Christmas today, I’d have gifted you something more useful, Makoto-san.”

“No!”

She snaps her head to look at him, startled by his outburst. He is surprised, too, but for once, Makoto doesn’t try to hold himself back.

“Makoto…san…?”

Wordlessly, he reaches out and wraps her in his arms. Aigis gasps against the crook of his neck and his heart starts beating so fast that he can barely hear himself think, but he figures that’s just fine.

He doesn’t want to think. He just wants to be here, in this moment.

With her.

“…Thank you, Aigis,” he says once he finds his voice. “I’ll treasure this. I promise.”

Slowly, timidly, she hugs him back.

“I… Okay,” she whispers, melting into him.

She holds him just as fiercely as he is holding her, nuzzling her face in his neck, and it occurs to Makoto that perhaps he isn’t the only one who has been holding back.

“You know, Aigis…” He leans back to look at her, lips curling up. “I’ve been thinking a lot, lately… about what I’d like to do once we’ve beat Nyx.”

She tilts her head to the side in that endearing way of hers, and his smile widens.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Honestly, I’ve never really given the future a lot of thought, but… I think there’s one thing I’m sure of.”

He lets his forehead rest against hers.

“…I want to be by your side, Aigis.”

He has known it for a while now. Ever since the raw panic he felt when they found her broken on the Moonlight Bridge, without any means to know if she would be fine. Maybe since even before then.

Maybe since his eyes met hers on that pier and his heart seemed to set itself in motion.

“M—Makoto-san…?” Aigis whispers with a thread of a voice, and Makoto chuckles, feeling impossibly light.

“…I want to be with you. Always.”

And just so his intentions are clear, he ducks his head and kisses her.

It’s his first time kissing anyone and he doesn’t really know what he’s doing, but he doesn’t let that deter him.

More than anything, he’s just glad it’s with her.

When they break apart, Makoto finds Aigis looking at him in a daze.

“…Merry Christmas, Aigis,” he whispers, voice warm with joy.

Aigis reaches out, lovingly brushing the bangs away from his eyes as a smile blooms across her face, brightest than any Christmas light could ever hope to be.

“Merry Christmas, Makoto-san.”

END

[momo33me]

The Hunger in Gaza – And the Silence in Israel

The humanitarian situation in Gaza in June 2025 is among the most severe witnessed in the 21st century. However, the Israeli media – almost entirely – chooses to ignore it. No coverage. No broadcasts. No cameras. The Israeli public is completely disconnected from what the entire world sees with its own eyes: an open, ongoing, deteriorating hell.

One slide is enough to clarify everything: three concentration areas populated with tents, at incomprehensible density (0.25 square meters per person = a 50x50 cm tile) – without water, without electricity, without any basic living conditions. Five distribution centers – one in Netzarim and four around Rafah – have become pilgrimage sites for hundreds of thousands of hungry people, forced to walk many kilometers just to find perhaps some food, some flour, maybe water. Maybe.

This situation worsens daily. The death toll in the Strip is stable – meaning stable at horrific levels: 80 to 100 killed per day, and hundreds wounded. Not in battles, not in combat, but around attempts to bring in humanitarian aid. Yes, you read correctly – humanitarian aid has become a death trap. This is not an accident; this is a method.

Most casualties in recent days occur around two main aid channels:

Aid convoys to international organizations – entering from Israel through Kerem Shalom, Netzarim, Erez, and Zikim.

The Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) – an American initiative with Israeli funding, operating four distribution sites in the Strip.

This aid, which should save the public, is systematically looted by armed gangs – sometimes under Hamas supervision or backing. The cargo becomes merchandise in the black market. Those with money – survive. Those without – perish.

With international convoys – it's enough for the trucks to move one kilometer away from the border, and that's the signal for attacks. Gunmen shoot at the wheels, block the road with explosives, or open fire. Sometimes shooting incidents break out between gangs near the trucks. And if that's not enough – even hungry displaced persons, waiting all night, attack the trucks in a desperate attempt to obtain food.

And at the Humanitarian Fund? The farce there is even worse. The company, which declares it doesn't distribute aid but only "places it on the ground," creates looting sites. Within minutes, hungry people, armed clans, and sometimes Hamas itself attack. Dozens are killed each time: from IDF fire securing the area, from internal clashes, or from mass trampling.

The aid? It doesn't reach those who need it. It disappears on the way, gets looted, gets sold. This is a market – not compassion.

And so, under the nose of the Israeli public, within thunderous consent of silence – Israel is part of this system. The supplier. The approver. The funder. The military force in the field. And the Israeli public has no idea.

This reality – of complete humanitarian collapse, mass hunger, internal terror, a channeled black market – operates under the radar. And all of us – if we remain silent – become partners to it.

Enough with the denial. Enough with the ignoring. Those who wish to look at reality with open eyes – should look now.

Thanks to Prof. Yaakov Garb from Ben-Gurion University for monitoring the area using satellite imagery, to Arnon Regular for the situation picture from within the field, and to Reshef Moriah from the 'Tamror' research group for preparing the maps.

[darkmaga-returns]

How does a jihadist, flying an ISIS flag on his pickup truck, go undetected in the United States long enough to plow into pedestrians, killing at least 15 and injuring many more?

The FBI says Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas, is responsible for the deadly New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans and that he likely did not act alone. Law enforcement is still looking for others who may be involved.

Jabbar was not the threat on President Joe Biden’s radar. Jabbar did not fit the profile of the terrorists Biden, his crooked Department of Justice (DOJ), and feckless Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been searching for.

While the DHS left U.S. borders wide open for any criminal or harmful ideology to enter, the DOJ made “domestic violent extremism” a “national priority area,” numerous reports show.

In June 2021, the National Security Council announced a plan to target domestic terrorists, mostly “those who promote the superiority of the white race” and “militia violent extremists.” The FBI called them “the most persistent and lethal threats.”

That is code for the kind of people who went to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

“Our current effort comes on the heels of … the Jan. 6 assault on our nation’s Capitol,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a June 2021 speech introducing the new focus on domestic terrorism.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Dean Obeidallah at The Dean's Report:

Donald Trump is engaged in a whole-of-government approach to remake the United States into a nation run by Trump’s whims--with no limits on his authority. In other words, Trump is seeking to make himself a dictator for life--and to do so he is copying the authoritarian playbook. We saw numerous examples this week such as Trump’s FBI and DOJ firing people who worked on Trump’s two federal criminal cases. Then there was Elon Musk being given access to "sensitive Treasury data" that is responsible for paying more than $6 trillion annually to Americans via Social Security checks, Medicare payments, tax refunds and more. The Musk development is especially jarring given Trump could instantly freeze federal funds to people he views as not loyal to him—potentially placing the burden on those wronged to hire a lawyer at their own cost to sue the federal government. But there is another development that has snuck beneath the radar but is part of Trump’s dream of ruling like a dictator. Trump’s FCC has opened up a multi-front war on media outlets with the goal being to send a message that if you criticize Trump, the FCC will come after you. Trump’s handpicked FCC Chair Brendan Carr-one of the authors of Project 2025—has been spearheading this effort since he took office two weeks ago. Last week, Carr opened an investigation into two of Trump’s long time targets, PBS and NPR. Carr’s letter to these organizations begins ominously enough, “I am writing to inform you that I have asked the FCC's Enforcement Bureau to open an investigation regarding the airing of NPR and PBS programming across your broadcast member stations.”

The investigation is allegedly about whether PBS and NPR—which does receive some federal funding—has violated government rules by recognizing financial sponsors on the air. Carr, however, in this letter has already told us the conclusion he is seeking, “I do not see a reason why Congress should continue sending taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS.” (Only 1% of NPR’s funding is from the federal government while PBS is more reliant at 16%.) Carr’s actions are because Trump has publicly demanded no government funding for these two outlets since they criticize him. For example, in April, Trump posted on Truth social, “NO MORE FUNDING FOR NPR, A TOTAL SCAM!... “THEY ARE A LIBERAL DISINFORMATION MACHINE. NOT ONE DOLLAR!!!” In response to Carr’s investigation, Democratic FCC commissioner Anna Gomez wrote in a social media post, “This appears to be yet another Administration effort to weaponize the power of the FCC. The FCC has no business intimidating and silencing broadcast media.”

Gomez is 100% correct. But Carr was far from done in his efforts to utilize the FCC to silence critics. Carr also reinstated three complaints made by the Trump loving “Center for American Rights” against ABC, CBS and NBC. These three BS complaints were nothing more than a way to further Trump’s grievances about media coverage during the 2024 presidential campaign—and were rightfully dismissed by the prior FCC board for being “at odds with the First Amendment.” But with Trump’s Carr at the helm, these three baseless complaints are back.

[...]

Trump is following the playbook of other right-wing leaders he admires, such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. This past July, the Associated Press published a detailed look at how Orbán has gained control of his nation’s media noting, “Orbán has created an almost Orwellian environment where the government weaponizes control of a majority of news outlets to limit Hungarians’ decisions.” As the AP noted, the press watchdog Reporters Without Borders detailed how Orbán’s oligarchs have used media buyouts to build “a true media empire subject to his party’s orders.” Trump’s oligarch Elon Musk already did this very move with Twitter where it has become akin to Trump state media. Next will Trump harass and punish networks via his FCC until they agree to sell to his oligarchs? Very likely.

But at this time, Trump’s FCC is attempting to silence the few media outlets left that have not already bent a knee to Trump. History tell us, if the fascist regime can make an example of one media outlet by shutting it down, others will self-censor. As we know, self-censorship is the dictators best friend. That is why FCC commissioner Gomez is warning that Carr’s goal is to “instill fear in broadcast stations and influence a network’s editorial decisions.” Thankfully, with the rise of independent media, it becomes more challenging for Trump to fully silence the truth. But don’t be surprised if Trump uses his administration to target one or two of the popular independent media outlets in hopes of intimidating other critics into silence.

The FCC under Project 2025 contributor Brendan Carr resembles a fascist propaganda machine that is doing Donald Trump’s bidding to quash media that opposes his deranged anti-American agenda.

See Also:

Public Notice (Lisa Needham): Trump's mobster media shakedowns

[rvllybllply2014]

There's only so many people a country can support without sacrificing the poeple who actually fucking live there legally. No, I won't think of the children if their parents came to a country illegally.

There's only 2 options. Deporting the parents and the child, or Deporting just the parents. Leaving the kid alone without their parents seems fucking unhinged, no?

Why are you people so allergic to legal immigration? Do you WANT German Christmas Markets on every corner? Is that it? Do you want women raped and murdered in brought daylight? Do you want people set alight on public transport? Because open borders is how you fucking get it.

Okay here in America, we are on stolen land therefore no one can be illegal. No human is illegal especially when the borders crossed them, like they did in America. “Illegal” undocumented immigrants/workers pay more into taxes,social security, Medicare and Medicaid than Americans and billionaire/millionaires do while also being unable to access them. America has fucked up a lot of countries especially in the global south, they don’t want to have to leave their own countries to come here but they have no choice. Parents will do anything to keep their children safe. Sometimes women are human trafficking victims that can’t leave and are raped or ever hear of mail order brides? They can be abused and forced to have babies too, they’re scared to leave their marriages because their status hinges on being married to an American. Children are inherently innocent and vulnerable, they are also our future.

If we deported immigrants the economy would collapse, birth rates would be non existent. We wouldn’t have food on our tables, people wouldn’t have maids/gardeners, or nannies, roofers ,road construction workers, construction workers. I have yet to see any American frothing at the mouth for those jobs. Yeah let’s totally separate families like Germany did in the 1930s, or like America did when slavery was legal, or like Israel does. Children shouldn’t be deported especially if they’re born here and parents have the right to seek asylum. So you want Trumps children deported right? Since they’re all children of immigrants. Hell if Trump gets rid of the 14th amendment then he should also be deported, his grandfather was a German immigrant and his grandmother was a Scottish immigrant. The 14th amendment was also so that slaves could gain citizenship after the American civil war. It was later interpreted by the Supreme Court to include children born of immigrants to also have automatic citizenship after a Chinese American man in the late 1800s, left to visit his family in China and was denied reentry into his own country.

No one is allergic to legal immigration. Asylum seekers have the right to seek asylum in any country they can. Why are you so afraid of immigrants? What would be wrong with having a German Christmas market? Do you not want to share cultures with others? For me it sounds assume that people come here and share their cultures with us. As a third generation Mexican American woman and whose other side literally helped found this country no. But undocumented immigrants aren’t out here raping women in broad daylight as a whole. They want to stay under the radar, the only way to do that is to oh I don’t know not commit crime. Most women are raped by Americans. It’s also unfortunate that an unhoused woman was killed by an undocumented immigrant who was probably suffering from mental illness.

So here’s the last thing I’m going to say to you anon and this is nicer than what I really want to say. If you’re so anti immigration do not eat anything but bland food, or maybe if you can stomach it find indigenous people and ask them for their ancestral knowledge on how to properly cook “American” food. Learn how to sew your own clothes after you learn how to create cloth and thread. Immigrants are not and have never been the problem. At some point your family were also immigrants and they came over when it was easier to immigrate to this country, unless they were Asian or Italian or Irish. Also if you’re religious at all, I’m pretty sure all religions tell you to love your fellow human so do that. Have the day you deserve anon.

[ultraviolet-divergence]

Trump administration directs spy satellite agencies to surveil US-Mexico border (Reuters)

Reuters could not determine whether the effort, which has not been previously reported, would gather imagery of U.S. territory. While laws generally restrict U.S. spy agencies from surveilling citizens and other legal residents, they allow immigration authorities to conduct physical searches "within a reasonable distance from any external boundary of the United States." Regulations have defined this as 100 air miles from the border, opens new tab– an area including cities such as San Diego and El Paso. "If they follow the law, these agencies should only collect on the other side of the border in foreign territory," said Paul Rosenzweig, a lawyer who specializes in national security and privacy law. "But how they implement that, and if they do, are legitimate oversight questions."

There's no world where the "digital wall" they are trying to build (see below) doesn't hasten the conjoining of the NROs spy satellite outputs and the booming market of domestically-operating private surveillance technology firms, many of which are building out border surveillance networks.

Multiple defense contractors - new and legacy ones alike - are in talks with various government agencies to aid the border-security work, building on existing deals they have, said the two sources aware of the initiative. A “digital wall” to augment the border’s physical one would be the goal, said one of the sources. For instance, data analytics provider Palantir (PLTR.O), opens new tab powers the so-called Maven Smart System for the Pentagon, via contracts it won last year valued at about $580 million. Maven pulls together data and uses AI to speed up target identification for intelligence analysts. Palantir has long worked with the Department of Homeland Security as well. Anduril, a defense tech startup, designs sensor towers and related software. Last fall, the company announced it had deployed 300 autonomous versions of these towers for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, detecting and tracking objects of interest through radar and other technology. In recent months, Palantir, Anduril, Elon Musk's SpaceX and other newer contractors have discussed a consortium to jointly bid for U.S. defense deals and outcompete the Beltway's legacy players, according to a source familiar with the matter.

[finverseinsights]

Why Crypto Payments are the Key to Future-Proofing Your Business.

Introduction

In recent years, cryptocurrencies have really been on the radar big time. Big time in ways they're a digital currency that harnesses blockchain technology, which has the potential to completely shake up a lot of different kinds of businesses and transactions. The emergence of cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, has encouraged businesses to think about embracing crypto payments as a way to remain competitive and future-proof their businesses Crypto as an Investment: Volatility and Opportunities

Cryptocurrencies are now a sought-after investment asset, they are extremely volatile. Big swings in crypto prices like Bitcoin and Ethereum have really given investors a chance to do well big time. But of course, that volatility means investors are also risking very big losses, losses like market crashing and real money going up in smoke at the financial winds. In spite of this, most cryptocurrency proponents consider digital currencies a good avenue for diversifying investment portfolios, cognizant of the fact that cryptocurrencies are not stable, long-term assets but speculative investments. For companies, this is a two-edged sword—accepting cryptocurrencies as payment may unlock new revenue streams but companies have to carefully weigh their risk appetite when considering their participation in the world of cryptocurrencies.

Benefits of Acceptance of Crypto Payments

Beyond the risks, moving to accepting different types of cryptocurrency is a win for companies especially those in financial tech. These benefits include:

Lower Transaction Fees: Conventional payment processors and financial intermediaries usually impose high transaction fees. Cryptocurrencies usually have lower transaction fees.

Speedier Transactions: Transactions involving cryptocurrencies are much quicker than traditional banking systems, particularly cross-border payments, where old financial systems take days to clear transactions.

New Customer Bases Access: By embracing cryptocurrency, companies can access a worldwide market of crypto investors and enthusiasts. This gives companies new access to customers who are perhaps excited about making transactions digitally or through decentralized routes.

Improved Security and Fraud Protection: Cryptocurrencies employ encryption and blockchain technology to protect transactions, making it much less likely for fraud or chargebacks to occur.

Challenges and Considerations

Sure, while there are great benefits to adopting cryptocurrency payments for companies, there are also many things to consider and pay attention to. The biggest concern is the built-in price volatility of digital currency, which may lead to unforeseen profits or losses for companies holding crypto assets. To avoid that risk, companies need contingency plans to handle crypto assets and convert them into stable currencies if need be.

Furthermore, the regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies is also developing. Governments across the planet are trying to devise rules and ways to collect taxes on digital money, but some corporations are unsure of their future, because they see rules as unclear and even unstable. Companies should make sure they adapt to local regulations, such as anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations, in order to avoid a potential legal battle.

The Future of Cryptocurrency in Business

The increasing use of cryptocurrencies indicates that companies adopting crypto payments now may have a head start in the future. Companies that jump the gun and start taking cryptocurrency payments have a great chance to stand out and lead in their industries. With the rise of blockchain technology, brand new inventions like tokenization, smart contracts has the potential to really change the way all sorts of companies do business, trade and deal with supply chains.

As companies take bigger and bolder steps towards both digitization and decentralized systems, digital currency really offers a nifty shortcut for making transactions slicker, and snappier and also opens new doors to new markets.

Conclusion

In summary, although cryptocurrency payments come with some risks, the potential advantages make them an attractive choice for companies looking to future-proof their business. By embracing crypto payments, companies can lower transaction costs, enhance transaction speed, gain access to new customer bases, and enhance security. Of course, there are still issues like volatility and uncertainty about the rules that get in the way, but for companies that really get involved in companies that use crypto transactions wisely, there can be long-term huge benefits. As the economy keeps changing, embracing cryptocurrency today could make someone a pioneer in the future generation of financial technology.

[lovemyage-blog]

This Is Not a Drill: Trump’s Day-One Order Sets the Stage for Martial Law

By Tony Pentimalli

On January 20, 2025, while the press focused on the optics of Donald Trump’s indoor inauguration, something far more dangerous was set in motion—off-camera, away from ceremony, and beneath the radar of a public lulled by spectacle.

Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency at the southern border. But the most alarming part? It gave the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security just 90 days to deliver a joint report on whether he should invoke the Insurrection Act.

That deadline is April 20.

This wasn’t about immigration. It was about power.

The Insurrection Act, passed in 1807, gives the president the authority to deploy the U.S. military on American soil. That means troops in our cities. That means bypassing governors. That means suspending protest rights. That means the death of democratic dissent—under the false pretense of restoring “order.”

And Trump’s not hiding it. He’s preparing it.

We’ve seen this before. In June 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, millions of Americans rose up in protest. Trump didn’t respond with compassion—he called for “domination.” When the military hesitated to invoke the Insurrection Act, Trump sent federal forces to violently clear peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square so he could wave a Bible in front of a church. Not an ounce of remorse followed. He was angry the generals didn’t go far enough.

This time, he’s made sure they won’t hesitate.

Since returning to power, Trump has purged the Pentagon of independent thinkers. In their place? Loyalists. Pete Hegseth is now Secretary of Defense. Tulsi Gabbard runs intelligence. And J.D. Vance—Vice President—is openly on board with using military force against Americans on American soil.

Then, on March 19, those three—Vance, Gabbard, and Hegseth—staged a photo op at the southern border. Not a routine visit. Not a strategy session. A performance.

Think about it. Why would the Vice President, the head of military intelligence, and the Defense Secretary all need to go to the border together? Why make a media spectacle of it?

Because it wasn’t about the border. It was about the optics. It was about laying the emotional groundwork for invoking the Insurrection Act. They were building the narrative. “We had to act.” “We had no choice.” “The crisis was too big.”

And what comes next?

It’s June 2025. Trump goes on national TV and declares that Democratic cities are under siege by “radicals” and “illegals.” He signs the Insurrection Act order. Troops hit the streets of Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia. Protesters are arrested under “emergency provisions.” Journalists are detained. Social media accounts vanish. Immigrants are swept into detention centers. The press is told to stand down. The public is told to shut up.

And it’s all legal.

Some of you might think, “He’s bluffing. The military won’t go along. The courts will stop him.”

Really?

Were they bluffing when federal agents brutalized peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square?

Did the military refuse? No. The National Guard was deployed. Many in uniform carried out the order. It was only later that a few expressed regret—after the damage was done.

Did the courts stop January 6? No. They prosecuted rioters after the fact, but the attack happened. Congress fled. Democracy was nearly strangled live on TV.

Did they stop the family separation policy? No. Thousands of children were taken from their parents before courts intervened—long after the trauma was inflicted.

Did they stop the Muslim ban? No. The Supreme Court upheld it. Entire families were stranded or banned simply because of where they came from.

Did they stop ICE raids or CBP abuses? Rarely. A handful of rulings. A few headlines. But the system kept grinding, unchecked and cruel.

So if you’re waiting for “the system” to save us, you’re waiting for something that has already failed.

The April 20 report is coming. If it recommends using the Insurrection Act—and let’s be honest, it will—Trump will frame it as a reluctant but necessary move. He’ll say he tried everything else. He’ll claim it’s about protecting America.

But what he’s really protecting is his own authority.

This is how authoritarianism arrives: not with tanks, but with legal memos, press events, and a scared public hoping someone else will stop it.

So what do we do?

We speak now. Loudly. Forcefully.

Call your representatives and demand they investigate Trump’s January 20 order.

Push the media to report on the Insurrection Act report before it’s too late.

Demand public statements from military and intelligence leaders—now, not after.

Organize. Educate. Resist.

If you’ve never joined a protest before, this is the moment.

If you’ve never spoken up politically, this is the time.

If you’ve never thought it could happen here—it already is.

The threat isn’t coming.

It’s here.

And silence is exactly what Trump is counting on.

*Tony Pentimalli is a political analyst and commentator fighting for democracy, economic justice, and social equity. Follow him for sharp analysis and hard-hitting critiques.*

[girlactionfigure]

🟪 ANTI-DRONE - Real time from Israel

 

ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

( VIDEO - IDF soldiers on a break in a HEZBOLLAH UNDERGROUND AMMUNITION WAREHOUSE. )

▪️IRAN ATTACK FINAL.. 12 production facilities for rocket fuel mixers, the Russian S-300 air defense systems protecting Tehran, a drone manufacturing plant and a nuclear research site in Perchin were attacked.  US: During the attack on Saturday night, Israeli Air Force planes entered Iranian airspace and carried out deep strikes.  The attack ELIMINATED Iran’s air defense system, completely in western Iran and Tehran.  Anti-aircraft batteries and long range radars.

▪️DEFENSE.. The US is deploying a 2nd THAAD anti-ballistic-missile battery in Israel.  They have also stationed 3 AEGIS missile defense ships offshore from Israel.  While Israel’s Arrow ballistic missile interceptor system is very effective, apparently Israel has requested American coverage for additional capacity vs very large barrages.

▪️ANTI-DRONE.. the IDF has placed the first Vulcan cannon (very high rate of fire anti-aircraft gun) on the northern border, with the goal of intercepting drones launched by Hezbollah at Israel. The cannon was created by the Israeli Tamar company, and the IDF will mark the effectiveness of the cannon in its operational area in the north.

▪️A CIVILIAN HAS BEEN MURDERED.. in the Glilot terror ramming attack: Betzalel Karmi, 72, from Rishon L’Ziyon.  May his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may G-d avenge his blood!

▪️OH THE ICC.. The Guardian: The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, who is trying to bring warrants against PM Netanyahu and Def. Min. Gallant, tried to (allegedly) prevent the employee who was sexually harassed by him from complaining against him.

▪️SHELTERS IN ISRAELI ARAB TOWNS.. several social commentators were stating that Israeli Arab towns, which have been hit several times recently with casualties, are not provided shelters.  The Ministry of Social Equality notes it has been delivering protective shelters to Israeli Arab towns within 20 km of the Lebanese border over the past year, including 14 different towns.  The town that was recently hit, Majd al-Khorum, has received 6 shelters to date.  

▪️MILITARY DRILL - AFULA, YOKNEAM, BEIT SHEAN AREAS.. exercise, from 16:00 to 19:00, active movement of police and security forces in the following places: Beit Shean and the nearby towns, Afula, Yokneam, Migdal HaEmek , Ramat Yishai and the Galilee. During the exercise, a partial blockage of traffic lanes is expected.

🔹Reuters: Iraq filed a complaint with the United Nations about Israel's use of its airspace in an attack on Iran.

🔸HOSTAGE DEAL NEWS.. Hamas has rejected the Egyptian deal, then hinted maybe not, or with changes.  A report on the Saudi Al-Arabiya channel: the US supports the Egyptian proposal for a fierce ceasefire and calls for it to be pushed through quickly.

.. With Netanyahu's intervention - the summit moved from Egypt to Qatar. Negotiation professionals recommended that it is a better center of gravity.

.. Saudi Al-Arabiya channel: Hamas is ready to accept the new proposal if it is part of the agreement proposed on July 2. “…We want guarantees of commitment to the Egyptian proposal and the agreement for a comprehensive ceasefire and not a partial deal.”

.. LEBANON SIDE - The office of the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Navia Berri: "What is attributed to him regarding the negotiations is not accurate.”

[athena5898]

Israel launched a series of aerial attacks across Syria, targeting key military sites amid the security vacuum following the opposition forces’ ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, stated that Israel “destroyed the most important military sites in Syria, including Syrian airports and their warehouses, aircraft squadrons, radars, military signal stations, and many weapons and ammunition depots in various locations across most Syrian governorates.”

Israel, which borders Syria, sent troops into a buffer zone on the east of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights after al-Assad’s fall, in what Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described as a “limited and temporary step” for “security reasons”.

According to Israeli media, Israel carried out “about 250 airstrikes on Syrian territory” aimed at destroying the former regime’s military capabilities, confirming that these attacks were the largest air operation ever conducted by the Israeli Air Force.

ID: Israel destroyes Syria's Military - Israel is executing its largest aerial operation in decades, targeting Syria's military infrastructure - Over 250 airstrikes have destroyed tanks, aircraft, ships, air defenses, missile systems, military factories, and security facilities - The Israeli military aims to eliminate all advanced assets leaving any new government reliant on small arms.

[typingatlightspeed]

Metal Gear/TF2 Crossover Fic - cp_shadow_moses_event Chapter 2

Snake's finally made landfall, time to actually infiltrate this base proper. Liquid swats those bothersome flies he was talking about. Oh, also, BLU team is here and making it everyone's problem.

Ao3 Link!

More direct quoting of codec conversations, I'm so sorry! Good news is this is the last time that should be happening at length. This fic assumes you know the basic story of MGS, because I don't intend to directly quote every single thing that happens in the game, merely how it intersects with the premise, now that everything's established. :3 This fic is v silly but I hope everyone enjoys it! It's deffo a project that kinda got away from me lmao

---------

As the freight elevator crested the surface and came to a halt, Snake's eyes darted about, taking stock of the area. It was dark, the middle of the night, and the area was lit with spotlights at all angles in an attempt to increase visibility, but creating strange slivers of shadow in different directions. Wind sliced through the air like blades of ice, pasting the steady snowfall against vertical surfaces to create layers of opaque ice. He was at the heliport of the oceanside entrance to the facility, a flat, open area slotted into a mountain valley, bordered on both sides by steep rockface and the other by a cliff leading down into the icy waters of the Bering Sea. The main entrance to the base sat opposite the water, looming and imposing possibly more than the mountains it had been wedged into, a large warehouse door at its centre with a catwalk above for security patrols, turning and following the western rock wall. Along that side it overlooked a small storeroom. At the centre of it all was a raised helipad with a railing around it, a chopper sitting on it, inactive.

Scattered around the area were a few stacks of crates, supply shipments awaiting recieving, logging, and transport indoors. It seemed those operations had ceased when FOXHOUND had made their move and taken over, interrupting logistics for their terrorist plan.

It almost seemed too convenient for Snake's liking as he slipped from the elevator to behind one of those crates, crouching and calling in to the radio team.

"It's Snake. I'm in front of the disposal facility."

Warmth finally entered Campbell's voice for the first time since the operation had begun, the cold stiffness of his briefings and initial communications beginning to wear off as the old soldier settled back into his old role as Snake's radio contact. "Excellent, Snake. Age hasn't slowed you down one bit."

The voice of the operation's medical specialist, Dr. Naomi Hunter, cut in on the line. "How's that Sneaking Suit working out?"

"I'm nice and dry," Snake confirmed, a bit of sulkiness bleeding into his voice as he admitted, "but it's a little hard to move."

"Bear with it. It's designed to prevent hypothermia," Naomi replied, mirth in her voice. "This is Alaska, you know."

Snake held back an annoyed huff. "Take it easy, I'm grateful. If it weren't for your suit and your shot I would've turned into a popsicle out there."

"An anti-freezing peptide, Snake. All of the genome soldiers in this exercise are using it."

"I see. I'm relieved to hear that. Already tested, huh?" Casting his eyes to the cliff leading out to the ocean, he changed the subject. "By the way, how's the diversionary operation going?"

Cambell cut back in, "Two F-16s just took off from Galena and are headed your way. The terrorists' radar should have already picked them up."

The sudden roaring whine of an engine ripped through the small valley, resounding off the walls to be almost deafeningly loud. Snake peeked from behind the crate to see the helicopter's rotors begin to lurch to life, their slow spin quickly speeding and adding whooshing beats of air to the cacophony filling his ears. Its cockpit sat open, a white-clad soldier speaking with a man standing beside its nose, his long blond hair whipping and long brown coat billowing in the rotor-winds.

Snake recognized the old-fashioned outline of the machine immediately. "A Hind D? Colonel, what's a Russian gunship doing here?"

The blond man in the long coat turned and sauntered over to the Hind, hefting himself with little effort into the cockpit and closing its dome over him.

"I have no idea," Campbell replied, "but it looks like our little diversion got their attention. Now's your best chance to slip in unnoticed! There are only eighteen hours left until their deadline. You've got to hurry!"

The Hind lifted off from the helipad and into the air, keeping relatively low in the scheme of aircraft before tilting westward and leaving the valley, growing blizzard be damned.

A new voice cut into the frequency, a young woman. "Wow, he must be crazy to fly a Hind in this kind of weather."

"Who's that?"

"Oh, sorry, I haven't introduced you two yet. This is Mei Ling. She was assigned as our visual and data processing specialist."

As Snake was quickly briefed on Mei Ling's role on the operation, he darted across the heliport, taking stock of the area and possible points of ingress with his binoculars. Behind him, the ocean crashed and the winds whipped, and he didn't hear a single thing as the soft whoosh of a cloak activated.

"First, I want you to infiltrate the disposal facility and look for the DARPA chief," Campbell instructed. "Get whatever information you can from him about the terrorists. If he's alive, that is..."

Snake thought for a split second he detected the scent of tobacco, but considering he was in the middle of admitting to smuggling his cigarettes in with him, he figured it must be sense memory. After all, with the wind buffeting him as it was, there was no way he could catch the scent of a cigarette. Not unless someone was smoking literally right next to him, upwind.

"I'll let you decide on the best COA. I'm counting on you, Snake," Campbell signed off. Snake tried not to wonder why it sounded less like an order and more like a plea. Something felt off about this op, even considering the nature of it all to begin with.

At this point, it would be more surprising if something weren't off about an op that he was involved in. He filed that pessimism aside and locked himself in. He had work to do.

It took little effort to stay out of sight lines, the increasing snowfall and placement of the spotlights helping him stick to the awkward slices of shadow as he skirted walls to stay out of the line of sight of the small smattering of security cameras that dotted the area. Upon mounting the catwalk, he spied a ventilation duct and made for it, tucking himself in as Campbell rung in his ear to inform him that the Hind D had shot down both F-16s that acted as his cover diversion.

"We got a message from Liquid. He said if we try something like that again, he'll launch the nuke! Snake, hurry up and get in there! That Hind will be coming back soon!"

*

"Did you catch all of that?"

"Sure did. The signal tapper worked like a charm. I'm impressed you got it on the fella."

"Mon ami, you truly think so little of me?"

"Spy, that's Solid Snake. I think that highly o' him is the long 'n short of it."

A soft scoff puffed over the radio as Spy held back a full laugh. "Regardless, this is our opportunity to move as well. Taking the heliport will be dramatically more difficult if we're here when that Hind returns."

"Sure 'nough. We still clear in the air yet, Scout?"

"Don't see 'nothin'," came Scout's voice over the radio, the wind whipping past his headset microphone garbling the hell out of his words. "I'm in place on the western ridge, don't see shit; not even with the binocs."

"The Hind's lights'll be a dead giveaway, so keep your eyes open, son. Alright, fellas, let's get this party started! BLU ain't payin' us to not take this point!"

Spy stole into a corner and kept still, watching with amusement as the show began. Twin trails of smoke streaked into the air, the wind stealing them away as quickly as they appeared as two points of blue—barely visible in the night sky against the backdrop of ocean and ice—soared up and over the edge of the cliff.

Demoman and Soldier's boots clomped loudly onto the concrete of the heliport as they cleared the railing that acted as the only safety measure between it and the edge of the cliff. In the moment before any of the genome soldiers noticed them, a grin found its way across Demoman's face. "Aye, love the company camouflage. Get 'em, lad."

Soldier let out a full-throated scream and charged, rockets soaring and bullets flying in reply amid the panicked yelling of men caught deeply unawares by heavy ordinance.

Demoman calmly ducked behind a crate, set up a sticky trap on either of its sides, and tossed down the teleporter Engineer had given him, which began to slowly auto-build as it hit the ground. "Teleporter goin' up," he reported.

"Weird as hell hearin' you say that," Scout quipped.

"Aye, fair enough. What's the ETA, Engie?"

"Twenty-one seconds from the word, 'go'," Engineer replied. "Entrance already built 'n ready."

"So see ye lot in about..."

"Ten," Engineer confirmed.

"Grand. "We'll get this point taken, then." With that, Demoman switched to his grenade launcher and strafed out of cover, more explosions rocking the entrance as screams of surprise and agony rang out into the night air.

Spy chuckled softly and lit a cigarette, figuring he may as well get a few drags in while someone else had all the attention. If the F-16s were somehow not enough of a diversion for the legendary soldier currently shimmying his way through the vents, Builder's League United would do nicely in their stead.

[sootyships]

this area of the story is p vaguely sketched out bc originally mikitta was a *spider-person*. not anymore, but, basically the original lore doesn't fit 1:1 into mcu, so... well, the broad strokes:

- The Russians find a space rock containing alien life forms

- Experiment on them

- This is very parallel to Sony's Venom, just with Russia!

- Russia however uses the aliens as interrogators/executioners while experimenting

- by chance, ИНОП-С30 bonds with one human properly--they're compatible--and tries to avoid having to kill him, to no avail--it gets punished, its host killed

- eventually it decides to get out

- does manage to get out--hijacks a human and leaves the country via the closest border->finland

- in a shop looking for chocolate to help its hunger, decides to switch to the local at the candy shelves... grabs them. they fight back, but it switches hosts. it finds them compatible. it hunkers down, comfortable.

- human gets a bit sick, but ИНОП-С30 is by then very experienced re: what harms humans and what doesn't, so it's not as bad as could be

- the human has massive chocolate cravings and is a bit sniffly but it's basically fine. they consider going to a doctor, but what happened sounds so nuts... so they don't.

- eventually ИНОП-С30 introduces itself.

- МЕНЯ ВЕЛИЧАЮТ РАЗГРОМ/MUA KUTSUTAAN MYRRYKSEKS/I'M CALLED MAYHEM/JAG KALLAS MULLER

- the human is understandably freaked out, but... it hasn't hurt them, really. so they let it stay around, at least for now. even if it makes them get weird as hell food cravings. (red wine, hard cheeses.... they don't even like wine and cheese! but now they do o_O)

- one day at the marketplace... people run. scream. someone calls the police while running. someone's hands are covered in blood.

- mikitta takes a step back, nauseous, then--stops.

- WE CAN STOP IT.

- what...

- DON'T FIGHT.

- uh--

- and then Mayhem takes the reins. and stops the stabber, who's got multiple people already. casually breaks his upper arm.

- mikitta, internally: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahecouldstillusehisotherarmaaaaaaa

- mayhem thinks, then breaks the other arm, too

- mikitta, internally: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawegottagetoutofhereaaaaaaaa

- mayhem tilts its head, then *jumps*, landing on a wall, and climbs to the roof, continuing to run and leap.

- mikitta, who has a fear of heights:

- mayhem finds a quiet alley where it can absorb back into mikitta's skin, unseen.

- mikitta is SHOOK so mayhem p much puppets them back home.

- ... and then a video starts circulating.

- it doesn't show mikitta's face, only mayhem's, but. it pings on tony's radar. the muscleball piques his interest, so he figures out where the video was taken, finds some security camera feeds from the area... etc. keeps track of the people who stand out. finally has a "gotcha." when mikitta is caught on security camera talking to themself with no phone or headphones.

- tony does some tech demo in mikitta's city, so that it's public knowledge that The Tony Stark is in the city. *then* he goes to talk to them in person. otherwise they might go "yeah RIGHT you are tony stark, fani jouk haha."

"so. how does it work? i think it's an alien. is it an alien?" is probably actually tony's *opening*.

mikitta is like "mitä vittua." ready to bolt.

tony raises his hands. "hey, hey, whoa, i'm not here to take you public. i have a better idea. see, we're short some muscle, and you're muscle."

mikitta narrows their eyes. "what the fuck do you want."

"i have an offer for you. a job and a scholarship. tutoring, meds, therapy, whatever you need, and you'll be an avenger on the side. keep the world safe."

PLANET, mayhem corrects. there's an impression of vast scale.

"the planet", mikitta repeats aloud. "or, like, whatever's big enough to blip on your radar. for you."

"yeah, yeah, that's exactly the attitude we need! new blood, new ideas, you're a perfect fit." he's not REALLY listening to them, and they can tell. but, they also think, maybe they could do something good.