#Sensor Terminal Blocks

[wonderinc-sonic]

A Promise to Kronos on Ao3

Teen ◇ No ship ◇ Angst ◇ 1.2k

Omega looks deep into the furnace where Eggman Robots go to be recycled.

Team dark week day 1! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh @teamdarkweek

Omega held his body very still, his torso poised and upright, as though within it was a cup of lava filled to the brim - just the rhythm of his steps threatened to melt his whole insides with it.

He was a soldier unused, stationed in the empty room with nothing but that worthless pod of slime and unconscious meat, forgotten and rotting beside it.

He was facing the body of the creator as it melted into metal goop: he should have known he was too cowardly to meet them himself.

He was watching the draconic abomination of Doctor Eggman's greatest achievement, and even that didn't please the genius. There never was anything to be won in this cycle.

And today, he stood facing the incinerator; the teeth of that grinning emblem were actually gaps lit by fires and outlined by reinforced bars. As another batch of bots was cleared for termination, the teeth receded into the moustache, giving the Eggman a gaping maw with which he swallowed his children like a titan.

Omega couldn't feel them through the blistering heat from outside and within him, but he was flanked by his teammates. One of them was saying something, but his linguistic processing was offline, so it sounded the same as the bars that clanked back down, the squeal of trapped air escaping metal bodies, the roaring of wind rushing around in a circle to keep the fires aerated. Visible through the grates beneath their feet, metal flowed like blood from steak squeezed out on a plate. It shone and lit them up for a moment.

Someone was touching him and making a sound. They didn't exert much pressure, but he shook them off with a standard amount of force - they were sent skidding into the wall with a yelp. Someone else was blocking his path now; they were below his field of vision and pushing him backwards with immense force, but he braced and stared beyond them. They clanked their spines against his metal chest.

Metal. Metal that was flowing beneath his feet was the same that made him. How many lives had this ore that he called his own lived before it encased him? The Badnik and the biological batteries they chewed were all burned the same, separated by the immense heat. Did that rid the body of the soul?

Yes. It certainly did. Because he was sure at this moment that he could hold rage more blinding than any carbon body could tolerate: only a machine such as himself could hope to feel this burning heat. After all, they were born of it, and returned to it.

The mouth started to open again, as another mound of bodies - some still conscious, but immobilised - started to fall from the compactor above. Omega's steps towards the incinerator were thunderous, if only in his own deaf sensors.

Something tugged on his arm, gently then firmly, and finally with unholy power. He did not turn to them as they pulled so hard they separated the canon from the body and cried out in alarm. External temperatures were too high for them to follow him now. His joints started to feel slippery.

As he looked down into the pits, the teeth-gates opened for him like they were waiting for him, and the floor beneath his feet tipped forward. He grabbed one tooth-bar and watched as the next load were recycled, inspecting the furnace from inside; he saw grinding wheels of stone cogs chewing the bodies as they melted down, then slipped through the cracks to be collected and separated. He saw the ventilation and turning rod that whipped the air around, enjoying centrifugal force to maintain the pressure in the air. If this crank could be stopped, the grinding would cease, causing the hot air and fire spill out once not encircled in this airflow. It would burst out through these teeth, rushing through the room, filling it and consuming the air in here too. His occular units were becoming unreachable, ignoring instructions and almost slipping from their sockets as his body started to slump.

His premeditation came to a crashing end when an explosion rattled him, as something burst into existence behind him. Something fabric singed and smoked as a gloved hand grabbed him and snapped them out of their present space and time as quickly as it arrived.

His body gave an unhealthy crack: apparated somewhere new, his shell made contact with fresh powdery snow and the expanded metal snapped back to its normal volume and split the middle of his chest casing.

There was shouting over and around him, and the sky above was dark. Slowly, he restarted the sensory processes. His mind pinged with all the damage he detected in himself. He dismissed the warnings, and re-engaged language.

"I don't know. It was hot. I was trying to take us somewhere opposite."

"Well, thanks for that! How the hell do we move him like this?"

"Give me a minute, just hold him together."

Snowy white ears were illuminated by his own glowing eyes as she leant over him, checking for signs of conscious movement. He blinked his shutters, and she huffed in relief.

"And just what were you playing at? Trying to recycle yourself, you idiot?" She hissed into his helmet as she removed one of his drooping eyes to examine the damage to the joint.

Right, they had had a plan: cut off Eggman's supplies, one of which was metal both from mines, and from his own recycling.

"Directive-" His speaker was distorted and garbled: "Destroy forge."

Shadow leant over him now too, Chaos Emerald glowing in his burnt-bare paw.

"Without destroying you in the process." He muttered, and with a loud whoosh, they were back in the workshop, talking of plans and reconnaissance while the pieces of him were carefully taken for repair, one by one. He stared up at the ceiling, seeing a disfigured and melted body reflected on the chrome conductor panels they use8d for Chaos experiments. The outside now could match the in - completely reformed in rage. Shadow and Rouge took turns fussing over him, gently swapping, mending and welding his parts back together.

"Sorry about your arm," Shadow murmured to him, hours or no time after they'd returned.

"It is of no consequence." The broken voice-box responded. Shadow sniffed firmly, and he and Rouge looked at each other over his body.

"We get that what we saw must have been... emotional for you, in a sort of way," Rouge began. She was delicately detaching his middle from his leg motors at the 'belt', wriggling out melted and misshapen screws with tiny magnets.

"But you can't take revenge that'll kill you. We don't allow it." Shadow finished firmly for her.

He stared blankly at Shadow. There was something that he couldn't understand in either of these two - their concern for him was beyond what was warranted: as long as his core thoughts remained, his body was there to be spent and exchanged for blood. And there was something they couldn't understand in him too, now, he supposed. He had seen in himself for the first time: he was made, and still running on, fire.

[adafruit]

mini Sparkle Motion prototype - a tiny, fully-featured WLED board ✨🔌📏💡🌈

We're doing a lot of serious testing with our WLED mega-board, code-name Sparkle Motion .

While doing some holiday lighting projects, we also wanted something slim enough to slip into any design. It still uses an ESP32 for the best support, with USB-serial programming, 5A fuse, 5V level shifting + 100 ohm series resistors for pixel drivers, user/reset buttons, a user LED and onboard neopixel, JST SH analog/digital connector, QT I2C connector, 4 GPIO plus power/ground breakouts, and USB type C power/data input.

However, this version is made simpler and less expensive by dropping the DC jack and USB PD support: it's only for 5V strips if you want to power them directly (you could still drive 12V or 24V pixels, but you'll need separate power for them). Instead of a full set of terminal blocks for 3 signals, we only have two outputs, and they have to share the power and ground pins. It could also be used for a single two-pin dotstar LED setup. We kept the built-in I2S mic but dropped the on-board IR sensor - if you want an IR sensor, you'll be able to plug it into the JST SH port with a simple cable or solder it into the breakout pads.

The trade-off is that it's much smaller and slimmer, especially when no terminal blocks are soldered in by default: only 1.2" long x 0.785" wide (~1 sq in) x 0.3" thick vs. the original's 2" x 1.3" (2.6 sq in) x 0.55". To get it that small, we went 4-layer to give us a nice big ground and 5V plane in the middle and double-sided assembly. Coming soon.

[usafphantom2]

VX-9 F/A-18F Spotted With Heavy Air-to-Air Load of AIM-174s and AIM-120s

The U.S. Navy is continuing to test the new AIM-174B missile, derived from the SM-6, aboard the Super Hornet, with a VX-9 jet carrying four AIM-174s, three AIM-120s and two AIM-9Xs.

Stefano D'Urso

Super Hornet four AIM-174s

The F/A-18F "Vandy 1" of VX-9 loaded with four CATM-174B, three CATM-120 and two CATM-9X. (Image credit: @point_mugu_skies)

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet of VX-9 “Vampires” was spotted with a heavy air-to-air loadout, which includes four AIM-174Bs, three AIM-120s and two AIM-9Xs, in addition to a targeting pod and an InfraRed Search and Track installed on the external fuel tank. Aviation photographer @point_mugu_skies was one of the few to capture the aircraft in this previously unseen configuration and kindly provided us the images you can see in this article.

The aircraft is the Vampires’ flagship, “Vandy 1”, which sports the black livery applied for the unit’s 30th anniversary to pay tribute to the original one which was used on VX-4 commander’s F-4s and F-14s, also known as “Vandy 1”. The callsign originated from the abbreviation of the unit’s official callsign “Vanderbilt” used at the time.

As The Aviationist has reported in detail in the last few months, the AIM-174B is a Standard Missile (SM) 6 variant developed for the air-to-air role. The SM-6 is the surface-to-air missile designed to be used on Navy ships in conjunction with the Aegis Combat System and also known as the RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM).

The idea of adapting the SM-6 to be air-launched is not new, as the weapon was already seen on a Super Hornet of VX-31 in 2018 and 2021. However, it wasn’t until earlier this year that the testing got a new impulse and operational units were involved.

In fact, after another F/A-18 was spotted in April with an SM-6 under the wing, the weapon then appeared on operational jets assigned to the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the Rim of The Pacific 2024 (RIMPAC 2024) exercise in July. The heaviest load seen so far included two AIM-174s and two AIM-120s.

The one seen in the latest photo is reportedly the heaviest air-to-air load to date with the new weapon, with the AIM-174 both on the inner and middle wing hardpoints. It’s interesting to note also the presence on the external fuel tank of the ASG-34A IRST, which acts as a complementary sensor to the AN/APG-79 fire control radar in a heavy electronic attack or radar-denied environment.

Another shot of the F/A-18F “Vandy 1” with the heavy air-to-air loadout. (Image credit: @point_mugu_skies)

AIM-174B

As previously explained, the AIM-174 is an air-launched version of the RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), a crucial element of the US Navy’s air defense strategy. Integrated into the Aegis Combat System, the RIM-174 is primarily designed for long-range anti-air warfare but can also be employed for terminal phase ballistic missile defense and as an anti-ship missile. This year marked the first official combat use of the SM-6, with the Department of Defense confirming that the USS Carney intercepted and destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden on January 30, 2024.

The SM-6 uses the airframe of the SM-2ER Block IV (RIM-156A) missile, upgraded with an active radar homing seeker derived from the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile. This missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 3.5 and has a maximum range of 200 nautical miles. To that respect, it’s not clear what the maximum range of the air-launched version could be: despite the lack of a booster, launching it at high speed and altitude would result in significantly greater range compared to the surface-launched variant.

With the induction of the AIM-174B into service, the U.S. Navy joins a number of air arms capable of deploying an extra-long-range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), like the MBDA Meteor, the Russian R-37M and Chinese PL-15 and PL-21. In fact, the AIM-174B enables the U.S. Navy Super Hornets to engage targets at much greater distances than is currently possible with the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Integrated with the E-2D, F-35, and AEGIS within the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) system, the AIM-174B would extend the Navy’s capability to intercept aerial targets at ranges comparable to (if not greater than) those achieved against naval targets using the baseline SM-6.

In essence, this new missile fills the gap left by the retirement of the AIM-54 Phoenix. The AIM-54 was a long-range air-to-air missile used by the U.S. Navy’s F-14 Tomcat and retired in 2004 alongside the F-14. Known for its impressive range of over 100 nautical miles and multiple-target engagement capability, the AIM-54 left a significant void in long-range engagement capabilities.

While there wasn’t a direct replacement for the AIM-54 Phoenix in terms of range, the U.S. military has been developing advanced air-to-air missiles to enhance its fighter aircraft capabilities. The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is one such development intended to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Although not a direct replacement for the AIM-54 Phoenix, the AIM-260 aims to offer improved range and performance compared to the AIM-120.

SM-6

I

F/A-18E of VFA-192 carrying two air-launched SM-6 missiles (Image credit: @aeros808)

Operationally deployed

The photo of the new weapon during a test flight in April 2024 was reportedly part of the testing that preceded the delivery of the AIM-174B to the squadron likely to carry out Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E), a testing phase conducted on production, or production representative weapons, to determine whether systems are operationally effective and suitable to support a Full-Rate Production (FRP) decision.

In July, the U.S. Navy acknowledged that the AIM-174 is operationally deployed, likely in Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with the CVW-2 Air Wing’s Super Hornet squadrons aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), as reported by Naval News. “The SM-6 Air Launched Configuration (ALC) was developed as part of the SM-6 family of missiles and is operationally deployed in the Navy today,” said a U.S. Navy spokesperson.

While the service acknowledged the existence and the deployment of the weapon, so far only the NAIM-174B inert, CATM-174B captive carry, and DATM-174B ground training variants were seen installed on aircraft. However, the fact that the Navy mentioned the weapon being operationally deployed implies that live variants might also been delivered.

The Navy did not disclose other details about the AIM-174. So far, we know the standard SM-6 missile is about 21 feet (6.4 meters) long and, using persons for scale in some of the few photos available, the AIM-174B seems to be of similar length. According to the stencils visible on the photos of the missile carried by the CVW-2 Super Hornets taking part in RIMPAC, the weapon weighs 1,890 lb ± 14 lb (857 kg ± 6 kg).

Thanks again to @point_mugu_skies for the photos he sent us and make sure to follow him on Instagram for more!

About Stefano D'Urso

Stefano D'Urso is a freelance journalist and contributor to TheAviationist based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he's also studying to achieve a Master Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Electronic Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT techniques applied to the world of military operations and current conflicts are among his areas of expertise.

@TheAviationist .com

[kendrene]

22 Beatrice/Lilith 😘

22. You don’t have to be alone (dead space au)

***

The Ishimura groans and creaks around them. It tilts, then settles. 

“Not good, not good, not good.” Cam mutters nearby, fingers flying across the terminal’s keyboard. “Bea? I’m not sure but I think the centrifuge is shot. Can you come take a look?” 

“Give me a moment.” Bea spares a distracted glance for the nearest screen, where the ship’s diagnostics are displayed - a solid wall of red, all systems failing - before her eyes return to Lilith’s wound. “I just need to stabilize her.” 

Lilith’s hand, blood-slicked, covers her own. “If you don’t stabilize the ship we’re all fucked.” Weakened by blood loss, but still with enough strength to push Beatrice’s hands away. Black ichor drips from the gaping hole in her abdomen, and Beatrice has the impression that something’s wriggling, hatching within. Lilith presses down with both hands, hissing, and nods towards Camila. “Go. Help her. I’ll be fine.” She’s never been good at lying.

It is the centrifuge, as it turns out. And it’s worse than Beatrice imagined. 

“It needs a manual restart.” Lines of code appear on the screen. She tries a different bypass. Nothing. “There’s something… blocking it, I think? I can’t tell. The sensors are picking up a foreign mass, but without cameras…” She trails off and raises a questioning eyebrow at Camila, who just shakes her head. 

“No cameras. That entire level may as well be a black hole. If everything wasn’t going to shit around us, I’d say it was intentional, but-”

“Bodies.” Lilith calls. voice down to a strained whisper. “The mass the diagnostics are picking up. It could be bodies.”

“No personnel is allowed into the centrifuge when it’s engaged. G-force would suck you into the machinery.”

“But if it were sabotage.” Lilith plants a heel against the wall and leverages until she’s not slumping anymore. “If someone shut the centrifuge off, they could have shoved bodies into it. It’d mess up the hydraulics, wouldn’t it?” 

“You’d need a lot of bodies.” Beatrice counters. A frisson of fear electrifies her spine as the scale of what Lilith is implying fully sinks in. “We’re talking mass murder.”

“Or mass suicide.” Lilith doesn’t have to remind them there was actual crew members attacking them among the monsters. You’ve got to-” 

The vent closest to them explodes outwards, scattering bits of metal all around. Beatrice has the time to register something twisted buzzing past her face before Camila barrels into her, flattening her to the ground.

What must have once been personnel lands on all four in front of them. Tattered fabric clings to its misshapen shoulders and its spine is fully exposed, an ivory coast emerging from a frothing sea of white-red muscle.

“Lilith!”

Any second now it’ll see her. Unless she and Cam do something, Lilith is dead.

“Run!” 

An elongated shape skids across the plasteel floor plating. Lilith’s rifle. Beatrice’s hand closes around it. She feels numb.

“LILITH!”

“I said: run!”

She does, haltingly at first, and Cam has to push-pull her.

She does, faster after, Lilith’s weapon dragging in her hands, and never in her life has she felt so lonely.

[aradnouri]

Struggling to Start Your Diesel Generator? Here's How to Fix It!

A diesel generator is a critical backup power source, but what if it won’t start? 🤔 Don’t worry—here are the top reasons and quick fixes you need to know!

🔹 Why It Happens: ✅ Battery Issues: Corrosion, low charge, or faulty starter motor ✅ Fuel System Problems: Contaminated diesel, clogged filters, or air pockets ✅ Alternator Malfunction: A drained battery might indicate a failing alternator ✅ Faulty Injectors: If you smell diesel but the engine won’t ignite, injectors might be blocked ✅ Sensor or ECU Failures: Many modern generators rely on electronic controls

🔧 How to Fix It: ✔ Test your battery voltage & clean terminals ✔ Use high-quality fuel & replace filters regularly ✔ Inspect & service injectors for proper fuel delivery ✔ Check your alternator’s output to ensure battery charging ✔ Scan for ECU error codes to diagnose electrical failures

🚀 Routine maintenance prevents breakdowns & extends generator life!

🔗 Read the full troubleshooting guide here.

[engineering-guff]

Electronics Components and Uses:

Here is a list of common electronics components and their uses:

Resistor:

Use: Limits or controls the flow of electric current in a circuit.

Capacitor:

Use: Stores and releases electrical energy; used for filtering, timing, and coupling in circuits.

Inductor:

Use: Stores energy in a magnetic field when current flows through it; used in filters, transformers, and oscillators.

Diode:

Use: Allows current to flow in one direction only; used for rectification, signal demodulation, and protection.

Transistor:

Use: Amplifies and switches electronic signals; fundamental building block of electronic circuits.

Integrated Circuit (IC):

Use: Contains multiple electronic components (transistors, resistors, capacitors) on a single chip; used for various functions like amplification, processing, and control.

Resistor Network:

Use: A combination of resistors in a single package; used in applications where multiple resistors are needed.

Potentiometer:

Use: Variable resistor that can be adjusted to control voltage in a circuit; used for volume controls, dimmer switches, etc.

Varistor:

Use: Protects electronic circuits from excessive voltage by acting as a voltage-dependent resistor.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED):

Use: Emits light when current flows through it; used for indicator lights, displays, and lighting.

Photodiode:

Use: Converts light into an electric current; used in light sensors and communication systems.

Zener Diode:

Use: Acts as a voltage regulator by maintaining a constant voltage across its terminals.

Crystal Oscillator:

Use: Generates a stable and precise frequency; used in clocks, microcontrollers, and communication devices.

Transformer:

Use: Transfers electrical energy between two or more coils through electromagnetic induction; used for voltage regulation and power distribution.

Capacitive Touch Sensor:

Use: Detects touch or proximity by changes in capacitance; used in touchscreens and proximity sensing applications.

Voltage Regulator:

Use: Maintains a constant output voltage regardless of changes in input voltage or load; used for stable power supply.

Relay:

Use: Electromagnetic switch that controls the flow of current in a circuit; used for remote switching and automation.

Fuse:

Use: Protects electronic circuits by breaking the circuit when current exceeds a certain value; prevents damage from overcurrent.

Thermistor:

Use: Resistor whose resistance changes with temperature; used for temperature sensing and compensation.

Microcontroller/Microprocessor:

Use: Processes and controls electronic signals; the brain of many electronic devices and systems.

fig:google-electronics

fig:google-electronics

fig:Crystal-Oscillator

This list covers some of the basic electronic components, and there are many more specialized components used for specific applications within the field of electronics.

[bltzgore]

Space Vandals Ch. 1

Tw: gore, strong language (I LOVE to swear), there is whump at the end (but this is the first chapter so I need to build some world first), wound description, race/speciesisim

Guardian drew the knives from her belt. One a Rorawkin blade, composed of their four strongest metals, it was borderline indestructible. These blades were forged in the fires of their sun and took a mastercraftsman to mold properly into a fine blade. The other was more common but equally as deadly in the right hands. It was an Arithian dagger, made of a specialized gemstone they had perfected growing in their labs. It resembled a dark glass, but if one held it to the light they’d see it was actually a very dark red. They were known to be the sharpest blades this side of four galaxies, and capable of slicing through metal up to three inches thick if one wielded it correctly.

Had it still been light out Guardian surely would have chosen her pistols to start this off, but the low light levels and her dark plating made it hard to see where she ended and the night began. The red markings gave her away, but she didn’t have any on her arms. They wouldn’t be able to tell where her weapons were. They didn’t know where to defend from, and she realized halfway through taking the fourth guard’s head off they were grossly inexperienced for thugs. They moved so stiffly, that when they missed landing their own strikes on her they’d be churning and stumbling like a fooled bull. Guardian was light on her feet, everything felt fluid. She brought one blade through the terminal vein in one guard’s neck, she launched another into the chest of a thug raising his gun, one of the only who seemed to even have them. The organization must have been in a bit of a rut, fortunately that wouldn’t be their problem for much longer.

They were all reduced to husks on the ground, dead or dying, as Guardian headed up the stairs and changed her modus operandi. When moving into territory she had never seen, potentially plunging right into battle, she decided to play it practical. She switched back to her guns. She pulled them from their clip on her lower back, where their muzzles interlocked for convenient storage. They glowed gently in the low light, not as dull as her markings but dull enough that she didn’t use it to see. But she didn’t need it to see in this form. 

Upon slipping inside it was strangely quiet. It wasn’t like she had expected the empirical army, but she was sure there were supposed to be upward of twenty, at least. There weren’t. There was not a thug to be found anywhere in her sector. Where were they? They didn’t have time for this. She pressed the sort of button that made up the outer portion of her audio sensors, “Manny, status?” He responded within seconds. “Occupied! Damnit, what!?”

Guardian kept her head on a swivel, “How many you guys find?” 

Shep answered this time, “Looks like everybody.”

So that was why she hadn’t gotten any action. “Where’s Scout?” Guardian asked.  

“With them!” The robot’s softer voice answered twice as quickly, “trying not to get shot.”   

“Get him past the blockade. There’s no time for fucking around.” Guardian complained.

“The hell you think I’m tryin’a do?” Manny snapped. 

“Eta two minutes.” Guardian rumbled, her inner components already beginning to shift. 

The mechanized shapeshifter’s limbs blurred around the edges. The almost microscopic building blocks of them releasing and finding new ties, picking just how to rearrange themselves. She thinned, like she was a wad of silly putty and someone was pulling her to see just how far she’d stretch, turning lanky and boney. Sprouting off her head were massive horns, some met themselves like a halo, others rose like wild stag’s or a strike of lightning. She reached out her limbs towards the ground and they grew, long, sharp, strong. A tail-like structure joined them, connecting all the way up the back to the base of the neck. Her head was bladed and full of things that had to be teeth. Once her second set of forelimbs touched down she started moving. 

“No, we got this.” Shep insisted. 

She chose not to answer over the coms, but they wouldn’t have understood it anyway. The native vernacular happened reflexively, “ᎷᏗᏒᏬᏂᏗᏋ.” Meaning: too late, it sounded like a series of clicks, almost whistles, and peeling snake shed.

“Guardian, you inbound?” Manny demanded confirmation. 

So this time she had to click the com and answer, slowing her gate in order to do so. She stumbled through the answer, only managing the S sound.

She burst through the last dividing door with a cry that would have peeled the skin off an Onnarow. As Guardian began ripping into whatever unfortunate thugs she could reach, a gun blast shattered the head of her very next target. Shep jogged over, reloading as he ran, tagging two more before he reached her side. “I said we had this.” He grumbled. 

She fumbled with her mandibles for a moment, trying to get them to use the right language, “ᏂᎧᏬᏇ ᏖᏂᏒᏗᏇ.” No that wasn’t it. She pulled the exterior of her jaw structure back and attempted to manipulate what existed there in place of a tongue. Her words were slightly sharp around the vowels, but she managed it. “I kno-ow. N-ee-d be fa-st.” She wrenched the head of another thug off its shoulders, showering her shiny gray “skin” in the poor fucker’s blood-like fluids. He had been Mukavian, so it wasn’t red, more like translucent orange. 

“Ma-ke p-ath f-or Scou-t.” Her mandibles made direction three times as difficult to get across, Manny understood it best but even he knew maybe four words in this form’s native dialect. Luckily her crew had learned to work around it.

“You got it, boss.” Shep rolled his shoulders, “I’ll take the ones on the right, and you take everyone else?”

She nodded visibly, she would have smirked if her form allowed. She ran forward, giving that horrendous screech again, it wasn’t just a battle cry. Some species were sensitive enough to sound that the wail alone nearly disabled them. Inconveniently, these guys were not a mix of such species. So raw violence it was. 

“Te-ll h-im!” She managed through the com, digging her claws into another thug. 

“Scout! You’ve got an in! Get your ass over here!” Shep barked over the channel. 

“Right, right! On it!” The almost insectoid scouting droid came bounding down from his vantage point where he had been furiously launching and calling back his throwing blades. They were kind of like shurikens, just modded a bit. They were X’s with ends all bent the same direction almost the size of dinner plates. The massive pinwheels of death returned the instant his gauntlets gave the specialized magnetic signal. 

Scout sprinted past Guardian, giving her a slight wave as he slid beneath a thug’s attempt to hit him with some sort of metal pipe. Using his hands, he sprang up to his feet and continued running all in one string of easy movements. 

He tore away from the brawl in what had possibly once been the mess hall. He knew exactly where he was going, turning on a dime, switching hallways, following the fun little maze map in his head. Scout reached a door that didn’t open automatically upon sensing him and he swung back against his momentum, into a slide. He slowed enough, the impact hardly registered. He straightened up, sensors scanning and locking onto a data module. They varied world to world, but not so much when they were all still using written language, just different keyboards or interfaces for different physical requirements. The inhabitants of this world favored two hands, luckily. Scout wasn’t great with the triple or quadruple keyboards, and he didn’t even know where to start with the extra-sensory ones.

A brief fit of tapping and the door slid open reluctantly. He jogged through, attention immediately drawn to the first pedestal. It was guarded by a blue wall of energy, not quite a plasma shield, definitely not a light shield, that shit got expensive quick. It was something probably equally as painful, but thirty-times easier to get through if you knew the trick. These shields were mostly made of very angry particles, but they could be pacified if you had the right material, a material Scout just so happened to have an entire glove made of. He stretched it over his hand, all the way up past the mid-arm joint, and reached in. The shield sparked, light leaping off the glove, he yelped and scrambled back. 

Trying to calm his voice, he tapped his com, “Manny?”

“Ugh, what is it, kid?” At least he didn’t sound too busy.

“The glove sparked, I-I’m not sure-”

“It’s working fine, grow a pair and shove your hand through it.”

“Got it.” Scout approached again, cautiously. Slowly he held his hand out, it slid in up to his palm before the light jumped off the shield at him again. He turned his head away and moved quicker. He felt twitchy, stinging, things crawling across his plating, but he didn’t back down this time. He turned back to it just in time to close his hand on the small metallic stick. He yanked back and as soon as his hand was free he started running. 

“I got it! I got it! Objective secure!” He remembered the terminology with the third iteration. 

“Good work Scout, get to the back exit. We’ll meet you where we started.” Manny answered. He took his hand off his com, turning his attention fully back to the fight, when an entire table came flying through the air above his head. It split the wall, and stayed suspended there, like a dart in its target. Upon closer inspection it had also halved what looked like this gang’s bruiser. He glanced back across the room towards where the projectile had come from. He gave Guardian a nod. “This is why I’ve never asked you on a date,” He snarked over the coms, getting a familiar chitter-click-whistle in response. 

_

One might think it hard to entertain yourself when your whole family is full of badass rebel fighters constantly going out on various missions doing undisclosed but probably shady stuff that they won’t give you a straight answer about in case the authorities come around. That might have been true if Deon didn’t have Wyatt. Deon wanted to join the rest of his family, of course! Who wouldn’t want to get in on sticking it to the Vet-ring? He knew Wyatt did too. They talked about it all the time, and had on more than one occasion tried to follow covertly. It never worked. They probably should have been more bummed about it than they were, what kept them from feeling the disappointment were their own little missions. 

“Clear!” Wyatt chirped over their walkie talkies. They had decided taking ops gear out on their missions wasn’t a good idea after the one time it didn’t come back from a cop’s evidence locker. They had gotten chewed out for that one.

Deon sunk his claws into the lock, they slowly shifted the mechanisms, metal clicked and the structure was forced to turn. He felt the door’s bar withdraw, and stood up, “Got it.” Deon shoved the door open. He looked down the block, waiting for Wyatt to make eye contact before motioning to follow him. The techno-organic jogged over, a slight bounce to his step. It wasn’t unusual, he never really held completely still, even when sitting, though he claimed he didn’t even know he was doing it. 

The shop’s lights were out, Wyatt reached for the switch when Deon stopped him, “Want to let everyone know we’re here?”

“Won’t it look sketchier if people see two figures wandering around this place in the dark?”

“Don’t get seen then.” Deon warned.

Wyatt shrugged, “Your party, my eyes are just fine either way.” He rooted through the bag strapped across his torso, pulling small spheres from it, just larger than marbles. He held them out to Deon, “Ready for some redecorating?”  

Deon’s scowl withered, and he snatched them, mouth breaking into a toothy, lightly malicious, grin, “Hell yeah.”

They split, each taking opposite walls. Wyatt fished a red, glassy, marble from the bag and raised his hand. Wyatt threw down the marble, as soon as it hit the floor he was engulfed in a cloud of what seemed like red smoke. He didn’t cough, he didn't need to breathe, he wasn’t all organic. However his organic side could, it gave him a serious boost in energy. What sucked about it was that in order to stop he had to lower his energy consumption enough to shift back to his reserves. Luckily he hadn’t needed any boosts on the way over here. No breathing necessary to keep up with Deon this time, so he only turned vibrant red on the outside. He waved the thicker part of the cloud from his visual sensor array and fished another marble from his bag, laughing and leaping into the next one.

On the other side of the room Deon was running the length of the wall, throwing paint marbles against it and the shelves of products that lined it. He was quick enough to keep just ahead of the bursts, they painted the edge of his jacket and his tail a mix of vibrant colors, pink, neon green, blue bright enough to make the sky jealous. Deon pulled up his ventilator to keep the paint fumes and smoke out of his lungs, the second eyelids slid up to keep the particles out of his eyes. He didn’t swim all that often these days but he had found other uses for them.    

Deon looked back at Wyatt, he gave the ceiling a quick glance then nodded up to it. The shop had at one point, like many buildings, been a warehouse of some kind, so the roof went higher than one would think necessary for a convenience store. Wyatt smirked, “Go for it.” He interlocked his fingers and crouched slightly. Deon got a running start, and stepped up into Wyatt’s hands. The techno stood and threw his hands up through the strain.

 Deon cleared five feet vertically, latching on to one of the lingering chains that connected up to the roof. He climbed until he could get a grip on the chain with his feet too, then he swung. Deon released the chain with his upper half. His nails caught the edge of the hanging light and for a second he was an uncomfortable bridge between the fixture and the chain, as he decided whether or not to trust the light with his full weight. He gave it a once over, the light was a pie tin looking thing strung from the ceiling by a thick black cord. There were no worrying sounds yet.

He unhooked the claws on his hind legs from the chain, swinging with the light, using the momentum, flipping his legs up over the light. Deon curled his tail around the cord then hooked a leg around, letting the cable rest in the crook of his knee. The fixture swung slightly, but held. Deon pulled a marker from his pocket, closing his teeth on the cap and tugging it off. Skillfully he started to scribe, in black out paint marker, a choice word dead center on light. 

Wyatt called up to him, “Whatchu writing up there D?” 

“You’ll see.” He muttered. “Finish up the walls, I’m gonna do the rest of the lights.” There were three others, it wouldn’t take long.

Wyatt grinned, “Yessir.” He pulled another item from the bag. They were almost gloves, in that they wrapped around his palms and had a single miniature sleeve that ran out to his thumb. At the center of the fabric was a dull ring of silver. Connected under his wrist were tubes that ran into the bag, he fussed with it for a moment before hearing it click. He turned back to the wall, blinking a few times, drawing the image in his mind. Once he was confident he raised his hands to the wall and shifted his thumb, the spray paint nozzle hissing a stream of black paint.

When Deon landed back on the floor he was very proud of himself. He looked up and the walls were criss-crossed in letters from two different languages. They were hybrid words that taggers sort of developed on their own. Each word was sort of a puzzle unless you spoke the two languages fluently to begin with. Wyatt knew these words, Deon knew some of them, part of why he left the walls up to Wyatt most of the time. 

As the techno-organic wandered over, brushed in most noticeably white and black, Deon asked, “What’s it say?”

“Motharay, neahamaka.” Wyatt read off. Then turned to the other wall, “Hutharay meeharakah.” 

“Which means?”

“Machines have souls, in really really short terms.”

“All that for two words?” 

“Well that, and ‘fuck you racist prick.’”  

Deon nodded approvingly, “Art.”

“What you put on the lights?”

Deon stepped over to the lightswitch, flipping it on. Projected onto the ground in somehow smooth text “Eat a Dick Douche Canoe.” All of the words had their own light, except for “eat” and “a” being forced to share.

“Perfect.” Wyatt grinned. 

Deon found himself distracted by his watch, shit! They were gonna be late! He bolted to life, turning the lights back off and heading for the door, “Come on!”

“What!? Why? Did you hear something?” Wyatt followed, momentarily holding his breath trying to hear it too.

Once they were both back outside Deon carefully locked the door before dragging it closed. “We’re gonna be late to dinner!” He hissed, pulling the door shut until it clicked. 

Wyatt’s eyes widened, oh… yeah. That. “Think we can make it across this dump in fifteen minutes?”

“Naw,” Deon muttered, “We can make it in ten.”

_

Shep was about to head inside to the table with the other three when two slightly grimy figures came sprinting out of the sketchiest alleyway they could have possibly managed. Deon pulled ahead by a small but noticeable amount, sliding to a stop in front of the cyborg. His words came out between pants, “We’re- here!” He managed. Wyatt stopped just behind him, nodding furiously, as he also caught his breath. 

“You two are something else. Come on,” He motioned, leading them into the restaurant, to the table.

Sitting on one side of the table were Shep and Scout. Scout was a robot, through and through, with long legs that had multiple joints and very powerful springs. He was built for running and jumping. Shep used to be a Marcharin, then he got torn up under “mysterious circumstances” (adult code for it was traumatic) and was turned into a cyborg to keep functioning. He was somewhat average in limb number and function, but his face had been… well Deon didn’t know, but he assumed it had been damaged pretty badly. There had to have been a reason it got replaced with a visor like screen. Several of the traditional Marcharin feather spines had been replaced with metal prosthetics, pretty close to their natural texture but Shep wouldn’t be shedding these seasonally.   

Wyatt was quick to steal the spot next to Shep, that left Deon with the unenviable spot right next to the two oldest on the team, specifically the one who would notice the paint on his tail. On Deon’s side were Guardian and Manny. Manny was a Rovaden, a tall one. Which meant he had ashen skin in most places where it wasn’t almost ink colored, like on his jaw that opened all the way to the edges of his face if he let it. They had only ever seen Manny open his mouth all the way once when yawning, it was fucking terrifying. He had no discernible nose and eyes that slowly changed shades of red like a mood ring. Aside from that he was pretty normal for a humanoid. Bipedal, two forelimbs and two hind limbs, more than two digits on his hands and all that. 

Then there was Guardian. She didn’t have one true form. There were a few she preferred, but any way that she chose to appear was one she had studied and stolen from a true member of the species. She currently chose a creature somewhere between shark and canine. It had rough shark skin, though that could have been a natural effect of what she was composed of, but had a very smooth canine looking head, with rather large ears. Past that things got a little strange. Down the front of the torso were three almost V shaped markings, Deon knew they were nothing so mundane. Her back was many-jointed, but not in the traditional spinal column way, it was more like a series of ball and socket joints. Her pupils were the only part of her eyes that looked alive, a glowing ring of red. This was one Deon saw her “put on” before going out to do some damage.

As soon as Deon sat down, Guardian was sniffing with that canine snout. “Why do you smell like paint?” Then looked a little closer at the long, blue and white, reptilian tail that Deon was trying to keep out of her field of view. “Never mind, answered my own question. It’s because you’re covered in it.” This was less of an observation and more of a demand for an immediate explanation. 

“We…” Wyatt answered for him, or tried. Ultimately just stretching it out, as he fished for any good excuse. 

Deon huffed, “We tagged the store that that racist bitch owns.” 

“You’re going to have to be a bit more specific.” Manny deadpanned.

“The one who called Scout a slur.” Deon clarified.

Scout sat up a little straighter, “Really?” but he didn’t ask with enough force to be heard over Guardian beginning her lecture-fest. 

“Were you seen?”

“No.” Deon sounded half defensive, half offended. 

“Not that you know of, you mean.” She warned. “I told you guys, I don’t want you doing this while we’re on Yuk-taka.”

Wyatt tried to take some of the heat off Deon, “It’s just like every other backwater planet we’ve been on this year. Why not?”

Shep interjected, “Yeah, don’t crush the creativity.”

“Because we’re in enemy territory.” Guardian almost growled. 

Manny rolled his eyes, “Mellowdrama aside, Guardian is right. We’re in the heart of Vet-ring controlled space, do you know what that means?”

Wyatt and Deon exchanged confused glances, making sure they held it long enough for Guardian to see it, before turning towards Shep or Scout for a hint that didn’t have time to appear. 

“It means they’re in close communication with this planet's law enforcement.” Guardian continued, “If they catch you and connect you to us they will demand answers, and they’ll get them, no matter what they have to do.”  

Deon felt like the air had been chilled in his lungs. He did his best to just keep breathing normally. 

Guardian must have seen the stutter anyway. She sighed, “Look, I don’t want to scare you with this, but I need you to take it seriously. Ok?”

Deon nodded, so did Wyatt. 

“Got it.” Wyatt confirmed. 

“No more stupid stunts on Yuk-taka.” Deon agreed, nodding for exaggerated effect. 

“Well, now that you know not to do it again…” Manny glanced at Guardian, and slowly started to smile, “What did you tag in the shop?”

Deon urged Wyatt to go first, thinking the nuance of some of the things he had tagged might soften Guardian’s reaction. He was right, because by the time he started talking about his part in it, the food had arrived and Guardian couldn’t hide her sharp-toothed grin, or her pride, any longer. She loved when they pulled shit like that. It was why she didn’t try to stop them outright, she just wanted them to be smart about it. Besides, it was good training for when they eventually got out in the field with the rest of the team.

 _

The walk back to the apartment was quieter than usual. No slurs or comments on their mixed species group. Deon chalked it up to Guardian’s form, creatures tended to clam up when anything with more than two large mouths was in the vicinity. She seemed to have all four opened and showing their teeth casually, though Deon could see right through that. It was difficult to notice in Guardian, because she changed shape and the signs changed with it, but she was tense. He couldn’t be positive of it’s exact source, from what Shep and the others had said the missions had been clean. Was she still wired about their stunt? That someone might have seen them, or something? Deon didn’t know enough about what was happening to deduce it. The only surefire way would be to ask, but he realized he wouldn’t know what to say even if she gave him an honest answer. 

Guardian wasn’t always stressed, but he had been noticing it more and more lately. When she was in mode 3 it manifested as occasional panting without exercise present and twitchy ears. He assumed it was getting worse because of their proximity to- Manny had made them promise to keep it to themselves that he had told them about this. They were sure they had covered his ass pretty well at dinner- the Vet-ring lieutenants; there were four on world in critical positions of power. If they found out the group was here they would drop everything to catch them.   

The Vet-ring were the ultimate race. They could live for eons and beyond, effectively immortal. They were immune to all but highly specialized weapons. Each and every one was trained to kill with precision and power. And on top of it most were wildly intelligent. There were plenty of races who could boast some of these attributes, but what gave them the ultimate edge was what they physically were. They were composed of tiny metal components, neither machine nor biological, each acting in accordance with millions of others, reproducing like cells, and working together like robots. These components were controlled by the creature’s central brain which according to all prior tests was made up of some kind of energy.

One might expect a creature made of millions of pieces of metal to just be a sentient pile of sand, or puddle of goo. There were races like that, but the Ring could control their components to the point that they could mimic any form that they studied, some even so well as to copy arcane and natural powers or skills seen in these species. A killer, intelligent, race of mechanical shapeshifters so powerful it had taken one of their own to make a difference. 

No one had ever gone up against the Vet-ring and won, no one. Resistance had been a losing battle until Guardian had joined the cause. Within three months they had two successful operations, rooting out Vet plants, and kicking them off world, saving the entire planet from global war. She had become legendary in the right circles, those being the three or four big name groups outright fighting the Vet-ring. She had started out working with them, but it had been too constraining. They collaborated sometimes, and she certainly would come running if they were in deep shit, but she and her little pack were sort of like rebellion mercenaries now. And they were good at it.

Guardian seemed to snap out of her thoughts as they passed a certain street, heading towards it. “Manny, take the others home. I’m gonna drop off the product.” 

He gave her an uncomfortable look, “You’re going alone?”

She shook her head, rolling her eyes, “I’ll be fine, I’m a big girl.” 

“I’m going with you.” He moved to her side.

Guardian wanted to say something sharp in response, but she quelled it. There was no point in talking him out of it, it would take too long.

“Shep, you can get ‘em home?” Manny confirmed. 

“Of course, have fun on your date.” He tossed the data stick to Manny, starting to walk backwards in the direction of the apartment. 

Deon wasn’t sure if it was compulsion at this point but he piped up, “Can I come too?”

Guardian answered just as reflexively, “No.”

“Come on, you’re just bringing the stick to the buyer right? You’re selling the important info to the good guys.”

“Nope.”

“What?”

“The only reason they’re getting this is because I trust them a bit more than I trust the guys who originally had it.” Guardian answered, she didn’t believe in good guys.

“And because they pay really well.” Manny put in. 

Deon looked like he wanted to say more but the words deserted him. He knew they’d talked about this before, the whole lesser of two evils argument. But that didn’t cause it to take the wind out of his sails any less. Manny and Guardian said a few things to Shep, but Deon didn’t catch them, then headed down their new path.

Wyatt set a hand on his shoulder, “Come on.”

Deon watched Manny and Guardian disappear down the side street and felt a familiar energy spark in the veins around his wrist. He looked back to Wyatt, “Give me five minutes?” 

_

Guardian gave it until they were out of sight before she turned on Manny, “So, why the fuck would you tell them about the Vet pressense on this rock before it was absolutely necessary?”

He winced, “Oh… you caught that?”

“What if they had tried to get more information on their own?”

Manny waved it away, “Deon wouldn’t know where to start, and Wyatt would have been smart enough to keep him from getting anywhere.”

This was, in fact, exactly how it had gone. Wyatt tended to be the more sensible of the pair, and had recognized just what a situation like this would mean if they fucked up. So he had shut the whole plan down very early in its development, difficult to do when Deon had set his mind on something, but not impossible. So instead they had spent that night playing Galaxy Master 5 with Shep.

Guardian stepped in front of him, turning to face him, “And what if he hadn’t?”

Manny felt shitty, it had been stupid, he had honestly thought they were old enough to recognize when things were dangerous enough to make them a liability. Maybe they were still too young. “But he did, they’re fine. You always say not to get hung up on what ifs.”

She shook her head, that part was true at least, “Fine.” 

They continued walking, and seemed to be unaware of the small reptilian humanoid who had tagged along. Deon kept to the rooftops, he was one hell of a climber, so it didn’t take much to keep up with them. Though that wasn’t the only thing he had to contend with while stalking his primary caregivers. 

Guardian favored forms with some version of electroreceptors. Meaning she could sense the electrical fields given off by the creatures who had such fields. This was a surprisingly large chunk of lifeforms. However, Deon was one of the exceptions to the rule.

Inherently his species gave off a form of electrical jolt when they encountered a predator, with time and practice it could be controlled and trained into a lot more. However, it didn’t just give him the chance to shock the hell out of his enemies, it also let him fuck with Guardian’s favorite sense. In short terms it meant Deon was one of the few who could manage to follow Guardian without her immediately realizing it. A fact he took advantage of maybe a little too often.    

Guardian reached the door and held it open for Manny. He walked in but when she didn’t follow he stopped in the door frame, giving her a questioning glance. Guardian turned her head to the roof of the building on their left and flattened a canine ear, “Well get down here. We’re not leaving you outside.” When he didn’t immediately appear, she put her paw-hand on her hip, “Don’t make me come up there.” That was a very real threat.

Deon emerged from the shadow of mechanisms that cluttered the roof, half climbing down half jumping. He braced for fury, but had one question first, “How did you know I was there? I hid my field!”

She shook her head, “I have other senses, dumbass.” But no lecture followed that, “Let’s get this over with. I want to get home before Scout finishes off the ice cream.”

The building turned out to be a bar. A neutral setting, it would discourage violence, but in the event that it was the only answer no one would be surprised. It wouldn’t be something that law enforcement would even blink twice at. All by design of course. Manny and Deon sat at one of the booths off to the side, where Guardian was sure Manny was letting him try shit he shouldn’t have. While she took a seat at the bar directly, where she’d told her contact he would find her. They were early, she didn’t expect her contact to be there for another hour. Getting there first just meant he wouldn’t have the chance to try anything stupid. She ordered something she knew wouldn’t have any effect on her biology and spun the data stick between her digits. 

He wandered in, maybe thirty minutes later, also early. A tall creature, of gray-blue skin and almost neon markings. His limbs were too long and his eyes… well he didn’t have any. He sat down next to her, “Nice night for the time of year.” He said.

“But I’d prefer a cooler climate.” She answered the pass phrase they had agreed upon. 

He nodded, “You got it?”

“I do.”

He slid her a card, which she picked up and inspected, then snagged something from her bag. A card reader of some kind. She slid the card into the slot and watched the screen light up an agreeable number. 

“What, you don’t trust me?” he asked, feigning hurt, through no discernable mouth. 

“Why of course not.” She answered with light cynicism. Then raised her claws off the data stick. 

He drew it into his hand, gazing at it, or whatever he did instead of gazing. “Good doing business with you. I hope this can be the start of a long and prosperous partnership.”

“We’ll see.”

“Good evening.” He stood.

“What are you going to do with it?” She asked, freezing him in his tracks. 

“It’s government grade blackmail material, what do you think I’m going to do with it?” He seemed to be suddenly nervous, suddenly defensive. Like he was expecting this to be the start of her going back on their deal.

She nodded once, “Good.” 

He relaxed, reciprocating the nod before disappearing out the door. 

Manny and Deon joined her at the bar, “Well that was less dramatic than I was expecting.” Manny said.

“Told you there’d be nothing to it.” She answered, handing him the card and leading them back out into the street. 

“So that’s it? That was the oh so dangerous thing I wasn’t allowed to come to?” Deon complained. He was glad things went well, but he had been hoping for at least a little bit of action.

“Sorry to disappoint.” Manny snarked. 

Guardian sighed, because of course Deon was complaining, but she couldn’t say she was surprised. “We see enough danger when we go out on ops. I am more than happy for things to just go smoothly this time.” 

Deon was going to answer when he noticed they were suddenly standing still. Guardian was looking at something, the intensity of a predator having heard their quarry. Manny was standing a foot behind her, glancing from her to where she was focused. Deon stopped next to Manny, about to ask what Guardian sensed when he heard it this time. A trash can went over somewhere in the darkness ahead of them. 

All four of Guardian’s mouths bared their teeth, but the one on her face opened, “Who’s there? Identify yourself.”

The answer was a form tumbling out of the dark to the ground ahead of them. Guardian tensed, claws akin to filletitng knives extended from the end of each digit. Sure it looked like it was just another dime-a-dozen drunk, but bounty hunters were clever. She was counting down the moments, about to close the distance and carve it up when Manny held his hand in front of her. She lowered her claws and let her hostility die down a moment. 

He had managed to pull himself to his knees but was still reliant on his arms to keep his face away from the cement. He was young, maybe a few years older than Deon, and his left side and leg were absolutely drenched in blood. He was trembling, maybe it was exhaustion, could have been the blood loss, only he knew it was fear. He wouldn’t look up, keeping his head distinctly tilted down, only glancing up at the rapidly blurring forms to make sure they weren’t getting any closer. 

A moment passed in which no one moved, when he seemed to decide they weren’t going to go charging in and kill him he tried to stand. His leg couldn’t take it, and he hit the ground with a groan. His breathing was slowing down, the adrenaline that had brought him there seemed to be withdrawing. He made another attempt at standing and he couldn’t even get back to his knees.

Manny took a few steps towards him, “Easy, your leg’s real fucked up.” 

He would have slashed, growled, something at Manny to keep his distance, if he hadn’t lost his grip on consciousness first.

Manny gave it a second once his eyes shut, then knelt down next to him, checking for vital signs. “He’s alive,” he informed Guardian, who was joining him next to the humanoid. Deon followed, but stayed behind her. He noticed from there that her ears were flicking. Lining the edges of them, with no semblance of pattern, were glowing red dots. This form relied on its ears to collect two types of sensory information, auditory and electrosensory. Flicking her ears like that kept them from just telling her what was in front of her, it gave Guardian a 360-degree view. She was on high alert.

Manny looked down at the injuries. The one on his side was a slash, probably done by a blade of some kind. The damage to his leg wasn’t as clean, it almost looked like a bite mark, but there were no clear teeth patterns, it looked like it had been scooped out by an army of angry forks. 

  Manny cast a glance back to Guardian, noticing Deon trying not to look at the gash. He gave Deon a snide grin, “That exciting enough for ya?” There was some swear word in response, but he didn’t say it loud enough for Manny to hear. 

“We should get moving.” Guardian reminded.

Manny nodded, “Course. Am I carrying him or are you?”

She shifted an ear back, “We can’t take him with us.”

Manny stood, putting himself at eye level with her. He wouldn’t be taking no on this one. “Why not?”

“He’s clearly being chased by something, this is not the kind of shit we should be sticking our noses in. It’s hard enough to stay under the radar as is, we can’t be making more enemies.”

“So you’re saying we just leave him here.” He rumbled, “To bleed out in the alley?”

“I’m saying we leave him for someone who can afford to invite trouble into their lives, and who won’t bring trouble to his.”

Deon finally gave his two sense, “I mean, if anyone can handle trouble, it’s us. Isn’t it?”

Manny gave her a smirk.

Getting double teamed wasn’t fair. Guardian threw her head back and dropped her shoulders, making a big show of her sigh. It was a big show because Vet-Ring usually didn’t need to breathe, so they didn’t naturally sigh unless they pretended to do so. “Yes, I’ll carry him.”

Next ->

[wireharness-manufacturers]

Wire Harness Components: Exploring the Building Blocks of Electrical Systems

In the realm of electrical engineering and connectivity, wire harnesses serve as unsung heroes, enabling the smooth transmission of power and signals across an array of industries. These vital components have become indispensable in modern applications, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and safety.

In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the world of wire harnesses, exploring their functionality, applications, and significance in various sectors.

For More Information Please visit, wiring harness manufacturers near me

What are Wire Harnesses?

A wire harness, also known as a cable harness or wiring assembly, is a bundled arrangement of multiple electrical wires or cables. These wires are bound together using various methods, such as tape, zip ties, or sleeves, to form a unified and organized unit. The purpose of a wire harness is to facilitate the efficient and tidy transmission of electrical signals, power, and data within complex systems.

Structure and Components:

Wire harnesses are designed to suit specific applications, and their structure can vary accordingly. Typically, a wire harness consists of the following components:

Wires/Cables: The core elements of a wire harness are the electrical wires or cables, which come in various gauges and types, depending on the application's requirements.

Connectors: Connectors are the crucial interface points that link the wire harness to other electrical components, devices, or systems.

Terminals: Terminals serve as the end points of individual wires, making electrical connections with connectors or other terminals.

Sleeves and Sheaths: To protect the wires from external elements and prevent damage, sleeves and sheaths are used as protective coverings.

Tapes and Labels: Tapes are utilized to bundle the wires together, while labels aid in identification and organization.

Applications in Different Industries:

Wire harnesses find extensive applications in numerous industries due to their efficiency and reliability. Some of the key sectors that heavily rely on wire harnesses include:

Automotive: In vehicles, wire harnesses are essential for transmitting electrical signals, power, and data to various components, such as engines, lights, sensors, and infotainment systems.

Aerospace: The aerospace industry uses wire harnesses to ensure secure and organized connectivity within aircraft, satellites, and spacecraft.

Electronics: From consumer electronics to industrial machinery, wire harnesses are crucial for connecting and powering electronic components.

Telecommunications: In the world of telecommunications, wire harnesses facilitate the smooth flow of data and power in network infrastructure.

Healthcare: Medical devices and equipment rely on wire harnesses to ensure precision and safety in their electrical connections.

Advantages of Using Wire Harnesses:

The adoption of wire harnesses brings forth several advantages:

Simplified Installation: Wire harnesses streamline the installation process by eliminating the need to deal with individual wires, reducing assembly time and errors.

Improved Reliability: Organized and secure connections enhance the overall reliability and performance of electrical systems.

Space-Efficient: Wire harnesses help conserve space, especially in compact devices and machinery.

Enhanced Safety: Properly insulated and protected wires reduce the risk of electrical hazards and ensure operator safety.

Conclusion:

Wire harnesses are the unsung heroes that play a vital role in ensuring seamless electrical connectivity across a myriad of industries. From automotive to aerospace, electronics to healthcare, these organized bundles of wires provide efficiency, reliability, and safety in diverse applications. As technology continues to advance, wire harnesses will remain a cornerstone of modern electrical engineering, contributing to innovation and progress across the globe.

[hongjuelectronics]

Universal Structure Design for Multi-Specification Compatible Fuse Holders: Engineering Compatibility for 5×20mm & 6.3×32mm Fuses

Introduction

With the rapid development of diverse electronic and power distribution systems, customers now demand fuse holders that support modularity, cross-compatibility, and high adaptability. In OEM, aftermarket, and international markets, having separate fuse holders for each fuse size is costly and inefficient.

Multi-specification compatible fuse holders address this issue by allowing a single design to support both 5×20mm and 6.3×32mm fuses. These holders must maintain stable contact, mechanical retention, and standard dimensions. This article explores the core structural innovations: dual-compatible clip designs, automatic pressure-adjustable contacts, standardized housing for universal mounting, and anti-misplug limiters.

1. Dual-Size Compatible Clip Design for 5×20mm & 6.3×32mm Fuses

1.1 Compatibility Challenges

5×20mm fuses are common in small electronics, while 6.3×32mm fuses are used in high-power or industrial systems. The dimensional difference (length and diameter) means traditional fuse holders require separate part numbers.

1.2 Structural Design Principles

Modern fuse holders adopt multi-stage contact and retention structures or sliding internal slots that automatically adjust for fuse size.

Key Features:

Two-step limit structure: Lower step for 5×20mm, upper step for 6.3×32mm

Flexible contact clips that retract or expand as needed

Multi-point contact zones for stable current conduction

Case Study:

A power adapter manufacturer consolidated two SKUs into one universal holder, cutting BOM costs by 18% and improving assembly throughput by 32%.

2. Auto-Adjusting Contact Pressure Design

2.1 Insertion Force Imbalance Risks

Varying fuse diameters can lead to:

Low pressure → high contact resistance and heat

Excess pressure → glass tube damage, hard insertion

2.2 Automatic Spring-Based Adjustment

Advanced holders use flex-jointed or spring-assisted contacts:

Flexible hinge base absorbs dimensional variance

Tail-end springs maintain pressure across all sizes

Materials like heat-treated phosphor bronze for fatigue resistance

Performance Benefits:

Maintains <10 mΩ contact resistance

Survives 500+ insert/remove cycles

Reduces user error and assembly damage

Practical Testing:

This structure kept resistance variation under 10% between 40°C and 85°C for both fuse sizes — superior to rigid clip designs.

3. Standardized Housing Dimensions for Universal Mounting

3.1 Multi-Device Integration Needs

Devices use different mounting methods: panel-mount, PCB-soldered, DIN-rail, screw-fixed. To simplify manufacturing, one housing must fit many.

3.2 Modular Size Implementation

Designers apply:

Unified mounting holes (e.g., Φ10.3mm, 19×12mm)

Interchangeable mounting brackets

Sliding grooves for clip-in flexibility

Modular Example:

scss复制编辑[Module A: PCB Plug-in] ─┬─ Terminal block wiring 

├─ Panel snap fit 

└─ DIN rail clip mount 

Customer ROI:

An industrial controls company standardized its PLC line with one universal fuse holder design, reducing part types by 50% and improving field repair efficiency.

4. Anti-Misplug Design: Fuse Length Limiting Structures

4.1 Insertion Errors in the Field

Common errors:

Short fuse in long-slot holder → loose contact

Oversized fuse → latch failure or contact arcing

Wrong fuse rating → safety risk

4.2 Built-In Length Limiters

Universal fuse holders include:

Dual-position stop grooves for exact length matching

Spring-tensioned limit walls that adapt to size

Optional colored guides to distinguish slot types

Engineering Result:

A medical device OEM reduced service errors by 60% using these limiters and color-coded guides, improving product safety and end-user confidence.

5. Engineering Recommendations and Future Trends

5.1 Intelligent Fuse Detection

Future models may embed micro-sensors (resistance-based or magnetic) to detect fuse size/type and communicate with the system MCU via I²C or CAN.

5.2 Platform-Based Modular Architecture

Develop a core-standardized fuse holder platform, with swappable:

Fuse blow indicators

Remote monitoring modules

EMI filters for sensitive circuits

5.3 Certification-Conscious Global Design

Ensure cross-certification readiness: UL, IEC, TUV. Structure should meet global electrical safety and mechanical compatibility norms.

Conclusion

Multi-specification compatible fuse holders represent the next evolution in electronic protection. By integrating dual-size retention, pressure-adjustable contacts, standardized mounting, and anti-misplug mechanics, manufacturers can streamline designs, reduce SKUs, and boost customer satisfaction.

Looking ahead, compatibility will extend beyond mechanical to intelligent systems — enabling fuse holders to integrate seamlessly into smarter, safer, and more modular electrical ecosystems.

en.dghongju.com

[ascompinc]

Precision and Automation Redefined: Robotic Soldering Station in India – Powered by Ascomp Inc

As the demand for high-speed, precision-based electronics manufacturing continues to grow, manual soldering is no longer sufficient for maintaining consistency, safety, and throughput. Enter the robotic soldering station in India, a powerful innovation that brings automation to one of the most critical steps in PCB assembly. At Ascomp Inc, we supply cutting-edge robotic soldering solutions built for modern Indian factories—designed to enhance productivity, reduce human error, and ensure flawless results.

What is a Robotic Soldering Station?

A robotic soldering station is an automated machine equipped with programmable arms, temperature-controlled soldering tips, and precise motion control systems. It is used to automate repetitive soldering tasks on circuit boards, connectors, and terminal blocks.

Unlike traditional hand soldering, robotic soldering offers:

Consistent solder joints

Reduced operator fatigue

Greater speed and throughput

Lower rework and rejection rates

Better control over temperature and solder feed

Whether you're running a high-volume SMT line or a mid-scale EMS setup, a robotic soldering station in India delivers unmatched accuracy and repeatability.

Key Features of Ascomp Inc’s Robotic Soldering Systems

🤖 Multi-axis robotic arm for precise solder point control

🔥 Temperature-controlled iron tip with programmable profiles

🎯 Vision system and sensors for auto-alignment and inspection

💡 Custom jig fixtures to suit different PCB layouts

🛠️ Automated solder feeding system for consistent wire delivery

⚙️ User-friendly programming interface for custom routines

We also offer fume extraction integration and ESD-safe construction to meet electronics industry safety standards.

Ideal Applications

Our robotic soldering stations are suited for:

SMT and through-hole component soldering

Wire-to-board connections

Connector pin soldering

LED assemblies

Fine-pitch PCB assemblies

Automotive and EV electronics

Telecom and defense equipment manufacturing

Whether you're automating a high-speed production line or improving quality in low-volume, high-precision builds, Ascomp Inc has a model that fits your needs.

Why Invest in Robotic Soldering?

✅ Higher throughput with minimal manual intervention

✅ Lower training and labor costs

✅ Repeatable quality across thousands of units

✅ Fewer operator-related defects

✅ Improved traceability and data logging

It’s not just a tool—it’s a productivity multiplier for forward-thinking electronics manufacturers.

Why Choose Ascomp Inc?

📦 Ready stock of robotic soldering machines in India

🔧 Pre-sales guidance and post-installation support

💼 Integration with existing conveyor or workbench setups

🖥️ Training and programming assistance

🔄 Availability of spare parts and maintenance contracts

🛠️ Proven track record with EMS companies and R&D units

Our solutions are scalable, reliable, and fully customizable based on your board layout and workflow.

[adafruit]

Trying to design a great WLED board 🌈🦄🦃

While waiting for the turkey to finish brining, we're designing a board for using WLED - and we want to make like the bestest board in the whole world.

Our resident mermaid, firepixie

, makes a lot of projects with WLED, and she loves it! So, how can we make something that will be powerful but not too bulky? Here are some things we're thinking about as the design starts to congeal like cranberry sauce:

Power via USB Type C PD with a slide switch that selects between 5, 12, and 20V (24V pixels can usually run fine at 20V) OR via a 2.1mm DC jack. With ideal diodes, it's good for up to 5A from either.

ESP32-Mini module with built-in or optional wFL antenna port. The classic '32 has broad support, even if we'd prefer the 'S2 or 'S3.

There are three output signal terminal block sets, with power and ground for each. They'll be level-shifted to 5V.

Built in I2S microphone (we're still pondering this one).

Stemma QT I2C port to connect external sensors/OLEDs/etc.; separate analog/digital input JST port.

1.3"x1.75" / 33mm x 45mm size with mounting holes.

Anything we're missing, anything that's extraneous?

[usafphantom2]

F-35 To Get Meteor, SPEAR 3 Missiles “By End Of Decade”

The new weapons will provide an especially lethal combination with the F-35’s stealth and forthcoming upgraded sensors.

Thomas NewdickPUBLISHED Jan 22, 2024 12:57 PM EST

F-35 SPEAR METEOR

MBDA

The U.K. Ministry of Defense has confirmed that its F-35B stealth fighters will be armed with Meteor air-to-air missiles and SPEAR 3 precision-guided standoff munitions by the “end of the decade.” The new weapons promise to bring a major leap in capability for the F-35B, especially when combined with the enhancements that the Block 4 upgrade will provide, especially for the aircraft’s radar, which will make the Meteor even more formidable.

In response to a written question in the U.K. parliament, James Cartlidge, a Minister of State in the Ministry of Defense, confirmed the timeline to integrate the two weapons.

An F-35B, presented together with ASRAAM, SPEAR 3, and Meteor missiles, with a concept model for the next-generation Tempest stealth fighter seen on the far left. Crown Copyright

“The U.K. Lightning Force currently operates the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), the Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), and the Paveway IV precision-guided bomb. By the end of the decade, both Meteor and SPEAR 3 will also be integrated to U.K. F-35s.”

Previously, the government had said that the U.K. F-35B would be armed with Meteor by the “middle of this decade,” while a date of 2027 at the earliest had also been given in a government report dated February 2022. The latest statement doesn’t necessarily contradict that since it also includes the integration of SPEAR 3, which may take longer.

An F-35 carrying a pair of AIM-120 AMRAAMs in one of its two weapons bays. Crown Copyright

The introduction of the two new missiles on the F-35 has been in the works for some time now.

In 2019, Lockheed Martin received initial funding to start integration, although preliminary work was already underway by that point.

Crown Copyright

In 2021, European missile house MBDA and BAE Systems announced they had secured additional funding from the British and Italian governments to complete the integration. The funding was thought to be worth around $400 million and covered both the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B (as operated by the United Kingdom and Italy) and the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A (acquired by Italy, and many others, but not the United Kingdom).

Meteor, which is already in service on British Eurofighter Typhoons, and which completed operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) on Italian Eurofighters late last year, is a weapon that The War Zone has discussed in depth in the past.

A U.K. Royal Air Force Typhoon takes off, loaded with Meteor missiles below the fuselage. Crown Copyright

The beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, or BVRAAM, is often named as the most capable weapon in its class. While that’s debatable, there’s no doubt that Meteor offers powerful capabilities, some of which are unique.

From the outset, Meteor was intended to better the range and overall kinematic performance of the AMRAAM. This is achieved primarily through its novel propulsion system, with a solid-fuel, variable-flow, ducted rocket (or ramjet). This means the missile can throttle its engine during different phases of flight, ensuring that it still has plenty of energy during its terminal attack — when traditional air-to-air missile motors are normally losing energy.

In this way, the missile’s ‘no-escape zone’ is dramatically increased, reducing the chance of the target being able to defeat the Meteor through high-energy maneuvering at the endgame of the engagement. This endgame could be played out at up to 130 miles away from its launching platform — range claims for Meteor differ widely and the actual figure is a closely guarded secret. An air-to-air missile's range is also highly dependent on a wide number of factors, including track of the target and the height and speed of the launch platform.

The ‘smart’ powerplant in the Meteor is combined with a two-way datalink, which supplements the missile’s active X-band radar seeker, providing the Meteor with inflight updates as it flies out to the target. However, the advantage of being able to throttle the motor means that the autopilot can provide the most efficient flight profile to the target for very long-range shots.

The then U.K. Secretary of State for Defense, Gavin Williamson (center), is shown a Meteor missile by MBDA staff at their factory. Crown Copyright

At the same time, the datalink can feed the missile with mid-course guidance updates from ‘third party’ sources, as well as the aircraft that launched it. These might include other fighters, airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, or even sensors on land and at sea.

With its unrivaled suite of sensors, the F-35 is equipped as good, if not better, than perhaps any other fighter to provide targeting data to the Meteor, but the ability for the missile to receive mid-course updates from other sources means the launch aircraft might not even need to use its radar at all to engage the target. For a stealth aircraft like the F-35, this is especially important, allowing for an entirely passive engagement that maximizes the aircraft's stealth attributes.

An artist’s impression of an F-35 armed with SPEAR 3 and Meteor. MBDA

Furthermore, the two-way nature of the datalink means that the pilot that launched the Meteor will receive information on the missile’s fuel, energy, and tracking state, helping them decide on whether to fire another, disengage or even assign another target altogether.

While the AIM-120D AMRAAM that can arm the F-35 also offers a two-way datalink with third-party targeting capabilities, and many other advantages over older ‘Slammers,’ including significantly extended range, but it doesn’t have a ramjet motor and all the benefits that brings.

An AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM sits at Raytheon’s Tucson, Arizona plant. Raytheon

Clearly, Meteor can offer a fourth-generation fighter like the Typhoon a significant edge in air combat, but this will be magnified when it starts to be carried by a stealth fighter.

Essentially, the F-35’s combination of low radar cross-section, powerful integrated sensors, and advanced information systems will ensure that it can ‘see and not be seen,’ while Meteor will allow it to engage aerial targets at long range, taking out hostile aircraft long before they even know an enemy fighter is present. This will be of particular relevance in the kinds of highly contested airspace that will be expected in a potential future conflict with China, for example. That extra range is also important as advanced infrared search and track systems improve and proliferate.

At the same time, the future Block 4 version of the F-35 will be even better able to maximize the capabilities inherent in Meteor. Block 4 is a massive upgrade initiative and something that we have examined in the past. We know it will include a new multifunction active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar designated as AN/APG-85 as well as advanced electronic warfare capabilities. As for the radar, this is expected to be a Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based system, that should significantly boost radar range and resolution. Combined with Meteor, this will make the F-35 even more lethal, especially in long-range engagements of the type in which the missile excels.

An infographic showing future U.K. F-35 weapons, (1) ASRAAM, currently carried; (2) Meteor; (3) SPEAR 3. MBDA

It's worth noting that Meteor will be carried internally by the F-35, ensuring that it preserves its stealth characteristics. The downside is that the aircraft will only carry four Meteors internally in an air-to-air role, reduced to two when carrying offensive ordnance internally (e.g., two Meteors and eight SPEARs).

The F-35’s ability to carry only four internal AMRAAMs, at least in its current form, is something that is now being addressed under the U.S. Sidekick program, separate from Block 4, and which will allow the F-35A and F-35C to add another two of these missiles in its weapons bays. After all, whatever the capabilities of the air-to-air missile, pilots are likely going to want more of those weapons. It isn't clear if Sidekick will be able to accommodate Meteor, but it doesn't look like it will be available for the F-35B's smaller bays, regardless. External carriage could be a good option for some missions though, especially ones where the long reach of Meteor will provide enough capability to counter known threats without the need for maximum stealth.

While Meteor should help the F-35 achieve dominance in the air-to-air arena, the SPEAR 3 will bring significant advantages in air-to-ground/surface missions.

The United Kingdom already invested almost $700 million in SPEAR 3, with a contract announced in 2021, to arm its F-35Bs. The country has very high hopes for the weapon, with the Royal Air Force stating that it will “become the Lightning’s primary air-to-ground weapon … over the next decade.”

An artist’s impression showing SPEAR 3 deployed by a Typhoon and an F-35. MBDA

The SPEAR 3 (Selective Precision Effects At Range Capability 3) is a further development of the short-range Brimstone missile, with a turbojet engine and pop-out wings to ensure a range of more than 87 miles and a high subsonic speed.

SPEAR 3 is another weapon that we’ve examined in depth in the past. Suffice it to say, it’s intended to engage static and moving targets on land and at sea in all weather, day and night. This ability is conferred by its tri-mode seeker which offers radar, infrared, and laser homing. After reaching the target area under GPS and inertial navigation, SPEAR 3 can autonomously identify and prosecute targets, or target coordinates can be sent to the missile via datalink, exploiting the launch platform’s sensors or those of third parties. Once again, the advantages conferred by the F-35’s combination of sensors and stealth will provide a powerful adjunct to SPEAR 3.

Alternatively, SPEAR 3 can strike its target via laser guidance, which can be provided by an aircraft overhead the target area or by a suitably equipped team of soldiers on the ground nearby can designate it with a laser.

In many ways, SPEAR 3 has similarities with the U.S. GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II, better known as StormBreaker, although the British weapon offers almost double the range and will reach its targets faster than the unpowered StormBreaker glide bomb.

An illustration of in-development and future weapons concepts from MBDA, including SPEAR-EW, SPEAR 3, and Meteor. MBDA

As well as its basic form, as a ‘mini cruise missile’ with an explosive payload, SPEAR 3 is also being developed with an electronic warfare payload with jammer and decoy functions. SPEAR-EW will be expected to work alongside the baseline weapon to help smash through enemy air defenses as well as to protect launching aircraft, and even other missiles, during especially hazardous missions like this.

The War Zone previously outlined one scenario in which the SPEAR-EW could be used:

“By pairing SPEAR 3s with SPEAR-EWs in a fully networked fashion, the mini-cruise missiles can work as a swarm to shatter critical parts of the enemy’s air defense network. For instance, SPEAR-EW could spoof or jam an enemy threat emitter while SPEAR 3s search for and destroy not just the emitter, but all the components of the SAM site arranged nearby.”

SPEAR-EW. MBDA

“SPEAR-EW could also provide electronic warfare screening on the fly for SPEAR 3s that are trying to make their way to a set of targets between the launch aircraft and the surface threat or threats. By detecting a pop-up threat on its own or via datalink from the launch aircraft, SPEAR-EW could act in real-time to suppress the threat so that the rest of the horde of missiles can make it to their target areas safely.”

Thanks to their turbojet engines, SPEAR 3 and SPEAR-EW can also throttle back and loiter over an area for extended periods. In this way, they could be launched preemptively into an area where mobile air defense systems might be expected, engaging them once they start producing their telltale radio-frequency emissions.

An artist’s impression showing an F-35 launching a quartet of SPEAR 3s. MBDA

As mentioned previously, the F-35B will be able to carry up to eight SPEARs, using a quadruple launcher in each of its two weapons bays, together with a pair of Meteors.

Harnessing the capabilities offered by Meteor and SPEAR 3 will require the F-35’s Block 4 upgrade, which the United Kingdom plans to retrofit across its entire Lightning fleet, as well as incorporate in examples of the aircraft acquired in the future.

Some of the unclassified upgrades within Block 4. The exact configuration has not been publicly disclosed. U.S. Department of Defense

While new weapons like these, and others, plus the new radar, are a fundamental part of Block 4, the upgrade will bring a lot more on top of these.

Not all Block 4 upgrades have been revealed in the public domain, but the enhancements will also address the Distributed Aperture System (DAS) and Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS).

Lockheed Martin

It’s also worth recalling that Block 4 relies upon a new suite of hardware and software, known as Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3), which modernizes the F-35’s core processor, memory unit, panoramic cockpit display system, and related avionics. TR-3 is being described as the F-35’s new ‘computer backbone,’ since it promises to provide 25 times more computing power than the existing TR-2 computing system, although its development path has not been entirely straightforward.

The War Zone has previously looked at delays with TR-3 and how that has left new F-35s being parked and not delivered after they are constructed, waiting for these features to be added.

For the United Kingdom in particular, there remain questions, too, about the number of F-35Bs it will buy.

A U.K. Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning aircraft prepares to land onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. Crown Copyright Crown Copyright

As of May 1, this year, the United Kingdom had received 31 F-35Bs, one of which was lost in a takeoff mishap in the Mediterranean Sea in 2021 and which will be replaced in a future order. These 31 jets are part of an initial order for 48 aircraft, known as Tranche 1. The last of these are due to be handed over by the end of 2025.

The U.K. Ministry of Defense had long harbored an aspiration to field a fleet of 138 F-35Bs, although consistent budgetary concerns have led to an apparent rethink.

F-35B pilots fist bump on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth. Crown Copyright

To date, the U.K. Ministry of Defense has confirmed plans to place a Tranche 2 order for 27 F-35Bs, which will provide a total fleet size of 74 aircraft. As a recent Defense Committee report prepared for the House of Commons Committee states: “There remains ambiguity about plans for the F-35 fleet in terms of its eventual size, operational deployment, and attribution; and there are ongoing concerns about program costs and force growth rate.”

Whatever the number of U.K. F-35s eventually fielded, the introduction of Block 4, including the Meteor and SPEAR 3 weapons, will provide a whole new level of capabilities.

The U.K. Ministry of Defense has said that it remains open to the possibility of purchasing further F-35s beyond the 74 now specified, although a decision is not likely until around the middle of this decade.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com

[skyfallights]

Ka Band Satellite Equipment Industry Insights Opportunities, Key Applications & Market Dynamics

The Ka Band satellite equipment market a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.22% during the forecast period (2025 - 2034).Expanding rapidly due to the increasing need for high-speed satellite communication. Ka Band frequencies allow for greater data transfer rates and enhanced bandwidth efficiency, making them essential for satellite internet, broadcasting, and defense communications. The demand is rising in both commercial and military sectors due to growing connectivity requirements.

North America and Europe are leading regions due to strong infrastructure and high satellite deployment. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific is witnessing swift growth driven by rural internet expansion and defense modernization.

Market Segmentation

By Product Type

Antennas

Power amplifiers

Modems

Transceivers

Block upconverters

By Application

Broadband communications

Government and military

Commercial aviation

Maritime

Enterprise network

By Region

North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

Market Trends

High-Speed Satellite Internet Ka Band enables better internet performance, supporting growth in rural and remote broadband services.

In-Flight Connectivity Aircraft connectivity systems are increasingly using Ka Band to offer seamless passenger internet.

Miniaturized and Portable Terminals Smaller and mobile terminals improve use in defense and on-the-move communications.

Rise in LEO Satellite Constellations LEO satellite systems using Ka Band enhance global coverage and low-latency services.

Segment Insights

Antennas dominate due to their critical role in signal transmission. Power amplifiers are key in boosting signal range and clarity. Modems and transceivers drive demand for real-time data exchange.

End-User Insights

Defense uses Ka Band for secure, high-capacity communication. Commercial sectors adopt Ka Band for broadcasting and enterprise connectivity. Aviation and maritime industries rely on Ka Band for consistent mobile communication.

Key Players

Viasat

Cobham

Thales Group

L3Harris Technologies

Honeywell Aerospace

Hughes Network Systems

Gilat Satellite Networks

Comtech Telecommunications

Opportunities and Challenges

Opportunities

Expansion of satellite broadband services

Growing demand for in-flight and maritime connectivity

Advancement in ground station technologies

Challenges

Weather interference with signal quality

High deployment and operational costs

Trending Report Highlights

Acoustic Sensors Market

High End Semiconductor Packaging Market

Led Chip Market

High Power Laser Systems Market

Marine Acoustic Sensor Market

[larsxinnyi]

Enhance Facility Flexibility with Nante Concealed Outlet Designs

In cutting-edge production facilities and modern utility rooms alike, an Industrial concealed socket delivers seamless power integration while preserving sleek aesthetics and ensuring safety. Designed to mount flush within panels or walls, this hidden outlet solution keeps cabling out of sight and protected from accidental contact, dust, and moisture. Engineers and designers appreciate how it supports both heavy machinery and sensitive electronics in demanding environments, eliminating clutter and reducing trip hazards across factory floors, control centers, and public spaces.

Manufacturing lines are evolving rapidly, with robotics, sensors, and automated tools requiring reliable feeds without the bulk of visible junctions. A concealed approach lets maintenance teams access power points behind protective covers, streamlining routine inspections and component swaps. In high-density electronic workshops, sensitive equipment benefits from outlets hidden within ergonomic workstations, ensuring wiring stays organized and compliant with stringent workplace guidelines.

Warehouse operations often adapt to shifting layouts and seasonal workflows, moving shelving, conveyors, and lighting arrays to meet fluctuating demands. Conventional sockets force costly rewiring whenever configurations change. By contrast, concealed modules installed within standardized mounting frames can be relocated easily. Facility managers simply detach and reattach outlet blocks to new panels, cutting downtime and minimizing labor costs for reconfiguration.

Retail environments also embrace hidden power solutions to maintain polished interiors and safe customer paths. Point-of-sale terminals, interactive displays, and digital signage rely on outlets that blend into walls or under counters. A streamlined, concealed socket prevents exposed plugs that could distract from brand presentations or create tripping risks. Store teams can update fixtures without rewiring, enhancing flexibility for promotional campaigns and seasonal displays.

In hospitality venues—hotels, conference centers, and upscale restaurants—power accessibility must balance guest convenience with design integrity. Concealed sockets hidden beneath reception desks or within side tables allow mobile devices and lighting to stay charged without unsightly cables trailing across carpets. This subtle integration contributes to a refined atmosphere while guaranteeing that essential equipment remains operational whenever needed.

Educational facilities face similar challenges, especially in science labs and maker spaces. Students working with experimental setups or 3D printers need power points close to benches without exposed outlets that risk accidental spills or force cluttered extension cords. Concealed sockets installed within lab islands provide safe, reliable connections while maintaining smooth surfaces cleanable by custodial teams.

Healthcare environments demand the highest levels of hygiene and safety. Patient rooms, treatment suites, and diagnostic labs cannot afford exposed outlets that harbor contaminants. A flush-mounted socket design, complete with antimicrobial surfaces and sealed covers, prevents fluid ingress and supports rigorous cleaning protocols. Clinicians appreciate that portable medical devices and monitors can plug in securely without compromising sterile conditions.

Energy-efficient building trends are driving architects to hide all mechanical and electrical components, achieving minimalistic facades. Offices boasting open-plan layouts integrate concealed outlets into partition walls and floorboxes, enabling employees to power laptops and desk lamps discreetly. Workplace flexibility improves, as teams can reconfigure seating without visible power drops or exposed conduit runs.

Smart city and urban infrastructure projects benefit from compact concealed modules in public kiosks, information pillars, and street-furniture installations. Outlets for EV charging pedestals or maintenance equipment can be hidden behind secure panels, safeguarding against vandalism and weather while providing service crews with quick workspace setup. Embedded monitoring sensors within these sockets also enable remote diagnostics, reporting load imbalances or tamper events to central control centers.

Safety compliance remains at the forefront when selecting concealed power outlets. Certified protective circuits guard against overloads and ground-faults, while lockable covers prevent unauthorized access. By integrating these features within a single unit, facility operators reduce external hardware and simplify installation. Contractors value the modular design, which supports diverse plug types and voltage ratings, ensuring broad compatibility across equipment portfolios.

Training programs for electricians and technical apprentices use concealed socket modules to teach best practices in cable management and outlet positioning. Hands-on exercises emphasize ergonomic installation, safe wiring procedures, and circuit testing protocols. This practical exposure ensures new professionals grasp the benefits of hidden power distribution in real-world settings, preparing them for advanced infrastructure projects.

Global supply chains have shifted to prioritize versatile, low-profile power components. Leading manufacturers focus on lightweight materials and streamlined mounting kits that cut shipping costs and accelerate on-site assembly. Concealed sockets shipped in compact packaging reduce warehouse footprint, and snap-together assemblies enable rapid deployment across multiple project sites, from remote microgrids to luxury high-rise towers.

Choosing an Industrial Concealed Socket means selecting a solution that bridges form and function, safety and convenience. For installations that demand hidden yet reliable power connectors in any environment, visit Nante .

[auto2mation1]

Industrial machinery relies on key electric components to run smoothly and safely. The top 5 components include electric motors, VFDs, PLCs, contactors, circuit breakers, pushbutton switches, terminal blocks, sensors, HMIs, and switching power supplies. These parts help control speed, power, and automation in various machines. Electric motors and VFDs drive motion, while PLCs and HMIs manage processes. Circuit breakers and contactors ensure safe operations. Sensors collect data, and power supplies keep everything running. Choosing quality industrial electrical components boosts performance, reduces downtime, and improves efficiency in factories and manufacturing environments. Ideal for automation, control, and safety needs.

[starlightgenerator]

The Function of The Dashboard for Diesel Generator Sets

Diesel generator sets have a large capacity, can operate in parallel and provide continuous power supply for a long time. They can also operate independently without parallel operation with the regional power grid, and are not affected by power grid failures, resulting in high reliability. Especially for some areas where the commonly used mains power is not very reliable, Guangxi diesel generator manufacturer Dingbo Power recommends using diesel generator sets as backup power sources. They can not only serve as emergency power sources, but also optimize the low-voltage system to use some important loads during power outages. Therefore, they are widely used in engineering fields such as petrochemicals, railways, engineering, industrial and mining enterprises, hotels, and real estate.

In the domestic market, diesel generator sets are equipped with instrument panels. The instruments installed on the instrument panel mainly include charging ammeter, oil pressure gauge, oil temperature gauge, water temperature gauge, and tachometer. The purpose is for diesel generator set managers to observe and understand the working condition of the diesel generator set. Guangxi diesel generator manufacturer Dingbo Electric briefly introduces the use and maintenance of the diesel generator set instrument panel.

Charging ammeter: The diesel generator set charging ammeter can display the magnitude of the battery charging current and discharging current, and can also be used to determine whether there is a fault in the silicon rectifier AC generator and regulator. The "+" terminal of an ammeter is generally connected to the "+" terminal of a charging generator or the armature terminal of a regulator, while the "-" terminal is generally connected to the battery terminal of an electromagnetic switch. A diesel generator set that starts with a battery is generally equipped with an ammeter of (-20--+20) specification on the dashboard; A diesel generator set that starts with two batteries is generally equipped with an ammeter of (-30~+30) specification on the dashboard.

Oil pressure gauge: The oil pressure gauge is used to detect the oil pressure in the main oil passage of a diesel generator set. At present, the most commonly installed electric oil pressure gauge on the dashboard of diesel generator sets is composed of sensors, information sensing wires, and pressure gauges. The oil pressure sensor is installed on the cylinder block and connected to the main oil passage of the oil. The pressure dial is installed on the instrument panel, and the information sensing wire is used to connect the pressure dial and the sensor.

Oil temperature gauge: The oil temperature gauge is used to measure the temperature of the oil inside the oil pan of a diesel generator set. There are two types of oil temperature gauges: hot spot type and resistance type. Currently, the most commonly used is the electric oil temperature gauge, which consists of a temperature sensor, a dial, and sensor wires.

Tachometer: A tachometer is used to detect the number of revolutions per minute during the operation of a diesel generator set. There are two types of tachometers: mechanical and electric.

Water temperature gauge: The water temperature gauge is used to measure the temperature of the cooling water in the cylinder head outlet pipe of a diesel generator set. This table can be used to understand the maximum and minimum temperatures of the cooling water during the operation of the diesel generator set, as well as the composition of the water temperature gauge assembly sensor, sensing wires, and dial. The sensor is installed on the cylinder head outlet pipe, and the dial is installed on the instrument panel, connected by sensing wires between the two.

The above content on the use and maintenance of the dashboard of diesel generator sets is collected and organized by Guangxi diesel generator manufacturer Dingbo Power. For more information on generator sets, please refer to it. Our company takes technology as the core, regards quality as life, and regards customers as God. We are dedicated to providing you with cost-effective products. Our main products include Cummins generators, Yuchai generators, Volvo generators, Perkins generators, Shangchai generators, non moving diesel generators, Weichai generators, Mercedes Benz generators, Deutz generators, Weichai generators, and Jichai generators. Provide technical guidance on generator set selection, matching, and machine room design. All diesel generator sets come with a national free warranty and free on-site installation guidance. If you would like to get more information welcome to contact us via sales@dieselgeneratortech.com.