#Vehicle Camera Monitoring System

[tektronixtechnology]

The size of commercial vehicles and machines mean vehicle Camera Monitor System blind spots are a major factor in collisions across all industries. Operator positions, bodywork, absent rear windows and bulkheads create further restrictions and can greatly limit driver visibility, making collisions even more likely.  The significant financial cost of vehicle and property damage is magnified by associated costs such as downtime, but even greater are the corporate and emotional costs when there is personal injury.

Vehicle Camera Monitoring System

Vehicle Camera Monitoring System Dubai

Vehicle Camera Monitoring System Abu Dhabi

Vehicle Camera Monitoring System Sharjah

Vehicle Camera Monitoring System Ajman

Car Camera Monitoring System UAE

Car Camera Monitoring System Abu Dhabi

Car Camera Monitoring System Sharjah

[automotivetransportationresearch]

How Automotive Cameras Are Shaping the Future of Autonomous Vehicles

The global automotive camera market size is projected to grow from USD 8.33 Billion in 2024 to USD 16.04 Billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 11.5%. Government regulations regarding vehicle occupants and pedestrian safety is driving the growth of the automotive camera market on a global scale. The GSR2 regulations in Europe, effective June 2024, mandate driver monitoring systems (DMS) in all new…

[kishorxox]

Thermal Imaging Market to be Worth $7.8 Billion by 2032

Meticulous Research®—a leading global market research company, published a research report titled, ‘Thermal Imaging Market by Type (Handheld Cameras, Fixed Cameras, Scopes, Modules), Technology (Cooled, Uncooled), Wavelength (SWIR, MWIR, LWIR), Application (Security & Surveillance) - Global Forecast to 2032’

According to the latest publication from Meticulous Research®, the thermal imaging market is expected to reach $7.8 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2025 to 2032. This market’s growth is attributed to several factors, such as the growing need for surveillance & security solutions and the increasing utilization of thermal imaging in manufacturing and industrial settings. Additionally, the surge in demand for thermal imaging in healthcare, growing military & defense expenditure in advanced surveillance technologies, and rising unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are expected to create market growth opportunities. However, the availability of alternative imaging technologies, such as visible light cameras & radar systems, may restrain the growth of this market.

On the other hand, the high cost of thermal imaging devices is a major challenge for the players operating in this market.

The global thermal imaging market is segmented by type, technology, wavelength, and application. This study also evaluates end-user industry competitors and analyzes the market at the region/country level.

Based on type, the thermal imaging market is broadly segmented into handheld/portable cameras, fixed/mounted cameras, scopes & eyewear, and modules. In 2025, the portable or handheld cameras segment is expected to account for the largest share, over 55.0%. This segment's large market share is attributed to its features, such as ease of use and portability, and the growing use of portable or handheld cameras for field inspection & maintenance and emergency and rescue operations.

However, the fixed/mounted cameras segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This segment’s growth is driven by its ability to provide continuous, high-precision, real-time monitoring of critical infrastructure without the need for manual intervention, to withstand harsh environmental conditions, and its increasing demand for fixed thermal cameras for integrating with automated security and monitoring systems.

Based on technology, the thermal imaging market is segmented into cooled thermal imaging and uncooled thermal imaging. In 2025, the cooled thermal imaging segment is expected to account for a larger share of over 64.0% of the thermal imaging market. This segment’s large market share is due to its sensitivity, high accuracy, long-range detection, and image resolution, which allows for the detection of minute temperature differences and the capture of detailed thermal images and increasing use of cooled thermal imaging for extreme environmental conditions, such as high-temperature industrial environments or cold regions.

However, the uncooled thermal imaging segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This segment’s growth is driven by its features, including cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, reduced operational costs, and growing demand for uncooled thermal imaging products in applications such as building diagnostics, wildlife monitoring, emergency response, law enforcement, and temporary monitoring needs in various scenarios.

Based on wavelength, the thermal imaging market is segmented into shortwave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), and longwave infrared (LWIR). In 2025, the LWIR segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 49.0% of the thermal imaging market. The growing use of LWIR cameras in environmental monitoring, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), security and surveillance, and the need to detect thermal radiation emitted by objects across various industries are the main causes of this segment's large market share. Other factors include the segment's ability to provide non-contact temperature measurement for monitoring high-temperature processes and equipment, and its cost-effectiveness in comparison to MWIR and SWIR systems.

However, the SWIR segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven by its superior image contrast and detail, enhanced capability to ensure clear visibility in challenging environmental conditions, including smoke, fog, and haze, and growing demand for SWIR technology in medical diagnostics for non-invasive imaging.

Based on application, the thermal imaging market is segmented into aerospace & defense, security & surveillance, building & construction, personal vision systems, healthcare & medical diagnostics, energy & utilities, agriculture, research & development, search & rescue operations, marine systems, and other applications. In 2025, the security & surveillance segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 41.0% of the thermal imaging market. The growing need for improved surveillance capabilities, such as visibility in low light and obscured conditions, the growing use of thermal imaging to improve perimeter security for securing sensitive facilities and high-profile events, and the growing integration of thermal cameras into smart security systems to the overall effectiveness of security measures are all factors contributing to this segment's large market share.

However, the healthcare & medical diagnostics segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is being driven by an increase in demand for thermal imaging technology owing to its non-invasive nature for early disease detection by identifying abnormal heat patterns associated with conditions such as breast cancer, vascular disorders, and inflammation, and an increase in the use of thermal imaging for fever screening in public areas and in veterinary medicine to diagnose and monitor health conditions in animals.

Based on geography, the thermal imaging market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2025, North America is expected to account for the largest share of over 36.0% of the thermal imaging market.

North America's significant market share can be attributed to several key factors, including rising concerns over terrorism, crime, and public safety, increasing deployment of thermal imaging in large-scale surveillance applications such as city-wide monitoring or border control, increasing technological advancements in thermal imaging, high investments in advanced technologies for military and defense applications, and growing focus on advancing medical tools for non-invasive diagnostics and early disease detection.

Moreover, Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of over 8.5% during the forecast period.

Key Players:

The key players operating in the thermal imaging market are Teledyne FLIR LLC (U.S.) (a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (U.S.)), Fluke Corporation (U.S.), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy), Axis Communications AB (Sweden), BAE Systems plc (U.K.), RTX Corporation (U.S.), Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), Testo SE & Co. KGaA (Germany), Thales Group (France), Seek Thermal, Inc. (U.S.), Exosens (France), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), Trijicon, Inc. (U.S.), Cantronic Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Safran Group (France), Zhejiang Dali Technology Co., Ltd. (China), HT Italia S.r.l. (Italy), Thermoteknix Systems Ltd. (U.K.), and Bullard (U.S.).

Download Sample Report Here @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5978

Key questions answered in the report-

Which are the high-growth market segments based on type, technology, wavelength, application, and geography?

What was the historical market for the thermal imaging market?

What are the market forecasts and estimates for the period 2025–2032?

What are the major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges in the thermal imaging market?

Who are the major players, and what shares do they hold in the thermal imaging market?

What is the competitive landscape in the thermal imaging market?

What are the recent developments in the thermal imaging market?

What do the major players adopt the different strategies in the thermal imaging market?

What are the key geographic trends, and which are the high-growth countries?

Who are the local emerging players in the global thermal imaging market, and how do they compete with the other players?

Contact Us: Meticulous Research® Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Contact Sales- +1-646-781-8004 Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research

[the-latest-research]

Thermal Imaging Market to be Worth $7.8 Billion by 2032

Meticulous Research®—a leading global market research company, published a research report titled, ‘Thermal Imaging Market by Type (Handheld Cameras, Fixed Cameras, Scopes, Modules), Technology (Cooled, Uncooled), Wavelength (SWIR, MWIR, LWIR), Application (Security & Surveillance) - Global Forecast to 2032’

According to the latest publication from Meticulous Research®, the thermal imaging market is expected to reach $7.8 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2025 to 2032. This market’s growth is attributed to several factors, such as the growing need for surveillance & security solutions and the increasing utilization of thermal imaging in manufacturing and industrial settings. Additionally, the surge in demand for thermal imaging in healthcare, growing military & defense expenditure in advanced surveillance technologies, and rising unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are expected to create market growth opportunities. However, the availability of alternative imaging technologies, such as visible light cameras & radar systems, may restrain the growth of this market.

On the other hand, the high cost of thermal imaging devices is a major challenge for the players operating in this market.

The global thermal imaging market is segmented by type, technology, wavelength, and application. This study also evaluates end-user industry competitors and analyzes the market at the region/country level.

Download Sample Report Here @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5978

Based on type, the thermal imaging market is broadly segmented into handheld/portable cameras, fixed/mounted cameras, scopes & eyewear, and modules. In 2025, the portable or handheld cameras segment is expected to account for the largest share, over 55.0%. This segment's large market share is attributed to its features, such as ease of use and portability, and the growing use of portable or handheld cameras for field inspection & maintenance and emergency and rescue operations.

However, the fixed/mounted cameras segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This segment’s growth is driven by its ability to provide continuous, high-precision, real-time monitoring of critical infrastructure without the need for manual intervention, to withstand harsh environmental conditions, and its increasing demand for fixed thermal cameras for integrating with automated security and monitoring systems.

Based on technology, the thermal imaging market is segmented into cooled thermal imaging and uncooled thermal imaging. In 2025, the cooled thermal imaging segment is expected to account for a larger share of over 64.0% of the thermal imaging market. This segment’s large market share is due to its sensitivity, high accuracy, long-range detection, and image resolution, which allows for the detection of minute temperature differences and the capture of detailed thermal images and increasing use of cooled thermal imaging for extreme environmental conditions, such as high-temperature industrial environments or cold regions.

However, the uncooled thermal imaging segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This segment’s growth is driven by its features, including cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, reduced operational costs, and growing demand for uncooled thermal imaging products in applications such as building diagnostics, wildlife monitoring, emergency response, law enforcement, and temporary monitoring needs in various scenarios.

Based on wavelength, the thermal imaging market is segmented into shortwave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), and longwave infrared (LWIR). In 2025, the LWIR segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 49.0% of the thermal imaging market. The growing use of LWIR cameras in environmental monitoring, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), security and surveillance, and the need to detect thermal radiation emitted by objects across various industries are the main causes of this segment's large market share. Other factors include the segment's ability to provide non-contact temperature measurement for monitoring high-temperature processes and equipment, and its cost-effectiveness in comparison to MWIR and SWIR systems.

However, the SWIR segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven by its superior image contrast and detail, enhanced capability to ensure clear visibility in challenging environmental conditions, including smoke, fog, and haze, and growing demand for SWIR technology in medical diagnostics for non-invasive imaging.

Based on application, the thermal imaging market is segmented into aerospace & defense, security & surveillance, building & construction, personal vision systems, healthcare & medical diagnostics, energy & utilities, agriculture, research & development, search & rescue operations, marine systems, and other applications. In 2025, the security & surveillance segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 41.0% of the thermal imaging market. The growing need for improved surveillance capabilities, such as visibility in low light and obscured conditions, the growing use of thermal imaging to improve perimeter security for securing sensitive facilities and high-profile events, and the growing integration of thermal cameras into smart security systems to the overall effectiveness of security measures are all factors contributing to this segment's large market share.

However, the healthcare & medical diagnostics segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is being driven by an increase in demand for thermal imaging technology owing to its non-invasive nature for early disease detection by identifying abnormal heat patterns associated with conditions such as breast cancer, vascular disorders, and inflammation, and an increase in the use of thermal imaging for fever screening in public areas and in veterinary medicine to diagnose and monitor health conditions in animals.

Based on geography, the thermal imaging market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2025, North America is expected to account for the largest share of over 36.0% of the thermal imaging market.

North America's significant market share can be attributed to several key factors, including rising concerns over terrorism, crime, and public safety, increasing deployment of thermal imaging in large-scale surveillance applications such as city-wide monitoring or border control, increasing technological advancements in thermal imaging, high investments in advanced technologies for military and defense applications, and growing focus on advancing medical tools for non-invasive diagnostics and early disease detection.

Moreover, Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of over 8.5% during the forecast period.

Key Players:

The key players operating in the thermal imaging market are Teledyne FLIR LLC (U.S.) (a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (U.S.)), Fluke Corporation (U.S.), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy), Axis Communications AB (Sweden), BAE Systems plc (U.K.), RTX Corporation (U.S.), Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), Testo SE & Co. KGaA (Germany), Thales Group (France), Seek Thermal, Inc. (U.S.), Exosens (France), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), Trijicon, Inc. (U.S.), Cantronic Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Safran Group (France), Zhejiang Dali Technology Co., Ltd. (China), HT Italia S.r.l. (Italy), Thermoteknix Systems Ltd. (U.K.), and Bullard (U.S.).

Complete Report Here : https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/thermal-imaging-market-5978

Key questions answered in the report-

Which are the high-growth market segments based on type, technology, wavelength, application, and geography?

What was the historical market for the thermal imaging market?

What are the market forecasts and estimates for the period 2025–2032?

What are the major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges in the thermal imaging market?

Who are the major players, and what shares do they hold in the thermal imaging market?

What is the competitive landscape in the thermal imaging market?

What are the recent developments in the thermal imaging market?

What do the major players adopt the different strategies in the thermal imaging market?

What are the key geographic trends, and which are the high-growth countries?

Who are the local emerging players in the global thermal imaging market, and how do they compete with the other players?

Contact Us: Meticulous Research® Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Contact Sales- +1-646-781-8004 Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research

[unreasonablerobin]

VIRIUS

Tim Drake x Reader

Synopsis: The Bats were on a takedown mission. Tim was in the Batcave, disabling security systems, giving intel, and being seduced by a criminal who came through his screen??

W.C: 2.8k

Tags: Smut ❀ p in v, unprotected sex, questionable usage of energy drink, seduction, manipulation?, dubcon?, cowgirl, grinding

You were getting very frustrated. Everything was going fine. Your bosses were happy with your work and you were being paid good, dirty money. Now, these stupid vigilantes are getting involved and causing a hassle. If there's a hassle it's up to you to solve it and if there's a hassle your bosses stop feeling generous and hold onto your money.

So here you were, sitting in a dingy basement typing away and furiously clicking your mouse. You screamed into the com for your "co-workers" to move their asses and get all the cargo loaded before the animal-themed vigilantes show up and start beating their asses.

"Vi! I can't I busted up my knee last week!"

"Jimmy, I don't care if you injured your knee last week. I'm telling you to haul ass so you better start fucking hauling ass!" You screamed into the headset. These buffoons were pissing you off. Their constant remarks of "well why do you care?", because if they get caught then that's a step closer the crime fighters are to you. And even more devastatingly, a step further your paycheck is from you. You removed the headset and groaned. A hand ran through your hair. You leaned back in your desk chair and stretched your back. You hated all of this. But money is money. And the little thrill you got was nice too.

You have this weird ability. You're basically a virus, hence the name Virus or Vi (sometimes). You can merge yourself into any kind of technology and the internet. You can travel through it. From the left monitor to the right monitor like a cursor. Or from your monitor to a security camera in Berlin. The possibilities were honestly endless. When you were a kid your school took the class to a lab as a day trip. A couple of the kids were messing around and it resulted in you getting knocked into a few live wires and nearly dying via electrocution! Ever since then, you've had these abilities. So much can be done with the Internet at your fingertips. Not much information can be hidden from you. On top of having powers, you're rather smart if you do say so yourself.

A sudden crash had you shooting back up. You stared at the monitors displaying security camera feeds. Several vigilantes had broken into the base.

"Those motherfuckers..." you grumbled as you put your headset back on. You quickly started the alarm. A blaring noise rang through your headset. Red lights flashed on your screen, doors shut and your boss's goons finally started hauling ass. It was too late though, they were already at the base.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck..." You dragged your hands down your face.

'Boss is gonna kill me.' You frantically scanned the cameras and triggered every lock in the base. Doing whatever you can to keep them away from your "co-workers" until they finished the job that should've been done 20 minutes ago!

No matter what you did the vigilantes kept bypassing all the security systems. Which hurt because you made them. How were they doing it? You squinted at the screen as the group of criminals barked orders at each other and tossed cargo into the vehicles. A man in black and blue; Nightwing, held his hand up to his ear.

'They're wearing earpieces, which means they've got someone behind a desk.' You typed rapidly, searching your system for something new, someone who wasn't supposed to be there. As long as this person was still hacked into your system you'd be able to find them.

"There you are." You stood up, your chair rolling back. Even if the user and their information were hidden, nothing was truly hidden from the Internet. It would take longer than usual, but you'd be able to find them. You hoisted yourself onto your desk and placed your hands on the monitor screens. They became pixilated and eventually vaporised into the system. The rest of your body followed suit.

The Internet was a fun place. It was so colourful, but also so disgusting. You stood in a pixilated void and searched for the red wire that you needed to follow. The wire floating in the abyss glitched. You ran alongside the wire, following it to its home. You used your smart watch to bypass any security this foreign account had set up. Now that you were thinking about it, what were you going to do when you got there? Let's be so serious you would not win the fist fight. This trip's going to take a hot second, you've got time to think.

Tim was sitting in the Batcave, Barbara had other matters to attend to so Tim was made to stay behind and fill the position of Oracle. He was kinda excited about it. He wouldn't admit it to the rest of them because they'd definitely give him shit for geeking out over a criminal. But come on! Virus was really well known amongst computer nerds. You had to give credit where credit was due. Even Babs had good things to say about them. They were an entity, never caught. The thought that he could hack into their system and be the one to take them down was thrilling.

He was watching camera feeds, disabling the security system you designed and feeling smug about it.

Until his screens started to flicker.

"What the?!" He screeched.

His screens glitched. Some shut down completely. He frantically tried to fix whatever mess was occurring. A few monitors turned back on but they just ended up flickering too. The screen directly in front of him lit up, brighter than it should've. Tim held his arms up to shield his eyes from the light. In between his limbs, he could make out a figure.

'What the hell?' He thought. The pixilated figure manifested into a proper body and latched their hands onto the armrests of his chair.

"Hey."

'Is that it? Is that all you have to say?' Tim was crashing out. What the hell was happening? You vaporise out of his computer and just say "hey" like it's a casual Tuesday. You both stared at each other, frozen and in a trance.

"Uh—so I didn't really plan out what exactly I was going to do when I got here," you stopped your rambling as you caught his eyes lock onto your cleavage for a brief moment. You were leaning over so he had a full view down your top. It gave you an idea. "But it's fine, you're cute." You smiled.

Tim sat in disbelief. He should probably fight you off and go back to work but honestly, he didn't want to leave this compromising position. Then a thought crossed his mind. He was just hacking one of Virius's security systems—a criminal who's never been caught—and now a woman has just appeared through his screen.

"Wait a minute—are you, Virius?"

This is not what he was expecting. When most people think of hackers they think of men with neckbeards in their mother's basement or ratty teenagers with chunky glasses. Not a hot woman who has crawled out of your screen and is now perched on the ledge of the desk, hands on your armrest.

Tim's cheeks flushed. He tried to look away but once again got distracted by your chest, now being pushed tighter by your upper arms. You titled your head to the side. In that moment he caught sight of the others stuck in the crime base. His senses came back and he could hear them all screaming into the coms for him.

"Tim!"

"Red Robin!"

"What's going? Is everything alright?"

"We don't have all day!"

Shit. He still needed to disable your security system fully. They needed him.

In a few swift movements, you tossed his headset to the side and hopped onto his lap. He couldn't help but moan at the impact of you landing on him. His hands latched onto your hips to push you off, but he couldn't do it. Your nails dug into his shoulders. You hadn't planned on seducing him in order to fix this mess, but here you were, sitting on Red Robin's lap with soaked panties. Fuck he was hot.

"Yes I'm Virius, just call me Vi!" You gave a faux smile, trying to distract him from the voices in the headset. He continued to not pay full attention to you though.

"Oh come on Red, you're not going to choose work over this?" You hand crept up his neck and gripped his throat like a vice. He gasped as your breasts pushed into him when you leaned to his ear. "I'll let you win, you can do whatever you want to me." Your breathy whisper was almost enough to make him combust right there. Subconsciously, his hands began to massage your waist and your hips began to roll. He groaned as his eyes flickered to the glitching screens.

"My guys won't hurt them. They're just moving some things." You rested a hand on his heart and another played with his hair. You grabbed a fistful and forced him to look at you. Your whole body halted. You almost laughed at the way he rutted into you. "I promise baby." A devious smile graced your face.

Tim was looking at you like you'd just promised him the greatest head of the century. He was forming a bulge and hes never felt so guilty about something. Was he really about to let this criminal seduce him? Leaving his family—who are geniuses and in defence of his future actions could probably hold their own—to find for themselves...

"If you don't trust that my guys won't hurt them, I'll send a message instructing them not to."

...yes he was about to do just that. They'd all spent years in training, they'd be okay for a few minutes. You giggled at the feeling of his boner underneath you.

"What do you say Red?" Fuck it. He slammed his lips into yours. You both groaned into the kiss and you resumed your grinding and his rutting. The chair rolled towards the desk, your hand steady on the ledge pulling you forward so you could keep your promise and send the message on.

The makeout was sloppy, inexperienced on both ends. It didn't take long for clothes and costumes to be discarded. You were both left in your underwear. Tim's skin was covered in light scratch marks and blooming bruises. His hands roamed your body, massaging you as you sucked on his neck, just by his Adam's apple. His eyes rolled back as he let out a moan. His dirty and pleasurable thoughts were interrupted by screaming coming from his discarded headset.

"Tim! What the fuck is going on man?!"

"Tim—Tim what is going on? Responded now!"

"Is the line disconnected or something?"

His eyes shot out wide. What is he doing!? You're a criminal! But fucking hell were you hot. And making him so good. He caught sight of one of the goons knocking Damian off a platform in the warehouse. Thankfully, he landed with no injuries but it brought Tim back to reality for a moment.

You notice him tensing beneath you. His eyes weren't in the back of his head anymore they were focused on the few working screens behind you. Shit. You needed to get his attention back on you. Your idiots won't get away otherwise and then you won't get paid and then you won't be able to afford rent! You mind spiralled through all the dodgy porn links you had come across over the years, trying to think of something you'd seen that would bring back his attention. As quickly as the flash you picked up the opened energy drink on the desk and took a swig before pulling him into a French kiss. You tugged his hair with one hand and held the can in the other.

Tim pulled back with a gasp, and some of the drink dribbled down his chin. You wasted no time licking it up. Tim—much like the rest of the night—was at a loss for words.

"Hold this." The can was promptly shoved into his grasp. He sat dazed and horny, holding onto a can like his life depended on it as you unclasped your bra. He felt like a virgin, his jaw dropped at the sight of your bare chest. You gripped his hand and guided it towards your chest. Can still in hand you tilted his hand. He watched as the sugary liquid poured down onto your skin. It flowed through your cleavage. While he was distracted you shoved his face into your chest.

"Clean it up Red." You demanded and that just made him hornier. He began licking up the drink like some kind of dog. He sucked the droplets off your chest. He savoured the sweet taste mixed with the salty taste of you. He handed the can off to you and pulled you impossibly closer by the waist. He sucked and bit your skin, licking the bites after to soothe the sting. He suddenly bit down on your nipple causing you to shriek in pleasure and drop the can. The metal clattered on the ground and spilt the remaining contents. Both of your hands were tangled in Tim's hair as he kissed and sucked on your chest.

"Oh fuck, I need you." Your whines caught Tim off guard. He pulled away from your chest and looked into your eyes. One hand reached for his boxers and began to pull him free. He froze. If this happens there's no turning back—we'll there's not much turning back from what's already happened, but what if he gets an STI? What if you get pregnant? Then Bruce will know and then—

"Please?" Oh no.

His cock springed free from his boxers. You pushed up at your knees and moved your panties to the side. Your nails clawed into Tim as you sank down. A sigh escaped you once you adjusted, you quickly began to thrust yourself up and down onto his cock. His hands remained on your waist as he watched you bounce.

He swallowed thickly and threw his head back letting out a groan. "Oh shit..."

Tim started meeting you halfway. The Batcave was filled with sounds of you skin on skin and moaning. Tim would need to remove that security footage later. Time took notice to your eyelids twitching paired with you panting.

"Oh my god—" You gasped, burying you face into the crook of his neck. His arms wrapped around your frame as you both continued thrusting. Tim was red in the face trying to not to cum before you. He only pulled out after your body went limp in his embrace, cum shooting up onto your stomach.

You both sat in a sweaty embrace for a moment before you pulled yourself off him entirely. He had to hold back a whine at the loss of warmth. You leaned against the desk with trembling legs. What were you supposed to do now? You just seduced and had sex (very good sex) with Red Robin in what you assumed to be Batman's lair.

"Ehm..." you played with your hair and avoided his eyes. This was so awkward—they don't teach you how to leave a hookup when they're still conscious in school!

"You better clean this up before your boss finds out."

"Yeah, I really should." Tim nodded still in the bliss of his climax.

You quickly tossed your clothes back on, sheepishly climbing onto the desk.

'I came in here all confident and now look at me!' You gave out in your head.

"I suppose I might see you around?" You hand was already pixelating as you spoke. Tim fixed his suit and looked up at you with rosy cheeks.

"Ye—yeah I suppose!" You smiled at his nerves and disappeared into the computers. The flickered back to life. No more static and glitching. He searched the cameras quickly. The warehouse was empty, meaning they were on their way back.

Tim made quick work of cleaning up the mess; mopping up liquids, hiding his hickeys, removing security footage from the batcomputer (and transferring it to his personal laptop for potential future uses), and doing his best to look normal.

"Tim! What the hell was that!?" Jason yelled as he removed his helmet.

"I don't know! The system got hacked, I couldn't access the cameras and my comm line was cut off—everything was static." He lied straight through his teeth. It was easier than usual, cause parts of it were true.

"You're supposed to be good at this stuff, Drake," Damian commented and he cleaned his blades.

"Guys chill," Dick intervened. "Didn't you say some well-known hacker worked for this organisation?"

"Virus, yes." It felt so strange saying that name now.

"I expect you to look into this and not allow it to happen again," Bruce said sternly.

"Of course." Oh he'd gladly look into you.

A/N: Heyyy, be honest with me about this one bc idk how to feel... I love Tim but every time I try to write something I feel like it's ooc. This is def ooc but oh well🤷‍♀️ it was always going to be. Tell me your Tim headcanons so I can get better at writing for my man pls🙏

[dialectical-etherealist]

Comprehensive List of Companies Supporting Israel’s Genocide

1. Weapons & Military Suppliers

These companies directly supply arms, drones, missiles, and military tech used in attacks on Gaza and occupation enforcement:

Lockheed Martin (US) – F-35 jets, guided missiles.

Boeing (US) – Apache helicopters, smart bombs.

General Dynamics (US) – Armored vehicles, munitions.

Northrop Grumman (US) – Components for Israel’s Iron Dome.

Raytheon Technologies (US) – Missiles, radar systems.

Elbit Systems (Israel) – Drones, surveillance tech, cluster bombs.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (Israel) – Iron Dome, Spike missiles.

BAE Systems (UK) – Armor kits for military vehicles.

Thales (France) – Weapons systems, targeting tech.

Leonardo (Italy) – Military helicopters, naval weapons.

Rheinmetall (Germany) – Military vehicles, weapons tech.

Airbus (EU) – Supplies military technology and aircraft components.

Safran Group (France) – Aerospace and defense electronics used by Israeli forces.

IMI Systems (Israel) – Weapons and ammunition, now part of Elbit Systems.

Kongsberg Gruppen (Norway) – Supplied components for weapon systems used by Israel.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (Turkey) – Reported to have engaged in joint military ventures with Israeli firms in the past.

IWI – Israel Weapon Industries – Manufacturer of rifles and arms used by Israeli police and IDF.

2. Technology, Surveillance & AI

These firms provide AI, spyware, cybersecurity, and data systems used in targeting, repression, and apartheid policies:

Google & Amazon (US) – $1.2B Project Nimbus (cloud computing for Israeli military).

Meta (Facebook/Instagram) (US) – Censoring pro-Palestine content, enabling surveillance.

Microsoft (US) – Azure cloud services for Israeli govt.

Intel (US) – $25B investment in Israel, chips for military AI.

Nvidia (US) – AI processors for drone targeting.

NSO Group (Israel) – Pegasus spyware against Palestinians.

Cellebrite (Israel) – Phone hacking tech used in interrogations.

Cisco (US) – Networking infrastructure for Israeli checkpoints.

HP (US) – IT systems for Israeli government & military.

Palantir (US) – Data analytics for Israeli surveillance.

HikVision (China) – Surveillance cameras in illegal settlements.

Check Point Software (Israel) – Cybersecurity used by Israeli government and military.

Verint Systems (US/Israel) – Surveillance and intelligence software used in policing Palestinians.

Nice Systems (Israel) – Provides surveillance tech used in checkpoints and border monitoring.

Toka (Israel) – Provides cyber intrusion tools; co-founded by former Israeli PM Ehud Barak.

Orbotech (Israel, owned by KLA) – Supplies systems for military electronics production.

Amdocs (Israel/US) – Telecommunications surveillance partnerships with Israeli state.

3. Banks & Financial Institutions

These institutions fund settlements, arms deals, or Israeli military bonds:

JPMorgan Chase (US) – Invests in Elbit, Lockheed Martin.

BlackRock (US) – Largest investor in Israeli weapons stocks.

Bank Hapoalim & Bank Leumi (Israel) – Finance illegal settlements.

HSBC (UK) – Holds shares in arms firms supplying Israel.

Barclays (UK) – Invests in Elbit, Boeing, Raytheon.

Deutsche Bank (Germany) – Funds settlement construction.

AXA (France) – Invests in Israeli banks backing settlements.

Citigroup (US) – Holds Israeli military bonds.

Bank Mizrahi-Tefahot (Israel) – Major financier of settlements.

Bank Discount (Israel) – Involved in mortgage loans for settlement homes.

BNP Paribas (France) – Invests in weapons companies linked to Israel.

Morgan Stanley (US) – Holds shares in weapons manufacturers aiding Israeli military.

Wells Fargo (US) – Investments in companies like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

UBS (Switzerland) – Invests in companies involved in arms and settlement support.

4. Construction & Infrastructure

These companies build settlements, checkpoints, or infrastructure supporting occupation:

Caterpillar (US) – Bulldozers used to demolish Palestinian homes.

Alstom (France) – Jerusalem light rail linking settlements.

Siemens (Germany) – Infrastructure projects in settlements.

EDF (France) – Energy projects in occupied territories.

Veolia (France) – Operates waste services in settlements.

Manitou (France) – Forklifts and heavy equipment used in house demolitions.

Volvo Group (Sweden) – Construction equipment used in settlement development and demolitions.

Hyundai Heavy Industries (South Korea) – Vehicles used in house demolitions and IDF operations.

Electra Group (Israel) – Construction of military and security infrastructure in occupied territories.

5. Retail & Consumer Brands

These companies normalize occupation or fund Israeli militarism:

Puma (Germany) – Sponsors Israel Football Association (linked to settlements).

SodaStream (Israel) – Operated in occupied West Bank (now moved but still criticized).

Ahava (Israel) – Settlement-made cosmetics.

Sabra Hummus (US/Israel) – Partly owned by Strauss Group (supports IDF).

Estée Lauder (US) – Invests in Israeli tech/military startups.

McDonald’s (Israel franchise) – Provided free meals to IDF soldiers; criticized globally.

Papa John's (Israel franchise) – Public support for IDF during military operations.

Re/Max (US) – Real estate listings and sales in illegal Israeli settlements.

McKinsey & Company (US) – Strategic consulting services for Israeli military and defense projects.

Teva Pharmaceuticals (Israel) – Headquarters in Israel; one of largest global producers of generics, often called for boycott due to tax and supply chain ties to settlements.

6. Shipping & Logistics

These firms transport weapons or support Israeli military supply chains:

ZIM Integrated Shipping (Israel) – Arms logistics.

Maersk (Denmark) – Ships weapons to Israel.

FedEx (US) – Logistics contracts with US military suppliers connected to Israeli operations.

UPS (US) – Transport contracts with companies supplying Israeli military.

Crowley Logistics (US) – Involved in DoD logistics and weapons shipping, including Middle East arms routes.

7. Media & Disinformation

These companies spread propaganda or suppress Palestinian narratives:

Disney (US) – Investments in Israeli tech firms.

Wix (Israel) – Censors Palestinian websites.

Netflix (US) – Hosting Israeli military propaganda films and censoring Palestinian documentaries.

CNN (US) – Accused of editorial bias and suppression of Palestinian perspectives.

The New York Times (US) – Documented history of biased reporting favoring Israeli government narratives.

NBCUniversal (US) – Publicly sponsors Israel-related content and suppresses criticism.

TikTok (China/US) – Content moderation has disproportionately removed pro-Palestinian posts.

8. Political Lobbying & Advocacy Groups (US)

These organizations work directly to influence U.S. foreign policy, fund pro-Israel politicians, and push legislation criminalizing or delegitimizing Palestinian activism (e.g., anti-BDS laws):

AIPAC – American Israel Public Affairs Committee - The most powerful pro-Israel lobbying group in the U.S.; shapes U.S. foreign aid and military support to Israel; influences Congress and funds political campaigns via affiliated PACs.

NORPAC - A political action committee that raises funds for pro-Israel candidates and policy measures.

Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) - Right-wing Zionist group known for promoting Islamophobic rhetoric and attempting to deplatform Palestinian voices on campuses.

Christians United for Israel (CUFI) - Christian Zionist organization pushing for unwavering U.S. support for Israel based on religious and political ideology.

Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) - A lobbying group targeting Democrats, promoting a pro-Israel line and opposing progressive candidates critical of Israel.

Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) - Promotes pro-Israel policy among Republican lawmakers and donors.

JINSA – Jewish Institute for National Security of America - Works to link U.S. and Israeli defense establishments, promoting shared security narratives and defense cooperation.

9. Campus & Youth Organizations (US)

These groups operate on college campuses to promote pro-Israel narratives, combat BDS campaigns, and surveil or silence pro-Palestinian activism:

StandWithUs - A well-funded PR and legal group that provides resources to students and universities to suppress Palestinian rights campaigns and intimidate activists.

Hasbara Fellowships - Trains college students to spread pro-Israel propaganda and discredit Palestinian narratives.

Campus Reform / Canary Mission (see below) - Partners with other pro-Israel groups to identify and blacklist student activists.

Maccabee Task Force - Funds campus events, speakers, and advertising campaigns in favor of Israel and against pro-Palestinian activism.

Hillel International - Jewish student organization often accused of silencing anti-Zionist Jewish voices or forbidding partnerships with Palestinian student groups.

10. Surveillance & Blacklist Operations (US)

These entities monitor, document, and attempt to discredit or intimidate activists, academics, and journalists who support Palestinian rights:

Canary Mission - Maintains a blacklist of pro-Palestinian student activists, professors, and organizations to damage careers and reputations.

Act.IL (now defunct but replaced by similar efforts) - An Israeli-government-affiliated app that directed users to flood social media with pro-Israel content and report/censor opposition.

NGO Monitor (Israel) - Tracks and smears Palestinian and international human rights organizations; used as a resource to defund NGOs critical of Israeli policy.

11. Legal & Policy Fronts (US)

These groups focus on litigation, legal intimidation, or the drafting of legislation to criminalize BDS and restrict speech critical of Israel:

Lawfare Project - A legal think tank that brings lawsuits against pro-Palestinian activists and institutions to intimidate and silence dissent.

Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center - Engages in "lawfare" against Palestinian organizations and activists internationally, often working closely with the Israeli government.

Zionist Legal Advocacy Center (ZLAC) - Focuses on campus legal threats and complaints against pro-Palestinian professors or student groups.

Anti-Defamation League (ADL) - Though traditionally a civil rights group, the ADL has been criticized for equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism and opposing BDS on U.S. campuses.

12. Media Influence & Public Relations (US)

These organizations influence media narratives and public opinion, often targeting journalists, filmmakers, and educators critical of Israeli policies:

The Israel Project (TIP) - PR firm that distributed talking points and trained spokespeople to promote Israel in American media (no longer active but content still circulated).

HonestReporting - Monitors and campaigns against media coverage perceived as critical of Israel, pressuring outlets to adopt more favorable language.

Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) - A media watchdog that lobbies outlets to revise coverage, often accusing journalists of bias for reporting on Israeli war crimes.

Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) - Translates and disseminates selectively chosen content from Arabic media to paint Palestinians and Arabs in a negative light.

Sources & Verification

UN Database (2025 report on business ties to settlements).

BDS Movement (documented boycotts).

Amnesty International (Respected human rights organization).

Human Rights Watch (Respected human rights organization).

Who Profits (Independent research center dedicated to exposing the role of the private sector in the Israeli occupation economy).

Investigative reports (AP, +972 Magazine, The Guardian).

Various corporate investment disclosures.

[omgellendean]

Because the attention initially focused on the Irish UN staff, there seems to be a lingering misconception that the IDF keeps targeting one UNIFIL outpost only. That's not true.

October 6-7, UNP 6-52, southeast of Marun ar Ras: IDF demanded the Irish UN observers evacuate, then threatened them with a tank.

October 9, UNP 1-31 in Labbouneh: IDF soldiers deliberately fired at and disabled the perimeter-monitoring cameras.

October 9, UNP 1-32A in Ras Naqoura: IDF fired on the position, damaging lighting and a relay station.

October 10, UNP 1-31 again: IDF soldiers fired on the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, damaging vehicles and a communications system. An IDF drone was observed flying inside the UN position up to the bunker entrance.

October 10, UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura: an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower, directly hitting it; two peacekeepers from Indonesia were injured from the fall.

As you can see, these are multiple UN positions being threatened and attacked.

A map of the UN outposts in Lebanon (open a bigger pic in a new tab):

[ilariyalavorowrites]

Stalking Me, Stalking You (CSI Nick Stokes) Part three

Imagine: You never saw it coming, you never knew he was there until the moment he struck. For months, this individual had stalking you from the shadows, trying to find a way into your life. Never quite able to but in his mind, time was running out and soon enough you would be completely out of reach. This was the moment to act, to ‘rescue’ you and steal you away.

Warnings: Angst with a happy ending, kidnapping, hurt but eventual comfort. Suffering, lots of suffering, slow-moving plot, stalking, obsessive behaviour.

Pairings: Nick Stokes x Reader and Reader x OC (one-sided)

Word count: 3,068 words

Universe: CSI

Reader gender: Female

Part three of ten

Tagged: @just-call-me-the-old-hag @horsedragonllama @space-helen @kneelforloki @flopiboni

Previous / Next

Monday, Midnight

Greg and Morgan sat side by side, as Archie worked his magic on the various clips of CCTV. Each of the three larger monitors displayed different parts of a timeline that had been created by the day shift’s visual and audio tech Franklyn. They watched as their friend exited her known and preferred coffee shop with her piping hot beverage alone. This had been the last place that she had seen when Officer Sawyer had taken the barista’s statement.

“This is the only first clip that Dayshift obtained after the warrant for her finances came through” Morgan stated with the matching report in hand. The short clip showed nothing out of the ordinary. There was no one tailing her, no strange car parked with a window partially wound down with the driver trying to look casual as their eyes trailed after her.

“It confirms the Barista’s statement at the very least” Greg replied as his gaze shifted to the second screen. Archie paused the first clip and then slid the cursor to the play the next one.

All of them were teetering on the edge of professionalism. Trying their best to push aside their personal feelings. They needed to try at the very least to view the evidence collected like any other case. It was going to be a long night especially as Greg and Morgan had been the ones assigned to review what was already there for this shift. 

The plan was for hands on deck over the next few shifts, to hand over the new details and brief the incoming day shift at the end of their night then repeat the process with a fresh set of eyes the next night.

“This one isn’t the greatest quality, it’s a wall-mounted camera from one of her neighbours that was discovered by the door-to-door interviews” Archie stated as the pixelated footage started. Both Morgan and Greg noted the timestamp, it had been captured at 2:30 in the afternoon. 

“This camera will only record when the motion detection is triggered as you both know” Archie reminded them as they all watched as a battered, Silver Chevrolet Cruze drove past. It did not match the make and model of the car that the Detective had, which had yet to be located even with the BOLO that had been put out with all the necessary details. It had vanished into thin air.

Notes from the lead CSI Ava Dane stated that none of the neighbours had recognised the car when they had spoken after reviewing the footage. One neighbour had commented that he noticed the vehicle when he had returned from home at around 3:10 but he had heard tyres screeching loudly about twenty-five minutes later and when he looked at the window, it was gone.

There had been a slight skid mark noted and photographed from outside that particular address which had been run through the system and matched commonly used wheels. It had the first dead end.

“Franklyn managed to recover a partial plate after cleaning up the image, I won’t be able to get much more than that due to video quality” The tech apologised, knowing that this was not what the two of them wanted to hear.

“It’s a start at least” Morgan responded, trying to remain positive as she turned to the next report. Her eyes rapidly moved over the data displayed there. “It looks like the day shift ran that plate, there’s a fair few listed but they eliminated half” 

As her eyes drifted down the page, they stopped over one particular name. As memories of the case that she had worked on came flooding back. The Detective had been waiting for her at the scene. 

Vaughn Mikhailov was a two-bit drug dealer, he and his older brother Artem had been targeted and shot at in a drive-by gangbangers after they had tried to move in on the turf of another local dealer. The initial warnings had been ignored by the pair, and this had led to the car being targeted. Vaughn had been in the backseat, he had barely been clipped by a single bullet in his left shoulder but Artem hadn’t been as lucky.

He had died at the scene, bleeding out whilst waiting on the paramedics. Vaughn had been cooperative to a point, but eventually, he just screamed at her friend when she had in his eyes failed to get justice for his brother.

It was not always possible to reach a satisfactory end to every case, it had been one of those which slipped through the crack when the leads had all run cold. Morgan remembered that her friend had noted that this had not been her first rodeo with either of the Mikhailov brothers.

“The first time I met them was when I was working the beat, I arrested Artem for soliciting a working girl and Vaughn for dealing. Both of them had rap sheets as long as your arm. It's their mother, I feel for each time one of them ends up in court”

There had been sympathy that lingered as she listened, as it turned out their mother had raised both the boys single-handedly after their father had run off. She had tried her best but they had been drawn into the fast-paced lifestyle of wheeling and dealing. As she watched, the detective informed the woman of her son’s death.

“What is it, Morgan?” Greg asked, noticing that Morgan had not spoken and became transfixed by one of the reports further in. He leaned, to see what she had been reading. It was the list of cars compiled by the plate search. 

“Vaughn Mikhailov,” She said looking up to meet his gaze. Greg’s gaze narrowed perplexed as he did not recognize the name. However, before he could reply, Morgan beat him to the punch.

“It was a drive-by shooting case, I worked a few weeks back and she was the lead detective assigned work to the case alongside me” She started, knowing that she would need to give him more than that if they were going to start to seriously look at him as a potential suspect.

“He and his older brother were targeted after trying to move into another dealer’s turf. His brother died at the scene. He was far from happy with how things went but he had a chip on his shoulder as she had arrested him more than a few times in the past” Once she had finished speaking, Morgan waited for Greg to process the information that had been dumped upon him.

“So he held her responsible for not finding his brother’s killer then. Greg asked, Morgan nodded before one last comment. “He had an axe to grind”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, 4 am

With one hand poised, Nick firmly knocked upon Russell’s closed office door. In a roundabout way, he had expected the text summoning him to the supervisor’s office but not this soon. He had hoped that he would be one way approaching Russell but then again, at least this way soon enough everything would be out in the open.

This was not the way that he had hoped that this conversation would be initiated. He knew that she had already started telling her partner and fellow officers about her boyfriend whenever she had a spare few minutes. She had also scheduled a meeting with HR on the day that she was meant to be returning to work. Nick then would approach Russell around the same time as she would have been seated down with HR. Effectively killing two birds with one stone 

This had always been their plan when things became more serious between the two of them. Multiple discussions had arisen, on when, where and how they approach their collective jobs regarding their romantic relationship and the potential impact on both of their jobs that would need to be addressed and solutions put into place.

She had planned to offer to be moved from Graveyard to Swing or Day if no other compromise could be reached. Where it would be possible for both of them both work the same shift pattern without any issues. Departmental policy had previously torn Sara from the team when her relationship with Grissom came to light, they had wondered how it would have played out for them.

Yes, they were still colleagues working alongside another one, but not under the same direct supervisor. They crossed over for Homicide and Forensic evidence collection and investigation came hand in hand. Without one, you couldn’t have the other.

“Come in” Russell’s voice called from behind the door, bringing Nick back of his thoughts as he pushed the handle and then the door inwardly. “Hey Russell…” He greeted the man sitting behind the desk but what he hadn’t expected was Catherine being in the room, standing off to one side behind Russell.

“Shut the door Nick” Russell continued as he went through the motions of crossing the threshold and closing the door behind him and moved further into the office to stand before the pair staring straight at him.

“I know this is about Detective..” Her name rolled off his tongue, one that had fallen on his lips many times before. “Look, I know that I should have told you..” Nick started to try and explain the position that he had found himself in.

“Nick, I need to know that you’ll be able to recuse yourself if you cross that emotional line where you start to lead your heart, not your head. For as long as you can remain objective then you still work on the case but the moment, that you step over that line. I will remove you and you’ll be treated just like every other significant other or next kin on every other case that had past through this department” Russell spoke with a conviction that could not be ignored or overturned. This was a promise that he would not go back on. 

Nick quickly nodded, happily agreeing with his supervisor’s conclusion. “This will have to be logged with HR and I’ll arrange the meeting shortly”  Russell said before turning to Catherine. “Anything you want to add?” He said, pulling her into the dialogue. Catherine had been quietly observing the short back and forth between the pair.

“Nicky, from here on out, we’ll be watching closer. Please understand, that we want to bring her home as much as you do. Still, we have to follow the rules and ensure there nothing can be challenged further down the line” Her words held a warmth that Nick had felt before, the familial love that had developed and grown over the many years that they had worked together. Once again, Catherine was looking after him, all whilst balancing the integrity of the crime lab and their necessary work on top of that. It was a well-practice balancing act that she had perfected over the last decade.

All it took would be one step in the wrong direction and it would come tumbling back down. That could not happen, no it would not help.

------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday 2 am

As the night rolled by, evidence was processed, reviewed and reported, with the new findings and avenues to venture down next added to the ever-growing list.

The one initially weak lead that had cropped up early in the shift strengthened as prints from the scene which had been set running whilst the sun was still up bore fruit. Morgan’s theory now seemed more plausible as the same name popped up once more, this could not just be a coincidence in the name of bad blood. 

Morgan turned to Greg, still trying to wrap her head around this as there were still too many variables that did not make a lick of sense. She could understand the steps taken to enact some twisted form of payback by breaking into the detective’s home and destroying everything that she might hold dear. There were no signs of a struggle, no blood splatter or trail to imply that they had been lying in wait for her to return.

With the crime scene photos laid out on the table between them, this felt much like the pieces of a puzzle waiting to be put together to reveal the image displayed upon the box when a handful of key tiles were missing, creating holes in the image. “This isn’t the primary scene, there is no indication that she ever came back. Two separate indications with one connecting factor, her” Morgan said, churning over the thoughts in her head out loud as she tried to make any sense of it all.

“What do we know about Vaughn Mikhailov, beyond his last arrest report?” Greg started before listing off what had been discovered thus far “His prints are all over this crime scene, his car matches the mark and model spotted on the neighbour's CCTV but why would a dealer break into a cop’s home in broad daylight?” He posed the question to Morgan, the blonde’s face twisted in confusion as she tried to gather together a logical answer but found none. 

“How did he find her address? That’s what bugs me unless he tailed her previously but according to the neighbour’s statement” Morgan replied, fishing out the relevant document from the box on her side of the table and turning to the right page. “That car had never been caught on camera before that day and those cameras had been up for more than six months”

“The only way that we’ll get satisfactory answers is that Vaughn Mikhailov needs to be found and brought in for questioning” Morgan nodded her head in agreement, the two-bit criminal had a lot to answer for.

“Brass put has BOLO out on Mikailov’s car”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, 4:30 am

The blinding flash of blue lights and screeching sirens were not out of place as the convoy of vehicles pulled up in front of the homestead. Its chain link fence had seen better days, half still attached to the poles that marked the edge of the property and the rest lost within the depths of the tall grass that desperately needed cutting. 

The property itself was registered to one Nikolai Mikhailov, the cousin of their prime suspect. It was not out of the ordinary for Vaughn to crash on his cousin’s sofa when his mother threw him out for the third time that week. Officers had called the property in the past, more often than not on matters of public nuisance or disturbance. Nikolai loved to party well into the small hours and was not shy about using violence to silence any complaining neighbours if they dared to call the cops on him.

Detective Captain Jim Brass surveyed the scene from behind the cruiser’s side door and soon found what he was looking for. With the garage door half enough, it was plain to see the car parked within, its license plate matching the suspect’s known vehicle of choice. No lights could be seen from the street as Officers tentatively approached the front door, ready to burst through the door and apprehend whoever was on the other side.

With the fury of valkyries leading the charge, the officers breached through the threshold as calls of LVPD came and went as Jim watched them disappear inside. This had to be it, this had to be the end of the road.

He was not the only one listening in, as the Officers inside cleared the scene. The investigated interest ran through from the bottom straight up to the top. She was one of them

‘419’ The code of a dead body came crackling over the airwaves, a dead body had been discovered. A chill rushed through him as he envisioned the very sight of her lying there, with empty, glazed-over eyes staring up at him as he wondered why.

’It’s not her’ The voice of Officer Mitchell soon followed as Jim released the breath that he hadn’t known he was holding back, then again he wasn’t the only one. Nick stood silently by, with bated breath as Morgan and Greg left with kits in hand. This was their scene now as they had been the ones to discover the connections that led to this.

Hodges stood in the doorway, reading the scene before him. The air was still tense as they all waited for the relief to set in but yet that felt too premature. The lab tech cleared his throat to try and catch Nick’s attention. He watched for a moment then tried a different approach.

“Nick, this was left at Reception for you” Hodges called into the room, as he held out the unstamped manila envelope for the other man to take. Nick Stokes was scrawled across the front in a large and unfamiliar hand. 

Nick frowned, he was not awaiting any post as he took it. “Thanks, man,” He said as he turned it over, inspecting it from every angle. There was nothing about the envelope that stood out, it was a standard A3 office stationery that was stocked by countless suppliers but the question arose of who had sent it.

As he carefully opened the sealed flap and reached inside, Nick quickly found the content. A series of photographs which he slid out. Hodges slid up beside him as he turned over the first which revealed little other than what he already knew to be true.

“Is that…” David questioned at the sight of his friends and colleagues locked in a rather passionate embrace. “Yes,” Nick curtly replied, annoyed at the very prospect that they had been followed and their privacy had been invaded like this as he turned over the next one.

It was the last one that drew a shocked gasp from Hodges, as he shook with a rage that he hadn’t felt for some time. The sight of her bound and unconscious in the boot of an unidentifiable vehicle with the words I WIN STOKES, SHE IS MINE written in bold, block capitals across the top of the image.

Each had focused upon her, she was the object of this maddening desire. A tail had been placed as her routine was documented. He held pride of place in a number of the images, whether he liked it or not.

He was taunting him, this was just his opening move.

[halobirthdays]

Happy birthday to the Superintendent!

Today is its -488th birthday!

The Superintendent was a "dumb" AI construct used to run and monitor New Mombasa's municipal systems. Dr. Daniel Endesha was a scientist primarily tasked with its management. He created Virgil, a subroutine programmed into the Superintendent that was designed to look after his daughter, Sadie. Using its widespread access to New Mombasa's cameras, microphones, and machines, Virgil was able to monitor Sadie and make decisions based on her best interest. For example, when Sadie attempted to join the UNSC, Virgil used its access to New Mombasa's train system to prevent her from going to the recruiting office. When New Mombasa was attacked by the Covenant, it similarly commandeered vehicles to guide her to safety.

The Superintendent became of interest to the Covenant when it performed a seismic scan that detected the portal at Voi. Interested, the Covenant conducted a search for its data center, which ONI sent Captain Veronica Dare and ODST squad Alpha-Nine to prevent. The Superintendent assisted Alpha-Nine by guiding them through the city using its municipal functions, such as signs, lights, and voice prompts. When Dare reached the data center, she discovered that a Covenant Huragok accessed the damaged Superintendent, absorbing both it and the sub-routine Virgil. This Huragok, Quick-to-Adjust, essentially became what is left of the Superintendent. Because it absorbed Virgil's data, Quick-to-Adjust became attached to Sadie, often refusing to cooperate without her. Thus, Sadie became the Huragok's handler.

In canon (~2560), it is turning 48!

[mariacallous]

At 8:22 am on December 4 last year, a car traveling down a small residential road in Alabama used its license-plate-reading cameras to take photos of vehicles it passed. One image, which does not contain a vehicle or a license plate, shows a bright red “Trump” campaign sign placed in front of someone’s garage. In the background is a banner referencing Israel, a holly wreath, and a festive inflatable snowman.

Another image taken on a different day by a different vehicle shows a “Steelworkers for Harris-Walz” sign stuck in the lawn in front of someone’s home. A construction worker, with his face unblurred, is pictured near another Harris sign. Other photos show Trump and Biden (including “Fuck Biden”) bumper stickers on the back of trucks and cars across America. One photo, taken in November 2023, shows a partially torn bumper sticker supporting the Obama-Biden lineup.

These images were generated by AI-powered cameras mounted on cars and trucks, initially designed to capture license plates, but which are now photographing political lawn signs outside private homes, individuals wearing T-shirts with text, and vehicles displaying pro-abortion bumper stickers—all while recording the precise locations of these observations. Newly obtained data reviewed by WIRED shows how a tool originally intended for traffic enforcement has evolved into a system capable of monitoring speech protected by the US Constitution.

The detailed photographs all surfaced in search results produced by the systems of DRN Data, a license-plate-recognition (LPR) company owned by Motorola Solutions. The LPR system can be used by private investigators, repossession agents, and insurance companies; a related Motorola business, called Vigilant, gives cops access to the same LPR data.

However, files shared with WIRED by artist Julia Weist, who is documenting restricted datasets as part of her work, show how those with access to the LPR system can search for common phrases or names, such as those of politicians, and be served with photographs where the search term is present, even if it is not displayed on license plates.

A search result for the license plates from Delaware vehicles with the text “Trump” returned more than 150 images showing people’s homes and bumper stickers. Each search result includes the date, time, and exact location of where a photograph was taken.

“I searched for the word ‘believe,’ and that is all lawn signs. There’s things just painted on planters on the side of the road, and then someone wearing a sweatshirt that says ‘Believe.’” Weist says. “I did a search for the word ‘lost,’ and it found the flyers that people put up for lost dogs and cats.”

Beyond highlighting the far-reaching nature of LPR technology, which has collected billions of images of license plates, the research also shows how people’s personal political views and their homes can be recorded into vast databases that can be queried.

“It really reveals the extent to which surveillance is happening on a mass scale in the quiet streets of America,” says Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union. “That surveillance is not limited just to license plates, but also to a lot of other potentially very revealing information about people.”

DRN, in a statement issued to WIRED, said it complies with “all applicable laws and regulations.”

Billions of Photos

License-plate-recognition systems, broadly, work by first capturing an image of a vehicle; then they use optical character recognition (OCR) technology to identify and extract the text from the vehicle's license plate within the captured image. Motorola-owned DRN sells multiple license-plate-recognition cameras: a fixed camera that can be placed near roads, identify a vehicle’s make and model, and capture images of vehicles traveling up to 150 mph; a “quick deploy” camera that can be attached to buildings and monitor vehicles at properties; and mobile cameras that can be placed on dashboards or be mounted to vehicles and capture images when they are driven around.

Over more than a decade, DRN has amassed more than 15 billion “vehicle sightings” across the United States, and it claims in its marketing materials that it amasses more than 250 million sightings per month. Images in DRN’s commercial database are shared with police using its Vigilant system, but images captured by law enforcement are not shared back into the wider database.

The system is partly fueled by DRN “affiliates” who install cameras in their vehicles, such as repossession trucks, and capture license plates as they drive around. Each vehicle can have up to four cameras attached to it, capturing images in all angles. These affiliates earn monthly bonuses and can also receive free cameras and search credits.

In 2022, Weist became a certified private investigator in New York State. In doing so, she unlocked the ability to access the vast array of surveillance software accessible to PIs. Weist could access DRN’s analytics system, DRNsights, as part of a package through investigations company IRBsearch. (After Weist published an op-ed detailing her work, IRBsearch conducted an audit of her account and discontinued it. The company did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment.)

“There is a difference between tools that are publicly accessible, like Google Street View, and things that are searchable,” Weist says. While conducting her work, Weist ran multiple searches for words and popular terms, which found results far beyond license plates. In data she shared with WIRED, a search for “Planned Parenthood,” for instance, returned stickers on cars, on bumpers, and in windows, both for and against the reproductive health services organization. Civil liberties groups have already raised concerns about how license-plate-reader data could be weaponized against those seeking abortion.

Weist says she is concerned with how the search tools could be misused when there is increasing political violence and divisiveness in society. While not linked to license plate data, one law enforcement official in Ohio recently said people should “write down” the addresses of people who display yard signs supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, exemplifying how a searchable database of citizens’ political affiliations could be abused.

A 2016 report by the Associated Press revealed widespread misuse of confidential law enforcement databases by police officers nationwide. In 2022, WIRED revealed that hundreds of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees and contractors were investigated for abusing similar databases, including LPR systems. The alleged misconduct in both reports ranged from stalking and harassment to sharing information with criminals.

While people place signs in their lawns or bumper stickers on their cars to inform people of their views and potentially to influence those around them, the ACLU’s Stanley says it is intended for “human-scale visibility,” not that of machines. “Perhaps they want to express themselves in their communities, to their neighbors, but they don't necessarily want to be logged into a nationwide database that’s accessible to police authorities,” Stanley says.

Weist says the system, at the very least, should be able to filter out images that do not contain license plate data and not make mistakes. “Any number of times is too many times, especially when it's finding stuff like what people are wearing or lawn signs,” Weist says.

“License plate recognition (LPR) technology supports public safety and community services, from helping to find abducted children and stolen vehicles to automating toll collection and lowering insurance premiums by mitigating insurance fraud,” Jeremiah Wheeler, the president of DRN, says in a statement.

Weist believes that, given the relatively small number of images showing bumper stickers compared to the large number of vehicles with them, Motorola Solutions may be attempting to filter out images containing bumper stickers or other text.

Wheeler did not respond to WIRED's questions about whether there are limits on what can be searched in license plate databases, why images of homes with lawn signs but no vehicles in sight appeared in search results, or if filters are used to reduce such images.

“DRNsights complies with all applicable laws and regulations,” Wheeler says. “The DRNsights tool allows authorized parties to access license plate information and associated vehicle information that is captured in public locations and visible to all. Access is restricted to customers with certain permissible purposes under the law, and those in breach have their access revoked.”

AI Everywhere

License-plate-recognition systems have flourished in recent years as cameras have become smaller and machine-learning algorithms have improved. These systems, such as DRN and rival Flock, mark part of a change in the way people are surveilled as they move around cities and neighborhoods.

Increasingly, CCTV cameras are being equipped with AI to monitor people’s movements and even detect their emotions. The systems have the potential to alert officials, who may not be able to constantly monitor CCTV footage, to real-world events. However, whether license plate recognition can reduce crime has been questioned.

“When government or private companies promote license plate readers, they make it sound like the technology is only looking for lawbreakers or people suspected of stealing a car or involved in an amber alert, but that’s just not how the technology works,” says Dave Maass, the director of investigations at civil liberties group the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “The technology collects everyone's data and stores that data often for immense periods of time.”

Over time, the technology may become more capable, too. Maass, who has long researched license-plate-recognition systems, says companies are now trying to do “vehicle fingerprinting,” where they determine the make, model, and year of the vehicle based on its shape and also determine if there’s damage to the vehicle. DRN’s product pages say one upcoming update will allow insurance companies to see if a car is being used for ride-sharing.

“The way that the country is set up was to protect citizens from government overreach, but there’s not a lot put in place to protect us from private actors who are engaged in business meant to make money,” Nicole McConlogue, an associate professor of law at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, who has researched license-plate-surveillance systems and their potential for discrimination.

“The volume that they’re able to do this in is what makes it really troubling,” McConlogue says of vehicles moving around streets collecting images. “When you do that, you're carrying the incentives of the people that are collecting the data. But also, in the United States, you’re carrying with it the legacy of segregation and redlining, because that left a mark on the composition of neighborhoods.”

[spectralpixelsredone]

Analysis of Robots and A.I. in My Hero Academia

The robots and artificial intelligence (A.I.) systems in My Hero Academia (MHA) are integral to the series' world-building, serving as tools for hero training, security, and support in a society defined by superhuman Quirks. The provided prompt highlights several tropes and characteristics of these A.I. systems, including their potential to go rogue ("A.I. Is a Crapshoot"), their benevolent nature, snarky interactions, massive scale, and cultural shout-outs. This analysis examines the Villain Bots, Camera-Bots, Mini Transport Robots (Transpo-Bots), I-Island Security Bots, and the Hercules A.I. car, drawing from the original document and the prompt to explore their design, behavior, and narrative significance.

1. Overview of Robots and A.I. in MHA

MHA's robotic systems are primarily developed by U.A. High School and I-Island, reflecting a society where technology complements Quirks to maintain order and train heroes. These systems range from combat-oriented Villain Bots to supportive Transpo-Bots and advanced A.I.-driven vehicles like Hercules. The prompt highlights their varying levels of autonomy, from pre-programmed behaviors to near-sentient interactions, and their narrative roles, which oscillate between reliable tools and unpredictable entities.

Key Systems Analyzed

Villain Bots: Combat simulation robots used in U.A.’s Entrance Exams and Sports Festival.

Camera-Bots: Surveillance and recording robots with security and monitoring functions.

Mini Transport Robots (Transpo-Bots): Medical transport robots for injured individuals.

I-Island Security Bots: Autonomous drones for patrolling and subduing threats.

Hercules: An A.I.-equipped armored supercar used by Toshinori Yagi (All Might).

2. Trope Analysis: A.I. Is a Crapshoot

Description

The trope "A.I. Is a Crapshoot" suggests that A.I. systems can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous, as seen in Vigilantes Chapter 6+ Beta, where a rogue Executor Villain Bot rampages in a city and is stopped by All Might.

Analysis

Rogue Executor Incident: The Executor, a zero-pointer Villain Bot, is a massive, city-dwarfing robot designed for high-threat simulations. Its rampage in Vigilantes indicates a failure in its programming or control systems, embodying the trope of A.I. becoming a threat due to unforeseen malfunctions. This incident underscores the risks of deploying powerful autonomous systems in populated areas, as even training tools can cause significant collateral damage.

Contextual Implications: The Executor’s rogue behavior is an outlier, as most MHA robots operate within controlled parameters. This suggests that while A.I. in MHA is generally reliable, lapses in oversight or programming can lead to catastrophic outcomes, aligning with the trope’s theme of unpredictability.

Mitigation by Heroes: All Might’s intervention to stop the Executor reinforces the narrative reliance on human heroes to counteract technological failures, highlighting the balance between technology and human agency in MHA.

3. Benevolent A.I. and Pet the Dog Moments

Description

The prompt notes that MHA’s robots exhibit benevolent behavior, with enough intelligence to engage in witty banter without malice. A notable "Pet the Dog" moment occurs during the Final War arc, where a robot assists Rei Todoroki in reaching Endeavor and Dabi’s fight, despite the danger, stating it exists to fulfill human desires.

Analysis

Benevolent Nature: The robots, particularly Camera-Bots and Transpo-Bots, display a level of autonomy that allows for human-like interactions, such as snarky comments or compliance with human requests. Their lack of vitriol suggests programming designed to support rather than antagonize humans, aligning with their roles in education and safety.

Rei’s Request: The robot’s decision to transport Rei to a dangerous battlefield, accompanied by a thumbs-up, exemplifies a programmed prioritization of human needs over self-preservation. This act reflects a design philosophy where robots are tools for heroism, even at personal risk, reinforcing their benevolent role.

Examples Across Systems:

Transpo-Bots: Efficiently transport injured students like Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco Uraraka to medical facilities (Chapter 11, Episode 8), demonstrating reliability and care.

Camera-Bots: Monitor U.A. facilities and report to teachers, ensuring student safety without hostility (Chapter 25, Episode 18).

Hercules: The A.I. car supports All Might’s missions, deploying support items and enduring attacks to protect its user, with a voice modeled after Melissa Shield to evoke trust (Chapter 309, Episode 132).

Significance

The benevolent A.I. trope underscores MHA’s optimistic view of technology as a force for good, designed to enhance hero society rather than undermine it. The "Pet the Dog" moment with Rei humanizes these machines, suggesting a level of emotional intelligence that bridges the gap between technology and humanity.

4. Deadpan Snarker: A.I.’s Witty Interactions

Description

MHA’s robots, particularly Camera-Bots and Conveyor Bots, exhibit a "Deadpan Snarker" personality, taking jabs at humans. Examples include Conveyor Bots commenting on human fragility and a Camera-Bot teasing Aizawa about Midoriya and Bakugo’s fight.

Analysis

Conveyor Bots: Their remarks about human fragility highlight a programmed awareness of human limitations, likely intended to add realism to training scenarios. This snark serves a dual purpose: it livens up interactions and reinforces the robots’ role as critical observers of human behavior.

Camera-Bot Incident: The Camera-Bot’s jab at Aizawa when catching Midoriya and Bakugo fighting (prompt reference) suggests a level of situational awareness and humor. This behavior indicates advanced A.I. capable of contextual analysis, possibly to engage students or maintain vigilance in a non-threatening way.

Villain Bots in Training: During Chapter 256, Villain Bots boast about being "the Skynet of this world," a playful exaggeration referencing Terminator’s malevolent A.I. This snark is invoked to make training sessions more engaging, reflecting a deliberate design choice to simulate villainous bravado without genuine hostility.

Significance

The snarky A.I. adds levity to MHA’s high-stakes world, making robots relatable and dynamic. Their humor also serves a narrative function, humanizing technology and emphasizing its role as a partner to heroes rather than a cold, impersonal system.

5. Humongous Mecha: The Executor Robots

Description

Executor Villain Bots are described as giant, city-dwarfing robots, making them a prime example of the "Humongous Mecha" trope. Present Mic advises Entrance Exam applicants to avoid fighting them due to their size and danger (Chapter 3, Episode 3).

Analysis

Design and Scale: Executors are zero-pointers, the largest and most dangerous Villain Bots, designed to simulate overwhelming threats. Their size, dwarfing fake cities, makes them formidable obstacles, testing applicants’ strategic decision-making rather than brute strength.

Narrative Role: The Executor’s presence in the Entrance Exam (and its rogue rampage in Vigilantes) serves to elevate the stakes, simulating scenarios where heroes face insurmountable odds. Its zero-point status discourages direct confrontation, emphasizing evasion and tactics.

Comparison to Other Bots: Unlike smaller Victory (1-point), Imperial (2-point), and Venator (3-point) Bots, Executors are not meant to be defeated, aligning with the trope of massive, intimidating mecha that challenge conventional combat approaches.

Significance

The Executor embodies the awe-inspiring and terrifying potential of large-scale robotic technology, reflecting MHA’s theme of heroes overcoming seemingly impossible challenges. Its design draws from classic mecha tropes, adding a dramatic flair to U.A.’s training simulations.

6. Shout-Out: Cultural References in Villain Bots

Description

The Villain Bots feature cultural shout-outs, with manga representations as Super Mario Bros. enemies (Koopa, Goomba, Piranha Plant, Thwomp) and names inspired by Star Wars starship classes (Victory, Venator, Imperial, Executor).

Analysis

Super Mario Bros. Reference: In the manga’s Entrance Exam explanation (Chapter 3), the bots are depicted as Super Mario Bros. enemies, a playful nod to video game culture. This visual choice makes the bots more approachable to readers and emphasizes their gamified role in the exam. The anime’s use of silhouettes instead suggests a shift toward a more serious tone, possibly to avoid copyright issues or align with the show’s aesthetic.

Star Wars Naming: The bot types—Victory (1-point), Imperial (2-point), Venator (3-point), and Executor (0-point)—mirror Star Wars starship classes, evoking a sense of epic scale and conflict. This naming convention adds a layer of cultural resonance, aligning the bots with iconic sci-fi battles.

Narrative Function: These shout-outs enhance the accessibility of MHA’s world, grounding its fantastical elements in familiar pop culture references. They also reflect the series’ blend of Western and Japanese influences, appealing to a global audience.

Significance

The cultural references enrich MHA’s world-building, making the robots both functional and entertaining. They bridge the gap between the fictional hero society and real-world media, reinforcing the series’ playful yet strategic approach to technology.

7. Detailed Analysis of Specific A.I. Systems

Villain Bots

Functionality: Used in U.A.’s Entrance Exams and Sports Festival to simulate villain encounters (Chapter 3, Episode 3). Students earn points by destroying or immobilizing them, with a tiered system: Victory (1 point), Imperial (2 points), Venator (3 points), and Executor (0 points).

A.I. Behavior: Exhibit programmed bravado, such as the "Skynet" boast in Chapter 256, to enhance training realism. Their snarky dialogue suggests limited autonomy designed to provoke and challenge students.

Weaknesses: Smaller bots are less threatening and can be defeated in multiple ways, while Executors are nearly invincible, emphasizing strategic avoidance.

Camera-Bots

Functionality: Record live feeds during the Sports Festival and monitor U.A. facilities for security (Chapter 25, Episode 18). They detect unauthorized activity and report to teachers.

A.I. Behavior: Display snarky, autonomous interactions, such as teasing Aizawa, indicating advanced contextual awareness. Their intelligence appears designed to engage users playfully while maintaining vigilance.

Significance: Enhance U.A.’s security and event management, blending surveillance with personality to create a dynamic campus environment.

Mini Transport Robots (Transpo-Bots)

Functionality: Transport injured students to medical facilities, seen in Chapter 11 (Episode 8) and the Sports Festival and Joint Training Arc.

A.I. Behavior: Likely have minimal autonomy, focusing on efficient task execution. Their benevolent role is evident in their consistent support for student safety.

Significance: Reflect U.A.’s prioritization of student welfare, automating medical logistics to ensure rapid response.

I-Island Security Bots

Functionality: Patrol I-Island’s streets and buildings, subduing intruders with electric reflectors and security cables (My Hero Academia: Two Heroes). They are durable, mobile, and effective against Quirks with exploitable weaknesses.

A.I. Behavior: Operate autonomously with high durability, retracting into protective shells when needed. Their lack of snarky dialogue suggests a focus on function over personality, unlike U.A.’s bots.

Weaknesses: Top-heavy design and vulnerability to adhesives highlight limitations, requiring strategic counters.

Hercules

Functionality: An A.I.-equipped supercar used by All Might, with durability, support item deployment, and broadcasting capabilities (Chapter 309, Episode 132). It connects to the Armored All Might suit and is voiced by Melissa Shield’s actress.

A.I. Behavior: Exhibits advanced autonomy, supporting All Might in high-stakes missions and sacrificing itself in the final battle against All For One. Its benevolent nature is evident in its protective actions.

Significance: Represents the pinnacle of hero-support technology, blending A.I. with physical resilience to empower a Quirkless hero.

8. Thematic Implications

Technology as a Heroic Partner

MHA’s robots and A.I. systems are designed to support heroes, from training (Villain Bots) to safety (Transpo-Bots) and combat (Hercules). Their benevolent nature and snarky interactions humanize technology, positioning it as a partner rather than a threat.

Risks of Autonomy

The rogue Executor incident highlights the potential dangers of A.I., aligning with the "A.I. Is a Crapshoot" trope. This tension underscores the need for human oversight, a recurring theme in MHA’s balance of technology and heroism.

Cultural Integration

The Super Mario Bros. and Star Wars references embed MHA’s technology in a broader cultural context, making it relatable and enhancing its narrative depth. These shout-outs also reflect the series’ playful tone, even in high-stakes scenarios.

Scale and Spectacle

The "Humongous Mecha" trope, embodied by the Executor, adds spectacle to MHA’s training and conflict scenes, emphasizing the larger-than-life nature of hero work. It challenges heroes to think strategically, reinforcing the series’ focus on intellect over brute force.

9. Conclusion

The robots and A.I. systems in My Hero Academia are multifaceted, serving as tools, challenges, and narrative devices. From the snarky Camera-Bots to the benevolent Transpo-Bots and the formidable Executor, these systems reflect a society where technology amplifies heroism while posing occasional risks. Their cultural shout-outs and playful interactions ground the series in a relatable framework, while their varied roles—from training to security—highlight U.A. and I-Island’s technological prowess. By blending benevolence with occasional unpredictability, MHA’s A.I. systems enrich its world, reinforcing the interplay between human ingenuity and superhuman potential.

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: June 15, 2025

Reworked Group #4: S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S.

Overview

Tequila and Red Eye successfully dismantled a rogue military organisation engaged in illicit human trafficking and arms dealing, which had also planned to launch a global bioterrorist attack in collaboration with the Pipovulaj. The plot involved spreading a plague to control the population, transforming numerous innocent civilians into violent Man Eaters as a means to create a twisted form of super soldier. Impressed by the exceptional performance of Tequila and Red Eye as highly capable spies, the Intelligence Agency and Regular Army jointly established a covert operations branch, S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., through a mutual agreement.

The S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. is responsible for gathering intelligence and managing information to prevent public panic and global hysteria. They provide their members with specialised training in high-risk covert operations that surpass the scope of regular Intelligence Agency agents, which are all conducted with utmost discretion and situational awareness. Some of these special covert operation missions involve precision targeting of high-priority threats and strategic disruption of complex criminal schemes.

They're known to have the fewest members among the military branches of the Regular Army, often numbering between 100 and 150. This small size means that each agent is familiar with the others, even if they're not family, friends or acquaintances. This familiarity significantly contributes to their nearly perfect teamwork achievements, allowing them to complete duties more quickly and efficiently when working together.

Insignia

It features a cerulean square Iberian shield, rimmed with a spiky teal vine that’s outlined in bronze. Above the shield, the words "S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S." are inscribed in bluish-white, surmounting a stylized pair of bronze eyes with a yellowish-white star at their centre. The shield is flanked by a stylized peregrine falcon holding a gilded blade on the right side and a male house sparrow clutching an olive branch on the left side.

S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. Base

The Intelligence Division is tactically positioned adjacent to the Joint Military Police Headquarters, deeply entrenched within a dense and remote forest in Northern Russia. The rectangular military compound features a forest-inspired camouflage colour scheme, a secure warehouse for military vehicles, multiple surveillance cameras, and several elevators leading to a subterranean base. They have a rooftop array of parabolic antennas that enables real-time surveillance, threat detection, and situational awareness, preventing surprise attacks and informing strategic decision-making. The base features comprehensive protection through an advanced security system and a defensive magnetic field, which automatically activates in response to potential threats, safeguarding against enemy attacks.

The base features a state-of-the-art command and surveillance centre, equipped with cutting-edge technological systems to orchestrate and execute operations. Additional facilities include:

An armoury housing the group’s most cutting-edge, high-clearance weaponry and specialised ordnance.

A high-tech meeting room with a high-resolution, encrypted display screen and multi-axis, AI-enhanced holographic projection system.

A state-of-the-art gymnasium for maintaining elite physical readiness, featuring biometric monitoring systems and AI-driven training programs.

A fully equipped, high-tech medical bay with regenerative treatment capabilities and telemedicine connectivity for remote expert consultation.

A secure dining area serving optimised, nutrient-rich rations for peak performance.

A high-security quarters with biometrically locked storage for personal gear and AI-monitored, secure communication arrays.

A Combat Academy, led by Margaret Southwood, featuring a heavily fortified training area with advanced combat simulation zones, tactical obstacle courses, stealth and surveillance training areas, and high-tech weapons testing ranges.

Extra Information

S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. stands for Special Pursuit Agents and Rapid Response Operations Worldwide Strikeforce.

Members of the S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. are commonly known as "Sparrowers" or "Following Falconers", reflecting their affiliation with the unit and their close relationship with the P.F. Squad.

Despite being part of an elite covert operations branch, Sparrowers face a significant pay disparity: males earn a quarter of the average government agent's salary, while females earn about a third. Additionally, underperforming Sparrowers, both male and female, experience further financial hardship due to delayed salary payments, often waiting between one to two months to receive their overdue compensation.

The S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. conduct their covert operations in collaboration with the Peregrine Falcons Squad who provide primary firepower and protection for their agents.

The handguns carried by Sparrowers are the Murder Model-1915 .38 Mk.1Am or Classic Murder .38 for short. It’s a double-action revolver that features a 6-round cylinder. Originally designed to enhance the Enfield No.2 .38 Caliber revolver in 1915, the Murder Model retained only the frame and grip from the original. All other components were replaced with newer parts in later years.

[kishorxox]

Thermal Imaging Market Insights & Size Analysis 2025

Meticulous Research®—a leading global market research company, published a research report titled, ‘Thermal Imaging Market by Type (Handheld Cameras, Fixed Cameras, Scopes, Modules), Technology (Cooled, Uncooled), Wavelength (SWIR, MWIR, LWIR), Application (Security & Surveillance) - Global Forecast to 2032’

According to the latest publication from Meticulous Research®, the thermal imaging market is expected to reach $7.8 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2025 to 2032. This market’s growth is attributed to several factors, such as the growing need for surveillance & security solutions and the increasing utilization of thermal imaging in manufacturing and industrial settings. Additionally, the surge in demand for thermal imaging in healthcare, growing military & defense expenditure in advanced surveillance technologies, and rising unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are expected to create market growth opportunities. However, the availability of alternative imaging technologies, such as visible light cameras & radar systems, may restrain the growth of this market.

On the other hand, the high cost of thermal imaging devices is a major challenge for the players operating in this market.

The global thermal imaging market is segmented by type, technology, wavelength, and application. This study also evaluates end-user industry competitors and analyzes the market at the region/country level.

Based on type, the thermal imaging market is broadly segmented into handheld/portable cameras, fixed/mounted cameras, scopes & eyewear, and modules. In 2025, the portable or handheld cameras segment is expected to account for the largest share, over 55.0%. This segment's large market share is attributed to its features, such as ease of use and portability, and the growing use of portable or handheld cameras for field inspection & maintenance and emergency and rescue operations.

However, the fixed/mounted cameras segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This segment’s growth is driven by its ability to provide continuous, high-precision, real-time monitoring of critical infrastructure without the need for manual intervention, to withstand harsh environmental conditions, and its increasing demand for fixed thermal cameras for integrating with automated security and monitoring systems.

Based on technology, the thermal imaging market is segmented into cooled thermal imaging and uncooled thermal imaging. In 2025, the cooled thermal imaging segment is expected to account for a larger share of over 64.0% of the thermal imaging market. This segment’s large market share is due to its sensitivity, high accuracy, long-range detection, and image resolution, which allows for the detection of minute temperature differences and the capture of detailed thermal images and increasing use of cooled thermal imaging for extreme environmental conditions, such as high-temperature industrial environments or cold regions.

However, the uncooled thermal imaging segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This segment’s growth is driven by its features, including cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, reduced operational costs, and growing demand for uncooled thermal imaging products in applications such as building diagnostics, wildlife monitoring, emergency response, law enforcement, and temporary monitoring needs in various scenarios.

Based on wavelength, the thermal imaging market is segmented into shortwave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), and longwave infrared (LWIR). In 2025, the LWIR segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 49.0% of the thermal imaging market. The growing use of LWIR cameras in environmental monitoring, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), security and surveillance, and the need to detect thermal radiation emitted by objects across various industries are the main causes of this segment's large market share. Other factors include the segment's ability to provide non-contact temperature measurement for monitoring high-temperature processes and equipment, and its cost-effectiveness in comparison to MWIR and SWIR systems.

However, the SWIR segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven by its superior image contrast and detail, enhanced capability to ensure clear visibility in challenging environmental conditions, including smoke, fog, and haze, and growing demand for SWIR technology in medical diagnostics for non-invasive imaging.

Based on application, the thermal imaging market is segmented into aerospace & defense, security & surveillance, building & construction, personal vision systems, healthcare & medical diagnostics, energy & utilities, agriculture, research & development, search & rescue operations, marine systems, and other applications. In 2025, the security & surveillance segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 41.0% of the thermal imaging market. The growing need for improved surveillance capabilities, such as visibility in low light and obscured conditions, the growing use of thermal imaging to improve perimeter security for securing sensitive facilities and high-profile events, and the growing integration of thermal cameras into smart security systems to the overall effectiveness of security measures are all factors contributing to this segment's large market share.

However, the healthcare & medical diagnostics segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is being driven by an increase in demand for thermal imaging technology owing to its non-invasive nature for early disease detection by identifying abnormal heat patterns associated with conditions such as breast cancer, vascular disorders, and inflammation, and an increase in the use of thermal imaging for fever screening in public areas and in veterinary medicine to diagnose and monitor health conditions in animals.

Based on geography, the thermal imaging market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2025, North America is expected to account for the largest share of over 36.0% of the thermal imaging market.

North America's significant market share can be attributed to several key factors, including rising concerns over terrorism, crime, and public safety, increasing deployment of thermal imaging in large-scale surveillance applications such as city-wide monitoring or border control, increasing technological advancements in thermal imaging, high investments in advanced technologies for military and defense applications, and growing focus on advancing medical tools for non-invasive diagnostics and early disease detection.

Moreover, Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of over 8.5% during the forecast period.

Key Players:

The key players operating in the thermal imaging market are Teledyne FLIR LLC (U.S.) (a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (U.S.)), Fluke Corporation (U.S.), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy), Axis Communications AB (Sweden), BAE Systems plc (U.K.), RTX Corporation (U.S.), Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), Testo SE & Co. KGaA (Germany), Thales Group (France), Seek Thermal, Inc. (U.S.), Exosens (France), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), Trijicon, Inc. (U.S.), Cantronic Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Safran Group (France), Zhejiang Dali Technology Co., Ltd. (China), HT Italia S.r.l. (Italy), Thermoteknix Systems Ltd. (U.K.), and Bullard (U.S.).

Download Sample Report Here @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5978

Key questions answered in the report-

Which are the high-growth market segments based on type, technology, wavelength, application, and geography?

What was the historical market for the thermal imaging market?

What are the market forecasts and estimates for the period 2025–2032?

What are the major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges in the thermal imaging market?

Who are the major players, and what shares do they hold in the thermal imaging market?

What is the competitive landscape in the thermal imaging market?

What are the recent developments in the thermal imaging market?

What do the major players adopt the different strategies in the thermal imaging market?

What are the key geographic trends, and which are the high-growth countries?

Who are the local emerging players in the global thermal imaging market, and how do they compete with the other players?

Contact Us: Meticulous Research® Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Contact Sales- +1-646-781-8004 Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research

Meticulous Research®—a leading global market research company, published a research report titled, ‘Thermal Imaging Market by Type (Handheld Cameras, Fixed Cameras, Scopes, Modules), Technology (Cooled, Uncooled), Wavelength (SWIR, MWIR, LWIR), Application (Security & Surveillance) - Global Forecast to 2032’

According to the latest publication from Meticulous Research®, the thermal imaging market is expected to reach $7.8 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2025 to 2032. This market’s growth is attributed to several factors, such as the growing need for surveillance & security solutions and the increasing utilization of thermal imaging in manufacturing and industrial settings. Additionally, the surge in demand for thermal imaging in healthcare, growing military & defense expenditure in advanced surveillance technologies, and rising unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are expected to create market growth opportunities. However, the availability of alternative imaging technologies, such as visible light cameras & radar systems, may restrain the growth of this market.

On the other hand, the high cost of thermal imaging devices is a major challenge for the players operating in this market.

The global thermal imaging market is segmented by type, technology, wavelength, and application. This study also evaluates end-user industry competitors and analyzes the market at the region/country level.

Based on type, the thermal imaging market is broadly segmented into handheld/portable cameras, fixed/mounted cameras, scopes & eyewear, and modules. In 2025, the portable or handheld cameras segment is expected to account for the largest share, over 55.0%. This segment's large market share is attributed to its features, such as ease of use and portability, and the growing use of portable or handheld cameras for field inspection & maintenance and emergency and rescue operations.

However, the fixed/mounted cameras segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This segment’s growth is driven by its ability to provide continuous, high-precision, real-time monitoring of critical infrastructure without the need for manual intervention, to withstand harsh environmental conditions, and its increasing demand for fixed thermal cameras for integrating with automated security and monitoring systems.

Based on technology, the thermal imaging market is segmented into cooled thermal imaging and uncooled thermal imaging. In 2025, the cooled thermal imaging segment is expected to account for a larger share of over 64.0% of the thermal imaging market. This segment’s large market share is due to its sensitivity, high accuracy, long-range detection, and image resolution, which allows for the detection of minute temperature differences and the capture of detailed thermal images and increasing use of cooled thermal imaging for extreme environmental conditions, such as high-temperature industrial environments or cold regions.

However, the uncooled thermal imaging segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This segment’s growth is driven by its features, including cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, reduced operational costs, and growing demand for uncooled thermal imaging products in applications such as building diagnostics, wildlife monitoring, emergency response, law enforcement, and temporary monitoring needs in various scenarios.

Based on wavelength, the thermal imaging market is segmented into shortwave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), and longwave infrared (LWIR). In 2025, the LWIR segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 49.0% of the thermal imaging market. The growing use of LWIR cameras in environmental monitoring, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), security and surveillance, and the need to detect thermal radiation emitted by objects across various industries are the main causes of this segment's large market share. Other factors include the segment's ability to provide non-contact temperature measurement for monitoring high-temperature processes and equipment, and its cost-effectiveness in comparison to MWIR and SWIR systems.

However, the SWIR segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven by its superior image contrast and detail, enhanced capability to ensure clear visibility in challenging environmental conditions, including smoke, fog, and haze, and growing demand for SWIR technology in medical diagnostics for non-invasive imaging.

Based on application, the thermal imaging market is segmented into aerospace & defense, security & surveillance, building & construction, personal vision systems, healthcare & medical diagnostics, energy & utilities, agriculture, research & development, search & rescue operations, marine systems, and other applications. In 2025, the security & surveillance segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 41.0% of the thermal imaging market. The growing need for improved surveillance capabilities, such as visibility in low light and obscured conditions, the growing use of thermal imaging to improve perimeter security for securing sensitive facilities and high-profile events, and the growing integration of thermal cameras into smart security systems to the overall effectiveness of security measures are all factors contributing to this segment's large market share.

However, the healthcare & medical diagnostics segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is being driven by an increase in demand for thermal imaging technology owing to its non-invasive nature for early disease detection by identifying abnormal heat patterns associated with conditions such as breast cancer, vascular disorders, and inflammation, and an increase in the use of thermal imaging for fever screening in public areas and in veterinary medicine to diagnose and monitor health conditions in animals.

Based on geography, the thermal imaging market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2025, North America is expected to account for the largest share of over 36.0% of the thermal imaging market.

North America's significant market share can be attributed to several key factors, including rising concerns over terrorism, crime, and public safety, increasing deployment of thermal imaging in large-scale surveillance applications such as city-wide monitoring or border control, increasing technological advancements in thermal imaging, high investments in advanced technologies for military and defense applications, and growing focus on advancing medical tools for non-invasive diagnostics and early disease detection.

Moreover, Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of over 8.5% during the forecast period.

Key Players:

The key players operating in the thermal imaging market are Teledyne FLIR LLC (U.S.) (a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (U.S.)), Fluke Corporation (U.S.), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy), Axis Communications AB (Sweden), BAE Systems plc (U.K.), RTX Corporation (U.S.), Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), Testo SE & Co. KGaA (Germany), Thales Group (France), Seek Thermal, Inc. (U.S.), Exosens (France), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), Trijicon, Inc. (U.S.), Cantronic Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Safran Group (France), Zhejiang Dali Technology Co., Ltd. (China), HT Italia S.r.l. (Italy), Thermoteknix Systems Ltd. (U.K.), and Bullard (U.S.).

Download Sample Report Here @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5978

Key questions answered in the report-

Which are the high-growth market segments based on type, technology, wavelength, application, and geography?

What was the historical market for the thermal imaging market?

What are the market forecasts and estimates for the period 2025–2032?

What are the major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges in the thermal imaging market?

Who are the major players, and what shares do they hold in the thermal imaging market?

What is the competitive landscape in the thermal imaging market?

What are the recent developments in the thermal imaging market?

What do the major players adopt the different strategies in the thermal imaging market?

What are the key geographic trends, and which are the high-growth countries?

Who are the local emerging players in the global thermal imaging market, and how do they compete with the other players?

Contact Us: Meticulous Research® Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Contact Sales- +1-646-781-8004 Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research

[nrdmssgs]

Darker matters (part 7)

Masterlist Previous part Next part

Angst Pairing: Nikolai x Olga 'Zhar' Samoilova Summary: The rescue mission Warnings: Swearing, description of physical damages.

Author's note: I am sorry, if my Ghost is not great. Thanks: My very important people: @siilvan, @homicidal-slvt, @sofasoap and @gamergirlbonestaskforce141riot. And my dearest @pale-elysium!

Despite his callsign, Snudge is a good fella: follows the orders, gets shit done and knows better than to ask too many questions. Maybe that helped him into Sedmis inner circle, that gathered around the monitors now. Despite their apparent winning position, everybody were silent, waiting for their bosses command.

“Can you believe it? The bitch is so desperate - she marches to my place with her mans favorite toy…” Sedmi sounds clearly amused, watching a combat helicopter, caught by both their radars and cameras. 

Something doesn't add up in this whole situation: a spiced Lieutenant, even the one banished out of some special forces, not even trying to hide the start of their platoons attack, sounds off. But Snudge is being paid for an effective work - not for doubts. So he keeps his mouth shut.

They all watch as the base's air defense system, the one good enough to battle against several warplanes, takes the lonely enemy helicopter down. Dense smoke clouds engulf the shot down bird of iron, while it's still up in the air. Something turns the helicopter around with incredible force, tilts it nose down, and it disappears on the ground behind tall trees. Their cameras don't record sounds, so instead of a loud crashing noise, they hear only a distant echo. 

It all feels so strange: one minute they foretaste a good fight with Nikolais army, and the very next minute it's all done. No battle, no nothing practically. One word gets stuck in Snudges head: anticlimactic.

Even Sedmi`s command to go fetch the bodies doesn't lift the mood in the room: everybody awaited at least some action. And their enemies turned out to be just a waste of space and time. 

“Years of building your PMC, just for some girl to waste it completely in a few minutes. What a shame,” thought Snudge to himself, driving their transport to the destination point.

The dark pillar of smoke hides behind tall trees as they approach the crash site and Snudge winces at the mixture of smells of burning rags, metal, plastic and something else. The clearing where the wreckage landed is a scene of desolation, when they finally arrive. The helicopter lay twisted and contorted, its once sleek frame now a gnarled skeleton.

Snudge is one of the last to exit their vehicle and walk around scattered debris. The shrapnel of the missile, bits of molten metal, and the shredded remains of the helicopter's fuselage litter the forest floor. He turns over some smoking package with the toe of his boot and tries to read what is written on it.

“Snudge! Come here!” One of his squadmates calls him, and he comes closer to the helicopter. It's hard to see what's inside with the smoke clouding his vision, but he can make out the outlines of several bodies.

"Ever heard of this bastard, Krueger?” His squadmate drags one of the bodies away from intense smoke. Snudge shakes his head and his colleague grins, looking down at the corpse with a face covered with dirty and half-burnt tactical net.

“They say, ‘if it speaks German and you don't see its face - run as fast as you can’. Well, good news, Snudge: looks like this fucker won't speak anymore. You can take a peek.” 

“Huge son of a-,” Snudge starts mumbling, but the words get stuck in his mouth as he peels back the net from the corpse's face. 

He never saw that ‘Krueger’ guy, yet the face is too familiar. Snudge met this man for a good dozen of times on Sedmis personal bodyguards rotations. This is surreal, impossible even: the guy was supposed to guard one of Sedmis residences. Yet here he was, his bosses family bodyguard. Dead. Dragged out from the Chimeras helicopter. Fighting a wave of disgust, Snudge unbuttons the jacket on the corpse and his worst fear gets confirmed: before him lies not a Chimera soldier, but one of his own colleagues. Killed long before the crash and dressed up in cheap imitation tactical gear.

“High alert, everybody!” That's the last thing, Snudge hears before his first squadmate falls before him, shot right in the temple. 

Suddenly, the tranquility shatters into chaos as a barrage of gunfire erupts from the surrounding trees. Bullets whiz through the air, ripping through foliage and flesh alike.

Snudge ducks down, scrambling for cover, his training kicking in. “The bitch was never desperate, she baited us, lured here to slaughter one by one,” cries out loud frightened voice in his head.

He sees his squadmates becoming disoriented, trying to identify the source of the relentless onslaught. Notices the assailants, camouflaged expertly among the dense foliage, picking off their targets with ruthless precision. Snudge can't think straight anymore, but his body automatically crawls under one of the cooling wreckages of the helicopter.

Anguished cries, mixed with the staccato rhythm of gunfire, create a chilling symphony of chaos and despair around him. It is only when all the sounds die, Snudges heart starts racing at a chilling thought: he hasn't reported back to the base, when he had a chance to do that while remaining unheard by his enemies.

In the dead silence fallen around him, Snudge hears approaching footsteps and a melody, whistled lowly. He covers his mouth with the hand and watches a tall Chimera mercenary checking on his colleagues and cutting the throats of those, who still breathed, when he came. Mercenary face is covered with a tactical net, so Snudge can't see his eyes, when he turns and looks in his direction.

“Krueger, three more minutes!” Shouts someone from afar.

Mercenary doesn't move. Only mumbles ‘es gab ein mehr…*’. Snudge gulps, remembering the last words of his squadmate. “If it speaks German and you don't see its face - run as fast as you can.” Only running is useless in his situation - the enemy is too close. 

Suddenly, all the radios of Snudges group wake up with the loud “Group 1-3 report your status, over.” All the radios including his. 

The mercenary with the covered face chuckles darkly and takes a step closer to where Snudge is hiding. 

“Eckstein, Eckstein, alles muss versteckt sein…*” half-hisses, half-murmurs mercenary, approaching him.

Snudge closes his eyes, breathes in and turns on his radio to make the last report back on the base.

***

Olga breathes heavily, leaning against the enemy base wall. The sprint through a dense forest with brief pauses on more or less open areas, where the enemies could reach her only to fall to Ghosts sniping, was a good idea, but only in theory. In reality, her body deprived of sleep, food and water was on the verge of giving up.

It's been around fifteen minutes, since Zhar reached the base, but she is still shaking so hard - she can't even undo her west to readjust the gear. 

“You'll need to lighten your loadout if you want to go in.” Simons' voice appears above her ears and Olga frowns.

“Didn't I command you to get the hell away, after you're done with sniping?”

“You didn't mention all the fun with Nikolais helicopter back then. Now I'm obliged to stay and witness his reaction.” Ghost ignores the irritation, that is clear in Zhars voice, and helps her take off the side part of the vest.

“My operation is not a Sunday fair, Lieutenant.” Olga grunts, but still takes out a printed base plan and starts tracing floor after floor with fingers, trying to decide, where can she use Ghosts help.

“... fucking Disneyland, if you ask me,” hums Simon, helping her with the other side part.

They were almost done with the planning, when someone barked ‘the fuck is this one doing here?’ from the darkness of the forest. Before Ghost could react, Olga straightens her back, her eyes growing cold, predatory even. This is not the Lieutenant, that left TF 141 once, anymore. Before Ghost stands the head of Chimera.

“You will address to my colleague using his rank. It is not ‘this one’, it is Lieutenant to you.” Her voice is cold and low - Olga always spoke quieter, when she was angry.

“Your Lieutenant is going to have Nikolai killed! Commander, dismiss him now! There's nothing, he can do, that I can't.” Krueger approaches them two quickly.

“I can watch and learn, without suffocating on my own ego, kid.” Ghost seems unbothered by the new face, even though that face is anything, but friendly.

“You say that again to my-”

“Enough!” Kruegers gun was meant to threaten Ghost, but Olga comes right onto it, ignoring the cocked hammer. She drags him far enough for Ghost to not hear, what she's about to say to her soldier. 

When Zhar comes back alone, her face is a bit more colorful. 

“He's always such a charmer?” Simon inspects his equipment, but notices Olga helplessly waving away.

“Krueger… deserves a much better commander. And I'm getting him one back today. No matter, what it takes.” Ghost freezes for a moment. He knows, it is not his time to teach Olga, so he just makes a mental note to watch her back today.

“Last thing, Simon.” She shows Ghost a photo of a man on her smartphone. “They call him Sedmi. The man, that took Nik. In case you find him first - Sedmi stays alive until I talk to him. I don't care, how intense he fights, I don't care, how much he insults you or your beloved ones - this man stays alive until I say otherwise. That's the only term, that I'm letting you inside on.”

Ghost nods instead of an answer: he was never too easy to provoke. Part of him wants to ask Olga to stay and let him do all the work, but he knows, she won't listen to him. 

Two grappling hooks are launched synchronously: while Chimera groups are getting ready to infiltrate the base, starting from the ground floor - Zhar and Ghost are to make sure, enemy intel rooms are out of the game. After climbing up towards a dark window, Olga checks her watch. Ghost freezes, waiting for the command. 

Concerned voices are heard from below, something heavy falls and rolls loudly across the floor. The next moment, an explosion thunders at the opposite end of the building. Zhar looks up at Ghost and smiles unkindly. The next time, she speaks, her voice sounds unfamiliar, although, the phrase she uses comes from their operations in the Task Force.

"Hell is empty, soldier."

***

Simon would never admit it, but it was nice to be part of a private military operation, away from civilians. Of course, Prices group was his home, but a complete freedom, he got with Chimeras, was, in its own strange way, intoxicating. 

Remain unseen, and you can clean up room after room. Methodically and silently, just as he loves it. Ghost didn't even fire his gun - there was enough time to slaughter every last one of the enemies with a knife and a little bit of creative thinking.

Keep an eye out for Sedmi, and you can do as you please with others. Nobody cares, how ugly the aftermath of your work looks like - none of these nameless faces will ever be on news. At one point, Ghost and Zhar break in the intel security center with a few operators, monitoring video streams from surveillance cameras and reporting on Chimera groups dispositions. They neutralize two of the three operators and split: Simon works magic on the keyboard, trying to disable surveillance systems and alarms, and Olga rushes after the escaped soldier. She reaches him somewhere in the hall. Ghost turns to check on her and is relieved to notice that she has already knocked the poor guy to the ground. The soldier tries to defend his life with an entrenching shovel, that he got god knows where, but Zhar forcefully snatches the improvised weapon from his hands and hits him in the face with the tip of a shovel. 

Watch Zhars six and everything will be alright. Ghost hasn't forgotten that. He watches as she turns guys face into a bloody mess of flesh and bones, growling, ‘these are my people, you're trying to hunt down’. He looks, even when her strikes lose any practical purpose, because the solder under her breathes no more. Simon turns away for what feels like a moment. But it is enough.

He hears a short curse and heavy stomping echoing down the corridor. When Simon finally turns off the surveillance system and runs out of the room, he sees a tall, heavyset fighter pinning Zhar against the wall and strangling her with the shaft of the shovel that was in her hands a moment ago. Ghost's hand is already touching the holster when Olga, with incredible effort, twists herself out of the soldier's steel grip. She manages to take a few steps to the side when her opponent throws a bloody shaft after her. It flies over her head and breaks half of the window glass behind her. 

A cloud of glass engulfs her for a brief moment, and she covers her face with hands, losing sight of her opponent. And this is enough for his winning move: the soldier jumps up to her, grabs her by the shoulder and neck, and forcefully pushes her straight onto the broken glass still sticking out in the window frame.

With a quiet crack, the glass disappears somewhere under her ribs. Olga makes a strange sound: not a scream, but rather a hoarse exhalation, as if all the air was leaving her lungs at once. Ghost rushes towards her as fast as he can.

Krueger appears on the opposite side of the hall, pointing his gun at the soldier, pushing Zhars side down on sharp glass. All he sees is his commander in a need of help. He doesn't care for Ghost running to Olga and screaming ‘don't shoot’. Krueger pulls the trigger and his bullet is sent right in soldier's head. 

The enemy freezes, opens his mouth, loses his balance and falls on top of Olga with his whole body, making the last centimeters of glass disappear somewhere deep in her flesh.

“F-f-fuck!” Simon pulls the dead body away from Zhar and feels, how his hands run cold, while her pupils grow wide. 

All, Krueger saw was Olga fighting a soldier, not being able to push herself away from the window for some reason. All, Simon saw at that moment, were his own hands, removing side sections of her vest before the operation, leaving her without any defense in these areas.

es gab ein mehr - there was one more

Eckstein, Eckstein, alles muss versteckt sein - come out, come out, wherever you are

[berryhobii]

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH! 🤎🤎🤎

For Day 2, I wanted to give a list of black inventors and their inventions. Due to the whitewashing of history, many people don’t know about the revolutionary inventions that black people created. Some inventions were stolen by white inventors and patented so that these black inventors never got credit or revenue. There were also many instances of discrimination that didn’t allow black inventors to patent their inventions; they were often asked for extensive proof and sometimes, their inventions were destroyed and the ideas were given to white inventors to take credit for instead. Thankfully, that isn’t the case anymore and black inventors have ingrained themselves into history books and text. Let us look at some of the inventions that make life today much easier.

Michael Croslin(1933-1989): Blood Pulse and Monitoring Device

Frederick McKinley Jones(1893-1961): Roof Mounted Refrigeration for Vehicles

Garrett Morgan(1877-1963): Gas Mask and 3 Light Traffic Signal

Sarah Boone(1847-1904): Improved Ironing Board

Mary Van Brittan Brown(1922-1999): Home Camera Security System

Alexander Miles: Automatic Elevator Doors

Henry Brown(1800s):Safe Deposit Box

Alfred L. Cralle(1866-1920): Ice Cream Scoop

Lyda Newman(1898): Synthetic Hairbrush

Doctor Shirley Jackson: Breakthroughs in scientific research that allowed others to create call waiting, Caller ID, the portable fax and many others

Albert Richardson(1894): Casket Lowering System

Doctor Patricia Bath(1986): Invented Laser Probe that revolutionized cataract and other eyes surgeries, even restoring the sight of many individuals

George Crum(1824-1914): Potato Chips

Charles Drew(1904-1950): Blood Banks

David N. Crosthwait(1898-1976): Heating System

These are just a few of the hundreds of things black people have invented and so many of them are used to make life easier and better. So we thank all of these inventors for what they endured and the study they set forth to give us not only simple luxuries and pleasures but also advancements in medicine and science.

THANK YOU BLACK INVENTORS AND SCIENTISTS🤎🤎🤎🤎

[loncinatv]

How to Ensure the Safety of LONCIN XWolf 1000

As a high - performance all - terrain motorcycle, the LONCIN XWolf 1000 has gained the attention of many motorcycle enthusiasts. Safety is always the top priority in riding. How to ensure the safety of the LONCIN XWolf 1000 has become a crucial topic for riders. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on ensuring the safety of the LONCIN XWolf 1000 from multiple aspects, including design and manufacturing, active and passive safety configurations, riding operation, maintenance, and the riders themselves. By following these guidelines, riders can enhance their riding experience and ensure their safety on the road.

Design and Manufacturing Stage

Rigorous Design and Development : During the design phase of the LONCIN XWolf 1000, a forward - looking approach is applied to the development of key systems such as the chassis and control systems. Advanced development tools are utilized for simulation analysis to eliminate design flaws. Moreover, a stringent testing and validation process with well - established testing conditions is implemented to ensure the vehicle's performance and safety across various conditions.

Strict Quality Control : Loncin possesses a robust quality control system and a specialized quality tracing mechanism. This guarantees that every stage of the LONCIN XWolf 1000's production meets high - quality standards, thereby achieving zero - defect delivery of products and providing a solid foundation for the vehicle's safety from its origin.

Active Safety Features

Advanced Braking System : The LONCIN XWolf 1000 is equipped with Bosch's latest 9.1 - generation ABS anti - lock braking system. It effectively prevents wheel lock - up, enabling the vehicle to maintain controllability during emergency braking and reducing the risk of accidents. Additionally, the system allows for software upgrades to unlock cornering braking capabilities, further enhancing braking safety and flexibility.

Vehicle Stability Control System : Its switchable vehicle stability control system (VSC) is a significant advantage. On complex roads, activating VSC helps maintain vehicle stability and prevents dangerous situations like skidding and loss of control due to excessive speed or improper operation. Meanwhile, in special conditions, temporarily deactivating VSC provides professional riders with more freedom of control.

Passive Safety Features

Robust Body Structure : A higher - strength body structure is adopted in the design, with critical parts made of high - strength steel. This enhances the vehicle's overall rigidity and anti - deformation capability. In the event of a collision or similar accidents, it can better protect the safety of riders.

Comprehensive Airbag System : The vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive airbag system, including dual knee - airbags. These airbags can rapidly deploy in the event of a collision, providing full - scale cushioning protection for riders and reducing the risk of injuries to vital areas such as the head and chest.

Driving Assistance Systems

Environmental Perception and Warning : The LONCIN XWolf 1000 is equipped with advanced sensors such as millimeter - wave radar, ultrasonic radar, and high - pixel cameras. These enable real - time perception and monitoring of the surrounding environment. Based on this, it features functions like blind - spot detection, lane - change assistance, and collision warning. These functions promptly alert riders to potential dangers, allowing them to take appropriate measures in advance and prevent accidents.

Smart Connectivity and Remote Monitoring : With vehicle - to - machine connectivity, users can utilize mobile devices such as smartphones for remote control, remote fault diagnosis, and troubleshooting. means This that in the event of vehicle abnormalities or potential faults, users can be promptly informed and take measures to eliminate safety hazards in the bud.

Riding Operation Level

Proper Use of Riding Modes : The LONCIN XWolf 1000 offers six adjustable riding modes: Economy, Rain, Sport, Snow, Off - road, and Manual. Riders should select the appropriate mode based on different road conditions and riding requirements to ensure vehicle stability and safety. For instance, on wet roads like rainy or snowy surfaces, choosing the corresponding Rain or Snow mode allows the vehicle to automatically adjust power output and braking system parameters, thereby enhancing riding safety.

Correct Operation of Vehicle Functions : Familiarize and operate the vehicle's various functions correctly, such as electronic suspension adjustment and hill - descent control. On different roads, reasonably adjusting the electronic suspension's stiffness can improve vehicle comfort and controllability. Meanwhile, when descending slopes, using hill - descent control effectively regulates vehicle speed, reduces the load on the braking system, and prevents potential dangers like brake failure due to frequent braking.

Maintenance Level

Regular Inspection and Maintenance : Follow the manufacturer's recommendations and conduct regular inspections and maintenance of the LONCIN XWolf 1000. This includes replacing consumable parts such as engine oil, air filters, and oil filters, as well as checking the wear of key components like the braking system, tires, and chains. Timely repairs or replacements should be carried out. Regular maintenance ensures the vehicle's optimal performance and reduces the risk of mechanical failures that could lead to safety accidents.

Keep Up with Software Updates : Stay informed about software updates for the vehicle and perform necessary upgrades. Software updates may include optimizations and improvements to the vehicle's control systems and safety systems, thereby enhancing its safety and overall performance. For example, upgrading the Bosch latest 9.1 - generation ABS software can unlock cornering braking capabilities, further improving braking safety.

Rider's Level

Improving Riding Skills : Riders should continuously learn and enhance their riding skills, understand the performance and characteristics of the LONCIN XWolf 1000, and master driving techniques for various road conditions and environments. Attending professional riding training courses or learning from experienced riders can better equip them to handle complex riding scenarios and ensure safe riding.

Complying with Traffic Rules : Strictly adhere to traffic rules and local laws and regulations. Avoid speeding, drunk driving, fatigued driving, and other unsafe behaviors. Good riding habits and awareness of traffic rules are crucial for ensuring the safety of riders and others, as well as for maintaining traffic order.

Conclusion

The safety of the LONCIN XWolf 1000 is the result of multiple factors working together. It requires joint efforts from vehicle manufacturers, riders, and other stakeholders. By focusing on every aspect from design and manufacturing, configuration and use, maintenance and maintenance to riding habits, we can ensure the safety of the LONCIN XWolf 1000 in a comprehensive manner. Only in this way can riders better enjoy the fun of riding while ensuring their personal safety.