#Five Element Configuration

[gear-project]

I’ve been meaning to ask, but how does magic work in the Guilty Gear-verse?

I discussed this more specifically in the Magic+Defined tag and Magic tag, but it might still be hard to visualize and process if you can’t fully picture it.

In simple terms it’s like a code language with functions that “tell things” to happen. A lot of the middle-work needed for most common spells is pre-written on objects like Instroments, even Zeal is its own kind of key function command, though it appears as liquid fuel.

On an even more basic level, it’s energy itself. Fire, Lightning, Water, Wind, Ki (Qi or Life Energy), Kinetics, Physics, etc. Even Sound is a kind of mixture of elements.

Most fundamental of all is Ki energy, which is what sustains life in the world, though beings like Gears and Demihumans (and Valentines) have a much higher capacity for Magic than most untrained Humans do. But it can also be said that a trained Sorcerer (Magic Arts user) is superhuman in and of themselves.

The key difference is how individuals tap in to their own Magic, increase it, and manifest it. Just like how Meditation can calm the mind and spirit, Breathing techniques and internal energy control can bring out the true potential, even of Humans.

It may be hard to visualize, but most active Gears have a sustained connection with the Backyard as an energy source, through their core, almost like a living rechargeable battery cell.

While Humans don’t have that constant connection, we have the ability to tap in to and harmonize with surrounding energy, and sometimes make it our own on an elemental level.

But even that surrounding energy comes from the Backyard space, it’s all part of what defines this world AND us as living beings.

It does, however, require a great deal of concentration, focus, and the capacity to visualize it. Just like Demihumans are born from Human Folklore and Fictional Tales, our Imagination is vital to establishing that link.

And it’s not something you can absolutely physically visualize, either. Often it comes in the form of sensing a change in the flow of things like circulation, pulse, or even just a warm or cool pressure when in proximity to things around you.

It’s also easier to visualize an element you most commonly associate yourself with. Your natural predisposition, habits, and environment in other words.

Water, for example, is an everyday necessity for living, even if we don’t always think about it, it’s also partially in the air we breathe to an extent. If we are in regular contact with it, it becomes much easier to visualize.

Of course, more energy-intensive elements are harder to establish a link with, particularly Fire and Lightning. But, with some safe preparation and prevention, we can also experiment with those elements too. Often users of those elements use Instroments as a medium or trigger for their Magic. Just like a Zippo Lighter can produce a spark and small flame.

For users of the Ki element, it is quite literally a mastery of the body they have to focus on. Not just strength, but senses and awareness, reflexive speed, and familiarity with various techniques and stance forms to bring out and optimize that power. Often a sword or various other weapons and tools are needed to bring out that potential.

Even things like Dreams and Strong Emotions can influence our internal state. That may sound obvious, but it has a stronger effect on the Backyard than even we are often aware of. It even has the power to harmonize with people around us we come in contact with or show concern for!

Sympathy, Empathy, “Reading the Air in the Room”, Love, Piety, are all very much a part of that. It’s also part of our instincts and senses.

In conclusion, it is in your common everyday experiences, things you touch and that surround you, even if you’re not always aware of it all.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Days of Yore

Warnings: some dark elements. Not all kinks or triggers are tagged. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

Summary: You show up uninvited but are welcomed nonetheless.

Character: Geralt of Rivia

Day Twenty-Five of the December Daze Challenge.

Prompt -an unexpected guest at the holiday get together.

Note: As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging.

“Wow,” you gape up at the immaculate array of lights strung across the facade. “This place is amazing. Who’s house is this?” 

“A friend of a friend’s, I don’t know,” Wendy shrugs. 

“A friend... Oh? Are you sure it’s okay we’re here?” You wonder with a furrow between your brows. You now feel a bit foolish for getting all done up when you might not even have been invited. 

“Open invite! Besides, no one will notice,” she assures you. 

“Right,” you mutter doubtfully. 

“Loosen up. What else do you got going on, huh?” She grabs your hand and pulls you through the open iron gates. They accentuate the medieval effect of the house. Now you don’t feel done up enough. 

“Not much, I guess,” you admit. If anything, you’ll get a bit of free food then ditch. It's not the first time you’ve unintentionally party-crashed with your wayward friend. 

“You know Sienna, it will be fine,” she tuts and comes up to the front doors.  

Again, you’re awed by the aesthetic of it all. You notice that the lights aren’t coloured, but only white, and the decor doesn’t bear the typical Santa or candy cane theme. In fact, it all has a historic tint. Traditional in a strange way. Dried oranges hung on long strings and holly twisted into bunches. For a moment, you’re remind of that dusty history degree hidden in the back of your closet. 

Wendy knocks with the heavy iron knocker. She waits and chatters as she wiggles her legs below her short skirt. She didn’t dress for the temperature. She searches the door frame and grumbles. 

“You think someone who could afford this place would have a doorcam or something,” she chuffs out a cloud of steam. 

The door opens and startles you both. You look over as Wendy as good as jumps inside. She seizes the woman who keeps a hand on the door. 

“Kami! You look... nice,” she holds her and gives her an eye up and down, “is this velvet?” She drags her hands down the green fabric. 

“Designer,” Kami pushes away her touch. “You brought a friend.” 

“Yeah, Sienna said so--” 

“Mm, sure, it’s just... whatever. No one will notice,” Kami rolls her eyes. “You have to come. Lucas has the funniest story! I was just dying.” 

Your shoulders fall and you clasp your hands together. You trail after, unwelcome and unacknowledged. Uninvited. You frown and silently configure how you can excuse yourself and leave. If you wait long enough, Wendy will forget about you. It might be easier to sneak out. 

You stop to hang your coat with all the rest and Kami makes a point of telling you to take your boots off. The floors are old wood, polished and well-kept. The entire house is immaculate. An antique on its own. 

You follow them into a high-ceilinged room adorned in strings of threaded popcorn and dried clusters of flowers. The air is fragrant as mulled cider steams in a heated bowl on a table, copper cups waiting to be filled, and dishes of appetizers in a line. The smell makes your stomach churn hungrily. 

“Who the hell owns this place?” Wendy asks the question nibbling on your ears. 

“Oh, he’s a funny guy,” Kami chuckles. “A bit... eccentric. Sienna’s been trying to loosen him up a bit, I mean... look at this house. That’s a good bag.” 

You try not to show your disapproval. You don’t have much luck with men but hearing the way some of your friends talk about them, you don’t know that you’re cut out for it all. It really doesn’t seem that anyone is out for a genuine connection, they just want a good set-up.

Can you really blame them? You’ve been handwashing your clothes since your building hiked up the machine prices. Turns out a couple quarters can really break the bank. 

Your guilt compounds as you realise that you’ve cosigned this entire extortionate affair. This party seems to have been a ploy by a hopeful prize winner. You know Sienna and she’s always sure to show you her Fenti and point out the label, though she can never remember the name of the man who bought it. 

“So what? He gave her full run to do all this? It's not really her... style. I expected more pink,” Wendy scoffs. 

“Nope, he’s a tight ass apparently. They were up for nights making the decorations and the food.” 

“What?” She squeals in surprises as your whispers from your mouth. That’s a lot of work. 

“Very old-fashioned,” Kami remarks. “But he’s not just rich you know, he’s fucking hot.” 

“Ah, jackpot,” Wendy giggles. 

You keep behind them, as good as hiding behind them. You bob and clutch your purse as Lucas excitedly hugs Wendy and Sienna drunkenly echoes him. You know a few of the partygoers standing with them but none of them even look in your direction. It seems Wendy’s already forgotten you. 

This is why you said no at first. This is how it always goes but she begged and begged, guilting you fro making her show up alone. What about you? Why is it okay to ditch you every time? 

You glance around. There are just as many strangers and none of them seem eager to mingle past their trio or pairing. You wish Wendy mentioned the dress code. You don’t think your H&M clearance rack attire is very suiting. 

As an elbow hits your arm, you back up. No apology. You’re a piece of decor to these people. You back up and turn. Well, no one else seems to want to indulge. What a weird party. 

You go to the table and take a cup. It’s times like these that you enjoy being invisible. College was tough, you longed to be noticed, to be like the other girls. Since then, you’ve grown comfortable with just being there. It’s much safer. 

You ladle the cider into a mug and the steam roils from the top. A slice of blood orange and a few cranberries float in the rich amber liquid. You blow over it and retreat. The warmth is a comfort. It makes you feel a little less out-of-place. 

As you turn, you nearly collide with another. You bring your other hand up to steady the cup and barely keep from sloshing the cider all over. You squeak and step back on your heel, your eyes skimming up the large figure in front of you.  

You haven’t seen eyes like those since... 

“Geralt?” You utter dumbly. 

He looks down at you. He looks different but not. He always had his own vibe. The white hair, the bright eyes, he wore his individuality without meaning too. Yet some things are his own doing. 

When you were in Early Modern History or Medieval Weaponry and Warfare together, he always dressed as if the clocks were set back to the Victorian era. Stiff jackets, high collared shirts, even a pocket watch. He was a bit of a dweeb then but too big for anyone to say so. And he was the only person who wanted to talk about history outside the lectures. 

Now he wears a tunic, silver trim on black, slightly less stuffy but just as dated. Half of his hair is twisted back behind his head, the tails of it spilling past his shoulders. 

He says your name and tilts his head, “I didn’t invite you.” 

It’s a statement that makes your heart sink. You peer down at your cup then around the room. “I’m sorry, my friend, she knows Sienna, she--” 

“It’s good to see you,” he interrupts. “It’s been a very long time.” 

You wince and dare to look at him again. “Yes, college was a while ago.” You slanted your lips and press your hands to the hot metal cup. “This is your house? It’s very nice.” 

“It is. I don’t often entertain, so mind the cobwebs,” he intones. He still has that way of speaking; so matter-of-fact. “It wasn’t my idea.” 

“Mm, right,” you nod. 

“Is the cider good? I found the recipe in an old journal from 1764.” 

“Of course you did,” you hold back a laugh. 

“Of course...” he begins to repeat curiously. 

“It’s all very you, is all,” you say. 

“I suppose,” he agrees. 

You smile shakily and swallow. You make yourself try the cider. It’s hot but not scalding. A very spiced. Not in a bad way, you just don’t expect that much. 

“Mm, it’s... heady.” 

“Mulled for days,” he explains. He shifts on his feet and smooths his tunic. “Can I show you something?” 

“Um, sure,” you accept. “It’s not the door, is it?” 

He lets out a small snort, “leave the cider.” 

You peer around and he takes the cup from you. He puts it down on a leather coaster on a tall wooden table and beckons you after him. You peek back as you sense a hush and notice that Sienna and the rest of them are watching. Great, they already don’t care much for you. 

Geralt stops and waits for you to catch up to him. The staircase is wide enough for both of you. Your ascent is quiet, almost torturously so. 

“You did not bring a boyfriend?” He asks. 

You nearly laugh at the abrupt question. You get to the top of the stairs and he gestures you left. 

“Well, I’d bring my cat. He’s the only guy sleeping in my bed,” you kid. 

He hums but doesn’t comment. 

“So, how’d you meet Sienna?” You ask. 

He shrugs and stops to open a door. He pushes it inward and reaches around the frame to turn on the lights. He waits for you to enter first. You do with a gasp at the interior. 

The walls are hung with various weaponry and you can tell at a glance that it’s genuine. It’s like walking into a museum. You traipse forward as you stare and barely notice the door click shut. 

“Wow, how—Geralt, how the heck—what do you do? I mean, how can you afford all this?” 

“I make replicas for TV and stage productions,” he explains. “This is my personal collection.” 

“It’s... wow,” you hug yourself, feeling even smaller than before. 

He’s quiet again. That’s just how he’s always been. He never said more than he needed to. It made studying very easy. 

“You asked about Sienna. She is persistent but we are older now. I don’t see her as viable,” he says. Again, just a fact, nothing emotional. 

“Oh, uh, well, I heard otherwise. Maybe you should tell her that,” you chuckle nervously as you admire the executioner’s sword with its blunt tip. 

“Perhaps,” he agrees as he slowly crosses the room to stand next to you. “I’m... pleased that you showed up. It is a coincidence, isn’t it?” 

“Sure, must be,” you agree. 

You keep your eyes on the groove in the blade as you feel his on you. You sidle along and turn your head away from him. The door is shut. He stays close. 

“Here,” he steps around you, startling you. 

You spin as he goes to a large wooden chest on a table. “The smaller things are in here. Thumb screws, some daggers...” he flips open the lid as you turn and follow, keeping your distance. He holds up a curved blade, possibly a jambiya. “Hm, come,” he waves you around as he reaches in again, “you’ll like this one.” 

You sway before you move, hands clasped to each other. You slowly pace around to him and he moves so quickly you nearly stagger. In a moment, there’s a weight around your wrists. You cry out and raise your manacled arms. 

“Geralt!” You exclaim. 

He laughs. You don’t hear that often. You look at him and tug on the chain. 

“Centuries old but they are strong still, yes?” 

You frown, “please, it’s not funny. I don’t like it.” 

“Aren’t they wonderful?” 

“No, Geralt, please, take them off.” 

“Hm, I’d have to find the key...” 

“Don’t play,” you warn. 

His laughter trickles off and his face returns to its stoic mask. He stares at you. Silence rises and roils around you as the chain clinks in the loops of the cuffs and you fidget. You wait for him to pull out the key and undo them. 

Instead, he hooks a thick finger around the links and tugs until your arms are above you. He holds you like that, trapped and prone. You shudder as you stare up at him, terrified at the glint in his pale eyes. 

“I’m not playing,” he intones. “I’ve been waiting to get you in those. Far too long.” 

[dalandduh]

FOUR AND FIVE!!

(and the bugs ig)

I am very aware that I am finishing these at a snailpace,,, I want to draw more but school has me in a chokehold

Its literally so hard to make these and NOT be influenced by other people's versions,,but anyways...

Keep going back and forth if whether i like or hate this design. (Tumultuous relationship with the color green)

Oh also i gave him the little sprout thing because thats an accessory i see other people wear around my school, apparently its more common for people to wear it in edm concerts or music festivals in general. The squares like to party anyway so i think it fits.

Tried so so hard to do glamrock fashion with modern elements but she literally looks like a fashion influencer going to Coachella,, stomps angrily

"Ten Again" lives absolutely rent free in my brain I cannot help it

I dont know who these 2 are to four within the context of them being human??? I did design them with my two gijinka inmind so theyre probably related to him in some way.

I probably wont be doing every alterego (what do i even do with the 10 tapdancing twos) but I do have ideas for some of em,,, we'll see

First 5 down yipeee‼️

and yeah im basing their height on their preferred configurations and not necessarily their "standing tall" height.

[boinkingbattlemechs]

Nova (Black Hawk)

The Nova is a versatile medium OmniMech that is capable of acting as a workhorse design in most forces. In fact, the design is so well balanced that it inspired the creation of the Black Hawk-KU, an Inner Sphere design based on the Nova and named using the Inner Sphere code name for this 'Mech: Black Hawk. The Nova's debut battle was the combined assault on Kindraa Smythe-Jewel on Foster in 2872 launched by the Hell's Horses, Clan Coyote and Kindraa Payne that saw the Smythe-Jewels wiped out as a faction.

Despite the proliferation of the design into the touman of every Clan, the number of Nova OmniMechs has been steadily if slowly diminishing in the Kerensky Cluster. Designed as an early OmniMech by Clan Hell's Horses, the Nova was produced at the famous Tokasha MechWorks beginning in 2870. At the time of its introduction, the Nova was intended for use as infantry support, and was the first OmniMech designed with hardpoints allowing Elementals to easily mount and dismount the chassis, a feature which would become standard among future OmniMech designs across Clan space. However, after Tokasha was taken by Clan Ghost Bear during the Battle of Tokasha, production of the Nova ceased in the Kerensky Cluster in 2921 and while under Ghost Bear control, Tokasha MechWorks would produce just spare parts for the design. Every Clan has since acquired Nova OmniMechs as isorla. Clan Jade Falcon would restart production of the Nova on Sudeten in 3073, over 200 years after the first models left the production line.

Although the last Nova production facility in the Clan Homeworlds was retooled to create Pouncers by 3087, the very few remaining in Clan Space have gotten into the hands of Aggressor faction Mechwarriors.

Equipped with a 250 XL Model SF-2 extralight engine, the Nova has a ground speed of 86.4 km/h that allows it to keep up with most heavy and assault 'Mechs while being outpaced by most lighter 'Mechs. However, the Nova remains very maneuverable through the use of five jump jets, allowing the Nova to jump up to 150 meters. The 14 double heat sinks that the Nova mounts are barely sufficient to handle its heavy heat load of its variants. The Nova is also protected by 10 tons of armor, providing the 'Mech with 96% of its maximum armor protection.

In its Primary configuration the Nova is a devastating close combat 'Mech and battle armor killer that is capable of delivering a powerful barrage with its twelve ER medium lasers. To help it use these as effectively as possible, the Nova has added four more double heat sinks bringing the total up to 18. Even with the added double heat sinks, the Nova Prime is capable of producing almost twice as much heat as it can dissipate.

[outerwildsgeology]

I never realised how much geology overlapped with chemistry. Would you be able to talk a little bit more on bonds?

I'm curious about how you can have different mineral crystal structures maintaining themselves next to each other without each losing their individual properties.

If the connections in crystal structures are already strong, then to have multiple that are compatible enough to 'merge' to form a rock, the chances of that happening are so astronomical, it's kind of wild to imagine it happening organically!

I'm locked in. Thanks for the super detailed science writeup, looking forward to following along with the findings :)

Hey, assassiowl! Thank you so much for the ask, sorry it’s taken us so long to get to it! Neither of us are especially well-versed in chemistry, but we’ve done our best to answer this question with what we know of the basic concepts.

As mentioned in our What is a Rock? post, many of the properties of a mineral come from its atomic structure. The elements it’s made of, and how these atoms are arranged in three dimensional space, impact the shape, strength, porosity, permeability, etc. of the whole mineral. What we didn’t mention was how the type of bonds also matter! 

There are five major types of chemical bonds: ionic, covalent, metallic, van der Waals, and hydrogen. These can impact anything from mineral hardness to its melting point or electrical conductivity. Any given mineral can have many different bonds affecting its atoms. Quartz, which we used as an example in our previous post, is made up of silica tetrahedrons composed of oxygen and silicon atoms. These are held together in roughly equal parts by ionic and covalent bonds, so even within a single mineral, we have different forces at work to maintain its structure. These strong bonds are what make quartz such a hardy mineral!

Fig. 1: The two electric states of a silica tetrahedron (a) that either result in a covalent bond (b) or ionic bond (c) with other silica tetrahedrons. Image source.

These forces are always at play - have charged molecules next to each other, and they will interact in some way. When rocks are forming, it’s important to note that they aren’t inflexible - rocks are dynamic and able to rearrange themselves to accommodate stable molecular interactions! In igneous rocks, for example, which form from magmas, this happens when minerals crystalise independently in the melt. Some minerals crystalise out of magmas first, and float freely within the liquid magma body. As certain elements are used up, new minerals are made with the leftover elements. In this way, it’s less about “forcing” the minerals together to interact, and more about letting them naturally and organically arrange themselves into configurations that make “sense” with their compositions and preexisting chemical bonds.

Fig. 2: Bowen’s Reaction Series describes what order common silicate minerals will crystalise out of a magma. Elements such as iron and magnesium are used first, producing minerals such as olivine and pyroxene. Quartz, which only contains silica, will be the last to crystalise, forming when all other elements have been used up.

As you mentioned, minerals within rocks still do keep their own distinct properties, and the properties of all the minerals in a rock collectively contribute to the rock’s properties, too! If a rock is made up of platy, shingle-like minerals, it will also be very platy and split easily along planes! This is the case with schist, a metamorphic rock containing high amounts of micas. 

Fig. 3: Micas are platy minerals that break cleanly across horizontal planes, forming crystals reminiscent of the pages in a book. Schist, which is a metamorphic rock predominantly made of micas, exhibits similar breaking planes.

It helps to think of rocks as less of a homogenous object containing minerals and more of a patchwork of minerals that have been arranged into a stable structure, like a quilt. Each mineral remains distinct, but all of the minerals present, their compositions, bonds, and relative abundances, all contribute to how your final rock appears and behaves! We think it’s super cool that nature can produce such complexity seemingly spontaneously, and we hope you do too! It’s truly awesome what our universe can create, and hopefully we can share some more amazing examples in future posts.

Thank you for your interest! We’re so glad you’re enjoying the project so far!

See you in the next loop!  The OWGS Team

[gremnoire]

All stars are self-similar: spoon out the meanest spark of celestial fire, and it will burn as brightly, for a time, before the lack of gravity unravels it. Connect alternating valleys of a pentagram and you will find the same: a daughter sigil, infinitely in-divisible.

All stars are self-similar, but only some may be divine, when even the mathematics of their spokes speak to perfection.

Some ancients thought there were four elements, or maybe five: rising air and fire, falling earth and water, and ineffable quintessence. These can be symbolicated, as in the fingers of a hand or the compounds of a hexagram. But in both configurations stepping back we find the lack, the void: a closed fist, an open palm; the hexing space within, beneath, above. Six-and-zero, everything and nothing.

The Hidden Star, the Void-Which-Joins: Its halo radiates and splits sixfold, to tile all space with her presence. The Imperatrix may yet grant us her mercy, if we worship It not in name but number.

To be hexxed by Esther is a blessing.

(Art by @meowphie)

(Read Antigreen on AO3!)

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

Turkina 'Ghostbird'

(mini by u/VersusJordan)

Mass: 95 tons Chassis: JF X-Composite Power Plant: 285 JF Extralight Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph Maximum Speed: 54 kph Jump Jets: Standard Jump Capacity: 90 meters Armor: JF Ferro-Fibrous Armament: 52.0 tons of pod space Manufacturer: Complex Beta, Olivetti Weapons Primary Factory: Ironhold, Sudeten Communication System: JF Integrated w/ Neutron Star CEWS Targeting & Tracking System: Series JFIX/Olivetti Pinpoint Advanced Introduction Year: 3153 Tech Rating/Availability: F/X-X-X-X Cost: 34,525,969 C-bills

Overview The Turkina is a powerful OmniMech that was first seen in the Turkina Keshik at the Battle of Tukayyid, and entered general service with Clan Jade Falcon following the end of the Refusal War. This specific Turkina was constructed in late 3151 on Sudeten, and assigned to Star Commander Alexis Zarnofsky by personal order of Jiyi Chistu, then Khan of the Jade Falcon Remnants. Named by Alexis to share her 'Ghostbird' callsign, the 'Mech would rapidly find use in repelling Hell's Horses attacks on Sudeten.

Capabilities By 3153, Alexis' personal configuration, based off an upgraded Prime config, is armed for mid-to-long range combat with twin ER PPCs, LRM-15s (with Artemis V FCS), and Light Autocannon/10s, offering increased firepower and accuracy over the base Prime variant. Five extra double heat sinks and a Radical Heat Sink System keep heat manageable, while enough ammunition is mounted to keep the Turkina in the fight for extended periods. In addition, the legs and feet of the 'Mech have been reinforced and fitted with integrated talons, making for deadly kicks and Death from Above attacks. A Neutron Star CEWS system ensures that Star Commander Alexis can stay in contact with her Starmates, while provided electronic warfare capabilities. In keeping with common Star League design specifications, Ghostbird has had its cockpit reduced in size, fitted with control customized to Alexis' exact ergonomic considerations, and then armored, while additional armor was placed over the head area.

Deployment Ghostbird is the personal 'Mech of Alexis Zarnofsky, and thus has deployed with her on all operations where Zarnofsky has taken part.

History Alexis and Ghostbird have seen significant service - initially in the defense of Sudeten against various foes of the Jade Falcon Remnant forces in the Hinterlands. In October of 3152, Clan Hell's Horses would launch an attack on Sudeten, their second that year. Nearly overwhelmed in the defense of Hammarr, Star Commander Alexis was preparing for a last stand with her Khan, Jiyi Chistu, and other members of the Clan. Just as the situation seemed hopeless, the Jade Falcon Remnants were suddenly and unexpectedly reinforced by a joint force consisting of forces from Clan Jade Falcon, Wolf, Ghost Bear, Smoke Jaguar, Snow Raven, and Sea Fox, the SLDF's Royal Black Watch, and elements of the Northwind Highlanders. Under the command of SLDF Brevet Commanding General Melissa Hazen and arriving via a suborbital drop, the combined reinforcements confused and routed the Hell's Horses, saving the Falcons of Sudeten. During this battle, Alexis would account for ten enemy 'Mechs killed by her own hand, with another five shared, and three probables. After the battle, she would be promoted to Star Captain by personal order of Melissa Hazen, and be personally selected to serve alongside both her former Khan (now saKhan) Jiyi Chistu and Khan Stephanie Chistu in the command Star of the Turkina Keshik.

Type: Turkina Technology Base: Mixed (Unofficial) Tonnage: 95 Battle Value: 2,906

Equipment Mass Internal Structure Composite 5 Engine 285 XL 8.5 Walking MP: 3 Running MP: 5 Jumping MP: 3 Double Heat Sink 16 [32+7+4] 6 Compact Gyro 4.5 Small Cockpit (Armored) 2 Armor Factor (Ferro) 293 15.5 Internal Armor Structure Value Head 3 9 Center Torso 30 45 Center Torso (rear) 15 R/L Torso 20 30 R/L Torso (rear) 10 R/L Arm 16 32 R/L Leg 20 40

Weight and Space Allocation Location Fixed Space Remaining Head None 2 Center Torso Jump Jet 3 Right Torso 2 XL Engine 6 4 Ferro-Fibrous Left Torso 2 XL Engine 9 Ferro-Fibrous Right Arm 2 Double Heat Sink 8 Left Arm 2 Double Heat Sink 8 Right Leg Jump Jet 0 Ferro-Fibrous Left Leg Jump Jet 0 Ferro-Fibrous

Right Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm Left Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm

Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Heat Tonnage Radical Heat Sink System (Armored) CT 3 - 4.0 Artemis V FCS RT 2 - 1.5 Double Heat Sink RT 2 - 1.0 LRM 15 RT 2 5 3.5 2 LAC/10 LA 8 3 16.0 Artemis V FCS LT 2 - 1.5 CASE II LT 1 - 0.5 LRM 15 Artemis V-capable Ammo (16) LT 2 - 2.0 LRM 15 LT 2 5 3.5 Caseless LAC/10 Ammo (40) LT 2 - 2.0 Armored Cowl (Armored) HD 1 - 1.0 Nova Combined Electronic Warfare System (Armored) HD 1 - 1.5 2 Double Heat Sink RA 4 - 2.0 2 ER PPC RA 4 15 12.0

Features the following design quirks: Accurate Weapon (all), Battle Computer, Combat Computer, Cowl, Easy to Pilot, Extended Torso Twist, Improved Communications, Improved Cooling Jacket (all), Improved Sensors, Multi-Trac, Nimble Jumper, Reinforced Legs, Variable Range Targeting, Illegal Design (overweight; mounts Talons without weight and space needed)

[alianoralacanta]

Yesterday's F1 "race" in Brazil reminded me of why watching F1 isn't something I get quite as much choice about as I'd wish.

Part 1: Introduction to the rules at issue

Some of you will wonder why "race" is in inverted quotation marks. After all, the event had all the usual accoutrements of an actual race - lots of people trying to improve their positions, interesting strategies, twists of fate, lots of skill tests passed, surpassed and failed, brilliant feats of athleticism and moments that made one think "why?". Oh, the competitive aspect was there in full force.

A pity it was all in service of a lie.

Firstly, some regulations that will become relevant:

Sporting Regulations, Article 19.4 a) - "All drivers must attend a thirty (30) minute drivers parade or presentation… commencing two (2) hours and ten (10) mins before the scheduled start of the formation lap."

Sporting Regulations, Article 40.8 - "Five (5) hours before the scheduled start of the formation lap for the race, the seals and covers may be removed but the cars will remain under parc fermé conditions until the start of the race." For clarity, only the front wing and tyres may be changed under parc fermé. No refuelling, no rear wing changes (including driver-operated ones e.g. DRS), no modifications to most of the car.

Sporting Regulations, Article 40.9 - "In order that the scrutineers may be completely satisfied that no alterations have been made to the… aerodynamic configuration of the car… whilst in pre-race parc fermé, it must be clear from physical inspection that changes cannot be made without the use of tools."

Sporting Regulations, Article 42.4 - "The provisional starting grid will be published no less than four (4) hours before the scheduled start of the formation lap for the race". Yes, it was so important that the number in brackets was used.

Sporting Regulations, Article 42.4 - "The final starting grid will be published two (2) hours before the scheduled start of the formation lap". The gap between this and the provisional grid is set to 2 hours, so that drivers and teams who cannot start due to problems foreseeable after qualifying or overnight problems can do so with enough time to close the grid.

Sporting Regulations, Article 44.1 - "Forty (40) minutes before the scheduled start of the formation lap the pit exit will be opened"

Sporting Regulations, Article 44.2 - "Thirty (30) minutes before the scheduled start of the formation lap the end of the pit lane will be closed"

Legal settlement following the Bianchi crash: All races must begin and end within a 4-hour window (later shortened to 3 hours), which must end before sunset - unless lighting is provided - and cannot be moved once fixed, unless the scheduled start of the race is altered. (Bear in mind the original purpose was to prevent races wandering into or being outright planned to go into darkness or unacceptably poor visibility). This is the one rule in this list the Race Director cannot change. Strictly speaking, only a successful negotiation with the Bianchi family and their legal team, or a court, could change this. Needless to say, neither of these things has occurred (the Bianchi's legal firm would be Stewarts and it would have mentioned it on its website had any such negotiation succeeded. No court has stated it is considering the matter).

If the Race Director (in this case Neils Wittich) wants to temporarily change a Sporting Regulation, that has to be announced through either a Race Director's note, or discussed at an official race meeting. No additional race meeting was organised for post-sprint or the race day, neither was any Race Director's note on the subject of the above regulations forthcoming. There was a note to move the qualifying and race, however, as well as amended Event Notes that changed other elements of the regulations for this track. The Race Director had the opportunity to liberalise nearly everything I just quoted, but chose not to do so.

Schedule set out for Sunday of Brazil 2024 (as modified on Saturday 2nd November 2024 due to qualifying being a washout), going by the regulations and the modified schedule as provided by the Race Director (all items on schedule have an asterisk, everything else is implicitly required by regulations the Race Director did not oppose):

7 am - Start of pre-race parc fermé

7:30 am - Qualifying*

8 am - Latest possible publication time for the provisional grid

9:40 am - Parade or presentation

10 am - Publication of final grid

11:20 am - Pit lane opened

11:30 am - Pit lane closed

12:00 noon - Race window opens*

3 pm - Race window closes

6:21 pm - Sunset

The qualifying session overran spectacularly due to 5 red flags. The provisional classification (not even the provisional grid, because that's a different document that takes protests into account) therefore was not published until 9:35 am local time.

The starting grid was not published until 11:40 am. Yet the pit lane was apparently open by 12:26 pm (still 26 minutes after the race window opened, but less than an hour after the starting grid was published).

I will write about the details of why all this was a problem in Part 2.

[motorspexx]

The 2025 Bentley Bentayga Speed is the most powerful and high-performance version of Bentley’s luxury SUV lineup.

It is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, producing 650 PS and 850 Newton-meters of torque.

This engine delivers a 0 to 100 kilometers per hour acceleration in just 3.4 seconds,with a top speed reaching 310 kilometers per hour, making it the fastest version of the Bentayga to date.

The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system that ensures optimal traction in all driving conditions. This drivetrain configuration allows for smooth power delivery and high-performance capability on both highway and winding roads.

The chassis has been tuned specifically for the Speed variant, featuring a recalibrated SPORT mode with a 15 percent increase in stiffness compared to the standard Bentayga V8.

Full Launch Control is also integrated, providing maximum acceleration from a standstill.

The braking system is upgraded with optional carbon ceramic brakes, delivering a maximum braking torque of 6000 Newton-meters. These are paired with ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels.

The exterior design includes several performance-focused elements. 23-inch wheels come standard, and the Speed model features dark-tint brightware, dark-tint headlamp internals, grey tail lamps with dark-tint bezels, elliptical sports exhaust outlets, and Speed badging on the lower front doors.

Inside the cabin, the Bentayga Speed features a Precision Diamond quilt pattern, combined with dark-tint air vents and an exclusive color split unique to the Speed variant. Materials include high-quality leather and Alcantara trim for both luxury and sporting intent.

Passenger comfort is preserved with seating for up to five, along with advanced climate control, optional rear seat entertainment, and configurable ambient lighting.

The 2025 Bentayga Speed has a kerb weight of 2,508 kilograms, with overall dimensions of 5,144 millimeters in length, 2,010 millimeters in width, and 1,728 millimeters in height.

Cargo capacity is rated at 484 liters.

With increased power, refined handling, and high-end equipment, the 2025 Bentayga Speed stands at the top of Bentley’s SUV range.

Bentley Bentayga Speed 2025 - Technical Specifications

Engine 4.0 liter twin turbocharged V8 petrol Power output 650 PS Torque 850 Newton meters

Transmission 8 speed automatic Drivetrain All wheel drive

0 to 100 km h acceleration 3.4 seconds Top speed 310 kilometers per hour

Fuel tank capacity 85 liters

Kerb weight 2508 kilograms Braking system Optional carbon ceramic brakes with ventilated discs front and rear

Maximum braking torque 6000 Newton meters

Wheels 22 inch or optional 23 inch alloy Tires 295 40 R22

Suspension Adaptive air suspension Chassis tuning 15 percent stiffer in SPORT mode compared to standard V8

Driving modes Sport Comfort Custom and Dynamic ESC with Launch Control

Exhaust system Standard sports exhaust with elliptical outlets optional Titanium Akrapovic exhaust

Exterior features Dark tint brightware dark tint headlamps grey tail lamps Speed badging

Interior features Precision Diamond quilting exclusive Speed color split dark tint air vents leather and Alcantara trim Infotainment High resolution touchscreen Apple CarPlay Android Auto rear seat entertainment available

Driver assistance Adaptive cruise control lane change assist 360 degree parking camera traffic assist

Passenger capacity Five Cargo capacity 484 liters

Dimensions Length 5144 millimeters Width 2010 millimeters Height 1728 millimeters Emissions standard Euro 6 compliant

[charles-leclerc-official]

i have many many thoughtsTM on the past five years-ish for ferrari, and my controversial hot take is that binotto should've been fired after 2019 engine allegations came to light. they kept him around, and if they hadn't gotten rid of him in 2022, we would've gotten a rotten team exactly like mclaren is, minus the mclaren rocketship. cardile moving to another team is absolutely no surprise, given he was the one championing the suspentions that are giving ferrari so much trouble rn, and i can't wait to see what all of fred's new hires cook up for next year!

I agree. He was really supposed to be a kind of interim TP, so he wasn't supposed to be in charge for that many years. I do think the original plan was for him to just serve one or two years. Then the engine issues came up (I am of the opinion that Ferrari were operating within the rules at the time, but the FIA did not like their solution and thus changed to prevent the loophole being used in future)

Yes, we are still very much feeling the consequences of choices made in 2022 at the start of these regulations. The team he put together was not solid on the development side and there are elements of the car that was designed in 2022 that we are still feeling(suspension configuration which they didn't change going into 2023, unclear why)

This is the first year we've had Fred actually in control of the car development, and we've seen him try to correct course, but things were set in motion in 2022 that are very hard to change in a single year.

But yes, I think he wasn't a good TP and the team he assembled really failed on quite a few fronts. Fred has been changing things with regards to the car and the team, but one year isn't really much for a turn around.

[kairologia]

ASPECTS IN ASTROLOGY

There are two ways through which planets influence one another, and those would be rulership and aspect. We dealt with rulership in yesterday's post regarding essential dignities. Now let's look into how aspects work.

Starting with a definition, aspects are geometrical configurations describing different types of dynamics between planets, and they are the main means through which planets communicate. The five major aspects, also known as the Ptolemaic aspects (though they predate Ptolemy), are the conjunction, opposition, trine, square, and sextile.

With that said, we can split them into two categories:

🔮 Harmonious: Sextile, Trine.

— They have the nature of benefic planets: Venus & Jupiter, respectively.

— Harmoniously aspected (trine, sextile) planets work well together and work to express their respective qualities cohesively. Harmony allows for the positive expression of each planet to be more present than the negative one.

🔮 Disharmonious: Square, Opposition.

— They possess the nature of malefic planets: Mars & Saturn, respectively.

— Disharmoniously aspected planets perform in discordance. They represent planets that can't work well together because they have different priorities, resulting in friction and discord.

→ aspects can be divided into two types, same-sign aspects, and those based on visual metaphors.

Category 1 :

🔮 CONJUNCTIONS:

Conjunctions are not regarded as aspects by many. They represent planets standing right next to each other, on the same degree (or within a small-ish orb of each other), in the same sign, and depending on each planet involved, this can be a positive or negative aspect. A common & incorrect misconception is that planetary energies are "mixed together" through conjunctions — what conjunctions actually describe is planets generally being on the same page & having the same objective. How they express this objective together will be filtered through the nature of each planet.

🔮 CO-PRESENCE :

In addition to conjunction, we can also list one additional configuration that, while not considered an aspect per se either, is still regarded as powerful: co-presence. Planets that are said to be copresent by sign without being conjoined by degree are said to be especially influential upon each other, owing to being “with” each other. However, it is not specifically called an aspect because the planets are literally in the same place, rather than “seeing” each other.

Category 2 :

The other four aspects are based on a visual metaphor that utilizes the thema mundi (which calls for a post of its own), but, tl;dr: the thema mundi is a mythical chart used in Hellenistic astrology that shows the alleged positions of the seven visible planets (including the Sun and Moon) at the beginning of the universe—its' main uses are to explain the logic behind the rulership system, provide meanings to the aspects, among other things. It's of purely symbolic nature.

🔮 Sextile — of the nature of Venus. Harmonious, mildly positive.

A sextile is when two planets are 60° apart from each other. These planets share polarity (diurnal vs. nocturnal), so they operate in the same way. The relationship is one of complement and harmony.

🔮 Trine — of the nature of Jupiter. Harmonious, very positive.

A trine is when two planets are 120° away from each other, sharing the same element but not modality (opposite of a Square). These planets can work very well together because they share the same element. The relationship is one of strong harmony much like the nature of Jupiter. Oftentimes trines tend to signify unconscious gifts & areas one is considered a "natural" at.

🔮 Square — of the nature of Mars. Disharmonious, combative, denotes friction.

Squares take place when planets are 90° apart from each other. These planets share the same modality (Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable) but their expression (read: their element) of that modality is different, and that is what causes the friction. Mainly represent internal conflicts within the native.

🔮 Opposition - of the nature of Saturn. Very disharmonious, conflicted.

Planets within a 180° orb are said to oppose each other directly on the zodiac wheel. The planetary energies involved are actively working against each other. It denotes discord, standoffishness, or obstruction, much like the nature of Saturn.

🔮 Signs Not In Aspect :

Signs that are not in one of the above 4 relationships with each other are said to be “inconjunct” or “not in concord”.

→ Now that we went through the respective qualities of each aspect, let's explore another relevant topic — orbs & applying/separating aspects :

🔮 Orbs :

Represent the margin & range of influence in which the aspect between two planets is thought to come into effect & have a significant influence. Feel free to use whatever orbs feel comfortable for you, but know the wider the orb: the less of a connection these planets have, and the smaller the orb, the stronger the connection. Most astrological programs & sites use a default orb of 10°.

🔮 What about the dynamics of application & separation between planets?

If any planets are applying/separating in aspect: the faster planet makes the aspect, the slower planet receives the aspect. Which is to say: only faster-moving planets make aspects (applying or separating).

The order of speed has already been discussed in another post but a reminder that the order goes: Moon > Mercury > Venus > Sun > Mars > Jupiter > Saturn.

TL;DR : the Moon creates the most aspects (i.e can apply or separate from any planet, is always on the aspect-making end), while Saturn creates the least aspects (i.e it can only apply or separate from outers, is usually on the receiving end). You can deduce how it goes for other planets following this framework.

Applying aspects are granted a wider orb than separating ones in certain branches of astrology — because the energies are proactive, converging, and the climax is still approaching. Separating aspects, on the other hand, are reflective, as the aspect has passed the point at which it was exact, and are moving away from it.

Additionally, applying & separating aspects also have their own significations. In horary astrology, applying aspects can be used to predict upcoming events that will happen between individuals/areas of life, while separating aspects is used to describe past events.

So to summarize: when a faster planet is moving towards the exact degree of an aspect with a slower planet, that aspect is applying. Conversely, when a faster planet is departing from the exact degree of an aspect with a slower planet, that aspect is separating. Aspects become more intense as the applying planet gets closer, and they are particularly potent when within a 3° Orb. After separation, aspects become less intense. While a separating aspect lack the urgency of an applying aspect, it (especially when involving the Moon) is still essential for certain Hellenistic techniques like electional astrology, primary directions, or horary astrology.

[sororalice]

On The Blessedness Of The Sun And The Moon

A homily for the Summer and Winter Solstices and the Full Moon in Sagittarius on 6-20-24.

Dearly Beloved,

What a special configuration of astrological elements we have today! It is the solstice, both Summer in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and it is also the Full Moon. Given this rare conjunction of events, I am moved to speak today of the spiritual marriage between the Sun and the Moon at the heart of so many magickal traditions. I am moved to speak of the Great Work.

I have been a mage for most of my life. My parents were witches, and my mother taught me my first spell (a healing spell for my already chronic headaches), took me to my first ritual (I was five…all I really remember was that the host had a secret room in his house and I thought it was very cool), and bought me my first book on magick for my twelfth birthday (“Modern Magick” by Donald Michael Kraig). It was in that book that I first ran across the idea of the Great Work and I can say that, more than any other single idea, it is the Great Work that has driven and governed my life. I am a 100% unashamed and unabashed True Believer in the Great Work, and I have made most of the major decisions of my adult life with the Great Work in mind.

But what is the Great Work?

Put simply, the Great Work is the unification of all spiritual opposites within the mage or mystic, with the ultimate goal of the unification of the individual mage with the Divine (however that Divine is conceived).

This unification with the Divine is conceptualized differently in different magickal and spiritual traditions based on their varying cosmologies and metaphysical systems, but it always comes down to this: it is the true solution to the problem of being a person. It is the secret of life, the Summum Bonum (“the highest good”), the Philosopher’s Stone, theosis, the reunification of subject and object in the Real, samādhi, kenshō, and dozens of other words and phrases that all boil down to one thing: it will repair that which is broken. It will remedy the problem of existence, at least for us as individuals. It will unite the Lover with the Beloved and, to paraphrase the words of St. Paul, we will “know fully” even as we are are “fully known”. This was what the alchemists of old sought.

Oh, for sure, some of our forebears were avaricious or ambitious. Some sought gold—actual metallic gold, not any metaphor for spiritual attainment—and whether because of a quirk of personality, actual greed, or out of dire need, it is not my place to judge them. As “Liber Librae” would counsel me, how do I know that in their place I could have resisted the temptation, and even if I could, why should I despise one who is weaker than myself?

But setting aside these few people who out of greed or need sought the Philosopher’s Stone because of the legends of miraculous wealth, the other alchemists and mages of the past, our beloved ancestors, mighty dead, and blessed saints, sought something greater. They sought the Divine, in a myriad of differing forms, names, mysteries, and sacraments, and their method was the same: the unification of opposites.

In “Western” magickal systems, we would speak first in terms of the elements. Water must join with Fire, Earth must join with Air, and each must join together, all in their proper relations, and all unified by Spirit. This is, of course, only one way of speaking of all of existence by breaking it up in certain parts and then talking about how those parts relate, and it only applies to our level of reality, the microcosm, symbolized by the pentagram. But we, as the clever children we are, have come up with other ways of talking about existence. There is also the macrocosm, symbolized by the hexagram, and on the macrocosmic level of reality, we may choose to speak in terms of planets and constellations.

Astrology is one of the oldest documented forms of magick, and it goes deep into the core of many of the various magickal systems that we have inherited in the 21st century. Astrology has a lot of complexity to it, and there are controversies within the field that I do not wish to address in this place. Instead I wish to talk about the importance of the Sun and Moon in their relation to us here on Earth.

As pagans, we believe in a naturalized theology. We look to nature for our knowledge of the supernatural and the physical for our knowledge of the metaphysical. And what within the natural world is more important to us than the Sun and the Moon? The light of the Sun provides the energy all life on Earth requires to exist, while in the pull of the tides and the rhythms of the changing Moon, all life on Earth waxes and wanes together. These two lamps light our way through our world, and their changes, during each day, week, month, and year, see us through our lives. These two beautiful, lumpy spheres are our parents, and they unite in their influences—both physical and magickal—to give rise to our world.

It is this marriage of opposites, of the light of the day and the light of the night, of the Sun and the Moon, that gives birth to the unity that is our lives. And thus it is in this marriage of Sun and Moon that the ancient alchemists symbolized the Great Work.

So as these two cycles intersect, as the Full Moon and the solstice comes together, consider the Great Work. Consider your own path, your own spiritual life, and where it is leading you. And most of all celebrate the life that these two glorious lights in our sky give us. Celebrate the beautiful world and the amazing people upon which they shed their light.

Happy Solstice and Full Moon.

In love,

Soror Alice

Art: “Figures representing the Sun, Moon, and stars consort with a being that is half human female and half reptile.”, From the alchemical manuscript “Clavis Artis”, (1738)

[moinsbienquekaworu]

That post on ship names in fandom history reminded me of your ship name chart and I have some new contenders, courtesy of my new fandoms:

- stewbert [Stephen Colbert/Jon Stewart, incredibly goofy, I cannot use it without giggling, 10/10, five stars, no notes]

- mammett [Doc Brown/Marty McFly, ngl I have no idea how on earth this one came about but I certainly can't forget it]

And that doesn't get into the hilarity that is shipping within the DC fandom, particularly Batman, because if I said batflash, that could refer to both Bruce Wayne/Barry Allen and Bruce/Wally West, if I want to specify that I'm here for Bruce/Barry, I need to use brubarry, not batflash. And for that matter, batflash can also be Dick Grayson/Wally West, because Dick was Batman for a while!! And while we're talking about Dick, superwing is used for Dick/Clark Kent and riddlewing is used for Dick/Edward Nygma, even if this is a universe where Dick is still Robin and not yet Nightwing!!

In any case, I hope you're having a good night and I love you so much!!

Stewbert is giving me Stewjon vibes for obvious reasons but that's still hilarious, no notes either. A muppet kind of name also.

Mammett... That's because his name is Emmett right? I had to look it up to be sure but yeah, it is. Honestly, could be a worse portmanteau - Docty, Mown, etc.

Oh yeah, comics identity shenanigans.... A disaster. Karen/Matt is Karedevil, because that's a good portmanteau, but sometimes Daredevil isn't Matt, so, same issue. I hope people are out there shipping like, Elektra and Karen :')

Personal little darlings include all the ones where they get those fancy element names, with a word that represents them used to make a stuck-together ship name. For example all the fun Marvel ones like Frostiron, or "there's no portmanteau of Loki and Tony Stark that looks good in any universe" (Lony? Stoki? be serious), or things like Thunderfrost, where I imagine you probably also the a DC pairing that is or could be named that.

There's also the one where I did not bother to see if there's an already established term for them - it's Astarion/Karlach/Wyll from BG3, so individually that's Wyllach, Wyllstarion (/Bloodpact, how sick is that as an element name? sad that the bit for Wyll is pact but what can you do) and uh. I don't know what the Karlach/Astarion portmanteau is. Just Karlachstarion? Astarlach?? Fanlore isn't helping me. So anyway I have dubbed them Wyllachstarion in my head because that's kind of the smoothest configuration I can imagine. I would go the element way but first of all that'd get long and also I can't divine what Karlach's element is? Fanlore still isn't helping. Fire?? Firebloodpact?? Is that what that would be?? I need to go look them up right after this, there has to be a clean ship name.

OT3s are a whoole thing, I love the ways people sidestep the awkwardness of pitting not just two but three names together. Leverage has the easiest time, there's One Big OT3 so they just get called the Leverage OT3, and no one thinks you mean Nate/Sophie/Sterling when you say it. And Quiobiani could have been Quiobikin easily, now that I think about it, because it easily links Quiobi and Obikin, but I guess they wanted to keep going with the "first three-letter syllables ending in i" theme. Steddy Hands is a darling too, it's got everyone in a pretty minimal amount of syllables (just two! for three guys!) AND it means something, how cute. Impeccable.

Anyway I got carried away but I love you also so so much and I hope you have a good night too 😌

[boinkingbattlemechs]

Regent

The Regent is the flagship design of the ilKhanate's Project Reynard, benefiting from masterstrokes of legal and commercial savvy. After the Hauptmann was shelved due to the military reduction program, Coventry Metal Works had been looking to revive the design but encountered supply issues with existing ClanTech manufacturers. Merchant Bilius learned of these difficulties through the Chatterweb and coordinated the introductions between CMW and Technicron Manufacturing, who had been looking to renew their production of the Awesome. The efficiency of ClanTech allowed a reduction of five tons from the Hauptmann, allowing the Foxes to switch to a less expensive and more common GM 270 reactor. After the base OmniMech chassis are completed, they are sent to ilKhanate facilities to be armed with the required OmniPods. The design incorporates visual elements of both the Hauptmann and Awesome, resulting in its nickname of "Awesomemann".

The primary configuration carries a varied and powerful arsenal. For long range combat, the Regent carries three ER Large Lasers as its primary long range weapons. These give the Regent Prime a good long range damage capability. For close combat, the 'Mech has an LB 20-X AC for devastating close range firepower backed up by two Medium Pulse Lasers, a Micro Pulse Laser for infantry defense, and a Streak SRM-4 launcher. Finally, to protect the 'Mech against ammunition explosions, the Regent Prime has CASE II protecting all ammunition.

[90stvqueen]

I was tagged by @tunemyart in 20 Questions for Fic Writers like a week ago and I just now saw it so THANK YOU FRIEND

How many works do you have on AO3?

27

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

235,642

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Xena: Warrior Princess (14 works)

Abbott Elementary (10 works)

The X-Files (2 works)

Stranger Things (1 work, is an outlier adn should not be counted bc I wrote it to meditate on internalized homophobia and not bc I ship it)

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

say it again (Stranger Things LOL)

remind me tomorrow (Xena)

succ (Xena)

Fritole (Abbott)

No Matter What (Xena)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try to! It depends on how swamped I am with life stuff, but I like responding to comments because for me, writing is about starting a conversation and building community and connecting.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Depends on how you define angst but probably the fic with the angstiest throughline (like, it starts angsty, stays angsty, ends angsty) is glory glory glory to the night that shows me what i am (Abbott Elementary). But I think the best angst I've written is probably After (also Abbott) because it's a smutty slow-motion trainwreck.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

take these years of mine (Abbott) is probably the happiest thing I've ever written, period. remind me tomorrow has the happiest ending (and is the most lighthearted) of all my Xena fic.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

No, but sometimes I get demands for more or for specific plotlines. I worry that if (and WHEN) I don't follow those requested/expected plotlines, there might be some pushback.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Almost exclusively. Although I've been branching out a little more. But yeah. Mostly F/F, some F/F/M and F/F/F, also a decent amount of gender fuckery in various configurations. I would say my smut leans more vanilla, but I've written some kink, and there are definitely elements of kink in some of the vanilla stuff, too.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I do not write crossovers. Maybe someday. But probably not, unless it's purely for the lols

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

God I hope not! Not that I'm aware of!!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Somebody asked me if they could translate my fic once, but I don't remember what the fic was, and I don't think it ever actually happened. Would love that, though!!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Lots and lots. My first big foray into cowriting was with @angelsarenamederika, with whom I wrote a massive amount of trans!Mulder X-Files fic that we never posted anywhere but was an absolute blast to work on. I'm also working on a 5+1 piece for the Work Wives (Abbott) fandom with @the-frankenman-writes, @this-barbie, @katiehoughton, @wolf-government, and @vanillabeanwrites. OH AND! @deirdresart adapted Eromenas into a comic and it's AMAZING.

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

Xena/Gabrielle

15. What's the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I refuse to answer this question. I WILL FINISH ALL MY WIPS SO HELP ME GOD

16. What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue and interpersonal dynamics and internal reflection (or, in unreliable narrators, lack thereof)

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Stealing @tunemyart's response word for word here: Action, movement, and description of setting. I'm really trying to get better about grounding the characters in the world around them instead of some nebulous room. Also writing action without getting bogged down in unnecessary details. It's hard!

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Maybe if you know the language and it serves the story or the way the story is being told. Never say never, but it's not something I usually do, because I don't ever really have a reason for it.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter lol

20. Favorite fic you've ever written?

Right now, it's After. I worked so hard on it and I learned a lot writing it and I found a community (partially) because of it! I think it's just a really satisfying, angsty/bittersweet read, start to finish. Honorable mention to Eromenas (again plugging the comic here) and five times it was quiet and once it was loud.

This was fun! I'm tagging the people I've already tagged in this (my dear friends and collaborators) and anyone else who might want to do this <3

[lonestarflight]

Space Station Concepts: Dual Keel

"The new 'Dual Keel' Station was largely based on Lockheed and McDonnell-Douglas designs and its structure was much stiffer and hence easier to stabilize. It would offer additional space for external instruments plus a better microgravity environment than the previous gravity gradient-stabilized 'Power Tower.' The number of crew members was increased to 8 astronauts because scientists were concerned that a crew of six would be too busy with assembly and maintenance tasks and have no time for research. NASA's target date for the launch of the first element was now January 1993 while the initial operational capability had slipped to January 1994 mainly because the Fiscal 1986 budget was reduced from $280 million to just $200 million.

"McDonnell-Douglas illustration of the 'Dual Keel crew modules.

This McDonnell-Douglas concept drawing depicts a robotic arm controlled by an astronaut. The arm is being used to maneuver a new addition to the space station into place. The robotic arm was to have been essential to building the space station in orbit.”

11 Shuttle flights would be required for initial assembly. Officially, the estimated cost of the Station had only increased by $400 million but there were concerns that NASA was once again hiding the true cost of the larger, more complex 'Dual Keel' design.

“Dual Keel space station – Initial Operational Capability (IOC) Configuration, 11-15-85”

NASA struggled to define a 'Dual Keel' design that met all the various cost, engineering, safety, launch and user requirements. By the time Phase B1 ended in March 1986, the size of the truss structure elements had been increased from 3 x 3 meters to 5 x 5 meters for additional strength and stiffness. Another early 1986 modification involved the power system, which was upgraded to 87.5 kW. By the end of Phase B1 in March 1986, NASA had settled for a hybrid system consisting of 37.5 kW photovoltaic arrays and 50 kW solar thermodynamic generators. The number of American crew modules was also reduced from four to two while European and Japanese laboratories were incorporated in the design for the first time. The habitable volume remained the same, though, since the length of the US modules was increased to 13.3 meters. NASA Space Station Office submitted its recommended final baseline in May 1986 as Phase C/D started. The number of instrument mounting ports was reduced to five, down from an earlier projection of nine. One of the two bays for satellite servicing was also deleted.

According to the May '86 Space Station assembly sequence, the first element would be launched in January 1993. The Station would support man-tended operations after the sixth Shuttle assembly mission in August 1993 and be ready for permanent occupation after the ninth mission in January 1994. Initial Operating Capability (IOC) would be achieved after 21 flights -- twice as many as the 1984 estimate.

By the time of the 'Dual Keel' Space Station's final flight sequence overview in October 1986 NASA had to insert an additional eight Shuttle flights into the manifest. By this time, increased complexity and Shuttle payload capability reductions had increased the required number of assembly flights to more than 30 for an Initial Operating Capability (IOC) vs. 8-10 in 1984.

"The design of the Space Station has undergone the first major configuration change prior to the start of Phase B. The artist’s concept here depicts the updated Dual Keel method which retains many of the basic elements of the previously considered Power Tower concept. The primary difference is the move to favor two vertical booms rather than the Power Tower’s single boom. The dual booms provide additional framework for the attachment of other structures. Pressurized modules have also been moved from the lower area of the Power Tower concept to the Center of gravity. This has been done, NASA officials say, to meet the needs of future space station customers for the best microgravity environment attainable. More refinements are expected in the design as the program works toward the Systems Requirements Review in March of 1986."

NASA's new Space Station design was criticized in a widely publicized astronaut office briefing by Shuttle astronaut Gordon Fullerton. The Dual Keel design was found to provide poor access for maintenance, visibility from habitable areas was obstructed, there was no provision for internal vehicle 'hands on' access to EVA equipment. No crew escape vehicle had been added although a small fleet plus lower-than-hoped-for flight rates means astronauts could not be rescued as easily by the Shuttle. The Canadian manipulator was regarded as insufficient for building and maintaining such a complex Station. Fullerton also criticized excessive EVA 'spacewalk' requirements, including a 'long and complex' assembly sequence. 'Basic structure, wire runs, and plumbing are not easily designed for replacement / repair. EVA crew time even for planned maintenance was excessive. Correction of design errors may not be possible; unplanned failures may not be fixable at all...'

McDonnell-Douglas' redesigned 'Dual Keel' crew modules of this period introduced separate 'node modules' or docking ports which also accommodated many systems that would not have fit inside the original 'Power Tower' crew modules. NASA was still planning to contribute two laboratory modules plus two habitation modules in late 1985. Gordon Fullerton and other observers felt the Station's habitable volume was too limited when the number of US modules was reduced to one lab plus one habitation module. There would be no room for a second shower, commode or 'safe haven' emergency provisions. A Boeing longer 13.3-meter module was introduced in early 1986.

"Display model of Dual Keel Space Station concept (1986); boxy rectangular truss structure with attached modules and extended solar array wings. 1:100 Scale."

The Space Station was briefly suspended by a major row in the summer of 1986 when NASA tried to reassign some habitation module responsibilities from the Johnson Space Center to the Marshall Space Flight Center. A compromise was reached in September 1986, but it was yet another indication of the Station's Byzantine management structure and turf battles between NASA centers. But Congress still approved the project's $420-million Fiscal 1987 budget while imposing a number of restriction: power levels of at least 37.5 kW, fully outfit the microgravity lab by the sixth assembly flight, attach useful science payload by the third flight, launch all US elements before the foreign modules and restrict ESA's Columbus module to life sciences. The congressional requirements would essentially have forced NASA to change the Station along the lines of a new proposal which then, surprisingly, emerged from JSC. NASA had previously testified in Congress that no Station funds were being spent on alternative design studies. Using funding earmarked for alternate assembly sequence research, the Johnson Space Center nonetheless ordered its main contractors (Rockwell and McDonnell-Douglas) to examine a smaller, more compact configuration while keeping NASA headquarters in the dark about it... This caused additional confusion about who was really in charge of the project: NASA headquarters or Johnson.

NASA's first detailed cost assessment in February 1987 revealed the 'Dual Keel' Space Station would cost at least $14.5 billion in 1984 dollars, or $21 billion in current-year dollars. This caused a political uproar in Congress, where many politicians had started to express doubt about the project. However, NASA and Reagan Administration officials reached a compromise in March 1987 which allowed the agency to proceed with a cheaper $12.2-billion Phase One Station. This design initially omitted the $3.4-billion 'Dual Keel' structure and half of the power generators. It was dubbed 'Freedom'.

Article by Marcus Lindroos"

-Information from astronautix.com: link

Date: 1984-86

NASA ID: C-1986-2694, GPN-2003-00110, C-1985-8626, C-1985-8751, S85-42963, S87-38365, 86-H-332, KSC-85C-303, GPN-2003-00110

Mike Acs's Collection: SS23 B

National Air and Space Museum: A20100236000

NM Museum of Space History: DUAL KEEL SPACE STATION-0001, DUAL KEEL SPACE STATION-0002

SDASM Archives: 14_025378

Posted on Flickr by Numbers Station: link