#Forward Operating Base Shank

[kommabortsig]

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[roseazura]

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝑾𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲-𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘅 𝗠𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿

Summary: An adventure, another universe. What would the Straw Hats be like in the Maze Runner universe?

Genre: Alternative Universe. Drama. Kinda angsty. What If?

Characters: East Blue Straw Hats.

Warnings: Normal violence from both franchises. Does not include (Y/N). Not a "x reader" story. Mention of: murders, deaths, implicit torture, traumatic events, experimentation, betrayals. Based on the Maze Runner movie trilogy with some details from the books. Contains possible spoilers for both franchises.

Words Count: 10k+

A/N: Hello, beauties! I hope you're all doing well and having a wonderful day. I know this crossover might seem a bit unusual, but the idea popped into my head, and I wanted to run with it—honestly, it was pretty fun to create! All events and character classifications were adapted based on my perception of each character in the Maze Runner universe—if you imagined something different and had another vision, that’s totally okay! I hope you like it. Enjoy your reading!

Subject A56: Luffy – “The Captain”

Group A

Role in The Glade: Runner / First-in-Command.

Time in The Glade: Three years.

Flare Immunity: Immune.

Life Before Arrival at W.C.K.D

Luffy grew up in Foosha Village, a small coastal community far from W.C.K.D’s direct influence. Its residents rejected the organization’s methods, refusing to sacrifice lives for a supposed greater good. As W.C.K.D tightened its grip on the world, the adults did everything they could to protect the younger ones, ensuring they wouldn’t be dragged into its system.

Despite the chaos left behind by the Flare, Luffy held onto his optimism, believing in freedom and the possibility of changing humanity’s fate. He refused to accept W.C.K.D’s oppression as the only future and saw resistance as the true path to salvation.

His conviction solidified when he met Shanks, a veteran of the Right Arm—a legend beyond W.C.K.D’s reach. While the organization expanded its control and experimented on immune children, Shanks led a faction of resistance. He wasn’t a scientist or a superpowered soldier, just someone who understood the real danger W.C.K.D posed and refused to let it go unchallenged.

Shanks knew the world wouldn’t make things easy for Luffy. He had watched him grow, full of energy, with that unshakable grin that defied any darkness. But freedom came at a price, and willpower alone wasn’t always enough.

When he handed Luffy his hat, it wasn’t just a gesture—it was a promise. A reminder that, no matter what happened, the spirit of those who carve their own path should never break. That moment marked the start of something Luffy didn’t fully understand yet, but with time, it would become his reason to keep moving forward—no matter what the world tried to take from him.

That same indomitable spirit pushed Luffy to seek new frontiers, something that brought him closer to his longed-for freedom. He arrived at Gray Terminal, or what was left of it, where he met Sabo and Ace, two other immune survivors who had learned to navigate the margins of the controlled world.

At first, they distrusted him. No one in Gray Terminal gave their trust easily. But something about Luffy reminded them of the same stubborn will that kept them standing every day. From that moment on, they became brothers, facing the fight for survival together.

But resistance wasn’t an endless shield. A W.C.K.D patrol discovered their hideout. The response was immediate—within hours, an extraction operation was underway. The attack was calculated, using weapons designed to neutralize without killing—their targets were the immune.

In the midst of chaos, Sabo made the most dangerous decision: confronting the patrol to distract them, giving Ace and Luffy the chance to escape. But W.C.K.D didn’t leave loose ends. Before he could get away, a controlled explosion struck him down. His body was never found. Ace and Luffy never saw a corpse, but the certainty of his death hit them with brutal force.

Then came the paralyzing darts. Before they could react, it was over. They were captured, transported to the organization’s facilities. That moment marked the end of their lives as they knew them.

W.C.K.D Facilities

Inside the facilities, Luffy and Ace were separated. W.C.K.D had different plans for each of them. While Ace was sent to more advanced trials for immune subjects, Luffy remained under direct observation by the scientists.

From the start, Luffy was different. W.C.K.D, convinced that extreme stress was the key to activating immunity in the Lethal Zone of the brain, designed experiments to break young minds and mold them to its purpose. They expected that, like any other subject, he would eventually yield. But he didn’t.

Every experiment pushed the children to their limits, forcing fear, desperation, and obedience. But Luffy didn’t react like the others. When subjected to grueling endurance tests, he didn’t just overcome them—he did it with a smile, as if the suffering meant to trigger the desired biological response had no effect on him.

His mind didn’t break. His spirit didn’t falter. No matter how much they pressured him, Luffy always found a way to keep standing. His resilience was an anomaly within W.C.K.D’s system—a sign that he couldn’t be controlled or tamed.

One day, he met Zoro and Nami, two children also being prepared for their inevitable future. In the cold corridors, Luffy was like a ray of light. Shortly after, Usopp and Sanji joined the group. Though he didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of what was happening around them, he never lost the energy that defined him. He played with them as if everything were normal, as if the world wasn’t shaping them for something much darker.

What worried W.C.K.D the most wasn’t his strength—it was his influence over others. In an environment designed for isolation, Luffy managed to bring children together, turning them into a support network instead of individual test subjects. Every child he encountered became someone he bonded with. He gave them hope. To the organization, this emotional unity was dangerous.

As the years passed, they realized they couldn’t break him, but they also couldn’t discard him. He was a variable beyond their calculations, a subject with an unusual resilience who might hold the key to their goals… if they could find a way to control him.

But they couldn't control him, no one could. Luffy wasn't made for chains; rather, he was prepared to break them, and one day he would.

Arrival at The Glade

The scientists tricked Luffy by promising him a lot of meat if he completed the test. Thinking it was just a simple challenge, he accepted without hesitation. But the test was the Neutralizer, and before he could understand what was happening, he lost consciousness.

When he woke up, everything was dark. He couldn’t remember anything beyond his name or why his body trembled with an unexplainable sense of unease. He was inside a metal box, slowly ascending, shaking with each movement. The only thing he had with him was a straw hat. He didn’t know where he was, but his instincts told him that something was about to change.

From the very first day, Luffy was different. While others reacted with fear or confusion, he showed excitement for the Glade, more interested in what he could do than in what he had lost. At first, the veterans didn’t know what to think; his energy seemed reckless in a place where every mistake came at a high cost. But over time, they realized it wasn’t ignorance—it was confidence.

Hope.

While the others saw the Maze as a sentence, he saw it as a test. From the moment he arrived, it was clear that Luffy wasn’t trapped in the system that had placed him there.

If there was a limit, he was ready to break it.

Runner and First-in-Command

Luffy is simply Luffy. His instinct drives him to move without fear, to face the unknown without hesitation. Even before arriving at The Glade, his energy was unstoppable, and somehow, he always found a way to use it.

One day, without thinking too much about it, he crossed The Glade’s boundary and entered the Maze as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He didn’t remember the rule about not doing so without being a Runner, and to him, exploring just made sense. The others panicked, expecting the worst, counting the minutes with no sign of him. But just as they were about to organize an emergency search, Luffy reappeared, completely unharmed, looking utterly relaxed.

The worst part? He had returned before the gates closed because he didn’t want to miss dinner. Unbelievable.

From that moment on, they made him a Runner.

No one understood how Luffy always made it back on time from the Maze, but he always did. While other Runners followed calculated routes, he searched for something more—a path no one had taken before, a secret yet to be discovered.

He didn’t become First-in-Command in the conventional way. He wasn’t the most calculated, the most disciplined, or even the first to arrive at The Glade. But his instincts and natural leadership made it impossible to overlook him.

What truly earned him the position was his ability to inspire others. Although he didn’t remember his past, his essence remained intact. He had a unique way of seeing the world, making others feel that they could achieve the impossible. He never imposed authority, yet everyone followed him without question.

Over time, even the most experienced began to trust his judgment. No matter how dangerous a situation was, Luffy always had a way of facing it without fear. And in an environment where survival depended on more than just strength and strategy, his presence became the spark that kept The Glade united.

Many advised him to give up being a Runner to focus on his role as First-in-Command, but he refused, claiming he could handle both responsibilities and that exploration always called to him. As a true leader, he had to find the way out, and he wouldn’t sit back waiting for others to do it for him. If they found the path, they would do it together.

So, without seeking it, without even realizing he was taking command, Luffy became the key piece within the Maze’s system. Not because W.C.K.D had designed him for it, but because no one else could take the place he had carved out for himself.

Extra Data:

Despite being a talented Runner, Luffy has gotten lost in the Maze more times than he’d like to admit. He always says it’s “part of the exploration process,” but in reality, he just gets distracted too easily. Everyone trusts him, sure, but they also recognize that sometimes, Luffy finds his way back purely by intuition.

Sanji tried rationing his food portions because, if left to Luffy, he would devour the entire food supply on his own. However, in a way that only Luffy could manage, he always found more food.

He’s not afraid of the Maze, but he also seems incapable of recognizing danger like the others. He always enters with absolute confidence, even when the situation is dire.

As First-in-Command, he didn’t create many rules for the Glade. In fact, there were only a few very specific ones: don’t harm others or yourself, always help one another, and don’t hoard food just for yourself (share it with him). The lack of strict rules could have led to chaos in other cases, but somehow, Luffy’s mere presence seemed to keep things under control.

The idea of the bonfire to celebrate a Greenie’s arrival on the first day of each month was Luffy’s. At first, he just wanted an excuse to eat more and bring everyone together, but over time, the tradition became an important moment to welcome newcomers and help them feel part of the group.

Subject A111: Zoro – “The Guardian”

Group A

Role in The Glade: Second-In-Command.

Time in The Glade: Two years and nine months.

Flare Immunity: Immune.

Life Before Arrival at W.C.K.D

After the Flare, the world was no longer a safe place. Chaos consumed entire cities, resources dwindled, and desperation turned people into their own worst threat. Zoro grew up in the middle of this disaster, in Shimotsuki, a small village where the tradition of swordsmanship still survived.

Shimotsuki Kōshirō, the dojo master, understood the dangers surrounding them. He saw children disappear, watched survival become more uncertain, and decided to act. Rescuing them wasn’t just a choice—it was a necessity. That’s how the Isshin Dojo became a refuge from the chaos outside.

Inside that shelter, the dojo was not just a place for training but a pillar of stability in a collapsing world. For those rescued by the master or those who found their way there, the dojo was more than a combat space—it was a place where discipline meant survival, where strength wasn’t a luxury but a requirement.

Among the ruins of the old world, the children learned to fight not for pride but because, beyond those walls, only the strong moved forward.

That’s where Zoro met Kuina. More than just a rival, she was a constant reminder that there was always something to strive for, someone pushing him to be faster, sharper, stronger. Kuina shared her dream with him—not just to become powerful, but to use that strength to protect those who couldn’t fight for themselves.

For the two of them, training wasn’t just about survival—it was about conviction. They wanted to be strong enough to defend others, to ensure that no one else would be left vulnerable in a world where strength dictated fate. Together, they promised to reach the top, not for glory, but because they knew their power could make a difference for those who had no chance to fight.

But no refuge lasted forever. The shadow of W.C.K.D was always watching, and when they finally arrived at Shimotsuki, they took everything.

The dojo fell. The children were separated, and the walls that once meant protection were now just ruins of failed resistance. Kuina didn’t hesitate. She surrendered to the organization with one condition—that they wouldn’t kill her father. Zoro saw her decision and knew he couldn’t let her go alone. He wouldn’t allow them to take her without a fight.

But his strength wasn’t enough. W.C.K.D ripped them from the home they had known. Zoro was dragged into an uncertain future, where training was no longer a path to improvement but a tool for the organization to break him.

Other children were taken with them, but they were separated as soon as W.C.K.D had the chance. They wanted to turn their resilience into something useful for their experiments, to shape their will into something they could control.

They saw potential in them, but Zoro would never bow.

W.C.K.D Facilities

Inside the organization’s facilities, Zoro never stopped searching for Kuina. He checked every hallway, every group of children, every accessible record, but he never found a trace of her. That absence didn’t break him; on the contrary, it made him stronger. He became more disciplined, more resilient, facing every trial with the same conviction he had in their training duels.

If he couldn’t find her, there was only one option left—keep moving forward, grow stronger, and do everything possible to fulfill the dream they shared.

W.C.K.D studied him with particular interest. He wasn’t just immune; his physical and mental endurance exceeded all expected limits. He didn’t give up, didn’t show exhaustion like other subjects. He didn’t react as he should have. To the organization, Zoro was an exceptional case—someone who didn’t just survive extreme stress but confronted it with determination instead of fear.

When he met Luffy, it was like being exposed to pure energy—a force scientists couldn’t control. At first, Zoro watched him with skepticism, wondering how someone so carefree could survive in a place designed to break spirits. But over time, he understood what set Luffy apart—a freedom that neither fear nor the system could erase.

Luffy reminded him of her, especially that dreamer’s mind that refused to yield, despite the disaster surrounding them.

The scientists classified Zoro as a highly resistant subject, capable of surpassing physical limits through sheer determination. Over the years, they subjected him to increasingly demanding trials, but Zoro never faltered. He wasn’t trying to escape or conform. He was only trying to grow stronger—as if preparing for something far greater.

And when the time came, he wouldn't fail. Not again.

Arrival at The Glade

Three months.

Three months without knowing anything about Luffy. No clue what had happened to him or where he was, but Zoro could guess the answer to that last question. No matter how much he cooperated to get an explanation, no one ever gave him one he actually liked.

"He passed the trials," was all the scientists told him during one of the many tests they put him through—just like that, with indifference. Zoro hated it. Luffy was his friend, someone who had restored his hope, who never gave up and never abandoned those he cared about. He simply couldn’t have that he just disappeared after completing the trials.

After they all promised to find a way out together.

Nami was worried too. Zoro noticed the anxiety eating at her day after day, and that was the final straw. First Kuina, now Luffy—he wasn’t going to lose another friend and do nothing about it.

During one of the tests, Zoro rebelled against W.C.K.D. He refused to keep playing along unless they gave him the answers he needed, including where subjects who completed the trials were sent. It wasn’t a peaceful conversation—there were punches thrown, destruction on both sides, though Zoro had the upper hand.

Unfortunately, they managed to neutralize him. But instead of sending him back with the others with a warning, W.C.K.D made a decision—if all this trouble was because of a missing friend, why not send him to that friend? Good Samaritans, right?

Before sending him to the Glade, they put him through final endurance tests, observing whether his body would react in an unexpected way to the erasure of his past. And yet, he showed no signs of weakness—not even pain from the Neutralizer, unlike other subjects. His mind was as stubborn as he was, resisting memory elimination far more than expected. But in the end, they succeeded.

When he woke up inside The Box, his instincts kicked in immediately—muscles tensed, preparing for a fight he didn’t understand. He stepped into the Glade with a cold stare, watching the other guys cautiously. He didn’t trust anyone. He had no reason to.

The first days were lonely. He didn’t seek out friendships or answer questions. He had only one certainty—his own body. His reflexes, his strength—it was as if everything else had faded, leaving only an echo of who he once was.

It was in that isolation that Luffy appeared. Not as a threat, but as someone who didn’t follow the same rules. He insisted on talking to him, treating him like they already knew each other. At first, Zoro ignored him, but over time, his carefree nature started to feel familiar.

Trust came slowly, but his instincts told him that this boy wasn’t a danger. He was familiar.

Luffy finally won his trust not just by trying to include him, but by respecting Zoro’s personal motivations—something he appreciated.

The Glade was a new world, but Zoro didn’t bother trying to understand it. He just kept moving forward, as if stopping had never been an option.

Second-In-Command

Zoro never had an official role in The Glade, but his presence became indispensable. He didn’t fit into the traditional jobs like Slicer, Baggers, or Gardeners, but that didn’t mean he didn’t contribute.

After observing him, the Gladers considered Zoro for the Runner position. His endurance, speed, and strength made him an ideal candidate, capable of handling the physical demands of the Maze. But everything changed when they put him to the test in his first scouting run.

He got lost. Multiple times.

He was fast, nearly unstoppable, but his sense of direction was a disaster. While the other Runners were already returning to the Glade, Zoro kept taking the wrong paths or ending up in dead ends. But the worst came when, without realizing it, he got trapped in the Maze as night fell.

The Gladers assumed the worst. Zoro had barely arrived, and he was already gone. But Luffy, with a certainty no one else had, refused to believe it. Zoro was still alive. He had no proof—he just knew.

When the sun began to rise over The Glade and the massive Maze doors opened, everyone prepared to see emptiness on the other side. But then, Zoro stepped through.

Covered in wounds, clothes torn, breathing heavy—but standing. He had spent the night in the Maze. He had fought a Griever. And he had won.

After that, it was clear he could never be a Runner. Not because he lacked the ability, but because his instinct led him to fight, not flee. And while everyone knew Zoro could take down a Griever, no one wanted to risk it too often. Oh, and because his sense of direction was terrible.

Zoro became a pillar within the Glade’s structure, someone the others instinctively trusted and admired. He helped across different areas, from carrying supplies to handling heavy tasks others avoided. He never complained—he just did what had to be done. If something required strength, Zoro was there.

But above all, he was a protector. Not because he was assigned to be one, but because it was in his nature. In every internal conflict, in every situation that threatened the stability of The Glade, Zoro stepped in. If someone was in danger, he was at the front without hesitation.

Over time, that same trust led him to become Second-in-Command. Not because he sought the position, but because he was one of the few who could maintain balance alongside Luffy. His presence in the Glade became essential—not just as a guardian, but as someone who, no matter what happened, would never let the others fall.

Extra Data:

Contrary to what the Gladers thought, Zoro doesn’t sleep much at night; instead, he keeps watch to make sure everything is safe while the others rest. Even though the Maze doors close at night, meaning they’re protected, something in him keeps him alert, leading him to only take naps during the day.

Despite not remembering his life before the Glade, his body is still conditioned for combat. His training is more intense than anyone else’s. If he’s not working, he’s training, and if he’s not training, he’s sleeping. There’s no in-between.

He has a strange relationship with Luffy. He doesn’t always understand his logic, but somehow, he always ends up following him. Not because Luffy forces him to, but because he trusts him without needing explanations. Nami calls them “Dumb” and “Dumber,” but it’s affectionate.

When he got lost in the Maze, he actually found the exit—he just didn’t think it was important and kept going. I mean, it’s Zoro we’re talking about; he always ends up in the right place at the most unexpected moment, in the most ridiculous way possible.

He always carries weapons. Blades, of course, and always sharpened. Ever since his encounter with a Griever, where his weapons saved his life, he hasn’t left them behind for even a second. He never knows when he’ll need them again.

Subject A37: Nami – “The Strategist”

Group A

Role in The Glade: Keeper of the Map-makers.

Time in The Glade: Two and a half years.

Flare Immunity: Not Immune.

Life Before Arrival at W.C.K.D

Nami grew up in Cocoyasi, a coastal town that tried to stay beyond the reach of the Flare and the organizations that emerged in its aftermath. Life there was never easy—resources were scarce, the weather was unpredictable, and the constant attacks from Cranks forced the residents to reinforce their defenses.

Unlike other settlements that sought shelter in fortified structures, Cocoyasi relied on the adaptability of its people. Survival wasn’t based solely on brute strength but on cleverness, on knowing every escape route and every natural hiding place.

She was adopted by Bell-mère, who taught Nami that intelligence could be the greatest weapon against despair. Even as a child, she showed an exceptional talent for understanding maps, studying patterns, and analyzing escape routes.

Unfortunately, history repeated itself. W.C.K.D continued hunting for immune children, and nothing would stop them. An extraction squad arrived, and everything else followed the same routine. In the chaos, Nami and her sister Nojiko were separated. Bell-mère tried to defend them but was killed in the confrontation.

W.C.K.D discarded Nami for not being immune, leaving her alone in the devastation they had caused during the raid. There, vulnerable and shattered, Arlong found her.

Arlong was a leader who operated beyond W.C.K.D’s control—not out of moral opposition, but out of his own ambition. In a collapsed world, he had become a conqueror of ruins, taking what he wanted and subjugating those he deemed weak. To him, survival was a game of dominance, and the only law he respected was his own.

His group didn’t fight for freedom—they fought for control. They believed themselves the only ones capable of surviving without W.C.K.D, imposing their own system of power and loyalty. They operated like land-based pirates in the wreckage of the world, raiding settlements, trading information, and eliminating anyone who stood against them. To them, the world was already doomed, and the only option was to rule it before its final fall.

Seeing Nami’s intelligence and strategic mind, Arlong offered her a deal. He promised freedom, the chance to reunite with her sister, and protection against W.C.K.D’s relentless threat. But she knew it was all a lie—a deception disguised as an opportunity.

Even so, she had no other options to ensure her survival. She accepted, infiltrating W.C.K.D, using her mind as a weapon to secure her place and find a way to take back what had been stolen from her.

W.C.K.D Facilities

Arlong moved Nami to another community with immune children, knowing that W.C.K.D would arrive soon, and so they did. Nami volunteered herself, claiming she believed in their cause and the good the organization was doing for the world. The agents took her in for evaluation, setting her plan in motion.

Inside the facilities, they subjected her to tests to measure her intellectual capacity, adaptability, and quick thinking.

The results surprised W.C.K.D. Her mind detected patterns and optimized routes with a precision beyond their analysts. Her cartographic skills were innate, allowing her to refine the Maze structures in ways the scientists had never considered.

Additionally, her ability to analyze under pressure made her excel in strategic scenarios, making calculated decisions without compromising the final goal. W.C.K.D classified her as an exceptional mind, one worth utilizing in their projects.

What they didn’t know was that, while fulfilling her role within the organization, she was leaking information to Arlong. Even that was part of her own plan—she had never intended to be a pawn in their game. She had her own strategy, waiting for the exact moment to strike.

She had infiltrated to unravel secrets, map out facilities, and discover where they were holding Nojiko. She didn’t just want to rescue her; she wanted to free the other children taken from their families and sabotage the experiments in progress.

As she perfected the designs of the Mazes, she used her access to gather critical information—transport routes, security protocols, internal structures. Every piece brought her closer to her goal. It wasn’t just about escaping but dismantling the system from within.

Trust had never been a real option for Nami. Too many losses, too many betrayals. W.C.K.D saw her as a tool, Arlong as a bargaining chip, and she had learned to survive alone, calculating every move. But then came Zoro and Luffy.

Zoro didn’t talk much, didn’t try to understand her through words, but he was always there. He protected her without asking for explanations, like an instinct. He was constant, unshakable, someone she could rely on even if he never said it out loud.

Luffy, on the other hand, was pure chaos—something she had never known how to handle, but somehow, he made her feel safe. He never demanded anything, never tried to decipher her. He simply accepted her, as if she had always been part of his story. With him, distrust became meaningless, because Luffy never doubted her.

No matter how many years passed, maybe there was still a little hope left, and Nami would do everything she could to get them out of there.

Arrival at The Glade

W.C.K.D never planned to erase Nami’s memory. She was too valuable, too efficient. Her mind was a resource they couldn’t afford to waste, so they continued extracting information from her.

On the other hand, Arlong never fully trusted Nami. He knew she had a hidden plan—she was too smart to simply surrender. He let her play her role because it was useful to him, but when he saw she was close to completing it, he decided to act first. He wasn’t going to let her jeopardize his influence.

He handed over immune children to W.C.K.D as a sort of trade, and the organization accepted, because it saved them resources in their extraction process.

Then, he exposed her. He presented proof of her access to classified information and her research on immune children, framing it as if the organization had reached out to him first. He even revealed details about his informant. W.C.K.D didn’t hesitate to act, and with the information Arlong provided, they confirmed that Nami was an internal threat.

Elsewhere, Nojiko waited at the designated meeting point, hidden as she counted the minutes. Nami had managed to find her some time ago, and together, they had finalized their escape plan. Everything was ready—the route mapped out, the timing calculated, the distractions in place. All that was left was for Nami to arrive.

But the minutes passed, and she never appeared.

At first, Nojiko thought a minor setback had delayed her, that she just needed a few more moments. But as the wait dragged on, the realization became unbearable. Something had gone wrong.

Nami never had the chance to escape. W.C.K.D intercepted her before she could complete the final part of the plan. Nojiko never heard from her again after that night. She only understood one thing—whatever had happened, her sister wasn’t coming back.

When they took her to the labs, Nami resisted. There was no chance of escaping, and she knew it, but the frustration of having been so close made her fight anyway. However, the true torture came afterward.

They implanted the Neutralizer. For Nami, the pain wasn’t just physical. Arlong’s betrayal, the failure of her plan, Luffy and Zoro trapped in the Maze, the certainty that Nojiko was waiting for her without knowing she’d never arrive… Everything crashed down into one overwhelming sensation as the machine began its work.

To the organization, it was just a routine procedure. To Nami, it was confirmation that everything she had built had disappeared.

When she stepped out of the Box, the first thing she saw was an open sky, vast and unfamiliar, as if she were seeing it for the first time. Then came the voices—strangers murmuring, watching her with curiosity and caution.

Her instinct was to calculate. Count faces, measure distances, analyze the structure of the place. She didn’t know why she was doing it, only that her mind reacted before she could even comprehend it.

She didn’t let panic take over, but she didn’t trust anyone either. She observed in silence, storing information. Something felt wrong. She had lost something essential, though she didn’t know what.

The only thing she knew for sure was that she needed answers. And she wouldn’t stay trapped in that place without understanding why.

Map-maker

At first, Nami felt like she didn’t quite belong in The Glade. She was quick and agile, but not enough to be a Runner. She didn’t see herself as a Slicer either—not because of a lack of strength, but because the idea of caring for and sacrificing animals was difficult for her.

She tried to adapt, testing different tasks, but none seemed quite right. Gardening offered her a sort of calm, a sense of control in the middle of the chaos, but it wasn’t enough. Working with plants gave her some relief, a small escape, yet she still felt out of place. It was as if there was something inside her, a buried skill, but each time she tried to remember, she only found emptiness.

Then, she discovered a function within The Glade that, while it didn’t give her all the answers, at least provided direction. She became the one responsible for managing supplies and maintaining order. From the very start, it was clear that no one had her level of organization, and while some initially tried handling the resources without a structured system, she quickly took control.

She made sure every food ration was accounted for, that supplies were distributed efficiently, and that no one took more than necessary. If anyone tried to trick the system or take provisions without permission, Nami caught them instantly.

She kept a detailed record of everything that entered the Glade, from tools to medicine. Her ability to manage resources was so precise that even the leaders relied on her calculations more than any other method.

If there was a shortage, Nami found solutions. If someone tried to negotiate for more than their share, she knew exactly how to handle the situation. Her combination of intelligence, strategy, and determination made the Glade function far more efficiently.

It still wasn’t the purpose she was searching for, but at least, for the first time, she had a clear role.

Until, little by little, she began to notice patterns in the Maze without even stepping inside.

The echoes of the internal mechanisms resonated at precise intervals, forming a kind of invisible rhythm. Some had noticed it, but most were too used to those details to really pay attention.

That’s when she started observing the Runners. She couldn’t explore the Maze herself, but she could listen. She approached them after every expedition, collecting information about what they saw—the unexpected twists, the new sectors.

Each account fed her mind. She took fragments of their experiences and reconstructed them into rudimentary maps. She compared different versions from various Runners, detecting patterns in their narratives, spotting inconsistencies that others overlooked.

Over time, the Runners began seeking her out before each run, trusting her ability to understand the Maze even without ever stepping inside it. Luffy, always trusting his intuition, was the first to recognize just how invaluable her skill was.

That’s how she discovered her role. She couldn’t remember ever designing Mazes before, but every line she traced on her maps felt familiar—like knowledge coming from a place her mind could no longer reach.

Extra Data:

She often observes the sky and atmospheric conditions, without knowing why she instinctively predicts weather changes. The boys joke that she has special Weather Girl powers.

Because of her love for mandarins, the Gardeners planted several trees bearing the fruit as a surprise and gift for Nami.

She was the first girl to arrive in The Glade, which was initially awkward due to dealing with so much testosterone. But she adapted and found a balance with the rest of the boys. Some areas of the Glade were even adjusted for her—girl privilege.

She established a "strategic barter" system in The Glade, where supplies, favors, and tasks had a specific value. If someone wanted more food, they had to offer something useful in exchange, like extra work or valuable information. If someone needed more tools, they could negotiate with services or scarce resources. Even personal favors had a price, and Nami kept a mental record of every debt. No one could take advantage of the system without her noticing, and if someone tried to cheat her, they mysteriously ended up with fewer supplies the next time.

Luffy was First-In-Command, but when it came to strategy and organization, Nami took control without question. If there were important decisions about resources or planning, he simply said, "Ask Nami," and moved on, fully trusting her judgment.

Subject A80: Usopp – “The Ingenious”

Group A

Role in the Glade: Builder.

Time in the Glade: Two years and three months.

Flare Immunity: Not Immune.

Life Before Arrival at W.C.K.D

Usopp grew up in Syrup Village, a settlement surviving on the edges of the Flare’s devastation. Scarcity and danger defined life there, though some still placed their trust in the promises of the organization.

His mother, Banchina, spoke of his father as a free man—someone who had managed to escape the world’s ruin. To Usopp, he wasn’t an absence but proof that hope still existed beyond the devastation.

When his mother fell ill, her stories became his refuge. They weren’t just words, but a way to defy fear, to turn despair into something that could hold them together when reality threatened to break them.

One of the most important people in his life was Kaya. Fragile in health but sharp and curious in mind. As Usopp spun tales of fantasy and adventure, she listened with a smile, letting his words carry her through the days when her body refused to give her strength.

Since childhood, Kaya had been under the care of Klahadore—a man of imposing presence and impeccable manners. No one in the village questioned his role. Kaya trusted him, and that was enough for the others to accept him.

But it was all a lie.

Klahadore, whose real name was Kuro, led a group that sold immune children to W.C.K.D, executing their dirty work under the guise of protection. When he discovered Kaya’s unusual resistance to the Flare, he crafted a slow but effective strategy—he convinced her she was ill and subjected her to constant examinations, disguising immunity tests as treatments. For years, he controlled her perception of reality, ensuring she never questioned her condition.

When he confirmed that she was immune, he gave the signal. W.C.K.D invaded the village, supposedly to provide medical care for Kaya, but in the process, they took other children—including Usopp, who, paralyzed by fear, did not resist, though his instincts told him something was terribly wrong.

For Kaya, the betrayal wasn’t immediate. Klahadore soothed her with carefully chosen words, assuring her that within the facilities, she would finally have a chance to live without the risks of her illness.

Usopp, on the other hand, didn’t believe a single word.

W.C.K.D Facilities

From the very first day in W.C.K.D, Usopp didn’t fit the profile of an ideal subject. He wasn’t remarkably strong nor did he have unbreakable endurance. He wasn’t immune. To the scientists, he lacked biological potential.

But he survived.

Not because of his muscles, but because of his mind. Fear made him adapt faster than anyone, anticipating danger before it happened—not through logic, but through pure instinct.

W.C.K.D studied him as a case of psychological adaptation. They wanted to understand how he endured without exceptional abilities, how he manipulated perception with his words—though the latter could pose a long-term risk.

Inside the facilities, Usopp quickly learned that information was invaluable. He couldn’t fight physically, but he could observe, listen, and pretend he knew more than he actually did. When subjects began to lose hope, he created stories about an escape, about a possibility that didn’t yet exist. He did it to survive, to keep doubt from consuming him.

Usopp wanted to search for Kaya, but fear held him back. He knew defying W.C.K.D meant risking more than he could handle. Still, he never stopped trying. He listened to conversations, gathered data, searching for any hint of where she might be. He couldn’t act yet, but he needed to know she was still alive—so one day, he could go after her.

His creativity was his greatest weapon. During trials, he repaired objects, modified tools, and found use where others saw only scrap. That made him a valuable resource—not just to the scientists but to other subjects within the facilities. Internally, among the researchers, they called him “MacGyver.”

Despite admiring his ingenuity, W.C.K.D saw Usopp’s stories as a problem. They weren’t just distractions—they encouraged hope, and hope could lead to rebellion. They wanted obedient subjects, not children dreaming of escape.

And in one of those moments, when Usopp told his magnificent tales, Luffy listened. When he finished, Luffy applauded enthusiastically, as if every word had been worthy of recognition.

Luffy welcomed him into the group instantly. He knew Usopp had hidden potential and just needed someone to believe in him for it to flourish. That spark of light warmed Usopp—he realized then that he was no longer alone.

Arrival at The Glade

Usopp noticed it. His friends were disappearing one by one.

At first, he thought maybe they had been relocated to another section, that they would show up at any moment. But as days passed, then weeks, even months, fear settled into his chest again—that same fear he thought he had started to overcome. Had they left him behind? Had they been taken? What if W.C.K.D was only selecting those they deemed useful? What would happen to him?

He didn’t have much time to think.

A normal day. Another test. A Neutralizer. A Neutralizer? The world turned to darkness.

When he woke up, the air was dense and metallic, the floor cold against his skin. A mechanical hum echoed around him—the grinding of gears, the hollow sounds of a confined space. He didn’t understand where he was or why he was there.

Once outside The Box, fear came quickly. But Usopp forced himself to react. He imitated confidence he didn’t feel, masking his panic with every gesture. He couldn’t let them see what was really racing through his mind.

With no clear options, his survival instinct took over. He pretended to analyze, looked around with apparent calm, as if he could understand the situation just by observing. Though deep inside, only one question echoed loudly: Where was he?

The Gladers watched him with skepticism. Some wondered if he actually knew what he was doing or if he was just improvising to hide his nerves.

When night fell and the bonfire cast flickering light over the faces of the Gladers, Usopp kept up his act. He told stories that aimed to give meaning to that place, spoke with conviction, hoping that at least the sound of his own voice would convince him that he belonged.

Then Luffy appeared. Not with authority, not with questions—just with pure curiosity. He sat in front of Usopp, listening to every word with unexpected focus. There was no judgment in his expression, only genuine amusement. When Usopp finished his story, Luffy burst into laughter, admitting that he liked the way Usopp thought.

Without Luffy realizing it, something shifted inside Usopp. He didn’t know where he had come from, but he felt… right. He fit.

Maybe the answer wasn’t in pretending, but in being who he truly was.

Builder

At first, no one assigned Usopp a specific task. But he knew that if he didn’t prove himself useful, securing a place in that system would be difficult. So, he started fixing small issues—loose planks on fences, worn-out tools, jammed mechanisms. Details that others didn’t see as urgent, but ones he saw as opportunities to prove his worth.

His ability to improvise solutions with the materials he found set him apart. What seemed like scrap in the hands of others, Usopp turned into something functional. His ingenuity allowed him to create more efficient mechanisms for small tasks, making life in The Glade a little easier for everyone.

When he heard the story about Zoro and the Griever, he could barely sleep that night. The anxiety of knowing that monstrous, half-machine creatures were out there, loose, gnawed at him. By early morning, Usopp was already designing new defense mechanisms with a clear focus—anticipating any potential intrusion and acting before the threat got too close.

Fear? Pfft, of course not. They just had to be prepared for anything...

He started by installing rudimentary alarms made from taut ropes and metal cans, placed strategically at the Maze gates. If something crossed those barriers, the sound of clanging metal was loud enough to alert the Gladers.

Then, he improved the watchtowers, reinforcing the structures to provide a wider view of The Glade. He adjusted how the sentinels rotated, ensuring there were no blind spots. He also modified some platforms, adding supports for makeshift weapons.

From a distance, Usopp perfected his projectile technique, crafting ammunition from recycled materials. He experimented with weight, shape, and velocity to make sure they were effective against any threat. He adapted his attacks based on the situation—small and fast projectiles to alert, heavy ones to destabilize, and others designed specifically to inflict damage if necessary.

His ability to improvise solutions made him stand out. His quick adaptation and creativity with materials ultimately secured him a place among the Builders. Though he was more focused on repairing, he also found joy in creating.

Who would’ve thought anxiety would play such a crucial role in defending The Glade?

Extra Data:

Although he's a Builder, his talent truly shines when repairing tools or damaged structures. Many times, others think an object is beyond saving, but he always finds a way to make it useful again.

He never knows when he'll need them, so he hides small tools and materials in strategic locations around the Glade. It's an instinctive habit, as if his mind knows that one must always be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Luffy officially named him "The Glade's Sharpshooter" since no one had Usopp’s level of aim. Plus, Usopp knew his inventions inside and out—there was no one better for the role.

He sleeps better knowing that Zoro is awake and watching over The Glade, trusting him completely to keep them safe.

Subject A3: Sanji – “The Provider”

Group A

Role in the Glade: Keeper of the Cooks.

Time in The Glade: Two years.

Flare Immunity: Immune.

W.C.K.D Facilities

Sanji wasn’t born in a marginal settlement or a hidden refuge. From the very beginning, he was inside W.C.K.D’s system.

His family, the Vinsmokes, were strategic allies of the organization. Judge Vinsmoke, his father, was a key researcher in genetic manipulation, obsessed with creating a generation of immune and superior humans. To ensure it, he altered the body of Sora, his wife, before the birth of their children, modifying her biology to transmit immunity more efficiently.

His children were molded under that principle. Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji grew up within the facilities, adapting easily to the environment without questioning it. They were strong, efficient, devoid of empathy. But Sanji never fit into that vision.

From a young age, his mother was his refuge. She never believed in W.C.K.D’s methods or in her husband's philosophy. Though she didn’t have the power to stop the experiments, she did everything she could to protect Sanji from a childhood devoid of humanity. She taught him that strength wasn’t everything—that compassion and the desire to help others also had value.

She was the one who told him about the world beyond W.C.K.D, about what it meant to choose his own path.

Unlike her children, who grew up strong and efficient, Sora began to deteriorate. Her body, altered by Judge, couldn’t withstand the side effects of genetic manipulation. She weakened over time, growing more fragile each day until her illness became irreversible.

Sanji watched her fade, realizing that no one within the organization would help her. To them, his mother was just a failed experiment, a necessary sacrifice in their vision of progress.

As his mother slowly disappeared, his sister, Reiju, was the only one who supported him.

Reiju was different from their brothers. Though she had grown up under the same conditions, she wasn’t completely devoid of emotions. She understood Sanji’s pain, though she could never openly show it. When their father ignored his attempts to escape the imposed destiny, Reiju was the one who comforted him in silence.

When Sora died, Sanji felt like his last connection to humanity within W.C.K.D was lost. From then on, cooking became his only form of resistance. If he couldn’t change his fate, he could at least give it meaning.

In an environment where food was strictly controlled and rations were cold and impersonal, Sanji began to experiment with what he had available. He couldn’t change the system, but he could improve his own meals, find ways to make each dish have more flavor, more substance.

He sank into the routine of the facilities, trapped between his father’s contempt and W.C.K.D’s indifference. He didn’t expect to find anything beyond what cooking provided him in that place—until he met Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp.

There were no uncomfortable questions or analysis of his origins, just a natural acceptance that caught him off guard. Luffy included him effortlessly, as if he had always been there. Zoro didn’t demand explanations, simply acknowledging his presence. Nami, though cautious, didn’t treat him like an experiment. And Usopp, with his easy conversation, gave him something he hadn’t had in a long time—talk without expectations.

Without realizing it, Sanji stopped feeling like an error within W.C.K.D and began to see the possibility of something more. But someone else wasn’t very happy about those new connections.

Judge quickly noticed the change in Sanji. The bonds he had formed with Luffy and the others were a distraction—an obstacle to what he considered his children’s true purpose. He couldn’t allow emotional weakness to continue growing, so he took action.

Sanji was transferred to another section of the facilities, far from any influence that could soften him. The training there was brutal, designed to harden him, to erase any trace of empathy still left in him. He didn’t need friends, didn’t need attachments. He needed strength.

But no matter how much they tried to mold him, no matter how much they pushed him to become what his father wanted, Sanji never stopped clinging to what he had found.

Judge considered him a failure. He didn’t have his brothers’ efficiency, nor the mentality W.C.K.D demanded. Instead of eliminating him, he was relegated to lesser tasks within the facilities, ensuring that no one saw him as a legitimate Vinsmoke. To Judge, Sanji was nothing more than a mistake to be forgotten.

But Sanji refused to resign himself to that fate. He didn’t want to become just another tool of the system, a subject molded by his father’s vision. He wanted to escape. Not just for himself but for those who were still trapped. Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp—they all deserved something beyond W.C.K.D’s walls.

His plan wasn’t just to flee. It was to find a way out for everyone.

When the opportunity came, he escaped, leaving behind the facilities and everything he had known. He found refuge far from W.C.K.D, on the outskirts of the system, where he met Zeff, a former soldier of a rebel faction who had abandoned direct combat.

Zeff didn’t take in Sanji out of pity but because of what he saw in his skill. The boy didn’t just cook to survive—he did so with precision and intent, turning the bare minimum into something meaningful. His knowledge was instinctive, his technique refined by years inside W.C.K.D, where he had learned to make the most of every resource.

Beyond his skill, what truly convinced Zeff was the purpose behind each dish. Sanji didn’t cook just for himself—he cooked for others, understanding that feeding was more than just serving food. In him, Zeff saw a talent that didn’t need to be shaped.

Over the years, Sanji learned that pride wasn’t in brute strength but in standing firm in his principles. Despite everything W.C.K.D had tried to impose on him, he could still decide what he wanted his life to become.

But W.C.K.D doesn’t forget those who defy its control.

Sanji’s escape wasn’t just an act of rebellion—it was a crack in the system that the organization couldn’t ignore. For years, he had been dismissed as a failure, but his survival on the outskirts of W.C.K.D’s controlled world proved that his supposed failure had another side. He had escaped, and he had learned to live without them.

When they captured him, he wasn’t treated as a common prisoner. He was dragged back to the facilities with a clear purpose. They could no longer see him as worthless. Sanji had become an anomaly—someone who had rejected his father’s imposed destiny and found his own path.

And that posed a growing threat to the organization.

They couldn’t kill him, couldn’t discard him as a mistake. Sanji now represented an unknown—a possibility they had never accounted for in their model of human evolution.

Oh, and most importantly—Sanji was immune, so it was time to make use of that gift of evolution.

Arrival at The Glade

Sanji was escorted through the cold halls of the facilities, his footsteps echoing against the metal as they led him toward the destination he already knew—the Neutralizer. He knew what was coming, the relentless procedure that would erase everything that made him who he was, reducing him to just another subject in the Maze.

But before that, his father had something else planned.

Judge took him to a dark room, where illuminated screens displayed records of subjects across different sectors of The Glade and the Maze. At first, Sanji didn’t understand what he was seeing—until the faces began to appear one by one.

Luffy. Zoro. Nami. Usopp.

They were all there.

They had been sent without memories, just like the other experimental subjects, abandoned in a system designed to break them.

Judge watched his reaction carefully, waiting to see guilt settle in his expression. He spoke with cold precision, with that ruthless logic that had always defined his view of the world. Sanji had escaped, had achieved his longed-for freedom, while those who had once been his friends suffered in his absence.

For a moment, the world shrank to those screens—to the image of his friends struggling without knowing who they were, without remembering that they had once built something together. Fury mixed with helplessness, with the pain of knowing he had failed in the one thing he had promised to do—get them out.

Judge didn’t expect resistance. He didn’t believe Sanji had the strength to change his fate. But what he didn’t understand was that every word, every image projected in that room, only fueled something he had never managed to destroy in him.

They had sent them to the Maze. They were going to erase him just as they had erased them. But he accepted it because it meant he would be reunited with them.

Even if he no longer remembered who they were in the end.

Sanji opened his eyes and saw only darkness. The Box trembled, his body shifting slightly with the force of its ascent. His breathing was uneven, the tight space pressing against his chest—but the worst part was the emptiness in his mind.

It was happening again. Another subject without memories.

The Box opened. The Gladers welcomed him, asked his name, and though everything was confusing at first, he was able to remember his own name. At least that was some progress through the fog in his mind.

Between the tension in the air and the cautious glances of those who had already felt the weight of adversity, a silhouette moved forward with steady steps. Sanji didn’t enter The Glade as someone simply seeking to survive—his stride spoke of confidence, his posture of elegance, and his gaze of a fire that wouldn’t be extinguished easily.

From the very first moment, Sanji and Luffy understood each other effortlessly. There were no barriers, no need to build trust, because to Luffy, Sanji had already been part of the group from the instant he stepped into The Glade.

There was no resistance. Sanji never felt forced, never had to decide whether to trust or not. Luffy treated him as someone important from the start, and without realizing it, Sanji found himself at his side, as if he had always been there.

In The Glade, he found what he had needed all those years—a true family.

Cook

From the very first day in The Glade, Sanji felt that something was missing. He didn’t know what it was, had no memories of his past, but every time he saw trays of bland, basic food, something inside him stirred with frustration.

It didn’t take long for him to realize that while the food in The Glade was functional, it wasn’t satisfying. No one complained out loud because survival was the priority, but Sanji saw the tired faces, the hunger masked as acceptance, the routine that made eating just another unimportant part of the day.

Without thinking too much about it, he took the initiative. At first, he simply adjusted the ingredients, combining what little they had in different ways. He experimented with the limited resources available, searching for ways to improve what everyone had taken for granted.

The others started noticing the difference. It wasn’t just the taste—it was the way Sanji prepared the food. He didn’t do it as an obligation; he did it with care, as if even in a place designed to break them, they still deserved to enjoy what they ate.

He became The Glade’s cook. He became indispensable—not just for the meals but for the atmosphere he created around them.

From then on, whenever someone saw fire in the kitchen and heard the sound of utensils moving, they knew it was Sanji, making sure that, even for just a moment, they could forget where they were.

Extra Data:

He never eats standing up. He doesn’t know why, but the act of sitting down to eat feels essential to him. If someone tries to grab a quick meal without sitting, he immediately scolds them.

Zoro and Sanji have an unofficial competition about who is more useful in the Glade. Zoro insists his strength is essential, while Sanji argues that food keeps everyone energized—and so they spend most of their time arguing.

Though charming and polite, his patience runs thin when someone disrespects food. Once, he threatened to make someone eat only dried fruit for a week if they kept complaining without reason.

He treats everyone equally, sure, but Nami just happens to always get the first plate of food at every meal. It's a mere coincidence; it has nothing to do with his weakness for women.

[military1st]

A Czech Army Soldier takes part in a stress fire range competition between the U.S. Army and the Czech Army at Forward Operating Base Shank in Logar province, Afghanistan. This exercise assesses weapon accuracy in high-pressure scenarios.

The U.S. Army photo by Spc. Alexandra Campo (2013).

[birlaprecision]

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[clockworklozenges]

So, a good five or so years back, I played in one of the best worst DnD games I have ever been in. The DM had bought the Libris Mortis book, which, if you were unaware, was a 3.5 splatbook adding in a lot of undead stuff, including some monsters and undead player races and stuff. Wanting to try it out, me and my gaming group decided to play things from it, our then DM deciding to run a completely homebrewed session. This proved to be a...

Terrible Idea™

(for the uninitiated, never homebrew something you do not fully understand unless it's just cosmetic. If you want to make all elves worship the god of garlic bread, Ultimo-Metatron-Omega, go ahead, but unless you know how the game works, don't make mechanical changes). So we all picked stuff from the books-one player played a skeleton Sorcerer who in life was a tribal shaman, but an attempt at healing went wrong, turning him undead as his life energy was replaced with negative energy, explaining why most of his spells were necromancy and suchlike.

Another player played Krug, an antipaladin in very spiky full plate. He was a zombie made by a necromancer of a paladin who was fighting him, but his allies killed his would-be master before he could assert control, and not wanting to just off him, his allies just...yeeted his body into a portal and hoped it'd re-kill him. It did not kill him hard enough. It did, however, explain his stats which...oof. He had already got debuffs to some stats due to being a zombie, and rolled abysmally. Fortunately for the player, he played mostly to socialise, so didn't much care.

I played... Count Nox Feratu, the Campire. As in, a vampire with a very camp German accent, which I did not break for the whole time I was playing him. To the point where "ach, nein, I haf bin heet! Heal me, meine freunde!" was par for the course. My overly camp vamp was a wizard, but due to level adjustment was a bit of a shoddy one. For backstory, he'd been ousted from his clan for ineptitude, and had sworn revenge. I was going for a swordmage build but never got there. All his spells were utility or just necromancy spells.

Our last player played...sigh...Damien Bloodmoon, cleric of Nerull, God of murder and undeath. He was one of the clerics from the book's murder Domain, meaning that he got buffs to damage. He was a vicious arse both in character and out of it, and was so dripping with edge compared to the paladin with the same IQ as a horse after its trip to the glue factory, the shaman who thought killing fixed people and the Campire that if you gave him a pat on the back you'd have finely diced your hand into a red mist. Not going too outlandish with his backstory of wanting to dominate the world as his undead thralls, Damien F***ing Bloodmoon had only taken spells which either charmed live people, dealt negative energy damage or messed with ability drain and suchlike, which he used with aplomb on townsfolk on our way to our objective. He was also, importantly, playing an elf of some sort, I forget which kind. Meaning that of the party, only one was alive.

So, just as an aside, for those of you that haven't played 3.5e DnD or have only played 5e, in Libris Mortis, undeath was gone over in detail, and had a litany of pros and cons. For one thing, undead had only the HP they had-folks like Damien F***ing Bloodmoon could be 'dying', and had some time to be stabilised before meeting the reckoning of Papa John and dying proper. Undead did not, it was just how much you had and if you ran out, poof, you're dust, bones and fertiliser again. You were also harmed by positive energy, so healing spells hurt you, as did potions of healing. However, undead were kind of hardy - poison immunity, some had resistance to non-magical melee damage, stuff that drained your ability scores and levels didn't work on them, some crits wouldn't do extra damage, and the best part- negative energy healed undead. Meaning all the spells our party had which damaged others like the living Damien Bloodmoon were curative ones for us. Keep this in mind.

So, we began our quest, learning of a necromancer a nearby town was plagued by. After using our skills (to whit: Damien Bloodmoon charming and drawing the life force out of random villagers and the only potion seller in the town whilst we went shopping. Krug got a snazzy hat, which we put on top of his helmet, and we chatted to townsfolk as I looked alive enough to pass as human and the shaman had a fake beard and toupee that people were too awkward to point out was fake so went along with it) we learn that the necromancer has a base of operations in the cemetery. "Oh ja, zo original, dahlink. Ve vill need to educate zis guy on vhat is chic and vhat is just shabby!"

So we head there and the nightmare begins. Damien Leads the charge, using all of his knowledge to deduce that the shambling horde moving towards us were stronger-than-your-average-bear undead, and he was right. These were powerful armoured zombie mages of some sort, casting ability draining spells, negative energy ray spells and even having auras of negative energy that dealt damage on a failed Fortitude save. Even their punch and quarterstaves did negative energy damage as well as the usual bludgeoning or unarmed. However...only one of us was really in danger and the DM's face fell when the squishy casters walked up and began shanking their super-special homebrew zombie wizards, being healed by the damage of their attacks as we cut them down.

Like I said, one of the benefits of undeath is that negative energy actually heals you. So the strikes of the magic staves and punches that hit us did some basic damage. Which was then immediately healed by the negative energy their weapon strikes and spells were doing.

However, you'll recall that Damien Bloodmoon was an elf. And not dead. Being a Cleric of a death god doesn't mean that you have the abilities of an undead. That meant that even with the DM being merciful, by the end of the first fight he was covered in blood, mud and withered away to just above half his original strength and constitution. More were patrolling, so we had to run. But that posed a problem.

Remember Krug had heavy armour? And recall his awful stats? He in fact, hadn't got enough strength to wear the armour he'd been given for backstory. He didn't, according to the DM, have enough to remove his own armour. And we attempted to, but also failed our checks according to the DM. And Damien Bloodmoon refused to help, simply blaming Krug and his player. Krug's player thought it was hilarious, and Krug only had enough Intelligence and Wisdom to say his own name, so saw no problem. And Krug, Nox Feratu and Shaman realised that there really...wasn't a problem.

For us, at least.

We slogged through three combats dragging Krug and wading through the mud with him. His speed was so slow that for every step he took, we took about ten. The DM was confused and infuriated that his encounters weren't working, but refused to change them. So we had fun role-playing. Or at least three of us did.

Damien Bloodmoon refused to roleplay, and none of his ranged spells could affect the zombie mages. When he went into melee, he came out wounded as all hell. He went down twice, and it was only the healing supplies of the shaman that saved him.

All the while, he was... Let's say not best pleased. Damien Bloodmoon was getting increasingly wounded, exasperated and longing for the sweet embrace of death as reprieve from the humiliation. His player was getting increasingly redder and rage-filled as time passed. Each fight ended with our characters stronger than ever and his a bloody pulp on the floor, with poor in-character knowledge (and terrible rolls) preventing him from realising why.

Eventually, we reached the final boss, pausing only to paint Krug's armour in contact poison just in case, and to find a stick to help the now-partially-crippled Damien Bloodmoon, cleric of death and murder, walk after being beaten up by angry zombie wizards for hours. And it had, indeed, been hours. Among us, only Damien had a bonus to strength, and we had two swords, a mace and a staff between the four of us. Meaning it was re-death by a thousand cuts for the enemy and a slog and a half for us.

We reach the necromancer and, having taken so long due to dragging the oblivious Krug with us, his big ritual is complete- he raises a fist-sized black onyx egg aloft, crackles with arcane power and causes the bones around him to coalesce into one massive creature - an undead, giant-sized rust monster, radiating an Aura of pure negative energy. Krug opened his arms wide, eager for the metal-eating monster cockroach to free him from his poison-painted metal prison. It ignores him as he's still very far away. Me and the others have our weapons and armour devoured.

Our DM was very much a stickler for note-taking. So because Damien Bloodmoon hadn't written 'clothes' on his sheet, his armour being eaten by the monster left him naked and afraid.

It became clear that the DM had done another f***y-wucky. See, the Aura of negative energy healed me and the Sorcerer by more than its other attacks did. So whilst Damien Bloodmoon was naked, soaked in mud and bleeding to death almost crushed to a pulp in the fetal position, rocking backwards and forwards as his player seethed with hatred, the Shaman and the Campire set about beating the thing to death with our bear hands and a stick.

The session ended once we killed the necromancer, or rather when Krug walked up to him, closed his arms and just crushed the noodle-armed bad guy to death with the weight of his ridiculous armour and poisoned him with its paintwork.

We never revisited the game afterwards. We were told later on that the DM wanted us to use the non-undead races. But at no point had he said as much, even when we asked him about our characters and the restrictions on them. We also learned a valuable lesson. DM for the players who are there, not the ones who you have an idealised mental image of. Tailor your game, otherwise you'll get a sitcom featuring a camp nosferatu, a shaman with no healing, a paladin who could barely move and a Cleric of murder who was ironically the only one at risk of actually dying.

[ghostly-selfships]

Replication (Star-4 x Atraks-1)

Crypt AI: Clarity Control breached. A single unregistered Exo and a single life form of unknown biology detected in the Crypt Laboratory. Status: Disastrous. Notice: Vacate the premises immediately. This will be your only warning.

Star-4: Not today. We have a mission to finish.

Featuring cameos from the fireteams of @nevermore-selfship, @cozyships, and yours truly! Small spoilers from the DSC raid!

Our fireteam has just triggered Atraks-1's encounter within the Deep Stone Crypt and half of the Guardians were already on their way upstairs to the space station, known as Morning Star, to eliminated the Servitors blocking from using our terminals, as that was the only way we were to be able to beat Atraks and her replications upstairs and downstairs. Calling it upstairs and downstairs was easier for our fireteam and we rolled with it. As Xerna killed the specific Vandal, she became the Operator and hopped into the pod, ascending towards the Morning Star, the game was to begin. I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing, but I was certain that I was the only Guardian on the fireteam who knew Atraks, but also knew her personally. I've introduced myself to the House of Salvation previously and have grown to love the Kell and her commanders, due to my fixation on the Eliksni that grew on me after the Red War. Unfortunately, it couldn't be all that safe and I sometimes regret fighting Eramis, seeing her become frozen in Stasis after our encounter. Maybe, in another timeline, we could've been associates. In another, I join the House. For now, a job was needed to be done. Me, Rabbit, and Xerna were on "base team" while Angel, Finn, and Enoch were on "space team". Enoch and I were the dedicated "Scanners" on space and base respectively while Xerna was "Operator" for space team. Minutes into the encounter, base team and I eliminate our set of Servitors and inform space team that we've done so, and therefore, it triggers a new voice through my comms. "Ah, the Guardian. Star-4." It was the voice of Atraks. She recognized me. She's familiar of my time spent with House Salvation. The death threats that the Kell sent my way, but fortunately, they always went into one ear and out the other. With me being one of the dedicated Scanners, I had a set task and I didn't want to be the reason that we failed to journey further into the crypt. Switching quickly to a private communication channel temporarily to speak with the Eliksni Exo, and to not mix the comms with my teammates, I continued to act relaxed, waiting by the terminal for Atraks' Extinction Protocol to begin. "Hey, Atraks. Lovely seeing you again." I replied, focusing on the Shanks and Vandals trying to fire at me. "Eramis informed me about you. Told me much about you. I won't harm you. But the others..." She said with a chitter. At first, I was relieved, but then that content feeling subsided and was replaced with fear.

After many rounds of endurance, lots of switching back and forth of communicating with my fireteam and the Eliksni Exo we were combataning, who was attempting to flirt with me and distract me from my goal, we were doing damage towards Atraks, despite my inner request to not do so, but my fireteam needed me and I didn't plan on letting them down anytime soon. "I will be seeing you soon, Star-4," she replied, activating her final Extinction Protocol, therefore, requiring everyone from base team to rush towards the pods and head towards the Morning Star as fast as possible. I passed Scanner upstairs for Enoch and yelled at Rabbit and Xerna to get to the pods ASAP. "Or should I say...Elijah?" Atraks finished with a chuckle, her replicants disappearing from downstairs. Technology after the Golden Age was definitely something else. Fear struck my body as she said my name, the title of the individual I was in my past life. The past life I knew nothing about. How did she know my name? Rushing towards Morning Star by getting into the pod, I concentrated on finishing the encounter, following my Guardian teammates and waiting for Enoch to pinpoint the correct replication of Atraks. Whipping out the Lament and impatiently waiting for him to choose the right one. There was very little time as Atraks was halfway through her protocol and upon completion, wiping the team. "On me, on me!" The five Guardians pushed onto Enoch's position and began shooting and slashing the replication, successfully eliminating Atraks, or so I thought. "Multiple hostile intruders detected within the orbital platform. Orbital confinement protocol initiating. Status: Pathway to nuclear cores obscured. You have no warnings left. Nuclear descent protocol: Initiated." The doors were open and our next job was to prevent the destruction of Europa. A fireteam of six trying to stop Europa from, simply, blowing the hell up. What could go wrong?

Me, however, I wasn't done with this room just yet. "This way!" Xerna called out, everyone following suit to the open door while I remained, watching Europa behind glass, looking down out at Europa, miles away. "How high are we?" I thought to myself, seeing how beautiful space was, the stars dancing along the sky and around Europa, followed by a Fallen Ketch or two. "Eli, you coming?" My Hunter friend, Angel, questioned, the rest of the team heading towards the next encounter, most likely to take care of Taniks. "Y'all go ahead without me, I'll catch up. Just...just give me a sec, yeah?" After convincing the rest of the fireteam to move forward, I remained and waited until the rest of the Guardians were out of the room, standing in place for a few seconds and admiring the view before finally hearing the familiar sound of Atraks-1's replication. Fear struck me once again and I turned around, spotting it, sitting in the corner of the room, a heavy feeling surging in my circuits. Making my way towards the back of the room, eyeing the replication, I began reaching towards it and hearing Atraks' voice emit from it as well. In case shit went sideways, I had ricochet bullets to hit the replication off of my head if need be. Fortunately for me, that wasn't the case. Touching the replication spawned Atraks and in front of me was the Baron of House Salvation herself, standing at an incredible 12 feet. Maybe Kells and Barons were always this tall as I recall a long time ago that Skolas, Wolf Kell, or self-proclaimed Kell of the House of Wolves, was around the same height, but to be honest, seeing one right in front of you, standing inches away from your face, not attacking but instead watching and examining you, it made my circuits' temperature rise, causing my Exo self to feel warm. I may have been Exo, just like Atraks, but I still had Human attributes. I informed my Ghost, Comet, to keep quiet as much as possible and to ignore the current interaction I was to have with Atraks because if I was trusting my instincts, I knew where this would be leading. "Elijah. We finally meet again." She greeted me, her bright pink eyes shining down on me, a soft chitter filling my ears. Weapons away, I raised my hands in an act of non-hostility, showing that I meant no harm towards the Exo Eliksni in any way, shape, or fashion. "Yeah, didn't think I would be seeing you again honestly," I replied the nervousness slowly fading away, replaced with confidence. "Your team isn't with you?" She questioned and therefore, I informed her that I would join them, needing to take care of this first. "This won't take long, right?" Atraks' chitters clouded my head. No answer. My confidence disappeared.

[inspired-by-the-music]

Decide (Sehun)

requests are encouraged. please read my guidelines before submitting your requests.

Genre: film school AU; reader x Sehun; best friend x Chanyeol

Word Count:  4,220

Everyone’s obsession with Sehun wasn’t a mystery. Aside from being undeniably the most attractive person anyone had ever seen, he was rumored to be the son of an international film executive. And as you were all in film school, boys and girls alike understood that making a good impression on Sehun could potentially open doors in the future.

“Well, Y/N,” your best friend, Ranea responded to your detailed report of how your film class had fallen into embarrassing chaos because of Sehun. She spat out the safety pin she had been holding in her mouth before continuing, “You know what they say in this business— networking is everything.” “But you’re not supposed to network based on— on flirtations.” Your cheeks flushed as you elaborated, “You’re supposed to make an impact with your skills, not by batting your eyelashes and— ow!” As the pin jabbed into your ribs, you flinched. 

Ranea pouted. “Oh no, I got your blood on this fabric. The department head is going to kill me!” She was too worried about being scolded until she glanced up at your face. “Oh— duh!” She smacked herself in the forehead— with the pin, and screamed, “Ouch! Damn it— I’m sorry, Y/N.”

You gathered the fabric around your legs so you could comfortably lean forward to snatch the pin away before Ranea could wreak more havoc. “You’re a danger to yourself and others.”

Sobbing dramatically, she agreed, “I know!”

You delicately asked, sighing, “How long ‘til you go back to makeup?”

Her eyes came to life at the mention of her true passion. “Y/N, honey, I never left makeup. All this needlework? That’s just a part of my major or whatever.”

“Ah, I see.” You nodded before glancing at your watch. “Anyway, I agreed to be your live mannequin for an hour, and your time’s officially up.”

Ranea grumbled as she fished the paper out of her book bag. “You know the drill. Grade me out of 10, and don’t cheat this time!” After you giggled, she said, “Seriously! This is supposed to reflect my skills, not how much you love me.”

“Right, I know that,” you nodded as you penciled a 9 next to your signature. “If I were grading based on how much I love you, it’d be a perfect 10. Here ya go.” You returned the paper with a toothy smile.

“9?” Ranea’s boyfriend, a fellow cinematography student read over her shoulder once he stepped into the dressing room. He offered her a high five and cheered, “Way to go, babe!”

Flatly, Ranea said, “Don’t congratulate me, Chanyeol,” but she high fived him anyway. And she giggled when he laced their fingers upon impact. 

“Why not?” He smiled broadly at her laughter. “A 9 is damn near perfect!”

As you struggled to free yourself from the floor-length skirt Ranea pinned over your jeans, you explained, “She’s convinced I’m lying about her score to save her grade.”

“Oh, well, that’s bullshit, babe,” Chanyeol told Ranea shortly. “Y/N has more integrity than anyone in this school, both of us and all the teachers included.”

And when you nodded at Chanyeol gratefully and winked at Ranea as if to say ‘See, I told you so,’ she maintained, “Look, I know you’re lying.” She pointed a finger at you playfully. “There’s no way I deserve a 9 after I shanked you with that pin!”

Chanyeol unsuccessfully tried to repress his chuckle. “You shanked Y/N”

You started, “Not that it isn’t hilarious that Ranea stuck me, or that she scratched herself in the forehead—”

At the mention of Ranea’s minor injury, Chanyeol stiffened. Pushing her hair out of her face so he could assess the wound himself, he asked, “Why did you do that?”

“I didn’t mean to. . .” her voice trailed off as Chanyeol pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. 

Overwhelmed with the sense that this was too intimate for you to watch, you averted your gaze. What was wrong with you? You weren’t jealous. You weren’t sickened by displays of affection. Ranea and Chanyeol were your favorite people, and they deserved to have each other. And you weren’t jaded by the concept of romance. So why couldn’t you watch a simple kiss on the forehead? 

How long had you been awkwardly staring at the paint-stained floor, tugging at your locket, before Raena asked, “Hey, Y/N? Where’s your mind at?”

You just shook your head, too busy resisting the urge to open the locket to speak, so Chanyeol answered for you. “If she’s like everyone else in our film foundations class, she’s even dreaming about that Sehun guy.”

Thankfully, the thick dressing room door was closed, so nobody outside could hear Chanyeol. Relieved only slightly, you claimed, “Well, I’m not obsessed with Sehun.”

“Right— that blush on your cheeks really proves how indifferent you are,” Chanyeol joked. 

Ranea glared at him as she unfastened the skirt. “Cut it out Chanyeol.”

Perhaps that should have comforted you, but it didn’t. Ranea never missed an opportunity to tease you, especially when Chanyeol was her partner in crime. When you turned to eye her suspiciously, you noticed that familiar playful grin tugging at her lips. “She only has a ‘tiny’ crush on Sehun.” 

You scoffed at her air quotes and crossed your arms over your chest with an especially childlike huff, but you didn’t deny anything. 

“Oh, I see.” Chanyeol tapped on his chin as if to indicate deep thought. “She’s just in denial because she doesn’t want to seem like those other girls Sehun doesn’t like.”

The worst part of their teasing was that they weren’t wrong. You were well aware of the way your heart raced whenever Sehun deliberately caught your eye before scribbling onto his clipboard— as if he wanted you to know that he was observing your every move. 

You knew Chanyeol witnessed how you tightly gripped the light stand until your knuckles turned unnaturally white that time Sehun passed by to swiftly remark, “Good job,” on his way off set. You knew it because Chanyeol winked, mouthed, ‘Don’t drop it,’ and developed an annoying habit of humming “Good job” after class every day. 

And you were too conscious of the recurring that even if Sehun wasn’t an esteemed guest in your class, even if you just met him somewhere in public under totally casual terms, you wouldn’t have the nerve to approach someone so perfect and, quite frankly, intimidating. 

“Hey, earth to Y/N.” Ranea waved her hand in your face. “What do you say? Want me to do your makeup so you can hide that blush from Sehun?” You weren’t really paying attention as you traced over your necklace again, mumbling, “Sure,” and collapsed into a chair. . . . 

As you and Chanyeol set the lights, you scowled at the girls too busy squealing about Sehun— rumored to be wearing all black today— to help prepare to shoot. “At what point does this kind of chaos become a safety concern?”

“What?” Chanyeol asked, so you gestured vaguely at the group of girls crowding the door. He clicked his tongue. “Yeah, as a film student who actually wants to learn, I agree with you— they’re stupid. But as your friend—” Chanyeol choked on his laughter, indicating that more teasing was on the way. “Y/N, you really shouldn’t worry about them. I’m sure Sehun only has eyes for you.”

You only rolled your eyes. “I see the scheduled boom operators are over there, hoping for an autograph or something.”

“I’m pretty sure they’re waiting for a kiss—”

Uninterested in Chanyeol’s mockery, you continued as if you hadn’t heard him, “So I guess today we’ll have to take over for them.”

“Ugh, really?” Chanyeol groaned. His eyes widened as he pleaded, “Come on, Y/N, today’s our turn to sit with the Director, Script Supervisor, and even your future husband. Haven’t we already done enough to prepare the set?”

You knew today was supposed to be your day to sit with them; and to some degree, you were trying to avoid having to be so close to Sehun for a long period. But mostly, you insisted upon operating the mics because, “Chayeol, I really don’t wanna hear Mr. Jung yell at us because those girls aren’t doing their jobs—”

“But they deserve to get yelled at!”

“Haven’t you ever heard that the show must go on?” It was the first show business phrase that came to mind, but you weren’t sure it made much sense in this situation. You revised, “Or what about all those times Mr. Jung barks that we’re a team and we have to look out for each other? For the sake of the shoot, we have a responsibility—”

“So one minute you hate those vultures for swarming around your man, and now you’re ditching the opportunity to sit and talk to him to save their asses?” Chanyeol gawked at you. 

“Yes!” You agreed passionately as the chatter by the door indicated that Sehun and Mr. Jung had arrived. Then, realizing what Chanyeol said, you said, “Well, kind of— we don’t have to sit with Sehun, but we need boom operators to shoot.”

Chanyeol likely would have resisted further, and cursed your attempts to convince him to do more of others’ work, were it not for Mr. Jung screaming, “Where are my boom operators?” and the subsequent shuffling of other students digging through their bags for their schedules. 

“Got it, Mr. Jung!” You answered and motioned for Chanyeol to follow. 

You reddened under Sehun’s gaze as Mr. Jung scolded the class. “I see it’s another day of Y/N and Chanyeol running the set. Did you do the lights and set up these chairs, too?”

Noticing that you were too flustered by the attention, Chanyeol answered as he lifted the boom, “We’re just doing what needs to be done, sir.”

“Whenever you all can be bothered to find your schedules, ” Mr. Jung shoved his glasses higher onto the bridge of his nose as he glared, “everyone scheduled to light and set up the chairs, just go home, and write me a humble letter explaining why the hell I shouldn’t kick you out of this program.” 

Even when class was dismissed, you couldn’t forget your classmates' scowls. Because he’d known you long enough to sense when you were upset, Chanyeol advised, “Don’t even think about them. We’re the ones who did our jobs. Hell, we did more than our jobs— we’re the good guys. Even Mr. Jung said it, we’re the reason anything gets done around here.” And when you smiled, he returned the gesture.

“Hey, Ranea said you’re going out tonight—”

Stirred by your reminder, Chanyeol checked his watch. He grimaced, “Crap, I’m already running late.”

“Just go on now,” you urged as you set to work disassembling the lights, as was required after every class. When Chanyeol faltered, his gaze alternating from you to the dor, you said, hands on your hips and with a friendly smile, “Do I look like I can’t handle this myself! Go! Don’t make Raena wait!”

And with a rushed “Thanks, Y/N!” Chanyeol rushed to meet her. 

Only a few minutes passed in silence before Sehun spoke coolly, glancing at you briefly over his notes. “I could’ve sworn you were dating him.”

You looked around the studio, half-convinced that he had to be talking to somebody else, and blushed at the realization that everyone else was gone. You stopped working to meet his gaze directly as you asked, “Me and Chanyeol?”

Sehun nodded stiffly. “You do everything together. Your movements are always in sync. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

Focusing your attention on the lights, you explained, “That’s because he taught me everything he knows about film.” Then, although it was none of Sehun’s business, you continued, “Even if he wasn’t dating Ranea, I could never be attracted to Chanyeol.”

As you wondered if you’d shared too much, Sehun inquired, at least sounding interested, “Who’s Ranea?”

“My best friend— you wouldn’t know her. She spends most of her time downstairs, doing makeup—”

You gasped, realizing that Sehun was standing in front of you, watching you. He never did anything like this during class; somehow, during those quick peeks away from his notes, he somehow saw everything he wanted to see. What was so fascinating about clean up, especially compared to a busy day on set, that required his full attention?

Too embarrassed to concentrate on your work, you asked, “Why are you staring at me?”

“I’m trying to decide if I want to help you.” On the rare occasion that he decided to speak during class, his sentences were brief, to the point, and void of emotion. So why did he amusedly raise his eyebrows as he spoke to you now?

You tore your eyes away from him. “Well, help if you want, but you don’t need to. I can do this myself.”

As you stepped around him, Sehun said, “I know that. I’ve been around long enough to realize that you do everything here.”

“Chanyeol helps,” you corrected immediately. “Somebody has to do the work, and everyone else is too distracted to do anything worthwhile.”

“Distracted?” Sehun repeated slowly. “By what?”

When you looked at him, you expected to see some arrogant smirk; so you were surprised to watch Sehun’s eyebrows knit together in apparent bewilderment. How had he not heard everyone whispering about him? Was he accustomed to the constant chaos? Did people always shamelessly fawn over him?

You didn’t know, and it seemed inappropriate to ask. And you didn’t feel comfortable explaining everything that made Sehun a distraction, so you simply asked, “Are you going to help, sir? Or are you going to keep standing there and distracting me?”

Sehun laughed airily when you called him ‘sir,’ but his innocent smile twisted into a devilish smirk when he realized, “So I’m the distraction?”

And when you devoted yourself to your task to avoid responding, in a futile effort to ignore the butterflies in your stomach, Sehun asked another question. “Do you think you could never be attracted to that Chanyeol guy because he’s worked with you?”

“What?” It was shocking that he was asking such a personal question since he was in a professional setting. 

Then again, according to Ranea’s unsolicited research, he was roughly your age. Maybe because nobody ever bothered to speak to him as if he were a normal young man, Sehun didn’t understand how to properly socialize. Or maybe he just enjoyed seeing you squirm in response to his questions. You couldn’t be sure of anything other than that talking to Sehun was almost panic-inducing— and you couldn’t decide if you enjoyed it. 

Sehun responded plainly, “I’m still deciding if I want to help you.”

It was increasingly difficult to understand Sehun, but you answered as simply as you could. “No. I’m not attracted to Chanyeol because he’s been my friend for too long.”

Pursing his lips, Sehun asked, “So I shouldn’t be your friend either?” . . . 

“Obviously,” Ranea tried to explain over lunch the next day, “Sehun wants you to be attracted to him. So if helping you is what makes Chanyeol unattractive to you, Sehun wouldn’t help you. If being your friend made Chanyeol unattractive, Sehun doesn’t want to be your friend.”

Chanyeol interrupted to ask, “But I am attractive, right?” and he pouted when neither you nor Ranea reacted. 

“Great—” You shoved your leftovers toward Chanyeol. “As if I need another reason for everyone in the class to hate me! Now the universal heartthrob is talking to me after class.”

“I don’t hate you,” Chanyeol interjected as he pulled your plate closer. “Have I gone completely invisible because of Sehun?”

“No, babe,” Ranea rubbed his arm comfortingly. “You’re visible and very cute.”

And before Chanyeol could take the opportunity to flirt with her, Ranea continued, “Anyway, Y/N, who cares what anyone else thinks? A very successful, very attractive—”

“But not more attractive than me,” Chanyeol was sure to note. 

“Chanyeol, please— Y/N, my point is, you like Sehun, Sehun likes you, and nobody else’s opinion matters.”

You chewed on the inside of your cheek as you admitted, “I mean— do I know him well enough to like him? All he does is sit at the front of our class and write all over his clipboard. And when he talked to me for more than a second yesterday, he was weird. And he said he was going to ask Mr. Jung to change the schedule so I can sit with him today— and I don’t know how I feel about anything.”

Ranea draped her arm over your shoulders and pulled you into a hug. “Look— it’s not that big of a deal. I mean, obviously, the guy’s a little eccentric. But most artsy people are. And would I assume you’d fall in love with a man whose eyebrows always look that angry? Probably not— but I’m sure there are lots of things to like about him. And I know he has lots to like about you.”

“Yeah,” Chanyeol said through a mouthful of noodles. “Like how you keep your attraction to him quiet, unlike everyone else in the world.” Then, his eyes widened. “Wait— so today we get to sit with the director finally?”

“Chanyeol, honey, I doubt you’re invited,” Ranea said softly. “Clearly, Sehun thinks you’re some kind of competition—”

Chanyeol immediately argued, “But I don’t even like Y/N!” 

Ranea playfully kicked Chanyeol under the table as your jaw dropped at his rather loud declaration of disinterest in you. “Hey! That’s my best friend! Tell her she’s beautiful!”

And you really couldn’t care less what Chanyeol thought of you, but it kind of stung when he reluctantly said, “But—”

“Just tell her!”

“Y/N,” Chanyeol forced himself to say your name. “You’re beautiful.”

Someone cleared their throat behind you and Ranea. And when you both slowly turned to face Sehun, you realized why Chanyeol had been so hesitant to compliment you even at Ranea’s request. 

His ears singed pink, Sehun met your eyes and said, “I need to talk to you—” and then he cut his eyes at Chanyeol and added, “privately.”

Perhaps too eagerly, you clambered out of your seat. Once you followed him back to his table and obeyed his gesture for you to sit across from him, you asked, “How did you know I’d be here?”

“Coincidence— or luck— or fate, whichever you believe in,” Sehun answered quickly, adjusting his black dress shirt. Shrugging, he explained, “I just came here for lunch. And when I saw you, I realized it would be better to ask you here instead of in class, where your classmates may get the wrong idea.”

Your heart pounded in your ears. In what must have been a subconscious attempt to relieve your nerves, you tapped your fingers on the table. “Ask me what?”

“To work on a film for my father’s company,” Sehun answered swiftly. 

How was this somehow disappointing? It was your dream to work in the film industry, so why did your shoulders sag at Sehun’s explanation. Had you really fallen for Ranea’s and Chanyeol’s insistence that he liked you? 

No. That was stupid, and you knew it was. Sehun was an established studio executive, and you were still a student. More than that, you were even the youngest in your class— the most inexperienced filmmaker in your class. What interest could someone like you hold for someone like him?

You forced yourself to listen as Sehun explained, “That’s why I’ve been sitting in film classes at the university. It’s my job to recruit young talent, and I choose you.” He pulled stapled papers out of his briefcase and dropped them in front of you. “You’d work in lighting. The pay is above average for a student, but I suppose I could be convinced to negotiate with you.”

The Sehun before you was nothing like whoever spoke to you after class yesterday. Sure, he looked and sounded the same, but his eyebrows were arched with little effort and there was no upward tilt to his lips, which were an expressionless line. 

Reading through the contract, you absentmindedly recalled, “Mr. Jung said students usually only get jobs as assistants.”

“I do need an assistant, but I don’t think that position suits you well considering—” You thought Sehun might be smiling, but when you looked up at him, his expression hardened. “Well, nevermind. Aren’t you going to sign?”

When you took your time reading through the terms, Sehun said, “I didn’t intend to tell you this since I don’t want you to misunderstand my intentions, but I’m prepared to offer Chanyeol a job in lighting. And after looking over Ranea’s portfolio this morning, I decided to offer her a job with the makeup department.”

Your jaw dropped. “You’re going to hire me and my best friends?” It sounded too good to be true; and when Sehun raised his eyebrows at your reaction, you said, “You should know that none of us have ever worked on a real set—”

“Get out of the habit of selling yourself short,” Sehun scolded. Then, smiling slightly, he said, “They say executives have a feeling about these things. You’re my first choice, so I’m asking you first.”

“So when you were talking to me yesterday,” you asked, resigning yourself to the reality that Sehun was merely interested in you for your film skills, “were you just trying to decide if you wanted to hire me?”

Sehun tensed at the question. “I was trying to decide what I thought about you— but not for the job. You were the obvious choice from day one; I only kept showing up to allow others the chance to prove me wrong. But I was worried that my attraction to you could be clouding my judgment.”

While your breath caught in your throat at Sehun’s statement, you heard Chanyeol spit his drink out at his and Ranea’s nearby table. 

Somehow you dared to ask, “So you decided that you’re not attracted to me?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea,” Sehun warned, looking away from you. “I just decided that your professional attributes and—” He tapped on the table as he struggled with how to express himself. “I just realized that I could like you myself and still believe you’re the best person for the job. I needed to make sure that my choices for the potential employee and potential girlfriend were separate but equally valid.”

Stupidly, you repeated, “Girlfriend?”

“Of course, you’re not bound to either commitment unless you choose to be,” Sehun spoke more quickly as his blush deepened. “But before you decide anything, I should return this to you.” He pulled a small jewelry box out of his coat pocket and removed your locket from it. 

It wasn’t until that moment, when you grabbed around your neck, that you realized it was missing. 

“You dropped it yesterday,” Sehun explained. “The clasp broke. I took it to the jeweler and demanded an identical chain, but apparently, they aren’t made anymore. Still— here’s the original chain, in case you have any attachment to it.” He delicately placed the locket, now hanging on a new silver chain, and the faded broken chain in your hand. 

“Did you open it?” You asked him as you returned the locket to its rightful place around your neck. 

“Why would I do that?” Sehun asked, frowning slightly. “Wouldn’t that be a sort of invasion of privacy?”

Indeed it would have been. Even Chanyeol and Ranea didn’t know who was in your locket. But as you studied Sehun, and Sehun studied you, you realized that you wouldn’t have been upset if he had opened it. 

“Why did you go through so much trouble over this?” 

Sehun shrugged, "It was no trouble— but I suppose I did it because I could afford it.” 

That made you wonder just how much the new chain cost; before you could think it through, you offered, “I’ll pay you back—”

And Sehun shook his head sternly. “No, you won’t. Even if you try, I won’t accept your money.” Then, breathing deeply, he admitted, “If you really want me to be honest, I did it because you wear that necklace every day. So I knew it was important to you. And I figured that if I could fix it for you, you would appreciate it—”

“I do,” you interrupted, embarrassed that you hadn’t thought to thank him. “I really do appreciate it; thank you so much.”

Sehun smiled softly. “You didn’t let me finish. I thought if I did that for you, you would like me.” Flustered, he ran a hand through his hair and leaned back in his chair. “Ah, that’s so stupid and childish. I should have asked Chanyeol to return it to you. Now it just seems like I’m trying to bribe you—”

“Look, Sehun,” you leaned forward onto the table so he would look at you instead of staring determinedly anywhere else. “You don’t have to bribe someone to take an amazing job— especially not a student like me. And you don’t have to bribe someone to be your girlfriend. Literally, everyone would dive at that opportunity.”

“Even you?” Sehun asked, raising his eyebrows hopefully. 

And with a sheepish nod, you answered, “Especially me.”

[spellburstss4]

The Ultimate Straight Razor Shaving Guide

Applying one entails focusing to decrease the danger of cuts. Hydrate your face with warm water initially and employ shaving soap using a brush. You will want to pass over your face a couple of days and sharpen the blade prior to your brush. When you've mastered the razor, you will have the ability to provide yourself a much closer shave than you would ever get using a safety razor.

1. Have a hot shower and allow the water wash on your face for 5 minutes. You might also wrap a hot towel around your face such as barbers do to their clients. Wipe a little towel in warm water and then hold it firmly against your face before the towel dries.

2. Rub pre-shave oil on your face. Great pre-shave oil will make shaving easier. Search for products containing natural oils like jojoba, olive, coconut, or coconut. These oils help soften your own hair without quitting your razor.

3. Scrub your shaving brush in warm water. Fill out your shaving cup or bowl with warm water. Be certain that the water is warm so that it softens the bristles in your brush. Leave the brush to boil for a moment or 2. Then, pick the brush up and then flick your wrist to eliminate unneeded water.

The maximum quality shaving creams are made from badger hair. Boar bristle brushes are more economical, and artificial brushes have the lowest grade. You can work the soap or lotion into your whiskers together with your palms, but a brush makes it a ton simpler. Put shaving lotion or soap on the base of your shaving . Dump the water out on your bowl or mug. Replace it with nickel-sized dollop of shaving lotion or the whole soap cake. Soaps would be the less expensive choice and are made out of a high fat, vegetable oil glycerine mix. Creams are very similar to soaps and also you ought to look for ones using organic essential oils such as coconut or jojoba oil. [4] Prevent common shaving creams and foams. Even though you can use them, they will not give you as good of a shave as standard lotions and soaps. I believed my shaves could not get any better once I updated from my Mach5 into an older school safety razor. I was incorrect. My wife noticed that the gap without me telling her what I'd done and announced it was the funniest she had ever seen. Thus make the switch into a straight razor.

Decreased prices. The upfront costs to begin using straight razor shaving really are somewhat on the costly side. But once you buy all of the equipment, you are set for lifetime . You will not ever need to purchase razor cartridges or double edge blades again. Only give your right razor a wonderful stropping and you are all set. The only cost you will need from here on out is a intermittent tube of shaving lotion.

Now's modern shaving racket generates needless waste. When you are done using a cartridge, then you need to throw it out. When you purchase new cartridges, you are left with a whole lot of packaging stuff. The just waste you will produce is biodegradable shaving scum.

Meditative. It is a craft that needs you to slow down and actually concentrate on what you are doing. Following a couple of days of shaving with a straight razor, then you might begin to find yourself entering a remarkably manly zen-like state.

You will feel like more of a poor ass. You're going to be shaving using a tool which could double as a deadly weapon. Putting razor-sharp steel beside your own neck each single day reminds you that you are alive.

Your main tool is the own razor. Do not find skimpy along with your razor and get the least expensive one. You do not need the lowest priced; you desire the very best. Poor razors wind up being more trouble than they are worth. They'll irritate skin and cause nicks and cuts which will irritate you so long as you use it. If well maintained, a fantastic razor will last for ages. Your great-grandsons may even utilize it.

It is possible to buy directly razors either used or new. It is possible to discover used directly razors on ebay and antique shops. Employed razors will probably have imperfections inside the blade which will call for expert honing. A specialist blade recovery will put you back about 30 bones, but it is going to save you from cutting off the crap from your face.

If you would prefer a new razor, then have a look at You can buy pre-sharpened blades which are all set to utilize the very first time you shave for approximately $130.

When Searching for razors, think about these variables:

A razor with great temper sharpens greater than weaker quality steels. 1 method to test when you've got a nicely tempered blade would be to grab the tip of the blade below your thumbnail allow it to slide off fast. If the blade provides a fantastic clear ring, then it is probably well tempered. If it does not, the blade has been probably tempered unevenly.

Most contemporary straight razors are floor using a hollow. Hollowing puts a concave on all sides of the blade which produces the nut lighter, sharper, and simpler to deal with. You are able to buy blades with varying levels of hollowing. While complete concaves will provide you the sharpest edge, it is not advocate for beginners. When this advantage comes in touch with a rigid beard, if you don't hold the blade quite flat on the surface, it's fairly possible to flex and spring, leading to a cut.

Also think about the blade's thickness when choosing a razor. Do not pick one that is too broad. Start looking for a 5/8 dimensions. It's simple to command and follows the face's contours more tightly than other blades. Eventually, consider which sort of blade stage you desire. Blades come in rounded or sharp points. Sharp points have a propensity to cut and liquefy, so proceed with a round point. When you examine a razor's edge beneath a microscope, you will notice that it is composed of several factors that resemble watched teeth. Honing a sword restores these teeth to their initial condition.

The 10 whetstone you use to sharpen your pocketknife will not function as a hone for the razor blade. They are simply too rough for shaving blades. We are in need of a quality hone with finer grit to find that sharp clean edge that'll make shaving comfy. A woodworking whetsone using a 4,000/8,000 grit mix will operate, and you may readily locate them at most hardware stores or online.

Another hone alternative is really a "barber hone." All these are little more difficult to find. Most are classic, and you are going to need to scour eBay or antique shops to locate one. Since they are less coarse than conventional whetstones, ceramic hones need more strokes to sharpen your own wig.

If you would like to discover a ceramic barber hone, look at eBay.

A sword taken straight out of a hone is left demanding and unfit to place on the facearea. This provides your right razor which keen edge which makes shaving a breeze.

The most frequently encountered strop is that the hanging strop. Hanging strops include 2 components: a single canvas strip and a single leather strip. Again, do not find chintzy with your strop. Cheaper models use rough leather and canvas. If you don't would like to mess up your razor, you shouldn't ever place it into such a sub-par strop.

Fromm Leather Strop

Brush. A brush helps moisturize the shaving lotion so as to produce a thick and rich shaving lather. With a brush up helps get the shaving lotion up beneath every whisker which leads to smoother, better shaves. Additionally, it just feels nice in your own face to gobble up using a brush.

Brushes are manufactured from boar or badger hair. Boar hair brushes prices significantly less, however they hold less moisture and thus make a bad lather. You may grab a wonderful badger brush in any given Crabtree and Evelyn or Art of Shaving. If you do not have these in your region, try Amazon.

Suggested Brushes

Shaving Lotion or Soap. You dedicate shaving sacrilege once you use a straight razor using an mass-produced chemical goop which gets passed away as shaving lotion. Purchase some quality shaving lotions and soaps. They may be more expensive compared to the crap you purchase in a can, however, organic shaving lotions and soaps nourish your face and force you to feel totally manly. Additionally, I have discovered soaps and lotions last longer than shaving creams, so you wind up saving money in the long term.

Honing a wig intimidates many guys. But, honing is not that difficult as soon as you understand how to perform it correctly.

1. Wipe the rock clean

2. If you are using a whetstone, then you will want to bring a lubricant into the rock's surface. Oil, water, or possibly a little shaving lather can get the job done. The lubricant serves two functions. It prevents the blade from heating as you scratch it across the rock. If the blade becomes too hot, it is possible to really cause some warping from the alloy that will destroy the blade. Secondly, lubricant melts any steel and rock particles that are made during honing. You want a clean surface to find the work done correctly.

If you are using a ceramic rock, you do not need to include lubrication.

3. Lay the rock on a level surface with the coarser side upward.

4. Set the razor perfectly horizontal on the hone so the backbone and border touch the rock. When the border just rolls, you're going to get a brief bevel along with also a dull edge.

5. Hold the razor from the shank and begin sharpening. Since the blade is more than the rock's width, you will want to brush the blade as you work, so that you sharpen the whole advantage evenly. Draw the blade to tip forward against the border, and with mild strain. When bolstering, the blade edge LEADS the stroke. This usually means the blade edge should point from the way you stroke.

6. Without lifting the blade out of the rock, turn the border up, so the razor rests on the rear of the blade.

7. Again, use moderate pressure.

Diagram of appropriate honing

8. Continue honing before the blade is adequately sharp. A fast method to find out if it's the blade is sharp is to draw the border (from heel to tip ) very gently, across a moistened thumbnail. If the blade digs to your thumbnail, using a smooth, continuous grip, your blade is sharp and is prepared for stropping. A dull razor will pass across the nail easily. An over-honed razor will stick to a own nail and generate a harsh, unpleasant feeling.

The time necessary to hone your razor is dependent upon your razor's illness. When it's in great shape, 8 10 strokes in each management must do the trick. In case you've got many nicks from the pill, you will want to put in longer time. In case your razor is in very poor shape, then send it to an expert cutler to get it correctly ground.

Many men avoid direct razor shaving since they believe that they'll need to sharpen the blade whenever they shave. In fact, if you maintain your blade dry and correctly stropped, you won't need to hone it often. Most great blades may go 6 to 8 weeks involving honings. You will know you want to hone it since stropping will not sharpen it .

To find the most comfortable and effective shave, then strop your right razor each time you shave.

1. Hang your strop out of your toilet drawer together with the hook one end of the strop.

2. If you are stropping shortly after honing, simply use the strop's leather aspect. Between shaves, start off using all the canvas side before utilizing the leather.

3. Holding the grip in the strop's underside on your left handpull on the strop tight. When the strop is loose and you also simply take your blade over it, then you might get a curved, dull border, so you are going to need to hone it frequently.

4. Unlike bolstering, the razor's edge will TRAIL, rather than direct the strokes. When you are stroking the razor TOWARDS you, then the blade edge should confront AWAY from you.

5. Draw the blade towards you (again with border pointing away from you), constantly keeping the heels of the razor ahead of the tip of this razor.

6. When you get to the strop's finish, rotate the nut onto its rear before the un-stropped side comes directly in touch with the strop. The razor's edge should confront TOWARDS you currently.

7. 15-20 strokes in each way on the strop need to make your blade sharp and nice. If you are first starting out using straight razor shaving, then consider slow and even strokes. Develop speed slowly. As soon as you get the hang of it, then stropping a razor should not take over 30 minutes.

For first-time direct razor shavers, a significant question looming in their heads is:"How in the hell do I hold this item?" Ask five distinct right razor aficionados how to maintain a straight razor and you are going to get five distinct answers. Advanced right razor shavers change up grips based on if they are shaving across, or contrary to the grain or whenever they are shaving a particular portion of the face. For the novice, we propose that this Simple grasp:

Put your thumb over the face of the blade close to the center. This grip provides you nice charge of this razor. You might need to fix it once you shave various components of your face, such as your upper lip or your own jaw. For more examples of how you are able to hold a wig, have a look at the Straight Razor Palace Wiki.

Everybody has their own preference when it concerns the method they use using a straight razor. Here we provide a proposed approach to shave. As you get expertise wielding a straight razor, then you will end up shifting things up to match your taste. If a specific means to shave with a straight razor functions for you, then take action.

Soft whiskers cut easily than dry whiskers. The warmth and water mix softens your beard and leaves it ready for shaving. You may replicate the barbershop experience by soaking a towel in warm water, wringing it out, and putting it on your head for a couple of minutes.

If you do not have enough time for this luxury, simply brush once you escape from a hot shower. If you'd like a really soft beard, then rub a hair conditioner in your beard before you begin showering and wash it out once you are done.

Put a nickel-sized dollop of shaving cream in your mug. If you are using shaving soap, then set the soap at the base of the mug. Scrub your brush in warm water. Flick surplus water from the brush. Together with all the brush, combine the cream/soap completely, with a joint stirring and churning movement until a thick lather appears.

Put on the lather to a face with your brush from swirling motions. Make sure lather gets up beneath each and every whisker. When you have covered your face thoroughly, have a few strokes to even out everything.

Hold the blade in a 30-degree angle. Anything more and you risk cutting ; anything less and you also won't reduce the whiskers. Allow the razor perform the job! Pressing down on the razor is only going to trigger cuts.

Reach over your head with your left hand and then draw upward the skin with your palms, thus creating a smooth shaving surface. Shave down before you clear about half of the ideal cheek. Twist the left hand further until the palms rest in the center of the cheek. Pull the skin up. Keep on shaving until you shave the whole right side of their face.

After shaving the proper cheek, then proceed to the ideal jaw. Tilt your head back and forth to the left, exposing skin beneath your proper chin. With the fingers of your left hand, then draw skin tight beneath the jaw. Shave down if the blossom grows in this way.

As for me, I really don't expect the dexterity and signature in my hand to make the switch.

Put the fingers of the left hand facing and just above the ear. Pull up on the skin in order to draw skin tight. Together with the razor on your hand, toe pointing upwards, hit across the face, and shave down. Walk your hands down since you reach the lower portion of their chin and cheek. Keep pulling the skin tight.

Tilt your head back and forth to the right, exposing skin beneath your chin.

Shave the Top Lip Draw the top lip down as far as you possibly can tighten skin. Shave downwards.

Draw your lower lip as far as possible. This may pull the skin tight, which makes it much easier to shave the whiskers under your lip and onto your chin.

Throw back your head and lift the chin. Together with your left fingers, draw down skin. Take additional care as possible shave. The skin below the neck is significantly more sensitive and vulnerable to cutting.

Important Notice: Always put on a sweet vest when shaving with a razor.

Can I really do multiple passes? If you want to have that smooth as a baby's behind appearance, you are going to need to do several passes with the razor heading round and against the grain. For the novice, I recommend just going on your face again using a downward stroke.

When you get some experience with your right razor, then you can try adding a round the grain and from the grain . An across-the-grain pass is if you brush in the direction perpendicular to what the blossom grows. If your whiskers grow down in your cheek, you're shave round your cheek from right to left or left to right. It is essentially the opposite of shaving down.

If you Opt to do multiple moves, the arrangement goes thusly:

Shave upon the grain. Shave from the grain. Before every pass, clean your face away and re-lather.

Scrub off your face with cool water. Splash a manly smelling aftershave in your face. Aftershave helps reduce skin discomfort and leaves skin looking healthy.

Cuts and nicks occur for Many reasons, for example:

Employing a dull razor Holding the razor eyebrow with a razor that is overly hollow eyebrow in too great a rush Shaving against the grain When you initially begin using a straight razor, then you are certain to cut your self. Do not let this dissuade you. Cuts have been the top barbers.

You are able to prevent most small cuts and nicks simply by pressing on the cut together while incorporating pressure. If this does not work, have a syptic pen into the cut. Should you reduce your butt, well, you are kind of screwed. Therefore don't do this.

read more : https://beautyshuffle.com/

[casbooks]

BOOK REVIEW: DUSTOFF 7-3

My Review: Following on the heals of reading about the early history of Dustoff/Medevac missions in the Vietnam War in “They Called It Naked Fanny” by Scott Harrington, and “Dead Men Flying” by Patrick Henry Brady, I wanted to compare those books to a story about the dustoff mission in today’s battlespace. 

Dustoff 7-3 is a story about a single crew and their experiences in the Wattapur Valley during Operation Hammer Down. Flying out of FOB Joyce, the author who served as the pilot in charge, tells about each mission they ran, be it resupply, rescue, or even picking up heroes (KIA) in the valley. 

The real strength of this book is the authors skill at telling a story. While not shy on detail or facts, the author really paints such an incredible tapestry that weaves his own emotions and feelings, with those of the crew, and the specific details of both life at the FOB and in the air over the battlefield. 

“Three days. Eleven hoists. Fourteen survivors. Three critical resupply missions.Two bodies recovered“ is the tag line you see in the description and in other reviews, but more than that, Sabiston really makes you feel like you are in his seat whether it’s putting a wheel on the roof of a Qalat, or having Kiowa’s firing rockets across his nose. He talks about his fear of heights, and his worries about calculating weight, power, and fuel numbers. He gives you the feeling of what it’s like to search and hunt for an orange panel on the cliff side, or to be socked in by clouds and fog. 

Definitely worth a read, and the story of his crew and especially his medic is something special.

============

Title: Dustoff 7-3: Saving Lives Under Fire in Afghanistan

Authors: Erik Sabiston

ISBN: 0989798364

Tags: 101st Airborne, 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th General Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Mtn, 159th Air Ambulance Company, 25th ID, 35th Infantry Regiment, 6-6 Air Cavalry Task Force, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Afghanistan, Asadabad, CH-47 Chinook, Dust off, FOB Gamberi, FOB Ghazni, FOB Joyce, FOB Monti, FOB Shank, FOB Wright, Fort Drum, Fort Rucker, Forward Support Medical Team, Jalalabad, Jalalabad Air Base, Korengal Valley, Kunar Valley, LZ Dragonfly, Medevac helicopter, OH-58 Kiowa, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Hammer Down, Operation Strong Eagle, Pech River Valley, Task Force Cacti, Tora Bora Mountains, UH-60 Blackhawk, US Army, Watapur Valley, Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield

Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Aviation.US.US Army, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Middle East-SWA.Afghanistan.US

===================

This book is for heroes.

Dustoff 7-3 tells the true story of four unlikely heroes in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan, where medics are forced to descend on wires to reach the wounded and helicopter pilots must fight wind, weather, and enemy fire to pluck casualties from some of the world’s most difficult combat arenas. Complete opposites thrown together, cut off, and outnumbered, Chief Warrant Officer Erik Sabiston and his flight crew answered the call in a race against time, not to take lives—but to save them.

The concept of evacuating wounded soldiers by helicopter developed in the Korean War and became a staple during the war in Vietnam where heroic, unarmed chopper crews flew vital missions known to the grateful grunts on the ground as Dustoffs.

The crew of Dustoff 7-3 carried on that heroic tradition, flying over a region that had seen scores of American casualties, known among veterans as the Valley of Death. At the end of Operation Hammer Down, they had rescued 14 soldiers, made three critical supply runs, recovered two soldiers killed in action, and nearly died. It took all of three days. **

[ebenpink]

Major U.S. Military Base Handed To The Afghan Army In 2014 Is Now In Total Disrepair https://ift.tt/2ITwU5e

U.S. Army and Army National Guard Soldiers prepare for a flight onboard a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Forward Operating Base Dahlke, Afghanistan, May 20, 2016. The 40th Combat Aviation Brigade sent Soldiers, aircraft and equipment to FOB Dahlke in May to support the garrison’s mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Army. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Ian M. Kummer, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs). Unit: 40th Combat Aviation Brigade. 20 May 2016

Stars and Stripes: Welcome to ‘Zombieland’: A former US Army base rots in the hands of overwhelmed Afghans CAMP MAIWAND, Afghanistan — Limping as he climbed the stairs of a watchtower, the general turned his gaze south toward a once-sprawling base the Americans handed over to Afghan forces here in late 2014. Today much of it lies in ruins. “Everything went to pieces,” Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq Safi said of the base, which the Americans dubbed Forward Operating Base Shank. “Everything fell apart.” After more than 17 years and $80 billion to build them up, Afghan security forces still struggle to secure their country, while corruption and other challenges strain their ability to maintain equipment and facilities provided by foreign forces, largely the United States. FOB Shank’s fate — left to rot in the hands of overwhelmed Afghans — illustrates those challenges, as the White House reportedly mulls withdrawing thousands more troops, and as diplomats hammer out a peace settlement with the Taliban that could involve pulling out all foreign forces in the coming years. Read more .... WNU Editor: What a complete and utter waste. from War News Updates https://ift.tt/2NL2TDb via IFTTT

[cool-henrygreen-blog]

How to Use the Cordless Impact Driver?

A new cordless impact driver is really a flexible tool that’s made to drill holes and push screws. Its keyless fling accepts a multitude of circular and hex-shank drill bits along with screw-driving bits, entire saws, wire-wheel brushes, rotating sanders along with other accessories. All cordless impact motorists are also built with a slide clutch that allows one to adjust the quantity of torque for precise, constant screw driving.

Both bits are used by the impact driver rotation and concussive blows to power-generate screws through the thickest, densest woods. The total result of this combo is natural, unadulterated power. Actually, impact drivers usually deliver 2-3 times more turning pressure (torque) compared to the average driver.

During a current Popular Mechanics tool check, one 18-volt effect driver drove an astonishing 138 3-inch lag screws about the same cost. Despite its brute power, an impact driver is simple and comfortable to utilize because the concussive actions transfers a lot of that high-power torque right to the screw, never to your forearm or wrist. (A direct effect driver doesn’t have a slide clutch; however the concussive action enables you to drive screws with great precision and control.)

Utilizing a cordless impact driver within the perfect way can generate wonderful results. Firstly, ensure that you possess hammer safety glasses and large gloves alongside muffs. After that, proceed with fitting the adapter or the proper socket on the device. Remember to maintain a company holds on the device in your right hands in case you are left-handed.

Begin working on the screw that is stuck. The stress needs to be exerted downwards nevertheless; you should not really forget to show it towards your preferred side. On an over-all basis, the clockwise direction is made for loosening and tightening is performed through the use of the counterclockwise option.

Obtain a hammer and begin striking the effect driver’s top. It is possible to reduce the threat of getting your hands wounded by wearing weighty gloves which is probably the most important gear worn by individuals when handling drivers. The flow of the stress shouldn’t be halted and force ought to be used on the turning component. Continue till the bolt you’re working on will be loosened to the degree where one can use other products e.g. ratchet wrench for this.

Step 01: Prior to Use:

1. Preparing and looking at the ongoing work environment:

Make sure that the task site meets all of the conditions laid forth within the precautions.

2. Checking the battery:

Ensure that the battery will be installed firmly. If it’s at all loose it could fall off and trigger an accident.

3. Installing the Bit:

Follow the next procedure to set up driver bit always (cobalt drill bits). (1) Pull the manual sleeve back (2) Place the bit in to the hexagonal hole inside the anvil. (3) Release the manual sleeve also it returns to its initial position

Step 02: How to Use:

1. Check the path of rotation: The bits rotate clockwise (viewed from the trunk side) by shoving the R-side of the shove button. The L-part of the push switch is pushed to show the bit counterclockwise.

2. Switch operation: When the switch results in is pulled, the bit rotates. The rotational velocity could be con-trolled by varying the total amount that the change trigger is pulled. Velocity is low once the switch trigger is pulled and increases because the switch is pulled a lot more slightly.

3. Loosening and tightening screws: The bit that matches the screw install, fall into line the bit within the grooves of the top of the screw, then tighten it. Push the effect driver just enough to help keep the bit fitting the top of the screw.

Step 03: Operation:

The correct fastening torque varies depending upon the type or kind or size of the screw/bolt, the material of the task piece to be fastened, etc. The relation between fastening and torque time is shown in the figures.

Hold the instrument firmly and place the idea associated with the driver bit within the screw head. Apply forward stress to the device to the degree that the bit won’t slide off the screw and change the tool to start operation.

Step 04: Important Notes:

= Utilize the appropriate bit for the top of the screw/bolt that you intend to use. = When binding screw M8 or smaller, cautiously adjust strain on the switch result in so the screw isn’t damaged. = Contain the tool piercing straight in the screw. = In the event that you make tighter the screw for a while longer than exposed inside the figures, the screw or the idea of the driver little bit may be stripped, overstressed, damaged, etc. Prior to starting your job, usually perform test operation to look for the proper fastening period for your screw. = If the device is operated before battery cartridge offers discharged continuously, permit the tool to sleep for quarter-hour before proceeding with a brand new electric battery. The fastening torque will be affected by a multitude of factors like the pursuing. After fastening, check the torque with a torque wrench always. 1. When the battery cartridge completely is discharged almost, voltage shall fall and the fastening torque will undoubtedly be reduced. 2. Driver little bit or socket bit: Failure to use the right size driver socket or even bit may cause a decrease in the fastening torque. 3. Bolt: = Despite the fact that the torque coefficient and the course of bolt will be the same, the correct fastening torque shall differ based on the diameter of bolt. = Despite the fact that the diameters of bolts will be the same, the correct fastening torque will differ based on the torque coefficient, the course of bolt and the bolt size. 4. The way in which of holding the device or the materials of driving placement to become fastened will affect the torque. 5. Operating the device at low speed may cause a decrease in the fastening torque In short, utilizing a cordless impact driver for best effects is important in case you have some technical tricks how concerning this handy small device. So get one and drill aside just!

[sciencespies]

In wake of merger, L3Harris Technologies seeks expanded role in an evolving SATCOM market

https://sciencespies.com/space/in-wake-of-merger-l3harris-technologies-seeks-expanded-role-in-an-evolving-satcom-market/

In wake of merger, L3Harris Technologies seeks expanded role in an evolving SATCOM market

Don Claussen is passionate about satellite communications. After serving for seven years in the U.S. Army on active duty, Claussen worked as a systems engineer working for the Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) Space and Terrestrial Communications Directorate, helping soldiers deploy very small aperture terminals in Iraq and Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Don Claussen, L3Harris Technologies Broadband Communications Systems Sector vice president and general manager for Army and Homeland Defense Programs. Credit: L3Harris

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Now as vice president and general manager for Army and Homeland Defense programs for L3Harris Technologies Broadband Communications Systems Sector, Claussen is helping to integrate the satellite communications (SATCOM) products of L3 Technologies with those of Harris Corp. in the wake of the June merger.

Claussen recently spoke with SpaceNews correspondent Debra Werner about the merger and the evolution of military satellite constellations.

SN : What’s L3Harris’ role in satellite communications? Does it produce airborne, ship-based and ground-based antennas and terminals?

Yes. All the above. We have stationary ground terminals that go from 0.65 meters to over 12 meters, on-the-move antennas for ground vehicles such as the Soldier Network Extension in the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical program, airborne terminals such as the one on the Army’s Grey Eagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and shipboard terminals. We provide 1.3-meter and 2.7-meter terminals for the U.S. Navy’s Commercial Broadband Satellite program.

What does the L3Harris Technologies merger mean for satellite communications?

I think we already have best-in-breed products but they’re going to be even better from the combined organization. Whereas legacy L3 had some gaps in our protective SATCOM offerings, Harris made them up and vice versa. In the end, I think the industry as a whole is going to see a really strong team coming out of this merger overall and specifically for SATCOM. I’m very excited about it.

Are there specific examples of Harris filling in gaps in L3’s product line?

I can’t go into much detail because of classification but there is an anti-jam, anti-scintillation waveform that has been used in some applications for years. We had a good offering for time division multiple access demand-assigned multiple access on the Protected Tactical Waveform program. The waveform in that mode from the Harris side filled a gap in that for gateway communications.

How does your previous job with CERDEC inform your current work?

At the CERDEC, I supported the Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications from late 2001 to mid2006. Then, from 2009 to 2011, I supported that organization as a contracted systems engineer. I was part of a team of SATCOM subject matter experts that designed and deployed very small aperture terminals for use in Iraq and Afghanistan. The terminals that we deployed had 2.4-meter antennas and associated networking and voice equipment. We architected the systems, and then trained soldiers to operate the equipment, including acquiring the satellite. Most of the soldiers we trained were not in communications-related jobs. They were mechanics, logisticians and administrative personnel. We were pushing SATCOM down to levels where those assets weren’t originally intended to be.

The years I spent with the soldiers operating in a deployed environment informs all of my current work. As we would return to perform upgrades and follow-on training, we learned how the soldiers were using their equipment and the challenges they faced operating and maintaining the system.

Two freshly assembled Grey Eagle unmanned aerial vehicles sit on the tarmac at Forward Operating Base Shank. Credit: U.S. Army

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Is it now easier for soldiers to operate the equipment?

From a terminal perspective, SATCOM technology has advanced exponentially. One of our divisions, Global Communications Solutions, has small, fully integrated terminals. All you do is push a button and it will find a spacecraft for you. Now, instead of having a whole bunch of wires and a whole bunch of things to put together, you have a handful of things to put together.

How are antennas and terminals evolving?

I believe we are going to move from mechanically-steered apertures to electronically steerable antenna technology that becomes conformal over time.

Will those help the U.S. military?

Electronically steerable antenna technology will most likely have an impact on the adoption rate of low Earth orbit services by the Defense Department. The tracking capabilities, beam forming and shaping capabilities go beyond what mechanical tracking antennas can do.

Conformal antennas are attractive because they can blend in with a vehicle. Think of electric cars now on the road with solar panels built into their roofs. You can imagine how industry should be looking at doing similar things with conformal antenna technology.

Electronically steerable antenna technology and conformal antennas can also provide the ability to locate antennas on various surfaces, not just on the top of platforms, and provide varying levels of service instead of allor-nothing connections.

Can technology help satellite operator’s address concerns of interference or jamming?

One of the first problems that needs to be solved is identification when interference or jamming is present. Next, you have to be able to do something about it, and to notify the right people.

There are several technologies that L3Harris has developed that address interference and jamming, including technologies to automatically sense these events and take corrective action. It can be as simple as excising interference, or more complex, such as enabling countermeasures to mitigate the threat. We are helping operators by detecting, mitigating and reporting in a way that doesn’t create an additional burden on the end user.

L3 Harris supplies the military with airborne terminals such as on-the-move antennas for ground vehicles such as the Soldier Network Extension in the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical program. Credit: U.S. Navy

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Can the U.S. military take advantage of new low and medium Earth orbit constellations?

Absolutely. Commercial entities with a lot of money behind them want to be disruptive and want to work with the government. They will offer higher data rates, lower latency and large coverage areas. We will have to overcome some obstacles along the way. Terminals will need the ability to roam between networks, and the low Earth orbit constellations will need to be stitched into DoD networks.

Does that raise security concerns?

Yes. A lot of these new networks are going to be private. The government is going to buy a service. So it doesn’t necessarily control the security parameters. Companies like L3Harris create devices that provide data encryption. We’ll continue to build those into our networks and government,working with industry, can push those requirements onto commercial networks so that we’re comfortable using them.

Anything else you want to say?

Think about our cellphones. We roam between networks. We go in and out of Wi-Fi coverage and it doesn’t affect us. How do we give soldiers and sailors and airmen communications devices with similar access to the data they need? That’s where we are moving because we will have so many options.

This article originally appeared in the Sept. 2, 2019 issue of SpaceNews magazine.

#Space

[marketresearchandsurvey]

Shower Mixer Tap Market: Influential Factors Determining the Trajectory of the Market.

A shower mixer tap is valve which has attached taps and a shower. Bath shower mixer taps mix hot and cold water. Shower mixer tap can be installed with minimum disruption of bathroom look. New shower mixer taps are made of standard dimensions such as 180 mm for bathrooms and 195 mm for basins. A valve within shower mixer tap blends hot and cold water and ensure safe shower and temperature.

Increase in concerns of hygiene ethics, energy conservation and smart technologies is expected to be one of the primary factors responsible for expansion of the shower mixer tap market. Moreover, consumer desires are growing in terms of home remodeling in consort with trendy & smart bathroom accessories. Also, wide range of innovative products and its designs by manufacturers such as sensor based bathroom taps is expected to boost the shower mixer tap market. Key drivers that have enhanced the popularity of shower mixer tap include infrastructure construction projects and rise in spending power of the population. These scenarios are expected to result in growing adoption of smart bathroom accessories and thereby increasing the growth of global shower mixer tap market during forecast period.

However, restriction to amount of hot water delivered by shower mixer tap due to low pressure is expected to be the major factors restraining the growth of the shower mixer tap market. Moreover, alternate option to shower mixer tap such as thermostatic shower tap is another factor which could affect the global shower mixer tap market in forecasted period. Rise in demand for thermostatic shower tap is due to its temperature stability feature. Nevertheless, new product design with water conservation technology, minimum working pressure and size reduction of tap is expected to create significant opportunities for the global shower mixer tap market.

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The global shower mixer tap market can be classified based on tap style, handle type, product type, pressure suitability, application and region. Based on tap style, the market can be segmented into contemporary, tradition and modern. In terms of handle type, the market can be classified into cross head, round head and square head. Based on product type, the market can be segmented into metal shower mixer tap, ceramic shower mixer tap, chrome shower mixer tap and others. Based on pressure suitability, the market can be classified into high pressure, medium pressure and low pressure. In terms of application, the global shower mixer tap can be classified into household and commercial. Based on region, the global shower mixer tap market can be fragmented into North America (The U.S., Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, The U.K. and Italy), Asia & Pacific (China, India, Japan and others), Middle East & Africa and South America.

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Major players operating in shower mixer tap include Jaquar, Kohler, LIXIL Group, Masco, Moen, Delta Faucet, CERA Sanitary ware, MAC Faucets, Vitra International AG., Roca Sanitario, Idral Spa, Jacob Delafon, Keuco, Yatin Bath Corp, Volevatch, Slezak Rav, Ritmonio Rubinetterie Sr, Ag Monteiro, Am Pm, Axor, Bossini, California Faucets, Daniel Rubinetterie, Fantini, Gattoni Rubinetteria, Guglielmi, Armitage shanks, Bristan, Grohe, Hindware, Wayfair, Kludi GmbH & Co. KG, H and C, Idea standard, Swirl, Watersmith Heritage and GUGLIELMI. . All these players compete with each other with respect to their product portfolio in order to survive in the market.

Top companies are therefore focusing on concept of smart bathroom with smart accessories. Additionally, key players are introducing innovative technologies and providing variety of digital and electronic taps within economical range. Furthermore, companies are increasing their research services to strengthen their product portfolio and presence in the global shower mixer tap market.

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[erniefowler-blog]

Enlightening Cinema

gallop McKennaEnlightening CinemaMetaphysical Articles | February 6, 2005... Cinema By bound ... me tell you why you're here. You're here being you recognize ... What you know, you can't explain. But you atmosphere it. You felt it your unified life. so there' Enlightening Cinema aside Jed McKenna"Let me confess you cause you're here. You're hither because you know something. What you know, you can't explain. But you feel it. You caress it your entire life. That there's something inaccurate with the world. You don't experience what it is, but it's there. Like a splinter in your talent driving you mad." -Morpheus, The Matrix This isn't a flick review calendar and it's not comprehensive. It's just some report about a few feature I guess are profitable for the purposes of awakening and why, or that ardent and why not. alongside tools of understanding, unacceptable is repeatedly better thaw good. big themes interpreted on this list show to be these: - Heresy - Captive/Captor - Teacher/Student - Nature of self/man. - Death/rebirth. Cataclysm/epiphany. - Untrustworthiness of mind/memories. The apart thing I might advise with stare to cinema and album is to raise the material raise to the level position it incline of cost to you. Orwell potency have do writing an anti-communist manifesto, but Nineteen Eighty-Four is much also interesting explore as the struggle amid man and his confinement. Apocalypse immediately is backward something other than Viet Nam, after what precedent to receive Ahead modern Advertising is about being more that rampant commercialism, etc.::: americas Beauty"I feel like dive been in a stupor for the past tenet years. furthermore I'm equitable now rising up." I've included americas Beauty principally for what is wrong with it. Lester's major death/rebirth transition fair promise, but what accomplish he development to? Backward to teenage crap, not forward in any sense. A fear-based regression. simple car, ludicrous drugs, simple vanity, senseless skirt chasing. Not at all reclaimed when jester sees his own craziness near the end or by sappy/smarmy dead guy voice-over. climactic movie is slightly redeemed by the presence of the quasi-mystical neighbor youth and his video footage of a windblown bag:"That's the bright I completed that there was this entire growth behind things, and this incredibly humane force that wanted me to notice there was no reason to be afraid, ever."::: Apocalypse Now"In a hostility there are many time for sorrow and supple action. There are copious moments for ruthless action what is often called ruthless what may in many circumstances be alone clarity, noticing clearly what there is to be done and doing it, directly, quickly, awake, looking at it." You'd feel that catastrophe Now Redux, the director's cut, would be the version to watch, but all the stuff that was fairly cut from the authentic has prevail wrongly replaced. (Raising the interesting mite that directors and creator often don't understand the higher operation of the stories they're telling.) cane with the original past both Redux and contras Heart of Darkness.Apocalypse directly is all about the Horror. ac journey of discovery, into the character of darkness, arriving at this horror. What's the horror? after what precedent do you get there? Why would anyone prepare such a journey? Should you make such a journey? Why or cause not?Note the powerful epiphanies that commute the film. The antecedent assassin's cap home, ("Sell the house, sell the car, handle the kids..."), Dennis Hopper's youthful exuberance, Kurtz's ice bullet, paillards "...I wasn't even in their squad any more." ::: vitality There"Spring, summer, autumn, winter... then flexibility again."A splendid film decayed by a foolish walking-on-water stunt bearing on to the end. Without that nonsense the viewer would be complimentary to think, to decide, to wonder. Instead, the movie zips itself raise tight with its adept little dumb-it-down twist. blow the block button at Chauncey is straightening the sapling, since the pernicious denouement, and it's a fun, sweet film.::: shank Runner"I've look things you people wouldn't believe. intrusion ships on fire outside the accept of Orion. I've patrolled c-beams sheen in the dark near the man-house Gate. All those time will be lost in time like tears in rain. past to die." Were you born pentamerous minutes ago? Of development not, and you have the remembrance to explain it. ko'd know if they were artificial implants, because, uh...::: Cast Away"I couldn't even kill I personally the style I needed to. I had influence over nothing."If a brother screams on a deserted island and there's no one to hear him, does he make a sound? Is it full that he hears it himself? What if not? What's south when you take over everything?Self exposed bare.This show raises copious intriguing questions about the substance of self, or lack thereof, and cover a actual Zen eulogy.::: Dead Poets SocietyHeresy.::: hold and Maude"Vice, virtue. It's best not to be too moral... Aim superior morality."American Zen, master and disciple. ::: Harvey"For generation I was smart... I recommend pleasant."Elwood P. Dowd, wisefool. ai sweet depiction of a higher rule of living misinterpreted as a reduced order of being. intend we know the exceptional Man although we byword him? ::: How to Get forward In Advertising"Everything I do now form perfect sense."A thwarted request for freedom. A failed attempt to overthrow Maya. Enjoy the insanity of the epiphany.::: Joe opposing the Volcano"Nobody knows anything, Joe. weal take this leap, and we'll see. We'll jump, and will see. that life, right?"Death and Rebirth. Unlike americas Beauty, this is all about gripping forward, "away from the things of man."::: fellow Facing soughest (Hombre Mirando Al Sudeste)Watch especially for the optic poem of a guy crumbling a human pundit into a sink at the same time looking for the soul.::: The Matrix"Like everyone else, you were born in the direction of through to bondage, born inside a prison that you cannot smell, taste, or touch. A confinement for your mind." plutos Cave for the people. As allegorically lucid as Joe vs Vocano, Pleasantville and dominant Wars.::: Monty Python's get-up-and-go of Brian"No, no! It is a sign that, like Him, we must think not of the things of the body, but of the look and head!"Sacred Cow-tipping at its best."Meaning of Life" also belongs on this list.::: Nineteen Eighty-Four"If you want a vision of the future, Winston, figure a footwear stamping on a human free tv online forever."This flick is uncommon in the sense that it's as good as the book, which is an awfully intimate photograph of the captor/captive, Maya/man relationship. Compare this to Moby-Dick or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's lair which are superb novel but worthless movies.::: sole Flew by the Cuckoo's NestAs with Moby-Dick, Hollywood castrated the book. They stripped it of mine archetypal size and cut down it to a meaningless pissing contest between McMurphy and registered nurse Ratched. huge entertainment, but for meaningful insight, scan the book.::: Pleasantville"There are some house where the road doesn't go in a circle. There are some neighborhood where it keeps on going."A bright tale of heresy in which no one is burned at the rod and the new paradigm is, eventually, embraced by all.::: affecting Razor's Edge"The dead stare so terribly dead."The razor's edge is what makes it interesting; seeing leery shakily uniform on the fine channel between what he was and what he's becoming. He is walking the edge among two lives. The check Murray variant is a bit unfocused... stick with Tyrone talent or read the book. Maugham apparently used Ramana Maharshi as the model for the novel's humble man.::: celebrated Wars"The force will be with you, always."The early one, point Luke compose the evolution from beef to spirit. The hero Journey.::: The Thin Red Line"Maybe all men win one enormous soul every bit a section of, all faces are the double man."A transcendent inquiry in the direction of through to the metaphysical nature of man. extra a sad/sweet song thaw a anecdotal film.::: climactic Thirteenth Floor"So what're you saying? You're saying that there's addition world on top of this one?"Layer after layer. Turtles on top of turtles. ::: Vanilla Sky/Abre Los Ojos"Open your eyes."If you agnate Vanilla Sky, check out the original, the French film Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes). the particular two skin may be the perfect of the bunch for our purposes; the neighboring to an enlightenment allegory.Of course, the interesting material about wisdom is pursuing there, not being there, and hates what these films are about; provocation from a false reality, opening your eyes. They're not so much back what's actual as what's not. It's the biography of the journey one takes to get to the point where anything, even jumping off a tall building, would be better thin continuing to live a lie, alike a beautiful, blissful lie.Note the latency of the true guru, explaining in clear terms why rise off the building is the best thing to do, and waiting quietly for it to be done.::: Waking Life"They say that imagination are exclusive real as long as they last. Couldn't you say the same piece about life?"Wide-ranging philosophical inquiry. Provocative. Amusing. Potentially disruptive.::: Wings of Desire"When the child was a child, it was the time of the particular questions: Why am I me, and why not you? Why am I here, and why not there? When did turn begin and where complete space end?"A lovely, intelligent, thought-provoking film. Can the awakened vitality return to the dreamstate? Would he want to?::: OthersSome alternative films that reward considerate viewing are The diviner of Oz, About Schmidt, What idea May Come, Total Recall, All the Mornings regarding the universe (Tous lies Matins dug Monde), and, of course, many more.-Jed McKenna ::: About the Author"Jed McKenna is an American original." -Lama surely DasJed McKenna is the author of "Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing" and "Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment", ventilated by Wisefool Press. Coming in 2005: "Spirituality X" and "Jed McKenna's Notebook". Visit WisefoolPress.com to get more.

[findroutertable]

9 Ideas to Use Your Plunge Router Most Effectively

You can make anything with a pile of wood and a good quality plunge wood router. That is an excellent tool for both beginners and professionals. A variable speed ’’soft start’’ and a little less peak horsepower eliminate damaging the material before you begin cutting.

Many woodworkers say that this unit is like one of those TV remote controls that has a lot of functions and buttons.  But, few of these people understand its full capabilities. That usually comes from users who have experience with the fixed-base routers.

But, if you start out with the plunge one, then you will become accustomed to it because they have a wide range of use. If you learn to operate it correctly, you can save yourself a lot of headaches and wasted wood. “One machine can do the work of 50 ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.” Elbert Hubbard, author, and teacher.

Because of the fixed-base router, this versatile appliance gets pushed to the side too often. But, in this article, we will show you nine ideas to use the plunge one most effectively.

If you want to know more, all you have to do is read on.

1. Mortising

It is convenient for your small woodworking shop because it uses a highly versatile tool – wood router, produces great results and it is efficient. The results are top-notch, and the technique is easy to master. The best part is that the whole process takes just a few minutes.

The key is the easy-to-use and simple-to-build mortising jig. The working pieces of it consist of the two adjustable guides and an auxiliary baseplate. A hardboard that is placed along the workpiece includes this baseplate.

The heart of the jig are the guides that serve two purposes.

By allowing you to reference the cut off one edge, they are used to accurately and easily position the mortise in the workpiece.

To give you secure control of the unit as the mortise is being cut, the guides will sandwich the wood snugly.

That way you will be able to carve accurate mortises.

To begin, you will need the bit installed in your router and the jig in place. Lower the bit to the surface, when you position the jig on the workpiece and then reposition it so you can center it on the layout.

Snug and tighten down the guides up to the workpiece. Plunge the inside of the end line to begin the cut. Before routing forward rout back to the layout border. Clamp a stop block to the workpiece to end the cut right to the line. This technique will give you top-notch results.

2. Doweling

You need to make the same jig as for mortising. For versatile dowel setups create multiple tops with different spacing between the holes. When you set up this jig, as you have done for mortising, you can plunge the holes.

<blockquote>Repeat this action for the mating workpiece and compile the joint with the dowels and glue.</blockquote>

3. Stopped Flutes, Grooves, and Dadoes

For these field cuts, you can’t use a fixed base router because there is a chance to damage your project. But, with a plunge one, you can quickly get these tasks done.

Just use a clamp – on an edge or straightedge guide that is made by the unit’s manufacturer.

It will be almost flawless if you add stops at each end.

4. Circle Routing

Place your device on a trammel arm that circles one point. You can quickly cut out the workpiece from a more massive unfinished wood. The best part is that you can do this without using a saw.

5. Inlay

The best way to create tight-fitting inlays is to use a plunge router. You will eliminate the chance of veering off course by using templates with guide bushings or bearing-guided. Whether the inlay serves to patch a flaw in the wood or for decoration, with the store-bought kits, you can rout the recess.

6. Keyholes

If you want to hang something on the wall without using a wire or a hanger bracket you can make a slotted keyhole. It is the best option for you mainly because the shank and screw head slip into the slot and you won’t be able to see it. Some router bits are made explicitly for creating these keyhole slots in different sizes.

Choose the right one for the screw you will use. For larger projects, you can use two or three keyhole slots or one for a smaller one. Lay out your keyholes accordingly and drive the screws into wall studs.

The technique is the same for placing the keyholes on horizontal or vertical elements of your work. The next thing is to plunge into the back to the adjusted depth.

The rest is simple; rout about one inch or maybe two of the slot, turn off your unit and get back to the place where you plunged in before setting up the device.

7. Dual-Light Offset Subbase

LED lights and laser locators will be made this subbase perfect for a plunge router tasks. For lining up a plunge cut, use the crosshair lasers which are excellent for this job. With the LED light you will be able to see tasks that are hardly visible.

8. Dust Hoods

Dust hoods sometimes come as accessories, but some manufacturers include them with the appliances. With it, you will be able to dust and gobbling up chips when hooked to a shop vacuum.

9. Sign Making

That is a very simple task that requires two options. First, you need to draw the letters or sign onto your unfinished wood and after that rout freehand along all the lines.

For this project, you need to have a steady hand.

Conclusion

A plunge router is a powerful tool of the modern wood shop. We hope that this article helped you to discover more ideas on how to use this appliance more effectively.

The post 9 Ideas to Use Your Plunge Router Most Effectively appeared first on TopRouterTables.

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[jamieclawhorn]

Forget short term pain: 2 great growth stocks that could deliver brilliant long-term gain

I believe that Hochschild Mining (LSE: HOC) is a share that could be capable of delivering knockout shareholder returns.

The mining ace, which digs for precious metals across The Americas, announced this week that it chucked out record amounts of metal between July and September, with silver output clocking in at 5.3m ounces of attributable metal and gold production hitting 67,234 attributable ounces.

The company lauded a “strong performance” from its Inmaculada asset in Peru, and highlighted progress at its Pallancata site in the country which is “continuing to deliver tonnage and grades above expectations.” Group silver production in the year to date stands at an all-time peak of 28.2m ounces.

Celebrating the results, chief executive Ignacio Bustamante said: “We are firmly on track to hit our 37 million silver equivalent ounce target for the year. Costs remain under control and we can look forward to our financial position improving in the near future with good cashflow generation and a planned debt refinancing in the first quarter of next year.”

Expensive but exciting

And in other developments the FTSE 250 digger announced: “The Pablo permitting process continues as expected with no major issues encountered so far.” The environmental permit expected to be received by the close of the month, it said.

Keeping the good news rolling, Hochschild added that it is now in the middle of its brownfield exploration campaign and has seen “some encouraging results from Arcata, San Jose and also at Inmaculada.” This will come as reassuring news to investors, the company’s share price having slumped in recent months on the back of worrying exploration updates.

Those expecting booming production levels at Hochschild to translate into magnificent earnings growth right away will no doubt end up very disappointed. The company is anticipated to report a 26% earnings drop in 2017 by City brokers due to the impact of heavy exploration costs.

However, the London-based miner is expected to bounce back with an 81% bottom-line improvement in 2018. And as production levels boom, operating costs come down, and a turbulent political and economic outlook likely keeps silver investment on the boil, I reckon Hochschild could prove a very savvy buy, despite its elevated forward P/E ratio of 37.6 times.

Waste not want not

Renewi (LSE: RWI) is another FTSE 250 share I am tipping to overcome some near-term obstacles to deliver robust earnings growth in the years ahead.

In the 12 months ending March 2018, the waste-to-product specialist is expected to print a 2% bottom-line decline, although it is predicted to get firing again from next year (a 73% year-on-year earnings improvement is currently forecast for fiscal 2019).

And it is not difficult to see these numbers being upgraded in the months to come as trading conditions improve in both the UK and The Netherlands. Last month Renewi advised that “overall trading for the first half is ahead of our expectations” as improving economic growth boosted waste volumes. And it again extolled the benefits brought about by the merger of Shanks and Van Gansewinkel which completed in February.

I reckon Renewi is also worth serious attention right now even given its high forward earnings multiple of 27.5 times.

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More reading

Two cheap dividend stocks I’d buy and hold forever

Time to get greedy with this 1,476% share price riser?

Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned.  The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.