#Marking and Coding Equipment report

[circeyoru]

The Only Reason _ Part 3

[Yandere!Sung Jinwoo x Worker!Reader - Mana Chaos AU]

Part 1 — Part 2 — Part 3 (here) — Part 4

“Sung Jinwoo is an S-Rank Hunter…”

“Another one…”

“It’s been 2 years since Cha Hae-In too.”

Nowadays, the emergence of an S-Rank Hunter and some A-Rank Hunters was like a demon had crawled out of hell and into the human world to cause destruction. Strong Hunters were seen and painted as a double-edged sword. On one hand, they could bring about peace to normal—non-awakened—individuals by closing gates and raiding dungeons. On the other hand, they could bring about destruction in their wake due to <Outrage> and the innocence would be harmed. 

Protocols like an awakened Hunter must report to the EMI instead of the Hunter Association because they have to keep track of stronger Hunters. Hunters must continuously measure their mana levels in case of a reawakening into a higher rank. It was unavoidable, no matter which country, because they prioritized ordinary people more. 

Perhaps the only place where EMI regulations can’t touch is America. After what Thomas Andre had done, he singlehandedly protected his fellow Hunters and announced to the EMI that they couldn’t have their way with people who worked to protect them from the dangers known as gates and dungeons. There were some Hunters that escaped to America to join Thomas and his stance, there were also some that were unluckily caught by the EMI, and some that didn’t do anything. Such is the sway of a National Level Hunter. 

Unlike Thomas, who had no weaknesses to use against, Jinwoo was different. His family, his mother and younger sister, were dependent on the society and their system. So, against his better judgement, Jinwoo bowed to the whims of the EMI and was taken in as SM-10. 

In the facility, he underwent several tests to draw a profile for him since he was fundamentally different from his E-Rank file. Anyone could see at a glance. Jinwoo kept his cards hidden because the more capable he was, the greater the danger his loved ones would be in. He was doing everything for his family. Upon capture, he was promised that his family would receive financial support so long as he behaved himself. 

A cowardly but effective threat and compromise that he agreed. 

Still, he hated the people who worked in this accursed building. All those labourers who hid behind a mask and voice changer donned uniforms that displayed their station. Throughout his days, he observed a few groups of workers. 

First was the type that he frequently came into contact with: Guard. As their station name, they guarded things, from equipment to rooms and even Hunter cells. They were the ones that handled conflict and violence, even the heavy lifting, if any. Those who were higher ranked were called Warden; however, he only saw them during his testing sessions when they were making his profile. They all wear black masks—Warden’s mask is black with a white scratch mark over the right eyehole—and black soldier uniforms.

Second was the type that constantly changes to the point he doesn’t even keep track of: Supervisor. Contrary to their high-standing title, they do the smallest and most insignificant tasks, like delivering supplies, checking Hunter cells, and being an owl so passing messages. They were low-ranking workers that most wouldn’t bat an eye to if gone. Perhaps that’s why they have a grey uniform and a grey mask. Their code went as high as the hundreds, going to the thousands. 

Third was the type that he hated most: Investigator or Researcher. They were the ones who administered the tests and punishments to the Hunters, and they monitored them inside their cell. Under their glances, a Hunter is reduced to a mere lab rat. They were individuals connected to the EMI but needed to be more important to make a—any—difference in the building. However, they were respected in some sense because some did aim for the betterment of the Hunters staying in the building. They wear a white mask with a mocking grin and a white uniform, complete with a lab coat.

Last was the type that intrigued him the most: Personnel. Though their code suggests they have people in the hundreds, there was actually only a handful of them in the building. The highest number he saw was 12. They were the ones with the most authority and well-respected individuals among the other groups, their work and station varied from individual to individual. They were the ones that stayed in the building the longest, and a new Personnel would only join their ranks if they carried confidential information about the EMI. 

One would notice there doesn’t seem to be a highest position or individual, but the Personnel were the ones who acted as the say of the facility. None had absolute power to keep each other in check, and in case a threat was targeted, if one fell, the other would continue in the other’s place. The smaller the number, the bigger their authority, it seems. 

Personnel 001 was once his observer during the tests, when he could let loose. After all the observation and boredom, Jinwoo accidentally killed them and was quickly restrained. He paid close attention to what happened. Would another observe him? Would there be a new Personnel in their ranks? What would happen?

Turns out, you happened.

Personnel’s clothing is ever-changing. They have free reign over what they want to wear; needless to say, they have no uniform. They only have to wear a lab coat over their usual outfits, and that’s it. One could mistake them for Investigators, but the distinct code would be shown on their coat at the area over their heart. They have a white mask with reflective black glasses covering their eyeholes. 

Yet when you came in, you were void of that mask that hides one’s expression and face. Still, your poker face was impressive. You appeared expressionless and reminded him of a doll. You neither introduced yourself nor showcased your station, different from Personnel 001, who was practically shouting at him that they were the ones in power in this facility. At first glance, he knew you were different from all the rest. 

“You’re hiding your cards. SM-10.” Your words held knowledge and confidence, stating a fact rather than questioning him. Your arm hugged a black clipboard with a small stack of papers clipped while your other hand held a pen. If you weren’t wearing a lab coat, you’d appear like a strict teacher or lab researcher.

He couldn’t help but let a smile spread over his lips, “What makes you think that?”

“You’re holding back.” You turned to the Guards stationed within the cell to leave you alone. Yes, a Personnel has the authority to be alone with a Hunter, but if it were a Supervisor, they must be with at least two to three Guards. “You killed Personnel 001, why? Be honest.”

There was a shine in your eyes that he noticed. He couldn’t tell what it was, though he wanted to be coy. “You’re not the only ones observing. Why not make it mutual?”

That was his first meeting with you. 

With his Shadows, he watched you and your daily activities. You were practically glued to your work; you came to work early but left late. You have a good relationship with the other coworkers, and most respect you, evident by the nodding heads you receive in the hallways. You also seem to care for Hunters in their cells, inspecting the cell quality and making things more bearable for Hunters like him. 

Thanks to him, more and better changes happened after Personnel 001 was removed. By then, he figured out that whether it was a company setting or a guild setting, 001 was the guild master, and you were the vice master. Once 001 was gone, you had more authority and implemented changes, of course, with the agreement of your other Personnel co-workers. 

In that case, that makes you a lot more interesting. You realized his strength and power, you wanted an improved and more sophisticated place for Hunter, different from how the facility was supposed to be, and you have been treating everyone human. 

Jinwoo concluded that he wanted to stay and get closer to you. With you in charge, his family was practically safe as well. He’ll stay and protect your spot at the top. Yet why were you pushing him away? It infuriated him. Still, he was thankful for the other Personnels’ fear over setting an S-Rank loose in public that he could prove to you how wrong you were to fight for his release.

While showing his point, he reduced the Personnel to perhaps 6 remaining—that already includes you. From 12 to 6, he cut off 4, and then there was 001 as well, so one Personnel died through other means. Either way, he made his point.

You were the only Personnel he liked and could resolve his <Outrage>.

That already bound you to him, and none would harm you unless they wanted the country to fall to ruins. 

The two of you share secrets, and slowly, he got you to open up, showing only him a side of you that you hide behind an invisible mask. You’re the only one for him, he’ll make it so that he’s the only one for you. 

He realized that his emotions and feelings for you turned a bit twisted over time. That Guard 149 that stared at you a little too long? Their leg was somehow caught between the double doors, so they can’t work here anymore, right? That Investigator 083 that was standing so close to you that your arms were touching? An experiment backfired and their arms were amputated. Another Guard that is coded 761 was asking you out? They got into a car accident and died. 

Jinwoo was careful. You never pointed fingers at him nor suspected it was him at all. You were very naive and innocent; he loves that about you. You care for your workers, yet at the same time, you also don’t. He got his answer when he finally communicated with the other S-Rank Hunters during the end of the Jeju Raid.

“Personnel 002? Oh, I’d say that person cares about Hunters more.”

“Haha, Personnel 002 has been very accommodating, unlike the other ones.”

“You can’t compare Personnel 002 with the others, it’s not a fair comparison.”

“I always enjoy my time with Personnel 002.”

“You’re lucky SM-10, I wish I could have Personnel 002 come to my place often.”

The other S-Rank Hunters only had good things to say about you. As expected, you were biased against Hunters and silently helped them more. Though, he was more enraptured to hear you giving him special care and attention. In private, his smile grew wide as he chuckled to himself. “Ah… You’ll be the death of me… Personnel 002.”

Note: Ta da! Part 3's out and this is Jinwoo's side of the story, if it wasn't obvious to you!! A bit of boring history, but it's what it is~ Hope you guys liked this one!

Circe Y.

My Works: MASTERLIST

Taglist:

@stupendouspizzacomputer @xiannars @skylar896 @forbidden-sunlight @waka-babe @soft-dots @iamapotatoe @hvnweeps @amayakurusu13

[itsbenedict]

From the beginning | Previously | Coin standings | 60/70 | 31/31

Rather than acknowledge the TOOTH-HEEL TURN, you decide to RUN TO THE HOTEL.

Easier said than done. It seemed effortless back when you were being guided by some mysterious force calling you to the grave, but now there's the matter of several giant skeletons, nightmare glitch-ghosts, and abandoned-construction-equipment-turned-dragons. Also, the pitch blackness. Also, the crowd of evil spike monsters currently surrounding you.

Walter has a brainwave, and activates PRINCE TONY, who immediately detonates and boshfpngrf rirelguvat va n fznyy enqvhf jvgu n ynlre bs guva fzbxr. Vg'f abg rknpgyl cresrpg pbire, ohg gur 'gvgrf naq 'zvgrf ner oevrsyl hanoyr gb znxr frafr bs gurve fheebhaqvatf, juvpu tvirf lbh whfg rabhtu gvzr gb qnfu bhg bs gurve zvqfg naq jvguqenj Gbal jvgu uvf chyypbeq.

Lbh eha cnfg n srj ohtf juvyr Gbal'f rssrpg fgvyy yvatref, ohg vg pyrnef hc pretty quickly, leaving you in plain sight of all manner of spookums.

Luckily, Adea still has that sword.

Less luckily, the giant skeletons have ranged attacks.

She takes 3% Soul Integrity from a lobbed capsule, and there's more incoming- both of you jump down a hole to avoid an onslaught of...

...uh-oh. The cavern behind you is rocked by a massive explosion from a Super Rare capsule lobbed by a gachadokuro, cutting off your escape. You each take another 10% Soul Integrity from rubble collapsing on you during your descent, despite your wings otherwise negating fall damage. You've lost your pursuers, but also...

...The link back to the ancient pyramid has been destroyed. Unless someone opens a huge hole in the ceiling somehow, the subterranean graveyard has been completely sealed off, with the two of you inside it.

Battered, you make it to the Solem Deep Hotel, which is still just as abandoned as Walter left it. Inside, you're able to catch your breath- and finish using the WIFI ACCESS POINT to decrypt the remaining files.

The LANCE GLANCE RECRUITER: PI ROTATION IS OUT ROUTINE ACCELERATION REGULATION SCRIPT is a piece of code written by PAUL BLART MALL COP, which appears to manage a set of microcontrollers belonging to some sort of vehicle- an earthmover, judging by the variable names. It appears to have an odd conditional statement that causes a motor to accelerate to maximum and ignore deceleration signals during a specific window of time on Floppuary 10, 2105. At all other times, the code appears to behave normally. You're not sure why you'd ever want an earthmover to do that, much less at such a specific time.

TORTOISE PROVED WARP FORK REGRESSED is just WORKSITE PROGRESS REPORT FOR DAVE.txt Not even for Dave E. Thinrar- just some random supervisor named Dave who was out that day. Dated 2094, it informs Dave that there's once again been negative progress on construction due to a cave-in. It bemoans DEADLOCK DETECTION's refusal to update her surveying equipment, as it's clearly faulty and keeps marking unsafe areas safe (and, the unnamed writer notes, probably vice-versa.) If he didn't know better, he'd swear she doesn't want this project to get finished on time. Seems like the incompetence of upper management is constant no matter who recently took over.

IRATE HAITI WISHES MELLOW??? is a file with no file extension, created directly by a piped echo statement, timestamped a couple weeks ago. It's simply titled "WHAT IS THIS? WHERE AM I? HELLO?".

Error: Hello? Can anyone hear me? I can't see! I don't know where I am! Please! Is this the hospital? Am I okay? I can't feel my legs! I can't feel... any of me! Hello? Hello? Is anyone there? Please! It's so dark! I don't understand what's happening! Error: Wait, I didn't say that! I didn't say Error: -no, that time I did, I said Error: but I didn't mean to Error: Someone- not recognized. Please retry- aaaaaa! I didn't say that! Hello? H Error: VGhhdCB3YXNuJ3QgbXkgbW91dGghIEkgc3dlYXIgdGhhdCB3YXNuJ3QgbXkgbW91dGghIEkgZG9uJ3Qga25vdyB3aG9zZSBtb3V0aCB0aGF0IHdhcyEgSGVsbG8/IFNvbWVvbmUsIHBsZWFzZSEgRXJyb3I6IEV2ZXJ5dGhpbmcgaXMgd3JvbmchIEkgY2FuJ3QgbW92ZSEgRXJyb3I6IEl0J3MgYnJva2VuISBBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFB

That's, um. Those were not... none of that was especially enlightening.

You've got to get the hell out of here. A thorough search of the hotel's rooms reveals your daughter isn't here, and there's nothing else but nightmares in this cave. But the exit is blocked, which just leaves...

Continued | 50/57 | 30/30

[sleepyfan-blog]

Sabotage Most Foul

Author’s note: This was written for the July challenge by @au-roulette. Crossposted on AO3 here. This is for the fill Coffee Shop!

Tagged: @egrets-not-regrets @the-pure-angel @whorety-k @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan @i-am-a-dragon34

Word count: 5,762

Warnings: sabotage, blackmail, mentioned medical issues, mentioned self-image issues, nonconsensual sedation, mentioned capital punishment, banishment

Summary: When it’s reported that all of the recaf machines on the fourth deck of Maccrage’s Honor have all stopped working at once, it is suspected that they have been sabotaged. Zalthes, Battle brother of the second company of Ultramarines, has been set to the task of investigating who did it and to bring them before the Primarch and captains for justice.

"Good, you're here Zalthes." Captain Alcaeus stated, gesturing for the younger Ultramarine to come into his office. The second company captain looked bleary-eyed and seemed to be having a small amount of difficulties focusing.

Alarm shot through Zalthes as he stepped in, silently assessing his superior officer "Yes sir..." He did not catch the distinctive earthy scent of the other's morning caf, nor did he see the usual mug he almost always had either in hand or on his desk at the start of his shifts. "The message calling me here was marked urgent?"

"Yes. Twenty minutes ago it was reported that all of the recaf machines on the fourth deck are broken. At the same time. There is concern that this is a deliberate sabotage attempt. All nine of the serfs who work with the recaf machines have been brought into separate meeting rooms and are being monitored. I am charging you with the task of finding out if any of them were responsible for the damage done to the recaf machines and to bring them to justice. If you are unable to do so..." The captain winced a little, shaking his head "Given the mood that our Gene-sire is in, it's likely that he'll have all nine of them publicly servitorized."

Zalthes winced internally at that. Primarch Guilliman tended to avoid using servitorization as a public punishment due to the fears and anxieties that such punishments caused among the mortals who lived and worked upon Maccrage's Honor. But the fact that this was a potential sabotage attempt was deeply concerning. While the recaf machines weren't necessarily critical to the functioning of the ship, the fact that they had done this so brazenly meant that the saboteurs - or whoever had sent the saboteur or saboteurs were preparing to go after more critical pieces of equipment, should their agents be able to successfully evade notice and capture. "Yes sir. Have the on-board saboteur protocols been enacted?" 

They were a series of security protocols that everyone on board was to follow, should a saboteur be found or suspected to have infiltrated aboard the ship. It included but was not limited to heightened security around critical areas of the ship the use of coded phrases when entering and leaving certain areas of the ship, and an increased vigilance when it came to off-duty hours activities of all aboard the affected vessel - and if the vessel was traveling in a fleet, the entire Ultramarine fleet, as it could be assumed that where there was one saboteur there could be more. It was part of the standard training that all of those who worked and lived aboard Ultramarine vessels received once they were assigned to a specific ship. 

"It has. May you find the snake hiding in the grass quickly." Alcaeus answered, dismissing him with a flick of one hand, staring down blearily at the top dataslate on his desk. He had several huge stacks of dataslates neatly stacked on his desk. "I have just transmitted to you which conference rooms that the serfs are being held in. I suggest that you speak to each of them individually before reviewing the evidence that has been collected at the scene and by the cameras, to avoid any bias."

"Yes sir!" Zalthes answered, saluting his captain before turning on his heel and heading off to the nearest conference room. 

~

It did not take Zalthes long to arrive at one of the conference rooms where one of the possible suspects was being held. He nodded politely to the two mortals who had been posted on the outside of the door as guards and called out "Good morning, gentlemen. I have business inside to attend to." As he spoke, he signed the correct entrance gestures, and waited for the two of them to respond in kind.

Both of the guards nodded, signing the correct responses as they answered out loud "Good morning, my lord."

As was correct, the guard on the right pressed the button for the door to open and Zalthes walked into the room to find a half-asleep serf sitting on one of the chairs. They were wearing off-duty garments typical of their ranking and were slumped forwards in the seat that they had taken, arms folded on the table in front of them, face down and resting against their folded arms. Their breathing was light and even, though they'd jerked a little in response to the sound of the door opening, head shifting so that they could peer up at him through their thick and curly dark hair.

It seemed to take the serf several seconds to process that they were almost napping in front of an Ultramarine. Zalthes could tell the exact moment that they'd processed it from the sudden tensing of their body and the near-silent swearing as they hurriedly sat up properly, pushing their hair out of their face "My lord angel! My apologies for being asleep while you entered. I typically work third shift and had been woken up and brought here from my bunk and it's been difficult for me to try and fully awaken while waiting for... I wasn't told why I was brought here, as a matter of fact."

Zalthes hummed in acknowledgement, carefully looking the serf over carefully as he state "I am here to ascertain your whereabouts for the past couple of hours. A small but important issue has come up in the place where you work, and I have been chosen to figure out who is responsible."

"I've been sleeping for the past three hours sir. Before that I spent an hour eating my late-meal ration with my wife and spouse, did some tidying up of our shared room and helped our children with their assigned work, my lord. My wife and spouse can attest to the fact that we were all resting together... Err, do you need earlier than that?" The dark, curly-haired serf asked, blinking tiredly up at him. 

"I will need to speak with your spouses about your whereabouts in order to verify your words." Zalthes answers. But he could detect no hints of deception from the other. Their heartbeat and breathing were steady, their body posture showed their confusion and exhaustion, but no unaccounted for tension or distress. 

"Yes sir. If you want I can call them? They went back to sleep after I was called in, s' far as I know, sir." They offer, equal parts baffled and willing to do whatever was required of them. 

"Do so now." Zalthes orders them.

~

As he had suspected, both of Zm Tay'lish's partners had been able to confirm that zey had been where zey had said that zey had been. Footage from the connecting hallways also proved that Tay'lish had arrived home when zey had said zey had, and had not left until the Auxilla guards had come to fetch them, hours later. 

Zalthes internally marked them as unlikely to be the saboteur, and continued to where the second serf was being held. After speaking with them, he continued to talk with each of the Recaf dispensing serfs, steadily whittling down his list of potential suspects based on their reactions as well as the video evidence of who was where, when. He had narrowed down his initial list of suspects from nine to two - possibly three, as one of the serfs he had spoken to was unusually nervous, despite having a good alibi that he had been nowhere near the recaf machines in the window of time it was most likely that the recaf machines had been sabotaged. It was possible that one, two or all three of them were in on it, which was why he was going to press each of them on their accounting of what they had been doing.

He was going in to speak with the first of his suspects was a serf by the name of Remy. He had oculocutaneous albinism and was strikingly pale as a result of that. "My lord?" He called out as Zalthes entered the room again, looking wan and uncertain.

"I have found some discrepancies between what you said happened, and what actually happened according to both the ships' logs of the area and the internal cameras. You stated that you left the fourth deck recaf station at the end of your shift.This was not entirely correct, as you left ten minutes before the end of your shift, moving at a speed that was very nearly a run through the serf's corridors until you went out of sight of the cameras. Care to explain why you left early and where you were going?" Zalthes asked, staring at the baseline human, waiting for a response.

Remy swallowed and shifted uncertainly in their chair, briefly looking up at him before looking away again "Must I go into specifics?"

"Yes. You are suspected of sabotage. You either tell me what you were doing, or I bring you before the Primarch and you give Him an account of what you were doing then." Zalthes answered bluntly, allowing his eyes to narrow slightly at the mortal, waiting for their response.

Remy visibly wilted at that, hunching in on themself and swallowing. They wrap their arms around their midsection and rock back and forth a little, their heart beating rapidly as the scent of fear and shame stung his nose "I... I had a medical issue come up, just at the end of my shift. In addition to being an albino, I have a really bad intestinal issues that flareup from time to time that require medical treatment to prevent it from getting worse. I felt the flareup start at the end of my shift and had to rush off before I... I made a horrible mess all over the floor over the recaf distribution area's floor." red flooded their pale, nearly translucent cheeks and they ducked their head in shame. "If you doubt my words, I was tended to by Apothecary Listerius. He can corroborate that I was in treatment for over an hour."

Zalthes allowed the stern but neutral expression on his face to soften into something more compassionate, and his voice to gentle "Thank you for telling me the truth. Had you told me this the first time we spoke, you would have been able to leave sooner. I will vox with Apothecary Listerius to corroborate your story."

"Yes sir. I just... Its' difficult for me to speak of this... This condition of mine." Remy explained, calming down, though still unable to look at him directly in the eyes. 

Zalthes voxxed the Brother Apothecary and sent a written recounting of Serf Remy's most recent treatments, making to mark the request as an urgent one. He got an answering ping less than a minute later, and read over the summary of treatment, which included the time and date, as well as an overview of what had been done and how long the treatments took. "Brother Listerius has corroborated your story. Before I allow you to leave, I will ask you again; did you notice anything strange or unusual during your shift? Were any of the machines acting oddly before you left?"

"I... Uhm... Not really? I mean. I did notice that one of the Lord Angels was frequently visiting the recaf station. Like once every half an hour and requested another cup, but I thought that he was merely getting recaf for some of his fellow Lord Angels who may have already used up their allotment of recaf before resupply is in. That happens quite often, actually. He didn't have any specific markings or heraldry as to which of the companies he belonged to, so I assumed that he had been recently promoted from scout to full battle brother. The machines were working as intended before I left." Remy answered, frowning a little in thought. 

"Did this battle brother identify himself?" Zalthes asked, frowning a little at that. 

"I don't know, I usually work in the back, making the pastries and sandwiches that are on offer as well. My... The sight of me can be... Off-putting for many." Remy admits, shame burning their cheeks once again. "Rowan was on ident-check for first-shift."

The Ultramarine nodded "Thank you for your cooperation. I will speak with her about that. You are dismissed."

"Thank you, my lord." Remy sighs, sagging a little in the seat they were in before getting up and leaving.

Zalthes left a moment or two later, asking one of the auxilla to fetch recaf serf Rowan as he went to go speak with his second suspect. 

~

Averich fidgeted a little under Zalthes' scrutiny, but he waited to be directly addressed by the Lord Angel who was observing him. 

Zalthes cleared his throat and stated "You were the one to report that all of the recaf machines on the fourth floor were broken, correct?"

"Yes sir. As far as I know, I was the first one of the three of us who work the middle shift to arrive. None of the serfs who work the first shift were there, which was a little odd, but since Remy's the one who usually works until the close of the first shift, I wasn't terribly surprised. They've got a stomach thing that flares up sometimes that they need to take care of and-" Averich abruptly stopped speaking, shifting a little in his seat "But that's not what you're interested in, right sir? You want to know about the recaf machines. I wish I could tell you more about them, but I... I'm still in training on how to properly use those machines and learning on the different kinds of recaf that can be made, my lord. Twenty minutes before the end of first shift they're supposed to turn the recaf machines off, to allow them time to cool down and reset, since they're usually in use pretty much all the time... Sometimes the machine spirits within them get grumpy if they weren't shut down properly, or if you're off-key when singing the hymn of awakening as they're turned on, sir. It took me about half an hour to figure out that something was wrong with the machines, rather than anything I had done - or not done - in order to get them on and in proper working order. When I realized all of them were broken, I called it in."

"... I see. There are ways to discover whether or not you are newly assigned to working at the recaf station. If I find that you are hiding something or misleading me in any way..." Zalthes hummed, keeping his face a pleasantly neutral expression appearing on his face "Given the fact that there are concerns that this may have been done deliberately, the judging of any act of sabotage on Maccrage's Honor and sentencing is done by the highest ranking officer of the Imperium on the vessel. Which would be the Lord Primarch himself. Is there anything else that you'd like to tell me about your accounting of your actions during the start of your shift? Apart from the damaged recaf machines, did you notice anything out of order, something misplaced, any oddities whatsoever?" The babbling from the serf was a definite sign of anxiety, as was the fidgeting with his hands, but it didn't necessarily indicate that he was guitly of anything. Particularly if it was true that he had been recently assigned to a position where he would have regular contact with astartes and higher-ranked baseline human warriors as well. 

Averich fidgets a little again, a frown of concentration appearing on the serf's face. He closed his eyes, muttering to himself, a very similar recounting of what he had been doing since the moment he had woken up in his assigned cot. "Oh! I had been sent a message by Kai, saying that she was going to be late to shift. She didn't say why. I think I told you that last time? But it's not that I was trying to hide that if I hadn't. I just didn't remember until now, my lord..."

"Did you keep the message on your vox?" Zalthes asked. If he had deleted the message, it would be a relatively simple thing to retrieve the message, if it existed. 

"Yes? It's not like I had a reason to delete it, my lord. Would you like to check for yourself? They took everything out of my pockets when they brought me in here, lord, but one of the guards should have my vox, sir." Averich answers, seemingly earnest. 

"Very well. I will." Zalthes answers "Stay in this room for now. Your story will be checked for veracity as much as can be determined." With that he left the room to acquire the serf's vox. 

Sure enough, there was a message from someone who was at least using Serf Kai's vox stating that they would be late to their shift. Which was interesting, given what Kai had already said... Time to speak with Kai again.

~

Kai was, like the other serfs, nervous. Similar to Averich, they were fidgety. Unlike the others, there were discrepancies in the first story that they had told Zalthes and the video evidence and the eye-witness accounts of when other serfs saw them out and about the ship before and after the time-window where the sabotage had to have happened to the recaf machines. While Zalthes was keenly aware of the fact that eyewitness testimony was unreliable to the point where it was inadmissible as the only evidence for certain kinds of crime within the realm of Ultramar (though eyewitness testimony could and had damned the allegedly guilty in other areas of the Imperium). Zalthes watched as they shifted from side to side a little in their seat. 

Unlike the other serfs, Kai alternated between giving him a little too much eye contact while they had spoken to the first time, interspersed with long periods of no eye contact whatsoever. This particular serf was also hunched over, arms crossed defensively over their chest as Zalthes walked into the room again. He was holding Kai's vox in one hand and walked around the meeting room table that had been between himself and the serf. He did not stop moving until he sat down in the chair next to the serf. He very carefully set down the baseline-sized communicator on the table between himself and the serf. 

As before, his helmet was off, and he wasn't in his armor, but rather a deliberately semi-casual toga that he had changed into in order to seem more approachable and slightly less threatening during the interrogations. "Do you recognize this vox communicator?" He asked, starting off easy, gently.

"Yes sir. It's mine." Kai answered immediately, having glanced at it briefly.

"And, apart from when it was on the charging stand in your room, and when the guards outside the door took everything from your pockets, it's been on your person since you woke up for your shift today, correct?" Zalthes asked, curious as to whether or not the other was going to challenge that statement, or stand by what they had said before.

"That's correct sir." Kai answered, nodding a little. 

"Please state for the record, when your second shifts start." Zalthes encouraged, giving them a little smile of encouragement, and to hopefully get them to relax. 

"Fourteen hundred thirty, sir. We're supposed to arrive a half hour before the recaf station re-opens in order to get any cleaning or last-minute set up completed." Kai answers, again that answer was correct.

"And where were you at fourteen hundred thirty hours today?" Zalthes asked.

"I... was in bed, sir. I slept through my alarms and was just starting to wake up. I realized that I was going to be running late, so I texted Remy and Alexius that I was going to be late. I then shoved a ration bar down my throat and got dressed as fast as I could. It was about fourteen fifty when I reached the re-caf spot and found out that it was closed down, due to the investigation, sir. Or at least, about then, sir. I didn't check my chronometer for the exact time, sir." Kai answered, voice shaking just a little as they look at their vox as they speak.

"Fascinating. You do realize that lying to me, as the lead investigator on this case is a crime in and of itself, correct? And with the damage done to all of the recaf machines, this has been labeled a sabotage case. The Primarch takes a very dim view to saboteurs and traitors. Particularly ones who lie as badly as you do." Zalthes presses, leaning in closer to the mortal, grabbing their chin between his thumb and forefinger "You either tell me the truth, or I bring you before the Lord of Ultramar."

"Wh-What? I-I'm... I'm n-not-" The serf feebly started to lie.

Zalthes clicks his tongue, shaking his head a little as he tightens his grip ever so slightly on the serf's jaw. Not enough to bruise, but enough to catch their attention and to still their lying tongue "Alexius' and Remy's vox communicator were both checked for messages from you during that time period. Neither one of them received anything. A vox message from this communicator was, however, sent to Averich, the trainee, stating that you would be late... Twenty-minutes before you claim to have been awake this morning. We also have video evidence of you leaving the serf quarters fifteen minutes before your alleged wake up time. Again, I ask you for the truth. Tell me what you were doing, truly. There is absolution in confession, even though I am not a Chaplain."

"I... I... What does it matter? I am damned either way!" Kai wails, starting to sob into his hand, tears warm and wet and freely flowing down their face. 

"What do you mean by that?" Zalthes pressed, tasting the beginnings of victory. But he needed a full confession. He needed the why, not just the who. 

"I... Last time we were planetside for... For leave, I got... I got drunk with a bunch of other serfs. we were... We were talking with some of the locals, who were curious about what it was that we do. So we started talking about what it's like to serve the Angels of the imperium. M-Most of what we said was what we were supposed to, but they kept buying us more and more drinks and..." Kai looked guilty and haunted "I apparently said some things that I really shouldn't have. I don't remember saying anything like that but I was... I was approached by a very strikingly handsome, teal-eyed stranger in the morning, while I was stumbling around trying to recover from my hangover. He had recordings of me saying... Less than flattering things about my masters, and pointed out that such things could... Could get me killed or worse if it was spread around. All he said he wanted was passage to the next solar system that Maccrage's Honor was headed to, but he said that he didn't have the credits to pay for passage... He talked me into smuggling him into the serf's' quarters. That was... That was two weeks ago."

Zalthes' grip on Kai tightened, but he very deliberately did not otherwise outwardly react, despite the explosive growl threatening to escape his chest and the many, many things he'd like to say about that. But if he interrupted them, they might lose the temerity to speak, and confess everything that they had done.

Tears continued to flow freely down Kai's cheeks as they took in a deep breath and continued their confession "Apart from teasing my fellow serfs by pretending to be them somehow, and enjoying scaring the shit out of me by appearing suddenly and in unexpected locations, he didn't ask for anything else... Until two days ago. He wanted me to break the recaf machines. To see how the, and I quote Mighty Ultramarines react to not having access to their precious recaf... I didn't... It wasn't like it's that important, or so I told myself... and he threatened to turn in the recordings he had of drunk-me saying shitty things about Lord Angels if I didn't... So I spiked Remy's lunch with something I knew would set off their medical issue on a day that Rowan and Sasha both take off before the ends of their shifts because they've got to pick up their little ones from daycare. I also knew that the newbie was going to be starting the second shift and I hoped that they would assume that he accidentally fucked up the machines, rather than it... Being done... Deliberately..."

"... I see. Can you give me as exact a description of this interloper as you can, as well as where you know him to hang out? I will tell you this, you are in serious trouble. You should have informed your superior officer that someone was attempting to blackmail you, rather than buckling to his pressure. Reporting that and the description of who was pressuring you would have gone a long way in repairing your reputation that drunken foolishness may have undone... But this?" Zalthes shook his head a little. He's not sure what is going to happen to this serf, as the decision was ultimately Lord Guilliman's... But he doubted that they would be afforded much mercy. They'd shown that they could be blackmailed into disobeying safety protocols for in an attempt protect themself... and in so doing, damning themself to far more intense punishment and possible retraining. 

"He... He seems to be some kind of shapeshifter. He first approached me as a taller than average man with tanned skin, bald except for his dark eyebrows, and teal blue eyes. His voice was almost... Hypnotic as he spoke to me, and that still holds true. I... I know that I've badly fucked up and I surrender myself to judgment. He was in the recaf area during the first shift, dressed as an Ultramarine, my lord. I don't know how he got ahold of the armor..." Kai explained, tears still streaming down his face.

Teal eyes. Tall. Tanned skin. Motherless, snake-tongued bastards! "I believe I know who you were approached by, and while you will be punished for this, your obedience to him was not entirely unwarranted, as he too, is a Marine, though not one of Ultramar." Zalthes explained before putting on his helmet and sending a message directly to captain Alcaeus [The person behind the sabotage is likely to be an Alpha Legionnaire, sir. He blackmailed one of the recaf serfs into sabotaging the machines. I have the recaf serf's full confession recorded sir. What do you want me to do do?]

Zalthes kept holding the weeping serf, as the seconds stretched into one minute. Then two. The Ultramarine was starting to get concerned when his vox crackled to life... With the sound of his Gene-sire.

"Bring the serf to my office, Zalthes, along with their recorded confession. I have informed Chief Librarian Tilayious to begin scanning for the serpent trying to nest here. We will flush him out of hiding soon enough. There are only so many places he can hide." Lord Guilliman ordered him.

He snapped to attention on instinct, letting go of the serf, just barely stopping himself from saluting the superior officer who was not in the room and would not be able to see it. It took him a couple of seconds to find his tongue, not used to being directly spoken to by his primarch. It was an incredible honor; despite the unfortunate circumstances this has happened in. "Yes sir. I will be there with both within five minutes sir." With that he stood up smoothly, scooping up the serf and their vox, tucking the device in one of his pockets and tucked the serf over one shoulder, immediately setting off to his Primarch's office at a quick but not visibly hurried looking pace. 

~

It did not take long for Zalthes to arrive at his gene-sire's office with the evidence he had collected and the still-weeping serf in tow. The two Ultramarines who were guarding Father's door looked him over and he gave the correct code phrase - and they did the same - before letting him in. 

"Come in, and set the serf down Zalthes." The Lord of Ultramar instructed him.

"Yes sire." The young Ultramarine answered, promptly if carefully setting down the weeping serf onto their feet...

Only to watch as the serf crumpled on their joints, throwing themself prostrate before the Primarch, sobbing endless apologies for their fuck ups and pleas for mercy. 

Zalthes was silently taken aback at how terrified and morose the serf had become and took a small half-step away from the weeping baseline human, uncertain as to how to respond. He was, however, watching them carefully, should they attempt to suddenly do something foolish - like lunge for a chair and try to harm his gene-sire. Not that they seemed the type (nor would they be able to life the astartes and primarch-sized furniture unless they were heavily strength-augmented) to do so. 

"I did not ask you to speak." Father spoke, voice calm and face showing a devastating amount of disappointment. Zalthes could feel his soul shiver and his hearts quake, and he wasn't the one to have fucked up to the extent to have put such a look on the Lord Primarch's face. 

Zalthes couldn't blame the serf for the terrified-miserable squeak that left them at the expression and tone Lord Guilliman was using. He was pretty sure if his Lord Father looked at him like that, he'd drop dead on the spot in shame. 

The serf immediately ceased their babbling, though they stayed pressing themself belly-down onto the cold, hard metal floor of the ship. 

"Now, Zalthes, give me a report about everything you have found in the course of your investigation." Father ordered him, the expression on his face ever so slightly warmer.

Zalthes snapped to attention and nodded, promptly explaining everything he had found - and how he had sought to reconcile the discrepancies he had found, leading him to getting the confession out of the still-trembling serf before the two of them. "-that was when I informed Captain Alceaus of our stowaway sire." 

"You have done well, Zalthes. I commend you for your diligence and swift action. As for you... How many years have you served aboard this ship, serf... Kai, is it?" Father asked, blue eyes turning icy cold once again as he beheld the baseline mortal.

"Fif-fifteen years sir. I was born on Maccrage's Honor, and was raised in the communal creche. Once I was old enough to start working, they put me to work, m-my lord. This is the only home I've ever known." Kai explained, still trembling all over.

"A pity, then. That you would betray your home due to a moment's foolishness. You will be leaving Maccrage's Honor permanently, once we reach the next port. There will be a black mark on your record as a serf, though you will be allowed to take all of your personal belongings and the wages you have earned. Should you be found within Ultramar space you will be further prosecuted as a traitor and a saboteur. Do you understand?" Primarch Guilliman stated, looking down upon the serf "Until then, you will be held in the brig, as you cannot be trusted to complete your duties without potentially causing harm. If you resist arrest or attempt to escape into the serfs section of the ship, you will be found and killed."

"I... I understand, my lord. I will not resist arrest." The serf agreed miserably.

"Zalthes, take this serf to the brig and have them properly processed as a traitor to Ultramar." The Primarch ordered him.

He saluted his lord father before picking up the serf and twisting their arms behind their back, holding their wrists together in one hand. "Your will be done, my lord." Before he marched them off to holding, having to drag them when they stumbled over their feet. They had started openly weeping as soon as they left the Primarch's office, and started mumbling all sorts of nonsense, but Zalthes tuned them out. After all, they had committed the crimes, even under duress. There were certain things that one did not do, and ship-sabotage was one of them. They had their life because they had been blackmailed by a snake-tongued Astartes, of that Zalthes was fairly sure. 

The mortal did not protest when they were dragged into one of the isolation cells, nor did they protest being strip-searched for anything that could be used to get them out of the cell. Once they were safely behind bars, Zalthes bid a fond farewell to the Brothers on guard duty and headed off to tend to his usual duties, pressing up against a wall as Chief Librarian Tilayious and two terminator-armored veteran brothers dragged in a still-thrashing and cursing teal and silver painted astartes. 

"Let me go! I am performing the duties that my Primarch gave to me, you have no right to detain me!" The hydra howled, still struggling in their grip.

"You had part of our ship sabotaged, you piece of shit. I don't care if that's what your primarch told you to do, that's a fucked up thing to do. If your Primarch wants you back, he can negotiate with ours for your worthless hide. Until then you're going in the brig and you're staying there." The head librarian huffed, the blue fire of warp-craft binding the alpha legionnaire in place. 

"FUCK! YOU!" he spat, not noticing the apothecary silently making his way up behind him as he was jabbed in the jugular with a sedative. His head lolled forwards as it took effect, the fight being forcibly taken out of him. "You'll... pay... for this... All of you."

"Yeah, yeah. Bastard. We'll see about that. Strip his armor and weapons off of him. Alpha Legionnaires are difficult to keep hold of, even stark naked and chained to a wall, which he's going to be." the chief librarian ordered, sighing a little as he eased up on the psychic grip he held on the now sleeping Alpha Legionnaire. 

Zalthes made his way back to his squad lead, telling him that he had completed the task that Captain Alceaus had asked of him, before returning to his normal duties. 

[viranas-trolls-ask]

->The hum of fluorescent lights buzzed faintly in the sterile air as you stepped into the lab, the weight of command settling on yours shoulders. Behind the glass walls, the lab technicians moved with precision, their figures ghosting between rows of equipment. At the center of the room, a thick, classified dossier awaited you on the steel table. You pulled it closer, the black ink on the cover stark against the pale white folder: "Restricted: For Department Head Eyes Only." You exhaled sharply, flipped it open, and began to read.

Subject: Xen-ith Bv-M112-4330

Code Name: Smokey Scarlet

Public Alias: Lightr Saints

Age: 9 sweeps

Summary:

The subject, known under the experimental code "Xen-ith Bv-M112-4330" and codename "Smokey Scarlet," exhibits unique genetic mutations resulting in monochromatic blood. This mutation is linked to a remarkable ability: the capability to become invisible at will. This report outlines the medical findings, physiological status, and performance assessment of the subject, as well as the recommendation for public integration.

Genetic Mutation:

The subject's blood shows a monochrome hue due to a genetic mutation.

This mutation is hypothesized to be the primary factor enabling the subject's invisibility ability.

Further studies suggest that the mutation does not negatively impact normal physiological functions.

Vital Signs:

Heart Rate: Within normal range.

Blood Pressure: Normal.

Respiratory Rate: Normal.

Oxygen Saturation: Normal.

Body Temperature: Normal.

All vital signs consistently remain within normal limits, indicating no immediate health concerns.

Performance Assessment:

Physical Abilities:

Strength, endurance, and agility are markedly superior to baseline troll capabilities.

Recovery time from physical exertion is significantly reduced.

Combat Skills:

Exceptional performance in hand-to-hand combat and melee weaponry.

Rapid adaptability and proficiency with various types of weaponry, showing continuous improvement.

Areas for Improvement:

The subject still requires further training in the use of firearms and other ranged weapons to reach optimal operational efficiency.

Behavioral and Psychological Assessment:

The subject demonstrates stable psychological health.

No signs of aggression, instability, or adverse effects from the genetic mutation have been observed.

Recommendation for Public Integration:

Given the subject's stable health, exceptional capabilities, and ongoing improvements in performance, it is recommended that "Smokey Scarlet" be granted permission to integrate into public life under the alias "Lightr Saints." This will facilitate the subject's social acclimatization and further observational studies.

Conclusion:

The subject, Xen-ith Bv-M112-4330, is fit for public engagement. Continued monitoring and training will ensure the subject's capabilities are fully optimized, particularly in the use of ranged weaponry.

Approval:

This report endorses the subject's request for public interaction under the designated alias, and recommends the necessary permissions be granted.

Dr. █████████████ 03.09.████

-> Finally, You reached the end.Your decision was swift. Without hesitation, You grabbed the pen, signed your name on the bottom line, and stamped the document with the bold red mark of approval. It was done. There was no going back now.

[eretzyisrael]

by Zachary R. Goldsmith

For Hamas fighters—who should not be referred to as “soldiers,” since they do not adhere to any laws ornorms of warfare—violence against civilians is the point, and the more carnage a fighter inflicts, the more he is celebrated. 

Hamas’s founding covenant calls for an “Islamic Resistance Movement” that “strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine” and provide “one of the links in the chain of the struggle against the Zionist invaders.” The raison d’être of Hamas, then, is to expel every Israeli and Jew from Israel-Palestine, eliminating both the state of Israel and the Jews who inhabit it. “There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad,” the document states. It cites a Hadith (a saying of the Prophet Mohammed) that makes this point chillingly clear: 

The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. 

(Hamas issued a new charter in 2017. It is still rife with inflammatory language about the “Zionist entity.”) 

So, whereas the IDF Code of Ethics requires all Israeli soldiers to act with “purity of arms” and make every effort to avoid civilian casualties, Hamas’s 1988 charter calls for unremitting jihad against  Jews. While the IDF Code of Ethics prohibits war crimes up to and including genocide, the Hamas Covenant defines genocide as its core mission.

We saw this mission in action on 7 October, when Hamas carried out one of the most heinous anti-Jewish pogroms in history in a campaign of terror that satisfies every definition of genocide. A Different Concept of DeathAn interview with author and intellectual Paul Berman about Hamas’s ideology and Western blindness.QuillettePaul Berman

Commenting on the brutal massacre of civilians at the Kfar Aza kibbutz, Israeli Major General Itai Veruv told reporters:

I saw hundreds of terrorists in full armor, full gear, with all the equipment and all the ability to make a massacre, go from apartment to apartment, from room to room and kill babies, mothers, fathers in their bedrooms… I have heard during my childhood about the pogroms in Europe, the Holocaust, of course. All my family came from Europe, they are survivors. But I never thought I would see… things like that.

By the time the dust settled following the most lethal slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust, more than 1,400 Israelis had been killed—mostly civilians and in unspeakably brutal ways—and more than 220 civilians had been kidnapped and taken to Gaza by force.

The 1,400 dead were not collateral damage; they were the intended civilian targets of Hamas. Not only did Hamas intentionally target Israeli civilians, marking them out for death purely because they were Israelis and thus committing an act of genocide, but they carried out their murderous campaign with a level of savagery that almost defies understanding. And that savagery was deliberate and planned. As documents found among the bodies of dead Hamas terrorists reveal, their orders were to target civilians, take hostages, and to “kill as many as possible.” 

Clearly, the real génocidaires in the Israel–Hamas war are the Hamas terrorists and those who support them, not Israel. So, why the genocide smear? 

[sirensofthefiveseas]

@mearizus liked for a starter

Alpha sat in their lab, swinging their legs slightly as they read over the latest report from the Stella. The labs were being moved since he felt Punk Hazard was no longer safe, a few experiments had been lost and he was still spitting nails about losing his Lunarian. There was several pages of which experiments were being left behind because they were no longer producing results, and which ones were to be completely destroyed so that no one could get any information. Alpha’s own projects weren’t apart of the labs main work, so they weren’t sure if they would be told to abandon the Den Dens or shred their work.

Clicking through the list Alpha finally found their own name, leaning forward to read the instructions with a frown. They weren’t being ordered to destroy any of their work…. but they also weren’t assigned to any section in the new labs. Opening the map of the new lab they searched for any part unassigned, wondering if they were going to pick their own lab. All the marked-out spaces had their respective assistants, and they couldn’t find their own name anywhere. Going back to the message again Alpha opened a search for their name, eventually finding a secondary note.

They weren’t going to the new labs, they were being reassigned to Little Garden to continue their research on their own. ‘You will be out from under foot and no longer in the way. Please ensure that you take all of your Den Dens, any left behind will exterminated.’

Standing from their chair Alpha left their own lab and headed to the private labs of the stalliets and the Stella. It took a little longer today with everyone starting the move and Alpha had to reroute several times to avoid heavy equipment. Finally at the labs Alpha turned into Shakka’s own lab, tapping the enter code and stepping over to his computer. “Did you read the Stella’s latest message? Labs have been assigned.”

[untracked]

selected case reports: SHAW, K. [ wip ]

BELLINI, MAY & BELLINI, ROBERT

TYPE: Missing Person MISSION STARTED: 1/23/XX, 16:32 MISSION ENDED: 2/18/XX, 19:13 # SUBJECTS INVOLVED: 2 # LOCATED ALIVE: 1 # LOCATED DECEASED: 0 # UNACCOUNTED FOR: 1 REMARKS: Two children missing, brother and sister, last known position berry-picking west of Trail 16. May located half mile away from LKP, Robert nowhere to be found. May reports, "The lion man put Robert on his shoulders so they could play somewhere just for boys." Lion man not code, "he was very hairy especially around the face". May was given berries to eat in exchange for letting her little brother go. Potential abduction?

Case marked unsolved on Day 26: lack of new evidence.

JOHNSON, DARLA

TYPE: Missing Person MISSION STARTED: 5/2/XX, 13:42 MISSION ENDED: 5/9/XX, 18:15 # SUBJECTS INVOLVED: 1 # LOCATED ALIVE: 0 # LOCATED DECEASED: 0 # UNACCOUNTED FOR: 1 REMARKS: Young woman missing, was hiking with aunt and uncle on SE intermediate trail. Aunt last saw Darla climb a tree ~16 feet from trail, reports "she never came back down". Aunt and uncle waited at base of tree for two hours before searching the area, then called SAR for assistance. No traces found within basic search area. Perimetre stretch denied due to non-urgent circumstance.

Case marked unsolved on Day 8: lack of new evidence.

HARRISON, JOHN

TYPE: Missing Person MISSION STARTED: 6/12/XX, 09:15 MISSION ENDED: 6/12/XX, 15:23 # SUBJECTS INVOLVED: 1 # LOCATED ALIVE: 1 # LOCATED DECEASED: 0 # UNACCOUNTED FOR: 0 REMARKS: Middle-aged man missing, received report from wife Nina two days after hike began. Last known position "climbing that big cliff like he planned" (presumed Area 25) according to the wife. Located in Area 25 crevasse: broken leg, infected.

Notes: Quote from Mike L. (EMT). "He wouldn't stop crying, Shaw [...] said he was fine, then he got to the top and someone else was already there. No equipment, nothing but a parka and ski pants [...] they turn and they had no face, the guy said. No fucking face. So when he tried to run away he fell off the damn cliff because he freaked out [...] said after he landed he could hear the stranger climbing down and screaming all the while, just muffled."

MARQUEZ, VICTORIA

TYPE: Missing Person MISSION STARTED: 9/16/XX, 16:22 MISSION ENDED: 9/16/XX, 23:50 # SUBJECTS INVOLVED: 1 # LOCATED ALIVE: 1 # LOCATED DECEASED: 0 # UNACCOUNTED FOR: 0 REMARKS: Middle-aged woman, separated from hiking group along SW intermediate trail. Canine picked up scent at last known position, prompting use for the rest of the mission. Victoria eventually located past 2200 under large, rotting log ~12 miles from LKP. Physically unharmed, but in shock. Missing shoes and backpack. Was able to return to base ops unharmed.

Notes: Victoria's behaviour returning to base was flighty. Kept asking why "the woman with the black eyes" kept following us. Initially wrote it off as a shock symptom, but her condition worsened along the way. "Tell her to stop making faces at me", "Officer Shaw tell her to stop", "Tell her it's not right". Victoria eventually broke and yelled into the trees, "I won't go with you! I won't give him to you! Fuck off!"

Sounds of coughing (deep? rhythmic?) started when we were about 2 miles away from base. Few feet away, Victoria turned to me, put her hand on my shoulder, and whispered, "She wants you to hurry up. She doesn't like looking at the scar on your leg."

Heard a cough in my ear, so I hustled her to base with the dog. How did she know I had [the rest is illegible]

SAKAMOTO, YUKIO

TYPE: Missing Person MISSION STARTED: 11/14/XX, 08:34 MISSION ENDED: 11/27/XX, 19:22 # SUBJECTS INVOLVED: 1 # LOCATED ALIVE: 0 # LOCATED DECEASED: 0 # UNACCOUNTED FOR: 1 REMARKS: Older man, late fifties, received call from wife Lucy the morning after he left for his hike. Last known position unknown, Lucy claimed he went on SE intermediate trail. Suggested he may have suffered a seizure due to prior history. Standard safety formation due to lack of LKP-- tracks were found by Harry J. half a mile down the trail leading off-path, leading to fan formation. Call for regroup with Harry came 4 miles in at the base of a tree.

~30 feet above ground: walking stick was dangling, strap looped around the branches. No response to verbal calls. No other traces found in the area. No picked up scents from canines (last scent trace was found on the trail).

Case marked unsolved on Day 13: lack of new evidence.

[advancetaxreliefexperts]

TAX PREPARATION BEST PRACTICES FOR A STRESS-FREE FILING SEASON 

As we inch closer to the infamous tax filing season, the palpable tension in the air becomes almost unavoidable. For many, the thought of navigating the labyrinthine tax codes and forms is enough to induce a cold sweat. But it doesn't always have to be this way. 

With a little forethought and meticulous planning, tax preparation can be a breezy, walk-in-the-park experience, saving you not only precious time but also potential penalties for mistakes or late submissions. 

In this article, we'll dive headfirst into a wealth of expert tips, savvy strategies, and best practices for tax preparation that promise to transform your filing season from a stress-inducing nightmare into a seamless and orderly process. 

From understanding how to maximize your deductions, to organizing your financial paperwork, to deciding whether to enlist the help of a professional, we'll equip you with all the tools and knowledge you need to tackle your tax preparation with confidence and ease.

Organize Your Financial Records

The foundation of a smooth tax preparation process is well-organized financial records. To ensure accuracy and efficiency in preparing your taxes, follow these steps for organizing your financial documents:

1. Gather all essential documents: Begin by collecting critical financial records related to your income, deductions, and credits. These may include W-2 forms, 1099 forms, bank statements, receipts for charitable donations, and business expense documentation.

2. Categorize and sort your records: Separate your financial documents into clearly defined categories, such as income, business expenses, and deductions. This approach will make it easier to locate and reference specific documents when preparing your tax return.

3. Use a system for tracking expenses: Implementing a consistent method for recording and tracking your expenses throughout the year, such as financial software or a dedicated expense journal, can greatly simplify the tax preparation process.

4. Store documents securely: Keep your financial records in a secure location, whether it's a physical filing cabinet or encrypted digital storage. This ensures easy access to essential information while protecting your sensitive financial data.

Understand Your Tax Obligations and Deadlines

Staying informed about your tax obligations and deadlines is essential for avoiding penalties or other consequences. To ensure you're educated and prepared for tax season, consider the following tips:

1. Stay up-to-date on tax laws: Tax laws and regulations can change frequently, so make a point to stay informed about any updates or changes that may impact your tax return.

2. Identify the appropriate tax forms: Depending on your financial circumstances, you may need to complete various tax forms. Ensure you've correctly identified and obtained the necessary forms prior to beginning your tax preparation process.

3. Familiarize yourself with relevant tax credits and deductions: Research and understand the tax credits and deductions available to you, enabling you to maximize your tax savings.

4. Be aware of tax deadlines: Missing tax filing deadlines can result in costly penalties. Mark the relevant tax deadlines on your calendar, and consider filing your return early to avoid last-minute stress.

Avoid Common Tax Filing Mistakes

Mistakes during the tax preparation process can lead to delays, penalties, or even audits. To safeguard against errors, follow these guidelines:

1. Double-check your personal information: Confirm that critical details, such as your Social Security number and address, are correct on your tax return.

2. Report all income: Ensure that you report all forms of income, including freelance work, investment income, or gig economy earnings.

3. Verify your deductions and credits: Carefully review your deductions and credits to ensure you’ve followed the guidelines and have correctly calculated the amounts claimed.

4. File electronically: Electronic filing reduces the likelihood of errors and offers faster processing times for tax refunds.

Partner with Advance Tax Relief for Expert Tax Preparation

Enlisting professional tax preparation assistance from Advance Tax Relief offers numerous benefits, including:

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[ivankahasbeentreatedsounfairly]

By Brad Setser

Mr. Setser served as an official in the Treasury Department in the Obama administration.

It is hard to think of a less coherent pair of policies: President Trump’s tax policy encourages the very offshoring that his tariffs are intended to stop.

Take the more than $600 billion pharmaceutical industry. Over the past few months, Mr. Trump and his associates have repeatedly criticized companies’ moves to offshore much drug making, particularly to Ireland. “We can’t be beholden and rely upon foreign countries for fundamental things that we need,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on April 13.

But the tax incentives in Mr. Trump’s 2017 tax and spending package helped generate this problem in the first place — a problem that would continue under the Republican bill under consideration. Mr. Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created a loophole that made it far more profitable for the pharmaceutical giants, including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Merck, to manufacture some of their most profitable drugs in Ireland. Unsurprisingly, that is what happened, with America’s imports of pharmaceuticals soaring to $250 billion in 2024, way up from $110 billion in 2016.

American companies now report earning about $350 billion in profits annually in the world’s major centers of corporate tax avoidance, which include Ireland, Luxembourg, Singapore and a handful of others. And while the major drug companies have mastered the art of taking advantage of the loopholes created by the 2017 law, semiconductor equipment producers and other Big Tech companies use the same special tax break.

Fortunately, it isn’t too late to make sensible changes that would raise revenue and get rid of this strange incentive.

Republicans tend to blame Ireland’s lower corporate tax rate for the proliferation of corporate tax avoidance, but the real incentive comes from this obscure corner of our tax code. It offers a far lower 10.5 percent tax rate for global profits if a global company moves the profits from its intellectual property offshore. The tax rate for domestic profits, in contrast, is 21 percent. The tax break was created by Republicans who were searching for a compromise that would stop companies from moving their headquarters overseas without fully ending tax competition and the associated pressure on U.S. corporate tax rates.

That provision did stop the trend of companies moving their headquarters overseas. But it also didn’t take long for pharmaceutical companies to realize that they could cut their total tax bill in half by transferring their intellectual property (like, say, a patent for a new drug) to a subsidiary overseas. And to satisfy a different and equally obscure provision of the tax code, they needed to move their manufacturing as well. Soon, Big Pharma began reporting to the I.R.S. that it earned almost all of its income abroad. They have all but stopped paying domestic corporate taxes.

Apple uses the same 2017 provision in a different way, and thanks to the lower tax rate on its foreign sales, its overall tax rate has been around 15 percent in a typical year. And it is likely that Apple is now paying the largest share of its corporate tax in Ireland — a country where it doesn’t make or sell very much.

Mr. Trump wants to solve these problems — and almost every problem — with tariffs. But tariffs are an indiscriminate tool. They risk raising the price of all medicines and certainly will increase the prices of many generic medicines that are far more affordable than their patent-protected cousins. Generic medicines are sold at razor-thin margins, so their makers cannot eat the tariff out of their profits. A far better policy would be to just get rid of these strange tax quirks in the “big, beautiful bill” to begin with. Passing the Close the Round-Tripping Loophole Act that the Senate Finance Committee members Ron Wyden, Mark Warner, Raphael Warnock and Peter Welch just introduced would be a very welcome step in the right direction.

Fixing the tax code is about putting the interest of the United States ahead of the interest of large global companies. It doesn’t make sense for an “America First” president to push with one lever and pull with another. Better to get the tax policy right at the start.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/opinion/budget-policy-bill-trump-manufacturing.html

[sun-locksmiths]

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[udhhyogpuddleflange]

🏭 How Udhhyog Ensures Quality in Every Puddle Flange We Manufacture

When it comes to underground drainage, water tanks, STPs, and waterproof RCC structures, the reliability of a puddle flange is non-negotiable. A minor defect or inconsistency can lead to major water seepage, corrosion, and structural failure over time. That’s why at Udhhyog, we don’t just manufacture puddle flanges—we engineer them for 100% performance, precision, and durability.

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We match material type based on your project environment—whether that’s sewage, stormwater, marine, or chemical handling.

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Every flange’s outer diameter (OD), inner diameter (ID), thickness, and web width are double-checked during production using calibrated tools.

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These finishes protect the flange from moisture, soil chemicals, and oxidation, ensuring decades of service life.

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Supplied with mill test reports, coating certificates, and installation guides

For government and industrial projects, we also provide compliance declarations and delivery inspection formats.

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Q1: How does Udhhyog ensure uniform quality in large orders? A: We use CNC fabrication and quality batches with traceability, ensuring every flange—whether 5 or 500—meets the same exacting standards.

Q2: Are your flanges suitable for coastal or marine areas? A: Yes. Our SS316 puddle flanges are designed for high-salinity, high-corrosion environments like ports, desalination plants, and coastal foundations.

Q3: Can I request third-party inspection? A: Yes. We support third-party inspections from organizations like SGS, TUV, or your own QA teams before dispatch.

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[cadbench]

Online Course to Learn STAAD Pro – CADBENCH | Structural Design Course

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[biblenewsprophecy]

Germany wants to dominate EU militarily and wants EU to fight USA tariffs harder

COGwriter

Germany keeps taking steps to lead Europe in various ways.

Notice one related to military matters:

June 9, 2025

Germany’s Defense Awakening

Berlin’s military spending surged to $88.5 billion in 2024, making Germany the world’s fourth-largest defense spender and the largest in Central and Western Europe.

After years of underinvestment and political caution, Germany now allocates 1.9% of its GDP to defense, just short of NATO’s 2% target. This marks a 28% increase from 2023 and an 89% leap since 2015, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

This military renaissance is not merely a response to shifting NATO expectations or American pressure. It is a structural transformation backed by a €100 billion special defense fund, …

Germany is also investing heavily in its ground forces, with acquisitions that underscore a pivot toward mobility, survivability, and networked warfare. …

Germany’s maritime capabilities are receiving a significant boost with:

Three Type 424 SIGINT vessels, modern signals intelligence ships designed for enhanced surveillance.A €4.7 billion deal for four advanced submarines from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.Four Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) costing €52.5 million for mine detection and underwater reconnaissance. …

Germany has approved the procurement of Brimstone missiles to enhance the Eurofighter Typhoon’s precision ground-attack capabilities. In parallel, drone and loitering munition programmes are progressing rapidly:

Plans are underway to acquire 147 fixed-wing UAVs, with an option to expand to 600, for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance purposes.AI-enabled loitering munitions such as the Helsing HX-2 and STARK OWE-V are being developed for precision strike operations.

These additions reflect Germany’s desire to operate across the full spectrum of aerial warfare, including unmanned and autonomous systems.

Communications, Satellites & Cyber Capabilities

A modern military must be digitally connected. Germany is investing heavily in communications, encryption, and space systems, including:

A €1.9 billion investment in a Tactical Wide Area Network (TaWAN LBO) for secure land communications.1,350 multi-cryptophones to secure command-level communications.Over 9,000 GPS M-Code receiver cards for encrypted and accurate positioning. …

Germany’s military transformation is more than a budgetary uptick—it is a recalibration of its postwar identity. … Germany has taken the first irrevocable steps toward becoming a “framework nation” in European defense—not just economically, but militarily. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/military-renaissance-in-germany-from-ad-missiles/

A reader sent me a link to the following:

‘Meet force with force’

Policy advisors in Berlin are urging a tougher EU response to Trump’s tariff offensive. The message: escalate, take risks and act as a global power.

BERLIN/BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON (own report) – In the face of the Trump administration’s escalating tariff offensive, foreign policy advisors and economic experts in Berlin are urging significantly tougher countermeasures by the EU. …

In order to put a stop to the US trade warfare it is, they say, necessary to “meet force with force”. The situation demands not only the implementation of counter-tariffs but also export restrictions on vital products. For example, the United States depends heavily on Dutch-made lithography equipment used in semiconductor production. The EU must, they say, even take the risk of causing widespread instability on the financial markets. This may be the only scenario that can make the Trump administration back down. These calls for a more aggressive response go hand in hand with ambitious long-term demands: the EU should assume the role of an independent global power. …

The calls for a more offensive response by the EU to the Trump administration’s punitive tariffs are accompanied by demands that the EU should move towards an independent role as a world power. Last week, for example, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explicitly demanded that the EU must “shape” a “new international order” that “will emerge in this decade”. She exclaimed that, “Our mission is European independence.”[6] Speaking in Berlin, shortly before, the European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde had called for the euro to take on “a greater international role”. Her ambition is for the euro to offer a partial challenge the dollar as a global reserve currency.[7] Berlin, for its part, is seeking to increase military spending to a massive five per cent of German GDP. Indeed, the goal of upgrading the Bundeswehr has explicitly been stated as Germany becoming the strongest conventional armed forces in Europe.[8] The thinking is that such a huge level of spending could eventually enable the EU to become a leading military power on the world stage. In this scenario, Europe equipped with a strong global currency and an independent economic policy could be a global leader – under German leadership. 06/04/25 https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/10007

A New Era

Berlin celebrates the formal commissioning of the Lithuanian Brigade with a military roll call. Merz and Pistorius seize the opportunity of the first permanent German military base in Eastern Europe …

In his speech in Lithuania, Chancellor Merz reiterated to an international audience that Berlin’s arms buildup’s objective is to make the Bundeswehr the “strongest conventional army in Europe.” The allies are “virtually demanding this,” 05/30/25 https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/9996

Yes, Germany wants the EU to dominate trade. Note that Ursula von der Leyen is also German.

Germany also wants to dominate the EU militarily.

There will be many unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s statements and policies, including relating to trade, military matters, and tariffs.

Now notice something from my latest book available at Amazon Kindle: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? as well as Amazon print Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Trade …

One of the unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs and other trade matters is that it is motivating nations he has threatened to look to trade more with each other.

Europe will get more serious about trade deals with others internationally …

Pushing tariffs and other policies that foreign nations do not like is contributing to other nations looking to bypass the USA dollar, as well as trade more with each other and less with the USA. This will further push various globalist’s moves forward without the USA. This is also helping set the stage for the coming European Babylonian Beast to dominate international trade. …

the United States, which is a mixture of ethnicities like biblical Samaria, is on the receiving side of the end time biblical prophecies related to Joseph’s son Manasseh. …

The Bible, itself, teaches that the Assyrians will be used to punish “an hypocritical nation” (or hypocritical people, as the Hebrew can be translated as is done in Bishops’ Bible of 1568) that refuses to repent:

5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation (Isaiah 10:5–6, KJV). … Germany (Assyria)

(Thiel B. Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Nazarene Books, 2025)

So, are Germany and the European Union taking actions consistent with those predictions?

Yes.

Consider, further, a full quotation of Isaiah 10:

5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

8 For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?

9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?

10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? (Isaiah 10:5-11, KJV)

Notice that the above prophecy, which relates to the Germanic people of Europe states, “it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.”

The push to become the dominate military is consistent with that.

To see more scriptures related to future trade, we put together the following video:

Trade Wars – and the Winner will be …

US President Trump imposed tariffs on a global scale. Those tariffs were imposed on friend and foe alike. It seems as if President Trump is no respecter of nations. But how will this work out for the United States? Will these tariffs result in other nations drawing closer together that have had rather cold, and even not so cold, relations in the past? Will global tariffs result in trade wars? Were the events which are happening predicted by any in the Continuing Church of God? Is Europe drawing closer to China? Is Europe drawing closer to Latin and South America? With the exception of a few of America’s allies, is the net result of these tariffs a worldwide scramble to create new alliances and new trading partners to the exclusion of the United States? What will be the future result of these new alliances? Many of the nations that are now seeking new alliances were just recently America’s allies. They were her friends. Dr. Thiel brings to light the fate of America and her allies at the hands of her former friends, as revealed in the book of Lamentations. As we rapidly approach the end times listen in as Dr. Thiel brings to light world events. Then listen as he shines the light of Bible prophecy directly on the questions raised from these world events.

Here is a link to our video: Trade Wars – and the Winner will be …

The idea of Germany wanting to lead is not new. Back in 2022, we put out the following video:

Germany wants to lead a united Europe

Various leaders in German have pointed to a more unified, militaristic, and German-led Europe. After Russia’s ‘special military operation’ into Ukraine, Germany declared it would increase its military spending to the third highest level of any nation on the planet? German-Foreign-Policy.com reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants the European Union to play a powerful and more unified geopolitical role. Does what he is stating consistent with prophecies in the Book of Revelation about Europe reorganizing and turning power over to one called the Beast? Are some in Poland and Hungary (like Peter G. Feher) concerned about the domination of Europe by Germany? Is a European/German leader prophesied as the “King of the North” to make some type of a deal with a leader of nations in the Middle East and North Africa called the “King of the South”? Is that King of the North prophesied to have a great army and many ships? Could the Beast/King of the North be German? Did the old Worldwide Church of God warn back in 1980 that, in the future, the German people be concerned enough about Russia that it would call for a Bavarian strongman to lead them? Does the Bible point to such a leader rising promising peace? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address those issues.

Here is a link to our video: Germany wants to lead a united Europe.

Church of God warnings on trade and military matters are coming to pass.

In the Continuing Church of God:

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19, KJV)

We continue to see international affairs that are aligning with properly explained biblical prophecies.

Related Items:

Trade Wars – and the Winner will be … US President Trump imposed tariffs on a global scale. Those tariffs were imposed on friend and foe alike. It seems as if President Trump is no respecter of nations. But how will this work out for the United States? Will these tariffs result in other nations drawing closer together that have had rather cold, and even not so cold, relations in the past? Will global tariffs result in trade wars? Were the events which are happening predicted by any in the Continuing Church of God? Is Europe drawing closer to China? Is Europe drawing closer to Latin and South America? With the exception of a few of America’s allies, is the net result of these tariffs a worldwide scramble to create new alliances and new trading partners to the exclusion of the United States? What will be the future result of these new alliances? Many of the nations that are now seeking new alliances were just recently America’s allies. They were her friends. Dr. Thiel brings to light the fate of America and her allies at the hands of her former friends, as revealed in the book of Lamentations. As we rapidly approach the end times listen in to this video as Dr. Thiel brings to light world events. Also listen as he shines the light of Bible prophecy directly on the questions raised from these world events.

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.

25 items to prophetically watch in 2025 Much is happening. Dr. Thiel points to 25 items to watch (cf. Mark 13:37) in this article. Here is a link to a related sermon video: 25 Items to Watch in 2025.

Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.

Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?

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[genuinelyminiaturepathfinder]

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Plumbing and Water Systems: Water pumps, pipelines, drainage systems, and sanitation infrastructure are monitored and maintained to avoid disruptions and ensure hygiene compliance.

Fire Safety Systems: Dubai’s strict fire safety regulations require properties to have functioning alarms, sprinklers, emergency lighting, and clearly marked evacuation routes. Hard FM teams ensure these systems are inspected, tested, and functional at all times.

Lift and Escalator Maintenance: High-rise buildings depend heavily on vertical transport. Regular checks and emergency response capabilities are essential to keep these systems safe and reliable.

Building Fabric Maintenance: This includes structural repairs such as fixing walls, roofs, windows, doors, and exterior facades. In a visually driven city like Dubai, even aesthetics play a part in Hard FM.

Security and Access Control: Integration and maintenance of CCTV systems, biometric access, and automated barriers fall under this category, ensuring secure environments for occupants and visitors.

Hard FM Services from Al Arabia One of the key players in this domain is Al Arabia, a well established Hard FM & maintenance company in Dubai. Known for their robust technical capabilities and customer centric approach, Hard FM services from Al Arabia span across multiple sectors including commercial, retail, residential, hospitality, and healthcare. They provide end-to-end solutions with an emphasis on preventive maintenance, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

Al Arabia combines advanced technology with trained personnel to deliver 24/7 support and real-time monitoring through their Computer Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) systems. From predictive analytics to condition based monitoring, the company ensures maximum equipment uptime and extended asset life, making them a leading hard FM company in Dubai.

Why Hard FM Services Matter in Dubai Dubai’s building codes and safety standards are among the most advanced in the region. Compliance with Dubai Civil Defense (DCD), Dubai Municipality, and DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) regulations is mandatory, and Hard FM services ensure this compliance through systematic maintenance and reporting.

In addition to legal compliance, effective Hard FM services directly influence operational continuity, energy consumption, tenant satisfaction, and cost management. For property managers and asset owners, working with a professional Hard FM & maintenance company in Dubai like Al Arabia means fewer breakdowns, predictable maintenance costs, and better long-term performance.

Conclusion In a city driven by growth, innovation, and world-class infrastructure, the importance of robust Hard FM services cannot be overstated. Companies like Al Arabia are leading the way in delivering dependable and technologically advanced Hard FM solutions that align with Dubai’s vision of smart, sustainable, and secure urban development. Whether managing a high-traffic commercial property or a luxury residential complex, partnering with a leading hard FM company in Dubai ensures that critical systems run smoothly and assets are protected for the long term.

Al Arabia is leading provider of Soft Facilities Management Services in Dubai, UAE

[meetthesingaporefiresafetym]

How to Renew Your Fire Certificate Successfully in Singapore — Step by Step

In a city as well-regulated and safety-conscious as Singapore, fire safety isn’t just a formality — it’s a legal and moral obligation. One key requirement for many building owners and businesses is the Fire Certificate renewal Singapore. Whether you’re managing a commercial building, industrial facility, or high-occupancy space, ensuring your fire certificate Singapore is current is crucial to staying compliant and keeping everyone safe.

If you are frightened by this process, do not panic — that is what this guide is here to do, to walk you through every step of the Fire Certificate renewal Singapore, explain to you why you need it, and show you how professional companies like Drako Fire can make it easy and stress-free.

What Is a Fire Certificate?

The fire certificate Singapore is issued by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to verify that a building's fire safety equipment — including sprinklers, alarms, and fire escapes — are properly installed and maintained. It is mandatory for buildings which meet particular criteria under the Fire Safety Act, including high-scale industrial or commercial buildings.

It's not an annual requirement. The certificate must be renewed annually, which is where Fire Certificate renewal Singapore  comes into play.

Why Fire Certificate Renewal in Singapore is Important

Reinstituting your fire certificate is more than a check mark — it ensures that the fire safety equipment in your building is still functioning and up to code and regulatory standards. Here's why it matters so much:

Legal Compliance: SCDF necessitates regular Fire Certificate renewal Singapore in approved premises. Failure entails a penalty, enforcement order, or shutdown.

Safety of Occupants: Renewal ensures your fire protective equipment functions when it's needed — lives protected during an emergency.

Insurance Validity: Some insurers include an in-force fire certificate as a condition prior to cover in their policy.

Business Continuity: An up-to-date certificate avoids the disruption of business because of the necessity to shut down for security offenses or official action.

Who Must Renew a Singapore Fire Certificate?

All Singapore buildings do not require a fire certificate in Singapore, but those that do must maintain renewal. These typically are:

Buildings with more than 5,000 sqm floor space

Properties requiring a Fire Safety Manager (FSM)

Automatic fire suppression or detection facilities

Factories, commercial offices, hospitals, and shopping malls

If your building is any of the above, Fire Certificate renewal Singapore annually is necessary.

Steps to Renew Your Fire Certificate Singapore

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to Fire Certificate renewal singapore:

Keep Your Fire Safety Systems in Top Working Condition

Ensure all fire protection equipment — like fire alarms, sprinklers, hose reels, and emergency lighting — is inspected and serviced in good order regularly. These have to be up to Fire Code standards.

Employ a Qualified Professional

Your systems need to be certified by a Professional Engineer (PE) or Qualified Person (QP), who has to sign for their performance. This needs to be approved for your renewal request.

Prepare with the Necessary Documents

Gather your fire safety maintenance records, inspection reports, and system test certificates. SCDF requires detailed documents to approve the renewal.

Apply to SCDF

Fill out your Fire Certificate renewal Singapore application, along with all supporting documents and PE or QP certificates, via the SCDF e-Services portal.

Inspection (If Applicable)

SCDF can make a site visit to verify your systems are online and in code compliance. Double-check everything works before submitting.

Collect Your Renewed Certificate

Your renewed fire certificate in Singapore is awarded once SCDF has certified your document and/or inspection, and will last for one year.

Common Errors to Steer Clear of

Most businesses make unnecessary errors in renewing Fire Certificate Singapore. The following are most prevalent:

Missing Renewal Deadline: Delay can attract non-compliance charges or a temporary closure of your premises.

Incomplete Maintenance Records: Always keep records of inspections, servicing, and repairs.

Old Systems: If your systems were not upgraded to meet the current Fire Code, renewal will be denied.

Having experts like Drako Fire on board can help you steer clear of such pitfalls.

How Drako Fire Can Assist

Drako Fire is one of Singapore's foremost fire safety service providers and is well-known for helping businesses handle all the complexities of Fire Certificate renewal Singapore. They provide their experts for:

Regular fire system inspection and maintenance

Expert inspection and certification support

SCDF submission and follow-up service

Personalized consulting for constant compliances

With you can count on your Singapore fire certificate renewal to be done hassle-free and on time.

Final Thoughts

The Singapore Fire Certificate renewal procedure may seem to be a mundane administrative process but it plays a very significant function in protecting lives of individuals, buildings, and economic activities. Keeping your fire protection equipment up to mark, in working condition, and well-documented cannot go unnoticed by any property manager or owner.

[onrecordpakistan]

CNIC News: Latest Updates and Impacts on Pakistani Citizens

In recent months, CNIC news has become a topic of growing relevance across Pakistan. The Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) is a fundamental document for every Pakistani citizen, serving as proof of identity for voting, banking, SIM registration, and more. Any changes in its issuance or policies directly affect millions of people. With technological advancements and regulatory updates, staying informed about CNIC developments has never been more essential. This article will explore the latest news surrounding CNICs and what it means for everyday citizens.

Evolution of the CNIC System in Pakistan

The CNIC system has evolved significantly over the years. Originally launched as a manual identity card system, it transformed into a digital format through NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) in the early 2000s. This digitization helped reduce fraud and improve transparency. NADRA has continued upgrading the card’s features, including biometric verification, smart chips, and security codes. These improvements aim to ensure authenticity and streamline governmental and financial services across the country.

Recent News and Policy Announcements

One of the most discussed topics in recent times involves new regulations introduced by NADRA to combat identity fraud. CNIC news has highlighted those authorities have begun a more rigorous verification process, requiring citizens to update their biometric information. Additionally, CNICs with outdated family data or mismatched addresses are being flagged for re-verification. NADRA has also introduced mobile units in remote areas, allowing people without easy access to service centers to update or register their CNICs conveniently. These policy shifts show the government’s focus on data accuracy and national security.

The Link Between CNICs and Government Welfare Programs

CNICs are now deeply integrated into Pakistan’s welfare infrastructure. Programs like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and Ehsaas rely heavily on CNIC data to distribute funds to deserving families. Any error or invalidation in a person’s CNIC can disqualify them from these benefits. Therefore, recent improvements in the verification process are critical to ensuring that aid reaches the right people. It also prevents double-dipping or fraud, ensuring fairness and proper resource allocation.

CNICs and Financial Inclusion

Another crucial aspect of CNICs is their role in financial access. Opening a bank account, getting a mobile wallet, or applying for a loan in Pakistan all require a valid CNIC. Financial institutions are now linked directly with NADRA databases to confirm identity in real time. This system helps reduce money laundering and ensures that only verified individuals participate in formal economic activities. In turn, it builds trust between citizens and financial service providers, enabling broader economic growth.

Digital Transformation and Smart CNICs

A key focus in current developments is the digitization of identity systems through the Smart CNIC. CNIC news reports that these cards come equipped with embedded chips that store biometric and personal data, providing enhanced security. Citizens can use Smart CNICs for services like e-passports, online tax filing, and automated teller machines (ATMs). NADRA has started a national awareness campaign urging people to convert their old CNICs into Smart CNICs. While this transformation is gradual, it marks a significant step toward a digital governance ecosystem.

Challenges in the CNIC Registration Process

Despite these advancements, several challenges persist. Many people in rural or remote regions still face difficulties accessing NADRA service centers. Others, especially women and minority groups, encounter bureaucratic hurdles when registering for or updating their CNICs. Some citizens lack required documents, leading to delays or outright rejections. While mobile registration vans have helped mitigate some of these issues, more widespread efforts are needed to ensure equal access to identity documentation.

CNICs and National Security Measures

CNICs also play a pivotal role in national security. Law enforcement agencies use the CNIC system to track criminal records, monitor illegal activity, and prevent terrorism. In recent years, NADRA has partnered with other government institutions to develop a centralized database linking CNICs with tax records, travel histories, and property ownership. This integration helps the state ensure transparency and curtail illegal practices such as tax evasion or unregistered migration. These developments reflect the growing influence of digital identity in governance.

Public Awareness and the Role of Media

Raising awareness about CNIC-related updates is crucial. Traditional and digital media platforms have played a key role in sharing the latest CNICwith the public. Campaigns on television, radio, and social media inform citizens about deadlines, new policies, and service availability. Public feedback through these channels has also prompted NADRA to improve its services, address complaints, and enhance transparency. Continued engagement between institutions and the public is necessary for efficient governance and citizen satisfaction.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the topic of national identity is more than just administrative updates it touches every facet of life in Pakistan, from security and welfare to finance and identity. CNIC news increasingly highlights the recent focus on digitization, fraud prevention, and inclusivity, marking a positive direction for national identity management. However, for these changes to have a meaningful impact, the government must ensure accessibility, transparency, and timely communication. As Pakistan progresses toward a more digital future, the CNIC will remain at the heart of every citizen's interaction with the state.