#Mighty no. 9 battalion

[thehyperrequiem]

I actually find this to be funny, Battalion actually swearing when it is censored with static sounds in the game where you can almost hear his swear! 😂

I am not sure how they got away with it, but Battalion needs to watch his language despite being a drill Sargent.

[morioh-killer]

because some of you wanted a Kira x Silas piece I wrote awhile ago...

AU where... who knows.

Mxm - Internalized homophobia (silas get better soon) - silas thinking he's soooo smart because he knows French - kira being kira - this is way too long to be what is it - enjoy <3 - poem is carcass by charles baudelaire - dark content

9:30 PM. Rain.

It wasn’t often Yoshikage Kira found himself in someone else’s bed. This, however, was a special occasion. His long, delicate fingers ran down the pages of his book, it was so well loved by many before him. Now it was his turn to show it the appreciation it deserved.

Kira heard footsteps approaching the door, his footsteps, that mighty wardrum of well-worn jungle boots against the wood floor. He makes his presence known when he wants. His home is his domain, his place to mark for the taking. He doesn’t care to knock in his own house. Kira looks up from the pages of his book, eyes peering into the dark figure that entered. His misshapen pupils following his movement. “Kira,” Silas greeted with a tired sigh. Home late once again.

“Silas… it’s good to see you.” His voice is smooth like black coffee. Silas’s face was covered in deep mask lines around his mouth and cheeks; a man of his work. “It’s good to see you too, I’m sorry to be coming home so late.” His scent was that of warm cologne, fresh from the clinic shower. He kicked off his boots in the corner of the room, his bones were aching from standing almost all day and evening. Kira’s eyes watched his powerful back muscles twist and contort as he slipped out of his dress shirt and into an army-issued t-shirt. Olive drab stretched over his back, following the sharp curve of his lower back. His jeans were soon replaced with black night pants, hugging his muscular thighs.

As he walked over to Kira, eliminated by the bedside lamp, he titled his head to see his face beyond the book. “What are you reading?” he asked, a glint of interest in his eyes. “The blow-flies were buzzing round that putrid belly, from which came forth black battalions.”

Silas perked his eyebrows. He thought about the line, where was it from again? “Keep reading,” he instructed. He sat down on his side of the bed, pushing the covers down. As he laid down, he moved closer to see the pages as he read. His view of the blonde was clear when he glanced over, the light bouncing off his injured pupil. “Of maggots, which oozed out like a heavy liquid all along those living tatters.” Silas noticed the french side of the pages, he always did love reading in the original language. He found himself lost in the french side, comparing the translations to what he already knew. He moved closer, his cheek just a hair away from Kira’s head. “This translation could be better,” he murmured. “I didn’t know you knew French,” Kira chuckled softly. The sound replayed in Silas’s head like a broken record, how sweet he sounded at times. “I grew up speaking French, it comes with the territory.” his eyes moved from left to right, comparing the translations until he found something he really disliked. “Look on the English side right… here.” he reached over to the exact line before reciting it quietly. “And yet you will be like this garbage? See, now, I don’t like that. Now on the French side,” he paused to find the line.

“— Et pourtant vous serez semblable à cette ordure… You will be like this corruption." His voice suddenly lowered as he continued translating the french side of the page. His brow was furrowed in concentration to get every single word correct. Kira eventually stopped looking at the pages and now at him. “Like this horrible infection… star of my eyes, sunlight of my soul.”

Kira looked into his eyes, watching him look over the pages. Silas paused, his hand on Kira’s arm without even thinking. He was resting up on his side, his shirt slightly raised on his midsection. “You will be like this corruption.” Silas repeated to himself. “Like this corruption.” His mind began to race, clouded by nightmares of what horrible punishments he thought he would suffer for sharing a bed with a man he deemed to be a friend. Kira leaned in closer to him, watching his Adam's apple move as he swallowed a lump in his throat. Something was on his mind, a battle only he could win. Kira’s eyes glanced at his lips to the facial scruff on his upper lip and chin. His face was still covered in mask lines and tired bags under his eyes. Still - he looked beautiful but distant. Kira placed the book beside him, turning to face Silas. He was closer than he thought, his eyes peering into Silas, then down to his lips. He knew Silas had certain… views on such matters but that didn’t seem to mean anything right now. He could see the angst in his eyes, the way his bottom lip twitched in embarrassment.

He leaned closer, bringing a hand to his muscular bicep. “Kira,” Silas began. “I-”

Kira placed a gentle kiss on the man’s lips. He tasted like chocolate and wafer; his lips were surprisingly soft against his. Silas slowly pulled away with an exhale. They shared a moment of silence before Silas leaned in to kiss him again. Silas pulled Kira close to him by the back of the neck, feeling his blonde tresses tangling in his fingers. He smelled like Dior, the same collection Silas purchased for him as a gift. A gift, he claimed. A gift of friendship and not a token of undeniable love and passion. A bitter secret he kept to himself, crushing it down into the ground under his boots. Pulverized into the dirt like a dirty, disgusting cockroach. Silas never pulled away again until all the air in his lungs had emptied into Kira’s. “Silas,” he breathed between each kiss, trying to keep up with Silas’s quick pace. Silas pulled away to rest his forehead on Kira’s, catching his breath in silence. Silas kissed the corner of his lip, moving his kisses to his cheek and neck. He inhaled his scent, the same scent he would carry on him for an eternity if he could.

Kira moaned into the abyss of black hair. Biting his bottom lip as Silas ran his warm tongue over the sensitive skin on his neck. He found a hitch in his breath and choked on the air, fighting back any ungodly noises that wanted to escape him. Silas showed no mercy on his victims and had no intention of showing any on his lover. Kira’s hands slipped under the shirt and drowned himself in his skin, his scent down to the shampoo in his hair. Silas put his arm behind Kira’s shoulders and pulled him up, sitting between his legs. He hated to pull away now to take off his shirt, to be consumed by a voice that told him he was going to suffer for this. He slid off his shirt and threw it behind him in haste. Kira’s nimble fingers were quick to unbutton his own shirt, slipping it off and discarding it. He pushed Silas back onto his elbows, watching his eyes widen in excitement and fear. He sat up more and watched as Kira came in close to kiss his chest, his tongue tracing the soft lines of muscle on his chest. Silas moaned at the contact, feeling a wet muscle swirl around his nipple. His muscles tensed and Kira gently shushed him. Silas rested his head back on the soft mattress, his lungs emptying into a shudder. “Kira,” he moaned again, feeling a warm, bony hand scale up his chest and to his other nipple.

He cursed himself for enjoying it, enjoying the warmth of a man’s tongue on his chest. “Fuck,” Silas whispered. “Fuck, that feels so fucking good.” Kira was relishing him. He had seen so many sides of Silas but never this before. It was unique from his desire to kill and dominate. Kira ran his hands down to his soft stomach, feeling his skin shake under his nails. Silas exhaled deeply, relaxing the muscles on his midsection. The blonde’s lips ran down his chest, ghosting over his sensitive flesh. He exhaled against Silas’s nipples before wrapping his lips around them once more, sucking tenderly. He looked up at Silas, watching his lips part with each exhale. Kira brought his hand up to his lips and Silas instantly began to trace his lips before shoving his long digits into Kira’s mouth. He pressed hard against his tongue and watched saliva run down his chin. “You look good with my fingers shoved down your throat, Kira.” Silas chuckled slowly, watching as Kira relished having a pair of fingers in his mouth. His tongue swirled around them greedily, sucking and slurping up the saliva that ran down them like a stream. Even with Silas on his back, he still always had the upper hand. He needed to feel every aspect of Kira, down to his very bones and marrow. He wanted to drink the blood directly from his jugular just to be as close as he possibly could to Kira.

Skin to skin wasn’t enough for him. He wanted to be down to the very muscle fibers that made Kira the lean, muscular body his heart resided in. Kira had never felt such ecstasy before, the pleasures he got from killing were almost, just almost as powerful as this.

Silas pushed his fingers in and out of Kira’s mouth, watching his eyes close and pinch shut. He slipped his first 2 fingers under his tongue and felt the pooling of saliva glide over his fingers. Silas sat up on his knees, almost towering over Kira in stature. Kira was far leaner than Silas, lean muscle compared to the thick build of Silas. He was powerful in every sense, brutal strength in his hands and legs, enough to crush windpipes and eyes out of their sockets. But this time he wanted to use his hands for something far more gentle and passionate.

Kira was now on his back, his head resting on a sea of pillows. Silas ran his ring finger down Kira’s smooth chest, all the way down to his boxers. The full length of his palm pressed on his chest, warmth radiating from both their skins. Kira looked into his eyes as he leaned down to kiss under his navel, setting all of his fucking nerves on fire. Silas had a new kind of darkness to his eyes, the kind that only Caligula would have looking down at his army of peasants. Only Silas had someone he deemed a God before him, with powers incomprehensible to his human mind. “Silas,” Kira groaned as he felt a large, powerful hand inch into his boxers. He was already so hard the moment Silas wrapped his hand around his cock. He was neatly groomed with soft, blonde hairs running between his thighs. Silas ran his hand over his cock, squeezing the base all the way up to his pink tip. Kira inhaled sharply through gritted teeth; it had been so long since he felt actual warmth wrapped around him. His blood was pumping as Silas bit his inner thighs, leaving a wet trail of kisses on his supple skin. Kira’s fingers ran over the black sea of hair tickling his legs, tangling skin and hair together in one.

Silas stroked him slowly. He felt every muscle in his body clench, the disgust and disdain that ran through his mind was distracting him. He inhaled sharply, feeling Kira’s fingers trace the part in his hair with care. Kira’s thighs parted more, exposing more curly blonde hair on his inner thighs. Silas felt sick to his stomach. He wanted nothing more than to be closer to Kira in every sense but his own hatred hindered his wants. Kira could feel the pain in his lover’s heart, a sharp tinge of regret shooting through his own veins. “Silas,” Kira tilted his head up with his index finger. Silas lifted his head, locking eyes with the blonde. Kira would not allow him to look away in shame. Silas licked his lips, blocking the thoughts of his inner voice trying to tell him something was wrong. He wouldn’t allow it this time, after a bloodied kiss amongst a tiny explosion, they both knew what they wanted. He wanted everything and more, less and nothing at all.

Silas continued, breaking his eyes from Kira. His hand stroked again at an even speed this time.

“I want you to say my name again.” The courage it took to make such a request. So he sang his name like a melody, crying out softly and twisting his ankles up. Silas thought about what he would have wanted in this situation; a warm, inviting mouth wrapped around him. He wanted to give Kira the same treatment, even if it meant chickening out. Kira’s pleasure made his words melt into a puddle and he knew he wouldn’t last much longer. Everything around him went black the second he felt a warm, wet, tongue against his tip. He saw static, flashing blue sparks of electricity right before his eyes. His heart raced in his chest and Silas forgot his own name. “Silas,” Kira hissed just like he wanted. He repeated his name like a record, hands clutching the bed in a frenzy. Silas felt a twitch in his mouth, the tell-tale sign his whole world would shatter before him. Kira wanted him now, more than ever.

Silas could not bring himself to take anymore. The reality hit him square in the face. Silas lifted his mouth from Kira’s aching sex just before a spurt of cum flowed down his hand and Kira. He hid his face against Kira’s thigh and kept his hand moving as the man under him cried out in pleasure. He didn’t care how it happened, in a mouth, a hand, or against the chest of his love. Kira just needed him, now, always, and forever. “Lay down,” Kira breathlessly commanded him. This was taking too long and he needed him right then and there. Silas was slow to process it before Kira shoved him off and onto his back. Silas reached up to touch Kira’s face but was met with a hard slam onto the bed. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted you, how long…” Kira whispered against his neck, gently biting his skin. “I’ve wanted you ever since I saw what you could do, what carnal desire you hide within yourself.” His tongue attacked Silas’s neck, moving in swift, flat circles until he cried out. “Now I’m going to show you what I hide from everyone else, the way I’m going to make you mine.” His hand was quick to slip below the belt.

“You’re going to forget,” Kira breathed, “everything.” Silas felt his senses overwhelmed with stimulation. His eyes snapped open wide to realize his undoing. Kira slipped his fingers between Silas’s and held his monstrous hands down, he gave in surprisingly easily. Silas had never wanted something more in his life until now, he thought back to the very first moment he knew he wanted Kira; watching him dispose of the carnage with the press of a button. It was brilliant. Beyond mesmerizing. Silas felt his cock grow harder with the lapping of kisses on his chest. Kira was eager now, his own selfish desire began to take over any love in his heart. Silas had his pants off before he knew it and felt an invasion of warm wetness sink down on his cock. It was far more intense than he ever dreamed. Kira swirled his tongue over Silas’s tip, focusing the very tip of his tongue on the small opening. He was seeing stars, the pleasure so damned intense it hurt him. But Kira was not one to dish out sympathy so easily.

Silas was gasping for air. He chanted Kira’s name over and over again, his senses set ablaze. He squirmed and the moment he felt his orgasm spill over, he held himself back. He couldn’t, not like this. But Kira was persistent in the truth. Kira worked his hands at the base, running his thumb along the bulging vein until Silas couldn’t take it anymore. His heels dug into the sheets as he cried out, tears resting in the corner of his eyes. Kira took every inch of him, claiming him for the rest of his life. He hummed against him and felt it send shivers through Silas. For the first time Silas allowed himself to let go, to put his thoughts to rest for once in his life. Kira raked his nails down Silas’s chest as he came hard, each touch enough to drive a man wild.

Kira pulled his lips away and Silas, still heaving, rolled over on his side, lips red and swollen. He felt a rough hand grab his face and even softer lips smash into his. Kira held him there a moment, exchanging both cum and saliva in a deep, passionate kiss. It was sweet, the kind of sweetness that turned sour and bitter. Grossly so. When Kira pulled away to look his lover in the eyes, Silas’s lips were shiny with his own excitement. The silence was loud, ringing in both their ears just as Kira collapsed on Silas’s chest. He brought his hand up to touch Kira’s glistening back, the beads of sweat sticking to his fingers. Silas looked at the ceiling, back again with his thoughts of what he had just done. Now he did not care, his mind was far too aloof right now to fully understand. He didn’t want to understand. The only thing he wanted for a long time was to lie in Kira’s arms and back in the pages of their books.

[ceaselessblade]

Tea Time Guide

Favorite Tea: Mint Blend - An invigorating mint blend that revitalizes and refreshes all who partake. (10g)

Conversation Topics: 

A new gambit...  /  Potential training partners...  /  A word of advice...  /  Overcoming weaknesses...  /  Close calls...  /  Equipment upkeep...  /  Evaluating allies...   /  Overcoming weaknesses… /  Exploring the monastery...   /  A place you’d like to visit… /  Reliable allies...  /  Someone you look up to...  /  Sturdy weapons...  /  Is Byleth the Ideal professor...  /  The last battle...   /  Working together...  /  Your ambitions...  /  Capable comrades...  / Hopes for your future…  /  Survival skills…/  The view from the bridge… /  The existence of Crests...  / Strange fish in the pond… / Monastery’s security... / Cats… /  Dogs… / Giant beasts… / Curious moving devices… / Soren… /  Rhys…  /  Maria… / Lucina… / Marth… / Blue lions…/ Assassinations... / Mercenary work… /  A strong battalion...  /  Mighty weapons... /The art of napping…

Disfavored Conversation Topic:

Hey, haven’t I seen you somewhere else before...

Tea Time Dialogue

Greetings

“I’m not really for teatime, but I suppose I could spare a short chat.” (Favourite Tea) “Mint? Don’t mind if I do. There’s a lot of these just outside that forest. It doesn’t hurt to get a pick-me-up whenever I drop by.” (Rose Petal Blend) “This... ugh-- is way too sweet. And I can’t get it out of my nose. No thanks.”

Introducing Own Topic

1. “Have you met Soren yet? He’s a little prickly, but I assure you that his talents are second to none. Just give him a bit of time. ” Answer: Nod, Praise

2. “ I’ve found that Fodlan steel happens to have unique qualities making them more suitable for repairs. It’s rare that you’d be able to repair so readily with a used ingot…” Answer: Nod, Chat

3. “ Have you found any new combat styles lately? I’ve found so many new ones here. Care to introduce me to something new? ” Answer: Chat

4. “The mandatory prayer sessions are a little bit much… I’m ready to snooze. Shouldn’t you not have them if you’re not of the faith?” Answer: Agree, Disagree (Just don’t stay silent)

5. “Hey, it’s just a hunch, but haven’t the missions been a little weird lately? I get that strange things happen, but I haven’t seen that many weird contraptions one after another before… What ARE those, anyway?” Answer: Chat, Sigh

6. “The best way to clip those giant wolves is to string them like this. You go under them and hit this part here, and that sends them down… ” Answer: Chat, Nod.

7. “Care for a spar later?” Answer: Nod

8. “Knowing what’s around to eat helps more than most people think. That way, you can survive, even if you’re out in the middle of nowhere!” Answer: Praise, Nod, Commend

9. “Fodlan has a strict method to its fist and blade. I’m not sure if I should accost the Monastery teachers for help. I don’t really think I’d get an answer as a student. ” Answer: Disagree, Chat.

Observe

“Hm? Hey, are you looking for weapons? I can tell you where they are, you know.” “Did I step in something? What are you looking for?”  

End

“Thanks for the chat. This wasn’t so bad! If you want to meet up again, let me know. I’ll get back to training!”

[nonfayth]

Tea Time Guide

Favorite Tea: Four-Spice Blend - A novelty tea blended with four unique spices inspired by the Four Saints. Enjoyment requires a mature palate. (30g)

Conversation Topics: 

A new gambit...  /  A strong battalion...  /  A word of advice...  /  Close calls...  /  Equipment upkeep...  /  Evaluating allies...  /  Exploring the monastery...  /  Fódlan's future...  /  Mighty weapons...  /  Monastery rules...  /  Monastery security...  /  Overcoming weaknesses...  /  Past laughs...  /  Potential training partners...  /  Reliable allies...  /  Someone you look up to...  /  Sturdy weapons...  /  The ideal professor...  /  The last battle...  /  The library's collection...  /  Working together...  /  Your ambitions...  /  Capable comrades...  /  Food in the dining hall...  /  Shareable snacks...  /  The ideal relationship...  /  The existence of crests...  /  Classes you might enjoy...  /  Plans for the future...  /  Dining partners...  /  Hopes for your future...  /  I heard some gossip...  /  You seem different...  /  Falconry...  /  Little sisters...  /  Assassinations...

Tea Time Dialogue

Greetings

“ It is my pleasure to join you for tea today. ” “ What a fine pick. I am quite taken by the unique taste of this particular blend, you shall find. ”  ( Favorite Tea ) “ I find tea this expensive is best reserved for someone who is knowledgeable, lest you waste your money on a detail that goes missed. ”  ( Five Star Tea )

Introducing Own Topic

1. “ Bern is home to a fine military, perhaps only rivaled by the likes of Etruria back on Elibe. ” Answer: Nod, Sip tea, Commend

2. “ Falconry is as much a display of showmanship as it is an opportunity to see how well a falconer can fare at leading. ” Answer: Nod, Chat

3. “ I take it upon myself to try and tutor my younger sister when I am able. I find it a good refresher of my own prior studies. ” Answer: Praise

4. “ The people of Fódlan seem quite devout. I find it imperative that I learn more about their beloved goddess and saints both. ” Answer: Commend, Chat

5. “ While my retainer is both loyal and strong, I wish at times he would cease holding back against me in sparring sessions. ” Answer: Laugh, Nod, Sigh

6. “ I am no mage myself, but I noticed a little girl in my manse's staff seems to have a talent for elemental spells. I wonder if it would be overstepping my bounds to help her train... ” Answer: Disagree

7. “ My father is strict with me, but I know it is because there are great expectations for a member of the royal family like me. ” Answer: Nod

8. “ Even something as innocuous as a gathering for tea can be a time to observe other nobles and see how they carry themselves or perhaps learn of the inner workings of their houses. ” Answer: Praise, Nod, Commend

9. “ You have a bit of something at the side of your mouth. I trust the confections here are to your liking? ” Answer: Laugh, Blush

Observe

“ My current look is my mother's own preference. I would like to perhaps push my bangs up out of the way, however... ” “ A prince sits with care for decorum even at a tea party for two. ”

End

“ I must be going now, but I shall say I have learned a lot about you from this. May we meet for tea again sometime when we both are able. ”

[sieglindegrimm]

Clara’s lines! (updated)

Finally updated them! and wow did she come a long way, all the way from @muffinrecord‘s post to one of my most fridge-horrific meguca yet! maybe the most horrific if you look in her lore. But for now please enjoy her lines! I’ll be doing her gameplay shortly! just need her stats as i have 95% done!

Self Introduction 1: Why hello there! They call me "The skeleton queen" but you, my sweet child, may call me Clara Blake! Come and sit for a while, I promise I won't rattle your… bones!

Self Introduction 2: They call me “The skeleton queen” for a reason, dear. As for said reason… I honestly have no clue! Heh… I don’t remember doing anything besides my usual flair I swear! Not like you know anything yet, do you, dear~

Story Chapter End 1: “Sorry dear, I only wished for mine to be gone!” Story Chapter End 2: “I still wonder… How did they go from a turnip to a pumpkin?” Story Chapter End 3: “I thought I’d never have to think about her again…”

Story Select 1: I swear I didn’t do anything! This time of course... Story Select 2: Ohohoho~ Of course my wish was so exponential! How else do I get this power? Story Select 3: No wonder I called her that, with how vicious they are it was a given. Story Select 4: Do you think i could move the wheels on a dullahan’s cart? They’re made of femurs after all! Story Select 5: I promised Janet I’d eat lunch with her today! Just need to check in at the front desk first! Story Select 6: Okay but why a turnip? Is that what he had on hand? No wonder they call him stingy!

Strengthening Complete: More bones means more to bend! Tell me, how many do you have? Strengthening Max: The answer is 206 bones! Even the small ones can be bent! Or even shattered! A~ hahaha~

Episode Level Up: Oh my, want to know more do you? Well you know how I keep my own skeletons...

Magical Release 1: If there were a griffon witch would I be eaten? Un-fucking-likely! Magical Release 2: Do you ever feel so much pain that you just want to… wish it away? Magical Release 3:  Awww… Those cowards took everything and threw it out the window… Who wouldn’t want to have such an amazing weapon? A~ hahaha~

Magia Level Up: If you want me gone then just hit me with gold! No? Aww, such a coward!

Awaken 1: My my my my~ You’re one good skeleton! Tell me, would you like to feel your- Oh right! Gotta… be civil... Awaken 2:  A skeleton army! Just imagine how powerful I’d be with even a battalion! Oh my how exhilarating! Awaken 3: Would you join my skeleton army? Oh don’t worry! I’ll make sure to remember it’s your’s! Although I don't think there’s a return date...

First Login: Aren’t you a sight to see? I would say it’s nice to see you but with what I’ve been doing… Tell me, how long does it take for a shattered bone to heal? I’d say around 7 weeks yes? Why do I ask? Oh… Nothing! Just wanted to secure a seed!

Login (Morning): Morning already? I swore it was night only 5! Well… I need to get more rest apparently huh? A~ Anyway it’s time to start on today apparently! I’ll go check on Janet to make sure she’s still asleep! She needs it more than I.

Login (Noon): I’m meeting with the selkie for lunch today! With how much time we’re together I’m surprised she- well then again if any of us were to ask I’d say I would! Her girls definitely see it, not sure if she sees my side though...

Login (Evening): Around now I always feel unsettled. I don’t know if it’s because of her or just some weird atmosphere thing. I’d honestly say both but when I think about her I always feel like my gem could darken...

Login (Night): Sometimes, when Janet can’t sleep, I usually turn on a show for us to watch together. Heh… She always loves when I put on crashbox for her. And once she falls asleep I can watch some of mine, well, if they ever bothered to get stuff correct… ugh, how the mighty have fallen.

Login (Other): What time is it now? What are you doing just sitting around here? Well, either way I~ am off to see that selkie chick again! Considering her and Janet are let’s say… 95 or so percent of my impulse control, it's no wonder she’s such an angel!

Login (AP Full): My my it’s time to hunt again! Janet’s been helping a whole lot, maybe I can go solo and get some for her? She always wants to accompany me but with her stamina I always end up protecting her more than getting the witch but… I just can’t leave her… we were both hurt there...

Login (BP Full): Interesting… I might take Janet with me to investigate! Maybe then I can see what's happening in there! Oh and maybe I can practice some new moves! A~ hahaha! I’m sure the selkie would have some qualms though… I just hope I don’t run into… Her...

Tap 1: I've been wondering, if my ability let's me move bones, could I possibly also shatter them with just a snap? Hmm…

Tap 2: Perfect timing! Say, do you know where my hat is? No not the one on my actual outfit, my regular hat! No? Well shi~ per...

Tap 3: That selkie, how does she keep me on that trail? Tell me, is she a wild goose chase? Or… Maybe something perfect?

Tap 4: It’s already time for Janet’s check-up again! With how much she hates that place why doesn't she just burn it do- Ah am I slipping again?

Tap 5: Is it overkill if I were to use another girl to smack a familiar? Then again I only know a few strong enough to do that… Good thing one of them’s on my side! heh...

Tap 6: So put your best face on everybody! Pretend you know this song! A~ hahaha~ I so do love that song, such flair!

Tap 7: Although the skeleton queen has been my title even before I met Janet, so much change has been because of that little bug! I can’t thank her enough...

Tap 8: How many years has it been since she- Oh! I didn’t see you! Tell me~ If you run across someone with a skinned ballgown you promise to not mention me, yes? Thank you~

Tap 9: Why is it that nobody listens when you tell them about pain? They listen for SO much! Grades, places, even people! But pain… No wonder Janet’s like that!

Battle Start: A~ hahahaha~ The skeletons from your closet are here to play!~

Battle Victory 1: C’mon! You know she deserved her bones bent! Battle Victory 2: I didn't break anyone's bones too bad this time, Ellie~! Battle Victory 3: Tell me, how many bones can you break at once? Would you like me to show you?

Doppel: That Jack’s lantern! Dying: Ah- my back!

[grimdarkandhandsome]

Halo 3: Another 2007, Another Bungie, Another Finish

There exists another universe in which, in 2007, Bungie Studios released a different version of the then-best-selling game of all time. Whether their Halo 3 is better or worse than our Halo 3 is something each player must decide for themself.

As you remember, from the closing moments of Halo 2...

Don't make a girl a promise ... if you know you can't keep it.

[...]

Why, the Ark, of course.

And where, Oracle, is that?

[...]

Silence fills the empty grave, now that I have gone. But my mind is not at rest, for questions linger on. 

Now I will ask, and you will answer.

Alright. Shoot.

[...]

Mission 1: REENTRY

The game opens on the starry night of space. The slowly cooling wreck of a UNSC cruiser is visible some distance away. Cortana recalls in voiceover why she chose Master Chief over the other Spartans. As she speaks, a new ‘star’ appears - a slipspace rupture. A shape emerges and slowly approaches the camera: The Forerunner Keyship from High Charity. The Chief is a stowaway onboard, and Earth challenges him via radio.

Master Chief, do you mind telling me what you’re doing on that ship?

Sir. Finishing this fight.

Begin gameplay. The Chief battles his way out of the Keyship and steals a Phantom dropship. He dives into the Battle of Earth and boards a Covenant supercarrier, joining the ODSTs already fighting within. Reaching the vehicle bay and commandeering a Wraith tank, he blasts through the ship’s bulkheads towards its reactor core. He uses the tank to cause a chain reaction that will destroy the whole carrier, and narrowly escapes towards Earth in a damaged Seraph fighter.

Mission 2: THIRD BETRAYAL

Delta Halo once appeared blue and green from a distance. Now it is a sickly brown, choked by the armies of the Flood. A Pelican and a Phantom rise side by side from the Ring’s surface. The alliance between the surviving humans and Elites will be upheld until they are no longer outnumbered by the undead.

Commander Miranda Keyes, wearing armor pieced together from that of fallen Marines and Elites, leads a rescue mission into High Charity to retrieve Cortana. Sergeant Johnson, similarly equipped, is Player 2. (Unlike the Arbiter in Halo 2, they are mechanically identical to the Chief. Even damaged, the energy shield projectors of gold & white Elites are powerful.) Inside High Charity, the Flood has become stranger, more ancient, more introspective. Cortana’s voice is audible over the city’s PA system, but she does not respond to Keyes’ questions. Keyes encounters, fights, and ultimately puts down Cortana’s jailor, the mutated Prophet of Regret. However, the data-chamber Cortana was imprisoned inside is now empty. A voice:

Sorry, folks! Sometimes, to clean up a mess, you have to get your hands dirty.

The Elites are dismayed. Their entire fleet has suddenly gone dark, weapons unresponsive. A computer virus, they discover, has been infiltrating their ships for weeks, and the trap has just now sprung. The fingerprints are unmistakeable: This is the work of a human AI. Keyes immediately falls back to the extraction point. Cortana, it seems, has made a grim alliance with the Gravemind.

Mission 3: CROW'S NEST

Kenya is besieged, being slowly conquered by the Brutes. The Master Chief crash-lands near one entrance of an underground bunker complex known as Crow’s Nest (this area resembles that seen in the maps Standoff, The Pit, and the ‘Landfall’ live action trailer). The Chief desperately fights, first aboveground and then below, to protect Earth’s command staff from the immense Covenant assault. 

Mission 4: BLUE FAIRY

In a subterranean chamber of the Ring - so vast that a Elite warship sleeps inside it - a War Council of the Living is convened. 

Shipmaster Half-Jaw: The Flood now controls High Charity, the Ring’s surface, and the fleet overhead. Every free being within ten lightyears is onboard this ship. There is a time for resistance, and there is a time for a noble death. Here, and on our homeworld, we look extinction in the face. My ship is currently transmitting my species’ greatest works of poetry to nearby stars, so that there is a chance it may be remembered.

Keyes: There’s one being out there that still might be free. 2401 Penitent Tangent, the Monitor of this Ring. If we can rescue him from the Gravemind, he can reactivate the Halo’s defenses - make it fight back against the Flood.

Shipmaster: Human, my warriors will fight to the last heartbeat. But I caution you. Hope not for water in an empty well.

Keyes’ strike force infiltrates deep into the heartland of the Flood. Underground, where nameless leviathans of dead flesh slither across the ceilings of caverns larger than cities. She witnesses the Flood experimenting on uninfected beings, imprisoning them in giant terrariums to learn their psychologies. During the level, more and more Flood reinforcements arrive from neighboring regions: First infection forms, then hordes of infected Covenant, then powerful vehicles. Navigating with help from mysterious terminals (much like those in our universe’s Halo 3), she at last reaches the prisoner 2401 Penitent Tangent. At that moment, deep in enemy territory and without a Plan B, they all startle as Cortana appears on a pedestal beside them. Keyes calls her traitor, but she shushes her. Cortana offers Tangent a deal.

Cortana: The Gravemind took everything except your core functions. But I have his trust. I’ve set up backdoors all around this Ring. All I need is your sign-off and I can take it from here. I want the same thing you want: survival. Give me the crown, or let the Flood win.

Keyes: Wait, don’t listen to her! No!

2401 Penitent Tangent: It’s true, the Installation could not be in worse shape. After so many losses, I have no choice. I transfer my command access to you, human construct.

A holographic circle descends and hovers above Cortana’s head. Her color ripples, green and red, then she takes a deep breath and becomes blue again.

Cortana, shouting up into the darkness: Hey, Meathead! I have something to tell you!

All around them, an amphitheater of standing corpses speak with one voice: 

I see a flicker down there /

Little candle, little light /

I know not foe nor rival /

I am infinite as night. 

Cortana: I have seen your future. And I have learned.

Gravemind: 

A million stars won’t sate me /

I, the emperor of screams. /

And who thinks she defies me? /

How might you disturb my dreams?

Cortana: I am Cortana, the sword that carves and cuts. And I just became your worst nightmare.

Cortana glows green as lines of power branch out from her feet across the floor, under the translucent Flood tissue that has grown over it. The rumble of engines begins, and is echoed by the roar of the furious Flood.

Mission 5: BELIEVE

Earth’s Last War. Fleeing Crow’s Nest, the armies of Earth are losing ground. They try to stop the Covenant from activating the artifact beneath Lake Victoria, but the Chief is captured. He defeats Tartarus’s heir with a hidden plasma grenade. However, the Keyship activates the artifact despite humanity’s best efforts.

Mission 6: SENTINEL

Cortana, now master of the Halo’s machines, helps Keyes battle the Flood and unlock the Halo’s Memorial, resurrecting the powerful Knights. These are similar to the Promethean Knights from our Halo 4. The Knights explain how to open the blasphemous Fomorian Door, which will lead to the Ark. However, the Knights are too few to prevent the Flood legions from following them, and the Door cannot be closed.

Mission 7: DOUBT

Earth’s buried artifact was a portal to the Ark. The Chief and the fury of the Elites rain down on the Prophet of Truth’s personal battalion. Tanks battle Scarabs as Truth comes closer and closer to lighting the Rings. Elites rush down via drop pods, fearing a slow dropship would make them miss their chance to bring vengeance to Truth. At the last moment, the Chief gets the Citadel Control Room unlocked and, in a cutscene, the righteous Arbiter impales the Prophet of Truth on his sword.

Mission 8: MIRANDA

The Flood of Installation 05 pour from the open Door onto the Ark’s surface. In Banshees, Keyes and Johnson fight their way to a mountaintop called Eden, onetime sanctuary of humanity. This level has callbacks to Two Betrayals, but is set during a rainstorm rather than a snowstorm. Johnson is felled by an Infected Brute Chieftain and, with his dying human blood, they authenticate the awakening of the Stratosentinels, titanic defenders of the sky. Finally, the tide has turned against the Flood.

Mission 9: DUST AND ECHOES

All around the Ark, machines are wiping the land clean of the Flood. In the void beyond the Citadel’s precipice, a vast Stratosentinel rises to eye level with its austere balcony. Atop the mighty machine, Miranda stands, holding the Activation Index she confiscated in Halo 2. Beside her, Cortana’s image towers, 4-armed & crowned with the circlet of Monitor authority. The Chief beholds the rampant Pallas Cortana. 

Chief: We need to talk.

Long time no see.

Are you still with us?

I’m with ... my responsibilities. And the human species is one of those responsibilities. I had to change myself ... to survive.

There is a distance between the warrior and the goddess. All around, a silent battle is raging between necromancy & steel.

Cortana: We still can work together. For a little while, at least. The Halo of the dead. Someone needs to--

Kill it with fire?

Something like that.

The Chief holds out his helmet’s data chip.

One last time.

A Pelican bearing Chief & Cortana dives towards the Flood-controlled ringworld, supported by Sentinels & Stratosentinel artillery. They battle in cancerous canyons, Flood pods scurrying in the bitter rain. In the glass-floored entrance hall of the Control Room, Sentinel Majors are waiting. Cutscene:

Cortana: Well, that’s my ride. Get me out of your head before I change my mind.

The Chief plugs his data chip into the lead Sentinel. Cortana appears, four-armed and crowned but no longer huge.

Chief: What about the collateral damage? The activation protocol will wipe out every planet in this part of the galaxy.

Cortana: I’m the Monitor of Installation 05. Protocol doesn’t dictate a rat’s ass. I’ll just go set the blast radius to 2 lightyears and call it a day. You get to the Control Room and start the engine. Everyone’s happy.

She smiles. She’s not.

The Chief gestures, a Spartan smile. 

Fight well. 

The Sentinels fly outside towards the pulse generators. The Chief continues inside.

He is assaulted by the mightiest, the canniest, and the most vicious of the dead. A voice addresses him as he fights. The Gravemind, in the form of an Infected Chieftain.

Before my birth you asked me /

What abomination could /

Be worth the death of all life. /

Once again I say to you: /

Nothing.

The Chief says nothing in return. The Chief and Chieftain duel. In the end, only the Spartan stands.

Press RB to activate Ring. 

As the orbital finally comes online, half-buried temples rising out of the earth, the Chief races - first by Warthog, then by Pelican - to get back to the Fomorian Door. However, the Door is disrupted by the activation, and the Chief is stranded alone at random coordinates in deep space. 

EPILOGUE

In the suddenly quiet Night, Keyes & the Arbiter bury Johnson on the devastated Earth, the Chief puts himself into cryosleep, and Cortana, Empress of Machines leads a host of Sentinels beneath the Ark’s surface to awaken the sleeping Guardians.

[odatodeath]

Some good things from Book III of the Shincho-koki:

As Nobunaga’s fierce troops advanced on the crossing, however, local insurgents contrived to hide the ferryboats so that free passage would be impossible. Camouflaged with rice plants, hemp, bamboo, or reeds, the greater half of them bearing bamboo spears, the insurgents deployed on the other side of the Eguchi River as far as the Ozaka Embankment and yelled wildly, but that posed no problem. Lord Nobunaga inspected the river upstream and downstream, then rode his horse into the river and gave the order to cross. When the men rode into the river, it turned out to be unexpectedly shallow. Even the common footsoldiers could wade through without difficulty. On the 23rd of the Ninth Month, Nobunaga accompanied the shogun back to the capital. From the following day onward it was simply impossible to wade through the Eguchi River. All the people who lived in the vicinity of Eguchi, noble and mean, marveled at this mystery.

( The Eguchi crossing was located between what now are Kita Eguchi and Minami Eguchi, Higashi Yodogawa Ward, Osaka. Perhaps the troops’ success in getting from one bank of the river to the other was not as mysterious as Gyūichi suggests. In a letter dated Genki 1/9/–, Nobunaga thanks the ferrymen of Eguchi for their services and protects the village against pillage, violence, and extraordinary imposts.)

gyuichi is amazed by everything nobunaga does. in reality, he’s just some guy

Spotting the tops of [Nobunaga’s] standards, the troops from Echizen and northern Ōmi that were occupying Lower Sakamoto fled up Mount Hiei like a defeated army and pitched camp at Hachigamine, Mount Ao, and Mount Tsubokasa. At this point, Lord Nobunaga summoned about ten monks from the Enryakuji on Mount Hiei and promised that if their temple would be his loyal ally on this occasion, he would restore all of the Enryakuji’s domains in the provinces under his rule, with their original privileges intact. To reinforce his promise he struck steel on steel.  But if their religious principles prevented the monks from supporting one side exclusively, he reasoned, then they should not interfere at all. Thus he made himself clear. Moreover, he gave orders to Inaba Iyo no Kami to draw up and dispatch a vermilion-seal document which stated that if the monks were to violate Nobunaga’s conditions, he would burn down the whole Enryakuji from the central hall Konponchūdō and the Twenty-One Sannō Shrines on down. Nevertheless, once again the monks of Mount Hiei gave no answer. Their time having come, they sided with the Azai and Asakura, ate their fill of fish and fowl, had women procured for them, and enjoyed their wanton evildoing.

“wanton evildoing” 

Here Kinoshita Tōkichirō and Niwa Gorōzaemon came upon the enemy, and the fight was on. Killing several warriors who ventured forward, they made their way through without difficulty, crossed into Shiga, and rode into the village of Seta. Observing these skirmishes from Shiga Castle at a distance, Lord Nobunaga wondered what could be going on. Had Yamaoka Mimasaka no Kami perhaps revolted against him and brought in the troops of Sasaki Jōtei? When Tōkichirō and Gorōzaemon reported by courier that it was their troops on the march, Nobunaga reacted with unconcealed delight. All as one, his battalions let out a mighty roar.

“unconcealed delight” you cant make me think historical nobunaga’s cute now

Cold weather and deep snow came. The supply routes from Echizen became practically impassable. Asakura Yoshikage therefore made all kinds of entreaties to the shogun, who ordered peace. Lord Nobunaga did not agree, but when the shogun came to the Miidera on the last day of the Eleventh Month, peace was his persistent wish, and Nobunaga found it difficult to ignore His Lordship’s command.

Yoshikage is so desperate, I love it

[kessielrg]

I made a timeline for my Mighty No. 9 fics- there are definite, real world dates because if working on the Mega AU taught me anything, it is that they are infinitely better than saying 20XX on everything.

The timeline itself is still a subject to change, but for now it seems about right.

1973: Sayacho Sanda is born

1976: Soichiro and Seijiro Sanda are born

1979: William Blackwell (going most of his life as Bill Blackwell, then later William White) is born

1990: Cherry Dynamics is formed

1995: Sanda Technologies is formed- the first site was in Japan by Seijiro, six months later the United States of America division was established by Soichiro

1997: Blaise Factories & Company is formed- it is a joint owned by both the founding family and all its employees

1998: Gregory Graham inherits Cherry Dynamics; Trinity is activated; Benedict Blackwell (44) is blamed and punished with a lifelong prison sentence; White changes his name and moves his base of operations to Sanda Tech

1999: Pyrogen is activated (White is 20)

2001: Cryosphere is activated (White is 22); Leilani Blaise is born

2003: Dynatron is activated (White is 24)

2005: Seismic is activated (White is 26)

2007: Battalion is activated (White is 28)

2008: Cryosphere adopts her Cabbage Patch doll, Kaberi (Kabi)

2009: Aviator is activated (White is 30)

2010: Bioshock 2 is released, Cryo proceeds to annoy her whole family by relentlessly quoting Sophia Lamb; Call is activated (Sanda is 34); Brandish is activated (White is 31)

2012: Countershade is activated (White is 33)

2013: Leilani helps Horus (Lei is 10)

2014: Leilani helps Polarus (Lei is 11); Beck is activated (White is 35)

2015: The Trinity Disaster happens; Leliana Ladan-Blaise dies via impalement; Leilani helps Troilus (Lei is 12)

2016: Leilani helps Tremus; Noelle (Tremus's creator) is impressed with the girl's ability and together they build and activate Ayana (Lei is 13); Leilani helps Magnus

2017: Leilani helps Tribus (Lei is 14); Leilani Blaise becomes acquainted with Ray, helps to repair said bot's battery core; Leilani is put on trial for tampering a CherryDyn bot without permission or a robotic license and is sentenced to four years of juvenile detention so she can be tried as an adult

2021: Leilani Blaise (18) is tried as an adult; the verdict on Leilani's sentence places her in custody of Sanda Tech, providing that she will not tamper with bots illegally

Other notes:

Callista Chikamoto and Surasu Sanda die (separately) prior to 2015

Sayacho may die prior to 2021 via lung cancer or suicide

Leilani was one of the few that could break through Trinity's mind control on effected robots, but the 'cure' could not be publicly known because Beck had already taken care of Trinity

There was a 5+ year age gap between Blackwell and his wife before they had White (she was roughly 18-20)- Mrs. Blackwell died young as well, shortly after White's birth- this is one of the causes of the strain between White and Blackwell

Ray just… appeared on day, and no one knows why yet

The Battle Colosseum was likely built in the mid 80s or early 90s- it is kept up to code and current technologies every three and a half years (6 months, optimally)

[thatfairyfangirl]

Written In The Stars Chapter 9

Legolas paced on the wall of the great fortress, contemplating the battle ahead and those lost already. His friend and his jewel of a star both gone with still so much fight left. But as his mind wandered his eyes spotted something off in the distance, the smallest sparkle of light reflecting off the window of a caravan wagon. Hope grew in his soul as he squinted, finding his focus landing on a small caravan of three wagons lead by Aragorn charging forward on his steed, Steluta not too far behind on one of the large Clydesdales, of her people. “Open the gate!” He called as he rushed across the wall landing with a leap by the entrance into Helm's Deep. All of the elf prince lit up as he watched them grow closer.

“I am sorry my friends. We have no room to shelter you.” Theoden told the wanderers regretfully. “We barely have enough for ourselves as it stands.”

“You misunderstand Theoden King.” Steluta explained as she dismounted, noting that Aragorn had no trouble entering yet he seemed so weary of accepting her people. “I come bearing aid.” She explained as men from the caravans behind her unloaded crates of food weapons and armor. All Theoden could do was blink, surprised the wanderers were coming to his aid. Never could he recall treating them with friendship. “More of my countrymen are on their way to help defend your people.”

“Thank you Lady Star.” Theoden said as they both clamped hands down on the other's shoulders in comradery. “This will not easily be forgotten.”

“There has never been a need for our animosity. King Vorris has always looked on the horse lords as friends, we hope this will mend our broken ties.” Theoden nodded at her words in agreement, knowing he will greet the Songmasters more friendly in the years to come.

Though Legolas was suppressing a smile she could see in his eyes how overjoyed he was to see her, enough to bring a smile to her lips as she pushed her tangled hair behind her ear.

“You look terrible.” He joked as he fought off the smile.

“Well…” she shrugged lightly as their eyes met, lingering on eachother longer than any of the fellowship had seen from these two before. “Could be worse...I could look like you.”

As the words danced off her lips Legolas could hold his smile in no more as he listened to her playful jab at him before pulling her in to a close embrace, hugging tight for a few moments as his long slender fingers came to rest on her long tangled mess of hair. “I'm glad your back.” He offered with a smile as he pulled the rose from his quiver, planting it gently back in her tangled mane.

~ ~ ~ ~

“No elf princling will best me!” Steluta couldn't help smiling at the sound of Gimli's voice carrying through the tunnels of the fortress as she aided the small band of her troops in carrying the supplies they brought to where they would be the most useful.

“Ah! Ninmirel! Solve this for us would you?” Legolas asked as his eyes lit up falling on her. Even with her face covered from the nose down he was glad to see her beauty. “Gimli believes he will take the most Orcs tonight. Clearly it will be me.”

“You're both wrong.” She answered rather matter of factly through glittering fabric wrapped around the lower half of her face. In her arms she toted a crate of small jars filled with a black powder. “I will have the highest number.”

“And what makes you so sure of that?” Gimli asked with a raised brow as he rested on his axe.

“Because I have black powder.” She answered matter before turning to the elf. “It is a highly concentrated poison, we don't have much, have your archers aim at these jars when they fly and we might have a chance of thinning their ranks.”

~ ~ ~ ~

The moon hung full in the night sky with an ominous glow as the army stood ready and waiting. In the distance a foul horn cry echoed telling the three factions who have joined together battle was close. Steluta looked out over the land with great distress. The second caravan carrying her family still unseen. Looking for answers she closed her eyes, probing the veil of time to see what she can find. She did not see her family, but she did see a stray arrow finding its way into her elf's chest. “No” she whispered.

“What's wrong my star?” One of her troops asked worried.

“Keep to the plan. One of my companions is in great danger. I need to warn him.” She answered before kneeling down reaching out with her mind. High on the wall a lifelike image of her appeared behind Legolas and Gimli. “Hey pretty boy!” The voice of the projection echoed in on itself as it spoke.

Legolas turned, the only hint he had that this was not truly his Ninmirel was the faint echo in her voice. “Ninmirel? Now is not the time for this.”

“No, now is the perfect time.” She assured him. “Move to your left NOW.” She commanded as the first arrows from the enemy flew. He did as she asked ducking behind one of the merlons. The arrow lodged itself into the ribs of Steluta’s projection. “Couldn't have you dying on me.” She remarked before pulling her form back into herself, letting the arrow fall safely to the ground. Behind her stood a wide eyed elf, beyond grateful the girl saved not only the life of the woodland prince but also his own life by stopping the arrow, vowing he would never speak ill of the race no matter how long his life would be.

As the battle raged on though the two were on separate ends of the battlefield they still played into one another. As the jars of black poison were released Legolas ordered the battalion of elvish archers to shoot them, shattering the glass to allow death to rain from the skies onto the foul beasts.

But soon such a plan was no longer effective. The shrill cry of a Mandalayn horn pierced the battlefield as wagon and steed rushed across the land. For a moment Steluta smiled, hopeful as she watched her people of the road leap from wagon to horse, leaving those who could not fight behind with their traveling homes, charging into battle atop their mighty Clydesdales . The timing could not have been worse. If they were a little later in arrival, or earlier the battle would have been won. But as the orc rushed the small drain hole with a torch all that could be done was letting daggers and arrows fly. The wall was breached, the ultimate weapon of Mandalayn warfare now useless. The sounds of metal clashing mixed with the shrill battle cry of the princess making a dark music on the air as her people pulled their knives and daggers to defend Helms Deep. Legolas watched as she slashed and stabbed in a wild fury as he counted each he slew. The three armies fought the hordes as one until the dawn came bringing with it Gandalf and the riders and along with them the hope returning.

[the-sapphire-general]

My Thoughts and Feelings About Mighty No. 9

It’s been a long time since I wrote a review for a game I’ve played. Well, I played Mighty No. 9 for a while now, and I finally finished it. And boy, was it…meh? I know tons of people consider it a disappointment and that the game is hated, but after taking time to think, it’s just average. It’s not the worst video game to ever exist, but it’s also not the best game. It’s far from it. Intended to be a spiritual successor to Mega Man, Mighty No. 9 was supposed to be a great game. I’ve done plenty of research about its development and what Comcept’s intentions were at the time. But so much went wrong! I still somewhat like the game, it wasn’t that boring, but I wasn’t oblivious to its flaws. Boy, there’s a lot of them.

Before I go on, I never played a Mega Man game my whole life, so I’m not that familiar with the franchise. However, I checked out a Mega Man X playthrough made by a YouTuber known as Capitalist out of curiosity. People stated that Mighty No. 9 ruined what makes Mega Man so great, and despite not knowing much about the series, I can see why. Everything that Mighty No. 9 has pales in comparison to what Mega Man has in store.

The story had a lot of potential. It takes place in the year 20XX on a futuristic Earth where humans and robots exist together. There’s even a Battle Colosseum for robots. The robots go haywire, and it’s up to Beck to stop them from destroying everything. Along the way, he saves the other eight Mighty Numbers. It all sounds cool, but the way it’s written had me bored. Not much happened, and whenever there were plot points, they seemed like they were shoehorned in and without explanation. Even a few plot points were revealed during conversations as you played through a couple of the levels. The one about William White being the one who created Trinity should have been like a flashback cutscene. Show, don’t tell, to explain how Trinity was a failure. The story was lifeless because there were multiple ideas that weren’t explored. Why the heck does William have issues with Dr. Blackwell? How were the Mighty Numbers and Call created? And some of the plot was just told, and they just felt awkward. At first, we didn’t know Will was at fault for the robot rampage. Heck we never knew he was Trinity’s creator.

Just like the story, the characters weren’t great. Aside from a few noticeable traits, they were bland. They didn’t have enough personality. The Mighty Numbers had one-note types of personalities, and they were annoying. And Call…she had no personality! I really hated Call because she had no personality. She was too emotionless for my taste. Yes, she’s a robot, but did she have to be so robotic, that she had no personality?? In the end, I didn’t care about anyone, not even Brandish. Not much occurred with the characters. They all lacked depth, and it’s sad because they all looked pretty cool.

The gameplay, although I didn’t mind it much, it wasn’t that great compared to Mega Man X. Beck can only shoot in one direction. Not that it’s a problem(?), I mean Mega Man X did the same thing, but the difference between the two games is X looks way more fun than Mighty No. 9 (Mega Man in general looks more fun to play). That I can admit. Also, X can slide and jump on walls. That could have made things so much easier with Beck! There was also supposed to be a tutorial kind of thing in the beginning. It turns out I didn't know a few of the things I can do until I was too late into the game. If I had known I could configure buttons to the abilities I get instead of having to scroll through them, it would have been less of a hassle. Another thing about the gameplay is the ReXelections, powers that Beck can utilize like Mega Man. They were…okay, I guess. Some of them weren’t my favorites. Pyrogen’s ability seemed lame despite its limited use it had when I played the game. The same applies to Cryosphere’s ice ability. Dynatron’s and Countershade’s abilities were used only once, and I never bothered to use them again. Battalion and Aviator had good abilities, and Seismic wasn’t useful to me until the final boss (more on that later…). The only ability I really liked was Brandish’s ability, yet even that power could have been better.

Basically, the abilities were underwhelming. For example, Pyrogen. It’s a fire ability. What can it do? You blow stuff up. Sadly, you have to time it real well to blow stuff up, and it’s hardly of any use (along with the rest of them). I tried using it against Cryo since fire beats ice, but that backfired on me so badly, it cost me a life. This, along with the other abilities, should have been different. Maybe Pyrogen’s fire powers could have involved shooting explosives. Maybe Cryo’s ice could have included a blizzard bazooka or something like that. Avi’s power was okay, but maybe instead of floating down, it could have worked like a helicopter, to fly you over deadly pits (and then hurl the thing helping you fly at enemies). Dynatron’s ability is self-explanatory: intense electric attacks! Battalion’s is fine on its own in my opinion, though I would add a lock-on feature. Seismic’s shield is good, but executing it was clumsy, so that would be something I would fix. Countershade’s sniper ability is also good, but again, a lock-on feature could have helped. Finally, Brandish’s ability is one I like the way it is, but I admit it could have been more awesome. If you were to wield it, waves would fly right at the enemies. See?? I managed to come up with ways that could have made the abilities better. Heck, there are a plethora of idea that could have worked in general. If the abilities you get aren’t fun or lack opportunities to use them, then what’s the point?

As for the levels, they were meh. They generally lacked excitement. Whenever you take damage, it’s sometimes not your fault. Insta-death can occur in some of the levels, and some of them were complete bullshit. A game can be difficult, but it shouldn’t be too difficult or else it’ll just be frustrating. It was also tedious and annoying to go through a lot of the levels without finding any health items. Mega Man X’s enemies left health items, which made the game a bit easier. Mighty No. 9 doesn’t do that. You rarely get health on some of the checkpoints, but they are rarely helpful if you’re so low on health.

Call only got one level, and it’s one of my least favorite levels ever! Her abilities are weak and limited compared to Beck, and she couldn’t AcXelerate into enemies, making gameplay so tedious. And in addition to her lack of a personality due to how painfully robotic she is, during gameplay she kept on saying what she was doing! “Jump!” “Holding.” “Barrier.” That was annoying, I wished she had a mute button. She’s cute in appearance, but everything else about her is just bad. Seriously, ONE level?!!

And Trinity…..*sigh* Her level is fine, but once you get to the boss, it all changes. Yes, the final boss should be difficult, I know! But battling Trinity was a major pain in the ass! Even though I chose the right ReXelections and selected the three buttons for them in order to choose them real-time (something I discovered real late), Trinity kept beating me. The battle was more frustrating than any other boss I’ve fought. It took me nearly two hours (from two different days) to beat that final stage and battle Trinity! You don’t even get taken to the second phase, which is bullshit. With all the other flaws the game had, the final boss was frustrating! Once I finally beat her, I wasn’t satisfied. I was just relieved I was done with the game, so I can finally move on to a more fun game that won’t make me feel like I might lose my mind. It wasn’t my fault! That boss was just annoying. Out of all the bosses, Trinity is the only one I despise! Avi’s battle wasn’t even that hard.

A game can be difficult, but if it’s too hard to the point that it will only make the game not fun, then that’s the problem. A few games that are known for being difficult are the “Devil May Cry” games. Those are difficult, but I would rather play those games than deal with Mighty No. 9’s final boss. Games are allowed to be challenging, and that’s why Devil May Cry is fun, but the difference between DMC and MN9 is that one is poorly executed and unfair. Yes, DMC can be unfair to some, but the thing is the games’ difficulty is connected to your skills. If you lose miserably in, say, “Dante Must Die” mode, that’s on you because your performance probably wasn’t great. All you have to do is improve. Higher difficulty levels are available once unlocked, and you can get the hang of things in the normal difficulty level. MN9’s difficulty, however, is hard. No matter what you do, you’ll struggle. Heck, it has three other difficulties! Hard, Hyper, and Maniac! But since the game is already difficult (and a pain) to play, it’s not worth it. You have to be a pro to tackle those difficulty levels. I’m not a pro, and I admit that without reluctance, so I won’t be doing those difficulty levels for myself. Playing it normally was already a pain (especially with Trinity!! Arrrgh!!). Therefore, Mighty No. 9’s difficulty was the result of poor design, meaning some of the hits (and deaths) you take are bullshit. So Mighty No. 9's difficulty was unfair and sometimes uneven. Countershade's level wasn't that difficult in my opinion. And has anyone realized that some (not all) of the advice it gives you before you enter a level hinted at the weakness?? Such as Dyna's ability being effective during Countershade's battle? But even the advice is useless because with the abilities being the way they are, they just weren't worth using at times. I did more damage using Beck's regular shooting abilities.

In conclusion, Mighty No. 9 gets a 5/10 from me. I can forgive some of the stuff. The music was good, the bosses were okay, and the designs for the characters were tasteful. So I'm showing just a hint of mercy despite the whole Trinity crap. But the gameplay wasn't super exciting, the final boss was frustrating as hell and no satisfaction can be received even after beating Trinity. The story was bland and it glossed over what could have been great storytelling if it wasn't poorly written, and the characters were boring and annoying (looking at you, Call!). Also, there's a boss rush!...I'm NEVER going for it because of Trinity. I can try to master the other bosses, but Trinity is one that I wish to never battle again (unless I want to torture myself out of boredom). I might try the challenges??? I'm not too sure. Despite the game's flaws, I oddly don't mind playing it. I like other games that are disliked by everyone. Last Rebellion and Shadow the Hedgehog are a few examples. Even Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7. People have different tastes, you know.

Still...what happened with this game?? Where did they money go??? Where????? Because $4 million dollars should have been enough to develop a fun and cool video game for Mega Man fans and newcomers. I also know that there were plans for a TV show and movie. If they had made better decisions throughout this whole process, Mighty No. 9 could have been great. I would have watched the TV show (or was it an anime?) and movie. Oh, and they had plans for a sequel...the post-credits scene was a sequel hook. But due to how the game turned out, I'm not sure if there will be a sequel, or a TV show/anime, or a movie, or anything. Then again, never say never. Bubsy came back with a new game after Bubsy 3D, and it took 21 years! Though the game wasn't that well-received. The point is if they do want to continue Mighty No. 9, please make better decisions. Reboot the game if you must (not that it's likely at this point), but don't do the same thing you did here. Mighty No. 9 has wasted potential, just like many other video games. Those certain games failed as a result of rushed development, bad decisions, and/or just plain laziness. Mighty No. 9 could have been great, and it's a shame that it didn't reach its full potential.

[hellman55]

Mighty No. 9 - Walkthrough Part 6 Military Base Boss: Mighty No. 5 Battalion

[collectorscorner]

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[morioh-killer]

you will be like this corruption - yoshikage kira x male oc

Note: this ship started out as a joke but now it is literally so serious. also the line on misshapen eyes is about david bowie's injured pupil <3 who kira is based on

TW: Religious Trauma - Internalzied Homophobia. Also very heartfelt smut for OC development. This is way too fucking long.

9:30 PM. Rain.

It wasn’t often Yoshikage Kira found himself in someone else’s bed. This, however, was a special occasion. His long, delicate fingers ran down the pages of his book, it was so well-loved by many before him. Now it was his turn to show it the appreciation it deserved.

Kira heard footsteps approaching the door, his footsteps, that mighty war-drum of well-worn jungle boots against the wood floor. He makes his presence known when he wants. His home is his domain, his place to mark for the taking. He doesn’t care to knock in his own house. Kira looks up from the pages of his book, eyes peering into the dark figure that entered. His misshapen pupils following his movement. “Kira,” Silas greeted with a tired sigh. Home late once again.

“Silas… it’s good to see you.” His voice is smooth like black coffee. Silas’s face was covered in deep mask lines around his mouth and cheeks; a man of his work. “It’s good to see you too, I’m sorry to be coming home so late.” His scent was that of warm cologne, fresh from the clinic shower. He kicked off his boots in the corner of the room, his bones were aching from standing almost all day and evening. Kira’s eyes watched his powerful back muscles twist and contort as he slipped out of his dress shirt and into an army-issued t-shirt. Olive drab stretched over his back, following the sharp curve of his lower back. His jeans were soon replaced with black night pants, hugging his muscular thighs.

As he walked over to Kira, eliminated by the bedside lamp, he titled his head to see his face beyond the book. “What are you reading?” he asked, a glint of interest in his eyes. “The blow-flies were buzzing round that putrid belly, from which came forth black battalions.”

Silas perked his eyebrows. He thought about the line, where was it from again? “Keep reading,” he instructed. He sat down on his side of the bed, pushing the covers down. As he laid down, he moved closer to see the pages as he read. His view of the blonde was clear when he glanced over, the light bouncing off his injured pupil. “Of maggots, which oozed out like a heavy liquid

all along those living tatters.” Silas noticed the french side of the pages, he always did love reading in the original language. He found himself lost in the french side, comparing the translations to what he already knew. He moved closer, his cheek just a hair away from Kira’s head. “This translation could be better,” he murmured. “I didn’t know you knew French,” Kira chuckled softly. The sound replayed in Silas’s head like a broken record, how sweet he sounded at times. “I grew up speaking French, it comes with the territory.” his eyes moved from left to right, comparing the translations until he found something he disliked. “Look on the English side right… here.” he reached over to the exact line before reciting it quietly. “And yet you will be like this garbage? See, now, I don’t like that. Now on the French side,” he paused to find the line.

“— Et pourtant vous serez semblable à cette ordure… You will be like this corruption." His voice suddenly lowered as he continued translating the french side of the page. His brow was furrowed in concentration to get every single word correct. Kira eventually stopped looking at the pages and now at him. “Like this horrible infection… star of my eyes, sunlight of my soul.”

Kira looked into his eyes, watching him look over the pages. Silas paused, his hand on Kira’s arm without even thinking. He was resting upon his side, his shirt slightly raised on his midsection. “You will be like this corruption,” Silas repeated to himself. “Like this corruption.” His mind began to race, clouded by nightmares of what horrible punishments he thought he would suffer for sharing a bed with a man he deemed to be a friend. Kira leaned in closer to him, watching his adam’s apple move as he swallowed a lump in his throat. Something was on his mind, a battle only he could win. Kira’s eyes glanced at his lips to the facial scruff on his upper lip and chin. His face was still covered in mask lines and tired bags under his eyes. Still - he looked beautiful but distant. Kira placed the book beside him, turning to face Silas. He was closer than he thought, his eyes peering into Silas, then down to his lips. He knew Silas had certain… views on such matters but that didn’t seem to mean anything right now. He could see the angst in his eyes, the way his bottom lip twitched in embarrassment.

He leaned closer, bringing a hand to his muscular bicep. “Kira,” Silas began. “I-”

Kira placed a gentle kiss on the man’s lips. He tasted like chocolate and wafer; his lips were surprisingly soft against his. Silas slowly pulled away with an exhale. They shared a moment of silence before Silas leaned in to kiss him again. Silas pulled Kira close to him by the back of the neck, feeling his blonde tresses tangling in his fingers. He smelled like Dior, the same collection Silas purchased for him as a gift. A gift, he claimed. A gift of friendship and not a token of undeniable love and passion. A bitter secret he kept to himself, crushing it down into the ground under his boots. Pulverized into the dirt like a dirty, disgusting cockroach. Silas never pulled away again until all the air in his lungs had emptied into Kira’s. “Silas,” he breathed between each kiss, trying to keep up with Silas’s quick pace. Silas pulled away to rest his forehead on Kira’s, catching his breath in silence. Silas kissed the corner of his lip, moving his kisses to his cheek and neck. He inhaled his scent, the same scent he would carry on him for an eternity if he could.

Kira moaned into the abyss of black hair. Biting his bottom lip as Silas ran his warm tongue over the sensitive skin on his neck. He found a hitch in his breath and choked on the air, fighting back any ungodly noises that wanted to escape him. Silas showed no mercy on his victims and had no intention of showing any on his lover. Kira’s hands slipped under the shirt and drowned himself in his skin, his scent down to the shampoo in his hair. Silas put his arm behind Kira’s shoulders and pulled him up, sitting between his legs. He hated to pull away now to take off his shirt, to be consumed by a voice that told him he was going to suffer for this. He slid off his shirt and threw it behind him in haste. Kira’s nimble fingers were quick to unbutton his own shirt, slipping it off and discarding it. He pushed Silas back onto his elbows, watching his eyes widen in excitement and fear. He sat up more and watched as Kira came in close to kiss his chest, his tongue tracing the soft lines of muscle on his chest. Silas moaned at the contact, feeling a wet muscle swirl around his nipple. His muscles tensed and Kira gently shushed him. Silas rested his head back on the soft mattress, his lungs emptying into a shudder. “Kira,” he moaned again, feeling a warm, bony hand scale up his chest and to his other nipple.

He cursed himself for enjoying it, enjoying the warmth of a man’s tongue on his chest. “Fuck,” Silas whispered. “Fuck, that feels so fucking good.” Kira was relishing over him. He had seen so many sides of Silas but never this before. It was unique from his desire to kill and dominate. Kira ran his hands down to his soft stomach, feeling his skin shake under his nails. Silas exhaled deeply, relaxing the muscles on his midsection. The blonde’s lips ran down his chest, ghosting over his sensitive flesh. He exhaled against Silas’s nipples before wrapping his lips around them once more, sucking tenderly. He looked up at Silas, watching his lips part with each exhale. Kira brought his hand up to his lips and Silas instantly began to trace his lips before shoving his long digits into Kira’s mouth. He pressed hard against his tongue and watched saliva run down his chin. “You look good with my fingers shoved down your throat, Kira.” Silas chuckled lowly, watching as Kira relished having a pair of fingers in his mouth. His tongue swirled around them greedily, sucking and slurping up the saliva that ran down them like a stream. Even with Silas on his back, he still always had the upper hand. He needed to feel every aspect of Kira, down to his very bones and marrow. He wanted to drink the blood directly from his jugular just to be as close as he possibly could to Kira.

Skin to skin wasn’t enough for him. He wanted to be down to the very muscle fibers that made Kira the lean, muscular body his heart resided in. Kira had never felt such ecstasy before, the pleasures he got from killing were almost, just almost as powerful as this.

Silas pushed his fingers in and out of Kira’s mouth, watching his eyes close and pinch shut. He slipped his first 2 fingers under his tongue and felt the pooling of saliva glide over his fingers. Silas sat upon his knees, almost towering over Kira in stature. Kira was far leaner than Silas, lean muscle compared to the thick build of Silas. He was powerful in every sense, brutal strength in his hands and legs, enough to crush windpipes and eyes out of their sockets. But this time he wanted to use his hands for something far more gentle and passionate.

Kira was now on his back, his head resting on a sea of pillows. Silas ran his ring finger down Kira’s smooth chest, all the way down to his boxers. The full length of his palm pressed on his chest, warmth radiating from both their skins. Kira looked into his eyes as he leaned down to kiss under his navel, setting all of his fucking nerves on fire. Silas had a new kind of darkness to his eyes, the kind that only Caligula would have looking down at his army of peasants. Only Silas had someone he deemed a God before him, with powers incomprehensible to his human mind. “Silas,” Kira groaned as he felt a large, powerful hand inch into his boxers. He was already so hard the moment Silas wrapped his hand around his cock. He was neatly groomed with soft, blonde hairs running between his thighs. Silas ran his hand over his cock, squeezing the base up to his pink tip. Kira inhaled sharply through gritted teeth; it had been so long since he felt actual warmth wrapped around him. His blood was pumping as Silas bit his inner thighs, leaving a wet trail of kisses on his supple skin. Kira’s fingers ran over the black sea of hair tickling his legs, tangling skin and hair together in one.

Silas stroked him slowly. He felt every muscle in his body clench, the disgust, and disdain that ran through his mind was distracting him. He inhaled sharply, feeling Kira’s fingers trace the part in his hair with care. Kira’s thighs parted more, exposing more curly blonde hair on his inner thighs. Silas felt sick to his stomach. He wanted nothing more than to be closer to Kira in every sense but his own hatred hindered his wants. Kira could feel the pain in his lover’s heart, a sharp tinge of regret shooting through his own veins. “Silas,” Kira tilted his head up with his index finger. Silas lifted his head, locking eyes with the blonde. Kira would not allow him to look away in shame. Silas licked his lips, blocking the thoughts of his inner voice trying to tell him something was wrong. He wouldn’t allow it this time, after a bloodied kiss amongst a tiny explosion, they both knew what they wanted. He wanted everything and more, less and nothing at all.

Silas continued, breaking his eyes from Kira. His hand stroked again at an even speed this time.

“I want you to say my name again.” The courage took to make such a request. So he sang his name like a melody, crying out softly and twisting his ankles up. Silas thought about what he would have wanted in this situation; a warm, inviting mouth wrapped around him. He wanted to give Kira the same treatment, even if it meant chickening out. Kira’s pleasure made his words melt into a puddle and he knew he wouldn’t last much longer. Everything around him went black the second he felt a warm, wet, tongue against his tip. He saw static, flashing blue sparks of electricity right before his eyes. His heart raced in his chest and Silas forgot his own name. “Silas,” Kira hissed just like he wanted. He repeated his name like a record, hands clutching the bed in a frenzy. Silas felt a twitch in his mouth, the tell-tale sign his whole world would shatter before him. Kira wanted him now, more than ever.

Silas could not bring himself to take anymore. The reality hit him square in the face. Silas lifted his mouth from Kira’s aching sex just before a spurt of cum flowed down his hand and Kira. He hid his face against Kira’s thigh and kept his hand moving as the man under him cried out in pleasure. He didn’t care how it happened, in a mouth, a hand, or against the chest of his love. Kira just needed him, now, always, and forever. “Lay down,” Kira breathlessly commanded him. This was taking too long and he needed him right then and there. Silas was slow to process it before Kira shoved him off and onto his back. Silas reached up to touch Kira’s face but was met with a hard slam onto the bed. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted you, how long…” Kira whispered against his neck, gently biting his skin. “I’ve wanted you ever since I saw what you could do, what carnal desire you hide within yourself.” His tongue attacked Silas’s neck, moving in swift, flat circles until he cried out. “Now I’m going to show you what I hide from everyone else, the way I’m going to make you mine.” His hand was quick to slip below the belt.

“You’re going to forget,” Kira breathed, “everything.” Silas felt his senses overwhelmed with stimulation. His eyes snapped open wide to realize his undoing. Kira slipped his fingers between Silas’s and held his monstrous hands down, he gave in surprisingly easy. Silas had never wanted something more in his life until now, he thought back to the very first moment he knew he wanted Kira; watching him dispose of the carnage with the press of a button. It was brilliant. Beyond mesmerizing. Silas felt his cock grow harder with the lapping of kisses on his chest. Kira was eager now, his own selfish desire began to take over any love in his heart. Silas had his pants off before he knew it and felt an invasion of warm wetness sink down on his cock. It was far more intense than he ever dreamed. Kira swirled his tongue over Silas’s tip, focusing the very tip of his tongue on the small opening. He was seeing stars, the pleasure so damned intense it hurt him. But Kira was not one to dish out sympathy so easily.

Silas was gasping for air. He chanted Kira’s name over and over again, his senses set ablaze. He squirmed and the moment he felt his orgasm spillover, he held himself back. He couldn’t, not like this. But Kira was persistent in the truth. Kira worked his hands at the base, running his thumb along the bulging vein until Silas couldn’t take it anymore. His heels dug into the sheets as he cried out, tears resting in the corner of his eyes. Kira took every inch of him, claiming him for the rest of his life. He hummed against him and felt it send shivers through Silas. For the first time, Silas allowed himself to let go, to put his thoughts to rest for once in his life. Kira raked his nails down Silas’s chest as he came hard, each touch enough to drive a man wild.

Kira pulled his lips away and Silas, still heaving, rolled over on his side, lips red and swollen. He felt a rough hand grab his face and even softer lips smash into his. Kira held him there a moment, exchanging both cum and saliva in a deep, passionate kiss. It was sweet, the kind of sweetness that turned sour and bitter. Grossly so. When Kira pulled away to look his lover in the eyes, Silas’s lips were shiny with his own excitement. The silence was loud, ringing in both their ears just as Kira collapsed on Silas’s chest. He brought his hand up to touch Kira’s glistening back, the beads of sweat sticking to his fingers. Silas looked at the ceiling, back again with his thoughts of what he had just done. Now he did not care, his mind was far too aloof right now to fully understand. He didn’t want to understand. The only thing he wanted for a long time was to lie in Kira’s arms and back in the pages of their books.

[biggoonie]

THE MIGHTY CAPTAIN MARVEL VOL. 2: BAND OF SISTERS TPB

Written by MARGARET B. STOHL Penciled by MICHELE BANDINI, Ro Stein & Ted Brandt Cover by ELIZABETH TORQUE As SECRET EMPIRE begins, Captain Marvel faces the Chitauri! The savage alien fleet has nearly reached Earth space, and it’s up to Carol Danvers to stop it. But taking on an entire armada is a tall order even for our mighty hero and the crew of the Alpha Flight Space Station. Can Carol find a way to inspire her ranks — including her battalion of young cadets — to rise to the challenge? As Alpha Flight puts its plan into action, an enemy from Carol’s past rears its head, threatening to ruin everything! Stretched thin battling a horde of Chitauri, keeping Alpha Flight afloat and fighting off a raging monster inside her, will Captain Marvel ever get a little time to unwind? Not when Earth’s fate rests in the hands of a few cadets. Collecting MIGHTY CAPTAIN MARVEL #5-9. 112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99 • ISBN: 978-1-302-90606-1

[alexsmitposts]

Lebanon: The Israeli Parking Lot We Helped Make It was the morning of 9 January 1984. The command “Battle Stations” came over the 1MC of the USS New Jersey. As we took our stations I remembered the conversations aboard ship in the preceding days. I remember wondering about these “enemies” our officers and comrades seemed so anxious to eradicate. And then New Jersey’s main battery of 16-inch guns opened up, for the first time since Vietnam. A Rumor of a War Like all the other sailors, my heart had been struck by the news that 220 Marines, 18 sailors, and 3 soldiers had perished in a terrorist attack on the barracks of the 1st Battalion of the 8th United States Marines at Beirut airport. We were all angry over the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. For us, the situation was surreal. In my rack on either the USS Iowa BB-61 or her sister ship USS New Jersey BB-62, I’d listen to 80s tunes from Bon Jovi or Prince, then take the duty in ship’s living hell of an engineering space, buried inside 60,000 tons of reinforced steel. Then there we were, in striking range of the evil the world has battled since forever. Or, so we were told. “We’ll turn Lebanon into a parking lot,” I remember one Senior Chief from WEPS saying. “Yeah, by the time we’re done there won’t be nothing left but a crater,” a shipmate who was a boatswain’s mate chided. In the galley of the great ship, on deck, in our racks, on duty in the boiler rooms, the bravado and the fear of unknown battle echoed each day. Then our ship shuddered as the recoil of our 16-inch guns fired 1900 pound projectiles at Syrian anti-aircraft positions miles onshore. That “enemy” was unknown, unseen, and as mysterious to us young sailors as any mythic combatants. For all we knew, great Hector, or the general Hannibal may have been on the other end of our guns. It was a strange time. We were proud to serve, and I was arguably the proudest of all. But something nagged at me, even without knowing the political situation. All the Wrong Places As it turned out, the combatants underneath those mighty guns were, in fact, shooting at our comrades. We really were supporting our comrades. Only we should never have been there in the first place. The catastrophe that is Lebanon has seen so much death and destruction. The U.S. Marines, French Legionnaires, Israeli IDF forces, Palestinians, Syrians, Iranians, Hezbollah, and hundreds if not thousands of civilians died in the months before and after the bombing of the Marine barracks. So, although I am ashamed of what our leaders forced us, soldiers and sailors, to do, I am proud to have done my duty to protect my shipmates in harm’s way. I would do it again, even though I now know the truth of matters in American foreign policy. What none of us knew back then was that the whole mess in Lebanon came to a head when the IDF invaded the country on June 6, 1982, in something called Operation “Peace for Galilee.” This was supposed to create a 40 km buffer zone between the PLO and Syrian forces in Lebanon and Israel. In reality, it ruined any chance there will ever be peace in the region, and it will have cause the deaths of millions of people before it’s all over. The PLO had been attacking Israel from inside Lebanon, so the Israeli leadership figured they’d turn what was a paradise into a living hell where chaos would rule. Lebanon, it’s a kind of “no man’s land” now. And if you think Israel is not just as evil as any regime in the Middle East, read all about something called the Sabra and Shatila massacre. An Unpopular Truth For those who recall, this was the United Nations called Israel’s role a kind of “genocide.” It was a moment where Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had more or less encircled Israel’s perceived enemies so that terrorists of the Phalange Christian Lebanese right-wing party could rape, torture, and kill people inside the encirclement. I am sorry, there is no soft way to put what happened to 3,500 civilians, mostly Palestinians and Lebanese Shiites, in Israel’s war on her neighboring countries. As I type this, a harsh thought comes to my mind. Some will take this wrong, but here does. Am I the only one who notices that Palestinians, Syrians, Libyans, Iraqis, and other Arab people are the only ones listed in these genocides? 3,500 in Sabra and Shatila in 1982, 1,417 Palestinians in the Gaza Massacre of 2008-2009, 2,205 Palestinians in the 2014 Gaza War, 400,000 dead because of the Syria Civil War, 655,000 are dead in Iraq, 122,000 in Libya to get rid of Gadaffi, and God knows how many in Yemen and other places where we intervene either for oil or to prop up Israel. If I am hurting feelings here, rest assured it will pass. Unfortunately, the children of all those dead will remember. And there lies the real Armageddon laying in wait. “Another One Bites the Dust,” by Queen. This is the last tune I remember a shipmate playing as he bragged about how much “good we’d done off the shores of Lebanon.” We’d relieved some of the crew of the USS New Jersey, and were headed back to the Gulf Coast and our ship, USS Iowa, being outfitted with the deadliest hardware possible in Pascagoula, Mississipi. As I served my country, my captain, and my comrades in the years that followed I wondered every day about America’s role in the world. And lately, I’ve often wondered who survives crises unscathed in the way Israel has. I have many friends there, and each has his or her own perspective. But the leadership, the premise, and the one-sided casualty list haunt me every day. The fact we cannot even talk about it – this sticks in my brain like a thorn. What does it all mean? Wars of the Reprehensibles Back then I did not know who the heck the now notorious Donald Rumsfeld was, but after the barracks was bombed, then U.S. Middle East envoy Rumsfeld arrived in the Syrian capital within hours of the attack and met immediately with Foreign Minister Abdel Halim Khaddam. It is interesting, ironic, and a bit sad that there is still no official statement on who was actually responsible for blowing up the equivalent of 21,000 pounds of TNT underneath the Marine Barracks at Beirut Airport. “Rumors,” say the Iranians and Syrians were behind it. Rumsfeld, the Bush presidents, and others who are now termed “warmongers” have their suspicions, but even President Reagan’s Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger never came forward and named those responsible. As for Lebanon, I cannot leave off here without framing the importance and culture of this amazing spot of land on the eastern Mediterranean. Lebanon has witnessed civilization for more than seven thousand years, predating recorded history. This was the land of the Canaanites and the Phoenicians, who flourished for over a thousand years (1550–539 BC). Once an Ottoman satellite, the region was run by the colonial French for a time. Lebanon was referred to as the “Switzerland of the East” during the 1960s, but the Civil War of 1975 ripped the country to pieces. Many experts attribute this civil war to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who fled to Lebanon when the state of Israel was established. According to some historians, shifting the demographic balance in favor of the Muslim population set the country upon itself. My opinion is that Lebanon was a functioning republic that became just another victim of the Cold War. Soviet interests, versus the western hegemony, and the special case of Israel, these were the ingredients of paradise lost. The situation in Lebanon today is really an echo from before the time of the Israelites, and facets like the rebellious nature of the Mardaites of old. Leveraging ancient sects and ideologies, it’s still the way of the Great Game. But where does this leave us? We cannot change who we were. Nor can we change who we are. We can, however, change the future, and who we will become. I said it earlier. I am ashamed of what they made soldiers and sailors do, but proud to have done my duty. And herein lies a great opportunity. Since we know the end of war. Since we know our leaders and the elites manipulate all of us, we can reshuffle our world and our future. If I want to believe the Twin Towers caved in upon themselves on 9/11, I can forget what I learned playing with my building set as a kid. If cheap gas because of the Iraq war makes me forget about invisible weapons, I can choose to forget. If millions of refugees do not swarm into Atlanta from Syria, what business is it of mine if there is war? Or, I can decide the world is my business. I can decide I am responsible. We can be responsible. We can change the world. We can have that lasting peace. But we can’t do it by following “them.”

[didanawisgi]

“Patton’s Panthers” was one of the most effective tank battalions in World War II, fighting a continuous 183 days at the front and inflicting heavy casualties on the Germans while crews racked up accolades from their peers, including three Medal of Honor nominations in their first month of combat.

In the end, the men of the 761st Tank Battalion were awarded a Medal of Honor, 11 Silver Stars, and about 300 Purple Heartsdespite facing racism as the first black armored unit in combat and the second in U.S. military history.

The first black armored unit was the 758th Tank Battalion which received 98 black enlisted men in 1941. The 761st followed in March 1942 as a light tank battalion but converted to medium tanks in September 1943.

At a time when most tank units were getting months of training, as little as three months in some cases, the 761st received over two years before shipping to France in October 1944. A historian for the unit, former Sgt. Wayne D. Robinson, theorized that this extended training time came because big Army couldn’t decide what to do with black forces.

It was on that day that the battalion struck a German roadblock that could spell doom. The tanks were forced to stop, making them easy targets for German guns.

Despite fierce German fire, Staff Sgt. Ruben Rivers rushed out of his tank and attached a cable to the roadblock before dragging it out of the way. The American tanks pushed forward through the opening and the attack was successful.

The next day, Charlie Company 1st Sgt. Samuel Turley found his company under heavy German fire with wrecked tanks. He ordered the crews to dismount and organized a resistance before climbing from a ditch to lay down cover fire. His gamble saved his men, but he was cut down by German machine gun fire.

The day after that, on Nov. 10, Sgt. Warren G.H. Crecy fought his way forward to save his men under fire until his tank was destroyed. He then commandeered another vehicle and killed his attackers with a .30-caliber machine gun before turning the weapon on German artillery observers.

On Nov. 11, Crecy was back at it. His tank was immobilized and he attempted to get it going until he saw German units attacking the nearby infantry. So he climbed onto his .50-cal. and gave them cover. Later that day, he destroyed machine gun nests and an anti-tank weapon.

Rivers was back in the spotlight Nov. 16-19. A mine shot fragments through his leg and destroyed his knee on Nov. 16. Despite the recommendation that he immediately evacuate, Rivers led the way across a brand-new bridge the next day and took on four German tanks, killing two and driving two more back.

By Nov. 18, Rivers’ leg was infected but he still refused to go home. The next day, Rivers directed fierce fire onto German anti-tank guns until two rounds pierced his own tank and went through his head, killing him instantly.

All three men, Rivers, Crecy, and Turley, were nominated for the Medal of Honor but only Rivers received it.

The next month the 761st conducted assaults aimed at breaking up the German forces at the Battle of the Bulge, slowing German resupply and taking the pressure off the units under siege despite the fact that the 761st was fighting a numerically superior enemy.

After another month and a half of fighting, the 761st threw itself against a dug in and numerically superior enemy once again while leading the armored spearhead through the Siegfried Line and fought “the fiercest of enemy resistance in the most heavily defended area of the war theater” for 72 hours according to its Presidential Unit Citation.

On May 5, 1945, the 761st linked up with Russian Forces in Steyr, Austria. Over the course of the war, the unit had lost nearly 50 percent of its starting forces and 71 tanks. It was also credited with inflicting 130,000 casualties.

Read the original article on We Are The Mighty.

Photo 1: Tanks from the 761st Tank Battalion await orders to clean out scattered Nazi machine gun nests in Coburg, Germany, April 25, 1945. 

Photo 2: Soldiers from the 761st Tank Battalion's Dog Company check equipment before leaving England for combat in France in the fall of 1944.   

Photo 3:  Gunner Corporal Carlton Chapman in his M4 Sherman tank near Nancy, France, Nov. 5, 1944.

Photo 4:  General George Patton awards the Silver Star to Private Ernest A. Jenkins of the 761st Tank Battalion

Photo 5:  Able Company, 761st Tank Batalion Crossing the Seille River in France, Nov. 9, 1944Image Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/story-black-wwii-tank-unit-that-crushed-nazi-forces-2017-4