#Radar Level Sensor

[thetransmittershop]

[trumen-indore]

Trumen is a technocrat driven organization aimed at providing top-of-the-range and high quality level measurement and process control instruments. Formed by the pioneers who devoted their respective lives in development, design and delivery of solution to the problems faced in the field of level sensing and process measurements. Trumen has a fixed point agenda about “sensing matters”, and each device created at Trumen is thoroughly tested to pass the quality norms set in-house, in order to give the best performance in all operating conditions.

The products designed and manufactured by Trumen confirm to various international quality standards. Instruments having best in class IP-68 certified enclosures, Ex-proof enclosures suitable for hazardous area and gas group IIA, IIB and IIC and PU Epoxy coated enclosures suitable for harsh environment. Trumen also produces instruments with SS enclosures suitable for food and pharma industries and PU enclosures suitable for chemical industries.

Address: 39, Mangal Nagar, Behind Sai Ram Plaza, Near Rajeev Gandhi Circle, AB Road, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 452001

Web: https://trumen.in/

Contact: 0731 497 2065

[avecra]

Dosed

summary: When you are laced with a deadly pathogen, the team finds themselves working endlessly to find a cure. Only it might not be enough.

pairing: bucky barnes x reader

word count: 6.7k

warnings: canon level violence, illness symptoms (fever, cough, vomiting), angst on top of angst with a happy ending, bucky goes through many emotions

a/n: hi hello it has been a hot minute since I have been active im so sorry :( i had a lot of personal issues to deal with but now im hoping to be a little bit more active and post more stories :)

You could feel the heavy rumble of the jet as it landed on the muddy grounds. An overcast covered the sky and emitted a soft grey through the thick glass of the display of the jet, the light pitter of rain tapped against the window. 

Bucky’s gentle touch stole your gaze from the window to the super soldier, his fingers wrapped around the Kevlar vest and he began to tighten the straps around your shoulders, pulling them into place. 

“Do I really have to wear this? Steve said that the building is supposed to be empty,” you said, trailing a finger along the front of your vest, over the stitched ‘Barnes’ that sat over the thick fabric. 

“Yes, honey,” Bucky chuckled, tightening the straps over your back. “Just cause Steve says it’s empty doesn’t mean it is. I can’t risk anything happening to you, therefore you get to wear my vest.” He winked at you and tightened the last strap across your abdomen. “Gotta keep my girl safe, now don’t I?”

You smiled sheepishly and nodded, continued to watch him strap a few guns and knives to his body. Exhaling a tense sigh, you ran your sweaty palms down the side of your tactical uniform, Bucky noticed. “It’s gonna be okay, I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.”

“I know,” you whispered, grabbing his hand. “I’m not exactly equipped for these types of missions, I’m just a little nervous.” 

Bucky’s eyes softened when he heard the small crack in your voice, his hands encased around yours and he tenderly pressed a kiss to the back of your palm. “I’m gonna be right by your side the entire time.”

You bobbed your head, taking in a deep breath as Bucky gently slid a gun into the holster on your thigh. “But just in case.”

The two of you had been assigned to track down a lone mercenary in the middle of western Canada. The stormy weather had made it difficult for the jet sensors to get a read on the building that sat in a nearly empty forest.

A mercenary hacker under the name Roman Donovan had been on Tony Stark’s radar for quite some time, after noticing the many sudden security pop ups, indicating that Donovan had smothered his way into Tony’s tech. Both Steve and Tony had been working relentlessly to find a position on him, until a sudden location popped up. 

You had your doubts, whether you were the best candidate for this mission, but Steve had reassured you with your technical and computer knowledge that you were the perfect fit.  A squeeze to your hand reminded you that Bucky would be with you every step of the way.

With a nod from you, Bucky placed the small comm device into your ear, tapping it a few times so he could hear the breaths that left your lips. He slipped one into his ear as well, tapping it a few times until he could catch the chatter of the two agents in the cockpit of the jet. 

“Prescott and Logan, stand by. We’ll radio you in case we need backup,” Bucky announced, pressing the button that opened up the ramp of the jet. He turned to you with a soft, comforting smile. “It’s just a simple extraction of files,” he reminded with a gentle hand to your back. “Ready?”

A final nod of your head, you looked at him. Ready.”

---

The building had been vacant this far, Bucky had led the both of you to the control room where you rapidly typed on the main computer. Bucky stood by the door, sending cautious glances over his shoulder every few seconds to survey the dark hallway. 

“I’m almost done,” you called out to him, fingers dancing across the keyboard, desperately pushing into the numbers and letters faster. “It had more firewalls than I expected.”

Bucky glanced over in your direction, a frown taking over his features. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Not necessarily. Just means this guy wants to keep people like me out of his stuff,” you mumbled. Bucky chuckled under his breath.

A few more clicks to the keyboard, you powered off the system and the flash drive ejected  out of the main computer. Stepping back, you watched the monitors as the files slowly disappeared from folders and main screen savers, until all the screens went dark. 

“I think I got it,” you muttered, eyes wide as they focused on the screens. The flash drive began to flicker a blue color, indicating that the files had transferred successfully without a trace of Stark technology.

The loud slamming of a door alerted Bucky, as he raised his rifle up, pointing towards the sudden sound. You pocketed the flash drive and raised your head at the sudden sound, eyes filled with confusion as they flickered over to Bucky’s alarmed blue ones.

“Get behind me,” You quickly made your way over to him and his hand immediately darted out to grab your wrist. Though you could feel the tension riding off his body in waves, his hold on your arm was gentle. “Stay low.”

You nodded and grasped the back of Bucky’s tactical vest, fisting the thick fabric. With a cautious foot forwards, Bucky stepped out into the hallway, taking slow, steady steps into the dimly lit corridor. 

Your hands made their way from the fabric of his shirt to his vibranium hand, and you gripped as tightly as you could, in a way to ground you. He couldn’t feel the tight pressure, but he could feel the weight of your hand in his. 

The two of you stealthily made your way through sets of hallways and stairwells, inching closer and closer to the doorway, until the loud slamming of boots against the tile floors halted you in your stance. Fear corrupted every fiber of your body, you couldn’t take your eyes off the panicked look in Bucky’s blue ones. 

You felt Bucky push you away behind him, before a sudden force knocked him to the ground, grunts passed through his lips. 

“Y/n, run!”

Not looking back, you trusted Bucky enough to know that he would make it out unscathed, with only a few scrapes and bruises. You, however, were not a field trained agent, with little  combat knowledge. You bolted the other direction, on the way to warn the two agents standing by in the jet.

“I need backup! Logan, Prescott, to the northeast side of the building, now!”

It wasn’t until you felt the pull of your vest and the weight of someone did you register your head slam against the ground, rather harshly. A strangled cry left your lips when you felt a needle puncture your skin, just at the conjunction between your shoulder and neck. 

His hand pressed down on your neck harshly, cutting off your air supply, but you were frozen in fear - he head injected something into your skin. You did not find the strength to fight back.

Fear paralyzed every fiber of your body.

Grunts and strangled screams were heard, you didn’t know if it came from you, but suddenly the weight was lifted off you, though you registered nothing of it. A few greedy breaths of fresh air. The pulsing of your heartbeat rang out in your ear, chiming and pudding against your skull. You laid frozen.

“Y/n is down, I have Donovan apprehended. I need backup, please!” Bucky spoke into the comms a moment later as he threw the hacker on his stomach and pinned his wrists behind his back. He was tempted to sap his wrist, but he held back. 

“Roman Donovan, you are a hard son of a bitch to find,” Bucky growled in his ear, reaching into his vest to pull out a pair of wrist restraints, tightening them to Donovan’s wrist. The man yelled in pain and discomfort.

Bucky glanced over to you, eyes softening when he took in your fragile form on the concrete. You just laid there, almost lifeless, but once Bucky saw the rise and fall of your chest, only a little relief came to him. It quickly rushed away when blue eyes focused on the empty syringe near your foot. 

“There’s a lot more pain coming your way. What did you inject her with?” Bucky yelled viciously, grabbing Donovan roughly by the hair. But the man simply let out a dark chuckle, eyes narrowing on you. The way weak coughs passed through your lips, the way you burrowed deeper into yourself.

“I know your weak spots, James Barnes.” was all he said. 

The hurried footsteps of Prescott and Logan reached his ears and Bucky abruptly stood up  and watched the two agents haul the mercenary to his feet and slam him against the wall, patting him, finding a gun strapped to his back and a small grenade. 

“Secure him to the panel near the bay doors. Bastard can fly out for all I care.” 

Bucky wasted no time in making his way over to you. A gentle hand soothed comforting circles up and down your arm, gently coaxing you and Bucky gently lifted you up in his arms and leant you against the wall, concerned as your head lolled back. 

“Baby, are you okay?” His panicked gaze flickered from the bleeding gash on your temple, to the light bruising around your neck, the small dot of blood at the conjunction between your neck and shoulder. He sighed, bringing a hand to rest on your cheek. “Y/n, answer me baby, what hurts?”

Your eyes were clenched shut and you brought a shaky hand to rest over Bucky’s, and you lifted your gaze to meet his worried blue ones. “I’m okay… I think.”

“You think?” Bucky asked, running a hand over your hair. 

“I-I don’t know, I feel fuzzy,” you mumbled, leaning your head back against the wall. 

Taking slow, deep breaths, you felt Bucky rub slow, soothing circles up and down your thigh. There was a buzzing sensation circling throughout your temples, down to your cheeks, along our jaw until it spread through the rest of your body. 

“Deep breaths in and out, baby,” Bucky whispered soothingly, leaning down to kiss your knee.

But then, in a moment or two, you felt it suddenly disperse. As if the wave of numbness rid itself out of your body. You allowed Bucky to help you to your feet, brushing his hands over the front of the vest before making sure you had no further injuries. 

“We’ll check you over at the compound,” Bucky said as he wrapped an arm around your waist and led you down the hall, following the two agents in suit. “Let’s get out of here.”

---

Bucky watched helplessly as he and Steve watched as Dr. Cho and her team scanned over your body. He couldn’t imagine how confused and scared you were, hands gripping the sheets. Your first field mission had been a complete disaster. Bruce walked in, the used syringe in an examination tube. 

“What do you think he injected her with?” Bucky asked after a couple of minutes of silence.

“It’s weird,” Bruce began, handing the folder over to Bucky. 

“I pushed it through a scanner, to see if I could find any sort of answer to what this is. All tests come back negative for a virus or disease. Has she had any of her symptoms progress on the way home?”

Bucky shook his head, “No, she’s just been… frozen, paralyzed almost. He has injected her with something; I saw the blood on her neck and it seemed like he had tried to… kill her or something.”

“You think he would?”

“Why else would he press his fucking hand over her throat?”

“That, I am not sure. So unless she starts to show signs of some sort of sickness, I unfortunately have no answers. I’ll check in with Tony, see if he has any answers. I’ll keep you guys updated.”

“Thanks, Bruce.” Bucky sighed, watching as the doctor left. He opened the file, reading over the diagnosis levels. “I still don’t get it.”

Steve hummed, taking the file out of his hand. 

“The only thing he said to me was ‘I know your weak spots’ and then called me out by name. But I have never come into contact with this guy, not even as the Winter Soldier. The dude is early twenties and lived with his grandma in east Maryland up until two years ago, living in some studio in Princeton up in Jersey. How the hell did he end up in Canada?”

“That doesn’t track at all. Unless he has dug up on all of us. He probably just wanted to get you by surprise.” Steve said. “Real name is Benjamin Croot. 24 years old.”

“Sergeant Barnes,” Dr. Cho’s voice broke through on the intercom. “She is asking for you.”

Bucky moved faster than he could process. He rushed through the doors and you turned your head at the sound of his boots. 

“Is she okay? She’s not hurt or anything?” Worried questions spewed out, his hands came to grip yours as tight without hurting you. He brushed his hand over your warm, sweaty forehead. “She’s warm.”

Dr. Cho nodded. “My team ran all the tests imaginable for this certain… situation. And everything came back negative, which worries me. If what Y/n described is true, then he must have injected her with something that is lethal or close to being lethal.

“She said to have felt numb, fuzzy almost. Those are usually the signs of a virus or even… a pathogen starts to form. But what I don’t get is that I could not find a single trace of.. well anything really.”

“Dr. Banner doesn’t have an answer either, though he’s checking in with Stark as we speak.” Bucky said, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “What should we do? Keep her here?”

The woman sighed, pieces of her hair falling from the neat bun. “Honestly, I’m not sure. Part of me wants to keep her in the medical wing, just in case, but her stats are all normal, though her temperature is abnormally high.”

“How high?”

She flipped open the chart. You hadn’t really been present in the time either of them were talking. You were just so tired. Physically and mentally. 

“The last time I took it, her temperature was sitting at about 100.5, which isn’t that bad, but it’s not great either. So, I would advise to just rest for the night, and when she wakes up we will run a couple more tests, see if anything has changed.”

Bucky nodded, squeezing your hand as the doctor excused herself. 

“Whatcha thinkin’, sweetheart?” Bucky sat on the edge of the cot, brushing hair away from your eyes. 

“Tired.” He could tell your energy was scarce.

“Let’s go to bed then, hm.”

His movements started before you even had the chance to reply. As gently as he could, he slid his arms around your waist and shoulders and helped you up to your feet. The two of you made your way from the medical bay to the residential wing, to yours and Bucky’s shared room.

“Don’t you have the interrogation to do?” you mumbled, watching his features contort when he pressed his thumb against the scanner and led you into the room. In your fuzzy mind, you barely registered Bucky’s touch as he gently peeled your uniform off and slid your pajamas on.

“I’ll do it tomorrow. Besides it’s late, sweetheart and I think I speak for the both of us when I say it’s been a long day,” He gently eased you onto the bed, gently covering your form with a blanket. 

A shiver racked through you and Bucky watched with a concerned look as you tightened the blanket around your shoulders. He flicked off the lights and crawled into bed next to and wrapped an arm around your waist. 

“Sleep, sweetheart. I’ve got you.” You faintly nodded and relaxed into his hold, feeling his hands run smoothly up and down your arms. The faint glow of the television set and the low volume did nothing to tear you from your due slumber, though you faintly felt the coolness of Bucky’s appendage running over your hair before you slipped into a dreamless sleep.

---

Sweat coated every part of your body as you woke up with a sharp gasp of air. 

Pounding temples, you peeled your eyes open and sat up; the faint glow of the TV caught your eye. The movie Bucky played had finished and had been playing in an endless loop. 

The clock on your nightstand read 2:07am, you reached for the cup of water and took slow sips, barely and faintly registering the sounds of Bucky’s light snores. 

You felt the nausea before anything else. It ran from your stomach up to your chest and you clamped a hand over your mouth, threw off the covers and made a beeline for the bathroom. 

That was until a wave of dizziness hit you and your knees buckled. Vision tunneling, you would have fallen to the floor if it weren’t for the strong pair of arms that wrapped around your waist before you could touch the carpet. I’ve got you, a tired voice murmured, but your hazy mind didn’t hear the quiet mutter.

The warmth of Bucky’s chest touched your heated back as he sped to the bathroom, flicked on the light and watched helplessly as you crashed to your knees and emptied what was in your stomach into the toilet. 

Bucky kneeled behind you and grasped your hair in one hand and rubbed soothing circles along your back. He felt you slacken in his arms, head resting back against his shoulder and when he pressed his palm flat against your forehead, he almost hissed at the radiating heat.

“You’re burnin’ up, sweetheart,” His wide blue eyes darted to your half-lidded ones, cerulean darting over your sweaty, clammy skin. 

“I don’t feel good.” you croaked. 

It hit him in one, big wave as he took over your tattered form. The confusion, the fatigue, to your spiked fever, Something wasn’t right, considering the fact that you rarely felt under the weather.

Those are usually the signs of a virus or even… a pathogen starts to form. Cho’s voice rang in his voice

Weakly, you flushed the toilet and leaned back into Bucky. Shivers racked through your body and Bucky peeled your shirt off your shoulder to see a dark blooming bruise where Donovan had injected the needle. 

“FRIDAY, wake Steve and Dr. Cho. Tell them to meet me in the medical wing,” Bucky called for the AI and slipped his hand under your back and knees and lifted you up against his chest. 

You jolted slightly, dizziness clouding your mind as Bucky stood up. You were limp in his arms, like jell-o.

The cool air of the hallway felt like a slap in the face, you pressed your cheek into the warmth of Bucky. A low whine passed through your lips and Bucky ran his thumb just below the back of your knee. 

“Buck,” Steve called, eyes widening as they fell on your shivering form. “What happened?”

But Bucky didn’t stop his movements, he spared a glance to Steve and kept heading towards the direction of the medical bay. Steve followed Bucky’s fast pace, quickly matching his speed.

“Her temperature is too high,” Bucky said, glancing over at his friend. “When we checked into the medbay, Cho noticed that her temperature was a little higher than normal, but when she got up a couple minutes ago, she was burning hot.”

A slick sheet of sweat coated your forehead, Steve noticed, and how small tremors racked through your body every so often. His eyes fell to the darkening bruise on your shoulder, Bucky caught his eye. 

“I think she was laced with something.”

Your fingers grazed the fabric of his shirt and Bucky looked down, continuing his trek to the medical wing with Steve hot on his tail. You could feel the rapid thumping of Bucky’s heartbeat as you weakly bunched his shirt in your fist.

“Laced? Laced with what?” Steve questioned as he rounded the corner, eyes locking onto Cho’s at the end of the hall.

Bucky looked down at you, clammy skin, eyes barely open, though you kept a strong grip on his shirt. “I don’t know.”

Everything was hazy the moment Bucky set you down on the hospital bed. Though sweat coated nearly every inch of your body, shivers racked through your body relentlessly. It was sweltering and freezing simultaneously. 

Nurses rushed around you, obstructing Bucky’s view from you, one of them placed a cannula just under your nose, an IV into your arm. The thought of more needles sinking into your skin made you sick. 

The last time someone used a needle on you, he was malicious as he jammed the needle into neck harshly. The memory brought nothing but fear to you. 

You were hot. Uncomfortable. The pain in your head was nearly unbearable.

“Bucky,” you called out, only it came out more of a whimper. “W-where’s Bucky?”

Metal clamped gently on your hand, the other hand coming to smoothly brush your sweaty hair back. “I’m here baby, I’m right here.” 

“It… it hurts,” Bucky watched as another nurse attempted to put another needle through your skin, he noticed the subtle shaking of your head, the whimpers.

“Is that really necessary?” he asked with a sharp glare, it melted away when he looked over at you. “What is it, baby? What hurts?”

“My head.”

Worried eyes wandered over to Cho’s as she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Sergeant Barnes, I understand you want to offer her comfort, but I can assure she is in good hands with my team.” 

Bucky nodded, leaning down to press a kiss to your cheek. His finger trailed over your forehead gently, and when he saw Steve and Sam in his peripherals, he sighed to himself. “I’ll check up on you later, sweet girl. I have something to take care of.”

You nodded drowsily, the dizziness taking control. 

Bucky reluctantly moved away from your bedside to his two closest friends, solemn looks on their faces. Sam kept his eyes on you, watching as the nurses took your temperature.

“How is she?” he asked. Bucky kept his eye on you the entire time, watching your tired eyes start to close. 

“It’s not looking good,” Bucky sighed. “Her temperature is extremely high, nausea, light-headed and dizziness. Whatever this bastard did to her, he has to deal with me now.”

“He’s downstairs, whenever you’re ready.” Steve said, his eyes laying on your frail body. “It is 2 in the morning and one of my teammates is lying on a hospital bed with a fever of over 100 degrees and a migraine that’s probably killing her. Let’s get this over with.”

---

Roman Donovan sat in a cold, bright room, hands cuffed to the tables with two SHIELD agents armed standing at the entrance. A smug smirk sat on his face as he fidgeted with his fingers. His head perked up at the sound of the door opening. 

“Well, if it isn’t the mighty Winter Soldier, what a traitor you are to your own country, huh? I mean, working for the people who you literally fought against-” Sam walked behind him and gripped his shoulders tightly, fingers digging into his muscles. 

“I am only gonna say this once, so you better fucking listen to me. What did you do to her?”  

Donovan chuckled, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, old man.”

Bucky shook his head, vibranium fist clenched. 

“You know, Roman, this guy isn’t too fond of repeating himself. Especially to arrogant assholes like you.”

“What did you do to her, Donovan?” Bucky was strangely calm.. “You know the woman you attacked earlier, the one whose throat you almost crushed after you injected her with drugs? She’s got three degrees in chemistry, computer engineering and computer science, so I get why you, a man of your personality, would go after someone who is not strong enough to put up a fight against you.” 

Steve looked on through the window, phone pinging. He pulled it out, the text from Natasha sent dread through himself. 

Temperature over 105, tests coming back positive for some type of influenza. Cho is really worried. Not looking too good for her.

“Shit.”

He went on and walked into the room, leaning over to where Sam stood. 

“So aggressive, James. And for what reason?”

Sam chuckled, crossing his arms. “If you think this is aggressive, you’re in for a ride.”

“I’m gonna ask one more time, and if I don’t get an answer, that means you’re straight up out of luck.” Bucky leaned forward, black and gold vibranium reached for the chain of his restraints and pulled him down, causing Donovan to hit his head. “What did you inject her with?”

The man tilted his head, blood dripping down his cheek. “What makes you think I injected her with anything?” he cockily sneered. “I thought all the Avengers were required to be knowledgeable in the field, cause let me tell you, Sergeant, that little girlfriend of yours is such an easy target.” 

Steve nudged Sam, leaning his phone towards his eyeline, showing the text message. Sam felt a pang of worry settle deep in his stomach, sharing a worried glance with him. 

There wasn’t much time left for you. 

Steve stepped forward, pulling Bucky aside to show him the text message. 

Blue eyes raked over the words he had been dreading the most. "Not looking too good for her.”

“Well Donovan, I want my answer.”

The man smirked. “Yeah? Or what?”

Bucky’s left hand reached out and grabbed a fistful of Donovan’s hair and slammed his head against the metal desk one time only, though it was enough to break the man’s nose. Screams of pain resounded in the small but soundproof room. 

“No one’s gonna hear you, Donovan! Those guys with the big ass guns? They’re not gonna help you either. Not when one of their own is about to die in this building. And so help me, Benjamin,” Bucky sneered into his ear, the man’s eyes wide with fear, “if she dies under your hand, there is nothing on the green earth that is going to stop me from tearing you apart. I’m gonna ask one more time, what did you inject her with?”

“A deadly pathogen! It’s a pathogen that kills its hosts within 24 hours of it being administered.”

Bucky’s eyes glanced at the clock. 2:58 AM. It was a late night mission, the jet had landed in Canada at 7:45 PM. Meaning you had to have been injected with it at 8:00 or so. Meaning six hours had already passed, he had eighteen hours left. You had eighteen hours left.

“Did you know adults that experience fevers that go over 105 degrees can run into complications causing serious implications of brain damage,” Sam blurted out. “means you’re in the dog house if we lose her. And ain’t a single one of us is gonna stop that mean.”

“Is there an antidote for it?” 

Donovan nodded. Bucky slammed a pen and a notepad down on the table, causing the man to jump in fear. “I suggest you better start writing it down. Now you get to deal with Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. Better start writing.”

Eighteen hours would go by quickly. 

---

“Sergeant, it’s not looking good for her,” Dr. Cho said, voice breaking slightly. “This virus that she’s fighting, it’s too strong.”

Bucky looked through the window, heart shattering as his blue eyes fell on the breathing mask they covered your mouth with, the tubes that kept you hydrated. You looked so… lifeless. Natasha sat by your side, her hand gripping your wrist, though you were so out of it, eyes barely open.

“He injected her with some sort of influenza. He knows the antidote, but he has less than eighteen hours.”

She noticed the worried look in his eyes. 

“She was constantly asking for you. Even in a state of being delirious, she was still calling for you. Natasha was able to calm her down.”

The soldier gulped. “Is… is she going to die?” 

For a moment, Dr. Cho couldn’t answer. She didn’t know the probability of the antidote being made on time. 

“James, I cannot answer that. But what I can say is that I will do everything in my power to keep her alive. She’s a fighter.” With that, she excused herself. Bucky stood still for a moment before pushing the door open.

The sounds of your heart monitor and the sounds of oxygen traveling through the tubes filled the room. Natasha’s emerald eyes met Bucky’s, a small smile presented on her face. 

“Any updates yet?” she asked, but it fell on deaf ears as Bucky kneeled at your bedside, grasping your limp hand tightly in his. 

The amount of pain that swirled in his mind was almost too unbearable. Your eyes met his, though you couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Tears welled in your eyes as they rushed down your cheeks. 

“It’s okay, my love. I am right here.” His voice was above a whisper and pressed a kiss to your palm. “Tony and Bruce are gonna find a cure for you, honey. I promise. It’ll all be okay.” He felt you weakly try to grasp his hand back, but the action alone made you more tired. 

“I love you so much, baby. Words can’t comprehend my love for you. I want you to know that,” Tears welled in his own eyes, his hands reached up to cradle your cheek. You leaned into him. “I love you.”

Your skin was so warm under his touch. His eyes read over the stats on the open chart, seeing your temperature rise every hour. 

“She was injected with some sort of influenza. Tony and Bruce are working right now.” 

“Did you find anything else?”

Bucky kissed your hand, gently guiding your head back on the pillows. “Son of a bitch has the antidote. Had to break his nose just to get him to spill it out.” 

Natasha placed her hand on his shoulder. “I will stay with her and I’ll alert you guys if anything changes. Just try to hurry.”

Bucky nodded and leaned down, hugging your frail, weakened body and pressed a kiss against your chapped lips. “I love you, Y/n. I’m gonna fix this.”

He did not spare Natasha a glance as he stormed out of the medical wing, boots stomping with every step he took. Long strides took him to the end of the hall, where the elevator was.

“FRIDAY, where is Stark and Banner?”

“Both are in Mr. Stark’s lab. Shall I notify them that you are coming?”

“Tell them I have a stop to make first.” Bucky slammed the button to the interrogation level. “ I’m coming with the antidote.”

---

Donovan jumped in his seat when the doors opened, revealing the shadow of Bucky’s figure. A knife sat in his hand. The prisoner visibly shivered. 

“You know what I’m here for, Donovan.” 

“Come on, man! It hasn’t even been-”

The knife that was once held in Bucky’s hand was now lodged into metal table, an inch away from Donovan’s finger. 

“You’re fucking crazy!” 

“What happened to the tough guy act, huh? You wanted to act all big and bad up in Canada. Why the sudden change of heart?” Bucky taunted him, walking closer to the pad of paper that had been scribbled on, step by step, three pages, front and back. “Remember, you’re targeting my weak spot.”

He seemed ashamed, guilty almost. But it wasn’t because your life was in jeopardy. It was because he was caught, with no one left to save him. 

“You know, you’re already facing five counts of criminal charges of unauthorized access into government systems, you wanna add a murder charge to that? Assault with intent to cause bodily harm? That sounds like fifty years to me, that is with just the unauthorized access charges.” Bucky sat down across from him. “And if this,” he held up the paper, “isn’t true or it doesn’t cure her, you’re facing a very serious murder charge of a federal agent.”

“You’re nothing but a coward, Benjamin Croot. Tough guy act falls the minute you’re faced against someone who overpowers you. You’re gonna rot in that prison for the rest of your life.”  

---

It was morning.

The sun had risen fully. 

10:47 AM

Tony and Bruce had been hard at work, trying to figure out the antidote. It was nearing the afternoon, and they had been at it since nearly four in the morning. But neither were giving up. Not when your life was on a timer.

Bucky had dropped off the paper before going back up to the medical bay, spending his time with you. He hadn’t slept since he first woke up, his groggy eyes immediately landing on you staggering to the bathroom.

He laid in the small bed with you, balancing himself on the edge, giving you all the space. He had laid a damp rag over your forehead, in hope to cool you down a little. Tremors racked through your body suddenly, Bucky jolted. 

You laid still for a moment, eyes clenched shut, brows furrowed. An unpleasant gurgling sound came from you, body jerking slightly. Bucky’s eyes widened and he pressed the call button repeatedly before running to your side. You weren’t awake, you were warmer than before, heartbeat rapid as the monitor started to go crazy, alarms blasting. Dr. Cho and a couple nurses suddenly bursted into the room, eyes wide

“What’s wrong? What’s happening to her?” Bucky cried out, helplessly watching as they pushed you on the side. 

“She’s choking. Her lungs are filling up with fluids, and if we don't drain it, she will lose her.” Bucky’s eyes filled with horror. “Sergeant Barnes, I know you’re concerned for her health and safety, but I need my full attention if I’m gonna save her. Please.”

Bucky wordlessly nodded, his eyes fixated on your body, your face. 

Eyes closed.

Pale skin.

Lifeless, almost. 

The monitor flatlined. Bucky was pushed out of the room. Sheets pulled around your bed as voices screamed and yelled, though it was all distorted. 

“Bucky?” He turned to Sam, tears spilled over his cheeks. 

“She’s…” A cry got caught in his throat. “she’s flatlining.”

Chocolate eyes widened. 

“I need to find Tony and Bruce.”

Sam loved you like a sister. The two of you had always been close, ever since you joined the team. And when Sam laid eyes on you, defibrillator pads pressed on the exposed skin of your chest, head laid back, a knife twisted into his heart. 

Neither men didn’t move a muscle until the flatline changed to a faint beeping. 

---

“Please tell me you’re somewhat close to putting an antidote together.” Bucky and Sam pushed through the doors. Tony looked up, “How is she?”

“She’s running out of time, she flatlined for a minute,” Bucky rambled out. “Please, Tony. What do you have so far?”

“It’s almost done, I think. We followed every single one of the steps, used past remedies that have helped even Thor himself from a virus. But if this guys even altered one of these steps-”

“He’ll have to face me then.” Bucky finished. “Is it ready?” Tony nodded, though he had a look of hesitancy. “What is it?”

Tony looked over at Bruce, having just placed the antidote in the freezer. “It needs to maintain a temperature of -50 degrees. Meaning…”

“You need to bring her down here, or else it won’t work. I have all the medical supplies she’ll need down here. I just need you to transport her.�� 

“I’ll do it.” Bucky said, not that anyone else would have even offered. “Have every single thing ready by the time I step foot in here.”

“I’ll inform Cho.”

Both scientists nodded, scrambling to ready the emergency medical cot. Sam followed Bucky as they raced through the stairwell, racing up the stairs, though adrenaline gave Bucky all the energy in the world it seemed. 

Once he reached the room, Sam sprinted to ready the elevators, to get you to the lab as quickly as possible. Dr. Cho had removed all the tubes and wires off of you, only an oxygen mask with a tank attached. 

“Come on, baby,” Bucky strapped the oxygen tank to his back and slid his arms underneath your knees and shoulders, and ever so gently he lifted you up, grey hospital gown drenched in sweat. Your head lolled back, arms and legs completely limp. “I got you, baby, I’ve got you.”

With you laid against his chest, he moved swiftly, his pace faster than normal and it wasn’t long until he was in the elevator with you, nearly unconscious in his arms. Bucky looked down at you and rested his forehead against your sweaty hair, though it did not bother him in the slightest. 

Your brows furrowed for a moment, followed by a whimper. “We’re getting there, love. We’re almost there.”

The doors opened and Bucky made a beeline for the lab doors, immediately going to the corner of the room where they had the cot set up. As gently as he could, he cradled the back of your head as he placed you down on the mat, softly placing the tank on the ground. 

“Okay, now Tony.” Bruce unbuttoned the gown at the shoulder, revealing where you were attacked. Bucky held the side of your face, caressing your cheek. 

He had placed a part of his armor on the hand piece as he took it out of the freezer, glancing  at the space from the freezer to you, and in two big strides he held the needle just above the darkening bruise and quickly administered it into your skin. He pressed the button and a fluid was shot into your shoulder.

Your body shuddered for a moment, there was no sudden movement from you.

It was the longest minute of Bucky’s life, his eyes filling up with tears. The sudden rise and fall of your chest kept getting  stronger with every breath you sucked in. The bruise surrounding your shoulder slowly vanished, your natural skin color coming back. 

When your eyes peeled open, Bucky nearly sobbed in relief, crashing on his knees as he gripped your arms. 

“Y/n, baby, can you hear me?” he pleaded desperately. 

“B-Bucky,” your voice was raspy and raw.

“Oh my god, you’re okay. You’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay,” he muttered over and over like a mantra, cradling the back of your head as he peppered your forehead and cheeks with kisses. You were still a little warm, not as life threatening as it was beforehand.

“W-where am I?” you tiredly asked, eyes roaming around the lab. “What happened?”

 Bucky gently took the oxygen mask off, replacing it with a nasal tube. “You were poisoned, honey.” Flashes of you flatlining not even two hours ago flooded his mind, but he shook them away. You were well and alive, breathing with a steady pulse. “You were really sick for a while, 

but Tony and Bruce here made a cure for you.”

You nodded, still a bit drowsy from the near death experience. “What about… him?” 

Though your voice was barely above a whisper, Bucky heard you clearly. “He’s already taken care of. If I had it my way, the bastard would spend the rest of his life on Raft for all I care.”

Tony chuckled, coming over to pat your hair and a quick kiss to your head. “Leave that to me, kiddo. This kid doesn’t know what’s coming to him. Get some rest, hon.”

Bruce, Tony and Sam all bidded you a goodbye, leaving the two of you alone. 

Bucky cradled your face in his hands, pressing a soft kiss against your lips. “I love you, sweet girl.”

“I love you, too, Bucky.” You sounded downright exhausted. But you could finally rest. “This is why I stay behind the computers.”

Bucky chuckled and laid against the pillows, pulling you to lay on his chest. “Valid.” Your laugh was a tired one, Bucky could tell. “C’mon baby, let’s nap together.” 

You had no obligations on that, closing your eyes as you held onto Bucky’s arm, lulling to sleep. 

Finally, Bucky could rest knowing that you were at ease and finally able to rest without being in pain. His eyes drifted shut and you both finally succumbed to a well deserved rest.

--

[mlqueen89]

Glossary of Terms linked to (i love you) it's ruining my life - jake "hangman" seresin x f!oc

Ace (Flying Ace or Fighter Ace) = Military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.

Avionics = Advanced processors and networking systems to fiber optics and conformal wideband antennas, etc.

Bandit = an aircraft identified and verified as enemy.

Bogey = radar or visual contact whose identity is unknown and not yet verified as an enemy. Bogey can also be a friendly once identified.

Break (right/left) = when an aircraft is instructed to sharply turn left/right, essentially "breaking" away from its current flight path to the left/right side

HUD = "Head-Up Display," for fighter pilots is a transparent screen in the cockpit that projects critical flight information directly into the pilot's line of sight, allowing them to view essential data like airspeed, altitude, heading, and weapon targeting details without needing to look away from the outside environment, maintaining situational awareness during flight operations. 

Lt. = Lieutenant (rank)

Lt. Cmdr = Lieutenant Commander (rank)

LTJG = Lieutenant Junior Grade (rank)

Preflight checks = a thorough inspection that pilots perform on an aircraft before each flight, meticulously examining its exterior, systems, controls, and documentation to ensure it is in a safe condition to fly, identifying any potential issues that could compromise flight safety by checking for damage, fluid levels, proper functionality of components, and reviewing necessary paperwork.

Qual(ification) hop = refers to a flight performed by a pilot to demonstrate proficiency in a specific skill or maneuver required for certification or qualification. In the military aviation world, pilots must complete these hops to be officially qualified to perform certain missions, fly specific aircraft, or execute advanced tactics.

RADM = Rear Admiral (rank)

RIO = Radar Intercept Officer (now known as WSO)

SAM(s) = Surface to Air Missile(s)

Splash = typically refers to the moment of impact when a bomb or missile hits its target, essentially signifying the detonation or "splash" of the explosive upon contact.

Tally = communication used to tell a controller they are about to engage enemy aircraft. Also used to announce to the squadron leader (or other person of command in the flight) the spotting of an enemy aircraft.

Telemetry = the collection of data from a remote and usually fast-moving device for measurement purposes. It is used in aircraft/missile testing to track moving objects in action or collect data provided by instruments and sensors on the test object.

Tone = fighter pilot speak for a missile or weapons lock. When a pilot is tracking a target the computer will beeping as it acquires a lock-on, which changes to a continuous tone when lock is established.

VFA = Strike Fighter Squadron

Weapons envelope = the area around the bandit where your missiles or gun can be effective.

WSO = Weapons System Operator (formerly known as RIO)

NATOPS F-18 Manual

Am I missing any? Send me an ask!

[baldy-wan-kenobi]

Mechs of the Setting- A deeper look

Pandelmo Incorporated

Based out of the city-state of Chicago, Pandelmo's primary concern is Combat Frames. First and foremost, they are a defense contractor and supplier of Gen 2 frames. Their frames are generally middle-of-the-road, good-for-the-price, perfectly "average" frames. Perfect for a City-State's security forces or as a base for customization.

OEM Frames:

GRA-01 "Granite" - A basic, all-rounder frame. No true weak points, but no real specialty. Cornerstone of the Pandelmo brand. Equipped with a 20mm autocannon, Combat-Rated Fist, one rack of 8 laser-guided missiles, and one 81mm mortar launcher.

BAS-02A "Basalt" - Pandelmo's Heavy model, essentially an up-armored and heavier-armed Granite, trading the sheer versatility of the company's flagship model for an ability to take hits and a superior level of firepower, at the expense of some speed and maneuverability. It is equipped with one 30mm rotary cannon, two racks of 8 laser-guided missiles, and an 81mm mortar launcher.

BAS-02B "Basalt (FS)" - Pandelmo's Heavy model, equipped and tuned for better performance in a fire support role. In exchange for a worse heat economy than the standard Basalt, it carries a staggering amount of firepower, and has a far better range, thanks to its better Targeting Computer. It is equipped with an Enhanced Radar Package, two pods of 15 radar-guided missiles, and one 120mm howitzer.

QTZ-03A "Quartz" - Pandelmo's light frame, built for speed and maneuverability. Though its intended role is reconnaissance, its cannon and enhanced sensor suite make it a formidable sniper in the right hands. It is equipped with one 105mm cannon, one pod of 4 radar-guided missiles, and an Enhanced Radar Package.

QTZ-03B "Quartz (B)" - Pandelmo's light frame, modified for use as an up-close brawler. Its shotgun can be loaded with alternate ammunition, allowing for greater tactical flexibility, while its Pile Bunker can deliver devastating melee blows, punching through all but the heaviest of armor. It is equipped with one seventeen-pounder shotgun, one pile bunker, and one rack of 4 laser-guided missiles.

[snapghoul]

Hangman is comin’ down from the gallows, and I don’t have very long.

In which Tyler is smitten with a certain girl and Jake does what he does best: annoy people.

Warnings: foul language

Note: Tyler refers to Bradley only as Rooster while Jake calls him by his name or Roo, this was a detail i didn’t notice until I was half way through writing this. The things I do to myself.

Tags: @devil-angel-winchester

Song: renegade by Styx

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Jake licked his teeth and clicked his tongue as he oh-so-casually slid up next to his brother, boxing Tyler into the booth at the old country diner they’d crowded into somewhere in central Oklahoma.

“So… Kate, huh?” Jake’s grin stretched from ear to ear, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Tyler shot him a sidelong glance, trying to ignore the growing heat in his cheeks. “What about Kate?”

Jake leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Come on, Ty. I see the way you look at her. It’s not just friendly banter about tornado chasing.”

Tyler shifted uncomfortably, trying to deflect. “It’s not like that. We just work together—we’re partners, you know, with the polymer project. And she’s been through a lot with storm chasing. I’m just trying to keep things light-hearted and professional.”

Jake raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “Light-hearted and professional? That’s why you practically trip over your words whenever she’s around? And don’t think I didn’t catch how you went all sweet southern boy when Bradshaw and I first got here.”

Tyler stiffened and gave his twin a glare, irritated by how well Jake read him. It was a talent Jake had always had, and it never failed to get under Tyler’s skin.

“You were buttering yourself up to make yourself look good in front of her,” Jake continued, his smirk growing. “It was almost sickening how thick you laid it on. Bradley had to take a walk when you two went to look at the radar. I thought he was going to throw up!”

Tyler’s face reddened. “That’s exaggerating, Jake. I was just trying to be supportive. It’s not like I planned to impress anyone.”

Jake’s grin widened, clearly relishing his brother’s discomfort. “Oh, come on. We both know you were laying it on super thick. I’ve seen you try to play it cool before, but this? This was next-level. And I’m not saying it was a bad thing—but holy shit, Ty.”

Tyler’s face was practically streaming with embarrassment. He silently thanked whatever higher power had distracted Kate and the others. The only one left in their booth was Rooster, who was looking equally uncomfortable.

“Right, Roo?” Jake decided to rope the other man into the conversation, clearly enjoying Tyler’s discomfort. “You saw it, right?”

Rooster shifted uncomfortably, glancing between the two brothers. He clearly tried to avoid getting involved but failed as Jake’s sharp eyes fixed on him.

“No comment,” Rooster said, and Tyler silently thanked him for trying to steer the conversation away.

“Whatever,” Jake clicked his tongue and narrowed his eyes, then turned his full attention back to Tyler. “I’ve never seen you so smitten! Never! She really must be something.”

Tyler bit his tongue, struggling to keep from spilling all the reasons he thought Kate was amazing. He knew that would only dig him deeper into Jake’s teasing.

“But I like her! I think Ma and Dad will, too,” Jake said and finally relented, for now. He slid back from his brother and returned to his seat next to Rooster.

The timing was impeccable because, just then, Kate walked into the booth area with a radiant smile and a lively energy that made Tyler’s heart skip.

Jake’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he noticed the effect Kate had on Tyler. His Cheshire smile broadened, clearly enjoying this.

Tyler knew Jake wouldn’t let him live this down.

Bonus Rooster and Kate:

“Is he always like this?” Kate said from atop the red rig, her sunglasses shielding her eyes from the harsh Oklahoma sun. Bradley was handing her the new sensors, both of them squinting against the glaring light.

Bradley didn’t need to look to know what she meant. He let out a sigh. “Annoying? Always.”

It was a dry joke, and Kate snorted, giving the side of the sensor a quick, unceremonious smack to adjust it.

“Jake’s got this knack for finding everyone’s soft spots and poking at them. It’s his way of keeping things interesting,” Bradley continued. He was used to it by now, but he could understand how aggressive it might seem to others.

Kate raised an eyebrow, clearly processing this. “So, it’s not just me he’s targeting?”

Bradley shook his head. “Nope. He picks on everyone, but Tyler’s the one he’s focused on—sibling things, I guess? I don’t know, I was an only child.”

Bradley got sidetracked, waving his hand dismissively as he handed her another sensor.

“Anyways, you just got caught in the crossfire. Trust me, it’s not malicious. Jake just found something he could tease Tyler about and went with it.”

Kate took the sensor with a nod, her expression easing. “Got it. I’ll just stay still and hope he won’t see me.”

She and Bradley shared a laugh at the lame pop culture joke.

Bradley grinned. “No problem. And if Jake gets to be too much, just let me know.”

Kate smiled and nodded as they returned to their work. With Bradley’s reassurance, she felt more prepared to handle Jake’s playful jabs.

But that didn’t stop her own teasing side from rearing its head. “So, is like ‘wingman’ the Navy term for boyfriend?”

Bradley choked on his spit.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Average Rooster reaction while being dragged across Oklahoma, poor Roo (he did this to himself)

[tomorrowusa]

Donald Trump neglected to look at a map before he concocted his concept of a "Golden Dome" defense for the US.

President Donald Trump left out a key detail this week when he outlined his plans for a massive missile and air defense shield over the continent: He can’t build it without Canada. And it’s not clear America’s northern neighbor wants in. Canada would need to play a pivotal role in Trump’s signature, potentially $500 billion effort to build the so-called Golden Dome, according to U.S. officials and experts, with Ottawa providing radars and airspace needed to track incoming missiles in the Arctic.

If Putin wants to nuke us, the most likely route would be over the Arctic. Canada is between the US and the Arctic. d'oh!

Considering Trump's belligerent and condescending outbursts aimed at Canada, Canadians are not particularly eager to co-operate with Trump.

Yet whether he realizes it or not, Trump suddenly finds himself in need of an ally he has largely forsaken. He has singled out Canada for free riding on American military might and preferential trade ties, and has engaged in a tariff battle that has stilted relations. Prime Minister Mark Carney has warned the United States can’t take Ottawa for granted and has begun searching for other security partners. [ ... ] Canada has nearly 4 million square miles of territory. That airspace offers a crucial line of sight for U.S. sensors to shoot down missiles that Beijing and Moscow are developing to fly over the North Pole — a huge gap in American air defenses. [ ... ] Carney has framed any investment in Golden Dome as a back-and-forth, not a guarantee. “It’s something that we are looking at and something that has been discussed at a high level,” he said Wednesday in Ottawa . “But not — sure, one negotiates on this.”

The Golden Dome sounds like a warmed over version of Ronald Reagan's discredited "Star Wars" missile defense. Right now, we should think od Trump's project as the "Golden Dumb".

[reality-detective]

To the Cabal & Those Of Baal Worship

Do you want to know a secret?

- Remember the good ole days when someone had to be wired to gather information for a sting operation?

- Remember how someone would be searched before they entered a high security area for secret meetings you didn't want recorded on record?

- Remember when you could ensure that if someone would speak of what went on you had a way to get rid of them?

I want you to think of a hypothetical technology for second. Let's call it "Bio-Sensory Neural Interface" or "Energetic Biofield Interface" (EBI)

What can this technology achieve?

• The Bio-Sensory Neural Interface (BSNI) technology represents intelligence-gathering methodologies. It leverages the interaction between advanced computational systems and the human energetic biofield to facilitate seamless, real-time communication and data acquisition from human sensory experiences.

• Utilizes sophisticated sensors to interact with the human biofield, capturing and interpreting electromagnetic signals naturally emitted by the body.

• Enables non-invasive interfacing, ensuring the integrity and operational security of the actor.

Real-Time Sensory Data Transmission:

• Converts sensory input (visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile) into digital data streams, allowing remote operators to experience the actor's environment firsthand.

• Acts as a live sensory transceiver, making the human body a dynamic tool for intelligence collection.

Cognitive Communication:

• Facilitates direct, silent communication between the operator and the actor through thought transmission, eliminating the need for spoken words or physical devices.

• Supports bidirectional communication, enabling strategic planning and real-time adjustments through inner dialogue.

What does this basically mean in more mundane terms?

This basically eliminates the need for physical implants or external devices, reducing the risk of detection and enhancing the safety of the operative in sensitive environments. Which means you could never detect any infiltration apparatus. You could never know who is working for the good guys.

This is one reason why your plans never pan out. This is why you can never quite nail down why something didn't go as planned. This is why you can never trace or track how certain info was shared to those who were never invited to your secret clandestine meetings.

You think because you hold them while a major celebrity is performing in town that the powerful political figures attending would fly under the radar because everyone is distracted with Taylor Swift? You are some funny guys.

BSNI technology is ideally suited for intelligence operations requiring high levels of discretion and security. Its applications extend to military intelligence, covert operations, and high-stakes negotiations where traditional intelligence methods may be impractical or too intrusive. And please avoid trying to look up this technology. This is not what it is called.

This is Mind-to-Mind technology. You all have been caught with your pants down. And now you are way too far behind to catch up to how this could have possibly been used against you. Now you are scrambling. Trying to wonder how you have had to resort to outright assassination attempts. Something that wasn't on the cards before you 1st tried years ago.

Oh' well. You lose. Off to G¡tmo you go. Pain-(☠️) is in your future.

- Julian Assange

[mariacallous]

In the fall of 2022, Kyiv faced a difficult problem. The Russians were bombarding Ukrainian cities with swarms of Iranian Shahed drones. The challenge was spotting them, since their low altitude, small size, and stealthy design made them hard to follow on radar.

A pair of Ukrainian engineers quickly jury-rigged a solution. Today, the country is blanketed with a network of 9,500 microphones mounted on six-foot-tall poles. The microphones, which are attached to cell phones, track the Shaheds by sound (the propeller-driven drones have loud engines) and send that data to a central system that calculates their courses. That information is then passed on to iPad-wielding soldiers in gun trucks that shoot down the slow-moving drones. Each sensor pole in the network costs less than $500—which makes the entire network, known as Sky Fortress, cheaper than a pair of Patriot missiles.

I experienced Sky Fortress in action during an extended visit to Kyiv last fall. Shaheds, which sound a lot like lawn mowers in the sky—passed over my apartment building several times. Ukrainian air defenses succeeded in shooting down the majority of them, and they did so at a fraction of the cost of Western-supplied anti-aircraft systems.

All this should explain why I wasn’t entirely surprised when I heard about last weekend’s shrewd Ukrainian drone attack on air bases deep inside Russia. Operation Spiderweb, which appears to have inflicted serious damage on Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, brilliantly exemplifies the Ukrainian way of war, born out of Kyiv’s struggle to survive attacks from an enemy with far larger manpower and resources. This disparity has forced the Ukrainians to get creative, bypass traditional bureaucracies, and empower soldiers and entrepreneurs in the search for unorthodox solutions that quickly address battlefield needs. Since it largely ignores traditional military hierarchy and its slow, top-down processes, one might call Ukraine’s new philosophy “flat war.”

Flat war is less a planned strategy than an organic reflection of Ukraine’s predicament. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine’s defense establishment was still dominated by top-heavy, Soviet-style structures. But military and political leaders quickly shifted to a nimbler approach, bringing private companies directly into the process of developing weapons and giving front-line units greater leeway to develop and procure their own systems. In some ways, that shift reflects the country’s recent political history. Decentralization has been a pillar of reform efforts over the past decade or so, which might explain why it has been embraced so thoroughly by soldiers.

One of the most striking traits of the new philosophy is its emphasis on cost-effectiveness. Each of the 117 drones deployed in Operation Spiderweb cost something in the ballpark of $1,000. Kyiv has said that the attack inflicted billions of dollars of damage on Russia, which could well be true given satellite images confirming that around a dozen Russian bombers were destroyed. No matter the actual figure, the cost-benefit calculation skews dramatically in Ukraine’s favor. And the precise number of lost aircraft doesn’t even begin take into account the broader effects on the Russian economy, which is now being thrown into chaos as paranoid security officials stop every truck on the road in search of more drones.

From a Ukrainian perspective, the most unusual thing about Operation Spiderweb is precisely the fact that President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have been directly involved. Today, many of the most vital warfighting decisions are made not by the president’s office or the Ministry of Defense, but at the brigade level—the fundamental building block of the Ukrainian military. Brigades recruit their own soldiers (whom they can divert to technology development work according to their qualifications), liaise directly with companies about the weapons they need, and even manufacture drones in their own 3D-printing facilities. (Zelensky recently said that Ukraine made 2.2 million drones in 2024; the production target for this year is more than double that.)

In the best cases, the flattening of distance between decision-makers and warfighters promotes rapid innovation. Not many militaries in the world would have had the audacity to field a missile-equipped naval drone of the kind that shot down two Russian fighter jets over the Black Sea last month. Operating outside bureaucratic constraints in the months after Russia launched its invasion, Ukrainian tech experts quickly developed an app that allowed troops, spotters, and artillery units to coordinate attacks. Ukrainians have also made remarkable strides in adapting artificial intelligence systems to the battlefield. Kateryna Bondar, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, has outlined how some of the drones in Operation Spiderweb used AI applications to hit their targets.

Speed has become a weapon. “Ukraine’s advantage has not been in the individual technologies it has deployed, but in its ability to regularly outpace Russia in the innovation cycle,” wrote Joyce Hakmeh, deputy director of the international security program at Chatham House, in a recent report. And Hakmeh’s right. Ukraine’s strength hasn’t been in developing clever new gadgets, but in exploiting already available solutions and putting them together in innovative ways. (It was the Ukrainians who were the first to realize that they could put 3D-printed fins on mortar shells and drop them from off-the-shelf consumer drones.)

Ukrainians are constantly adapting to the battlefield. Last year, a friend from Kyiv, who works on the development of naval drones, showed me a spreadsheet tracking all naval drone attacks on Russian targets, and it included vital variables like electronic warfare measures used by the enemy. The data, he explained, was constantly being updated in real time and immediately flowing into the calculations of the drone designers.

My friend was working in conjunction with one of the Ukrainian security services, which operate at the cutting edge of flat war. Granted broad latitude by Zelensky, they have prosecuted an audacious program of covert actions against Russia. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which ran the recent attack on the Russian bases, has made a name for itself with targeted assassinations, such as the December killing of a top Russian general in Moscow, possibly with an exploding scooter. The SBU’s rival, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency (HUR), has been equally aggressive. It was likely behind the 2023 hit on a former Russian submarine commander, who was killed during his morning jog; his assailants had prepared for the attack by hacking into an exercise app that he used. Just hours after Operation Spiderweb left Russian aircraft in flames, HUR announced that its hackers had infiltrated the computer systems of one of Moscow’s leading aircraft designers.

The United States could learn a lot from Ukraine’s flat war, and plenty of people in the U.S. military know it. The Defense Department’s Replicator program, which aims to produce swarms of cheap drones in direct collaboration with private companies, clearly reflects Ukraine’s experience. So, too, is the Pentagon’s Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies initiative, designed to stimulate innovation by detouring around hidebound procurement procedures. Of course, the U.S. defense establishment isn’t going to mimic everything that Ukraine is doing. But a bit more flatness wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

[phightingaus]

Am back with another au idea here we go

A strom chasing au

I came up with this while watching into the strom (fun tornado movie) and I got bored

Okay so am going to explain some words and what they are for those who aren't as metoragly like me

key terms

Mobile Doppler radar- a radar on wheels these scan for windspeeds inside the tornado

Interpreter- built to withstand tornado and uses spikes into the ground, they also can scan for windspeeds using probes

Probes- sensors placed into the ground to mesuser pressure, humidity and windspeed

Blue sky busts- when supercells don't form this typically means no thunderstorms and just blue sky

Ef- the enchaned Fujita scale is the scaling system

Risks aka how likely it is for severe weather to form based off of how the atmosphere acts on the day and what's present. So high risks are the highest level of risk

phighters/chasers

Banhammer uses an interpreter and is live streams 24/7 when he's chasing he will also chase the church crew off the road (he claims they did it first)

Sythe, medkit and broker are a chase team with broker in charge of the cameras and the narration ( he just uses it to shit talk other chasers), medkit is the brains and reads the radar, is the one to place probes (ripped off Biografts) and sythe drives and bikers with medkit, she also drinks on blue sky busts or on sceecsful chases.

Coil makes tornado jokes 24/7 and reads the radar he used to go uni at blackrock College. Skateboard is the only one to drive and boombox is the dj and a photographer they're all a chase team

Valk and dom run a strom chasing from called phighting the stroms and both work for the equivalent of the national weather severce

Sword goes chasing to gain data and hopes to save people, while rocket goes chasing to see tornados however he still wants to learn mainly about the more volient tornados I.E ef3 to ef5

Supspace and hyperlazer are both strom chasers with Biograft being the probes. Supspace is a metoraglist aswell he and medkit both studied at blackrock college before the fought with each other like cannon, I'll get onto this later

Zuka use to chase and tought rocket how to make interpet vehicles

Medkit and supspace both use to work for blackrock collage, medkit worked as a teacher and part time strom chaser for the collage, subspace is similar expect he focused on making probes i.e the Biografts

And Katana just sits there (I forgot about him) he probably just doesn't really like torandos and his husband hyperlazer has taken him on chases before

Lore and other things

Subspace wanted to use the data the probes got to company's that aren't the most moraly the best, medkit didn't think that this was okay and stole the data the probes had to go send them off to this aus equivalent to the national weather severce, but before he could subspace found him and they fought, similar to cannon both lost an eye. Anyways so that happens

Coil also ends up studying at blackrock collage but he finds out about what subspace has done and drops out he's currently looking into other metoragly courses

Blackrock collage in of its self is morally cruppt protazing profit over lives saved with data I.e they always sell the data to companies

The church of the true eye is a strom chasing crew that is known for breaking laws and being crazy like think sythe driving into torandos and getting broker to fire off fire works while medkit regets his life choices and sythe drinks a can of beer I can't think of their team name

Rocket oringaly chased with boombox and skateboard before they all had a falling out

And that's the au feel free to ask questions and I'll think on this more and add the swords at some point i just wanted to send this here

I really like this 👍

Feel like some of them would've had a field day with some events I've personally had happen too close to home (like the December 10-11, 2021 tornado outbreak)

[sillysowa]

REIN RAUS

pairing: könig x fem!reader

genre: suggestive

word count: 2K

warnings: blood, graphic injury, fighting and struggle with sexual undertones (dni if you are uncomfortable with that)

authors note: haven’t posted in a while—hope y’all like cod. i honestly just wanted to write an erotic fight scene lol. part 2 with an interrogation of host e reader?

synopsis: kortacs colonel finds you all alone and toys with you for the sake of sadistic pleasure

—

A mission to infiltrate a Kortac base-camp in Al Mazrah was not something you were expecting to be tagging along on as a fairly new recruit, especially not like this. It was only you, Price, and Ghost, and your role in all this was objectively major. Once the three of you had successfully scaled a nearby building, Captain Price and Ghost had given you clear instructions—watch over the outside of the camp and take down any Kortac operators that get too close to the two of them, and check your—

“—God damn heartbeat sensor, ya hear?” Ghost grumbled out, “Don’t want to risk it. The possibility of their Colonel lurking around is highly likely and I don’t reckon you’re trained to combat men like him.” The Lieutenant's words were sobering and scary to say the very least. You had heard of this infamous König—myth-like stories told at lunchtime, news of his advances and missions followed by a hushed curse from your Captain, or even the few Specgru soldiers who have seen him and survived. You weren’t particularly eager to encounter this man, even if you managed to survive. It sounds like the fear of seeing that dark sniper hood and unreal height from across the battlefield is traumatizing enough. Your superiors double checked that your sniper rifle was loaded, had plenty extra mags, and that you had a safe escape route in case a Kortac soldier (or Colonel) managed to sneak up on you. Price pats your shoulder roughly, almost throwing you off-balance, and Ghost gave you a curt nod, his dark eyes locked with yours in a reassuring way. He could feel your unease, and it worried him.

“Follow that rope down the building if anything appears on that sensor, and don’t waste time trying to alert us—we’ll know.” Price whispers with a grim look on his face. With that, the two of them made their exit and it was just you left on the rooftop.

You laid flat on your stomach, your rifle locked and loaded, mounted on the rooftop and scoped in to get an eye on the activity below. The night was cold, your fingers growing rigid and cold without any gloves. You quickly tried to warm them up, huffing onto your fingers and wincing at the burning chill sensation. Clearly Captain Price sees some potential in you, enough to trust you with this level of responsibility, so you can’t stomach the prospect of failing him. You need to be solely focused on the task at hand, nerves be damned. You squint one eye shut, the other peering into your holothermal optic, waiting to pick up any bright orange bodies below. You gently peered around every corner, every vehicle, through the gaps in the fences—nothing.

“Captain, Lt, this is Y/N. I’m not seeing any movement—all clear. Over.” You whisper into your talkie, pulling out your heartbeat sensor and swiveling it a bit to make sure you were still alone. Nothing showed and you tucked it away,

“Copy, sounds like they may be inside their quarters for the night. Hold, but don’t get too comfortable, soldier. Over.” Ghost answers, his voice hushed as he and Price navigate the area. His words send a chill rippling over your skin, stinging your scalp and making your hairs stand up. You nodded before you remembered he couldn’t see you,

“Yes sir.” You affirm, watching over the two from afar with your walkie propped up…but your heartbeat monitor long forgotten. The green radar detector scanned the area, and a small dot rhythmically pulsed on the screen—unbeknownst to you.

Your steady breaths were the only sound in your ears, visible in the cold winter night despite your balaclava. You were hyper focused on the task of watching Ghost and Price’s locations that you failed to notice the 6 '10, Austrian, colonel, sneaking up behind you, cold hard eyes wide and shining in the moonlight. He scaled the building on knives alone with agility and stealth that you wouldn’t typically see for someone his size—and he did it because he knew you would be there. He knew some Specgru operators would show up eventually and fall into his trap like mice, but he had no idea he’d find someone so easily, and so soon.

You felt him before you heard him. A large gloved hand wrapped around your ankle and yanked so swiftly you’d think you weighed nothing. Instantly, a yelp tore from your throat and you attempted to twist onto your back to defend yourself, but he saw it coming. His other hand pinned you down by the nape of your neck and suddenly you were in a rather compromising position—your back arched with your attacker caging you underneath them.

Shit.

“I’ve never seen you before, spionin.” König snarls, his fingers traveling to the front of your neck and holding you still, your pulse drumming against his rough fingers. You gasp, the rapid traveling of adrenaline throughout your veins amplifying his every touch. He feels you struggle and gives your neck a quick squeeze to remind you of your current disposition, his other hand finding purchase over your wrist as you reach for the sniper rifle. He makes a disapproving sound right into your ear—it’s mocking and it echoes in your brain, making your thighs clench.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, kleine dame.” He rasps, his thumb gripping your chin and holding your head in place to whisper right against the shell of your ear, his mask against the side of your own, “Who left a rookie like you alone and unguarded on a rooftop, hm? I don’t think your precious Captain cares about you very much.” That voice of his makes your hairs stand up on end, and you ponder your next decision before you grunt at his words and reply,

“I’m no rookie.” Without any hesitation, you bite down on König’s thumb as hard as you can. The monster of a man grunts and hisses and you roll onto your back as he pulls away. His head snaps up and he kicks you down so you won’t stand. He’s fast, pressing his boot over your wrist and slinging his pistol out to silently threaten your other hand before you even attempt to peel him off of you. A string of curses in German leaves Konigs lips as his bloody thumb starts to soak through his glove. The moonlight hits his eyes just right and you swear your heart physically drops—you swore by that bloodthirsty look in his eyes that tonight would be the night you die. He moves quicker than your eyes can register, a gasp leaving your lips as you’re suddenly dragged by your clothes to the edge of the rooftop, König roughly holding you over the edge. Your heart slams against your ribcage and you clutch onto his wrists, kicking your feet helplessly,

“W-Wait! Wait! You don’t want to do this—You don’t want to kill me!” You rasp, desperate to reason with him for the sake of your life. He laughs, throwing his head back and shaking you a little too much for your comfort, before he sighs,

“No, I don’t. What I want, mein süßes mädchen, is far worse.”

You freeze and König feels his dick throb in his pants at that horrified look in your eyes. Your breathing is heavy and you both know there’s no way out of this, but neither of you expected you to continue struggling. You reach for the knife on your belt but König simply reduces his hold on you to just his left hand, your body jolting from the change. You instantly scream at the sudden falling feeling, the knife that was just in your hand now against your throat due to Königs quick nature. He holds you over the building with just one hand and your own knife against your throat—he’s got your life on the line in more ways than one.

“Don’t make this worse for yourself. Beg me for mercy” He groans and you swear he’s getting off on this—oh fuck he definitely is. You shudder at the budge in his cargos, your hands tightly gripping his arm out of terror and suppressed desire.

“I’ll never beg for you.” You hiss, everything in your body telling you to hold your ground (even if you’re suspended in the air.)

“Oh, aren’t you just so resilient?” He coo’s, gently dragging the knife over your exposed neck, the cool metal gliding over your skin. He can see your pulsing heartbeat and it makes his eyes twitch in excitement. He looks at you as he straightens out the blade, pressing the tip into your skin. He gently applies more and more pressure until you’re afraid he won’t stop, the sharp sting of the blade becoming stronger and stronger.

“Please! please spare me.” You whisper into the cold night, your voice cracking as you refuse to make eye contact with him. You had almost forgotten about Price and Ghost until Ghosts raspy voice came through the walkie,

“Breached the entrance—keep a watchful eye on our exit, Y/N—over.” The walkie cuts out and König instantly yanks you back onto the rooftop, your body making painful impact with the hard surface. You take heavy breaths as you attempt to relax, but you can’t around König. He seems like he’s trying to piece together your mission after hearing Ghost over the comms, so you try to slowly crawl away from him. It’s like he has eyes behind his head as he instantly turns around and yanks his pistol out of the holster again, giving you a warning shot between your legs. The sound makes you jump and you whimper in fear, putting your hands up as a sign of mercy. He feels impossibly tall like this—when you’re on your back looking up at him. He stuffs your walkie-talkie into his pocket before kicking your gun across the roof, holding eye contact the entire time.

“You’re coming with me, Y/N.” He walks over to you, crouching down to meet your level even though he’s still tall. König manhandles you over his shoulder and his hand placement makes you gasp—his massive gloved hand slotted in between your thighs. He shushes you and fastens you into the harness you climbed up with, hooking you up to the rope. He starts removing all the guns and knives from your belt and vest, his cold dead eyes squinting in sadistic delight when you make small sounds akin to whimpers.

“Y/N, you will make your way down the building and you won’t move an inch until I give you further instructions—of course, if you don’t do exactly as I say, mein dummer spionin,” He grits, holding your chin while his eyes shine with depraved desires, “Ich werde nicht zögern, deine kleinen beine in millionen stücke zu brechen.” He practically moans, his thumb smoothing over your mask. You are blissfully unaware of what he’s said as you cannot speak any German, but you assume it was a threat of sorts.

You simply gulp and start to descend down the rope, calculating your chances. There’s windows in the building, and you assume there’s probably guns too. Maybe if you just…

You walk down the building, looking down and seeing a window in your path. You look back up and your heart drops into your stomach as you lock eyes with König, who stares down at you with glowing eyes. You hold your breath before you jump and point your feet together to slam through the window and into the building, but it never comes.

You’re falling for only a moment, and then, you can’t stand and you’re bleeding—everywhere. Your head rings and the pain slowly, but surely, sets your body ablaze.

König coo’s, mocking sympathy at your screams from the bones in your legs crushing on impact with the ground as he tosses your knife into the air before stashing it away. He throws his head back with a groan at how hard your cries make him, and he whispers to himself.

“Sobald ich da unten bin, werde ich dich verarschen, du dumme maus."

[trumen-indore]

Trumen came into existence in 2009 and initially started with manufacturing of Tuning Fork Level Switches for liquid and solid applications. With time, the manufacturing range increased with addition of Capacitance Level Transmitter & Capacitance Level Switches, RF Admittance Level Switches, Rotating Paddle Level Switches, Conductivity Type Level Switches, Vibrating Rod Level Switches, Hydrostatic Level Transmitter, Radar Level Transmitter & Ultrasonic Level Transmitter. Trumen is a technocrat driven organization aimed at providing top-of-the-range and high quality level measurement and process control instruments. Formed by the pioneers who devoted their respective lives in development, design and delivery of solution to the problems faced in the field of level sensing and process measurements. Trumen has a fixed point agenda about "sensing matters", and each device created at Trumen is thoroughly tested to pass the quality norms set in-house, in order to give the best performance in all operating conditions.

Address: 39, Mangal Nagar, Behind Sai Ram Plaza, Near Rajeev Gandhi Circle, AB Road, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 452001

Web: https://trumen.in/

[mossy-covered-bones]

Hey, yall! I participated in @ecto-implosion this year, and I was paired with @avensartt -- here is the fantastic art she made that inspired this fic!

Puppeteer, Chapter 1

ao3 link

warnings: just a panic attack for the first chapter

*

     Maddie flicked the Ectoradiation Radar on, watching the sensor boot up. The screen glowed a light green, harsh against the black grid. The brightest section of light centered on a point just left of center--that would be the ambient ectoplasm from the portal registering. A yellow spot flickered in the portal's place, as some of the fluctuations pinged significantly above average. 

     "Honey, do you want to head out for a patrol soon? We could use a test run on the Ectoradiation Radar," Maddie called to the other side of the lab, where Jack was maintenencing some of their weapons. "I want to make sure it's calibrated correctly, away from the portal interference."

     Jack started reassembling the weapon he was working on, slamming the pieces back into place.

     "Careful, Jack!"

     "I am!" he called back, snapping the barrel back into place. He grabbed one of the ectocharge magazines and slotted it into the weapon. "C'mon, let's hunt some spooks!"

     Maddie couldn't help but grin, clipping the Radar to her belt and starting to gather her usual weapons from the armory wall. "Don't forget to bring some extra magazines, dear."

*

     The baseline scale on the side of the Ectoradiation Radar inched down the further they got from the lab, the ambient ectoplasm dropping fairly quickly once they were away from the portal. The seatbelt dug into the shoulder of Maddie's jumpsuit as Jack took a turn too fast.

     "You added a range modifier to this, right, dear?"

     Jack shot her a grin that took his eyes off the road long enough for him to veer into the curb. "Of course, Mads! Slider on the right." He yanked the wheel to the left, overcorrecting a bit and making the GAV wobble.

     She felt along the side for the slider, watching the grid grow and shrink as she fiddled with it. "Okay, the readings are following with the scale change... take a right here, there's an area with a higher ectoradiation level I want to investigate."

     The GAV jolted, crossing one too many lanes of traffic to turn at the light. A car horn was just audible over the squealing of tires.

     "This looks like the way to the high school," Jack commented.

     Maddie glanced up from the Radar screen to scan the buildings around them. "I think that's where the higher readings are centered on--the scale looks right. I didn't think it was that large of a difference, though."

     "We should get some updated readings."

     "That could be useful." She glanced over her shoulder at the back of the GAV, past the back seat to where they kept the equipment. "Do we still have the other instruments? I want to get a cross reference to make sure the sensitivity's right on the Ectoradiation Radar"

     "Pretty sure!" Jack took another sharp corner, pealing into the virtually empty parking lot and slamming on the breaks. He barely paused to yank the gearshift to park before he threw himself out the driver's door. "C'mon, let's check it out!"

     Maddie scrambled to unbuckle her seatbelt and follow him, barely fighting back a grin from the excitement.

     She ducked under Jack's arm to get to the GAV's stash, fishing out the computer display for the Signature Sensor from one of the miscellaneous bins, plugging it into the readings equipment while Jack booted it up.

     Maddie handed the display over and twisted the settings dial on the Ectoradiation Radar, turning it from 'area' to 'local'. The grid disappeared in favor of a list of numbers, a flood of scales and measurements that brought a smile to Maddie's face. "Okay, what are you getting for ambient?"

     "Just under one rem per hour. Yours?"

     "Zero point nine four, and the estimated digit keeps varying between... two and five. Most of that is tied to a signature--a lot of that is signature. Are you picking anything up?"

     Jack frowned, sweeping the Sensor around a bit more. His eyes stayed trained on the display, searching for change. "Nope, no spooks."

     "Right, it must have been recent, then." Maddie hummed. "There have been a lot of sightings here, it could have raised the baseline. Should check the logs when we get back..."

     "Is it that much higher?" Jack leaned over her shoulder to glance at the Ectoradiation Radar's screen. "I don't think we measured type of ecto when we found Amity Park's standard, should we--"

    They both froze as the Signature Sensor's display computer beeped, eyes flicking to the screen.

    Jack let out a bark of laughter. "It's Phantom! C'mon Mads, let's go!"

*

     Jack was going at least double the local speed limit to keep their quarry in range, little flickers of a tail in the sky or readings on the Signature Sensor's display keeping them on path.

     "It's switching course--left, turn left!" Maddie shouted, leaning to try and follow Phantom's path. She braced herself before Jack threw the GAV to the side. It shuddered as the wheels slammed back into the asphalt, and they raced down the road.

     "Looks like it's leading up towards the woods, Mads!"

     They managed to keep on its tail up until town limits and the road veered away from the ghost's path. They'd have to go on foot to follow, with how dense the trees grew---no luck getting the GAV through there.

     They were out the second Jack parked, grabbing the most essential equipment before striking out.

     It was slow going, trying to trek through the underbrush after Phantom's ectosignature. It didn't take long for Phantom's ectosignature to travel out of range, leaving them to follow the general direction the ghost had been taking and hope they'd stumble on the path again.

     It was dim, the canopy blocking most of the evening light. Jack had the Signature Sensor at the ready, and Maddie kept the Ectoradiation Radar in hand just in case. They kept a brisk pace, doing their best to keep their direction consistent.

    They were maybe thirty minutes in before Maddie spotted a change on her screen, a little sliver of brighter green at the top of her screen. "Look, Jack, there's an area up ahead with more ectoradiation--we found something."

     "Let's go check it out," Jack cheered, diving back into the underbrush. Maddie followed his wake, letting him push aside bushes and trample the plants so she could keep an eye on the screen, watch that sliver of green get wider, grow brighter. The area baseline creeped up with every step, well past the readings they got around Casper High. If this was some sort of natural phenomenon, it was groundbreaking. Possibilities starting flipping through Maddie's mind. A large amount of microportals, maybe? Or an overlap of several haunts all coalescing into a cesspit of residual ectosignatures? Maybe even a place for assembling shades or blob ghosts, or some sort of old graveyard.

     "Mads, I'm getting a reading again. It's nearby."

     They shared a look. This could be their chance.

     Maddie clipped the Ectoradiation Radar to her tool belt and grabbed her recorder, the gentle click of it starting almost deafening in the still, darkening woods.

     "Recording 026B-03," Maddie whispered, reading off the label on the tape. "Research topic, where Phantom goes after a sighting. We have been following it through the forest for..." She glanced at her watch. "...seventy-four minutes. It seems that--"

     "Mads!" Jack hissed, barely quieting his voice. "The ectosignature's getting stronger--it's close."

     Right, game time.

     "Get ready." Maddie slipped the still-running recorder back into her belt, bringing a weapon to the ready. Jack followed suit, and they creeped forward,

     "There." Jack took a step forward, pushing some of the underbrush aside to get a better look. The glow was just barely visible under the sunlight filtering through the canopy, discoloring the foliage around it more than illuminating anything. It was fuzzy around the edges, insubstantial, like static forced into solidity. All black and white and bright vivid green that barely looked substantial. A messy, smoky impression of hair, a long, whispy tail, glowing white claws hooked under the arms of an unconsious teen.

     Phantom didn't seem to register their presence, too busy drifting through the underbrush, clutching at the boy he was carrying around. The grip looked secure, possessive, with how deep its claws were latched into his hoodie. The taste of static sat heavy on her tongue.

     Jack's face set with resolve, and he aimed the Fenton Bazooka right at it. "Put him down, ghost."

     Phantom's head snapped around to stare at them, neck twisting just too far to be natural. The only features on its face were the two green specks of light where eyes should have been. It pulled the teenager a little closer, claws catching on the seams on the shoulders of his hoodie, leaving little tears Maddie could just barely make out in the dying light.

     Maddie's grip tightened on her own weapon, and she moved a few steps to the left, just far enough that Phantom had to swivel his head to look between the two of them. "We're not going to let you hurt an innocent child."

     The ghost's face split open in mockery of a mouth, jagged with the impression of teeth, and let out a sound like nails against a chalkboard that made their audio filters hiss. It started to back up, grip not faltering.

     Maddie took a step forward, heard Jack follow suit. "We're not asking again, spook. Let him go." Her eyes flicked down to the unconscious teenager. The hoodie looked familiar.

     The barrel of her ectogun drifted as she tried to make out his face in the poor lighting. Was that... "Danny?"

     Phantom let out another squawk of grating static and Maddie couldn't help but flinch that time, weapon pulling back up to aim directly at its chest, but the space where the ghost--the ghost holding her son--had been was empty, the faint, sickly green light gone. Her eye's snapped to Jack, fumbling for the Sensor's display.

     She held her breath for a beat while he checked, but Jack just shook his head.

     Phantom was gone.

*

     Shit. Fuck.

He could hear himself trying to breath, like radio interference echoing through the empty observatory. He needed to switch back, before his--his parents managed to catch up, or track him down like they had in the woods. They had been right there, in the middle of--

     The world was getting fuzzy, turning to static around him. Danny could barely register his hoodie tearing even further as his claws dug into it, still unable to let go of his body. He couldn't still be ghost when--if his parents got here, holding his dead fucking body, but he could hardly think through the sheer panic of being so, so very close to his parents finding out.

     He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to force himself back to human, but he couldn't get the change to take through his core screaming at him to hide, that he was in danger.

     Shit, what was he supposed to do if they stayed there and kept looking? They couldfind the graves, find--

     Danny let out a whine, high and shrill, and pulled his body closer, burying his face in his hair. He still needed to bury himself, he couldn't just... not go back there, he...

     He needed to find Sam and Tucker, or Jazz, just somebody. He scrambled for his body, grabbing his phone from the pocket of his jeans. His claws scrabbled against the screen, password failing a few times before he managed to hit the right buttons and unlock. The message to the group chat was riddled with so many typos it was almost unreadable, but his phone started to ring just a few beats later. 

     Tucker's voice came through the speaker the second he hit answer. "Hey, Danny, what happened?"

     Danny let out another wheeze of static, curling closer to his body.

     "You're still in ghost form? Um. Nothing for no, sound for yes, alright?"

     He tried to parrot the words back, but trying to force out the sounds just jumbled them together into nonsense. Sound. Yes. Good enough.

     "Alright--are you safe?"

     It was harder to swallow back the noises than it was to speak.

     "Can you get home?"

     He bit down on his nails to keep the static in.

    "Could you get to my or Sam's house?"

     Yes, yes--Danny let the burst of noise force itself out from behind his teeth.

     "Go to whichever is closer, I'll let Sam know--want me to stay on the call?"

     The staticy whine echoed through the observatory, and Danny tugged his body further into his chest.

     "Okay, I can do that."

[silver-heroes-rp]

Starter for @powered-by-prower

[Anomaly Detected-!]

Shard's radar appears to be going crazy, as an electromagnetic signal he can't identify suddenly appears and causes his sensors to glitch out in a way he's never experienced before.

[Performing System Check-Up, Unable to Identify Error]

Warming up his canon, Shard takes a battle-ready stance and turns to face the intruder, eyes glowing a deep red. Some part of the other robot's make just screams Eggman on a deep level of Shard's old programming, as he was made to identify other creations of his original maker.

And yet... familiarity.

A kindred spirit? Shard shouldn't let his guard down. He points in the direction of the stranger with his cannon.

"Hey, buddy! Black and Yellow is MY style."

[skitariiposting]

The Little Servitor That Could

(Pish posh pish posh pish...)

The Martian radiation never ceased to annoy the servitor. It caused it's censors to flicker and buzz every time it left its home under the sands. The dunes it trudged through a tiring obstical

(Clank clunk clank clunk clank...)

Safety, finally. Metal beneath feet again. It had accomplished its mission successfully, too. Minimal damages to its carapace and biological components. It just had to reunite with its master to report the deed so it may be complete.

(Vrrrrrrrrrrrrr shunk. Vrrrrrrrrrr shunk.)

The door is stuck. It slides open slowly and then attempts to close, stopping short of a torso, then returning to the left. Obviously, the machine is upset about this, being unable to complete its duties of closing itself.

"Dreaded biological" the machine spirit mutters to itself. Another attempt to close, another failure. The body becomes a little more bruised, but slowly but surely the door continues attempting to bisect it so it may finally be closed. It's resisters prevent it to just clamp the body in twain in one swift shut, so it must continue this silly game of open and shut.

"I have returned from my mission master doorway," the servitor bleeps and bloops enthusiastically, "I wish to enter and report to master techpriest!"

"Ah, good, someone with limbs. Might you move this sorry sod from me servitor?"

"Of course, right away." The servitor bends down and yanks the legs of the corpse, freeing the doorway to finally complete its own mission; shutting.

"Perfect. Thank you servitor," if the door could breathe, a sigh of relief would have left it, "Now, let's get you inside." Just as quickly as it had closed, it opened again, letting the servitor through.

(Ting, foosh, ting, foosh, ting, foosh...)

The sounds of automated machinery filled the air, a beautiful orchestra of autohammers and blast furnaces preparing sheets of metal for further processing later in the production line. The servitor steps gingerly over the bodies littering the catwalks. It acknowledges the identities of skitariius, five or six, each of which having gave their lives for the mechanicus. The other bodies it does not recognize, so it does not care about them. It continues on. Another door, another access granted, another catwalk, another bout of 'body dodging.' Clearly something wrong has occurred here, but it is not the servitor's place to figure out what it was; only to deliever its message. It's mission must be completed.

(Cough... sputter... wheeze...)

The tech priest lay amongst the rubble and clutched at the wound in her side. Fatal, the likely outcome, but there was still hope. Her biological sensors are lit up like a radar cogigator when a youngling gets their incantations wrong. The damage will take hours if not days to heal if she could get to the biologus. She dragged herself to her feet. Just before she could complete the rite of opening on the door, something beat her to it. Her phosphor pistol readied itself for the first sign of aggression, its sensors poised and ready to unleash a wave of slag projectiles into the unfortunate soul. It wouldn't get the chance, however, as the soul was, in fact, the servitor.

"Oh. It's. You?" The tech priest winced once again and nearly collapsed.

"Unit 4512-"

"Yes, yes, unit number is not important right now. Hurry up so I can get to -" she faltered. This time, she would actually collapse to the ground. Blood loss was approaching critical levels. The servitor was non-plused about the ordeal. After all, the emotions portion of its brain was carved out long ago. It had no capacity for emoting to the situation. It just wanted to complete its mission so it can get started on the next one.

"I have a message from the skitariius scouting party. They wish to warn you about an incoming attack from a rogue penal colony ship. The prisoners revolted and command over the vessel."

With that the servitor had finally finished its duties. The tiny endorphine dose it was allowed coursed through its circuitry and finally, it had the feeling of a job well done.

The techpriest sat in silence for a moment, looking at the blood on her hand. She looked at the orange jumpsuits the mangled and burned corpses were adorn with all around her, then back to the servitor incredulously.

"Yeah... no kidding?" She muttered. And with that, the world spun slowly fading into blackness.

The footsteps of the servitor echoed through the hall as it continued to its next task. She caught a final glimpse of her student's body across the room catching the servitor's foot, tripping it for a moment. She sank down slowly to the floor and slipped away.

(Clank clunk clank clunk clank clunk)