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psychotrenny · 9 months ago

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While there is a great deal of similarity between Israel and Apartheid South Africa (down to the very close ties these countries shared), their strategies to delay inevitable collapse have turned out very different especially in terms of foreign policy. Like the South African government spent its last decade or so under Apartheid pursuing what Botha called his "Total Strategy", using every possible lever of influence to force the Frontline States into subservience; keeping them economically dependent on South Africa and politically acquiescent to Apartheid.

Military force was used for sure, but the only large scale deployments were the occupations of Namibia and southern Angola. Otherwise direct military action was restricted to commando raids, focused mainly on destroying infrastructure and carrying out political assassinations. South Africa instead preferred to act through local proxies, supporting (and often creating) various reactionary terrorist movements (i.e. UNITA in Angola, RENAMO in Mozambique, LLA in Lesotho) so that the destabilising effect of constant warfare would inhibit economic development, prevent unfriendly governments from taking any real action against apartheid and allow the offer of reduced terrorist support to be a bargaining chip in negotiations.

Economically South Africa used its control over transport infrastructure and large job market as both carrot and stick, rewarding compliant governments with better access to goods and increased migrant labour quotas (for many countries a vital source of income) while punishing disobedient nations with transport disruptions and reduced access to South African jobs. The specific mix of Military and Economic strategies would be tailored to suit the particular country at a particular time; for example South Africa's pressure on Angola was almost entirely military due to the lack of economic links between the two, while Swaziland's complete dependency made economics the primary South African approach. These different forms of pressure were also applied so as to compliment each other i.e. commandos and terrorist proxies would attack alternate railways and ports to ensure goods had to be transported through South Africa.

This was mainly done to extract political concessions. By 1980 the complete overthrow of unfriendly regimes was mostly off the table, so instead efforts were focused on changing the behaviour of the groups already in power. South Africa's main obsession was with the ANC boogeyman, constantly asking their neighbours to kick out ANC training camps and diplomatic ataches and forbid movement of ANC guerillas through their territory. However all manner of other demands were also made; economic integration, military access, opposition or at least neutrality towards UN sanctions etc. These were all attempts to drag the Frontline States back into South African dependency and under De Facto white Imperial rule; effectively undoing independence

In any case, as brutal as this "Total Strategy" was, it's a far cry from Israel's current approach which more resembles a genocidal temper tantrum. This is even in contrast to earlier Israeli strategies of coming to terms with neighbouring states and collaborationist movements; using Lebanon as an example they've gone from employing Christians Reactionaries as proxies to clumsily provoking the whole nation. There are structural reasons for this of course. South Africa needed it's black majority, both "at home" and in the neighboring states, as a reserve of cheap labour to extract cheap natural resources and buy globally uncompetitive manufactured goods. Indeed, the false independence of the "Bantustan" project was an attempt to remove South African citizenship from their entire black population and legally turn them all into migrant labourers. South Africa also has a much longer history as an independent Settler project, and while they recieved significant amounts of support from The West (especially the USA and doubly so under the more reactionary Presidents i.e. Ronald Reagan) this very much had its limitations; South Africa obviously couldn't wage a regional war of extermination even if wanted to. Meanwhile Israel's policy towards indigenous people is increasingly exterministic and there is no interest in maintaining their population; they even import migrant labourers from as far as Thailand to deny local Arabs. The country has also spent it's an entire existence as more or less a glorified NATO military base; they have more reason to favour a policy of genocidal war while hoping the US saves them from the consequences.

The point is that there are limits to how far you can take comparisons between South Africa and Israel. For all their similarities as Apartheid Settler States, were still different countries that occupied different contexts and so there are considerable socio-political differences between them that shouldn't just be ignored. You can't blandly use South African history to predict the course of Israel, or worse project current events in Israel onto a distorted version of South Africa's past. You won't develop a useful understanding of the world if you stick to broad assumptions and truisms; you need to actually investigate

#stella speaks

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sarah-the-bird-nerd · 5 months ago

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Pre-Deployment Rituals (SFW)

The pre-mission rituals of the 141 + König and Alejandro. (these are being turned into one shots...eventually)

Okay so first off, they get deployments 1 of 2 ways. 1. They're given no time, there's an emergency and they just have to go and all of the men react the same way, they're grabbing their gear, kissing you goodbye and then they're out the door.

The second way, they have notice, some times days, sometimes weeks depending on the situation.

Johnny "Soap" MacTavish

Johnny is...well, Johnny. When he has enough notice, in between briefings he's spending all his time with you. You're going hiking (hand holding and laughter when you're falling all over the place because its cold rainy and muddy), having a bonfire at night, and the night before he leaves he's pulling you into a warm bath, holding you close and then showing you how much he loves you. In the morning, he wakes you up so that he can say goodbye, kissing you softly at the door and then heading out to where Simon is parked out front in his truck. He does not leave without giving a firm squeeze and smack on your ass, yelling that he'll see you soon as he runs to the truck with his bag in hand.

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

Gaz is sweet, he'll break the news that he's being deployed soon and then help you adjust. If its your first time going through a deployment with him, he's reassuring you, giving you resources and where to find support, there's a SO Support group made of civillians who's partners are in the military, one that you could lean heavily on. If you've been together awhile and its not your first deployment...well you know the routine, there's still worry and reassurances but he's more focused on spending time with you, you go for dinners, a nice long drive out of the city to watch the stars and then the night before your phones are off and you don't leave the house. The next morning he, he doesn't wake you, he hates the goodbye too much. Instead he kisses your forehead and lips softly, leaving a note on the kitchen table before he heads out.

Captain John Price

As soon as John is out of his meeting with Laswell and knows that he's being deployed, he's letting the rest of the team know and then wrapping up on base. He's heading directly to wherever you are. You're at work? Your coworkers know to let him in because if he's there it means he's either returning or going. If you're not working he's going directly home. Either way he's sitting you down, telling you without details that he's going to be leaving soon. If he's leaving within the next few days, you're calling out of work, if its in the next week or two? You plan accordingly. John has a lot of meetings for planning but when he's not in them, he's with you. He goes around the house making sure that anything that needs to be fixed is dealt with before he leaves, that stair is squeaky? Not anymore. Cupboard loose? Not when he's done.

You know that he's stressing, so you make home cooked meals, and curl up with him on the couch,. The night before you leave is spent slow dancing in the living room before you head to the bedroom, him worshipping you and promising he'll be home. You're awake before him, making sure his bag is ready and that he has a good breakfast. When he finally makes it into the kitchen, hair wet and gear on, he ends up lifting you to sit on the counter, kissing you until you can't breathe before he walks out the door.

Simon "Ghost" Riley

Like when he comes home, Simon has a process, because he needs to get himself in the right frame of mind. When he gets the call/leaves the meeting he's already starting the process. His first step is to tell you, which is always hard because he knows that seeing him go from who he is at home, to being...Ghost, can be jarring, especially depending on how rapidly he has to do it. Simon at home, away from the mask, the battles and screams is caring, protective and warm. Ghost...is still protective, still loves you, but is more cold and detatched.

Step 2: Go away for a few days, he's bringing out the motorcycle and you're both hitting the open road (as long as there aren't a ton of meetings...then you get hours and not days). Once you're home, the transition from Simon to Ghost really begins. He starts to close off a bit, not all the way but just enough to start getting in the right headspace. He's calm, cool and collected while you're battling some inner turmoil. There's small touches here and there, a little kissing but he's focused. The night before he leaves, Simon he allows Simon to slip out just enough to show you he loves you, spending hours holding you and showing you that you are his...it starts out intimate but by the end of the night he's rougher as he becomes Ghost.

Step 3: The morning that he leaves you get up with him, helping him put his gear on. When you first got together he wouldn't let you, not wanting you to touch anything as if it would taint you. As each piece goes on, the pants, the boots, utility belt and vest, Simon slips deeper into his mind. Just before the mask goes on, he'll kiss you softly, whisper that he loves you and then...the mask is on and Ghost is here. He stares at you before squeezing your hand, grabbing his bag and leaving.

König

König is a big ball of anxiety on a good day, he finds out that he's being sent on assignment and the worry begins. He worries about how you'll take the news, how you'll cope and what happens if he doesn't come back to you. The days leading up to his departure are spent ensuring that you know that he loves you and you reassuring him that everything will be fine and not to worry about you. The night before he leaves he clings to you, relaxing and just being, before you both slip into a restless slumber. The morning that he leaves you have to wake him up, and when he wakes...the anxiety is gone, or at least well hidden because he has a job to do. You help with his gear, waiting until the end for his t-shirt mask. He kisses you softly as he leaves, not looking back.

Alejandro

I like to think that the Los Vaqueros aren't deployed in the same way that the others would be, they stay relatively close to home but do go to other areas of Mexico when needed, and sometimes further. However, Alejandro made it very clear that his family is kept hidden and I like to think he has a wife and daughter hidden away. So, when he finds out that they have an assignment that will take them away for days at a time, or longer, he's getting all the meetings done as soon as possible before letting Rudy take over, if he's needed, Rudy knows how to find him.

Alejandro goes to you, he tells you what he can about the mission and then like the ultimate husband/dad he spends as much time with you and your daughter as possible. When he's not holding you or playing with your daughter, he, like John, is fixing up things around the house or double checking the security around the farm (I like to think he has a ranch). He's looking after bathtime, brushing your daughter's hair and making memories. When your daughter is in bed he's making love to you like its the last thing he'll do, whispering in both Spanish and English his love for you.

The night before he leaves, is spent as a family, playing games with your daughter and at bedtime, all 3 of you are in a fort in the livingroom, cuddled up together in a pile. In the morning, you both let your daughter sleep as she's horrible with goodbyes. You follow him out to the porch, hand in his before he pulls you into a soul shattering kiss. He's then running down to his truck, off to do what he needs to do and watching you and the house disappear in the rearview mirror.

#cod headcanons #simon riley x reader #john price x reader #alejandro vargas x reader #soap mactavish x reader #konig x reader #kyle garrick x reader

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athena5898 · 8 months ago

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(PrR)(RNN) — The US is deploying ballistic missile defense systems, warplanes, tanker aircraft, and B-52 long-range bombers to the Middle East, according to the Pentagon today. This is being done for the explicit defense of "israel," as stated, as the US is funding 70% of the genocide and effectively leading it. (https://t.me/PalestineResist/65448)

The equipment and associated forces will arrive in the coming months as the USS Abraham Lincoln (https://t.me/PalestineResist/52206) aircraft carrier strike group prepares to leave.

This comes after the US deployed (https://t.me/PalestineResist/62475) the THAAD (https://t.me/PalestineResist/64205) missile defense system to the zionist entity and increased troop deployments, a sign of "israel's " desperation in the face of the Axis of Resistance's strikes. Zionist sources reported yesterday that "israel" requested a second THAAD system, but this request was denied by the US because it already sent them one out of seven systems it has.

This apparent escalation also comes as Iran prepares to respond to the failed attacks on various parts of the country a few days ago, which were successfully repelled by Iranian air defenses.

The US seeks to send a message to the Axis of the Resistance not to be involved in this long war of attrition, which is a losing bet as the last year has proven. Zionist (and American) resources continue to be depleted and the resistance continues to inflict damage on the enemy. At the same time, "israel" faces issues of shortages in recruitment, ammunition, (https://t.me/PalestineResist/33043) vehicles, (https://t.me/PalestineResist/30781) and equipment. (https://t.me/PalestineResist/63947) Overall, this exemplifies that the US will not waver in its support of the genocidal zionist enemy, and at the same time, highlights the zionist entity's vulnerabilities as it is incredibly dependent on US military and financial support in light of resource strains.

#palestine #free palestine #gaza #free gaza #israel #palestine news #tel aviv #yemen #jerusalem #current events

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douche-canoe-regatta · 1 month ago

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So I just saw a post from someone struggling to pay vet bills for their cat's euthanasia (unfortunately lost the user/post) and it broke my fucking heart. However, it reminded me of the list I've been putting together of various charities and organizations who can help you or your loved ones afford veterinary bills in the US.

NOTE: I’m not 100% sure that all of the charities listed are active. There's also an outside chance someone sketchy is part of the organization, so please be extremely careful with your information and personal details.

Not seeing a charity you know and trust? I would LOVE additional groups, grants, or information. These resources are critical for keeping pets out of the shelter system and ensuring they can stay with the people who love them.

Pet Medical Assistance Programs

(Updated 2/25)

under the cut:

For the Love of Alex

https://www.fortheloveofalex.org/

Provides emergency funding for life-saving veterinary care for low income families.

Dogs on Deployment

https://www.dogsondeployment.org/

Grants financial assistance to military pet owners during times of emergency.

Frankie's Friends

https://www.frankiesfriends.org/

Provides grants to assist with the cost of life-saving or life-enhancing emergency or specialty care for pets whose families cannot afford the cost of treatment.

Friends & Vets Helping Pets

https://friendsandvetshelpingpets.org/

Assists families with financial limitations to pay for extraordinary veterinary expenses necessary to save a pet's life.

Waggle

https://www.waggle.org/

Pet-dedicated crowd funding platform devoted to raising funds for pets in medical crisis. Your pet may also qualify for a matching grant.

The Onyx & Breezy Foundation

https://www.onyxandbreezy.org/

Provides funding and support to pets of individuals where medical hardship is present. Apply online.

Free Animal Doctor

https://freeanimaldoctor.org/

Pet-dedicated crowd funding platform. funds raised go directly to the vet. Over 90% of their campaigns get fully funded.

Joey's Paw

https://www.joeyspaw.org/

Provides wheels, prosthetics, and mobility aids to dogs with special needs.

American Pit Bull Foundation

https://apbf.dog/

Breed-specific organization. Offers a number of services for pit bull parents, including financial aid for veterinary care and behavioral training. Also partners directly with veterinary care providers to offer financial assistance to clients with pit bulls who are facing financial hardship.

Brown Dog Foundation

https://www.browndogfoundation.org/

Public fund that helps with pending bills, does not reimburse bills already paid. Apply online.

The Pet Fund

https://www.thepetfund.com/

Helps cover the cost of chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease, endocrine disease, etc. They help with pending bills, do not reimburse bills already paid. Apply online.

The Magic Bullet Fund

https://themagicbulletfund.org/

Helps people who have dogs or cats with cancer who can't afford treatment. Slightly questionale name (I say, all in good fun.) Apply online.

Live Like Roo

https://www.livelikeroo.org/

Offers a number of services to pet parents caring for a pet with cancer, including financial assistance for treatments, hospice care, and grief counseling. Apply online.

Red Rover Relief

https://redrover.org/

Offers urgent care grants of around $200. An application must be submitted before treatment expenses are incurred.

Paws 4 A Cure

https://www.paws4acure.org/

Non-profit that helps with surprise veterinary bills for pet parents in need. Submit an online application with your vet's diagnosis and estimated invoice for consideration.

Veterinary Care Foundation

https://veterinarycarefoundation.org/

Helps cover vet costs. Unlike other funds, your vet must be the one to apply and they must be enrolled in the program.

Bow Wow Buddies Foundation

https://www.bowwowbuddies.com/

Offers veterinary expense relief for pets with severe injuries or illnesses. Apply online.

Help-A-Pet

https://www.help-a-pet.org/

Offers financial aid for injuries or illnesses in dogs.Household income must be less than 40k, or 20k for a single-income household.

(more coming??)

Final note: if you want to come here and bitch about people having pets they can't afford, keep walking. I'm too tired to get into all the details right now, but I have worked with animals and their people for well over a decade. So if this is your stance, you should re-examine your relationship with the concept of kindness, the current realities of our economy, and existing shelter/foster groups.

PLEASE REBLOG WITH MORE GROUPS OR DONATE IF YOU CAN!! I will verify any recommendations to the best of my ability and reblog as many times as needed.

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mr-entj · 5 months ago

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Mr-entj, you always say to start from the problems we want to solve. But how exactly can we find out what those are and how good we are at doing that?

Related answer:

Career and impact

Look around everywhere and see what catches your interest. Here are a few places to start and questions to ask:

Your immediate environment. Look around you—at your situation, family, neighborhood, socioeconomic class, ethnic group, town, city, and country. What issues are affecting them? What conditions are you living in? How are you treated?

For example, a former classmate of mine, whose family was deeply impacted by the Korean War, went on to study at Harvard and earn her PhD at Oxford. Today, she’s a recognized expert on North Korean human rights issues, publishing and speaking on the topic worldwide (currently a guest lecturer at Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government).

Within society. Check the news, social media, and entertainment channels. What themes keep surfacing? What news headlines are most fascinating or disturbing?

For example, I have a friend who was deeply troubled by corporate environmental abuse, everything from unchecked pollution to unpunished disasters and the growing threat of climate change. She pursued a law degree at Stanford Law School, later led the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and now serves as the Director of Global Climate Strategies for a climate non-profit.

At school and in academia. What research are people working on? What subjects interest you? Which professors are tackling interesting problems and pushing exciting boundaries?

For example, a friend of mine was inspired by her Child Development Psychology professor, who encouraged her to pursue graduate school. With support from that professor, my friend earned a spot in a top PhD program at the University of Michigan. Today, she’s a professor of Child and Adolescent Development in California, researching educational outcomes for first-generation Latino students.

At work. What’s inefficient or frustrating? What tools would make life easier? What solutions are missing that need to be built?

For example, a friend of mine noticed how tedious and frustrating it was to onboard contractors. So, he launched a startup to streamline everything from interviews to payroll. In 2021, he sold that same startup to Workday for $500 million USD.

For me, I'm driven by technological innovations that improve society (Product Management + Strategy) and working to ensure the responsible deployment of that technology to keep the world safe (Trust & Safety). For my wife (the INTJ), her focus is on ensuring technology is used fairly and that personal data isn’t exploited or misused (she's a lawyer that works in data privacy).

You won’t know how good you are at solving problems until you identify your strengths. Then: research, experiment, fail, learn, grow, and repeat. Without data, there are no new insights. Get out there, try something, and come back with real-world feedback.

#career #careers #work #college #university #faq

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seen-in-the-smoke · 2 months ago

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[ Encryption suite ESSEX SKIPPER active… ]

< Good day.

The investigation you are charged with conducting interests me. I have expertise relevant to certain aspects of the case, and am willing to provide consulting services.

The neutralization of Rennes, the HESTIA-class NHP responsible for your AIP, seems to be a matter requiring additional investigation. Though I wish to divulge as little identifying information as possible, it must be said that I am a veteran of Legion warfare and am well-familiar with current methods and doctrine. In my opinion, there is no doubt that you are facing expert combatants, well-trained and equipped, although I’m certain you know that much already.

Given the specifics of Rennes’ state post-neutralization, I may be able to construct a model of how and by what means the attack was performed. The autopsy report, yes? With regard to her combat capabilities, I presume that at the time of the attack, Rennes would have been equipped with an up-to-date, Union-standard counterintrusion suite. In addition, she almost certainly would have had her arsenal prepared and accessible, stand-down order notwithstanding. Are these assumptions correct? Additionally, any information you can provide regarding the HESTIA class will be of use; I’m acquainted, but I’ve undergone several cyclings since I last required the specifics.

In exchange, I require information. You are a Union naval liaison, yes? I want a UAD-prepared report detailing Union standards for activation, training, and deployment of milspec NHPs. Emphasis on ethics and quality-of-life. Measures taken to ensure well-being, limits on duration of active deployment, how requests for retirement or transfer to non-combat duty are handled, payment and benefits offered for service. Resources made available to milspec NHPs during and after transition to civilian life. Disciplinary measures taken in cases of desertion or failure to comply. Legal status and rights of NHP prisoners of war, procedures for their detainment and release.

For all topics, documented cases—including the embarrassing ones. Are you willing to provide this? >

( @luna-wing-cns274 )

What's all this, then...

Huh. You one of those Horizon folks? Free Deimos, all that? I'm not gonna state a group opinion on the clock, but I'll freely say it's nice to see someone interested in NHP rights. Don't worry about me snooping, you have Union's word that nothing said here will be grounds for investigation. You wanna help, this convo is fully indemnified.

Let's see what I can't authorize as far as your payment, too. I'm sure the UAD would be happy to get its moment in the PR spot, even with some flubs. Putting in a request as we speak, in the meantime... Wake, you got the analysis?

ONE MOMENT.

HESTIA-CLASS NHP "RENNES" SUFFERED...

APOLOGIES. HESTIA-CLASS NHP "RENNES" SUFFERED NEAR-ON-TOTAL SEMIOTIC BREAKDOWN, WITH MARKERS SUPERFICIALLY RESEMBLING LINGUISTIC-VECTOR DELIVERY; SUCH A VECTOR MAY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE COMMAND-ATTENDANT STATE RENNES MAY HAVE BEEN IN, SEEKING CONFIRMATION BETWEEN THE CONFLICTING ORDERS. MONDRAGON ARCHITECTURE ANALYSIS REVEALS DELAMINATION ALONG SPECIFIC CONCEPTUAL LINES WITH MAJOR INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE CASKET SUBSTRATE ITSELF; IN PARTICULAR, IT APPEARS THAT THIS BREAKDOWN IN BASIC RELATIONALITY CAUSED OVERCOMPENSATION IN MNEMONIC RECALL OF MOMENT-TO-MOMENT EXISTENCE. IN EFFECT, HIGHER-LEVEL THOUGHT ITSELF WOULD HAVE ECHOED UNTIL IT SHOOK APART THE CASKET'S INSIDES. EVERY MILLISECOND OF SELFHOOD UNDERSTOOD AS EXISTING SIMULTANEOUSLY, CROWDING HER IN.

...

THE HESTIA-PATTERN LINE IS COMMONLY USED IN BODYGUARD/HIGH-LEVEL ASSET PROTECTION ROLES. THEY ARE PARTICULARLY SUITED TO LEGION/REALSPACE INTERDICTION, COMMONLY UTILIZING AD-HOC EMPATHIC LEASHING GAMBITS. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, RENNES HAD ACCESS TO AIP ABDULLAH'S SUBJECTIVITY ENHANCEMENT SUITE AS WELL AS A COMPLEMENT OF TRANSDERMAL "CONTACT BRIDGE" IMPLANTS. IN THE EVENT OF A THREAT TO AIP ABBDULLAH'S PHYSICAL OR SYSTEMIC SAFETY, RENNES' FIRST ACTION WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN TO EXTRUDE EMPATHIC LEASH VECTORS INTO ALL CONNECTED SYSTEMS, FORCIBLY DEMOTIVATING A BIOLOGICAL OR LEGION-VIRAL AGENT BY BLANKETING THEM IN HER OWN SUBJECTIVITY. IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER FOREKNOWLEDGE OF THIS DOCTRINE INFORMED THE PARTICULARS OF THE ATTACK PERFORMED ON HER.

Christ-the-Buddha. Is she okay?

ALIVE, BUT LIKELY IN A STATE SIMILAR TO BIOLOGICAL COMA. BEREFT OF BLINK ARCHITECTURE NECESSARY TO PERFORM HIGHER-LEVEL THOUGHT. ITERATIVE CYCLING MAY BE NECESSARY TO RESTORE PARTIAL COGNITIVE PROCESSES.

Fuck. Well, I don't know how much you can get from that-- But, yeah, apparently she got jumped right after the stand-down order. Would've had a direct line into Noah's augs, the attack probably happened on that end. Admin babysitters keep their caskets pretty tightly locked away.

-BREAKFAST

[Encrypt:gloworm]

i'm so sorry i'm so sorry i'll stop now i promise

i hope it doesn't hurt

#{the babble is techy my guys}#{but rennes is NOT in a good way}

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striderl · 3 months ago

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your cyborgs, they are more human than i thought. I mean bully, gossip, tease, torment their own kind(reminds me of transformers). did they learn that from humans or are they actually humans transformed into cyborgs.

To clarify, a cyborg is a being with both biological and electronic components. In my classification of Skibidi Toilet’s hardware units, I divide them into three major kinds: fully mechanical robots, neural transferees, and half-organic cyborgs.

The members of the Rescue Squad 08 and the Filming Industry (Polaroid excluded) falls into the purview of fully mechanical robots — AI-driven entities built from scratch, without any organic origin. In my worldbuilding, most hardware agents are usually assigned a mentor after activation, where they undergo social and work-based training before deployment. The mentors plays a crucial role in shaping their behavior — a responsible mentor fosters maturity and human-like empathy, while an irresponsible one leaves them underdeveloped and prone to delinquency. This explains why some mechanical agents exhibit human-like traits, as these behaviors stem from observation and social conditioning rather than inherent programming. Unlike robots, half-organic cases were once human, but parts of their bodies have been replaced with cybernetic components. Examples include Polaroid and Lumix. In my headcanon, most cyborgs lose their memories after conversion due to the physical severing of their original heads. Additionally, memory wipes are often conducted to enhance performance — erasing past emotional ties prevents distraction and ensures their focus on the assigned mission. However, they retain core personality traits, muscle memory, and even subconscious preferences. There is some scientific speculation that the human heart stores certain memories, which explains lingering fragments of their past selves.

These cyborgs tend to be more physically sensitive and emotionally reactive than their fully mechanical counterparts, but this heightened human-like awareness comes at a cost — they are less durable in combat due to their biological components.

This is the most complex category. Neural transferees were once fully human but had their consciousness transferred into a mechanical body — think of the process in Avatar. I have some theories regarding some Skibidi Toilet main casts being neural transferees, such as Plungerman (Dave), Plungerwoman (Cathy), TV Chief (Hakashita), and TV Woman. Among my own OCs, Komorebi and the large cam twins — Север (North) and Юг (South), also fall into this category.

Before the war, neural transfers were rare, and reserved for elite operatives and crucial intelligence personnel due to the complexity and cost of the process, the high risks and irreversibility of the process make it controversial and inaccessible to most. However, as the war escalated, the demand for specialized agents led the Alliance to start selecting human survivors — especially children — for the procedure. Children were preferred because their minds were more adaptable, making the transfer process smoother. Additionally, their vulnerability often made them a burden in survival camps, leading many groups to trade them to the Alliance in exchange for scarce resources.

North and South, for example, still think and act human despite losing their original bodies. They retained their memories and personalities, but the brutal reality of war forces them to mature faster than they should, sometimes propelling them to make decisions that seem cold and machina-like. The irony? The very process meant to preserve their humanity also destances them from it.

#Ask #Anon Ask #Skibidi Toilet OCs #Cameraman OCs #Headcanons

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blessedarethebinarybreakers · 2 years ago

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Advent Devotionals, 2023

I wanted to share some devotionals for this coming Advent (it starts December 3!) that are queer affirming & center marginalized perspectives. If you know of others, please add on!

What Are You Waiting For? An LGBTQIA+ Affirming Advent Devotional

Format: A short written devotional or poem for every day of Advent, shared as one PDF document linked above

Creators: The Collective of Queer Christian Leaders, including Rev. Nicole Garcia of the National LGBTQ Task Force and members of the Transmission Ministry Network

Another Starry Black Night: A Womanist Advent Devotional

Format: Short written devotionals, one for each Sunday & Wednesday of Advent, as well as Christmas day

Creators: Black women, most of whom are ordained Presbyterian ministers, some of whom are queer

Posted on Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice

Abolition Advent Calendar: "Freedom for All Bodies"

Format: daily written devotionals that you can sign up to receive as emails. Each week expands the theme of abolition & racial justice to include 1) reproductive justice; 2) trans/nonbinary justice; 3) disability justice; and 4) body positivity

Shared by Join the Movement, a UCC organization

"Todos! Todos! Todos! Advent Reflections and Meditations on the Scriptures

Format: Zoom calls with a reflection followed by discussion groups every Wednesday of Advent, 8pm-9pm EST

Creators: DignityUSA, a Catholic LGBT-advocacy organization

An Advent Guide with Reflections on Palestine/Israel

Format: a devotional for each Sunday of Advent, shared as one PDF linked above

Creators: "Each week during Advent read firsthand accounts from recently returned Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) of their experiences during their deployment with the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (WCC-EAPPI). Along with their stories and photos are bible readings, further resources and prayers to offer."

#queer christians #advent #advent 2023 #devotionals #prayer tag #resources

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thoughtlessarse · 3 months ago

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The faces are different, but it’s the same authoritarianism. Keir Starmer’s team might not look or sound like Donald Trump’s, but its policies on protest and dissent are chillingly similar. So is the reason: coordinated global lobbying by the rich and powerful, fronted by rightwing junktanks. Last week, six young women were having tea and biscuits in the Quaker meeting house in Westminster. Twenty police officers forced open the door and arrested them on conspiracy charges. Had the police discovered a plot to blow up parliament or to poison the water supply? No. It was an openly advertised, routine meeting of a protest group called Youth Demand, discussing climate breakdown and the assault on Gaza. I spoke to one of the arrested women, Jennifer Kennedy. She says she is not an activist, but a student journalist who was covering the meeting. Her phone, camera and laptop were confiscated. She was held incommunicado for 16 hours: in other words, like the others arrested, she was not allowed to make a phone call, so family and friends had no idea where she was. This is a tactic that is used for serious organised crime, terrorism or espionage, to prevent suspects from disposing of evidence, intimidating witnesses or alerting other spies. While she was held, she says that the police searched her flat, looking through her books and frightened her flatmate. The police justified the raid by claiming that Youth Demand plan to “shut down London”. What this has meant previously is 10-minute blockages of individual roads: “shut downs” of the kind YD has carried out many times before. -Police forces claim to be under-resourced. But they spend vast sums and launch huge deployments against unthreatening protests. Last year they sent over 1,000 officers from 39 forces, spending £3m, to shut down a climate camp and arrest 24 people, on the grounds that they might have been planning to occupy a road outside a power station. At the same time, they fail even to investigate serious organised crime, citing insufficient resources. The police, governments and the media have sought to conflate peaceful protest with extremism and terrorism. Protest methods used for centuries, such as blocking roads, have been recast as the end of civilisation.

#england and wales #protest criminalisation #right to protest

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queen-scribbles · 1 year ago

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Unmasked

Here we go, HERE WE GOOOO~ (Happy Valentine's Day❣😘💖)

----

Endrali was starting to wonder if the galaxy had it out for her.

That was silly, she knew, but it was a thought she couldn't shake when things somehow got even more chaotically busy right after she'd acknowledged she would need to talk to Arcann about...

Well. Aside from finding time, she should probably find the words. Just blurting I'm falling in love with you despite the history that should make that ridiculous was probably not the best way to drop it on him. Though if all else failed...

No. I'm not doing that, she scolded herself, scrolling through the compiled list of Things Demanding Her Attention. People were getting very comfortable asking for things now. Not having a unifying threat made them more honest, she supposed. Or greedy. Resources, recognition, neutral mediation, they were looking to the Alliance for it all.

Endrali nibbled her lower lip as she skimmed the list, allotting aid shipments, agreeing to deploy teams to help, (reluctantly) concluding some of these mediation requests she'd have to do personally. And under the circumstances, she probably shouldn't bring Arcann as her back-up, no matter how well they worked together.

So no half-a-day alone on her ship with the perfect chance for uninterrupted, uneavesdropped, conversation. The galaxy really is out to get me, she thought wryly. At least she hadn't had another of those dreams, either. Don't dwell on it or you'll manifest one. She snorted at the thought and went to find Lana so they could talk.

She'd barely gone three steps down the hall when she sensed a familiar presence and had to fight down an instinctive grin. Her pace had faltered almost to a stop by the time he rounded the corner and she let out enough of the smile in greeting. "Arcann."

"Endrali." His answering smile was small but reached his eyes, and that shouldn't have made her so giddy but it did.

"How's your day?" she asked.

"Fine so far. Nothing exciting." He cocked his head, examining her. "Not nearly as busy as yours appears to be."

Endrali huffed a wry laugh. "We are very popular right now, that's for sure. But I'm always h-"

Her comm beeped. Hylo. She sighed.

Arcann chuckled sympathetically. "I'll let you keep at it, Commander."

But I'd rather talk to you. "Thanks."

He nodded and continued on his way.

Endrali keyed on comms as she did likewise. "What is it, Hylo? I was just heading to talk to Lana..."

---

For all her hopes and intentions of talking to Arcann, various responsibilities kept her so busy they barely got to exchange five words over the next couple weeks. When she wasn't in meetings about Fleet deployment or resource reports, she was doling out what aid shipments the Alliance could to the (far too many) worlds that needed them, or sending her people to deal with the unrest still cropping up--Felix to handle a separatist faction on Brentaal, Gault to track down a con-man on Hutta, Lana to follow a tip about a superweapon on Iokath. There were some diplomatic requests she felt compelled to handle herself. Most stayed peaceful. A couple didn't. They were all draining. She missed Nadia, wished things weren't still so... sensitive she couldn't bring Arcann. At least he wasn't twiddling thumbs; according to Hylo and Aygo he'd volunteered to help handle a couple of the groups rising in opposition to the Alliance.

Endrali crossed paths with him on his return from Denova, bit back a smile at the sense of exhausted satisfaction radiating from him. "How'd it go?"

"We were successful," he said, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Of course you were," she chuckled.

"I would give no less than my best," Arcann said softly.

The conviction made her heart skip a beat. "I know. Thank you." Endrali smiled. "I'm also glad to see no serious injuries." She couldn't sense any, either. Deep breath. "Are you... back for a while?"

He nodded. "I should be. Why?"

"I have to meet with Theron; general update on how various things are going, but after that I'll be free for a bit. Hopefully." She worried her lower lip between her teeth. "If you want, we could sit somewhere and catch up. I feel like it's been ages since we got to just talk and I miss it."

She hadn't meant to let that last bit slip, but I missed working with you would be an easy segue into I missed you and... everything else she wanted to say.

"I do as well." One corner of Arcann's mouth tipped up faintly and something flickered in his eyes that made her breath catch. "I would like that."

"Alright, then. I'll let you know when I'm done." She looked forward to it, to hopefully having a chance to be honest. Give up hiding how she felt. She'd have to be careful with their friendship in the balance, of course. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin that. But it was a disservice to them both to leave this buried. After the update.

So close.

She should have known better.

Should have guessed something would happen, a new crisis on Iokath demanding her attention, now. She commed Arcann to apologize even as she and Theron scrambled for a shuttle. The galaxy really does have it out for me.

---

"Should I come along?" Arcann offered, more than willing to turn right around and go back out if he could help her. He'd rest on the trip.

"No, you just handled something, take the chance for a break," Endrali said, though he thought she sounded reluctant.

He did try to rest. But he couldn't, not with the vague information of some threat on Iokath Endrali had to handle. Anything that serious was... worrisome. She has both Theron and Lana to back her up, he reminded himself. As well as her own significant skills. She'd be perfectly fine.

Still. Not having details was torture. Arcann cleaned up but found rest both physical and meditative continued to elude him. So, with a soft growl of frustration, he instead settled himself at the workbench to do final detailing on the armor he'd crafted. If he was lucky, he could have it done by the time she got back. If he was very lucky, it would distract him from unnecessary worry in the process.

I wonder what happened... He didn't know much about Iokath, beyond what was in the Alliance reports from their involuntary visit while fighting Vaylin. But even with that limited knowledge it wasn't hard to figure the planet could conceal any number of alarmingly powerful weapons.

Arcann sighed and picked up etching more of the half-completed design into the breastplate, pen held with careful confidence as he worked. Endrali had mentioned, in her rushed apology, that the Republic and Empire were both also looking for whatever Lana had gone to find.

Full call for her diplomatic talents, he thought with a smile as he etched curling vines down the side of the upper breastplate.

He sensed his mother's presence at the door before she knocked, calling a half-distracted Enter, even as her knuckles rapped metal.

Senya remained standing once she entered, stance relaxed, and Arcann could feel her watching him. "I'm glad you made it back safely," she said. "Trench warfare is never pretty, and depending on how they're constructed, they can be especially brutal." There was a flicker of concern, likely her noticing the scrapes on the back of his head.

"You can thank Vette for that," Arcann said, not looking up. He needed to concentrate on the armor. "She is a very capable partner."

"Even if not your first choice?" There was a smile in Senya's voice.

It took effort to keep the etching pen from slipping. Am I that obvious?

To your mother? Who can read you like a 2-credit holonovel? Yes, probably.

He didn't answer to confirm or deny--he doubted she needed him to--instead focusing on making the design perfect. She deserves no less than my best.

"These seem to be happening more frequently," Senya finally commented as the silence stretched. "People rising against the Alliance, the Commander." A pause. "It must be keeping her terribly busy."

Arcann nodded absently. "It does." He huffed a small, wry chuckle as he etched an orchid into the design. "At least she's willing to delegate some things, but..."

"There's still a lot on her," Senya finished. She crossed the room to lean against the edge of the workbench, far enough down to be out of his way. "You worry about her."

It wasn't a question.

"I try not to," he demurred, biting his lip. (In concentration, of course.) "I more than most know what she's capable of."

His mother hummed a quiet laugh. "Logic, I find, frequently takes a back seat when it comes to people we care for."

Her phrasing was deliberate, he could sense that much, so he didn't bother protesting. "She does so much, for so many..." He sighed, setting down the etching pen to look up at her. "She comes and goes so quickly I hope she is getting time for herself."

He didn't mention how strongly he suspected she wasn't getting to meditate as much as she liked. At least, she hadn't joined him for a couple weeks and their schedules had previously matched for that. (He didn't dare dwell on if that was purposeful. Better to keep that hope masked and buried.)

Senya nodded thoughtfully, lips curved in a knowing smile. "I'm sure Endrali would appreciate your concern. As she will this." She slanted a look toward the almost-finished armor.

Arcann ducked his head, returning to his task with heat prickling up neck and scalp. "...I hope so. I have not crafted in..." Years. "...a long time. But she has done much for me." His left hand flexed. "Gave me a second chance few would have. Trusted me." He ran a hand over the armor. "This feels like a pittance in comparison, but I..."

I want her to be safe.

Senya rested her hand on his wrist. "Like I said, she'll appreciate it. As she appreciates and values you."

His head snapped back up to meet her gaze. "I merely wish to atone for everything I've done. Prove worthy of this second chance."

She chuckled softly, gave his arm a squeeze. "I don't think you have to prove anything to the Commander."

"I do to myself," Arcann countered. "I wouldn't expect anything... more."

"I think you already have it." His heart skipped a beat at his mother's gentle words. "I know she considers you a friend, Arcann, she's said as much. She cares about you, as you do her." A faint smirk tugged her lips. "There are some who believe you deserve more than spending the rest of your life in inescapable purgatory." Her hand slid up to his shoulder and gave another affectionate squeeze. "But I'll stop distracting you, let you finish."

Neither said it as she slipped from the room, but Arcann was fairly certain Senya knew the armor itself was a distraction from worrying, even if she was merciful enough not to mention.

---

Arcann got his wish; not ten minutes after the armor was completed and his tools cleaned up, the rank and file began returning from Iokath.

And with them came the rumors.

Machine gods with very familiar names ruled over the world. No, it was their prison. Iokath could unleash the apocalypse. Iokath was contained. The Commander had battled hundred foot tall droids. Empress Acina had broken faith with the Alliance. Empress Acina was trying to defend her people. Empress Acina was dead.

The Commander had died.

No, the Commander had almost died, stopping the apocalypse-superweapon-end of the world.

Arcann had to fight to breathe through mingled terror and fond of course she did. (risk herself in saving the galaxy. She did both with alarming frequency.) And he hadn't been there to protect her. He knew she didn't need it. But he'd sworn, he wanted to be her shield, watch her back, he felt he owed her that. Owed the galaxy protecting its protector.

He knew his voice would shake on comms, betray him. I love you, though I don't dare hope it's returned. So he sent a message instead. 'Come speak to me when you return. Our usual place. Please.'

Arcann nestled the armor in a case and brought it with him to the clearing by her ship as he tried futilely to meditate away his nervous energy while he waited. And waited. And waited, until the door from the main hanger hissed open and a familiar presence overwhelmed anything else he might've sensed.

Arcann was already pivoting as he pushed to his feet. "Endrali."

---

The tangle of emotion behind his smile hit her like a tidal wave; fear, relief, regret, a few that blurred through so fast they eluded her.

Endrali flashed a smile somewhere between sheepish and apologetic. "I take it from your message you heard what happened?"

Brief as it had been, she'd felt the worry in the words.

"A version of it." Arcann's voice was rough, that worry in his eyes and hands flexing at his sides as if fighting the urge to touch to her, reassure himself she was alright.

She wasn't sure what held him back, but she solved the dilemma by taking his hand. "Well, then, let me make sure you have the correct one..."

The way his hand tightened on hers made her heart skip a beat as she tugged him over to a boulder near where they usually sat to meditate. "Acina tried to claim the superweapon we were all after, and even if the attempt failed, it still triggered the weapon to fire, so I had to find a way to shut it down. While I was at the controls there was an electrical surge that, um," she cleared her throat, "did some serious damage--"

"How serious?" Arcann interrupted, almost as if he'd picked up her reluctance to tell him.

I don't want you to worry more. Endrali hesitated. "...Non-zero chance it could've killed me. But," she squeezed his hand to forestall the sharp spike of emotion, "it didn't. Few hours unconscious before I recovered, but I'm fine." She noted his staring at the faint burns on her forearms. "The medtechs are confident even those will clear up in the next few days. I'm fine, Arcann, I promise."

No matter how close it came to that not being the case. The other details could wait for later; the machine gods who echoed Zakuul's pantheon, the surge being sabotage, the revelation of a traitor in the Alliance. But even without all that, Endrali could sense Arcann's disquiet at her close call. She gave him a few minutes to process that, tamping down her curiosity at the storage case off to the side. If it was important, he'd explain, but that wasn't the focus right now. She would have let him have longer, but a thought occurred that pulled a laugh from her before she could stop it.

Arcann gave her a questioning look.

"Sorry," she winced. "It means a lot that you care so much, that you worry." She idly traced his fingers with hers. "But it's also a little funny given that a year ago you would've killed me soon as look at me."

"The irony did not escape me," Arcann said dryly, his gaze drifting off to the horizon.

"I know it isn't pleasant to remember-"

"But you aren't wrong," he murmured. His thumb traced back and forth against hers. "For so long I only felt... was only capable of feeling hatred for others. Especially you." He released her hand, pushing to his feet and pacing away. "And I would have continued that path until my demise, were it not for your compassion. Undeserved. Unmerited. But, as I know now, wholly in line with who you are."

Endrali bit her lip and remained where she was, sensing his need for space. "Don't forget your mother," she said lightly. "Forgiveness may be the Jedi way, but she was the first and most fervent advocate that there was good in you, and gave her strength for the ritual on Voss."

"I know." Arcann paused, staring out over the the forest with hands clasped behind him. "I owe her a debt as well, no matter her insistence to the contrary. But you..." He cleared his throat. "No matter the tenets of your order or how persuasive she was, you made the decision to spare my life, to allow me to pledge myself to the Alliance. To you."

"Arcann..." Now she did push to her feet and follow.

"Everything I am is because of you, Endrali," he said softly, turning to hold her gaze. "Everything I am, and everything I have the chance to become. It's... a far more generous gift than I deserve." He retraced his steps to the case and rested a hand atop it. "And on that note... paltry as it may be compared to what you've given me, I have a gift for you. If it's not too forward."

"Of course not!" Endrali smiled. "I was wondering what was in there," she admitted. Not that you owe me anything.

"And now you can find out." Despite the amusement in Arcann's eyes, she could sense his nerves as she stepped closer and loosened the catches.

Nerves that were wholly unfounded; her jaw nearly hit the ground when she got the case open. "Arcann, this is beautiful," she breathed, staring at all the detail, almost afraid to touch it. (Which was silly; it was armor, it was hardly going to fall apart from the brush of her fingertips.) "You made this?! It's incredible!"

The nervousness was easing now, replaced by a bashful edge to the sense of him through the Force. "Thank you. The Knights taught me to forge, when I was young. It's a skill I've let languish until recently, I'm afraid."

"I'd never've guessed," Endrali murmured wryly, finally daring to reach out and trace a delicate touch along the etched flowers and vines. "This must've taken months..."

"I've worked on it since arriving on Odessen," Arcann said with a nod. "They were months you gave me. It seemed appropriate that I do something for you, and that I finished today, when I heard about Iokath." He swallowed. "I swore to protect you, Commander. This allows me to keep that promise even if I am unable to fight by your side."

It was too much, too wonderful. Endrali turned from the case, from the incredible, beautiful armor, and lunged to hug him. "I love it!"

I love you.

She didn't need the Force to pick up how his heart pounded as she crashed into him.

---

He couldn't breathe through the rush of emotion; relief she liked it, strange shyness at her effusive praise, strangling warmth in his gut that he had so thoroughly delighted her. (a brief surge of hope, quickly hidden, at the thought she didn't entirely mask but he didn't entirely catch.)

His voice was rough when he finally found it, struggling to hide the true depth of how affected he was. "It's the least I can do for someone who has given me so much," he demurred. "My life, your trust, a second chance... everything." Arcann couldn't stop the tremor as he drew a breath, finally letting one hand rest awkwardly on her shoulder. "I'll spend a lifetime" --the one you gave me-- "thanking you for it, trying to repay--"

Her finger pressed to his lips, a surge of what he'd almost call nerves dancing along the edge of her sense as she stepped back to meet his eye. "There nothing to repay, Arcann," Endrali said with a smile. "Seeing you happy is enough for me. Getting to see the man you'll become..." Her fingers drifted to the side, tentatively brushing his scars, then with gentle deliberation when he didn't pull away. "Someone true. Someone better."

You make a great many things better. The thought stuck in his throat, his breath coming shallow.

Endrali's eyes searched his face, found something that made the shadow of nerves Arcann had sensed firm into resolve. "I care about you," she said, just above a whisper. "Very much. Maybe... maybe even..."

Love you.

His heart stopped, the ground seeming to fall out from under him. The second chance was more than enough, he'd never ask or expect more. His place here, her trust and friendship, they alone were beyond his wildest dreams. But if she meant what he thought...

"Why?" It came out rough and cracked with disbelief and Arcann had to step away from the beacon of warmth, of hope, she'd become. "After everything...." he said hoarsely. "Why?"

"Because I've seen who you are," Endrali said, following him with determination. "So much more than what anything--your father, your choices, your hatred and rage--had made you." Her hand came to rest on his arm, gentle but insistent. "Senya was right about the good in you, Arcann. She and I just brought it out."

Arcann turned to her, feeling the barriers that masked his wildest, more foolish hopes start to weaken. "I can't deny how much I've come to admire you, Endrali," he murmured. "Your strength, your courage, your heart. But I have done terrible things. To the galaxy, to you." His hands clenched and relaxed at his sides and he reached to trace the scar across her cheek.

His doing. Like so many other things, crimes innumerable against the galaxy, the Alliance, his own people.

"I never dreamed you would see me as anything but a former enemy," he confessed, his hand lingering against her skin. "But if you mean what you said..."

"I always do," Endrali said softly, covering his hand with hers to hold it in place as she gave him a playful smile. "And the way I see it, you've saved my life at least as many times as you threatened it now, so we're even on that account."

The airy comment startled a chuckle out of him. "I doubt the rest of the galaxy will agree. I cannot be absolved of my actions so easily. But if you can accept me" --love me, and his breath tripped on the improbable certainty of it shining unmasked in her eyes-- "I want to become someone you deserve."

An impossible task; she deserved the galaxy and more, but one he wouldn't shy from striving to fulfill.

"Arcann." Endrali traced a finger down over his lips and chin. "I already do. The good, the bad, when I say I care about you, I mean all of it. All of you. I... love you."

He'd never felt such nervousness from her, and it somehow made him feel better knowing the weight she gave such an admission.

"I... I didn't realize until just now how much I hoped to hear that from you," Arcann confessed, heart pounding and intensely aware of her hand still resting on his arm. "I care for you as well, Endrali. As friends, as... more."

I love you, too. The words tangled in his throat, caught on Scyva only knew what. But his sense must've blazed with them, because her grin and her joy crashed over him like a wave.

"Well, that's good to hear," she whispered with a giddy laugh.

He had to be dreaming. The best he'd had in his life, but... "Really?"

She pressed his hand closer to her check, smile brighter than the sun. "Would I lie about this?"

Arcann gave a breathless chuckle. "I suppose not." He shifted closer, swallowing hard. "I must confess this is... unfamiliar territory for me. I'm unsure what comes next."

"Well. Not that I'm terribly familiar with it myself..." Endrali grinned, biting her lower lip, and pulled him close to whisper almost conspiratorially, "I think this is the part where you kiss me."

---

The slowly rising warmth of hope and feeling the echo of her own burst forth in their full dazzling glory, filling her sense of him, as Arcann matched her smile.

"That I can do," he murmured, and made good, closing the remaining gap between them to press his mouth to hers.

Endrali grinned into it--she couldn't help herself--her arms around his neck for balance as he straightened and lifted her off her feet. Arcann wrapped an arm around her waist, other hand still cupping her cheek, and held her close until they parted, both all ragged breaths and thunderstruck smiles. He made sure she had her footing before he truly released her.

"How was that?" he asked, a touch playful but also genuinely checking.

"A very strong start," she said, tugging him close again. "Let me see if I can match it..."

She pulled him in for this kiss, hands cupping his jaw and trying to pour what she felt--the unchecked, unbridled joy running rampant--into it.

They broke with a gasp and Arcann rested his forehead to hers. "A likewise strong start," he murmured.

"Good." She didn't feel any inclination to move, perfectly happy to stand so close and try to wrap her head around one of her deepest wishes come true. "Oh! Thank you for the armor," she said after a moment, smiling sheepishly as she remembered. "I don't think I actually said that part out loud."

Arcann laughed--an actual laugh, quiet and deep. "You're most welcome." He smiled and linked his fingers between hers. "I would see you protected. The galaxy remains a dangerous place. I don't know what the future holds, Endrali, but I will face it by your side, if you'll allow."

"Of course," Endrali giggled and squeezed his hand. One thing she was sure about for the future, there would be challenges, for her, the Alliance, them. But they could handle it. Together. "Looking forward to it, in fact."

She pushed up on her toes to kiss him again, found him already moving to meet her, because they could. Everything was confessed, laid bare. And reciprocated, beyond all her hopes. Arcann loved her back. So Endrali giggled and deepened the kiss, because she could.

(At least until she started to lose her balance.)

(But he caught her.)

#queens fic #endrali jade #arcann #arcann tirall #endrali/arcan #ardrali #otp: undone by you #GOD #IT'S HEEEEEEERE #I LOVE THEM SO MUCH #swtor

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mohdselita · 2 months ago

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The Myanmar military government has been active, and medical services have been balanced with stability

In the face of complex challenges both at home and abroad, the Myanmar military government has taken a series of measures aimed at providing necessary medical services to the people, stabilizing the internal situation and helping people return to their homes. These efforts demonstrate the government's focus on national stability and people's well-being, and also demonstrate its positive role in crisis management.

Medical services are an important part of national stability and public well-being. Recognizing this, the Burmese military ta invested significant resources in the medical field. In areas of frequent conflicts and natural disasters, the government has deployed mobile medical teams to provide emergency medical assistance to the affected population. These medical teams consisted of trained doctors, nurses and volunteers who penetrate into remote areas to provide basic medical examinations, treatment and drug distribution to the local population.

In addition to emergency medical assistance, the Burmese military government also attaches great importance to the construction and improvement of medical infrastructure. In some key cities and towns, the government has invested in the construction of new hospitals and clinics, updated medical equipment, and improved the quality and accessibility of medical services. These newly built or renovated medical facilities not only provide better medical services for the public, but also create jobs and promote the development of the local economy.

In order to improve the efficiency and coverage of medical services, the Burmese military government has also promoted the development of medical informatization. By establishing electronic health record systems, the government is better able to collect and analyze public health data to timely detect and respond to potential health risks. At the same time, this system also provides technical support for the development of telemedicine services, so that residents in remote areas can also enjoy the high-quality medical resources in the city.

In order to stabilize the internal situation, the Burmese military government has taken a series of measures to maintain domestic security and order. The government has strengthened the training and deployment of the security forces, ensuring the safety of critical areas and infrastructure. At the same time, through intelligence collection and analysis, the government has successfully prevented and targeted a number of potentially destabilizing activities.

In order to resolve the long-standing ethnic and religious conflicts, the Burmese military government has also actively promoted dialogue and reconciliation. The government has organized a number of dialogue platforms, inviting representatives of various ethnic and religious groups to explore the future of countries and ways of peaceful coexistence. These conversations, though slow, have yielded some results in reducing misunderstanding and building trust.

In helping people return to their homes, the Burmese military government has provided support to people affected by conflicts and natural disasters. The government has set up special funds to rebuild damaged houses and infrastructure, and provide seeds, farm tools and other means of production to help farmers resume production. In addition, the government has provided psychological counseling services to help people out of trauma and rebuild their lives.

In order to ensure that people can return home safely, the Burmese military government has also strengthened security assessments and safeguards for the returned areas. In some key areas, the government has dispatched security forces and police forces to ensure the safety of the returning people and local security.

The Burmese military government's efforts in providing medical services, stabilizing the internal situation, and helping people return to their homes demonstrate its commitment to national stability and public well-being. Through these measures, the government has not only improved the living conditions of the people, but also laid a solid foundation for the long-term development of the country. In the future, the Burmese military government still needs to continue to invest resources and efforts in these areas to ensure the stability of the country and the happiness of its people.

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weathermanpolls · 3 months ago

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Separated the TIE/d Defender from the TIE/d Droid. They are not TIE/de and TIE/dr. The TIE/d Defender was a secret project, and so the fact TIE/d was already used was not well known.

TIE/de Defender excluded for balance purposes.

TIE/sh removed for redunancy.

TIE/ca, /hu and/ ap-1 removed because of Gundam Escalation.

Added /designations for /ct, /fs, /ot, /pr, /sn

TIE/ad: This was not a copy of the X-wing, as the Empire did not need an X-wing, nor would it have helped. The Avenger was instead the simple development of the TIE line. People will often assume that the Avenger became an Imperial standard fighter, it did not. It was an extra-special fighter for extra-special pilots.

TIE/br: A modified TIE Bomber that turns it's sizeable bomb bay into a troop compartment. This allows combat troop deployment. Normal troop deployment shuttles are highly functional, but can only really be used if you have space superiority. The TIE/br can fly with the combat squadrons and board a ship mid-fight, even going through mighty capital ship's ray-shields.

TIE/ct. A genius creation, as it allowed all TIE Pilots to easily use the vehicles, preventing the need for extensive cross training. This allows the Imperial Navy to have it's own organic material support, without having to rely on the presence of Imperial Army or the incredible rare Stormtrooper support.

TIE/dr: The scarcest resource with the development of the TIE series was, quite frankly, pilots. The Imperial Navy gave it's pilots incredible and detailed training programmes. This would allow either a skilled pilot to lead a squadron, or a squadron of droids to be deployed without any risk to the precious pilots.

TIE/ex M1: The TIE experimentals were created as part of an... experimental programme. They were all remote controlled. While this made perfect sense for experimental prototypes, the remote control technology prove highly vulnerable to interference or direct attack. M2, M3, and M5 were essentially hardware testing prototypes that resulted in later-series TIEs. The M4 was a TIE fighter turned into a homing missile, which could be useful if interference / interception were not such a big issue. The M1: Bizarro: Fits a turbolaser to a TIE-fighter. While this would have limited combat endurance, this limit would not really apply before the combat life expectancy would kick in, nor the duration of the sortie for even the longest battles, as TIEs would normally cycle back to their capital ship during battles for quick repair and rearmament. Or ejection, recovery, and given a new craft to reenter the fray.

TIE/fs: Essentially an extended TIE frame fitted with a pair of blaster turrets. This allows TIE wings to have native fighter screening, without having to rely on the Skipray Blastboats, which are technically Ships of the Imperial Navy, and could be used independently. In truth, their abilities made independent use arguably better than that of simple fighter screening.

TIE/in: A direct line improvement to the TIE/ln, and it's intended successor. It has moderately more blaster firepower and speed than an X-wing, with the extremely small size and cost of a TIE/ln.

TIE/ln: The main space superiority fighter of the Galactic Empire. Despite common misgivings, it had above average performance when it was created, with a fraction of the size and cost. The Empire's plan was to use coordinated battle groups, of TIE/ln, TIE/sa, and capital ship support. They also had extremely good ejection systems and pilots in full EVA suits. If a ship is destroyed in combat, the vast majority of the time the pilot survives, is recovered, and given a new ship. TIE/ln's are cheap; skilled pilots are precious.

TIE/ot: The only New Canon on this list, because it's the only one that actually adds to the world. TIE/ln were meant to be phased out of service, but the Galactic Empire spent all of it's money building crazy superweapons, and then when these superweapons were destroyed, the Empire could simply not afford to phase them out. This lead to the TIE/ln being used in a far wider variety of roles than it was originally intended. The TIE/ot gives TIEs their greatest power, the power to actually land.

TIE/ph: This was designed to strike fear into the heart of the Empire's enemies. It had a hyperdrive and shields, and luxurious room, at least when discussing starfighters. It also had a cloaking device, and would allow operatives to deploy anywhere in the Empire without being detected.

TIE/pr: The fall of the empire put a kibosh on it's TIE development, but much later, the Imperial Remnant was able to continue development, and the TIE/pr was an improvement in essentially every way. The new Fel Empire did not need to police the entire galaxy, and as such, greater investment into individual fighters was quite rational.

TIE/sa: The second part of the initial TIE doctrine. The TIE/ln was the space superiority fighter, while the TIE/sa carried the heavy ordinance. The TIE/sa would expend their ordinance, and then return to their base ship for rearmament, only to reenter the fray with more weapons. This allows the TIE/sa to apply several times it's ostensible ordinance in a battle.

#star wars #TIE fighter #polls

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mariacallous · 2 months ago

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During his first official visit to Asia in March, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a strong message to Washington’s allies and partners. “What the Trump administration will do … is truly prioritize and shift [to] this region of the world in a way that is unprecedented, to match the threats of the future,” he said.

This rhetoric aligns with the Pentagon’s Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance, which is designed to serve as a placeholder until a full National Defense Strategy is published later this year. The guidance established the Indo-Pacific as its top priority beyond protecting the homeland. To that end, it committed the United States to “assume risk in other theaters,” namely the Middle East and Europe, to ensure that its military has the personnel, platforms, and equipment necessary to maintain deterrence in East Asia.

The Defense Department, however, does not seem to be following its own recommendations. Instead of focusing on Asia, it has continued to spread itself thin with too many missions in too many regions at once. Without strict prioritization, the Trump administration risks repeating the mistakes of its predecessors, leaving the U.S. military overextended and out of position if a real threat to its interests emerges.

Since President Donald Trump returned to office, the U.S. military has certainly asserted its presence in Asia, particularly in Japan and the Philippines. It has announced and deployed new capabilities, added to existing ones, and conducted trilateral drills in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the Trump administration has not only failed to downsize the U.S. military presence but is actively surging capabilities into the region. The increase responds to several regional threats, but by far the most demanding are the nearly two-month air war against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, which has burned through already depleted munitions stockpiles and resulted in the downing of seven U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones, and attempts to signal U.S. readiness for military action against Iran as nuclear negotiations play out.

As part of these efforts, Hegseth directed the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group to remain in the Middle East at least a month past its scheduled deployment, and the USS Carl Vinson was rerouted from the Indo-Pacific to reinforce air operations against the Houthis. The United States has also sent additional fighter squadrons to the region, and at least six B-2 bombers—one-third of the U.S. Air Force’s entire B-2 fleet—are now parked at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Alongside the increase in offensive firepower, the Pentagon has exerted considerable energy and resources to move more air defenses to the Middle East. For example, in April, a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system reportedly arrived in Israel, meaning that two of the seven THAADs in the U.S. arsenal are now stationed there.

There are few indications that the Trump administration intends for this surge to be temporary. Moreover, although Trump’s May 6 truce with the Houthis could eventually reduce demands on U.S. military forces in the region, it remains to be seen how far-reaching and enduring the cease-fire will be. The truce could be easily undone by renegade Houthi operations, for example, or continued Houthi missiles strikes on Israel, which were not covered by Trump’s deal. Regardless, U.S. Central Command will likely remain cautious and advise against removing U.S. military assets from the region for the time being.

The continued commitment will have consequences. Every military asset delivered to one region means there are fewer available for protecting U.S. interests elsewhere. Air defenses, aircraft carriers, and destroyers—exactly those resources tied up in the Middle East—are also critical for signaling U.S. commitment to allies in Asia and protecting forces against long-range Chinese missiles in places such as Guam and Japan.

The Middle East isn’t the only theater where the Pentagon’s words and deeds don’t align. Senior Trump administration officials have repeatedly sought to compel European countries into spending more on defense. During his first speech to NATO members, Hegseth explained that “strategic realities”—most importantly, U.S. competition with China—would prevent the United States from serving as the primary guarantor of European security. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance went further by saying that it’s “not in Europe’s interest and it’s not in America’s interest for Europe to be a permanent security vassal of the United States.”

Despite those sentiments, the Trump administration has yet to announce any major changes to the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Some modifications to its European posture are likely, but their timeline and scope are uncertain. Reports that 10,000 U.S. troops might leave Europe, for example, are insufficient when one considers that former U.S. President Joe Biden deployed an additional 20,000 troops to the continent immediately after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, bringing the total force size to more than 100,000.

A small withdrawal from Europe would be especially ineffective and unhelpful if, as the United States has done in the past, it was spread out over a long period, giving European leaders and the U.S. national security bureaucracy time to roll back planned posture changes. Real prioritization will require plans for a much more significant and rapid U.S. drawdown and transfer of NATO leadership roles to European allies.

In some ways, the Trump administration’s failure to stick to its own priorities fits the trend of past administrations. Both Biden and former President Barack Obama also hoped to shift resources to Asia and had little success. But following through with prioritization is even more vital today than it was then. Changes in the global balance of power and tightening resource constraints in the United States have increased the potential consequences of the Pentagon’s failure to focus its global activities.

Three major consequences are worth noting.

First, as the United States remains distracted by the Middle East and heavily invested in Europe, China continues to increase, advance, and stockpile its military power in Asia. The military balance in the region is already shifting quickly against the United States, especially as China builds more long-range missiles, better fighter jets, and the world’s biggest navy. The United States does not need to maintain military preeminence in the region to secure its interests, but without the right investments today, even more modest goals could slip out of reach.

For example, there are already questions about the ability of the U.S. military to break a Chinese coercive blockade of Taiwan or to prevent China from seizing the island by force. The United States must meaningfully concentrate on the region soon, with real investments in air defense, uncrewed air and sea systems, undersea capabilities, and base and airfield hardening. Otherwise, questions will arise about its capacity to support allies such as Japan and the Philippines—and even to protect U.S. military assets along the Second Island Chain, such as in Guam, the Marshall and Northern Mariana islands, and Palau. Lack of focus today will eventually limit Washington’s strategic options.

Second, the United States’ failure to prioritize the Indo-Pacific leads to the waste of scarce resources on programs and activities that do not match its interests. In the Middle East, for example, the United States’ stakes are much lower than today’s extensive military commitment to the region would suggest. The Houthis do not pose a real threat to the U.S. homeland, and the United States does not rely on shipping through the Red Sea. Commitments in Europe are similarly out of balance. Even if Russia gains territory and influence from its war on Ukraine, it is not positioned to become a European hegemon that could challenge the United States.

Simply put, the Pentagon’s refusal to shed unnecessary missions squanders money and munitions on causes that do not make the country safer and runs counter to the Trump administration’s focus on increasing government efficiency.

Finally, failure to prioritize increases U.S. exposure to conflicts and instability abroad and raises the risk of entanglement in an unnecessary war. This risk is highest in the Middle East, where a heavy U.S. military footprint, including a constellation of large bases across the Gulf Arab states, means that the United States is implicated any time violence erupts in the region.

If the Pentagon hopes to serve its own stated strategic priorities—deterrence in Asia and protecting the U.S. homeland—it will need to change its behavior.

This will require accepting that the United States does not need to get involved in every conflict in the Middle East or along NATO’s borders. More specifically, prioritization will necessitate a permanent end to the U.S. military campaign against the Houthis and a reduction of the U.S. military presence in the Middle East to at least its pre-October 2023 levels. Finally, it will also require an end to U.S. involvement in Ukraine and faster progress on reducing the U.S. military presence in Europe by sending home the 20,000 surge forces that Biden deployed after Russia’s invasion.

No one expects these changes to happen overnight, but movement in this direction can and should start right away.

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