#Substation Design Course

[mecci1]

Mecci Noida Your Gateway to Excellence in Process Design Engineering

[news24-amit]

Next-Gen Marine Power: Charting a Course Toward a Greener Fleet

The Global Advanced Marine Power Supply Market was valued at USD 5.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to USD 8.7 billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 5.0% from 2023 to 2031. Advanced marine power supplies are integral to the seamless operation of electrical and electronic systems aboard ships and offshore installations. They provide regulated, stable voltage to critical navigation, communication, and safety equipment, ensuring uninterrupted service even in harsh maritime environments. Smart grid integration, real-time monitoring, dynamic power management, and high efficiency are key features that distinguish next-generation marine power systems from conventional solutions.

Market Drivers & Trends

Energy-Efficient Marine Transportation: Stricter global emissions regulations have accelerated adoption of fuel-efficient propulsion systems, such as hybrid electric drives and waste heat recovery. Advanced power supplies enable precise energy management, reducing overall fuel consumption.

Offshore Wind Power Integration: Growth in offshore wind farms demands reliable marine power solutions for turbine operations, substation platforms, and maintenance vessels. Predictive weather monitoring and dynamic load balancing are emerging trends.

Smart Grid Features: Onboard smart grid integration allows ships to synchronize with onshore grids, facilitate shore-to-ship power transfers, and implement condition-based maintenance through remote diagnostics.

Digitalization & Automation: Remote monitoring, IoT-enabled sensors, and AI-driven analytics are being integrated into power systems to optimize performance and preempt failures.

Latest Market Trends

Hybrid Power Architectures: Combining diesel generators with battery banks and renewable inputs (e.g., solar arrays, rotor sails) to create flexible, multi-source power systems.

Predictive Maintenance: Adoption of ML algorithms for early fault detection in power converters and transformers, minimizing downtime and repair costs.

Regulatory Alignment: Solutions designed to meet IMO Tier III NOₓ limits and EU MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) carbon reporting requirements.

Scalable Modular Designs: Modular power units that can be easily upgraded or expanded to accommodate future capacity needs without major retrofits.

Key Players and Industry Leaders The competitive landscape is characterized by major global automation and power solution providers:

Emerson Electric Co.

Schneider Electric

ABB

Exide Industries Ltd

EnerSys

HBL Power Systems Ltd

Sunlight Group

Eaton

Powerbox International AB

ENAG

Marine Electric Systems

Newmar

Analytic Systems Ware Ltd

Recent Developments

November 2023: Emerson Electric Co. invested in Frugal Technologies (Denmark) to integrate fuel optimization software into its marine systems portfolio, enhancing fleet efficiency and emission reduction.

September 2023: Advent Technologies Holdings launched its Serene Power Systems, a high-temperature PEM fuel cell solution designed for silent, zero-emission auxiliary power on vessels.

February 2024: ABB unveiled a next-gen integrated electric propulsion system that reduces energy losses by up to 15% compared to existing offerings.

Discover essential conclusions and data from our Report in this sample - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=40343

Market Opportunities and Challenges Opportunities:

Emerging Markets: Growing shipbuilding activities in Asia Pacific and the Middle East offer fertile ground for advanced power supply deployments.

Decarbonization Initiatives: Grants and subsidies for green shipping technologies are lowering barriers to adoption.

Retrofit Programs: Over 60% of the global fleet is over 15 years old, representing a massive retrofit market for upgraded power systems.

Challenges:

High CapEx: Initial investment costs for advanced systems are significant, potentially deterring smaller operators.

Technical Complexity: Integration of multiple energy sources and smart grid interfaces requires specialized expertise.

Regulatory Uncertainty: Divergent regional regulations may complicate standardization and global roll-out plans.

Future Outlook From 2023 to 2031, the advanced marine power supply market is expected to maintain steady growth, driven by continual enhancements in fuel efficiency and onshore–offshore power integration. By 2031, next-generation solutions with fully autonomous power management and zero-emission operation modes will become mainstream in new vessel builds and retrofit projects. Collaboration between shipyards, technology providers, and maritime regulators will be critical in establishing unified technical standards and accelerating the green transition of the global fleet.

Market Segmentation

By Device

Battery

Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS)

Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)

Inverter

Others

By Power Source

Direct Power Supply

Renewable Power Supply

By Application

Internal Lighting

Navigation Lighting

Communication Systems

Surveillance Systems

Engine Control

Others

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominated the market in 2022, accounting for significant share of global seaborne trade (59% of unloading, 40% of loading) and over 56% of container traffic, driving demand for next-gen marine power solutions.

Europe is witnessing rapid offshore wind farm expansion, boosting specialized power supply systems for maintenance vessels and substation platforms.

North America focuses on regulatory compliance and retrofitting existing fleets with cleaner power architectures.

Middle East & Africa are investing heavily in port modernization, creating growth prospects for shore-to-ship power connections.

South America is gradually upgrading its merchant and offshore support fleets to improve energy efficiency.

Why Buy This Report?

Comprehensive Analysis: Includes detailed segment and regional analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, value chain assessment, and qualitative insights.

Market Forecasts: Quantitative forecasts through 2031 for devices, power sources, and applications.

Competitive Landscape: Profiles of 14 leading players with product portfolios, strategic initiatives, and financials.

Strategic Recommendations: Actionable guidance on market entry, product development, and partnership opportunities.

Data-Driven Decision Making: Full dataset in Excel, featuring historical data (2017–2021) and up-to-date market intelligence.

About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact: Transparency Market Research Inc. CORPORATE HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN, 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USA Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com

[cubikcadd03]

ETAP Electrical Software | Power System Analysis & Design

ETAP Electrical Software: A Complete Guide for Engineers & Professionals

In the modern electrical engineering landscape, software tools play a crucial role in ensuring efficiency, safety, and reliability in power systems. One such powerful tool is ETAP (Electrical Transient Analyzer Program)—a widely used electrical engineering software for power system modeling, analysis, monitoring, and optimization. Whether you're an electrical engineer, a power system analyst, or a student looking to enhance your technical skills, learning ETAP electrical software can significantly boost your expertise and career prospects.

What is ETAP Electrical Software?

ETAP is an advanced power system analysis software used for designing, simulating, and managing electrical networks. It is widely utilized across industries such as power generation, transmission, distribution, industrial plants, and renewable energy sectors. The software provides real-time solutions for analyzing and optimizing electrical systems, ensuring efficiency and compliance with safety standards.

Key Features of ETAP Electrical Software

Load Flow Analysis – Helps in determining voltage levels, power losses, and system performance under different loading conditions.

Short Circuit Analysis – Identifies fault currents to enhance system protection and ensure safety.

Arc Flash Analysis – Evaluates arc flash hazards and ensures workplace electrical safety.

Relay Coordination – Assists in designing protection systems with optimal relay settings.

Transient Stability Analysis – Studies system behavior during disturbances to prevent power failures.

Harmonic Analysis – Detects and mitigates harmonic distortions affecting power quality.

Cable sizing and optimisation guarantees that the right cables are chosen for effectiveness and security.

Real-Time Monitoring & Predictive Analysis – Provides live data for system performance evaluation and predictive maintenance.

Why Should You Learn ETAP?

Industry Demand: Many industries, including power plants, utilities, and large-scale industrial facilities, rely on ETAP for their electrical system management.

Enhanced Career Prospects: Proficiency in ETAP increases job opportunities in electrical engineering, power distribution, and energy management sectors.

Better Decision-Making: ETAP enables engineers to design, analyze, and optimize power systems with accuracy, reducing risks and improving efficiency.

Compliance with Safety Standards: The software helps ensure adherence to electrical safety regulations, preventing system failures and accidents.

Who Can Benefit from ETAP Training?

Electrical Engineers

Power System Analysts

Energy Consultants

Substation Engineers

Industrial Electricians

Electrical Engineering Students

What You Will Learn in an ETAP Training Course

A structured ETAP training course covers both basic and advanced topics, such as:

Introduction to ETAP & User Interface

Creating and Modeling Electrical Networks

Load Flow & Short Circuit Analysis

Protection & Relay Coordination

Arc Flash & Safety Analysis

Transient Stability & Motor Acceleration Studies

Harmonic Analysis & Power Quality Assessment

Project-Based Simulations & Case Studies

How to Get Started with ETAP?

Enroll in an ETAP Training Program: Many institutions offer online and offline ETAP training courses with hands-on project work.

Access Free Tutorials & Guides: Online resources, including YouTube videos and ETAP’s official documentation, can help beginners get familiar with the software.

Practice with Real-World Case Studies: Applying ETAP to actual electrical system challenges helps improve problem-solving skills.

Get Certified: Earning an ETAP certification boosts credibility and job prospects in the electrical engineering industry.

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[sygmasolutionsuk]

Dig Smart: Ensure Safety When Working Near Subterranean Utilities

The Importance of Locating Subterranean Utilities

Understanding the locations of subterranean utilities is essential while working on excavation or digging operations. A subterranean utility service strike can result in major injuries, expensive repairs, and service disruptions. Before beginning any digging, workers may securely discover and identify subsurface utilities with the aid of the EUSR CAT 1 Locating Utility Services (HSG 47) training. It is regarded as the best course available for this subject.

What is the Locating Utility Services Course for EUSR CAT 1?

In addition to teaching participants how to identify underground utilities using tools and procedures, the EUSR (Energy & Utility Skills Register) CAT 1 Locating Utility Services course broadens their understanding of the applied Safe Systems of Work concepts. The goal is to guarantee safe excavation techniques and prevent mishaps.

In a nutshell, EUSR HSG47 stands for approved training in the utilities industry.

What is Covered in the CAT 1 Course: Locating Utility Services (HSG 47)?

To guarantee that participants can find subsurface utilities in a safe and efficient manner, the EUSR CAT 1 course addresses a number of important topics:

Target Audience: The target audience for this training is people who work in National Grid facilities and substations.

Training Goals: The goal of the training is to empower participants to:

Explain the techniques that may be used to guarantee that the equipment operates as best it can in this kind of setting.

List the prerequisites for EUSR HSG47.

Explain the risks associated with subterranean services.

Explain the subterranean mapping procedure.

List the prerequisites for HSG47-compliant safe work practices.

Describe the process used to avoid using cables and pipes.

Describe the procedures that are followed to guarantee safe digging.

Indicate what is needed to backfill.

Describe the applications for alternate digging technology.

Advise on how to handle "the unknown service."

Describe the issues that arise when cable avoidance equipment is used in a high-voltage substation setting.

Indicate what has to be done to manage contractors that perform this kind of job.

Describe the conditions that must be met to design the work in line with HSG47.

Describe the ways in which utility searches and planning help prevent subterranean services.

Staying informed about proper safety procedures can save lives and prevent costly mistakes.

[qnewsau]

Darlinghurst celebrates Mardi Gras with Oxtravaganza!

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/darlinghurst-celebrates-mardi-gras-with-oxtravaganza/

Darlinghurst celebrates Mardi Gras with Oxtravaganza!

Oxtravaganza, a Darlinghurst-wide fringe festival celebrating the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, is back again for its 8th incarnation in 2024!

The Oxtravaganza Festival is centred around Oxford Street and Sydney’s Rainbow Precinct, but stretches out across Darlo and into Surry Hills and Kings Cross.

This year this ‘festival-within-a-festival’ will run from the 16th February until the 3rd March.

“Oxtravaganza pulls out all the stops,” says Festival Curator Lorraine Lock.

“I mean it’s not unusual to find something happening on Oxford Street on any night of the week, but Oxtravaganza and Mardi Gras ramp it up to another level!”

There are two weeks of events including art exhibitions, an Art Walk, live performances, the Darlo Big Drag Brunch, retail deals, a dedicated Family Zone with storytelling, face painting, kids goodie bags, the ever popular Shop till You Drop, and more.

Something is happening every night of the week from drag shows and cabaret, to book readings and sweaty disco nights. There will also be nude drawing classes, a design market, and activations at the Sydney Design Centre and Sydney Jewish Museum.

And of course, this all builds towards the finale of Parade Night, a glittering glamorous celebration of our LGBTQIA+ community and the rowdiest party that Oxford Street gets to host each year!

All around Darlinghurst a host of businesses are putting on their sparkle for Oxtravaganza in 2024, including galleries, restaurants, small bars, pubs, clubs and retailers.

“We’re also lucky to have the National Art School and the Australian Museum on our doorstep,” says Lock, “plus a host of smaller galleries in the immediate neighbourhood.”

“Art is a big deal and such a huge part of our history!”

This year also sees the opening of the Qtopia Sydney Centre for Queer History and Culture, a hugely anticipated conversion of the old Darlinghurst Police Station into a queer museum and events space.

Qtopia Sydney will also be programming The Bandstand in Green Park, and The Substation and toilet block on Taylor Square (all heritage listed buildings) as cultural and performances spaces on the northside of Oxford Street.

All up, there will be around 100 different events across 40 venues that span the length and breadth of Darlinghurst. Reason enough to start marking your diary for 2024!

HIGHLIGHTS OF OXTRAVAGANZA INCLUDE :

DARLO BIG DRAG BRUNCH – Saturday 24 February Darlinghurst does Drag Brunch better than anywhere else in Sydney! Restaurants, bars and cafes will be hosting their own Drag Brunch, not just on Oxford St but right across Darlo. Some venues will offer bottomless deals every day of the week!

PHOTO EXHIBITION – 16 Feb till 3 March Featuring the “best of Oxtravaganza” from years gone by plus a series of portraits of local faces. Look out for theses amazing pics in the windows of local businesses. You may see a friend or two!

SHOP TILL U DROP – Saturday 24 February Retail deals and performance at key stores and galleries. There will be dj’s, discounts, drag queens, giveaways and more. Join us for a shopping spree like no other!

FAMILY ZONE – Saturday 24 February Drag story time and craft activities for kids and rainbow families. Just a stone’s throw from Oxford Street at the East Sydney Community and Arts Centre (ESCAC), but less hectic for the little ones. Fairy floss, goodie bags, make-up, stories, painting and more.

THE HUBS – 16 February – 3 March Darlo is a lot more than just Oxford Street. There are other hubs to be explored like the Rainbow Precinct, Hollywood Quarter, Stanley Street, the Glittering Mile, all within a short stroll from Taylor Square or the CBD.

Check out the Oxtravaganza website for more updates! www.oxtravaganza.com

[55tfn9]

Shielding the Grid: The Power of Protection Schemes in Safeguarding Electrical Systems

In a bustling metropolis lies a cutting-edge power station that fuels the city's vitality, ensuring electricity courses through its veins day and night. Within this intricate web of transformers, generators, and power lines, a silent army of protection schemes stands guard, ready to shield the heartbeat of the city from harm.

One sunny morning, as dawn broke over the horizon, the peace was shattered by a thunderous storm. Violent winds howled while heavy rain pounded the city's streets. This tempest threatened to disrupt the harmonious symphony of electricity coursing through the power systems.

But deep within the heart of the power station, engineers monitored the vital signs of the system with unwavering expertise. The storm's fury rattled their resolve, but they remained steadfast in their mission to maintain uninterrupted power supply.

As flashes of lightning streaked across the sky, danger lurked around every corner. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck a transmission line with a deafening crack, sending tremors pulsing through the network. The surge rippled through substations and threatened to disrupt the supply that powered homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.

Yet, before chaos could spread, the protective instincts ingrained within the power system sprang into action. Like an orchestra conductor commanding an ensemble, protection schemes orchestrated a intricate dance across switches, breakers, and relays.

Within microseconds, these intelligent guardians interpreted the signals received from sensors strategically placed throughout the network. They identified faults and swiftly isolated the affected sections, preventing damage from permeating further. Circuit breakers tripped, flowing like an electric current wavefront aimed at restraining the potential harm.

The surge's path redirected to ground within specially designed protection grounds, luring it away from delicate equipment. Surge arresters stood tall, willingly sacrificing themselves to absorb the energy from the storm and protect the power system's core.

As the tempest raged on, transmission lines flailed in the face of powerful gusts. Tension built to its limit, threatening to snap under nature's relentless assault. Yet, protection schemes, with foresight reserved for the most vigilant sentinels, detected deviations in current flows that hinted at imminent disaster.

To prevent catastrophe, protective relays instantly triggered, signaling breakers to act decisively. These guardians brought down sections of the network delicately, like a master puppeteer controlling marionettes, preventing cascading failures that could plunge the city into darkness.

Meanwhile, engineers monitored the system's vital signs with dedication and expertise. They skillfully coordinated efforts to assess the damage caused by the storm and worked diligently to restore power to affected areas. Their fingers danced across control panels, guiding the chorus of circuits back to life.

As the storm dissipated and a hushed calm settled upon the city, the resilient power system rose from its weakened state. Protection schemes had weathered the storm's fury, keeping damage contained and minimizing disruptions.

A new day dawned, and the people of the city carried on with their lives, hardly aware of the dance of protection schemes that had safeguarded their comfort and productivity. The silent heroes, hidden within steel towers and automated control centers, remained ever vigilant, their purpose unwavering.

For as long as power systems echoed through cities across the world, these protection schemes would continue their tireless watch, ensuring electricity flowed without interruption - illuminating homes, charging devices, and empowering progress in every corner of our interconnected world.

[ssitedi]

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[advanceelectricaldesign]

Substation Design Course | Substation Design Training Course, Delhi

Enroll now for our Substation Design Course and Learn From the Professionals that too in Flexible Timings. 

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[mecci1]

Join Our Substation Design Course Today

Discover the power to innovate with our Substation Design Course! 🌟 Ignite your passion for electrical engineering and gain hands-on experience in crafting efficient infrastructure. Join us in shaping the future of energy distribution. Enroll now!

[juniper-tree]

The real flora of fake Zion

Fallout: New Vegas was a formative game for me. It gathered up and solidified a lot of disparate interests I’d had for years: desert life, survival medicine and ethnobotany (what Arcade does), being dumb and causing a ruckus. 

The botany really stuck with me. Still working on the desert life. I am an herbalist but not a botanist (yet—for now I just watch Joey Santore and vibe) but plant IDing is a fun hobby. And nothing’s more fun than looking at 10 year old brown pixels and figuring out what the hell they’re supposed to be. 

Continuing my “video game plants in real life” studies (here / here), and because I can’t stop myself from writing plants into my story, here’s a non-exhaustive list of the flora unique to FNV’s Zion Canyon in Honest Hearts.

Ephedra viridis (Mormon tea)

Mormon tea, as you may surmise from its scientific name, is a main source of ephedra, and it will fuck you up. This is trucker speed. As for its common name, well here’s a long post on some of the evidence for and against the idea that Mormon settlers used this as a coffee substitute. If you would like to imagine Joshua Graham and Daniel’s speed-fueled arguments carrying on into the night, I will certainly not stop you. By all accounts, it has a nice flavor.

(lots more behind cut)

Adiantum capillus-veneris (southern maidenhair fern)

Maidenhair fern clings to rock faces and overhangs in Zion, with no observable soil and sometimes very little water - a xerophyte. It tends to cluster and spread in crevices, as around the opening to Crossroad Cavern above. This fern is pretty prevalent in actual Zion, so it’s nice they included some climbing/vining vegetation to break up all the brown-red rock lumps.

Quercus gambelii (gambel oak)

The gambel oak is indigenous to Zion, and in the game—as well as in life—you’ll see it in various states of coloration: bright green, rust red, golden yellow.  It’s one of two tree species to remain in post-apocalyptic Zion, which is still rather lush and green compared to the surrounding wasteland. I imagine that without significant acorn-eating (and spreading) wildlife, the oaks don’t thrive the way they might, radioactive blight aside.

Datura wrightii (sacred datura)

Boy, they did a nice job rendering the sacred datura plant, didn’t they? Datura wrightii is as presented in-game: highly toxic, known to cause hallucinations and sickness (death, really, if you are not knowledgeable and skilled in indigenous peoples’ practices with it), and grows in individual green clumps in the desert soil. A poisonous little oasis with inviting, pretty white flowers.

I will tell you that seeing sacred datura in person for the first time (in Joshua Tree) gave me that “she is too fond of video games and it has turned her brain” feeling. I wanted to lightly pluck the flowers and have them disappear into my invisible backpack. I did not.

Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine)

It took me many go-rounds to decide whether the in-game tree above was ponderosa pine or douglas fir. Something tells me the design was more “generic conifer” and not as true to life as it might be. I’m fairly confident I picked the right one, and anyway, the ponderosa pine is much more interesting. Brachyptera is the subspecies which grows in the Four Corners area. It can grow tall and bushy like the digital ones up there at Ranger Substation Eagle, or it can grow spindly and bent with high elevation and wind.

Did you know ponderosa pines were used to test atom bombs in Nevada? They took a bunch of pines from elsewhere, planted them at Area 5, and then kaboom. The trees largely fell over (video of test). Seems like they could have guessed that.

Artemisia filifolia (old man or sand sagebrush)

The sages in Honest Hearts are very scraggly indeed, sharp, spiky silvery white shrubs without much soft leaf or fuzz, like real ones. They look a bit more like Artemisia cana (silver sagebrush), but perhaps they’ve just become hardened like everybody else in the Wastes. The sand sagebrush has tons of documented uses among the indigenous peoples of the west, including as toilet paper.

Others!

Unlike some of my other investigations into video game plants, because this is set in a real, identifiable place I can touch with my own hands and feet, I don’t have to make real plant analogues from fictional ones. Except in the case of broc flower and xander root. The wiki suggests broc plants resemble Sphaeralcea ambigua, desert globemallows, and while the flowers bear a similarity, I do think this is quite intentionally a fictional plant with fictional properties. As is xander root—essentially, a turnip. Turnips are very good for you.

Of course, there are other plants common to the Mojave Wasteland which I’ve not covered here: Yucca baccata (datil or banana yucca), prickly pear Opuntia cacti (the ones they’ve drawn look kinda like Opuntia polyacantha but Opuntia phaeacantha would be more correct for the region), Agave utahensis (Nevada agave - var. nevadensis wouldn’t be in Zion but var. kaibabensis would so I won’t be picky, and anyway who’s to say how plants spread after 2077).

[kazewhara]

PSPSPSPS kazuha wanter here!! (who is farming for kazu despite not being guaranteed haha-) anywayss im planning to build kazu as dps, do u think em sands would be better for him or atk sands :0?

i have this running joke with my friend that whenever she goes "pspspsp" i kick down her door, but it's 3 am and i can't stay asleep so i'm gonna politely knock ... anyways my point is that im sorry for how much im finna talk rn

if you're building kazuha as a dps, always go for the atk sands. i actually switched it out for em and tested this a few days ago to see if i could keep the hybrid build i have (since he has an atk circlet too... i gotta fix his crit ratio at some point though, so that may or may not change in the future), but the em sands kinda tanked the big anemo numbers he was doing, so i had to switch it back.

i'm sure you know this, but the main reason is because em is kazuha's specialty; he's designed to be a support, so once you lean into it, it changes the course of his dmg output quite a bit. generally, if you wanna stick to a dps build, use an atk sands, a crit rate circlet, and give him primordial jade cutter (if you have it) or the black sword!

for me, his big numbers for both swirl and anemo are because i did my best to balance em and attack by prioritizing the two in all my artifacts' substats and giving him freedom sworn as a sword (before i had it, i had r2 iron sting but i also gotta fix my other characters to make his swirl better bc their elemental dmg output isn't very high to begin with, but i digress)

i'm really sorry this was lengthy ,,, i gotta keep my kazuha rambling in check and ik you could've googled this, but i hope it helped somehow ;;

[tiandong]

15(👀), 22, 31

Genshin Impact Ask Game | @lastyaksha

15. Do you k*ll animals when you pass by their sides?

Ah- AHEM ahem, it's all... it's all natural deaths, remember? How um, unfortunate... STOP WHO'S THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE MEAT IN YOUR INVENTORIES LOL

22. Your favorite character’s design and the least one?

Ooh, picking just one is hard... Obviously I do like Zhongli's design, it's very visually striking even if he looks like a jellyfish whenever he jumps. Another favorite of mine is actually Ningguang's because it's so... fancy and beautiful. I don't know if there's one that I really don't like because it definitely looks like there's a lot of love and care put into each and every character design and it reflects in the final product. Is it cheating if I say that it's Reckless Pallad - though it's not because of his design, I just don't like him because he pushed Sucrose in our presence and he-

31. Something you dislike in general.

Drop rates for just about anything besides the monster drops. Especially for artifacts and talent books because you could literally spend all afternoon, grinding on a domain to not even get the artifact set that you want. And if you are lucky enough to get a crumb from MHY's loaf, the chance of it not having the main stat or any substats that you want is way too damn high. Resin is so limited in this game also so just, it's such a long haul that it can be such a pain. Of course, when you're at early ranks, there's a lot of world quests and other little things to do, but when there's literally nothing else to do, it sucks.

[mmyproperdeets]

Understanding home insurance

Homeowners insurance can be seen from many different perspectives, but regardless of whether you are required by your lender to have home insurance or not, this is a piece of the home-ownership puzzle you do not want to miss out on. Policies are largely customization and can be molded to fit what you are personally in need of to get the best homeowners insurance for you and your family to feel safe. As a landlord, aside from securing your investment with property insurance, you should also require your tenants to get their renters insurance as part of the lease between you and your tenant. This is imperative for your tenant to secure their personal belongings as your policy will not cover loss of damages for them.

If you are purchasing your property through a mortgage lender, they will most likely not lend without proof of home insurance coverage making this a requirement before approving your loan. Aside from that, this coverage provides your home and other personal property with much needed protection against liability in the event of an accident that can injure others or your property.

However, there are many aspects that aren’t covered by standard policies which you should add on to your home insurance policy should specific situations apply to you.  In addition, there are several types of coverage available, so getting familiar with each coverage and what exactly is included before purchasing your coverage is recommended. If you currently have your coverage you can also update your policy to reflect any revisions you feel you may need.

While insurance is highly customization, there are some tips for how to always be on your A-game when it comes to home insurance. We have included some quick but helpful tips at the end.

Understanding home insurance starts off with knowing that your policy is a legal contract which clearly states your rights and responsibilities as well as those for the insurance provider. It is in your best interest to research the company, take a look at the home insurance reviews, and be knowledgeable of their process for claims before choosing one home insurance company over another. Once you purchase the insurance you will receive the policy: take time to read through its contents, store it in a place where you can easily access it, and of course, know the name of your insurer.

Homeowners Insurance Coverage’s Explained

Before you get coverage or change from one home insurance company to another, you need to decide how much coverage you need. More than likely your lender will give you some specifics of what they are looking for at a minimum; any additional coverage is up to you to decide what would be the best homeowners insurance. Generally, your home insurance policy will cover damage to a property’s interior and exterior, the loss of theft of possessions, and personal liability for harm to others.

One significant differentiation between coverage’s will be the different types of coverage available. While the homeowner industry has standardized to range between HO-1 through HO-8, there are essentially 3 levels of coverage: the actual cash value vs. replacement cost vs. extended replacement cost/value. This is an option you will likely see when shopping around for insurance and is key to understanding home insurance. 

·         Actual cash value is the amount it would take to repair or replace damage to your home and your belongings after depreciation. In other words, this would be what your items are worth in the present, not how much you paid for them.

·         The replacement cost would be dollar amount it would cost to replace, rebuild the home, or repair damages using materials of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation.  What this means is that if your home was completely destroyed, you would be able to replace the rebuild the home up to the original value. It is important to insure your home for at least 80 percent of its replacement value.

·         In a guaranteed (or extended) replacement cost/value policy, the inflation is basically buffered, and you are covered for whatever it costs to repair or rebuild your home – even if that amount exceeds your home insurance policy limit. Insurers may offer an extended replacement (offering more coverage than you purchased) but this is typically capped between 20% to 25% higher than the limit.

Liability coverage protects you, your family, and even your pets from lawsuits filed by others for personal liability on damage or injuries. We’ve heard of cases where dogs bite neighbors; a situation like this would be eligible to get a claim filed for your neighbor’s medical expenses – regardless whether it happened on your premises or on theirs. If your child accidentally shatters your neighbor’s entrance chandelier, you can file a claim to reimburse the neighbor as well.  If the neighbor steps on the glass and sues for pain and suffering or lost wages as well, then you can be covered for that as well.

Of course, the better your coverage the less you will be paying out of pocket when disaster strikes – as well as the higher your premium will be which would translate to higher payments on your monthly escrow. The deductible is the amount that you pay out of pocket when the time comes to use your insurance. When shopping for a home insurance policy make sure to compare what is covered and how much you would need to pay in deductibles. If your deductible is $1,500 and total damages are $2,500 that means you would have to pay $1,500 before the insurance dishes out their $1,000 portion. Higher deductibles will likely cost less in your monthly premium, but you have to be comfortable paying the deductible when you make a claim. 

The different coverage types and what is covered will of course make the pricing of the home insurance policy fluctuate, but the biggest determining factor in the premium for your property will be based on the likelihood that the insured (read: you, the homeowner) will file a claim. This is based on several factors including:

·         Past history on the home: any past claims on the home and the severity of it. If they insure a home that has had a number of claims over the last three years (even if it was from a previous owner) the home will be seen as a higher risk.  In some cases, if there are an excessive number of claims, some insurance companies may even be ineligible to coverage. 

·         The neighborhood: data on crime rate in the neighborhood will also affect your premium as vandalism would of course increase the likeliness of a claim being filed and therefore be a riskier property to cover. Along those lines, being close to a fire substation or having a fire hydrant within 100 feet of the home will likely lower the premium

·         The home’s condition: if a home is not well maintained, then the insurance company will see this as an increased chance of getting a claim filed. 

Other aspects will create differences in pricing including the insured’s credit, whether there are animals in the home and what kind, as well as oil tanks on premises. You must understand that while covering loss is the insurance company’s objective, they also need to make a profit. 

What Does Homeowners Insurance Not Cover

As a general rule, homeowner’s insurance covers most scenarios where loss can occur including during a fire, in the event of a hurricane, lightning damage, vandalism, and other disasters, but coverage is limited when it comes to other natural disasters (such as floods and earthquakes), poor home maintenance, and acts of war – these will require additional riders and therefore increase the cost of coverage. For example, if your home is located in a flood zone, your lender will typically do a FEMA flood search and see the risk; a requirement for flood insurance will be part of the loan package requisites. Along those lines, if a home is in an area prone to earthquakes, this home will also have an additional earthquake insurance coverage requirement. 

In addition, while your home insurance can provide you with off-premises coverage (for example, if you lost a pair of diamond earrings in another state, you would be able to file a claim for this) insurers will put a limit on the reimbursement amount, which typically ranges between 50% to 70% of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your home. What this means is that if you have your house insured for $100,000, your personal possessions would be limited to $70,000 in coverage. So if you have a lot of expensive possessions such as art collectibles, fine jewelry, antiques, or designer clothes, the best homeowners insurance for you may include adding a rider to your home insurance policy to cover these items separately.

Another additional coverage which you can investigate is the additional living expenses coverage. While unlikely, there is a chance that something may happen to your hone where you would need to stay in a hotel or rent a house while your home is being rebuilt and replaced. If that does occur, attaining the additional living expenses coverage would be the best decision you could’ve made. This would cover rent, hotel room, meals at restaurants, and other incidental costs associated with not being able to inhabit your home for some time. While there are strict total and daily limits which depends on the coverage you select, this also can be adjusted and increased if you’re willing to pay more in the premium.

One key coverage that is not usual in standard homeowner’s insurance policies is sewer protection. While your home insurance may say it covers a sewer line break or collapse, the amount of coverage you would actually get is very limited as damage from overflows or backups from your sump pump, sewer system or drains won’t be covered. To get the most protection, there are companies that offer a backup rider which is a separate insurance policy to protect you in case of issues with the sewage line that have the potential of becoming very expensive. Something like a tree’s root blocking your sewage pipes, or sewage damage from a flood, earthquake, or hurricane would not be covered under the standard homeowners insurance.

Additional structures in your property aside from the main house including garages, sheds, or others, will likely be requiring a separate coverage as well.  So if you have a shed that may be close to the backyard fire pit or in any way may see damage which you want to cover, make sure you get an additional rider in your policy to have this structure covered.

Lastly, identity theft will not be a covered loss when it comes to home insurance. You would need to get this as a separate coverage as damage caused by anyone who may steal your personal information would have zero coverage from your home insurance provider. General damage resulting from failure to upkeep the property will not get covered either – including rust, rot, mold, and general wear and tear.

Understanding home insurance coverage’s and what they do not cover is getting the insurance you may need. Next, we will explore what the best homeowners insurance is and where to find it.

Best Homeowners Insurance

You do not have to purchase insurance from the company your lender recommends, but determining which is the best homeowners insurance for you fully depends on what you are looking for; make sure to shop around with the resources available online and over the phone to make the best decision for you and your family to get quotes from at least 5 companies. The best way to do this is to speak with an independent agent instead of speaking to a traditional agent within the company; since they are knowledgeable and unbiased towards a specific company, getting their input in your journey to understanding home insurance will be valuable. While these brokers do get a commission which you need to factor into your premium cost, you will be able to get more options from a variety of different companies.  

Also, take the time to get educated and understand the differences in pricing for similar products and services between companies using unbiased sources including your state insurance department, consumer publications, neighbors or friends, and your public library. You can also look at group coverage options such as through credit or trade unions, employers, or association memberships.

We have covered what to look for in the coverage in the section titled “Homeowners Insurance Coverage’s Explained”, so review that section as well. When you are ready to look into the individual companies to decide which is the best homeowners insurance for your specific situation, you should take the below steps:

1. State check: you want to make sure the company you are speaking with is legitimate and creditworthy. Check the Department of Insurance for your state to see what the rating is and whether they are cleared to business in your state. This information should be available online and should also provide the average insurance costs in different counties and cities.

2. Insurance company rating: now that you have confirmation that the company is legit and that they are legally allowed to do business in your state, you can look up information in regards to their good-standing. There are resources available for you to research insurance company scores on the websites for the top credit agencies such as Moody’s, J.D. Power, Standard & Poor as well as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and Weiss Research. On these sites you will find information about consumer complaints, general feedback, claims processing, and other important data. Some sites will even provide you with a company’s financial standing to indicate whether they have the resources to pay out claims.

3. Claim response: along those lines, you also want to determine how the company’s claim response works.  By asking your agent about their company’s handling of claims, you will be able to figure out whether licensed adjusters or third party call centers will be receiving and processing your claim as having outsourced teams handling claims can cause a delay in your reimbursement from the insurance company. Hold-back provisions (an insurance company’s stand on holding back a portion of their payment until the homeowner proves repairs have started) can also be determined by asking your agent

4. Home insurance reviews: you can also ask your agent what their retention rate is; averages are between 80% and 90% for insurance company customers staying with the same provider.  Online home insurance reviews, annual reports, and word of mouth from people you know will also be good ways to gauge their client satisfaction.

    Home Insurance Advice

Understanding home insurance doesn’t just stop at the kinds of policies, different companies, and the amount of coverage – you also want to know the tips and tricks to getting the most out of your insurance policy.  We’ve gathered some helpful advice which you may be able to apply to your specific situation when choosing the best homeowners insurance for your needs.

  1.    First: discounts!  Don’t be shy to ask the insurance agent for discount points. Below are some tips on ways you can reduce your premium:

·         Security system: having cameras as well as a burglar alarm monitored or tied to a local police station will automatically reduce your annual premium, typically by about 5% or more. The homeowner must present evidence of an active security system such as a bill or a contract.

·         Smoke alarms: while these are more common in newer homes, installing these in older homes can save you 10% or more in annual premiums.

·         Increase your deductible: this is not recommended at all, but if you are looking to reduce your annual premium and have home insurance on the cheap, this is a way to do it. Since the deductible would be higher, repairs that take a few hundred dollars wouldn’t be covered such as replacing the sheetrock around a pipe that was leaking – while these seem like small repairs they can add up so it’s best to really think hard before going down this route.

·         Bundling coverage: you can create a multiple policy insurance bundle such as car and home or health insurance and home (and car!). Insurance companies will provide you with a discount of around 10% on average.

·         Special discounts: request for a breakdown of special discounts that you can maybe apply to your home insurance policy; seniors and individuals who work from home are sometimes eligible for a reduced rate as these individuals will be home more often and therefore leave their homes less prone to theft.

·         Renovating wisely: if you have renovations in your future home plans, look into which materials you want to use. For example, if you are looking to build an addition to your home, wood structures will cost more to insure since they are more flammable and more durable than cement or steel framed structures. Other renovations or additions such as swimming pool and even trampolines can drive the annual insurance costs up by about 10% or more as those are seen as potentially injurious additions.

·         Loyalty pays: the longer you remain with your insurer the greater the chance of them offering a discount on the premium or reducing the deductible down the line.

  2.    Other things such as installing a new roof, adding dead bolt locks, CO2 detectors, sprinkler systems, and even waterproofing can lower your premium as well. If you’re in the financial position to do so, paying off your mortgage will also have a lower premium.

    3.      Check in with your agent every year to ensure you have the best homeowners insurance policy for your current situation as a lot can change in a year, or from the time that you attained the coverage such as:

·         Renovations: if you have made modifications such as added a room, upgraded your kitchen, or made other changes, these may add value to your home which would not be covered in your replacement cost in case of a claim using your old coverage.

·         Other updates: maybe you have disassembled the trampoline, paid off your mortgage, or installed a sophisticated alarm system; you may be able to get your premium reduced with proof of these changes.

  4.      Along those lines, if you live in an area where home values have risen since you purchased the property, it would be recommended to look into the extended replacement value policies and cover your home based on the current market value. Since your policy is likely just covering your mortgage, this would be around 90% of your home’s value at best; if anything were to happen to your home you would be highly limited to the rebuild.

5.      Personal liability can come in handy under a lot of situations as lawsuits have the potential to become very expensive. So while policies typically cover around $100,000 in coverage for personal liability, it is recommended to have at least $300,000 in coverage. The additional protection will increase your premium by a few hundred but can protect you with an additional $1 million thorough an umbrella policy. 

[compulsive-xenon]

My interview with Chernobyl liquidator (fixed version) [English and Russian]

ENG:

Liquidators arrived in 1986 and after. Of course, the biggest hit took the ones who went to the scene of the accident earlier. I am going to tell you about Gennady Z., who happened to be in Chernobyl in June, 1986, almost a month after the accident. The recent Chernobyl series of HBO inspired me to research Chernobyl catastrophe deeper. Turned out that my parents have a colleague Gennady Z. who was a Chernobyl disaster liquidator. On the 8th of June, 2019 I was lucky to have a talk with him. When the catastrophe took place, he was 27 years old, working at the Moscow institute of nuclear and hydroelectric power plants maintanance and design. Since it was prohibited to stay in Chernobyl for more than 10-15 days, the institute employees took turns participating in nuclear disaster liquidation. Some of them refused to go, nobody blamed them for that. Gennady volunteered to go. He told his wife that it was just a business trip. Like other engineers, in June he was sent on a ministerial plane which landed in Kiev. After that they were transported by boat to Chernobyl. Gennady pointed out the incredible nature and wild animals passing by. Despite the danger he was about to be exposed to, he had the strength to admire the beauty of nature. He also recalls a sight of a graceful heron standing near the coast. 

In Chernobyl the group of engineers was placed at an abandoned school. He confirms that the forest in the area was orange indeed because of the radiation. They were working all days long saving just 2-3 hours for sleep. At night they would develop the projects listening to “Felicità” on vinyl and in the afternoon they would go to the fourth power unit. Gennady saw those who were cleaning up the roof from graphite rods and other debris and a Japanese bulldozer which stopped working almost immediately. The main task of this team of engineers was to develop the following project: build a 40 m wall under the power plant and drill holes using Italian boring machines. After that they would pour bentonite solution through them. The wall was going to stretch around the perimeter of the power plant. All this was necessary to prevent leaks and spread of radiation under the ground that would lead to contamination of water sources. But there was not enough of substations which were providing the boring machines with electricity, so more of them were delivered to the site, however, with the wrong power capacity. They were useless, so the situation was catastrophic. Suitable substations were found in Pripyat but they were contaminated by radiation. There was no choice, so they went to Pripyat to see these substations. Electricians refused to work with them justifying this by saying that engineers made a mistake in their project. In fact, they were simply scared of using them because they were radioactive. Engineers got a hard time from the Minister of Energy, who thought that the problem was with the project. Gennady remembers how they, exhausted, were listening to the scoldings from their boss. However, now he recalls this with the smile and laughter😊 But having listened to all of this, being the chief engineer and taking responsibility for all their projects, he stood up and explained the reason for refusing to work with the substations. Nevertheless, they had to be used because otherwise the completion of this project would be impossible. In terms of radiation, Gennady notes that to measure its level, they were given dosimeters and storage tablets. But there wasn’t much use of tablets because they could absorb only a certain amount of radiation and after that stopped working. Gennady joked how he and his colleagues were thinking of making omelette when they saw chickens and their eggs; they would bring the dosimeter near the chicken and the arrow would go way uuuuuuup☢️☢️☢️ As they were going down the path, the radioactivity increased hundreds of times. Clothes was changed very often and destroyed afterwards. Nothing was allowed to leave the city to prevent radiation spread outside the exclusion zone. Some of the team of engineers died of cancer and Gennady’s one eye stopped working. Gennady was awarded a medal and got other privileges granted all Chernobyl liquidators. But he told me that the greatest and most important award is that he stayed alive.

RUS:

Ликвидаторы приезжали и в 1986 году, и в последующих. Разумеется, самый большой удар на себя приняли те, кто прибыл на место происшествия раньше. Я расскажу о Геннадии З., который оказался в Чернобыле в июне 1986 года, фактически через месяц после аварии. Новый сериал «Чернобыль» от HBO вдохновил меня на изучение Чернобыльской катастрофы более детально. Оказалось, у моих родителей на работе есть коллега Геннадий З., который был ликвидатором последствий аварии на ЧАЭС. 8 июля 2019 г. мне посчастливилось поговорить с ним. На момент аварии ему было 27 лет, он работал в московском институте по проектированию и авторскому надзору при строительстве АЭС, ГЭС и других станций. Больше 10-15 дней на объекте находиться было нельзя, поэтому работники института ездили по очереди, сменяя друг друга. Некоторые отказывались, и их не осуждали. Геннадий поехал добровольно, сказав жене, что он просто отправляется в командировку. Его, как и других инженеров отправили в июне на министерском самолёте, который приземлился в Киеве. Оттуда они отплыли в Чернобыль. Несмотря на предстоящую опасность, Геннадий нашёл в себе силы любоваться потрясающей природой, дикими животными, встречающимися по пути. Он помнит грациозную цаплю, стоящую возле берега. В Чернобыле команду инженеров поселили в заброшенной школе. Он подтверждает, что лес, пострадавший от радиации, и вправду был рыжим. Работали они целыми днями, уделяя сну лишь 2-3 ч. Но��ью они проектировали под песню Феличита , а утром выезжали на 4 энергоблок. Геннадий видел тех, кто очищал крышу от графитовых стержней и другого мусора, а также японский бульдозер, который почти сразу перестал работать. Главной задачей этой команды инженеров было разработать следующий проект: под землёй под станцией вырыть стену на глубину 40 м и пробурить скважины, используя итальянские бурильные станки, после чего залить через них бентонитовый раствор. Стена протягивалась по всему периметру станции. Всё это нужно было для предотвращения утечек и распространения радиации под землёй, что отравило бы и водные источники. Но не хватило подстанций , питающих электроэнергией бурильные станки, и их прислали, но ошиблись с мощностью. Они не подходили, соответственно, ситуация катастрофическая. В Припяти нашлись подходящие подстанции, но они были заражены. Делать было нечего, поехали в Припять осматривать станки. Электрики отказались с ними работать, обосновывая это тем, что инженеры ошиблись в проекте. На самом деле, они боялись их использовать, так как они были радиоактивны. Инженерам крепко досталось от министра энергетики, который полагал, что проблема в проекте! Геннадий помнит как они, уставшие, выслушивали отчитывания в свой адрес. Правда, сейчас он вспоминает это с улыбкой, лишь отшучиваясь😊 Но, выслушав всё это, он, будучи главным инженером и неся ответственность за проект, объяснил причину отказа от работы со станками. Тем не менее, их пришлось использовать, ведь иначе осуществить проект было нельзя. Что касается радиации, Геннадий отмечает, что для замера её уровня им выдавали дозиметры и таблетки-накопители. Но от таблеток толку было мало, ведь они вбирали в себя определённую дозу радиации, которую могли, а дальше представали действовать. Геннадий шутил, как они с коллегами смотрели на куриц и их яйца, думали, может яичницу хоть приготовить, подносили дозиметр, а стрелка сразу ууууууп☢️☢️☢️ Идут по тропинке, дозиметр слегка в сторону и уже радиоактивность возрастает в сотни раз. Одежду меняли очень часто, после чего она уничтожалась. Ничего из города не вывозилось, чтобы не способствовать распространению радиации за пределы зоны отчуждения. Некоторые из команды инженеров впоследствии умерли от рака, а у Геннадия один глаз перестал работать. Геннадий был награждён медалью и получил другие льготы, полагавшиеся ликвидаторам, но сам он сказал мне, что главная награда это то, что он остался жив.

[honekitteh]

Fic: Countdown - Chapter 4

Fandom: SWTOR Pairing: Theron Shan/f!Jedi Knight Rating: M  Genre: Angst, H/C, Romance, Canon-Typical Violence, Humor,  Canon-typical levels of poor decision-making Synopsis: A distress call leads the Jedi Battlemaster to Ziost, but time is running out.  Follows the storyline of The Rise of the Emperor and inserts missing scenes.   Warnings: See Chapter 1

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Crossposted to AO3

I got off the transport at the edge of the Central District of New Adasta and pulled my hood back over my head.  The main metropolis didn’t have the chill that the Outpost had, but it had the cool gusts of wind that was common in most alleys between large buildings.  I let the scarf and goggles I’d had to protect my mouth and eyes from the cold hang down around my neck loosely, ready in case they were needed.

Kira and I moved towards the stairway down into the district and were immediately besieged by the feeling of terror surrounding most of the personnel.  The lack of control some of them had for their own actions as they cut down another that was trying to escape.  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Theron spoke over comms, “Saresh has her forces all over New Adasta.  Some of them are possessed now.  Made a real mess.”

Kira gave me a glance.  I shook my head briefly as I kept my eyes clothed.  She sighed a bit and then responded to him, “Are you talking about her now, or you?”

He made an audible sigh which was supplemented by T7’s concerned beeping.  “Let’s keep on target.  Doesn’t matter how bad things get.  We have to put an end to Vitiate’s plan.

“Agreed, but Theron?”

“Go ahead, Kira.”

“Take care of Teeseven.  That’s our emotional support astromech droid.”

There was a small but very exhausted chuckle over the comm in response.  “Of course.”  An audible click as he ended the communication.

“Jy...”

My eyes were closed as I stood over the now dead Imperials.  “Let’s stay focused.”

“But...”

“Please.”  I slowly opened my eyes, taking another deep breath and descended the stairs into the Central District, running my hand along the railing.

I could hear the sigh in response, but I needed to maintain focus.  I’ll sort out, whatever the kriff was going on in my head when I didn’t have to deal with Republic troops who had joined the fray.  Chancellor Saresh hadn’t been kidding when she said the invasion had already begun.  Of course, this was under the guise of a ‘humanitarian rescue mission.’  Unfortunately, instead of what was intended, the combined Republic and Imperial forces, plus the Sixth Line Jedi commandos provided Vitiate with all the possessed marionettes that he could possibly desire to power himself through the murder of others.  Lord Scourge said that was his strategy.  He suggested that this was a ritual already in progress.  That we were too late.

But I refused to give up.

“This is Lana,” I heard across my comm link, “Agent Kovach may have been hurt, probably worse.  I haven’t heard from him, and his tracker’s off.”

I frowned and looked at Kira.  Taking a deep breath, I responded, “Thought you’d like to know—Theron’s alive.”

“Yes, I’m aware.”  She sounded more exasperated than relieved, then again, at that exact moment, I was right there with her.  “The last I heard form Agent Kovach he had a plan involving the city’s electrical grid.  I’ll steer you to where he might have gone.”  I looked down at my wrist communicator to see the coordinates that she had forwarded, and we cut the communication.

“Electrical Substation,” I stated to Kira, “Should be… past a lot of those possessed guys.”

“This’ll be fun.”

“If you’re going to say we should go to war zones more often…”

“No… definitely not this kind.”

“Just clarifying.”  With that last statement, we descended into the cacophony of chaos that was New Adasta’s Central District.

“Easy there tiger,” Kira stated as I felt a slight pull of the Force, preventing me from going straight into a line of electrical current.

We’d just made it to the Electrical Substation that Lana had directed us to.  I was pretty sure it was the right one, because Lana normally doesn’t send us false coordinates.  She might have done some underhanded or shady things in the past, but it was evident that now was really not the time for that kind of thing.  We’d gotten a little sidetracked from making it straight there though.  There were citizens everywhere that weren’t under Vitiate’s direct control that we had to get out of the line of fire.  Pretty sure Lord Scourge would have told us to leave them, but I did make it a personal mission to give him a headache by simply being myself.

I frowned then took a deep breath and looked around the surroundings.  “There some kind of way to turn this off? Or we gonna have to jump over it?”

“There seems to be a generator access here on this console,” Kira responded, moving quickly to console and looking over it.

“Can you slice it?”

Kira scoffed.  “Please.  In my sleep.  Theron Shan is not the only slicer you’ve ever worked with.”

I rolled my eyes.  “Well any time now would be fantastic.”

“Perfection sometimes takes time.”  Kira disabled the generator and the electrical current blocking the route stopped.

“Time, sadly, is a luxury at this point.  Not like I doubted your skills.”

Kira shook her head and we moved past the first obstacle.  “You know… you’re going to have to talk to him again.”

I sighed heavily.  “I know.”

“The situation could have been handled better.”

“It was either snap at him more or just get back to work…” I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stick up as a couple possessed soldiers and reprogrammed droids started shooting at us.  I quickly deflected a blast with one of my shoto.  “Company!”  

“We’re not done!” Kira shouted back at me as she twirled her dualsaber and vanished from view, only to appear two seconds later behind one of the soldiers.

“Seriously?”  I deflected a few more bolts before force leaping to the droids’ location and disabling them with the impact of a Force wave upon my landing.

“You’re going to need to acknowledge what you’re feeling.”

“Is now really the time for this?”

“When else will there be?”

I looked down at the now defeated fallen droids and then back to the bodies of the soldiers.  They really hadn’t given Kira any other option.  I didn’t blame her.  Well not for that.  I furrowed my brow and almost make a short response but decided against it.

“Another console to clear up these loose wires’ open current,” Kira announced as she swiftly moved to it and tapped away at the console.  She sighed a bit.  “Whatever’s there from Yavin, it’s still there.  It’s pretty damn obvious.  Least it is to me.”

I sighed as well, rubbing my temples. “Maybe sometime when a whole world isn’t relying on us to save it from devastation…”

“Fair point.”  With another quick movement over the console and a small kick, Kira had the route cleared again.  “I think I see something up ahead.”

I nodded and continued forward now that the path was safe, trying to take in the rest of the surroundings of the substation.

“Is that Agent Kovach’s voice?” Kira asked quietly as we rounded the last corner.  I nodded in confusion as I halted us both at the edge.  He was on the holo.

With Chancellor Saresh.

“I tried to reach you, to tell you—this won’t end well,” the agent stated to the twilek chancellor.

“The time for hand-wringing ended when you shut down the Orbital Defense Command Center, Agent.  No—before that.  When I planted you with Theron Shan.”

I felt Kira’s hand touch my shoulder lightly before I realized I’d clenched my fist.  I took a few deep breaths and closed my eyes, continuing to listen.

“With respect, you haven’t seen what I have on the ground.  The power the Emperor holds—”

“I’m aware, Agent.  Now, if you have a report on Sith Intelligence or the SIS, we can talk.  But you will not tell me how to fight a war.”  The Chancellor shut off the commlink.

Kira gave me a nod and we slowly approached the agent as he muttered under his breath, “Damn.  This is bad.”

“That is one way of putting it...” I stated, crossing my arms.

He startled and looked back at us.  “I take it you heard all that.  Or enough of it.”

“Theron’s relying on you while you’re busy... doing what exactly?”  I raised my eyebrow, letting the rest of what was going on in my head remain unspoken.

“My number one goal right now is to stop Vitiate.  Judge me all you want, but I’d rather it was while we were dealing with him.”  He activated a map and started looking over the Central District of New Adasta, uploading objectives onto a data pad.  “I know I’ve made things worse.  More innocents are dying because of me, and that’s...” he trailed off then took a deep breath, “Please let me help you.”

I pursed my lips, gave him a swift nod, a slight glance to Kira, then turned on my heel and walked away.  I could sense his very audible sigh as I walked away, but at that precise moment, I didn’t care.  More people were going to die not only because he’d given the information to Saresh, but because Saresh herself did not listen to on ground intelligence.  I was not entirely sure which person I was angrier at anymore.

In the end, I had work to do.  Like usual.

“Of course, this has to get more complicated,” Kira muttered as she caught up to me.  She was looking over the data pad that she received from Agent Kovach as we worked our way back towards the entrance the Electrical Substation.

“You’d hate it if we were bored,” I smirked as I found the console that was designated on the instructions.

“You know me.”

I moved my fingers over the console.  Agent Kovach’s instructions were direct: release the electrical system dampener lock so that it could be controlled manually.  “Okay, that should do it,” I said as I hit the release button.

“Let’s keep moving,”

We moved our way out of the substation and Kovach called in via our commlink.  “Okay.  I’ve placed the dampeners on manual.  I’ll be controlling them while you alter the makeup of the grid.  Once it’s all set, we’ll put a shock into every living thing in New Adasta.  Then we’ll figure out what’s next.”

I nodded slowly with a frown and looked at the updated map on my wrist computer.  Each of the locations that I needed to go to and power down were clearly labeled.  They weren’t extremely far apart either.

“Electrocute a whole city?” Kira asked.

“Try to stun them at least, yeah.”

“Why does this feel wrong to me?”

“Better than Vitiate feeding on their deaths?”

“True, but still.”

“Yeah, I’m not a huge fan either, but I can’t think of any other way at this moment.”

She nodded and we pressed forward, conveniently dodging someone trying to ram us with a speeder bike.  I blinked and looked at the now wreckage that had gone up in a plume of fire and smoke.

“Definitely could do with less people trying to kill us,” I muttered as I got to the first power dampener and started powering it down.

“That’s one down.  I’ve got you covered,” Kovach stated over the comm link to confirm its success.

We quickly moved over to the next sort of coordinates.  I saddled myself up to work on the second power dampener as Kira kept an eye out for any potential complications.

“No, the other one.  The other one!” Theron’s voice suddenly came across my comm link.

“Theron?” I asked into the comm, staring at the power dampener I had just disabled.

“Sorry,” he sighed heavily.  I could hear T7 beeping some slightly snarky information at him in the background, too far away to make out the exact specifics.  “Master Surro took down a squad trying to evac slaves.  Then turned on the slaves.”  The exhaustion and exasperation were evident in his voice, and I felt a pounding in my heart as he spoke.  “Running triage on the survivors.  I just wanted to, uh...” He sighed heavily.  “Just—good luck, okay?”

I felt heat rise to my cheeks lightly and sighed. “You too.”  I looked at the dampener and looked back down at the data pad with my next location.  “Oh, and Theron?”

“Yeah?”

“If you need him, Doc’s up on the orbital station.”

“Are you sure he won’t get possessed?”

“You’ve met him, right?”

“Point taken.  Yeah, good call.”

“Stay safe.”  I hesitated but then allowed myself one more statement, “Please.”

There was a slight pause at the other end of the communication, but then Theron simply responded, “I’ll do my best.”

I took a deep breath and moved over towards the next one.  Kira was engaged with a group of Republic Commandos and kept them off me.  I frowned and tilted my head, staring at the console for the last dampener.  Something had seemed wrong, but then I realized I’d been looking at the wrong part of it.  Sighing I disabled it.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Kovach said, “Any more and it’s the dampeners that will take the brunt of the surge.  All that’s left is to disable the system failsafe.”

I nodded in acknowledgement.  I knew he probably couldn’t see the reaction, but we had work to do.  I didn’t feel the need to speak on it further.  I turned around pulling out my lightsaber only to see that the enemies Kira had been dealing with were unconscious.  I raised an eyebrow but didn’t question it.

“We need the System Failsafe now,” I stated.

“If what I remember of the map is correct, it should be located somewhere inside the Metro Security Center,” Kira said, tilting her head in thought.

“Sounds about right… which is…”

“All the way near where we came into New Adasta.”

I let out a heavy sigh.  “Of course...” then I glanced to what looked like a crashed speeder and went over to it.

“Think it still works?” Kira raised an eyebrow.

“Only one way to find out.”  I fiddled with the settings and the speeder powered up.  We both hopped on and I fiddled more with the handle controls and we raced our way through the Central District towards the coordinates.

“I think this is the right place?” I looked down to verify the coordinates on my wrist computer.  Kira simply nodded as we went to investigate what looked like the Metro Security Center.

A click in my comm link opened and Agent Kovach began to speak, “Maybe you don’t want to hear this.  I have to say it, though.”

I frowned a bit and gave a glance to Kira.

“Theron’s a good man.  It matters that he placed his trust in me.  But I work for the Republic.  That’s the job.  I hope you understand.”

The link clicked off and I pursed my lips.

“Jy?” Kira offered.

I shook my head.  “Let’s deal with this failsafe.”

“We’re going to need to address this eventually.”

“I know.”

Kira frowned but nodded.  We needed to stay on task.  Everything was going upside down crazy and I wasn’t entirely sure what I thought or felt.  But I knew I had a job to do.  I knew I had to do something.

And keeping busy helped me avoid having to think about feelings.

After Kira’s careful slicing of the entrance to the Metro Security Center, I made my way in then halted slightly just inside the entrance.

“The hell?” was Kira’s only response.

“Kira,” I stated plainly, as I stared at the monstrous creature before us, “If we die, you’re fired.”

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