#The Drone Separatists

[bccfggffbgv]

Q-shorts: Pinball

(Drone Supreme Au)

*After a successful heist was pulled, The Drone Separatists headed to one of their many hidden bases (A bar) with the "secret" entrance concerning one of the newer members of the team*

Hacker! J, after using the hidden pinball elevator: You do realize that anyone can come down here...Like "Anyone" who wants to play pinball?

Getaway! Darren: That's how Braiden joined the team!

Bomber! Braiden: Ahaha!...Oh f**k me, I knew too much...!

[rochenn]

Once you notice that the Empire's (and by extension the Republic's) military capabilities are modeled roughly after irl 1970s advancement you can't unsee it. Super embarrassing for the Separatists (90s/00s equivalent technology) to do so badly against an enemy whose honest to god go-to for air-to-air combat is dogfights 💀

[charlie-artlie]

ok ok alright. some disjointed system collapse thoughts. obviously spoilers under the cut

caveat i’m in the middle of a relisten so if i’ve got some plot points hilariously wrong pls have mercy i listen to this book at work

ok first off that fucking part where holism is flirting annoying MB and it immediately dumps it on 3 is so fucking funny like here your problem now

MB and crew save the rec center separatist colony by putting on the best talent show documentary this colony has ever seen

hey what was up with that first BE secunit?? i thought for sure we’d go back and find it’d already borked its governor module but they just forgot abt it??? is it possible it was the one at the end that went back to pretending to be controlled??? but why was it such a dick in the beginning???? foreshadowing????

this all might be nothing i need to reread, but it does feel like there’s a lot of setup for the next book right? the unaccounted for rouge at the end, the (possibly same) secunit at the beginning, the agbots still being infected, holism randomly showing up at the end, it just feels like setup. that being said it would be hilarious if the next book came around and they were still on the planet and mb was just sitting there like >:[

also can we please talk abt ART hypocrite-of-the-year making a big stink abt MB copying itself only to find it regularly downloads to drones and then ? reabsorbs them? after it’s done with them? i don’t think it’s the same thing, we also see it make an instance of itself in network effect and everyone seems fine with it, but like come on, it’s basically the same thing

“if 2.0 were still here i probably wouldn’t [REDACTED]”

can i tin hat for a second? the agbots still being infected is really giving me “2.0 isn’t dead vibes” i’m just saying (<- insane amount of cope)

[lacontroller1991]

In Sickness and In Health (Obi-Wan Kenobi x Sick!Reader)

Main Master List || Star Wars Master List

Requested by @minderni : Heyooo can I request something for Obi Wan and a fem Reader? This is super, super personal and I fully understand if this might make you feel uncomfortable therefore you don’t have to write this if it does.Can you write something for him where Reader is his secret lover but she’s sick, she doesn’t just have a simple cold, something different, not life threatening though? She knows what she has but has never told him, actually no one knows about it because she always had to be the strong one. One evening it gets worse and she’s panicking and finally it comes all out and Obi Wan just holds her and tells her it’s okay? 🥲Totally get it if it’s too much though!

Author’s Note: I hope you like this and are feeling better!!!!

Warnings: Cervical Angina, mention of anxiety attack, symptoms of Anxiety, symptoms of cervical angina, medical talk

Word Count: 1.5k

==========

You don’t remember when the pain started. All you know is that one minute you were completely fine, happy even, and then not even a second later you felt dizzy, your chest feeling like it’s caving on itself and your breath is knocked out of you. Fortunately, you had one of your many handmaidens beside you who had immediately taken you to the infirmary where they had diagnosed you with cervical angina. Since then, you’ve been to so many doctors and have taken so many medicines but despite the medical advancements and knowledge of your illness, nothing stops it from occurring again and again. Eventually, it became one of your best kept secrets. No one beside your personal guard and a select few handmaidens know of your illness, not even your other best kept secret, Obi-Wan Kenobi. 

It’s not like you don’t want to tell your secret lover because the stars know that you do, however, your crippling fear of him rejecting you weighed out the urge to tell him and so you keep it a secret, however, Obi-Wan is not an idiot. It didn’t take him long to figure out that you’re holding something back from him. After all, he does have the force to tell him that something is up, however, he respects you too much to press the issue any further, even if it hurts him that you don’t trust him enough to tell him.

It’s a rainy day in Coruscant and the Senate meeting seems to drone on and on. More systems falling to the Separatists. More bullshit lies. More promises and no actions. If you’re being honest with yourself, you don’t know why you stay in politics anymore. You want to help your people in any way you can, but how can you help when all the galaxy’s sources are going towards a war that has no end in sight. The thought makes your blood boil underneath your skin and you can feel your left hand start to tingle, raising your anxiety. “Kriff.” You murmur to yourself, reaching back into your bag and pulling out some medicine, quickly swallowing down the pills and returning your focus to Chancellor Palpatine. 5 minutes later and you can tell the medicine isn’t really helping your cause. You can feel your chest beginning to squeeze tightly, your breaths getting labored and your skin beginning to heat up. Turning to your personal guard, you give him a slight nonverbal cue as he nods tersely, placing a firm hand on your upper bicep and beginning to guide you out the door, not really caring if there’s numerous eyes on you.

“Senator (Y/L/N), is my talking about the war bothering you?” His voice booms over you, freezing you in your spot as your chest continues to clutch itself, the room suddenly becoming very small. Turning on your heel, you see that everybody is watching you. You can feel your heart racing underneath your chest, the sweat beginning to drip down your brow as your vision starts spinning. “Well Senator?”

“I-,” you try to come up with a response but you can’t get any words out before the world is pulled out from underneath you and your vision turns black.

—-------

Obi-Wan walks up the steps to the senate house, looking around in confusion at the fact that most everyone is still there. Typically, an hour after the meeting ends, it’s vacant, allowing for him to easily get to your office without being detected by several people, however, today it's the opposite. The Chancellor must’ve said something interesting, he internally scoffs at his joke knowing that the Chancellor doesn’t have an interesting bone in him, but still, it’s curious to him that there are still people occupying the senate house. 

Spotting the familiar brown hair of Padme and curly hair of Anakin, Obi-Wan is quick to rush over to them, confusion written on his face. “Padme, what on earth is going on?”

“Obi-Wan? What are you doing here?” Anakin asks with a smirk, knowing all about Obi-Wan and your relationship, afterall, he’s doing the same thing with Padme. 

“I could ask the same thing to you, my former padawan,” Obi-Wan comments at Anakin before turning his attention back to the Senator of Naboo. “Well?”

“Senator (Y/L/N) collapsed in the meeting today. We’re all waiting here to hear what happened.” Obi-Wan’s heart races in panic, yet his face does not show it except for maybe the concern in his eyes.

“Collapsed? What do you mean ‘collapsed’? Is she going to be alright? Can we go and visit her?”

Padme and Anakin share a knowing look before Anakin walks over to his former master, clasping him on the shoulder. “Master, Padme doesn’t know. We expect the Chancellor to tell us more after his visit, but past him, no one is allowed to visit.”

“That’s absurd!”

“Shh, keep your voice down. You need to be more discreet, it’s very clear that you’re worried for (Y/N) and if you keep fretting, people are going to think that you and her are more than friends.”

“Why would they think anything more? That’s all she and I are just friends.”

“Like you and the Duchess? I have eyes.” Obi-Wan’s face burns beet red as the Chancellor steps out, gaining the attention of the crowd.

“Senator (Y/L/N) will be fine. It seemed she just had a minor myocardial infarction. She is expected to make a full recovery, now everyone, please, go back to your work.” The crowd dissipates leaving Anakin, Obi-Wan and Padme in the hall.

“Knowing the guards, they’re going to have that place well guarded. If you want to see her take the 3 stairwell to your left and go down 6 flights of stairs, enter through the blue door and that should take you to her room,” Padme instructs Obi-Wan who nods, sneaking off through the halls while Anakin and Padme watch with an amused smile on their faces. “He’s just like you.”

“Yeah, I know.”

—-------

“What on earth happened?” Your previously closed eyes shot open only to see his blue ones staring right back at you. 

“Obi? How did you get in here?”

“Darling, I am a Jedi. I have my ways,” he comments, taking a seat at your bedside as you sigh, turning your face away and trying to avoid him. If there is one person you did not want to see, it’s him. You love Obi-Wan, you really do, it’s just that you do not want him to see you as weak, yet here you are. “Why are you hiding from me?” His voice is somber and it almost sounds sad.

“I just don’t want you to see me as weak.” His gaze softens as he gently moves you over, making sure not to disconnect any of the various wires sticking to your body as he squeezes himself onto the bed before pulling you into his embrace as tears flow freely from your face. “I’m sorry Obi. I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry for what dear one?”

“I have been keeping things from you. This wasn’t a random thing that happened. I got upset and then my condition started to act up so I went to leave but Palpatine saw me and called me out in front of everyone and then I just couldn’t handle everyone looking at me and then I collapsed and now I’m here. I feel like such a fool.”

“It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re alive and you’re ok.” He tries to soothe you but his words do little to ease your mind.

“No it’s not okay. Everyone is probably judging and talking behind my back,” you bury your face in his chest and he wants to make a joke about how all senators do is gossip, but he realizes that it would not be appropriate in this scenario. Instead, he wraps his arms around your body and just holds you close, kissing the top of your head as your tears subside. 

“What do you have?”

“Years ago when I was younger, I got diagnosed with cervical angina. Basically, I get intense chest pains where it feels like everything is pressing down on my chest and I can’t breath, I get dizzy, I get nauseous, it’s a whole mess of stuff and no matter how many medicines I take, it never goes away. Today it just completely took over.” You sniffle as his hand soothing rubs circles into your back, being careful not to hurt you as you clutch onto his robes. “Chancellor Palpatine wants me to take a break from my diplomatic duties for a little bit, but I can’t leave my people now, not where there’s a war.”

“Darling, I’m sure your representative will be just as good as you. You need to focus on your health first and recover from this before you can go back to work.” You nod against his chest before looking up at him through puffy red eyes. “Can you stay with me?” Obi-Wan lets out a little huff of air, using the force to lock the door before turning his attention back to you.

“Don’t worry my dear, I’m not going anywhere.”

==========

Author’s Note: I hope you enjoyed!!!

General Tag List: @marvelousmermaid @himbovillain-anon @babblydrabbly​ @a-reader-and-a-writer​ @fairchildflag​ @tavners​

[anxiouspineapple99]

Eternal Embers

Clone Medic Kix x reader, Clone Trooper Hardcase, ARC Trooper Jesse, Captain Rex, mention of ARC Troopers Fives and Echo

Word Count: ~3k

Warnings: light swearing, monster AU, mention of war. Let me know if I missed anything.

A/N: I've been holding onto this for Pineapple's Halloween party and I'm so excited to finally share it! 💙🖤

The wind howled through Carida’s mountains, although they acted as a buffer around the Republic outpost. Troopers filtered through the camp, sleeping in shifts to give their brothers a break between Separatist attacks. The constant flow of boys in blue also had your medbay bustling, but, as the binary suns started to set, the stream of injuries started to ebb. You finished securing a bacta patch onto Sterling’s blaster burn, lightly patting his arm above the bandage with a smile.

“Thanks, Doc,” he sighed, a tired smile spreading across his face. 

“Get some rest,” you urged, lightly pushing him to lay back. Sterling’s eyelids seemed to grow heavy, the veil of exhaustion weighing him down until the snap of tent flaps had him bolting upright. You spun on your heels, blinking rapidly at the two troopers that came busting into your medtent. 

“Jesse! What the hell?” you scolded, sidestepping a cart as you hurried to where Jesse and Hardcase were still standing.

“Fierfek, he’s not in here,” Jesse hissed just loud enough for you to hear. 

“Hey,” you snapped, grabbing Hardcase’s arm to pull him to face you, “why are you bursting in here like your asses are on fire?”

“Have you seen Kix?” Hardcase asked, completely ignoring your question. Air caught in your throat as you picked up on the way his voice ticked up in concern, a rarity for a man like Hardcase. 

“No - no, I thought he was in one of the other tents,” you stammered, tightening your grip on his arm. Jesse and Hardcase turned to look at each other and even with their helmets on, you could tell there was something you were missing. 

“Come on,” Jesse murmured, nudging Hardcase’s shoulder. He tried to pull out of your grip but you held on, yanking Hardcase back toward you. 

“Doc, we need to go.”

“Not without telling me what the hell is going on,” you insisted, following Jesse outside and pulling Hardcase along. 

“Doc,” Hardcase whined, lightly shaking his arm to get your attention, “don’t do this.”

“I know you’re setting up a search party and I’m coming,” you stated, releasing Hardcase to cross your arms. Jesse’s hand clenched at his side and you were almost sure his jaw was doing the same thing under his helmet. There were maybe three people who were aware of the tense back and forth between you and Kix, Jesse being one of them. 

Ever since you had joined the 501st, you and Kix had been doing some version of this ridiculous dance. Kix would lean over your shoulder, his lips too close to your ear as he murmured instructions or praise, or him sitting close enough that his leg pressed against yours when inventory needed to be done. His feelings towards you felt just as obvious as yours but he always seemed to take a step back, putting space between you and him until the cycle started all over again. And yet, you couldn’t seem to keep him at arm’s length, falling back into his orbit without even trying. Maybe it was the longing in his eyes even when he pulled away that kept you coming back…like a moth to a flame. 

Maybe it was something in your expression or Jesse’s own bleeding heart that had him letting out a somewhat dramatic sigh. “Fine, fine. We’ll need a medic anyway.”

“Thank you,” you whispered, resting a hand on his arm. Jesse nodded once before herding you and Hardcase toward the command tent. 

Rex was already waiting, absently twirling one of his blasters as he scanned the rocky slopes surrounding the camp. By the time the small search party left the camp, it consisted of you, Hardcase, Jesse, Rex, Hawk, Fives, and Echo. You couldn’t hear what Hawk yelled over the drone of the gunship’s engines but based on the way the rest of the boys tensed, you assumed it was important and tightened your grip on the overhead strap you were holding. The gunship dropped into a canyon, kicking up dust as you jumped down, and you threw a grateful smile at Hardcase when he steadied you. 

“Fives, Echo, head north. Hawk is flying south. Hardcase, you’re with me heading east,” Rex ordered, glancing toward you and Jesse. You took a minute to glance around, trying to figure out where you even were. From what you could tell, you were in the middle of two mountain ranges and you tried to look for any signs of a battle but there was nothing. No scorch marks, no rubble, just smooth mountain faces that made no sense. You jumped when Jesse nudged you, snapping you back to reality just in time to see Fives, Echo, Hardcase, and Rex heading off in their respective directions. 

“Jesse, what are we doing out here?” you asked, hugging your rifle a little closer. The only response you got was the crunch of gravel under his boots but you continued to stare holes into the side of his head. Finally, his shoulders lifted in an exaggerated inhale and you almost smiled. 

“We, uh, got intel that the Seppies are traveling through pre-drilled tunnels in the mountains. That seems like the, uh, best way to move a prisoner, don’t ya think?” You almost wanted to call him out on the lie but you had a feeling it would get you nowhere. 

“Where do we start?” you asked instead, scanning the jagged rocks lining the wide passage. 

“I’ll take the left side. Just look for any tunnels,” Jesse replied, almost sounding relieved that you didn’t push him. You let out a soft sigh, falling back a step but keeping Jesse in your peripheral as you trudged along. You almost didn’t realize how much farther ahead Jesse was until your com beeped, dragging you out of your mindless wandering. 

“What’s up?” you huffed, searching for familiar blue armor. 

“I took a left down a tunnel so be careful out there by yourself,” Jesse warned, the frequency crackling slightly. 

“I’ll be fine,” you mumbled, following the gentle curve of the path. Your eyes followed the rocky slope upward, tracing the sharp peak of the mountains that stretched hundreds of feet over your head. The twin suns had almost set, making the chill in the air more prominent and you tucked your arms tighter against your side. You were so distracted by the environment around you that you almost walked right past a large opening in the mountain face. 

You squinted into the darkness, searching for any bit of movement only to freeze when you heard the echo of rocks hitting the ground from deeper in the tunnel. It wouldn’t take Jesse long to get back to you but something told you to take a step forward like an invisible string reeling you in. You glanced in the direction Jesse had gone before slipping your pack off, rummaging through it to find your glowrod and securing your rifle to the side of the pack. The warm, yellowish light illuminated the entryway and you chanced one last look over your shoulder before taking a few slow steps into the tunnel. 

The walls glistened faintly, drawing you closer but when your fingers brushed the rock they were dry. A thin layer of dusk stuck to your skin and you rubbed it between your fingers, mesmerized by the way it twinkled. The loud crunch of rock shifting behind you made you tense, your muscles locking up as you found the courage to turn around. At first, you didn’t see anything other than a few rocks settling, your glowrod carefully scanning the wall opposite you. The light seemed to bend around the dark boulders, casting shadows across the walls. 

You looked back down at your fingers, the faint shimmer of dust still coating your skin and you froze. 

The growl was faint, barely above a whisper, but the silence of the cavern made it sound deafening. Something scraped against the ground, making you jerk to your left, your mouth dropping open when the light reflected off a large, slitted eye. Then it blinked. Your gasp was almost silent as you scrambled back only to step on one of the dislodged rocks that sent you tumbling onto your ass. And all you could do was stare up at the beast as it lifted its head. 

Despite the adrenaline pumping through your veins, you couldn’t look away. Brilliant blue scales shimmered in the low light as it moved, seemingly shifting from navy to sky blue every time you blinked. The creature shook its head and you watched the black-tipped spines lining its neck shift. Its massive head turned slightly giving you a full view of its face. Two horns extended from either side of its head, black tips bleeding into a powdery blue and finally blending into the scales encircling its eyes. The creature’s nose curved into a sharp point, resembling a beak and your eyes lingered there for a moment. 

You jumped when it moved again but instead of a growl, this time it made a soft chirping noise as it lowered its head almost like it was…trying to look smaller. Some part of you was screaming to run, to get as far away as possible but there was something about the creature that had you shifting onto your knees. Dark eyes locked onto you, watching every move as you inched closer. 

“Hey, it’s okay,” you soothed, despite your voice shaking lightly. The…dragon…warbled softly, those sharp spines bristling as you reached out. You patiently inched closer, your eyes scanning its body, noting the large wings tucked up against its back. 

“Doc, you read me?” You stopped immediately, glancing down at the com on your wrist briefly before looking up at the dragon again. Although, it didn’t look frightened or even startled, no, instead it made another chirping sound, one that sounded almost…happy? 

“That’s Jesse,” you said, meeting the dragon’s dark eyes. It canted its head, blinking slowly before lowering its head to gently nudge your arm, nostrils flaring with a sharp exhale. You took that as a sign to reach over, opening the channel but not looking away from the creature’s face. “I’m here.”

“Maker, you scared the hell out of me,” Jesse sighed, his voice coming out a bit grainy and far away. “Where…you?”

“I, uh, found a…friend,” you replied, a nervous smile lifting the corner of your mouth. The dragon made a slightly different chittering noise, its beak snapping together quietly as it sniffed your arm again. Even through the rough connection, you could hear Jesse’s sharp inhale. 

“Oh, you asshole,” Jesse hissed, making your brows knit together. “What did I tell you?” Before you could answer, the creature looming over you opened its mouth, a low rumbling sound coming from the back of its throat. When you looked back up at it, you could’ve sworn it was glaring based on the way its dark eyes narrowed. 

“What am I missing here?” you finally asked, mindlessly resting your hand on the dragon’s long snout. This time the noise that rumbled through its body was softer and if you didn’t know any better, you might’ve compared it to a purr.

“You found your partner,” Jesse grumbled and you went oddly still. It took a few seconds for your brain to comprehend what that meant as you turned your head, just watching the way the dragon pressed into your hand. It…he…seemed perfectly content but as if he could feel your stare, his eyes drifted open. 

“Kix?” Of course, he couldn’t verbally respond but the soft chirp that was followed by him nudging your hand with his nose was enough of an answer. Your eyes followed the slope of his head, admiring the way the colors shifted and you decided that even in this form, he was still breathtaking. Then it clicked. 

With the constant push and pull, Kix only giving so much before completely disengaging. It had nothing to do with you and everything to do with what was staring back at you with dark slitted eyes and pearlescent scales. A small part of you wanted to be angry, to demand why he couldn’t just tell you, but would you have even believed him? 

“Oh, Kix,” you whispered, leaning a bit closer. You jumped with a surprised laugh when he exhaled harshly, right in your face, almost like a warning about the direction your thoughts were going. 

“Well, I don’t hear any screaming so that’s a good sign,” Jesse commented, his voice echoing through your com. You looked over your shoulder, offering him a smile as he moved closer and lifted his helmet off to look directly at Kix. “Told you she could’ve handled it.” 

Kix huffed through his nose, ruffling your hair as he lifted his head away from your hand. 

“Come on, you can either shift back for a ride to camp or fly. Your choice,” Jesse said, arching a brow that made his tattoo stretch slightly. Kix grumbled in the back of his throat, shifting into the shadows again as Jesse pulled you to your feet. “Best give him some room.” 

“Why?” you murmured, letting Jesse pull you back a few steps. Although, you didn’t have to wait long. Kix rose to his feet, his scales rattling as he shook off the dust clinging to him. The ceiling of the cave was low, forcing him to keep his head down as he maneuvered around the boulders in his path. It wasn’t until you stepped into the cool evening air that you could truly admire his grandeur. Large, black wings stretched high over your head, his tail sweeping side to side, and your lips parted in awe at his sheer size. 

“Alright, quite showin’ off, asshole,” Jesse teased which earned him another grumpy huff. Kix finally shifted his attention to you, his head tilting slightly and for a moment, he almost looked smug before his wings extended again. It was incredible to watch him leap into the air so effortlessly, the moon's glow making his scales twinkle. “Come on, Doc.” 

The trip back to the rendezvous spot seemed like it took forever yet no time at all. Suddenly you were standing in front of Rex, Hardcase, Fives, and Echo, the faint whine of a gunship approaching filling the evening air. No one mentioned the bantha in the room, already preoccupied with other random conversations until Hawk came into view. The only acknowledgment of what you just discovered was a wink from Hardcase as he hopped into the gunship. 

The small outpost was quiet, most troopers getting a few hours of sleep where they could. Which meant you hadn’t expected to see General Skywalker waiting when you made it back. You joined the small squad in saluting the general, anxiously waiting to see if Skywalker pulled you aside but he seemed to be content with Rex filling him in on what happened. There was an awkward moment when you stood next to the quietly hissing gunship, debating your next move until movement from your medtent caught your eye. Someone knocked into your shoulder, sending you stumbling forward a step before you turned a glare in Jesse’s direction. He only winked, jerking his chin toward the tent before letting Hardcase drag him away. 

It took a few minutes and even more deep, calming breaths before you finally made it to the medtent, standing just outside the slightly parted flaps. 

“You can come in, you know,” Kix’s disembodied voice called and for some reason, it was a shock. Hearing his voice spurred you into pulling the flap back, curiosity getting the better of you. Kix’s back was to you and he was in the bottom half of his armor, such a stark contrast to how he looked not even a standard hour earlier. 

“I’m not having a crazy, vivid dream, right?” you asked, surprising yourself a bit. Kix’s shoulders jumped when he snorted, turning his head enough to see you out of the corner of his eye. 

“Sadly, no,” he replied, turning to face you and crossing his arms. He would’ve looked relaxed to anyone else but you noticed the set of his jaw, the tension in the muscles of his neck as he waited for whatever came next. “It’s very real.” 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” 

“How was I supposed to tell the person I - I’m…falling in love with that I’m also a beast out of a fairy tale?” The bombshells seemed to keep coming and it had to be written all over your face. Kix stiffened when you closed the remaining distance, stopping within arm’s length of him but he didn’t pull away. 

“You mean that?” you whispered, searching his face for any signs. 

“Yes,” he mumbled, looking down at his boots, “so how was I supposed to ask you to accept that?”

“By simply asking.” You rested a hand on his arm, drawing his eyes off the floor, and your heart ached at the vulnerability in his endless brown eyes. “We’ve made it through some of the worst parts of war together and it’s not over yet. I think we can handle this if you’ll let me in.” Kix squeezed his eyes shut, letting out a harsh exhale through his nose and you tried to fight a smile at the similarities you could already see. You let your hand follow the swell of his bicep, moving across his shoulder to gently cradle his face, drawing his attention back to you. 

“Together, huh?” he whispered, leaning forward until there was barely any space between you and him.

“Together,” you agreed, meeting him the rest of the way to press your forehead against his. Kix finally uncrossed his arms to cup the back of your neck and you let out a long breath, relaxing into the touch you’d experienced hints of and had craved for so long. 

“If forever does exist, please let it be you,” Kix breathed, the words brushing against your lips. Words couldn’t express the way you felt or how much you hoped for the same thing, so instead you tilted your head just enough to find his lips. 

You hoped Kix was what forever tasted like. 

[zvaigzdelasas]

Though their relationship is relatively discreet, Israeli equipment makes up most of Azerbaijan’s arms imports, according to arms researchers. Azerbaijani officials touted Israel’s weapons as integral to their country’s success in Nagorno-Karabakh during the 2020 war.

Now, as over 100,000 ethnic Armenians have fled Nagorno-Karabakh in the latest conflict there, Israeli-Azerbaijani ties have come under scrutiny, with an editorial in Israel’s most prominent left-wing newspaper Haaretz proclaiming that the country’s “fingerprints are all over the ethnic cleansing” in Nagorno-Karabakh.[...]

Azerbaijan and Israel are close military partners. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), more than 60% of Azerbaijani weapons imports came from Israel between 2017 and 2020, making up 13% of Israeli exports during the same period. SIPRI research reveals that Azerbaijan purchased a wide variety of drones, missiles, and mortars from Israel between 2010 and 2020.

However, according to SIPRI senior researcher Pieter Wezeman, certain specifics are unknown about the extent of the ongoing Azerbaijani-Israeli weapons trade. “We had quite some information before 2020 and then it stops,” Wezeman said. “And that doesn’t really make sense because in 2020 Azerbaijan used a significant amount of its equipment… Most likely they have continued their relationship with Israel, but that’s about as far as we know.” The trade is believed to be particularly active in periods just before Azerbaijan has gone to war. A March 2023 investigative report by Haaretz found that flights by an Azerbaijani airline between Baku and Ovda air base, the only airport in Israel through which explosives can be flown, spiked in the months just before Azerbaijan attacked separatist positions in Karabakh in September 2020. Likewise, Haaretz reported in mid-September that the same company flew between Baku and Ovda less than a week before Azerbaijan began its latest assault in Nagorno-Karabakh. CNN reached out to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense and the airline in question, but did not receive a response. The Israeli Ministry of Defense, which oversees Ovda Airport, had no comment. “We don’t know what was on board, but very likely it is something related to the military equipment that Israel already has supplied to Azerbaijan before,” Wezeman said.[...]

The weapons trade between Israel and Azerbaijan mirrors their diplomatic relationship, once described in a leaked US diplomatic cable as “like an iceberg, nine-tenths of it… below the surface.” Despite decades of bilateral cooperation, Azerbaijan only opened an embassy in Israel this year.[...]

But their ties go beyond guns and ammunition: OEC figures show that Israel bought 65% of its crude oil from Azerbaijan in 2021. The countries are also believed to share intelligence on Iran, Israel’s archenemy, with which Azerbaijan shares a border and which has a substantial ethnic Azeri population that constitutes the country’s largest minority. Azerbaijan has also reportedly allowed the Israeli spy agency Mossad to use it as a hub to spy on Iran. (The Israeli Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the matter.)[...]

Oil and arms sales continue. Azerbaijan feels greater pressure from Iran whose international position is improving,” Inbar told CNN in an email. “There is no great sympathy (in Israel) for Armenia that is seen as an Iranian ally.” In a recent interview with the Jerusalem Post, Armenia’s ambassador to Israel said Israeli weapons are being fired at “peaceful civilians” despite Israeli civil society being “very pro-Armenia in the case of Nagorno-Karabakh and recognition of the Armenian genocide.” (Israel’s government does not recognize the mass murder of Armenians by Ottoman forces during World War I as genocide, fearing damage to its relationship with Turkey, the successor state of the Ottoman Empire.)[...]

In October 2020, Azerbaijan repeatedly struck the area near an electrical substation in Stepanakert using Israeli-made weapons. The former lieutenant colonel in the Artsakh Defense Army told CNN he witnessed one of these attacks personally. The diameter and depth of the crater there showed that the Azerbaijani military had used a LORA missile, he said, adding that it hit a residential building.[...]

A spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Defense said they had no comment when reached by CNN.

4 Oct 23

[alphamecha-mkii]

Star Wars: X-Wing - Separatist Drone by Emilio Rodriguez C

[kleyamarki]

HI so i wrote the implied meeting between salman paak and kleya. it's part of my magnum opus eat your young andor concept fic. this is ultimately going to be bix-centered, focused on "throw enough rope till the legs have swung" (pretty on the nose for ya, sorry paak)

anyway, it's below the cut. maybe let me know what you think? idk i'm bored.

The man has Ferrix written all over him. It’s in the way he leaves the seats in the room for those much older and those much younger, the way he genuinely listens to everyone in the room, and the mechanic’s oil he’s tried to wash out of the jacket he wears. Kleya selects him as her mark out of the packed room. A speaker drones on about the injustices the Empire has rought, and Kleya nods along – she agrees, obviously. But speaking to a room of people will ultimately do nothing. It’s her job to pick out people she believes will be willing to take an extra step. She has hope for the man who would come all the way from Ferrix.

[ok itty bitty time skip (because i’m impatient with my writing brain and want to share this anyway), like a matter of a few minutes, think rebel meeting but more like a lecture. kleya looks like she should be part of it, like she could be one of the leaders of this little group, even. but she stands on the outskirts of the room, like she’s the lowest rung of the leader totem pole. in reality she’s not one of them, but she’s there to see if she can get anyone for her & luthen’s purposes. she also introduces herself to paak. obviously with a different name and all that. okay onto the rest]

“You know,” Kleya says over a cup of caf, “If you’re serious about this, you could be our liaison on your homeworld.” She uses ‘our’ lightly in terms of the current surroundings. She hopes he doesn’t notice the leaders of the group aren’t fraternizing with the attendees. Her network needs this. The Separatists here might too, but there’s a reason she’s handpicked him specifically. They don’t need to know that. 

Paak lets a huff of air out of his nose, a laugh, maybe, “Ferrix? They’d rather take the Empire’s money and ignore them.” Kleya’s brow furrows as the words leave his mouth. “They have each other, they can ignore the rest.”

“But you’re here.”

“But I’m here,” he sighs.

Kleya spies her opening. “I can offer more money for the Imperial toys you trade already.”

“You don’t want some uprising?” Paak raises an eyebrow, silently saying what Kleya wants him to realize – you’re not the same as them, the Separatists she’s playing. Maybe he even thinks their arrangement would be less dangerous than an overt uprising. She hopes, for his sake, he doesn’t have to learn the truth of the matter. 

“We know the game you salvagers play,” Kleya says, revealing just enough to reel him in. “And we could put it to better use. A use you’d probably like more, anyway, considering you’re here.” She sips her caf, looks back at the room.

Paak is silent for a moment longer than Kleya would like. He sips his caf too, thinking. She interjects, “You’d get a radio, signal when you have something for my buyer. We’ll catch it, he’ll pay a visit. All fairly simple, if you can get your hands on equipment we need at the right time.”

At that, Paak nods. Although he still looks the slightest bit uneasy, Kleya knows she’s got him. “As long as the radio’s alive, you’ll get a stipend too.” She debates for a split second what she’ll say next, but goes ahead anyway, “All the better for your family, right?”

Paak raises an eyebrow, but there’s something in his eye that says he’s in for the guarantee of a regular income stream. “You said liaison,” he says, finally, “Could I bring someone in, put them in contact with your buyer?”

Kleya doesn’t want to say yes, but they need Ferrix. “Sure, you’re the one on the ground.” A half-truth. He doesn’t need to know that. 

Paak nods, “You have a deal.”

Kleya suppresses a smile. She can still be happy about the small successes. “We’ll send you the radio in the next few weeks. Signal, and the buyer will come.”

[beardedmrbean]

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iranian leaders vowed revenge on Thursday for two explosions that killed nearly 100 people at a ceremony to commemorate top Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani on the anniversary of his death in a U.S. drone attack.

"A very strong retaliation will be handed to them on the hands of the soldiers of Soleimani," First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber told reporters at a hospital were some of the wounded from Wednesday's blasts were receiving treatment.

Tehran has blamed the explosions on unspecified "terrorists", but no one has yet claimed responsibility for the bloodiest such attacks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

An unnamed source told the state news agency IRNA that the first explosion at the cemetery in the southeastern city of Kerman "was the result of a suicide bomber's action".

"The cause of the second blast was most likely the same," the source told IRNA.

State TV showed crowds gathered at dozen cities across Iran, including Soleimani's home town Kerman, chanting: "Death to Israel" and "Death to America".

Iranian authorities have called for mass protests on Friday, when the funerals of the victims' of twin blasts will be held, state media reported.

Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps described the attacks as a cowardly act "aimed at creating insecurity and seeking revenge against the nation's deep love and devotion to the Islamic Republic".

The Guards commander in Kerman denied state media reports of a shooting in Kerman on Thursday.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has condemned the "heinous and inhumane crime", and Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, vowed revenge for the twin bombings, that also wounded 284 people, including women and children.

EARLIER ATTACKS

The United States on Wednesday said it was not involved in any way in the explosions and had no reason to believe Israel was.

Washington said the blasts appeared to represent "a terrorist attack" of the type carried out in the past by Islamic State militants.

Tehran often accuses its arch enemies, Israel and the United States, of backing anti-Iran militant groups that have carried out attacks against the Islamic Republic in the past. Baluchi militants and ethnic Arab separatists have also staged attacks in Iran.

In 2022, the Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Shi'ite shrine in Iran which killed 15 people.

Earlier attacks claimed by Islamic State include twin bombings in 2017 which targeted Iran's parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The U.S. assassination of Soleimani in a Jan. 3, 2020, drone attack at Baghdad airport, and Tehran's retaliation - by attacking two Iraqi military bases that house U.S. troops - brought the United States and Iran close to full-blown conflict.

As chief commander of the elite Quds force, the overseas arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Soleimani ran clandestine operations abroad and was a key figure in Iran's longstanding campaign to drive U.S. forces from the Middle East.

Tensions between Iran and Israel, along with its ally the United States, have reached a new high over Israel's war on Iran-backed Hamas militants in Gaza in retaliation for their Oct. 7 rampage through southern Israel.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia have attacked ships they say have links to Israel in the entrance to the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

U.S. forces have come under attack from Iran-backed militants in Iraq and Syria over Washington's backing of Israel and have carried out their own retaliatory air strikes.

[shangchiswife]

obi-wan- drunken love

summary: you take a trip to the club with obi-wan and it takes an unexpected turn

obi-wan x fem!reader

warnings: cursing, unwanted sexual advances

word count: 2756

....

While the war between the Separatists and the Republic droned on and on, it was hard for you to catch a break as a Senator. You barely had any time to sleep and you were overall exhausted.

As a Senator that rallied for the Republic, you were constantly being targeted by the Separatists. The Jedi knights suggested that you stay out of the public and just in your quarters.

You sat at your desk rubbing the bridge of your nose anxiously.

There was a document about the Trade Federation in front of you but you just couldn’t concentrate.

You sighed as you leaned back into your chair, closing your eyes only for a moment before the door to your office slammed open.

You jerked your head up and opened your eyes to see your young assistant staring at you with wide eyes.

“Ma’am I’m so sorry I just woke you up!” the brown-haired girl looked frightened as she stared at you.

“Oh, it’s quite alright, Matilda I was just resting my eyes,” you gave her a tired smile before her shoulders relaxed.

“Well I just wanted to let you know that Senator Amidala is here to see you,” she squeaked.

“Thank you, will you please let her in?” you asked as Matilda nodded vigorously before scurrying out of the office.

A smile graced your face as you thought about your fellow Senator. 

She had become a friend of yours very early when you both went to school together and when you both became Senators, your interests aligned.

A moment later, Padme appeared with a glowing beam on her face.

You stood up and embraced her.

“Padme,” you said.

“Y/N, it’s so nice to see you,” she rubbed your back once before pulling away.

“Please, sit,” you nodded to the chair in front of your desk.

“Y/N I’m here because I’m a little worried about you,” her gentle brown eyes looked to you with concern.

“Worried? Why?” you questioned, eyebrows furrowing together.

“I’ve noticed that you’ve barely gotten any sleep recently. And whenever I leave home your office light is always on. Y/N you need a break,” she took your hand in hers and squeezed it softly.

You sighed.

“Do I really look that bad?” you let out a breathy laugh that Padme matched.

“You always look good don’t start,” she laughed.

“I suppose you’re right but my assistants are always waking me up even when I’m at home,” you ran a hand through your hair as you stared into space.

“Maybe you don’t have to sleep then? Maybe you could just relax somewhere and get comfortable,” Padme suggested.

“I haven’t had a drink in a bit,” you said, your lips quirking up.

Padme raised her eyebrows.

“Maybe you could meet someone too while you’re at it,” the brown-haired beauty smirked as you rolled your eyes.

“No way,”

“I know I know. Everyone knows you only have eyes for Kenobi,” she teased as you felt your whole body grow warm just at the mention of the handsome Jedi.

It was no secret to your Senator friend that you had a big crush on Obi-Wan Kenobi. It was almost like love at first sight when you met him. He had offered you a beautiful smile that made you weak to the knees. But he probably only thought of you as a friend. And even if he didn’t you knew how important his job as a Jedi was.

“Whatever…and anyways we have one problem with me relaxing,” you pointed out as Padme cocked her head to the side.

“What is it?”

“Well us Senators aren’t allowed to leave the premises,” you stated.

“Oh, I forgot,”

“Yeah you don’t have to worry about that since you always have Skywalker by your side,” you winked as her cheeks flamed.

Her face then lit up after a moment.

“Why don’t you just take Master Kenobi! He can keep you safe,” Padme grinned as you felt your entire body tense up at her words.

“Oh come on I’m sure he’d be delighted,” she reassured as you sighed.

“Alright fine,” you succumbed to her peer pressure as she grabbed your hand and lifted it up for you.

“He’s with Anakin right now, I’ll show you,” she took your hand as she left your office.

You said nothing, your entire body filling with anxiety.

Padme’s voice snapped you out of your thoughts.

“We’re here,” her brown eyes locked with yours as the chamber opened and Obi-Wan and Anakin conversed.

“Ana-Master Skywalker, Master Kenobi,” Padme said as she made herself known to the room.

Both the Jedi looked up at the Senator and bowed.

“Senator Amidala, Senator L/N, what can we do for you?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Well I need to discuss something with Master Skywalker but Senator L/N has a question for you,” Padme explained.

The two Jedi glanced at each other for a moment before Anakin stood up and joined Padme.

“I’ll be back soon, Master,” Anakin told his master who nodded.

The two left leaving just you and Obi-Wan in the room.

Your heart pounded in your chest as you stared into his beautiful blue eyes.

His auburn hair had grown a little longer on the top since the last time you’d seen him but his beard looked like it was just trimmed.

“Senator L/N, it’s lovely to see you,” Obi-Wan smiled.

“It’s nice to see you too, it’s been quite a bit hasn’t it,” you offered him a smile of your own.

“It has…but now I must ask what is it that you needed?” the Jedi-master walked over to you, his eyes not leaving you once.

“Well…you see I wanted a drink and you know how us Senators aren’t allowed to go out in public areas. Well, I thought I’d ask if you’d like to accompany me…you know in case something happens,” you rambled.

Obi-Wan said nothing for a moment but then nodded.

“Of course Senator, I’d be happy to escort you,” he smiled once again which put you at ease.

“You know, Master Kenobi, I’ve told you many times you can just call me Y/N,” you said as you started out of the room.

“And I’ve told you that I will call you Y/N as soon as you stop addressing me as Master Kenobi and as Obi-Wan,” his lips quirked up into a smirk.

“Alright then…Obi-Wan,” you stated, turning to offer him a quick smile.

You could have sworn that his cheeks reddened slightly but maybe your tired eyes were playing tricks on you.

It was a short walk to the bar and once you entered a thrill entered your body as the multi-colored lights streamed across your face.

You missed partying quite a bit.

“Well drinks are on me, Kenobi,” you patted the Jedi-Master’s shoulder as he looked at you with shock.

“No I wouldn’t, Y/N,” he said as he took a seat on a stool in front of the bar.

“Please, I took you from your evening, it’s the least I can do,” you sat beside him.

“Whatever you say, darling,” Obi-Wan shrugged his shoulders.

You felt butterflies grow in your stomach at the pet name as you turned away to look at the bartender who flashed you a smile.

“Hi princess, what would you like?” he questioned.

“Umm could you bring me something strong, please?” you asked as the man nodded and then turned to Obi-Wan.

“Just a martini for me,”

“Coming right up,” the bartender announced before he disappeared.

“You really seem tired, Y/N, are you sure you just don’t want to go to your quarters?” he questioned, his blue eyes full of concern.

“I’m fine Obi-Wan trust me I just need a little bit of quiet,”

“This is really your idea of quiet?” the Jedi chuckled which made you smile.

The bartender returned with your drinks and you immediately chugged yours down.

You grimaced at the taste.

“This really is strong,” you said as Obi-Wan laughed.

“Don’t you think you should slow down a bit?” Obi-Wan responded as he took a sip from his martini.

“Hell no, I need this now,” you finished the remainder as the bartender returned.

“Another, please,” you offered him the glass as you slid a bunch of credits on the counter making his eyes gleam.

“Whatever you say ma’am,”

“I have to say whatever sparked this fast-drinking must’ve been horrible,” Obi-Wan’s eyes glazed over you.

“It’s just work,” you stated.

“Work?” the man questioned as the bartender handed you your drink.

“It’s difficult being a Senator. Especially during this war it certainly isn’t the lifestyle I expected it to be,” you admitted as you drank.

Obi-Wan hummed in response.

“This war has been taking a toll on even the best of us I’ve noticed,” Obi-Wan’s blue eyes never left yours. 

You concentrated on his gentle voice as you finished your drink.

The bartender was quick on his feet as you placed more credits on the counter.

“Are you sure you want to drink more?” his voice was soft.

“Yes I mean that’s why I put more credits on the table,” you giggled, feeling the drinks start to kick in.

“Well alright,” he chuckled in response.

Once the bartender returned once more, Obi-Wan tapped your knee.

“I’ll be right back I have some business to attend to,” he offered you a warm smile as you felt your whole body grow warm again at the contact.

“Come back soon,” you gripped his wrist before he left.

He looked startled for a moment, eyes on you before his lips quirked up and left.

These drinks sure were giving you confidence.

You spun around on your stool happily before taking a swig of the blue-colored drink in front of you.

Your whole body started to feel loose, it had been a while since you felt this way and it felt amazing.

From your peripheral vision, you could see someone take a seat on Obi-Wan’s stool.

You stopped spinning around and stared at the person next to you with slight curiosity and slight annoyance.

Who did he think he was taking Obi-Wan Kenobi’s seat?

He was a man with dark curly hair and mischievous eyes.

“Someone is sitting there,” you frowned before the man turned to you and smirked.

“Well, I don’t see them…and I just wanted to talk to you, sweetheart,” he said which made your lips curl up in disgust.

“I’m busy with my drink, thank you,” you glared before you returned to your drink.

The man spun your stool around so that you faced him.

Unamused you continued to sip your drink.

A large curl fell on the man’s face as he put his hand out and placed it on your thigh.

Your breath hitched making the man grin wolfishly.

“Don’t touch me,” you said sharply as you tossed his hand away.

“Don’t be a bitch…come on you’ll enjoy it,” the man’s hand inched up your thigh as you stared at him with disgust and then proceeded to kick his stool over.

The man fell flat on his face along with the stool.

“I told you not to fucking touch me!” you shouted over the music as the man recovered and stood up.

Right as the man started to approach you, his face glowing dangerously, Obi-Wan appeared in front of you with his blue lightsaber in hand.

“Don’t ever touch her again,” his voice was sharp.

The man stopped in his tracks and put his hands up in defeat.

You stared at him and smirked victoriously as the man was silent.

“Whatever man,” he mumbled before he stumbled out of the club with a beer bottle in hand, shoving through crowds of people.

“Are you alright?” Obi-Wan asked, resting his palms on your shoulders.

“I’m alright, I just wanna go home,” you gave him a wavery smile before he sighed.

“Alright, let’s get you back,” he put his hand out.

You immediately took it as you hopped off the stool, stumbling to the floor.

“Ouch,” you giggled.

“Hm I don’t think you’re in any condition to walk, darling, here let me help you out,” Obi-Wan said as he lifted you up with ease and carried you bridal style out of the club.

“This is fun but I can’t see,” you laughed as you walked through the streets staring at all of the blurry lights in your vision.

“A good night’s sleep will do the trick,” Obi-Wan stated.

You stared up at him and smiled lifting one of your fingers to touch his nose.

“You’re really pretty,” you laughed again, kicking your feet in the air.

Even in the dark, you could see Obi-Wan’s bright pink cheeks.

“And you’re really drunk…you really don’t mean that,” the Jedi-master looked sad for a moment before he arrived at the Senator’s compound.

“Obi-Wan,” you said.

“Yes, Y/N?” the man’s blue eyes looked down on you.

You were so beautiful.

He had tried to fight off his feelings for you but it just wasn’t working. 

You were such a kind, compassionate Senator. Always caring about the well-being of the people of your planet. And your beauty was unmatched. He had never seen anyone as beautiful as you.

“Can I sleep in your quarters? It’s just that my assistants always barge in and…”

“Of course,” Obi-Wan answered instantly.

It would be difficult sneaking you into the Jedi quarters but he truly only cared for how you felt.

Obi-Wan continued to hold you as he arrived at his quarters.

The Jedi placed you gently on the large king-sized bed in the center of the room.

He then crouched beneath you making your heart pound in your chest.

He was so gorgeous.

He took off your feet and socks and placed them neatly at the front of his door.

Then, he lifted your body once more and placed you under the covers.

You immediately cuddled up and held his pillow close inhaling his scent instantly. He smelled so pure like fresh robes and clean laundry.

Obi-Wan’s heart melted at the sight as he shut off the lamp and went to retrieve a blanket for himself to sleep on the floor.

“Obi-Wan where are you going?” you asked.

“I’m just getting a blanket for myself,” he said as you frowned.

“Can you just stay in bed with me, please,”

Obi-Wan almost had a heart attack at your words. 

“As you wish,” he whispered before removing his robes and dressing in his sleepwear.

He moved under the covers so there was some distance between you two. He wanted to make you feel at ease and comfortable after all that happened in the club with that man.

You turned your head to face him.

Even in the darkness, you could still see how radiant he was.

“You really are handsome, Obi-Wan,” a gentle smile grazed your face.

“You don’t mean that Y/N,” the man next to you’s voice was so quiet.

“I do mean it, you’re the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. You’re so kind and maker it makes me insane because I’m so in love with you,” you blurted out.

Even in your drunken state, your eyes widened at your own words.

His eyes widened as well in surprise.

Your heart started beating wildly in your chest.

“But I know you’re a Jedi and I’m a Senator and it could never-”

You were interrupted by the feeling of his lips on yours.

You were surprised but then kissed him back urgently, memorizing the way his lips molded perfectly with yours.

You ran a hand through his usually perfect hair as he let out a groan.

He tasted so good.

Right before you could deepen the kiss he pulled away.

“Y/N I’ve always felt this way about you. You’re the most perfect person I’ve ever met,” he brought a hand to your cheek which you immediately melted into.

You inched closer to the man and rested your head on his chest.

His breath hitched in his chest before he wrapped an arm around you, pulling you closer to him.

Your legs intertwined before he took your hand in his and placed a gentle kiss on it.

It was so intimate.

“A Jedi and a Senator, who would’ve thought,” you yawned drunkenly.

Obi-Wan chuckled and caressed your head.

“You’re still drunk my dear, I think you should go to bed,”

You didn’t protest as you hummed into his chest, quickly kissing it before shutting your eyes with bliss.

“Goodnight, Obi-Wan,”

“Goodnight, darling,”

[bccfggffbgv]

"If you say "Dude" or "Man" one more time, I will take one organ of My choosing from your body."

Hacker! J, during her first interaction with Getaway! Darren and Strider! Rebecca.

[rochenn]

honestly wtf is going on with the republic army in tcw? no drones?? no loitering munition?? HELLO??? who the fuck sat down and said that unmanned aircraft is a separatist thing only i swear i just want to talk

[usafphantom2]

IMAGES: B-52 and B-1 bombers perform rare joint flight with Gripens over the Swedish capital

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 03/06/2024 - 21:57in Military

With Sweden about to officially join NATO in the coming days, the U.S. Air Force celebrated March 6 with a rare double overfly of bombers, with a B-52 Stratofortress and a B-1 Lancer flying over Stockholm, accompanied by the Swedish Air Force's JAS39 Gripens fighters.

The U.S. Air Forces in Europe noted in a statement that the bombers flew over the Avicii Arena, the Swedish Parliament, Stockholm Arlanda Airport and much more during the overfly.

A spokesman for the U.S. Air Force Global Attack Command said that the B-52 came from the 5ª Bomber Wing at Minot Air Base, North Dakota, while the B-1 came from the 28ª Bomber Wing at Ellsworth Air Base, South Dakota.

Both bombers planned the CONUS-CONUS mission, which means that they took off from the U.S. and intended to return without landing. The B-1 was diverted, however, to the RAF Base in Fairford, in the United Kingdom, said the spokesman, confirming sightings and reports on social networks.

"The training was a great success and is based on our already excellent relationship," added the spokesman.

“The strong and lasting bond between the United States and Sweden, rooted in mutual interests and shared values, is prepared to reach new heights,” USAFE commander General James Hecker said in a statement. “As Sweden prepares to join the NATO Alliance as its 32ndº member, we eagerly anticipate the deepening of our collaboration with our Swedish Allies. Initiatives such as this joint passage are just the beginning, as we work together to promote international stability and security."

Such missions are signs of support, such as when the B-52s flew over North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Croatia in August 2022. A statement from USAFE at the time said that the mission demonstrated "the commitment and guarantee of the U.S. to the Allies and NATO partners located in Southeast Europe." Similarly, the F-16s fled over Bosnia and Herzegovina in January, in a show of force aimed at deterring the "separatist activity" of Bosnian Serbs. In May 2021, the B-52s flew over all NATO nations in a single flight.

The joint flight of the B-52 and B-1, however, is unusual. The Stockholm overfly recorded a quick return after two B-1s returned to Ellsworth on March 1º, concluding a deployment of the Bomber Task Force at Lulea-Kallax Air Base in Sweden. The jets arrived on February 24 and carried out surface attack, air interdiction and approximate air support training with the Swedish Air Force. On the way back, several NATO allies took turns practicing interceptions with the B-1.

Photos: Flygvapnet / Swedish Air Force

Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine

Tags: Military AviationB-1B LancerBoeing B-52H StratofortressFlygvapnet - Swedish Air ForceJAS39 GripenNATO - North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[manfrommars2049]

Separatist Drone by Emilio Rodríguez C.(Emkun) via ImaginaryFutureWar

[antianakin]

Okay, I have seen 1x03 of The-Show-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named, here's some thoughts all in one post again.

So... my feelings on Crosshair are very negative and my feelings on Cody are very positive which made this episode a little bit of a rollercoaster ride to have to watch. I have literally zero interest in watching Crosshair keep being a fascist and being wow kinda not happy with the way his dumbass selfish bullshit choice is working out for him. I have zero sympathy, he had other choices, he's been given options by people who claim to care about him, he's continuing to be the asshole he's been since season 7 of TCW, I do not care, someone just shoot him and put him out of his misery please. I'm NOT happy that they used Cody for this, a character they knew fans were attached to and interested in, a character who got pulled OUT of the Kenobi show where he seemingly had a bigger role to play, just to be part of a catalyst for Crosshair's story. If we never get to see Cody again and continue to follow his story now that he's AWAY from Crosshair, it will be a complete waste of this character.

That being said, I DO like that Cody ultimately left the Empire and isn't dead. My assumptions for how Cody would be treated in this show was pretty low and quite honestly, they still are. They could still bring him back to kill him or just never show him again and we never find out where he went or what happened to him. I'm also realizing that Rampart could've lied and Cody MIGHT be dead or undergoing torturous experimentation and we only discover this later and that could end up being a final straw for Crosshair or something.

My expectations are in the GROUND here.

I liked the parallel of the moment where Cody is ordered to execute Governor Ames and Palpatine telling Cody to "execute Order 66" on Obi-Wan. This seems to allow Cody to CLEARLY put some things together as he stares at the body of this woman who trusted him, who recognized that she was probably going to be murdered either way whether she let the new governor go or not and chose to go out as the person who tried for peace one last time. She decided not to go out as a murderer. Cody just standing there with his weapon down, his helmet OFF, a direct contrast to how he puts his helmet back ON after Obi-Wan leaves and he gets the call from Palpatine, so he's a faceless drone when he makes the order to blast Obi-Wan off a cliff.

I don't know what this is supposed to imply about the chips at this point, quite honestly. Is Cody's chip still active, but there aren't any Jedi actually nearby so its effects are sort-of lessened? Is Cody's chip mostly INACTIVE now that it's been over a year and so its effects are lessened? Were the chip's effects ALWAYS sort-of laser directed at the Jedi but Cody kept his critical thinking skills which has now led him to sort-of think AROUND the chip? I have no clue. The chips were a really cool introduction to the franchise's lore because it allowed the clones to be individuals, but the more they do with the regular clones in this show, the more confusing they get and the stupider the chips have become. They should've left it as just "the chips overrode the clones' wills and personalities to force them into basically acting like the droids they prided themselves on being better than" rather than whatever this is.

The only other interesting part of the episode to me were Governor Ames' comments about Dooku and Mina Bonteri.

Before TOTJ came out, I PROBABLY would've assumed that we were intended to see Ames saying "Dooku was right" as an ironic untrue statement. That sure, the Republic was corrupt, but we know that Dooku was also a MAJOR part of being the reason it stayed corrupt, the reason it fell and became an Empire. That he probably didn't even truly intend for the Separatists to win the war because it just wasn't a part of the Sith Plan.

But after TOTJ and the way it chose to present Dooku, I'm a lot less trusting of Filoni's shows. I think we're maybe intended to see a certain level of truth to this, that yes, Dooku WAS right, the Republic WAS corrupt and look what it became because it was so corrupt! That the point is not that Dooku was ALSO corrupt as shit, but that the Republic maybe COULDN'T have been saved.

Ames also brings up Mina Bonteri and the events of "Heroes on Both Sides" and "Pursuit of Peace." Which... we can assume from in-context clues that the Separatist leadership (i.e. planetary leaders and senators who aren't involved in anything military) have exactly zero clue what's actually happening during the war. They have no idea what Dooku truly is, they don't have any idea that the Corporate Alliance is LEADING THEIR ARMIES, they don't have any idea what their armies are DOING OUT THERE to innocent civilians in their names. They're so entirely brainwashed that Lux can literally walk up to them and say "Dooku assassinated my mother, a Senator you all loved and trusted" and get declared a liar for daring to speak out against Dooku.

So when Ames says "Mina Bonteri and I tried to put forth a peace proposal and Palpatine just rejected it" it makes sense within universe for her to believe something so vastly untrue. For her not to KNOW that Mina was literally assassinated by Dooku before that proposal could really go anywhere, that Dooku and Grievous attacked Coruscant itself to scare the Republic Senate into believing that the peace proposal was a trap so they would reject it. It makes sense that she would've been lied to about all of that and kept so insulated that news of those events never would've reached her.

But again, I have lost all trust in Filoni's ability to portray things in a nuanced way, and so I can't tell if we're supposed to remember that or if we're just supposed to think the Separatists were right and totally good people and it's the REPUBLIC who was evil the whole time.

It would be an interesting moment if I thought we were supposed to understand that Governor Ames has been lied to just as much as Cody has, that her belief in Dooku and the Separatist government is as blind as Cody's was in the Empire. Cody promising peace only for Crosshair to shoot Ames from behind him, just like Mina promising peace only for Dooku to attack Coruscant, killing all chance of peace ever happening. It was never going to happen in either situation because neither Cody nor Mina nor Ames have enough power to be able to anticipate the betrayals from their own sides striving to keep peace from being an option.

But I don't know if I believe that. And so then it just becomes a flat, half-assed mess of a moment. Which feels a lot more in character for this show, let's be honest.