#and they had help at the end! they had more allies and even acme helped out a little bit

[scattered-winter]

the sheer amount of angst potential in carmen sandiego is INSANE

like. they’re fighting against a criminal organization that is so secret and covert, literally nobody knows about it (except ACME but they’ve been trying to find them for 20 years and turned up with nothing, so without Carmen’s intervention they probably never would have defeated them), but its roots are in LITERALLY every country. there are canonically VILE operatives that run nations and supercompanies. like. when you really get into it, VILE is ASTRONOMICALLY powerful. and the only people who both know about it and can actively fight against it are a handful of teenagers.

also like. the mindwiping thing??!!? it’s a kid’s show so it wasn’t really explored in depth but the implications are HORRIFYING. if they can wipe someone’s mind, they can completely rewrite a personality, or create sleeper agents left and right. they could kidnap random people off the streets, brainwash them, and then have an army of drones with the drop of a keyword. they manipulate and train their operatives to steal and kill without remorse or hesitation, and honestly the only reason why all the main characters made it through the show alive and unscathed was because of the rating because if it was a tv-14 or tv-ma rating, there’s no way everyone would have survived that shit

[gritsandbrits]

I will allow one MILF and one MILF ONLY

I FINALLY got around to making another ref for my OCs! This time is a little different: instead of a main OC I'm working on "secondary" ones. So here's Mikayla's maam Norah, a supporting ally in my Loonatics AU/Reboot!

Age: Secret!

Species: Human

Homeworld: Earth

Alignment: Good

Occupation: Secretary

Role: Ally of the Loonatics, ambassador

Voice Claim: Nia Long

Physical: Norah is an adult African American with long curly hair, brown skin, and a hourglass body-type. Her common outfit consists of indigo suit and matching heels with a white collar, cuffs, and deep-magenta bow. She tends to wear golden eyeshadow and deep-cinnamon lipstick.

Personality: Norah is a kind and intelligent woman with a love for marine life. She holds herself with dignity and grace, though she can be exasperated by the people around her. She can be snarky, demanding and bossy at her worse, and sometimes can come off too strict and sardonic. A part of her is afraid of speaking out against the corruption in ACME in fear of losing her job; though she learns through the Loonatics to stick up for herself at work. Norah deeply cares for her daughter refusing to repeat the troubled relationship she had with her own parents. While compassionate and giving, Norah hates users and refuses to let others take advantage of her. She still carries some feelings for Optimatus but has no desire to rekindle their romance.

Backstory: Growing up in the slums, Norah had a turbulent relationship with her parents which ended when she ran away from home at 16. Moving in with an aunt she worked hard at her new school, quickly becoming Valedictorian and earning a scholarship to Acme University. Her childhood love of the ocean prompter her to pursue a career in marine biology. During a trip of the beach she found the unconscious form of a purple haired man....She took him in and helped him recover, eventually developing a fling that ended when the man left in the middle of the night while she slept. She was unaware that her summer love was none other than the missing Prince of Freleng, Optimatus.

Years later Norah still remembers the man she once called a friend...lover... As she had Mikayla while still in college she had to drop out to care for her, working odd jobs to support herself. While she loved Mikayla, she loathed and was confused as to why her ex left without so much as a goodbye. She eventually got a coveted job working as a secretary for the city department for ACME Labs. At first Norah was grateful to have such a high paying job - she would have the money to finish school and start her sea-life rehab venture. However upon seeing the corruption within the company she started having doubts but held back from complaining. Not yet.

S1: In the finale, Optimatus, who by now was consumed with dark power - discovered his sister Zadavia hiding among earthlings. He did not particular wish to destroy the planet he once called home, but he needed to get rid of the obstacle. He sent his robotic soldiers to the city. Norah was caught in the attacks, and upon witnessing the woman Optimatus ordered his soldiers to spare her and to bring her back to their temporary base. At the base Norah demanded to know why they've taken her when a heavily disfigured man came in. He wants to talk. Norah demands why he kidnapped her an attacking innocent people. Optimatus replies that she had no problem with him before. That was when she connected the dots; the same long purple hair, facial features, and eyes - it was him! But now he was no longer fully human. He heartbreak swelling up in her, she asks what happened to him. Optimatus revealed that he was the ruler of Freleng who had left the planet (likely to explore the galaxy without strict protocol). He was ambushed by enemy Martians and had to make an emergency landing on Earth. He wanted to tell her the truth but couldn't out of fear that his enemies might track him down and hurt her. He claimed his injury happened after a civil war on his Homeworld his sister having refused his plan to wipe out the evil Martians. Unable to believe him Norah replies that she won't help him destroy anyone regardless of their past. Angered at her bold choice Optimatus left her alone and locked up in the master lobby.

Luckily Rev managed to locate her and Danger Duck teleported into the lobby to help her escape. Before they could leave however Optimatus arrived and ordered them to stop. But then the rest of the team as well as Mikayla and Zadavia bursts in resulting in a major battle. Norah was able to escape with Mikayla, and witnessed her former lover getting defeated at the hands of the heroes.

S2 and Beyond: Norah would play a more active role: now she was the one having to familiarize with a new planet! As she is the mother of the crown princess this technically made her a member of the Court, though she declined as she had no desire to get involved in politics. However she did suggest a program to help rehabilitate former villains and criminals which later took affect. After Optimatus renounced his ways he apologized to her for leaving and kidnapping her, and vow to set things right even if it meant the past can never be rekindled again.

Powers: Norah does not possess any powers. She is knowledgeable in her field of work, able to identify multiple marine species, and chemistry. Perhaps her greatest "power" is her compassion, able to empathize with characters such as Pinkster and Weathervane. K

Character inspo: Monica Rambeau(MCU), Leah Estrogen(Osmosis Jones), Lady Juliana(Quest for Camelot), Helena Douglas(Dead or Alive series), Mrs. Trudy Proud(The Proud Family), Sailor Pluto/Setsuna(Sailor Moon)

Extra: Norah is the only oc i consider to be a true Milf. Have fun! 😉

Looney Ref: Her surname is based on Michael Jordan from Space Jam. She is also based on Honey Bosko from the very old Merrie Melody shorts without the racism

Artwork: Icon and base sketch

[tato-acm]

  quinta - feira    29. 10. 2020  -  spooktober #2

a court of silver flames: Koschei

1. Dangerous new alliance: like I said in a previous post, I think Koschei is the ally mentioned in the synopsis

“the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance,” 

specially with that scene in the prison when The Bone Carver introduces Koschei – and also with Vassa’s plot at the end of acowar.

I’m really curious about how their father was able to bargain with Koschei – and I think that’s something Nesta might find out. 

 2.    Death: I love how both Koschei and Nesta are related to death, and I can’t wait for them to interact.

Koschei: death god (like his siblings); older brother of the twins Stryga and the Bone Carver; confined in a lake where he keeps Vassa (and other women??) his prisoner.

Nesta: “I think the power is death - death made flesh.” - Feyre, acowar (this quote gave me chills the first time I read it).  

DON’T KILL ME OKAY: I LOVE nessian, am obsessed with them, they are endgame and all… BUT ✨

If they are mates – and I think they are because of:

a)    That scene in wings and embers when Cassian felt something (even when she was still human); 

b)    The war scene when Nesta saved Cassian because she felt something and warned him / called his name – but that could be her death related powers;  

c)    “Would you be frightened of her, if Nesta was – Death? Or if her power came from it? “I’m a warrior. I’ve walked beside Death my whole life. Iwould be more afraid for her, to have that power. But not afraid of her.”;  

d)    The whole “she’s an Illyrian” (don’t get me started on that LOL) 🙄

I actually rolled my eyes every time they mentioned it – it just seems a bit much, we get it they need common stuff to be mates 😂;  

Maybe, JUST MAYBE … It would make more sense for her to be mates with a Death God 💀 👀

since she’s already a ✨goddess✨ in my eyes 😌🙌

From what we have so far – which is not much at all 😂 – it makes me think that would be an interesting idea.  I just had to get this out of my chest 🤡👍

I’ll just leave this here and run away   🏃‍♀️

I’m torn between wanting Koschei to mentor Nesta (kind of like what Amren did in acowar) and help her kill the queens x Nesta to go head to head against him - I like both plots

and I think he might make a bargain with her to get his freedom:

- Nesta stole from the Cauldron, so she might have the powers to free Koschei - maybe even send him back to his realm  👀  so everyone is happy: Vassa will be free, Nesta can demand his help to betray the queens (and kill them, of couse 😏)

Again, just a thought. I adore nessian, love the slow burn, they are in my mind 24/7 and I do want them to end up together. ❤️❤️❤️

3.    The Deathless – appearance: If Sarah takes from the  “archetypal male antagonist in Russian folklore”  Koschei The Deathless’ appearance description + fanart on her board that I think is about Koschei, I think he looks like Stryga 

-       Tall, long black hair, really pale, black eyes, really skinny / gaunt

In the Folklore tales,  he’s also really old (almost a walking corpse in some, which is really cool since its almost impossible to kill him - “the Deathless”) 

- but I hope that part she leaves out, because I already pictured him hot and I don’t think a corpse would do it for me 🥴🤢

(but it would be pretty cool and creepy if he looked like a corpse 😱😳 And his voice could be Corpse Husband’s 👀 please)

I really like the model I used as face claim for this edit, it’s how I first pictured him while I was reading acowar: 

his eyebrows ✨ , his bone structure, how he is lean (not too muscular) – just add the long black hair and it’s perfect. I saved his picture on pinterest right after I read that prison scene with the Bone Carver and did some research on “Koschei The Deathless”.

acm. (future Ana, please don’t delete this - even if some of your theories make you cringe 😌 love, 2020 Ana - P.S.: vai estudar)

Koschei & Nesta  videoedit  1 on my ig  --> tato.edits Koschei & Nesta  videoedit 2 on my ig --> tato.edits

[lovetvshowsposts]

Carmen Sadiego Fanfic

Seeking Answers:

Ch 1 Interrogation

Hello everybody!!! Who is ready for the that last season of Carmen Sandiego?  Not me that is for sure. To prepare myself for the show.  Yesterday I was scrolling through some fan art. And of course, I saw a piece that just made a plot bunny appear and I have just had to write the story it gave me. This is only chapter one I am working on the next.  I am hoping I can get this done before my inspiration leaves me. I hope you all enjoy.

                                                       +++++

Every agent and effort of ACME has gone into capturing Carmen Sandiego.  Ever since she hacked into the computer system; Chief has taken it as a threat to her and her whole operation. Whether Carmen was working with V.I.L.E or not. Chief is bound and determined to capture her just as much as V.I.L.E. The proof is all over the agency. Instead of the usual white and blue decor every inch seemed to be turning red. There are red x’s on previous locations, failed attempts, and movement boards throughout the whole facility. No one can figure out how to capture her. Chief has even called in Chase Devineaux to help. 

Instead of Julia working with her former partner she is partnered with Zari and working at headquarters. Because she recommended that they just talk to Miss Sandiego more times than she can count. Causing the Chief to question her loyalty, making her and Zari work on the red thief’s loose ends.

“Why would she turn on a potential ally like myself... I mean the ACME.”  Julia mutters to herself as she looks over one of the boards.  For two months straight nothing was adding up.  If both Carmen and ACME were out to stop V.I.L.E.  Why would Miss Sandiego not just tell them what was going on or even just say what side she really was on. Julia removes her glasses and pinches the bridge of her nose. Looking at all this red was giving her a headache.  Deciding to leave the room with a folder in hand.

The hallways lucky had not been turned red and seemed to be relieving Julia’s headache. But as she walks down the hall, she buries her nose in the folder. The report of what Ms. Sandiego accessed which shockingly was only two files. Both pertaining to the Chief and Argentina. Out of all the files she could have accessed why these?  She has already tried to ask the Chief about the files but has gotten nowhere each time. Julia continues to flip through the pages that she already has a billion times hoping something may pop out this time.

Zari comes up from behind her saying, “The Chief wants us to question someone who had recently contacted Miss Sadiego.” 

            “To whom is this contact,” she asks, only having her eyes slightly leave the file in hand to follow her partner. 

Rest can be read here 

[aurilis]

Known you before, chapter 13 The unexpected ally part 5

Aaaaaand ... it’s over. This is the end of this fic, thank you everybody for following it !

The man began to walk away. He finally had this way more than overdue conversation. Would it be enough ? Maybe not. Chase gulped, his throat tightened. So he grabbed his father’s wrist.

“ ?!”

“ Don’t you even imagine you can get away nicely after that.” said Chase.

Daniel gulped.

“ WHY did you never told me how you felt ? Would it have cause you a heart attack ? I loved you too you stupid old thing ! That’s why I turned to the police, so I could make you proud and finally get your praise ! To show you that despite what you said I could do it too !!” exclaimed Chase.

“ Old thing ?!” repeated Daniel.

Seriously. Is that all you heard ? Devineaux senior realized it when seeing his son’s face.

“ Because I’m like you ! A goddamn stubborn man who think he knows better than everyone ! Gee !”

Chase did take all from his father. So talking things out between two stubborn men… They stared at each other.

“ Mother sure had to be patient with us, huh ?” resumed Chasen releasing him.

“ You don’t say. She tried to reconciliate us, but … you know.”

They sighed.

“ Well. I suppose I should thank you for your help today.”

“ Don’t bother. It was natural. I’ll keep an eye on you for as long as I can.” said Daniel.

Chase had a little smile. Things seemed to improve between them. So they decided to remain in touch. The inspector went back to his team. Carmen smiled to him. He hugged her, turned his head to his father then they left. Later in their HQ … Chase brought Carmen her meal in her room.

“ So, how was your talk with your father ?” asked the young woman.

“ I … I didn’t expect that. I called some members of my family, and they all confirmed what he said.” replied the French, sitting near her.

Carmen leaned on his shoulder, pecking food on her tray. Chase told her what he learnt. Sandiego had a little smile when she learnt the reason of his reaction. As she was glad to know he was reconciliating with his father.

“ It was because you incited me to talk to him. Thank you Carmen. You’re really the best thing that ever happened to me. And to think about what happened to you in Sweden, that’s just …” he said, his nose on her hair.

“ Don’t even mention this. I’m about to get allergic to snow.” said Carmen.

“ I hope so. As I already said I don’t want to lose you ever again. I love you Carmen.”

That one almost choked with her food. Chase tapped on her back.

“ WHAT ?!” exclaimed Carmen, straightening.

“ I said I love you. I’m aware our situation isn’t the best time for a relation, but I wanted to tell it to you. That’s why I acted distant before : I realized what a splendid and marvellous woman you became. I was afraid that you might be shocked should you ev-mmph !”

Carmen just cut him with a kiss. She then kissed him all over the face.

“ I love you too. I don’t know if I never stopped or if you made me fall in love with you again. You’re also the best thing that happened to me. With you I feel secured, heard, comforted and loved. I don’t want it to stop.”

Chase smiled broadly before hugging her. He then announced he would let her rest, saying he had some work to do with Interpol. Julia had been informed of her boss’s arrestation, and had to testify. He also had to check how the arrests of VILE operatives were unfolding. Carmen nodded. They exchanged a deep kiss before Devineaux left the room. Later the young woman learnt more about her past.

“ Why did Shadowsan never told me before ?” she said to her boyfriend.

She was curled all against him as usual.

“ Maybe because he wasn’t ready. You have to admit it’s pretty delicate. But now, we have access to ACME files to check. I’ll also ask some people in Interpol to help you find your family.” answered Chase.

“ Thanks a ton again, carino.” smiled Carmen with love.

Years later.

Daniel grabbed his mobile phone. Chase was calling.

“ Hello son !”

“ Hi dad. I call to inform you that you’re a grandfather.” smiled the man.

“ Oh so your child is born ! And how is Carmen ?”

“ Exhausted but fine. What about you ?”

“ I’m rejuvenating of course. So you’re a father now, of a little girl. Helena is it ?”

“ Yes. We hope to see you soon.” added Chase.

“ Naturally, just the time to inform your mother and we’ll be right there.”

“ Before that …” continued Chase.

“ Hmm ?” asked his father.

“ Do you know where I can buy a desert island ?”

“ Hahahaha !”

[brookreader]

Predictions and Hopes for Carmen Sandiego Season 3 (and beyond?)

Predictions:

Gray will be kidnapped and interrogated by ACME agents, possibly (hopefully!) leading to him becoming an agent.

I don’t think that Cookie Booker IS Vera Cruz, but I’m almost certain that there is some connection. Perhaps Carmen will believe for a while that Cookie is her mother, then find out she isn’t but be given some essential piece of information by her that helps her track down the real Vera.

Roundhouse’s induction into the faculty will cause some major changes in how VILE operates, which may render some of Carmen and Shadowsan’s inside knowledge obsolete and make it harder for Team Red to combat them. Maybe there’ll even be some episodes where they fail to stop VILE altogether.

Carmen will suffer greatly both physically and emotionally towards the end of the season (hey, it’s happened in both seasons so far).

Roundhouse will use his position in the government to try and learn about ACME. Chief might accept him as an ally but Julia is guaranteed to be suspicious as hell. Chase probably will be too - maybe that’ll be something they bond over.

Chase will very begrudgingly open up to the possibility that Carmen is really a good person (though he still won’t really trust her).

Julia, on the other hand, might be more wary of Carmen after her little stunt at the end of season 2 (though, again, I doubt she’ll do a complete 180 with her opinion).

Team Red will use up the data on the flash drive they have and then realize that they have no way to get another one.

Chase and Julia (and Gray?) will realize that there’s a lot Chief isn’t telling them and do some investigating on their own, leading to them learning about Dexter Wolfe and more about VILE, and maybe secretly teaming up with Carmen.

Hopes:

Carmen will start to trust Shadowsan more now that there are no secrets between them (...at least I hope there are no more secrets).

Gray and Jules friendship!

We’ll see more of Player interacting with Zack, Ivy, and Shadowsan. Maybe his family that he lives with too. So far we’ve mostly seen him with Carmen, and while I love their dynamic I’d like to see him with their other friends too.

Actually just, more development for Player in general. His personality is great and the concept of his character has so much potential, but a lot of the time it feels like he’s just used as a plot device. Have we even HAD an episode where Player is the main focus??

Gray gets his memories back. Maybe not this season, but at some point.

Okay this one is REALLY specific, but I want to see some little kid (or maybe Zack or Ivy or Player) nail Carmen with a water balloon.

Another episode like Stockholm Syndrome, where Carmen is temporarily out of the picture for whatever reason and the others have to cope without her.

More Carmen and Julia bonding.

Also, Julia (and maybe Chase and/or Graham) interacting with the rest of Team Red.

Chief expressing guilt for what happened to Wolfe.

When Vera Cruz meets Carmen’s friends she’ll just adopt them, much like Shadowsan did (well she might be slightly more enthusiastic about it. I don’t know we haven’t met her).

Just Team Red being a chaotic but loving family.

[grahamcarmen]

What's your ideal s3?

ideally? i have some vague beats  i want the story to touch on but I more or less trust the writing team for any specific path. (kind of a boring answer i know but genuinely i’m happy that i can say that i trust...the writers of all people)

but some things i’d like to see!

PLEASE GET CARMEN SOMEONE WITH MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE OR LIKE A SIDE DOCTOR THE TEAM TRUSTS BECAUSE SEASON 1 ENDED WITH RIB CRUSHING HUG AND S2 HAD HER NEARLY FREEZE TO DEATH AND I NEED MY DAUGHTER TO BE OK!!!

focusing on her mama finding mission is just something that’s been curious to me because?? are they going to make her alive? or are we going to lean into her found family? idk but i’m glad that the show gives carmen a lot of bonds to strengthen and make. i’m just hoping that its neither underplayed to focus on her family when they left us on an empty coffin or overplayed when team carmen is finally coming to some new depths of found family

BUT A RED CRACKLE EPISODE OF COURSE!!!

and more specifically for all the links being thrown at graham to finally come to some sort of fruition and for him to get his memory back. i am just so (SCREAM) about what he’ll decide when he remembers that “OH YEAH I WAS A THIEF FOR A VILLAIN ORGANIZATION WHO MIND MANIPULATED ME AFTER I FAILED TO “TAKE CARE OF” MY FRIEND WHO I AM KINDA THINKING MIGHT MEAN MORE TO ME”

IF IT’S ACME: graham and Julia to meet literally as Julia is about to bounce (side note: Julia should bounce) and ACME is trying to take advantage of graham + interact in general. i’d be so happy for Carmen to get two new allies, allies who by the way she actually pretty fond of, and even more so if they happen to get along. i know i’m kinda vague on it but i think that graham is just a really good character in the way he’s able to show support: how he listens. how he trusts, how he’s accepts when someone is just stronger than him in whatever area, and how he can be verbally uplifting. Julia’s current connections has been just...so lacking in these areas. not just the chief and chase but her new acme partner zari too ( i was so disappointed because i wanted to love her u don’t even know). i’d really like it if her interactions with graham were...refreshing for a change. i’d like it they were friends. (and also if they try to stab me in the heart with graham is bad ending Julia is strong enough to keep him in check)

IF IT’S VILE: GIMME THE ANGST! there was a hint in the opera caper  that there might be mind control going into the graham plot if its VILE who decides to use him and i’m just spazzing out at the idea of graham choosing carmen and then being sleeper agent-ed into being VILE anyway like wth. but  that wacky fan-fic IMJUSTKIDDING idea aside i think that if VILE is the one to activates his memories again its a good time to reconcile with the things that graham has done while on VILE’s dime (because there is the fact that he was ...of the correct aptitude to be considered a VILE candidate in earnest) while seeing where he’s going to go from there (hopefully away with Carmen to do good deeds instead) and on that note

JULIA AND GRAHAM BACKSTORY! we get hints of Julia being into art and we have graham’s current electrician job but aside from that maybe some more details about their lives outside carmen and VILE drama to flesh them out a bit more. (p.s also maybe player focus??)

;_; i want red crackle to go the beach guys

i want a masquerade episode guuuuuuuuuuuuys

but more importantly i want carmen and graham to keep their bond. they’ve been torn apart, walked apart, drifted apart, and yet they keep coming back like they were meant to be together. i have no illusions of canon romance in this show but i want their bond to end up positive because they are a good team when they get a chance to work together and they genuinely want to be that good team. and me...please...do it for my sanity showrunners

I’m also excited for what the development with Ivy is going to be considering she’s worn the red outfit so much, she’s been shown to be the one to make the tools, and in general to be able to step up as almost a substitute femme rouge should the occasion arise. 

development for chase....s2 had some crumbs but ooof he was just cut outta the middle of the season . I know i called him out on how he treats Julia but I don’t want him to stay like that. I want him to grow because i actually do like that man. he just needs to find a healthier way to deal with his insecurities (and for the narrative not to overlook his accomplishments and special skills he brings to the investigation). he’s honestly a fun character and it’d be a shame if the narrative didn’t take advantage layering growth on top of that. honestly when i started the show i thought they were going to have such a solid friendship akin to Juliet and Lassiter from Psych and it was pretty disappointing that their relationship didn’t get a chance to become more than Julia feeling undermined while downplaying Chase’s actual big breaks in the case. instead it kept escalating until in ep 9 we had a really honest conversation which i thought would lead to more honesty and growth in s2 and then adfnsalkn. NOPE!  i think they still could be a strong duo since Chase DOES have skills he can teach Julia (like when he let mime bomb go so they could follow him) and Julia’s intelligence does help give Chase’s determination more direction. when its not negative they have strong buddy cop vibes. we just need ...DEVELOPMENT.

i’d also like some zack bonding? of all her friends i feel like zack is the least secure in their friendship. its shown in the {need for speed caper} where she gets mad that he doesn’t understand her as well as ivy does when he mistakes her anger as a genuine hatred for them and he’s the one to immediately consider the offer to leave. we had the whole zack is the duke episode but it was more of a gimmick than actually developing that bond and it makes me really sad. so yeah. let zack be closer friends with carmen.

THE SHADOW-SAN BOND IS AMAZING AND I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO STAY AMAZING. WITH CARMEN AND EVERYONE ELSE ON TEAM RED

It sounds like a weird point to end with since I started with “please get ma girl a doctor” but i want VILE to have a genuine win. no ifs, ands, or buts. carmen as a show works with her always winning mostly because of the principle of {if its not important if we win or lose then the stakes come from somewhere else} and that somewhere else is her PERSONAL bonds with shadow san, zack and ivy, Julia, ACME, her past, and Graham. and all of those were fantastic and ended great  or at least with some potential to end good with the exception of ACME...but i don’t want ACME to win anything. i’m honestly horrendously biased towards VILE faculty showing they’re competent. season 2 was a great season for testing her bonds with team carmen but to keep the testing of the bonds the conflict in s3 wouldn’t work so well /for me anyway/ because it would feel like re-treading ground when instead of “testing” they should instead be deepening. shadow, player, zack, and ivy now have a home with carmen. no need to make their new bond status reset to tenuous. i mean this mostly for her inner team since Julia has that little “carmen thinks i betrayed her” and Graham is a ticking time bomb of potential. looking at s2 tho a huge chunk of it was concentrated on her inner circle members being tested over us actually ever worrying if carmen was going to lose. in fact we got a longer list of VILE members who fail to deal with her which left behind some of our familiar faces like tigress, el topo, and mime bomb. the new faces were nice but they were also less impact in  terms of actual menace because...carmen wins. always.  so yeah...i want a win for VILE to throw in a new problem to the narrative mix. 

...so...yeah XD

[tortuga-aak]

How Saddam Hussein predicted America's failure in Iraq

REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic/Files

In early 1917, during World War I, British general Sir Frederick Stanley Maude led an army of sixty thousand British and Indian soldiers from Basra up the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to Baghdad.

His enemy was a Turkish army, some twenty-five-thousand strong, defending a province of what was then a part of the decrepit Ottoman Empire.

Maude was hardly a creative campaigner (his troops called him “systematic Joe”), but then his conquest of Mesopotamia wasn’t much of a fight.

“The Turkish Army that was recently before us,” he reported to his superiors, “has ceased to exist as a fighting force owing to its casualties, prisoners, demoralization and the loss of a large proportion of its artillery and stores.”

Maude led his army into Baghdad on a prancing horse on March 11 and then, in the finest British tradition, issued a proclamation: “We come as liberators, not occupiers,” it said. The Iraqis thought otherwise.

In 1917, Iraq’s tribes began an insurrection that lasted until October 1920. The British responded with a troop surge, then put the war in the hands of its air force, which debated whether to use poison gas on Iraq’s restive villages.

Winston Churchill, then his country’s colonial secretary, thought this just the thing. “I do not understand this squeamishness about the use of gas,” he said. “I am strongly in favor of using gas against uncivilized tribes.” The revolt failed (and without the help of poison gas) but the British had learned their lesson, turning administration of the country over to their chosen Arab quisling, Faisal I bin Hussein, and then getting out.

Faisal was followed by a succession of relatives, but the country’s real power was Nuri al-Said, a murderer in a three-piece suit. In 1958, a group of Iraqi officers shot the Faisals in the courtyard of their Baghdad Palace, then hunted down Nuri (who’d escaped the capital disguised as a woman) and executed him. Maude’s statue, in Baghdad, was burned.

Thus, Iraq.

* * *

(AP Photo/INA)

In the late summer of 2002, as American Gen. Tommy Franks’s staff was in the midst of drafting its plan for the invasion of Iraq (what would become known as Operation Iraqi Freedom), Major General Raad al-Hamdani was summoned from his headquarters by Saddam Hussein. Hamdani, an urbane Iraqi Sunni, was the commander of one of Saddam’s elite Republican Guard divisions and among the few military officers the dictator believed he could trust.

Hamdani had earned that trust, serving for over twenty-five years in the Iraqi military, fighting in six of his country’s wars, and becoming acknowledged as one of the regime’s most loyal soldiers. He was the Iraqi military’s leading strategist and intellectual. Which is why Saddam enjoyed talking to him. Hamdani was a student of military history, and he would often tell the dictator what he was reading and what it meant.

In the summer of 2002, Hamdani was focused on the World War II battle for the Ludendorff Bridge, which spanned the Rhine River at the town of Remagen. In March 1945, the bridge was the last standing structure across the Rhine, and the Allies were intent on capturing it intact. If the Germans blew the bridge, the Allies knew, it might take weeks to breach Germany’s borders. The Germans knew this too, and so guarded the approaches to the bridge, fighting tenaciously to deny U.S. units positions on the opposite bank.

As the Americans approached the bridge, they got a taste of German artillery, ranged in on their positions that now crowded the Rhine’s western bank. At worst, the Germans calculated, they would destroy the bridge at the last minute. The Americans would then be caught on the river’s opposite shore, and would get a taste of more German artillery. In early March, German army engineers had planted explosives on the bridge pillars, stringing the wires leading from the charges into the water and along the bridge’s structure.

(AP Photo/Pool/Acme, Harold Siegman)

Hamdani told this story now to Saddam. And so, he said, the Americans came and the Germans set off their explosives. But the charges failed to detonate and the Americans stormed the bridge. At that moment, Hamdani concluded, Germany was doomed. Saddam heard all of this, then shrugged. So Hamdani explained what he meant.

The Americans are coming up those highways from the Kuwait border to Nasiriyah, he said, and they’re going to be aiming for the bridges over the Euphrates River. Or they will come from the southwest. But however they come, he said, they will have to take the bridges over the Euphrates and we will fight for the bridges and push the Americans west, into the desert, where it was harder to maneuver. “When they come,” he said, “we’ve got to blow those bridges.” Saddam waved him off. The Americans aren’t coming, he said. “They don’t like to shed blood, they’ve had their fill of it,” he said. Saddam was confident, certain. Don’t worry, he said, there’s not going to be a war. He was wrong.

Operation Iraqi Freedom started March 19, 2003, with a bombing campaign that targeted Iraq’s political leadership. The bombing was followed at dawn, on March 20, with the ground invasion.

On the right, the I Marine Expeditionary Force aimed for the southern oil fields, with the British 1st Armored Division securing the Faw Peninsula, on the far southeastern part of Iraq, in the IMEF’s rear. On the left, the 3rd Infantry Division (a part of General William Wallace’s powerful V Corps) swung slightly west, then pivoted north. But its key aim point were the bridges across the Euphrates River, just as Hamdani had predicted.

(AP Photo/Laura Rauch)

On April 2, Hamdani received word that Saddam wanted to see him in Baghdad. Hamdani was annoyed; his soldiers were fighting and needed him. But he was a good officer and loyal, and Saddam was his commander in chief. When he saw him, Hamdani noticed that Saddam had changed little from the previous summer. But now he had his son, Qusay, at his side, and next to him the head of the army, who was Hamdani’s boss.

Saddam asked him to report, so Hamdani summarized the fighting so far. Then he went through his battle plans. The Americans were coming fast from the south, he said, with larger units to the west. Tough fighters. He was going to contest their thrust, then blow the bridges across the river and pummel them with artillery from the other side. The key to his defenses was the al-Qaed Bridge over the Euphrates River, just to the northwest of Nasiriyah. Hamdani was emphatic. We have to blow that bridge, he said.

Saddam heard him out, then shook his head, turning to his son and to the head of the army. The Americans are going to make their major thrust from Jordan and from Turkey in the north, he said, and that’s how they plan to capture Baghdad. You need to redeploy your troops, Saddam said. Pull them out of the line and defend Baghdad from the north.

Hamdani looked at the head of the army, but he said nothing. The Americans are right next to me, Hamdani protested, we are fighting them now. Saddam shook his head. Don’t blow those bridges, he said, we’re going to need them. Qusay then spoke. We have plans for the Americans, he said. Three hours later, Hamdani returned to oversee his command, which stretched from Nasiriyah 130 miles to the south.

(AP Photo/John Moore)

Later, during his first years in exile in Amman, Jordan, Hamdani would remember this conversation in Baghdad, telling it over and over to the Americans who visited him. He had never liked Qusay, he would contend, because he was bloodthirsty and influenced his father. Not blowing those bridges was his idea, he would say, and it led to the fall of Baghdad.

But over the years, and as Hamdani thought about it, he added his own reflections to the story. He thought about the war a lot. There was a reason why Qusay (“God bless his soul,” Hamdani would always add) was at that meeting, and there was a reason why, even in the face of defeat, Saddam still appeared confident.

“I think now that Saddam certainly understood the Americans would have their victory,” he said, speaking in Arabic. “He wasn’t a fool. And while he predicted we would win and said this often and convinced many people of it, he knew the truth. The Americans would ride into Baghdad and celebrate their victory. But succeed? They would never succeed. In the end they would do as so many others have done” and as British general Sir Frederick Stanley Maude had done – they would win, and then they would fail.

“And he was right,” Hamdani concluded. “You got your victory, and then you failed.”

Mark Perry is a foreign-policy analyst and author of The Pentagon’s Wars, from which this article is adapted. This excerpt, from chapter six, is based on several of the author’s interviews with Iraqi General Raad Hamdani.

NOW WATCH: Donald Trump defends his praise of Saddam Hussein

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[aurilis]

Known you before, chapter 13 The unexpected ally part 1

Last chapter everybody ! Thanks for following it.

During a few days, Chase and Julia changed hideouts. They spotted a few ACME agents on the way. They managed to stay hidden, or even fled when necessary. When living with a super thief, the inspector got to learn a trick or two which proved to be quite handy.

“ Player, did you find something ?” asked Carmen.

The young woman was in Sweden right now. Player noticed once more the sadness in her voice.

“ Well I’m not sure. I spotted someone I suspect to be him. You seem to have taught him well : his face is always covered or turned.”

Carmen a little smile. That was her inspector. Apart from that, not knowing what was happening to him worried her sick.

“ Also, providing it’s him he isn’t alone. There someone with him whom silhouette looked like a woman’s one.” added Player.

“ A woman ?”

Just when he said that Player got the impression he blundered. He too, noticed her jealousy when Devineaux danced with that ACME agent. What was her name already ? Carmen frowned.

“ Is it … is it Jules ?”

“ I don’t know. Like I said, they hiding their face.”

“ Hmmm … I can surmise one is in danger and called the other for help.” she said.

Player lifted eyebrows. Oh, she was taking this quite well in the end. In fact, Carmen pouted : WHY did it have to be her. However, that was certainly serious : Julia was working with ACME, she should have all needed resources with them. So why calling Chase ? Unless ACME was the problem. Carmen remembered that her teammate was investigating on that corporation. What if he asked help from Argent ? What if is this one uncovered something big and dangerous ? Sandiego exposed all this to Player.

“ That would be a good explanation. Feeling threatened Argent turned to Devineaux for help, thus them hiding.” he agreed.

“ And to think they’re just here in … oh wait.” resumed Carmen.

“ What ?”

“ They know that Chase is with me now. If they ever happen to capture me, they could use me to bait him.”

“ So what do we do ?” interrogated Player.

“ I can’t abandon the mission, there’s too much at stake here. I’ll just have to be more careful than usual.”

So that’s why she gave her coat to Ivy in order to fool the ACME agents. Meanwhile, she had to detect the VILE operatives sent in here. It didn’t last long however, and the thief found herself having to flee and endangered herself. Just as she feared, ACME managed to retrieve her. Sure she was saved from a frozen death, but now Chase was in trouble because of her.

“ Player ? Do you copy ?” said Ivy.

“ Yes, what is happening ?”

“ ACME is taking Carmen. They got there before us.”

“ Oh no ! Can you follow them ?”

“ They’re taking her in a helicopter ! But we’ll try to tail the others.”

“ I’ll warn Shadowsan he’ll join you on the way.” resumed Player.

“ And what about Chase ?” made Zack.

“ I don’t think it’s a good idea. Carmen wouldn’t want him to be in trouble because of her.”

“ But he risk being furious if we don’t tell him.” insisted Zack.

“ The thing is, Carmen might be a bait to catch him. He was investigating on them and that’s certainly why he left. We can’t put him in danger.” reminded the hacker.

“ Oh, right.”

[aurilis]

Known you before, chap 8 Deciding the future part 1

So reuniting is great and all, but our sweet duo has now to decide what’s next move.

While Chase was calling to obtain an appointment, Carmen called Player in the evening.

“ So how are your holidays ?”

“ Wonderful. We finally talked and I told him everything. We then spent the whole day cuddling each other.” announced Carmen.

“ Aaaaw ! I’m glad for you Red.”

“ Me too. How is everyone ?”

“ We’re fine, though I’m afraid the siblings might get bored. They’re eager to know if you make it up with Chase.”

“ You can tell them, Player, I don’t mind.” smiled Carmen.

“ But on a serious note, there’s something strange happening.”

“ Like what ?” asked Carmen, intrigued.

“ Well, I kept an eye on VILE activities. And it seemed someone else is doing your job.”

Carmen lifted an eyebrow. Who could that be ? Player asked her when she intended to be back on the field. She sighed. She wasn’t in a hurry for once, however she knew she had to leave again. So by the end of the week she said. She heard Chase calling for her. She said goodbye to Player.

“ Is something wrong ?” he asked, seeing her preoccupied face.

“ Well … not really. I just called a teammate. Things are happening.” announced Carmen.

“ So, you’ll leave again.” he guessed.

“ At the end of the week, only.” precised quickly Carmen.

Devineaux sighed. He approached the woman he hugged.

“ Sorry to hurt you again.” she said.

“ No, it’s fine actually. I know you’ll have to leave eventually, and now that I know why it’s less hard. And even if a part of me wants you to stay here, I’m not that selfish.”

Carmen smiled.

“ Then … what about you join me ?” she asked.

“ Hm ! I don’t think you need an idiot and a catastrophe like me in your team.” scoffed the French.

“ You’re not idiot, just reckless.”

“ Thanks. But I don’t know if it’s possible, since I was recruited by ACME, albeit a bit forcibly.” reminded the man.

“ Oh ?”

“ Yep, didn’t like those manners. However, since I’m not getting along my new employer, I think we should try something else.” resumed Chase.

“ Like what ?” interrogated Carmen.

“ I was thinking about discussing it together, if you don’t mind.”

“ Of course.”

They went back on their sofa, where Carmen couldn’t help but put her head on his shoulder like before. His arm went automatically around her shoulder. He began by telling her about ACME : a secret organization tracking VILE for twenty years. Noticing that Sandiego seemed to know more about them than anyone, their boss decided to catch her.  Julia Argent was also part of it, and was the first to nail Carmen’s possible real motive.

“ You said twenty years and only six persons arrested ? How come this organization is still working ?” pointed Carmen.

“ Well, the boss said they also possess stores, so I suppose they get their funds from it.”

“ Still, it takes time and money to create a store. Where did she get it ?” resumed the girl.

Chase acknowledged that Carmen was right : usually any corporation would been shut down with so little results. That was weird. Fishy even. All the more for him to stay away from it.

“ But I’m concerned about Julia.” he said.

“ Maybe you can make an ally out of her. She’s smart, she can understand.” suggested Carmen.

“ Would be an asset, that’s  for sure. Alas, I kinda quarrel with her just before being kidnapped. Not sure she’ll want to listen to me.”

“ What ? What have you done ?” exclaimed Carmen straightening.

“ Huh ? What would it be my fault ?” retorted Chase.

“ Because I know you perhaps ?”

He opened his mouth, but couldn’t reply. The thing is, she was right and he knew it. He was reflecting on it a few minutes before getting unconscious. Devineaux crossed his arms, Carmen rolled her eyes.

“ You’ll have to make it up with her.” Said Carmen.

He pouted.

“ I know. I was reflecting on it the other night.” he admitted.

[grahamcarmen]

God all I want is to see how it's all gonna go down when Gray gets his memory back (yes he's gonna get it back this is the hill I'll die on)

gawsh i KNOW! 

they have been investing so much into graham like from all 3 sides

VILE may have erased his memories but Bellum like says he’s her favorite student, and even asks la chevre about him at the beginning of the opera caper, and we get that scare that she might be the one to trigger his memories in the kiwi caper by the way carmen keeps him out of physical sight and is nervous even that Bellum’s voice might have triggered graham’s memories

ACME had this speech about having to re-evaluate motives and character by looking at the world in shades of gray and panning over to him on that word AND THEY KNOW THAT HE’S AN ACQUAINTANCE OF CARMEN WHO IS ON THEIR BAD SIDE NOW

 And of course we got our red crackle side

a) yes player is a hacker but like that’s not an all -encompassing skill. like Graham showed with that fun swan sequence, someone DID need to be physically on site for the levers. zack and ivy don’t have these qualifications either.

b)um... idk if you guys noticed but Carmen is actually really not someone to reach out to people, or more specifically civilians, when pulling her capers. //but what about her current crew you might say// 

Player was and is her best confidant but she took a whole year to confide the spy school thing to him. of course he reached out to her first and quickly getting along with her helps especially in the end where she no longer trusts in VILE and is essentially alone.

zack and Ivy made their way into her circle by them sticking their feet constantly on the door of the situation and their status as not ordinary civilians helped ease carmen about including them + the fact that they were soon to be on the run. the closest she got to reaching out during the caper is hi-jacking their car and asking for some muscle (IVY!!!). throughout the beginning of the caper she encouraged them to stay on the sidelines

the lady in the fishy caper was someone who tried to get into the know with Carmen as someone with investment in the history of the coin in question and ends up providing helpful medicinal assistance when carmen gets air sickness  (carmen please take care of yourself) but what was Carmen’s reaction to even giving her a little bit of info on the caper?: NO

she also has less trouble in reaching out to ACME agents because they’re literally trained to be more or less competent with danger and have some idea of what they’re getting into 

and of course the moment shadow san is revealed to be an ally she makes a lot of effort for that connection /note: he’s not a civilian with no knowledge of the caper/

...yeah sorry about going on that tangent but the point is that graham is a physically capable (former VILE agent) - specifically capable  (electrician who also had some deja vu about the big bad electric machine) not really a civilian that team carmen trusts BEFORE she gave ACME a chance in episode 9 so like...yeah...adskfhjbaskjn sorry.

BUT BACK TO THE RED CRACKLE WHOOOO BOY!

-Carmen continuously makes efforts in the opera caper to include graham in that day from literally starting a legit conversation about VILE’s intentions even though they’re supposed to be enemies, asking him to be a guide for a caper even though player and her have no real reason to include him, and almost going to a coffee date to chill  (I CAN’T FREAKING BELIEVE THEM) to eventually prioritizing his safety over her own desire to reconnect with him T.T

- carmen is against the idea of recruiting for graham for safety reasons but the moment that its decided HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA CARMEN CAN’T HIDE HOW HAPPY SHE IS THAT HE IS THERE

“FORTUNATELY FOR ME OUR LIGHTING TECHNICIAN DROPPED OUT”

-EVERY TIME SHE SMILES BECAUSE GRAHAM SUPPORTS HER ON THE ACTUAL CAPER

-DA LIP BITE WHEN HE TRIES TO GET ASSURANCE THAT THEY’RE “THE GOOD GUYS

the narrative constantly emphasizes that carmen has hope for a connection with graham. what it’ll turn out to be is left in the writer’s hands but considering that they care about the dynamic at all means something in terms of the emotional fallout when he finally does get his memories. 

I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!