#power stacker

[swiftplasticpallets-blog]

Maximizing Efficiency and Safety with Semi-Electric Stackers

The effective movement and storage of items is critical in industrial facilities, distribution centers, and warehouses. This is where semi-electric stackers come into play; they provide an adaptable way to prioritize safety over operational efficiency. In this blog, we'll explore the benefits, functionality and considerations of semi-electric stackers, highlighting their role in material handling.

Understanding of Semi-Electric Stackers Swift's Semi-electric stackers are material handling equipment designed to lift and transport loads within a facility. Semi-electric stackers use battery power for lifting functions and require manual effort for movement, compared to fully electric stackers, which rely solely on battery power for both functions.The effectiveness of electric lifting and the adaptability of manual maneuvering are combined in this hybrid design.

Key Features and Benefits 1. Efficient Lifting: With the help of electric-powered lifting mechanisms, operators of semi-electric stackers may precisely and easily move the loads. This feature allows for faster and more controlled vertical movement, which improves productivity and reduces operator effort.

2. Manual Propulsion: The manual propulsion aspect of semi-electric stackers provides operators with greater flexibility, especially in tight spaces where larger equipment may struggle to navigate. These units can quickly adjust to different work situations and manage a wide range of load sizes and forms since they let operators manually steer the stacker.

3. Compact Design: Semi-electric stackers are ideal for use in cramped settings like packed storage facilities or small aisles because of their generally compact construction. They still have substantial lifting capabilities, but their smaller size guarantees that available space is used effectively.

4. Safety Features: In every step of material handling, safety reigns supreme. Semi-electric stackers understand this deeply, offering a human touch with features like anti-slip platforms, emergency stop buttons, and overload protection, ensuring protection for all.

5. Cost-Effective Solution: Semi-electric stackers, with their initial affordability and eco-conscious battery usage, offer a welcoming embrace to companies striving for operational excellence without financial strain. They're like trusted companions in cost-effective progress.

Applications and Considerations different businesses such as manufacturing, retail, and warehousing, use Swift’s semi-electric stackers. For work like loading and unloading pallets, they are perfect., arranging goods on racks and moving materials across small distances. When considering the implementation of semi-electric stackers in a facility, Several things need to be considered:

Understand the heaviest load the stacker will lift, ensuring the chosen model can safely handle it, prioritizing human safety.

Operating Environment: Think of the facility like a living organism—consider its layout, aisle widths, floor conditions, and obstacles for smooth navigation.

Training Requirements: Provide sufficient instruction to operators to ensure they understand how to safely operate the stacker and adhere to best practices for load handling.

Maintenance Needs: Caring for semi-electric stackers is like tending to a trusted companion. As with physical examinations, routine maintenance guarantees that they are constantly in optimal condition and prepared to provide dependable and secure service.

Conclusion Swift’s Semi-electric stackers bring together a beautiful harmony of efficiency, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness, enriching the fabric of contemporary material handling operations. They seamlessly merge the power of electric lifting with the finesse of human guidance, empowering operators to navigate their tasks with precision and safety in mind. Whether it's the bustling aisles of warehouses, the dynamic floors of manufacturing facilities, or the organized chaos of distribution centers, these stackers weave themselves into the very fabric of productivity, ensuring that every movement counts towards optimizing workflow and maximizing output.

[randomgenericgaming]

Kirby's Star Stacker - Super Famicom 1998

[jedi-kat-18]

2 men and a kaiju, newt and stacker: hannibal? uh. nope. haven't seen him.

"Hannibal? Uh... nope. Haven't seen him." Newt said, very obviously lying. "No clue what happened to him." "Newt." Stacker said. He was careful to keep his tone calm, and not make eye contact with the baby Kaiju standing next to him. The last thing thing he wanted to do was spook the thing. "I'm not angry with you, I just want to know what happened to Hannibal Chau. You were the last person who saw him, correct?" "I have absolutely no idea where he is." Newt said, sweating bullets. Then Kodachi started gagging. Stacker took two big steps to the left. Newt started looking rather ill. Kodachi made an awful noise, like a cat coughing up a massive hairball. Then she retched, and with another awful noise, spat something blue and slimy onto the floor. It took a second for Stacker to notice it, but poking out of the slime was a single gold-plated shoe. Hannibal Chau groaned, pulled himself up, and wiped some of the slime off his face. "Where's my shoe?"

[pocketramblr]

Girl now is NOT the time to be thinking about Yumi and Nikaro role swap potential

[acecranesindia]

[superliftcanada]

Advantages to Get When You Buy Stainless Steel Ground Level Scissors Online

Material handling industries are one of the most crucial aspects that no one can ignore. There are different types of material handling equipment available with dissimilar functionality and features. Due to this, they offer versatile and reliable solutions for material handling, maintenance, and construction tasks. Their significance solely depends on their design combined with robustness, adaptability, and robustness. When you buy stainless steel ground-level scissors online, there are a lot of advantages to grab from. Here is all about this outstanding material handling equipment and how it helps to streamline the material handling job in various industrial setups. 

Durable and Free from Corrosion 

Stainless steel is preferred for its outstanding durability and corrosion resistance. This is one of the most reliable and popular features that is being used in various industrial environments where they have to deal with harassing environments. The stainless steel ground-level scissors normally operate in various harsh environments where they have to deal with moisture, chemicals, and other corrosive elements. With stainless steel construction, these scissors can easily withstand such conditions, which ensures longevity and minimal maintenance requirements. This durability helps reduce costs because it requires fewer replacements and repairs compared to any type of alternatives that are made from conventional materials. 

Unmatchable Safety and Stability 

The main objective of the ground-level scissors is to offer a stable platform for lifting and positioning heavy loads close to the ground level. Stainless steel construction enhances stability and safety to many extend, and needless to say, safety is a crucial factor in industries where mishaps can lead to significant injuries or damage to equipment and material. The robust design, along with the materials, helps to reduce the risk of structural failures, ensuring a safe and secure working environment for industrial operators. 

Versatility to Meet Specific Requirements  

Versatility is one of the biggest advantages of the stainless steel ground-level scissors. They can be easily customized to meet any specific requirements like load capacity, platform size, and lifting height. Due to this outstanding adaptability, this material handling equipment is being used in various applications across various industrial landscapes like manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and construction. Whether it's moving heavy machinery in a factory setting or facilitating maintenance tasks in a warehouse, these scissors mainly offer different types of flexible solutions that can be tailored to meet different types of operational requirements. 

Precision Control 

When it comes to thorough control over the material, ground-level scissors meet this parameter in the industrial landscape. They offer unmatchable lifting and lowering operations, allowing the operators to position loads with utmost accuracy and efficiency. The stainless steel construction contributes to this precision by ensuring smooth and constant performance even under heavy loads. This kind of control is crucial in various tasks, specifically where the precise positioning is critical, like assembly lines where the components are required to be aligned thoroughly or at the construction sites where the materials need to be placed in the perfect position. In this way, it becomes the most important player in these industrial landscapes that helps to avoid any kind of delays or errors. 

Environmental Sustainability 

Stainless steel, with its extended lifespan and capacity for recycling, is a very sustainable material. Stainless steel ground-level scissors save waste and require fewer replacements, which helps to promote environmental sustainability. Stainless steel's eco-friendliness is further enhanced by the fact that its production procedures have less of an impact on the environment than those of many other materials.

These are the best features that you can get when you buy stainless steel ground-level scissors online. So, relying on this material handling equipment can greatly contribute to your industrial operation. 

Resource: https://superliftcanada.wordpress.com/2024/04/23/advantages-to-get-when-you-buy-stainless-steel-ground-level-scissors-online/

[desultory-novice]

...Did everyone Read The Announcement Post Very Carefully?

That's right. Kirby of the Stars: The Magic Crystal and The Mysterious Maze was my "A.P.R.I.L. F.O.O.L.S" joke! Sorry! XD

It started at the end of January when I remembered that I'd made a joke grouping of the four Dream Friends that get consistently left out of the novels: Marx, Adeleine, Ribbon, and Dark Meta Knight. I wanted to do something special for them and, partly inspired by Jojo's roleswap cover emulating the FL novels, I thought to make a fake novel cover just for MY forgotten favorites! Gryll and the Fairy Queen are a bonus, because if I was doing this, I would go all out!

I took a huge amount of reference photos, both from the novels and from Tau and Poto's "Find Kirby" books (the only place they've ever drawn Gryll! The Fairy Queen I referenced from Wave 2's ending picture in Star Allies - that's why her crown looks slightly different. Speaking of, Ripple Star Castle (?) is WEIRD looking, y'all!)

At ~40 hours~ of sketching, drawing, painting, refining, trying to get those distinctive Kirby novel touches right (don't get me started on emulating the cover's texture. I was a dumb bunny and remade it by HAND out of a clean scrap about the size of Kirby's body!) this was an immense challenge and the most time I’ve ever put into any illustration, but it was also a huge labor of love for Kirby and its cast!

For what it's worth, I actually did come up with a full on "plot" for this fake novel of mine! (And yes, it was a big stretch to combine Kirby 64 with Amazing Mirror, Milky Way Wishes, and Star Stacker!!)

Here is the "chapter list" (in English and Japanese!)

1 / "Marx the Magician Comes to Town!" 魔法使いマルクがやってきたのサ！

2 / "Into The Mysterious Mirror Maze" いざ！不思議なミラー迷宮へ

3/ "Ribbon The Fairy and The Missing Crystal" 妖精リボンちゃんと失われたクリスタル

4 / "Moving Reflections?! The Maze's Secret!" 動く反映？！迷宮の秘密！

5 / "Adeleine and The Path Leading Out" アドレーヌと出口への道

6 / "Oh No! The Jumbled Dimensions!" 大変！バラバラの次元回路！

7 / "Marx's Mocking Laughter?!" マルクの嘲笑？！

8 / "Catch That Clown!" あの道化師を捕まえろ！

9 / "A Day Packed Full of Delights" 楽しい満喫な一日

-

In the "backstory" Marx attempted to steal/use the large Crystal from Ripple Star ("It's just a prank, bro!") but something happened (maybe the Queen did something) and the Crystal split into shards.

So Marx makes up a fake show and comes to Popstar to dupe all the simpletons there (his words, not mine) to do the bothersome task of gathering all the shards for him to fix the crystal while he sits back and waits, disguising this arduous task as a "fun game."

Kirby and the rest fall for it and start to do Marx's dirty work, going into the mirror maze (related to the Mirror World?) But there, Kirby meets the hardworking fairy, Ribbon, who is working all on her own to try and get the crystals back before Marx can. (Or, if Marx duped the folks of Ripple Star that he'd fix his own mess, he then trapped Ribbon in the maze once they were out of sight!) But so far, she has failed to convince any of his "guests" that she is anything other than a clever attraction. Kirby believes her though and offers his help!

I hadn't fully figured out how the mirror worlders were connected, but I thought it might have been possible they were working with Ripple Star/the good guys (but seemed to be "bad" because they were "scaring" the carnival attendees) or maybe, DMK and Shadow Kirby (who I was originally going to put in the cover as well but it got too crowded for him) were there as guardians to warn everyone to stop messing around with powers they don't understand.

Bandee spends most of his time in the novel outside the maze (to skirt any questions of a mirror Bandanna Waddle Dee) waiting for everyone alongside Marx, where he will eventually figure the jester's game and goes into the maze to warn Kirby and friends. Just as the group seems lost, they will encounter Adeleine, who will be all big sister like and help guide the kids to the exit (using the never fail maze escape strategy of "keep your hand on the right-hand wall")

However, just as things seem to be going well, Marx has used what pieces of the crystal the Popstarians have collected for him to pull his prank, and the gang find themselves lost not in the maze, but in a cartoonish jumble of dimensions!! (Picture each door you go through, whether it's to the kitchen or the castle, leading you to an entirely different planet!) It's amidst this wacky dimensional comedy, trying to grab Marx to get him to Cut! It! Out! that they meet Gryll, who knows Marx well and gives the gang a tip to lure him out (probably involving them all NOT panicking and instead sitting down amidst the chaos and enjoying a simple Adeleine-sponsored picnic, pretending like they're having a great time without him.)

They defeat Marx once he shows up to confront them, complaining they aren't "playing along right" and Gryll takes the battered, bruised jester back for "remedial magic training" or something equally embarrassing for Marx. Back home at last, they find it's sunset now and Marx's One Day Carnival (now being run by the Waddle Dees, who just can't help from helping out) is coming to an end!

However, Kirby, Bandee, Meta Knight, and King Dedede invite Ribbon (and Adeleine and the Mirror Worlders) to enjoy the last hours of the carnival with them before bidding everyone goodbye.

They promise to remain friends, however!

-

Speaking of friends...

I'm taking a long break from fandom to tackle some new things and take on a new direction in my life. As such, I have taken down all my old work from this blog to get some much needed emotional distance from certain things. That said, I don't require anyone who reblogged any of it in the past to delete those reblogs, nor do you have to cease sharing/distributing things of mine. Just know that if you ask questions, I probably won't be here to answer them.

My love for Kirby and its cast will continue, despite this change. And I do hope the fandom will continue to bloom in my absence.

To everyone who left me such beautiful messages on my previous post, thank you so, so much. I won't forget you all. I hope if our paths cross again, it will be as friends once more. And if not...rest assured that you will forever be a part of my precious memories.

[skeletwinsauaskbox]

happy valentines day everyone! what are you guys doing?

(The stacker gives me too much power!)

[sexhaver]

one of the funnier parts about playing both Shapez 2 and Satisfactory and being active in both Discords is that the former has an infitely scaling procedurally generated world and an endgame explicitly focused on hitting high throughput numbers on the scale of 10,000 items per minute, whereas the latter has a finite handcrafted world and endgame goals that focus on making the highest tier of part on the scale of like 30 items per minute. which results in these wildly divergent community responses on Discord when people post their builds, wherein Satisfactory players respond with encouragement ("looks great! that should last you for a while :)") and Shapez 2 players respond with helpful but sometimes extremely blunt feedback ("you're bottlenecked by this conveyor belt merger here and the ratio on stackers is off by one"). but conversely, when you ask for advice on some comically large megaproject, the Shapez 2 players are the ones immediately jumping on board with theorycrafting and poking at the limits of the game's code, whereas Satisfactory players give obnoxious feedback like "why would you need to make 6000m^3 of rocket fuel per minute? you don't need that much power to hit the final milestone".

hilariously, the unifying trend between both Discords is that both games have issues with semi-broken fluid dynamics modeling in pipes that break endgame factories designed assuming pipes actually work as advertised, and both Discords regularly have to deal with people coming into the #advanced-build-tips channel and asking stuff like "hey guys, ive been troubleshooting this build for an hour and it looks like mk2 pipes aren't actually transporting 600m^3 of fluid like they say, has anyone else experienced this?" LITERALLY 20+ times per day from a different person every time

[mydearthisbe]

Things I Kept Thinking About While Watching Pacific Rim (2013):

It's crazy that there are only two female pilots when the entire premise of Jaeger Pilots is a capacity for intellectual and emotional vulnerability with each other. I feel like you are way more likely to come across women who are skilled in doing that than men

I thought at some point they might return to why the Jaeger pilots were being defunded, considering it was by far their most efficient way of dealing with the Kaiju. I understand that if the film is taken as an allegory for climate change, that move represents a form of environmental nihilism, but the metaphor kind of falls short when the same nations they're representing are also deeply militaristic. The more likely outcome than rerouting resources away from a military operation, would probably be the alliance itself falling apart? I think if the film had used that premise, it would more strongly contrast with why the Jaeger rebellion, which persistently believes in the power of cooperation, empathy, and collective action, is the best solution

I did appreciate the detail that most people defaulted to their first language in times of trouble (Mako speaking in Japanese during her fight, Sasha and Alexis speaking in Russian during theirs, etc.) or when they wanted to communicate privately (like Mako commenting on Raleigh when she thought he wouldn't understand) and I think that helped the movie to expand beyond an American War Movie

On that note, I feel like what the movie lacked in strength of dialogue (often feeling very American War Movie), it more than made up for in interesting world-building and character dynamics. The idea that Stacker knew Mako should be a pilot, but was reluctant to put her and Raleigh in the same Jaeger, due to their mutual Kaiju trauma, was so interesting. The concept of drift compatibility, very cool. The concept of the rapid technological evolution of Jaegers from analog (nuclear) to digital, with both of them having clear drawbacks, very cool. Even just the concept of Raleigh being one of the only established pilots to be completely and utterly willing to let any stranger in his head. I feel like I could think about this movie for hours

Truly, they breezed past the dinosaur thing. Nobody even questioned it!!! What do you mean, the dinosaurs were a trial run? They really needed a paleontologist on their research team

[randomgenericgaming]

Kirby's Star Stacker - Super Famicom 1998

[forgottenkirbyfacts]

forgotten kirby facts 108 - kirby star stacker/super star stacker/kirakira kids was announced overseas through nintendos official website, but never saw any updates beyond that, this might possibly be related to the game ending up being released through a japan exclusive service known as "nintendo power", only receiving a physical release the next year (1999), the same year the super nintendo was discontinued overseas.

(archive of the official website)

[neona]

okay resonance does rotate frenzy charges into power charges so maybe flicker deadeye real (won't rotate the effect of the really good frenzy node tho)

... maybe I should go frenzy stacker deadeye

[teamdilf]

I watched Pacific Rim for the first time in awhile over the weekend and I’ve been noodling on a Dragon Age x Pacific Rim crossover ever since.

It would take place in contemporary Thedas, with Iris and Solas living in the Fade, content and away from the waking world. They’re watching the kaiju attacks and the Thedosian resistance with increasing concern when they’re tracked down by whomever the Stacker Pentecost equivalent is in this AU, who pleads with them for help.

Now, Iris and Solas haven’t killed anyone in about five ages by this point. They’re happily retired. They also know each other intimately and fully and would be drift compatible with one another in a way no mortals could be.

In short, they’d kick some serious ass.

One of the things I’d explore is the weight of duty on Solas’ shoulders - he feels compelled to serve, but Iris worries terribly for him, because with the weight of the veil, he’s not nearly as powerful as he once was. And, if he dies, that’s the end of life as they know it in Thedas.

But, nobody in modern Thedas knows that Solas is holding up the veil. So the two of them are torn between their desire to protect Thedas from destruction and the knowledge that Solas is already doing as much, albeit in a more subtle capacity.

Now, whether it would end happily or not is the question. 👀 There’s a part of me that would be tempted to have Iris make the sacrifice play but I also don’t know if I could bear to put Solas through the pain of losing her.

I’m not actually sure I’d ever write this - I think the action sequences would make it a stretch project for me, recognizing that action scenes are not a strength for me as a writer. Since I’m already working on a difficult stretch project in the form of In Another World, I’m definitely not taking on another one of those in the near future.

Fun to ponder, though!

[driftwithme]

Do you think certain countries tried to refuse certain j-pilots because they were gay?

I know Pacific Rim is all about how humanity is so good and gentle and brave at heart despite it not being an "everyone" case. Still, do you think that certain politicians really tried to prevent it?

Do you think certain candidates for j-pilots asked "what if I drift with a gay person?? can I be turned gay??"

Do you think it extended to racism or misogyny for some? How fast do you think they were kicked out of the program? How much were the shamed by people that were so much better j-pilots than those assholes??

Maybe that's why I'm obsessed with writing Mako as a queer woman of color, because I desperately want the world to realize that she saved the world. That they cannot erase anything about her 'cause she fought and killed kaijus and took her revenge, so she's not afraid of them. She was also raised by Stacker Pentecost, a man of color who was and will always be one of the best j-pilots to ever be created. She drifted with Raleigh Becket, the only person to ever feel the death of his partner and solo pilot to kill a kaiju, survived it and pilot again to enter the Breach and explode a jaeger there to close it forever.

Mako did all that with him. She slayed a kaiju in the freaking sky with a sword.

Do you know how important it'd be for any girl or human being on the planet Earth to have Mako as an example? Do you imagine the leverage she is? Do you have any idea of the power she has?

I love Mako so freaking much, but yeah, I think it'd be interesting to explore social disparities and the many human injustices within the Pacrim world.

[theinternetisaweboflies]

Jägermeister

Chapter Two: Apologies

Newt and Hermann were halfway to the door when Herc intercepted them, gesturing with his good arm. 

They followed him down the hall to an office that had once belonged to Marshal Pentecost and would no doubt soon belong to Marshal Hansen, but for the moment was only a shrine. 

The official debrief would come later, after everyone had been cleared by Medical, gotten drunk, gotten sick, slept for forty-eight hours, and then gotten drunk again.

This was the unofficial debrief, also known as damage control. Newt had been assigned enough mandatory training sessions with Public Affairs to be familiar with the concept. 

He sat down so Hermann would too. Herc sat behind the Marshal’s desk. Max lay at his feet, asleep or possibly just listless.

Herc was clearly grieving, but he was also the person responsible for breaking the news to the world that it was not, in fact, ending and would probably have to do something about the environment after all. 

“I won’t keep you long, gents,” said Herc. “I want you both to report to Medical as soon as we’re finished here.”

“Of course, sir,” said Hermann, a little too loudly so that it would drown out Newt’s groan. 

“Consider yourselves lucky,” said Herc. “I have a meeting with the United Nations next. That's why I need to talk to the two of you. They aren't going to be satisfied with simply hearing that we saved the world.”

Newt sniffed, or would have if his nostrils hadn’t been sealed shut with dried blood. “That seems a little ungrateful.”

Herc ignored him. “They're going to want to hear exactly how we did it.” 

“With the power of friendship,” said Newt. 

Hermann rapped him on the ankle with his cane. He never did it very hard, but this time it was barely a tap. Probably because he would feel it too. 

“I know what happened at the bottom of the Pacific,” Herc managed to say it without wincing too much, “but I don’t know what happened before that, and I sure as hell don’t know how much of it we’re going to want to share with the class. Start with whatever the hell Stacker said to you after you drifted with the kaiju.”

“Oh, uh, okay.” 

Apparently Newt was up. He only had an audience of two, but that was enough to trigger the social anxiety he usually tried to bluster his way through. 

“Well, he sent me to Kowloon, to look for a kaiju organ harvester named Hannibal Chau, who was um, known to the PPDC. Pentecost thought he might be able to supply me with a kaiju brain for a second drift. I did a little UV scavenger hunt and found an apothecary at the northeast corner of Fong and Tull. When I entered and was clearly not an octogenarian Chinese woman, they asked if I was after kaiju bone powder for ‘male potency.’ I told them I was looking for Chau, and they wished me good luck.”

He tried to fall back on the semi-eidetic memory that had gotten him through six doctorates. There was no point leaving out the embarrassing parts. Hell, Hermann had probably seen most of them. Although Hermann seemed to be paying even closer attention to Newt than the Marshal, even if he did have some trouble making eye contact after the words ‘male potency.’ 

“They had this fake shelf of apothecary jars that slid open to reveal specimen jars. It was epic. They had a lymph gland from a Cat II, a mint condition skin cuticle- they even had skin parasites. Live ones! Apparently you can keep them alive if you soak them in ammonia. I’ve never gotten a live one, or I probably would have figured that out on my own.”

Newt cleared his throat, which felt dryer than one of Hermann’s lectures on appropriate workplace behavior. Herc poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the desk and handed it to Newt. 

He hadn’t realized he was thirsty until he’d finished half of it. 

“So Hannibal Chau- In case it isn’t obvious enough that’s a fake name, he told me it came from his favorite historical character and his second favorite Szechuan restaurant in Brooklyn, which is just weird. The two best Szechuan restaurants in Brooklyn are Shan and Hung Far Low. Plus, you should have seen what he was wearing. You know, I bet he really named himself after Hannibal Lecter, because he dressed like if Mads Mikkelsen went through a Manhua phase. If I ever dress like that, please assume I'm possessed.”

Hermann tapped him on the ankle again. 

“Right,” said Newt. “So Chau asked who sent me, and when I didn’t tell him, he stuck a knife up my nostril. So I told him. Then I told him I wanted a kaiju brain to drift with. Again.”

“Did he stick his knife up your other nostril?” asked Herc.

“Let’s go with that,” said Newt. “Anyhoozles, that was right around the time the double event started, so he decided that it was my fault and that I wouldn't get to ride it out in his bespoke panic room. At first, I thought he was full of shit- I mean, Hermann predicted a double event ages ago.

“At first?” prompted Herc. 

“Otachi was looking for me. She um- She tracked me to the Anti-Kaiju Shelter, and then she tried to French me. Just kidding. I think she might have been scenting me? Like a snake’s vomeronasal organ? Although with the bioluminescence, it seemed more like a lure- Whatever. Danger distracted her with an oil tanker to the face. I watched her go down, and then I went looking for Chau again, because I needed his help to harvest her hindbrain. I mean, I would have. It was Jell-O. I was about to give up and go see if anything was left of Leatherback when one of the harvesters said they could hear a heartbeat.”

“Otachi was still alive?” asked Herc. “I thought you said she was braindead?”

“She was,” Newt tried not to sound condescending, because he knew Herc was having an even harder day than the rest of them. “She was-”

“Pregnant,” finished Hermann.

“Cheater. You already knew. Yeah, well, I would have been Baby’s First Solid Meal if Chau hadn’t beaten me to it.”

Hermann’s cane brushed against Newt’s ankle again, but this time it remained there, a steady point of pressure. 

“I believe I arrived not long after that,” Hermann said eventually, to fill the silence Newt had left behind.

“Yeah, Hermann got there just in time for the fun part. I used the neural spike I’d designed for Mutavore, you know, since we don’t exactly have any XXXXXL PONs units lying around. I was just about to strap in when Hermann showed up and offered to share the neural load. We saw, you know, everything we told everyone in LOCCENT. Then we told everyone in LOCCENT.”

“Is that all you saw in the drift?” asked Herc.

“All that is currently relevant,” said Hermann. He said it so soon after Newt froze that Herc might not have even noticed if it weren’t for the choking. Herc nudged the half-empty glass of water closer to Newt.

“Hermann’s right,” said Newt, because Hermann had to be right. The clock had stopped . “There was nothing tactically interesting. At least, I think- I mean, tactics aren’t exactly my area of expertise , but unless you want colonization life hacks or ten tips for cloning kaiju…”

“You are not to clone a kaiju,” Herc and Hermann said in perfect unison. 

Newt felt that was apropos of very little, if not actually nothing. “What if I just made a cyborg Jaeger from kaiju cerebrospinal fluid DNA like they did in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)?” 

“No,” said Hermann, who probably hadn’t even seen Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002). He turned to Herc and added, “There was nothing in the drift about the nature of the Breach’s origin, or whether another one could be opened.”

Herc sighed. “All right. I’ll expect full reports once you’re cleared by Medical.” 

Newt stood first so he could hold out an arm for Hermann. He paused when they got to the door and turned back to Herc. 

“I’m sorry about your son, dude. He was actually super nice to me after I helped Max with his bilious vomiting syndrome. He even got some of the other rangers to lay off. You’re gonna’ wanna’ keep giving Max slippery elm extract, by the way.”

Herc faltered for a moment. Slippery elm had that effect on people. Then again, so did Newt. 

“I'm also sorry, you know, that I didn't get the information in time to…” Newt trailed off. He had that effect on himself sometimes too. 

“Please don't apologize,” said Herc. “It’s clear that you both did everything within reason and quite a lot that wasn't.”

“I’m also sorry for calling you a fascist," he added. "It was drift bleed from Hermann.”

Hermann rapped him on the ankle, except this time it was hard enough to sting. Newt should never have freed up his cane for offense. Hermann had watched way too much Kwoon combat. 

“I mean, uh, a case of mistaken identity.”

“Glad to hear it,” said Herc, rising to his feet. "Thank you, gents."

“See you later," said Newt. "Good luck with the UN. Tell them I said their Wall of Life was an epic fail.”

“I will not,” said Herc. “What I will do is give Medical a call and tell them to expect you both shortly. You experienced neural overload testing a damaged PONs for Operation Pitfall. That’s the official story until I can report to whoever the hell I report to now. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” said Hermann. At least he didn’t salute this time.

Newt was much less disappointed about not getting to be a rockstar than he would have anticipated. Maybe it was all the unprecedented neurological damage, but for some reason, it didn’t seem to matter anymore.

...

@lastdaysofwar