#​Brave Combat Federation

[charliehoennam]

aftermath.

A/N: nobody asked for this, but all I've seen is Will smut (which I totally love, don't get me wrong) but I need some vulnerable Will

Pairing: Will Miller x f!reader

Warnings: grief, mourning, sad!will, mentions of death, mentions of Will's military past and Tom's funeral

One of the things you've always admired about Will is his strength. He was always the one to put on a brave face and push on. The captain in him had the duty of moving forward and completing whatever mission was at hand, whether it was getting his team to the landing zone or grocery shopping day at home.

It was that very same strength he possessed that got him through the darkest times in his life.

Losing his war veteran grandfather, losing his comrades in combat or to the haunting PTSD that they tried to chase away with substance abuse.

Before you came into his life, before he realized that he was lost in the same fog of that purgatory of PTSD, shutting his emotions out is the only thing he knew. After all that time, he came to believe it was easier than having to deal with them.

It just wasn't a priority; a moment of tears he refused to share with anyone anywhere other than sat naked and alone on the shower floor.

Tom wasn't the first friend he'd lost, but it doesn't mean it made losing him any easier.

It was easy for him to plaster a smile and bury his grief deep down until he felt it was time to unbury it and mourn.

Getting to that point of self-awareness was a victory in itself.

It took so much patience and love and pain, not only on his behalf but yours as well, to help him to understand what he was really struggling with.

He hadn't realized it had gotten so uncontrollable until the incident at Publix - the grand revelation of the weapon he could be, once shred of his humanity, provided the cathartic acceptance of the fact that he needed help.

Upon federal investigation, the story they told was that Tom had been shot and killed in a tragic mugging incident on their consultation trip. Just a boys' night out gone bad.

It wasn't too hard to believe, given they were 5 foreigners in a country that wasn't theirs. The heat from the Feds didn't last long. Thanks to Santiago's few but faithful contacts, that investment was quickly brought to an end.

It's barely 6 a.m. and you're stood in the kitchen making coffee, still processing how this all happened.

Your black dress is simple but elegant and modest against your body. Despite the itchy fabric, you can feel the early morning chill soaking through.

The dripping of the coffee maker lures you into a whirlwind of thoughts. You watch the droplets of dew form on the kitchen window against the cloudy sky which threatens to rain.

You start to second guess the toast when it pops up in the toaster. You're not the slightest bit hungry and you're positive Will won't be either, but you have to try.

He hasn't eaten right in the past couple days. You didn't say anything, but you've noticed the few bites he'd given his food and the way he'd pick at it.

He should've been ready and downstairs by now, so you decide to go up and check on him.

Moving forward is hard for most people, but for Will, it's what keep the pain at bay. The problem is when he stops.

Like a tornado, he's left with the screaming silence and the damage it left in it's wake.

Now that he's home, the mission of bringing Tom home is complete, the hard truth that his friend and mentor is gone has begun to sink in.

You gently knock on the door as you reach your shared bedroom.

"Honey, do you want any help?"

"I'm good, sweetheart. I'll be right out."

You can hear him sniffle despite his attempt to sound as normal as possible. Unconvinced, you turn the knob and open the door.

He's sat on the edge of the bed wearing a simple black suit as he looks back over his shoulder at you with a Marine coin in hand, a gift from Tom when Will confessed about his therapy sessions.

You aren't too surprised to see he changed out of the formal military blue suit he had out on earlier.

The ribbons, the medals, the badges... He couldn't put them on without feeling the crushing and staining weight of guilt.

"Lat minute outfit change?"

The corner of your lips curl in an attempt to smile, hoping to cheer him up with a bit of tease.

"I was gonna wear my dress blues, but..." he trails off for a moment to swallow hard. "Just didn't feel right."

Without a word, you quietly walk over and sit beside him. You're not sure what he needs right now, but you don't want him to feel alone.

"Black is more flattering if you ask me," you speak up.

His beard twitches as he attempts to smile. He knows you just want to help him feel better. Yet all he can do is stare down at the gold coin.

"Five times... Five times. Five close calls. And he survived them all. He didn't deserve to go out like that. He just wanted to help his family."

You fight back tears as you listen to him with an arm wrapped his back as you press your cheek to his shoulder.

"I told Santi to get him in. I said I'd go if Tom was in. Tom didn't even want to go in the first place. He didn't-"

There's a crack in his voice which he catches it in his throat to compose himself. He sniffles letting a tear cascade down his cheek only to wipe it away quickly, hoping you hadn't seen it.

"This isn't on you, Will."

He nods although you both know deep inside that he won't stop blaming himself.

"When you told me you were a marine, I knew the risks that came with that, Will. Every knock on the door had my heart racing. But I decided to stay with you because I love you. There wasn't a person on earth or a God in the sky that was gonna tell me otherwise. I knew the risks and I took 'em anyways because not having you would've hurt more... I don't understand how fate works other than we all end up the same. What I do know is that all we can do is love our close ones and cherish the good memories you have of them."

With a tearful and silent nod, he lowers his head and rests it against your chest. His arms lock around your waist as he surrenders to the tears in your embrace.

The tears quietly trickle down your cheeks as you listen to him finally breaking down.

With your lips pressed against his golden hair, you hold him in your arms and stroke the hair on the back of his neck to soothe him for as long as he needs.

All you can do is hold him through it and he couldn't be more thankful to have you in such a vulnerable moment after having faced them on his own for so many years.

Just the feeling of not being alone was overwhelming enough, but to have you holding him and reminding him of the things that are easy to ignore in grief give him hope.

Although he feels he's coming apart, he knows that he'll have the strength he's always had.

It's different now. It's not the strength to bury and forget; it's the strength to heal.

With a sigh of relief after a long, vulnerable moment, he pulls away from you and nods, mentally assuring himself that he's alright.

Upon arriving at the church, you're greeted by Molly so you offer your deepest condolences due to the circumstances. Just as Will, you find that the guys have all opted to wear normal black suits instead of the formal military uniform and you wonder if it's for the same reason.

"Sorry for that," he sniffles wiping his eyes as he tries to regain his composure, swallowing hard with guilt. "We should get going... I don't wanna be late."

You remind him that there is no need to apologize and that he can take the time to splash some water on his face to help him recollect before leaving.

Frankie doesn't say a word other than to Molly and the girls, apologizing for their loss. Throughout the priest's religious ceremony of easing words, Benny's apathetic eyes are glued to Tom's casket set in front of the church between his military portrait and a beautiful arrangement of white flowers. During Will's heartfelt eulogy, Santiago keeps his head lowered as the guilt consumes him.

The grift and sadness during the wake only follow and weigh heavier during the long walk to the gravesite, lingering among the guests of the funeral like a dark cloud. It's only reflected in depths by the light rain pitter-pattering all around.

The military traditions at the funeral leave a bitter tinge of irony in the boys as they watch Tom's casket lowering into the ground.

Tess's happy big doey eyes are now swollen and red as she cries under her mother's arm, hugging the folded flag as if it were her dad, while Molly holds her other and youngest daughter under the other arm.

Looking over at Will, you see that he's trying his hardest to keep his strong facade as well as the boys.

You slide your hand into his and whisper to remind him he's not alone and doesn't have to feel alone.

With a gentle squeeze to your hand, he nods.

"You with me?"

"I'm with you."

You and Will - as well as the guys and Tom's family - are the last to leave, reminding Molly that you're more than willing to help with anything.

Will, however, lingers a moment to speak to her private and tells her about the fund. You can tell from her reaction, she's genuinely surprised and thankful, relieved to know that she'll be able to pay for the funeral.

Having called your boss the previous day to let them know you wouldn't be going to work due to the funeral, you take the rest of the day off to recover from the overwhelming day after the funeral.

The drive home is quiet save for the rain against the car and the windshield, echoing into the vehicle which you insisted on driving to give Will some mental ease. He didn't put up a fight. He was quite relieved you'd offered.

In spite of being eager to understand how he's doing, you refuse to burden him with constant questions and decide to respect his mourning process. So, you keep a hand on his thigh to remind you're in this together.

He doesn't mind it at all. In fact, he is grateful for your respect and your thoughtfulness. His hand rests over yours and doesn't leave until you have to pull your hand back to turn the steering wheel, but it finds it's way back onto his leg, warm fully welcomed by his engulfing hand.

As you're undressing in your room, Will's hand catches yours while you're unzipping your dress.

"Thanks... I don't know about you, but I'd say this weather is perfect cuddling weather," you share letting the dress hang loosely off your shoulders.

Will smiles shyly as if you'd read his mind and locks his arms around your waist.

"I couldn't agree more."

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Alice Speri at The Guardian:

In 2020, Donald Trump signed an executive order against “race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating” which would have set the stage for sweeping attacks on diversity initiatives in the public sphere. In January 2021, on his first day in office, Joe Biden rescinded Trump’s anti-DEI order and signed one promoting “racial equity and support for underserved communities”. Now Trump is returning to office, he expected to restore his directive and double down on it. The people that run diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public and private institutions are expecting mass crackdown. Project 2025 has labeled them “woke culture warriors” and pledged to wield the full force of the federal government against their efforts to create a more equitable society. Trump and his advisers have already threatened the funds and accreditation of universities they have labeled the “enemy”, and pledged to dismantle diversity offices across federal agencies, scrap diversity reporting requirements and use civil rights enforcement mechanisms to combat diversity initiatives they see as “discrimination”.

The multi-pronged attack is certain to be met with major legal challenges, but while they prepare for those, advocates warn about the ripple effects of an administration declaring war on inclusivity efforts. “The concern is the bigger footprint and symbol,” said Nina Ozlu Tunceli, chief counsel of government and public affairs at Americans for the Arts. “Federal policies do have a domino effect on other states, on foundations, on individual donors.” Last week, Walmart became the latest in a series of high-profile companies to announce a rollback of its diversity initiatives following a campaign of legal challenges by conservative groups. Other businesses and institutions small and large are trying to keep a low profile to avoid becoming the target of anti-DEI campaigns, those who work with them say. There are already concerns that institutions fearful of losing funding or facing lawsuits may overcorrect and dial back their programmes before they are required to do so, advocates warn.

A climate of fear

Even before Trump was re-elected, “educational gag orders” seeking to limit discussion of race and LGBTQ+ issues in school classrooms had been introduced in at least 46 states. Last spring, conservative legislators linked campus protests against the war in Gaza to DEI initiatives. Virginia Foxx, the chair of the House committee on education and the workforce, told the presidents of several colleges that her committee would be “steadfast in its dedication to attacking the roots of antisemitic hatred, including anti-Israel DEI bureaucracies”. Questioning by Foxx’s committee ultimately led to several resignations by college presidents.

“That just got everyone terrified, including private university presidents who previously had been pretty brave about these things,” said Jeremy Young, director of the Freedom to Learn programme at the free speech group PEN America. “It was just this sense that, they’re coming, they’re headhunting for leaders, and you just have to do everything they say or they’re going to fire you or they’re going to cut your budget.” Even where no laws have been passed, a broad fear of repercussions has prompted some campus leaders to cut back on DEI initiatives, noted Young. “A number of states have engaged basically in jaw-boning, where the lawmakers will go up to a university president and encourage them or threaten them to close their diversity office while dangling a threat of funding cuts or passing a law the following year,” he said. “So we’re seeing universities trying to comply with these restrictions, or with these threats, even though there’s no law compelling them to do so.”

Young cited the University of Missouri, for instance, where campus leaders in July dissolved its division of inclusion, diversity and equity citing nationwide measures against DEI even though no such law was passed in the state. In Texas, where state law does ban DEI offices but exempts academic course instruction and scholarly research, the University of North Texas system began scrutinising course materials in search for references to DEI, in what Young called an example of overcompliance and a “complete overreaction”. It’s a domino effect that anti-DEI activists are exploiting, for instance by sowing confusion about the 2023 supreme court ruling, which was fairly narrow but is sometimes cited as evidence that all DEI initiatives in higher education are illegal, said Leah Watson, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Racial Justice Programme, where she focuses on classroom censorship. “We are very concerned about the broad chilling effect, and we see conservatives misrepresenting the status of the law in order to further the chilling effect,” Watson said. “Overcorrections are happening, and things are being cut that don’t have to be cut.”

[...]

The new administration

Going forward, the Trump administration is “likely to be the most virulent anti-DEI administration that we’ve seen”, said David Glasgow, the executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, which helps institutions navigate an array of recent legislative restrictions on diversity work.

With the Trump Administration set to announce a heavy crackdown on diversity initiatives, many colleges are obeying in advance by eliminating or scaling back such initiatives.

[electronickingdomfox]

"The Tears of the Singers" review

Novel from 1984, by Melinda Snodgrass. A very romance-focused novel, distinctive for having Uhura as a main character. She gets in a love relationship with a virtuoso composer, who will be the key to resolve the problem at hand: deciphering the musical language of a new species, to warn them about their impending doom. The other romantic couple in the book is most unexpected: the Klingon general Kor (from Errand of Mercy) and his recent wife.

The narrative is fine, though the central section of the novel plods a bit, and there's no major development for several chapters, with characters going in circles around the same problems. The solution to the central mystery is also, in my opinion, quite predictable since at least half of the novel. Music is, of course, a central theme in the story. And I think the narrative did a good job of capturing its elusive nature, specially at the end. There's also a kind of environmentalist message, since the new aliens (the Taygetians or Singers) are very similar to seals, and are being slaughtered by greedy hunters. The Federation comes off as quite unsympathetic, because it seems to be totally okay with this as long as the Taygetians are considered just "unintelligent animals". (Come on! I would have expected them to be more respectful of animals, intelligent or not, by the 23rd century. They're only killing them to collect some stupid jewels, after all!). Also, I wonder if the writers of The Voyage Home took some inspiration from this book, since humpback whales are said to be extinct...

As for characters, Guy Maslin (Uhura's love interest) gets a good development. He starts as a snobbish, self-centered celebrity, and progresses to a brave man, willing to sacrifice himself for a good cause, despite his physical frailty. Uhura is portrayed as strong, caring and determined, but I don't think the reader gets to know much more about her than what's already present in the series: she sings, she likes music, she's sometimes torn between her duty to Starfleet and her desire of a family... You know, the usual. In fact, the portrayal of female characters (specially Kor's wife) is rather sexist, for the standards of other novels of this era. On the other hand, the triumvirate gets a more secondary role compared with Uhura and Maslin. Spock is a bit fastidious sometimes; he tends to present objections to everything, even when he doesn't have a better suggestion (shut up, Spock!). But McCoy bounces on his feet, which is great. And Kirk defeats a guy, in one of his famous hand-to-hand combats, by kicking him in the balls, which is... great as well.

Overall, it was a decent novel, though I wouldn't count it among my favorites.

Spoilers under the cut:

A space-time warp is eating starships in the Taygeta system, and it seems the warp is quickly expanding, so the Enterprise cancels all shore leaves and is tasked with investigating it. The only inhabited planet in the system is home to some seal-like beings, who spend their whole lives singing. They're currently being hunted for their precious crystal tears, which they shed upon dying, since they're considered simple animals. But Spock is convinced that their musical language is proof of a higher intelligence, and that investigating it may cast some light on the nature of the space warp. However, deciphering such a complex language would require the skills of a really talented musician.

Fortunately (or unfortunately for the guy), there's just such a musician in their current starbase: Guy Maslin. Uhura had attented his concert, and a bit by chance, she ended up on a date with him. The guy is quite a jerk, and very dismissive of the military, but Uhura holds her ground. And despite their continous bantering, it's obvious there's a growing attraction between them (you know, they're just like Spock and McCoy). However, Maslin's opinion of Starfleet doesn't improve much when he's forcefully recruited into the Enterprise to help with the Taygeta problem. Some of his criticisms are kind of fun, since they reflect what many viewers of the series must have thought at times; like why is Kirk always going down with the landing party, instead of taking care of his ship... Anyway, the guy is determined to hate every second of this forced mission. But Kirk insists on bringing him, even after learning he's suffering from a serious illness, that gets much worse with stress and overwork.

During the trip to Taygeta, Uhura and Maslin start falling in love despite all their discussions. Maslin is a pale, sickly little man, and often insufferable, so not your average love interest. And Uhura seems the only one who can deal with him. It's fine that the romance gets development and is treated with seriousness for a change. Compared with Kirk's romances (actually quite infrequent so far: only in three novels), which never get beyond the very initial stages and feel pretty shallow.

Upon arriving in Taygeta, the Enterprise is greeted by two Klingon ships, tasked with a similar mission. But those ships are commanded by Kor, who still has much admiration for Kirk, and a sort of Klingon honor. So they make a truce to collaborate in the investigation of the warp. Spock has the theory that everything is related to the Singers, and for the following days, Maslin tries to crack their music to no avail. The adult Singers never leave their grottos, and sing a continous melody, while the cubs are really cute and friendly to humans. At this point, the only result of Maslin's analysis is that the adults' song presents gaps in the structure, as if some instruments were missing. The landing party also observes a strange phenomenon among the cubs: tons of fish leap out the sea, the cubs sing a different melody, and the fishes are magically transported to the grottos, for the adults to eat. Besides, the Enterprise scanners notice that the planet's terrain is continually shifting, with forests appearing where there was previously a desert, and viceversa.

Maslin keeps working on the music, each time more involved with the mission, despite the aggravation of his symptoms and Uhura's worries about his health. Meanwhile, Kor's wife (Kali) suspects his husband's first officer is conspiring to take his place. And she starts getting closer and friendlier with the humans. Kali also discovers a group of hunters stranded on the planet and killing Taygetians. So Kor and Kirk beat the bastards and put them in the brig.

At last, the landing party begins to understand some of the strange phenomena. The cubs' singing has the property to manipulate the environment at their will. While the adults' song, with its gaps due to the hunters killing them, is causing the warp in space. When the Klingon learn about this reality-altering power, they decide to use the Taygetians for their own benefit. They betray Kor and the humans, and while the landing party battles them on ground, Kirk faces the Klingon ships from the Enterprise. Outnumbered, Kirk sees no other solution than luring the enemy ships into the warp, and they all disappear into another dimension.

Maslin is over-exerted after the battle on the surface, and very much in the throes of death, but wants to complete his magnum opus. Having deciphered at last the Taygetians' language, and using Uhura as a singer, they ask the cubs for help. With their powers, the creatures are able to recover the lost ships, and they transport Kor back to his starship, where he kills the traitor and ends the mutiny. Then Kirk and the others are granted an audience with the Taygetian matriarch. And through a mixture of music and telepathic contact, they convince her of the necessity of stopping the song at once. The adults had been singing continually since three thousand years ago, to protect their planet from a nova. The radiation, however, is gone by now, so there's no more need for the song, which is in fact ripping the dangerous warp in space. The Taygetians stop singing, and the warp disappears. But right then, Maslin dies in Uhura's arms (not very surprising, considering the fate of those who enter into a serious relationship with anyone from the regular crew...).

In the end, the Federation offers diplomatic relations to the Taygetians, now free of the burden of keeping the song. And Uhura deals with the loss of her lover.

Spirk Meter: 7/10*. Only brief moments, but rather blatant. Kirk watches Spock's "slender fingers" caressing a chess piece, and reflects on how much he has missed him, remembering Edith Keeler's words about how Spock belongs to his side. Later, Kirk is getting dressed in his cabin with Spock present (he came from the gym, which means he was walking around showing his tits as usual). When the Enterprise disappears inside the warp, Spock is sure that Kirk is alive, since he still feels his bond with him. And when Kirk is momentarily lost in the telepathic link with the Taygetian matriarch, he feels reassurance in Spock's "strong and beloved touch".

Besides this, Kor appears in the novel, so you know what that means... And this time, his hate-love for Kirk is more like love-love. He defends Kirk against the Klingon factions that wish to destroy the humans, and is quite willing to collaborate with him. Kor also expresses often his admiration for Kirk. And it's obvious he's been pestering his wife about how awesome Kirk is, during these past years. It doesn't help that the narrative presents some of his officers as "handsome" or "elegant", when writing from Kor's point of view.

Also, we have this little gem from McCoy:

"Spock, you're just beggin' for a physical. A complete physical."

Sounds... hmmm... invasive.

*A 10 in this scale is the most obvious spirk moments in TOS. Think of the back massage, "You make me believe in miracles", or "Amok Time" for example.

[theresattrpgforthat]

Theme: Star Trek Scifi

I run a Lancer game that basically set on DS9 but I was wondering if there were other games out there that focus on the interstellar exploration, political intrigue and action in a post-scarcity interstellar society.

THEME: Star Trek Scifi (Part 2!)

Hello friend! I have another recommendation post with some great Star-Trek inspired RPGS that I encourage you to check out, but here’s a few I didn’t advertise last time!

Star Journeys, by Small Wallet Studios.

Star Journeys: Go Bravely Beyond is a one-page tabletop RPG based on episodic space opera experiences like some of your favourite science fiction shows!  Grab a couple of friends and pick up a copy to play with a few dice and minimal prep.

You are an adventurer exploring the mysteries of deep space. What wonders and challenges are in store? These are the journeys of your starship so bravely go find out!

This is a very quick, very small, very lightweight one-page rpg with just enough flavour to remind you of Star Trek. It’s meant to be lighthearted, rather than exploratory, but it’s great if you want a quick pick-up game and you don’t want to drop a bunch of $$ on something you’ll only play once. There’s also a free adventure called Quick Hops if you want something extra to throw at your play group.

Federation, by Rogue Comet.

Federation is a short and sweet sci fi tabletop RPG where you boldly explore space in the final frontier. Do you like settings like Star Trek, Galaxy Quest, or Orville? This game emulates them all with a minimum of fuss. In five minutes you can read the rules and be playing the game with your friends.

This game is based on Jason Tocci's CC-BY 4.0 24XX SRD. It is by nature a simple game which requires trust in your GM. For even more information about the 24XX series of games, check out the original 2400 game by Jason Tocci. 

24XX games are descended from OSR, so I’d expect more tools available for combat in this game, but there’s more pieces in character creation that I’ve seen in other 24XX games, as well as a unique mechanic called Bonds, that encourages characters to roleplay together to help each-other in upcoming rolls. If your group picks up on this, you’ll likely get some neat roleplaying moments.

Wormholes & Warp Drive, by Wandering Pine Press.

In a galaxy filled with advanced alien societies, many work together as one in the Coalition of Interplanetary Lifeforms (COIL). The Lattice, a network of wormholes, is the key to interstellar travel and commerce. But when the flow of a rare and precious resource is cut off, COIL and the Lattice that binds it together is in peril.

As crew members of Lattice Terminus X7Z, you find yourself in a desperate situation. Isolated and critically low on supplies, you must find a way to re-stabilize the wormhole before resources are depleted. Can you find a way to save the Lattice, or will your failure seal the fate of everyone who lives and works on your station?

This is a game directly inspired by Deep Space 9, as well as Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, and Babylon 5. Space is rich, diverse, and full of life, but your dependance on certain elements of space is tenuous and there are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong. This game is part of a larger volume of one-shot games, all of which are designed to be zero-prep, GM-less, and one-page. This would be a great one-shot for exploring a part of your current campaign that focuses on a different or specific part of the universe - especially if you replace the Wormhole with Blink Gates!

Outward Bound, by Penflower Ink. 

In this game you'll play as one of the six alien species that form the Interplanetary Union, a decentralised space-faring community based on cooperation, exploration and the sharing of knowledge. As citizens of the Union, you have arrived in the Teyn Belt, an asteroid belt permeated by a strange field of unpredictable transformative energy, called 'the Tide'. Explore the belt, find and study new anomalies and maybe even establish first contact with new alien species arriving in Teyn.

Using Four Points, quickly make a character by choosing your Species and area of expertise, then you're ready to start exploring!

This game probably has less political intrigue built into it but when it comes to exploration, you’ve got it in boatloads! The game designer also likes focusing on community and mutual care in their games, so expect a post-scarcity society in this game as well. The designer for this game is also an artist, so expect some really fantastic art inside this book as well.

[mariacallous]

In March, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of complicity in the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children (a war crime). According to Lvova-Belova herself, 700,000 Ukrainian children have been transported to Russia since February 2022, including 1,500 who allegedly ended up in orphanages. Media reports indicate others have been placed in foster homes or been “adopted” into Russian families. In a new investigation, the independent outlet iStories identified several Ukrainian children being held in Russian orphanages and uncovered how they’re being “reeducated” and taught the “patriotic values” of their “new homeland.” Meduza is publishing an English-language version of the story.

A new homeland

Valeria stands on the stage of an orphanage in Nizhny Novgorod, dressed in a traditional Russian folk costume. She’s performing for a Russian Unity Day celebration. “We are [one] people, and we are united — together we are invincible!” she recites. The teachers praise her and the other children for their “good knowledge of the history of the big and little Homeland.”

Valeria’s homeland is Ukraine. She, her siblings, and other orphaned children were taken from the occupied Donetsk region following Russia’s full-scale invasion. Their profiles are included in Russia’s federal orphan database, where Russians can look for children to foster or adopt. iStories estimates that by summer 2023, there may have been nearly 2,500 orphaned and unaccompanied Ukrainian children in this database. All of them, like Valeria, are taught to love their “new homeland.”

In February, a year after Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Naryshkino orphanage solemnly unveiled a memorial plaque in honor of one of its graduates: Ramis Isaenko. In fall 2022, he enlisted in Wagner Group from a prison where he was serving out a sentence. Two months later, he died in Ukraine. “He fought for the freedom of the ‘LNR’ [the self-proclaimed ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’] and died a brave death on the battlefield, showing courage and valor,” the plaque reads. It makes no mention of his criminal history.

Isaenko had three convictions: for stealing, buying drugs, and failing to pay alimony. He first went to prison in 2017, on drug charges. In 2020, he tried to steal from a store and got a suspended sentence, but six months later he was back on trial for a series of car battery thefts. Isaenko was given four years in a high-security prison. After his death, his record was expunged due to “pardon and death.” Isaenko was already a combat veteran when he received his first conviction. By the second, he was under the care of an addiction specialist and seeing a psychologist for “disturbing changes in personality.”

While Isaenko was at war in Ukraine, nearly 60 children from the Donetsk region were brought to his orphanage. A few months later, they took part in the unveiling ceremony for his memorial plaque — a plaque honoring a man who fought against their country.

At the Naryshkino orphanage, great attention is paid to patriotic education. The children regularly meet with a Soviet–Afghan War veteran turned priest, who tells them about “true patriotism” and “the feats of the holy defenders of Rus’” whom “the Lord called to service.” The students dedicated a “hero’s desk” to a graduate who died in Afghanistan, celebrated Russian Flag Day, met officials from the Russian Federal Protective Service, Interior Ministry, Prosecutor’s Office, and Federal Security Service (FSB). Children who have suffered through the devastation of Russian aggression were made celebrate “Reunification Day” (a new holiday marking Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories) and listen to stories from active military personnel (orphanage alumni) about their “feats” in the war against Ukraine.

iStories identified seven children at the school who’d been taken from the Donetsk region and attended these “patriotic” events. They’re all listed in the Russian federal orphan database. One of them was ceremoniously given a Russian passport on their 14th birthday.

In October, the Naryshkino orphanage was under threat of closure. The staff appealed to Putin with a request to save the institution. “We currently house children brought from the Donetsk People’s Republic. These children have been so united by a common tragedy and constant relocations that they live as one big family, helping and caring for each other as if they were real brothers and sisters. Moreover, many of them are indeed blood relatives,” the petition read.

The management forwarded questions about the orphanage’s closure and the fate of the children to the regional education department. At this writing, there was still no response.

A new family

In October 2022, at least nine new pupils from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine arrived at the Trajectory Center, an orphanage primarily for children with special needs. At the center, students write letters of encouragement to soldiers fighting in the “special military operation.” Some of these letters read, “Our dear heroes, defenders, we’re proud of you! Thank you for your courage. There’s nothing stronger than the heart of a soldier! The strength and spirit of the Russian people is with you!”

iStories was able to identify three of the children at the Trajectory Center taken from Ukraine’s Donetsk region. All of them are up for adoption, not just guardianship. Unlike guardians, adoptive parents receive the same rights as biological parents and can change the child’s name and personal information. It would be extremely difficult for relatives to get deported children back if they’ve been adopted.

Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova has repeatedly emphasized that Russians cannot adopt children from annexed territories. (Although she herself “adopted” a teenager from Mariupol.) It’s unclear why children taken to Trajectory are up for adoption; the center told iStories that some of them were placed under guardianship.

The center teaches the deported children to be true “patriots.” The director, Dmitry Batishchev, also heads the regional branch of the pro-war “We don’t abandon our own” movement. The children help weave camouflage nets, make trench candles, and collect socks and balaclavas, all of which the movement sends to Russian military personnel. They also send video messages to the soldiers thanking them for their service, wishing them victory, telling them the “truth” is on their side, and praising Russia as a bastion of “hope, compassion, military valor, and honor.”

Russian authorities don’t believe these kinds of activities are harmful to children who were taken from occupied territories. On the contrary, Lvova-Belova says that “it’s important to understand that the ‘DNR’ and ‘LNR’ territories have been shelled by the Ukrainian army for many years, and most of the orphaned children from the republics’ social institutions are aware of this.” According to her, “the children don’t see Russia as an enemy: they expect protection and assistance from it, so being placed in safe Russian [adoptive and foster] families isn’t a traumatic experience for them.”

[demonangelgirl134]

Wonder girl

This is the first ever oc I created when I was ten Wonder Girl that I thought I'd finally share.

Name: Wonder Girl

Real name: Penelope Lynn Prince

Age: 15

Gender: Female

Sexuality: bisexual

Location: New York city

Place of Birth: Polas 23

Occupation: Superhero

Secret identity job: Student/cheerleader

Favorite color: bright blue

Nationality: American

Species: humanoid alien

Character trait: Good

Personality:

Kind

Brave

Smart

leadership

Level headed

Caring

Determined

A force to be reckoned with

Powers and abilities:

Flight

Invulnerability

Super strength

Heat ray vision

Immortality

Supercomputer brain

Super speed

Quick reflexes

Supersight

Accessories:

Lazer/bulletproof bracelets

Utility belt

Lasso of truth

Physical characteristics:

Is great at sports

mainly uses her superpowers for combat but still uses her weapons

Has great leadership skills

Is great with machines

Is a great hacker

Has a great judge of character

skin is sensitive to certain types of face paint

Can't wear a mask because it gives her rashes from her sweat and the rubbing against her skin

Likes:

Keeping people safe

Protecting the city

Cheerleading

Spending time with friends

Adventure

Drawing

Helping people in need

Staying healthy

Inventing

Asking questions first and throwing punches later

Dislikes:

Evil

Seeing her friends fight

People getting hurt

Having to hurt people regardless if they're a criminal or not

When criminals don't just give up and surrender

When people argue

Faults:

Has a habit of helping anyone no matter what they've done

Fears: losing her friends

Friends:

Adrian Wayne (Voidz)

Volt the husky pomeranian terrier (Electrodog)

Crimson the mutant Cardinal (Elastabird)

Crisp the Element dragon (Dragon Dude)

Alexa Roseville

Everyone in the city who isn't a villain

Everyone in school

Frenemies:

Robin

Enemies:

Vanessa Luther (Black Knight)

Victor Wayne (Dr. Vortex)

Freezio

Icey

Any Villains

Family members:

Diana prince/Wonder Woman (adoptive mother)

Clark Kent/Super Man (adoptive father)

Queen Elisa (deceased biological mother)

King Endozeo (deceased biological father)

Vanessa Luther/Black Knight (twin half-sister)

Backstory:

Penelope Prince was born on Polas 23, an alien planet where everyone has godlike superpowers, where she was the firstborn princess and was adored by her parents. But on her first birthday, the planet's arch-enemy the Zeirkeks attacked. Her parents decided to save her instead of themselves by putting her and her twin sister in two separate space pods and sending them to Earth where Penelope was adopted by Wonder Woman and Superman, her sister however grew up in a federal prison and was raised by Lex Luther. As Penelope grew older and started going to school, she began to feel more and more different since she was the best student in all her classes and everyone was jealous of her, and almost like she had no purpose. But then, everything changed when she was in 5th grade, a school lockdown took place when a criminal with a gun came into her classroom and she saves the whole school from them with her superpowers, it turned out, she had solved the crime of the century and everyone began to love her, and she had finally found her true purpose. From that day on, Penelope kept the city safe from any harm and thus became Wonder Girl

[topsportsasia]

Istanbul, Turkiye's Ibo Aslan TKOs Raffael Cerqueira at 'UFC 308' in Abu Dhabi, UAE

“The Last Ottoman” Ibo Aslan, 28, of Istanbul, Turkiye has fought two Ultimate Fighting Championship fights and won both. Before joining the mixed martial arts promotion based in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, he competed in Austrian Fight Challenge, BRAVE Combat Federation, Vendetta Austria, Tosan Fight Night and Sparta Championship Fighting. On August 24, 2020, Anton Turkalj of Gothenburg,…

[valetparkingservicescompany]

Stay Connected. Download the BRAVE TV App

BRAVE Combat Federation is the most global MMA promotion in the world, organizing MMA fights in what is now a world-record 32 different countries.

BRAVE CF TV offers the best global MMA, Martial Arts and Entertainment experience to its fans.

Enjoy MMA Fighting and other martial arts content along with interviews, podcasts, docu-series and more with BRAVE CF TV, some content is FREE to WATCH and some at a very affordable subscription in your region.

New events and programming updated on a monthly basis from BRAVE CF and partner events, never leaves a dull moment for the fans of the sport.

Download now and dive into the electrifying world of MMA and Martial Arts, brought to you by BRAVE CF TV. Your ultimate entertainment hub awaits!

 President of BRAVE®CF since its inception as well as KHK MMA CEO, Mohammed Shahid created the world’s most rapidly expanding organization under His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s guidance. Shahid, a former MMA athlete, is now striving to better the sport and its athletes with the leadership’s backing, taking Bahrain MMA to new heights. In July 2021, the World MMA Awards nominated BRAVE®Combat Federation for the first time ever as the Official Mixed Martial Arts Promotion of the Year

.

BRAVE MMA Fights are aired through multiple media partners including Dazn, Okko, Fighting.de, Bahrain TV, LookSport, O2 TV, Fight Network, Meta and Youtube among others. The organization set up multiple MMA gyms across the Kingdom of Bahrain and is looking to expand into other territories to get the fan closer to the sport. The MMA Super Cup, established in 2022, is the only global competitive country vs country platform for amateur MMA Athletes. In 2022, BRAVE®Combat Federation released the BRAVE TV App. Accessible on mobile, web and smart TV, it offers free BRAVECF fights, BRAVE®CF Live events, MMA updates, BRAVE®CF Fighter roster and more. 

The streaming service is set to become one of the premier MMA streaming apps, with both free fights and pay per view events. The organization has achieved an industry-best in martial arts events and left a lasting effect in each country visited. It has raised the local MMA environment in places like India, Jordan, Indonesia, Colombia, etc. and connected them to the global mixed martial arts network.

Contract us:

Address: BAHRAIN

Phone:+973 1700 0038

Email: info@bravecf.com

Socail link:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bravemmaf/

Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/bravemmaf/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/bravemmaf

Twitter: https://x.com/bravemmaf

[iptv-pro-imter]

aduire du texte avec votre appareil photo Khamza Khizarovich Chimaev[2][11][12] (Chechen: Khizar voa hamzat; Russian: Хамзат Хизарович Чимаев;[13] born May 1, 1994)[14] is a Russian fighter of Chechen ethnicity who competes in the weight class Average and weight Heavy in the UFC.[15] He previously participated in the Brave Combat Federation.[16] Shamaev is a three-time Swedish national champion.[17] She is ranked as of May 9, 2023, No. 4 in the final welterweight rankings.

The next fight on IPTV channels, do not miss the opportunity to subscribe, https://wa.me/33605726671 https://setiptvfrance.com/ https://franceiptv.com/

Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, announced that the upcoming “UFC FIGHT NIGHT” fight will be held between champion Hamza Chimaev and former champion Robert Whittaker, in the main fight within the Integrated Martial Arts Championship, on Saturday, June 22, 2024. This event is the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the “UFC FIGHT NIGHT” fight is held for the first time on the Kingdom’s soil, which constitutes a milestone in the Saudi sports process and its support for combat sports.

The main fight will witness an exciting confrontation between Chimaev, nicknamed the “Chechen Wolf,” and Whittaker, the former middleweight champion, in a fight that is expected to be decisive in the careers of both of them. Chimaev is considered one of the UFC's brightest stars at the moment, while Whittaker has extensive experience in mixed martial arts.

[conandaily2022]

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Erko Jun knocks out Mohamed Said Maalem in Slovenia

“The Bounty Hunter” Erko Jun, 33, of Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina has earned yet another BRAVE Combat Federation victory. The Bosnian mixed martial artist was one of the winners at “BRAVE CF 81” in Ljubljana, Slovenia on April 20, 2024. Mohamed Said Maalem, Declan Larkin, Erko Jun (©BRAVE CF) Erko Jun knocks vs Mohamed Said Maalem Featuring eight MMA matches, “BRAVE CF 81” was held at Hala…

[mint-moon25]

MAIN - LIBRARY - HAS - HACKERS - ATTACKING

MIAMI - POLICE - IN HOUSE - ARMED SERVANTS

OF - FLORIDA - 27TH - STATE - 14TH - VIOLATED

‘NO - US - STATE - CAN - DEPRIVE - OR - DENY

ANY - PERSON - OF - LIFE - OR - LIBERTY’ - THE

RIGHT - 2 - SLEEP - EAT - DRINK - IN - PUBLIC

PLACES - PAID - BY - FEDERAL - TAX - LIKE THE

MAIN - LIBRARY - $500,000 - MAX - FINE - AND OR

IMPRISONMENT - PER - INCIDENT - EACH - DAY

THEY’VE - BEEN - OPEN - 4 - BUSINESS

NOW - NO - LATE - FEES - BUT - WASN’T

LIKE - THAT - EXTENDED - MY - REGULAR BOOK

NICHOLAS SPARKS - ‘THE - NOTEBOOK’ - FROM

16 DECEMBER - 2 - 16 JAN 2024 - HAD - 2 - YES

RETURN - MY - LARGE - PRINT - EDITION - GOT

3 BOOKS - 4 - THANKSGIVING - WEEK - BUT DID

NOT - READY - ANY - SO - MANY - ILLEGAL ACTS

THAT - AFFECTED - ME - BUT - LOVING - THE

REMOVAL - OF - TENT - WEEKDAYS - LOVING

THAT - MORE - AND - MORE - MY - TENT - HAS

BEEN - RESPONDING - 2 - MY - TOUCH - I’VE

BEEN - USING - 2 ROPES - 2 - GO - 2 - THE

MIDDLE - HOLE - 2 - KEEP - NEAR - 4 - THE

STRONGEST - WINDS - AS - COUNTY - EMPLOYEES

TRIED - 2 - PUT - ME - INSIDE - MY - $799.99 - TENT

PLANNED - ON - PUTTING - ME - SIDEWAYS - OF THE

FENCE - SO - BIKINI - GIRLS - CAN - WALK - BY - SO

$25 - $45 - CONSTRUCTION - MALE - WORKERS CAN

AND - BIKERS - CAN - WALK - ON - SIDEWALKS - YES

SOLELY - FR - 5:40A - MONDAYS - 2 - FRIDAYS - THUS

2 - GET - OUT - SMALL - COMBAT - KNIFE

COUNTY - HISPANICS - AND - BLKS - THEY - BROKE

2 - POLES - LONG - LENGTH - BOTH - SIDES - THEY

KNOW - AMAZON - PRIME - OVER - $17 - FOR - YES

ONLY - 17 FEET - TENTS - THE - POLES - 2 - REPLACE

BUT - HUMAN - STRENGTH - THE - BOTTOMS - COME

100 MPH - OR - 200 MPH - HURRICANE - WINDS - AS

THE - TENT - UNRAVELS - WHEN - I - WAS - USING

BLK - CLAMPS - LOVE - 500 LBS - CARRIER - AND

6 WHEELS - THE - SECRET - BUT - EXTREMELY

LOUD - AT - TILES - OF - MAIN LIBRARY - AS - I

WALK - SLOW - NO - SOUND - CARPETS - INSIDE

MY - EBT - FOOD - STAMPS - TOMORROW - $76

AS - HOMELESS - 22NDs - FROM - 12THs - AND

$15 - MOSTLY - OVER - 8 YEARS - JUST - THAT

$76 - FR - DEMOCRAT - PRESIDENT - JOE BIDEN

WAS - $46 - FR - MEMORY - FR - OVER - $278 - AT

LEAST - HOMELESS - IN - MIAMI - NICE - EBT $$$

HACKERS - AT - MAIN - LIBRARY

SWITCH - 2 - BRAVE - BROWSER - FREE

MY - DEFAULT - THE - BEAUTIFUL - THEME

PURPLES - AT - TOP - MOZILLA - FIREFOX

FASTEST - PRETTIEST - BLOCKS - ADS 2

THE - NEW - FIREFOX - PLUS FREE APP

BRAVE - NOW - SLOWER - BUT - NOW I

AM - USING - WHILE - HACKER - ON THE

LOOSE - AT - MAIN - LIBRARY - A - BLK 

MALE - NOT - HISPANIC - CAN’T - BE 4

SMART - REQUIRED - HISPANICS ARE

NOT - THAT - SMART - SINCE - PRINCE

WILLIAM - THE - SMARTEST - OF THE

BRITISH - ROYALTY - THAT’s NOT YES

GOOD - I’M - MORE - INTELLIGENT THAN

HIM - THEN - MY - LIGHTNING - BRAIN 2

NOW - BOOST - INFINITE - USING

DOWNLOADS - OVER - 90 MBPS

SO - LIKE - THEY - CUT - ME OUT

COUNTY - KEPT - PUTTING - MY - TENT

ON - SIDES - THAT - THEY - SPLIT - TWO

POLES - MAJOR

GETTING - ORANGE - POP - UP - FOR

MIAMI - FLORIDA - NEEDS - POP - UP

TENT - BECAUSE - 75 MPH - WINDS R

SO - STRONG - TOSSING - UP - WHILE

HOLDING - IT - IS - BEST - THEN - YOU

TIE - THEM - UP - U - ONLY - NEED

YOURSELVES - DIY - WOMEN YES

THUS - LEAVING - IN - 1 HOUR FOR

THURSDAYS - 5P EST - B 4 - CHRISTMAS

IMPORTANT - THEIR - GIFTS - ALSO YES

SO - LEAVING - AT - 3:30P - WHILE - I’M

PUTTING - ALL - INSIDE - THEN AFTER

GOING - 2 - LA FITNESS - U - MUST

CONTINUE - TREADMILL - DANCE - WITH

ITZY - AESPA - LEILAH ISAAC - WORKOUT

WITH - BELLY - DANCE - AND - CHRISTA’s

CARDIO - BOXING - WITH - ELEVATED YES

TREADMILL - IT - WILL - CHANGE - YOUR

BODY - TEMPERATURES - WEARING MY

JEANS - SHORTS - WHILE - ALL - ARE FL

VISIBLY - FREEZING

ANIMATED - WEATHER - GETTING - THE

$9.99 - FOR - A - LIFETIME

THEN - REAL - TEMPERATURES

REAL - WINDS - MPH - BECAUSE

FREE - VERSION - SO - PEOPLE - WON’T

B - SCARED - 2 - GO - OUT - THEY - WILL

NOT - FEAR - THE - REAL - WEATHER IN

HURRICANE - STATES - THUS - WILL BE

LOOKING - 4 - ONE - MORE - LIBRARIAN

1 MORE - CHRISTMAS - GIFT

LOTTE - PINK - HELLO KITTY

CHOCOLATE - LOTTE PIE - SO - GOOD

12 - INDIVIDUALLY - WRAPPED COOKIES

ATE 2 - SO - GOOD - PLACED - IN - PINK

THE - SEE - THRU - BAGS - LIKE - FOUND

IN - WEDDINGS - WITH - MARSHMALLOW

FLAVORED - CHOCOLATE - COATED PIE

PINK - BOX - KEEPING - 4 - YEARS - GOT

AT - ROSS - DRESS - FOR - LESS

$4.99 - ADD - TAX - 7%

TUESDAYS - 55 AND OLDER - 10% - OFF

FLORIDA - OTHERS - IDENTIFICATION

CARD - CAMILLUS HOUSE - MAILING

ADDRESS - JESUS - IS - LORD

AGAIN - HAPPY HANUKKAH - JONGHYUN

SEASON’s - GREETINGS - SOUTH KOREA

[procrastinatorproject]

(I think those were my tags, actually 😅 No worries about the confusion, I just wanted to clarify, so you're not surprised why this random person is answering 😋)

Because onscreen STAR TREK media has almost always focused heavily on Starfleet, much of what little we see about civilian life in the Federation is defined oppositionally:

Aaahhh, I see what you're saying. Yes, that is a really good point, actually and very much applies to PIC S1. Many of the characters are massively defined by their relationship to Starfleet (Picard, Rios, Raffi) and the others can't escape it, either (Agnes thinking she works on behalf of Starfleet Security, the Fenris Rangers doing good work where Starfleet won't, etc.)

And then the new writers took what little distance we had to Starfleet in S1 and decide to throw it out of the window entirely for S2 & 3 and go back to "there is no life design worth pursuing that doesn't end with you in Starfleet" 🙃

I still think if the S1 writers had been allowed to continue their original story, writing the original characters, things may have turned out different. They might have brought some people into Starfleet in the end, but I think there's a decent chance they would have been more willing to offer up alternatives (though maybe that's just my wishful thinking speaking). I think it definitely would have been possible to have a story that moves beyond just working through its relationship to Starfleet and actually exploring the civilian life of these characters.

Just like I think the franchise could, if they were brave enough to finally move beyond nostalgia, have a show that's, say, a medical drama set at the Interspecies Medical Exchange. Maybe we have a handover from one of the established Starfleet crews and interactions with Starfleet do happen, not least because its such a huge organization that it would likely play a big part in people's lives. But at the end of the day, it's a medical drama set in the Star Trek universe, playing out a mix of hospital soap and space soap. I think the franchise could support that, even if that's maybe a bit naive 😅

To your other point:

[A]ny serious critique of Starfleet or the Federation as unsustainable, so if the story formulates any such critique (which PICARD also does repeatedly), it's either hand-waved away or simply dropped in short order.

Yes! I love season 1 of Picard with all my heart, but I am also conscious of its flaws and this is definitely a big one. They spend a lot of time in the early episodes deconstructing Picard, the Great Captain. They make it abundantly clear that his typical MO of Giving A Great Speech and centering himself and his morality and his worth and self-sacrifice isn't a sustainable, useful way to solve problems. (See: threatening to resign in protest, tearing down the "No Humans" sign on Vashti and acting like he knows how to combat entranched racial divisions in a place he hasn't been to in almost 20 years, etc.)

This is made clear repeatedly and I thought it was a really interesting and brave deconstruction of this Great Captain Narrative that we got especially in TNG (with the occasional nuance, yes, but still this at its core). And then they drop the ball on that when in the final episode, Picard saves the day by Making A Great Speech and cerntering himself by offering to sacrifice his life. Sir... the lesson you were supposed to learn was not "you need a better speech and even bigger self-sacrifice"......

So yeah, that's definitely one of the big flaws I see with season 1. And I wish we had gotten a chance to see how the writers were planning to handle the other critiques of the Federation and Starfleet we got in the first 10 episodes. Whether their own season 2 would have addressed the botched Romulan Rescue some more or looked more critically at the Synth Ban and the xB situation.

But instead, we got a change in direction and the new writers decided it was best to pretend none of the earlier story had ever happened, apart from a couple throwaway lines, mostly to be dirisive about it and make it abundently clear that anyone who liked season 1 (and then season 2) was an idiot.

So, looking at the whole show, your critique is incredibly justified and one of the many, many reasons why seasons 2 and 3 broke my heart so much I'm still struggling to recover from it.

Now, something very meaningful that @song-spero pointed out:

#to jump off of all of this #the structural problems of star trek are issues of GENRE and star trek's relation to it #sci-fi is descended from the travel narratives #specifically from travel narratives from the so-called age of exploration #as well as from the american frontier myth--two inherently imperial/colonial master narratives #to challenge the colonialism in star trek requires challenging sci-fi as a whole and trek's role in defining the genre #that's also why it is so hard (as procrastinatorproject notes) to have anti-imperialist star trek that is also a cash cow #genres have become part of branding#and to break genre conventions is to become unmarketable

I think Picard S1 (and, if we look at beta canon, The Last Best Hope) tried to deconstruct some of the genre staples (like the colonialism, cultural imperialism, and white savious tropes tied up in the Romulan Rescue Effort), but ultimately, but ultimately, they didn't stick the landing. And we'll never know if they'd eventually gotten there if they had been allowed to continue their vision, because then all of their efforts were unceremoniously scrapped.

But I think that's not inevitable! Star Trek as a franchise is big enough that I believe it could support a critical show like PIC s1 set out to be (or a show where Starfleet isn't the main character at all). Just not in this very particular moment in time, when the streaming industry is hyper profit-driven, to the point where extremely successfull and critically acclaimed shows are jettisoned for tax purposes, and where studios are even more dead set on playing it safe than has always been their wont.

Maybe, once this round of Trek shows collapses under the studio-imposed weight of nostalgia-wank and we get another decade to whet our appetites again, we'll find ourselves in a different media landscape that will make more room for the franchise to breathe again and actually explore how far we can push the boundaries of what Star Trek could mean.

Or maybe I'm just a bit too naive and optimistic. Who knows 😅 But then, that also feels very Star Trek.

When attempting to critique the values of a long-running franchise like STAR TREK, it's important to draw a distinction between superficial issues and structural ones.

"Superficial" in this sense doesn't mean "minor" or "unimportant"; it simply means that an issue is not so intrinsic to the premise that the franchise would collapse (or would be radically different) were it changed or removed. For example, misogyny has been a pervasive problem across many generations of STAR TREK media, which have often been characterized by a particular type of leering-creep sexism that was distasteful at the time and has not improved with age. However, sexism and misogyny are not structural elements of the TREK premise; one can do a STAR TREK story where the female characters have agency and even pants without it becoming something fundamentally different from other TREK iterations (even TOS, although there are certainly specific TOS episodes that would collapse if you excised the sexism).

By contrast, the colonialism and imperialism are structural elements — STAR TREK is explicitly about colonizing "the final frontier" and about defending the borders, however defined, of an interstellar colonial power. Different iterations of STAR TREK may approach that premise in slightly different ways, emphasizing or deemphasizing certain specific aspects of it, but that is literally and specifically what the franchise is about. Moreover, because STAR TREK has always been heavily focused on Starfleet and has tended to shy away from depicting life outside of that regimented environment, there are definite limits to how far the series is able to depart from the basic narrative structure of TOS and TNG (a captain and crew on a Starfleet ship) without collapsing in on itself, as PICARD ended up demonstrating rather painfully.

This means that some of the things baked into the formula of STAR TREK are obviously in conflict with the franchise's self-image of progressive utopianism, but cannot really be removed or significantly altered, even if the writers were inclined to try (which they generally are not).

What I find intensely frustrating about most modern STAR TREK media, including TNG and its various successors, is not that it can't magically break its own formula, but that writer and fan attachment to the idea of TREK as the epitome of progressive science fiction has become a more and more intractable barrier to any kind of meaningful self-critique. It's a problem that's become increasingly acute with the recent batch of live-action shows, which routinely depict the Federation or Starfleet doing awful things (like the recent SNW storyline about Una being prosecuted for being a genetically engineered person in violation of Federation law) and then insist, often in the same breath, that it's a progressive utopia, best of all possible worlds.

This is one area where TOS (and to some extent the TOS cast movies) has a significant advantage over its successors. TOS professes to be a better world than ours, but it doesn't claim to be a perfect world (and indeed is very suspicious of any kind of purported utopia). The value TOS most consistently emphasizes is striving: working to be better, and making constructive choices. Although this can sometimes get very sticky and uncomfortable in its own right (for instance, Kirk often rails against what he sees as "stagnant" cultures), it doesn't presuppose the moral infallibility of the Federation, of Starfleet, or of the characters themselves. There's room for them to be wrong, so long as they're still willing to learn and grow.

The newer shows are less and less willing to allow for that, and, even more troublingly, sometimes take pains to undermine their predecessors' attempts along those lines. One appalling recent example is SNW's treatment of the Gorn, which presents the Gorn as intrinsically evil (and quite horrifying) in a way they're not in "Arena," the TOS episode where they were first introduced. The whole point of "Arena" is that while Kirk responds to the Gorn with outrage and anger, he eventually concedes that he may be wrong: There's a good chance that the Gorn are really the injured party, responding to what they reasonably see as an alien invasion, and while that may be an arguable point, sorting it out further should be the purview of diplomats rather than warships. By contrast, SNW presents the Gorn as so irredeemably awful as to make Kirk's (chronologically later) epiphany at best misguided: The SNW Gorn are brutal conquerors who lay eggs in their captives (a gruesome rape metaphor, and in presentation obviously inspired by ALIENS) when they aren't killing each other for sport, and even Gorn newborns are monsters to be feared. Not a lot of nuance there, and no space at all for the kind of detente found in TOS episodes like "The Devil in the Dark."

[mariacallous]

Prigozhin’s feud with Russia’s Defense Ministry continues

Less than an hour before Putin’s Federal Assembly address, tycoon Evgeny Prigozhin complained (again) in angry voice messages shared on Telegram about the Russian military’s alleged decision to withhold ammunition from Wagner Group mercenaries now fighting to seize the last areas of Bakhmut:

“Why aren’t they giving Wagner Group ammo? […] Because a bunch of pseudo-military functionaries decided that this is their country and their people, and they decided that this people will die when it suits them, when it pleases them. […] Instead of doing their duty and supplying the needed ammo […], they’re sitting there, giggling in their offices, and trying to spin tales, calling up Telegram channels and saying, ‘Don’t use Prigozhin. Write that he’s eating the ammo or selling it to the Americans.’” Using their titles but not their names, Prigozhin even accused Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Army Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov of treason, saying their attempts to “destroy Wagner Group” by cutting off supplies can be “equated to treason at the moment when Wagner is fighting for Bakhmut, losing hundreds of its own fighters.”

In an apparent response, posted on Telegram hours later, Russia’s Defense Ministry insisted that it is supplying all Russian forces now advancing on Bakhmut and even overfulfilling ammo requests generally. “Volunteers” are brave and important to Russia’s war effort, the ministry acknowledged, before warning that sowing discord among Russia’s combatants “only aids the enemy.”

Not long thereafter, Prigozhin answered again, claiming that Wagner troops have received only 20 percent of the ammunition they need for combat missions. “Unlike the Defense Ministry […], I’m ready to present all documents (including the applications submitted and quantity received) to a military prosecutor’s office and counterintelligence branch of your choice,” Prigozhin declared. (Pro-war Telegram channels that often boost Prigozhin’s enterprises and agenda, like the infamous GREY ZONE, are also amplifying his complaints about insufficient military supplies.)

[conanaltatis]

How to livestream ‘Brave 24: London’ for free

How to livestream ‘Brave 24: London’ for free

Brave Combat Federation has a special gift in store for its loyal and passionate fan base. Titled “Brave 24: London,” the Bahrain-based mixed martial arts promotion’s first ever show in England will be available, live and free worldwide.

Brave CF will hold “Brave 24: London” on July 25, 2019 at the Copper Box Arena, inside the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in London, England. BRAVE CF TV will…

[thesportswarriors]

Brave 16: Full Fight Card Announced

Brave 16: Full Fight Card Announced

Brave 16: Full Fight Card Announced

Brave Combat Federation announced the full fight card for Brave 16. Brave 16 will take place at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE on 21st September, 2018 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The fight card features two major championship title fights. The main event features the Welterweight champion, Carlston Harris from…