#BR55

[dampfloks]

Dampflokomotiven 38 2267 (preußische P8) & 55 3345 (preußische G7.1)

Dampflokomotiven 38 2267 (preußische P8) & 55 3345 (preußische G7.1)

[whirligig-girl]

The S282 from the train sim game Derail Valley, interpreted as a prop built in the first two or three seasons of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends.

I tried to imagine how a prop builder would actually put something like this together on a children's TV series budget. Like the other original props, this one uses kitbashed parts from Marklin model trains as well as plastic card bodies and sculpted faces. The chassis is taken from a Marklin BR55 0-8-0 and the pilot and trailing wheels, and cylinders, modified from a Marklin BR78.

There are some design changes to make it just look more Thomas, like the thomas style headlamp, the flat prominent buffer beam, and the blocky red-sided footplate. The geometry has been simplified as it needed to be made out of folded, bent, and cut plastic card.

More details and alternate versions under the cut:

The actual locomotive as it appears in Derail Valley: Simulator. Note the much larger cylinders. They could have built more proportional cylinders--they did so when they built Murdoch in season 7, but I wanted it to fit in better with Henry and Gordon.

The valve gear shown is accurate to the BR55, not to the BR78 Gordon and Henry use nor the game model (which has much thicker rods)

Other details, like the air pump (not needed on sodor, which seems to use vacuum brakes), bell, and dynamo (again, not used on sodor) have been removed. The ladder detail on the running board has been simplified. A cowcatcher is not needed, but i kept it as more or less the only obviously foreign feature of the engine. The electric headlamp on the top of the S282's smokebox has been replaced with a white

The S282's tender is a four wheel tender on a pair of freight car trucks. The thomas version is a six wheel tender based on Gordon and Henry's.

The livery was changed to make it feel more Sodor. The sides of the running board were painted red, and red lining was added to the boiler bands, cab, and tender. And 282 was given as a number on the tender, in red-lined yellow text. The wheels retain the red paint of the model that contributed their wheels, but dulled a bit by weathering. The game model has black wheels with white walls and red counterweights, but that didn't look right with the small counterweights on most of the wheels and the one single large counterweight on the number three axle.

With so many red accents, the loco bears more than a passing resemblance to Hiro from the cgi series, though this is only a coincidence.

Here's a variant with a game-accurate livery. No striping, and the wheel spokes are black with white walls and red counterweights.

Here are squeaky clean versions of both liveries.

and here are NWR green, blue, and red variants. I actually made a texture pack for the previous major version of Derail Valley, before they updated the model and the UV maps changed. (obviously my texture pack did not go so far as to add faces)

Final variant, the ES&DT version. [sniff sniff] can you hear a guitar riff slowly building tempo?

[smashorpassobjects2]

[novankenn]

"Jaune Gets A Gun AU - Day 3" the Master Chief (Halo) - PT 1

Inspired by @howlingday's RU-JA-GUN-CON

(Yes, this one is WAY LONG overdue. My apologies)

Jaune: Can you guys put me... DOWN!

Ruby: Not until you give us your Arc's word...

Pyrrha: ... that you won't enlist in any more foreign militaries.

Jaune: Tina, Jinx... help me out...

Jinx: Nope.

Tiny Tina: I'm with the other girls on this one. Let's face it Baby-J your house husband material...

Emerald: I don't even really know you, and I agree with them.

Jaune: Wow, thanks for the votes of confidence, guys. Makes me really feel good deep down inside to find out... NONE of you have any faith in me!

Pyrrha: I have complete faith in you, Jaune. It's just that fighting a war is very different from defending civilians from grimm.

Ruby: You can totally be a bad-butt huntsman! I know it!

Jinx: I'm just going to let my husband-to-be, get himself killed. End of story.

Tiny Tina: J-Baby, people are always telling me I'm insane, and I don't see it, but that's besides the point... what was I going on about?

Emerald: To be honest (blushes) I just want to be smothered in your cleavage... do you think...

Pyrrha: Neither the time nor place.

Tiny Tina: Jeez, thirsty much?

Jinx: I could go for...

Ruby: This is a FILTH free-zone! There are children present.

Jaune: Um... can I get down now? I mean, we are almost at the food court. I wonder if that guy needs some help?

Pyrrha: What guy?

Jaune: Over there. The armoured guy talking to the blue woman on his wrist.

????: Cortana are you sure he's here?

Cortana: John, I am certain. He and those counterfeit weapons are somewhere around here.

John-117: You think you can narrow it down any further?

Cortana: I can try, but the digital infrastructure here is rather lacklustre and primitive.

John-117: Well, keep trying.

The girls set Jaune down, and he instantly walked over towards the armoured figure.

Jaune: Hello.

John-117: Hello. Can I help you?

Jaune: You seem like you could use some help. Is there anything I can do for you?

Cortana: John, he could know something or at least be able to narrow the search area.

John-117: Maybe you can. I'm looking for a very specific vendor, maybe you've seen him?

Jaune: Well, there are a lot of Vendors here. Can you be a little more specific?

John-117: Average height, bald, looks like a robot. Talks in a rather rambling or distracted manner?

The girls collected behind Jaune, each a little on edge, and worried that Jaune was going to get himself drafted or do something waifu-y again.

Jaune: Sounds familiar... (Snaps his fingers as something jumps into his thought process) I know him! He's the one selling all the cool rabbit themed weapons!

John-117: What now? Rabbit themed?

Jaune: Why are you looking for him? I mean, just by looking at you, you seem pretty well outfitted. I can understand wanting more gear, but...

Cortana: We believe he's selling counterfeit USMC weapons.

Ruby: How do you counterfeit a gun?

Cortana: We've been told that they are unlicensed and lower quality than the standard issue arms of the USMC.

Hearing "Standard Issue" had all the girls close in on Jaune, protectively.

Pyrrha: You said "counterfeit" guns. Like what?

John-117: This...

Ruby/Tiny Tina: IS that a BR55?

Cortana: It is. Are you familiar?

Ruby/Tiny Tina: Bullpup design with three fire modes. Semi, burst and full-auto. Most often used with the last two options. Overall length 89.9 centimetres, 36 round box magazine chambering 9.5x40mm M634 HP-SAP...

Everyone else in the group just blinks as their eyes start to glaze over...

John-117: You two know your stuff. This is the other weapon we believe he is selling...

Ruby/Tiny Tina: A M6G Magnum!

Emerald: Please make them stop.

Jaune: (Cutting in before Tiny Tina and Ruby could start rambling off statistics) I think we can help you. If it is the same guy I think, his name is Banshee-44 and he WAS near the main entrance yesterday.

(Somewhere with in the Convention... not near the main entrance...)

Bashee-44: Huh? Someone is talking about me... I think? Maybe? Doesn't matter... I have work to do.

[howlingday]

RU-JA-GUN-CON

Video Games:

(1) 2

- Final Fantasy: Gunblade /

- Halo: BR55 / ARC-920 / M6 / Carolina /

- Mass Effect: Thresher Maws / M-920 Cain / Phaeston / Blood Pack Punisher / Pistol Set / Hahne-Kedar /

- Devil May Cry: Blue Rose /Blue Rose II / Red Queen / Chevaliere / Ebony & Ivory / Yamato / Nevan / Balrog /

- Destiny: Red Death / Thorn / A Single Clap / The Dead Man's Tale /

- Warframe: The Phage /

- Borderlands: Tactical Shotgun 1340 / Morningstar /

- Doom: Super Shotgun /

- Battlefield: Chompi /

- Team Fortress 2: The Ambassador /Demoman /

- Call of Duty: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / FN SCAR H 7.62X51MM Assault Rifle /

- Xenoblade: Pyra & KOS-MOS / KOS-MOS / T-Elos / Nia & Dromach / Dahlia / Floren / Siren /

- Cyberpunk: Mantis Blade / Skippy / Skippy / Malorian Arms 3516 / DB-2 Satara / Breakthrough /Guts / Erebus / Erebus II /

- Rage: Firestorm /

- Far Cry: Sawblade Launcher /

- The Legend of Zelda: The Master Sword /

- Honkai Impact: The Judgement of Shamash /

- Infinity Ops: Requiem / Requiem /

- Megaman X: Buster / Biometal Model P /

- Titanfall: MK6 /

- Monster Hunter: Gunlance /

- Metroid: Power Suit /

- Disco Elysium: The Expression /

- Dead Space: Hand Cannon /

- Pokémon: Pecharunt /

[osean-kitty]

The UNSC Just Adopted A New Battle Rifle: The BR55

Fuck me I want a actual BR55

[achangeinreality]

Hi it’s been a minute. I started writing this like 3 years ago and then forgot about it so I finished it the other day lol. I’m writing more but this is what I got so far. Hope y’all enjoy, I did a lot of research into the timeline of events so I hope it’s decent. Linda x OC

Encounters Part 1

Draco III 2545

Ira was terrible at this. War, survival, guns. And here she was crawling in the mud, covered in blood and burns, under the fallen ruins of Draco III. Ira wasn’t sure where she was going, but she needed to get as far away from the Kig-Yar and Unggoy as fast as possible. They had taken to savagely tearing apart the humans in this colony. And she had managed to get away. The thing was, she was a marine. A marine who had been sent to protect said colonists. This was her home world and within an hour of fighting, it should have been known that her team didn’t stand a chance. They had fought hard, but their efforts hadn't been enough. As far as Ira knew, she was the only survivor. If she ever made it back to safety, this would be a surprise to anyone who knew Ira. She was barely out of military school, graduating almost out of pure luck. Her aim was sharp but not quick enough. Ranged weapons were her saving grace but even then, she was terrible at staying calm and sometimes missed her shots out of nervousness. Hand to hand combat was the worst for her. She was relatively tall, 5’9, but too skinny and uncoordinated which often resulted in her defeat. So why had she joined the UNSC? Well-

“What in the hell,” she said. Down below, Ira saw flocks of Unggoy and Kig-Yar running and fighting. But from what? There seemed to be some sort of team fighting back but she was too far to tell. Ira had made it very far up the mountain so the movements below were barely noticeable. Shots could be heard that was for sure. It had to be UNSC, which was good news because her chances of getting off this godforsaken planet had just increased. Further ahead she even saw a Pelican. But before she could start heading in that direction, she heard a snarl and the sound of a plasma pistol missing her. Ira screamed and looked up to see a Kig-Yar about to fire his next shot. Ira had been lucky to be under the remains of buildings because it allowed her to roll and hide further. She had shouldered a BR55 Rifle, but at this angle and with all the debris around her it was impossible to try and equip it. The Kig-Yar kept shooting, and the shots were getting closer since they were starting to burn through the debris. But then-boom, the crack of a sniper rang clearer than before and the Jackal’s head was no more. Ira held her breath, not daring to move. She stayed put for about 2 minutes when she heard footsteps coming towards her. Ira looked up from her position to see a massive figure kneel to pull the debris off of her.

“I am Spartan-058 with the UNSC. Are you okay?”

The voice was feminine and level but mechanical. It had a calming effect on Ira, who’s heart beat was currently well above a normal range from her close encounter with death. But she was bewildered, a Spartan? Ira had heard of them, her teammates had mentioned… her teammates. Right, all dead.

“Just a bit burnt up and bloody, but otherwise yeah I’m okay,” Ira replied shakily. Ira had to crane her neck up to look at the Spartan’s faceplate, as she towered over her. Spartan-058 nodded and offered a hand. Ira took it and was gently pulled out of her hiding spot. “Thanks.. I. I’m Private Hagan.”

“You’re bleeding,” Spartan-058 said to her. And indeed, Ira craned her head sideways to see fresh blood seeping through the sleeve of her shoulder. Before Ira could reply, the soldier motioned her to sit down. It was three gashes on her upper arm, right below the shoulder armor. This had been from a jackal having grabbed her as she escaped the carnage but Ira had ripped free of its grasp after shooting it in the face. Ira was covered in caked, dry blood and dirt from head to toe so fresh blood stood out. She rolled up her sleeve as best as possible and Spartan-058 began to clean the wound and said, “The rest of your team was killed by the covenant but we managed to avenge them. That Pelican is going to get us out of here. Do you know any others that could have survived?”

“No. Everyone’s dead.”

Spartan-058 paused and stared at her for half a second, at least, her helmet did. Ira wasn’t sure what else to say. She wasn’t really sure what exactly had happened amidst all the shooting and chaos. And then there were the fucking grunts and jackals who had started tearing into her teammate’s flesh. Tearing them apart and ravaging them mercilessly.

“Although there were a lot of things I didn’t see. Well things I wish I hadn’t seen as well. But there’s a chance I missed if anyone else got away.”

“We’ll check the surrounding area then. I’m done bandaging your wound so I’ll let my team know to do a quick search before we leave. Let’s go.”

“Yes ma’am,” Ira replied quietly. It had felt like a slap to the face hearing of her team’s death. Despite having been there for it, hearing it from somebody else made it much more real. They stood up and Ira followed behind the Spartan as they began to search for others. The shock of almost dying and being saved had begun to clear away enough for Ira to assess her situation and savior. She had never seen a Spartan other than in some propaganda. There had even been talk that they weren’t even real, just a publicity stunt for morale. But during boot camp, she had overheard one of the new drill sergeants discussing his encounter with a Spartan on the field with another sergeant. To say she was impressed was an understatement. Spartan-058 was extremely tall, built as hell, and held that sniper with such ease you’d think it was weightless. She was curious to see the face beneath the goggled helmet. Overall, Ira did her best not to stare and stay focused on their objective.

“I have a contact about 15 meters ahead. Blood on her face, brown hair, and.. a name tag that says ‘Gutierrez’, sound familiar?”, asked S-058 while looking through her scope.

“Yes! She was in our squad!” Ira exclaimed. Sila Gutierrez had been one of the more experienced members of the team. She had been helpful and welcoming to Ira. It lightened Ira’s heart to know that someone else had made it out alive.

“Gutierrez, it’s me Ira, do you copy?”, Ira spoke into her team’s comm system.

“H-gn is- you?”, a static voice replied.

“Yes this is Hagan! I’m with a Spartan, she’s got eyes on you,” Ira explained excitedly. Before Sila could respond, S-058 stopped Ira with a hand on her shoulder and joined the conversation, “I see you but you’re not alone. There’s some covenant surrounding you. I will take out the ones closest to you to give you a chance to start running towards us. Be ready to shoot anyone that gets in your way. Private Hagan will be covering you as well. Any objections?”

Ira’s hands grew sweaty. She could do it; provide cover fire. It just made her nervous to possibly miss and hit her teammate. Or even worse, miss and let her teammate get killed by the enemy. But it was a solid, straightforward plan so she couldn’t exactly object to it without revealing how useless she was at her job. At least she had courage.

“No objections ma’am,” both Ira and Sila replied.

“On my first shot then,” S-058 said. She was laying down on her stomach and Ira was crouched next to her at the ready. Then there was a moment of silence.

Boom- cracked the rifle. At that, Ira could see Sila running and Covenant falling. S-058’s rifle kept cracking and Ira heard a few more shots being fired from Sila’s pistol. She looked through her Battle Rifle’s scope and began to shoot at a Jackal that was coming at Sila from her right side. This went on for a few minutes until Sila reached them. Despite being covered in several wounds and running with an obvious limp, Sila saluted S-058 and stood at attention.

“At ease, soldier. Do your wounds need immediate attention?” S-058 asked.

“My ankle’s been shot. The plasma bolt didn’t go through, it mainly grazed me but it still hurts pretty bad and I ran out of first aid supplies after tending to my stomach.” Sila lifted her shirt and jacket up a bit to reveal the lower half of her torso had been wrapped. “The bastards bit and clawed me good before I could get away,” she explained.

“Let me help, I still have supplies,” Ira offered as she pulled out her kit and got to work on Sila’s ankle. As she did this, S-058 updated her team on their situation and announced that they would be returning soon. It didn’t seem as if anyone from her team found anyone else but that wasn’t a surprise to Ira.

“It’s good to see you alive, Hagan. Didn’t expect that from a rookie but you made it through the bloodshed,” Sila told Ira.

“I didn’t exactly expect to make it out alive. I still can’t believe what those bastards did to our team,” Ira replied quietly. Sila didn’t respond, just hummed in response. As she finished up, S-058 announced, “We need to get going, the covenant is going to start glassing the planet in less than an hour. We need to get onto that Pelican as fast as possible.”

They got up and began to jog behind S-058. As they reached the downward slope of the mountain, Sila began to slow down. Ira helped her move down the mountain but she was too heavy for her. S-058 noticed and before Sila could object, she picked her up with one arm and slung her over her shoulder. Ira stared in awe as they started going down the mountain faster this time. It shouldn’t have surprised her with how easily Spartan-058 carried her S-99 rifle, but it shocked her to witness the pure display of strength. Sila, who was now facing Ira, since Ira was jogging behind S-058, looked up to meet Ira’s wide-eyed gaze. She smirked but said nothing, much to Ira’s relief. Though, Ira’s face still burned and she averted her gaze.

It was so quick and it came almost out of nowhere. Ira happened to be looking sideways when she caught a small movement in her peripheral vision. She turned to see a tall, glittering figure a few feet away from them. The only way she noticed was because Draco-III’s sun was now facing them which caused the figure to shine slightly.

“GET DOWN!” Ira yelled. She grabbed at Spartan-058’s armor and pushed downwards, covering Sila’s body as she did. Luckily, the Spartan had quick reflexes and she went down on her own accord almost immediately. But before they had time to turn and shoot or hide, the unmistakable sound of a plasma rifle went off and shot Ira square in the back. Spartan-058 pulled Ira against her front with her free arm as she quickly moved behind the closest rock. Ira breathed heavily. She could feel the plasma shot definitely having burned through her armor.

“HAGAN ARE YOU OKAY?” Sila yelled above the sounds of the plasma rifle still shooting in their direction. Spartan-058 let go of Sila, gently shifted Ira off of herself to the ground on her left and said, “Tend to her while I take care of this Elite.” And with that, Sila scrambled to Ira’s side as Spartan-058 shot back at the Elite a few times. She checked their entire surrounding area for more enemies before turning to Ira.

Sila had already filled the cavity in Ira’s back with Biofoam and a pain reliever. But Ira wasn’t sure she would make it off this planet at this rate. She was in pain, so much pain. And she could feel herself getting heavier and heavier. Blood thrumming in her ears, the sunlight feeling too bright for her eyes, and a terrible nausea stirring in her stomach.

“—said did you hear me? Private Hagan”, Spartan-058 tensely spoke as she grabbed Ira’s face to look up at her helmet.

“oh… hi,” Ira replied weakly. She hadn’t realized anyone had been speaking to her. In fact the only thing that she was acutely aware of was the dull, burning pain in her back and the fact that she was not so slowly dying.

“We’re going to get you off this planet Private, don’t let your mind wander. That was a hell of a thing you did, you saved our asses,” S-058 said as she moved to pick Ira up. ‘Oh, now it’s my turn to be hoisted like a sack of potatoes,’ Ira thought happily.

“If this wasn’t such a shitty situation I’d be making fun of you right now Hagan,” Sila said to Ira through a private channel on their comms. She was referring to the lazy grin on Ira’s face and the way she happily, albeit weakly, clung to Spartan-058’s torso like a koala. Ira groaned, both from the spikes of pain from them going down the mountain and from the embarrassment of her actions. Painkillers always made a bigger fool out of her than she could of herself on a daily basis. “Thank you for having our back Ira. I know we all gave you a lot of shit for being the newbie so when we get back, I’m buying you all the rounds you want,” she added; this time on the regular channel.

“How are you feeling?” S-058 inquired as they kept going down the mountain, almost nearing the bottom.

“Really bad,” Ira replied weakly. But it was comforting to feel the spartan’s strong arm holding her in place-

“… doing good, stay with us. We’re almost to the bottom,” she heard S-058 say back. ‘Wow I’m really high,’ thought Ira. Ira heard Sila snort loudly as she realized that she had said that out loud.

“Oh man I’m never gonna let you live this down Hagan,” Sila chuckled.

“Hey.. I’m injured.. stop that..,” Ira trailed, feeling the nausea swirl around her stomach as she vomited. For once in her life, luck was on her side as she had managed to prop herself up in time, avoiding throwing up down S-058’s back.

“Oh fuck-, it’s gonna be okay Ira, we’re almost there,” Sila said, a slight panic in her voice. This had to do with the fact that both blood and bile had come out of Ira’s mouth.

“Mm really sorry.. missed you at least,” Ira told S-058 in a trembling voice.

“Don’t worry about it,” S-58 replied, voice showing no sign of distress, speeding up now that they were on flat ground.

They were now close enough to see the rest of Blue Team boarding the Pelican. Five minutes later the trio was also getting onto the Pelican. They had made it. Although at this point, Ira was close to giving out. Spartan-058 handed her to a medic. She looked down at Ira, who had passed out by now and sighed.

“Linda you need to get harnessed in, we’re taking off,” John-117 said to her over TEAMCOMM. She nodded and obliged, leaning her helmeted head on the wall of the Pelican.

Ira woke up. She felt groggy and heavy, as though she were wearing a suit of rocks. Moving felt hard and her brain felt like it was lagging. More painkillers I see, she thought. Wait.. I’m.. alive? As her mind continued to wander, she felt a figure standing over her. It was a woman, a very tall woman with short, blood red hair and piercing green eyes. Pale as can be, scars littered across her face, and wearing Spartan armor.

“Welcome back. How do you feel?,” she asked, voice familiar albeit less mechanical.

Ira stared. She looked up in amazement once again. Her brain was too slow to be able to handle any interaction right now let alone with this woman. She grinned at the Spartan and before her brain could process her words she loudly replied with, “You’re really really pretty”.

The Spartan stared back at her blankly and uncomfortably. Linda heard Fred chortle behind her, followed by Kelly cackling. She could feel warmth blooming across her face and walked back to her seat, promptly putting on her helmet. Sila was staring in Ira’s direction with a horrified expression on her face. And Linda just knew that John was staring at her through his helmet.

“Looks like Linda’s got an admirer,” Kelly said over her external speakers, still laughing.

“I didn’t realize wooing young soldiers was in your skill repertoire Linda,” Fred added.

“One more word and I’m going to throw you out of this Pelican,” Linda threatened.

“Leave her alone guys, she’s got a date to plan for,” John added in the most monotone voice possible.

“You too?” Linda exclaimed, swiveling around to face him. John said nothing but shrugged nonchalantly

Fred, and Kelly snickered while Sila continued to stare at Ira in shock. For 4 hours they had been flying. It had been a dreadful mission and the seriousness of the situation had fallen heavy on them all. The sudden break in silence and humorous distraction had been welcome due to the dread that they all felt. Having watched their fellow humans being torn apart by the Covenant had been revolting. The Spartans’s blood had burned at witnessing such a cruel and barbaric massacre. Knowing they at least could avenge their fellow brethren made the grief easier to shoulder.

It took some time for Ira’s words to bounce from her ears to her brain and understand what had just happened. She lay there numbly, staring up at the pelican’s ceiling, eyes widening in horror.

“Oh… oh no…” she groaned groggily. Fred had the grace to offer some comfort, “It’s okay soldier, painkillers and all that medicine is hard on me too. I don’t always say what I mean.”

“Well I did mean it, I just didn’t mean to say it, sir.” Kelly wouldn’t stop giggling at the poor soldier’s misfortune and at Linda’s uncomfortable silence. Only until Linda’s leg kicked out in the direction of Kelly’s shin did John intervene.

“Kelly, stop antagonizing her. And Linda, control yourself. You’re Spartans, not schoolyard children so act like it.” John said sternly. “Yes, sir”, both women replied. Kelly’s shoulders slumped a bit as she leaned back in her seat. Nobody said anything for a long time. At least that’s what it felt like for Linda, who was still completely red and burning underneath her helmet. No one had ever given her a compliment based on her appearance, let alone a subordinate. It wasn’t something she sought out or thought about either, what with her profession and the war. But she did feel a deep sense of embarrassment for the poor soldier who was surely going to remember this moment for the rest of her life. However, considering the gravity of their current situation, Linda supposed this should really be the least of anyone’s worries.

To Ira’s misfortune, another god forsaken thought crossed her mind and was already on the way out the hatch when Sila stood up and covered Ira’s mouth.

“Stop it, stop talking,” Sila gritted through her teeth. Ira looked up at her in surprise and said nothing. They stayed looking at each other that way for a moment until Sila moved her hand away. Of all the deployments and missions, never had one been so devastating. Sila had lived on Draco III for most of her life and was proud to call herself a soldier when the time came to defend her home. She had been part of the military for a few years and was well on her way to leading her own team. When this conglomeration of alien races landed on her planet, reality of the situation fully dawned on her. They were being invaded by the Covenant and no amount of training could save them. Not after the Covenant obliterated the planet’s mechanical defenses and completely destroyed any fighting chance that the inhabitants and military force on Draco III had. She fought to protect her home and its civilians but failed in every single way. Only her and Ira survived, and now, only half the planet’s surface stayed intact. The other half had been mercilessly glassed, and here was Ira, this useless fool completely unaware of what happened to their planet flirting with a Spartan. It was infuriating that one could be so carefree and empty of grief in a situation like this. The least she could do was keep the woman quiet for the rest of the ride. If the circumstances were different, this would have been funny. If she hadn’t just watched her entire planet get ravaged by beasts for hours while fighting to detain the same fate befalling her, she would have cracked a smile. Sila couldn’t fault the Spartans for making light of the situation. After all, among the slaughter, she caught sight of their teams furiously hitting back with everything they had. Battle like nothing she could have imagined, raged before her as she witnessed alien after alien fall by their hands and guns. The felled Covenant couldn’t have received a more fitting reprisal to their actions by the Spartans now sitting before her. Everyone coped with grief and anger in their own way. And she suspected they had coped on the battlefield. Ultimately, murderous vengeance was an acceptable form of coping that Sila could get behind. And for that, she couldn’t be more grateful to them.

The rest of the ride was quiet and uneventful. The Spartans remained silent, Sila stayed in deep thought, and Ira had thankfully fallen back asleep. By the time they landed on a space station though, Ira was awake and much more coherent than before. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything to any of them though. When she had woken up for the second time, she thought about the battle that they had all just survived and remembered that everyone she grew up with was now dead. Her home was gone, her friends and family were gone, and now her dignity was as well. The complete and utter fear that gripped her at the thought of being deployed again swam around in her brain. There was absolutely no way that she would survive another fight. This had been pure, sheer, dumb luck. Ira was a coward through and through. She had followed orders and fought back, yes. But when everyone on her team was dead and she was the last one standing, she ran. Ira had seen the Grunts, Elites, and Jackals advance and tear through the lines of soldiers with their bare hands and murder every single one of them. This was not a fate that she could handle falling to. So she ran. Ira hid under the bodies of her teammates and crawled as quickly and quietly as she could in the opposite direction that the aliens were focused on. Then, when the coast was clear, she stood up and ran as fast and hard as her legs could carry her. There was no place or plan in her mind on how she would get off the planet or call for help. The only thing that she could hear was the screaming and gunfire over and over in her head. The ripping and squelching of her teammates flesh The blood gushing everywhere. And the laughter of the enemy. It haunted her. Once she had reached the top of Mount Keldai and her legs finally gave out from under her did she finally stop to think, what now? What the hell was she going to do? As far as her eyes could see, there was no one left fighting back, Until… until, out in the distance, she could see a skirmish of some sort. In the confusion and chaos of the whole situation, some Pelicans must have landed to deploy the force that she assumed was the cause of the skirmish. The last thing she wanted was to go back down there but it was a risk that she was willing to take. And now, she was laying in silence alive and well, absolutely dreading the thought of making eye contact with anyone. It was funny how her life had quite literally flashed before her eyes, yet embarrassing herself and the Spartan that was responsible for her survival was at the forefront of her mind. Gore and guts be damned.

When they departed from the Pelican, Ira and Sila were escorted off to a different part of the station by a Sergeant that neither had met before. Ira was placed in a wheelchair. As Blue Team went their separate way, Ira looked back for a second to see them walking away. Sila smacked her upside the head and growled, “Eyes forward”. Ira frowned and replied, “I wasn’t being a creep, I was just wondering where they were being taken to.” The Sergeant replied to Ira, “To areas of much higher clearance than we can even comprehend.”

The devastation of Draco III hit the UNSC hard. Everyone knew that the Covenant were brutal and completely lethal. But nothing to this level of barbarity was there a record of. Linda couldn’t get the images of all those people being massacred on the surface out of her head. By the time the Spartans were able to land on the planet it was already too late. But this counterattack was not done to try and save the planet, it was done out of pure rage and retribution on behalf of the Spartan IIs. The night that they made it back to the nearest space shuttle, Linda stayed awake for a long time. She was lying on a bunk too small for her size and just barely strong enough to not give out under her weight. This wasn’t the problem, for a bed too small was still a bed and certainly more comfortable than anything she had been allowed as a child in boot camp. Those beds were certainly made out of hard tac. The problem was the noise. The noise that she couldn’t silence in her head. Linda was basically an expert in silence and she could meditate for endless hours. It helped her stay focused on and off the battlefield. Zen often allowed her to quiet the horrors of war in her mind when it was time to rest as well. But not tonight. Tonight she was wide awake and fully aware of her cramped, sore body.

“Are you still awake?”, came a soft voice from another bunk. It was Kelly, who obviously couldn’t sleep either. Linda sighed and rolled over carefully. She answered back quietly, “Yeah, can’t sleep.” Neither said anything for a moment until Kelly replied with, “Sorry for laughing at you earlier.” Linda smiled and turned to face Kelly. “If it wasn’t at the expense of Private Hagan then I might have laughed too.” Kelly grinned and said, “I’m sure she appreciated that.”

“Well, it’s the least I could do. It couldn’t have been easy for a rookie to survive that massacre and then get shot at the end of it. I felt for her,” Linda replied. Kelly hummed in agreement and closed her eyes. “All of those bloody deaths and then out of nowhere a Spartan comes to her rescue. I’m sure she sees you with a lot of esteem.” Linda grumbled out, “Clearly.” Kelly giggled as silently as she could to avoid waking the other Spartans. Linda smiled and reached out a hand to swat at her. “Don’t make a deal out of it at the ceremony tomorrow!,” Linda whisper-yelled. Kelly saluted Linda and said seriously, “Being professional is my specialty sir, wouldn’t dream of insubordination”. This time it was Linda’s turn to let out a small chuckle. “Whatever, go to sleep. Dream of bothering someone else,” she said and laid on her back again. Kelly did the same and closed her eyes with a smile on her face. Linda looked up at the ceiling again with a calmer mind and more relaxed eyes.

0500

Linda woke up to the gray, dimly lit room that she fell asleep in the night before. It was quiet and cold in the room. Her stomach growled quietly as she got up to start her day. Even though it was early and she had only just woken up, her thoughts were already lingering on the day before. After arriving from their mission, all of the Spartan teams had been summoned to a debriefing. It took so long for all of the teams to debrief the counsel that by the end of it, her brain felt like mush. That was probably her least favorite thing about being a Spartan, all of the after battle talking. She much preferred action to words and was more content with receiving another mission as opposed to reliving the last one.

Today would be a respite from the action. An impromptu funeral and award service would be held at 0700 hours. It was an earlier time than usual for this type of service but this was because the next day, the teams would start getting shipped out to different regions to continue the fight. The death toll on Draco III both of civilian and military lives had been extreme though and it was deemed necessary to hold a service for those lost on the planet, and an award ceremony for the two survivors that made it.

Her morning consisted of a quick hour workout, breakfast, and a shower. When she returned to the dorm to get ready, Fred was fretting in one of the mirrors. He never did like the gray streaks that came with their augmentations. It made him oddly self conscious and Linda could see that he was trying his best to tuck them into his military beret. For what it was worth, Linda always thought it looked cool. She approached him and said, “Fred, are you going to join us in the mess hall after the event?”

”Maybe after a haircut,” he replied glumly. She frowned and turned him to face her, the physical contact being rare between Spartans. “Your hair is fine Lieutenant. Would you rather bright red instead? Besides, it makes you look mysterious.” Fred gave her a small smile and replied with, “Some things never change I suppose. And you’ve got great hair by the way.” Linda let him go as she reached for the comb on the counter. “I know,” she replied. Fred snorted and started to walk towards the door, “I’ll see you in a few, thanks for the pep talk.” And with that, he left. Linda looked at herself in the mirror for a second. She never disliked her hair, it was unique. None of the other Spartans shared the same combination of features. Bright red hair, green eyes, pale skin. Though, the culmination of scars and bruises were commonalities amongst her brothers and sisters.

Linda had never been interested or versed on the topic of makeup. As of late however, Kelly had come across some mascara that she coveted in secret and reserved it for special occasions. She was careful to apply a very thin and clean layer of it. Linda smiled at the memory of the first time Kelly tried applying it. She had covered her eyes in black, sticky splotches and only made it worse when she tried to rub it off. As the years went by, Kelly tried to convince Linda to give it a try. It wasn’t that she was against the look, it was that she did not like the idea of sticking a wand full of black goop so close to her eyes that one mistake could cost her her greatest asset. Until finally, one day, Linda gave in during a mission when all hope seemed lost. She told Kelly, “If we make it out of this, I’ll let you put that black stuff on my eyes for the next ceremony we have.” Unfortunately for Linda, this was said ceremony and not only did she remember the promise, but Kelly did as well. She was standing in the back of the room next to her trunk, watching Linda with an unhinged look on her face. Linda made eye contact with her through the mirror and rolled her eyes, not even bothering to argue. She walked over to Kelly and sat down on the bed with a huff.

”Just don’t blind me.”

0700

The funeral part of the ceremony had just begun and Linda was sitting in the back, surrounded by several different Spartans. They were all noticeably taller. Linda’s eyes felt heavy and uncomfortable. Although Kelly had only put a very small amount of the stuff on her eyes, she wasn’t used to having anything on them and was insanely aware of the shift in weight. Every nerve in her body was begging her to rub her eyes but she fought the urges and sat quietly through the service. The death toll was incredibly high and a weight settled in Linda’s chest as she thought about the current planets that were currently at risk for the same fate. Her hatred for the Covenant burned deep inside her as saw the pictures of the victim’s faces. While she had been fighting on the planet, not one person looked like this. All of the remains were shredded, bloodied, torn apart, or completely indescribable. It sickened her to witness the sheer, pointless slaughter. What was the point? Why? What did humanity do to deserve such a terrible fate? She may never learn the answers to those questions, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that she would do everything in her power to fight back in the memory of the lost and butchered.

The funeral was lengthy and there was a short intermission before the award ceremony. That would not be long for it was only to recognize Private Hagan and SPC Gutierrez. As Linda settled back in her seat, she looked over to the front to see a tall, young, shapely woman in formal attire with black onyx hair pulled tightly into a bun. She had tan olive skin, soft facial features, and familiar hazel eyes. She too was wearing an appropriate amount of mascara. The woman was using a cane to stand straight, though she looked pained. It took Linda a second to realize that this was Private Hagan. It’s not that she was blind, but the amount of grime and gore that covered Private Hagan when Linda found her had been so much that she had little to no idea what the woman actually looked like. SPC Gutierrez was standing next to her. A slighly older woman with a light brown, short bob. She was shorter than Private Hagan though her features were much sharper and her blue eyes seemed haunted. Linda could see that this had not been her first time on the battlefield, but it had likely been her worst experience. Admiral Parangosky presented Ira with a Purple Heart medal. She gave a short speech about valor and courage, and then moved on to present SPC Gutierrez with a Medal of Commendation. As the ceremony ended, Linda made her way over to Pvt. Hagan. She tried to make herself as small as possible as she became acutely aware that she was at least a foot taller than the Private. The Private’s eyes widened slightly and her skin paled as she saw Linda approach her. She began to salute Linda but she waved the salute away.

”This is your ceremony, no need for formality,” Linda said. ”Yes, sir. Thank you sir. What can I do for you?”, Ira replied quietly. ”I wanted to thank you for what you did. It was very brave of you to take a hit for me and your fellow comrade,” said Linda. Ira’s mouth fell agape, obviously taken aback by the response. She said, “I would do it again, sir. If it weren’t for you, I’d be one of the mentioned dead at the funeral.” Before Linda could reply, Ira added, “I also want to apologize to you for my insubordination. What I said to you was completely out of line and I must have embarrassed you just as much as I embarrassed myself.” Linda looked at her for a moment. Ira’s pupils were dilated and she looked tense. No doubt the memory had been gnawing at her. She replied, “Don’t let it bother you any longer, Private. I understand you were under the influence of painkillers.” Ira gave her a small smile and then looked away quickly. She let out a small breath and said, ���I… yes. I am very susceptible to the side effects of painkillers. However, had the circumstances been completely different, and my rank a lot higher, I would have still meant what I said.” This time, she blushed visibly but her eye contact held strong. Linda felt a warmth crawl up her neck and ears. She was taken aback, completely unsure of how to respond. Her silence must have spoken volumes because Private Hagan’s shoulders dropped and she looked down at her cane. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to go back to the infirmary. The doctor only cleared me for the ceremony. I won’t take up anymore of your time.”

Ira walked past Linda, limping as quickly as she could on her cane. Linda felt so out of her element that all she could do was watch Private Hagan leave. It was frustrating, there were thoughts and feelings that she wanted to express but couldn’t find the right words for them. Was she being hit on? No one in her 34 years had ever declared such a thing and then stared right into her soul while saying it. How was someone supposed to respond to something like that? She wasn’t exactly in any sort of position to entertain the woman, rank and career path the culprits. Her training as a child was tailored to survive and thrive in any sort of situation. It was a ruthless, cold, perilous, and frightening childhood but it made her who she was today. However, a course in courting was not one she had been provided with and it showed.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kelly making her way over to her. Oh no she thought. Spartans were graced with superior hearing due to their augmentations. And she knew for a fact that Kelly had heard every single sentence. She didn’t say anything, just looked at Linda curiously with a raised eyebrow. Kelly hand signed, want to take a walk? Linda nodded and the two walked out of the room. She could still see Private Hagan making her way towards the infirmary in the distance. Kelly and Linda walked to their rooms and changed in silence. Afterwards, they made their way to the training center towards the running track. Instead of running though, they walked. Kelly couldn’t take the silence anymore. Finally, she burst out, “What the hell was that about?” Linda sighed and looked up at the ceiling hoping for interplanar transcendence. She answered back, “I have no idea.”

”No I mean what’s wrong with you? You left the poor woman hanging, that was terrible!” Linda risked whiplash with how quickly she turned to look at Kelly and asked, “How was I supposed to respond to that? I’m not exactly versed in the art of charisma.” Kelly raised an eyebrow and looked at her in disbelief. “What?” Linda asked. Kelly didn’t say anything, just kept looking at her. Finally she said, “Oh my god do you- BOOM! A loud, resounding roar shook the station and knocked both Spartans down. The ground shook and dust from the ceiling rained down on them. Alarms blared and over the comm system could be heard, We are under attack, all personnel report to your stations. Both women sprung up and ran towards the exit. As they ran, they received a personal comm from John-117. “Report to the bridge. I'll brief you all soon.” They acknowledged him and kept running. People were running and yelling orders all around Linda. As she arrived at the bridge, the only thing she could think was, here we go again

[ionlymadethissoicouldleaveanask]

Fun

2142 Hours, April 3, 2544 (Military Calendar) /

Planet Miridem, Rampart System

The ground shook beneath Frederic-104’s feet as he ran. A Covenant Wraith rumbled nearby, its powerful repulsor lifts shaking the ground and shattering glass as it traversed the ruined city streets. His visor was cracked. There was a small hole in the bottom right side letting the acrid smell of soot and ash pour into his typically sealed armor. It was, against odds, a refreshing change from the sterility of a vacuum-tight climate-controlled armor system.

The radio crackled twice, indicating a faulty connection. It was likely that they didn’t have many satellites left in orbit to transmit their frequencies at this stage of the battle. John-117’s voice finally managed to force its way through the white noise.

‘Blue Two, status?’

The team leader’s voice was tight. Stressed. Fred couldn’t blame him. Things were not going well on the ground. Blue Team, made up of John, Fred, and Kelly, were trying to rendezvous with Yellow Team in order to exfiltrate Doctor Halsey. So far they’d managed to contact Arthur and Solomon, but they’d had no word from Sheila yet. Sheila, who was personally escorting the doctor.

“Southeast sector is clear,” Fred reported. “Blue Three reported she needed some help with an armor group nearby, and I’m almost to her location now.” He rammed a new magazine into his BR55, consulting his motion tracker to confirm that he was no more than a few seconds’ run from Kelly’s position.

‘Solid copy, Blue Two. Good hunting.’

Fred didn’t bother with an answer. He was already coming up on Kelly’s position, and was practically within spitting distance from the enemy column. Two red dots appeared on his motion tracker a fraction of a second before his eye caught the enemies they represented. A pair of grunts, seemingly separated from their unit, trundling down the shattered city sidewalk. They were directly between him and Kelly. A single squeak on their comms would send their nearby fellows scurrying their direction, making their elimination more tedious and time consuming.

So, he’d just have to make sure that they didn’t squeak.

In two seconds Fred was upon them. He shattered the first Grunt’s skull with a powerful strike from his left first, while simultaneously removing his combat knife from its sheath on his chest and plunging it through the second Grunt’s throat with his right hand. Then he was off sprinting again before either of them hit the ground.

“That was quite the show,” Kelly remarked ruefully as he slid into cover beside her. “You get extra points for the presentation.”

Fred said nothing in response, but a grin quirked the corners of his mouth. “What are we looking at?”

“Full armor compliment. One Wraith, two Elites, a handful of Jackals and a dozen Grunts. What’s your recommendation?”

Fred answered without a moment’s hesitation, having expected the question. “Pick out a rooftop and take down the Elites, then pick our way down the hierarchy. That Wraith isn’t going to be able to turn sharp enough to pose a threat, and all it will take is a couple of grenades after we’re through with the ground forces.”

Kelly nodded. “Right, that’s probably how we should do it.” She then turned her head to one side and tilted it on an angle, giving him the same side-eye she did whenever she wanted to manipulate him into doing something unwise. “But how do you want to do it?” she asked.

At that, Fred did falter. He considered her question for a few seconds in silence, then answered, “Split up, and attack them on foot from either end of the column. Toss a couple of grenades for a distraction, then take them down individually in hand-to-hand.” He looked up and flashed her a grin despite knowing she wouldn’t be able to see it behind his visor. “Get a little exercise in.”

Kelly laughed. “I knew you were going to say that,” she said, bumping his shoulder with her own. Then she reached into the rubble behind her. “I got you something.”

“I’m not sure this is the-” Fred began, but she cut him off with one raised finger.

“You’ll love it, I promise,” she said. Then she took his right hand and fit something over top of his gauntlet. It was a piece of Covenant armor, taken from an Elite if the three-fingered glove attached to the armor were anything to go by.

Fred studied the piece of alien metal, its color glowing over top of his own muted blue armor. “What am I looking at here, Rabbit?” he asked skeptically.

“Make a fist,” the other Spartan replied in lieu of an answer to his question.

Curiosity continuing to mount, Fred did as he was told. When he formed a fist, he felt some sort of button press beneath his thumb, and an energy blade the length of his forearm emitted from the alien device. A broad grin spread across Fred’s face, and he took a couple of experimental swipes with it through the air.

“It’s just my color,” Fred said with a smirk in Kelly’s direction.

Then, his companion produced a pair of grenades. “Let’s do this one the fun way,” she said, the grin on her face evident in her voice. Fred looked from the grenades to the energy blade, then flashed his eyes at the mission timer. They were set to rendezvous with Yellow Team in ten minutes.

They had time.

“I don’t deserve you, Rabbit.” 

“You’re right,” Kelly answered. ”But I like you anyway.” She lifted the first two fingers of her left hand and made a swiping motion across the bottom of his helmet, pantomiming a smile. Then she pressed those same fingers to her own visor directly over her mouth.

“Alright, Petty Officer,” Fred grunted, rising to his feet and trying to ignore the blush warming his cheeks. He took one of Kelly’s grenades and fixed it to his belt. “Let’s go have some fun.”

[frogblast-the-ventcore]

So there's now a real, functioning BR55 Battle Rifle. Like, it actually shoots and everything. Uses 5.56mm since 9.5x40mm doesn't actually exist, but still, holy crap. Between this, the real MA5C, and the real M90, we're about to have all the Halo weapons in real life. Here's the video of the guy that made it:

Here's footage of it shooting, as well as April Fools' in-universe commentary on it (in-universe content lasts until around 13:30, IRL explanation after that):

The real MA5C:

The real M90:

[survivethejive]

the Germanic pagan Sigurd design (sucking dragon blood from his thumb so he can understand the speech of birds) from bracteate DR-BR55 is available on t-shirts, hoodies, stickers, and vests etc.https://www.survive-the-jive.com/listing/sigurd-thumb-sucker-range

[i-identify-guns-in-posts]

opinions the UNSC's firearms from Halo?

i feel they're pretty grounded for science fiction. the BR55 Battle Rifle is my all time favorite, even if it's technically not a battle rifle by today's standards

They're alright. Never played halo anyway so idk

[john-halo]

I prefer the BR55 paired with am M7S or one of the M6 pistols. (Barring the M6C)

The C does what it's supposed to.

It's just what it's supposed to isn't that useful.

[sorteiodebingoonline]

Quais são as melhores estratégias para jogar no cassino online pt-br55 e aumentar as chances de ganhar?

🎰🎲✨ Receba 2.000 reais e 200 rodadas grátis, além de um bônus instantâneo para jogar jogos de cassino com apenas um clique! ✨🎲🎰

Quais são as melhores estratégias para jogar no cassino online pt-br55 e aumentar as chances de ganhar?

Gerenciamento de bankroll

Gerenciar o bankroll é uma habilidade fundamental para qualquer jogador sério, seja em cassinos online, salas de poker virtuais ou até mesmo em apostas esportivas. O termo "bankroll" refere-se ao montante total de dinheiro que um jogador reservou especificamente para apostas ou jogos de azar. O gerenciamento adequado do bankroll é essencial para garantir que os jogadores possam continuar a jogar de forma sustentável e evitar perdas significativas.

Uma das regras básicas do gerenciamento de bankroll é estabelecer limites claros sobre quanto dinheiro você está disposto a arriscar em uma única sessão de jogo. Isso pode ser feito definindo um valor máximo para apostas individuais ou estabelecendo um limite para o valor total que você está disposto a perder em um determinado período de tempo.

Além disso, é importante diversificar o seu bankroll e não colocar todo o seu dinheiro em uma única aposta ou jogo. Dividir o bankroll em várias partes e distribuí-lo entre diferentes tipos de apostas ou jogos pode ajudar a reduzir o risco de perdas significativas.

Outra estratégia importante é ajustar o tamanho das suas apostas de acordo com o tamanho do seu bankroll. Em geral, é recomendável manter as apostas em um nível que represente apenas uma pequena porcentagem do seu bankroll total. Isso ajuda a proteger o seu bankroll contra variações de sorte e permite que você continue jogando mesmo após períodos de perdas.

Em resumo, o gerenciamento de bankroll é essencial para garantir uma experiência de jogo segura e sustentável. Ao estabelecer limites claros, diversificar o seu bankroll e ajustar o tamanho das suas apostas de acordo com a sua banca, os jogadores podem maximizar suas chances de sucesso a longo prazo e desfrutar de uma experiência de jogo mais gratificante.

Estratégias de aposta

As estratégias de aposta são fundamentais para quem deseja obter sucesso e minimizar os riscos ao apostar em diversos tipos de jogos e eventos. Seja em apostas esportivas, jogos de cassino ou outras modalidades de apostas, ter uma estratégia bem definida pode fazer toda a diferença entre ganhar e perder.

Uma das estratégias mais básicas e amplamente utilizadas é a gestão de bankroll. Isso envolve definir um orçamento específico para as apostas e gerenciá-lo de forma responsável, evitando apostar mais do que se pode perder. Dividir o bankroll em unidades e estabelecer limites de apostas por unidade também ajuda a controlar os gastos e a manter a disciplina.

Outra estratégia importante é a análise cuidadosa das probabilidades e estatísticas. Antes de fazer uma aposta, é essencial avaliar as chances de sucesso e o valor esperado da aposta, levando em consideração fatores como histórico de desempenho, lesões, condições climáticas e outros elementos relevantes.

Além disso, é recomendável diversificar as apostas, distribuindo o dinheiro entre diferentes tipos de apostas e eventos. Isso ajuda a reduzir o risco de perdas significativas em uma única aposta e aumenta as chances de obter lucro a longo prazo.

Por fim, é importante manter-se atualizado sobre as tendências e novidades no mundo das apostas, bem como buscar conhecimento constante sobre as estratégias e técnicas mais eficazes. Participar de comunidades de apostadores, seguir especialistas e utilizar ferramentas de análise podem ser recursos valiosos para aprimorar suas habilidades e maximizar os ganhos.

Em resumo, as estratégias de aposta são essenciais para quem deseja ser bem-sucedido no mundo das apostas, proporcionando uma abordagem mais calculada, disciplinada e informada para maximizar os lucros e minimizar os riscos.

Conhecimento dos jogos

Conhecimento dos Jogos: A Chave para o Sucesso

Nos últimos anos, os jogos se tornaram mais do que apenas uma forma de entretenimento; eles evoluíram para uma cultura e uma indústria em si mesma. Dentro desse vasto universo, o conhecimento dos jogos emergiu como uma ferramenta crucial para os jogadores que desejam alcançar o sucesso e a excelência em suas experiências de jogo.

Entender os fundamentos de um jogo, seja ele de estratégia, ação, aventura ou qualquer outro gênero, é o primeiro passo para se destacar. Isso inclui compreender as mecânicas de jogo, as estratégias essenciais e os objetivos a serem alcançados. Aqueles que investem tempo em aprender os aspectos técnicos e as nuances de um jogo frequentemente encontram-se em vantagem sobre seus oponentes menos informados.

Além disso, o conhecimento dos jogos pode abrir portas para oportunidades além do jogo em si. Com a ascensão dos eSports, por exemplo, jogadores habilidosos podem transformar sua paixão em uma carreira lucrativa, competindo em torneios profissionais e ganhando reconhecimento mundial.

No entanto, o conhecimento dos jogos vai além da habilidade de jogar. Envolve também entender a história dos jogos, suas influências culturais e seu impacto na sociedade. Aqueles que estão profundamente imersos na cultura dos jogos podem apreciar melhor as referências, as narrativas complexas e as inovações que impulsionam a indústria para a frente.

Em resumo, o conhecimento dos jogos é uma ferramenta poderosa que pode elevar a experiência de jogo de um jogador de casual a profissional. Seja para competir em alto nível, explorar mundos virtuais ou simplesmente apreciar a arte dos jogos, aqueles que investem em aprender e entender este vasto universo certamente colherão os frutos de seu esforço.

Utilização de bônus

Maximizando seus Ganhos: A Importância da Utilização de Bônus

Em um mundo onde cada centavo conta, aproveitar ao máximo os bônus oferecidos pode ser a chave para otimizar seus ganhos. Seja em compras online, jogos de azar ou mesmo em programas de fidelidade, os bônus são uma ferramenta valiosa para ampliar seu poder de compra e maximizar seus benefícios.

No contexto das compras online, os bônus podem assumir diversas formas, desde descontos diretos até cashback. Ao utilizar cupons de desconto ou participar de programas de fidelidade, os consumidores podem economizar significativamente em suas compras, garantindo mais valor pelo seu dinheiro.

Nos jogos de azar, os bônus são uma maneira de aumentar suas chances de ganhar sem a necessidade de investir mais do que o habitual. Bônus de boas-vindas, rodadas grátis e outras promoções podem proporcionar aos jogadores uma vantagem inicial, permitindo que explorem os jogos sem arriscar seu próprio capital.

Além disso, os programas de fidelidade são uma excelente forma de recompensar a lealdade dos clientes. Acumulando pontos ou milhas, os participantes podem trocá-los por descontos, produtos gratuitos ou até mesmo viagens, agregando valor à sua experiência como consumidores.

No entanto, é importante estar atento aos termos e condições associados aos bônus, para evitar surpresas desagradáveis. Certifique-se de compreender os requisitos de elegibilidade, prazos de validade e eventuais restrições antes de utilizar qualquer benefício.

Em resumo, a utilização inteligente de bônus pode ser uma estratégia eficaz para otimizar seus ganhos em diversas áreas. Seja no mundo das compras, dos jogos ou da fidelidade, estar atento às oportunidades de bonificação pode fazer toda a diferença em sua busca por economia e benefícios adicionais.

Controle emocional

O controle emocional é uma habilidade crucial para lidar com os altos e baixos da vida cotidiana. Refere-se à capacidade de regular e gerenciar nossas emoções de forma consciente e saudável, mesmo em situações desafiadoras ou estressantes. Quando possuímos um bom controle emocional, somos capazes de tomar decisões mais ponderadas, manter relacionamentos saudáveis ​​e lidar melhor com a pressão do dia a dia.

Uma das principais características do controle emocional é a capacidade de reconhecer e compreender nossos próprios sentimentos. Isso envolve estar ciente das emoções que estamos experimentando e entender suas origens. Ao identificar nossos sentimentos, podemos responder a eles de maneira mais construtiva, em vez de reagir impulsivamente.

Além disso, o controle emocional envolve a capacidade de regular nossas emoções. Isso significa encontrar maneiras saudáveis ​​de lidar com sentimentos intensos, como raiva, tristeza ou ansiedade. Em vez de reprimir essas emoções ou deixá-las nos dominar, podemos aprender a expressá-las de maneira apropriada e encontrar formas de acalmar a nós mesmos.

Desenvolver o controle emocional requer prática e autoconsciência. Estratégias como a meditação, a respiração consciente e a busca de apoio emocional podem ser úteis nesse processo. Além disso, é importante cultivar uma mentalidade positiva e resiliente, que nos permita enfrentar os desafios da vida com confiança e otimismo.

Em resumo, o controle emocional é uma habilidade valiosa que nos ajuda a viver de forma mais equilibrada e satisfatória. Ao aprender a reconhecer, compreender e regular nossas emoções, podemos melhorar nossa qualidade de vida e fortalecer nossos relacionamentos interpessoais.

[agent-rhode-island]

Hey Rhodes! Quick question, what does your standard load out look like?

Hello. My loadout consists of my BR55 Service Rifle, my M6D Magnum, my M1 Combat Knife, 2 frag grenades, and myself.

[hypershadicman]

okay the art is sick as fuck and all and i'm a huge fan of the blurb giving cortana some much needed agency but can we circle back to that gun chief has real quick?

it's kinda hard to tell from behind cortana's face here, but did they un-bullpup that battle rifle? and does is that supposed to be the foregrip he's holding? why does it extend so far and look like it's duct-taped onto the end of the barrel there? putting some renders of the Halo 2 and 3 BR (courtesy of Halopedia) under the cut so people can verify, i'm not going crazy right?

Halo 2 battle rifle, the BR55, notice the magazine behind the trigger and the prominent foregrip that ends well before the barrel does

Halo 3 battle rifle, the BR55HB SR, same longer barrel with stocky foregrip, same bullpup magazine

(fun fact, they actually made a live action prop of this one for the Halo: Landfall shorts, as seen here being held by then Development Director Frank O'Connor)

You've seen this piece before, probably.

You haven't seen this commentary on it before, probably.

“This image of the Chief and Cortana is representative of their relationship in Halo. The Chief is a focused protector: his weapon is at the ready and he’s facing some unseen threat. Cortana’s stance reinforces the Chief’s pose, just like her knowledge reinforces the Chief, but her direct forward stare indicates that she’s focusing on something different than the Chief.”

[howlingday]

How about the unsc standard issue BR55

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Jaune: What does "BR" stand for? "Battle Rifle"?

Ruby: BR55 is just the model series, Jaune.

Jaune: Ah...

Ruby: It's a pretty good bullpup, even if it's button-triggered.

Jaune: Wait, what?

Ruby: There's no pull trigger. It's a button that's aligned to the back of the frame.

Jaune: No, no, I mean, I didn't know that either, but what's a bullpup?

Ruby: Oh. It's a gun design. See how the breech is behind the grip and not ahead of it?

Jaune: The... breech?

Ruby: Where the ammo goes, Jaune.

Jaune: Oh.

Ruby: It's usually done to make lighter, more easy to carry guns without giving up barrel length.

Jaune: Oh, I see... But why bullpup?

Ruby: Oh, that's actually a funny story. You see