#Lightning strike counter Manufacturers

[mariacallous]

Last week, Syrian rebels led by the Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a surprise offensive, capturing significant parts of Aleppo, one of Syria’s largest cities, and advancing south into Hama province. This offensive—the most substantial territorial gain by rebel forces in nearly a decade—struck at the heart of what Russia once considered its defining achievement in Syria: the 2016 recapture of Aleppo.

In December 2016, Russian airpower, in coordination with Iranian-backed forces and the Syrian army, retook the city in an operation that demonstrated Moscow’s military effectiveness and cemented its role as the decisive external actor in Syria, overshadowing other actors such as the United States, which focused narrowly on countering the Islamic State, and Turkey, which was preoccupied with containing Kurdish forces near its border with Syria. The loss of Aleppo thus represents not just a military setback but a symbolic challenge to Russia’s claim of being able to decisively shape Syria’s future.

For Russia, the loss of regime control in Aleppo reveals deeper vulnerabilities in its Syrian strategy. The degradation of key ground forces such as Hezbollah—exacerbated by Israeli strikes against their commanders, forces, and logistics in Lebanon and Syria in recent months—and the endemic weakness of the Syrian army have created military gaps that Moscow has struggled to fill due to its primarily aerial deployment in Syria.

While Russia’s airpower in Syria remains relatively consistent with its 2018 levels, the redeployment of some ground forces in the past two years to secure strategic locations such as Tartus and Latakia has reduced its flexibility to address new threats effectively. Yet with established regional influence and significant military investments at stake, Russia cannot afford to retreat from Syria despite these mounting challenges. The naval base in Tartus secures Russia’s access to the Mediterranean, a critical geostrategic asset, while the Khmeimim air base near Latakia enables Moscow to project power across the region and maintain its role as a key player in Syria and beyond.

Russia’s response to the rebel offensive revealed significant operational constraints. When HTS first struck Aleppo, the speed and surprise of the advance left Moscow little time to organize effective air support. Though not lacking in air capacity, Russia struggled with the practical challenge of rapidly generating enough sorties to counter such a large-scale offensive. By the time rebels approached Hama, Russian forces managed to mount a more coordinated air campaign, with Russian and Syrian aircraft striking rebel positions across Hama, Aleppo, and Idlib. Russian sources claimed these strikes killed HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani, though this remains unverified.

The offensive also exposed embarrassing weaknesses in the Assad regime’s defenses. At Kuweires air base near Aleppo, Syrian forces reportedly surrendered without resistance, allowing HTS to capture significant military assets. The seized equipment included a Mi-8 helicopter, an L-39 combat training aircraft, and reportedly an S-200 anti-aircraft missile system, along with Strela-10 and Pantsir-S1 air defense systems. Even more concerning was the fall of al-Safira, one of the regime’s largest military-industrial complexes and a critical defense manufacturing center.

The rebel advance toward Hama now threatens Russia’s strategic position in Syria. If HTS takes Hama, it could isolate the coastal provinces, as the city of Hama lies about 50 miles from Tartus and serves as a key junction connecting the interior to the Mediterranean coast. Meanwhile, a push to the city of Homs, roughly 75 miles from Latakia and 50 miles from Tartus, would sever the land link to Russia’s Mediterranean bases at Latakia and Tartus from its limited forces in central and eastern Syria.

This geographic separation would severely hamper Russia’s ability to coordinate operations across Syria. The situation could deteriorate further if dormant rebel cells in the south reactivate, potentially fragmenting regime territory and straining Russia’s already limited military presence. Russia maintains a presence in southern Syria, particularly in Quneitra and Daraa provinces near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, where it has established military police observation posts to monitor cease-fires and regional tensions.

Beyond immediate military concerns, these developments expose Moscow’s growing challenges in preserving its influence in Syria. Since initiating its military intervention in 2015, Moscow’s influence in Syria has rested on several key elements: a partnership with Iran and its network of nonstate actors; coordination with Turkey, with a view to managing competing interests, such as Turkey’s concerns over Kurdish forces and Russia’s support for the Assad regime; a tenuous balancing act with Israel to prevent unintended military clashes and preserve deconfliction agreements; diplomatic outreach to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); and efforts to maintain a working deconfliction mechanism with the United States.

However, each of these pillars has come under strain not only due to shifting realities in Syria but due to the spillover effects of Ukraine and Lebanon.

The Russian-Iranian partnership has been particularly critical to Russia’s objectives in Syria. This relationship was forged over shared concerns about the potential collapse of the Assad regime and the threat of Sunni extremism; it combined Russian airpower with ground forces from Iran and its allied militias. Iranian-supported groups such as Hezbollah, Iraqi Shiite militias, the Afghan Fatemiyoun, and the Pakistani Zainabiyoun were instrumental in recapturing key territories. Their joint campaign helped reclaim Aleppo in 2016, a turning point in the Syrian civil war.

Russia’s approach to Iran in Syria has shifted dramatically since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Moscow previously balanced between Iran and Israel, exemplified by its 2018 commitment to keep Iranian forces away from Israel’s border and its silence during Israeli strikes on Iranian assets. However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and especially after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Moscow has aligned more closely with Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance.

Russia now openly criticizes Israeli strikes and has ceded positions in central and eastern Syria to Iranian-backed forces—ostensibly aimed at preventing rebel forces from exploiting Russia’s reduction of ground forces and private military contractors in eastern Syria.

Meanwhile, Israel has dramatically escalated its strikes against Iranian assets in Syria, moving beyond targeting weapons storage to systematically eliminating high-value personnel. The Israeli offensive in Lebanon and the decimation of Hezbollah’s leadership have particularly impacted Russia’s position in Syria. The degradation of Hezbollah, which served as Russia’s primary allied ground force in western and southern Syria, has created a significant operational gap that Russia, with its limited troop presence of approximately 2,000 to 4,000 personnel, has struggled to fill.

Recently, amid developments in Gaza and Lebanon, speculation arose that Israel might again seek Russia’s assistance in curbing Iran’s influence in Syria. However, recent events suggest that Russia lacks both the capability and, potentially, the willingness to constrain Iran. This dynamic could further strain Russia-Israel relations, which have already significantly deteriorated since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Russia and Turkey have frequently clashed over their competing visions for Syria’s future. Their relationship hit its lowest point in 2015, when Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber near the Syrian border. Both sides eventually reconciled, but even within the Astana process—a diplomatic framework launched in 2017 by Iran, Russia, and Turkey to facilitate negotiations on the Syrian conflict and de-escalation zones—they have pursued conflicting aims: Russia supports the Assad regime’s full territorial control, while Turkey backs opposition forces and maintains a military presence in northern Syria to prevent Kurdish autonomy there.

Since the start of its war in Ukraine, Russia has sought to maintain close relations with Turkey, a NATO member and critical trade partner for Moscow. This effort, coupled with Russia’s diminished resources across various regions, has positioned Ankara in a place of relative advantage. This dynamic is particularly evident in the South Caucasus, where Turkey, through its support for Azerbaijan against Armenia, has assumed a more active role in shaping regional dynamics.

The resurgence of HTS and Turkish-backed rebels will likely force Russia to reach new understandings with Turkey in Syria. While Moscow previously criticized Ankara sharply over rebel activities in Idlib, Russia’s current military constraints and need to maintain Turkish cooperation amid the Ukraine war—specifically for critical trade routes, access through the Bosporus for its naval operations, and to discourage Turkey from supplying Ukraine with advanced arms—have tempered its response.

Instead of denouncing Turkey for failing to control HTS, Russian officials have emphasized the Astana format as a mechanism for stability, suggesting that Moscow seeks accommodation rather than confrontation with Ankara.

Russia has promoted the normalization and reintegration of the Assad regime into the Arab world. These efforts culminated in Syria’s return to the Arab League in May 2023, as the GCC sought to acknowledge the reality of the regime’s control over much of Syria while reengaging with Damascus as a way to balance Iran’s influence. Russia’s objective has been to tap into Gulf financial resources for Syria’s reconstruction and economic recovery while enhancing the Assad regime’s international legitimacy.

An indication of this normalization was on display following the HTS offensive when Bashar al-Assad held a call with Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed, who affirmed Emirati support for Syrian “sovereignty.” Nevertheless, the ongoing threats posed by armed opposition groups underline that normalization with Arab countries, while diplomatically beneficial, has little tangible impact on stabilizing the situation on the ground.

Moscow’s strategy in Syria going forward likely will involve a pragmatic adaptation rather than a withdrawal or a complete overhaul. This may require Russia to reconcile with the reality that its reduced military influence demands greater flexibility with regional powers.

The return of Donald Trump to the White House adds another layer of complexity to Russia’s calculations. A second Trump presidency might seek a grand bargain with Moscow, potentially offering a deal on Ukraine—such as freezing military aid or even recognizing Moscow’s territorial claims—in exchange for Russia helping to reduce Iran’s presence in Syria and facilitate a U.S. withdrawal from the region.

However, such a deal faces significant obstacles. Russia’s increased dependence on Iranian military support, both in Ukraine and Syria, makes Moscow unlikely to risk this crucial partnership. Moreover, Russia’s diminished leverage in Syria raises questions about its ability to deliver on any promises regarding Iranian influence, even if it wanted to.

Syria’s future trajectory will likely create new complications. Israel, faced with Russia’s inability or unwillingness to constrain Iran in Syria, may intensify its unilateral strikes against Iranian assets. Turkey may push for greater influence in the north, leveraging Russia’s need for cooperation to expand its sphere of control.

These dynamics suggest Syria is increasingly being divided into spheres of influence, with Russia focused primarily on securing its core interests along the Mediterranean coast. Though Russia is unlikely to move ground forces from Ukraine, any threat to its assets in Tartus and Latakia would likely see a redeployment of private military contractors or attempts to curry favor with Iran in hopes of ground reinforcements.

Rather than reevaluating its commitment to the Assad regime, Moscow appears determined to preserve its Syrian presence by recalibrating its methods.

[maritimecrashes12]

The Cutting Edge of Aerial Dominance: Exploring the World's Top Fighter Jets and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

In the dynamic arena of aerial warfare, the evolution of fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) stands at the forefront of technological innovation and strategic prowess. From the sleek designs of the world's top fighter jets to the sophisticated capabilities of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems, and the emerging dominance of uncrewed aerial vehicles, the landscape of modern air combat is continually reshaped. Among these, the Rafale Combat Aircraft emerges as a symbol of excellence, blending advanced technology with operational versatility. Let's delve into the intricacies of these remarkable aircraft and their impact on the future of aerial warfare.

Evolution of Fighter Jets:

Since the inception of aerial combat, fighter jets have undergone a remarkable evolution. From propeller-driven aircraft of World War I to the supersonic jets of today, advancements in aerodynamics, propulsion, and weaponry have propelled the capabilities of these warbirds to unprecedented heights. Among the current generation of fighter jets, several stand out for their superior performance and cutting-edge technology.

World's Top Fighter Jets:

F-22 Raptor:

The F-22 Raptor, developed by Lockheed Martin, is hailed as the world's most advanced fighter jet. Its combination of stealth, speed, agility, and advanced avionics makes it virtually unmatched in aerial combat. Equipped with AESA radar and thrust-vectoring engines, the F-22 can dominate the skies with unparalleled situational awareness and maneuverability.

F-35 Lightning II:

The F-35 Lightning II, also manufactured by Lockheed Martin, represents the pinnacle of multi-role fighter technology. Designed to operate in various mission profiles, including air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance, the F-35 boasts advanced stealth capabilities and sensor fusion technology. Its AESA radar provides enhanced detection and tracking capabilities, while its low observability ensures survivability in contested airspace.

Su-57:

Russia's Su-57, developed by Sukhoi, is a fifth-generation fighter designed to counter the capabilities of Western counterparts. With its stealthy airframe, supercruise capability, and advanced avionics, the Su-57 poses a formidable threat to adversaries. Equipped with an AESA radar system and a diverse array of weapons, including long-range air-to-air missiles and precision-guided munitions, the Su-57 is a versatile platform tailored for modern air combat.

Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar:

Central to the effectiveness of modern fighter jets is the AESA radar system. Unlike traditional mechanically-scanned radar, AESA technology offers superior performance in terms of range, resolution, and agility. By electronically steering the radar beam, AESA radars provide faster and more precise detection and tracking of targets while minimizing vulnerability to jamming and interception. This advanced capability enhances the situational awareness and combat effectiveness of fighter aircraft across various mission profiles.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs):

In recent years, the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles has revolutionized the landscape of aerial warfare. These remotely piloted aircraft, ranging from small reconnaissance drones to large combat drones, offer unique advantages in terms of persistence, flexibility, and risk mitigation. By eliminating the need for onboard crew, UAVs can operate in high-risk environments and perform a wide range of missions, including surveillance, intelligence gathering, and precision strikes.

Impact of UAVs on Aerial Warfare:

The proliferation of UAVs has fundamentally transformed the nature of aerial warfare. These unmanned platforms, equipped with advanced sensors and communication systems, provide commanders with real-time situational awareness and actionable intelligence. Moreover, armed UAVs can deliver precision strikes with minimal collateral damage, thus reducing the risk to friendly forces and civilian populations. As UAV technology continues to advance, their role in future conflicts is expected to expand, shaping the tactics and strategies of air forces worldwide.

Rafale Combat Aircraft:

Amidst the array of advanced fighter jets and UAVs, the Rafale Combat Aircraft stands out as a symbol of French ingenuity and military excellence. Developed by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale is a multi-role fighter renowned for its versatility and combat capabilities. Equipped with a state-of-the-art AESA radar system, the Rafale offers unmatched situational awareness and target acquisition capabilities. Its ability to perform a wide range of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance, makes it a valuable asset for modern air forces.

In conclusion, the world's top fighter jets, coupled with the advancements in AESA radar technology and the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles, represent the cutting edge of aerial dominance. From the stealthy profiles of aircraft like the F-22 Raptor to the versatility of platforms like the Rafale Combat Aircraft, these technological marvels continue to shape the future of aerial warfare. As we look ahead, the integration of advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, and autonomous capabilities will further enhance the effectiveness and lethality of air power, ensuring air superiority in the battlespace of tomorrow.

[axisindia2023]

Why do we need SPDs for electrical safety?

In modern infrastructure, Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) serve as silent defenders, shielding our electronics from the wrath of electrical surges. These unassuming devices play a crucial role in any building's defense against transient overvoltages, ensuring sensitive equipment's smooth operation and longevity.

SPDs, however, emerge as the vanguard against these electrical onslaughts. Crafted to curtail surge voltages in terms of amplitude, they prevent the breach of a device's dielectric threshold. Moreover, SPDs excel in discharging surge currents to a distant ground, thus fortifying the system's overall resilience.

SPDs execute their protective duties with precision, either in parallel to equipment, between active conductors, or between active conductors and protective conductors. Their modus operandi mimics a vigilant sentinel; when excess charge or surge inundates the system, the SPD swiftly switches, assuming a low-resistance state. 

Are they essential to protect sensitive electronic & electrical equipment?

Let's explore!

Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) stand as the stalwart guardians of modern buildings, ensuring the safety and longevity of sensitive electronic and electrical equipment. Integral to any Internal Lightning Protection System (LPS), SPDs are engineered to counter transient overvoltages and divert surge currents, shielding vital infrastructure from potential damage or malfunction.

In the intricate ecosystem of electrical systems, malfunctions or damage can swiftly arise when surge voltages surpass the dielectric strength of connected devices. These surge voltages, characterized by their fleeting yet formidable nature, often manifest in the kilovolt range, ranging from microseconds to several hundred microseconds. Lightning strikes (direct or indirect), switching operations, and electrostatic discharges are common instigators of such surges.

SPDs Characteristics

IEC 61643 Part 11 defines the characteristics and tests for SPDs connected to lower voltage distribution systems.

Uc: Maximum continuous operating voltage

The SPD becomes active above this A.C. or D.C. voltage. The rated voltage and the system earthing arrangement help determine this value.

Up: Voltage protection level (at In)

When the SPD is active, this is the maximum voltage across its terminals. When the current flowing in the SPD is equal to In the voltage reached is Up. The voltage protection level chosen must be below the load's overvoltage withstand capability. In the event of lightning strikes, the voltage across the terminals of the SPD generally remains less than Up.

In: Nominal discharge current

This is the peak value of a current of 8/20 μs waveform that the SPD can discharge 15 times.

Protect sensitive electronic & electrical equipment

In the contemporary landscape, SPDs reign supreme as the most efficient and commonly utilized form of overvoltage protection for facilities or loads operating within the low-voltage spectrum. Their ubiquity underscores their efficacy in safeguarding modern infrastructure against the capricious whims of electrical surges.

When considering the deployment of SPDs, it's paramount to prioritize quality and reliability. Reputable SPD manufacturers offer diverse solutions tailored to the specific needs of varying installations. Thorough vetting and selection of SPDs ensure the optimal performance of the protective system and the enduring resilience of critical electronic and electrical assets.

In a Nutshell

Surge Protection Devices stand as the unsung heroes of modern infrastructure, tirelessly safeguarding against the unpredictable storms of electrical surges. As the cornerstone of any Internal Lightning Protection System, SPDs epitomize proactive resilience in the face of adversity, ensuring the uninterrupted functionality of vital equipment and systems. With SPDs standing vigilant, buildings can weather the storm, secure in the knowledge that their electronic bastions remain fortified against the elements.

Since 1994, Axis is a reliable SPD manufacturer internationally. Our customers include Utilities, Government Organizations, and Private Projects worldwide. 

To learn more about Axis India's Surge Protection Devices, visit Axis India.

About The Author

Axis India is a leading provider of electrical protection solutions, offering a wide range of products and services for various industries in over 80+ Countries. With a focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, Axis India delivers cutting-edge solutions that ensure electrical systems' protection, reliability, and efficiency.

[nyxpos]

Modern Receipt Printer: Unveiling the Best Price for Enhanced Business Efficiency

Introduction

In today's fast-paced business landscape, efficiency is the key to success. One of the essential tools that can significantly enhance the productivity of retail, hospitality, and other businesses is the modern receipt printer. These sophisticated devices not only facilitate smooth transaction processes but also help streamline inventory management and customer service. In this article, we will explore the features of a Modern Receipt Printer at The Best Price options available in the market to equip your business with cutting-edge technology.

The Evolution of Receipt Printers

Receipt printers have come a long way from their humble beginnings as basic dot-matrix machines. Advancements in technology have led to the development of sleek, high-speed printers that can handle complex tasks with ease. Modern receipt printers utilize various printing technologies, including thermal, impact, and inkjet, each tailored to specific business needs.

Key Features of a Modern Receipt Printer

Speed and Performance:

Modern receipt printers boast lightning-fast printing speeds, ensuring swift transaction processing during peak hours. High-performance printers can print several lines per second, minimizing waiting times for customers.

Connectivity Options:

With connectivity being crucial in today's business environment, modern receipt printers offer versatile connectivity options, such as USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. These interfaces enable seamless integration with Point of Sale (POS) systems and mobile devices.

Compact and Sleek Design:

Space is often a valuable asset in business settings, and modern receipt printers are designed with a small footprint to optimize counter space utilization. Their stylish and compact design also complements the aesthetics of modern establishments.

Paper Handling and Auto-Cutting:

Advanced receipt printers come equipped with efficient paper handling mechanisms, including automatic paper loading and cutting features. This streamlines the receipt printing process and reduces manual intervention.

Compatibility and Cross-Platform Support:

Modern receipt printers are designed to be compatible with various operating systems, making them adaptable to different business setups. They can seamlessly work with Windows, iOS, Android, and other platforms.

Finding the Best Price

When it comes to acquiring a modern receipt printer, businesses need to strike a balance between quality and cost-effectiveness. To find the best price for a receipt printer, consider the following steps

Research Multiple Brands:

Explore various reputable brands offering modern receipt printers. Look for product reviews, ratings, and customer feedback to gauge their performance and reliability.

Assess Features:

Identify the features that align with your business requirements. Avoid overspending on functionalities that may not be essential for your operations.

Compare Prices:

Visit different online and offline retailers to compare prices for the chosen receipt printer model. Often, discounts and deals may be available at specific times of the year.

Consider After-Sales Support:

Evaluate the after-sales support offered by the manufacturer or retailer. A good warranty and customer service can save you time and money in the long run.

For more info:-

Modern Receipt Printer at The Best Price

QR Menus Software in UAE

[true-power-limited]

True Power ‘Copper Bonded Lightning Arresters’ are manufactured with pure copper bonded over high tensile steel rods. The mast of these lightning Arrester remains the same as that of high conductivity copper like in ‘Copper Lightning Arrester’ while the holding rod is replaced by the Copper bonded rod.

The Copper bonded rod provides increased tensile strength and corrosive resistance to the lightning arrester rods. These rods are generally used for areas with high wind pressure and highly corrosive environments. They provide elongated life and the best protection in corrosive environments like coastal areas, areas with heavy rainfalls, and industrial areas with high salt content in their environment.

These Lightning arresters are usually recommended for small areas with fewer Lightning strikes like small homes, offices, warehouses, and other low-height structures. These are less reliable in comparison with advanced ‘Early streamer Lightning Arresters’ and they also protect less surrounding areas in their comparison.

Contact us:

Call us: 8318455691

Email us: seotruepower@gmail.com

Address: D 242, Sector 63 Rd, D Block, Sector 63, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

For more information visit: https://www.truepowergroup.in/copper-lightning-arrester.html

True Power Earthings Private Limited

[sgpowerproductspvtltd]

Lightning can cause major problems for companies, damaging high rise buildings and other electrical equipment's. To Protect our facilities from lightening a safe and efficient system is employed as Lightning Protection System ESE Lightning Protection System is essentially a technically advance lightning protection system. The distinctive features of the ESE Lightning Arrester allows best performance. We are occupied with offering a wide scope of ESE Lightning Conductor to our customers. These items are mainly used to give data no of lightning strikes which our lightning protection system has securely released. The items that we offer to our customers are made utilizing high evaluation crude material remembering the necessities and prerequisites of our customers. These items are fabricated utilizing predominant quality crude material according to the set worldwide norms. The items that we offer in this classification are Lightning Conductor, ESE Lightning Protection System and Lightning Counter. These items are in colossal interest over the globe and are broadly valued.

SG Power, a leading manufacturer and CE certified company in Earthing Solutions offers a tailor made exclusive range of ESE Lightning Conductor to its clients. This tailored product range is primarily used to provide all necessary details related to: Lightning strikes recorded and discharged safely using our lightning protection system.

The products offered to our clients are made using premium grade raw material keeping in mind the specifications shared by our clients. These products are manufactured under stringent quality checks and standards as set and accepted internationally. The product range includes: ESE Lightning Protection System and associated accessories. Our products have been in demand across our client base and are highly appreciated and recommended.

[razieltwelve]

Do Your Part (The Vestige)

With the advent of the Second Breach War, recruitment drives were launched throughout the world as civilisation once more shifted to a war footing. Here are some of the slogans they used:

Be a hero. Be a pilot.

Every extra pilot is a million saved lives. Get tested today.

Engineers. Mechanics. Techs. Do your part. Join the Eidolon Program.

We saved the world once. We can do it again. Join the Eidolon Program today.

So many have given their all. Don’t let their sacrifice be in vain. The Eidolon Program is now recruiting.

During the First Breach War, pilots were celebrities, real-life superheroes who were saving the world. The victory in the First Breach War turned them into living legends, heroes out of myth and story. People didn’t just like pilots. They idolised them.

When the Second Breach War started, the Eidolon Program was swamped with applications despite the tremendously dangerous nature of the job. It was like being offered a chance to become Superman. Was anybody going to say no?

With many of the pilots from the first war unable to serve for a variety of reasons (the two most frequent being death or lingering disability) and the fal’Cie arriving in larger numbers than ever before, the Eidolon Program had no choice but to accept as many suitable pilots as it could.

With civilisation on the brink of collapse, the Eidolon Program rushed the first set of recruits through training in a record six months. Naturally, this resulted in horrific casualties. Piloting refurbished Eidolons from the previous war, these new recruits were inexperienced, outgunned, and hopelessly idealistic.

Casualty rates were in the vicinity of 50% in the first six months. Perhaps the most tragic story of all is that of a family in which all eight children, four sets of twins, were wiped out in a single battle. Born and raised in Midgar, they fell in the cities defence, along with the lone pair of veteran pilots leading them. The loss of ten Eidolons (there were others onsite) was absolutely catastrophic given the depleted ranks of the Eidolon Program and the seemingly unrelenting advance of the fal’Cie.

That’s right. Of the pilots who went through the first rushed training program, half were dead within six months of entering active duty. 

Yet their sacrifice was not without purpose. The time they bought the Eidolon Program was crucial. Their deaths stymied the fal’Cie onslaught long enough for nations across the world to ramp up Eidolon and weapons production and for the second set of recruits to go through a more thorough training program.

There are many who call the strategy, which was devised by Grand Marshal Farron, a crime against humanity. Yet the truth of the matter if brutally clear when examined objectively. At the start of the Second Breach War, the Eidolon Program simply did not have enough Eidolons or pilots to mount a proper defence. Furthermore, the fal’Cie were no longer appearing from a single Breach. Instead, the enemy demonstrated the ability to send multiple fal’Cie through short-lived temporary Breaches that could appear in a variety of different locations.

Left unchecked, the fal’Cie would exterminate the world’s population in less than a month. Even with the full force of the Eidolon Program’s resources, they would still triumph in less than a year if conventional tactics were employed. Worse, the fal’Cie had begun to target production and manufacturing facilities to prevent the Eidolon Program from increasing its fighting power. The decision was therefore made to focus on defending war-critical areas at any cost in the hope that eventually improved production and training techniques would allow the Eidolon Program to reach a level of strength sufficient to repel the fal’Cie onslaught in earnest.

Subsequent analyses suggests that Grand Marshal Farron’s tactics were likely the only route to victory despite the horrific costs they incurred. 

When the Second Breach War started, there were a total of twenty useable Eidolons in the entire world, all of them more than a decade old. The others had all either been destroyed in the climactic final battle of the First Breach War or had been completely decommissioned or even disassembled. By scrounging together whatever they could, the Eidolon Program was able to field a total of fifty Eidolons. At its peak, it had once fielded two hundred.

A year after the Second Breach War began, the first of the Mark VIs rolled off the production line. These Eidolons were based on the Mark Vs that had done the brunt of the damage against the fal’Cie toward the end of the First Breach War. However, advances in technology meant they were at least 75% more effective in combat than their predecessors.

With most of the world’s economy devoted to the war effort, the Mark VIs arrived in force, with a dozen of them entering service each month. This massive increase in fighting power allowed the Eidolon Program to finally begin establish a firm defensive line. Better still, improvements in production technology allowed for the number of Eidolons produced each month to increase even further.

The tide of battle truly began to turn when the first of the Mark VI-2s arrived two years after the Second Breach War began. Based on the Mark VIs but with vastly improved weaponry designed specifically to counter the evolution seen in the fal’Cie, these Eidolons demonstrated 45% more combat effectiveness than their predecessors. This meant that a single Mark VI-2 was worth roughly 2.5 Mark Vs in battle. 

Production of the Mark VI-2 hit new levels thanks to the diversion of any spare industrial capacity. As many as twenty Mark VI-2 were produced across the world each month. The Eidolon Program finally had the strength and numbers to establish Arks across the world instead of focusing primarily on defending areas critical to the war effort. 

Another welcome innovation arrived shortly after with the development of the Aerial Rapid Deployment System. This was essentially a system that allowed Eidolons to be deployed via rocket, allowing the Eidolon Program to cover larger areas and to rapidly increase its forces in a given area if necessary. Naturally, retrieving the Eidolons took longer since more conventional aircraft or transport were used, but the ability to deploy them rapidly was game-changing.

Throughout all of this, recruitment drives were maintained. Also important was the use of propaganda to ensure civilian morale remained high. This was particularly important during the opening stages of the war when the Eidolon Program was on the back foot and facing mounting civilian and pilot casualties. As the war turned, and the Eidolon Program began to repel assault after assault with growing ease, the propaganda drive continued. 

What would eventually lead to the end of Second Breach War years later would be the development of Breach technology, allowing the Eidolon Program to strike back at the enemy instead of simply defending. The bomb used to end the First Breach War had been the largest in human history, with an estimated output of one gigaton (the largest nuclear device built to that point had a yield of roughly 40 megatons). Grand Marshal Farron would order the deployed of even more destructive weaponry to eventually end the war.

After all, the Makers had survived one such bomb although it had taken them years to recover. With the ability to create their own Breaches, the Eidolon Program would not make that same mistake. Indeed, there are some who would later call the Grand Marshal the Butcher of Bodhum in reference to both her actions and her home city.

Of course, opinions on her decision to essentially commit genocide are generally viewed in a much more positive light by those who have suffered at the hands of the fal’Cie.

As the infamous the Grand Marshal herself put it: “They came to our world not once but twice, and each time their objective was the same: to kill all of us and claim our world for themselves. Now that we’re finally winning and have a chance to finish this once and for all, they don’t get to just surrender and sue for peace. They wanted an existential battle? They got one. It might make me a monster, but I will gladly be called that if it means never having to worry about one of their creations smashing one of our cities and slaughtering our people. They chose this kind of war. I’m just choosing to finish it the same they started.”

X    X     X

Author’s Notes

Yeah, the Second Breach War starts off as an absolute bloodbath. The world was caught with its pants down, and Lightning basically had to decide what the best course of action was. With the forces they had, there was no way they could win. Their only hope was to fight a defensive delaying action until production could ramp up enough to give them a fighting shot. You can bet she wasn’t happy about it, but she could also see it was their best shot at surviving and winning. It might also have played a part in her eventual decision to simply wipe out the Makers when they develop the ability to create their own Breaches. You can bet the bombs they dropped had the names of all the lives that were lost written on them too. It’s not much, but it’s revenge of a sort for all those who were lost.

Incidentally, this could also lead into an eventual Mass Effect crossover as a triumphant humanity uses the Breach technology, technology recovered from the smoking ruins of the Makers’ world, and their own advances to reach into space. For obvious reasons, though, their first encounter with the Turians is going to go differently. And you can imagine how dimly they’ll view any attack on their own people.

And the Turian, for their part, might wonder what they’ve gotten into when they realise that the last time humanity got invaded by aliens, they wiped them out despite being at a massive disadvantage for most of the war. This time, humanity has technology that is in many ways better (Breach technology can be used for near-instantaneous travel across vast distances as well as a host of other things).

Not to mention how they’ll react when they see an Eidolon in action. Everybody is gangster until a Titan Class Mark XXV Eidolon drops out of the sky and start killing everything. Three hundred metres of pure , undiluted human badassery created for the sole purposes of annihilating anything that even looks at humanity funny. Trust me, the Turians on Shanxi are going to freak when they see a dreadnought get cut in half after one of those gets deployed in space to basically ‘grapple’ the spaceship because why not?

If you’re interested in my thoughts on writing and other topics, you can find those here.

I also write original fiction, which you can find on Amazon here. I’ve recently released two stories, Attempted Adventuring and Surviving Quarantine, as well as two audiobooks, Two Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Army of Golems, Two Necromancers, a Dragon, and a Vampire, and The Hungry Dragon Cookie Company. If you like humour, action, and adventure, be sure to check them out.

[gegenji]

A Minute Movement of Masks and Monsters

There was a bit of a sickening crick as Tsunene finally got up from her work and forcibly popped the stiffness out of her back. A sound that echoed a bit over-loud in the chamber she had been toiling in. A chamber that - while a few degrees less cramped than the musty cell she had been in not all that long ago - still felt a bit like a prison.

The reasoning for that was a bit complicated, of course, since it was technically different from those prior arrangements. She was... relatively free to come and go as she pleased, though she always had the strange suspicion whenever she did depart that some manner of eyes were on her at all times. And, as was promised, the facilities were decently well stocked for her purposes. Purposes that were at the behest of her strange benefactor, rather than her own desired goals.

And that was honestly the rub of the whole situation: she had wanted to make super-soldiers off of this strange and potentially profitable discovery she had all but been handed as an act of providence. She had planned to amass wealth and fame and power with her alchemical genius in deciphering the mystery and replicating its results. Not be stuck in relative obscurity, limited to trying to create the next big gimmick for the brutes of the Bloodsands to throw themselves at.

Though, to be fair, she argued with herself as she idly cracked each finger joint individually, this was still technically better than the alternatives. The idea of having a wealthy patron to fund her experiments and developments was not something she could so easily dismiss out of hand. And even being stuck doing this sort of... alchemical grunt-work was infinitely preferable to withering away in a Flames jail cell. Or, worse, having to fight it out on the Bloodsands like her former assistant D'lilac.

D'lilac who - thanks to Tsunene's gift, of course - was doing quite well on that front. An up-and-coming rising star of the gladiatorial world with a "special technique" that was "surprising, entertaining, and enticingly powerful." Or, at least, that's what all the posters about her liked to proclaim. Posters likely manufactured by that selfsame patron and benefactor.

While the alchemical genius herself was stuck huddling over beakers. Seeking to replicate some variation of the formula from sheer memory and experimentation to meet with the ever-rising standards her one successful test subject was setting. Which was certainly moving faster than Tsunene's progress. The lady Plainsfolk had managed some interesting results on the test beasts that had been provided to her, but given all the positive buzz the 'Legendary Leozaru' or whatever was getting... they didn't seem quite good enough.

It figured, Tsunene noted with an irritated sigh, that her troublesome assistant continued to make things more difficult for the lady Plainsfolk even in her successes.

All of this added up to just one thing: that it was definitely time to step away from the alchemical table and get some fresh air. Clear her head and indulge in what little freedoms she did have, comparatively. And perhaps in some of those delectable pastries from down in the markets. If she was going to be observed while out and about, she might as well be observed enjoying something sweet.

... Or that had been the plan, anyway. Tsunene had only made it halfway up the staircase that went from her alchemical workshop to the door when the latter creaked open and her way was figuratively and quite literally blocked by the hulking form of Swyrkhan. The Roegadyn wearing one of his apparently massive collection of similar-looking pinstripe vests. This one having the audacity of being a bright yellow - as if mocking the lady Lalafell with the color of the sunlight she was being denied at the moment.

And it got only more problematic from there, because the big lug wasn't alone. Moving in a dramatically sharp movement that Tsunene thought - or perhaps hoped - would've sent the lumbering behemoth tumbling over the railing to the floor below, Swyrkhan sidestepped to give way to the lady Lalafell's second guest.

None other than her ‘illustrious’ patron himself: "Master Hohoyahu."

As the name suggested, the man in question was a Lalafell like herself - Dunesfolk rather than Plainsfolk - and to stick to more... polite adjectives in order to describe him, Tsunene would likely go with "eccentric." After all, a man whose only constant was the black-and-white jester's mask on his face while everything else from clothing to hair to even eye color seemed to change at whim every time she saw him could hardly be considered "normal." And that was before one got caught in conversation with him. Something that Tsunene had a sinking feeling was an inevitability now.

"Ah, there's my masterful alchemist!" the masked Dunesfolk announced in a voice that somehow seemed to be even more bombastic than Swyrkhan's. And the Roe already seemed to speak as if he were on a stage rather than in a normal conversation. Hohoyahu paused only long enough for the echo in the chambers to begin to fade before he continued right on. "I do hope this sun has been most agreeable for your research!"

"'Twould be far more fortuitous if I was free to fetch myself some food," Tsunene grumbled quietly, deigning to not reveal that this was for sweets. And quietly hoping that presenting the need to eat in a more vague sense would allow her to escape. A hope that was quickly dashed.

"Now now now, sustenance can wait for just a minute or two, can it not?" Hohoyahu countered, waggling his finger - an action Swyrkhan mimicked, which only made the motion all the more irritating to Tsunene. They were like some sort of deranged buddy act. "After all, I have so graciously come to see what progress you have made for me! With D'lilac making such wonderful waves, the audience is ready and willing to see what else we can bring!"

"Progress plods, as per what I have perpetually presented in those superfluous reports I pen for you," the alchemist stated flatly. "Seeking to synthesize the solution from scratch without source material - let alone make modifications for your 'marketable monsters'  - is not an act I can accomplish with any sort of alacrity."

"Now now now!" came the counter, in the exact same cadence and pitch as before. "We both know you have quite the mind in there." He was in front of Tsunene in a quick flourish of a step that her eyes could only barely follow and... actively knocked on her head as if it was made of wood. "I'm sure you must have something to show for your work thus far!"

Tsunene stumbled back a couple steps, rubbing at the bruise she was absolutely sure was forming where her erratic patron had rapped on her skull. "I can present the potion I have prepared thus far, sussed using sanguine samples from your supposed celebrity," she relented, motioning stiffly back down the stairs. "But I offer no promises as to its potency. Instead, it has proved... problematic."

"Intriguing!" Hohoyahu stated with a sharp clap of his hands before motioning for her to proceed on ahead of him. "Let us go and take a look then, shall we? I'm absolutely certain that together we can solve whatever problems you're having!"

“... Delightful.”

“Indeed!”

A forcefully swallowed sigh, and Tsunene started her slow trek back down the stairs - her dreams of pastries on hold until she had sufficiently placated her patron. To hurry that process, she began her explanation once she heard Hohoyahu and his manservant following behind. Which wasn't too difficult, given the sharp clack of their shoes on the stone of the staircase. She wouldn'tve been surprised if they were wearing tap shoes or something - they seemed the sort.

"Given my former fellow's... feline features, I figured that the first flagship should be of similar stock," she explained matter-of-factually as she descended. "Her tincture turned her towards that... more primal state. So it stood that solutions sourced from her should show similar results..."

"And that's why you requested the couerl kitten!" Hohoyahu chimed in with another clap of his hands that neatly interrupted Tsunene's train of thought. "I knew there was a reason for that one."

"Impeccably deduced, sir. And lo, we provided as we said we would," Swyrkhan added with a grand spread of his hands. Or as much as he could without bashing one of them into the wall. "And many suns ago besides. So, Sunshine-" Tsunene frowned at the nickname. "-whatever happened to that illustrious little test subject?"

"Suns spent ensuring the subject wouldn't simply... succumb to an untested solution!" the lady Plainsfolk snapped, pausing on the bottom-most step and whirling around on the Roegadyn. She paused to collect herself - not willing to give either of them the satisfaction of seeing her flustered - and adjusted her glasses. "I am a professional, not a poisoner."

“So! No... catdavers, then,” Hohoyahu interjected, forcing Tsunene to swallow a groan this time as her patron made a dramatic bow for his horrendous wordplay.

“No... sir...” The sarcasm dripped despite her best attempts to restrain it, and she moved to a holding cell set in the wall. Well away from everything else, for good reason. “Not as such.”

A click, and Tsunene pulled open the door and motioned inside. Inviting them in. “She has a...” She groaned a little before continuing. “Stormy disposition. So step lightly.”

“There we go, Sunshine!” Swyrkhan applauded. “By the Twelve, we might even see a smile from you at some point!”

“Unlikely.”

Hohoyahu merely laughed behind his mask, and strode through the door without nary a care in the world. And then there was a brilliant flash as a bolt of lightning crackled out from the darkness of the cell, striking where the bombastic Lalafell stood.

Or where he had been standing. There was a blackened mark where he had been, but the Dunesfolk himself was mere ilms off to one side. And, for some inexplicable reason, in a pose.

Tsunene wasn’t quite sure which part of it assaulted her sensibilities more.

“My!” Hohoyahu gasped dramatically. “You certainly...”

Another bolt of lightning sidestepped, complete with new pose.

“Weren’t...”

And a third, with similar results as Hohoyahu twirled into a flourish on the third dodge.

“Kidding!”

As the eccentric Dunesfolk pressed further onward, Tsunene could only gape in disbelief before turning to the Roegadyn manservant who seemed completely unfazed by such antics. And only one word managed to escape her lips: “How?”

“Ah, but a true performer never reveals their secrets!” Swyrkhan countered, in a cadence that instantly identified the quote as something from Hohoyahu himself. Then, with a chuckle, the Roegadyn surprised her further by obliging with an actual answer. Of sorts. “Master Hohoyahu has always claimed to be able to see a couple steps ahead in the dance.”

“And such foresight somehow allows him to sidestep being struck by lightning!?”

“You created Miqo’te able to shapeshift into a beast,” Hohoyahu responded from a couple steps behind Tsunene, startling her with the suddenness. Whirling about gave her an even more audacious sight: a striped puffball was floating lazily and purring mere ilms above the masked Lalafell’s head. The static of the cloud-couerl kitten causing his hair to stand on end.

“I would’ve thought that brought with it a far more open mind,” he sighed grandly and shook his head, the action allowing some strands of hair to escape the static pull and drift back down into place. “Nevertheless, I rather like this one. Does she have a name?”

“... Subject C-1.”

“No no no!“ Hohoyahu countered with another waggle of his finger as the kitten made lazy circles around his head. “That will not do!“

He immediately pointed to Swyrkhan. “Dear, dear Swyr, you always seem to have a knack for names. If you would, please? Show her how it’s done.”

The Roegadyn folded his arms over his chest and let out a long, thoughtful sound. As if he were observing a grand painting in a museum. Stout fingers stroked a chiseled chin time and time again as the Sea Wolf pondered. And then, as if inspired by an aesthetically appropriate bolt from the blue...

“Mjeowlnir.”

“There we go!” Hohoyahu laughed with a clap of his hands, startling the newly named kitten - who sent out little sparks of lightning all over the place in her alarm. None of which hit the masked Lalafell, of course, but also fortunately did not travel far enough to strike the other two. Though Tsunene scampered back - and behind Swyrkhan to use him as a human shield - just in case.

“Well done, Swyr. A master of words, as always,” Hohoyahu continued, reaching up to scoop the floating fluffball into his arms. “Well, I think this delightful little prize is proof enough that you still have merit. I do look forward to what else you will create.” He started his way back up the stairs before pausing a couple steps up. “Preferably a little more monstrous next time, if you please.”

And then he continued his ascent, running his fingers through the frizzy floof of Mjeowlnir.

“Do make sure to take the Master’s suggestions to heart,” Swyrkhan added in an overly dramatic stage whisper, a hand over his mouth as if to direct the words only to Tsunene. “It is... in your best interests.”

With that enigmatic warning, the Sea Wolf followed after his patron - taking the steps three at a time to catch up to the smaller man - and leaving Tsunene still wondering what all had just happened. Though the few moments of almost deafening silence that followed after that bombastic duo had left didn’t help clear that question up any. Instead, it left the lady Lalafell wishing she was just dealing with D’lilac’s eccentricities again.

... and with a desire for something to drink to go along with that pastry.

[haddonfieldproject]

<<PREVIOUS⏺<<CONTENTS>>

1.2.9 HALLOWEEN NIGHT/NOVEMBER 1st 5:13 AM

Warren County, Illinois

While that call did not succeed in waking up Kyndra and Zoey, the aforementioned Diego was woken up, however, by his co-worker Quinn, as he lay napping on a tattered sofa in the SuperFuel Deluxe's break room.

“Diego!”

Diego grunted.

“Diego, get up,” Quinn slapped him with a blue rag.

Diego sat up and rubbed his eye.

“Customers.” Quinn said.

Diego blinked awake. The TV was on. A man with fake looking blonde hair stood in front of a map coated with splotches of reds, oranges, and yellows.

“ Lightning strikes have been reported just about everywhere as this severe cell moves through Warren and Carpenter counties. Listen up if you are in the areas of Russelville, Haddonfield, Langdon, Tuckerville...you are under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and Tornado Watch ‪until 7:45 am‬. Check out this picture someone posted on social media, that's softball sized hail folks...this reported by Zeke, a custodian working late ‪night tonight‬ at Smith's Grove High School, so be careful out there folks.”

Thunder struck and the lights in the shop momentarily dimmed. Customers, Diego thought, in this storm?

Diego stood up and stretched and then grabbed his Mountain Dew he had swiped from the coolers a few hours ago. Stepping into the shop, he sure enough saw some guy was talking to Quinn, standing next to an old-ass station wagon. The kind that had the wood panels on the side. The bottom was eaten away with rust. Diego was surprised the thing was even running at all, and one of the first things he noticed were the California plates. The lifeless remains of a tire lay snaked around a severely dented rim on the front passenger side. Must have hit a curb without even braking, he thought.

Quinn pulled a clipboard off the dark blue tool bench next to him and said, “We actually just had one of these die on us last week and it's back there in the yard. We can replace the tire and the rim and fix up those tie rods and struts in a jiff. You got really got lucky, because otherwise you'd be waiting at least two days for parts.”

The man's eyes grew wide, “Are you serious?! That's a miracle if I ever heard one.”

“I'll say,” Diego chimed in, “What year is this?”

“1989 Ford Country Squire” Jack Tate said proudly.

“Wow,” Diego laughed. “Quinn's right, we literally just got one of these in, the drive train fell apart in our hands, literally fell apart. But it was much more beat up than this.”

“You don't say!?” Jack put his hands on his hips.

“I couldn't help but recognize the California plates,” Diego motioned to the back of the car, dropping to one knee to examine the wheel well.

“Yep,” Jack said, rubbing his chin, “We're from a small town in Northern California, between San Jose and Sacramento. It's called Summer Glen.”

“Bet you don't get much snow there,” Diego said from under the car.

“Nope..but I bet you guys do.”

Diego appeared from under the lopsided tire with a smile, “Buckets,” he replied, “And it wreaks havoc on an undercarriage.”

“I bet it does” Jack replied.

Diego stood up and wiped his hands on his coveralls. “Well, not so much the snow,” he said, “it's the salt they salt the roads with. Eats the bottom of the car all up.”

“So what do you do?” Jack asked.

“Heated car wash,” Diego said, reaching out his hand to Quinn for the clipboard.

“I saw signs for those on the way in, all over the place up here,” Jack said, “But I saw signs but then it looked like empty parking lots.”

Quinn smiled and handed Diego the clipboard, “With steam coming up?”

“I didn't see any steam,” Jack replied.

“They're probably turned off right now.” Diego remarked, looking over the paper on the clipboard.

Quinn whistled, “Whew don't I know it. It's been hotter than a hippo with a hernia.”

“Hmmm,” Jack grunted in agreement, “Climate Change.”

Quinn hissed, “Hogwash! I don't believe that bullshit for a second.”

Jack quickly changed the subject, “Anyways—err--how do car washes help your car in the winter?”

Quinn nodded, “You drive over the jets and they hose off your undercarriage with heated water”

“That's fascinating,” Jack smiled.

“Well,” Diego sighed, “We have the parts already so we'll charge you a $90 restocking fee, that's mostly 'cuz Quinn here has to run out in the rain and slip the rim and tie-rods off the old car.”

“Aww man, that's cold,” Quinn exclaimed.

“Good news is,” Diego continued, “You really didn't tear her up all that much besides that, you knocked some things loose but we can tighten her up. The labor will cost you $400 easy,, being on the weekend now, and then $140 for the tire, $126 for the rim, taxes and disposal and you're still under a grand.”

“That's wonderful,” Jack said, placing his hands back on his hips.

“What brings you out here?” Quinn asked, “Especially in this storm.”

“My wife got a job out here, she ‪starts Monday‬ so we wanted to get out here as quick as we could....drove straight through.” Jack remarked.

“Wow,” Quinn breathed.

“I need those parts Quinn,” Diego remarked, opening the top of the tool bench and pulling out a socket wrench.

“Oh right!” Quinn smiled. He walked over to the far wall and grabbed a yellow rain coat which hung on a peg next to a Calendar, still on the month of October. A model in a bikini presided over the tenth month. “What job did your wife get out here?” He called from across the room.

“She's going to be the new Chief of Medicine at the hospital,” Jack replied, his eyes on Diego as Diego crouched back down toward the car.

“Oh she's gonna replace old man Mixter!” Quinn remarked.

Jack shrugged.

“Hurry Quinn, this guy said he's got places to be,” Diego said from under the car.

“Oh right,” Quinn said and stepped through the side door that led into a small foyer and eventually either out to the front parking lot or back into the lot.

“So your wife's a doctor eh,” Diego's voice came from under the car, “so what do you do?”

“Well I'm a doctor too,” Jack replied.

Diego emerged from the car holding a twisted piece of metal, “Really? What kind?”

“Well I'm a psychiatrist,” Jack said.

Diego slid back under the car, “A shrink huh?” He said, “You opening up an office here or something?”

“Well no,” Jack laughed, “I'm actually going to take some time off and write a book.”

Diego re-emerged with more twisted metal, “Cool,” he said, “What about?”

“Hypnosis,” Jack said matter-of-factly.

Diego cocked his head to one side, “Really? You do that shit?”

“Swear by it,” Jack replied.

There was an awkward moment of silence and then they both laughed.

🎃

Meanwhile, Ophelia Tate had purchased a small and incredibly over-priced pack of baby wipes and was giving herself the best attempt at a bath she could muster inside the surprisingly clean restroom of the SuperFuel Deluxe. After she finished, she sat on top of a toilet and took an opportunity to catch up on social media.

While she sat in the stall reading about “11 Celebrities That You Would Never Assume Were Gay”, her son Damon stepped into the Food Mart, and wiped his perfectly white sneakers on the welcome mat. An angry looking Indian man looked up as the door bells jingled and then went back to fiddling with some electronic device behind the counter. Damon's first thought was, Why does he keep all that bullet proof glass open?

He casually turned to his left, starting down an aisle chock full of every imaginable brand of potato chip or chocolate or fruity candy---browsing but not really browsing, more just wasting time. The aisle came to a dead-end at a wall of coolers full of soda and water and fruit juices. Damon stopped and caught himself staring at a row of YooHoos when he heard what sounded like a snickering to his left.

There was a small hallway to the left of the coolers, veering off next to an ATM machine. He stepped in front of the ATM machine and peered down the hallway, at once spotting the cause of the commotion. Three young boys were standing in the corner next to a door marked: UTILITY, NO TRESSPASSING. One was a freckled redheaded kid with shiny braces dressed as batman, another was a blonde haired blue eyed boy dressed like Darth Vader, and the last was a much younger looking kid with brown hair and brown eyes dressed like some kind of zombie. They were huddled together, their masks all hanging limply around their necks, crowded around a magazine featuring a hot blonde titled RED RABBIT. The cover-girl’s name was apparently Misty Dawn, and according to the cover caption, she was “Back and Ready for More Action”.

The boys caught sight of Damon and looked up startled. The freckled redhead kid's smile disappeared and his eyes grew narrow, “Hey!” He called, “What are you looking at?”

Damon was unfazed. “Looks like a couple of pervs to me,” he said, stepping toward them.

This apparently took them aback because they said nothing in retort.

“Seriously,” Damon said, pointing at the cover, “How old are you guys?”

Blonde Vader who held the magazine in his hand pressed it to his chest as if it were the most valuable thing on the earth and looked up at Damon with his mouth open. Little zombie boy took a step back. But BatFreckle was not amused. “Why don't you go Fuck Off!”

Damon frowned, “That's not very nice language. Is everyone in this town pervs like you?”

“Where are you---” little zombie started in but BatFreckle cut him off.

“Don't you know that Warren County is the home of the Rabbit-in-Red? What hole did you crawl out of freak-show?”

“Rabbit-in-what?” Damon asked and with lightning speed, snatched the magazine from Blonde Vader.

“Hey!” The wannabe Sith Lord exclaimed.

“Rabbit-In-Red Productions is the world's third largest manufacturer of pornographic media dipshit, and the company is based here in Warren County.” BatFreckle spat.

“So it is a county full of pervs,” Damon said, opening the magazine and thumbing through the pages.

“My dad said a local bunch of church folks fought Mr. Martini in court over decency laws so much, the legal fees drove the church out of business.” Blonde Vader said.

“Shi-yeah,” BatFreckle said, “That's why old man Taylor's up in his house on the hill crying like a pussy all the time.”

“Mr. Who?” Damon asked, closing the magaize and handing it back to Blonde Vader.

BatFreckle snatched it instead and flipped to the table of contents, pointing to a ‪small black‬ and white picture of a middle-aged overweight man. “Lou Martini. He's the CEO of Rabbit-in-Red nimrod, he owns half the county and is like, the richest man in Illinois outside of Chicago.”

“Where are you from?” Little zombie found his place to ask.

“My parents and I are moving here from California, we just got in tonight, got a flat tire.” Damon replied.

“California! That's cool!” Blonde Vader exclaimed.

BatFreckle rolled his eyes, “Beat it California!” He said, “We were just checking out Spitz' mom in this month's issue.”

He and Blonde Vader started laughing.

“That's not my mom!” Little zombie, who's name was obviously Spitz, whined.

“Don't lie, you know it's her!” BatFreckle teased.

Blonde Vader turned the page, and the centerfold fell out, revealing the cover-girl Misty Dawn laying on a bed of white fur naked except for a silver belly chain and and black stilettos. A paper fell out as well and fluttered almost magestically to the floor. Damon bent down and picked it up. It was a flier that featured another picture of the model. The headline read:

SEE COVER GIRL

MISTY DAWN

TUE-SUN

OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER

AT THE

RABBIT-IN-RED LOUNGE

IN

HADDONFIELD

“Look Spitz” BatFreckle said in jest, “You can see your mom's show tonight if you want.”

“It's not my mom!” Spitz whined again.

“Why don't you leave him alone?” Damon said.

“Why don't you suck my balls?” BatFreckle snapped.

“Chill out Lonnie!” Blonde Vader slapped BatFreckle's shoulder and then looked at Damon “Lonnie can be a douche sometimes, I'm Richie Marshall, this is Lonnie Elamb, and he's Spitz. Welcome to Haddonfield.”

Lonnie groused and leaned back against the wall, opening up the porn.

“Cool, my name is Damon.”

“How old are you?” Richie asked.

“17, you?”

“I just turned 12, Lonnie is 16 but he's still in 8th grade...he has to go to special classes at the Middle School.” Richie and Spitz cackled.

“I have dyslexia fuck face!” Lonnie said, throwing the RED RABBIT at his friend.

“I'm 8,” Spitz said proudly.

“What are you doing out of the house at this time of night?” Damon asked, picking up the magazine from the floor and handing it back to Richie.

“Lonnie has his drivers license now, and I just snuck out of my house.” Richie said.

“What about you?” Damon asked, turning toward Spitz.

“His mom's a whore so she leaves him alone to go out fucking for quarters!” Lonnie called.

“Stop it Lonnie! She is not!” Spitz cried.

Damon ignored him and Spitz continued, “My mom works late nights at Jamie Lee's Diner, she doesn't get home till morning. My grandma watches me but she fell asleep and I...I snuck out too.”

“We just ate there coming in,” Damon said smiling.

“My mom is Taylor,” Spitz said.

“She was our waitress.” Damon replied.

“His mom's a slut!” Lonnie called.

Spitz started to whine but Damon put an arm around him, “Why do you hang out with this asshole? Is there anything else to do in this place than look at naked chicks?”

“There's an arcade in the driver's lounge, but I don't have any quarters.” Spitz said.

“Come on,” Damon said, “Show me where it is.”

Richie tossed Lonnie the magazine to followed Damon and Spitz. Lonnie caught it, rolling his eyes, he was perfectly happy right there looking at boobs.

🎃

Damon stepped into the shop area of the SuperFuel Deluxe and shook off the rain. There he saw his dad sitting on a folding chair listening, as another man held a lamp under their family station wagon from the Jurassic era. A third man was under the car working. The man holding the lamp was droning on and on about baseball. Damon didn't really care for baseball, or any sports for that matter.

“And then the Sox brought in their reliever, that guy Stroop, and he just completely fell apart. He hit two batters and walked another, and before you knew it the bases were loaded.” Quinn was saying.

Damon walked up to his dad. “Is that so---” Jack replied, but was startled when Damon tapped him on the shoulder.

“What is it son? You're not supposed to be back here.” Jack looked up at Damon.

“There's an arcade inside and I was wondering if you had any change on you?” Damon asked.

Jack leaned to one side and pulled his wallet out, withdrawing a 20 dollar bill. “Can they make change?” He asked.

“There's a change machine,” Damon said flatly, taking the money.

“You can play all of that, what the hell, it's been a long few days,” Jack said smiling.

Damon stuffed the twenty in his front pocket and turned, “Thanks,” he said.

“Tell your mom I'm in here,” Jack called after him.

“Haven't seen her,” Damon said as he walked out, without turning.

Quinn started up again, “So you know that big Dominican for the Cubs, Agu...Agu...something.”

“Aguilar,” Diego called from under the car.

“Yeah, Aguilar,” Quinn corrected himself. “Well he steps up to the plate and first pitch...bam!”

NEXT>>

[thecreaturecodex]

Hordling

”Hordlings” © Paizo Publishing, by Andrew Hou. Accessed at the Dungeon 124 Map and Handout Supplement here

[This is why I needed a break. The hordlings are the single highest word count entry in the Codex so far, with sixteen random appearance tables and a table for special attacks and qualities. I also got somewhat distracted during this conversion. I had three versions I was drawing reference from--the original 1e version in Monster Manual II, the 3.5 conversion in Dungeon Magazine, and my own 3.5 conversion from my high school years. In going back over the MMII, I realized how many 1e monsters are relatively obscure. So I’m going to be converting some of those. Like, maybe 50 or so when I’m all said and done.

Also, I’d love to see what some of y’all make with randomly generated hordlings. Feel free to use this post as a generator.

Edit: In the interests of saving peoples’ dashboards, I’ve moved all of the random tables behind the cut. There’s a lot of them.]

Hordling CR 5 CE Outsider (extraplanar) This humanoid horror has a motley combination of mismatched traits.

In the distant past, the daemons infected the Abyss with mortal souls, creating the demons in the process. Perhaps the hordlings are the Abyss’ revenge. Whenever a chaotic outsider dies in Abaddon, parts of its essence merge with that plane, creating a vector point that spawns hordlings—sometimes merely a single one, sometimes hundreds. Some daemons view them as pests, and seek to exterminate hordlings and purge vectors of their chaotic influence. Others see hordlings as useful, expendable minions, and press them into service. Although hordlings are immune to charm or compulsion magic, they respond well to promises of murder and treasure, and value their own hides enough to be cowed by threats.

No two hordlings look identical, but all are vicious killers. They fight amongst themselves frequently for dominance, but are more than eager to turn their violence on other creatures. No matter their shape or size, all hordlings are surprisingly stealthy, and if they sense a possible victim coming, they seek to set up an ambush. A hordling’s abilities dictate its combat style, but they are generally melee combatants. Once combat is joined, most hordlings fight to the death.

There are many types of variant hordlings. The simplest variations can be made by using the degenerate, young, giant or advanced simple templates to make larger or smaller, stronger or weaker hordlings. But hordlings with additional Hit Dice are not unknown. A hordling has one hordling ability for every 2 HD it has, and has SR equal to its CR +11. A hordling with 11 or more HD has DR 10/lawful, and one with 16 or more HD has DR 15/lawful.

Hordling Appearance No two hordlings look alike, and the following tables can be used to customize the appearance of a hordling. None of these appearances have any mechanical effect, except where noted. Feel free to add, change or delete options as you desire. See below the cut for hordling traits both with and without mechanical affects, and for base hordling stats

Overall Aspect 1—gibbering, drooling 2—glaring, menacing 3—twitching, crawling 4—wrinkled, seamed 5—flaccid, drooping 6—rotting, tattered

Head Shape 1—wedge shaped 2—conical 3—discoid 4—cubical 5—spherical 6—ovoid

Head Adornment 1—bald 2—mane 3—frills 4—lumps 5—feathers 6—horns

Ears 1—large, pointed 2—small, pointed 3—oversized, drooping 4—large, fan-like 5—human-like 6—bare holes

Eye Color 1—black 2—purple 3—metallic 4—blank white 5—red 6—yellow

Eye Type 1—bulbous, protruding 2—small, on stalks 3—large, compound 4—small, sunken 5—small, cat-like 6—large, round

Nose 1—snout-like 2—nostrils only 3—short trunk 4—large, bulbous 5—covered in warts 6—none

Mouth 1—tusked 2—small, pointed teeth 3—prominent canines 4—beak 5—crushing molars 6—proboscis

Neck 1—ruffed, frilled 2—long and slender 3—short and muscular 4—crooked, bent 5—capable of full rotation 6—none

Back 1—many-humped 2—bristly 3—spines 4—greasy 5—maned 6—vestigial wings

Tail 1—prehensile 2—stumpy 3—fan-tailed 4—forked 5—knob-ended 6—none

Arms 1—multi-jointed 2—short, thick 3—feathered 4—large, muscular 5—spindly 6—tentacle-like

Legs 1—long, thin 2—short, bowed 3—multi-jointed 4—tripod (+2 CMD vs. trip) 5—centaur-like (+4 CMD vs. trip) 6—no legs; slug or snake-like (cannot be tripped)

Hands 1—single oversized claw 2—too many fingers 3—bird-like talons 4—pincers 5—webbed fingers 6—retractable claws

Feet 1—prehensile toes 2—hoofed 3—clawed 4—webbed 5—sucker-like 6—paw-like

Body coloration 1—dark and muted 2—pale 3—garish, clashing 4—counter-shading 5—stripes or spots 6—transparent skin

Skin covering 1—chitin-covered 2—rough and scaly 3—furred 4—feathered 5—slimy and dripping 6—warty

Hordling Traits All hordlings have multiple monstrous traits—the default has three traits, but many more are possible. Roll on the following table. Duplicate rolls do not stack with each other and should be rerolled, unless the trait has an asterisk next to it 1—additional arm* 2—all-around vision 3—amphibious 4—armored* 5—barbed defense 6—breath weapon 7—clutching grasp 8— elite ability* 9— enhanced senses 10— energy resistance* 11— fortification 12— functional wings 13—gore attack 14— quick footed 15— rapid healer 16— reach attack* 17—rending claws 18—sonic aura 19—spit 20—tripping tail Additional Arm (Ex) The hordling has one additional arm, and gains an additional claw attack All-Around Vision (Ex) The hordling has eyes on the back of its head or scattered around its body. It cannot be flanked and gains a +4 racial bonus to Perception checks Amphibious (Ex) The hordling gains the ability to breathe water and a swim speed equal to its land speed Armored (Ex) The hordling gains an additional +3 natural armor bonus Barbed Defense (Ex) Any creature striking the hordling with a natural weapon, touch spell, unarmed strike or manufactured melee weapon takes piercing damage equal to 1d4+ the hordling’s Strength modifier. Weapons with the reach property do not endanger their wielders in this way. Breath Weapon (Su) Once every 1d4 rounds, the hordling can breathe a cone of gas in a 15 foot cone. Creatures in the area must succeed a Fortitude save (Con based DC) or be nauseated for 1 round and take 1d6 points of Strength damage. On a successful save, they are sickened for 1 round and take no Strength damage. This is a poison effect. Clutching Grasp (Ex) The hordling gains the grab and constrict special attacks for its claws. Its constrict deals the same damage as its claws plus 1.5 times the hordling’s Strength modifier Elite Ability (Ex) The hordling gains a +4 bonus to one of its ability scores (chosen randomly) Enhanced Senses (Ex) The hordling gains blindsense 30 ft. Energy Resistance (Ex) The hordling gains resistance 10 to acid, cold, electricity, fire or sonic damage (selected randomly). This ability can be selected five times, once for each type of energy. Fortification (Ex) The hordling has a 50% chance to treat any critical hit or sneak attack as a normal hit Functional Wings (Ex) The hordling gains a fly speed equal to twice its land speed, with average maneuverability. Gaze (Su) The hordling gains a gaze attack with the following traits; range 10 ft., Will negates (Cha based DC), stun for 1 round. This is a mind-influencing effect. Gore Attack (Ex) The hordling gains a gore attack as a primary natural weapon that deals normal damage for its size. Quick Footed (Ex) The hordling gains a +10 foot bonus to its move speed Rapid Healer (Ex) The hordling gains fast healing 5 Reach Attack (Ex) The hordling’s reach increases by +5 ft. for one of its natural weapons. This ability can be selected once per natural weapon the hordling has. Rending Claws (Ex) The hordling gains the rend special attack, dealing additional damage equal to its normal claw damage plus 1.5x Str bonus when it hits with both claws Sonic Aura (Su) The hordling emits a 10 foot radius aura that causes all creatures within it to succeed a concentration check (DC 20+ spell level) to cast a spell. Any creature in the aura must succeed a Will save (Cha based DC) or be frightened for 1d4+1 rounds. A creature that succeeds this save is immune to the fear effect, but must still concentrate in the aura. This is a sonic, mind-influencing fear effect. Spit (Ex) The hordling can spit as a standard action. Treat this as a ranged touch attack with a range of 60 feet and no range increment. On a successful hit, it deals 1d6 points of acid, cold, electricity or fire damage (select randomly) per 3 HD. Tripping Tail (Ex) The hordling gains a tail attack as a secondary natural weapon that deals normal damage for a tail slap of its size. It also gains the trip special attack with this natural weapon.

Sample Hordling              CR 5 XP 1,600 CE Medium outsider (chaos, evil, extraplanar) Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +7 Defense AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +6 natural) hp 51 (6d10+18); fast healing 5 Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +5 DR 5/lawful; Immune mind-influencing abilities; SR 16 Offense Speed 40 ft. Melee 2 claws +10 (1d6+3), bite +10 (1d6+3) Special Attacks gaze, swarmfighting Statistics Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 13 Base Atk +6; CMB +8; CMD 20Feats Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Weapon Focus (claw) Skills Acrobatics +10 (+14 when jumping), Climb +10, Intimidate +8, Perception +7, Stealth +17, Swim +10; Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth Languages Abyssal SQ hordling traits (gaze, quick feet, rapid healing) Ecology Environment any land or underground (Abaddon) Organization solitary, pair, band (3-12) or horde (13-48) Treasure standard Special Abilities Gaze (Su) range 10 ft., Will DC 14 negates, stun for 1 round. This is a mind-influencing effect, and the save DC is Charisma based. Hordling Traits (Ex/Su) All hordlings have a variety of different, monstrous traits. The basic hordling has three traits, rolled on the table above. Swarmfighting (Ex) Two hordlings of the same size can fit in the same square without penalty. If they both attack the same opponent, they are treated as if they were flanking that opponent.

[buzzdixonwriter]

Not With A Boom But A Whimper

"I’ve always seen the boomers as a generational trust-fund baby: They inherited a country they had no part in building, failed to appreciate it, and seized on all the benefits while leaving nothing behind." -- Sean Illing

I think Illing’s core thesis is correct. The boomers (and I'm in that age group) tended to be societal conformists except when it came to protecting their own self interests. They supported the counter culture in the 1960s and early 70s because they didn't want to go to Vietnam, and at that time that meant supporting civil rights and feminism and gay rights because it was all one big struggle against the establishment but as soon as the threat of war ended, those allies were by and large abandoned as the focus shifted to making money. Hippies to yippies to yuppies. 

Clearly "not all" boomers did this, just as "not all" cops are white supremacists, and "not all" men are rapists, but there sure is a problem in those respective cultures that needs addressing and boomers have a problem in theirs. 

The good news is that while they keep recruiting more cops and breeding more males, boomers will eventually die out.

Let me go a little further on the topic of baby boomers, in particular what is meant by that term.

The broadest definition is anyone born between 1946 and 1964; '64 being the year when (a few young teen outliers excepted) the first baby boomers began marrying and starting families of their own.

While I agree all boomers were born within that 18 year period, I don't think everyone born between 1946-64 is a boomer, certainly not what I consider the core of the boomer generation.

To me, a boomer is a person -- 

Born between 1946-64 

In a family started after WWII

By a returning vet or someone who lost family & friends 

And were members of the white majority (by "white" I include Jewish American citizens, European refugees resettling in the US, and Hispanic / Latin citizens who lived in portions of the country where they were not discriminated against but accepted into the mainstream)

I include (2) because it seems to me kids born after 1946 into families with older siblings who remembered WWII had a reality check classic boomers lacked.

(4) is particularly important because these people did not see the end of WWII as a continuation of a struggle the way African-Americans, non-European refugees, and Hispanic / Latin citizens who faced discrimination did.

To white America, the end of the war was the end of the troubles, and having gone through the horror of WWII they didn't want to visit anything like it upon their children...which in and of itself is a worthy objective.

Non-white America, on the other hand, still had Jim Crow and hatred and prejudice to deal with on a daily basis, and while millions of children were born to them between 1946 and 1964, they were never spiritually part of the classic boomer generation.

The classic boomer was a white kid with a lot of toys. They were a generation raised with the implicit knowledge that they were the best people in the best country on Earth and as such entitled to all the nice things they enjoyed.

Their status was judged in no small part by their possessions, in particular name brands be they clothes or toys or cars or fast food restaurants.

As I posted elsewhere, boomers were strict conformists >until< conformity threatened to march them off into a futile jungle war in Asia. At that point (again, 1964 as the oldest boomers became eligible for the draft) they resisted the war and, in order to do so, also aligned or at least tacitly supported civil rights for African-Americans & other minorities, women's rights, and gay rights.

While each of those movements couldn't stand up to the establishment by themselves, united they could bring a lot of pressure to bear, serving as a force multiplier.

But the moment the Vietnam War ended, the boomers pretty much turned their backs on their former allies. 

Hunter S. Thompson summed up boomers perfectly in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas:

“Strange memories on this nervous night in Las Vegas. Five years later? Six? It seems like a lifetime, or at least a Main Era—the kind of peak that never comes again. San Francisco in the middle sixties was a very special time and place to be a part of. Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run . . . but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant. . . .

”History is hard to know, because of all the hired bullshit, but even without being sure of “history” it seems entirely reasonable to think that every now and then the energy of a whole generation comes to a head in a long fine flash, for reasons that nobody really understands at the time—and which never explain, in retrospect, what actually happened.

“My central memory of that time seems to hang on one or five or maybe forty nights—or very early mornings—when I left the Fillmore half-crazy and, instead of going home, aimed the big 650 Lightning across the Bay Bridge at a hundred miles an hour wearing L. L. Bean shorts and a Butte sheepherder's jacket . . . booming through the Treasure Island tunnel at the lights of Oakland and Berkeley and Richmond, not quite sure which turn-off to take when I got to the other end (always stalling at the toll-gate, too twisted to find neutral while I fumbled for change) . . . but being absolutely certain that no matter which way I went I would come to a place where people were just as high and wild as I was: No doubt at all about that. . . .

“There was madness in any direction, at any hour. If not across the Bay, then up the Golden Gate or down 101 to Los Altos or La Honda. . . . You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning. . . .

“And that, I think, was the handle—that sense of inevitable victory over the forces of Old and Evil. Not in any mean or military sense; we didn’t need that. Our energy would simply prevail. There was no point in fighting—on our side or theirs. We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave. . . .

”So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark—that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.” 

Look how boomers tacitly accepted segregation by fighting against "forced busing" then abandoning public schools for private "Christian academies" where non-whites were routinely excluded (until the feds stepped in an put a stop to that). Look how the ERA stalled out. Look how they let the AIDS crisis roar out of control instead of acting swiftly and compassionately.

Look how their love of money in the 1980s led to the destruction of labor unions (one of the chief reasons their childhoods were so pleasant) and the dismantling of American manufacturing just so they could save a few pennies on their plastic trinkets.

They gobbled up the pro-capitalist / anti-communist jingoism because the capitalists told them those gawdammed commies were going to take away their guns and God and make 'em share with "them" (whichever oppressed minority a particular boomer despised at the moment).

It's not that communism was better or worse, but thinking seriously about communism also meant thinking seriously about capitalism, and boomers by and large didn't want to think about anything but their toys.

Later generations learned / are learning the lessons the boomers as a whole so studiously avoided. I have a great deal of hope for this country as the millennials move into power, and as the white majority continues to decrease to the point where they will be one minority among many.

It'll be too late for the boomers, but hopefully their grandchildren will learn the true meaning of "e pluribus unum".

 © Buzz Dixon

[techwinspd]

Smart Lightning Striking Counter

https://www.techwinspd.com/products/smart-lightning-striking-counter.html

The intelligent lightning surge counter lightning flash counter is designed and manufactured in accordance with IEC61643-21 EN61643-11:2012, YD5075-98 SPD test requirements. lightning event counter mainly collects SPD damage status and damage degree, air switch trip status, SPD false grounding, and poor grounding status and SPD discharge lightning strikes Frequency, size, SPD temperature, and ambient temperature, etc. Equipped with standard RS485 interface data communication, supporting wired and wireless communication methods, lightning flash counter can be used in networking or independently, and can provide custom programming interfaces for customers to connect with other private protocols. For the price and other related information of lightning strike counter, please feel free to contact us.

 Specification of Smart Lightning Striking Counter

item

Smart lightning Strikes Counter

Place of Origin

China

Model number

TD-FL-LM

Brand Name

Techwin

Discharge response

≥0.2kA (Rise≥8μs)

Power supply

220V

Backup power

5~12V

Power consumption

≤0.5W

Discharge number resets

Continue to press(>8s)

Discharge preset

Hold for 5 s and count once

Discharge display range

0~9999 number

Data output

RS485(MODBUS Protocol)

Working temperature

-40°C~+85°C

Wiring specifications

0.5mm²~1.5mm²

Shell material

Flame retardant plastic

Enclosure rating

IP20

Product size

2 switch bit(width 36mm)

Magnetic ring size

22mm X 14mm X 8mm

Mounting brackets

35mm Electrical rail

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 The starting threshold of lightning count is adjustable, and the SPD life span is automatically monitored and calculated.

The channel of lightning current collection, 3 channels of temperature collection, and 3 channels of leakage current collection.

The external sensor has strong anti-interference ability.

Support wired and wireless transmission.

The on-site alarm function can easily realize on-site management even if it is not connected to the Internet.

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[o-craven-canto]

The (somewhat condensed) biography of the average dictator, from the opening chapter of The Dictators (Jules Archer, 1967), which condenses together the biographies of eighteen 20th-century autocrats (Lenin, Stalin, Khruschev, Mussolini, Ataturk, Chiang, Mao, Trujillo, Batista, Castro, Duvalier, Salazar, Hitler, Franco, Sukarno, Tito, Peron, Nasser), eight of whom were still in power during writing.

1934 August 29. Joseph Fralini is born in a mud hut in Bulvakia. His parents are half-breed peasants in a country where the people are wretchedly poor. Bulvakia is ruled by a corrupt Parliament of aristocrats under King Alfredo IV.

1950 January 14. Extremely bright, Joseph wins a scholarship to study for the priesthood in the Bulvakian Orthodox Church. Reading Marxist books in secret, however, turns him against the church. At nineteen he leaves the monastery to take a law clerk's job at beggarly pay.

1958 August 7. He becomes a student and disciple of Alexander Lenovar, a great liberal lawyer and crusader for social reform. The corrupt royalist regime tolerates Lenovar's criticism as simply token opposition.

1962 May 1. May Day. Encouraged by Lenovar, Fralini leads a demonstration against the government. The King's troops attack the crowd. One hundred twelve persons are killed. Fralini is arrested and flung into jail.

June 4. A small group of admirers bribes a guard and helps Fralini escape to Karteg, center of the peasant protest movement. He organizes his followers into an armed band. July 10. With their ranks swelled by recruits, Fralini leads them in raids on large feudal estates. They seize arms, kill aristocrats, and dynamite some mansions. July 21. Bulvakian Army forces, led by Genera Misha La Grande, surround Karteg at midnight. Trapped, Fralini and his aides are arrested and jailed again. September 16. Accused of leading the dynamite raids of July, Fralini cries to a crowded courtroom, "I not only admit it - I am proud of it! My followers and I will never stop figting until Bulvakia is free of tyranny!" September 19. He is exiled from Bulvakia. He escapes the deaht sentence only because the government fears making a martyr of him and inflaming popular discontent. October 30. Alexander Lenovar feels the time is ripe for a liberal opposition movement. He begins to build the Bulvakian People's Party in secret.

1963 March 4. Disguised by a beard, Fralini steals back into Bulvakia with a forged passport and a new name - Casmir. He joins Lenovar, who needs funds for the party. April 11. Casmir leaves for the south of Bulvakia with a small band of "men of action" like kimself, to begin a series of daring bank and mail-train robberies. October 2. With plenty of money on hand, Casmir begins building a strong Party organization in southern Bulvakia. November 10. On signal from Lenovar, he leads a peasant uprising against some big plantations. The landowners are driven out of the province.

1964 January 19. Casmir divides up the land among the peasant and sets up village cooperatives. February 3. Fearing full-scale revolution, the King's ministers advise an old trick - uniting the country behind the government by warning of  athreat of invasion from tiny Pogary to the west. Propaganda broadcasts begin. March 8. Bulvakian forces are mobilized for war. March 19. In the Party's paper, The People's Voice, Lenovar denounces the government for trying to drag the Bulvakian people into an imperialist war of aggression. May 21. Lenovar and Casmir clash violently over tactics. Casmir wants to call for a week of uprisings to stop war preparations. Lenovar refuses, afraid this would give Parliament a pretext for using the Army to crush the Bulvakian People's Party and censor The People's Voice. Reports seep out that the two men are not speaking to each other. August 7. Casmir is expelled from the Party. November 16. A new paper appears, The Bulvakian Masses. It calls upon the nation's workers to support a war on Pogary, pointing out that revolution thrives in wartime. Publisher and editor of the new paper is Casmir. November 25. Lenovar denounces him as a traitor to the working-class movement, and accuses him of having made a deal with the government. Where, otherwise, did Casmir suddenly get the money to publish an expensive new paper?

1965 January 1. Casmir leads a mass pro-war demonstration to the steps of Parliament. January 2. The Bulvakian Parliament votes unanimously to declare war on Pogary. The King signs a proclamation. May 12. Casmir volunteers for the infantry. July 18. Wounded, saving two soldiers under fire, he is decorated for bravery. Accepts promotion to corporal, but refuses officer's commission. "I came from the common people," his paper quotes him as saying, "and I shall always stay one of them - in war and in peace!" October 3. Pogary sues for peace. December 8. Casmir returns to edit his paper.

1966 February 12. Bulvakian People's Party directs a nationwide demonstration against the government. There is postwar chaos - no jobs, a scarcity of food, inflation, a housing shortage. New thousands join the Party. March 2. A delegation of aristocrats, rich manufacturers, and land barons calls on Casmir in secret. They offer to pay for and equip a private army of veterans, with Casmir as their general, if he will crush the Bulvakian People's Party. His reward: a seat in Parliament. June 20. Lenovar directs an uprising against the King. June 21. Huge crowds take over public buildings in the name of the new Republic of Bulvakia. The Army is torn by indecision. Some troops go over to the people, some fight them. Civil war rages for almost a week. June 28. Casmir double-crosses his backers by offering Lenovar the support of eight thousand troops he controls, in exchange for appointment as second in Party command. Lenovar agrees. June 30. The revolution triumphs. The King flees abroad. July 1. Parliament dissolves. Lenovar fills its empty seats with members of the Party. July 2. Huge victory celebrations all over Bulvakia. July 26. In a lightning move, Casmir suddenly ousts Lenovar from leadership of the Republic, placing him under arrest for treason. The charge against Lenovar is "fostering a cult of personality" - seeking personal power. July 28. After a carefully arranged demonstration in his behalf, Casmir appears in Parliament. Stooges hail him as "Casmir the Incorruptible". He promises the new Republic shall become "a great paradise for Bulvakian workers, peasants, and patriots." Members are compelled to rise and swear an oath to defend the life of their new leader. August 13. In a surprise move, Lenovar's supporters in Parliament propose and win a vote for national elections. August 14. Casmir dissolves Parliament as "a nest of traitors," and has all the doors bolted shut. August 20. Lenovar is given a secret trial and sent into exile. There is a tacit understanding among Bulvakian revolutionary leaders that the penalty for losing  a struggle for power should be exile, rather than execution. September 1. The nation's controlled press begins a chorus of praise for "Casmirism" - the new movement which is going to "rebuild Bulvakian society." September 10. Casmir ousts General La Grande, taking over control of the Army as Generalissimo. Some high officers opposed to him are exiled. Those he needs are bribed with opportunities for graft and plunder. To purchase the loyalty of the troops, he raises the Army's pay. October 1. His first Five-Year Plan begins. To change Bulvakia from an agrarian to an industrial nation, he asks the people to work long hours for low pay. Their patriotic sacrifice will build the factories and heavy machinery that the nation needs. Casmir promises they will be rewarded by a better life in just a few years. October 10. He puts every corporation, labor union, and municipal and social organization under his control. Companies to which he awards government contracts pay him "executive dividends," deposited for him in bank accounts overseas. November 3. Begins nationwide program of building roads, dredging harbors, digging irrigation ditches. Issues strict orders that all trains must run exactly on time. New public buildings, stadiums, and statues are built in the capital. When the State Treasurer complains that the government has no money left, Casmir snaps, "Print more!" November 21. New posters everywhere educate the people in "the new culture of Casmirism." They must wear shoes in public. All streets must be kept clean. Fingernails must not be dirty. "Bulvakians - be worthy of the Generalissimo!" December 3. General La Grande leads a desperate counter-revolution with a small force. He is swiftly defeated. December 7. La Grande is reported a "suicide" in jail.

1967 January 15. "Night of the Long Knives." Forty Party officials are murdered in their beds after midnight, as Casmir purges all he suspects of unreliable loyalty, or as dangerous rivals for power. March 6. He forms the Casmirist Youth Corps. Black-uniformed youths of ten to sixteen are to be given knives, taught Party slogans, used to break strikes. Medals will reward those who report parents for "unpatriotic" remarks. Corps motto: "Believe, Obey, Fight - for the Generalissimo!" May 7. First elections of the Republic. Voters have a choice of voting for or against Casmir as President. There are no other candidates. He wins a "sweeping victory." June 10. Denied loans from abroad, Bulvakia's shaky economy begins to collapse. Banks and businesses shut down; workers are thrown out of jobs; food piles up unmarketed and unsold. Spontaneous riots break out in the cities. June 20. Casmir broadcasts a thundering accusation against "the real cause of Bulvakia's troubles - the traitorous Jens of the world, who hate us and want to see us starve to death!" He orders a pogrom against Bulvakia's Jens. June 21. Jens are stoned, tortured, and burned alive. June 30. Casmir gives the people another scapegoat - the Lenovariks. "Any worker who talks against the government, or against the President-Generalissimo - he is a Lenovarik traitor!" Secret police make thousands of arrests. August 1. Casmir wins a fifteen-million-dollar loan from the great Federal States by convincing them Bulvakia is in danger of being overthrown by Chipanese revolutionaries operating in Bulvakia. There are exactly seven Chipanese in Bulvakia, but the Federal States doesn't know that. August 8. By instigating worker riots, Casmir takes over and nationalizes eighty million dollars' worth of foreign-owned factories. He sells some secretly to Bulvakian tycoons. September 20. Treasury full once more, Casmir orders government stores to sell black bread and rice wine at low prices to peasants and workers to allay unrest. September 27. Nations whose investments have been confiscated stop trading with Bulvakia. October 18. To convince the people all is well, Casmir puts on great public spectacles. Huge crowds flock to see these shows and circuses. Often the pressure of the crowd is so great that people are crushed to death. December 23. Casmir elevates Bulvakian Orthodox Church to position of a state religion; all other religions are forbidden. The High Patriarch calls Casimir "a great patriot and a devout servant of the Lord". December 27. Treasures warns economic boycott is bankrupting Bulvakia. Factories shutting down, unemployment spreading; farmers with unsold crops forming angry mobs.

1968 January 31. Civil war breaks out in neighboring Gerfrancia. February 8. Casmir declares war on northern Gerfrancia, hoping war will avert a domestic crisis, and a wartime economy will provide jobs. He also hopes for victor's spoils. February 10. High Patriarch blesses his "holy crusade". February 21. Lenovar returns secretly from exile. March 26. Draftees revolt against being sent to intervene in Gerfrancia's civil war. Some officers shot. April 5. Anti-war demonstrations break out all over Bulvakia, led by supporters of Lenovar. April 12. Troops and workers join in a mass attack on government buildings. Their revolution succeeds. May 4. Casmir flees the country in disguise. May 8. He arrives in Pogary, which has offered him asylum. He will live here in exile on the fortune banked for him while he was Generalissimo of Bulvakia. The fortune is estimated at between eight and fifteen million dollars.

[true-power-limited]

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Contact us:

Call us: 8318455691

Email us:seotruepower@gmail.com

Address: D 242, Sector 63 Rd, D Block, Sector 63, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

For more information visit: https://www.truepowergroup.in/lightning-protection-system.html

True Power Earthings Private Limited