#MORE EPISODES ABOUT CORRUPT OFFICIALS IN STARFLEET!!!

[my-thoughts-and-junk]

I am sick and tired of how tos approaches romance!!! SICK AND TIRED OF IT

How is the companion's enslavement of cochrane in any way excused by its possibly romantic feelings for him???

[aion-rsa]

Q’s Return on Star Trek: Picard Season 2 will Follow “Significant Trauma”

https://ift.tt/3fOcOrQ

Star Trek: Picard is poised to bring back the disingenuously deferential greeting of “Bonjour, mon capitaine!” soon enough, with John de Lancie’s mischievous omnipotent entity, Q, now confirmed for a return on the show’s upcoming second season. It’s an intriguingly exciting development for the Star Trek: The Next Generation spinoff series, which has notably taken the titular former captain down a most curious existential path. Yet, according to star Patrick Stewart, Picard will be in the midst of devastating circumstances by the time Q materializes back into his life.

Paramount+’s teaser trailer for Star Trek: Picard Season 2 is chockfull of evocative Easter eggs, but it closes strong with the tightening shot of a playing card, a Queen of Hearts, that disintegrates until it is left with only a single red “Q,” followed by a familiar voice that ominously states, “The trial never ends.” The line comes from The Next Generation‘s final episode, “All Good Things,” in which Q—as he’d done seven years earlier in the pilot—put humanity (represented by Picard,) on trial for its barbaric ways. Yet, Q’s “trials” tend not to be centered on jurisprudence, and are instead metaphysical tests for Picard to gauge if he (and, by proxy, humanity,) is capable of thinking about the universe in ways that exceeds said barbaric history. Pertinently, in an official Paramount interview (seen far below) with Wesley Crusher actor Wil Wheaton, Stewart (joined virtually by de Lancie,) risks the studio’s wrath by teasing the context of Q’s return on Picard.

“Q’s arrival is, as it often was, utterly unexpected,” explains Stewart. “But [it] also comes at a shattering moment in the episode. And I do mean a shattering moment. Whether it’s directly connected to Q or not, I am still actually not quite sure. But there is significant trauma. And, in fact, at the moment, I am working on how the trauma of this moment hangs around Picard for quite a substantial part of the episode and then [claps his hands] there he is.”

Stewart’s emphasis on the “shattering” nature of what occurs in Picard’s life before Q’s arrival invites speculation about whether he’s being literal, figurative or even both. Picard’s first season certainly wrought impactful changes to the retired captain’s life, involving him in an uprising of synthetic life forms, the exploits of collective-disconnected Borg, the politics of post-planetary-destruction Romulans and even saw the apparent death of Data’s residual essence. Most notably, it actually saw Picard himself die from his neurological condition, only to have his consciousness transferred into a “Golem” android body (designed to emulate all his elderly human frailties). Indeed, WandaVision viewers still playing with the Ship of Theseus thought exercise can also have a philosophical field day with this one. Therefore, with such a consequential array of events having played out in the first season, it leaves fans to wonder what could possibly happen in Picard’s life to warrant potent concepts like “shattering moment” and “significant trauma.”

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Interestingly, Picard’s status as an android expediently plays into a theme frequently explored on The Next Generation regarding his artificial heart, which was the result of an Academy-era incident during which he was impaled through the heart by a trouble-making Nausicaan ne’er-do-well. The stabbing and subsequent installation of the robotic heart was seen as Picard’s transition from freewheeling playboy cadet to the austere officer we know; a dilution of his humanity exacerbated by his brief assimilation by the Borg as “Locutus.” It’s an aspect that wasn’t lost on Q, who famously put Picard through a flashback ordeal centered on that very moment in the iconic Season 6 episode, “Tapestry.” When Q allowed the stodgy Picard to undo the array of risks he dismissed as youthful mistakes, it took Picard to a version of the present in which he was an aged, unexceptional junior science officer with no command prospects. Once Q allowed him to undo that bleak result, Picard realized that the ordeal was designed to teach a lesson that the man he became is the culmination of his so-called mistakes more than his accomplishments—that our true selves are a gestalt creation (the metaphorical tapestry) of events that we often chose not to face.

“I have changed my visage,” de Lancie mirthfully muses of Q’s current state. “I’ve aged a little bit so as to be more in keeping of where we are right now.” Of course, de Lancie debuted his series-hopping character in Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s 1987 two-part pilot, “Encounter at Farpoint,” and was last seen onscreen in 2001 Star Trek: Voyager episode “Q2.” However, he notably voiced the role of Q in a 2020 episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks, titled “Veritas.”

While we’re obviously not privy to the profound events in Picard’s life that precede the long-awaited return of Q on Picard Season 2, Stewart’s teased story elements seem to evoke a version of the judgmental jester as depicted in “Tapestry,” in which he forgoes his antagonistic role to become a dealer of tough love to Picard’s occasional moments of haughty hubris. Additionally, in returning to the theme of Picard’s incrementally diminished humanity, Q’s apparently-timely return could also facilitate a reckoning of sorts with his current artificial state, especially since the former captain’s growing backlog of regrets—his self-perceived complicity in the supernova destruction of Romulus, the android ban and corruption in some of Starfleet’s big brass—might mean that a “Tapestry” type lesson (one possibly rife with Mandalorian/Luke-like digitally-de-aged flashbacks,) is long overdue. Moreover, Trekkies who didn’t quite like the android Picard angle, might have their best hope for his human restoration via some Deus-ex-Q hand-waving.

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Star Trek: Picard Season 2 doesn’t have a specific release date set, but it is expected to premiere on Paramount+ sometime in 2022.

The post Q’s Return on Star Trek: Picard Season 2 will Follow “Significant Trauma” appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3fNTACw

[verdigrisprowl]

Jan 14 Bevel’s Movie Stream - two Leverage episodes

Because Ratchet couldn’t make it, Bevel didn’t show Star Trek Discovery tonight. Instead, she showed criminals being treated like heroes for doing crimes, which Prowl heartily disapproves of.

That said, he thinks the hacker is hot.

Prowl and Tarantulas got into a dumb fight that will probably culminate in absolutely nothing.

Bevel 7:13 pm *everything's set up just as before, some chairs and couches and a table for snacks and energon* FakeProwl 7:21 pm *appears; takes a seat by himself* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:22 pm *Arrives and, looking around, does a mental shrug since there's nobody he doesn't expect and parks himself by Prowl - if allowed. He'll stop like two feet from and look at the spot next to questioningly.* FakeProwl 7:23 pm *a nod. permission granted.* *and a greeting ping.* Bevel 7:23 pm *she'll give all three bots waves upon their arrival, she might look a little hesitant about waving to Prowl but that's on her, not him* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:25 pm *Nods to Bevel and Prowl and drops down with a [[Hello]] to both.* Tarantulas 7:25 pm *tarantulas doesn't know bevel well, but he's invested in the series now - in he comes, scoping out the room for a moment and gravitating toward the energon* *hey bev are there straws with the energon pls say yes* Bevel 7:25 pm *of course* Tarantulas 7:26 pm *more importantly are they fun-shaped* Bevel 7:27 pm *Bevel would never offer straws that weren't fun shapes, no boring straight straws for this party* Tarantulas 7:30 pm *good! a tiny bow to bevel, then tarantulas is gonna snag the purplest funnest one and a cube, and plant himself in front of prowl and sw on the floor* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:30 pm *Nudge with ankle. Contact forbidden?* Tarantulas 7:32 pm *permitted* FakeProwl 7:32 pm *the temptation to lean forward and bury his hands in Tarantulas's shoulders... no. resist. no displays like that in front of a near stranger.* Bevel 7:36 pm ((Starting in ten minutes! ItsyBitsySpyers 7:36 pm *Would tell Prowl that this is probably one of the near strangers he can trust the most, but doesn't know to. Will keep the ankle up against Tarantulas' hip though.* FakeProwl 7:37 pm *trusts no near strangers* Bevel 7:38 pm *knows way too much about Prowl's relationships and will go to her grave with the knowledge, but would understand the not trusting if she knew about it* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:40 pm *Well if SOMEONE hadn't pretended to be him.* Bevel 7:43 pm *yes, yes, don't pretend to be Soundwave where Prowl, Tarantulus, Shockwave, or Soundwave might appear* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:46 pm *...He would question why Bevel has decided not to be him where he'd appear, but he DID make out with that alternate.* Bevel 7:49 pm *mostly so he won't ruin the fun but omg don't ever tell her that* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:55 pm *Don't worry. He won't.* FakeProwl 7:55 pm *... this isn't starfleet* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:55 pm *Tilts his helm.* [[Did you not acquire more tapes, then?]] Bevel 7:55 pm Ratchet could not make it tonight so I found something else to show so he would not miss anything. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:56 pm *Oho. Now he's interested.* FakeProwl 7:56 pm ... Ah. Pro-crime propaganda. Bevel 7:56 pm *whoops* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:57 pm [[Crime done for the purpose of helping others.]] Bevel 7:59 pm *not sure this tape is about them helping anyone but themselves but she's curious enough because it seems to be a mystery* FakeProwl 8:00 pm Yes. "For the purpose of helping others." Like I said. Pro-crime propaganda. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:03 pm *Laces his fingers together.*

[[It might be. But he is interested in this story.]] Bevel 8:03 pm *humans look so alike to her that she can believe this human can be two people at once and most people fail to realize it* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:05 pm *LOUD HUFF* Bevel 8:05 pm *giggles* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:05 pm [[So it's going to be one of these things.]] Bevel 8:05 pm One of those? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:06 pm [[Yes. Multiple people working different plans with the same goal. Not unlike some of the times he and Jazz tried to get the same information.]] Tarantulas 8:07 pm *had completely spaced out for a while playing around with the cube&straw and a packet of additives he'd pulled out of his subspace, but now he's nibbling on the straw and paying attention* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:08 pm *Still huffing.* Bevel 8:09 pm I bet those are really interesting war stories. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:10 pm [[Wouldn't you like to know.]] Bevel 8:10 pm I really would yeah. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:11 pm [[You and everyone else interested in classified historical events.]] Bevel 8:11 pm *huffs* Bevel 8:13 pm *now this is getting convoluted* FakeProwl 8:14 pm *... gently leans against soundwave's shoulder* *quietly* I'D like to know. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:17 pm *Looks around his shoulder to get a glimpse of his leaner.*

@P: [[Attempting to seduce it out of him?]] FakeProwl 8:17 pm @S «Depends on whether or not it's working.» ItsyBitsySpyers 8:18 pm @P: [[...Perhaps with a little more effort.]] [[He "lives this job" but doesn't know his employees...?]] Bevel 8:19 pm Maybe he is distracted because he let her get away? *still not a good excuse but she can't think of anything better* FakeProwl 8:20 pm @S «I'd slide into your lap but we've got an audience.» ItsyBitsySpyers 8:21 pm @Prowl: [[An audience that knows. But, very well. He'll give you an example when we are alone and you can.]] FakeProwl 8:21 pm @S «That doesn't mean I want it watching.» ItsyBitsySpyers 8:22 pm *Small nod. Fair point.* *...He also likes the continual mangling of the one human's accent.* FakeProwl 8:26 pm *perks up slightly* *pegged the bartender as the guard from the second story* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:28 pm *Would be delighted to know how he did that if Prowl felt like sharing.* FakeProwl 8:31 pm *... wasn't expecting THIS characterization* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:33 pm [[He hasn't stolen anything. It fell into his hand.]] FakeProwl 8:33 pm *okay, didn't get it, he was suspecting the other guard* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:34 pm [[...He broke the artifact?]] Bevel 8:34 pm Fake Gold is soft but not like that. Bevel 8:35 pm Oh! FakeProwl 8:37 pm So we're supposed to sympathize with these thieves for going out to steal art from an oil mogul who just polluted the ocean. ... Rather than... doing something, anything, to contribute to cleaning up the pollution or preventing it from happening. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm [[...It does seem less helpful than was originally suggested by the credits.]] Tarantulas 8:38 pm Mmm, "sympathize with" probably isn't the correct phrase. "Be amused by" seems more fitting. FakeProwl 8:38 pm So noble. Stealing useless trinkets from villains. Now the poor have the useless trinkets instead, and isn't the world better off for it. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm *Can practically feel his paint bubbling under the heat of that sarcasm.* *Pings Tarantulas his agreement. The stories were definitely amusing.* FakeProwl 8:39 pm *sorry, he'll try to turn it in another direction.* Bevel 8:39 pm *can't disagree but she still finds it amusing* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:40 pm *No, no, he likes Prowl leaned on his shoulder.* FakeProwl 8:40 pm *he'll just make sure the flamethrower coming out of his mouth is aimed at empty space* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:41 pm [[...If that is a murder, the helpfulness seems more promising in this one.]] FakeProwl 8:41 pm Mm. *he dislikes stories that argue that the criminals and thieves are the helpful ones.* *rather than what they really are: villains stealing trinkets from villains.* Bevel 8:42 pm *her attention is caught briefly by mention of the Titanic* FakeProwl 8:43 pm *same* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:43 pm *Hm. Points for fighting efficiency.* FakeProwl 8:43 pm ... Dismissing the Titanic for being "designed by smart people" completely diownplays th... *sorry he got distracted by hackervision. somebody who sees the world the way prowl does!* FakeProwl 8:45 pm ... Completely downplays both the brilliant work that went into it, AND the remarkable circumstances that caused it to sink in the first place. Bevel 8:46 pm Yeah. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:49 pm *Sort of half-tilts forward in fascination. How are they going to stop thi--?* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:52 pm [[...Corruption?]] FakeProwl 8:53 pm *and, now we're supposed to dislike the police. sighs.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:53 pm [[...Ah. He wanted privacy.]] FakeProwl 8:54 pm *ah. the police are using a valuable asset. less dislikable.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:56 pm [[...Tell him none of the current enforcers would just let that happen. Tell him he has taught them better than that.]] FakeProwl 8:57 pm What, let three criminals steal a truck? Tarantulas 8:57 pm *snorts at the "hot but disturbing"* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm [[Fall for a stolen badge and someone speaking about technology at a fast pace.]] *Pause.* [[So, yes.]] *Can't disagree with the assessment Tarantulas is snorting at* FakeProwl 8:58 pm I've only been working with them for three days. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:59 pm [[And your estimation?]] FakeProwl 8:59 pm So, yes. I'm sure most of them would. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:00 pm *Rubs his crest with his good hand.*

[[Of course. Of course they would.]] Tarantulas 9:00 pm *ooooh* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:00 pm *Stops rubbing to look through his fingers. What's all this?* FakeProwl 9:01 pm Unfortunately, enforcers are just people. Which means idiots, who easily fall for people who act authoritative and look like they know what they're doing. Tarantulas 9:02 pm *small laugh* I adore how awfully frightening biology is being portrayed... And how many extraneous beakers they had in that fake lab setup. Pft. Bevel 9:03 pm All the beakers. Makes everything look official. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm [[Hmm. It's been a long time since he heard that phrase.]] FakeProwl 9:03 pm Which phrase? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:04 pm [[Creepy spy truck.]]

[[...How do you know they were extraneous?]] FakeProwl 9:05 pm *snort* When you get me intel would you like me to say "thank you, creepy spy plane"? Bevel 9:05 pm *giggles* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:05 pm [[Primus.]] Bevel 9:05 pm ...*that's a lot of pigs* Tarantulas 9:06 pm Labs need functional equipment, not masses of containers. It's about the same as you having a slew of empty data slugs instead of a console setup. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:06 pm *Uh. What was he--* [[He hopes you don't find him creepy. But, if it amuses you.]]

[[...He keeps both.]] FakeProwl 9:06 pm *thinks about the drawer he's got devoted solely to empty data slugs* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:07 pm [[But he thinks he sees your point.]] Tarantulas 9:07 pm Of course you need data slugs, but not /that/ many. FakeProwl 9:07 pm *it's a big drawer* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:07 pm [[...Of course, they were talking about the Earth year 1918. He does not expect they had much in the way of 'functional equipment' then. They did not even have computers.]] Bevel 9:07 pm *keeps a lot of extra scrap metal, most of which she'll probably never use around, not sure that applies to data slugs and beakers* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:09 pm *Huff* Tarantulas 9:10 pm Are those two /actually/ involved? FakeProwl 9:10 pm ... she could have just walked around him. Bevel 9:10 pm The other one said the whole floor could be rigged. FakeProwl 9:11 pm Ah. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:11 pm [[He suspects they are.]] [[Involved, that is. In answer to Tarantulas.]] FakeProwl 9:12 pm *he likes that hacker* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:12 pm *Does too.* Bevel 9:13 pm *ok that is cool* FakeProwl 9:13 pm *that was extremely attractive* Bevel 9:14 pm Soundwave? Are humans really this easy to track? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:15 pm [[...He probably should not answer that.]] Bevel 9:15 pm *takes that as a yes* FakeProwl 9:15 pm So yes. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:15 pm *You said it, not him.* Bevel 9:15 pm *snickers* FakeProwl 9:17 pm YEAH! ... Sorry. It was an— impressive turn, there. Tarantulas 9:17 pm *giggling* FakeProwl 9:17 pm *look he doesn't get to see the cops do cool things in shows like this very often.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:17 pm *Light trembling.*

[[Do not apologize. You're free to enjoy such things.]] FakeProwl 9:18 pm It's the volume I'm apologizing for. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm [[Still fine.]] *Frenzy. Turning it down is something of an instinct these days.* Bevel 9:19 pm *amused by Prowl's enthusiasm* I like him. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:20 pm *Mild blip of alarm. The red shirt human is shot.* Bevel 9:20 pm *look at him all shot and still beating up bad guys, that takes a lot of willpower to power through that kinda injury* FakeProwl 9:21 pm ((as red shirt humans are wont to do)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm ((LOL)) FakeProwl 9:22 pm ... the aerosol and the virus are contained separately, right? If they separate them, they can pop the aerosol and the virus won't do anything. Bevel 9:22 pm ...or that? Tarantulas 9:22 pm Or that. *visor smiling* FakeProwl 9:23 pm *smirks* Same theory. Bevel 9:23 pm Ha, that was awesome. Bevel 9:24 pm He really should go to the hospital though. Tarantulas 9:24 pm *mentally nudges sw - he has a theory, wanna hear it?* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:25 pm *Accepts the nudge and nudges back. Go for it.* Tarantulas 9:26 pm *every thought is accompanied by a mental snicker, but here: one might be able to make certain parallels between these characters and the mecha in this room, don't you think?* Tarantulas 9:27 pm *not that tarantulas knows much about bevel, but she'll do to fill the role of one character* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm *...Go on.*

*In the meantime:* [[He finds himself pleased that they stopped the virus. It sounded something like the rust plague.]] *When did he begin to sympathize this much with organic species? Insidious little meatlings.* Bevel 9:28 pm Is that the one that killed a lot of bots during the war? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:28 pm [[No, no. That was the Cybonic plague. The great Rusting was long before.]] Tarantulas 9:29 pm *snort* Really? By that I mean - yes, its contagiousness and lethality are similar, if that's what you were implying. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm [[It is. Of course, the rust plague took entire planets, but we do have a habit of doing things on grander scales than most species.]] *Oh? What an interesting song.* Bevel 9:30 pm Oh. *oh geez don't tell Ratchet she mixed them up, she'll get a lecture* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:31 pm *Still hoping to hear these comparisons. Was amused by the docked reference and the 'sitting next to you' bit.* Tarantulas 9:35 pm Humans are young and fairly isolated - the influenza virus might be mighty, but it can only spread among the species it evolved to infect. Tarantulas 9:36 pm Grander scales are reserved for diseases that are brought about by non-species-specific causes. FakeProwl 9:37 pm Influenza affects several species. Tarantulas 9:37 pm It mutates between species. FakeProwl 9:38 pm I was given to understand that it evolves. *he says, revealing he has no idea that those are basically the same thing.* Tarantulas 9:38 pm Besides, the difference in genetics between the affected species is negligible. *amused* Yes and no. But don't worry yourself over it. *he's got other things to do besides squabble over biological specifics - he's gotta explain this silly theory to sw* FakeProwl 9:40 pm ... What do you mean, "yes and no"? *look you can't just imply prowl is wrong about something and not provide him with the right info* Tarantulas 9:44 pm *an offhand wave and some casual rambling* They're essentially the same thing, although I used the term 'mutate' since they're viruses and generally not accepted to be quote-unquote "alive" - not to mention the fact that mutation is the genetic change, and evolution mostly refers to the phenotypic results of the mutation. FakeProwl 9:45 pm *... processes that* *... what does phenotypic mean* Bevel 9:45 pm Phenotypic? *it's ok, Bevel got you Prowl, because Tara just spit out a bunch of words that sounded like blah blah blah* Tarantulas 9:46 pm Viruses can only be said to evolve if one considers slight changes in RNA to be sufficiently significant differences in something that could or could not be called a living organism in the first place, much less a species. Personally I'd rather just stick with 'mutation' . ItsyBitsySpyers 9:46 pm *...He feels like he got this lecture once from a Shockwave when the Cybonic plague was being created. Some of the content is familiar, at least.* *He listens to see how it is different for organics.* Tarantulas 9:46 pm Phenotypic. Referring to the resultant phenotype of the organism as encoded in its genetic material. Bevel 9:47 pm ...*is gonna use robot google for this or they'll be here all night and SW will never hear Tara's theory* FakeProwl 9:47 pm Okay, you can't just say "phenotypic" refers to a "phenotype," as if we are likely to know what "phenotype" means when when don't know what "phenotypic" means. Bevel 9:48 pm *Soundwave sent her a link...* Tarantulas 9:48 pm *snorts* I told you not to worry about it. Bevel 9:48 pm *giggles* Tarantulas 9:48 pm (( oh my god ItsyBitsySpyers 9:48 pm *INORDINATELY pleased with himself* Tarantulas 9:48 pm (( how. how are they making the chicken do this Bevel 9:48 pm ((props to them for getting this to go along with the lyrics so well omg FakeProwl 9:49 pm You've just said "Here's something you don't know about but I do, now be quiet and stop caring about the fact that you don't know this thing and the person who could tell you about it can't be bothered to tell you about it." Have you ever met me, Tarantulas. Ever. For more than two minutes. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:50 pm *He hopes so, since Tarantulas has been in here all night.* FakeProwl 9:50 pm *he's sure not acting like it.* Tarantulas 9:53 pm *huff* Forgive me for not necessarily wanting to wax encyclopedic at the moment - and I never said I /wouldn't/ explain, just - not now. FakeProwl 9:53 pm Don't command me not to "worry" about something when what you mean is "I don't want to discuss it anymore right now." Tarantulas 9:55 pm I - *rubs at his helm* You're misinterpreting my tone. And I'd much appreciate if you didn't make such a fuss of this right here and now. Tarantulas 9:57 pm *geeeeez he just wanted to wrap that up and nudge sw with something amusing, not get in an argument with prowl* *huff huff* FakeProwl 9:57 pm You mischose your words. Bevel 9:57 pm *will just enjoy the music like y'do* FakeProwl 9:57 pm *but fine. he's dropping it. looks at screen.* Tarantulas 9:58 pm *narrows his visor at prowl for a moment, then sighs with his shoulders. oh boy* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:59 pm *Is not entirely sure what he's supposed to do or if he ought stay out entirely. This... seems like a thing he should maybe let them work out on their own. He can at least stay here as a shoulder without causing upset, probably. He hopes.* Bevel 10:00 pm *oh yes, enjoy this cool video about a sister and her brother being torn apart, it's meaningful* Tarantulas 10:01 pm @P: ::I didn't mischoose my words. Will you /please/ stop assuming things of me and putting words in my mouth and accusing me of things in front of other mecha who have absolutely nothing to do with our personal com -:: *oh my god what* *sufficiently distracted* FakeProwl 10:02 pm *good, because Prowl's not replying to that.* Bevel 10:02 pm *victory for Bevel, distracted Tara* Tarantulas 10:05 pm *would enjoy these AMVs more if he were in a better mood though* Bevel 10:05 pm *sorry Tara* FakeProwl 10:06 pm *not sorry. feels condescended to.* Tarantulas 10:09 pm @SW: [[...Did I /actually/ do anything wrong or am I right in thinking that Prowl's overreacting?]] *yes, you're getting dragged into this, sw* Bevel 10:10 pm *yay for not being dragged into things* Tarantulas 10:10 pm *don't jinx yourself bevel, you're still a potential witness to be called upon* Bevel 10:10 pm *shhhhh no she's watching fanvideos now* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:11 pm *Oh, Pit. This isn't - he's not familiar with - uh. Think quickly, Soundwave.* FakeProwl 10:11 pm *rude, tara. prowl's stewing in his crippling self-doubt like a responsible mech.* *you can't just drag other people in* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:14 pm @Tarantulas: [[What he thinks is - irrelevant. He cannot appropriately take sides in a personal argument in which he does not have a stake. The two of you will need to discuss this between yourselves.]]

*That's. That's acceptable, right? Right?* Tarantulas 10:14 pm *squinnnnt* @SW: [[...I'm using you as a reality check, not a pawn. Come now.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:16 pm *How do you ask someone "how am I supposed to believe there won't be temperamental repercussions" without implying you already think you're in for some?* Tarantulas 10:17 pm *you don't - you lie, just like tarantulas is doing* Tarantulas 10:19 pm *looks over at bevel in the meantime* How rude of me, hyeh. I've been here this whole time and not spoken a word to the lovely host, haven't I. I apologize. Bevel 10:19 pm ... It is ok. *no really please no need to talk to her at all* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:20 pm *...Oh, oh, he knows.*

@T: [[He understands that there was a breakdown of communication. He cannot advise on the nature of it, or on which side or sides it has occurred. You will have to speak to Prowl about it.]] Tarantulas 10:21 pm @SW: [[Prrrrrowl's not speaking to me. I'm sure you can see where my dilemma lies.]] Tarantulas 10:23 pm *a nod at bevel, thanks* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:23 pm @T: [[He does. He also knows that you are an intelligent mech capable of working out how and when to have the needed conversation once any possible immediate ire has passed, if it exists.]] *Suddenly feeling a little bit like the tap-dancing lawyer from the Chicago movie.* Tarantulas 10:24 pm *smol audible whiny whine @ sw* FakeProwl 10:24 pm *... why's prowl still here? they're watching music synchronized to humans beating each other for no reason, nobody is talking to him, tarantulas essentially told him to shut up so that he could then comm him and rant at him privately, then stopped talking to him mid-sentence and has ignored him since.* Bevel 10:25 pm *sorry Prowl, Bevel is still working up her nerve to talk to him again* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm *Soundwave would LIKE to talk to him as soon as he gets himself out of being dragged into this. He is, currently, using most of his wits to escape that fate.* FakeProwl 10:25 pm *glances at tara, who's just whined. and now, apparently, he's talking privately to soundwave, and prowl's sure it's not about anything good.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:26 pm *Soundwave shakes his helm at the whine. He has several deployers. You're not getting to him like that.* Tarantulas 10:26 pm @SW: [[You sorely overestimate me.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:27 pm @T: [[Then it is a good time for you to learn.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:28 pm *Pings Prowl as a nudge for nudging's sake. Hasn't heard anything. Is beginning to suspect brooding.* FakeProwl 10:29 pm *he shouldn't have said anything. and he should just leave. they're already talking about him behind his— hm?* @S «What?» Tarantulas 10:30 pm *weak mental shove at sw. well that was useless* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm @P: [[Have you noticed how well the humans creating these videos have timed their clips of the original product to new sound?]]

*Pathetic attempt to engage on a different topic when he wants to avoid the current one and doesn't know what else to do? Go.*

*Accepts the shove. It was, and that was the point.* FakeProwl 10:32 pm @S «... No. I didn't. Sorry, I wasn't really watching them.» ItsyBitsySpyers 10:32 pm *Oh Primus, Bevel, that's not a selection he wanted to draw attention to...* Bevel 10:32 pm *she did nothing* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:33 pm @P: [[Ah. He is sorry to hear that. Many of them were quite masterful. Organic creativity continues to surprise.]] FakeProwl 10:33 pm @S «Mm. I'll take your word for it.» Tarantulas 10:34 pm *hmm. what happens if he pings prowl, let's see* FakeProwl 10:34 pm *... he should have left.* @T «What.» ItsyBitsySpyers 10:36 pm @P: [[He'll see about replaying them some time.]] FakeProwl 10:37 pm @S «It's fine. I'll just take your word for it. Musically-synchronized violence doesn't do anything for me.» Tarantulas 10:37 pm @P: ::...Are you upset with me?:: *probably best to start with clarifying the basics, right?* FakeProwl 10:38 pm @S «... Sorry.» *because soundwave would undoubtedly like to share a musical thing with prowl, wouldn't he?* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:38 pm @P: [[It is all right. He understands.]] FakeProwl 10:39 pm @T «/Don't worry yourself over it./» ItsyBitsySpyers 10:39 pm *Soundwave decides to ping Bevel next. She's an uninvolved party, at least.*

@B: [[You do a fine job of hosting. And he appreciates your musical selections.]] FakeProwl 10:40 pm *farewell ping to soundwave. leaves.* Bevel 10:40 pm *well since no one's making suggestions...* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:40 pm *Returns ping and watches the avatar flicker.* Bevel 10:41 pm ((oh geez this is old, still good Bevel 10:42 pm @S: Thanks! @S: What are you gonna show tomorrow? Tarantulas 10:43 pm *winces a bit. bah* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:44 pm @B: [[He has not fully decided. Something from the starship timelines.]] *Came out to have a good time and is feeling personally attacked by this video.* Bevel 10:44 pm @S: Awesome! I will try to get some files from the stuff I showed before. *sorry* Bevel 10:46 pm ((and now that i've played one of their songs i want to play my favorites but they're not really things Bevel would play ItsyBitsySpyers 10:46 pm *It's fine. He's enjoying it. It does have a point.*

@B: [[With the Discovery humans?]] Bevel 10:47 pm @S: Yeah! I think I found some more records but I want to make sure. Tarantulas 10:48 pm *is slumped forward with his chin in his paws sulking* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:49 pm @T: [[Perhaps some time to think?]] Tarantulas 10:52 pm @SW: [[Yes, lovely. How I do adore waiting and drowning in uncertainty in the meantime.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:53 pm @T: [[Unfortunately, it happens to everyone. Even himself.]] Tarantulas 10:53 pm @SW: [[Hah hah.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:53 pm @B: [[Good, good. He is intrigued by the Ripper creature and the spore drive. It is... somewhat like a space bridge.]] Bevel 10:55 pm @S: Our ships do not do the neat flippy thing though. *pity* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:56 pm @B: [[They also do not gather condensation. It is for the best, as we are made of metal.]] @B: [[But... he thinks he will retire to his building after this video.]] Bevel 10:57 pm @S: Yeah, true and ok. Thanks for coming again. Tarantulas 10:57 pm *tara suspects there's a conversation going on, but he'll bring his back into the audible realm anyhow* So - might you know when your next showing will be, Bevel? Bevel 10:59 pm A few Earth days from now. *not sure how Tara's Cybertron days move so...* I can message you if you want? Tarantulas 10:59 pm *a hum that sounds happier than tarantulas actually is* Ah, yes, please do. Bevel 11:00 pm *grins* Ok! Tarantulas 11:01 pm I'll make sure not to get myself wrapped up in any immediately-dire projects, then. I'm looking forward to the next installment. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:02 pm *Stretches a little, pushes himself up, and nods to Bevel.*

[[Thank you.]]

*Nod to Tarantulas, who is probably grumpy with him. And a departure.* Bevel 11:03 pm Did Soundwave show you the other files from the starship universe that I found? Tarantulas 11:03 pm *of course he's grumpy with you sw* Yes, he did - they're quite enthralling. Bevel 11:04 pm Oh all the science must be really cool for you. Tarantulas 11:06 pm *actual visor smile* Yes, quite! Bevel 11:06 pm Then I will definitely comm you when I can show more files. Promise. Tarantulas 11:07 pm Much appreciated. Unfortunately... I probably ought to be going. I'm sure you can imagine I might have a bit of a mess to clean up. Bevel 11:08 pm I am sure you can. Tarantulas 11:08 pm Hyeh. Thank you for having us. Until next time, then. *a smol bow, and he's out* Bevel 11:09 pm *waves before he goes and then vents a little once she's alone. then she gets started cleaning up*

[mastcomm]

Libya, Harry and Meghan, SpaceX: Your Monday Briefing

(Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.)

Good morning.

We’re covering halting steps toward peace in Libya, Harry and Meghan’s hard break from the British royal family and a facial recognition app that’s scraping photos from Facebook.

A glimmer of hope in Libya

Gen. Khalifa Hifter, a rebel commander in Libya whose forces are laying siege to Tripoli, is due to meet in Moscow today with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, amid hopes that the general might embrace a permanent cease-fire agreement that he refused to sign last week.

The meeting comes a day after more than a dozen international powers with competing interests in Libya met in Berlin and called for a cease-fire, an arms embargo and “a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process” for ending a conflict that has festered for nearly nine years.

But expectations remain low: On Sunday, as General Hifter’s forces launched fresh attacks on Tripoli, he and the Libyan prime minister refused to even spend time in the same room together.

Related: As Russia and Turkey play a bigger role in trying to end the conflict, Europe is belatedly sensing the implications of “a new Great Game, this time in North Africa, that is rapidly destabilizing its backyard,” our Brussels-based correspondents write.

Russia: Our reporter in Moscow explains why Mr. Putin announced last week a surprise reorganization of the government four years before he is scheduled to step down. (Hint: An autocrat’s usual retirement package — death, jail or exile — is unappealing.)

Harry and Meghan’s hard exit

When Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, made the bombshell announcement that they planned to “step back” from their royal duties, they said they hoped to carve out a “progressive new role” within the monarchy.

But under a severance deal announced over the weekend, the couple will lose most of the privileges and perks of royalty once they give up their full-time status and forsake Britain for an uncertain future in Canada and the United States. It’s a harsher deal than the soft exit they’d imagined.

“It brings me great sadness that it has come to this,” Harry said of the agreement, which codifies one of the most dramatic ruptures within the British royal family since King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry an American, Wallis Simpson.

Details: Harry and Meghan will forgo public funding of their activities, abandon their royal designations and repay the more than $3 million they spent refurbishing their residence on the grounds of Windsor Castle. But for now, their website has retained references to “His Royal Highness” and “Her Royal Highness.”

Quotable: Penny Junor, a royal biographer, said the British royal family was “trying to prevent a half-in, half-out arrangement, which doesn’t work.”

Impeachment arguments take shape

President Trump’s high-powered legal team is expected to expand today on its earlier arguments that the case against the president is legally and constitutionally invalid, and driven by a desire to hurt him in the 2020 election.

Democrats argued in a competing legal brief on Saturday that Mr. Trump, through his pressure on Ukraine, had enlisted a foreign government to help him win re-election, then sought to conceal his actions from Congress. And with the president’s Senate impeachment trial set to open on Tuesday, Democrats are intensifying their demands for testimony and documents.

Another angle: Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, and his Ukrainian allies see people who are fighting corruption in the country as enemies. That could complicate President Volodymyr Zelensky’s battles with oligarchs and organized crime.

Related: The Times Magazine profiled Mr. Giuliani, a central player in Mr. Trump’s Ukraine pressure campaign.

From opinion: The Times’s editorial board endorsed both Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The trouble with Italy’s Five Star Movement

Italy’s anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which won the largest vote in national elections two years ago, was supposed to revolutionize the country’s politics. Now it looks to be on the verge of a slow-but-irreversible collapse.

Five Star had a messy breakup with Matteo Salvini’s hard-right League party over the summer, and its governing coalition with the center-left Democratic Party hasn’t worked out. The main problem, analysts say, is that Five Star has failed to transition from a vague protest movement into a governing party that is willing to take clear positions.

What’s next: At elections in the Emilia Romagna and Calabria regions later this month, the ascendant Mr. Salvini “is hoping to put a stake in the government’s heart,” our Rome bureau chief, Jason Horowitz, writes.

Closer look: Last month Jason profiled Luigi Di Maio, Five Star’s political leader and Italy’s foreign minister.

If you have 20 minutes, this is worth it

Helping to exploit Angola’s wealth

Isabel dos Santos, above center, Africa’s richest woman and the daughter of Angola’s former president, often took cuts of her country’s wealth through decrees signed by her father. Global banks, bound by strict rules about politically connected clients, largely declined to work with her family.

But consulting companies readily embraced her business, and even agreed to take money from offshore shell companies tied to her and her associates. As a result, they both facilitated and helped legitimize her efforts to profit off diamonds, oil and banks in a country hobbled by corruption.

Here’s what else is happening

Virus in China: The authorities reported a third death and more than 130 new cases linked to a mysterious respiratory virus over the weekend, bringing the total number of reported cases to about 200. As millions in China prepare to travel home for Lunar New Year, some experts worry that the outbreak could be more severe than the government admits.

Rocket blast: SpaceX intentionally blew up a spacecraft, with NASA’s blessing, after launching it from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as a way to test an escape feature for astronauts. The test may set the stage for SpaceX and Boeing to launch their first crewed flights.

Controversial app: Hundreds of American law enforcement agencies are using Clearview, a facial recognition app that identifies people based on photos scraped from Facebook and other websites. Clearview has shrouded itself in secrecy.

Klimt, revealed: A prosecutor said a painting by Gustav Klimt that was found last month inside the walls of the same Italian museum from which it was stolen almost 23 years ago is authentic.

Snapshot: Above, a small clothing factory that was flooded by calls from widows seeking work in Aleppo, Syria. As the country’s civil war grinds on, more women in socially and religiously conservative areas are leaving home and working for the first time.

What we’re reading: This look back at Prohibition, 100 years later, from NorthJersey.com. “It’s a perfectly mixed cocktail of history, politics and culture,” writes Gina Lamb, a Special Sections editor. “Don’t miss the video.”

Now, a break from the news

Cook: Red curry lentils with sweet potato and spinach is an aromatic meal inspired by Indian dal.

Watch: With “Star Trek: Picard,” a spinoff following Patrick Stewart’s Starfleet officer, the franchise is trying to rediscover its place in a universe that it effectively invented.

Smarter Living: If you’re a night owl tired of not getting enough sleep, here’s how to become a morning person.

And now for the Back Story on …

The Australian Open

Facing the likelihood of incoming clouds of smoke from the bushfires scorching the country, tournament officials say they may have to close the retractable roofs on three stadiums and restrict play to the eight indoor courts. Play began today.

The retractable roof on what is now Rod Laver Arena was a big attraction when it was new, in 1988. According to its designers, the point was to allow the stadium to host concerts and sports in all seasons.

It also helped the Australian Open make the transition into one of the grander of tennis’s four Grand Slam events.

When the event began in the early 20th century, travel time for Americans and Europeans could be more than a month, so play was largely limited to Australians and New Zealanders.

Even after the advent of jet travel, low prize money and dates around the Christmas holidays kept many players away. Chris Evert played the Australian Open just six times; John McEnroe five; Bjorn Borg once.

Over time, prize money and ranking points increased. The tournament shifted to the third and fourth weeks of January and moved to Melbourne Park — which has since added two more retractable roofs. Those additions now seem prescient.

That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.

— Mike

Thank you To Mark Josephson and Eleanor Stanford for the break from the news. Today’s Back Story is drawn from reporting by Ben Rothenberg, who covers the Australian Open for The Times. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S. • We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is about Bernie Sanders’s campaign strategy. • Here’s today’s Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: Point of a fable (five letters). You can find all our puzzles here. • The New York Times reported from 159 countries in 2019.

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