#Shape memory alloy

[plethoraworldatlas]

Two insect-like robots, a mini-bug and a water strider may be the smallest, lightest and fastest fully functional micro-robots ever known to be created. Such miniature robots could someday be used for work in areas such as artificial pollination, search and rescue, environmental monitoring, micro-fabrication or robotic-assisted surgery. Reporting on their work in the proceedings of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society's International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, the mini-bug weighs in at eight milligrams while the water strider weighs 55 milligrams. Both can move at about six millimeters a second.

...

Both can move at about six millimeters a second.

"That is fast compared to other micro-robots at this scale although it still lags behind their biological relatives," said Conor Trygstad, a PhD student in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and lead author on the work.

An ant typically weighs up to five milligrams and can move at almost a meter per second.

The key to the tiny robots is their tiny actuators that make the robots move.

Trygstad used a new fabrication technique to miniaturize the actuator down to less than a milligram, the smallest ever known to have been made.

"The actuators are the smallest and fastest ever developed for micro-robotics," said Néstor O. Pérez-Arancibia, Flaherty Associate Professor in Engineering at WSU's School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering who led the project.

The actuator uses a material called a shape memory alloy that is able to change shapes when it's heated

[datastring]

Shape Memory Alloy Market Set to Hit $45.4 Billion by 2035

The global Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) market is poised for remarkable growth, with industry revenue projected to increase from $14.3 billion in 2023 to $45.4 billion by 2035. This reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1% from 2023 to 2035.

Detailed Analysis - https://datastringconsulting.com/industry-analysis/shape-memory-alloy-market-research-report

Shape Memory Alloys are critical materials with the unique ability to return to a predetermined shape when exposed to heat. These materials are used across multiple industries, including biomedical, automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics. The increasing demand for advanced, high-performance materials in healthcare, automotive, and aerospace applications is a key driver of market expansion.

Competitive Landscape and Market Leadership

The Shape Memory Alloy market is highly competitive, with several leading players at the forefront of innovation and market share growth. Notable companies in the market include:

Nitinol Devices & Components

Fort Wayne Metals

Confluent Medical Technologies

SAES Getters

ATI Metals

Carpenter Technology

Memry Corporation

Avient Corporation

Johnson Matthey

Daido Steel

Furukawa Electric

Nippon Steel

These companies are investing in cutting-edge technologies, expanding their manufacturing capabilities, and focusing on the development of high-performance alloys to cater to the growing demand across industries. With advancements in adaptive manufacturing and an increasing focus on sustainability, these market leaders are positioning themselves for long-term success.

Key Growth Drivers and Emerging Opportunities

Several factors are fueling the growth of the Shape Memory Alloy market:

Healthcare Demand: The increasing use of SMA in medical devices such as stents, implants, and surgical tools is driving significant demand in the biomedical sector.

Automotive Innovation: The automotive industry’s growing interest in lightweight, high-performance materials for fuel efficiency and safety is boosting the demand for SMAs, especially in smart actuators and components.

Aerospace Advancements: Aerospace applications, including actuators for flight control systems and adaptable components, are contributing to the market’s expansion.

Wearable Electronics: The rise of wearable electronics is creating new opportunities for SMAs, which can be used in flexible and adaptive devices.

Automotive Autonomy: As the automotive sector moves towards more autonomous vehicles, the demand for SMAs in systems like self-adjusting components and smart sensors is set to increase.

Regional Dynamics and Supply Chain Evolution

North America and Asia-Pacific are the two most prominent regions in the Shape Memory Alloy market, owing to strong manufacturing bases and substantial demand across key industries like automotive and healthcare.

However, emerging markets in India, Brazil, and Vietnam are expected to become increasingly important for market expansion, as they experience rapid industrialization and technological adoption. Companies are likely to make strategic investments in these regions to diversify revenue streams and capture growth opportunities.

Despite challenges related to cost constraints and technical limitations, the SMA market's supply chain—from raw material suppliers to end-user industries—is evolving. Industry players are focusing on improving efficiency and expanding their global reach, making advancements in both mature and emerging markets.

About DataString Consulting

DataString Consulting is a trusted provider of market research and business intelligence solutions, offering a full spectrum of services for both B2C and B2B markets. With over 30 years of combined industry experience, DataString specializes in delivering actionable insights that support strategic decision-making.

The firm’s expertise spans across multiple industries, and it provides tailored research services in strategy consulting, opportunity assessment, competitive intelligence, and market forecasting. DataString Consulting helps businesses navigate complex markets and capitalize on emerging trends to achieve sustained success.

[scipunk]

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a groundbreaking titanium-aluminum (Ti-Al)-based superelastic alloy. This new material is not only lightweight but also strong, offering the unique superelastic capability to function across a broad temperature range -- from as low as -269°C, the temperature of liquid helium, to +127°C, which is above the boiling point of water. This discovery holds significant potential for a variety of applications, including those in space exploration and medical technology. Sheng Xu, an Assistant Professor at Tohoku University's Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, emphasized the importance of the alloy's wide operational temperature range. "This alloy is the first of its kind to maintain superelasticity at such an extreme range of temperatures while remaining lightweight and strong, which opens up a variety of practical applications that were not possible before. The alloy's properties make it ideal for future space missions, such as creating superelastic tires for lunar rovers to navigate the extreme temperature fluctuations on the Moon's surface."

Read more.

[amazingabellini]

Armored Core Music

[gaurik27]

https://sparktv.net/read-blog/51769_technological-advances-driving-the-shape-memory-alloys-market-boom.html

[global-research-report]

Unlocking Potential: Key Trends Driving the Shape Memory Alloys Market

The global shape memory alloys market size is expected to reach USD 29.28 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 11.3% from 2025 to 2030. Shape memory alloy (SMA) refers to a metallic material that can be bent or stretched in its cool state. The alloy regains its original shape when heated above the transition temperature. Low temperature (martensite) and high temperature (austenite) are two stable phases of SMAs.

Nickel-titanium alloy (nitinol) is the key product type, which is largely used in medical devices. Medical devices made from nitinol include dental wires, needles, catheter tubes, guidewires, and other surgical instruments. The biomedical industry is facing many challenging applications that are testing the capability of SMAs. Recent research and development activities are aimed at improving the fatigue life of the material and producing materials with low inclusion sizes.

Gradual expansion of the automotive industry is likely to play a significant role in the demand for SMAs over the forecast period. SMA actuators are gaining popularity among automobile manufacturers owing to properties such as shape memory effect (SME) and super elasticity (SE). In addition, SMA actuators do not need complex and bulky design to function. Increasing R&D investments by automobile manufacturers to find potential applications such as climate control, door locks, engine control valve, and actuators are anticipated to drive market growth.

Aerospace and defense is another promising sector for SMAs. Rising focus on multi-functionality and reliability is driving demand for advanced materials in aerospace applications such as spacecraft, rotorcraft, and fixed-wing aircraft.

Asia Pacific is projected to remain a key region for the market over the coming years. Various research institutes and organizations are focusing on the development of new industrial applications. The region is undergoing significant infrastructural development in railways, roadways, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. Furthermore, globalization has made the region a lucrative place for investment to aid the development of the economy while catering to a larger population. Asia Pacific also boasts a large aerospace and defense industry, creating novel opportunities for SMAs to be incorporated.

The market is competitive, with various small and large participants. Mergers and acquisitions, R&D investments, and new product launches are key strategic initiatives adopted by market players. For instance, in March 2024, Montagu Private Equity LLP, a private equity firm, announced its plans to acquire Johnson Matthey Plc's Medical Device Components (MDC) business. MDC develops and manufactures specialized components for minimally invasive medical devices. It also focuses on complex and high-precision parts made from platinum group metals and nitinol.

Shape Memory Alloys Market Report Highlights

The biomedical segment had the largest market share, over 55%, in 2024. This segment's large share is attributed to increasing R&D in medical devices and surgical instruments.

The nickel-titanium alloys (nitinol) segment dominated the market by capturing the largest share of 79.6% in 2024. Increasing R&D activities for application-specific products are aiding the growth of this segment.

North America shape memory alloys market secured the largest market share of 35.1% in 2024

Asia Pacific shape memory alloys market is anticipated to expand at the fastest CAGR of 11.7% from 2025 to 2030. Increasing production activities in the aerospace and automotive industries are likely to contribute to market growth.

Shape Memory Alloys Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global shape memory alloys market report on the basis of product, end use, and region

Shape Memory Alloys Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Nickel-Titanium (Nitinol) Alloys

Copper-Based Alloys

Others

Shape Memory Alloys End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Biomedical

Automotive

Aerospace & Defense

Consumer Electronics & Household

Others

Shape Memory Alloys Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

North America

US

Canada

Europe

Germany

UK

France

Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

Central and South America

Brazil

Middle East and Africa

Saudi Arabia

Key Players of Shape Memory Alloys Market

ATI

Baoji Seabird Metal Material Co., Ltd.

Dynalloy, Inc.

Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corp

Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.

Johnson Matthey

Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI)

Nippon Seisen Co., Ltd.

Nippon Steel Corporation

SAES Group

Order a free sample PDF of the Shape Memory Alloys Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[szmicros]

SMA-1 Shape Memory Alloy Dynamic Characteristics Measurement System

Introducing our Shape Memory Alloy Characteristics Test kit – the must-have tool for all your material testing needs! Whether you're a student conducting experiments or a professional engineer looking to analyze shape memory alloys, this kit has got you covered.

[electronalytics]

Muscle Wire Market Analysis Growth Factors and Competitive Strategies by Forecast 2032

Market Overview:

The muscle wire market refers to the segment of the industry that deals with the production and application of shape memory alloys (SMAs), commonly known as muscle wires. Muscle wires are made from alloys that can change their shape in response to external stimuli such as heat, electricity, or stress. They find applications in various industries, including robotics, aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and consumer electronics.

Key Factors:

1. Expanding robotics and automation market: The need for muscle wires is being driven by the growing use of robotics and automation in sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, and aerospace. These cables give robotic devices the ability to move precisely and deliberately, improving their functionality and effectiveness.

2. Development of new and superior muscle wire alloys with improved qualities such as form recovery, durability, and fatigue resistance has been made possible by ongoing advances in material science. These developments help the market expand.

3. Electronics are becoming smaller: The demand for miniaturised actuation systems is driven by the movement towards smaller and more compact electronic devices, such as wearable tech, cellphones, and medical implants. A practical alternative for precise and compact actuation in these systems is muscle wires.

4. Muscle wires are utilised in the automotive industry for a variety of purposes, including active aerodynamics, engine components, and safety systems. They are suitable for a variety of automotive applications due to their ability to deliver precise and reliable actuation.

5. Medical and healthcare applications: Muscle wires are used in products including drug delivery systems, surgical instruments, and assistive equipment in the medical and healthcare industry. These applications benefit from muscle wires' capacity to deliver regulated actuation and movements.

6. There is an expanding market for smart fabrics, which include technological elements and functionality. It is possible to incorporate muscle wires into textiles to give them shape-changing capabilities, resulting in the creation of creative and adaptable clothes, wearable technology, and smart materials.

7. Applications in the aerospace industry: The aerospace sector uses muscle wires for morphing wings, actuation systems, and adaptive structures. In aircraft applications, muscle wires provide thin, effective actuation solutions that boost performance and fuel economy.

8. Research and development activities: Ongoing research and development in the field of muscle wires is fostering innovation and broadening the applications that they may be used for. This involves improvements in material composition, fabrication processes, and integration strategies that create new market prospects.

9. Energy-efficient actuation: Compared to conventional mechanical systems, muscle wires offer energy-efficient actuation. They are appealing for situations where energy efficiency is essential because they can efficiently transform electrical energy into mechanical motion.

10. Growing need for intelligent and responsive materials: The industry is seeing an increase in demand for materials that can respond to external stimuli and alter their shape or qualities. Since muscle wires have special qualities in this area, their use is growing.

Here are some key benefits for stakeholders:

Growing Market Opportunity

Innovative Applications

Energy Efficiency

Miniaturization and Lightweight

Reliability and Durability

Flexibility and Versatility

Improved Medical Applications

Competitive Advantage

Demand and Trends:

The growing deployment of robots, automation, and miniature electronic devices across sectors is predicted to increase the market for muscle wires. The market is additionally impacted by trends like the creation of smart textiles, developments in material science, and the expanding need for responsive and energy-efficient materials.

Muscle wires' prospective uses are anticipated to expand as long as research and development efforts are made, hence market expansion is likely. To fulfil the changing needs of diverse industries, producers and suppliers should concentrate on creating cutting-edge muscle wire goods, working with other industry participants, and discovering new application areas.

We recommend referring our Stringent datalytics firm, industry publications, and websites that specialize in providing market reports. These sources often offer comprehensive analysis, market trends, growth forecasts, competitive landscape, and other valuable insights into this market.

By visiting our website or contacting us directly, you can explore the availability of specific reports related to this market. These reports often require a purchase or subscription, but we provide comprehensive and in-depth information that can be valuable for businesses, investors, and individuals interested in this market.

“Remember to look for recent reports to ensure you have the most current and relevant information.”

Click Here, To Get Free Sample Report: https://stringentdatalytics.com/sample-request/muscle-wire-market/10238/

Market Segmentations:

Global Muscle Wire Market: By Company

• Edgetech Industries

• Jameco Electronics

• Dynalloy, Inc

• Hengxin Rare Metals

• Cliniva Healthcare

• Aura Design

• Autosplice

• SAES Getters

• Ulbrich

• California Fine Wire Co.

Global Muscle Wire Market: By Type

• One - Way

• Two – Way

Global Muscle Wire Market: By Application

• Aerospace

• Textile Electronics

• Arterial Stints

• Robotics

• Orthodontic Braces

• Eyeglasses

• Others

Global Muscle Wire Market: Regional Analysis

The regional analysis of the global Muscle Wire market provides insights into the market's performance across different regions of the world. The analysis is based on recent and future trends and includes market forecast for the prediction period. The countries covered in the regional analysis of the Muscle Wire market report are as follows:

North America: The North America region includes the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The U.S. is the largest market for Muscle Wire in this region, followed by Canada and Mexico. The market growth in this region is primarily driven by the presence of key market players and the increasing demand for the product.

Europe: The Europe region includes Germany, France, U.K., Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Rest of Europe. Germany is the largest market for Muscle Wire in this region, followed by the U.K. and France. The market growth in this region is driven by the increasing demand for the product in the automotive and aerospace sectors.

Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region includes Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific. China is the largest market for Muscle Wire in this region, followed by Japan and India. The market growth in this region is driven by the increasing adoption of the product in various end-use industries, such as automotive, aerospace, and construction.

Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa region includes Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, and Rest of Middle East and Africa. The market growth in this region is driven by the increasing demand for the product in the aerospace and defense sectors.

South America: The South America region includes Argentina, Brazil, and Rest of South America. Brazil is the largest market for Muscle Wire in this region, followed by Argentina. The market growth in this region is primarily driven by the increasing demand for the product in the automotive sector.

Visit Report Page for More Details: https://stringentdatalytics.com/reports/muscle-wire-market/10238/

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• To understand consumer behavior: this research reports can provide valuable insights into consumer behavior, including their preferences, purchasing habits, and demographics.

• To evaluate market opportunities: this research reports can help businesses evaluate market opportunities, including potential new products or services, new markets, and emerging trends.

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[raccoonfallsharder]

˚₊‧✶ headcanon 21 ✶‧₊˚

i write about raccoon sense of touch a lot [this kinda spicy rumination] and i think about it a lot

like two-thirds of a raccoon’s sensory perception area in the cerebral cortex is just… focused entirely on interpreting tactile data. their fingers have whiskers (okay, vibrissae) so they can identify objects without even making paw-contact. their hands become hypersensitive when wet (lord). if they identify things with their paws, they can remember them for up to/around a year without touching them again.

so yeah, when you press a kiss to rocket’s palm, it damn near lights up his whole brain. holding hands? palm-to-palm? it’s so intimate that he’s probably absolutely scarlet under all that fur. he probably thinks it feels like you might as well be reading his mind. he memorizes you the same way he memorizes every gun he takes apart and every bomb he puts together.

i suppose this means he thinks mostly in tactile sensation, too. when he’s imagining you, it’s less about the color of your hair (assuming the high evolutionary’s made sure he can see the same color-range as humans, anyway). it’s not about the clarity of your eyes, or how you’d looked with the sun haloing you that morning on xandar when he’d first let you touch his shoulder. nope. when rocket thinks about you, it’s how warm your hands are, every little soft pillow and rasping callus on your palm and fingertips. the brush of them through his fur, every one of his little hairs standing on end in its follicle. it's the shape of the bones in your wrists from that time he traced them into memory.

similarly, rocket doesn’t remember lylla’s liquid-dark eyes so much as the silkiness of her pelt, the cool graze of her vibranium-alloy hands. the delicate touch of the damp fabric on his forehead that very first day, and the squeeze of her arms on the very last.

and so, the natural outcome of all this is that he dreams in touch, too. it’s not the silver flash of scalpels and the blood on the ground — it’s not even the gunshots and floor’s desperate pleading and his own wails, or the scent of laser-burnt fur and blood — though of course those are all there too. it’s the pain he dreams of: feeling it fresh in his body, every incision and broken bone and careless laser-stitch, every screw and metal plate soldered in. it’s not the lights for their white-brightness; it’s the tearful squinting squeeze of his eyes, the burning in his pinpoint-pupils. it’s the way lylla’s body had buckled and loosened, and pulled from his arms to the ground by gravity — the last of her warmth wisping through his fingers, already a ghost between the cold arête cages. it’s the plummet in his own belly — that terrible twisting knot that dropped when his first family did, and never ever stopped.

all that pain. it’s so much. it’s so much to make up for.

it’s so much to make up for.

but you’ll get started.

headcanons & imagines masterlist

[wazzappp]

WERE DOING SPECBIO STUFF AGAIN BABY. Feels fucking good to get back to my roots (i get to close 50 tabs worth of research now. Delightful)

Terminators are made of a Titanium Alloy (Im going with ferrotitanium which is a mix of iron and titanium. They never specify in the movie what the titanium is mixed with so fuck it we ball baby)) skeleton contains limited amounts of Mimetic Polyalloy (fake material used for the terminator in terminator two). Mimetic polyalloy can be hard or flexible and will be used to create new structures that the iron collected from food will later fully establish. This will allow his metal endoskeleton to mimic standard growth that a regular skeleton would have growing up.

When first introduced to the foster system (medical checkups are required once entering the foster system. The police probably do some checkups on Robbie also just to make sure hes okay when they find him), medical tests show that he has anemia, so it’s  recommended he be put on iron supplements. My reasoning is any iron in his blood is almost instantly sent to work on growing his endoskeleton. That means the actual amount of iron left in his blood is pretty low (the opposite of this is hemochromatosis which is when there's too much iron in your blood). I could see him probably trying to stop iron supplements but I think there would be some side effects to convince him to start taking them again. His joints might ache or I could see child terminator Robbie saying some mildly concerning shit like ‘my bones feel hungry’. I also think he might crave foods that are high in iron. Like beef/chicken liver, canned tuna, and seafood. Idk how frequently he could AFFORD these things but yk. The endoskeleton hungers eternal  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Nanobots are used to repair wiring for his nervous system, synthetic muscular system, acts as his immune system and sometimes accelerates healing for his organic systems (organic parts of his muscular system, skin, and nerves). For the most part his organic systems heal on their own at about the same pace as a normal human person. Nanomachines/nanoparticles are fueled by glucose (if Robbie needs work done by the nanobots he might need to eat or crave sugar both before and afterwards). 

He probably has a fairly (?) normal digestive system and circulatory system. The spread of his circulatory system is just more limited because some parts of him don't really need blood. . The primary job of the nanomachines when they aren't busy healing or growing his body is to harvest as much heme iron from the food/supplements he consumes as possible so that it can be repurposed later. His immune system is taken care of by the nanobots so all he has to worry about is red blood cell and plasma production. Similar to adults, most of this takes place in his spine, ribs, skull and breastbone. The red bone marrow is stored inside these metal parts and the red blood cells are then released into his bloodstream. Plasma is created in the liver and also in bone marrow so most of that stays the same

Another fun bit about the endoskeleton:

Bones close to his skin that are in danger of being exposed (knuckles, kneecaps, cheekbones) have a very thin enamel coating to preserve the illusion that they are bones. But underneath it’s all just the same Ferrotitanium.

onto the muscular system

Muscles are laced with a Shape Memory Alloy called Nitinol. A flexible (SURPRISINGLY durable godamn) metal material made of nickel and titanium that reacts to electrical and thermal impulses. It’s already used in the medical field (I can not fucking BELIVE that this is real thats so so so SO fucking cool). Superficial muscles are more organic (80% muscle 20% nitinol) but as the muscles go deeper they become more and more synthetic (20% muscle 40% nitinol 40% titanium wiring for durability). Superficial muscles are more muscle for stealth purposes. If injuries go deeper than anticipated he will still be able to fly mostly under the radar, assuming no wires have been significantly dislodged. If he’s been injured into the deeper layers then there’s no use in trying to lay low anymore. He’s clearly in a combat situation and stealth protocols no longer matter.

ALSO I did some math to try and figure out how heavy Robbie would be with all this metal in his system. Heres the logic for my equation:

CONTENT WARNING. MATH.

About 12 - 15% of your body mass is bone. A person weighing 155 lbs will have about 22lbs of bones. One Cubic centimeter of bones will weigh about 1.85 grams.

Ferrotitanium alloy is 4.5 grams per cubic centimeter. 

The equation 1.85/4.5 = 22/x in which x is his new bodyweight. Multiply 1.85 by 2.43 to get 4.5. Because the equation must be symmetrical you then multiply 22 by 2.43 to get 53.5 lbs.

With all of the extra metal in his system, I think it would be reasonable to assume that he LOOKS like he should be about 155 lbs but his actual weight is around 250 lbs. I have. NO idea how doctors are going to deal with this.

Had some VERY FUN hypotheticals from @moosemonstrous (thank you for proofreading my insanity once again <3) about his body shedding as much water as possible and like. shriveling his organs to drop as much weight as possible before doctors appointments. But given that he is a cyborg and not an android I do think that might kill him so Im thinking??? Maybe people just assume the scale is broken.... every single time he's in.

IDK man if they have access to his wack ass file then his breaking the conservation of mass is the least weird thing in there.

OKAY YAYYYYY NOW THAT I HAVE HIS INTERWORKINGS LAID OUT I CAN DO FUN CYBORG GORE!!!!! <33

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

Wereharpy Vaggie au idea rant thingy: Lute accidentally 'created' or 'awakened' wereharpy Vaggie when she cut out Vaggie's eye with angelic steel. le whoops?

secondary ideas: Exorcists and their weapons as re-purposed "sin-eaters", the remnants of the hell-touched winner souls who were torn apart when their job of saving sinners from sins was seen as a failure and being able to permanently destroy them instead was discovered. The original wereharpies were the Sin-Eaters, who gouged out one of their eyes with their bare hands as a final test of their commitment of giving themselves up to save sinners, and took on their more monstrous forms after absorbing and battling with the sins they devoured. Their refusal to switch from eating sins to murdering sinners ended up with them being torn apart by the Sera. Adam then was handed the re-shaped pieces of the Sin-Eaters in the form of Exorcists, while the talons were used to create the alloy that came to be known as heavenly steel, the only substance capable of permanently damaging or killing a soul. (only like can cut like)

Lute cutting out Vaggie's eye with a heavenly weapon, specifically after Vaggie had refused to kill a sinner, reawakening the scrap of the Sin-Eater Vaggie had once been part of, including her 'new' wereharpy form.

The more time Vaggie spent in Hell trying to save sinners the more her harpy form, and the Sin-Eater instincts ingrained into it, started to come out.

Vaggie thought this was some part of being an Exorcist stuck with her prey and worried her harpy self would start mindlessly killing sinners if set loose. She worked with Charlie to keep herself as much under lock and key during harpy time as possible. Meanwhile Charlie just assumed this was part of Vaggie's sinner form and was happy to help her manage it in a way that kept her from hurting others or worrying about hurting others.

Neither of them knew the full history of the Exorcists or Sin-Eaters.

which, given in more detail, maybe goes something like this:

Heaven is new and workshopping how to handle having "winner" souls enjoying their eternal reward up there. YAY!! First problem: Winners are sad when their friends and family die but don't end up in Heaven with them. :( First solution: Create sin-eaters to take on the sins of souls down in hell, specifically the ones vouched for by someone up in Heaven! In eating them the Sin-Eater strips the soul blank, memories ripped out and sorted with the bad ones remaining with the Sin-Eater and good ones stored safely in Heaven while the soul is returned to Earth for another life and another chance at someday being with their former loved ones again- the memories of which will be returned once the soul arrives up in Heaven.

Perfect! How could this go wrong???

Snag number 1: Heaven born cannot sin or take on sins, so some Winners have to volunteer for the terrible job of going down to Hell and eating the souls, which isn't fun and will probably change the composition of their own soul. The Seraphim argue for a while if this can still count as being given eternal rest, but finally agree that they shouldn't deny the chance to any Winner that wants it. Some do, and the first Sin-Eaters are made.

Frist snag dealt with!

Snag number 2: Eating sins imbues the Winner soul WITH sins, obviously, staining their wings and tarnishing their halo and eventually twisting their entire physical form as well as leaving them with terrible memories and sinful thoughts haunting their minds. Sin-Eaters learn to focus wholly on their conviction of saving sinner souls, using the virtues to drown out the rising tide of sin in them, and their bodies warp into bird-of-prey and then harpy-like shapes in reflection of this. The Seraphim decide to make a dedicated area for the Sin-Eaters up in Heaven, both to shield other Winners from having to see them in their self-chosen suffering and to help maintain the concentration needed for the Sin-Eaters to contain their willingly taken-on sins.

Second snag.... mostly mitigated. The plan is still working. Continue.

Snag number 3: Lilith, with Lucifer's help, is working to make Hell a place that can be fun to live in actually, a place where no vice is taboo and no punishment can be worse than what's already happened. It becomes a place of power, passion, and personal freedom, sins as things that don't JUST have to cause suffering, and if the people around sinners aren't the nicest well no one really is and getting your head cut off means a lot less when you'll just pull yourself back together again. Some sinners start getting chopped into pieces for fun, even! In fact some sinners like their life in Hell so much they run from the Sin-Eaters that come for them, even when told this is happening on the request of someone who loved them in life and that a second chance at Heaven is waiting for them if they just HOLD STILL AND LET THEMSELVES GET EATEN FOR A MOMENT. Not many sinners do. First, sounds too good to be true. Second-Give up what they already have for something that only MIGHT happen? A lot of sinners don't like the odds on that, or the idea of losing their memories of the people they've met and befriended in Hell. Running from Sin-Eaters turns into fighting them. The Sin-Eaters are powerful though so that doesn't work so well.

Snag number three is. Kinda still there. And about to get Worse.

Snag 4: It turns out a soul can die. As sinners put more thought and effort into fighting off Sin-Eaters they start actually hurting them. Boons with the Queen of Hell give them very limited abilities to try fending off the Sin-Eaters who want to take them from Lilith's realm. It's not enough to really damage the Sin-Eaters, but it stops them in their tracks and makes some Sin-Eaters defend themselves on reflex. Which is when snag number four comes in like a wrecking ball- Because the souls torn apart by a Sin-Eater's talons do NOT pieces themselves together afterwards. They stay dead. And not only do they stay dead, their sins unravel into demonic energy and are released into the surrounding area, imbuing the fellow sinners with power and denying the Sin-Eaters anything to devour or save. Instead of reweaving the threads of a sinner's soul the threads are SEVERED. The Sin-Eaters are horrified. This isn't want they wanted, but apparently taking on parts of other souls (absorbing them, not chaining them) can distil a soul to the point that it tears apart other souls with it's own existence. (like a black hole that used to be a star collapsing under it's own weight and slowly devouring other stars in turn) The sinners are upset about all this for a hot second before realizing that having free floating demonic power in hell means ppl can take it for themselves. The ones that manage to claim this power now find themselves with the power to give their own very specific boons- and to do even more than that, for the right price. Power in Hell shifts slightly away from it's King and Queen and lesser nobility of the hellborn demons as the first Overlords rise up and start bartering souls from and among their fellow sinners, with all limitations on self defense removed from the abilities they can grant. Meaning sinners are powerful and can attack unprovoked if they want to. And oh, do a lot of them WANT to.

Not good! The Seraphim do NOT like seeing this!!!

Snag 5: Hell is suddenly getting MORE powerful, able to resist Heaven's will with force and self-cannibalize to condense power down among it's WORST and most ambitious sinners- But at least the solution is also part of the problem here. Adam, always grumpy about the idea of giving any kind of second chance to the "losers" his ex is SO proud of, floats the very obvious but also drastic idea of just, y'know, killing MORE sinner souls. Sure it'll free up more power for the Overlords, but that'll just make them fight each other over it even more, and hey, none of souls returned to Earth a second time have made it into Heaven anyway! Why not split the difference? "Free" souls from eternal torment by killing them, reduce the numbers Hell has at it's command, make more Overlords to fight the Overlords that are already running around. And maybe have some FUN with all it!

Sera thinks this plan might work....

Snag 6: The other Seraphim disagree, and so do the Sin-Eaters.

Snag 7: Sin-Eaters are losing control over the accidental soul killing, their sense of conviction shattered by this sin that they did not take on but CREATED with their own actions, they scream. The virtues they've been propping themselves up with like scaffolding crumble under the weight of sin and the need to confess it to the loved ones of those they killed. This need drives them into mindlessly trying to break free from their section of Heaven. Sera concedes to the other Seraphim that the Sin-Eaters cannot be asked to kill more souls.... ...but she also convinces guardians of Heaven that the other heavenly souls should not be burdened with knowledge of or guilt over sins they did not commit. The Sin-Eaters must be stopped. In the end the power of the sins proves too much to cage or chain and Sera herself rips the Sin-Eaters apart.

Well. That didn't end great. At least it's over through, right?

Snag 8: Sera still agrees with Adam's plan and has an idea of her own for how to make it happen. To create an army close-knit and bloodthirsty enough both to stand ready at Heaven's defense and have earned the pain that entails, Sera reforms the pieces of the original Sin-Eaters into the Exorcists- taking Adam's preferences into account, seeing as he will be taking responsibility of them from here on out. The resulting angelic women are armed with the weapons forged from the Sin-Eater's talons, and each year Adam leads them down to hell to Exterminate as many sinners as they can. He gives them cool horned masks to wear to match his own, since they're his girls after all, but adds the "stitched shut mouth" (they're not Sin-EATERS anymore and won't be spilling ANY secrets) and "missing eye" (which he has to admit DID look badass) details as an inside joke for himself to snicker at. As far as the rest of Heaven is concerned, the Exorcists are a host of Heaven born soldiers incapable of killing souls but willing to lay down their own lives defending them, and any resemblance to the Sin-Eaters is a only a memorial honoring those poor souls Heaven could not save.

Only Sera and Adam know the truth.

Now Adam is dead, and many Exorcists with him, and even IF Sera wanted to try undoing what has been done by piecing back together the souls she cut apart, hoping they might heal now the truth they died trying to confess to has come out... she can't.

That feeling, the drive all Exorcists take strength from, the need to be part of something bigger than themselves- it can't be fixed.

They can never be part of the whole that they once were.

But... maybe Vaggie is proof they can still help the sinner souls they so devotedly wanted to save. Maybe this new way is even better than the one that made them what they were.

Maybe the rest of the truth will come out someday, but until then, wereharpy Vaggie slowly feeling more protective of than bloodthirsty for the sinners living in her and Charlie's hotel is a something she can be relieved about. It's nice having friends. She's glad she doesn't want to kill them so much anymore.

(she doesn't know what that urge to feast on them really is meant for)

(so instead of taken their sins from them, she and Charlie go on trying to help the Hazbins live with and grow beyond their pasts instead)

(and. it. works.)

[materialsscienceandengineering]

In a collaborative effort between Texas A&M University and Sandia National Laboratories, researchers have significantly improved a new joining technology, interlocking metasurfaces (ILMs), designed to increase the strength and stability of a structure in comparison to traditional techniques like bolts and adhesives, using shape memory alloys (SMAs). ILMs offer the potential to transform mechanical joint design in manufacturing for aerospace, robotics and biomedical devices. "ILMs are poised to redefine joining technologies across a range of applications, much like Velcro did decades ago," said Dr. Ibrahim Karaman, professor and head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering Department at Texas A&M. "In collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories, the original developers of ILMs, we have engineered and fabricated ILMs from shape memory alloys. Our research demonstrates that these ILMs can be selectively disengaged and re-engaged on demand while maintaining consistent joint strength and structural integrity."

Read more.

[typingatlightspeed]

Metal Gear/TF2 Crossover - cp_shadow_moses_event Chapter 15

Now that Snake knows how the PAL Key works, he needs to go handle the shape-memory alloy trickery. Luckily, BLU team's decided to back him up and help with all that nasty backtracking. Sadly, they've all been getting used, and Liquid Snake finally reveals his whole gambit and how they've all played their parts in his masterful plan. RED team makes their final defense!

Ao3 Link!

Making that Heavy/Medic and Demo/Sniper even more obvious, lol. Also plugging up a little verisimilitude hole that's driven me nuts for decades with a throwaway line from Engie (also subtle MGS2 reference :3). Here begins A Lot Of Fights Scenes, something I notoriously find Deeply Difficult to write, so I hope they're good! <3

---------

Snake sighed, plodding through the door into the freezer storage. If Otacon's instructions were right, all he needed to do was expose the PAL key to the temperatures of the room for a little bit and the shape-memory alloy that the key was made from would change itself to work for the second input. Entering the room, he barely had time to dart aside to avoid being blundered into by BLU's Scout, who tried to skid to a halt and ended up sliding on the frozen floor, tumbling over backward.

Heavy shot out a massive hand to catch the younger man, pushing him back upright with a smirk. Scout brushed himself off and tried to compose himself as he flashed him a grateful nod.

"Snake, you are back," the giant stated, eyebrow lifting in surprise.

"Yeah, I needed cold temperatures to get the PAL key for Metal Gear to work. Apparently I had all the keys I needed for a long time, just didn't know how to work them. Otacon figured it out, and so now I need to freeze it," Snake explained, pulling the key out and setting it atop a frozen crate nearby to rest and cool.

"A shape-memory alloy?" Engineer asked.

"Yeah."

Spy hummed, intrigued. "Clever."

"I didn't see RED on my way," Snake added, "so I'm not sure where they are."

"Well, Liquid hired 'em, so they can't be too far away from where he's creepin' around at this point," Engineer replied.

"Which is somewhere around the maintenance hangar ahead," Snake said, looking to the key and watching as the metal shrank and crinkled in different spots.

"Which means that's where we're headed," Scout assured him. "We're stickin' with you, Snake!"

The rest of the team rumbled various agreements, and Snake couldn't help but crack a smile at it. He tucked the key back into one of his pouches, careful to keep it away from his body heat. "Alright, follow me. There's a lot of climbing to do." He thought Heavy may have made a mournful sound as he turned and led the way back to the maintenance hangar.

*

"Shit, there really ain't nobody here," Scout muttered as they entered the maintenance hangar, the massive space stretching out above them. The mercenaries' sight was dominated by REX standing there, silent and inert. "'Cept big boy, I guess."

"Well lookee there," Engineer hummed, looking REX up and down. "Ain't she a beaut'? And lil' Hal designed this baby? Always knew that boy was goin' places."

"This way," Snake grunted. He led the team up the series of ladders and catwalks that surrounded and crossed REX, not bothering to wait for them to catch up. They didn't need to hurry, after all. He was just going to use the console and come back out. Once he had the frozen key in place and registered, he would need to heat the key. His mind churned, trying to figure out the best way to get it hot. His lighter would be too small to heat it evenly, and might end up just setting the thing on fire in the attempt or warping it the wrong way. The closest source of heat like the freezer was the foundry, all the way up at ground level. It didn't seem ideal, but the room was definitely hot enough to get the job done. Snake still felt a little dehydrated from all of the sweat he'd shed making his way through there the first time.

Reaching the control room, Snake inserted the key into the second laptop's drive and waited as it registered the cold key, the second pillar descending down into the console. Withdrawing the PAL key once more, he nodded. It was time to heat the key.

As he left the control room, BLU had finally caught up. "So what's next?" Scout asked, leaning casually against the railing of the catwalk. He'd been the first one up, right on Snake's heels.

"I need to heat the key up for the final shape."

"Heat it?" Scout turned to Pyro. "You got this?"

Pyro nodded and muffled out a helpful, "Mmhmm," bringing his flamethrower to bear.

Snake stared at him for a long moment. Oh yeah. There was a guy literally holding a flamethrower with him. Instantly, he felt a little stupid. "Sure. Let me put it down," he said, laying it carefully on the catwalk a little way away and getting out of the line of literal fire.

Pyro puffed some flames at the key, keeping it a little above the thing rather than just lighting it up, watching as the shape-memory alloy shrunk and expanded in different ways, crinkling around into a new arrangement at the exposure to the heat. When it stopped moving, he let up and let Snake go and reclaim the key, carefully handling it and glad for his gloves.

"Thanks, Pyro."

Pyro flashed him a thumbs up, bouncing a little on the balls of his feet gleefully, happy to be of service.

"This should deactivate the launch sequence," Snake announced, and headed back into the control room. The mercenaries watched through the room's window as Snake approached the laptop, only for his codec to ring. He stopped, answering the call.

Naomi's voice hissed in a soft whisper on the other end of the line, "Snake, can you hear me? It's Naomi."

"Naomi? What the hell?!"

"Campbell and the others are busy right now. I'm on a different codec..."

"He's takin' a call now?!" Scout grumbled, crossing his arms as he watched Snake talking, looking a bit alarmed.

"Whatever it is, it looks important," Engineer said with a half-shrug.

Spy held a finger to the earpiece under his mask, listening in. "Oh, you have no idea," he chuckled, privy to the personal drama unfolding between Snake and Naomi over the codec.

Engineer leveled a look at Spy. "Y'really think it's necessary to keep eavesdroppin' at this point? We're outright workin' with the feller now. Not like we need to keep tabs on his movements."

"True, but we should be keeping tabs on the exchanges between him and his team. After all, if they do bomb this place, this might be our first alert, and our chance to get out before we're all killed."

"I think you just love gossip too much to stop gettin' in his business."

Spy's lips drew up in a line, and he merely looked down at the stout mechanic beside him knowingly from the corner of his eye. He was right, but Spy wasn't going to dignify it by saying so.

Engineer laughed all the same.

"Still no information on Australium cache," Heavy reminded them, setting Sascha down gently. "Even if it really exist."

"For that matter, what do we even do if we happen across it at this point?" Medic added. "The assignment was to take and hold the facility for Herr Mann's client to come retrieve the Australium from, but if the US government might wipe it off of the map, that makes that impossible. The possibility of us all dying aside, of course."

"FOXHOUND and Metal Gear make everything too complicated," Heavy agreed. "But I know this. We will not die here. I will not let this happen." He wrapped an arm around Medic's waist, tugging the doctor close and eliciting a giggle from him. "We are team. Soldier will get out. Will be waiting for us."

"Yeah, a contract's a contract, but I ain't about to die for no Australium that might not even be here," Scout added with a huff. "An' we got zero intel on that stuff since we got 'ere. Nothin' from FOXHOUND, nothin' from Snake, nothin' from 'is team, nothin' from anyone. Only thing makin' me think there's even a chance a' it bein' here's the fact that those REDs've been tryin' to push us back, an' we ain't seen 'em since we hit the elevator. Which means I'm wonderin' if they seen the way the wind's blowin' an' cut an' run."

"Yes, tiny baby RED team are cowards," Heavy said with a nod.

"Just wish there was some way to know if it even exi—" An alert tone rang through the earpiece of Scout's headset, an incoming transmission. He held up a finger to quiet everyone and pointed to his mic. "Hol' up." He opened the channel, lifting an eyebrow. "Scout here."

"H-hello!" the voice on the other end ventured, shaky and nervous. "This is Otacon, I'm working with Snake."

"Otacon? You're the engineer guy who built the Metal Gear, right?"

"Yeah! You know about me?"

"Sure thing, pal. Engie's been big-uppin' you since 'e found out who you were," Scout chuckled, grinning as Engineer looked a bit embarrassed at being called out.

"O-oh! W-well, tell Dr. Conagher I say thank you! It's... it's been a long time," Otacon stammered out, a bit surprised.

"He says thanks, Eng," Scout chuckled, covering the mic for a moment before returning to the call. "Snake give you this frequency?"

"No, actually, Soldier did. He's here with me." Softly, the sound of Soldier saying, "Hello, Scout!" followed, muffled by distance from Otacon's mic.

Scout grinned, glad to hear his friend's voice. "So whatchu callin' for, Otacon? Or you just want a better conversational partner than Snake an' Soldier? Can't say as I blame you, Snake's the strong silent type for sure, an' Sol don't talk about much but the army an' his shitty ex-boyfriend so—"

Otacon forced himself to interrupt, "Well, I've been hacking into the personal files of the Arms Tech president, Kenneth Baker."

"The late Arms Tech president."

"Y-yeah. Anyway, I was getting Snake the information on how to use the PAL key to disable REX's launch sequence, but while I was there, I found a file about the Australium cache on the island, so Soldier told me to let you guys know about it."

"The Australium cache?" Scout asked, getting everyone's attention. He gestured to his headset, and the rest of the team tuned their radios to the frequency to listen in. "It's real?"

"Yeah, but he didn't want people to know about it. I had to do some extra legwork to get into that file. The gist is that it's in a dedicated sub-basement at the lowest part of the compound, deep underground."

"Wait, ain't we at the lowest part underground right now, in Metal Gear's hangar?"

"No. Apparently there's a room under the maintenance hangar somewhere, and that's where the Australium's being held. Only Baker had access to knowledge of the location, let alone the physical room itself."

"So how do we get down there?"

"That's the thing: there's zero information about that. Even in Baker's personal blueprints of the base, and from my knowledge of working in that hangar. Nothing goes lower than that level, no doors, no halls, no stairs or elevators. It's all on-level or upward from there. So I'm not sure how someone would even get into the cache."

"You think they got teleporters?" Scout asked, watching as Snake finished his codec call and began inputting the final PAL code.

"Teleporters?! How—oh yeah, Australian technology. I hadn't even considered that. Maybe, but they don't go very far, do they? The entrance would have to be somewhere nearby, and I've never seen anything like that down there."

"So then how—" Scout stopped abruptly as an automated voice rang out.

"PAL number three confirmed. PAL code entry complete. Detonation code activated."

Klaxons began to blare. Red emergency lights began to flash.

"No! Why?!" Snake barked, looking out at REX in a panic.

The automated voice rejoined, "Ready for launch."

"I deactivated it!"

Snake's codec rang, the channel opening to the sound of Master Miller's voice. "Thank you, Snake. Now the detonation code is completed. Nothing can stop Metal Gear now."

Confusion swam in Snake's head as he stared out at REX, uncomprehending. "Master, what's going on?"

"You found the key and even activated the warhead for us too. I really must express my gratitude. Sorry to have involved you in that silly shape-memory alloy business."

"What are you talking about?"

"We weren't able to learn the DARPA chief's code. Even with Mantis' psychic powers, he couldn't read his mind. Then Ocelot accidentally killed him during the interrogation. In other words, we weren't able to launch the nuclear device and we were all getting a little worried," Miller explained, his words dripping with patronizing amusement. "Without the threat of a nuclear strike, our demands would never be met."

"What do you mean?" Snake didn't understand, the words slamming against his brain and sliding down like rain against a window pane. It couldn't absorb.

"Without the detonation codes, we had to find some other way. That's when we decided you might prove useful, Snake."

"What?"

"First I thought we might get the information from you, Snake. So I had Decoy Octopus disguise himself as the DARPA chief. Unfortunately, Octopus didn't survive the encounter, thanks to FoxDie."

"You mean you had this planned from the beginning? Just to get me to input the detonation code?"

"Huh? You didn't think you made it this far by yourself, even with the BLU team, did you?"

"Who the hell are you?"

"In any case, the launch preparations are complete. Once the world glimpses the power of this weapon, the White House will have no choice but to surrender the FoxDie vaccine to me. Their ace in the hole is useless now."

"Ace in the hole?"

"The Pentagon's plan to use you was already successful... in the torture room." Miller chuckled, seemingly delighted by the whole charade. "Snake, you're the only one who doesn't know. Poor fool."

"Who are you anyway?"

"I'll tell you everything you want to know. If you come to where I am, that is."

"Where are you?"

"Very close by."

Campbell cut into the channel with the obvious, "Snake! That's not Master Miller!" "Campbell! You're too late!" 'Miller' barked.

"Master Miller's body was just discovered in his home. He's been dead for at least three days. I didn't know because my codec link with Master was cut off. But Mei Ling said his transmission signal was coming from inside the base!"

"So who is it?" Snake asked, desperate for any answers, for anything to make sense.

"Snake, you've been talking to—"

The false Miller cut in, his feigned American accent gone, his even, no-nonsense tone thrown aside. He spoke with an English accent and brassy aplomb. "Me, dear brother."

"Liquid?! How the—"

"You've served your purpose. You may die now!"

The door to the control room slid closed, locking as a yellow-green gas began to rapidly fill the small room.

"Oh shit, they're gassin' 'im!" Scout yelled, running to the door only to find it locked. He drew his pistol and fired a shot at the window to the room, the bullet catching in the thick, laminated glass, leaving a pock-mark but little else. "Otacon!"

"That's bulletproof glass, you can't break it with an ordinary weapon," Otacon replied, the clacking of keys loud through his mic.

"Can't you open the security lock? You're a hacker, right?"

"I'll try. I hope he can hold on."

Spy opened a channel and relayed the information to Snake, who was hurriedly pulling a gas mask from his pouch and tugging it down over his head, nodding in understanding to avoid breathing.

"I've hacked into security!" Otacon announced after a long, tense moment. "I'm opening the door!"

The door to the control room slid open and Snake charged out, ripping the gas mask from his head and gasping for air. Scout leapt aside to give him space. "You good, Snake?"

"Liquid," Snake hissed, charging past, out onto the catwalk. The BLU team turned as he passed, as they all came to see him. "LIQUID!!"

Liquid Snake was standing beside REX on a maintenance catwalk, shirtless and smug. "Snake!" He mimed removing a pair of spectacles with a smirk. "Did you like my sunglasses?"

"Sunglasses?" Scout asked, confused.

"Betcha he's got them codec visualizer nanomachines," Engineer hummed. "Kid's wired with 'em."

Snake drew his pistol, leveling it on the other man, his double, his brother, his clone.

"You'd point a weapon at your own brother?"

The BLUs froze, watching Snake for cues, unsure how to proceed. They stayed quiet, clustered up as Liquid began to monologue at his dear brother, explaining his masterful plan like some kind of spy movie villain.

Spy movies indeed. Pyro huffed, puffing out a short gout of fire from his flamethrower on reflex. His surprise at being met with a scream of pain nearly shocked him out of his chemsuit.

The RED Spy uncloaked, rolling to the catwalk to try and extinguish himself as cursing rang out below. The BLUs diverted their attention from the warring brothers down to the rest of the RED team, who were a level down, watching their Spy attempting and failing to assassinate someone while they were distracted by the nuclear apocalypse-flavoured Snake Family Drama.

"Bloody Spy!" Demoman roared, giving chase as the smoking and charred RED scrambled to his feet and fairly dove down the ladder to the level below, the rest of the team hot on their heels. Snake could handle his own business. They had their own to attend to. If the Australium was under the hangar, BLU needed to take the hangar. It was RED's last stand.

Pipe bombs flew over the edge of the catwalk to hail down on the level below, sending REDs scattering for cover as their Heavy brought his minigun to bear and tore through the metal above with a barrage of bullets. Demoman leapt back, Scout zipping past him and leaping over the edge, kicking off of REX to dive into the fray, bat in hand. He cracked it upside the Heavy's head before he could react, sending him stumbling as their Medic drew his bonesaw and sliced an arc through the air. It nearly cut into Scout, the younger man heaving himself backward in time for the blade to merely cut through his shirt and draw a thin red line across his chest before catching a tooth on his dogtags and wrenching away awkwardly. Medic made to strike again but was stopped by the blue dot of a laser sight zipping across Heavy's shoulder toward his head. He forewent chasing Scout, instead grabbing the giant by his bandolier and heaving him back with considerable strength, yanking him out of the line of fire a bare moment before BLU Sniper's bullet punched into the concrete wall where his head had been.

"Piss," Sniper growled, chambering another round. "Can't hit a bloody thing today."

"Everyone has an off day" Demoman teased. "Nae need tae show off. It's nae news ye ken yer way around a rifle."

"You callin' me a crack shot or a pouf?"

"Depends on whether ye wannae be on top tonight." Shooting him a wink (or was it just a blink?), Demoman hefted himself over the railing of the catwalk and onto the body of REX itself, landing atop its massive metal thigh and crouching low, waiting for the chance to strike.

Sniper snorted and took another shot, winging the RED Scout in the meat of his left arm, sending the young man tumbling to the catwalk.

An explosion shook the upper catwalk as RED Soldier fired a rocket into it from below, splintering the metal and making it curl up and away, creating a hole through which he was poised to launch himself, only to see the BLU Heavy standing there, glowing blue, his eyes shining with a yellow light as an übercharge coursed through him, his Medic at his back. The giant roared and let fly with a hail of bullets, peppering the catwalk below and laughing as REDs scattered and screamed, catching shots and losing blood as they scrambled away to regroup.

A red laser dot hovered over Heavy's chest, waiting for the übercharge crackle and spend out, the RED Sniper crouched around the corner and ready to strike. He watched through his scope, eye narrow, waiting for the flicker of light and opportunity. Until he felt a presence, the paranoid feeling that someone was there. He dropped the rifle, drawing his kukri and swiping at the empty air, only to watch it wobble and ripple with the shape of a man. He'd been right, but attacked too early. "Spy! You sneaky cunt!" he spat, launching himself bodily at the other man and bowling him over onto the catwalk, Spy's cloak shorting out.

Sniper knelt up, pinning Spy beneath him, hand on the man's throat and kukri raising up to chop him to death when the room began to rumble.

All eyes went to REX as Liquid leapt into its cockpit, which slid closed as the massive elevator beneath it groaned to life. "Snake!" he hissed, voice projected through a speaker on the exterior of the cockpit, "Your blood will be the first to be spilt by this glorious new weapon! Consider it an honour; a gift from your brother." REX stood to its full height from the squat it had settled in while inactive. Around it, catwalks began to clatter away and fall as the elevator began to lift it. A massive hatch in the ceiling slid open to allow it entry to the launch bay above, and REX began to rise. "Now I'll show you the power of the weapon that will lead us in the twenty-first century!"

Snake took a step back as another catwalk fell, seeing both teams of mercenaries struggling to keep their footing as the maintenance hangar tore itself asunder around them. "It's moving." Looking around for any recourse, he gave up on common sense and leapt from the catwalk onto the elevator platform itself, looking up at REX from its feet.

BLU Demoman clung to REX's leg, nearly shaken loose as it stood, and beckoned the rest of the team to follow. Sniper needed no encouragement, hopping onto the platform beside Snake and calling out for Demoman to come down as he slung his rifle around his back. The bomber didn't so much as leap as skid down the front of the Metal Gear's leg, kicking off at the knee and nearly knocking Sniper over as he collided with him, the bushman catching him to keep him from a harsh landing. The rest of the BLUs scrambled over quickly, Spy kicking the enemy Sniper off of him and scrambling under the railing to roll to safety. Swiftly enough, the REDs followed, fighting stalled for the moment as the last of the catwalks collapsed with a crash and they all rode with REX up and out of the maintenance hangar and into the launch bay above.

[szmicros]

Shape Memory Alloy Characteristics Test

Shape memory alloy (SMA) has excellent characteristics of noiseless driving, high power to weight ratio, integrated driving and so on. Combined with the structural transformation of materials in the driving process, the relationship between stress-strain, temperature resistance, strain resistance and martensitic transformation are measured and analyzed in the thermal driving & measurement system.

View Source: https://anyflip.com/rjhpd/oavn/