#Thoth Station

[the-digital-alchemist]

Thoth Station: A Fascinating Fusion of Science and Fiction

The station itself is a marvel of engineering, with wide and spacious corridors and soft, white lighting that mimics natural sunlight. The carpets underfoot provide a touch of luxury, adding to the sense that this is a place of higher learning and research.

But what sets Thoth Station apart from other outposts in the system is its dedication to expanding the knowledge of humanity. Unlike other stations that exist purely for economic gain or political power, Thoth Station exists solely to push the boundaries of science and exploration.

It is here that some of the most groundbreaking discoveries in the system have been made, from new elements to exotic particles. And with each new discovery, the team at Thoth Station brings us closer to unlocking the secrets of the universe.

So if you're interested in expanding your knowledge of the solar system, Thoth Station is the place to be. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest research coming out of this incredible research base.

[bratthewurst]

Book asks- 6, 12, 14

6. Was there anything you meant to read, but never got to?

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. My friend keeps getting mad at me for not reading it and I want to read it but I keep reading other things instead

12. Any books that disappointed you?

Yeah two, the first was The World We Make by NK Jemisin. It wasnt as gripping as the first book in that series and I wasn't in the right headspace for it.

The second was Unmasking Autism by Devon Price. Its really good but it wasnt what I was looking for. Its for people who are only just discovering they're autistic or neurodivergent and I dont really fall into that category.

14. What books do you want to finish before the year is over?

Im so close to finishing Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey so that. Like the last big plot point I have left is them trying to shoot Eros into the Sun. Also I learned only last week that the The Expanse is written by two people and james sa corey is a pseudonym

[gallifreyanhotfive]

Random Doctor Who Facts You Might Not Know, Part 48

The Eleventh Doctor and the Fifteenth Doctor once worked together in an attempt to free a woman named Nora Wicker from a time bubble, but before they could do so, Nora confided in the Eleventh and told him she wished to stay. (Audio: The World Tree)

The first alien planet Rose went to was Justice Alpha. Before that, she had only been to space stations and ships. (Novel: The Monsters Inside)

The Eleventh Doctor keeps the Second's recorder in his pocket sometimes. (Novel: Shroud of Sorrow)

Chad Boyle frequently tormented Ace as a child. At one point, he almost hit her with a brick, but he was stopped by an older version of Ace. If he had hit the younger Ace, he would have killed her. (Novel: Timewyrm: Revelation)

There are several academic cities on Gallifrey, including Prydos, Patrexi, and Arcalia. (Novel: The Garden of Evil)

The Oldharbour Clock is a really old clock near the Capitol on Gallifrey. It is intricately decorated with little figures that dance with every chime of the hour. These figures, however, gained sentience and are actually the most intelligent beings on the entire planet. (Novel: The Infinity Doctors)

Lake Abydos on Gallifrey is home to singing fish. Romana's family spent a lot of time here, and she used to swim in the water when she was young. (Audio: Neverland)

After being resurrected, the Celestial Intervention Agency allowed the Master to read up on the Doctor’s past, making him aware of what happened to Lucie, Tamsin, and Alex. (Audio: Masterplan) This also means the Master is probably aware of any major events in the Doctor’s life from before that time as well.

The Doctor once saved Peter Capaldi from a Mandrel and Peter Davison from a Krynoid. (Comic: The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who)

The Eleventh Doctor said that the TARDIS has a GPS with the voice of Davros. (Audio: Trouble in Paradise)

Leela had a sister named Ennia, who was killed by Horda at three years old before Leela was born. Their mother killed the Horda with a knife, the same one Leela carries. (Novel: Eye of Heaven)

Ophiuchus was a Time Lord healer who managed to overcome the regeneration cycle limit on thirteen incarnations. For this, the High Council declared him a renegade, claiming that he had to do things such as vivisection to extend the lives of Gallifreyan criminals. (Comic: Ophiuchus)

Some Time Tots keep rovies as pets. (Audio: No Place Like Home)

Susan was 97 when she applied to Coal Hill School. (Novel: The Time Lord Letters)

Jane Templeton was a trainee Time Lord attending the Academy. She got stranded in Ancient Egypt and lost her TARDIS, which had taken on the appearance of a shabti figure. By the time she found her TARDIS, she was in her thirteenth incarnation, and her TARDIS was so degraded that the Seventh Doctor said it should be euthanized, which would involve flying it into the heart of a star. Since she had impersonated the god Thoth, she was guilty of class 2 intervention, the punishment for which is vaporization. Instead of letting the Doctor save her, she slipped into her own TARDIS and died with it. (Audio: False Gods)

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[theic-manic]

So after getting a bunch of signs from last week that Hermes/Mercurius is currently vibing with me in his Thoth form again, I talk to Thoth during my walk to the train station.

I say "good morning thoth" to the singular Bin Chicken and I'm given this little insight.

This is after I ask him for some signs, because I'm tired and I need him to not be subtle.

Of course the train is about to leave.

Me, out loud: "I'm seriously not going to miss the train because I said good morning to one (Holy) Bin chicken?"

Nope, I get the train right as it's about to leave.

So when I get to the next station, I see a whole bunch of them and this rather out of order sign

"Okay, good morning, Thoth."

You can see a bunch of Ibises if you look closely.

[talesfrommedinastation]

My redneck neighbor Doug watches 'Bad Territory'

As a few people have quickly surmised, the Bad Batch episode in which they go to Space Swampy Badtimes and punch gators was going to send Doug over the edge with joy. Y'all right!

So, turn up the CCR to 'Born on the Bayou', and prepare for some of the more unhinged things Doug's texted me.

CW: Little more mild, just excitement. When Doug starts rambling about Cajun food, just click here. He says it's one of the best places for boudin and bbq and they'll even process a deer you found on the highway.

------------------------------------------------------------

Episode 8: “::happy Cajun noises::”

Well we back in Space Daytona, outside the HMS Search Warrant because Daddy Rambo can’t afford a trailer now. Does that thing have air conditioning? 

Man, Toaster Strudel’s always gone, is he a space trucker now or what.

Oh, man, it’s Church Lady! She don’t seem too upset by Ryan-from-Accounting being somewhere else, fighting the Space Balrog. But we know why she’s not sad. 

(Does this involve Mayday?

"Who?"

Sassy Park Ranger?

"Hell yeah it does! He’s her beau."

What about Ryan-from-Accounting?

"I done told you once I tell you again RYAN-FROM-ACCOUNTING DIDN’T DESERVE THAT SMART INDEPENDENT WOMAN NONE!")

Maybe Daddy Warcrimes will hang out with Church Lady and she can double dip with him and Sassy Park Ranger. It’s Thanksgiving, dark meat and white meat are on the plate.

(WTF?!)

Well you know why Church Lady’s the Church Lady? She’s been talking to other church folks and if there’s one person who knows how to get info on people it’s the church ladies. Seriously, how do you think they organize EVERYTHING and know EVERYONE. You think they go to church for Jesus that’s a bald lie up in here. 

So Julio fires up the stolen work truck and he and Daddy Rambo are off. 

Wait, if that’s their home, where Little Orphan Blondie and Daddy Warcrimes sleeping? The beach? Come on now. 

Aw, shit, man, is that THOTH STATION?! Meat Muffin, these show people reading your white trash love story book and made it into reality! They owe you MONEY GIRL! Think they’ll meet Fred Johnson or Anderson Dawes?!

And look it’s CAMINA DRUMMER! 

Oh wait no that’s that Chick-that’s-in-Everything! Looks like she’s doing business with the guy Han Solo shot in the club. Think she’s selling him Columbian nose candy? 

Well she’s drinking a whole thing of pinot, don’t blame her, I’d be drinking if Daddy Rambo was up in my club whining for names. Go on the Facebook, Daddy Rambo, it’d be easier.

They’re off somewhere else to help the Chick-that’s-in-Everything. OH MY SWEET TITS OF CHRIST THEY IN LOUISIANA AGAIN! IT’S AN OIL REFINERY! No one can breath! They got a PONTOON! Everything’s orange and sticky!

Oh look at them out in them stinky bayous of Terrebonne Parish! Man did they film this entire season in my home state like it’s the first season of True Detective now I wonder. Man that was a good show. 

Aw man, mines in the water! It IS TERREBONNE PARISH! “He won’t expect us,” damn right he won’t. The Chick-Thats-In-Everything sure knows her shit. She’s a redneck hunter and the lady’s got grit. I wonder if she’s caught Steven Segal. 

There better be OH MAN IT IS! 

SPACE GATORS!!!!!

YEAH! PUNCH EM JULIO! SHOOT EM CHICK-THAT’S-IN-EVERYTHING! OH DADDY RAMBO GOT CAUGHT BUT JULIO PUNCHED IT TOO! PUNCHING GATORS AND THROWING KNIVES AND SHOOTING GUNS IN THE BAYOU, MEAT MUFFIN I LOVE THIS DAMN SHOW!!!!!

The only bad thing about this is now I need to go back to Thibodaux to Bourgeois and get some crawfish boudin, maybe some cracklings, some hogshead cheese too. 

Daddy Warcrimes is doing that thing where you sit around and breathe. Jenny tells me to do that. I’m like woman I do that every damn day at work what’s the difference now. 

They’re at the place–it’s a shack in the woods surrounded by home made bombs and the owner’s armed to the teeth?! MEAT MUFFIN THEY GONE DONE AND FILMED IT AT MY COUSIN CLAYTON'S HOUSE IN TERREBONNE PARISH NOW!!!!

Oh man it ain’t my cousin Clayton whose been weird since he got out of Angola,  now they’re hunting Jeff Goldblum from The Fly! Except now he’s a mantis! Hate those things. Jenny set one on fire after she caught it snapping at one of her hummingbirds. That woman, man, you don’t mess with her garden, she’ll take out the hairspray and a lighter and make a torch out of it. Love her. Married two dozen years now.*

Oh! Jeff Goldblum is trying to escape–but the Chick-That’s-In-Everything knows her shit and cuts her own wire to the pontoon! Maybe she IS Camina Drummer after all. 

Oh, man, they done got that mantis son of a bitch. Now, back to Thoth Station, and of course, the Chick-That’s-in-Everything ain’t coughing up a dime. Just flings Daddy Rambo right off her ship. 

Oh, man, who is she calling? 

I hope it’s not Gun-Safety-Muppet, I hate that blue bastard. 

*= Jenny is a delight and really does flip from ‘Sweetie, you need to meditate’ to ‘I will set bugs on fire for threatening my birds’. She’s the one who taught Jimmers to corner and kill everything in their yard.

@skellymom @cdblake1565 @sued134 @amalthiaph @yeehawgeek @merkitty49 @eyecandyeoz @isthereanechoinhere96 who else loves Redneck Doug?

If you want to be added, please let me know!

PS- I have his ramblings from the last two episodes, but they were not nearly as deranged as this.

[tomboyjessie13]

~Tales in the dark Rain~ Prologue

Giza Cafe - The Pyramids August, Afternoon

It was a regular summer afternoon in Egypt's capital, the great pyramids and the Sphinx stand tall over the desert sand, there was also a desert cafe stationed by them full of alcohol, hookas, and of course gambling, the latter being illegal in the country.

But the owner, Daniel J. D'Arby doesn't care, he was a gambling addict and one of DIO's top 3 money launderers next to Madam Sharona and Murphy, he'll keep playing no matter what. But not today however, because while was working at the bar as the radio plays...

J. D'Arby: *Cleaning the glasses at the bar*...... *Suddenly felt a chill and started shivering* Brrr... That's odd, why is there a cold breeze in the middle of summer?... *Sees the clouds forming* Hm?

Radio: *Switches from the music channel to loud beeps from Egypt's EAS*

Everyone in the cafe: *Turns their attention to the radio*

Radio: *Then a woman on the radio spoke:* We interrupt this program to announce that our Meteorologists had discovered that a severe storm that's been affecting Greece and Turkey since yestarday has made it's way to Egypt, and will hit coastal cities up north such as Alexandria.

Eris' Apartment - Downtown Cairo

Meanwhile in downtown, Eris was in the middle of feeding her pet boa snake Bonnie in her witchcrafting room when she heard the weather announcement on her TV.

TV: We've also been informed that this storm is big enough to reach in land and create strong winds that have the potential to stir up sand storms in the desert, and it will hit cities southward such as Suez and Cairo.

Eris: *Calmly puts her snake back in the terrarium and goes to grab a potion bottle filled with green liquid from her mini fridge, the tag reads: "Needs thunderbolt and blast of wind"* Finally, one of my potions will be complete. *Opens bottle and puts it on an open window sill before going to water her plants*

Airport lobby - International Cairo Airport

Meanwhile at the Airport, Midler had just stepped out of one of the gates connected to her plane alongside a bunch of disgruntled travelers, suitcase in hand and irritation on her face.

Midler: *Irritated* I can't believe they cancelled my flight! I got a mission to get to! *She then sees the TV in the lobby, playing the news*

TV: Do not be alarmed, just prepare for potential floods, power outages, and cancelled flights, bring in as many animals as you can, and drive slowly when out on the road.

Mider: Ugh! Stupid weather! *Sighs* Oh well, I'll just hang around for a bit, hopefully Lord DIO would be understanding. *Leaves the building and starts waving at the street* Yoohoo! Taxi!

Giza Cafe - The Pyramids

Radio: Thank you for your time, and be safe out there.*Does more loud beeps before playing music again, thus ending the EAS*

J. D'Arby: Huh, well that explains a lot. *Turns off the radio, turns to his remaining costumers* Alright ya'll, you heard the lady, there's a nasty sand storm coming so we're gonna to be closed for a while until further notice, everybody go home.

Costumers: *They do as he says, some understanding, others begrudgingly*

J. D'Arby: *To his bartender* Help me close up shop, will ya? I don't want my wares being damaged by the storm. *Goes to put the tables and chairs away with his Stand* 

Bartender: Yes sir. *Starts putting away the beverages and hookahs into a safer spot*

Khan el-Khalili - Islamic Cairo

In the Bazaar, Oingo and his little brother Boingo were browsing through the many shops of the labyrinth looking for someone, Oingo walked out of one of the buildings.

Boingo: Is he in?

Oingo: No, this Muhammad Avdol guy still isn't here, and I can't find his passport or suitcase either, I think he left Egypt entirely.

Boingo: I was afraid of that, Mr. DIO's not going to be happy about this. *Reads [Thoth]* Huh?

Oingo: *Rubs back of neck* Tell me about it, guess we can kiss this month's rent money goodbye...*Chills* Brrr, why is it getting cold?

Boingo: I think I know why, big bro. *Shows him the prediction from [Thoth]* A sand storm's coming to Cairo any minute now.

Oingo: *Shocked* Oh shit! Come on we gotta get outta here. *He picks up his Boingo and starts running in the direction of the mansion as thunder begins clapping from the distance*

D'Arby’s game room, DIO's Mansion

It has been a few days since Kakyoin was taken in by DIO, his wounds have recovered nicely, but the "skin tag" on his forehead was giving Medea the creeps. Regardless though, she really enjoys the boy's company, even moreso when watching him and D'Arby duking it out on "Street Fighter" in the latter's basement(which is now taking the form of an Kyoto Imperial Palace)

Kakyoin: *Making some sick combos as Ryu*

T. D'Arby: *Dodges them as Zangief before going for another strike* I must admit, Kakyoin, you are an impressive fighter. 

Kakyoin: What can I say? I've done a lot of practice with my Stand as a gaming partner.

T. D'Arby: I can see that... if we're betting souls instead of playing casually, then yours would make a-

Medea: *Irritated* D'ARBY! Don't even think about it! 

T. D'Arby: It was hypothetical. <_<

Kakyoin: I do not appreciate being objectified like that, D'Arby. >_>

T. D'Arby: Really? Well do you appreciate me destroying you with these sick combos? *Makes the aforementioned combos that kills Ryu* 

Kakyoin: *Shocked* What!?

TV: "ZANGIEF WINS!"

T. D'Arby: I win >:-3 

Medea: Hey no fair, you distracted him! 

T. D'Arby: I distract no one, he did that himself.

Medea: That's it. *Takes the controller from the third chair* Move over, Kakyoin, I'm about to kick his ass with Chun Li.

T. D'Arby: *Nosebleeds a little* Chun Li, who can resist such a beauty with strapping thighs? ~<3

Kakyoin: *Looks at him in disgust* 

Medea: *Also disgusted* Pervert. *Starts the game, but just as she did, the lights started flickering*

Kakyoin: *Looks up* Hm?

T. D'Arby: May the best player win, King.

Medea: Ditto.

TV: "ROUND 1, FIGHT!" 

Medea and T. D'Arby: *Starts duking it out* 

Kakyoin: *Sees the lights flickering again* Uh guys, I think there's something wrong with the-

~ALL THE LIGHTS AND TVS WENT OFF~

Kakyoin: Lights.

T. D'Arby: *Panics* No...No no! *Starts shaking his TV* NO! NOOOOOO!

Medea: Dude, chill the fuck out! Something must've happened that caused a black out. *Whistles* Yo Kenny!

Kenny G: *Appears from the crawl space* Yeah?

Medea: What's going on out there?

Front door A few seconds later

Everyone was staring out into the blustering weather at the door, it was already raining and yellow from the dust, causing Pet Shop to take cover in the trees.

T. D'Arby: *Shocked* A dust storm!? In the middle of summer!?

Enyaba: *Calm* I got a call from your brother just before the power outage, he told me that the downpour that's been affecting Turkey and Greece recently has made its way to Northern Egypt, it's big enough to reach as far as Cairo, thus causing this dust storm. The wind is also strong enough to knock out the worn-out power lines in several poor neighborhoods, *points at one that's been tipped over by the wind* including ours.

Vanilla Ice: So we have no power? 

Enyaba: I'm afraid so.

T. D'Arby: *Devastated* NOOOOOOOOO! *Fell on his knees* My Street Fighteeeeeeer! TToTT

Vanilla Ice: *Flat* Take it easy, it's just a game. <_<

Medea: Well, that's bogus, but I'm not really surprised. Islamic Cairo's one of the oldest and poorest areas in the city that suffers from neglect and decay despite its rich history, also doesn't help that Lord DIO's Vampiric vibes scared away the tourists, it was only a matter of time before things started falling apart.

Kakyoin: Indeed, it is quite sad.

Enyaba: *Enters inside* We'll mourn for the lost of it's historical value later, but right now we gotta figure out how to save the food in the refrigerator, without power, they'll spoil.

Kenny G: *Counting his fingers as he follows her* The non-refrigerated goods are probably ok, but the produce and frozen waffles are going to need an ice cooler.

Midler: *Outside the gates* HEY! LET ME IN! 

Medea: What the? Rose, is that you!?

Midler: Yeah, it's me! Now let me in! 

Medea: *Grabs an umbrella, goes out into the rain, and opens the gate* I thought you were heading for Scotland.

Midler: *Goes under the umbrella and walks with her* I was, but my flight got canceled at the last minute because of this stupid weather.

Medea: Yeesh, that sucks. *To T. D'Arby* Hey Telence, if you're done sulking, how about grabbing some towels from the bathroom?

T. D'Arby: *Gets up while sniffling* Of course. TT^TT *Goes*

Medea: *Turns and sees Oingo running to the mansion with Boingo in toll, now soaking wet from the rain* Hm? Oh my god! 

Oingo: *Panting* Hah! hah! hah! hah! Thanks for leaving the gates open, hah! hah! hah! 

Midler: You two are soaking wet. 

Boingo: *Shivering* W-w-w-we got c-c-c-c-c-caught up while l-l-l-l-ooking for A-A-A-Avdol.

Medea: The Magician? No luck finding him?

Oingo: *Walks inside* No, I think he ran off for good, I can't find his passport.

Midler: Aw, too bad, I was looking forward to having another cute face around~

Medea and Kakyoin: *Looks at her weirdly* >_> <_<

~HORSE NEIGHING IN THE DISTANCE~

Kakyoin: *Hearing this* Is that a horse?

Midler: *Sees Hol Horse trotting to the mansion on his horse, another person seems to be holding onto him* Hey, Hol Horse~

Hol Horse: *Stops his steed* Howdy, ladies. Hope you don't mind me camping out here for a bit.

Medea: I supposed since everyone else is doing it, but I don't think DIO would appreciate you having a live horse in the mansion.

Hol Horse: Don't worry, I brought a sun shelter for that. *Gets off and starts setting up the sun shelter* By the way, I found this little guy hiding in a mosque from the rain, he claims that he's acquainted with Enyaba and needed to see her.

???: *He slowly got off the horse as he shivered, he has short pink hair, brown eyes, and freckles*

Medea: *Worried* Hey, are you ok, kid?

???: *Shivering* Y-yeah, just wasn't e-e-expecting r-r-rain.

Kakyoin: *Shrugs* Summer rain, you can never predict them.

Oingo: *Nodding*

Enyaba: *Returns* Oh, we got company? *Sees Hol Horse* Well hello there, Hol Horse. How's my son doing?

Hol Horse: *Feigning kindness* Oh he's uh alright, he wanted to hang back for a bit, so I'm left to fend for myself for a while. But he told me to say "hi" to you.

Enyaba: *Happy* Oh my sweet baby~ ^3^

Everyone but Kakyoin and the pink haired kid: *Gave a look of disgust*

Kakyoin and ???: *Looks on in confusion*

Enyaba: *Sees the pink haired kid* Hm? Why if it isn't Mr. Doppio! I was expecting you today!

Doppio: *Smiles* Buongiorno, Signora. It's great doing business with you aga-*Sneezes* Mi scusi.

T. D'Arby: *Returns with the towels* Here TT^TT *Gives one to Doppio*

Enyaba: Come, come, Lord DIO is expecting your visit. *She leaves for the upper floors*

Doppio: *Drying himself off* Of course, *To T.D'Arby* grazie. *Follows Enyaba*

Oingo: *Whispers to Medea as he dries off* That Italian kid works for the guy who gave Enyaba the Stand arrows.

Medea: *Nodding* Ooooh.

TO BE CONTINUED

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry for being very late, I kind of developed a writer's block because of the events that happened this November that caused me to procrastinate. But it's finally done.

BTW, the dust storm here was inspired by a real dust storm that happened my hometown recently on November 11th.

[better-worlds]

The Expanse Season 2, Thoth Station, by Lee Fitzgerald

[noxaeternaetc]

The Lovers

Death

The Star

The Moon

Earth (The World)

David Bowie (1947-2016) The Arcane series, 1975. Silkscreen prints.

"Inspired by the Thoth Tarot Deck by British occultist Aleister Crowley, Bowie created the series in 1975, at about the same time he wrote the album Station to Station, which also explores ideas in mythology, religion and occultism."

(source: https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art/2021/07/20/rare-david-bowie-artworks-on-view-in-dubai/)

Images:

[megaderping]

I'm cackling because Sunday's chapter release for The Crow Cries at Midnight finally introduces Akechi's Hanged Man link. I'm rubbing my hands together like a little creachure. I wonder who people think it is... I should've done a poll with the last chapter. xD Ah well! There's one other Social Link that has me cackling with a similar ferocity (Tower), though that one comes later. Then again, I've already given Goro the gas station attendant, which is another link that is rather mean in a sense. Tmw you form a Social Link with the big bad but not Adachi. He hates Adachi so much that he vetoed that immediately. Unfortunately, Yu still has a link with him, which means Yu will be bringing him home. Try as you might, Goro Akechi, you cannot escape the Adachi man. Coincidentally, he is missing Devil and Strength, and I don't really have plans to give him those here. I think starting with Arena and P5, I'll have to start assigning characters alt tarot deck Arcana and pull from a bunch of other decks like Thoth, Wildwood, Thoth, Old Path, Threads of Fate, and so on. That should give me more to work with for his Arena/Ultimax and P5 links... once I figure who is what. xD Art Arcana is screaming to be Yusuke. I do know that.

[thetinyboio]

Welcome Home [Cult of The Lamb A.u]

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Prologue [Part 1][Part 2][Part 3][Part 4][Part 5] TW: Medical related talk minor though

Poppy raised her feather as if ready to argue but decided against it, not wanting to create more tension.

"Alright," she conceded, "just make sure he stays calm if he wakes up too soon again. He may need a revision."

With that, Poppy made her way to the nurse's station to gather more information about the medications everyone would require for the evening. Barnaby, still seated with his arms crossed in the corner, maintained his vigilant watch over the sleeping Wally and Thoth. Thoth’s gaze shifting awkwardly to the bedding, seemed uncertain in the silence.

Barnaby, attempting to break the ice and ease Thoth's unease, finally spoke up. 

"Aye, kid. I'm not gonna bite. So just relax, okay?" He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "You like jokes?"

Thoth gave a small, hesitant nod.

Barnaby grinned, his nubby tail giving a playful wag.

 "If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?" He paused, awaiting Thoth's response, but they shrugged in confusion.

"Pilgrims," Barnaby answered with a chuckle.

Thoth, still slightly perplexed, managed a small smile.

Barnaby continued his efforts to lighten the mood. "Oh! What did Baby Corn say to Mama Corn? Where's Popcorn?" He looked at Thoth, hoping for even a slight chuckle.

Thoth replied with a puzzled, "I'm sorry?"

Barnaby persisted, "Aw, come on, kid. Not even a fake laugh?"

Thoth finally caught on, he was trying to make them laugh. Barnaby posed another joke. "Mmm… How does the moon cut his hair?"

Thoth played along, asking, "How?"

Barnaby grinned triumphantly, "Eclipse it."

Thoth tilted their head in understanding and smiled a little, finally getting the joke. Barnaby let out a small laugh of relief.

 "Oh, thank goodness. You do have a sense of humor… well… ain't no medicine better than the healing power of laughter." 

He sighed, glancing over at Wally. "Oh, little buddy… what a mess, pal…"

Thoth, their expression softened with sympathy, looked between Barnaby and Wally. "How close are you two?" They inquired, their curiosity and concern evident in their eyes. "We've been knowing each other since we was in grade school, practically brothers sometimes," Barnaby reflected, his eyes drifting down to Wally before returning to Thoth. "I wish I knew who he was looking for; maybe I could have helped find them..."

Thoth listened intently, their curiosity piqued by the depth of the bond between Barnaby and Wally.

"Oh, I see..." Thoth responded, their tone tinged with a hint of melancholy. "I don't think I had a friend like that... He's really lucky to have people such as yourself and Miss Poppy to care about him..." They fidgeted with their bandages, lost in thought. "Where I come from... the only person that cared about me was my mother..."

Barnaby's eyes softened, and he offered a sympathetic nod. "Your mother sounds like a real sweet lady. I hope to meet her someday. Gotta know who raised such a smart and wise little guy!" He smiled, a touch oblivious to the somewhat somber tone of their conversation.

Thoth let out a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a sad sigh, their gaze fixed on Wally.

"I think that would be the first positive thing my mother would have ever heard about me," they admitted. "I've always been told I daydream too much or don't pay enough attention, that I come off as ignorant..."

As the room settled into a brief silence, both Barnaby and Thoth found themselves contemplating the complexities of their pasts and the unique connections they had formed with Wally, their dear friend whose quest remained shrouded in mystery.

"Well, whoever says that is dead wrong," Barnaby insisted, his frown conveying his sincerity. "I think you've got a good head on your shoulders! Better than most I've seen out and about sometimes."

Thoth's smile grew slightly at the compliment, appreciating the encouragement. "You're very kind," they replied. "But just to be fair, I think if I was a bit smarter, I probably wouldn't be where I am now."

Thoth's thoughts turned inward, dwelling on past regrets. "Maybe if I would have said something... they wouldn't have taken her." They sighed, fidgeting with their itchy bandages. The itching only seemed to exacerbate their frustration. "At least when you wake up next, you'll have others waiting for you..." Thoth couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy toward Wally's circumstances.

Barnaby, noticing Thoth's discomfort, tried to offer a solution. "Well, maybe, but you're here now," he pointed out optimistically. He shifted his chair so he was positioned between Wally and Thoth. "Best to make the most of it, ya know... Oh, hey, want me to see if Poppy can get something for that itch? Hate to see them have to cone ya; I've had to have that too many times when I get into a little too much trouble."

Thoth chuckled lightly, appreciating Barnaby's concern. "Yeah... sorry, guess I burned my paws really badly..." They sighed, their mind wandering to the uncertain future. "At least when you wake up next, you'll have others waiting for you..." Thoth couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy toward Wally's circumstances.

Barnaby pondered Thoth's predicament for a moment before offering a solution. "Hmm, well, not that comes to mind, but I don't think you should worry about that after such an accident," he suggested. "But let me make some calls; I might be able to set you up someplace! Worst comes to worst, I've got an extra room; you can stay there till you get on your paws! Don't stress yourself over it, okay?"

Poppy's gentle interruption broke the reverie of Barnaby and Thoth, her presence a welcome one as she returned with the evening medications.

"Sorry to intrude again, but I have your meds!" she announced, placing a small cup of water and the necessary medicines next to Thoth, giving them time to take it when they were ready. She then efficiently replaced one of Wally's IV bags and disposed of the old, empty one.

She turned to address Barnaby with a hint of reluctance. "I do also hate to say this, Barnaby, but at 10, you'll have to go home, visiting hours are over by then. But I did okay it with the staff for you to come in with me tomorrow to check up on them."

As the medication began to take effect, Thoth's anxiety slowly dulled, and exhaustion overcame them. The room around them started to blur, and the bickering between Barnaby and Poppy became distant and dreamlike. In the hazy realm between wakefulness and slumber, Thoth was aware of their surroundings but felt detached from reality.

They listened to the back-and-forth between Barnaby and Poppy, the two friends bantering about Barnaby's insistence on staying by Wally's side. The sound of Poppy shooing Barnaby out of the room drifted into Thoth's ears.

Thoth's thoughts swirled, a mix of drowsy confusion and the effort to be polite. "...Oh? They're leaving? ...It was nice meeting you..." They mumbled silently in their mind as they succumbed to the medication's effects, descending into deeper unconsciousness.

In this dreamlike state, Thoth's mind played tricks on them, conjuring odd shapes and colors that danced before their closed eyelids. Amid the swirling patterns, a distant voice echoed—an all-too-familiar voice, that of their mother.

"Stop daydreaming, Thoth. You'll get yourself in trouble," the voice chided, a reproach echoing from the depths of memory.

Thoth's dreamscape shifted, Their ears perk up hearing the strange voice once more.

"Nice to meet you three properly!" the figure greeted, its voice echoing mysteriously in the dreamlike void. Thoth looked around but found no one else in this peculiar dreamscape. The unsettling encounter left them with more questions than answers, as the enigmatic presence lingered in the depths of their unconscious mind.

Thoth's heart raced as they tried to make sense of the surreal encounter. The towering figure before them, with its window-like eyes and long wild red hair and humanoid features, sent shivers down their spine. They stammered in confusion and fear, their voice trembling.

"Three?... W-who?... What… What is this?... Where's Miss. Poppy? Where am I?" Thoth's wide-eyed gaze scanned the endless darkness that surrounded them, a sense of disorientation taking hold. The echoing clunking of metal chains only added to their anxiety, reminiscent of the haunting nights in their previous cell.

The enigmatic figure responded, its words echoing through Thoth's dreamlike state. "Fear not, you are still in that world with the sweet bird and the large dog," it reassured them, its tone strangely calm despite its imposing appearance. "I have just projected myself into your mind while you sleep. My name, I've long since forgotten, as I've been imprisoned for so long. But you may have heard of me as 'The One Who Waits So Below.'"

The figure, seeing Thoth's unease, made a gesture of goodwill by shrinking its projected form to a more manageable size. It extended a hand toward Thoth, its intentions unclear yet seemingly welcoming.

"Pleased to finally meet you," it offered, its voice holding a hint of curiosity and anticipation.

Thoth, though still gripped by fear and confusion, stared at the large figur’s hand, unsure of the true nature of this strange being and the implications of this mysterious encounter.

[arthurdrakoni]

Episode 2 of The Books of Thoth has arrived. Starshot follows a scientist from Alpha Centauri who is studying mysterious space probes from Earth.

The second episode of my audio drama anthology The Books of Thoth is here.  It is titled Starshot.  A fleet of alien space probes enter the night sky. But this is not our sky, and the probes are from Earth. A scientist from Alpha Centauri studies the probes aboard a space station. What will the scientist discover about their place in the universe?

A big thank you to Angela Yih for performing this episode.  Be sure to listen to her audio drama Residents of Proserpina Park, if you haven’t done so already. 

What I wanted to do with Starshot is tell a story of First Contact between humanity and extraterrestrials, but from the perspective of the aliens.  I wanted it to be hopeful and optimistic.  Where the aliens are looking for a friend amidst the darkness, just like humanity is. 

The title is a reference to Breakthrough Starshot.  It is an proposed space mission to send a series of probes, via solar sail, to Alpha Centauri.  It would take between 20-30 year, plus an additional four years for any messages from the probes to reach Earth. Hundreds of probes would initially be launched, with most being lost along the way due to collisions with interstellar dust and other debris. But, hopefully, a lucky few would survive the journey across the ebon sea. Pictures and/or video from another star? Now there’s a thought.

I also attempted to answer the question of the Fermi Paradox.  That is, if the universe is so big, where’s all the alien.  Perhaps they are in the same boat as us.  Advanced enough to wonder who’s out there, but not advanced enough to initial significant contact.  Perhaps it is only just now that intelligent life has finally evolved in the universe.  I suppose they would make a kind of sense.  Look how long it took for intelligent life to evolve on Earth.  Well, intelligent as we define it, anyway. 

I also wanted to evoke the feelings of wonder and frustration from archeology.  Especially with regards to civilizations where we have yet to translate their languages such as the Minoans or the Indus Valley Civilization.  I suppose that makes the protagonist a xenoarcheologist.

Still, that isn’t to say you can’t find at least some meaning.  Even if it wasn’t the kind you were initially looking for.  So, I wanted the story to end with a sense of awe and wonder.  With the feeling the the universe is so much bigger, and isn’t that great?

But most of all, I hope that all of you enjoy Starshot.  I kind of rushed this one so I could get it out before Christmas and New Year’s.  It is a bit more low-key than my previous episode, Paleontology Conference was.  But I felt Starshot was a very personal intimate sort of story, and it didn’t need as many bells and whistles.  And hey, we got some nice music to listen to along the way. 

You can listen to The Books of Thoth on your podcast platform of choice.  

Here is the link to the RedCircle page: https://redcircle.com/shows/6701d0b5-6b14-4b76-992d-02f391b5cf42

Here’s a link to Residents of Proserpina Park’s website: https://residentsofproserpinapark.com

And here’s a link to The Books of Thoth’s website, which serves as a hub for all the places you can listen to The Books of Thoth, plus a link to transcripts: https://booksofthoth.carrd.co

[metaphysicalpistolsoraclemine]

Thoth, Enki, Enlil, & The Emerald Tablet.

Before the Luciferian Rebellion, the true motivation of Thoth’s allegiance to further the Nibiruian Annunaki dominion agendas of Enki and Enlil, to completely annihilate the Christos genetic template for achieving takeover of the Solar System, was not well known by those Guardian groups stationed in the lower dimensional timelines. Those that had incarnated in the lower dimensional stations had been cut off from direct communication links with the liquid plasma Christos family that existed beyond the time matrix. Before communications links were cut off, the Fallen Melchizedek entity that became Thoth was known to be loyal to the Christos Founders. Thus, it was a mystery within mysteries when discovering various stations of identities that were gradually revealed to be imposters or AI reality clones. These counterfeits were strewn over many timelines and participating in the many successive evolution cycles, making them difficult to source. The Ascension cycle is also about revealing the true identities, in order to fully know who was actually who in the timelines, and identify those groups that were primarily behind the military tactics, cloning and AI power source of the Galactic Wars. We are still in the process of discovering this mystery today, in reverse engineering the structural and genetic damage that took place in the Universal Time Matrix from this position on the earth. Christos Starseeds incarnated in order to track the origination of the AI source in the AI timelines, and identify the exact event horizon and point of entry of the phantom matrix infection entering the Universal Time Matrix from the Black Hole.

After gaining control over the Giza Stargate post Atlantian Cataclysm, the Thothian Annunaki and their race lines in the Belial groups made demands of the Christos Founder races that the entire angelic human race on the earth be placed under the dominion of Annunaki Hybrid Fallen Angelic races. The Founder races and Christos representatives attempted to continue peaceful negotiations in finding a resolution to the territorial conflicts unfolding, and an agreement was made between Guardians and the Annunaki in the Aquila constellation that was referred to as the Treaty of Altair.

Before the NAA factions were gathered together to join their forces during the aftermath of breaking the Treaty of Altair, these Annunaki groups and Draconian Zeta groups were enemies in competing war agendas for domination of the earth territory. The Black Hole Entities are those that ripped a hole in the Orion belt from a neighboring matrix and built their control center around the 8D portal entry into our time matrix. Thus, they controlled the 8D stargate from the Galactic plane and thus controlled what entities got in to the lower dimensions, blocking out access to the Christos genetics and installing the Yahweh Matrix.

Some of these factions decided to use the earth as a prison planet for trapping and containing all undesirables, including those entities that were not compliant to their authoritarian militarized rule or were straight out criminals and degenerate perverts. Thus, the earth and the Solar System became known in the Black Sun Orion Group as the prison colony, as they would not let anyone out of the earth’s reincarnation cycles via technological frequency fences and soul harvesting structures. The Black Suns consider earth their territory and believe that surface earth people are criminal prisoners, which extends to them the right to abduct humans for an assortment of working slave colonies. These are the underground and off planet bases like Ceres, coming to light as whistleblowers remember their experiences as Milabs and being recruited into the Secret Space Programs, that are both involved in galactic human trafficking.

Thoth has been playing the role of double agent for many aeons and made several duplicitous agreements with the Sirian High Council to appear as if he would uphold the Paliadorian Covenant, which is designed to protect the Christos template for evolving angelic human genetics. The Paliadorian and Christos Founders that exist outside of time were not able to connect directly to earth and into many sections of the Universal Time Matrix, until the Neutron Window or Galactic Gates were opened in late 2012. Many of us incarnated on the earth during the Ascension cycle to be their representative place holders, keeping the Christos template alive on the earth through the building of the Indigo shield. Over the years we were able to build the energetic circuit of communication links through the Christos Shield network, and are now in full communication and contact with the Christos Founder races. This is what is meant in the many prophecies describing the return of the Christos to the earth, and this event has already happened. The infusion of Krystic architecture for ascending human embodiment will continue to gradually shift the energetic landscape and the consciousness of the earth, allowing much higher consciousness beings to incarnate for many years to come.

Thoth’s personal and direct military intervention with Enki and Enlil groups to incite wars with the purpose of committing genocidal agendas of human holocaust, was fully revealed during the tragic events of invasion of the 11th tribe which resulted in the Eieyani Essene Massacre. The primary goal was to obtain one of the actual holographic discs that was being guarded on the earth by the Maji Grail King for his particular stargate genetics, Essene Tribe 11. The content on this disc included the formulas and secrets contained in the art of energy transmutation, dominion over lesser forces, and manifestation through alchemy. These include immortality sciences through the source of the Prima Materia or Azoth that is found in the creator’s holy spirit, generated by the Mother of God principle.

Stolen Founder Records:

Approximately 30,000 years ago, Thoth led a militarized event which resulted in the Essene Massacre, murdering the males and taking their sacred marriage female partners hostage for forced hybridization breeding on Nibiru.

Thoth stole the CDT plate that was in their possession,

and from this stolen work he wrote down the information that would later become the basis of the teachings of Hermeticism and the Emerald Tablet.

Thus, in human hidden history, this is the trigger timeline event that changed the future of human evolution, in forming the controlled beliefs and Luciferian elitism around Hermeticism, esoteric Kabbalah, Mystery Schools and the Secret Societies. These secret societies were originally formed by the Luciferian Knights Templar and were ultimately designed to hide the ancient sacred knowledge of humanities true origins from the common people, in order to route them into the guardrails of superstitions, ignorance and organized religion.

It was during the Essene Massacre that Thoth was able to steal the holographic plate from the Maji Grail King of the 11th human tribe, gaining access to cosmic schematics of immortality alchemy, and become the revered author of what has spawned into many esoteric texts and spiritual traditions. During the Middle Kingdom timelines, he incarnated as a powerful Magician and Egyptian Priest, and became known on the earth as the author of what would be referred to as Hermeticism.

The Emerald Tablet, also known as the Smaragdine Table or Tabula Smaragdina, is a compact and cryptic piece of the Hermetica reputed to contain the secret of the prima materia and its transmutation. It was highly regarded by European alchemists in the Middle Ages as the foundation of their art and its Hermetic tradition. Although alchemy was only one topic among many in the Hermetica, in the European Middle Ages Hermes came to be known as the legendary first alchemist and alchemy as the hermetic art. The Hermetica ranged in content from medical, astrological, and magical treatises to much more theosophical ruminations on the redemption of the spirit through gnosis. This association in the Hermetica between practical alchemy and spiritual gnosis found its way into alchemical theory through later authors.

Thoth incarnated as an Egyptian Priest repeatedly during the time that Mystery Schools were flourishing in Egyptian culture during the Middle Kingdom. This was in order to maintain control over the Atlantian conspiracy held in place by the NAA since the Flood, and to be kept aware of the ongoing Guardian Alliance mission on the ground that Hatshepsut, Akhenaton and others had accepted. During multiple Egyptian timelines, he promoted himself as the direct scribe and speaker on behalf of the Gods.

Reference;

[ohbrotherthisblogstinks]

>>venus, 22, writer (sometimes) and reader 

>>i love: overanalyzing any piece of media in any form, bombay cats, white tea, balloon sleeves, spring rolls, warm weather, cute stationery, cumbia, charcuterie boards, photography/filmmaking, historical fiction, & looking for bugs 

>>i don’t love: gas station carts, seafood

>>music: bleached, mazzy star, yeule, la femme, the brian jonestown massacre, pixies, the rolling stones, uncle acid and the deadbeats, melody’s echo chamber, lana del rey, black sabbath, jex thoth, shonen knife, palehound, los bitchos, shilpa ray, mitski, the apples in stereo, the memories, cocteau twins, the velvet underground

>>anime/manga: chainsaw man, jujutsu kaisen, black lagoon, evangelion, cat’s eye, sailor moon, saiki k, attack on titan, anything by junji ito, more that im definitely forgetting lol

[expansegirl]

The Expanse and the art of storytelling

There's a great moment in season two of The Expanse that illustrates one of the reasons I love the show so much. Amos has an encounter with a young boy, a Belter refugee from Ceres. The boy thinks Amos will hurt his mother and leaps in to defend her. This triggers Amos, reminding him of his childhood in Baltimore as a child sex worker.

Amos goes to see Dr Paolo Cortezar, one of the scientists taken from Thoth Station's protomolecule research programme. The evil corporation Protogen turned Cortezar and his fellow researchers into sociopaths by tampering with this brains to remove those pesky emotions, morals and empathy that kept them from working on the project.

Amos asks Cortezar about the procedure. Cortezar assures him that the procedure was painless and offers to perform it on Amos.

And that, in episode 7 of season 2, is where the series leaves the issue. We can't tell if Amos has had the procedure but he does appear a bit colder and distant in his dealings with the others. The show doesn't tell us what Amos did. It shows us. You could arguably say that the question isn't fully resolved until episode 6 of season 3 when Amos reacts with joy after Prax introduces him to Meng as 'my best friend in the whole world.'

This is just an example of how well the series tells stories. and is a big part of why I love it.

[branmac9]

Just another day in New Hope for Krux Phebo. Running and playing hide and seek with the other children. Lots of crates among the Geodomes and hydroponic tents to hide in. He pulls his supplementary oxygen mask down a bit breathing in the fresh smell of pine and plants.He sees his father Hara smile and wave in his brightly multicolored sweater. Life is good for these hard working communal settlers. In ten years or so the air should be fully breathable with all the work the folks of New Hopes small but dedicated folks have put in.

Then suddenly fire rains down from the sky. Everything is burning. The smell of burnt flesh permeates the air. The intense pain of the plasma burning him alive is to much to bare, Krux passes out.

Suddenly he awakes in a start. His left arm has been replaced by a robotic arm. His right leg below the knee has been replaced with robotic parts. Not only that half his head is covered in a chrome plate, one eye is seeing in a red that focuses like a gun scope. His nose is gone replaced by an iron plate, most likely to help him look less disfigured. Panic and vertigo hit like a sledge hammer all at once. Then Thoth the sage a trader that would visit New Hope on occasion looks down on him with a warm smile. He speaks “ you know your going to have to pay me back for all this work I’ve done to you” the he laughs blowing out the vapor from what ever stim he’s smoking.

Damn! another night terror. Krux wakes up covered in wetness. Looks like he’s shorted out his right leg again with his own body sweat. Over Twenty years and the night terrors still happen. Thoth died in a salvage mission gone wrong a few months back. Depression and loneliness are setting in as well. His only company for the last month has been TR-5 his all to serious combat bot. A melon sized mechanical ball that follows him everywhere floating over his left shoulder. One of Thoths creations. Time to get up and fly the ship Thoth left him (the Three of Diamonds) to the location of a derelict space craft so he can get that plasma servo for Yusuf Toshi on Lameria Station. He doesn’t want to run out of those various stims and drugs that keep his all to weak body going (the none mechanical parts). And hopefully have enough credits left over for food, fuel, and maybe a lady for the night. Been awhile since he’s seen another person let alone touched one. And maybe possibly he can pick up a lead on the pirate chief that destroyed his life all so long ago. No name he just remembers that space suit cover in furs and reptile skins with the four horned space helm. A giant brute of a man if that’s what he was at all. The vow of revenge is what drives him on day after day hopping for a break someday he will get his vengeance! My

[masked-rat]

Timelines in Marathon Infinity

I'm pretty sure we're travelling between *parallel universes*, not doing one- universe time travel.

General blocking:

Ne Cede Malis (and M1 and M2; last level in the "core" timeline)

Rise Robot Rise thru Aie Mak Sicur*

ACME Station thru Carroll Street Station

Naw Man, He's Close thru You're Wormfood, Dude*

By Committee thu Aye Mak Sicur

Defenders are present on all "bad ending" levels except Ne Cede Malis and Wormfood, despite recent theory that they don't show up. They do show up. The big differences are that key parts of the station are sealed off, and more importantly there is *no* Farcast pattern chip.

You did notice that for both Aie Mak Sicur and Carroll Street Station, you conveniently dropped in right where the first chip would be. And it's not there. Whoops, thassa problem.

It's theoretically possible, in a co-op game- to bring a chip forward from Robot World Arena. Or use a save game editor to give you one? The first chip socket is still present on this level, and the terminal close by it. I'd kind of like to read it.

Where Are Monstairs in Dreams always gave me "bad ending" vibes as well, with Aie Mak Sicur possibly being a *second* bad ending. Maybe the timeline splits or something.

Would've been ironic if Carroll Street Station hadn't been the bad ending, and that it'd been on Lh'owon. ACME Station, the "scanning buoy," would've been the Jjaro station the whole time. *raucous laughter*

I have a feeling there's something going on between Naw Man, He's Close; Foe Hammer; and Hang Brain. The vacbobs on Naw Man, he's Close don't carry fusion batteries we can use, and the ones on Foe Hammer do (but are also somehow not flagged "Dies in Flames" in the level physics).

I mean, I think the canon explanation is Durandal yoinking your teleport signature, which would explain some things later on, but I have a hunch Foe Hammer is in fact a different timeline by itself.

Wormfood.

*shakes head*

The Troopers are bobs. The hunters are vacbobs. The Wyr'kyn'kakntr is awake, and active, and it's noodling reality so bad you just shot your way through whatever was left of Durandal's bobs. You notice there's also no Defenders *anywhere* on this damn level? And it's the only one of the bad endings to have Troopers *at all*?

The Arthur Frane term is your OSHIT moment where you realize just how bad things have gotten.

Final Timeline Breakdown:

Tfear wants to get more humans to surrender (the Pfhor are slavers, after all), sends a possessed drone to plant a fake distress message from Tycho in the network. By Committee happens.

One Thousand Thousand Slimy Things happens. I want to know more about the Hindmost Creche (this is the second time a Creche is mentioned in Pfhor culture; it also gets mentioned in Aie Mak Sicur). Damn you, Tfear, my minor was Anthropology! Give me something to work with!

Sometime while you're doing A Converted Church in Venice, Italy; the bobs finally manage to rouse some iteration of Thoth, although I get the feeling this Thoth is itself incomplete. But, it detects the pattern you brought with you from a prior timeline, and realizes you could be useful. This is why there's two different exit terms: one if you go out thru the stairs and take the extreme long way around, vs. another you get if you take the hell-ivator.

Son of Grendel makes almost *zero* sense, in a Watsonian *or* Doylist sense. There's an artifact (and yeah, there's actually a couple of fake artifacts you can find if you totally miss the real one). *shrug*

Strange Aeons and Bagged Again happen. Not a lot to work with. K'alia gets referred to as a "sullen star" and I kinda want to know what that means beyond just imagery, but anyway. Oh, and Tycho managed to escape containment during the orbital bombardment. You do notice that the Son of Grendel site is now badly damaged, right? Tfear is probably shitting bricks right now.

The Big Time arena fight, followed by Aye Mak Sicur. Worth noting, you *can* bring a chip forward, which means you *could* skip the second one (or the first one, if you don't fancy facing the center arena a third time- the second chip is only requires timing and a passable knowledge of the map layout- the door by the first terminal is now open).

Also, *two* dummied- out terminals. There's the old S'phit Y'sa Mnr term that we all know about, but there's also one on Slimy Things in the first *non- secret* bob ammo stash (the one that doesn't have the 3x can). Given that it's sized for Water terms, I wouldn't be surprised if the level wasn't originally a Water level and somebody changed it.

Or it could've been a fun Media Munger case. Water architecture but sewage liquids. I don't think anyone put Media Munger to good use, but then again I also never really messed with the expansions that needed a shapes patch.

M1 had blue and orange Troopers- probably the same CLUT as the Fighters.

I do like how Infinity lets you play with the Spanker and flamethrower a lot earlier, instead of reserving them for endgame like M2 did. But at least they didn't do like AvP 2 where you use the Sniper Rifle for literally *one* game- ending shot.