#arma 3 community

[wisdomandroyalty]

Embark on a Criminal Odyssey: Mafia: Sahrani - An Arma 3 Mod That Redefines Organized Crime

Step into the immersive world of 'Mafia: Sahrani', an Arma 3 mod influenced by the iconic Mafia video game. Experience the thrill of a crime-ridden island, and unravel a captivating story. #Arma3 #MansartisanGaming #GamingMods #OpenWorld #MafiaVideoGame

[silentwisher-feed]

LCAC Sinking & Air Rescue - Arma 3 [1440p 60fps]

LCAC Sinking & Air Rescue – Arma 3

[uss-edsall]

In a previous post, I spoke of my adoration for ArmA III’s primary campaigns.

The game is ten years old and feature complete, except for “Community DLCs”, that is, third-party expansions given official sponsorship. As such it is unlikely the game will get any further official content. The game’s lore is scattered across every aspect of it - tutorials, challenge scenarios, single-player scenarios (there’s one memorable scene in particular snuck into a free charity event mission), and of course, the campaigns.

Each official DLC added their own singleplayer scenarios, mini-campaigns, etc - aside from the Karts DLC, which started as an April fool’s joke. Some of these campaigns are in and of themselves very neat, if much shorter than the main campaign. I might someday go into detail about them, but for now, I will focus on my favourite, and perhaps, the most important of them all.

Spoilers below.

Preamble

The Laws of War DLC from 2017, four years after the game released and today nearly six years old, came out of a very strange event. The following information comes from this article.

In 2010, the International Committee of the Red Cross began a research project where one man, a Swiss ex-artillery officer, spent two months looking into videogames, and depiction of virtual war crimes. It was not a very important project, not one with priority. Certainly nobody, at the ICRC expected what came next. After he presented his findings at the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, news organisations started shitflinging. In attempting to call some small amount of attention on war crimes being portrayed in games (and all too often without the casual player being aware the action in question would be a real life crime), the media took ‘hey, we should be more aware of what we’re depicting’ and went “the Red Cross wants to prosecute six hundred million gamers for war crimes!”

Albeit having to backpedal and go, "no, that's not at all what we meant," the ICRC realised they’d struck a nerve. For the first time, thousands of people were talking about International Humanitarian Law who would otherwise have never touched it. So they sent out letters to major game developers (particularly of shooters) asking if they would like to meet, to talk, to collaborate. Most ignored them. Those that didn’t chose not to reveal they happened; “they think their gamers or their fans will get scared that their games will turn into training courses or that morality, as they say, will take over everything and games will not be about shooting anything anymore.”

One studio didn’t.

One studio was quite interested in collaborating and creating with the Red Cross publicly.

On 3 September 2017, Bohemia Interactive released as a DLC for the military simulator ArmA III…

Laws of War

War does have rules. . . In a firefight, things aren’t easy. . . We just ask you to remember. Actions have consequences.

ArmA III’s Laws of War DLC is the result of that collaboration between the Red Cross and Bohemia Interactive. It adds a fictional Non-Governmental Organisation, International Development & Aid Project (IDAP). Equipment includes a van, a utility drone, press gear, new bags and helmets, and most curiously of all… In order to depict war crimes, they had to add munitions for committing war crimes, in the form of an APERS mine dispenser and cluster bomb munitions for aircraft. ArmA previously hadn't had it, being one of few games to try to avoid including banned weaponry.

“Everyone on the forums says, ‘Yes! Thank you! Give us civilians and humanitarian workers and cluster munitions and we will use these new guns to eradicate as many of the first group as possible . . . But by saying that, it means that they will have consciously been saying, ‘We are going to break the law.’ It means that, even if it's at a very low level, they now have an understanding that there was a law in the first place.”

Those are the bones of the DLC. The meat of it is in the Remnants of War mini-campaign.

Remnants of War

The trailer for the DLC linked at the start telegraphs the intent of the campaign's story. Every side is depicted in the trailer. NATO forces, AAF troops, FIA guerrillas, CSAT spec-ops - they’re all there. All of them are depicted in the midst of conflict, at the cusp of committing a war crime.

The DLC takes place after the end of the primary ArmA campaign. “All’s over but the crying,” right? Not quite, not so. Even now, the actions taken back then have consequences. People are still dying. Questions remain unanswered.

The Brother - 15 August, 2035

The first mission begins with you in the shoes of Markos Kouris, the man on the left above. Five days ago, 10 August, 2035, the short but fierce war 'Altis Incident' that saw Akhanteros overthrown and the nation devastated once more, came to an explosive end. Peace returned to the country, shaky, unstable, but peace all the same. But the memories of the fighting in the fallen rebel stronghold of Oreokastro a year ago remain. The knowledge that your brother Alexis was killed in the fighting only days ago weighs heavily - now that the war is over, perhaps you can enter the obliterated town, find his remains, and bring him home for the last time.

When you step close to the ruined church, a hidden landmine triggers, detonating, and killing you - killing Markos Kouris, one more victim of the destruction of Oreokastro.

The EOD Expert - Several Days Later

You next take the role of a man named Nathan MacDade. A middle-aged American, he is a former marine who fought in Chernarus in 2009 (ArmA II), and after leaving the military, joined IDAP as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician. His job is to find unexploded ordnance (UXO) and safely disarm it, or failing that, detonate it safely without harm to human life. He’s good at his job, and has been at it for over twenty years. He’s on a voice call with Katherine Bishop, a journalist pursuing the story of Oreokastro.

As Nathan explores the town, he’ll find mines to defuse, unexploded ordnance to disarm, tripwires and hidden explosives… and several flashbacks. During these flashbacks to earlier events, Nathan MacDade narrates, speaking to Katherine Bishop asking questions, together depicting the various actions you can choose to do. If you take up arms as a civilian he’ll comment on it; if you choose to execute wounded combatants he’ll condemn it; so on and so forth. She'll share a draft of her article at the end of the campaign, which changes depending on the actions you take within it.

From here on out the DLC can be taken in non-chronological order. The flashbacks can be done in whichever order you find them. For the purposes of this post I will write of them in order of events.

The Peacekeeper - 28th May, 2034

Nathan’s been to Oreokastro before. Prior to the ‘Altis Incident’, IDAP had an aid camp within the town. As unrest in the nation grew stronger and bullets began to fly between the dictatorship’s troops and FIA guerrillas once more trying to fight for freedom, it became clear that aid supplies would not get to Oreokastro by land. They’d be ambushed or stolen, by both guerrilla forces and government troops. Thus, you put on the combat boots of an American peacekeeper of Task Force Aegis, Staff Sergeant Adams. The peacekeepers are unable to prevent the conflict, but they do arrange for aid supplies, IDAP priority, to be airdropped in. You drive around to collect aid supplies dropped by parachute, and defending some against a guerrilla attack. This is a short and simple mission.

ArmA is no stranger to the dangers of the remnants of war. Staff Sergeant Adams’ role is swift but deadly in the main campaign; he is your commander in the first mission, leading you to safety when TF Aegis is attacked… until he steps on a landmine, injuring you (Corporal Kerry), and killing him, leaving a terrified logistics driver to make his way alone out of the minefield and find allies in the CTRG.

The Guerrilla - 30th September, 2034

After NATO was pressured to begin withdrawal from the Republic of Altis & Stratis by Colonel Akhanteros (on the orders of his new CSAT puppet masters), the civil war began to truly heat up. Kostas Stavrou, a charismatic leader, took the reins of the FIA guerrillas. He encouraged the citizens of Oreokastro to rise up and take control of the town, with its high ground and natural terrain advantage, and turn it into a fortress.

As the Altis Armed Forces (AAF) lay siege to the town, the guerrillas prepare. One such guerrilla is Alexis Kouris, the brother Markos was searching for. In his flashback he lays mines on the road to Oreokastro - mines that you as Nathan MacDade just disarmed - and search the town for vehicles to use as roadblocks (one of which can be an IDAP van, which is a crime to do in and of itself, using humanitarian aid and stealing from humanitarian organisations for war purposes).

The roadblocks work. The mines work. The AAF’s offensive is frustrated…

… and so Akhanteros orders a brutal measure to gain victory.

The Redacted - 13 October 2034

You take the shoes of a CSAT special forces team - supposedly. Paradropped behind the guerrilla lines into the castle ruins overlooking Oreokastro, the three-man team silently eliminate the guerrilla sentries and set up an overwatch position on the town. They observe - and use a laser designator to call in a cluster bomb airstrike. It matters little who lives or dies, as long as you don’t directly hit the IDAP camp - though there’s an optional objective to try to avoid hitting an IDAP doctor in the town. Akhanteros wants the town obliterated for rising up against him so successfully.

The airstrike comes in and destroys everything. Roadblocks go up in smoke and flame; buildings collapse; men are eviscerated; and the AAF offensive begins.

This mission is the most blatant crime. Over a hundred countries banned the use of cluster munitions in 2008. Dozens die at minimum due to your actions as the faceless CSAT soldier who designated the target.

Faceless… CSAT… or are you so faceless? Are you so explicitly the Designated Enemy Faction?

“Idunno…” goes Nathan. “There were shell casings, found at the castle.” Strange. CSAT weaponry are explicitly caseless, and don’t leave behind brass. “NATO mil-spec.” Albeit you are depicted using a CSAT camouflaged laser designator in-mission, outside of it, the flashback trigger is a NATO sandy brown.

As the flashback ends, the three CSAT troops turn into the forms of Captain Miller and two other members of NATO’s CTRG.

The Survivor - 13 October, 2034

Heavily injured by the cluster bomb munitions, you take control of Markos Kouris from the beginning. The town is rubble; smoke, fire, and fog alike covers everything; the overcast skies fully block the sun. AAF forces and guerrillas fight a vicious and horrendously chaotic gunfight through the streets. Your objective is simply to survive, to escape to the IDAP camp. You are an unarmed civilian and a non-combatant… though you can choose to take up arms from the dead and join the fight. this flashback ends with getting to the IDAP camp for medical aid.

Oreokastro is ruined, depopulated. The rebellion here is over. As soon as it is safe to do so, IDAP too abandons the town, forced to vacate by the AAF.

There is nothing more they can do for the dead, after all.

The Major - 8 August, 2035

Ten months later, the Altis Incident is coming to a brutal end. The U.S. 111th Infantry Division heads NATO’s vengeance, supported by the FIA guerrillas. Two AAF soldiers, Major Gavras and his assistant Kostas Dimitriou, head into Oreokastro. AAF forces across the island are being overwhelmed. Gavras hopes making a stand in Oreokastro will buy time for other forces, drawing NATO units away from Kavala and other AAF strongholds. With NATO owning the skies there is little to no way to get reinforcements; Gavras’ forces are decimated, and the extraction helicopter is shot down. Gavras elects, then, to make a final stand in the church where the IDAP camp used to be.

You are Kostas, and you are faithful to your leader. If this is where you die, so be it - but you’re not going quietly. Knowing it is a cruel thing to do you deploy three APERS mine dispensers as a seperate act. There seems no other way to inflict as many casualties as possible on the attackers. They succeed. Somehow they survive the battle - through a storm of shot and shell, you kill or incapacitate all the guerrillas and American soldiers who attack the church. Surprisingly, the AAF manages to send a rescue helicopter that extracts the two of you.

Major Gavras is the reason the AAF held out for three days against the full might of a vengeful American and NATO force, not just one. He survived the war. He even was part of the peace process. He also gave IDAP the location of the mines he had his assistant plant in that near-final stand at the church.

Gavras and Kostas killed Alexis Kouris in that stand in Oreokastro. So, too, did they indirectly kill Markos Kouris, who stepped on one of Kostas’ mines searching for his dead brother. Their actions had consequences.

Who’s To Blame?

This ends the flashbacks, and little remains of the campaign. Katherine Bishop has one more question for Nathan MacDade.

“Now, there's just one last question I'd like to ask you. It's subjective, so, take your time. In your opinion, who's most to blame for all the suffering in Oreokastro? NATO? The guerrillas? CSAT? The Altis Armed Forces? Or, I don't know, something else?”

Who is responsible for Oreokastro? Who killed this town? Who’s to blame? Who is, if any one can be? Can anyone even be blamed at all?

You choose.

Every option leads to different thoughts from Nathan’s part. Perhaps one faction of them is higher than the rest in terms of blame. Perhaps together they form some sort of collective blame that, in the end, leaves everyone with no clear answer as to who to point a finger at, all dissatisfied, ashamed of themselves and angry at others.

NATO is to blame - “They had the capacity to make a difference, y'know? The airdrops were helpful, but it was never enough. And, ultimately? Their invasion caused more bloodshed. If they'd just had the guts to stay in the first place? A lotta killing could have been avoided…” The peacekeepers of Task Force Aegis failed to accomplish their mission. They didn’t have the influence to peacefully keep the peace without shots fired; they didn’t have the strength to keep peace by force of arms; their leaders didn’t have the guts to stay when demanded to leave. The NATO invasion led to even more deaths, once more devastating the FIA guerrillas (in a friendly fire incident, Kostas Stavrou was killed by a NATO air attack, too). Not to mention the suspicions of NATO spec-ops being responsible for the cluster bomb attack… Oreokastro is a monument to NATO’s sins.

CSAT is to blame - “That cluster strike? It took the whole thing to the brink - and with so little to gain from such a terrifying show of force. The whole thing's felt like a power-play from the get-go. One big pissing contest. It always is…” There was a shaky peace after the original Altis civil war ended in 2030. It held for four years. It only devolved back into civil war after Akhanteros got cozy with CSAT. They looked the other way when the AAF committed atrocities; they were the ones who supposedly carried out the airstrike. Unknown to Nathan, the entire struggle that eventually led to Alexis and Markos Kouris’ deaths are due to CSAT’s testing of the Eastwind Device, and the CTRG’s attempts to capture it.

The Altis Armed Forces are to blame - “It's one thing fighting against a resistance - it's another to make the civilian population pay for it. As they clung on to power, they wound up scarring the very country they'd pledged to protect…” Perhaps the most direct perpetrators of all the violence. Ceasefire agreements violated; their leader being the ultimate authority who called for the cluster bombing; they punished the weak and innocent along with those who chose armed resistance, cruelly harming the populace for the actions of a few. An army of thugs acting on the orders of a thug, caring not about the atrocities committed in the moment, the unexploded ordnance and mines left for generations of Altians to suffer from.

The FIA guerrillas are to blame - “They hid themselves among the population. These guys didn't give a damn about what it cost. They wanted power, and would do anything to get it…” The guerrillas incited the armed conflict. Though they seemingly had a moral high ground, the guerrillas resorted to underhanded tactics that violated the laws of war, even targeting humanitarian aid and taking from relief efforts for their own ends..

All sides played a part - Oreokastro’s destruction was not solely one side, one group, one man to blame. “No one side can be held accountable for the bloodshed here. No one action got us where we are now. And the folks here in Oreokastro? They're the ones that've suffered. This is the reality. This is war.” The citizens of Oreokastro paid that ultimate price, whether they wanted to or not, just more victims of a great power proxy struggle and more local regional conflicts alike.

Choose.

You’ve seen every side, parts of it at least. All throughout, no matter which side you thought was most responsible, the primary theme of the DLC remains consistent: Actions have consequences.

No matter what you think, the dead are dead and will never return.

Nathan MacDade says farewell to Katherine Bishop. The mines and UXOs in Oreokastro have been defused, and it’s time to move on. Oreokastro has become a silent mausoleum, as the IDAP vehicles drive away. A ruined city on a hill for all to behold and contemplate - or to forget, as all things are doomed to be.

There are other Oreokastros in this devastated country. There are more mines to disarm, more UXOs defuse, more potential casualties to prevent from a war long ended - more atrocities left behind in the sands of time.

Just as in Oreokastro, there may never truly be a definitive answer as to what happened in those places.

Real Life Consequences

The Laws of War DLC was made in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross, and thus half the initial sales were donated to the ICRC. That came up to $176,667 USD; pretty respectable for a $10 DLC.

The community has a high number of people who, as was mentioned in a quote early in this post, reacted to the addition of a humanitarian aid NGO and medical vehicles with, "great, more things to commit war crimes on." The comments on the trailer are rife with them. But as a Bohemia Interactive employee put it:

"We knew this DLC's theme might seem a bit unusual, but we also felt that it has a rightful place in a game like Arma 3 . . . what has made it even more amazing to see the immense level of player support for the Laws of War DLC, which really shows again how both games and the gaming audience have matured. If you also consider that some of our players are in the military or might pursue a military career in the future, then we're glad this DLC has been able to increase awareness for this important topic. And being able to also make a financial contribution to the ICRC's efforts is a great bonus."

[flagwars]

Video Game Flag Wars: Round 2

1. Salmon Run Flag (Splatoon) vs. Homestead Banner (Palia)

2. Bilge Rat Adventures Flag (Sea of Thieves) vs. Arstotzka (Papers, Please)

3. Kirin Tor Offensive Banner (World of Warcraft) vs. Aquileian Republic (Supremacy) (Equestria at War)

4. Commune of Revachol (Disco Elysium) vs. Calchaqui (Europa Universalis 4)

5. Flag of the Crown (Cult of the Lamb) vs. Communist Australia (Victoria II)

6. Patagonian Worker’s Front (Kaiserreich) vs. Livonia (Arma)

7. Gaul Úr (Red Flood) vs. Alam Melayu (Rise of Nations (Roblox))

8. Principality of Kemerovo (The New Order: Last Days of Europe) vs. Shadow Isles Clash Banner (League of Legends)

9. Zhu Xi's Legacy (Age of Empires 4) vs. Watchers (Overwatch)

10. Grey Warden Heraldry (Dragon Age: Inquisition) vs. Outer Wilds Ventures (Outer Wilds)

11. Sickle Moon Flag (Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker) vs. The Rebellion (Just Cause 3)

12. Great Lake Revolutionary Council (Extremis Ultimis) vs. Pontiac Province (Judgement Day: Aftermath of the Red Flood)

13. New California Republic (Fallout) vs. Golden Deer Banner (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)

14. American Collective (Twilight of the Anthropocene) vs. Niflheim (Final Fantasy XV)

15. Corvus (Dead Ahead (Roblox)) vs. Federation of Anrakan Isles (Suzerain)

16. Hurons (American Conquest) vs. Falkreath Hold (Skyrim)

[arcanacenturia]

GOOD OMENS 2 SPOILERS

Something's so not right in S2 though.

The only time we "see" God is whenever she talks to Job and just blabbers stuff at him because she's bored af and doesn't have anybody to speak with except maybe the Metatron.

When Aziraphale tries to talk directly to God in S1, the Metatron tells him "Speaking to me is speaking to God" and categorically refuses to listen to Aziraphale's request.

That's weird. That's so weird.

We have no proof that he's actually relaying all this information to God. She hasn't appeared to anyone in centuries. He's also aware of Aziraphale's will to stop the arma-fucking-geddon.

He's aware of Azi's relation to Crowley.

As I've seen stated somewhere on Tumblr earlier, he's aware that just by trying to perform a teeny tiny miracle together they performed a huge ass one that triggered alarms in Heaven and succeeded in separating the two, because he's aware, and could be scared, of their combined powers.

Okay but why would he need to separate them?

A second too late, he told Aziraphale about The Second Coming, which is most likely linked to a new Armageddon again.

Related to that, we never heard God herself about the destruction of earth. Anything said about it is told by other characters. Note to myself: list up who talked about it.

The Metatron seems to be hiding something. Unlike the other (arch-)angels he's not naïve, he wears a black coat, he doesn't sugarcoat his speech to humans (and my synesthesia says he speaks Spiky, and not a good spiky).

I think it's also noteworthy that Crowley & Aziraphale don't communicate, not with words, Crowley never told Aziraphale about what Gabriel told him but he also never told Aziraphale what he found out about Gabriel in S2. He never told Aziraphale that his bosses were planning to restart Armageddon until Gabriel went Nah, that it's the reason the Metatron demoted him. He demoted the current Prince of Heaven for stopping it, then promoted Aziraphale, who is a lot more tame and also has been a cause of Armagenope to fail, to lead it.

I don't think Crowley fell because he asked questions to God. I think he sauntered vaguely downwards because he asked too many questions to the Metatron, that would put his plan in danger.

This bitch is SHADY AS FUCK and I'm honestly so eager, so curious to see what he (and season 3) is going to bring us. I wonder if he's lived among the humans, too. Besides, I feel like he's going to try (and maybe manage) and use Azi as his marionnette for whatever stuff he's preparing.

And I feel whatever he's preparing is really against God.

Thank you Neil Gaiman for this ending because even if it HURTS it's so interesting. There are so many things that could be going on behind the heartbreak. I could be going on about how Crowley probably even found out part of what happened. I've seen people speculate with good arguments that Crowley lost part of his memory after falling, and if it is the case that could be another thing done to prevent Crowley from stopping the Metatron.

There is SO MUCH that could be, so much that WILL be, and so little that we can know.

No matter in what form, I'm so excited to see how this will develop in the future.

[burdened-boy]

GET TO KNOW THE MUN

NAME?: jamie

PRONOUNS?: he/him

PREFERENCE OF COMMUNICATION?: tumblr dms, discord (if you would like to get to know me more)

MOST ACTIVE MUSE(S)?: writing Arma is never a problem. Limbo is usually easy, but i have to know what i'm doing. i still write tabby, but she's very fickle due to her being a loner.

EXPERIENCE / HOW MANY YEARS?: i have been on and off here since 2012. in 2015 i took a break to write a dedicated science fiction story on wordpress. i don't remember when i started the first iteration of this blog, though i took another hiatus for a few years, and came back in 2021 (i think, i don't remember)

BEST EXPERIENCE?: meeting @pvremichigan was fun. i would like to meet more of my friends on here irl. seeing that one of my mutuals had a dream about limbo made me feel really good, too. that's why i still do it, man...

RP PET PEEVES?: i don't know. i've been kind of disillusioned with this hobby in general as of late. people are mean. i don't try to understand anymore.

FLUFF, ANGST, OR SMUT?: i like whump (i think that's how you spell it). angst is good. light fluff is alright for arma threads. i won't do smut; i could potentially be interested in it as a way to develop a character more, but i'm not gonna ERP with you.

i really want to do more heady/psychedelic stuff. hallucinations, delusions, drugs, stream of consciousness shit.

PLOTS OR MEMES?: memes. plotting is nice sometimes, but i like to keep my partners on their toes.

LONG OR SHORT REPLIES?: 1-3 paragraphs is kind of the sweet spot for me. short replies are fine if there's effort; don't worry about matching lengths.

TIME TO WRITE?: usually somewhere between 10p-2a. i doomscroll throughout my day, but i actually sit down and write once everyone is asleep.

ARE YOU LIKE YOUR MUSE(S)? there are parts of me in all of my characters, but i would say their personalities are largely separate from mine. i try to keep my OCs as less of a reflection of me, and more as vehicles by which i can tell a story. yeah, there's surface level stuff. limbo likes cars, so do i. tabby is shy and nerdy, so am i. but those are tertiary to the purpose of the characters. i try, try, try to say something with my threads. the curtains are never just blue, as they say.

tagged by @archerwhiterp

tagging:

@songofsilentechoes @pvremichigan @the-expatriate @hellcab

if you see this and wanna do it, fuck it

[anarchomitsumi]

it has come to my attention that the international community regards Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez (and his administration) as a trustworthy progressive politician and, in short, "one of the good ones". as a Spaniard i need to tell you that their progressive act falls short.

i'm bringing this up specifically due to Spain's stance on the Palestinian genocide. Pedro Sánchez has continuously called for a ceasefire, and recently expressed the need for the European Union to acknowledge Palestine as a state [3]. but i need you all to understand that his actions don't match his words. Spain is far from an unproblematic ally to the Palestinian people.

from the start of the first Sánchez administration in 2020, to July 2022, the Spanish government approved 147 licenses for arms trade with Israel. in this time period they sold weapons and defensive technology to Israel for the total value of 40 million euros. the Spanish government has also been buying this type of technology from Israel, under the guarantee that it had been "previously tested in combat" (likely, by being used against the Palestinian population). [1]

after the start of the genocide, Spanish activist organizations and parliamentary forces pressured the government to end this trade. and it apparently did, stating back in December "that Spanish weapons had not been exported to 'Israel' since October 7" [2]. but the key word here is apparently. it was discovered back in February that, while no new licenses for commerce were approved, the ones passed before October 7 were still in motion. this meant that until December, during at least three months of genocide, Spain supplied Israel with technology to use in its ethnic cleansing. and then deliberately tried to cover this fact with vague wording [2, 4, 5, 6].

it's important to understand that they could've stopped relations entirely, as contractual obligation in Spanish arms trade doesn't hold if it's suspected the technology will be used by the buyer to violate human rights [6], which it very much is.

and that's only when it comes to selling to Israel. if we're talking about imports, the Spanish government has made 0 efforts to stop the acquisition of war technology from Israel, effectively funding further Israeli military action. new contracts have been closed for a value of approximately 800 million euros, and those are only the ones I've found explicitly mentioned in newspapers [2, 7].

furthermore, it's hard to know the full extent of Spanish weapons trade with Israel, as information on this type of trade is protected by a Government Secrets law, and data has been largely withheld during this entire process [6].

i understand that compared to the United States, that has given Israel billions and billions and continues to be its primary supplier, this might not seem like a """big deal""" in terms of overall funding of the genocide. but I think we can all agree one weapon given to Israel is one too many. and, specifically, the reason why Spanish involvement is such a problem is because the nation has good press when it comes to its support for Palestine.

people criticize the involvement of the US and Germany (who is Israel's second biggest weapon supplier [8]), but not Spain. I've noticed lately that the Sánchez administration is viewed positively by the international community, specially due to the legislation passed in the benefit of trans people (and overall positive legislation surrounding social justice). but this mustn't let people ignore the horrible things the government does. Spain, like all Western nations, owes it's status as a "first world country" to its oppression of the global south. no Western nation will ever be a "good one", specially not one that has continued arms deals with Israel.

Sources:

[1] Spanish. 17/10/23. The PSOE and Podemos Administration has sold weapons to Israel for a value of 40 million euros. Vozpópuli.

[2] English. 12/2/24. Spain's lies about ending arms to 'Israel' exposed; data speak volumes. Al Mayadeen English.

[3] English. 10/4/24. Spain’s Sanchez says ‘disproportionate’ Israeli Gaza attacks a world threat. Al Jazeera.

[4] Spanish. 20/2/24. Black roses for PSOE for continuing the arms deal with Israel. ElSalto.

[5] English. 12/2/24. The Spanish Government is lying about the suspension of arms to Israel. We demand concrete measures and present a proposal of Non-Legislative Proposition (PNL) in the Congress. NovAct (Nonviolence Act)

[6] Spanish. 13/3 /24. Spain continued to send military material to Israel in December despite embargo announced bh Government. ElDiario.

[7] Spanish. 16/2/24. Spain sent ammunition to Israel despite having announced it had suspended weaponry exportation. ElDiario.

[8] English. 3/24. Trends in international arms transfers. SIPRI Fact Sheet.

[apas-95]

playing a milsim game like Squad or ARMA but everyone has to communicate using toki pona

kulupu tu o, kama tawa mi! jan ike mute li lon nena ni! o utala e ona kepeken palisa suli >:3

[musicfren]

Protests March 2nd (this Saturday). Mostly USA, some global

Albuquerque, New Mexico

11:00 a.m.

Tiguex Park

Sponsored by: SWC4P

Alfred, NY

3:00 p.m.

Corner of N Main St and Pine St.

Sponsored by: Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective

Angelica, NY

12:00 p.m.

Angelica Park Circle (37 Park Cir)

Sponsored by: Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective

Arequipa, Peru

2:00 p.m.

Plaza de Armas

Asheville, North Carolina

2:00 p.m.

Pack Square, N Pack Square

Sponsored by: PSL WNC, ANSWER Great Smoky Mountains, UNCA SDS, ETSU MSA, Unequolada

Atlanta, Georgia

1:00 p.m.

190 Marietta St NW (Intersection of Centennial Olympic Park Dr and Marietta St NW.)

Austin, Texas

1:00 p.m.

City Hall

Sponsored by: PSC and PYM

Baltimore, Maryland

2:00 p.m.

Baltimore City Hall

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism and Liberation, Baltimore Artists Against Apartheid, Hospitality for Humanity, The Banner of the People, Teachers & Researchers United, People's Power Assembly

Belmont, NY

1:30 p.m.

Belmont Park Circle (7 Park Circle)

Sponsored by: Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective

Boston, Massachusetts

1:00 p.m.

Cambridge City Hall

Contact: ANSWER Boston -- 857-334-5084 · boston@answercoalition.org 

Brainerd, Minnesota

1:00 p.m.

Intersection of Highways 210 and 371 -- Baxter, Minnesota (near Kohl's Department Store)

Sponsored by: Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace and Brainerd Lakes United Environmentalists (BACP-BLUE)

Boise, Idaho

4:00 p.m.

700 W Jefferson/Capitol Bldg

Sponsored by: Boise to Palestine

Burlington, Vermont

1:00 p.m.

622 Main St.

Calgary, Alberta

3:00 p.m.

Calgary City Hall

Sponsored by: Justice For Palestinians Calgary, Independent Jewish Voices, Calgary Palestinian Council

Caracas, Venezuela

9:30 a.m.

Sponsored by: Comuna el Panel 21, Brigada Internacionalista Alexis Castillo, Fuerza Patriótica Alexis Vive, Alba Movimientos Venezuela

Charlotte, North Carolina

3:00 p.m.

First Ward Park

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism and Liberation; Charlotte United for Palestine

Charlottesville, Virginia

4:00 p.m.

Free Speech Wall on the Downtown Mall

Sponsored by: SJP at PVCC

Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

2:00 p.m.

West Side Park (400 W University)

Cincinnati, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

City Hall (801 Plum St)

Sponsored by: PSL SW Ohio, PAL Awda Ohio, Students for Justice in Palestine UC, Ceasefire Now Covington, Coalition for Community Safety

Coatesville, Pennsylvania

11:30 a.m.

2nd and Lincoln Hwy

Chester County Liberation Center

Columbus, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

Goodale Park

Sponsored by: PSL Columbus, ANSWER, SJP OSU, PLM-JUST

Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

1:00 p.m.

Corner Brook Public Library (Courtyard)

Sponsored by: GCSU, CFS-NL

Cornwall, Ontario (Canada)

12:00 p.m.

691 Brookdale Avenue

Davis, California

1:00 p.m.

University of California Davis Memorial Union

Dayton, Ohio

12:00 p.m.

444 W 3rd St

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism & Liberation Southwest Ohio, Code Pink Miami Valley, Gem City Action, YS Uproar, S&F Volunteer Collective

Denver, Colorado

1:00 p.m.

400 Josephine St

Sponsored by: Colorado Palestine coalition, Denver PSL, Denver DSA, Denver Boulder JVP, DAWA, Denver SDS, Denver FRSO

Detroit, Michigan

2:00 p.m.

Hart Plaza

Sponsored by: USPCN, FRSO, SDS, SJP, PYM

Eastham, Massachusetts 

12:00 p.m.

In Front of the Windmill

Sponsored by: Cape Codders for Peace and Justice

Flagstaff, Arizona

6:00 p.m.

Heritage Square Downtown Flagstaff

Falmouth, Massachusetts 

1:00 p.m.

Falmouth Village Green

Sponsored by: Falmouth for Ceasefire Now

Havana, Cuba

8:00 a.m.

Sponsored by: Union of Young Communists, Women's Federation of Cuba

Fayetteville, Arkansas

12:00 p.m.

Wilson Park Gazebo

Sponsored by: Friends of Palestine NWA and Christian Voice for Peace

Fort Wayne, Indiana

2:00 p.m.

Allen County Courthouse

Fresno, California

4:00 p.m.

Blackstone & Nees Avenues

Sponsored by: Peace Fresno

Gainesville, Florida

1:00 p.m.

Corner of W University and NW 13th

Sponsored by: PSL

Geneseo, New York

1:00 p.m.

Corner of Main Street and Route 20A

Sponsored by: Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace, Chapter 23 Veterans for Peace

Grand Rapids, Michigan

2:00 p.m.

Monument Park

Sponsored by: Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids

Hamilton, Ontario

2:00 p.m.

Dundas Driving Park, 71 Cross st

Houghton, NY

10:30 a.m.

9722 NY19

Sponsored by: Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective

Huntsville, Alabama

10:00 a.m.

Whitesburg Dr and Airport Rd

Sponsored by: North Alabama Peace Network

Indianapolis, Indiana

5:00 p.m.

Indiana State House East Steps

Sponsored by: ANSWER Indiana, Jewish Voice for Peace, Students for Justice in Palestine – Butler, PSL Indianapolis, the Middle Eastern Student Association at IUPUI

Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts 

1:00 p.m.

Cambridge City Hall

Joshua Tree, California

10:30 a.m.

Downtown Joshua Tree (Corner of 62 and Park Boulevard)

Sponsored by: Morongo Basin Resistance

Kansas City, Missouri

3:00 p.m.

Mill Creek Park, 47th Mill Creek Pkwy

Sponsored by: Al-HadafKC, Free Palestine KC, PSL MO

Kingman, Arizona

10:00 a.m.

120 W Andy Devine Ave (Meet at the Route 66 Sign)

Sponsored by: Alohaproj.com

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2:00 p.m.

Sponsored by: Sekretariat Solidariti Palestin

Lander, Wyoming 

8:00 a.m.

Centennial Park

Sponsored by: Fremont County for Ceasefire Now!

Las Cruces, New Mexico

11:00 a.m.

Downtown Plaza

Sponsored by: Las Cruces PSL, Telegram group, NMSU Students for Socialism

Las Vegas, Nevada

2:00 p.m.

3449 s Sammy Davis Jr dr

Sponsored by: Npl_palestine and fifthsunproject

Los Angeles, California

1:00 p.m.

Los Angeles City Hall (200 N Spring St)

Manchester, New Hampshire

4:00 p.m.

Manchester City Hall Plaza

Martinsburg, West Virginia

11:00 a.m.

Martinsburg Town Square

Sponsored by: PSL

Memphis, Tennessee 

1:00 p.m.

Corner of Ridgeway Road and Poplar Avenue

Sponsored by: Palestinian Association Community Center

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1:30 p.m.

Zillman Park (2168 Kinnickinnic Ave)

Sponsored by: PSL Milwaukee, Milwaukee 4 Palestine

Mineral Point, Wisconsin

10:30 a.m.

State Street at the Capitol

Sponsored by: Poor People's Campaign

Nanaimo, British Columbia (Canada)

2:15 p.m.

Maffeo Sutton Park

Sponsored by: VIU Muslim Women Club

Nashville, Tennessee

4:00 p.m.

1 Public Square

Sponsored by: Inspire Youth Foundation supported by PSL Nashville

New Orleans, Louisiana

4:00 p.m.

Jackson Square

Sponsored by: New Orleans For Palestine, JVP New Orleans, PSL Louisiana

New Paltz, New York

12:30 p.m.

93 Main Street

Sponsored by: Women in Black

New York City, New York

1:00 p.m.

Washington Square Park

Sponsored by: Nodutdol, Black Alliance for Peace, No Tech for Apartheid, Audre Lorde Project, Ridgewood Tenants Union, Uptown 4 Palestine, DRUM NYC, Anakbayan, Bayan, Mamas 4 a Free Palestine, Healthcare Workers for Palestine, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Jews Against White Supremacy, Defend Democracy in Brazil, Al-Awda NY, NYC Dissenters, South Asian Left, Columbia University SJP, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, CUMC for Palestine, Black Men Build, UAW Labor for Palestine, Labor for Palestine, NYC City Workers for Palestine

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

1:00 p.m.

Corner of Robinson and Hudson near the Skydance Bridge

Sponsored by: Oklahomans Against Occupation

Olean, NY

8:30 a.m.

Lincoln Park

Sponsored by: Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective

Peterborough, Ontario

4:00 p.m.

Confederation Square

Sponsored by: Nogojiwanong Palestine Solidarity

Pensacola, Florida

2:00 p.m.

Main and Reus St.

Sponsored by: PSL, Answer, Panhandle for Freedom and Justice in Palestine, Mobile for Palestine

Phoenix, Arizona

6:00 p.m.

Arizona State Capitol

Sponsored by: PSL

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2:00 p.m.

City Hall

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism and Liberation, ANSWER Philly, Philly Boricuas, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Jefferson University SJP, Philly Liberation Center, AMP Philadelphia, Philadelphians of Palestine, Black Alliance for Peace

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

11:00 a.m.

William S Moorehead Federal Building (1100 Liberty Ave)

Contact: ANSWER Pittsburgh -- pittsburgh@answercoalition.org

Pompano Beach, Florida

1:00 p.m.

1641 NW 15th ST -- Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Sponsored by: Al-Awda, JVP, SJP @ FIU

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

1:00 p.m.

Market Square

Sponsored by: Occupy Seacoast

Port Angeles, Washington

12:00 p.m.

Clallam County Courthouse at 4th & Lincoln St

Sponsored by: FSP, PSL

Portland, Maine

1:00 p.m.

Longfellow Square

Sponsored by: Maine Students for Palestine, Maine Coalition for Palestine

Portland, Oregon

1:00 p.m.

Lownsdale Square

Sponsored: Party for Socialism & Liberation, ANSWER, Oregon to Palestine Coalition, Portland DSA, Entifada PDX

Providence, Rhode Island

1:00 p.m.

World War 1 Memorial, Memorial Park, South Main st.

Sponsored by: PSL RI, Brown Grad labor Organization, JVP RI, Palestinian Feminist Collective, Falsteeni Diaspora United, SURJ RI, RI Antiwar committee 

Raleigh, North Carolina

3:00 p.m.

201 S Blount St Raleigh, NC 27601

Sponsored by: Refund Raleigh, Migrant Roots Media, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Muslims For Social Justice, Democratic Socialists of America, Muslim Women For, Jewish Voices for Peace, NC Green Party, Peoples Power Lab, NC Environmental Justice Network, PAX Christi Triangle NC

Richland, Washington

1:00 p.m.

John Dam Plaza

Sponsored: Party for Socialism and Liberation - Eastern Washington

Rochester, New York

1:00 p.m.

Rochester City Hall

Sponsored: FTP ROC, Coalition to End Apartheid, ROC DSA, JVP, U of R SJP, ROC Voices for Palestine

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 p.m.

Sugar House Park

Sponsored by: Palestinian Solidarity Association of Utah, PSL Salt Lake, Mecha de U Of U

San Antonio, Texas

2:00 p.m.

Municipal Plaza Building (114 W Commerce St.)

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism and Liberation

San Diego, California

ANSWER San Diego -- (619) 487-0977

San Juan, Puerto Rico

12:00 p.m.

El Morro

Sponsored by: Boricua Con Palestina

Santa Barbara, California

11:00 a.m.o

Pershing Park

Sponsored by: Central Coast Antiwar Coalition

San Francisco, California

2:00 p.m.

Harry Bridges Plaza

Sponsored by: Palestinian Youth Movement, ANSWER Coalition, American Muslims for Palestine, US Palestinian Community Network, Muslim American Society, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Islamophobia Studies Center, Oakland Educators for Palestine, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Northern California Islamic Council, Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area, Islamic Circle of North America, United Educators of San Francisco, Do No Harm Coalition, Arab Resource & Organizing Center, Workers World Party, Palestinian Feminist Collective, QUIT, Labor for Palestine, Students for Justice in Palestine, Healthcare Workers for Palestine, Democratic Socialist of America - San Francisco, Union Nurses for Palestine, Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle, Democratic Socialists of America East Bay

Savannah, Georgia 

2:00 p.m.

Springfield City Hall and Senator Warren's Office

Sponsored by: Western MA Coalition for Palestine, Western MA Showing Up for Racial Justice, Northampton Abolition Now, Demilitarize Western MA, Amherst for Palestine, Community Alliance for Peace and Justice, Islamic Society of Western MA, Code Pink

Seattle, Washington

1:00 p.m.

Denny Park

Sponsored by: PYM, PSL, ANSWER, SPV Endorsers: Samidoun, Healthcare Workers for Palestine, South Asians Resisting Imperialism, SUPERUW, Falastiniyat, FGLL, Tacoma DSA, SU SJP, MSA UW, ASA UW, BAYAN, Somali Student Association, NOTA

Seoul, South Korea

3:00 p.m.

Sponsored by: International Strategy Center

Spokane, Washington

Details TBA

Springfield, Massachusetts 

2:00 p.m.

Springfield City Hall and Senator Warren's Office

Sponsored by: Western MA Coalition for Palestine, Western MA Showing Up for Racial Justice, Northampton Abolition Now, Demilitarize Western MA, Amherst for Palestine, Community Alliance for Peace and Justice, Islamic Society of Western MA, Code Pink

Springfield, Missouri 

12:00 p.m.

Park Central Square

St. Louis, Missouri

2:00 p.m.

Kiener Plaza - 500 Chestnut St

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism and Liberation, Voices of Palestine Network, American Muslims for Palestine

Syracuse, New York

1:00 p.m.

Clinton Square

Sponsored by: PSL - Syrcause

Tallahassee, Florida

12:00 p.m.

Sidewalks in front of Florida State Capitol Building

Sponsored by: Revolt Collective (rev0ltcollective on Instagram)

Taos, New Mexico

11:00 a.m.

Outreach/petitioning event, contact Suzie at 575-770-2629

Sponsored by: Taoseños for Peaceful and Livable Futures

Tillamook, Oregon

1:00 p.m.

1st and Main

Sponsored by: Racial and Social Equity Tillamook

Tri-Cities, Washington

Details TBA

Tokyo, Japan

2:00 p.m.

Shinjuku Station South Exit

Sponsored by: Palestinians of Japan

Toledo, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Franklin Park Mall: Starting location is the corner of Sylvania and Talmadge

Sponsored by: American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and Toledo 4 Palestine (T4P)

Troy, New York

11:00 a.m.

3rd & Fulton

Sponsored by: Troy 4 Black Lives

Tucson, Arizona

5:00 p.m.

Catalina Park (941 N. Fourth Ave.)

Sponsored by: Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance

Tulsa, Oklahoma

1:00 p.m.

Yale Ave and Admiral Place

Sponsored by: Oklahomans Against Occupation

Ventura, California

1:00 p.m.

Oxnard City Hall

Victorville, California

1:00 p.m.

9700 Seventh Ave.

Sponsored by: Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance

Wailuku/Kahulu

3:00 p.m.

March from Wailuku Safeway to Queen Kaahumanu Center

Sponsored by: Maui for Palestine, Hawaii for Palestine, Rise for Palestine, Citizens for Peace, Kauai for Palestine, Kona for Palestine

Washington, D.C.

1:00 p.m.

Israeli Embassy (3514 International Dr NW)

Sponsored by: PYM, MD2Palestine, ANSWER 

Waukegan, Illinois

1:00 p.m.

Jack Benny Plaza (corner of Genesee and Clayton)

Sponsored by: PSL Waukegan

Wellfleet, Massachusetts 

10:00 a.m.

Town Hall Lawn

Sponsored by: Cape Codders for Peace and Justice

[catgirlforeskin]

Ok, fuck it I'm bored and looking for stuff to read and we're coming up on the weekend. Some ARMA (specifically the HALO mod) questions!

How's the infantry v. vehicle balance?

Is being a dedicated infantry only player?

What's the average time commitment to be even marginally able to contribute?

Is it multitaskable? How much "hurry up and wait" time is there in an average op/session?

What's the level of required community activity?

Not saying I've been convinced to try! Just that the answers to these might end up being convincing

1. Vehicles are a strong, but they’re a support tool that needs to be utilized smartly and well-defended. Often one rocket will disable or destroy a vehicle. It’s not like battlefield where someone can be zipping around unkillable usually, it’s much closer to how they’re used in real life

2. Absolutely, yeah, that’s how most people play. I mean you’ll be a passenger in transport sometimes but yeah most people don’t ever operate em unless they wanna.

3. Usually we play for a couple hours at a time, but people will drop in and out sometimes, we don’t have a regimented schedule

4. It varies based on what kind of role you wanna play, some will have more down-time than others. It’s definitely not like cod where it’s constant action and if you look down at your phone you instantly get lasered. It’s slower pace but we try to keep it going quick.

5. Isn’t really one for us, some girls only swing by every once in a while, we’re pretty accommodating for reserves

These are answers for my personal group I play with, the larger unit I’m in would be different and you can find in the Arma tag on my account

[king-of-better]

Number.00: B: Overture -HAZIMARI-

2010

1

Stood in front of the GGG Memorial, Hana reads a message from Mamoru, who is now in America at the GGG Space Centre, working with Chief Yaginuma, Dr. Takanohashi, and has had a number of meetings with Secretary-General Approval. GGG pagers have now been supplanted by smartphones, and even the members of Juvenile GGG have them. Mamoru's message also mentions Kaidou having been on Australia visiting Yuka, though he's talked about her to Hana a lot, Mamoru is only now hearing of her. The next day there'll be a test of the NeuroMechanoid, if it goes well it and the New Division Ship will see action in space, after the test he plans to return home briefly. Hana has taken it upon herself to report to GGG Mamoru's messages when he's out of the country. A small earthquake hits, apparently they have been frequent.

2

In 1997 a dimensional portal to a dying universe 15,000,000,000 years earlier was opened, originally to allow the survivors to escape, however before they could they were subsumed by the 31 Machine Primevals, a program created on the Purple Planet that went rogue. Cain, leader of the Green Planet, sent his son Latio through, protected by Galeon, adapted for combat against the Primevals, and gave Latio to the Amamis, who called him Mamoru. In 2003 the Primevals sent their interface Pasdar through the portal, which destroyed the Spirits Shuttle piloted by Shishioh Gai, and was fought of by Galeon. The Japanese government formed the Gutsy Geoid Guard, taking custody of Galeon, preparing for when the threat would return. Pasdar cultivated Zonder Metal until 2005, and began his attacks, but was fought at every turn by Cyborg Guy, GGG and GaoGaiGar, and Pasdar was eventually defeated. This prompted the Primevals to attack, demolishing GGG, but warriors of the Red Planet, Arma, Soldato-J and the J-Ark appeared to fight them, and GGG was reformed under the UN as the Gutsy Galaxy Guard, and defeated the Primevals. After the Primevals left the Trinary Star System, the 11 Sol Planetary Masters activated, acting on Abel's plan to stave off entropy by stealing from the next universe, Galeon was created by Cain initially to stop them. In 2007 GGG abandoned earth to stop them, against orders, and in the Trinary Star System destroyed them, but were trapped, sending Mamoru and Kaidou by ES Missiles home. In 2009 the UN voted to launch Project Z, a plan to harvest the super energy of Jupiter.

3

Southeast of GGG Space Centre, StealthGao II, LinerGao II and DrillGao II fly around the NeuroMechanoid Kakuseijin GaiGo. The original Kakuseijin was developed by Akamatsu Shigeru, now Director of GGG Marine Base, No. 1 was piloted by Sai Hinoki and Aono Keita while investigating Algernon. Akamatsu was later hired by GGG to create a new Neuronoid, he was reluctant, but was inspired by the G-Stone, creating Kakuseijin Z, which was successfully used by Amami Mamoru and Ikumi Kaidou. In the creation of a new SuperMechanoid to succeed GaoGaiGar and GaoFighGar, modifying Kakuseijin Z as the core of GaoGaiGo, the new Kakuseijin GaiGo, his challenge to his uncle Leo and absent father Liger, able to fly via Ul-Tech Engine. Kakuseijin GaiGo is in Accept Mode, GaiGou, Mamoru piloting from Womb Head, releases that something has happened to Kaidou in Cereb Head, he's getting no signal. He contacts Yamajii in the GGG Space Centre, and is told solar winds probably damaged the internal communication systems. Project Z is still secret for now, not for the goal of saving GGG (Akamatsu participates wanting to save his father and cousin) but another motive.

Mamoru tries to switch to Accept Mode, Kaidou can hear the transmissions but isn't being heard. He attempts to take control, but nothing happens, and the Linker Gel loses density. Kakuseijin GaiGo has an inbuilt Glianoid, a machine to purify Linker Gel but it has failed. Kakuseijin GaiGo crashlands in the ocean, Kaidou before passing out opens the Womb Head hatch.

4

Mamoru sees Kakuseijin GaiGo sink, and goes to rescue Kaidou when he is approached by a man riding on a luminescent jellyfish, communicating by the Limpid Channel, and realises this is the same one who spoke to them when they were in the Trinary Star System. Somnium Lamia introduces himself, warning a threat is coming that all turn all life to light. The Somnium will fight to return to the birthplace of their souls, and warns humans must fight to survive, heading to the sky. Lamia and the jellyfish fly away.

Recalling the Ryugu 9000, Mamoru manages to psychokinesis Kakuseijin GaiGo to the surface, and pulls Kaidou out.

Suddenly the sky fills with light, and the two realise it is Jupiter, massive in the sky, and an aurora takes the shape of what looks like Genesic GaoGaiGar imbued with THE POWER.

5

The boys are returning to Japan by plane, and discuss what they had heard from GGG China Dr. Yang Long-Li, also the Project Z Administrator. Yang revealed the original motive for which Project Z was developed, harvesting energy from THE POWER for earth energy, and Yang has gone against Taiga's wishes due to his belief it is the only way to save GGG. He worries about what UN member nations will do when they have the energy. Kaidou has already decided to do it, Mamoru is still puzzling.

Kaidou told him not to relate to GGG what Lamia said, or about the fact that the Aura on Jupiter appeared to be Genesic GaoGaiGar, something Mamoru and Kaidou alone in this universe have seen. Mamoru decides to go along with Kaidou for the sake of saving GGG.

6

Mamoru has a meal from Ai, then heads to GGG Marine Base for a farewell party before he and Kaidou head to the Orbit Base and from there by Division Ship to Jupiter. The mission should only take half a month, compared to the 3 month trip from Jupiter after the Primeval War, or the year and a half he spent in the Trinary Star System.

At the party he meets with the others, including Hinoki and Keita, Mamoru feels odd seeing Hinoki's hair, but can't quite connect it to Lamia at the time. Hana cooked a lot of seafood, as she's had to assume cooking duties at Kitchen HANA after Ayame joined the Orbit Base. After a toast from Chief Akamatsu, everyone digs in, Reiko notices Ushi is restrained, he begs his friends to save his older brother. Tsuguo at the Orbit Base, and Mitsuo abroad, too wish to see Kazuo. Akamatsu wants to see his father, and his half-sister, who his daughter never got to meet. He met Renais for the first time the day before she left, and Sakura has been in a coma for 4 years now, he keeps her close in the now mobile Manage Machine.

7

After the party, only Mamoru and Hana, and Keita and Hinoki are left, tidying. Hana wishes Mamoru well, and he promises to return. Keita teases their love, while joking about Hinoki, a bioengineering student, going to drinking parties, which she insists are just for study discussion. Hinoki sometimes has doubts about her feelings.

Suddenly Sakura yells out, and everyone runs over, including Akamatsu, but she remains unconscious. Mamoru notices and calls out the Limpid Channel evident on Sakura. Akamatsu hopes his daughter will open her eyes, but she emotionlessly declares the coming of the Conquering King.

8

Aboard Division VI: Unlimited Connection Transport Warship Mizuha, preparations are underway to finally launch. The first stage of Project Z, recovering samples only THE POWER, is being lead by Chief Yaginuma in the Branch Order Room, supported by Yamajii, Ritchan, Ushi 2 and Ayame. Takanohashi, Yang, Nozaki, Inubouzaki and Hirata run operations aboard the Orbit Base, Akamatsu and Porc-Auto are stationed at Marine Base, while GetsuRyu, NichiRyu, ShoRyu are aboard Mizuha alongside Mamoru, Kaidou and Kakuseijin GaiGo. Just before launch, an alert comes from Themisto Eyes, and AI on one of Jupiter's remaining satellites monitoring the locality, reporting a massive EM field around Jupiter, which is travelling at speed towards earth, threatening precision instruments. Yaginuma has the Protect Shade activated, Mizuha prepared for evasive maneuvers, and earth alerted. The Lepton Traveller is deactivated to prevent damage, and Mizuha maneuvered, as reports confirm Themisto Eyes was destroyed moments after sending the alert. Orbit Base manages to survive the EM field, as all other satellites, and earth itself suffer blackouts. Yaginuma is forced to make the executive decision to suspend Project Z to focus on disaster relief, a decision understood by all despite their sorrow.

Kanayago is launched with the Brave Robots to begin rescue operations, the Carpenters are to be sent to atomic plants to restore them as a matter of urgency.

9

An alert rings out that Space Development Corporation space colony Island-4 has started falling (there are currently 6 in various stages of development, Orbit Base was converted from the planned Island-2) and the systems that would normally act as a failsafe to blow it apart were also disabled. With a predicted landing zone, Australia, Kaidou and Mamoru prepare to launch in Kakuseijin GaiGo.

Kakuseijin GaiGo converts from Accept Mode GaiGou to Active Mode GaiGo, which more resembles GaiGar and GaoFar.

For the first time in years, Yaginuma gives the order for Final Fusion, in what should be a triumphant moment, due to the emergency, only Ayame, who admired Mikoto, has this emotion, as she initiates the Program Drive. StealthGao II, LinerGao II and DrillGao II combine with GaiGo to form GaoGaiGo. Akamatsu had initially planned to develop new GaoMachines, but eventually decided to let his King of Braves stand with the legacy of his father and uncle.

10

With careful precision, Mamoru and Kaidou have GaoGaiGo catch up to Island-4, and dock the Gatling Driver.

Kaidou feels as though Mamoru understands his feelings without expressing them nowadays, and notes he calls him Amami now, not Latio.

The Gatling Driver is used to hold Island-4 in place, then alter it's angle so when released it heads towards space instead, so it could reach a new orbit.

Before they can relax, Kaidou notes an object approaching Island-4 at high speed, a debris collecting drone that has now caught so much it can't control itself.

All Kaidou can think to do is use Broken Magnum to destroy the debris, risking more and more debris, but Mamoru takes Left Control, and uses Plasma Analyse, which temporarily holds it in places and analyses it via GaiGou's systems, allowing Kaidou to use a Broken Magnum to affect the course enough to prevent impact, right before GaoGaiGo loses power. The Debris will burn up, and the Broken Magnum will return to Orbit Base after a couple of orbits so they can retrieve it.

On August 8th 2010, following the Invisible Burst, Project Z was suspended. The sight of Jupiter in the sky continued to grow, the aura of what looked like Genesic GaoGaiGar bathed in THE POWER hung in the sky, and Lamia looks up, communicating with others via the Limpid Channel, noting the Conquering King's arrival.

[thecannedbeans]

Two Warhammer pieces I did for fun “Sek on Smoko” & “N I C E Techpriest”. I have been getting back into Warhammer 40k, and making fan art of it is a nice way for me to stay engaged with the community.

Also the last three pics were for my ARMA 3 mission I made which sparked the idea of drawing the first two images.

I do plan on making more Warhammer art, but mostly as reaction images...or I could go a completely different direction, who knows.

[agentnico]

Ghosted (2023) Review

Adrien Brody’s crappy French accent in this movie I could have forgiven, if only I haven’t seen John Wick: Chapter 4 a couple of weeks ago where I experienced the most delightful Parisian mouthing of Bill Skarsgard’s villain, so now Brody’s French-ish slur sticks out like a sore thumb. And boy is this one sore thumb. Everything is not j’aime up in this joint.

Plot: Cole falls head over heels for enigmatic Sadie, but then makes the shocking discovery that she's a secret agent. Before they can decide on a second date, Cole and Sadie are swept away on an international adventure to save the world.

This is the third time Chris Evans and Ana de Armas are co-starring in a film together, following the fantastic murder mystery Knives Out and the Netflix action film The Gray Man. As such this pairing on paper seems like a natural one, however upon seeing the new Ghosted film on Apple TV+ I have made quite the peculiar discovery - these two have absolutely zero chemistry. I mean none whatsoever. All their flirting comes of as cringeworthy, the romance is none existent and I didn’t buy into their relationship whatsoever. Their kissing scenes reminded me of that Andrew Garfield/Emma Stone SNL sketch where they don’t know how to kiss on camera. It was just awkward. And when in a rom-com your central couple have no chemistry, well then the movie is doomed to fail as is. Also, talk about a miscast! Chris Evans is supposed to play a farmer boy with an inhaler having an innocent outlook on life, yet it’s so hard not to see him as the alpha male, as such making his casting very questionable. Ana de Armas is usually a likeable presence, however, again, here is very bland and forgettable. And wears a wig. A very obvious wig, made the more obvious by the Twitter community, so thank you guys. It’s a shame really, as one could have easily done a trashy silly spy rom-com with A-list actors. Just look at Mr & Mrs Smith - an absolutely stupid movie but its hard to deny the sex appeal of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie together... though obviously that hasn’t aged too well but back then they were fire!

There’s a lot of talent involved behind the camera here. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick who are known as the writers of the very successful and entertaining Deadpool movies have story credits here, and Dexter Fletcher is in the director’s chair. Evidently all three must have been undergoing some kind of collective erectile dysfunction causing their creative juices to dry out like water in a desert, as this movie consists of all the possible Hollywood plot cliches imaginable, with a painfully unfunny script, boring direction and general nonsense. Fletcher is fresh off the heels of his previous directorial outing with the Elton John biopic Rocketman that was visually filled with colour and charm, yet here the directing is so shallow and plain. So uninspired. As for the action sequences, they are there I guess. There’s a somewhat passable fight/chase on a bus, but even then, all those stunts you would have seen before. 

Ghosted would have been a perfectly acceptable affair back in the early 2000s, however in 2023 it is simply ticking off every generic cliché of a Hollywood action film, only not anywhere as good as the movies its ripping off, nor that funny either. There’s even a few pointless cameos thrown in, and I do mean pointless. So in a nutshell, not worth getting Apple TV+ for anyway, however if you’re wondering about that streaming service, there is a delightful movie about the backstory of Tetris that came out on there recently starring Taron Egerton, and that’s actually much more interesting. 

Overall score: 3/10

[flagwars]

Video Game Flag Wars: Round 1

Now that the National Pride Fusion Flag Wars has ended, we can return to the Video Game Flag Wars! The prelims decided which flag would represent each series, so now the tournament contains one flag per series. This does not include mods and fangames, as there are multiple flags from Hearts of Iron mods and Roblox games in the tournament. As there are so many flags even after the prelims, there will be 32 polls in the first round rather than the usual 16. Let me know what flag you want to win! See the brackets below.

Round 1:

1. Crimson Cult Banner (Thaumcraft) vs. Flag (Roblox BedWars) vs. Salmon Run Flag (Splatoon)

2. Unnamed Flag (Lego City Undercover) vs. Atlantic Federation (Valkyria Chronicles) vs. Homestead Banner (Palia)

3. Middle Eastern Alliance (Squad) vs. Shadowkin (Raid: Shadow Legends) vs Bilge Rat Adventures Flag (Sea of Thieves)

4. Saker’s Flag (Fable) vs. Novistrana (Republic: The Revolution) vs. Arstotzka (Papers, Please)

5. San Andreas (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas) vs. Kirin Tor Offensive Banner (World of Warcraft) vs. Alliance of Galactic Travelers (No Man’s Sky)

6. Black Revolt (Kaiserredux) vs. Aquileian Republic (Supremacy) (Equestria at War) vs. Rescue Corps Flag (Pikmin 4)

7. Tropico (Tropico) vs. Sons of Liberty (Metal Gear Solid 2) vs. Commune of Revachol (Disco Elysium)

8. Mawkin Flag (Metroid: Dread) vs. Calchaqui (Europa Universalis 4) vs. Kazan Military Okrug (Thousand-Week Reich)

9. King Dedede’s Flag (Kirby: Triple Deluxe) vs. Meat Flag (Slime Rancher) vs. Flag of the Crown (Cult of the Lamb)

10. Communist Australia (Victoria II) vs. Delian League (Imperator: Rome) vs. Ominous Banner/Illager Banner (Minecraft)

11. Patagonian Worker’s Front (Kaiserreich) vs. Castle Siege (Super Smash Bros.) vs. Yara (Far Cry 6)

12. Stag Beetle Flag (Animal Crossing: New Leaf) vs. Fortnite (Fortnite) vs. Livonia (Arma)

13. Gaul Úr (Red Flood) vs. Strong Badia (Homestar Runner) vs. Super Earth (Helldivers)

14. Alam Melayu (Rise of Nations (Roblox)) vs. Tiki Tak Tribe (Donkey Kong Country Returns) vs. Sea Slide Galaxy (Super Mario Galaxy)

15. Great Lakes Government (Kalterkrieg: Shadow of the Weltkrieg) vs. Principality of Kemerovo (The New Order: Last Days of Europe) vs. Joker Banner (Balatro)

16. Shadow Isles Clash Banner (League of Legends) vs. Rebel Corps, Phantom Thieves Version (Persona 5 Tactica) vs. Antarctica (3D Atlas (1996))

17. Generic Flag (Roblox) vs. Standing Flag (Dragon Blade RPG (Roblox)) vs. Zhu Xi's Legacy (Age of Empires 4)

18. Kitakami (Pokémon Scarlet and Violet) vs. South California (Cyberpunk 2077) vs. Watchers (Overwatch)

19. Avalar (Spyro the Dragon) vs. Union of American People's Republics (Red World) vs. Grey Warden Heraldry (Dragon Age: Inquisition)

20. Eusan Nation (Signalis) vs. Aurelia (Ace Combat) vs. Outer Wilds Ventures (Outer Wilds)

21. Columbia (Bioshock Infinite) vs. Sickle Moon Flag (Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker) vs. Eggmanland (Sonic Unleashed)

22. The Allied Nations (Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3) vs. The Rebellion (Just Cause 3) vs. Federation of the Americas (Call of Duty: Ghosts)

23. Great Lake Revolutionary Council (Extremis Ultimis) vs. Courland (Empire: Total War) vs. Columbia (Crimson Skies)

24. Pontiac Province (Judgement Day: Aftermath of the Red Flood) vs. Communist Iberia (Hearts of Iron IV) vs. International Workers' Armed Forces (Krasnacht: Twilight of the Gods)

25. New California Republic (Fallout) vs. Deep Hollow Valley (Night in the Woods) vs. Victory Flag (Fall Guys)

26. Zheng Fa (Ace Attorney) vs. Golden Deer Banner (Fire Emblem: Three Houses) vs. Warbanner (Risk of Rain 2)

27. Blue Flag (Halo: Combat Evolved) vs. Wario’s House (WarioWare) vs. American Collective (Twilight of the Anthropocene)

28. Niflheim (Final Fantasy XV) vs. Republic of America (Dustborn) vs. American Empire (Pax Britannica)

29. Corvus (Dead Ahead (Roblox)) vs. Banner of the First Fleet (Monster Hunter)

30. Fillydelphia Contingent (Balefire Blues) vs. Federation of Anrakan Isles (Suzerain)

31. Yartar (Baldur’s Gate 3) vs. Hurons (American Conquest)

32. Falkreath Hold (Skyrim) vs. Assassin Jolly Roger (Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag)

[thetalentedmrkashyap]

B-3 : Oscars 2023 Predictions - A Film fan's perspective (Part - 1)

The 95th Academy Awards, a.k.a. The Oscars®, will take place on March 13 at 5:30 AM IST. The celebrations of the Oscar season are at their peak. Amid the fun and excitement, here's a look at the movies categories and our predictions of the winners:-

Best Picture

Nominations: 

All Quiet on the Western Front

Avatar: The Way of Water

The Banshees of Inisherin

Elvis

Everything Everywhere All at Once

The Fabelmans

TAR

Top Gun: Maverick

Triangle of Sadness

Women Talking

Prediction: The Fabelmans

The Academy might favor a movie that exhibits the love for cinema through the eyes of one of Hollywood's most-respected directors - Steven Spielberg. Either originally-written movies like Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Banshees of Inisherin can give tough competition.

Best Director

Nominees:

Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans

Todd Field, TÁR

Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness

Prediction: Steven Spielberg

Spielberg would be the rightful winner for it. If it happens, he would be the third person to win three directing Oscars - after Frank Capra and William Wyler.

Best Original Screenplay

Nominees:

The Banshees of Inisherin – Martin McDonagh

Everything Everywhere All at Once – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

The Fabelmans – Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner

Tár – Todd Field

Triangle of Sadness – Ruben Östlund

Prediction: The Banshees of Inisherin/Everything Everywhere All At Once

Unlike the first two categories, the Daniels and Martin McDonagh would be fighting for this award. It's the fight between the battle of multiverses & the conflict between two friends.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominees:

All Quiet on the Western Front – Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, and Ian Stokell (based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – Rian Johnson; based on characters created by Johnson and the film Knives Out

Living – Kazuo Ishiguro (based on the original motion picture screenplay Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, and Hideo Oguni)

Top Gun: Maverick – Screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks; based on the film Top Gun written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr.

Women Talking – Sarah Polley (based on the novel by Miriam Toews)

Prediction: Women Talking

Women Talking would be the ideal winner for the film adaptation of the atrocities by men against women (inspired by the Manitoba Colony, a remote and isolated Mennonite community in Bolivia).

Best Actor

Nominees:

Austin Butler – Elvis as Elvis Presley

Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin as Pádraic Súilleabháin

Brendan Fraser – The Whale as Charlie

Paul Mescal – Aftersun as Calum Paterson

Bill Nighy – Living as Mr. Rodney Williams

Prediction: Austin Butler/Colin Farrell/Brendan Fraser

Fraser's portrayal of an obese, depressed man can bring the Academy in his favor. He would compete with Austin Butler's portrayal of the King of Rock n' Roll & Farrell's character of an Irishman betrayed by his best friend (both actors won this year's Golden Globes).

Best Actress

Nominees:

Cate Blanchett – Tár as Lydia Tár

Ana de Armas – Blonde as Norma Jeane Mortensen / Marilyn Monroe

Andrea Riseborough – To Leslie as Leslie Rowlands

Michelle Williams – The Fabelmans as Mitzi Schildkraut-Fabelman

Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Evelyn Quan Wang

Prediction: Cate Blanchett/Michelle Yeoh

It'll be the fight between Blanchett's complex character of an orchestra conductor & Yeoh's role of a superwoman protecting the multiverse from her daughter.

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees:

Brendan Gleeson – The Banshees of Inisherin as Colm Doherty

Brian Tyree Henry – Causeway as James Aucoin

Judd Hirsch – The Fabelmans as Boris Schildkraut

Barry Keoghan – The Banshees of Inisherin as Dominic Kearney

Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Waymond Wang

Prediction: Ke Huy Quan

This one's gonna go to Indiana Jones' sidekick - Short Round, i.e., Quan - for playing a kind and friendly person to his wife in different universes.

Best Supporting Actress

Nominees:

Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as Queen Ramonda

Hong Chau – The Whale as Liz

Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin as Siobhán Súilleabháin

Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Deirdre Beaubeirdre

Stephanie Hsu – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Joy Wang / Jobu Tupaki

Prediction: Angela Bassett

All hail the Queen Mother!!! Bassett's likely to take the trophy home for portraying the grieving mother of the late Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa.

[torielpadmelikespizza]

For me it was Arma 3 and Squad until I was able to find like 2 communities full of queer folks and queer catgirls