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journeytothewestresearch · 1 year ago

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JTTWR Story Idea Directory

I was influenced by @digitalagepulao's recent post to list my own collection of story ideas.

These are set in the Buddo-Daoist disc world system of the original novel.

1) The Origin of Sun Wukong

This provides three fictional origins for the Monkey King based on my past research. He is ...

The spiritual offspring of supreme ape immortals who have served as teachers of countless mortal and divine beings, the later including the Buddha and Master Subodhi. The couple rebels against the heavenly hierarchy for failing to keep an ancient promise.

The offspring of an ancient evil who intentionally bred him to destroy the gods.

A former hot-tempered, Vajra warrior-like Bodhisattva who is exiled from paradise for killing a being who seemingly offended the Buddha. He is punished to ten lifetimes as a figure of great strength who is continually bested and forced by circumstances to protect something or someone weaker than him.

Each origin has pros and cons.

2) Immortal Warriors and Shaolin Monks

Master Subodhi's mountain is the training ground for an immortal monastic army similar to Shaolin. Monkey gains combat experience as a monk soldier.

3) The REAL Reason Subodhi Expels Sun Wukong

Sun's much, much older spiritual brothers and sisters attack him out of jealousy for quickly climbing the ranks of the immortal monastic army. Forced to defend his position, Monkey's anger drives him to take on a monstrous, 100,000-foot-tall cosmic form to defeat his opponents. Subodhi fears Sun's limitless potential and great anger will lead him down the path of villainy, so he uses the pine tree incident as an excuse to expel him.

4) The Reason for Sun Wukong's Rebellion

Subodhi warns Monkey to protect himself when mastering the "Multitude of Terrestrial Killers" (i.e. the 72 changes) because said deities are considered baleful stellar gods who bring bad luck and disease. But the Terrestrial Killers exploit a chink in his spiritual armor and feed him small suggestions that have compounding effects on his personality, making him increasingly egotistical and combative. This eventually leads to his rebellion against heaven.

These are set on our Earth.

1) Sun Wukong vs Heracles/Hercules

Heracles, the Buddha's protector, is called in place of Erlang to end Monkey's rebellion. After the latter attains Buddhahood at the end of the journey, the Tathagata asks the son of Zeus to escort Sun through the Greek world system.

See the 07-08-22 update (refer also to section 3 for background info):

2) A Realistic Retelling of Journey to the West

The story follows the itinerary of the historical monk Xuanzang, and the various episodes from the original novel take place both on the way to and coming back from India. The disciples are acquired during the initial journey; however, their order is reversed—Sha, Zhu, and then Sun.

The past punishments of the disciples are still the same. But Monkey's history is changed because Taoism didn't exist in ancient India. Instead of becoming an immortal, he is a Hindo-Buddhist rishi who rebels against heaven.

See updates here and here.

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am-i-obsessed---maybe · 1 year ago

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Revelation (Shadow Of A Bluejay Ch.8)

Wordcount: 2.8k

One of the longer chapters. though now I'd like to take a moment to humbly brag. I've been dealing with both usual depression and an unusual stomach ulcer (which is the most fanfiction author thing that's happened to me yet) so this chapter took way longer than expected. Either way we're slowly creeping towards the end of the season!

Series Masterlist

Mount Justice October 1, 18:12 EDT

You met up with Artemis outside the Happy Harbor zeta-tube. You hadn't seen each other in almost two weeks so you decided you'd hang out on your own for a bit before joining the rest of the team. That meant that when you got to the cave it wasn't through the zeta-tubes but through the main entrance.

"Hey, where are you two coming from?" Wally asked, greeting you both at the entrance.

"Blue here was finally ungrounded so we thought we'd have some BNACT" Artemis said. Wally looked confused.

"BNACT?" He asked.

"Blue and Artemis civilian time" You supplied.

"Right" He said, coming up to walk beside you. "You know you never told me what you were grounded for" Wally said and you smirked. "Sorry, classified" You said and he groaned.

"Come on! Mx. I do as I'm told rule follower did something bad for once and you won't tell me?!" He complained.

"What can I say, it's classified" You told him, floating up just a bit above the ground to be taller than him, smirking before flying off to find the rest of the team.

Artemis leaned in next to Wally's ear, "They went on a secret mission and Canary found out" She said and Wally's eyes widened.

"They told you?!" He practically yelled and Artemis smiled.

"What can I say, I'm their best friend" She said cheekily.

Wally grumbled, "I thought I was their best friend" He said.

Wally and Artemis joined you, Robin, Kaldur, M'gann and Connor along with Zatara and Captain Marvel (who had been taking over as Den Mother after Red Tornado attacked the team the day after you got back from your mission with Roy) in the training room just as Batman zeta'd in.

"Computer, national news" He said and the computer brought up a projection of GBS news.

A slender blonde woman whom you recognised as the reporter Cat Grant was telling the viewers about an attack of a giant plant monster on Metropolis. "Despite the intervention of Superman and the Justice league there seems to be no end in sight" She said.

"Should we get out there?" Robin asked but Batman shut him down.

"No. The League will soon have the situation under control. That's not why I'm here" Batman said.

"Then why are you here?" You asked. You weren't Batman's biggest fan. Between his harshness and his lack of positive reinforcement for both Robin and the team as a whole, you didn't like him very much.

"According to your intel, Sportsmaster supplied Cadmus Blockbuster formula to Kobra" He said and Wally jumped in to continue.

"Who combined it with Bane's Venom to create Kobra Venom" He said. "Which the Brain then used to create his animal army" Robin continued.

You'd been informed about their very interesting mission to India. It was the first day you were grounded and you barely managed to convince Dinah to let you keep your radio earpiece with you. She was very strict about no patrol and no Team as long as you were grounded. She really wasn't happy about your mission with Roy, even though she barely knew the half of it. In the end you reminded her that in an emergency that radio was your best way of communicating with both the Team and her. She let you keep it and you got a full recap of the mission after they finished.

"Batman, is it possible that plant thingy's on Kobra Venom too?" Artemis asked.

"I had green lantern run a spot analysis. The vine's cellulose does contain trace amounts of a Kobra Venom variant." Batman explained.

"These cannot be coincidences, unrelated criminals cooperating with one another worldwide" Kaldur added.

"Exactly" Batman agreed, "It's now clear our enemies have formed some kind of secret society of supervillains. The attack on Metropolis is only the beginning." He said.

"Got that right. Plant creatures have sprouted in Gotham City, Paris, Star City, Taipei—" Robin was interrupted by the screen becoming staticy. You'd never seen it do that before.

"Dude" Wally said.

"It's not me, someone's cutting into the satellite signal— All satellite signals!" Robin exclaimed.

The static stopped and a single face covered the screen, supposedly all screens. The Joker's sheet white face and horrid smile was projected to the size of the computer. It was at least as tall as you and you couldn't help but make a face.

"Ladies, gentlemen and viewers of all ages, we interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you this important announcement from the Injustice League" He said in that slow drawl that made his presence all the creepier. The camera slowly panned to show the rest of this so called Injustice League. Wotan. Atomic Skull. Ultra-humanite. Count Vertigo, Black Adam and Poison Ivy, along with of course the Joker himself.

He laughed as the camera slowly zoomed in to the Vlatavan count.

"We are responsible for the attacks on your cities. If you wish to save them a ransom of ten billion american dollars is required. Delivery instructions have been sent to the United Nations. There is no time limit, but the longer your governments wait..." He trailed off and the Joker took the liberty of filling in the blanks.

"The longer we get to have our jollies" He said and once again the screen was covered in static.

Robin reset the screen. He was recording the message and stopped on the image of the Injustice League as a whole. He listed them all of, all were heavy hitters most likely behind everything the Team has faced until now. Every mission and ever villain you fought came back to these seven. At least that was Robin's theory.

"There's your secret society" Wally said.

"Not so secret anymore" Artemis added.

"But what good is revealing themselves now? I understand taking responsibility for the attacks if they want a ransom but why reveal their hand?" You asked out loud.

"Perhaps after India they realised that we would deduce the truth and saw no point in hiding any longer" Kaldur suggested and that was a possibility though it didn't sit completely right with you. They were missing a League Of Shadows representative. The team had far too many run ins with Sportmaster and the his like for the shadows to not be involved. Not that you expected to see Ra's Al Ghul among the villains but someone working for him, maybe Sportmaster himself.

"What about Sportmaster though? He works most often for the Shadows and he isn't here, or anyone else we can connect to the Shadows?" You said.

"The League Of Shadows don't usually ally themselves with others. They work with mercenaries like Sportmaster but they wouldn't ally themselves as an organization. Those were most likely one off meetings" Batman said and you nodded. He was right. You were probably just a bit paranoid after the mission with Roy.

"Back to the important stuff" Wally said, "I say we go kick some plant creature butt!" He exclaimed.

"The Justice League will handle the plants. I have a different job for this team" Batman said and Wally immediately deflated.

"Oh man" He said.

"With the plants attacking so many locations simultaneously there must be a central control system. Your mission is to destroy it." Batman instructed.

Zatara turned to him, "You realize what you are really asking them to do" He said and Batman nodded.

"They're ready" He said and you hoped for once he was right because it wouldn't be easy taking on the Injustice League without the help of your mentors.

Bayou Bartholomew October 1, 18:52 CDT

The team flew through the air in the Bioship in silence. Robin reviewing his batarangs, Artemis going through her quiver and you adjusting your new batons. They were a parting gift from your mother. Extendable batons, small enough that that could fit in a pouch on your utility belt.

"Those are new" Robin said, looking at the shining new weapons.

"Yeah, GA was tinkering" You lied and Robin smiled.

"You know how to use 'em?" He asked and you nodded.

"Like you wouldn't believe" you replied. You were trained in many weapons and though your speciality with the Shadows were double short swords, batons were similar if slightly less lethal.

Behind you M'gann groaned, holding her head.

"You alright?" Conner asked.

"Dizzy" She replied.

"Martians get air sick?" Robin asked.

"Not me, her" M'gann replied.

"I feel fine" Artemis said.

"Not her the Bioship. She's trying to shield us but—" Suddenly your very calm and steady flight became erratic and out of the corner of your eyes you saw Count Vertigo.

You went flying, well the ship went flying, someone had hit it from the bottom flinging it out of control and causing it to crash in the bayou.

Of course that wasn't all as plant creatures began pulling the Bioship under the water.

Black Adam forced a hole the top of the ship and while Superboy punched him away, stopping him from getting in he couldn't stop the water that was slowly filling the ship.

"No. No way I am nearly drowning three missions in a row" Artemis said, putting a rebreather over her mouth and shoving one into Wally's hands. The two had become more friendly, even playful with each other in your absence.

You took out your own rebreather.

"I guess I missed quite a lot didn't I" You said and Artemis nodded, unable to talk with the device in her mouth.

M'gann opened a hatch at the bottom of the Bioship and you all swam out, managing to escape the ship just in time.

"She's in shock. She'll need time to recover" M'gann said. That wasn't good. It meant you couldn't rely on the Bioship to get out in a pinch. What was worse was that you didn't even get a moment to breath. As soon as M'gann finished an all too familiar psychic force forced you to the ground.

"Vertigo" You sneered, searching the area until you found the offending count.

"Count Vertigo to you peasant" He said and you slowly pushed yourself up.

"I see all the times Canary and I beat you weren't enough, you had to come back for more" You said, giving your teammates time to recover while you kept Vertigo's attention on you.

Kaldur used his water bearers to channel the water from the bayou and knock Vertigo away.

"Robin, Miss Martian disappear! We will keep them busy, you two fulfill the mission objective" Kaldur ordered through the mind link and Robin nodded, jumping off somewhere while Miss M went into camouflage mode.

You ran at Vertigo, slowed only by his psychic force and even still not completely. You managed a few hits before you were thrown aside.

"Without Canary to counter my attacks you are nothing little bird" He said, hitting you with another attack that knocked you out.

You woke up before the others only to quickly remember where you were and what happened. You decided the best course of action was to keep your eyes closed, pretend to still be out and see what you could overhear. Of course that didn't work because as soon as your teammates woke up they made it known.

"They awaken, you are certain this will hold them?" Vertigo asked and a different voice answered.

"The cage is impenetrable. Even the Superboy has no chance of escaping" Wotan replied. He was keeping you in a magical cage while Black Adam flew you all back to the Injustice League's base.

This wasn't bad. So long as you kept their attention on you and your group long enough for Robin and Miss Martian to destroy their base you were good.

"You are not the only one trained in the mystic arts Wotan!" Kaldur exclaimed, grabbing hold of the bars and charging mystic force through the tattoos along his arms.

Kaldur released the bars as if they burned him but nothing else happened.

"Please Atlantean, do not pretend you are in my league" Wotan said and you put a careful hand on Kaldur's shoulder.

"You okay?" You asked and he nodded, turning his attention back to the group. Without M'gann there was no telepathic link so you had no way to communicate without your capturs overhearing.

They'd taken your weapons and your utility belt. There really wasn't anything you could do until you found a way out of this cage.

You knew Robin and Miss M haven't completed the mission yet because the huge plant that you assumed was controlling the plant creatures around the world was still standing, breaking through the roof of what you assumed was the Injustice League's base of operations.

You were racking your brain, trying to think of ways to get out of your predicament when the Bioship appeared, knocking over Wotan and disrupting whatever spell he was using to create the cage.

It took you a moment but you kept yourself in the air, unfortunately with nothing holding you up your teammates fell down to the ground.

Superboy and Aqualad would be fine. They both had super strength and durability (at least to some extent) but you flew down and grabbed both Artemis and KF's hands, bringing them safely and more slowly to the ground.

"Thanks Blue" KF said and you smiled.

"Anytime KF" you said.

Both you and Wally turned your attention on Count Vertigo and Black Adam.

"You think you can still pack a punch without your new toys blue?" Wally asked and you smirked.

"Enough for this mission" You told him and with a jump, flew high into the air while Wally took a running start at Vertigo. "Atom, after them!" Vertigo said as he focused his attack on KF and Black Adam took off after you into the sky.

Black Adam was strong and fast but not the brightest and you managed to get in a few sneaky hits in the sky before a loud explosion rocked through the bayou.

"Yes!" You yelled only for Adam to take the moment you were distracted and fling you back into the ground, painfully.

To your advantage you fell into mud so while it wasn't pleasant it also wasn't lethal. You made it back just in time to hear Count Vertigo's orders.

"Kill them. Kill them all." He said.

You wanted to get up, you really tried but Wotan was using a spell to keep you, Kaldur and Robin (who had tried to run to you and make sure you were alright) in place.

Soon he turned his spell to the rest of the team and beside you as kaldur tried to shield M'gann you heard him quietly tell her the worst possible thing.

"Plan B."

Plan Bs were never good.

M'gann's eyes glowed green and she brought the Bioship above the two of them, opening a hatch and dropping Kaldur's duffel from the ship and into his lap.

You'd seen the duffel on the trip to the bayou but you hadn't seen what was inside it.

You watched carefully as Kaldur opened the bag and held up the single item inside.

Wotan stopped, "The helmet of fate" He said.

He wouldn't. Kaldur knew the dangers of using the helmet he wouldn't use it now.

You could barely call out no as you saw him put on the helmet and become Dr. Fate.

Wally tried to protest but Black Adam knocked him into a tree beside. you.

The both of you slowly stood, using each other to stay up.

"Oh dude" Wally said, looking at Kaldur.

You didn't know what to say.

Wally turned to you, "are you okay? You stayed down for a while" He said.

"Yeah well, Adam threw me almost a thousand feet. I'm just lucky I landed in mud. What about you? You're holding your arm like it's painfully" You said and he shrugged.

"It's fine, come on, we can't waste the opportunity Kaldur gave us" Wally said, running to help Miss M and Artemis.

You stayed back, you'd had enough concussions to know you had one, even with your softened landing. Your head was buzzing and you knew that if you tried to walk you'd fall. Not that your help was very needed.

Kaldur took on Wotan, Robin was busy fighting the Joker and Wally, Artemis, M'gann and Conner were holding their own against a combination of Vertigo, Poison Ivy and Ultra Humanite.

They didn't have to hold out for long, because the Justice League soon joined you all.

"It's over" Batman said and the villains raised their hands in surrender.

At this point you could barely stand, instead leaning on the tree trunk beside you.

You could hear people talking around you, you heard the Joker's deranged laugh and saw plants rising out of the bayou but you couldn't understand what was going on.

I'm about to pass out, you thought as your vision blurred.

Dinah noticed your increasingly worsening state and managed to make it to you just in time to catch you as you collapsed.

#reader insert #dc x reader #gn reader #gender neutral reader #yj x gender neutral reader #yj x reader #young justice x reader #metahuman reader #shadow of a bluejay #young justice season 1

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krastbannert · 8 months ago

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The Day of Days: Eighty Years After

It was a brisk summer night, almost like any other June night in England.

The terror of the Blitz was long over. Four years ago, the Battle of Britain long had been won. Two years ago in the Pacific the Americans had shocked the world with impossible victories at Midway and Guadalcanal. A year ago, the last German forces had surrendered in North Africa, and the Communists of the Soviet Union had done the impossible and stopped the German war machine in its tracks at the gates of Stalingrad and Moscow before, finally, turning the tide at Kursk. A month early the British Army in India had stopped the Imperial Japanese Army in its tracks at Kohima Ridge, and for the first time in three years the Japanese were on the run. Just a day before, the American Fifth Army had liberated Rome, freeing the "Eternal City" from fascism after twenty years.

They were winning - just. The war was still going on, ever-present in their minds, but they could sleep soundly under a quiet, friendly sky.

But in the dark, in army camps and airfields and naval bases and offices across the southwest of England, the scene was very different. Men whispered to each other, prayers and jokes, trying to lighten the tension in the air, so thick they could cut it with a knife. John Ford - the famed Hollywood director turned Navy Field Photographic unit captain - supposedly told his wife he was going off for a little local skirmish. And in his private office, Dwight D. Eisenhower - Commander, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force - typed the resignation he hoped he'd never have to give. If the unthinkable happened, if this gamble failed...they might never get another chance.

All at once, all across the southwest of England, just before midnight, the quiet was shattered by the roar of thousands upon thousands of piston engines, and thousands of men, some barely out of high school, clambered aboard planes and landing craft for a journey into the dark.

Eisenhower penned a short note, and ensured that a copy was given to every single one of the men under his command. It read, very simply:

"You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world."

It was June 6th, 1944, and after three years of begging by Josef Stalin, and a year of intense planning, brutal training, unparalleled deception, and massive buildup, the time had come to do the impossible.

The Allies were going to break the Atlantic Wall, or die trying.

It was a herculean task. The Germans had spent four years preparing for just this day, filling every beach from Cherbourg to Amsterdam with every kind of mine imaginable, dotting Czech hedgehogs and wooden posts tipped with high explosives along the shallow coastlines, and building bunkers with encased machine guns and artillery, pre-sighting mortars and artillery, digging trenches and building tens of thousands of pillboxes, and digging enough anti-aircraft positions to turn night into day. In command was Erwin Rommel, the famed "Desert Fox", a veteran of the brutal World War I Italian front, and one of the best tank commanders in the world who had fought across France and North Africa. Under his command were almost half a million German troops, including battle hardened veterans of France, Africa, and Russia.

Standing against them, over a thousand planes and gliders carrying over 23,000 paratroopers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Behind them, thousands of fighters and bombers and almost seven thousand landing craft and ships carrying more than 160,000 men from thirteen nations.

The Day of Days began just after midnight.

At 00:48 on June 6th, 1944, the men of the 101st Airborne became the first of to make a terrifying jump into the dark.

It was the beginning of the single largest amphibious invasion ever attempted. Six hours after the paratroopers took the plunge, at 06:30 local time, the first men stumbled onto shore, and into the jaws of death.

Almost immediately, the entire plan fell apart. Fog, cloud cover, a lack of navigators, and brutal anti-aircraft fire forced many pilots to signal the paratroopers to drop outside their assigned zones, mixing units and men and causing absolute chaos on the ground. The weather in the channel was not much better: high seas swamped many of the landing craft and amphibious tanks, and strong currents pushed entire regiments out of their landing zones.

When the men finally made it to the beach, they faced a desperate run across the dreaded shingle: a nearly half-mile expanse of open sand and rock, with no protection at all from the waiting German defenders. Their fire support - the naval vessels waiting offshore, bristling with guns of all calibers - was of little help; the captains refused to close any farther than the extreme ranges for fear of counter fire. And the bad weather in the skies above prevented pilots from accurate close air support.

Over ten thousand men from both sides would have their lives ripped apart on beaches in just that first day.

On Omaha Beach alone, almost two thousand men were killed. Some didn't even get a chance to face the enemy - instead, they simply drowned, their heavy equipment weighing them down into the cold waters of the North Atlantic. The beaches themselves, its said, turned red with blood as men were killed by the dozen. At Gold, Juno, and Sword Beaches, the Canadians and British managed to make it off the beach, only to be forced into fortified towns, where they endured the brutality and chaos of house-to-house urban warfare. At Pointe du Hoc, between Omaha and Utah Beach, the U.S. 2nd Ranger Battalion were forced to scale a one hundred foot cliff under withering enemy fire, only to become totally cut off. When they were finally relieved after two days, only 65 of the original 200 men were left standing, and they were forced to use captured German weapons as theirs ran out of ammunition, resulting in some of their number being killed due to friendly fire.

The paratroopers faired even worse - of the more than 20,000 American paratroopers and aircrew who made the desperate flight across the Channel, it's estimated that more than twelve thousand were killed.

The carnage was unlike anything anyone in the Allied forces had seen before, unlike Operation Torch or El Alamein in North Africa, unlike the Miracle of Dunkirk or the Battle of Britain, unlike Guadalcanal and New Guinea, unlike Salerno, Anzio, and Sicily.

For this untold sacrifice, this bloody hell that almost two hundred thousand men endured, they had only managed to capture a few square miles, only two of five beaches were connected, and they had failed to capture a single major city or port. The Allies failed to achieve even one of their major objectives - save one.

After five years of war, the Allies had a foothold.

The mother of all Hail Mary's had worked.

By the end of D-Day, almost 160,000 men had crossed the Channel into Fortress Europe.

On D+6, the beaches were finally connected.

On D+7, the city of Carentan was freed by the 101st Airborne, the first major French town to be liberated.

By D+20, the port city of Cherbourg was taken, and the Cotentin Peninsula was free after four long years.

On D+50, the city of Caen was freed, and the objectives of D-Day had finally been completed. By this time, more than 1.5 million men from 15 nations had landed in Europe.

On D+70, the Allies landed on the beaches of Côte d'Azur, and in only four weeks broke the southern German front line, and liberated the entire south of France.

On D+76, the Falaise Pocket collapsed, and the Battle of Normandy was finally declared over in a resounding Allied victory.

Then, at long last, on D+80, General der Infanterie Dietrich von Cholitz, at 3:30 PM local time, surrended the city of Paris to General Phillipe Leclerc. After four years of occupation, the first Allied capital was free. The footage of that day has been called some of the most thrilling and ecstatic footage in history.

The march continued, and on D+89, the Welsh Guards marched into the Belgian capital of Brussels.

But the war was far from over - on D+193, the Wehrmacht launched Operation Nordwind; the Battle of the Bulge had begun. It would be Germany's last offensive, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives.

On D+274, the Allies crossed the Rhine, and liberated the Netherlands, and then finally entered Germany.

On D+303, the U.S. 4th Armored Division stumbled upon a scene of unimaginable cruelty: it was a camp named Ohrdruf, part of the Buchenwald complex, the first concentration camp to be liberated by the United States. Allied intelligence services had long suspected what was going on, that their were camps across Europe for Hitler's "undesirables", and the Allies had even signed a declaration making public and condemning the killing of Jews in Poland, but no one was prepared to see the true scale of the atrocities. Eisenhower demanded that every single piece of the camp be photographed, videotaped, and documented, that everyone possible be brought to see it to impress upon them the reality of what the Germans had done. Hollywood director George Stevens was given the task of making movies describing the horrors of the Holocaust, movies that were later shown to the world at the Nuremberg Trials. The movies were said to be the moment that changed the course of the Nuremberg Trials.

Then, on April 30th, 1945 - three-hundred and twenty eight days after the 'Longest Day' - Adolf Hitler, the man who had been the head of so much destruction, who had started the most destructive war in human history and presided over the worst genocide mankind has ever perpetrated, commits suicide in a bunker in Berlin.

Three days later, on May 2nd, 1945, the surrender of German Army Group C goes into effect, and the Gothic Line that had long since stymied the Allied advance in Italy finally collapses.

And on D+336, eleven months after landing on the beaches of France, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel would sign the German Instrument of Surrender, and the German Wehrmacht laid down its arms.

The Reich that Adolf Hitler had once boasted would last for a thousand years had fallen after just twelve.

The War in Europe was over.

Eleven months after he wrote it, the promise Eisenhower made to his men - the destruction of the German Army, the end of Nazi tyranny in Europe - had finally come true.

It had been five and a half long, blood-soaked years since the war in Europe began, but at long last, Europe was free. It would takes years, even decades, to rebuild from the destruction, but finally, there was a tomorrow to live for.

Eighty years on, we still grapple with their sacrifice, and the choices they made afterwards in the world they built. But because of them, we were given a tomorrow to argue in - and a tomorrow to live for. All because thousands from across the world stepped onto a small, windswept beach, and seared the name of Normandy into history.

#history #ww2 #d day #normandy #tw death mention #will anyone on tumblr care about this? doubtful #but i wrote it anyways because it's been 80 years and that has decided to occupy all of my writing brain cells

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sirserpentine · 11 months ago

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On Pentious' backstory.

//Hi lovelies! I've been thinking and developing Pentious for a short while now, and while I will likely accept whatever canon history we'll get for him in the future, I have a few current POSSIBLE ideas for what may have led him to Hell in life. This is one of such possibilities:

Short version: Pentious was a rich inventor in Victorian England. He served portions of time as an engineer in the army, working in the British Empire's colonies in Africa and Asia. (Hardcore colonialist. Very nasty, as they were.)

He had an amicable relationship with his wife who had been chosen by his parents. They wanted to have children very badly, but suffered from infertility for years with no improvement. Pentious grew bitter over his work overseas as well as depressed and hot-tempered from his repeated grief and disappointment when his family wouldn't grow.

Eventually, desperate Pentious decided to research dark magic and ask for the help from demons, as angels wouldn't answer his prayers. A deal was offered by a demon he managed to summon, a potion that would guarantee healthy children to its drinker. The catch? Pentious would automatically descend into Hell upon death. When promised his wife and future children would be safe from such a fate, Pentious took the leap and drank the potion at once.

But coming home that day, nobody answered his calls.

What followed was a grief-induced rampage, a desperate attempt to create an antidote, a bitter attempt to create poison, plans of calamity, plans to burn down the world that had forsaken him, toxic fumes spilling over his body by accident, red, red marks all over his skin, a study that burnt down in flames.

And a snake who entered Hell alone.

In detail:

He was born into a rich, aristocratic family in the late 1840s and had the privilege to study to his heart's content in London, his busy birth town. Being an engineer or an inventor was something he wanted to do since he was very young and his family accepted this, though a bit reluctantly. Following a degree in the university, he was engaged and married to a bride of his family's preference but didn't hate or outwardly disagree with the arrangement.

He and his gentle wife found common ground when it came to the enjoyment of music, art and the scoffed-upon, silly preference to usher house-intruding rats and mice outside without excessive violence. They also doted on all the children of their friends and relatives and eventually desired a big family of their own.

With no upcoming patent for an invention in sight, young Pentious instead found a job as an engineer for the army and travelled to the empire's faraway colonies in India and Africa to oversee and assist in the construction of windmills, vehicles and the maintenance of weaponry. Pentious received elementary level soldier training at this point and for the first time learned how to hold a firearm. He also got to enjoy the life in a true colonizer fashion; feel a false sense of superiority towards those their troops supervised and bossed around, eat exotic treats and send gifts back to his wife. Snakeskin purses, spices, jewellery, everything that could be ripped from their place of origin. He paid money for them, surely it couldn't count as stealing? They made his wife so happy, surely he wasn't greedy for hogging so much? He was a Britt, a civilised chap, certainly he was deserving of his share?

Though the reunion at home after his travels was a warm one, Pentious and his wife grew agitated when they weren't blessed with children after years of trying. They did their best, employing each home remedy, prayer and doctor's order they could afford, but the situation never improved. Pentious had to leave for more job contracts to fulfil and each time he returned to his grieving wife and empty nursery, the less he resembled the man he had been in the past. The idealistic, kind gentleman had become entitled and stressed, his smiles had turned into frowns, his passions into a hot temper.

And when he started shooting at the intruding rodents that disturbed his precious work in the study or tea in the parlour, his wife grew even more concerned. And when she mentioned this and all he could offer as consolation and apology was a concoction of rat poison to get rid of the problem instead, she wasn't sure if she even knew him anymore.

Pentious grew desperate enough to turn to dark magic to have his dreams come true. If Angels wouldn't listen to his wails, maybe demons would? Though doubting it would work until the very end, Pentious managed to summon a demon who offered him a deal; A potion that, once consumed, would guarantee him the conception and birth of healthy children. The catch? He would automatically descend into Hell at the moment of his death.

When promised his wife and future children would be spared from such a fate, Pentious wasted no time in swigging down the potion. Despite the prize he knew he would be paying, he felt more lighthearted than ever as he ran back home, desperate to tell his wife they could still try, they could fix things up, there was still time.

But once he was home, all that greeted him was silence.

The vial of rat poison was empty.

#about.#tw:colonialism #tw:infertility #tw: implied miscarriage #tw:implied suicide #tw: body horror #I exist to hurt myself when I develop muses it seems #this is one possibility of his backstory #he doesn't remember much of his own mortal life anymore though...#Which is beneficial for me #I'll keep it open until I'm sure of which angle to go with!!#headcanons.

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hobiebrownismygod · 1 year ago

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OC/Spider-Sona Backstory: The Widow

Maitreyi Jokhar (she/her), Earth-20262, Present day, Spider-man/Black Widow variant

Part 1!

I'm planning on making this a series instead of one extremely long post, so her entire backstory up to her introduction to the Spider Society is probably going to be around two to three parts depending on how in-depth I decide to make it! Let me know if you have any feedback on my writing style or how I can make her as accurate as possible <3

Backstory & Powers:

Born in Andrapradesh, South India, she was kidnapped from her family at the age of 5 years old and never saw them again. Forced into a human-trafficking scheme, she was eventually taken into the Red Room program, better known as the Black Widow program, the same program that the MCU Black Widow was a part of before working for S.H.I.E.L.D. In this universe, the Red Room Program is an extension of H.Y.D.R.A., a Russian spy organization. From the ages of 7-14, she was trained alongside hundreds of other child soldiers to fight, kill and engage in acts of espionage and sabotage, eventually to join the army of mind-controlled Black Widows the Red Room program produced.

When she turned 15, she, along with 9 other young teenage girls, were chosen for H.Y.D.R.A's new adaptation program, where they experimented on some of their best soldiers/recruits to create a new kind of Super-soldier, after their hundreds of failed attempts to replicate the same serum used on Red Skull during WWII. Each girl experienced a different experiment, some being injected with powerful steroids, others having their DNA spliced and combined with others, etc... Understandably, none of these experiments worked. Except for one.

Maitreyi was placed into a leather chair and strapped down, quickly being injected with multiple paralyzers before being told to close her eyes and relax her arm. Doctor Hans Zola, grandson of Doctor Arnim Zola (Arnim Zola worked for the Nazis during WWII, which could be seen in the first Captain America movie), proceeded to inject her with a serum derived from the venom of a radioactive black widow spider, whom's DNA he had spent months perfecting to be able to link to hers accurately. 24 hours later, the process was completed and H.Y.D.R.A. had successfully created a super-soldier. However, this super-soldier wasn't the same kind as what they'd made during WWII with Red Skull.

Maitreyi did receive similar, but not the same abilities as the average Spider-person. She was unable to produce enough web for the daily, so she would use it limitedly, and only if completely necessary. She was flexible, fast and even acrobatic, as a result of years of Red Room training, but she did not gain the abilities of super-strength. She had to hone her strength herself after assimilating to the injection, through more time being trained by H.Y.D.R.A.'s best agents, specifically employed to morph Maitreyi into a super-weapon. One ability which was extremely beneficial for her future endeavors was her newfound intelligence and instincts. After being injected, she was able to better respond to threats, through enhanced reflexes (Spider-sense) and found that her problem-solving skills, especially those mechanical related (robots, machines, gizmos, etc...) were also amplified.

Only a few weeks later, she met Alexander Pierce. The man who took over Hydra after Red Skull's death. The man who's idea it was to turn her into a weapon. The man who was going to use her brainwashed, inhuman self to murder his own enemies until she was either captured or dead.

The missions started off small. Assassinating political leaders of minuscule movements in insignificant cities and towns. Kidnapping the children of runaway H.Y.D.R.A agents, destroying their lives, sparking fear into the hearts of the organization's enemies and even their allies. It wasn't until a few months later that Pierce sent her to the United States. He didn't disclose why she was going there. The only thing she had been given was a picture of an older man with an eye patch who Pierce claimed had something that "belonged to him." He told her that her job was to kill him. Not having a choice, not knowing that there was any other option besides compliance, she obliged. She wasn't even 16 years old.

____________________________________________________________

A/N

Guys idk if any of this makes sense but I'm trying to create a storyline for her so its not like I just threw a random spider-person into the ATSV fandom and started shipping her with characters 😭. I want her to have her own backstory and reasons for her personality and stuff yk

taglist:

@mollyollypuddingpolly

@s6onder

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top-leaders-in-india · 17 days ago

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Overcoming Challenges: Lessons from Col Rajyavardhan Rathore’s Journey

Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore is a shining example of resilience, perseverance, and unwavering dedication. From serving in the Indian Army to winning an Olympic medal and excelling in politics, his journey is a testament to overcoming challenges and achieving excellence in multiple fields.

His life offers invaluable lessons in discipline, courage, and leadership. This article explores the major challenges he faced and the lessons we can learn from his inspiring journey.

1. Military Life: Courage Under Fire

Challenge: Serving in High-Risk Combat Zones

Col Rathore’s military career in the Indian Army’s Grenadiers Regiment was marked by multiple challenges, including life-threatening situations in counter-terrorism operations and the Kargil War.

How He Overcame It:

Unwavering Discipline: Military training instilled in him the ability to remain calm under extreme pressure.

Strategic Thinking: He developed quick decision-making skills, which later helped him in sports and politics.

Teamwork & Leadership: His ability to lead in difficult circumstances strengthened his leadership qualities.

Lesson: Stay composed in challenging situations and trust in your training and preparation.

2. Transition to Sports: Defying the Odds

Challenge: Switching from the Army to Professional Shooting

Despite being a military officer, Col Rathore decided to pursue shooting professionally. Entering a highly competitive sport at an international level with no prior experience was a massive challenge.

How He Overcame It:

Relentless Hard Work: He trained rigorously, often practicing for 12–14 hours a day.

Self-Belief: He focused on mental strength and precision, crucial for shooting success.

Resilience in Setbacks: He faced multiple failures before achieving success, but he never gave up.

Lesson: It’s never too late to start something new. Hard work and perseverance can help you master any skill.

3. Winning India’s First Olympic Silver in Shooting

Challenge: Performing Under Immense Pressure at the Olympics

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Col Rathore was under tremendous pressure. India had never won an individual silver medal in shooting before, and the expectations were immense.

How He Overcame It:

Mental Conditioning: He used visualization techniques and remained calm before the event.

Focus on the Present: Instead of thinking about the outcome, he concentrated on each shot.

Self-Discipline: He stuck to a strict training regimen, refining his techniques daily.

His determination paid off, and he won the silver medal in double trap shooting, making history for India.

Lesson: Success comes when you focus on the process, not just the result. Pressure is temporary, but preparation lasts forever.

4. Transition to Politics: A New Battlefield

Challenge: Moving from Sports to Politics**

After retiring from sports, Col Rathore ventured into politics — a completely different domain requiring new skills, patience, and a deep understanding of governance.

How He Overcame It:

Learning from the Best: He studied political strategies and learned from experienced leaders.

Strong Communication Skills: He honed his public speaking skills to connect with people.

Service-Oriented Mindset: His focus was always on national development, not personal gain.

As Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, he introduced revolutionary programs like Khelo India, transforming grassroots sports in India.

Lesson: Every new challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Adaptability is key to success.

5. Promoting Fitness in India: Changing Mindsets

Challenge: Making Fitness a National Priority**

Despite being an athlete, Col Rathore noticed that fitness awareness in India was low. He wanted to change that but faced resistance from cultural habits and lack of awareness.

How He Overcame It:

#HumFitTohIndiaFit Campaign: He started a nationwide fitness movement, encouraging celebrities and citizens to promote health.

Personal Example: He actively participated in fitness challenges, inspiring millions.

Involving Youth: He engaged students in fitness programs, making health a priority.

Lesson: To bring change, lead by example. Inspire people through action, not just words.

6. Facing Criticism and Staying Strong

Challenge: Handling Public Scrutiny**

Like any public figure, Col Rathore faced criticism and political challenges. People questioned his decisions and doubted his abilities.

How He Overcame It:

Thick Skin Mentality: He never let negativity affect him, focusing on his work instead.

Consistent Actions: He let his achievements speak louder than words.

Staying True to His Values: He never compromised on integrity and hard work.

Lesson: Ignore distractions. Stay focused on your mission, and let results do the talking.

7. Balancing Multiple Roles Efficiently

Challenge: Managing Multiple Careers in Different Fields**

Col Rathore has been a soldier, athlete, politician, and motivational speaker, excelling in each role. Managing so many transitions is not easy.

How He Overcame It:

Time Management: He structured his day efficiently, ensuring productivity.

Clear Goals: He always had a strong vision and purpose, keeping him motivated.

Self-Discipline: His Army training helped him maintain strict discipline in all aspects of life.

Lesson: Success is about managing time well, setting priorities, and staying disciplined.

8. Leading the Next Generation: Inspiring Youth

Challenge: Creating Opportunities for Young Indians**

Col Rathore wanted to ensure that young Indians had better opportunities in sports, leadership, and fitness.

How He Overcame It:

Skill Development Initiatives: He launched youth leadership programs to prepare the next generation.

Empowering Athletes: He increased funding for Indian athletes, ensuring better facilities.

Promoting Education & Sports Together: He worked towards balancing education and sports, making both accessible.

Lesson: True leaders create opportunities for others. Success is not just personal achievement, but empowering those who come after you.

Key Takeaways from Col Rathore’s Journey

Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore’s journey is filled with challenges, but he overcame each one with determination, discipline, and hard work.

Key Lessons from His Life:

Stay Disciplined: Whether in sports, the military, or politics, discipline is the foundation of success.

Never Fear Change: Transitioning to new fields is tough, but adaptability leads to growth.

Lead by Example: Inspire others through actions, not just words.

Stay Focused Under Pressure: Train yourself to perform well, even in high-stress situations.

Empower Others: True leadership is about lifting others up and creating opportunities.

Col Rathore’s legacy is a powerful reminder that with hard work, perseverance, and the right mindset, nothing is impossible.

“Challenges are stepping stones to greatness. Face them with courage, and you will create a legacy that inspires generations.” — Col Rajyavardhan Rathore

Jai Hind! 🚀🇮🇳

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commandantacademy · 4 months ago

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Commandant Academy: The Best NDA Training Academy for Defense Aspirants

The journey to join the Indian Armed Forces requires dedication, discipline, and expert guidance. Commandant Academy, a premier NDA training academy, is committed to shaping the futures of defense aspirants by offering specialized coaching for various defense-based services. From preparing for the prestigious NDA - SSB interview to guiding students through various defense entrance exams, Commandant Academy stands as a beacon of hope for those seeking to serve the nation.

This blog explores the courses offered, the unique coaching methodology, and why Commandant Academy is considered the best academy for NDA preparation.

Courses Offered at Commandant Academy

Commandant Academy offers a wide range of courses to cater to the needs of defense aspirants at different stages of their preparation. These courses are meticulously designed to cover every aspect of defense entrance exams and interviews.

1. SSB Interviews

The NDA - SSB interview is one of the most challenging phases of the defense selection process. It evaluates candidates on various parameters, including leadership skills, communication abilities, and mental agility. Commandant Academy specializes in preparation for SSB interviews, offering personalized coaching that focuses on the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR), Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT), and Group Testing Officer (GTO) tasks.

Our comprehensive SSB interview program provides students with in-depth knowledge of the five-day selection process, including psychological tests, personal interviews, and group tasks. With Commandant Academy, students develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed in the SSB interview.

2. NDA (National Defence Academy)

The NDA exam is one of the most sought-after defense entrance exams in India. It opens the door to joining the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force. Commandant Academy offers an extensive coaching program that covers the NDA syllabus, including Mathematics, the General Ability Test (GAT), and preparation for the SSB interview.

Our NDA training academy ensures that aspirants not only excel in written exams but also ace the rigorous NDA - SSB interview. The SSB interview is a crucial part of the selection process, and at Commandant Academy, we focus on grooming students for this all-important interview through mock interviews, group discussions, and personality development sessions.

3. NDA Foundation Course (11th & 12th)

Commandant Academy’s NDA foundation (11th and 12th) program is designed for students who aim to join the NDA immediately after completing their schooling. This course covers the CBSE curriculum and simultaneously prepares students for the NDA entrance exam.

The NDA Foundation (11th and 12th) program focuses on building a strong academic base while also preparing students for physical fitness tests and personality development. This foundation course ensures that students are NDA-ready by the time they complete their school education.

4. CDS (Combined Defence Services)

The CDS exam is conducted twice a year for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy. Commandant Academy offers comprehensive coaching for the CDS exam, ensuring students are fully prepared for every subject, including English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics.

Our best academy for CDS interview preparation program helps students excel in both the written exam and the subsequent SSB interview. We offer personalized coaching for each stage of the CDS selection process, helping students achieve their dream of joining the Indian Armed Forces.

5. CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces)

Commandant Academy provides an extensive CAPF exam preparation strategy that covers every section of the exam, including General Ability and Intelligence, General Studies, and Essay Writing. The academy also focuses on preparing students for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Medical Standard Test, which are critical components of the CAPF selection process.

Our CAPF exam preparation strategy ensures that students are well-equipped to face the challenges of the CAPF selection process and emerge successful.

6. AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test)

The AFCAT exam is the gateway to joining the Indian Air Force as an officer in the flying, ground duty (technical), or ground duty (non-technical) branches. Commandant Academy’s AFCAT exam guide covers every aspect of the exam, from Verbal Ability to Numerical Ability, Reasoning, and General Knowledge.

Our AFCAT exam guide also includes comprehensive coaching for the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) interview, ensuring students are well-prepared for the final stage of the selection process.

7. Air Force (Agniveer)

The Agniveer recruitment process is a special initiative by the Indian Air Force to recruit airmen for various technical and non-technical branches. Commandant Academy provides expert coaching for the Agniveer exam, covering all subjects, including Physics, Mathematics, and English. We also focus on physical fitness training, ensuring students are prepared for both the written exam and the physical fitness test.

Why Choose Commandant Academy?

1. Expert Faculty

At Commandant Academy, we take pride in our highly experienced and qualified faculty members who specialize in defense coaching. Each faculty member brings years of experience in coaching students for defense entrance exams and interviews, ensuring that students receive the best possible guidance.

2. Comprehensive Study Material

Our study material is carefully curated by defense experts and covers every aspect of the syllabus for exams like NDA, CDS, AFCAT, and CAPF. The material is regularly updated to reflect the latest exam patterns and trends, ensuring students are always well-prepared.

3. Personalized Attention

At Commandant Academy, we believe in providing personalized attention to every student. Our small batch sizes allow for one-on-one interaction with faculty members, enabling students to clear their doubts and receive individual guidance.

4. Mock Tests and Practice Sessions

We conduct regular mock tests and practice sessions to help students assess their progress and identify areas for improvement. Our mock tests are designed to simulate the actual exam environment, helping students build confidence and reduce exam-related stress.

5. Physical Fitness Training

Physical fitness is a crucial aspect of defense exams. Commandant Academy offers specialized physical fitness training to prepare students for the physical tests that are part of exams like NDA, CDS, and CAPF. Our fitness trainers provide personalized training programs to help students achieve the required fitness levels.

6. Personality Development

Personality development is an integral part of the preparation for the SSB interview. At Commandant Academy, we offer personality development sessions that focus on improving communication skills, leadership qualities, and overall confidence. These sessions are designed to help students excel in group discussions and personal interviews.

Conclusion

Commandant Academy is more than just an NDA training academy—it is a place where dreams of serving the nation come true. With our expert faculty, comprehensive coaching programs, and personalized attention, we have established ourselves as the top NDA coaching in Patna.

Whether you're preparing for the NDA - SSB interview, aiming to clear the CDS exam, or looking for the best academy for NDA preparation, Commandant Academy is your one-stop destination for all defense-related coaching. Our commitment to excellence and our proven track record make us the best choice for defense aspirants in Patna and beyond.

Choose Commandant Academy for your defense career, and take the first step toward serving your nation with pride.

For More Info: https://commandantacademy.com/

#afcat coaching #agniveer #air force #nda academy #nda classes #ndapreparation #ssb #nda training #afcat #ndacoaching

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hasufin · 8 months ago

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Profit on the apocalypse

Having just seen the 1st season of the Fallout TV show (pretty good, some video game logic, a few plot holes, but enjoyed) I want to talk briefly about how the US Military-Industrial Complex profits from the concept of the end of the world.

Now, for starters, actually ending the world is deeply unprofitable. They do not want that, because corporations are inherently capitalist entities: they do not want to create a situation in which the economy actually breaks down. Yes, private companies have flirted with running governments in the past (at its peak, the East India Company had I think the fourth largest military in the world) but running a government is hard and actually having citizens is a pain in the ass. So they're mostly happy with someone else doing that part where money exists and they can focus on having all of it.

So what do they do? Well... they want to keep us in a constant state of anxiety that the world could end, but without it actually ending. The more scared we - or, rather, our governments - are, the better.

Let's start with an old military adage: the most expensive army is the one that's second-best. The concept is, if you opt to save money/time/effort by not being quite as good as whoever you're fighting, and you lose, then all the time/money/effort you put in was wasted: you should have spent more in order to win, or you should have lost for cheaper. And this is sort of true.

This leads to another sorta true thing: even a small edge can be a very big deal. Having fighters which are slightly more maneuverable, tanks with slightly better armor, &c., can be what decides a war. Now, the thing is - that absolute bleeding edge of abilities and technology comes at a premium. A 5% improvement comes at a 100% increase in cost. But! That 5% can mean victory! And remember, the most expensive army is the one that's second best. If you want to be able to win, you need to pay that premium!

And for the military-industrial concept, that kind of thinking is a beautiful, beautiful stream of revenue. Suppose you're, you know, Lockheed. You're called upon to build a new military system like an air superiority fighter. You load that bird up with every piece of cool tech you can imagine. It's definitely the best fighter in the skies. It's also the most expensive bird anyone has put in the air. So you're making money on the R&D, you manage to get the government to pay for building the manufacturing facilities, you're getting money for each airframe you churn out. Oh, but that's pocket change. EVERY SINGLE PIECE of that thing is proprietary as all get-out. And it's all a Military Secret. You have your trade secrets backed by an actual bona fide military. Which you don't have to pay for.

So in addition to getting money for designing the fighter, getting money to be able to build it, getting money for building it... you're also getting paid to train people on using it, and you're getting a LOT of money on the special parts to maintain it. And because you're the only one who can make those parts, your price for those is whatever you fucking want. I mean, there's negotiation, but it's kind of a joke because there's only one vendor: you. And there's a big sunk cost because they spent millions getting the planes from you in the first place.

And this gets BETTER (worse). Because your military thing is better than everyone else's, two things happen. First, your allies see the cool toy and say WANT. And the most trusted allies get them. I'll go into that later. Second, your enemies want to say they can fight it. You build a 5th generation fighter aircraft, China and Russia each say they're building a 6th generation fighter (these terms don't exactly mean anything, but they sound cool). They say they're building something with Much Better specs. So much better.

Now, the allies. They want the cool toys too. They want to be able to compete in the world of your cool toys, in case they get attacked. But they can't actually afford to devote that kind of resources to their military. So what happens is, the US government negotiates a military aid package. Your company builds an export version of the fighter (or something similar) because the US wants to retain some edge, just in case it wants to invade Europe someday. The export craft get sent to your allies, with most of the money being paid for by the US government; that money is listed as "foreign aid" but never actually leaves US hands. And now your allies have better fighters than they could afford and you're even richer. The USA has allies with good weapons it can call on for help. But... remember, proprietary parts? Which are only available from you, the USA company? Which are as expensive as you want them to be? Oh yeah, this bleeding edge stuff takes a LOT of work to keep it flying. Not only could these allied countries not afford to buy the birds, they can't afford to keep them in the air without a lot more "foreign aid" which is actually the US government paying a US company to send parts to an airfield in another country. And this also means that if the US wants to cripple a country's warfighting ability, all it has to do is say "Y'know what? We don't think we'll send you any more spare parts." That's what happened to Iran in the 80s, when it suddenly went from having a MASSIVE advantage over Iraq, to fighting a stalemate war with human wave infantry tactics that resulted in one million casualties. Because Iran was reliant on American F-14 Tomcats that while exemplary fighters for their era were horrific to keep running even by US military standards. (Oh and there's the Iran-Contra scandal where the CIA smuggled cocaine to sell to black people in order to fund illegal weapons shipments, but that's a separate horrible thing).

Anyway. Now US allies have the coolest toys but need permission from the US to use them. Let's look at US enemies and competitors. Which this model needs. Recall, China and Russia (and Iran and a couple other countries) countered by talking about their own superfighters. Realistically, they can't actually design and build anything better. The USSR was once able to do so, but they really haven't been able to surpass US R&D since the 80s. This, however, doesn't really matter. The point is they're making a lot of noise about coming up with something better. And that makes the same paranoid people who wanted your fighter initially nervous. Now they want a 7th generation fighter to surpass China's vaporware 6th gen.

This is, for Lockheed, absolutely awesome. Because it means even as they're still cranking out the 5th gen fighters they can devote their R&D to coming up with an even cooler, more expensive toy. Even if the last toy never actually got used! There's a continuous cycle of making cooler toys, some irrelevant portion of which are vaporware, none of which is really war-tested, but that doesn't matter because you get your money. Entire generations of military hardware are built only to get polished and maintained, then either sold to allies or scrapped, because you have to keep up with whatever the other guys say they can do.

Now, the key part about this cycle is paranoia. The USA has to believe they need the absolute bestest military toys and damn the expenses. US allies have to believe they, too, need those toys. And US allies have to believe they must one-up the US abilities. This maintains a constant cycle of R&D for the next thing while building the new hotness, and still getting a solid amount of money from making parts for last year's model. And, joy of joys, it doesn't matter whether any of it gets used, because it all needs to be replaced periodically anyway.

Note, too, that the way defense contractors in the USA are structured, past a certain point it doesn't actually matter which company is given the contract to build a system. If Boeing and Lockheed both compete to build the next-generation fighter craft, they can rest easy knowing that whoever wins will contract with the loser to make important parts. It's an entire ecosystem in which engineers and managers move around based on how the wind is blowing; the specific company doesn't really matter.

Now, the one part I can't speak to from personal experience is just how they keep us on the edge of the apocalypse. I know they considered the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR as a great tragedy, so it's fair to say they don't exercise quite that level of control. But there's a whole lot of "lobbying" and "advertising" going on, and there are many members of Congress who are very well paid to be quite paranoid.

Ending the world isn't profitable. But it's quite, quite profitable to get as close to doing so as possible.

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manasastuff-blog · 1 month ago

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Happy New Year 2025 #trending #happynewyear #viralshort

Happy New Year 2025 Wishes are here to inspire you and your loved ones to begin the year with hope and joy! In this video, we’ve curated the best wishes, messages, and greetings to share with your family, friends, and colleagues. Whether you’re looking for heartfelt wishes or creative ways to make someone’s day special, we’ve got it all covered!

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envihellbender · 1 year ago

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Hunt!Sebastian paying John a visit

Characters: Sebastian Moran, John Sims

Verse: The Magnus Archives, TMA AU of Sebastian Moran / Moriarty (MorMor)

[CLICK]

THE ARCHIVIST

[HE SOUNDS A LITTLE SHAKEN, AS IF HE IS PACING UP AND DOWN AS HE IS TALKING.]

I found a tape on my desk. I have checked and double checked with security and with the CCTV coming into the building and everyone coming in or out of the building is accounted for. Was it posted here? It wasn’t in an envelope or anything. Maybe Ma- someone thought they were being helpful. But he- they wouldn’t open my mail, would they? Anyway. Here it is. Statement of Sebastian Moran. Regarding how he met James Moriarty.

[CLICK]

SEBASTIAN MORAN

I found one of your little tape recorders, Archivist, so thought I’d give you something to listen to. You know me. Basher Moran. Moriarty’s Tiger. The most feared sniper in Europe. Prince of London’s Underworld. That one is weird I think, if Moriarty’s the king, that would make me his son? Anyway. Yeah. It’s me, and I hear you’ve been tracking down me and Jimmy, listening to all our victim’s statements and all that. So I thought I’d give you something straight from the tiger’s mouth. There have been quite a few stories about how I met my Jimmy. Urban legends really. Is this one of them or is this a lie just to get under your skin? Only you’ll be able to tell, right Archivist?

Let’s quickly skip through the really boring stuff. Yeah, yeah, son of Augustus Moran and a servant he knocked up in his house in India. He actually had quite a few bastards you know, for some reason he took a shine to me and that’s not the compliment you think it is. He was a faggot, pretended not to be, and whether I killed the fat cunt or not is a little secret you already know the answer to, Archivist. Anyway, I’m the best shot you’ll ever find. Spent most of my teens at a shooting range and didn’t get sped through the army ranks cause of my surname. When your as brown as me and your dad dun’t wanna talk about you a name as common as Moran don’t help. So. I get quietly discharged cause if a nasty event that don’t have anything to do with this story, but you need to picture me as being out Army in my twenties and making a comfortable living selling my services. With a gun, by the way, not my dick sucking lips.

The thing about sniping, is it’s mostly waiting. You set yourself up somewhere high up and out of sight, if you’re good at it you can be low down and no one will find you. Sometimes it’s just you, snacks, drinks, your headphones, and that spare empty bottle you brought to piss in. Audiobooks are great for that. I got through all Chuck Palahniuk’s stories that way. Anyway. Got distracted. So. Most people assume Jimmy hired me, and nah, course he didn’t. He doesn’t do anything like a normal person. First, it was messages in my phone. A text message from a number that didn’t exist and any time I tried to call it instead all I got was a loud screeching noise. The text itself was just a set of coordinates and a time. I decided to ignore it, and five minutes after the deadline, I got left a voicemail without my phone ever had been rung. Weirdest thing about that? It was my voice.

Yeah. Apparently I had rang myself and left a message threatening me about what I would do to my eyeballs if I didn’t pay attention to the next text message. So that was fucking weird. But message received. The next time I got some coordinates I went straight there. First ones led me to a tube station. And when I looked at the train times screen, there was a message for me instead. No one else seemed to see it. But I swear to God it said “Moran. Go to the payphone I’ve marked.” Which is fucking annoying. God damn treasure trail without the treasure. Anyway, so I found it, and clever fuck had written “hi” with a heart drawn on it. Fucking fag. So when I got to it, it started ringing. I answered it and this soft lilting voice was in the other end.

He gave me a job. A good job. With a lot of money. And I said yeah, even though I asked why he didn’t just tell me instead that of playing some stupid game. He giggled and said it was fun. Now I get it. That’s just how he works. When you’re running around anxious and confused he’s feeding off you. That’s just a small way he gets a quick snack. So we went on like this for a while, giving me job after job. I got a bit sick of it, and whilst yeah the Web is really fucking powerful. But. Well, I’m the Hunt. And finding shit is what I do.

So I laid low for a while and between and during jobs I started tracking down my Jimmy. He knew, kept making jokes about how close I was. Maybe he thought I wouldn’t make it to him, maybe he wanted me to, or maybe he didn’t care. Honestly, Jimmy might not even know. Maybe he didn’t think about it. But. Eventually I found myself just outside of this big fancy flat building. One of the types in zone one where the front is fancy as fuck and the back is meeting the quota for affordable housing. I don’t care, if they live in the shithole they can’t pay me. I took the lift up to the top floor. The huge, massive, modern screen door greeted me when I got out. He has a penthouse you see, and the dramatic fuck has a spider web pattern all over it.

I was planning on being subtle, but the moment I got to the top floor, I heard a lilting giggle. I looked up to see a camera pointed directly at me. He didn’t say a word, just ended up with a click to show the door was open. I walked in. His house is pretty great but I’m not gonna tell you shit that might lead you to him. You know what’s funny? I hate spiders. I hate them. I hate them so much of course I noticed their was a lot hanging around my flat since this started. But I didn’t think they had anything to do with Jimmy. His penthouse though? Let’s just say he’s gone all out on the theme.

Anyway. I mostly came here to kill time because gotta shoot one of your librarians. Just some dickhead who stuck his nose where he shouldn’t. By the time you hear this, you might wanna make sure someone goes up to clean up. I knew this would be a great way to distract you. Once the statement started you wouldn’t be able to put it down. Hope you enjoyed my story, mate. There’s plenty more where that came from. My Jimmy? He’ll be in touch.

THE ARCHIVIST

[CLICK. HE SIGHS.]

Statement ends. Carson Throw was found with a very clean gunshot wound through his temples. The bullet was found lodged into a book about spider webs. Hardly subtle. There wasn’t much of a mess. Carson was very wrapped up in jobs for James Moriarty, nothing special just owed him a lot of money from card games and he was slowly trying to work off. It seems Carson tried to get out before his debt had been paid. As for what Moran and Moriarty want with me… Only time will tell.

[CLICK.]

#envi writes #the Magnus archives #tma au #Sebastian Moran #John sims

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usafphantom2 · 2 years ago

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Poland will receive 8 Apache helicopters from U.S. stock before a contract for 96 helicopters

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 05/10/23 - 14:00 in Helicopters

The Polish military will soon begin training on how to operate the AH-64 Apache helicopters, before the delivery of eight aircraft from the U.S. surplus stock.

“The U.S. army will provide Poland with Apache helicopters from its own resources, even before signing the contract for the purchase of 96 helicopters,” said Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak after the meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, on May 5.

The topics of discussion also included Polish-American military cooperation, the security situation on the eastern flank of NATO and in Europe, the deepening of military interoperability and the US military presence in Poland.

Gathered in Washington, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, signed the Reciprocal Defense Acquisition Agreement, and the U.S. agreed to provide an initial batch of 8 used Apache attack helicopters, while Poland awaits the new Apaches it intends to order. (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense)

Speaking of strengthening the Polish Armed Forces, building interoperability and acquiring Boeing Apache helicopters, the head of the Ministry of Defense emphasized that these are among the best machines in its category.

“Since the founding of our republic, Americans and Poles have fought side by side,” Austin said. "And the bond between our two countries continues to strengthen to this day. In fact, without the tremendous contributions of Poland, we would never have been able to do so much for Ukraine after the indefensible invasion of Russia,” Austin said.

U.S. ground forces will provide Poland with eight helicopters, and the training of Polish pilots should begin in a few weeks. The helicopters will go to eastern Poland next year, Blaszczak said.

He added that the helicopters will go to the eastern flank of NATO, to the 18ª Mechanized Division.

Last year, Poland expressed its desire to buy 96 Apache helicopters, although it is not clear when deliveries will take place.

Tags: AH-64 ApacheMilitary AviationHelicoptersPAF - Polish Air Force / Polish Air Force

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.