#callsign-spectre

[krikeymate]

Quick song rec: Madison Beer - Ryder.

She wrote it for her younger brother and I immediately thought of Sam and Tara and their relationship.

Grew up in the same house / So I know why you lash out / Oh, I understand you / More than you think I do / Cracks in the windows / Castles in pillows / And all of the places I built us to hide -> This is so Tara, who sees more than Sam realises, who gives her something to focus on and love in a place where it does not exist. Who tries to be a reason to exist, to stay.

I always left you out / You still love me somehow / You just wanted a friend / Didn't know it then, now I do / Our youth down the drain / And I take all of the blame / For all of the countless times that you cried -> Sam, who let her down - who let herself down. Who wasted so many years, caught up in herself.

Just two kids caught in the crossfire / Close your eyes, I know you're so tired / Just kids, you and I / I know it's hard sometimes / But you'll be alright / Oh, we'll be alright -> Their lives are a goddamn tragedy, but they have each other, so they'll be alright. So long as they have each other.

All that's unspoken / All the years that we're stolen / You were still in that house / I shouldn't have left you behind / And I fall to pieces / Sometimes all that you need is a shoulder to cry / And I'm lucky that you're mine -> Do I even need to say anything at all?

[twilightofthe]

also it's very interesting how the pilots call each other by their spectre callsigns but address sabine--an ORIGINAL spectre--exclusively by name

[gazs-blue-hat]

What REALLY happened at the end of MWIII

SPOILERS AHEAD! PLEASE PLEASE DNI IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS

This is based off of convos I've had with @sofasoap about what really happened at the end of the game

(The gif is us BTW)

The smack against Johnny's temple shook him quite a bit. Having a pistol go off right next to your ear isn't something very comfortable either. So while Price and Gaz disarmed the bomb, he lay on the ground his eyes unfocused and dazed. There was blood in his eyes, streaming from the cut on his head. Headwounds always bleed a lot anyway, and his shoulder wound was only adding to the crimson on the ground. After the bomb was taken care of and his ears had stopped ringing, he was able to hear the last bit of Price's sentence. "-KIA." "The fuck? I'm not dead!" He went to grab his radio but his arm burst into pain. Oh...that's right. His arm got shot. At least he would be symmetrical now. One shot from Las Almas, one shot from here. Great. "Stay down Johnny...don't mess this up..." Simon mumbled as he patted his vest and disconnected his radio. "Mess what up?" He started to say before Simon put a gloved hand over his mouth. Johnny rolled his eyes and decided that taking a nap would be good right about now. "Yeah...make it believable. Ghost, put some more blood on the other side of his head.." Gaz was getting involved now, a grin on his face. ----------- "You can't be serious.." Johnny was sitting in medical, his arm and temple being stitched up as he pouted. "Deathly." Price said while filling out the correct paperwork. His own death certificate.

Gaz snorted in the corner as he started filling up an urn with the ashes of some other poor soldier who didn't make it. "Makarov thinks you're dead. That's a win for us. We get a new guy and you work in the shadows." Price looked up at Ghost who patted Johnny's un-wounded shoulder. "Like in Las Almas." Simon said softly. Johnny was starting to understand now. The long game...that made sense. "Alright. I get it. But the urn? Seriously Gaz?" "Gotta make it look legit. Now...where do you want your ashes spread?" Kyle was smirking and Johnny rolled his eyes. "I don't fuckin' know. How about the highlands? Over the ocean? Sounds kinda interesting." Simon snorted next to him. "Basic bitch.." He grumbled while standing to grab a backpack to carry the urn in. --------

There they went, the ashes floating over the ocean.

"Well...looks like I need a new callsign." Johnny said while shrugging his shoulders and putting his hands in his pockets. he smiled and nudged Simon with his elbow. "Hey, you're not the only dead man on the team anymore! perhaps I should be Ghost now." Simon rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Nah, needs to start with S, so we don't get you confused. How about Sprit. With that haircut of yours, you look like that fuckin' animated horse." They all looked at Simon. "You watch cartoons mate?" Gaz asked while raising his eyebrow. "Sue me, the music was good." Was the sharp reply. There was silence for a moment before Gaz spoke up again. "When I pretend to die, I wanna be called Spectre or something. Something epic and scary. nothing like your basic ones." "How about none of you pretend to die anymore okay? Jesus, you're all twisted." Price sighed while putting his hat back on his head. "Oh! We need to give you a new name sir! When you inevitably need to fake your death too," Soap said while they began to walk away from the cliff. "That's not-" "Phantom." Simon. "Nah, too basic. Cash Money is better. Because his name is Price." Gaz. "Peepaw." Everybody froze and looked at Soap. "Peepaw?" Price repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Johnny, I'm only thirty eight." Soap shrugged his shoulders and raised his hands in mock surrender. "That's ancient by our standards sir. One foot in the grave already. Ghost has been planning your wake for months now and I just know your knees ache in the-" Ghost whacked him. His own knees had started to creak and crack when he rose from bed every morning. "Watch your fuckin' mouth Mactavish." "Aye L.T"

[helix-enterprises117]

Halo Effect

In the year 2150, humanity found the Halo Arrays. Ancient ringworlds which they decided to use to achieve Slipspace-Travel, and they reverse-engineer old Forerunner technology from these ringworlds to make all sorts of neat tech, leading to a technological new-age that lasts for 400 years and counting. (Forerunners are still called 'Forerunners,' but they play the Protheans' role).

It's currently 2552...

The United Nations System Alliance (UNSA, which is The UNSC + The System Alliance) are the military and political arm and protectors of humanity, but a shadowy intelligence-agency called "Agamemnon" (ONI + Cerberus) led by 'The Visionary' (Doctor Halsey + The Illusive Man), operates in the dark as they commit various war-crimes in the name of humanity and it's protection; the military and the police are one-&-the-same.

Agamemnon created a program that would train a new breed of military-police troopers that are above jurisdiction and have free-reign to do what they'd like called the "Spectre-II Program" (The Spectres + N7 + Spartan-II) with the best Spectre among them being a Commander-ranked Engineer-class Colonist with a background for being particularly ruthless named John Shepard-117, though he likes to go by the callsign that Captain Jacob Anderson gave to him: "Master Chief" (Anderson was previously Master Chief when a young John asked if he could Master Chief one day).

The Spectres are dedicated to fighting The Matrix (Covenant + Geth), a hivemind of religious cyborgs who believe that the Halo Arrays are ACTUALLY created by The Warforge (Reapers + Prometheans), a legion of sentient starships that are piloted by The Spores (The Flood + The Collectors), and want to liberate thenselves from humanity and their ancestors by activating the rings.

The truth is they were obviously made by the Forerunners to be a counter against the Spore/Warforge, as the SWs collect and harvest any all sentient life to feed and cleanse the galaxy so that the whole universe can live under the Spore's rule; so the Forerunners made death machines, the Halos, which destroys all life in the galaxy so that the mech-piloting parasites can starve. It worked and life began again...

But the Spores/Warforge returned.

And the fate of the galaxy rests in John Shepard-117's hands after he learned about all of this from a Matrix excavation-site on Madrigal Prime, where he touched an ancient Forerunner beacon they were digging up. So assembles a ragtag-team of remarkable people to help him, including: Garrus "The Seraphim" 'Vadamee (a vigilante who atones for his past mistakes by killing the wicked across the galaxy), Kai Alenko-125 (a fellow Spectre-supersoldier and a powerful biotic), Leenda'Zorah (A sniper with keen-sight and is constantly in a skin-tight Hazmat-suit; John gives her Spectre-armor that's the same in-design as her original Hazmat-suit, but offers far more protection and has all sorts of bells-&-whistles that'll keep her safe), Miranda (a super-spy and scientist who is the daughter of the Visionary; her real legal-name is either Keyes or Lawson, but she'll never tell), Ares (a brutish bounty-hunter and ex-clan-chieftian who hails from a planet of dying warriors) and Durandana (the UNSA Normandy's ship AI, given physical form in the form of a blue woman who looks exactly like a younger version of the Visionary).

@mrtobenamedlater, @authortobenamedlater, @makowrites, @empresskadia, @ageless-aislynn, @inthatfandom, @ionlymadethissoicouldleaveanask, @pelgraine, @jellotherelol, @killer-orca-cosplay.

[clericofshadows]

Shepard aaaaaask!

3, 14, 21 (give me details! hehe), and 33 😉

thanks for the ask :D

fifty shepard questions

3. What’s their relationship with Anderson?

For Regis it's... not great. I've written some fic on it, but the TL;DR is that Hannah wanted Regis to have a good mentor, and he said fuck that to any sort of meddling and mostly just respects the man for his skills alone and keeps him at a far distance. He doesn't quite like that he was blindsided about being evalutated for Spectre status nor does he appreciate his visions being brought up in front of the Council.

He does nominate him for Council since he doesn't really trust Udina either, and in his mind it's a lesser of two evils. Their relationship never really goes beyond, in Regis's mind, "coworkers I have to tolerate."

For Nyx, it's cordial. He doesn't have much of an opinion on Anderson and sees him as a decent ally to have. Nyx, however, nominates Udina as the Council rep since he doesn't like the idea of putting a military man on the seat despite being a First Contact War veteran. Or maybe because he's a FCW vet... :)

14. Any good at flirting?

Regis is pretty good at it and can even ramp up the charm as needed for missions. And he also managed to get Zaeed in his and Kaidan's bed while on Omega during vorcha mafia nonsense and a pissed off merc who's mad that his target was now focused on two alliance idiots...

Bonus gif from same gender romance mod's flirt option for Hock lmao

Nyx is extremely good at flirting and can charm the pants off of anyone (or rather any man). He's very confident and into himself, which can be pretty attractive. He's also quite observant and has a good feel for what a person might like. And he was able to get Kaidan in his bed pre-ME1 for a one night stand, and I typically headcanon Kaidan as not being into that sooooo yeah :)

21. Do you have any AUs for your shepard?

I have a few :)

Regis's canon is technically one big AU in the sense that I get rid of canon things I don't like (Liara as Shadowbroker, for one, Virmire being a no win scenario... etc), but in Nyx's canon, Regis is actually a doctor on Omega with his uncle, Vikram, and leads a bit of a merc life with Zaeed. On the other hand, Nyx in Regis's canon never rejoined the Alliance after an extended time after the FCW and stays as a civilian engineer, who also stays in his relationship with Hackett. In Nyx's canon, he breaks up with Hackett, later enters a relationship with Kaidan pre-ME1, and then later the three of them become a triad.

There's also the fact that Nyx's canon is a sort of No Reapers AU... in the sense that the Protheans failed to fully extinguish most Reapers and a few still remain, but not enough to be a galaxy ending one.

Regis as a doctor/merc also exists in a Kaidan/Hackett fic I've been slowly writing as well. But other than that, I don't really have any modern AUs or anything of the sort since I see my Shepards already existing as big ol' AUs.

33. What skills do they have that are a surprise to the people around them?

Regis is good with metalworking and making jewelry, and he is quite skilled with making custom weapon mods. Not as good as Zaeed, which he gloats about, but it's something he learned on the side. And despite his degree being public, it's always a shock that he knows his way around cybernetics and can talk real technical when it comes to biotic amps and VI and AI...

Plus he can make really good desserts.

Nyx moonlights as a hacker and is well known on many extranet forums as Phoenix, which should be obvious given his callsign in the war being Phoenix, but to the greater 'net it's a mystery. Like, yeah, he's an engineer who is good with tech and is good with cybersecurity, but a hacker who posts tricks and takes down shit in his free time? Not so obvious.

He's also really good with intricate braids and loves braiding his hair and beard and offering his skills to the other long-haired folks on the ship.

[justalonelyslytherin]

Goodbye 2023. You had your ups and downs. Happy moments, proud moments, moments that made me question everything and that brought me to the edge of my powers. I managed to do things I thought impossible, overcame hurdles that seemed unclimbable and I evolved. Most of all I wrote my thesis, handed in my bachelor thesis! Something I had dreamed of doing ever since I was twelve, yet never really believed to become reality only to make it reality.

Welcome 2024. I hope you bring memorable moments, good moments. Less for me as for the people in my life, they need it more than I do. I will go into this year with an open mind but no anticipation. I'll let it come to me, do it's things.

Happy New Year to all my mutuals, old and newly gained. Feels like I just wrote this kind of post for last year and yet another year of fun memories is over. And I had a lot of fun with you all. Now that you are cherished even if I'm not so active, good in reaching out or getting behind all the wonderful content you are putting out. I want to thank you for being my friends, for interacting with me, for blessing my dash day and day again 💚

@drabblewithfrannybarnes @navybrat817 @anika-ann @chase-your-dreams-away @sweater-daddiesdumbdork @spectre-posts @wiypt-writes @zablife @callsign-fangirl @hangmans-wingman @sebsxphia @deepdonutkid @fortunetellingnonesense @stargazingfangirl18 @brandycranby @iguana-braces @noxytopy @soulmates8

[tarisilmarwen]

Rebels Rewatch: "Flight Of The Defender"

We go for a fly and a ride, and the ancient guardians of Lothal awaken.

Live reaction version.

KITTIES! :DDDDDD

We're revisiting allll the familiar locations this season aren't we?

The bright bouncy tones of the opening cue and this particular area of Lothal still looking relatively pristine and untouched are bit of a mood whiplash from last episode. (But then of course the Empire can't have mining crawlers getting too close to its landing strips, the smoke would interfere with pilots' visuals.)

It's vaguely implied that Ezra connects with these Loth-cats, possibly even calls them? They're immediately eager to help when the Rebels need a distraction and it's definitely possible they read Ezra's intentions and were like, "HELP FRIEND."

"The Empire has been fortifying their anti-aircraft defenses." Ha ha yeah you run afoul of those later don't you?

"And there are some new fuel tanks near the factory." *SOBS ENDLESSLY*

Also:

This contrast is immediately horrible. "Zero Hour" was three weeks from the start of this season. "In The Name Of The Rebellion" a couple days out from their victory at Mandalore. It's not clear how much time elapsed between then and "The Occupation" but it can't have been too long, Ezra was already agitated about Lothal after parting with Saw and his words still seem fresh on his mind in "The Occupation". (And as a side comment, I love how deeply connected to Lothal Ezra is, that he could sense the danger Ryder's group was in across that distance.)

This complete burnishing of the grasslands happened within a few weeks to a couple months.

I noted in my original liveblog that Ezra uses "Phoenix 6" randomly here, instead of the usual "Spectre 6", that Hera also calls him. I'm still confused about if that was a mistake or not or if they use the callsigns interchangeably.

I cannot emphasize enough how well they portray the TIE Defender Elite here. It is so fast, so maneuverable, they manage to make it move like a fighter jet. It never looks clunky or unwieldy, just sleek and quick and able to turn seamlessly on a dime.

And predictably my ship will be spending a lot of quality time together this episode, as Ezra immediately assigns himself to come with Sabine onto the dangerous Imperial-filled airstrip. <3

Yeah no I think Ezra definitely connected with the Loth-cats prior to this and they decided they liked him enough to volunteer. He didn't specifically call them or influence them but I like the idea that he's just... open enough in the Force to them right now, so connected to Lothal itself, that they became his allies anyway.

Possibly it was this general openness that called the Loth-wolf to him too.

Anyway, let this be a lesson to never antagonize the cats. Or any of the local wildlife for that matter.

Snippets of the Imperial March as the shuttle sets down, and then a couple blaring notes recalling "Thrawn's Web". Something interesting musically I've touched upon in my commentary but I'm reminded of again hearing this: Thrawn is nearly always musically represented in the score with organs. The organ is an instrument we basically never hear in the Rebels score until Thrawn enters the picture, so any time you hear the hint of an organ note, you can immediately recognize Thrawn's presence.

Aaaaaand there's "Thrawn's Web" playing out more fully.

There's an interesting chime here that plays when the wolf first catches Ezra's eye, it's overlaid by strings and synths and the little vertigo effect the camera uses on Ezra and the way the music abruptly cuts out when Ezra's discovered almost makes it seem like the wolf drew him into some kind of brief trance.

My son just rolls with it, decides to absolutely embrace the chaos he's capable of generating, love it.

"Well Ezra, you certainly got their attention." "I'M GLAD THIS IS WORKING FOR YOU!" I laugh every time I swear, lololol.

I remarked on it before but this is a lovely use of the environment. I love when action setpieces do that. This whole sequence is just such a lovely demonstration of Ezra's skill and competence. <3

And the little shit has the audacity to casually "Hey!" Thrawn, I love him so much.

Ooof with how Ezra ordered Zeb and Ryder to leave with the info and how he told Sabine to get out I think he may have possibly been planning some kind of Jedi self-sacrifice? In which case ow my heart.

This bit here where Thrawn stands unflinchingly in front of the oncoming TIE Defender is a visual reference to a shot from the movie Patton I'm pretty sure. Fitting, as it's German general Erwin Rommel, who clashed with the titular General Patton in the WWII theater, that was one of the inspirations behind Thrawn.

Aaaaaand there's Thrawn sacrificing pilots to prove a point again. Ngl, he's one of the better Imperial commanders to work under but you still get a raw deal if you're too low-ranking, the man will throw you like a meat shield at his enemy to test their mettle and be completely unconcerned when you die.

Ezra: *tells Sabine to hang on*

Sabine: *literally clings to the back of his chair*

Also, do note the sonic boom. The Defender Elite is supersonic.

Oh, this shot where the Defender just threads the gap between two stone pillars? *chef's kiss*

Even Ezra looks a little stunned by how maneuverable the thing is.

Think I noted it before but Sabine sounds really stressed about the kill switch. 'course she experienced it firsthand.

Their banter this episode is amazing I love it.

Hera looks really worried here. Given that her two youngest Spectres were (essentially) kidnapped and taken off into the unknown by Saw just recently maybe it's warranted.

Yeah uh, y'all were never going to make it far enough away from the crash site lugging that thing. Hiding it was a way better plan.

Subtle animation appreciation moment: The mist drifting over the ground here.

Sabine not seeing the Loth-cat we can maybe chalk up to her just not seeing it, because unlike the wolf the cat is definitely an animal that normies can see. (Ryder in "Legacy", for example.)

Another semi-random musical score note: Snare drums are used primarily for the Empire, probably owing to their usage in militaries and marching bands. Hear a snare drum in the score? Audio shorthand for the Empire.

"Ezra and Sabine have each other. They'll find their way home." Kanan says, to comfort a worrying Hera, and I awwww.

Ezra continually getting distracted by the Loth-wolf reminds me of how his attention kept drifting with the purrgil.

Sabine's barely able to help him keep focused lol.

Of course Sabine remembers the wolves from the artwork of them, ha ha.

YEAH NO THAT'S NOT A SIGHT I'D BE COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE WITH EITHER.

The Loth-wolves as a concept are pretty basic but also not quite fully explained. We know they're guardians over Lothal and strongly connected to the Force, motivated to protect it from the Empire in general and Palpatine's machinations with the WBW in particular. But the show also kind of just lets them... do things and doesn't explain them.

Like I'm still not entirely clear on why this wolf had to knock Sabine out with a sleep suggestion. Is it that they're not quite ready to reveal themselves to the mortals yet?

Despite doing so literally the next day?

IDK whatever the motivation it did provide me with these lovely bits:

The fearful warble in his voice when he asks, "What did you do to her?!" How he reaches for his lightsaber and doesn't let go of it until the cat appears and the wolf clearly shows it's aligned with it through the little ear wiggles.

How even though the wolf has tentatively gained his trust he's still all *anxious noises* about it handling her. (Watch how many times he looks back and forth from the wolf to Sabine.)

And they way he is so gentle and careful with Sabine, handling her so tenderly this whole ride.

There's something kind of Miyezakian about this cue in the score, it sounds reminiscent of the theme from Princess Mononoke. (Which I'm pretty sure must have imprinted on Filoni as a wee mini young'un to inspire his lifelong wolf obsession.)

*side eyes the writers*

*whispers* If no supposed to ship... *gestures inarticulately*

Kanan believes Ezra about the wolf though, even if he gets all weird and cryptic about it. Frankly I think the "All paths are coming together now." line maaaaay have just been inserted in this scene for trailer purposes lol. It does seem a little out of place.

Another solid entry. The animation is beautiful, the fur on the Loth-wolf is a vast technical improvement from the wookies all the way back in the pilot, with several individual tufts and segments operating independently to move more naturally around the animal's body. The design is basic, just a normal wolf shape with the tooka chicken feet and scaley foreheads, but solid.

Thrawn remains unflappably intimidating. Pryce continues to prove the more hotheaded of the two, which will come back to bite her hard this season.

Aaaaaaaand of course Ezra and Sabine have the most adorable interactions this episode. From the sharply-written banter to their genuine concern for each other, to Ezra's absolutely tender cradling her for the duration of the midnight wolf ride. I was spoiled and I enjoyed it, sue me.

I do maybe wish we could have had a bit more explanation behind the Loth-wolves instead of having them be mysterious for the sake mystery but that's about it.

[wispscribbles]

“I Woke Up Underground” is now finished

https://archiveofourown.org/works/43866409

Snippet from the final chapter:

“How copy?” Ghost mumbled, leaning forward and resting his good arm on the side of the bed. At the close proximity, Soap’s fingers twitched, wanting to hold that hand again, but he decided against it. He already wasn't sure where he stood with the lieutenant after this mess.

“Feelin’ a bit like I died twice.” he replied. Ghost tensed again at the reminder, but Johnny just smiled cheekily. “Guess I’m the Ghost now?”

“No way in hell I’m swapping.”

“What, something wrong with being called Soap?”

Ghost shook his head in exasperation, but Soap was pleased to see that glint of humour back in the dark eyes.

“Guess I’ll just come up with something else then, if Ghost is taken,” he continued musing.

“Sorry, Johnny, but I doubt you’re getting rid of your terrible callsign.” Ghost didn’t seem sorry at all. Soap wrinkled his nose.

“Double-O Dead? Lazarus? Jesus?”

Ghost’s groan only spurred him on, his mind desperate for the light atmosphere he had forced into existence.

“Spectre? Oh, shit, that’s kinda good, Lt.”

“You’re going with a synonym of Ghost?” the masked man asked, amusement slipping through. “Copycat.”

“Aye, alright, point taken. Guess I’ll keep being Soap,” he sighed dramatically.

“Good,” Ghost said. The statement held weight that Johnny wasn’t ready to dissect.

He was even less ready for the heavy hand grasping his own, yet with warm cheeks, he held on tight to the tether.

[eclipsecrowned]

Though it may be his callsign, she is the one lingering in the doorway like a spectre. Tall, clad in black, a hollow imitation of what womanhood is meant to be. The flourescent lights make her complexion come across sickly rather than warm. The set of her mouth does not help this summation, as if she's only just swallowed down bitter medicine. The folder in her hand is tap, tap, tapped staccato against her open palm. Days of poring over the hunt for Shepherd, and all she has is this. "So. Al Mazrah." Her voice is clipped. "Danger close?" // @umbralined

[chronal-anomaly]

Lena's callsign in Talon is Spectre and no I won't be taking criticism.

[krikeymate]

Okay so this is kinda gonna be long and a bit of a ramble, so apologies in advance.

One thing I never understood was the idea that Amber truly cared about Tara, in scream 5 we know that the plan is for her to attack Tara which would then lead to Sam going back to Woodsboro so that Ritchie can have his ending.

However my confusion stems from how much Amber hurts Tara, she stabs her several times and breaks her leg (brutally might I add, like yikes!) Plus when Tara gets stabbed through the hand that knife is aiming straight for her chest in what could've been a killing blow ( I say 'could've' because we've seen Chad get absolutely carved up but still survive somehow so y'know movie logic).

If she really cared about Tara the attack didn't necessarily have to go that far, just enough for Tara to report the fact that there's a new Ghostface killer on the loose, leading to Wes calling Sam and so on so forth. Plus Amber had no problem trying to kill her her other childhood friends of which she did succeed (RIP Liv, Chad may have forgotten you but I didn't lol) so who knows.

The idea that maybe Amber was spiting Sam could make sense in a way, her being the one to 'care' about Tara because Sam left but to me that seems more controlling/possessive than caring. Especially if you take into account how quickly Sam & Tara reconnect after everything that must've added to her anger at Sam.

I wonder what your take on this is?

Hopefully this makes some semblance of sense and I apologise if it doesn't. ♤

Agreed! I find it very hard to believe Amber cared about Tara... or anyone else, at all. I think her motives for everything she does are incredibly self-serving. It's why when I write her I try to stick to the characterisation that her interest in Tara is only so far as having an adoring fan, so to speak. I think she likes being the center of Tara's world, that she's hers like a pet is yours.

Sam is a threat because Tara loves her more than Amber, which is obviously something she can't abide by. So it's fair to say that Amber has animosity for Sam, and we do see some of that in the movie, however it outright tells us Amber's motive - to make a good movie. Tara was just collateral damage for that. Amber will get the Jill treatment for surviving a Ghostface attack anyway.

A lot of people think that it was intended for Tara to survive her initial attack, I disagree. It was incredibly brutal, she was stabbed seven times and had her leg broken. You can bring up that she survived four rounds with Amber, I would bring up that Amber and Richie's plans went off the rails the moment Tara didn't die, and they were then struggling to get it back on track. The plans for Tara changed once they got her and Sam to the house, and that's why Amber ties her up instead of outright killing her. The fourth round, she throws this invalid over the couch and storms off because she's angry and trying to regain control of the situation. She believes she's knocked Tara out, and... I'm pretty sure she did. Tara's hardly a threat at that point, Amber even overpowered her pretty quickly once she got over the shock of being clotheslined by a crutch.

But of course, on fandom side, I've a lot of love for Amber, she was a beautiful unhinged woman. And shipping is just part of the fun and can make it angsty and who doesn't want their resident terrible person character to see some sort of redemption? Part of it I think is that Amber was a sadly underdeveloped character (weren't they all lol), but she was a really interesting one, so people want to see more of her, and that involves fleshing her out and giving her more interesting motives.

[umbrellamedic]

Tell Me - beltway to Bertha

Leave a “Tell Me” in my ask, and I’ll write a drabble about my character confessing something to yours [be it a love confession, a secret, feel free to specify.]

Raccoon City is a cesspool. Bertha can't imagine what it was like before the virus and doesn't bother to try. She takes what good she can get out of the place to try and offset the overwhelming amount of bullshit. In this instance, the only good thing about the entire damn city is the existence of a little hole in the wall bar she never bothers to learn the name of. Spectre is at the roof, keeping watch and reporting if any BOW gets too close. Vector is somewhere. Doing something. He doesn't need medical attention so Bertha doesn't need to know his business. That's for their leader to worry about.

Speaking of, Lupo is with Four Eyes going over what they could do to most effectively deal with the monsters Umbrella has dropped on the city. How better to survive. They might even try to establish contact with Mission Control. Again. Bertha can't imagine they'll really be abandoned. They just need to complete their mission. Take out all the survivors and then they'll earn extraction. Simple. She can't think of the alternative- that they're truly abandoned for a series of events that isn't really their fault.

She's drinking. They're in the dingy basement of the bar and Lupo doesn't plan to move them for at least a day if she can help it. They need time to rest. Plan. Bertha isn't going to let all the booze in crates and fridges that have been off since the EMPs did their job go to waste. She can fight through a hangover if need be. Or inject herself with a little pick me up, but only if it's really needed. She doesn't have an unlimited number of vials. Beltway is with her. Maybe he doesn't have anything to add to the planning, maybe he just wants some down time; the medic doesn't know.

Eventually drinking begets talking and singing. Bertha teaches the demolition expert a few toasting songs from back home. It's a better time than she expects to have given the shitty city they're in and everything that led up to the bar.

Bertha's mask is sitting safely with her apron and belt of medical tools. Her face is a cheery shade of pink, and her grin is wide. The world is soft around the edges and turning a bit too much to slow her to get up and walk. She settles for using Beltway as support instead, draping over him like a happy, drunk blanket.

"Don't tell anyone," she purrs, nuzzling like a cat, "But my name is Michaela." She likes her privacy. Maybe Lupo has been given files on everyone and maybe not; but Bertha has not volunteered her real name to anyone for a long time. She prefers her callsign and everyone else staying at a healthy distance. But Hector's sense of humor, his disregard for safety- he's won her attention. "I will die before I fail my team. So if I don't make it out, make sure you do. And remember me."

[sapphim]

character directory ☆

↳ see also: Characters (out of date)

☆ tags

#oc blab

#worldstate writeup

☆ origins

↳ canon wardens

Eydis Aeducan ← Queen of Orzammar

Micah Brosca

Sulina Mahariel ← Warden-Commander

Rafael [Surana]

Zoraida Tabris

↳ canon non-wardens

Spiro Amell

Gwendolen Cousland ← Queen of Ferelden

Rowan [Surana]

↳ non-canon wardens

Rozi Brosca

☆ exodus

↳ canon hawke

Tabitha Hawke ← Champion of Kirkwall

↳ non-canon hawke

Juniper Hawke

☆ inquisition

Kataara Adaar ← Inquisitor

Vaati Adaar

Rumour Cadash

Shirae Lavellan

Alden Trevelyan ← Herald of Andraste

Amelia Trevelyan

Nola Trevelyan

Ellaran Andrale

☆ mass effect

Casper Ryder ← Pathfinder

Polaris Ryder

Roxene Shepard ← Spectre

☆ tabletop

#ttrpgposting

Aurynn ← DnD5e, bladesinger

Gene Hecklinger ← Lancer, biohacker, callsign Echo

Jannike Rakankrak ← DnD5e, cleric of Umberlee

Vaughan van Shellsing ← PF2e, crabby old man yells at clouds

Verity ← DnD5e, tiefling con artist

[robotsandramblings]

oooooh never thought of that!! it’s a good bet!

honestly i’m just so happy they have little callsigns for the team. i was hoping they’d do something similar to the Ghost crew calling themselves “Spectre ___” and i had wondered if TBB would use “Havoc” or something else. i’m glad they did, it’s perfect, i love it :D

p.s. here’s the scene in question, for those who missed it. it’s about 5 min into Ep #2

Slight Bad Batch Season 2 Spoilers:

.

I'm just saying,

Hunter calling Tech "Havoc 2" is my main evidence that Tech's designation is CT-9902

[umbrellachronicles]

UMBRELLA CHRONICLES ACCESSED . . .

PERSONNEL DOSSIER

FILE NO. ▇▇▇▇▇▇

NAME: Vladimir Bodrovski

CALLSIGN: SPECTRE

D.O.B.: ▇▇/▇▇/1964

OCCUPATIONS / RANK: Formerly — Soviet Union Security Service; Formerly — Illegal informant for Vory v Zakone/Thieves In Law; Umbrella, U.S.S. Delta Team "Wolfpack" — Surveillance Expert

CERTIFICATIONS: Renown sharpshooting (close to long range), surveillance & intelligence technician, moderate CQC

VISUAL FEATURES: 5'11" / dark midlength hair, large observant eyes, long plain features, slouched and errant body language, lithe, / face inspo / tattoos

NOTES & REMARKS: low raspy voice with long, winded pauses between words

BACKGROUND: A veteran of the Cold War and former spy previously with the former Soviet Union's security services, codename SPECTRE was well suited to his role as an intelligence technician where his lack of any standout physical or social characteristics helped him to remain virtually invisible in any situation.

His work brought him into contact with the seedier side of life, something he soon discovered he had an affinity for. He exploited his underworld network for his own gain, namely blackmail, which eventually brought him into conflict with the authorities. As a result, SPECTRE had to flee Russia with investigators and authorities on his heels every step of the way.

→ Vladimir attended the Academy of Foreign Intelligence. Privy to the shifting politics in Russia, and sensing the upcoming fall of the Soviet Union, Vladimir needed insurance for his future. He began to collect and trade in major government secrets with the many gangs under the callsign СПЕКТР (SPEKTR: ghost or spectre). He began to be known as a concierge of secrets and earned a considerable standing in the underworld. He was considered a part of the воры в законе (Vory v Zakone) or the "Thieves In Law" and learn the ponyatiyam, the honor code of criminals.

→ The Soviet Union began to suspect one of their own was leaking insider information. In preparation for the investigation, Vladimir whipped up a smokescreen of false trails to his peers. While eyes were off of him, he tried to flee. In his anxious haste, while traveling to leave the country, he committed a social blunder and was arrested for seperate unrelated trumped-up charges. He spent about six months imprisoned.

→ The Thieves In Law and the ponyatiyam code worked quickly to free their informant. They tapped into the obshchak, the massive mutual aid fund made by the rich criminal underworld meant to bribe law enforcements, silence political parties, and, in this case, get prisoners out earlier. Vladimir spent six months imprisoned, but he still needed to leave Russia before the authorities sentenced him for treason or for being integral to the falling Soviet Union.

Vladimir 'Spectre' Bodrovski was moved from Umbrella's European wing for unknown reasons. The premier surveillance expert of the U.S.S., he was transferred to Wolfpack when the upper echelon of Umbrella management realized his skills could greatly benefit them.

He found a home within the U.S.S., and his surveillance skills have regularly ensured that the corporation stays well informed and that the Wolfpack keeps the upper hand in combat situations.

SUPPLEMENTAL LINKS: tattoos. | appearance. | writing. | headcanons. | musings.

[galactic-pirates]

I live blogged the first two episodes of Ahsoka. Under the cut because length and also spoilers.

I legit screamed at the crawling text. Vintage iconic Star Wars, the only thing missing was the theme. But I also exclaimed “oh no! Not a secret map” and groaned “don’t they ever have any new ideas?” Because really? That MacGuffin had zero logic in a Force Awakens and again?

But then the first shot is of a ship and it is like a love affair for the movies. I am here for that. It’s a large Republic ship which is like their version of a Star Destroyer I guess? Cool parallel.

The way Baylan stormed through the ship and the accompanying music track, I could just feel that Dave Feloni I guess? Or whomever directed it had such love for Star Wars.

Ahsoka in that room with the orbs. I got real Uncharted puzzle room vibes. It was like “I have played that game” haha. Those exploding robots made for a really big blast. Ahsoka still having the call sign Fulcrum is both cool and strange, given that Fulcrum applied to a lot of people on purpose (e.g Kallus used it) to add a layer of deception. I wonder if Ahsoka is the only one that uses it now.

I am crying about this map. Why why why? It makes no sense. Say it is a map of the unknown regions, say it shows the location of the Chiss homeworld but if Thrawn is lost there is no map, and certainly not one in a secret vault underneath what looked like a ruined temple. How can there be a map to someone that didn’t know they were going anywhere, and had no control over the destination because purgills! Thrawn didn’t leave a map. Just like Luke wouldn’t have left puzzle pieces to a map when he decided to go be sad. I hate it here. Why do they think this is good writing? It is not! Ahem. I am upset.

But I am screaming because Hera!!!!!! And she mentioned Ezra. And they thought Thrawn was dead? But they saw the purgills? What about Ezra’s message that he couldn’t wait to come home?

Ok ok I am back to screaming because it’s Lothal!! It looks so good. I can recognise it. I am all starry eyed over it and it’s Governor Azadi and boy he looks like him A+ casting and he gives credit to Ezra and my heart is full. It’s what Ezra deserves. I didn’t realise that painting was official. I always thought it was something Sabine painted. Maybe she still did? The way the droid spun its head to say no was hilarious. I liked the expansion of the spectre callsign. It feels like maybe Sabine helped train those guys?

It sucks that Azadi tried to make her do the public spectacle thing when she didn’t want to, but I guess he was always a politician. He didn’t come across as a pure ‘good guy’ in the Thrawn book with how he tried to pressure Pryce for her mine. Politicians 🤷‍♂️.

Sabine has a pet loth-cat! OMG and after she drew them in her art so much. Oh man and that holo of Ezra. So many of the trailer scenes already! I love how they put Sabine’s art all over the walls of the old comm tower, that was Ezra’s home and is now hers I guess. I sniggered seeing the graffiti on the bunk in Ahsoka’s ship. Sabine graciously donates her art everywhere haha. Loth-cats, TIE’s and Chopper, just little doodles very nice.

Ok /sighing forever. I am still clinging to denial. How can they make Sabine force sensitive? Kanan trained her with the dark saber! It was specifically mentioned that she didn’t have the force! Kanan would have known!!!!

I did have to rewind and play the line twice about it ‘hard being a Jedi’ and “I would have made a good one” because the first time I legit thought I heard “I should have married a good one then” and I was like WHAT?!?! I mean I was getting like a bad break-up exes vibe but there was no way they would do that. Funny for the 5 seconds my eyes popped out of my head though.

I do find it sad that the Ghost family has gone their separate ways. That is only natural of course but I wish there had been direct contact between Hera and Sabine. They can do their own thing but I want them to still feel like family.

I remain unhappy with Rosario’s acting choices with Ahsoka is I am honest. She doesn’t emote enough. It’s like “serene wisdom” was a memo she got and she applies it to everything. Pretty sure I said that after her Mandalorian appearance. There’s none of the heart or humour that Ahsoka still had as an adult in Rebels. Yes she had grown and there wasn’t the sass of the Clone Wars but she still had a personality and an intensity. Rosario just looks bored most of the time.

I am not loving that faced with a battle Sanine grabs Ezra’s lightsaber rather than her Mandalorian blasters. Why not at least both? I guess there wasn’t time but it felt like a conscious choice to grab the saber. Sabine should still be allowed to be Sabine!

She got a saber through the chest!!!!!

OMG OMG. Did not see that coming. I mean a bacta tank should hopefully fix it but yikes. Good job I guess they dropped two episodes because holy cliffhanger Batman. Although I mean logically she has to be fine, we have seen her in the trailer with the short hair. Can I just say that if she’s been wearing I don’t know her ARMOR then that wouldn’t have happened. Mando battled Moff Gideon’s dark saber with a beskar spear so it makes sabers bounce a bit. Cut through eventually yeah but not like a hot knife and butter.

Right episode two!

It really doesn’t speak well to Ahsoka to basically do a passive aggressive “you have done enough” aka “this is your fault you should have stayed on the ship like I told you”. I mean that’s not entirely untrue and frustration is natural, but again I think it’s because she doesn’t emote. It comes across as a petty point score rather than an honest feeling. The Ahsoka I know and love from the animation just isn’t like that.

It is kinda cool that Ahsoka can sense echoes like Cal Kestis. Shame they don’t glow blue like in the game haha.

With the loth-cat it is a puppet like Grogu I think? And I can see his expression in the loth-cat. I guess it’s how they are constructed? It’s a bit funny though.

Finally! Hera and Sabine talk. I am on the fence about Hera’s actress. Sabine’s thought is good, I am getting a Sabine vibe (writing/story choices aside 🙄). Still getting a bad breakup exes vibe which is amusing me. Also the whole “haven’t seen her in years” is making me wish they would clarify how far past the rebellion this is. I don’t think they have? Or if they did it was a blink and miss it. I always thought the end Rebels scene was pretty much right after Endor. This feels like it’s been several years after that.

I am a bit confused about this whole two galaxies thing? I suppose that would definitely qualify as the unknown regions 🤷‍♂️ “Power like you have never dreamed” is a motivation I guess but I had read that these weren’t supposed to be Sith (hence orange blades, not red) so it doesn’t feel like it quite fits.

Screaming!!!! The Phantom 2!!!! *gasps* Chopper!!!! I did see somebody joking about why has Hera not upgraded the Separatist shuttle after all these years. I guess with the Rebellion it was very much ‘make do and mend’ and if it still flies then why bother.

Hera’s surprise at ex-Imperials working everywhere seems strange given her position as General (shouldn’t she know that?) and questioning their loyalty just doesn’t feel like a Hera question. The guy is practical in what he said about how the average citizen doesn’t care who is in charge, they just do their job. I just finished reading A New Dawn and Hera had similar views. Not everyone had the right mindset to be a Rebel and that was ok. I mean with how massive the Empire was, and how they made everyone they could serve it, people had to eat/take care of their families. Hera would understand that. It just doesn’t feel right that she would tar everyone with the disloyal brush. I mean ok that was the case, they were imperial remnants but it was a clumsy hint.

I have never really liked Jedi calling them apprentices rather than padawans as that was always a term I associated with the Sith. I do like that I felt Hera had mom vibes when she was talking to Ahsoka about Sabine. Sticking up for her kid, I approve of that. I really can’t shake the bad breakup exes vibe. It is amusing me greatly.

Rosario runs really slowly. I do not get Jedi physical enhancement at all. I don’t wish to be mean about her because I don’t want to be mean to anyone. I mean she has been cast as Ahsoka, this is who we are watching. It is annoying the feeling that she’s not doing the best job. But that’s mostly because I have an image of Ahsoka I guess and what I am seeing doesn’t match it.

I love that Hera is flying. When things are at their worst, she is at her best. The best damn pilot in the galaxy, I love that for her. I am laughing about Chopper looking through his junk drawer and just tossing stuff. The way Chopper emotes I just love it. The best droid. So much personality.

Sabine meditating and cutting her hair gave me chills in the trailer. That’s what Kanan did right before he died. That better not be foreshadowing!!

With the library I have a request in for the first Alphabet Squadron book. I think that was Hera on a mission at the shipyards? I wonder if this ties in somehow.

I know we saw it in the trailer but I do still love the redo of the Rebels scene with Ahsoka coming for Sabine at the painting. What I am not loving is that I can’t see blasters. Sabine where are your blasters? This is bugging me! If they do want to go the Jedi route why could she not keep them? Kanan carried a blaster. Ezra carried a blaster. It’s not like Jedi don’t, ugh!

Ok I have seen both episodes now. I am confused and frustrated. This whole map business… I hate it I really do. I am decidedly not thrilled at best about Sabine being a Jedi, and Ahsoka doesn’t vibe right. But oh man seeing Lothal, and the Phantom 2, and the whole shots of those Rebels scenes made live, and Azadi, the painting, Chopper!!! Hera-ish, still on the fence with how she vibes. Sabine is good. I’m not massively in love with this show but there is enough good here that I am counting down to next week.

Aaaaand I am still snickering about Sabine and Ahsoka being exes 😂 ok new headcanon for the laughs. They hooked up and they sparred because they are warriors. People saw and assumed Ahsoka was training Sabine and they must be master and apprentice, because Jedi don’t hook up. Kanan obviously did and so Hera guesses the truth which is why she was pushing so hard for them to make up. I know, I know, it mostly doesn’t pass or if it does there are power dynamics I personally wouldn’t ship unless they are joking. Ahsoka can do deadpan humour.

I can’t believe we made it two episodes and still no Ghost. I feel teased.