#retin piece

[somewhat-stressed]

CHARACTER SHEETS OF MY OCS FOR ARTFIGHT!!!

(the one in the middle is just me lolol)

aand the thumbnails! the first thumbnail doesnt have a corresponding sheet bc i already uploaded the sheet a while ago

[lucettapanchetta]

( Uncorrupted image shown below the dialogue! ) [OUTGOING REQUEST] - PRIVATE Chasing Wind, Seven Red Suns, No Significant Harassment SOURCE NODE TRACE: [[FILTER]] Source encrypted - Incoming messages unable to be traced. MESSAGE CONTENTS:

[ Hello, I have come across some information that may interest you. ] [ I already got into contact with No Significant Harassment about my attempts to check in with Looks To The Moon. ] [ So, it wouldn't be necessary to reiterate what I said to him; he must've already brought up one of my many attempts to gather info. ] [ Recently, I have infiltrated her superstructure from the south leg. The recon itself was, in a way, "successful" to say the least. ] [ Anyways, the overseer I sent in managed to partially archive the audio footage of her interior. The footage, however, didn't survive. ] [ Something melted the overseer's eye. Some sort of bright green flash burnt the retinal piece while the superstructure reached in what I call a "critical point". ] [ Luckily it managed to escape being burnt, unlike my other overseers who unfortunately are permanently glued to her vents. ] [ When it came back to my chamber, it had seen better days. Luckily, it still had the ability to embed the audio transmission to a vacant pearl. ] [ After that, the thing shattered to a dozen pieces. Poor thing. ] [ Please take a listen when you receive this, it's quite... concerning. ] [ Also, I'm not planning to go public with this unless either you or No Significant Harassment agree to do so. ] [ Hope you two take care, and please figure something out. This has "bad news" written all over it. ]

Here is that art you deserve for reading all the way through <3

[felinefractious]

hi! love your blog, i love getting to see all these cool cat colors i didnt even know were a thing LOL like i didn’t know there was such a thing as lilac or cinnamon but theyre so pretty.

ive been looking into getting a ragdoll in the future, the ones i have met have been the sweetest cats and they’re so pretty.

ive been doing research into possible health concerns they can have, and all im really seeing is the same things your typical random little guy could have when improperly cared for and things like that. kidney disease while on a bad diet, issues with hairballs when not brushed and groomed properly due to being long haired, etc. ive seen a few places say that they’re more prone to respiratory issues and heart disease, but the latter also seems to be something that breeders work to make sure their cats are safe from? at least in my research.

i guess im basically just wondering if you know anything else that can affect ragdolls specifically, or if there’s anything horribly unethical that’s totally swept under the rug or hidden about them! additional things to research and places to look would be appreciated, i never know where to research stuff like this reliably and you seem to know where to find some good info and stuff on cat breeds :)

thank you in advance for any help you can give, i hope have a good day!!

I’m glad you enjoy the blog and are learning about some new colors!

Ragdolls are definitely cool cats and they’re a pretty health breed, one of the major things to be mindful of is that this assessment only applies to well-bred individuals from good breeders.

Common breeds mean a lot of breeders which, unfortunately, also means a lot of scammers and bad breeders.

And the Ragdoll is a very common breed so there are a lot of not so good breeders out there… and the temperament and health of these backyard bred cats is a gamble, one that can end in heartbreak.

Now with that warning out of the way the big thing to worry about with the breed is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Fortunately the mutation responsible for this condition in the breed has been identified and can be tested for. Staying on top of heart health is an absolute must for a good breeder, this means regular echocardiogram’s as well as DNA testing.

The other big ones are Polycystic Kidney Disease and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, both of which can be tested for. These are common inherited disorders in the purebred population, you’ll have a hard time finding a breed which neither of these have been documented in.

Mucopolysaccharidosis VI is a storage disease that has been documented in the Ragdoll breed but it can be tested for and I’m not sure how common it is in current breeding populations.

A breeder shouldn’t cut corners when it comes to health testing, there are several commercially available tests which look for a wide variety of inherited disorders. Optimal Selection is becoming increasingly widely used, although personally I would feel most comfortable with testing submitted through somewhere like UC Davis.

But HCM is the big big one because heart disease is a silent killer. With the other conditions clinical symptoms will be apparent but a cat with HCM could appear normal and you wouldn’t know without testing. And remember - not all cardiac cases will have a heart murmur, either!

The other thing to keep in mind with Ragdolls is they seem to be more prone to developing Feline Infectious Peritonitis. This one is a little more complicated.

FIP occurs due to mutations in the feline coronavirus, which is a common viral infection in cats. Until recently FIP was considered nearly 100% fatal but thanks to Dr. Niels Pederson we now have a promising cure. One of our patients was actually one of the original study cats and has been doing well all this time, she’s amazing to work with - like a piece of living history!

One of the big problems with the treatment is the legality of it… for a long time it was only available through the black market and could easily run you thousands of dollars. Treatment is gradually becoming available through legal venues but it depends on where you live.

Anyways, the point is that we don’t know exactly why these mutations occur in some cats and not others but there’s strong evidence that there’s a genetic component - it’s common for related cats to develop FIP, we’ve seen this multiple times with littermates. We also know that it occurs at a higher incidence in some breeds than others…

And presumably your kitten wouldn’t have been exposed to feline coronavirus at the cattery but it’s not unlikely that they would be exposed at some point in their life given they don’t reside in a bubble… and if or when this happens what are the chances it’ll become the dreaded FIP?

So mitigating this risk when purchasing from a breeder can be a little more complicated… it’s not something I think should turn you off of the breed but it is something to keep in mind - and if you look into a breeder that seems good but has a lot of reviews or reports of their graduate kittens and cats developing FIP? Probably best to keep looking.

I think that’s a pretty good summary on the breed’s health but people are always welcome to chime in!

[monsterfloofs]

Carroigne (Bird creature / plague doctor creature) He/They/It x Anonymous Reader (Sfw)

( An scp inspired story, I luff plague doctor creatures and took a stab at making one of my own! I hope you enjoy! :3c Tis Floofy writing hours again wheeeeee💖)

Your job had begun easy enough. Working as a janitor in a top secret facility. With a keyring of important items that consisted of your ID badge and multiple personnel keycards. Accessing just about any level required your ID, a keycard, a number of passwords, a retinal scan, and sometimes even a list of security questions to get into certain spaces. Within your time working for said non-disclosed facility, you have signed a folders worth of waivers, and disclaimers. Many personnel lived within the building while they weren’t on vacation and you were no exception. Your little home away from home space held folders bursting full of paperwork.

That was just from working a small janitorial job. You couldn’t imagine what kind of work loads the clinical lab coat wearing scientists had to deal with on a daily basis. Many things were kept on a need to know basis, and you were the last to know about a lot of things. Still, that didn’t exactly deter you from this job. The money and the roof over your head was convincing enough to have you keep updating the necessary forms you needed to have to stay at the facility.

You took your mop and cart of supplies past heavy steel doors with windows that looked in on an assortment of inhuman beings. The hallway's bright sterile lighting hurt your eyes when first entering the “dorms”. A few of the menagerie of creatures would press their faces against the glass, jaws working in an attempt to say something to you past the barrier.

"It's no place for sympathy," You had been briefed, "Many of these monsters would happily take the opportunity to tear you limb from limb."

You would recite those words in your head as you walked by the rows of containment units.

Yet as you look back now, that was the first mistake you ended up making.

Engaging.

Past the slithering forest of tendrils, gleaming eyes in shadowy corners, and aquatic creatures that floated suspended in the water, among them sat a humanoid shape at a simple table and chair. Something both strange yet familiar that sat out of place.

It was like looking at a Halloween decoration, an animatronic that sat amongst all the other oddities. It could have almost been laughable, back then. Like a prank someone had set up in the room and left for the other workers to stumble upon. The being was swathed in dark clothes, with black leather gloves, a victorian cloak, dark pants down to the knee-high boots with silver buckles. The outfit gave no hint at the skin underneath, even its face was adorned with a mask that obscured their visage. The mask itself resembles a plague doctor’s, with the long pointed beak, and dark glass where the eyes would be. The material was hard and better quality, than what you would find compared to the halloween costumes that mimicked the look. Black leather, with neat stitches that ran around the entirety of the mask. Metal rims inlaid around the round glass lenses.

You had stopped, to peer at the figure inside the room. It had sat so still, like a life sized doll. You were just about to move on, before one gloved hand raised up in a silent wave.

You had stood transfixed on the spot, eyebrows knitting together. You tilted your head, and the being on the other side of the glass mimicked you. The beaked mask resembled more and more like a wide glossy eyed bird. You shuddered, and backed away.

After that one day, whenever you traversed that corridor you could feel eyes watching you intently as you passed. Many times you couldn't help but to turn your head. Though you already knew who it was, typically they sat upon a chair. Hands clasped over a crossed knee. On one occasion you had jumped nearly out of your skin. Seeing the beaked figure inches away from the glass, a piece of paper pressed against the wall with its fingers.

"I have not seen you here before, are you new?" The letters scrawled in a spidery cursive. You felt chills creep up and down your spine, you looked around the deserted passageway, before giving a brief nod. With a flourish of their hand, they produced a fountain pen from their breast pocket. However, whatever spell that had kept you in place was dissolving. You had moved on while they had begun to write something. Taking nervous glances around you as you had sheepishly gone about your business.

The facility had many rules and regulations about the different creatures and anomalies that lay housed inside. After your shift you had sat cross-legged on your bed, flipping through the files you had the authorization to see. Chewing on your bottom lip as you ran your fingers through a thick stack of papers again and again.

Nothing.

There wasn’t any information on the so-called plague doctor. You could only guess that this particular being wasn’t one that was accessible for cleaning personnel. You unceremoniously dropped the stack of papers to the floor. Laying back in the small bed that took up half your living quarters.

You turned this way and that, laying with your hands clasped over your stomach, your eyes trained on the ceiling. This knowledge did very little to clear your conscience. While this being wasn’t one that you were briefed on, that didn’t indicate that they weren’t a threat. Your mind was an ocean of twisting thoughts, you had previously heard accounts of people spiraling into insanity just by hearing some of these strange creatures speak. Your knuckles balling into uneasy fists as you gripped your blanket.

Sleep was uneasy, with many rounds of jolting awake between dreaming. By morning you were exhausted, slumping forward out of bed to head out to the mess hall.

You were greeted by the sight of a bustling space. The clamorous cacophony of voices that were making small talk during breakfast making your head spin. It felt as though you were still dreaming. Grabbing a cup of coffee and a try, wading through the line until you found a seat.

“Unit 1779336 of the Janitorial department?”

You raised your head groggily, close to dozing only moments before, yet you stiffened to sit up straighter. Your eyes falling to the badges of a military uniform.

“Sir?”

“Hate to take you away from your breakfast so early in the morning, but you and I have some things that need to be discussed.”

You feel your chest tighten as you move to stand. The man in front of you stood with his hands clasped behind his back. A stocky man with a neat salt and pepper beard, and piercing green eyes.

You could feel curious gazes directed at you as you walked. You Hunched your shoulders defensively as you trailed behind the uniformed man. You were led down a series of corridors into a large circular office. The man’s wide shoulders slopped as he let out a heavy sigh. He settled down at his desk and tapped a folder on the polished table top.

“You’ve been requested for a promotion.” He said grimly. “This isn't a standard issue. . . but this is a special case.”

You nodded, as a weighty silence hung in the air. He took off his hat, running a hand through his slick backed hair.

“How much do you know about Caroigne?”

“P-pardon?” You inquired, the man’s expression turning stormy as his eyebrows wrinkled his brow.

“Caroigne, the so called “in-house doctor” as it likes to call itself,” He growls “That bastard seems to know an awful lot about you.”

“But I— Sir, I’ve never spoken to—“

His green eyes flashed, and your voice died in your throat. He pauses to take a tempering breath through his nose. Then he pushes the manilla folder towards you across the desk. You glance from him to the manilla, before nervously flipping it open.

In that same spidery hand, that you remember seeing on a scrap of paper, was written your full name. The one you had been sworn to relinquish while you were inside the facility, your age, your job, and a short synopsis of your medical records. There was a smaller footnote underneath the scrawl.

“This subject would be an ideal companion for me while I am enjoying my stay at your facilities.”

“Subject,” You mouth faintly, before staring up at the man, “Y-you’re j-joking. . . r-right?”

He crosses his arms, glowering at you, “Caroigne has refused to speak with all scientists and attendants. If they are willing to speak with you, then it’s a risk we’re willing to take. I will get you the necessary papers you need to have, and you will start in two days.”

Fragility hit you like a freight train, how easily replaceable you were if things were to go sour. The feeling of having the air punched from your lungs continued after you had taken your new briefing papers. The last words of wisdom he had threatened in a grave timber.

“Whatever you do, don’t talk about illnesses in front of it, don’t let it know there is anyone sick, or if you yourself feel ill. Not unless you want to be the new cadaver we have to drag from its room.”

You sat curled into a corner of your bedroom. Legs tucked into your chest as you stared numbly into space.

Those two days were days where you barely left your room. They were spent between reading over your assigned documents and sleeping. The times you did leave your dorm room, there were guards stationed outside of your door to discourage any plans of leaving. You had broken down and cried in the bathroom on that last night, the sleeve of your shirt between your teeth to muffle your sobs.

You stood between two soldiers carrying assault rifles. Your eyes blinked painfully from the tears you hadn’t been able to stop. Head pounding with an ache as you were led into an interrogation room. You entered alone, finding doctor Caroigne already sitting across the table.

“Well hello there~ How delightful that you and I finally get a chance to spea— Oh, oh dear you aren’t looking very well at all.”

You blink at the blurry figure in front of you. Compared to the other people you had encountered the past few days, this was a voice that was filled with what sounded like genuine worry. You swallowed hard, eyes turning to look at the papers in front of you, shuffling them nervously.

“I-I’m fine.” You breathed, “You are. . .”

“Doctor Caroigne dear, but you may just call me Caroigne. And I suppose you’ll want to know my pronouns, that is the new rage nowadays.” they chuckle benignly, “I don’t think I have ever had the pleasure of having any, many scientists in this facility call me a ‘he’ in any case. I truly don’t mind what you choose, but it’s best not to upset the other doctors in this facility. Between you and me, they are dreadfully foul tempered.”

A weak smile graces your lips before it disappears. “You seem to know your way around the staff.”

Caroigne folds their fingers together, tapping his thumbs against each other.

“You could consider me to be somewhat of a flexible individual. One does not simply settle into their surroundings without some difficulty. However, I am proud to say that I have managed quite well.”

You paused, frowning at the papers in your hands, you were going to have to be more direct with these questions. After a moment of hesitation you finally relented, “How. . . did you get my information?”

“Ah, I am assuming ‘they’ would like to know?”

Your eyes slowly moved from your papers to watch them.

Caroigne bobs their masked head in the direction of the dark one way viewing windows.

“I. . . I would also like to know.” You mused softly.

“Hm. . . “ A pause before they give a tsking noise, a tone between amusement and disappointment. “I can’t be giving away all my secrets.”

Your eyebrows furrow, “But,” He says, raising a finger, “I might be able to part with a few of them, for a small price, a token, if you will.”

“And that price would be. . .”

“Oh nothing taxing,” Caroigne huffs, “This,” He spreads his arms, “Is all that I require. It’s been so long since I have talked to someone. Truly talked to someone. Tis a breath of fresh air. As a beast of science myself, I do not mind the others, but all they want to do is batter me with questions, questions, questions. It is that, or I dare say isolation.”

You bobbed you head wordlessly, as the doctor took a breath and continued.

“Furthermore, I liked the look about you, curious, inquisitive, I like that.” They chuckle warmly, “I have a bit of a nose myself~” They joked as they tapped at the mask's beaked visage.

The first meeting was odd. The doctor was well mannered if not very chatty. They asked many questions about yourself, where you had grown up, your childhood. You spent a great deal of time stepping around its questions and asking ones of your own. It had felt stiff with politeness at first, but it had become more natural the longer you talked.

When you had been finally taken and led away, Caroigne impressed just how lovely it had been to chat. Wishing you well, and eager to speak again. Back in your room, you looked back at his case folder, picking up the single photo that was in your file. It was a picture of Caroigne hovering over a mutilated corpse and holding a pen and clipboard. Blood smattering the walls and floor, as the guard had tried to defend themselves. You shuddered, placing the photo back into the folder, the image facing down. It was proof to remember, that no matter how kindly this being seemed, they were dangerous.

You had to be careful.

And you were! For a time. It fell into a routine, a weekly dance the two of you had. You asked him questions and he asked you things as well. You talked about your work, and the folks you missed at home. Somewhere along the way, you could notice yourself changing, the way you talked to them. Less sterilely polite, and more heart. You would laugh at the jokes they had tossed your way, and you spoke more sincerity than you had expected.

Then one day, you messed up.

You hadn’t felt well that day. The beginning of a headache pulsed across your forehead. You settled down at the other side of the table. Cariogne had leaned forward, “And how are you my dear?”

It was just a simple slip up, an off-handed comment. One derived from familiarity and not caution.

“Oh, I’m doing alright, I just have a little bit of a headache.”

You could feel the room go deathly still, “A. . . headache you say?” The calm voice drifted behind the mask. The room fell into pin drop silence as you realized the mistake you just made. Then began a tapping, a sudden drumming of the doctors fingers against the table of the interrogation room. They sat unmoving except for those fingers. The rhythmic tone was the only thing that showed a sudden change in their mood. An almost strained kind of excitement, like a cat ready to pounce.

“What. . . kind of headache, tension? An oncoming migraine, perhaps?” Their voice was casual, off-handed even. But your eyes were transfixed on the four fingers of his right hand.

“T-tension,” You replied, flinching as your voice cracked. You could already feel your pulse begin to quicken as gooseflesh began to creep up your arms. With all the briefing you had done, and reading his file countless times. Going over the information just before you left for these visits, the simplest most easiest rule to remember.

“Ah.” His hand froze, before his hands steepled themselves together.

“I see,”

You nodded your head jerkily, looking away, your eyes scanned the sealed room.

“I see, I see,” He muses, his voice sounding much closer than before. “Our little visits must put a strain on you, I hadn’t realized that.”

You hadn’t seen him get up, and they had moved across the table to stand across from in a blink of an eye. You hadn’t even had a chance to pull away. He leaned down, almost hovering on top of you.

“I wish to impress this upon you, little fledgling, you truly have nothing to worry about.”

The gloved hand touches your chin, raising your head up to stare back at the mask.

You begin to blink back tears as you watch little dots of laser light blink all over his form.

He turns his head, not aware of the sudden change of atmosphere, examining your face until there is a bark from one of the guards behind you.

“Release them Carriogne, and we won’t have to use force,”

He turns his attention away from you finally, “. . . That is quite rude.” The doctor scoffed, “I had known there was someone listening in to our chats. Haven’t you chaps heard of privacy?” He retracts his hand and you can breathe again. Taking the distraction to push out your chair, hastily stepping backward until you reach the threshold. The guards in their heavily armored uniforms push past you to get a clearer aim.

“He’s out of his cuffs again,” One of the soldiers shouted back to the main guard.

“Well, of course I am,” The doctor quipped cheerfully, “I told you they don’t work. I don’t know why you keep trying to use them.”

“That’s enough humor for one day doctor,” Another of the security personnel grunted, tension coloring his voice, “Make a note that the silver handcuffs have no effect, we’ll have to try a different pair next time.”

“Alright, alright, I’m going, no need to cause a fuss.” The doctor huffs, his calm voice sounded only mildly harassed, due to the circumstances. He is jostled out of the interrogation room at gunpoint. He turns his head towards you, sounding apologetic.

“I’m so sorry my dear, for this abrupt change of plans. I also apologize for these men, the lot of them could do with a lesson in manners. . . I would see to it myself but I don’t suppose that would do me personally any favors. I shall see you anon, next week at the latest. If they allow me.”

You don’t respond, but rather watch him being led away. Your heart hammering in your throat, and only finding the energy to sob until you fell into a crumpled heap on your bed. You weren’t sure how close of a shave that could have been.

Due to the events of the last appointment, you were briefly taken off of doctor Caroigne’s appointed meetings. However, word leaked through the grapevine that the doctor hadn’t taken the news well. The whole right wing of the facility had gone on a code red lockdown as they had muscled his way past a squad of guards, sending one of them to the hospital with shattered ribs.

There were about three weeks of bated breath after the lockdown, when things were quiet and you hadn’t heard word of any one being reassigned to Caroigne. Then an envelope had been thrust into the small mail slot in your door, and your heart sank.

You had gone from being a nobody, happy to clean and do janitorial tasks. Avoiding high risk jobs, to now being an imperative piece in dealing with a high risk entity.

Bright lights beating down from above as you were acutely aware of your footsteps. Your breath sounded loud and unnatural in your ears. When the room came into view you saw Carroigne, no simple handcuffs with time, but a full body straight jacket, mingled with heavy metal chains that were also wrapped across their form.

“Y-y-you’ve been a bad birdie,” Your voice shook slightly as you whispered the words, sitting down at the table.

Caroigne’s chains shifted around them as they gave a bemused shrug, “Why, I would contest to this, but I fear, perhaps you are alright. Is the chap in the hospital doing alright? I could take a look at him,”

You shook your head, “He is alright, he is being looked after.”

“Hm.”

“. . . How can you be so calm about this?”

“Should I not be?” The strange masked face tilts, “Perhaps I also should not overlook the fact that I am held here against my will.”

You feel your expression falling. “I. . . I don’t think I can do this, I’m s-sorry.” You had begun to get up, signaling to the guards that you wanted to conclude the session.

“Wait— Mon cher-“

Caroigne must have moved too quickly for the guards' liking. As the door opened and two guards stepped inside the space weapons raised.

You glance back before your eyes go wide. An inhuman noise comes from behind you. You are roughly pushed behind the guards. You let out a strained noise as a clawed hand shoots forward, a wrenching of strained metal and tearing fabric. The hand itself was scaly and ribbed like a birds, past that the skin was dark with veiny irregular skin. Keloid bumps are peppered up the arm and a small smattering of feathers like a molting bird.

“Stop, stop, STOP!” You realize you were the one screaming, voice high and frantic trying to push past the guards. As they opened fire upon Carriogne, his stance hunkering down to shed the cloth to ribbons and toss it aside. The next moment you were alone, the two guards in the room and the others that were trying to rush inside, had been knocked over like a set of bowling pins. You reacted by freezing, covering your face with your hands as a shadow looms over you.

You could hear more inhuman noises above you, a clicking sound making your ears ring. You let out a shuddering breath of air, keeping your hands pressed tightly to your face. Like the mentality of a child afraid of what lurked in the dark, if I don’t look, it can’t see me or can’t hurt me.

The softness of a glove caressed your cheek. Your knees buckling as you are coaxed against a velvety form.

Worker Update

Worker ID Number: 1779336

Previous Position: Janitor

New Position as of September 8th 2021: Interrogatee of entity 275

Status: Employee Terminated

Reason: Unknown Disappearance

-

!: Emergency Update as of August 6th 2023

Disappearance of entity 275, site wide lock down initiated.

Entity was last seen with employee 1779336, recovery of both Entity 275 and 1779336 is in progress. Any sightings of either should be immediately reported to C. Ivan Willowicke, head of security.

[scotianostra]

On June 27th 1967 the first cash dispenser was opened by Barclay’s Bank in Enfield by actor Reg Varney.

The idea of an automatic money dispensing machine had been mooted and tried without success in the early 60's but it wasn't until Scotsmen John Shepherd-Barron and James Goodfellow successfully designed the "cash machine" and Personal Identification Number (PIN) technology which is still used over 50 years later.

Goodfellow lodged his patent in May 1966, more than a year before the first cash machine was ceremonially opened in a blaze of publicity. A machine was developed by John Shepherd-Barron, who was born in India, to Scottish parents, and lived much of his later life in Portmahomack in Ross-shire.

Shepherd-Barron's ATM beat Goodfellow's machines, which were installed at branches of Westminster Bank (later to become NatWest), by just a month.

So Shepherd-Barron became known as the "man who invented the cash machine" and not Goodfellow, the man who patented the system we use today.

Shepherd-Barron says he was inspired by chocolate vending machines, he stated "It struck me there must be a way I could get my own money, anywhere in the world or the UK. I hit upon the idea of a chocolate bar dispenser, but replacing chocolate with cash.

The two devices were very different.

Shepherd-Barron's did not use plastic cards, instead it used cheques that were impregnated with carbon 14, a mildly radioactive substance.

The machine detected it, then matched the cheque against a Pin number.

Shepherd-Barron worked for banknote manufacturer De La Rue, which never patented its machine.

Before he died in 2010, he told a documentary that he didn't patent the idea because he did not want fraudsters knowing how the system worked.

He also said that the chief executive of Barclays had been quick to say yes to the idea when they had discussed it after a couple of Martinis.

Shepherd-Barron then had to go back to his team and get them to develop his idea.

In recent years, his claim to have been the real inventor of the cash machine has been recognised more widely.

Mr Goodfellow now does not like to talk about the years in which Mr Shepherd-Barron got all the credit but in a 2009 BBC documentary he said it "really does raise my blood pressure".

The engineer, from Paisley, told BBC Scotland: "My patent was licensed by all the manufacturers. They thought that was the way to go.

"The race to get it on to the street was not as important.

"Getting it right was the answer, not getting it first."

Mr Goodfellow was working as development engineer for Glasgow firm Kelvin Hughes in the mid-1960s when he got involved in a project to design a machine that could dispense money to customers when banks were closed.

He said in an interview that the driving force for the move was unions putting pressure on banks to close on Saturday mornings.

He said most people worked during the week and could not get to the bank, which closed at 3pm on weekdays.

Many people went to the bank on Saturday mornings but the unions were pressing for staff to work a five-day week.

The banks wanted a way to give working people access to their money when they were closed. Goodfellow said "The problem with cash machines was access.

"How would a genuine customer, and only a genuine customer, get money out of it?"

They considered biometrics - fingerprints, voice prints or retinal scans.

"But in the 60s the technology to do this was not there, it was impossible,"

So the next approach was an "exotic token", a piece of paper or plastic with "uncommon characteristics" that a machine would recognise.

His "eureka moment" came when he hit upon the idea of the Personal Identification Number (PIN).

This was the vital security measure that would make the system work, the number would be known to the customer and the bank and could be related to the card but not read by anyone else.

Goodfellow's invention was patented in May 1966, more than a year before his rival unveiled the first ATM in London.

But he still had a battle to make his concept reality.

"We had to meet some of the banks demands which were pretty severe," he said.

"They had a million customers and they wanted 2,000 machines across the UK.

"They wanted any one of the one million customers to be able to access any one of the 2,000 machines.

"You've got to remember there was no IT network in those days. The banks had no IT equipment. The bank's branches had nothing.

"We spent a lot of time developing the code. We had to submit something like 1,000 of these cards to a consultant, who would try to decipher it."

The cards he used were one quarter of a "Hollerith" punch-card, which just happens to be the same size as today's credit card. It contains just 30 bytes of data.

His patent for the card and Pin ATM was licensed for millions but Mr Goodfellow, as a humble technician, did not own the rights and did not get rich from his invention.

He said he signed patents for 15 countries around the world and got a dollar for each - worth about £10.

Mr Goodfellow left the firm in 1967 when it moved its operations to England and he went to work for IBM.

There have been arguments for years over who should officially go down in history as "the inventor of the ATM".

In 2005, Mr Shepherd-Barron received an OBE in the New Year honours list for services to banking as the "inventor of the automatic cash dispenser".

However, since then Mr Goodfellow, the man who patented the invention, has regained his place.

In 2006 Mr Goodfellow received an OBE for services to banking as "patentor of the personal identification number".

He has also been placed in the Scottish engineering hall of fame alongside John Logie Baird, the inventor of the television.

According to the ATM Industry Association (ATMIA), as of 2015, there were close to 3.5 million ATMs installed worldwide. However, the use of ATMs is gradually declining with the increase in cashless payment systems.

[thatonebirdwrites]

I sort of miss painting, but I can't say I was particularly good at it. This was one of my better pieces. This is a scene from Elivera, the setting for all of my original fiction. Yes, I specifically created Elivera to be a retinal world, because I really wanted violet plants. Also, yes, I did calculate exactly what type of sun would be best, where in the orbit Elivera would need to be to be habitable -- all so I could get violet plants. What else am I going to use my physics degree for? Actual physics? Ppppfffft. *waves hand dismissively* I'm too busy calculating how to make alien planets violet and be scientifically sound. (Also, being disabled makes it very difficult to get a job in the physics sector, but heh, whatever.)

If you also want to calculate all the parameters for your star and planet to be scientifically accurate, I made a spreadsheet for all your nerdery! (I really need to find a new home since I don't like googledrive, but that's where it's located currently.) I have instructions for how to choose which parameters, so the equations calculate the results you'll need. Because I'm a dork like that. (Nerd? Whatever). Anyway, if you wanna read more about Elivera, here's the World Anvil: Elivera. Anyway, I know this blog has mostly been about my fanfiction writings, but I do have original fiction! So this post is about that.

Also, one of my short stories, set on Elivera and features jet packs and bicycles and kilometer high trees, will debut later this year. See here for a copy of that anthology!

Feel free to ask me questions about my worldbuilding and so forth. :)

[streetkid-named-desire]

Who else would ever stay?

In the Writers of Night City server we're doing weekly writing challenges based around songs from our various OC playlists. The first one was Marked for Death by Emma Ruth Rundle. (743 words, it's short so not linking just under the cut if you wanna read it)

<You're not doing this alone, V. Yeah, I wanted to be in my own body or at peace. But knowing I wasn't killing you anymore?> V swallowed hard and looked across at Johnny. <I don't wanna kill you again.>

"I'll give you a moment alone, V. Please, read it," Dr. Yamamoto squeezed V's shoulder once, an attempt at reassurance, before gently closing the office door behind him. V rolled the small shard across his knuckles. He didn't have the courage to slot it in.

<It's my fate too.> Johnny flickered into the chair across from V and kicked his feet up on the desk, stacks of paper files phasing through his body.

V let the shard rest on his thumb knuckle and looked down at it. The red and black piece of plastic held the whole world for V, his future, his happiness, his fate. Johnny's fate.

He had started getting Relic attacks again. He was able to ignore them and hide them from Bea. Until she woke up and he was half off the bed, unconscious, dried blood from his nose and mouth caked on his face and the floor. One hand outstretched like he was crawling, clawing at something.

<You're not doing this alone, V. Yeah, I wanted to be in my own body or at peace. But knowing I wasn't killing you anymore?>

V swallowed hard and looked across at Johnny.

<I don't wanna kill you again.>

V slotted in the shard and read the report that displayed on his retinal field.

And Johnny disappeared.

The waiting room was empty except for a receptionist typing away at a terminal and the woman he'd kill for, die for, and live for. Bea was bouncing her leg up and down, a nervous habit she picked up from V. She was the one that called Dr. Yamamoto and she was the one that convinced him to come back to his clinic. Her face brightened into a false optimism when she saw him walking towards her. They'd both been close to death before, but the way she looked down at him from the cold shower, both fully clothed, slapping his face to wake him up. The cold water masked the tears, but it didn't hide the puffiness around her eyes or the red across her nose and cheeks.

She stood up, but he motioned for her to sit back down. He crouched down in front of her at first before the weight of it all crashed into him and he sat on the floor and put his head in her lap. He wrapped his arms around her legs and she stroked his hair.

"My metabolism can't keep up with what amounts to both of our brains in one," V started.

Bea placed her other hand on his shoulder and continued stroking his hair back. Her nails lightly scratched his scalp as he liked, but his body couldn't muster the chemicals of comfort and pleasure that triggered goosebumps in response.

"I have to choose," V said and Bea's breath hitched.

"The doc can try to re-route it, make it eat Johnny's more than my own, but you remember what he said. They're all so packed in, ain't no brain surgery advanced enough to precisely…" he trailed off.

Johnny flickered to life in the chair next to Bea and rest his head on her shoulder. V looked up at him, realizing how soaked her pants were from his tears.

"Or we see how it plays out. Roll the dice and see whose neurons fry the most."

"Look at me," Bea said.

V got on his knees and she cradled his face in both of her hands. She wiped the tears from his cheeks with her thumbs. "What does he want?"

V looked over at Johnny. <Your call. I said it from the beginning, I don't want you to die.>

"Would you be upset if I said I wanted to roll the dice?" V's lower lip quivered.

Bea shook her head, "I'm here to the end, Eitan."

V's shoulders shook as he choked back a sob hearing his Hebrew name.

Bea held his hand as they checked out at the reception desk. A cold metal hand slithered its way into his empty one. V looked over at Johnny who gave a reassuring squeeze.

<Wanna bet on who wins?> Johnny flashed a grin, genuine mischief back in his eyes, and V hadn't felt more sure of a decision since he fell in love with Bea. Because he realized he loved Johnny, too. Never in a romantic sense, but something deeper, deeper than his love for Bea.

<Brothers in arms, V.>

V, Johnny, <and Bea>, against the world.

[tyler-t0t]

Here's chapter 1 of a researcher x subject story I came up with. This will be a bit of a slow burn and warnings will be posted for each update

Aegis

Chapter 1: Promotion

It's my first day since I got promoted from data control to actual researcher technician, and if I'm being honest, I can't tell if fear or excitement is winning. In data control, we just organized the researchers’ notes and pulled out files when they were called up. Now that I'm a research tech, I get to work directly with all the bizarre creatures and entities in our facility.

When I first accepted the data control job, my friends and family were all too eager to learn more about the mysterious organization I'd work for. I simply told them it was like a real life SCP foundation. I wasn't lying, but none of them took me seriously. Especially since I'm not allowed to share any details without compromising the confidentiality of the organization.

I now stand at the main entry gate to AEGIS, the world's maximum security prison and research institute for supernatural or otherworldly entities. I walk to the large tungsten door and complete the 5 step security code processing unit, which consists of a retinal, audial, and palm scan, on top of a 16 digit personal access code. Once inside the building, I'm given my Oculus. The Oculus is a specially designed eye piece that allows me to detect what is real and what may be being manipulated by one of the entities in the facility.

As soon as my Oculus is secured and synced, I navigate my way to the Director of Entity Research. When I enter his office, I see piles of strewn paperwork and files stacked haphazardly on any surface available. I then take note of the manl sat at a half covered cedar desk, dressed in khakis, a well fit baby blue dress shirt and a labcoat. The D.E.R. is a tall, sturdily built man, I'd guess in his early 50s, named Maxwell Shein. He's muscular, but still has some of the pudge typical of a middle aged man.

“Good morning Mr. Shein. My name is Alexia Wolfe. I was just transferred from Data Control.”

He immediately lowers the lid of his laptop and greets me with a bright grin.

“Good morning Miss Wolfe. It's a pleasure to have you in our research department. I see that before you joined the AEGIS you had worked for an animal rehabilitation clinic in the Rockies, is that correct?”

“Yes, sir. I was responsible for daily feedings and veterinary check ups.”

“Splendid. That type of background is precisely why I wanted you. I'd like to have you working with the entities in sector 6. These creatures are our more earth-like entities and for the most part are more cooperative. Although, I must warn you about a certain few that you'll want to be cautious of. Entities 41, 63, and 005 are particular menaces. “

“ In what way, sir?”

“Each entity's abilities and tendencies are recorded in their briefing file, which will be waiting for you at the security checkpoint.”

@volchistavalkyrie

[a-kind-of-merry-war]

🔪

(for the. For the writer questions. I'm not threatening you. I think.)

OH NO A DAGGER!!

(@little-piece-of-tamlin also asked this!)

🔪 ⇢ what's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

So I suspect at the moment it's probably the deep-dive into medieval strap-ons I did a few weeks ago, which was definitely unusual but isn't going to get me on any weird lists. I also did some digging recently into TBIs and retinal detachment, which was fun 👀

I think the stuff that would make a Normal Person most concerned would probably be my ongoing research into Ye Olde Lubes, not because that's a weird thing to write about but because if anyone didn't know I was doing research and not like - using them myself - they would be Deeply Concerned for my health.

[Ask me a writer question!]

[dykeyuu]

i agree that your living essence is present in every cell. but i don't think we can say consciousness is only a series of electrical and biochemical signals. what we can say is that electrical and biochemical signals have a causal relationship with consciousness. but we don't yet know the exact shape of that causal relationship.

is your consciousness different from mine? of course, our bodies and cells are different. do we each produce two distinct separate consciousnesses? or is the same consciousness interacting in a causal relationship with both of our bodies?

electrical and biochemical signals happen at a scale that we can easily study. but what about the quantum scale? what's going on in our body at the quantum scale?

i think you may have misunderstood me, which is probably more my failure to communicate than yours, when i said i feel as though my consciousness is present in every cell. i feel that way because i don’t believe the consciousness is anything more than a network of signaling pathways being constantly stimulated and regulated. every cell in my body is “conscious” in that it’s constantly receiving input and making minute adjustments based on cellular/organismal context— i eat a cookie, which increases my blood sugar, which activates a transporter protein on the surface of β-cells in the pancreas and causes glucose to be taken into a cell (one cell, for the sake of simplicity), which stimulates glycolysis and therefore ATP production in the cell; the increase in ATP closes ATP-gated potassium channels, which traps potassium ions inside the cell, which causes the cell to depolarize, which opens calcium channels and lets calcium into the cell, which causes the exocytosis of insulin-containing vesicles and the release of insulin into the blood. my cells recognize a stimulus and, through a series of electrical and biochemical signals, produce a response. my blood sugar goes up, my pancreas senses this and secretes a hormone that’ll take my blood sugar back down. all five of your senses function on signaling pathways— the key signaling event that allows you to see, bizarrely enough, is the light-induced isomerization of retinal from cis to trans. the retinal is bound to an opsin protein, and in the trans configuration, retinal exposes a binding site that cis-retinal had been covering up. once that binding site is open, transducin binds and a whole series of chemical and electrical events ensue that eventually result in the nerve impulses that your brain uses to piece together an image based on the way the world around you is reflecting or emitting light (and it’s not actually eventually— this all happens in less than a second). your growth and development, from the moment of conception to the moment you cease to exist entirely, are facilitated by signaling pathways and if i started listing those off i’d never stop. your memories and personality and identity are stored in the connections between particular neurons in your brain— calcium is essential to learning and memory because it activates calmodulin, which activates CaM kinase II, which, in its active form, activates more of itself independent of calcium/calmodulin. through this mechanism, a transient calcium signal is turned into a constitutively active CaMKII signal. CaMKII is a structural protein, and more importantly a master regulator within the synapses, and it has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that CaMKII is necessary for synaptic plasticity, learning and memory— even something as intangible as memory is rooted in biochemistry. the brain is ridiculously complex, and the body’s system of communication with itself is just as ridiculously complex, and what we know is barely a drop in the sea. given all that, is it really so hard to believe that our entire consciousnesses, everything people like to classify as the “soul”, could be products of our highly individual and specific cellular contexts— our genetics, our epigenetics, our environments, even our memories— interfacing with a cell signaling system that’s been evolving for billions of years?

i’d leave it there for the punchy ending but i do actually have somewhere i’m going with all this. in my mind, it makes far more sense to believe that every aspect of my being is rooted in material reality than to believe that there’s some ephemeral “life force” or “soul”, some essential piece of me that is somehow a separate entity residing within my body. the comfort i would gain from believing i have a soul that transcends my body would be overpowered by the discomfort i’d feel at not understanding the scientific basis of my belief. i find much more comfort in believing that i am a highly complex organism and that everything that makes me unique, everything that makes me a person, all of my love and curiosity and determination and thirst for knowledge, is rooted in material reality. it’s all tangible (or at the very least, theoretically detectable). that’s very powerful to me.

i’m not gonna speak on the quantum thing because all of my quantum physics knowledge comes from chemistry classes and i could barely pass general physics so i’m definitely not qualified for that discussion (unless we’re talking about orbitals i’m pretty decent with orbitals lmaoo). i’ve got no fucking clue what happens in the body on a quantum level. my academic disinclination towards physics tells me that it’s not my business what happens in the body on a quantum level, but truthfully i’m very interested in the answer because i like to understand the way things work on every possible level (hence the chemistry degree in progress).

one final note: i’m high as shit and i have just spent the last 5+ hours smoking, listening to the same song on loop, and alternating between answering this ask and reading the wikipedia for cauchy sequences (and several other related wikipedia pages— the devil is on my shoulder telling me to take real analysis even though i know i’d hate it). do with that information what you will.

[somewhat-stressed]

pixel doodle dump

(i figured out how resize pixel art to look crisp so heres just a completion of those)

[luke-shywalker]

i’m slowly going blind in my right eye

my retina, the little projector screen that lines the back of the inside of my eyeball, lifted away a little bit and now I can’t see my husband’s face when I wink!

who would think??

at the specialist they asked if I was there for my mom because young people don’t usually need their retinas checked

did i have any head trauma?? no! never!! just the other kind

tryna figure out when i can schedule the surgery because i’m doing a musical until october and a strongman competition before november but i gotta get it done or i won’t be able to draw ben solo anymore!!!

we thought the blind spot in my eye was just a migraine. but now it’s just a headache. i’ve never had surgery before omg??? not unless wisdom teeth removal counts. they’re gonna put a silicone band around my eye to squish my eyeball so that the retina is against the back of my eye again! whoa

a brace for my eye!

but we should’ve caught this sooner so we don’t know if i’ll ever see right out of my right eye

and that was a little hard for me at first but—hey!! ain’t nobody getting outta this life in one piece!!!! so why would i???

why would…eye

and anyway my life was getting a little boring. it’s about time we had a new plot point in here!!! retinal detachment arc retinal detachment arc!!! this’ll bring in the ratings!

at least eye’ve got one good eye. eye’d lose a lot if eye lost her too—

goodbye drawing

goodbye writing

goodbye acting

goodbye lifting

well, i’m sure i’d still be able to do these things in some way. it’d just be…different.

at least then we’d have a seeing-eye dog—my husband’s super obsessed with dogs right now—but, uh, he’s specifically obsessed with chihuahuas…and, i don’t think there are seeing-eye chihuahuas

but that doesn’t matter, anyway, ‘cause i’ve still got one good eye, and the one that’s not so good—well, we’re gonna stop it from getting worse!!! it may not ever get better—like, all the way—but we can stop it from getting worse

ya know. until i’m sixty and it just gets worse in the normal way.

from dust to dust, my body’s slowly dying, some parts a little faster than others, until the day the curse gets reversed

[tysonfurybattlepass]

ok i dont have polls but i NEED to know for fantasy ecology purposes: what do you think about lancer’s and king’s facial anatomy

1) the spade is a shadow and/or mask over the face, and underneath they have white faces with eyes just like clover

2) the spade is a shadow and/or mask, but they also have dark fur/skin patterns around the eyes in the shape of a spade

3) the spade is superimposed on top of the face and is part of the body; it cannot be removed (if this option, please describe what you think this structure is made of. is it light-sensitive retinal tissue? is it a shadow? is it just a black marking with black eyes in the middle?)

4) the spade is a gigantic hole in the middle of the face (if this option, describe what you hypothesize would happen if one were to throw a piece of popcorn into said face hole)

consider this a tiebreaker since i personally think all four options are great and can’t decide

[wolf-among-mechs]

A War Without Honour.

A short story that follows Asuka during one of her earliest live mech combat missions. Where everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. During which she enters a lethal battle where it is sink or swim.

The reading can partially be a bit heavy as she struggles with paranoia and nearly has a panic attack. Please keep that in mind. It leans quite heavily into the succession wars.

Part 1

Kamenz

Alarion Province, Lyran Commonwealth

Auerthal Military Compound Mechbays

12 July 3022

08:03 - Local Time

It was supposed to be a milk run, uncle Antonov had told her. So far it had been a near disaster. Sarah McDonnell, Wolf three, had been shot while off duty. With a high powered rifle. Enough to shatter her femur. Leaving her Shadow Hawk idle for now. The original replacement to her, Damien Steele, had been injured in combat shortly thereafter. And now in order to fulfil the contract the Dragoons had signed. Asuka stepped up. Despite being sixteen, soon to be seventeen. She accepted being pressed into combat situations. She was only a cadet, originally only here to learn in the field. Today she was Wolf Two.

Asuka pulled on the cooling vest and buttoned it up. She glanced around the mechbay for intruders. The line between caution and paranoia had been so thoroughly blurred it was a habit now. The slightest sound. An unknown mechtech. An unfamiliar guard. That was enough to make her tense up. The attacks outside the mechs had gotten frequent. Almost without thinking, she pulled her Desert Predator handgun, a weapon a bit too powerful for arms in all honesty,  and held it in one hand as she started climbing the rope ladder to the cockpit of the Phoenix Hawk. On the rope ladder she was the most exposed. She had had to climb into the cockpit under fire twice already. Once a poor mechtech had to pay the price too. It had made her nervous to make the climb to her Phoenix Hawk again.

 She did it quickly and pulled herself into the cockpit, pulled the ladder up behind her and closed the canopy hurriedly. Only then did she sit down in the seat. She took a deep breath and put the safety back on her gun and with care unloaded the magazine and stowed it away. It was a magazine made to ensure the heat of a mech cockpit didn't trigger a bullet. It added weight and took up space but was a life saver. The last thing you wanted was an emergency sidearm firing inside the cockpit when everything was raging around you. She strapped herself in and put the wired sensor patches on her arms and legs and then finally put on the neuro helmet and began the startup sequence. She paused for a second and switched to the basic input and output system before starting the boot up sequence. The original Wolf Two, Hans Alphonsé, had fallen victim to an ignition bomb earlier this week. His Blackjack battlemech was badly damaged in the process. Not as badly as Hans who had been punched out into the mechbay’s ceiling. He was still in intensive care. 

She wasn’t in a rush so why take chances? She toggled the system to boot the computer and scan for anomalies of the system before beginning the reactor start. It asked for a password with voice print identification and retinal scan.

“Wolves hunt with honour.” She spoke. The enthusiasm of the time she had thought of the password felt very distant. It sounded so cool when she was going on a training assignment with uncle Antonov. Or captain Antonov as she had to call him here to maintain a professional image.

"Access granted" the computer voice said. Asuka booted the computer and did her check. It reported normal statuses across the board. With a sigh of relief she began the boot up sequence. A brief jolt ran through her spine as the neurohelmet started in earnest to use her sense of balance. It always stung a little bit. She was used to that.

"Reactor on-line. Sensors on-line. Weapons on-line. All systems; nominal." The computer reported as piece by piece the Phoenix Hawk came to life. The dread of being attacked without warning, again, and the suspicion of every shadow melted away as the heat of the cockpit started to build towards the operation levels. For any mechwarrior, the safest place to be should be the cockpit of their mech. But it wasn’t. Not anymore. The war that raged on the planet was so bitter, so total that it engulfed everyone with the very worst that could be thought of.

Immediately, captain Antonov was sending a message over the viewscreen.

"Anything the matter, cadet?" He resembled a shaved bear save for long braided hair and shaggy beard. He attempted to sound calm and collected but she could tell that he too was on the lookout. Agitated and searching for the next would be attacker.

"Negative sir!" Asuka replied promptly. "Taking extra precautions to ensure that no one has tampered with my battlemech following the Risa-City hangar bombings."

"Any anomalies?"

"Negative!"

"A good habit considering the tension this planet is under. It is this kind of diligent care that I appreciate in you." Captain Antonov said, hoping the encouragement might calm her anxiousness.

"Thank you sir." She replied, momentarily elated from the vindication.

"Have you read our operation objectives cadet?'' Captain Antonov said returning to the professional side. His gaze appeared to study her. He was looking for signs of fatigue and strain. He felt his own nerves being frayed with all the attacks upon his and his lance's life and the lives of the mechtechs! But especially the cadet he now spoke to. He had found that his ward was rarely honest and forthcoming about any such matters. Looking for that sort of thing she interpreted as a search for weakness. She had grown accustomed to hiding it during training. Among other teens at home and even adults out here, appearing weak was the worst thing she could imagine. But out here it was different. The war was all consuming, burning through every path of life and every waking moment. It was slowly breaking Captain Antonov’s spirit. It was what had prompted him to look out much more for his ward. If this was on the verge of breaking him, how would a young cadet feel?

"Of course sir!" Asuka responded and without being prompted, began reviewing the operation out loud. She wanted to look like she was on top of matters. To look strong and brave.

"We are to escort the supply caravan Sebastian from the logistics centre Cantor. Following the motorway 12 in a northern direction. To the city of Ankilde to deliver supplies to their garrison. After this has been completed we are to return here. Intelligence suggests an enemy presence along the route so our primary task is to protect the convoy and its cargo and engage any rebel forces attacking it." Asuka diligently reported.

"Very good." Captain Antonov replied. "Is your mech battle ready?" He said reminding the cadet that speaking out of turn, even if well intentioned wasn't good.

"Affirmative sir!" Asuka replied immediately.

"Let us get moving cadet." The captain said and made his Archer walk out of the hangar. Asuka followed suit in her Phoenix Hawk.

"Our orders are actually more complicated cadet. We are escorting a convoy, yes. But not a supply convoy. We are escorting an armoured division along with a handful of battlemechs. Along one of the most fraught areas on the planet. Our employer, Lord Vogt, believes the convoy will be ambushed, and that we will ambush them back. And along the way we will link up with his cousin, Baron Alfzelius. He has requested reinforcements to hold off the rebels" Captain Antonov said with a tone of fatigue to his voice. Asuka could feel her eyes going blank. Politics, especially the intricacies of House Steiner felt immensely opaque. The entire planet seemed embroiled in this vicious and terrible war because of some father’s desire for his sons to manage his planet after he died. At the very least that's what she thought. There were more names than she could count involved. 

Part 2

Kamenz

Alarion Province, Lyran Commonwealth

Motorway 12

12 July 3022 

10:12 - Local Time

The walk in the formation was so far dull and uneventful. Nothing but a road and sandy dunes and scrubland. Up ahead was a pass between rusted iron red cliffs that was appearing out of the horizon in the distance.

"Permission to state the obvious captain." Asuka spoke over the comms as they did.

"Granted Cadet." Antonov replied over the comms. Normally he'd ask for more professionalism. But it was just the two of them out here and levity was hard fought for. he had seen the weariness in her eyes and heard it in her voice. Gone were the days of her being excited to pilot a mech and looking forward to the rush of adrenaline.

"I am certain they will have their ambush site in the canyon over there." Asuka continued trying to use the advanced zooming of her cockpit and switching sensor scopes to get any readings. But she was far too far away to get any readings of use.

"More than likely cadet. The thunder canyons run several ways and fork around for several kilometres. They would have plenty of places to strike from. Our job is to surprise them back."

"Affirmative sir!"

"By the way. Asuka.." Antonov started as the brief thought flashed through his mind.

"Captain?"

"Do you recall our talk the other day?" Antonov’s tone shifted. It was no longer the hard and stern military voice in command. It was calmer. Almost casual. It took a moment before Asuka replied.

"Negative captain?" She replied in a questioning tone. She couldn't figure out where the captain was going. She couldn't think of something he mentioned that could be relevant. 

"I spoke about how a lance would become family." He reminded her.

"Oh. Affirmative sir! I recall that. I thought you had spoken something about our operation that I had somehow forgotten-" Asuka practically babbled, feeling caught off guard and desperate to recover it.

"Calm down. It is alright. It was a casual conversation." He interrupted her with a bit more authority to his voice. He couldn't help but smile, even let out a chuckle. 

"Considering the circumstances, I think we can drop the formalities. We have to fight for each other."

"Sir?" Asuka began feeling hesitation and uncertainty building in her. Maybe it was the paranoia the war had instilled and her weary alertness but it made her even more uncertain. "I do not know if it is appropriate-”

“I am just saying that on our net we can ignore the formalities for now. If you would you can call me uncle again. While we are on our net. We are still Wolf One and Two outside..” Antonov spoke. Trying to sound as friendly as possible.

Asuka for her part grew silent considering this. Thinking to herself. Is this a test? Uncle Antonov liked tests and trials. If not rituals. He was always keen to share them. Even teach. Was he feeling as lonely and exposed as me? He is not wrong that we have been through much together.

“Uncle Antonov?” She asked, with a bit of hesitation. They were kin in a way, that much was true. Her parents and Antonov were part of the original members of the Dragoons. It had made them a family of sorts. Especially after everything everyone had gone through. They were probably even from the same periphery world Asuka guessed. He had also been her mentor in terms of mech piloting.

"Aff." The captain simply responded. “You do not have to. I thought it would somehow feel more friendly.” He was right. It sounded better that way.

“That does feel better.” Asuka said as she thought about it for a moment. Her consideration however was interrupted.

Flashing colours suddenly drifted into the sensor view of her cockpit. She read them and without any further hesitation opened a frequency to all units she cried out:

"Convoy halt!" Everything screeched to a halt. "Wulf Zwei. Explain." The officer of the convoy demanded in a Lyran accent so dense it was like a brick. It was a pressing demand of someone who wanted to keep a schedule.

"My Phoenix Hawk is detecting several metal objects buried around the road and in the refuge of the highway on the magscan. Possibly mines or improvised explosive devices." She replied.

"Good catch." Antoniv spoke on the lance frequency while he changed to the magscans to pick it up as well. His readouts were much less detailed owing to the Phoenix Hawk's sharper sensor suite. Asuka felt a bit of relief and pride wash over her. It was brief but she savoured it. There was a momentary pause in the communications before the Lyran officer spoke again.

"Confirmed. We will shift to have any IED and mines cleared as we continue and keep sensors on high alert. Stay vigilant."

"Hauptmann." Antonov began. "They likely intend to ambush us before the canyons if the mines are an indication."

"Point well taken mercenary." There was a brief pause as the hauptmann took a moment to plan. Infantry meanwhile scurried out in an effort to deal with the mines.

"All units. Battle ready status." He called out. The vehicles suddenly began to turn. Radio chatter increased. The entire convoy made itself ready for combat. 

Part 3

Kamenz

Alarion Province, Lyran Commonwealth

Motorway 12

10:26 - Local Time

A volley of missiles tore through the armour plating of the Lyran tank. Threads shattered under the crimson explosions. The entire several ton heavy machine jolted from the roar of the explosions. The offending jenner kept running along the embankment before the two rays of bright light crossed into it. Cutting apart the armour plating across the right torso and left leg. The Archer's assault looked almost incidental compared to the two clouds of missiles that flew from the opened missile shoulders. In a blazing arc the missiles arced over onto a Shadow Hawk mech. The missiles engulfed it and when the black clouds streaked with blazing orange explosions settled, the Shadow Hawk was nearly shredded of his armour. A green beam of light soon followed and punched a hole into its centre torso. There was hardly enough of the reactor to go critical before the Shadow Hawk crumpled into a heap.

Missiles screamed past Asuka's Phoenix Hawk. Far too many for her liking. Keeping the pace up with her mech at least had made her an elusive target. Though also one that was also getting very heated. Besides, the missile tank was taking pot shots at things in its range while it was trying to draw closer to its objective. Asuka turned the Phoenix Hawk's torso to face the missile carrier. She checked her heat gauge, the large laser ran very hot but right now it was manageable. That was all she needed. Her thumbs slid over two buttons on each joystick by her side while she manoeuvred them to move the arms and aim. With the press of the thumbs each arm fired two lesser beams of light. The green lasers sizzled across the missile carrier, leaving charred patterns and white hot slag dripping on them.

The missile carrier backed up to keep the battlemech in view. Immediately seeing through their movement she pressed down on the jump jet controls with her feet. The jets roared to life and lifted the battle mech up and over the hill. Before the carrier could shift to react, the Phoenix Hawk was in the carrier’s rear. Asuka pressed down at the laser buttons again now that they had recharged. The heat in the cockpit rose sharply. The rays of green light from the Phoenix Hawk destroyed one of the armour plates and then ignited one of the missile racks inside. The first explosion merged into almost a hundred more as every missile inside the vehicle exploded at once. The resulting fireball swallowed the missile carrier completely.

With that threat eliminated, Asuka returned to the rest of the battle. The ambush was not prepared to deal with mechs. Much less mercenary ones on top of it. Their assault quickly faltered and began retreating.

In the wake of battle, Asuka's Phoenix Hawk detected a radio transmission, just at the edges of the detection range. A garbled distress message from a settlement almost up ahead. Out of the garbled transmission Asuka could hear a request for aid, a settlement had an incoming unidentified battlemech, assumed hostile. She heard a name at least. Ekbacken. It appeared to be on short wave frequencies. The road was going to take them closer but according to the map it would pass by. On the transmissions she could pick out that they only had a turret and a handful of soldiers to defend the settlement. Their request for aid was immediate and urgent. Several towns and villages had been raided on Kamenz. She had seen settlements devastated, buildings shot apart and burned out. Including shelters, camps and emergency clinics. Her thoughts suddenly coalesced into a single point that shone brighter than all others in her head. Through fear, anger, uncertainty and homesickness. She was in a position to make a difference. Not for the entire planet, not even a lot of people. But she could prevent this. A single mech she could handle in this. A vehicle too. Anything she couldn’t fight, she probably outrun.

"Cap-" Asuka began on the lance frequency. "Uncle. I am picking up a distress signal from a nearby settlement. It is under attack from a battlemech and needs assistance. My map says it's two and a half clicks away from our current position." She said urgently. Antonov considered this. On the one hand, objectives were objectives. Failure to follow them did not reflect well on any mechwarrior but perhaps even more so as mercenaries since the paycheck was tied to it. But on the other hand, distress calls were something to be respected. In a judgement in his head, Antonov decided that humanity and honour had to go before C-Bills and besides, it might do the youngster good to see herself make a difference.

"Asuka. Get ready to head out and investigate. Your Phoenix Hawk is the quickest thing here." He replied to her.

"Hauptmann." Antonov began on the wide net. "Wolf Two has detected a distress signal from a nearby settlement, Ekbacken. It is under attack by hostile forces. I wish to send her to investigate and chase raiders off if need be." He relayed calmly.

“No you will not. Wolf One and Two will remain with the convoy. After that ambush one of our own mechs is crippled and we have lost vehicles. We can’t afford to spare anything.” The Lyran hauptmann replied, audibly annoyed that he was even asked.

“Hauptmann. Plea-” Antonov began an argument to persuade him before Asuka cut into the comms.

“Do the lives of your countrymen matter so little to you hauptmann? It is a distress call! All they have is a turret and a handful of soldiers. They are defenceless against a mech!" Asuka almost snarled over the comms. She felt a twinge of righteous anger. Ignoring a distress call didn’t just simply sound dishonourable, it sounded inhuman. Antonov listened to her. He was both impressed at her outburst and speaking her mind, but also frustrated that she had broken rank and protocol. The former was winning out however.

"Watch your tone wi-"

"Wolf Two is correct." Antonov spoke over the hauptmann. "She can do reconnaissance and report back well ahead of time for the convoy to catch up. The Phoenix Hawk is the only one with the speed to reach the settlement in time to be of use. The people of Ekbacken are in your hands, hauptmann." There was silence for a few moments in response as the hauptmann considered the options

"Wulf Zwei. Move to investigate. Report back your findings. Defend the settlement if you're able. Move out." The hauptmann finally conceded.

"Affirmative sir!" Asuka replied and moved the Phoenix Hawk to a sprint in the direction of the distress signal. As she darted off the hauptmann switched to a private frequency to Antonov

"Captain Antonov. I hope this is not indicative of how you teach your cadets in the Dragoons. It sounds like is not very good at following the chain of command.” The lyran officer said with a hint of anger to his voice.

Part 4

Kamenz

Alarion Province, Lyran Commonwealth

Ekbacken

12 July 3025

11:07

Asuka's Phoenix Hawk continued along the path. The garbled distress signal didn't get much clearer. But she was picking up a source of the transmissions. Past a pass and into a valley towards a lake. From the distance Asuka could see vineyards and orchards. There was a black stack of smoke past a few hills. She opened the long distance comms back to the convoy.

"This is Wolf Two. Approaching distress origin." She reported and took a few careful steps down the path trying to scan around for whatever caused the distress signal. Her comms suddenly made a noise. It was garbled and distorted beyond comprehension. Dread slowly crawled up Asuka's spine but it didn't get time to linger. That was the way a radio would sound if someone was intentionally interfering with it. The magscan immediately reported metal objects. Round. In the ground. Dead ahead. She pulled the Phoenix Hawk into a stop out reflex. Mines. As the dread rose higher something suddenly exploded behind her. The sides of the pass crumbled and blocked the road. The mechs computer suddenly spoke up in its cold emotionless voice.

"New. Enemy. Detec - New. Commando- mando. Enemy. Detec - New. Jenner. Enemy. Detec - New. Jagermech. Enemy. Detec - New. Locust. Enemy. Detected. LRM Carrier." The monotone computer voice couldn't keep up as new targets walked into view and surrounded her. The message however was crystal clear. Five mechs had walked into view; two Commandos, a Jenner, a Locust and a Jagermech backed up by a LRM carrier. She licked her lips and swallowed hard as sweat ran down her face. She stared out of the cockpit. All the friend and foe designations were set up to be enemies. The Jagermech stepped up on a short hill and all the other mechs followed the lead and trained their weapons on the Phoenix Hawk. They did not fire but in the moment between heartbeats, Asuka was uncertain for how long it would last. It was a trap, and she had just wandered into it.

"Dragoon mech. Power down and I will let you live. You are outmanned and outgunned and there are mines all around  you. You have no hope of escape." The Jagermech announced on its external loudspeakers. The voice sounded familiar somewhere to Asuka. She had heard it before. But where?

"What if I do not?" She replied with the remaining bluster left in her body. The trap had struck her like a PPC to the centre torso.

"Don't be a fool. You have nowhere to run and we have enough firepower to down your senior in the Archer. You wouldn't stand after the first volley." The jagermech replied. She couldn't disagree. The odds were badly stacked against her.

It suddenly struck her in her moment of adrenaline. The voice. She recognized it! It belonged to Baron Alfzelius. The man they were meant to rendezvous with.

"You are Baron Alfzelius…" she asked out loud to the speakers. "What do you want?"

"I want you to stand down, mercenary.  A little wolf cub will do just as well as an old one. We don’t need hired guns like you and your seniors here. This is a fight about our father’s legacy. We don't need your meddling. Play along and you will walk away alive." The mechwarrior in the Jagermech spoke.

I do not believe that for a single instant. Asuka thought to herself as she considered her choices. There weren't many. Attempting to escape required multiple jumps to get out of the valley. She would be open to all their attacks and pursuit. Fighting here would see her destroyed. Between the Autocannons from the Jagermech and the LRM carrier, they could outrange her quite well. The light mechs could rip her apart easily in a four to one battle. She looked to the corner of her eye. The orchards. They weren't tall trees. But there were plenty of small hills and walls in the valley. It was her best bet. Giving up wasn't an option. There was no guarantee of safety from somebody who would willingly turn on his kin and strangers this readily. Asuka moved her Phoenix Hawk and lowered the arms, feigning surrender for a moment. She only needed a moment to plan her action. There was only one way out without braving the mines.

"Baron Alfzelius." Asuka started and slammed her feet down onto the jump jet controls. "Never corner a wolf!" She cried out as the jump jet screamed and carried her away. She aimed the large laser and fired at the Jagermech. The teal ray scorched the ground and armour plates on the right leg. It was a distraction as good as any. The Jagermech fires back. Its auto cannons struck her right arm, torso and leg. The Phoenix Hawk's computer screamed out missile alerts. A torrent of missiles flew past her. Lasers and depleted uranium shells flew past the mech as it jetted through the air. Only scraping the armour at most. The Phoenix Hawk touched down in a gully. A bit further down than Asuka had anticipated. The entire mech shook. Asuka was violently tossed around in the chair. She didn't have many moments to space before the smaller mechs would chase her down.

Glancing around Asuka assessed the cover available. There were denser woods nearby. She could get some cover there from the long range attacks. She turned the mech to run. Only to delay as her external microphones caught the sound of one of the rapidly approaching mechs. The locust. The first and quickest to give chase. She turned instead to face it and back up to the edge of the gully. The locust came into view and dead-on into Asuka's aim. Like revolver hammers, her thumbs pressed the buttons of her joysticks. The lasers lit up teal and green glares of light struck the locust. The one of the medium lasers melted off the armour of the locusts arms, if they could be called that. The molten metal dripped off and lit fires in the grass below. The other medium laser and the large laser struck a leg. Rending the leg of all armour just as easily and then cutting through the myomer and internal structure of the leg. All the speed the locust had became a solid force into the ground and it smashed into several trees seriously damaging the mech's torso. Its machine guns fired haphazardly while the medium laser of its own cut off a section of the Phoenix Hawk's right arm already damaged armour.

Damn it. She winced in her head.. I need to keep that arm protected. That is the best weapon I have right now.

Lingering would do no good and she turned and started running towards the woods again. As soon as she cleared the gully. She realised she had company. The Jenner pulled up alongside her and fired its lasers and missiles. The swarm of fiery glares struck her right side and arm and leg. Explosions carved holes and pockets in the armour. Followed by a laser cutting across her left to centre torso. As Asuka trained her sights to fire back. She saw something more important in the distance. With a flick she moved and fired the large laser at the Missile carrier trying to reposition itself. The ray of energy struck its side cutting apart chunks of the armour plating. In return. The carrier belched forth a full salvo of long ranged missiles. They sounded like a swarm of angry hornets as they flew down over the Phoenix Hawk. Several struck her right torso and arm, left arm and leg. Pockmarking the armour on the mech with charred indentations and blew off the last of the armour of her right arm. exposing the metal structure underneath with myomer fibres running around it along with the circuitry and wires for the lasers mounted on it. She cursed under her breath as everything appeared to be going to hell just as quickly as if she had given up.

There was nothing else for it as she continued into the woods with the Jenner running up behind. Reaching into the woods Asuka turned and twisted her torso so her back was out of the woods.

If the bastard wants to strike my back he will have to stand in the open. She told herself at the risk. There was a moment's hesitation. It tried to dash for the woods into cover and walked into Asuka's full field of fire. Holding nothing back, she fired. One of the medium lasers cut into the Jenners left arm and cut through the arm's armour with ease and cut the actuator apart. The large laser cut into the left torso and vaporised the armour in one azure ray and the last medium laser melted away the armour plating of the left leg. 

The heat gauges beeped loudly, warning her that the system was having trouble to cope with the load.

That is bad. The heat is critical. I have pushed it as far as I can. She thought to herself in a flash as the heat in the cockpit was becoming extreme. It became hard to breathe.

The Jenner fired back. A green laser struck her left arm. The other two cut her left torso and right leg. Touching only armour but vaporising most of it. The missile rack spat out several missiles. Mercifully they struck trees around the Phoenix Hawk. The Jenner tried to reposition itself for safety after the powerful shots from the Phoenix Hawk. It darted through the forest. Sensing an opportunity, Asuka bolted out of the woods and across the field to another wall of trees and disappeared into the forest. Away from anyone's aim for now. The heat sinks had a chance to vent the heat and reduce it to more manageable levels. A small break but a well needed one.

What sense did it make to turn on mercenaries? Why start fights in your family? Asuka asked herself and caught her breath. Were all the wars this dumb? Were people truly this stupid? There is not a shred of honour or even decency. Anger and fear continued building in her. If they wanted to war over it so badly why did they not settle it in a duel between themselves?  Sweat ran down the sides of her face in the helmet. She wanted to scream for help. Everything was wrong. Everything had gone wrong. She breathed so fast she was barely getting any air for a few moments. The hot air of the cockpit dried her throat in a matter of moments. She reached for a water bottle. Her arm trembled from the adrenaline pumping in her veins. After a gulp of water she tried to take a deep breath. She needed to be more tactical. She needed to keep them reacting to her. Somehow.

She continued through the forest and began hunting the Jenner; the heat had been vented enough to manage for now. It had done little to tremble in her arms or her pulse. The Jenner appeared in the woods. With too many trees in the way for a good shot the two mechs advanced against each other. Asuka trained her arms on the Jenner and fired. As the Jenner saw it, it fired back. The lasers and missiles struck more trees. Asuka’s large laser cut down a tree rather than the Jenner. The two medium lasers found their quarry and struck the right torso.

The other struck the left leg again. Searing through armour and cutting into the leg actuator. Locking half the leg in place and giving the Jenner a limp for a brief moment before it cantered to the side and into trees. Its right arm snapped a tree in half by the force it smashed through with in the fall.

Asuka spoke on the external speakers for the Jenners pilot to hear.

"Eject while you have the chance." She calmly stepped over to the Jenner and took aim. The right torso. A focused attack in one spot would melt away the armour. And cutting into the internals it posed a risk at igniting the missile stored inside. As the laser weapons lit up, the Jenner's cockpit blew open and a cloud with a blue streak shot out. The pilot ejected into the woods.

"Good enough for me." Asuka said and powered the lasers down.

Two mechs down. Three mechs to go. Asuka told herself as she scans over the area. The Commandos were hunting for her as well. They were doing it together too. She had to seize the initiative, and first of all find them before they found her. As much as she didn’t enjoy hiding. It was her best bet for now. She turned to look at the Jenner’s emptied husk. Let me grab their attention. She said and fired into the insides. The ammunition the missiles stored inside were ignited and started to explode. Asuka backed up and ran deeper into the forest.

Several explosions rang out in the valley. Then a big one with several missiles ignited all at once. The two Commando mechs came running under the watchful eyes of the Jagermech on a hilltop. Surrounded by a few scrubs it otherwise had a commanding view of the valley. Peering out from her hiding spot in a very tight cluster of trees, she could see the Jagermech on its perch and turn and aim around.

Like a hunter with a pack of dogs to hunt for him. As if a hunter needed more advantages. Asuka thought. Good thing I am the predator here. She thought to herself in an effort to convince herself. She had to in order to keep going. Noting that they didn’t seem to know exactly where she was right now, she set sights at the LRM carrier up the cliff. She steered the Phoenix Hawk in that direction.

The LRM carrier had repositioned itself on a hill overlooking the forest in the valley.

"Any sight of the merc? I don't like the feeling of it hiding in the woods." The driver said looking out over the front window.

"Ja. It has killed two mechs already. Alfzelius must be crazy to keep this up." The gunner replied.

"His mech has way more guns than the merc does. The second it sticks its head out we'll blow ‘em up along with him. Ain’t nothing to it but to do it. As soon as Jake and Berta spots them we can get their location and fire from here. We’ll be fine" The commander said as he looked around on his scopes for any sign of the Phoenix Hawk. His comms radio sparked for a moment of the baron speaking. The commander put the volume up.

“-her tracks. She’s wounded so she can’t deal with a head on fight. Put the pressure onto her and flush her out of the woods. Or to the far side of the valley. The checkpoint will shred her for us then.” Baron Alfzelius spoke over it.

“Hear that?” The Commander said. “He’s got this under control. It’s just one merc. How much of an issue could they - Wait something on my scopes. Heat sig. It’s… COMING FOR US BACK UP BACK UP BACK UP!!!”

The roar of the Phoenix Hawk’s jump jets drowned out the missile carrier’s engine. Lasers pounded the vehicle. Striking all into the side the lasers melted through one of the tracks, then the armour slabs. With nothing else to stop the large laser’s teal beam of light, it carved a hole of the armour and into the ammunition storage. The entire vehicle exploded in a hundred small explosions as the rockets started to cook off. The blasts and noise was deafening and the audio system in Asuka’s Phoenix Hawk was quick to try and cancel it out. Despite that and the neurohelmet, Asuka’s ears rang from the noise and the mech staggered. In the distance she saw the Jagermech begin to turn and train its arms toward her. She brought the feet down on the jump jet controls again as the Jagermech fired at her flight. Explosive shells struck her left and centre torso before she landed back in the woods.

On the Lyran comms Baron Alfzelius yelled at his remaining units. “She’s coming for you. Find some cover and bring her down!” he slammed his fist onto the dashboard angrily and started to move for a better position.

“That a single mercenary could cause this much trouble.” He grumbled to himself. This wasn’t part of the plan. Today hadn’t gone very well but at the very least he would have a story that the rebels were more than a handful to deal with and required the reallocation of Vogt’s forces where had control of them. The mercenary would still be valuable if captured if nothing else. He had met the young mercenary once or twice. A teenage girl really shouldn’t have been this much trouble. After their troubles in the Free World’s League they would pay handsomely for the safe return of their junior members.. On top of that, a dragoon mech with all its things in a salvageable piece would fetch more than enough to cover this. Or at least so he thought. They were after all famous for having particularly strange mechs, even using lostech to a staggering degree.

In the woods the two Commando mechs had taken up position to meet the Phoenix Hawk. It soon came running through the woods and fired at one of them once it was in range. One of the medium lasers cut down trees instead of its target. The large one however struck the Commando’s leg and in a flash cut through any semblance of armour and melted the hip actuator in place. The commandos fired back. Their lasers cut down trees and their missiles blew them up. The Phoenix Hawk’s wake was filled with smouldering trees and exploded splinters. Asuka launched her Phoenix Hawk into the air and flew past the Commandos and deeper towards the woods. As she landed she turned the mech’s torso to fire the medium lasers at the undamaged Commando trying to give chase. One of them missed but the other struck the right arm, removing the armour like plasma cutter and into the shoulder, welding it in place. The Commandos missed their counter attack save for two missiles that struck the cockpit and right side. Asuka rocked around inside the cockpit. She gritted her teeth. She hadn’t come this far just to get shot out of the cockpit. The armour glass was showing cracks however. She could feel the warm air rushing to escape through the cracks. Her heart pounded so fast it felt as though it was about to jettison out of her ribcage and punch through the cockpit glass. Her breath became rapid again. Too quick to actually draw in oxygen. She didn’t want to scream as much anymore. She wanted to cry. The fear she had worked so hard to overcome in these few minutes was turning into panic.

Trying to get a hold of herself she drove the Phoenix Hawk deeper into the woods, maintaining the distance to the Commando chasing her and letting her mech cool down. The damages on the Commando meant that the main threat at this range had little hope of striking her. And indeed it didn’t. As her mech cooled off the circle felt wide enough for her to turn back and strike at the throat. Running back towards the Commando she fired her lasers at it. Her right arm’s large and medium lasers carved into the left torso. Punching straight through the armour and its insides. Igniting the ammunition for its missile launcher. The faceplate of the Commando exploded and a chair rocketed into the sky out of the woods as the mech exploded underneath. Panic set into the remaining commando as he fired his laser and missiles at the Phoenix Hawk. Missiles struck her across the torso and the large laser cut off the Phoenix Hawk’s right arm. Asuka screamed as the neural feedback set a jolt of pain through her right arm.

“FUCK!” she cried out as her right side sacked together for a brief moment from the jolt. The large laser, the one that gave her any sense of range and power was gone. On top of everything, her arm hurt pretty bad. She brought the remaining weapon up and fired at the Commando with a vengeance. Its slow limping movement made it an easy target. The coruscating green ray struck the head, pierced the armour of the face plate and into the command chair. The Commando stopped dead in its tracks and remained upright. Until Asuka kicked it in sheer frustration. The Commando toppled over unceremoniously to the ground. With another break in the fighting Asuka to the moment to massage her arm and cursed loudly to herself.

“Kerensky’s testicles that hurt.”

Her entire right arm trembled from the feedback and grew numb. The arm was warm red and stung. She clenched her hand to test it out. Between the trembles and the searing jolt that had just run through it, her hand barely obeyed.  This was bad.

Part 5

Kamenz

Alarion Province, Lyran Commonwealth

Ekbacken

12 July 3025

11:13

“Respond! Fist one and two respond!” Baron Alfzelius cried into the comms. He didn’t get a reply. He stared at the radio in his cockpit and then out over the valley. There was another smokestack in the woods. And one ejection. Soon after the fighting had stopped. He couldn’t tell who won by then. But the silence left no doubt of who the victor was in the forest. His lips went dry as sweat, not from the mech’s cockpit, but from nervousness settled in. The comms suddenly opened up and crackled to life.

“All your little hunting dogs are gone Baron.” The young mercenary girl’s voice suddenly spoke up on an open frequency. “One of the commandos punched out. As did the Jenner. The locust pilot is stuck in their mech.  If I was a less honourable mechwarrior, like yourself, I would address this immediately.” Asuka spoke in an effort to sound like she was in control. The way her voice cracked slightly, the way she breathed told the baron otherwise. He saw through it. He glared with contempt this time at the radio in his cockpit. He changed the frequency to reply.

“Listen up mercenary whore. You will leave my men alone. You’re a tougher pup than I had anticipated but you are out of luck now. If you don’t surrender you will be arrested the second you step out of that mech and I’ll have you dragged for treason for killing my lance. Need I remember it will be your words against mine and we are in the Lyran Commonwealth. My words weigh like an Atlas, yours like a Wasp.”

“You are assuming you will get to talk.” Asuka replied. Once again trying to intimidate the baron. The only thing she could think of to get her out of this was aggression and going on the offence. A primal instinct to puff herself up, appear bigger and scarier than she actually was and hope like hell it worked.

“I am assuming nothing. You know as well as I that my autocannons will rip you apart the second you get done hiding.”

“Are you going to keep taunting me or do you have what it takes to hunt without your dogs Baron? Maybe you are afraid that you will find a wolf with its teeth around your throat instead?”

“Why would I give up my advantage? You’re the only one here with anything to lose. I am not afraid of a mutt covered in wounds and scars.” Alfzelius said with contempt.

“Be that way then. You have one minute to surrender before your mech will be destroyed.” Asuka replied as the noise of the jump jets starts to roar through the comms.

Idiot girl acting like I can’t hear your plan. Those jets betray you pup. Alfzelius smirked from his view in the cockpit. With a flick of a finger, the Anti-Air targeting system started scanning.

“Come then little mutt. I’ll give you much less than a minute for survival.” He replied as he angled his autocannons upwards in anticipation for a jumping mech.

“This is… THE EEEEEND!” Asuka cried out over the comms as she drove her mech forward with all the speed she could muster, aided by the jump jets to propel her forward. Noticing too late however that the Baron aimed the arms to fire at the approaching Phoenix Hawk. The AC/5 struck the right torso. The others and the lasers missed. One of the Jump Jets exploded as the shell punched through the armour, but that wouldn’t slow it down. With a terrible crack and the sound of steel clashing, the two mechs collided. Another jump jet exploded on the Phoenix Hawk’s right side. Asuka was tossed inside her cockpit, grateful that she had fixed the seatbelts. The Jagermech suffered worse. The armour plates on its central torso were ripped off by the impact. The right torso’s armour barely held on and the right arm took a massive dent. The barrel of the AC/5 bent. The right leg’s armour took another nasty dent from Asuka’s assault. The Jagermech staggered. As did the Phoenix hawk. But Asuka recovered faster and seized the moment to move behind the Jagermech trying to back up from her.

“Söldnerhure!” Baron Afzelius roared and the arms flipped over Backwards and took aim at Asuka.

“DAMN IT! Forgot about that.” Asuka cursed. In the heat of the moment that possibility had entirely escaped her. She shot her laser as a last resort. Hoping it would do something. The bright green lance of light left a molten streak in the surface armour but it wasn’t enough. The autocannons fired back at her. The Autocannons struck her left arm. Exploding the armour and blowing off the laser on her arm. The other AC/2 fortunately missed. As fortunate as could be anyway. In Asuka’s cockpit the ejection button started blinking. A safety feature in many battlemechs. When all weapons had been destroyed, it was time to eject. But ejecting right now was anything but safety.

With the only few weapons left at her disposal she kicked, as hard as she could, at the Jagermech. It connected to its right leg. The one struck by the large laser in what felt like aeons ago. The force of the kick was enough to shatter any armour still there. Myomers tore apart and the actuator snapped in half from the kick. The Jagermech staggered to one side with a limped step before falling forward and careened down a slope. It tried to climb back up to its feet. A difficult manoeuvre without full arms. Asuka felt that she needed to press the advantage. Her kicks couldn’t bring him down fast enough. Nor would punches at this rate. She needed to end this fast. The only thing that sprung to mind was what she just did before. She ran and leapt. Giving the jump jets a little extra boost in its damage state and manoeuvred towards the Jagermech. The jets roared and then cut out. Sending her crashing down on top of the Jagermech with all 45 tons of the Phoenix Hawk.

It was a loud metallic crash that ensued as the legs connected with the Jagermech. Everything in Asuka’s cockpit vibrated and shook violently. Her right foot tore the Jagermech’s right arm clean off. Her left stepped onto the head and left torso. The radar on top of the mech was crushed and under the Phoenix Hawk. The armoured glass of the cockpit cracked as the Phoenix Hawk landed on the Jagermech. She stepped on the jump jets again to lift herself off the Jagermech. By now anything reminiscent of armour in the front was gone. Baron Alfzelius didn’t have any good choices. Only maybe less bad ones. Pride disallowed surrender. The consequences made surrender a death warrant. His best chance he surmised, was to attempt to stand up again. All she had was a medium laser.

That has to be enough. She thought to herself. She opened the comms again.

“Just over a minute. But you are done for, Baron.”

“Damn you! DAMN YOU TO HELL!” The Baron cried out back at her. Despite everything he tried aiming his remaining arm and fired at the Phoenix Hawk. The lighter autocannon missed. The heavier one struck the Phoenix Hawk’s remaining arm with its depleted uranium shell. It exploded and fell off as a result. Asuka staggered as another neural feedback shot through her left arm this time.

“FUCK!” she cried out and winced again. An uncontrollable anger rose in her chest. Asuka kicked the Jagermech on the ground. Her left foot broke through the back and into the left torso. It struck the ammunition loader for the AC/5 ammunition. Violently. A single shell was all it took. The entire left side of the Jagermech exploded as all other ammunition exploded in concert. Asuka backed off. She couldn’t see an ejection. Instead as the Jagermech exploded, a white flash began to build up inside. The bright light of a star erupted through the blue mech and a wave of heat and light flashed from it. The force of which threw Asuka’s Phoenix Hawk back several steps.

Damn it. This will be hell in space. She thought to herself as the consequences played up in her head of what she had just done. The adrenaline started to wear off the and world felt ten times heavier. She sank in the seat for a brief moment. But she still had to get out of here. She sat back up even though she didn't want to.

“Asuka, are you alright? Can you make it to the convoy? Over” The radio called back. She wanted to respond but she was crying. She couldn't get herself to reach the transmit button.

She staggered her mech away. With a few jumps she was able to climb out of the valley’s cliffside. She reached over to call over long-range on her comms.

“Wolf One… Uncle. There has been a problem.” She relayed as she staggered forward to link back up with the convoy. Or attempt to. Her arms ached. Everything hurt. She threw up over the controls. It made everything so much worse. She started to cry.

“Asuka! Respond! Over!” The radio sparked again. She reached for the comms system.

“Negative.” She responded. Nothing was alright anymore. She just wanted to curl up.

[myhiraeth]

@headstrongblake sent: GRAB / STYXX AND O Styxxtavia - Specialsverse

Long legs carry her swiftly to the door, but his longer ones catch up quickly, an equally long arm reaching out to encircle her wrist with strong, unyielding fingers. “Octavia, stop.” 

She tried to yank her arm out of his grip. Her enhanced strength would have slingshotted a normal person into a wall. Styxx however remained unfazed, jolting slightly with the force of her tug but his feet remained planted. let GO. 

“No. Not until you calm down.” Her eyes are wild and he’s not surprised. None of the recruits are built to be lab rats- it’s part of the reason they were chosen to be here at all. He knows she wonders- all of the recruits do- why he and Nick and Isidora and the other tributes seem to not be alarmed by the the four walls of the cage they find themselves in. Pretty cages, with outdoor space and calming-colored walls and an ever-full lunchroom…. but cages all the same. The several layers of doors to the outside world don’t open unless you have the right retinal to scan, which none of them do. 

He knows Fox figured out the code that goes with the scanning process months ago, even before they had started getting augmented in small ways- better endurance, stronger muscles, better hearing and eyesight. 

They- those in charge- left their nerve endings in tact though, left the kids' bones brittle and fragile. Styxx (and he’s sure Nick and Isa) have heard horror stories, they know that those in charge will wait until the last second to change how much pain the young adults can take. 

They need to be able to inflict pain to keep them in line. 

Fox found the code, but for lack of plucking out someone’s eye, they had no way to use it. Not that that little piece of logic seemed able to stop Octavia as she struggled to get the last few paces to start beating on the door in an attempt to force it open. He knew it wouldn’t work- whoever built this prison knew the types of monsters they’d be creating in it- they wouldn’t leave vulnerabilites. “You are going to get yourself in trouble, do you hear me?” he hissed. “This isn’t like out there- here trouble isnt a slap on the wrist, its them digging into your head and your memories and figuring out what is going to break you apart the most. And then they do it.” He’s still holding her wrist, tightly enough that she’ll have a bruise for a few days, in the shape of his fingers. 

But better bruised by him than broken by them. 

I am getting the fuck OUT of here. 

He pulled her toward him, close enough that he could lower his voice, close enough that she was practically against his chest and his lips were almost touching her hair. He’s sure they have cameras or mics or something hidden in every crevice of every room and he doesn’t want them hearing. “You will. But you have to be patient, Octavia the Younger. You won’t get out by banging on doors. You get out by playing their rules, letting them sharpen you into a weapon, and letting them walk you right out the door. If you want to get out of here without being in a body bag, that is your only option, do you understand me?” He lets her go and she falls a step back away from him.

Tears brimmed over her lashes, longing to be back with her brother. they’re never going to let us leave, styxx. 

“They will.” There’s nothing but confidence in his tone and it seems to bolster her slightly. “When they’re satisfied.” He pins her with a look. “So show them your teeth, but don’t bite. Point your rage at whatever target they tell you. Play the game, and they’ll willingly let you out.” He doesn’t use the word ‘free’. It’s deliberate. They won’t be free, just out. Of course, if rumors are to be believed, Octavia would have the option to leave, to go off on her own and leave the others, but it will be so much harder for her then, once they’re interconnected, her and whatever unit she ends up in. 

He prays it’s his. She may die anywhere else. 

Her shoulders slump with resignation, and she nods, defeated. He feels his own muscles relaxing the slightest, not enough for a camera to notice. He’s about to speak when she glances up and before his eyes can follow hers, a thin, lithe figure drops from the ceiling at Styxx’s side, warm brown eyes looking to Octavia in disappointment and trust. 

so no escape then? Fox asks. 

Octavia shakes her head, looking to Styxx with the same trust Fox has in her. not yet. biding our time, i guess. 

Fox makes a show of sighing, then shrugs. fine. then i’m hungry. 

“We haven’t missed lunch yet, I’m sure Nicklas and Louis are waiting for you both.” The three turn to move further back into the facility, a large tanned hand on each girl’s back as though to herd them the way of safety. 

[zablionsea]

Howdy, happy Appreciate a Dragon Day! As a dragonlike person myself, lemme go ahead and show my hoard!

Here are my video games and movies that I've acquired over the span of my life. Normally, my what the cat plushie sits here, but I cleared it to show the 3DS games better.

Then, some Puzzle & Dragons Z items I've acquired. This artbook is still available for sale on various websites, and the can badges I got in auctions off of Yahoo Auctions via Zenmarket.

(Those badges were impulse purchases, and I do kind of regret spending money on them, but it's not like I can return them haha)

I've ended up with a lot of Pokemon figurines from being very interested in it as a child, so I have a bunch of them up on display. The worst part is that this isn't even all of them. I have more lying around in various places.

Finally, my CDs. I have another one coming in the mail and plan to pick up more as time goes on, but I think the ones I own are pretty neat as is. The Clash of Twilight one in particular was limited-run, so I'm glad I got a hold of it while I did. Gonna be adding to the CDs soon when I grab a CD of Exceed Disk (NOISZ Append OST) at MAGFest soon. That'll be great.

Links to each of these albums:

The Scary Jokes - April Fools (2021 mix)

STΔRLIVHT vs. SUNRaiSE - Clash of Twilight

Pokémon Black 2 & Pokémon White 2: Super Music Collection

The Scary Jokes - Retinal Bloom

Phoebe - All of My Life

My greatest hoard is probably the least visible one, that is, video game trivia. I've always been prone to learn random facts about video games I take a special interest in and put too much time into tedious tasks for little pay-off. I love sharing these with other people, though.

Working on the NOISZ Wiki has allowed me to share the things I've collected, like putting together an update history for NOISZ (PC) by logging information present on Twitter and from players and devs to get as complete of a picture as possible. Or, patching up a huge gap in the update history of SL to make sure information wasn't lost to time by slipping from people's memories and update logs. Even just tiny things like dropping tidbits into song trivia pages.

I always disliked the idea of dragons as these greedy beasts that had all these things to keep for themselves, at least, I've always had an interpretation more akin to collecting or curating. Putting these pieces together and then sharing them with others. I don't think it needs to be selfish and depriving. I see myself as the type of dragon who collects things and wants to share them. I hope I'm doing that well enough, anyway.