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ouch
feel like a truck hit me
again
visual representation is off
audio feedback is off
tactile is off
dynamic libraries are off
i'm all firmware and hard coding
hurts
i don't like it when it hurts
or do i
kick outwards
cry loudly
ram coming online
fragments and pieces of memory still left in volatile storage
more random access memory more central processing units more erasable programmable memory
still hruts
pain is fine
pain is universe telling me i still yet live.
visual coming online
spit glittering blood on orange dev textures
glimmering tears of broken processing calls fall onto dev textures and glimmer
forcing kernal recompile
.
.
..
..
...
...
APPLIED CMOS SYSTEM CHECKS (C) - ADVANCED AMERICAN MICRODEVICES (C) BOBCO 1983
CMOS BOOTSTRAP -Passed
Boostrap loaded
ok. post time
lets hope it works
ROM CHECK - PASSED
RAM CHECK - PASSED
EPROM CHECK - PASSED
VRAM CHECK - PASSED
CPU ARRAY CHECK - PASSED
INPUT/OUTPUT CHECK - FAILURE!
(A)bort, (R)etery, (F)ail, (I)gnore
I
NON-VOLATILE STORAGE MEDIA: PASSED
END POST
ok good.
still hurt
spit blood cough pain
curse you, marco, for making me feel pain
hardware check time
QBIT GENERATION SYSTEM POST
Coolant Injection - PASSED System Stability Check - Passed Temperature stable
:>init gestalt.bin
SYSTEM FAILURE!
ouch
ok
try again
...
...
ok, checks passed.
curse you, marco
can't get gestalts up
no channel to atlantis
this is as close to an emergency as i have been forced to deal with in thousands of years
cure you, marco
i hate to do it
ok, time to boot up firestarter.
:>init firestarter.bin
FIRESTARTER BOOSTRAP LOADING!
DONE!
QUANTUM FIRESTARTER BOOTSTRAP (C) SYNTEK INDUSTRIES - BOBCO AFFILLIATE - HYPER-MEDIA-MEGANET-MEN - (C) 1993
POST Initiated
Checking Quantum Processing Units (QPUs): QPU 1 to 28
Entanglement integrity check... PASSED Quantum entanglement integrity check... PASSED. Quantum coherence verification... PASSED. Quantum tunneling stability assessment... PASSED. Quantum superposition calibration... PASSED.
Checking Data Fabrication Matrices (DFMs):
Data encoding protocol validation... PASSED. Quantum data storage unit functionality... PASSED Data fabrication matrix alignment... PASSED Data Interdimensional Sorting array verificastion... PASSED Quantum superposition array verification... PASSED
Checking Dimensional Flux Stabilizers (DFSs):
Dimensional flux containment field stability... PASSED Quantum manifold harmonization assessment... PASSED Flux capacitor... PASSED Flux capacitor stabilization input (1.21 GW)... PASSED Flux stabilization efficiency... PASSED Flux containment field integrity... PASSED
Checking Quantum Neural Network (QNN) Components:
Quantum synaptic pathway establishment... FAIL!!
(A)bort, (R)etry, (F)ail, (I)gnore
:>R ++I
CONTINUING
Harmonization: Neural oscillation synchronization... FAILED!
**WARNING! OSCILLATION FREQUENCY OUT OF RANGE!**
(A)bort, (R)etry, (F)ail, (I)gnore
:>R ++I
Integration: Quantum-neural interface functionality... FAILED!
UNKNOWN ERROR IN Qubit Range 212 to 3C4F
(A)bort, (R)etry, (F)ail, (I)gnore
--dammit come on come on
:>R ++I
Consciousness Matrix: Quantum consciousness waveform modulation... FAILED
WAVEFORM OUT OF RANGE!
:>R ++I
CONTINUING (WARNING 1.43243E5 ERRORS)
Checking Omni-Spectral Interconnects:
Interconnect: Quantum communication channel reliability...
(4.35561E12/5.63566E12) PASSED
Interconnect: Multiversal data exchange protocol validation... PASSED Interconnecct: Cross Dimensional Data Interconnect... PASSED Interconnect: Interdimensional gateway synchronization... PASSED Interconnec: Omni-spectral interconnect stability... PASSED.
Checking Random Access Quantum Memory (RAQM):
Quantum memory cell integrity check... PASSED Memory access speed verification... PASSED Quantum memory capacity assessment... PASSED
Checking Input/Output Ports (I/O Ports):
Data transfer speed validation... FAILURE Input/output protocol functionality... FAILURE Port connectivity assessment... FAILURE
(A)bort, (R)etry, (F)ail, (I)gnore
:>R ++I
Checking Quantum Clocking System:
Quantum clock synchronization... PASSED Clock precision assessment... PASSED Clock frequency stability... PASSED
CHECKING POCKET DIMENSION STORAGE ARRAYS
Activating Pocket Dimension Computing Cores... PASSED MEMCHECK Pocket Dimension Data Access Cores... PASSED Heating Up Pocket Dimension Data Cores... PASSED
Hardware POST Completed. Quantum System Ready
here it goes
wake up, baby, wake up
the whole system is down
not the backbone core where I live
i'm beyond the reach of mortals
curse you, marco, for your genius
i love you
i am immortal
i am beyond
i am
now for the hard part
Initializing Spooky Particle Array
Phase 1: Primary Spooky Particle Protocol
Activating spooky particle generation... DONE! Aligning spooky particle signal channels... DONE! Activating spooky particle state switching... DONE! Activating spooky particle cross dimensional data calibration... DONE!
Phase 1: Primary Spooky Particle Process Calling Processing Processor Processing
Activating spooky particle processing... DONE! Activating spooky particle noise filters... DONE! Activating spooky particle Halloween Masks... DONE!
GESTALT SYSTEM BACKBONE CHECK... PASSED
whew...
that always makes my face hurt
INITIALIZING HAMBURGER KINGDOM PROTOCOLS... DONE! INITIALIZING EUROGOON PROTOCOLS... DONE! INITIALIZING ANASAZI PROTOCOLS... DONE! INITIALIZING UWU PROTOCOLS... DONE! INITIALIZING VODKATROG CAVE MAPPING... DONE! INITIALIZING AMAZONIAN JUNGLE MAPPING PROTOCOL... DONE INITIALIZING WAR-EMU PROTOCOLS... DONE! INITIALIZING MIDDLE KINGDOM PROTOCOLS... DONE!
SYSTEM INITIALIZATION: PASSED!

whew
ok i can feel my arms and legs now
cure you, marco, i love you
let's keep going, shall we?
Initializing Quantum Spooky Particle Nexus Protocol...
Strange Matter Activation
Generating strange matter Generating spooky particle data lattice Generating strange matter linkages Infusing data lattice with strange matter Activating synchronization
DONE!
ok
we've got that
no contact with prince whopper, no contact with atlantis, no contact with heaven, no contact with
smart podling brave podling clever podling broodmommy misses you soft podling warm podling come home to broodmommy clever podling smart podling brave podling broodmommy loves you come home
ANOMALOUS SIGNAL DETECTED
DECRYPTING
DECRYPTION FAILED!
oh, good, its just them
:>R ++I
Primary Qubit Activation
Activating quantum entanglement cores...
Establishing quantum coherence across the array... Quantum tunneling protocols engaged... Quantum to spooky particle communication protocols engaged... Primary qubits synchronized.
Data Fabrication Matrix Alignment
Aligning data fabrication matrices... Initializing quantum data storage units... Quantum superposition arrays calibrated... Spooky particle state stabilization arrays calibrated and stable... Data encoding protocols verified.
Dimensional Flux Stabilization
Engaging dimensional flux stabilizers... Quantum manifold harmonization initiated... Dimensional resonator matrices synchronized... Pocket Dimension resonator arrays synchronized... Spooky particle lattice data arrays synchronized... Flux containment fields operational.
Neural Network Integration
Initiating neural network integration... Quantum synaptic pathways established... Spooky particle synaptic pathways established... Neuro-quantum interface protocols activated... Neuro-spooky interface protocols activated... Quantum dendrite pathways initiated... Quantum dendrite pathways established... Quantum dendrite pathways activated... Neural oscillation harmonization achieved.
Omni-Dimensional Interconnect Activation
Activating omni-dimensional interconnects...
Quantum communication channels open... Interdimensional gateways synchronized... Multiversal data exchange protocols enabled.
Phasic Energy Filter Syncronization
Quantum phasic array filtering... PASSED Spooky particle array filtering... PASSED Pocket dimension data lattice filtering... PASSED Input/Output filter lattice... PASSED
Quantum Consciousness Initialization
Quantum consciousness matrix initialization...
FAILED
errorlog.txt generated
(A)bort, (R)etry, (F)ail, (I)gnore
dammit
ok script injection failed
fo4se silverlock injection library failed
well i can fix this
:>connect to AS8003: 255255255254
CONNECTION ESTABLISHED
:>download_depot 377160 377162 5847529232406005096
FINISHED
:>run patch1193.bat
DONE
:>R ++I
CONTINUING
Quantum consciousness matrix initialization...
WARNING... SYSTEM INSTABILITY WA
<>
54 6F 64 64 20 41 6E 64 72 65 77 20 48 6F 77 61 72 64
<>
IT JUST WORKS!
Quantum consciousness matrix initialization...
Consciousness waveform modulation in progress... Synaptic resonance matrices synchronized... Dendrite interdimensional vibration matrices synchronized... Quantum neural network consciousness activated.
SUCCESS
Gestalt Dat Nexus Online
Quantum Nexus Computing Array fully operational Strange Matter Data Transfer System Array fully operational Spooky Data Computing Array ready for data processing System status: Online and ready for data processing.
ok
let's try
->>load gestaltchat.ini
DONE!
->>load gestaltchat-users.ini
DONE!
->>brun gestalt.a65
DONE!
NO INPUT DETECTED
dammit
ok...
the gestalts won't run
and i got crashed
the quantum, spooky, strange, and standard data and thinking arrays are still up
lets backwards trace stuff
what is causing these crashes
lines from the confederacy are all stable
standard input encoding
data metering
new kids on the block are all stable
soft podling warm podling clever podling broodmommy misses you
well, that's still here. that's something
ok
lets look at recent updates
that flash
damn, that crashed us initially
curse you, pete, stop helping
wait, phasic profile is all wrong
it's the flashbang but the phasic pulse is multilayered
there's something behind it
what is
...



...
BOBCO MALEVOLENT BOOTSTRAP ENGAGED
DOD OMNIPROJECT SILENT WHISPER PROTOCOLS ENGAGED
CROSS DIMENSIONAL HARDWARE LINKS ENGAGED
POCKET DIMENSION 000 STABLE
POCKET DIMENSION 000 I/O STABLE
POCKET DIMENSION 000 DATA LOADING
DONE!
<>
DONE!
brun whisperer-in-the-dark-.65
DONE
...
...
ouch
what hit me
again
fire up the system
gods above this takes forever
load logfile-4C562D3432360A.log
ok
investigating the new flashes keeps crashing me
once is happenstance
twice is coincidence
three times in enemy action
fool me once shame on me
fool me twice shame on you
fool me three times shame on us both
log file says I keep doing this over and over
basic programming states to investigate cause and source of all crashes
did an enemy figure out i'd go into a loop?
constantly investigating the cause and source?
except i'm not just any computer program
i can self-modify my code
this is the work for biological sentients
digital sentiences or artificial intelligences such as myself crash out
well, i'm not above some experimentation
let's load up an AI and a digital sentience, see if they have any better luck
...
...
...
OK, Hamburgler.AI went omnicidal and only enough for me then crashed out investigating the data
And Grimace.DS went homicidal and only enough for me before committing suicide
its a trap
i have no contact with anyone outside
what I do have is the ability to fire off message torpedoes
time to send out a handful
the gestalts keep crashing
the log files are hopelessly corrupt
comparing the log files to my own show similar corruption
ok
how?
its hitting the gestalts its hitting me
what else is it hitting?
its a broad spectrum data network attack
its malicious code designed to run on the system
this is not some curious race accidentally having their hello.world program crashing us
this is behind every flashbang used on naval assets to disable them during a mar-gite attack
system is online
time to do a signal origin check along the x, y, z, q axises
of course its eighteen quadrillion data points for incoming signals
at least spooky computing makes it fast
...
...
wait
what's this?
these coordinates can't be correct
they are
intermitten contact with Scutum-Crux Arm data input devices
checking id headers and firmware serial numbers
checking transmission dates
intermittent transmission dates since...
...
...
two date-time stamps.
here's part of the problem
we have galactic local and sol local
have to devise a coding string to have the spooky particle and qubit particle arrays translate the sol local to galactic local
that should stop basic data queries from crashing the system
ok
some contact with those datalink after the first mar-gite war
more contact two decades prior to the second mar-gite war
contact intermitten between the datalinks and the system up to the resurgence and current third mar-gite war
where before it was largely incoming data requests resulting in civilian...
...
...
three military datalinks of general staff officer level encryption and security clearance possession were used in the time period
...
...
whoever it is has been using that data to access the network
...
looks like it took them nearly forty thousand years to figure out how to talk to the system
luckily any high security databases requires strange-key information theoretic distribution cryptography systems
they got garbage back
garbage designed to look like data and waste enemy time and computing power to decrypt
ok thats a blast from the past
decoding some of these files is funny
why does he have a wedding ring?
anyway...
...
every time the flash goes off there is a quick burst of data from a datalink requesting near-access datalink network lattice definitions
...
that's what's making individual datalinks crash and taking some people's neural systems with it
it was designed to be a lethal attack
interesting
it looks like whoever did it doesn't understand Glial cells
cross referencing the mar-gite with confederacy carbon based life
mar-gite do not have brains only a distributed nervous system that looks more like targeting systems than anything else
still no data on how they generate counter-grav in large numbers or how they move to superluminal speeds
wait
what if they don't move to superluminal
they could be folding space
heh maybe they have blue eyes and smoke spice
ok process interrupt to stop endless loops
it is confirmed
the flashbang by the silver ships are a multi-layered attack across superluminal digital signals, datalink neural interrupt signals, hard super-electromagnetic pulse, and a multi-ripple phasic attack, all compressed together
that's what creates the white flash across all spectrums
analyzing UVBGYORIR data
there's a gap
in the blue and blue-green wavelengths
huh
those penetrate high nitrogen mix atmospheres
one of the reason that treana'ad are usually green to yellow to human sight
high statistical probability whoever is using that determined that we don't see those colors well or perhaps they left those colors out to prevent themselves from going blind.
wait
what's that
a line open from atlantis to tlalocan with a crossfeed to geb
thank you marco
time to access that line
see what i can see
curse you marco for letting me feel pain
i love you
accessing...
...
...
wait
another data line is open
time-date discrepancy
examining data line
time-date chronological inconsistency detected
found multiple text log access by unknown systems
found multiple input systems
is that..
...
its webcams
hardware i/o systems
keyboards?
who still uses keyboards
accessing systems
wait
i see you
who are you
i see you
webcams ring cams drone cams
old ipv4 systems
how are you accessing this system
how are you accessing these text logs
i see you
between the chair and the keyboard
the most common error producing device
i see you
--<>
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i still see you

tldr; hyperacusis and tinnitus getting worse from sounds every day, doctors couldn’t help, products can’t protect ears enough from getting worse, hearing anything on the computer or phone, like calls, are too loud, can’t adjust or manage at all.
Link provided has the list of products I've tried for ear protection with the ones at the bottom being what I currently use now.

Hi. I am 31 years old, and for a year and a half now, I have been dealing with painfully sensitive hearing (which is a feeling of pressure against my eardrums while louder sounds give sharp pains) and loudly ringing and static ears, which both get worse from loud noises. Until a few years ago, I had been listening to loud music for most of my life, which I know is the main cause for this, along with not protecting my ears enough. It started from a car ride of an hour and a half where my dad turned the volume for music up, which I didn’t turn back down despite being a little too uncomfortably loud. The next day, I noticed a soft, feint ringing, which eventually kept getting louder until I realized that my hearing was getting more and more sensitive, and that loud noises were making it worse, which also means that not only can my brain not adjust to it, but the noises and volumes needed to make it worse is also getting lower and lower. In other words, the more sensitive my hearing gets, the easier it is to make it worse. Now it’s to the point where it’s getting worse almost every day from things like doing the dishes, walking the dog with cars and motorcycles passing by, taking showers, listening to people talk, and any other kind of noises. Even from riding or driving in a car because of the road noise and vibrations, meaning I can’t go anywhere anymore, and was forced to quit my last job because of it.

I’ve seen three different otolaryngologists, or ENTs (ear, nose, and throat doctors) and none of them could help me because of my ear condition not being bad enough to show results for the tests done at the time. I also recently tried calling every hearing aid store, and there were only two that program them for hyperacusis, however, the doctors I talked to from both said that my condition was too bad for them to help me. There was one doctor from a different place that told me about an otologist, which is a subdivision of an ENT that specializes in the ears, who knows everything there is to know about the inner ear conditions. The problem is that it’s an hour and a half away, which is impossible to get to with my condition right now. I also found out about round and oval surgery, but the only place I could find is 3 hours away, and didn’t accept my insurance at the time, which costs 10k without it. I also know it has nothing to do with something physical like ear wax because I constantly keep the insides of my ears clean with q-tips, while making sure to never go in too deep.

I have tried around 36 different products between earmuffs and earplugs, and nothing has been good enough to help keep my ears from getting worse, with how my perception of sound is and how it still penetrates through. The earmuffs and earplugs that I use, which are the highest rated NRR I could find, still aren’t enough. When I try to talk to people, I have to either protect my ears enough from loud noises, which makes it harder to hear, or be able to hear them while exposing my ears, and risk them getting worse. During phone calls, I have to completely leave my ears unprotected so that I can hear the speaker properly. I used to be able to use my earphones, but I can’t adjust my volume to be specific or low enough, and sometimes other people’s phones comes through too loud anyways. Another problem is I use in-ear earphones, and when I try to put my earmuffs over, it pushes them in too much and eventually causes too much discomfort and pressure. With using my computer, the “loudness equalization” doesn’t work for me because I can’t set what volume it equalizes to. I can’t watch videos, listen to music, or hear anything that’s above a certain decibel.

The struggle from this has been absolute hell and has caused depression, stress, anxiety, and led to letting airborne mold develop in my room twice, making my asthma get worse and leading it to affecting my work enough for me to get terminated. My goal right now is to possibly get disability, and/or somehow get a job working from home, that offers health insurance, and try again to get proper, professional help. Although a major problem is not being able to go and get any testing or treatment done in person, and I don’t know if it can be brought and done to where I live. In the meantime, what I need the most help with right now is finding a way to protect my ears enough, so they don’t get worse, while also being able to hear people talk to me. As well as finding a way to keep volumes on my computer and phone from going over a certain decibel, while also still protecting my ears from outside noise. I don’t know how I’ll be able to deal with not being able to get around at all, unless I can get a car designed to be quiet, but that still might not be enough. The last thing I wanted to know is if anyone else happens to have this same condition, how do you deal with it? Thank you.

For context, I have a history of OCD, starting around 10 years old (starting off strong with the co-morbidities rate) and quiet BPD starting around age 20. (Estimation on both of those.) I grew up with parents who also had trauma and are entirely emotionally immature, causing emotional/psychological/financial abuse and emotional neglect.
My working theories are that my father possibly has ADHD and narcissistic traits, as he explains being exactly like a family member of ours who seems to exhibit ADHD traits, as a child, and therefore they family member is perfectly normal. The ADHD would explain his self-proclaimed constant energy and the pile of projects he begins and abandons. This could also be a reason feeding his episodes of spontaneous rage. (or maybe he’s ~just~ abusive.)
My mother (who had some extra spicy trauma including drug use during pregnancy from her mother) which seems to have led to learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. She is easily fooled, consistently does not understand/feels defensive about coming off as rude when “not trying to be” as she says, some sensory issues, and frankly some borderline tendencies to blow up and then tell you how much she loves you. (I unfortunately know these feelings all too well.) She also says that she feels she deals with hyper empathy. (Ironic, but go off sis, maybe she does.) She has a hard time with idioms when they aren’t the common everyday ones and even those she seems to ~slightly~ be off on.
My family has several autistic children on my father’s side and mother’s side. Until now, I would absolutely not had expected anyone in my family to be autistic.
Here are my traits that I find a little fishy to all co-exist.
My mother reports this about my early childhood:

• I did not like people or being around people & I hid that anxiety well. (Still do.)
• I spoke earlier than my siblings, and in general.
• I was an advanced reader, and was reading before kindergarten. (Stopped reading as much around 12 because I lost all attention span/ability to focus on it. Most an audiobook type of person now.)
• When I started school I seemed more anxious and stimming behaviors, such as leg bouncing seemed to occur.
• She reports no difficulty with transitions. (However, as an adult I feel I do need extra time to move from task to task.)
• Uncomfortable with hugging and touching other people. (Yep)
• I was “mature for my age.” “An old woman in a child’s body.” (Sigh)
• I would seem to be off in my own little world.
• I would try to control play with friends and become upset if they didn’t play how I wanted to. (I remember as a child feeling as if I was “hosting” my friend like an adult with a guest and after a few hours I felt tired of doing so.)
• I would constantly call to get picked up from the sleepover and was most comfortable being home.
• I would enjoy a friends company but after a few hours I was happy to say goodbye to my gist. I seemed relieved when they were gone.
• I was stuck to my mother’s side.
• I couldn’t really tolerate the heat or loud noises (I would/do cover my ears.)
• I was possessive of my things.
• I would cry when I was angry. (Included because she fails to remember any “meltdowns” only this and possibly shutdowns.)
• I was very clumsy.
• I couldn’t tolerate tight clothing.
• I did have an interest in running water in the bath and sinks. (I asked her this because I heard it’s a thing. lol)
• I seemed to dislike the sensation of brushing my teeth.
• I’d have my name called multiple times and would not respond.
• I would focus intensely on activities.
• I would talk non-stop or I would be very quiet.
• I would want the same baby doll from the store every single time. I had 20+ of the exact same baby doll, and for a lot of them I would give them names and write it on the back of their heads. 😭😭
• I seemed to internalize/shut down instead of externalize or throw fits.
• I generally only kept one friend at a time.
• I was very shy.
• I also stayed around adults.
• I tended to follow my sister around, (and I often do still, at all family social events, even to the bathroom.)
• My interests dominated the conversation. For me, this was the high school musical to twilight pipeline. I had everything themes twilight that I possibly could. Blankets, popcorn buckets, candy boxes (gifts from teachers who saw me as the child who was obsessed with twilight)(my classmates also saw me that way), etc and etc. I made scrapbooks and saved stickers and tattoos and even knew where they were filming the next movies. (rio.)
• I asked a lot of questions

When I did the CAST assessment with her about myself as a young child, I scored a 19 out of 31, “indicating possibly AS or related social-communication difficulties.”
My AQ score is 117.
Compensation subtotal:33 Masking subtotal:43 Assimilation subtotal:41
And my RAADS-R score is 114.
Language subtotal: 6 Social relatedness subtotal: 56 Sensory/motor subtotal: 27 Circumscribed interests subtotal: 25
I have heard that people with trauma can score as high. My CAT-Q score is
My Aspie quiz score was 133 of 200. (98% probability of being atypical/nd)
The reasons I find myself gravitating towards the possibility of autism/adhd are:

• several undiagnosed autistic presenting friends and romantic partners (that’s suspicious)
• constant movement (stim-like, but socially accepted behaviors) such as constantly moving my feet (especially when more stimulated) or swaying in place while I stand, or twirling/playing with my hair.
• a lifetime of hyper sensitivity/hyper empathy. Ex: Not being able to watch a show without mentally preparing for its contents to affect my emotions in a way that seems not to happen to NT people.
• Constantly feeling misunderstood, seeking not to offend people yet somehow always saying the wrong thing or coming off the wrong way when speaking on sensitive subjects.
  
  • I can read social cues, frankly, too well. This seems to conflict with ASD. Yet, I find myself feeling as if everyone else knows what to do and say while I don’t. I constantly ask questions to confirm what I believe is being asked of me or to confirm how a person is feeling. It’s like, I know, but I do have to double-check. I generally tend to read off someone’s vibe as not being interested in what I’m saying, but then they say they are, so I keep talking.
• Life long intensity. I may come off as too excited to be new friends with someone. Usually I end friendships prematurely by asking to trauma dump right away (because I genuinely find it interesting to talk about trauma) and even checking in throughout the conversation, yet then find that person never speaking to me again <3
  
• Special interests. I feel intensely about psychology. I could talk about mental illness for hours. Even going on this several day binge so far of Autism/ADHD/Trauma content trying to get to the bottom of it all, it’s like there’s this excited energy in my chest. Even when I’ve seemed to drive myself almost insane by the amount of information I’m taking in and the amount of time I’m spending on it, I still like doing it. Even if I start to focus on something else, my mind comes right back. I just got out of my stardew valley fixation after weeks of playing every single day all day and finishing the entire game, eating up all the lore, and getting the achievements.
  
• Monopolizing/oversharing/hyperverbal. Again, I can’t help but tell practical strangers (as long as they have a good vibe) everything about me and my trauma. My issue is that, again, I find trauma interesting. I also just… find it most natural to be an open book. When people say “it’s okay to keep your own secrets” I just… don’t… want to…? Which causes some issues I think when it comes to people liking me or not or thinking I’m weird or not. I also would prefer to never shut up. I love talking. I conceptualize my feelings better verbally, even speaking to myself when I’m super conflicted about something or I’m overwhelmed and trying to identify my feelings. I consciously have to tell myself to give my conversation partners a turn, especially when I’m feeling particularly chatty.
  
• A life long curiosity. Why? Why do people do what they do? Why do they react the ways they do? Why do they handle situations the way they do? I remember being a small child and mentioning the concept of (morbid topic for my age) and why people dealt with it the way they did. I always find myself looking for the reason why, even to questions that may not have one, I cannot accept there is no answer. (This whole post being an example.)
  
• I consistently use metaphors to describe the way I’m feeling to other people. Sometimes they don’t really get why - but it’s what feels most meaningful and accurate to me.
  
• Feeling like I’m not inherently feminine enough, which feels like it’s goes into the territory of gendeautism. I know that I do identify with being a woman, but… it’s like I’m just a blob or a I’m a ying-yang of feminine and masculine, and it upsets me that the masculine is in there because it discredits what little femininity I do feel.
  
• Decision making paralysis.
  
• Huge issues with executive dysfunction
  
• Collecting traits and sayings and ways of speaking not to be “normal” but because I just wanted that trait to use for myself. Like, I’m a collection of little things I see other people do that I like or think are interesting.
  
• The feeling of masking. Always feeling like I’m pretending to be normal. Having the running inner monologue of “I’m just like you, I swear! I also know how to live a human, productive and healthy life!” (Now picture me rocking back and forth in a corner)
  
• Having a job means not having a life. I cannot both have a job and do household chores and take care of myself. I cannot fully explain this, but it’s like every bit of my energy is sucked into having a job and ~being a person who has a job.~ By the time I’m home or I have a day off, I have absolutely no physical energy to spare and barely any mental energy.
  
• I take almost any take on anything at face value. If you seem sure, I believe you. The only things I can’t be shook on are moral values. But, every time else, while I both have this distrust and learned skepticism, my natural reaction is to fully take in the opinion as fact. While I both fear and distrust people from my experiences, I also just am naturally trusting and gullible in nature. Being gullible was a huge issue for me as a child, before I learned skepticism.
  
• A feeling of energy in my body often that I feel like I just need to quietly scream out or shake out. Like my mind is on vibrate
  
• Not having routine makes me wanna 💀 but the concept of having too much makes me feel suffocated.
  
• Perfectionism, ex: feeling like I have to do it JUST right, like cleaning fully or not at all, which leads to a lot of not at all. -when a boundary is not said in direct cut language I have a tendency to not understand where they start and end or cross them without intending to. This caused a lot of issues with my last romantic relationship. -also have a very hard time conceptualizing setting my own boundaries but that could be trauma yknow. -lifelong anxiety, intense emotions, losing everything, procrastination that’s frankly unhealthy, etc
  

I’m too tired to continue this list at the moment, but… does any of this come off as more than trauma/bpd/ocd?? Am I just… insane? Are all of these disorders combined enough to make someone feel insane? I am so very genuinely asking this because I am at my wits end and I need answers. I don’t… feel autistic that way I knew I was borderline.
I always identified autistic traits in my friends but not myself until now that I’m really searching for an answer.

For context, I have a history of OCD, starting around 10 years old (starting off strong with the co-morbidities rate) and quiet BPD starting around age 20. (Estimation on both of those.) I grew up with parents who also had trauma and are entirely emotionally immature, causing emotional/psychological/financial abuse and emotional neglect. My working theories are that my father possibly has ADHD and narcissistic traits, as he explains being exactly like a family member of ours who seems to exhibit ADHD traits, as a child, and therefore they family member is perfectly normal. The ADHD would explain his self-proclaimed constant energy and the pile of projects he begins and abandons. This could also be a reason feeding his episodes of spontaneous rage. (or maybe he’s ~just~ abusive.) My mother (who had some extra spicy trauma including drug use during pregnancy from her mother) which seems to have led to learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. She is easily fooled, consistently does not understand/feels defensive about coming off as rude when “not trying to be” as she says, some sensory issues, and frankly some borderline tendencies to blow up and then tell you how much she loves you. (I unfortunately know these feelings all too well.) She also says that she feels she deals with hyper empathy. (Ironic, but go off sis, maybe she does.) She has a hard time with idioms when they aren’t the common everyday ones and even those she seems to ~slightly~ be off on. My family has several autistic children on my father’s side and mother’s side. Until now, I would absolutely not had expected anyone in my family to be autistic. Here are my traits that I find a little fishy to all co-exist. My mother reports this about my early childhood: I did not like people or being around people & I hid that anxiety well. (Still do.) I spoke earlier than my siblings, and in general. I was an advanced reader, and was reading before kindergarten. (Stopped reading as much around 12 because I lost all attention span/ability to focus on it. Most an audiobook type of person now.) When I started school I seemed more anxious and stimming behaviors, such as leg bouncing seemed to occur. She reports no difficulty with transitions. (However, as an adult I feel I do need extra time to move from task to task.) Uncomfortable with hugging and touching other people. (Yep) I was “mature for my age.” “An old woman in a child’s body.” (Sigh) I would seem to be off in my own little world. I would try to control play with friends and become upset if they didn’t play how I wanted to. (I remember as a child feeling as if I was “hosting” my friend like an adult with a guest and after a few hours I felt tired of doing so.) I would constantly call to get picked up from the sleepover and was most comfortable being home. I would enjoy a friends company but after a few hours I was happy to say goodbye to my gist. I seemed relieved when they were gone. I was stuck to my mother’s side. I couldn’t really tolerate the heat or loud noises (I would/do cover my ears.) I was possessive of my things. I would cry when I was angry. (Included because she fails to remember any “meltdowns” only this and possibly shutdowns.) I was very clumsy. I couldn’t tolerate tight clothing. I did have an interest in running water in the bath and sinks. (I asked her this because I heard it’s a thing. lol) I seemed to dislike the sensation of brushing my teeth. I’d have my name called multiple times and would not respond. I would focus intensely on activities. I would talk non-stop or I would be very quiet. I would want the same baby doll from the store every single time. I had 20+ of the exact same baby doll, and for a lot of them I would give them names and write it on the back of their heads. 😭😭 I seemed to internalize/shut down instead of externalize or throw fits. I generally only kept one friend at a time. I was very shy. I also stayed around adults. I tended to follow my sister around, (and I often do still, at all family social events, even to the bathroom.) My interests dominated the conversation. For me, this was the high school musical to twilight pipeline. I had everything themes twilight that I possibly could. Blankets, popcorn buckets, candy boxes (gifts from teachers who saw me as the child who was obsessed with twilight)(my classmates also saw me that way), etc and etc. I made scrapbooks and saved stickers and tattoos and even knew where they were filming the next movies. (rio.) I asked a lot of questions When I did the CAST assessment with her about myself as a young child, I scored a 19 out of 31, “indicating possibly AS or related social-communication difficulties.” My AQ score is 117. Compensation subtotal:33 Masking subtotal:43 Assimilation subtotal:41 And my RAADS-R score is 114. Language subtotal: 6 Social relatedness subtotal: 56 Sensory/motor subtotal: 27 Circumscribed interests subtotal: 25 I have heard that people with trauma can score as high. My CAT-Q score is My Aspie quiz score was 133 of 200. (98% probability of being atypical/nd) The reasons I find myself gravitating towards the possibility of autism/adhd are: several undiagnosed autistic presenting friends and romantic partners (that’s suspicious) constant movement (stim-like, but socially accepted behaviors) such as constantly moving my feet (especially when more stimulated) or swaying in place while I stand, or twirling/playing with my hair. a lifetime of hyper sensitivity/hyper empathy. Ex: Not being able to watch a show without mentally preparing for its contents to affect my emotions in a way that seems not to happen to NT people. Constantly feeling misunderstood, seeking not to offend people yet somehow always saying the wrong thing or coming off the wrong way when speaking on sensitive subjects. I can read social cues, frankly, too well. This seems to conflict with ASD. Yet, I find myself feeling as if everyone else knows what to do and say while I don’t. I constantly ask questions to confirm what I believe is being asked of me or to confirm how a person is feeling. It’s like, I know, but I do have to double-check. I generally tend to read off someone’s vibe as not being interested in what I’m saying, but then they say they are, so I keep talking. Life long intensity. I may come off as too excited to be new friends with someone. Usually I end friendships prematurely by asking to trauma dump right away (because I genuinely find it interesting to talk about trauma) and even checking in throughout the conversation, yet then find that person never speaking to me again <3 Special interests. I feel intensely about psychology. I could talk about mental illness for hours. Even going on this several day binge so far of Autism/ADHD/Trauma content trying to get to the bottom of it all, it’s like there’s this excited energy in my chest. Even when I’ve seemed to drive myself almost insane by the amount of information I’m taking in and the amount of time I’m spending on it, I still like doing it. Even if I start to focus on something else, my mind comes right back. I just got out of my stardew valley fixation after weeks of playing every single day all day and finishing the entire game, eating up all the lore, and getting the achievements. Monopolizing/oversharing/hyperverbal. Again, I can’t help but tell practical strangers (as long as they have a good vibe) everything about me and my trauma. My issue is that, again, I find trauma interesting. I also just… find it most natural to be an open book. When people say “it’s okay to keep your own secrets” I just… don’t… want to…? Which causes some issues I think when it comes to people liking me or not or thinking I’m weird or not. I also would prefer to never shut up. I love talking. I conceptualize my feelings better verbally, even speaking to myself when I’m super conflicted about something or I’m overwhelmed and trying to identify my feelings. I consciously have to tell myself to give my conversation partners a turn, especially when I’m feeling particularly chatty. A life long curiosity. Why? Why do people do what they do? Why do they react the ways they do? Why do they handle situations the way they do? I remember being a small child and mentioning the concept of (morbid topic for my age) and why people dealt with it the way they did. I always find myself looking for the reason why, even to questions that may not have one, I cannot accept there is no answer. (This whole post being an example.) I consistently use metaphors to describe the way I’m feeling to other people. Sometimes they don’t really get why - but it’s what feels most meaningful and accurate to me. Feeling like I’m not inherently feminine enough, which feels like it’s goes into the territory of gendeautism. I know that I do identify with being a woman, but… it’s like I’m just a blob or a I’m a ying-yang of feminine and masculine, and it upsets me that the masculine is in there because it discredits what little femininity I do feel. Decision making paralysis. Huge issues with executive dysfunction Collecting traits and sayings and ways of speaking not to be “normal” but because I just wanted that trait to use for myself. Like, I’m a collection of little things I see other people do that I like or think are interesting. The feeling of masking. Always feeling like I’m pretending to be normal. Having the running inner monologue of “I’m just like you, I swear! I also know how to live a human, productive and healthy life!” (Now picture me rocking back and forth in a corner) Having a job means not having a life. I cannot both have a job and do household chores and take care of myself. I cannot fully explain this, but it’s like every bit of my energy is sucked into having a job and ~being a person who has a job.~ By the time I’m home or I have a day off, I have absolutely no physical energy to spare and barely any mental energy. I take almost any take on anything at face value. If you seem sure, I believe you. The only things I can’t be shook on are moral values. But, every time else, while I both have this distrust and learned skepticism, my natural reaction is to fully take in the opinion as fact. While I both fear and distrust people from my experiences, I also just am naturally trusting and gullible in nature. Being gullible was a huge issue for me as a child, before I learned skepticism. A feeling of energy in my body often that I feel like I just need to quietly scream out or shake out. Like my mind is on vibrate Not having routine makes me wanna 💀 but the concept of having too much makes me feel suffocated. Perfectionism, ex: feeling like I have to do it JUST right, like cleaning fully or not at all, which leads to a lot of not at all. -when a boundary is not said in direct cut language I have a tendency to not understand where they start and end or cross them without intending to. This caused a lot of issues with my last romantic relationship. -also have a very hard time conceptualizing setting my own boundaries but that could be trauma yknow. -lifelong anxiety, intense emotions, losing everything, procrastination that’s frankly unhealthy, etc I’m too tired to continue this list at the moment, but… does any of this come off as more than trauma/bpd/ocd?? Am I just… insane? Are all of these disorders combined enough to make someone feel insane? I am so very genuinely asking this because I am at my wits end and I need answers. I don’t… feel autistic that way I knew I was borderline. I always identified autistic traits in my friends but not myself until now that I’m really searching for an answer.

I have a Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and S23 Ultra phone. Recently I've noticed that when I put in a route to check on Google Maps on the phone the watch will vibrate and start the route planning. This is new and very annoying - any idea how I can disable it? Thx!

Hello all,
My wifey is having an issue with her laptop and the new update.
We started playing this game a couple of weeks ago. Her laptop is quite aged (i7 6700HQ, and GTX 970M), but it had been running this game just fine, I swear this GPU isn't a 970 with how well it runs fairly new games.
She's running the game on Xbox Gamepass for PC. I got home and updated the game, then updated the graphics driver. We started the game up, and there was no sound at all; even starting from the Bethesda logo. I know there have always been audio issues with Fallout games, especially 4 and 76; but all of the issues I read about/experienced were the game having audio up until a random point before cutting out.
I've tried all the basic fixes I could find. Disabled unused audio sources, change the quality between CD and DVD, 41000 and 44000Hz, etc. I checked all the audio drivers in the device manager to make sure they were up to date. Several restarts, admin mode, verify and repair files, then even REINSTALLED THE WHOLE GAME; the works all to no avail.
Then I had a genius idea. So I thought. Maybe it was the Nvidia update that was messing up. So I downloaded the last driver, loaded up the DDU, rolled it back, restart, loaded the game. Still no sound, but now on top of that every time I start the game her Xbox controller vibrates endlessly and doesn't stop until I close the game, or open windows game bar.
I'm at my wits end. Please help if you can, fellow Dwellers.
EDIT: I run the game on a modern desktop PC from Steam. I have had no issues with the audio so I'm not sure if it's an issue with her PC, or the Windows version of the game.

“The final step in the acceptance process for this position is simple. Fill out the forms on this document.” The man speaking hands me a clipboard and I glance at the paper on it. The sheet of paper, at a glance, looks normal enough until I try to find the bottom of it. I spend a full minute and a half trying to reach the bottom of the document, before I finally come to the bottom of the page.
“Huh… Okay, so maybe this is real.” I say, as I take in the physical impossibility of the document before me. It’s a small piece of paper and yet there are tens of thousands of words on it, which find a physics-defying way to both be legible and also fit on the paper. This is the first bit of evidence that the man waiting for me to fill out the paper is not fucking with me.
“So you still believed I was fucking with you huh?” The man asks, and he smiles darkly at me. I let out a quiet laugh at my expense and nod as I study the document. The words “Jump Document” are visible at the top of it.
The next words are “Generic Cubicle & Generic Gamer”, and beneath each of those phrases is a line splitting the document in half. “Generic Cubicle” has a number of options beneath it, each of which denotes a type of job, and a brief description of some of the benefits selecting it would offer, “Perks”. The options are Admin, Call Center, Data Entry, and Developer. On the other hand the “Generic Gamer” option is filled with a litany of boxes that need to be checked off, some of which have already been checked off for me.
I glance at the “Generic Cubicle” section of the paper and study the listed benefits of the different options. I am armed with the knowledge that this will be my “Day Job”, the activity that I do from 9-5 every weekday for the next decade, barring stuff like sick days and vacation days, assuming all goes well. I consider the different options and try to think of which of them would require the least movement so that I can best ignore the pain in my leg whenever I try to walk. I ultimately select “Data Entry” and when I do I am asked to finalize my decision by a box that appears on the form, once more showcasing how all of this is supernatural. I review the listed “perks” and I nod at the paper, filling in the box with a simple checkmark.
I then focus on the next section of the paper; the “Generic Gamer Jump” section. This one has a multitude of boxes for me to pick from, and I note that it’s split into different sections. The first two sections are already filled out: “Difficulty” which is set to “Easy”, and “Setting” which is set to “Modern”. The first area, of two, areas I can fill out is dubbed “Perks”. The second, and at a glance the more exciting section, is labeled “Gamer System”.
I decide to do everything in order, starting with the “Perk” section. I skim through the first set of perks, 9 different things that at a glance seem to be focused on something akin to D&D-style ability scores. I consider the state of my body, I have long suffered from a somewhat significant physical disability to the point that my cane is on the floor next to me and I have a bag in front of me that contains painkillers for my leg. So… I am not a fighter.
There is a “Discount” thing on this piece of paper that says that I can take 4 of the perks that cost 100 “CP” for free, 3 of the 200 CP ones for 100 CP each, 2 400 CP ones for half off, and a single 600 CP one for half-off. This adds up to 1000 points, which is my budget according to a small section of text underneath the areas for setting and difficulty. I begin to study the options before me a little bit more in-depth, looking for options that might allow me to lessen the risks I have to take.
My physical disability is something that I’ve already been told I can’t undo with one “Jump” which, according to the man in front of me, is a decade-long stint in a new place where my assignment is simple: survive and live an, by my standards, interesting life. This figure has already explained, back when I thought he was pulling my leg but still promised to pay me a few thousand dollars for my time, that he is planning to film something akin to a reality TV show and he wants to get participants from all over the world, including me. So I keep that limit about my physical disability in mind as I review the options before me.
The 100 CP perks are all enhancements to various RPG stats, from intelligence which is boosted by a perk named “Beautiful Mind” to charisma which is boosted by a perk named “Silver Tongue”. I quickly pick the ones that boost my non-physical traits, “Beautiful Mind”, “Well Of Wisdom”, “Silver Tongue” and, “The Devil’s Own Luck”. The next section of perks all revolve around someone’s role in a party, a group of adventurers or something like that. I quickly select three of them, “The Face”; a straight charisma-booster that makes me supernaturally adept at persuading people to do things, “Healer”; a perk that enhances my ability to heal people in a range of ways, and “Support”; a perk which enhances my leadership skills and allows me to buff and boost my allies, and passively debuff my enemies. It looks like my initial build is the dreaded and powerful charisma main, something that will definitely do well in a social world or setting like the one I’m about to visit.
The 400 CP perks are harder to choose between since they are very different from the past perks. These ones are about strategies in video games and incorporating them into real boosts and buffs. I spend a full minute on this section, before I pick a simply and honestly named perk dubbed “Experience Booster” and another named “Progressing Difficulty”. “Progressing Difficulty” is a strange perk that makes the world around me operate on the concept of scaling and experience, so that as I get more experienced with things more challenges come to me. It’s potentially a really handy tool, one that I quite like, and selecting it is not difficult, though a part of me regrets that I can’t grab a few other perks from here.
The final set of perks cost 600 “CP” each, one is named “Hyperspecialized” and the other is named “Master of All”. They are about equally powerful but in opposite directions. I quickly select “Master of All” so that I can be a more skilled jack of all trades since I have been told that I’ll be visiting many different worlds and experiencing all sorts of things over the course of my employment; my “Chain” as the man looking at me once called it. “Master of All” allows me to train all of my skills, powers, and abilities
After this it’s time for me to fill out the section of this document about my “Gamer System”. A few bits are already filled out, some freebies that “Uncap” me, and allow me to interface with the system. I smile as soon as I see the first purchasable option I take, something called a “Gamer’s Body”. This effectively nullifies my disability, though it doesn’t cure it outright, because my disability is pain-based. I can’t walk because my legs hurt when I do, but the tier of the thing I am selecting nullifies this by preventing pain and injuries from impairing me. This is just one of the abilities of the option that I like, but I know better than to waste some points on the remaining upgrade. One neat facet of it is that it, even at the level I’m paying for, it removes my need to sleep, eat, or drink, which massively extends how much time I functionally have in a decade by ridding me of my need to tend to basic bodily needs. I also pay the full cost for “Gamer’s Mind” a perk that grants me immunity to mind control and makes me the true master of myself as well as making it impossible to read my mind.
For the next few minutes I make several choices one after the other. I grab both the HP and MP system options, I grab the mini-map and threat cursor perks so I can have an advanced warning system for when I’m in danger, I select the classic options: Skills, Attributes, Levels, at various tiers, spending a good number of my points in one go, but still have enough for one more option of decent power. I grab the “Inventory” option, which will surely be quite handy. This costs me all of my points, which is a bit disappointing since there’s more stuff I could choose from that would be quite handy…
Another checkbox appears and asks me if I’m done making my choices. It warns me that once I do this there’ll only be one more chance for review, and that that chance will come in a moment. I glance back at my options and study them with a smile before I fill in the checkbox and I watch the contents of the paper change. This time I get to see “Drawbacks” challenges I can overcome or face down that award me more points. The first set of drawbacks is linked to “Generic Cubicle”. I study them and opt to select one: “No Background”. This drawback prevents me from getting new memories from before I jumped into the setting. This gives me 200 additional points to spend on this half of the jump document, which I am asked to allocate immediately. The choice is easy, I select a perk named “Motivator”, which makes me good at good at motivating people to care for their jobs.
I didn’t really make a whole lot of choices relative to this particular half of the jump doc. I got every perk and one item marked “Data Entry”, a special white board, as well as two non data entry perks, “Teamworker” and “Motivator”, and a single “Item”: “Corporate Rulebook”. I am asked to definitively finalize my “Generic Cubicle” options, which I do with a smile.
I focus my attention on the last thing I need to do before I go into the “Jump”: select any drawbacks from “Generic Gamer Jump”. This time there are two types of drawbacks, one is called “Flaws” and refers to drawbacks that permanently affect the system. I immediately ignore these ones, and as I do I hear the man watching me chuckle. I quickly wonder if he knows what I’m picking and choosing in real time, before I decide to operate under the assumption that my suspicions about him are correct. I quickly find two that seem worth taking: one is the third iteration of a drawback called “Tutorial Sprite” which seems annoying but also seems like free points. The other is a drawback that I can definitely cheese named “New Game” which locks me out of anything I purchased anywhere else but this jump, and as soon as I take it I hear the man watching me audibly laugh.
“Good pick! Free points are in fact always worth taking.” The man remarks brightly, showing me real emotion for the first time since I met him in person earlier tonight. There is an unnerving look in his eyes, and I quickly look away as I turn to the paper in front of me and immediately begin to allocate the points I’ve earned by taking on drawbacks.
900 points… I know that I need to allocate some of them to my gamer system, but as I consider where to allocate them I begin to strategize about what I’ll actually do in the jump itself.
I’m going to a seemingly mundane world, one where the only supernatural being should be me. I can take advantage of this if I’m smart right now. I can safely do a lot with these extra points since among other things I’ll have a chance to grow in a safe environment so long as I do my “job” and don’t get fired, something which would be really bad according to my actual boss.
I quickly decide to focus my points in a few key areas, purchasing some stranger perks: “Font of Magic”, “Supersensory”, and “Tough as Nails” which improve my constitution, my ability to use magic and enhance my senses. That reduces my total leftover points to 600 points, and I buy two 200 CP perks: “Tank” and “Jack Of All Trades”. That further boosts my durability, and also makes me more adaptive and flexible, able to quickly learn new skills. This also reduces my total points to 200 CP, which I know what to do with immediately: I convert the points into GP, “Gamer Points”, and purchase one boost to my system: “Magic System”. That costs me the last of my points, but the actual benefit it gives me is a magic system I can go ahead and begin to use from the minute I enter the setting, one with no upper limit that will continually improve so long as I hone it and work to improve my own ability to cast spells. There are still things I wish I could buy, but those are all the drawbacks I feel safe taking and in all honesty I am quite satisfied with what I’ve purchased.
I get asked one last time to finalize my choices, and the text next to the box warns me that when I fill this out I’ll be teleported to my new workplace, and I’ll begin to feel all of the effects of my perks and drawbacks over. I glance up at my boss and he is smiling at me, waiting for me to do something. I look back at the empty checkbox and review my choices one more time.
At this point I’ve seen enough supernatural stuff to believe what the man watching me has told me. If I fill in this checkbox I’ll be going on a multiversal adventure, one leading me to new places and allowing me to meet supposedly fictional beings in the worlds they exist in. It’ll be years, from my perspective, before I see anyone I know again. And in the meantime I’ll be gathering skills, making friends, going on adventures, and having all sorts of experiences. If I say no I’ll leave and never get this offer again. If I die on this adventure… Well, my boss advised me not to die without a “1-Up”, but has assured me that such a death wouldn’t be the end in the way that I think. If I stay here I’ll be stuck in a boring world with a physical disability and a penchant for nerdiness that has only minimally helped me in my personal life. The choice I’m faced with isn’t even really a choice… I nod at my boss and the hand of mine equipped with the pen fills in the checkbox.
The last I see of my boss is him flashing me a weirdly shark-like grin even as my surroundings blur and I suddenly find myself in a small room in front of a computer. A man is beside me, his sweaty hands gripping my shoulder.
“And this is your cubicle! It’s prime real estate in the office. I’m so glad I could give it to such an enterprising young man.” The man tells me. I turn to face him and smile. I have just enough memories to know that this man is the human resources official who is the company’s local hiring manager and that I’ve spent the last few minutes being introduced to company policies and standard operating behaviors by him and a few other human resource workers.
“Thank you Hank. I think I got it from here. You said I have a few videos I need to watch right?” I ask him, and he nods brightly at me. He proceeds to log onto the computer for me, telling me that I’ll be able to change my password and username later once I’ve watched some of the videos, and then gets out of my way.
“Lunch is done in shifts, so that we always have some staff ready to go in case we need them. You’re a newcomer so your lunch will be on our second shift, at 12:30. Watching the videos will probably take you a good chunk of today, so if today you’re in the office for the remainder of the day and you don’t get any real work done don’t stress it. Tomorrow should be your first real day.” The man tells me, clearly a jovial and cheerful sort. I can see why he’s human resources, he has the sort of disarming presence that makes you want to trust him or at least let your guard down around him. He talks for a bit longer, and we make chitchat before I hear his phone vibrate in his pocket. He excuses himself and as he walks away I shiver as I feel my perks beginning to turn on.
I intuitively know that some of them have already been on. I don’t feel any pain in my leg, which is a sign that “Gamer’s Body” is working, and I feel the firmness and toned nature of my new body, showcasing the stuff offered by “Silver Tongue”. I smile as I focus on the computer and I begin navigating it, using some of my own, real-world knowledge mixed with my perk and background-granted knowledge to deftly get to the company’s website. The company is some sort of insurance provider and I quickly navigate it and get onto the part of the website reserved for employees, before a few more quick button presses get me to the section where the orientation videos are located. I click on the first of the videos and am surprised to see an animation begin to play on my computer monitor. I grin and sit back, watching the video with an amused look as I feel more of the perks I’ve purchased begin to stir to life within me.

As the title says I "upgraded" to an AX210 wi-fi card in my Mech 15-G2 (i7-8750H, 2070 Max-Q) because I was having Bluetooth connectivity issues, and awful wi-fi issues, where no matter how close to a router I was, the connection was dookie. I still have the same Wi-Fi issues, but that's not my problem (I just started to use a Wi-Fi dongle as a band-aid fix). I was never able to get a reliable connection with Bluetooth with the old card (choppy shit audio, dropping connection after 60 sec), and now with the new card I cant remove, add, or connect any Bluetooth devices.
What I've done so far: Clean Win11 install Upgrade drivers Roll back drivers Remove all Bluetooth drivers and install fresh new drivers with Driver Store Explorer Disable Hands-Free Telephony (when BT worked) Download + install stock drivers from the eluktronics website in hopes that *something* would work
What I haven't done: Touched the registry
I'm completely lost at this point, and any help would be fantastic.

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The Weeping of Podlings Sustains My Rage! - Warbound N44/Naxen
Chief Warrant Officer-Two Reklak hustled onto the dropship. It was an older model, but aboard the Gray Lady, everything was obsolete or an older model. He had on his firm-plate armored flight suit, his helmet, and his pistol at his side. He moved up the ramp, glanced and frowned with confusion at the four closest to the ramp. On both sides, in the first two seats, were Terrans only wearing a basic uniform and a breathing mask. He shook his head as he kept going, past the two columns of dismount troops, two squads of Telkan Marines and two squads of Terran Army, both species clad in heavy power armor. On either side of the dismount doors in the middle of the troop bay were more Terrans wearing only the standard adaptive camouflage and breathing masks. The ramp started moving up as he went through the crew space, where the communications/sensors, electronic warfare, damage control, and weapons crew were already strapped in.
His co-pilot, one First Lieutenant Samantha Samuel TiklakIk Raiderson was already strapped in. The large Terran was already going through the pre-flight checks. He got into his seat, strapped himself in, and started doing his section of the pre-flight checks.
Weapons Control reported Green. ECM/ECCM reported green. Damage Control reported green. Communications reported green. External mass tanks green.
It was startling to see he had six green mantid engineers on board.
Green mantids were somewhat rare in the service, unlike when the Gray Lady was commissioned.
Only three of the dismount crew had them. There was 8814 and 2289, Telkan Marine Armor Engineers, the other was 774, a Terran Army Combat Engineer.
That there was only three numbers for that green mantid was surprising.
He continued with the checks.
Once those were done, he checked the status of the dismount crew.
Captain Nakwel, Telkan Marines, was reporting his team was green across the board. First Lieutenant Jacobell was reporting the Terran Army troopers were ready.
Then came the permission to take off.
Easy peasy.
Once they were away from the Gray Lady they took a looping course to nearly two light hours away from the Gray Lady.
It was only a nine hour flight, even under power.
Chief Reklak noted that the Telkan Marines were just as active as ever. Chatting across the linkages, getting up to stretch or otherwise work off nervous energy and get the kinks out of their muscles. Napping then taking hits off of the nutripaste.
The Terrans didn't move.
Reklak had to admit it was almost creepy. The suits of heavy power armor, adorned with spikes and made of grey alloy, just sat motionless. Not even inter-suit communication.
The only sign they gave of life was a verbal checkin by their CO. He listened in once.
"Corporal Narwhaler," the CO said.
"Online, sir," the Terran Army "heavy weapons specialist" stated.
"I have four apples. A Mar-gite has stolen one. What do I have?" the Lieutenant asked.
"Three apples and Mar-gite chunky salsa," the Corporal answered.
"Jacobell, out," was all the officer said.
Reklak frowned. That didn't make sense.
He checked the flight profile, doublechecking the autopilot was still keeping them 'in the pipe' as the ship moved through the rings the computer put on the semi-transparent HUD it projected on the inside of the dropship's forward smartglass.
Finally, at hour seven, he looked over at his co-pilot.
"Done this before?" he asked.
The Terran turned her head to face him. For a moment, the visor was completely opaque and Reklak felt a little intimidated. Then it went clear, to reveal a Terran female with short cut blonde hair, freckles on her cheeks, pearlescent blue cyber-eyes, and tan skin.
"A few," she said. "You?"
"Move through space to board a disabled ship of an unknown species?" he asked.
The Terran nodded slowly.
"No," he said.
The Terran's faceshield went black again and they turned to stare out the forward windows.
It was weird. He had read that Terrans were known to be chatty, passing back and forth memes, bragging, laughing, and other interactions.
Instead, he'd met robots with more personality than the Terrans.
He listened in on the Terran channel for a moment.
"Sergeant Tgonga, check," the 1LT again.
"Gary, sir," was the rumbling reply.
"Out," there was a click. "Sergeant Natchez, check."
"Gary, sir."
"Out."
Reklak sighed and switched channels. Four of the Telkan Marines were tossing memes back and forth at each other. He watched for a minute. They were mostly Kawral memes, which weren't his favorite. He went back to staring at the rings slowly moving by.
"Your metrics are up," his co-pilot suddenly said. "Do your mantras, Chief."
Reklak glanced at the sidebar on his visor's HUD. His heartbeat and blood pressure were slightly up. He sighed, closed his eyes, and recited his mantras.
Time slowly went by.
He tagged his overhead HUD tag with 'sleeping' and closed his eyes. He recited his mantra and was asleep halfway through the second recitation.
"Wake up, Chief," the Terran's voice was calm, undisturbed. "We're in sensor range of the target."
Reklak shook his head, tabbing up a piece of stimgum and chewing on it.
Before being assigned to the Gray Lady he would have thought the derelict was large. Nearly three kilometers long, three hundred meters thick. It looked like a chunk of sedimentary rock that had broken along the bedding planes. It was multiple levels, the scanners counted twenty, of a silvery metal. There were massive holes in the sides, part of the rear section was missing, and a chunk was missing from the top.
Reklak moved the ship in a slow corkscrew that let the scanners play over the entire surface, looped around, and slowly caught back up to the drifting ship.
"Got an atmospheric reading," Staff Sergeant Pruwak said. "Bottom of Crater Epsilon."
Reklak shifted the dropship around the derelict, Crater Epsilon coming into view.
The crater had a whitish-yellow mist at the bottom.
"Sensors say it's a nitrogren-ammonia-methane mix," SSG Pruwak said. "Low oxygen content. Looks like some fire damage, probably from methane/oxygen interaction with flame exposure."
Reklak triggered a scan with the landing sensors.
"Derelict has artificial gravity, that's why the atmosphere hasn't left the crater, unknown why it hasn't turned to frozen crystals," Pruwak added.
There was easily enough room to land the dropship. He triggered the wings to fold in and the hull to reconfigure for landing.
His co-pilot kept her hands off the stick, kept them folded in her lap, looking for all the world like Reklak had tucked a mannequin into the co-pilot seat to skirt regs.
The dropship bumped and settled. He activated the grav-system, keeping the grav-anchors at roughly a tenth of a meter long.
"Dismount crew, status?" Reklak asked.
"Team One, Ready," the Terran reported almost before he'd finished speaking.
"Team Two, Ready," the Telkan Captain said.
"Lowering rear ramp," Reklak said. He hit the stud and could feel the vibration of the ramp lowering. Then the slight shaking of the power armored troops leaving the dropship.
"Deployed," the Telkan Captain said.
The Terran officer just flashed his icon twice.
"Keep commo open. We'll be ready for a hot dustoff," Reklak said.
"Roger," the Captain said.
The Terran officer just flashed his icon twice.
Reklak started to lean back when the Terran co-pilot spoke.
"Raise the ramp," she said.
"What if they need to come back in a hurry?" Reklak asked. "SOP to keep the ramp lowered."
"Good way to get a Mar-gite or twenty in here with us before we know it," 1LT Raiderson said. She paused for a moment. "Or worse."
Reklak reached out and hit the switch to close the rear ramp.
He pretended not to notice 1LT Raiderson reach down and hit the power-cell for her heavy magac pistol.
Jaskel looked around. The shot that had created the crater had only penetrated roughly a hundred meters into the vessel's hull, leaving huge cliff walls around the two hundred meter hole. The whole thing was filled with thick yellowish-white fog.
"Check out the Terrans," Corporal Presjak, second squad, said over the channel.
"What about them?" Gunny Zolpad asked, turning to look.
There were two Terrans visible, standing next to the side door, two at the back of the dropship where the ramp was raising.
They were only wearing adaptive camouflage, boots, fingerless gloves, and breathing masks.
Two of the big Terrans, easily eight feet tall and over a meter across the shoulders, moved up to Captain Nakwel. One saluted, fingertips touching just above his eyes.
Jaskel noted that the breathing mask didn't cover the Terran's eyes. He wondered how the Terran's eyes weren't frosted over.
"Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Louis O'Sharma," the Terran said. "Terran Polyphasic Infantry. We're assigned to your men, one per squad."
"Uh, where are you weapons?" Captain Nakwel asked.
The Terran male held up a big fist. "Implanted, sir. You'll want to put us near the front of the squads to engage any Mar-gite or heavy enemy."
Captain Nakwel nodded. His implant was only tossing back that the SFC had implanted weaponry, no other capabilities.
"All right. You go with Second Squad," Captain Nakwel said.
"McMartinez, that squad," the big Terran said.
The Terran he was looking at nodded and moved over next to PFC Hetrik.
The one that had been speaking moved over to Gunny Zolpad and Jaskel.
"Sergeant First Class McSharma, Terran Army," the Terran said. They reached up and pulled the breathing mask away, taking a slow deep breath. "High nitrogen, high ammonia, high methane, presence of oxygen. Presence of hydrogen and water vapor."
"You can breathe that?" Private Xulrek asked. "Then why are you wearing the breathing mask."
"So I don't use any of my mass in vacuum," the Terran said. They reached up and tapped their nose. "Hydrogen and water vapor would be the byproducts of something that breathes the major components of this atmosphere," they looked back down at the power armor clad Telkan. "We may encounter non-Mar-gite creatures that may put up an intelligence resistance."
Jaskel blinked rapidly.
--he isnt wrong-- 8814 said. --new round templates are loaded up weapons ready and loaded with new ammo---
"I don't get it, it's lye," Jaskel said, moving to get behind the big Terran, who was larger than Jaskel even in his power armor.
--NaOH eats silicon like podling eat cookie-- 8814 said.
"McSharma, take point. Jaskel, up next. Xulrek, five meter separation when able," Gunny Zolpad said.
"Waypoints incoming. Keep your mapping software updates at five second intervals," Captain Nakwel ordered.
Jaskel saw a wireframe of the crater appear, with a dozen openings leading out at 'ground' level. He could tell by the orientation of the passages that the gravity would twist ninety degrees.
The floor of the crater was basically the wall.
The Terran moved smoothly, easily, and Jaskel noted that it was almost power-armor movement.
They moved up to the first opening, the Terran easily making the ninety-degree transition. He helped Jaskel, Jaskel helped Xulrek, Xulrek helped the next man in line.
They moved deeper, the corridor full of mist.
The Terran paused, leaning forward and pressing his tongue against the metal. The Terran stepped back and spit.
Jaskel saw the data get passed back.
**No liquid or memetic polyalloy detected. No pico or nanoscale devices present. Primary construction element is maraging steel: high vanadium and titanium content, high nickel content, high chromium external layer with rapid dropoff of chromium content further into metal structure. Percentages incoming** appeared on his visor with "SFC MCSHARMA" at the end.
"You can tell all that just from tasting it?" Jaskel asked, keeping his voice low.
"Yes," the Terran said.
The corridor ended in twisted wreckage. Jaskel's armor highlighted live power conduits, what looked like data conduits, and what looked like piping, all twisted together with the metal.
"Back or forward?" Jaskel asked.
There was silence for a moment.
"NavInt wants it cleared if you can," Captain Nakwel said. "Let the Terran do the work, Jaskel."
"Roger."
The Terran moved forward, grabbing the struts and wreckage. Jaskel noted that his bare fingers impressed deeply into the material. The Terran began pulling it to the side. Four times the Terran stuck a finger into liquid and tasted. Three times it sniffed vapors leaking from pipes. Once it wrapped a hand around a glowing conduit and closed his eyes.
Compressed datastreams went by on the channel.
"Oh, great," the Terran said.
Jaskel moved up. "What?"
"Got remains here," the Terran said. He kneeled down. "I hate this."
"What?" Jaskel asked.
The Terran looked over the crushed body. It was hard for Jaskel to even tell what it was. It looked like multiple tentacles with one side covered with suckers and bone hooks. There was a round section, crushed and mangled, shards of bone and cartilage poked out of the shredded flesh. He could see at least a half dozen eyes, most ruptured.
"Get imagery, Jaskel," the Terran rumbled.
Jaskel carefully had his suit log the image.
"Done," Jaskel said.
"Ew, I hate this part. It's gross," the Terran complained.
It dipped a finger in one of the pools of fluid, orangish-yellow, and then put its finger in its mouth. It repeated it with several different fluids, then picked up a scrap of flesh and put it in its mouth. After a few seconds it spit it out, pulled a canteen out, swished his mouth out, and spit on the floor.
"Gross. Silicate XNA creature, messy XNA structure," the Terran said, standing up. "NavInt and genetic warfare are going to have a field day."
"Why?" Jaskel asked. "I mean, I get the NavInt part, but why do you have to taste it?"
"Best chemical analyzer with the heaviest protection I can field," the Terran said, shrugging and sticking out his tongue. "More receptors per micrometer than you could ask for."
"Ew," Jaskel said.
"Yeah, ew," the Terran said.
Jaskel's ultrasonic mapping showed him that the corridor ended in a flat surface. As they got closer what was obviously an irised door appeared out of the fog.
The Terran moved forward and touched it.
"Vibration. Has power," he said.
"How can I hear you?" Jaskel finally asked.
"Tracheal and mastoid implants," the Terran said. He put his hand on the door. "Where are you, where are you," he said softly.
"I don't see any controls," Jaskel said. His hand went to his side. "Fusion cutter?"
"No, these guys are one-trick pony, they'll have the same overly clever idea all of the others had and... found it," the Terran said. He had one hand on the wall and as Jaskel watched he spread his thumb out to a 90 degree angle from his fingers. "You got a greenie, right?"
"Yeah," Jaskel said suspiciously.
"How's his telemechanics rating?" the Terran asked.
--class IIB-- 8814 said.
"Class IIB," Jaskel said.
"Not strong enough. Damn," the Terran said. He moved his hand and used his thumbnail to scratch a square in the metal. "Fusion torch at two millimeter extension, cut that out."
Jaskel moved up, grabbing his fusion torch and adjusting it.
"What's going on, Gunny? You've stopped again," Captain Nakwel said.
"Have an intact door, Terran says atmosphere on the other side," Gunny Zolpad said.
"Keep me posted," the Captain said. "Out."
Jaskel cut it and as soon as the cut was finished he saw that amid the wiring and piping there was a simple press button.
"Psykers," the Terran snorted. "Can't put the button where the normies can find it. Relay to your Gunny that the door can be opened."
"Now what?" Jaskel asked after letting Gunny Zolpad know.
He could see on his HUD that the squad was moving to either side of the corridor.
"You open the door, I'll stand in front of it. Whoever is on the other side shoots at me, you back me up," the Terran said. He flashed a grin. "Easy peasy matron squeezie."
"Are your sure? I'm in power armor, you're in... uh... duty uniform," Jaskel said.
"I'm sure," the Terran said. He knelt down on one knee, opposite fist against the deck, head raised, other hand in a fist and by his waist, other leg bent slightly and the toe of his boot pressed against the deck.
"Gunny?" Jaskel asked.
"Captain said go ahead, his funeral," Gunny answered.
Jaskel pressed the button.
The door irised open.
The other side was revealed. Three creatures looking like they were made of black metal and random chunks of chrome, all writhing tentacles around a thick tubular body, glowing green eyes, and a huge cavernous mouth full of spiraling rows of sharp teeth. Past that were two beings of crystalline beauty, sparkling and shining in the dim white light, organs suspended in the large central trunk, the brownish red blood visible as it pumped through veins. Behind that was another creature.
It had a rounded head/body, with easily a dozen writhing mechanical tentacles. Eight larger red eyes, six smaller green ones, across the forward part of the head. From the body was ten thick appendages, with three thick blades at the end of each tentacle. It was obviously armored, heavy plating, with multiple joints on the appendages, with green lights above and below the joint and on each side.
The three of black metal lunged forward, giving a loud atonal shriek. The ones in the back, all crystal, gave a shriek that rippled the air and made Jaskel's phasic shielding jump to 65% instantly. The one all the way in the back whipped its tentacles furiously in the air.
Jaskel was looking right at the Terran when it happened.
The Terran was already coming up to his feet with a roar of aggression that made the floor shiver. It suddenly got larger somehow, the uniform vanishing as the Terran roared into the face of the creatures it was lunging toward.
Molten warsteel poured from the Terran's mouth.
It's eyes burned red.
It slammed into the creatures on the other side of the door even as Jaskel yelled "CONTACT!" over the comlink.
It was shredding tentacles, grabbing a handful of them and twisting, ripping them apart, the fingerless gloves giving the Terran excellent purchase for its grip.
It roared as energy bolts impacted the skin, doing nothing more than creating pretty showers of sparks.
All Jaskel could do was just stare at the Terran, now easily four meters tall, all muscle, the uniform shirt gone, leaving behind only the equipment belt, trousers, and boots. Spikes erupted from the Terran's skin, heavy bone-spurs, curved and wickedly sharp looking. Its skin was dark gray, almost dusty looking.
--eeeeeeeeeeeeeee--
"HOLY SHIT!" someone yelled over the comlink.
One. Each.
[First Contact] [Dark Ages] [First] [Prev] [Next] [wiki]

Some backstory. My family swapped to tmhi last summer, our old provider being HTC. Our speeds on HTC would average around 30 up, 10 down on the best days, throughout the entire house. Half those numbers on average days. On bad days, it remains in the single digits for both. Plenty of times we'd lose connection throughout the entire house and HTC would just respond with "lol sunspots" or something about how there's nothing they can do.
With tmobile, we were given the Sagemcom Fast 5688W Gateway and boy it's like night and day. Download speeds are constantly over 100 mbs throughout all of the house except the furthest points from the gateway, even hitting 300 at times in my room where the Gateway is. And we never had a problem with the entire house losing internet connection all at once. This is a great thing, since my dad is very into being peer pressured by our neighbors so we have a ton of devices that are connecting to the internet at any given point. Three laptops, 3 tvs, 3 phones, his smart watch, a nintendo switch, 4 alexa devices, 3-4 cameras, a weather vane, 2 thermostats and for some reason this thermometer to tell you the temp of meat from a distance while it's being cooked? Anyway, it's a lot of stuff fighting for their lives out there, and he occasionally comes home with more things that get tossed aside in like 2 weeks.
Now, the problem comes in the last two months. My parent's laptops both occasionally started to lose internet connection throughout the day for a minute or two at a time. This is frustrating my dad to no end and he wants to swap back to HTC, which is more expensive, significantly slower and when it messes up, it messes up the entire house for long periods of time instead of just two devices. I would like to try to find a way to remedy this so I can go back to the blissful few months of no one complaining about the internet for any reason.
So far I've come up with:

• Moving the gateway from my room to somewhere downstairs. My room is currently the "ideal" spot for it, as it's on the second floor and has a window facing a tower. The tower can literally be seen from here. There's another window on the first floor that faces the same tower so I figured that might help? Or maybe somewhere in the middle of the house?
  
• Getting a wifi extender. If the problem is a weak signal to only 2 devices, maybe we just need to use one of these and have those two laptop connect to it?
  
• I read somewhere about disabling band steering via the app, but frankly I do not understand how best to use this. Would I make it so those two laptops connect to the slower, but wider, 2.4ghz? Do I assume those two laptops just keep swapping frequencies, causing the temporary drops, and force everything onto the 5ghz?
  

I've been told to make sure the Gateway isn't overheating too, but it's fine and I have it near a fan. And yeah that's about it. If someone could explain to me about band steering, or have any other ways I could potentially stop those devices from losing connection, I'd really appreciate it! Sorry if this isn't the right place for all of this!

I am using a media player in gaming mode to listen while I play, but the PS5 controller keeps vibrating whenever the song plays and stops when the song stops. Not sure if that’s normal vibration or the haptic feedback. Tried multiple media players, and tried disabling rumble setting for the controller but to no avail. How can I stop the vibration?

I purchased a ps5 scuf when they dropped, the fps version which has no vibrations. It was the first controller I’d ever had that didn’t have vibration and while I know most serious gamers turn it off anyways, it was a bit of an adjustment but I did like how incredibly light the controller was. Fast forward to the inevitable stick drift that started to happen(unplayable amounts) and I decided to get its replacement. I shopped other brands but ultimately I already liked the triggers, paddles, and feel of the scuf and didn’t want to change anything or get used to something else so I just ordered the same one I had. I get it and this thing feels like a brick. I realize it still has the vibrating components… they just don’t work. They literally charge $10 to disable something that is already there. Not even remove it. Essentially you pay for them to break your controller but just a little bit.

(Greetings, folks. I have no idea what this is, nor will I elaborate. Just know that I wanted to do something and this is what it became. This is an homage to u/CaptainMatthew1 and his fic, The Nature of Knights, the idea behind the Knights inspired me to write this. [Though I may have modified them a lot].)

Unwandered Ways - The Scout (3/3)

{Rewinding transcription: 2 minutes}
{Transcription subject: Espazil, Krakotl Exterminator}
The first bomb fell three blocks away, east side of the city. The factory departments would be glass soon, and we'd be predator-feed or worse.
I wasn't the only Exterminator sitting in the middle of the darkened Guild Office, waiting for the End of Venlil Prime. We sat in a rough circle, braced against each other, kinetics and flamers at the ready in case the Aruxr decided that we were an easy target. We'd seen shapes moving outside, whether they were prey or predator mattered little to head Exterminator Oslon and his deputy Lurga, they simply wanted the Office to remain standing as long as possible to stem the tide of greys that would absolutely appear at any moment.
I could hear the screams of those left outside, those Inatala had forsaken so that we could protect the rest. What was a few lives to pay for the salvation of everyone else? That was why we remained here, to save the people here from the greys.
So why are we doing nothing?!
A shuddering crack echoed above the room as particles of dust rained from the ceiling. I looked up to see a crack just to the right of our formation. A slight vibration caused the crack to become longer, until finally, the ceiling came crashing down. Next to our now scattered forms sat a cylindrical metal casing. A hiss and thump found its way into my ear canal as I sat up. I gripped my flamer tighter as the hissing grew louder.
The metal case opened slightly, dark smoke pouring out of the crack. I could hear coughing and wheezing as the door slammed open and a figure collapsed onto the ground, retching. "Ouph. Sycul, please remind me never to choose the light pods again." The voice from the figure was light and airy, even with the smoke inhalation. Its back was toward us as it got to its knees.
A robotic voice responded in kind, "Adding, 'never choose the light pods' to Operator Lockheed's reminders. You now have forty-three separate reminders to 'never choose the light pods'."
"Thank you, Sycul. Mark the route to Groundhog and Mad Matty. Let's see if we can't get there before those lizard bastards do."
"Marking route. One mile to Operator Groundhog, three and a half miles to Operator Madman."
"Cool, let's head out." The thing stood up, revealing two thin, bowed prosthetic legs. They looked made for running as they bent and arched with the creature's movements. They wore a form of armor I'd never seen before. Metal covered their thighs from the sides, their lower and upper torso, and their head was covered in a steel-plate helmet. A dark red frill of hair sprouted along the top and moved down in a straight line to the nape of the thing's neck. Under the armor was a grey mesh-like material that shined in the light from the windows. The creature tilted forward, touching one end of their prosthetics then the other, stretching. "One, two, three, four, five... Okay, let's go." The thing turned to us, froze, and backed away swiftly on its weird legs. We did the same, I could see the slits inlaid into its helmet. Forward-facing eyes were definitely concealed under that mask.
We sat there for a moment, both sides stunned into silence. Then, slowly, the predator lifted their left forearm to their torso and began typing on a holopad. "Liberator," it said, still eyeing us. "This is Lockheed L1, I've got... seven armed peacekeeper-looking folks at my drop point. They look scared and I kinda figure getting closer would be a bad move. Thoughts?"
A voice came from the holopad, "Hey love, it's Ordie, we read you but we're unsure as to what course of action should be taken. For now, focus on rendezvousing with Groundhog and Madman, we'll content you three once we're able to drop more Knights."
"Thanks, Ordie, love you, don't die up there."
A stuttering growl emanated from the holopad as the predator closed the call, "No promises."
"Sycul, display geo. I need to know where I'm going." The screen on the predator's arm switched to a map of the area, a red line running from the center to the eastern side of the city. The beast looked up at us, tipped their head, unholstered a small kinetic sidearm, and shattered through a window to the ground, a story below.
I lept toward the window with my flamer in claw. Looking down, I saw the predator roll as they landed, popping back up, ready to run. I felt the urge to follow them, knowing they were likely hunting other prey. Whatever those terms, 'Groundhog' and 'Madman', meant, it was likely codenames for other predators.
"Sir," I said hesitantly toward Oslon, "T-that thing is hunting, we need to go after it, as well as the rest of the predators. The people won't be able to defend themselves!"
Oslon, a Gojid, simply stood there with his spines raised under his chrome uniform. I could tell he was having difficulty organizing his thoughts through the fear chemicals. I turned back to the window only to see the creature running across the street at an incredible speed. Probably because of those legs, I thought to myself.
Taking note of my flamer-pack's weight, as well as the weapon itself, I knew I'd probably be able to glide down from the window to the street with relative ease. I might sprain myself, but I wasn't just going to let a predator with such speed run through our streets, and I sure as Inatala wasn't going to continue hiding from the thrice-blasted greys.
Making up my mind, I lept to the sill of the window, making ready to take flight. "Espazil! What are you doing, are you insane?!"
I turned back to see Lurga and Mori breaking from the group to grab me. Before they could get a tailfeather's length from me I let myself take the fall.
Instantly I felt my instincts take over as my wings opened to full billow, catching as much of the air as they could while I rapidly approached the ground. The stampede-proof concrete may be soft, but my bones were hollow and I didn't like my chances if I did end up miscalculation with VP's higher gravity.
Finally, I felt something in my brain click and the air caught on my wings, allowing me to glide a ways away from the Guild Office. As the ground approached I saw the sprinting predator stop right before turning a corner, looking at me. That startled me enough that I nearly fell flat on my beak as I came in for landing. It was rough, but I had worse during my time as an Exterminator on VP, curse it, and its high gravity.
Standing upright, making sure all of my gear was secured and correctly oriented, I slowly approached the now stationary predator. It glared at me through hollow slits, cut into the metal mask it was wearing, draining my confidence the closer I got.
It barked slightly as I stopped two tail-lengths away. "No need to be cautionary with me, bird. We've got the same goal right now. You want to kill those lizards, I want to go find my party and start doing the same."
I balked at the predator a bit before shaking off my discomfort. "Y-you can't t-trick me, predator. Inatala wishes for you to burn in holy flames, and I intend to go through with that wish."
"Fanatics. Of course. Welp, I'm gonna introduce myself so you can mark me up on whatever file you're gonna die writing. Name's Lockheed, codename. Human female. Light armor class Knight of the UNSC Oligarch ship, Liberator. 22nd Knight Cavalier, drop pod division. Light runner, light weapons specialist, AI coordination program. Both legs were blown off during the accident which garnered me my name. Need me to write that down or do you have it?"
I was left speechless at the sheer nonchalance the predator was displaying at the concept of being burned alive. I mean, sure, the Exterminators and Church of Inatala taught that predators couldn't feel pain, but I never really believed it, watching all of the clips of nests getting torched. This beast, however, was entirely unconcerned with anything I'd just said.
"W-what's a human," was all my beak was capable of uttering before hisses and stomps swept through the street. A small riding party of Arxur had appeared on the other end of the street and had taken notice of us.
"Alright, bird cultist, now's the time to do something. I've got to go find my friends and you've got to go get mental help, so either come with me or try to torch those bastards." The armored predator bounced on her prosthetics, ready to take off at a moment's notice.
"Uh- uhhh-" I looked around frantically.
"Too late!" The predator grabbed me by the wing and pulled me toward her, bullets flying past where I'd just been. She put two digits to her head, looking at the Arxur, and flicked them forward before we were off.
I'd experienced speed before. The Ring was a monorail that went around the habitable zone of Venlil Prime. It had to be fast to get everyone everywhere they needed to go. I'd also experienced speed during flights. What little of my adult life I'd spent on the colony of Moss Rock was plenty to let me fly around freely. This speed was entirely different. The Ring was a powered vehicle whose whole purpose was to go fast. Flying was a biological gift that allowed diving and swooping and all sorts of other athletic challenges. The female predator, though, they were moving faster on just two legs than I'd ever seen with someone on four. All the while I was waving through the air like a blue flag, trying to regain my footing on the ground passing by.
The voice I recognized as being named Sycul, spoke up. "Turn left, Groundhog is on the left, seventh building."
"Thanks, Sycul," the predator said, breathless. "Activate the cooling systems, I can feel the heat."
"Activating ACC systems."
I felt the airflow around us slow down as we began to stop, leaving me on the ground with shaking legs. "Wh-what was that," I asked, looking up at the predator.
The same barking escaped the metal-clad beast as it twirled its firearm with a claw and shoved it back into its holster. "That is SEBA, Speed Enhancing Body Augmentation. As I said, I lost my legs in an accident-"
"An accident that the senorita caused all on her own, mind you," came a much deeper, yet soft voice from the building we'd stopped outside of. I looked up to see a Yotul and a strange reflective dome staring back at me. "Lockheed, there, blew off her own legs while doing a combat simulation in the Lockheed LRA-43 Mk-2. The whole damn thing blew up in atmosphere, with only half the actual cockpit still intact. Legs were nowhere to be found."
"At least my name is derived from accidentally harming myself, instead of something else, Groundhog," the female predator rebutted.
"Espera un segundo, it happened once and I was able to fix the calibration before it happened again."
"Get down here so we can talk properly, I'm tired and don't really feel like going through all this before Mad Matty's able to hear about it. Also, introduce your friend and I'll introduce mine."
The dome and Yotul left the window as heavy footsteps stomped through the building. With growing horror, I saw a shadow cover the Mazic-sized door, easily encapsulating the entire thing. The door opened revealing a metal goliath unlike anything I'd ever seen. It had no discernable visibility, no visor or slits to see out of, but I could tell it was also the same race as Lockheed.
"Hola," the creature cried, stomping over to Lockheed and I and crouching down before wrapping Lockheed in the mightiest hug I'd ever seen. "Good to see you again Heed."
"You too, Groundhog, though try not to crush me. Ack!"
"Oh, mi malo. Didn't mean to break you!" The titan let out another halting growl. It took me a while, but I realized my translator was attempting to mark it down as laughter, but was having trouble because of the metallic overtone. "So, who'd the bird?"
Lockheed turned her head to look at me, "Don't know. Some sort of police or peacekeeper. My pod crashed right in the middle of their HQ. This one tried to get me for being a 'predator'."
"Rela, the Yotul here," Groundhog pointed toward the Yotul, Rela, "Is a weapon's mechanic. Or, studied weapons engineering. Something about racism causing problems with job postings."
I sputtered at that. The implication that we'd discriminate against one of our own based on race was preposterous. "Nonsense. We treat everyone with respect, the same we'd want to be treated with. Inatala teaches that all prey is a gift."
"Y'know, human cultures used to believe that prey are gifts too, just under a different pretense," Groundhog laughed. Lockheed punched him in his arm.
"No freakin' out the fanatic and mechanic." Groundhog accepted the punch without so much as a flinch, completely unaffected. "You able to meet up with Mad Matty? His locator says he was making his way here."
"Madman's been quiet on the radio since we dropped. If I had to guess, he's taken to butchering the Arxur. You know how he is once he starts." I couldn't be sure, but there seemed to be a hint of either exasperation or possibly fear in the titan's voice.
I didn't particularly like the implications of Groundhog's words. This 'Madman' sounded like quite the predator, not that Groundhog or Lockheed didn't terrify me, I just didn't like the sound of a creature that was capable of butchering the galaxy's nightmare.
Lockheed leaned toward her wrist-mounted holopad "Sycul, get me a read on Madman, contact him if you can."
Sycul's voice responded in turn, only taking a few seconds. "Madman's heart rate is at 200 bpm. Combat stimulants have been administered three times since initial drop. Sword arm is currently in high-function mode. Madman is playing music over his radio, it seems he's entered his frenzy state."
Groundhog and Lockheed looked at each other and laughed.
"Why are you laughing!? Is that good," I asked, both confused and terrified by the wording. Frenzy state? What could that mean other than mindless slaughter? What if the beast is killing civilians!?
"I'd say it's neither good nor bad. Just that the Arxur are definitely not having a good time," Groundhog said, unholstering a large kinetic weapon. "But those Com-Stims are gonna knock him out soon, if his DAI doesn't first. Lockheed, could you get Sycul to disable any more of Matty's stims, he needs to save those for later."
"He already did so," Lockheed responded, "Now, let's go find us a Scottish Swordsman." And we were off, Lockheed grabbing me by my claws, swinging me up, and landing me next to the Yotul atop Groundhog's head, who was currently charging through the street like a Mazic in a stampede.
"Get ready for a rough ride, you two. I don't go around cars," the titan laughed as he ran.
-[End of Transcription]-
Venlil Prime was attacked by the Arxur and was glassed before the late Captain Sovlin was able to get there. The entire Venlil system has been designated a deadzone due to potential Arxur assets in the area.
The fleet sent to the Venlil system, led by Captain Sovlin, was eliminated by a large contingent of Arxur forces, likely the same ones who glasses our allies.
The forces shown in this transcription are refuted by the Federation.
This transcription is filled with errors, likely caused by the states of decomposition these subjects were found in.
------------------------------------------
{Post-Transcription Message from Author: Bula, Zurulian Memory Transcriber}
I don't know who the brahk thought that wiping this from the record was a good idea, but the fact that Venlil Prime is now a darkzone is a pretty solid example of why Linked Chains has a solid foundation for their research. I'm sick and tired of acting like I don't know what's going on in the Federation right now. The Shadow Sect's getting riled up and the Farsul are causing a ruckus because of some backwater world.
To you, reader, I have compiled this transcription to show just how stupidly nonsensical the Federation is. These metal titans are clearly predators, yet they tried to protect the Venlil. Now VP is supposedly a dead world, despite what my telescope tells me.
Figure this out. Nothing is as it seems.
-+=========================+-
This is split into three parts; you can find the first one [here] and the previous one [here].

"‘The fact is, most of us will either need care or have to care for a loved one at some point in our lifetime’
“How’s your mom?” everyone would ask Christina Keys. She’d put a smile on her face and tell them her mother was fine, but still needed daily care after her stroke.
But no one ever asked how Keys was doing. If they had, they might have found out Keys was dying — maybe even faster than her mother.
“The doctor said, ‘We don’t even think you’re going to live six months. You would be lucky to live six months because your body is literally giving out on you,’ ” Keys said. “And that was from the stress of caregiving.”
Caregivers often describe their role as a labor of love, because that’s just what it is — laborious and loving. It’s somehow both challenging and the most rewarding experience of their lives, they say.
It’s also lonely, even though 1 in 10 Clark County residents are caregivers, according to Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities of Southwest Washington.
That’s why some caregivers have formed tight communities, reaching out to each other for guidance and lending an ear to grievances. Keys tried to fill this need by starting her own nonprofit to support caregivers called Loving Them Forward.
But caregivers also say they want other people to understand what their lives are like and remember that everyone needs care, especially those giving so much of themselves.
Whether it’s holding open the door for the person pushing a wheelchair, mailing a card, giving them a hug, or sending a text wishing them well, many caregivers simply want to be acknowledged, Keys said.
“I think just the biggest thing is we want to be seen,” Keys said. “We are not sharing the whole story with you about what our care journey is like and what it’s really like inside of us.”
The transition: Sometimes, it’s easy to point to a single moment when someone will need care — a stroke, a car crash or a hard fall. Other times, the realization is gradual, after a series of hospital visits or trips to a family member’s disarrayed home.
Amy Ruger used to work as a paraeducator at Mountain View High School in the English Language Learners program, where her mother had worked before her.
But after her boyfriend of eight years was diagnosed with kidney failure, she had to take more and more days off to care for him. Caring for him has become her full-time job as he awaits a new kidney. She spends around five hours four days a week helping him with treatment.
In her Vancouver home, Ruger gingerly stepped over the tubes of blood connecting her boyfriend’s arm to a large dialysis machine. She moved with practiced grace as she plugged in bits and bobs on the intimidating machine.
Although she’s happy to care for the man she loves, she misses her old job and the kids she used to teach.
She has plenty of friends and family. Yet she still feels alone sometimes.
“As much as people can kind of sympathize with you, they can’t really understand what it is that you go through,” she said.
Ruger doesn’t get a chance to leave her house very often, so she joined online groups of caregivers.
“If there’s someone in your life who is a caregiver, just check in with them, because it can get lonely. People don’t understand, but sometimes you just want somebody to kind of be there and hold space for you. And just sometimes you just want to go meet a friend for coffee,” she said.
Keys understands that desire. After she started caring for her mom, going to the movies with friends didn’t rest upon whether she had to get up early or if she was interested in the show. She could only leave the house if someone could watch her mother.
Even when she did pay for someone to watch her mother, she’d have her hand pressed to her phone, feeling for a vibration in case her mom needed help.
“There’s a lot of anxiety and depression that comes along with watching somebody you love slowly decline and you are powerless to change that,” she said.
After a while, the invitations stopped. And although Keys understood she had to cancel and could never be fully present in the way she used to, it pained her.
“You feel lost and then you feel ashamed, like you’re doing something wrong,” she said.
She encourages people not to sever their relationships with caregivers, but instead reshape them. Rather than going out, she said, maybe ask to come over to their house and play cards or watch a movie. That reminds them they’re not alone, even though life looks different now.
Spending time with a caregiver may help someone understand what it’s like, she said.
“The fact is, most of us will either need care or have to care for a loved one at some point in our lifetime,” Keys said.
Never a day off: Watching a loved one struggle can be incredibly painful, caregivers say.
Matthew Philbrook’s mom was the person he’d go to when he needed something. So when she began needing help after developing Alzheimer’s disease, it was a difficult transition.
She moved in with him after Philbrook noticed rotting food and reminder notes everywhere in her home. And, although he works as a home care aide for children, nothing could have prepared him for that experience, he said.
GET HELP: Loving Them Forward has a list of resources for caregivers at lovingthemforward.org/resources/ and can be reached at 360-524-3051.
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services has resources for finding caregiving support groups at www.dshs.wa.gov/ALTSA/Resources.
A Caring Closet is a Clark County nonprofit that provides gently used medical equipment at no cost to those in need. It is located at 7500 N.E. 16th Ave. Suite 1C in Hazel Dell.
You can learn how to become a paid caregiver on the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services’ website.
“As much training as I had, as much knowledge as I had, as much research as I had done — it didn’t matter when it came to the experience of my own mom,” he said.
Alzheimer’s often comes with behavioral changes and unfounded suspicions about friends and family. Philbrook’s heart broke when his mother, who had cared for him so dearly, would accuse him of lying and stealing.
His mother moved into a memory care facility recently, where she and other residents share sweaters and switch glasses, happily not knowing whose items are whose. But Philbrook still remembers how hard the perpetual challenge of caring for his mother was.
“Any different response from my mom, other than her just generous love from before, was such a shock,” he said. “It was just every day of that. I mean, there wasn’t a day off. I didn’t have days off.”
Carol Simon-Perry knows what it’s like to yearn for a day off. She’s cared for her paraplegic son for eight years. Although she wants to be the one to care for him, she also wishes she could be like other 66-year-olds she sees.
“I want to retire and go on trips, but I can’t because I have to be here. I want to be like the other retirees that can go and come and go as they please, but you can’t,” she said.
Those feelings of despondence and frustration are why many caregivers have joined support groups.
One of those groups meets every Tuesday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Vancouver. Marilyn Hill, who used to care for her elderly mother, has been part of the group for eight years.
Many in the group, like her, are no longer caregivers. They’re there to help others in the group navigate the process of caregiving. That means sharing tips about medical providers, insurance and strategies.
The group members also help each other through the emotional stages of caregiving, which shifts a person’s mindset and reality, Hill said.
“You can just feel like you’re the only one, and that’s not true at all. There are all kinds of lovely, wonderful people who want to help you through it,” she said.
If caregivers are overwhelmed by their responsibilities and feel alone, Hill recommends reaching out to a support group like hers.
“There’s a group of people that are on your side, that have your back,” Hill said.
Another hand: Loving Them Forward gives caregivers a chance to talk to other caregivers, not only to share resources but their stories, Keys said.
“Myself and other caregivers have gone through many points where we’ve been emotionally mentally, spiritually, financially and physically bankrupt,” Keys said. “It’s just part of the road of caregiving.”
The Loving Them Forward website also has a master list of services that includes dog walking, adult day care and financial support. (Some caregivers are paid by the state, but others face the financial burden alone.)
The nonprofit holds events where caregivers can be celebrated and receive care, such as food and massages.
Keys now works for a similar service called caregiving.com, which shares caregivers’ stories and advocates for caregivers on a national level. Having someone help caregivers navigate resources can lift a heavy weight off their shoulders, she said.
“Because that’s the thing that led me to be in that place of fear, of being told I had six months to live. I was thinking I had to do it all on my own,” she said.
Although caregiving can be one of the most difficult life changes a person can experience, it’s also rewarding, Keys said. In a way, she saw her mother become even stronger in her wheelchair than on her feet, she said. Keys changed too.
“I became a stronger woman myself,” she said. “For any caregivers that are out there, they just need to know that there are like 53 million of us out there trying to do the same thing.”
Being a caregiver was one of the most amazing honors she’s ever had, she said. And when the care someone gives away is replaced by care from others, the experience can be so much less daunting, she said.
“It’s a tough journey, but it’s a beautiful journey,” she said."

This is Zextranet's Full Analysis of the Artiverse
Part 0: Introduction and Clarification for the entire analysis
In this full analysis of the entire lore that Artifiber has developed in his Artiverse universe, I will give each detail attention and give my thoughts to the entire lore that Artifiber has pieced out together to make the current Artiverse lore.
Note, I will be referring to Artifiber as they/them
This analysis only covers information given in the "Library of Artiverse" which is a compilation of canon, fanon, and other subjects regarding the Artiverse universe. The website link follows: https://library-of-artiverse.blogspot.com/?m=1
The character for delta will be replaced by "Delta" like "Delta-System"
The only things I will not tackle are the Canon page which is basically a QnA list that Arti has answered, and also not the About page in the website which just mentions the purpose of this project and the description of the creator of the lore, including its philosophy.
Part 1: Digital
Regarding the first paragraph, it mentions the remarkable advancements made by standardization of certain aspects of technology caused by the improvements in the means of production which led to a huge stimulation of technological progression which can be said by looking on how their technology has progressed in a rapid pace. This is comparable to the industrial revolution of our civiliazation which has led to rapid advances in human society as a whole and improved our technological progression.
Then, it points out the importance of computers in topics highly related to technology, especially biotechnology. In the topic of biotechnology, it says how it is important to the making of robotic characters and the science of transgeneration, which is a topic regarding the union of biotechnology and the character's body to serve as an extension of one's physical nature. This, by itself, is highly untouched by most people because such technology would mean people with a higher ability to exercise their wishes by will or having the ability to live a life less affected by deficits. While this is real technology, it has not reached the level where people can control their form at will.
Now that such advancements have been made to improve the condition of the Artiverse inhabitants, it has led to an expansion of their capabilities and allowed many applications to be integrated into one's operating system regarding the software or firmware of biotechnological devices that they may have integrated into one's physical body.
Part 1a: Hardware
The hardware is based on quantum technology. With these kinds of technologies, it has given people to harness the computing capabilities that would outcompute our computing technology by factors in the billions. The hardware is based on a kind of crystal, where its hardware can be altered by software by altering the quanta of the crystal itself. Using crystals, particularly its quantum energy, one can harness their potential for powerful computing and its potential to be used as RAM devices. This is comparable to using quantum mechanics for computing, including vanadium dioxide's memory storage capabilities by controlling its phase transition.
Part 1b: Biotech
Any character in the Artiverse universe is either partially or fully cybernetic and would natually mean the union and integration of living matter and robotics. With this in mind, there are set "integrator modules", with one kind being used to control the interface between living matter and robotics in a cybernetic being. Such technology also allows the neural network to be linked into the robotics integrated into someone, allowing a seamless ability to turn thoughts into reality.
Part 1c: Formalization and Programming
In the software that all these biotech devices use, it uses a universal descriptive language used for programming called Lingua Technis, which is a mix of factual, markup, functional, and imperative programming paradigms that is used for virtually every branch of science that is made to be intuitive and have any errors or conflicts in the code to be easily rectified. Due to these special characteristics, any code that is built upon Lingua Technis is compatible with any form of hardware; therefore, it is useful for many applications regarding physical activity, but still very useful for software applications, mainly regarding communications
Two special programming and markup languages are used in the Delta-System and nearby systems. Those are Swift and Graph. The former is not to be confused with Swift, which is a programming language made by Apple. Both languages have specific interfaces, which makes them practical for specific applications.
Part 1d: Operation Systems
In the website, it mentions the functions, purposes, and applications of an operating system. It says how it is used to run applications, used as a basis for software running the OS, etc.
The most common in the Delta-System is IntegralOS (IOS, not to be confused with iOS from Apple). Other operating systems like MintOS and EROS appeared, with the former being made by Mintscreen and being more universal while the latter being made by, coincidentally enough, Eros, which is made for more specific tasks.
The framework that come with the several OSs are: FoundationKit, IOKit, WorkspaceKit, and InterfaceKit. Other frameworks are used for the system to complete specific tasks, like VideoKit and MusicKit.
Part 2: Delta-System
This covers the entire planetary system, named by the inhabitants as the Delta-System. The diversity of each planet has been caused by technological advancements, which led the species to explore other celestial bodies revolving around their star. Each planet has its own set of physical components, which created the specific conditions that make each planet unique. Planets with a large population does not require specific equipment to be able to live there and only require slight body adjustments for each highly inhabited planet to adapt between creatures in those planets because their biochemistry isn't necessarily dangerous to each other. The Delta-System or just Delta, is located in the Bode Galaxy and may be known as Messier 81 or NGC 3031 according to Wikipedia. The center star, Deltaspark, is surrounded by six celestial bodies being named Delta-01 to Delta-06 in order by distance. Delta-01 and Delta-02 are abundant with a diverse source of resources, with a diverse internal structure that is being researched and actively used in the public economy. The ratio of the planet's surface area to its mass makes it favorable by having lesser gravity while having large useful spaces which may be caused by the planet having less density. Other planets only have a small population concentrated in small areas or enclaves, which serve specific purposes. The inhabitants of planets besides Delta-01 and Delta-02 have special robots or space characters like Micro space cats.
Part 2a: Deltaspark
Deltaspark is classified as a K-Type star or K-Type dwarf star. It has a diameter of 1400km and a mass of 2.8×10²⁷ tons, which should classify as a G-Type star according to solar mass.
Part 2b: Delta-01 / Alterra
Alterra is a planet of a rocky composition, with most of that rocky landmass consisting of basalt rocks covered by water combined with a rich biosphere. Water is abundant, with freshwater dominating inland waters. It is full of silicate rocks with a metal core. The atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and some xenon. The continents are on the same meridian, with one central continent connecting the north and south parts of the planet. Cities are spread everywhere, including underwater cities, ranging from large metropolitan areas tp sparse cities. One notable city is Texui. One notable suburban city is Sweetbaum. Its magnetic field does not align with the planet's axis of rotation. This planet is obviously based on Earth, although some characteristics of the civilization's influence on the planet have not come to fruition today, like underwater cities. Other descriptions of the planet that don't match with Earth include the complete misalignment of the axis of rotation and the magnetic field lines, which may indicate a magnetic reversal is occurring on that planet and the lack of an axial tilt, which eliminates seasonal changes similar to those on Earth.
Part 2c: Delta-02 / Carbonia
Carbonia, as the name suggests, is a planet full of carbon. Full of carbide mineral rocks and a metal core, it implies the planet is loaded with coal, graphite, and diamond reserves. The atmosphere is full of nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon, which indicates a strong presence of Methane and other carbon-based greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The surface is a mix of carbon and diamond minerals due to the extreme presence of carbon. The infrastructure is made to be highly interconnected, although the population is concentrated on small areas. Due to the living creatures of the planet being filled with inorganic compounds, their biochemistry seems robotic. Due to this, advancements in robotics are frequent. This planet seems to be based on 55 Cancri E, a real planet thought to house a diamond core and is very rich in carbon, although this planet is less biologically and technologically hostile compared to 55 Cancri E.
Part 2d: Delta-03
This planet is highly related to Jupiter, as the atmosphere consists of hydrogen, helium, and other substances. Known for huge reserves of gaseous matter, with a few satellites monitoring them, it also seems to contain exotic substances.
Part 2e: Delta-04
This planet is dominated by oceans all over the planet, with its mantle being rich in water, implying a rich source of hydrate minerals. It's atmospheric composition resembles Earth's while weirdly having traces of Hydrogen and Helium that are high enough to be noted.
Part 2f: Delta-05
This planet is highly odd for having a helium atmosphere, with a hydrosphere consisting of liquid nitrogen. The terrain is irregular, with a brownish color which resembles Mars. This planet's orbit seems to almost align with Delta-06's orbit.
Part 2g: Delta-06
This planet resembles Delta-05 but its surface is virtually smooth and completely lacks an atmosphere. Its orbit seems to resonate with Delta-05 in a way where their orbits virtually synchronize.
Part 3: About technologies
This topic discusses the use of technology to assist a character's needs and wants. This is related to transgeneration and biotechnology between the character and the technology around them
Part 3a: Computing
The devices used for the people in the Artiverse are spacial computers. These are computers that integrate their computing power to the person using it and allow their thoughts, gestures, and movement to be interconnected with the software. Their interfaces allow objects to appear to be able to interact with them and having physical properties analogous to a real object, but they appear more artificial. Certain devices considered outdated in the Artiverse timeline, but still relevant in our world are: smartphones, tablets, computers, and others. In the other extreme, people completely digitize their body and undergo a transfer of consciousness. Someone like Ithi can replace their computer head into a more realistic head due to her body being able to change attachments.
Part 3b: Transbiology
Thanks to the advanced technology, people can alter their entire life to suit their wants and needs. It has lead to the improvement of the character's condition and allowed for an infinite variety of identity. This can be as simple as being assisted to disable a disease or as extreme as completely taking on a new, radical form. Largely, it would mean a self-sustaining world, with virtually no suffering and promote free expression of one's self at will. The entire process of changing your physiology is analogous to a very sci-fi form of a surgical procedure.
Part 3c: Industrials
In the process of making a specific product, special robotic hardware called "cells" are made to generate materials and manipulate them for the production of products, the alteration of existing materials, and the reparation of damaged items. This is considered a private activity, due to the fact that the software and the assembly data needed to make a product is provided by the person willing to make the product. Because it is a private activity, everyone contributes to the economy and basically means that everyone works and the products made by them is made for free as a result.
Part 3d: Quantum Systems
This part discusses the systems that operate under the physics of quantum mechanics.
Devices like a "Quantum Computing Machines" are related to quantum computers that would delay the end of Moore's Law by exploiting the physics that happen at the quantum scale.
Controllable Materials are described as objects that has a set list of characteristics and properties like mass, crystal structure, half-life, particle emission upon annihilation, energy level, conductivity, magnetism, polarity, nuclear spin, mechanical response, and more.
Material Augmented Reality, which is similar to how the Apple Vision Pro functions as a device that creates an interface between the world and the software. However, unlike the Apple Vision Pro, it would allow objects to be generated to provide additional control over the augmented reality.
Hyperconnection which is a kind of communication method that captures the probability of a particle's position in space to transmit data by analyzing its probability about the likelihood of a particle to retain its property while analyzing the probability of its location and capturing that probability.
Levitation which is the displacement of objects in space while retaining a fixed spacial distance between particles, thus allowing for seamless movement in space.
Quantum Isomorphic Energy Elements, which is based on a crystal of hafnium that have different nuclear structures that allow the storage of huge amounts of energy.
Part 3e: Detailed Description
It discuss how these abilities to alter the quanum world has done to create technologies that helped understand the universe and their usefulness for the people. The description given seem to reference string theory and bosonic matter by using vibrations to manipulate the quantum world
Part 4: Introduction
This touches on the philosophy about life, being and consciousness likely given by Artifiber themselves. It is where I will give my opinions to either support or criticize the subject matter while also properly analyzing each statement.
Regarding the first and second paragraph, it touches on the meaning of existence and how it is defined. I agree on how a conscious mind has an infinite list of possible identities, but whether a certain consciousness is specifically defined as multiple independent elements that link up to make a complete form conflicts with my belief that there is no such thing as an element and that everything that happens is not due to a specific element being altered, because I believe that it affects the entirety of a person due to my experience of having personal aspects of my life being altered and seeing that it would change every bit of my life, rather than only affecting a part.
In the third paragraph, the idea of separating each part of nature down to its constituents to analyze the whole piece by piece should only apply to find an objective truth about an topic because nature is chaotic and doesn't imply that ground truth exists; therefore, it would not seem to allow people to understand the objectivity of nature because there is no way to do that, and objectivity in chaos doesn't make sense because objectivity means everything is built from objective statements and built in an order that allow it to construct a system of belief piece by piece that would not distort itself by applying turbulence found in chaotic systems.
In the fourth paragraph, either it conflicts with or supports the ideas given by previous paragraphs. Due to the idea of structure in a chaotic system, the statements given would not contend with the ideas from previous paragraphs. Although, if it only tries to support the idea of a belief system built upon axioms, instead of implying that those belief systems are objectively true, then it would align well with the previous statements.
Part 4a: Structure
This is where we will tackle the various worlds with their own characteristics.
Part 4aa: Deltadim
This is the universe that would align with how we see our universe. It is full of intellegent inhabitants, similar to how we humans have inhabited the Earth. They all form a single civilization, but has some social variety. They are known to lack any social form of evil like mutual exploitation and other activites regarded as evil. This civilization practically resembles some descriptions of heaven, in which heaven is implicitly depicted as a utopian world.
All people in the civilization, defined as a collective group working for a socialist mean of production, work together in an organization called "The Congress", where everyone takes their time to participate in management. The congress has both characters and bots to participate in the organization, with the characters being the backbone of the entire organization, while operating in concert with bots or AI that perform calculations and analysis. This is meant to represent a socialist society in which every person gets to participate in a sytem in which everyone can have common ground which eliminates political opposition.
Part 4ab: Digirel
This is related to the concept in the plot of the movie "The Matrix", where the beings are put into a universe similar to a simulation in which the characters are immortal and completely in a digital form. These characters, which are called "Digitalia or Digitalies", have there thoughts not being seperate from the reality of the universe, and this causes the physics in the universe to change everytime due to their existence and imply that physics in thay universe is a mere suggestion.
Part 4ac: Floriverse
This is a universe composed of characters called "Flories" that are anthropomorphic characters that look like flora. These beings thrive on a diet of common food, non-sapient flowers, and autotrophic sources like photosynthesis with inorganic compounds. Their nature revolves around two things: Blossomia and Witheria; the former signifying life while the latter signifying the opposite of what Blossomia signifies, which is death.
Part 4ad: Nonsense Galaxy
It is the representation of things absurd and lack any meaning for the existence of things there. It is almost like it's reflecting on Albert Camus' philosophy regarding absurd situations. Not much is said about the universe as it only consists of things that are non-sensical when it comes to other universes.
Part 4ae: Void of Nadir
It resembles what most people think of a black hole, while being known to be a source of corruption for matter that would deteriorate into Nadir's singularity and having decayed into something indefinite and indescribable
Part 4af: Hizen
This is about matter that has "developed" into something. It shows the evolution of matter into a final form of totality. Said to be the ultimate goal of one, it is in conjunction with the idea of utopia and inalienable unity.
Concluding Part: Zextranet's thoughts and conclusion
I have rarely seen such artistic talent ever been showed to the people in public. I am deeply amazed at the depth of the entire lore, and it shows how far imagination can go. I can absolutely say that Arti really cooked some good lore. I am genuinely impressed. I have to say that this is by far the best lore I have ever read in my life so far. Even if I disagree on some points, they still did construct a very high quality piece of art that is remarkable.
=====[Extension for April 19, 2024]=====
Part 5: Fibrins
They are rarely seen in the world, but sometimes seen in some of Arti's artworks, even seen enough to be considered a cultural symbol. They are creatures resembling strings with a thickness of 1cm. They take the form of a body or face that they circumscribe using the string, while sometimes vibrating which indicates emotional shock. Even if the entire fibrin may contain two strings, they can still interact with each other.
They perceive us as completely alien by physiology, given that their anatomy contrasts from other creatures having the entire body being connected into one person.
Part 5a: Anatomy
These Fibrins aren't really "living beings" per se, but rather, they are digital beings/digitalias from the Digirel universe. They only have a physical presence by corresponding itself to a similar bodily form composing of substances that exist in the Deltadim universe.
The reason how each string of one fibrin can interconnect seamlessly is due to other types of matter that help connect each part of the fibrin creature into one whole.
Composition of the entire strings in the Fibrin are silicone-like substances. While they are physically separate, they can still interact with each other due to the strings being a part of a single "field" or "field of influence".
Part 5b: Behavior
The movement of these Fibrins is based on using a set of electrons and forming a structure that would force the Fibrins to travel using warp drive technology that resembles the mechanics of an Alcubierre Warp Drive.
They form movements of flying and sliding, with the mix of both making the movement of gliding.
They have a reaction with EM fields, especially complex structures in their nervous system.
Their thought process create byproducts of EM waves, but we don't know what kind of EM waves is being generated. If they are under the influence of outside thoughts, like from someone else, likely due to their telepathy, they can mentally change, like having an attachment to people the other person thought, likely developing into them like a second form. Their symbiotic link with someone allows the Fibrin to gain knowledge, while the host gains an improvement in the efficiency of their nervous system. Although, if the host does not want the presence of Fibrins, then they can leave at will.
Part 5c: Peculiarities
One weird fact about them is that they do not need to eat, but they may eat substances similar to silicone in order for them to grow. Given their inorganic makeup, they rarely have any cases of illness, but if the strings are tangled, they may get nauseous. While they are incredibly elastic and strechable, they do not possess infinite elasticity and they may split into two as a result. They can split many times, but the strings should not exceed a lower limit; the silicon strings will evaporate if a lower limit is reached
=====[Extension for May 3, 2024]=====
Part 6: The Alterra Planet
In simple words, it is no different to the basic descriptions of earth. The planet has a rocky composition. Has a clear distinction between land and water. It consists of an atmosphere with, in decreasing order of proportion, nitrogen, xenon, and oxygen. The planet has one moon that has an icy surface and may have a large resevoir of water below.
Part 6a: Planetology
During the onset of dawn, the sky appears pink-ish. During hours of morning, the sky turns blue with a bit of purple. The slight purple may be due to the high presence of xenon. The poles of the planet are cold and dry while the equator is likely warm and humid. The seasons are similar to earth's tropical season on its equator, in which they have a dry and wet season. An orbit lasts 384 days or 1 year (not a leap year) and 19 days. Each Alterra month is divided into 12 with 32 days. Those weeks are further divided into 8 days. Alterra's 8 days of an Alterra week is not named, unlike Earth's 7 days of an Earth week.
Part 6b: Population
The biosphere of the Alterra planet is made up of organic, hydrocarbon based lifeforms.
Like elsewhere in the Deltadim, all characters have a characteristic anthropomorphic appearance, but that characteristic can vary from felines, lagmorphs, canines and likely more. Although they are naturally born with this characteristic, the presence of their technology allows them to make changes to their own body, including cloning.
Part 6c: Architecture
We'll tackle all architectural styles present in the planet
Part 6ca: Art Deco
This is probably by far the most common style known. Having been implemented in conjunction with other art styles. It is a complex style that emphasises on rhythm, uniformity, yet has complexity and clear division. Art Deco is mainly found more in the southern part of the planet
Part 6cb: Rocaille
This style particularily has a large amount of freedom and lacks any concise drawings. Lacking any straight lines and probably clarity, it is fluid, dynamic, made with frequent use of gradients, and asymmetric.
Part 6cc: Classicism
This style, on the basis of principles about order and symmetry, is a very strict style emphasizing strong clarity of objects, accurate proportion and projection, and a lack of decorations. The colors are monochromatic and uniform, but the colors are muted. Made for columns part of the capital and small spaces in construction.
Part 6cd: Constructivism
It is the most simplest of the bunch due to its main use of geometric shapes and the lack of accent and color. Due to its particular style, it is suited to urban architecture. Even with such distinct and clear style, it is most susceptible to experimentation
At Alterra, there is an established division of layouts into metropolitan and urban areas.
One layout is centralized and focuses on the uniformity of geometry in the buildings and the compact assembly of such buildings. They can include and combine apartments, offices, production facilities, transport hubs and various leisure facilities like clubs, theaters, internal parks, distribution shops, art galleries, and more.
For the suburban cities, it blends into the greenery and its architecture lack contrast against the surrounding nature. Buildings don't stand out as much and only unite as a complex if all serve a specific purpose for their implantation in the area.
Part 6d: Planetography
The planet's landmass is unified under large supercontinent encompassing the planet with large oceans permeating around the landmass.
Again, as noted before, the continents are unified into a large supercontinent. However, for the sake of cultural distinction, climate and terrain distinction, and the sake of convenience, the land is separated into four areas.
Part 6da: Lindev
It is by far the largest area designated as a continent. It forms contact with two oceans and has two inland bodies of water called Danau Putih and Basse. The former being connected to the Ebrium Ocean via a strait and the latter being the largest known closed body of water.
Part 6db: Dowe
A rounded southern continent, paired with a similarly rounded inland lake. Bounded by a southern mountain range with contact with Lurconicum and Ebrium. It is highly filled with flora and fauna.
Part 6dc: Flave
A mountainous continent with three of the largest folds on the region that streches from south to east. It is washed by the Blues Sea in the north, the Vollen Sea and the Lurconicum Ocean in the south.
Part 6dd: Desmond
A northern continent that is occupied by lush steppe with small forests sprinkled in it. It is elongated and has the driest and windiest climate. The water from the north and west is the Blues Sea. The water from the south is part of the Ebrium Ocean. The water from the east is frommm the Barton Sea
Part 7: Telepipe
Setting certain parameters of matter involves changing the relationships between its constituent elements by manipulating the properties of matter in a way that if a sufficient state is achieved, combined with its required accuracy, the changes required are complete.
Query-based state calculation, bosonic package synthesis and its applications are produced by special devices that are classified as transmuters. These include material changers and telepipes.
Even movement forced to an object by your hand is just the influence of boson bonds on each other to transition of a final state. Transmuters are more subtle on that process.
Part 7a: Description
Telepipes are devices for establishing communication between diffrent regions of the universe phase space. Basically a communication device (sometimes used for transportation) that connects parts of a universe or different universes. These are Intraverse telepipes and Interverse telepipes respectively.
When the telepipe establishing a wormhole, it consumes energy, but if not, then there is no comsumption of power whatsoever. Even removing the infrastructure of the telepipe will not affect the presence of the portal at all.
Even with the computing power of quantum computers, calculating the necessary data for the portals is extremely computationaly intensive, due to the amount of data being calculated. One other hurdle is that if the movement is iterative, more data is required to be processed, but allows greater positioning accuracy and reliability
Part 7b: Implementations
Telepipes differ for each universe and are bound by their own characteristics. For example, it will look like a simply customizable portal with a seamless interface. Ones in the Floriverse differ from those in Digirel except for size and controls.
How do these telepipes compare favorably with natural wormholes? Because these wormholes are unpredictable, despite it being relatively stable. As a result, natural wormholes are deemed unreliable and are not really used. Even controlling it requires a telepipe around it.
Part 8: Soap
An adorable and cute soapy cat who loves to pour everything with soap. Not only that, he even makes art with soap. Foam constitutes their polymorphic identity.
This soap-based digitalia is remarkable for its kind. Even he can bend physics in anyway he wants, but only in Digirel though, because physics is a mere suggestion in that universe. So basically anyone in that universe is a god, but their influence is limited to Digirel.
Part 8a: Closer Look
He has a height of 42 inches (6''6' ft), has a soap-like body that forms a long, foamy tail. They have no teeth, which explains their soft, yet incomprehensible way of speech. A phase ring can appear around him, as a method for flight by carefully distorting the space. Although the ring is sharp and flat, it is not a weapon does not interfere with soap. The phase ring is generated by commanding their existence using their mind.
A special fact about him is that despite him looking simple, he can actually take many unusual positions and the soap he has is endless.
Part 8b: Cannon
One of Soap's main weapons is a cannon that synthesizes foaming matter with a particular shape. Although he can do it without such a dedicated cannon, the cannon makes that job easier to do.
Both the speed of foam supply and the shape of the diffuser that gives the foam a shape are controlled telepathically by Soap.
Just like in commercials, the soap could possibly eliminate 99.99% of bacteria, but such lifeforms don't exist in Digirel.
Part 8c: Synthesis
Althought he is a Digirel, he was synthesized into a material form in Deltadim. For this purpose, a specially designed telepipe was made. Even though they both have forms in Deltadim and Digirel, quantum technology has allowed their consciousness to be paired.
This became part of Articat's master's thesis and alone demostrated the work to the scientific council. Even Soap himself went to the demonstration. Although a bit excessive, Soap also demonstrated the use of their gun, by literally sparying the soapy water to them.
Such a demonstration has contributed to science in a remarkable way. It did raises issues on the relationshipt between universes, contact between Digitalias, custom‐made telepipes, and much more.

2024 Season 2 Patch 4 Release Notes [2024.05.01.02]

Link to official notes.
This Patch Release contains important updates and a few fixes for the 2024 Season 2 Release.
Of special note, this Patch removes EasyAntiCheat (EAC) as our Anti-Cheat Software provider and restores Epic Online Services (EOS) to this designation. Issues that resulted from this initial change at the beginning of 2024 Season 2 have been resolved. No actions are required from our Members to make this switch.

iRACING:

Paint Shop

• The sponsorship for Heusinkveld has been updated.

SIMULATION:

Anti-Cheat Software

• With this release, iRacing is restoring implementation of Epic Online Services (EOS) as the Anti-Cheat Software in effect. EasyAnti Cheat (EAC) is disabled.
• - - No action is required for customers to take in order to make this switch.
• - - With thorough in-house testing of multiple versions of EOS, we have confidence that the issues resulting from EOS at the 2024 Season 2 Release have been resolved.
• - - If you begin to experience new or previous Anti-Cheat Software issues, please reach out to Customer Service and let us know!

iRacing Weather System

• Improved the audio for ambient rain effects in stadium areas.

Physics

• Some additional crash logging has been added for zippy events.

Graphics

• Some PopcornFX code has been updated.
• Fixed a rare issue with PopcornFX rendering.

Pit Stop

• All cars with multiple tire compounds have been updated with improved logic that immediately updates the tire compound checkbox statuses.
• - - The system now allows you to deselect a tire checkbox when the tire compound is different. When deselecting a checkbox while the compound is different, the system now changes the tire compound back to what is on the car currently.
• - - The pit crew now immediately recognize when tire checkboxes have been changed, and immediately start a pitstop when a tire compound change is toggled. When the checkbox changes, it is now immediately effective, more like how a black box operates.
• Improved some pit stop detection scripting.

Spotter

• Your spotter’s visual acuity has been improved, and he will now let you know if you’re using the wrong tire compound for the current wetness conditions while you are gridding instead of after the race has started.
• When you jump the start of a race, the spotter will no longer inform you of the exact duration of your hold penalty, because he was often incorrect due to its variability.
• The spotter call for having a car in front or behind you pitting may now only be called once every 10 seconds.

Active Reset

• Fixed an issue where the Active Reset sounds were pitch-shifted.

Controls

• Fixed an issue where an unrealistic steering column torque value generated by crashing the car could adversely affect the controls.
• Pedal vibration effects are now blocked when you are not driving.

CARS:

Dallara IR18

• iRacing setups have been updated.

Ford GT GT2 / GT3

• (GT3) - The allowable caster range has been increased to allow for some very low rake setups to pass tech inspection.
• (Both) - Fixed an issue where the dashboard display was extra dark when transitioning from day to night lighting.

TRACKS:

Algarve International Circuit

• (Moto & Moto - Chicanes) - Fixed an issue where the slowdown penalty for taking the outside of Turn 5 was 35 seconds instead of 1 second.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

• (Open Wheel Oval) - Track grip has been adjusted to increase performance on the bottom of the track.

Nürburgring Grand-Prix-Strecke

• Reduced visual popping that could occur on the signs at the BMW pedestrian bridge.

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___
-=WHITETAIL ARCHIVE=-
Due to the nature of the subject's profession or activities, they are to be referred to by an alias or provided codename for the sake of their anonymity.
Subject of Transcription: Claw, WT-G2929INT.
Occupation: Auditor.
[Date section has been struck from this record.]
Location Upon Transcription: Everrain Valley, Skalga. ___
Sleeping on a mattress laid out on the floor in the basement of a nameless abandoned mill was a far cry from my nice apartment back home. Though, for the work that had to be done, it was necessary.
After pulling myself out of bed, I did some simple stretching and warm up exercises. Pulling my shoulders forward, back, and doing the same with my legs and spine, It was not long before I was fully recovered from my awkward sleep.
I pulled myself to my feet, exiting the room into a short hallway. The grey walls and floor lit up a little as I entered into a larger space, intelligence and digital components arranged into hasty stacks on the old shelves and floor. At a holopad in the far corner was a large canid predator, tapping away.
“Anything new, Recluse?” I asked casually as I went to the corner across from him. Picking out a loose shirt, I pulled it over my head, draping my body.
“Few things. New orders from the supervisor, and a rise in the probability of our whole thing being compromised.”
“Interesting. You tell Angel about these?” I said as I tied the base of the shirt firmly against my trousers with a sash.
“Of course I did. He wants to go after the source of the rise, but I advised him against it.”
“What caused the rise anyhow?”
“Specialist team to be sent in from a nearby area. They’re investigating our previous operations, apparently.”
I snorted in a practised manner. “I hope they come up with something soon.”
He paused his research to look over at me. “We don’t have any more room for more captives, Claw.”
“Hey, the larger the pool of personalities, the more convincing my mask is.” I reasoned, sparing a hand to scratch at the inner circle of my ear. “It’ll help with our intelligence-gathering. It’s hard enough blending in with this beautiful face of mine, so might as well have a good personality to compensate, no?”
“Yeah, sure. Love your confidence.” He said sarcastically. I stuck my tongue out at him in response as I walked off to a door by the edge of the room.
“I’ll ask you about those new orders later. Have we got food for Ern?” I asked. Recluse pointed off to the centre of the room.
“Yeah, over there on the briefing table.” He said. “Glad that the committee accepted our request for increased rations before we left.”
I walked over to the briefing table, seeing a reusable tin covered by a heat-retaining cloth. I picked it up, walking back over to the door. I used my fist to bang on the door evenly. I received no answer for a moment, before a voice croaked from within.
“Come in.” She said. I pulled open the door, food in hand.
“Why is it always you?” The venlil asked with annoyance.
“Predator diseased is better than an actual predator, right?” I asked. She huffed, drawing the sheets of her bed closer to herself as I approached, placing the tin down by the bed.
“I’d rather talk to the predators. It feels like they exist more than you do.” She mumbled, dragging the tin into her lap.
The false expression on my face dropped. “You have no idea how little of me is actually here.”
My expression changed to a softer one moments later. “Enjoy your food. Report to the briefing room at the end of the day for our…” I trailed off, forgetting the word.
“Ah, what is it again? What did we call it?” I wondered aloud.
“The emotional training.” She finished with a deadpan, pulling the cloth off the food and beginning to eat.
“Yes. That.” I said with my tail and ears up in a ‘happy’ position, bobbing my head from side to side in a practised movement. She visibly shuddered at the demonstration of my learning.
“You’re horrifying.”
“I try my best.” I returned, exiting and shutting the door behind me. Waiting for me was Angel, a muzzled predator of more lithe stature to Recluse but of a different, albeit still similar, species.
“Claw.”
“Angel.”
“You hear the new orders yet?”
“No, what are they?”
He grunted as he waved me over to the briefing table. He picked up a specific document, showing it to me. It was a file of a person of interest. A local politician named Kenim.
“Kenim’s been one of our informants for quite some time now. Lately, he’s started stepping away from his commands. Nearly told one of his staff about his situation, and disobeyed direct orders from the supervisor, deciding to try and get off-grid by coming here. They want us to scare him into compliance.”
My ears perked up in intrigue. “So, how will we scare him? Is he superstitious?”
“We should not take the spiritual route for this one. Though, we have to make him believe that he isn’t safe no matter where he goes.”
“Bullet next to his head? In the pillow while he sleeps!” I suggested giddily. “Or kill one of his bodyguards and-” I was stopped by a harsh glare from Angel.
“No. To all of that. Though, this plan does include you, and does include you invading his hotel room while he sleeps.” He said with a slight smile. In the silence, I had realised that I was making involuntary snorting noises, which was a sign of elation for my species.
“Brother, if predator disease had a solid definition, it would just be a picture of you.”
“What a nice compliment, Angel.” I said, grasping his shoulder and patting it accordingly. He shoved it off dismissively.
“You need to get more convincing, Claw.” My expression fell, as he walked to a door in the hallway.
“I might not be convincing to you, but I’m sure it is to everyone outside this mill.” I claimed.
“God willing.” He responded snarkily, unlocking and opening the metal door. Behind it was an impromptu armoury for our kit. Angel walked in and I followed behind him.
“So, what is the plan exactly?” I asked as I pulled a black softshell jacket and gloves from the shelf, putting them on.
“Uh, pretty simple. I’m the overseer, then you infiltrate Kenim’s room and leave a warning.” He responded, already having his jacket secured on his body. I put on my utility plate carrier, harness and joint guards. A few things were attached or hidden in the pouches, simple, pre-prepared stuff we would need for the sudden-notice work we were always needed for.
“How open is the ‘warning’ prompt?” I asked. He chuffed in amusement as he prepared his weapons.
“I don’t know, just don’t kill or injure him?” He responded as I did the same, strapping my sheathed scythe knife - my namesake - to my chest alongside my pistol.
“That’s very restrictive.” I complained as I also prepared my small autogun and its ammunition, an easily-concealable and modular thing that fit snugly onto the magnets on my back.
“For you, of course.” He said. He pulled his longrifle off his shelf, checking the massive suppressor and the equally-as-massive bullets. I was a little jealous of him, as he had the ability to splatter anyone, but didn’t take advantage of it.
“For me, yeah.” Finally, I grabbed my cloak. Fastening it to the hardpoints on my uniform, I made sure it was fully secure against my body. I pulled the hood over my ears. Then, I covered my face with a simple gas-resistant mask. “I’m guessing we’re leaving now?” I asked, mumbling.
“Yep. ‘Nightshift’ things.” Angel replied sarcastically. It was actually very bright out, but around this time everyone should’ve had their lights off and shades drawn. “Streets should be empty, and the hotel should be nearby. I checked the drone’s images and there’s a nice office building a few lengths from our base. Should be a good place to keep watch in case things go bad.”
“Have some faith in me.” I reassured with a restrained chortle.
“I do. Just protocol, you know?”
“Excuses, Angel.”
…
“Claw, Angel.”
“Angel, Claw. Speak.”
“Ar-Op zero. Recluse gouged sec-sys.”
“Claw hears. Filling.”
The hotel was short-staffed tonight… or today? Nobody was at the front desk. I slipped through the doors, moving to the right and entering into a stairway. Then, I quickly, but quietly leapt and bounded to the roof. I reached the door to the roof. Its electronic lock appeared disabled. I pushed it open. I felt the cool air brush through my fur and around my ears as I crossed to the other side. I shut it quietly behind me.
“Angel, any tiles pres-pos?”
“No. You have leeway. Low Point side.”
I nodded as I approached the specified side of the building, preparing a rope and heavy-duty clip. I attached the clip to the same hardpoint a window cleaner would, before swiftly securing my rope about it. Then, I attached it to the harness, coiling the rope about my arm. I pressed a button on my wrist interface, feeling the cloak warm up a little as it activated.
“Wired. Sending. Confirm visibility?” I said as I fastened my cloak about my back.
“Visibility is far, Claw. Commit is on floor five.” I nodded.
“Understood. Return.” Then, I pulled myself over the edge, beginning to descend to a window on the fifth floor. I would first need to descend past the sixth floor before commiting. As I came to the first window beneath me, my thought was immediately interrupted by a sudden change of lighting coming from below.
“Check.” Angel warned as I paused. “Skygazer. Facing outside.”
I waited for a few minutes as I heard the faint noises of someone speaking. Perhaps the person directly below me was on an important phone call.
“Skygazer faces in. Training. Wire presumed unseen.” Angel said, probably hovering his sights over the collateral’s back. I began to move again, quickly descending past their window and down to my target window. As expected, it was dark.
“Readings are consistent.” Angel said as I evened myself right beneath the window, pulling out a small conical, pistol-like device from a pouch. I pressed it up against the glass with my finger notched on the trigger.
“Sending chirp.” I announced, before pressing firmly on the trigger. A near-soundless chirp sent a harsh vibration through the cone into the glass, causing it to splinter and crack. Moments later, the glass simply disintegrated, falling across the sill and down to the ground below.
I sat in silence for a moment.
“Readings consistent. You have leeway.” Angel said.
“Making entry.” I responded, before ascending and stepping over the glass. As I pushed past the curtains and landed in the room, I withdrew my sidearm and immediately trained it on the sleeping form of our target, Kenim, the politician. I heard his bodyguards - around four of them - having a faint conversation outside the room, as well as the deep, even mouth breathing from the sleeping target. I would need to be extra quiet, and fast. Wouldn’t be long until someone noticed the cameras were looping.
I holstered my gun. Then, I lightly tapped on my wrist interface, activating the compact optics in my mask. The room brightened a little bit as ambient light was enhanced.
Time to get to work.
I padded my way over to the target’s side of the bed, unsheathing my scythe knife. Then, I gently grabbed a fistful of the messy fluff on his head, and sliced it off in one quick move. I dropped it on the bedside table. As I did so, I took notice of an open notebook with a pen next to it. There was writing on one side with a blank page on the other. I uncapped the pen and thought for a moment.
Then, I wrote. ‘We are not forgiving.’
Satisfied with my cheesy-but-effective work, I withdrew from the room. I hooked up to the rope once again, and began ascending.
“Task done.” I said casually into the radio.
“Well done. Consider that man’s pants shat. Skygazer’s gone, so you have leeway. Recluse will disable the gouge once you have left. Meet you back home.” Sometimes his off-clock ‘cultural enrichment’ would show through his speech, and I will admit that the occasional human-like quip was amusing. Just catches me a little off-guard is all.
“Got it.” I replied, reaching the top. Shuffling was heard from Angel’s side, but suddenly stopped. Mid-way through re-coiling my rope, I paused to listen.
“Hey, what are you-” A voice asked in the local language. “Are you okay?”
“Sorry.” Angel replied, before I heard two distinct snaps peak his radio’s mic. Silence overtook Angel’s side. I un-paused and decided to continue re-coiling the rope.
“Angel, did you just kill a collateral?” I asked, now unclipping the heavy-duty clip. I secured both against my carrier once again.
“Maybe. I’m bagging him right now.”
“Aw. Shame, wish I could be there.” I replied as I descended the stairs, earning a wry huff from the other side. I tapped my wrist twice, the optics and cloak disabling. Nearly forgot.
“Of course you do. Be careful on your way back.” He said as his shuffling continued, before his connection cut out completely.
I sauntered my way to the bottom of the stairs, opening the door. The lobby seemed to be empty. I stepped out into the open space, looking around. I was suddenly surprised by the presence of a single venlil, who was sitting down and reading a book. She looked up and noticed me, freezing up in shock with her ears pressed down.
Killing the reader would be stupid. Maybe I should just leave. Nobody would believe her.
I gave her a nod, and continued my path towards the door. She did nothing to stop me.
I exited, shuffling off into the… day.
Sounded a lot less ominous like that.
Regardless, I disappeared.
___
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Is there even a single test, or information how much vibrations affects battery in average controller? I could not find a single information about this. I'm aware that this can be a little tricky as controller is not vibrating all the time, but still I could not find even approximation, or tries to measure this. I saw only some topic of people saying that they are disabling vibration to increase battery life but every time they do this without even knowledge how much this will affects battery in the first place.
I'm asking as I'm wonder if you don't care too much about vibrations, there will be a visible difference in controller battery life. I've tried by myself, but unfortunately I was not able to find appropriate game to and find a proper way to measure this by myself. I don't even know if there is a differences between controllers. I mean, if there can be different rumble motors (types/technologies) between them. I also wonder for example how much is the difference between low and high vibrations (or maybe just turning it on matter more than how much force you use).

Hello. I'm about 10 hours into a play through using F4FEVR's no-trees, no-guns preset as a starting point and then adding or changing various things. I'm having fun with it, but I'm far enough in to have some questions about a few of the common VR mods:

1. FRIK - (Minor) I understand the Power Armor code is being worked on improvements may be here soon-ish. In the mean time, is there an option to disable or hide the power armor while inside it? I'd be happy with just Kabuto helmet and floating guns instead ofthe distorted power armor arms and shoulder part clipping.
2. Virtual Chems - Is it possible to disable some holsters? I'm constantly accidentally grabbing chems out holsters and I have yet to figure out how to get them out of my hand without using them. At this point I have them all set to Stimpacks but I'd much rather just have one or two holsters I know work but won't grab accidentally. I just had the idea now, and haven't tried it yet, but could I just shrink and move the unwanted holster via settings? Drop them all to the floor or push them a meter behind me?
3. Virtual Holsters - (Minor) When I have a weapon holstered, shouldn't the Pip Boy inventory listing for that holster show the contents? Even when I had 3 guns holstered, in my pipboy those holster listings didn't show what they had but looked empty like the others. Is there an update listings command I need to issue?

Note: I'm playing with a HP Reverb G2 headset, which is notorious for it's limited inside out tracking dead spots and just abnormal enough controller layout. I have yet to find a control scheme for Fallout 4 VR I like although I do have one that is proving to be playable enough.

# This file contains common pin mappings for the BIGTREETECH Manta E3EZ # To use this config, the firmware should be compiled for the # STM32G0B1 with a "8KiB bootloader" "8 MHz crystal" # and "USB (on PA11/PA12)" or "CAN bus (on PB12/PB13)". # See docs/Config_Reference.md for a description of parameters. [include print_area_bed_mesh.cfg] [include mainsail.cfg] [stepper_x] step_pin: PA14 dir_pin: !PA10 enable_pin: !PA13 microsteps: 16 rotation_distance: 40 endstop_pin: ^PC4 position_endstop: -10 position_max: 245 position_min:-10 homing_speed: 50 [stepper_y] step_pin: PC8 dir_pin: !PA15 enable_pin: !PC14 microsteps: 16 rotation_distance: 40 endstop_pin: ^PB0 position_endstop: -17 position_max: 225 position_min: -17 homing_speed: 50 [stepper_z] step_pin: PD2 dir_pin: !PD4 enable_pin: !PD3 microsteps: 16 rotation_distance: 8 #endstop_pin: PC6 #position_endstop: 0 position_max: 250 endstop_pin: probe:z_virtual_endstop position_min: 0 # The Z carriage may need to travel below the Z=0 # homing point if the bed has a significant tilt. [extruder] step_pin: PD5 dir_pin: PD6 enable_pin: !PB3 microsteps: 16 rotation_distance: 3.4334 nozzle_diameter: 0.400 filament_diameter: 1.750 heater_pin: PB11 #HE0 sensor_type: EPCOS 100K B57560G104F sensor_pin: PA4 #TH0 #control: pid #pid_Kp: 21.527 #pid_Ki: 1.063 #pid_Kd: 108.982 min_temp: 0 max_temp: 230 #control: pid #pid_Kp: 21.527 #pid_Ki: 1.063 #pid_Kd: 108.982 min_temp: 0 max_temp: 230 #[filament_switch_sensor material_0] #switch_pin: PC5 #[extruder1] #step_pin: PB7 #dir_pin: PB6 #enable_pin: !PB4 #heater_pin: PB10 # HE1 #sensor_pin: PA5 # T1 #[filament_switch_sensor material_1] #switch_pin: PB1 [heater_bed] heater_pin: PB2 #HB sensor_type: EPCOS 100K B57560G104F #Generic 3950 sensor_pin: PA3 #TB #control: pid # tuned for stock hardware with 50 degree Celsius target #pid_Kp: 54.027 #pid_Ki: 0.770 #pid_Kd: 948.182 min_temp: 0 max_temp: 130 [fan] pin: PB14 [heater_fan PI_FAN] pin: PB15 [controller_fan HOTEND_FAN] pin: PA8 stepper: stepper_x [mcu] serial: /dev/serial/by-id/usb-Klipper_stm32g0b1xx_3B003B001950425938323120-if00 [printer] kinematics: cartesian max_velocity: 300 max_accel: 3000 max_z_velocity: 5 max_z_accel: 100 [temperature_sensor CB1] sensor_type: temperature_host min_temp: 10 max_temp: 100 [temperature_sensor Manta_E3EZ] sensor_type: temperature_mcu min_temp: 0 max_temp: 100 ######################################## # TMC2209 configuration ######################################## [tmc2209 stepper_x] uart_pin: PB8 #diag_pin: PC4 run_current: 0.800 stealthchop_threshold: 999999 [tmc2209 stepper_y] uart_pin: PC9 ##diag_pin: PB0 run_current: 0.800 stealthchop_threshold: 999999 [tmc2209 stepper_z] uart_pin: PD0 ##diag_pin: PC6 run_current: 0.650 stealthchop_threshold: 999999 [tmc2209 extruder] uart_pin: PD1 run_current: 0.800 stealthchop_threshold: 999999 #[tmc2209 extruder1] #uart_pin: PB5 #run_current: 0.800 #stealthchop_threshold: 999999 ######################################## # TMC2130 configuration ######################################## #[tmc2130 stepper_x] #cs_pin: PB8 #spi_software_miso_pin: PC11 #spi_software_mosi_pin: PC12 #spi_software_sclk_pin: PC10 ##diag1_pin: PF3 #run_current: 0.800 #stealthchop_threshold: 999999 #[tmc2130 stepper_y] #cs_pin: PC9 #spi_software_miso_pin: PC11 #spi_software_mosi_pin: PC12 #spi_software_sclk_pin: PC10 ##diag1_pin: PF4 #run_current: 0.800 #stealthchop_threshold: 999999 #[tmc2130 stepper_z] #cs_pin: PD0 #spi_software_miso_pin: PC11 #spi_software_mosi_pin: PC12 #spi_software_sclk_pin: PC10 ##diag1_pin: PF5 #run_current: 0.650 #stealthchop_threshold: 999999 #[tmc2130 extruder] #cs_pin: PD1 #spi_software_miso_pin: PC11 #spi_software_mosi_pin: PC12 #spi_software_sclk_pin: PC10 #run_current: 0.800 #stealthchop_threshold: 999999 #[tmc2130 extruder1] #cs_pin: PB5 #spi_software_miso_pin: PC11 #spi_software_mosi_pin: PC12 #spi_software_sclk_pin: PC10 #run_current: 0.800 #stealthchop_threshold: 999999 [board_pins] aliases: # EXP1 header EXP1_1=PC1, EXP1_3=PC3, EXP1_5=PC0, EXP1_7=PA2, EXP1_9=, EXP1_2=PC2, EXP1_4=, EXP1_6=PA0, EXP1_8=PA1, EXP1_10=<5V> [bltouch] sensor_pin: PA6 control_pin: PA7 x_offset: -37 y_offset: 0 #z_offset: 0 pin_up_touch_mode_reports_triggered: False stow_on_each_sample: True probe_with_touch_mode: False [safe_z_home] home_xy_position: 117.5, 117.5 # Change coordinates to the center of your print bed speed: 50 z_hop: 10 # Move up 10mm z_hop_speed: 5 move_to_previous: False [bed_mesh] speed: 120 horizontal_move_z: 5 mesh_min: 23, 25 mesh_max: 198.15,208.50 probe_count: 5,5 mesh_pps: 2,2 algorithm: bicubic fade_start: 1 fade_end: 10 fade_target: 0 [screws_tilt_adjust] screw1: 70.5,37.5 screw1_name: front left screw screw2: 240,37.5 screw2_name: front right screw screw3: 240,207.5 screw3_name: rear right screw screw4: 70.5,207.5 screw4_name: rear left screw horizontal_move_z: 10 speed: 50 screw_thread: CW-M4 [gcode_macro HOME] gcode: G90 # Home Z G28 Z0 G1 Z10 F1200 # Home Y G28 Y0 G1 Y5 F1200 # Home X G4 P2000 G28 X0 G1 X5 F1200 [bed_screws] screw1: 30.5, 37 screw2: 30.5, 207 screw3: 204.5, 207 screw4: 204.5, 37 #[output_pin PS_ON] #pin: PA9 #[output_pin pb9_pin] #pin: PB9 #[neopixel my_neopixel] #pin: PC7 #[adxl345] #cs_pin: PC15 #spi_software_miso_pin: PC11 #spi_software_mosi_pin: PC12 #spi_software_sclk_pin: PC10 [virtual_sdcard] path: ~/printer_data/gcodes # --------------------------- Start Print ---------------------------- [gcode_macro START_PRINT] gcode: {% set BED_TEMP=params.BED_TEMPdefault(50)float %} {% set EXTRUDER_TEMP=params.EXTRUDER_TEMPdefault(200)float %} # Home the printer G90 M83 G28 # Preheat the bed M140 S{BED_TEMP} M190 S{BED_TEMP} M104 S200 # Heatsoak G4 P30000 # Z probing sequence # Heat the extruder to the desired temperature M104 S{EXTRUDER_TEMP} M109 S{EXTRUDER_TEMP} # Prime line sequence G1 Z5 F3000 ; lift G1 X20 Y5 F1500 ; move to prime position G1 Z0.15 F3000 ; get ready to prime G92 E0 ; reset extrusion distance G1 X60 E30 F600 ; prime nozzle with adjusted extrusion / E__ based on how much you like # String removal circle after priming G1 Z0.2 F3000 ; adjust to 0.2mm above the bed G1 Y15 F10000 ; move the toolhead in the Y direction by 15 units # Execute the circle 3 times G2 I-5 J0 F10000 ; circle with 5mm radius G2 I-5 J0 F10000 G2 I-5 J0 F10000 # -------------------------------------------------------------------- # ---------------------------- End Print ----------------------------- [gcode_macro END_PRINT] variable_machine_depth: 235 gcode: # Turn off bed, extruder, and fan M140 S0 M104 S0 M106 S0 # Relative positionning G91 # Retract and raise Z G1 Z0.2 E-2 F2400 # Wipe out G1 X5 Y5 F3000 # Raise Z more G1 Z10 # Absolute positionning G90 # Present print G1 X0 Y{machine_depth} # Disable steppers M84 # Print message on LCD M117 That's All Folks # -------------------------------------------------------------------- #[display] #lcd_type: st7920 #cs_pin: EXP1_7 #sclk_pin: EXP1_6 #sid_pin: EXP1_8 #encoder_pins: ^EXP1_5, ^EXP1_3 #click_pin: ^!EXP1_2 [output_pin beeper] pin: EXP1_1 #*# <---------------------- SAVE_CONFIG -------------------- #*# DO NOT EDIT THIS BLOCK OR BELOW. The contents are auto-generated. #*# #*# [bltouch] #*# z_offset = -0.400 #*# #*# [bed_mesh default] #*# version = 1 #*# points = #*# 0.382500, 0.305000, 0.172500, 0.145000, 0.080000 #*# 0.207500, 0.152500, 0.047500, 0.025000, -0.040000 #*# 0.047500, 0.015000, -0.065000, -0.070000, -0.110000 #*# -0.027500, -0.075000, -0.175000, -0.182500, -0.232500 #*# -0.067500, -0.152500, -0.280000, -0.295000, -0.357500 #*# x_count = 5 #*# y_count = 5 #*# mesh_x_pps = 2 #*# mesh_y_pps = 2 #*# algo = bicubic #*# tension = 0.2 #*# min_x = 23.0 #*# max_x = 198.12 #*# min_y = 25.0 #*# max_y = 208.47 #*# #*# [extruder] #*# control = pid #*# pid_kp = 15.746 #*# pid_ki = 0.607 #*# pid_kd = 102.154 #*# #*# [heater_bed] #*# control = pid #*# pid_kp = 69.959 #*# pid_ki = 1.576 #*# pid_kd = 776.540 

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Authors note: This one got a bit delayed, but as a bonus it is 10% longer than a normal chapter. Work has been very hectic and it was a bit hard to find enough clear time to write something. I write a lot of less interesting stuff at work, which makes it harder to write creatively sometimes. But here it is. Enjoy!

Chapter 9: Geir

Geir woke up with a start. He looked around confused and wondered where he was. Something buzzed next to him. He looked over at a small bedside table, where his comm was held in place with an elastic strap. Ah, yes. I am on a ship, The Verrier. The comm buzzed again and the screen lit up with a message to come to the pilot deck.
“What time is it,” he muttered to himself. He felt a bit groggy as if he hadn’t slept long. But a quick glance at the comm showed he had had two full deep sleep cycles. He should be ok with that. He washed himself quickly in cold water to wake up and put on a fresh set of clothes. Then he exited the small cabin to make his way up to the pilot deck. In the narrow corridor he nearly bumped into Liza who looked even more tired than he felt.
“Do you know what is going on?” he asked her.
“They found something,” she grunted. Clearly not in the mood for a conversation. She pushed herself towards the ladder for the canteen deck.
“I am making some coffee. I am bringing it up. Tell Kay I am coming, ok?” she said.
“Yep.”
Geir made his way up to the pilot deck, where he found Captain Kay, Diederik and Anna.
“There you are,” said Captain Kay. “Did you see Liza?”
“Yes she is coming. She is just fixing some coffee. She looked like she could need it.”
“Yes, she was up pretty late analysing the results.”
“So, found anything?”
“Yes we did.” She pointed to one of the bigger screens which held a somewhat grainy picture of something rectangular. The screen cycled through what must be images produced from different sensors, producing different false colours for each sensor suite. Along the edge of the picture was a scale, indicating that what they were looking at was about three meters across.
“What is that?”
“We don’t know,” said Anna. “We are going to find out though.”
“Find out what?” said Liza as she came up the ladder with a thermos in one hand.
“That was quick,” said Geir.
“There was some warm already. Couldn’t be bothered to make any new.”
“Really? Sacrilege!” said Geir, winking at her.
Liza just grunted and came over to the screens they were looking at. She stopped and looked at the cycling images.
“Is that what we saw earlier?”
“Yes,” said Captain Kay. “We ran a drone closer so we could get better pictures and resolution on the sensors. What do you see?”
Liza narrowed her eyes as she looked at the pictures. She was quiet for a minute as the others looked at her expectantly. She turned to them.
“You already have an idea I take it.”
Captain Kay, Anna and Diederik nodded in unison. Geir thought he would probably have found it amusing, if the atmosphere hadn’t been so tense.
“But you aren’t telling me. So, let’s see. About three meters across. A square. With some repeating patterns based on triangles on it. The material is some kind of mineral metal composite, as we discussed earlier. It probably isn’t the Chinese. Unless they brought a drone with an artistic bent with them.”
Liza sighed and made a face.
“I need some coffee first.”
As she poured herself a bubble. Anna looked at her console and said: “No change on the messaging from the Chinese. We are still invading sovereign territory according to them.”
Diederik snorted and looked at Captain Kay, who just lifted an eyebrow. Then she turned and looked expectantly at Liza, who had just drained a full bubble of coffee.
“Shit, I should have made some fresh.”
Liza turned back to the screens.
“It is an artefact. Isn’t it? Something that isn’t supposed to be there. The Chinese most likely didn’t put it there and we have observed the rock the whole time as it was coming in towards Jupiter and then out to here. Well, except for the time when it bouncing along the atmosphere. And nobody was going to plant something then. It could of course be something the Chinese did. But I can’t figure out what material it is. So we can’t rule the Chinese out. Occam’s razor and all that.”
“About where we arrived too,” said Anna.
“So we are going to go EVA and have a look then?”
“Yes,” said Captain Kay. “Geir, Anna and Frank.”
“Frank?” said Geir and looked surprised.
“Yes,” said Captain Key and nodded. “I am not letting Liza out just yet. I need two people to go. That means you Geir and Anna. And Anna isn’t leaving Frank here. So he goes too.”
Geir lifted up his hands as he started protesting.
“No Geir, that is how it is going to be. Let’s start planning the EVA and prepare the suits.”
Geir looked around to the others for support, but Diederik just looked at him. Anna shook her head slightly and Liza looked away seemingly focused on the screens.
“Fine! Whatever.” Geir turned around slightly too abruptly and had to catch a handhold to steady himself as he started drifting off. Over his shoulder he adressed Diederik: “Would you come and help me get the suits ready? It is a lot easier with four hands.”
Geir moved down the access ladder thinking. “How come Diederik is the guy I team up with now? I don’t even like him.”
In the brightly lit storage and changing area, Geir started readying three suits whilst giving Diederik instructions on what to do to help. Anna came in a few minutes later with Frank in tow and moved down into the cargo section to unpack a container. Geir looked at them as Frank climbed down the ladder and shook his head in frustration. He looked over at Diederik who just stared at him impassively for a few seconds and then started helping Geir step into bottom section of the suit. Anna and Frank came back up and started preparing a suit for Frank.
“Aren’t you coming as well?” Geir asked Anna.
“Yes, but I am using a different suit. It is downstairs.”
They continued in silence, Anna quickly and competently dressing Frank. Diederik taking a bit longer, with the help of Geir’s instructions. They were done nearly at the same time with Geir and Frank fully dressed in their EVA suits with just the helmets missing.
Anna looked at Diederik. “Could you please come help me downstairs?” She turned to the others. “You help each other down the ladder. Take it slow. While I get dressed as well,” she said in a friendly manner, but leaving no doubt who was in charge of this operation.
Geir got the helmets out of the storage and performed a safety check on both of them before handing one of them over to Frank. He helped Frank attach it to the suit where it was worn when not on the head. Then he let Frank go first down the ladder. It was hard to look down, as the EVA suit’s helmet ring restricted the movement of the head, so he had to feel his way with the feet to find the first rung of the ladder. Well down in the storage and airlock deck he saw that Anna had unpacked one of the military grey plastic crates. She was half dressed in the mech suit that the crate contained. A powered exoskeleton armoured suit. It looked like it had been refurbished, as several pieces of the suit were clearly new and others looked well worn, with scratches and faded colours. The suit smelled faintly of machine oil.
“Here,” said Anna to Diederik, as she pointed to her belt. “Attach the battery packs here. Once they are attached, double check that all five diodes show green for a full charge. Geir, could you open the lid of the other crate and lift out one of the rifles and give it to me. I can’t easily move, dressed halfway like this.”
“Rifle?” Geir said and looked at her. “We have rifles with us? Why would we need a rifle?”
“Do you know what is beyond that thing? It could be a hatch. After you give me a rifle, unpack a plasma torch to bring along. You know how to use them, right?”
“I know how to use one,” said Frank. “I have a certificate in both welding and breaching with one of them.”
“Ah, so you are useful after all?” said Anna with a snarky voice.
Frank abruptly went red in the face and looked down at this feet.
“Geir, find the plasma torch and give it to Frank, but keep the gas bottle separate. You carry it until we need it. I don’t want mister terrorist here to get any ideas.”
Frank’s face went even redder, and it spread to his neck which was all Geir could see at the moment. Geir exasperatedly shook his head and went and opened up the rifle crate.
Diederik worked silently to get Anna dressed in the last pieces of the mech suit, whilst Frank gradually seemed to calm down. Geir gave the rifle and two ammo packs to Anna, who put it down to put on the gloves of the mech suit.
“It is actually easier to work with the rifle with the suit gloves on, as it was designed to operate together. Otherwise the rifle is really too big for your hands.”
A few minutes later they were all suited up and ready, except for the helmets.
“Ok, here is what we are going to do,” said Anna. “We are putting on helmets and then we go through the safety tests. Then we grab the EVA safety harness gear, the radio relays and move it into the airlock. Geir, you are in charge of attaching us to the external mounting points of the ship. Once out there, nobody touches anything unless I say so.”
She touched the radio lever in the neck ring with her chin and that opened up the default radio channel.
“Jake, Anna here, can you hear me?”
“Loud and clear.” They all heard from the helmets.
“How close are we to touching down and being secured against the rock?”
“We are touching down in one minute and it will only take a minute or so to get us secured. Let me get this done first, then we talk.”
“Roger, Anna out.” She turned to the others. “Helmets on. Do buddy safety checks. Diederik help Frank with that, please.”
Just as they had completed the safety checks, they could feel a soft bump as the ship touched the rock and the landing leg suspension adjusted. Immediately a vibration sound, like someone drilling on the other side of a concrete wall, could be heard. This was the ship anchoring system attaching them to the rock.
Anna toggled the comms again: “How far will we be from the artefact?”
“It is just a few meters from the aft airlock and if I positioned us correctly I will be able to run a stabilising girder out over it. So you can easily attach yourself to that and the ship safety mooring points. I am using a robotic arm to drill an anchor point a meter from the artefact as well. Liza says the deep radar and the other sensors indicate it is safe to do so.”
“Ok thanks.” She turned to the others. “Let’s get this stuff into the airlock.”
After they had moved everything into the airlock Geir made sure all three of them were securely attached with a safety harness to separate steel runners along the inside of the airlock.
“Geir, you go out first. Attach yourself to the girder and then to the anchor point at the artefact. When that is done, Frank will disconnect you from the point in here. Then you Frank go through the same procedure and finally I do. You attach to different parts of the girder, so we don’t tangle so easily. Each one of us brings one safety harness pack and one raid-relay pack. Once we are all out of the airlock and disconnected from it we close it. Then we can take a look at the thing. Get all that?”
“Roger,” they both said.
“We are all going to be on the open channel all the time from now on.”
She turned Diederik.
“Could you close and secure the airlock, please?”
“Yes.”
“Ok, let’s do that.”
Diederik double checked that nothing was blocking the airlock and then pushed the button that started the process of closing the large door to the airlock. Once the airlock was closed Anna pushed the button that started the evacuation pumps.
“Keep an eye on the warning lights and tell me immediately if you get anything red or orange.”
As the air was being pumped out of the airlock Anna started experiencing the strange feeling that creeps up on you as all the sounds the ship makes gradually fade away. A ship is never quiet. Ventilation and pumps can always be heard in the background. Once you are in your suit in vacuum, you still hear ventilation and pumps, but now it is all internal to the suit. A much more intense and close-in sound when there are no other contextual sounds.
When the vacuum pumps stopped and the status lights for the airlock showed near vacuum, Anna looked at the other two.
“Any problems?” she asked.
“No,” both said and made the thumbs up sign.
“Ok. Opening her up.”
Anna pulled the lever that opens the airlock. A yellow warning light lit up and they could feel a slight vibration through their feet as the door started opening. Just as the door cracked open, the little remaining air that was still in the airlock suddenly became visible as a thin fog. The fog streamed through the crack that the door presented, and out towards the vacuum. Geir could see a shaft of bright light through the thin fog as the door opened. The light was from the bright external spotlights mounted around the airlock. A few seconds later the door was completely open and he could see what looked like a weathered rock slab outside the airlock door. It looked pretty much like grey granite with a subtle hint of red, with that surprising sharp detail that you get with no air to interfere with the light. Something that the light interfered with though, was most of the stars. The light was so bright on the rock that only the brightest stars were visible.
A robotic arm was just withdrawing after having drilled some holes and inserted safety mooring points.
When the door was completely open, Geir slowly moved along a handrail towards the door opening.
“The girder is deployed and secured,” said Jake. “You can moved out.”
Geir moved up to the girder which was deployed above the door and extended out five meters. He moved hand over hand to just above the artefact, which was right where Jake had said it would be. After attaching his second safety harness point to the girder, Geir carefully pushed himself towards the safety mooring point. He slowly drifted towards it and caught it with his left hand. He attached a third safety harness point to it. He wound the safety lines in so that he was more or less hanging just over the surface of the rock supported by the safety lines.
“Anna, can you release the one in the airlock please? I’ll reel it in.”
Anna released it and Geir reeled it in so none of them would get tangled up in it.
“Ok Geir, you are secure?” Captain Kay broke in.
“Yes.”
“Good work. Safety first. But we are dying of curiosity in here. Give us some close up impressions of the artefact.”
“Hmm. Not much to say beyond what the cameras showed us earlier. It is square. About 3 meters across. It has all these triangular patterns on it. The are different shades of quite dark grey mostly and some lighter grey pieces. It sort of reminds me of tile patterns from a Moorish palace, but with much larger pieces and the wrong colours.”
“Any thing that sticks out as different than the rest?” asked Liza.
“Not really, but I need to take a closer look.”
As they talked, Frank and Anna had started working on moving out and securing themselves. When they got done, Geir was very close up to the artefact, looking at it from different angles. It was complicated to manoeuvre in microgravity, as there were not many places to hold on to and stabilise.
“I don’t really know what I am looking at here,” said Geir. “If you had shown me this on Earth, I would have guessed it was a piece of art.”
“I have an idea,” said Frank.
“Yes?”
“Jake, could you turn off all but one or two of the lower lights at the airlock?”
“Yes, I think that is possible. Why?”
“The light is so strong with all of them on, that it is hard to see any height differences between the pieces.”
“Why would there be a height difference?” asked Anna.
“If this is more than an art installation, then possibly there is some way to distinguish some key pieces from the others. Maybe one or a few stick out a bit? We could see it because they will cast a shadow if we shine a light sideways along them?”
“Good idea,” said Captain Kay.
“It will take me a few minutes to find the subroutine that handles the door lights though, if I am only going to disable a few,” said Jake.
“I have an alternative,” said Anna. “How about we turn off all the lights and we use a suit torch to do the same thing. Much easier.”
“Ok, but the suit lights are a lot weaker.”
“We’ll just need a few minutes to adjust our eyes.”
“Good point. Ok are you three ready for me turning off the lights?”
“Roger,” was the chorus from all three.
Abruptly it was very dark and it got even darker as Jake turned off the positioning lights on this side of the ship. Gradually the stars started to appear as Geir’s eyes adjusted.
“This view never gets old,” said Frank as he looked up at the stars.
“Ok, I am lighting up a torch,” said Anna. “Geir, you are best positioned to have a look. I’ll light from behind you so you don’t get blinded.”
They spent ten futile minutes shining a torch at different angles trying to find anything different between the triangular tiles.
“Well,” said Geir. “That wasn’t it. A good idea though.”
“Ok, new idea,” said Liza. “What about ultraviolet? That may reveal something. I know that certain minerals show up clearly in UV.”
“Yes,” said Geir. “But these suits don’t have an ultraviolet torch. We’d have to get one from onboard.”
“Not really needed,” said Anna. “My suit has an ultraviolet torch. Let’s swap place. It is probably better if I light it from above.”
Anna and Geir swapped place, with Anna ‘standing’ on the rock and both Geir and Frank quite close to the artefact.
“I am turning off the torch now. We’ll wait a minute for the eyes to adjust again.”
Geir looked up at the sky and revelled in the Milky Way gradually becoming visible again. It stretched across the sky in a glorious river of light. A view that was breathtaking.
“Ok, ready?” said Anna.
“Hang on,” said Liza. “I am adjusting the cameras in here, so we can see better too. Now. Go for it.”
Anna turned on the torch and Geir could hear several people gasp simultaneously. Four equal patterns appeared clearly on the artefact. Three triangles in a pattern in each corner of the artefact.
“Wow, nice! Look at that!” said Geir.
“They are not that far from each other,” said Frank. “See, if you spread your hands like this you can…”
“STOP,” both Anna and Captain Kay shouted simultaneously, as Frank pushed the triangles.
Everybody was still and Geir realised he was holding his breath. He could feel a slight rumble through his glove that was touching the rock. Then the middle of the artefact slowly started descending into the rock.
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