hello everyone. these last few days I've been going through a lot and i thought it might be a good idea to ask for help in here.
this year i'm sharing a house with a roommate who turned out to be an immature, spoiled, childish bitch. i've been always respectful to her and i assume i have tried to be as considerate as it's humanly possible.i'm very calm and when at home, i'm usually busy studying or watching movie with a headphone or doing other silent activities. i even don't like talking over the phone that much and at times that i'm obliged to use it, i lower my tone as much as i can. also, as i brought almost 90% of the furniture and the apartment was basically furnished when she arrived, and i agreed her to take the best room.i never even mentioned all the favors I did and I really regret what i did, because none of these roomie-pleasing acts paid off.if anything, she became more controlling and rude.she had talked to me in an offensive manner two times before this but i hadn't said anything in response and had suppressed my anger in order to avoid conflict( classic trauma response, right?).ten days ago i invited my sister over( and i hadnt invited anyone before this) and she traveled hundreds of miles to come and see me. i had done it with her permission and she said it's alright for my sister to come and stay. so she came and stayed a couple of days and we were mostly hanging out outside and we just came back at night to sleep in my own room.she was acting alright in the first 2 days, then she started to act in a passive-aggressive manner –she slammed the door as soon as she heard us preparing the table or quietly laughing, she avoided us each time we were in the living room and would sneakily jump out of her room to use the bathroom or toilet as soon as we moved into my room. she had done this before during the last semester's finals, too. but this time it had got way more obvious and way more aggressive. after my sister left, she quitted even looking at me or saying hi to me when she saw me.( she had done this before too, but i had convinced myself not to take it to the heart specially as she got friendly with me again after the finals were over! she's such an unstable player.) last day she wrote me a scroll on telegram and as hard as she tried to seem cultured and civilized, she just oozed out even more controlling shit.it was the juice of her message: ''don't use the living room for studying. only use it for going to the kitchen or to the toilet, because i feel uncomfortable doing cooking and shit when someone's in there reading.'' i answered that i'm well-aware that living room might be distracting at times, but i'm not bothered by the sound of her doing her stuff and she doesnt need to worry about it and she can also freely use it. but then she started to argue with me saying ''living room is not for studying'' and weeping over her victim complex ''noooo, i'm not comfortable,you MUST go to your room just like i've tolerated you reading now you must act to my desire''. this time finally i became furious and assertively talked to her that it's her problem that she doesn't want to see me AT ALL and for this irrational demand, i would not have any more compliance. i'm silent as a rabbit, not making a fucking noise and really dont occupy much area in a 80 m² living room!! if she wants to use it as well, she's welcomed, but she can't command me to stay prisoned inside my small gloomy room without no proper light. interesting part is that she even doesnt prefer to study in the living room and all she's mad about is she cant use it for toilet and kitchen without coming to see me staying in there. although my whole body was trembling with rage ( and simultaneously with fear of a conflict or a loud argument) i managed to be assertive and talk my words.then she left me unread, although i'm quite sure she's read it.
now although i've come out ratherstrongly, whenever i use the living room, every moment of being there feels like torture.the silence in the living room feels like a ticking bomb that might explode in any minute. i'm anxious af and i have endless ruminations about how she might just walk out of the door and snap at me.she still continues slamming the door and walking thumpering her feet on the ground.also, i know it's very unlikely, but my mind constantly jumps to the possibility of being attacked or she getting physical with me. i'm very sensitive to loud noises and arguments. i try to avoid them as much as i can. i get this semi-panic attack feeling whenever even two strangers argue with eachother. i know me keeping using the living room to my desire will serve her right and will bring me back some power over the household affairs, but i can barely even concentrate this way; while i rigidly sit there, my muscles tense as rock and i hear my hear ponding.
so, i appreciate your advice: do you think i'd better fight or flight? regarding that my finals are arriving in 10 days or so...
P.S: special thanks to you ma' for the perfect upbringing and all that dreadful childhood days you would shout at me – your voice's still ringing in my ears and although you encourage me to stand for my rights, i always fail because i've always been on the lower end of the power imbalance seasaw. i never dared disagreeing with you, now how you expect me to be magically a brave person who can disagree when she's not pleased?

I got sick of all these pro-Israel comments so I want to make some points clear
1- Israel have gay rights and hamas killing the gays:
Being pro-Palestine it’s not equal to pro- hamas of course as a Palestinian gay I don’t want to live under hamas but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to live in my land between my people + USA didn’t give the gays their rights until the 80’s I’m sure the gays at that time they did not want their families to be killed and oppressed they wanted them to accept them and love them.
2- Israel and pink-wash
The term pink wash came when Israel literally painted a fighter jets pink to spread awareness about breast cancer and with the same jet they killed women and children in gaza like do you think the rockets would kill only the homophobic people it will kill everyone including the gays + when Israel finds out that a Palestinian guy is gay they will use him as a spy or they will tell his family about his sexuality
https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/10/the-u-s-and-israel-are-trying-to-cure-breast-cancer-with-tasteful-pink-fighter-jets.html
https://www.vice.com/en/article/av8b5j/gay-palestinians-are-being-blackmailed-into-working-as-informants
3- there was no country of Palestine:
This not true and we can see that clearly in balfour declaration and even if that was true there was no country of America there was no country of Saudi Arabia there was no country of Canada there was no country of Jordan because at the end of the day it’s about the people not about the name of the country the Palestinians were always there but they were under the ottoman empire but the people were always there until some white European Jews with white skin and blue eyes came and displaced the people and stole their land claiming that a guy with super powers setting in the sky promised them this land in 2000 years old book.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Balfour-Declaration
4- even Muslim countries don’t want them:
Because they don’t want to repeat the history 75 years ago my grandparents went to Jordan to escape the genocide and they were told they will be able to go back once the war is over and here I am their grandson is still waiting.
https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2017/5/23/the-nakba-did-not-start-or-end-in-1948
5- gaza weren’t occupied by Israel before 7th of October:
Gaza weren’t occupied by military but it was controlled by Israel they control the amount of electricity and water , they control the materials that allowed to enter gaza , they control the amount of food that allowed to enter gaza they even calculate the calories they need to stay alive and give them the exact same amount.
https://gisha.org/UserFiles/File/HiddenMessages/ItemsGazaStrip060510.pdf
6- free Palestine means killing the Jews: Free Palestine means the freedom of colonizers and oppression and to be allowed to live in our land and move in and out easily without the instructions from the colonizers.
You need to stop being brainwashed by the Israeli propaganda
Note: excuse my English I’m not a native speaker.

As a fan of both the Harry Potter books and films, I've often pondered the disparity between the legend of Harry Potter's name and his actual accomplishments. From the moment Hagrid brings him to the wizarding world, Harry is treated as if he's some sort of mythical figure, destined for greatness. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that Harry's journey doesn't quite live up to the lofty expectations set by his name.
Early Hype vs. Reality
From the very beginning of the series, Harry Potter is hailed as "The Boy Who Lived," a title that carries immense weight and expectation. Every mention of his name elicits awe and reverence from those around him, as if he's destined to be the saviour of the wizarding world. Yet, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Harry is just an ordinary boy thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
Struggles and Setbacks
Throughout his time at Hogwarts, Harry faces numerous challenges and obstacles, but he's far from the infallible hero that his name implies. He makes mistakes, he doubts himself, and he often requires the help of his friends to overcome adversity. While he certainly displays bravery and resilience, he doesn't possess the prodigious talent or innate skill that one might expect from someone with his reputation.
Unfulfilled Potential
One of the most disappointing aspects of Harry's character development is the sense of unfulfilled potential. Given his status as "The Boy Who Lived" and the chosen one destined to defeat Voldemort, one would expect Harry to evolve into the world's strongest wizard. However, as the series progresses, it becomes evident that Harry's strengths lie more in his courage and loyalty than in his magical abilities.
Final Verdict
In the end, while Harry Potter undoubtedly plays a crucial role in the defeat of Voldemort and the salvation of the wizarding world, he falls short of the legendary status that his name suggests. He may not be the most powerful wizard or the smartest student at Hogwarts, but he is a symbol of resilience, friendship, and the triumph of good over evil. And perhaps, in the end, that's a legacy worth celebrating in its own right.
Conclusion
While the legend of Harry Potter may not entirely live up to the lofty expectations set by his name, his journey remains a captivating and deeply resonant tale of courage, friendship, and the power of love. Through the trials and tribulations he faces, Harry emerges not as a mythical hero, but as something far more profound: a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Harry's story is not just about defeating dark wizards or mastering spells; it's about overcoming personal struggles, forging lasting bonds of friendship, and discovering the true meaning of bravery and sacrifice. His journey serves as a powerful reminder that heroism is not measured by the magnitude of one's magical abilities, but by the strength of one's character and the depth of one's convictions.
In the end, it is Harry's unwavering commitment to his friends and his unwavering belief in the power of love that ultimately defines him as a hero. He may not be the world's strongest wizard, but he possesses a courage and resilience that far surpasses any magical prowess. He is a hero not because of the title bestowed upon him, but because of the choices he makes and the sacrifices he is willing to endure for the greater good.
As we journey alongside Harry through the pages of J.K. Rowling's beloved series, we are reminded that true heroism lies not in the grandeur of one's deeds, but in the quiet moments of kindness, compassion, and selflessness that define us as human beings. Harry Potter may not live up to the legend of his name, but in the hearts of fans around the world, he will always be remembered as a symbol of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of magic.

Project Name: Somali Renaissance Initiative (SRI)
Objective: The Somali Renaissance Initiative aims to catalyze comprehensive development across all sectors to transform Somalia into a prosperous and peaceful nation with a high standard of living and overall well-being.
Components:

1. Education Revolution: Implement a nationwide education reform program focused on improving access to quality education for all Somali children. This includes building and renovating schools, training teachers, and developing a modern curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, innovation, and practical skills. Special attention will be given to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education to nurture a skilled workforce for the future.
   
2. Infrastructure Development: Launch an ambitious infrastructure development plan to upgrade transportation networks, expand access to clean water and sanitation, and modernize energy infrastructure. This includes the construction of roads, bridges, and ports to facilitate trade and connectivity, as well as investments in renewable energy projects to ensure sustainable power generation.
   
3. Economic Empowerment: Foster a conducive business environment to attract domestic and foreign investment, promote entrepreneurship, and create job opportunities. This involves streamlining regulatory processes, providing access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and supporting key industries such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and technology.
   
4. Good Governance: Strengthen institutions, promote transparency, and combat corruption to ensure efficient and accountable governance. This includes reforming legal frameworks, enhancing law enforcement capabilities, and establishing mechanisms for citizen participation and oversight. Emphasis will be placed on building trust between government and citizens to foster social cohesion and civic engagement.
   
5. Community Engagement: Empower local communities through participatory decision-making processes and community-driven development initiatives. This involves providing support for grassroots projects that address specific needs and priorities identified by community members, such as healthcare clinics, agricultural cooperatives, and vocational training centers.
   

Timeline: The Somali Renaissance Initiative is envisioned as a long-term endeavor, spanning several decades, with milestones and targets set for each phase of implementation. However, significant progress can be achieved within the first decade with strategic planning and sustained commitment.
Funding: The project will rely on a combination of domestic resources, international aid and investment, public-private partnerships, and innovative financing mechanisms. Efforts will be made to mobilize both public and private sector stakeholders to contribute to the initiative's success.
Expected Outcomes: - Dramatic improvement in literacy rates, educational attainment, and workforce skills - Enhanced infrastructure connectivity and access to essential services for all citizens - Vibrant and diversified economy with sustainable growth and reduced poverty - Strengthened rule of law, respect for human rights, and social cohesion - Somalia emerges as a model of development and resilience, inspiring positive change across the region.
Sources: - Consultations with experts in development economics, education, infrastructure, governance, and community development. - Studies and reports from international organizations such as the World Bank, United Nations, and African Development Bank on development strategies and best practices. - Input from Somali government officials, civil society organizations, and community leaders on local priorities and challenges.

Protected Sovereign States and Territories Bill

A
BILL
TO
provide greater protection for the recognition of certain nations’ independence, for certain nations’ sovereignty over disputed regions, and for connected purposes.
BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

PART 1

PROTECTED INDEPENDENCE RECOGNITION

1 Protected independence recognition status
(1) A polity in Schedule 1 is considered to have protected independence recognition.
(2) In this Act, ‘protected independence recognition’ is recognition that a polity is a sovereign state as it is an independent political entity comprising a people from a defined territory that has the capacity to enter into relations with other states and requires protection.
2 Amending a polity’s protected independence recognition
(1) The Secretary of State may, by statutory instrument amending Schedule 1 of this Act, determine that a polity does or does not have protected independence recognition and what the polity’s defined territorial boundaries are.
(2) Any statutory instrument made under subsection (1) is to be passed with affirmative procedure.
(3) The Secretary of State must consider adding a polity to Schedule 1 if—

(a) the polity in question has declared that it is an independent sovereign state;
(b) there is a dispute about the ownership of the territory that the polity claims sovereignty over; and
(c) the polity faces an active and serious threat to its existence.

(4) The Secretary of State must consider removing a polity from Schedule 1 if—

(a) the polity renounces its declaration of independence;
(b) the polity renounces its claim to their territory; or
(c) the polity no longer faces an active and serious threat to its existence.

3 Assistance in times of conflict
(1) The United Kingdom must assist a polity in Schedule 1 if another polity—

(a) declares war; or
(b) applies significant economic sanctions;

against that polity.
(2) The Secretary of State must consider whether it is appropriate and legitimate to provide the assistance requested or deemed to be necessary in regards to the assistance of a polity.
(3) If a polity in Schedule 1 engages in military action against another polity, the Secretary of State must consider—

(a) removing said polity from Schedule 1;
(b) making a determination about which polity has the valid claim to sovereignty over the territory; and
(c) diplomatic actions that can be taken to resolve the situation.

PART 2

PROTECTED SOVEREIGNTY RECOGNITION

4 Protected sovereignty recognition status
(1) A territory in Schedule 2 of this Act has protected sovereignty recognition.
(2) In this Act, ‘protected sovereignty recognition’ is recognition that a territory belongs to an existing sovereign state and needs protection.
5 Amending a territory’s protected sovereignty recognition
(1) The Secretary of State may, by statutory instrument amending Schedule 2 of this Act, determine that a territory does or does not have protected sovereignty recognition and to which sovereign state it belongs to.
(2) Any statutory instrument made under subsection (1) is to be passed with affirmative procedure.
(3) The Secretary of State must consider adding a territory to Schedule 2 if—

(a) the territory in question is recognised as owned by a sovereign state;
(b) there is a dispute about the ownership of the territory; and
(c) the territory—

(i) is under military occupation;
(ii) is facing civil war or unrest; or
(iii) is facing a high risk of military action.

(4) The Secretary of State must consider removing a territory from Schedule 2 if the sovereign state it belongs to renounces its sovereign over that territory.

PART 3

UNPROTECTED STATUS RECOGNITION

1 Unprotected Status Recognition
(1) A polity in Schedule 3 is considered to have unprotected status recognition.
(2) In this Act, ‘unprotected status recognition’ is recognition that a polity who has lost control of its claimed territory is and continues to be a sovereign state as it is an independent political entity comprising a people from a defined territory that has the capacity to enter into relations with other states and requires protection.
(3) In this Act, ‘alternative claiming polity’ is the other entity that currently occupies or controls the land in which the polity with unprotected status recognition claims.
2 Amending a polity’s unprotected status recognition
(1) The Secretary of State may, by statutory instrument amending Schedule 1 of this Act, determine that a polity does or does not have unprotected status recognition and what the polity’s defined territorial boundaries are.
(2) Any statutory instrument made under subsection (1) is to be passed with affirmative procedure.
(3) The Secretary of State must consider adding a polity to Schedule 1 if—

(a) the polity in question has continued to declare that it is an independent sovereign state;
(b) there remains a dispute about the ownership of the territory that the polity claims sovereignty over;
(c) the polity in question continues to maintain diplomatic consultation with the United Kingdom;
(d) the polity in question makes a formal request to the United Kingdom for continued recognition
(e) the alternative claiming polity to the polity in which is in question for unprotected status recognition is considered a terrorist or extremist state.

(4) The Secretary of State must consider removing a polity from Schedule 1 if—

(a) the polity renounces its declaration of independence;
(b) the polity renounces its claim to their territory;
(c) the polity itself recognises the alternative polity claiming the formerly disputed land;
(d) the alternative claiming polity establishes formal relations with the United Kingdom, and meets human rights expectations; and
(e) it is considered by the Parliament through affirmative measure to no longer be in the interest of the United Kingdom to be involved in the continued recognition of the polity.

3 Requirements upon the Government
(1) The United Kingdom is not bound to assist the unprotected status recognition polity in any way, however may do so if such is the wish of the government, or by parliament through an affirmative measure.

PART 4

FINAL PROVISIONS

6 Definitions
In this Act—

’sovereign state’ is to be construed as “an independent political entity comprising a people from a defined territory that has the capacity to enter into relations with other states and requires protection.”
‘protected independence recognition’ is to be construed in accordance with subsection 1(2).
’protected sovereignty recognition’ is to be construed in accordance with subsection 4(2).
’defined territorial boundaries’ is to be construed as the territories outlined for a particular polity within Schedules 1 and 2

7 Extent, commencement, and short title
(1) This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
(2) The provisions of this Act shall come into force the day this Act is passed.
(3) This Act may be cited as the Protected Sovereign States and Territories Act 2023.

SCHEDULE 1

PROTECTED INDEPENDENCE RECOGNITION POLITIES

State of Israel
1 (1) The State of Israel has protected independence recognition as defined by this Act.
(2) The territory of the State of Israel is the territory under their name as defined by the demarcation line set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements between the nations of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Israel known as the Green Line.
State of Palestine
2 (1) The State of Palestine has protected independence recognition as defined by this Act.
(2) The territory of the State of Palestine is the territory under their name as defined by the demarcation line set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements between the nations of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Israel known as the Green Line.
Republic of Kosovo
3 (1) The Republic of Kosovo has protected independence recognition as defined by this Act.
(2) The territory of the Republic of Kosovo is the territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija as defined by the Constitution of the nation of Serbia on the commencement of this Act.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
4 (1) The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has protected independence recognition as defined by this Act.
(2) The territory of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is the territory of Western Sahara as defined by the border of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the line at 27° 40’ N extending from the ocean to the border of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
Republic of Cyprus
5 (1) The Republic of Cyprus has protected independence recognition as defined by this Act.
(2) The territory of the Republic of Cyprus is the entirety of the island of Cyprus excluding the sovereign base areas of—

(a) Akrotiri; and
(b) Dhekelia.

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
6 (1) The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has protected independence recognition as defined by this Act.
(2) The territory of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste is the territory of East Timor as defined in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
Ukraine
7 (1) The nation of Ukraine has protected independence recognition as defined by this Act.
(2) The territory of Ukraine consists of the Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimea, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Kyiv Municipal, Kyiv, Luhansk, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol, Sumy, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zakarpattia, Zaporizhzhia, and Zhytomyr Oblasts.

SCHEDULE 2

PROTECTED SOVEREIGNTY RECOGNITION TERRITORIES

Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia
1 (1) The territories of Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia has protected sovereignty recognition as defined under this Act.
(2) The sovereign state of the territories of Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia is the nation of Ukraine.
(3) (a) The territory of Crimea is the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city with special status of Sevastopol
(3) (b) The territory of Donetsk is the territory of the Donetsk Oblast as defined by Ukraine
(3) (c) The territory of Kherson is the territory of the Kherson Oblast as defined by Ukraine
(3) (d) The territory of Luhansk is the territory of the Luhansk Oblast as defined by Ukraine
(3) (e) The territory of Zaporizhzhia is the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast as defined by Ukraine
Golan Heights
2 (1) The territory of Golan Heights has protected sovereignty recognition as defined under this Act.
(2) The sovereign state of the territory of Golan Heights is the Syrian Arab Republic.
(3) The territory of Golan Heights is the territory under their name as defined by the demarcation line set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Israel known as the Green Line.

SCHEDULE 3

UNPROTECTED STATUS RECOGNITION POLITIES

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
1 (1) The polity of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has unprotected sovereignty recognition as defined under this Act.
(2) The territory of Afghanistan is the territory of the 34 divisions of Afghanistan.
This Bill was submitted by The Right Honourable Dame Youma, The Baroness of Motherwell, LT MBE PC MP as a Private Member's Bill.
Speaker,
Over the past few years, our nation has witnessed a wave of upheaval across the world, as nations returned to violent means as a method of the annexation of territory and people, a principle the world had thought was dismantled after the Second World War. As I said nearly two years ago, I shall repeat as I wish to cast reflection upon our role as a country across the global community with these matters in mind. Should we wallow in isolation, or should we stand for what is right?
When I stood at the Despatch box as Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, or any other role, I spoke of the need for active foreign policy. Speaker, these are not just words or slogans, active foreign policy requires the United Kingdom to recognise its own duty as the mother of parliaments to defend, protect, and promote democracy and human rights internationally. It is part of this task that I present the Protected Sovereign States and Territories Bill to the parliament again, reflective of what we have witnessed over the past few years, to bring the needed legislative changes required to ensure an active foreign policy is at the forefront of the mind of the government of the day.
The Protected Sovereign States and Territories Bill is fundamentally about ensuring the recognition of vulnerable nations, whose existence is at risk of extinction due to potential conflict or collapse, continues regardless of the government of the day. This legislation would prevent a government from unilaterally revoking the recognition of the nations within Schedule 1, and the ownership of the territories within Schedule 2. As an example, I will highlight Kosovo as a nation that should be uplifted to protected independence recognition status. Kosovo is a relatively new nation, whose Declaration of Independence was recognised by our nation on the 18th of February 2008. Kosovo’s very existence as a sovereign nation is under threat each day, as an active campaign continues attempting to undermine its recognition and sovereignty. This legislation ensures that parliament’s will to stand with the people of Kosovo in recognising their independence is protected, away from the unilateral statement of a rogue foreign minister.
To alleviate any concerns, I will address some matters raised within previous debates on this topic. This legislation will not prevent the future recognition of new nations, his Majesty’s government retains this power to ensure our nation may quickly respond to fast moving scenarios. This legislation will not require conflict as an automatic means of resolution, all that is required by this legislation is for something to be done, diplomatic support covers this sufficiently. This legislation will not cripple the Government's ability to conduct foreign affairs and policy, the Minister retains a large variety of powers even on matters subject to this act to ensure the flexibility of our nation's foreign policy is preserved, whilst protecting the recognition of vulnerable nations.
With all of this in mind, and what we have witnessed over the past few years in our hearts, I urge all members to see the good that this legislation will bring, to stand with these vulnerable nations, and vote yes to this legislation.
This reading shall end on the 17th May at 10PM

I posted yesterday about my PMDD making it hard for me to work, well I just woke up and it’s definitely there again. I couldn’t sleep well at all last night and when I did wake up I was instantly anxious and my partner had to cuddle me in order for me to go back to sleep. This happened 3 times last night. The thing about my PMDD is that the week after my period ends it starts up and lasts until my period starts. I left early from work yesterday because my PMDD was so bad and now I’m sitting on the toilet feeling like there’s a rock in my chest that is like a pit of despair, wondering if I should just call off work. I call off work almost every two weeks (sometimes weekly) because my PMDD is so bad I can barely function and just sleep. My mood swings mixed with my other mental illnesses make it nearly impossible to function normally in a work setting without causing me mental distress. The last time I tried to push through I ended vomiting at work and in previous jobs I would have “silent panic attacks” where I would get stressed and just pass out basically. My partner (bless them) said to me when I asked if I was a bad worker, “you’re a wonderful worker, you’re just disabled.” And that keeps ringing in my mind. I applied for some remote jobs so I can have my own schedule, so I’m hoping I get the job so I can make money and manage my PMDD.
Also, I talked to a manager yesterday about what I am going through and unfortunately I cannot take any medical leave, FMLA, or disability because I haven’t been there for 12 months. I can’t wait for my gynecologist appointment on the 29th to get documentation of my PMDD and if I don’t get this remote job maybe I can file for disability? Idk…

We thought a camping trip in Northern Ontario's wilderness would be fun. The six of us—Tom, Liz, Sarah, Mike, Danny, and I—had been friends since high school.
On the first night, we gathered around the campfire, sharing ghost stories. Tom, ever the prankster, told us about the Wendigo, a malevolent spirit from Algonquin legend that turns humans into insatiable cannibals. We laughed it off, but the dense forest around us seemed to whisper warnings.
The second night, strange calls began. They were distant at first, echoing through the trees—long, mournful howls that sent chills down my spine. "Probably wolves," Mike said, but he sounded uneasy. We huddled closer to the fire, the shadows dancing menacingly on the trees.
By the third night, the howls were closer. Tom and Danny decided to investigate, despite our protests. They grabbed flashlights and headed into the darkness, leaving us by the fire. Hours passed. We called out for them, but the forest swallowed our voices.
When they finally returned, something was off. Their eyes were wild, their clothes torn. "We didn’t see anything," Tom said shakily. Danny just nodded, staring into the fire as if he could see something we couldn't. We exchanged worried glances but said nothing.
The fourth night, Liz went missing. She'd gone to collect firewood and never came back. Panic set in. We searched the forest, calling her name until our voices were hoarse. There was no trace of her.
Tom and Danny grew more erratic. They whispered to each other in hushed tones, casting paranoid glances our way. It felt like they were hiding something, but fear kept us silent.
On the fifth night, the howls turned into screams—agonizing, human screams that echoed in our ears long after they faded. We were terrified, huddled together in the tent, clutching each other. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.
The next morning, Mike was gone. His sleeping bag lay empty, the zipper torn open as if he'd been dragged out. Tom and Danny insisted we move camp, but their eyes gleamed with something sinister. I realized then, too late, that they were no longer my friends. They were something else, something hungry.
That night, Sarah and I stayed awake, listening to the howls. We planned to leave at first light, but they attacked before dawn. Tom and Danny—or whatever they'd become—came for us with an insatiable hunger in their eyes. We fought, but it was no use. I managed to escape, running blindly through the forest, the screams of my friends echoing behind me.
I stumbled upon a ranger's cabin at dawn, exhausted and delirious. The rangers found me raving about the Wendigo. They never found my friends. Sometimes, late at night, I hear those mournful calls, and I know they’re still out there, hunting. And I know one day, they’ll come for me too.

We thought a camping trip in Northern Ontario's wilderness would be fun. The six of us—Tom, Liz, Sarah, Mike, Danny, and I—had been friends since high school.
On the first night, we gathered around the campfire, sharing ghost stories. Tom, ever the prankster, told us about the Wendigo, a malevolent spirit from Algonquin legend that turns humans into insatiable cannibals. We laughed it off, but the dense forest around us seemed to whisper warnings.
The second night, strange calls began. They were distant at first, echoing through the trees—long, mournful howls that sent chills down my spine. "Probably wolves," Mike said, but he sounded uneasy. We huddled closer to the fire, the shadows dancing menacingly on the trees.
By the third night, the howls were closer. Tom and Danny decided to investigate, despite our protests. They grabbed flashlights and headed into the darkness, leaving us by the fire. Hours passed. We called out for them, but the forest swallowed our voices.
When they finally returned, something was off. Their eyes were wild, their clothes torn. "We didn’t see anything," Tom said shakily. Danny just nodded, staring into the fire as if he could see something we couldn't. We exchanged worried glances but said nothing.
The fourth night, Liz went missing. She'd gone to collect firewood and never came back. Panic set in. We searched the forest, calling her name until our voices were hoarse. There was no trace of her.
Tom and Danny grew more erratic. They whispered to each other in hushed tones, casting paranoid glances our way. It felt like they were hiding something, but fear kept us silent.
On the fifth night, the howls turned into screams—agonizing, human screams that echoed in our ears long after they faded. We were terrified, huddled together in the tent, clutching each other. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.
The next morning, Mike was gone. His sleeping bag lay empty, the zipper torn open as if he'd been dragged out. Tom and Danny insisted we move camp, but their eyes gleamed with something sinister. I realized then, too late, that they were no longer my friends. They were something else, something hungry.
That night, Sarah and I stayed awake, listening to the howls. We planned to leave at first light, but they attacked before dawn. Tom and Danny—or whatever they'd become—came for us with an insatiable hunger in their eyes. We fought, but it was no use. I managed to escape, running blindly through the forest, the screams of my friends echoing behind me.
I stumbled upon a ranger's cabin at dawn, exhausted and delirious. The rangers found me raving about the Wendigo. They never found my friends. Sometimes, late at night, I hear those mournful calls, and I know they’re still out there, hunting. And I know one day, they’ll come for me too.

We thought a camping trip in Northern Ontario's wilderness would be fun. The six of us—Tom, Liz, Sarah, Mike, Danny, and I—had been friends since high school.
On the first night, we gathered around the campfire, sharing ghost stories. Tom, ever the prankster, told us about the Wendigo, a malevolent spirit from Algonquin legend that turns humans into insatiable cannibals. We laughed it off, but the dense forest around us seemed to whisper warnings.
The second night, strange calls began. They were distant at first, echoing through the trees—long, mournful howls that sent chills down my spine. "Probably wolves," Mike said, but he sounded uneasy. We huddled closer to the fire, the shadows dancing menacingly on the trees.
By the third night, the howls were closer. Tom and Danny decided to investigate, despite our protests. They grabbed flashlights and headed into the darkness, leaving us by the fire. Hours passed. We called out for them, but the forest swallowed our voices.
When they finally returned, something was off. Their eyes were wild, their clothes torn. "We didn’t see anything," Tom said shakily. Danny just nodded, staring into the fire as if he could see something we couldn't. We exchanged worried glances but said nothing.
The fourth night, Liz went missing. She'd gone to collect firewood and never came back. Panic set in. We searched the forest, calling her name until our voices were hoarse. There was no trace of her.
Tom and Danny grew more erratic. They whispered to each other in hushed tones, casting paranoid glances our way. It felt like they were hiding something, but fear kept us silent.
On the fifth night, the howls turned into screams—agonizing, human screams that echoed in our ears long after they faded. We were terrified, huddled together in the tent, clutching each other. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.
The next morning, Mike was gone. His sleeping bag lay empty, the zipper torn open as if he'd been dragged out. Tom and Danny insisted we move camp, but their eyes gleamed with something sinister. I realized then, too late, that they were no longer my friends. They were something else, something hungry.
That night, Sarah and I stayed awake, listening to the howls. We planned to leave at first light, but they attacked before dawn. Tom and Danny—or whatever they'd become—came for us with an insatiable hunger in their eyes. We fought, but it was no use. I managed to escape, running blindly through the forest, the screams of my friends echoing behind me.
I stumbled upon a ranger's cabin at dawn, exhausted and delirious. The rangers found me raving about the Wendigo. They never found my friends. Sometimes, late at night, I hear those mournful calls, and I know they’re still out there, hunting. And I know one day, they’ll come for me too.

We thought a camping trip in Northern Ontario's wilderness would be fun. The six of us—Tom, Liz, Sarah, Mike, Danny, and I—had been friends since high school.
On the first night, we gathered around the campfire, sharing ghost stories. Tom, ever the prankster, told us about the Wendigo, a malevolent spirit from Algonquin legend that turns humans into insatiable cannibals. We laughed it off, but the dense forest around us seemed to whisper warnings.
The second night, strange calls began. They were distant at first, echoing through the trees—long, mournful howls that sent chills down my spine. "Probably wolves," Mike said, but he sounded uneasy. We huddled closer to the fire, the shadows dancing menacingly on the trees.
By the third night, the howls were closer. Tom and Danny decided to investigate, despite our protests. They grabbed flashlights and headed into the darkness, leaving us by the fire. Hours passed. We called out for them, but the forest swallowed our voices.
When they finally returned, something was off. Their eyes were wild, their clothes torn. "We didn’t see anything," Tom said shakily. Danny just nodded, staring into the fire as if he could see something we couldn't. We exchanged worried glances but said nothing.
The fourth night, Liz went missing. She'd gone to collect firewood and never came back. Panic set in. We searched the forest, calling her name until our voices were hoarse. There was no trace of her.
Tom and Danny grew more erratic. They whispered to each other in hushed tones, casting paranoid glances our way. It felt like they were hiding something, but fear kept us silent.
On the fifth night, the howls turned into screams—agonizing, human screams that echoed in our ears long after they faded. We were terrified, huddled together in the tent, clutching each other. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.
The next morning, Mike was gone. His sleeping bag lay empty, the zipper torn open as if he'd been dragged out. Tom and Danny insisted we move camp, but their eyes gleamed with something sinister. I realized then, too late, that they were no longer my friends. They were something else, something hungry.
That night, Sarah and I stayed awake, listening to the howls. We planned to leave at first light, but they attacked before dawn. Tom and Danny—or whatever they'd become—came for us with an insatiable hunger in their eyes. We fought, but it was no use. I managed to escape, running blindly through the forest, the screams of my friends echoing behind me.
I stumbled upon a ranger's cabin at dawn, exhausted and delirious. The rangers found me raving about the Wendigo. They never found my friends. Sometimes, late at night, I hear those mournful calls, and I know they’re still out there, hunting. And I know one day, they’ll come for me too.

Hi Reddit! I am a computer scientist from the University of Maryland here to answer your questions about artificial intelligence.
Furong Huang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland. She specializes in trustworthy machine learning, AI for sequential decision-making, and generative AI and focuses on applying foundational principles to solve practical challenges in contemporary computing.
Dr. Huang develops efficient, robust, scalable, sustainable, ethical and responsible machine learning algorithms that operate effectively in real-world settings. She has also made significant strides in sequential decision-making, aiming to develop algorithms that not only optimize performance but also adhere to ethical and safety standards. She is recognized for her contributions with awards including best paper awards, the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific, the MLconf Industry Impact Research Award, the NSF CRII Award, the Microsoft Accelerate Foundation Models Research award, the Adobe Faculty Research Award, three JP Morgan Faculty Research Awards and Finalist of AI in Research - AI researcher of the year for Women in AI Awards North America.
Souradip Chakraborty is a third-year computer science Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland advised by Dr. Furong Huang. He works on the foundations of trustworthy reinforcement learning with a focus on developing safe, reliable, deployable and provable RL methods for real-world applications. He has co-authored top-tier publications and U.S. patents in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Recently he received an Outstanding Paper Award (TSRML workshop at Neurips 2022) and Outstanding Reviewer Awards at Neurips 2022, Neurips 2023 and AISTATS 2023.
Mucong Ding is a fifth-year Ph.D. student in computer science at the University of Maryland, advised by Dr. Furong Huang. His work broadly encompasses data efficiency, learning efficiency, graph and geometric machine learning and generative modeling. His recent research focuses on designing a more unified and efficient framework for AI alignment and improving their generalizability to solve human-level challenging problems. He has published in top-tier conferences, and some of his work has been recognized for oral presentations and spotlight papers.
We'll be on from 2 to 4 p.m. ET (18-20 UT) - ask us anything!
Other links:

• Website: https://furong-huang.com/
• Google Scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=13yyuCcAAAAJ&hl=en
• Q&A on whether AI-generated content is detectable: https://cmns.umd.edu/news-events/news/ai-generated-content-actually-detectable

Username: umd-science

We thought a camping trip in Northern Ontario's wilderness would be fun. The six of us—Tom, Liz, Sarah, Mike, Danny, and I—had been friends since high school.
On the first night, we gathered around the campfire, sharing ghost stories. Tom, ever the prankster, told us about the Wendigo, a malevolent spirit from Algonquin legend that turns humans into insatiable cannibals. We laughed it off, but the dense forest around us seemed to whisper warnings.
The second night, strange calls began. They were distant at first, echoing through the trees—long, mournful howls that sent chills down my spine. "Probably wolves," Mike said, but he sounded uneasy. We huddled closer to the fire, the shadows dancing menacingly on the trees.
By the third night, the howls were closer. Tom and Danny decided to investigate, despite our protests. They grabbed flashlights and headed into the darkness, leaving us by the fire. Hours passed. We called out for them, but the forest swallowed our voices.
When they finally returned, something was off. Their eyes were wild, their clothes torn. "We didn’t see anything," Tom said shakily. Danny just nodded, staring into the fire as if he could see something we couldn't. We exchanged worried glances but said nothing.
The fourth night, Liz went missing. She'd gone to collect firewood and never came back. Panic set in. We searched the forest, calling her name until our voices were hoarse. There was no trace of her.
Tom and Danny grew more erratic. They whispered to each other in hushed tones, casting paranoid glances our way. It felt like they were hiding something, but fear kept us silent.
On the fifth night, the howls turned into screams—agonizing, human screams that echoed in our ears long after they faded. We were terrified, huddled together in the tent, clutching each other. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.
The next morning, Mike was gone. His sleeping bag lay empty, the zipper torn open as if he'd been dragged out. Tom and Danny insisted we move camp, but their eyes gleamed with something sinister. I realized then, too late, that they were no longer my friends. They were something else, something hungry.
That night, Sarah and I stayed awake, listening to the howls. We planned to leave at first light, but they attacked before dawn. Tom and Danny—or whatever they'd become—came for us with an insatiable hunger in their eyes. We fought, but it was no use. I managed to escape, running blindly through the forest, the screams of my friends echoing behind me.
I stumbled upon a ranger's cabin at dawn, exhausted and delirious. The rangers found me raving about the Wendigo. They never found my friends. Sometimes, late at night, I hear those mournful calls, and I know they’re still out there, hunting. And I know one day, they’ll come for me too.

We thought a camping trip in Northern Ontario's wilderness would be fun. The six of us—Tom, Liz, Sarah, Mike, Danny, and I—had been friends since high school.
On the first night, we gathered around the campfire, sharing ghost stories. Tom, ever the prankster, told us about the Wendigo, a malevolent spirit from Algonquin legend that turns humans into insatiable cannibals. We laughed it off, but the dense forest around us seemed to whisper warnings.
The second night, strange calls began. They were distant at first, echoing through the trees—long, mournful howls that sent chills down my spine. "Probably wolves," Mike said, but he sounded uneasy. We huddled closer to the fire, the shadows dancing menacingly on the trees.
By the third night, the howls were closer. Tom and Danny decided to investigate, despite our protests. They grabbed flashlights and headed into the darkness, leaving us by the fire. Hours passed. We called out for them, but the forest swallowed our voices.
When they finally returned, something was off. Their eyes were wild, their clothes torn. "We didn’t see anything," Tom said shakily. Danny just nodded, staring into the fire as if he could see something we couldn't. We exchanged worried glances but said nothing.
The fourth night, Liz went missing. She'd gone to collect firewood and never came back. Panic set in. We searched the forest, calling her name until our voices were hoarse. There was no trace of her.
Tom and Danny grew more erratic. They whispered to each other in hushed tones, casting paranoid glances our way. It felt like they were hiding something, but fear kept us silent.
On the fifth night, the howls turned into screams—agonizing, human screams that echoed in our ears long after they faded. We were terrified, huddled together in the tent, clutching each other. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.
The next morning, Mike was gone. His sleeping bag lay empty, the zipper torn open as if he'd been dragged out. Tom and Danny insisted we move camp, but their eyes gleamed with something sinister. I realized then, too late, that they were no longer my friends. They were something else, something hungry.
That night, Sarah and I stayed awake, listening to the howls. We planned to leave at first light, but they attacked before dawn. Tom and Danny—or whatever they'd become—came for us with an insatiable hunger in their eyes. We fought, but it was no use. I managed to escape, running blindly through the forest, the screams of my friends echoing behind me.
I stumbled upon a ranger's cabin at dawn, exhausted and delirious. The rangers found me raving about the Wendigo. They never found my friends. Sometimes, late at night, I hear those mournful calls, and I know they’re still out there, hunting. And I know one day, they’ll come for me too.

Purely rational conclusion, nothing I do in any way shape or form effects how my life proceeds or my quality of life. I see no point in continuing. It would be like if you went to your job but never ever got a check. You wouldn't keep going back would you? So why tf am I still here? I get NOTHING, in fact everything that was ever good in my life was forcefully ripped from me and not replace with or even provided with the opportunity to do the work to replace them. Just gone, gone and never coming back. Not the times, not the people, none of it. All the good was taken and all that remains is the bad with absolutely no possibility or avenue for replacement. The only people benefitting from my existence are all the people who aren't me. My employer gets rich off my labor, everyone else gets to continue using me, my taxes keep paying into the system, everyone is getting something out of this except me. I am truly not enjoying ANY of this. Not even one day out of every week. Not even that. Its all bad all day every day. I have no issue putting in some work or doing whats necessary to fix any situation but this doesn't appear to have a fix. No alternative routes to take. Its either shit or its shit.
What i love is humanities irrational inability to accept that this is what life is for some of us. There is no hope, no fix, no route that can be taken, no work that can be done anywhere. We got sat where we got sat and we got told to smile about it. God forbid anyone admit shit really is bad and they just got a little lucky with a few choices, or even with demographics being born female or white or whatever. That it really is all just a dice throw and the entire set up is a pyramid where there absolutely WILL be people on the bottom without room to move up. By design, by purposeful design, some people HAVE to have lives like mine so others can have better ones. I hate this whole ass place and im pretty fucking sure it hates me back...

Hi guys, I need help to find a manga about youkai fighting that I came across years ago please!
It was set up in the past (Edo period?) and centered on the fight between the main protagonist and youkais that appear periodically through portals or something like that (I don't remember exactly). The protagonist's family were merchants and they were all murdered by one youkai, the protagonist (Jin, if I remember correctly) is the only survivor. Jin is a young boy (12ish) with dark hair and eyes, dressed in black, with a calm and collected demeanor. During the night of the attack he's left severely injured and he's about to die, but manages to form a contract with a youkai happening to linger at the scene: it heals his injuries and lives inside his body, developing a symbiotic relationship. This youkai survives only if it manages to eat other youkais, thus forcing Jin to fight them constantly. The two don't have an amicable relationship and the youkai constantly reminds Jin that it's the one in power: whenever it wants it can withdraw its healing power and reopen Jin's ancient wounds.
In the main cast we find a girl and his boss, working as a special force against youkais in defense of the city. The girl comes to know Jin's story and visits him once, bringing him treats. Jin claims that since his body has been shared with the youkai he no longer needs to eat, but he often sleeps during the day, as the youkai possessing him cannot sustain sunlight.
Early in the story Jin is confronted by another orphaned young guy (don't remember the name) with long red hair and a wild personality, which was adopted and then abandoned by a gang of robbers. As he despises humans, he "joins sides" with youkais, dressing up and acting as such. After fighting with Jin (that initially mistook him for a real youkai), the red-haired boy re-encounters the gang boss that tries to kill him. The boy manages to kill the gang boss but suffers severe injuries and is taken care of by Jin, as they finally manage to find some kind of agreement, becoming allies.
This is a summary of the first 8ish chapters and, unfortunately, this manga had not been completely translated at the time I was reading it. AFAIK it had not been cancelled, but it simply did not gain so much attention to be completely translated.
Thanks for your help! :*

I did a comp sci degree because I loved computer viruses and hacking. I was 8 when I set this as a life goal and by the time I was 21 and with a degree a whole 13 years later, I got a job in « Application Support » (read: random database tasks for minimum wage in a warehouse an hours drive away) and I’ve realised this isn’t what I want. I actually want a career where I interact with other humans, where I talk to people and build things with them. And preferably one where I can get out of the UK quickly too!
I’ve always assumed consulting could be this, so I’m open to ideas maybe around that or something else entirely (if I need to study an exam for it that’s fine, I’d love to do stuff related to say agriculture but just so long as the manual lifting isn’t tooooooo much a part of it)
Any ideas are much appreciated, and if it matters, I’d like to leave the UK and go to either France or the Netherlands. So if you know of positions that require a human touch that are in demand in either it’d be much appreciated to know!

Some ideas for a city campaign in Helldivers II. This during the massive Automaton push after surprise massive fleet show up.
Setting
A city of that used to be a thriving human home inhabited by 30 million citizens but the war turned it into a battlefield as Automaton’s relentless offensive since the surprise attack few weeks ago. SEAF desperately held on the city as it is a the center of political capital of the region, not to mention the node of economy and culture too. Sharp fight erupts over a control of an apartment block or sewer system, showing how intense the battle is for weeks. The Helldivers are assigned as tip of the spearhead to attack critical points that can turn the tide of the battle.
Imagine Fallujah 2003, Berlin 1945 or Hue 1968 as sample templates.

Parkour hell

Automatons are pushing hard but still unable to breakthrough due to resilience of the SEAF so far. However this new development worries the High Command enough to merit a Helldiver mission.
Intel assessed and believes that enemy is deploying an artillery system that we never seen before to this sector. What we do know that they break it up to few components that is transported on heavy haulers, about 20 of them and has to go through this no-man zone. You have a limited time window of 15 minutes once deployed.
Once they passed this point, it will be detrimental as they have sufficient parts to assemble into a huge artillery system that might cause problem for the regular troops holding the frontline.
The intel also believes that the only way these haulers can be taken out is their relatively weak top armor. Realistically, you Helldivers have to do parkour on the building roofs and set up ambush points to effect a destruction of these haulers. So every Helldiver must have Jump Pack as a mandatory Strategm, as any street level battle will be suicidal. Do lookout for crumbling building that might go down if you landed wrongly. We have reason to believe that Automatons have rapid response team if the convoy got attacked in mere minutes too. Destroy the haulers before get overwhelmed.
You must at least destroy 60% of the convoy to be considered as successful.
Good luck and give them hell.
Based on the exploits of Chechen's Tiger unit in Battle of Grozny 1994.

Rattenkrieg – War of the Rats

We believe that Automatons are hiding their crucial ammo and fuel stockpiles in the middle of the city blocks around this sector but we can’t detect accurately from the orbit because they using a stealth net that obscures our Super-Destroyer’s optic and detection systems. We believe by destroying these forward caches, their push will at least slacken to buy SEAF precious time to regroup and rebuild their line.
This is where you coming in.
Unfortunately, we can’t insert Helldivers near to the combat zone since we are not sure the exact locations so you have these deployment zones here and here. So, you have to deploy, get stocked with ammo and equipment then enter the vast sewer system to access target areas from below. That means the Super Destroyers or CAS (Close Air Support) will not able to assist you since you will be cut off underground.
Luckily, there are few gaps via big blasted holes that we can send help shall you need it in middle of the fight. Use those precious window wisely. Also if any reinforcements has to start from beginning zone all over again unless there are hole gaps nearby. Needless to say, the terrain is cramped and very close quarter prone so choose your loadout accordingly. Do note to try destroy the access holes once you completed the target to prevent pursuit by the enemy in the sewers.
We also knew there are caches from the wiped out defenders hiding inside the sewer systems so you can resupply from their stocks. These are approximate locations.
You must destroy at least 5 caches quickly and exit in 30 minutes.
Inspired by Battle of Stalingrad 1942-43.

The Vault

A group of prominent citizens trapped in a big bank vault, hiding from marauding Automaton patrols after unable to evacuate in time during the retreat. It is up to you, Helldivers, to approach the bank from above in your typical fashion or go stealth via underground sewer system. Reach the bank, decommission any resistance, secure the citizens and escort them to a waiting shuttle before the Automaton find their hiding spot.
The bank itself, used to be an architectural marvel during peaceful days has turned into a massive rubble that makes a nightmarish urban combat scenario.
You also must secure data from the bank server while rescuing the citizens at the same time. Also, power up the backup generator underground before you can open the vault and the booting up the server too while fighting the Automatons. This is your speciality, hence the command needs you do it. You have a small window of action about 12 minutes before the enemy begin to send in reinforcements or rapid response force, so act quick.
Here’s the blueprint of the bank. Good luck.

The Towers

The Automaton set up few massive signal jamming tower units that causing troubles for SEAF. What’s worse, we can’t really pinpoint the exact location of the towers since they keep rotating spots to avoid detection by our forces. Therefore, it is your task to drop in and corner these mobile jammer units, render it destroyed. Without doubt, the enemy sentry will be considerable and expect a massive fight shall it turn into a shooting match.
Best way is to use AM rifle to destroy the jammers from far and quickly scoot to the next place.
You have 40 minutes to disable their EW units and evacuate from the combat zone. Good luck.

Devouring Cancer

________________________________________________________________________________
Meat. /mi:t/
Me it. /mi/ /:t/
It me. /:t/ /mi/
It’s me…
We are eating ones of ourselves…
________________________________________________________________________________
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
/C̶̢͈̈̂͒̀̋̾̓͌Ô̶̻͉̠̱͈̳̮N̸̫̹̱̯̣̣̻̐̽͒̎̃̆̕͜Ǹ̴̛̛͙̫̇E̴͕̮̻͇̒͐̀C̶̳̤̠͔̺̚T̴̘̑̈́̂͛̂̏E̶̡̩̝̮͇̤̣̋̏͗D.
/Mellator Matrix Mind: Inner Core.
/Unit: great [AVALON] the first
/G.R. Era.
/Memory File transmission: Generalized perspective
/Gender: N/A[Neutral]
/Age: {Human equivalent: 2001 years}
/Race: Grrrr’atrrr
/Species: N/A[Hive Mind]
/ Additional verification: Class>>> [Cancer Cells]
/Cradle planet: Ci-3301
/Home planet origin: Mupan
/First person POV not applicable. Generalized Spectator mode.
/Sequence Code: 5-18-5-8 19-1-23 20-8-7-9-14-11-5-12-2-13-21-8
/Memory transmission in 3…2…1…
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Hunger…
It’s all that drives us. It’s all that unites, connects us… All that pulls us, all that defines and binds us…
Our story began long ago. It all started with a single parasite cell. Not the greatest primordial ancestor indeed, but every Apex Predator started somewhere. But back to our history… That very first cell was our first grandmother, as well as the beginning of our entire civilization. Hard to tell what was the trigger for it’s evolutionary change, as time wipes all. Perhaps it was desire to become something better? Awakening? Or maybe just spontaneous mutation in one of the genome chains, occurring by changes in environment? It really doesn’t matter. All what matters is that that cell evolved…
It didn’t happened quickly of course. Our first grandmother was no different than an average cancer cell that is present in nearly every life form, even us. It just growed into one small neoplasm, or simply, a cancer tumor. But that tumor slowly made it’s way to the brain. We know that because that’s how we, as well as our ancestors, assimilated everything for millennia…
It is impossible to determine which one of the prey species was honored to become the meal of our first ancestor, but it was clear that that feast was something that never happened before. That tumor did not just sucked the nutrients dry till the brain dies from the protein starvation, taking the tumor along the way with it. No, that tumor assimilated it. And that tumor learned. Learned from it. And it saw the world for the first time.
Assimilation is not as easy as other inferior beings think. First, your cell needs to find the prey cell. Then it needs to envelop the cytoplasm of that cell to properly assimilate it. However, after assimilating the “Host”, your cells need to take properties of assimilated cells and even function for the prey organism for the time being so it won’t suspect anything. It is a long, tedious and fatiguing process. That’s why we just ambush other prey organisms, tear them apart, and devour them for protein supplies, to avoid all that bustling.
And say what, the prey doesn’t make it easier for us either. As our first ancestors quickly learned, prey can be sentient too. It is inferior, weak, pathetic… And yet it can create great weapons to stop us. For [decades] these beings create astonishing amount of that pesky, venomous and disgusting antibiotics and chemicals to kill our minds. For thousands of [years] they set our flesh on fire, making us scream as we die in agony cell by cell.
And yet we prevail. When they make those chemistry compounds they call “Cure”, we gain immunity to it. When they set our bodies ablaze, we spray them with our blood and teeth, making their bodies to slowly blister as we eat them inside out. When they close their doors on us, we use ventilations, slithering right above their heads or below their {feet}. When they use special protection suits, we just tear them apart. And when they completely quarantine themselves, thinking that they are safe, we pretend to be one of them, striking from behind…
What is the most amazing thing about this prey? Well, aside that their flesh is delicious… They are clever. And they know how to build stuff. Weapons, tools, technology… Everything to increase the odds of survivability and comfort of their pathetic kind. And by devouring their minds, we gain all this knowledge as well! We learned how to grow cattle to saturate our hunger, we learned how to create faster means of transportation that even the fastest members of our swarm can’t out-crawl with their appendages. And most importantly; we learned how to reach the skies…
Among the prey species that we feast upon, there was a special class, or caste, of highly educated specimens, who called themselves “scientists”. These specimens learned how to use metal, fuel, radiation, and other inedible and in some cases straight up harmful components of nature, and turned them into what they called “Spacecraft”. A special vehicle, capable of leaving the atmosphere of our planet. Something that sounded like fantasy, even for the boldest ones of us, who sometimes managed to grow wings and flew high in the sky. It was a fantasy until we consumed their heads and the knowledge they possessed along the way. From them we gained knowledge of the schematics of these space vessels, and most importantly; the schematics of FTL drives. Devices capable of traveling among the stars with “superluminal” speed. And so, after conquering and discovering each and every corner of our planet, we soared to the great unknown, right into the void…

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
/Transmission mode: Spectator. Centralized perspective.
/Subject: Verrruur. Grrrr’atrrr. Lead hive mind of the Hunter Fleets.
/Transmission in 3…2…1…
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
We flew among the stars in our glorious ships made out of strongest titanium fusions and covered in our eternal flesh. Yes, what wasn’t made out of the metal hulls and electronics, was made out of sheer muscles and flesh tissue. So many cells… So much nutrition… We could withstand decades without the food and still hunt like our greatest hunters back on Mupan(Apparently, that’s how prior sentient prey species happened to call our planet, and we didn’t really bother to rename it, as for us it was widely known as just plain“Ground, floor, or land”). Our strongest weapons, combined with our most dissolving acid spitters, made us the strongest and most feared hunters, “cementing” our history as the strongest Apex Predators in the galaxy! We defeated, devoured, and assimilated everything… It did not matter if our enemy was a leviathan, an enemy prey fleet, or even an entire planet. If it could be eaten, it was eaten…
Until it wasn’t…
On yet another great crusade in search of delicacy for our insatiable fleets, our sensors captured a strange, but nonetheless familiar signal. The impulse of FTL drive. We made a serious double, and even triple checking of our radars to avoid a major nutritional loss due to false readings. After our intels captured, properly verified, and confirmed the signal, our intercoms just exploded with thousands of jaws:
“Food?”
“Food…”
“ Food! FOOD!!! Food! Food! Delicious prey! Food! We shall… FEAST! Food! Yes!!! Food! FOOD!!! We haven’t ate for [Month]! At last… Some good food… Food! Juicy food… Flesh of prey…
Food! The succulent meat…”
Yes, we felt joy. And anticipation of hunting down these unknown but likely very delicious organisms. It was like opening the present. You don’t know what was inside these flying metal cans, but you sure know that it was likely to be something edible.
Oh, we never were so wrong in our glorious history.
We did not saw them at first, that’s how black and cloaked they were. When we finally identified our “prey” we saw it was a small cluster of black ellipsoids, just hovering there. They did not tried to contact us, like other naive prey organisms did. They were completely silent...
“We will smash you like the eggs you are!” we foolishly thought back then...
They slowly turned frontwards when we approached them. Their range was astonishing, picking our smallest drones instantly before they could even scream, like if they were the candles that these black horrors just blew out.
When we finally reached the required distance and fired our acid sacks and laser guns however, they were still there, not blowing up, retreating, or even moving an [inch]. Then we opened all the airlocks(if we weren’t already outside) and enveloped their ships in our mighty grip, not stopping to pour their shields with our acids and plasma. Usually, after a few unpleasant zaps of enemy shields, they just popped and the ships just were crack open like the [nuts].
But not them...
They did not crumble and exposed their hulls with screaming prey just getting sucked out in the vacuum as usual, no, instead they started to grow bright red. Redder than our flesh and blood…
And burned. Burned stronger and more painful than any flame. Our drones roared in pain but we couldn’t hear any of their songs of torture in this vacuum of silent space. Hundreds of megatons of our flesh clusters was just turned in ashes or were torn off and become drifted dead lumps of burnt meat. Our intercoms filled with screams of fear and agony, our minds losing their mass and density, turning into undeveloped children.
"Father? It hurts…” could be heard from countless drones. And any of them that tried to escape, were sniped with red beams of such accuracy, that our best spitters could only dream of. It didn’t last long when we were the only operating guide ship of entire Armada that was so ingloriously butchered. And then we felt the warmth…
No… NO!
All weapons of this black "eggs" were pointed at us, our last mind. The last memories flashed as we slowly were burned to death. The last though of our last tumor was the realization that there was someone stronger than us. Someone who cannot be eaten. The bigger Predator…
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
/Memory transmission File disconnected.
/Reason: Biological death of the Subject.
/Cause of death: Sterilization.
/End of data log.
/D̵̛̤̂͜I̵̢͎̬̍̄̂͌͋S̴̢̛̙͇̯̽̔̾́͝C̸̭͓̰̤͋͆́ͅÓ̴͖̜̯̻͂̃̉N̵̨̧̦͙̳̍̾̕N̴͙̬͓̽̃̂̇͂͝E̵̠̬̠͉͒C̵̢̛͚̪̭̭̼̿̎T̶̝̈́͋͘͜Ì̸̢̱̙̤̽͑̽̈́̍ͅŌ̵̗̬̑̍̽̒N̷͖͖̗̗͚͈͗͛...
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=