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The Human Artificial Hivemind Part 518: A Falling Tower
2024.05.29 04:09 Storms_Wrath The Human Artificial Hivemind Part 518: A Falling Tower
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Penny gazed at the quartet of Elders. They were all wearing the merchandise she remembered from the last Judgment, which was exceedingly awkward. Mainly because they were wearing shirts with her face on them. But it was also oddly endearing, in a way. Until now, she hadn't seen too many Elders that were on her side.
Elders that weren't just Kashaunta or the familiar faces she already knew, like Spentha or Rho and Sai, actually showing appreciation of her, felt odd. Even if these ones went a little too far in it.
"You're even more beautiful in person, Liberator," one said.
"Uh, thanks. I appreciate that. I'm glad that you all like me. Rho and Sai told me that you all are interested in something I can give you?"
"Yeah. Maybe a short interview? We won't be like that airhead reporter. We'll ask the good questions."
"Yep, we will."
"Right then," Penny said. "Well, I'm glad to meet you."
"Thank you. Now that we're here, we'd like to know how you plan on taking care of the gang leaders."
"Well, presumably by imprisoning them. I don't think they deserve to die, even if others do. I'll leave that decision up to Justicar and his various judges in the criminal system."
Penny didn't like having to lie blatantly. She wanted to kill the slavers quite brutally, but doing that was a bad idea right now. Saying it also was a bad idea, for a similar reason. And Justicar's system was worryingly preferential to Elders, from what she'd looked up after the meeting with Pundacrawla.
"Aren't you worried that the Judges won't give proper justice?"
"I trust Justicar to do everything that is necessary."
Another lie. Justicar would do whatever he could to maintain his image. Hopefully, that wouldn't be at the cost of the Alliance's very existence.
"Got it. By the way, what's it like being human? Walking on only two legs. It seems kind of unstable. Do you fall a lot?"
A genuine curiosity from them was another breath of fresh air. It was the kind of question a quadruped would definitely ask, which put her more at ease about the nature of what they were trying to do. Even more than their evident support of her, with all the merch they were wearing. Penny felt a smile crack at the corners of her lips, unbidden.
"Not really. We can use our arms to steady ourselves pretty well. Obviously it's not as easy to balance on our two legs as it is with your four, but it's still good enough. In fact, the sprinters in the Olympics use all four limbs, since running as fast as possible also requires pumping our arms. As for what it's like to be human, it's hard to describe. For many of us, it will feel colder or warmer than Sprilnav would feel in the same temperatures, due to thinner skin. Our eyesight is more frontal than yours, given our lack of snouts, so our blindspots are a lot bigger. Our feet require shoes for rough ground, and we heal slower than you by around 20%. We can't really clack our jaws to the scale that you can, though we can make them meet."
Penny bared her teeth, showing as she opened and closed her mouth. It was nice to be able to talk about things like this.
"The Olympics?" one of them asked.
"It's a competition about athletics," Penny said. "Running, jumping, throwing, diving, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, and a lot of sports. There's specific divisions, too. Like how there's a 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash, and even an 800 meter dash for those with high levels of psychic energy. Though really, psychic energy and genetic editing have been messing with the events for a while now. And there's a Winter, Summer, and Space Olympics, each with different sorts of events. They move from city to city, though the Space Olympics are pretty much always on either Luna, Ceres, or Mercury. There's a lot more information out there on various events, but it's an old cultural practice revered by the entire species. Even more so since Phoebe's increased the prize pools for everyone."
"How does your species handle space in general? I know that you guys did things way differently before First Contact."
"We did. Mining companies kept tight control on all asteroid mining, while nations controlled planets like Earth and Mars and large planetary bodies like Luna. Supposedly, a few people planned for a cloud city on Venus, but we couldn't risk having such a vulnerable population because they'd have to rely on giant balloons to survive. That would probably be the least secure way to live, given the existence of rogue organizations and all that.
As for spaceships, most of them since we really colonized Luna come equipped with spacesuit bays, zero gravity water and food packs, oxygen tanks, emergency seats, specialized anti-micrometeorite hulls, and radiation shielding. A lot of the older military ships also were equipped with big radiators until World War Three, when it all became masses of drone warfare, with the big ships kept mainly for cargo and lanes where mass drone control was impossible.
Once the Vinarii came and we got shields, we started building big again. After all, it provided a huge number of jobs, and in the post-war economies, especially with VIs in place, a lot of people needed work. But we still go and do asteroid and moon mining, star lifting, and energy gathering. We built an orbital ring around Mercury, the closest planet to Sol, to help with all of that. It doubles as a production hub, too. Now, it's all in more systems and with a lot more friends."
"Speaking of aliens, what theory does your people have on why so many creatures resemble one another? Our jaws are adapted for hard shelled creatures, and we're told that many planets have oddly similar variations of those."
"Crabs."
She guessed what they were getting at.
It is odd, isn't it? Nilnacrawla observed.
Perhaps that is another one of the Source's whims, Penny thought.
Maybe.
A few of the Elders made exclamations of shock.
"You even have a word for them that directly translates!"
Penny chuckled. "Yeah, carcinization is a bit of a meme in the science community. But I've heard the most mainstream theories since the First Contact are that the Source itself is uncreative. It has a certain template of creatures which it largely doesn't alter, though it can take in inputs from beings close to it, perhaps even influencing them."
"Influencing them?"
"Yes. Modern depictions of wendigoes, folkloric creatures from North America, a continent on Earth, are shockingly similar to the Knowers in appearance. The internet depictions of them in particular like to emphasize canine qualities, and often show them with skulls visible directly, and with dark brown or black fur. Recent depictions, as in the past 300 years, differ from their original appearances quite significantly, with the canine characteristics in particular being enhanced.
We have sorted through all known images of these creatures and found roughly 80% similarity with the Knowers and tens of thousands of images that are literally exactly the same as Knowers. The ones we searched all came before World War Three, far before even the First Contact with the Vinarii, much less the Knowers who were entirely underground at the time due to the radiation of their home star. We believe that the Source managed to influence this facet of human culture with the actual existence of a real creature.
Other examples exist, like how the Trikkec look very similar to Komodo Dragons, Vinarii look very similar to insects known as a mantis, and the Acuarfar look exactly like insects known as wasps with the single exception of their furry snouts and green instead of yellow markings. The Sprilnav species itself shares high amounts of similarity with a fictional species known as Elites in early 2000s culture, particularly with your jaws, though you all have red skin instead of grey or brown.
The Junyli, Dreedeen, and the wanderers are the main species without high amounts of appearance in our cultures at some point. This correlates with the idea of the Source being the influencer, as their predecessors all were used to fight it. Many species of the galaxy look like parts of our culture or Earth's creatures. The proximity of these examples makes this far more suspicious than if they were across the galaxy.
But since they existed first, the only answer must be that the Source brought the influence to us first and planted the ideas in our heads. As for the ones which look like Earth creatures, all of them are old enough evolutionary branches that copying from them to Earth makes more sense. Though the references centering around the early 2000s is quite odd, it is also roughly when the internet came into wide existence, so it is also possible the Source gave the ideas a push so they would propagate, for an unknown reason. Like if it seeded the ideas that propagated across the early global network Humanity used."
"Hmm. Fascinating. We've seen evidence of the 'seeding' process among some historical nations near the galactic region of Earth before. So the Source re-uses and alters depictions of life and also life itself?"
"Maybe," Penny said. "Unless the Source is more directly tied to life than we think. There's a conceptual Death, but no conceptual Life. Isn't that odd?"
"Conceptual Life died in the Source war."
How did that really work, though? Penny asked Nilnacrawla.
Imagine a conceptual being. A few of the Progenitors, as well as Narvravarana, went up to try to harvest its power. It refused, and Narvravarana used its unique abilities to try and force the deal.
Why was your civilization like this?
Excess and greed, partly. But we couldn't really do much more expansion. Vertical expansion also had its limits if we wanted to remain relevant for the remaining lifespan of the universe. So Narvravarana, along with a few of the greatest rulers and leaders of Sprilnav society, started looking to other dimensional planes. They figured it was best not to let the problem get too much worse. Or at least, that is what they say. I believe it was to harvest more resources to use against our surrounding enemies.
You didn't have any allies? Penny asked.
At that time, all the powers of the universe were enemies. All the allies eventually merged through millions of years of normalization. We happened to get on the universal stage the earliest, so other civilizations we encountered had little choice but to surrender their independence. Some fought, others didn't, but the outcome was the same.
That seems terrible.
It was, though the other universal civilizations were no better. Some of them just exterminated all alien life they found that couldn't fight back. In that sense, the pre-war Sprilnav civilization was one of the greatest, and that's why I fought for them. Obviously, I'm biased in that regard, though.
Thanks for telling me, father.
No problem, Penny.
She refocused back on the conversation at hand.
"But a thing cannot be alive if it dies. The concept of life doesn't work that way. So maybe the Source just... took in the concept of life? Or absorbed it into whatever psychic energy really is, considering that it's responsible for all of our existence?"
"That's so crazy it might actually be true," one of the Elders said. "You're incredible, Penny."
"Uh, thanks. You're all pretty great too." Her eyes drifted to the images of herself on their clothing. She couldn't really help it.
"I have a question for you."
"Yes?"
"Do you know what I'm fighting for?"
"I assume since you're asking it here, you don't just want a one word answer," an Elder said. "I would say yes, and for the liberation of the Sprilnav from the stain of slavery. Though going deeper into your history, you have also fought for other species, either in wars or just generally moving around. It does look aimless, mostly, since the galaxy's so big. But I'm sure you've got a way through that."
"In some way. Part of why I'm here isn't just about my people. It was at first, I admit that. But as I have lived here, on Justicar, for days and weeks, I've seen you less as alien. It makes it easier for sympathy and easier to break out of simple mindsets. So far, there are many problems, but there are distinct pieces. The first is that many people want to uphold slavery. I'm not sure why, but they do. It isn't profitable, and it isn't moral. Robots are cheaper in every way, and don't need food or water.
That means it's illogical or emotional. So I could try and solve the problem with violence alone, but it won't be addressing the cause, only the symptoms. I need to get to the heart of the matter. And I think it has to do with Elders' memories and the gradual woes they have accumulated going through life. I don't want to tear that away or drug them into believing they're fine. I want to find a way to outlet that productively. The second part I have identified is scale. The galaxy is enormous, and your species is incredibly numerous. I could fight planet by planet for the rest of my life, and liberation would still be difficult.
That also means I'd need a better way of doing things. Maybe an economic or political incentive. Emotional reasons will not work permanently, nor will logic, since we are in this situation. I have found several ways to address this. Sadly, since the gangs are likely monitoring this feed, I can't just outright say my strategy. All I can ask you all to do is to believe. Believe that I have a solution, and that I and those who stand with me are working on it. Believe in me because I believe in you."
None of the Elders questioned or ridiculed her words. Most of it was because they were fans of her. But one of them, an Elder named Rahautiti, had a distinct glint in his eye. Their gazes met only momentarily, but Penny could tell he knew.
And so she appeared in the mindscape, even as they concluded the interview, which would be the first of many. It was a ploy to just talk about human culture and ideals a bit more, to get it out there. Because the hivemind's theory was correct.
In the universe, ideas had power. That power could be weaponized against those who previously stood to gain. The first part of it was the image: Nova as an unbeatable bastion. Lecalicus as the Beast, a monster capable of star-crushing rage. Twilight as... whatever she did. Penny wasn't really familiar with the Progenitor's image too much, and the various names, like the Silent Night or the Smiling Darkness, were just so unbelievably edgy she cringed every time she recalled them.
But Rahautiti understood so she moved her mindscape avatar to see him.
"Hello again, Penny. I am no threat."
"I know. I'm glad that your group is led by someone as capable as you, as well as the other groups you dabble within."
"Who discovered it?"
"Phoebe. You met with Ezeonwha, and the android wanted to ensure you weren't a way for Yasihaut to kill him."
"Yeah. We did get approached about that, actually. We're supposed to kill Ezeonwha when you walk into the Judgment hall. Of course, we won't do this, and she won't be able to retaliate against us easily while there."
"Thank you for your honesty, Elder," Penny said. "It seems I'm in your debt."
"Nonsense. 2,839. That is the number of children I have had. 2,626. That is the number of children of mine which were enslaved. The remaining 213 died in unrelated incidents, with nearly half of those involving slavers killing them. I remember all of their names, and all of their faces, Penny. I want all the slavers in this universe dead."
"I cannot achieve that."
"You cannot," Rahautiti agreed. "Not with my help or even that of Kashaunta and Lecalicus. And certainly not right now. I have not lived this long to be incapable of compromise or patchwork solutions. You show great promise. I understand your aversion to killing and the circumstantial reason why you are not doing so now. I will not grow upset if you do not resume killing when the Judgment ends. Nor do I harbor a grudge against you for the speeding space entity you left outside the room to avoid uncomfortable publicity. You are incredibly young.
A sliver of a life. But you are strong, and you are mature. That sliver of your lifespan already outshines all I could do with a trillion more years, Penny. You are right in that this isn't something you can punch your way through. Trauma is part of why slavery still exists, despite it being a wholly unjust reason for the Elders to make such a sport of it. I am sure you know the story of the war, with a great hero in your head and Kashaunta at your side. My line of work is what I started to help you. Every thought about you being the Liberator, every eye that glances on you freeing slaves, helps you to gather conceptual energy. My talent happens to be great enough to sense the Pact of Blades you have, as well. If you want, I can teach you how to hide the mark on your soul and your mind."
"I would like that, yes," Penny said. "And thank you for being so reasonable. I will ask Kashaunta to protect you from what consequences come for refusing the offer on Ezeonwha."
"There are going to be attacks on him, you know. Him and your ship."
Penny felt an odd feeling in her soul. Cardi's power flared around him, and she squinted at the sky. She just barely saw a sliver of a tentacle. Most would have mistaken it for a normal speeding space entity. But here? On Justicar, with Exile obviously not being the cause?
Only one being would cause that. Fate.
Given the subject of their conversation, it was obvious what was going on.
Penny tapped Rahautiti's jaw, adding a thin mark of conceptual power so she could easily find him again. She focused on the conceptual mark she'd left on Ezeonwha. A twinge of conceptual energy came from it. It was accompanied by various impressions, like fear, pain, and acceptance.
"I have to go," Penny said. "I will be back later. Displace."
She appeared next to the 102nd Visitor Welcome Office but not next to Ezeonwha. It was carnage everywhere she looked.
"Champion!" an unknown Elder yelled. "I am Elder Na-"
Her rising fury surged, and it took all she had not to dismember him. The distant thought of the Judgment stayed her hands, though only just.
Penny's fist collided with the Elder's jaw at twice the speed of sound. A piece of his jaws flew free. Bone fragments hit the ground behind him. Hundreds of soldiers fired on her, and she slammed them to the ground with pure will. Penny tore their guns away and sent them each to pummel the Elder in front of her with as much brutality as she could. His powerful armor wasn't as capable of defense against physical attacks as it was against her psychic energy, and so he fell.
"You... cannot save him," the Elder spat. Fields of psychic suppression fell upon her, reducing her power.
"Manipulation through Determination," Penny growled. "De-"
No! Nilnacrawla said. Do not kill him! Not yet!
"What goes up will go down."
Air hardened around the Elder and accelerated rapidly.
The Elder smashed into the shield five miles above with a speed just slow enough that he wouldn't die. He fell from it and then hit it again at a more modest speed. He'd bounce on that until the Guides came to get him.
But Penny had another target. One she had to save instead of attack.
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High Judge Tassidonia awoke to the sound of explosions. He grabbed his swords, his main gun, and the personal shield he reserved for only the most dire occasions. The sky was erupting in war all around him, and buildings were already falling nearby. The spires of skyscrapers rained down upon the entrances to the Underground, crushing thousands of fleeing Sprilnav under their wide impacts.
His implant identified members of the gangs nearby, making their way to his home.
"Retribution Cycle!" Tassidonia cried. A hidden door opened, and he boarded a small hovercraft that sported a high amount of defensive and offensive technology, a gift from Justicar for dealing with all that he had related to the Judgment. Only this time, he wouldn't be on the next one. But already, the destruction was spreading.
Micro-missiles rained upon friend and foe alike. Several detonated against the layered shields. The mounted turrets on the side of his hoverbike shot lasers into the enemies his implant identified.
"Elder Tassidonia!" an Elder cried nearby. "For the crime of defying the will of-"
Tassidonia called his fury to bear. He rammed his mind into the enemy Elder, disorienting her. She reeled, about to attack, when a thick laser smashed into her chest. It pushed her against the wall, and Tassidonia kept the pressure up until her body melted. He listened to her screams impassively, occasionally sending blasts from his gun at the gangs when their members started to stray too close.
The thick red beam did its work within twenty pulses. His swords began to float beside him, keeping pace as he sped away from his home. The entire apartment complex shuddered and began to lean, its foundation being destroyed by some effect below. Tassidonia abandoned it with only minor regret. He'd known this moment would come. Everything he needed was already with him.
He linked into the Guide network, directing squadrons to attack the breaches he'd identified. Orbital strikes fell upon them in quick succession. Thick beams of light pierced through the lower planetary shields from orbital platforms, their guns honing in on Justicar's enemies. Tassidonia's implant was linked to the grid as well. So when he eyed buildings occupied with too many gang members, orbital strikes fell on them a few pulses later.
Fire and plasma rained all around him. Explosions and smoke blossomed all around him. More missiles fell from his hovercraft. A fighter ship appeared beside him, its simple stealth revealing itself to his eyes. Tassidonia waited for the pilot chamber to open, and his craft stowed itself behind him when he got in. It was fully equipped, so soon, Tassidonia was in full control of a weapon of war.
His first order of business was detecting the gangs' most fortified areas. He peppered those bases in shield-weakening mines, followed by bunker-buster missiles. Several anti-air turrets hit him, but his shields prevented them from taking him down. He dropped three high-end Butcher Androids into the fray of the largest battles.
One of the adjacent fighter wings in the separate shield sector dropped a nuke. At that moment, Tassidonia made a decision.
Whatever insanity was going on right now wasn't worth staying here on his own. He turned his ship upward, narrowly avoiding nearly fifty missiles shot from another gang fortress, which was really just the lower floors of a supermarket. Thick slabs of concrete were being set up by androids and slaves from the Underground. All he could do was watch from above and attempt to mark those that might be a problem.
Justicar's Grand Fleet was moving in, though only the carriers and their escorts were doing anything of any scale. The armies were mobilizing, and it seemed that war had finally broken out. Justicar, while isolated due to the Judgment, would have to win a war that threatened to topple his rule entirely.
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Ezeonwha woke when the walls around him shuddered.
An earthquake?
Groggily, he activated the lights in the room. Phoebe's android was charging in the wall. Her limbs swayed with the motion. The walls shuddered again, and the lights went out. Thin, tiny cracks spread in the walls, increasing his worry factors massively. His implant notified him that this wasn't a dream. Distant screams reached his ears, and he went to the window.
Hordes of Sprilnav were running on the ground, tripping over each other to escape. He heard the thump of footsteps approaching from outside. The android activated, standing up.
"Move away from the doo-"
An explosion tossed him across the room. A Sprilnav carrying some sort of mouth weapon faded into view for a moment, smoke recalibrating the stealth field. And then he was gone. Phoebe smashed into the Sprilnav, her fists pummeling the assassin faster than Ezeonwha could comprehend.
Phoebe's arms turned into swords, and she stabbed the Sprilnav at least fifty times in a single pulse. She turned to grab him, but before she reached him, a second explosion sent him flying out of the now-shattered window.
The massive skyscraper loomed large, and he saw the ground beneath it ripple. Dull thumps sounded from below, and large, circular caverns opened beneath the 102nd Visitor Welcome Office. The whole building started to list forward, and Ezeonwha frantically activated his emergency personal shield as he started falling faster and faster. A bullet hit the shield. And then a second one. Gunshots echoed out in the distance, and he saw other Sprilnav falling from broken windows in the falling skyscraper. Gunfire erupted on the streets as Guides engaged a growing army of attackers bubbling up from basements of shops and businesses.
He saw spurts of blood exit the Sprilnav nearest him, bullets tearing holes through the woman's body. Piercing screams surrounded him, a terrible chorus that reminded him of the worst wars he'd fought in. But here, his training could do nothing. She was already dead, and he knew that he was the target of this whole attack. His eyes watered, and Ezeonwha felt so powerless. So useless.
A Corrector emerged from the side of the tilting skyscraper, eyes fixed on Ezeonwha. Then he looked down. Somehow, Ezeonwha knew when the orders had been sent. He knew that it was Astipra in the distance, a jetpack on his shoulders burning a thick flame beneath him.
Astipra looked back at the building and flew toward it. Ezeonwha felt the wind rushing past the shield as pressure. Astipra, far above, vaporized falling chunks of the skyscraper with blasts from his arm cannons. He pressed back against the skyscraper, the jetpack going into overdrive. The metal bent inward, and the groaning and twisting structure continued its fall. Blasts of light from Astipra again vaporized the set of falling chunks.
"Penny," he said. It was almost a prayer, really. His desperate mind was scrambling for whatever it could get. "Please, save me!"
He didn't know if she could hear him. Logically, it was impossible. And in a battle such as this, unlikely as well. Rippling explosions erupted across the facade of the falling skyscraper as rockets struck it. More explosions bloomed as lasers from distant police vehicles, Guides, and Astipra destroyed more of the fast-flying missiles and rockets. They pounded on the world around him, a horde of madness threatening to break his brain. He could feel the wind and gravity equalize as he reached terminal velocity.
And all he could see was the world descending into war around him. The 102nd Visitor Welcome Office continued to slump and lean against Astipra's best efforts. More bullets hit Ezeonwha's personal shield, and peppered the Guides moving over to save him. Air ambulances were shot from the sky. Even small fighter crafts were shot down by powerful ground lasers. EMPs thumped, disabling all the higher functions of his implant before he could think to use it.
A much larger explosion bloomed out, and Ezeonwha followed the rocket's trail to an Elder on the ground, standing in the wreckage surrounding a sudden tunnel opening. The Elder stared at him in glee, and he lined up another shot. Two Guides fell upon the Elder, who flew up using a jetpack to cut them in half with his sword. A hard light hologram lifted a large gun, pointing at Ezeonwha as he fell.
His eyes widened. Ezeonwha did everything he could. He angled his legs and arms. He pushed at the air. He even hefted the meager psychic energy he had, struggling with all his soul to escape the death he could feel was coming to him.
Guides swarmed beyond the shield appearing, while gang soldiers died by the hundreds to carpet bombing. Personal shields sprang up to block the explosions, and the Elder had survived. A thick red laser cut one of the fighters in half from the smoke. Above him, the collapsing facade of the skyscraper consumed Astipra entirely, though large gouts of plasma and thick explosions emerged from within. He could survive if it fell upon him, but Ezonwha could not.
Penny materialized far below, closer to the field of battle. A sweeping wave of gang members began disappearing. A bullet smashed into her head and her stomach, detonating in bright explosions. A personal shield flared and disappeared. Missiles and lasers slammed into Penny by the thousands as psychic energy gathered. A constant roll of words fell from her tongue, but without his implant, they were not translated.
Missiles crumbled into dust. Lasers impacted raw space in front of Penny before bending down and back to their origins, destroying automated turrets. Bullets still hit Penny and the Guides by the thousands, firing too quickly and densely for her to entirely block. But the large ordnance from the gangs continued to work against them.
Penny looked around, confusion evident on her face. But amidst the thousands of wounded and dead Sprilnav falling from the broken windows, Ezeonwha was hidden too well.
Shattering glass could be constantly heard, and he could feel the distant screams in his soul. A bullet smashed into his personal shield again, disabling it. A pulse later, he lost feeling in his legs.
He tried to reach out to her mind, but the war in the mindscape was equally intense. Too many Elders and Guides battling it out along with various suppression artifacts made it all impossible. He could sense Penny's influence, but couldn't directly reach her.
He let out a breath, knowing it to be the final one.
I'm sorry, Penny, Ezeonwha thought.
I wish you luck in the Judgment, and I am sorry I caused this to happen to you.
Penny finally appeared in front of him, eyes wide-
Blood erupted. A searing pain in his head told him his implant had just shorted out. And in the mindscape, he saw a mental attack heading for him, its brutal power evident. He closed his eyes.
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Penny gazed at the quartet of Elders. They were all wearing the merchandise she remembered from the last Judgment, which was exceedingly awkward. Mainly because they were wearing shirts with her face on them. But it was also oddly endearing, in a way. Until now, she hadn't seen too many Elders that were on her side.
Elders that weren't just Kashaunta or the familiar faces she already knew, like Spentha or Rho and Sai, actually showing appreciation of her, felt odd. Even if these ones went a little too far in it.
"You're even more beautiful in person, Liberator," one said.
"Uh, thanks. I appreciate that. I'm glad that you all like me. Rho and Sai told me that you all are interested in something I can give you?"
"Yeah. Maybe a short interview? We won't be like that airhead reporter. We'll ask the good questions."
"Yep, we will."
"Right then," Penny said. "Well, I'm glad to meet you."
"Thank you. Now that we're here, we'd like to know how you plan on taking care of the gang leaders."
"Well, presumably by imprisoning them. I don't think they deserve to die, even if others do. I'll leave that decision up to Justicar and his various judges in the criminal system."
Penny didn't like having to lie blatantly. She wanted to kill the slavers quite brutally, but doing that was a bad idea right now. Saying it also was a bad idea, for a similar reason. And Justicar's system was worryingly preferential to Elders, from what she'd looked up after the meeting with Pundacrawla.
"Aren't you worried that the Judges won't give proper justice?"
"I trust Justicar to do everything that is necessary."
Another lie. Justicar would do whatever he could to maintain his image. Hopefully, that wouldn't be at the cost of the Alliance's very existence.
"Got it. By the way, what's it like being human? Walking on only two legs. It seems kind of unstable. Do you fall a lot?"
A genuine curiosity from them was another breath of fresh air. It was the kind of question a quadruped would definitely ask, which put her more at ease about the nature of what they were trying to do. Even more than their evident support of her, with all the merch they were wearing. Penny felt a smile crack at the corners of her lips, unbidden.
"Not really. We can use our arms to steady ourselves pretty well. Obviously it's not as easy to balance on our two legs as it is with your four, but it's still good enough. In fact, the sprinters in the Olympics use all four limbs, since running as fast as possible also requires pumping our arms. As for what it's like to be human, it's hard to describe. For many of us, it will feel colder or warmer than Sprilnav would feel in the same temperatures, due to thinner skin. Our eyesight is more frontal than yours, given our lack of snouts, so our blindspots are a lot bigger. Our feet require shoes for rough ground, and we heal slower than you by around 20%. We can't really clack our jaws to the scale that you can, though we can make them meet."
Penny bared her teeth, showing as she opened and closed her mouth. It was nice to be able to talk about things like this.
"The Olympics?" one of them asked.
"It's a competition about athletics," Penny said. "Running, jumping, throwing, diving, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, and a lot of sports. There's specific divisions, too. Like how there's a 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash, and even an 800 meter dash for those with high levels of psychic energy. Though really, psychic energy and genetic editing have been messing with the events for a while now. And there's a Winter, Summer, and Space Olympics, each with different sorts of events. They move from city to city, though the Space Olympics are pretty much always on either Luna, Ceres, or Mercury. There's a lot more information out there on various events, but it's an old cultural practice revered by the entire species. Even more so since Phoebe's increased the prize pools for everyone."
"How does your species handle space in general? I know that you guys did things way differently before First Contact."
"We did. Mining companies kept tight control on all asteroid mining, while nations controlled planets like Earth and Mars and large planetary bodies like Luna. Supposedly, a few people planned for a cloud city on Venus, but we couldn't risk having such a vulnerable population because they'd have to rely on giant balloons to survive. That would probably be the least secure way to live, given the existence of rogue organizations and all that.
As for spaceships, most of them since we really colonized Luna come equipped with spacesuit bays, zero gravity water and food packs, oxygen tanks, emergency seats, specialized anti-micrometeorite hulls, and radiation shielding. A lot of the older military ships also were equipped with big radiators until World War Three, when it all became masses of drone warfare, with the big ships kept mainly for cargo and lanes where mass drone control was impossible.
Once the Vinarii came and we got shields, we started building big again. After all, it provided a huge number of jobs, and in the post-war economies, especially with VIs in place, a lot of people needed work. But we still go and do asteroid and moon mining, star lifting, and energy gathering. We built an orbital ring around Mercury, the closest planet to Sol, to help with all of that. It doubles as a production hub, too. Now, it's all in more systems and with a lot more friends."
"Speaking of aliens, what theory does your people have on why so many creatures resemble one another? Our jaws are adapted for hard shelled creatures, and we're told that many planets have oddly similar variations of those."
"Crabs."
She guessed what they were getting at.
It is odd, isn't it? Nilnacrawla observed.
Perhaps that is another one of the Source's whims, Penny thought.
Maybe.
A few of the Elders made exclamations of shock.
"You even have a word for them that directly translates!"
Penny chuckled. "Yeah, carcinization is a bit of a meme in the science community. But I've heard the most mainstream theories since the First Contact are that the Source itself is uncreative. It has a certain template of creatures which it largely doesn't alter, though it can take in inputs from beings close to it, perhaps even influencing them."
"Influencing them?"
"Yes. Modern depictions of wendigoes, folkloric creatures from North America, a continent on Earth, are shockingly similar to the Knowers in appearance. The internet depictions of them in particular like to emphasize canine qualities, and often show them with skulls visible directly, and with dark brown or black fur. Recent depictions, as in the past 300 years, differ from their original appearances quite significantly, with the canine characteristics in particular being enhanced.
We have sorted through all known images of these creatures and found roughly 80% similarity with the Knowers and tens of thousands of images that are literally exactly the same as Knowers. The ones we searched all came before World War Three, far before even the First Contact with the Vinarii, much less the Knowers who were entirely underground at the time due to the radiation of their home star. We believe that the Source managed to influence this facet of human culture with the actual existence of a real creature.
Other examples exist, like how the Trikkec look very similar to Komodo Dragons, Vinarii look very similar to insects known as a mantis, and the Acuarfar look exactly like insects known as wasps with the single exception of their furry snouts and green instead of yellow markings. The Sprilnav species itself shares high amounts of similarity with a fictional species known as Elites in early 2000s culture, particularly with your jaws, though you all have red skin instead of grey or brown.
The Junyli, Dreedeen, and the wanderers are the main species without high amounts of appearance in our cultures at some point. This correlates with the idea of the Source being the influencer, as their predecessors all were used to fight it. Many species of the galaxy look like parts of our culture or Earth's creatures. The proximity of these examples makes this far more suspicious than if they were across the galaxy.
But since they existed first, the only answer must be that the Source brought the influence to us first and planted the ideas in our heads. As for the ones which look like Earth creatures, all of them are old enough evolutionary branches that copying from them to Earth makes more sense. Though the references centering around the early 2000s is quite odd, it is also roughly when the internet came into wide existence, so it is also possible the Source gave the ideas a push so they would propagate, for an unknown reason. Like if it seeded the ideas that propagated across the early global network Humanity used."
"Hmm. Fascinating. We've seen evidence of the 'seeding' process among some historical nations near the galactic region of Earth before. So the Source re-uses and alters depictions of life and also life itself?"
"Maybe," Penny said. "Unless the Source is more directly tied to life than we think. There's a conceptual Death, but no conceptual Life. Isn't that odd?"
"Conceptual Life died in the Source war."
How did that really work, though? Penny asked Nilnacrawla.
Imagine a conceptual being. A few of the Progenitors, as well as Narvravarana, went up to try to harvest its power. It refused, and Narvravarana used its unique abilities to try and force the deal.
Why was your civilization like this?
Excess and greed, partly. But we couldn't really do much more expansion. Vertical expansion also had its limits if we wanted to remain relevant for the remaining lifespan of the universe. So Narvravarana, along with a few of the greatest rulers and leaders of Sprilnav society, started looking to other dimensional planes. They figured it was best not to let the problem get too much worse. Or at least, that is what they say. I believe it was to harvest more resources to use against our surrounding enemies.
You didn't have any allies? Penny asked.
At that time, all the powers of the universe were enemies. All the allies eventually merged through millions of years of normalization. We happened to get on the universal stage the earliest, so other civilizations we encountered had little choice but to surrender their independence. Some fought, others didn't, but the outcome was the same.
That seems terrible.
It was, though the other universal civilizations were no better. Some of them just exterminated all alien life they found that couldn't fight back. In that sense, the pre-war Sprilnav civilization was one of the greatest, and that's why I fought for them. Obviously, I'm biased in that regard, though.
Thanks for telling me, father.
No problem, Penny.
She refocused back on the conversation at hand.
"But a thing cannot be alive if it dies. The concept of life doesn't work that way. So maybe the Source just... took in the concept of life? Or absorbed it into whatever psychic energy really is, considering that it's responsible for all of our existence?"
"That's so crazy it might actually be true," one of the Elders said. "You're incredible, Penny."
"Uh, thanks. You're all pretty great too." Her eyes drifted to the images of herself on their clothing. She couldn't really help it.
"I have a question for you."
"Yes?"
"Do you know what I'm fighting for?"
"I assume since you're asking it here, you don't just want a one word answer," an Elder said. "I would say yes, and for the liberation of the Sprilnav from the stain of slavery. Though going deeper into your history, you have also fought for other species, either in wars or just generally moving around. It does look aimless, mostly, since the galaxy's so big. But I'm sure you've got a way through that."
"In some way. Part of why I'm here isn't just about my people. It was at first, I admit that. But as I have lived here, on Justicar, for days and weeks, I've seen you less as alien. It makes it easier for sympathy and easier to break out of simple mindsets. So far, there are many problems, but there are distinct pieces. The first is that many people want to uphold slavery. I'm not sure why, but they do. It isn't profitable, and it isn't moral. Robots are cheaper in every way, and don't need food or water.
That means it's illogical or emotional. So I could try and solve the problem with violence alone, but it won't be addressing the cause, only the symptoms. I need to get to the heart of the matter. And I think it has to do with Elders' memories and the gradual woes they have accumulated going through life. I don't want to tear that away or drug them into believing they're fine. I want to find a way to outlet that productively. The second part I have identified is scale. The galaxy is enormous, and your species is incredibly numerous. I could fight planet by planet for the rest of my life, and liberation would still be difficult.
That also means I'd need a better way of doing things. Maybe an economic or political incentive. Emotional reasons will not work permanently, nor will logic, since we are in this situation. I have found several ways to address this. Sadly, since the gangs are likely monitoring this feed, I can't just outright say my strategy. All I can ask you all to do is to believe. Believe that I have a solution, and that I and those who stand with me are working on it. Believe in me because I believe in you."
None of the Elders questioned or ridiculed her words. Most of it was because they were fans of her. But one of them, an Elder named Rahautiti, had a distinct glint in his eye. Their gazes met only momentarily, but Penny could tell he knew.
And so she appeared in the mindscape, even as they concluded the interview, which would be the first of many. It was a ploy to just talk about human culture and ideals a bit more, to get it out there. Because the hivemind's theory was correct.
In the universe, ideas had power. That power could be weaponized against those who previously stood to gain. The first part of it was the image: Nova as an unbeatable bastion. Lecalicus as the Beast, a monster capable of star-crushing rage. Twilight as... whatever she did. Penny wasn't really familiar with the Progenitor's image too much, and the various names, like the Silent Night or the Smiling Darkness, were just so unbelievably edgy she cringed every time she recalled them.
But Rahautiti understood so she moved her mindscape avatar to see him.
"Hello again, Penny. I am no threat."
"I know. I'm glad that your group is led by someone as capable as you, as well as the other groups you dabble within."
"Who discovered it?"
"Phoebe. You met with Ezeonwha, and the android wanted to ensure you weren't a way for Yasihaut to kill him."
"Yeah. We did get approached about that, actually. We're supposed to kill Ezeonwha when you walk into the Judgment hall. Of course, we won't do this, and she won't be able to retaliate against us easily while there."
"Thank you for your honesty, Elder," Penny said. "It seems I'm in your debt."
"Nonsense. 2,839. That is the number of children I have had. 2,626. That is the number of children of mine which were enslaved. The remaining 213 died in unrelated incidents, with nearly half of those involving slavers killing them. I remember all of their names, and all of their faces, Penny. I want all the slavers in this universe dead."
"I cannot achieve that."
"You cannot," Rahautiti agreed. "Not with my help or even that of Kashaunta and Lecalicus. And certainly not right now. I have not lived this long to be incapable of compromise or patchwork solutions. You show great promise. I understand your aversion to killing and the circumstantial reason why you are not doing so now. I will not grow upset if you do not resume killing when the Judgment ends. Nor do I harbor a grudge against you for the speeding space entity you left outside the room to avoid uncomfortable publicity. You are incredibly young.
A sliver of a life. But you are strong, and you are mature. That sliver of your lifespan already outshines all I could do with a trillion more years, Penny. You are right in that this isn't something you can punch your way through. Trauma is part of why slavery still exists, despite it being a wholly unjust reason for the Elders to make such a sport of it. I am sure you know the story of the war, with a great hero in your head and Kashaunta at your side. My line of work is what I started to help you. Every thought about you being the Liberator, every eye that glances on you freeing slaves, helps you to gather conceptual energy. My talent happens to be great enough to sense the Pact of Blades you have, as well. If you want, I can teach you how to hide the mark on your soul and your mind."
"I would like that, yes," Penny said. "And thank you for being so reasonable. I will ask Kashaunta to protect you from what consequences come for refusing the offer on Ezeonwha."
"There are going to be attacks on him, you know. Him and your ship."
Penny felt an odd feeling in her soul. Cardi's power flared around him, and she squinted at the sky. She just barely saw a sliver of a tentacle. Most would have mistaken it for a normal speeding space entity. But here? On Justicar, with Exile obviously not being the cause?
Only one being would cause that. Fate.
Given the subject of their conversation, it was obvious what was going on.
Penny tapped Rahautiti's jaw, adding a thin mark of conceptual power so she could easily find him again. She focused on the conceptual mark she'd left on Ezeonwha. A twinge of conceptual energy came from it. It was accompanied by various impressions, like fear, pain, and acceptance.
"I have to go," Penny said. "I will be back later. Displace."
She appeared next to the 102nd Visitor Welcome Office but not next to Ezeonwha. It was carnage everywhere she looked.
"Champion!" an unknown Elder yelled. "I am Elder Na-"
Her rising fury surged, and it took all she had not to dismember him. The distant thought of the Judgment stayed her hands, though only just.
Penny's fist collided with the Elder's jaw at twice the speed of sound. A piece of his jaws flew free. Bone fragments hit the ground behind him. Hundreds of soldiers fired on her, and she slammed them to the ground with pure will. Penny tore their guns away and sent them each to pummel the Elder in front of her with as much brutality as she could. His powerful armor wasn't as capable of defense against physical attacks as it was against her psychic energy, and so he fell.
"You... cannot save him," the Elder spat. Fields of psychic suppression fell upon her, reducing her power.
"Manipulation through Determination," Penny growled. "De-"
No! Nilnacrawla said. Do not kill him! Not yet!
"What goes up will go down."
Air hardened around the Elder and accelerated rapidly.
The Elder smashed into the shield five miles above with a speed just slow enough that he wouldn't die. He fell from it and then hit it again at a more modest speed. He'd bounce on that until the Guides came to get him.
But Penny had another target. One she had to save instead of attack.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
High Judge Tassidonia awoke to the sound of explosions. He grabbed his swords, his main gun, and the personal shield he reserved for only the most dire occasions. The sky was erupting in war all around him, and buildings were already falling nearby. The spires of skyscrapers rained down upon the entrances to the Underground, crushing thousands of fleeing Sprilnav under their wide impacts.
His implant identified members of the gangs nearby, making their way to his home.
"Retribution Cycle!" Tassidonia cried. A hidden door opened, and he boarded a small hovercraft that sported a high amount of defensive and offensive technology, a gift from Justicar for dealing with all that he had related to the Judgment. Only this time, he wouldn't be on the next one. But already, the destruction was spreading.
Micro-missiles rained upon friend and foe alike. Several detonated against the layered shields. The mounted turrets on the side of his hoverbike shot lasers into the enemies his implant identified.
"Elder Tassidonia!" an Elder cried nearby. "For the crime of defying the will of-"
Tassidonia called his fury to bear. He rammed his mind into the enemy Elder, disorienting her. She reeled, about to attack, when a thick laser smashed into her chest. It pushed her against the wall, and Tassidonia kept the pressure up until her body melted. He listened to her screams impassively, occasionally sending blasts from his gun at the gangs when their members started to stray too close.
The thick red beam did its work within twenty pulses. His swords began to float beside him, keeping pace as he sped away from his home. The entire apartment complex shuddered and began to lean, its foundation being destroyed by some effect below. Tassidonia abandoned it with only minor regret. He'd known this moment would come. Everything he needed was already with him.
He linked into the Guide network, directing squadrons to attack the breaches he'd identified. Orbital strikes fell upon them in quick succession. Thick beams of light pierced through the lower planetary shields from orbital platforms, their guns honing in on Justicar's enemies. Tassidonia's implant was linked to the grid as well. So when he eyed buildings occupied with too many gang members, orbital strikes fell on them a few pulses later.
Fire and plasma rained all around him. Explosions and smoke blossomed all around him. More missiles fell from his hovercraft. A fighter ship appeared beside him, its simple stealth revealing itself to his eyes. Tassidonia waited for the pilot chamber to open, and his craft stowed itself behind him when he got in. It was fully equipped, so soon, Tassidonia was in full control of a weapon of war.
His first order of business was detecting the gangs' most fortified areas. He peppered those bases in shield-weakening mines, followed by bunker-buster missiles. Several anti-air turrets hit him, but his shields prevented them from taking him down. He dropped three high-end Butcher Androids into the fray of the largest battles.
One of the adjacent fighter wings in the separate shield sector dropped a nuke. At that moment, Tassidonia made a decision.
Whatever insanity was going on right now wasn't worth staying here on his own. He turned his ship upward, narrowly avoiding nearly fifty missiles shot from another gang fortress, which was really just the lower floors of a supermarket. Thick slabs of concrete were being set up by androids and slaves from the Underground. All he could do was watch from above and attempt to mark those that might be a problem.
Justicar's Grand Fleet was moving in, though only the carriers and their escorts were doing anything of any scale. The armies were mobilizing, and it seemed that war had finally broken out. Justicar, while isolated due to the Judgment, would have to win a war that threatened to topple his rule entirely.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Ezeonwha woke when the walls around him shuddered.
An earthquake?
Groggily, he activated the lights in the room. Phoebe's android was charging in the wall. Her limbs swayed with the motion. The walls shuddered again, and the lights went out. Thin, tiny cracks spread in the walls, increasing his worry factors massively. His implant notified him that this wasn't a dream. Distant screams reached his ears, and he went to the window.
Hordes of Sprilnav were running on the ground, tripping over each other to escape. He heard the thump of footsteps approaching from outside. The android activated, standing up.
"Move away from the doo-"
An explosion tossed him across the room. A Sprilnav carrying some sort of mouth weapon faded into view for a moment, smoke recalibrating the stealth field. And then he was gone. Phoebe smashed into the Sprilnav, her fists pummeling the assassin faster than Ezeonwha could comprehend.
Phoebe's arms turned into swords, and she stabbed the Sprilnav at least fifty times in a single pulse. She turned to grab him, but before she reached him, a second explosion sent him flying out of the now-shattered window.
The massive skyscraper loomed large, and he saw the ground beneath it ripple. Dull thumps sounded from below, and large, circular caverns opened beneath the 102nd Visitor Welcome Office. The whole building started to list forward, and Ezeonwha frantically activated his emergency personal shield as he started falling faster and faster. A bullet hit the shield. And then a second one. Gunshots echoed out in the distance, and he saw other Sprilnav falling from broken windows in the falling skyscraper. Gunfire erupted on the streets as Guides engaged a growing army of attackers bubbling up from basements of shops and businesses.
He saw spurts of blood exit the Sprilnav nearest him, bullets tearing holes through the woman's body. Piercing screams surrounded him, a terrible chorus that reminded him of the worst wars he'd fought in. But here, his training could do nothing. She was already dead, and he knew that he was the target of this whole attack. His eyes watered, and Ezeonwha felt so powerless. So useless.
A Corrector emerged from the side of the tilting skyscraper, eyes fixed on Ezeonwha. Then he looked down. Somehow, Ezeonwha knew when the orders had been sent. He knew that it was Astipra in the distance, a jetpack on his shoulders burning a thick flame beneath him.
Astipra looked back at the building and flew toward it. Ezeonwha felt the wind rushing past the shield as pressure. Astipra, far above, vaporized falling chunks of the skyscraper with blasts from his arm cannons. He pressed back against the skyscraper, the jetpack going into overdrive. The metal bent inward, and the groaning and twisting structure continued its fall. Blasts of light from Astipra again vaporized the set of falling chunks.
"Penny," he said. It was almost a prayer, really. His desperate mind was scrambling for whatever it could get. "Please, save me!"
He didn't know if she could hear him. Logically, it was impossible. And in a battle such as this, unlikely as well. Rippling explosions erupted across the facade of the falling skyscraper as rockets struck it. More explosions bloomed as lasers from distant police vehicles, Guides, and Astipra destroyed more of the fast-flying missiles and rockets. They pounded on the world around him, a horde of madness threatening to break his brain. He could feel the wind and gravity equalize as he reached terminal velocity.
And all he could see was the world descending into war around him. The 102nd Visitor Welcome Office continued to slump and lean against Astipra's best efforts. More bullets hit Ezeonwha's personal shield, and peppered the Guides moving over to save him. Air ambulances were shot from the sky. Even small fighter crafts were shot down by powerful ground lasers. EMPs thumped, disabling all the higher functions of his implant before he could think to use it.
A much larger explosion bloomed out, and Ezeonwha followed the rocket's trail to an Elder on the ground, standing in the wreckage surrounding a sudden tunnel opening. The Elder stared at him in glee, and he lined up another shot. Two Guides fell upon the Elder, who flew up using a jetpack to cut them in half with his sword. A hard light hologram lifted a large gun, pointing at Ezeonwha as he fell.
His eyes widened. Ezeonwha did everything he could. He angled his legs and arms. He pushed at the air. He even hefted the meager psychic energy he had, struggling with all his soul to escape the death he could feel was coming to him.
Guides swarmed beyond the shield appearing, while gang soldiers died by the hundreds to carpet bombing. Personal shields sprang up to block the explosions, and the Elder had survived. A thick red laser cut one of the fighters in half from the smoke. Above him, the collapsing facade of the skyscraper consumed Astipra entirely, though large gouts of plasma and thick explosions emerged from within. He could survive if it fell upon him, but Ezonwha could not.
Penny materialized far below, closer to the field of battle. A sweeping wave of gang members began disappearing. A bullet smashed into her head and her stomach, detonating in bright explosions. A personal shield flared and disappeared. Missiles and lasers slammed into Penny by the thousands as psychic energy gathered. A constant roll of words fell from her tongue, but without his implant, they were not translated.
Missiles crumbled into dust. Lasers impacted raw space in front of Penny before bending down and back to their origins, destroying automated turrets. Bullets still hit Penny and the Guides by the thousands, firing too quickly and densely for her to entirely block. But the large ordnance from the gangs continued to work against them.
Penny looked around, confusion evident on her face. But amidst the thousands of wounded and dead Sprilnav falling from the broken windows, Ezeonwha was hidden too well.
Shattering glass could be constantly heard, and he could feel the distant screams in his soul. A bullet smashed into his personal shield again, disabling it. A pulse later, he lost feeling in his legs.
He tried to reach out to her mind, but the war in the mindscape was equally intense. Too many Elders and Guides battling it out along with various suppression artifacts made it all impossible. He could sense Penny's influence, but couldn't directly reach her.
He let out a breath, knowing it to be the final one.
I'm sorry, Penny, Ezeonwha thought.
I wish you luck in the Judgment, and I am sorry I caused this to happen to you.
Penny finally appeared in front of him, eyes wide-
Blood erupted. A searing pain in his head told him his implant had just shorted out. And in the mindscape, he saw a mental attack heading for him, its brutal power evident. He closed his eyes.
2024.05.28 18:13 KilroyLichKing Ship and star base design suggestions/questions/issues
I made this post 9 months ago and am reposting it with some new bullets sprinkled in. Has any of this stuff been fixed/thought about?
Ship Design
submitted by KilroyLichKing to Starfield [link] [comments]
Ship Design
- You should be able to design and designate your own cargo ship for base cargo transport pads. this way if you want to transfer more cargo you can.
- This has probably been said already but there needs to be a better way of connecting doors and ladders between habs. letting the program decide just leads to a nonsensical maze.
- More hard points on the underside of the ship hull would be fantastic
- reverse thrusters that actually worked and we not cosmetic would be nice (beyond the cosmic Tokyo Drift maneuver of holding space bar and flipping the ship)
- weapons room hab block that had the munitions for your ships weapons would be a fun/ functional?
- Should have an option for ships without grave drive this would open up designs for intersystem cargo haulers single system survey ships and small fighters.
- Don't necessarily need cargo ramp to board ship could have landing ladder deploy from the base of smaller cockpit parts.
Should be able to buy blank ship from any ship vendor.
- It is utter lunacy that we have to cart half built ships to each unique ship vendors hub across an entire sector of space just to track down the one cosmetic hull part to finish a build. Ship vendors should be placeable and be able to be staffed at bases just like vendor stands in fallout 4... infact you should just have vendors at your base in general.
- I can understand the reason for hiding unique/experimental/class C parts at each vendors world but accessing them should be made part of mini side quests like you are a test pilots and the reactor may blow up or people try to shipjack you while shaking down the new part for hopetech or whatever.
- You should be able to break down ships you either purchase or steal and bank parts you want to keep around to save on credits. This would also incentivize boarding and taking over ships more.
- We have forward/aft starboard/port passageways but not ventral/dorsal passageways for that we are left making super chonky companion ways.
Underside docking ring would be nice- Cargo belly lift entrance would be a nice part (See intro Firefly episode 11 "trash") for example.
- Accepting that H3 is space gas fine. For some reason we have huge tanks of it on the side of our ships but if it is in cargo inventory it is a small box of gas? Having Gas Cargo Container parts would be a nice thing to have.
- Engines appear all to be chemical or turbofan (for landing gear) but space gas is only for jump drive range? Having ion drive engines would be a nice part and make more sense for the huge reactors the ships have. Can we get a fuel gage for chemical rocket/ and nuclear fusion drives. Consumable fuel pellets need to be for sale at all star yards.
- Foundation parts... please Tod Howard.... with snapping to local grid and/or global grid.
- catwalk parks
- Control tower needs to be pressurize
- Control tower need to have a function other than ooo up high look at stuff.
- Need to be able to snap to control tower
- need to be able to build airlock directly from ship landing pad
- need to have vendors at starbases
- need to have hangars at starbases
- need to be able to send cargo ships directly to vendor x amount of utc hours
- Have options for pre lived in habs like starship habs.
- Have an underground or retractable landing pad placable.
- buildable space station?
- Ship scanner should be a feat that you can level that will eventually tell you what cargo a ship is hauling and what parts it is made out of.
- For the love of god stop moving every Styrofoam cup and playing card into my ships inventory when i change out a hab. This is A) really tedious and time consuming to remove/sell and B) a way people can get infinite credits (all be it really tedious)
- Mark ship inventory as trash tag and space all trash button from cargo interface.
- It be nice to be able to directly target a ships reactor where increased damage slowly powered down all enemy ship until full damage blows up the ship you are hitting.
- For now we will accept that some how contraband scanners are so precise they can see what is in my pockets but cant see through my lead lined shielded cargo bay... This behavior should change if you have a scan jammer installed on your ship.
- Dump contraband should be a button on the hud when being scanned so you can dump it if you get cold feet.
- We will ride right past the part where gravity seems work inside of ships it would be nice to be able to build vertical ships like in the expanse though all the parts are more or less orientated in the x or y axis
- Why in all the verse do my pistols and shotguns have ammo but i get infinite PDC, rockets and rail gun slugs? Hows about we add ammo for the non energy based weapons ships because it makes no sense that stand alone rocket pods on my hull just magically reload.
- Space isnt 2-d (citation needed) it be cool if the Command table had a sectosystem hologram that would change biased on your location in game.
- It be nice to be able to do an EVA in space and crawl on the ship hull with magboots.
- It be nice to be able to pickpocket ship access keys from npc's in spaceports and then shipjack stuff at the landing pads. it would make for a fun escape fight once you reach orbit.
- I can be 10000 t over encumbered with advanced frames which makes me walk slow but my ship only can have 300 kg? Also my over encumbered a$$ is able to magicly sit in the piolt seat and fly the ship off the planet... if Thor puts Mjolnir down in an elevator and the elevator goes up does that make the elevator worthy? Ships should not be able to fly if player character is over encumbered.
- how come all the ship vendors get sexy minifigs of the ships they sell but we don't get them as placeable pieces are our starbase?
- Actually have heat leaches infest your ship requiring an eva to clean off parts or shoot them in your cargo hold.
- In space no one can hear you scream (citation needed) Can some one explain why in planets with no atmosphere the you can hear ships land and take off.
- I am in an airlock with the exterior door open yet my helmet is off and im 100% ok while waiting for the interior door animation to cycle.
2024.05.28 10:12 Current_Jellyfish_27 39 AI Meeting Assistants Everyone Should Know (Organized List)
Hey fellow PMs,
Recently, I have been conducting market research on AI Meeting Assistants for my personal project. The objectives were to evaluate the category’s status quo and assess market potential. I was surprised by how many solutions simply copy each other and compete only in marketing copy.
I believe all these tools might be useful, and I am curious to know if you are using any of them and why. I tested some during the customer discovery and customer development phases and was surprised by the outputs they produced.
To make it easier to find something specific, the tools are grouped into categories. I have also excluded sales call-oriented solutions. Looking forward to your feedback!
submitted by Current_Jellyfish_27 to SaaS [link] [comments]
Recently, I have been conducting market research on AI Meeting Assistants for my personal project. The objectives were to evaluate the category’s status quo and assess market potential. I was surprised by how many solutions simply copy each other and compete only in marketing copy.
I believe all these tools might be useful, and I am curious to know if you are using any of them and why. I tested some during the customer discovery and customer development phases and was surprised by the outputs they produced.
To make it easier to find something specific, the tools are grouped into categories. I have also excluded sales call-oriented solutions. Looking forward to your feedback!
- Quality of information gained (1-6)
- Meeting reports & search for information (7-16)
- Video highlights (17-20)
- Information flow through integrations (21-25)
- Meeting analytics (26-27)
- Just notetaking & summaries (28-37)
- Video conferencing software (38-39)
Quality of Information Gained
- Kaiwa - Auto-generates agendas tailored to your goals. Assists during calls to make the most of your time. Allows combining conversational data from multiple meetings into various deliverables.
- Charma - Focuses only on 1v1 conversations. The cool features are:
- connects with your internal chat and automatically forms an actionable agenda based on recent chat history
- AI writes worded feedback for a reportee based on keywords you provide.
- Dive - Creates an agenda during the call based on your prompt and provides well-organized post-meeting notes.
- Fellow - Allows collaborative agenda writing before the meeting (from scratch or using 500+ pre-built templates). Sends a detailed report if you didn’t join a meeting, with the ability to watch the recording. Lovely feature is a meeting cost.
- Krisp - Provides noise cancellation, so the quality of the meeting can dramatically increase (for those who conduct calls from Starbucks :))..
- MeetingCulture - For Microsoft 365 only. Agenda builder based on templates, voting during the call, and a pretty cool feedback score after the meeting. Feels like a massive solution with hundreds of features for enterprises rather than small teams.
Meeting Reports & Search for Information
- Fantom - One of the most popular notetaking tools. Based on the selected template, it automatically parses meeting conversations into a report (summary, takeaways, action items).
- Otter - Auto-joins your conferencing software as a bot to take and share meeting notes. A cool feature they have is advanced search functionality to find information from past meetings (e.g., ‘what are my takeaways from calls this week’). They also have a tailored solution for sales teams.
- Tactiq - Can generate personalized meeting recaps based on your custom template. You can write and save prompts to get insights from a collection of meetings.
- Notta - Converts meetings, interviews, and other conversations into searchable text, focusing on transcription use cases (supports 40+ languages). Recently, they acquired Airgram to enter new markets outside of Japan.
- Collato - Transforms conversational data into documents based on the selected template.
- ParrotAI - Offers rich-text functionality for meeting transcription. AI brainstorms ideas based on meeting notes.
- Laxis - AI can compose follow-up emails. You can search for specific information across all processed meetings. Features a unique integration with Cisco Webex.
- Sembly - ChatGPT for your meetings. Provides suggested prompts to give you ideas for what to search across meeting transcriptions.
Video Highlights
- Read - Provides easy access to rewatch moments related to action items.
- Huddle - Generates concise meeting summary videos. Has the ability to record and share your own video (similar to Loom).
- Rewatch - Collaborative video hub. They have a ‘Series’ feature that allows you to record and share your updates with the team without joining a meeting.
- tldv - Allows you to get combined meeting notes and video highlights from several conducted meetings at once. Supports 30+ languages.
Information Flow through Integrations
- Grain - Has integration with several platforms, allowing meeting summaries to be updated in HubSpot, Salesforce, and Productboard. Very minimalistic design.
- Circleback - Minimalistic design with the ability to create Zaps to automatically send summaries and notes to the desired platform.
- Spinach - Plenty of integrations to process your meeting notes.
- Nyota - Automatically creates tickets and updates agendas with action items. Has integration with Notion.
- Noty - Creates to-do lists after meetings with the ability to set deadlines for each task. Has a centralized dashboard for all to-do items.
Meeting Analytics
- Fireflies - A very comprehensive app that feels like a knowledge base for meetings. You can upload video or audio files, and they will be parsed into a report (summaries, action items). It includes a dashboard with meeting statistics such as speaking time, number of monologues or questions raised, and silence time. The app also has a mobile version.
- Equal Time - Valuable for companies with a D&I strategy. Auto-detects genders and notifies you if one gender is over-talking. Also provides stats on how long each person speaks and who needs to be heard more.
- MeetGeek - Cool statistics like sentiment, punctuality, talk rate, etc. Includes coaching functionality for sales teams.
Just Notetaking & Summaries
- Scribbl - Takes meeting notes and breaks them down into a digestible set of topics.
- Jamie - Downloadable app that joins your meeting and provides meeting notes (currently only for macOS). Has built-in meeting notifications.
- Cogram - Focuses on privacy. Creates a post-meeting report with a summary, bullet points, and action items.
- Wudpecker - Provides the ability to set a personalized structure for reports and process notes in 100+ languages.
- Colibri - A lightweight and simple solution that uses ChatGPT to generate summaries and action items. They offer standalone solutions for sales and legal teams.
- Leexi - Valuable for sales teams, as there is an in-built training program for them.
- Supernormal - Meeting notes based on selected templates. Notion-like design with a focus on simplicity.
- BlueDot - Free Google Meet extension backed by Google for Startups. It’s cool that no bots join the call, but it’s limited in functionality: provides post-meeting transcriptions and summaries.
- Briefly - Organizes conversational data into summaries, key insights grouped by discussion topics, and text action items. You can easily share a particular piece by email or manually copy and paste it.
- MetaView - Writes notes based on meeting type, grouping information into different sections. Primarily for the hiring use case.
- Superpowered - No bots at meetings. Downloadable app to take high-quality notes.
Video Conferencing Software
- Dyte - Deduces the agenda at the beginning of a call and notifies participants about it. An interesting feature is AFK Mode: if your microphone and speakers are turned off, it generates a brief text summary for you.
- Rumi - Provides real-time notes and summaries.
2024.05.28 09:34 Existing_Ideal_6180 Senior Software Engineer - EU - Find feedback, 100+ applications no reply
Hi, I've changed it following the advice from other forum, reading the wikis, ecc... But no getting any interview yet.
I've left two job roles without bullet point for a problem of space as I can remain into one page and for be clear that I have 10 years of experience in industry, but let me know if it makes sense.
I've used the STAR method as it seem the most used in the forum and also easier to read. I've tried to be more focused on the tech accomplishments, the how I've achieved it and being in two lines.
I'm not a native english speaker, so sorry in advance if there could be some grammar errors. The target is Senior software engineer position in Faang/Unicorn.
Currently I'm located in Canada working in a Faang but I would like to come back in Europe as I'm EU citizen so I'm applying in Biggest tech hubs in Europe: Amsterdam, Berlin or Barcelona.
Seeking an honest feedback and advice about the resume.
Thanks in advance for every feedbacks.
https://preview.redd.it/cmku19u9c43d1.png?width=5100&format=png&auto=webp&s=1e1d284a42269af80d59bacaca4a31c4b3b39314
submitted by Existing_Ideal_6180 to resumes [link] [comments]
I've left two job roles without bullet point for a problem of space as I can remain into one page and for be clear that I have 10 years of experience in industry, but let me know if it makes sense.
I've used the STAR method as it seem the most used in the forum and also easier to read. I've tried to be more focused on the tech accomplishments, the how I've achieved it and being in two lines.
I'm not a native english speaker, so sorry in advance if there could be some grammar errors. The target is Senior software engineer position in Faang/Unicorn.
Currently I'm located in Canada working in a Faang but I would like to come back in Europe as I'm EU citizen so I'm applying in Biggest tech hubs in Europe: Amsterdam, Berlin or Barcelona.
Seeking an honest feedback and advice about the resume.
Thanks in advance for every feedbacks.
https://preview.redd.it/cmku19u9c43d1.png?width=5100&format=png&auto=webp&s=1e1d284a42269af80d59bacaca4a31c4b3b39314
2024.05.28 09:14 Existing_Ideal_6180 Senior Software Engineer - EU - Resume Review and Advice
Hi, I've changed it following the advice from other forum, reading the wikis, ecc... But no response yet.
https://preview.redd.it/pziubqm2b43d1.png?width=5100&format=png&auto=webp&s=45fac70e1d7b168daca37755b48fa96543a6d798
I've left two job roles without bullet point for a problem of space as I can remain into one page and for be clear that I have 10 years of experience in industry, but let me know if it makes sense.
I've used the STAR method as it seem the most used in the forum and also easier to read. I've tried to be more focused on the tech accomplishments, the how I've achieved it and being in two lines.
I'm not a native english speaker, so sorry in advance if there could be some grammar errors. The target is Senior software engineer position in Faang/Unicorn.
Currently I'm located in Canada working in a Faang but I would like to come back in Europe as I'm EU citizen so I'm applying in Biggest tech hubs in Europe: Amsterdam, Berlin or Barcelona.
Seeking an honest feedback and advice about the resume.
Thanks in advance for every feedbacks.
submitted by Existing_Ideal_6180 to Resume [link] [comments]
https://preview.redd.it/pziubqm2b43d1.png?width=5100&format=png&auto=webp&s=45fac70e1d7b168daca37755b48fa96543a6d798
I've left two job roles without bullet point for a problem of space as I can remain into one page and for be clear that I have 10 years of experience in industry, but let me know if it makes sense.
I've used the STAR method as it seem the most used in the forum and also easier to read. I've tried to be more focused on the tech accomplishments, the how I've achieved it and being in two lines.
I'm not a native english speaker, so sorry in advance if there could be some grammar errors. The target is Senior software engineer position in Faang/Unicorn.
Currently I'm located in Canada working in a Faang but I would like to come back in Europe as I'm EU citizen so I'm applying in Biggest tech hubs in Europe: Amsterdam, Berlin or Barcelona.
Seeking an honest feedback and advice about the resume.
Thanks in advance for every feedbacks.
2024.05.28 03:20 LordRicardios Any issues with my load order? I am constantly crashing after a few seconds on the main menu, and i have reinstalled and redownloaded both the game, and all these mods at least six times. Thanks for any help.
0 0 Fallout4.esm
1 1 DLCRobot.esm
2 2 DLCworkshop01.esm
3 3 DLCCoast.esm
4 4 DLCworkshop02.esm
5 5 DLCworkshop03.esm
6 6 DLCNukaWorld.esm
254 FE 0 ccBGSFO4044-HellfirePowerArmor.esl
254 FE 1 ccfsvfo4001-modularmilitarybackpack.esl
254 FE 2 ccawnfo4001-brandedattire.esl
254 FE 3 cctosfo4001-neosky.esm
254 FE 4 ccBGSFO4115-X02.esl
254 FE 5 ccBGSFO4116-HeavyFlamer.esl
254 FE 6 ccBGSFO4110-WS_Enclave.esl
254 FE 7 ccBGSFO4096-AS_Enclave.esl
254 FE 8 ccacxfo4001-vsuit.esl
254 FE 9 ccFSVFO4007-Halloween.esl
7 7 cctosfo4002_neonflats.esm
254 FE a ccBGSFO4046-TesCan.esl
254 FE b ccSBJFO4003-Grenade.esl
254 FE c ccOTMFO4001-Remnants.esl
8 8 Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch.esp
9 9 ArmorKeywords.esm
10 a WorkshopFramework.esm
254 FE d XDI.esm
254 FE e PPF.esm
11 b SS2.esm
12 c SS2_XPAC_Chapter2.esm
13 d SS2_XPAC_Chapter3.esm
14 e AmericaRising2.esm
254 FE f Arbitration - Resources.esm
254 FE 10 Automatron Special Defense Assembly.esl
254 FE 11 Munitions - An Ammo Expansion.esl
15 f InstituteTechnologyOverhaul.esm
16 10 CWPointLookoutFO4.esm
254 FE 12 JamaicaPlainPathing.esm
254 FE 13 Skb_MachinegunsRebirth.esl
254 FE 14 Zapgun.esl
254 FE 15 SSTRagsPirates.esl
254 FE 16 SSTTomsBruisers.esl
254 FE 17 SelectRevolver.esl
254 FE 18 CWPointLookoutFO4Patch.esl
254 FE 19 Balisong.esl
254 FE 1a CROSS_VertibirdFlightsuit.esl
254 FE 1b DanseHelmet.esl
254 FE 1c F4MS.esl
254 FE 1d FOLON_ChinesePistol.esl
254 FE 1e FOLON_Lewis.esl
254 FE 1f SelectAssaultRifle.esl
254 FE 20 SelectPowerArmor.esl
17 11 Games.esm
18 12 BarstoolGames.esm
19 13 Homemaker.esm
254 FE 21 IDEKsLogisticsStation2.esl
254 FE 22 ImmersiveTeleportation.esl
254 FE 23 Munitions - Vanilla Ammo Addon.esl
254 FE 24 NPSShopping.esl
254 FE 25 PickaxeWeapon.esl
20 14 Retro_Style.esm
21 15 Robot Home Defence.esm
254 FE 26 RunningWithHandsAnim.esl
254 FE 27 SelectBlaster.esl
22 16 SettlementKeywords.esm
254 FE 28 SwimmingAnims.esl
23 17 TacticalReload.esm
24 18 EthreonMasterPlan.esm
254 FE 29 Tenpines Buff A fortified village.esl
254 FE 2a The Mechanist's lair - Robco's rebirth.esl
254 FE 2b TheCircleSS2.esl
254 FE 2c ThrowMoneyAtSS2.esl
254 FE 2d UNDRCVR_SimplySettledMechanistLair.esl
254 FE 2e WarwickHomesteadContestBuildTake2FGen.esl
254 FE 2f WG Point Lookout Stlmts Pack ESL.esl
254 FE 30 ZJ PerfPlan - Sanctuary.esl
254 FE 31 PPF-NeonFlats-CR.esm
254 FE 32 PPF-HeavyFlamer-CR.esm
254 FE 33 SS2 Fortress Commonwealth - Croup Manor Lvl3 ESL .esl
254 FE 34 sanctuaryWG.esl
254 FE 35 Reina_Vault88-SS2.esl
254 FE 36 Reina_Starlight2022Masters.esl
254 FE 37 RedRocketFoundry.esl
254 FE 38 MurkFactory.esl.esl
254 FE 39 MechaTown_CityPlan_MechanistLair.esl
254 FE 3a Marina.esl.esl
254 FE 3b Home plate.esl
254 FE 3c Holy Sanctuary.esl
254 FE 3d HangmansvaultSS2.esl
254 FE 3e Gris- Hangmans Alley Outpost (Fort Halley).esl
254 FE 3f GavMan_Zimonja_Cityplan.esl
254 FE 40 GavMan_Vault88_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 41 GavMan_RedRocket_Outpost_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 42 Gavman_MurkTreesMAY21_Cityplan.esl
254 FE 43 GavMan_LongfellowsJun21_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 44 GavMan_Egret_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 45 GavMan_CroupMar21_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 46 GavMan_CastleMar22_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 47 FortSomerville.esl
254 FE 48 FortifiedCroupManorHub.esl
254 FE 49 Fort Starlight V1.0.esl
254 FE 4a CSC_NoirPenthouse_Base.esl
254 FE 4b CSC_NeonFlats_Base.esl
254 FE 4c Castle Restoration Project.esl
254 FE 4d BunkerHillbyWG.esl
254 FE 4e Bunker Hill Mega City.esl
254 FE 4f Abernathy Stronghold.esl
254 FE 50 Dank_ArmorOverrides.esp
25 19 BeastWhisperer.esp
26 1a Phase4DLC.esp
27 1b SS2Extended.esp
254 FE 51 IHO - Immersive Hunting Overhaul.esp
28 1c RED.esp
29 1d SuperMutantRedux.esp
30 1e OutcastsAndRemnants.esp
31 1f virgil.esp
32 20 Depravity.esp
254 FE 52 CombinedExpansion4.1.esp
33 21 Stm_DiamondCityExpansion.esp
34 22 0BVB_OLD_V1.esp
35 23 Eli_MarlboroughHouse.esp
36 24 AA FusionCityRising.esp
254 FE 53 WCLI_North_Point_Park.esp
254 FE 54 StoryWealth-SS2-DEP-Patch.esp
37 25 AmazingFollowerTweaks.esp
38 26 An Office Fit For A Mayor.esp
39 27 Relic Space Marine.esp
40 28 The Space Marine.esp
41 29 Vertibird Faction Paint Schemes.esp
42 2a PhaserLaserGun.esp
43 2b CombinedArmsNV.esp
44 2c CombinedArmsEXPack.esp
254 FE 55 Dank_LEO.esp
45 2d Flashy_CrimeAndPunishment.esp
46 2e g2m_Workshop_Nexus.esp
47 2f InstituteSettlements2.esp
48 30 RD_Technologies.esp
49 31 Flashy_CrimeAndPunishment_GunForHire_Addon.esp
254 FE 56 GunForHire-eXoPatch.esp
50 32 MilitarizedMinutemen.esp
51 33 Snappy_HouseK.esp
52 34 Backpacks of the Commonwealth.esp
53 35 functionalobjects_vanilla.esp
54 36 M2_Flamethrower_2.2.esp
55 37 tdow_lc.esp
254 FE 57 BuildingGroundFix.esp
254 FE 58 Dank_ECO.esp
254 FE 59 Fallout 4 AI Overhaul.esp
56 38 SKKSynthVision.esp
57 39 InstituteTechnologyOverhaul - FULL.esp
58 3a SS2_FDK_TinyLiving.esp
59 3b Eli_Armour_Compendium.esp
254 FE 5a CROSS_InstituteExpeditionarySuit.esp
60 3c MW1Mike4.esp
61 3d 1CAS_ServiceRifle.esp
62 3e AEWS.esp
63 3f Fleshsmith.esp
64 40 battletech.esp
65 41 ProjectValkyrie.esp
254 FE 5b GrayGardenIdles.esp
254 FE 5c FPVertibird.esp
254 FE 5d FPV_Armored.esp
254 FE 5e MechLairPathfindingFix.esp
66 42 0006___SkyLight_Bunker - PV2.esp
254 FE 5f 3dscopes-wmsr.esp
67 43 3dscopes.esp
68 44 [BFV]Kar98k.esp
69 45 AttachPack.esp
254 FE 60 CROSS_MojaveManhunter.esp
70 46 CROSS_PlasRail.esp
71 47 M1918nv.esp
72 48 SPR300.esp
73 49 MK18.esp
74 4a SS2-Jampads2.esp
75 4b PoliceWeaponPack.esp
76 4c M1Garand.esp
77 4d SS2WastelandVenturers.esp
78 4e UniquePAFrames.esp
79 4f [SS2 Addon] SimSettlements SuperStructures.esp
80 50 BerettaM9FS.esp
81 51 LeeEnfieldNo4MkI.esp
82 52 GtN_SettlersatPlay.esp
83 53 Cho1_SS2_Encv_Plots.esp
84 54 DakVintageRepeater.esp
85 55 DakGrenadeAPW.esp
86 56 DakSwedishK.esp
254 FE 61 Firelance1.0.1.esp
87 57 DakBAR.esp
88 58 DakWin1907.esp
89 59 InstituteArsenalOverhaul.esp
90 5a RU556.esp
91 5b MTs255.esp
92 5c DT_MercOutfitPack.esp
254 FE 62 Mercenary Outfit Extreme Overhaul.esp
93 5d ALSID.esp
94 5e DakPoliceShotgun.esp
95 5f F4NVSingleActionArmy.esp
96 60 DakFAL.esp
254 FE 63 Castle Helipad.esp
254 FE 64 SS2-Ch2-CR-NeonFlats.esp
97 61 DakRugerRifles.esp
98 62 DakFR2.esp
99 63 DakSW59.esp
100 64 WestTek.esp
101 65 DakHomemadeVityaz.esp
102 66 PigAAMDeag.esp
103 67 PigAAMBeretta.esp
104 68 DakDeagle.esp
105 69 DakM202.esp
106 6a AranLaserCarbine.esp
254 FE 65 CROSS_BreakActionLaser.esp
107 6b Dak20mm.esp
108 6c InfiltratorSMG.esp
109 6d Disruptor.esp
110 6e DakBowieKnife.esp
111 6f SS2_Addon_NWE.esp
112 70 SelectRapidMG.esp
113 71 SS2_STRA_Support_Buildings.esp
114 72 SS2_STRA_Buildings_and_Skins.esp
115 73 SS2_ruined_simsettlement_addonpack.esp
116 74 SS2_Addon_R2R.esp
117 75 Cho1_ss2_Barmod_Conversion.esp
254 FE 66 SS2_Addon_Favelabulous.esp
118 76 GavM_SS2Addon_Buildings.esp
254 FE 67 DownTime2_SS2_Addon_Des.esp
254 FE 68 SS2_ruined_plotapalooza_messhall.esp
119 77 SS2_Addon_PSC_Plots.esp
120 78 SS2_Addon_FHE.esp
121 79 BMW_ALA.esp
122 7a JunkTownTwo.esp
123 7b GarageHomesAndSensibleSecurity.esp
124 7c DZK_1x1_Pack.esp
125 7d SS2-PraRandomAddon.esp
126 7e Schotel22.esp
127 7f tumba_CaravanSecurityArmor.esp
128 80 tumba_bountyhunter.esp
254 FE 69 tumba_SynthCourserArmor.esp
254 FE 6a Sten.esp
129 81 Kar98k.esp
254 FE 6b Springfield M1903.esp
130 82 AX50.esp
131 83 DaksCombatRifle.esp
254 FE 6c ODW - Winchester Model 1873.esp
132 84 WWII - SOV Nagant Revolver.esp
133 85 G43.esp
134 86 IFC Complete.esp
254 FE 6d TacticalReloadVanilla.esp
135 87 P90.esp
136 88 Cyberpunk 2077 Malorian Arms 3516.esp
254 FE 6e [BFV]P08.esp
254 FE 6f AdvBubbleTurretSet.esp
254 FE 70 AdvBubbleTurretSet-RHDSKPatch.esp
254 FE 71 AdvSettleTurretSet.esp
137 89 AEAR01.esp
254 FE 72 AEWS_NukaWorldPatch.esp
254 FE 73 AFT_Allow_Piper_Face_Presets.esp
138 8a MilitarisedMinutemen_PatchesAddon.esp
254 FE 74 AFT_Allow_Preston_Face_Presets.esp
254 FE 75 AFT_Allow_X688_Face_Presets.esp
254 FE 76 AFT_Alt_Names_Pack1.esp
254 FE 77 AFT_Use_Original_Spouse.esp
254 FE 78 AFTSpouseTweaks.esp
254 FE 79 AlexSleevePatcher.esp
254 FE 7a AmazingFollowerTweaks_XDI_FIX.esp
254 FE 7b AnotherMoleratDiseaseCure.esp
139 8b AR2 Attachment Pack Patch.esp
254 FE 7c Bullet in the Chamber.esp
254 FE 7d Arbitration - Button Lowered Weapons.esp
140 8c AssaultPhaser.esp
141 8d Archimedes-II.esp
254 FE 7e Attach Pack Mod Description Fixes.esp
254 FE 7f RemoteExplosives.esp
142 8e AutoMines.esp
143 8f autoweapons.esp
254 FE 80 AWKCR - Mod Power Armor Engine Glitch Fix.esp
144 90 AzarPonytailHairstyles.esp
145 91 BarstoolGames_FH.esp
146 92 BarstoolGames_NW.esp
254 FE 81 Bastion.esp
147 93 battletechfootstep.esp
254 FE 82 BeastWhispererTreats.esp
148 94 BetterSettlers.esp
254 FE 83 Live Dismemberment - BrutalNoHeadshots.esp
254 FE 84 Live Dismemberment - LiebermodeNoHeadshots.esp
254 FE 85 Live Dismemberment - RegularNoHeadshots.esp
254 FE 86 Below-the-belt.esp
254 FE 87 Better_Notes.esp
254 FE 88 BetterSettlersCleanFacePack.esp
254 FE 89 Lots More Facial Hair.esp
254 FE 8a Lots More Female Hairstyles.esp
254 FE 8b Lots More Male Hairstyles.esp
254 FE 8c BS NS BFS Merged Patch - Mortal.esp
254 FE 8d BetterSettlersMortalPack.esp
254 FE 8e BetterSettlersNoLollygagging.esp
149 95 BogartNick - Hazel Stubble.esp
254 FE 8f CBBE.esp
150 96 CF_AtomicWarlord.esp
151 97 Reverb and Ambiance Overhaul.esp
254 FE 90 CGOsoundsplugin.esp
152 98 SKKFastMinutemen.esp
153 99 Colt1911.esp
154 9a Companion - Chris Fathom.esp
254 FE 91 CovenantCitadelLayoutV1.6.esp
254 FE 92 CROSS_BrotherhoodRecon.esp
254 FE 93 CROSS_CoA.esp
254 FE 94 CROSS_CourserStrigidae.esp
155 9b CROSS_GoreCrits.esp
254 FE 95 CROSS_GoreCrits_FarHarborPatch.esp
254 FE 96 CROSS_ReducedLaserSmoke.esp
254 FE 97 D13SynthSpyDetectionElimination.esp
254 FE 98 DakFR2-TR.esp
254 FE 99 Dank_ArmorOverrides_DLCCoast.esp
254 FE 9a Dank_ArmorOverrides_DLCNukaWorld.esp
254 FE 9b Dank_ArmorOverrides_DLCRobot.esp
254 FE 9c Dank_ECO-INNR.esp
254 FE 9d Dank_ECO_DLCCoast.esp
254 FE 9e Dank_ECO_DLCNukaWorld.esp
254 FE 9f Dank_ECO_DLCRobot.esp
254 FE a0 Dank_INNRoverride.esp
254 FE a1 Dank_LEO-Automatron.esp
254 FE a2 Dank_LEO_ChipCraft_Free_ECO.esp
254 FE a3 Dank_LEO_DLCCoast.esp
254 FE a4 Dank_LEO_DLCNukaWorld.esp
254 FE a5 Dank_ECO-LEO.esp
156 9c DarkestHourRemastered.esp
157 9d Deeper Male Protagonist Voice - Type A3 - DLC1-Automatron.esp
158 9e Deeper Male Protagonist Voice - Type A3.esp
159 9f Deeper Thoughts - Expressive Curie.esp
254 FE a6 Edit_Hancock.esp
254 FE a7 BetterSettlersCCAPack2.0.esp
160 a0 ESPExplorerFO4.esp
254 FE a8 F4NVSingleActionArmy_TR.esp
161 a1 Family Mauser.esp
162 a2 FineZoom.esp
163 a3 Flashy_CommonwealthFishing.esp
164 a4 Flashy_CommonwealthFishingFarHarborAddon.esp
254 FE a9 Flashy_CrimeAndPunishment_CrossMM_Patch.esp
254 FE aa Flashy_GunForHire_NamesPatch.esp
254 FE ab FPVCorrectMinigunAmmo.esp
254 FE ac FPVBoSPilot.esp
254 FE ad FPV-Paintjobs.esp
254 FE ae FPVTrackingModule.esp
254 FE af FPVPilotCommands.esp
254 FE b0 FunctionalDisplays-Collectibles.esp
165 a5 FunctionalDisplays.esp
254 FE b1 FunctionalDisplays-Patch-DLC-ALL.esp
254 FE b2 FunctionalDisplays-MISC-Vanilla.esp
254 FE b3 GammaGunRedux.esp
166 a6 Gammaremesh_AttPackPatch.esp
254 FE b4 GhastlyHancock.esp
254 FE b5 GunForHire-AmericaRising2.esp
254 FE b6 Homemaker - Streetlights Use Passive Power.esp
254 FE b7 Homemaker - Unlocked Institute Objects.esp
254 FE b8 FPV_IHO_Loot_Patch.esp
254 FE b9 Dank_ECO-IHO.esp
254 FE ba ImmersiveAnimationFramework.esp
254 FE bb IAF - Far Harbor & Nuka World.esp
254 FE bc ImmersiveTeleportation_lessPower.esp
254 FE bd ImmersiveTeleportation_lessRads.esp
254 FE be ImmersiveTeleportation_quickstart.esp
254 FE bf Infiltrator - Lockpicking Overhaul.esp
167 a7 KSHairdos.esp
168 a8 KSHairsFemsheppingRadbeetle.esp
254 FE c0 3dscopes-leeenfield.esp
254 FE c1 lewismunitions.esp
254 FE c2 LongerPowerLinesInf.esp
169 a9 WeaponDisarm.esp
170 aa PIP-Pad.esp
171 ab LooksMenu Customization Compendium.esp
254 FE c3 LooneyLongfellow.esp
172 ac M1 Carbine.esp
254 FE c4 M14.esp
254 FE c5 3dscopes-m14.esp
254 FE c6 M1Garand-2xDMG.esp
173 ad M1Garand - AWKCR.esp
174 ae ManufacturingExtended.esp
175 af ManufacturingExtendedFH.esp
176 b0 MG69.esp
254 FE c7 MilitarisedMinutemen_ScarvesFix.esp
254 FE c8 MMSREP.esp
254 FE c9 MMSREP_PatchesAddonCompatibilePatch.esp
254 FE ca MilitarizedMinutemenImmersionFix.esp
254 FE cb MinutemenEnforcer.esp
254 FE cc EnforcerCrafting.esp
254 FE cd MiscHairstyle.esp
177 b1 Modern Military Pack.esp
178 b2 Mosin.esp
254 FE ce 3dscopes-mosin.esp
254 FE cf Munitions Manufacturing.esp
254 FE d0 Munitions-Additional Ammo.esp
254 FE d1 Munitions Manufacturing - Additional Ammo Expansion.esp
254 FE d2 Nability - IAF Fusion City Rising Patch.esp
254 FE d3 no_pipboy_light.esp
179 b3 OCDecorator.esp
254 FE d4 OMEGA - CommonwealthFishing IAF Patch.esp
254 FE d5 OMEGA - IAF CoA Overhaul Patch.esp
254 FE d6 OMEGA - IHO IAF Patch.esp
254 FE d7 Nability - IAF Outcasts And Remnants Patch.esp
254 FE d8 Flashy_CrimeAndPunishment_OAR_Depravity_Patch.esp
180 b4 Ozzys_MCPR-300.esp
254 FE d9 Ozzys_MCPR300_TRPatch.esp
254 FE da P90NPC.esp
254 FE db PAUP_TargetingHUD.esp
254 FE dc PAVertibirdDockFix.esp
254 FE dd Backpacks of the Commonwealth - FPV Patch.esp
254 FE de personalvertibird.esp
181 b5 PhotonDisruptor.esp
254 FE df PIP-Pad_LMCC.esp
254 FE e0 PlatinumCurieV2.1.esp
182 b6 PWR.esp
254 FE e1 PWR_SKE.esp
183 b7 RED-CAP.esp
184 b8 Relic Space Marine - Raven Guard.esp
254 FE e2 40K_Relic_Space_Marine_Craftable_Armor.esp
254 FE e3 40k RSM Carcharadons Paint.esp
185 b9 Remote Explosives CTD fix in Workshop.esp
186 ba Retro_Style_World_Distribution.esp
254 FE e4 3dscopes-ru556.esp
187 bb SelectMarksman.esp
254 FE e5 SelectPhoton_ITOinjectPatch.esp
188 bc SettlementMenuManager.esp
189 bd HomemakerMenuFixer.esp
254 FE e6 SexyHancockEveryHancockDepravity.esp
190 be CabinInTheWoods.esp
254 FE e7 SimpleAttackReactions.esp
254 FE e8 SimpleCombatGrabs.esp
254 FE e9 SimpleFinishersRE.esp
191 bf SimpleSmokes.esp
192 c0 Skitarii.esp
193 c1 SKKRESystemManager.esp
194 c2 SKKSettlementAttackSystem.esp
254 FE ea SpotlightFix-300-Shadow.esp
254 FE eb SPR300_LvlList.esp
254 FE ec SPR300_TacticalReload.esp
195 c3 TacticalMods.esp
254 FE ed TacticalModsDLC.esp
254 FE ee TacticalReloadDLC.esp
196 c4 The Eyes of Beauty Looking Stranger.esp
197 c5 The Eyes Of Beauty.esp
254 FE ef HCFB_Maccready_smooth.esp
254 FE f0 The Ultimate Piper - nexus release.esp
198 c6 TheEyesOfBeauty.esp
254 FE f1 TheKite_Railroad_Handmaiden.esp
254 FE f2 TheKite Handmaiden - Triggermen.esp
199 c7 Thematic and Practical.esp
200 c8 Thematic and Practical - DLC.esp
254 FE f3 There It Is x Perfectionist.esp
201 c9 tumba_SynthCombatArmor.esp
202 ca tumba_EnclaveCombatArmor.esp
254 FE f4 tumba_mysterious_stranger.esp
254 FE f5 Ultimate Cait.esp
203 cb United Security Contractor.esp
204 cc Vault-Tec Workshop Overhaul.esp
205 cd VertiBirdRetextureProject.esp
254 FE f6 WCLINPP_FastTravelFix.esp
254 FE f7 WeaponDisarm - Dismemberment+Groin.esp
254 FE f8 Dank_ECO-WestTek.esp
206 ce WestTekTacticalOptics.esp
254 FE f9 Wireless Workshop Items.esp
207 cf WorkshopPointLookout.esp
254 FE fa TheRedoubt.esp
208 d0 SS2WastelandReconstructionKit.esp
254 FE fb SS2CityPlanGunForHireModOfficeofRelaxation.esp
209 d1 SS2CaravanSnatex.esp
254 FE fc SS2C2PoliceWeaponsPatch.esp
254 FE fd SS2AOP_VaultTecTools.esp
254 FE fe SS2Addon_MS_BareEssentials.esp
254 FE ff SS2_XDI Patch.esp
254 FE 100 SS2_WestTek.esp
210 d2 SS2_WastelandDefense.esp
211 d3 SS2_SIMPDDDD.esp
212 d4 SS2_MsB_PlainPlans.esp
213 d5 SS2_CityPlanPack_RiseOfTheCommonwealth.esp
254 FE 101 ss2_caravanshipment.esp
254 FE 102 SS2_AFT.esp
254 FE 103 SS2_Addon_ShazbotsCots.esp
214 d6 SS2_Addon_BrickNClay.esp
254 FE 104 SS2-AUR-HangmansAlleyCityPlan.esp
215 d7 SS2 Settlement Management Terminal.esp
254 FE 105 SS2 Sanctuary Green Hills.esp
254 FE 106 SS2 Junk Storage Capacity.esp
216 d8 SS2 Excess Resource Manager.esp
254 FE 107 SS2 Better Outfits.esp
254 FE 108 SimSettlements2_AddOnPack_ApocalypticAdditions_SirLach.esp
254 FE 109 SimHomestead2.esp
254 FE 10a Sim Settlers 2 Go Shopping.esp
254 FE 10b Reina_SS2_Plotapalooza_SigTrg.esp
254 FE 10c ProjectValkyrie-SS2-Patch.esp
254 FE 10d PrasPlotapaloozaEntry.esp
217 d9 ohSIM_Sim2_Settlements_Scrappers_Addon.esp
254 FE 10e Murkwater Manor.esp
254 FE 10f MS SS2 Camera Takes Screenshots.esp
254 FE 110 Lyudw_NorthPointPark_CityPlan.esp
254 FE 111 JunkTown2 - EXTREME.esp
254 FE 112 JunkTown-FENCES2.esp
254 FE 113 IT_SS2.esp
254 FE 114 IDEKsLogisticsStation2_SS2_Patch.esp
218 da GtN_SettlersatWar.esp
254 FE 115 CountryCrossing.esp
219 db Cho1SS2FlagsMod.esp
254 FE 116 [SS2] BBVault 88.esp
254 FE 117 [SS2] Ad Vic.esp
254 FE 118 WW2SmockEN.esp
254 FE 119 WWII - German Smock - v1.0.esp
254 FE 11a WWII - USA Paratrooper Uniform.esp
254 FE 11b WWII - USSR Coat Uniform - v1.0.esp
220 dc WWM Gear Pack.esp
254 FE 11c zz_Automatron_Robots.esp
254 FE 11d Crafting Ammunition.esp
254 FE 11e Crafting Components.esp
254 FE 11f Crafting vanilla chems and drinks.esp
254 FE 120 Crafting vanilla grenade and syringe batch sizes.esp
254 FE 121 Crafting vanilla signal.esp
254 FE 122 Grenades - No sort and weightless.esp
254 FE 123 New Chems - No sort and weightless.esp
254 FE 124 New Devices - No sorting.esp
254 FE 125 Syringer Ammunition - DI - No sort and weightless.esp
254 FE 126 Syringer Rifles and Pistol.esp
221 dd SKKFastStartNewGame.esp
222 de WorkshopRearranged.esp
223 df Vault-Tec Workshop Overhaul Redux.esp
254 FE 127 PRP.esp
254 FE 128 Thuggysmurf_Optimization.esp
254 FE 129 OCsV81TradeCamp.esp
254 FE 12a OCsV81TradeCampGrassReduced.esp
254 FE 12b WCLINPP_Previs.esp
254 FE 12c OCsv81TradeCampInstantUnlock.esp
254 FE 12d PRP-SS2.esp
254 FE 12e GavMan_V81TC_CityPlan.esp
224 e0 Eli_Faction Housing Overhaul - AiO.esp
225 e1 Scrap Everything - Ultimate Edition.esp
226 e2 Mechanist Lair Overhaul SEC.esp
254 FE 12f Pip-Boy Flashlight.esp
254 FE 130 PIP-Pad_Pip-BoyFlashlight.esp
submitted by LordRicardios to Fallout4Mods [link] [comments]
1 1 DLCRobot.esm
2 2 DLCworkshop01.esm
3 3 DLCCoast.esm
4 4 DLCworkshop02.esm
5 5 DLCworkshop03.esm
6 6 DLCNukaWorld.esm
254 FE 0 ccBGSFO4044-HellfirePowerArmor.esl
254 FE 1 ccfsvfo4001-modularmilitarybackpack.esl
254 FE 2 ccawnfo4001-brandedattire.esl
254 FE 3 cctosfo4001-neosky.esm
254 FE 4 ccBGSFO4115-X02.esl
254 FE 5 ccBGSFO4116-HeavyFlamer.esl
254 FE 6 ccBGSFO4110-WS_Enclave.esl
254 FE 7 ccBGSFO4096-AS_Enclave.esl
254 FE 8 ccacxfo4001-vsuit.esl
254 FE 9 ccFSVFO4007-Halloween.esl
7 7 cctosfo4002_neonflats.esm
254 FE a ccBGSFO4046-TesCan.esl
254 FE b ccSBJFO4003-Grenade.esl
254 FE c ccOTMFO4001-Remnants.esl
8 8 Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch.esp
9 9 ArmorKeywords.esm
10 a WorkshopFramework.esm
254 FE d XDI.esm
254 FE e PPF.esm
11 b SS2.esm
12 c SS2_XPAC_Chapter2.esm
13 d SS2_XPAC_Chapter3.esm
14 e AmericaRising2.esm
254 FE f Arbitration - Resources.esm
254 FE 10 Automatron Special Defense Assembly.esl
254 FE 11 Munitions - An Ammo Expansion.esl
15 f InstituteTechnologyOverhaul.esm
16 10 CWPointLookoutFO4.esm
254 FE 12 JamaicaPlainPathing.esm
254 FE 13 Skb_MachinegunsRebirth.esl
254 FE 14 Zapgun.esl
254 FE 15 SSTRagsPirates.esl
254 FE 16 SSTTomsBruisers.esl
254 FE 17 SelectRevolver.esl
254 FE 18 CWPointLookoutFO4Patch.esl
254 FE 19 Balisong.esl
254 FE 1a CROSS_VertibirdFlightsuit.esl
254 FE 1b DanseHelmet.esl
254 FE 1c F4MS.esl
254 FE 1d FOLON_ChinesePistol.esl
254 FE 1e FOLON_Lewis.esl
254 FE 1f SelectAssaultRifle.esl
254 FE 20 SelectPowerArmor.esl
17 11 Games.esm
18 12 BarstoolGames.esm
19 13 Homemaker.esm
254 FE 21 IDEKsLogisticsStation2.esl
254 FE 22 ImmersiveTeleportation.esl
254 FE 23 Munitions - Vanilla Ammo Addon.esl
254 FE 24 NPSShopping.esl
254 FE 25 PickaxeWeapon.esl
20 14 Retro_Style.esm
21 15 Robot Home Defence.esm
254 FE 26 RunningWithHandsAnim.esl
254 FE 27 SelectBlaster.esl
22 16 SettlementKeywords.esm
254 FE 28 SwimmingAnims.esl
23 17 TacticalReload.esm
24 18 EthreonMasterPlan.esm
254 FE 29 Tenpines Buff A fortified village.esl
254 FE 2a The Mechanist's lair - Robco's rebirth.esl
254 FE 2b TheCircleSS2.esl
254 FE 2c ThrowMoneyAtSS2.esl
254 FE 2d UNDRCVR_SimplySettledMechanistLair.esl
254 FE 2e WarwickHomesteadContestBuildTake2FGen.esl
254 FE 2f WG Point Lookout Stlmts Pack ESL.esl
254 FE 30 ZJ PerfPlan - Sanctuary.esl
254 FE 31 PPF-NeonFlats-CR.esm
254 FE 32 PPF-HeavyFlamer-CR.esm
254 FE 33 SS2 Fortress Commonwealth - Croup Manor Lvl3 ESL .esl
254 FE 34 sanctuaryWG.esl
254 FE 35 Reina_Vault88-SS2.esl
254 FE 36 Reina_Starlight2022Masters.esl
254 FE 37 RedRocketFoundry.esl
254 FE 38 MurkFactory.esl.esl
254 FE 39 MechaTown_CityPlan_MechanistLair.esl
254 FE 3a Marina.esl.esl
254 FE 3b Home plate.esl
254 FE 3c Holy Sanctuary.esl
254 FE 3d HangmansvaultSS2.esl
254 FE 3e Gris- Hangmans Alley Outpost (Fort Halley).esl
254 FE 3f GavMan_Zimonja_Cityplan.esl
254 FE 40 GavMan_Vault88_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 41 GavMan_RedRocket_Outpost_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 42 Gavman_MurkTreesMAY21_Cityplan.esl
254 FE 43 GavMan_LongfellowsJun21_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 44 GavMan_Egret_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 45 GavMan_CroupMar21_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 46 GavMan_CastleMar22_CityPlan.esl
254 FE 47 FortSomerville.esl
254 FE 48 FortifiedCroupManorHub.esl
254 FE 49 Fort Starlight V1.0.esl
254 FE 4a CSC_NoirPenthouse_Base.esl
254 FE 4b CSC_NeonFlats_Base.esl
254 FE 4c Castle Restoration Project.esl
254 FE 4d BunkerHillbyWG.esl
254 FE 4e Bunker Hill Mega City.esl
254 FE 4f Abernathy Stronghold.esl
254 FE 50 Dank_ArmorOverrides.esp
25 19 BeastWhisperer.esp
26 1a Phase4DLC.esp
27 1b SS2Extended.esp
254 FE 51 IHO - Immersive Hunting Overhaul.esp
28 1c RED.esp
29 1d SuperMutantRedux.esp
30 1e OutcastsAndRemnants.esp
31 1f virgil.esp
32 20 Depravity.esp
254 FE 52 CombinedExpansion4.1.esp
33 21 Stm_DiamondCityExpansion.esp
34 22 0BVB_OLD_V1.esp
35 23 Eli_MarlboroughHouse.esp
36 24 AA FusionCityRising.esp
254 FE 53 WCLI_North_Point_Park.esp
254 FE 54 StoryWealth-SS2-DEP-Patch.esp
37 25 AmazingFollowerTweaks.esp
38 26 An Office Fit For A Mayor.esp
39 27 Relic Space Marine.esp
40 28 The Space Marine.esp
41 29 Vertibird Faction Paint Schemes.esp
42 2a PhaserLaserGun.esp
43 2b CombinedArmsNV.esp
44 2c CombinedArmsEXPack.esp
254 FE 55 Dank_LEO.esp
45 2d Flashy_CrimeAndPunishment.esp
46 2e g2m_Workshop_Nexus.esp
47 2f InstituteSettlements2.esp
48 30 RD_Technologies.esp
49 31 Flashy_CrimeAndPunishment_GunForHire_Addon.esp
254 FE 56 GunForHire-eXoPatch.esp
50 32 MilitarizedMinutemen.esp
51 33 Snappy_HouseK.esp
52 34 Backpacks of the Commonwealth.esp
53 35 functionalobjects_vanilla.esp
54 36 M2_Flamethrower_2.2.esp
55 37 tdow_lc.esp
254 FE 57 BuildingGroundFix.esp
254 FE 58 Dank_ECO.esp
254 FE 59 Fallout 4 AI Overhaul.esp
56 38 SKKSynthVision.esp
57 39 InstituteTechnologyOverhaul - FULL.esp
58 3a SS2_FDK_TinyLiving.esp
59 3b Eli_Armour_Compendium.esp
254 FE 5a CROSS_InstituteExpeditionarySuit.esp
60 3c MW1Mike4.esp
61 3d 1CAS_ServiceRifle.esp
62 3e AEWS.esp
63 3f Fleshsmith.esp
64 40 battletech.esp
65 41 ProjectValkyrie.esp
254 FE 5b GrayGardenIdles.esp
254 FE 5c FPVertibird.esp
254 FE 5d FPV_Armored.esp
254 FE 5e MechLairPathfindingFix.esp
66 42 0006___SkyLight_Bunker - PV2.esp
254 FE 5f 3dscopes-wmsr.esp
67 43 3dscopes.esp
68 44 [BFV]Kar98k.esp
69 45 AttachPack.esp
254 FE 60 CROSS_MojaveManhunter.esp
70 46 CROSS_PlasRail.esp
71 47 M1918nv.esp
72 48 SPR300.esp
73 49 MK18.esp
74 4a SS2-Jampads2.esp
75 4b PoliceWeaponPack.esp
76 4c M1Garand.esp
77 4d SS2WastelandVenturers.esp
78 4e UniquePAFrames.esp
79 4f [SS2 Addon] SimSettlements SuperStructures.esp
80 50 BerettaM9FS.esp
81 51 LeeEnfieldNo4MkI.esp
82 52 GtN_SettlersatPlay.esp
83 53 Cho1_SS2_Encv_Plots.esp
84 54 DakVintageRepeater.esp
85 55 DakGrenadeAPW.esp
86 56 DakSwedishK.esp
254 FE 61 Firelance1.0.1.esp
87 57 DakBAR.esp
88 58 DakWin1907.esp
89 59 InstituteArsenalOverhaul.esp
90 5a RU556.esp
91 5b MTs255.esp
92 5c DT_MercOutfitPack.esp
254 FE 62 Mercenary Outfit Extreme Overhaul.esp
93 5d ALSID.esp
94 5e DakPoliceShotgun.esp
95 5f F4NVSingleActionArmy.esp
96 60 DakFAL.esp
254 FE 63 Castle Helipad.esp
254 FE 64 SS2-Ch2-CR-NeonFlats.esp
97 61 DakRugerRifles.esp
98 62 DakFR2.esp
99 63 DakSW59.esp
100 64 WestTek.esp
101 65 DakHomemadeVityaz.esp
102 66 PigAAMDeag.esp
103 67 PigAAMBeretta.esp
104 68 DakDeagle.esp
105 69 DakM202.esp
106 6a AranLaserCarbine.esp
254 FE 65 CROSS_BreakActionLaser.esp
107 6b Dak20mm.esp
108 6c InfiltratorSMG.esp
109 6d Disruptor.esp
110 6e DakBowieKnife.esp
111 6f SS2_Addon_NWE.esp
112 70 SelectRapidMG.esp
113 71 SS2_STRA_Support_Buildings.esp
114 72 SS2_STRA_Buildings_and_Skins.esp
115 73 SS2_ruined_simsettlement_addonpack.esp
116 74 SS2_Addon_R2R.esp
117 75 Cho1_ss2_Barmod_Conversion.esp
254 FE 66 SS2_Addon_Favelabulous.esp
118 76 GavM_SS2Addon_Buildings.esp
254 FE 67 DownTime2_SS2_Addon_Des.esp
254 FE 68 SS2_ruined_plotapalooza_messhall.esp
119 77 SS2_Addon_PSC_Plots.esp
120 78 SS2_Addon_FHE.esp
121 79 BMW_ALA.esp
122 7a JunkTownTwo.esp
123 7b GarageHomesAndSensibleSecurity.esp
124 7c DZK_1x1_Pack.esp
125 7d SS2-PraRandomAddon.esp
126 7e Schotel22.esp
127 7f tumba_CaravanSecurityArmor.esp
128 80 tumba_bountyhunter.esp
254 FE 69 tumba_SynthCourserArmor.esp
254 FE 6a Sten.esp
129 81 Kar98k.esp
254 FE 6b Springfield M1903.esp
130 82 AX50.esp
131 83 DaksCombatRifle.esp
254 FE 6c ODW - Winchester Model 1873.esp
132 84 WWII - SOV Nagant Revolver.esp
133 85 G43.esp
134 86 IFC Complete.esp
254 FE 6d TacticalReloadVanilla.esp
135 87 P90.esp
136 88 Cyberpunk 2077 Malorian Arms 3516.esp
254 FE 6e [BFV]P08.esp
254 FE 6f AdvBubbleTurretSet.esp
254 FE 70 AdvBubbleTurretSet-RHDSKPatch.esp
254 FE 71 AdvSettleTurretSet.esp
137 89 AEAR01.esp
254 FE 72 AEWS_NukaWorldPatch.esp
254 FE 73 AFT_Allow_Piper_Face_Presets.esp
138 8a MilitarisedMinutemen_PatchesAddon.esp
254 FE 74 AFT_Allow_Preston_Face_Presets.esp
254 FE 75 AFT_Allow_X688_Face_Presets.esp
254 FE 76 AFT_Alt_Names_Pack1.esp
254 FE 77 AFT_Use_Original_Spouse.esp
254 FE 78 AFTSpouseTweaks.esp
254 FE 79 AlexSleevePatcher.esp
254 FE 7a AmazingFollowerTweaks_XDI_FIX.esp
254 FE 7b AnotherMoleratDiseaseCure.esp
139 8b AR2 Attachment Pack Patch.esp
254 FE 7c Bullet in the Chamber.esp
254 FE 7d Arbitration - Button Lowered Weapons.esp
140 8c AssaultPhaser.esp
141 8d Archimedes-II.esp
254 FE 7e Attach Pack Mod Description Fixes.esp
254 FE 7f RemoteExplosives.esp
142 8e AutoMines.esp
143 8f autoweapons.esp
254 FE 80 AWKCR - Mod Power Armor Engine Glitch Fix.esp
144 90 AzarPonytailHairstyles.esp
145 91 BarstoolGames_FH.esp
146 92 BarstoolGames_NW.esp
254 FE 81 Bastion.esp
147 93 battletechfootstep.esp
254 FE 82 BeastWhispererTreats.esp
148 94 BetterSettlers.esp
254 FE 83 Live Dismemberment - BrutalNoHeadshots.esp
254 FE 84 Live Dismemberment - LiebermodeNoHeadshots.esp
254 FE 85 Live Dismemberment - RegularNoHeadshots.esp
254 FE 86 Below-the-belt.esp
254 FE 87 Better_Notes.esp
254 FE 88 BetterSettlersCleanFacePack.esp
254 FE 89 Lots More Facial Hair.esp
254 FE 8a Lots More Female Hairstyles.esp
254 FE 8b Lots More Male Hairstyles.esp
254 FE 8c BS NS BFS Merged Patch - Mortal.esp
254 FE 8d BetterSettlersMortalPack.esp
254 FE 8e BetterSettlersNoLollygagging.esp
149 95 BogartNick - Hazel Stubble.esp
254 FE 8f CBBE.esp
150 96 CF_AtomicWarlord.esp
151 97 Reverb and Ambiance Overhaul.esp
254 FE 90 CGOsoundsplugin.esp
152 98 SKKFastMinutemen.esp
153 99 Colt1911.esp
154 9a Companion - Chris Fathom.esp
254 FE 91 CovenantCitadelLayoutV1.6.esp
254 FE 92 CROSS_BrotherhoodRecon.esp
254 FE 93 CROSS_CoA.esp
254 FE 94 CROSS_CourserStrigidae.esp
155 9b CROSS_GoreCrits.esp
254 FE 95 CROSS_GoreCrits_FarHarborPatch.esp
254 FE 96 CROSS_ReducedLaserSmoke.esp
254 FE 97 D13SynthSpyDetectionElimination.esp
254 FE 98 DakFR2-TR.esp
254 FE 99 Dank_ArmorOverrides_DLCCoast.esp
254 FE 9a Dank_ArmorOverrides_DLCNukaWorld.esp
254 FE 9b Dank_ArmorOverrides_DLCRobot.esp
254 FE 9c Dank_ECO-INNR.esp
254 FE 9d Dank_ECO_DLCCoast.esp
254 FE 9e Dank_ECO_DLCNukaWorld.esp
254 FE 9f Dank_ECO_DLCRobot.esp
254 FE a0 Dank_INNRoverride.esp
254 FE a1 Dank_LEO-Automatron.esp
254 FE a2 Dank_LEO_ChipCraft_Free_ECO.esp
254 FE a3 Dank_LEO_DLCCoast.esp
254 FE a4 Dank_LEO_DLCNukaWorld.esp
254 FE a5 Dank_ECO-LEO.esp
156 9c DarkestHourRemastered.esp
157 9d Deeper Male Protagonist Voice - Type A3 - DLC1-Automatron.esp
158 9e Deeper Male Protagonist Voice - Type A3.esp
159 9f Deeper Thoughts - Expressive Curie.esp
254 FE a6 Edit_Hancock.esp
254 FE a7 BetterSettlersCCAPack2.0.esp
160 a0 ESPExplorerFO4.esp
254 FE a8 F4NVSingleActionArmy_TR.esp
161 a1 Family Mauser.esp
162 a2 FineZoom.esp
163 a3 Flashy_CommonwealthFishing.esp
164 a4 Flashy_CommonwealthFishingFarHarborAddon.esp
254 FE a9 Flashy_CrimeAndPunishment_CrossMM_Patch.esp
254 FE aa Flashy_GunForHire_NamesPatch.esp
254 FE ab FPVCorrectMinigunAmmo.esp
254 FE ac FPVBoSPilot.esp
254 FE ad FPV-Paintjobs.esp
254 FE ae FPVTrackingModule.esp
254 FE af FPVPilotCommands.esp
254 FE b0 FunctionalDisplays-Collectibles.esp
165 a5 FunctionalDisplays.esp
254 FE b1 FunctionalDisplays-Patch-DLC-ALL.esp
254 FE b2 FunctionalDisplays-MISC-Vanilla.esp
254 FE b3 GammaGunRedux.esp
166 a6 Gammaremesh_AttPackPatch.esp
254 FE b4 GhastlyHancock.esp
254 FE b5 GunForHire-AmericaRising2.esp
254 FE b6 Homemaker - Streetlights Use Passive Power.esp
254 FE b7 Homemaker - Unlocked Institute Objects.esp
254 FE b8 FPV_IHO_Loot_Patch.esp
254 FE b9 Dank_ECO-IHO.esp
254 FE ba ImmersiveAnimationFramework.esp
254 FE bb IAF - Far Harbor & Nuka World.esp
254 FE bc ImmersiveTeleportation_lessPower.esp
254 FE bd ImmersiveTeleportation_lessRads.esp
254 FE be ImmersiveTeleportation_quickstart.esp
254 FE bf Infiltrator - Lockpicking Overhaul.esp
167 a7 KSHairdos.esp
168 a8 KSHairsFemsheppingRadbeetle.esp
254 FE c0 3dscopes-leeenfield.esp
254 FE c1 lewismunitions.esp
254 FE c2 LongerPowerLinesInf.esp
169 a9 WeaponDisarm.esp
170 aa PIP-Pad.esp
171 ab LooksMenu Customization Compendium.esp
254 FE c3 LooneyLongfellow.esp
172 ac M1 Carbine.esp
254 FE c4 M14.esp
254 FE c5 3dscopes-m14.esp
254 FE c6 M1Garand-2xDMG.esp
173 ad M1Garand - AWKCR.esp
174 ae ManufacturingExtended.esp
175 af ManufacturingExtendedFH.esp
176 b0 MG69.esp
254 FE c7 MilitarisedMinutemen_ScarvesFix.esp
254 FE c8 MMSREP.esp
254 FE c9 MMSREP_PatchesAddonCompatibilePatch.esp
254 FE ca MilitarizedMinutemenImmersionFix.esp
254 FE cb MinutemenEnforcer.esp
254 FE cc EnforcerCrafting.esp
254 FE cd MiscHairstyle.esp
177 b1 Modern Military Pack.esp
178 b2 Mosin.esp
254 FE ce 3dscopes-mosin.esp
254 FE cf Munitions Manufacturing.esp
254 FE d0 Munitions-Additional Ammo.esp
254 FE d1 Munitions Manufacturing - Additional Ammo Expansion.esp
254 FE d2 Nability - IAF Fusion City Rising Patch.esp
254 FE d3 no_pipboy_light.esp
179 b3 OCDecorator.esp
254 FE d4 OMEGA - CommonwealthFishing IAF Patch.esp
254 FE d5 OMEGA - IAF CoA Overhaul Patch.esp
254 FE d6 OMEGA - IHO IAF Patch.esp
254 FE d7 Nability - IAF Outcasts And Remnants Patch.esp
254 FE d8 Flashy_CrimeAndPunishment_OAR_Depravity_Patch.esp
180 b4 Ozzys_MCPR-300.esp
254 FE d9 Ozzys_MCPR300_TRPatch.esp
254 FE da P90NPC.esp
254 FE db PAUP_TargetingHUD.esp
254 FE dc PAVertibirdDockFix.esp
254 FE dd Backpacks of the Commonwealth - FPV Patch.esp
254 FE de personalvertibird.esp
181 b5 PhotonDisruptor.esp
254 FE df PIP-Pad_LMCC.esp
254 FE e0 PlatinumCurieV2.1.esp
182 b6 PWR.esp
254 FE e1 PWR_SKE.esp
183 b7 RED-CAP.esp
184 b8 Relic Space Marine - Raven Guard.esp
254 FE e2 40K_Relic_Space_Marine_Craftable_Armor.esp
254 FE e3 40k RSM Carcharadons Paint.esp
185 b9 Remote Explosives CTD fix in Workshop.esp
186 ba Retro_Style_World_Distribution.esp
254 FE e4 3dscopes-ru556.esp
187 bb SelectMarksman.esp
254 FE e5 SelectPhoton_ITOinjectPatch.esp
188 bc SettlementMenuManager.esp
189 bd HomemakerMenuFixer.esp
254 FE e6 SexyHancockEveryHancockDepravity.esp
190 be CabinInTheWoods.esp
254 FE e7 SimpleAttackReactions.esp
254 FE e8 SimpleCombatGrabs.esp
254 FE e9 SimpleFinishersRE.esp
191 bf SimpleSmokes.esp
192 c0 Skitarii.esp
193 c1 SKKRESystemManager.esp
194 c2 SKKSettlementAttackSystem.esp
254 FE ea SpotlightFix-300-Shadow.esp
254 FE eb SPR300_LvlList.esp
254 FE ec SPR300_TacticalReload.esp
195 c3 TacticalMods.esp
254 FE ed TacticalModsDLC.esp
254 FE ee TacticalReloadDLC.esp
196 c4 The Eyes of Beauty Looking Stranger.esp
197 c5 The Eyes Of Beauty.esp
254 FE ef HCFB_Maccready_smooth.esp
254 FE f0 The Ultimate Piper - nexus release.esp
198 c6 TheEyesOfBeauty.esp
254 FE f1 TheKite_Railroad_Handmaiden.esp
254 FE f2 TheKite Handmaiden - Triggermen.esp
199 c7 Thematic and Practical.esp
200 c8 Thematic and Practical - DLC.esp
254 FE f3 There It Is x Perfectionist.esp
201 c9 tumba_SynthCombatArmor.esp
202 ca tumba_EnclaveCombatArmor.esp
254 FE f4 tumba_mysterious_stranger.esp
254 FE f5 Ultimate Cait.esp
203 cb United Security Contractor.esp
204 cc Vault-Tec Workshop Overhaul.esp
205 cd VertiBirdRetextureProject.esp
254 FE f6 WCLINPP_FastTravelFix.esp
254 FE f7 WeaponDisarm - Dismemberment+Groin.esp
254 FE f8 Dank_ECO-WestTek.esp
206 ce WestTekTacticalOptics.esp
254 FE f9 Wireless Workshop Items.esp
207 cf WorkshopPointLookout.esp
254 FE fa TheRedoubt.esp
208 d0 SS2WastelandReconstructionKit.esp
254 FE fb SS2CityPlanGunForHireModOfficeofRelaxation.esp
209 d1 SS2CaravanSnatex.esp
254 FE fc SS2C2PoliceWeaponsPatch.esp
254 FE fd SS2AOP_VaultTecTools.esp
254 FE fe SS2Addon_MS_BareEssentials.esp
254 FE ff SS2_XDI Patch.esp
254 FE 100 SS2_WestTek.esp
210 d2 SS2_WastelandDefense.esp
211 d3 SS2_SIMPDDDD.esp
212 d4 SS2_MsB_PlainPlans.esp
213 d5 SS2_CityPlanPack_RiseOfTheCommonwealth.esp
254 FE 101 ss2_caravanshipment.esp
254 FE 102 SS2_AFT.esp
254 FE 103 SS2_Addon_ShazbotsCots.esp
214 d6 SS2_Addon_BrickNClay.esp
254 FE 104 SS2-AUR-HangmansAlleyCityPlan.esp
215 d7 SS2 Settlement Management Terminal.esp
254 FE 105 SS2 Sanctuary Green Hills.esp
254 FE 106 SS2 Junk Storage Capacity.esp
216 d8 SS2 Excess Resource Manager.esp
254 FE 107 SS2 Better Outfits.esp
254 FE 108 SimSettlements2_AddOnPack_ApocalypticAdditions_SirLach.esp
254 FE 109 SimHomestead2.esp
254 FE 10a Sim Settlers 2 Go Shopping.esp
254 FE 10b Reina_SS2_Plotapalooza_SigTrg.esp
254 FE 10c ProjectValkyrie-SS2-Patch.esp
254 FE 10d PrasPlotapaloozaEntry.esp
217 d9 ohSIM_Sim2_Settlements_Scrappers_Addon.esp
254 FE 10e Murkwater Manor.esp
254 FE 10f MS SS2 Camera Takes Screenshots.esp
254 FE 110 Lyudw_NorthPointPark_CityPlan.esp
254 FE 111 JunkTown2 - EXTREME.esp
254 FE 112 JunkTown-FENCES2.esp
254 FE 113 IT_SS2.esp
254 FE 114 IDEKsLogisticsStation2_SS2_Patch.esp
218 da GtN_SettlersatWar.esp
254 FE 115 CountryCrossing.esp
219 db Cho1SS2FlagsMod.esp
254 FE 116 [SS2] BBVault 88.esp
254 FE 117 [SS2] Ad Vic.esp
254 FE 118 WW2SmockEN.esp
254 FE 119 WWII - German Smock - v1.0.esp
254 FE 11a WWII - USA Paratrooper Uniform.esp
254 FE 11b WWII - USSR Coat Uniform - v1.0.esp
220 dc WWM Gear Pack.esp
254 FE 11c zz_Automatron_Robots.esp
254 FE 11d Crafting Ammunition.esp
254 FE 11e Crafting Components.esp
254 FE 11f Crafting vanilla chems and drinks.esp
254 FE 120 Crafting vanilla grenade and syringe batch sizes.esp
254 FE 121 Crafting vanilla signal.esp
254 FE 122 Grenades - No sort and weightless.esp
254 FE 123 New Chems - No sort and weightless.esp
254 FE 124 New Devices - No sorting.esp
254 FE 125 Syringer Ammunition - DI - No sort and weightless.esp
254 FE 126 Syringer Rifles and Pistol.esp
221 dd SKKFastStartNewGame.esp
222 de WorkshopRearranged.esp
223 df Vault-Tec Workshop Overhaul Redux.esp
254 FE 127 PRP.esp
254 FE 128 Thuggysmurf_Optimization.esp
254 FE 129 OCsV81TradeCamp.esp
254 FE 12a OCsV81TradeCampGrassReduced.esp
254 FE 12b WCLINPP_Previs.esp
254 FE 12c OCsv81TradeCampInstantUnlock.esp
254 FE 12d PRP-SS2.esp
254 FE 12e GavMan_V81TC_CityPlan.esp
224 e0 Eli_Faction Housing Overhaul - AiO.esp
225 e1 Scrap Everything - Ultimate Edition.esp
226 e2 Mechanist Lair Overhaul SEC.esp
254 FE 12f Pip-Boy Flashlight.esp
254 FE 130 PIP-Pad_Pip-BoyFlashlight.esp
2024.05.27 23:55 subredditsummarybot Your weekly /r/EngineeringResumes recap for the week of May 20 - May 26, 2024
Monday, May 20 - Sunday, May 26, 2024
submitted by subredditsummarybot to EngineeringResumes [link] [comments]
Top Posts
| score | comments | title & link |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 2 comments | [Software] [0 YoE] 170 Applications, 0 interviews. 16 month internship and some projects, not sure what to do. |
| 8 | 12 comments | [Software] [4 YOE] Struggling to Land Interviews ( 1000+ Applications ) - Tech Resume Review? |
| 8 | 14 comments | [Question] [3 YOE] What is the best way to indicate on a resume that my metrics aren't made up? |
| 8 | 12 comments | [Mechanical] [9 YoE] Mechanical Engineer working in EV field seeking advice on resume for automotive roles |
| 7 | 4 comments | [Mechanical] [0 YoE] New Mechanical Engineering grad looking to fine-tune and improve resume |
| 6 | 6 comments | [Electrical/Computer] [2 YoE] (Pt 2) Hi all, I updated my resume based on some feedback I received. Would appreciate any further advice! |
| 5 | 12 comments | [Software] [0 YOE] New CS grad with zero internships trying to break into SWE. 400+ LC problems done but not getting many OAs. |
Most Commented Posts
| score | comments | title & link |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 23 comments | [Software] [Student] Resume I made for internships. I need to apply soon, so please don't hold back on the criticisms. |
| 3 | 20 comments | [Software] [0 YOE] New grad currently on internship looking for SWE roles, looking for feedback on strengthening resume |
| 2 | 16 comments | [Mechanical] [3 YoE] Just updated my CV/Resume for Mechanical Maintenance Role. Please review and suggest any recommendations |
| 2 | 15 comments | [Question] [Student] Should I forgo linking my GitHub in favor of Hugging Face on my Resume? |
| 2 | 14 comments | [Software] [4 YoE] Software Engineer looking for some resume feedback before applying for jobs, multiple revisions |
| 4 | 13 comments | [Software] [1 YoE] Recent boot camp grade doing career change from senior IT technician. Would like feedback. |
| 3 | 12 comments | [Mechatronics/Robotics] [Student] Applying for internships and struggling to land interviews, resume advice needed |
Top Comments
2024.05.27 23:31 adventurepaul What's new in e-commerce? - Week of May 27th, 2024
Hi ShopifyeCommerce - I'm Paul and I follow the e-commerce industry closely for my Shopifreaks E-commerce Newsletter. Each week I post a summary recap of the week's top stories, which I cover in depth in the newsletter. Let's dive in...
STAT OF THE WEEK: Two-thirds of U.S. consumers said that higher prices have made their financial situations “worse” or “much worse”, according to a new Federal Reserve study. The data shows that inflation continues to be the nation's top financial concern, despite the inflation rate's decline from past levels.
Last week Google held its annual Google Marketing Live 2024 event where the company showcases its newest innovations via live keynote speeches. Announcements include AI Asset Production (faster ad generation), AI Powered Shopping Ads (new video and 3D ad types), Ads in AI Overviews (we all knew it was coming), Public Launch of Ads Data Manager, Merchant Brand Profiles, and PMax Profit Optimization Goals (please use PMax they say!).
Walmart is expanding its Neighborhood Market store format with two new prototype stores in Santa Rosa Beach, FL and Atlanta, GA. The new omnichannel-focused locations are larger than previous Neighborhood Markets, spanning around 57,000 square feet of sales floor, pickup, and delivery space. The new store formats include wider aisles, expanded fresh offerings, health services room for vaccinations and consultations, and a breastfeeding room for moms.
Google Pay is rolling out a number of updates: #1) Shoppers who checkout with Google Pay will be able to see their card benefits and perks before selecting a card so that they can pick the best one for the transaction. #2) BNPL will be introduced as a purchase option to more users. #3) Google is making it easier for Chrome and Android users to verify their card details using their fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock PIN instead of always having to enter their CVV number.
Amazon is upgrading its decade-old Alexa voice assistant with generative AI and plans to charge a monthly fee to offset the cost of the technology to its customers who are already feeling nickel and dimed by Amazon's monthly service add-ons (*cough* ad-free Amazon Prime Video). CNBC reported that Amazon plans to launch a more conversational version of Alexa later this year to compete with new AI chatbots from Google and OpenAI, and the subscription will not be included in the $139/year Prime offering.
Walmart launched a new virtual e-commerce platform called Walmart Realm that lets customers shop for digital doubles of select products sold at real-life Walmart stores via virtual bazaars designed to look like outlandish, make-believe worlds. The metaverse shopping mall exists as its own independent platform built on Emperia, a virtual shopping company that has constructed digital stores for retailers including L’occitane, Bloomingdale’s and Boss. Walmart Realm can be accessed on desktop or mobile and shoppers can click on various objects in the virtual stores to learn more about the product and purchase it on Walmart.com. You can also click on videos that play welcome messages from digital avatars who are based off real life influencers, and collect Sparks as you shop, which can be redeemed for rewards.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finally issued a rule that confirms that BNPL lenders must provide consumers the same key legal protections and rights that apply to conventional credit cards, including the right to dispute charges and demand a refund from the lender after returning a product. They must also provide periodic billing statements like the ones received for classic credit card accounts. The new regulation effectively labels BNPL lenders as credit card providers and says they must now meet the respective criteria under the Truth in Lending Act.
Forrester named Shopify a leader in its 2024 Forrester Wave™: Commerce Solutions for B2B Vendor Assessment, beating out legacy B2B first commerce platforms like Intershop, BigCommerce, Sitecore, VTEX, and others. The “ludicrous” position struck a nerve with B2B expert Jason Greenwood, whose LinkedIn post calling out Forrester for its report garnered hundreds of comments and engagements, leading Forrester to threaten Greenword with a copyright violation for posting a screenshot of the Wave, according to Greenwood. The overwhelming majority of commenters agreed and expressed similar sentiment, saying that Forrester has become "pay to play."
Target plans to cut prices on 5,000 popular items across grocery, household, health, and beauty categories, including national brands and Target's owned brands like Good & Gather. The company plans to signal the price cuts with red tags in its stores and online. But they aren't the only one… Amazon Fresh cut prices on 4k products, Walmart cut prices on 7k products, McDonald's and Burger King launched $5 value meals, and Wendy's followed suit with a $3 meal. But don't get too excited -- the cuts come off the back of a 26.6% rise in prices compared to 2019. So if anything, it's just a mild price correction. They'll get you again later.
A group of content creators and developers created a satirical service called Amazon Dating, which looks and feels like Amazon's website and allows users to “buy” people they want to date as easily as they would a product on Amazon. Every person for sale on Amazon Dating comes with a price, reviews, and a bulleted description of hobbies. It's dumb, but it's kind of funny. Chuckle-worthy at the least. I have no idea what the point of it is though.
Home Depot partnered up with Instacart to offer customers same-day delivery on home improvement products from its 2,000 stores nationwide. The partnership follows a pilot collaboration that began earlier this year, with the program now being expanded nationwide.
Not to be outdone by its delivery rival, DoorDash partnered up with Ulta Beauty to provide delivery services from its more than 1,350 stores across all 50 states. Customers will be able to access Ulta Beauty's more than 25,000 items from 600 brands covering cosmetics, fragrances, skincare, and other beauty products through the DoorDash app.
Amazon India announced a new program to help tribal artisans from Visakhapatnam sell authentic handcrafted products to a global audience via its marketplace. The company will train tribal members in packaging and branding of goods to be sold online and setup an e-commerce hub within the tribal area for packaging, storage, dispatch, and order processing.
Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce joined together to form the Symbiosis Coalition, which pledges to reduce the companies' carbon footprint by supporting nature restoration projects. Collectively the companies have committed to contract up to 20M tons in nature-based carbon removal credits by 2030, which equates to paying external companies to conduct carbon-negative projects, such as planting more trees, to cancel out their emissions.
X is planning to make likes private by default to encourage more people to engage with “edgy” content on the site. Here's the thing about Elon Musk's X though… Your likes will be private, until they're not. And then one day all the “edgy” stuff you liked on X that you thought was private will become public. Because that's how Elon rolls.
Salesforce announced new AI, Data Cloud, and Commerce Cloud features at its Connections 2024 conference last week including a personal shopping assistant in the form of a chatbot, abandoned cart alerts via WhatsApp, and an update to its Salesforce Checkout that allows one-click checkout across various areas of its platform. Salesforce President and CMO Ariel Kelman said that there are “islands of trapped data” and when it comes to using data for AI processes, everything starts with getting it all in one place.
Amazon AWS is investing €15.7B to expand its data centers in Spain, extending its commitment to the country until 2033. The move extends AWS's expansion efforts across Europe, following recent similar investments in Germany and France.
Apple is offering big discounts on iPhones in China to boost sales amid intense competition from Huawei and other domestic brands. JD.com and Tmall will have select iPhone models up to 20% off for the 618 festival, which is China's second largest shopping event of the year.
Sysco launched a Sysco Marketplace for selling third-party suppliers' products, built on Mirakl technology. The marketplace will let customers access over 15,000 niche products across categories such as grocery, canned food, and dry products to supplement its regular offerings.
Shopify convinced a Delaware federal court to overturn a jury's decision that it owes $40M in damages for infringing on patents related to website-building technology. The judge said on Friday that there was insufficient evidence to support the jury's findings that it infringed on the patents that belong to Express Mobile. Shopify called the decision a “significant victory in the battle against patent trolls.”
Meanwhile, speaking of patent trolls, Shopify has applied for a patent for “tuning AI-generated images” that will enable users to personalize AI-generated images used in advertising. The patent involves Shopify's collection of data from a merchant's store, which it uses to train a deep learning generative model, and then allows merchants to generate and edit photos of their products — which sounds like every other AI generated product image tool, so I'm not sure how that'll be patentable.
Mercari, the Japanese marketplace that allows users to buy and sell new and used items, which took heat last month (story #1) for its new nontraditional fee structure, launched Ethereum trading on its app. In recent years the company has pivoted towards crypto, adding a crypto exchange to its marketplace app. The exchange is proving to be a success, as customers say they are more comfortable to use the crypto exchanges of Mercari or its rival Rakuten than traditional crypto exchanges.
Linktree is launching a social commerce program that lets creators add storefronts to their link-in-bio pages and takes a 12-15% commission on sales. The experiment initially launched with a few brands earlier this year and was only available to select creators, but now the program boasts over 2,000 brands and is open to more users.
Meta is rolling out a new automated video ad option called Catalog Product Ads, which enable advertisers to upload their entire product catalog into Meta's system, with Meta's ad display process then showcasing the most relevant products to each user. Up until now, Catalog Product Ads, formerly called Dynamic ads, could only include still image placements, but now can include video.
Oh Polly, a UK-based women's fashion retailer, is implementing a new return fee policy that's based on a consumer's rate of returns. Shoppers will be required to pay up to £8.99 depending on how much of their order they want to return. Additionally, customers with high return rates will be subject to an increased fee that will only decrease once their return rate falls below a certain threshold.
Plus 12 seed rounds, IPOs, and acquisitions of interest including Google's $350M investment in Flipkart.
I hope you found this recap helpful. See you next week!
For more details on each story and sources, see the full edition:
hhttps://www.shopifreaks.com/alexas-monthly-fee-bnpl-regulation-that-controversial-forrester-report/
What else is new in e-commerce?
Share stories of interesting in the comments below (including in your own business) or on shopifreaks.
-PAUL Editor of Shopifreaks E-commerce Newsletter
PS: Want the full editions delivered to your Inbox each week? Join free at www.shopifreaks.com
submitted by adventurepaul to ShopifyeCommerce [link] [comments]
For more details on each story and sources, see the full edition:
hhttps://www.shopifreaks.com/alexas-monthly-fee-bnpl-regulation-that-controversial-forrester-report/
What else is new in e-commerce?
Share stories of interesting in the comments below (including in your own business) or on shopifreaks.
-PAUL Editor of Shopifreaks E-commerce Newsletter
PS: Want the full editions delivered to your Inbox each week? Join free at www.shopifreaks.com
2024.05.27 23:29 adventurepaul E-commerce Industry News Recap 🔥 Week of May 27th, 2024
Hi - I'm Paul and I follow the e-commerce industry closely for my Shopifreaks E-commerce Newsletter. Each week I post a summary recap of the week's top stories, which I cover in depth with sources in the full edition. Let's dive in...
STAT OF THE WEEK: Two-thirds of U.S. consumers said that higher prices have made their financial situations “worse” or “much worse”, according to a new Federal Reserve study. The data shows that inflation continues to be the nation's top financial concern, despite the inflation rate's decline from past levels.
Last week Google held its annual Google Marketing Live 2024 event where the company showcases its newest innovations via live keynote speeches. Announcements include AI Asset Production (faster ad generation), AI Powered Shopping Ads (new video and 3D ad types), Ads in AI Overviews (we all knew it was coming), Public Launch of Ads Data Manager, Merchant Brand Profiles, and PMax Profit Optimization Goals (please use PMax they say!).
Walmart is expanding its Neighborhood Market store format with two new prototype stores in Santa Rosa Beach, FL and Atlanta, GA. The new omnichannel-focused locations are larger than previous Neighborhood Markets, spanning around 57,000 square feet of sales floor, pickup, and delivery space. The new store formats include wider aisles, expanded fresh offerings, health services room for vaccinations and consultations, and a breastfeeding room for moms.
Google Pay is rolling out a number of updates: #1) Shoppers who checkout with Google Pay will be able to see their card benefits and perks before selecting a card so that they can pick the best one for the transaction. #2) BNPL will be introduced as a purchase option to more users. #3) Google is making it easier for Chrome and Android users to verify their card details using their fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock PIN instead of always having to enter their CVV number.
Amazon is upgrading its decade-old Alexa voice assistant with generative AI and plans to charge a monthly fee to offset the cost of the technology to its customers who are already feeling nickel and dimed by Amazon's monthly service add-ons (*cough* ad-free Amazon Prime Video). CNBC reported that Amazon plans to launch a more conversational version of Alexa later this year to compete with new AI chatbots from Google and OpenAI, and the subscription will not be included in the $139/year Prime offering.
Walmart launched a new virtual e-commerce platform called Walmart Realm that lets customers shop for digital doubles of select products sold at real-life Walmart stores via virtual bazaars designed to look like outlandish, make-believe worlds. The metaverse shopping mall exists as its own independent platform built on Emperia, a virtual shopping company that has constructed digital stores for retailers including L’occitane, Bloomingdale’s and Boss. Walmart Realm can be accessed on desktop or mobile and shoppers can click on various objects in the virtual stores to learn more about the product and purchase it on Walmart.com. You can also click on videos that play welcome messages from digital avatars who are based off real life influencers, and collect Sparks as you shop, which can be redeemed for rewards.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finally issued a rule that confirms that BNPL lenders must provide consumers the same key legal protections and rights that apply to conventional credit cards, including the right to dispute charges and demand a refund from the lender after returning a product. They must also provide periodic billing statements like the ones received for classic credit card accounts. The new regulation effectively labels BNPL lenders as credit card providers and says they must now meet the respective criteria under the Truth in Lending Act.
Forrester named Shopify a leader in its 2024 Forrester Wave™: Commerce Solutions for B2B Vendor Assessment, beating out legacy B2B first commerce platforms like Intershop, BigCommerce, Sitecore, VTEX, and others. The “ludicrous” position struck a nerve with B2B expert Jason Greenwood, whose LinkedIn post calling out Forrester for its report garnered hundreds of comments and engagements, leading Forrester to threaten Greenword with a copyright violation for posting a screenshot of the Wave, according to Greenwood. The overwhelming majority of commenters agreed and expressed similar sentiment, saying that Forrester has become "pay to play."
Target plans to cut prices on 5,000 popular items across grocery, household, health, and beauty categories, including national brands and Target's owned brands like Good & Gather. The company plans to signal the price cuts with red tags in its stores and online. But they aren't the only one… Amazon Fresh cut prices on 4k products, Walmart cut prices on 7k products, McDonald's and Burger King launched $5 value meals, and Wendy's followed suit with a $3 meal. But don't get too excited -- the cuts come off the back of a 26.6% rise in prices compared to 2019. So if anything, it's just a mild price correction. They'll get you again later.
A group of content creators and developers created a satirical service called Amazon Dating, which looks and feels like Amazon's website and allows users to “buy” people they want to date as easily as they would a product on Amazon. Every person for sale on Amazon Dating comes with a price, reviews, and a bulleted description of hobbies. It's dumb, but it's kind of funny. Chuckle-worthy at the least. I have no idea what the point of it is though.
Home Depot partnered up with Instacart to offer customers same-day delivery on home improvement products from its 2,000 stores nationwide. The partnership follows a pilot collaboration that began earlier this year, with the program now being expanded nationwide.
Not to be outdone by its delivery rival, DoorDash partnered up with Ulta Beauty to provide delivery services from its more than 1,350 stores across all 50 states. Customers will be able to access Ulta Beauty's more than 25,000 items from 600 brands covering cosmetics, fragrances, skincare, and other beauty products through the DoorDash app.
Amazon India announced a new program to help tribal artisans from Visakhapatnam sell authentic handcrafted products to a global audience via its marketplace. The company will train tribal members in packaging and branding of goods to be sold online and setup an e-commerce hub within the tribal area for packaging, storage, dispatch, and order processing.
Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce joined together to form the Symbiosis Coalition, which pledges to reduce the companies' carbon footprint by supporting nature restoration projects. Collectively the companies have committed to contract up to 20M tons in nature-based carbon removal credits by 2030, which equates to paying external companies to conduct carbon-negative projects, such as planting more trees, to cancel out their emissions.
X is planning to make likes private by default to encourage more people to engage with “edgy” content on the site. Here's the thing about Elon Musk's X though… Your likes will be private, until they're not. And then one day all the “edgy” stuff you liked on X that you thought was private will become public. Because that's how Elon rolls.
Salesforce announced new AI, Data Cloud, and Commerce Cloud features at its Connections 2024 conference last week including a personal shopping assistant in the form of a chatbot, abandoned cart alerts via WhatsApp, and an update to its Salesforce Checkout that allows one-click checkout across various areas of its platform. Salesforce President and CMO Ariel Kelman said that there are “islands of trapped data” and when it comes to using data for AI processes, everything starts with getting it all in one place.
Amazon AWS is investing €15.7B to expand its data centers in Spain, extending its commitment to the country until 2033. The move extends AWS's expansion efforts across Europe, following recent similar investments in Germany and France.
Apple is offering big discounts on iPhones in China to boost sales amid intense competition from Huawei and other domestic brands. JD.com and Tmall will have select iPhone models up to 20% off for the 618 festival, which is China's second largest shopping event of the year.
Sysco launched a Sysco Marketplace for selling third-party suppliers' products, built on Mirakl technology. The marketplace will let customers access over 15,000 niche products across categories such as grocery, canned food, and dry products to supplement its regular offerings.
Shopify convinced a Delaware federal court to overturn a jury's decision that it owes $40M in damages for infringing on patents related to website-building technology. The judge said on Friday that there was insufficient evidence to support the jury's findings that it infringed on the patents that belong to Express Mobile. Shopify called the decision a “significant victory in the battle against patent trolls.”
Meanwhile, speaking of patent trolls, Shopify has applied for a patent for “tuning AI-generated images” that will enable users to personalize AI-generated images used in advertising. The patent involves Shopify's collection of data from a merchant's store, which it uses to train a deep learning generative model, and then allows merchants to generate and edit photos of their products — which sounds like every other AI generated product image tool, so I'm not sure how that'll be patentable.
Mercari, the Japanese marketplace that allows users to buy and sell new and used items, which took heat last month (story #1) for its new nontraditional fee structure, launched Ethereum trading on its app. In recent years the company has pivoted towards crypto, adding a crypto exchange to its marketplace app. The exchange is proving to be a success, as customers say they are more comfortable to use the crypto exchanges of Mercari or its rival Rakuten than traditional crypto exchanges.
Linktree is launching a social commerce program that lets creators add storefronts to their link-in-bio pages and takes a 12-15% commission on sales. The experiment initially launched with a few brands earlier this year and was only available to select creators, but now the program boasts over 2,000 brands and is open to more users.
Meta is rolling out a new automated video ad option called Catalog Product Ads, which enable advertisers to upload their entire product catalog into Meta's system, with Meta's ad display process then showcasing the most relevant products to each user. Up until now, Catalog Product Ads, formerly called Dynamic ads, could only include still image placements, but now can include video.
Oh Polly, a UK-based women's fashion retailer, is implementing a new return fee policy that's based on a consumer's rate of returns. Shoppers will be required to pay up to £8.99 depending on how much of their order they want to return. Additionally, customers with high return rates will be subject to an increased fee that will only decrease once their return rate falls below a certain threshold.
Plus 12 seed rounds, IPOs, and acquisitions of interest including Google's $350M investment in Flipkart.
I hope you found this recap helpful. See you next week!
PAUL Editor of Shopifreaks E-Commerce Newsletter
PS: If I missed any big news this week, please share in the comments.
submitted by adventurepaul to ecommerce [link] [comments]
PAUL Editor of Shopifreaks E-Commerce Newsletter
PS: If I missed any big news this week, please share in the comments.
2024.05.27 13:22 Zainu-Scholar Content Writing Vs Academic Writing
Hello, Research Writing Community!
I wanted to share some insights on the differences between content writing and academic writing. Both forms of writing serve different purposes and audiences, and understanding these differences can enhance our skills as writers. Here’s a detailed comparison based on structure, purpose, audience, style, and research requirements.
Goal: Inform, entertain, or persuade a broad audience.
Focus: Engages readers with clear, concise, and often conversational language.
Applications: Blogs, social media posts, marketing copy, articles, web content.
Academic Writing:
Goal: Contribute to a field of knowledge, present research findings, and engage in scholarly communication.
Focus: Detailed, precise, and evidence-based discussion.
Applications: Research papers, dissertations, journal articles, conference papers.
Audience: General public, consumers, or a specific target market.
Engagement: Uses simple language and compelling headlines to capture interest quickly.
Academic Writing:
Audience: Scholars, researchers, and students within a specific discipline.
Engagement: Utilizes technical jargon and assumes familiarity with the subject matter.
Format: Flexible, often includes headings, subheadings, bullet points, and short paragraphs.
Length: Varies from 300 to 2000 words, depending on the platform and purpose.
Academic Writing:
Format: Rigid, follows specific guidelines such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style.
Length: Typically longer, ranging from 2000 to 10,000+ words for theses and dissertations.
Style: Conversational, engaging, and sometimes persuasive.
Tone: Informal to semi-formal, depending on the audience and platform.
Academic Writing:
Style: Formal, objective, and impersonal.
Tone: Serious and authoritative, reflecting the depth of research and analysis.
Research: May involve minimal to moderate research, focusing on current trends and accessible information.
Sources: Often includes hyperlinks to online sources, statistics, and quotes.
Academic Writing:
Research: Extensive, involving primary and secondary sources, peer-reviewed journals, and empirical data.
Sources: Requires proper citations and referencing, often scrutinized for credibility and reliability.
Logical Data and Insights:
SEO and Readability (Content Writing): Studies indicate that content optimized for search engines (SEO) significantly boosts visibility. A report by HubSpot found that companies publishing 16+ blog posts per month get about 3.5 times more traffic than those publishing 0-4 monthly posts.
Impact Factor and Citations (Academic Writing): The impact factor of academic journals and the number of citations a paper receives are critical metrics of success. For instance, papers in high-impact journals like Nature or Science can influence the direction of future research and policy decisions.
Engagement Metrics (Content Writing): Content writing success is often measured by metrics like click-through rates (CTR), time on page, and social media shares. For example, articles with images get 94% more total views compared to text-only content (Jeff Bullas).
Peer Review Process (Academic Writing): Academic writing undergoes a rigorous peer review process. According to a study by Elsevier, about 50% of submitted manuscripts are rejected before the peer review stage, highlighting the high standards and scrutiny involved.
submitted by Zainu-Scholar to WritingResearch [link] [comments]
I wanted to share some insights on the differences between content writing and academic writing. Both forms of writing serve different purposes and audiences, and understanding these differences can enhance our skills as writers. Here’s a detailed comparison based on structure, purpose, audience, style, and research requirements.
- Purpose
Goal: Inform, entertain, or persuade a broad audience.
Focus: Engages readers with clear, concise, and often conversational language.
Applications: Blogs, social media posts, marketing copy, articles, web content.
Academic Writing:
Goal: Contribute to a field of knowledge, present research findings, and engage in scholarly communication.
Focus: Detailed, precise, and evidence-based discussion.
Applications: Research papers, dissertations, journal articles, conference papers.
- Audience
Audience: General public, consumers, or a specific target market.
Engagement: Uses simple language and compelling headlines to capture interest quickly.
Academic Writing:
Audience: Scholars, researchers, and students within a specific discipline.
Engagement: Utilizes technical jargon and assumes familiarity with the subject matter.
- Structure
Format: Flexible, often includes headings, subheadings, bullet points, and short paragraphs.
Length: Varies from 300 to 2000 words, depending on the platform and purpose.
Academic Writing:
Format: Rigid, follows specific guidelines such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style.
Length: Typically longer, ranging from 2000 to 10,000+ words for theses and dissertations.
- Style and Tone
Style: Conversational, engaging, and sometimes persuasive.
Tone: Informal to semi-formal, depending on the audience and platform.
Academic Writing:
Style: Formal, objective, and impersonal.
Tone: Serious and authoritative, reflecting the depth of research and analysis.
- Research and Evidence
Research: May involve minimal to moderate research, focusing on current trends and accessible information.
Sources: Often includes hyperlinks to online sources, statistics, and quotes.
Academic Writing:
Research: Extensive, involving primary and secondary sources, peer-reviewed journals, and empirical data.
Sources: Requires proper citations and referencing, often scrutinized for credibility and reliability.
Logical Data and Insights:
SEO and Readability (Content Writing): Studies indicate that content optimized for search engines (SEO) significantly boosts visibility. A report by HubSpot found that companies publishing 16+ blog posts per month get about 3.5 times more traffic than those publishing 0-4 monthly posts.
Impact Factor and Citations (Academic Writing): The impact factor of academic journals and the number of citations a paper receives are critical metrics of success. For instance, papers in high-impact journals like Nature or Science can influence the direction of future research and policy decisions.
Engagement Metrics (Content Writing): Content writing success is often measured by metrics like click-through rates (CTR), time on page, and social media shares. For example, articles with images get 94% more total views compared to text-only content (Jeff Bullas).
Peer Review Process (Academic Writing): Academic writing undergoes a rigorous peer review process. According to a study by Elsevier, about 50% of submitted manuscripts are rejected before the peer review stage, highlighting the high standards and scrutiny involved.
2024.05.27 12:27 Existing_Ideal_6180 [10 YoE] Senior Software Engineer - EU - Resume Review and Advice for new version
![[10 YoE] Senior Software Engineer - EU - Resume Review and Advice for new version](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/LjrTmibaK1uZTXaVfnRkIY3qBwQzbnFvCKvCZYEfvuM.jpg "[10 YoE] Senior Software Engineer - EU - Resume Review and Advice for new version") | Hi, I've changed it following the advice from my previous post, reading the wiki, used the template from the wiki and checking typos. submitted by Existing_Ideal_6180 to EngineeringResumes [link] [comments] I've omitted two job roles in order to remain into one page: - A freelancer position where I worked as backend software engineer for the development of websites and software for small and medium-sized local business from 2015 to 2018 - As a software engineer where I worked on web app that dealt with requests to the company's technical service from hospitals that had reported failures in their machines from 2013 to 2015 Please let me know if it makes sense to remove some bullet points and add it because it could appear that I have less experience and I was graduated late in life. From the previous version I've used the STAR method as it seem the most used in the forum and also easier to read. I've tried to be more focused on the tech accomplishments, the how I've achieved it and being in two lines. I'm not a native english speaker, so sorry in advance if there could be some grammar errors. The target is Senior software engineer position in Faang/Unicorn. Currently I'm located in Canada working in a Faang but I would like to come back in Europe as I'm EU citizen so I'm applying in Biggest tech hubs in Europe: Amsterdam, Berlin or Barcelona. Seeking an honest feedback and advice about the resume. Here is my previous resume Thanks in advance for every feedbacks. https://preview.redd.it/7i7o75ga4y2d1.png?width=5100&format=png&auto=webp&s=ba7ec4b12e612365e09cfbd4ca8ee9d44fddb88a |
2024.05.27 03:32 Storms_Wrath The Human Artificial Hivemind Part 517: Binding Service
First Previous Wiki
Refined Elder Equisa closed and locked the door to her room. Meihala and Joshua already knew about this. Her implant activated, pressing her gently down into a verification network. After that, she settled down on a large bed and joined the waiting room for the meeting.
There, she saw hundreds of thousands of attending Refined Elders, who all were theoretically known to her implant, though she rarely saw a name she recognized. Equisa sat and waited for a while, until two Elders soon stood over her.
"Ah, it's really her. To think she's shacked up with aliens."
"How sad, isn't it?"
Equisa didn't have time for this. With violence disallowed in the room, the best she could do was keep moving. So that was what she did. She made her way through the crowd, ignoring the looks she got. Soon, she passed the Arch and was admitted early.
She appeared in a stadium with millions of Refined Elders within it. The massive virtual construction added a layer of seats every few minutes to account for the joining Elders. And then the room opened up. Five AIs, clothed in red robes, floated in the middle of the stadium. Above them sat a revered figure.
The Refined Elder that rose from a black chamber had sky blue skin, with gleaming white claws and hundreds of small twisting cords orbiting him. He took in a breath, reverberating across the space with a vibrant hum. His ancient yellow eyes opened, releasing bursts of psychic energy and power that bent the data around him.
But perhaps the most important physical feature he bore was a long white tail.
"Today, we come to discuss the matters unfolding in the Secondary Galaxy. I, Chiru, Head of the Refined Order and Supreme King of the Primary Galaxy, open this meeting. We shall begin with the discussion of matters of our contacts with the involved parties. First, we shall examine the relations of Refined Elders Equisa, Rho, and Sai with the Secondary Galaxy and a nation within it known by the Sol Alliance.
For those who are unaware, this is a nation with a system limit of 10,000 stars, a multi-species union that is 24 standard years old. It contains five known sapient AIs, with two psychic variants of AI with a creativity scale of 9.7 out of 10, rendering them capable of complete galactic domination in 1 billion standard years. Its most notable characteristic, however, is that one of its primary species, Humanity, has evolved on a world they call Earth, which is historically known as the Great Enemy's Rest."
At the mention, many of the Refined Elders gasped. Equisa, however, was still grappling with the fact that the Supreme King had directly named her. That was never a good sign.
"A second matter of discussion relates to a particular member of the human species, a female of advanced age for their kind, by the name of Penny Balica. She is commonly titled Champion of Humanity, though recently has been gaining power under the conceptual title of Liberator, for her anti-slavery actions on the adjudication world of Justicar. Through her own powerful psychic energy reserves, a mind bridge to an Elder known as Nilnacrawla, and control of Conceptual Death in the past and Conceptual Cardinality in the present, she has managed to achieve victory against a flagship of the 85th Grand Fleet, successfully retrieving Nilnacrawla from a Soul Blade.
To clarify: she has entered direct combat with a flagship and survived, as well as entered combat with Flagship Protection and Defense Units. Her remarkable power is so extreme that she is rapidly becoming a nexus of conceptual concern from the very highest entities in the universe, from Progenitor Nova, the Broken God, the Great Enemy, Entropy, and even, as we have recently discovered, the second strongest division of the electronuclear field, also known as the weak force. She is the only non-Progenitor creature to have ventured to speeding space and returned in over 300 million standard years.
It is not merely my opinion, but a simple fact, that she is the most important alien to have existed since the Source war. Given the history of the Secondary Galaxy, as well as the ongoing Judgment trial against her and her kind, we must determine whether we should act upon what we have witnessed, and if so, how we should act. It is our common responsibility as Refined Elders to ensure that the mess the Secondary Galaxy makes is cleaned up."
He settled, allowing them to absorb everything he'd said. Chiru lifted his claws, and suddenly Equisa, Rho, and Sai were floating on platforms next to him. Somehow, she could actually smell him despite virtual reality not being equipped for such things. Not this one, anyway.
Though he was of similar age to herself, he smelled ancient and grand in a way that humbled her immediately. She knelt down, bowing to him as deeply as she could. Only one type of creature among the Sprilnav was allowed to bear a tail.
In the mindscape, Progenitor Chiru appeared in front of her privately.
"Rest assured, Refined Elder. We shall not discuss your relationship with Joshua and Meihala, before the assembled masses. Though some may judge, both you and they are of age, so there is no crime."
"Progenitor... do you truly hold no negative opinion?"
"I do not. Your actions are a reminder of fonder times, and brighter futures. I assume you are prepared for the issue of their lifespans, and I am pleased that you have settled among them without major issues arising. In fact, though it may ring hollow in private, I commend you on your initiative. Your presence in the Alliance has made them more amenable to future ventures, should we seek to pursue them. You will receive a promotion in the future for your work."
"Thank you, Progenitor."
"You seem quite surprised. Come, speak your mind."
"I didn't expect you to be... understanding. You always seem so imperious."
"Such is the nature of rulership. Refined Elder Equisa, would you be willing to serve as a liaison between us and the Alliance in a more official capacity?"
"Yes. Though I must ask why, if I am permitted."
"I have a plan, and I intend to set it in motion. To do this, I need the Alliance. Perhaps others may use it against me, but I have prepared for that, too."
That was another thing. Progenitor Chiru didn't actually control the whole Primary Galaxy. He controlled around a fifth of it, and it was far smaller than the Secondary Galaxy. The humans called it the Triangulum Galaxy. All the other galaxies of significant size were either too close to or totally outside the radius where sapient minds just went crazy from the psychic energy debris left from the Source war.
He was poorer than the richest Elders of the Secondary Galaxy, though only because he didn't need money to buy things, and the money generated by his kingdom just went back into itself or trade. Equisa realized she'd left the Progenitor waiting.
"Ah, I apologize for wasting your time. Yes, I am willing to be your liaison, though I wish that you screen my personnel for bias against interspecies relationships and aliens in general."
"That is quite easy to accomodate, Refined Elder. Now, we must return to the discussion. 1 pulse of time has passed."
That was another thing. As Progenitor of Binding, Chiru had a unique control over things dubbed as laws of the universe. He was capable of time dilation, altering the speed of light in a local area, manipulating and observing quantum mechanics directly, and a whole host of other powers. The only reason he wasn't stronger than many Secondary Galaxy Progenitors was because they were strong enough to ignore natural laws anyway.
Equisa's attention returned to the massive stadium. Luckily, the report she'd gradually written on her activities in the Alliance didn't require her to read everything. Instead, a VI with a nearly identical voice, trained on her voice since her induction as an Elder, took over the job.
"It is important to frame this report in the necessary context. The Sol Alliance is a supranational union of sovereign nation states, ship-states, and sub-national states, with a unified military, strong trade agreements, a budding national culture made from a mix of the cultures of the dominant species within it. The sub-national states include a fungal variant hivemind named Skira, and the apparatus of legal corporations owned by the psychic variant AIs known as Phoebe and Edu'frec under the Locus, as well as the Ratlatmil Protectorate, which is not currently a purely sovereign state. Though the Alliance is considered a nation as well, many of its legislative and judicial features remain unused due to its relatively young age and lack of significant division. By population its main species are..."
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Elder Justicar, or High Judge Justicar in his current position, looked over the last of the Fort Court's defenses. Correctors and Guides swarmed the place by the thousands, and medical supplies, psychic energy generators, and shields of all kinds surrounded the facility. Closest to the core, a yellow shield wrapped the entire complex in a sphere that extended fully underground. It was self-powered by a zero-point energy reactor and was capable of taking truly monstrous hits.
Conceptual energy suppressors and specialized equipment, once littered across the massive inner chambers of the court, were now set neatly into their modular slots. VIs and AIs alike roamed the inner networks, each separated cleanly by more shields as well as physical airgaps. The Collective itself wouldn't be able to disable anything if they wanted to, as Justicar knew that for this Judgment, nothing would be safe.
Allies of thousands of years could turn to enemies in an instant. And with the hundreds of Elders attending directly, the thousands attending by hologram, and the millions of other Sprilnav doing the same, he would not leave anything up to chance.
He'd called in a rare favor from Filnatra and Arneladia, asking them to aid in guarding the court and all within it for the duration of the Judgment, which was coming up in two days. Kashaunta and Yasihaut had submitted all the documents. All the evidence, scripts, and letters were lined up. Justicar was wearing his Soul Blade, as well as the ancient armor he'd worn during the rebellion of a Progenitor. His armor, a gift from Nova himself, was directly linked to the Progenitor and was also the reason Justicar was still alive and his planet still existed.
And yet, Indrafabar had warned him that Penny could still breach it. The specific powers of Cardinality altered chances, making the impossible distinctly not so. He entered through the large doors, noting the positions of everything around. The defensive emplacements were meant to fight a full war with billions of enemies on the other side.
It was why so many laser defenses were featured within the building. He felt the tug of a holographic scanner meant to ensure no stealth technology would remain unseen. He'd personally tested it the day before with the most expensive set he'd had, which was lit up like a star by the hologram before fading back to invisibility by the end of the day.
Justicar breathed the stale air, staring up at the seats that he and the rest of the High Judges would sit on. The booths would be brought soon for the Challenger and the Defendant, along with their retinues, to remain inside. None of the seats were particularly ornate, and all bore the long deformity that came with use. Their cushions were expertly crafted so they would remain as comforting as possible.
And before it all began, everyone would eat. None of the High Judges would be going hungry before they began their hearings. That was a small factor that could skew results in a negative direction. In this case, the skew in itself was negative no matter which way it swung.
Behind him, the rest of the High Judges, including Indrafabar, entered. They remained silent as Justicar was. They stepped onto the platform, which brought them up to the side of the habitation chambers. Capable of catering to 40 Judges, the chambers each had a personal android cook, shielding, beds, and connections to the internal network of the court. All of it was internally monitored, and all implants lost connection to the outside world. No more would the Judges be exposed to any media or opinions about the case until it was completed.
The rooms came with entertainment, which was sterilized from all influences on the case. Whether it was a gambling table, the massive virtual reality resort each of them could use simultaneously, or enough food, water, and air for thirty years, every need was met. Monitoring, in this case, was collective. None of them would be able to communicate in total secrecy with anyone else.
Normally, Indrafabar could break that rule easily. His title as the Digital King wasn't hyperbole. But that was exactly why Filnatra and Arneladia were here. They could detect it when he used power and had an incentive to tell Justicar and the rest of the group when they did. And that was if the conceptual energy detectors didn't manage to pick up the Progenitor, which supposedly would require even Indrafabar to actually make an effort. It wouldn't stretch his limits, of course, but Justicar did the best he could with what he was given.
Perhaps a few other Progenitors would have assured him more, but he didn't have that kind of pull.
Filnatra and Arneladia greeted them from inside, wearing typical guard fatigues and warm smiles. Arneladia's smile was quite forced.
"Welcome, High Judges. As agreed, any discussion of the Challenger or Defendent is blacklisted. You know the punishments for breaking these rules. Here you shall remain until the conclusion of the Judgment. If any of you object or with to recuse yourself from the case, now is the time," Filnatra said, looking them each in the eyes. They lingered on Indrafabar for a slight moment longer, and Justicar noticed her grip on her swords tighten. Typically, that would have been impossible, with her four limbs touching the ground as a normal Sprilnav's would. So, of course, she'd casually grown two more arms. Like any normal person would.
"We agee to abide by all regulations," Justicar said. "After all, no one is above the law."
Except for everyone who was.
Filnatra smiled at the partial lie but didn't comment on it. The nature of the statement's falseness lay in the very existence of beings like the Progenitors, though he has mostly meant it for Indrafabar. Arneladia, moody as ever, still gave him an unhappy look.
"Quite so. We are here to ensure proper conduct by all parties present in the courtroom. If any serious misconduct is suspected, you will be bounced like a ball."
It was one of her favorite insults. And Filnatra had done it before, to those who had let their perceptions of female Elders apply in the wrong ways.
"Well then," Indrafabar said cheerfully. "Good to meet you all. I'm going to go and immerse myself in a fine pool of oil. It does wonders for exfoliation."
He passed Filnatra, patting her on the head like she was a child. The incredibly insulting gesture already showed a bad omen. If the Progenitors fought, no one could stop them. He'd rather not have his hard work ruined, but he wasn't sure whether speaking out was appropriate. The rest of the High Judges had gradually filed away from them, but many were still in earshot. It wouldn't do to be clashing visibly with the Progenitors, especially Indrafabar, considering his place as a High Judge. Filnatra's eyes narrowed, and she smiled.
"High Judge Indrafabar. After the Judgment, I wish to duel with you."
"No blades allowed," he said.
"They are now."
She ushered the rest of the High Judges into the room, and the door behind them closed. Justicar heard the hum of shields faintly as they activated. The lights in the room brightened, their pure white glow framing everything perfectly. The interior designer of the place had clearly known what they were doing. Even with the lack of windows, the whole interior still felt well-polished, natural, and ornate. Nothing like a series of rooms inside thick slabs of alloy and concrete.
"The Judgment will begin in roughly 144 kilopulses, or more precisely, 144,063 pulses," Filnatra said. "Make yourselves comfortable. This is your home now, until the Judgment is finished."
Justicar watched as she turned around, the swaying of her tail holding quite a bit of appeal. But with Arneladia in the same universe, much less the same building, any approaches would be supremely unwise unless confirmed prior as acceptable. Though he did suppose Arneladia killing him would likely get the Progenitor killed in return for 'interference' in the affairs related to Penny.
Justicar pulled the hivemind portion of his mind away from the Guides and the Correctors, as was also necessary for the Judgment to remain impartial. He used its largesse to shunt the cravings of his physical mind to a place where they would not bother him.
"Something the matter, Elder?" Filnatra asked, a knowing smile painted on her face. Glittering eyes framed her teeth like swords under twin stars. They threatened to ensnare a lesser mind, but for him, the pull was slight.
"No."
"I am open to exploring," she said. "My partner will remain as he is for now."
A revelation that he suspected but hadn't confirmed. Sending anyone to sneak around a Progenitor's home was another action that would be a poor health choice. Word of mouth was best around Progenitors when it came from them, even when the possibilities of lies and manipulation came into play.
Justicar had a few theories but would rather hear what she would say before making up his mind.
"Truly? What has come to pass?"
Surely, the mess with Ezeonwha hadn't caused that much of a rift between them. He was one Sprilnav and not exactly an important one, except maybe to Penny.
"A political disagreement. We'll probably sort it out in a few years. Time is infinite, after all."
"Infinite? Quite the luxury."
"You have lived nearly as long as I have, Justicar," Filnatra said. "Surely there isn't anything that would shorten your lifespan. You're very personable, and definitely pay attention to the things that matter."
"There is little need for veiled insults."
It was how many in power liked to treat those who were below them or who could not afford to call it out. And here, Justicar would not be dragged into an argument. He had bigger problems and bigger worries now that he would be less capable of responding to important threats due to the isolation policy.
He felt no true regret for it since Indrafabar was too dangerous to be left un-countered. His presence on this trial was the only way to ensure stability after the Progenitor had so rudely forced himself upon the Judgment.
"There is little need for many things in this galaxy, yet for the little universe we remain in, even the smallest things can grow to an impressive size."
He sighed. Filnatra's tail wagged side to side. It caught the light in ways that didn't make sense. For a moment, it was covered in scales, and then it transitioned back to the red-colored skin she most commonly used. "Teasing you might make these next few days bearable, after all."
"Proclaim your purpose or don't, Progenitor. I have no desire for games."
"All Elders do is play games," Filnatra replied. "That is why we are here, after all. To play a game with the law."
"That is not why you are here," he clarified.
"No. I'm here to keep the players from flipping the board."
Indrafabar emerged from the pool, thin wings dripping with water. It slid from his cybernetic horns and tail in thin streams.
"Do I need to turn the soundproofing features of the shields on? Filnatra, if you're going to test out all of Justicar's 'upgrades,' I'd rather you don't do it here."
"So many Elders here," Filnatra said. "I'm sure you wouldn't take advantage of the opportunity."
"Virtual reality carries all the benefits, and none of the risks," Indrafabar said.
"It shows that you're inconfident. And let's just say mating with some AI you hacked isn't exactly an accomplishment based on your appeal."
"Leaving a string of bastard children in your wake might be a fun hobby for you, but I would rather not cause such headaches. My inheritance would be the cause of too many squabbles, and I'd have to kill a few million people again."
"A minor hassle," Filnatra said.
"Not that minor," Justicar added.
"None of them would be Elders," Indrafabar said.
"You could copy your memories into them."
"My memories would kill a natural Sprilnav with their sheer weight. Filnatra, I understand your urges, but please, do not be so tiresome about it. One might assume they are a weakness in battle."
"Not since I've ensured that Conceptual Hacking crap you pulled on my swords last time doesn't work. It's a low move."
"Like using your conceptual power to make my entire body itch for a year?"
"I said I was sorry!"
"I did promise retribution for that. Perhaps soon, I will invent Conceptual Itching to teach you a lesson."
Justicar began to move away from them. When he reached his door, he let out a sigh. It was easy to forget why Elders didn't live together in groups this large. Now he remembered. Too many odd minds.
"My mind isn't odd," Filnatra said, standing next to him again. Indrafabar was sliding back into the water, his eyes glittering with rainbow lights. He raised his claws, sending flashes of harmless lasers through the room like he was at a party. More lights flashed below the waterline as he began to sing. Quite terribly.
Filnatra activated a soundproofing shield between them, her ears visibly flattened. Both of them had cringed at Indrafabar's purposely bad singing.
"How?"
"You forgot to feed your thoughts back through the hivemind to scramble the readings," Filnatra said. Justicar checked and realized she was right. He rectified the issue, feeling a slight pang of embarrassment at his earlier thoughts. "Now, look. I understand you are clearly apprehensive, so I won't do anything. But we do need to talk."
"About what?"
"The way you rule your planet."
"Not you, too!" Justicar groaned. He was getting tired of everyone telling him his way of doing things was wrong. It had worked for billions of years. What did Filnatra know of running planets? Not a lot since all her nations had collapsed. Their corruption and hedonism had been black stains on the Sprilnav legacy, and she couldn't pretend that her presence on his planet would make him think favorably about it.
"I didn't care, for a while," Filnatra said. "Did you know that I marked some territory in the Underground, and someone actually tried to break in?"
"I didn't, but I don't control that."
"You don't control all of your own planet, as an Elder. Do you see the problem there? You can't let that continue. Perhaps you need some outside help."
So that was what her angle was. Justicar could sniff that out himself. He wouldn't be letting any foreign armies on his soil. If the gangs wanted to try, he'd kill them too. The treaties only prevented true war, not tiny skirmishes.
"If the current status quo remains," Justicar hedged, "My remaining foes will soon appear in my jails."
The blacklist of Penny-related topics would make this conversation costly if he continued it. He waited for her to speak.
"When the Judgment ends, they will need to be executed, or they will get out."
"I know. But I'll wait a while depending on the outcome. Past that, we cannot talk more about this topic."
"I see. Faithful, aren't you?"
"I suppose that is a surprise to you, isn't it?" Justicar asked, giving her a wink.
"Oh please. You've had a few thousand mates, yourself. Don't act like you haven't done what all Elders do with too much free time."
"You may sleep by my side if you wish," Justicar said. "But I will not have any more contact beyond that."
"I understand," Filnatra said. "You'll have to focus on reading all those documents tomorrow. Imagine if we'd made a Progenitor of Paperwork."
"The poor soul would fly into a black hole in an instant."
"Or haunt us all with more power than even Death."
"I hope you have your precautions active."
"I do," Filnatra said. "If he attacks me, I'll just die a lot slower, and more painfully. Only Nova could likely match him, and only because of his unique characteristics and power densities."
"Do you think if I mutter his name enough, he'd appear?"
"He's probably in this room, or in one of these rooms. If he assumed we were going to use the soundproofing shields, then he'll go elsewhere. He's not that kind of Elder."
"I know. A good thing, too. A tyrant like that would be difficult to stomach."
"Yeah. Imagine all the break-ins, or all the slave drivers."
He didn't have time for this. First Penny, now her. He'd needed a treaty when he first signed it. And violating treaties wasn't something any Elders could just go around doing. Least of all when he was supposed to be the pinnacle of righteous law. Breaking the treaty directly would have lost him much of his prestige, though luckily the gangs had managed to ensure that wouldn't happen.
He hadn't declared a formal war, and Penny was the bludgeon he was content to throw at them none too softly.
"If you have something to say about that, now's the perfect time to keep it to yourself."
Filnatra grinned again. "You Elders are so much more fun when you don't just agree with everything I say."
"The mind stuff doesn't work on me. My mind's too strong."
"Your mind's too big, actually. It's not too strong."
Justicar wasn't fazed by that.
"Speaking of which, how many times since we last talked have you told a random Sprilnav to dance?"
"Maybe once or twice."
"How many really?"
"19. I compensate them for their time, though. Healing, lifespan, the full package."
"Someday, that's going to come back to bite you."
"Anything that bites me is going to break its teeth. Unless it's Arneladia, of course."
"Please don't tell me you bite each other."
"We don't. Not even when he's really, really stupid. Plus, the physical consequences if he flinches could be unpleasant. I'd rather not mess up your city skyline."
"A little late for that."
"I am sorry for your loss."
"Not sorry enough to do anything about it."
"It would have been classified as interference due to the circumstances behind it."
"I really hate that word."
"We do, too," Filnatra sighed. "Nova actually got us all together once to try and erase the very concept. And really all of us, even the weak little chumps in the other galaxy. We succeeded, too. Of course, Time rolled it all back. Sucker."
She let out a short huff, and Justicar resolved to get the sleep that he didn't really need anymore but served as a nice luxury. He flopped his body down on the bed, pieces of his mind shutting down or switching functions to an active defense mode now that his more costly consciousness was no longer required. And so it was that Justicar went to sleep with Filnatra standing guard.
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Elder Saleis watched with cold eyes through his implant as Penny left the flagship of Kashaunta to go to some interview. She'd been causing problems for the Syndicate for many days, though only now were her actions finally going to catch up to her. The Nine had made their decision; the trap was already sprung.
She just didn't know it yet. The best-case outcome was likely, and the worst-case outcome wasn't very severe at all. A few hundred gang members from the Blue Moons made up the first vanguards. They would serve as the distractions, drawing the Guides away from the main battlefront until it was too late.
Machines to dig tunnels and lay tracks to walk on behind them were also at work, drilling through foundations one at a time. While normally that would have been a violation of the treaty Justicar had broken, since he'd broken it, everything was on the table, including five nuclear warheads. After another spy purge, only the Elders were in the know about the true mission.
Already, it would be complicated and incur huge losses. But the possible gain was worth every life here except his own. He watched the darkness with bated breath and keen eyes, looking for any signs of unnatural movement. His eyes caught on the guards patrolling the edges of the lengthening tunnel. Meanwhile, he did the same in the mindscape, though his location was hidden by the more advanced devices the gangs had access to. Not the most advanced, of course, but enough to ensure Justicar wouldn't know enough to intervene.
Numerous decoy and duplicate operations were happening simultaneously across the planet. Already, over fifty thousand gang members had been lost. It compensated well for the necessary increases and decreases in chatter. Justicar would continue to be diverted until it was too late for him.
Sprilnav marched on abandoned streets. He saw a few disguised Guides attempt to get calls out, but he'd been careful about which companies they had been assigned to. Each of them carried active jammers, which made their attempts fruitless.
The armies were like rivers of light, the flashlights on the guns they held swaying in near-perfect sync. Tens of thousands of Sprilnav mobilized from group homes, communal housing blocks, and the various homes and apartments of the Underground, marching to the call of their masters. Many like them were fighting already, and many more would meet the battle lines afterward. It was planned to intersect with the start of the Judgment, helping to damage Justicar and make him act rashly.
There were probably other reasons; that was just the official one given to Saleis. And he knew better than to look any deeper into it, at least with anything that could be traced back to him. Nothing and no one was truly safe down here. Those who thought they were lay dead and gone thousands of levels below, with scavengers picking at their bones and cracking them open for rotten marrow.
Saleis wondered if things could have turned out differently if Penny had just agreed to his offer. But since she hadn't and had instead set herself stupidly against the gangs, then he would ensure she would suffer for it. Their targets were manyfold, but he would ensure that they would all be hit if he could.
The large gun he kept on his back so he could fire when the battle began had smart bullets that would always hit a target. They were also customized to cause extreme damage to personal shields with specialized magnetic powders and disruption alloys.
Some of the workers started flagging.
"Keep it moving," he growled. "Slack off again, and two of you are losing limbs."
He brandished his sword in threat, and the mundane Sprilnav went back to their business. Arms shaking with the stress of exertion and bodies shaking with their fear of him, they continued moving the hefty amounts of fuel the machine required. Pipelines weren't being laid for this, so instead it was best to transport everything by claw. The Sprilnav were strong enough to do it. And if they weren't, they and their families paid the price.
After a few kilopulses, the tunnel bore stopped churning. It had drilled its way to the last few support columns. Many of the ones it had passed now had passages hollowed out to them.
"Lay them in, four by four!" he cried, making his sword flash a bright light to ensure their attention. Sprilnav slaves carried barrels of radioactive slurry over to the trigger areas. They were below critical mass and were useless in making weapons. But they would seed the area with radiation, further weakening any attempted counterassault through the tunnels by the Guides or the Correctors. With their stronger arsenals, the gangs would not risk them breaking through to the deeper layers of the Underground near here, with such a massive logistical hub having been made a good distance below.
The psychic protection units flared, their power brushing against several detectors. His implant chimed a warning, and Saleis was quickly notified of Guides deploying. The ruse would not hold up long. Androids hefted the nuclear warheads and placed them against the support columns. The ground started to shake. Shields went up, trapping the slaves and many of the remaining androids inside.
Saleis made the retreat, and the detonation program became active in his implant now that his task was complete. Additional pay in credits also was deposited in his private account, which made him smile. He spared no thoughts for the few thousand Sprilnav trapped within the shield. There were always more of them, after all.
Once he'd moved far enough away to have a third shield between him and the soon-to-be nuclear explosion, his implant buzzed. He opened it, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings. But the Elder who contacted him, at least his alias, was confirmed to be his assigned informant for this mission. It seemed everything was correct since no emergency stop messages had been attached.
"Yes?" he muttered.
"Execute now. The target is confirmed to be in the building."
"Very well."
Saleis activated the implant. A bright explosion flared where he'd been. Thick plasma and smoke filled the shield, and the light was filtered to safe levels. The first layer, just as he'd expected, had collapsed. And when he looked above, he saw cracks spreading across the ceiling. Thick chunks of rock and reinforced metal began to calve away before collapsing down.
A great rumbling groan followed the noise of breaking rock and tearing metal mixing in a cacophony of destruction, like a song of liberation against all who threatened him and his masters. Saleis couldn't help but smile at the sight, thinking of the great accomplishment he'd just made. The ground beneath him started to shake as well.
Saleis activated his jetpack, flying away before the spreading damage risked burying him. He moved up to the access tunnel, flying over the heads of hundreds of waiting soldiers. He used psychic energy to enhance his voice, increasing the magnitude of the vibrations he'd make. He brandished his sword, teeth glowing with cold menace. "Come forth, men! Today we strike a blow against the alien menace!"
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Refined Elder Equisa closed and locked the door to her room. Meihala and Joshua already knew about this. Her implant activated, pressing her gently down into a verification network. After that, she settled down on a large bed and joined the waiting room for the meeting.
There, she saw hundreds of thousands of attending Refined Elders, who all were theoretically known to her implant, though she rarely saw a name she recognized. Equisa sat and waited for a while, until two Elders soon stood over her.
"Ah, it's really her. To think she's shacked up with aliens."
"How sad, isn't it?"
Equisa didn't have time for this. With violence disallowed in the room, the best she could do was keep moving. So that was what she did. She made her way through the crowd, ignoring the looks she got. Soon, she passed the Arch and was admitted early.
She appeared in a stadium with millions of Refined Elders within it. The massive virtual construction added a layer of seats every few minutes to account for the joining Elders. And then the room opened up. Five AIs, clothed in red robes, floated in the middle of the stadium. Above them sat a revered figure.
The Refined Elder that rose from a black chamber had sky blue skin, with gleaming white claws and hundreds of small twisting cords orbiting him. He took in a breath, reverberating across the space with a vibrant hum. His ancient yellow eyes opened, releasing bursts of psychic energy and power that bent the data around him.
But perhaps the most important physical feature he bore was a long white tail.
"Today, we come to discuss the matters unfolding in the Secondary Galaxy. I, Chiru, Head of the Refined Order and Supreme King of the Primary Galaxy, open this meeting. We shall begin with the discussion of matters of our contacts with the involved parties. First, we shall examine the relations of Refined Elders Equisa, Rho, and Sai with the Secondary Galaxy and a nation within it known by the Sol Alliance.
For those who are unaware, this is a nation with a system limit of 10,000 stars, a multi-species union that is 24 standard years old. It contains five known sapient AIs, with two psychic variants of AI with a creativity scale of 9.7 out of 10, rendering them capable of complete galactic domination in 1 billion standard years. Its most notable characteristic, however, is that one of its primary species, Humanity, has evolved on a world they call Earth, which is historically known as the Great Enemy's Rest."
At the mention, many of the Refined Elders gasped. Equisa, however, was still grappling with the fact that the Supreme King had directly named her. That was never a good sign.
"A second matter of discussion relates to a particular member of the human species, a female of advanced age for their kind, by the name of Penny Balica. She is commonly titled Champion of Humanity, though recently has been gaining power under the conceptual title of Liberator, for her anti-slavery actions on the adjudication world of Justicar. Through her own powerful psychic energy reserves, a mind bridge to an Elder known as Nilnacrawla, and control of Conceptual Death in the past and Conceptual Cardinality in the present, she has managed to achieve victory against a flagship of the 85th Grand Fleet, successfully retrieving Nilnacrawla from a Soul Blade.
To clarify: she has entered direct combat with a flagship and survived, as well as entered combat with Flagship Protection and Defense Units. Her remarkable power is so extreme that she is rapidly becoming a nexus of conceptual concern from the very highest entities in the universe, from Progenitor Nova, the Broken God, the Great Enemy, Entropy, and even, as we have recently discovered, the second strongest division of the electronuclear field, also known as the weak force. She is the only non-Progenitor creature to have ventured to speeding space and returned in over 300 million standard years.
It is not merely my opinion, but a simple fact, that she is the most important alien to have existed since the Source war. Given the history of the Secondary Galaxy, as well as the ongoing Judgment trial against her and her kind, we must determine whether we should act upon what we have witnessed, and if so, how we should act. It is our common responsibility as Refined Elders to ensure that the mess the Secondary Galaxy makes is cleaned up."
He settled, allowing them to absorb everything he'd said. Chiru lifted his claws, and suddenly Equisa, Rho, and Sai were floating on platforms next to him. Somehow, she could actually smell him despite virtual reality not being equipped for such things. Not this one, anyway.
Though he was of similar age to herself, he smelled ancient and grand in a way that humbled her immediately. She knelt down, bowing to him as deeply as she could. Only one type of creature among the Sprilnav was allowed to bear a tail.
In the mindscape, Progenitor Chiru appeared in front of her privately.
"Rest assured, Refined Elder. We shall not discuss your relationship with Joshua and Meihala, before the assembled masses. Though some may judge, both you and they are of age, so there is no crime."
"Progenitor... do you truly hold no negative opinion?"
"I do not. Your actions are a reminder of fonder times, and brighter futures. I assume you are prepared for the issue of their lifespans, and I am pleased that you have settled among them without major issues arising. In fact, though it may ring hollow in private, I commend you on your initiative. Your presence in the Alliance has made them more amenable to future ventures, should we seek to pursue them. You will receive a promotion in the future for your work."
"Thank you, Progenitor."
"You seem quite surprised. Come, speak your mind."
"I didn't expect you to be... understanding. You always seem so imperious."
"Such is the nature of rulership. Refined Elder Equisa, would you be willing to serve as a liaison between us and the Alliance in a more official capacity?"
"Yes. Though I must ask why, if I am permitted."
"I have a plan, and I intend to set it in motion. To do this, I need the Alliance. Perhaps others may use it against me, but I have prepared for that, too."
That was another thing. Progenitor Chiru didn't actually control the whole Primary Galaxy. He controlled around a fifth of it, and it was far smaller than the Secondary Galaxy. The humans called it the Triangulum Galaxy. All the other galaxies of significant size were either too close to or totally outside the radius where sapient minds just went crazy from the psychic energy debris left from the Source war.
He was poorer than the richest Elders of the Secondary Galaxy, though only because he didn't need money to buy things, and the money generated by his kingdom just went back into itself or trade. Equisa realized she'd left the Progenitor waiting.
"Ah, I apologize for wasting your time. Yes, I am willing to be your liaison, though I wish that you screen my personnel for bias against interspecies relationships and aliens in general."
"That is quite easy to accomodate, Refined Elder. Now, we must return to the discussion. 1 pulse of time has passed."
That was another thing. As Progenitor of Binding, Chiru had a unique control over things dubbed as laws of the universe. He was capable of time dilation, altering the speed of light in a local area, manipulating and observing quantum mechanics directly, and a whole host of other powers. The only reason he wasn't stronger than many Secondary Galaxy Progenitors was because they were strong enough to ignore natural laws anyway.
Equisa's attention returned to the massive stadium. Luckily, the report she'd gradually written on her activities in the Alliance didn't require her to read everything. Instead, a VI with a nearly identical voice, trained on her voice since her induction as an Elder, took over the job.
"It is important to frame this report in the necessary context. The Sol Alliance is a supranational union of sovereign nation states, ship-states, and sub-national states, with a unified military, strong trade agreements, a budding national culture made from a mix of the cultures of the dominant species within it. The sub-national states include a fungal variant hivemind named Skira, and the apparatus of legal corporations owned by the psychic variant AIs known as Phoebe and Edu'frec under the Locus, as well as the Ratlatmil Protectorate, which is not currently a purely sovereign state. Though the Alliance is considered a nation as well, many of its legislative and judicial features remain unused due to its relatively young age and lack of significant division. By population its main species are..."
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Elder Justicar, or High Judge Justicar in his current position, looked over the last of the Fort Court's defenses. Correctors and Guides swarmed the place by the thousands, and medical supplies, psychic energy generators, and shields of all kinds surrounded the facility. Closest to the core, a yellow shield wrapped the entire complex in a sphere that extended fully underground. It was self-powered by a zero-point energy reactor and was capable of taking truly monstrous hits.
Conceptual energy suppressors and specialized equipment, once littered across the massive inner chambers of the court, were now set neatly into their modular slots. VIs and AIs alike roamed the inner networks, each separated cleanly by more shields as well as physical airgaps. The Collective itself wouldn't be able to disable anything if they wanted to, as Justicar knew that for this Judgment, nothing would be safe.
Allies of thousands of years could turn to enemies in an instant. And with the hundreds of Elders attending directly, the thousands attending by hologram, and the millions of other Sprilnav doing the same, he would not leave anything up to chance.
He'd called in a rare favor from Filnatra and Arneladia, asking them to aid in guarding the court and all within it for the duration of the Judgment, which was coming up in two days. Kashaunta and Yasihaut had submitted all the documents. All the evidence, scripts, and letters were lined up. Justicar was wearing his Soul Blade, as well as the ancient armor he'd worn during the rebellion of a Progenitor. His armor, a gift from Nova himself, was directly linked to the Progenitor and was also the reason Justicar was still alive and his planet still existed.
And yet, Indrafabar had warned him that Penny could still breach it. The specific powers of Cardinality altered chances, making the impossible distinctly not so. He entered through the large doors, noting the positions of everything around. The defensive emplacements were meant to fight a full war with billions of enemies on the other side.
It was why so many laser defenses were featured within the building. He felt the tug of a holographic scanner meant to ensure no stealth technology would remain unseen. He'd personally tested it the day before with the most expensive set he'd had, which was lit up like a star by the hologram before fading back to invisibility by the end of the day.
Justicar breathed the stale air, staring up at the seats that he and the rest of the High Judges would sit on. The booths would be brought soon for the Challenger and the Defendant, along with their retinues, to remain inside. None of the seats were particularly ornate, and all bore the long deformity that came with use. Their cushions were expertly crafted so they would remain as comforting as possible.
And before it all began, everyone would eat. None of the High Judges would be going hungry before they began their hearings. That was a small factor that could skew results in a negative direction. In this case, the skew in itself was negative no matter which way it swung.
Behind him, the rest of the High Judges, including Indrafabar, entered. They remained silent as Justicar was. They stepped onto the platform, which brought them up to the side of the habitation chambers. Capable of catering to 40 Judges, the chambers each had a personal android cook, shielding, beds, and connections to the internal network of the court. All of it was internally monitored, and all implants lost connection to the outside world. No more would the Judges be exposed to any media or opinions about the case until it was completed.
The rooms came with entertainment, which was sterilized from all influences on the case. Whether it was a gambling table, the massive virtual reality resort each of them could use simultaneously, or enough food, water, and air for thirty years, every need was met. Monitoring, in this case, was collective. None of them would be able to communicate in total secrecy with anyone else.
Normally, Indrafabar could break that rule easily. His title as the Digital King wasn't hyperbole. But that was exactly why Filnatra and Arneladia were here. They could detect it when he used power and had an incentive to tell Justicar and the rest of the group when they did. And that was if the conceptual energy detectors didn't manage to pick up the Progenitor, which supposedly would require even Indrafabar to actually make an effort. It wouldn't stretch his limits, of course, but Justicar did the best he could with what he was given.
Perhaps a few other Progenitors would have assured him more, but he didn't have that kind of pull.
Filnatra and Arneladia greeted them from inside, wearing typical guard fatigues and warm smiles. Arneladia's smile was quite forced.
"Welcome, High Judges. As agreed, any discussion of the Challenger or Defendent is blacklisted. You know the punishments for breaking these rules. Here you shall remain until the conclusion of the Judgment. If any of you object or with to recuse yourself from the case, now is the time," Filnatra said, looking them each in the eyes. They lingered on Indrafabar for a slight moment longer, and Justicar noticed her grip on her swords tighten. Typically, that would have been impossible, with her four limbs touching the ground as a normal Sprilnav's would. So, of course, she'd casually grown two more arms. Like any normal person would.
"We agee to abide by all regulations," Justicar said. "After all, no one is above the law."
Except for everyone who was.
Filnatra smiled at the partial lie but didn't comment on it. The nature of the statement's falseness lay in the very existence of beings like the Progenitors, though he has mostly meant it for Indrafabar. Arneladia, moody as ever, still gave him an unhappy look.
"Quite so. We are here to ensure proper conduct by all parties present in the courtroom. If any serious misconduct is suspected, you will be bounced like a ball."
It was one of her favorite insults. And Filnatra had done it before, to those who had let their perceptions of female Elders apply in the wrong ways.
"Well then," Indrafabar said cheerfully. "Good to meet you all. I'm going to go and immerse myself in a fine pool of oil. It does wonders for exfoliation."
He passed Filnatra, patting her on the head like she was a child. The incredibly insulting gesture already showed a bad omen. If the Progenitors fought, no one could stop them. He'd rather not have his hard work ruined, but he wasn't sure whether speaking out was appropriate. The rest of the High Judges had gradually filed away from them, but many were still in earshot. It wouldn't do to be clashing visibly with the Progenitors, especially Indrafabar, considering his place as a High Judge. Filnatra's eyes narrowed, and she smiled.
"High Judge Indrafabar. After the Judgment, I wish to duel with you."
"No blades allowed," he said.
"They are now."
She ushered the rest of the High Judges into the room, and the door behind them closed. Justicar heard the hum of shields faintly as they activated. The lights in the room brightened, their pure white glow framing everything perfectly. The interior designer of the place had clearly known what they were doing. Even with the lack of windows, the whole interior still felt well-polished, natural, and ornate. Nothing like a series of rooms inside thick slabs of alloy and concrete.
"The Judgment will begin in roughly 144 kilopulses, or more precisely, 144,063 pulses," Filnatra said. "Make yourselves comfortable. This is your home now, until the Judgment is finished."
Justicar watched as she turned around, the swaying of her tail holding quite a bit of appeal. But with Arneladia in the same universe, much less the same building, any approaches would be supremely unwise unless confirmed prior as acceptable. Though he did suppose Arneladia killing him would likely get the Progenitor killed in return for 'interference' in the affairs related to Penny.
Justicar pulled the hivemind portion of his mind away from the Guides and the Correctors, as was also necessary for the Judgment to remain impartial. He used its largesse to shunt the cravings of his physical mind to a place where they would not bother him.
"Something the matter, Elder?" Filnatra asked, a knowing smile painted on her face. Glittering eyes framed her teeth like swords under twin stars. They threatened to ensnare a lesser mind, but for him, the pull was slight.
"No."
"I am open to exploring," she said. "My partner will remain as he is for now."
A revelation that he suspected but hadn't confirmed. Sending anyone to sneak around a Progenitor's home was another action that would be a poor health choice. Word of mouth was best around Progenitors when it came from them, even when the possibilities of lies and manipulation came into play.
Justicar had a few theories but would rather hear what she would say before making up his mind.
"Truly? What has come to pass?"
Surely, the mess with Ezeonwha hadn't caused that much of a rift between them. He was one Sprilnav and not exactly an important one, except maybe to Penny.
"A political disagreement. We'll probably sort it out in a few years. Time is infinite, after all."
"Infinite? Quite the luxury."
"You have lived nearly as long as I have, Justicar," Filnatra said. "Surely there isn't anything that would shorten your lifespan. You're very personable, and definitely pay attention to the things that matter."
"There is little need for veiled insults."
It was how many in power liked to treat those who were below them or who could not afford to call it out. And here, Justicar would not be dragged into an argument. He had bigger problems and bigger worries now that he would be less capable of responding to important threats due to the isolation policy.
He felt no true regret for it since Indrafabar was too dangerous to be left un-countered. His presence on this trial was the only way to ensure stability after the Progenitor had so rudely forced himself upon the Judgment.
"There is little need for many things in this galaxy, yet for the little universe we remain in, even the smallest things can grow to an impressive size."
He sighed. Filnatra's tail wagged side to side. It caught the light in ways that didn't make sense. For a moment, it was covered in scales, and then it transitioned back to the red-colored skin she most commonly used. "Teasing you might make these next few days bearable, after all."
"Proclaim your purpose or don't, Progenitor. I have no desire for games."
"All Elders do is play games," Filnatra replied. "That is why we are here, after all. To play a game with the law."
"That is not why you are here," he clarified.
"No. I'm here to keep the players from flipping the board."
Indrafabar emerged from the pool, thin wings dripping with water. It slid from his cybernetic horns and tail in thin streams.
"Do I need to turn the soundproofing features of the shields on? Filnatra, if you're going to test out all of Justicar's 'upgrades,' I'd rather you don't do it here."
"So many Elders here," Filnatra said. "I'm sure you wouldn't take advantage of the opportunity."
"Virtual reality carries all the benefits, and none of the risks," Indrafabar said.
"It shows that you're inconfident. And let's just say mating with some AI you hacked isn't exactly an accomplishment based on your appeal."
"Leaving a string of bastard children in your wake might be a fun hobby for you, but I would rather not cause such headaches. My inheritance would be the cause of too many squabbles, and I'd have to kill a few million people again."
"A minor hassle," Filnatra said.
"Not that minor," Justicar added.
"None of them would be Elders," Indrafabar said.
"You could copy your memories into them."
"My memories would kill a natural Sprilnav with their sheer weight. Filnatra, I understand your urges, but please, do not be so tiresome about it. One might assume they are a weakness in battle."
"Not since I've ensured that Conceptual Hacking crap you pulled on my swords last time doesn't work. It's a low move."
"Like using your conceptual power to make my entire body itch for a year?"
"I said I was sorry!"
"I did promise retribution for that. Perhaps soon, I will invent Conceptual Itching to teach you a lesson."
Justicar began to move away from them. When he reached his door, he let out a sigh. It was easy to forget why Elders didn't live together in groups this large. Now he remembered. Too many odd minds.
"My mind isn't odd," Filnatra said, standing next to him again. Indrafabar was sliding back into the water, his eyes glittering with rainbow lights. He raised his claws, sending flashes of harmless lasers through the room like he was at a party. More lights flashed below the waterline as he began to sing. Quite terribly.
Filnatra activated a soundproofing shield between them, her ears visibly flattened. Both of them had cringed at Indrafabar's purposely bad singing.
"How?"
"You forgot to feed your thoughts back through the hivemind to scramble the readings," Filnatra said. Justicar checked and realized she was right. He rectified the issue, feeling a slight pang of embarrassment at his earlier thoughts. "Now, look. I understand you are clearly apprehensive, so I won't do anything. But we do need to talk."
"About what?"
"The way you rule your planet."
"Not you, too!" Justicar groaned. He was getting tired of everyone telling him his way of doing things was wrong. It had worked for billions of years. What did Filnatra know of running planets? Not a lot since all her nations had collapsed. Their corruption and hedonism had been black stains on the Sprilnav legacy, and she couldn't pretend that her presence on his planet would make him think favorably about it.
"I didn't care, for a while," Filnatra said. "Did you know that I marked some territory in the Underground, and someone actually tried to break in?"
"I didn't, but I don't control that."
"You don't control all of your own planet, as an Elder. Do you see the problem there? You can't let that continue. Perhaps you need some outside help."
So that was what her angle was. Justicar could sniff that out himself. He wouldn't be letting any foreign armies on his soil. If the gangs wanted to try, he'd kill them too. The treaties only prevented true war, not tiny skirmishes.
"If the current status quo remains," Justicar hedged, "My remaining foes will soon appear in my jails."
The blacklist of Penny-related topics would make this conversation costly if he continued it. He waited for her to speak.
"When the Judgment ends, they will need to be executed, or they will get out."
"I know. But I'll wait a while depending on the outcome. Past that, we cannot talk more about this topic."
"I see. Faithful, aren't you?"
"I suppose that is a surprise to you, isn't it?" Justicar asked, giving her a wink.
"Oh please. You've had a few thousand mates, yourself. Don't act like you haven't done what all Elders do with too much free time."
"You may sleep by my side if you wish," Justicar said. "But I will not have any more contact beyond that."
"I understand," Filnatra said. "You'll have to focus on reading all those documents tomorrow. Imagine if we'd made a Progenitor of Paperwork."
"The poor soul would fly into a black hole in an instant."
"Or haunt us all with more power than even Death."
"I hope you have your precautions active."
"I do," Filnatra said. "If he attacks me, I'll just die a lot slower, and more painfully. Only Nova could likely match him, and only because of his unique characteristics and power densities."
"Do you think if I mutter his name enough, he'd appear?"
"He's probably in this room, or in one of these rooms. If he assumed we were going to use the soundproofing shields, then he'll go elsewhere. He's not that kind of Elder."
"I know. A good thing, too. A tyrant like that would be difficult to stomach."
"Yeah. Imagine all the break-ins, or all the slave drivers."
He didn't have time for this. First Penny, now her. He'd needed a treaty when he first signed it. And violating treaties wasn't something any Elders could just go around doing. Least of all when he was supposed to be the pinnacle of righteous law. Breaking the treaty directly would have lost him much of his prestige, though luckily the gangs had managed to ensure that wouldn't happen.
He hadn't declared a formal war, and Penny was the bludgeon he was content to throw at them none too softly.
"If you have something to say about that, now's the perfect time to keep it to yourself."
Filnatra grinned again. "You Elders are so much more fun when you don't just agree with everything I say."
"The mind stuff doesn't work on me. My mind's too strong."
"Your mind's too big, actually. It's not too strong."
Justicar wasn't fazed by that.
"Speaking of which, how many times since we last talked have you told a random Sprilnav to dance?"
"Maybe once or twice."
"How many really?"
"19. I compensate them for their time, though. Healing, lifespan, the full package."
"Someday, that's going to come back to bite you."
"Anything that bites me is going to break its teeth. Unless it's Arneladia, of course."
"Please don't tell me you bite each other."
"We don't. Not even when he's really, really stupid. Plus, the physical consequences if he flinches could be unpleasant. I'd rather not mess up your city skyline."
"A little late for that."
"I am sorry for your loss."
"Not sorry enough to do anything about it."
"It would have been classified as interference due to the circumstances behind it."
"I really hate that word."
"We do, too," Filnatra sighed. "Nova actually got us all together once to try and erase the very concept. And really all of us, even the weak little chumps in the other galaxy. We succeeded, too. Of course, Time rolled it all back. Sucker."
She let out a short huff, and Justicar resolved to get the sleep that he didn't really need anymore but served as a nice luxury. He flopped his body down on the bed, pieces of his mind shutting down or switching functions to an active defense mode now that his more costly consciousness was no longer required. And so it was that Justicar went to sleep with Filnatra standing guard.
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Elder Saleis watched with cold eyes through his implant as Penny left the flagship of Kashaunta to go to some interview. She'd been causing problems for the Syndicate for many days, though only now were her actions finally going to catch up to her. The Nine had made their decision; the trap was already sprung.
She just didn't know it yet. The best-case outcome was likely, and the worst-case outcome wasn't very severe at all. A few hundred gang members from the Blue Moons made up the first vanguards. They would serve as the distractions, drawing the Guides away from the main battlefront until it was too late.
Machines to dig tunnels and lay tracks to walk on behind them were also at work, drilling through foundations one at a time. While normally that would have been a violation of the treaty Justicar had broken, since he'd broken it, everything was on the table, including five nuclear warheads. After another spy purge, only the Elders were in the know about the true mission.
Already, it would be complicated and incur huge losses. But the possible gain was worth every life here except his own. He watched the darkness with bated breath and keen eyes, looking for any signs of unnatural movement. His eyes caught on the guards patrolling the edges of the lengthening tunnel. Meanwhile, he did the same in the mindscape, though his location was hidden by the more advanced devices the gangs had access to. Not the most advanced, of course, but enough to ensure Justicar wouldn't know enough to intervene.
Numerous decoy and duplicate operations were happening simultaneously across the planet. Already, over fifty thousand gang members had been lost. It compensated well for the necessary increases and decreases in chatter. Justicar would continue to be diverted until it was too late for him.
Sprilnav marched on abandoned streets. He saw a few disguised Guides attempt to get calls out, but he'd been careful about which companies they had been assigned to. Each of them carried active jammers, which made their attempts fruitless.
The armies were like rivers of light, the flashlights on the guns they held swaying in near-perfect sync. Tens of thousands of Sprilnav mobilized from group homes, communal housing blocks, and the various homes and apartments of the Underground, marching to the call of their masters. Many like them were fighting already, and many more would meet the battle lines afterward. It was planned to intersect with the start of the Judgment, helping to damage Justicar and make him act rashly.
There were probably other reasons; that was just the official one given to Saleis. And he knew better than to look any deeper into it, at least with anything that could be traced back to him. Nothing and no one was truly safe down here. Those who thought they were lay dead and gone thousands of levels below, with scavengers picking at their bones and cracking them open for rotten marrow.
Saleis wondered if things could have turned out differently if Penny had just agreed to his offer. But since she hadn't and had instead set herself stupidly against the gangs, then he would ensure she would suffer for it. Their targets were manyfold, but he would ensure that they would all be hit if he could.
The large gun he kept on his back so he could fire when the battle began had smart bullets that would always hit a target. They were also customized to cause extreme damage to personal shields with specialized magnetic powders and disruption alloys.
Some of the workers started flagging.
"Keep it moving," he growled. "Slack off again, and two of you are losing limbs."
He brandished his sword in threat, and the mundane Sprilnav went back to their business. Arms shaking with the stress of exertion and bodies shaking with their fear of him, they continued moving the hefty amounts of fuel the machine required. Pipelines weren't being laid for this, so instead it was best to transport everything by claw. The Sprilnav were strong enough to do it. And if they weren't, they and their families paid the price.
After a few kilopulses, the tunnel bore stopped churning. It had drilled its way to the last few support columns. Many of the ones it had passed now had passages hollowed out to them.
"Lay them in, four by four!" he cried, making his sword flash a bright light to ensure their attention. Sprilnav slaves carried barrels of radioactive slurry over to the trigger areas. They were below critical mass and were useless in making weapons. But they would seed the area with radiation, further weakening any attempted counterassault through the tunnels by the Guides or the Correctors. With their stronger arsenals, the gangs would not risk them breaking through to the deeper layers of the Underground near here, with such a massive logistical hub having been made a good distance below.
The psychic protection units flared, their power brushing against several detectors. His implant chimed a warning, and Saleis was quickly notified of Guides deploying. The ruse would not hold up long. Androids hefted the nuclear warheads and placed them against the support columns. The ground started to shake. Shields went up, trapping the slaves and many of the remaining androids inside.
Saleis made the retreat, and the detonation program became active in his implant now that his task was complete. Additional pay in credits also was deposited in his private account, which made him smile. He spared no thoughts for the few thousand Sprilnav trapped within the shield. There were always more of them, after all.
Once he'd moved far enough away to have a third shield between him and the soon-to-be nuclear explosion, his implant buzzed. He opened it, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings. But the Elder who contacted him, at least his alias, was confirmed to be his assigned informant for this mission. It seemed everything was correct since no emergency stop messages had been attached.
"Yes?" he muttered.
"Execute now. The target is confirmed to be in the building."
"Very well."
Saleis activated the implant. A bright explosion flared where he'd been. Thick plasma and smoke filled the shield, and the light was filtered to safe levels. The first layer, just as he'd expected, had collapsed. And when he looked above, he saw cracks spreading across the ceiling. Thick chunks of rock and reinforced metal began to calve away before collapsing down.
A great rumbling groan followed the noise of breaking rock and tearing metal mixing in a cacophony of destruction, like a song of liberation against all who threatened him and his masters. Saleis couldn't help but smile at the sight, thinking of the great accomplishment he'd just made. The ground beneath him started to shake as well.
Saleis activated his jetpack, flying away before the spreading damage risked burying him. He moved up to the access tunnel, flying over the heads of hundreds of waiting soldiers. He used psychic energy to enhance his voice, increasing the magnitude of the vibrations he'd make. He brandished his sword, teeth glowing with cold menace. "Come forth, men! Today we strike a blow against the alien menace!"
2024.05.26 17:42 RedditoBurrito_ Starting out with HomeKit
I want to start with small smart home improvements. Mostly some smart lights and sockets. I don’t need any fancy things or to be able to turn on/off my lights when I’m away from home. Since I’m quite hesitant with my data and privacy, I’d like to keep my smart home appliances in HK and not having to use another app or hub other than a HomePod to connect. What are your recommendations for brands available in Europe, the Netherlands in particular?
I might bite the bullet and get the IKEA smart home line if my demands are too high. So any thoughts on that are more than welcome as well.
submitted by RedditoBurrito_ to homeautomation [link] [comments]
I might bite the bullet and get the IKEA smart home line if my demands are too high. So any thoughts on that are more than welcome as well.
2024.05.26 08:54 SwirlyManager-11 Conflict That Defines Us: Chapter 1. Awake
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This series of mine is a Narrative rewrite of Existing Destiny Content. This chapter specifically is of the First Mission, "A Guardian Rises".
Several Changes have been made in dialogue and over all flow. Lore has not been changed (At least, too drastically)
One notable change is that my version of this mission specifically takes place hundreds of years before Destiny 1, only several years after the Battle of Six Fronts.
This series is my rewrite of Destiny. My goal is to attempt to satisfy and remedy the various inconsistencies in writing and dialogue as well as Lore from the course of the Destiny Universe as well as including Lore from more recent Content. My other goal is also to make The Guardian (or in my rewrite's case, Guardians) more significant a factor in the story rather than letting us be a simply heavy-hitting plot device from which a player may interact with the world.
I wanted to give our Guardians Character and that will show as I introduce more Lightbearer Characters into this series as I continue to write.
Lastly, story is told through 2nd Person Perspective until the very end when it suddenly shifts to 1st Person. It was a risk I decided to take to make the story more intense but if it doesn't work, feel free to let me know!
Also pls point out Grammar Mistakes f you find any. I've been writing for 7 Straight hours because I got bored playing Competitive Crucible.
Criticism is Welcome! Have at thee!
STORY START:
You wake up.
You don’t know what you woke up from. A dreamy sleep? A cold coma? It doesn’t matter now.
You didn’t feel it at first. You really didn’t feel anything at all. That’s how it was for the past 4 Centuries since you died.
You died a scared man, traveling from white, sea washed shores to a frozen hell farther North. You feared death. You don’t remember anything. Of course you don’t. That’s what She wanted from you. That’s what She got. As soon as the warmth of those memories could be sensed, they were dragged away into nothingness.
Everything changed when you began to feel, though you didn’t know it at the time. All you knew was that you felt something warm upon your face and your body where there was once a hollowness indescribable.
Then the chill. A breeze of cold wind. And then the rustling. Sounds so familiar yet so unrecognizable to you. You hear a quiet voice whisper from directly above you,
“Eyes Up… please. Get up!… Lightbearer!”
Whatever the voice, it feels urgent. An order from an Angel on High, urging you to wake up from the Pit of Death you knowingly or unknowingly stumbled into. Your eyes attempt to function. You can see the Light from behind the lids you keep shut. You open your eyes.
You see nothing but a see of White for the first few seconds. Your eyes adjust and you can finally make out colors. A bright White Light on a sea of Blue, streaked with White splotches.
“Lightbearer! You’re awake!”
You crane your neck downwards, attempting to pinpoint the location of the Voice. Your eyes meet the Strangest Sight. An Orb, not even half the size of your own head, encircled by Triangular Shapes. The Orb at its Center with Blue Markings on a Sea of Black. Its eye.
You couldn’t take it in all at once. The shape was blurry at first. You took a good minute to make out the shape, and that thing continued to ramble as you did so. You groaned as you began to move your head. The Stimulus of every single perfectly working sense overwhelms you. The smell of dirt and iron. The Cold wind and concrete you lay upon. The sight of the bright Blue Sky and the even brighter White Star.
You sat up.
In front of you were rows upon rows of… cars... You still remember what they are...
There were trees, dead and brown, caked in White. “Snow” you thought. Despite the Heat of Sol, your Star, water was still capable of freezing over. To your Left, columns of Cars ran for miles. To your Right, an object of grandeur. A concrete and rusted metal wall running for what seems like Forever, whose signs you could no longer read, either because you didn’t know the language displayed or the sign was too far gone.
Your attention once again fell on the Drone-Like thing in front of you.
"I... finally found you... Lightbearer... Mine..." It speaks with apparent admiration and enthusiasm.
You try to speak. A small pack of wind blows out your mouth as you try to speak. A groan and slight whistle is all that comes out. As you continue to try, language flows back into your mind in a rush of sudden intelligence.
"Wh-... Haa...."
"Shhh.... It's ok... Don't strain yourself..." The Drone comforts you, floating near your face, its warm Blue Light caressing your face with its glow.
Questions begin to flow, spurred from your returning intelligence.
"It's all going to be okay... Lightbearer... We-" The Drone's voice is cut off as we hear a load roar. It's to your Left, passed the many rows of cars.
"No... Can you..." It pauses. "Can you move?"
You lift one arm, tentatively. Your skin, the color of the dead branches, tanned to the color of the dirt below you. You looked down at your legs, exposed to snow and dirt and twigs. Your whole body sat naked to the biting cold.
You stand up. The Drone floats back as it witnesses your strength returning. You take your first step. Your feet finds purchase on solid concrete. You take another, this time crunching a dead twig beneath your fragile heel.
A rush of cold wind flows by. Your skin pricks and sends shivers up and down your body. The Drone notices.
“Oh... right! Hold on..."
Out of its eye sparks a ray of Blue Light and the Twigs and Dirt surrounding you coalesce. The fibers of the dead are shaped to serve you as the rock, concrete, dirt, and twigs all form over your body. The fibers of the dead things are woven into fabric, the rocks and concrete turned into slabs covering various areas of your body, areas you somehow already knew were vital.
As the Drone finishes its work in forging protection for you, thousands upon thousands of questions race through your head. Your world spins in dizzying confusion. As the heat of the Drone's work ends, you collapse onto the ground. Your, now gloved, hands finding purchase on ash from burned and toasted twigs.
"What... am I... What are... you?" I look up at the Drone. It looks down on me. Its shell contorts in a friendly way.
"I'll explain everything... But we need to move!" It looks past the many cars on the Rusted Highway. "Follow me!"
You do as it says. The Drone floats towards the massive wall. You follow it, stumbling as you work your body, strong but unwieldy from decades of inactivity. You clamber over cars as you follow that Drone. As you make your way towards a rusted door, the Drone, with a burst of light, tears the door from its hinges, sending it flying into an adjacent wall, allowing you to enter. Before you do so, you turn around to see what is chasing you and that Drone.
The sight perplexes you. A humanoid thing, with a crested helmet. Four piercing Blue Eyes and a Dark Red Cloak. It has Four Arms, protected in Cream-Colored Armor. It brandishes something that appears to be a Rifle. Molten things drip from its barrels. Your eyes widen in fear as it raises its weapon at you.
"Lightbearer!" You hear that Drone call you out to break you from your stupor.
You enter the Wall. The Drone, with a ray of Light, picks up the door slumped by the wall and places it back where it was previously. Its hinges now fixed.
"It won't hold them for long... Let's move." The Drone speaks, guiding you further.
The inside of the Wall is dank. Moisture drips from old steel supports. Light enters through Orange tinted windows. Signs litter the decaying walls. You can barely make out the words.
"осторожно"
"Be careful" The Drone says as you make our way up a flight of stairs. As you do, you hear a soft movement emanating through the complex.
The pitter-patter of feet, the clenching of steel. From a decayed opening in the Walls of the complex, you catch a glimpse of something climbing up inside. The Shadows made it hard to visualize but you swore It wore a Red Cloak and Cream Armor, just like the thing outside.
"What..." You stumble back as something crawls up the opening in front of you.
"Keep Moving..." The Drone speaks up in stern determination. "I'm not losing you so soon..."
You exit a claustrophobic hallway and enter a Dark opening, a gap inside the Wall. You decide to walk over a balcony overlooking the imposing gap in the magnificent structure. Railings and catwalks cross the sides in vast webs of logistics.
As you look over the edge, you notice... Things... in the wall. Creatures climbed the rusted scaffolding. You hear something sounding like speech as Bright Blue Eyes centered upon you and that Drone. The Drone in question floated about, not minding the eyes upon it. You hear a strange whirring sound.
Looking over the edge, you see flat headed Drones, much more... rudimentary... than the Drone that guides you. They whir past the balcony, their fronts glowing with Orange Light.
"Okay... Okay... Maybe... just like..."
"Can... you tell me... what is... all of this..." You formulate your first complex sentence as the Drone floats about, tearing open panels and fiddling with Technology using its own Light.
"Like I said... I will explain everything... but we really need to move..." It declares as it rips open another rusted panel, this time fiddling with the ends of two wires.
"We're not... really moving, aren't we?" You say as you simply stare up at the Drone, trying to ignore the many Blue Eyes staring at your from the Darkness of the gash in the Wall.
"You were just Dead a few minutes ago and now your being all sassy with me?" It mumbles to itself.
"Look... Everything will be fine.... we... I... just have to-" Lights suddenly blare on. The Wall is illuminated. "YES! Haha!"
You look across the Balcony. The Light illuminating the owners of those Bright Blue pinpricks, revealing more of those Things. Four armed and robed in Red. Some of them have two arms, their second pair reduced to strange stumps.
"Fallen!" The Drone Yells. "Run... Run!"
Several Drones with Orange eyes whir up from below the Balcony. On their underside, long rifles point themselves to me. You take heed of your Drone's advice and run, following it to a pathway to the right of the Balcony, skirting a side of the wall. Blue bolts strike at the concrete beside you, leaving scorch marks and the smell of Ozone in its wake.
"What... is Going ON!" You yell to no one in particular as you hide behind a small crate on another Balcony. The Drone floats into a room across from you. The wood of your crate catches fire as the vibrant shots of your assailants, these Fallen, scorch the wood. You run towards that Drone as it shatters a crate with its Blue Light, revealing something known to you.
You understand nothing. Instinct takes over. You run to it and dive. You grab the contents of the shattered crate. A Rifle, its scope cracked but functional. You pick up a Magazine. Its Bronze casings glint in bright floodlights. You insert the Magazine and charge the rifle. You point it at the closest Orange-Eyed Drone and Fire.
Your shots land True. The Drones fall into the Chasm as their systems are damaged. In your rage and confusion you fire more shots at the Fallen climbing the rusted steel on the opposite end of the wall. They screech in apparent fear as a few of their numbers fall into the chasm.
"Nice Shot, Lightbearer!-" In your confusion you turn your rifle towards that Drone. "Hey!"
"What... is... going... on..." You say, sternly. Confusion and frustration boiling over into Rage.
"What am I...? What are you?.. What is all of this..? And how can I understand you...?"
The Drone makes a sound as though it is sighing.
"Come here..." It floats around a corner, its Blue Eye trained on you, beckoning you. "Make yourself hidden and we'll talk..."
You follow the Drone into another Hallway, this time wider and illuminated in White Floodlights.
"This will all sound very strange... Don't question it... just accept it..." You nod your head in understanding, encouraging the Drone to speak more.
"Those things... We call them Fallen... They're not from here... they're not very friendly..."
"You... are a Lightbearer... You have..." You wait for an answer. The Drone looks around as though it were thinking.
"You have Powers! Special Powers! Yes!- You are blessed with special powers in order to Fight for the Survival of Humanity!"
"What...?" You say in blank confusion. The Drone's explanation only triggers more questions in you but you don't pressure it.
"Why do these Fallen... why are they not friendly to us?" You ask.
The Drone stares at you for a few seconds formulating an answer.
"You are a Human, chosen by a being so much more than you could ever hope to be..." The Drone starts.
"I... I am a Ghost... of what? I don't really know myself... But I do know this..." The Drone-no... Ghost, Continues.
"I resurrected you... You were dead. In that resurrection, you were Reborn... You have no memory because the thing that sent me to you wanted you Free from its burden..." The Ghost Finishes.
"Who... sent you..." You ask.
"It has many names in many different languages and cultures... But you Humans... call it the Traveler..."
"The Traveler..." You repeat its name. "But what do these Fallen have to do with this... Traveler?"
"The Fallen are in a state of Rage... A few ago... they came, en-masse, towards Earth in a deadly assault... These Fallen seek the Traveler because it's currently theorized they were once blessed with its Light before us..."
You catch The Ghost's specific wording. Theorized, assault, blessed. You form another question, hoping for a clear cut answer as to what happened. What happened to your world and maybe, even, what happened to you...
"Theorized? By whom?"
"By the People... of the Last Safe City on Earth..." The Ghost replies slowly.
You stand there, rifle in hand, analyzing the very name. Last implies there are no major Cities, no major hubs of civilization. Safe implies that no where on Earth is safe enough for bastions of Civilization to form. You ask another question, hoping to find purpose.
"Where is this City?"
"I'll take you to it... We're an Ocean away... We need to find a ride to take you there... In the meantime, grab some ammo and we'll be-" The creaking of metal surprises you and the Ghost.
"No... They're coming! Eyes up Lightearer!"
The Ghost Suddenly dissolves into the aether. You hear its voice ring out inside your own head.
"Move it, Lightbearer!"
You don't question it as you speed down the wide hallway. The Fallen break in through loose panels. Smaller Fallen with only Two formidable arms jump out at you with blades and guns. Their guns, smaller than the ones owned by Four arms, still unleash the same Blue shots as before.
You raise your rifle and gun them down.
As your bullets tear through the lightly armored fallen, Blue Gas spills from the bullet holes within their body. Their skin, grey and shell-like, shattering as their bodies fall. One catches you by surprise, raising a dagger, sparkling in Electricity, to kill you with.
You don't let that happen. You grab the creature's arm. It's lighter than you thought. With Age-Old Instinct, you glare at the thing with the confusion of a cornered animal and crush the creature's arm. It yelps through needle-like teeth. You push it it to the ground. It wriggles in pain. You raise your rifle and place a bullet between its brilliant Blue eyes.
A Blue gaseous substance flows around the hallway.
"Don't breath that in." The Ghost inside your head advises. Sadly, it's a moment too late. You breath the substance in. It smelled like a mixture of Sulfur and Iron. You cough.
"That's... their blood..." The Ghost says in hidden disgust.
You groan in disgust, gently nudging a corpse with your legs. It's lighter and coarser. Its face is shriveled. You ignore it and speed on, running towards an opening leading once again to the gash in the Wall. This time, you spot a large bridge leading to the other side of the Wall.
Making sure that none of those creatures were following you, you sped across the bridge.
"Mind telling me what happened? What happened to my world... And what happened to my people... Humanity..." You ask as you reach the opposite end of the wall.
"Humanity..." It began. I blasts a Blue Ray into an Alien looking crate, opening it up. Inside was another weapon surrounded by pieces of Blue Crystal-looking things.
"Fell... The Traveler is a being of Healing and Growth... It made Humanity Thrive for a Thousand Years... Then... it's enemy found it... Humanity and the Traveler Fell... Collapsed..." It continued to explain as you walked up to the open Alien crate. You pick up the weapon. Rusted but functional. You look into the crate, seeing Red Shells. Shotgun Shells.
"Pick those up too..." The Ghost says as you pick up the shotgun shells. "No! The Blue things!" It clarifies.
You look and see the glowing Blue shards. You pick them up. It hums in your hand
"It's Glimmer. Pure potential... Matter and Energy stored in a single, Crystalline Form..."
"Keep it... It's a fuel source and currency... we'll need it."
You question not. You look to your body and notice several small pockets woven into your leggings. You shove the crystals into them and move on. You load several shells into the Shotgun you picked up. You go to take your Rifle but find it gone.
"I have your rifle. Don't worry." Your Ghost chirps up. You do not question it as you continue speeding off.
As you sped on, winding through rusted hallways, gunning through the foes that stand in your way, more questions form in the back of your mind. You open a rusted door and finally see the Light of the Sun. You walk out. You've made it to the other side of the Wall. You look to the skyline, seeing rising towers. No... Rockets. Long shipping containers atop broken vehicles remain rusting. Vehicles of war rust the same way, barrels of long dead guns point up and sideways in all different directions just as you are confused now.
"What is The Traveler's Enemy?" You ask as you hunker down in rusty room, peering out at the glass ringing the room's perimeter.
"Well... these Fallen are certainly your enemy..."
"But what about the enemy of the Traveler? Why did the Traveler Fall?"
"I'm going to let you know, I don't know much. I know you are confused, but I'm not going to lie, I am too..."
"You're not very helpful, aren't you..."
"Are you really this sassy?"
"Can you at least tell me what you know?"
"Sure... On the First Day, the Sky filled with Darkness... on the Second, the Traveler Fell..."
"Is that it?... Is that seriously all you know?"
"Alright... I'm going to explain something to you right now..." The Ghost materializes in front of you. in a flash of White Light.
"When the Traveler's Enemy fell onto it and onto Humanity... The Traveler fought it... struggling... It suffered injuries but it won..." The Ghost gently floats up, looking out at the Courtyard from the Window. You follow its sight, seeing Red Cloaked Fallen roaming about.
"The reason why I don't know much... was because the Traveler's Final Move... The Traveler's Sacrifice... was what birthed me..."
You stare at the Ghost. It stares back.
"I was born out in Space... I saw the Traveler... an orb of White Neutronium falling towards the Earth. I only knew one thing... I needed to find someone..."
"And that someone... is..." I ask, already piecing the answer in my head.
"You... I was looking for you..." The Ghost continues.
"There were Billions of us... We roamed throughout the System... scanning ancient debris and ruins... We were destroyed... fed upon... killed by all manners of weapons... We suffered... But ultimately all so we can find you..."
"And what did you do when you found me?"
"We brought you back... The Embrace of Death, you'll come to find, is nothing compared to the Powers at Play..."
"Why am I alive? Why did you bring me back? Was it because you had to?" you ask, gripping your rifle. "What is my purpose?"
"You want me to be really honest?" You nod in affirmation.
"You were resurrected to fight..."
"To fight what? A war?"
"Yes... you were brought back with instinct and immense power... to fight for your species and your new God..."
"Which is the Traveler?"
"Yes... The Traveler's Enemy... an all consuming Darkness... seeks to wash over everything you know... to Drown you in the Deep and smile..."
"are these Fallen... the Darkness?" You ask, looking up at the creatures, lounging about, waving their pistols at each other in a docile manner.
"No... but they are enemies..." The Ghost continues to explain. "After the Traveler fell, beings who've taken interest on it begun arriving into the system... These Fallen are one of Four..."
"And what of these other four..."
"The Fallen are the most tame... there are the Cabal... the Scouts of an Ancient Empire whose tendrils have managed to find your Star... The Vex... who have apparently been known by your species for some time, have been arriving to your desolate worlds turning everything into clocks and glass..."
You stare at the Ghost in confusion.
"That is not a Metaphor... And lastly... the Hive..." The Ghost looks up into the Sky. "They claimed your Moon... Wherein they practice their Arcana with impunity, taunting us with the chants of their Worm Gods..."
You and the Ghost remain there in silence before it speaks again, turning to you.
"I brought you back. I am Your Ghost... You are my Lightbearer... We need to find a way to the City... we're in an Old Russian Cosmodrome. Everything here hasn't been used in at least the Three Hundred Ninety-Something Years since the Collapse..."
You look around the Rusted building. You decide to open the dank cupboards and drawers hoping to find something useful.
"I found a Map..." You declare as you pull out a large swath of paper. Its quality is much newer than what its surroundings tell.
"It's New... It must be..." Your Ghost takes the piece of paper and analyzes it. It notices a small signature at the bottom left of the paper.
You analyze the Map. There is a clear Red Circle marking where the Map was placed.
"We are currently in the Divide..." you mention to your Ghost. You look over and see your Ghost analyzing a small ink line near the Bottom Left corner.
"Scouted and mapped by... Tallulah Fairwind... Who're they?"
"The Hunter Vanguard and his friend... They must've crawled around here sometime ago... We oughta thank them when we get to the City..."
"Hold on... what is a... 'Hunter Vanguard'?"
"Oh... right... Let's move... I'll explain it to you in the meantime... I have the Map analyzed. Let's head towards Dock Thirteen. There should be a ship there capable of making the Journey... Extra Glimmer wouldn't hurt too" Your Ghost disappears. You feel its presence in the Back of your Mind.
You leave that rusty shack. Your Ghost pinpoints the exact route towards Dock Thirteen. You venture towards the Dock. As you walk through decaying, moist rooms, you feel the weight of your situation fall upon you. You are a Lightbearer, gifted with Supposed Power... You do not know what that power is, only that you have it.
"The Hunter Vanguard is one of Three Leaders within the Lightbearer Society within the Last City. The other two being the Warlock Vanguard and Titan Vanguard... They all represent the Martial Leaders of the Surviving Humanity... They are also the Highest Magistrates of each of the City's Lightbearers..."
"They call themselves Guardians... Fitting I'd say. They make the defense of Humanity their Highest Priority. They usually keep to themselves and ever since the Six Front Battle a few years ago, they've done nothing but heal and repair. Commendable really... I wouldn't mind if you became a Guardian..."
"However, despite their Unity... There is an arbitrary split among the Population of the Lightbearers in the City... Depending on the Disciplines they choose to hone their power into, they either distinguish themselves as Titans, Warlocks, and hunters, each learning from the lessons of their own Magistrates, the Vanguard."
"Of course, the Vanguard is not the only Government... there is a City Consensus made up of various Lightless and Lightbearing people. There are Factions... Each Civilian, no matter the background, has a say, born from Human Recognition and the innate survival of Humanity at stake... Of course usually meaning the Consensus may take power from the people in key moments such as the Battle of Six Fronts a few years back-..."
You continue to listen to your Ghost's info dump as you make your way towards Dock Thirteen. You manage to find your way to an old terminal. You activate it. The Dusty screen shines awake into an Orange Screen. Your Ghost materializes and begins to manipulate the device, scanning through available vessels stored within the docks. Dock Thirteen contained Ten Docking Sites, all of which are labeled unoccupied barring one.
"That One! Our ticket Home!" Your Ghost cheers.
"Wonderful... Home..."
"You'll love the City..." Your Ghost encourages. "Its vibrancy... the Sentiment... The Culture? It's the Last Safe City on Earth! It's Humanity's Soul, through and through!"
"Maybe I will..." You declare.
You make your way to the last occupied docking site. It was befitting... about a dozen of the Fallen scuttle around a vessel, tied up in corded rope. You think of how to proceed. You think about the power you've been supposedly given... This... Light you have been assigned to Bear... How do you use it...
"Time to Learn..." Your Ghost says inside your head before materializing. It hovers into the open and yells out.
"HEY!"
This obviously attracts the Fallen to it. The Drone floats back towards you and disappears back into your head once more. The Fallen fall onto you.
"Damn you..." You mutter as you ready your shotgun.
These Fallen are larger. They all bore four arms and carried rifles or rifle-like armaments. They were cloaked in Red just like every other.
You fire your weapon. Three Fall before you, spilling their gaseous blood over the landscape. You run towards cover, rotating about a pillar, hiding from Blue Dart-like things which weaved and flagellated around the room towards you. Several charged at you. Two armed Fallen with Spears and Glaives, tips buzzing with Electricity, stabbed and swiped at you with abandon. Several find its mark into your skin and armor. You feel the Electricity surge through you. In pain, you grit your teeth and throw them off, rushing away.
You turn your weapon back towards them, firing several shots, the pellets ripping through the least armored ones. You hear a crackle behind you. You instinctively duck. You smell Ozone as you luck up and see Four Blue Eyes peering from almost nothingness as the air shimmered. You thought of nothing as you tackled the invisible foe. You take your shotgun and, like a hammer, smash your shotgun's stock against the creature's mask. It shatters both mask and face.
Enraged, the largest Fallen fires several shots from its weapon, a clawed rifle dripping molten metal. You feel several of the shots bury themselves into your armor and into skin. You fall back in pain as the fiber and cloth of your armor catch on fire. You continue to push beyond the pain and fire. You turn and see the largest Fallen reload its rifle, its magazine falling to the floor. You take your chance.
You discard your Shotgun, letting it fall aside. You instinctively reach for your rifle by reaching to your back. Your hands find purchase as your rifle materializes behind you and your shotgun disappears into Blue Data.
You fire several shots into your opponent. A Blue Field of Energy encompasses the creature, absorbing all damage, giving the creature enough time to reload and send another flurry of Molten Lead at you. You close your eyes, fearing the pain.
You fall back to warmth caressing your face as expected. You open your eyes and expect to see your body broken but find only minor damages this time around.
"Wards up! Understand It!"
"Understand what?" You shout to your Ghost inside your head. You roll and run behind another pillar. Several Fallen approach you with Daggers and pistols. You gun them down with your rifle before taking cover once more.
"Where is my shotgun?" You shout out loud.
"I have it!" You hear your Ghost say, exasperated.
"Give it to me then!"
"Just think of yourself swapping weapons as though it's stowed where it is..." The Ghost explains to your confusion.
You do as it says. You drop the Rifle. You watch it dematerialize and your shotgun rematerialize in your hand.
"You have so much to explain..."
"I know... but we have more pressing matters! Remember what you did!"
"I thought of it?" You question as you dodged and wove through enemy fire, shooting what you can. You take some extra shots in your pocket and load them before firing off more.
"NO! You Willed it." Your Ghost clarifies.
Willed it. That's what it said, no?
"But how is my Will supposed to make a difference here?"
"That's how you use the power you've been Blessed with!"
You think of what your Ghost says. At least, until you were knocked off your feet with a tackle. The Fallen who tackled you raises a knife to finally put an end to you. You crane your neck aside so it misses. You overpower it, pushing it off you and rising to your feet. Several more Fallen charge you with Electrified Spears and Swords. You try your best to hold them off.
You weave past their blades, using your shotgun like a club, spilling their gaseous blood. The smell of the carnage makes itself more intoxicating. You yell out in pain as one of the Fallen manages to stab you in the stomach, the blade itself frying your insides. You feel your consciousness wane.
"Fight or Die... Which one is it..." You hear your Ghost mumble in the back of your mind.
You grit your teeth, grabbing your stabber's arm, pulling them closer. You punch them in the face. You turn to another attacker just as it tries to stab you. You grab its spear and send it to the side as you kick its knees out from under it and crush its head on the ground.
You pull out the sword with great effort. Your warm blood spilling onto the cold, pale grass inside the docking site. The sight of your own blood enrages you. You hear the largest of the Fallen bark out orders. The rest of them back off.
One of the creatures decides to flank you. With a dagger, it attempts to stab you from behind.
You hear the crackle of its dagger before it strikes. The rage and frustration you feel boil over.
You are bleeding. You are dying. Your organs are fried yet you still live. You declare you will continue to live within your mind. You hate these things simply because they hate you back. You hate them. You need to survive.
Survive
Survive
I need to survive.
I whirl around. With a glare, I grasp my attacker's wrist, bringing its spider-like arms down before sending my own wrist into a strike. The heel of my palm, wreathed in Fire, collides with my attacker's chin. It makes no noises as it collapses into Ash and Orange Sparkle.
"You did it..." My Ghost speaks up.
I turn around with a glare to my opponents. The largest of the Fallen, the Captain of the group, barks an order. Its entourage flees. It discards its Molten Lead Rifle and unsheathes two swords. They hum to life with Blue Sparks.
I clench my fists. I feel the warmth encompass me, but I feel my rage propel me on. As the Fallen Leader charges at me, I raise my arms up to defend myself. The thing's blades catch my arms as expected, but the damage it does is minimal once more. It bounces off my rudimentary armor with minimal pain. I open my eyes to see my whole body covered in Fire. It's warm but it doesn't burn me. The Fallen Captain staggers back. I steel myself for another attack.
I Hear nothing inside my ears but the roar of flames. I don't know what I'm doing, but I do what's natural. As the Captain passes again with a flurry of slices, I weave and dodge, jabbing at the creature. My punches land, scorching its cloak and armor.
I remember what my Ghost advised earlier. To Will. That's how to use this Power. And so I did. When the Captain swiped for my head, I ducked and Willed into being a ball of Fire nestled in my palm. I struck my palm towards the Captain's Chest. In one moment, it lived. The second, it died.
Its corpse fell back. Everything, including the armor and technology making it up, burns to ash. Flames spread from a hole in its chest. It doesn't scream as everything became Dust.
My Rage subsides.
"You did it... You used the Light..."
"You... need.... to explain yourself..."
"Now... hold on..."
"NOW!" I shout, angry and frustrated at the Lack of answers.
"Okay! Okay! Just let me..." My Ghost appears in front of me. I glare at it.
"Just... hold still..." It orders. I grunt as I do its bidding.
It fires a Blue Beam into my grievous wound, still dripping with Blood. I stagger with pain. However, just as soon as it spiked, it soon fell away, replaced with a comforting warmth.
"There... All healed..."
"Why...
"Your Power comes from the Traveler... Comes from the Light..." It begins to explain.
"The Power to create something from simple Will, it defies all laws of physics... manifesting as simple Flame and Combustion... to Arcing Lightning and Magnetism... to the Energy of the very Vacuum itself..."
"Your power is the Power inherent to Nature given form by your will. The Light is your power's source. I am your power's conduit... So long as I live... these Miracles are yours to command..." My Ghost speaks in determined spirit. It turns and looks at the vessel corded in wire and rope, several panels torn off.
"This Will do..."
"Why hide all of this?" I ask. My frustration subsiding.
"I needed you to understand, by yourself, how it works. How to access it and what its effects can potentially be..."
"So I can just... Conjure Fire from the palm of my hand just like that?"
"And Electricity... and the Vacuum... Well... the proper names you Humans have given them are Solar, Arc, and Void respectively..."
My mind spins in the possibilities.
"Hey! Understand this, Lightbearer Mine... You're special to me because you are Mine and I am yours... But don't think you're hot stuff just because of this..." My Ghost floats around me, speaking in a serious tone.
"Where's this coming from?" I ask, concerned.
"You're not the first Lightbearer I've seen... I've seen many... Many who've fallen to Avarice, Lust, and Wrath... You are in possession of Power beyond the Universe... but understand the use of that power..."
I nod in acceptance.
"You Will use it to defend Humanity."
"Yes... Why shouldn't I..?"
Satisfied, my Ghost floats near my face.
"No reason. Humanity is cowering behind walls. I'm not about to let those innocent people suffer because I was cursed with a Lightbearer with a specific Type of Ambition..."
I look to the vessel the Fallen had lashed up. I extend my palm towards a strand of rope. I will my palms to light. Fire once again circles around my arm, coalescing into a ball, then firing at the rope, quickly burning it. I free the Ship from its confines. It crashes not-to-subtly into the concrete floor, thankfully not suffering too much damage. My Ghost zaps a panel on the ship's hull, opening a door on its underside. I enter.
The Ship was really, really old. Nothing but Dust and Echoes remained. The inside was uneventful. Entering the Ship, to the left was a sleeping bag attached to the ship's inner hull. To the Right was a set of drawers. Set on top of the drawers was a picture of a Family of Three. Crouching over to the cockpit, I find a dusty Skeleton. I look over at the Picture, then back to the Skeleton.
Sorry. But I'm going to need your ship...
I remove the Picture and roll off all the bones from the cockpit. I flush out every item inside the Ship that isn't part of the ship itself. Everything that I consider a belonging of the long-dead man, I set onto the Cosmodrome ground.
"Hey... Ghost... Can you... make a ditch?"
"For... him?"
"Yes... Please..."
My Ghost, using a ray of Blue Light, tears up the Dirt and Concrete in the docking site's floor. I drop every belonging and bone into the Ditch. Before I order my Ghost to bury it all, I will a fire onto my finger tips and set everything ablaze.
With everything reduced to ash, I bury him. The unknown Pilot of a Ship that is to be my Salvation...
We board the Ship. My Ghost analyzes the controls and instructs me appropriately. I open a compartment near the backside of the ship and dump in the Glimmer I have collected. I return to the front of the Ship and start it.
Soon enough, we take to the skies. The Snowy landscape expands below me as I take off into the Stratosphere. My Ghost feeds Data into the Ship, pinning the coordinates to the Last Safe City... A whole Continent and Ocean away...
We fly in silence.
submitted by SwirlyManager-11 to DestinyJournals [link] [comments]
This series of mine is a Narrative rewrite of Existing Destiny Content. This chapter specifically is of the First Mission, "A Guardian Rises".
Several Changes have been made in dialogue and over all flow. Lore has not been changed (At least, too drastically)
One notable change is that my version of this mission specifically takes place hundreds of years before Destiny 1, only several years after the Battle of Six Fronts.
This series is my rewrite of Destiny. My goal is to attempt to satisfy and remedy the various inconsistencies in writing and dialogue as well as Lore from the course of the Destiny Universe as well as including Lore from more recent Content. My other goal is also to make The Guardian (or in my rewrite's case, Guardians) more significant a factor in the story rather than letting us be a simply heavy-hitting plot device from which a player may interact with the world.
I wanted to give our Guardians Character and that will show as I introduce more Lightbearer Characters into this series as I continue to write.
Lastly, story is told through 2nd Person Perspective until the very end when it suddenly shifts to 1st Person. It was a risk I decided to take to make the story more intense but if it doesn't work, feel free to let me know!
Also pls point out Grammar Mistakes f you find any. I've been writing for 7 Straight hours because I got bored playing Competitive Crucible.
Criticism is Welcome! Have at thee!
You don’t know what you woke up from. A dreamy sleep? A cold coma? It doesn’t matter now.
You didn’t feel it at first. You really didn’t feel anything at all. That’s how it was for the past 4 Centuries since you died.
You died a scared man, traveling from white, sea washed shores to a frozen hell farther North. You feared death. You don’t remember anything. Of course you don’t. That’s what She wanted from you. That’s what She got. As soon as the warmth of those memories could be sensed, they were dragged away into nothingness.
Everything changed when you began to feel, though you didn’t know it at the time. All you knew was that you felt something warm upon your face and your body where there was once a hollowness indescribable.
Then the chill. A breeze of cold wind. And then the rustling. Sounds so familiar yet so unrecognizable to you. You hear a quiet voice whisper from directly above you,
“Eyes Up… please. Get up!… Lightbearer!”
Whatever the voice, it feels urgent. An order from an Angel on High, urging you to wake up from the Pit of Death you knowingly or unknowingly stumbled into. Your eyes attempt to function. You can see the Light from behind the lids you keep shut. You open your eyes.
You see nothing but a see of White for the first few seconds. Your eyes adjust and you can finally make out colors. A bright White Light on a sea of Blue, streaked with White splotches.
“Lightbearer! You’re awake!”
You crane your neck downwards, attempting to pinpoint the location of the Voice. Your eyes meet the Strangest Sight. An Orb, not even half the size of your own head, encircled by Triangular Shapes. The Orb at its Center with Blue Markings on a Sea of Black. Its eye.
You couldn’t take it in all at once. The shape was blurry at first. You took a good minute to make out the shape, and that thing continued to ramble as you did so. You groaned as you began to move your head. The Stimulus of every single perfectly working sense overwhelms you. The smell of dirt and iron. The Cold wind and concrete you lay upon. The sight of the bright Blue Sky and the even brighter White Star.
You sat up.
In front of you were rows upon rows of… cars... You still remember what they are...
There were trees, dead and brown, caked in White. “Snow” you thought. Despite the Heat of Sol, your Star, water was still capable of freezing over. To your Left, columns of Cars ran for miles. To your Right, an object of grandeur. A concrete and rusted metal wall running for what seems like Forever, whose signs you could no longer read, either because you didn’t know the language displayed or the sign was too far gone.
Your attention once again fell on the Drone-Like thing in front of you.
"I... finally found you... Lightbearer... Mine..." It speaks with apparent admiration and enthusiasm.
You try to speak. A small pack of wind blows out your mouth as you try to speak. A groan and slight whistle is all that comes out. As you continue to try, language flows back into your mind in a rush of sudden intelligence.
"Wh-... Haa...."
"Shhh.... It's ok... Don't strain yourself..." The Drone comforts you, floating near your face, its warm Blue Light caressing your face with its glow.
Questions begin to flow, spurred from your returning intelligence.
"It's all going to be okay... Lightbearer... We-" The Drone's voice is cut off as we hear a load roar. It's to your Left, passed the many rows of cars.
"No... Can you..." It pauses. "Can you move?"
You lift one arm, tentatively. Your skin, the color of the dead branches, tanned to the color of the dirt below you. You looked down at your legs, exposed to snow and dirt and twigs. Your whole body sat naked to the biting cold.
You stand up. The Drone floats back as it witnesses your strength returning. You take your first step. Your feet finds purchase on solid concrete. You take another, this time crunching a dead twig beneath your fragile heel.
A rush of cold wind flows by. Your skin pricks and sends shivers up and down your body. The Drone notices.
“Oh... right! Hold on..."
Out of its eye sparks a ray of Blue Light and the Twigs and Dirt surrounding you coalesce. The fibers of the dead are shaped to serve you as the rock, concrete, dirt, and twigs all form over your body. The fibers of the dead things are woven into fabric, the rocks and concrete turned into slabs covering various areas of your body, areas you somehow already knew were vital.
As the Drone finishes its work in forging protection for you, thousands upon thousands of questions race through your head. Your world spins in dizzying confusion. As the heat of the Drone's work ends, you collapse onto the ground. Your, now gloved, hands finding purchase on ash from burned and toasted twigs.
"What... am I... What are... you?" I look up at the Drone. It looks down on me. Its shell contorts in a friendly way.
"I'll explain everything... But we need to move!" It looks past the many cars on the Rusted Highway. "Follow me!"
You do as it says. The Drone floats towards the massive wall. You follow it, stumbling as you work your body, strong but unwieldy from decades of inactivity. You clamber over cars as you follow that Drone. As you make your way towards a rusted door, the Drone, with a burst of light, tears the door from its hinges, sending it flying into an adjacent wall, allowing you to enter. Before you do so, you turn around to see what is chasing you and that Drone.
The sight perplexes you. A humanoid thing, with a crested helmet. Four piercing Blue Eyes and a Dark Red Cloak. It has Four Arms, protected in Cream-Colored Armor. It brandishes something that appears to be a Rifle. Molten things drip from its barrels. Your eyes widen in fear as it raises its weapon at you.
"Lightbearer!" You hear that Drone call you out to break you from your stupor.
You enter the Wall. The Drone, with a ray of Light, picks up the door slumped by the wall and places it back where it was previously. Its hinges now fixed.
"It won't hold them for long... Let's move." The Drone speaks, guiding you further.
The inside of the Wall is dank. Moisture drips from old steel supports. Light enters through Orange tinted windows. Signs litter the decaying walls. You can barely make out the words.
"осторожно"
"Be careful" The Drone says as you make our way up a flight of stairs. As you do, you hear a soft movement emanating through the complex.
The pitter-patter of feet, the clenching of steel. From a decayed opening in the Walls of the complex, you catch a glimpse of something climbing up inside. The Shadows made it hard to visualize but you swore It wore a Red Cloak and Cream Armor, just like the thing outside.
"What..." You stumble back as something crawls up the opening in front of you.
"Keep Moving..." The Drone speaks up in stern determination. "I'm not losing you so soon..."
You exit a claustrophobic hallway and enter a Dark opening, a gap inside the Wall. You decide to walk over a balcony overlooking the imposing gap in the magnificent structure. Railings and catwalks cross the sides in vast webs of logistics.
As you look over the edge, you notice... Things... in the wall. Creatures climbed the rusted scaffolding. You hear something sounding like speech as Bright Blue Eyes centered upon you and that Drone. The Drone in question floated about, not minding the eyes upon it. You hear a strange whirring sound.
Looking over the edge, you see flat headed Drones, much more... rudimentary... than the Drone that guides you. They whir past the balcony, their fronts glowing with Orange Light.
"Okay... Okay... Maybe... just like..."
"Can... you tell me... what is... all of this..." You formulate your first complex sentence as the Drone floats about, tearing open panels and fiddling with Technology using its own Light.
"Like I said... I will explain everything... but we really need to move..." It declares as it rips open another rusted panel, this time fiddling with the ends of two wires.
"We're not... really moving, aren't we?" You say as you simply stare up at the Drone, trying to ignore the many Blue Eyes staring at your from the Darkness of the gash in the Wall.
"You were just Dead a few minutes ago and now your being all sassy with me?" It mumbles to itself.
"Look... Everything will be fine.... we... I... just have to-" Lights suddenly blare on. The Wall is illuminated. "YES! Haha!"
You look across the Balcony. The Light illuminating the owners of those Bright Blue pinpricks, revealing more of those Things. Four armed and robed in Red. Some of them have two arms, their second pair reduced to strange stumps.
"Fallen!" The Drone Yells. "Run... Run!"
Several Drones with Orange eyes whir up from below the Balcony. On their underside, long rifles point themselves to me. You take heed of your Drone's advice and run, following it to a pathway to the right of the Balcony, skirting a side of the wall. Blue bolts strike at the concrete beside you, leaving scorch marks and the smell of Ozone in its wake.
"What... is Going ON!" You yell to no one in particular as you hide behind a small crate on another Balcony. The Drone floats into a room across from you. The wood of your crate catches fire as the vibrant shots of your assailants, these Fallen, scorch the wood. You run towards that Drone as it shatters a crate with its Blue Light, revealing something known to you.
You understand nothing. Instinct takes over. You run to it and dive. You grab the contents of the shattered crate. A Rifle, its scope cracked but functional. You pick up a Magazine. Its Bronze casings glint in bright floodlights. You insert the Magazine and charge the rifle. You point it at the closest Orange-Eyed Drone and Fire.
Your shots land True. The Drones fall into the Chasm as their systems are damaged. In your rage and confusion you fire more shots at the Fallen climbing the rusted steel on the opposite end of the wall. They screech in apparent fear as a few of their numbers fall into the chasm.
"Nice Shot, Lightbearer!-" In your confusion you turn your rifle towards that Drone. "Hey!"
"What... is... going... on..." You say, sternly. Confusion and frustration boiling over into Rage.
"What am I...? What are you?.. What is all of this..? And how can I understand you...?"
The Drone makes a sound as though it is sighing.
"Come here..." It floats around a corner, its Blue Eye trained on you, beckoning you. "Make yourself hidden and we'll talk..."
You follow the Drone into another Hallway, this time wider and illuminated in White Floodlights.
"This will all sound very strange... Don't question it... just accept it..." You nod your head in understanding, encouraging the Drone to speak more.
"Those things... We call them Fallen... They're not from here... they're not very friendly..."
"You... are a Lightbearer... You have..." You wait for an answer. The Drone looks around as though it were thinking.
"You have Powers! Special Powers! Yes!- You are blessed with special powers in order to Fight for the Survival of Humanity!"
"What...?" You say in blank confusion. The Drone's explanation only triggers more questions in you but you don't pressure it.
"Why do these Fallen... why are they not friendly to us?" You ask.
The Drone stares at you for a few seconds formulating an answer.
"You are a Human, chosen by a being so much more than you could ever hope to be..." The Drone starts.
"I... I am a Ghost... of what? I don't really know myself... But I do know this..." The Drone-no... Ghost, Continues.
"I resurrected you... You were dead. In that resurrection, you were Reborn... You have no memory because the thing that sent me to you wanted you Free from its burden..." The Ghost Finishes.
"Who... sent you..." You ask.
"It has many names in many different languages and cultures... But you Humans... call it the Traveler..."
"The Traveler..." You repeat its name. "But what do these Fallen have to do with this... Traveler?"
"The Fallen are in a state of Rage... A few ago... they came, en-masse, towards Earth in a deadly assault... These Fallen seek the Traveler because it's currently theorized they were once blessed with its Light before us..."
You catch The Ghost's specific wording. Theorized, assault, blessed. You form another question, hoping for a clear cut answer as to what happened. What happened to your world and maybe, even, what happened to you...
"Theorized? By whom?"
"By the People... of the Last Safe City on Earth..." The Ghost replies slowly.
You stand there, rifle in hand, analyzing the very name. Last implies there are no major Cities, no major hubs of civilization. Safe implies that no where on Earth is safe enough for bastions of Civilization to form. You ask another question, hoping to find purpose.
"Where is this City?"
"I'll take you to it... We're an Ocean away... We need to find a ride to take you there... In the meantime, grab some ammo and we'll be-" The creaking of metal surprises you and the Ghost.
"No... They're coming! Eyes up Lightearer!"
The Ghost Suddenly dissolves into the aether. You hear its voice ring out inside your own head.
"Move it, Lightbearer!"
You don't question it as you speed down the wide hallway. The Fallen break in through loose panels. Smaller Fallen with only Two formidable arms jump out at you with blades and guns. Their guns, smaller than the ones owned by Four arms, still unleash the same Blue shots as before.
You raise your rifle and gun them down.
As your bullets tear through the lightly armored fallen, Blue Gas spills from the bullet holes within their body. Their skin, grey and shell-like, shattering as their bodies fall. One catches you by surprise, raising a dagger, sparkling in Electricity, to kill you with.
You don't let that happen. You grab the creature's arm. It's lighter than you thought. With Age-Old Instinct, you glare at the thing with the confusion of a cornered animal and crush the creature's arm. It yelps through needle-like teeth. You push it it to the ground. It wriggles in pain. You raise your rifle and place a bullet between its brilliant Blue eyes.
A Blue gaseous substance flows around the hallway.
"Don't breath that in." The Ghost inside your head advises. Sadly, it's a moment too late. You breath the substance in. It smelled like a mixture of Sulfur and Iron. You cough.
"That's... their blood..." The Ghost says in hidden disgust.
You groan in disgust, gently nudging a corpse with your legs. It's lighter and coarser. Its face is shriveled. You ignore it and speed on, running towards an opening leading once again to the gash in the Wall. This time, you spot a large bridge leading to the other side of the Wall.
Making sure that none of those creatures were following you, you sped across the bridge.
"Mind telling me what happened? What happened to my world... And what happened to my people... Humanity..." You ask as you reach the opposite end of the wall.
"Humanity..." It began. I blasts a Blue Ray into an Alien looking crate, opening it up. Inside was another weapon surrounded by pieces of Blue Crystal-looking things.
"Fell... The Traveler is a being of Healing and Growth... It made Humanity Thrive for a Thousand Years... Then... it's enemy found it... Humanity and the Traveler Fell... Collapsed..." It continued to explain as you walked up to the open Alien crate. You pick up the weapon. Rusted but functional. You look into the crate, seeing Red Shells. Shotgun Shells.
"Pick those up too..." The Ghost says as you pick up the shotgun shells. "No! The Blue things!" It clarifies.
You look and see the glowing Blue shards. You pick them up. It hums in your hand
"It's Glimmer. Pure potential... Matter and Energy stored in a single, Crystalline Form..."
"Keep it... It's a fuel source and currency... we'll need it."
You question not. You look to your body and notice several small pockets woven into your leggings. You shove the crystals into them and move on. You load several shells into the Shotgun you picked up. You go to take your Rifle but find it gone.
"I have your rifle. Don't worry." Your Ghost chirps up. You do not question it as you continue speeding off.
As you sped on, winding through rusted hallways, gunning through the foes that stand in your way, more questions form in the back of your mind. You open a rusted door and finally see the Light of the Sun. You walk out. You've made it to the other side of the Wall. You look to the skyline, seeing rising towers. No... Rockets. Long shipping containers atop broken vehicles remain rusting. Vehicles of war rust the same way, barrels of long dead guns point up and sideways in all different directions just as you are confused now.
"What is The Traveler's Enemy?" You ask as you hunker down in rusty room, peering out at the glass ringing the room's perimeter.
"Well... these Fallen are certainly your enemy..."
"But what about the enemy of the Traveler? Why did the Traveler Fall?"
"I'm going to let you know, I don't know much. I know you are confused, but I'm not going to lie, I am too..."
"You're not very helpful, aren't you..."
"Are you really this sassy?"
"Can you at least tell me what you know?"
"Sure... On the First Day, the Sky filled with Darkness... on the Second, the Traveler Fell..."
"Is that it?... Is that seriously all you know?"
"Alright... I'm going to explain something to you right now..." The Ghost materializes in front of you. in a flash of White Light.
"When the Traveler's Enemy fell onto it and onto Humanity... The Traveler fought it... struggling... It suffered injuries but it won..." The Ghost gently floats up, looking out at the Courtyard from the Window. You follow its sight, seeing Red Cloaked Fallen roaming about.
"The reason why I don't know much... was because the Traveler's Final Move... The Traveler's Sacrifice... was what birthed me..."
You stare at the Ghost. It stares back.
"I was born out in Space... I saw the Traveler... an orb of White Neutronium falling towards the Earth. I only knew one thing... I needed to find someone..."
"And that someone... is..." I ask, already piecing the answer in my head.
"You... I was looking for you..." The Ghost continues.
"There were Billions of us... We roamed throughout the System... scanning ancient debris and ruins... We were destroyed... fed upon... killed by all manners of weapons... We suffered... But ultimately all so we can find you..."
"And what did you do when you found me?"
"We brought you back... The Embrace of Death, you'll come to find, is nothing compared to the Powers at Play..."
"Why am I alive? Why did you bring me back? Was it because you had to?" you ask, gripping your rifle. "What is my purpose?"
"You want me to be really honest?" You nod in affirmation.
"You were resurrected to fight..."
"To fight what? A war?"
"Yes... you were brought back with instinct and immense power... to fight for your species and your new God..."
"Which is the Traveler?"
"Yes... The Traveler's Enemy... an all consuming Darkness... seeks to wash over everything you know... to Drown you in the Deep and smile..."
"are these Fallen... the Darkness?" You ask, looking up at the creatures, lounging about, waving their pistols at each other in a docile manner.
"No... but they are enemies..." The Ghost continues to explain. "After the Traveler fell, beings who've taken interest on it begun arriving into the system... These Fallen are one of Four..."
"And what of these other four..."
"The Fallen are the most tame... there are the Cabal... the Scouts of an Ancient Empire whose tendrils have managed to find your Star... The Vex... who have apparently been known by your species for some time, have been arriving to your desolate worlds turning everything into clocks and glass..."
You stare at the Ghost in confusion.
"That is not a Metaphor... And lastly... the Hive..." The Ghost looks up into the Sky. "They claimed your Moon... Wherein they practice their Arcana with impunity, taunting us with the chants of their Worm Gods..."
You and the Ghost remain there in silence before it speaks again, turning to you.
"I brought you back. I am Your Ghost... You are my Lightbearer... We need to find a way to the City... we're in an Old Russian Cosmodrome. Everything here hasn't been used in at least the Three Hundred Ninety-Something Years since the Collapse..."
You look around the Rusted building. You decide to open the dank cupboards and drawers hoping to find something useful.
"I found a Map..." You declare as you pull out a large swath of paper. Its quality is much newer than what its surroundings tell.
"It's New... It must be..." Your Ghost takes the piece of paper and analyzes it. It notices a small signature at the bottom left of the paper.
You analyze the Map. There is a clear Red Circle marking where the Map was placed.
"We are currently in the Divide..." you mention to your Ghost. You look over and see your Ghost analyzing a small ink line near the Bottom Left corner.
"Scouted and mapped by... Tallulah Fairwind... Who're they?"
"The Hunter Vanguard and his friend... They must've crawled around here sometime ago... We oughta thank them when we get to the City..."
"Hold on... what is a... 'Hunter Vanguard'?"
"Oh... right... Let's move... I'll explain it to you in the meantime... I have the Map analyzed. Let's head towards Dock Thirteen. There should be a ship there capable of making the Journey... Extra Glimmer wouldn't hurt too" Your Ghost disappears. You feel its presence in the Back of your Mind.
You leave that rusty shack. Your Ghost pinpoints the exact route towards Dock Thirteen. You venture towards the Dock. As you walk through decaying, moist rooms, you feel the weight of your situation fall upon you. You are a Lightbearer, gifted with Supposed Power... You do not know what that power is, only that you have it.
"The Hunter Vanguard is one of Three Leaders within the Lightbearer Society within the Last City. The other two being the Warlock Vanguard and Titan Vanguard... They all represent the Martial Leaders of the Surviving Humanity... They are also the Highest Magistrates of each of the City's Lightbearers..."
"They call themselves Guardians... Fitting I'd say. They make the defense of Humanity their Highest Priority. They usually keep to themselves and ever since the Six Front Battle a few years ago, they've done nothing but heal and repair. Commendable really... I wouldn't mind if you became a Guardian..."
"However, despite their Unity... There is an arbitrary split among the Population of the Lightbearers in the City... Depending on the Disciplines they choose to hone their power into, they either distinguish themselves as Titans, Warlocks, and hunters, each learning from the lessons of their own Magistrates, the Vanguard."
"Of course, the Vanguard is not the only Government... there is a City Consensus made up of various Lightless and Lightbearing people. There are Factions... Each Civilian, no matter the background, has a say, born from Human Recognition and the innate survival of Humanity at stake... Of course usually meaning the Consensus may take power from the people in key moments such as the Battle of Six Fronts a few years back-..."
You continue to listen to your Ghost's info dump as you make your way towards Dock Thirteen. You manage to find your way to an old terminal. You activate it. The Dusty screen shines awake into an Orange Screen. Your Ghost materializes and begins to manipulate the device, scanning through available vessels stored within the docks. Dock Thirteen contained Ten Docking Sites, all of which are labeled unoccupied barring one.
"That One! Our ticket Home!" Your Ghost cheers.
"Wonderful... Home..."
"You'll love the City..." Your Ghost encourages. "Its vibrancy... the Sentiment... The Culture? It's the Last Safe City on Earth! It's Humanity's Soul, through and through!"
"Maybe I will..." You declare.
You make your way to the last occupied docking site. It was befitting... about a dozen of the Fallen scuttle around a vessel, tied up in corded rope. You think of how to proceed. You think about the power you've been supposedly given... This... Light you have been assigned to Bear... How do you use it...
"Time to Learn..." Your Ghost says inside your head before materializing. It hovers into the open and yells out.
"HEY!"
This obviously attracts the Fallen to it. The Drone floats back towards you and disappears back into your head once more. The Fallen fall onto you.
"Damn you..." You mutter as you ready your shotgun.
These Fallen are larger. They all bore four arms and carried rifles or rifle-like armaments. They were cloaked in Red just like every other.
You fire your weapon. Three Fall before you, spilling their gaseous blood over the landscape. You run towards cover, rotating about a pillar, hiding from Blue Dart-like things which weaved and flagellated around the room towards you. Several charged at you. Two armed Fallen with Spears and Glaives, tips buzzing with Electricity, stabbed and swiped at you with abandon. Several find its mark into your skin and armor. You feel the Electricity surge through you. In pain, you grit your teeth and throw them off, rushing away.
You turn your weapon back towards them, firing several shots, the pellets ripping through the least armored ones. You hear a crackle behind you. You instinctively duck. You smell Ozone as you luck up and see Four Blue Eyes peering from almost nothingness as the air shimmered. You thought of nothing as you tackled the invisible foe. You take your shotgun and, like a hammer, smash your shotgun's stock against the creature's mask. It shatters both mask and face.
Enraged, the largest Fallen fires several shots from its weapon, a clawed rifle dripping molten metal. You feel several of the shots bury themselves into your armor and into skin. You fall back in pain as the fiber and cloth of your armor catch on fire. You continue to push beyond the pain and fire. You turn and see the largest Fallen reload its rifle, its magazine falling to the floor. You take your chance.
You discard your Shotgun, letting it fall aside. You instinctively reach for your rifle by reaching to your back. Your hands find purchase as your rifle materializes behind you and your shotgun disappears into Blue Data.
You fire several shots into your opponent. A Blue Field of Energy encompasses the creature, absorbing all damage, giving the creature enough time to reload and send another flurry of Molten Lead at you. You close your eyes, fearing the pain.
You fall back to warmth caressing your face as expected. You open your eyes and expect to see your body broken but find only minor damages this time around.
"Wards up! Understand It!"
"Understand what?" You shout to your Ghost inside your head. You roll and run behind another pillar. Several Fallen approach you with Daggers and pistols. You gun them down with your rifle before taking cover once more.
"Where is my shotgun?" You shout out loud.
"I have it!" You hear your Ghost say, exasperated.
"Give it to me then!"
"Just think of yourself swapping weapons as though it's stowed where it is..." The Ghost explains to your confusion.
You do as it says. You drop the Rifle. You watch it dematerialize and your shotgun rematerialize in your hand.
"You have so much to explain..."
"I know... but we have more pressing matters! Remember what you did!"
"I thought of it?" You question as you dodged and wove through enemy fire, shooting what you can. You take some extra shots in your pocket and load them before firing off more.
"NO! You Willed it." Your Ghost clarifies.
Willed it. That's what it said, no?
"But how is my Will supposed to make a difference here?"
"That's how you use the power you've been Blessed with!"
You think of what your Ghost says. At least, until you were knocked off your feet with a tackle. The Fallen who tackled you raises a knife to finally put an end to you. You crane your neck aside so it misses. You overpower it, pushing it off you and rising to your feet. Several more Fallen charge you with Electrified Spears and Swords. You try your best to hold them off.
You weave past their blades, using your shotgun like a club, spilling their gaseous blood. The smell of the carnage makes itself more intoxicating. You yell out in pain as one of the Fallen manages to stab you in the stomach, the blade itself frying your insides. You feel your consciousness wane.
"Fight or Die... Which one is it..." You hear your Ghost mumble in the back of your mind.
You grit your teeth, grabbing your stabber's arm, pulling them closer. You punch them in the face. You turn to another attacker just as it tries to stab you. You grab its spear and send it to the side as you kick its knees out from under it and crush its head on the ground.
You pull out the sword with great effort. Your warm blood spilling onto the cold, pale grass inside the docking site. The sight of your own blood enrages you. You hear the largest of the Fallen bark out orders. The rest of them back off.
One of the creatures decides to flank you. With a dagger, it attempts to stab you from behind.
You hear the crackle of its dagger before it strikes. The rage and frustration you feel boil over.
You are bleeding. You are dying. Your organs are fried yet you still live. You declare you will continue to live within your mind. You hate these things simply because they hate you back. You hate them. You need to survive.
Survive
Survive
I need to survive.
I whirl around. With a glare, I grasp my attacker's wrist, bringing its spider-like arms down before sending my own wrist into a strike. The heel of my palm, wreathed in Fire, collides with my attacker's chin. It makes no noises as it collapses into Ash and Orange Sparkle.
"You did it..." My Ghost speaks up.
I turn around with a glare to my opponents. The largest of the Fallen, the Captain of the group, barks an order. Its entourage flees. It discards its Molten Lead Rifle and unsheathes two swords. They hum to life with Blue Sparks.
I clench my fists. I feel the warmth encompass me, but I feel my rage propel me on. As the Fallen Leader charges at me, I raise my arms up to defend myself. The thing's blades catch my arms as expected, but the damage it does is minimal once more. It bounces off my rudimentary armor with minimal pain. I open my eyes to see my whole body covered in Fire. It's warm but it doesn't burn me. The Fallen Captain staggers back. I steel myself for another attack.
I Hear nothing inside my ears but the roar of flames. I don't know what I'm doing, but I do what's natural. As the Captain passes again with a flurry of slices, I weave and dodge, jabbing at the creature. My punches land, scorching its cloak and armor.
I remember what my Ghost advised earlier. To Will. That's how to use this Power. And so I did. When the Captain swiped for my head, I ducked and Willed into being a ball of Fire nestled in my palm. I struck my palm towards the Captain's Chest. In one moment, it lived. The second, it died.
Its corpse fell back. Everything, including the armor and technology making it up, burns to ash. Flames spread from a hole in its chest. It doesn't scream as everything became Dust.
My Rage subsides.
"You did it... You used the Light..."
"You... need.... to explain yourself..."
"Now... hold on..."
"NOW!" I shout, angry and frustrated at the Lack of answers.
"Okay! Okay! Just let me..." My Ghost appears in front of me. I glare at it.
"Just... hold still..." It orders. I grunt as I do its bidding.
It fires a Blue Beam into my grievous wound, still dripping with Blood. I stagger with pain. However, just as soon as it spiked, it soon fell away, replaced with a comforting warmth.
"There... All healed..."
"Why...
"Your Power comes from the Traveler... Comes from the Light..." It begins to explain.
"The Power to create something from simple Will, it defies all laws of physics... manifesting as simple Flame and Combustion... to Arcing Lightning and Magnetism... to the Energy of the very Vacuum itself..."
"Your power is the Power inherent to Nature given form by your will. The Light is your power's source. I am your power's conduit... So long as I live... these Miracles are yours to command..." My Ghost speaks in determined spirit. It turns and looks at the vessel corded in wire and rope, several panels torn off.
"This Will do..."
"Why hide all of this?" I ask. My frustration subsiding.
"I needed you to understand, by yourself, how it works. How to access it and what its effects can potentially be..."
"So I can just... Conjure Fire from the palm of my hand just like that?"
"And Electricity... and the Vacuum... Well... the proper names you Humans have given them are Solar, Arc, and Void respectively..."
My mind spins in the possibilities.
"Hey! Understand this, Lightbearer Mine... You're special to me because you are Mine and I am yours... But don't think you're hot stuff just because of this..." My Ghost floats around me, speaking in a serious tone.
"Where's this coming from?" I ask, concerned.
"You're not the first Lightbearer I've seen... I've seen many... Many who've fallen to Avarice, Lust, and Wrath... You are in possession of Power beyond the Universe... but understand the use of that power..."
I nod in acceptance.
"You Will use it to defend Humanity."
"Yes... Why shouldn't I..?"
Satisfied, my Ghost floats near my face.
"No reason. Humanity is cowering behind walls. I'm not about to let those innocent people suffer because I was cursed with a Lightbearer with a specific Type of Ambition..."
I look to the vessel the Fallen had lashed up. I extend my palm towards a strand of rope. I will my palms to light. Fire once again circles around my arm, coalescing into a ball, then firing at the rope, quickly burning it. I free the Ship from its confines. It crashes not-to-subtly into the concrete floor, thankfully not suffering too much damage. My Ghost zaps a panel on the ship's hull, opening a door on its underside. I enter.
The Ship was really, really old. Nothing but Dust and Echoes remained. The inside was uneventful. Entering the Ship, to the left was a sleeping bag attached to the ship's inner hull. To the Right was a set of drawers. Set on top of the drawers was a picture of a Family of Three. Crouching over to the cockpit, I find a dusty Skeleton. I look over at the Picture, then back to the Skeleton.
Sorry. But I'm going to need your ship...
I remove the Picture and roll off all the bones from the cockpit. I flush out every item inside the Ship that isn't part of the ship itself. Everything that I consider a belonging of the long-dead man, I set onto the Cosmodrome ground.
"Hey... Ghost... Can you... make a ditch?"
"For... him?"
"Yes... Please..."
My Ghost, using a ray of Blue Light, tears up the Dirt and Concrete in the docking site's floor. I drop every belonging and bone into the Ditch. Before I order my Ghost to bury it all, I will a fire onto my finger tips and set everything ablaze.
With everything reduced to ash, I bury him. The unknown Pilot of a Ship that is to be my Salvation...
We board the Ship. My Ghost analyzes the controls and instructs me appropriately. I open a compartment near the backside of the ship and dump in the Glimmer I have collected. I return to the front of the Ship and start it.
Soon enough, we take to the skies. The Snowy landscape expands below me as I take off into the Stratosphere. My Ghost feeds Data into the Ship, pinning the coordinates to the Last Safe City... A whole Continent and Ocean away...
We fly in silence.
2024.05.26 06:01 rGamesModBot Indie Sunday Hub - May 26, 2024
Welcome to another Indie Sunday! This event starts at 12 AM EST and will run for 24 hours.
Please read the below guidelines carefully before participating. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to send us a modmail.
A reminder that Rule 8 is not enforced during this event for submissions which follow the participation guidelines.
Previous Indie Sunday
submitted by rGamesModBot to Games [link] [comments]
Please read the below guidelines carefully before participating. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to send us a modmail.
A reminder that Rule 8 is not enforced during this event for submissions which follow the participation guidelines.
Submission Restrictions
- Games may be unreleased or finished
- You must provide video footage of the game in action. This can be a prototype, alpha, beta, etc. Images and concept art are nice but you must include a trailer or video of gameplay footage of the game.
- No key/game giveaways
- Only developers may make submissions for their games - if you would like to highlight a game on your own, please do so in this hub thread
- The same game/developer can not be shared more than once every 30 days.
Submission Format
- Submission must be a self-post (No direct links)
- Title: Game Name - Company (or individual) Name - Short description (for example: "classic turn based RPG" or "platformer inspired by Metroidvanias")
- Flair: Indie Sunday
- Body: Any links to trailers/footage, a description of the game, plans for release (platform, target date, etc), any additional information you'd like to add.
Weekly Spotlight
- Pixel Washer - Valadria - Relaxing 2D power washing action
- Rogue Hex - Topstitch Games - Civilization meets Slay the Spire
- SpaceKraft! - Game Dev Garage - SpaceKraft is a physics based spaceship simulation which you craft elements and explore the open world.
- Cricket: Jae's Really Peculiar Game - Studio Kumiho - Cartoon Animated Heartfelt Turn Based RPG
- Poke ALL Toads - SpaceMatra - A game about mischievous fairies and upset toads
- Ad Agency Simulator - DoDo Game - Realistic Simulation Game: "Think, Design and Promote Ads"
- ZERO PROTOCOL - R_Games - First-person sci-fi survival horror.
- KingdomScape - NookCrew - Turn Based Roguelike Card Game
- Einstein's Cats - Firebird Games - A cozy puzzle game where you sort cats into boxes based on logic clues (First trailer out!)
- Sheep Sweep - Elegant Horse Studios - Save missing sheep in a hobby project inspired by 'It Takes Two' and 'Human Fall Flat'
- Dark Laws - GVA Game Studio - Third Person Medieval Fantasy Extraction Looter
- Marko: Beyond Brave - Studio Mechka - Hand-drawn 2D Action Adventure
- Yolk Heroes: A Long Tamago - Matthew Ritter - JRPG + Idle game + Virtual Pet = Fun?
- Boomerang Jack - Recall Interactive - Piratey Adventure with over-the-top Boomerang Combat
- Minesweeper Collector 2 - Anton Kryukov - Big minesweeper game with a storyline, a variety of minesweeper-based mechanics and level editor Demo available
- HeroBot! - FellsSwordGames - A Kirby/MegaMan Inspired Platformer!
- Call of Sentinels - A17 Games - Roguelike Isometric Action, innovative mix of bullet hell and survival roguelite with hand-drawn Story Mode and Arena Leaderboards. Leaving Early Access very soon!
- Final Factory - Never Games - Large scale automation game set in space; Update 1 out now!
- The Last Flame - Hotloop - Roguelike Auto-Battler that focuses on Build Creation and Strategy
- Delven - NikZ - [Demo Available] Mining exploration game with deep itemization and skill trees, inspired by Factorio, Terraria and Path of Exile
- Jousting Manager - Ouroboros Studio - Run a medieval jousting team in this Sports Management Game. Demo release on May 31st
- Block Strategy - Marc Makes Games - Singleplayer RTS with a fully destructible world
- ROIDERS - Melonic Games - As an asteroid miner, compete for resources against waves of alien enemies or multiplayer matches with your friends.
- Perfect Dice - Tilt Station - Dice based roguelike
- Sir Bucket - FatLadGames - Choose your own adventure game playing as a Bucket with a wisecracking narrator.
- Galaxy Highways - Nanopike - Story-driven top-down space shooter where you complete various attack/defend missions while managing your health by defeating enemy waves sent by a special defense system and completing optional missions.
- Worshippers of Cthulhu - Crazy Goat Games - Horror city builder - Can you endure the horrors you unleash?
- Wéko The Mask Gatherer - SIRO GAMES - A Magical Indie Adventure Coming Summer 2024 (DEMO Available on Steam!)
- Land of Symbiosis - Aberratic - Procedural Open World Co-op Survival Game Inspired by Valheim and V Rising featuring vibes of The Riftbreaker and Helldivers 1.
- The Big Below - Steven Aucott - A retro, top-down action/adventure game with a little gnome as the hero
- Wild Planet - MonkeyFactory - Explore, Craft, and Survive: Dive into a Chill Survival Game
- The Storyteller - Any Button - Play or create classic RPG campaigns, fight in a turn-based combat, gear yourself, or design your own adventure for FREE on Steam!
- Crapette ! - Romain Bitard - klondike but up to 4 players (kinda)
- Auto Immune - Distant Signal Games - A biology themed Auto Battler + Tower Defense mashup, with physics contraptions and multiplayer
- Tribe Nation (Random Worlds Games): A small roguelike real time strategy set during the period of the Gallic Wars.
- Duck Detective - Happy Broccoli Games - Hard-boiled detective & duck
- Rogues Don't Cry - Fun Enters The Chat - a tough strategy/roguelike with army building
- Pip My Dice - Fokaz - Yahtzee on steroids, inspired from Balatro
- Teo Dove Am Skater 2 - olee - Skateboarding game inspired by THPS2 for the Gameboy Advanced - DEMO available
- Do NOT Press The Button (To Delete The Multiverse) – Theseus Games – A first person exploration featuring comedic narrative. Inspired by games like "The Stanley Parable" and GladOS from Portal.
- God For A Day - by Funky Forest - narrative-based simulation, you play as God and shape the city's destiny by making decisions: bless or condemn city residents. Inspired by 'Papers, Please', 'Death and Taxes' 'That's not my neighbor'
- Rack and Slay - Ludokultur - the dungeon-crawling billiard roguelike
- HeistGeist - Doublequote Studio - Story-focused Cyberpunk RPG about the fallout of the ‘one last job’ going terribly wrong
- Goblin Camp - Korppi Games - Fantasy city-builder inspired by Finnish mythology
- Slum Dweller - Crooked Hands - realistic physics-based 3D-fighting
- Poker Warlords - SkeleJelly Games - Gamble your chips on the outcome of autobattler fights!
- Venture to the Vile - Cut to Bits - 2.5D Metroidvania
Feedback
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below, or send us a modmail if it is urgent.Discussion
- Any of these games catch your eye?
- Any games you want to personally highlight that haven't been shared yet?
- Any projects that have had interesting development journeys?
- What indie game recommendations do you have?
2024.05.25 22:49 Lost_In_Transalation Yeah, this game isn't as bad as I thought it would be, though it is really fun so far
 | submitted by Lost_In_Transalation to EnterTheGungeon [link] [comments] |
2024.05.25 06:37 Sin-God A New Chain: Thinking of Tomorrow
The campgrounds are mostly abandoned this time of year, and that's part of their appeal. I wander through a dense web of trees and slowly make my way there, as my incredible senses alert me to activity and life as close as under my feet and as far away as some miles from my current location. I've acclimated to so many facets of my powers that I feel reasonably certain I can handle even the worst this forest can throw at me, though I hope I won't have to. I shouldn't, there are no animals that would be a danger to me close by.
"I wonder if there are jumps for things like animal handling..." I mutter, as I glance up at some nearby trees and spot birds glancing at me. I can feel their curiosity, "Super Sensory" and "Well of Wisdom" powerfully mixing to allow me to understand how even distant animals are feeling. A jump for animal handling would be a fun one to visit, especially if it comes with a way to bring animals with me.
The thought of leaving this world behind is... somewhat unpleasant. There's a lot I like about the normalcy of this place. I've come to appreciate things like my tiny apartment, and the stability of my life here. I have less than a year left in this place, and that knowledge feels... a lot less exciting than I'd have thought some years ago when I began my chain.
I reach my campsite and sit down beside my tent. I reach into my inventory, doing so openly since there's no one around me, and retrieve my tablet. I take a beat to study the calendar app on the device and spot that my last day in this world is actually a Saturday, and that makes me wince. The knowledge that I won't spend my last day with my colleagues is an interesting one, and not in a pleasant way. I'm not super close to anyone in this world, I've purposefully closed myself off to an extent, but I've just gotten used to seeing some friends almost every day and the knowledge that I won't be seeing them soon sits a bit oddly in my heart.
it is early in the morning and today is my last full day of camping. I spend the morning relaxing by my campsite, and when the sun gets high I head over to the lake again. I look out at the lake and wonder if this is the last time I'll be seeing it.
The water is crystal clear, and as I study it I allow myself a moment to think about what comes next. I've actually been careful to avoid doing this all that often over the course of the last few years, as I have no idea what other jumps will be like.
I point a finger at the lake and cast my telekinetic spell at it. A single, decently large amount of water starts to float out of the lake, under my control, as I think about the future I make the water float up and down, taking this chance to exercise my pseudo-telekinetic abilities. Much to my chagrin I've still yet to unlock any of the big classes I've really dreamed about. I'm not a bard, or a psychic, and the fact that I'm not either one of those kind of bums me out a little. I definitely thought I'd get the chance to be one of them by the time the jump came to an end, and while there's still time I don't love how little time there is.
Over the course of the last few years I've worked hard to stop myself from speculating about other jumps. I've idly wondered little things here and there, but for the most part I've been good about keeping my curiosity from really getting out of hand. That said, as I manipulate the lake water I wonder about what sort of settings would be good for me to visit next.
Not every setting is generic. I know this because it's something my benefactor, the formal title my boss used to refer to himself, explained that evening that I met him. He personally explained that in the future I'll be able to visit places like the Mushroom Kingdom or New Vegas, and that if I wanted to I could visit Kanto or the Village Hidden In The Leaves. The knowledge that I can visit real versions of places I know through fiction, hits a little different after the life I've lived here, especially now that I'm in the final stretch of this adventure. I could see myself living a happy life in a place like Animal Crossing, a peaceful world where I could see about setting my apartment up in the infamous city of City Folks. I could land another job and actually work as some sort of crime-fighting vigilante.
Alternatively I could go to a classic adventure setting like one of the Super Mario games, or Station Square, one of the hub zones of the first Sonic Adventure game. There is something incredibly fascinating about the fact that I get to pick my next jump, especially since I don't know if I would have chosen this place as my first setting. I am mundane enough that it's difficult for me to do most truly supernatural things with some minor exceptions, and I am too supernatural for this place to have been a true slice-of-life setting. And, perhaps worst of all, I couldn't actually train hard enough to reach the potential heights of my powers here, which means that if I want to really grow then I need to visit a place with some danger next.
I use my telekinesis to drag the water over to my hand and I lazily stretch my hand into it. The water is cold to the touch, but my ability to do even this is a testament to how far I've stretched and honed my spatial magic. The skill is an odd one for me to have focused on, but to be fair the reason I can do even this much is a combination of me actually training the skill and the super cheese that is "Master of All" causing any training I do to add itself to all of my skills. I focus on the water and raise another hand pointing it, palm out at the water. I shut my eyes and cast a spell. I grit my teeth as I feel the water solidify and when I open my eyes the water is now ice. The spell is a relatively new addition to my repertoire, and it's not the most fun in terms of magical energy efficiency, but its potential is intense.
I swing my ice-covered fist around for a bit as I recall different sorts of "Ice-Bending" performed by the Avatar and his friends during the saga of Avatar the Last Airbender. I smile as I take in the potential of this sort of ability and spell, as well as while I think about the fact that there is almost certainly an Avatar the Last Airbender jump, and I briefly wonder if I could BE the Avatar. Doing so would be very neat, all things considered.
My benefactor explained the concept of "Fiat-Backing" only in the vaguest of terms the day that we met. He told me that it was the name of the process by which abilities are guaranteed to work in one setting and continue to work in others, saying that in exchange for points or as a reward for completing "scenarios", the stuff one gains will work in a new place even without the prerequisite physics.
My mini-map, something I purchased with points, is guaranteed to work in a future setting unless I take a drawback that disables it or locks me out of my non-setting-based abilities. If I become the avatar and complete some scenario or something I'd get to keep my avatar powers, including the innate abilities of multi-element bending. That'd be a lot of fun, though going from here to Avatar might not be the wisest move, as that's a bit of a leap in power.
I pound the ice around my fist and wince when it shatters. I have inflicted some damage on myself, but I know that in seconds I'll begin to heal. I glance at my reddened skin, due to direct contact with the ice, and in moments the skin begins to visibly heal. In less than a minute it is back to normal, giving me a very rare opportunity to observe my healing factor, something I possess due to my "HP System" perk, in action.
When my endurance attribute hit 50 points the skill I received was named "Vitality" and it seems to be linked to my ability to recover from wounds and damage, even damage so superficial that it doesn't actually knock down my total "Hit Points". This kind of damage is the damage I suffered just now where something is probably, at least technically, bad for me but doesn't harm me in any meaningful sense. I HAVE suffered hitpoint damage in this setting, mostly when I spar with my friends, but the damage has always been so light and so infrequent that I've never even been at less than full when a fight has ended. Somehow... I get the distinct feeling that unless I'm a coward I won't be continuing this trend in my next jump. Thankfully I've prepared for that eventuality in a rather odd way: my gacha system.
The number of actual devices and things I get from my gacha mechanic that are permanent, long-term items is surprisingly small. A lot, and I mean thousands, of my things are minor consumables that I've had no reason to use so I've ended up storing them like a Skyrim player overpreparing for a tough dungeon. I have everything from minor scrolls of magic fit for my magic system to poisons and potions either intended to coat a weapon or be downed by an ally or I. The small fortune I have in potions and poisons is fascinating, as I've seen hundreds of different effects that would be bestowed upon someone who drinks one of my potions or gets afflicted with one of my poisons. The thought of actually testing these nifty things out is kind of exciting, since I've had no real reason to use any of them before now.
The rest of the day passes in a blur. Before I know it I find myself in my tent and I am meditating.
The sun has set and darkness has overtaken everything outside of my tent. I make use of my dual-track mind to think about work while my other stream of consciousness gets hilariously zen. My magical power is currently in a nearly depleted state but it is gradually recovering, with a single point replenishing my bar every few seconds. This is a WILD improvement over how long it originally took me to refill my bar of magic, so even as inconvenient as this is it's still something I'm proud of. As I sit in silent meditation I wonder if my two-track mind will ever become a three-track one. That'd be kind of neat, to be honest.
The meditation takes a few minutes before I've fully restored my stores of magical energy. When I finish I continue to use my magic, beginning a cycle I've done every night I've gone camping. Before long the sun is creeping back out over the horizon, and it's time for me to pack up using my inventory ability and make my way to a nearby bus stop.
Buses have been a good friend to me throughout this jump. I've made regular use of them throughout the last nine years, though mostly only for big, special destinations. That's another thing I think I might miss when I go to my next jump. I don't know if my next trip will take me to a modern place with contemporary public transit.
The next few weeks begin to pass by in a rapid blur. Looking back on them I realize that I decided pretty early on to not act odd yet, since a year is still a pretty lengthy amount of time and getting fired would still count as a jump fail, costing me "Severance Pay". That'd really suck, and could potentially cost me the sort of freedom that comes with passively making a few thousand dollars every week.
I currently make 68,500 a year, thanks to my status as a supervisor coupled with the work I also do for a plethora of other people in my building. I'm hoping to get one final pay raise this year that'll push me to somewhere in the range of 70-71K, which would allow me to leave this jump and get a passive amount of money equal to almost 3,000 dollars every two weeks. That's an enormous passive income, and while I do not doubt for one second that jumpers who go to the right settings can easily make more than that it'd be a stunning amount for me to make while sitting on my ass in a future jump. Plus there's the reality that in the right jumps I could just let this money build while I do other things, which is nice. If I save my money for a decade I'll leave a setting with over half of a million dollars, or the equivalent amount, in my multiversal bank account!
As weeks turn into a few months I do make slight alterations to my routine. I've already snagged a few survival skills, but I begin to snag some more when, just days after I returned from camping I go out and buy a gun. I tell myself that it's just for self-defense, and as a way to feel a touch safer going into a new setting but I take Hannah to a shooting range and we both enjoy the activity enough to make it a bimonthly adventure we go out on. That said, there are difficulties with bringing a gun that I don't love depending on the setting I next visit, the primary of which are logistical in nature. I have no idea if the next place I'm visiting will have bullets and I have no skills or abilities which somehow counter this weakness such as a skill which can allow me to make bullets, or some sort of ability to use the gun as a magical focus I can fire magic through. Still, I'll just stock up on stuff before I leave this setting.
During this time I also gain a fascinating new healing spell: "Inanimate recovery", a healing spell that works on inanimate objects and non-living things. A part of me is surprised that a spell like this exists at all, since I've gained a variety of healing spells and none that restore and fix objects but this spell quickly becomes a staple of mine that I use to gain a reputation as a handyman. This reputation brings with it a new title; "Imposter" which makes me better at acts of deception that involve tricking people into thinking I'm something I'm not. Titles... have been quite rare, but I suspect that this has to do with my undoubtedly predictable propensity for avoiding conflict and danger, but the titles I've earned have been fun. In addition to this new title I've also earned a title relating to the pride I take in fighting people publicly, a title for acting, a title for entertaining people, my "Arcane Sneak" title, and my "Unsung Saint" title. Each title is solidly powerful, though due to my low level I can only equip one at a time. That'll change... eventually,
I do successfully stay on track to receive the final promotion I want when I hit the five month marker. I'll be getting either good news or an explanation in a week, but today is a Sunday which means it's time for me to do some volunteering! I can't help but hide the smile on my face as I exit my apartment and begin the short walk to the church.
A/N: I checked and data entry supervisors can earn between 55-73K a year. I figured this absolute unit would be worth investing in and giving a decently high salary. 71K/12 is almost 6,000 a month, which if divided by 2 is almost 3,000 dollars a month. That's a NICE chunk of cash for doing nothing.
submitted by Sin-God to JumpChain [link] [comments]
"I wonder if there are jumps for things like animal handling..." I mutter, as I glance up at some nearby trees and spot birds glancing at me. I can feel their curiosity, "Super Sensory" and "Well of Wisdom" powerfully mixing to allow me to understand how even distant animals are feeling. A jump for animal handling would be a fun one to visit, especially if it comes with a way to bring animals with me.
The thought of leaving this world behind is... somewhat unpleasant. There's a lot I like about the normalcy of this place. I've come to appreciate things like my tiny apartment, and the stability of my life here. I have less than a year left in this place, and that knowledge feels... a lot less exciting than I'd have thought some years ago when I began my chain.
I reach my campsite and sit down beside my tent. I reach into my inventory, doing so openly since there's no one around me, and retrieve my tablet. I take a beat to study the calendar app on the device and spot that my last day in this world is actually a Saturday, and that makes me wince. The knowledge that I won't spend my last day with my colleagues is an interesting one, and not in a pleasant way. I'm not super close to anyone in this world, I've purposefully closed myself off to an extent, but I've just gotten used to seeing some friends almost every day and the knowledge that I won't be seeing them soon sits a bit oddly in my heart.
it is early in the morning and today is my last full day of camping. I spend the morning relaxing by my campsite, and when the sun gets high I head over to the lake again. I look out at the lake and wonder if this is the last time I'll be seeing it.
The water is crystal clear, and as I study it I allow myself a moment to think about what comes next. I've actually been careful to avoid doing this all that often over the course of the last few years, as I have no idea what other jumps will be like.
I point a finger at the lake and cast my telekinetic spell at it. A single, decently large amount of water starts to float out of the lake, under my control, as I think about the future I make the water float up and down, taking this chance to exercise my pseudo-telekinetic abilities. Much to my chagrin I've still yet to unlock any of the big classes I've really dreamed about. I'm not a bard, or a psychic, and the fact that I'm not either one of those kind of bums me out a little. I definitely thought I'd get the chance to be one of them by the time the jump came to an end, and while there's still time I don't love how little time there is.
Over the course of the last few years I've worked hard to stop myself from speculating about other jumps. I've idly wondered little things here and there, but for the most part I've been good about keeping my curiosity from really getting out of hand. That said, as I manipulate the lake water I wonder about what sort of settings would be good for me to visit next.
Not every setting is generic. I know this because it's something my benefactor, the formal title my boss used to refer to himself, explained that evening that I met him. He personally explained that in the future I'll be able to visit places like the Mushroom Kingdom or New Vegas, and that if I wanted to I could visit Kanto or the Village Hidden In The Leaves. The knowledge that I can visit real versions of places I know through fiction, hits a little different after the life I've lived here, especially now that I'm in the final stretch of this adventure. I could see myself living a happy life in a place like Animal Crossing, a peaceful world where I could see about setting my apartment up in the infamous city of City Folks. I could land another job and actually work as some sort of crime-fighting vigilante.
Alternatively I could go to a classic adventure setting like one of the Super Mario games, or Station Square, one of the hub zones of the first Sonic Adventure game. There is something incredibly fascinating about the fact that I get to pick my next jump, especially since I don't know if I would have chosen this place as my first setting. I am mundane enough that it's difficult for me to do most truly supernatural things with some minor exceptions, and I am too supernatural for this place to have been a true slice-of-life setting. And, perhaps worst of all, I couldn't actually train hard enough to reach the potential heights of my powers here, which means that if I want to really grow then I need to visit a place with some danger next.
I use my telekinesis to drag the water over to my hand and I lazily stretch my hand into it. The water is cold to the touch, but my ability to do even this is a testament to how far I've stretched and honed my spatial magic. The skill is an odd one for me to have focused on, but to be fair the reason I can do even this much is a combination of me actually training the skill and the super cheese that is "Master of All" causing any training I do to add itself to all of my skills. I focus on the water and raise another hand pointing it, palm out at the water. I shut my eyes and cast a spell. I grit my teeth as I feel the water solidify and when I open my eyes the water is now ice. The spell is a relatively new addition to my repertoire, and it's not the most fun in terms of magical energy efficiency, but its potential is intense.
I swing my ice-covered fist around for a bit as I recall different sorts of "Ice-Bending" performed by the Avatar and his friends during the saga of Avatar the Last Airbender. I smile as I take in the potential of this sort of ability and spell, as well as while I think about the fact that there is almost certainly an Avatar the Last Airbender jump, and I briefly wonder if I could BE the Avatar. Doing so would be very neat, all things considered.
My benefactor explained the concept of "Fiat-Backing" only in the vaguest of terms the day that we met. He told me that it was the name of the process by which abilities are guaranteed to work in one setting and continue to work in others, saying that in exchange for points or as a reward for completing "scenarios", the stuff one gains will work in a new place even without the prerequisite physics.
My mini-map, something I purchased with points, is guaranteed to work in a future setting unless I take a drawback that disables it or locks me out of my non-setting-based abilities. If I become the avatar and complete some scenario or something I'd get to keep my avatar powers, including the innate abilities of multi-element bending. That'd be a lot of fun, though going from here to Avatar might not be the wisest move, as that's a bit of a leap in power.
I pound the ice around my fist and wince when it shatters. I have inflicted some damage on myself, but I know that in seconds I'll begin to heal. I glance at my reddened skin, due to direct contact with the ice, and in moments the skin begins to visibly heal. In less than a minute it is back to normal, giving me a very rare opportunity to observe my healing factor, something I possess due to my "HP System" perk, in action.
When my endurance attribute hit 50 points the skill I received was named "Vitality" and it seems to be linked to my ability to recover from wounds and damage, even damage so superficial that it doesn't actually knock down my total "Hit Points". This kind of damage is the damage I suffered just now where something is probably, at least technically, bad for me but doesn't harm me in any meaningful sense. I HAVE suffered hitpoint damage in this setting, mostly when I spar with my friends, but the damage has always been so light and so infrequent that I've never even been at less than full when a fight has ended. Somehow... I get the distinct feeling that unless I'm a coward I won't be continuing this trend in my next jump. Thankfully I've prepared for that eventuality in a rather odd way: my gacha system.
The number of actual devices and things I get from my gacha mechanic that are permanent, long-term items is surprisingly small. A lot, and I mean thousands, of my things are minor consumables that I've had no reason to use so I've ended up storing them like a Skyrim player overpreparing for a tough dungeon. I have everything from minor scrolls of magic fit for my magic system to poisons and potions either intended to coat a weapon or be downed by an ally or I. The small fortune I have in potions and poisons is fascinating, as I've seen hundreds of different effects that would be bestowed upon someone who drinks one of my potions or gets afflicted with one of my poisons. The thought of actually testing these nifty things out is kind of exciting, since I've had no real reason to use any of them before now.
The rest of the day passes in a blur. Before I know it I find myself in my tent and I am meditating.
The sun has set and darkness has overtaken everything outside of my tent. I make use of my dual-track mind to think about work while my other stream of consciousness gets hilariously zen. My magical power is currently in a nearly depleted state but it is gradually recovering, with a single point replenishing my bar every few seconds. This is a WILD improvement over how long it originally took me to refill my bar of magic, so even as inconvenient as this is it's still something I'm proud of. As I sit in silent meditation I wonder if my two-track mind will ever become a three-track one. That'd be kind of neat, to be honest.
The meditation takes a few minutes before I've fully restored my stores of magical energy. When I finish I continue to use my magic, beginning a cycle I've done every night I've gone camping. Before long the sun is creeping back out over the horizon, and it's time for me to pack up using my inventory ability and make my way to a nearby bus stop.
Buses have been a good friend to me throughout this jump. I've made regular use of them throughout the last nine years, though mostly only for big, special destinations. That's another thing I think I might miss when I go to my next jump. I don't know if my next trip will take me to a modern place with contemporary public transit.
The next few weeks begin to pass by in a rapid blur. Looking back on them I realize that I decided pretty early on to not act odd yet, since a year is still a pretty lengthy amount of time and getting fired would still count as a jump fail, costing me "Severance Pay". That'd really suck, and could potentially cost me the sort of freedom that comes with passively making a few thousand dollars every week.
I currently make 68,500 a year, thanks to my status as a supervisor coupled with the work I also do for a plethora of other people in my building. I'm hoping to get one final pay raise this year that'll push me to somewhere in the range of 70-71K, which would allow me to leave this jump and get a passive amount of money equal to almost 3,000 dollars every two weeks. That's an enormous passive income, and while I do not doubt for one second that jumpers who go to the right settings can easily make more than that it'd be a stunning amount for me to make while sitting on my ass in a future jump. Plus there's the reality that in the right jumps I could just let this money build while I do other things, which is nice. If I save my money for a decade I'll leave a setting with over half of a million dollars, or the equivalent amount, in my multiversal bank account!
As weeks turn into a few months I do make slight alterations to my routine. I've already snagged a few survival skills, but I begin to snag some more when, just days after I returned from camping I go out and buy a gun. I tell myself that it's just for self-defense, and as a way to feel a touch safer going into a new setting but I take Hannah to a shooting range and we both enjoy the activity enough to make it a bimonthly adventure we go out on. That said, there are difficulties with bringing a gun that I don't love depending on the setting I next visit, the primary of which are logistical in nature. I have no idea if the next place I'm visiting will have bullets and I have no skills or abilities which somehow counter this weakness such as a skill which can allow me to make bullets, or some sort of ability to use the gun as a magical focus I can fire magic through. Still, I'll just stock up on stuff before I leave this setting.
During this time I also gain a fascinating new healing spell: "Inanimate recovery", a healing spell that works on inanimate objects and non-living things. A part of me is surprised that a spell like this exists at all, since I've gained a variety of healing spells and none that restore and fix objects but this spell quickly becomes a staple of mine that I use to gain a reputation as a handyman. This reputation brings with it a new title; "Imposter" which makes me better at acts of deception that involve tricking people into thinking I'm something I'm not. Titles... have been quite rare, but I suspect that this has to do with my undoubtedly predictable propensity for avoiding conflict and danger, but the titles I've earned have been fun. In addition to this new title I've also earned a title relating to the pride I take in fighting people publicly, a title for acting, a title for entertaining people, my "Arcane Sneak" title, and my "Unsung Saint" title. Each title is solidly powerful, though due to my low level I can only equip one at a time. That'll change... eventually,
I do successfully stay on track to receive the final promotion I want when I hit the five month marker. I'll be getting either good news or an explanation in a week, but today is a Sunday which means it's time for me to do some volunteering! I can't help but hide the smile on my face as I exit my apartment and begin the short walk to the church.
A/N: I checked and data entry supervisors can earn between 55-73K a year. I figured this absolute unit would be worth investing in and giving a decently high salary. 71K/12 is almost 6,000 a month, which if divided by 2 is almost 3,000 dollars a month. That's a NICE chunk of cash for doing nothing.
2024.05.24 23:13 Icy-Ad-7630 Rising Senior, not getting technical interviews, preparing for DS internship/New Grad roles in California
Hello!
I'm a rising senior looking for Data Science internships or Co-Ops. I'll soon also be applying to New Grad roles when the new semester begins.
I've applied to over 150 jobs, and I've only heard back from 4 of them. I've been trying to optimize my resume as best as I can, and have followed the Wiki and looked over the critiques resume samples to make sure I'm not making the same mistakes. I feel as if I've done all the optimizing I can by myself, and looking to this community to give me some insightful feedback to improve my resume.
With that being said, I believe the areas that I need the most help with are
submitted by Icy-Ad-7630 to resumes [link] [comments]
I'm a rising senior looking for Data Science internships or Co-Ops. I'll soon also be applying to New Grad roles when the new semester begins.
I've applied to over 150 jobs, and I've only heard back from 4 of them. I've been trying to optimize my resume as best as I can, and have followed the Wiki and looked over the critiques resume samples to make sure I'm not making the same mistakes. I feel as if I've done all the optimizing I can by myself, and looking to this community to give me some insightful feedback to improve my resume.
With that being said, I believe the areas that I need the most help with are
- Bullet Points - I tried to follow the STAR method as best as I could, but I'm still not sure if they are impactful. Some of my results cannot be numerically quantified, so I'm not sure if it has that much of an impact
- GitHub - I'm wondering if I really need to add this on. I don't have really good READMEs yet and I want to apply to a few positions, and I don't think I'll be able to fix what I need in the READMEs before I apply. Should I just leave it out?
- Presence of Soft Skills - I know you're not supposed to list it all out, but I do know recruiters still look for collaboration, leadership, etc... in your resume. I want to make sure that it's easily conveyed that I do possess these skills
2024.05.24 16:47 howlingredsheet BMW Z4 M Steering shake while braking mystery
 | I’ve had this 2008 BMW e85 Z4 M car since new. This car has the e46 M3 CSL brakes with drilled rotors from the factory. Somewhere around year 5 I switched the semi-metallic factory pads to ceramic to avoid dust. My background is ex flat rate dealer Ford tech. I’m out of the biz since ~ 1998. submitted by howlingredsheet to MechanicAdvice [link] [comments] At one point the car developed a pulsation while braking. I can recall if it was a pedal or steering pulsation or both. It got worse, was annoying - but rotors were like $400 each. Only options were BMW, Centric, or Zimmerman. Eventually around year 12 I bit the bullet & bought new rotors & ceramic pads to fix the issue (Centric brand - matched set). Price has come down a bit since then, but not much. Issue was fixed 100% with new rotors / pads. Now, about 12,000 miles later - there is a STEERING pulsation only when braking. It feels like a pedal pulsation, but the steering wheel shakes if you brake at around 65mph. You can see it do back & forth if you take hands off the wheel. Not so much at lower speeds. It’s similar or the same as the pulsation problem before that was fixed by new pads / rotors. I’ve investigated this pretty thoroughly & am familiar with common issues that can cause this. I’m very gentle with the brakes & don’t keep my foot on them any longer than necessary. I know conventional wisdom says brake deposits on rotors & older conventional wisdom says “warped rotors” cause this. What I’ve done:
The pad deposit theory does not seem to apply here. Sanding the rotors aggressively maybe improved it 15%if at all. There seems to be some cars that just have this issue & throwing brakes & rotors fixed it & it just returns in a few months to a year. I think only 3 companies make rotors for this car: BMW, Zimmerman, & Centric. I’m going to measure again more closely - but it seems rotor “warped” or runout lacks evidence here. I didn’t check the hubs - because the rotors bolt to the hub & their runout shows good. Something I’ve noticed is of the car sits & the rotors are wet the pads leave a mark on the rotor the shape of a pad. I noticed these pad “marks” are very hard to remove. You have to sand aggressively with a lot of force to remove a pad mark. Back in the day we used to cut rotors on a lathe & it would fix this issue, occasionally just temporarily. BMW doesn’t rec machining rotors, it’s not rec to machine drilled rotors, & cutting 2 piece rotors was always dicey. However if I had access to a lathe or had someone who would do it; I would get it done. People recommend ceramic pads because they’re cleaner, quieter, & don’t wear / groove rotors as much. However, they are “harder” & leave pad deposits embedded on rotors. If that’s what is going on here, they are next to impossible to remove without a lathe. Out of curiosity I ordered a pair of Wagner Thermo Quiet semi-mets for $20 from Rock Auto. If there are indeed “pad deposits” causing thickness or friction variations - I would think this would cure it over time as it wears down the rotor. The pads & rotors can from Centric as a set & seemed heavy duty & OE quality. Before anyone says Centric is no good, remember the factory BMW rotors were replaced cuz of same issue. The back rotors are original & I didn’t check for runout & if anyone ever heard of back rotors causing a steering wheel shake - please let me know This car is known for being harsch & stiff & you feel everything through the steering wheel. It seems like certain BMWs have this issue & it’s temporarily fixed by replacing pads & rotors - but it seems to come back. I had this issue with my Nissan Frontier & replaced pads & rotors & it’s been good for years. If anyone has any experience or input - I’d love to here it. |
2024.05.24 16:46 howlingredsheet BMW Z4 M pulsatjon/shake mystery
I’ve had this 2008 BMW e85 Z4 M car since new. This car has the e46 M3 CSL brakes with drilled rotors from the factory. Somewhere around year 5 I switched the semi-metallic factory pads to ceramic to avoid dust. My background is ex flat rate dealer Ford tech. I’m out of the biz since ~ 1998.
At one point the car developed a pulsation while braking. I can recall if it was a pedal or steering pulsation or both. It got worse, was annoying - but rotors were like $400 each. Only options were BMW, Centric, or Zimmerman. Eventually around year 12 I bit the bullet & bought new rotors & ceramic pads to fix the issue (Centric brand - matched set). Price has come down a bit since then, but not much.
Issue was fixed 100% with new rotors / pads. Now, about 12,000 miles later - there is a STEERING pulsation only when braking. It feels like a pedal pulsation, but the steering wheel shakes if you brake at around 65mph. You can see it do back & forth if you take hands off the wheel. Not so much at lower speeds. It’s similar or the same as the pulsation problem before that was fixed by new pads / rotors.
I’ve investigated this pretty thoroughly & am familiar with common issues that can cause this. I’m very gentle with the brakes & don’t keep my foot on them any longer than necessary. I know conventional wisdom says brake deposits on rotors & older conventional wisdom says “warped rotors” cause this.
What I’ve done:
The pad deposit theory does not seem to apply here. Sanding the rotors aggressively maybe improved it 15%if at all. There seems to be some cars that just have this issue & throwing brakes & rotors fixed it & it just returns in a few months to a year.
I think only 3 companies make rotors for this car: BMW, Zimmerman, & Centric. I’m going to measure again more closely - but it seems rotor “warped” or runout lacks evidence here. I didn’t check the hubs - because the rotors bolt to the hub & their runout shows good. Something I’ve noticed is of the car sits & the rotors are wet the pads leave a mark on the rotor the shape of a pad. I noticed these pad “marks” are very hard to remove. You have to sand aggressively with a lot of force to remove a pad mark.
Back in the day we used to cut rotors on a lathe & it would fix this issue, occasionally just temporarily. BMW doesn’t rec machining rotors, it’s not rec to machine drilled rotors, & cutting 2 piece rotors was always dicey. However if I had access to a lathe or had someone who would do it; I would get it done.
People recommend ceramic pads because they’re cleaner, quieter, & don’t wear / groove rotors as much. However, they are “harder” & leave pad deposits embedded on rotors. If that’s what is going on here, they are next to impossible to remove without a lathe.
Out of curiosity I ordered a pair of Wagner Thermo Quiet semi-mets for $20 from Rock Auto. If there are indeed “pad deposits” causing thickness or friction variations - I would think this would cure it over time as it wears down the rotor. The pads & rotors can from Centric as a set & seemed heavy duty & OE quality. Before anyone says Centric is no good, remember the factory BMW rotors were replaced cuz of same issue. The back rotors are original & I didn’t check for runout & if anyone ever heard of back rotors causing a steering wheel shake - please let me know
This car is known for being harsch & stiff & you feel everything through the steering wheel. It seems like certain BMWs have this issue & it’s temporarily fixed by replacing pads & rotors - but it seems to come back. I had this issue with my Nissan Frontier & replaced pads & rotors & it’s been good for years.
If anyone has any experience or input - I’d love to here it.
submitted by howlingredsheet to autorepair [link] [comments]
At one point the car developed a pulsation while braking. I can recall if it was a pedal or steering pulsation or both. It got worse, was annoying - but rotors were like $400 each. Only options were BMW, Centric, or Zimmerman. Eventually around year 12 I bit the bullet & bought new rotors & ceramic pads to fix the issue (Centric brand - matched set). Price has come down a bit since then, but not much.
Issue was fixed 100% with new rotors / pads. Now, about 12,000 miles later - there is a STEERING pulsation only when braking. It feels like a pedal pulsation, but the steering wheel shakes if you brake at around 65mph. You can see it do back & forth if you take hands off the wheel. Not so much at lower speeds. It’s similar or the same as the pulsation problem before that was fixed by new pads / rotors.
I’ve investigated this pretty thoroughly & am familiar with common issues that can cause this. I’m very gentle with the brakes & don’t keep my foot on them any longer than necessary. I know conventional wisdom says brake deposits on rotors & older conventional wisdom says “warped rotors” cause this.
What I’ve done:
- Multiple multiple “bedding” hard braking procedures in attempt to heat up brakes to remove pad deposits from rotors. All this does is make it feel worse while rotors are hot. I’ve done it until the rotors smoke.
- Dropped the aluminum belly pan many times to check the FCABS/ control arm bushings. Bushings are factory - but no sign they are bad. These are M bushings - I don’t think FCABS are fluid filled. Tie rods / ball joints are tight. All bushings have no hospital sign of being torn or bad. Front end shakes down tight.
- Car has had multiple sets of tires, rim repairs, and wheel balancing since new. Wheels are as straight / balanced as they can be where I live there’s tons of potholes. There is little to no steering wheel vibration driving, a little bit about like 80mph depending on roads. Wheels are as good as when rotors where replaced prior & problem was solved by new rotors / brakes. Although wheels aren’t 100% factory new perfect; replacing tires, having wheels repaired / straitened have not changed anything
- Checked front rotor runout with dial indicator on hubs. Max runout is ~ 0.0015”. It’s hard to check on drilled rotors, the indicator wants to sink in every hole on the rotor face.
- Hubs are normally tight as they should be. No excess wheel bearing slop. Rotors hats are clean & hub centers are scrubbed with a wire brush & antiseize applied every time wheels are off - as wheels love to not want to come off this car from the hub sticking to the wheel; despite doing this (all 4).
- Removed front rotors & mounted them backwards on rear axle. Ran car ~ 30mph w/ rear wheels jacked up using the hub as an arbor & sanded both sides of rotors extensively with 80 grit paper. Washed rotors well with brake clean. Rotors were uniform bright silver all signs of previous braking appear gone to the eye. Sanded pads w/ 100 grit so they looked resurfaced as well.
- Checked brake caliper slide pins they are not stripped - cleaned & lubed. Car is meticulously maintained & all fluids / filters changed every 2 years (oil 1 year).
- Car has been washed many times & not driven for a week or so causing rust to form on rotor face. Not uncommon for car to sit in garage for a month & then driven daily for a month.
- This car has M3 CSL 2 piece style rotors. I believe the hats are aluminum. They are filled & this is how the factory made the car in 2008. Car came factory with semi metallic pads & I have been using ceramic. I believe problem started sometime after ceramic pads were installed, but that was like 10 years ago & has had 2 sets of ceramics since so I don’t remember exactly.
The pad deposit theory does not seem to apply here. Sanding the rotors aggressively maybe improved it 15%if at all. There seems to be some cars that just have this issue & throwing brakes & rotors fixed it & it just returns in a few months to a year.
I think only 3 companies make rotors for this car: BMW, Zimmerman, & Centric. I’m going to measure again more closely - but it seems rotor “warped” or runout lacks evidence here. I didn’t check the hubs - because the rotors bolt to the hub & their runout shows good. Something I’ve noticed is of the car sits & the rotors are wet the pads leave a mark on the rotor the shape of a pad. I noticed these pad “marks” are very hard to remove. You have to sand aggressively with a lot of force to remove a pad mark.
Back in the day we used to cut rotors on a lathe & it would fix this issue, occasionally just temporarily. BMW doesn’t rec machining rotors, it’s not rec to machine drilled rotors, & cutting 2 piece rotors was always dicey. However if I had access to a lathe or had someone who would do it; I would get it done.
People recommend ceramic pads because they’re cleaner, quieter, & don’t wear / groove rotors as much. However, they are “harder” & leave pad deposits embedded on rotors. If that’s what is going on here, they are next to impossible to remove without a lathe.
Out of curiosity I ordered a pair of Wagner Thermo Quiet semi-mets for $20 from Rock Auto. If there are indeed “pad deposits” causing thickness or friction variations - I would think this would cure it over time as it wears down the rotor. The pads & rotors can from Centric as a set & seemed heavy duty & OE quality. Before anyone says Centric is no good, remember the factory BMW rotors were replaced cuz of same issue. The back rotors are original & I didn’t check for runout & if anyone ever heard of back rotors causing a steering wheel shake - please let me know
This car is known for being harsch & stiff & you feel everything through the steering wheel. It seems like certain BMWs have this issue & it’s temporarily fixed by replacing pads & rotors - but it seems to come back. I had this issue with my Nissan Frontier & replaced pads & rotors & it’s been good for years.
If anyone has any experience or input - I’d love to here it.
2024.05.24 07:55 spick0808 Rear stock sprocket will not fit center because of bolts hitting spokes
Hi, I'm pretty new to motorize bicycles but have been around the block when it comes to engines and all other things with motors. One of the issues I have ran into with this bike build is that when I try to put on the stock rear sprocket assembly I cannot get the sprocket to fit center on the hub! No matter how I arrange the bolts and what spokes I put them in between it just does not want to fit center on the wheel. No matter how hard I try and how hard I try to adjust it, it is always about a quarter of an inch off to one side... Which would cause the chain to fly off and mere seconds if I were to run it like that. Is there any way to get around this, or am I going to have to buy one of those machined sprocket adapters? I was actually thinking of turning one myself, I have the small hobby lathe from harbor freight and can make just about anything with my tools. I have some good pieces of aluminum stock that are about the size of the adapter, I also have everything else to drill and tap the piece as well. Should I just go ahead and bite the bullet and either buy one or make one? I'll post pictures in the morning
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2024.05.24 02:36 howlingredsheet 2008 E85 Z4 M Steering Shake Mystery
 | I’ve had this 2008 BMW e85 Z4 M car since new. This car has the e46 M3 CSL brakes with drilled rotors from the factory. Somewhere around year 5 I switched the semi-metallic factory pads to ceramic to avoid dust. My background is ex flat rate dealer Ford tech. I’m out of the biz since ~ 1998. submitted by howlingredsheet to BmwTech [link] [comments] At one point the car developed a pulsation while braking. I can recall if it was a pedal or steering pulsation or both. It got worse, was annoying - but rotors were like $400 each. Only options were BMW, Centric, or Zimmerman. Eventually around year 12 I bit the bullet & bought new rotors & ceramic pads to fix the issue (Centric brand - matched set). Price has come down a bit since then, but not much. Issue was fixed 100% with new rotors / pads. Now, about 12,000 miles later - there is a STEERING pulsation only when braking. It feels like a pedal pulsation, but the steering wheel shakes if you brake at around 65mph. You can see it do back & forth if you take hands off the wheel. Not so much at lower speeds. It’s similar or the same as the pulsation problem before that was fixed by new pads / rotors. I’ve investigated this pretty thoroughly & am familiar with common issues that can cause this. I’m very gentle with the brakes & don’t keep my foot on them any longer than necessary. I know conventional wisdom says brake deposits on rotors & older conventional wisdom says “warped rotors” cause this. What I’ve done:
The pad deposit theory does not seem to apply here. Sanding the rotors aggressively maybe improved it 15%if at all. There seems to be some cars that just have this issue & throwing brakes & rotors fixed it & it just returns in a few months to a year. I think only 3 companies make rotors for this car: BMW, Zimmerman, & Centric. I’m going to measure again more closely - but it seems rotor “warped” or runout lacks evidence here. I didn’t check the hubs - because the rotors bolt to the hub & their runout shows good. Something I’ve noticed is of the car sits & the rotors are wet the pads leave a mark on the rotor the shape of a pad. I noticed these pad “marks” are very hard to remove. You have to sand aggressively with a lot of force to remove a pad mark. Back in the day we used to cut rotors on a lathe & it would fix this issue, occasionally just temporarily. BMW doesn’t rec machining rotors, it’s not rec to machine drilled rotors, & cutting 2 piece rotors was always dicey. However if I had access to a lathe or had someone who would do it; I would get it done. People recommend ceramic pads because they’re cleaner, quieter, & don’t wear / groove rotors as much. However, they are “harder” & leave pad deposits embedded on rotors. If that’s what is going on here, they are next to impossible to remove without a lathe. Out of curiosity I ordered a pair of Wagner Thermo Quiet semi-mets for $20 from Rock Auto. If there are indeed “pad deposits” causing thickness or friction variations - I would think this would cure it over time as it wears down the rotor. The pads & rotors can from Centric as a set & seemed heavy duty & OE quality. Before anyone says Centric is no good, remember the factory BMW rotors were replaced cuz of same issue. The back rotors are original & I didn’t check for runout & if anyone ever heard of back rotors causing a steering wheel shake - please let me know This car is known for being harsch & stiff & you feel everything through the steering wheel. It seems like certain BMWs have this issue & it’s temporarily fixed by replacing pads & rotors - but it seems to come back. I had this issue with my Nissan Frontier & replaced pads & rotors & it’s been good for years. If anyone has any experience or input - I’d love to here it. |