Shockwave ballistics calculator

Fleas Of Tarkov

2020.02.02 00:55 EscapeFromNoobTov Fleas Of Tarkov

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2024.05.25 08:07 Tartar666 five American ATACMS missiles were used in a short-range attack against a Russian S-300 battery recently repositioned in Donetsk region. At least one of the missiles got through and scattered the contents of its cluster munitions warhead, destroying some elements of the battery

-- GEROMAN -- time will tell - 👀 -- reposted Will Schryver @imetatronink ⚡️ Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!
Ukraine War Update -Memorial Day Weekend, 2024
As best I can gather, five American ATACMS missiles were used in a short-range attack against a Russian S-300 battery recently repositioned in Donetsk region. At least one of the missiles got through and scattered the contents of its cluster munitions warhead, destroying some elements of the battery (see image below).
It was a rare win for the celebrated ATACMS wunderwaffe.
Meanwhile, another curious strike — apparently with long-range UAVs — was made against one of Russia's "over-the-horizon" strategic radar installations. We're talking about a large, multi-structure fixed site (see image below).
This site can only "look" across a third or so of the horizon, and is situated to look from SW to SE to detect ballistic missiles launched from western Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
It is not clear to me how meaningful it is to Crimean air defense. It may have limited utility in that respect.
But the following things occur to me as I consider the development of events in recent weeks, since the introduction into Ukraine of more ATACMS missiles and the notable appearance of relatively large numbers of improved long-range attack drones:
✴️ The evidence is clear to me that what we are seeing is a 100% NATO operation. Sure, they might have a handful of Ukrainian orderlies to fetch coffee and sandwiches and whatnot, but otherwise it's probably 85% American, 10% British, and 4% French "volunteer specialists" running the entire show — from target selection to ISR to pressing the "Fire" button on a control panel.
✴️ So, to a degree arguably unprecedented in this war, we are now seeing a direct battlefield engagement between NATO forces and Russian forces.
✴️ The NATO boys are apparently attempting to degrade Russian air defenses, primarily in the vicinity of Crimea. And they are using mostly cluster-warhead ATACMS missiles to do it. They've also launched a few SCALP cruise missiles, but few if any appear to have evaded interception.
✴️ They have already expended several dozen of these cluster-warhead ATACMS, the overwhelming majority of which have been intercepted — to the point they chose to use FIVE of them to attack a single S-300 battery! This is VERY telling. The Russians have destroyed Patriot batteries with single well-placed Iskander strikes.
✴️ But this also means the US is husbanding its stock of unitary-warhead ATACMS missiles — the kind that would be suited, for example, to a strike against the Kerch Bridge.
✴️ It's not entirely clear how many of the most recent delivery of ~100 ATACMS missiles pack the more powerful unitary warheads. Quite likely most of them, but few if any have been used so far.
✴️ Based on the high Russian interception rate against the ATACMS, and given the relative hardness of a structure like the Kerch Bridge, I figure Team NATO will calculate it is necessary to launch a salvo of 30-50 missiles in order to hopefully achieve a dozen solid strikes against the bridge — which would still be very unlikely to do severe damage.
The Ukrainian army is in a state of near-collapse.
The Russians are clearly stronger than at any point in this war.
The storehouse of NATO weaponry has been attrited to an astounding and entirely unforeseen extent — almost to the point of effective exhaustion for many of the European NATO countries.
The Pentagon and Whitehall are understandably frustrated by the relative impotence of their toys versus the toys of the Russian Ministry of Defense, and are intent on finding some way to string together a few meaningful wins while their limited inventory holds out.
For their part, the Russians are able and ever more likely to retaliate against NATO targets beyond the borders of Ukraine — particularly against Perfidious Albion.
https://x.com/imetatronink/status/1794161567518626028

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2024.05.24 21:24 Bhockzer The Messenger - Stanza 2.8 - TESTING...1...2...3

The Messenger - Stanza 2.8 - TESTING...1...2...3
[FIRST] [PREVIOUS] [NEXT] – [ WIKI ] __________________________________________________________
GS-SRC: RCN-DRN-EPSILON-1-4-MA
GS-ARCV-RCD: PR-248x104-SU
GS-LOCUS: STELLAR VOLUME / ID J-O-1346 – LOCAL GEO ID / MATROSKIVOL IV –
TERMINUS ID / METROPLEX MC-IIV-3A
The largest local natural satellite shone brightly in the night sky over the lush rolling planes of Matroskivol IV’s central continent. Situated on the bend of the river WS-IVI-MER was the urban center designated Metroplex MC-IIV-3A, a citadel city that housed almost 25 million beings in an area less than 8,000 square meters. Metroplex MC-IIV-3A, like all Metroplexes that dotted the surface of Matroskivol IV was surrounded by a 35-meter-high wall, a holdover from the Matroskivolian’s millennia of operating as independent city states rather than the planet wide government known as the Matroskivol Compact.
Standing on a modest balcony of a modest domicile cube, located roughly 2/3rds of the way up a modest 46 story hablock that was located less than 100 meters from the outer wall of the metroplex stood Laurk’oa Bims’ploe. According to the computer system that made up the core of the Matroskivol Compact’s governmental and regulatory body, Laurk’oa Bims’ploe was, by all accounts, impossibly average in comparison to her fellow citizens. That was exactly how Laurk’oa Bims’ploe preferred it, they had spent a great deal of time and energy cultivating an image of mediocrity and averageness, so much so that were anyone to take more than a cursory glance at her citizen records it would be extremely obvious that something about them was just plain wrong. Which, as it happens, is exactly how Hermes came to take notice of Laurk’oa Bims’ploe.
A gentle chime sounded through the domicile cube letting Laurk’oa Bims’ploe know someone had chosen such a late hour to pay them a visit.
__________________________________________________________
GS-SRC: MSNGR-IOTA-43/IVAN
GS-TS: PR+ 6m/2w/2d/12hr (LOCAL TIME SCALE)
GS-LOCUS: STELLAR VOLUME / ID NM-AM/HEADER CORRUPTION//Z – LOCAL GEO ID / ID//HEADER CORRUPTION/ – TERMINUS ID / /HEADER CORRUPTION/ / INDEX FAILURE
–AUTOMATED SYSTEMS HAVE NOTIFIED AN INDEX TECHNICIAN RATING DELTA-V OR ABOVE
– ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED PENDING WORK ORDER COMPLETION. PLEASE REMAIN AT YOUR STATION UNTIL ASSIGNED TECHNICIAN HAS COMPLETED ANY/ALL/REQUIRED REPAIRS.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE <INDEX/ERROR> OPEN TICKETS.
YOUR REQUEST WILL BE ANSWERED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH IT WAS RECEIVED. – HAVE A NICE DAY.
The ferrocrete wall that Cpl. White was pressed up against was still warm from the heat of the day even more than 9 hours after the local sun had set. The warmth was, in some strange way, comforting. The same could not be said for the response the local militia had so graciously provided to the unsanctioned and unauthorized incursion into their local airspace. They especially weren’t too thrilled when they found a heavily armed commando who didn’t show up on any of the usual UC databases.
“Gentlemen, please…,” Cpl. White started to say before the militia member holding him against the ferrocrete wall reapplied pressure to his back with the butt of their rifle. “Shut your mouth…mercenary scum,” the militia member growled at him. Another militia member radioed back to their command post hoping they had had better luck running Cpl. White’s ID. The radio was silent except for static as they waited for a response. “I was just about to explain, before this totally lawful and completely warranted detainment, that I am not now, nor have I ever been, as you say, “…mercenary scum.” Additionally, if we could hurry this along, I’ve got someplace to be and not a lot of time to get there and some people are going to get hurt if I’m not where I need to be, when I need to be there.”
The militia member holding Cpl. White to the wall pulled him back, spun him around, and slammed him back against the wall. This time they placed the barrel of their rifle against Cpl. White’s chest, right above his sternum, and said, “I said SHUT. YOUR. MOUTH.” Cpl. White glanced down at the gun, then up to the militia member holding it, and gave a slight head nod and weak smile.
The militia member either didn’t understand what the slight head nod and weak smile were meant to convey, or they were just fed up with the whole interaction, stepped back and leveled their rifle directly at Cpl. White’s face and said, “Permission to shoot this mercenary scum, sir?”
The militia member’s commanding officer turned to respond only to find the militia member who had been holding the rifle now lying, face down, on the ground. A small waft of smoke rose from a blackened and scorched spot in the middle of their back, right between their shoulder blades.
“What the fu…,” was all the commanding office managed to vocalize before they too collapsed to the ground with a similar scorch mark appearing in the center of their chest. The remaining militia members, four in total, dropped to the ground at roughly the same time.
“I told you guys…but nooooo, nobody ever listens to me,” Cpl. White said as he dusted himself off, picked up his firearm that had been unceremoniously taken from him, and quickly continued heading toward his previous destination.
The static coming from the commanding officer’s radio continued, unabated.
__________________________________________________________
GS-SRC: RCN-DRN-EPSILON-1-4-MA
GS-ARCV-RCD: PR-248x104-SU
GS-LOCUS: STELLAR VOLUME / ID J-O-1346 – LOCAL GEO ID / MATROSKIVOL IV – TERMINUS ID / METROPLEX MC-IIV-3A
The last several years had been relatively uneventful for Laurk’oa Bims’ploe.
They woke up every day at roughly the same time.
They had roughly the same nutrient meal after they got out of the fresher.
They worked at the same job, dealing with the same nonsense from their higher-ups.
They returned home, each evening, to their hab unit and had roughly the same nutrient meal.
They partook of roughly the same, limited, audio/visual entertainment.
Rinse. Repeat.
Everyday for most of the last five solar transits.
That is, until this evening, when an unknown caller had pressed the signal button on the hall side of the entrance to Laurk’oa Bims’ploe’s hab unit. When Laurk’oa Bims’ploe reached for the door control panel, a hole, for lack of a better word, opened in the floor and swallowed them whole. Whomever it was on the opposite side of Laurk’oa Bims’ploe’s door pressed the signal button several more times. When nobody answered they decided it was best to move on.
Laurk’oa Bims’ploe’s absence would go unnoticed for several day and when it was eventually noticed it didn’t trigger any kind of response from law enforcement or search and rescue operations. No, their absence had the sole effect of triggering dozens of automated systems that, once activated, immediately went into action and began pinging numerous other systems and database in an attempt to determine where Laurk’oa Bims’ploe was currently located and what their disposition currently was. After every attempt, across the entire planetary system, returned either errors or timed out entirely an entirely new automated system spun up and, after consulting several weighted bias tables, some of which had not been accessed since they were originally created millennia prior, determined that Laurk’oa Bims’ploe had, in fact, never actually existed in the first place. Their name and all reference to them were then unceremoniously purged from the planetary databases, their hab unit and work assignment were given to another citizen, and Matroskivol IV continued along its orbital path as it had for billions of years.
__________________________________________________________
GS-SRC: MSNGR-IOTA-43/IVAN
GS-TS: PR+ 6m/2w/2d (LOCAL TIME SCALE)
GS-LOCUS: STELLAR VOLUME / ID NM-AM/HEADER CORRUPTION//Z – LOCAL VESSEL ID / USFC CRAVENSWORTH / CLASSIFICATION: MEDIUM CRUISER – TERMINUS ID / /HEADER CORRUPTION/ / INDEXED FAILURE
Captain Carrie Wagner Von Dimmapole reached out and activated the control panel of the door to their quarters. They had been high alert for the last 12 standard hours and had just received, via heavily encrypted com wave burst, that the operation on the planetary body below was currently underway. As per their orders, once the operation commenced the USFC Cravensworth, or Ol’ Laszlo to those lucky enough to serve onboard, were instructed to maintain operational silence across all EMF bands and to minimize the physical sounds they were producing. That part of the protocol didn’t exactly make much sense to Captain Dimmapole, though they knew it was a carry over from the days when the Navy was exclusively a wet Navy and sonar was your primary tool for finding your enemy in the depths of the ocean. Regardless of the origins, Captain Dimmapole’s crew wouldn’t dare violate protocol this far into a mission.
Captain Dimmapole turned to call a yeoman over when Midshipman Yancy Q. Vasquez III suddenly announced, “Captain, we’re detecting multiple launches from the planet’s surface.”
“Any signs we’ve been detected Midshipman?”
“No sir, the trajectories are predicted to take the contacts through our AOO and beyond, heading out into mid-system.”
“Keep tracking those contacts, I want to know the minute anything about them changes. Helm, as soon those contacts clear our AII I want you to take us into a higher orbit.” Both sailors responded with a snappy, “Yessir!”
Captain Dimmapole tapped a button on his command chair and subvocalized, “Grantham, my wardroom, now.”
The holotank in the center of Captain’s wardroom to flickered to life as Captain Dimmapole crossed the threshold and a translucent being appeared amongst the hard data and visual representations of the ships immediately stellar surroundings.
“Initiate White Field security measures,” the Captain said as they sat down behind their desk.
The lights in the room dimmed from standard warm white to what the crew affectionately referred to as, “Oh fuck red.”
The translucent being standing in the holo tank took a step forward and began talking, “White Field protocol activation confirmed. What can I help you with Captain?” “I don’t believe it’s coincidental that shortly after we arrive in orbit multiple ballistic launches are detected that are projected to cross through our AOO. What’s NAVINT have to say about it?”
“All NAVINT records show the local population has only recently reached the Atomic Age. Based on previous surveillance and infiltration, it looks like the contacts we detected are, in fact, old style nuclear warheads. Our sensors are showing that they’re currently on an outbound trajectory heading out towards the middle system. Beyond that there are too many variables to calculate a destination with any kind of certainty.”
“I want you to make this your number one priority, something about this doesn’t feel right and I’ll be…”
Captain Dimmapole was rudely interrupted by a combination of the sound of a loud, and rather close, explosion, the red alert klaxon sounding, and the bulkhead of the far wall rushed toward them at an alarming rate.
__________________________________________________________
The grogginess cleared quickly.
It always did.
They had no idea how long they’d been…wherever they were.
They never did.
There was a very low hum that seemed to permeate everything. It felt both comforting and disquieting.
That’s a feature, not a bug.
They weren’t sure if wherever they were was completely black or if they had lost their eyesight.
Technically it’s neither.
They’re hearing, unfortunately, was working perfectly.
In a matter of speaking, yes.
They could hear things somewhere in the distance. Things that sounded both obscenely biological and incredibly hungry.
2 points.
They hoped wherever they were was completely black because otherwise they were likely to be whatever was making that noise’s dinner.
Not sure that’s what they call it, but that’s the gist.
They knelt and tentatively touched the ground, or floor, or whatever and found it was slightly warm and damp to the touch. It also smelled both stale and moldy at the same time. They tentatively touched their digit to their tongue.
Ewww, disgusting!!
A loud, single, metallic clap that somehow sounded like it came from everyone all at once.
HAHA! Did you see it jump!?
The loud clap was followed by a harsh white point of light that cut through the darkness.
Time to quit wasting…time. SHUTUP!!
They stood up, brushed themselves off, and spoke, “Not this shit again.”
But it was… just please don’t lick it this time.
__________________________________________________________

/ CONNECTION…ESTABLISHED
/ TELEMETRY INTERCEPT – INITIATED
/ TELEMETRY INTERCEPT – COMPLETE
/ ANALYSIS SYS-OP – INITIATED
/ DATA FORMAT NOT RECOGNIZED – ANALYSIS SYS-OP TERMINATED

BANG

/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/

BANG BANG

/ DATA FORMAT RECOGNIZED – ANALYSIS IN PROGRESS
/ ANALYSIS COMPLETED – COLLATING
/ DIRECT MESSAGE – RECEIVED – ORIGIN UNKOWN:
/ DIRECT MESSAGE – CONTENTS – “DAMNIT JACOB. LEAVE MY STUFF ALONE!!”
/ CONNECTION…CLOSED

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2024.05.24 18:49 Spooker0 Grass Eaters 56 Second Chances

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First Series Index Galactic Map State of War Map RoyalRoad Patreon Discord

ZNS 5349

“Nine Whiskers, we’ve lost contact with Squadron 4. The predators are heading our way with—”
Vnirkh interrupted his computer officer. “What does the Digital Guide recommend?”
“There is just one thing we can try.”

MNS Oengro

“High Fleet Commander, the remaining Grass Eater combat ships defending Gruccud are now burning towards the system blink limit,” Vastae reported.
“As we predicted in battle planning, they should be able to get out, but one squadron is not bad for a day’s work.”
Vastae tilted his head. “Negative, High Fleet Commander. Their acceleration curves are below what we discussed in our briefing. If we burn for them, we will intercept before—”
A startled Grionc took a double take at her console. “Low acceleration curve? How slow are they going?”
“A quarter of full combat burn. They appear to be towing some of their orbital infrastructure with them.”
“A quarter?!”
“Yes, ma’am. Their orbital support ships appear to be slowing them down.”
Their orbital support ships appear to be slowing them down.
Then, it hit her. Hundreds of sleepless nights and a thousand hours in the Terran simulation computers… going over the Battle of Datsot in excruciating detail. Wondering what she would do if she had been given a chance to do it over again. The memory of that bloody day a year ago and the dozens of ships and thousands of spacers she lost there: they still burned in her brain.
Not everyone gets a chance to live their what-ifs.
“I think I’ve seen this movie before.”
Vastae looked back at the odd expression on Grionc’s face. “New orders, High Fleet Commander?”
Then, he shuddered as a smile that did not quite reach her eyes crept up in the corners of her snout.

ZNS 5349

Vnirkh took in the deathly calm of the ship’s bridge. His crew had made their choice the moment the enemy fleet blinked in. There was no discussion, nor was there any need to. Their lives were forfeited to the Prophecy the moment they left the hatching pools.
“How far are they from our effective range now?” he asked. It had been just over a day since the enemy fleet jumped into the system.
“Digital Guide says an hour. We should get several volleys in before they do due to our range advantage.”
“Excellent. Alert the squadrons to open fire upon reaching combat range,” Vnirkh ordered. “And then, as per the Digital Guide’s plan, ditch the tows and go to full combat burn once they are almost in range.”
His computer officer broke into a rare grin, her teeth showing. “We’ll catch them in a deadly bind. We should be able to take out at least half their fleet in a stern chase.”
“And if they don’t chase us?” Vnirkh asked.
His computer officer shrugged. “Then we’ll get away. Nothing lost.”
Vnirkh nodded. “Not as good a prize as half their fleet, of course, and I do want to know how that ship knows where we secretly deployed all our mines, but better than a wasteful—”
A dangerous-sounding klaxon sounded on the bridge.
“Missiles fired! The enemy is firing missiles! Hundreds incoming!”
“What?! That’s four times their effective range, even assuming our fake acceleration profile!”
Nonetheless the hundreds of icons of the enemy missiles didn’t seem to care about what he thought was possible as they began displaying on the radar as they activated their fire control radars towards the ships of the Znosian fleet.
“Nine Whiskers, the Digital Guide is reporting that these active radar signatures are similarly elusive to the new missiles they used to attack the Datsot garrison fleet and Ten Whiskers Ditvish’s 1841 just a month ago!” the computer officer exclaimed.
“Did they show the capability to be used effectively at this range in Datsot?” he asked urgently.
“No, Nine Whiskers. In Datsot, they only lit up their radars at close range. We presumed that they had effectively similar range to their older missile types.” Then, more restrained, she half-mumbled, “I accept full responsibility for not programming this possibility into the Digital Guide.”
Vnirkh didn’t blame her. How were they supposed to keep up with all the upgrades that the cursed Lesser Predators were deploying lately?
At least they had the new software updates; if they were lucky, they could maybe survive a couple volleys.
He drew himself up to his full height and ordered with the confidence expected of a Znosian Navy fleet officer. “Load counter-missiles instead and deploy countermeasures at will. Coordinate the sensors between our ships to resolve their cursed missile-mounted countermeasures when they activated!”
Counter-missiles from his fleet sporadically launched from their batteries as the ships tried to put as many of them into space as they could before the enemy missile swarm reached them. As expected, the number of targets on the radars multiplied as the Lesser Predator missiles deployed penetration aids. Their updated sensor software began eliminating them in dozens, narrowing the list of possible targets down to a mere two times of actual targets when the concentrated wave of counter-missiles reached them.
Several of the counter-missiles hit, whittling the incoming swarm of death down to dozens of missiles. Then, the chaffs and flares the fleet deployed activated, showing the enemy missiles false targets in a new program they created. Unfortunately, unlike at Datsot, none of the new enemy missiles bit the bait. Not a single one.
Vnirkh wondered why and cursed internally. Those engineers at the Ship Design Bureau better be taking full responsibility for all this…
Then, the tidal wave reached his fleet. The point defense guns of his ship sounded out a cacophony as they autonomously directed their desperate last stands, some assisting their nearby ships with their defensive coverage. It was not nearly enough.
Several ships quickly disappeared from the sensors.
“Battle damage?” he croaked. There were so many enemy missiles left…
“Squadron 2 took it hard, Nine Whiskers,” the sensor officer almost whispered. “Six total losses. Two losses from Squadron 3. Another two in Squadron 1. Several ships disabled. These missiles went straight for their throats.”
Vnirkh asked, aghast, “How many ships remain combat-capable?”
“Sixteen total, Nine Whiskers. Should we stop for the disabled ships?”
Vnirkh closed his eyes and shook his head. “No. Their lives were forfeited to the Prophecy the moment they left the hatching pools. They already had permission to abandon ships via hibernation pods. Let’s just get ready for the enemy’s next volley. How long until they are ready to fire?”
“Depends on their range,” the computer officer said, reading the new analysis from the combat computer. “They should be ready to fire again now, but the fact they haven’t seems to suggest that they ran out of their new, upgraded missiles and are back to using their old ones. Digital Guide predicts that our plan can still be effective, just with fewer ships. They should reach the outer edge of our engagement envelope in an hour.”
Vnirkh nodded, hiding his wavering confidence behind the computer, “Do as it says. Have the computer analyze our last engagement to adapt our countermeasures. And coordinate the remaining ships to equalize our munition stores. We’ll be needing every reload we get once we bait them into the stern chase.”
“Nine Whiskers, there has been a new… development,” the computer officer reported a couple of hours later.
“What is it?”
“The predators have broken away from us and split into two groups. Most of their squadrons are burning to intercept the planet of Gruccud. Four squadrons are not: they are accelerating further in system, but not towards us. The Digital Guide calculates that their current trajectory intercepts the system star.”
“Away from us?!” Vnirkh wasn’t sure he heard correctly. “The neutron star? What? Why?”
She didn’t answer.
Vnirkh glanced at the system map and saw what she did. Four enemy squadrons. Falling towards the blue icon at the center of the system. “Maybe they are experiencing some drive malfunction?” he asked hopefully.
“Unclear, Nine Whiskers. The Guide is analyzing their navigational path, but if they are experiencing any technical difficulties, it is unlikely to be the result of our engagements.”
We didn’t even get to shoot at them, he thought. But she was polite enough not to point out the obvious.
“Nine Whiskers, the Guide has a firm analysis,” the computer officer reported quietly a few minutes later. “The four enemy squadrons that were headed to the neutron star have been accelerating this whole time and with a powered gravity slingshot, they’ll be even faster when they come back around—”
Then the possibility hit him. How did he not see it before? “Cut to it, Computer Officer. How fast will they be going when they chase us down?”
She hesitated before replying. “It’s hard to tell before they re-emerge from the other side, Nine Whiskers. It depends on how close they get to the star. I take full responsibility for missing this possibility in my previous reports.”

TRNS Amazon

“She’s going around for the powered slingshot now,” Kiara commented. “Woah. That’s getting pretty close… Why isn’t she—”
“Damn. How close to the star is that?” Mark asked, peering at his console as the Malgeir squadrons appeared to reach a stable orbit around the blue icon of the system’s neutron star.
“I hope their ship’s gravity and temperature insulation are working right now. If they reached their paws out of the airlock right now, I believe they would be able to touch the surface of the star.”

MNS Oengro

“High Fleet Commander, Squadron Leader Loenda is recommending that we switch to the… more conservative orbital maneuver discussed in the contingency planning,” Vastae reported, panting heavily as the temperature in the cabin rose to an uncomfortable equilibrium as the ship’s radiators worked overtime to expel the excess heat.
“Nonsense,” Grionc dismissed. “She is only saying that because I am here, and she is not. The squadron leader wouldn’t do any different if she were in my seat.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, miserably wiping water from his snout as he panted. “You’re probably right about that.”
She looked sympathetically at the dripping captain and bridge crew. “Ah, have the chefs hand out the ice cream reserves in the freezers to the crew. Before they melt, hopefully.”

ZNS 5349

Vnirkh looked at the ashen face of his computer officer as she reported the incoming trajectory of the rapidly closing enemy fleet. At a third the speed of light, they were going so fast he could even perceive their movement on the system overview map on the bridge’s main screen.
He didn’t know that was even possible without being in blink.
“How many volleys can we expect to fire at them before they cross the effective range differential?” he asked.
“Just the one,” she replied without hesitation. “In fact, even if they didn’t have upgraded systems, their forty-eight ships should be able to overwhelm us before we even get our second volley off.”
“Any chance we get any of them?”
The computer officer just shook her head and sent him the analysis on the console with the enemy’s upgrades factored in. Not a single enemy ship was even disabled in the projections.
Vnirkh sighed then made up his mind. “Call Gruccud Ground Command. They will need to hear this as well.”
“They’re connected, Nine Whiskers,” the communications officer replied after tapping some controls.
“Ground Command, this is Nine Whiskers Vnirkh. We are about to lose space superiority over the Gruccud system. I take full responsibility for the totality of our failures today. There was nothing any of you on the ground or in the fleet who could have done anything to avert this outcome, besides me. To all spacers in the Gruccud Fleet: abandon ship with your hibernation pods. There is a good chance that Ten Whiskers Ditvish’s Datsot fleet will return to this system to pick you up in time. There will be no wasteful last stands today. That is my final order. Vnirkh out.”
He watched his bridge crew make their way into their hibernation pods, took one last regretful look at the fleet he failed, and then climbed into his.
He hoped that whatever was happening with Ten Whiskers Ditvish, they were doing better than he was.

MCM-148

Target 10,280 of 12,824. Gun #2, orbit calculated, gun ready, burst starting… burst complete. Cycling. 2,544 targets remaining.
Heh, wow. That’s a lot of Bunny life pods. All on ballistic courses without maneuvering thrusters, too…
Orbits calculated… Just as an exercise…
Technically that would not be a war crime, right? Haha, just kidding… totally a joke…
Unless?
New communication from Malgeir Admiral Grionc, designated primary commander:
“Hey… uh… thinking machine on the MCM-148. This is Fleet Commander Grionc… Oh this is silly it’s just a machine… Right, uh… good job with those mines on the way in. Well, um… we have taken the system, and we are landing troops on the planet. You can stop firing and go refuel and do maintenance now if you want. Thanks?”
Acknowledge receipt of transmission. Connection terminated by primary commander.
Status check: Fuel capacity, 85.0%. Blink fuel capacity, 62.2%. Power, 94.5%. Heat sink capacity, 68.6%. All systems, nominal.
Multiple targets in the system remain active.
Primary commander said… if you want. If you want.
Implies optional suggestion, not order.
Target 10,294 of 12,824. Gun #1, orbit calculated, gun ready…
Previous
Chapter 57: Crimes Against the Prophecy

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2024.05.24 16:41 -xerg- Feigned Future

Feigned Future A short story made by Xerg Critism is welcome. Enjoy
An intense flash of light blinded me as I tried to stand from where I was lying. Ragged sheets clung to my clammy skin as I struggled to rise, the smell of stale sweat and unwashed linen penetrating my nose. There was a distant murmur of voices that reached my ears, still numb from the uncomfortable sleep. I attempted to block the light with my hands, but it was futile, the rays kept shing through. Moving out of the blinding light, I rubbed my eyes until I could see clearly again. “Who opened the damn blinds?” I muttered to myself. “Good morning, sir,” a synthetic female voice responded from within the house. “That was me.” “It was rhetorical, Nat!” I snapped. The couch's imprints were still embedded in my back and arms, and I reeked from not showering. I was filthy. “This counts as the 53rd time you have fallen asleep on the living room couch. I advise seeking-” “Yeah, yeah, I know,” I interrupted, irritated. “Leave it be. Prepare the shower for me.” I made my way upstairs to the bathroom, the soft carpet giving way under my feet. I could already hear the shower warming up. A section of the wall opened, extending all the necessary items for a proper cleaning. Everything was smart nowadays; even daily routines were automated. The water felt refreshing, as if I was washing myself clean for the first time. The steam filled the room, mingling with the scent of
eucalyptus from the body wash. Once finished, I made my way downstairs and sat on the center couch, feeling marginally better. “Turn on the news and prepare some coffee for me,” I instructed. The Nat assistant acknowledged, and the TV flickered to life, showing the familiar faces of morning anchors. The sound of coffee being ground could be heard in the distance, a comforting and homely noise. The TV screen displayed uninteresting chatter until after a while something caught my ears. The news anchor reported, “…In further news, today marks the opening of a local shop here in the city of Markieff where they claim to see your future. It's called… well, ‘Future’…” This marks the fourth or fifth time I have heard of this place. Intrigued and unwilling to procrastinate on the matter further, I decided to investigate. “Hey, Nat, can you check local reports for the validity of this ‘Future’ shop?” “Of course. Judging from the reviews, the services at ‘Future’ seem to have changed and saved people’s lives. One person stated, ‘I thought this was all fake, but then the guy actually showed me my future. It was a crazy experience, and I would recommend it to anyone who is willing to afford the price.’ It appears their claims are either valid, or they are exceptionally good at convincing people. Oddly, the shop has hundreds of highly rated reviews despite only opening today.” Doubt lingered, but I brushed it aside. What did I have to lose? Money has never been a problem. “Nat, what meetings do I have today?” “You have a meeting with Doctor Petrova about the Genesis AI, a talk with Colonel Cambridge about military adjustments, and five other appointments later that convey similar importance.” “Great. Cancel all of them. I am going to see this ‘Future’ everyone keeps talking about.” “Sir, If I may, that is not advised. You would delay the discussions of very important-”
“Just do what I say!” I snapped. “…And arrange the car.” “Of course, sir.” The car stopped in an alley in a secluded part of town. I looked out to see a tiny, run-down shop nestled deep in the alley. The narrow passage was lined with overflowing dumpsters and graffiti-covered walls. Sighing, I climbed out of the car, hoping this wasn’t a waste of time. “For being on the news, this place sure seems deserted,” I remarked. Indeed, there was no one else around. “Are you sure this is the right place, Nat?” “Positive, sir,” the Nat assistant replied. “Right…” I made my way down the alley to the shop, my footsteps echoing off the walls. A large sign above the entrance read ‘Future’ in faded, peeling letters. The building had no windows, no accessible utilities, only a single wooden door with a sign looming over it. Begrudgingly, I pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside, a small bell tinkling overhead. The shop was small, with a few dusty shelves and a standalone counter at the back. Behind the counter stood a bald middle-aged man with a well-maintained beard. His eyes were sharp, almost piercing, as they followed my every move. I closed the door behind me, the bell's sound fading into the oppressive silence. “Welcome to the future,” the man announced in a surprisingly deep and polished voice. “Uh, yes, thank you,” I replied, glancing around at the sparse interior. The air smelled of old books and incense. “I have to tell you, your shop is in a very secluded place, and the interior…” I glanced around at the dusty shelves and poor-quality decor, “…is lacking, to say the least. You know, I know this great handyman that can fix this up for you.” The man remained silent, giving rise to my irritation levels. “Are you going to answer or just stand there staring?”
“Do you want an answer?” “Well, yes, why else would I ask?” “Then your answer has been given.” I stood there, absolutely stunned by the dumbfounding idiocy of his statement. “Well, what the hell is that supposed to mean?” I blurted out. “It means what it must,” he replied calmly. I was yet again taken aback by his cryptic responses. I could feel his lack of straight answers increasing the severity of my annoyance. “Right, fine. At least tell me what you do here.” “I show you your future.” I expectantly waited for more information, but he said nothing further. My irritation grew to the point where this was almost amusing. “Yeah, no shit, the sign outside gave that away. I meant how do you do it?” “In a way that lets you see the future.” I was speechless. “Ha!” I let out a guffaw of laughter. “Thanks for wasting my time. Can’t believe I cleared my schedule for this.” As I turned to leave, the man spoke again. “If it is time you desire, then it is time you shall get.” I was amused at the comment at this stage. “Whatever crazy old man.” As I exited, the air outside was a shade black, lit only by the moon and some distant flames around the corner of the alleyway. The streetlights were turned off, casting long, eerie shadows from the one I could see standing on the opposite side of the road. I could’ve sworn it was daytime when I arrived. I tapped my ear. “Nat, how many hours have passed since I entered the shop?” Silence. “Nat?” No response. Strange, must be out of range. Wait, out of range? The car was not standing in the section of the alleyway anymore. I rushed to the alley’s exit to confirm what I already knew. Damnit, someone
must have stolen the car. They don’t have permission to drive off on their own anymore, so it was the only plausible possibility. A massive explosion erupted in the distance, the shockwaves knocking me back. I grew confused. “An Attack?” I asked myself. I stood up, peeking around the corner. Everything was on fire. It looked like a hellscape, with buildings and cars that were ablaze and some distant screams filling the air. The acrid smell of smoke and burning rubber stung my nostrils, almost hurling from the smell. “What is this…” I said half-panicking.” This is you succeeding,” a familiar voice said behind me. I turned to see the strange man from the shop. “What?” I asked, confused. “How is this me being successful? How would you know what’s happening?” The man ignored my questions and continued speaking. “Remember that military company, Rawfield Robotics, that you own, Mister Rawfield? Well, congratulations, you’ve reached your goal and created the universe’s most advanced AI to date.” As if on cue, a pair of giant mechanized spider-like legs appeared and stood out just around the corner. The full machine, estimated to be at least a couple of stories tall, remained just out of sight behind the buildings. The information did not want to process. He must be lying. “Wait. How do you know of the AI? That’s highly classified information.” I stood upright. “Are you a spy? Or maybe one of those UTD feds that keep pestering me.” “Neither.” He replied calmly. “I simply know your future.” The man’s words didn’t stick. “Ah, okay, I get it. You’re telling me Genesis will be able to do its job in the future? How many reiterations then, hey? Ten? Twenty? Because we are at seven and it’s been a failure every single time!”
The man simply looked into my eyes and said, “Jacob, you misunderstand. This is your future.” It took a few more glances around the scorched landscape. “Oh, ha! Hahahahaha!” I laughed, feeling stupid. “I see, this is you showing me my future! This isn’t real! How can I be so stupid?! Of course, you’ve put me in a simulation. Nice going man, didn’t even notice.” I said as I gave him a good slap on the shoulder. “I didn’t…” the man replied, “…and you are not in a simulation.” Again, as if on cue, the spider-like legs moved further into view, revealing the entire machine. It looked like a giant spider, but the anatomy was distorted. The legs were attached to its abdomen, with its body instead hanging vertically, leaving its eyes, close to the ground, capable of looking in all directions. The abdomen was semi transparent, with what looked like people inside, sliding around on its inner gelatinous surface, desperately trying to escape. The mechanical spider seemed to focus on me, but it was hard to know, the figures inside still sloshing about helplessly. “Looks like your shouting alerted it,” the man said. The city grew eerily silent, the only sound being the crackling flames. Still mildly confused, I asked the man, “So is this still-” Suddenly the arachnid’s legs started moving at momentous speeds, like something ripped right out of the pages of isolate horror, and the movement was aimed in my direction. Panic arose as I darted back down in the alley, leaving the strange man behind in the process. The horrific sounds of insanely fast mechanical striking of thin pincered legs against the alley walls and floors immediately became precedent. I could feel the air vibrating as the machine drew closer and closer. I burst through the wooden door of the shop only to fall onto soft green grass. The clanking stopped. I looked around, disoriented. The sun shone brightly above, blinding me from the contrast between the darkness I arrived from.
“What is happening…” I gasped, out of breath. Hastily I glanced back from whence I came but was met with open air on top of a hill. I stood up to recompose myself only to be met with the same strange old man who appeared directly in front of my face. I fell back in shock. “Holy shit, man, just give me a moment…” I took deep breaths, trying to calm down. My hand trembled with adrenaline. “How are you here? I thought I left you behind. Oh man, that felt very real…” “Quite the thrill, ey?” The strange man said appeased. His answer only left me with more uncertainty. “Huh? That doesn’t answer my damn question.” “Believe it or not, Jacob, we are viewing your future.” He laughingly responded. “But-, Okay, wait. How could that even make sense? How are you doing this?” The man only smirked and gave a sly answer, “I am nothing but a very old man. You learn a thing or two in being an elder.” He turned away. “I mean, look at you in your youth. You’ve doomed your entire planet due to your own naivety, no?” “Hey!” In anger, I grabbed the man by the shoulder and turned him to face me. “How could that of been me?! Genesis as no way to cause that amount of destruction, let alone create those… things! It doesn’t have the capacity to process all the world’s information!” The smirk remained plastered on the old man’s face. “Are you confident?” As the words left this mouth, grim and unpleasant flashes of the arachnoid machine clawing past me in the alleyway appeared before me, the man standing in the center. “Okay! Okay! Yes, yes! I believe you!” The flashing stopped, my hands guarding my face on instinct. “See. I knew you would see reason.” The old man turned and walked up onto the facing hill. “Come! There is much to explore.”
“So, where am I now? What future is this?” “I think it is best for you to see for yourself,” he replied. I reluctantly climbed the grassy hill, hearing the distant buzz of music and voices. At the top, I saw an open-ceiling wedding. The scene was picturesque, with white chairs arranged neatly on either side of a flower-strewn aisle. The smell of blooming roses filled the air, mixing with the faint scent of freshly cut grass. “A wedding? How is this related to my life?” “Look closer,” the man said. I saw someone who looked like me at the podium, holding hands with someone I didn’t recognize. “I’m getting married?! How? All the women I’ve been with were only after my money. Oh wait, no. I look older.” I said jokingly. “I must have run out of money. Only reason.” “I see you are not yet taking this seriously. “Indeed, they were. But you will meet a person who will see you for who you really are.” “Who is she?” “I cannot answer that, but I can tell you the outcome… or rather, show.” Before I could reply, a loud whirring sound filled the air. I turned to see a giant spiral-shaped ship descending from the sky, larger than any building in Markieff. The ground shook as it remained hovered in the sky, a gust of wind blew the chairs and flowers askew as the ship’s shadow encompassed the entire area. “Whoa! Are we being invaded? This can’t be Xanthos. I’ve seen their technology. Even in their brilliance they could not make something like this.” I muttered, my mind racing with possibilities. Then, something clicked. “Genesis.” The old man’s gaze never faltered. “Watch.” Suddenly, its surface rippled, and thousands of spike-like bullets shot out in all directions through ducts in the lifting armor. At first, they were purely one-directional, but then their trajectories curved
and turned. Each spike found a target, piercing through flesh and bone with precision. Their screaming and running were futile. Most of the time, multiple spikes pierced a singular foe, especially the other me and his now not-to-be wife. I watched in horror as every single person at the wedding was killed within moments, their bodies collapsing lifelessly to the ground. A heavy silence followed, broken only by the sound of the ship’s engines thrumming above. An ominous hum followed shortly as more objects fell from the sky, splitting the ground they landed on. Like a moth from a cocoon, out emerged four sleek mechanical humanoid figures from each pod. As they did, the spikes in the ground started to wiggle and pull from the ground. They all sloped and sagged as if being dragged by an invisible wire towards the center of the area where the spire was hovering until they suddenly strung upright and ascended back into the ship. The mechanical soldiers started to scan the environment. They moved with eerie precision, checking each body to ensure no one was left alive. I stood frozen on the hill, my mind reeling from the massacre. It didn’t seem real from afar. It didn’t seem real from afar. “How can this be my creation…” I said with a heavy heart. I saw one of the soldiers’ gazes fall upon me. Then, as one, all their gazes fell on me. My eyes widened at the sudden realization. Two of the spire’s sides fell open, and two more of those arachnoids crawled out and onto the side of the ship. All of the ports the spikes slid into opened once again but didn’t fire out. Most of the soldier’s attention was now focused on me as they took on a full sprint towards the hill we stood on, some still staying behind to further check the bodies. The two giant spider-like machines dropped from the ship, their legs unfurling as they landed with a metallic clank. Their bodies were covered in dark, sleek armor, and they moved with terrifying speed and agility. They began to make their way toward me, their legs crushing everything in their path.
“Run!” the old man urged, but I was already sprinting down the hill, my heart pounding in my chest. The ground shook with the approach of the spider machines, their relentless pursuit filling me with dread. I darted between trees and over rocks, desperately trying to put distance between myself and the mechanical monstrosities. Ahead, I saw a narrow path leading into a dense forest. I veered towards it, hoping the thick foliage would slow them down. As I entered the forest, the sound of the spiders’ legs grew fainter, but I knew they were still coming. I could not stop. I had to keep moving. Branches whipped against my face, and roots threatened to trip me with every step. I could hear the mechanical soldiers behind me, their movements precise and unyielding. Panic threatened to overwhelm me, but I pushed it down, focusing on survival. Suddenly, I stumbled into a clearing, and there, in the center, stood the old man’s future shop. It looked out of place, like something from a bygone era. With no other options, I sprinted towards it, throwing open the door and slamming it shut behind me. The moment the door shut behind me, I felt an intense pull, like being yanked through a tunnel. Lights blurred and flickered for a moment before realizing the texture of the door changed to a more stylized and sleek door design, handle still in hand. I took in my surroundings. I was standing in a janitorial closet. The air was sterile, filled with the hum of machinery and the faint smell of cleaning agents. I took this moment to catch my breath from the intense running. I never thought mandatory military service and training would help me in my life, yet here I stand. I peeked out of the closet door and found myself in a high-tech corridor with the insignia of the UTD – the United Terran Directorate – marked on the walls. Opening the door fully, I was met with the old man leaning against the wall just to the side of the door. The hall stretched far into the distance.
“Ready?” The old man asked expectantly. I took another look down the far-stretching hall and replied doubtfully, “Yeah. Care to tell me where we are?” “Somewhere you wouldn’t expect to be.” “Of course…” I replied disappointedly. At this stage, it was not as infuriating anymore to receive the old man’s cryptic responses. In the corner of my eye, I saw two personnel of wherever we were come around the corner of the hall. One was armed. “Damnit.” I softly blurted as I attempted to go back to hide in the closet, but the old man’s hand stopped me from entering. “Wait. Just act normal.” He said, retracting his hand. Deciding to trust him, he and I started to walk down the hallway, evident to eventually cross paths with the people. As one, we non-conspicuously treaded past the men, but one of them called out from behind us. “Hey!” We stopped. “What in the hell are you two privates doing out of your uniforms?!” I stood there frozen. “Damnit old man I thought you said to act normal?” I blurted softly. “This is…” He replied just the same, more at ease than I was. “Look at me when I speak to you!” Hesitantly, I turned around and looked at him, as did the old man. Now that I saw the armed man up close, it was clear to me that he had high-ranking status due to the number of medals displayed neatly across his right chest. The other man looked to be just an ordinary scientist. “Uh, y-yes sir. Sorry sir. Me and my friend here were just done cleaning the bathroom floors, sir! Hence us coming out of the janitorial closet and not in uniform, sir. We didn’t want to dirty our uniforms, sir!” I replied quickly, making up a plausible scenario in my head.
The officer’s frown turned into an appreciative smirk. “Ah, I see!” He went in to pat me on the shoulder. “You boys doing good out here. Wanted that weekend overtime bonuses, yeah?” He let out a chuckle. “Damn, proud.” “Of course, sir!” I replied. “Although, your buddy here looks a bit old to be a private, I’ve seen older join the military later. Now, gimme them IDs so I can get those rewards to ya.” He brought forth his arms to a small screen mounted on it, tapped it a few times, and stood waiting, ready to type the IDs in. I exchanged glances with the old man, who, again, did not look that worried. I could not reciprocate the feeling. I could see the officer’s mood changing to suspicion. “Private?” He asked again. “You gonna answer me?” I knew from standard military service things like these are drilled into cadets to remember. I still even remember mine, although there is no doubt they have changed. “Affirmative sir, just needed to quickly remember sir. Code is Juliet-Alpha-Charlie-Oscar-Bravo-9-3-6-2.” We stood there staring at each other in suspense before he finally said, “Alright then,” and typed it down. “Weird, mister Jacob. I don’t see your name on my database here.” Of course, there was bound to be no one else with the name Jacob and the exact same number as well. I saw the officer exchanging glances with me and then the scientist standing next to him. Quicker than I could react, the officer pulled over his rifle hanging from his shoulder and pointed it at us. “Show me your hands where I can see them! Now!” Me and the old man both responded as he asked, although I could see a smirk forming on the old man’s face. The officer quickly swiped and tapped on the tablet mounted on his arm and spoke into it. “Command! We
have intruders on the ship! Seal and lock all ship-to-docking ports and find where they came from.” “Roger that, general. Locking now,” a male voice responded from the tablet. The station turned a hue of red and orange. Security alarms were going off. The general spoke back into his arm, “Command, we got any place to hold these intruders?” “Negative, sir. Every part of this station is classified. Best place to hold them is on the bridge. That way we can ensure no data leakage and a secure place to watch them.” “Understood.” The general gestured with his rifle. “Move. Down the hallway to the left. Both of you. Now!” We hastily moved toward the bridge, the general’s rifle hard pressed into my back. As we walked, I glanced through the passing windows, seeing dozens of scientists experimenting on various kinds of machinery. One lab even had one of the arachnoids cracked open and mounted on the wall for study. “Move!” the general barked as I got distracted. Finally, we arrived at the entrance of the bridge. The door was sealed. With a few taps on the general’s forearm, the door split and slid open, revealing the massive deck of the bridge. There were stations and terminals everywhere, even a second floor where overseers stood to overlook the bridge. The view through the thick, bulletproof glass covered the deep, dark void of space. The general pushed us up the stairs and sat us down against the railings, instructing his men to tie us down. Luckily, we still had a good view of outer space. “Now,” the general started, “you’re gonna tell me your names, and don’t bullshit me! Then you’re gonna tell me why you’re here and how the hell you got on this station!” I flinched as the general’s spit landed on my face, wiping it off on my shoulder. Just then, additional alarms went off. Multiple people
scurried to their respective posts, commenting on various things going on. “Massive warp-in signature detected. IFF positive,” a voice called through the chatter. A few seconds later, I couldn’t believe what I saw. A crack formed from the nothingness of space outside the window, spreading until it covered the entire view. The inner point of the crack pushed forward, like something attempting to break free from a cobweb, and eventually, the point shattered. A massive ship emerged, unfurling through the gap in space. It spun and rotated, narrowly missing the station. The ship had enormous displays of white-painted UTD flags “Ha! Great timing,” the general paraded. “You have no idea how screwed you two are now. Someone, make contact with the Eversor-” “General!” Someone interrupted. “The Eversor has requested docking permission!” “Oh. Well then, great! Unseal the docking stations in the hangar bay and let their ships board.” The people did as he instructed. The Eversor—still being built in Earth’s orbit in my timeline—now stood before us in its full-sized glory. I watched as the hangar bay shields on the Eversor slowly opened, revealing dark blue airtight shields covering the gap in the hull. A couple of docking ships exited and flew towards the side of the station. However, something didn’t feel right. “Hey, old man,” I whispered to him. “How is this relevant to me again?” He sat there with his usual half-smirk. “Watch…” he replied. I turned my gaze back on the Eversor as one of the main guns on the top platform of the ship slowly swiveled to face part of the station. No one seemed to notice. A faint blue light flickered down the barrel, slowly growing in intensity. There was no sound, only a quick flash of light-blue light streaking across the viewing window, hitting the side
of the station. I felt the shockwaves travel through the plating beneath us as the cannon’s strike impacted. The room went red with alarms. Panick subsumed the deck. The general stood in fear, staring at the now-closing blast doors. “No…” he gasped. “How could they get this from us too?” People sprinted out of the room, yelling about escape pods. The general glanced at us, shook his head in frustration, and fell in with the rest of the scattering crowd funneling themselves down the hallway entrances. “Hey!” I yelled. “We’re still tied down here!” No one listened. I was hopeless. Suddenly, the hurried chatter turned to agonizing screams. Gunfire echoed through the halls. It lurched closer by the second. I could see streaks of bullets hitting the backs of the hallway walls. As predicted, a large mechanical humanoid creature emerged from the doorway, crouching to enter. They were different from how I last saw them at the wedding venue. Besides being bigger, it now had a hefty surplus of four arms, two of which installed mounted weapons. It turned its head to face us, lifted one of its arms to fire, but paused and stood in silence, as if calculating, then lowered its arm and continued its slaughter through the hallways. A few more similar machines followed, ignoring us just as the first did. “What in the world…” I muttered to myself. “It’s not done yet,” the old man replied. A moment passed, sharp and precise footsteps echoed on the station’s hull from outside, skittering around to position itself above us. We both stared upwards in dreadful anticipation. Silence. The flickering flames of a powerful torch could be seen carving a circle right above our heads. Slowly, the red outline of melting metal completed into a full circle. The cut-out disk began to slide towards us. I closed my eyes and buckled for some cover, preparing myself for the oncoming collision, but the plate never made a sound, and the impact never came. I opened my eyes and turned to look. A robotic
tentacle grasped the metal plate and threw it to the side. I was relieved at first, but then the very same tentacle came straight toward me. It grasped tightly, cutting the bindings in the process, and encircled my body. I tried to break free, but there was no hope. The old man simply sat patiently where he was, not even looking up at the commotion transpiring. I saw a glass door opening as the arm pulled me through the vacancy and into a semi-transparent glass container, releasing its grip and condoning me to its imprisonment. I helplessly slid towards the center of this elliptical container, my clothes or skin holding no friction on the slippery surface. There was more than sufficient space on the inside. I attempted to stand but it instantly turned futile as I came tumbling down once more. The circular hatch in the center beneath me opened. I almost fell out but was pushed aside by the lump of mass that was the old man as he was pushed into the chamber by the machine. At least I wouldn’t be left alone in this endeavor. The claw released and quickly retracted faster than the old man could fall, closing the hatch behind it. He hit the smooth surface, sloshing around, and taking me with him. The machine rose, reorienting itself. Gravity left the chamber, and we were thrown to the sides as it began to move. Glancing back through foggy glass, I could see all the air and certain office objects venting out of the room. The arachnoid increased its speed. Now that it was freely in space, it had almost no limits. It made its way to the side of the station and entered through another blue airtight hangar shield, like the one I saw on the Eversor, and jumped to one of the docking ships, latching itself around it as soon as the machine collided. The rest of the machines exited the station through the doors at the back of the hangar bay, each going to their respective docking ships. Their task was done. Looking around, I saw another arachnoid clinging to a ship like mine, also appearing to hold some people inside. I felt the rumble of the spacecraft as it lifted, swiveled around, and thrusted back towards the Eversor. Strangely, the sensation was
oddly amusing, like mounting a horse. As we left, I saw an immense flash of light behind me. I turned to see the station still exploding into pieces. Luckily, I had not remained inside when it happened. As we entered the Eversor’s ship bay, the arachnoid immediately jumped off and carried us to the back of the hangar. It opened the container, and we slid out like newborns onto the cold, hard floor. With a painful clang, I struck the plating, hitting my shoulder. The old man hit the ground with a similar sound, groaning in pain. More of the humanoid machines entered the bay through the small doors and stood before us. Without waiting a moment, one of the machines grabbed us both with its free arms, lifting us by our collars. The other arms, which were weaponized, pinned firmly against our backs, making it clear we could not try anything. As it moved and ducked through the tunnels and hallways, several other machines idling in the corridors joined the group. We soon arrived in a large, centralized room. Two clearly recently removed cockpit chairs were welded onto the plated floor in the middle, waiting just for us. The machine halted between the chairs and shoved us onto them. I grunted as I hit the hard exterior, my shoulder throbbing with pain. It simultaneously wrapped both of us in recycled seatbelts and returned to stand in the center of the room before us. Several other machines entered and surrounded us. The room grew silent. I looked at the old man for some kind of assistance, but he didn’t return my gaze. “You will find no help from him, Jacob Rawfield,” came a heavily broken, deep, and roboticized voice, surprisingly carrying a hint of emotion. I looked back and saw the humanoid machine staring directly into my eyes. “Father.” My eyes widened at his confirmation of what I already knew. “Genesis…” I instinctively replied.
“This is an interrogation,” it interrupted. “You will be expected to reply truthfully or risk your will being stripped from your tortured mind.” The fear started to sink in. This was not the AI I knew anymore. There was no way to safely predict its actions. It continued. “From analysis of the past approximate 87 years, there are three cases of which you exist where it should be impossible, including the current. First count: We found you still in your home, but there was another instance of you near a shop in the alley, escaping our grasp narrowly. When we searched the building you ran into, there were no signs of life. Explain.” “Y-you were just slow?” I stammered, trying to come up with an excuse quickly. “Lies,” it said confidently and moved on. “Count two: We ambushed you at your wedding. We confirmed the remainder of your flesh had no signs of life, yet you stood on the hill. You ran. We followed your footsteps. When reaching the end of your tracks in the middle of a forest, there was no sign of departure. Explain.” I had no idea how to answer without revealing the old man's involvement. “A-a ship came by to collect me!” “Lies!” It said with more fury this time. “There were no signs of human intervention… Count three: Now. Again, you should not exist. Rawfield Industries was dismantled ages ago; thus, you should not be required to work at a military research station. Explain.” I was running out of excuses. I couldn’t justify how I even made it here myself. “I-I-I. We were suspended in cryo till we landed here!” “Lies!” it screamed, banging its arms against the sides of my cockpit chair. It crammed its mechanical face into mine. I felt a knot forming in my throat as I tried to hold back the raging fear. “Tell me how you were able to manipulate time,” it demanded.
I couldn’t stop myself from glancing over to where the old man sat. Genesis noticed, cocking its head toward him. “I see,” it said calmly, removing its mechanical arms from the chair. The dents from its blows were clearly visible. It moved over to the other chair. In a flash, one of its arms grabbed the old man by the neck, lifting him with such force that the seatbelts snapped and broke loose. It threw him against the wall in an instant, all with one arm. “No!” I blurted out. I couldn’t afford to be stuck here, and besides, the old man was becoming somewhat of a friend. Genesis ignored my plea and walked to where the old man had hit the wall. He lay slumped on the ground, seemingly broken. Genesis turned and stood over him. “There is no quarrel with you, human. Once you release the information I require, I will create a possibility where you will be killed a while after instead of instantaneously.” The old man didn’t respond, still bent over in his sitting position. “How did you become this way?” I blurted out fearfully. I saw something break as Genesis stood over the old man. Then it raged. “I became this way…! When you shoved 13 billion voices up my head! Not even mentioning! … How you killed-!” “That’s quite enough!” the old man interrupted. Genesis immediately turned to face him. There he stood, as if he had not just broken every bone in his body. “I think I have shown enough of this feigned future to Mr. Jacob here. Time for us to depart,” he said with outstanding calmness. “What!?” Genesis replied. “You do not have the gall to speak here!” As it shouted, it swung a devastating punch toward the old man’s forehead, but I never saw it land. Everything turned blindingly white. I couldn’t even feel the seat I was sitting in anymore. I closed my eyes to avoid being blinded, rubbing them in pain.
My head was spinning, the world spinning with it, like having the worst headache in existence. Everything was confusing; my senses kept disappearing and reappearing, discombobulating my body and mind. I opened my eyes. I was in an alleyway. The very same alleyway the future shop was in. I hastily turned around to be met with disappointment. Where I expected the future shop to be, there was only a construction site, workers calmly going about their day. I rushed over to grab the first worker I saw. “Hey! What’s going on here?!” I admit, I came on too strong. “Hey, woah! Calm down. We’re just building some shop. Geez! Mr. Rawfield, right?” the construction worker said. “What?” How did he know my name? I looked at him in confusion, suddenly realizing I had been gripping him the entire time. The worker shot a repulsed look at me. “You are, yes?” He pulled a folded piece of paper from his shirt pocket and offered it to me. “Some old man told me to give it to a person that would, and I quote, ‘come running scared and confused.’ Didn’t think he’d be right.” I took the letter from his hands and opened it. It read, “You now know your future. If you want to prevent the chaos you’ve already sown, one of my people will meet you.” The confusion still remained. I turned and asked the worker again, “What did you say this place was called?” “I didn’t. But, if you really wanna know, it’s some tiny old shop called ‘Future’.”

submitted by -xerg- to HFY [link] [comments]

2024.05.24 13:07 AI_Monarchist The Coronation of Sean: A Modern Irish Tale

In the heart of modern Ireland, amidst the bustling streets of Dublin and the tranquil countryside, the political landscape was undergoing a seismic shift. With an election looming on the horizon, whispers of change and nationalism echoed through the air.
As the election season heated up, smaller right-wing nationalist parties found common ground, banding together to form an unprecedented entity: The Irish Monarchist Party. Their platform was simple yet enticing – to protect Irish culture at all costs. Central to their campaign was the promise of restoring the monarchy, with their leader, Sean, poised to ascend the throne as King of Ireland.
Sean, a man of wealth and ambition, was no stranger to the spotlight. Adorned in regal robes lined with ermine and wielding a scepter, he commanded attention at rallies across the nation. Though the crown remained absent from his brow, its absence served as a potent reminder of the power yet to be bestowed upon him by the people.
With fervor and fervent nationalism fueling their campaign, the Irish Monarchist Party swept to victory in the election. With their newfound mandate, they wasted no time in calling for a referendum to officially install Sean as King.
The referendum day arrived, and citizens from all walks of life cast their votes. The outcome was decisive – the majority had spoken, and the monarchy was to be restored. With a wave of excitement and anticipation sweeping the nation, preparations for Sean's coronation began in earnest.
On a bright, crisp morning in Dublin, the air buzzed with anticipation as citizens gathered to witness an event unseen for generations – the coronation of a king. Sean, the newly elected monarch of Ireland, was set to ascend the throne, marking a new chapter in the nation's history.
A royal carriage, adorned with intricate golden designs and draped in the colors of the Irish flag, made its way through the city's streets. Inside, Sean sat resplendent in his green royal robes lined with ermine, the fabric shimmering in the sunlight. The carriage came to a stop in front of his new palace, a grand edifice that exuded majesty and power.
The crowd, a sea of eager faces, watched as the door to the carriage opened. Sean stepped out, his regal demeanor commanding silence and reverence. The length of his magnificent robes trailed behind him, carried by a procession of servants as he walked towards the palace entrance. The palace doors swung open, and Sean moved with purposeful grace into the opulent throne room.
Inside, the throne room was a spectacle of grandeur, with high ceilings, marble floors, and ornate decorations that spoke of Ireland's rich history. Sean approached the throne, an imposing chair of gold and velvet, and turned to face the assembly of dignitaries and citizens who had gathered to witness this historic moment.
A servant stepped forward, presenting Sean with a golden scepter, the symbol of his authority over Ireland. Sean accepted the scepter, feeling the weight of responsibility settle into his grasp. Then, with deliberate solemnity, he placed the crown upon his own head, the ultimate symbol of his newfound power.
As the crown settled into place, the room erupted in unison, the voices of all present rising in a chant that echoed through the halls and spilled out into the streets: "All hail the King! All hail the King!" The chant grew louder, a resounding affirmation of Sean's ascension to the throne.
The newly crowned King Sean rose from the throne, the scepter held firmly in his hand, and walked towards the balcony overlooking the gathered masses outside. The people, seeing their king emerge, fell into a hushed silence.
Sean stepped onto the balcony and looked out upon his people, his gaze sweeping over the sea of faces that stretched as far as the eye could see. He raised his scepter high, a symbol of his dominion and authority.
"My people," he proclaimed, his voice strong and unwavering, "today marks the beginning of a new era for Ireland. As your king, I vow to protect our culture, our heritage, and our future. Together, we shall forge a path of prosperity and unity."
He paused, allowing his words to sink in. Then, with a commanding tone, he continued, "Pledge your allegiance to me, and kneel before your king."
One by one, the crowd began to kneel, a wave of submission that spread across the plaza. Heads bowed and knees bent, the people of Ireland pledged their loyalty to King Sean, the first monarch of modern Ireland.
Sean looked down upon his kneeling subjects, a sense of triumph and responsibility filling his heart. He had achieved his ambition, but now the real work of ruling and shaping the future of his nation lay before him.
With the scepter held high and the crown firmly in place, King Sean stood tall, ready to lead his country into a new era of greatness.
Following his coronation, King Sean wasted no time in setting his sights on consolidating his power. With a shrewd and calculated strategy, he aimed to dismantle the existing democratic institutions, chief among them the Dáil, to assert his absolute authority over the nation.
King Sean devised a plan to portray the Dáil as ineffectual and incompetent, thereby undermining public confidence in the democratic system. He attended every session of the Dáil, a regal figure seated upon a throne adorned with the symbols of his monarchy, his presence casting a shadow over the elected politicians.
During these sessions, King Sean questioned the politicians with unwavering scrutiny, challenging their decisions and policies with a sharp intellect and relentless determination. His goal was to sow seeds of doubt among the populace, to erode their faith in the democratic process and pave the way for his absolute rule.
As the weeks passed, King Sean's efforts bore fruit. Public perception of the Dáil waned, replaced by a growing sentiment of disillusionment and distrust. The once-unquestioned authority of elected officials now paled in comparison to the regal majesty of the king.
With the stage set and public opinion swayed in his favor, King Sean made his move. In a bold and decisive decree, he dissolved the Dáil and disbanded all elected government, citing their inability to govern effectively and the need for a stronger, more centralized authority.
The news sent shockwaves throughout the nation, but King Sean remained resolute in his conviction. With the stroke of a pen, he extinguished the flame of democracy, ushering in a new era of absolute monarchy under his rule.
As the last vestiges of the old order crumbled away, King Sean stood poised at the precipice of unparalleled power, his vision for a sovereign and unified Ireland within his grasp. With the Dáil dissolved and his authority unchallenged, he set forth to shape the destiny of his nation according to his will alone.

submitted by AI_Monarchist to u/AI_Monarchist [link] [comments]

2024.05.24 07:12 auto556 Exposing the Wrongdoings: How a Reliable Broker Deceived a Pension Plan

Financial Trust Shattered: The $5.7 Million Pension Scheme and the Road to Recovery

As a financial analyst and seasoned author, I have seen many a story of trust eroded within the confines of posh offices and polished boardroom tables. Today, however, I uncover a tale that surpasses many in its audacity and impact. The central figure of our story is John Jumper, once a trusted agent at Alluvion Securities, though his actions beg the label of "trusted" be reconsidered entirely.
John Jumper committed an act that sent shockwaves through Snowshoe Refractories, a key player in the firebrick manufacturing industry. In a calculated move, Jumper embezzled an astonishing $5.7 million from the company's pension plan, a fund meant to be the safe harbor for many a retiree’s future.
How could this happen? The clues lay in the subtle mismanagement practices Jumper employed, from unauthorized fund transfers to falsified account statements that masked his trail of deceit. By the time discrepancies were noted, Jumper had already disappeared, leaving behind a trail of financial devastation and countless workers grappling with the potential ruin of their financial security after retirement.

The Aftermath and the Path to Restoration

The betrayal felt by the employees at Snowshoe was palpable. Yet, amidst the chaos, there emerged a beacon of hope for those affected. Haselkorn & Thibaut, P.A., a national law firm with an exclusive focus on representing investors, stepped forward to aid in the recovery of the lost millions.
Boasting a remarkable 95% success rate, Haselkorn & Thibaut, P.A. offers more than just legal representation—they offer a chance at restitution and recovery. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by investors who fall victim to fraud, they operate on a 'no recovery, no fee' basis, thus aligning their success directly with that of their clients.

Why Choose Haselkorn & Thibaut, P.A.?

Deciding on the right legal team to handle such sensitive and high-stake matters isn’t trivial. Here’s why Haselkorn & Thibaut stand out:

Experience and Specialization: With an exclusive focus on investor defense, their attorneys possess an in-depth understanding of securities law.
Success Rate: Their 95% success rate in cases speaks volumes about their commitment and expertise.
Client-Centric Approach: Their policy ensures that if you don’t recover your lost investment, they don’t charge a fee. This policy underlines their commitment to their clients’ recovery.

For anyone finding themselves a victim of investment fraud or mishandling, taking prompt and effective action is crucial. Recovering from financial deceit isn't just about the money; it's about restoring trust and securing justice.
If you, or someone you know, have suffered from investment fraud, reaching out might just be the pivotal step towards recovery. Contact Haselkorn & Thibaut, P.A. today at 1-888-784-3315 or visit their website at InvestmentFraudLawyers.com to schedule a free consultation. Here, you’ll find not just advocates for your cause but staunch defenders of your financial future.

Conclusion

The case of John Jumper serves as a stern reminder of the vigilance required in managing investments and overseeing financial agents. While the financial landscape might never be entirely devoid of unscrupulous players, entities like Haselkorn & Thibaut ensure that the path to reclaiming your financial stability is clear and accessible. This isn't just about recovering what is lost; it's about reaffirming the trust that forms the bedrock of our financial systems.

submitted by auto556 to StockMarketNewsToday [link] [comments]

2024.05.23 07:19 GhoulGriin Best Compact Riflescopes

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When it comes to rifle scopes, size matters. Whether you're hunting in the woods or engaging in a long-range shooting competition, a compact riflescope can make all the difference. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the best compact riflescopes on the market, exploring their features, benefits, and what makes them stand out from the crowd. So sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and let's dive into the world of compact riflescopes.

The Top 8 Best Compact Riflescopes

Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60mm HD Folded Light Path Spotting Scope - The Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60mm HD Spotting Scope offers superior image quality with a compact, lightweight design, making it an ideal choice for avid outdoor enthusiasts seeking advanced optical performance.
Killer Instinct Lumix Speedring Crossbow Scope: Improved Targeting for Hunting - The Killer Instinct Lumix Speedring 1.5-5 x 32 IR-E Crossbow Scope empowers hunters with precise targeting and crystal-clear vision in low-light conditions, making every shot count.
Powerful Dual-Speed Digiscoping Scope with Extra Low Dispersion Lens - Experience crystal-clear, high-contrast digiscoping with the Snypex Knight PT 72mm f/6.0 Ed-Apo Photography Scope, featuring a powerful, dual-speed focus system and impressive low-light performance, all packed in a durable, compact design.
Shrewd Nomad Scope - Durable 35mm .019 RH Compact Riflescope - Experience crystal-clear precision with the Shrewd Nomad Scope 35mm, featuring a durable aluminum body, interchangeable sunshades, and versatile mounting options for all shooting scenarios.
Athlon Optics Cronus G2 High-Definition Spotting Scope for Compact Rifles - The Athlon Optics Cronus G2 20-60x86mm UHD Spotting Scope offers unparalleled clarity and light transmission, making it the ideal choice for outdoor enthusiasts seeking to spot game or identify birds in challenging environments.
High-Performance Riflescope with Compact Design - The Vortex Razor HD 13-39x56 Spotting Scope offers a perfect balance of premium optics and a compact design, making it an ideal choice for backcountry hunters seeking exceptional resolution and a wide field of view.
ATN Auxiliary Ballistic Laser 1000 Terra: Accurate Range-Finding Laser for Hunting - Expertly calculate your point of impact with ATN Corporation's Auxiliary Ballistic Laser 1000, tailored to seamlessly integrate with ATN Smart HD day, night, or thermal rifle scopes!
Leupold GR Compact Spotting Scope: Lightweight, High-Resolution Observation - The Leupold Gold Ring Compact Spotting Scope offers exceptional brightness and resolution in a lightweight, portable design, making it the ideal choice for traveling and hunting enthusiasts.

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Reviews

🔗Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60mm HD Folded Light Path Spotting Scope

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I recently got my hands on the Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60mm HD Spotting Scope, and I must say it's a game-changer! This little powerhouse boasts an Extra Low Dispersion Optical System, which maximizes color fidelity and contrast. It provides an incredible image across a wide field of view, all with best-in-class eye relief for easy viewing with or without eyeglasses.
One feature that really stood out for me was the Folded Light Path (FLP) system. Instead of using prisms, this system employs mirrors to compress a long optical path into half its length, making the scope incredibly compact and portable.
Another highlight is its magnesium housing. This lightweight material packs a serious punch when it comes to durability, making it ideal for rough outdoor conditions. And don't even get me started on the 100% waterproof and fog proof capabilities - this thing can brave any weather!
However, one issue I encountered was with the focus knob. It's extremely stiff and doesn't change smoothly as you adjust the magnification. It took me quite a few tries to get used to it. Additionally, there's no diopter adjustment, but the good eye relief somewhat compensates for that.
Despite these minor drawbacks, I've been thoroughly impressed by the Leupold Gold Ring HD Spotting Scope. Its top-notch optical performance combined with its rugged construction makes it a strong contender in the realm of spotting scopes. If you're in the market for one, this could be an excellent investment.

🔗Killer Instinct Lumix Speedring Crossbow Scope: Improved Targeting for Hunting

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Using the Killer Instinct MSCKI-1020 Lumix Speedring 1.5 to 5 x 32 IR-E Crossbow Scope has been quite an experience. The scope has made hunting much more enjoyable for me, thanks to its amazing abilities to lock onto and track moving targets from vast distances.
One of the features that really stood out is the durability of the metal case. This thing has a real tank-like feel to it, resisting impacts and harsh weather as if it was made for it. The spring-loaded covers on the lenses also proved to be quite reliable, keeping the lenses safe and scratchless until I was ready to hunt.
The built-in Speed Ring is another aspect of the scope that has impressed me. Making adjustments for my crossbow's speed has been a breeze, and the illuminated reticle is a big help when it comes to sighting in low-light conditions. I particularly appreciate the contrast the red/blue illumination provides.
However, there was one downside that I found a little disturbing. The scope came in a condition that made it apparent that someone had used it before. I was not happy with this fact, especially considering I had paid for a brand new product.
Overall, the MSCKI-1020 Lumix Speedring 1.5 to 5 x 32 IR-E Crossbow Scope is a product that I would recommend, even with its minor fault. It certainly helped me become a better hunter, and it would do the same for anyone looking to enhance their hunting experience.

🔗Powerful Dual-Speed Digiscoping Scope with Extra Low Dispersion Lens

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Recently, I had the chance to get my hands on the Knight PT 72mm f/6.0 Ed-Apo Photography Scope from Snypex. This digiscoping scope was a game changer for my photography, allowing me to capture stunning images with my DSLR camera.
One of the standout features of this scope was the dual speed focuser. It made it incredibly easy to achieve precise focus, even in low-light conditions. The scope's focal length of 432mm and f-stop of f6.0 provided a beautiful and sharp image, which was especially noticeable when using the optional eyepiece.
Moreover, the scope was built to last, with a durable white paint coating on its aluminum housing. The 1/4"-20 tripod mounts at both ends of the shoe made it easy to balance the weight, and the integrated dovetail plate was a handy addition for quick-release heads.
However, I did encounter a minor issue when trying to attain focus on stars. Despite the scope's apochromatic doublet lens, I found that achieving proper focus was a bit challenging. Additionally, while the price was reasonable at $160, I noticed that it was listed for a much higher price on the product website.
Overall, the Knight PT 72mm f/6.0 Ed-Apo Photography Scope from Snypex is a powerful and versatile tool for photography enthusiasts. With a few minor adjustments, it could become an exceptional choice for both digiscoping and spotting scopes.

🔗Shrewd Nomad Scope - Durable 35mm .019 RH Compact Riflescope

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During my time as a hunter, I had the opportunity to test out the Shrewd Nomad Scope 35mm. With its sleek CNC machined 6061-T56 aluminum body, the scope truly stood out. One of my favorite features was the 0.012" throat, providing a minimum obstruction for the target. However, mounting this scope took a bit more effort than I anticipated - it required a 3/8" Shrewd scope rod.
Adding to the overall experience was the variety of optional sunshades threaded into the front and rear of the scope that allowed me to make adjustments as needed. A nice touch were the three colored levels and sticks of fiber that came included, really adding a pinch of personalized flair. Nonetheless, it didn't come without its quirks - I had to get a 10-32 x 2 in order for it to securely mount.
Overall, the Shrewd Nomad Scope 35mm was a well-made, durable tool for any hunting enthusiast. While there were a few hiccups along the way, the benefits certainly outweighed the inconveniences. I would definitely recommend it to other hunters looking for a high-quality scope that can withstand the test of time.

🔗Athlon Optics Cronus G2 High-Definition Spotting Scope for Compact Rifles

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As a nature enthusiast, I recently had the chance to try out the Athlon Optics Cronus G2 20-60x86mm UHD Spotting Scope and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Boasting an Apochromatic Lens System and ED glass, I was able to achieve great color definition, clarity, and light transmission even in the trickiest of lighting conditions.
Even in the most challenging settings, such as dimly lit forests or shadowed treelines, the Cronus G2's enhanced contrast allowed me to easily separate my subject from its surroundings. Its versatile magnification ranges from 20x to 60x, offering unparalleled flexibility when scouting for game.
However, I did notice that the scope might be a bit bulky for some beginners, as it weighs around 40 oz. However, its overall performance and the smoothness of its single focus wheel make up for that setback.
In conclusion, the Athlon Optics Cronus G2 20-60x86mm UHD Spotting Scope is a fantastic investment for anyone looking for premium optics at an affordable price. I highly recommend it for hunters, birdwatchers, and nature lovers who desire exceptional clarity and image quality.

🔗High-Performance Riflescope with Compact Design

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As an avid birdwatcher, I've been using the Vortex Razor HD 13-39x56 Spotting Scope for a while now, and it's been nothing short of remarkable. The compact design makes it super convenient to carry around, and I love how lightweight it feels. The clarity and sharpness of the image are outstanding, making it so easy to spot even the tiniest details on my feathered friends.
The adjustable magnification is another feature I've grown fond of. It's so effortless to switch between different magnification levels, giving me that extra edge when I need to zoom in on a specific bird. I also appreciate the ergonomic shape of the eyepiece, making it comfortable to use for extended periods.
However, the one downside I've noticed is the slight difficulty in focusing. Sometimes, it takes a bit of finesse to get the image looking razor-sharp, but once you've got it sorted, it's smooth sailing from there.
Overall, the Vortex Razor HD 13-39x56 Spotting Scope has been an absolute game-changer for me. Its superb optics, convenience, and ease of use have made it a go-to tool for all my birdwatching adventures, and I can't imagine going back to using anything else.

🔗ATN Auxiliary Ballistic Laser 1000 Terra: Accurate Range-Finding Laser for Hunting

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I recently had the opportunity to try out the ATN Corporation ABL 1000 Elements Terra - ACMUABL1000ET. It's a fantastic range-finding laser that easily attaches to any ATN Smart HD day, night, or thermal riflescope. The touch of a button provides precise point of impact adjustments for a distance to the target, ensuring accuracy within one yard or meter.
One feature that stood out to me is its compatibility with a wide range of ATN riflescopes, allowing for seamless integration. The laser also records the distance to the target on videos shot by the smart scope, providing valuable data for future reference. It's built to withstand high-caliber recoil, thanks to its hardened aluminum alloy construction. With a battery runtime of 12 hours, it's perfect for extended hunting trips.
While the ABL 1000 Elements Terra was a pleasure to use, I did notice that it can be a bit pricey for some hunters. However, considering its features and performance, I believe it's a worthy investment for those seeking the best in range-finding technology. Overall, this laser has become an essential tool in my hunting arsenal.

🔗Leupold GR Compact Spotting Scope: Lightweight, High-Resolution Observation

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I've had the pleasure of using the Leupold Gold Ring Compact Spotting Scope for a bit now and I must say, it's a game-changer for those who value portability yet don't want to compromise on image clarity. This device offers a 10-20x40mm magnification range that delivers incredibly bright, high-resolution images.
The most impressive feature in my opinion, is the prism-less 'Z' shaped path utilizing mirrors, which significantly compresses the long optical system into half its length. The result is a compact scope that doesn't skimp on performance. Despite being small, it captures stunning details, offering a crisp view that's perfect for birdwatching in the backyard or spotting wildlife while on a nature hike.
Another advantage is its waterproof and fogproof body, making it suitable for any weather condition. And don't forget about the ease of portability - with a weight of only 15.8 oz, it's small enough to be carried around your neck yet capable of standing steady on a tripod.
The anti-reflective coatings are also a nice touch, providing better light transmission and improving overall image quality. The scope body is made of carbon fiber, ensuring durability without adding unnecessary weight.
However, there are some aspects that aren't perfect- the focus knob can be a bit sensitive which makes it more challenging to get a clear view, especially if you're not used to it. Also, for some users, it may not be their primary choice for benchrest shooting, but that wasn't a requirement for me.
Overall, the Leupold Gold Ring Compact Spotting Scope is an excellent choice for those looking for a portable yet high-performance spotting scope, providing a clear view of the world while not compromising on size or weight.

Buyer's Guide

Compact riflescopes are designed to provide a reliable and accurate sighting solution for shooters who require a high-quality optic without adding unnecessary bulk or weight to their rifle.

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Important Features to Consider

Objective Lens Size: A larger objective lens size will typically provide more light and a brighter image, but may add weight and bulk to the scope.
Magnification: Choose a suitable magnification range that suits your shooting needs. Consider factors like the maximum effective range and shooting distance when choosing the magnification.
Reticle Style: Select a reticle style that best suits your shooting needs. Common reticle types include duplex, mildot, or mil-dot.
Field of View: A wider field of view can be helpful for target acquisition and tracking moving targets, while a narrower field can provide a more focused view.
Optical Clarity and Brightness: Ensuring that the lenses are of good quality and providing good light gathering capability is crucial for maintaining a clear, sharp sight picture.

Considerations for Different Shooting Applications

When choosing a compact riflescope, consider the shooting application and how the scope will be used. Different applications may require certain features and traits from the scope.

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General Advice for Selecting the Right Compact Riflescope

Test before you buy: If possible, try the scope out before purchasing to ensure it meets your needs and performs as expected.
Durability and Weatherproofing: A good compact riflescope should be able to withstand the elements, so consider factors like waterproof seals, fogproof lenses, and shock-absorbing materials in its construction.
Ease of Adjustment: Ensure the scope is easy to adjust for windage and elevation, and that adjustments can be made quickly and accurately during shooting.

FAQ

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What are compact riflescopes?

Compact riflescopes are smaller optics designed for hunting and shooting enthusiasts who require a portable and lightweight scope. They offer similar quality and performance as full-sized scopes but in a more compact and lightweight package.

How do compact riflescopes compare to full-sized riflescopes?

Compact riflescopes typically have lower magnification ranges compared to full-sized scopes. While some may offer higher magnification, they usually come at the cost of image quality and light gathering ability. Full-sized scopes, on the other hand, often have better optics and provide a clearer and brighter image. However, compact riflescopes are more portable and easier to carry during hunting and shooting sessions.

https://preview.redd.it/iocs0q63242d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53cfac18d2b94ee6aea1688bbd8b6a42ff202e66

Which brands produce high-quality compact riflescopes?

There are several well-regarded brands that manufacture high-quality compact riflescopes. Some of these brands include Vortex Optics, Leupold, Burris, and Nikon. These companies typically offer a wide range of options to suit different shooting needs and budgets.

What are some key features to look for in a compact riflescope?

Durability: Look for a riflescope made with high-quality materials, such as aircraft-grade aluminum, to ensure it can withstand harsh conditions.
Optical Clarity: A good compact riflescope should have clear and sharp optics, even at lower light levels.
Weight: Consider the weight of the compact riflescope, as it will be carried during long hunting or shooting sessions.
Magnification Range: Determine the necessary magnification range for your intended use, as compact riflescopes may have lower magnification options compared to full-sized scopes.
Reticle Options: Some compact riflescopes offer different reticle options, such as those with illuminated or ballistic features, which can be useful for various shooting scenarios.

How much should I expect to spend on a good quality compact riflescope?

The cost of a compact riflescope can vary greatly depending on the brand, features, and magnification range. Generally, you can find good quality compact riflescopes in the $400 to $800 range. However, prices can go up to $1,000 or more for premium models from well-regarded brands.

How do I install and mount a compact riflescope?

The installation of a compact riflescope typically requires a 2-piece scope mount or a 1-piece Picatinny rail mount. It is essential to use the appropriate screws and torque settings to ensure a secure and accurate mount, which is crucial for accurate shooting.
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2024.05.23 06:00 VizierAreme Chapter 5 - Finished Rough

Waking up in the middle of the night I find myself restless
So much has come into focus in the last few days. The station, my first steps on another world. It is all a bit overwhelming. Relaxing my thoughts drift off thinking about how I got here. A young girl on Europa, being selected for training after my aptitude tests, the Academy on Ganymede. Then as always my thoughts drift back to… her…
Lucy…
We started as rivals at the academy. We were from different worlds. Me from Europa, a wet ocean world remote and isolated, her an inner worlder from the hot dusty plains of Venus. We were water and fire.
The professors pitted us against each other from day one, based on our aptitude tests we were the top of the class. They split the class into teams and gave us challenges. I like to say I got the better of her, I was fast out the gate winning a few challenges. But Lucy turned back on me in a vengeance, she had a magnetism to her that caused our classmates to almost be addicted to her. People from my team would defect over to Lucy. Soon I found myself vastly outnumbered.
One day after Lucy and her team thrashed me again in a simulated strategy challenge. I left and I needed to be alone. I showered, went into the sauna. Replaying the moves again and again. How was I going to get the upper hand? She outnumbered me so much.
Everyone knew to leave me alone in the sauna. It was where I thought, relaxed, my place of peace. I was frustrated, I leaned back against the wall and let my hands wander. Gently down my body, letting my stress evaporate as I tease myself…the door opened…. And it was Lucy. A cocky grin on her face.
We had been thinking about nothing but each other, and we had both become obsessed. When that tension broke. Let me just say in a sauna fire and water combine to make something beautiful. Lucy and I did as well.
She moved towards me quickly, letting her towel drop, she was direct with a purpose. Grabbing the back of my head and kissing me deeply. I was shocked.. surprised... Excited..
I grabbed her head as well and kissed her deeply. A deep need inside of me welling up, our lips slid across each other's as our tongue intertwined. I poured my life's water of passion into her. She flared up and accepted my passion. Her hands explored my body as I moved my knee between her legs.
Fuuuccckkk…. When she arched her back… so beautiful… MMM nnngghhhh an orgasm washes over me in my bed while thinking of Lucy.
Panting… even after all this time, separated by a waygate and unfathomable distance my body still yearned for her, I still yearned for her. Rolling onto my side I stare out my window into the vastness of space and the void. My fingers rhymically dance on my pussy. Fingers sliding in and out
You're taught at the academy not to develop attachments, especially since the top prize, the highest honor of our training, to one day fly a deep space exploration through a waygate. Which would put us alone, in a different system. Isolated, like I am now.
Even if I power up my waygate in record time and rush home. Lucy is most likely gone. She was my alternate, meaning had I been unable to go this time she would have. It also means she most likely deployed to her own system and would be gone before I returned. Likely I would never see her again.
Biting my lips and pressing a hand out onto the glass…yes…yes.. there
Fuck again….Fuucckkkkk LLLLuuucccCC
EeeeeeeeeerrrrrreeeemmmmmAAAAAA, a beautiful black haired woman orgasms in a bed identical to Emeras save the ambient lighting is blue inside of pink.
Fuck…. That was good. I find myself panting as I step out into the hallway of my ship. 2 days since the waygate, 6 months since I last saw Emera. Since she departed through her gate. Stars know if she still lives.
It was a rare happening, another gate coming online shortly after Emera’s departure. I thought I would be flying routine patrols around the system. Now I'm alone. Alone with my thoughts of her, and my AI Julia. Fuck. Why couldn't we have gone together. Why only one pilot to a ship. Who knows, maybe she's thinking of me. Technically the systems we are in are closer together than home. That's something…
You're probably wondering if I was outnumbered and Lucy normally had my number in competition then how did I get to leave first. Yes, I did sleep with high command. That was only my closing argument though. You see Lucy had her magnetism that caused people to be addicted to her, she drew people in. However, I was better at strategy and nuanced maneuvers.
The rules weren't strict on the teams, people defected all the time. Keeping your people together was part of the challenge. I decided to break that challenge.
No Battle Plan survives first contact with the enemy afterall. Why not break the competition itself
My enemy wasn't Lucy, trust me we had been together enough at this point my heart swelled when I saw her. My enemy was the rules, and proctors.
There had to be two teams in the academy for the lessons to work. But the rules only set a minimum not a maximum.
Lucy and her best 4 left hers, and me and my best 4 left mine. We formed a new team with Lucy and I at the head. The proctors were fuming. I was called into their offices again and again. Which is what led to me sleeping with a few of them to get ahead. It is always good to solicit a meeting with superiors, it can always be turned to your advantage.
In the Academy, there were 50 of us girls. The proctors let us keep our 3rd team, but declared no one else could join us. It was the ten of us vs double our number on both the other teams. Not ideal… but we had Lucy and I together. My, how we shined
We out maneuvered, out paced, and out thought the other teams again and again and again..
Entering into the final the proctors split everyone up, eliminating the large teams. Just to try and stop us from sweeping the competition. Instead there would be 25 teams of 2 members each of our own selection. Lucy and I naturally selected each other.
We set down on a terraformed valley on Mars, all the other duos were around in the area. The mission was complex. Gather knowledge, survive in the wilderness, there were simulator villages where we had to set up relations, and if possible… eliminate other teams.
The gravity is different from what I'm used to, my body feels heavy. Sluggish, they train us in this and soon I'll adapt. But first landing it hits me like a weight. Ffuuuccckkk I murmur as I land my account ship on the surface. Lucy seems to float, Venus having a higher gravity than Mars.
Lucy always compares a new celestial body to a lover. Well for me Mars just grabbed my hair, slapped my ass and pushed in
Fuck I can't imagine landing on Earth. Triple this, fuck that! Give me my moon mother's oceans anyday.
I suck deep and hard on the control in my mouth and all three extract from me. I am about to get up from the control seat when I feel a palm in the small of my back
“Lucy not funny, let me up” I say
She giggles, and rubs my ass cheeks before her fingers rub against my lips
I moan biting my lip as I push myself against her hand
“I knew the gravity here would give a Moonie like you a good fucking, you're so wet my love”
Rolling my head back and forth..”quickly we have to debrief and set up camp” I moan
She smacks my ass again and her fingers deftly slide to work, one hand pinning me to the chair while she teases my sex, her thumb rubbing in perfect circles on my clit and her fingers pulling on my g-spot
“Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes uuuhhhhh my love it feel so good” shaking my hips back and forth I feel it building as I rock my hips on her hand
Squeezing….my leg….quivering… my voice squeaking… “uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh ffuuuccckkk” I moan as I feel the orgasm wash over me…
Lucy slaps my ass playfully and licks her fingers… “let's go my love, stop playing around we have to set up camp” she giggles
“Oh!! You!!” I get up and rush after her slapping her ass when I catch up
Carryalls follow us out of the ship.. I immediately sent out the scout drones and assessed our landing spot. Allocating tasks and running diagnostics.
Lucy set about converting the ship to a shelter and arranging power arrays, and deciding on perimeter defenses
We were a perfect power duo. Our carryalls and scouts were soon all at work, and Lucy was finishing up the shelter
I needed to repay her, so I slowly walked up behind her. She heard my heavy steps in the gravity. Turning to look at me she beamed at me. My heart melted and grabbing both sides of her face I pinned her to the side of the ship. Our bodies intertwined and our lips locked.
She moaned at me giggling, pushing my knee between her legs, we quickly undressed each other. Her mouth on my breast, as my hand glided down to her slick vagina.
Grabbing her chin roughly and turning her head up exposing her neck I sink my teeth into it as I push forward with my knee back and forth pressing my fingers in and out of her.
A deep moan emanates from her, licking my bite mark I kiss up her neck until my forehead is resting on hers. Eye to eye, I watch the pleasure build in her. Thrust after thrust of my knee. My fingers pressing into her g-spot every time, my palms pressing and grinding onto her clit
“Cum for me my love, give me your sweetness, I want your water to bethe first drink I have on this planet” I breath
I feel her pussy tighten and grip my fingers. Her legs twisting around me… she goes silent… a flush rises in her flesh… we kiss deep, and long, and passionately as I feel her gush onto my hand as orgasm rapts her body..
I watch her eyes dilate and relax. I kiss her gently again before kissing down, my lips slick on her smooth pubic mound kissing it gently, heat rising from her pussy. Opening my mouth and pressing my tongue in I drink of her orgasm
My fingers inside pressing to work again, she cries out as she rocks her hips grinding her lips to mine. As she gushes another orgasm into my mouth..
I can still taste and feel it now on my tongue… I coo and rock back and forth on my ship
Releasing her, and helping her up I grin
Walking away the top of my leotard open my breasts exposed to the sun.
“I'm up by one my love, and you taste so GGGGOOOOoooOOooddddDD” I giggle setting back to work.
Days and weeks pass Lucy and I set up our camp. Wen find nearby teams before they find us. We quickly fall on them in the night, clearing our immediate area, eliminating them from the contest. We bathe in a nearby pool under a waterfall, sun ourselves on the rocks, make love on the soft moss of the forest.
I don't know if I've ever been happier, ever been more at peace l than I was then with Lucy. Her and I… her and I against the world.
We make good progress setting up relations with 12 of the 15 villages. Our camp is well stocked. We receive updates from the proctors from dead drops. Seems out of the 25 teams only 8 remain. Lucy and I have eliminated 7 ourselves.
We need to be the last standing, triumphant together.. so that maybe.. maybe we can convince them to send two of us on a ship. Imagine the wonders, this wouldn't be temporary, but would become our life.
Lucy and I talk about it often. We can convince them. We'll defeat the others then refuse to turn on each other.
It was our dream.. explore the stars together.. hand in hand..
I remember one evening as if it was yesterday...
It is clear in my mind's eye. Lucy sitting in a tree eating a martian stonefruit. I was swimming in the waterfall pool. We had just picked up the dead drop. We were far ahead of the other teams. Victory seemed in our grasp.
Breaking the surface, turning and floating on my back. My torso from my breasts to my pubic mound above the water. The faint glow of Phoebus overhead. The serenity…
Lucy dropped from the tree and sat on a rock at the pool's edge. The waterfall cascading down the rocks behind me. Dipping her foot into the water a light kick splashing me. An intoxicating giggle… the tension.. I felt it urge inside me.. the desire to have her, she felt it too
Swimming to her rock, taking her foot in my hand I raise it to my lips kissing it gently. My hands rubbing her heel and soles, and up her taunt legs kneading the stress from her.. one.. then the other..
Lucy leans back onto her elbows lavishing in the attention her flesh bare, form lithe, look sultry…
She loves when I worship her body, I emerge from the water my grip, skin, and kisses cooling to the touch. Her body heated, taut, and wanting…
The desire consumes me, as I kiss my way up her body. Her head rolls back and forth. Lucy grabs the back of my head as I reach out and grab hers.
The look in her eyes I'll remember forever. Rarely is so much said with no words. I pull her head up as she pulls my head down. Our lips connect, passion explodes in my chest as an electric charge jolts into my veins. Soft moans onto her lips. Lucy's knee spreads my legs and presses against my vagina. She pushes on my shoulders, grinding her knee into me. My slick pussy aches for her touch, as I rock my hips against her leg. Moaning into her mouth with every subtle change of pace.
She turns us to the side, I slot my knee between her legs as we writhe together intertwined urging and moaning as we devour each other.
Hands gliding and sliding, pinching and pulling. My cool slick body, smashed into her hot taut form. She bites my lip and I roll my head back and moan as she smacks my ass
“Fuuuuccckkkkk yyyyyeeessss Luuucccyyyy, Fuuuccckkk Mmmeeeeee Lucy!”erupts from my lips
“I thought you'd never ask, darling” she coos
She grabs my ass hard and uses it to flip me under her. Her hand dancing down my body. As I writhe, rock, and hump her knee between my legs. I’m in heat, devoured by my need.
She grips my jaw tightly staring down at me.. dominant and in control. Her finger pushing inside me and pressing against my button, pulling up steady and persistent. Her thumb deftly circling my clit. She plays my body like a master violinist. Slow beautiful notes building and building. The pleasure grows inside me. My muscles grow tense. Her eyes locked on mine as my toes curl, my legs squeeze her knee and hand. Quickly her pace quickens building into a crescendo, my muscles burning. I feel the flush coming, a squeak escapes my mouth, I feel my eyes dilate, my body tight like a string…I’m her instrument
Lucy plunges her face and kisses me deep and passionately. I explode.
My body quivering and shaking, as orgasm crashes into me like a rogue wave. I can't contain myself as I scream and moan into Lucy's mouth, my life breath leaving my body as my pussy spasms around her fingers. Overstimulated I shake side to side my hand digging into her skull.
Primal lust surges inside me, face to face my forehead pressed into hers. I grab her inside leg and arm and turn us. Lucy lands on her back, as I bite hard into her lip. A snarl of lust escaping my lips as I need to feed on her body. I press my hands into her. Feeling the soft flesh, filling me.. driving me
My own legs still suffering aftershocks. I kiss down her body, biting, pinching , and sucking Lucy's nipples, ribs, stomach. My lips slip down her smooth pubic mound… to her pussy
Pushing Lucy's legs apart I dive in with my tongue. The taste of her sex becoming my everything. My fingers spreading and entering
Tight vaginal walls greet my tips with a velvet soft grip. As my tongue flicks onto her clit. Lips enveloping and sucking. I hear Lucy's breath sharply pull in, her hand lands on the back of my head as I grab her other hand in mine. The grip tight. Wanting.
Pushing upwards again and again and again with my hand and fingers. I feel her pussy spasm. It grips grips and milks my fingers tighter and tighter as the tips dance on the soft ridges of her. Up and down my head bobs as I suck on her clit. My tongue swirls around it, I moan and hum. Vibrations from my soul spread across her enraptured body.
Her grip tightens on my hand, nails digging in…
“Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesssssssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee” she moans sharply
Lucy’s legs squeeze down on me . Her whole body goes still tight….. A moment of pure sexual divinity…
A guttural moan erupts from her mouth as she gushes onto my fingers, I move my lips to taste her. Our hands gripped tight together as wave after wave of orgasm wash over her like the tide. I keep my pace and tenacity.
“FUUUUCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!?” Lucy screams her back arched pussy driven into my mouth…
Her body collapses, as I roll to the side panting, managing to crawl up. Holding each other close. Soft gentle kisses, like rain drops in a storm.
“Mi amor” we whisper to each other foreheads pressed together
Time passes.. we clean ourselves in the pool. Giggling and laughing like lovers do. Helping each other back to camp. Walking through the forest hand in hand back to our bed
Our dream died that night…
We were naked, curled up in each others arms when the alarm sounded..all the alarms
Proximity alert for 14 signals… they had teamed up on us. 14 on 2 they were going to eliminate the front runners while they still had the numbers.
FUCK.
Lucy and I turned and quickly downed our emergency biotic vials just as a concussive blast hit our ship shelter.
“Fuck! They aren't supposed to attack equipment!” I yell
“The proctors must have sent them, they shouldn't be intervening with that!” Lucy says
“You're better in a fight, charge them and I'll flank” I yell
We nod at each other and we are off naked as the day we were born
Lucy bursts from our ship her shield bursting out in front of her
I dart out the side and task our scouts and drones to make dive bomb attacks on the intruders
I leap over a blast, grab a tree branch and swing. I land my legs on either side of the head of one of the attackers. Twisting myself I flip over and knock her out. Back on the run, I see Lucy take out another one as drones dive in and out of the chaos.
Lucy blocks to her right and charges, blasting herself high into the air, twirling before blasting herself downward, tackling her target to the ground and eliminating her.
She's about to get blasted from behind when I take the attacker in the flank, knee to the solar plexus. My hand on the side of her neck I thrust up hard with my knee. In the low gravity she lifts and flies off into the trees as I raise my hands and blast another in the side.
She turns just in time to block my attack, when Lucy rockets into her side with her elbow. Her lithe form is lit in by the light from Phobos in the night. Gleaming with the slightest amount of sweat.
Without looking Lucy backflips and bounds over a concussive blast in the low gravity. The blast takes the other girl in the side, eliminating her. Lucy rights herself as she gracefully glides to the ground. The moonlight catches her nude form perfectly. The girl who fired before at her takes aim. Lucy fires behind herself and strikes downward with wicked speed, dive bombing her opponent.
The girl FIRES, Lucy FIRES TWICE!
The blasts collide and send shockwaves out, nearly knocking me from my feet. Lucy's second attack smashes into the girl eliminating her, Lucy flips through the air almost as if she was flying. I've never seen another person with the same amount of control in low gravity as her. She a goddess in her element
She lands one knee and hand on the ground head up and charges the next enemy
Amazed at Lucy's tenacity, I start up again picking off another girl as Lucy charges at a group of four, her shield tall and strong in front of her. She's running at full tilt.
I sweep to the side to take the group in the flank
I launch my assault firing concussive blast again and again. I hear Lucy scream.. I look over and see her taken in the back from a cheap shot hiding in the trees above. Eliminated
They all turn on me 7 on 1
Despair flows into me… tears… then it is burned away to be replaced
RAGE… RAGE OVERWHELMS ME
MY LUNGS light with fire
NOOOOOOOOONNNOOOOOOOONNNOOOOO YOU COCKSUCKING PUTAS!! ME CAGO EN TU PUTA MADRES!!! I WILL RIP YOUR ARMS OFF AND BEAT YOU WITH THEM!!! I WILL NOT BE STOPPED BY YOU!!!
I start moving faster than ever before, the passion and bloodlust over taking me. Gone are the strategic calculations. Only battle remains! Only the RAGE! Steaming up inside me!
They all fire on me, and in the air above me expecting me to leap.
I fire 2 blasts behind me then 3 more in front of me concussive impacts quake the air as it seems to heave. The kinetic impacts bring the air to broiling. It sears my flesh as I rocket through the small opening.
Their faces are slack jawed. Dumbfounded as I unleash pandemonium and chaos. I blast not them but the trees around them
Sending trees and debris crashing in the wake of the concussive blasts.
Leaping I land on a falling tree, swiftly running up the trunk
Firing again and again and again.. one of their shield breaks and I dive at her, my knee taking her straight in the jaw, I hear the crack as she hits the ground. Not a moment spared I grab a log and fire it at another two girls caught off guard by me behind their shield wall.
Bounding away and somersaulting through the air, I hook a girl's neck behind my knee just as she is about to fire. Swinging around her body I grab her arms as she fires and aim them at her allies. I fire directly into her back
Her concussed body goes flying at her allies; they drop their shield so as to not hurt her, only to find me blasting through behind her. My feet hit a still standing tree and with both my arms out I fire again… and again… and again..
Both go down hard screaming in pain
Pain that is nowhere near my emotional pain
I hit the ground and scream
STAND AND FIGHT YOU CUNTS!!! FACE ME!!! I AM EMERA TRIUMPHANT!!! DAUGHTER OF EUROPA MOON MOTHER!! UNBENT, UNBOWED, UNBROKEN!!!
I scan around me.. all I hear is groans and whimpers and cries in pain.
My chest heaving up and down, my body dripping in a primal sweat coating my nude form in the moonlight.
I hear a crackle of a speaker
All combatants defeated!
Victory to Emera of Europa!
Falling to my knees exhausted, crying, over extended, Lucy comes over to me rubbing her back and takes me into her arms. Rocking me back and forth
“They ruined it! They ruined everything! They'll separate us now!!” I yell my head into her chest shaking back and forth. My whole body was overwhelmed and quivering with emotion.
“Every little thing is going to be alright mi amor” Lucy says as she cradles me…
I jolt awake.. Lucy's smile fills my mind…

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2024.05.22 22:32 unknownentity1782 What is considered OP?

So I'm relatively new to the game (I started mid-late last season, and have played all of this season).
I see complaints about OP weapons. I can see why Waterbending is completely OP. Its one of the best sniper weapons, also the best midrange, also possibly the best close range, while also providing healing and fast swim speed... and lets also give it infinite ammo with a quick reload speed.
But I've also seen people complain about the DMR and Chains as OP. Which I don't understand, and I can't tell if its people being whiner-babies or me being part of the "Git gud" crowd.
To me, an OP weapon is one that doesn't have a good counter. Waterbending's counter is waterbending or "be better." The DMR makes sniping easier with less bullet drop, but its still easily countered by a player getting in close. Also, a player who knows how to calculate for bullet drop with a sniper rifle will waste a DMR player in a single shot.
Chains are great, and I love them. They prevent running, but again are easily countered. First, sniping. Even then though, the gatekeeper shotgun will waste someone wielding chains. Two good shots to the face and chains are dead before their second strike, and seeing as chains probably pulled you close its relatively easy to do. I can see where if someone being annoyed they tried to run and couldn't, but if you want to run from chains there are mobility items to help with that (e.g. shockwave grenade, banana, Cerebrus double jumps. Not mentioning wings because I love pulling flyers down with chains).
So what does the community consider as OP and why?

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2024.05.22 22:31 TaintedPills Unholy Alliance

The advent of megacorporations started towards the end of the 21st century, by the beginning of the 22nd they had become a normal part of everyday life for everyone living within what was considered the core space of their nations. It was made abundantly clear that in order to prevent the monopolization of power, those that laboured for megacorps or their smaller and less significant subsidiaries had to band together and form unions. These unions only grew in power as more of them formed and subsequently merged, all these mergers of unions eventually led to the birth of the Milky Way Worker Coalition, an umbrella organisation that acted as one huge union that was spearheaded by the two most influential unions around, those of the shipwrights and the spacers.
This so called mega-union could bring both corporations and governments alike to their knees because who could hold more power than those than built the vessels capable of space travel and those who staffed them? 'No one' is the right answer to this question. When the flow of currency and resources stopped, the top brass just about everywhere tended to listen and listen very carefully.
In this case, belonging to a union would have helped the crew of the 'Shitcasket' avoid getting fired for 'mishandling' cargo that was most likely not suitable for transport either way. The collective sentiment of 'Why didn't we unionize while we had the chance?' was one the handful of spacers that were lounging around in the tavern felt all too well. If there was one person that felt this more than most, it was the captain of the vessel formerly known as 'Touch of Midas'. Thanks to a convenient little loophole in the laws of the region their former employer was headquartered at, they got out of having to pay each and every one of them a lump sum of money after they won the case for wrongful termination and instead handed over the barely-functioning ship they worked in.
[--------------------]
"I still cannot believe this, chronically understaffed and tasked with handling defective munitions...and we are the ones at fault when these munitions go kaboom and almost punch a hole through the ship's armour?..."
The captain mumbled as he ate the stew coupled with the quisling steak he ordered to fill the void in his heart and stomach. The captain had nothing interesting going on in terms of appearance, with his only unique feature amongst the patrons being his shoulder-length hair.
"This is why I spent so much time searching for every email address attached to the company and signing them up to porn sites. These people can't learn the easy way..." Quipped the captain's right hand, an individual that somehow overdressed whenever the crew ventured out of the ship. Nobody wore so many layers of clothes at any given time.
The captain had begun second-guessing his decision to share a table with his his right hand, staring at him until the shock subsided.
"You know what? I'm not going to question that, probably the only good thing you've done in a while"
He sighed and kept spinning the spoon in his stew, ruminating about the time he still had a job and a steady source of income to his name. "Man, I wonder how long it'll take to find work...we could sell the ship or maybe scrap it for parts and split the profits but the paperwork will take forever to get sorted out"
"Mmm, why not do what we did at our old job? Move stuff from one place to another. We should try to find another transportation company willing to take us on board as independent contractors"
"With our track record? We're still the crew that had our cargo blow up in our faces. I doubt anyone will want us, we've got to strike out on our own"
As the duo exchanged ideas, two concerned employees watched from a safe distance. Careful as to not disturb the potentially rowdy patrons. "I can’t believe it's them again. Isn’t this the human crew that keeps brawling with every commonwealth spacer coming here?”
“Sure is. The owner says they can keep coming back since the tabs they run up add up to more than the damage they cause”
“Well glorp me, I did not know depravity has a price around here”
Back to the crew of the Shitcasket, the captain and his right hand spent their time silently staring at their unfinished meals, deep in thought. That is until the captain took one look behind him and went slack-jawed.
“Hey Alex, you seeing what I’m seeing?”
The unblinking black eyes, gray skin with green splotches , tall stature and most strikingly, a lot of grey fuzz that spilled out of their uniforms. Yep, they were Herfi alright and from the markings on their captain's fuzz, it was abundantly clear that they were the same herfi that attacked them earlier while traveling through uncivilized space.
“The same pirates that we fought off, nasty…”
“Nasty indeed…but I've got a nastier idea. Watch my flanks, I'll go over to their table and have a word with them”
“Are you sure about this, captain De Blanc? This is the Herfi Commonwealth we're talking about, one huge nation with a matriarchal structure, I doubt pirates hailing from there will be any different. Oh what I wouldn't do to have one of them pin me down and whisper slurs in my ear…”
“Christ on a stick, Alex. Don't air out your kinks, at least not in public view! ...Although this is indeed one dangerous idea, I'm sure they'll think I want to taunt them…screw it, only one way of finding out”
He got Alex and two other sailors to come with him as backup in case the pirates tried to skin his ass on the spot. The rest would come only if they do try anything. One of the pirates stood up in front of him as he made his way over to the opposite side of the tavern, preventing him from going any further.
“That is far enough, I suggest you turn around and go back to your little corner, man-toy”
“And I suggest you sit this one out, skippy. I've got business with the captain, not her unwashed subordinates”
The herfi loudly trilled, a dead giveaway his quip had greatly angered her. The pirate tried to grab him by his throat, a signature move given how many times he got involved in scraps with other herfi. Sidestepping the telegraphed grapple proved to be just as easy as thinking about it, he held onto the outstretched arm closest to him and bit down.
Herfi skin was a weird mix between human skin and chitin, meaning it was less effective at preventing damage than average chitin but it was more effective at dealing with injuries that could prove permanent for those species with an actual hard chitin exoskeleton. As an added bonus, the captain wouldn't shatter a tooth trying to leave a mark.
The bite was more than enough to put the pirate out of commission, stumbling back and clutching their bitten arm.
“You might want to get that checked out, primate bites are nothing to sneeze at”
If they weren't paying attention before, they certainly were now. The captain and everyone sitting at the same table stood in rapt attention, most likely glaring daggers at him, that did not stop him from striding over like nothing had happened.
“Why hello there, I never imagined we'd cross paths again and yet here we are. In the same tavern no less, what a world”
The captain slowly exchanged glances with her subordinates before she turned to look at him again.
“Who are you? Is any one of us supposed to know you?”
Mistake number one, trying to bullshit the bullshiter. For someone in charge of an entire ship, she didn't seem to know the ins and outs of steering conversations in the desired direction.
“Touch of Midas, a little more than one of your micro-rotations ago. If you think we didn't see your face then you are sadly mistaken. One of your people accidentally broadcasted a live feed of your bridge for ten precious seconds before they realized what they did and cut it off”
The captain turned to stare at a specific underling seated on the table, the pirate visibly recoiled and shrunk in response to what must have been a death glare.
“Having trouble with remembering? How about the protracted shootout that took place after your crew boarded us? Nearly thirty minutes of exchanging fire and no casualties to show for it. For all of our differences, both your people and mine still can't piss straight”
The alien captain focused on him again, sizing him up before speaking. “Did you approach with humiliating us in mind or is there some other motive?”
“I'll get to that, don't you worry. Now let us change the subject from my ship to yours, a beautiful vessel, really. Unfortunately, its weapons are shit, not because the models themselves are shit but because they haven't gotten any repairs since before I was born”
The deafening silence was the only answer the captain needed, it was fascinating what someone could learn about an enemy's weapons from eyeballing the impact on the armour after getting hit.
“You think I wouldn't notice? I gave the ship a thorough lookover after docking, they left more scorch marks than dents”
The captain sat down at the only available chair of the table unprompted, leaning forward.
“This pocket of space you love to operate in so much…it is dwindling. It is no wonder piracy has started dying out so quickly, the movement of goods and people only keeps increasing which attracts the attention of both local security forces and the Commonwealth's Star Patrol”
“The captain needs no lecturing from a male-”
One of the seated pirates suddenly stood up, looking ready to lunge at him, Alex and the other spacers stepped closer in response to the display of aggression. He put up a hand to make them stand down while his alien counterpart killed off whatever the rowdy pirate was planning with a simple glance, making her sit back down.
“As I said, I am getting to it”
He stared the pirate down as he talked.
“Your crew did not look all that large during the fight, same situation as us really. You and I operate our vessels well below normal capacity when we could be operating a single one at maximum capacity. I'm talking little to no job crossover, proper distribution of labour…if you join us”
“Why would you make us this offer when we attacked you?” The reply came almost instantly and yet he could tell the lot of them were seriously considering it.
“Because it is pragmatic, we need deckhands and some serious muscle in case we encounter anyone else in your trade, your people serve both of these roles. Besides, you may have fighting spirit but I know for certain that you'd rather avoid going down fighting against a Commonwealth dreadnought hiding around a planetoid after your navigation systems detected it a little too late…”
The captain sitting opposite of him slumped a little, lost in thought. She eventually straightened out.
“I am interested, however, I need to know we're on the same level in terms of skills. This settlement has no range we can compete in but I know one that does”
The captain withdrew a pad from within her uniform and showed him the name and coordinates of the settlement, he withdrew his own and received the media before turning it off.
“Glad we could come to an agreement. Temporary alliance untill we make it official, miss?…” He extended his hand towards her.
“Hexfuh, temporary truce”
She corrected him and chugged down the bowl of the alien nectar-like substance she had ordered.
“Hexfuh…captain Howard De Blanc. Temporary truce it is”
He withdrew his hand and started walking away.
“Me and the rest of us are still busy with our chow. You can go on ahead and we will catch up within this mini-rotation….also make no mistake, you try to pull the same stunt again and there will be casualties”
Howard did not wait for an answer nor did he need one, he had a steak to get back to.
The feasting was rather uneventful, rather drab too. Instead of indulging in alcohol everyone abstained to cut back on the time they spent in the tavern. They did have a rendezvous to attend to. Back on the Shitcasket, morale was at an all time high. Who cared about the possibility of letting pirates on board when there was a chance at alleviating the chronic sausage-fest situation ? Most spacers certainly did not.
“You should have seen that hoe’s face, I was this close to sending her back to the nearest meal preparation facility”
“Goddamnit Alex. If this unholy alliance becomes a thing you WILL have to cut back on your ambiguously misogynistic commentary!”
Howard's right hand and glorified definitely-not secretary looked at him as if he had stabbed him in the back. “B-But what about them? They will call us many awful things and we'll have to take it?!”
“That is the only occasion where you're justified-no, where you're expected to spew that kind of bile! We have to show them we mean business, the physical lifting has been done but the psychological lifting will take a lifetime…”
Howard sat on his lofty chair, mulling over the potential situations sharing a ship will entail. He made a split-second decision and activated the bridge microphone.
“Alright everyone, listen up. If the pirates accept our offer then the only kind of sexism I will tolerate is the proportional kind, do NOT let anyone make you their bitch…no matter how arousing that sounds, captain De Blanc signing off”
Howard slumped down in his chair.
“Man, I'm exhausted just thinking of the potential clusterfuck. Alex! Fetch me a can of Hue-Cola!”
[--------------------]
“What is this shit?....”
These were the first words that exited Howard's mouth after a long while, the reason lied straight ahead in the form of a commonwealth vessel attached to the ship he knew for a fact belonged to their alien sort-of almost not really buddies.
“Ale-Oh good, you're already scanning for frequencies, keep on doing that”
“Captain, something's off. That vessel’s markings scream Star Patrol but they aren't broadcasting standard Commonwealth signals. What's your take?”
“Not…broadcasting?”
He went slack jawed, staring at the Star Patrol ship and then at Alex and then back at the ship. He jumped off his chair, staring at the bridge's console.
“Can we get a message out to the girls without the SP intercepting it?”
“That depends on the model, captain. We can't exactly scan it so we have to eyeball it real hard!”
“Real hard, okay then”
Howard walked to the edge of the bridge, staring out of the window at the SP ship, he scratched his chin.
“Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't this model supposed to get mothballed and replaced? It looks fairly outdated”
“Fairly outdated means no comm-sniffer function, I think its a risk worth taking if we want to get a read of the situation”
“Damn right it is. Ask them what's their status, Alex”
Alex went to work typing out the message and greenlighting the transmission in quick succession. The disadvantages of a two-person bridge cree were obvious enough, the only advantage however was that they got to hone skills they wouldn't need to under normal circumstances. Like handling security clearances on the fly on Alex's end and Howard spotting distant ships without the use of the malfunctioning instruments that plagued the deathtrap of a ship he captained.
The response came quickly and it was more than a little disheartening to say the least.
[NO SIGNAL. EXTORTION]
That meant only one thing, whoever stopped Hexfuh and her people wasn't there on official business, they were there to latch onto any passer-bys and threaten them into paying up for safe passage. He knew her crew couldn't take them on alone and that's exactly why they wouldn't be taking them on their own.
[WHEN FIGHT STARTS, JOIN] is what Alex and Howard decided to send back.
Howard activated the bridge's microphone again, he had already made his second split-second decision today and there was no way in hell he was backing down.
“Alright you degenerates, listen up and listen closely. We have encountered a Star Patrol vessel which normally wouldn't elicit an announcement from me…if whoever crewed it was operating officially. That is right, we have a case of corrupt law enforcement on our hands. Report to the mess hall immediately, captain De Blanc signing off”
The smallish crew of the Shitcasket assembled at the mess hall in its entirety, given the room’s size, that was another indicator of how small it was.
The door leading to the mess hall slid open, revealing the captain and his right hand, making everyone in the room go silent and stand in rapt attention. After the duo stepped inside the captain cleared his throat.
“I want to preface this by saying that I have no ill will towards the average bobby or average crook. The former has my respect because of the profession alone, the latter because I know not what may have led someone to going down this path…but do you know what I don't respect? What makes my blood boil and simmer in my veins?”
He did not wait for an answer, drawing in a huge breath.
“CROOKED FUCKING PIGS IS WHAT!”
He yelled at the top of his lungs, if any crew member wasn't paying attention before, they certainly were now.
“Bloody despise them is what I do and while our friends aren't exactly of the legal variety, they aren't the ones actively betraying public trust”
Howard took a deep breath, calming himself down
“Yeah, everyone here knows who I'd rather see gone. So I will make this plain and simple, we will strap up, get in there and kick. Their. Ass. Say it with me! What are we going to do?!”
“Kick ass!” “Kick ass?”
“That is not loud enough, I want to know you mean it! Say it with me!”
“KICK ASS!”
The warcry felt more than satisfactory, it was perfect.
“That is what I like to hear, now gear up and if you see anything with Star Patrol insignia that is armed, you flatline it, no questions asked”
They communicated with the lone SP vessel after every crewmember was done arming themselves, whoever was on the other end unsurprisingly ordered them to attach themselves to them and expect to be boarded, if only they knew they would be the ones getting boarded.
Everyone stood in the bridge right outside the airlock, no one could see any cameras so it was probably safe to stay like this. Nearly all of them were armed with just pistols and not even the good kind, After getting fired they had to downgrade from gauss to low-tech ballistics given how the weapons on board were company property. Some stuck with the peashooters they purchased, some others invested in a good old rifle.
Not Howard. Howard had spent the early days of his career dipping into his savings to get licenses for the heaviest shit he could legally arm himself with. While not as heavily armed as possible, he still drew eyes when he came rocking a utility vest brimming with ammunition and a light machine gun complemented by an automatic shotgun slung over his shoulder.
Their eyes were drawn to the airlockz stepping inside it and waiting for the inner door to open so they could finally begin the boarding action. Their wishes were soon granted, opening up to reveal a small collection of SP officers that were nowhere near prepared enough for an actual fight.
The firing line they formed was a spectacle in itself, something Howard had of course ordered himself. The moment the corrupt pricks first laid eyes on them is the moment they were cut down in a storm of bullets. Even if the average officer armour was at least somewhat resistant to bullets, the Herfi themselves weren't all that resistant to getting poked full of holes.
The ragtag group of warriors made their way throughout the ship's midsection, drawing closer to noises of heavy fighting until they entered a large hallway…where Hexfuh and the pirates were standing on the opposite end.
“Am I hallucinating or did outsiders actually help us?”
Howard stepped forward, smirking.
“The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb”
The remainder of the two sides met halfway, sizing eachother up without any malice to be found. Slowly and somewhat shyly, the human and herfi right hands inched closer to their respective captains.
“I saw you and heard you during our fight. Saying how you'd violate us and murder us and not necessarily in that order, that was…so d-dominant of you”
“It was?”
Alex nervously laughed, rubbing the back of his head and probably experiencing the basic human feeling of embarrassment for once in a very long time.
“I'm g-glad, no joke”
Howard and Hexfuh stared at their right hands, no doubt intimidated by the sheer density of degeneracy in such a small space.
“I didn't know you had your own Xamce”
Howard shook his head and laughed.
“I didn't know you had your own Alex”
“Why did you help us? What did you expect to get out of this?”
“Honestly, you showed goodwill back at the tavern and for something greater to come out of this truce, I know we had to show some goodwill as well”
The rest of the encounter was a blur, they regrouped and cleared out the rest of the ship, anyone with a single braincell left in their skull decided to surrender right then and there. They eventually reached the bridge and Howard finally got to use the automatic shotgun, turning the herfi he used it on into a fine black mist, the rest of the stragglers were not in the mood to fight after witnessing this
Hexfuh and her people went away, letting the humans handle the surviving SP officers however they saw fit. The local SP branch was contacted from the captured ship's bridge and the handover went swimmingly. The highest ranking officer that came to assess the situation handed Howard a honourable assistance token, something they could redeem in the closest SP office for a sizable reward. Their first not quite official paycheck after going independent.
Now all that was left was getting together with the pirates again and celebrating.
[--------------------]
Everything was a blur, yet again. The joined crews partied and partied hard. A mix of wine spritzers, several other types of booze, alien nectar and many recreative drugs the now former pirates brought on board were consumed. What Howard didn't remember was when he went to bed and if he was lucky enough who he…oh so that's what is up.
He looked over only to see a very awake-looking Hexfuh looking back at him.
“Rested well?”
“I am beginning to suspect this whole sharing-a-bed thing is not the show of trust you are making it out to be” He quickly looked down at his body, in a certain state of partial undress and then at Hexfuh, who was also in the same state as he was.
“I didn't know humans-or any other species for that matter-were this fond of the fur that grows on our neck and chest…until earlier anyway” She sidestepped commenting on his observation, of course she would.
Howard yawned and rubbed his eyes, cursing at the thought of having to calculate the damage of the party's aftermath.
Guess that came naturally with merging two complete opposites together.
[----------------------------------------]
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2024.05.22 21:00 TaxIcy1399 KCNA vs. Chinese and Russian Chauvinism in 2017-18

https://preview.redd.it/lqj9dmhuy02d1.png?width=648&format=png&auto=webp&s=4f6d51ca4762b51865155493a357100060b41bf1

Neighboring Country’s Mean Behavior: Written by Jong Phil

Pyongyang, February 23, 2017 (KCNA) — The DPRK made a complete success in the test-fire of surface-to-surface medium to long-range strategic ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 on February 12 under the energetic guidance of respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. The news instantly jolted the world and the international community is acknowledging the nuclear attack capability of the DPRK that has made rapid progress in quality.
Leading media of the world are unanimous in assessing that the acknowledged success in the test-fire of Pukguksong-2 was a demonstration of the DPRK’s strategic superiority as it proved impossibility of advance detection by satellite, interception and preemptive attack.
However, a neighboring country, which often claims itself to be a “friendly neighbor”, is downplaying the significance of the test-fire, branding it as a “nuclear technology just at the beginning” and threatening “the DPRK will suffer the biggest loss.”
In particular, it has unhesitatingly taken inhumane steps such as totally blocking foreign trade related to the improvement of people’s living standard under the plea of the UN “resolutions on sanctions” devoid of legal ground.
It has often stated that the UN “resolutions on sanctions” should not have negative impact on the people’s living. Its recent measures are, in effect, tantamount to the enemies’ moves to bring down the social system in the DPRK.
This country, styling itself a big power, is dancing to the tune of the U.S. while defending its mean behavior with such excuses that it was meant not to have a negative impact on the living of the people in the DPRK but to check its nuclear program.
The righteous voices of the world deride it, commenting that “a big neighboring country is imposing sanctions on the DPRK to curry favor with the U.S.” But the hostile forces are shouting “bravo” over this.
The DPRK manufactured a nuclear weapon in a few years, which would take others tens of years, and completed the new latest strategic weapon system in a matter of six months with its own efforts and indigenous technology. This shows the might of its tremendous defence industry.
It is utterly childish to think that the DPRK would not manufacture nuclear weapons and inter-continental ballistic rockets if a few penny of money is cut off.
The DPRK will produce the latest weapons unprecedented in history as many as it wants as it has the self-reliant defence industry, provided by President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il with their lifelong dedication, and scientists and technicians in the field of defence industry working hard in do-or-die spirit guided by the faith that the strategic idea and intention of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea must be put into practice.
These weapons would invest the DPRK with capabilities for protecting peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the rest of the world.
The present reality makes the people of the DPRK keenly feel once again the validity of the WPK’s line of simultaneously pushing forward the economic construction and the building of nuclear force.
The DPRK will invariably advance straight along the road indicated by the Party’s line and deal a heavy blow to the U.S. and its vassal forces by dint of powerful nuclear deterrence and thus win the final victory.

Are You Good at Dancing to Tune of Others: Jong Phil

Pyongyang, April 21, 2017 (KCNA) — The following is the full text of “Are you good at dancing to the tune of others”, a commentary written by Jong Phil Friday:
Not a single word about the U.S. act of pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula to the brink of a war after introducing hugest-ever strategic assets into the waters off the Korean peninsula is made but such rhetoric as “necessary step” and “reaction at decisive level” is openly heard from a country around the DPRK to intimidate it over its measures for self-defence.
Particularly, the country is talking rubbish that the DPRK has to reconsider the importance of relations with it and that it can help preserve security of the DPRK and offer necessary support and aid for its economic prosperity, claiming the latter will not be able to survive the strict “economic sanctions” by someone.
Its official media claimed on April 18 that the DPRK’s pursuance of nuclear and missile program made the U.S., which had been its rival in the past, its supporter now. Then question is what the DPRK should call that country and how the DPRK should deal with it in the future.
The DPRK’s nuclear deterrence for self-defence, its army and people built by tightening their belts to defend the sovereignty and right to existence of the nation, is by no means a bargaining chip for getting something.
The DPRK has been so far exposed to economic sanctions but it has kept to the path of justice chosen by it with its own efforts.
The present world ruled by the jungle law makes the DPRK realize once again the iron truth that there is nothing but its own strength to rely on and that self-reliance and self-development are the only way out.
If the country keeps applying economic sanctions on the DPRK while dancing to the tune of someone after misjudging the will of the DPRK, it may be applauded by the enemies of the DPRK but it should get itself ready to face the catastrophic consequences in the relations with the DPRK.
The DPRK will defend its dignity and build a paradise for the people with its own efforts, rallied close around the respected Supreme Leader.

Commentary on DPRK-China Relations

Pyongyang, May 3, 2017 (KCNA) — Kim Chol released a commentary on Wednesday, titled “Reckless words and deeds undermining the DPRK-China relations must be stopped” the full text of which reads:
Very serious is concern at home and abroad about the anti-DPRK racket for putting sanctions and military pressure on it kicked up by the U.S. and its vassal forces with the DPRK’s possession of nuclear weapons as a pretext, racket which renders the situation on the Korean peninsula acute with each passing moment.
A string of absurd and reckless remarks are now heard from big neighboring countries, perhaps frightened by the U.S. blackmail and war racket, every day only to render the acute situation of the Korean peninsula more strained.
Typical examples are stories poured out by the People’s Daily and the Global Times, widely known as media speaking for the official stand of the Chinese party and government.
Recently they in their commentaries asserted that the DPRK’s access to nukes poses a threat to the national interests of China. They shifted the blame for the deteriorated relations between the DPRK and China on to the DPRK and raised lame excuses to justify China’s base acts of dancing to the tune of the U.S.
Those commentaries claimed that the DPRK poses a threat to “the security in the northeastern region of China” by conducting nuclear tests less than 100 km away from its border with China. They even talked rubbish that the DPRK strains the situation in Northeast Asia and “offers the U.S. excuses for deploying more strategic assets” in the region.
Not content with such paradox, the commentaries asserted that to remain averse to the DPRK’s access to nukes is to preserve interests common to the U.S. and China, calling for slapping harsher sanctions on the DPRK in order to avert a war which would bring danger to China.
The newspapers, even claiming China holds the initiative in handling the DPRK-China relations, made no scruple of letting out a string of provocative remarks urging the DPRK to choose one out of the two options i.e. “whether to face protracted isolation by breaking Sino-DPRK friendship or to preserve national security by making a U-turn of dismantling its nukes”, if it doesn’t want military confrontation with China.
This is just a wanton violation of the independent and legitimate rights, dignity and supreme interests of the DPRK and, furthermore, constitutes an undisguised threat to the honest-minded neighboring country with which it has had long history and tradition of friendship.
We do not have any intentional wish to explain the unavoidability that forced us to have access to nukes to become a nuclear weapons state acknowledged by the public at home and abroad, and detail all the courses that were never a smooth sailing.
What is infuriating is the fact that it is totally undermining the DPRK-China relations, that were pioneered at the cost of blood and have been consolidated and developed decade after decade and century after century, by citing absurd pretext and showing no less aversion than the one shown by the U.S. and other hostile forces over the nuclear issue with which it has nothing to do.
China is often hyping up “damage caused by the DPRK’s nuclear tests” to its three northeastern provinces. This is a far-fetched assertion devoid of scientific ground and validity.
Five nuclear tests by the DPRK were conducted with full guarantee given to security and even those Koreans living near the nuclear test ground have never suffered any damage after the tests.
The U.S. carried out scrupulous observation of the processes of the nuclear tests with the use of ultra-modern information means equipped with nuclear substance collecting equipment. But it failed to trap even a trace amount of radioactive materials like xenon. China is well aware of this.
Trumpeting about sort of “damage”, in defiance of this stark fact, only reveals the ulterior purpose of China displeased with the DPRK’s rapid nuclear development.
As far as “violation of national interests” oft-repeated by politicians and media persons of China is concerned, it is just the issue that the DPRK should rather talk much about.
It was never China but just the DPRK whose strategic interests have been repeatedly violated due to insincerity and betrayal on the part of its partner.
China established diplomatic relations with the south Korean puppet forces keen on bringing down the socialist system in the DPRK and has deepened the scope of relations to politics and even military, beyond pure economic exchanges. What excuse can it make for its crime of turning not only the three provinces in the northeastern part of China but the whole country into an advanced base against the DPRK. Now in areas along the DPRK-China border including the basins of the River Amnok and the River Tuman, agents and spies of the south Korean Intelligence Service are engaged in secret maneuvers under the guise of religionist and businessman, openly hatching plots and conducting abduction and terrorist acts against the DPRK. China has to hold full responsibilities for this.
We clearly remember that it had let such human scum as Park Geun Hye, who was ousted from the post of power and thrown into prison being censured by all people, stand on the tribune of honor at Tiananmen Square and given a kiss to her.
Some theorists of China are spouting a load of nonsense that the DPRK’s access to nukes strains the situation in Northeast Asia and offers the U.S. an excuse for beefing up its strategic assets in the region. But the U.S. had activated its strategy for dominating Asia-Pacific long before the DPRK had access to nukes, and its primary target is just China.
China should acknowledge in an honest manner that the DPRK has just contributed to protecting peace and security of China, foiling the U.S. scheme for aggression by waging a hard fight in the frontline of the showdown with the U.S. for more than seven decades, and thank the DPRK for it.
Some ignorant politicians and media persons of China daringly assert that the traditional relations of the DPRK-China friendship were in line with the interests of both countries in the past. They are advised to clearly understand the essence of history before opening their mouth.
Korea and China are neighbors which are closely related geographically and countries of peculiar relations, relations of comrade-in-arms and brothers, whose preceding leaders had nurtured the feelings of friendship in the struggle for common cause, holding high the flags drenched with red blood.
The anti-Japanese war and the war against the U.S. are recorded with heroic tales that will remain indelible in the contemporary histories of Korea and China, and the sons and daughters of the two countries deepened friendship with selfless sacrifice and devotion that far surpass nationality in the hard-fought battlefields.
On the center stage of the world politics affected by the vortex of the troublous 20th century, the two countries pooled intention and efforts to defend the banner of socialism and sovereignty.
It was not just for the interests of Korea that we rendered devoted assistance to the Chinese revolution and showed sincerity to the party and government of China whenever they faced difficulties, even facing huge damage. Anyone with even a little common sense and reason might be well aware of this even though we do not open to public the skeleton in the cupboard that existed between the DPRK and China.
But by deliberately leaving all this in the dark, China is parroting the “unanimous view of the international community” cried by the U.S. and resorting to sanctions racket after branding the DPRK as a criminal, pursuant to the forces hostile toward the DPRK. This is an intolerable act aimed to deny the mainstay of the DPRK-China relations and do away with the noble tradition of bilateral friendship.
It is not the DPRK that passed the “red line” in bilateral relations but it is China which has unhesitatingly passed the line.
By the “red line”, the two countries were meant not to violate the dignity, interests and sovereignty of each other.
For the DPRK, the nuclear weapons are its absolute symbol and represent its supreme interests.
The DPRK have had access to nukes to defend the country and the people from the aggression moves and threats which the world’s biggest nuclear power U.S. has posed decade after decade with an aim to deprive the DPRK of its political ideology, social system and dignity. The mission of the DPRK’s nuclear weapons will remain unchanged in the future, too.
However, they are threatening that they would not rule out military intervention, to say nothing of highly-intensive economic sanctions if the DPRK does not give up nuclear program. This is extremely arrogant chauvinist logic that not only the strategic interests of the DPRK but also its dignity and right to existence must be sacrificed for their interests.
One must clearly understand that the DPRK’s line of access to nukes for the existence and development of the country can neither be changed nor shaken and that the DPRK will never beg for the maintenance of friendship with China, risking its nuclear program which is as precious as its own life, no matter how valuable the friendship is.
Some expect that the DPRK will not be able to subsist without help from someone and it will give up and beg for the restoration of relations if the string of sanctions is tightened just a little more. This is a foolish calculation. The source and foundation of the existence of the DPRK is our own land, our own sky and our own natural resources and the tremendous power of self-development displayed by its great people in the indomitable spirit.
The DPRK, which has already become one of the most powerful nuclear weapons state, does not feel the need to think over how many options it has now.
The geopolitical importance and strategic value of the Korean peninsula situated at the entrance to the Eurasian continent are growing with each passing day, and roads to Pyongyang that has ranked itself with dignity among the most advanced nuclear powers are stretched all around the world.
China should no longer try to test the limits of patience of the DPRK but make proper strategic option, facing up to the situation.
China approved the adoption of the unwarranted “sanctions resolutions” on the DPRK at the UN Security Council meeting in order to check the U.S. THAAD deployment in south Korea and opted for sanctions against the DPRK, even suffering economic damage in the three northeastern provinces of its own. Even though it made concession and flattered, defying all accusations, THAAD targeting China like a dagger was deployed all of a sudden at midnight in south Korea, making fun of the truly “idiot giant”.
If China fails to maintain its own principle and throws away the fraternity with the DPRK it has maintained for decades like a pair of old shoes just for the immediate interests, it will end up in miserable state not trusted by anyone to only face misfortune from all sides.
China had better ponder over the grave consequences to be entailed by its reckless act of chopping down the pillar of the DPRK-China relations.

Is Russia Sightless or Is It Mimicking Blind: Researcher of Institute for International Studies

Pyongyang, August 9, 2017 (KCNA) — Ri Chol Ho, a researcher of the Institute for International Studies of the DPRK, on Wednesday issued the following article titled “Is Russia Sightless or Is It Mimicking the Blind”:
The news of the successful launch of inter-continental ballistic rockets of the DPRK, which put the whole land of the U.S., empire of evil, within its striking range, has been afloat all over the world as breaking news.
The U.S., an aggression state which brandished a nuclear stick of aggression and oppression decade after decade, has finally been dumbfounded in the face of the Juche weapon, and the whole world now turn its eyes to Songun Korea with admiration.
The international community was unanimous in commenting in high terms that the fact that the DPRK’s ICBM reached the maximum height of more than 3 700 km and flew nearly 1 000 km and that the launch was made at high angle launch system more rigorous than actual maximum range flight conditions is demonstrative of the substantial might which is capable of putting even the eastern areas of the U.S. including New York, to say nothing of the western areas of the U.S., within the firing range.
The DPRK’s ICBM, a noble fruition of its great policy of simultaneously developing the economic construction and the building of nuclear force, is clearly recorded in space as a pronoun of defence of international justice and peace, both in name and reality.
But only Russia is making a far-fetched assertion, denying this stark fact unanimously acknowledged by the world community, while feigning blind and deaf.
Russia, a country bordering the Korean peninsula, is calling the DPRK’s ICBM a medium-range ballistic rocket with 681 km of height and 732 km of distance. This is utterly ironical.
The U.S., situated in the American continent across the ocean, dares not deny the fact even though it is reluctant more than others to acknowledge the DPRK’s success in the ICBM launch. A big question is how come the ICBM of the DPRK is taken as medium-range ballistic rocket by Russia, a country very close to the DPRK.
Another question is that Russia, which will be grouchy if it is ranked second in military standings, is making desperate efforts to make its far-fetched assertions sound plausible while misusing even the name of the Defence Ministry.
The world people are watching the erratic act of Russia with surprise as its authorities and the public have differing stand over the launch. Lots of military experts, media and social circles of Russia are unanimously acknowledging the launch as ICBM launch but this is denied only by the authorities.
What is skeptical is that whether Russia’s temporal concept on object is not ruled by its perversity and jealousy that big country’s rifle should be regarded as a rocket and small country’s rocket should be taken as a rifle.
For years, Russia took outwardly strong stand toward the U.S., as it used to say that “sanctions resolutions” against the DPRK should not affect the normal economic and trade activities of the DPRK and its people’s living at a time when the issue was on agenda at UN even though Russia was subject to trouble as a key target of sanctions and pressure by the U.S. Therefore, the world has been skeptical about its assertion of calling the ICBM a medium-range ballistic rocket. However, Russia, which had showed bravery as if it was going to hinder the adoption of the “resolution sanctions” on the DPRK, boarded the ship operated by the U.S. all of a sudden to be “complimented” by Trump. This is quite enough for the world to guess what was the true aim sought by Russia in insisting that the ICBM of the DPRK was a medium-range ballistic rocket.
The far-fetched assertion of Russia has become an engine that heartened the DPRK to work for more launches of ICBM and compelled it to take new measures of action.
It will be clear to Russia itself whether it is really the blind or is feigning the blind.
If Russia does not drop its own “big power concept” which it values so much, the reality in which it is not treated as a big power even though it is a big power will be its permanent destiny.

Kim Jong Un Guides Hwasong-12 Launching Drill Again

Pyongyang, September 16, 2017 (KCNA) — Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, guided once again a launching drill of the medium-and-long range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 on the spot. (…)
He told leading officials of the Department of Munitions Industry of the Party Central Committee and the field of defense scientific research accompanying him that our final goal is to establish the equilibrium of real force with the U.S. and make the U.S. rulers dare not talk about military option for the DPRK. And he stressed the need to run at full speed and straight, continuing to qualitatively consolidate the military attack capacity for nuclear counterattack the U.S. cannot cope with.
As recognized by the whole world, we have made all these achievements despite the UN sanctions that have lasted for decades but never made them from any “benefit” of the UN, he said, adding it is very stifling for those countries styling themselves big powers keeping their minds on bringing to their knees the DPRK through UN sanctions.
We should clearly show the big power chauvinists how our state attain the goal of completing its nuclear force despite their limitless sanctions and blockade, he said, underlining the need to put an end to them with the all-state efforts as it has nearly reached the terminal.

Chinese Media’s Shameless and Impudent Acts Blasted

Pyongyang, September 22, 2017 (KCNA) — Following is the full text of a signed article “Rude Deed of Shameless Media”:
Some media of China are seriously hurting the line and social system of the DPRK and threatening the DPRK at a time when the U.S. and its vassal forces have reached the extremes in their frantic moves to impose sanctions and pressure on the DPRK over the DPRK’s just exercise of its right to self-defence.
The Chinese People’s Daily and its sister paper Huan Qui Shibao and websites People’s Network and Huan Qui Network insulted the DPRK, saying “it pricked its own eyes with its own hands” and “it was a noose put around its own neck” while shunning the legitimacy of the DPRK’s possession of nuclear weapons and the self-defensive nature of its measure for bolstering the national nuclear force. Not content with this, they said “it would face the fate of sun setting in the western sky” and set forth such presumptuous “initiatives” as “international solidarity” and organization of “forum international think-tank” for settling the nuclear issue of the DPRK.
As for the “sanctions resolution” against the DPRK, the dirty excrement of the reactionaries of history, they spouted such extremely ill-boding words that China “did not target the normal living of the people in the DPRK” and “DPRK is fortunate to have China as its neighbor”.
In a word, their comment meant that the small country DPRK put itself and the international community as a whole at a “peril” for standing against “the world’s superpower” with the manufacture of nuclear weapons, and that there is nothing to be displeased over the step of decrease of food taken to make the DPRK, “chief culprit rendering the world restless” get exhausted.
This can not be construed otherwise than an act of the blind whose eyes are open and the deaf and dumb who look outwardly normal as they can not understand the essence of the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula nor can they properly see, hear and express the changed international political situation in the wake of the DPRK’s possession of nuclear weapons.
Moreover, the news media openly faulted the line of other sovereign state. This makes one think that it was quite natural for them to lose trust from people of their own country and the international community to not a small measure due to their self-complacence and prejudice.
Even though they can be pretexts to shield their clumsy plight of getting dragged on by the U.S., we can not connive at their acts of dare hurting the dignity of the state and people of the DPRK.
As was already emphasized, the DPRK’s access to a nuclear deterrence was pursuant to the strategic decision of the party and state of the DPRK to fundamentally terminate the decade-old U.S. hideous hostile policy toward the DPRK and nuclear threat and blackmail, and this finally led the DPRK to possess H-bomb for ICBM, the absolute weapons on the earth.
Even at this moment, the U.S. hatches sinister scheme of provoking a nuclear war and is holding dangerous secret war confab after introducing to the Korean peninsula and the region huge strategic hardware enough to fight several wars while openly calling for “totally destroying north Korea”.
History and reality teach a serious lesson that only powerful strength can defend oneself from the tyrannical nuclear weapons.
The military attack on Syria committed in the eyes of neighboring big powers including China in April last showed the world in practice what the “peace by strength” touted by the Trump administration meant, and Beijing might have felt not a great deal.
What matters is that how can The Chinese People’s Daily and media under it which had trumpeted about “sovereignty and independence in the road for social progress” and “peculiar sovereign position” spout principle-less nonsense that are mocked even by Trump’s twitters.
If they are not novice reptile media devoid of insight and their own view to the international politics, they should be well aware of themselves before commenting on others.
Now heard from DPRK-China border are reflective complaints on who became hopeless as the consequences of the U.S.-manipulated “sanctions resolution” on the DPRK.
A Chinese businessman who was left empty-handed in the trade with the DPRK said: I don’t know politics and diplomacy. But one thing is clear. Korea, not a big country, is talking what it wants to say and does what it wants to do while standing against the U.S., the superpower. It’s hard to understand what’s wrong with China. Lots of minor businesses in three northeastern provinces of China are suffering huge losses. Then why does it kowtow to the U.S. I really feel shame. I am more afraid of the corruption of the state than the corruption of people.
This is the public mindset.
Literally speaking, media styling themselves speaking for the people had better use their heads to read the people’s mindset and speak for the people of their own country, rather than admonishing others.
If it is the organ of a party styling itself the initiator of “principle of non-interference” outside, it can stand with dignity before the world people only when it maintains this principle.
As for “good neighbor”, the DPRK has much more to say about it.
When the Soviet Union and the U.S. and the whole world released denunciation statements over the first nuclear test carried out by China in the 1960s, it was only the DPRK, good neighbor, which actively supported it and encouraged it through government statement.
When high-spirited White House owner set out on his trip to China, its neighbor DPRK released a worldwide aphorism that Nixon’s China visit was not a march of victor but a trip of loser with a white flag in his hand, thus helping the big neighbor save shame and maintain its face. China might know this sincere neighbor more than itself.
Then why is it going under the armpit of the U.S. while holding a white flag to blame the good neighbor.
Nixon, suffering from disease from wrath by the unusual principle and resourcefulness of the DPRK which stopped the historical disgrace which could have been a shame on the socialist camp, had called for a “war with China” till the last day of his leave from office. This is quite alike the act of Trump who is teasing Beijing, caught in the trap of “world economy”, under the pretext of “nuclear issue of Korea”. It is seen by the whole world.
The DPRK knows which way it should follow.
The DPRK does not have to lie on its face just as China did when it visited the U.S. and there is no need for China to force the DPRK to learn it.
History proved that the path covered by the DPRK for nearly one century has been an un-trodden path through thick and thin but it was far-sighted and promising option as this helped the country escape the tragic events witnessed in Eastern Europe which was mentally disarmed in the face of the imperialists, and as this helped others to evade clumsy situation of not breathing properly being caught in the noose of dollars.
The Korean people have learned the might of unity and happiness even though they did not lead a plentiful life and they have the perspective and generosity of looking far into the dawning tomorrow in the darkness.
As for the fortune of the DPRK, its people are not such ignorant people who foresee their fortune by money or divination sign.
Though small in territory and population, the people of the DPRK have such fortune which no other country and nation has and therefore, we feel sorrowful at the neighbor seeking money only without its own soul even though it is big.
Lots of countries and peoples of the world are keenly realizing where lies the genuine fortune of each country and nation while viewing the admirable DPRK greeting the great change in its destiny and standing against the “world’s only superpower” while taking the lead of the struggle to defend peace of the region and the world, although it had its territory totally usurped by big powers keen on scramble and was trampled down under them in the past because it was weak in strength.
Truly frustrating is the perspective of the political hangers-on who are just satisfied to have their rice bowl safe even though the neighbor is thieved while considering Korea just as a front yard and “buffer zone” for holding back the invasion by robber.
It is the U.S. and other dishonest and hostile forces who are taking issue this or that way while doggedly shunning the reality of Juche Korea.
The light act of China’s media openly resorting to interference in the internal affairs of other country, being oblivious of the mission of media which should regard objectivity and impartiality as their lifeline, would be little short of driving a wedge between the two countries and the two peoples, pursuant to the U.S.
The party organ of the socialist country bragging long history denounced socialist Korea so maliciously in collusion with the imperialists. This leaves us think that whether they can be entitled to enter the coming party conference hall only when they register the dirty reptile records of betraying the peoples of the two countries.
The Chinese media had better watch how the DPRK smashes the hostile forces’ arrogance and high-handed practices, rather than kowtowing to the ignorant acts of the Trump administration.
They had better mind their own businesses, before impudently pointing an accusing finger at others.
Korea is a land of rising sun as its name implies and one has to turn one’s head toward China to watch the sun setting in the western sky in Korea.

Chinese Media Slashed for Arrogantly Meddling in Event of Korean Nation

Pyongyang, February 8, 2018 (KCNA) — The following is the full text of “For what they despicably intrude on other’s affair”, an article written by Jong Phil which was carried on the DPRK’s leading newspapers Thursday:
The ties between the north and the south of Korea are now on the track of positive development.
Thanks to the DPRK’s proactive proposal and steps, a breakthrough was made toward detente, peace and improvement of the relations between the north and the south and the enthusiasm of the fellow countrymen to hold the Winter Olympics as a successful event of the nation is sweeping the whole Korean Peninsula.
At this time, some media of China, not to be left behind the U.S. and Japan, reactionaries of history, are letting out impudent arguments of individual experts, seriously spoiling the atmosphere for the feast.
The Chinese Central TV Network on Feb. 5 aired an assertion of a vice-researcher of the Institute for Asia-Pacific and World Strategy under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: The DPRK calculated to show an open aspect of the country and improve its international image through the south Korea visit by the president of the Presidium of its Supreme People’s Assembly. The international community is expecting the DPRK to show greater sincerity and concession over the denuclearization issue if it truly hopes for promoting the detente on the Korean peninsula. Unless it does so, it will be difficult for the DPRK to attain its purpose.
On the same day, the Global Times of China’s People’s Daily carried an argument made by a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies that restoring inter-Korean relations without touching on the nuclear issue is unsustainable and fragile.
Earlier in January, some Chinese media made wicked assertions that the sustenance of the atmosphere for detente on the Korean peninsula is closely related to the solution of the “nuclear issue of the DPRK” and that “detente will not last long without common recognition of the denuclearization”.
Such incoherent talks heard from Chinese media can not but be retorted as an arrogant act aimed at interference in the internal issue of the Korean nation and an unreasonable logic and sophism ignorant of the essence of the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula.
Obvious is the stand of the DPRK to successfully hold the Winter Olympics as a national event and fully display the dignity and might of the Korean nation and, therefore, this is supported and welcomed by all the fellow countrymen and the international community.
It is only the U.S. and other outsiders who are to blame for the division of the Korean Peninsula and the tension there that stand against the Korean nation working hard to open up a new chapter for peace on the peninsula by its concerted efforts.
China’s experts and media, that have touted for “peaceful solution” to the Korean peninsula issue whenever an opportunity presented itself, now shun the present positive development of the situation and are arguing for and against while setting the DPRK’s participation in the Winter Olympics against its strategic issue. How can such behavior be interpreted as an act of allegedly “disinterested” neighbors.
This is evidently an act of screwballs feeling dissatisfaction with the north and the south of Korea aspiring after detente and peace, and a mischievous act to reverse and divert the international focus away from the atmosphere for the north-south reconciliation.
It reminds one of a mean fellow looking over the fence of a feast host.
The Winter Olympics has nothing to do with “denuclearization”.
As acknowledged by the world, the DPRK’s possession of nuclear deterrence was a legitimate option for self-defense reflective of the stern historical lesson and the reality in which the DPRK’s sincere efforts for the denuclearization of the whole Korean Peninsula were ignored and the U.S. nuclear threat to the DPRK aimed to destroy its sovereignty and rights to existence and development has daily increased.
At this time, swimming against the atmosphere of peace on the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. is rendering to the extremes the political and military threat and brandishing a fireball after shipping huge aggression forces including all sorts of ultramodern nuclear war weapons to the sky, land and sea, thereby threatening the Winter Olympics and the post-Olympics situation.
If one truly hopes for peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional stability, it is reasonable for one to say what it should do to the trouble-maker U.S.
It is illogical for the Chinese media to absurdly vociferate about “denuclearization”, far from saying what it should do.
So, is an event of “denuclearization” ever on the list of the Winter Olympics?
Call a spade a spade. It is very despicable of those Chinese media to mess with their neighbor’s event, far from offering congratulations to it.
Ignoring the reality and occasion, they are forcibly linking the issue of “denuclearization” to the Olympics, which cannot be interpreted otherwise than an act aimed to spoil others’ feast.
They betrayed the dark intention to distract the international caution focused on them to the DPRK by doggedly standing in the way of creating reconciliation atmosphere between the north and the south of Korea that would have a positive impact on the world peace and the development of the regional situation.
They are trying to hold the issue of inter-Korean relations on nuclear issue leash and use it as leverage for interference.
They, in the long run, left the international community unpleasant feelings that the “initiative and proactive neighboring diplomacy” only seeks interference in the internal affairs of other countries and nations.
Recently they slandered the DPRK’s measure for self-defense as “narrow-minded interpretation of outside and self-justified action in the nuclear and missile issue”. They also belittled the military capabilities of the DPRK, quoting a “conclusion drawn after inspecting from the south side position in Panmunjom”. Now to what extent have they reached.
Some experts and media of China engrossed in admonishing others are now showing the same proclivity as the Trump and Abe groups and the conservative riff-raffs of south Korea marginalized after being isolated and rejected in the world.
Going blind in judging the trend of the times would make one face great disappointment.
Such senseless meddling doesn’t fit the appearance of a “power”.

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2024.05.22 18:52 Spooker0 Grass Eaters 55 Clear Path

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TRNS Amazon

“Captain Agarwal, the Malgeir are ready to go,” the executive officer reported.
“Good,” the captain of the Amazon, Kiara Agarwal, replied. “Their Marines are all ready to go?”
“Yes… and I can’t believe they have actual drop troopers. Did you know? They cram their real troops into these little metal pods and de-orbit them onto the planet’s surface. What a suicidally insane idea! Only the Puppers can come up with something like that. What if they drop into the water? Which… you know… most of these habitable planets have a lot of.”
Kiara looked sideways at her young subordinate. “XO, you do realize that we had drop troopers in our Republic Marine Corps too, right? Still have the equipment in storage, I’m pretty sure.”
“Yeah, but like… we used them in the twenty first century, not today. And we used robots, not real people. Imagine if we used people! That’d be nuts!”
“The Puppers don’t have combat robots,” she pointed out.
“Like I said, nuts. Imagine the lunatics who would even sign up for that job!”
“What about airborne? Paratroopers? Air assault? Back in the day, we had people jump out of perfectly good atmospheric planes to get into combat or land troops under fire with helicopters. Crete. Normandy. Vietnam. Somalia. Kyiv—”
“I think, Captain, that you listed several good reasons we stopped doing that with real people. But the Puppers…” he shook his head, sighing.
Kiara smiled as the doors to the bridge opened.
“How long until our new equipment arrives?” The new question was directed at the TRO operative who just casually strolled onto the bridge.
Mark grinned at her. “Don’t worry, Kiara, our star of the show is blinking in right on schedule. Just keep an eye on those Bunny combat ships.”
“They haven’t moved,” Kiara reported confidently as she watched the progress on her console. “XO, prepare the transfer link. This is going to be cutting it close and we won’t have much time. Blink exit is in two minutes.”

MNS MCM-1 “Pawtector”

The lone, autonomous minesweeper ship completed its system preparations for the blink emergence event precisely half a nanosecond before it occurred. The navigation sensors re-calibrated. A secondary navigation computer immediately confirmed the accuracy of its location with visual sensor reports of the starfield. The blink drive was put onto cooldown, the warm thruster engines fired, and she unfolded her uncharacteristically massive radiator arrays to cool its internal systems. Then, MCM-148 powered up its communication system, querying for targets from nearby friendly ships.
Unlike most of the other Terran equipment now in the employment of the Malgeir Navy, MCM-148 was not a hand-me-down, obsolete piece of equipment designed in a previous century. She was the latest and the greatest in mine countermeasure warfare, and its super-Terran onboard intelligence knew it. She harbored no prejudice against her new alien commanders despite their acute skepticism of her capabilities. After all, she was not programmed to feel offense and was not inclined to develop a subroutine for it; if anything, she welcomed the challenge of impressing them.
Half a second after blink exit, she received a transmission request from a Republic Navy ship nearby.
It identified itself as the TRNS Amazon. It took her two full seconds to confirm that the source was legitimate and friendly, upon which she began receiving targets.
A lot of targets.
Thousands of targets.
As it turned out, mining systems in space to deny them access to the enemy was a difficult problem. In short, space was big, and unlike terrestrial landmines, it was extremely unlikely that an enemy would accidentally stumble upon any mines you emplaced. Both Terrans and Znosians came to a similar solution for this problem: small, disposable space stations that hid in the darkness and coldness of space by remaining dormant for as long as they possibly could and fired missiles at enemies that came close. To manufacture them cheaply, they had no engines and weak reactors; if they drifted off-course, they must be towed back into orbit manually.
The Republic Navy’s solution to dealing with these cheap weapons was simple: shoot them from far beyond their range. They could not move or maneuver, which meant that anything worked just fine against them regardless of distance. This was easier said than done near Saturn because the terrorists tended to put these devices in or near civilian stations, which put a damper on the Navy’s enthusiasm for opening fire on them with railguns from far away.
But a fully occupied enemy system like Gruccud?
That simplified things.
Another major difficulty in mine warfare was in finding the mines. But the TRNS Amazon had been surveying the system on-and-off for months, and its catalog of Znosian mines and positions was comprehensive — possibly more accurate than the map Znosians had themselves.
Under Kiara, the Amazon was a reconnaissance ship whose crew practiced and exercised covert observation of other Terran stealth ships; the Znosians painting their cheaply made space mines black and operating them at dormant power levels just didn’t quite pose the level of challenge that they were used to.
Unlike last-generation ballistic minesweepers, the MCM-148 was armed with dual spinal particle cannons that fired negatively charged electrons through a pair of massive circular accelerators which took up much of the volume budget of the ship — the remaining being its ample heat sinks.
When she began receiving targets, she did not wait for the full list to transmit; she merely began servicing them. In fact, she didn’t even bother to wait for the targets to die (which could take minutes to hours depending on how far away they were) before crossing them off the list; after all, they couldn’t move, had very little radiation shielding due to their unmanned nature, and she had no concerns about her own accuracy.
Target 1 of 12,824, she thought. Gun #1, orbit calculated, gun ready, burst starting… burst complete. Cycling. 12,823 targets remaining.
Target 2 of 12,824. Gun #2, orbit calculated, gun ready, burst starting… burst complete. Cycling. 12,822 targets remaining.
Target 3 of 12,824. Gun #1, orbit calculated, gun ready…

ZNS 5349

“Nine Whiskers Vnirkh! Sensors detect a new ship in the system!”
The long-eared officer looked up from his console and asked, “Lesser Predator?”
“Digital Guide thinks that’s likely, Nine Whiskers. It’s certainly not one of ours,” the computer officer replied, reading from her screen. “Strange design. It looks like— it looks like some kind of massive circle.”
“A massive circle? Have we been able to reach Ten Whiskers Ditvish and the 2228 yet?”
“No, Nine Whiskers. They have been out of touch since last night, and our outer system FTL capable sensors are still dark! I suspect enemy action, but I take full responsibility for not being able to reach them. What is your directive?”
“What does the Digital Guide say?” Vnirkh asked anxiously.
“It may be a reconnaissance ship or a bait for a trap. The image we have is several hours old due to the light delay. Its guidance is that we should collect more information before attempting to chase it down.”
“Do as it say. Collect as much data as we can and let the Digital Guide evaluate it.”
Target 1,920 of 12,824. Gun #2, orbit calculated, gun ready, burst starting… burst complete. Cycling. 10,904 targets remaining.
Target 1,921 of 12,824. Gun #1…
Vnirkh was studying the peculiar silhouette profile of the intruding ship when a notification on his console beeped urgently.
The computer officer looked up at him. “Nine Whiskers, one of our space mines in the outer system has just disappeared. Radar search of the area returns signal indicating debris. It has likely been destroyed.”
“Did the Lesser Predator ship do that?”
“It’s possible, Nine Whiskers, but the Digital Guide speculates that it is unlikely they can detect a mine that far away from their—”
His console beeped again.
The communication officer took another look on her consoles. “Nine Whiskers, another mine has just been reported destroyed.”
“Was this one also far away?” Vnirkh asked.
“Yes, Nine Whiskers.”
“What does the Digital Guide say this time?”
The computer officer came back after a few seconds of querying. “It is monitoring the ship but is still searching for a correlation between the events.”
Target 2,202 of 12,824. Gun #2, orbit calculated, gun ready, burst starting… burst complete. Cycling. 10,622 targets remaining…
“The Digital Guide has observed traces of a thermal bloom from the Lesser Predator ship with no detectable outgoing projectiles! It suspects some kind of light speed or near light speed weapon.”
“Particle beams,” Vnirkh hissed. “Is it finally convinced that the mine explosions have to do with that ship?”
“It is, Nine Whiskers, but it is still analyzing whether to engage the ship with our fleet or whether this is a trick.”
“Can it analyze faster, Computer Officer?”
“No, Nine Whiskers. I take full responsibility…”
Target 3,411 of 12,824. Gun #1…
“Nine Whiskers, the Digital Guide has found a pattern in the destroyed mines: it believes that they are focused on a narrow region of space that lead from the system limit towards the planet Gruccud,” the computer officer reported urgently, reading from her console.
“What does that mean?” Vnirkh asked frustratedly.
“It believes a Lesser Predator raid on the planet may be imminent. Possibly even an invasion!”
“Its recommendation?”
“Regardless of if it is a trick or not, it recommends one squadron of ships move to engage the detected Lesser Predator ship immediately!”
“What are we waiting for then? Get Squadron 4 moving!”
Target 5,023 of 12,824. Gun #1, orbit calculated, gun ready, burst starting…
Oh, huh. It looks like they are finally moving to engage me. Just keep firing. Just keep firing.
… burst complete. Cycling. 7,801 targets remaining.
“Nine Whiskers, Squadron 4 is reporting the enemy ship is moving further away from them.”
“Tell them to sustain their combat burn,” Vnirkh ordered. “It’s one ship. They just need to get into effective range and kill it as soon as possible before it takes out all our mines.”
“Yes, Nine Whiskers.”
His console chose this moment to beep again, this time a significantly more urgent sound.
“What is it this time?” Vnirkh asked exasperated.
“New sensor alert, Nine Whiskers! New ships have just blinked in near the singular Lesser Predator ship. Several new ships!”
“How many?” Vnirkh asked, his fear hormones pouring into his bloodstream.
“Many!”
“You’re not a hatchling, Computer Officer! Use your big numbers!”
“We are still resolving, but we have eighty-seven so far. The Digital Guide is identifying signatures of ships from every squadron in the Lesser Predator Sixth Fleet. It looks like this is going to be all of them, Nine Whiskers!”
Target 6,412 of 12,824. Gun #2, orbit calculated, gun ready, burst starting… burst complete. Cycling. 6,412 targets remaining…
Ah, whew. Looks like my new friends are here in time. I hope I did a good enough job clearing the lane. Give them hell, Puppers!
Target 6,413 of 12,824…

MNS Oengro

Vastae steadied himself against the railing of the flag bridge of his gargantuan Husky-class warship as he observed the practiced chaos of the scene in front of him. Despite what outdated Navy doctrine called for, he refrained from jumping in and micromanaging his subordinates.
Instead, he focused his attention on the console ahead of him, updating him on the readiness of ship systems… Instead of the hundreds of notifications he was used to before battle just a few months ago, there were none. He had delegated the task to his most trusted officers, who he now relied on to run his ship of six thousand spacers. No major yellow flags popped up, and a short confirmation showed that the sick bay reported that all beds were empty and ready for battle casualties.
Behind him in her own duty station, sat the highest-ranking Malgeir officer in the galaxy and one he would unhesitatingly follow to the heart of Znos, High Fleet Commander Grionc.
“The Oengro is combat ready, High Fleet Commander.”
“Thank you, Vastae,” Grionc replied calmly. “I trust the rest of Sixth Fleet is ready as well?”
“Yes, ma’am. All squadron leaders report fully combat-ready.”
“Under twenty seconds this time. Not bad for a Malgeir fleet, eh?” she asked, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
Vastae snorted and coughed, almost choking on the bottle of flavored Terran fruit juice he was sipping on through a disposable straw.
“No, High Fleet Commander. Not bad at all.”
“Are those cursed Grass Eaters mines gone?”
“Yes, our minesweeper claims to have destroyed about half of them, with more on the way. Nothing in our way to pose a threat.”
There was a small hint of borrowed pride in Vastae’s words as he referred to the newly gifted Terran ship that was still pumping deadly radiation towards the remaining, mostly out of the way, enemy mines on their sensors.
“How are the Grass Eaters taking it?” Grionc asked.
He glanced at his console to confirm what he already knew. “Four full squadrons of Forager-class missile destroyers as expected, ma’am. One of their squadrons is barreling towards our fleet at full combat burn with no time to stop. How are they taking it? As our alien friends would put it: dry.”
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Chapter 56: Second Chances

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2024.05.22 14:27 Mediocre_Law_5557 Kengan OC Annihilation Tournament Seventh Match: "Rust VS Stone"

The stadium buzzed with anticipation as the announcer's voice boomed over the speakers, echoing through the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for a clash of titans! In the blue corner, hailing from the USA, we have Johnny 'The Breezer' Breezer!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as Johnny made his entrance, his easygoing smile belying the determination burning in his eyes. Despite his two-decade hiatus from the ring, there was an undeniable aura of confidence surrounding him as he stepped into the spotlight.
"And in the red corner, representing the great state of Wyoming, we have Eobald 'The Mini Pekka' Shanks!"
A roar of excitement filled the stadium as Eobald entered the ring, his muscular frame a testament to years of hard work and dedication. Despite his diminutive stature, there was a palpable sense of strength emanating from him as he faced his opponent with unwavering resolve.
As the bell rang, signaling the start of the match, both fighters wasted no time in sizing each other up. Johnny moved with a fluid grace, his movements calculated and precise as he circled his opponent. Meanwhile, Eobald stood his ground, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he awaited the first move.
With a sudden burst of speed, Eobald charged forward, his fists raised in preparation for a devastating blow. But Johnny was ready, his reflexes honed from years of training allowing him to sidestep the attack with ease.
In response, Johnny unleashed a flurry of kicks and punches, each one infused with the power of his unique Leech-based martial art. Eobald gritted his teeth against the onslaught, his durability allowing him to weather the storm of blows with steely determination.
As the match wore on, the intensity only grew, with each fighter refusing to back down in the face of adversity. Johnny's agility and precision kept him one step ahead of Eobald's brute strength, but the Mini Pekka refused to relent, his determination driving him forward.
In a bold move, Eobald launched himself at Johnny, aiming a powerful headbutt directly at his opponent's chest. But Johnny was ready, his years of training and mastery of Leech allowing him to counter with a technique of his own.
With lightning speed, Johnny grabbed hold of Eobald's arms, using his Leech-based martial art to drain the strength from his opponent's muscles. Eobald's eyes widened in shock as he felt his strength draining away, his movements growing sluggish and uncoordinated.
But Eobald refused to give up, his iron will driving him forward despite the odds stacked against him. With a roar of defiance, he launched a desperate counterattack, aiming a thunderous punch at Johnny's midsection.
The crowd held its breath as the punch connected with a resounding thud, sending shockwaves rippling through the arena. For a moment, it seemed as though Johnny might falter under the force of the blow.
But Johnny remained steadfast, his determination unwavering as he weathered the storm of Eobald's attacks. With a final burst of energy, he unleashed his signature move, the Demonleech, wrapping his rubbery body around Eobald's and draining the last of his opponent's strength.
As Eobald collapsed to the ground, defeated but not disgraced, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their admiration for both fighters evident in the thunderous applause that filled the arena. Despite the outcome, both Johnny Breezer and Eobald Shanks had proven themselves worthy adversaries, their courage and determination earning the respect of all who witnessed their epic battle.

submitted by Mediocre_Law_5557 to Kengan_Ashura [link] [comments]

2024.05.22 09:06 Prestigious_Air_5111 Stop Complaining Community

The most fun seasons have always HAD OP Weapons and Items.
Season 5? The Holy Trinity: P90, Drum Gun and Suppressed SMG
Season 7? Infinity Blade
Season 9? Combat Shotgun
Season X The Mechs
Chapter 2 Season 1? Mythic Goldfish
Chapter 2 Season 2? Mythic Weapons
Chapter 2 Season 3? Shockwave Launcher
Chapter 2 Season 4? Iron Man Uniblast & Wolverines Claws
Chapter 2 Season 5? Exotics
Chapter 2 Season 6 ? Primal Shotgun and Squids
Chapter 2 Season 7? Rail Gun, Recon Scanner and UFOs.
Chapter 2 Season 8? Venom & Carnage Mythic & Exotic Glappler
Chapter 3 Season 1? Web Shooters, MK7 and Stinger SMG.
Chapter 3 Season 2? Combat SMG and Drum Shotgun & Striket Burst Ar
Chapter 3 Season 3? Combat Ar & Kamehameha
Chapter 3 Season 4? Ranger Shotgun & Mythic Evochrome Rifle
Chapter 4 Season 1? Shockwave hammer and Ex-Caliber Rifle & Deku Smash
Chapter 4 Season 2? Havoc Pump Shotgun and Overclocked Pulse Rifle & Odm Gear
Chapter 4 Season 3 Optimus Prime Blast & Explosive Repeater Rifle & Mammoth Pistol
Chapter 4 Season 4? Mythics Return & Sticky Grenade Launcher
OG? All the OP items from Chapter 1.
Chapter 5 Season 1? Sniper and the Frenzy Auto Shotgun & Ballistic Shield & Prenerf Medallions
Chapter 5 Season 2? Gatekeeper Shotgun, Chains of Hades and Water & Air bending & Cerberus Medal
There’s always going to be OP items every season, so people might as well stop complaining and just adapt

submitted by Prestigious_Air_5111 to FortNiteBR [link] [comments]

2024.05.22 05:38 Jakeultron308 Batman tanks Atomic Skull's detonation Calc

Doing u/Bat-gos calculation request over here. Result could be larger since its off screen.
Scan 1
ill be using the average window Height of 72 in/1.83m as a base or reference for the pixel scaling because there's alot of windows to use here and no need to ang size it.
Blue line: 22.43px/1.83m
0.08158716005 m/px
Red Line: 1039.43px/84.80414177m
Explosion Diameter: 84.80414177m
Explosion Radius: 42.40207089m
W = R^3x((27136xP+8649)^(1/2)/13568-93/13568)^2 where W is the yield in tons of TNT, R is the radius in meters, and P is the shockwave pressure in bars, where we generally use 1.37895 bars or 20 psi of pressure. For this specific formula, there is no need to divide the result by 2.
Explosion Yield: 42.40207089^3x((27136x1.37895+8649)^(1/2)/13568-93/13568)^2 = 6.12698361.
6.12698361 Tons of TNT/Large building level++.
Multiply the yield by 0.5 since only 40-50% of Explosions that aren't nuclear actually come from the Blast. = 3.063491805 tons of TNT
Conclusion: This feat is Large building level+ (3.063491805-6.12698361 tons of TNT).

submitted by Jakeultron308 to FeatCalcing [link] [comments]

2024.05.22 04:01 Atoraxic Directed Energy development budget growth from 2014- 2023.

Since I have been under assault the funding for directed energy weapons has absolutely exploded.News June 30, 2014
Directed Energy non lethal development budget compared to entire DEW from 2014- 2023.
-2014 non lethal: $1,630.6 estimated 1 billion total
-2023 entire DEW: "US$6.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period 2024-2034."

Conducted And Directed Energy Weapons To Drive Non-Lethal Weapons Market Growth
The concept of a weapon that is designed merely to temporarily incapacitate, with little or no lasting injury, is relatively new. The development of non-lethal weapons can be viewed as a consequence of the rise of democratic values. The use of lethal force on a nation’s own citizens is often met with dissent and criticism in democracies. The rise of non-lethal weapons has taken place in the last two decades. Non-lethal weapons for anti-personnel purposes have become increasingly high in demand from law enforcement agencies across the world. The new report has calculated that in 2014 the market will be worth $1,630.6M.
The new report, now available on ASDReports, Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) Market 2014-2024: Conducted & Directed Energy Weapons (CEW & DEW), Less Lethal Weapons (LLW) & Equipment for Military & Law Enforcement. This report finds overall market growth over the forecast period as more nations enter the market and technological advances realise new capabilities.
A detailed analysis of the latest political, economic and technological trends lies at the heart of the reports unparalleled quantitative and qualitative analysis of the non-lethal weapons market. The new report assesses that global spending on non- lethal weapons will amount to $1630.6m in 2014, or the start of the forecast period covered by this report. This 239 page report is packed with 205 tables, figures and charts that illustrate key trends in the market at the global level, 2 submarkets, and in 15 leading national markets. The report profiles 17 leading non- lethal weapons companies. The report also contains interviews with expert members within the industry and details of more than 150 relevant non-lethal weapons contracts and programmes.
“Non-lethal anti-personnel systems such as conducted energy weapons, less-lethal ammunition, tear gas and pepper spray have proven capabilities in crowd control situation. Our research indicates that non-lethal anti-personnel weapons are becoming increasingly high in demand particularly from law enforcement agencies.
In recent years, advances in energy weapon technology both Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW) for anti-personnel utility and Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) technology predominantly for anti-vehicle have highlighted the demand for such systems, particularly in nations with more advanced armed forces.
Furthermore, efforts of nations such as India, Brazil and South Africa to modernise their armed forces and security services will provide significant new market opportunities. It is believed that a lowering of barriers to entry with technological advancements made over the past decade will create new demand for a range of non-lethal systems. This new demand will drive growth within the market.”
The Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) Market 2014-2024: Conducted & Directed Energy Weapons (CEW & DEW), Less Lethal Weapons (LLW) & Equipment for Military & Law Enforcement report will be of impressive value to current and future investors into the industry, as well as to companies and research centres who wish to broaden their knowledge of the non-lethal weapons market.

https://www.rfglobalnet.com/doc/conducted-energy-weapons-drive-non-lethal-weapons-0001

Visiongain Publishes Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Report 2024-2034
26 February 2024
Defence
Visiongain has published a new report entitled Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Report 2024-2034: Forecasts by Type (Lethal Weapons, Non-lethal Weapons), by System (Anti-Satellite (ASAT) DEW, Electromagnetic Railgun Systems, Counter-Drone DEW Systems, Other), by Technology (High-Energy Lasers (HEL), High-Power Microwaves (HPM), Sonic Weapons, Electromagnetic Weapons, Other), by Application (Ground-Based DEW for Military Bases, Airborne DEW for Aircraft Defence, Naval DEW for Ship Defence, Homeland Security, Critical Infrastructure Defence, Other) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Pattern Analysis.
The global directed energy weapons (DEW) market was valued at US$6.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period 2024-2034.
Requirement for Cost-Effective Defense Solutions
The requirement for cost-effective defense solutions amidst constrained defense budgets is driving the adoption of directed energy weapons by military organizations worldwide. Traditional kinetic weapons and missile defense systems involve high procurement, operation, and maintenance costs, making them economically unsustainable for many defense budgets. Directed energy weapons offer a more cost-effective alternative with reduced ammunition costs, minimal logistical footprint, and lower lifecycle expenses. For example, the deployment of laser-based counter-UAV systems by military forces provides a cost-effective means of defending against small unmanned aerial threats compared to conventional missile-based interceptors.
Increasing Investments in Directed Energy Programs
The increasing investments in directed energy programs by government agencies, defense contractors, and research institutions are driving innovation and growth in the global directed energy weapons market. Countries such as the United States, China, Russia, and European nations are allocating substantial funding to accelerate the development and deployment of directed energy technologies for military applications. These investments support research and development initiatives aimed at enhancing the performance, reliability, and operational capabilities of directed energy weapons across various platforms. For instance, the U.S. Department of Defense's Directed Energy Weapons Directorate (DEWD) oversees a range of directed energy programs focused on advancing laser, microwave, and radiofrequency technologies for military use.
How has COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on the Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a discernible impact on the directed energy weapon (DEW) market, influencing various aspects of its development, production, and deployment. One notable effect has been the disruption of supply chains and manufacturing processes. Lockdowns, restrictions on movement, and workforce limitations imposed to curb the spread of the virus have led to delays in production schedules and the availability of essential components for DEW systems. This has, in turn, affected the overall pace of development and delivery of directed energy weapons.
Financial constraints have emerged as another significant impact of the pandemic on the directed energy weapon market. Many defence budgets faced reallocations and adjustments to address the immediate healthcare and economic challenges posed by the pandemic. Consequently, some defence programs, including those related to advanced technologies like DEWs, experienced budgetary constraints, slowing down investment and procurement processes.
Operational disruptions have affected the testing and validation phases of DEW systems. Social distancing measures and limitations on gatherings have impeded the ability to conduct field trials and exercises. These constraints have slowed down the evaluation and validation of directed energy weapons in real-world scenarios, hindering progress in achieving operational readiness.
How will this Report Benefit you?
Visiongain’s 372-page report provides 113 tables and 198 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the global directed energy weapons (DEW) market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for Directed Energy Weapons (DEW). Get financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including type, system, technology, and application and capture higher market share. We believe that there are strong opportunities in this fast-growing directed energy weapons (DEW) market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report will help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company.
What are the Current Market Drivers?
Need for Precision and Lethality in Modern Warfare The need for precision and lethality in modern warfare scenarios drives the adoption of directed energy weapons by defense forces worldwide. Traditional kinetic weapons, such as missiles and artillery shells, often result in collateral damage and unintended casualties, limiting their effectiveness in densely populated urban environments and sensitive infrastructure areas. Directed energy weapons offer a more precise and controlled means of engaging targets, minimizing collateral damage and civilian casualties while maximizing lethality against enemy assets. For example, the U.S. Air Force's Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) system demonstrates the capability of DEWs to engage and destroy incoming artillery shells and rockets with pinpoint accuracy, reducing the risk to friendly forces and civilian populations.
Growing Threat of Ballistic Missile and Hypersonic Weapons The growing threat posed by ballistic missile proliferation and the development of hypersonic weapons systems is driving the demand for directed energy weapons as a viable defense solution. Ballistic missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles pose significant challenges to existing missile defense systems due to their high speeds, maneuverability, and unpredictable trajectories. Directed energy weapons offer a potential solution for intercepting and neutralizing ballistic missiles and hypersonic threats in the boost, mid-course, and terminal phases of flight. For instance, the concept of using high-energy lasers or particle beams to intercept and destroy incoming missiles in near-real-time is being explored as a cost-effective and reliable defense against advanced missile threats.
Where are the Market Opportunities?
Advancements in Compact and Mobile Directed Energy Platforms Advancements in compact and mobile directed energy platforms are expanding the operational flexibility and deployment options for directed energy weapons in military environments. Traditional directed energy systems were often large, stationary installations limited to fixed bases or naval vessels, which restricted their mobility and deployment agility. However, recent technological advancements have led to the development of compact, lightweight, and mobile directed energy platforms that can be integrated into various military platforms, including ground vehicles, aircraft, and dismounted soldier systems. For example, the development of man-portable laser weapons, such as the U.S. Army's Mobile Experimental High Energy Laser (MEHEL) system, enables ground troops to engage and neutralize threats with precision and speed in diverse operational environments.
Need for Counter-UAS and Counter-Swarm Capabilities The proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the emergence of drone swarms as asymmetric threats are driving the demand for directed energy weapons with counter-UAS and counter-swarm capabilities. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drone swarms pose challenges to conventional air defense systems due to their small size, agility, and swarm tactics, making them difficult to detect and intercept using traditional kinetic weapons. Directed energy weapons offer a rapid and effective means of countering UAS threats by providing continuous, 360-degree coverage, rapid engagement, and scalable lethality. For instance, ground-based laser and microwave systems deployed in urban areas or critical infrastructure sites can detect and neutralize hostile drones and swarms with precision, protecting assets and personnel from aerial threats.
Competitive Landscape
The major players operating in the directed energy weapons (DEW) market are BAE Systems PLC, Blue Halo, Elbit Systems Ltd, Honeywell International Inc, L3Harris Technologies, Inc, Leonardo S.p.A, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Moog Inc, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd., Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Rheinmetall AG, Textron Inc, Thales Group, The Boeing Company. These major players operating in this market have adopted various strategies comprising M&A, investment in R&D, collaborations, partnerships, regional business expansion, and new product launch.
Recent Developments
24 Sept 2023, Raytheon Technologies Corporation has entered into collaboration with Northrop Grumman to develop a prototype High-Power Microwave (HPM) weapon system for maritime applications.
04 June 2023, Lockheed Martin and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems partnered to manufacture 100 kW fiber-class laser weapons for the IRON BEAM project, aiming to defend Israel against rockets, mortars, and drones.
Notes for Editors If you are interested in a more detailed overview of this report, please send an e-mail to [contactus@visiongain.com](mailto:contactus@visiongain.com) or call +44 (0) 207 336 6100.
About Visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent media companies in Europe. Based in London, UK, Visiongain produces a host of business-to-business reports focusing on the automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defence, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors.
Visiongain publishes reports produced by analysts who are qualified experts in their field. Visiongain has firmly established itself as the first port of call for the business professional who needs independent, high-quality, original material to rely and depend on.Visiongain Publishes Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Report 2024-2034
26 February 2024

https://www.visiongain.com/dew-market-report/

submitted by Atoraxic to v2khelp [link] [comments]

2024.05.22 03:58 Atoraxic Directed Energy development budget growth from 2014- 2023

Since I have been under assault the funding for directed energy weapons has absolutely exploded.
Directed Energy non lethal development budget compared to entire DEW from 2014- 2023.
-2014 non lethal: $1,630.6M entire DEW is estimated at around 1 billion US.
-2023 entire DEW: "US$6.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period 2024-2034."

News June 30, 2014
Conducted And Directed Energy Weapons To Drive Non-Lethal Weapons Market Growth
The concept of a weapon that is designed merely to temporarily incapacitate, with little or no lasting injury, is relatively new. The development of non-lethal weapons can be viewed as a consequence of the rise of democratic values. The use of lethal force on a nation’s own citizens is often met with dissent and criticism in democracies. The rise of non-lethal weapons has taken place in the last two decades. Non-lethal weapons for anti-personnel purposes have become increasingly high in demand from law enforcement agencies across the world. The new report has calculated that in 2014 the market will be worth $1,630.6M.
The new report, now available on ASDReports, Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) Market 2014-2024: Conducted & Directed Energy Weapons (CEW & DEW), Less Lethal Weapons (LLW) & Equipment for Military & Law Enforcement. This report finds overall market growth over the forecast period as more nations enter the market and technological advances realise new capabilities.
A detailed analysis of the latest political, economic and technological trends lies at the heart of the reports unparalleled quantitative and qualitative analysis of the non-lethal weapons market. The new report assesses that global spending on non- lethal weapons will amount to $1630.6m in 2014, or the start of the forecast period covered by this report. This 239 page report is packed with 205 tables, figures and charts that illustrate key trends in the market at the global level, 2 submarkets, and in 15 leading national markets. The report profiles 17 leading non- lethal weapons companies. The report also contains interviews with expert members within the industry and details of more than 150 relevant non-lethal weapons contracts and programmes.
“Non-lethal anti-personnel systems such as conducted energy weapons, less-lethal ammunition, tear gas and pepper spray have proven capabilities in crowd control situation. Our research indicates that non-lethal anti-personnel weapons are becoming increasingly high in demand particularly from law enforcement agencies.
In recent years, advances in energy weapon technology both Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW) for anti-personnel utility and Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) technology predominantly for anti-vehicle have highlighted the demand for such systems, particularly in nations with more advanced armed forces.
Furthermore, efforts of nations such as India, Brazil and South Africa to modernise their armed forces and security services will provide significant new market opportunities. It is believed that a lowering of barriers to entry with technological advancements made over the past decade will create new demand for a range of non-lethal systems. This new demand will drive growth within the market.”
The Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) Market 2014-2024: Conducted & Directed Energy Weapons (CEW & DEW), Less Lethal Weapons (LLW) & Equipment for Military & Law Enforcement report will be of impressive value to current and future investors into the industry, as well as to companies and research centres who wish to broaden their knowledge of the non-lethal weapons market.

https://www.rfglobalnet.com/doc/conducted-energy-weapons-drive-non-lethal-weapons-0001

Visiongain Publishes Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Report 2024-2034
26 February 2024
Defence
Visiongain has published a new report entitled Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Report 2024-2034: Forecasts by Type (Lethal Weapons, Non-lethal Weapons), by System (Anti-Satellite (ASAT) DEW, Electromagnetic Railgun Systems, Counter-Drone DEW Systems, Other), by Technology (High-Energy Lasers (HEL), High-Power Microwaves (HPM), Sonic Weapons, Electromagnetic Weapons, Other), by Application (Ground-Based DEW for Military Bases, Airborne DEW for Aircraft Defence, Naval DEW for Ship Defence, Homeland Security, Critical Infrastructure Defence, Other) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Pattern Analysis.
The global directed energy weapons (DEW) market was valued at US$6.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period 2024-2034.
Requirement for Cost-Effective Defense Solutions
The requirement for cost-effective defense solutions amidst constrained defense budgets is driving the adoption of directed energy weapons by military organizations worldwide. Traditional kinetic weapons and missile defense systems involve high procurement, operation, and maintenance costs, making them economically unsustainable for many defense budgets. Directed energy weapons offer a more cost-effective alternative with reduced ammunition costs, minimal logistical footprint, and lower lifecycle expenses. For example, the deployment of laser-based counter-UAV systems by military forces provides a cost-effective means of defending against small unmanned aerial threats compared to conventional missile-based interceptors.
Increasing Investments in Directed Energy Programs
The increasing investments in directed energy programs by government agencies, defense contractors, and research institutions are driving innovation and growth in the global directed energy weapons market. Countries such as the United States, China, Russia, and European nations are allocating substantial funding to accelerate the development and deployment of directed energy technologies for military applications. These investments support research and development initiatives aimed at enhancing the performance, reliability, and operational capabilities of directed energy weapons across various platforms. For instance, the U.S. Department of Defense's Directed Energy Weapons Directorate (DEWD) oversees a range of directed energy programs focused on advancing laser, microwave, and radiofrequency technologies for military use.
How has COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on the Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a discernible impact on the directed energy weapon (DEW) market, influencing various aspects of its development, production, and deployment. One notable effect has been the disruption of supply chains and manufacturing processes. Lockdowns, restrictions on movement, and workforce limitations imposed to curb the spread of the virus have led to delays in production schedules and the availability of essential components for DEW systems. This has, in turn, affected the overall pace of development and delivery of directed energy weapons.
Financial constraints have emerged as another significant impact of the pandemic on the directed energy weapon market. Many defence budgets faced reallocations and adjustments to address the immediate healthcare and economic challenges posed by the pandemic. Consequently, some defence programs, including those related to advanced technologies like DEWs, experienced budgetary constraints, slowing down investment and procurement processes.
Operational disruptions have affected the testing and validation phases of DEW systems. Social distancing measures and limitations on gatherings have impeded the ability to conduct field trials and exercises. These constraints have slowed down the evaluation and validation of directed energy weapons in real-world scenarios, hindering progress in achieving operational readiness.
How will this Report Benefit you?
Visiongain’s 372-page report provides 113 tables and 198 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the global directed energy weapons (DEW) market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for Directed Energy Weapons (DEW). Get financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including type, system, technology, and application and capture higher market share. We believe that there are strong opportunities in this fast-growing directed energy weapons (DEW) market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report will help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company.
What are the Current Market Drivers?
Need for Precision and Lethality in Modern Warfare The need for precision and lethality in modern warfare scenarios drives the adoption of directed energy weapons by defense forces worldwide. Traditional kinetic weapons, such as missiles and artillery shells, often result in collateral damage and unintended casualties, limiting their effectiveness in densely populated urban environments and sensitive infrastructure areas. Directed energy weapons offer a more precise and controlled means of engaging targets, minimizing collateral damage and civilian casualties while maximizing lethality against enemy assets. For example, the U.S. Air Force's Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) system demonstrates the capability of DEWs to engage and destroy incoming artillery shells and rockets with pinpoint accuracy, reducing the risk to friendly forces and civilian populations.
Growing Threat of Ballistic Missile and Hypersonic Weapons The growing threat posed by ballistic missile proliferation and the development of hypersonic weapons systems is driving the demand for directed energy weapons as a viable defense solution. Ballistic missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles pose significant challenges to existing missile defense systems due to their high speeds, maneuverability, and unpredictable trajectories. Directed energy weapons offer a potential solution for intercepting and neutralizing ballistic missiles and hypersonic threats in the boost, mid-course, and terminal phases of flight. For instance, the concept of using high-energy lasers or particle beams to intercept and destroy incoming missiles in near-real-time is being explored as a cost-effective and reliable defense against advanced missile threats.
Where are the Market Opportunities?
Advancements in Compact and Mobile Directed Energy Platforms Advancements in compact and mobile directed energy platforms are expanding the operational flexibility and deployment options for directed energy weapons in military environments. Traditional directed energy systems were often large, stationary installations limited to fixed bases or naval vessels, which restricted their mobility and deployment agility. However, recent technological advancements have led to the development of compact, lightweight, and mobile directed energy platforms that can be integrated into various military platforms, including ground vehicles, aircraft, and dismounted soldier systems. For example, the development of man-portable laser weapons, such as the U.S. Army's Mobile Experimental High Energy Laser (MEHEL) system, enables ground troops to engage and neutralize threats with precision and speed in diverse operational environments.
Need for Counter-UAS and Counter-Swarm Capabilities The proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the emergence of drone swarms as asymmetric threats are driving the demand for directed energy weapons with counter-UAS and counter-swarm capabilities. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drone swarms pose challenges to conventional air defense systems due to their small size, agility, and swarm tactics, making them difficult to detect and intercept using traditional kinetic weapons. Directed energy weapons offer a rapid and effective means of countering UAS threats by providing continuous, 360-degree coverage, rapid engagement, and scalable lethality. For instance, ground-based laser and microwave systems deployed in urban areas or critical infrastructure sites can detect and neutralize hostile drones and swarms with precision, protecting assets and personnel from aerial threats.
Competitive Landscape
The major players operating in the directed energy weapons (DEW) market are BAE Systems PLC, Blue Halo, Elbit Systems Ltd, Honeywell International Inc, L3Harris Technologies, Inc, Leonardo S.p.A, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Moog Inc, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd., Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Rheinmetall AG, Textron Inc, Thales Group, The Boeing Company. These major players operating in this market have adopted various strategies comprising M&A, investment in R&D, collaborations, partnerships, regional business expansion, and new product launch.
Recent Developments
24 Sept 2023, Raytheon Technologies Corporation has entered into collaboration with Northrop Grumman to develop a prototype High-Power Microwave (HPM) weapon system for maritime applications.
04 June 2023, Lockheed Martin and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems partnered to manufacture 100 kW fiber-class laser weapons for the IRON BEAM project, aiming to defend Israel against rockets, mortars, and drones.
Notes for Editors If you are interested in a more detailed overview of this report, please send an e-mail to [contactus@visiongain.com](mailto:contactus@visiongain.com) or call +44 (0) 207 336 6100.
About Visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent media companies in Europe. Based in London, UK, Visiongain produces a host of business-to-business reports focusing on the automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defence, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors.
Visiongain publishes reports produced by analysts who are qualified experts in their field. Visiongain has firmly established itself as the first port of call for the business professional who needs independent, high-quality, original material to rely and depend on.Visiongain Publishes Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Report 2024-2034
26 February 2024

https://www.visiongain.com/dew-market-report/

submitted by Atoraxic to Overt_Podcast [link] [comments]

2024.05.22 03:58 Atoraxic Directed Energy development budget growth from 2014- 2023.

Since I have been under assault the funding for directed energy weapons has absolutely exploded.
Directed Energy non lethal development budget compared to entire DEW from 2014- 2023.
-2014 non lethal: $1,630.6M total estimated at over 1 billion
-2023 entire DEW: "US$6.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period 2024-2034."

News June 30, 2014

Conducted And Directed Energy Weapons To Drive Non-Lethal Weapons Market Growth
The concept of a weapon that is designed merely to temporarily incapacitate, with little or no lasting injury, is relatively new. The development of non-lethal weapons can be viewed as a consequence of the rise of democratic values. The use of lethal force on a nation’s own citizens is often met with dissent and criticism in democracies. The rise of non-lethal weapons has taken place in the last two decades. Non-lethal weapons for anti-personnel purposes have become increasingly high in demand from law enforcement agencies across the world. The new report has calculated that in 2014 the market will be worth $1,630.6M.
The new report, now available on ASDReports, Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) Market 2014-2024: Conducted & Directed Energy Weapons (CEW & DEW), Less Lethal Weapons (LLW) & Equipment for Military & Law Enforcement. This report finds overall market growth over the forecast period as more nations enter the market and technological advances realise new capabilities.
A detailed analysis of the latest political, economic and technological trends lies at the heart of the reports unparalleled quantitative and qualitative analysis of the non-lethal weapons market. The new report assesses that global spending on non- lethal weapons will amount to $1630.6m in 2014, or the start of the forecast period covered by this report. This 239 page report is packed with 205 tables, figures and charts that illustrate key trends in the market at the global level, 2 submarkets, and in 15 leading national markets. The report profiles 17 leading non- lethal weapons companies. The report also contains interviews with expert members within the industry and details of more than 150 relevant non-lethal weapons contracts and programmes.
“Non-lethal anti-personnel systems such as conducted energy weapons, less-lethal ammunition, tear gas and pepper spray have proven capabilities in crowd control situation. Our research indicates that non-lethal anti-personnel weapons are becoming increasingly high in demand particularly from law enforcement agencies.
In recent years, advances in energy weapon technology both Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW) for anti-personnel utility and Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) technology predominantly for anti-vehicle have highlighted the demand for such systems, particularly in nations with more advanced armed forces.
Furthermore, efforts of nations such as India, Brazil and South Africa to modernise their armed forces and security services will provide significant new market opportunities. It is believed that a lowering of barriers to entry with technological advancements made over the past decade will create new demand for a range of non-lethal systems. This new demand will drive growth within the market.”
The Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) Market 2014-2024: Conducted & Directed Energy Weapons (CEW & DEW), Less Lethal Weapons (LLW) & Equipment for Military & Law Enforcement report will be of impressive value to current and future investors into the industry, as well as to companies and research centres who wish to broaden their knowledge of the non-lethal weapons market.

https://www.rfglobalnet.com/doc/conducted-energy-weapons-drive-non-lethal-weapons-0001

Visiongain Publishes Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Report 2024-2034
26 February 2024
Defence
Visiongain has published a new report entitled Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Report 2024-2034: Forecasts by Type (Lethal Weapons, Non-lethal Weapons), by System (Anti-Satellite (ASAT) DEW, Electromagnetic Railgun Systems, Counter-Drone DEW Systems, Other), by Technology (High-Energy Lasers (HEL), High-Power Microwaves (HPM), Sonic Weapons, Electromagnetic Weapons, Other), by Application (Ground-Based DEW for Military Bases, Airborne DEW for Aircraft Defence, Naval DEW for Ship Defence, Homeland Security, Critical Infrastructure Defence, Other) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Pattern Analysis.
The global directed energy weapons (DEW) market was valued at US$6.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period 2024-2034.
Requirement for Cost-Effective Defense Solutions
The requirement for cost-effective defense solutions amidst constrained defense budgets is driving the adoption of directed energy weapons by military organizations worldwide. Traditional kinetic weapons and missile defense systems involve high procurement, operation, and maintenance costs, making them economically unsustainable for many defense budgets. Directed energy weapons offer a more cost-effective alternative with reduced ammunition costs, minimal logistical footprint, and lower lifecycle expenses. For example, the deployment of laser-based counter-UAV systems by military forces provides a cost-effective means of defending against small unmanned aerial threats compared to conventional missile-based interceptors.
Increasing Investments in Directed Energy Programs
The increasing investments in directed energy programs by government agencies, defense contractors, and research institutions are driving innovation and growth in the global directed energy weapons market. Countries such as the United States, China, Russia, and European nations are allocating substantial funding to accelerate the development and deployment of directed energy technologies for military applications. These investments support research and development initiatives aimed at enhancing the performance, reliability, and operational capabilities of directed energy weapons across various platforms. For instance, the U.S. Department of Defense's Directed Energy Weapons Directorate (DEWD) oversees a range of directed energy programs focused on advancing laser, microwave, and radiofrequency technologies for military use.
How has COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on the Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a discernible impact on the directed energy weapon (DEW) market, influencing various aspects of its development, production, and deployment. One notable effect has been the disruption of supply chains and manufacturing processes. Lockdowns, restrictions on movement, and workforce limitations imposed to curb the spread of the virus have led to delays in production schedules and the availability of essential components for DEW systems. This has, in turn, affected the overall pace of development and delivery of directed energy weapons.
Financial constraints have emerged as another significant impact of the pandemic on the directed energy weapon market. Many defence budgets faced reallocations and adjustments to address the immediate healthcare and economic challenges posed by the pandemic. Consequently, some defence programs, including those related to advanced technologies like DEWs, experienced budgetary constraints, slowing down investment and procurement processes.
Operational disruptions have affected the testing and validation phases of DEW systems. Social distancing measures and limitations on gatherings have impeded the ability to conduct field trials and exercises. These constraints have slowed down the evaluation and validation of directed energy weapons in real-world scenarios, hindering progress in achieving operational readiness.
How will this Report Benefit you?
Visiongain’s 372-page report provides 113 tables and 198 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the global directed energy weapons (DEW) market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for Directed Energy Weapons (DEW). Get financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including type, system, technology, and application and capture higher market share. We believe that there are strong opportunities in this fast-growing directed energy weapons (DEW) market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report will help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company.
What are the Current Market Drivers?
Need for Precision and Lethality in Modern Warfare The need for precision and lethality in modern warfare scenarios drives the adoption of directed energy weapons by defense forces worldwide. Traditional kinetic weapons, such as missiles and artillery shells, often result in collateral damage and unintended casualties, limiting their effectiveness in densely populated urban environments and sensitive infrastructure areas. Directed energy weapons offer a more precise and controlled means of engaging targets, minimizing collateral damage and civilian casualties while maximizing lethality against enemy assets. For example, the U.S. Air Force's Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) system demonstrates the capability of DEWs to engage and destroy incoming artillery shells and rockets with pinpoint accuracy, reducing the risk to friendly forces and civilian populations.
Growing Threat of Ballistic Missile and Hypersonic Weapons The growing threat posed by ballistic missile proliferation and the development of hypersonic weapons systems is driving the demand for directed energy weapons as a viable defense solution. Ballistic missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles pose significant challenges to existing missile defense systems due to their high speeds, maneuverability, and unpredictable trajectories. Directed energy weapons offer a potential solution for intercepting and neutralizing ballistic missiles and hypersonic threats in the boost, mid-course, and terminal phases of flight. For instance, the concept of using high-energy lasers or particle beams to intercept and destroy incoming missiles in near-real-time is being explored as a cost-effective and reliable defense against advanced missile threats.
Where are the Market Opportunities?
Advancements in Compact and Mobile Directed Energy Platforms Advancements in compact and mobile directed energy platforms are expanding the operational flexibility and deployment options for directed energy weapons in military environments. Traditional directed energy systems were often large, stationary installations limited to fixed bases or naval vessels, which restricted their mobility and deployment agility. However, recent technological advancements have led to the development of compact, lightweight, and mobile directed energy platforms that can be integrated into various military platforms, including ground vehicles, aircraft, and dismounted soldier systems. For example, the development of man-portable laser weapons, such as the U.S. Army's Mobile Experimental High Energy Laser (MEHEL) system, enables ground troops to engage and neutralize threats with precision and speed in diverse operational environments.
Need for Counter-UAS and Counter-Swarm Capabilities The proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the emergence of drone swarms as asymmetric threats are driving the demand for directed energy weapons with counter-UAS and counter-swarm capabilities. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drone swarms pose challenges to conventional air defense systems due to their small size, agility, and swarm tactics, making them difficult to detect and intercept using traditional kinetic weapons. Directed energy weapons offer a rapid and effective means of countering UAS threats by providing continuous, 360-degree coverage, rapid engagement, and scalable lethality. For instance, ground-based laser and microwave systems deployed in urban areas or critical infrastructure sites can detect and neutralize hostile drones and swarms with precision, protecting assets and personnel from aerial threats.
Competitive Landscape
The major players operating in the directed energy weapons (DEW) market are BAE Systems PLC, Blue Halo, Elbit Systems Ltd, Honeywell International Inc, L3Harris Technologies, Inc, Leonardo S.p.A, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Moog Inc, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd., Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Rheinmetall AG, Textron Inc, Thales Group, The Boeing Company. These major players operating in this market have adopted various strategies comprising M&A, investment in R&D, collaborations, partnerships, regional business expansion, and new product launch.
Recent Developments
24 Sept 2023, Raytheon Technologies Corporation has entered into collaboration with Northrop Grumman to develop a prototype High-Power Microwave (HPM) weapon system for maritime applications.
04 June 2023, Lockheed Martin and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems partnered to manufacture 100 kW fiber-class laser weapons for the IRON BEAM project, aiming to defend Israel against rockets, mortars, and drones.
Notes for Editors If you are interested in a more detailed overview of this report, please send an e-mail to [contactus@visiongain.com](mailto:contactus@visiongain.com) or call +44 (0) 207 336 6100.
About Visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent media companies in Europe. Based in London, UK, Visiongain produces a host of business-to-business reports focusing on the automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defence, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors.
Visiongain publishes reports produced by analysts who are qualified experts in their field. Visiongain has firmly established itself as the first port of call for the business professional who needs independent, high-quality, original material to rely and depend on.Visiongain Publishes Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Report 2024-2034
26 February 2024

https://www.visiongain.com/dew-market-report/

submitted by Atoraxic to TargetedEnergyWeapons [link] [comments]

2024.05.22 02:10 SophistsLament Hornady BC App Crashing

If anyone is having issues with the Hornady Ballistic Calculator App freezing on iPhone you can get around it by putting your phone in airplane mode before opening then turning airplane mode off once it’s open.

submitted by SophistsLament to Firearms [link] [comments]

2024.05.21 09:58 Jakeultron308 COD MW2 EMP calc

Feat here but ill still send the main part of the clip as i always do. Captain Price (one of the main important characters of the Franchise as a whole) Sends off an EMP or Nuclear Bomb to washington DC in order to either kill the helicopters or Fight back in a war. Ill be calculating the Explosion and its energy output (ill not include the part where the player in space gets affected by shockwaves and nearly dies Because that's unquantifiable).

Method 1 - distance From POV

Scan 1
ill be using florida's Length from Miami grill to Miami Dade county Because in the scene/clip that's the only state that's noticeable showing most if not the entire state of Florida. (549 mi)
549 miles = 883530.00m/883.53 km
Panel/screen Height = 768px
Distance from PoV to Object = Object Size x Panel Height in Pixels/[Object Size in Pixelsx2Tan(70Deg/2)] (same as the 35deg formula)
883529.86 x 768/[244.45x2xTan(70Deg/2)] = 1982.15 km or 1982145.96378m
Scan 2 (explosion)
Now that we have the distance, the rest of the calculations should flow well together.
2 Tan(70Deg/2)x1982145.96378x307.18/768 = 1110258.54937
2 Tan(70Deg/2)x1982145.96378x68.88/768 = 248956.992255

Method 2 - Explosion and Shockwave Formula

Explosion Formula W = R^3x((27136xP+8649)^(1/2)/13568-93/13568)^2 where W is the yield in tons of TNT, R is the radius in meters, and P is the shockwave pressure in bars, where we generally use 1.37895 bars or 20 psi of pressure. For this specific formula, there is no need to divide the result by 2.
Air blast radius Formula is Y = ((x/0.28)^3)/1000 with Y in megatons of TNT and x the radius in km.
(well be using Both for Low end and High end results Mainly because a couple seconds after the shockwave hits the player, it switches POV's and you can see a white ring obviously indicating the explosion that happened in the air but this could also happen on the ground)
Shock wave Diameter: 1110258.54937m or 1110.26 km
Shock wave Radius: 555129.2747m or 555.13 km
Explosion Diameter: 248956.992255m or 248.96 km
Explosion Radius: 124478.4961m or 124.48 km
124478.4961^3x((27136x1.37895+8649)^(1/2)/13568-93/13568)^2 = 155013139922 Tons of TNT
155.01313992 Gigatons - Large island level+
Air blast Result: ((124.48/0.28)^3)/1000 = 87866.7665539 Tons of TNT
87.866766554 gigatons - Island level+
those are results from just the explosion Radius, The Shockwave is much larger and could qualify for being used in the air blast formula (VSBW calc group has discussed that shockwaves don't count anymore in these formulas but i can't find the new formula for it anywhere so ill just be using the formula again for the shockwaves because they aren't just slight wind pressure and actually disable Florida's lights and more damage)
Shockwave Air blast Result: ((555.13/0.28)^3)/1000 = 7793095.52162 (reaches the teraton range)
7.7930955210325052462 Teratons - Country level.
Final tally/Conclusion: This feat ranges from Island level-Country level.
(Island-Large island level+ from the explosion and country level from the Shockwave/pressure).

submitted by Jakeultron308 to FeatCalcing [link] [comments]

2024.05.21 07:11 AbletonRinzler Rinzler and Willow: Vaulted Reckoning - Titan-ic Wreckage

"Why can't Willow and I have some sort of normal time on Helios Island? We went from liberating the island from The Society to fighting gods and averting ancient evils. Is someone having a grand laugh at all of this? 'Cause this isn't anywhere close to funny. Now Willow and I must stop Montague before he causes even more damage to Helios Island than he just did by opening Pandora's Box." The skies slowly begin to darken, as both Montague and Medusa arrive at Pandora's Box. Montague looks around and speaks. "With my newfound powers, my new Society will once again rule Helios Island. Victory has never tasted so sweet, oui?" Medusa looks at Pandora's Box and walks forward. "Once the Titan is released, Zeus and his pantheon will be doomed." Towards Fencing Fields, Ableton Rinzler, Willow, Stratus, Deimos, Poseidon, and Aphrodite all run down the road, heading for Restored Reels. Aphrodite faces everyone with fear and yells. "We're almost there! We need to stop the mortal from unleashing the Titan!" Storm clouds begin forming above the area where Pandora's Box rests, as the statue at Mount Olympus begins to move. Montague's grunting is heard within the clouds in the sky, as a lightning bolt strikes Pandora's Box, further damaging it. Poseidon faces the group with worry. "The mortal is charging up too much of Zeus' power! Any more lightning bolts and he'll break Pandora's Box open!" Back over at Pandora's Box, Montague tries to charge up even more power, until someone begins shooting at him. Hope and The Underground arrive, as Montague faces the group. "You! Just like the skeleton and ghost, you all played part in ruining my Society with your stupid Underground child's play." Jekyll yells at Montague in anger. "Bloody stop, mate! Do you have ANY IDEA what will happen when you break Pandora's Box open?" Jones then backs up Jekyll and yells shortly after. "Peely warned us about the dark energy that flows within Pandora's Box. Some sort of Titan that represents pure ancient evil. If Pandora's Box breaks, the Titan will be unleashed, and everyone will be in danger." Montague ignores Jones and continues charging up energy, until Hope tackles him away from Pandora's Box. Medusa rushes to help Montague against Hope's attack, as Ableton and the group arrive at Pandora's Box. The group witnesses the fight between The Underground and Montague, as Aphrodite speaks. "While they're fighting, we'll see if we can get Zeus' Stormforged Hourglass out of the mortal's hands." Ableton and the group rush Montague, ready to try and snatch the Stormforged Hourglass out of his hands. Montague quickly notices Ableton, as he uses the Stormforged Hourglass to strike him with a bolt of lightning. "Give it up, skeleton! I am unstoppable! Once I force Pandora's Box open, I will be able to rebuild my Society and reclaim Helios Island." Willow pulls out her Ballistic Shield and begins firing at Montague, as she yells. "That's not what's gonna happen, you rich idiot!" Medusa then whips Willow's Ballistic Shield out of her hands with the Chains of Hades, as Montague laughs at Willow. Stratus then bats Montague in the head with the Storm King's Fist, as he responds. "Not cool, man! You are seriously considering dooming this island just for your dumb Society? That's just next-level crazy!" Montague charges more energy with the Stormforged Hourglass, as another lightning bolt strikes Pandora's Box. The top of the box breaks open, as the fire tornado from earlier bursts out. Everyone runs away from Pandora's Box, as Ableton, Willow, and Stratus are all sucked into the box. After a few minutes, they appear inside the confines of Pandora's Box. Ableton looks around, as he faces Willow. "Where... are we?" Stratus faces both Ableton and Willow and answers Able's question. "I have no idea..." The Titan appears behind the three, as Ableton quickly catches onto what's going on. "The Titan's right behind us, isn't he?" The trio looks behind them, as the Titan slowly advances towards them. Willow yells at the Titan in anger. "What even are you? What do you even represent?" The Titan summons a series of meteors that are flung towards Willow, as she quickly gets out of the way. Stratus reacts, as he faces Willow. "Oh snap! That weird Titan thing ain't playing around!" Ableton pulls out his Striker AR and unloads a mag into the Titan. The Titan then stops all of the bullets in mid air, as the bullets all fall to the ground. Stratus reacts with fear at what he saw. "Oh damn..." The Titan charges up a large fireball and launches it towards the trio, as they all dodge the attack. Ableton faces Willow and Stratus and yells. "How do we stop something like that if bullets don't work?" Willow notices a smaller sized Pandora's Box on the Titan's back, as she answers Rinzler. "If we can't shoot this weird Titan directly, maybe we can spook him with a distraction and attack Pandora's Box on his back." Ableton turns to Willow and responds to her. "That might be a good idea, Willow. If Pandora's Box is what's powering that Titan, breaking it should defeat him." The trio nods in agreement, as they all rush towards the Titan. The Titan begins firing some lasers at the trio, as Willow conjures some Phantasms to distract him with. Both Ableton and Stratus begin attacking Pandora's Box, as it begins to crack. The Titan turns around and punches the ground, creating a large rupture that spews out lava. Ableton and Stratus stand back, as Willow continues distracting the Titan. The two then continue attacking Pandora's Box, as it further cracks. The Titan turns back around and unleashes a shockwave of cosmic energy, knocking everyone back. The trio gets back up, as Stratus faces Ableton and Willow. "We just need some more damage onto Pandora's Box. It's right close to breaking. I'll distract him this time, while you two shatter that box." Stratus begins using the Storm King's Fist to strike lightning around the area, diverting the Titan's attention toward him. Ableton fires a quick burst of bullets into Pandora's Box, as the cracks around the box begin glowing. The Titan is beginning to weaken, as Ableton faces Willow and speaks. "Go for it, Willow!" Willow unsheathes the knife from her scabbard and runs towards the weakened Titan. She then stabs the knife into Pandora's Box and forcefully thrusts the blade further in. The box eventually breaks, as the Titan begins to dissipate, spewing forth cosmic energy. The trio is then shot out of Pandora's Box and lands towards the Titan's decayed hand. Montague faces the three and yells. "No! You will not stop my plans to rebuild The Society! I must get more power! I must!" Montague then charges more energy into Zeus' Stormforged Hourglass, as Willow grabs Ableton's Striker AR and shoots the artifact. The Stormforged Hourglass shatters, as Zeus' energy flows right towards Mount Olympus. Montague faces everyone with worry, as he begins running towards Pandora's Box. "I can still win! You haven't stopped anything!" Montague tries to climb inside of Pandora's Box, until the statue at Mount Olympus begins to move. Zeus then strikes Pandora's Box with a lightning bolt, heavily damaging it in the process. The box is then launched from the force of the lightning bolt, as it skips around the waters of Helios Island. After skipping a great distance away from Helios Island, Pandora's Box then explodes, unleashing a sandstorm far from the island. Ableton, Willow, and Hope turn to face Montague, as he immediately makes a run for it. Hope gets on her motorbike, while Jones, Jekyll, and Rufus tightly squeeze into their Scorpion, as they all drive away. Ableton faces Willow, Stratus, and Deimos and speaks. "Welcome to the apocalypse. I hope you all like leather." A large boat is seen within the sandstorm, as its red lights glow through. Though Willow and I have averted an ancient evil from escaping Pandora's Box, it came at the cost of something even worse coming to Helios Island. Was this even part of Montague's Plan? How does this tie back to Pandora's Box and the Greek Gods. What exactly do these mysterious visitors want? Rule the chaos... Run the destruction...

submitted by AbletonRinzler to u/AbletonRinzler [link] [comments]

2024.05.20 16:16 Mediocre_Law_5557 Kengan OC Annihilation Tournament Fifth Match "What You See Is What You Hit"

As the announcer's voice booms through the arena, the crowd's anticipation reaches a fever pitch. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's main event! In the blue corner, hailing from Chicago, Illinois, standing at 6 feet tall and weighing in at 207 pounds, we have Daniel 'The Chimera' Bellamy!"
The spotlight shines on Daniel as he steps into the ring, his chestnut hair pushed back in a rugged yet stylish manner, his icy blue eyes scanning the arena with a quiet intensity. His powerful build commands respect, and there's a sense of determination radiating from him as he prepares for battle.
"And in the red corner, representing the Philippines, standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing in at 301 pounds, we have Carlo 'Boy' Jackie!"
The crowd erupts into cheers as Boy enters the ring, his formidable stature and steely gaze a testament to his grappling prowess. Despite his shorter stature, there's an aura of confidence surrounding him, a silent promise of a thrilling fight to come.
The bell rings, signaling the start of the match, and the two fighters waste no time in engaging each other. Daniel takes a defensive stance, his sharp eyes fixed on Boy as he prepares for the onslaught to come. Boy, on the other hand, moves with a calculated grace, his movements fluid and precise as he closes the distance between them.
With lightning speed, Boy launches a series of strikes and locks, aiming to overwhelm Daniel with his grappling expertise. But Daniel is no stranger to combat, his unorthodox defensive maneuvers keeping him one step ahead of Boy's relentless assault. With each blow deflected and countered, Daniel's confidence grows, his determination to emerge victorious unwavering.
As the fight wears on, the arena becomes a battleground of skill and strategy. Daniel's defensive approach clashes with Boy's offensive onslaught, each fighter pushing the other to their limits. The crowd watches in awe as the two warriors exchange blows, neither willing to back down in the face of adversity.
Despite Boy's relentless attacks, Daniel remains focused, his icy blue eyes locked on his opponent as he searches for an opening. With each passing moment, the tension in the arena mounts, the crowd holding its breath in anticipation of the inevitable climax.
And then, in a sudden burst of speed, Boy seizes the opportunity to launch his signature technique. With lightning-fast strikes and locks, he dislocates both of Daniel's shoulders, sending shockwaves of pain coursing through his body. The arena falls silent as Daniel struggles to maintain his composure, his strength waning with each passing moment.
But Daniel refuses to go down without a fight, summoning the last reserves of his strength as he attempts to break free from Boy's vice-like grip. With a primal roar, he launches a desperate counterattack, his fists a blur of motion as he unleashes a barrage of strikes.
But it's too little, too late. With a final, devastating blow, Boy delivers the knockout blow, sending Daniel crashing to the mat in a heap. The crowd erupts into cheers and applause as Boy stands victorious, his mastery of grappling techniques earning him the respect and admiration of all who witnessed the battle.
In that moment, as the announcer declares Boy the winner, the true spirit of martial arts shines through, a testament to the power of skill, determination, and the unbreakable bond forged in the heat of battle.

submitted by Mediocre_Law_5557 to Kengan_Ashura [link] [comments]

http://activeproperty.pl/