(This is a repost from blackberry. I made the original post)
So I just bought a blackberry leap. It was a "for parts" device, and needed an OS reinstall. I noticed some people got stuck on this so let me explain how I did it. This does currently work as of the day this is posted.
First, you need an autoloader. Download the corresponding one for your device here: BB10 Autoloaders
Turn off your device, plug it into your computer and run the autoloader. It'll do its job and you should be at the setup screen!
Now I remember some people talking about having to bypass some setup thing, it didn't happen to me, I just set it up normally.
You should be on the homescreen at this point.
The first thing I recommend doing is downloading a version of Firefox. I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING FIREFOX AS YOUR DEFAULT BROWSER, however it can be useful for loading modern webpages. The included browser is perfect for normal browsing, firefox should only be used if a website can't run properly. You can find a compatible version of firefox here: Firefox 68.11.0 (Note: you will need the armeabi-v7a version)
Next up is Google Play Store. While the Google Play Store doesn't serve a super useful purpose, there are still apps that work that can be downloaded from Google Play. This guide here got me all set up (I did this 5 days ago). You may need to use a OTP (One-time passcode, learn more here about how to set up that) to enroll your device in Google Account Manager, Google Settings, and Blackberry Google ID. I recommend you play that as you go and see if you need one or not.
That's it! Play store may not work immediately, I found that restarting the device or waiting a few hours can help.
Hopefully this was able to help someone out! I will be postin an update here with apps from the Play Store that still work on Blackberry 10 (It will probably be a separate reddit post, I will post an update about it here)

(This is a repost from blackberry. I made the original post)
So I just bought a blackberry leap. It was a "for parts" device, and needed an OS reinstall. I noticed some people got stuck on this so let me explain how I did it. This does currently work as of the day this is posted.
First, you need an autoloader. Download the corresponding one for your device here: BB10 Autoloaders
Turn off your device, plug it into your computer and run the autoloader. It'll do its job and you should be at the setup screen!
Now I remember some people talking about having to bypass some setup thing, it didn't happen to me, I just set it up normally.
You should be on the homescreen at this point.
The first thing I recommend doing is downloading a version of Firefox. I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING FIREFOX AS YOUR DEFAULT BROWSER, however it can be useful for loading modern webpages. The included browser is perfect for normal browsing, firefox should only be used if a website can't run properly. You can find a compatible version of firefox here: Firefox 68.11.0 (Note: you will need the armeabi-v7a version)
Next up is Google Play Store. While the Google Play Store doesn't serve a super useful purpose, there are still apps that work that can be downloaded from Google Play. This guide here got me all set up (I did this 5 days ago). You may need to use a OTP (One-time passcode, learn more here about how to set up that) to enroll your device in Google Account Manager, Google Settings, and Blackberry Google ID. I recommend you play that as you go and see if you need one or not.
That's it! Play store may not work immediately, I found that restarting the device or waiting a few hours can help.
Hopefully this was able to help someone out! I will be postin an update here with apps from the Play Store that still work on Blackberry 10 (It will probably be a separate reddit post, I will post an update about it here)

So I just bought a blackberry leap. It was a "for parts" device, and needed an OS reinstall. I noticed some people got stuck on this so let me explain how I did it. This does currently work as of the day this is posted.
First, you need an autoloader. Download the corresponding one for your device here: BB10 Autoloaders
Turn off your device, plug it into your computer and run the autoloader. It'll do its job and you should be at the setup screen!
Now I remember some people talking about having to bypass some setup thing, it didn't happen to me, I just set it up normally.
You should be on the homescreen at this point.
The first thing I recommend doing is downloading a version of Firefox. I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING FIREFOX AS YOUR DEFAULT BROWSER, however it can be useful for loading modern webpages. The included browser is perfect for normal browsing, firefox should only be used if a website can't run properly. You can find a compatible version of firefox here: Firefox 68.11.0 (Note: you will need the armeabi-v7a version)
Next up is Google Play Store. While the Google Play Store doesn't serve a super useful purpose, there are still apps that work that can be downloaded from Google Play. This guide here got me all set up (I did this 5 days ago). You may need to use a OTP (One-time passcode, learn more here about how to set up that) to enroll your device in Google Account Manager, Google Settings, and Blackberry Google ID. I recommend you play that as you go and see if you need one or not.
That's it! Play store may not work immediately, I found that restarting the device or waiting a few hours can help.
Hopefully this was able to help someone out! I will be postin an update here with apps from the Play Store that still work on Blackberry 10 (It will probably be a separate reddit post, I will post an update about it here)

At Code and Pixels (C&P), we believe that great training begins with great content.
C&P provides customized and current learning content that makes you stay competitive – right from knowledge transfer of company processes and systems to product information. Such technically heavy and complex content becomes a challenge for the trainer to deliver and difficult for end users to consume in conventional training formats. Hence,
We develop custom E-learning content which is:
Sound using instructional design principles and pedagogy
Compliant with international E-learning standards
A combination of multiple media – games, quizzes, tests, simulations, video, animation, audio and graphics
Compatible and runs on any standard Learning Management System (LMS)
Highly interactive and enables tracking and scoring of each learner's progress
Multilingual
We employ a multitude of technologies and tools like graphics, animations, audio-visuals, interactive games and activities that help in giving the right information in the right manner to the right audience.

Mobile Learning/HTML 5

We are living in a multi-device world. We now have options to deliver eLearning using a wide variety of devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets and smart phones. Whether it is for smart phones or tablets – using platforms like Android, BlackBerry or iOS– we develop any kind of solution which suits your mobile learning needs perfectly.

What Is HTML5?

HTML5 is the newest hyper text markup language for websites from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The first draft was made public in 2008, but not much happened until 2011. In 2011, HTML5 was released and people started writing about it and using it, but the support in different browsers was still poor. Today all major browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, IE) offer HTML5 support, therefore the newest HTML technology can be used at its best today.
Major browsers
IE9+, FF4+, Safari5+, Opera11+, Chrome10+, Blackberry Browser, Silk
Platforms
iOS, Android, ChromeOS, BlackberryOS, Symbian, Windows Mobile 7.5+
Libraries
Webkit (Google, Apple, etc.), Gecko (Mozilla), Trident (Microsoft), Presto (Opera)
A reality indeed. As HTML5’s impact continues to ripple, many companies are dealing with the necessity of abandoning Flash applications. HTML5 is more flexible, allows movement, doesn’t affect SEO and doesn’t need a plug-in.

The migration of Flash eLearning courses to HTML5

eLearning, Training, Media organizations andmarketing departments of all kinds of companies have huge volumes of Interactive Flash content that has traditionally been consumed on desktops. With the rapid proliferation of smart phones and tablets, enterprises are faced with the prospect of their existing content becoming obsolete, since popular mobile platforms don't support Interactive Flash.
While new content can be developed on a platform an industry standard format like HTML5, ground-up redevelopment of existing Interactive Flash content for mobile devices is not an option for most enterprises. What they need is a high-quality yet rapid solution for migrating their legacy of Interactive Flash content to HTML5.

Flash to HTML5 Migration

We shall take your existing Interactive Flash content and use the Flash to HTML Framework to re-purpose it to make it usable and HTML5 content that is suitable for a variety of devices including desktops, smart phones & tablets. Powered by HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript, our Flash to HTML5 framework enables us to accelerate speed-to-market for the new HTML5 content while preserving the richness of the original Flash content.
The new HTML5 content is able to fulfill the greater demands on usability posed by the varying screen sizes and resolutions of mobile devices. Recognizing that mobile devices don't always have the same processing horsepower of desktops, our migration/conversion process leverages our framework to ensure that the repurposed HTML5 can perform on the most popular mobile platforms. The framework adheres to content standards and supports various fundamental interactive behaviors like programmed workflows, directional information, enhanced content Menus, Multimedia Content Delivering, 2D Animations, Voice Synchronization, Interactivity, Status Bar, Volume Controllers, Slide Bar, Bookmark, Search, Standard navigation features i.e. Next, Previous, Menu amongst several others
With mobile devices being used and preferred for numerous multimedia applications, we shouldn’t forget something that Apple first pointed out. Flash does use too much processing and battery power; something that makes it disadvantageous. So migration to HTML becomes unavoidable.
In a continuously changing and fast paced environment, we can’t chain users to their desks and offices. So the creation of HTML5 eLearning applications, training material, presentations etc. or the conversion of Flash to HTML for mobile devices has become inevitable.

​

👉 What's the latest in the cyber world today?
********************************************************************
🚨 #CyberAlerts
********************************************************************
Apple Issues Emergency Updates for Zero-Day Exploits
Source: Apple
Urgent Warning: Public Release of Exploit Code for Critical VMware Vulnerability
Source: VMware
RomCom RAT Targets NATO Supporters in Spear-Phishing Campaign
Source: Blackberry
Sophisticated Windows Trojan Targets Latin American Businesses
Source: Zscaler
SCARLETEEL: Advanced Attack Targeting AWS Fargate
Source: CSO Online
Public Release of CVE-2023-31998 Exploit for Ubiquiti EdgeRouter Vulnerability
Source: SSD Secure Disclosure
********************************************************************
💥 #CyberIncidents
********************************************************************
Trinidad and Tobago Hit by Cyberattack
Source: Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs (AGLA)
Data Breach Exposes Personal Information of 11 Million Patients
Source: TheMessenger Business
Critical Infrastructure Provider Ventia Takes Systems Offline After Cyberattack
Source: Ventia
Cosmetics Giant Shiseido Faces Data Breach with Threats of Online Exploitation
Source: BBC
Dark Web Sale: Personal Data of 35M Indonesian Passport Holders Exposed
Source: Teguh Aprianto
********************************************************************
📢 #CyberNews
********************************************************************
EU-US Data Transfer Agreement Strengthens Privacy Protections and Transatlantic Digital Trade
Source: The European Commission
Mozilla Introduces Quarantined Domains
Source: Mozilla
Windows 11 21H2 Editions: End of Service Warning and Forced Updates
Source: Microsoft
TPG Acquires Forcepoint's Global Governments and Critical Infrastructure Business Unit in $2.5 Billion Deal
Source: Reuters
********************************************************************
Find the full stories at cybermaterial[dot]com ********************************************************************

Hi,
I'm new with feature phones other than blackberry. When first learning about Kaios, a week ago, I was relieved to see that something had been build that would let me keep a minimalistic phone use like Blackberry did. Then, I learnt that KaiOs is basically dead since it has take the path of Mozilla rather than google. And honnestly, as much as I respect Open Source and Mozilla.... I just want to ask Why The Actual F..k ? Just WHY ? Mozilla had its attempt at building a mobile os and it failed. For sad but obvious reasons. Kaios was aparently on its way of becoming a successful OS with strong support. This plot twist completely baffles me. Is there any rationnal explanation to it ?

Hey so I thought I'd share a few tips that I've learnt for my most played civs, feel free to share any of your own tips.
Inca:
The Incan explorer is iirc the only explorer with the heavy infantry tag, unlike aztec which is just infantry. This makes him particularly strong against cavalry including his javelin attack. The age 4 card for him makes him stronger in attack than the aztec war chief. The age 3 infantry training card also effects the war chief dance so he'll respawn almost instantly as is often done with the aztec chief, combined with the age 4 card and a maxed plaza this is even more effective than the aztec version though much harder to achieve needing 15 llamas.
If you build the community plaza, the moon ceremony which generates wood starts at a base rate of 1.05 so you can get a trickle equivalent to 2 villagers on wood just with the llama dancing alone.
Inca can get more villager equivalent units dancing on the plaza than aztec if you send the llama age 1 upgrade card. 10 priestesses equal 15 villagers and 15 llamas after the card equal 7.5 villagers for a total of 22.5 vills worth on the plaza. For comparison 10 warrior priests equal 20 villagers and with the age 1 upgrade card they equal 22 villagers worth.
If you get the age 3 tech at the stronghold which costs 300 wood and 300 coin iirc then the fort will be able to hit falconets. So you can send the stronghold, immediately research the tech and when garrisoned it will easily kill a 2 falc shipment.
Since macemen got pop reduced and kallanka age 2 card got cost reduced you can fast age and do a macemen rush, it's completely unexpected and they have incredibly high siege. You can also combine this with american allies card and mapuche to get 50% more siege on them. Use cards like 4 fattened llamas and 700 coin to help production. This is especially fun vs things like italy tower spam. Macemen can also go into cover mode.
Malta:
Depots also effect artillery fire rate including fixed guns, so if you place a fixed gun with a depot behind it and a couple of culverins not only will you have culvs that can survive more a second shot(after 8 HC cards are sent) but they'll also get their second shot off faster.
Fixed guns can have fire rate buffed by depots, get 10% more HP from the AA tech, 25% more HP from extensive fortifications and 25% more HP from team building hp card. You can maximize the HP they receive which is 45 more per card by doing a tp start and sending 2 church card and chopping for a 3rd church. By the time you have all 3 churches you should be very close to the 3rd shipment for german tongue anyway so it's only a tiny delay to getting that card, basically the time required to chop the extra 150 wood and you'll receive all subsequent shipments faster.
Placing a depot between you're starting tc, tower from age up bonus and commandery from german tongue will allow it to buff all 3 buildings fire rate, it will also prevent your buildings from being sieged in age 2 because you can detonate the depot which will deal some damage to your own buildings but also leave most of the enemy units at half hp or less.
The maltese explorer can be buffed by a politician when you go up to imperial, this gives him the best area attack in the game and when combined with the capitol explorer upgrades you can walk into 5 bombards and 1 shot them.
Hospitallers are underused. The age 4 card makes them probably the tankiest equivalent of it's unit type. They also absorb damage from nearby allied units, keeping 5 of them in stand ground mode behind your main units basically increases all damage resist by 25% until the hospitallers reach 1 HP then you can take them to hospitals to quickly regen HP. The church tech that gives them cool helmets and boosts 25% HP at the cost of a speed penalty is actually useful for this purpose as you'll extend the effectiveness of hospitallers at absorbing damage.
Fire throwers count as gunpowder units so they also get fire rate buffed from depots and benefit from Counter Infantry Rifling, Flint lock, paper cartridge, military drummers and incendiary grenades. They're also 1 of if not the only unit which completely counters a skirm/goon combo by itself being effective against light infantry and light cavalry and vs heavy infantry after researching CIR. The age 4 rockets card also allows them to kite skirmishers and counters all infantry. Flamethrower card can also make them effective in melee vs units like doppelsoldners or when being rushed by caroleans for example as in melee they are extremely fragile.
Sweden:
The age 4 card which spawns trees on torps is basically an additional factory on wood albeit for limited time. In age 4 you can sit in base with torps and replenish them indefinitely with the age 4 mine card and blackberries, combined with the card that spawns trees this is like 3 factories 1 on food, 1 on wood and 1 on gold and for food and gold they can be replenished indefinetely although somewhat limited due to the mine card sending 4 mines and then 2 mines thereafter, though blackberries is unlimited.
Spain:
If you like going soldados then send the grenade launchers card in age 3 and it will give you access to the incendiary grenades tech which gives soldados a 0.50 AOE on their regular ranged attack.

Market.biz analysis of the Smartphones market is based on projections for the years 2023 to 2030. In order to analyze the regions and segments, bottom-up and top-down methodologies are used to examine the industry at both the microscopic and macroscopic levels. In order to address these regions and the worldwide Smartphones market, it is important to consider the inflation rate, per capita income, GDP, industrial performance, and other aspects. Furthermore, To learn important details about the outbound and inward logistics of the global Smartphones industry, value chain research is presented.
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This Report also includes a thorough review of the segments, a summary of each segment's global Smartphones industry shares, each segment's pace of growth, and the viability of each sector in terms of revenue.
Main Players In The Market Are:
Apple Blackberry Fujitsu Google HTC Huawei Technologies Lenovo Motorola Mobility LG Electronics Microsoft Mozilla Samsung Electronics Sony Mobile Communications Xiaomi
Smartphones Market Report Segments:
We have used primary and secondary research approaches to conduct a 360-degree analysis of the Smartphones market. As a result, we were better able to comprehend current company dynamics, the supply-demand gap, pricing trends, product preferences, customer behaviors, and other factors. Primary research was performed to confirm the results with experts in the field and global opinion leaders. Through a variety of market estimation and data validation procedures, the data is further compiled and validated. Furthermore, we have a model for self-generated data that predicts the growth of the Smartphones business through the year 2030.
By Type:
Android System IOS System Windows System
By Applications:-
Students Business People
The Smartphones market is divided into five regions North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Canada and the United States are just two of the nations that make up North America. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, and the rest of Europe make up the second division of Europe. The Asia Pacific subregion is made up of China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, South East Asia, and the rest of Asia. The GCC, Turkey, South Africa, and the Rest of the MEA are further sections of the MEA region. Brazil, Mexico, and the rest of Latin America make up the subregion.
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Covering market forces, constraints, and possibilities in the research
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Facebook's sharing of user data with other companies continues to come to light. Facebook has acknowledged that it has shared user data with 52 hardware and software companies, including many previously undisclosed. In addition, a recent Facebook breach affected more than 800,000 users.
In a more than 700-page response sent to the U.S. Congress, Facebook disclosed information that U.S. tech giants including Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon are the company’s data integration partners. The New York Times reported last month that Facebook has been sharing user data with hardware makers in the past, but the latest list also includes companies such as AT&T, the second-largest U.S. wireless carrier, and mobile chip maker Qualcomm.
Facebook said its partnership with the aforementioned companies is very different from the data-sharing relationship it established with third-party app development platforms in the Cambridge Analytica user data breach scandal that came to light earlier this year. Facebook said it worked closely with Microsoft, Apple, BlackBerry and others, especially in the years leading up to the release of its two mobile operating systems, iOS and Android, to ensure the Facebook platform would work effectively on mobile devices. On the other hand, our developer platform is designed to enable developers to use the information provided by Facebook users to build their own unique experiences based on the terms and policies they provide to users.
Facebook also said that of the 52 data integration partnerships the company established, 38 have ended, with seven more ending at the end of the month and several more ending in October. . The company's partnerships with Amazon and Apple will be extended beyond October. In addition, the company will continue to share data with the likes of Mozilla and Opera in order to allow users to receive Facebook push messages in their browsers.
In addition, Facebook just issued a warning to about 800,000 users in an official Weibo on the 3rd that a new vulnerability has temporarily disabled the previous blocking function of some users, and the blocked target can see the content that the user does not want to be seen by the other party.
The vulnerability affects not only the Facebook platform, but also the company's messaging app Messenger.
The vulnerability, which appeared between May 29 and June 5, has since been fixed, and affected users have been warned by the company. Of the more than 800,000 affected users, 83% had only one blocked user failed, while the remaining 17% had more than one blocked user.
Analysts believe that this loophole will expose many people to harassment by criminals. Because many users used the blocking function to prevent attackers from viewing their online activity status and information, the vulnerability directly led to the target in the user blocking list being able to see the content they shared. Affected users are likely to face harassment or information leakage.
The incident is another misstep in a string of data breach scandals at Facebook. Facebook has previously been controversial for its role in Russia's meddling in US elections, and was subsequently hit by the FBI, SEC, and FTC because Cambridge Analytica used the company's platform to steal the personal data of tens of millions of users. and the U.S. Department of Justice investigation. Facebook said it was working with officials in the U.S., U.K. and other countries, provided public testimony, answered questions and pledged to continue to assist.

Console exclusives (games that are also on PC and/or mobile, but not on other consoles) in Italics. Nintendo exclusives (games that are only on Nintendo platforms) in bold.
For those looking at this list and not sure what's likely to be noteworthy, I have compiled a page for noteworthy releases in February. Please give them a look if you want to see what games are likely to be some of the month's highlights!
As for the full list of upcoming games, here you go:

Games	Release date	Date confirmed by?
Heroes of Loot 2	2/7/22	Nintendo.com
Unstrong Legacy	2/7/22	Nintendo.com
Ziggurat 2	2/7/22	Developer Post on Reddit
Death End Re;Quest 2	2/8/22	Nintendo.com
OlliOlli World	2/8/22	Nintendo.com
Zorya: The Celestial Sisters	2/8/22	Nintendo.com
Action Arcade Wrestling	2/9/22	Nintendo.com
Backbone	2/9/22	Official Trailer
El Gancho	2/9/22	Nintendo.com
Letters - A Written Adventure	2/9/22	Nintendo.com
About an Elf	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Blipz	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Breakout: Recharged	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Castle Morihisa	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Cellular Harvest	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Death Park	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Derpy Conga	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Dino Galaxy Tennis	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Egglia Rebirth	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Grapple Dog	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Inua - A Story in Ice and Time	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMix Cloud Version	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Cloud Version	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC) Cloud Version	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece (for Cloud)	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Kittens and Yarn	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
KungFu Kickball	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Nape Retroverse Collection	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Noel the Mortal Fate	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Ocean's Heart	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Pajama Sam 2: Thunder and Lightning Aren't So Frightening	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo	2/10/22	[Nintendo.com]https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/putt-putt-saves-the-zoo-switch/)
Perpetuum Mobile	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
PowerSlave Exhumed	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Retro Bowl	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Rise of the Third Power	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Spy Fox in "Dry Cereal"	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Sword of Elpisia	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Welcome to Elk	2/10/22	Nintendo.com
Blackberry Honey	2/11/22	Nintendo.com
Pendula Swing - The Complete Journey	2/11/22	Nintendo.com
Pinball Frenzy	2/11/22	Nintendo.com
Skautfold: Shrouded in Sanity	2/11/22	Nintendo.com
Word Chef	2/11/22	Nintendo.com
Infernax	2/14/22	Nintendo.com
Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp XXL	2/14/22	Nintendo.com
Smash Star	2/14/22	Nintendo.com
Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires	2/15/22	Nintendo.com
Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection	2/17/22	Official Trailer
From Heaven to Earth	2/17/22	Nintendo.com
Mr Maker 3D Level Editor	2/17/22	Nintendo.com
Trash Sailors	2/17/22	Nintendo.com
Upaon: A Snake's Journey	2/17/22	Nintendo.com
Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden	2/17/22	Nintendo.com
Gravity Runner	2/18/22	Nintendo.com
Monark	2/22/22	Nintrendo.com
15in1 Solitaire	2/24/22	Nintendo.com
Amazing Machines	2/24/22	Nintendo.com
Antarctica 88	2/24/22	Nintendo.com
Autobahn Polizei Simulator 2 - Nintendo Switch Edition	2/24/22	Nintendo.com
Kraken Academy!!	2/24/22	Nintendo.com
Variable Barricade	2/24/22	Nintendo.com
Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream	2/25/22	Nintendo.com
Plunderer's Adventures	2/25/22	Nintendo.com
Who Is Zombie	February 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
FAR: Changing Tides	3/1/22	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Little Orpheus	3/1/22	Nintendo.com
The Cruel King and the Great Hero	3/1/22	Nintendo.com
CATch the Stars	3/3/22	Nintendo.com
Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space	3/3/22	Nintendo.com
Ryan's Rescue Squad	3/4/22	Nintendo.com
Triangle Strategy	3/4/22	Nintendo.com
What Lies in the Multiverse	3/4/22	Nintendo.com
.hack//G.U. Last Recode	3/10/22	Official Trailer
Aztech Forgotten Gods	3/10/22	Nintendo.com
Chocobo GP	3/10/22	Official Trailer
Slide Stories: Neko's Journey	3/10/22	Nintendo.com
Time Loader	3/10/22	Nintendo.com
Phantom Breaker: Omnia	3/15/22	Official Trailer
Gal * Gun Double Peace	3/17/22	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax	3/17/22	Official Trailer
Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus?	3/18/22	Nintendo.com
Grand Mountain Adventure: Wonderlands	3/22/22	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Rune Factory 5	3/22/22	Official Twitter Post
A Memoir Blue	3/24/22	Official Trailer
Odd Ballers	3/24/22	Official Website
Kirby and the Forgotten Land	3/25/22	Nintendo.com
Crystar	3/29/22	Official Trailer
WRC 10	3/29/22	Official Twitter Post
Coromon	3/31/22	Official Trailer
Ashwalkers	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Cat Cafe Manager	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Chasing Static	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Coromon	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Hamster Maze	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Happy's Humble Burger Farm	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Kitsune Tails	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Mini Motorways	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
NeuroNet: Mendax Proxy	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Pronty: Fishy Adventure	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Raji: An Ancient Epic Enhanced Edition	Q1 2022	Official Trailer (via IGN)/Official Twitter Post
Shattered: Tale of the Forgotten King	Q1 2022	Official Website
Spaceflight Simulator	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (Via Games Press)
Trifox	Q1 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Neon White	Winter (Early) 2022	Official Twitter Post
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga	4/5/22	Nintendo.com
MLB The Show 22	4/5/22	Nintendo.com
The Last Friend	4/7/22	Nintendo.com
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim	4/12/22	Official Trailer
Neptunia X Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars	4/19/22	Official Twitter Post
Exophobia	April 2022	Official Twitter Post/Official Twitter Post
The Gallery	April 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol. 2: Makai Kingdom and ZHP: Unlosing Ranger VS Darkdeath Evilman	5/10/22	Official Trailer
Evil Dead: The Game	5/13/22	Official Website/Official Twitter Post
Figment 2: Creed Valley	5/15/22	Nintendo.com
Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong	5/19/22	Official Trailer/Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Touken Ranbu Warriors	5/24/22	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Yurukill: The Culmination Games	6/7/22	Official Trailer
AI The Somnium Files: Nirvana Initiative	6/24/22	Official Trailer
Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp	Spring 2022	Official Twitter Post
Aliisha: The Oblivion of the Twin Goddesses	Spring 2022	Nintendo.com
Arcade Paradise	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery	Spring 2022	Nintendo.com
Chinatown Detective Agency	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Cotton Fantasy	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Deadly Dozen Reloaded	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Don't Starve Together	Spring 2022	Nintendo.com
Dwerve	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Endling: Extinction is Forever	Spring 2022	Nintendo.com
Frank and Drake	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Labyrinth Legend	Spring 2022	Official Trailer
Life in Willowdale: Farm Adventures	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid Burst Forth!! Choro-gon☆Breath	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Moo Lander	Spring 2022	Official Trailer
Neptunia X Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars	Spring 2022	Official Twitter Post
Omori	Spring 2022	Nintendo.com
Parkasaurus	Spring 2022	Nintendo.com
Pocky & Rocky Reshrined	Spring 2022	Official Trailer/Official Japanese Twitter Post
Samurai Bringer	Spring 2022	Official Trailer (via IGN)
Seven Pirates H	Spring 2022	Official Twitter Post
Souldiers	Spring 2022	Official Trailer (via IGN)
The Cabbage Effect	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
The Winter Ember	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Underworld Dreams: The False King	Spring 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Circuit Superstars	Q2 2022	Official Press Release (Via Games Press)
Sociable Soccer	Q2 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Beacon Pines	First Half of 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Narco Tycoon	First Half of 2022	Official Press Release (via Gamasutra)
Firegirl: Hack 'N Splash Rescue	Early 2022	Official Twitter Post
Fishing Paradiso	Early 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Glitched	Early 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Grotto	Early 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Janitor Bleeds	Early 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles	Early 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals	Early 2022	Nintendo.com/Official Twitter Post
Pac-Man Museum +	Early 2022	Official Trailer
River City Girls Zero (Timed Exclusive)	Early 2022	Official Website/Official Twitter Post
Rogue Lords	Early 2022	Official Twitter Page
Squish	Early 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Strings Theory	Early 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Terror of Hemasaurus	Early 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Tormented Souls	Early 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Dredge	"The First Part of 2022"	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Dying Light 2 Stay Human - Cloud Version	"Within six months" of 2/4/22	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown	9/22/22	Official Trailer
Dross (Timed Console Exclusive)	Q3 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Flowstone Saga	Q3 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
No Place for Bravery	Q3 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Oddventure	Q3 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Digimon Survive	Q3 2022 or Later	Official Twitter Post/Official Financial Report (via Gematsu.com)
Severed Steel	Q3 2022	Official Press Release (Via Games Press)
Afterlove EP	Summer 2022	Nintendo.com
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3	Summer 2022	Official Twitter Post
Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei	Summer 2022	Official Twitter Post
Gravity Oddity	Summer 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Grime	Summer 2022	Nintendo.com
Kao the Kangaroo	Summer 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Loco Motive	Summer 2022	Nintendo.com
Midnight Fight Express	Summer 2022	Official Twitter Post
Piofiore: Episodio 1926	Summer 2022	Official Trailer
River City Girls 2	Summer 2022	Nintendo.com
Sail Forth	Summer 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Tinykin	Summer 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero	Fall 2022	Official Trailer
Sea of Stars	Holiday 2022	Nintendo.com
Sonic Frontiers	Holiday 2022	Official Trailer
Bittersweet Birthday	Q4 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Elements	Q4 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Marvel's Midnight Suns	Second Half of 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)/Official Twitter Post
Heading Out	Late 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Valfaris: Mecha Therion	Late 2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Castle Flipper	"Later This (2021) or Next (2022) Year"	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
The Legend of Bum-bo	Late 2021 or 2022	Official Twitter Post
7 Horizons	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)/Official Website
A Plague Tale: Requiem (Cloud Version)	2022	Official Twitter Post
Alexio	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Alfred Hitchcock - Vertigo	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Ankora: Lost Days	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Batora: Lost Haven	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Bayonetta 3	2022	Official Trailer
Beacon Pines	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Bear and Breakfast (Timed console exclusive)	2022	Nintendo.com
Below the Stone	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Berserk Boy	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Blast Brigade	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Blazing Strike	2022	Official Trailer
Blood Bowl 3	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)/Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince	2022	Official Trailer
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (Timed Console Exclusive)	2022	Nintendo.com
Brewmaster	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Brok the InvestiGator	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Broken Blades	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Broken Roads	2022	Official Website
Card Shark	2022	Official Trailer
Chronicles of 2 Heroes	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Chuchel	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Circus Electrique	2022	Official Trailer
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Conv/rgence: A League of Legends Story	2022	Nintendo.com
Cosmic	2022	Official Trailer
Cultic	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Cursed to Golf	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Dark Fracture	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Demon Throttle	2022	Official Trailer
Die By the Blade	2022	Official Trailer
Dordogne	2022	Official Trailer/Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Dragon Ball: The Breakers	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
End of Lines	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Even.If Tempest	2022	Official Website
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout	2022	Nintendo.com
Fallen City Brawl	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Funfit	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Gerda: A Flame in Winter	2022	Nintendo.com
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon	2022	Nintendo.com
Handler of Dragons	2022	Official Press Release (via Games Press)
Hatch Tales (Formerly Chicken Wiggle Workshop)	2022	Official Website
Life is Strange Remastered Collection	2022	Official Twitter Post
Lila's Sky Ark	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Lone Warrior	2022	Official Twitter Post
Lumbearjack	2022	Nintendo.com
Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling Into Darkness	2022	Official Twitter Post
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope	2022	Nintendo.com
Metal Max Xeno Reborn	2022	Official Trailer
Metal Slug Tactics	2022	Nintendo.com
Mineko's Night Market	2022	Nintendo.com
Mini Motorways	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Mothmen 1966	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
New Terra	2022	Official Trailer
Onde	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
OneShot	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Overpass: Rhythm Roadtrip	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Pendula Swing	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Please, Touch the Artwork	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Pompom the Hamster	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Read Only Memories: Neurodiver	2022	Official Trailer
Redout 2	2022	Official Trailer
Rise of the Triad Remastered	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Robotry	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
RWBY: Arrowfell	2022	Official Trailer
Scrap Riders	2022	Official Twitter Post
Shadowrun Returns	2022	Nintendo.com
Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut	2022	Nintendo.com
Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition	2022	Nintendo.com
Shadowrun Trilogy	2022	Nintendo.com
Shovel Knight Dig	2022	Official Website
Sir, You Are Being Hunted	2022	Developer Post on Steam
Snacko	2022	Official Trailer
Sol Cresta	2022	Official Website
Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story	2022	Nintendo.com
Spaceflight Simulator	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Splatoon 3	2022	Nintendo.com
Squadron 51	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Star Wars: Hunters	2022	Official Trailer
Succubus	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)
Sunshine Manor	2022	Official Press Release (via Games press)

(Note: Continued in comments)
I miss anything? Mis-marked exclusivity? Have an official source with updated info? Let me know!

A Basitin Love Story: Part 5
As the first stirrings of morning began within the city of Basikal, a heavy fog settled over the port city. The torches shone eerily in the grey gloom as the fishermen started making their way towards the docks, the knocking of the wood floaters on their nets filling the air as they walked. Columns of city guards arrived to relieve the night shift, much to the relief of the guards who had been standing watch all night in the cold and damp.
As the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, it was little more than a pale sphere. But as the sun climbed higher and warm golden light bathed the land, the fog began to disperse, tendrils descending into the valleys and the streets, before disappearing entirely. Bit by bit the city returned to life after a long, dark night.
Dr. Kallen Hail’s cheek twitched as a shaft of light from the window fell across her face. Despite her blindfold, the light of the sun was enough to wake her.
With a loud yawn, the doctor stretched and tested her muscles. She had slept on one of the benches in the staff room, and as a result her shoulders hurt a little. As she climbed to her feet she felt a gentle shifting in her lower belly.
“Shhhh now,” she whispered, patting her stomach, trying to quite the movements of the little life growing inside her, “Go back to sleep.”
“Ah good, you’re awake.”
Kallen turned towards the voice, “Doctor Silver, good morning.”
“There’s no patients in here, you can take your blindfold off.
With a relieved sigh, Kallen reached up and pulled off her blindfold. The sudden brightness made her blink for a few moments, but her eyes adapted quickly. Her colleague, Doctor Sara Silver, stood in front of her with a steaming cup of ginger and blackberry leaf tea.
“Thank you Doctor Silver.” Kallen said, taking the cup and sniffing it, the sharp scent of ginger filling her nostrils and sending a pulse of energy through her whole body.
“How are you feeling?”
Kallen sighed, “The headaches and the back pain I could deal with, but this itching is driving me crazy. I mean, why? Why am I itchy? It makes no sense.”
Sara nodded knowingly as she sat down at a small table in the center of the room, “For me it was my feet. When I was pregnant with Lyle I couldn’t stay on my feet for more than ten minutes.”
With a frustrated grumble Kallen sat down across from Sara and took a sip of her tea, “What I wouldn’t give to be a Keidran sometimes. Five or six months of this I could live with, hell I’d take nine months like humans have, but twelve months just seems unnecessary. And then there’s the in-laws…”
Sara rolled her eyes, “Kent’s family was paralytic when Sophie was born. ‘Three girls! When will you have a boy! You have to have a boy!’ It was a nightmare.”
“Mmm, for me it’s names. I am so sick of getting suggestions for names. ‘Adrian, Calles, Tolle, Keonig, Edmund. Oh oh, do you know what name is in fashion this year? Camden, Chloe, Lex’.”
“Keonig sounds nice,” Sara said, smirking a little as she took a sip of her tea.
Kara sighed and put her hand on her stomach again, “But you know… I really can’t wait to meet the little one.”
Sara tilted her head with a smile, “This is your first?”
“Yes. I’m very excited, but… with Johan gone…” Kallen looked down at her tea, her hands shaking.
Sara reached across the table and took Kallen hand, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-”
“No, no I’m sorry. Getting all weepy isn’t going to bring him back.” Kallen took another sip of her tea to calm her nerves. After a moment she looked up, eager to change the subject. “And how is Kent healing?”
“If he would sit still for six minutes he probably would heal just fine, but that would seem to be an impossible task. His lieutenant had to drag him here again yesterday after he tore out his stitches. And you want to know what he was doing? Sparring. The man has stitches in his arm, and he was swinging a sword around.” Sara waved her arms in a wild pantomime of sword fighting. After a few moments she lowered her arms and sighed, holding her head in her hands, “Makes you wonder why we bother sometimes.”
Kallen shrugged, “I’m just happy if they actually come in for help. This ‘I’m not hurt, I can take it’ is insanity.”
“Yes…” Sara sighed, “Yes it is…”
For a long moment the two women sat across from one another, sipping on their tea.
“Kallen, I’d like to ask you something,” Sara said at last, setting her cup down on the table and leaning close.
Kallen blinked in surprise at Sara’s suddenly serious tone and nodded, “Of course, what is it?”
“I was wondering, why did you decide that you were going to treat that Western girl? You were quite insistent that you be the one to take her.”
“You were worried I would take revenge for Johan?” Kallen asked, her ears flattening and her tail twitching in agitation.
Immediately Sara reached across the table and grabbed one of Kallen’s hands, “No honey, no no. It just seemed strange that you were so determined.”
Kallen sighed and looked down at the table, “I… I lost Johan because of this stupid, stupid war. The kings make their speeches, the politicians grandstand and the generals play their little war games, but it is people like my Johan who pay the price.”
Suddenly Kallen’s eyes widened and she looked up sharply, “Oh Sara, I’m sorry, I forgot! I didn’t mean that about Kent!”
“Don’t worry about it,” Sara replied, squeezing Kallen’s hand gently. “Kent… has his doubts about the war as well. I think he’d be pleased to hear someone else say what he’s been saying for years.”
“R-really?”
Sara nodded and Kallen let out a sigh of relief, “Either way… that girl got into a fight because she looks Western. They can call it a duel all they like, but I don’t think that hitting someone on the back of the head with the butt of a sword is an honourable way to start a ‘duel of honour’.”
“So the other girl did pick the fight.”
“Without a doubt.”
“Hmmm… I hear she’s recovering at the Chariot residence. Last I heard she’s down an eye and half an ear, but she’ll live.”
Kallen gripped her teacup tightly, “It just seems wrong… that that girl, and now her husband, has to suffer for a war that is so far away, just because of how she looks.”
A warm smile crossed Sara’s face, “Oh sweety….”
“It felt like… a way to fight against the war. It… it’s silly…”
Sara smiled and shook her head, “No, it isn’t. It’s very noble.”
As Kallen and Sara smiled at one another, another doctor appeared at the doorway, “Doctor Hail, you said you wanted to be informed when the poppy nectar would be wearing off for Mrs. Kolvest. By our estimates it should be within the hour.”
“Thank you, I’ll see to it.” Kallen stood and replaced her blindfold over her eyes.
As Kallen walked past, Sara extended an arm and took her hand, “Kallen… Doctor Hail, I’m proud of you.”
Kallen smiled and squeezed Sara’s hand, “Thank you, Doctor Silver.”

“There’s been an accident.”
The words sent an icy bolt through Marien’s heart. “W-what kind of accident?” Marien asked, swallowing to clear the instant dryness in her throat. She stood on the wall of the fortress, spear in hand, keeping watch over the south side of the wall.
“Corporal Kolvest was swimming in the sea with several other recruits.” The instructor standing before her replied, “He dove and must have hit his head on something underwater. He is in the infirmary, and last I heard he is alive. Apparently when he woke, your name was the first thing he said, so there are a few questions-”
Before the instructor could say another word, Marien turned and tore off, ignoring the instructor's calls for her to return.
Like a madman Marien tore through the halls of the fortress, leaping nimbly around other recruits and soldiers as she sprinted towards the infirmary. Her heart pounded, her lungs burned, but she didn’t slow down. It was all a blur, a flurry of sounds of images, the halls of the fortress, the calls for her to stop, the annoyed yells of those she pushed past, the door to the infirmary, the startled nurse. And then, suddenly, as if awakening from a dream, she found herself standing at Sieg’s bedside.
Seig’s eyes were closed, dark circles around them and his fur still smelled of sea water. Even through his fur it was obvious that his skin was extremely pale, and his breathing was ragged and shallow. But as Marien stepped forwards, Sieg’s eyes slowly slid open and he turned towards her.
“Marien…” He croaked, his voice hoarse and his expression one of utter exhaustion.
“They said… they said you were hurt…” Marien gasped, trying to catch her breath.
Sieg managed a half hearted grin, “So did… you… come to…. finish me...off?”
“What?” As Marien raised her eyebrows she noticed for the first time that she was still carrying her spear.
Dropping the weapon to the floor, Marien stepped closer to Sieg’s bed. She tried to think of something to say, but everytime she thought of something her brain seemed to go blank.
“Are you alright?” She said finally, kneeling down so she could meet Sieg’s gaze, “They said you almost drowned.”
Instead of answering, Sieg managed a smile again and whispered, “Close...your... eyes.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s... important.”
Marien paused for a moment, before eventually closing her eyes.
“Hold out… your hand…”
Hesitantly, Marien held out her hand. After a moment she felt Sieg press something hard and cold against her palm.
Opening her eyes, Marien blinked in surprise. In her hand was nestled an oyster.
“This… this is what you were diving for?”
“Ororo Oysters… rare… found a bed… in Keiser’s bay...”
“You mean you did this for me?”
“I… lost the first one.” Sieg coughed a few times, “Your pendant… when I got it… from Elliot… I dropped it. Pearl fell out… couldn’t find it.” With effort Sieg managed another smile, “That’s why… I couldn’t look at you that day… in the Major’s office.”
Before Marien could speak, Major Dauntless, the infirmary nurse, a middle aged female with pale fur, a much darker furred male in a colonel’s uniform, and a pair of guards appeared in the doorway.
As soon as she appeared at the door, the middle aged female rushed forward, pushing past Marien, “Sieg!”
“M-mother…”
As she reached her son’s side, Kara knelt down on one knee and grabbed his hand, “Sieg! Oh Sieg, we were so worried!”
Clambering to her feet, Marien snapped into a salute, “Major!”
With a sigh, Dauntless squeezed her nose and shook her head slowly, “I received a report of an armed recruit tearing through the fortress like a feral Keidran. Of course it would be you, Corporal Gail.”
The Colonel raised an eyebrow, “Gail? As in Marien Gail?”
“Yes sir!”
“So, you’re the female that Sieg won’t stop talking about.”
Marien blinked in surprise, “I… uh…”
The Colonel’s eyes narrowed, “I suppose my son simply forgot to mention that you were a Westerner.”
Immediately Marien’s ears flattened against her head and her tail twitched, “With respect, Colonel-”
“Colonel Conrad Kolvest, commander of the Second Legion’s Scarlet Brigade. And I would like to know just what you think you are doing here.”
“I had to check on Sie- on Corporal Kolvest.” Marien said at last, “I was…”
As Marien spoke, the nurse raised her hand a little, “Excuse me.”
“Major Dauntless, I think we can both agree that this is highly inappropriate.” Conrad interrupted, “I would like to have this intruder removed immediately.”
Instead of answering, Major Dauntless turned to Marien. For a few moments the two met each other’s eyes, a flurry of silent words passing between them.
“Corporal Gail has always expressed a great deal of concern for her classmates.” Major Dauntless said at last, “It’s one of her finer qualities.”
“Major, Colonel, I really think...
“Nevertheless I demand that she be removed, now!”
To everyone else in the room, it would appear that Major Dauntless didn’t react at all to Conrad’s sharp tone. But to Marien, who had been on the receiving end of many of the Major’s lectures, the subtle motions of the Major’s tail, the almost invisible twitch at the corner of her mouth, the slight change in her posture, all of it told Marien that the Major was well and truly annoyed.
After a moment, Major Dauntless spoke, “Colonel, I think that, considering your son’s weakened state, it would be wise to place a guard at his side. Corporal Gail shall fill that role well.”
“Ridiculous!” Conrad growled, “I am ordering you-”
“Your orders mean nothing here.” Major Dauntless replied, her voice like a river with a dangerous current running beneath the placid surface, “I command this fortress and its occupants. If you wish to stay by your son’s side as well I will allow it, but Corporal Gail will complete her assigned task.”
“I want… her to stay.” Sieg croaked as his mother continued to fuss over him.
“HEY!”
Everyone in the room jumped a little as the nurse yelled at the top of her lungs.
With a huff, the nurse spoke again, “That’s better. Major, Colonel, with all due respect, this boy needs rest. If the Major wants Corporal Gail to stand guard, that is… well I’m not exactly pleased with it, but it is acceptable. As for the rest of you however, and with all due respect, I implore you... GET OUT!”
With an amused smile, Major Dauntless nodded respectfully, “Understood.” She gestured to the door, “If you will sir, you and your wife are more than welcome to stay in VIP quarters here in the fortress.”
“I shall be filing a report on this.” Conrad snarled, “We shall see what the administration authority has to say about your lack of decorum and insubordination. ”
“That is, of course, your right sir.” Major Dauntless replied, clearly underwhelmed by Conrad’s threat.
“Come Kara, we should let him rest.” Conrads cape billowed out behind him as he whirled around and strode out of the room. As he passed Marien he stopped, his eyes shifting to glare at her.
“I know all about your kind.” He snarled, “But know this, if you put a single hand on my son, I will have your pelt for a rug and the rest of you thrown into the sea for bait.”
“As you say, Colonel.” Marien replied, snapping into a salute and glaring back at Conrad.
With a snort of disgust, Conrad stormed past Marien. As he reached the doorway he stopped and looked over his shoulder, “My son.”
“Yes… father.”
“You are an important part of the family legacy, remember that. No son of mine will be defeated by something as inconsequential as a swimming accident, you understand?”
“Y...yes sir.”
“I’ll see you soon,” Kara said, stroking the side of Sieg’s face, “Sleep and get well, we’ll talk tomorrow.”
As the nurse and Kara left the room, Marien turned to Major Dauntless, “Ma’am… about what the Colonel said.”
“I’m not concerned. I’ve dealt with his kind before.” Major Dauntless waved a hand dismissively, “I once had a nephew of General Alabaster training here. If he and his uncle couldn’t push me around, the Colonel doesn’t stand a Templar’s chance in the Wolf Lands.”
“Understood, thank you Major.”
“Just promise me something,” Major Dauntless said as she turned to leave.
“Yes ma’am?”
Major Dauntless leaned in close and whispered, “Watching boys swimming is one thing, but don’t do anything foolish while you are on duty, understood.”
Immediately Marien’s face turned bright red, “H-how do you know about that?”
“I made it my business to keep an eye on you and keep you safe.” A small smile crossed Major Dauntless’s face, “That, and I was a young woman once too.”
Pulling back and straightening, Major Dauntless nodded at Marien, “Alright, carry on.”
“Yes ma’am!”
“What did she say?” Sieg asked as the Major left and Marien bent down to pick up her spear.
“Nothing! Nothing at all! Not a thing!” Marien said quickly, almost dropping her spear. Clearing her throat, she got back to her feet and straightened her helmet.
For a long time Marien stood and watched and Sieg breathed, every once in a while his breathing turning into ragged coughs. Every once in a while he would drop off to sleep, only to be awakened by a nightmare. Each time he would wake, gasping for air, Marien would place a cold cloth on his forehead and talk to him softly. Sometimes she would even sing a lullaby her mother taught her.
Eventually the sun set and the lights of the fortress began to wink out, one by one.
As the main fire in the center of the fortress went out, Seig turned his head towards Marien, “Thank you for staying with me.”
“Considering what you did for me, I couldn’t leave you.” Marien sniffed. She had to work to keep her eyes open, she’d been almost finished an overnight till noon guard posting when she had gotten the news of Seig’s accident.
“When I was under the water… you were all I thought of.”
Marien’s face flushed again, “I… I see.”
“Every time I look at you, it feels… like a warm wind. Every time I’m near you… my heart speaks louder than my mind. I can't take my eyes off you… but every time you look back, it feels like I’ve been hit by a catapult.”
Marien’s eyes widened in surprise, but then she began to chuckle to herself.
“What is it?” Sieg asked, struggling to sit up.
“You took that from a book.”
“W-what? No I didn’t.”
“Word for word from ‘The Warmest Tide’, that Keidran romance novel.”
“I… B-but that book is... forbidden.”
“There’s a copy of it hidden in the library, inside a hollowed out copy of “The Methods and Conventions of East Basitin Poetry.” A smile crossed Marien’s face, “Everyone knows it’s there, even the yearlings.
Sieg blinked in surprise, before starting to chuckle. Despite her best efforts Marien joined him. For several long minutes they laughed together, until finally Sieg began to cough and had to stop.
“You really should get some rest.” Marien said, stepping forwards and gripping Sieg’s hand in hers, “We can talk more tomorrow.”
Sieg nodded weakly, “Alright...
“But just so you know,” Marien pulled the blankets up under Sieg’s chin and tucked him in, “The next time you end up in the infirmary because you were trying to do something for me, I really will finish you off.”
“I understand.” Sieg said as he looked up at Marien, his eyelids flickering as he fought sleep, “You’re so pretty.... you know that… so perfect… like… a beautiful… sunset...” The moment the final words passed his lips, Sieg drifted into sleep.
After a careful look around, Marien leaned in and planted a kiss on Sieg’s forehead.
“Sleep well.” She whispered, “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Our first night together…”
BONG BONG BONG
With a low groan Marien’s eyes slid open. The light of a single candle was all that illuminated the small quarters she shared with Hazel. The sky outside was barely lit up at all, with only the slightest hint of blue at the edges of the eastern horizon.
In the bed across the room, Hazel sat up and rubbed her eyes with a loud yawn, “What’s going on? Is it breakfast time?”
Marien staggered over to the window and peered out. Out in the courtyard she could see there was a flurry of activity, soldiers running too and fro, their distant calls muffled by the glass. As she watched, a Basitin in full armour climbed to the top of one of the tower scaffolds. Sluing across his back was a large silver horn wrapped in painted red leather.
Marine’s blood ran cold, she recognized that horn. It usually sat upon a granite pedestal in the main hall, beneath a glass case that was never to be lifted except in the most dire circumstances, and only at the behest of the fortress commander.
“That’s the war horn,” She whispered.
“Huh?” Hazel stumbled over to Marien’s side, “That can’t be right. It must be a dri-”
Hazels’ words were cut short as the soldier let loose a blast on the silver horn that shattered what was left of the morning stillness. The sound was deep and powerful, penetrating air, flesh and stone, its call rolling over the hills and out over the bay.
“This isn’t a drill,” Marien breathed, “They’d never use that horn if it was a drill…”
“We gotta go,” Hazel said, suddenly very much awake as she struggled to fasten her sword to her belt. “I have to get to my team.”
“Me too.” Marien turned and hurriedly pulled on her uniform as quickly as she could. Just as both she and Hazel were clipping their capes to their shoulders, the door to their quarters flew open. Kaiya burst into the room, her eyes wide and her shoulders shaking, an expression of panic etched on her face as she panted desperately for air.
“Kaiya, what’s wrong?” Hazel demanded, “What’s going on?”
“War!”
Hazel and Marien both froze.
“Is it a Western attack?” Hazel asked after a few seconds.
“This far behind the lines? That’s impossible!” Marien stepped forwards and gripped Kaiya’s shoulders, “What do you mean war? War with who?”
“The Empire!”
Marien’s eyes widened, “What?!”
“The humans…. the Templar… they’ve attacked the capital!”
Hazel’s mouth fell open, “The Templar attacked the Capital! How? When?”
“We don’t know,” Kaiya gasped. “But Lieutenant Maize said that the King is dead and the Capital has been destroyed!”
“But… but that’s-”
“Kaiya, Hazel, you need to get to your squads!” Marien barked, her voice steady despite the icy fingers of fear that gripped her heart. “We can’t panic now, we have to go!”
“Of course.” Hazel nodded quickly. “L-let’s go!”

“Dr. Hail, the bandages you asked for.”
“Thank you nurse, put them on the table.” Kara nodded quickly as she worked to remove and replace a dressing on Marien’s right arm.
As the nurse set the bandages down, Marien let out a low groan, her breathing becoming low and rapid.
“Is she alright?” the nurse asked.
“She’s dreaming,” Kara replied, dropping the soiled dressing in a pail beside her. “And with the Poppy Nectar wearing off, I can’t imagine they are very pleasant dreams.”

The fortress was in a state of utter pandemonium as Marien made her way towards her squad’s dormitory. Officers, soldiers and messengers filled the hall, all rushing to one destination or another.
Fighting her way through the crowd, Marien was able to make out a few orders and demands for information over the general cacophony.
“Get the weapons out of secured storage, we need to get armed now!”
“Where is the militia? They have to lock down the harbor!”
“What about the Imperial fleet? Is it on it’s way? Someone contact Commodore Naider and get his ships ready to sail!”
“If the human armies are going to land anywhere, they’ll land here at Basikal! Get the siege weapons to the shore!”
“What do you mean General Alabaster is dead?! What about General Alaric? Who’s in command?”
“I need confirmation, where is the third legion!”
As Marien fought through the crowd, she caught sight of Sieg’s distinctive tail amongst the crowd.
“SIEG!”
Immediately Sieg turned around, “Marien?! Where are you?”
Pushing her way over to Sieg, Marien pulled him over to the wall to avoid being trampled.
“Are you alright?” Sieg asked, panting for breath slightly.
“Yes, I’m just heading to get my squad. You?”
“I’m being deployed to the north wall. D-do you really think we are at war with the Human Empire?”
“I don’t know,” Marien replied, shaking her head, “But it sounds bad.”
“I heard the King was killed.”
“I heard the same thing.”
“Kolvest, Trager, Jin, let’s go!” a voice called out over the din, “North Wall on the double.”
Sieg took a deep breath and leaned close, pressing his forehead against Marien’s, “I have to go.”
Marien nodded, “It’s okay, go.”
“I… I...”
“Yeah…” Marine nodded quickly, placing a hand on Sieg’s cheek, “Me too.”
“Be careful.” Sieg turned and in seconds he was swallowed by the crowd. With a shuddering breath, Marien turned and continued on her own way.
It took a few minutes for Marien to arrive at her squad’s dormitory. Throwing open the door Marien was greeted by eight young girls, seven of whom were hurriedly pulling on their tunics and armour, and one who was cowering in a corner. Each of the girls was between the ages of eight or nine, and all bore panicked expressions.
As soon as Marien stepped into the room she was swamped with questions.
“Sergeant, what’s happening?”
“Are we really at war?”
“Is it true the human fleet is attacking the city?”
“Where’s my father! I want to see my father!”
“Alright Vermillion Javelin team, listen up!” Marien called out over the din, keeping her voice as even and calm as she could. “Get dressed and armoured up. I want you all to be ready to move out in five minutes!”
“B-but what about-”
“But nothing!” Marien snapped, her voice harder than she had intended. Taking a calming breath she spoke more evenly, “The only thing I want you to be worried about right now is getting dressed and ready, understood?”
“Y-yes ma’am!”
“You are Javelins!” Marien called out, “And what do you do?!”
“We are Javelins, we fly straight and true!” the recruits called back in rough unison.
“Good! Now hop to it! Double time soldiers!”
As the recruits returned to pulling on their armour, Marien stepped over to the girl cowering in the corner, “Private Talla, are you hurt?”
The girl shook her head quickly and sniffed, “N-no.”
“Then come on, you have to get up.”
“I can’t. I’m too scared.”
Kneeling down in front of the recruit, Marien reached out a hand and placed it gently on her head, “Hey, we’re all scared. But that’s okay.”
The girl looked up, her big blue eyes filled with frightened tears, “It… it is?”
“It is. Fear keeps us alive, but only if it keeps us moving.”
“Are… are you scared?”
“Yes, I am. But you and the others are depending on me, and they are depending on you.”
“I can’t!” the girl buried her head in her knees again, “I don’t wanna fight in a war.”
Marien spoke as encouragingly as she could, “Don’t worry about that right now. We’re going to take one little step at a time. Just get your armour on, okay, focus on just doing that. Can you do that?”
“I guess so…”
“Good girl. Now come on, we need you.”
Slowly the girl nodded and uncurled herself from the corner, eventually joining her squadmates, all of whom quickly began helping her pull on her armour.
As Marien straightened, there was a knock on the dormitory door, and a messenger stepped inside.
“Command from Major Dauntless,” the messenger announced, clearly trying to keep himself from panting. “All personnel are to assemble in the courtyard in one hour for a briefing.”
Maien nodded quickly, “One hour, understood.”
Without another word the messenger turned and took off down the hall. Closing the door behind him, Marien turned back to her squad. She couldn’t help but smile at the row of children standing in front of her, their armour and cloaks done up and their dull practice spears in hand.
“Alright Vermillion Javelins, let’s get moving.”
“Yes ma’am!”
By the time Marien and her squad reached the courtyard, the panic around the Fortress had quieted somewhat. A constant flurry of messengers and officers still moved about, but the desperate calls and conflicting orders had quieted.
As Marien and her team took their place, Major Dauntless and two other officers emerged from the central keep and approached a raised platform in the middle of the courtyard. Marien’s ears twitched as she recognized Colonel Conrad Kolvest as one of the officers walking beside the Major. The other officer was the commander of the Basikal naval fleet, Commodore Pierce, an unusually tall and thin basitin with a long, black ponytail that reached down to his waist sticking out from beneath his high peaked cap.
Marien couldn’t help but notice that the Major required the Commodore’s help to climb the stairs to the top of the platform. In recent months the Major seemed to be growing older much more rapidly than before. Her fur was more white than taupe now, and the lines on her face had grown deeper and more numerous. But as she approached the front of the platform, Marien could see that the Major’s eyes still shone with life.
Reaching the edge of the platform, Major Dauntless called out, “Everyone, your attention!”
Almost instantly the courtyard fell silent. Folding her hands behind her back, Major Dauntless spoke, “I am sure that you have all heard the rumour that there has been an attack on the Capital by the Human Empire and the Templar. I regret to inform all of you… that these reports are true.”
The major’s words sent a shockwave through the crowd. Immediately, Marien felt her heart sink into the bottom of her stomach.
“However,” Major Dauntless called out, silencing the ground with a single wave of her hand, “At this moment we do not know the extent of the damage, only that an attack has occurred. As a result, until we hear otherwise, we are operating under the assumption that the Human Empire has declared war against us, and we shall stand ready for an attack. As of now, all leave is suspended, and this fortress and the harbor are on full lockdown.”
Major Dauntless cleared her throat, “I know that there are many rumours flying about, and I urge all of you to be careful of what you say and judicious about what you believe. I understand it is frustrating, but when we have real, verifiable information that we can share, both myself and your officers will share it with you. In the meantime, attend to your stations, follow your orders, and we shall endure.”
Major Dauntless turned to leave, but paused for a moment and turned back, “That having been said, if the Human Empire has indeed declared war upon us, I can assure you of this, it will be the last mistake they will ever make.”

With a muffled plunk Kallen dropped the last of the soiled bandages into the pail beside her.
“There,” she muttered, wiping sweat from her brow, “Finished.”
Gently she felt along Marien’s body, searching for anything she missed. As she did, a small chime sounded from the other side of the room.
“Alright, that’s it for the poppy nectar.” Reaching up, Kallen gently tapped on Marien’s cheek, “Let’s see if we can get you back to the land of the living.”

“Renner’s dead.”
Marien blinked in surprise, “Wh-what?”
Sieg nodded numbly, his voice dull, “I just got word… he was killed in the attack on the Capital.”
Sieg sat on a wooden bench outside of the fortress’s main office. It had taken more than a week, but the panic from the initial news of the attack had started to calm. The fortress still buzzed with activity, nerves frayed, but the frantic energy had faded.
“H-how?” Marien asked, sitting down beside Sieg, “What happened?”
“He was with the King… and the Grand Templar killed him.”
The news opened a hole in Marien’s heart. Though she had only met him once, Marien had found Sieg’s brother a handsome and charming fellow, his serious and steadfast exterior covering up a whity and rye sense of humour. Despite his high ranking status as a royal guard, when Sieg had told Renner of Marien’s Western blood, the only thing he had said was ‘we love who we love’. The nonchalant bluntness of his statement had made Marien’s heart glow.
“Oh Sieg…” Marien reached over and pulled Seig close to her, “I’m so sorry…”
“He didn’t even stand a chance,” Sieg moaned, burying his head in Marien’s chest. “What was he thinking, attacking the Grand Templar? Why would he do that?”
“He was doing his duty,” Marien replied softly, stroking Sieg’s head.
With a deep breath, Sieg looked up at Marien, “But why... why did he have to die?”
“It’s okay.” Marien pulled Seig close, “It’ll all be okay…”
As she held Seig, Marien noticed some of the officers and soldiers shooting her and Sieg dirty looks. For a moment she wanted to leap up and scream at them, to fight, to lash out and make them pay for their judgements. But as she held Sieg, the anger started to drain away.
Closing her eyes, Marine nestled her head against Sieg’s neck and held him tight. “It’s okay,” she whispered, ‘It’s going to be okay…”
“I don’t care anymore… western, eastern… tradition… faith… I just want to be with him”
With a shuddering breath, Marien smoothed down the front of her uniform. The green and grey colours of a training uniform had been replaced by the silver and black of a real soldier's uniform. At her throat glistened a small golden pin that denoted her new rank of Warrant Officer.
As she worked to make certain her hair was in good order beneath her helmet, the door behind her cracked open, “Ma’am, they are ready for you.”
“Thank you.” Marien replied. As she turned to leave her quarters, she stopped at her desk. With a small golden key, she opened a secret compartment beneath one of the drawers. Nestled within the compartment, wrapped in velvet, was her mothers pendant, the black pearl that Seig had gotten her glistening in the center.
Slowly, almost reverently, Marien withdrew the pendant and fastened it around her neck.
“I’m ready.” she said to herself.
The courtyard was filled with every last soul that occupied the fortress. Every wall and balcony was also completely packed. There was even a ring of thousands of basitins, young and old, with soldiers of every rank of the army, as well as civilians, gathered around the fortress perimeter. It seemed as if the entire population of Basikal and more was in attendance. In the fading light of the evening, the entire hill was lit with thousands of torches and candles.
All eyes were on a colossal wooden pyre in the center of the courtyard. Upon the great pyre was a coffin carved from fine oak and marked with the Basidian star. Atop the coffin was laid a simple black eyepatch, as well as a Basidian flag woven from fine silk.
A long, solemn trumpet blast cut through the evening air, silencing the crowd. The fortress doors cracked open, and Marien stepped into the courtyard. The crowd parted to create a corridor for her to approach the pyre.
With a deep breath, Marien stepped forwards. As she walked she could hear whispers and mutterings from within the crowd, but she ignored them.
“Why would the Major pick her?”
“She always did have a soft spot for lost causes.”
“They say she went mad in her last days, it seems the rumours were true.”
“I suppose the threat of war was just too much for her...:”
Though the walk from the door to the pyre was less than a hundred meters, the journey felt like it took years. Each step felt heavier and heavier, but before Marien knew it, she stood before the pyre. Standing at the side of the pyre was a burning brazier and beside it was a long silver handle with an oil soaked cloth wrapped around the top.
Taking hold of the silver rod, Marien withdrew it from the ground and lowered it into the flames of the brazier. The cloth wrapping burst into flames and stayed lit as Marien held it aloft.
Turning to the assembled crowd, Marien cleared her throat and called out, “In the name of the King, and the noble nation of Basidian, we pay tribute to a woman who was a leader, a teacher, and a true patriot. Major Dauntless was a treasured comrade, and she…” Marien felt a lump in her throat as her practiced words failed her, “She…was...”
The crowd began to mutter and shift as Marien froze. No matter how hard she tried, the words she had practiced were gone.
As she fought for words, Marien heard a single familiar voice from the crowd call out, “Marien!”
All at once, the speech she had intended to make seemed so trivial and weak.
“She was special.”
Marien’s voice silenced the crowd. Although her voice was low, everyone in the courtyard could hear Marien as she took a deep breath and spoke, “My mother told me once, on my journey to this very place, that someday I would have something… someone so precious, that I would climb mountains, swim across seas, and fight gods to protect them. For Major Dauntless, that thing was each and every one of us.”
Marien's voice quaked a little as she spoke, but she powered on through, “She wasn’t just a soldier, she wasn’t just a commander, she was a mother. She never gave a thought to her own mortality, and to her very last breath she worried about those who still needed her guidance. She protected us, she guided us, she knew when to let us make mistakes, but she was there to pick us up when we fell. She loved this place, she loved us, and she loved me… even when no one else did.”
Marien voice cracked as she looked back at the pyre, “And… she was taken from us too soon. Our world is darker with her absence, and we’re going to miss her. But her duty has come to an end, and now it is time for her to rest.”
Holding her hands as steady as she could, Marien brought the torch to the pyre. Within seconds the wood burst into flames and a bright, roaring fire enveloped the pyre.
After returning the silver torch to its place, Marien stepped back into the crowd. Closing her pendant in her hand, Marien watched as the flames climbed high into the sky, the sparks dancing the same elated dance they danced each time.
The pyre burned long into the night, the great logs cracking and collapsing. As the moon rose into the sky, the crowd began to disperse, the students wandering off to bed and the civilians returning to the city. Some of the mourners stopped to place a hand on Marien’s shoulders, a number of them whispering words of encouragement.
Eventually it was just Marien, standing alone in the empty courtyard, watching as the last few licks of flame danced amongst the glowing coals.
“I never told her that I loved her.” Marien muttered as familiar footsteps approached her from behind, “She did so much for me… and I never told her.”
“I know.” Sieg said, gently taking Marien’s hand in his as he came up beside her, “But she knew. That’s why she chose you for this duty. She loved you, and that was enough.”
“No… its not.” Marien looked at Sieg, the fur on her face matted by tears, “I should have said it to her.”
“Maybe… that was her final lesson.”
Marien nodded, “Yes… it’s important to tell the people you care about them how you feel when you have time.”
Sieg blushed a little as he stared into Marien’s eyes. Slowly the two leaned close, pressing their foreheads together.
“I love you Marien Gail.” Sieg whispered, taking both of her hands in his.
“I love you Sieg Kolvest.” Marien said softly, “And... I want to marry you.”
“I...I want to marry you too.”
“Right now.”
Sieg blinked in surprise and stepped back, “R-really? We haven’t even… you know, courted.”
“Do you want to or not?” Marien asked.
“Of course I do, but-”
“Then that’s all that matters.” Marien said simply, “I want to marry you, whether it’s a good idea or not, whether we’ve courted or not.”
“I…” Sieg smiled warmly, “I’ve never wanted something more in my entire life.”
Pulling one of her hands free, Marien dug into a pocket of her uniform, “That’s good, in that case I have something for you.”
Into Sieg’s outstretched hand, Marien pressed a small ivory pearl.
Sieg looked up at Marien, “Is this the one that I-”
“It is.”
“You found it! How?”
“It wasn’t easy. Took me weeks of searching. And… well I know it’s not exactly traditional, but I want you to have it, as a symbol of our bonding.”
“But it’s yours.”
Marien shook her head, “If you want it, it’s yours, just as I am.”
“Marien…”
“Mrs. Kolvest.”
Marien blinked in surprise, “Wh-What?”
“Mrs Kolvest, can you hear me?”
All of a sudden, in a flash of light and colour, Marien's dream broke.

Hi everyone,
Update: Sorry I realized the title should rather be a question, as such it sounds like an interesting article ;). But thanks, already got quite a few useful links, crates, ideas and experiences.
I've got a C++ codebase that I've been working on for almost 10 years now (and funnily could take with me with the last company switch). It's some machine learning inference thing originally running on all kinds of systems - Linux, MacOSX, Android, iOS, Blackberry :), Windows as COM DLL (no idea what exactly it is but it works for this use case ;)). Might also be integrated into Unity3D or Unreal Engine at some point.
Meanwhile PyTorch/TorchScript/Libtorch made almost 90% of the code obsolete and it's time to really clean that thing out. I can basically throw out a dozen libraries, from signal processing to hidden markov model toolkits, libraries for my own model format etc.
With the refactoring I've also been digging into https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRZr-HJcYmf2Y76DhewaiJOhRNpjGHCxliAQTBhFxzv1QTae9o8mhBmDl32CRIuaWZLt5kVeH9e9jXv/pub to make things safer and at some point again thought, this might be a case for RIIR ;).
On one hand I might sleep better for the next 10 years, but I am worried that at some point I might face a roadblock that makes me regret it.
We won't need Blackberry anymore I guess ;), but...
- Windows COM? Probably not too important in future but sounds as this might need some C++ layer in front again. Update: Was pointed to https://github.com/microsoft/com-rs Might work out at some point to implement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Speech_API
- PyTorch/libtorch - https://github.com/LaurentMazare/tch-rs seems pretty good. But on Android and iOS this seems to be an issue. Although this issue exists for C++ as well as there are currently some hacky scripts to download the Java AAR from Maven and then extract the .so libs from there to make sure you got the thing built correctly ;). I actually went the path now to run torch mobile from Java (it's a sequence of 3 neural networks) and call my C++ code between those with JNI. It's mostly passing strings and float arrays, so not too bad. So this could work with Rust as well.
- JNI - how well does https://github.com/jni-rs/jni-rs work? Assuming that Firefox runs on Android and uses Rust this should be reasonable to work with?
- On iOS? Currently I use an Objective-C++ layer (that I wrote years ago, I have no idea anymore how that thing works ;), I am not much of an Apple person) - https://mozilla.github.io/firefox-browser-architecture/experiments/2017-09-06-rust-on-ios.html sounded rather pain-free
- I still got to wrap one C library. I ran it through https://github.com/eqrion/cbindgen once and seemed to work but didn't do any deeper tests.
- At some point I might have to use the Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine https://developer.qualcomm.com/sites/default/files/docs/snpe/overview.html . Guess I could work around as with PyTorch above... and guess with Rust building for ARM I should be able to cross-compile stuff wherever this might have to run at some point
- ?
​
In sum I would like the idea to go with Rust as I more or less got to rewrite the whole thing anyway, but I am a bit skeptical if I will be able to interface with everything that might come up at some point. Or probably end up in a wrapper hell if I got to use more C++ libraries. On the other hand there are definitely a few Rust projects out there that might come in handy (for example https://github.com/huggingface/tokenizers). And the build process is pretty awful right now (CMake it is but with lots of hacks).
Anybody got some experiences to share with writing cross-platform libraries like this?
I consider giving it a shot for a first small prototype but I guess the real issues with portability would come up at a much later stage.
I usually use a really simple subset of C++ that served me well over the years and I am actually astonished how well it still runs (for example some use it on their phones since 2018 without ever getting an update or anything). At the same time, many things just make me nervous (for example just a few weeks ago I first saw the "fix the range based for loop"-proposal and wondered how it's possible that I never had an issue with that). I am also starting to become tired of digging into C++17 and C++20, adding even more and more stuff I have to learn, while still being stuck with basically no dependency management (seems at least 10 libraries that I currently use are not to be found for conan or vcpkg). I started with C++ around 1998 and know all the different styles that are in use in the different codebases. And I just don't feel like adding the new module system, concepts and all that as well to my... brain, sort of ;).
Oh, and it's likely I'll still be the only one working on that codebase for the next years as well, so I can do whatever I want as long as I get the job done ;).
Glad to hear any stories, experiences or similar.

A Basitin Love Story: Part 5
As the first stirrings of morning began within the city of Basikal, a heavy fog settled over the port city. The torches shone eerily in the grey gloom as the fishermen started making their way towards the docks, the knocking of the wood floaters on their nets filling the air as they walked. Columns of city guards arrived to relieve the night shift, much to the relief of the guards who had been standing watch all night in the cold and damp.
As the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, it was little more than a pale sphere. But as the sun climbed higher and warm golden light bathed the land, the fog began to disperse, tendrils descending into the valleys and the streets, before disappearing entirely. Bit by bit the city returned to life after a long, dark night.
Dr. Kallen Hail’s cheek twitched as a shaft of light from the window fell across her face. Despite her blindfold, the light of the sun was enough to wake her.
With a loud yawn, the doctor stretched and tested her muscles. She had slept on one of the benches in the staff room, and as a result her shoulders hurt a little. As she climbed to her feet she felt a gentle shifting in her lower belly.
“Shhhh now,” she whispered, patting her stomach, trying to quite the movements of the little life growing inside her, “Go back to sleep.”
“Ah good, you’re awake.”
Kallen turned towards the voice, “Doctor Silver, good morning.”
“There’s no patients in here, you can take your blindfold off.
With a relieved sigh, Kallen reached up and pulled off her blindfold. The sudden brightness made her blink for a few moments, but her eyes adapted quickly. Her colleague, Doctor Sara Silver, stood in front of her with a steaming cup of ginger and blackberry leaf tea.
“Thank you Doctor Silver.” Kallen said, taking the cup and sniffing it, the sharp scent of ginger filling her nostrils and sending a pulse of energy through her whole body.
“How are you feeling?”
Kallen sighed, “The headaches and the back pain I could deal with, but this itching is driving me crazy. I mean, why? Why am I itchy? It makes no sense.”
Sara nodded knowingly as she sat down at a small table in the center of the room, “For me it was my feet. When I was pregnant with Lyle I couldn’t stay on my feet for more than ten minutes.”
With a frustrated grumble Kallen sat down across from Sara and took a sip of her tea, “What I wouldn’t give to be a Keidran sometimes. Five or six months of this I could live with, hell I’d take nine months like humans have, but twelve months just seems unnecessary. And then there’s the in-laws…”
Sara rolled her eyes, “Kent’s family was paralytic when Sophie was born. ‘Three girls! When will you have a boy! You have to have a boy!’ It was a nightmare.”
“Mmm, for me it’s names. I am so sick of getting suggestions for names. ‘Adrian, Calles, Tolle, Keonig, Edmund. Oh oh, do you know what name is in fashion this year? Camden, Chloe, Lex’.”
“Keonig sounds nice,” Sara said, smirking a little as she took a sip of her tea.
Kara sighed and put her hand on her stomach again, “But you know… I really can’t wait to meet the little one.”
Sara tilted her head with a smile, “This is your first?”
“Yes. I’m very excited, but… with Johan gone…” Kallen looked down at her tea, her hands shaking.
Sara reached across the table and took Kallen hand, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-”
“No, no I’m sorry. Getting all weepy isn’t going to bring him back.” Kallen took another sip of her tea to calm her nerves. After a moment she looked up, eager to change the subject. “And how is Kent healing?”
“If he would sit still for six minutes he probably would heal just fine, but that would seem to be an impossible task. His lieutenant had to drag him here again yesterday after he tore out his stitches. And you want to know what he was doing? Sparring. The man has stitches in his arm, and he was swinging a sword around.” Sara waved her arms in a wild pantomime of sword fighting. After a few moments she lowered her arms and sighed, holding her head in her hands, “Makes you wonder why we bother sometimes.”
Kallen shrugged, “I’m just happy if they actually come in for help. This ‘I’m not hurt, I can take it’ is insanity.”
“Yes…” Sara sighed, “Yes it is…”
For a long moment the two women sat across from one another, sipping on their tea.
“Kallen, I’d like to ask you something,” Sara said at last, setting her cup down on the table and leaning close.
Kallen blinked in surprise at Sara’s suddenly serious tone and nodded, “Of course, what is it?”
“I was wondering, why did you decide that you were going to treat that Western girl? You were quite insistent that you be the one to take her.”
“You were worried I would take revenge for Johan?” Kallen asked, her ears flattening and her tail twitching in agitation.
Immediately Sara reached across the table and grabbed one of Kallen’s hands, “No honey, no no. It just seemed strange that you were so determined.”
Kallen sighed and looked down at the table, “I… I lost Johan because of this stupid, stupid war. The kings make their speeches, the politicians grandstand and the generals play their little war games, but it is people like my Johan who pay the price.”
Suddenly Kallen’s eyes widened and she looked up sharply, “Oh Sara, I’m sorry, I forgot! I didn’t mean that about Kent!”
“Don’t worry about it,” Sara replied, squeezing Kallen’s hand gently. “Kent… has his doubts about the war as well. I think he’d be pleased to hear someone else say what he’s been saying for years.”
“R-really?”
Sara nodded and Kallen let out a sigh of relief, “Either way… that girl got into a fight because she looks Western. They can call it a duel all they like, but I don’t think that hitting someone on the back of the head with the butt of a sword is an honourable way to start a ‘duel of honour’.”
“So the other girl did pick the fight.”
“Without a doubt.”
“Hmmm… I hear she’s recovering at the Chariot residence. Last I heard she’s down an eye and half an ear, but she’ll live.”
Kallen gripped her teacup tightly, “It just seems wrong… that that girl, and now her husband, has to suffer for a war that is so far away, just because of how she looks.”
A warm smile crossed Sara’s face, “Oh sweety….”
“It felt like… a way to fight against the war. It… it’s silly…”
Sara smiled and shook her head, “No, it isn’t. It’s very noble.”
As Kallen and Sara smiled at one another, another doctor appeared at the doorway, “Doctor Hail, you said you wanted to be informed when the poppy nectar would be wearing off for Mrs. Kolvest. By our estimates it should be within the hour.”
“Thank you, I’ll see to it.” Kallen stood and replaced her blindfold over her eyes.
As Kallen walked past, Sara extended an arm and took her hand, “Kallen… Doctor Hail, I’m proud of you.”
Kallen smiled and squeezed Sara’s hand, “Thank you, Doctor Silver.”

“There’s been an accident.”
The words sent an icy bolt through Marien’s heart. “W-what kind of accident?” Marien asked, swallowing to clear the instant dryness in her throat. She stood on the wall of the fortress, spear in hand, keeping watch over the south side of the wall.
“Corporal Kolvest was swimming in the sea with several other recruits.” The instructor standing before her replied, “He dove and must have hit his head on something underwater. He is in the infirmary, and last I heard he is alive. Apparently when he woke, your name was the first thing he said, so there are a few questions-”
Before the instructor could say another word, Marien turned and tore off, ignoring the instructor's calls for her to return.
Like a madman Marien tore through the halls of the fortress, leaping nimbly around other recruits and soldiers as she sprinted towards the infirmary. Her heart pounded, her lungs burned, but she didn’t slow down. It was all a blur, a flurry of sounds of images, the halls of the fortress, the calls for her to stop, the annoyed yells of those she pushed past, the door to the infirmary, the startled nurse. And then, suddenly, as if awakening from a dream, she found herself standing at Sieg’s bedside.
Seig’s eyes were closed, dark circles around them and his fur still smelled of sea water. Even through his fur it was obvious that his skin was extremely pale, and his breathing was ragged and shallow. But as Marien stepped forwards, Sieg’s eyes slowly slid open and he turned towards her.
“Marien…” He croaked, his voice hoarse and his expression one of utter exhaustion.
“They said… they said you were hurt…” Marien gasped, trying to catch her breath.
Sieg managed a half hearted grin, “So did… you… come to…. finish me...off?”
“What?” As Marien raised her eyebrows she noticed for the first time that she was still carrying her spear.
Dropping the weapon to the floor, Marien stepped closer to Sieg’s bed. She tried to think of something to say, but everytime she thought of something her brain seemed to go blank.
“Are you alright?” She said finally, kneeling down so she could meet Sieg’s gaze, “They said you almost drowned.”
Instead of answering, Sieg managed a smile again and whispered, “Close...your... eyes.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s... important.”
Marien paused for a moment, before eventually closing her eyes.
“Hold out… your hand…”
Hesitantly, Marien held out her hand. After a moment she felt Sieg press something hard and cold against her palm.
Opening her eyes, Marien blinked in surprise. In her hand was nestled an oyster.
“This… this is what you were diving for?”
“Ororo Oysters… rare… found a bed… in Keiser’s bay...”
“You mean you did this for me?”
“I… lost the first one.” Sieg coughed a few times, “Your pendant… when I got it… from Elliot… I dropped it. Pearl fell out… couldn’t find it.” With effort Sieg managed another smile, “That’s why… I couldn’t look at you that day… in the Major’s office.”
Before Marien could speak, Major Dauntless, the infirmary nurse, a middle aged female with pale fur, a much darker furred male in a colonel’s uniform, and a pair of guards appeared in the doorway.
As soon as she appeared at the door, the middle aged female rushed forward, pushing past Marien, “Sieg!”
“M-mother…”
As she reached her son’s side, Kara knelt down on one knee and grabbed his hand, “Sieg! Oh Sieg, we were so worried!”
Clambering to her feet, Marien snapped into a salute, “Major!”
With a sigh, Dauntless squeezed her nose and shook her head slowly, “I received a report of an armed recruit tearing through the fortress like a feral Keidran. Of course it would be you, Corporal Gail.”
The Colonel raised an eyebrow, “Gail? As in Marien Gail?”
“Yes sir!”
“So, you’re the female that Sieg won’t stop talking about.”
Marien blinked in surprise, “I… uh…”
The Colonel’s eyes narrowed, “I suppose my son simply forgot to mention that you were a Westerner.”
Immediately Marien’s ears flattened against her head and her tail twitched, “With respect, Colonel-”
“Colonel Conrad Kolvest, commander of the Second Legion’s Scarlet Brigade. And I would like to know just what you think you are doing here.”
“I had to check on Sie- on Corporal Kolvest.” Marien said at last, “I was…”
As Marien spoke, the nurse raised her hand a little, “Excuse me.”
“Major Dauntless, I think we can both agree that this is highly inappropriate.” Conrad interrupted, “I would like to have this intruder removed immediately.”
Instead of answering, Major Dauntless turned to Marien. For a few moments the two met each other’s eyes, a flurry of silent words passing between them.
“Corporal Gail has always expressed a great deal of concern for her classmates.” Major Dauntless said at last, “It’s one of her finer qualities.”
“Major, Colonel, I really think...
“Nevertheless I demand that she be removed, now!”
To everyone else in the room, it would appear that Major Dauntless didn’t react at all to Conrad’s sharp tone. But to Marien, who had been on the receiving end of many of the Major’s lectures, the subtle motions of the Major’s tail, the almost invisible twitch at the corner of her mouth, the slight change in her posture, all of it told Marien that the Major was well and truly annoyed.
After a moment, Major Dauntless spoke, “Colonel, I think that, considering your son’s weakened state, it would be wise to place a guard at his side. Corporal Gail shall fill that role well.”
“Ridiculous!” Conrad growled, “I am ordering you-”
“Your orders mean nothing here.” Major Dauntless replied, her voice like a river with a dangerous current running beneath the placid surface, “I command this fortress and its occupants. If you wish to stay by your son’s side as well I will allow it, but Corporal Gail will complete her assigned task.”
“I want… her to stay.” Sieg croaked as his mother continued to fuss over him.
“HEY!”
Everyone in the room jumped a little as the nurse yelled at the top of her lungs.
With a huff, the nurse spoke again, “That’s better. Major, Colonel, with all due respect, this boy needs rest. If the Major wants Corporal Gail to stand guard, that is… well I’m not exactly pleased with it, but it is acceptable. As for the rest of you however, and with all due respect, I implore you... GET OUT!”
With an amused smile, Major Dauntless nodded respectfully, “Understood.” She gestured to the door, “If you will sir, you and your wife are more than welcome to stay in VIP quarters here in the fortress.”
“I shall be filing a report on this.” Conrad snarled, “We shall see what the administration authority has to say about your lack of decorum and insubordination. ”
“That is, of course, your right sir.” Major Dauntless replied, clearly underwhelmed by Conrad’s threat.
“Come Kara, we should let him rest.” Conrads cape billowed out behind him as he whirled around and strode out of the room. As he passed Marien he stopped, his eyes shifting to glare at her.
“I know all about your kind.” He snarled, “But know this, if you put a single hand on my son, I will have your pelt for a rug and the rest of you thrown into the sea for bait.”
“As you say, Colonel.” Marien replied, snapping into a salute and glaring back at Conrad.
With a snort of disgust, Conrad stormed past Marien. As he reached the doorway he stopped and looked over his shoulder, “My son.”
“Yes… father.”
“You are an important part of the family legacy, remember that. No son of mine will be defeated by something as inconsequential as a swimming accident, you understand?”
“Y...yes sir.”
“I’ll see you soon,” Kara said, stroking the side of Sieg’s face, “Sleep and get well, we’ll talk tomorrow.”
As the nurse and Kara left the room, Marien turned to Major Dauntless, “Ma’am… about what the Colonel said.”
“I’m not concerned. I’ve dealt with his kind before.” Major Dauntless waved a hand dismissively, “I once had a nephew of General Alabaster training here. If he and his uncle couldn’t push me around, the Colonel doesn’t stand a Templar’s chance in the Wolf Lands.”
“Understood, thank you Major.”
“Just promise me something,” Major Dauntless said as she turned to leave.
“Yes ma’am?”
Major Dauntless leaned in close and whispered, “Watching boys swimming is one thing, but don’t do anything foolish while you are on duty, understood.”
Immediately Marien’s face turned bright red, “H-how do you know about that?”
“I made it my business to keep an eye on you and keep you safe.” A small smile crossed Major Dauntless’s face, “That, and I was a young woman once too.”
Pulling back and straightening, Major Dauntless nodded at Marien, “Alright, carry on.”
“Yes ma’am!”
“What did she say?” Sieg asked as the Major left and Marien bent down to pick up her spear.
“Nothing! Nothing at all! Not a thing!” Marien said quickly, almost dropping her spear. Clearing her throat, she got back to her feet and straightened her helmet.
For a long time Marien stood and watched and Sieg breathed, every once in a while his breathing turning into ragged coughs. Every once in a while he would drop off to sleep, only to be awakened by a nightmare. Each time he would wake, gasping for air, Marien would place a cold cloth on his forehead and talk to him softly. Sometimes she would even sing a lullaby her mother taught her.
Eventually the sun set and the lights of the fortress began to wink out, one by one.
As the main fire in the center of the fortress went out, Seig turned his head towards Marien, “Thank you for staying with me.”
“Considering what you did for me, I couldn’t leave you.” Marien sniffed. She had to work to keep her eyes open, she’d been almost finished an overnight till noon guard posting when she had gotten the news of Seig’s accident.
“When I was under the water… you were all I thought of.”
Marien’s face flushed again, “I… I see.”
“Every time I look at you, it feels… like a warm wind. Every time I’m near you… my heart speaks louder than my mind. I can't take my eyes off you… but every time you look back, it feels like I’ve been hit by a catapult.”
Marien’s eyes widened in surprise, but then she began to chuckle to herself.
“What is it?” Sieg asked, struggling to sit up.
“You took that from a book.”
“W-what? No I didn’t.”
“Word for word from ‘The Warmest Tide’, that Keidran romance novel.”
“I… B-but that book is... forbidden.”
“There’s a copy of it hidden in the library, inside a hollowed out copy of “The Methods and Conventions of East Basitin Poetry.” A smile crossed Marien’s face, “Everyone knows it’s there, even the yearlings.
Sieg blinked in surprise, before starting to chuckle. Despite her best efforts Marien joined him. For several long minutes they laughed together, until finally Sieg began to cough and had to stop.
“You really should get some rest.” Marien said, stepping forwards and gripping Sieg’s hand in hers, “We can talk more tomorrow.”
Sieg nodded weakly, “Alright...
“But just so you know,” Marien pulled the blankets up under Sieg’s chin and tucked him in, “The next time you end up in the infirmary because you were trying to do something for me, I really will finish you off.”
“I understand.” Sieg said as he looked up at Marien, his eyelids flickering as he fought sleep, “You’re so pretty.... you know that… so perfect… like… a beautiful… sunset...” The moment the final words passed his lips, Sieg drifted into sleep.
After a careful look around, Marien leaned in and planted a kiss on Sieg’s forehead.
“Sleep well.” She whispered, “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Our first night together…”
BONG BONG BONG
With a low groan Marien’s eyes slid open. The light of a single candle was all that illuminated the small quarters she shared with Hazel. The sky outside was barely lit up at all, with only the slightest hint of blue at the edges of the eastern horizon.
In the bed across the room, Hazel sat up and rubbed her eyes with a loud yawn, “What’s going on? Is it breakfast time?”
Marien staggered over to the window and peered out. Out in the courtyard she could see there was a flurry of activity, soldiers running too and fro, their distant calls muffled by the glass. As she watched, a Basitin in full armour climbed to the top of one of the tower scaffolds. Sluing across his back was a large silver horn wrapped in painted red leather.
Marine’s blood ran cold, she recognized that horn. It usually sat upon a granite pedestal in the main hall, beneath a glass case that was never to be lifted except in the most dire circumstances, and only at the behest of the fortress commander.
“That’s the war horn,” She whispered.
“Huh?” Hazel stumbled over to Marien’s side, “That can’t be right. It must be a dri-”
Hazels’ words were cut short as the soldier let loose a blast on the silver horn that shattered what was left of the morning stillness. The sound was deep and powerful, penetrating air, flesh and stone, its call rolling over the hills and out over the bay.
“This isn’t a drill,” Marien breathed, “They’d never use that horn if it was a drill…”
“We gotta go,” Hazel said, suddenly very much awake as she struggled to fasten her sword to her belt. “I have to get to my team.”
“Me too.” Marien turned and hurriedly pulled on her uniform as quickly as she could. Just as both she and Hazel were clipping their capes to their shoulders, the door to their quarters flew open. Kaiya burst into the room, her eyes wide and her shoulders shaking, an expression of panic etched on her face as she panted desperately for air.
“Kaiya, what’s wrong?” Hazel demanded, “What’s going on?”
“War!”
Hazel and Marien both froze.
“Is it a Western attack?” Hazel asked after a few seconds.
“This far behind the lines? That’s impossible!” Marien stepped forwards and gripped Kaiya’s shoulders, “What do you mean war? War with who?”
“The Empire!”
Marien’s eyes widened, “What?!”
“The humans…. the Templar… they’ve attacked the capital!”
Hazel’s mouth fell open, “The Templar attacked the Capital! How? When?”
“We don’t know,” Kaiya gasped. “But Lieutenant Maize said that the King is dead and the Capital has been destroyed!”
“But… but that’s-”
“Kaiya, Hazel, you need to get to your squads!” Marien barked, her voice steady despite the icy fingers of fear that gripped her heart. “We can’t panic now, we have to go!”
“Of course.” Hazel nodded quickly. “L-let’s go!”

“Dr. Hail, the bandages you asked for.”
“Thank you nurse, put them on the table.” Kara nodded quickly as she worked to remove and replace a dressing on Marien’s right arm.
As the nurse set the bandages down, Marien let out a low groan, her breathing becoming low and rapid.
“Is she alright?” the nurse asked.
“She’s dreaming,” Kara replied, dropping the soiled dressing in a pail beside her. “And with the Poppy Nectar wearing off, I can’t imagine they are very pleasant dreams.”

The fortress was in a state of utter pandemonium as Marien made her way towards her squad’s dormitory. Officers, soldiers and messengers filled the hall, all rushing to one destination or another.
Fighting her way through the crowd, Marien was able to make out a few orders and demands for information over the general cacophony.
“Get the weapons out of secured storage, we need to get armed now!”
“Where is the militia? They have to lock down the harbor!”
“What about the Imperial fleet? Is it on it’s way? Someone contact Commodore Naider and get his ships ready to sail!”
“If the human armies are going to land anywhere, they’ll land here at Basikal! Get the siege weapons to the shore!”
“What do you mean General Alabaster is dead?! What about General Alaric? Who’s in command?”
“I need confirmation, where is the third legion!”
As Marien fought through the crowd, she caught sight of Sieg’s distinctive tail amongst the crowd.
“SIEG!”
Immediately Sieg turned around, “Marien?! Where are you?”
Pushing her way over to Sieg, Marien pulled him over to the wall to avoid being trampled.
“Are you alright?” Sieg asked, panting for breath slightly.
“Yes, I’m just heading to get my squad. You?”
“I’m being deployed to the north wall. D-do you really think we are at war with the Human Empire?”
“I don’t know,” Marien replied, shaking her head, “But it sounds bad.”
“I heard the King was killed.”
“I heard the same thing.”
“Kolvest, Trager, Jin, let’s go!” a voice called out over the din, “North Wall on the double.”
Sieg took a deep breath and leaned close, pressing his forehead against Marien’s, “I have to go.”
Marien nodded, “It’s okay, go.”
“I… I...”
“Yeah…” Marine nodded quickly, placing a hand on Sieg’s cheek, “Me too.”
“Be careful.” Sieg turned and in seconds he was swallowed by the crowd. With a shuddering breath, Marien turned and continued on her own way.
It took a few minutes for Marien to arrive at her squad’s dormitory. Throwing open the door Marien was greeted by eight young girls, seven of whom were hurriedly pulling on their tunics and armour, and one who was cowering in a corner. Each of the girls was between the ages of eight or nine, and all bore panicked expressions.
As soon as Marien stepped into the room she was swamped with questions.
“Sergeant, what’s happening?”
“Are we really at war?”
“Is it true the human fleet is attacking the city?”
“Where’s my father! I want to see my father!”
“Alright Vermillion Javelin team, listen up!” Marien called out over the din, keeping her voice as even and calm as she could. “Get dressed and armoured up. I want you all to be ready to move out in five minutes!”
“B-but what about-”
“But nothing!” Marien snapped, her voice harder than she had intended. Taking a calming breath she spoke more evenly, “The only thing I want you to be worried about right now is getting dressed and ready, understood?”
“Y-yes ma’am!”
“You are Javelins!” Marien called out, “And what do you do?!”
“We are Javelins, we fly straight and true!” the recruits called back in rough unison.
“Good! Now hop to it! Double time soldiers!”
As the recruits returned to pulling on their armour, Marien stepped over to the girl cowering in the corner, “Private Talla, are you hurt?”
The girl shook her head quickly and sniffed, “N-no.”
“Then come on, you have to get up.”
“I can’t. I’m too scared.”
Kneeling down in front of the recruit, Marien reached out a hand and placed it gently on her head, “Hey, we’re all scared. But that’s okay.”
The girl looked up, her big blue eyes filled with frightened tears, “It… it is?”
“It is. Fear keeps us alive, but only if it keeps us moving.”
“Are… are you scared?”
“Yes, I am. But you and the others are depending on me, and they are depending on you.”
“I can’t!” the girl buried her head in her knees again, “I don’t wanna fight in a war.”
Marien spoke as encouragingly as she could, “Don’t worry about that right now. We’re going to take one little step at a time. Just get your armour on, okay, focus on just doing that. Can you do that?”
“I guess so…”
“Good girl. Now come on, we need you.”
Slowly the girl nodded and uncurled herself from the corner, eventually joining her squadmates, all of whom quickly began helping her pull on her armour.
As Marien straightened, there was a knock on the dormitory door, and a messenger stepped inside.
“Command from Major Dauntless,” the messenger announced, clearly trying to keep himself from panting. “All personnel are to assemble in the courtyard in one hour for a briefing.”
Maien nodded quickly, “One hour, understood.”
Without another word the messenger turned and took off down the hall. Closing the door behind him, Marien turned back to her squad. She couldn’t help but smile at the row of children standing in front of her, their armour and cloaks done up and their dull practice spears in hand.
“Alright Vermillion Javelins, let’s get moving.”
“Yes ma’am!”
By the time Marien and her squad reached the courtyard, the panic around the Fortress had quieted somewhat. A constant flurry of messengers and officers still moved about, but the desperate calls and conflicting orders had quieted.
As Marien and her team took their place, Major Dauntless and two other officers emerged from the central keep and approached a raised platform in the middle of the courtyard. Marien’s ears twitched as she recognized Colonel Conrad Kolvest as one of the officers walking beside the Major. The other officer was the commander of the Basikal naval fleet, Commodore Pierce, an unusually tall and thin basitin with a long, black ponytail that reached down to his waist sticking out from beneath his high peaked cap.
Marien couldn’t help but notice that the Major required the Commodore’s help to climb the stairs to the top of the platform. In recent months the Major seemed to be growing older much more rapidly than before. Her fur was more white than taupe now, and the lines on her face had grown deeper and more numerous. But as she approached the front of the platform, Marien could see that the Major’s eyes still shone with life.
Reaching the edge of the platform, Major Dauntless called out, “Everyone, your attention!”
Almost instantly the courtyard fell silent. Folding her hands behind her back, Major Dauntless spoke, “I am sure that you have all heard the rumour that there has been an attack on the Capital by the Human Empire and the Templar. I regret to inform all of you… that these reports are true.”
The major’s words sent a shockwave through the crowd. Immediately, Marien felt her heart sink into the bottom of her stomach.
“However,” Major Dauntless called out, silencing the ground with a single wave of her hand, “At this moment we do not know the extent of the damage, only that an attack has occurred. As a result, until we hear otherwise, we are operating under the assumption that the Human Empire has declared war against us, and we shall stand ready for an attack. As of now, all leave is suspended, and this fortress and the harbor are on full lockdown.”
Major Dauntless cleared her throat, “I know that there are many rumours flying about, and I urge all of you to be careful of what you say and judicious about what you believe. I understand it is frustrating, but when we have real, verifiable information that we can share, both myself and your officers will share it with you. In the meantime, attend to your stations, follow your orders, and we shall endure.”
Major Dauntless turned to leave, but paused for a moment and turned back, “That having been said, if the Human Empire has indeed declared war upon us, I can assure you of this, it will be the last mistake they will ever make.”

With a muffled plunk Kallen dropped the last of the soiled bandages into the pail beside her.
“There,” she muttered, wiping sweat from her brow, “Finished.”
Gently she felt along Marien’s body, searching for anything she missed. As she did, a small chime sounded from the other side of the room.
“Alright, that’s it for the poppy nectar.” Reaching up, Kallen gently tapped on Marien’s cheek, “Let’s see if we can get you back to the land of the living.”

“Renner’s dead.”
Marien blinked in surprise, “Wh-what?”
Sieg nodded numbly, his voice dull, “I just got word… he was killed in the attack on the Capital.”
Sieg sat on a wooden bench outside of the fortress’s main office. It had taken more than a week, but the panic from the initial news of the attack had started to calm. The fortress still buzzed with activity, nerves frayed, but the frantic energy had faded.
“H-how?” Marien asked, sitting down beside Sieg, “What happened?”
“He was with the King… and the Grand Templar killed him.”
The news opened a hole in Marien’s heart. Though she had only met him once, Marien had found Sieg’s brother a handsome and charming fellow, his serious and steadfast exterior covering up a whity and rye sense of humour. Despite his high ranking status as a royal guard, when Sieg had told Renner of Marien’s Western blood, the only thing he had said was ‘we love who we love’. The nonchalant bluntness of his statement had made Marien’s heart glow.
“Oh Sieg…” Marien reached over and pulled Seig close to her, “I’m so sorry…”
“He didn’t even stand a chance,” Sieg moaned, burying his head in Marien’s chest. “What was he thinking, attacking the Grand Templar? Why would he do that?”
“He was doing his duty,” Marien replied softly, stroking Sieg’s head.
With a deep breath, Sieg looked up at Marien, “But why... why did he have to die?”
“It’s okay.” Marien pulled Seig close, “It’ll all be okay…”
As she held Seig, Marien noticed some of the officers and soldiers shooting her and Sieg dirty looks. For a moment she wanted to leap up and scream at them, to fight, to lash out and make them pay for their judgements. But as she held Sieg, the anger started to drain away.
Closing her eyes, Marine nestled her head against Sieg’s neck and held him tight. “It’s okay,” she whispered, ‘It’s going to be okay…”
“I don’t care anymore… western, eastern… tradition… faith… I just want to be with him”
With a shuddering breath, Marien smoothed down the front of her uniform. The green and grey colours of a training uniform had been replaced by the silver and black of a real soldier's uniform. At her throat glistened a small golden pin that denoted her new rank of Warrant Officer.
As she worked to make certain her hair was in good order beneath her helmet, the door behind her cracked open, “Ma’am, they are ready for you.”
“Thank you.” Marien replied. As she turned to leave her quarters, she stopped at her desk. With a small golden key, she opened a secret compartment beneath one of the drawers. Nestled within the compartment, wrapped in velvet, was her mothers pendant, the black pearl that Seig had gotten her glistening in the center.
Slowly, almost reverently, Marien withdrew the pendant and fastened it around her neck.
“I’m ready.” she said to herself.
The courtyard was filled with every last soul that occupied the fortress. Every wall and balcony was also completely packed. There was even a ring of thousands of basitins, young and old, with soldiers of every rank of the army, as well as civilians, gathered around the fortress perimeter. It seemed as if the entire population of Basikal and more was in attendance. In the fading light of the evening, the entire hill was lit with thousands of torches and candles.
All eyes were on a colossal wooden pyre in the center of the courtyard. Upon the great pyre was a coffin carved from fine oak and marked with the Basidian star. Atop the coffin was laid a simple black eyepatch, as well as a Basidian flag woven from fine silk.
A long, solemn trumpet blast cut through the evening air, silencing the crowd. The fortress doors cracked open, and Marien stepped into the courtyard. The crowd parted to create a corridor for her to approach the pyre.
With a deep breath, Marien stepped forwards. As she walked she could hear whispers and mutterings from within the crowd, but she ignored them.
“Why would the Major pick her?”
“She always did have a soft spot for lost causes.”
“They say she went mad in her last days, it seems the rumours were true.”
“I suppose the threat of war was just too much for her...:”
Though the walk from the door to the pyre was less than a hundred meters, the journey felt like it took years. Each step felt heavier and heavier, but before Marien knew it, she stood before the pyre. Standing at the side of the pyre was a burning brazier and beside it was a long silver handle with an oil soaked cloth wrapped around the top.
Taking hold of the silver rod, Marien withdrew it from the ground and lowered it into the flames of the brazier. The cloth wrapping burst into flames and stayed lit as Marien held it aloft.
Turning to the assembled crowd, Marien cleared her throat and called out, “In the name of the King, and the noble nation of Basidian, we pay tribute to a woman who was a leader, a teacher, and a true patriot. Major Dauntless was a treasured comrade, and she…” Marien felt a lump in her throat as her practiced words failed her, “She…was...”
The crowd began to mutter and shift as Marien froze. No matter how hard she tried, the words she had practiced were gone.
As she fought for words, Marien heard a single familiar voice from the crowd call out, “Marien!”
All at once, the speech she had intended to make seemed so trivial and weak.
“She was special.”
Marien’s voice silenced the crowd. Although her voice was low, everyone in the courtyard could hear Marien as she took a deep breath and spoke, “My mother told me once, on my journey to this very place, that someday I would have something… someone so precious, that I would climb mountains, swim across seas, and fight gods to protect them. For Major Dauntless, that thing was each and every one of us.”
Marien's voice quaked a little as she spoke, but she powered on through, “She wasn’t just a soldier, she wasn’t just a commander, she was a mother. She never gave a thought to her own mortality, and to her very last breath she worried about those who still needed her guidance. She protected us, she guided us, she knew when to let us make mistakes, but she was there to pick us up when we fell. She loved this place, she loved us, and she loved me… even when no one else did.”
Marien voice cracked as she looked back at the pyre, “And… she was taken from us too soon. Our world is darker with her absence, and we’re going to miss her. But her duty has come to an end, and now it is time for her to rest.”
Holding her hands as steady as she could, Marien brought the torch to the pyre. Within seconds the wood burst into flames and a bright, roaring fire enveloped the pyre.
After returning the silver torch to its place, Marien stepped back into the crowd. Closing her pendant in her hand, Marien watched as the flames climbed high into the sky, the sparks dancing the same elated dance they danced each time.
The pyre burned long into the night, the great logs cracking and collapsing. As the moon rose into the sky, the crowd began to disperse, the students wandering off to bed and the civilians returning to the city. Some of the mourners stopped to place a hand on Marien’s shoulders, a number of them whispering words of encouragement.
Eventually it was just Marien, standing alone in the empty courtyard, watching as the last few licks of flame danced amongst the glowing coals.
“I never told her that I loved her.” Marien muttered as familiar footsteps approached her from behind, “She did so much for me… and I never told her.”
“I know.” Sieg said, gently taking Marien’s hand in his as he came up beside her, “But she knew. That’s why she chose you for this duty. She loved you, and that was enough.”
“No… its not.” Marien looked at Sieg, the fur on her face matted by tears, “I should have said it to her.”
“Maybe… that was her final lesson.”
Marien nodded, “Yes… it’s important to tell the people you care about them how you feel when you have time.”
Sieg blushed a little as he stared into Marien’s eyes. Slowly the two leaned close, pressing their foreheads together.
“I love you Marien Gail.” Sieg whispered, taking both of her hands in his.
“I love you Sieg Kolvest.” Marien said softly, “And... I want to marry you.”
“I...I want to marry you too.”
“Right now.”
Sieg blinked in surprise and stepped back, “R-really? We haven’t even… you know, courted.”
“Do you want to or not?” Marien asked.
“Of course I do, but-”
“Then that’s all that matters.” Marien said simply, “I want to marry you, whether it’s a good idea or not, whether we’ve courted or not.”
“I…” Sieg smiled warmly, “I’ve never wanted something more in my entire life.”
Pulling one of her hands free, Marien dug into a pocket of her uniform, “That’s good, in that case I have something for you.”
Into Sieg’s outstretched hand, Marien pressed a small ivory pearl.
Sieg looked up at Marien, “Is this the one that I-”
“It is.”
“You found it! How?”
“It wasn’t easy. Took me weeks of searching. And… well I know it’s not exactly traditional, but I want you to have it, as a symbol of our bonding.”
“But it’s yours.”
Marien shook her head, “If you want it, it’s yours, just as I am.”
“Marien…”
“Mrs. Kolvest.”
Marien blinked in surprise, “Wh-What?”
“Mrs Kolvest, can you hear me?”
All of a sudden, in a flash of light and colour, Marien's dream broke.

A list of the biggest tech companies in Canada and where they are located.
Note that although FAANG's are not Canadian, I thought we best include them so we get a better idea of what each city has to offer for tech and FAANG is still extremely competitive up here. This thread will eventually be moved into our wiki, but for now we want this to be in a more collaborative state.
Of course I should note that almost all companies have some sort of tech position to maintain their websites or internal systems, however I will limit this list largely to Technology-related companies with large engineering departments.

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. NOT ALL COMPANIES WILL APPEAR.

This list is limited to software positions. Some companies have Canada-wide positions, but Software related positions may be limited to certain locations, such as HQ.

Canadian Companies

Name	Industry	HQ Location	Other Canadian Locations
Absolute Software	Security	Vancouver (BC)
Absorb	Learning Management Software	Calgary (AB)
Bell Canada	Telecomm	Montreal (QC)	Ottawa (ON), Toronto(ON), Mississauga (ON), Quebec City (QC), Mount Pearl (NL), Halifax (NS)
Bombardier	Aerospace	Montreal (QC)
Benevity	Charity	Calgary (AB)	Victoria (BC), Toronto (ON)
BioWare (EA Games)	Video Game	Edmonton (AB)	Vancouver (BC)
BlackBerry	R&D	Waterloo (ON)	Ottawa (ON), Mississauga (ON), Halifax (NS)
Canadian National Railway (CN Rail)	Railway	Montreal (QC)	Edmonton (AB), Toronto (ON), Ottawa (ON)
Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)	Railway	Calgary (AB)
CGI Group	Consulting	Montreal (QC)	Burnaby (BC), Victoria (BC), Calgary (AB), Edmonton (AB), Regina (SK), Markham (ON), Mississauga (ON), Ottawa (ON), Toronto (ON), Montreal (QC), Drummondville (QC), Gatineau (QC), Quebec City (QC), Saguenay (QC), Shawinigan (QC), Sherbrooke (QC)
Comm100	Marketing	Vancouver (BC)
Corel	Image and Graphic Editing	Ottawa (ON)
D2L	Learning Management Software	Kitchener (ON)	Vancouver (BC), Winnipeg (MB), Toronto (ON)
Descartes	Supply Chain	Waterloo (ON)	Toronto (ON)
D-Wave Systems	Quantum Computing	Burnaby (BC)
Dynamsoft	Scanning	Vancouver (BC)
ecobee	IoT	Toronto (ON)
Elastic Path	eCommerce	Vancouver (BC)
Freshbooks	Accounting	Toronto (ON)
Hellbent Games	Video Games	Burnaby (BC)
Hootesuite	Social Media	Vancouver (BC)	Toronto (ON)
Ironclad Games	Video Games	Burnaby (BC)
Kinaxis	Supply Chain	Ottawa (ON)	Toronto (ON)
Lucidea Corporation	Information Management	Vancouver (BC)
Maplesoft	Math	Waterloo (ON)
Matrox	Graphics	Dorval (QC)
OpenText	Information Management	Waterloo (ON)	Mississauga (ON), Richmond Hill (ON), Montreal (QC)
Piranha Games (Enad Global 7)	Video Games	Vancouver (BC)
Quester Tangent Corporation	Rail Transit	Saanichton (BC)
Red Barrels	Video Games	Montreal (QC)
Skip The Dishes	Delivery	Winnipeg (MB)	Calgary (AB), Toronto (ON)
Sandvine	Networking	Waterloo (ON)
Shopify	eCommerce	Ottawa (ON)	*Fully Remote
Top Hat	Education	Toronto (ON)
Wattpad	Literature	Toronto (ON)
Wealthsimple	Finance	Toronto (ON)	Montreal (QC)

Tech Giants

Name	Canadian Locations	General/Specialty
Apple	Vancouver (BC), Edmonton (AB), Ottawa (ON), Montreal (QC)	General
Amazon	Vancouver (BC), Toronto (ON), Ottawa (ON)
Amazon	Calgary (AB)	Architects Only?
Amazon	Montreal (QC)	French Speaking Seniors Only?
Facebook	Ottawa (ON)	Network Specialty
Facebook	Montreal (QC)	AI and VR R&D
Facebook	Vancouver (BC), Toronto (ON)	General
IBM	Vancouver (BC), Calgary (AB), Toronto (ON), Markham (ON), Ottawa (ON), Montreal (QC), Bedford (NS), Halifax (NS)	General
Intel	Vancouver (BC), Toronto (ON)	General
Google	Edmonton (AB)	AI
Google	Vancouver (BC), Ottawa (ON), Toronto (ON), Waterloo (ON), Montreal (QC)
Microsoft	Calgary (AB)	Cloud
Microsoft	Edmonton (AB)	OneDrive
Microsoft	Montreal (QC)	Project Turing
Microsoft	Vancouver (BC), Ottawa (ON), Toronto (ON)	General
Snap Inc	Toronto (ON)	General
Twitter	Toronto (ON)	General
Uber	Toronto (ON)	General

Large companies located in Canada

Name	Industry	Canadian Locations
Ceridian	HCM	Toronto (ON), *Mostly Remote
Cornerstone	HR	Ottawa (ON)
EA Games	Video Games	Vancouver (BC), Edmonton (AB), Brampton (ON), Kitchener (ON), Montreal (QC)
Garmin	Wearables	Cochrane (AB)
Intuit	Finance	Edmonton (AB), Mississauga (ON), Toronto (ON)
LoginRadius	Identity and Access Management	Vancouver (BC)
Mozilla	Internet	Toronto (ON)
Rockstar	Video Games	Toronto (ON)
Seequent	Geology	Vancouver (BC), Calgary (AB), Toronto (ON)
Symend	Consulting	Calgary (AB), Toronto (ON)
Synopsys	Technology	Burnaby (BC), Vancouver (BC), Calgary (AB). Markham (ON). Mississauga (ON), Ottawa (ON), Toronto (ON)
Ubisoft	Video Games	Toronto (ON), Montreal (QC), Halifax (NS)
Unity	Video Games	Vancouver (BC), Calgary (AB), Montreal (QC)