Nd road report

Gonna keep this short and sweet. I had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy on June 9.
Did my prep as requested (went down easy, PicoPrep), woke up at 6am to down some last fluids before my procedure at 2. Arrived at the hospital with no incidents, thank goodness, around 1:30 and was admitted.
I was told my doctor was running behind and I was third in line. As it was the afternoon I was a little concerned I’d miss the cut off and all of the prep and fasting would be for none. Alas that wasn’t the case and a couple hours later I was being wheeled into the anaesthetic bay, and then into theatre.
Last thing I remember is a weird little contraption being fitting in my mouth and the nurse stroking my hair while the anaesthetist held my hand until the good stuff kicked in.
Next thing I remember is waking up in so. much. pain. and a real need to go to the bathroom and/or pass gas. The nurse reassured me that it was just from the banding on some haemorrhoids I had, which turned out to be the case. Pain mostly subsided as did the urge to go (but came back later as I am writing this at nearly midnight in pain after a BM!)
Doctor came in briefly and said everything went well and to see him in a month. I was given a spread of sandwiches and crackers and jelly, as well as some much needed fluids. They took my blood pressure and removed my IV before sending me on my way.
In the car I read the doctor’s report and sadly my prep was just “average” despite following it to a T. I also have gastritis.
Pro-tip: listen to them when they say have a LIGHT meal afterward. I thought I could handle nuggets, nope, wound up vomiting everywhere although that could also have been the bends in the road on the way home.
Anxious to see my doctor to discuss what all this means. Until then, I’ll be nursing my very sore bottom until these bands go away.
…so much for short and sweet.

I don't know if this is allowed, If not, I'll happily delete. This is a recent comment on one of Jessica's articles about the Idaho Murders and...I can't. I just can't.
We are being lied to about what happened that night. Let's remember, law enforcement is allowed to lie to us and they are under NO obligation to share the truth with the public! Nothing about the official narrative makes ANY sense and there is indeed a cover-up of epic proportions taking place! They are protecting some very important people, as well as the University, the town of Moscow - and their profit$! Everything points to this being drug related and a lot of people on the peripherals are somehow involved - including some corrupt law enforcement. Here are some things I've learned about this tragedy that I wanted to share with everyone...
Please keep in mind that anything I share has not been proven as fact and this is only information I've gathered from different sources which I believe to be true (or very close to the truth) :
1. Everyone go check out the YouTube channel: Thou Shall Not Kill. He has been 'boots on the ground' in Moscow ID and his videos contain unique local footage, information and perspectives. His sources offer the best theory I've heard so far - the theory that makes the most sense - it's very eye opening!
2. This was about DRUGS. Apparently Maddie was upset because the drugs being sold out of the house were being cut with fentanyl (and could therefore kill people).
Allegedly Maddie flushed roughly $275,000 worth of drugs down the toilet and threatened to 'snitch' on the operation and the dealers and report it to the authorities if it didn't stop. Xana was the one responsible for stashing the drugs and this would explain why she had the lock fixed on her bedroom door and didn't want the other roommates (or anyone else) having access to her room. Maddie "told Adam everything" - and Jack S (who was acquainted with Emma Bailey and maybe others involved in the drug ring) knew she was in danger and that "they were gonna get her for this" - which they DID - just a few hours later. Word got back to the 'King Pin' of the operstion and he ordered the hit - a gruesome cartel-style slaughter - to send the message that you don't F around with them or this is what happens!
3. Research and look into the REAL owner of the Mad Greek restaurant, where both Xana and Maddie worked. His name is 'Constantinos' and allegedly he's an international drug King Pin with legitamite business fronts all over. His daughter is in the same sorority as one of the roommates and she's also the owner of the abadoned white Elanta found in Oregon apparently. (This statement about the Oregon Elantra could be incorrect and I'm not 100% certain of this).
4. The owner(s) of 1122 King Road are involved somehow - that house is owned by an LLC and they were VERY quick to just give their house away to the University.. who can afford to just throw away a WHOLE HOUSE?!
5. Dylan (and possibly Bethany) knew something was gonna go down, they were told it would be some kind of a shakedown - NOT that the four would be murdered. I believe this is how they were able to get Dylan to cooperate and play a part, and how they had someone 'on the inside'. D & B were fully aware their "friends" were being murdered at the time and her story in the PCA is BS. They were likely involved in the cleanup afterwards and the killers told them to wait until NOON to call 911 - but to first call over some of their friends to muck up the killers' tracks and taint the crime scene. These girls are scared for their LIVES and it's why they won't step foot near Idaho. It's really weird they don't talk to any of their sorority sisters or friends in Moscow ID anymore ... you'd think that after something so horrific and traumatizing you'd would want the support of your friends and especially your sorority sisters .. but I guess not if you have something to hide and to protect ...
6. That VSCO picture of Dylan gazing at the camera with a HUGE knife - is creepy AF! Who takes a picture like that? It's not done in a funny or jokey way - it's intense and kinda terrifying - and if you ask me - very telling. Kinda like the matching tattoos Dylan and Bethany got VERY SOON after the murders .. TOO soon IMO. Those tattoos come across as a 'badge of honor' more than a tribute to the victims. Super sketchy.
7. Emma Bailey, Demetrius Robinson, Quinn Kelley and Brent Kopacka had something to do with the murders - as did some corrupt law enforcement (local police officers/FBI?) Officer Payne of Moscow PD owns some kind of warehouse for a meat processing/packing business in North ID close to the border apparently.
Large scale drug rings require the involvement and protection of LE to be successful and make the kind of money they make. Payne and Kopaka are connected through the Military (?) I believe. It's alleged that Emma stashed drugs in the house with Xana (and possibly also in the empty room that was under Ashlyn Couch's name on the King Rd. lease). Emma Bailey lives super close just behind the King Rd. house - and would be a very close spot for the killers to flee to after the murders.
8. The leaked audio is REAL and shows there was some kind of ambush that night. The authorities have 'debunked' it as fake - because it is proof of what really transpired! It's not as if they would admit to the public it is real.. This was an ambush and the killers were KNOWN to the victims in one way or another. No one snuck in the back sliding door in the dark, like some ninja assassin, and stabbed 4 people on two separate floors, inflicting such horrific injuries in such a VERY SHORT amount of time - then just dissapeared into the night without so much as a trail of blood! Sorry but that just didnt happen. The victims were awake and things went from normal to deadly fast.
9. There were at least 3 people inside the house that night - and likely a few more outside and on the perimeters, keeping watch. The cops nearby at around 3 AM who were busting those kids for drinking were lookouts that night. The officer involved in that encounter has since left the Moscow PD force - which I find to be a strange and suspect coincidence (?) Those cops were in plain clothes and an unmarked/undercover car RIGHT NEXT to the King Rd. house at the SAME TIME as the murders. I find it really ODD that they busted those kids (who were being pretty responsible really) and held them up for SO LONG, asking them A LOT of unnecessary - and frankly dumb - questions, like: "what brand of beer were you drinking?" If you watch the bodycam footage you can tell the cops were trying to draw that encounter out for as long as possible and stall those kids to prevent them from going anywhere near 1122 King Rd! You can even see 3 or 4 dark silhouettes (people) running in single file from the direction of the murder house in the bodycam footage! I don't believe that Moscow PD has undercover officers in plain clothes and unmarked cop cars just lurking around Greek Row at 3 AM to catch drunk kids stumbling out of apartment buildings.. I just don't buy that.
10. Drugs are a HUGE problem in Idaho and a quick Google search will show there is solid evidence the Cartels operate in that area. This has been covered by their local media many times and it's not like it's a secret!
It's not like it's far-fetched to say that huge drug rings operate in Moscow Idaho. It's a FACT. And it's not like it's far-fetched to say college campuses are a HUGE market for these drug rings and can make them a TON of money! Fraternities and Sororities are well known for dealing drugs ... just think about this: if every person at that 150-person party at King Rd. (that took place the night before the murders) spent $$ on drugs - that would be thousands of dollars in profit - in just ONE night at ONE party. It's not far-fetched to assume that pretty sorority girls would be tasked with supplying drugs to all the college kids and all their friends - because who would suspect them?! Especially considering we now KNOW FOR A FACT that they were all connected to Emma Bailey, who is a convicted drug dealer! There is even bodycam footage of her leaving the King Rd. house on one occasion.
11. Where there's smoke - there's fire.
We must ask ourselves WHY do we keep hearing that this was a known drug house and all these things alluding to drugs and a shakedown gone wrong - if there's nothing to it? WHY have so many people that are close to the murders (Jack S, Inan Harsh, the surviving roommates) all left town, never to return? WHY are the locals still so scared if the guy who did it is behind bars? WHY is there such secrecy surrounding the case and WHY do they want to demolish the King Rd. House before the trial even starts?!!
​

As always, thank you to u/SpacePaladin15 for the wonderful universe that is NoP
Thank you to u/cruisingNW for proof reading and helping me out of some hang ups, you're the man! Honestly LoM wouldn't have gone very far without him! If you haven't you should absolutely go read Foundations of Humanity! It's very good.
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Memory Transcription Subject: Christopher A. Dewey, Human Merchant Sailor, Venlil-Human Exchange Participant
Date [Standardized Human Time]: August 29th, 2136, Very Early Morning.
We got a message an hour ago from Videk, ordering us to report to Hangar-08 to start On-Stick training; and to bring our bags! I guess the guy had wanted to get as much out of the day as he could. That or he wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.
Videk met us at the doors to the hangar, a small travel bag sitting on the floor by his side, tail swaying slowly as he watched us approach. “Good Waking, Taisa. Good Waking… Christopher.” An improvement, I’ll have to ask Taisa about that talk they had.
“This,” He continued, motioning to the shuttle parked in the hangar behind him with his tail. “Is your training shuttle: registration C1-0V3R-HR-EX.Your first On-Stick training assignment will be to follow appropriate lift off and departure procedures, plot and follow a course to The Capitol on Venlil Prime, seek permission to land from the proper authorities, and land safely and legally following those permissions. All of this, while following proper procedure and regulations. All of this will be graded.”
As he speaks the door behind him slides open, revealing a broad hangar bay, heavy clamshell doors dominate the far wall. At the center of the bay sits a stout craft painted white and black, a pair of stubby wings jutting from its sides flowing into a pair of engines flanking a singular tail. Venlil script is painted at the root of the tail and on the top of the rear ramp.
“Upon arrival in the Capitol you will have some paperwork to do at the U.N. offices with regards to your habitation. I will need to pick up some equipment from the training facility at the landing fields. After our respective errands, let’s say half a claw, we will meet up back at the shuttle and from there you will be plotting an in-atmosphere route to Shadetree, Sunward of the Capitol, to drop me off and wait for me to install and calibrate the remote instructing equipment. Once that is completed, you will plot another in-atmosphere course to Heartwood River, concluding this paws evaluations. Do you have any questions?”
I shook my head, and Taisa flicked her ears, in what I believed was a negative. “Very good, load your stuff and we’ll begin immediately.”
After a few minutes of finding places to tie off our belongings and get everything situated, I sat in the pilot’s seat and ran through the pre-flight check with Taisa. We caught a pair of faults in the starboard fuel delivery units. Videk seemed pleased we had caught them, and that he hadn’t had to tell us they were there. I could feel a slight smile tug at the corner of my mouth.
Devious little bastard makes for a damn good instructor.
Once the preflight was complete I closed the rear ramp and hailed the flight control tower. “Tower this is shuttle C1-0V3R-HR-EX requesting clearance for departure, place us enroute to Venlil Prime with planned landing zone of Capitol Shuttle Field 13-Bravo.” A Human voice came back over the line, a bit of mirth in their voice. “Shuttle, Tower, you are clear for departure, opening bay doors now. Good luck and Godspeed.”
The doors to the station hangar yawned open, filling the viewport with the void and all its stars beyond as I slowly brought the shuttle off the hangar floor, easing it out through the opening. I reached over to the nearest display and opened the Nav-computer interface, plotting our course to VP, and then on to the Capitol landing fields. Once I was confident I had the proper navigation commands and sequences set I called over Videk to have him review my work.
He gave me a quick flick of his tail before saying “Looks good, Christopher. Feel free to spool and jump when you’re ready.”
Videk’s approval given, I reached over and pushed forward on the throttles, engaging the drive and hurtling the shuttle into subspace.
It. Was. Beautiful. Everything seemed to stretch, stars in the distance turning from pinpricks of light into brilliant colorful streaks, lengthening as we bounded through the void. Lines of light far off in my periphery zip past like tracers as the ones before me feel as if they’re pulling me in with their kaleidoscope of color. The hum of the shuttle fell into the background while I became entranced by the light show in front me, picturing myself on the set of one of those old sci-fi shows I would watch with Pa on the weekends. The Future my ancestors had imagined was Here, right before my eyes and at the tips of my fingers! This view was… Hypnotic. The simulator couldn’t hope to do it justice.
Two hours. That was it.
Two hours to travel what, until very recently, would have been considered an insurmountable distance for Humanity. Dropping from Sub-space into the proximity of Venlil Prime was another astoundingly brilliant view. Scorched white deserts flowing into massive swathes of golden sands cut by the occasional streak of blue before blending into a beautiful verdant mix of turquoise and green fields, with vast lakes and rivers dotting the forests, flowing into wide marshy wetlands. Before finally, the curve of the planet fell away from its star, allowing the fading sunlight to showcase glittering city lights dotting the countryside.
The thrusters burn to life, crackling and thrumming with power as they drive us forward through the void to the beautiful marble before us. I flip two switches on the overhead, tapping the leftmost display to call up the local channel list and place a hail to the Capitol’s landing fields to request clearance and pad assignment. A quick ping, signifying my hail had been acknowledged, chimed over the console speaker.
“Capitol Shuttle Field 13-Bravo this is Shuttle C1-0V3R-HR-EX requesting clearance for landing at an available pad of convenience.” “C1-0V3R-HR-EX, you are cleared for landing, 13-Bravo, direct to pad Charlie-5.”
The Flight through the Void may have had some feeling of familiarity and nostalgia to the old Sci-fi shows at home; but in-atmo had the far better view! Rolling turquoise fields and towering thick trees, with their canopies tilted greedily towards that unmoving sun, falling away to a gargantuan metropolitan area, its architecture entirely alien yet still somehow familiar. Massive skyscrapers soar to touch the sky, reflecting light in brilliant angles and colors, the space below them populated by squat sturdy buildings and deep black roads. The Venlil going about their lives below look like ants as I ease off the throttle, taking the speed down to prepare for the final approach. The display on the viewport flags my landing area with a small pip guiding me in, slow and easy.
The cabin jostles slightly as the ship settles onto its landing gear. Videk seemed impressed; his ears up as he tapped away at his data pad! Taisa’s tail sways happily back and forth as she runs through the diagnostics of the landing, checking system status reports.
“Looks like we’re all clear. Videk do you have a time we should try and be back by?” Taisa beeps, showing the flight instructor the console in front of her.
“I just need to pick up the equipment and get it linked up, that should only take about a half a claw. Walking to and from the landing field and the U.N. Offices should put you at about the right time.” Videk turned away and made for the ramp; Taisa’s talk helped, and he was clearly trying, but he was still a bundle of nerves around me. His fur was so puffed out it looked like he was holding more static than a thunderhead.
As we stepped out of the artificial gravity of the shuttle I felt like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. My first step faltered making me stumble down the ramp and bounce off the… soft pavement? “Oh, forgot about that.” Videk winced sympathetically, “Our gravity is about twenty percent more than earth’s, so be careful. Falls are likely to hurt a little bit more here.”
“Would’ve been nice to know first, Videk.” I groaned, rolling myself over and sitting up, luckily the visor hadn’t fallen off; I would need to add one of those new back braces and some knee compressors to that order of stuff from home. “Do you know where the U.N. Offices are? Or should we just ask around to find our way there?”
“I do not, but you should be able to get directions on your pad. I trust the two of you can figure it out, so I’m going to go get the equipment I need. I will wait for the two of you with the shuttle once I am ready.” With a parting flap of his ears, Videk turned and walked away; flicking the tip of his tail back and forth as he did.
“Alright then,” I grumbled, forcing myself up off the pavement, swaying as I found my new equilibrium. “let’s get going. Can you pull up those directions?” She nodded slightly, flicking her ears forward. “Got them up already! You alright there?”
“I’m fine.” I grunted, rolling out my shoulder a little. “Feels like I weigh a quarter ton, but I’ll get over it with time. Lead the way.”
After a few minutes of walking we were off the landing fields and into the streets of the city. My boots sinking into the pavement a little with each step, just like on the landing field. “Taisa, what is this stuff? I figured it was just to make landings a little softer on shuttles but it’s everywhere! Looks like pavement but it gives like rubber; why are your roads like this?” “Anti-stampede concrete.” She stated, matter of factly, like that meant literally anything to me. My silence must have tipped her off that I wasn’t getting it as she focused one eye on my visor. “Oh… I guess Humans wouldn’t need that. It’s to help reduce stampede fatalities, it’s the same reason the roads and buildings have gentle curves, no sharp angles.” Looking around at the way the groups of Venlil flowed through the streets I realized she was right, what I had thought was a futuristic aesthetic design was just to keep people from killing each other against walls or trampling them into the ground when they got scared. How strange… and slightly worrying.
“Weird, that sounds like some crazy wonder material. Bet we’d have a bunch of uses for it back on earth.” My eyes watched the tips of skyscrapers towering above us, “How far out does it say we are?”
“Only a little further, about one and a half kilometers.” She responded, a slight pant in her voice. I wasn’t in the best shape, cardio wise, but I couldn’t imagine getting winded after 10 minutes of walking; guess all that talk about the Venlil having less stamina than us was right.
The U.N. Office complex was a series of giant flowing buildings built on a large park area. It wasn’t any design I had ever seen so I figured it had to have been an existing complex that just got turned over to the U.N. for their uses.
Passing through the heavy glass front doors we found a wide receptionist's desk, with several Humans sitting behind it, answering questions and directing people where they needed to go. One of the receptionists, a short dark haired woman with a visor obscuring her face, beckons us over. “Hello! How can I help you today?” “H-Hi!” Taisa beeps excitedly, her tail swaying behind her confidently as she takes a deep breath and straightens her back. “We’re part of the ‘integration’ experiments, we were told we need to fill out some forms for habitation. Where do we go to do that?” “Oh! Congratulations! That would be Suite 216-B” The receptionist answered, excitement in her voice as she pointed to a room on the map infront of her.
“Thank you!” Taisa responded, turning to head up the stairs behind the receptionist's desk. Halfway up the stairs she swiveled her ears over to me before saying. “Sorry, I figure if I’m probably going to have to work with Humans other than you for this I should try and at least work on being able to talk to them.” “It’s alright,” I chuckle, patting her shoulder. “That’s a great idea and you’re doing alright!” Walking down the hallways we saw prints of landscapes from Earth, Machu Picchu, the Uyuni Salt Flats, The Grand Canyon, YellowStone, Hạ Long Bay, The Zhangye Mountains and Plitvice Lakes. I pointed out the places I had been to as we walked past them, finally stopping at suite 216-B.
The door was open so we knocked, getting a quick ‘enter’, before stepping in. A man sits behind a desk, the top covered in organized files and folders, a placard on his desk declares his name as ‘Obediah Kamara’ with a small Liberian flag stamped beside it.
His visor obscures his face as he looks between the two of us before beginning. “I presume you are…” He sorts through a couple of the files and folders before stopping on one and opening it, pulling out a document packet. “Christopher Dewey and Taisa. Correct?”
We both respond in the affirmative as he gestures for us to take the seats across from him, sliding the documents across the table as Taisa’s pad pings on her belt. “These are agreements to ensure that you,” He starts, looking at me. “Understand the rules in regards to your habitation here on Venlil Prime. I understand that part of your integration will be taking you off world to and from Earth, these rules primarily apply to your time here. We ask that you remain considerate of the provided rules and guidelines on the ship if you are carrying Venlil passengers. Taisa, those are the terms, conditions, compensations and requirements for your family to house a human when the two of you are present. Virtual signature of that document is required within the next 3 of your ‘paws’.” Taisa stiffened a little bit, likely thinking about her Mother’s response to my arrival; that was something we were probably going to have to have a talk about later. I had an idea for the short term, at least. I ran through the paperwork real quick and it was all pretty simple: don’t be without the visor or some kind of face covering in settings where you couldn’t guarantee that an unprepared Venlil wouldn’t see you, avoid aggression, speak quietly, no eating meat, animal products or byproducts, no hunting local wildlife; bit odd considering I didn’t even have a bow or a gun but rules are rules, I suppose.
“Sounds good to me,” I said, signing the indicated portions of the document. “When are my items supposed to get here?”
“We don’t expect your requested items to arrive for another week or so, for now you’ll have to make do with what you brought with you.” Obediah responded, shuffling the packet of papers back into the folder they had come from. “With that complete you are free to go. I understand you have training to complete, so I wish you good luck with your endeavor. If you have any questions or needs with regards to your habitation you can contact Sam, their details will be forwarded to your communication devices.”
I caught Taisa’s tail twitching as her ears swiveled nervously out of the corner of my eye; even with her attempts to push through it I think the amount of Humans around was starting to get to her. Still, she was doing better than I think a lot of Venlil would be able to manage. I reached over, gently tapping my hand against her paw, trying to ground her a little before motioning to go, she nodded slightly as she flicked her ears.
“Thank you, Obediah, we’ll be sure to get into touch with them once we get their contact. Have a good day!”
Taisa and I stood, exiting the room and making our way out of the building, stopping to look at another picture or two along the way. Something needed to be done about possibly not having a place to stay to put my, and more so Taisa’s, mind at ease. I figured I could sleep in the shuttle, if I had to. It wouldn’t be particularly comfortable but I could certainly do it; I’d need a mat, maybe a sleeping bag or some blankets and a pillow.
I had no clue where I was going to get my hands on those, or at least a set of them big enough for me to actually use.
Then I saw the temporary units in the field near the offices. Men and Women in U.N. fatigues were milling about the area. Barracks? That could solve the problem, if they’re willing to help out a man in need, of course.
“Hey, Taisa, I need to make a stop real quick.” I state, walking briskly towards the largest of the buildings. “What’s up?” She asks, ears focused on me as she tilts her head a little.
“Well, I was thinking, I don’t think your parents, your Mom especially, won’t, uh… won’t want me around. At least not for a little while until she gets to know me better.”
“I think you can get past it, she’s not that bad… It’ll just be tough.”
“Oh I’m sure I can get past it, but I’d rather not just sleep in the grass in the meantime.” “I don’t think she’d make you sleep in the grass…” “I like being prepared, if she doesn’t want me in her house I’m not going to push the issue.”
“I just… I hope it doesn’t come to that, I’m not going to let her toss you outside like an animal.” She sighs quietly as we push through the front door of the barrack building.
A desk manned by a napping U.N. Marine with Private ranks stuck to his shoulders filled the space beyond the doors. He stirs as the doors clank shut behind us before scrambling to throw on his Visor as he notices Taisa.
“Hello, Uh… Can I help you? This area is for active U.N. personnel only.” He starts, his voice finding its authority only about halfway through the statement.
I stand straight, trying to muster the stern demeanor I’d found in my father and his friends so often when they tried to get something on base after their retirements. “Easy, Private. It has come to my attention that my accommodations lack proper bedding.” “O-Oh, uh, I apologize…” He stammers out, searching for something to say, likely looking to find a way out of trouble for sleeping on duty.
“Sir.” I state. “What’s your name, Private?”
“A-Alvarez, Sir.”
“Alvarez. I’ll remember that, Alvarez, how about we make this quick, you get me a wrap of blankets, 3 pillows and a bedroll and I don’t find your commander to report your… lack of enthusiasm.”
The private snaps to attention before firmly stating. “Yes Sir! I’ll be right back, Sir!”
As the private turns and walks away crisply I hear Taisa whistle with laughter a little beside me. “I’m surprised that worked.”
“You’d be surprised what a hard voice, straight back and the right slacking Private can get you if you just don’t go pushin' it too far in your story.” I whispered with a wink.
After a few minutes of waiting Private Alvarez returned with a duffle bag, stuffed full with blankets and pillows, as well as an inflatable bedroll under the other arm. “Here you go, Sir. Will this be ok?” He asked, passing the items over to me.
“Perfect, thank you Private.” I took the bundle of bedding and turned to the door, before turning my head back over my shoulder, “Oh, and Private? Do try and get proper rest before duty.”
A shaking “Y-Yes, Sir.” followed Taisa and I out of the door.
The first half of the walk back to the landing field was quiet, I was scanning the skyline again, I just couldn’t get over the fact that I was on another planet. Taisa however had her ears pinned back, her paws lightly holding her tail tuft as we walked.
“What’s got ya down?” I asked, watching the herd of Venlil glide around us as we came, trying their best not to get too close to me.
“I’m… concerned.” She sighed, the tip of her tail twitching between her paws.
“About?”
“My mother, what she’ll say… What she’ll do.”
“I can’t exactly say I know what her reaction’ll be… But, whatever it is we’ll just have to deal with it. It’ll probably take time, but we’ll get by.” I soothed. She let go of her tail, placing the tip of it on my back, but her ears didn’t let up at all.
The rest of the walk to the shuttle was quiet as she fidgeted with her paws, trying to take her mind off of the subject. Videk was there waiting for us, a few crates secured to the cargo area of the shuttle that weren’t present before.
“You two ready?” He asked, flicking his tail at us.
“I think so.” I responded, stowing the bedding in an empty compartment as Taisa flicked her ears.
We ran through our preflight checklist again, finding another pre-placed failure from Videk waiting for us, this time in the starboard control surfaces. Once the check was done we radioed the tower for clearance to take off and set an in-atmo course for Shadetree to drop off Videk. It was a short hop, about a half hour of flying or so before I had to call ahead for clearance to land again.
Most of the flight from the Capitol to Shadetree had been rolling turquoise and green hills or open fields of produce growing in the everpresent light. A sudden dense forest rose from the fields, thick dark brown trees with fluttering golden leaves stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction. A sudden break in the forest revealed a clearing for the Landing field, much smaller than the one at the Capitol. The city was built under the canopy of the trees, giving it a constant filtered light casting down through the shifting leaves. It was certainly a beautiful town, I’d have to come back to visit some day. Maybe once Videk had warmed up to me a little bit more.
As the ramp fell ,a small cargo truck arrived alongside the shuttle to collect Videk and his equipment. I offered to help but the Venlil driver just about ran when I started talking so I figured it was probably best to just keep out of it. Once the cargo truck departed, Taisa came back up to the cockpit, plopping down in her seat, and looked through the viewscreen at the trees beyond. The soft hiss of the ramp closing marked the finality of Videk’s departure.
“So, how are you feeling about Venlil Prime so far?” She asked, one eye on my face as I finally slipped the visor off.
“I like it! Between the beautiful scenery, interesting architecture and hanging out with you and Shamrock, here I’m having a great time!” I responded, rubbing my hand on what amounted to the shuttle's dashboard.
“... Shamrock?” She asked, her tail swaying in what I figured for amusement.
“Yea! Remember how I told you Humans like looking for patterns? Well it works on words and numbers as well. The tail number for the shuttle could be taken to spell ‘Clover-HR-EX’, or just clover for short. Clovers are a type of plant on earth that a few cultures believed to be lucky, one way or another. One of the nicknames for them was a Shamrock!”
She laughed at me.
“You are such a dork.” She said, wiping a tear from her eye as her tail whipped back and forth. “It’s a good name, usually shuttles don’t get one. I think it fits.”
I chuckled, a thought crossing my mind. “Think we could get any shuttle-grade paint? Preferably green, yellow and black?” She raised an eyebrow at me as her ears cocked at different elevations. “Oh? Someone feeling a little artistic?”
“Well, I could always paint a Shamro-” I was interrupted as the ping signifying we were being hailed sounded off. “We’ll finish this later.” I said, pointing at her as I accepted the hail.
Videk’s voice bled through the speakers. “Ok, looks like the connection is secure. Let’s go ahead and run through getting you familiar with the software, it should be quick and easy.”
It was not.
It took two hours. After a lot of trial and error, stop and go flights to test the connection and a few near misses with an especially tall tree we had gotten the system setup such that Videk was confident it would work in an emergency if he needed to step in. With that all squared away Taisa and I settled in to get on our way to Heartwood River. Sleeping on the blow up mattress or on a real bed hardly mattered at this point, I just wanted to sleep.
The overall flight time was set to be about an hour and a half, not too bad and man was the view beautiful: rolling fields, roaring rivers, pristine skies and alien forests abounded across the countryside. We had just passed over Hidden Plains when Taisa and I were just settling back into talking about her parents and our best route to try and handle them, when the hail system chimed and immediately spat out a harsh tone without acknowledgement, the same one the simulator used for distress calls.
“Mayday Mayday Mayday. Report of shots fired at residence housing humans. Need immediate medical evac at The Berrypatch Farm in The Grove, 11 minutes Night-ward from Hidden Plains. Hailing all airborn craft, we need a medical evac immediately!”
I immediately returned the hail. “This is cargo shuttle C1-0V3R-HR-EX. Responding to Mayday from the Grove. We are en-route to render aid. Hold tight, we’ll be there.”
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Taisa tighten her flight harness as I reached for the throttle.
---
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First
Ferodias POV / Ten Years Earlier
His heart was pounding in his ears, the thrum of battle lingering for longer than it needed to as he pants hotly. He looked around the wooded area, between the trees, and around the trampled grass, and all he saw were the mangled corpses of monsters. He forced himself to focus, and before long, he could sense and hear his friends and allies; they all seemed to be okay, if not reasonably exhausted. "Sound off!" He called out, wiping the blood off the blade on his pant leg before sheathing it as his tail curled and lashed behind him.
"Here and a'okay!" A voice called out; it was from Brasyl, a young half-orc archer who wielded a bow that was impossibly hard for most people to draw and used unique, heavy arrows. The grey-skinned fellow stepped out of some brush and into view with a toothy grin, his face, chest, and right arm coated in blood that wasn't his own as he used a dirty rag to polish off his knife. "Those bastards sure got the drop on us, eh, Rodi?" He mused cheerfully enough.
Ferodias couldn't help but smirk a bit at the half-orc, it was a very close fight, but they did slaughter the infestation of branch bugs that had been terrorizing the local farming villages. At the very least, they culled the population, and they shouldn't be an issue until next spring. His ears twitched as he heard the squelching of bug flesh, turning to see Monty, a human teen warrior who planned to open his restaurant when he saved up enough coin to retire. He was currently grabbing tokens from each branch bug for proof of their total kill count. Upon seeing Ferodias spot him, Monty smiled while waving a branch bug head. "I'm good over here!" He chirped, stuffing the head away in a large sack before moving to the next one.
"I hate bugs." A voice said as they came up behind Ferodias, though he didn't need to turn to know who it was. Regan stepped up beside Ferodias, the half-elf wiping the blood off the end of his magic staff. "All those extra spindly limbs and that disturbing screeching, ugh." He complained as he shuddered before stamping the end of his staff into the dirt and leaning into it. "I would have rathered gone after those grappler bears that were seen near that mining town; at least they have the good decency not to swarm and get gooey blood all over the place."
Ferodias couldn't help but smirk with amusement at his best friend's expense; before he could respond, Regan was nearly knocked over by Danica, a young dwarven teen with an impressive goatee and an equally impressive hammer, as she smacked Regan's back a few times. "Ah, quit your bellyachin Spells; I kept them off ya well enough." She mused mischievously before going over to join Monty with the monster butchering.
Regan scowled with vague annoyance before sighing as he turned to face Ferodias. "Are you absolutely certain you want 'all' of these individuals as your guardians?" He asked, lowering his voice to a near whisper as they spoke privately. "At least reconsider, Danica, if only for my sanity." He mentioned, not sounding serious but making his point.
Ferodias' ears twitched as he flashed a small smile, speaking softly to keep this conversation between themselves. "Why not? They're all good people, strong for their age too; I'm sure they'll be up to snuff by the time the trials are called to a close." They've had this conversation a few times now, but it was only this time that Ferodias really felt genuinely confident of the people he gathered. The members of their party had shifted around a few times over the last couple of years, with Brasyl being the latest member and Danica being the longest-standing member so far. "Besides, you're just jealous she's paying more attention to Monty than you nowadays, aren't you?" He teased mischievously, speaking normally as he waggled his ears while looking over at the half-elf.
Regan flushed, though a frown was soon on his face. "As if, like I would want a woman in the shape of a barrel." He retorted as he looked away.
Danica called out from where she was, ripping off some bark bug limbs with Monty, no doubt planning on adding that to dinner tonight. "Don't worry, Spells; you're too much of a twig for me anyways." She called out playfully, taking it all in stride as she grinned while the other guys chuckled at the scene.
Ferodias couldn't help but laugh at his friend's expense before joining the others as they rounded up the bug heads, all in all, they managed to kill around thirty-seven bugs, and for three silver a head and the reward for the job itself, it was looking to be a good payday for their efforts; not to mention some extra protein for their next few meals. The day soon turned to evening, and their party had set up camp among the trees during their trek back to the nearest guildhall a few towns away. Monty had got a firepit going and set about making dinner, which was comprised of fire-grilled and salted bug legs, some hard bread, and dried fruits. Danica meticulously tended to everyone's weapons, ensuring they were polished and free of any bug guts or blood that were possibly missed earlier. Brasyl had procured a hard case with a latch, pulling out a lyre which he began playing, the delicate looking instrument producing a sweet little melody as the group waited for the food to be cooked.
They had been resting around the fire for some time, the bug meat ending up giving off a rather delicious smell, admittedly. Monty still tending to the fire while turning the legs over a portable wire grill. It was peaceful and quiet, save for Brasyl's music, that was until Regan started shifting around his tent, stepping into the open while clutching his staff. He only had his pants on, but he looked serious as his eyes stared into the darkness around them. Well, it was dark for most of them; with the aid of the flamelight, they could peer fairly far into the darkness; only Monty was relatively blind to anything beyond the reach of the flamelight. "What is it, Spells?" Danica spoke up, tossing Ferodias his sheathed blade and passing over Monty's spear. Brasyl set his lyre down and collected his bow as he notched an arrow.
Regan looked around, his eyes darting side to side. "Movement, we have trespassers who crossed the first threshold of the security perimeter I set..." He explained in a hushed voice.
"How many?" Ferodias asked as he drew his blade, retrieving his shield from beside his tent and standing at the ready, his tail curling close as his ears twitched and strained to catch any sounds beyond the crackle of the wood in the fireplace.
Regan pointed his staff in a direction as the group turned and readied themselves. "We got three, and they're closing in on us; they must have seen the fire." He reasoned as he twitched. "They're sixty feet away; they just crossed the second threshold." He reported, though his brow furrowed as he tilted his head. "Hold on, four more trespassers just crossed the first threshold in the same direction as the first group."
"What does that mean?" Brasyl asked as he drew his bow, the weighty limbs bending in response to the half-orc's strength as he aimed into the grey darkness. Regan didn't answer at first as Brasyl narrowed his eyes. "Spotted the first set... It looks like people in dresses!" He exclaimed, confusion apparent in his voice, though he didn't let his arms relax.
Regan had his eyes shut for a moment before opening them. "Adjust your aim a finger to the left and down, fire!" He ordered, Brasyl making the slight adjustments as the heavy arrow was loosed with a 'thwum,' an animalistic yelp sounding out a split-second later.
In mere moments, the three figures Brasyl had spotted were now in range of the flamelight; there were three women, two looking relatively untouched, save for some bruising and torn clothes. It was the third woman that caught Ferodias' eyes; she was pummeled brutally, her lip split, and one of her eyes had swollen shut, her dress had been ripped to shreds, and she was absolutely drenched in blood. He wanted to say something, speak to her, but he heard howls in the air and remembered at least three more things were chasing these women.
Regan stepped forward, raising his staff and firing off bolts of lightning, the energy arcing through the air and colliding into what appeared to be an enraged hound, frying the beast; there were two more left, having avoided being caught in the blast of electricity as both Monty and Ferodias stepped forward. The human brought his spear low before deftly thrusting into the open maw of one of the hounds, while Ferodias brought his shield up and bashed the remaining beast in the middle of its lunge, stunning it for a moment when he followed up with a downward slash and beheaded it.
The whole ordeal was over before it really began, Danica stepping forward and examining the beast corpses as Ferodias looked over to the women. "What's going on here?" He said, doing his best to present a gentle display despite the fresh blood coating his blade and arm.
The trio of ladies, upon closer inspection, were just girls barely older than Brasyl but younger than Ferodias. Two of them were clearly shaken but doing their absolute best to maintain their composure. The third and worse off seemed more hardened and collected, yet her gaze was distant and not focused. While she certainly looked like she was beaten to shit, because she was, Ferodias realized that most of the blood on her body wasn't hers as it coated her right arm and chest. If he had to guess, she managed to kill someone with that blood-drenched dagger she was clutching. It took a few moments, but a wolfkin girl with mostly human features spoke up. "I am Lady Nerva Foundeli, daughter of Viscount Foundeli." She said before gesturing to the younger of the trio, who was a half-elf that was shuddering almost uncontrollably despite trying her best to remain stoic. "She is Lady Roche Ferdina, daughter of Baron Ferdina." She then gestured to the battered teen human and spoke up, her own voice shaky and faltering from whatever experience they had gone through. "She is Lady Historietta Blackstone, daughter of Count Blackstone." She explained, taking a moment to clear her throat before looking among her rescuers. "We had been kidnapped three days ago, coming from a banquet in the capital... They were planning on holding us for ransom, but we overheard them talking of... of... Using us..." She said, choking on her own words, trying and failing to maintain her composure as Danica went about getting the ladies to sit by the fire, though Historietta remained standing where she was. "They planned on having their ways with us before throwing us away once they got their ransom... It was a day later that Historietta got the attention of one of those vagrants and began insulting him and his mother. She... She seemed to be somehow accurate as she managed to enrage him to the point where he entered the room we were locked in." She said, shivering as she recalled the event. "We begged her to stop, not to make things worse; however, it was too late, and he started to pummel her... We could do nothing since our arms were bound, but somehow she managed to free herself in the midst of the beating and got her hands on his knife." She then glanced over at Historietta, a mix of fear and awe in her voice. "She spilled his guts and freed us and managed to get the jump on one of the other bandits, killing him in his sleep. We managed to escape, but after some time, we heard those foul beasts hot on our heels. We saw your fire in the distance and ran towards you, hoping for the best." She said, gratefully taking a wooden cup with water as Monty passed them to the two ladies, Historietta still standing off to the side.
Brasyl spoke up, having returned to the camp with a bloodied arrow as he looked among the others. "Those hounds were domesticated; someone sent these things after these ladies." He said, not having been there for the story.
Danica nodded at his words. "Yeah, we have a kidnapping situation on our hands; these ladies just escaped." She explained, Brasyl's eyes going wide before bobbing his head as he cleaned off the arrow and tucked it away in his large quiver.
Ferodias approached Historietta, reaching out to touch her shoulder but then thinking better of it. "You alright, Lady Historietta? Can I get you something to eat or drink?" He asked softly, his tail curling tightly behind in distress at seeing a young woman in such a state.
It took a moment, but she seemed to come out of her fugue and looked directly at Ferodias; she averted her gaze, seemingly looking at something before croaking out some incomprehensible words and curtsying. It was almost regal as she grabbed what remained of her tattered dress to do so.
Lady Nerva spoke up while watching this take place. "I'm afraid Lady Historietta cannot speak right now; that vagrant she antagonized had grabbed her by her throat before she had been slammed around. Frankly, I'm surprised she can even breathe properly."
Ferodias looked and felt distressed, worry plain on his face, even as Historietta offered a small smile and wincing as she did so. Regan soon returned from the shadows as he spoke out. "I've reinforced my security wards with more lethal charms; we shouldn't have any more uninvited guests of the unsavory sort." He explained, offering a bit of a smile until he got a good look at Lady Historietta and winced at her condition. "Oh gods, give me a second." He said, heading over to his tent and grabbing his pack; he soon returned with a small vial of red liquid and uncorked it. "Here, a healing potion; I just bought it last week." He explained before going around behind her and placing a hand on her back. "Don't mind me; I'm just gonna use some life magic to amplify the potion's effects." He explained gently, a faint blue light radiating from his palm as Historietta slowly downed the potion, wincing with each swallow.
Monty offered a smile as he set out some bug legs and dried fruits on some wooden plates and passed them to the ladies. "Sorry about the cuts of meat, but you should eat up and gather your strength; we still have a bit of trek before we're back in a major city." He explained. The two ladies certainly looked skeptical at their plates, but they managed to give their thanks. Despite their reservations, they were soon digging in, breaking the fire-charred chitin to get to the soft meat on the inside.
As the minutes ticked by, Ferodias procured a water skin, a change of clothes, a towel, and a spare set of shoes and came over to Historietta and Regan. The duo was now sitting on the ground, with Regan on his knees behind her, Regan's magical light still glowing as Historietta's skin gradually stitched itself back to gather, the bruising and swelling receding as she seemed to even breathe more easily. "Here, once you're done, I've set up some tarps and a light nearby, so you take these and change out of those blood-soaked clothes and rinse off with this water skin." He explained before holding up the water skin in particular. "It's enchanted with water magic to refill every six hours, so don't worry about using it all." He mentioned.
Historietta took a slow breath before speaking up, her voice still scratchy but nowhere near as bad as it was earlier. "Thank you again; I'll be in your care." She said, bowing her head again.
After a few moments, Regan pulled away and stood as he looked down at the Lady, Ferodias being quick to offer his hand to help her to her feet. "Alright, that is as much as I can do for now without overly exhausting you. Get some rest, and we'll do this again in the morning." He explained, shooting Ferodias a curious glance while Historietta got to her feet. Lady Historietta once again bowed her head before walking away with the things Ferodias had brought; Ferodias couldn't help but watch as she left, though that's when Regan poked him in the ribs and quirked a brow at him. "What do you think you're doing? You're smitten with her, aren't you? Don't you remember that you can't tell anyone who you really are?" He chastised in a harsh whisper. "Don't do anything stupid."
Ferodias winced before chuckling sheepishly; he hadn't realized he was being that obvious; then again, Regan could read him like a book. "S-sorry... I... I just couldn't help but admire how composed and capable she is and how she's handling herself right now, even more so than the other ladies." He replied as his ears waggled while he scratched the back of his head.
Regan nodded, seemingly agreeing with that. "You're right... It's almost as if she's gone through this before." He mentioned worriedly. "Just watch yourself, don't go compromising your trials when you've come this far." He warned quietly as he pats Ferodias' shoulder before rejoining the group.
Ferodias nodded, though he looked over at the changing area he set up, catching a vague silhouette of the lady as he felt his cheeks heat up. "I'll try... But gods... What a woman."
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Four Champions. Four Tasks. Four Turns of the Clock's Dial.
The illusive Clockwork Kingdom has emerged from its legends. Circling the remains of it’s bordering empire, winding around like its namesake thanks to an ancient curse. The movement can be stopped, and the Kingdom sent back to legend, only by four champions chosen - supposedly - randomly to complete a dangerous task each.
Seren Juni has no idea why she's been chosen as one of these champions, especially when her late husband used his dying breath to plead that the curse never be broken. Yet, if she fails in breaking the curse, she will become one of the imprisoned within the walls of the Kingdom. If she cannot break her own bind to it, she will become trapped in a strange and dangerous realm for all eternity.
Seren isn’t going down without a fight though. With how much the world has changed since the Kingdom last appeared, she’s sure there has to be another way to break free of the curse. Yet, the clock is ticking down against her, and the Kingdom waits for no-one.
​
CHAPTER 1
​
Seren Juni had her eyes to the centaur when the world erupted on the other side of the horizon. She had been wondering about the little celestial junk hanging above the atmosphere, the thick rings of rock and dust surrounding it, wondering what it would look like on the other side of the world, or if its strange orbit kept it locked to this hell-scape. When the massive white flash ignited the sky, it only half won her attention, and she assumed that something had happened down in the mines, when the shockwave knocked her off her feet.
The force knocked her away from the window, throwing her across the rotting balcony and into the side of her house. Her teeth knocked together, and the window on her side-door burst into a mess of crystallised cracks. It cleared away with a pop through the sky that disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving Seren’s ears ringing.
Peeling herself off the ground, rubbing splinters from her arm, Seren squinted against the haze of the horizon, straining through the early morning gloom to see the great tower of the mine. For a terrible moment, she wondered if it had been the tower that caused the impact; it wouldn’t be the first time one had fallen. Then she spotted it. The rickety structure, platforms on platforms on platforms still rose from the quarry, a shadow amongst the smog.
Others came out of their houses, doors creaking and mumbled conversations ringing through the morning air, a sudden shift that felt off compared to the usual silence. Most of the mine workers had already left, and their spouses and kids, siblings and lovers all slept through to sunrise. Yet, each of them pulled on coats and wrapped boots, all staring out towards the tower and the haze surrounding it. Seren wrapped her vest tight across her chest. It wasn’t cold, but the air had changed. She could feel the tension that came after a disaster, the second between destruction and realisation. The moment before panic.
Blowing a stray, dark strand of hair from her face, Seren regarded the crystallised mess of her window, and the other shattered glass in the houses around her. Even the lampposts had gone out, their protective cases gone and the flames snuffed by the breeze. It left the rocky terrain around the houses impossible to see, but some of the people around her shuffled down anyway, some lighting their own lanterns and candles to throw long shadows along the ground. Seren pulled her vest tighter across her chest, then followed.
The little village of Rustfall had been built into the side of a mountain, the houses carved into the rocky cliffs on their own little platforms, leading onto a mesa that served as the town square. The stores that circled the flat plane were closed in the low light, simple buildings of brick and wood that were unrecognisable with their signs invisible. Seren stumbled down to a small collection of people waiting by the well in the centre, its bucket swinging from the aged roof in an eerie silence. She said nothing, and a few turned to notice her as she struggled to find the path that was half stairs and half hill, but no-one said anything to her either. No-one asked what was going on, but she could see it in their expressions.
They knew something was wrong, but didn’t know what. She could understand the sentiment.
‘It came from the mines.’ Seren expected to be ignored, and she was, as if this were another day in the market and she had asked why she was charged three shillings more than the last person for the same product. An older woman curled her lip in Seren’s direction, and a few more glanced out towards the tower. The mine itself was invisible from even the highest points of the town, with the mountains curling around the buildings acting as a great, toothed wall. It probably didn’t help that it was underground either.
‘We have to wait until dawn breaks,’ an old man spoke up. ‘To see the damage.’
‘Until then, we have to send a party to the mines,’ the old woman next to Seren said. ‘To report to the rest of us.’
‘I’ll send my sons,’ the old man said. ‘And any other willing body can join them.’
‘I’ll go.’ One of the younger mothers spoke up, and a few around her raised their hands with her. Seren copied the motion, though once again, she was ignored. None of the figures around her looked like the usual followers of Lord Wickham, but with only half-a-dozen faces illuminated by the torchlight, she couldn’t know for sure. Surely now wasn’t the time to be worrying about petty gossip, but as the receiver of said gossip, what did she know?
Seren glanced back up at the ringed rock floating across the sky, wondering for a split second if part of it had come crashing down. She wondered if it would, just once, just to pluck away at these judgemental souls, then let the moment of anger pass. Soon. She would be leaving soon.
Remembering why she was outside and waiting in the first place, Seren scanned the crowds, the few faces she could see in the torchlight as the crowd broke away in preparation to climb the mining trail. She saw no sign of any stranger, no-one in a courier uniform with a letter that would let her leave this place. Perhaps, after waiting all night, that was her sign to walk away from this and start heading for the bay herself. Yet, she also couldn’t stand not knowing what could be so powerful to be felt here. She didn’t trust anyone here to tell her when they did find out.
The small party of villagers collected to move out, down the carved out road at the end of the mesa into farming country, and Seren rushed to catch up. There were six in total, more than what was needed for someone to run up the mountain and check. They probably assumed whatever happened would need extra hands. Probably. She hadn’t been paying attention.
‘No.’ One of the men put his hand out as she attached herself to the tail of the group, making to shove her back. Seren struggled to remember his name. Ara. The butcher’s son. He thought he was intimidating because he was wider than he was tall and his father played with pig guts for a living.
Seren glared at him. ‘I’m going out there with you,’ she said. ‘Or I can go by myself.’
‘Why? So you can make sure the mine collapsed properly?’ A girl chided.
Seren sighed. So, this was about petty gossip. Not that she would be too upset if the mine tower did collapse–at least when no-one was in it–since it would at least tell them what they needed to know about that place. Yet, people were in the mine right now, and if something was wrong, they needed all hands on deck. She couldn’t sit here and wait. She couldn’t stay here and deal with more comments like that when there was actual work to do.
She wouldn’t let herself get mad. If she got riled up, they’d have reason to throw her in lock-up again. She was going with them, no matter what meat-head Ara had decided. ‘It might be dangerous?’ she offered. ‘I might fall in a hole and die.’
‘Now isn’t the time for petty hatred.’ This came from Mairead, a fellow widow who didn’t like Seren, but didn’t like much of anyone else either. ‘You just made the argument about needing help. Kid is offering it. Take it. Go.’
Ara gave a low growl, but Mairead was bigger, older, and had spent her life picking up multiple people by the collar and tossing them out of her bar. She would break Ara like a twig, and part of Seren wanted him to push it so she could see him snap in half over her knee. Instead, he turned on his heel and pushed to the front of the group, and the troupe moved out. Seren threw a thankful glance towards Mairead, then fell into step behind them, making sure to keep her distance. Maybe there would be a death tonight. If her body disappeared in the mountains wilder parts, no-one would come looking. Still, her late Braxton had died trying to warn people about what was in that mine, and she wasn’t about to sit back because they had been too stubborn to listen.

The automatic tire inflation system market is projected to grow from USD 82 million in 2023 to USD 138 million by 2028, at a CAGR of 10.7% during the forecast period.
The increasing demand for improved tire life and to prevent accidents due to tire blowouts, the demand for ATIS in heavy-duty vehicles and farm tractors would create growth opportunities.
ATIS for Farm Tractor is expected to be the largest segment for ATIS system in off-highway ATIS systems during the forecast period.
The farm tractor market is projected to grow from ~USD 54 billion in 2022 to ~USD 69 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 5.0% over the forecast period. >130-250 HP tractors are expected to be the fastest-growing market during the forecast period globally. Europe is the largest market for these tractors due to the increasing traction of tractors with high-pulling power and the growing demand for commercial agriculture. Most of these >130-250 HP tractors have an automatic tire inflation system (ATIS). Europe is also the largest market for >250 HP farm tractors. The increasing popularity of commercial farming and new product launches by various major players are expected to boost the market in the region. For instance, Michelin EVOBIB is the first agricultural tire in the market designed specifically for use with Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS).
Alternatively, the penetration of ATIS is negligible in <130HP tractors as these tractors are mostly suitable for farm sizes of half to two acres. Automatic tire inflation systems offer significant benefits for agriculture tractors, allowing farmers to optimize traction, manage soil compaction, improve efficiency, enhance operator comfort, and protect their equipment. With the increased demand for high HP tractors, ATIS demand will grow in the coming years, especially in Europe and North America.
The OEM Sales channel is expected to hold the largest market share in 2028.
The study scope considers on-highway vehicles (light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles) under the OEM sales channel. The OEM segment holds the largest share of the sales channel in the ATIS market. OEMs are employing the ATIS system in vehicles and designing the chassis per the ATIS system's requirement.
Aftermarket automatic tire inflation systems may vary in quality, compatibility, and support. The major challenges in aftermarket automatic tire inflation systems are complexity, compatibility with existing TPMS, sensor integration with existing systems, and system cost. Some aftermarket systems may require additional installation steps or modifications to the vehicle, potentially voiding warranties. Hence, retrofitting of ATIS is not much preferred presently.
OE-fitted systems are designed to integrate ATIS with the vehicle's existing systems seamlessly. ATIS manufacturers develop these systems in collaboration with the vehicle manufacturer, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance. Since OE-fitted systems are designed with the vehicle's overall design, they are integrated into the vehicle's existing interface, such as the dashboard or infotainment system, making it easier for the driver to monitor and adjust tire pressure as needed. Considering the benefits offered, the demand for ATIS in the OE market is projected to grow.
North America is estimated to be the largest market for Automatic Tire Inflation Systems (ATIS).
North America is the largest ATIS market globally, as the region has large farmlands, generating a need for large farm tractors. Also, the region is one of the largest markets for trucks and trailers, which cover long distances on concrete freeways, causing excess heating of tires and improper variation in tire pressure. This can decrease tire life or cause tire bursting, leading to accidents. Factors such as road safety regulations, emphasis on fuel efficiency, and the presence of major automotive manufacturers contribute to the ATIS market growth in North America.
OEMs are fitting the trailers/trucks with ATIS for better vehicle safety. Additionally, North America has a vast network of highways and extensive transportation infrastructure, which drives the need for reliable tire maintenance systems. Automatic tire inflation systems effectively maintain proper tire pressure, enhance safety, and improve fuel economy. These reasons will generate demand for ATIS in North America.
The ATIS is a consolidated market with few players like Dana Incorporated (US), MICHELIN (France), IDEX Corporation (US), Enpro Industries (US), MERITOR (US), SAF-HOLLAND (Germany), and CLAAS (Germany) dominating the industry. New product development, partnership, and joint venture strategy have been the most dominating strategy adopted by major players from 2018 to 2023, which helped them to innovate their offerings and broaden their customer base.
Information Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/automatic-tire-inflation-system-market-worth-138-million-by-2028---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-301845768.html

The report "Automatic Tube Cleaning System Market by Type (Automatic Ball Tube Cleaning System, Automatic Brush Tube Cleaning System), Industry (Power Generation, Oil & Gas, Commercial Spaces, and Hospitality), Application and Region - Global Forecast to 2028" The global automatic tube cleaning system market size is estimated to be USD 117 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 143 million by 2028, at a CAGR of 4.0%. Automatic tube cleaning systems reduce the frequency of costly maintenance shutdowns while optimizing equipment function and increasing energy savings. Automated tube cleaning systems frequently work to eliminate the formation of deposits, thereby decreasing the frequency of costly maintenance shutdowns while optimizing equipment function.
• Informational PDF Brochure :-https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=151822184
Browse 178 market data Tables and 47 Figures spread through 185 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Automatic Tube Cleaning System Market by Type (Automatic Ball Tube Cleaning System, Automatic Brush Tube Cleaning System), Industry (Power Generation, Oil & Gas, Commercial Spaces, and Hospitality), Application and Region - Global Forecast to 2028" View detailed Table of Content here - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/automatic-tube-cleaning-system-market-151822184.html
Automatic ball tube cleaning system to grow at the highest CAGR during the review period
Automatic ball tube cleaning system is an inline cleaning system, which means that there is no need to shut down the plant for periodic cleaning of heat exchanger tubes or interrupt the plant operation. The cleaning can be done without interrupting the process. The key players which provide automatic ball tube cleaning systems are Taprogge Gmbh (Germany), Beaudrey (France), and Westech Engineering, Inc (U.S)
Power generation industry to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period
Power generation industry is likely to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. The automatic tube cleaning system is used to increase the cooling capacity and energy savings in heat exchangers. It is cost-effective, which reduces carbon footprint and helps heat exchangers operate at peak efficiency.
Asia Pacific to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period
The increasing population and rapidly growing industrialization have made China and India the largest electricity producers in the world. Also, the APAC region has a booming commercial space industry. The growing need for energy saving and improving operational efficiency in refineries and commercial spaces drives the market for automatic tube cleaning systems in APAC. Moreover, the increase in demand for electricity due to growing urbanization and population increases the need for power plants to generate sufficient electricity for usage. These factors are driving the growth of automatic tube cleaning systems in Asia Pacific.
Major companies operating in the automatic tube cleaning system market include Taprogge Gmbh (Germany) BEAUDREY (France), WesTech Engineering, LLC (U.S.), Ovivo (Canada), Balltech Energy Ltd.(Israel) and among others
Don’t miss out on business opportunities in Automatic Tube Cleaning System Market. Speak to our analyst and gain crucial industry insighs that will help your businessgrow.
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Good morning rise and grinders.
The water is finally rising and the walls are closing in. Being in the VAR game I thought I was safe from the impending bloodbath of tech layoffs. Unfortunately that is not the case.
I’ve been at my current role for 8 months. Love my company, not toxic, realistic expectations and interviewed on about an expected ramp time of 1.5 years. We do pretty good work too.
Our last quarterly meeting everything looked great, rising revenues, solid cash reserves, felt pretty safe as others in tech and SaaS here started sounding the layoff alarm.
Looks like it’s here too, although CDW just took a massive cut a few months ago.
2 on my team were let go seemingly out of nowhere. 2 more were just put on PIP. That leaves 4 of us on this team not officially hung out to dry. To my knowledge, all of those reps were pretty solid.
On my 1 on 1 this week, my manager (who I do really like) kind of had a somber tone. Our meeting went well and had plenty of developments to report on. I’ve secured some new clients albeit very small orders closed so far, but with some decent opportunities for Q3 and Q4. Before we ended the 1 on 1, manager dropped “we really like you and I personally like the work you’ve been doing breaking in to these accounts and establishing the relationship, however at your tenure we need more quoting activity or you might not work here anymore.”
Great, and out of left field as before this I’ve only been told I’m doing better than expected. Swear I was jinxed, as 4 of my largest opportunities fell through this week after our meeting. I still have some stuff going on, but that was 80% of my number of the 1.5 year ramp gone in 3 days. Prospects seem to be tightening the belt, which is not good given my situation.
Needless to say I’m stressing, had a long stretch of unemployment (1 year and completely my own fault) before starting this role. Now it looks like it might be another bump in the road. Waiting for the inevitable paid interview practice plan before I start applying.
Currently doubling my activity metrics to see what I can pull out of my prospect list, and sending some blind quotes with a meeting request to get something going.
It’s been asked 1000 times, and since I’m normally giving it its weird, but could use advice and encouragement to get through this. Roast me as well if you want. Any other VARS/MSPs going through this? There’s definitely some reps that are still exceeding here, but they all are at or past the two year mark. Suddenly feeling the heat.

The global Soy Chemicals Market size was valued at 623.75 million in 2022 and is estimated to reach 834.17 million by 2029, at a CAGR of 4.24% during the forecast period 2023 to 2029. It also includes market size and projection estimations for each of the five major regions from 2023 to 2029. The research report includes historical data, trending features, and market growth estimates for the future. Furthermore, the study includes a global and regional estimation and further split by nations and categories within each region. The research also includes factors and barriers to the Soy Chemicals Market growth, as well as their impact on the market's future growth. The report gives a comprehensive overview of both primary and secondary data.
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View the detailed report description here - https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/soy-chemicals-market
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The global Soy Chemicals Market segmentation:
1) By Product Type: Soybean Oil Derivatives, Natural Extracts from Soybean, Refined Industrial Soybean Oil
2) By End-User: biodiesel, Bio plastics, Oleo Chemicals, Surfactants, Paints & Coatings, Printing Inks, Polyol & Thermoplastics, Elastomers & Rubbers, Plasticizer, Others
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The Soy Chemicals Market report helps to provide the best results for business enhancement and business growth. It further helps to obtain the reactions of consumers to a novel product or service. It becomes possible for business players to take action for changing perceptions. It uncovers and identifies potential issues of the customers. It becomes easy to obtain the reactions of the customers to a novel product or service. It also enlightens further advancement, so it suits its intended market.
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The Soy Chemicals Market research report gives a comprehensive outlook across the region with special emphasis on key regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. The growing manufacturing units in the region has resulted in an increase in the adoption of soy-based chemicals in the region. Moreover, the increasing demand for cosmetic & personal care in the region has further augmented the demand for soy-based chemicals.
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The important profiles and strategies adopted by Soy Chemicals Market key players are.
Ag Environmental Products LLC, The Dow Chemical Company, Cargill Incorporated, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Columbus Foods Co., Bunge Limited, Eco Safety Products, Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc., Vertec BioSolvents Inc
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The U.S. home fitness equipment market size was valued at USD 4.43 billion in 2021. The market is projected to grow from USD 4.81 billion in 2022 to USD 7.80 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period.
This information is published by Fortune Business Insights, in its report, titled, “U.S. Home Fitness Equipment Market, 2022-2029.”
As per the research conducted by our analysts, the obese population are greatly worried about their physical look and utilize exercise machines such as treadmill, elliptical, dumbbell, and others to handle their body weight. Consequently, the growing obesity occurrence and surging awareness concerning the health advantages of utilizing such equipment are primarily fueling the product demand in the U.S.
Fortune Business Insights™ lists out all the U.S. home fitness equipment market companies that are presently striving to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the market:

• Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. (U.S.)
• Core Health & Fitness, LLC (U.S.)
• Johnson Health Tech Co., Ltd. (U.S.)
• Hoist Fitness Systems (U.S.)
• Rogue Fitness (U.S.)
• Body Craft Inc. (U.S.)
• BodyEnergy Technology Co., Ltd. (U.S.)
• TRUE Fitness Technology Inc. (U.S.)
• Torque Fitness (U.S.)
• Life Fitness, Inc. (U.S.)

Report Coverage:
Our reports are directed utilizing an extensive examination technique that principally focuses on providing accurate information. Our experts have used a data triangulation technique that further aids us to offer reliable valuations and review the general market dynamics accurately. In addition, our analysts have attained admission to numerous international as well as locally sponsored records for presenting upgraded insights in order for entrepreneurs and shareholders to take crucial investment-related decisions smartly.
Drivers and Restraints:
Repeated Facility of Pioneering Exercising Gears by Producers to Assist Market Progress
All the important exercise gear manufacturers provide performance tracing technology-grounded workout devices in the U.S. The efforts of these companies are anticipated to assist with the product demand throughout the U.S. Furthermore, the surging consumer expenditure on Internet of Things (IoT) technology-grounded household equipment is motivating corporations to present ground-breaking exercising products. This factor helps the U.S. exercise products industry grow.
The higher cost of digital exercise products is expected to limit its demand among the lower & middle-income U.S. population groups, thereby, restraining the U.S. home fitness equipment market growth. Furthermore, increasing incidences of workout-related injuries due to the improper usage of such products will decline the product demand for U.S. home fitness equipment.
Segmentation:
Cardio Benefits Make Cardiovascular Training Equipment Segment to Hold Major Market Share
Based on equipment type, the market is segregated into cardiovascular training equipment, strength training equipment, and others. Cardiovascular training equipment is highly beneficial in regulating blood pressure and heart rate levels. The cardiovascular training equipment segment holds a major U.S. home fitness equipment market share.
The sales channel is segregated into online and offline.
Competitive Landscape:
Pioneering Product Unveilings by Pivotal Players to Spur Market Growth
The chief players functioning in the market are often observed applying numerous tactics to boost their position in the market as dominating corporations. One such prime tactic is procuring firms to uplift brand recognition among users. An additional vital notion is intermittently introducing groundbreaking products with a thorough review of the market and its target audience.
Industry Developments:
July 2021: FITBENCH, which is a maker of exercising bench products, presented 'FITBENCH FREE'a multi-purpose exercising bench in Wisconsin, U.S. This fitness bench is light in weight and saves up space, with two wheels for moving around and is a perfect product for gym workouts at one’s residence.
Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report:
https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/u-s-home-fitness-equipment-market-106595
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SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), a sort of digital marketing technique, can be used to improve a website or online piece of content in order to increase exposure and position in search engine results pages (SERPs). By focusing on relevant keywords, improving website performance and structure, and improving user experience overall, SEO aims to increase organic (unpaid) traffic to a website.
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The global clinical research services market size was valued at USD 47.06 billion in 2022 and is poised to grow at a significant CAGR of 9.41% during the forecast period 2023-29. It also includes market size and projection estimations for each of the five major regions from 2023 to 2029. The research report includes historical data, trending features, and market growth estimates for the future. Furthermore, the study includes a global and regional estimation and further split by nations and categories within each region. The research also includes factors and barriers to the clinical research services market growth, as well as their impact on the market's future growth. The report gives a comprehensive overview of both primary and secondary data.
View the detailed report description here - https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-clinical-research-services-market
The global clinical research services market segmentation: 1) By Type of Service: Treatment Research, Prevention Research, Diagnostic Research, Screening Research, Quality of Life Research, Genetic studies, Epidemiological studies, Clinical Trials and Others 2) By Disease Area: Oncology, Central Nervous System Disorders, Cardio Vascular Disorders, Diabetes, Infectious Diseases and Others 3) By End User: Pharmaceutical Companies, Biotechnological Companies, Research Organizations and Others
The clinical research services market report helps to provide the best results for business enhancement and business growth. It further helps to obtain the reactions of consumers to a novel product or service. It becomes possible for business players to take action for changing perceptions. It uncovers and identifies potential issues of the customers. It becomes easy to obtain the reactions of the customers to a novel product or service. It also enlightens further advancement, so it suits its intended market.
The clinical research services market research report gives a comprehensive outlook across the region with special emphasis on key regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America was the largest region in the clinical research services market report, accounting for the highest share in 2021. It was followed by Asia Pacific, and then the other regions.
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The important profiles and strategies adopted by clinical research services market key players are Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings, Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc, PAREXEL International Corporation, ICON Plc, PRA Health Sciences, Inc., InVentiv Health Inc., Wuxi AppTec, Pharmaceutical Product Development , INC Research Holdings, Charles River Laboratories International covered here to help them in strengthening their place in the market.
About Precision Business Insights: We are a market research company that strives to provide the highest quality market research insights. Our diverse market research experts are enthusiastic about market research and therefore produce high-quality research reports. We have over 500 clients with whom we have a good business partnership and capacity to provide in-depth research analysis for more than 30 countries. In addition to deliver more than 150 custom solutions, we already have accounts with the top five medical device manufacturers.
Precision Business Insights offers a variety of cost-effective and customized research services to meet research requirements. We are a leading research service provider because of our extensive database built by our experts and the services we provide.
Contact:
Mr. Satya
Precision Business Insights Toll Free: +1 866 598 1553
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