Hi Only recently bought GT 7 purely because of the price (Brand New £9.00) one thing I'm a bit lost on the game. What purpose do the Red Chevron (brake) area's serve in the few race's I've tried some I have won others I cannot get even in the top 10 when racing if I hit the Red Chevron's my car looks as if it's dragging a ton weight but all the AI cars go through it as if there tyres are in fire. 🤔 TIA 👍👍

Well, I am SO happy with my plans I had made! In the Sewers, I caught a Zubat named Echo. In Relic Passage, I used Repels and activated a Rustling Dirt area, and was able to get a Drilbur I named Hugs (I only caught her because she Fury Swipes’d Cashmere and got hit with Static). In the Castelia Park, I hit the Doubles Grass to increase my odds for Eevee. That backfired dramatically as I instead got 2 Ratatta. I took one down, and the other low, almost losing Peanut the Tranquil to a Crit Hyper Fang (she survived on 3HP). I swapped her out and inflicted Status Conditions, and caught the vicious rat, who is named Dahmeria (yes, I just added -ia to the end of that individual’s name).
After trying for an hour and a half to hunt Grimer and snatch a Black Sludge from one (failing in the process because out of over 200 encounters that were Single Battles in the sewers, I only found 5 of the 10% Grimer encounter rates, and not a single one held the 5% Black Sludge item, even though I had met 30+ Grimer while grinding via Doubles, and at least 7 of them had held Black Sludge), I began making my plan, havjng grinded the team up (with help of the EXP Share).
The plan was as follows. My team for Burgh was Echo the Zubat (I didn’t levek her higher to evolve since almost 3am at this point, half asleep, and annoyed from a distinct lack of Black Sludge and Grimer), Peanut the Tranquil, and Glitch the Magnemite. Glitch was holding Leftovers, Peanut an Oran Berry, and Echo nothing (she had been holding EXP Share during the gym but I removed it for my strategy). Peanut would lead and deal with Swadloon. Baiting Smack Down, swap to Glitch, who Paralyzes and then double Thundershocks. Leavanny would follow. Paralyze, then Flash it 6 times to reduce accuracy (and their crit chances by extension). I would then swap into Echo who I had taught Thief, to snatch the Sitrus Berry, in case she was attacked and hit during this swap. If not, free berry. I would then swap back to Peanut who knows Air Cutter to finish the fight since she would outspeed and the move was Special, unlike Echo’s Wing Attack.
I put the plan into action. Swadloon and Dwebble were just as planned. Leavanny was a bit scary for Glitch during all the set up because even after 3 Flashes, she was hitting with Razor Leaf, and one Crit, but thankfully between Leftovers, High Defense, and the Steel Typing, Glitch tanked. The set up was complete. Echo came in. Dodge a Razor Leaf. Steal the Berry. String Shot to slow her down. Swap to Peanut. Another dodged Razor Leaf! I fire Air Cutter with 95% Accuracy, and-
One Shot.
We have had only 1 death (and a few close calls during grinding sessions), and we now have 3 badges. The challenge just got so much harder, as I’m now the farthest I’ve been in any attempt. My next challenge is Colress and Elesa. I think Hugs the Drilbur will be 100% necessary in these upcoming fights, so I’ll focus on raising her a bit, and likely will toss the EXP Share onto one of the Flying Types, or onto Shogun, so that he can keep leveling up with the crew for the eventual Clay fight. I have 3 encounters in the desert as well (plus the 2 Static Encounters of Volcarona and I believe Braviary in White 2, and I count Static Encounters as Free Catches, similar to a Gift Pokemon, per personal rule sets). Time to see what I get tomorrow.

Tired of hitting that refresh button on the LFG? Losing sleep over the inconsistency of pickup group players? Feeling that you just need a little bit of stability in your raiding life?
We're recruiting! What are we looking for, we hear you ask?
We're on the hunt for passionate players with experience in every wing plus strikes, CMs preferred.
The ideal candidate would be skilled on one role and be confident with at least two others. You'll be expected to play your main role most nights, but there's wriggle room if you want to stretch your multi-role muscles.
Currently, we're looking for players who specialize in:

• Quickness support (power and condi), or;
• DPS (additional roles as required)

However, we'd be happy to hear from any role as active players will always be welcomed as backups!
That's cool and all, but how are we different?
The static has existed for over a year now and has had excellent player retention, with a core team for around the same length of time.
Generally, we get all wing CMs cleared in one day ([email protected]), with a second day ([email protected]) scheduled for strike CM progression. We're currently working on HT CM. We're not aiming to get into raid leagues.
We know what it's like to be in a toxic environment. We've been there, done that, got the magnetite shards, and we don't think that people should have to deal with that experience - especially on a weekly basis whilst trying to have fun. As such, we're strictly anti-flame.
We're LGBTQ+ friendly. Friends are what it's all about. We're community builders. That's the aim of our game.
Interested?
Fire us a message on Discord for more info and to apply.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
D_V

I mostly play solo and almost never hit the team toggle. When I play in teams it's with my friends. I get killed a lot since I am alone and I get teams of 3-4 members shooting at me all the time so I do my best to make it hard for them to get me or frustrating when they manage to kill me.
My most beloved thing is selling everything I have on me and then buying an exfil. If anything significant remains I buy useless stuff that is easy to find and not saleable like armor plates. So upon getting me, they find an empty bag and in the meantime, they lose their time and expose their selves to my or bots' fire so they get their ammo and plates reduced. A few days ago I managed to get away and the whole team died when caught in the radioactive cloud and got too much bots' fire on them. It was pretty fun to see them dying while I was getting away in my purchased exfil helicopter.
Another thing I do is hide in plain sight. I won't say what I do and what places I choose but it is nothing involving cheats or anything game-illegal. I had a big laugh while in the Fortress area. They were passing right next to me and couldn't realize my location while I was listening to their comms and knew exactly how bad they were looking.
So how do you make your hunters' life miserable and the hunt not worthy?

Can somebody just buy this company or at least make them get their shit together. It really sucks that Future Motion holds a monopoly over the onewheel market, but is such a shitty company in almost every way.
The onewheel has sparked so many interests in all walks of life from old to young. From nerds to jocks. It has even spawned several companies and sporting events solely on its creation. So many people find so much joy in getting out and exploring the world on their onewheel.
The issue is Future Motion. We would all wish that behind such an enjoyable, awesome design we could find equally awesome people running the show. Instead we have a sleazy company who devotes so much time and effort into undermining third party companies and taking out patents on anything and everything that the boards are made from and everything that could improve upon the design or change it in any way. We have a company who puts no emphasis on safety until they are forced to do so and blatantly blaming consumers for product defects.
We have seen Future Motion deny warranty claims and blaming consumers for obvious factory defects. We have been called liars for trying to stand up for ourselves.
We have seen many issues with onewheels from nuts rattling loose on the pint, overheating GT’s due to powder coated cast rails, fering ring issues, ghosting issues do to a sensitive footpad and even DOA boards. I get it, with any product only time will expose all the flaws, but when it occurs the company needs to address the issues in an appropriate manor a d fix the issues at no cost to the owners and admit fault.
As a pint x owner myself, it is ver apparent that most if not all pint x boards have a wire chaffing issue. The battery cables are jammed into too small of a battery box, on a sharp edge leading to badly crimped wires and over time, wire exposure. This can lead to a dead board. This can lead to a fire. Even worse this can lead to the board shutting down mid ride which as we all know can cause serious bodily harm or even death in extreme cases. Hundreds of people have pictures proving the defect to be true and some even have written proof of denied warranty claims and being called liars by FM. This is absolutely unacceptable. At this point the only options for pint x owners like myself are either open up the board and cix the issue, tossing your warranty out the window or leaving it alone and hope that your board does not throw you off mid ride and kill you.
What are we as consumers supposed to do? Should we give up all the joy that onewheels bring to the world and boycott the company? Should we close down our accessory businesses that are derived of the product? Should we continue to support an aggressive companies lawsuits and blatant disregard of their customers well being? At this point I don’t know what we should do. I hate to support such a disgusting business practice, but at the same time, I absolutely love the product.
Maybe the CPSC will do some good. Maybe they will not force Future Motion to shut down but instead force them to address all of these issues. Perhaps Future Motion will change their ways and admit their faults and stand behind their products, fixing all of the known issues and any that are exposed in the future.
I know it’s a long post and if you got all the way through it, I thank you. Please comment, up vote, screenshot, do whatever it takes to hopefully draw the attention of future motion and maybe just maybe they will change their ways before its too late. Ws want the right to repair. We want the right to customize. We want third party companies to not get sued when all they are trying to do is expand on and improve on the market. Most of all we want Future Motion to admit fault and fix the known issues or at least let consumers address the issues of their own boards without sacrificing warranty. Thank you.

The four famous clans of Amadahai, its ladies and their sons, gathered together in the common hall of what people knew as "the palatial district". The core of the palace had overgrown the square, ring-like shape as new additions were built along the perimeter through the years. The symmetry of the structure was broken to accomodate the growing clans – and their growing entourage.
Half of the morning had already gone by, but the common hall was lit with oil candles and the glow of a central brazier: the sky outside was flat and grey, and whichever light filtered from the courtyard and the high windows on the outer walls of the palace were not enough to illuminate the faces of the clanpeople. They had taken their places on the ground, each kneeling on a soft cushion filled with cattail fluff, and would go on discussing as the morning went on.
The neighbouring village, Pabarha by the pond-of-many-lotuses, had refused to repay their debt. Two years before, the clans of Amadahai had come to their aid and provided them with plentiful rôdo in times of need; when the time came to hold their part of the bargain, however, they sent an empty-handed emissary with words of regret, conveying their intention to break the contract.
The youngest of the mothers present unfurled a thin stretch of birchbark where the two parties had impressed their promises, marked by five symbols. On top, was the picture of an empty granary, Pabarha's most pressing issue at the time. Below, their two choices: an empty granary and a farmhand working the fields or a full granary and a man at rest. At the bottom, two sigils representing the two parties participating in the exchange: the lotuses that gave their name to Pabarha, the village of the perjurers, and a bull atop a pecan tree, mythical symbol of Amadahai.
"When I drew those symbols," The matriarch said, as she passed the scroll around for all to see, "The terms of our exchange were no less clear than they are today. We saved Pabarha from a failed harvest: in return they had to either return the rôdo as soon as they could or would provide a number of farmhands to our city, for the entire period of their indebtedness." It was a fair exchange and, for a time, Pabarha had consented.
The farmhands were sent to Amadahai and they had soon proved themselves to be a profitable investment. They lived in wooden houses appositely built near the paddies and returned to their village every half moon to visit their wives and their families. That arrangement had continued for little more than a year. "The farmhands left four days ago and have not returned to their work – instead, what do we find? A young emissary has come in their stead, demanding Pabarha be allowed to forego her promises." The birchbark sheet had made the rounds amongst the reunited clanpeople and returned to her. "I ask the other mothers leave."
They women silently consented and the youngest, the writer of the contract, threw the birchbark onto the brazier. The mothers had forfeited their right to be a part of that conversation and, from then on, it would be the sons, not the mothers, to hold the first and last word. The clan had no other choice: promises had been forgotten, debts had not been repaid and that intricate tangle of promises, favours, debts and credits could be put in grave danger by such a simple refusal.
It did not happen often that the men gathered inside the high house took decisions without words of approval or lamentations from the elder women of the clans. It had never happened for Cebecajamân, a man who had not lived through his sixteenth year of age and was only recently invited to sit at the councils as one of the leaders nephews. He sat straight and looked around him as the tower of smoke emitted from the burning birchbark dissolved before them. Wordlessly, the women left the room.
For a moment, the men remained silent, reflecting on the weight of that moment – that meant war was the next solution, the only solution. Phazjedjei, Cebecajamân's uncle took his stick and his pipe, which was hidden in a pouch tied under his cape, and began smoking. The others followed his example. Six men, three uncles and three nephews, reflected and smoked. There would be a precise order to how they would speak and, as the youngest man admitted to that assembly, Cebecajamân would go first.
He cleared his throat – the pipe was still a little too much for him – and gathered the courage to speak: "Does... does that means we will have to kill them?"
_____
There were few places kinder than Amadahai on a spring morning. The sun would tickle the surface of the lake, then rise high – but never too hot – to the top of the sky. Those were the sweetest hours: the bright light streamed in like metal from Kamābarha, the same brassy copper that covered the points of Cebecajamân's arrows.
He was counting them, one by one, making sure his quiver was full and none of his precious arrows had been lost since his last tally. Most of the other men in his band would have stone arrowheads, others red copper, but that fine orange-gold one was destined only for Cebecajamân and the other clan-men, their leaders. No arrow was missing, so he took his quiver of woven cattail stalks, his bow and walked to meet the other men. As he passed under the passion fruit tree outside his home, he marvelled at the irony of life: preparing an attack as nature bloomed so beautifully.
He met them at the edge of the city, beyond the mound, where the groves began. Saying "a full unit of men" was something, but seeing them in person, each with his own quiver and bow, each with a straw, padded coat, was rather impressive. He greeted them with respect as he walked over the field to join the other members of his clan. There were three leaders for the attack, Cebecajamân was the youngest, but by far the best shot; then, there was Jajabadojôho, his cousin who was very quick and nimble, and Ineme, a young uncle who belonged to their same generation and who was well respected by the other men. He knew very little of the other men. There were some minor clanmen, children of true clanmen who had no claim to leadership: they often were better warriors, as they had much spare time and filled their days with pigeon hunts and competitions – Cebecajamân, was very envious about that; then, there were young men from the city: the son of the fisherman, the nephew of the butcher, the cousin of the man who sold the best preserves at the market; the rest were farmers who normally tended orchards or paddies and had been called to lend their bows to fight for the honour of their leaders. The best amongst them had been selected, and a hundred forty four good men would be more than enough to put a stop to Pabarha's defiance and dishonesty. As their Kabaima brought them pouches filled with crabapple sâna, the first spring wine, the three discussed the possibilities of a true battle.
"They are going to surrender immediately." Ineme said. There was no sign of worry or doubt on his face. He cocked an arrow absent mindedly as he spoke. "Then, we will either take the grain we need or bring them to the mothers and make a new contract." Swoosh! The arrow hit the the tree before them, which had been coloured with ochre to mark the height of a man. If that tree was a man, Ineme had hit his shoulder.
"I don't know, Ineme," Said Jajabadojôho, "They have the men, and the village is marshy all around and protected, on a hill."
"They do not have the number Cijajabo, and, considering they are not sending the grain they owe, they must be in dire straits – mother said so."
"Even then, they are proud people. They will not surrender without a fight. Cicebe," He said, turning towards the youngest, whose thoughts were rushin in hundreds of different directions and had been very quiet until that moment. "What do you think?"
He looked at his cousin, unsure about what he would say. Something strange and horrible was happening inside of Cebecajamân. Half of his soul dreaded the impending battle, and hoped that the young man facing them, from above the hill, would see how many they were and set down their weapons; his other half, however, had an ardent desire to be tested, to win, to prove himself before the mothers. He was a good shot – a great shot, in fact – and would stop at nothing in the face of danger. He wanted to fight, he wanted to stop his enemies from fooling the mothers of his clan – was that a bad thing? They said men were more impulsive than women, Always ready to fight rather than to discuss, and that the way of the mothers was the most virtuous. But Cebecajamân was a man, and there was little he could do about it.
He cocked his brass arrow and shot it across the field to hit the same tree his uncle had hit before him. His arrow burrowed into the wood just above the other one, where Ineme had intended to hit: the middle of the man-tree's head.
"Either way, I'm ready."
_____
They attacked immediately after sundown. They moved silently through the forest first, getting more and more quiet as the presence of the city became more noticeable. As they hid in the forest waiting for the right moment to strike, hearing the low voices of the Pabarhans, smelling the smoke of their fires, the fragrances of their dinners, Cebecajamân's heart pounded like never before.
"The heart of the fearful and a pigeon by the river..."
The battle ended before it could become too bloody, but Cebecajamân killed his first man that night. He would remember that blood he spilled forever, necessary blood, to remind everyone of the honour of his house, the honour of the promises the famous clans of Amadahai presided over – an honour he'd defend until his last day.

I’m not sure exposure would work since looking closely and examining my body contributes to the downward spiral and obsessions.
I’ve had this fixation for as long as I can remember; I used to stare at myself in the mirror and find “flaws” to obsess over. I learned to not look too closely and I started using fashion as an outlet. However, whenever my body changes it triggers me. I zone in on changes without trying, and the need to examine and fixate is overwhelming.
This process makes me an anxious wreck and seems unending despite what I do. I eventually fall into a depressive/dissociative state. It’s happened notably several times in my lifetime and seem to coincide with stages in life.
This new one I’m experiencing has been since January, and it started out as me noticing changes on my skin, especially on my face. There is a patch of skin that is especially concerning, and it’s been eating me alive trying to get it resolved. I’ve been to all kinds of doctors, tried different skin routines, makeup, therapy, ignoring it, every kind of treatment you can think of and more. It’s actually been consuming me, and every action, decision and thought I’ve had… for 5 months…
Whenever I’m able to distract myself for a whole day and not look at it, I seem to have a better time. But usually at night it will hit me and the fixation I’ve been holding off floods in and I give into it. I always feel bad for not paying attention to it because it feels like I don’t care or I’m neglecting myself. Even tho I literally have appointments with different doctors, specialists, etc nearly every week.
I feel like no one cares and I don’t know what to do. Am I supposed to not look at myself again??

I've had summer insomnia since I was a teenager and most doctors and/or therapists have always chalked it up to trauma/abuse in my childhood. I agree that that's plausible (although I don't actually know which season it occurred in). But it has just this year begun to occur to me that maybe this is actually a lupus thing.
To be clear, I know that lupus often has insomnia as a symptom in general, and I do occasionally experience insomnia even outside of summer. But EVERY year, without fail, late April or early May hits and I am suddenly nocturnal. I will not sleep at night, period. If I stay up all day to try to force myself to sleep the following night, I just end up with two nights of lost sleep instead of one. Sleep aids help but about 50% of the time even that doesn't work. I go to sleep around sunrise and wake up mid-afternoon. During the week, when I'm working, I often sleep from like 6AM to 8AM, go to work, then come home and sleep again from like 6PM to 8 or, if I'm lucky, 9PM. Then I'm awake all night and the cycle repeats. On weekends I'm obviously exhausted and will sleep 12-14 hours (but still during the day). This often sets off flares, I feel generally shitty, and if I didn't take Vyvanse for ADHD I would probably be fired every summer because I wouldn't be able to function at work.
So I'm open to the idea that it still could just be trauma-related, but I figured here was the right place to ask. Anyone else?
In case it's relevant, I am photosensitive. I'm also on HCQ which increases my photosensitivity but I was off it for several years and the summer insomnia still happened and now I'm back on and also still happening so I don't think the hydroxychloroquine really impacts it.

Hello
Here's a thought experiment. Imagine that, in 2017, Activision did not publish Call of Duty: WWII but instead Call of Duty: Eternal. This is a story which is very much the same as what Call of Duty: WWII transpired as but with a couple of significant differences. For a start, it's not set during World War Two - it's set in a fantasy world with a 1940s/50s level of technology. A global war is raging between mankind and Orks, with the Orks having conquered great tracts of the world, and the story opening with the efforts by humanity to retake "Albion" from Ork occupation. I like to imagine the faces of Call of Duty fans when the first trailer came out and, seeing what looked like D-Day, got excited that at last the franchise was going back to its roots - only to see that the enemies are Orks and the main character is a Lenape woman.
To help with this imagining - below you'll find the full script for the first mission of Call of Duty: Eternal, based on the first mission of Call of Duty: WWII. The rest will gradually follow.
You might find it useful to follow along using this video - a walkthrough (no commentary, thank God) of the actual first mission in Call of Duty: WWII to help with visualising it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7y1bDQBEhA
Call of Duty: Eternal Mission 1 X-Day
Text slowly appears on-screen:
The world is bathed in flames.
The Ork clans, united for the first time in centuries, are on the march.
Man faces extermination.
A human skull is shown before an Ork boot comes down on it, shattering it.
Radio broadcast: With unmatched ferocity, the Ork war machine has launched its onslaught against the world… mankind faces the abyss.
The camera pans up on the Ork boot to show an Ork soldier as, behind him, Ork soldiers and tanks move through a devastated city.
Radio broadcast: As we brace for our darkest hour, we must summon our strength to be the bulwark against oppression.
Ork bombers are shown bombing London, recognisable for the Thames if not for the architecture. They are four-engine bombers, like B-17s, and the camera closes in on a propeller which shifts to a ceiling fan.
Radio broadcast: The Ork onslaught will be the greatest test we'll ever face.
The camera pans down from the ceiling fan Mona Kanti, a young Lenape woman and the protagonist, is shown joining the Imperial Armed Forces. She stands in a line in a recruitment office as a recruitment officer stamps her papers.
Radio broadcast: But face it and defeat it… we must.
To punctuate the “we must,” a sudden cut to black with the sound cut out. Then, we hear the voice of the Ork Primarch. A speech plays, meant to mirror FDR’s D-Day Prayer, with shots of the Ork war machine we’ve been hearing so much about.
Primarch: With this war we set upon a mighty endeavour.
Fade from black to show huge lines of Ork soldiers in formation, like big Nazi rallies, are shown.
Primarch: A struggle to restore our civilization…
Ork soldiers on one knee in this rally are shown, closer up, dressed in battle gear and their faces daubed in war paint.
Primarch: …and to set free a suffering people.
A view from the rear of the rally, with the vast architecture of the Primarch’s palace shown looming over it all, resembling the Palace of the Soviets.
Primarch: Our Sons. Pride of our Clans.
Another panning shot of the assembled Orks, this time from the side.
Primarch: May the Mother lead them straight and true.
An Ork mystic, on the balcony overlooking the assembly, blesses the troops with hands raised to the sky.
Primarch: The road will be glorious. Men's souls will be broken with the beauty of war.
A shot from behind the mystic, seeing the assembled troops stretching towards the horizon.
Primarch: In this time of fire and blood…
The face of one Ork soldier is shown up close.
Primarch: …we shall prevail.
With the slightest of grimaces, the Ork uses a knife – and, in the background, we see the others doing the same – to ritualistically slice his forehead and let blood trickle down.
The cutscene then shifts to the Imperial Navy ships, including battleships of a scale similar to the Super Yamato, that are heading for the beaches of Albion. Mona Kanti is writing a letter to her sister, Luna Kanti, and we hear her voice-over as we view shots of the fleet.
Kanti (narrating): Luna. Oh, I wish you could see this, sister. An armada from one horizon to the next. I turned sixteen too late to help free Ériu. But not Albion – and it’s gonna be tougher. Much tougher. You know, I think I could bear the blood, and the misery… and the Orks. But the waiting… well, that’s a whole other battle.
Inside the troopship living quarters. We are now in first-person as Kanti. Kanti is sat at a table, hanging out and talking with her squad-mates Kinsi Rei (female Somali; shaved head), Thea Adlai, (female Swedish; ginger, freckles, glasses) and Ren Tao (male Chinese). Ren Tao is eighteen – the others are all sixteen. Bunks are stretched out behind them and other soldiers, of all ethnicities and sexes, walk by throughout. Rei is holding court while playing with a knife, every now and then jabbing between her fingers.
Rei: So she asks me for my watch and I'm thinking, "what in the Nether do you want my watch for; your parents make like fifty times mine!" But I turn around, and I felt this punch. And it's cold like ice.
Some of the dialogue is drowned out by Kanti’s narration. Every now and then, Kanti glances down at her fingers as she snaps them, but whatever she’s trying to do with that isn’t happening.
Kanti (narrating): Believe it or not, I managed to make some half-decent friends in Basic. All scared as can be. But nobody’s letting on.
Rei keeps playing her knife game as she talks.
Kanti (narrating): I hated Rei when I met her – and now she's my best friend. Funny how that works. She's always looking for trouble. If there wasn't already a war on she'd be off trying to start one.
Rei offers her knife to Thea Adlai and, though we can’t hear her given the narration, seems to be asking her if she wants to try the knife game. Adlai refuses.
Adlai: Besides, I gotta keep all my fingers if I'm gonna take photo of the year.
Kanti (narrating): Adlai says she's gonna be a photographer for a fashion magazine. She’s got a good eye. Except when she takes off her glasses – then she can’t see shit.
Rei offers her knife to Kanti and Kanti turns to Ren Tao.
Kanti (narrating): Tao's the vet but, if I’m honest, he's what kokomi would call “a bit of a bumpkin.”
Ren Tao is tempted to play Rei’s knife game.
Tao: Okay, okay. Let's make this interesting.
Rei: It’s not interesting? Kanti – what’re you doing?
She says this in reference to Kanti’s finger-snapping.
Kanti (narrating): I swear I used to be able to do this…
Tao: So you keep saying.
Tao take off his talisman and dangles it in front of Rei.
Tao: Xu Yaling. Spirit of war.
Adlai: And sex, right?
Tao: Sssh. (Rei and Adlai laugh) He's had my back since Sabha. And, yeah, that’s real gold. (drops the talisman down on the table) Rei, three times in ten seconds, and he's all yours. (Sits back down)
Rei: I don't know.
Tao: Oh, you could always wimp out. That’s a choice, too.
Kanti: My money's on Rei.
Rei: Okay. Okay, I'm in.
Adlai: I can't watch.
Tao: I can.
Rei looks to Adlai.
Rei: Just time me when I tell you. Back to my story – me and my girls, we muscled our way into this chess game that the wrestling team had going. We had a bona-fide genius among us – but it was me playing. We worked out a system where she can signal to me what moves to make. You should have seen the Head Girl’s face when I took that pot. (To Adlai) You ready? That's what happens when you try to hustle a hustler. Now…
Rei plays the knife game while Adlai times her and wins the bet in a few impressive seconds.
Rei: Checkmate!
Tao: There ain’t no way!
Kanti (narrating): Tao had enough fight in him for two men.
Rei: Much obliged.
Rei offers to shake hands with Tao.
Tao: My mother told me never touch a Nube.
Rei doesn’t flinch but you can tell she’s ready to throw hands. Instead…
Rei: That's not what she said last night.
Rei winks and Tao shakes her hand.
Kanti (narrating): And enough bigotry for six.
Tao: Meh, who needs a stupid talisman anyway.
Rei: Apparently, you did. Here, have it back.
Tao: You won it.
Rei: It’s fake gold.
Tao: What? No, no, no, that’s as real as you or I.
Rei: A hustler always knows.
Tao: Ah, whatever, if it’s fake I don’t want it. I'm gonna get something better. A real trophy. You'll see.
Rei: Good luck with that.
Kanti snaps her fingers and finally produces what she wanted – a finger of flame, like a lighter, appears.
Kanti: I did it! Look, look, I did it!
Rei: Well, by Baphometh, isn’t that something?
Tao: That’s very pretty, Kanti. You’re ready to take on the Primarch, I should think.
Rei: She was always ready. Right Kanti?
Tao: You got any healing spells we could use or is it all evil magic with you?
Kanti: Well-
Rei: Oh, go on, tell him, Kanti! Tell him about that thing you can do!
Adlai: What thing?
Rei: And there’s no such thing as good and evil magic. Just good and evil people.
Kanti: It’s not that I can do it; it’s just that it happens sometimes. When someone’s dead I can kinda, you know, see into their past. But they have to of died recently. And I can’t do it with most people.
Tao: Well, we’re invading Fortress Albion, my friend. Good time to find yourself some corpses.
Rei: Maybe even your own.
Adlai: Hey, Kanti, do that spell again for the camera.
Adlai raises her camera then, seeing her watch, realizes that they are late for the mission briefing.
Adlai: Oh! Never mind, briefing’s at 18:00; we're gonna be late!
Adlai jumps up and runs from the room. The others also stand.
Tao: Run, little mouse.
Rei: I got us covered Kanti; don't worry about it (Showing the pendant to Kanti and winking). It is real gold.
As Kanti and Rei leave the living quarters, they encounter Khand, their turban-wearing sergeant, and in terms of personality very much a cranky sergeant stereotype.
Khand: Briefing's about to start; what in the Nether are you idiots doing?
Kanti (narrating): Then there's Sergeant Khand. He’s a sweetheart.
Khand: Oh, you think you're special, huh? The Orks are gonna eat you alive.
Rei: No, not me, sergeant. I’m high in salt.
Khand: Watch your lip, Rei. On me.
Khand leaves. The other two move to follow.
Rei: Since I'm obviously on a lucky streak, whatever happens, stay close. First Albion, then the Great Pale, then home in time for tea and medals. We got this, Kanti.
Scene fades out.
All of the 66th Infantry Division troops are on the deck of the ship as the rain pours down and Colonel Kitwana, a Swahili man, gives his pre-battle speech. As he does, we see the soldiers assembled watching him.
Kitwana: Today… we embark on an operation of unparalleled importance. To establish a beachhead in Albion… and roll back the Ork horde... that has terrorized the world since before many of you were born. We are all that separates the world from darkness. This is so much more than a chance to be heroes in our own lifetimes. If we prevail… our triumphs will be etched into the hearts and minds of a grateful world for untold generations. I'm talking about glory. True glory.
Kanti narrates her letter to Luna and soldiers begin to climb down the cargo net on the side of the ship into landing craft. These craft start making for the Albion coast.
Kanti (narrating): Colonel Kitwana can give a nice speech. His pep talk reminded me of the one Coach Pakwa gave us on our Mother’s Night game against Susquehanna. I'm sure you remember we lost by 67 points. (Focuses on Sokolov and Khand) Always looking over Khand’s shoulders is Lieutenant Sokolov. He's got him on a tight leash. But if Khand breaks free, we'll all get bit. Ever since I found my gift, I wanted to be like you, Luna. You've always been a tough act to follow. But I'll do my best.
Gameplay
We are now in first-person again as Kanti.
Kanti (narrating): It's now or never.
Kanti is writing in her notebook, the photo of Luna pinned to a page, as their landing craft drives for the Albion shore. Kanti is interrupted by Rei.
Rei: Hey! I wish I was coming home to her!
Kanti: That’s my sister! Just wait ‘til we hit Lutetia. Enough girls for the rest of your long life.
Rei: I’m starting to realise how far away it is.
Kanti take a quick glance at her notebook and closes it before tucking it into her pack.
Sokolov: Remember. No digging in at the shore. You advance. You need to stay low and do not bunch up. Stick to your training and you're gonna make it through.
Khand: Most of you, anyway.
Medium bombers pass by overhead, resembling the Junkers Ju 88 (in this universe known as Dragons) on a heading towards Albion.
Tao: Alright! Give em hell, boys.
Text appears across the screen.
X-DAY Lùnastal 17th, 397 NE Rheged, Northern Albion
Rei: The beaches are meant to be flattened, right?
Khand: You sound scared, Private.
Rei: No, sir.
Khand: You should be.
Driver: Hey, you! You!
Kanti turns to look at the landing craft’s driver behind her.
Driver: Got a light?
Kanti: Sure thing.
Kanti snaps her fingers a couple times and produces the flame again.
Driver: Oh – you’re one of them.
Soldier: Never trust a witch.
As the driver lights his cigarette on her finger, a bullet hits the boat’s machine gunner in the throat; he falls, flailing, with blood spurting out of his neck like in a Tarantino film. Shells start to fall.
Driver: Bastards!
Sokolov: Everyone down!
Rei: This is it!
Ork artillery lands in the grey ocean all around, spraying the craft with water. Kanti crouches with the rest of the troops.
Soldier: Watch out!
Bullets bounce off the landing craft’s armour.
Soldier: This isn’t fun!
Driver: Five hundred yards!
Another shell lands nearby and sprays the craft with water. Kanti trips but is held up by Khand grabbing her arm.
Driver: We’re gonna have to pull off!
Sokolov: No, we stay on mission! You're taking us in!
Driver: We must have drifted! I can't see the landmark!
Khand: You heard the lieutenant. Full speed!
Sokolov: Incoming!
An artillery shells blows up the neighbouring landing craft.
Soldier: By the Gods!
Sokolov: Hold tight!
An artillery shell, again, lands near the boat.
Kanti: Damn it!
Driver: Two hundred yards!
Looking up, a Dragon bomber is visible coming down with an engine on fire.
Driver: Twenty seconds!
Sokolov: Remember the plan! Get to the seawall!
Khand: Ceres! Aradove! Get the bangalore to the wire, fast! Everyone ready? Here we go!
Sokolov: Drop the ramp!
Driver: There's no cover!
Khand: That was an order, damn you! Drop it!
The ramp drops just as a landing craft consumed with flames comes crashing into theirs.
Rei: Oh, shit!
Kanti is knocked off her feet by the impact. Looking up, she watches as machine gun fire from the clifftops chops down a number of soldiers on the boat now that the ramp has been dropped. One has his head blown off and his neck is left spouting blood over Kanti as others are also cut down.
Sokolov: Over the sides! Now! Now!
Kanti follows as the survivors climb over the boat’s side. She stays underwater for a few seconds before being helped to her feet by Sokolov, spluttering.
Sokolov: I got you, child!
Just behind him, the beach is consumed by fighting and the noise of war is deafening.
Sokolov: Get your head down and keep moving!
Sokolov leads Kanti out of the surf, a burning soldier falls screaming from another landing craft and into the water, while carnage reigns all around. Bodies are floating all about and the water is red with blood.
Sokolov: Kanti; on me!
Running through the sand as explosions go off all around, artillery can be seen curling from the Ork lines towards the beach. Sokolov and Kanti hit the deck in front of some Ork tank traps.
Sokolov: Demolition team is dead! Take the bangalore and get to the seawall! We need to clear a path to the bunkers!
Kanti temporarily looks away, back to the water, and witnesses the bloodshed of soldiers dying, and a number running out of a landing craft on fire, while a warship close to shore opens fire on the coastal defences. Sokolov gets Kanti’s attention.
Sokolov: Kanti!
An explosion goes off nearby, half-soaking Sokolov’s face with gore. Someone just blew up.
Sokolov: This is your job! You got that?! Now pick up the banger!
Kanti moves the severed arm of a dead soldier to retrieve the bangalore. She looks upon the dead soldier’s corpse and, suddenly, her vision fades away and she sees his memories. This is the first of the Internal Vortex collectibles which can be found throughout the game, whereby additional lore is provided through Kanti’s ability to tap into the memories of certain corpses (human and Ork). In this case, the accessed memory tells a brief story of the soldier (Private Omid Afshani) and how he was part of a traditional military family and all his brothers have already fallen, told he would be a general someday, how he was born on a ship evacuating Persia (which goes some way to explaining why the Imperial military is so multiethnic – the whole world evacuated to the Americas) and how his last letter home from the ship told of how “I can’t wait to hear the birdsong again.”
Afterwards, she returns to lucidity.
Sokolov: Kanti! Kanti! You with me?!
Kanti: Yes!
Sokolov: You can do this!
Sokolov stands and starts running up the beach. Kanti watches after him.
Kanti: I hope so, sir!
Kanti looks at the dead soldier that was carrying the torpedo bangalore, and with one hand closes his eyes.
Kanti: Sorry.
Kanti takes the body’s R7 Remi rifle (comparable to the M1 Garand) and proceeds up the beachhead, trying not to get killed. The machine gun nests in the clifftop fortifications will open fire on the soldiers then wait for a few seconds to reload. This will be the player's chance to move up to avoid taking damage. The player moves from cover to cover – tank traps, the wreckage of vehicles such as half-tracks and light tanks, and shell craters, mostly.
Khand: Hurry before they reload! Move it!
Sokolov: Kanti! This way! Hurry! Stop and you’re dread!
Tao: Shit!
Sokolov: Those MGs are killing us! Get off the beach!
Khand: Private Kanti – get to the seawall!
Rei: Get to the seawall! I’ll meet you there!
A couple of armoured vehicles – light tanks resembling Soviet BT-7s, here called LT-5 Termites – are now also moving up the beach and providing fire support. One blows up.
Sokolov: Keep low. When there’s a break in the fire, run for it!
There’s a break in the fire – you run for it.
Sokolov: Kanti, get the bangalore!
When Kanti reaches the seawall, which is made up of a big mound of sand lined at its top by barbed fire and burning gasoline, she falls against it. Her fellow soldiers fall in alongside her or are already there. A lot of wounded are also there, being treated by medics as machine gun fire flies over their heads. Rei falls next to Kanti, her face covered in dirt and blood.
Rei: Kanti! Use the banger; I'll cover you! After we breach, keep pushing toward the bunker!
Kanti: You’re covered in blood.
Rei: It’s not mine. Focus!
Kanti sets up the torpedo bangalore, made up of two cylindrical rods, with the second able to fit inside the first. Her handling is shaky and she drops one rod. Rei picks it up for her and gives it back.
Rei: We're nearly there!
Kanti pushes the torpedo bangalore into the seawall.
Rei: Pull it! Pull it!
Kanti: Fire in the hole!
Kanti scrambles backwards and the bangalore explodes, tearing a hole in the seawall for the soldiers to pour through, dirt pouring down like rain.
Sokolov: Weapons ready! Fix bayonets!
Kanti fumbles for her bayonet and fixes it to her rifle. You can now use this as a melee weapon against enemy infantry.
Rei: Ready to see your first Ork?
Sokolov: Attack!
Sokolov leads the troops through the hole – and many, though not Sokolov, are cut down.
Rei: Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!
Sokolov: Push forward!
After passing through the hole, you are faced with a clearing sprinkled with tank traps and barbed wire. After that, trenches, and then the bluffs with fortifications spitting machine gun fire.
Rei: Into the trench! Hurry!
Soldier: Orks!
You now face your first Ork drones as you push towards the trenches. Once you get into the trench, you slowly clear it and a mortar position, presumably losing Health as you do. Once done, you turn a corner deeper into the trenches where Rei is located.
Rei: That wound looks bad! Here, take this!
Rei throws a health pack to Kanti. The player can now call on Rei, when the squad meter fills, to add a pack for a total of four.
Kanti: Many thanks!
The player moves through the trenches, clearing out Ork drones. Friendly troops leap across the trenches. The player then gets to the end of the trenches and reaches the bluffs covered by Ork fortifications. A slope goes uphill between the bluffs but machine gun fire pins the friendly troops down and makes it impassable.
Khand: We can't advance with those MGs firing on our position!
Sokolov: Hold tight. Fire support incoming!
Khand: Kanti, mark the target!
Khand throws a canister to Kanti. Kanti catches it and throws it uphill towards the Ork bunkers. Red smoke emanates. Sokolov is shouting into a radio.
Sokolov: Kestrel, target is lit up! Hit it now and hit it hard!
Radio: Roger, we have your smoke visual. Attack run inbound.
Explosions hit the MG bunker as rockets from a trio of dive-bombing jets which resemble de Havilland Vampires (in this universe called Banshees) come in and obliterate the fortifications. The jets pass by close overhead.
Tao: That's it! Let 'em have it!
Adlai: MGs are dead!
Kanti: (laughs) They tore them to shreds!
Sokolov: Get to the top!
You and your squad move up the hill – a wounded Ork, both arms missing, stumbles from the smoke and still tries to fight by biting at Sokolov. Sokolov shoots it down.
Sokolov: Crazy bastards.
More Ork infantry advance.
Ork: I shall wear your hide as a coat!
After defeating these Orks, the player advances to the top of the hill through which additional trenches burrow.
Sokolov: Kanti; I need you and Rei to take point and clear those bunkers! Go!
Rei: Had to be us!
You move in with your squad. There are five bunkers to clear. The first has a clearing full of mortar positions, where Ork infantry defend, and there’s more firing at you from inside the bunker itself.
Sokolov: Orks are dug in. Kanti, get a grenade in that bunker!
You break into the bunker and clear it out, including the machine gun post covering the beach.
Rei: First one’s down!
Sokolov: Bunker’s clear – everyone out.
You move on. Taking the adjoining trenches, you come across an Ork Officer – larger and more heavily armoured than the Drones you’ve been fighting so far – holding a human soldier by the neck. Assuming you shoot him in the head, the only non-armoured part, he’ll go down and the soldier is saved.
Soldier: Thanks! I owe you!
If not, and your bullets bounce off the Officer’s armour, he crushes the man’s neck in his hand and comes for you.
After that, you drive on through the trenches, killing a few more Orks, before turning and entering an underground bunker. Inside, the entry is covered by a machine gun post.
Khand: MG's pinning us! Someone toss a smoke!
You can do that, or you can perhaps kill the machine gunner. Up to you. Afterwards, you drive on through the underground bunker. It’s a bit of a catacomb full of dormitories and a radio room. Eventually, you clear it.
Khand: Bunker's clear. Let's go!
Sokolov: Everybody out, bunker's clear!
You head back outside, 2 of 5 bunkers complete. You continue through the trenches, meeting fresh Orks.
Rei: There’s artillery hitting the beach! The next assault wave won’t make it!
Khand: Keep pushing! That artillery is hammering our ships!
Kanti: On it, sir! Yeah, I can do this, I can do this…
You carry on through the trench. Some Banshee jet fighters screech overhead. Reaching the entrance to the next bunker, you see a friendly – Corporal Lieu – with an F3 Inferno – a backpack flamethrower. He fires it down the bunker at unseen enemy troops before being gunned down.
Kanti: I'm going in!
Rei: Careful!
You enter the bunker – you can pick up the F3 Inferno as you do, which doesn’t last long but which is fun to use.
Ork: Come, little men!
You clear the bunker. As you reach the machine gun post, you enter into a quicktime moment. Kanti gets ambushed around a corner by an Ork soldier, who grabs her by the throat and pins her to the wall, but she jams her combat knife into his neck. Falling from his grasp, she sees the machine gunner just as a shell from a ship offshore hits the bunker dead-on and blows it, and him, to smithereens. Rei appears from the dust and helps Kanti to her feet.
Rei: Shit! Fucking Navy. Don’t they believe in us?
Returning from the machine gun nest, some Orks have shown up to try and retake the bunker. Take them out and then the bunker’s cleared.
The next bunker is just a hop from this one – you enter, at first finding nobody, before discovering an Ork pinning an Imperial soldier to the wall.
Soldier: Somebody help!
You, I should hope, kill the Ork.
Soldier: Thanks! Oh, hey, a girl…
Kanti: You wish.
You drive into the bunker, in the heart of which is a mortar position, and take out the Ork defenders. With that, the bunker is cleared.
Khand: Move up, move up!
Everyone rallies at the big steel door at the end of the bunker.
Khand: Adlai. Tao. With me. Kanti, you and Rei clear the next bunker. Rally at the top of the bluff, and for fuck’s sake try not to get yourselves killed.
You interact with the big steel door and open it, before going with Rei down some more trenches.
Kanti: Alright, Rei. One more!
Rei: We got this!
You turn a corner into a clearing before the bunker. There’s Orks both defending it on the ground and a sniper on top of the bunker itself. After dealing with this, you head inside, Rei behind you.
As you enter the bunker, Kanti is ambushed by an Ork Major – she is thrown to the floor and the Ork stands over her, pulling out a knife.
Ork: Never did fear smell so sweet.
Rei jumps onto its back and holds onto him around the neck. The Ork manages to throw Rei onto the ground before stabbing her through the belly.
Kanti: Rei! Oh, shit, no!
The Ork soldier leaves the wounded Rei, knife still sticking from her stomach, and approaches Kanti.
Ork: Stand and face me, woman. Show some honour.
Kanti stands and fights the Ork, which through its superior strength easily ends up on top of her, taking away her knife and now pushing it down towards her with both hands. Then, Kanti’s hands light up and the flames return – her whole hands are on fire. The Ork roars in pain and surprise and backs away, looking at its burned hands, before Kanti runs at him as the flames go out and tackles him to the ground. The Ork is still stronger and goes back to throttling her – but they’ve fallen near Rei, who yanks the knife out of her belly and jams it into the Ork’s chest.
Ork: The glory…
The Ork dies. Kanti climbs off and approaches Rei, who suddenly brandishes a pistol.
Kanti: Whoa, Rei…
Rei: Duck!
Kanti does so and Rei shoots the unseen Ork which was behind her. Kanti looks back to Rei, who is dealing with quite a lot of pain.
Kanti: Come on, you’re okay, you’re okay.
Rei: I can't walk.
Kanti pulls up Rei’s uniform to see her stomach – the wound is gushing blood.
Kanti: Oh, shit…
Rei: That bad?
Kanti: It’s not great.
Rei: Would you mind getting me out of here?
An explosion, presumably artillery – Kanti looks down the bunker to see it shudder, rubble falling from the ceiling.
Kanti: Yeah, course, no problem Kinsi, just stay with me, okay? Can you do that?
Rei: I’m gonna have to try. Pulling that knife out was pretty fucking stupid, huh?
Kanti: No comment. Come on.
The player starts dragging Rei out of the bunker and outside. Across a pretty dangerous clearing are friendly lines.
Kanti: We've gotta get back to friendly lines!
Kanti starts dragging Rei across the grass
Rei: On your left!
Kanti shoots the Orks which appear from the left with her pistol and keeps going.
Rei: You’re gonna… have to tell me… how you did that fire thing.
Kanti: I will when I figure it out myself!
They keep going.
Kanti: Not much further. Just keep pressure on that wound.
Rei: I’m trying!
Kanti drags Rei to a wall of sandbags and clambers over them.
Kanti: We gotta take cover!
Rei, in what is pretty clearly a painful endeavour, follows suit and lays in the mud. With her pistol, Kanti faces the Orks now coming for them.
Ork: Tasty, salty man-flesh!
Rei: How many?
Kanti: Too many!
Once the Orks are dispatched, Kanti looks back down at Rei.
Kanti: We're clear! Come on!
Kanti starts dragging Rei through the mud.
Rei: You call that fuckin' clear?
They skirt the edge of the trenches – an Imperial soldier with a flamethrower is dousing a group of Orks in fire. They continue along the edge of the trench, which is lined with barbed wire and so inaccessible, at least for Rei.
Rei: I'm losing too much blood. I think. You need more than half, right?
Kanti: Just hang in there! I gotta find a clearing to get in the trench!
Kanti places Rei down as smoke canisters pop, obscuring the next Ork wave to come their way.
Ork (from somewhere in the smoke): The clan will feast on you!
Kanti: Keep your head down!
Rei: Did you get 'em?
Kanti: They keep coming! How many of these fuckers are there?!
After taking out four or five, Kanti turns back to Rei.
Rei: Watch out!
Rei, with her sidearm, shoots down an Ork drone running at them from behind.
Rei: Still got it.
Kanti: Now’s our chance!
Kanti keep dragging Rei along the edge of the trench, smoke from the Ork canisters obscuring everything. As she goes, an Ork grenade lands at her feet.
Kanti: Fuck!
Kanti throws grabs it and throws it away. She sees an open area in the trench.
Kanti: Bingo!
Kanti jumps down into the trench, up to her ankles in mud, then turns back to Rei.
Kanti: I got you!
Rei rolls off the edge of the trench and lands in the mud at Kanti’s feet. A few more Orks appear from the smoke and Kanti shoots them down. She then looks down at Rei, who’s on the edge of losing consciousness, and then looks down the trench where more Ork infantry are coming at them.
Kanti: Oh, give us a break!
Kanti takes them out. Then, she turns back to Rei and starts dragging her down the trench.
Rei: Oh, wow, I'm actually bleeding out.
Kanti: Just keep pressure on it!
Rei: I’m trying! I’m trying!
Kanti: Almost there!
They reach some concrete steps – a friendly soldier is at the top.
Soldier: Come on up here! Move, move!
Kanti starts dragging Rei up the stairs – the soldier runs down and helps.
Soldier: I got you!
Two Orks come around the corner – someone on the top of the stairs shoots them both down. They reach the top of the stairs and find themselves in the middle of a friendly improvised triage centre. Kanti lays Rei down, whose face is very dazed, as she flicks off her helmet, blood trickling from her mouth.
Kanti: Okay. Stay with me. Healer!
Nobody comes – everyone’s busy.
Rei: I need morphine. All the morphine.
Kanti takes out a syringe of morphine, pulls off the cap with her teeth, and injects Rei in the thigh. Rei’s breathing is strained and painful. Kanti puts a hand under her head as a pillow.
Kanti: You gotta hang on. Those girls in Lutetia are waiting for you.
Rei: Really?
Kanti: Of course.
Rei: I… uh… how about another look at your sister?
Rei manages a smile, sniggering through the pain, and Kanti laughs, too.
Kanti: You’re infuriating.
Rei: It's okay. I can't see shit. I'm just gonna rest right here.
Rei’s eyes close.
Kanti: No, no, no, you need to stay awake. Hey.
Kanti puts her hand against Rei’s face, slapping her awake, and Rei’s eyes open.
Rei: Mona…
Kanti: I'm here.
Rei makes eye contact.
Rei: Help me.
Kanti: I need a fucking Healer!
A Healer finishes treating a wounded soldier and rushes over, taking over from Kanti in trying to stop the bleeding.
Healer: I got this! Go!
Kanti looks back down at Rei.
Kanti: But… but I…
Sokolov appears, standing over them.
Sokolov: Kanti! He'll take care of her. I need you with me. (to others) Listen up! There's an Ork cannon just a little up the road. It's tearing up the beach – we’re gonna stop it. Let's roll!
Kanti looks back down at Rei, who’s reaching out to her. Kanti takes her hand for a moment.
Kanti: Just stay alive, okay?
For a moment, with Rei on the very edge of death, little flickers of her memories flash before Kanti’s eyes. We see her mother telling her she’s a disappointment, Rei sitting in a prison cell, and then being told by a recruiting officer that “the Army’s running out of men – we need some ladies ready to be heroes.” Then Kanti returns to lucidity and Rei’s face.
Rei: I promise.
Their hands part and Kanti stands, grabbing a rifle, and joins the rest of the squad.
Sokolov: Check your ammo and grenades!
Khand: You heard him! Up the road, now!
Kanti and the rest of the squad move out of the top of the bunker, along a field pock-marked with craters, then go onto a dirt road leading towards a farm.
Kanti: Moving up!
Khand: Let's move!
Sokolov: Be ready – these Orks don’t look like the surrendering type!
You keep moving up the road, finding some dead cows as you go.
Khand: Move fast! They're shelling the beach to shit!
You reach the target – a machine-gun nest is set up in a half-destroyed farmhouse and starts shooting at you as you appear.
Sokolov: MG in the hay loft! Take cover and take it out!
After taking out the machine gun, you keep moving up to fight Orks among the farmhouses and hay bales. A large artillery cannon is in the centre and you move to clear it and secure the area, moving in a couple of the farmhouses to do so.
Adlai: Where’s all the civilians?
Khand: In the Ork’s stomachs, probably!
Once you’ve cleared everything, silence seems to fall.
Soldier: Orks coming in from the south! A lot of them!
Sokolov: They’re gonna try to retake the cannon! We gotta hold this position!
Khand: Not a step backwards!
The squad defends the position as a couple waves of Orks swarm towards them. You can use the machine gun posts in the upper floors of the farmhouses to help fight them off.
Adlai: There’s too many of them!
Khand: Hold! Have courage!
Still the Orks swarm the field to the south – until explosions start to blow them away. Termite tanks appear from the left, their 45mm guns tearing through the Orks, which are either slaughtered or flee.
Tao: Our boys are coming in!
Adlai: Look at them scatter!
Sokolov: Alright, everyone. We mopped them up good. I don’t think they’ll be back.
Khand: Clear! Destroy that cannon!
Kanti goes to the cannon and crouches down behind it. An Imperial soldier appears next to her.
Soldier: Thermite!
The soldier carries a number of thermite charges inside his helmet like a bucket and empties them out in front of Kanti. Kanti lights one of them.
Kanti: Fire in the hole!
Everyone backs away – you probably should too – and the thermite explodes. The cannon is destroyed.
Sokolov: Excellent work, Kanti. Alright, everyone, rally on me to the assembly point. Khand, I'll need a casualty report. We lost so many.
Khand: But we took the beach.
Sokolov: What a price.
At the rally point, Rei is on a stretcher on the ground, a cigarette in her mouth as Tao is knelt next to her.
Rei: Kanti...
Rei tries to sit up and Tao puts out a hand to encourage her to lay back down. Given the pain on Rei’s face, that’s probably a good idea.
Tao: Man, I thought I'd seen everything…
Kanti: She gonna be okay?
Tao: Yeah. They taped her up pretty good.
Rei: I should’ve stayed on the boat.
Tao: Oh, now she tells us.
Kanti: Hey, what you did back there… I owe you. Big time.
Rei: I’d say we're even.
Kanti: We'll see this through.
Rei smiles.
Rei: To the end. I guess.
Kanti: Whenever that may be.
Sokolov and Khand walk by behind Rei; Sokolov addresses everyone. Kanti glances up at them, then back at Rei, who just gives her a knowing nod, then stands as she looks back at their superiors.
Sokolov: Beachhead's secured. We'll bivouac at the second hedgerow after the ridge. It’s not over, everyone.
Behind them, a couple of dead Orks are being examined. Adlai is taking photos of one while a soldier gently kicks the head of another.
Soldier: Stop kicking it.
Soldier #2: I don’t wanna.
Khand regards Kanti. There’s blood in his beard.
Khand: Welcome to the Smiling Sixty Sixth. You're a long way from home, farm girl.
Khand walks off. Sokolov watches Kanti, then approaches when Khand is out of earshot.
Sokolov: That’s his way of saying he’s grateful. You did well. Not bad for your first day.
Kanti: Thanks, sir. I, uh…
Sokolov puts a hand on Kanti’s shoulder.
Sokolov: You'll be alright, child.
Kanti: Yes, sir.
Sokolov pats her shoulder, nods, then walks off. Kanti looks down at her hands, covered in dirt and blood, which hold each other before slowly separating.
Kanti: Course I will.
The level ends.

Has anyone ever SUCCESSFULLY beaten bed bugs themselves?
We're trying to help a friend deal with it, who has no budget for an exterminator (well, ANOTHER one). Their landlord absolutely will not help. They've tried on MULTIPLE occasions and the landlord is convinced our friends brought them in.
Regardless of whose fault it is, the bed bugs are there. We're trying to brainstorm how to get rid of them since the most recent pesticide guy failed.
The cheapest option we can think to do is a huge undertaking, but I think it WOULD work....
What we know:

• Exposure to 120 degrees for 90 minutes or more kills the adults and the eggs:
• https://www.google.com/search?q=what+temperature+kills+bed+bugs+instantly&rlz=1C1DLBX_enUS861US865&oq=what+temperature+kills+bed+&aqs=chrome.3.69i59j69i57j0i512l8.5772j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
• The bed bugs are trying to live, though. They will dive inside carpet, walls and ceilings to escape the heat.

For the movable items and furniture:

• Try to plan it for a 90* + day in our intense desert summer heat
• Get a U-Haul for 1 day for 10 miles - $50-$60
• Get a thermometer from Amazon - $40 - https://www.amazon.com/Temperature-Waterproof-Backlight-Rechargeable-Refrigeratodp/B0BQ6W1P3C/ref=asc_df_B0BQ6W1P3C/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=647212053817&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1567660540275969973&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1022656&hvtargid=pla-1965359599175&psc=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7PCjBhDwARIsANo7CgnpQWzOxkNdgpulf0BRWMR9lZKDEwdsA2oi30SJqnb07zl3naDLsIEaApG6EALw_wcB
• Put ALL of their bedding and clothes and furniture in the closeable uHaul
• Close it and let it bake in our desert sun.
• Verify it got up to 120-130 degrees w/ the thermometer on the FLOOR of the unit for at least 4 hours. YES, do the overkill 4 hour wait.
• If it doesn't heat up naturally, run a small heater w/ extension cord out there.
• Bake.
• Unpack it.
• Return the uHaul

For the apartment unit itself (do simultaneously):

• Verify the oven is 100% off, even though it takes 1200* to ignite natural gas (cant be TOO safe...)
• Remove all plug covers, floor vents, ceiling fans, and outlets (ALL holes into the wall)
• Cover all of those with duct tape. Even calk them if necessary.
• Also tape up all windows and sliding doors and faucets, including every bathroom/sink drain
• Face a heater towards the front door to drive them away from it (since we cant tape it on our way OUT of the unit and there are probably small air gaps when the door shuts)
• Get/borrow half a dozen space heaters (Pray that the apartment can take the amps... If it cant, it should trip the breaker, right?!?!?!?!?)
• Heat that sucker up to 120-130 degrees for at least 4 hours while people leave
• Make sure all heaters are on a flat surface or up on a level table or chair
• Leave no plastics inside
• Get one wifi camera to monitor the unit for fire - $60 https://www.amazon.com/Reolink-Security-Multiple-Storage-Assistant/dp/B08RS4C67L/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2433I49BX4PRY&keywords=wifi%2Bcamera%2Bup%2Bto%2B140%2Bdegrees&qid=1685944660&sprefix=wifi%2Bcamera%2Bup%2Bto%2B140%2Bdegrees%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840&th=1
• Check every 5 minutes. Have the fire department on speed dial, not that 120-130 degrees should be that much of a problem. Some homes in AZ get much hotter, I am sure.

Ignition Temperatures of common items are usually more than 400 degrees, which we cant hope to achieve even if we were trying: https://www.tayloredge.com/reference/Science/ignition.html
If the apartment was built to NV code, the temperatures we need should not be an issue, as follows:

Chapter 8: Interior Finishes, Nevada Building Code 2018

https://up.codes › viewer › chapter › interior-finishes Interior wall and ceiling finish materials shall be classified for fire performance ... to room temperatures of 200°F (93°C) for not less than 30 minutes.

803.14 Stability

Interior finish materials regulated by this chapter shall be applied or otherwise fastened in such a manner that such materials will not readily become detached where subjected to room temperatures of 200°F (93°C) for not less than 30 minutes.

Do you think I am missing anything?

I am beginning to think that this is a lot less dangerous than I thought... Unconventional, but not quite DANGEROUS given the ignition temperatures of most materials.
The landlord is giving these poor people no other choice. Plus they have a newborn at home as part of their family of 6.
I'm over it. If the landlord doesn't want to help with the cost to exterminate, then what option is left???

Results of previous poll: tell Jenny to keep it a secret
Story: The school bell rang. You went through the halls to your locker. Being a fire hydrant isn't so bad. You get to shoot water at people you don't like. The school bully Mark came up to you with a half eaten sandwich. He tossed it at you and started laughing. His laughing ceased immediately when you threw the sandwich back after getting it wet and soggy. Enraged, Mark threw a punch at you, forgetting that you were a literal fire hydrant. He clutched his fist in pain and ran off. Many people were giggling, but you focus on one person. You make eye contact with Mr. Ham, the teacher who let's almost everything slide. He nods and gives you a thumbs up. People are patting you on the back, sharing it on social media. It's time for 1st of 5 classes. Math. When you walk in, your teacher, Mr. Ham, starts smirking at you.
Chapter 2: "let's give it up to Hydrant for retaliating against Mark!" Mr. Ham shouted. A few people clapped, others stayed silent. After class, you decide to go to a vending machine. The drink vending machine. You needed to refuel somehow. You tor a bottle of water and emptied it. You then filled the bottle with boiled water which was in a faucet in the cafeteria. It's almost time for class 2. Your least favorite class, Language arts. As you walk in, your teacher Mr. Kang walks up to you and shows you your essay. You got a 30/95. Mr. Kang ordered that you explain it. You apologize and say you'll do better next time. Mr. Kang orders you to sit down. The class dragged by, but there was only three weeks left of school.
Chapter 3: In the halls, a girl comes up to you and asks you out on a date. She's pretty. She asks you where you want to go. You asked if she wanted to go to the mall. She gleefully accepted. After achool you walked to her house and knocked on the door. Her dad came outside. He told you to come in. It was awkward when you sat down, so you thought of a conversation starter. You think of three ideas. You decide to talk about your date, Jenny. You tell her dad how kind she is, and her somewhat high popularity in school. Her dad just nods and dismisses you when Jenny comes down. The two of you go outside and you want to think of something to say. You tell her that she's beautiful and she smiles, thanking you. You both chat but when the two of you are about to reach the mall, three men come up to you with knives. They order you to give you their money, but don't notice Jenny. You sprayed the with the boiled water you drank earlier that day. You think about turning back and acting all heroic.
Chapter 4: You turn back, all heroic, and then realize: "bad idea if I wasn't a fire hydrant". One of the robbers swing a metal bar at you. Once it hits you, it completely bends. Suddenly, a cop tackles the criminals and artests them. Jenny called the cops quietly. You tell Jenny to keep it a secret and she agrees. The two of you explore the mall and eye a shop and a resturaunt. Were do you go to first?
View Poll

517 BCY
[Trigger warning: suicide]
The following is a transcript of the final log recorded by commander Durlan Tralynn aboard the Orbital Research Station in the days during and immediately following the Last War. Commander Durlan was the astronaut in charge of the ORS when hostilities erupted. These logs have been preserved by the Museum of Pre-Federation History for their unique perspective on that devastating conflict.
[Recording Begins]
Taegen and Elwin took the capsule down today. I refused to go with them. They begged and pleaded with me, but my mind is set. I refused the supplies they offered to leave. We all know staying behind is a death sentence. The capsule is the only way down to the surface, and nobody is coming back up for me. The world ended two months ago.
They think they saw signs of life in the xenith tree forests on the western continent. A fool’s hope. Even if someone is still moving around down there, they won’t last long. The air has gone toxic. But I didn’t try to disabuse them of the notion. Any hope, even a fool’s hope, must be better than this despair. I wished them luck and watched the capsule separate from the station. I could see Elwin looking back at me until the capsule drifted too far to make out any details.
As for me, I’m setting in the observation bay, looking down at what’s left of Arcadia. I’ve already adjusted the atmosphere scrubbers. It’s shocking how easy it was. Just a little tweak, barely noticeable unless you’re looking for it, and in a little while I’ll drift off to sleep. No pain, no fuss. Just an end. I wonder if I’ll dream. That would be nice. To sit here looking down, and dream of a world full of life that I’ll never see again.
The recording is quiet for a long while, except for the ever present whir of the station’s machinery. After some time commander Durlan speaks again.
I suppose I should say something of substance. For the historical record, if nothing else. Not that there’s anyone left to record it. But still, it feels like the right thing to do.
Like I said, the world ended two months ago. The bastards finally did it. I don’t know who fired the first megaspell, or what kind of incident escalated into war, I just know we were over the southern continent when it happened. It was night and the planet lit up with flashes.
The defenses on the continent worked. It was a brilliant strategy, I’ll say that for them. They knew they couldn’t compete with the larger powers, so instead of trying to stop everything cold with shields and anti-missile defenses, they played a subtler game. Misdirection and deflection. They sent the incoming megaspells sliding away into the sea, far from their major cities and industrial centers.
Taegen read the scans. Those defenses turned aside a full ninety percent of the incoming megaspells. But thousands got through. It must have been a devastating blow, but we didn’t really see the aftermath. Their military planners never considered the consequences of dumping tens of thousands of megaspells into the sea. The ocean boiled. Not much of it, but all around the coast of the southern continent. By the time we swung over it during the daytime, the entire continent was covered in steam. Their own defenses fried them. It took three days for the ocean to cool, and another four weeks for the clouds of steam to clear away.
I haven’t brought myself to look at the continent. Not through the optics anyway. My eyes can’t see any details from way out here, and I’m happy to keep it that way.
There follows a long pause, during which commander Durlan makes several attempts to start expressing his next thought, before he finally settles on his words.
We thought it would end there. Flash. Bang. World over. But it didn’t. The fighting went on for days. Taegen spotted a massive fleet battle in the Central Sea which only ended when a wave of megaspells vaporized both sides. He detected weapons fire around many of the major cities, too. Poor bastards fighting over ruins. There was still fighting around Essa Ennore. The city endured several megaspell hits, followed by two days of heavy fighting, before a dozen more megaspells wiped it off the map.
Taegen told me Soliana and Meira might have gotten out during the fighting. He was trying to comfort me, but I hope they didn’t. I hope they died in that first wave of megaspells, before they even knew what was happening. I hope they didn’t have to suffer through the hell we created.
Commander Durlan stops talking for a long while, but his heavy sobs are a constant reminder of his presence on the recording. Finally he speaks up again.
I can feel it now. Getting drowsy. Not much time left. It’s better this way, there’s no life left to live. No survival down there. I’ve seen the scans, the horrors of those megaspells. They weren’t all just explosions. The air has turned toxic, and some of those poisonous clouds have minds. They can think. They can chase down their prey, seep through sealed bunkers, scouring away survivors in choking agony. Half the eastern continent is covered in frost, the remnants of roving ice storm megaspells that sought out any source of heat and froze it solid. Even the dead had no peace, reanimated into mindless magical automatons to overwhelm any scattered survivors.
I’ll give us this, we were thorough. We left no stone unturned in our quest to wipe our entire world clean of life.
I don’t know if anyone will ever hear this recording. I don’t believe there’s anyone left on the planet below. At least, nobody who will survive beyond a few more terrified weeks. Arcadia is dead. But if there’s anyone else out there, some traveler from the stars that finds the ruins of our home, I want you to know something: we weren’t bad people.
We were greedy, and selfish, and shortsighted fools. But we weren’t monsters. We weren’t this senseless final act of destruction. There was joy and celebration and love here too. We’ve done a terrible thing, but it wasn’t because we were evil, spiteful creatures. Please, don’t judge us by our worst mistake. And please, I beg of you, don’t make the same mistakes we did.
I can barely keep my eyes open anymore. It’s not too late to grab one of the vacuum suits, fix the air scrubbers… no. It’s better this way. Better to die peacefully, than scrabble in futile defiance of the inevitable. Maybe I’ll see my Soliana again. And little Meira.
Commander Durlan is quiet for a moment before he starts softly singing a love song. The lyrics are about a young couple and the wonderful summer nights they spend together. He occasionally interrupts himself with wracking sobs, and his voice grows quieter and weaker until his words are little more than murmurs that eventually fade altogether. The recording continues for another five hours, silence broken only by the whir of the station’s machinery, until the tape runs out.
[Recording Ends]
These logs were recovered in 370 BCY, 147 years after the Last War, by the team of historian Tarathiel Tralynn, great grandson of Meira Tralynn. Tarathiel placed a plaque inside the Orbital Research Station bearing his great great grandfather’s name and the lyrics of that final song. The station was carefully moved into a more stable orbit and marked as a historical monument. Commander Durlan’s remains were left as they were found, sitting in the station’s observation bay. There he sits for the rest of eternity, staring down at a world full of life that he had only dreamed to see again.

I want to close my eyes and, in an instant, be free of all feeling and never have to open them again.
She broke up with me at the beginning of the year. We had a long talk, and we both cried, but in the end she still left. A lot of things were said, and I don't know if she meant for them to be hurtful or not. She said I wasn't enough, that she needed someone who was masculine and dominant. But you knew what I was when you met me, didn't you? I get confused for a girl about 70% of the time, you knew that, right? And I always told you, from the very beginning, that I liked being the little spoon. That I wanted to be soft, to not have to live up to any of society's expectations of men, that I just wanted to feel safe and secure and protected with someone. That I wanted to feel like I, just by myself, with all my imperfections, with all the feminine parts of me that everyone is repulsed by, with everything I've always felt wasn't what a man should look like-- that I was still enough for someone. You knew all that. Why'd you stay for as long as you did if you hated all of it?
When we were dating, she told me she had a big crush on one of her guy-friends. I was always insecure about it because he was a lot more conventionally attractive, always had girls hitting on him, and was always single. But she assured me that she wasn't interested in him anymore. I guess I never could fully believe it.
Today I opened Venmo to transfer some money, and I saw that he'd been paying rent to her landlord, and that he was also sending her money for the wifi bill. I don't know for sure how long they've been living together now, at least a month. It's her life, she can do whatever she wants and be with whoever she wants, and I've tried to come to terms with that. But it just feels so unfair. That she gets to just move on like that and have someone else with her. And I'm still here, on my own, same as I've always been.
I've been trying to work on myself. I started doing Jiu-Jitsu to complement my kickboxing training, I started learning guitar and practicing every day, I picked up reading again, I got my motorcycle license, I got promoted. I feel like in just a few months, I've come so far. But I'm still stuck. Swiping on dating apps, getting maybe one match maybe every few months if I'm lucky, that usually turns up to be nothing. There was one girl I went on a few dates on, but she ghosted me.
And I just don't know what to do. My entire life, I've just wanted someone to feel at home with. Someone I can always go to, someone I can be totally, completely myself with, without having to put on any kind of face, without having to put on any kind of armor to face the harshness of the world. I don't want any of what I've done. I don't want to feel like I have to learn to fight, or to pick up random skills or hobbies, or ride on a dangerous two-wheeled machine, or have the position I do. I just want to be with someone. I want to love and to be loved, and that's it, that's always been it.
It's my birthday today. I'm 24 now. 24 more years than I needed or wanted. I remember all the times I was at a firing range with a gun in my hands, thinking about how in a single flash, I could be done with it all. And I regret that I'm still here. It feels like nothing will ever get better. It's like I'm trapped in an old shack in the midst of a harsh, never-ending blizzard. I can decorate the inside as much as I like, make it all pretty and inviting. But nobody's ever going to show up. In the end, it's still an old shack; the snowstorm outside is one that knows no lifting, and things will always be like this.
I have tried all that I can think of. This broke me completely. I don't know how I can keep going on like this. Every morning, I wake up and have nothing to be excited about. I can't imagine a girl ever being excited about me, wanting to talk to me and get to know me in every way she can.
I'm 24 now, but I still feel like the same stupid kid I was in high school. I still fall asleep in the same empty bed, staring at the same sparse ceiling with the fan I'm afraid to turn on because of how much it shakes and threatens to fall right off. And then all the same insecurities come flooding back, everything I thought I moved past. Where I once thought I'm okay being mistaken as a girl, that it's cool how androgynous I am, I realize how much it sets me back, how hard it is to find someone attracted to me. I come to resent my face, my eyes, my height, my hair, my body, my voice. Everything everyone else can perceive feels like a reason for them to steer clear, or just treat me like a little brother even if I'm years older than them.
When I was in middle school, where there was this clique of the popular boys, the cool jocks or whatever, I always wished I was one of them. Not in the sense of wishing I could be in that crowd, but that I was literally living in the body of one of them. I'd sing stupid mournful songs about it in the shower, I'd think about it as I fell asleep.
And today, it's not that different. Every night I go to bed, wishing I could wake up in a different body. Being rebellious, or an iconoclast, or something contrary to society's standards is a cool thing to talk about. Until it's forced upon you, until you can't match what society wants no matter how hard you try, until you can't fit in and you can't attract people to you.
When I was going to therapy, my therapist said something along the lines of how I'm more interesting than the typical "Abercrombie and Fitch white guy," and it was funny and made me feel a little better at the time. But I think I'd rather just conform. I'd rather just be conventionally attractive and fit right in and have my pick of whoever I wanted than be unique.
What's the point of having a unique life experience if there's no one to share it with?
I feel like I'm at the end of my line.

GREAT SHOW!!!
They played nearly 90 minutes. Most shows lately are 14 songs, this was 15.5 (see encore below).
Transmaniacon MC - not my pick for an opening song and the crowd sat for most of it. But, it is the 1st song on their 1st record so it's very appropriate.
Before the Kiss - one of my favorites going back to the St. Cecilia days. always enjoyable to hear it live and sing along with the Buck. my wife thinks i'm nuts for knowing all the words start to end.
Golden Age of Leather - this was absolutely wonderful. what a treat and it sounded great and gave me chills. i've heard this only once before but knew it was coming from previous set lists. there was a very notable lack of tune from Buck and Eric when they sang anything together (not just this song) but when Ritchie and Danny did back up vocals the harmony's for all 4 were perfect. for me it was the first time i could find any flaw with their shows but c'mon man they are 75 / 77 respectively and i'm seriously impressed they can sing (and play) at such a high level. this song rocks and the boys did a great job.
That Was Me - Rightfully so, this features Richie Castellano. I was kind of surprised they did not feature Richie more throughout the night. he is fabulous even if his guitar is ugly.
Burning for You - before this, the crowd was not terribly into the show - i kind of think the opening act was the issue here, see below - until Burning for You. a lot of cell phones lit up and the crowd really was into the show the rest of the way. i'm glad this was a hit for them and they are kind of obligated to play it but i can think of 20 others i would rather hear.
Harvest Moon - Buck is the best. Period. they way he can play creepy / haunting that just fills the theater is unparalleled. not just on this but often throughout the show i was mesmerized. Sure Buck can play fast and he still can (impressive at 75), but this is what separates him from others and makes him the and cream of top and GOAT. this is the stuff that seems to get better with age. wow.
The Vigil - what a great composition and i love how they make it better live.
ETI - good as always and the sound was perfect - a BOC lover's song.
Train True (Lennie's Song): i'm not a big fan of this, it just doesn't seem to fit the band.
Last Days of May: Wow. this was worth the price of admission alone! my jaw dropped listening to Richie's lead - this guy can really play and he always impresses me. not to be outdone, Buck absolutely killed it for his extended solo. Richie can rock the song, Buck can rock your brain. his solo seemed endless and had my complete attention for the duration. Oh dear Lord, i love how he plays.
Godzilla - ok for me. they gotta play it but I sure missed Dominance and Submission and would trade them in this set list. Dominance is one of the top songs on the best record recorded since 1970.
Buck did an intro / solo thingy. i thought they might surprise us with I love the Night as i had seen this played only once before with a Buck intro and this sounded the same but it was really an intro for the Reaper. Buck can fill a stadium with such a big, big sound that haunts and entertains me completely.
Don’t Fear the Reaper - sounded great and i love it live.
Encore:
Tatoo Vampire: Mr. Bloom stopped less than a minute into this and said he could not hear himself, so they went with Hot Rails, then added Cities on Flame (just guessing this was an in-game decision). This was quite unfortunate as i had not heard Tattoo Vampire before and it sounded fucking GREAT then Eric stopped it. huge bummer. i wish they would have fixed the problem then come back to it but time / contract restraints won't allow it.
Hot Rails to Hell - they rocked the fuck out of this - what a great encore, what a great song. I'm 62 and felt like 16 hearing this. these guys rock.
Cities on Flame - i think this was an in-game addition after Tattoo Vampire didn't work out. Buck put on a clinic here and did his magic one last time for the evening. Completely satisfying to end the show with this.
The late add of the opening act of Max Gomez was a mismatch from the start. he plays acoustic folk. he's good, just not meant for this crowd. he acknowledged it and it helped me to continue listening but it did not get anyone fired up for the Soft White Underbelly / Oaxaca / Stalk Forrest Group / Santos Sisters / Blue Öyster Cult.
These guys have entertained me for 53 years now...and counting. many dinosaur bands are not that great anymore and are just milking their couple of hits. Not true with Blue Öyster Cult. if you possibly can, go see these guys - they are still fabulous!

We all know that exercise is crucial for our physical health, but did you know that it can also work wonders for your brain? That’s right! Exercise isn’t just about building muscle or losing weight; it’s a powerful tool that can supercharge your brain and enhance your mental well-being. In this blog, we’ll uncover the incredible benefits of exercise on your brain health and why it’s time to make it a non-negotiable part of your daily routine.

STEPS FOR EXERCISE IMPROVES HEALTH BRAIN:

1. Pump Up Your Brainpower: Exercise has a direct impact on your cognitive abilities. When you engage in physical activity, your heart rate increases, pumping more oxygen and nutrients to your brain. This surge in blood flow enhances brain function, leading to improved focus, attention, and memory. So, the next time you need a mental boost, skip the caffeine and lace up your sneakers instead!
2. Boost Your Mood, Beat the Blues: Exercise is a natural mood booster and a powerful weapon against stress, anxiety, and depression. When you work out, your brain releases endorphins, also known as “feel-good” chemicals. These neurotransmitters help alleviate feelings of sadness and promote a sense of well-being. Regular exercise has even been linked to a reduced risk of developing mental health disorders.
3. Unleash Your Creativity: If you’re in need of a creativity boost, look no further than exercise. Studies have shown that physical activity stimulates the brain’s creative centers, enabling you to think more innovatively and outside the box. So, whether you’re an artist, writer, or problem solver, incorporating exercise into your routine can fuel your creative fire and lead to breakthrough ideas.
4. Protect Your Gray Matter: As we age, our brains naturally undergo changes that can impact cognitive function. However, exercise has been found to slow down this aging process and protect your gray matter. Regular physical activity promotes the growth of new brain cells, strengthens neural connections, and reduces the risk of cognitive decline, including conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s like a fountain of youth for your brain!
5. Improve Sleep, Sharpen Your Mind: Quality sleep is essential for optimal brain function, and exercise can help you achieve just that. Regular physical activity promotes better sleep patterns, allowing your brain to recharge and consolidate memories. By getting enough restful sleep, you’ll wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day with a sharp mind and laser-like focus.

CONCLUSION OF EXERCISE IMPROVES HEALTH BRAIN:

Conclusion: Exercise isn’t just about getting fit or staying in shape; it’s a game-changer for your brain health. From enhancing cognitive function and boosting mood to protecting against age-related decline and fostering creativity, the benefits of exercise on the brain are undeniable. So, lace up your sneakers, hit the gym, or simply take a brisk walk—whatever form of exercise you choose, your brain will thank you for it. Get ready to unlock your full mental potential and enjoy the incredible journey to a healthier, happier, and sharper mind!

So I’m camping with a couple of friends and one of them decided to light a plastic bag on fire so after it caught flame he didn’t want to put it out so I did. I hit the flame and when I hit it the plastic sparked and shot right onto my finger burning me. I just want to know why it jumped on me what is the reason for it doing this?