{I think I speak for both of us when I say we’re ready for any task you have for us, Fleet Admiral.} The AI chirped.
“Am I missing something?” The carrier asked irritably. “I’m just a girl, remember? What good is flesh and blood going to do against a Reaper?”
She rose to her feet, pacing around with frustration and unable to sit still any longer.
“What good am I any more? You can’t even recycle me for scrap. And you want me to protect a star system? I’d love to, Sir, but I can’t. Unless there’s something else I don’t know?”
“Indeed, an average Thanatos-class couldn’t do that.” Red remarked appreciatively as he saw what Tempest had done to the dummy cruisers.
Whether or not the carrier had realized it yet, the arrival of the shipgirls had changed interstellar naval warfare completely.
They could maneuver far batter and react much faster than the usual crewed starships, and were on par with capsuleer-piloted ships in reactive capability.
Combat test complete, came the digital voice of Akemi. You all can head back in anytime you desire. I’ll leave you all be for now.
Halcyon flew over to Tempest, grinning. “Nice shooting, Tempest! One sec while I have another look see, okay?”
Tapping her omni-tool again, this time Halcyon steadily orbited around the carrier, omni-took steadily glowing as it ran a scan over her. Once that was done, the repair ship smiled again.
“Well, only thing that needs updating is your propulsion! The Technology Council unveiled a new sublight drive design a few days back that could be adapted for shipgirl integration that’s a seriously huge step up from the GN-impulse hybrid drives we’ve been using for a few decades.”
And here Halcyon winked, clearly excited about it. “You’re gonna love it. Seems to allow for much tighter maneuvers and relativistic acceleration so smooth you can’t even feel it. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”
“Exercise complete, Adrianna. Recall all drones and fighter squadrons.” She instructed her partner.
“I’ll be looking forward to that refit then.” She smiled to Halcyon. “I suppose I showed up just in time.”
The carrier was beginning to regain her lost sense of pride. She had a reputation to uphold, as the so-called best carrier of Second Fleet, even if the title was a result of bias from her old crew.
“Perhaps later you can help me recalibrate the point defence system too. I think I can shave another second off that time.” She added.
She then turned her attention to the superior. “I suppose I was wrong about being just flesh and blood. Sir, with your permission, I want to return to active duty as soon as possible!”
A tone of hesitance was evident in Red’s reply as he coasted over with his armor’s zero-G maneuvering thrusters.
“About that…permission is certainly granted, but it’s the ‘soon as possible’ part that concerns us.”
The Fleet Admiral waved a hand to the majestic sight of Zephyr and it’s Starbase, the blue-hued gas giant sitting serenely amongst the stars.
“Since the Event, we initiated a mass recall of GDI forces outward of Initiative space. They’re back now, have been for the past month. We’re still deciding on how we should go about with our peacekeeping duties, now that we’ve had to rewrite practically all our interaction protocols. Our allies in the Coalition have already begun to notice the silence on our part.”
“Not to mention…the Third Wave is the largest arrival-generation of shipgirls we’ve ever had. To the point where it’s thrown off our usual military administration severely. At this rate, we’ll have to class you and your sisters-in-arms as a separate branch of the military entirely, if one that’s tied closely with the Navy.”
A sigh escaped him again. “You’ll be on active duty alright, but field deployments won’t be for a while until we manage to get everything sorted out again.”
Halcyon nodded. “As much as I’d like to be out there joining the rest of you girls, right now GDI needs all the hands it can get.”
Tempest just floated in circles around him, filled with unbound energy. “So we’re not going outside GDI space? Even still, there has to be something I can do. Border patrols, defence fleets, anything at all!”
“Say, why don’t we send a few of us into relatively neutral space, just to remind everyone that we still exist? Catching a few pirates or something can’t be so bad, can it?” She questioned. If there was anything at all that she could put all this energy towards, she’d do it in a heartbeat. She’d always hated being cooped up in drydock, and this did not feel much different.
“Please, Sir, I’m begging you.” She pleaded. “Give me something to do. Give me an order.”
“Funny that you mention pirates, Tempest, because you reminded me of something we’ve had planned that I think will suit you.” Red replied. “Let’s head back to the Starbase before I explain more, though.”
“Akemi, three to Blink please, preferably to Atrium 5.” Red requested through neural message.
Right away, sir, came the reply.
With a flash of electric-blue, the trio were Blinked again, this time to the Atrium in question. One of six, the Atrium turned out to be a huge chamber in the Starbase’s upper section with an ultra-wide window running along the curved hull offering a breathtaking view of Zephyr and its orbital stations.
There were many shipgirls chatting amongst themselves, though the ones nearest to Red as he appeared among them with Halycon and Tempest in tow saluted him briefly before returning to their conversations once he let them be at ease.
“Right, the pirates. About 40 years ago, our rising influence as a peacekeeping-focused galactic power allowed us to more or less squash organized crime groups across much of the galaxy. They’ve been relatively quiet since, with only two major multiversal-scale exceptions since then, both times led by magic-using criminal elements from one of our former allied universes.”
Halycon spoke up then, guessing what Red was about to talk about. “And now that we’ve had the mass recall, they’ve come out of the woodwork again, right?”
A nod from Red. “Mostly correct, Halcyon. They may be weakened and a shadow of what they were prior to our appearance, but they’ve returned nonetheless.”
He turned to the carrier. “Luckily, Tempest, this is where you and your sisters may come in. We can kill two birds with one stone, since we also need to conduct a mass shakedown of our new generation of starships.”
“Suffice it to say, thanks to the Event, the Technology Council succeeded in pushing through one of their long-time proposals. That is, a line of AI-controlled warships with minimal crew requirements. These will serve as the ships to replenish our losses from the Event, as well as a partner force to the shipgirl corps.”
“The designs and underlying technology for them are all bleeding-edge, and I think you and your sisters will do a fine job of helping them learn how to combat enemies. Moreover, this’ll remind everyone exactly why we exist.”
{I think I speak for both of us when I say we’re ready for any task you have for us, Fleet Admiral.} The AI chirped.
“Am I missing something?” The carrier asked irritably. “I’m just a girl, remember? What good is flesh and blood going to do against a Reaper?”
She rose to her feet, pacing around with frustration and unable to sit still any longer.
“What good am I any more? You can’t even recycle me for scrap. And you want me to protect a star system? I’d love to, Sir, but I can’t. Unless there’s something else I don’t know?”
“Indeed, an average Thanatos-class couldn’t do that.” Red remarked appreciatively as he saw what Tempest had done to the dummy cruisers.
Whether or not the carrier had realized it yet, the arrival of the shipgirls had changed interstellar naval warfare completely.
They could maneuver far batter and react much faster than the usual crewed starships, and were on par with capsuleer-piloted ships in reactive capability.
Combat test complete, came the digital voice of Akemi. You all can head back in anytime you desire. I’ll leave you all be for now.
Halcyon flew over to Tempest, grinning. “Nice shooting, Tempest! One sec while I have another look see, okay?”
Tapping her omni-tool again, this time Halcyon steadily orbited around the carrier, omni-took steadily glowing as it ran a scan over her. Once that was done, the repair ship smiled again.
“Well, only thing that needs updating is your propulsion! The Technology Council unveiled a new sublight drive design a few days back that could be adapted for shipgirl integration that’s a seriously huge step up from the GN-impulse hybrid drives we’ve been using for a few decades.”
And here Halcyon winked, clearly excited about it. “You’re gonna love it. Seems to allow for much tighter maneuvers and relativistic acceleration so smooth you can’t even feel it. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”
“Exercise complete, Adrianna. Recall all drones and fighter squadrons.” She instructed her partner.
“I’ll be looking forward to that refit then.” She smiled to Halcyon. “I suppose I showed up just in time.”
The carrier was beginning to regain her lost sense of pride. She had a reputation to uphold, as the so-called best carrier of Second Fleet, even if the title was a result of bias from her old crew.
“Perhaps later you can help me recalibrate the point defence system too. I think I can shave another second off that time.” She added.
She then turned her attention to the superior. “I suppose I was wrong about being just flesh and blood. Sir, with your permission, I want to return to active duty as soon as possible!”
A tone of hesitance was evident in Red’s reply as he coasted over with his armor’s zero-G maneuvering thrusters.
“About that…permission is certainly granted, but it’s the ‘soon as possible’ part that concerns us.”
The Fleet Admiral waved a hand to the majestic sight of Zephyr and it’s Starbase, the blue-hued gas giant sitting serenely amongst the stars.
“Since the Event, we initiated a mass recall of GDI forces outward of Initiative space. They’re back now, have been for the past month. We’re still deciding on how we should go about with our peacekeeping duties, now that we’ve had to rewrite practically all our interaction protocols. Our allies in the Coalition have already begun to notice the silence on our part.”
“Not to mention…the Third Wave is the largest arrival-generation of shipgirls we’ve ever had. To the point where it’s thrown off our usual military administration severely. At this rate, we’ll have to class you and your sisters-in-arms as a separate branch of the military entirely, if one that’s tied closely with the Navy.”
A sigh escaped him again. “You’ll be on active duty alright, but field deployments won’t be for a while until we manage to get everything sorted out again.”
Halcyon nodded. “As much as I’d like to be out there joining the rest of you girls, right now GDI needs all the hands it can get.”
“I Sense disquiet in your soul, my dear. What it is that troubles you so?”
“I was created with a directive, but even that feels like it is unfitting. I do not enjoy… this. I do not feel like we are in the right. Harming others, seeking aid like this. It is not… not…“ a glitch in their synth. “… not a good purpose. Not mine. Not like… this.“
“Then allow me to offer you an alternative, one which may find you more agreeable.“
Zenyatta Appreciation Week Day 01 – (First) (Impressions) (Starting Point/History)
I chose to go with one of my various ideas for Zenyatta’s origins, which is him as a Null Sector Omnic. When the Uprising ended, Mondatta helped him get smuggled out as one of the Shambali, offered him the freedom to choose, then his guidance when he decided to stay, and help in giving himself a new appearance, so he could choose their own path
{I think I speak for both of us when I say we’re ready for any task you have for us, Fleet Admiral.} The AI chirped.
“Am I missing something?” The carrier asked irritably. “I’m just a girl, remember? What good is flesh and blood going to do against a Reaper?”
She rose to her feet, pacing around with frustration and unable to sit still any longer.
“What good am I any more? You can’t even recycle me for scrap. And you want me to protect a star system? I’d love to, Sir, but I can’t. Unless there’s something else I don’t know?”
“Indeed, an average Thanatos-class couldn’t do that.” Red remarked appreciatively as he saw what Tempest had done to the dummy cruisers.
Whether or not the carrier had realized it yet, the arrival of the shipgirls had changed interstellar naval warfare completely.
They could maneuver far batter and react much faster than the usual crewed starships, and were on par with capsuleer-piloted ships in reactive capability.
Combat test complete, came the digital voice of Akemi. You all can head back in anytime you desire. I’ll leave you all be for now.
Halcyon flew over to Tempest, grinning. “Nice shooting, Tempest! One sec while I have another look see, okay?”
Tapping her omni-tool again, this time Halcyon steadily orbited around the carrier, omni-took steadily glowing as it ran a scan over her. Once that was done, the repair ship smiled again.
“Well, only thing that needs updating is your propulsion! The Technology Council unveiled a new sublight drive design a few days back that could be adapted for shipgirl integration that’s a seriously huge step up from the GN-impulse hybrid drives we’ve been using for a few decades.”
And here Halcyon winked, clearly excited about it. “You’re gonna love it. Seems to allow for much tighter maneuvers and relativistic acceleration so smooth you can’t even feel it. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”
Oklahoma spent eight years under full GOP rule, with Republicans
controlling the governorship and the legislature, passing a fully
ALEC-compliant slate of laws that benefited the wealthy at the expense
of the poor; the result has been a catastrophe for the party’s fortunes in Oklahoma, to say nothing of a catastrophe for Oklahomans, whose schools are running four day weeks so teachers can made ends meet by getting a day’s work at Walmart (no wonder they’re on the verge of striking); while Republican lawmakers have run amok, introducing bills demanding that creationism be taught in schools; or that protesters be bankrupted for peaceful assembly; and making the state a haven for forced-labor camps masquerading as drug rehab centers.
Now the party is in total disarray as they scramble to patch the
enormous holes in the state’s budget without upsetting their friends in
big business, especially the fossil fuel industry. The “compromise”
position that the least reality-denying faction has come up with is to
increase taxes on poor people, which will leave their corporate
donors intact. That isn’t playing with state Democrats, and the GOP
can’t pass those tax hikes without them (or without convincing Tea Party
purists to hold their noses and vote for a tax hike).
Meanwhile, in nearby Minnesota, a suite of redistributive, semi-socialist policies have created an economic miracle of growth and prosperity.
It’s true: reality has a well-known left-wing bias.
Look at what happens when Republicans get to apply their governing philosophy without any moderating influences, and you will find – without exception – the complete destruction of any public service, anything that makes life better for the common good, anything at all that gives people who are not already wealthy the opportunity to live The American Dream.
Republicans stand for the destruction of the common good, the transfer of public funds into private hands, and the complete control of your choices about your religion, your body, who you love.
A quick glance at Kansas under Brownback and Oklahoma under ALEC-sponsored Republicans is all it takes to see what a disastrous failure the GOP is for everyone who is not already rich and white and male.
Modern republicans are anarchists. Their goal is to get rid of all oversight, governance, public resource, and arm everyone in sight and tell them to kill each other over imaginary bullshit. The utter destruction of civilization on every level.
For fuck’s sake, I have suicidal thoughts DAILY and I’m not as self-destructive as a single modern republican vote.
I remember first learning that you can cry from any emotion, that emotions are chemical levels in your brain and your body is constantly trying to maintain equilibrium. so if one emotion sky rockets, that chemical becomes flagged and signals the tear duct to open as an exit to release that emotion packaged neatly within a tear. Everything made sense after learning that. That sudden stability of your emotions after crying. How crying is often accompanied by the inability to feel any other emotion in that precise moment. And it is especially beautiful knowing that it is even possible to experience so much beauty or love or happiness that your body literally can’t hold on to all of it. So what I’ve learned is that crying signifies that you are feeling as much as humanely possible and that is living to the fullest extent. So keep feeling and cry often and as much as needed
SHIT WHAT
Also let yourself cry. It really is a biochemical release valve to dump out all the chemicals that make you feel stuff.
I honestly think one reason men in western culture have so many problems is that we don’t let them cry, and literally their brains get stuffed with all this crap that doesn’t have a release valve. Men, please cry. You’ll feel better. It’s ok. You are not lesser for taking care of your health.
This is why tears from different emotions look different under an electron microscope. They’re literally made up of different things.
Happy tears are structurally different than sad tears than angry tears than overwhelmed tears etc.
I looked it up, cuz that tidbit was dope to me and..
Initiative Archival Network 