text:
Showing results for tags 'incursion'.
Lor Space Aboard the Praetorian Aquila Class Starship Devotion Mid-December, 2014 (Terran calendar) Amara Val-Ren still felt somewhat ill at ease in the command seat of the Praetorian spacecraft. But in the short time since she and her fellow Praetorians had been revived by the Curator, she had actually spent only a small amount of time aboard either of the Praetorians' surviving starships. She and her brethren had been thrust into another conflict with the Communion, this time seeking to help the various space fairing powers that were being hard pressed by the Communion forces. Lacking the numbers to directly confront the Communion as they had over two thousand years ago, the surviving Praetorians instead did what they could to organize and inspire the forces of those fighting the threat. But for every cruiser they destroyed, or wave of antibodies they decimated, there were always more, the Communion continuing to add to its forces as it cyberformed planet after planet as it moved through sectors of space. But as desperate the situation was, the sheer scope of the threat had left little time for Amara or fellow Praetorians to dwell much on the fact that they were now two thousand years removed from the empire they had once served, and that all that they knew, everyone they once knew, were not long gone, even with how long Naram could live. But occasionally there were quite moments, where such thoughts could come to the front. In the face of those times, Amara could only try to focus on what she had to do to try to see herself and the others safely through this crisis. Of course, much of the time it seemed as if she was merely delaying the inevitable, but she could not let that stop her from what she had to do, for countless beings were counting on them, even if many of those beings did not even know it.
Outer edge of the Sol System The Communion's attack on Earth had been repulsed by many of the planetâ€™s heroes, working alongside several military and extra-governmental forces. For the moment, the planet was safe. But the Communion's world killer weapon was still positioned at the outer edge of the solar system, barely held in check by the Freedom League and their allies. With reports reaching back to the Freedom League and Earth's heroes from the Star Knights about a fleet of Communion ships headed towards the Sol System, possibly to try to assist in getting the world killer free, it was decided that merely holding the world killer at bay was no longer a viable solution. So the remaining League members on Earth had begun gathering a number of volunteers to try to help destroy the world killer before the Communion relief fleet could arrive. The gathering of the various heroes coincided with the return of one of Earth's Star Knights, Kyle Steward, who had firsthand experience against the Communion's deadly weapon. Now, Geckoman was behind the controls of one of the League's Pegasus spaceplanes, flying a rather odd collection of heroes to help in the fight against the world killerâ€¦.
GM High Earth Orbit The Lighthouse December 25 th, 2014 9:40 PM Greenwich Mean Time (4:40 PM Freedom City) The last nearly two months had been busy ones aboard the orbital headquarters of the Freedom League. With so many of the senior league members off in space trying to help against the Communion, the work load for the remaining League members had increased, the team feeling rather stretched at times. The information sent back by the League members in space had done little to easy the stress of those remaining behind. As shocking as it had been to learn of the destruction of Lor-Van, what the Communion had done with the planets and peoples they did not just outright obliterate was perhaps even more horrific. But there had been little time to fully dwell on things, as there had been crises around the world and coordination with heroes across the world to try to be ready should the Communion turn towards the Earth. And then a few hours ago, the League members in space had sent a message back to the Lighthouse, stating that they had located the Communionâ€™s world killer spacecraft, and it was heading towards Earth. The remaining League members on Earth had moved into action, contacting the various heroes they had spent the last two months connecting with and getting people moving to various parts of the world to prepare should the Communion make it past the League members in space. Freedom Hall had served as a launch point for many, teleporting them up to the Lighthouse, and then back down to Earth to the various League teleport locations that had been set up over the years. For a time, everyone had been so busy organizing things, there was little time for anything else. But once they had coordinated setting things in motion, there was little to do but wait for news from the League members in space, of for the Communion to just arrive if there was no one left to hear from.
Amazri IV, formally Lor Space March 1, 2015 (Terran Calendar) Amazri IV had long sat well inside the boarders of Lor space, many light years from the contested area with Khanate space. The planet had long been a colony for the Lor, established in the early years of their expansion from Lor-Van. It had developed into one of the Republic's primary centers of industry and manufacturing, with vast automated facilities that covered the northern and southern landscapes of several of its vast continents. Most of the large cities on Amazri IV had been located around its equator, where lush green forests spread out around the cities before giving way to high mountainous zones. Now more than half its surface had become silver colored metal, and even from space it appeared as if veins of the silver metal were continuing to spread towards the rest of the planet. Amazri IV was one of the most recent Lor planets to fall to the Communion, the cyberforming of the planet still underway. A group of the Coalition's top scientists had determined that the cyberforming process provided the most direct access to the Communion's central data centers, with the least protections in place to prevent unauthorized access. In short, if the Coalition was going to learn the whereabouts of the Communion's mothership, it would be by gaining access to one of the central relays on a world being cyberformed. So a small group of Coalition forces were aboard a Grue stealth ship, making their final approach to Amazri IV. "We will be at our target location within ten microcycles." Stated Gur'ul, the Grue Metamorph in command of the stealth ship, turning back to look at the odd collection of beings that he had been ordered to transport to Amarzi IV.
Lor Timemark 1329.8 - March 1, 2015 Garron-9, Garron System Trooper Ekna Veiu sat strapped into the back of the transport ship between a Lor mentat clone with a lantern jaw and a member of a scale covered species he couldn't name and tried to steady his breathing. He'd never planned to be a soldier but then the Communion had ripped through the Khanate, leaving the precious few survivors to flee or be turned into monsters. The Lor loved to talk about never forgetting Lor-Van but they hadn't been the only people to lose a homeworld and they weren't the only ones who'd wanted to fight back. Ekna was seventeen stellar cycles old; that had seemed like so long sitting around on his family farm waiting for his life to start, old enough to enlist with the Coalition forces, certainly. As the ship shook from atmospheric turbulence and he clenched his grey-green hands all he think about was whether or not he'd see his eighteenth cycle celebration. There weren't any enemy ships in the skies above Garron-9, at least. There didn't need to be. What had once been a densely populated border world with almost a billion inhabitants was now a solid sphere of computronium, a planet-sized server to add to the Communion's processing power. A billion people converted into raw materials and 'antibodies', the mindless, shrieking foot soldiers of the enemy. This was only Ekna's second deployment but he'd already gotten to see those up close and personal. They'd lost that moon but he'd acquitted himself well, getting his wounded sergeant to safety. They'd given him a commendation for that. They didn't mention the rest of his squad when they shook his hand. He didn't mention the night terrors he'd had ever since. That was how he'd ended up as part of one of four squads deploying to Garron-9 with a simple mission: fight their way through and take down a communication relay, in theory briefly blinding the Communion in the adjacent sector long enough for something apparently above his pay grade. Troopers didn't need to know the big picture, he guessed. He looked up from his knees and immediately regretted it as he saw the Grue strapped in across from him scowling right at him. At least Ekna thought the Grue was scowling. It was hard to tell with no mouth. He immediately looked back down regardless. Most of the other troopers were more experienced soldiers and most of them had experience fighting against those who were suddenly their allies. Tensions were always high but the calm before the storm was always the worst. Then again, at least he knew what a Grue was. Each squad had been assigned a commander for the mission, though Ekna got the impression the rank wasn't exactly official. One of them was a stern Lor officer with no patience for excuses; he'd met a lot of those in the past months. The Zultasian told a lot of jokes and laughed loudly, all swagger and confidence. Ekna had never seen anything like the grey skinned woman with the cybernetic tail, though, and even though the forth commander didn't look all that much older than him he'd heard some of the other soldiers say she wasn't really Lor but Terran and everybody had a friend of a friend with a horror story about a Terran. Ekna risked glancing up again to the back of the transport where all four of them were standing, holding onto handing straps and conversing.
GM UNISON Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland December 25, 2014 10:50 PM local time Just a few hours ago, UNISON headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland had been practically deserted, only a minimal security detail and a few technicians had been on duty, the rest home with their families for Christmas. That was until Colonel Ellis had been contacted by the Freedom League about an approaching threat from space. In the intervening time, scores of UNISON personnel had been called in, the headquarters now abuzz with activity as UNISON personnel were reaching out to contacts in governments and militaries around the world, as well as preparing itself for the possible arrival of a hostile alien force. Over a decade ago, UNISON had shocked many world leaders, when it had fielded a small fleet of space capable heavy fighters, the Uni-Storm, during the Grue invasion of 2003. Since that time, Colonel Ellis had managed to hold off efforts to decommission the Uni-Storm, which mean that UNISON had under its control a majority of Earth's space capable combat aircraft. The pilots for the fighters were still being brought it, and gearing up and receiving briefings for possible sorties. The mechanics that had been brought in were working as fast as they could to get all the fighters ready should they be needed, with more arriving all the time. Things were much further along than if there had been no warning, but they still needed a bit more time before they could get all the Uni-Storm into the air. During the past few hours, a number of even more unusual individuals had arrived at UNISONâ€™s headquarters, as a group of superheroes from across Europe and the United States had arrived to offer what assistance they could. With Colonel Ellis' former connections with the Ministry of Powers in the UK, it was only natural that the current members of the Vanguard were present. Also present were two national heroes from countries in southern Europe, Professor Chiron from Greece, and Stella d'Argento (the Silver Star) from Italy. A pair of heroes had also transported to Geneva from the United States, sent by the Freedom League to assist as well. Currently the gathered heroes were with Colonel Ellis in a large command center in the center of the headquarters, where UNISON technicians were tracking activity all over the world as various militaries began the process of preparing themselves for the possibility of an attack, and keeping an eye on the telemetry coming in from numerous satellites and radio tracking stations on Earth that were scanning the heavens for signs of approaching ships. "So as of right now, we need about another half an hour to have all the planes ready to go into combat if needed." Ellis stated to the gathered heroes. "We can probably have half of them up in about twelve minutes, perhaps a bit sooner. As for the military units around the rest of the worldâ€¦well, they are trying to mobilize as quick as they can, but this is probably about one of the worst times for such an attack in terms of the number of personnel away from base with friends and family."
March 1, 2015 51 Pegasi 50 light years from Earth 51 Pegasi is an LV-type star, the kind of small yellow dwarf utterly undistinguished except for the simple accident of longevity and luminescence that means they are, by a wide margin, the stars most likely to support Lor-type life across the galaxy. 51 Pegasi does have one novelty - 51 Pegasi B, the gas giant trapped a little more than 4 million miles from its home star. 51 Pegasi B is a burning hot world, wracked by storms and super-heated winds that make the planet one of the most hostile in Lor space. Even so, the scientific research station on 51 Pegasi Ba, the single asteroidal satellite of the planet, has always been something of a backwater. The fluid dynamics of superheated gas giants is a vigorously debated scientific discipline, but one with few practical applications. The team from Ohtalv University arrived for their year-long assignment five and a half months ago, a few weeks before Ohtalv University and the rest of Lor-Van was atomized by strong-nuclear suppression from the Communion. A routine scientific posting had suddenly become a refuge, but also a cage - the picket ship usually assigned as their rescue vessel was called away for convoy duty months ago and they have nothing on the base rated to so much as leave the shadow of the asteroid. Of the five person team from the University, their world gone and families dead, supplies dwindling more and more every day, four are still alive. It's a sad story, but a story repeated again and again the Lor Republic. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Until recently. As he sat in the station's control center, Narab Zober watched what would have been the career-making discovery of a scientist a year earlier play out before him with calm interest. Only the cool discipline of his Hephestian martial heritage kept him here, kept him working, and kept thoughts of home, family, and all he had lost out of his mind. Lives had ended - but life went on. "...from deep neutrino scans, the entity has reached the rocky core of Pegasi 51b and has begun what can only be described as _feeding_ on the heavy metals and other materials within." He watched the rippling clouds, gone chaotic in recent days, and raised a long feathered eyebrow, his padded fingers folded on the table in front of him. "To survive at the heart of a super-heated gas giant, the Gorgon's energy and matter absorption abilities must be even greater than previously estimated. Fascinating. At current rate of consumption, I estimate that within seven standard days, Pegasi 51b will have lost its gravitic cohesion and begin breaking up." And then plummet into the burning heart of the star - along with this station. "This is Dr. Narab Zober of Lor Science Station #0047, ending this rotation's report. Tomorrow Dr. M'Kelley will offer her report on the fluid dynamics of a gas giant in the process of core destruction. End transmission." When he was done, he stared at the communications terminal, as if willing a reply by sheer force.
Kestevan 79 23,000 LY from Earth March 1, 2015 Temperance was seeing the ghost of a dead star pass by. There was a way to say it that was much less poetic and much more scientific. And, although there may have been some literalism to it, given her powers, there was little spiritual thrum out in the void of space. If there were entities that represented the great void, they were likely to cling to the travelers passing through it - and even then, they were keeping a wide berth from her ship. Ship. She said it like it was familiar. She was hurdling through the void on a gigantic hunk of metal, the vacuum of space surrounding her on all sides. She knew enough to know that her head wouldn't necessarily explode if she went tumbling out into the void. That was where her knowledge ended. Everything else, on the other hand, was so limited. This was not her territory. Thank God for the others, then. Three of them had reached out to Sharl. They were space travelers of a sort - that was how she understood it - who had encountered Communion forces on a planet orbiting a star near Kestevan 79. The planet had been destroyed to make way for a wormhole - just like had happened to Lor-Van. By their estimate, and given the Communion forces overseeing the wormhole, they believed that whatever was controlling local operations would be stationed nearby. And they had gathered, through said intelligence, that there had been someone who'd survived Lor-Van who had a knack for electronic frequencies. Who had been on the planet when the Communion forces had organized and attacked. And who might be able to parse their signal through the field of cosmic radiation that made all other efforts impractical. He had recommended that she might want to stay behind. This wasn't her field, and it wasn't her fight. But she'd seen what had happened to him when he had come back. She was not going to leave him to wander into Hell alone. She just had to hope that, when the time came, they could get through the fires together.
Criminal Carter Bay, Florida, Terra One week before the Battle of Kesteven 79; Lor Timemark 1329.7 "Whaddya mean what do I want you to do with 'em?! They came to my son's house!" Anna knew she was screaming, and she knew she sounded like an old woman when she screamed, but for once in her life she didn't care. She'd tried for weeks to reach Basil after the fighting in Freedom City during the Communion incursion; and only now, pacing back and forth so fast she was burning through yet another bedroom rug, had she finally gotten ahold of her old friend. "They tried to kill my grandson! They tried to put their filthy stinking hands on my little baby granddaughter! I want them dead! I want their whole goddamned organization dead and buried in a goddamned hole in the ground!" Basil let her rant, like a good friend should, knowing what Clock Queen was like in a righteous temper. When she was finished, Basil broke in gently. "I'll do whatever is in my power to help you, my dear Anna." His voice was warm and soothing, the perfect veteran musician's calm, even tones. "I am not soley responsible for composing their fate, but I think I can persuade even their backers to dance to my tune for a while. But the question remains, Anna, what will you do for me in return?" His tone was serious, but almost apologetic, the same way he might have asked for repayment on money she'd borrowed from him back in the day - which now that she thought about it had happened more than once. "Certain things have never been tolerated in our organization - but of course we're talking about a third party. If I'm to move against them, I need to be sure that you can move with me the next time I need a favor." Anna put her head against the wall, palm flat against the bright green wallpaper of her retirement bungalow, and thought about her old friend's words, even as not for the first time recently she felt a great wave of unaccustomed fatigue. "Listen, Basil, I...I promised my boy I wouldn't get back in the League, and I meant it. It's important to him - and you know nothing's more important to me than family." She opened her eyes and caught sight of herself in the mirror across the hall. Jeez - look at me! Eighty years old, and she looked like a healthy woman in her fifties - a woman who was going to spend a long, long life right here in this bungalow if she chased Basil away right now. He'd better be right about the white noise blocking the line here. "But a deal's a deal. If you need a favor, a real favor...gimmie a call. I'm yours."
December 25, 2014 In Shropshire, Daniel Frewer turned his head to the sky, wondering suddenly what lay in the heavens. In Osaka, Homura Kato froze on the subway, feeling a sudden sense of calm and tranquility. In Alexandria, Amir al-Khudari locked himself in his apartment and spent hours writing page after page about some coming revelation, the dawning of a new prophet. Across the world, a whisper was falling into the minds of humanity. A thought launched like a needle, to grow and take hold for when the time was right. But for some people, the whisper was more like a shout. National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center Arecibo, Puerto Rico 9:12 PM The Scarab meditated above the structure hanging suspended over the gigantic radio telescope. She had felt the psychic broadcast raining down on humanity, and knew what it meant. If people were being guided towards a certain thought, it would likely come with a hard suggestion - and one of the best places for that to come through would be a site aimed towards receiving messages from the heavens. Something had come through early, however. When she arrived at the telescope, she had found the scientists in a mad bacchanal, offering praise and worship to whatever lay beyond. She had tranquilized them and managed to undo the damage, but they were still recovering. Now was the best time to turn this force's tricks against it. She just hoped the others would arrive to provide a full counter-offensive.
Lor Timemark 1329.7 - February 28, 2015 Repiuk System Asteroid Belt When rich ore deposits had been discovered in the asteroid belt of a system with no habitable worlds nearly a hundred and fifty years prior it had drawn in a rush of prospectors, independent fortune seekers and small companies looking to stake a claim that would set them and their families up for generations. As the demands of the galactic economy shifted and the best veins had been tapped out, however, the cost of refinement had risen past the profitability of the belt and one by one facilities had been abandoned, subterranean ghost towns riddling the asteroids with tunnels and shafts. Decades later those abandoned mines would serve as a base of operations for a vicious pirate fleet, their leader cannily realizing that the remaining deposits of heavy metals would play havoc with snooping sensor sweeps. They'd been found out by the Star Knights nevertheless and soundly routed, leaving another layer of abandoned equipment in their wake. It was Sri A'Lan Koor who had remembered those raids and suggested the belt, a remote location of no military significance or appeal to the Communion, as a staging area for the Coalition forces. For the past three months the secret had remained kept, long enough for the leaders of the Coalition to feel secure gathering together in one room as they planned out their last, best chance to drive out the invading menace. Standing at the war table the veteran Star Knight had to wonder if they weren't going to do the Communion's job for it. "You need to pull your head out of whatever orifice you've shapeshifted for defecation purposes," Senator Diena Th'emme told the Grue Arcane across from her flatly, fingertips pressed firmly against the surface of the horizontal display between them. The tall, imperious woman managed to make even the utilitarian grey jumpsuit she was wearing come across as regalia, her honey blonde hair done up in a crisp bun. "We have a precise window of opportunity. What troops we can spare to assault the communication relay will have to be enough." The short, stocky being to her made a fluting growl, waving fur covered hands for emphasis as his translator box did its work in an incongruously light soprano. "You would send them to their deaths and for what?" Minister Ch'rrr had rallied a number of worlds to the Coalition's banner in his home sector but was by nature disinclined toward risk taking. "The slim hope of a possible advantage for a doomed plan? Your ancestors' pardon, Citizen Tulink, but I cannot place so much faith in a single simulacrum. Surely you agree, Praetorian Val-Ren?"
December 25, 2014 Freedom City Midnight Manor Late in the evening on Christmas Day, a Deep One sang an eerie song in the Midnight Manor, her body silhouetted by the darkness outside. "BUT I GET UP AGAIN! YOU'RE NEVER GONNA KEEP ME DOWN! WOO!" As her song finished and the strains of Tubthumping vanished into the quiet of what was sometimes one of many front parlors in the Hunter mansion, Aquaria leaped in the air and cheered, her smooth, wet skin glistening from the exertion of the vigorous karoake number. "I am awesome!" For their part, Mark and Nina both cheered and applauded - Mark hadn't been at all sure bringing the machine along was the right idea, but luckily Jessie's amphibian friend had practically snatched the karaoke machine up with her tongue and practically begged to go first. (Jessie had, blushingly, commented that Aquaria used to do this a lot before disappearing herself) Aquaria first approached Mark and Nina, since they had been the latest to the party - only arriving after Martha Lucas had turned in early and left her son and his girlfriend free for Christmas. "You guys want a turn? C'mon, don't be chicken!" Between Nina's competitive streak and Mark's natural showmanship, it wasn't long before the couple was standing in front of the computerized board, picking out their song - 500 Miles seeming to be an early favorite. Aquaria bounded over to join Erin and Trevor to watch the show, declaring, "Surface music is great, you can yell so loud when you're singing! And nobody complains!"
ic Incursion: Science Team Go!
December 25, 2014 Walking about the Dubai International Convention Centre and mingling, Amir al-Misri would have been well within his rights to congratulate himself on a very successfully hosted conference. The science and technology summit - his PR people had come up with a more pompous title but it had sounded a little too obviously designed by committee to stick in the billionaire philanthropist's mind - had drawn experts in civic engineering, clean energy initiatives, information networking and a few dozen other equally impressive fields from around the globe. The chance to compare notes and show off the latest prototypes had been incentive enough but the sizable grant money being offered by his firm to the most impressive projects hadn't hurt, either. He wasn't left to bask in satisfaction for long, however, as one of his aides rushed over, his colouring pallid with stress, and shoved a tablet into Amir's hands. "Sir! Sir, you have to see this," the uncharacteristically disheveled man insisted, running a hand through his neat beard. "Some sort of weapon just made groundfall in the Rub' al Khali! It looks like- the data suggests it was launched from orbit. The payload... we don't have any idea what we're looking at, sir." The thermal satellite image on the tablet showed an aerial view of the Empty Quarter with a small, strangely cool blotch at the site of the impact. A blotch that was slowly but noticeably spreading outward.
December 25th Continued from >Mind Over Matter Fast-Forward was back on the streets of Freedom City so fast he barely had time to grab a candy cane from a department store giveaway as he made his way to his first destination. It was evening New Jersey time when he appeared at Dancia Devons' front door in Lincoln, where his super-speed knock sounded like a machine gun's rat-a-tat before he slowed himself back down (and sped everything else up) until once again he was in sync with the normal world. Knocking firmly, he called, "Dancia Devons! Dancia Devons!" When she opened the door, the Discovery Channel personality on Dancia's doorstep said without preamble, "Scarab needs you to save the world from robot psychics from space." He glanced around quickly to make sure no one was in the hallway; luckily her neighbors were all still enjoying their Christmas. "How quickly can you get to Puerto Rico?"
December 25, 2014 A ripple of tension had traced through the world's hero community, even those with few direct connections or who actively avoided such interactions with their peers. Something big was coming, perhaps already there, and the Freedom League was calling in everyone, every able body, to meet it. Details were scares and answers were scarcer but the apprehension of a soldier the night before shipping out hung over them all the same. That silent tension was broken as Asli Sadik's phone vibrated with a message notification, marked urgent with an attached video file. The compression had sacrificed some of the image quality but the hood, cloak and mask of Seven, a relatively recent addition to the League reputed to be a witch of considerable power, was immediately recognizable. The background was an indistinct blur but the urgency in her voice came through clearly enough. "Greetings, hero. My apologies for the intrusion but the need is great..." * * * * * "...great-whatever owed my great-whatever a favour and I'm calling in the chip," the porcine young man who'd identified himself as a descendant of Zhu Bajie told Daniel Lee as the grainy video played on the engineer's laptop screen. He snorted absently in a manner that wrinkled the entirety of his flat nose and hitched up his belt with both hands. "I ain't really got time to explain everything but I figure if I tell you there's adventure and demons to punch involved, won't take much convincing anyway..." * * * * * "...obviously the west bank of the Nile is a little out of the way for you," admitted Elwyn Eldrich, hockey jersey wearing nephew of the Master Mage, waving about a rune covered staff for emphasis, "but we're stretched a little thin here, frankly. Believe me, if I could leave the dread dimensions myself right now-- well, you know how they get around the holidays, I'm sure." As the video played the shadows in the corner of Jeremiah Cornwell's dorm room deepened unnaturally. "Now, can't keep the shadow portal I'm making for you open long..." * * * * * "...realize this is-- It's not how I wanted to do this," the stern young woman with Asgardian armor and a bow strapped to her back frowned, crossing and uncrossing her arms uncomfortably as John Fraser watched on his aging laptop's monitor. "But my mother always said that in a real emergency, you were the one I should contract. I'm sure you have a lot of questions - I would, too - but right now the world needs Arrowhawk." The video file ended and the gently spinning whirlpool of pitch black and midnight purple that had appeared a few meters away beckoned.
December 25, 2014 South Pole Basin Lunar Farside It is not true that Farsiders never leave their city, merely that such events are rare and usually for a purpose. The construction of the South Pole station by Farsiders had been one such purposeful occasion, one launched over a Terran century ago by a Farsider monarch concerned about a recent Terran visit to the Moon. (Some Terran visitors to Farside City have pointed out that the Apollo missions took place over six decades later, but the Farsiders have the records of earlier 'interlopers' to show skeptical visitors of today.) With its neutrino detectors and concealed telescopes, the South Pole station is well-placed to directly monitor doings on Earth. Or for that matter, as Lady Lunar proved in the early 1980s, to strike at it. A collection of intellects vast and furious on Earth had realized the station's potential not long after the Communion crisis began - concealed as the station was, it was the perfect place to strike at an enemy in Earth orbit by surprise. What had been a location for observation could become a location for misdirection; a notion that appealed to the ruling government of Farside City, which liked the idea of saving the world they orbit without their true role ever being known. (Farsiders do love their secrets!) And so, for much of the last two months, the greatest minds of Earth have come to its only natural satellite with a singular purpose. To build a machine to protect the planet from the Communion! Steve Murdock had offered what advice he could during its construction, but his experience with dimensional technology was all practical. It had come down to Dragonfly's specific genius and Miss Americana's vast storehouse of general knowledge to put the great work into practice. Caradoc, and the other non-scientists in the party of heroes guarding the weapon (as Steve was not allowed to call it around his employer) had rapidly found another role in the small lunar colony. Lunar soil ashy beneath his feet, Caradoc raised his gleaming blade to the sky, the shining tip above the heads even of the tallest Farsiders in their environmental suits. A new group of Farsider militiamen had been deployed that week - and their usual trainers were busy with an Earth-Prime holiday, an important one, but one that he could miss while Gina Evans was safely ensconced in the tiny pre-fab quarters that she had occupied for the last month. There would be time enough for celebration when the work was done. He spoke over the radio. "Your enemy will target your environmental suits first! They are not pirates, or conquerors, or enslavers. Your dead flesh will feed their ever-growing armies." He lowered his blade as the group shifted uneasily, and for a moment there was dead silence on the lunar plain besides the domed Farsider military base even on the radio frequencies they used to speak with each other outside the dome.
Outer Edge of the Lor-Van System 17 Hours After Destruction of Lor-Van The previous solar cycle's worth of hours had been among the worst in the lives of either Seikahiâ€™ino or Ana Plonsky. On shore leave from the Xeno, the human woman had chosen to spend it on the shining crown jewel of the Lor Republic with the more worldly Kahi'iru agreeing to tag along as a favour to their mutual acquaintance to make sure she didn't get herself into any trouble. There was no way either of them could have been prepared for the Communion's sudden, merciless attack on Lor-Van. There was no way anyone could have been prepared. They'd been among the lucky ones, making it to a spaceport and squeezing their way onto a mid-sized cruiser just as the bay doors closed and it made for orbit. They'd sat on makeshift benches formed from empty cargo containers while a panicked young man had asked over and over if anyone had seen his sister among the crowd and a frail grandmother had been unable to stop an infants plaintive wailing for even a moment. They'd been in the windowless hold when word had filtered down that the Star Knights had arrived in force, a moment of sudden hope and relief before learning that the armor clad champions had sacrificed themselves to give them and the other fleeing vessels time to break orbit. They'd been there when the air had begun to taste just slightly stale and those familiar with starships had begun muttering that the engines didn't sound quite right. There when a crewman had let slip that they'd fallen behind the rest of the extant fleet and wouldn't be able to jump to FTL until repairs had been effected. There when the panicked young man from before had to be restrained before he could hurt himself or anyone else. There when someone asked aloud what was stopping those terrible silver sliver ships from coming to finish them off. On the ship's bridge, Samran-86 ran a hand through her tightly shorn red hair and reminded herself to keep her breathing calm and steady. The Lor officer had assumed command of the vessel from it grateful owner, a cargo hauler with no experience with emergency situations. The clone mentat known to her fellows as Eject was beginning to think he'd had the right idea. "Any friendly vessels, this is the freighter Either Ore. We are venting plasma and require immediate assistance. Repeat: we require immediate assistance. Is anyone out there listening?"
Galandis Refinery Korivan The Khanate This seemed to be what he lived for, nowadays. He'd long since turned in his resignation at work. The guys at the aeronautics firm might have been willing to excuse his "long lunches" every now and again, but this was a different matter entirely. He had explained he was going to take a "sabbatical"; they acted like they understood, but he had a feeling that the position might be filled by the time he got back to Earth for any long stretch of time. If he got back to Earth. Sometimes, he wondered if he'd cracked. Here he was, alone, in the last place in the galaxy anyone wanted to be. He hadn't starting thinking about snails crawling along the edge of straight razors yet, so that was a point in favor of sanity. But there was still that urge, that drive. The need to do everything to the enemy that had been done to him and his people. He knew what lay down that road. But damn if it wasn't a tempting one to walk. Cavalier sighed. The personal reflection could wait. He had work to do. And so, he adjusted his visor to meet the swirling storm of dark silt, and trudged off towards his objective.
Aboard the Nomad The edge of the Lor Republic 19 Hours After Destruction of Lor-Van Aya K'zan, also known as Corona, had received a transmission about the attack on Lor-Van far too late for her to be able to try to get there aboard the Nomad. After learning of the destruction of the capital of the Republic at the hands of some new enemy called the Communion, she had contacted two of the few allies she had made since her arrival on Earth, a human Emily Stenford, also known as Mechanized; and another off-worlder, Memorial, formally of Belran. As it turned out, Memorial knew a good deal about the Communion, making it an even easier decision for Corona to bring her along. The three had been heading to try to rendezvous with the Lor fleet on the Nomad when they had received a transmission from Lor Fleet Command. With the chaos the Communion attacks had brought, and the Star Knights shifting their forces to help address the threat, large sections of space had been left unpatrolled or defended. Reports had come in from systems just along the spinward boarder of the Republic about increased pirate activity, capitalizing on the chaos and absence of Star Knights. Command had ordered Corona to alter course to investigate the activity and deal with it, noting that it was the sector assigned to one of the Star Knights that had died trying to defend Lor-Van. Corona had also been directed to make a stop to pick up an additional passenger from a system along the way, a Tempestian known as Galvanic, who had been known to provide help to those in need since leaving Tempest. Now with Galvanic aboard, the Nomad was well underway towards the sector of space that had seen the worst increase in pirate activity.
Rio Branco Avenue Rio de Janeiro, Brazil December 25th, 2014 5:25 PM local time Nick Cimitiere's jacket was tempered for heat and cold, meaning he didn't need to forgo protection - or mystique - based on the temperature. But the humidity of the Rio summer was still getting to him. The whole city was strung out for Christmas, but the tilt of the earth meant it felt more like the height of July back home. Speaking of back home... he'd told his family he'd be out of town for a few days, but would be back for Christmas. He always hated to lie to his family about these matters. Four years home from college, eight years as a superhero, and he still hadn't come clean about meddling in the affairs of life and death. But some matters of death were more important than matters of life. There had been a number of disappearances in Rio over the past few weeks. People from all walks of life had left messages for their family and friends, saying they were going to "a better place," and then had vanished entirely. Fortunatus, a local seer and fate manipulator who Nick had partnered with on a particularly tough job years ago, had given him a call about the matter. "The path is clouded to me," he had said. "I see that they are gone, but I cannot see where they have gone and who led them there. I fear this may be more your department than mine." "Anything else you can tell me?" "Just one thing. There are a number of 'great bumps' on the horizon." "Great bumps" was Fortunatus's term for a confluence of random factors that could spell either windfall or disaster. Nick had no idea where it came from. "I have one that I must handle myself, as it involves plucking the threads of chance like a harp. But I can see that these disappearances will not stop soon, and may breed a catastrophe of their own if unimpeded." And so, after spreading the word amongst the community and walking the back roads of reality, Nick had found himself walking a beat in paradise. Those who had gone seemed to be truly gone - after visiting their residences and the local cemeteries, he could find no trace of the vanished having left ghosts. Then again, he wasn't the only one on the beat. "How's it coming on your end?" he asked over the comms relics he'd handed out.


text:
Thank you On! Happy New Year!
Happy new year. Can't wait for another game.
Happy new year! Cool pic. Gotta love the awesome games.
Happy new year!! Keep up the good work On!! I love all your games! The new year card did dissapoint me trought. It looks like you made it in a hurry. Next time please take a little longer, because it's worth the waiting if we get a card like the 2007 or the 2009 cards!!(I like them more than the 2008) It doesn't matter if it comes out like the 20th instead^^ Well, even if it wasn't as good as i thought it would be, it's still much better than i could do(I make flash and C++ things in my freetime, mostly flash). It IS a cool pic. Looking forward to your next game !! Bye!
PS. Sorry for my english if it's bad.
The kid shot the tiger in the stomach...hehe.
Happy New year! Thank you for your cooolest games! And for the multilingual support too.
Keep up the good work ON!
Thank you very much for all your work, this games and your universe are amazing !
i want a new game plz!!!!!!!!!!! happy newyear!!!!!
please say darn not the other word.
"please say darn not the other word."
These grown-ups do not know what you are talking about. Don't even try to.
Happy new year."Chuc mung nam moi"
you know it's the tiger year, don't you?
whered ya go?? i miss ya sooo. its like its been forever since you've been go-onee.
it iz awesome,when ya gonna make a nother?
When are you going to do some more games. I love them, they are so addictive but you feel like you have accomplished something afterwards. Please make up some more games soon.
WHEN ARE U GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER GAME?!
When will be new game? I'm waiting.
u are really lazy lately!!
please make a grow !!
i <3 ur games! need moar sun or go crazee!
Remember people. ON has a life too and a family to take care of. He doesn't have to work to death making games for you all the time. Go and play the old ones until a new one is made instead of complaining about there not being any new games. Okay?
And ON, You are working VERY hard and I hope your life is good!
What is the point of the GUESTBOOK? I can't post my message!
I think Eyezmaze_Fan's post is a very right and good one and i wanted to add the following: Everyone here should write in better and clearer english because he is a Japanese and if I allready don't understand your bad English (I am German), he will hardly understand your posts.
oops! may be i'm so late. but i'd like to say "Happy New Year to you all"
People don't really listen do they Flare Glutox? By the way your English is very good. Better than some people's native English.
Ok ummmm........... its April 11th 2010 and this still was the first post on the website so... when will there be a new post?????
Apparently I went over to Japanese ver of website and when I translate the posts it came up with that he;s been having problems finding BGM.
Hey,how are you, ar u ok?there is nothing updated for a long time ,or maybe u have felt bored with update???but I still look foward to any news about you and your flash games?take care!
Hey mate! love the games and have even gotten some of my mates into the games. been following u since Grow ver.3!! can't wait for a new game. you are amazing at games. wish there were more people like u with these games and willing to help you make them!!
I'm waiting for your next game!
Can you make a new game, already?
Or let us, people who like what you do, know you're alive?
I must say that I’m very worried about you.
there are two more posts than this on the japanese version of the site- anyone know what they say????
update soon please! have been addicted to your games for nearly 4 years now and show them to anyone who's listening!!!!!!!!
I WANT NEW GAMESSSSS ! ! ! !
cmon it's april 10 make a post are you there r u listening? plz we love ur work but u may lose some of us if u dont make a post soon!
at LEAST post just to say "Hi!"
im gonna test if he deletes my spoiler comment.
oops on my comment a little up I ment May 10. but now it's the 17 cmon plz post!
Pra mim ja ta no final de 1010 entao...feliz ano velho!!!!!!!
Entao...Um feliz natl para quase todos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

industry_corpus2: Gaming


text:
Business: In The Event You Rent Or Own?
Whereas CER’s price still remained at 12 USD and clearly no one came forward to buy what they can get for 12 USD at 30 USD. It can be time so that you can get the ball rolling in your worldwide transfer! How Decreasing Quantity Of Supervisors Lessen The Marketing campaign Prices? A few of sectors have only lately emerged as main markets in the US. Monetary services, animation sector, marine biology, healthcare, power, and so on.
Having goals set is a should to reaching any success.
When you expertise a strong situation try out to handle it with treatment. You’ll profit from the campaign if you happen to can actually bring advantages in your audiences. Do you maintain the experience and potential for making it major as being a movie extra?
You work for a longer period, proper?
Due to the President, more capital has been supplied to the Small Business Administration, banks and to the states so that they will mortgage extra money to small companies like mine. ‘Intelligent work’ replaces the dictum of ‘hard work’ within the net world. This content material also needs to be prime quality, helpful and positioned in a prominent place within the web page. A USP refers to a unique selling level and every business wants one!
Once you want to broaden your business globally, B2B portal helps you get contacts of worldwide business gamers. You are able to do worldwide promotion of your product using business listing. If you are a wholesaler, you should buy products in bulk by just putting a commerce provide and paying online. All these options of B2B marketplace have made it doable that it becomes every businessman’s first choice to market products from one place. It not only ensures gross sales increment but additionally ends in profit increment without any extra efforts.
Nevertheless, the filters contained in the furnace can create quite a lot of drawback if it’s not frequently changed. Common well being onus is of substance America has capital for a append of dotage now, then what’s maintaining it from taking place? Have you ever been afraid of not having the ability to provide for your loved ones?

industry_corpus2: Finance & Economics


text:
"The Cofrin Library Commons plays a major role in the academic success of students by providing the necessary resources, services and study environment," says Paula Ganyard, University Librarian and Director for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. "Students are looking for a place to go for quiet study between classes, to meet classmates, to work on projects or for evening study sessions." Choosing furniture that encourages that success was a big part of Systems Furniture's recent project on campus.
The Cofrin Library which opened in 1972 has always been the central heart of the campus. The task for Laura Witbro, Senior Interior Designer at Systems Furniture, was to enhance the current students' experience in the learning center with new collaborative area seating and options for quiet study. She also added new energy to the interior by choosing colorful, patterned textiles on the seating groups to update the look of the strong, concrete structure of the library building. Ganyard says, "The project is amazing. Students are using it in droves."
Thinkpod is a comfortable space for a tutor and a student which gives them room to work together while the panel enclosures offer privacy. A variety of pod configurations is available from manufacturer, Fluid Concepts.
Arcadia's Hush unitis a modular couch which allows seven people to meet and the tall back keeps the conversation contained.
Trellis by izzy+ is an inspiring design that combines a panel and an open basket weave roofline to create a team workspace complete with marker boards.
Arcadia's Co-op (http://www.arcadiacontract.com/products/details...) is a unique collaborative area seating solution which includes booth seating and a table with an overhead canopy. It is the perfect space for a one-on-one brainstorming session.
Arcadia's Infinium (http://www.arcadiacontract.com/products/details...) angular-styled seating group of lounge chairs and stools invite students to study in the updated learning center.
Systems Furniture's team was proud to work with university staff to provide a modern library experience for their students. Our interior designers and account managers work with business, government and healthcare as well as higher education. We travel to meet with clients throughout northeastern Wisconsin from Fond du Lac to Green Bay and central Wisconsin from Wausau to Eau Claire. We provide expertise in everything from collaborative area seating to office furniture systems (https://www.sysfurniture.com/index.php/2017/10/...) and look forward to introducing ourselves through our website, https://www.sysfurniture.com, and are ready for your call at 920-336-1510 (tel:9203361510).
View original article on collaborative area seating (https://www.sysfurniture.com/index.php/2017/11/...) here.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


text:
You can easily trust Alarm Company Guys to provide the best quality professional services regarding Alarm Companies in New Matamoras, OH. We have got a team of qualified contractors and the most resourceful technology available to give you just what you might need. Our materials are of the very best quality and we know how to save costs. We intend to assist you to put together decisions for your mission, answer your questions, and organize an appointment with our contractors when you give us a call by dialing 888-353-1299.
You've got a price range to stick to, and you intend to spend less money. Though, conserving money shouldn't ever indicate that you sacrifice superior quality for Alarm Companies in New Matamoras, OH. Our attempts to help you save money will not compromise the excellent quality of our work. Our goal is to ensure that you enjoy the best quality products and a result which holds up over time. For instance, we take care to keep clear of costly errors, work quickly to conserve time, and be sure you are given the best bargains on materials and labor. Get in touch with Alarm Company Guys if you want the best quality solutions at a minimal cost. You can easily contact us by dialing 888-353-1299 to start.
When you're thinking of Alarm Companies in New Matamoras, OH, you'll need to be knowledgeable to make the very best decisions. We will make sure you know what can be expected. We take the surprises from the picture by giving accurate and thorough information. You can start by talking about your task with our client service staff when you dial 888-353-1299. We'll address all of your questions and arrange the initial meeting. We work closely with you through the whole project, and our team can show up promptly and prepared.
Lots of reasons can be found to pick Alarm Company Guys for Alarm Companies in New Matamoras, OH. Our company is the first choice when you need the most beneficial money saving solutions, the top equipment, and the highest rank of client satisfaction. We have got the experience that you need to meet all of your goals. Contact 888-353-1299 to reach Alarm Company Guys and discuss all your expectations about Alarm Companies in New Matamoras.

industry_corpus2: Others


text:
ThirstyFest guests need some snacks to fuel their day, and we want you! We’re currently accepting applications from food trucks who want to participate in the festival.
As a ThirstyFest vendor, you will be asked to provide a one-time donation – but what you make at the festival is yours to keep. We will provide an electrical connection and a parking spot.
Interested? Email us for more information.
ThirstyFest is a completely volunteer-led beer festival. The second annual ThirstyFest will be hosted June 8, 2019. We are supported by the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association, and all net proceeds from the festival benefit Water For People.
Copyright © 2018-2019 RMWEA. All Rights Reserved.

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


text:
On July 11, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced charges against a group of golfing friends, who made more than $554,000 of illegal profits from trading on inside information about Massachusetts-based American Superconductor Corporation.
The SEC charges filed in federal court in Boston, the SEC alleges that Eric McPhail repeatedly provided non-public information about American Superconductor to six others, most fellow competitive amateur golfers. McPhail’s source was an American Superconductor executive who belonged to the same country club as McPhail and was a close friend.
According to the SEC Charges, from July 2009 through April 2011, the executive told McPhail about American Superconducter’s expected earnings, contracts, and other major pending corporate developments, trusting that McPhail would keep the information confidential.
Instead, McPhail, of Waltham, Massachusetts, misappropriated the inside information about the energy technology company and fed it to his friends, often via email. The insider-trading ring included a handful of golfing buddies, four of whom live in Massachusetts: Douglas A. Parigian of Lowell, John J. Gilmartin of Andover, Douglas Clapp of Walpole, and James A. “Andy” Drohen of Granville. The fifth, Drohen’s brother, John C. Drohen, is a resident of Cranston, Rhode Island. In addition to the group of golfers, McPhail tipped a sixth man, his longtime friend Jamie A. Meadows, of Springfield, Massachusetts. According to the SEC charges, each of the six traded and profited on the inside information McPhail supplied to them.
According to the SEC charges, in April 2011, McPhail tipped Parigian and Meadows a few days before American Superconductor announced that it expected fourth-quarter and fiscal year-end results to be weaker due to a deteriorating relationship with its primary customer, China-based Sinovel Wind Group Co., Ltd. Parigian and Meadows used the information to place bets, through option contracts, that the company’s stock price would decline. When American Superconductor made the announcement, its stock price fell 42 percent and as a result of this one tip alone, Parigian made profits and avoided losses of $278,289, while Meadows made profits of $191,521.
McPhail tipped the various defendants on other occasions, funneling them inside information about American Superconductor’s quarterly earnings announcements in July and September 2009, and again in January 2010. He also alerted them in the fall of 2009 to a contract worth $100 million, and in November 2010 to a likely drop in American Superconductor’s share’s price, which occurred a few days later when AMSC announced a secondary stock offering.

industry_corpus2: Technology & Research


text:
Please note, this discount is now secondary, as the Free Disney Dining has been released to the general public. A Disney VISA is no longer required, and there is not additional benefit to booking with a Disney VISA.
Availability is extremely limited, and must be booked by June 21, 2009. It appears that all suites have been excluded from this offer, though all resorts, including value resorts are included. To receive the Disney VISA cardholder discount, you must pay your deposit at time of booking with your Disney VISA, and you must pay the balance with your Disney VISA card as well, when due. As a reminder, this exact discount will be released on March 30 to the general public without the Disney VISA requirements.
One thing to note that while the last date of travel is October 3, the free dining will extend past that date, as long as you check in October 3 or before. As usual, this is subject to availability.
Do you know if this can be used in conjuction with the 40% off rooms they are offering military?
No, the 40% military discount is for a room only reservation, the free dining requires a Magic Your Way package that includes both resort and park passes in the package. You cannot combine the two discounts.
Depending on where you are staying, it may be cheaper for you to book the free dining with a one day park pass (value resort, probably, deluxe resort, definitely not).
If you are staying at a value resort, your savings on the military deal will be small, about $30 per night. The free dining will be worth more than that, depending on who is in your family. So, at a value resort, you are giving up a $30 per night savings on the military rate to get a $100 per night savings on the dining plan.
At a deluxe resort, the nightly savings at 40% will be much larger, say $100 per night at the Polynesian (rough estimate), so you are giving up $100 savings to get a $100 savings, probably not worth it.
It depends on where you are staying and who is traveling with you.
I booked the package deal where you purchase 4 days and get 3 free with the magic your way tickets. Will they allow us to add the Free Dining plan once its released to the public on 3/30 even after we already booked it?
1. The two discounts do not overlap, the free dining is only good for check-ins between August 16 and October 3, while the buy 4 get 3 free ends August 15. It would be impossible to qualify for both.
2. Disney does not allow you to combine discounts. If there is more than one discount available during your travel dates, you have to pick which discount would be better for you.
The only offer I can find through Disney visa is a 5 night minimum with free dining instead of the 3 night minimum everyone is talking about. Am I missing something?
The requirement is a minimum 3 night stay. The information on the Disney Rewards email/website says 5 night stay, but that is just a pricing example, and has nothing to do with the minimum or maximum stays.
Only me and my husband are traveling to disneyworld. we already have 10-day pass. If we just book this package for 3-nights and buy 1-day pass base tickets, can we have 3-day free dining plan?
Yes. The dining plan is based on the number of nights you stay in the resort, and has nothing to do with the length of the park passes in your package.
If you are 3 adults, 4kids, you would be saving $39.99 per adult & $10.99 per child PER DAY! Thats a total savings of $166 per day. That’s $1162 worth of free food for a 1 week vacation. Your Military discount for the room and ticket discount would not even come close to that. Wait for the free dining offer to be released on Monday and you will need to find the 3 letter code to tell the reservationist. It will be posted on this website. Then update your package and you will find out the total amount of savings. I’m guessing it will save you at least another $500 than your current package which does not include the dining. Hope that helps!
I have a 10 day MYW package, booked at the Pop for Sept. 2 adults and 1 child is saving me almost $1000. I stayed at POR last Sept for 1 week and this trip is costing me exactly the same this year, but for 10 days instead! That’s awesome. I found that we never used any of the Resort amenities cuz we were always at the parks/waterparks or dwntwn dis all day long. this yr, we just need a place to sleep. So the value resort’s are perfect for that. The Pop may be a bit more crowded, but it does have its own bus service not shared with the other value resorts. Booking the package for the whole 10 days may be a better value for you depending on what your park plans are!
Not sure if anyone realized but I thought I would bring it up. Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival runs from Sept 26 to Nov 9 2009. That means the free dining offer overlaps the festival for the last week. That’s an excellent option for people that want to travel at that time. That was never available in the past!
Just called and booked the free dining! I made the reservation on-line last week and just modified it this morning. I didn’t have a hold time and was connected right away!
darn! I will have to add one full price ticket to each person AND give up the 40% off discount. It ends up only being about a $100 savings.
I will take the $100 if you don’t want it. You just saved $100, why would you be upset? The tickets have value too, you can keep them for your next trip, they do not expire.
Haha, no, $100 is a $100! I am happy with it! I just got it all changed. I am getting a great deal either way w/ the military tickets. I am just thankful we are able to take the kids. I think I was just upset because I called 2x’s this morning, both times getting different info. I finally got somebody that knew what they were talking about. I’ll think of something to do with the tickets. I doubt we could ever afford to go to disney again, but hey, they don’t expire do they?
Can you add the free meal package to an exisiting reservation made with a travel agent if you have the Visa and booked with the Visa?
Yes, assuming your travel dates are within the travel period, and there is availability (there should be), they should be able to get it applied for you. This is one of the reasons why people book with Disney specialists, they would have done this for you the morning it was released.
The Disney VISA no longer matters, as the free dining has been released to the general public as of March 30.
For some, the free dining is a great deal. For us (just 2 adults), it’s really not. We are traveling at the end of August and staying into September for 5 nights. We already have park tickets that we purchased before with no expiration. Disney has huge room discounts during those days, so we are saving $56 per night on a room at Port Orleans French Quarter. We paid $540 total (including tax) for our room. If we want to do “free dining”, we have to pay full price for the room plus add on at least a 1-day park ticket. I researched, even through a travel agent, and it would COST us $460 to get “free dining.” It just isn’t worth it in our case. I’m just adding this in to show that in certain cases, free dining is not free at all, so be careful. But in Jacq’s case, I agree with the rest of you. As far as I know, the suites are not eligible for the room discounts during that time anyway.

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


text: Sportworks Northwest, Inc. has been manufacturing innovative, highly-functional bicycle products since 1990. It designed the first Bike-Rack-for-Buses™ in 1993 and currently supplies transit racks to 500 municipalities throughout North America. Building on their expertise with vehicle racks, in 2011 the company launched a line of stationary bike racks including the No Scratch™ bike rack; the only bike parking product on the market with an integrated, non-abrasive bumper that protects bikes. Sportworks designs and fabricates its products at its company headquarters in Woodinville, Washington. For more information, go to www.sportworks.com.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


text:
For the past fifteen years, teams have gathered at sunrise on Shelly Beach, Manly to take part in a physically demanding yet rewarding experience. Teams of four compete against one another in a ‘triathlon like’ course consisting of a 2km swim, 15km walk/run and 3km kayak.
The 20/twenty Challenge takes place over a spectacular coastal course that stretches from stunning Shelly Beach to beautiful Balmoral Beach. The views alone make the journey worthwhile. However, that's not why our teams return year after year. They return because of the huge difference they are making to the lives of children living with cerebral palsy.
Each team is challenged to raise $8,000, every dollar of which, goes directly towards purchasing much-needed mobility and communication equipment for these children.
Do something amazing and register for the 20/twenty Challenge!

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


text:
A mother today demanded an investigation into pollution levels on a busy road after her nine-year-old daughter died from an asthma attack.
Ella Kissi-Debrah, who lived yards from the South Circular Road at Hither Green in south London, suffered a fatal attack in February 2013.
Mum Rosamund Kissi-Debra has asked a leading human rights lawyer to press for a new inquest into Ella's death.
She told BBC Radio 4 Today her daughter began to suffer a series of chronic attacks three years before she died.
There were absolutely horrendous attacks. We all know in London the pollution levels are quite high. That doesn't help. How much that contributed has yet to be established. What Ella wanted was answers. She wanted to know why she had this illness, why it was so severe and why a lot of the medicines were not working.
The outcome of a new inquest could lead to the government being sued for a breach of human rights laws.
Lawyer Jocelyn Cockburn claimed the authorities failed to investigate links between Ella's death and pollution.
What we're trying to do at the moment is to get a proper, wider investigation looking at pollution and whether it contributed to the death of Ella.

industry_corpus2: Law & Justice


text:
*What was one unexpected occurrence on your path to Kona? I was able to enter the Loveland Lake to Lake triathlon sprint relay with my two sons, my 11 yr old on the swim and 8 yr old on the run with dad to hang out in transition. My boys were the youngest two racing that day. As this was their first timed triathlon event, I offered to accompany them during the race. My 11 yr refused, saying he didn’t want me to slow him down in the water and wanted me to save my legs to “go super hard” on the bike. My 8 yr old wanted to run the last mile alone to finish the race like his older brother did the swim. Surprisingly, we won the sprint relay and came in 13th overall with a time that would have won my age group. This was by far my favorite race of the season and triathlon experience for that matter and I was tremendously proud of my boys and grateful for my wife’s support that day. Also, it was great to meet Rich that day and appreciate his coverage of the event and interview – my boys felt on top of the world!
*What was one unexpected occurrence on your path to Kona? – I’d have to say it isn’t triathlon specific. I lost my mother in January and father in April which has just created a lot of load on top of training and racing in Ironman Maastricht, which I did in August, and prepping for this.
*Who do you think will win the pro men’s and women’s races this year? (Remember…we have several Colorado pros on our Team!) I’d love to see Mirinda and Tim win together! I think Patrick Lange and Daniela are tough to overlook.

industry_corpus2: Sports


text:
Bridgetown, Barbados, February 00, 2019 – Twenty-seven nurses drawn from five countries across the region have all successfully completed specialised training in the care of children with cancer and other blood disorders.
The nurses all successfully completed the Paediatric Haematology/Oncology Nursing Diploma Programme at the University of the West Indies School of Nursing in Trinidad, with the last cohort finishing last April.
Twenty-six of the 27 nurses from Barbados, The Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who completed the specialised one-year programme, were part of SickKids-Caribbean Initiative.
In 2013, with the support of SickKids Foundation the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative (SCI), a partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), Ministries of Health, hospitals and institutions in six Caribbean countries was established. This partnership focuses on building sustainable local capacity to diagnose, treat, and manage paediatric cancers and blood disorders.
Regional bank CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank also came on board with the initiative pledging USD$1 million over a seven-year period (2014 – 2020) through its charitable arm, FirstCaribbean International Comtrust Foundation. As nurse training partner, the bank funded the full training for all but one of the 27 nurses.
“We are truly proud to be a partner with SCI and to support the life-changing work they have been doing across the region to ensure that hundreds of children diagnosed with cancers or blood disorders have access to the very best care delivered by trained professionals,” said Colette Delaney, Chair of the FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation and Chief Executive Officer of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank.
“The work of the dedicated doctors and nurses of SCI have greatly improved the outcomes and enhanced the quality of care and quality of life for so many of our most vulnerable citizens – our children,” Ms. Delaney added.
Officials of SickKids recently paid a courtesy call on Ms. Delaney where they updated her on the great strides which have been made in the treatment and management of paediatric cancer cases across the region.
To date the SCI has significantly improved the diagnosis and care of scores of children across the region. In Jamaica and St. Lucia alone 57, 790 newborn sickle cell disease screening tests were conducted.
In addition, seven telemedicine centres were established, 302 consultations have taken place, 179 specialized diagnostic tests were done on patients newly diagnosed with leukemia, 528 patients were registered in local oncology databases, 21 lectures held on the work of SCI and three doctors trained under the Haematology/Oncology fellowship programme.
The initiative has also added to the library of regional medical literature and resources with the completion of five supportive care guidelines and five clinical care guidelines documents. Seven custom built local data bases were established in SCI partner hospitals to record and track patients and seven local data managers hired and trained in those territories.
Captions: Photo 1: A nursing student facilitating a training session as part of leadership development.
Photo 2: Nurses and educators pause for a photo outside the UWI School of Nursing in Trinidad.
CIBC FirstCaribbean is a relationship bank offering a full range of market leading financial services through our Corporate and Investment Banking, Retail and Business Banking and Wealth Management segments. We are located in sixteen (16) countries around the Caribbean, providing the banking services that fit our customers’ lives through approximately 3,000 employees in 68 branches and offices. We are one of the largest regionally listed financial services institutions in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean, with over US$11 billion in assets and market capitalization of US $2 billion. We also have an office in Hong Kong. The face of banking is changing throughout the world and CIBC FirstCaribbean intends to lead these changes with the expertise, integrity and knowledge gained from banking in the Caribbean since 1836.
CIBC FirstCaribbean is a member of the CIBC Group. CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with 11 million personal banking and business clients. Through our three major business units – Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Capital Markets – CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada with offices in the United States and around the world.
For more information about CIBC FirstCaribbean, visit www.cibcfcib.com , Facebook, Twitter , LinkedIn, Instagram or YouTube.
Debra King, Director of Corporate Communications, CIBC FirstCaribbean, Barbados Head Office; telephone: 246 367 2248; fax: 246 421 7148 and email: [email protected].
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts( Tuesday 26th February 2019)- The young man shot dead yesterday morning (Monday) was working at the time he was fatally wounded and to date, two individuals are being questioned by police.
Such information has been shared by a source at the Police Public Relations Department.
Dead is 30-year-old Shavaughn ‘Chronic’ Hendricks of Lime Kiln Housing.
According to police, the shooting incident took at about 9AM “while working in his area”.
A lone gunman is being blamed for the crime.
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Monday 24th February 2019)- Police on St.Kitts are currently investigating a fatal shooting incident which took place earlier this morning, taking the homicide count to eight for 2019.
Such detail has been confirmed by a spokesperson at the Police Public Relations Department.
As gathered by this media house, the incident happened in the Lime Kiln community fatally wounding a young man-believed to be in his 20s or early 30s- nicknamed ‘Chronic’.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 22nd February 2019)- The first batch of twenty-four (24) trained island constables -20 females and 4 males-have been asked to take their jobs seriously which includes ensuring that beaches do not become hot spots for criminal activities.
That call was made by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Osmond Petty while speaking at the closing ceremony held last Friday afternoon (15th February) at the Police Training Complex in Basseterre.
“Tourism is an integral part of the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis and occupies an important position in the nation’s policies and plans for national development. The Ministry of National Security has therefore decided to establish this special unit exclusively for the protection and service of domestic and international tourists. Having completed your initial training, I’m sure that you will develop into an efficient and devoted tourist patrol unit,” he added.
Petty continued: “As island constables, you will have powers like any other police constables.
Your mission will be for the protection of tourists, prevention of crime perpetrated against them as you provide them with assistance. At the same time, you must ensure that while in the Federation, tourists conduct themselves within the mandates of the laws of St. Kitts and Nevis. You must be able to monitor what is happening around you in any prescribed tourists prescribed areas where you are stationed. In so doing, you will be providing a sense of security to those visiting the country.
The National Security official outlined his security concerns regarding the beaches.
“I really would be disappointed if we hear any one of you get involved in activities which would embarrass the police force or embarrass us at the ministry because we have put a lot in the formation of this…(plus) you would embarrass the people who have trained you,” the National Security official admonished.
The trainees are: Dion Liburd, Jessica Jones, Dashan Jacobs, Donnette Simon, Arlene Richardson, Mary Hodge, Fiona Challenger, Lavardo Cummings, Amita C. Matthew, Shamara O. Huggins, Nickeila V. Hodge, Tamarie M. Hazel, Dawnecia Matthew, Donna S. Bradshaw, Jackie W. Campbell, Zakeemer D. Henry, Odessa A. Lewis, Laddona M. Wilkinson, Ramoya Lewis, Kerstina Carty, Aiesha Wilson, Corporal Alexis Jospeh, Shakquanda Thomas and Sahina Williams.
The course kicked off on Monday 21 January. Topics covered include Island Constables Act, Prescribed Areas Act, ethics in law enforcement, attributes of a good constable , customer service as well as police subjects such as pocket book, station diary, report and statement writing and how to give evidence.
Huggins attained the best written test results while Amita C. Matthew landed the top spot for spoken presentation.
On Monday this week (18th February), they took the oath of office and received instruments of appointment at a ceremony held at Government House located at Springfield.
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 22nd February 2019)-Police are currently investigating a second stabbing incident involving a woman attacked by her boyfriend which took place two days after a female became a surviving victim of a deadly domestic incident.
Police have informed that a domestic dispute occurred on Wednesday 20th February at about 4PM at Cardin Avenue in Basseterre in which a woman was wounded several times with a knife.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that Veronica Thomas of Cardin Avenue was stabbed and wounded several times with a knife about the body by her boyfriend.
She was transported to the JNF Hospital where she was treated for her injuries and discharged.
One person is in police custody assisting with investigations into the matter which are ongoing.
In relation to the first stabbing which took place earlier this week, on Monday 18th February, police responded to a dispute between Leroy and Unella Henry at about 1:30 AM at Upper Malone Avenue.
A source has informed that the woman is doing well physically.
Credible information reaching this media house also indicates that the married couple-both in their 30s- were separated.
Reportedly, preliminary investigations so far have revealed that upon arrival, police met Leroy Henry attacking Mrs. Henry with a knife. The police discharged his firearm at Mr. Henry.
Additionally, preliminary reports also indicate that Mr. Henry attempted to take his own life with the knife.
The Emergency Medical Service was summoned to the scene and Mrs. Henry was transported to the JNF Hospital for medical attention. She sustained stab wounds about the body and a knife wound to her neck. She is currently warded in a stable condition.
Mr. Henry was pronounced dead at the scene by the District Medical Doctor. An autopsy will be performed on the body of Mr. Henry to determine the cause of death.
Pertaining to both incidents, an appeal is being made to anyone who might have any information to contact the Special Victims Unit by dialing 465-2241 ext. 4232/4253, or via cell phone at 665-3091 or by contacting your nearest Police Station.
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 22nd February 2019) – The legalisation of marijuana for religious purposes as well as for recreational are two areas that all members of the National Cannabis Commission-headed by Dr. Hazel Laws- could not agree upon as part of the recommendations put forward to the government following its work phase which began some 15 months ago.
Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Timothy Harris during his presentation in Parliament on Wednesday 20th February, however, did outline thirteen (13) recommendations that commissioners have settled on which have been accepted for further consultation by Cabinet found at paragraph A of Chapter 11 of the report which includes topics such as medicinal and criminal record.
As understood, the Cabinet intends on first looking at the areas of undivided agreement by the commissioners before examining areas of mixed opinons.
“The Commission could not agree that cannabis should be legalised for religious purposes or that it should be legalised for recreational purposes. The Cabinet considers, therefore, that a phased approach is advisable, taking the unanimous recommendations of the Commission as first steps and thereafter considering the other areas on which unanimity could not be achieved would be the prudent approach to take,” PM Harris informed.
1. The blanket criminalization of cannabis as per the Drugs Act has been overtaken by passage of time and regional and international developments and should be amended.
2. The definitions in the Drugs Act relating to cannabis should be amended, having regard to scientific developments since the Act was passed in 1986.
3. The use of cannabis and its derivatives for medicinal and scientific purposes should be permitted under licence and a strict legislated regime.
a. The establishment of a medicinal licensing authority to regulate importation, local cultivation and production.
b. A requirement that two tiers of practitioners must complete a requisite amount of Continuous Medical Education (CME) hours on cannabis (i) medical practitioners for prescribable marijuana products; and (ii) herbalists for non- prescribable marijuana products.
c. A requirement that prescribable marijuana products must meet international labeling standards.
d. The inclusion of other components should be allowed only under advice from experts in the industry.
5. Production and trade should be permitted under licence and a strict legislated regime of hemp and hemp products.
6. The penalty for possession of less than 15 grams of cannabis should be reduced to a ticketable offence without a criminal record.
7. The penalty for the growth of less than 5 plants per household should be reduced to a ticketable office without a criminal record.
8. The current regime for the rehabilitation of offenders should be amended to permit the Court to expunge the criminal records of persons convicted in the past of possession of cannabis in quantities below the amounts specified above.
9. Current healthcare services for the treatment of substance abuse should be substantially upgraded and increase the number of personnel trained in treatment and counseling of young persons and other vulnerable groups.
10. A massive public messaging programme should be created prior to any changes in the law and continuing thereafter informing the public of the benefits and risks and the potential harm to young persons regarding the use of cannabis.
11. The programme should be adapted for use in the school curriculum.
12. The smoking and use of cannabis in public places should remain a criminal offence and attract substantial penalties.
13. Offences and penalties of driving under the influence of cannabis should be introduced.
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Wednesday 20th February 2019)-While the legal team for the Opposition Leader of the St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Dr. Denzil Douglas, is in celebration mode following this afternoon’s dismissed outcome inthe case brought against him by the Attorney General Vincent ‘Juicy’ Byron Jr.-the claimant, the next step is to address the manner in which Douglas’ diplomatic passport information became public in the first place.
As gathered, lawyers will be filing a motion in relation to the invasion of privacy in releasing his (Dr. Douglas) passport information to Mr. Cuthbert Mills in the matter that was brought before the court.
Byron Jr. of the three-party Team Unity Government led by Dr. Timothy Harris, was hoping that the court would have ruled that Douglas, the Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Six, is both a citizen of St.Kitts-Nevis and also Dominica thus making him automatically disqualified from his position in the National Assembly as an alleged Dominican passport holder who has pledged allegiance to a foreign country to attain such.
Dr. Douglas-the defendant- had been optimistic from the start in stating that he is not a citizen of Dominica and has never pretended to be one.
More details in a follow-up report.
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 15th February 2019)- The Director of the Alliance Française de St.Kitts and Nevis, Marine Moncaut, is hoping that local students will see the importance of learning a different language during an upcoming student exchange programme to the French-speaking Caribbean island of Guadeloupe for a period of five (5) days.
In a recent interview, the educator who originally hails from France and is fluent in English and Spanish with French being her native language, revealed that it took her two decades before personally realising the significance of such.
The St.Kitts-Nevis group—comprising of 17 students and eight adults including Alliance Française committee members and parents- is scheduled to travel come next week (Tuesday 19th to Saturday 23rd February) for the programme which comes in partnership with the College St. John Perse in Les Abymes in Guadeloupe.
The trip is expected to include a tour of the island, a cultural morning with traditional dance and music (Gwoka), a visit to The Memorial ACTe museum (Regional Museum of Slavery), the traditional night market at Sainte-Anne and a day at the island of Les Saintes.
Notably, the local students are involved with the Alliance Française but combined are different students from the Federation, mostly from the Basseterre area.
In addressing her view on the benefits of learning a different language, Moncaut talked about building friendships as she highlighted that a male from Guadeloupe recently visited her office with a Kittitian lady whom he met 47 years after having been participants of an exchange programme.
“So that’s building lifelong friendships. As educator, for me, it is for the students to see the point of learning a foreign language. In our classes, sometimes we don’t have enough power to prove the students that it can be good to learn a different language and to speak it,” she remarked.
She informed that local students communicated in French while those in Guadeloupe spoke English.
As gathered, the St.Kitts-Nevis group students presented information about national symbols of St.Kitts-Nevis including the flag and also sung the national anthem in both French and English.
On the other side, the Guadeloupians did a poem as part of their presentation and also a performance of a traditional dance by one of the male students.
“Those in Guadeloupe spoke English because they are students learning English and [those from St.Kitts-Nevis] are students learning French. So when they will meet, they will have two languages that they don’t manage super efficiently but at least, it sets a certain equality in terms of the knowledge of the language; those in Guadeloupe will not be very comfortable with English and the Kittitians will not be comfortable with French…because they will have the same challenge,” Moncaut commented.
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Tuesday 19th February 2019)- An autopsy will determine whether a husband died from an attempted suicide at the crime scene or from police fire during an officer’s attempt to intervene in yesterday’s deadly domestic dispute that has left a wife nursing wounds at the hospital.
That day, police responded to a dispute between Leroy and Unella Henry at about 1:30 AM at Upper Malone Avenue.
Credible information reaching this media house indicates that the married couple-both in their 30s- were separated.
An appeal is being made to anyone who might have any information regarding this incident to contact the Special Victims Unit by dialing 465-2241 ext. 4232/4253, or via cell phone at 665-3091 or by contacting your nearest Police Station.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Tuesday 12th February 2019)- With a mindset of making people look and feel good, owner of the newly-opened Beauty Inside Out (dubbed St. Kitts and Nevis most exquisite salon and spa), Dimple Gidwani, is hoping that the luxurious experience would highlight and complement the importance of holistic self-care, both physically and emotionally.
Nestled at the St.Kitts Castle (opposite Silver Reef) in Frigate Bay, the commercial establishment officially opened its doors with a grand celebration on Saturday 2nd February.
Over 300 specially-invited guests and other well-wishers from all walks of life collectively assembled for special merriment of scrumptious bites and musical entertainment.
“I’m over whelmed by the response and the appreciation I received from our guests. The event was so much fun and I truly appreciate each and every one who took their time out from their busy schedules and attended the event and made it so special for us, and to the people who could not make it I’m looking forward to seeing them soon,” Gidwani expressed.
One of the standout features at Beauty Inside Out is a bar.
“Hey, hey! Where in the world have you seen a bar in any salon?,” Gidwani boasted with a broad smile.
“That is my personal fav[ourite] spot in the salon,” she added with a wink.
The bar is located just outside of her office that has the door signage of ‘Boss Lady’.
The Beauty Inside Out owner says the prices are reasonable.
“I want to cater to all so if you see in spite of the products being organic and natural, and looking at the ambiance you might feel it’s going to be over priced but I have kept the prices very, very reasonable for everyone to afford and enjoy luxury and yet feel at home,” she told.
Services include gel & acrylic nail extensions, 3D nail art, herbal massages, organic and natural facials, eye lash extensions, hair color & treatments, waxing and threading and much more.


text:
Thanks for your interest in the RE-5B Series Rotary Evaporators! We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
RE 5 series motor lift rotary evaporator principle is the most common method, as it is an efficient, fast and gentle way, to separate liquids. The rotating flask generates an effective heat transfer for fast evaporation preventing a local overheating whilst leading to a smooth mixing of the content. It’s the easy to operate rotary evaporator model with motor lift for all standard applications: reliable, easy to maintain. This is an ideal evaporation instrument for your laboratories.
2-stage triple-coil condenser design with extra large cooling surface for outstanding cooling efficiency.
Excellent handling by large and easy readable LCD display of temperature of bath and rotation speed of rotary flask.
Upgraded automatization, automatically adjusting the height of the bath by motor lift.
Sealing parts are flange with PTFE, which can keep the whole system with high vacuum.
Professional modular design and can be customized by clients’ requirements.


text:
You know those people who travel around the globe but then don’t manage to explore the closest places from their own home? Well, I’m one of them.
Since I moved to Malta, I have been traveling around Milano, Roma, Cairo, Morocco, Greece, but never really managed to visit the island itself or its others islands such as the “famous” Gozo.
Ok, Gozo is not famous. But the island gained some popularity thanks to its appearance in Game of Thrones and being the 6 months home of Pitt & Jolie during their movie production “By the Sea” (can’t actually realise how on Earth they found the island and moved there).
Since I’m currently back in Malta for a short stay before taking off to Greece (yes I told you guys I will go back there) and then to Venice, and … (surprises are coming my friends! A lot of them!), I took some days to explore the “country”, inclusive Gozo.
Unfortunately, I landed pretty late in Gozo. I never thought it will take so long to get there: in fact, from my home to the ferry it was only 25km but it took over 45mins to arrive!
Once at the port, you need to wait to embark in the ferry and once the ferry finally starts sailing, well… you need to wait more half an hour to get to the other side.
So finally we arrived in the “famous” island of Gozo. It looked like Malta but smaller, with less cars and people, the limestone heritage was the same, the architecture too, maybe more rural. Wilder.
We drove to the most iconic spot located in the north of Gozo: Azure Window.
Here the site was full of tourists and with a lot of restaurants. Finally a beach! I mean, a rocky one…as always.
Diogo started to take some pictures but unexpectedly smashed his feet against the rocky floor while walking and started to bleed (he was wearing flippers puff…).
After 10 minutes of shooting, Mr. Havaianas was whole stressed and in panic for his bleeding toe.
We wanted to go to a private clinic/hospital to see a doctor but guess what? Gozo doesn’t have one. We were told that 1. there was only a public hospital and 2. we won’t like it at all (local wisdom).
Well, they were right: the Hospital looked like a survival war zone in Afghanistan: from vomit smelling, to old doors, uncleaned walls and floors, we really thought they were preparing it for a movie (who knows).
It was 7 PM and the receptionist asked if it was for emergency (quick reminder: the idea of Emergency is to be taken in care faster), we replied affirmatively and were therefore informed it could be a looong wait (local wisdom II).
But good news: there was a small private clinic not very far – 10 mins drive – in Victtoria (the urbanised area of Gozo).
Since nor us or Google GPS had any idea how to get there, I called this private clinic to get some indications. “We close in 10mins” they told me over the phone like if it was a grocery shop.
Diogo had enough of the rural experience, and we took our ferry back to Malta, drove 45 minutes and arrived in Sliema (the expat area and more developed one) in the St. James hospital (the best private hospital in the island) to take care of his cut.
That’s my friends is a very genuine Gozo experience, one advice: bring sneakers! Not flippers!
Gozo!! Eheh never heard of this place before! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Je crois que Marrakech est très chaud!!!
Thank you my dear! ??
La beauté! J’adore tes photos!
Thank you my dear!! ??