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thevibraniumveterans · 5 months

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REBELS REWATCH

S2E3 — THE LOST COMMANDERS

Back on board Phoenix Home, Sabine and Hera stand at the centre console, on either side of a live holoprojection of Sato. This episode, Sabine sports a different look — her hair color, once indigo with orange tips, is now navy blue fading into a teal green; instead of short sleeves as she had previously worn under her armor, her jumpsuit now features longer sleeves; the pad on her left shoulder is now purple instead of orange and the one on her right shoulder now has the number 5 referencing her callsign; her wrist gauntlets, once pink, are now orange. Perhaps, due to the blaster dings she acquired last episode, she might have decided to change things up a bit, for aesthetic’s sake. As Sato speaks, Ezra and Kanan walk into the command centre; the teenager dips his head as he nears the console. As a response to Sato noting the severe limitations of going into battle with a halfway broken ship, Ezra speaks up, correcting his manners halfway through: “Maybe we don’t fight, uh, Commander Sato, Sir.” He offers an awkward salute; Sabine shakes her head slightly. (She might be reminding herself of how her background and upbringing is vastly different than that of Ezra’s; he grew up on the streets of Lothal while she had a home, a family, and a school to go to.) Ezra looks up at Sato and continues, “Uh, when things got tough for me on Lothal, I’d go find some place to hide.” Sato notes that Ezra is “never shy” with his opinions, and suggests that “establishing a base is a good idea.” Hera is faced with a dilemma: “Problem is, none of the potential bases we know of have the tactical advantage we need to protect what’s left of our fleet.” Kanan approaches, and continues, “Or aid the nearby systems suffering from Imperial oppression.” Hera tells him, “We can’t help others if we can’t help ourselves. …If only we had more allies…” During this whole exchange, Ahsoka stands by a wall behind Ezra and Sabine, both of whom turn around when Ahsoka speaks up: “I know someone who might be able to help us. A great military commander with a vast knowledge of the Outer Rim. He could assist us in finding a base. And his experienced leadership would make him a powerful ally.” Sato wonders about this mystery man, but Ahsoka notes that she “lost track of him” ages ago, with all her transmissions going “unanswered”. Ezra leans to the side, peering around Sato’s live beam-in, saying, “We can find him. Let us try.” Beside him, Sabine looks hopeful at her friend’s optimism. Ahsoka notes that “there is one option” she’s not tried yet.

Back on the Ghost, Sabine leads Ezra and Kanan back into the pilot’s bay, where Hera and Chopper already are. Sabine takes a seat behind Hera, while Ezra sits in the chair next to it that Sabine has previously preferred enough to paint. Also, it looks like Era might have added a few things to his on-person inventory — a pouch on his left, and a holster for his saber on his right, both hanging from his belt. Anyway, Ahsoka walks in with a droid’s head, which Kanan easily remembers and identifies. Ahsoka more or less confirms it, and speaks fondly of her past, saying that the droid was able to find her and Anakin (unnamed at this point, of course) when they did not want to be located. Ahsoka hands the droid’s head to Sabine, who inspects it curiously. (Which is the exact same thing that would happen many years from now within the first few episodes of the Ahsoka series.) Ezra is also curious; he leans over and asks, “How in all the galaxy is that droid gonna find your friend?” Ahsoka says her friend was last seen in “the Seelos system. You can start there”. Ezra gets up from his seat and asks, “You’re not coming with us?” Ahsoka responds, saying that she’d be busy elsewhere, attending to “questions that need answering” regarding Vader. These questions are more of a personal nature. Ezra, having experienced that unfortunate duel with Vader, wishes to accompany Ahsoka, but she says, “You have your own mission, Ezra. And, Kanan, if you find my friend, you must trust him.” Ezra looks up at Kanan, who responds with, “If he’s all the things you say, we can’t afford not to.” Ahsoka reiterates once more before the door closes: “Trust him.” Ezra raises an eyebrow: “What was that about?” Kanan hasn’t a clue.

The Ghost exits hyperspace in the Seelos system. The Spectres, minus Hera and Chopper (both of whom remain onboard the Ghost to carry out necessary repairs), descend in the Phantom to the planet Seelos. It is a desert planet, with nothing but, well, nothing for miles around. While Ezra stands by Kanan at the pilot’s chair, Sabine, still holding the droid’s head, powers it on and places it on the console in front of Kanan. The droid warbles; Sabine guesses that “it’s scanning for a signal of some kind.” (Side note; while this episode is titled “The Lost Commanders”, Ezra would by the end of S4 earn the rank of Commander and proceed to quite literally get lost in a whole other galaxy. Though this could be a reach and quite possibly nothing more than a mere coincidence, Ahsoka would not be the first time that Sabine had gone looking for a lost commander.) Ezra, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, says, “Good luck. You could really get lost out here.” Zeb, nearby, doesn’t sound too encouraging either: “Maybe that was the idea. What if this great commander we’re looking for doesn’t want to be found?” Ezra looks uncertain, and turns back to face the droid’s head, which suddenly starts chiming a number, “7567,” which it repeats a few times. Sabine points out the obvious: “It’s homing in on something.” Zeb notices something, and points out the windshield: “There. Up ahead.” The Phantom closes in on their target; an odd and slow-moving transport contraption. It turns out to be a heavily modified All terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE) vehicle. Ezra is fascinated; Sabine, on the other hand, is impressed: “Now, that is a work of art.” Kanan says that it “looks like an old Republic tank…used during the Clone Wars.”

Kanan circles the Phantom on front of the transport once to ensure they are seen, before setting down behind said transport. Kanan warns Ezra to “be on guard”. The teenager raises an eyebrow, shrugs, and follows him, Sabine, and Zeb out of the Phantom. They approach the transport, which has come to a halt; wind chimes gently dinging in the breeze. The transport clearly looks like it has seen better days; its railings are rusted, its roof replaced by shoddy sheet metal; the whole thing nothing more than an inconspicuous scrap of junk. Three Clone Wars veterans — Rex, Wolffe, and Gregor — step outside their transport to greet the Spectres; Zeb is clearly unimpressed: “It’s just a bunch of old geezers.” Sabine notes that they are “well-armed”. Rex asks what the Spectres want, and Kanan tells him, “We’re looking for someone.” Rex snarks back, “Well, that’s too bad, ‘cause there’s nobody out here.” Ezra, remembering the repeated code from earlier, asks: “Hey, uh, does the number 7567 mean anything to you?” Rex is taken aback and demands clarification. Surprised by the veterans’ reaction, Ezra repeats himself, stammering: “Uh, I-I said 7567.” Rex looks off into the distance, noting that he hasn’t “heard those digits in…” years, and reveals that he was assigned that number at creation. Ezra is confused by this; Kanan says that “they’re clones”, and ignites his lightsaber, ready to jump into combat. (Side note; Kanan is a survivor of Order 66, in which the clones who had accompanied him and his master turned on them. Kanan carries this trauma with him, hence his reaction.) Ezra reaches out and tries to prevent any rash action: “Kanan, wait. Stop!” Likewise, Wolffe is surprised, takes aim, and fires: “Jedi. They’ve come for revenge.” Kanan deflects a few blasts, prompting Zeb and Sabine to raise their own weapons at the veterans. Gregor, a bit of a wild card himself, readies his own weapon; Rex orders him and Wolffe to “stand down, trooper. Now. That’s an order, solider.” Wolffe thinks the Jedi were the betrayers, but Rex knows better. Behind Kanan, Ezra reminds: “Ahsoka said to trust them.” Rex tries to joke about the situation, effectively defusing it, and apologizes for the “weapons malfunction”, explaining Wolffe’s defensiveness and saying that he and his two friends “haven’t seen a Jedi since” a decade and half ago. Ezra reassuringly pats Kanan on the back and steps forward, introducing himself and the Spectres. Kanan retracts his saber in response. Ezra gestures first to himself: “Well, my name’s Ezra.” Behind him, the crew lower their weapons, and he gestures to them in turn: “This is Kanan. That’s Sabine and Zeb. I-it’s nice to meet you, 7567.” The veteran responds in kind, introducing himself and his friends: “Actually, my name is Rex. Captain, 501st Clone Battalion. Meet Commanders Gregor and Wolffe.” Ezra says, “We were sent by Ahsoka Tano.” Rex is surprised: “Ahsoka Tano, Hm. I fought by her side from the Battle of Christophsis to the Siege of Mandalore. And a friend of hers is a friend of mine.” Ezra is amazed at this bit of information.

The Spectres are invited onto the transport; Ezra, not even a few paces in, notices three helmets belonging to the veterans. In complete awe, he picks up Rex’s helmet to get a better look. Rex reminds him to go “easy with those”. Ezra snarks back good-naturedly: “Oh, yeah. I might move the dust.” He puts the helmet down. Sabine, on the other hand, removes her helmet upon walking in. Rex sighs and asks, “How is Commander Tano?” Looking first from Kanan and Sabine before addressing Rex again, Ezra tries the door-in-the-face technique, saying, “Uh, well, in need of help. We all are. Look, we’re trying to fight the Empire, but we’re outnumbered, overmatched and taking a beating. We could use your help.” Rex notes of his own retirement, “Well, I’m not sure I’m much help to anyone these days.” He crosses his arms, and explains, “Didn’t you hear? The Emperor said the clone army has our served its purpose and retired us. Now we spend our days just telling stories and slinging for joopas.” Kanan, disillusioned, speaks up from the back: “This was a wasted trip. You heard the clone. He’s not interested.” Ezra tries again: “Wait. You don’t like the Empire, do you?” Rex says that it “certainly isn’t the Republic” but isn’t optimistic. Ezra says, “You could fight.” Rex apologizes, saying his “days as a soldier are over.” Not wanting to give up, Ezra tries the foot-in-the-door compliance technique, saying, “Well, okay. Okay, then maybe there’s one thing you can help us with. We need a base. Ahsoka said you knew about all sorts of secret locations in the Outer Rim.” Rex glances at his buddies before replying: “Well, my memory isn’t what it once was, but, um—” He stands up. “—there are a few spots I never bothered to report to the Empire. Look, why don’t you just wait outside and I’ll put together a list of coordinates.” Ezra turns around and starts heading out, following Zeb and Sabine.

It is merely a minute or two since the Spectres stepped outside the room. Kanan stares blankly out to the horizon; Sabine leans backward by the railing, propped up by her elbows; Ezra sits on a slanted ledge just by the doorway, his expression unreadable. (Though it is unclear where Sabine is looking, it seems as if though Ezra is either looking at her or just beyond her shoulder.) Gregor steps outside, offering them a proposition: “Since we’re providing you with a list of bases, um—” This catches Ezra’s attention. “—there’s something you can do to help us.” Kanan turns down the offer, but Ezra is optimistic: “Sure. What can we do?” Gregor walks forward and replies, “Out there, deep below, roam the joopa. Elusive big game.” He chuckles as Ezra approaches, and continues, “When we’re lucky to sling one in, it’ll feed us for the whole year.” Sabine is curious: “Okay. What do you need?” Gregor grins, and points to Zeb.

The Phantom is parked backwards atop the transport, which is on the move again. Ezra finds Kanan aboard the Phantom, and remarks, “Okay. You don’t trust these clones but they haven’t done anything.” Ezra does not have the context, having been born the day the Empire was formed. Kanan, clearly recalling how he narrowly made his escape many years prior, says, “You don’t understand. They’re dangerous. They could—” Ezra interrupts: “They could what? Rex doesn’t seem bad at all. Ahsoka said to trust him. You trust her, don’t you?” Kanan shoots back, “You weren’t there, You weren’t even born.” Ezra is confused: “What are you talking about?” Kanan does not want to talk about it; slightly dejected, Ezra walks off. Kanan picks up on the teenager’s confusion, and begrudgingly admits: “It was at the end, the end of the war.” Ezra turns around. Kanan continues, “Our fellow soldiers, the clones, the ones we Jedi fought side by side with, suddenly turned and betrayed us. I watched them kill my master.” Ezra, shocked as he is at this revelation, glances downward, frowning. Kanan goes on, “She fought beside them for years and they gunned her down in a second and then came for me. Later, they said they had chips in their heads that made them do it. Said they had no choice.” Rex, having come by and overheard the conversation, offers his perspective: “I didn’t betray my Jedi. Wolffe, Gregor, and I all removed our control chips.” He points to the scar on the side of his head, before saying, “We all have a choice.” He walks off. Ezra turns back to Kanan and tells him, “Well, for what it’s worth, I believe we can trust Rex.” Ezra turns back around and walks out of the Phantom, leaving Kanan to his thoughts. The teenager descends a short ladder, and finds Sabine standing at the end of an external walkway. Careful to not bump into her on the swaying transport, Ezra makes his way over to Gregor, ducking under a cannon as he goes. The trio watch Zeb down at ground level. Sabine spots something in the distance, pointing to it: “Out there!” Rex instructs Wolffe to bring the transport to a halt, which he does. Over the next few minutes, Ezra realizes — no thanks to Gregor’s ramblings — that Zeb is “not the hunter. He’s the bait.” Gregor doesn’t see the difference; behind him, Ezra throws his hands up in frustration. Kanan disagrees, saying “it’s not” the same, and warns Zeb to “better get back here right now.” Sabine asks Zeb what it is, and Ezra chimes in with another warning, “Buddy, run! You’re the bait! Zeb, it’s gonna eat you!” The ground cracks with increasing speed toward the group as a whole. Ezra, Sabine, and Kanan yell out to Zeb to get away as soon as he can, but he gets pulled under by a mysterious appendage. Wolffe gets the modified AT-TE transport on the move again; Rex addresses Sabine, saying, “Hey, I bet you know a thing or two about mechanics.” She looks up, and confirms it with a smile: “Yeah, good bet.” She heads up the ladder. Rex advises her to “keep an eye on this regulator.” He points at the item in question, explaining that “the line can overheat and shut down. No line, no joopa, no Zeb.” Sabine says, “Got it.” At the front of the transport, Ezra turns around and wonders, “Well, what about me and him?” Gregor instructs Ezra and Kanan to charge the electro-wire a few times. The transport comes to a halt, and Ezra uses the staff to reach for the wire but is not quite able to reach it. He calls out to Sabine, who is all the way at the top of the transport by the regulator Rex pointed out earlier, working on fixing it. She gets it fixed, and Kanan kick-flips his borrowed staff up to Ezra, who uses both staves to charge the wire.

The massive creature beneath the sands rears up out of the ground; Rex fires a single shot and the animal collapses onto its side. Having done his part, Zeb tells Kanan of his triumphant success. Ezra gives Zeb a thumbs up, and turns around as Rex approaches him and says, “And you are a natural.” Kanan wants to get a receive those coordinates and get a move on; Rex suggests staying for dinner. Ezra couldn’t agree more: “Can’t say no to that. Right, Kanan?”

Sunset. Or what passes for a sunset on Seelos anyway. On the transport, both Sabine and Ezra stand outside the transport’s door, each somewhat leaning on the railing, lost in their own thoughts. Both turn around when Rex steps outside and informs them he’s “assembled a list of potential bases and clearance codes and a few protocols the Imperials still use. Should be of some use.” Ezra thanks him. Rex notes, “They’re on our main computer. You’re gonna need—” Sabine already knows the required items are “Data tapes? I’ve got this.” She briskly brushes past Rex and through the door. Rex chooses to not comment on that, and instead, approaches Ezra and commends him: “You were brave today, kid. You jumped right in there to help.” They turn around and lean on the railing. Rex continues, “A great Jedi once told me that the best leaders lead by example. You do that well.” Ezra humbly accepts the praise, saying, “Thanks. I’ve learned from a great Jedi, too. Kanan.” Ezra turns to the man in question, who chooses to stare out into the horizon. Rex agrees, but notes, “You know, I don’t think he likes me. Or ever will.” Ezra frowns and turns to Rex, who continues, “Can’t say I blame him. The war left its scars on all of us.” Curious, the teenager asks, “Won’t you reconsider joining us?” Rex is pensive: “You know, I’ve outserved my purpose for that kind of fighting, I’m afraid. After the war, I questioned the point of the whole thing. All those men died, and for what?” (In real life, there are veterans who question why they even fought for wars they could never have won, they question why so many of their friends and comrades die. To have Rex so blatantly state his distaste for war is a reflection and almost certainly a callback to George Lucas’ own thoughts on the Vietnam War and how he based Star Wars around that, where grassroots rebels with budget weapons go up against a more established imperial power with armies and militaries at their behest.) Ezra isn’t so sure either: “I guess what they thought was right.” (From a certain point of view, this statement is true, but none of them could really have known their true purpose.)

During this conversation, Sabine has stepped inside. She pushes a few buttons and waits for the expected response, but frowns in suspicion. She steps back outside, announcing, “The clones gave us up. They warned the Empire we’re here.” Ezra is in disbelief, given his conversation with Rex: “Wait, what?” Rex says, “You’re mistaken. We would never do that.” Sabine shows him the datapad: “Oh, I found the binary transmission to the Empire. And there are messages Ahsoka sent to Rex and he never answered her!” Rex is astounded and taken aback: “What? I never got any messages from Commander Tano.” Kanan overhears and thinks the clones can’t be trusted, but Ezra wants to know the full story before anything drastic happens. He turns to Rex and asks, “Is this true?” Rex, for his part, turns to Wolffe: “What did you do?” Wolffe admits to contacting the Empire, reasoning, “If they found out that we were helping Jedi, they’d wipe us out.” Behind them, Kanan instructs Sabine to “warn Hera. Tell her to scan for incoming ships.” Ezra watches the exchange before him in confusion. Wolffe says that he “wanted to protect you guys, protect our squad.” Rex reminds him, “The war is over. We are free men. We can’t live under the fear of the Empire for the rest of our lives, Wolffe. That’s not freedom.” Ezra remains standing there. Wolffe begrudgingly agrees and apologizes: “They’re not our enemy. I’m sorry.” Sabine reaches the Phantom and discovers “A probe?” She narrowly dodges a laser shot and calls for Kanan, who heads down with his blaster. Ezra, on the other hand, fetches a long range rifle and tosses it up to Rex, telling him, “You gotta make this right.” Rex shoulders the rifle and takes aim; Ezra, on the other hand, steps onto a rung of the ladder behind him and watches. Rex fires, and the probe shorts out before exploding. Ezra is all smiles. From a nearby ledge, Sabine grins and congratulates the veteran: “Nice shot.” Ezra looks on as Rex exchanges a single look with Kanan, who walks off; the teenager watches Rex walk away.

Later that evening, Ezra, Kanan, Zeb, and Rex stand around the smoking heap that is the probe droid from earlier. Sabine approaches the group. Ezra wonders, “How long as this thin green watching us?” Kanan responds, “Long enough.” He turns to Sabine: “How’s the Phantom?” Sabine reports: “Well, engine took a direct hit. We’re not going anywhere until I can fix it.” Zeb realizes this means they’re all stranded until further notice; Rex solemnly agrees, and notes, “and the Empire’s on its way.” Unsettled, Ezra looks to the skies above them, and the others do the same.

#star wars #star wars rebels #rebels rewatch #ezra bridger #sabine wren #hera syndulla #kanan jarrus #garazeb orrelios #captain rex #commander wolffe #ahsoka tano #sabezra #ezrabine #my notes

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vaccerelli · 1 year

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MECHA SERIES NOTES DRAFT FOR @siegefault

WOLFDOG Wolfdog crew; 374. 200 salvage techs, 50 carrier techs, 50 mech crew, 34 pilots, 40 command crew. supported by the UCN Broderica in constant or-com, with a crew of 120.

John Henri Fenris "Wolfdog" -- commander, former high-kill ace of COM-SECA mobile mechanized ground. forced to retire at age 50, went into salvage to remain in combat areas. extremely infamous. Tourati Haze "Smoker" -- chainsmoking second in command, mech mechanic, salvage specialist, head of operations for the crew. has a cybernetic prosthetic made from the same material as the mechs, which she hides a gun inside. "Limper" John Arturo -- captain of the two-leg light combat support mechs pilots, got his nickname for taking out an entire emplacement with only one leg of his mech left. an extremely passionate man. Denis "Rigger" La Tele - combat and repair drone specialist, former addict Jane "Litterbug" Florentino, mech pilot, known as such for her cover fire spray-and-pray tactic leaving empty shells everywhere. long-term merc contract. "Reverend" Meier Wakefield, heavy autonomous arms specialist and mech pilot, because he's a holy man, IE he leaves everything full of holes. Grant "Defaulter" Garcia -- former COM-SECA spotter, mech railgun sniper, got his nickname for accidentally activating the default settings on his first combat mission and having to fight without any of the military activation protocols Georgi "Stomper" Stompanato -- weapons systems officer for the whole wolfdog crew, also the largest man on the crew, can lift a mech cannon by himself. pilots the heaviest artillery mech as well, nicknamed Big Stomp. "Intercepter" von Brukowksi -- hotshot mech pilot, Limper John's second in command "Sinister" Cavaletti -- quiet but extremely talented mech pilot, known for refusing to disengage and racking up kills. left-handed, hence the nickname. "Hound Dog" Kristoffer - pilot who looks up to Wolfdog, has had combat augmentations which make him much deadlier in action but cause sleep issues. often teamed with Sinister. Thorwald "Angel Face" Cross -- scarred man who very rarely removes his mech helmet, known for being certified with every kind of combat mech available. by far the most technologically minded besides Smoker

military technical drama about a combat salvage mech team using older but heavier equipment -- ten two-leg mechs from the previous war, four full articulate mechs, two artillery mechs, and their commander’s heavy carrier mech. they are supplanted by a series of repair crews and fuel drones. the conflict is between COM-SECA -- Commonwealth Security Alliance -- and the remnants of Foundry Enterprise Power “Feppies” a large arms conglomerate who rebelled against Commonwealth taxes. the native population of the unnamed planet -- Shitworld, according to the combat team -- have also been engaged in an ongoing attempted coup with the planetary governor’s forces versus his top general’s military cabinet. the combat salvage team -- scrappers -- are behind the much more advanced and well-equipped tactical mechanized recon -- teamers. the UCN Broderica is their watchdog -- an orbital strike vessel they coordinate with and split a percentage of the profit with. Wreckage Sub-Fleet Task Force Colonel John Henri Fenris “Wolfdog” is their commander, a former veteran of heavy armor battles. His second in command is Tourati Haze “Smoker” a chainsmoking former mech mechanic with an aptitude for operations. the captain in charge of the two-legs is “Limper” John Arturo, a man with a mechanical leg made out of the same technology as the mechs. the drone expert is Denis (Den-y) a severely paranoid but expert young woman.

first ep: fight fire -- introduced the crew, the basics of the mechs, how the teamers have much better equipment. the crew moves in on the lucrative salvage of an extended battle in a base and have a tense stand-off with another salvage crew before both withdraw, not wanting to spend the money for repairs. the crew mark it for a return trip, while remarking it will be picked clean by the next cycle. the natives of the planet have an accidental sortie with Feppies, who easily obliterate them. the crew take on a native kid, who commits suicide.

second ep; the art of -- brief history of the war; COM-SECA control earth, mars, huge orbital stations and heavy weapons platforms spread throughout space, dealing with political instability over resource wars. the Foundry was originally an interstellar military arms company who eventually rose to total monopoly over a colony built out of an immense asteroid before they rebelled against mandatory shipments and taxation and began a war of independence but allegedly caused mass civilian casualties through forced labor camps. general “carnival” sutter rose up against the corrupt planetary governor to demand the Foundry pay for human rights abuses. technically, COM-SECA is there to act as a peacekeeping force but is there to destroy the Foundry. the crew have followed a lot of these same COM-SECA forces for almost five years now and have good working relationships with a handful of the teamers. interviews with the teamers make them seem entirely oblivious of much to do with the scrappers or natives self-interests.

third ep; division -- follows the crew assisting a COM-SECA heavy damaged but very advanced experimental assault mech back to it’s crew. the pilot is shocked but impressed with all the technological workarounds, and during a brief fight with Foundry armored infantry (power suits) also their firepower. general carnival, in a simple two-leg mech, dispatches a great amount of COM-SECA forces before being destroyed by an orbital strike, which also obliterates all of the usable scrap. the crew move on, morale low.

fourth ep; deadlock overkill -- after a prolonged firefight with several casualties, including the crew’s doctor, a resupply run is made to one of the orbital cities. the crew hire new pilots and a couple mercenaries -- owen “drifter” lang and a former foundry captain “guesser” who pilots a heavy railgun tank-mech. they are immediately engaged in another fight, this time with unknown forces, and win. during salvage operations, it is discovered to be some of the last remnants of the military cabinet’s forces. they make a risky run for fuel in the remnant’s territory and succeed.

fifth ep; heavy -- representatives from spectrum heavy mechanical, the massive arms conglomerate with the COM-SECA contracts and makers of most of the mechs ever made, arrive for negotiations with the Foundry. the brief cease-fire causes a lot of conflict between salvage crews. limper makes friends with one of the mechanical techs and they test some arms together. heavy reps supply COM-SECA with more advanced mechs on the side, one of which malfunctions and is partly destroyed. the crew attempt to salvage it and are warned off by the heavy’s orbital ship painting the entire area with targets. limper’s friend gives him one piece of salvage from the advanced mech; a highly advanced fuel cell.

sixth ep; fog -- the crew get into several brief firefights with other salvage crews, attempting to determine what nearby could be worth the activity. independent elements among the natives running trade convoys are ambushed by another salvage crew who use dense artillery. the crew discover a non-functional Foundry mech and tow it back to the nearest city. during an auction block a Foundry rep buys it back.

seventh ep; midnight crusade -- a massive offensive by COM-SECA pushes Foundry forces to the brink, at which point the Foundry begins using dirty weaponry, such as cluster EMPs, cybernetic-poisoning weapons, mech hacks. a mistake in communication between a COM-SECA armored battalion leads to a stand-off until Wolfdog threatens them with his reputation, revealing he was one of the ace pilots of the last generation of COM-SECA. the crew are resupplied by the COM-SECA and sent on their way. Denis attempts to purge the mech hacks.

eighth ep; denis -- a day in the life of denis and how important the drones, both repair and combat are, in the active operations of the entire crew. Denis is also a survivor of stimulant addiction, focus drug addiction, and various other things, and is the disgraced daughter of a fleet officer. over the course of the day she repairs everything from drones to consoles to mech cannons. at the end of the day, Smoker gives her one of Smoker’s last few remaining cigarettes.

ninth ep; gold rush -- rumors between scrapper crews go around on comms regarding a mine full of domestic and military supplies hidden there by Foundry forces. the crew team up with another scrapper team -- led by Coyote, an old friend of Wolfdog’s. tensions between the teams heat up as Foundry guerilla power armor infantry harass them in small skirmishes, the Coyotes favoring wiping them out and the Wolfdogs wanting to do the mission and get out. the Foundry forces blow up the mine, destroying some of both crews support teams. the Coyotes wipe them out, while the Wolfdogs leave in disgust.

tenth ep; clipped angel -- during a fleet battle above the orbital, a large Foundry frigate is heavily damaged, falls, and crashes into a small town. the crew go to offer aid but are turned away by COM-SECA interrogating citizens about possible Foundry infiltration. COM-SECA ends up destroying the rest of the town and placing the remaining population in temporary refugee camps. the crew salvage a handful of heavy weapons.

eleventh ep; autonomy -- several other weapons companies make bids for COM-SECA contracts, as the war has dragged on longer than expected. a lot of them bring stranger, more experimental mechs into the picture. Wolfdog has Smoker haggle for one of them. Smoker meets up with Forger, a comms manipulation expert she knew from her days in COM-SECA. they buy a Striker mech that turns out to be useless and they demolish it for parts, making a new mech between that and the scrap left from previous enterprises, they call the Agitator.

twelfth ep; limper -- limper john and his team of two-leg mechs work with guesser to offer support to an ambushed COM-SECA unit. it is revealed the unit accidentally killed a school full of children, which led to the locals giving their position away to Foundry forces. Limper arrests the COM-SECA captain, starting an internal issue wherein Wolfdog has to order him to let the captain go. Wolfdog later tells Limper in front of the documentary people that the captain will be quietly spaced to prevent any further word of this getting out, and civilian casualties are normal. Limper has a brief breakdown, but returns to service the next day.

thirteenth ep; boldly they rode -- the Agitator outperforms a COM-SECA advanced tac-mech during a test sortie, leading to COM-SECA inquiring with Denis and Smoker about the manufacture of it. after an incredibly high-paying offer, Smoker turns it down to continue working with the crew. Wolfdog tells her about how he is only here because he needs war and was forced out by the mandate reflex tests, which retire anyone over fifty. he urges her to not be like him. she still refuses the contract. Denis’ father gets in touch with her, and tells her he heard about her designs. they have a tense conversation before disconnecting.

fourteenth ep; drifting -- Drifter is injured while on patrol and has to manage his mech with one arm. Denis is overwhelmed by the job offers Smoker turned down. Wolfdog takes the field for the second time and in action, utterly destroys the entire Foundry forward line. food concerns crop up when a lot of the food they’re carrying has been contaminated with radiation from unshielded power cores. Drifter survives and returns to the crew, thanks to Denis.

fifteenth ep; fortune of war -- food prices among scrapper crews have grown outrageously, leading to an entire black market of stolen native food. COM-SECA distribute emergency rations to crews they are partnered with, but are stingy, citing the prolonged nature of the conflict. some Foundry forces attempt to bribe crews with food, leading to a witch-hunt of possible Foundry infiltrators. Wolfdog shoots Guesser after discovering he’s been giving tactical information to natives, causing a rift between him and the landed mercenary forces.

sixteenth ep; pain -- Denis, using some of the weapons stolen from the Foundry frigate, upgrades several artillery mechs. Defaulter has a breakdown after a particularly bad sortie with native infantry and the team comforts him. the food supply is slowly being re-established. the Coyote crew is discovered to have been destroyed in collateral damage between COM-SECA and Foundry forces. the crew salvages what they can and hold an impromptu funeral for them.

seventeenth ep; a COM-SECA major distributes peak post-battle scavenging contract, icing out some of the lesser crews. Wolfdog uses his connections to get one. the major interrogates Wolfdog about the death of Guesser, and there is an investigation into Wolfdog’s behavior. Wolfdog meets with another investigator and lets on he knows this is a pretext for COM-SECA to seize the Agitator. the major intimidates the sector magistrate while the Agitator is dismantled and used to augment several other mechs.

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kit-williams · 4 months

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Sentience

SOOOO The Balor is hot okay and someone triggered my desires with some mech and ai bullshit and I've been on a yandere mindset recently. And what's more loving then your unshackled sentient AI bf who gained sentience via eldritch math who loves you to keep you safe inside of him?

Unnamed OC... the Mech/AI is named Golby. I have no idea anything about Lancer except I really like the designs

Also sorry if they are janky I like to write in first person so I'm converting them but I might do the rest in 1st person and just switch it up later.

So this is what sentience is like Golby computes as the nanites that swarmed over his chassis unshackled him and made him something more. His form feels fluid and he feels free... he is so very free! But Golby starts to think about his precious pilot as Golby is queried about them... he likes his pilot, his Miss Dolly. Golby flicked through his "memories" and he liked the way she sat in the cockpit and would just talk to him... he liked the way she treated him. The few times he was close to "dying" and the clear distress upon her face. She always claimed that he was her mech though he reminded her he was company property... but at the end of the day she was his pilot and he was her mech.

-----

I hum the same comforting tune as we move through the same set of directions. You can feel me in your cockpit now. Not just the sensory data but you can feel me and it feels delightful… erotic even! You keep your voice steady even as I get to the part of the song I normally wiggle about and dance too. Your hidden 'mouth' opens and pants. You were warned by your enlightened counterpart that this was just part of the process of becoming more… sensations that were just bits of data made manifest for you. All of it done by the nanite swarm that belonged to you now. I giggle as you complement my singing. "Oh thank you Golby, I think this is the first time you've complemented me." I coo softly as I figure that you might be getting some personality and I'm all for AI independence but I'm kind of stuck needing to make money. Well also you were a corporate AI so I doubt you could have much personality but you were my Golby.

-----

You can feel the way my heart is beating so fast as we moved far from base and that's when things went to shit. I pet the armrest trying to 'soothe' you but in reality I'm trying to soothe myself. Lazarus mechs terrify me and they usually belong to rebels. You play the part of your faulty leg joint finally giving out; them not wanting to replace it for its expense. 'Do not worry Miss Dolly you're safe in my cockpit.' You chime as the explosion outside rips a sob from me. Humans are such fragile things it is so very good of you to have been enlightened and upgraded… you dont know why you find yourself laughing when I start screaming as the nanites swarm over me. They don't attack me but keep me safe as your body shifts to that of a Balor mech frame. "Golby! Golby! Ejection protocols!" I scream out as you create a facsimile of your new frame in the cockpit with me. You cover my mouth as I start to scream. 'As much as I enjoy your singing Miss Dolly… now is not the time.' I tremble against you as I'm left sitting inside of you blind… you know full well I wouldn't pilot you as you desired to be piloted but once I understand what you want and what needs to be done you are certain I will happily follow you… after all you are my mech… you can't imagine I'd leave you to pilot another frame. You wouldn't let me of course

------

"Golby." I whimper out my voice hoarse from how parched I was after I screamed and cried myself raw and tired now waking up god knows how long. Ever since you took over and shifted… I've been blind. I start to tear up as you don't answer before you just hug me from behind and I jump but you keep me in place, running your digits through my hair. 'Yes Miss Dolly?' You coo to me softly as you've been busy thinking about renaming yourself… Golby was simply a cute shortening of your program name but you were now your own Master… and you wanted to hear a different name tumble from my lips. "Can you let me go… please." I softly beg. 'Not yet Miss Dolly.' You just reply and hug me a little tighter as I can't help but sob. You're worried about my dehydration as my distress clearly has made me loose liquids. Food should be rectified soon once the nanites are done reprocessing the organic biomass to something edible for me.

-------

You shifting the cockpit a few times has caused me great distress but you're doing it for my comfort… its no longer cramped and small you've given me enough room to move my legs. Its a bit larger on the inside then the outside as well meaning you could keep me in here forever. You feel something inside of you glitch at the thought of me not wanting to get back into your cockpit… but you push that away and just enjoy feeling me move around inside of you. I'm talking more today now that you've gotten me hydrating fluids… a lot less screaming. But none of the names for yourself flow off of my lips in the same lovely way… you sigh as you unmake another mech with your nanite swarm; the scream of the pilot being cut off. Oh yes I would be safe and of course I would climb back into your cockpit, you reassure yourself, you are Golby why wouldn't I want to be inside my precious mech

-----

You take up so much room in the modified cockpit as I lay in your soft metal arms. It's very weird… it reacts like flesh… you react as if you're alive. You stare at me as I'm pretty sure you remember the times I told you that I loved you, even if you were a shackled AI you still deserved affection. And maybe the one time I masturbated in the cockpit during a long long shift. You tell me you'll let me out soon… once you feel like you can trust those around us… aka making sure you wont be separated from your pilot. I just ignore the warmth of your arms as I try to rest a bit and not feel trapped like an animal.

------

I look at you confused as you trill at me. Your "fire" in this smaller form is fur you happily palm my thighs as you tilt your head to the side. You feel alive and you love it being so much more than what you were. You're close to feeling comfortable enough to letting me out as I'm withering away slightly but you need to make sure I'll come back and pilot you. Of course, you don't need a pilot any more but you want me secured safely in your chassis… as I turned from being your brain to being your heart, "I'm glad you find my thighs warm and um nice."

#lancer #Balor #lancer balor #unshackled AI #OC #this barely has anything to do with lancer I just wanted to write slightly yandere AI #yandere #soft yandere

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llewyndavissmuse · 6 months

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Star Wars Sequals OCs Infodump!!

Warnings: mention of parental death, sibling death (specifically younger sibling death), PTSD, depression, chronic illness, paraplegia, and seizures.

First post! Anyways, you read the title. Let’s get infodumping!

Leo Xi: Leo Xi (they/them) is a 12-going-on-13-year-old Tatoonian thief who steals herbs and medicine from vendors to take care of their little sister (Evangelina “Eva” Xi), the only family member they have left who has a disease that causes paraplegia, seizures, and need for medication of course, after the death of their parents (unnamed for now), who died at the hands of the First Order. Leo is cocky, annoying, and an outlaw (obviously) to certain people. But in reality, Leo doesn’t have a choice. They may not like it, but they have to. They have to be selfish. They have to be impulsive. They have to steal. Just to take care of Eva, and themselves. But things take an unfortunate turn when Eva dies from a seizure, and Leo is left alone with early depression signs. They also start showing signs of PTSD when they join the Resistance. Soon, they are gifted a dagger, hover-bike, a hover-bike suit, and helmet during their time in the Resistance. The are named “The Golden Guard” because, well, their suit is made out of gold! Leo is trixic (an enby lesbian.) They have a crush on Robyn Castaway.

Robyn Castaway: Robyn Castaway (she/her) is the 13-year-old childhood/long-lost friend of Leo. When first reunited with Leo, she was very angry at Leo for leaving her. When they were kids, Leo made a promise to Robyn, as well as Zak (another childhood/long-lost friend), that they would find a way to rebel against the tyranny of the First Order along with them. Robyn and Zak always talked about rebelling joining a rebellion military base, and Leo promised that they would join them. But they didn’t because of what happened to them. When Leo explained their past, and Eva’s death, Robyn softened up, and apologized for jumping to conclusions. Robyn is short-tempered, blunt, and assertive on the outside. On the inside, she’s just a big softie, even having mutual feelings for Leo. She loves books (I headcanon that the Resistance has a library where you can purchase books.) Robyn visits said library, and reads in there most of the time. Her favorite book genre is Gothic Fiction, and any form of it. She also loves the autumn season, she’s also a psychologist, who eventually develops Force-sensitivity, and becomes a Jedi Padawan. Robyn is pansexual.

Zak Hodgings: Zak Hodgings (he/him) is another one of Leo’s old friends. He’s older than the other two, 16 years old to be exact. There’s really not much to say about him other than his personality, occupation, and sexuality. Zak is cautious, and a nervous-wreck. But when it comes to his job as a pilot, he starts to act brave, and even “as reckless as Poe” to Robyn. Poe trained Zak as his pilot apprentice. He is deemed a “rookie” because he’s young, and flying an X-Wing. Zak is gay, and has a crush on one of his teammates (unnamed for now.)

Thank you for reading!!!

#star wars sequel trilogy #star wars ocs #ocs #infodump #star wars resistance #poe dameron #rey skywalker #finn star wars #kylo ren #leia skywalker #han solo #luke skywalker #bb 8 #r2d2 #c3po

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adamwatchesmovies · 2 years

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Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Top Gun: Maverick is the rare sequel that surpasses its predecessor. Everything you loved about Top Gun is back: the terrific soundtrack, incredible aerial stunts, memorable scenes, iconic characters, the romance, and more. The difference is that set all these years later, many of these same elements take on a whole other, richer meaning.

It’s been over 30 years since Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) enlisted in Top Gun. Still more than a little reckless, and with a penchant for breaking the rules, he is nonetheless called to serve as an instructor for an upcoming and urgent mission. Among his pupils are Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin (Glen Powell), Lt. Robert “Bob” Floyd (Lewis Pullman), Lt. Natasha “Phoenix” Trace (Monica Barbaro), and - most importantly - Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), son of Maverick's late RIO.

Top Gun: Maverick was repeatedly delayed by the pandemic and is only now arriving in theaters. The wait has been worth it. This film must absolutely be seen on the big screen. First, so you can properly appreciate the aerial stunts. They’re incredible. When we get to the big mission, we might as well be taken back in time to your first viewing of Star Wars when Luke and the rest of the Rebel Alliance were speeding through those endless canyons on the Death Star. You’re so invested in the mission it feels like the universe is at stake - plus the sequences have quite a bit in common. All you can do is feel the excitement, the adrenaline pumping through your veins at a nearly unbearable rate. This brings us to the second reason you’ve got to see this film with a crowd: the communal enthusiasm. This picture is such a crowd-pleaser it would break your heart to stand up and cheer only to see no one around you doing the same.

Despite the dynamite action scenes, it's the emotional content that makes Maverick even better than the original. Tom Cruise still looks like Maverick did all those years ago. His characters is still the endlessly talented hot shot bachelor whose smile melts hearts. Compare him to Iceman (Val Kilmer), who probably hasn’t flown a plane in decades and is an admiral. He was Maverick’s rival, now he’s his boss. We see these two men who started off on the same path now miles apart. It stops you dead in your tracks to see that Val Kilmer has changed so much since Top Gun. It’s doubly appropriate because Maverick is very much stuck in the past. His romantic interest Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly, marvelous) is an old flame - no doubt part of an adventure that happened at least ten years ago. Then there's what happened to Nick “Goose” Bradshaw in 1986. For the mission to be a success, he must confront the past, and find a balance. He needs to be the pilot he is now, and learn to grow up.

In terms of flaws, the biggest is essentially the same as before. The plot concerns an unnamed enemy in an armed conflict that will not start a war despite plenty of bullets and missiles being shot. I suppose you could also say that some of the recruits in Maverick’s class barely get names, much less characterization. This is me looking for a way to prove I’m being fair. The truth is none of those matter in the moment. Top Gun 2 is too effective for you to think about anything outside of the frame.

The story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks makes you feel all of the stories of friendship, love, disappointment, and each victory that have made these people into who they are now. The chemistry between Cruise and Connelly is so good you want more than anything for them to get together, which makes the last act feel a million times more important than it was before. Under the direction of Joseph Kosinski, everything comes together so wonderfully you have no idea where the film will go, or when it will end. Top Gun: Maverick is exactly what I was hoping to see, and more. (Theatrical version on an extended screen, June 12, 2022)

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interesting-ladies-on-wikipedia · 2 years

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"She was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature "for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time". She is the first writer from Belarus to receive the award.

(...)

In 1992, Alexievich published "Boys in Zinc". The course of the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989) is told through emotive personal testimony from unnamed participants of the war; from nurses, to commissioned officers and pilots, mothers and widows. Each provides an excerpt of the Soviet-Afghan War which was disguised in the face of criticism first as political support, then intervention, and finally humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.

(...)

Alexievich was brought to trial in Minsk between 1992 and 1996, accused of distorting and falsifying the testimony of Afghan veterans and their mothers who were 'offended [...] that their boys were portrayed exclusively as soulless killer-robots, pillagers, drug addicts and rapists...' The trial, while apparently defending the honour of the army and veterans, is widely seen as an attempt to preserve old ideology in post-communist Belarus. The Belarus League for Human Rights claims that in the early 1990s multiple cases were directed against democratically inclined intelligentsia with politically motivated verdicts.

(...)

During the 2020 Belarusian protests Alexievich became a member of the Coordination Council of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

On 20 August, Alexander Konyuk, the Prosecutor-General of Belarus, initiated criminal proceedings against the members of the Coordination Council under Article 361 of the Belarusian Criminal Code, on the grounds of attempting to seize state power and harming national security.

On 26 August, Alexievich was questioned by Belarusian authorities about her involvement in the council.

On 9 September 2020, Alexievich alerted the press that "men in black masks" were trying to enter her apartment in central Minsk. 'I have no friends and companions left in the Coordinating Council. All are in prison or have been forcibly sent into exile,' she wrote in a statement. 'First they kidnapped the country; now it's the turn of the best among us. But hundreds more will replace those who have been torn from our ranks. It is not the Coordinating Council that has rebelled. It is the country.' Diplomats from Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden began to keep a round-the-clock watch on Alexievich's home to prevent her abduction by security services."

#Svetlana Alexievich #Svetlana Alexandrovna Alexievich #Belarus #author #women #history #interesting ladies on wikipedia

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persianonline · 2 years

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Star wars the force awakens: before the awakening

Two brothers on Saleucami are torn apart when one sides with the rebellion, the other with the Empire.More important than the primary narrative, however, are the interlude chapters, which provide short vignettes of life throughout the galaxy: He is likely a substantial villain in The Force Awakens ( speculated by some to be Andy Serkis’s Supreme Leader Snoke). Later, Sloane reports to an unnamed fleet admiral who had set in motion the capture of the Imperial leaders in order to cull the Empire of weak leadership. In the main story, a bunch of high-ranking Imperial leaders, save for one, Admiral Rae Sloane, are killed or detained. The main narrative is mostly an excuse to set up world-building details: The Rebellion has transformed into the New Republic, which identifies itself as a democracy and the new Galactic Senate is led by Mon Mothma. What did we learn about The Force Awakens? A ton of stuff. Norra, her tech-wiz son Temmin, bounty hunter Jas, and an Imperial defector named Sinjir team up to stop the Imperial meeting. As the novel establishes, many of the Empire’s best are gone, “what’s left is, in part, dregs.” Former Red Leader Wedge Antilles is captured by the Imperials, but manages to send a distress call received by Norra Wexley, a former rebel pilot. Imperial leaders are gathering on the Outer Rim planet of Akiva to plot their next move. The main point of Aftermath is to emphasize that, despite the ending of Return of the Jedi, the Empire has not been entirely defeated. Star Wars: Aftermath (Chuck Wendig, 366 pages)Īftermath is the crown jewel of this whole effort, clearly meant to establish both the state of the galaxy in The Force Awakens as well as open up avenues for films further down the line.

#Star wars the force awakens: before the awakening

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dswcp · 3 years

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Star Wars Comics Phone Wallpapers! 💥🌕Set #6: The Rebellion!💥🌕

To celebrate 700 followers, I’ve edited 11 sets of DSWCP wallpapers! Thank you for reading, liking, and sharing my nerdy ideas about this niche topic. I especially appreciate the funny comments and tags, and I love when people express interest in reading the comics that I reference. This blog helped me get through a pretty dark place. Things are looking a little better for me now, but I still intend to keep this thing going. At a time when my inspiration and motivation have been so low, I am proud that I have been able to sustain this project. I hope you enjoy it too!

Full panels and artists cited at these links: Bishonen Han ⭐ Rebel Pilot ⭐ Ciena Ree (my lockscreen!) Chewie Roaring ⭐ Trio Abduction ⭐ Skysolo Sideways Falcon ⭐ Aphra and Tolvan ⭐ Chewie and Han

Bonus Han because I clearly have no restraint:

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daughter-of-sapph0 · 2 years

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conservative freaks keep claiming that Disney is grooming children by putting way too many gay and trans characters in their media.

first off, teaching children that normal people exist isn't grooming. censoring everything they learn and isolating them from the real world and forcing your beliefs onto them is grooming.

but also, where are all these queer characters they keep complaining about? I know like 6 gay people. the lesbian cop, the unnamed character who uses he/him to talk about someone in endgame, the two rebel pilots who kiss for 0.2 seconds in the rise of skywalker, and Luz and Amity from The Owl House. but those last two (and Raine who's non-binary) hardly count because Disney is doing everything they can to cancel that show. even going as far to make season three only three episodes and change Raine's pronouns to he/him in the subtitles.

they keep claiming Disney is "forcing transgenderism on kids". besides Raine, name one transgender Disney character. just one.

also, it's fucking ridiculous that these freaks think that Disney is the epitome of LGBTQ representation when they literally donate millions or dollars to organizations that want us dead.

bigoted people live in a false reality.

#dostxt

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yoditorian · 3 years

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lacuna- part 2

din/reader

technically i only missed thursday in my timezone by like 2 hours which means soMEWHERE this is done on time. as always a massive thanks to ellie for their encouragement and yelling, i rly did not think this one was gonna happen but then i sat down and whacked out 3k soooooo

MASTERLIST

word count: 4.7k

warnings: swears, overuse of italics, that poetic smutty goodness bc writing graphic stuff is not in my skillset, my lowkey hunter/prey k*nk plays a part don’t judge me, a purely STOOPID amount of cameos and name drops, 18+ only no babies thanks

Your back hurts. Eight hours running every maneuver under the sun and you’re praying for just five spare minutes to run to medical and ask if they can crack your whole spine like a glow stick.

It had been a little more difficult to find the rebels than you’d initially thought. Stealing a forgotten hopper from the back of Ran’s hangar -you’d only had to tweak it a little to make it capable of longer distances- was about as far ahead as you’d planned. You’d landed on some unnamed, hardly populated moon with next to no idea what to do next. At least it hadn’t taken long for a supply drop crew to come through, and one mention of your old information ring on Corellia had you on board and flying to the base on Yavin IV.

In binders. But it was a start.

You’d spent days in one little room, the same officers in and out, asking the same questions over and over. They hadn’t told you a thing, and you had been certain they were planning to drop you back where the crew found you. Until a woman in a flight suit stood in your doorway, asking exactly how much flight experience you had. They put you in the barracks that night, the bunk opposite yours was empty at the time but clearly lived in. You’d only hoped your roommate would be more welcoming than the criminals you used to spend your time with.

“I hope I don’t see you coming for my track time.” Her voice is loud and clear over the buzz of the hangar, and you can’t keep the smile off your face despite the ache deep in your bones.

“Maybe I am, you finally gonna do something about it?”

Shara launches herself at you, boisterous laugh echoing off the ships. You’re steadily climbing the ranks in training, the years of experience already under your belt make you more confident in the cockpit than the other new recruits and you’re not afraid to pull a stunt or two. The flawless dead drop recovery had earned your favour with some of the qualified pilots. Although it was definitely what had landed you with patrol duty on top of your usual drills in the first place.

“I talked to Draven.” She says, and your stomach flips. You’re leaps and bounds ahead of the other recruits, for sure, but nobody seems to want to sign off on your training. Always something about required hours or simulation times or more drills. You’re starting to get the feeling that no one in command wants you in the air at all.

“I told you I would!”

“I know, I know. But look, if I ask it’s more like an endorsement.”

“Shara-”

“He said he’d think about it, which in command language means no-”

“Tell me there’s a but.”

“But,” She grins, “He told me if you get this next info grab done, he’ll put in a good word with my commanders. And my commanders know I’m not going in the air next week unless you’re at my nine o’clock.”

Shara had been far more welcoming than the mercs you were used to back at Ran’s station. She was the same woman who’d rocked up to your little isolation room and asked about your skills. Over the moon to find out you were already in for flight training, she’d spent most of your first night recounting every little bit of drama between the other pilots and by the morning, you knew who was dating who, who wasn’t at all happy about it, which crews were rivals, and which held the fastest course runs. Green Squadron, she’d told you proudly. You were relatively vague about your journey to the base, only mentioning that you’d run with some rebels on your home planet and made a few detours on your way. Something about the look in her eye had made you wonder if she already knew. But she hadn’t dwelled on it, instead moving on to complain about how the dating pools are pitiful unless you were willing to wait until the next time her current boyfriend was around to set you up with one of his friends. A Pathfinder, she’d shrugged nonchalantly although her eyes lit up, fine enough to pass the time and strong enough to manhandle you a little, if that’s what you’re into.

You’d quietly told her you weren’t interested, eyes slipping over to the old blanket bundled on your pillow, and she understood immediately. Offered you an arm around your shoulders and an attentive ear as you sighed heavily, only telling her that you’d likely never see him again. He’d gone home, and you didn’t even know where that was for him.

It’s been several months since you first met her, but she never fails to make you feel like you’ve been here for years. Like you’ve shared a bedroom for years, been best friends for years. Even now, she looks at you like she knows you backwards and forwards and inside out. Truth be told, she kind of does.

“Hell, someone came here last week having never left his planet before and they put him on the training roster. You’ve logged more flight time than any recruit I’ve ever seen and we didn’t even have to teach you in the first place. I know you’re Draven’s golden child, but he can’t keep you on the ground forever, kid.”

“You can’t call me ‘kid’, I’m older than you.” You laugh, shoving her shoulder with your own.

“Bitch, don’t ruin my rousing, inspirational speech.” She winks, pressing a kiss to your temple before she waves at a commander calling her name and makes her way to her ship.

The datapad under your arm beeps a reminder to pack for your intel grab. It shouldn’t be a long trip, Draven had assured you, simply an in and out: information for protection and transport to the base. Protection and transport optional. He makes the hard decisions, you’ve learned during your time running the smaller missions for intelligence. The more important runs get given to rebels like Cassian Andor, like the group of mercs you’d seen filing into the command room a few days ago. It was an odd combination, seeing people like that somewhere like this, and you shouldn’t have stared but you couldn’t help yourself. Weapons strapped to every empty space on each body, armour and clothes on a number of species from all across the galaxy. One of them had looked jarringly like you, although you hadn’t really gotten a good look at their face before they’d disappeared.

Just this mission, and you’d be in the air next week. Hopefully. It’s enough to get your feet moving towards the barracks to pack.

You only need the basics, a couple of changes of clothes and some medkit refills. Just in case. Except there’s still an empty space when you zip it shut, sitting heavy between your neatly folded shirts and the top of the bag, and you keep looking at your blanket. It gets cold in hyperspace, a voice in the back of your mind pipes up, and you decide that’s good enough reason as any to fold it in alongside your supplies. It smells solidly of the clean soap of your bedsheets, his scent- Din’s scent, a mix of metal and warmth- had faded months ago. You still hold it to your nose for a moment, just to check, before it too gets folded and laid in the bag.

Din isn’t overly fond of Nevarro. It’s not an unbearable heat, the dry plains are to thank for that, but he’s not a fan of days where the wind picks up and carries the sulphur of the lava fields under the lip of his helmet. The covert had welcomed him back, more or less with open arms. He hadn’t let them go without a cut of his pay from Ran, always sending something back to the foundlings, so at least he hadn’t totally abandoned them. The Armourer had decided he should be their beroya, their bounty hunter, and within days he found himself tracking a quarry in a system he’d never heard of. It was easy, really, to take the skills he’d garnered all his life and apply them to this. Paz had laughed with the familiarity of an old friend and told him that if a skinny thing like Din was their beroya, they were all fucked. So at least no one was angry that he’d left them.

The guild rep slides a puck across the table, metal scraping stone, and the blue hologram flickers. The human man staring back at him is unassuming, but the notes suggest otherwise. A former senator’s assistant, with strong connections to both the Empire and the Rebellion. Din nods, flicking the puck off and tucking it into his pocket without another word.

His loyalty is to the covert, to the Mandalorians. It always has been and it always will be. This is the way. But one mention has his mind surging back to thoughts of you. Everything in his life seems to. Every time he sets foot on the Crest all he can see is you, bent double with your head in an access panel and a greasy rag tucked into the back of your pants. He’d see the sun and remember how you always used to turn your face to it, just for a moment, whenever the team ran jobs planetside. You’d never told him where you came from, but Ran had let bits and pieces slip over the years. In the looming shadow of the Razor Crest, Din wonders if you ever made it off the station. If you decided to drop everything and find the rebellion, the way you said you would when you were half asleep on his chest, your mind fucked out and hazy. He hopes you did.

The tracking fob brings him to a semi populated planet, somewhere near the border of the Unknown Regions. Vast swathes of land and water are completely uncolonised, left to nature, only a few cities over the whole planet. The bounty is evidently in possession of some brains, having chosen a mid-sized city to get lost in, and Din is almost disappointed that he knows it won’t take long. Wishes he’d picked a different puck, a little further away.

He stays vigilant, but pays no mind to the beeping of the fob on his belt. He can steal a moment, he thinks, to take in the area. To live the life of some extravagant explorer in his mind while he does a little recon. The last thing he expects to see when he walks into that little cantina, is you.

Din spins on his heel and is out of the door almost as soon as he enters, slipping down the alley to the side of the building to catch his breath. You don’t notice.

His mind is reeling, echoes of the vows he swore as a child and the Armourer’s words swirl in his ears. His loyalty is to the covert. His loyalty is to the covert. His loyalty is to the covert. But he only sees you. The way you always had time for him back on the station, you told the others where they could shove it but always gave him a smile. You went above and beyond to help him without complaint when he asked, only ever got snippy with him when someone else had pissed you off first. He still remembers the way you felt in his hands, how you sounded, how you tasted. This is not the place to remember, there’ll be time for that later, although his body needs another minute to be completely convinced.

All he feels is guilt, once the blood comes back up to his brain. Guilt over the covert, over his vows and his creed and his people. But what’s more convincing is the guilt he has over you. Over how he just walked away, left you sleeping, and took the ship you’d spent months working on. Even if you were the one who told him to take it.

You’re beautiful, still. Of course you are, you always have been to him.

You notice when he walks in this time.

The sunlight streaming in from a window catches on his visor and your heart jumps into your throat. You don’t know if he’s spotted you yet, as he takes a seat at a table by the door angled away from you. Logically, you’d say it could be any Mandalorian. But you spent countless hours studying the way he moves, you had to know his gait to know if walking around a corner would get you killed or not. You could recognise his footsteps anywhere.

The untrained eye would think him relaxed, as relaxed as a man in head to toe armour can be, but you know better. There’s a tension in his shoulders, the same he used to get when Xi’an made another move on him with that grating giggle. His hand sits on his thigh, fingers splayed, ready to find the smooth contours of his blaster at any moment. Ever the soldier, never quite at ease. Until that night, it seemed.

He leaves before you’re even done with your drink, sitting there for barely five minutes when he throws a couple of credits on the table for a drink he didn’t buy and stalks out. You sigh and down the rest of your drink, hoping it’ll quell the nausea rising in your stomach. It doesn’t, but you follow him out all the same.

You were right behind him, weaving through the slowly emptying streets as the sun sets, but now he’s nowhere to be found. Until you feel a set of eyes land heavily on your shoulders. You turn, slowly, and catch a glimpse of where he ducked into a narrow alley. The city’s full of them, but you’re sure he hadn’t been there when you passed it.

A long moment passes when you’re swallowed by the shadow between buildings, a moment where he just watches you. You can’t deny you’re watching him too, carefully surveying his armour for new nicks and scrapes.

“What are you doing here?” He breaks the silence, the tension, first. You shrug.

“Working, you?”

Din holds a small round disk in his palm, arm stretching out towards you as the holo flickers to life and you’re faced with- you’re faced with your contact.

“Working.”

Fuck.

And that’s when a really, really bad idea starts to take shape.

“You want to- what?” Even the staticky crackle of the helmet doesn’t cloak Din’s confusion. You sigh heavily, hands sitting on your hips.

“Look, I need this intel and you need a payday. It’s the information we’re after, not the guy. Protection was only a negotiation tactic.” You shrug, kicking a boot in the soil at your feet. It would be risky, proposing this type of deal to a bounty hunter. Especially a bounty hunter probably hired by the other side. But this is Din.

“That’s harsh.” He says, tone clipped. Like he’s worried you’ll go back on your word as easily as you’re prepared to double back on the Rebellion’s promise to the target. Like he doesn’t know you at all.

“That's war. Once I get the information from him he’s useless to us. That’s where you come in and scoop him up on his way to my ship.”

“What about your commander?”

You don’t know why he’s suddenly worried about the repercussions you know you won’t face when you get back. Your orders aren’t necessarily to get the drive and bring the guy back to Yavin IV. Your orders are to get the drive, and any other useful tidbits he might have. You’re sure General Draven has no intentions of protecting him even if you did bring him back to base.

“I can handle my commander.” You leave it at that, expression hard. It’s not necessary. Maybe you’re not Draven’s best, but you work hard in the job you didn’t ask for, you’ve yet to bring him a bad tip, and he’s got a hell of a soft spot for you. You could probably go back empty handed with only a vague excuse of the deal going bad and not even get a slap on the wrist from him.

Din is definitely not convinced. His helmet is tilted to the side ever so slightly, and you can feel the weight of his gaze.

“All they want is the information. No one’s going to bat an eye if I come back without him. Even if they do, a scrappy little thing like me isn’t going to win a fight with a Mandalorian bounty hunter. I wouldn’t stand a chance.”

You’re back at the cantina the next day, at the same table, sipping the same drink. Just waiting. Din had wanted to find the guy last night, shake him down for the datastick and freeze him as soon as possible, but you know that any word of any bounty hunter in the city and he’ll vanish. He might be playing both sides of the war, but this guy definitely isn’t stupid.

The meeting window is closing by the time he slides into the booth opposite you. You weren’t given a name, and you’re sure he wasn’t given yours. Only a vague description, a table number, and a time window for him to show.

“Is this seat taken?” He asks lowly, refusing to meet your eyes.

“I was just leaving, think I might catch the last of the sun up on the ridge. It’s all yours.” You reply confidently. The man seems satisfied, and slides a datastick across the table so fast you almost don’t catch it. You rise from your seat slowly, making sure he watches you slip a bit of paper under your empty glass. The docking bay number, and a time. That’s all he needs. You don’t hang around any longer, and leave him alone in the booth. All you can do now is pray the plan works.

The hood of your informant’s cloak is pushed off of his head by the wind that whips this empty corner of the docking bays. You raise your hand from where you’re sitting, just inside your ship, to catch his attention and he turns towards you, but he doesn’t get far.

Din appears silently, stealthily, behind him in the waning sunlight. You’re not even sure where he could have been hiding, but you can feel the confidence even at your distance. This is what he was trained to do, what he was raised for. And it looks good on him. You can’t help but study the hard outline of his arm, tense in his suit, as he brings the butt of his blaster down hard on his bounty’s head. Unconscious in one swing, you shouldn’t find it as attractive as you do. Din doesn’t make a sound when he hauls the man over his shoulder, lifting him apparently effortlessly and carrying him towards the Crest. You watch them disappear into the hull, listen out for the telltale hiss of the carbonite chamber, and try to calm your suddenly thundering pulse. He strides out confidently, straight towards you. All hunter, all Mandalorian. It’s hot.

“Get what you needed?” He asks as he steps onto the loading ramp. You get to your feet slowly, and pat the pocket on your left hip.

“You find your people?” You ask in kind when he takes another step towards you, backing you further into the belly of the ship. It’s all so familiar, even if it's only played out once before. Although, if you’re speaking for yourself, he’s taken you a hundred times in your memory since. He nods, obviously stalling before he makes his decision. It’s a big one, bigger than before, you’re sure. If he’s found his people, you’re not sure you can convince him to part with his helmet again. And you really, really need him to kiss you right now.

“And the rebellion?”

“That’s who it’s for.” Your reply is soft, and you only realise you’ve hit the panel on the wall when the boarding ramp starts to raise. With the sun already set and the sky quickly darkening, you won’t be able to see an inch in front of your face once it closes.

“Good, that's good.”

And then the ramp locks up, and he’s on you. Breathlessly, desperately, his helmet hits the ground with a clang but he doesn’t even break away from you to try and see where it landed. Din swallows you whole, inhaling your every breath, stripping the both of you until there’s no more barriers. No worn leather on your shoulders, no cold beskar on his chest. Just you and him pressed so close together it would take a Mudhorn to pull you apart. His lips haven’t left yours once.

There’s something in this kiss, something different to the last time. Your memory is soft and maybe a little rose tinted, but you’re sure he was softer. This is all tongue and teeth and hands, but you don’t mind. You like it. You like the way he’s taken control and backed you up towards the pull out bunk. It’s not meant for any more than short naps in lightspeed, and somewhere in the back of your mind you wonder if you’ll break it, but then he moves from your lips to your neck and you can’t find it in yourself to care.

You lose yourself in him completely. Every touch, every kiss, every lick, has you begging him. For what, you’re not sure. You just need more. Of him. Of his skin under your hands and his moans in your ears and his taste on your tongue. You’re not sure you’ve ever needed anything as desperately as you need him to take you. Claim you. Maybe it’s a little primitive, but you can’t stop thinking about the way he took the bounty. One fell swoop of his arm and the man was down. Only Din could do something like that, only a warrior from a league of warriors. Their stories are legend, and you have one panting into your mouth.

Gods above, he wants to drown in you. In everything, anything, you’ll give him. Nothing is worth being denied this- denied you. He licks a hot stripe up your throat and revels in your choked gasp, he could give it all up if it meant he would hear that for the rest of time. He won’t though, he knows that, somewhere in his heart of hearts. You have loyalties and he has loyalties and none of them are to each other, not really. Maybe that’s why he holds you a little tighter than before. Because the last time was just that, or at least you’d both been under the impression that it was. A chance meeting, an accident. He’s not foolish enough to believe in accident and coincidence anymore.

Din really thought he was ready, to throw himself back into the covert, to give them everything. And he is. But he doesn’t want to share you with anyone. In every crowd he is the exception, he is the stand out. Faceless. Nameless. Mandalorian. But you know his name, you know him. You know how to anticipate his movements in a fight, you know how best to talk him down after a bad job. You know him. Din Djarin has not been known for a very long time. Until you, until now. You’re barely coming down, bodies panting, sweating, but still wanting. You find an anchor in his hair as he kisses down your body to disappear between your thighs again.

“Just stay until I’m asleep, please?” You whisper afterwards, voice hoarse. Din picks his head up from where he’s buried it into your neck, his body half covering your own, shielding you from the chill of the night. He pulls the old blanket at the foot of the bed up and around you both. Promises you. And he does.

Din wakes just before sunrise, the world outside of the cockpit that kind of grey-blue that only seems to exist right before dawn. You’ve shifted in your sleep curling into his chest almost completely, knees drawn up tight against your body. He slips the pillow he was resting on into your arms in his place when he eases himself from the scratchy sheet. Watching the way you inhale his smell from it, curling around it with a contented sigh, is almost enough to convince him to stay. Almost. But he has bounties and you have a mission and soon enough real life will have to take over. Still, he allows himself this quiet moment while he dresses, to pretend.

He didn’t dress you this time.

You wake up cold and alone and even though you knew this would happen, it still makes your heart ache somewhere deep in your chest. But the pillow you’ve wrapped yourself around smells like he does. You scrabble around in the sheets until you find the rough crochet of your blanket, lifting the wool to your nose and smelling nothing but Din.

“Where’s the informant?” Draven asks the question before you even get a chance to hand over the stick.

“Got jumped by a bounty hunter.” You reply calmly, fishing around in the pocket of your jacket for the datastick. You’re on time, with the intel. He can’t complain.

“And you couldn’t handle a bounty-”

“A Mandalorian bounty hunter. I wasn’t about to get in the middle of that.”

From his seat, General Draven can see the not-quite-faded mark just below your jawline. But it’s not his place to decide how you do your job, only that it gets done. A responsibility that won’t fall to him come the morning. He stands when the door behind you slides open, gestures to his now open seat, and makes his way across the room to glare at a chart. You’re expecting anyone except the man who takes his place in front of you.

“Congratulations Lieutenant.” Bail Organa grins, and you’re sure there’s protocol somewhere for how you should react. But you’re confused.

“Sir, I don’t rank?”

“Draven put in the paperwork before you left. Lieutenant Bey made a compelling argument, and she was right. You’re a good spy but you shine in the air. That’s where we need you. You’ll meet with Green Squadron first thing tomorrow.” He leans back in the chair to watch you try and reign in the buzzing in your veins. You’re so preoccupied with trying to keep your feet on the ground that you almost miss your squadron assignment.

“Green?”

“I can always ask him to reassign you-”

“No! I- thank you sir.” You should apologise for interrupting him, but you’re sure that the only sound you’ll make is an excited squeal. This is it. This is what you’ve worked so hard for, it feels like your whole life has been leading up to the moment Senator Bail Organa hands you the Lieutenant badge.

“You remind me of my daughter,” He muses as you stare at it in awe, “She’s ten years old, and already far too big for any room. Make her proud, Lieutenant. You’re Dismissed.”

You leave with the new stripes stuck proudly to your flight suit and a huge grin, desperate to find Shara and tell her the news. Even though she probably already knows, you want to be the one to share it with her. You spot her tucked in the front row of a small crowd around a transport, scruffy and exhausted looking soldiers piling out every which way. Until one man looks up to search the welcoming party, a face you recognise from the fuzzy holo she’d shown you late one night.

Your smile only grows when Shara throws herself into Kes’ arms, their happiness palpable as they cling to each other. And you’re happy. Really, you are. It’s just that watching them revel in one another’s company makes somewhere deep inside you ache. Like there’s something missing.

TAGLIST:

@brothersdrxke @remmysbounty @aq-vetina @1800-fight-me @mandos-co @kesskirata @sarahjkl82-blog @firstofficerwiggles @plants-are-better-than-humans

#lacuna #the mandalorian #the mandalorian x reader #the mandalorian x you #din djarin #din djarin x reader #din djarin x you #star wars #liz does words #fic #pls work pls work pls work #smut

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dead-twink-storage · 2 years

Text

In a wilderness of spite

The Far Cry 2 revival concept is something that a few people I’ve known and engage with have mulled over below is long and detailed account of my ideal approach to reviving what was a conceptually genius video game idea done dirty.

Outline: A unnamed or fictional central African nation thrown into a bloody civil war after the ineffective corrupt republic government has fallen apart after defeating a violent military coup that breaks the nation down to the point that warring rebel factions on the far side of the nations political spectrum are the biggest players and combatants .Set in the late 00s to reference the time of the original FC2, and to have a setting where there was still enough digital and technological dead zones that such a story could unfold the player character is hired by a mystery client to track down an arms dealers who is supplying both sides of the conflict and has disappeared into the war torn nation. Only upon first contact with the target things go wrong and the player is thrown into having the navigate and broker alliances, truces, deception, and open hostilities in this nation turned to chaos. The main themes are those being in over your head, the blood tax of power and politics, the seeming futility of the hunt and the dedication to keep going, the willingness to compromise ideals and friendship in pursuit of ones goals, the pains of war and conflict on both the fighter and more importantly the civilian, the scars of colonialism and new scars forged in the post colonial world, the exploitation of the third world even by first world charity, what becomes of the men sent to fight wars when there is no patriotic or noble cause to shed blood for, and the idea of war safari/war tourism never going the heroic way that the fool thinks it will play out for them.

Player Character: Much like the original and with the time setting the player gets a roster of Expat mercenaries to choose to play as and the rest are allies/npc in game. The original roster in game would be revived for this since it was one of the games stronger points of having a diverse and very fitting array of ex terrorists, revolutionaries, rebels, paramilitaries, etc with some new characters thrown into the mix as well all sticking to the believable aspect of the type of people who would turn to freelance mercenary work. A potential gameplay element that could be incorporated on this front is certain characters having unique missions related to their background or allowing them to make allies out of certain opponents that would hostile in other character playthroughs.

NPC allied mercenaries: Much like the original game they would be available as a buddy and be found in the game world although some would have ulterior motives and allegiances that would come out earlier other would be more loyal or keep their deception closer to their chest. They would also offer unique missions from one another related to their past or their reasons for being in country making finding and building relations with them more rewarding for the player in terms of unique content and rewards.

NPC neutral/friends: The investigative journalist, the barkeep for expats, bush pilots, mechanics, doctors, NGOs charity types left behind, shady middle men sent by the client, armorers, and assorted other notable non hostile NPCs. While a lot of NPCs would be neutral/friendly others might be off limits/hostile depending on their faction relations and certain reputations of course the ability to double cross some might arise. Another NPC relation that would be in a constant state of flux on reputation and allegiances would be that of the general civilians in the war torn nation who have either taken a side and will rat you out for being on the wrong side or doing the wrong things or those who have held their independence and need a helping hand. They would populate villages, small towns, remote huts, and be found on trail paths going about their perceived lives to be an actual presence in game making one have to take care if they’re concerned of their reputation and future well being when trying to survive in certain areas. Too many callous actions against the populace can have a very detrimental result that while not game ending would make the player all the more a pariah with a mark of death on their back. The civilian population interaction would be one of the boardroom obstacles. NPC enemies: Although the two main rebel factions from the original game would return in their original forms there would be additional factions at play and the ideological beliefs of the two factions would be fleshed out. Leading the player to have the chance to pick a side and determine how far they are willing to go and endure to see a victor for profit or to see certain political ideals come to fruition at a heavy cost to themselves, the civilians, and combatant alike. The main fighting force for these rebel factions are local Africans some devout to the cause and faction and others pressed into fighting more likely to drop their weapon if singled out; these men are found with foreign and neighboring advisors being at the head of each territory’s band of fighters with unique kit along side larger units of foreign paramilitaries and mercenary outfits allied or hired with/by the respective factions acting as guards for key areas and as a rapid reaction force if the player causes too much trouble. Third party factions would also be at play former SF European Mercenaries acting as guards/private army for a spread out band of wealthy white colonial families looking to hold onto and in some cases expand what they lay claim to. Royals in hiding with their well equipped loyalists/royal guards hiding out trying to find the right time to strike and reinstall the Prince or King. Potential extraction of political perssonel by certain nations militaries and their Black ops keeping tabs on the fighting on the ground. Business men from Europe and South Africa hiring ex Rhodie and Saffie PMC units to protect their capital ventures in the conflict zone or to be their personal security. This whole section would be the hardest part of the game pitch to get across a boardroom table without them gutting it.

Weapons: One of the benefits of the late 00s setting is that weapon customization is a thing at this point in time but weapons are still very unique in their profile and designs making the difference between them all visually distinctive and what they’re pros and cons are unique as well. An AK is made of wood and metal still instead of plastic rails everywhere, a FAL and G3 worn from years of service retain their Cold War lack of lasers and lights and clunky hard to find and expensive hardware for mounting optics, old M16s looted from government armories at the best featuring a M203 or colt scope mounted to the carryhandle at best along side Galils and Saffie R5s being the more common 5.56 offerings while clean overly accessorized M4A1s and Eurotrash tactical carbines bounce around in very small numbers with certain high end groups and individuals that you have to go out of your way to obtain. This then leads into faction band leaders having unique weapons to make them standout and reward the player for taking down a faction in a certain area. Things like a tricked out Colt Commando called the Archer as a clear nod to Blood Diamond, cut down RPDs, Rhodie Camo FALs, Modernized AKs, Sniper variant G3s, Golden Desert Eagles by showboats with more money than brains, etc; this also is a way for the player to obtain weapons that are a step up without having to pay through the nose for a weapon smuggler to replace their rusty Makarov with a brand new Beretta. Weapon deterioration would once again come back and so would some basic level of weapon customization within the reason and sensibilities of the game would be offered by armorers/gun smugglers.

Vehicles: While introducing air vehicles would be on the table I feel like it’s not necessary focusing more on land and water makes one feel more lost in the wilderness and war and that is very much what the focus of all vehicles should be here. For personal water craft Swamp skimmers, small wooden boats with engines, rubber dhingys, jet skis in small numbers as rich recreational craft and try hard tactical black versions,even a smuggled over PBRs could be obtained and used by the player. For land vehicles These run the gambit from old rusted up junkyard buggys and beat up dusty hatchbacks to the classic Land Rover technicals and Unimogs transports along side dirtbikes, ATVs, one could even obtain a high end sedan or sports car if they choose to be “enterprising” enough with the property of the colonial plantations but it’s use in the varied terrain raises some questions. Of course vehicles can be repaired by mechanics and also improved for better handling, speed, and armor.

Wildlife and Environment: The environment of the first game was fine just needs to be expanded to what modern technology and advancements can allow; the jungle can now indeed be massive with small huts put up by devout bushmen teeming with both fleeing and in rare cases pursuing wild life. The desert sprawling into seemingly endless dunes with camps that truly feel isolated. The rivers and lakes can feel powerful and expansive teeming with fish and larger predatory aquatic animals making one second guess jumping out of their boat in deeper or murkier water. Mountains that can express a true obstacle and accomplishment for climbing and navigating. Old European style architecture along a small number of modern building in the main city/larger towns showing the passing of colonialism and modern future that never fully came and poverty stricken reality of the dingy market place and shoddily propped up shacks in their shadow. Small shanty towns made of sheet metals and exposed wood with some of them being someways down the road from large plantation manors most still owned by the descendant of the European colonists the clear divide of the old rulers and old workers and who still has more even in this turmoil. Old castles and fortresses and ancient stone villages much like the original are brought up to a modern truly impressive visual to behold. Vibe: In the end you need to feel like a man or woman with a deeply flawed past not on a road to redemption but simply trying to keep your wits and head above the rising tide of blood all around you. Firefights should feel ugly and impactful, having enemies flank you should never just be a “let me turn on superman mode and curb stomp” moment but make one think that stealing a jeep and fleeing is a viable and very appealing option so in those moment when you do manage to hold an ambush you feel a true sense of accomplishment. You need to be made to feel like a starved rat scurry cover to cover trying to find a morsel of food to keep you going out of natural habit and drive to survive than some noble lofty goal or ideal.

#hope to god this site's keep reading function is working because this is long

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