View allAll Photos Tagged Contingency
Forecaster Mark Wilson said the Contingency Planning Forecast - which is used by the government to prep for extreme weather - was predicting the first three months of 2019 were likely to be much frostier than normal.
And Met Office spokesman Simon Partridge said when a similar three-month forecast was issued at the start of last year, those predictions came starkly true.
Last winter, winds from Siberia pushed in from the east, causing the mercury to plummet - with even daytime temperatures struggling to rise above zero.
Partridge said: "Last year there was widespread snow across many parts of the UK and temperatures were well below average.
"There's a higher chance of seeing colder spells, and given that, as a result, there's a slightly higher chance of snow across the UK."
Weather forecasters believe that the snowstorm could hit Britain in late January, although they doubt it will be as severe as last year's cold weather.
The first snow of the year has already blasted Brits across the UK, with the flakes seen as far south as London.
Outbreaks of rain and wintry showers are expected to batter the UK with temperatures plummeting to -9C in Scotland and to 0C in the southeast of England.
Met Office forecasters warned snow could settle over the hills in northern England and Scotland.
But the freeze threatens to last well into February with more frost, ice and snow on the way. (from The Sun)
Pictured are members of 34 Squadron RAF Regiment movind along a track whilst undertaking Live Firing Tactical Training at the Otterburn Training Area.
This training formed part of the Contingency Operating Training for the Joint Expeditionary Force.
With a strength of 164 personnel, including specialist engineering and support staff, the Squadron’s firepower is provided by a wide range of infantry weapons including sniper rifles, general purpose machine guns and light and medium mortars.
Fully air portable, the Squadron’s cross-country mobility is provided by a variety of off road platforms battlefield communications systems and a highly effective range of surveillance and night observation equipment which help complete 34 Squadron’s inventory to make it a flexible and powerful force capable of deploying anywhere in the world to defend British air assets or to take part in wider military action.
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© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: SAC Phil Dye
Image 45159216.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
Use of this image is subject to the terms and conditions of the MoD News Licence at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/20121001_Crown_copyrigh...
For latest news visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
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iss051e049012 (May 23, 2017) --- Air Force colonel and NASA astronaut Jack Fischer (left) works outside the U.S. Destiny laboratory module to attach wireless antennas during the 201st spacewalk in support of International Space Station maintenance and assembly. This was a short and unplanned, contingency spacewalk whose primary task was the removal and replacement of a failed computer data relay box that controls the functionality of important station components such as solar arrays and radiators.
Pictured is a member of 34 Squadron, The Royal Air Force Regiment using a spotting scope during a Live Firing Tactical Training at the Otterburn Training Area.
This training formed part of the Contingency Operating Training for the Joint Expeditionary Force.
With a strength of 164 personnel, including specialist engineering and support staff, the Squadron’s firepower is provided by a wide range of infantry weapons including sniper rifles, general purpose machine guns and light and medium mortars.
Fully air portable, the Squadron’s cross-country mobility is provided by a variety of off road platforms battlefield communications systems and a highly effective range of surveillance and night observation equipment which help complete 34 Squadron’s inventory to make it a flexible and powerful force capable of deploying anywhere in the world to defend British air assets or to take part in wider military action.
-------------------------------------------------------
© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: SAC Phil Dye
Image 45159224.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
This image is available for high resolution download at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk subject to the terms and conditions of the Open Government License at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/. Search for image number 45159224.jpg
For latest news visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
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In a certain sense, Adam's sin was a sin arising from inquisitiveness, if such an expression be admissible. Originally, Adam saw contingencies in the aspect of their relationship to God and not as independent entities. Anything that is considered in that relationship is beyond the reach of evil; but the desire to see contingency as it is in itself is a desire to see evil; it is also a desire to see good as something contrary to evil. As a result of this sin of inquisitiveness - Adam wanted to see the "other side" of contingency - Adam himself and the whole world fell into contingency as such; the link with the divine Source was broken and became invisible; the world became suddenly external to Adam, things became opaque and heavy, they became like unintelligible and hostile fragments. This drama is always repeating itself anew, in collective history as well as in the life of individuals.
A meaningless knowledge, a knowledge to which we have no right either by virtue of its nature, or of our capacities, and therefore by virtue of our vocation, is not a knowledge that enriches, but one that impoverishes. Adam had become poor after having acquired knowledge of contingency as such, or of contingency in so far as it limits. We must distrust the fascination which an abyss can exert over us; it is in the nature of cosmic blind-alleys to seduce and to play the vampire; the current of forms does not want us to escape from its hold.
Forms can be snares just as they can be symbols and keys; beauty can chain us to forms, just as it can also be a door opening towards the formless.
Or again, from a slightly different point of view: the sin of Adam consists in effect of having wished to superimpose something on existence, and existence was beatitude; Adam thereby lost this beatitude and was engulfed in the anxious and deceptive turmoil of superfluous things.
Instead of reposing in the immutable purity of Existence, fallen man is drawn into the dance of things that exist, and they, being accidents, are delusive and perishable.
---
Frithjof Schuon
---
Quoted in: The Essential Frithjof Schuon (edited by Seyyed Hossein Nasr)
Pictured are personnel from 34 Squadron, The Royal Air Force Regiment based at RAF Leeming, undertaking Live Firing Tactical Training at the Otterburn Training Area.
This training formed part of the Contingency Operating Training for the Joint Expeditionary Force.
With a strength of 164 personnel, including specialist engineering and support staff, the Squadron’s firepower is provided by a wide range of infantry weapons including sniper rifles, general purpose machine guns and light and medium mortars.
Fully air portable, the Squadron’s cross-country mobility is provided by a variety of off road platforms battlefield communications systems and a highly effective range of surveillance and night observation equipment which help complete 34 Squadron’s inventory to make it a flexible and powerful force capable of deploying anywhere in the world to defend British air assets or to take part in wider military action.
-------------------------------------------------------
© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: SAC Phil Dye
Image 45159229.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
Use of this image is subject to the terms and conditions of the MoD News Licence at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/20121001_Crown_copyrigh...
For latest news visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Follow us:
I keep to the shadows. If this does so happen to be the Crow's hideout, it'll be heavily guarded. I'd say at least three guards outside, two by the door, one on the roof. But they could throw a curve ball, and put someone in another building. But I've dealt with all of these, so I have the contingencies.
For the last 5 months, ever since I've dawned the hood, I've been looking, hunting, for the Crow's hideout. Considering how sloppy they are on the job, I'm genuinely surprised how they can hide when the lights are turned on. Recently I've started tracking where they came from, and where they go. And I started to notice a pattern. They would come from South, then leave either going West or East, then lap around, going back south. I also noticed a large concentration of crime near the abandoned Hosman Junkyard, it got shut down a while back when they found out that Gary Hosman was assisting the Clock's and their crimes. There have been alot of bodies found, shots fired, materials stolen etcetera in this area. But something that has me very compelled is that this is the Clock's territory, but lately has become Crow eccentric. So I naturally came to investigate, but found it crawling with goons. So I got out of there, made a plan, and here I am.
I finally make it to Hosman headquarters, right in front of the Junkyard. From a distance I notice a man with a gun patrolling the roof, like I suspected. But they have it lit up well, so I can't risk going around front to see if anyone is there, but I find a ladder out back. I climb it, slowly but surely, hoping to find an entry way. As I near the top I can see the head of the guard, he has his back turned, now is my chance. I go for it. I hurriedly climb, hand over hand, foot over foot, until I slip. Quickly I create a construct platform directly under my feet.
The guard must've heard the commotion and begins to turn around. I levitate myself up to roof-level. We stand their for a moment, staring each other down. He begins to raise his weapon, until i jump and kick his gun out from his hands. It hits the floor with a thud that echo's through the ghostly streets. I panic, and nervously look around. I don't think anyone else heard it. Though he still knows im here, I could easily run away, and no one would believe him.
"It's fight or flight, freakshow."
He taunts me with a smirk, he /wants/ me to fight.
I put on a battle grin, one that I usually wear while fighting. While I'm having fun, it helps that it scares them. Let's them know that you have no fear, while in turn fuels theirs.
I jump off of the platform, dissipating it, and creating another construct disc. It hits his shoulder and shatters, he staggers back. I use this opening to rush him, hitting him with my "killer" (or so im told) right hook, knocking him to the ground.
It isn't until I seem him grinning in the full light until I realize, he isn't wearing a crow mask. I kneel down, grab his shirt, and pull him closer.
"Why are you here? Where is your boss?"
He grimaces and spits out some blood to his side, he then smiles through the pain and whispers out.
"Why would I ruin the surprise?"
The floor then creaks beneath us.
He rolls over quickly, and slams his fist on the board right next to my feet, causing the floor to burst open, and me to fall through multiple levels of rotting wood.
----------------------------------------------------------
I slowly open my eyes. Oh gosh, I've gone blind! How can I fight crime if I'm blind? No one would ever read about that! Oh thank you God, my vision gets brighter and better. I find myself on solid ground in a dimly lit hallway, the dust is still settling from my, uh, tumble. I begin to rise, though my side burns terribly. I look down and see a large gash. I put my hand on it and put pressure, it stings, alot. When I finally begin to take in my surroundings, I notice the odd paintings and candles lining the walls. And a crimson carpet clinging to the floor, seemingly carrying on forever....
A U.S. Air Force loadmaster assigned to the 164th Airlift Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard directs an all-terrain forklift onto a C-17 aircraft to support rescue operations in Texas following Hurricane Harvey, at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Aug. 29, 2017. More than 30 Kentucky Air Guardsmen and 90 tons of equipment were airlifted from Louisville to Houston to stand up an aeromedical evacuation and air cargo hub. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Dale Greer) www.dvidshub.net
Orthodox Jew
& the
Arab contingency
Both protesting the state of Israel
@
Israel Day Parade
ManHatTan
Photography’s new conscience
A Surrey Police Vito seen on patrol near Horsham. This was in neighbouring Sussex's area!
3rd August 2017.
© Calum's 999 & Transport Photography. All rights reserved.
Rick Nybakken, Juno project manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), rips up the contingency plan for the Juno mission at a post Jupiter orbit insertion (JOI) press conference after the Juno team received confirmation from the spacecraft that it had completed the engine burn and successfully entered into orbit around Jupiter, Monday, July 4, 2016 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. The Juno mission launched August 5, 2011 and will orbit the planet for 20 months to collect data on the planetary core, map the magnetic field, and measure the amount of water and ammonia in the atmosphere. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 5, 2018) An AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 (Reinforced) aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) lands on the flight deck. America, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group, with embarked 15th MEU, is operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to strengthen partnerships and serve as a ready-response force for any type of contingency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Vance Hand/Released)
Pictured are members of 34 Squadron RAF Regiment receiving a briefing on the next part of their Live Firing Tactical Training on the Otterburn Training Area.
This training formed part of the Contingency Operating Training for the Joint Expeditionary Force.
With a strength of 164 personnel, including specialist engineering and support staff, the Squadron’s firepower is provided by a wide range of infantry weapons including sniper rifles, general purpose machine guns and light and medium mortars.
Fully air portable, the Squadron’s cross-country mobility is provided by a variety of off road platforms battlefield communications systems and a highly effective range of surveillance and night observation equipment which help complete 34 Squadron’s inventory to make it a flexible and powerful force capable of deploying anywhere in the world to defend British air assets or to take part in wider military action.
-------------------------------------------------------
© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: SAC Phil Dye
Image 45159212.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
Use of this image is subject to the terms and conditions of the MoD News Licence at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/20121001_Crown_copyrigh...
For latest news visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Follow us:
Between the late evening of 22 February and the early morning of 23 February 1979, 25 construction workers from Texas, constructing a naval base in the port of Char Bahar, were evacuated in the early morning hours by Kinkaid, and they were brought to the small island of Bahrain. This became known as the "Gulf of Aden/Yemen Indian Ocean Contingency Operation of 12/8/78 - 6/6/79". The crew of Kinkaid were awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Armed Forces Humanitarian Service Medal
In November 1989, Kinkaid and the Panamanian-registered freighter M/V Kota Petani were involved in a collision in the Strait of Malacca. The collision caused one death and 15 other casualties to the Kinkaid's crew, and US$15 million in damages to Kinkaid. She made Singapore under her own power for temporary repairs, then Subic Bay, Philippines, then San Diego for permanent repairs.
On 4 July 1993, Kinkaid paid a three-day port visit to Acajutla, marking the first visit by a United States warship to El Salvador in more than a dozen years. Kinkaid was then assigned to Destroyer Squadron 13 in San Diego and was, at the time, conducting two months of routine operations under the operational command of Joint Task Force Four, located in Key West, Florida. Kinkaid returned to San Diego in mid-August 1993
Kinkaid deployed on 10 November 1994, as part of the Constellation carrier battle group for a six-month deployment to the western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. She spent most of December in the Western Pacific. With the Constellation carrier battle group, she entered the Persian Gulf, on 11 January 1995, and departed it on 23 March. The Constellation carrier battle group conducted several exercises during the deployment, including Beachcrest 95, a routine annual exercise that included air combat, air control and air-to-ground combat support training in designated areas on Okinawa and Ie Shima; Nautical Swimmer 95-2 and Nautical Artist 95-2, naval air and surface exercises intended to improve interoperability between forces of the United States and friendly Persian Gulf nations; Beacon Flash 95-1, a combined naval tactical air exercise to improve readiness with friendly Persian Gulf nations; Eager Archer 95-1, an air training exercise between units of CVW 2 and Kuwait that provided dissimilar air combat training, formal joint strike training and in-flight refueling training for the Kuwaiti air force; and Sharem 110, a United States anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training exercise in the Gulf of Oman involving several battle group units. The battle group also conducted exercises with units of the Royal Australian Navy off the coast of western Australia. Kinkaid made its seventh deployment and supported the battle group by performing the anti-submarine warfare mission
Kinkaid underwent a period of overhaul in June 1995. As a result of a reorganization of the Pacific Fleet's surface ships into six core battle groups and eight destroyer squadrons, Kinkaid was reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 21. The reorganization was scheduled to have been completed by 1 October 1995, with homeport changes to be completed within the next year.
In mid-1997, as part of the Nimitz carrier battle group, Kinkaid took part in Pacific Joint Task Force Exercise 97-2 (JTFEX 97-2). The exercise was conducted off the coast of southern California and also included units from the Air Force, Army and Japan. Nimitz, from 20 July through 24 July, then conducted a warfighting demonstration called Surge Exercise (SURGEX), during which it demonstrated the firepower of the carrier/airwing team and its ability to sustain continuous operations in support of forces ashore in the initial four days of a conflict when a deployed carrier might be the only asset available to provide such support. During the exercise, Comstock, Kinkaid and Ford practiced maritime interception operations. Kinkaid also escorted the civilian merchant ship Viking Serenade through the simulated "war zone".
Kinkaid then deployed as part of the Nimitz carrier battle group. After Western Pacific visits in Yokosuka, Japan, and Hong Kong, a planned visit to Singapore was canceled when Iraq violated a United Nations imposed "no fly" zone. With Nimitz directed to proceed to the region immediately to reinforce Operation Southern Watch operations, Kinkaid arrived in the Persian Gulf on 12 October after transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
During Nimitz's deployment in the Persian Gulf, Kinkaid was accused by Iran of spying on its military exercises. Kinkaid was, however, in port in Bahrain at the purported time Iran claimed the spying was taking place.
Kinkaid returned on 28 February 1998, from a six-month Persian Gulf deployment. During the deployment Kinkaid served as Tomahawk ready strike platform, helped enforce the no-fly zone in Southern Iraq and conducted maritime interception operations.
Kinkaid was part of the Constellation carrier battle group, as Constellation officially relieved Theodore Roosevelt in the Persian Gulf in September 1999. The Constellation carrier battle group then spent the next 10 weeks in the Persian Gulf and conducted maritime interception operation boardings as well as flew combat air patrols over the Iraqi no-fly zones in support of Operation Southern Watch. During the period, Kinkaid rescued the merchant vessel Sima Star, a container ship, from sinking 70 miles (110 km) off the coast of Bahrain after taking on over 40 tons of water. Kinkaid sailors dewatered the fully loaded container ship, which was listing 15 degrees to the port side. After seven hours of battling poor ventilation and flooding below decks, Kinkaid's rescue and assistance team was able to return the Sima Star to a five-degree list, allowing its crew to sail into Bahrain the following Monday morning for repairs. Kinkaid returned home on 17 December 1999, after a six-months deployment. During its 10-week patrol in the Persian Gulf region, the Constellation carrier battle group flew more than 5,000 casualty-free sorties, including nearly 1,300 in support of Operation Southern Watch. These flights included nine separate combat strikes and more than 43 tons of ordnance expended on various Iraqi air defense sites in response to Iraqi aggression against coalition aircraft.
Kinkaid began, on 15 March 2001, a scheduled six-month 2001 Western Pacific (WestPac) deployment while attached to the Constellation carrier battle group (CVBG) and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The entire battle group had trained the previous six months in preparation for this deployment through a series of increasingly challenging exercises and operations. These pre-deployment exercises culminated in February 2001 with the successful completion of Joint Task Force Exercise 01-1. Over the following six months, battle group ships conducted multi-national and joint operations with the navies of various allied countries and visit ports in Western Pacific and Persian Gulf nations. The ships and squadrons were scheduled to return home in September.
The United States Navy Surface Force was scheduled to begin, in the summer of 2002, an initiative to test the effectiveness of deploying a single ship for 18-months while swapping out crews at six-month intervals. Called Sea Swap, this initial two-phased initiative would involve three Spruance-class destroyers (DDs)—Fletcher, Kinkaid and Oldendorf, and three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (DDGs)—Higgins, John Paul Jones, and Benfold. For the DD phase, Fletcher and her crew would deploy with their battle group this summer, but after six months, only the crew would return. The ship would remain deployed and be manned by the crew from Kinkaid. After completing their training cycle and decommissioning Kinkaid, these sailors would fly to a port in either Australia or Singapore to assume ownership of Fletcher and steam her back on-station. After six months, they would be replaced by the crew from Oldendorf who would have completed the same training and decommissioning schedule with their ship before flying out to relieve the Kinkaid crew. After four more months on station, the Oldendorf crew would then bring Fletcher back to the United States where it too would be decommissioned. Additionally, by executing this plan, the Navy would be able to eliminate the deployment of Paul F. Foster because the additional on-station time generated by swapping out the crews meant a ship would already be in theater meeting that requirement.
Kinkaid was decommissioned 7 January 2003 and placed at Pearl Harbor NISMF. Kinkaid was stricken 6 April 2004 and sunk during RIMPAC 2004 exercise as a target 14 July 2004 in the Pacific Ocean at 22°55′13.5″N 159°59′40.5″W in 2,548 fathoms (15,288 feet; 4,660 meters) of water.
Info from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kinkaid
Name:USS Kinkaid
Namesake:Thomas C. Kinkaid
Ordered:1 June 1970
Builder:Ingalls Shipbuilding
Laid down:19 April 1973
Launched:25 May 1974
Acquired:1 June 1976
Commissioned:10 July 1976
Decommissioned:7 January 2003
In service:1976
Out of service:2003
Struck:6 April 2004
Motto:"Steadfast and True"
Nickname(s):Kinky-D
Fate:Sunk as a target 14 July 2004
Class and type:Spruance-class destroyer
Displacement:8,040 (long) tons full load
Length:529 ft (161 m) waterline; 563 ft (172 m) overall
Beam:55 ft (16.8 m)
Draft:29 ft (8.8 m)
Propulsion:4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 80,000 shp (60 MW)
Speed:32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph)
Range:
6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
3,300 nautical miles (6,100 km; 3,800 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement:19 officers, 315 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems:
AN/SPS-40 air search radar
AN/SPG-60 fire control radar
AN/SPS-55 surface search radar
AN/SPQ-9 gun fire control radar
Mk 23 TAS automatic detection and tracking radar
AN/SPS-65 Missile fire control radar
AN/SQS-53 bow mounted Active sonar
AN/SQR-19 TACTAS towed array Passive sonar
Naval Tactical Data System
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System
AN/SLQ-25 Nixie Torpedo Countermeasures
Mark 36 SRBOC Decoy Launching System
AN/SLQ-49 Inflatable Decoys
Armament:
2 x 5 in (127 mm) 54 calibre Mark 45 dual purpose guns
2 x 20 mm Phalanx CIWS Mark 15 guns
1 x 8 cell ASROC launcher (removed)
1 x 8 cell NATO Sea Sparrow Mark 29 missile launcher
2 x quadruple Harpoon missile canisters
2 x Mark 32 triple 12.75 in (324 mm) torpedo tubes (Mk 46 torpedoes)
1 x 61 cell Mk 41 VLS launcher for Tomahawk missiles
Aircraft carried:2 x Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters.
While Teridax is known for a thousand contingencies, the other Makuta still have plenty of tricks up their sleeves. The Niazesk was designed by Chirox to act as a decoy, using an illusory power to appear as Chirox, before undergoing a horrific "transformation". With virulent poison and an electrifying touch, it is a powerful foe, and even has a telepathic connection to Chirox so he can continue to speak and taunt through the Niazesk's mouth. The Niazesk remains in stasis, ready to be released if the need arises.
Pictured are personnel from 34 Squadron, The Royal Air Force Regiment based at RAF Leeming, undertaking Live Firing Tactical Training at the Otterburn Training Area.
This training formed part of the Contingency Operating Training for the Joint Expeditionary Force.
With a strength of 164 personnel, including specialist engineering and support staff, the Squadron’s firepower is provided by a wide range of infantry weapons including sniper rifles, general purpose machine guns and light and medium mortars.
Fully air portable, the Squadron’s cross-country mobility is provided by a variety of off road platforms battlefield communications systems and a highly effective range of surveillance and night observation equipment which help complete 34 Squadron’s inventory to make it a flexible and powerful force capable of deploying anywhere in the world to defend British air assets or to take part in wider military action.
-------------------------------------------------------
© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: SAC Phil Dye
Image 45159231.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
Use of this image is subject to the terms and conditions of the MoD News Licence at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/20121001_Crown_copyrigh...
For latest news visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Follow us:
Mission from the Halo Reach Campaign.
Whoever can spot the trans - clear knife gets a walnut.
I kind of rushed in adding some things like tiliing but I wanted to upload this before I go somewhere
CORAL SEA (July 26, 2017) A Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) fires MK 244 20mm rounds during a live-fire exercise aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), is operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance partnerships and be a ready-response force for any type of contingency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Gavin Shields/Released)
// A small squad of trained PMC Operatives invade a factory that is said to be controlled by a Russian drug lord named "Reznov". The factory is in the middle of nowhere where it's freezing cold and snowstorms rush in constantly. A fellow PMC Operative busts in to a room and takes out a Soldier. "What are Russian soldiers doing here?" Says Connors. He then checks the perimeter, It's clear. The 5-Man squad rushes into the room but alert. They sprint through the aisles of the facility and breach the door. They look through the smashed wall and see Hundreds of workers in sections what looks like nuclear mortar of some sort. "This is Capt. Ryan! We need emergency back up, Immediately!" "Copy that, This is Sarg. Nicks. We're sending a Chopper to your location. //
Hey Guys,
Just a little story and MOC I've been making today with a Bricklink order I had. IF FAVE PLEASE COMMENT. Inspired by CoD: Black Ops.
~Nicco
===Before===
“In other news, Arkham City’s Stryker Task Force made ten more arrests this morning. The controversial private contractors, headed by Priscilla Stryker, have been under fire for their increasingly heavy-handed methods-”
Jervis Tetch let out a high-pitched giggle, taking a loud slurp of Earl Grey tea, his favourite.
Placing the cup and saucer back down, he finished setting the table; placing several tiered stands onto the patchwork tablecloth; a selection of homemade scones, cakes and cucumber sandwiches placed atop each one. He wrapped his gnarled fingernails around the remote control and turned off the wall-mounted TV. Then, he stuck his pinkie fingers in his mouth and whistled at his two guests.
The man, dressed in a white suit and jacket, rolled his eyes, and walked forward, his arm around the woman’s waist.
As they approached the table, Tetch greeted them with a poem.
“The White Mask and The Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
If this were only cleared away,’
They said, it would be grand!’
If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,’ the White Mask said,
That they could get it clear?’
I doubt it,’ said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.”
“That’s enough, little man,” Franco scowled. “Sionis wants his next shipment moved pronto. That Arkham strike force is already coming down on us, hard, as is. The boss can’t risk them stumbling on these warehouses.”
Tetch chuckled dismissively, pouring himself a fresh cup of tea. “Silly silly, Franco. He’s caught in such a daze. Little does the madman know, he’s but a passing craze.”
At this, Franco grabbed the teapot mid-pour, allowing Tetch’s cup of Earl Grey to overflow into the saucer. “I said, midget-” he began.
“I heard you sir. I heard your pleas, I heard you loud and clear. But don’t you fret my bossy friend, our time is drawing near.”
Franco relaxed, relinquishing his grip on the teapot. “Sure. Whatever you say, freak. Sooner this partnership’s at an end, the better.”
“Quite so, Mr Franco. Now there I do agree. For Wonderland is calling me, and there I’ll promptly flee.”
Suddenly, the double doors swung open and a pale man in a red shirt and blue waistcoat entered the room.
“Mr White,” Franco spluttered. It was rare that any of the bosses graced him with their presence, let alone The Great White Shark. Before he could welcome him with a patronising remark, White interrupted him:
“Those Stryker pigs nabbed the boss. They’re taking him to Arkham with the other freaks.”
The room was silent at first, save for the trickling sounds of Tetch returning the excess tea from his saucer back into the teapot.
“What does this mean for... this?” Franco asked at last.
White shrugged dispassionately. “Nada. Squat. We knew this was gonna happen, and we’ve got contingencies for it. The boss may be stuck in there, but so are our competitors. That means we can push our product, without Penguin or Dent’s interference. ‘Least on this side of the bars,” White smirked, running his tongue across his pointed teeth.
“Competitors? I thought Penguin was into arms dealing. You really think he’s going to muscle in on our racket?”
“I don’t know,” White admitted. “But Cobblepot has that Scarecrow freak working on something; a chemical, a drug, that’s the rumour. Either way, our operation remains the same. There’s a factory on the inside, production’s a non-issue; the boss has that quilted quack running things, keeping the other junkies in line. It’s distribution that’s a problem. We need to keep a low profile. Don’t want the strike force, or worse, the Bat, disrupting our supply chain. We’ve got the Terrible Trio on call for the moment, but those furries are hardly low-key…” he trailed off, taking note of the woman at Franco’s side, recognising her as The Carpenter.
“You, the girlfriend,” he clicked his tongue, pointing a pale finger at Jenna.
“That’s not necessary, man-” Franco interjected.
White ignored him. “You do a lot of commission work, don’t you? That kind of “Pimp my Ride,” interior decorator type-shit? You got anyone on the old rolodex that you reckon could help us out?
“I dunno,” Jenna shrugged. “Most of my clients aren’t exactly low-profile.”
“Oh, I can imagine, I’ve seen your portfolio. That giant typewriter of Nygma’s? Brilliant,” White chuckled. “Still, you got an Invisible Man or Woman on there? Someone incognito, but not Incognito, because, well, he’s dead.” A shot in the dark.
“I might actually,” Jenna spoke. “You ever hear about Lloyd Ventrix?”
==The Iceberg Lounge==
Cobblepot greeted Sionis at the entrance to the lounge. Warren White stood beside them, picking a scab at the base of his elbow distractedly. “Ah, Roman, you made it, excellent!” Cobblepot addressed him, holding his arms out wide to hug the newest arrival. Black Mask rejected the hug, seeing through the Mayor’s obvious attempts to patronise him.
“Where is he?” Sionis asked grimly, his eyes drawn to the umbrella in Cobblepot’s hand, aware of the hidden firing mechanism within.
“Please, sit. We have a superb selection of wines this evening,” Cobblepot said dismissively, waving a flipper in the direction of the seating area. “Our catch of the day is red snapper, and we had a shipment of Atlantic scallops delivered this morning-”
“Oh, don’t worry, I won’t be staying long.” Sionis growled, as he nudged past Cobblepot and pushed the door open.
Gaige was sitting in the center of the room, his feet rested up on the table, a glass of red wine by his side. Gone was the muted blue business suit he had worn as The Physician, instead he sported a bright tiger-skin jacket and an accompanying red headscarf. There was one other occupant in the room, sat hidden at the bar.
Sionis drew his gun and aimed it at Gaige’s forehead. “The ‘Physician,’” he inhaled. “How stupid do you think I am?”
Gaige cocked his head to one side. “Do you want a rounded estimate?”
The Great White grinned at the joke appreciatively, then reached into his own holster. “You made a mistake coming here,” he informed the Tiger Shark.
“Oh, no mistake, Warren.” Gaige swirled the red liquid around in his glass and licked the glass’ rim with his forked tongue. “A secret brother,” he addressed Sionis, dabbing his mouth with his napkin. “Is that why you thought daddy didn’t love you?”
Sionis’ gun stayed raised. White used his free hand to muffle his laughter.
“Roman, Warren, hear the man out,” Cobblepot defended Gaige. “I think you will find what he has to say very… illuminating.”
“Illuminating,” Sionis repeated, as he slid into the chair opposite Gaige’s. “This’ll be good.”
Gaige took a bite out of a chocolate chip cookie and made a rare rumble of approval. “Did you really think that I would settle for being Franco’s right hand? Do you know what he uses it for? As it turns out,” Gaige smirked, “Our beloved Mayor is actually rather comfortable with his new position. And the last thing he wants is a... change of management.”
“Franco and Ferris,” Sionis presumed.
Gaige nodded. "I admit, I was happy to play along, at first; Franco for all his faults, did get me out of prison, and I won’t deny that I was tempted to get revenge on you... But then... Well, let’s say that my situation has changed somewhat."
Sionis and White exchanged puzzled looks.
“You see, recently, I was given a responsibility. Four, actually: Children, of various ages, genders and, ah, sizes. And I intend to give them the best life I can give them. I owe it to them. I owe it to their father. And I owe it to my daughter.”
“Cute.”
Gaige smirked. "I’m not asking for much,” he explained. “I’d like my turf back. Dixon Docks. Port Adams. Oh, and of course whatever territory you offered Ferris to get him back to Gotham.”
“And if I refuse-?” Sionis’ eyes glinted.
“Well, you won’t, because that would be incredibly short-sighted of you. Not to mention fucking stupid. Two of your lieutenants just tried to stage a coup, how many of their soldiers do you think they recruited? You really think you'll survive another gang war?"
"Do you?"
"I wouldn't bet against me.” Gaige snapped his fingers, and the scruffy man at the bar rose from the stool, an old oil lamp in his hand. Ratcatcher.
Penguin, shot his umbrella in the air. “Enough; you always were children, the lot of you... We can keep sacrificing guns and manpower bickering among ourselves in another bitter power struggle if that’s what you want. But it doesn’t matter who wears the crown so long as there’s a city of so-called vigilantes outside these windows. We’ve lost sight of things- we can divide the city among ourselves, yes, but we can’t do anything whilst there’s still a bat infestation.”
“Eh, but a gang war sounds more fun,” Sionis spoke, as his skull-like features formed a smile.
Just then, there was a light, polite chapping on the door, and a pale man entered the room.
“What the blazes is it now, Ogilvy?” Penguin snapped.
“Sorry sirs,” the man apologised. “But you wanted to be kept in the loop about Franco.”
==Sionis Warehouse: South Gotham==
Roman Sionis had several warehouses scattered around Gotham City, each one serving as a front for The False Face Society's illegal activities. His headquarters, the north steel mill, was destroyed during the Arkham City earthquake. The east warehouse was burned down by The Black Spider six years ago. This one, located in South Gotham, was once used as the mob's armoury: housing several crates full of guns and ammunition.
Franco was aiming a rifle out of the window: He was wearing a Kevlar vest over his lilac shirt, having discarded the tie and jacket. His Ivory mask was resting on the opened rifle case. As he peered down the scope, he frowned. A man was walking towards them, their hands raised in the air in surrender. Their face was illuminated by a small lamp wrapped around their hatband. The light bounced off the man’s black-rimmed glasses, but their silhouette was unmistakable.
Franco lowered the gun. "That's not Lynns."
~-~
Franco escorted Li into the main loading bay, his rifle aimed at his back. As they came to a halt, Li raised his arms out in front of him, allowing Franco to search his person without any resistance.
“Who else is here?” Franco asked, retrieving a small pistol from Li’s tweed jacket with his free hand, and emptying the chamber’s contents onto the warehouse floor.
“Just me,” Li replied, as Franco flicked through his leather-bound notebook, trying to figure out how much he knew.
Ferris stepped into the light. He wore a Kevlar vest, same as Franco, and held a .12 Gauge shotgun in one hand. “Would you relax?” he scolded Franco, slapping him across the back. “Go keep a look-out for that chopper. I got this.”
“But-”
“Go,” Ferris repeated, holding the gun up by the stock.
Franco looked like he was going to argue, but obliged, sulking as he climbed up the ladder and returned to his look-out post in the rafters. Ferris looked over his shoulder, his beady eyes trained on Franco.
“How long have you been working against Roman?” Li asked.
Ferris turned his head back, indulging Bookworm. “Roman? He's Roman now, is he? Since before he ‘kindly’ lifted my exile... Since I saw his true face. Franco’s young and easy to mould; he’ll follow anyone who’ll get him on top. All I had to do was wait until he forced Sionis’ hand. The blood tests were smart, Tiger Shark’s idea, I guess. His kind are crafty, I’ll give them that much...
To his credit, it worked. Sionis, worried about a young rival to his throne, was all too eager to lift my exile and bring me home.”
“Is that why you gave Calendar Man the security codes to the building?” Li inquired.
“Hah. Well, aren’t you the little detective?” Ferris chuckled.
~-~
Joey Rigger opened the metal hatch, poking his head out from under the floor. The passage exit was unguarded, which meant that, true to his word, Li was keeping the mobsters distracted. Good. He climbed up onto the loading dock, followed by Needham, the pair making sure to close the hatch behind them.
"Jenna?" Joey called out. "Jenna? You here?" he asked again, taking a cautious step forward. Behind him, Needham stood stiff as a board; his eyes fixed on Ferris. Joey peered around the corner, noting the foreman’s office on the first floor, a single lamp illuminating Jenna’s handcuffed silhouette. She was alive, thank God. As he turned back, Joey’s relieved smile turned to a frown: Needham was gone.
"Eric?"
~-~
Li straightened his glasses. “There’s still something I don’t quite understand. Why move against Ro- Mr Sionis in the first place?”
Ferris scoffed. “The same reason daddy tried to kick him out of the company. Because I know all about his dirty secret. You. People like you. See, I read those files, I read all about Moxxom, and what Sionis asked him to do to get him reinstated. Trust me, that enabler got what was coming to him. It’s about the only thing Calendar Man got right.
Let’s get one thing straight: I’m no, heh, Francophile, but the mob needs a new leader. A strong leader. And maybe that’s not Franco. But it sure as hell isn’t the Black Mask. I, for one, refuse to take orders from a soft-hearted poof.”
“No one has ever accused Mr Sionis of being soft-hearted,” Li noted.
“No one knew he liked to take it up the ass neither.”
Li took a step forward. “And the East End? What happened there? You wouldn’t have known about Mr Sionis then, surely.”
Needham watched them from the shadows, his jaw clenched, his hand balled-up into a fist. Beneath his bridle, Ferris smirked, thinking back to that time with the same sense of nostalgia as someone reminiscing about their favourite holiday. He was proud of his twisted achievement, and he recounted his confession to Li with a disturbed sense of pride.
“Oh, so you read up on that too, huh? Suppose you would… Nah, that was just a bit of fun. Oh, don’t give me that look! They were degenerates! Junkies! No one was going to miss them! If we got Black Spider, that’d be great! And if we didn’t? Well, we still killed a few dozen darkies.”
~-~
As Franco played with the scope of his rifle, he paused. He heard something: the faint sound of an engine overhead. “Is that the chopper?” he pondered, sticking his head out of the open window: No such luck.
“Hey, Davey,” a man answered him, their voice had a metallic reverb to it, an effect of the yellow and red insect-like mask they wore.
Garfield Lynns was hovering above Franco, dressed in a suit of black and grey armour; metal wings on either side of him kept him airborne, their turbines spitting out clouds of grey smoke. Firefly was here, and he was armed.
“Found my suitcase,” he announced.
Franco eyed the large flamethrower in Lynns’ hand; a bright orange glow was emanating from the barrel, and it was glowing brighter still. Franco’s eyes widened as he realised what was coming next.
“Oh shit!”
Franco instinctively threw himself from the railing, as a massive fireball shot out from the gun, scalding his arms and cheek. Landing on the ground, he reached out towards the ivory mask which had landed on the ground beside him. He turned back to Gar and slid the mask onto his face as though he were challenging him. The fireball and Franco’s resultant fall caught the other party’s attention: Ferris spun his head around to see what was happening; only to be met by Eric Needham, a pistol in his hand. Li covered his head with his arms to protect himself and without hesitation, Needham pulled the trigger; a bullet whizzed through the air and struck Ferris in the forehead.
Ferris fell to the floor; his metal helmet struck the ground with a loud clang, and his shotgun slid across the floor out of reach. Franco looked at Ferris, then at Needham, like a rabbit caught in a car’s headlights, his wide eyes poking out from behind his skull-like mask. He took a fervent glance at Lynns, still hovering above him, and ducked around the corner. Gar’s jetpack buzzed, and he shot off in pursuit of the White Mask.
Still holding his gun, Needham stepped forwards, standing over Ferris’ unmoving figure. He turned to Li; a dissatisfied grimace hidden behind his own mask. “Walk away,” he said coldly.
Li nodded obediently, retrieving his notebook from the crate Franco had left it on. Suddenly, a hand latched onto Needham’s ankle, tripping him over. Needham stumbled backwards, but using his arms to catch himself, he avoided hitting the ground.
“Once a junkie, always a junkie,” his attacker called out, cracking his bruised knuckles. Henry Ferris was back on his feet, with little more than a dent in his helmet.
Making the first move, Ferris rushed forward, headbutting Needham twice in quick succession. In the third attempt, Needham leapt over him, and smashed his head against a pillar instead. The section of stone pillar he struck crumbled under the impact, and a crack formed in his iron mask. Ferris let out a frustrated yell, throwing Needham off him. The next thing he did, was recover his shotgun, and aim it at Needham’s head. Before he could fire however, a voice called to him from the walkway above them.
“Yo, Iron-Hat!” Joey waved at the mobster, goading him. “Hamilton.”
Though hidden behind his mask, Ferris’ cheeks grew red with anger, and he fired off several rounds from his shotgun. Joey smirked, ducking behind the handrail. “The Wiz!”
With Ferris momentarily distracted, Needham was able to dispatch him with a sweeping kick. He webbed the firearm out of Ferris’ hand, and broke the gun over his knee, saluting at Joey gratefully.
~-~
Franco ducked behind a stack of crates, his phone propped between his head and shoulder “Where the hell is that chopper, LaMonica?” he snapped.
“ETA two minutes, boss,” Johnny LaMonica’s easy-going voice answered.
“Yeah?” Franco scoffed. He was trying to slide a magazine into his handgun (The grip of which was adorned with ivory, much like his mask), but his sweaty palms had made the task more difficult than he had anticipated. “What am I supposed to do in the meantime?” he complained.
“I’ve got a few ideas,” Gar replied. As he spoke, his wings tucked themselves into the side of his backpack, lowering him to the ground.
Franco fired his gun at Lynns to stall him, emptying the clip, and then he took off again, heading out through the side door.
“New plan,” he spoke into his phone. “I’m not gonna make it to the roof, land in the parking lot. The one overlooking the bay.”
Bit tight, no, ese?” LaMonica queried.
“Just do it!”
The door was blown off its hinges, as Gar tore through it. Franco reloaded his gun, but this time, Gar shot out a jet of fire at it, overheating it. The gun shot out of Franco’s hand and landed several meters behind him.
“You knew,” Gar spoke disdainfully. “You knew Day would be there. You sent Carson, knowing he would kill anyone who stood between him and Drury. And you… You brought her anyway.”
“And you weren’t even supposed to be there! We would’ve got out without a hitch, and Romy would’ve been dead if you and your misfits hadn’t got involved. So don’t… don’t play the victim card,” Franco scoffed. “There wasn’t anyone in that building that got hurt and didn’t deserve it. Every guest, every guard, villains. All of us. Her included.”
“So? I know she worked for Tetch. Doesn’t matter to me.”
“No, I suppose it wouldn’t. You’re a serial arsonist after all, ‘Firefly.’” Franco sneered. “I mean, didn’t you once incinerate an orphanage?”
“My orphanage,” Lynns clarified. “And it was abandoned.”
“Aside from a few drifters, right? There’s always a couple, you know!” Franco laughed. “Come on, man! What do you have that I don’t?”
“A flamethrower,” Gar said slyly, turning a dial on his weapon.
“I can buy a flamethrower!” he laughed back.
“I can buy a toupee, watch yourself, asshole,” Gar retorted.
Their conversation was cut short: The arrival of Franco’s helicopter was heralded by the rhythm of the chopper’s twin rotors. In the pilot seats were a pair of thugs unfamiliar to Gar but known to Joey and Eric as Harlan Combs and Johnny LaMonica, two crooks who took-over their gear and mantles for a cheap thrill. LaMonica cackled, as he pressed a button on the dashboard, two guns emerged from flaps at either side of the helicopter.
“Oops…” Franco shrugged mockingly. “Sorry, Lynns, looks like my ride’s here.”
“Sorry, ‘Davey.’ But you’re not getting on that chopper.”
~-~
Joey entered the foreman’s office, a cramped room with a damp floor, a stack of old pizza boxes strewn across the desk, a toolbox on the leftmost shelf, and a system of rusted pipes lined along the back wall. Jenna was handcuffed to one such pipe. As she noticed the winged silhouette at the other end of the darkened room, her heart started to beat faster. That feeling, was almost immediately replaced with one of confusion when it became clear who her rescuer was.
“Joey?” Jenna stammered incredulously; her brow furrowed.
“Jenna! We’re getting you out of here,” Joey smiled reassuringly, scanning the room for the key, or at least a lock pick.
“Wait, where’s Gar?” she asked.
“He’s fine, he went after Franco,” Joey informed her.
Their eyes were drawn to the window outside, where it looked like Gar was being pursued by a helicopter the size of a small bus. Joey, turned to Jenna apologetically.
-“I should probably make sure he’s alright.”
-“You should probably make sure he’s alright.”
“Yeah,” Joey nodded. “I’ll… be right back,” he agreed.
“You- You could still uncuff me.,” Jenna sighed, her nostrils flaring.
~-~
Joey shot into action, flying around the side of the black helicopter, twin shooters on his wrists. Combs rose from the co-pilot’s position; his Firebug outfit was noticeably heavier than Joey’s was, possibly to overcompensate for his visual impairments. LaMonica didn’t seem to mind. Since he’d taken a knife to one eye, and a plastic spork to the other, Combs’ effectiveness in the field had decreased dramatically, even with a patch-up courtesy of the illusive Crime Doctor. Taking to the skies, Combs fired a massive blast of napalm in Joey’s direction: Joey rolled to one side, the flames barely singeing the side of his leg. Joey flew higher into the air, in an attempt to bait Combs away from the helicopter. Oblivious to Joey’s intentions, Combs followed after him, continuing their private dogfight.
“You’re nothing, Rigger. Just an undisciplined idiot!” Combs bellowed.
With Combs distracted, Gar flew behind the helicopter, striking the back rotor of the helicopter with one of Drury’s cocoon capsules, gumming up the machinery. A trail of black smoke billowed from the helicopter, with the flames eventually making their way through the fuselage. LaMonica, attempted to bail the doomed ride, firing a black web from his gauntlet. An inferior compound to Needham’s, the web caught fire and the imposter Spider plummeted onto the tarmac road below, where Li was waiting for him.
LaMonica peeled the mask off his face, and sighed. “Listen, man, I didn’t wanna be here, but I didn’t have a choice. I mean, Franco got me out of prison, I had to pay him back, that’s just common courtesy, you know? Surely, we can work something out, right? You dig?”
Emotionlessly, Li reached above his head and lifted his hat: taped to the inside, was a second pistol. He spun the chamber and aimed it at LaMonica’s head.
“Yeah. I ‘dig.’”
Pilotless, the helicopter spun out of control. The rear rotor caught itself across the exterior of the warehouse, tearing through the corrugated metal and windowpanes. On the ground, Franco ducked for cover. Inside the office, a red toolbox crashed to the ground, its contents spilling out by Jenna’s feet. “Jackpot,” she remarked. Looking on either side to ensure no one was watching, Jenna shimmied her body down the pipe until she reached the ground. Still handcuffed, she used her feet to grip the screwdriver, and bring it to her hands. She pushed the screwdriver down into the lock, breaking it open, and rubbed her wrists.
~-~
Momentarily distracted, Combs turned his head back. His mistake. His mouth hung open, but his body had frozen. Petrified in mid-air, he didn't think to manoeuvre out of the way of the helicopter's out of control rotors. The only thing he could do, was hurl one last insult Joey's way.
"Rigger, you son of a who-"
He didn't finish. The helicopter blade had cleaved him in two. His jetpack propelled his body forwards, not stopping until it struck a nearby billboard: An insurance ad of all things.
A quiet splash several yards away denoted the position of Combs' head. It had landed in the harbour. The helicopter’s fuselage rolled through the air and crashed into the side of the warehouse.
Gar and Joey regrouped, approaching the downed helicopter: In the confusion, Franco had escaped, but Gar knew exactly where he was heading.
~-~
Although most of the technology in the facility was outdated, there was one piece of machinery that was still operational: a large, red hydraulic press.
Ferris reached into his jacket lining and slid a pair of brass knuckles over his hands. His punch tore into Needham’s cheek, ripping off a mix of skin and bloodied fabric. With all the strength he had left, Needham grabbed Ferris from behind and slammed his head into the hydraulic press, his skull sandwiched between the ram and base of the device. He webbed the lever, and the device hummed into life. Ferris let out a scream as the pistols started to pump and the ram pushed down onto his iron mask. He swung his arms back and forth wildly, trying to grasp Needham’s clothing. An unpleasant scraping of metal-on-metal echoed through the warehouse, and at last, there was loud crunch. Ferris’ wolf-like faceplate clattered to the ground. He slid free from the machinery and slid onto the floor.
“I… appreciate the face-lift,” he remarked. For the first time in six years, Henry Ferris ran his hands across his exposed face, chuckling. But he couldn’t revel in his freedom for long. Needham grabbed him by the shoulder and rammed the blonde man against the wall.
"Well, what do you know..." Ferris rasped. "You have gone soft."
"No. No, I just want to look into your eyes as I kill you," Needham gritted his teeth, his hold on Ferris tightening. "Why?” he asked. “Dozens dead. My child, my woman dead. Just to draw me out? Just to get a crack at me? I deserve to know why.” He grabbed his knife and pressed it tightly against Ferris' throat. Small droplets of blood trickled down, as the blade broke the skin.
Ferris rolled his eyes. “Oh, sure. Just to get a crack at you.”
Needham released his grip, his eyes widening.
“Look at yourself. You tell me why,” Ferris grunted, his limp body sliding against the wall. “Shame about your pretty, fair-skinned girlfriend... Kaff kaff But she should’ve known better. Dating one a’ youse? Could only end one way.”
“Her body...” he coughed feebly, “Her body was poisoned long before the drugs took her life.”
Needham's fist tightened around the knife, and then he sighed. He’d been down this road before, those men in the False Face Society, The Monarch of Menace… And he thought about what that had cost him. And about how far he had come since that Iceberg Summit. Beneath his mask, Henry Ferris was just a man. A pathetic, disgusting mess of a man, yes. But a man, nonetheless. And no man was worth throwing away all the progress he had made. Not even Ferris.
‘No.’ Needham vowed, dropping his knife as a sign of protest, and turning his back on him.
“Hah,” Ferris chuckled at Needham’s perceived weakness, and reached for the abandoned knife. “Stupid n-”
The knife, clattered to the ground with a pathetic “clang.”
Needham looked back: Ferris was on his feet, clutching his throat with one hand, gurgling blood. Between his bloody fingers was a silver blade, protruding from his neck. For a few seconds, Ferris remained upright, swaying from side to side, and then he joined the knife on the ground. For several more minutes, Ferris spasmed on the floor, coughing, spluttering, wheezing; blood dripped from either side of his mouth, painting his face with a scarlet scowl. And with a final gasp, he rolled onto his stomach, dead, face-down in a pool of his own blood.
With the toe of his shoe, Needham kicked Ferris’ body onto its’ back and knelt beside it. It was only upon closer inspection that he realised the projectile was not a throwing knife, but instead the broken end of a katana. He looked up to see where it had been thrown from and made eye contact with Joey Rigger, stood at the other side of the warehouse. He was holding his mask in one hand, his face pale. His other hand was held above his head, which was where it had stayed since he threw the katana moments before.
~-~
The office door swung open, as Franco staggered inside. He looked at the scattered tools along the ground, then at Jenna, and rushed forwards. She struck first.
Franco recoiled, as she plunged a pair of rusty pliers into his collarbone. He dug the tools out, and placed his hand against the wound. “Bitch!” he yelled instinctively, slapping her across the face, knocking her to the ground.
Gar burst through the window above them, flames spitting from the end of his flamethrower. Franco, grabbed Jenna’s arm and dragged her onto the walkway. The warehouse was burning; the crash had caused some damage, yes, but much of the destruction was caused by the Firefly. Behind his mask, Gar’s pupils dilated, and as the flames danced around him, he cackled, blasting a jet of fire at Franco.
Jenna, was hit by one of the flames, marking her right arm. Gar’s lip twitched, the manic expression faded from his face as he dropped the flamethrower and flew over to her side. A large red mark ran down her right arm. She winced as he ran his finger over it.
“I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...” he apologised. “I shouldn’t- I couldn’t-“
Drury’s words echoed in Jenna’s head: ”Garfield Lynns, at his best, is a fiercely loyal, brave, gentle man. At his worst, he’s Firefly. And Firefly could burn us all down. If you can live with that, cool- good luck, hope you’ve got a lot of concealer. But if you can’t, you better let him down easy, or hell mend you. He doesn’t need protection. Never has.”
“It’s ok,” she nodded. “I’m ok.”
Gar nodded back. “Jenna, listen, I know he is, was, your boyfriend-”
“It doesn’t matter,” she spoke. “He’s bloody barmy.”
Franco attacked from behind, wrapping a chain around Gar's throat, and pulling him back. Gar broke free, so Franco lifted the chain above his head, spinning it like a cowboy with a lasso. The metal chain struck Gar's helmet, cracking the red lens, exposing his grey iris. Franco threw the chain again; striking Gar's back; the jetpack was damaged. Gar let out a guttural scream, and tackled Franco off the railing, the two of them landing on the warehouse floor below. As Jenna ran down the stairs after them, her eyes were drawn to a large sledgehammer, propped against the wall. As she lifted the sledgehammer, her knees buckled slightly under the weight, her body shaking as she levelled the hammer. Franco rose to his feet first, followed by Gar. He stepped back towards the hydraulic press, tripping over Ferris’ metal faceplate. Incensed, he grabbed the knife and swung it towards Lynns. Gar backed away, getting a nick across his torso. As Franco swung at him again, Gar ducked. He slashed the wires instead and jumped back, choking as oil splashed across his mask.
Gar lunged forward and punched Franco. His Mask's jaw was dislocated by the impact, hanging loose like a particularly gormless skeleton. Franco clicked the ivory jaw back into place and jabbed the knife forwards, stabbing Gar in the gut. Gar, toppled over.
"For years I worked for Richard Sionis!” Franco bellowed, waving the knife in Gar’s face. “Years! I came from nothing, I had nothing! But I worked hard, did everything he asked, and he damn well knew it! I was going to rule Gotham! He had the paperwork; he was going to hand over Janus; everything was just like it should've been! Then Romy murdered him. His wife too. Made his debut as the Black Mask shortly after and burned any and all documents relating to his old man's wishes. Kept me around as a pity case, but he never respected me. Every Sionis billboard, every Janus ad, those should've been mine!"
Before he could finish Gar off, Jenna swung the hammer forward. As it contacted Franco’s knee, a sickening crunch filled the air as his kneecap fractured. Franco let out a high-pitched scream, as his leg went limp.
“You wanna be Roman Sionis?” Gar panted. “Fine by me!” he yelled, as he kicked Franco into the flames. Franco howled as the flames swallowed him, as his ivory mask burned and fused to his skin, but he wasn’t finished: Franco emerged from the flames; his head on fire; resembling a ghostly rider. Jenna swung the hammer again, striking Franco's skull; his head cracked open; a mix of ivory and bone fragments hit the floor, followed by his body.
The impact killed him instantly.
Jenna's face wobbled, tears fell down her face, and she dropped the sledgehammer to the floor. Suddenly, she hugged Gar, burying her face in his chest. Hesitant at first, Gar placed his arms around her back, and held her tight.
The sun rises prior to the departure of deploying Airmen Sept. 8, 2015, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The Airmen departed in support of contingency operations in the Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Harry Brexel)
In the waning days of the Clone Wars, a secret contingency order known as “Order 66” was initiated by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Darth Sidious), commanding all clone commanders of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) to use lethal force and execute their jedi generals with no hesitation. This would be the start of what eventually would be known as “The Great Jedi Purge.”
Deep in the thick, of the jungles of Kashyyyk, Quinlan Vos sits perched in a tree, in hiding, as his clone pursuers led by Clone Commander Faie are tracking his whereabouts. After a failed attempt to kill the jedi, the moment order 66 was initiated. Eventually Faie had tracked down Vos and threatened to call in an air strike on himself, Vos and the neighbouring Wookie village. Vos then realized that he could not run and hide. His destiny was to defeat Faie and protect the innocent wookies. Vos then readied himself as Faie approached and jumped from his perch, with his lightsaber in hand. Hoping to ambush the clone commander….
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This MOC is my entry into BXCustoms "Order 66 Contest" I sadly do not own issue #83 or any Star Wars: Republic series comics by Dark Horse Comics. So this scene was created using information I was able to gather and my own input.
As always feedback appreciated! :)
457th Files Activated…
/./ Searching Query “Bakura, CT-1194”
/./ Matches Found
/./ Three Months after Contingency Order 37 Issued
/./ Activating Dispatch by Col. C/S-2888 “Firebolt”
/./
/./ “Voice log No. 201119. Five Months into siege of Bakura.
/./
/./ “Bakura has gone to hell. Our 457th blockade left with the assault on Kessel and our forces were stretched thin. Rancor squad and I remained behind, along with fifteen battalions of forces freshly cloned, the 713th corps. The 713th was sent to battle the remaining CIS presence in the area as well as the growing deep Outer Rim revolts, including the one located here on Bakura. About one month after the issue of Contingency Order 37, CC-5038 reported that Rocc had been killed. Rancor squad was told to stay at Bakura anyway, and I was left as the main commander of Republic forces on Bakura. Soon, however, Rocc popped back up again. The fight was being taken to us now, as Rocc quickly found out how green these new troopers really are. Finally, after several weeks of sneak attacks and ambushes on supply chains, Rocc launched a disemboweling blow. He attacked my personal headquarters, a communications outpost about 200 clicks south of Solis D’aar.
/./
/./ “Rocc killed Clay. Clay thought he could take Rocc, but his Durasteel shield was ripped apart by Rocc’s plasma coil launcher. Angered, Koga jumped from the rooftop to kill Rocc, while Blaine and I stayed behind on the roof. We watched as Koga was killed by Rocc, and the rest of our troops were wiped out as well. Rocc and his men did not see us as we snuck out off the roof, and we escaped on a landspeeder. I underestimated Rocc. He killed half my squad. Because of it. I vow that he will not survive the next time we meet…
/./
/./ End Transmission
__________________________________________________________________________
Well, there you go, there’s my long-awaited continuation of Rocc’s story. Please excuse me for adding you (if you have been added), I just wanted to make sure that people see this. I don’t think many people have really been in the practice of checking my stream too often anymore, considering my inactivity. If you want, go ahead and remove yourself. Please let me know how I did (and remember this is only the second real vig I’ve built in ten months).
Also, today is my birthday! I’m turning 18, so I guess that means I’m an AFOL now!
“APOLLO 11 TRAINING----Suited Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, wearing an Extravehicular Mobility Unit, participates in lunar surface simulation training on April 18, 1969, in Building 9, Manned Spacecraft Center. Armstrong is the prime crew commander of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. Here, he simulates scooping up a lunar surface sample.”
More specifically, Neil is practicing taking a contingency sample. Note also the footpad of the Lunar Module mockup at far left.
“The Contingency Soil Sampler was a device which allowed the astronauts to quickly take a soil sample soon after they stepped onto the lunar surface. The sample was taken to the Lunar Module and stored for ascent to insure that some lunar soil would be returned to Earth even in the event of an emergency that forced early termination of the mission.”
Above at/from, with close-up images:
airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/soil-sampler-contin...
airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/soil-sampler-contin...
Both above credit: Smithsonian NASM website
Fascinating:
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11ContingencySample.html
Credit: ALSJ website
The real thing. Amazing. Note also that Neil does not assume such a dynamic, “lunging” stance, possibly due to the stiffness of his pressurized suit:
www.facebook.com/Apollo-Lunar-Surface-Journal-14660030541...
Credit: Apollo Lunar Surface Journal/YouTube
Credit: Linda Hall Library/Vimeo
Last & definitely least:
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/tools/tools08.jpg
Although the site contains excellent & obscure material, to refer to Neil Armstrong as the “space-suited person” is pathetic…it’s a NASA website. A tradition like no other.
Astronaut Janet L. Kavandi, STS-91 mission specialist, participates in an underwater simulation of a contingency space walk during a training session at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). Kavandi, wearing a training version of the extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) space suit, weighted so as to achieve a neutrally buoyant state in the deep pool of JSC's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), was joined by astronaut Franklin R. Chang-Diaz (out of frame) in the simulation. The NBL is part of JSC's Sonny Carter Training Center, first used by assigned astronauts in 1997.
Credit: NASA
Image Number: S98-03945
Date: March 17, 1998
the Master's TARDIS was lost while he fled the timewar and hid as Yana, but at some point soon after taking him onboard, the Doctor went back and found it, but it was apparently dead.
the Doctor hid the dead TARDIS somewhere inside their TARDIS and hoped the Master would never see it because (1) if it woke up, he might leave and (2) if it stayed dead, that would make him sad and desperate...
but he found it, and sometimes he hides in there, thinking about what his life has become now, trying to make contingency plans.
sometimes he talks to it as if it could still hear him. sometimes he screams and hits the walls, sometimes he cries quietly. sometimes he thinks he feels this silent broken thing starting to come alive, but it's always a false alarm... so far.
(thanks to Kat for part of the ideas...)
Pictured is Dog and its handler from 102 Military Working Dogs Sqn taking part in a live fire exercise on the Sennelager Ranges in Germany.
102 Military Working Dogs (MWD) Squadron are part of 1st Military Working Dog Regiment...The LFTT training not only allows the soldiers to undertake their contingency readiness requirement, but also allows the dogs of the squadron to undertake enhanced battle induction, simulating some of the possible stresses of battle that they could encounter on current or future operations. ..Live firing and movement around the battlefield provides a demanding environment to hone the soldier’s skills, not just for combat but as a dog handler also. ..For the Military Dogs, the experience of live firing and explosions reduces their tendency to be scared by the sounds of weapons firing and explosions allowing them to become calm and controlled in stressful situations...The 1st Military Working Dog Regiment’s mission is to deliver Military Working Dog and Veterinary capability in support of Field Army outputs...Delivering a wide range of Military Working Dog capabilities, the Regiment plays a pivotal role in supporting a number of key activities including; counter insurgency operations, the detection of Improvised Explosive Devices, assistance in the searching of routes, buildings and vehicles, enhancing security and patrolling key installations.
The 1st Military Working Dog Regiment consists of three Regular and two Reserve Military Working Dog Squadrons, comprising 299 Regular soldiers and officers with the ability to surge to a maximum capacity of 384 Military Working Dogs.
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© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: Mr Dominic King
Image 45160270.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
This image is available for high resolution download at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk subject to the terms and conditions of the Open Government License at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/. Search for image number 45160270.jpg
For latest news visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
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In the waning days of the Clone Wars, a secret contingency order known as “Order 66” was initiated by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Darth Sidious), commanding all clone commanders of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) to use lethal force and execute their jedi generals with no hesitation. This would be the start of what eventually would be known as “The Great Jedi Purge.”
Deep in the thick, of the jungles of Kashyyyk, Quinlan Vos sits perched in a tree, in hiding, as his clone pursuers led by Clone Commander Faie are tracking his whereabouts. After a failed attempt to kill the jedi, the moment order 66 was initiated. Eventually Faie had tracked down Vos and threatened to call in an air strike on himself, Vos and the neighbouring Wookie village. Vos then realized that he could not run and hide. His destiny was to defeat Faie and protect the innocent wookies. Vos then readied himself as Faie approached and jumped from his perch, with his lightsaber in hand. Hoping to ambush the clone commander….
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This MOC is my entry into BXCustoms "Order 66 Contest" I sadly do not own issue #83 or any Star Wars: Republic series comics by Dark Horse Comics. So this scene was created using information I was able to gather and my own input.
As always feedback appreciated! :)
In the waning days of the Clone Wars, a secret contingency order known as “Order 66” was initiated by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Darth Sidious), commanding all clone commanders of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) to use lethal force and execute their jedi generals with no hesitation. This would be the start of what eventually would be known as “The Great Jedi Purge.”
Deep in the thick, of the jungles of Kashyyyk, Quinlan Vos sits perched in a tree, in hiding, as his clone pursuers led by Clone Commander Faie are tracking his whereabouts. After a failed attempt to kill the jedi, the moment order 66 was initiated. Eventually Faie had tracked down Vos and threatened to call in an air strike on himself, Vos and the neighbouring Wookie village. Vos then realized that he could not run and hide. His destiny was to defeat Faie and protect the innocent wookies. Vos then readied himself as Faie approached and jumped from his perch, with his lightsaber in hand. Hoping to ambush the clone commander….
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This MOC is my entry into BXCustoms "Order 66 Contest" I sadly do not own issue #83 or any Star Wars: Republic series comics by Dark Horse Comics. So this scene was created using information I was able to gather and my own input.
As always feedback appreciated! :)
Pictured is amember of 34 Squadron, The Royal Air Force Regiment based at RAF Leeming, undertaking Live Firing Tactical Training at the Otterburn Training Area.
Kneeling with the LMG.
This training formed part of the Contingency Operating Training for the Joint Expeditionary Force.
With a strength of 164 personnel, including specialist engineering and support staff, the Squadron’s firepower is provided by a wide range of infantry weapons including sniper rifles, general purpose machine guns and light and medium mortars.
Fully air portable, the Squadron’s cross-country mobility is provided by a variety of off road platforms battlefield communications systems and a highly effective range of surveillance and night observation equipment which help complete 34 Squadron’s inventory to make it a flexible and powerful force capable of deploying anywhere in the world to defend British air assets or to take part in wider military action.
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© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: SAC Phil Dye
Image 45159219.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
Use of this image is subject to the terms and conditions of the MoD News Licence at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/20121001_Crown_copyrigh...
For latest news visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
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Pictured is a member of 34 Squadron RAF Regiment armed with an SA80, undertaking Live Firing Tactical Training at the Otterburn Training Area.
This training formed part of the Contingency Operating Training for the Joint Expeditionary Force.
With a strength of 164 personnel, including specialist engineering and support staff, the Squadron’s firepower is provided by a wide range of infantry weapons including sniper rifles, general purpose machine guns and light and medium mortars.
Fully air portable, the Squadron’s cross-country mobility is provided by a variety of off road platforms battlefield communications systems and a highly effective range of surveillance and night observation equipment which help complete 34 Squadron’s inventory to make it a flexible and powerful force capable of deploying anywhere in the world to defend British air assets or to take part in wider military action.
-------------------------------------------------------
© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: SAC Phil Dye
Image 45159220.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
Use of this image is subject to the terms and conditions of the MoD News Licence at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/20121001_Crown_copyrigh...
For latest news visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Follow us:
surfeit fly hovers near flower. The fly disguises itself as a bee for evolutionary contingencies................
Original photo processed with Photoshop CS2 .......for effect.
"very cute bee with very brave temper" - Olyia Dehaven www.flickr.com/photos/50181507@N08/
Well said , Olyia !!!!!!!!!!!!!
TED: "My 'orse fell an' Nobby an' Ginger's 'orses are still runnin', but Dad got 1st an' 2nd in the Grand National!! So we're off to collect his - I mean OUR - winnins' now!"
I love me some Roseate Spoonbills. Not only are they beautiful, they are really fun to watch. They hang out in noisy, funny, active flocks. And, the are LOUD!
Saw this Spoonbill along with it's pink pack of birds yesterday at High Island where thousands of birds come to do their Spring Fling each year.
Found an amazing website that has info on every bird you could want to look up. Has individual bird info as well as recordings of calls. You can even search by appearance and location.
A Challenger 2 main battle tank (MBT) is pictured during a live firing exercise in Grafenwöhr, Germany.
Exercise BAVARIAN CHARGER was the first of three large contingency operation exercises being undertaken by 20th Armoured Brigade between May – October 2013. Contingency Operations training is known as Hybrid Foundation Training or HFT.
The aim of this exercise was to train the 5 Rifles, The Queens Dragoon Guards (QDG) Battle Groups and 1 Logistic Support Regiment in combined arms manoeuvre.
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© Crown Copyright 2013
Photographer: Cpl Wes Calder RLC
Image 45155718.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
This image is available for high resolution download at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk subject to the terms and conditions of the Open Government License at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/. Search for image number 45155718.jpg
For latest news visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Follow us: