TheInkredibleKaptainKaiju Wrote:Vargas deals with an internal dilemma, while the science team begins the search for Mr. Echo's ace in the hole.

EmperorNorton150 Wrote:Professor Hsepha Taro
Starfleet Academy
San Francisco, United Earth
United Federation of Planets
Starfleet Strategic Review
07.04.2386

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/// SUBSPACE LINK INITIATED - UFP.STRFLT.800593.01 ///

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SUMMARY: The Pakled Crisis of 2380-2381 is by no means recalled as Starfleet’s finest hour. There are no monuments to it at Les Invalides in Paris, no mention of it on the Wall of Remembrance at Starfleet Academy in San Francisco. Terms such as “farcical” or “an embarrassment” are often used to describe the nine chaotic months in which one of the Alpha Quadrant’s most overlooked and least-notable species proved to be an enduring thorn in the side the of Federation, before self-destructing in as abrupt and bizarre a manner as it began. But it is worth taking a more intensive look at the events that brought the Pakleds to the brink of war with the Federation, and how the UFP responded. In both respects, this crisis represents a very useful case study in the enduring aftereffects of the Dominion War on the Alpha Quadrant.

Quote:Oh, and also, I'd suggest you all get ready, because we're coming up on a few timeskips as the Reclamation does it's thing. They should be pretty short, by Transformers standards. Shouldn't be longer than a thousand years or so, maximum.
But it is a big project, so it's going to take a while.

Femdjinn Wrote:Cam pulled his ID out of his computer and turned from his desk. Benni watched him for a moment before her eyes flickered over his office. It was one of only a handful of times she had been in the room, as he was typically bouncing through campus in pursuit of his menagerie of responsibilities.

It was a relatively spartan space, with a tall black filing cabinet squatting in the corner, a spider plant atop it. Several imitation Hoppers – New York Movie, Chop Suey, Manhattan Bridge Loop- on the walls alongside a couple of inert 1920s WCF revolvers. An navy rug with eggshell polka dots was on the floor, a bowl of hard candy sitting on the lip of his standing desk.

Her eyes were drawn to a photo on the desktop. It was a novel thing to see in their day and age; most frames were now digital, accepting memory cards and electronic pictures and videos, people able to swap them as the need or desire arose. This particular photo was unique because it had clearly been printed some time ago. It was fading at the edges and the colors mildly distorted, but overall it appeared to have faired the years well as it sat in its frame of plain dark oak. It depicted two people, an adult and a child.

The child was smiling broadly, exposing a missing tooth as they held aloft a writhing fish at the end of a line. They wore a pink shirt depicting a giraffe, their hair done up in two high pigtails with yellow bows, and their hazel eyes glinting at the camera. The adult seemed a bit too old to be their parent. The long hair that had been tossed into a braid was more grey than blonde, smile lines accenting their lips and creasing the edges of their bog-blue eyes.

Cam must've seen her study, answering her unspoken question as he pulled on his coat. “Me and my aunt. Well, Great Aunt, technically. She practically raised me.”

Ya know, she used to be one of Lord Death's weapons. Back in the day. The only weapons he's ever personally trained, dual wielded.

“Ah.” When Benni didn't add anything else, the man kept talking. She wasn't sure why; they hadn't talked much on the way to the DWMA, aside from his shy attempts to help with her mobility. She'd graciously declined, and hadn't responded to his efforts at conversation. Perhaps this was a nervous habit of his, just now coming to light to kill the tense silence. The woman couldn't imagine why he was nervous. She wasn't angry at him. She wasn't anything at him. “Ya know, she used to be one of Lord Death's weapons. Back in the day. The only weapons he's ever personally trained, dual wielded. They were kids together. He used his body all the time, back then.”

“Right.” Maybe this was his way of filling in the gaps of her knowledge. An unspoken apology to heap on the piles of condolences and regrets he'd layered on her in the previous days. She could admit that this revelation explained how he knew about the old, forgotten, manor. And why he recognized Death before anyone else.

The reaper's mortal appearance was fairly unique. Tall, pale, impossibly dark hair with dual-cast golden eyes hosting little skulls. Benni could only assume even a child would recognize him in a lineup if he was described.

“He’s kinda like my uncle, if you think about it.” Cam kept talking, giving her a hangdog smile as he scratched at his beard. “Guess now you know what a nepo baby I am. Though there’s no favoritism. Family lost touch after my, er, grandmother, died.”

“My condolences.”

“Never knew her. Apparently she died young.”

“Right.” Cam averted his eyes.

“Listen, Dr. Haydel, about what happened-”

“No need,” she interrupted coldly. “You already apologized.”

“Yeah, but it's just, he said he would tell you so I-”

“Your loyalty is to your job. And, I guess, your family,” the witch turned to leave, expecting him to follow. “No shame in that.”

“Dr. Haydel-”

“Please just take me home.”

Yrsillar Wrote:They crossed the main road and strolled down the grassy slope toward the yet undeveloped section of the lakeside. Meng Duyi did not not hesitate to let his feet squish into the dark mud on the shore, to push through the rushes that grew there, and to let the waters lap over his ankles. She followed him, though her steps were lighter, leaving the mud untouched and the water rippling gently under the soles of her boots. Zhengui remained behind them, respectfully… or bashfully? Either way, the mud steamed under his tread, and he did not follow them further onto the lapping waters.

Meng Duyi only stopped when he was knee deep in the waters, planting his sapling-like stick in the mud. He closed his eyes, and breathed deeply. The lake’s qi responded. Moisture in the air was taken in with his breath, cycled through his meridians, and then exhaled, dense with his own qi, a gift freely given to the lake and a greeting all in one. She felt the water ripple in contentment.

"Fortune favors you to find such a calm and kind lake in these harsh lands," the geomancer said. "Even the spring melt is but a lapping ripple to this one in these lands where the ice never vanishes fully."

"I have been most honored that she has accepted us so kindly on these shores and raised bounty from the depths for our benefit," Ling Qi acknowledged. "And so, I want to ensure that she is properly honored in turn."

lilhawkeye3 Wrote:"Hey, this is Danny Johnson. Uh… this number was under the name 'Batdad,' so am I correct in presuming this is Batman?" Sure, he knew Batman was Bruce (or Bruce was Batman, whichever way it went), but just in case it wasn't the right number, Danny didn't want to be hunted down by the Dark Knight of Gotham.

There was a deep sigh on the other end of the phone. "Yes. What do you need, Johnson?"

Danny got straight to the point. "Why was I sent a request for Martian Manhunter?"

"Because you've been able to convince some difficult people that what you're doing is for a good cause."

He rolled his eyes. "You say that like you heroes can't be just as difficult as villains."

"I meant the media," Batman deadpanned.

"Oh."

"Manhunter might be part of the JL, but unfortunately a lot of people are put off just because of his appearance," the other man explained. "If you've managed to create good PR for Bane of all people, you can do it for Manhunter."

"Oh," Danny repeated blankly. "Um… thank you."

"It is what I pay you for," Batman responded dryly.

"As far as I'm concerned, Bruce Wayne signs my paychecks."

Danny would swear until his dying day that he heard Batman chuckle. "Have a good day, Johnson." The phone clicked as he hung up.

(02-11-2025, 10:02 PM)Mamorien Wrote: Then, in Chapter 32 of The Villain Wrangler (DC edition), Danny Johnson becomes The Human Martianhunter.

(02-13-2025, 01:14 AM)Norgarth Wrote: Harry Potter and the Egger Route
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13722721/25/Harry-Potter-and-the-Egger-Route

(02-13-2025, 01:14 AM)Norgarth Wrote: Aegis
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14308612/50/Aegis

(02-13-2025, 06:56 AM)robkelk Wrote:

(02-13-2025, 01:14 AM)Norgarth Wrote: Harry Potter and the Egger Route
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13722721/25/Harry-Potter-and-the-Egger-Route

Despite the name, has nothing to do with climbing the Egger. In fact, it appears to be a Star Wars crossover.