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Rilbur

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  1. Rilbur
    Looks like the answer is 'no' -- though they are planning to release a new one this year.
  2. Rilbur

    Chapter 14

    Rilbur commented on Rilbur's story chapter in Chapter 14

    Sex? Did I actually use the S word? Well, I will next chapter anyway That said, not all of the explosions are going to be happy ones...
  3. Rilbur
    Jared clutched his children close as controlled chaos rampaged across the bridge. It was impossible, it didn't make sense! No one could know they were coming, so how could they have already fired missiles? "CIC is still sorting out the data, updating tactical plot now," someone shouted. "Battle stations, battle stations, all hands to battle stations! Point defense, engage those missiles!" Mathews roared. "What the hell is going on?" "CIC reports that there is a fleet action underway,"
  4. Rilbur

    Chapter 13

    Rilbur commented on Rilbur's story chapter in Chapter 13

    Crown? What crown could I possibly be trying to steal? Actually, I thought this was just a great, nicely dramatic end-point for a block of text, as well as a critical transition point. Either makes a great chapter-end.
  5. Rilbur

    Chapter 13

    Rilbur commented on Rilbur's story chapter in Chapter 13

    Well, it's not like you didn't see the coming a million miles away. I certainly tried to telegraph them!
  6. Rilbur
    "My God, first contact on my watch," Mathews shook his head. "Except, of course, for the minor detail that it is trying to contact you, specifically. Why is that?" he asked Jared. "I have no idea," Jared shook his head in awe. "This is real? It's not a hoax?" "The central computer network is offline, so we can't run a verification scan on the image, but I think it is," someone answered. "No real way to prove it, though." "Can we signal a reply?" Mathews asked. "Damage to the transce
  7. Rilbur
    There is something seriously wrong with that cartoon!
  8. Rilbur
    For reference, I generally just use W3Schools as a starting point, then move out from there. They aren't always 100% accurate, but they're easy to understand and sort through. They're probably best as a reference, but you can use their tutorials to get up to speed fairly quickly as well. WebDesign in a nutshell sounds like a useful book (very useful!), too -- something I might want to add to my shelf someday. Remember, design != coding. I can code a website; design... I'm much weaker at.
  9. Rilbur

    Chapter 12

    Rilbur commented on Rilbur's story chapter in Chapter 12

    There is so little slack to be cut... but then again, they do get some, eventually. You'll see.
  10. Rilbur
    And that right there is the first sign that something isn't just wrong, it's seriously wrong.
  11. Rilbur
    Jared woke up with a groan. While his nanites could control pain, their first priority was to repair actual damage, and unfortunately headaches didn't always mean 'damage' of the sort that could be repaired. Despite the pounding in his head, as he came to he realized he was hot. Very hot. And cramped. The bunk area was small enough at the best of times, but was even worse if you were stupid enough to try and shove a second person into it. But from the feel of the warm, small body shoved u
  12. Rilbur
    I'll bitch slap it down just because it deserves it
  13. Rilbur
    "Sorry sir," the supply officer spread his hands. He'd just finished briefing everyone on the supply situation, which could be summed up with the word 'bad'. Standard sailing rations capable of carrying the crew for about six months could be stretched, but only so far. "It's OK Roger, it's pretty much what I figured," Captain Mathews sighed. Jared fidgeted in his seat, still not sure why he'd been 'invited' to attend the meeting. "Ops, any chance of juicing up the engines?" The operatio
  14. Rilbur
    Chapter Ten “Hey JB,” Mathews said as Jared walked into his day-cabin. The marine who had escorted him there saluted, and then closed the door with himself on the other side. “You wanted to talk?” Jared asked softly. This conversation had been coming for the better part of a week now, and both of them had been avoiding it. Jared had to deal with his sons, and Mathews had to deal with his superiors' less-than-pleased reactions to getting the Federation into a shooting war with the US. So f
  15. Rilbur
    Jared grinned at Mathews. “Loud!” he said over the roar, the instant before it dropped down sharply. “Assault shuttles coming in at maximum burn usually are!” Mathews shouted back as the noise started to rise again. “The fun part is that was just the first half of the wing, doing a combat sweep of the area before landing. What you're hearing now is pure engine noise from the others coming in to a landing. Those things are noisy!” “Combat sweep?” Richardson asked. “Well, I'm sure as a s
  16. Rilbur

    Chapter 7

    Rilbur commented on Rilbur's story chapter in Chapter 7

    That much is a given -- this is a nineteen chapter story now.
  17. Rilbur
    The blotchy surface of the ceiling above them didn't hold any miraculous revelations, but Jared could see beyond it in his mind’s eye to the sea of stars. Space, once called the final frontier. Technically, it still was, but no one bothered to call it that. It just... was. A place of awe, mystery, and wonder. Space. Cold, unforgiving, hostile, and mankind's salvation. Even Jared, mere 'grunt' as he was, knew how important it was. The great asteroid mines overseen by the Federation provi
  18. Rilbur
    Jared was tired of this damned hole in the ground. Damned tired. "General, I'm not asking for permission to move out permanently. I'm asking to take my sons out for a birthday party, a day trip to a local amusement park." "Sergeant, I'd love to give it to you," General Thatcher sighed. "I actually fought tooth and nail with my superiors, but they won't budge. I'm sorry." "The same God-damned 'security concerns' that have kept me locked up in here for the last sixth months?" Jared asked wit
  19. Rilbur
    “So, that's the story,” Jared finished. “You can figure out the rest, you probably know plenty of it. It's just... now that you know...” “Fuck,” Captain Mathers shook his head. “I'm not sure what to make of this. You're right, it changes... it changes everything!” “I hurt him. I hurt him a lot,” Jared said, pain in his voice and unshed tears fogging his eyes. “But... it wasn't all my fault. How else could I have... once my feet were on this road, an act I had no choice in, how else could I
  20. Rilbur
    We can. We don't.
  21. Rilbur
    Perhaps it would help if you posted dates when you posted a dated (in the sense of being new) news article. I thought this was a recent news piece.
  22. Rilbur
    How exactly are those statements comedic? I meant them quite seriously, though someone pointed out that the 2 days without water isn't strictly true -- in extremely hot environments in runs true, but Somalia probably isn't the hottest, dryest environment possible. Despite that, four or five days of no water, with the probable compounding issues of exposure, poor health, and injuries, would still mean almost certain death.
  23. Rilbur
    Jared sighed as he looked at the boxes still left to unpack. Even with most of their prior belongings still contaminated, the sheer amount of stuff to put away was rather awe-inspiring. Moving was never for the faint of heart, and the fact that so many of their belongings remained in their original wrapping was making things slower, not faster. Still, they'd managed to make a considerable dent in the pile of boxes waiting to be put away. “All right boys, I think it's time to knock off for di
  24. Rilbur
    ”Alright guys,” Jared said, smiling for the benefit of his kids. He hated shopping. “The government is paying for us to replace everything we lost at the house. Since we're going to be staying at a government run facility for a while we're on a limited list that allows us to buy,” he pulled the list up on his tablet. “Clothing, personal electronics, entertainment, children's toys, a limited selection of sports equipment, personal supplies and a special 'discretionary' fund for whatever cross
  25. Rilbur
    Then the hostages are dead. No water for two days means dead. The reason I haven't suggested invading and trying to enforce order is because that just won't work. It would take a full-scale invasion, and then an occupation lasting for years. (Look at Iraq and Iran, please). You can kill the current crop of warlords with assassination, sure, but you need to break the cultural landscape that encourages warlords to exist. What prisons? Execution is the only acceptable punishment for piracy.
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