text:
OK, I've never been too fond of Roxy Music. Shame on me. But I thought of giving them a second chance and got For Your Pleasure. I love it! Especially 'Do The Strand', yummySo, to all Roxy specialists here, what should I get next? I've read that Country Life and Avalon are awesome. The latter I know a bit from Bill Murray's rendition of 'More Than This', which is heartwrecking, of course.Also, I love Ferry's Bete Noire, if only for the fantabulous cover art. One of the bestest ever. Is Ferry an OK guy or an asshole?"I don't post here, but i like to come sometimes.."~ sweet Bibi
I'd get the eponymous album and Avalon first. While every one of Roxy's records is worth every penny, those are easily the best ones, along with For your pleasure.Ferry's solo work is much patchier but you can't go wrong with Frantic and Boys and Girls. Also, some of his cover albums are immensely good."This is Arthur, I had sex with him last night."Marc
I only have Avalon. But I don't think that really mirrors the style what Roxy Music really is if I listen to e.g. Velvet Goldmine.Let the cool Goddes rust away.
Well my favourite album is Siren. My claim to fame is that I went to the same University as Bryan Ferry and in fact stayed at the same Halls of residence. You must be hammer unto anvil
I have all the Roxy and Ferry's album.My fav are:- The first Roxy Music album- Siren- Manifesto- Avalon.I really like all the Bryan Ferry's album.----------------------Claude
I'm also a big Roxy Music / Brian Ferry fan, have been for years, as to what to buy? I'd say buy the lot when you can afford it overtime of course, some albums suit the evenings/nightime more imo, yes even the Brian Ferry solo albums are good, enjoy
In reply to: Is Ferry an OK guy or an asshole?
Is Ferry an OK guy or an asshole?
Ferry is most certainly an OK guy, his son is the complete asshole, he's in favour of bloodsports and caused a commotion in our houses of parliament once, getting himself and his wealthy loons arrested and fined, total prat imo London Bye Ta-Ta...
There's at least 3-4 tracks on each of their studio albums that, to the discerning ear, will get on ones tits in some way.Just get a compilation of greatest hits & have done with.FIFA WORLD CUP 2006
Ferry is a weasel. He's just a voice. Any album without Eno in it is crap. Take my word for it.You see, darling...my ass does belong on your face! You just don't know it yet.
In reply to:Ferry is a weasel
Ferry is a weasel
Awwwww, come on. "Slave to love" is a great song.You must be hammer unto anvil


text:
Following committee action on the Senate's version of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) reauthorization bill, S. 2282, Ducks Unlimited is consulting with staff of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY), along with staff of Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (CA) and Ranking Republican Jim Inhofe (OK), to discuss the potential and methods for moving the Senate's NAWCA reauthorization bill forward for floor consideration.
DU's hope is that the bill will either be considered during the relatively brief time the Senate will be in session in September or when the Senate meets between the November election and Christmas. There will be tremendous competition as we near the end of the 112th Congress because hundreds of bills ready for floor action will be competing for precious time on the Senate's calendar and on the floor. Also, with the potential for a six-month continuing resolution beginning in September, NAWCA reauthorization may be placed on hold until March.
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act into law.
First duck stamp, designed by Pulitzer-prize winning editorial cartoonist, Jay N. "Ding" Darling, issued.
Prairie drought peaks.

subset: commoncrawl


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The second annual celebration of real food at Western Oregon University.
ALL DAY: Pumpkins for People- Werner University Center (WUC), Plaza
Donate non-perishable food or money to the WOU Campus Food Pantry on Thursday (Friday if supplies last!) and get a pumpkin just in time for Halloween. Pumpkins donated by Charlie's Produce.
11:00 am – 2:00 pm: Food Day Information Fair-Werner University Center, 2nd Floor
Various vendors and organizations including:
○ Odwalla
○ Portland Roasting Company
○ Charlie's Produce
○ Columbia Gorge Organic
○ WOU Campus Garden
○ WOU Food Pantry
○ Skout Natural Foods
○ Yeasty Beasty
○ Western Compass Fair Trade table
○ WOU Green Team
○ WOU campus recycling demonstration and tips by Dining Services
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Mi Pura Vida Loca: Lessons from the Jungle Kitchen - WUC, Columbia Rm
Misha Peel, Healthy Communities Coordinator for Polk County, shares her food-related experiences learning about sustainable living and agriculture in Costa Rica.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Never Fry Bacon Naked: The Role of Food in Romantic Relationships – WUC, Columbia Room
There are many parallels between food and sex, but people rarely discuss the connection between food and relationships. WOU's Dr. Natalie DeWitt discusses how eating and cooking play a monumental role in developing relationships, and how it stands as a test of relationship potential and longevity. Are you and your sweetie compatible in the kitchen?
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm: "Clean Dinner & a Movie" - Valsetz Dining Hall, Food Court
Clean foods are fruits, vegetables and grains free of chemicals and animal products raised without hormones or antibiotics. Clean foods are not only grown or raised without chemicals but are also picked and prepared at peak freshness.
Diner has à la carte pricing. Meal Plans, Debit/Credit Cards and Cash accepted tenders. Check the Campus Dining Website for menu and pricing.
6:00 pm: FREE Movie: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Valsetz Dining Hall, Mt. Jefferson Room
Watch the film while enjoying a "clean" meal from the Valsetz Dining Hall, Food Court. Check the Campus Dining Website for menu and pricing.
7:30 pm: FREE Caramel Apples - Valsetz Dining Hall, Mt. Jefferson Room
Local apples and caramel sponsored by the WOU Green Team, a student-led organization committed to sustainable practices and recycling in campus residence halls.
Western Oregon University
345 North Monmouth Avenue
Monmouth, OR 97361
United States
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Jackson Stalley is hosting. 2013-09-18 16:56:31 -0400
Jackson Stalley published this page in Find an Event 2013-09-18 16:56:31 -0400


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What: Walk 4 Water
When: Saturday May 17, 9AM
Where: Holliday Park
Why: Awareness for drilling of clean water wells.
To register Click Here
Walk 4 Water Website The Cheyenne Church of Christ, invites you to join us for our annual community-wide Walk4Water. Walk4Water is a 4-mile walk in honor of those around the world who lack access to clean and safe drinking water. Help us reach our goal to fund the drilling of clean water wells in HAITI! Spread the word and come celebrate the gift of clean water with us!
The mission of Healing Hands International is to extend the love of Jesus Christ to a lost and hurting world, allowing God to use our hands to carry out His healing work. We recognize the value of every life and the contribution that each person can make to mankind. Our goal is to empower individuals to improve the quality of life for their families and their communities.
In 1991, Dr. Randy Steger, marketing professor at Lipscomb University, presented a proposal to his students to do a different type of project for the end of the semester. He suggested they seek to meet the mounting needs for medical supplies and equipment in the former Soviet Union and other Eastern European nations. This humanitarian work would utilize the energy and abilities of the students to make a significant difference in the lives of others and the class was ready for the challenge.
They determined to secure three to four suitcases filled with medical supplies and equipment to send overseas with missionaries. They ended up being quite successful. Lipscomb finally had to ask them to leave campus because the donated supplies were taking over the auditorium! The day they packed up to leave campus they were able to fill two tractor trailers with all of the donated items.
Through this urgent need for humanitarian relief the students organized the Healing Hands ministry, which was later incorporated as Healing Hands International in 1993. Since acquiring a 501c3 status in 1996, the Lord has truly blessed this work and HHI has been able to ship to more than 75 countries.
The need has been established. The pipeline of resources has been tapped. What was once an idea has become a tool to provide aid to people suffering throughout the world. Most importantly, this ministry has proven to be an excellent way to give glory to God and bring recognition to the local church.


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JAN 27, 2013 - Detroit Free Press
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Sack-happy defensive end J.J. Watt went out for a couple of passes as a wide receiver, retiring center Jeff Saturday snapped to two Mannings on opposite teams and the NFC blew past the AFC 62-35 in a Pro Bowl that could be the league's last.
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For those who aren't privvy to the Darwin's Soldiers universe but still want to read, all you really need to know is that Dragonstorm is an illegal organization holed out in the forests of Oregon, with branches extending throughout the country. And that Darwin's Soldiers is a mixed anthro-human world.
This story will be updated every other day, alternating with Ship of State.
Hope you enjoy!
<If we have to wait five more minutes, I�m leaving.>
<Protes,> Amphinomus sighed, <this is not a combat situation, and we�re right here. You can just talk.>
<I mean, this is their stupid meeting, and here we�ve had to sit for like ten minutes waiting on them.>
<Is someone thought-speaking to someone else? Why wasn�t I invited?>
<Achates, don�t encourage him.>
<Will the three of ye just be quiet? Ah�m trying to relax here and I cannae do it with yer yappin�!>
Four men and a woman were sitting in an otherwise empty office. All were dressed in identical black uniforms. Amphinomus, the leader, also wore a black wingband. To an outside observer, nothing appeared to be happening, certainly not a full-fledged conversation.
But an outside observer wouldn�t know about the Dragonstorm thought network, a radio connection which worked with cranial chips that could broadcast electronic �thoughts� to one or more people, allowing silent communication.
These five were among the first members of the Dragonstorm organization to receive the chips. Officially the First Dragonstorm Reconnaissance Team, but known better as DS-1, these five were often sent out on missions for Dragonstorm. And, despite what someone listening in on their thought conversation would think, they were a close-knit team who trusted each other completely.
<All right,> said Achates finally, <someone break the ice. Who�s going to speak first?>
<Sounds to me like Achates just volunteered,> Protesilaus, a platypus, cackled.
<Both of you,> Amphinomus sighed again, <please stop thought-conversing.>
<Okay, then, Ampy, you say something,> challenged Achates.
<Yeah,> nodded Protesilaus.
Amphinomus rolled his eyes. <If it�ll get you to shut up.>
A few moments of silence.
<We�re waiting.>
�All right, fine!� snapped Amphinomus, just as Drs. Branston and Zenarchis walked into the room.
�Did you have something to say, commander?� asked Dr. Branston.
�No, sir.� Amphinomus ignored the two stifling laughter next to him.
�All right, then.� The doctors had been followed by a younger Siamese cat, who looked nervously at the other men. �This is your new recruit to DS-1. He was assistant to Dr. Winters and proved himself at scouting. He has been given the codename Dolon.�
The team looked less than thrilled.
�We�ve got another teammate?� complained Protesilaus. �I thought we were pushing it with five!�
�In Cmdr. Amphinomus� report on your failed mission at the Zzyzyx Desert Studies Center, it was made abundantly clear that none of you are adequately specialized in stealth and surveillance! I speak mainly of Camilla knocking over an entire rack of cooking equipment, and you setting off a round of explosives in the middle of the solar panel array you were supposed to be stealing!�
Camilla, a lean jaguar, averted her eyes, but Protesilaus defiantly crossed his arms and glared at Amphinomus.
�For that reason,� Dr. Branston continued, Dolon is now on your team.� He motioned for Dolon to take a seat with the others. �Feel free to introduce yourselves.�
Dolon looked at the short African-American man. �You must be the leader, Amphinomus. I recognize you from the briefing pamphlet.�
Amphinomus nodded.
�We call him Ampy,� offered Achates.
�Like �Ell we do, it�s what you call him!� Hippolytes, a burly Snowshoe Hare, interjected.
�You�re just jealous because your nickname is Hippo.�
Amphinomus introduced the others.
�Camilla is second in command. She�s our medic, and provides backup to whoever needs it.�
The jaguar raised her eyebrows, but otherwise coolly ignored Dolon.
�Achates is the team hacker and technician.�
Achates grinned.
�Protesilaus is the demolitions expert.�
The platypus� expression registered neither positive nor negative feelings towards Dolon.
�And Hippolytes is the sniper.�
�Ah do more�n that!� grunted Hippolytes in protest.
�Yes, well, back to the assignment at hand.� Dr. Branston shuffled some papers. �Since you and several other DS teams have failed to acquire alternate power sources, we are getting desperate for power. The lesser projects have been put on energy rations starting five hours ago, and the most important ones will be likewise in a matter of weeks. As you can tell, this is a serious issue.�
He looked up. �Our current problem deals with SORA Gas & Electric. Are any of you familiar with it?�
�I am,� said Camilla. �It�s an Alaskan-based energy provider and Dragonstorm-controlled affiliate. I�ve been there once.�
�A month ago SORA stopped sending its weekly deliveries, so we sent DS-4 to investigate. That was two weeks ago, and they haven�t checked in yet.�
�Could they be delayed?� asked Amphinomus.
�For two weeks? Commander Turnus has never taken so long. We fear something has happened to the factory, and we can�t afford to lose it, so we�re sending you, our best team. Finds out what has happened to SORA, try to reestablish contact with DS-4, and above all, guarantee our energy supply. Can you do this?�
Amphinomus nodded, then looked at his team. �Yes, sir.�
This post has been edited by LettuceBacon&Tomato on Aug 11 2010, 01:05 PM
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�One team has already gone missing, and energy is currently Priority Number One,� reminded Camilla, offhand. �Sounds pretty important to me.�
�Corporate sabotage is important. A mutiny is important. This is a glorified fetch quest.�
They stood outside the lead car, a polished black van.
�Who�s driving?� asked Dolon, glancing at the front seat.
Protesilaus patted him on the back. �You are,� he smiled, getting into the back seat. The others were getting into the van.
Dolon checked the dashboard. There was an embedded GPS with an electronic map that showed the car�s location and the direction needed to travel to reach the nearest recognized road. Currently, the GPS was requesting an address. �Hey,� asked Dolon, turning around, �What�s the address of the place where-?�
He broke off. Amphinomus and Camilla were locked in a passionate kiss on the back seat.
Camilla caught him staring. �What are you, in high school? Get back to driving!� she snapped, eyes flashing.
Dolon quickly turned around.
Achates, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, leaned over. �Yeah, it�s kinda awkward, we just ignore them.�
Dolon nodded. Achates typed the address into the GPS.
�Ah coulda done it!� piped up Hippolytes. He was wedged between Achates and Dolon, but couldn�t see over the dashboard.
Dolon decided to hazard a question. �Hippolytes, are you a MacLee?�
�Aye, that I am!� bounced Hippolytes proudly. �Stetson MacLee, and a damn good one, too!�
�What�s special about being a MacLee?� asked Achates.
�The MacLee family is famous for producing some of the finest bodyguards in the world,� said Dolon. �Dr. Winters was always complaining that he couldn�t afford to hire one to protect him.�
Achates looked at Hippolytes. �Why aren�t you a bodyguard?�
�Ah was, bu� I got fired.�
�Master insult�d my height, so I killed �im,� Hippolytes said, with a completely straight face. �Nobody would hire me aftar that.�
Achates looked surprised. �I didn�t know any of that.�
�There�s a lot ye don�t know about me!� Hippolytes rounded on Achates. �Wha� about you, eh? Feel like telling me every li�l thing about your?�
�Let�s change the subject,� said Achates. �Dolon, how did you impress Branston with your scouting abilities that he promoted you to DS-1? That�s really hard to do.�
�Dr. Winters has been working on building defense turrets to protect Lab 101�s perimeter, and he�d use me to test them. I�d have to try and get past his turrets into the perimeter, but if they saw me, they�d shoot me with electrified rounds.�
Many hours later, they pulled up at SORA Gas & Electric. It was a small network of warehouses, on an icy shore next to the ocean.
�We�re here,� announced Dolon, looking behind him. The rest of the team had fallen asleep during the long drive.
They piled out of the car and viewed the solemn factory.
This is Dragonstorm�s primary energy provider?� asked Protesilaus incredulously.
�What were you expecting, Pacific Bell?� shot back Camilla. �There aren�t many places that will do business with an illegal organization.�
�Camilla, you�re the only one of us that has been here before,� said Amphinomus. �Does anything seem out of the ordinary?�
Camilla cocked her head. �Well, it is quieter, and less crowded than I expected. That might just be due to the early morning.�
�Nevertheless, weapons on standby. We�re going to try and keep this diplomatic, and on good terms.�
They walked toward the first warehouse. Two armed guards were standing beside the entrance.
<Okay, there were not armed guards last time,> Camilla told the group.
The first guard held up his hand. �Relinquish your weapons,� he ordered.
�We are representatives from Dragonstorm, we just want to speak to the CEO,� explained Amphinomus.
�Relinquish your weapons.�
�We�re on the same side,� protested Amphinomus. �We wouldn�t cause an ally any harm.�
The guard stared silently back.
Amphinomus sighed. <Relinquish your weapons.>
<What? No!> Protesilaus objected. <Screw that!>
<Protes, just do it. I�m the leader here.>
Protesilaus attempted to object, but once everyone else had complied he grudgingly followed suit.
The guards began patting everyone down nevertheless.
�I didn�t have any weapons to begin with!� protested Achates, who was chosen to go first.
The guard withdrew a micropistol from a pouch on his belt.
�I still had that?� said, Achates, amazed, as the guard pocketed it. �I didn�t know I still�how long has that thing been in there?�
Camilla was purring as the other guard started on her. The guard didn�t react, but Dolon looked away.
Two grenades and a knife were confiscated from Protesilaus, who was scowling the entire time.
When they finally were let through, Amphinomus asked, <Did anyone manage to sneak anything through?>
<Are you kidding me?> burst out Protesilaus. <Between Achates acting like a moron and Camilla getting off on it like it was a massage, I�m surprised they didn�t strip-search us.>
<In my defense,> noted Achates, <I completely forgot I had that thing.>
<They got me primary rifle, but Ah still have the disassembled secondary in various pockets,> reported Hippolytes.
<Good,> said Amphinomus. They�d reached the CEO�s door. The name on the door was Gilead Conch. <Hippo, you go in first.>
Hippolytes pushed the door open and looked around cautiously. <No immediate threats.>
The team filed into Conch�s office.
General of the Great Valley
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One question, none of DS-1 are Humans, right?
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Amphinomus: human (I had him as a duck for a while, but he kept doing things a duck couldn't really do, like hold stuff)
Camilla: jaguar
Protesilaus: platypus
Achates: human
Hippolytus: Snowshoe Hare
Dolon: Siamese cat
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The team stood silently for several minutes, trading glances.
Finally, Amphinomus asked tentatively, �Mr. Conch?�
The coral sat there.
�Is that him?� whispered Achates.
�I�guess so.� Amphinomus looked around. He didn�t see anything else.
�Uhhh�how does he�?�
�He doesn�t,� a voice echoed from the shadows of the far corner. A lean dragon in a crisp gray suit appeared. �All dealing and day-to-day transactions go through me.�
The dragon paced coolly around the room, coming to stop beside the block of coral. He struck an imposing glance at the visitors. �You may call me Sir Beys.�
Amphinomus hesitantly made eye contact. �My name is Commander Amphinomus. I�m the leader of DS-1.�
�Go home. We don�t want you here.�
Amphinomus stood his ground. �SORA used to be very cooperative with Dragonstorm, and our relationship has profited both parties. We were curious why you suddenly wanted nothing to do with us.�
�We do not have to rationalize our business decisions,� Sir Beys said simply. �This is your last chance to leave, before I have you escorted from the premises.�
<Can I just shoot him?> asked Protesilaus.
<No! We�re going for peaceful and diplomatic!>
Amphinomus put on a friendly smile to Sir Beys. �Where is DS-4? They visited two weeks ago.�
�They never arrived. Something must have happened en route.�
<You�ve got ten seconds before I shoot him,> informed Protesilaus.
<I thought you were unarmed! And I�m in charge here!> Amphinomus rubbed his temples.
Sir Beys cocked his head to one side. �Something wrong, commander?�
Suddenly someone knocked Amphinomus to the ground. �Look out!� Hippolytes yelled.
An autoturret bolt shot from the darkened corner, obliterating the spot where Amphinomus was just standing.
Hippolytes rolled for cover so that Conch�s desk was between him and the turret. He quickly began piecing together his rifle.
Dolon broke for the exit. Amphinomus saw Sir Beys retreat back into the shadows.
Achates made to follow Dolon, but a burst of fire forced him to retreat back into the room. �Dammit!� he yelled.
Hippolytes was halfway done with his rifle when the turret fired through Mr. Conch and his desk, shattering both to splinters and sending Hippolytes sprawling with a cry.
Camilla rolled and came up beside him, checking his pulse.
Amphinomus glanced at the door. <It�s too late, Camilla! Run!>
The team burst out into the hallway, auto fire on their heels.
�That bastard!� Protesilaus exclaimed. �I knew I shoulda shot him!� He had a pistol out.
�How did you sneak that past the guards?� asked Amphinomus.
�You don�t want to know.�
�Ampy,� Camilla interrupted. �It�s about Hippo. He�s alive. I got a pulse; it�s faint, but there.�
Amphinomus looked back at the closed door. <Hippolytes, can you hear me?>
He received�something. Not actual speech. But it was enough.
�We have to get back in there and rescue Hippo.�
�That auto turret is looking right at the door,� interrupted Achates. �If we so much as turn the handle, it�ll gun as all down.�
�And there are autoturrets in every corner,� mentioned Dolon. �I saw them when gunfire lit up the room.�
Amphinomus thought. �There must be more than one way into the room. Sir Beys needed a way to get in and out without being seen.�
�Even if we find another way in, we can�t take four autoturrets with only one pistol,� reminded Camilla.
�We need technical backup,� agreed Achates.
�No, we need our weapons back so we can kill everybody,� countered Protesilaus.
�You�re all right,� Amphinomus cut in. �Achates, Dolon, attempt to locate the security feed room for this base. Protes, cover them. Camilla and I will attempt to get our weapons back.�
�Why can�t I get our guns back?� whined Protesilaus.
�Because you�re the only one armed right now, and the security feeds are currently our top priority. If we can turn the turrets off rather than fighting them, it�ll make things a lot easier.�
�The security room is in the next building over, top floor,� said Camilla. �I visited it last time.�
�Shouldn�t Camilla cover us?� asked Dolon. �Since she knows where it is?�
Everybody stared at him.
<Camilla always goes with Ampy,> Achates told Dolon privately.
<Oh.> �Uh, never mind then.�
The team split up and went their separate ways.
This post has been edited by LettuceBacon&Tomato on Jul 3 2010, 09:11 PM
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Wait, is that block of coral an actual character? Because coral in the DS'verse is non-anthro.
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Amphinomus and Camilla crept back into the first room. It was a lofty hangar, with several trucks parked in rows.
The guards were facing the other direction, looking out into the barren landscape. A chilling wind wafted through the wind.
<You take the left one, I�ve got the right,> sent Camilla.
Amphinomus nodded. Both crept closer.
Suddenly both guard�s radios beeped. �The Dragonstorm team has escaped. Be on the lookout and shoot on sight.�
Both guards turned around. Amphinomus and Camilla darted for cover, but Camilla tripped over a tool kit on the ground.
The guards opened fire. Camilla rolled for cover.
<Distract them!> she hissed.
<Just do it!>
With his elbow, Amphinomus smashed the side window of the truck he was behind. There was no real reason for him to do this, but it caught their attention.
Gunfire ricocheted past his truck. The antenna was severed, and clattered to the ground next to him. He snatched it up.
He heard the guards split up to circle the car. Leaping up for a second, he stabbed the face of the guard circling around the hood. The guard cried out, clutching his hands to his face.
Amphinomus darted back down, reached his hand through the shattered window, unlocked the door and slipped into the truck. Scrambling to the other side, he flung the door open and caught the wounded guard in the back. He then rolled under the truck. <That long enough for you?>
<Yep.> A truck some ways away suddenly flared to life, and came roaring in his direction. Amphinomus scrambled out of the way just in time as Camilla barreled both trucks into the hapless guards.
Amphinomus got to his feet. �Camilla! Are you okay?�
The door to the less damaged truck swung open, and Camilla smiled out at him. � �Okay�?� She extricated herself from the twisted metal. �It makes me sad we can�t do this more often.� She looked at the smoking wreck. �You know, usually we�celebrate�particularly daring stunts like that.� She flashed her eyes coyly. �There�s no one around��
He shook his head. �There will be soon.� He checked the corpses. �And unfortunately none of the equipment is salvageable. Except�� He dug Achates� minipistol out. �Forty shots. No reloads. But that�s something.�
�If you say so.� She seemed a little miffed that he had rebuked her.
�We�ve got to keep moving; Hippo is dying, remember?� He cocked the minipistol. �I hope the others were more successful then we were.�
* * *
�I told you she should have come with us! We have no clue where we�re going!� Achates griped.
�Technically, I was the one who said that,� reminded Dolon.
�Oh yeah. Well, I was thinking it!�
Achates, Dolon, and Protesilaus were running down the umpteenth hallway, and there was still no sign of a security feed room. There also, thankfully, had not been any personnel.
�All right,� panted Achates finally, coming to a stop once yet another hallway proved to be a dead end. �I say at this point, we break into a room and see if I can find something in the computer database. There must be a map or something in there.�
�What if there�s somebody in the room we pick?�
�We shoot them,� said Protesilaus.
�Or, we pretend we�re totally supposed to be here and ask for directions,� stressed Achates.
Protesilaus nodded. �And then we shoot them.�
Achates walked to the nearest door and tried it. �Locked.� He turned around. �There was an office door propped open a few hallways back. Let�s head in that direction, so we can guarantee that eventually��
Protesilaus kicked the door down.
�You idiot!� snapped Achates. �What if someone heard that?�
Protesilaus cocked his ear. None of the other doors opened. �Guess they didn�t.� He led the way into the room.
It was a generic office. A nice desk with a slightly out-of-date computer. Achates sat down and powered it up. �Give me five minutes.�
Ten minutes later, Protesilaus got impatient. �Hurry up, Achates!�
�Hey, I didn�t ask you to just sit there and do nothing!� Achates snapped back. �Why don�t you check the file cabinets or something?�
Protesilaus grunted and walked out of the room.
Dolon slid the cabinet open and rifled through the papers. After a moment, he noticed something really odd. �These papers are all dated from a couple months ago. There�s nothing recent at all.�
Achates finally found some blue prints. �Here�s something.� He printed the document, and scanned through it. �Hm. Looks like we went too far before ducking into hallways. It actually wasn�t far from our original location.�
�Let�s not tell Camilla about this.� Dolon crossed back into the hallway. �Protes, we�re moving out�� He broke off. �Where�s Protes?�
This post has been edited by LettuceBacon&Tomato on Jul 8 2010, 03:34 AM
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I happen to like Camilla, the classic femme fatale. Hippolytes (Stetson MacLee) is well, interesting (sociopathic is more like it).
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Amphinomus and Camilla were continuing onward. They�d found a locker room and changed into SORA uniforms. �The security room is up ahead,� said Camilla.
They reached it, and peered in. A moose guard was on duty.
<Bathroom ploy?> Eurylochus asked.
Amphinomus nodded. The bathroom ploy was something Camilla and Protesilaus liked to do. He only tolerated it because of its success rate.
Rather than being sneaky, Camilla opened the door and walked right towards the guard. �Excuse me, do you know where the bathroom is?�
The guard started to turn around, but before he did Camilla snapped his neck. She grinned happily as the body hit the floor. �I love doing that. The last thing ever hear is my sweet, sweet voice.�
Amphinomus walked in and sat down. �I wonder why Achates and the others aren�t here yet.�
Camilla sighed. �They�re men. They can never follow directions. I had hoped the new kid at least would have some navigational sense.�
Amphinomus viewed the security cameras. He spotted Conch�s office on one of the monitors. �There it is. Dolon was right; there are two autoturrets guarding both entrances. Once Achates gets here, he can turn them off.�
�Do you see that Sir Beys guy?�
Amphinomus scanned the monitors. �No. He must be avoiding the cameras in case we get a hold of them.�
�Which we did,� Camilla sniffled. �I really want to kill that guy. He seems to be the person responsible for everything that�s happened here. He�s caused much more trouble than he�s worth.�
Amphinomus opened the personnel file. �I�m curious what position Sir Beys actually holds.� He found the first page, and skimmed it quickly. �Not this page. Odd, they�re ranked hierarchically; I assumed he�d be near the top.� He tried to click to the next page, and found that there wasn�t one. �There�s only one page of employees!�
Camilla leaned over. �That�s only about twenty people. What happened to the hundreds of workers that were here when I last visited?�
�And Sir Beys� name isn�t on the roster,� Amphinomus murmured, repeatedly hitting �tab� to guarantee he didn�t miss a link to further pages. �One thing�s for sure; with only 17 workers, SORA Gas & Electric is definitely not providing gas or electricity.�
He suddenly heard a noise behind him. � �Scuse me, where�s the bathroom?�
Camilla replied with a spinning kick which knocked the pistol out of Protesilaus� hand, followed by a judo chop to the forehead. �Don�t attack!� she hissed, �It�s us!�
Protesilaus cradled his head. �Was the second bit necessary?� he groaned, staying on the ground.
�Where are Achates and Dolon?� asked Amphinomus, turning around.
�Ditched �em. They were wasting time.�
�Where? We need Achates here.�
�Dunno. Some hallway. That way.� Protesilaus pointed his thumb in the direction he came from.
Amphinomus swiveled his head to the monitors. �There they are.�
The pair were walking down a hallway. Achates had a printout in his hand, and was leading.
�Where are they going?� asked Camilla. �This security room is the other way.�
�Dunno, but they aren�t alone.� Protesilaus pointed at the adjacent camera. �Look.�
Sir Beys was a hallway behind, creeping silently after the two. He was armed.
This post has been edited by LettuceBacon&Tomato on Jul 16 2010, 06:08 PM
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�I recognize this name,� said Achates. �Kenneth Palin. He was at Lab 101 for a while, so he should be Dragonstorm. Maybe he can explain what was going on.�
They reached Kenneth�s room. Dolon peeked through the door. �Hello? Mr. Palin? Are you here?�
A young wiry man looked up in surprise. �Hello?�
Dolon and Achates walked in. �Hi,� said Achates. �We need some help. You don�t know us, but we�re Dragonstorm��
�Keep your voice down!� hissed Kenneth. He looked frightened at the door. �I�m not Dragonstorm any more! I�ve given up my old ways.�
�So you�d rather be tortured for information rather than give it willingly?� Achates asked coldly. He grabbed a stapler off the desk and brandished it menacingly.
Kenneth put his hands defensively in front of his face. �Wait, don�t! You don�t understand! This is not a Dragonstorm base anymore. He got rid of all that?�
Achates lowered the stapler. �Who?�
�Beys.� Kenneth shuddered. �When the Dragonstorm-sympathizing CEO disappeared, he was replaced by an invalid, whom Sir Beys was personal assistant of. He quickly started firing everyone with Dragonstorm ties and running the company into the ground. I convinced him to let me stay because he needed an accountant and I hadn�t really done anything for Dragonstorm yet�� Kenneth looked past them and paled.
Sir Beys was standing in the doorway, brandishing a long, slender rifle Dolon didn�t recognize.
<What is that?> he asked Achates, as he retreated to the far wall.
<An experimental electric rifle! They made that at the Pelvanida Research Base!> exclaimed Acahtes, doing likewise.
Sir Beys let loose a crackling beam of lightning from the rifle barrel, which bore into Kenneth�s chest. The man convulsed, eyes wide, and fell backwards in his chair.
Dolon and Achates barreled out the back entrance of the office. �What are we going to do?� cried Dolon.
�I�m okay with what we�re doing right now!� replied Achates. They darted around another corner. Behind them, they heard Sir Beys kick the back door to Kenneth�s office open. An arc of electricity hit Dolon as he turned the corner, sending him skidding with a cry.
Achates came to a stop, but Dolon staggered to his feet. <I�m all right! Keep moving!>
<That was a lethal dose of electricity!> expressed Achates disbelievingly as they kept running. <You saw what it did to Kenneth! Why aren�t you dead, much less moving?>
<Remind me to thank Dr. Winters for testing all those security turrets on me!>
They darted through a few more hallways, but Sir Beys couldn�t be far behind.
<Wait!> yelled Dolon suddenly, coming to a screeching halt. Achates crashed into him. Dolon pointed at an open maintenance hatch in the ceiling. �Get up there!�
Achates hoisted Dolon up, and with effort Dolon found himself in the storage floor of the building. Below him, Achates was trying to get up, but he was too heavy.
�Sorry, but I�ve got to go!� Achates continued running down the hallway.
Dolon looked around the storage floor. There were no hallways or offices on this floor, just one very large dusty room full of debris. He could see a window near his position. <Achates! Take a left, then a right!>
After a few seconds, <I did! What?>
<A window! Get out of there!>
<We�re on the second floor!>
<Aim for a snow bank!> Crawling to the window, Dolon peered down, and saw that this side of the factory looked out on a snowy beach.
Suddenly a stapler shattered through the window below, followed shortly after by Achates himself, who hit the downward-sloping snow tumbling, and rolled until he was buried in snow and sand.
<That�s it, now stay under the snow!> Dolon urged.
Sir Beys appeared at the window below, peering inquisitively at the cold Alaskan beach. Luckily, it wasn�t immediately clear where Achates had gone.
Achates was thinking off an unrelenting stream of obscenities, all of which seemed to revolve around how cold the snow was. Dolon rubbed his forehead.
Finally, Sir Beys left the window, and Dolon burst out, <Achates! You can come out!>
Achates staggered out of the snow, brushing furiously. <Jeesus that was cold,> he griped. <Can you stutter in thought-speak? I�m stuttering right now!>
<Are you okay?>
<I don�t think �okay,� is the right word for what I am right now.>
<But you aren�t injured?>
<Still trying to determine.> Achates was stumbling towards the factory. <Right now getting out of the snow is my first priority.>
<Hang on, I�ll reach the first floor and get you back inside!> Dolon crawled around, looking for another maintenance hatch to climb down.
He was startled when Amphinomus cut in. <What in the world was all that swearing about? Who was that?>
General of the Great Valley
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General of the Great Valley
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And I just noticed that "Sir Beys" is an anagram of "Siberys"! Was that intentional or just a coincidence?
In any case, a rather cool sidenote.
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After filling Amphinomus on the situation, Dolon switched back to Achates. <Still okay?>
Achates had stumbled back to the base, and was leaning on the back entrance to the base. <It�s still freezing. Get down here and let me back in!>
Dolon suddenly cocked his ear. He heard Sir Beys� heavy footsteps stop somewhere further down.
<Achates, hold on. I�m going to check something.>
Dolon crept over to where Sir Beys had stopped walking. Quietly and carefully, he lifted the floor up and peeked into the room.
It was an office, very Spartan, with little more than a desk. There wasn�t even a computer. Sir Beys crossed to one of the walls and pressed various patches of felt. The wall clicked, revealing a secret closet, and Sir Beys put the electric rifle away. Dolon saw other items in the closet, none of them normal-looking.
<What is it?> Achates snapped angrily.
<Shh!> Dolon watched as Sir Beys crossed to his desk, and sat down. Dolon was right above him.
Sir Beys opened a drawer, and took out a personnel roster for a military base. He started flipping through it.
<Sir Beys is in his office>, reported Dolon, <looking at some personnel files.>
<Who cares? Let�s get out of this area!>
<Hold on, I�ve got to try something.> Silently putting the ceiling panel back, Dolon crept with catlike tread over to the spot where the closet had been. He removed another floor panel. A dark recess stared back at him.
Good thing cats have good night vision, Dolon thought, dropping down delicately onto the closet floor.
He saw the rifle on the wall and hefted it. It was surprisingly heavy. He pushed it onto the top floor to retrieve later. He glanced at the other items to see if anything else was worth carrying.
<Achates, I�m in Sir Beys� secret closet, and there are some things in here I don�t recognize.>
<Describe them.>
Dolon squinted at a thin pad on a pedestal. <Handheld screen of some sort. Yellow or blue tinted. Don�t see any buttons or anything.>
<Beats me. That description isn�t ringing any bells.>
<Okay, a reflective donut-shaped thing with a handle, lever, and trigger?>
<I�m having a hard time even picturing that one.>
<How about a large metal backpack with a pull cord?>
<Hmmm. Are there openings on all sides? And is it circular?>
Achates inhaled excitedly. <I know what that is! Take that! Take that!>
Dolon tried to lift it, and unwittingly groaned. <It weighs a ton.>
<It�s no heavier than a basic military backpack,> Achates corrected.
<Yeah, and those are pretty damn heavy!> Dolon put the backpack on and tried to heave himself out of the closet. <I�m sorry Achates, but I can�t take this with me. It�s too weighted; I can�t get back up to the roof.>
Suddenly he heard movement in the office. He froze.
<That device is a Portable Layered-Plating Dome Shield, or PLPDS. It�s more colloquial name is Thor�s Iris. Pulling the cord will extend a ring of overlapping plates that curve into a dense hemisphere, like the iris of an eye. It can deflect bullets, flames, missiles, and withstand terminal velocity impact. It even blocks radio waves.>
Dolon peeked out of the closet. <Well, I don�t need it now; Sir Beys has left his office.>
<Who cares if we need it; bring it back to Dragonstorm! There are only a few of those in existence; they cost a fortune to make.>
<Alright�fine,> Dolon sighed, resolving to ask Amphinomus about the Iris. Tucking the pad and the donut thing into his belt, Dolon crept into the office and escaped into the hallway.
<Amphinomus, come in.>
<I read you, Dolon.>
<Sir, I�ve located Sir Berys� office. I found an electric rifle, but I pushed it into the space above the office and was unable to retrieve it because I put on a Thor�s Iris.>
<You found a Thor�s Iris? Hold onto it! Those things are worth more than a mint Stradivarius!>
<I know, Achates already told me.>
<What are you doing now?>
<Going to let Achates back into the building. We barely escaped Sir Beys alive.>
<We know; we saw on the security cameras. We need Achates here to shut down the auto turrets in Mr. Conch�s office.>
<I�ll pick him up and head for the security room.>
<Try to actually find it this time!> Camilla interjected acidly.
Amphinomus continued. <We�ll head for the floor above Sir Beys� office and retrieve the rifle. Camilla has an idea what to do with it.>
* * *
�I do?� asked Camilla.
Ampy glanced over. �Sure you do. I saw your eyes light up when he mentioned it.�
Camilla smiled coyly. �Well, I did have a vague notion��
�I hate your ideas,� groaned Protesilaus. �They never work��
�It involves blowing up the base,� finished Camilla.
��but that�s not reason not to try!� Protesilaus quickly amended. �Let�s go get that rifle!�
Amphinomus printed out a map from the computer. The path to Sir Beys� office was highlighted. Before he left, he used some string and set a trap so the next person to open the door will get a knife to the chest. <Achates, when Dolon gets you, head for the security room Don�t stand directly in front of the door when you open it.>
With that, the three headed for Sir Beys� office.
This post has been edited by LettuceBacon&Tomato on Sep 14 2010, 07:36 PM
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<Yes, right outside. Hurry up! It�s cold!>
<It�s not much better in here,> Dolon noted, starting to lightly walk down the hallway.
<There�s no wind in there!> Achates complained. <And easy for you to say, you�ve got a fur coat and->
<Shh!> Dolon stopped. He had been about to turn a corner, but he thought he heard a noise.
He froze at the area right before the next hallway, a T-junction. If someone was in the next hallway, Dolon didn�t want to continue. Can he risk peeking around the corner? If a guard saw him, he wouldn�t put up much of a fight alone and unarmed.
With no other options, he checked the items tucked into his belt. It�s possible the donut thing was a weapon of sorts. If he turns the corner, he�ll find out.
Achates was waiting for him. Dolon gripped the donut tightly and swung around the corner.
A guard had been standing, facing Dolon. When he saw him, he gave a shout and came running. Dolon pointed the donut at him and fired.
The donut pulsed in his hand, and the guard stumbled as if hit with an invisible force, but came running. Dolon realized that the device had some sort of repelling/attracting ability, but it wasn�t strong enough.
With seconds to go, he cast his eyes around and pointed at the only other notable thing in the hallway; the light switch, about ten feet away. Focusing the donut on the switch, Dolon flicked the light off.
The guard cried out in surprise. Dolon flattened himself against the wall as the guard raced by. Sticking his foot out, he sent the guard somersaulting into the far wall, which he hit headfirst with a thud and crumbled to the ground.
Dolon paused for a moment to catch his breath. He couldn�t risk everything like that again. He needed to know for sure what each of his tools did.
After stumbling down the hall and flicking the light back on, Dolon took out the handheld pad and looked at it. Like Achates said, there didn�t seem to be any speakers, so it probably didn�t make noise. He cautiously turned it on.
The pad showed the area just ahead of him. Dolon rolled an embedded scroll ball under the screen, and to his surprise saw the view on the screen move around the hallway.
After some experimentation, Dolon figured out that the device was designed to show the user things coming from their peripherals and blind spots. This allowed it to see around corners without exposing the user.
Well, that would have been nice to know five minutes ago, he thought derisively to himself.
From then on out, he used the device to peek around corners as he moved on. Several times, the device warned him of a guard around the next corner, forcing him to backtrack and find a new route around.
<Where the hell are you?> Achates angrily asked him once, causing him to jump.
<There are a bunch of guards. I keep having to backtrack.>
<There can�t be that many! Go faster!>
<There are! I�ve seen like fifteen-> Dolon broke off. Now that he thought about it, he�d only seen around three guards, but they kept appearing in different hallways.
He thought back on his movements from Sir Beys� office to where he was now. They�re hemming me in, he realized. They know where I am, and they�re trapping me on the far side of this building.
He ducked into the first room and looked around for anything that might help him. He wished he�d thought to grab the weapon from the first guard, but he wasn�t sure he could beat three guards in hand-to-hand combat.
<Achates, I�ve been cornered by three guards. I�m in a lab on the far side of the building, and I have a pad that lets me see around corners and the tractor/repulsor, which is essentially a gravity gun. Do you have any advice?>
<No�wait, you�re on the far side of the building? How the hell did you wind up over there?>
Dolon ignored him. Looking around the room, he made a mental note of the heavy objects in vulnerable places. A globe sat on top of a tall file cabinet near the far wall, and a large analog clock hung from a nail behind the desk. If he were lucky, he could get two guards that way. But there were three.
Opening the desk, Dolon rifled around until he found a letter opener, which gave him an idea. Sprinting to the door, he hastily cut free the square of carpet in front of the door, and put it back in place. As he did this, he heard footsteps approaching his position.
He dove behind the desk and positioned his pad so that he could watch the door.
Two guards pushed the door open and walked in. They were followed a few seconds later by the third.
Once the last guard had a single foot on the loose square of carpet, Dolon fired his repulsor and pulled the carpet out from under the guard, sending him tumbling. Both of the other guards looked around the room, but Dolon was safe behind the desk.
Then he turned the pad to focus on the globe, and used the repulsor to send it crashing into the second guard�s head.
The fallen guard got back to his feet as the first guard took cover behind a desk. Dolon pulled the clock off the wall and spent it frisbeeing at the third guard. It glanced off his shoulder and sent his rifle skittering out of his grasp. Dolon pulled the rifle to him and started shooting. He succeeded only in hitting the guard who was already down, but he forced the others to duck for cover as he barreled out of the room.
He reached the hallway and kept running. Two more guards were turning the corner, and fired at him.
He burst through the next door, and found himself in a long, circular room with no exits. He recalled Camilla mentioning that SORA used to be an automobile testing site. This had been the wind tunnel.
There were more guards at the other end. They saw him and snapped their rifles up.
<Amphinomus, Achates, anyone on DS-1, I�m trapped in a wind tunnel, under heavy fire. Please help!>
With seconds to go, Dolon pulled the tab on the Iris and hit the ground. A series of plates shot out from behind him, covering him in a large semi-circular dome, and almost immediately bullets began pinging off both sides.
Amphinomus, Camilla, and Protesilaus had reached the storage floor and had retrieved the rifle when they received the message.
�I guess we can safely assume that Dolon failed in reaching either Achates or the security room,� Camilla grumbled.
Amphinomus thought. �We have the electric rifle, now we just have to get to the primary generator.�
�Achates is already safe outside the base,� Camilla noted.
�Yeah, who cares about the new guy?� Protesilaus shrugged. �It�s his own damn fault, the trouble he�s in right now. Ignore him, let�s blow this base up, and we�ll get a new FNG when we return to base.�
Amphinomus shook his head. �No. We�re not just going to abandon one of our teammates. We�re rescuing Dolon, then moving on to the primary generator.�
�You don�t know him nothing!� protested Protesilaus. �We�re short on time, you said so yourself!�
Camilla said nothing, but it was clear she sided with Protesilaus.
�Protes, you�re coming with me just because I don�t want you running off and doing something stupid. Camilla, get to Achates� position, let him back in the building, and try to link up with us.�
Both of them nodded unwillingly. Camilla darted down one hallway, and Amphinomus led Protesilaus toward the last registered location of Dolon.
This post has been edited by LettuceBacon&Tomato on Sep 14 2010, 07:39 PM
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Also, repulsor device reminds me of Half-Life's gravity gun.
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In other news, this story will conclude with the next post!
<Dolon, this is Ampy. Please be more specific as to your location; we never encountered a wind tunnel.>
Dolon didn�t respond.
�Guess the guards got him,� said Protesilaus. He made to go back.
Amphinomus stopped him. �If Dolon is hiding under the Iris, he wouldn�t be able to contact us by thought-speak. The Iris blocks all out-going signals. We need another way to get directions.�
As they walked, they ran into a guard, who raised his rifle.
<Incapacitate him, don�t kill him!>
Protesilaus moved his gun barrel down a fraction of a degree and blasted the guard�s rifle instead of his chest.
Amphinomus held his knife to the man�s throat. �Which way to the wind tunnel?� he demanded.
The guard looked nervous, but he bravely held his tongue.
�Is it up ahead? To the left? To the right?�
Amphinomus noticed the guard break eye contact and his eyelid flickered for a split second after Amphinomus said �left.�
�It�s to the left.� Amphinomus knocked the guard out with the flat end of the knife and stood up. �Let�s go.�
Protesilaus took a second to shoot the guard in the chest before following.
Before long they heard gunfire up ahead.
<Dolon must still be alive. Start on the ones closest to us,> ordered Amphinomus, <I�m doubling around to hit the ones further away.>
Amphinomus split up from Protesilaus and ran past the wind tunnel. He saw a number of guards inching carefully towards an extended Thor�s Iris. Abandoning his previous plan, he smashed the glass with the barrel of his electric rifle and blasted the nearest guard. The electricity transferred to the two guards nearest him, and all three fell with a cry. The remaining guards retreated out of the wind tunnel, but Amphinomus already heard Protesilaus� pistol fire finishing of the guards to one side.
He finished his sprint and burst into the room leading into the tunnel. With a single blast, he shocked every guard in the room, and after a few seconds was the only man standing.
He advanced into the wind tunnel, and saw Protesilaus coming from the other direction, pistol out. �You done with your side?� Protesilaus called over.
�Well so am I.� Protesilaus checked his cartridge angrily. �I�m also out of bullets.�
Amphinomus drew Achates� micropistol and tossed it to him.
The Iris started collapsing in front of them, and Dolon got to his knees, gasping and covered with sweat. �Thanks guys,� he managed to say. �I thought I was dead there for a minute.�
Amphinomus started to help him recollapse the Iris. �We�re a team. We come back for our teammates.�
Dolon shook his head. �I can�t hear you right now,� he admitted. My ears are ringing.�
<Consider yourself lucky we went to so much trouble rescuing you,> Protesilaus grumbled. <We have a job to do.>
<This was a good thing, in a way,> mentioned Amphinomus. <The number of guards we just incapacitated, plus the kills from before, equals the number of personnel I counted on the roster. The base should be practically abandoned now, making our job that much easier.>
<What�s our job now?> asked Dolon.
<We need to get to the primary generator and use this electric rifle to overload it, and cause an explosion that will destroy the base.> Amphinomus told him. <If it�s fallen out of our hands, Dragonstorm won�t want it to remain standing.>
Dolon nodded. <To the primary generator, then.>
Camilla trudged alone through the Alaskan wilderness. The tall metallic sides of the warehouse were to her left, the icy snow to her right.
She heard Achates over the thought channel. <So, apparently you�re rescuing me now? Any reason you�re taking as long as Dolon had?>
<Be quiet. I found the first open door and from there I�ve traced my way around the building. Thought it�d be more straightforward than winding my way through the maze inside.>
<If you say so, though I suppose that means I�ll have to hike through the snow longer.>
<Be glad you�re getting in at all. I could be killing guards and blowing things up right now.>
After another minute, Camilla found Achates shivering in the fetal position outside the door. �Get up. Let�s go. Any actual physical problems, other than being cold?�
�It doesn�t get more physical than cold!�
They�d reached Camilla�s exiting door. Camilla turned the handle. It didn�t budge.
�The door only opens from the inside‽!� exclaimed Achates incredulously. �You didn�t check for that before going through it‽�
�I did, you idiot! Somebody�s locked us out!�
�Why, praytell, would someone bother to do that?�
�You could ask him.�
�What?� Achates looked through the window. Sir Beys stared back at him. He nodded once.
Achates drew back. �What the hell is�?�
Camilla looked through the window. �He�s gone. And now we�re locked out here.�
This post has been edited by LettuceBacon&Tomato on Dec 7 2010, 03:45 PM
General of the Great Valley
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Will this play into the RP or no?
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This post has been edited by LettuceBacon&Tomato on Sep 14 2010, 09:51 PM
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�How do we do this thing?� asked Protesilaus, cocking his head curiously at the control panel.
<Thought speak, please use thought speak,> Dolon asked, rubbing his ears.
The three were standing in front of the primary generator, staring at the control panel. The generator was tall enough to reach two floors, and they were on the rafters of the higher floor.
<This was Camilla�s idea, she should be here doing this,> Protesilaus complained. <Or Achates, the tech guy.>
<I�m just as qualified as either of them.> Amphinomus studied the panel, and pried a panel off. <There. We set off some sort of explosive device here, and it�ll expose the energy chamber. A strong burst of electricity will start to overload the generator, but give us enough time to reach the nearest exit.>
Suddenly, they heard the door to the lower floor room open, and saw Sir Beys pace into the room.
<Lemme take this shot,> thought Protesilaus, silently cocking his pistol and aiming.
Amphinomus nodded. <Kill him.>
Suddenly Sir Beys� head shot up, and his eyes bore into them. <I can hear thought messages too.>
Suddenly the three of them were pulled off the rafter, falling to the lower floor. Dolon, with his catlike reflexes, successfully rolled out the shock, but Protesilaus cried out as his leg bent painfully. He tried to get up but couldn�t.
Amphinomus cast his arm out and grabbed the railing before getting pulled off the rafter, and barely pulled himself back up. Turning around, he saw Sir Beys float up to meet him, landing a meter away, unarmed.
Amphinomus fired with the electric rifle, but Sir Beys pulled it out of his hand and sent it scattering under the control panel. Amphinomus drew his knife and sent it pinwheeling through the air. Sir Beys sent it flying with a flick of his wrist.
�How are you doing this?� grunted Amphinomus, charging forward and taking a swipe.
Sir Beys blocked it with his forearm and smacked Amphinomus in the right cheek with his other. �I was a scientist at the original base where Dragonstorm started. I was experimented on, given powers, and later abandoned and left to fend for myself.�
Dodging a kick, Sir Beys jump-kicked Amphinomus in the chin, sending him tumbling down the stairs leading up the rafters. Backflipping off the rafter, he landed softly a few feet away from Protesilaus.
�I don�t appreciate what was done to me,� he sneered. �So I�m doing my part to end Dragonstorm once and for all.�
Protesilaus drew the micropistol and fired once, twice, three times. Sir Beys held his hand in the air, and the bullets stopped inches away from him, and clattered to the floor. Then he leapt forward, and put all his momentum behind a judo chop to the forehead. Protesilaus crumbled silently.
Dolon made a run for it. Sir Beys waved his hand, and sent Dolon tumbling back to him. Rearing down on him, Sir Beys sent his fist flying at Dolon�s face.
Dolon clicked the repulsor on, and forced the punch back. �Why did you wait until now to use these powers?� asked Dolon, blocking an attempted kick with the repulsor. �You�ve had several opportunities.�
�I recognized one of you from before, and out of respect, waited until they were harm�s way. They are now currently safe outside the building.�
Dolon guessed he meant Camilla, who had been to the facility before. Switching to the offensive, he whipped the repulsor to the left, sending Sir Beys� arm flailing, and smacking him with a left hook. Amphinomus came up from behind Sir Beys, forcing him into a headlock, and kneed him in the back.
Suddenly Sir Beys spun around, slashing Amphinomus in the face with the claws on his left foot. At the same time, as Amphinomus staggered backward, clutching his face, Beys pulled Protesilaus� micropistol into his hand and shot him in the arm. Amphinomus fell backwards, landing on Protesilaus.
Sir Beys kept his pistol trained on Dolon. �Bow to me� he ordered, pushing his hand down. Dolon�s head smashed into the floor, and he felt his nose break. Suddenly he felt his head get snapped back up, to see the micropistol cocked, aimed at his head and about to fire.
�Any last words?� the dragon asked.
Suddenly the micropistol was blasted out of Sir Beys hand. Sir Beys and Dolon spun around to look at the rafters.
On the rafter holding his assembled sniper rifle was Hippolytes, wild-eyed and badly bleeding, but standing.
�It�ll take more�n tha� to bring down a MacLee!�
With that he fired again, but Sir Beys blocked the bullet and sent it flying back at Hippolytes. It shattered the sniper rifle and sent Hippolytes sprawling.
<Hippolytes!> yelled Dolon. <Destroy that control panel!>
<No!> yelled Sir Beys, making a powerful leap that carried him towards the rafters. But it was too late. With the last of his effort, Hippolytes unclipped a grenade from his belt, pulled the pin, and jammed it into the open panel.
A massive electrified explosion burst from the generator, ripping the roof and sending tons of debris raining towards Dolon�s position. The whole building was falling apart.
With seconds to act, Dolon sprinted for Protesilaus� and Amphinomus� position, leapt on top of them, and pulled the pin on his backpack.
Achates and Camilla dug through the remains of SORA Gas & Electric, looking for their team mates. <Ampy, Protes, Dolon, do you hear me?>
<This is Camilla. Achates and I got out of the base in time. Anyone, please respond.>
<How about you, Hippo? Are you in there somewhere?>
�What exactly did they do?� asked Achates. �This place looks like it was hit by a bomb.�
Camilla didn�t answer. She seemed disappointed that she hadn�t partaken in the leveling of the base.
�I hate to say it,� admitted Achates, struggling to push a massive hunk of drywall out of the way, �but I don�t think anyone could really survive this. I mean, the place is leveled.�
�Shut up,� groaned Camilla. She walked over and easily pushed the drywall aside.
�Actually on second thought, the new kid could have made it,� realized Achates. �Because he had that�� He broke off. �Wait. I�ve got a radio signal. Very faint.�
�Something�s getting through?�
�Here. Dig.� They pried slabs of concrete and metal away, until finally uncovering the top of Thor�s Iris, dust covered, scratched, and still buried under several layers of debris, but undented.
�So even though the Iris normally blocks thought signals, it turns out multiple signals in close proximity can break through,� Amphinomus explained to Branston. They were in the Dragonstorm infirmary, getting checked up. Protesilaus� leg and Amphinomus� arm had been set, and the others were recovering from light wounds and getting a good rest.
Branston listened patiently. �So the base is destroyed.�
�There was no hope. Sir Beys had already eliminated all traces of Dragonstorm long before we arrived.�
�What ended up happening to Sir Beys?�
�We never found the body. But it�s unlikely he survived the destruction of the building, especially as he was so close to the epicenter.�
�And DS-4?�
�Dead, probably on arrival or shortly after.�
�And the Iris?�
�In good condition. Some people are working on cleaning it up, and then it�ll be available for use, either in battle or evacuation.�
�Excellent. Well done,� Branston shuffled his papers. �In other news, I�ve put in a request to replace your deceased teammate. One particular scientist caught my eye. He�s an aardvark. Good with firearms. Has been working on the biological enhancements, which I believe he�s been using on himself
Amphinomus held up his hand. �Wait. With your permission, the team has discussed this and we would prefer if Hippolytes� codename continues to represent the 6th member of our team. As sort of a tribute to Mr. MacLee.�
Branston paused. He looked at Zenarchis.
�Agreed,� said Zenarchis.
Branston nodded assent. �I�ll organize a time for you to meet with him in the near future.� He stood up. �While I would have preferred that you would have reclaimed the electric company rather than destroy it, I guess it�s a step up from your performance at Zzyzyx. And the enemy has been vanquished. I�ll mark this as a successful mission for the logs. Good work, DS-1.� He and Zenarchis left the room.
Dolon had been about to say something, but when Branston left, he closed his mouth.
Amphinomus looked over. �Dolon. Are you all right?�
�Yeah.� Dolon turned to look the other way.
Amphinomus switched to a private thought channel. <You sound troubled.>
Dolon sighed. <I�m not sure what it is. I�m�I don�t feel like I�m cut out for this work.>
<Your performance at SORA was one of the most impressive on the team,> reminded Amphinomus. <You incapacitated several guards while you were unarmed and outnumbered. And you saved mine and Protesilaus� lives at the end.>
Dolon didn�t say anything, but he seemed a bit more relaxed.
<Also,> added Amphinomus, <Notice that when I talked about the new Hippolytes, I called him the sixth member of our team. He�s a scientist, so he should technically outrank you and be number five, but I�ve petitioned to promote you to fifth rank over him. It�s only been two days, and you�re no longer the new kid on the team.>
Dolon turned back. He had smiled temporarily, but at word �team� his mood darkened.
<I also keeo thinking about DS-4. How they died, just like that. That could easily be us one day.>
Amphinomus nodded. <It easily could. And that probably will be our fate someday. This is a dangerous line of work. But everybody dies, and when I die, I hope it�ll be defending my team.>
Dolon didn�t smile this time. But he did seem to understand. Rolling back, he seemed to lose himself in thought.
Amphinomus turned back to regard the rest of his team. This mission was the closest they�d come to a total team wipeout, but they�d pulled through, like they always do.
The doctor swabbed his arm and injected him with something from a syringe. �You need to rest,� she said. �Let your arm heal.�
She started for Protesilaus� bed, who drew back in fright. �You stay away from me with that needle!� he exclaimed.
Amphinomus chuckled as sleep overtook him. His last thoughts were of the upcoming mission; a reconnaissance mission to locate a Dr. Zanasiu. Shouldn�t be too hard. There�ll always be another mission� he thought peacefully to himself. And the thought comforted him.
My idea was that Zenarchis could wear the Thor's Iris all the time, since as Dragonstorm leader he would want the best protection possible. This could introduce a plot point near the end of the RP, which I talked with Serris about.
This post has been edited by LettuceBacon&Tomato on Sep 15 2010, 08:48 PM
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Punning for Some Fun?
Looking for a really fun Halloween costume? Why not make a Halloween pun costume? A pun costume is when you literally wear something that is a play on words for instance "Behind the Times" would be a costume whereby you tape a NY Time Newspaper across your shoulders and over your face (cut out eye holes) so that you are literally behind the Times. There are dozens of Halloween pun costumes out there.
To get you started, here are a few ideas that might make you laugh and are pretty easy to make.
Pun Halloween Costume Ideas
This year try a creative Halloween costume and make your own homemade pun costume. Now you will want to make a costume that is not all that difficult to explain when people ask (which they will...a lot), "What are you suppose to be?" The fun in pun costumes is to see the "aha" moment when people get it and understand. It is priceless. So let's think about a few options you might have:
Dress in yellow. Take eight butter wrappers and make them into cylinders so they can go over your fingers. Make sure you're clumsy the entire day so you can tell people that you are....Butterfingers.
With a copy machine or printer, make all different size 9's. Affix them to your clothes all over the place so you have them all over you. You might want to wear dressier clothes underneath but that is up to you. This will make you ...dressed to the nines.
Get an image of a tongue and attach it to a woman's slip. You probably should have pants or shorts under the slip but you will then be a...slip of the tongue
Print a large N and V in dark ink. Dress completely in green and affix the letters to your chest or back. You are then ...Green with Envy.
This one is easy. Print out a picture of a quarter. Enlarge it so it's REALLY big. Affix it to your back and you are then...a quarterback.
Tape or hang a dollar from each ear and you are a ...Buccaneer
Hang pictures of Robert DiNiro all over your clothes and you will be ...Mucho Dinero
Pun Halloween Costume Tips
- First of all, if you need to explain it for too long, it probably isn't very funny.
- Secondly, it shouldn't be too complicated. One or two props per costume are all you should need and if you need more, it's too hard to understand.
- Third, almost all of these are really simple to make and will cost almost nothing so don't think you need to spend lots of money to have a funny costume.
- And fourth, if you don't like these ideas you get the point now, think of your own and have fun with it. If you just give it a couple minutes thought you can come up with something too.


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Spending likely to be big issue in crowded Farmers Branch race, and its candidate debate
Midyear budget tweaking in Farmers Branch this week featured the slide of a million dollars to a line item for legal expenses. It was a unanimous vote.
Farmers Branch, a suburb of just 29,000, punches above their weight when it comes to court spending on Voting Rights Act suits to defense of a proposed ordinance on illegal immigration. Its annual budget is about $90 million, and so legal fees can throw quite a counterpunch. For both voting rights and immigration fights, bills paid now total about $7 million.
The city council took the immigration ordinance fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and this March the high court turned down the appeal.
How much more in bills?
The $6.1 million already spent doesn't include the appeals for the failing defense of an ordinance to ban immigrants in the U.S. unlawfully from rentals.
A Dallas federal judge will decide. Some estimate final payment could be as low as $1.5 million. Others expect higher sums.
The city now has about $1.6 million set aside. That includes about $600,000 in its legal defense fund from private donors. As we've reported, the biggest donor is Trammell S. Crow, the Dallas son of the late real estate developer.
The city has raised property taxes three times over the period of the fight on the ordinance. In the May 10th election, the city is asking voters to approve a $23.5 million bond package for street repairs. It will raise property taxes by 4.5 cents, according to the city's website.
The city just produced this "My dinner with Randy" video , a conversation with the public works chief who details the bond package. (The video style is a reference to the 1981 film "My Dinner with Andre" by French director Louis Malle.)
Amid all the animated politics come six candidates running for two posts in the May 10th election. There's been many candidate debates, forums and even a mock election at Brookhaven College.
Another forum will be held tonight, April 17th, at 7 p.m. at the city's recreation center at 14050 Heartside Place. It's sponsored by the Branch Forum, which will take questions from the audience. The Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce hosts a forum at 7:30 a.m. on April 23rd at Luby's at 13455 Midway Road.
Three want to be mayor, but not incumbent Mayor Bill Glancy who won't pursue re-election. Three more want council seat 2, including incumbent Harold Froehlich.
The mayoral candidates are Carol Dingman, David Koch and Bob Phelps. All three have served on the council before.
The challengers to Froehlich are newcomers Luther Joe Bernstein and Mark Garrett Smith.


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: Life
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'Hamas' Jenkins
Errich Bachman...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Casino cash: $39687
Originally Posted by
The Bad Guy
Gorgeous kids man. Congratulations on their success.
That Hulk Hogan costume is the greatest thing ever. Where did you find that gem?
My wife found the shirt on Amazon. She bought two pieces of foam, one gold glitter and one black, for the belt, then used a photo of the old WCW/NWA big gold belt as a template.
For the hair she bought blonde extensions and then hot glued them into a headband to give the skullet look. The boots were done by putting on socks, wrapping yellow duct tape around them, then cutting out a tongue slot, punching holes in the fabric, and threading through laces.
You used to call me on my O=S=O
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Photos: 11 community stories you should care about (Oct. 4)
Photo: CHRIS DERRETT/neighborsgo
The city of Mesquite has begun construction on phase 1 of the approximately $3.7 million Mesquite Heritage Trail. The hike and bike trail will consist of nearly 4.25 miles of concrete trails and sidewalks. The trail starts at Towne Centre Drive and Franklin Drive and ends along the west bound frontage road of Interstate 30 just west of Greenbelt Parkway. It will also include three trailheads, major intersection enhancements, one exercise station, one pedestrian bridge and other improvements. "Once phase 2 is done, it will be the largest recreational amenity we have in the city," Parks and Recreation Director Cliff Keheley said.
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AVON PARK – The search for an Avon Park boater separated from three other men after their boat capsized early Sunday morning has been changed to a search-and-recovery effort by the U.S. Coast Guard.
However, two boats with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Southwest remain on standby, and when the weather improves, crews will resume their search of Enrique Rodriguez, 63, of Avon Park, who was on a 21-foot fishing boat when it tipped over about eight miles from Egmont Key, across from Fort De Soto Park in Tampa Bay.
Petty Officer 1st Class Crystalynn Kneen, based at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, Clearwater, said Monday the Coast Guard had suspended the search until the next of kin was notified.
She said crews had searched "for quite some time" before deciding to call it off due to factors such as the missing boater's age, medical history, weight, how long he had been in the water and the water temperature.
"We've exhausted all means to find the person," she said.
In addition, Gary Morse, spokesman with the local office of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), said Monday afternoon, it was "unlikely" anyone would be alive over 12 hours of having hypothermia.
According to Baryl Martin, another FWC spokesman, Rodriguez left Fort DeSoto around 5 p.m. Saturday on a fishing trip with 25-year-old Joaquin Machado, of Greeley, Colo., and Avon Park residents Andrew Hernandez, 26, and Manuel Perez, 41. Rodriguez's boating companions were rescued without injuries after choppy seas caused their boat to take on water, according to a Coast Guard report. Flooding in the vessel upset the stability of the boat and it capsized around 2 a.m.
Martin said the three men clung to one life jacket and a cooler to stay afloat but were separated from Rodriguez.
Although the Coast Guard has suspended the search, Martin said FWC still has boats docked in Anna Maria and near the C.W. "Bill" Young VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, St. Petersburg.
"We're going to continue the search as soon as the weather calms down," he said Monday. "We want people to remember to carry approved safety equipment on board."
After capsizing, the men made it to a navigational buoy in the shipping channel about eight miles west of Egmont Key. Skyway Buoy number 5 was large enough for the three men to climb onto, and that's where they were found by a passing boater about 6 a.m. Sunday, who immediately called the Coast Guard.
Kneen said all resources had been "exhausted" to find Rodriguez,but as long there was a chance of survival the searches continue.
"It's always disheartening when we have to suspend something like this. We want to get everyone home safely," she said.
Jose Rodriguez, Enrique Rodriguez's nephew, said Monday his uncle couldn't swim and wouldn't go out on the boat during an outing Memorial Day. He said his uncle, originally from the Dominican Republic, had just lost his brother -- Merito Rodriguez -- to cancer two months ago, making it a trying time for family.
Jose said his uncle was an "outgoing guy" who spent much of his free time fishing around Avon Park, Sebring and the Tampa Bay area.
"He never went on a boat. He went out on the boat with his friends. We really don't know what happened," said Jose Rodriguez, 38, of Fort Lauderdale. "We're just in a state of shock and hoping for the best."
Jose said the boat belonged to one of the rescued men.
In addition to the Coast Guard and FWC, a rescue boat with four students from Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, assisted with the search for five hours Sunday morning, said Emily Sandrowicz, staff instructor with the Eckerd College Search and Rescue Team.
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Let's Meat & Eat
Restaurateur Ed Saunders (also involved with the excellent restaurant, Fork) has created an eatery in which the ambience and the food are cosy, home-from-home, as well as simply sophisticated; a bit like New York loft meets Deep South smokehouse.
Don't forget our Happy Hour, reduced price draught beer, house spirits and cocktails, 5-7pm daily.
Go have a look at Fork Restaurant
- 021 551 5000
- email@example.com
- Monday to Sunday
- 11:00am till 11:00pm
- Corner Century Boulevard and Rialto road
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The charges follow searches of addresses occupied by the two men that were conducted by the Financial Services Authority with the assistance of the City of London Police in April and May 2012. Both men were arrested at the time of, or shortly after, the searches being conducted.
Both men have been bailed to attend City of London Magistrates Court.
Copyright © 2016 FCA. All Rights Reserved.


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We are a specialty spa focusing on lash extensions and brow sculpting. Our services will enhance your natural beauty and give you a new "lash" on life. While enjoying our beautiful, relaxing ambience and top-notch service, browse our fashionable boutique apparel, accessories and handbags. Most of us weren't born with long, luscious lashes but now you can have the celebrity look in a BlinQ!
You can now shop online at http://store.blinqboutique.com


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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Brookstone at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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A 23-karat gold filter is not just a luxury: Real gold is non-reactive. It neither absorbs nor gives off any flavors, so that you taste the coffee, not the filter. Designed for 6 -12 cup drip-coffee makers of all brands that ask for a #4 cone filter. Comes with a fold-down handle. Dimensions: 4.75" L x 4.75" W x 3.5" H; 0.7 lbs.". Price: $29.95
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Reliant Light the Night concert and celebration
Photo: Tom Fox/Staff Photographer
The cast of The GershwinsÕ Porgy and Bess, perform 'Go Tell it on the Mountain' during the Reliant Lights Your Holidays show in the Arts District in downtown Dallas, Friday, December 13 2013.
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Electrolytes (cont.)
Conditions of Potassium Imbalance
Patient Comments Read 2 Comments
Hyperkalemia (hyper=too much + kal=potassium + emia=in the blood) is a potentially life-threatening situation because it causes abnormal electrical conduction in the heart and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm problems. High potassium levels are most often associated with kidney failure, in which potassium levels build up and cannot be excreted in the urine. Medications can be used to lower potassium levels until the kidneys are able to excrete the excess in the urine. However, emergency dialysis may be required to remove the potassium if kidney function is poor.
Hypokalemia (hypo=too little) is most often seen when the body loses too much potassium from causes like vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, and medications like diuretics or laxatives. It is often seen in diabetic ketoacidosis, where potassium is excessively lost in the urine. Since chemicals in the body are related in their metabolism, low magnesium levels can be associated with hypokalemia.
Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 8/4/2015
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WATERFORD - Belpre erupted for nine runs in the top of the fifth inning and then relied on the right arm of starting pitcher Tavian Miller as the visiting Golden Eagles scored a 9-1 victory over the Waterford Wildcats in a Tri-Valley Conference battle Wednesday.
Miller tossed a three-hitter and Brennen Ferrell and Mike Simoniette each collected key hits in a fifth inning that saw the Eagles send 14 hitters to the plate.
"Our bats have been sleeping here lately but they woke up tonight," said Belpre head coach Terry Mullen of the big offensive outburst. "I knew our kids were capable we just haven't been able to hit much lately. Hopefully now we can keep things rolling."
For the first four innings of the game it was quite a pitcher's duel between Miller and Devin Farley and Cameron Bosner for the Wildcats.
Waterford scored their lone run of the game off of Miller in the opening inning when center fielder Cody Paxton singled in Isaac Huffman for a 1-0 lead.
Farley held the Belpre offense in check by tossing three scoreless innings before giving way to Bosner who retired the Eagles in order in the top of the fourth.
Fact Box
Belpre 000 090 0 9-10-0
Waterford 100 000 0 1-3-1
Belpre (7-10)
WP: Tavian Miller 7IP, 3H, ER. Top Hitters: Ryan Epperly 2-4, R, RBI, Miller 2-3, Brennen Ferrell 2-3, R, 3RBI, 2 2B, Kole Counts 1-2, 2R, Tyler Andermanis 1-1, Chayse Hostottle 1-4, R, RBI, Mike Simoniette 1-3, R, 2RBI, Alex Perry 0-1, R, Logan Plummer 0-3, R.
Waterford (6-9)
LP: Clay Hayes: .1 IP, 9R, Starter: Devin Farley 3IP, 0R, Cameron Bosner IP, 0R, Brent Ginther 2.2 IP, 0R. Top Hitters: Cody Paxton 1-3, RBI, Mitch Ginther 1-2, 3B, Farley 1-3, Isaac Huffman 0-1, R.
Next Games: Friday, Southern at Belpre, Waterford at South Gallia.
Belpre 230 500 0 10-7-2
Waterford 000 202 4 8-10-2
Belpre (6-15)
WP: Kaylee Dye: 7IP, 10H, 8R, 4ER, BB, 8K. Top Hitters: Bri Elkins 1-2, R, 3RBI, 3B, Kelsey Pratt 1-2, 2R, 2RBI, 2B, Liz Adams 1-3, 2R, Gabbie Gramkow 1-1, 2R, Dye 1-5, 2R, RBI, Alexandria Williams 1-4, R, Destiny Bell 1-4, RBI, Kaity Hager 1-4, RBI.
Waterford (6-8)
LP: Lauren Hill 3IP, 6H, 8ER, 4BB, 2K, Lindsay Arnold 4IP, 2H, 2ER, 3BB, 3K, Top Hitters: Cierra Heiss 3-4, 6RBI, 2B, 3B, Alana Heiss 3-4, 2R, Nicole Neslein 2-4, R, RBI, 2B, Lakin Tolson 1-4, 2B, Katie Wagner 1-3, R, Hill 0-4, 2R.
Next Games: Friday: Southern at Belpre, Today: Fort Frye at Waterford.
Waterford head coach Chad Augenstein elected to bring on Clay Hayes in relief to start the fifth inning and the Belpre bats jumped all over the Wildcat freshman as eight of the first nine hitters in the inning crossed the plate.
Ryan Epperly, Miller and Chayse Hostottle each collected run scoring singles in the fifth and Simonigette chipped in with a two- run single.
Ferrell, batting ninth in the Eagles batting order, put an exclamation point on the big inning with a bases clearing, three-run double.
Staked to the big lead, Miller was outstanding on the mound the rest of the way allowing just a two-out sixth inning triple to Mitch Ginther.
Belpre improved to 7-10 on the season while the loss was the eighth in a row for the Wildcats and dropped their season mark to 6-9.
Both teams will return to action Friday as Belpre hosts Southern and Waterford makes the trip to South Gallia.
Belpre 10, Waterford 8
The Belpre Lady Eagles jumped out to an early 10-0 lead and then fought off a tenacious Lady Wildcat comeback bid to chalk up a 10-8 win.
Belpre scored a pair of runs in the first, two more in the second and then chased Waterford starting pitcher Lauren Hill by scoring five times in the top of the fourth as they threatened to score a mercy rule victory over the Lady 'Cats.
Destiny Bell collected an RBI single in the first inning and a three-run double by Bri Elkins in the second led the early Belpre charge.
Run scoring singles by Kaylee Dye and Kaity Hager and a two-run double by Kelsey Pratt in the fourth inning gave the Eagles what appeared to be a comfortable 10-run lead.
A two-run double by Waterford third baseman Cierra Heiss in the last of the fourth began the Wildcat comeback and an infield ground out and another RBI single by Heiss in the sixth trimmed the Belpre lead to 10-4 heading to the final inning.
After Lindsay Arnold held the Eagles scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Wildcats got a run scoring double by Nicole Neslein to make it a five-run game.
An infield single by Alana Heiss and a walk loaded the bases for Cierra Heiss and once again the Wildcat senior delivered as she drove a three-run triple to the fence in right center field to cut the lead to two and bring the tying run to the plate.
Cierra Heiss finished the game a home run shy of the cycle while knocking in six runs.
Dye pitched all seven innings for Belpre and got Chelsey Straight to ground out to third base to end the game and put an end to a valiant Wildcat comeback attempt.
Waterford slipped to 6-8 with the loss, while the Golden Eagles improved to 6-15 on the season.
Belpre will host Southern Friday while the Wildcats host Fort Frye Lady Cadets today.