DarthTex

A whosie-whatsie? I'm too damn lazy to look it up. Tofu's trying to say hari kari, or seppuku (ritual suicide) practiced by Samurai warriors.

Rebel Uprising II! Day 700, current status. Calaron sector: My 7th fleet (1 VSD, 2 Neb-B frigates, 2 escort carriers, 1 interdictor, 12 X-wings, 9 Y-wings) has just left Norval II for Kessel. My fleet arrives before the Imperial invasion force (an ISD and Star Galleon, both loaded with troops). With my new interdictor, the Imperial forces are trapped! I let the capital ships start moving into firing positions before unleashing the fighters. The X-wings are sent after any launching Tie Fighters, and the Y-wings are starting their attack runs on the ISD. The ISD takes a few shots at the Y-wings before concentrating fire on my VSD. The ISD and VSD duke it out. The Tie Fighters have all been eliminated and the X-wings are re-directed to attack the ISD. The pummeling from the fighters as well as the capital ships have collapsed the remaining ISD's shields relatively quickly. The hull is now taking a slow pounding into a hulk. Soon the ISD explodes! Since surrender or capture are not options, all of the troops and crew on the Star Galleon are doomed. The fighters destroy it within a couple of minutes. I've only lost 2 Y-wings for my efforts, but the VSD has severe shield generator damage. The VSD is sent to the new ASY's at Generis in the Atrivis sector for repairs, while an assault frigate is dispatched from the Svivren shipyards. Spy missions are continuing all over the sector. Ships of the large Imperial fleet at Kubindi are slowly being assigned elsewhere. After a month the Imperial fleet is gone, and several more ships are enroute (single-ly). My guerrillas on Skor II have succeeded and the system has now gone neutral. I hit Fwillsving with my fleet taking out the fighter defense (10 Tie Fighter's, I lost a few fighters myself). I send the 7th fleet (now with an assault frigate in place of the VSD) to blockade Kubindi and destroy the Imperial ships as they arrive. Over the course of the next month, I destroy 1 dreadnaught, 2 carracks and 1 lancer. I raid Jerijador taking out the fighter defense (I'm down to about half my fighter compliment; 7 X-wings & 4 Y-wings). New intel shows another large gathering of the Imperial fleet at F'tral. With no more Imperial ships (that I'm aware of) coming in, I send the fleet to F'tral. At F'tral the Imperial fleet (1 dreadnaught, 6 carracks and 14 Tie Fighters and 1 Tie Interceptor) is waiting for me! (my intelligence doesn't seem to be ... accurate on dates). I let the Imperial fleet make the first move; the Tie Fighters come streaming in! I set all fighters and capital ships to target the fighters. After several barrages, fighters from both sides are thinned out. The Imperial dreadnaught is taking shots at my assault frigate. I redirect my assault frigate and 2 Neb-B frigates to attack the dreadnaught. Slowly his shields start to drop from the onslaught. All of my fighters are destroyed and only 4 Tie Fighters are left. The 6 carracks all turn and fire on the assault frigate. The fire is frequent, constant and relentless. I check on the assault frigate's status; no damage and shields are at ~98%. The Imperial dreadnaught is now dead in the water, and the remaining Tie Fighters are destroyed. I direct all ships to attack the carracks. The carracks aren't doing much damage to the shields themselves, but the shield generators are starting to weaken. As the battle progresses, the carracks are being taken out one at a time. By the time 3 of the carracks are out-of-action, the shield generators on the assault frigate are fried. The shields get down to ~20% before the last carrack is knocked out. The rest of the time is now spent destroying the "hulks" of the former Imperial fleet. With the destruction of the Imperial fleet, Skor II has joined the Alliance and Fwillsving has gone into uprising. Before heading out for repairs and fighter replacements, I bombard the local Imperial garrison (3 Army and 1 War Droid units). They are instantly obliterated and F'tral joins the Alliance. Fwillsving has also now joined the Alliance! The 7th fleet heads to Norval II for repairs, replacements and R&R. Glythe sector: The 14th fleet under Admiral Kirk and Commander Taggert has been diverted from the Farfin sector to Sedri. As individual Imperial ships arrive, they are systematically destroyed. After about 1 month, the fleet is diverted to blockade Elrood, where Kirk and Taggert (as a decoy) spy on the Imperial System. Along with a host of Imperial and Nogrhi commandos is Wile E. Coyote. Kirk and Taggert are sent to capture "Mr. Super-Genius". They succeed! I next have them target all of the commandos for destruction. It takes a while but they get the job done. It's time to head back to the Farfin sector, Khomm to be exact. And the fleet jumps ... Kanchen sector: Jan Dodonna has succeeded on getting Culroon III to join the Alliance. I've sent several Y-wing long probes to be based here from Zebitrope in the Dufilvan sector. The Imperial systems of Munto Cudro and Smarteel show upgraded facilities enroute (ASY's, ACY's & ATF's). Dorja has been located on Munto Cudro with several War Droid units enroute, 14 Tie Fighters, and 6 Tie Interceptors under construction. There is also an ISD enroute due to arrive in the next couple of days. Other than that, the remainder of the sector is still neutral. Dufilvan sector: Mazer Rackus has arrived at Ord Mantell with 6 guerrillas. I send them to Ord Pardon immediately. Infiltrators have reduced the garrison down to a single Army unit. Support for the Alliance grows. As Imperial ships arrive, support from smugglers weakens, but grows again when the ships depart. Ord Pardon eventually goes into uprising! After several more weeks, the Imperial garrison must have packed up and left; Ord Pardon has now joined the Alliance. There is still an Imperial dreadnaught enroute, due to arrive in just over 1 week. I've now sent the guerrillas to the Imperial system of Ord Trasi. Han and Mazer Rackus are now enroute to Vagran in the Corellian sector. Corellian sector: Princess Leia has brought Vagran over to the Alliance! Some of my spies have arrived and I immediately send them off to Corfai. It takes awhile, but previous intelligence is now confirmed; Grand Moff Conway is there doing Ship R&D! I send my spies throughout the sector, and more spies are now enroute (another dozen). The Imperial fleet depot at Tralus is a myth, but ... info on Drall is very interesting. Drall has 8 ASY's with 1 Golan III and 1 dreadnaught in orbit, and another Golan III under construction. There are 10 Tie Fighters and 5 Tie Interceptors for system defense, along with 4 Army units and 3 more Army units enroute. Talus has 10 ASY's (of which 8 are enroute and 1 under construction)! Talus has 4 Army units (with 2 more enroute and another under construction), and 13 Tie Fighters and 4 Tie Interceptors for system defense. Selonia has 4 CY's and 1 ACY. Corellia has 2 ASY's under construction, with Brandei enroute to do diplomacy (!!). Only Commenor remains neutral in this sector (Princess Leia's next mission). Other than the Farfin sector, this is the only other (main) bastion for Imperial power in the Core. Farfin sector: The 14th fleet (3 Neb-B frigates, 3 escort carriers, 2 VSD's and 1 interdictor with 24 A-wings, 12 Y-wings) under the command of Admiral James T. Kirk and Commander Taggert are enroute to Khomm after there brief departure to the Glythe sector. Intelligence missions led by (Jedi) Luke and Ben Kenobi are bearing heaps of information. The Imperial are digging in on several systems: Firro-General Covell is in command with 4 Army units, 9 Tie Interceptors and 1 Tie Fighter, with 2 Gen Core II's and an LNR II battery; Bilbringi-4 Army units, 4 Tie Fighters, and 3 ATF's; Byss-5 Dark Troopers (4 more enroute and 4 more under construction) and 1 War Droid enroute, 5 Tie Fighters, 1 Gen Core I, 1 Gen Core II, an LNR Battery II, and 1 TF, 4 ATF's (with 1 more ATF enroute); Charmath-3 SY's and 6 ASY's, 1 Golan III, 1 lancer enroute, 1 escort carrier under construction, 5 Tie Fighters (with 1 more enroute), 4 Army units (with 2 more enroute), 2 Gen Core II's and an LNR II battery. Other Imperial systems have token forces (especially those I raided earlier, as they have a long way to re-arm). My main base at Kinyen is a frequent target of Imperial spy/recon/sabotage missions, and now assassination missions. All of these missions have been foiled by the dedicated warriors of the Alliance: Generals John Wayne and Carlist Rieekan, Commandors Adar Tallon and Pink 5, with 15 Sullustan and 10 Mon Cal troops (Rieekan, Pink 5 and 6 Sullustan troops are in orbit on the Golan III). There are 15 A-wings, 18 B-wings and 12 X-wings for system defense. Now 2 Dauntless cruisers are under construction for bolstering the 14th fleet's sector patrols. Fakir sector: The Imperial systems of Delaya, Ando and Halowan have had their military forces devastated. The 16th fleet (3 Neb-B frigates, 3 escort carriers, 1 VSD, 1 Mon Cal cruiser and 1 interdictor with 6 A-wings, 11 X-wings and 16 Y-wings) has been joined by another interdictor, and is waiting at Delaya for a lone Imperial carrack. The carrack arrives and is then destroyed. Snake Plissken and infiltrators have rejoined the fleet on a different corvette while theirs is repaired. Snake does a spy mission to determine the disposition of the 20 Nogrhi that were enroute. They have all arrived! Over the course of the next couple of weeks, Snake and the infiltrators have been systematically destroying the Nogrhi. When that is accomplished, the fleet heads back to Berchest for some R&R. Intelligence has provided info that Grand Moff Tarkin, plus 10 Nogrhi and 2 commandos are enroute to Ando. I might have enough time to move the fleet in position; prepare all ships for the hyperspace jump ... Sesswenna sector: Not much has been happening here; the occasional Imperial recon, espionage or sabotage mission ... all failing. My spy missions to Coruscant are meeting a similar fate, though some info is coming in. There is currently 2 ISD's, plus another ISD and VSD enroute to Coruscant. Most of the system defenses have been depleted supporting other systems in the failing Imperial Empire. Quelli sector: Not much is happening here. The Imperials are pushing hard on the 2 Alliance systems of Pil Diller and Corstris (both require a minimum of 2 troops). I'm constantly discovering and foiling most of the recon/espionage/sabotage missions. Support is mostly for the Empire in this sector and on these two systems. Admiral Jiriss's 2 bulk cruisers are permanently moored in space above Corstris until whenever. They do serve some useful purpose, as the Imperial agent, "Iceman" Kazanski, has been captured enroute to the surface of Corstris for an uprising mission. Dolomar sector: Not much happening here. Caprionril has most of the ASY's in place, and is producing B-wings for system defense. Sluis sector: Nothing much happening here. Umgul with its 13 ASY's has finished the 4 assault frigates and is now constructing 2 Dauntless cruisers. Jospro sector: The ASY's at Kiffex are constructing 4 CC-9600 cruisers (of which 2 are complete). The ASY's at Douglas III are constructing 2 Dauntless cruisers. Darth Vader is resting comfortably with Palpy in their ysalamir decorated "room" (cell). The Xappyh and Orus sectors are now completely colonized (with exception to 2 systems in the Orus sector which are Imperial). Atrivis sector: My 4 bulk transports while waiting for orders, have colonized the remaining systems in this sector. My VSD (from the 7th fleet in the Calaron sector) has been repaired, and is now escorting the bulk transports to the Moddell sector for colonization. My 6 ASY's at Generis are currently producing A-wings. Raw materials are around 150, refined materials are 0 with maintenance points around 2250. The Alliance headquarters is still located on the Chrondre system in the Jospro sector. 877

Thanks Mad! Yeah, that Red Super Giant at the end, must be about the size of our solar system (I like the SW touch )

... back in the day ... There was this one episode that had a red dragon that wore a biker helmet, he was really kickass. I don't remember his name or the episode, but I think he fought a blue dragon (the "bad guy" of the episode)

More on Maul for the Prequel movies would have definitely added some depth (as well as Dooku & Grievious). For the OT, I would have liked to have seen more on Piett and Ozzel, as well as Rieekan and Akbar (Boba Fett was already mentioned)

There was a youtube clip that showed comparisons of the planets & sun, and other stars in the Pluto thread (I think) before the crash . I thought Mad posted it But anyway, I did a search on youtube and found some nearly identical ones (I think the original that was posted had more comparisons. So if you did post it Mad, maybe you could find that particular clip again? ). (this has an audio commentary) The Size of Our World???? (shorter version without commentary) The previous version posted had music as a background, and timewise was somewhere between the two I just posted

There are a TOTAL of 435 congressmen and 100 senators. Only 1/3rd of the Senators are up for re-election (in any given election year), so that's 435 + (100)/3 = ~468 congressional/senatorial seats "up for grab". There are 2 Senators per state (50 states x 2 = 100 Senators), and there are 435 Congressmen (the number per state is determined by a state's population vs the country population). Sorry for the previous mistake EDIT: senior moment corrected

Should work just fine. Also, one must take into account the "type" of engine being used. A high bypass engine mixes in more atomspheric air with the exhaust to "cool down" the exhaust temperature. Besides, the IR signature is just another wave-length of light, so depending on what wave lengths the "invisibility cloak" is designed to conceal, IR might be surpressed as well

Those commercials really are great! We take our beer seriously here in the US Mad, can't you tell? Mr. Really bad breath breather outter Real Men of Genius: Mr. Gasoline BBQ Starter I wonder how many of these type of commercials they made?

Nice to know your post count per day has dropped to 15 from the previous 25 I'll re-post my old posts, when I feel like searching for posts worthy of posting ... or when I find the time

You might have given me verbal credit, but what I would really like is the "post count credit"; know what I mean

For a Canadian, Alex has some cool dance moves (good music to match) The Sim City: New Orleans is hilarious I've heard that on the radio but never knew someone put a videoclip together. Not only is that hilarious ... it's true (Yankee wussies ) I don't know why this was listed as a "dumb" law. I think it's quite ingenious, just extremely difficult to enforce (unless after the fact): "A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed." If "criminals" would follow the law in Texas, then it would be possible to end all crime (that would actually work everywhere)

Hey! Quit stealing my posts, or should I say my "old" posts you young whipper-snapper

OOC: Excellent post Def! Most enjoyable

Rebel Uprising II! Day 600, current status. Dufilvan sector: Han & Chewie have successfully destroyed a Nogrhi commando squad on Ord Pardon. Now that the team is back in the swing of things (after Han's injury), I send them to take out that pesking Imperial Army regiment that wounded Han. After a few days Han reports back that the mission was foiled, and Chewie has been killed! NOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo!! (I think Def16 has jinxed me!). Han has been made "general" of Ord Mantell for the time being while he mourns over the loss of his best friend (I don't have time for the self pitying doldrums like in the NJO series, but I'll give him some "time off"). I've stockpiled quite a few Y-wing long probes on Zebitrope to recon the Kanchen sector (specifically the Imperial systems of Munto Codro and Smarteel). Imperial ships continue to come and go to Ord Pardon (as soon as they arrive they push on to somewhere else). Every successful spy mission shows ships enroute, then with the next mission those ships are gone and new ships are enroute. ATF's are starting to arrive on Klatooine (2 out of 4), and I'm procuring infiltrators. Support for the Empire on Ord Pardon is ~50%, so I'm going to target the garrison and any other spec forces that hang around long enough. The Imperial system of Ord Trasi is nothing but a rock in space with mines/refineries. Kanchen sector: Jan Dodonna has been sent to start diplomacy on Culoon III. His first report back has foiled an Imperial diplomacy mission! Keep up the good work! Calaron sector: Imperial support on F'tral is growing, and my uprising missions are starting to get foiled. I keep sending them back. My 7th fleet (1 VSD, 2 Neb-B frigates, 2 escort carriers, 9 X-wings, 12 Y-wings) arrives at Norval II driving the blockading (and bombarding) ISD away. I take the fleet to Morvogodine to do some harassing of my own. The ISD is there with 2 galleons; they flee. After hanging around for several days, I decide to head back to Norval II. Upon my arrival, the Imperial ISD & 2 galleons show up! They were going to invade my system! I just got lucky and caught them in the act. I let them make the first move; the ISD is moving in! After several seconds of letting him move in and launch Tie Fighters, I send all of my fighters aft him. There is a brief pause, then the ISD makes to retreat. My fleet is not moving fast enough to catch him. The galleons have fled. My fighters get quite a few hits on the ISD before he jumps (shields were down to half, so there probably is some shield generator damage now). I send my fleet back to Morvogodine as that is the nearest Imperial system. My fleet arrives shortly after theirs (not much time for repairs). I send all fighters after the ISD again. The Imperial ships turn to flee. I get several more shots into the ISD before he jumps again. This time I have taken out the shield generators and hit hull! Next likely jump point is Skor II. Skor II has several Tie fighters defending the Imperial ships. I send all fighters after the ISD (again). The Imperials are staying to fight! The ISD shields are going down fast, and soon they're gone. The hull is starting to take a beating. Soon the ships systems start failing and then she blows! So much for the troops on aboard. My capital ships are still sitting watching the show. I send half the fighters after one of the galleons, a squadron of 5 Y-wings after the other galleon, and 5 X-wings against the Tie Fighters. So far I've only lost 1 Y-wing, with a couple of damaged Y & X-wings. The galleons turn to flee. I get several shots in before they jump, and then I finish off the Tie Fighters. I chase the 2 galleons now to F'tral. I get some more damage on them before they jump. Now I'm not certain to where they've jumped. I head back to Skor II, but they're not there. I fear that I've lost them. I quickly jump to Jerijador, and catch up to them once again. Jerijador has several Tie fighters defending the Imperial ships. Using the previous tactics, I ignore the fighters and go for the galleons. This time both ships and their precious cargo of troops are destroyed. I again eliminate the Tie Fighters. I'm now short a couple of Y & X-wings. Some recent intel shows several Imperial ships enroute to Kubindi. These appear to be the same ships (in several different fleets) that annihilated Phorliss in the Dolomar sector. I race up to Kubindi to catch the smaller Imperial fleets as they arrive. Apparently, I've wasted too much time chasing down the Imperial galleons, because the entire Imperial fleet is here waiting for me: 2 dreadnaughts, 3 VSD's, 1 ISD, 4 carracks and 1 lancer with 25 Tie Fighters. I let the Ties come screaming in letting my fighters and ships try to pick off a few of them. The carracks are moving in fast, and it's totally hopeless. I call for the withdraw. After action reports show only 4 Ties destroyed and 8 damaged. I on the other hand, have a large handful of damaged Y & X-wings, and lost 4 Y & 1 X-wing. My fighter forces are now severely depleted and I'm totally outgunned against the Imperial fleet. I've dispatch 8 Y & 8 X-wings from Averam in the Sesswenna sector to restock my fleet. After much waiting, I load up the new fighters and send some of the damaged ones back to Averam. I send my fleet back to Norval II as a small Imperial probing fleet is heading there. When I arrive they are gone, but I have now been joined by a CC-7700 interdictor. An intel report on Morvogodine show that Prince Xizor is now located there doing ship research, and DarthTex is still "General". Other intel reports show that an ISD and Star Galleon (both loaded with troops) are heading to Kessel. Intercept course has been laid in ... jump! Fakir sector: Important intel has reached the Alliance high command, Darth Vader is enroute to Halowan! He doesn't arrive for another 60+ days, so I have time to formulate my capture plans. OK, I've already formulated my capture plans; that took a game day. OK, I've dispatched a corvette to go to Kinyen and pick up Ben Kenobi (who's currently on a mission, but will be available when the corvette arrives, hopefully). Luke has aborted his diplomacy mission in the Abrion sector and is enroute to Sullust (in the Sluis sector). The corvette has picked up Ben and is enroute to Sullust; it will arrive 3 days after Luke. Luke has joined the journey to Berchest, and will arrive about two weeks before Darth Vader. Admiral Bel Iblis with the 16th fleet (3 Neb-B frigates, 3 escort carriers, 1 VSD, 1 Mon Cal cruiser and 1 interdictor with 6 A-wings, 11 X-wings and 16 Y-wings) has left Berchest to blockade Halowan in the meantime. The corvette with Luke & Ben arrive at Berchest and pick up 16 infiltrators before heading over to Halowan. Spy missions are continuing against Halowan for any last minute updates. The big day arrives and Darth Vader has ... slipped through the blockade. He has battled Luke, and Luke has learned of his heritage and escaped capture by Darth Vader. I send Luke, Ben and the infiltrators to capture Darth Vader, but their mission has been foiled and Luke has been captured! I then send Ben to capture Darth Vader and the infiltrators to rescue Luke. Ben has been detected by his former apprentice and his mission is foiled, but the infiltrators succeed in freeing Luke! I send only the infiltrators to capture Darth Vader, and they succeed! Darth is loaded onto the corvette with Luke and Ben and sent to Alliance HQ (to meet up with a captured Emperor Palpatine). After Darth's capture, an Alliance fleet has dropped out of hyperspace at Berchest. I'm not sure where this fleet came from. It's Snake Plissken! Oh well, better late than never. I send the fleet with Snake and his 14 infiltrators to Ando to reek a little havoc. Upon their arrival they're attacked by 10 Tie Fighters. The corvettes eventually take them out, but one of the corvettes has some shield generator damage. Snake and the infiltrators take out 3 Imperial Army garrison troops and a Nogrhi commando unit. With nothing left for them to do, I send in some spies and they can have some R&R. The spies report in that Jango Fett is planetside and 2 Imperial commandos and 2 espionage droids are enroute. I send Snake and some infiltrator decoys to capture Jango; mano-y-mano. Snake rules! He's captured Jango Fett! I send Snake's fleet to Delaya for another strike. Delaya is defended by 8 Tie Fighters. Their swarming tactics have taken out the shield generators on Snake's corvette and I order an immediate retreat. Intel has now come in on Delaya: 5 of the Tie Fighters are damaged, a carrack light cruiser is enroute due to arrive in a weeks time, there are 4 Imperial Army garrison troops and 4 Nogrhi commandos, with 20 more Nogrhi enroute plus 1 espionage droid enroute. I dispatch the 16th fleet to blockade Delaya. They will arrive in less than a week. Snake's fleet has been sent to the shipyards at Mrisst for repairs. Farfin sector: The 14th fleet (3 Neb-B frigates, 3 escort carriers, 2 VSD's and 1 interdictor with 24 A-wings, 12 Y-wings) under the command of Admiral James T. Kirk and Commander Taggert still have Charmath blockaded. A special gift has come early to Admiral Kirk, Piett has been captured trying to run the blockade to get planetside! I'm sending the 14th fleet through the sector to weaken Imperial defenses where ever possible. The fleet arrives at Phraetiss. There is not much here other than the garrison troops, so I bombard them. Along with the Gen Core II, I destroy all 4 Imperial Army garrison troops. Support for the Alliance increases somewhat, and Khomm has gone into uprising. Khomm is my next stop, and the 3 Tie Fighters are swiftly dealt with. Khomm has a Gen Core II, 2 Dark Troopers and 3 Imperial Army garrison troops. The first bombardment salvo takes out the Gen Core II and all of the troops except for a single Dark Trooper unit. They don't survive the second salvo. Khomm has now gone neutral. Intel has come in on an Imperial dreadnaught heading to Wistril. I'll try to catch him there, but it will arrive a couple of days before me. With my fleet departure from Khomm, Khomm has now joined the Alliance! Sabotage missions are continuing against Byss and Bilbringi with moderate results. Bilbringi and Tanaab have a sizable support for the Alliance (~40%). I'll be visiting these systems soon. Sesswenna sector: Not much has been happening here; the occasional Imperial recon, espionage or sabotage mission ... all failing. I've dispatched 8 Y & 8 X-wings to the 7th fleet in the Calaron sector from Averam. The next day the Imperial fleet arrives at Averam! Averam still has 8 A & 8 B-wings, but is up against 1 dreadnaught, 1 ISD, 1 VSD and 2 carracks with 10 Tie Fighters, 1 Tie Bomber, 1 Tie Interceptor and 7 War Droids, 2 Stormtroopers. I think the Imperials are looking to invade Alliance systems in this sector. I let the Imperials make the first move; they're retreating! A couple of days later the same Imperial fleet shows up at Bortras. Bortras is defended by 6 A-wings, 6 B-wings and 6 Y-wings. Again the Imperial fleet flees. Both of the intended systems had one thing in common: shipyards! The only other Alliance system in this sector with shipyards is Svivren (13 ASY's). Svivren though is WELL defended: 8 X-wings, 8 Y-wings, 24 A-wings, 1 Golan III and 1 assault frigate (with 3 more assault frigates under construction). Corellian sector: Princess Leia has finally got an Alliance foothold in this sector; Duros has joined the Alliance! I have requisitioned 12 spies (3 still under construction), 6 Mon Cal troops (2 still under construction), 10 A-wings (8 still under construction) and 3 ATF's (2 still under construction). Duros already has 3 Gen Core I shields. First priority when the spies arrive will be Corfai (where Grand Moff Conway is doing ship R&D), and Tralus (an Imperial fleet depot?). I still need some time to receive my units and buildup a good infrastructure for the Alliance in this sector. Quelli sector: Not much is happening here. The Imperials are pushing hard on the 2 Alliance systems of Pil Diller and Corstris (both require a minimum of 2 troops). I'm constantly discovering and foiling most of the recon/espionage/sabotage missions. Support is mostly for the Empire in this sector and on these two systems. Pil Diller has 3 Gen Core I's and 8 troops; Corstris has 15 troops, but no shields! Admiral Jiriss is systematically blockading different Imperial systems. The Imperial system at Rafa though hits back. Rafa has 8 Tie Fighters to put up against Admiral Jiriss's 2 bulk cruisers. The bulk cruisers are too old and slow against fighters, and are being picked apart. I call for the retreat, and now have 2 damaged ships. I think these ships will be permanently moored in space above Corstris until something better comes along. Dolomar sector: The entire sector belongs to the Alliance. All systems now have some defensive shielding. The Caprionril system has been designated the Alliance shipyard system for this sector. Construction will now commence to devote 100% of this system to its main purpose. Most of the system was laid bare by the Empire with a couple of exceptions, so the rebuilding will take some time. Phorlis (which was once the shipyard center) will be devoted to mines/refineries (Caprionril has more energy slots overall, and few are currently being used). Glythe sector: Mon Mothma has completed all diplomacy in this sector and is now enroute to Svivren in the Sesswenna sector. It appears another large fleet is starting to gather at Sedri again. It might be in my best interest to divert Admiral Kirk and the 14th fleet here ASAP. I'll have to check on this. Sluis sector: Nothing much happening here. Umgul (my shipyard planet) is constructing 2 assault frigates. Currently in orbit are 1 Mon Cal cruiser, 1 interdictor and 2 assault frigates, all under the command of Admiral Tallon Karrde. Jospro sector: The ASY's at Kiffex are constructing 2 bulk transports to colonize the Xappyh sector. Douglas III has 7 of its 12 ASY's constructing assault frigates for the defense of the Alliance HQ on Chrondre. Luke and Ben Kenobi are enroute to drop off Darth Vader to HQ, and will arrive in less than two weeks. Atrivis sector: My 4 bulk transports are waiting patiently for their orders. And I've started constructing 6 ASY's on Generis. Kanchen sector: I've sent several Y-wing long probes into this sector from Zebitrope in the Dufilvan sector. The Imperial system of Munto Cudro has somewhat gave up some info; only showing some Imperial ships in orbit before foiling the mission. The Imperial system of Smarteel has a couple of ASY's and ATF's, plus some recon droids and Imperial commandos. Other than that, the remainder of the sector still appears to be neutral. Raw materials are around 250, refined materials are 0 with maintenance points around 2000. The CC9600 frigate is now available. The Alliance headquarters is still located on the Chrondre system in the Jospro sector. 714

Well, I doubt you can "see" the scratch, but it could be the light refracting from the scratch. I had the LASIK surgery done on my eyes several years ago, and I have a very small dark "squiggle" in my vision, which is probably from the "cut" made on the cornea. Every once in awhile I find myself trying to "swat" it out of the way, thinking it's a bug

The UN is like a volunteer group, with the all of the countries as volunteer members. The UN as a whole, only has power to the extent as the members are willing to enforce it for the UN. Not only does the US have the "strongest military" (only in terms of being the remaining superpower. There are other countries with larger armies, etc), but the US is also the single largest contributor to the UN budget. Some UN policies are actions are the opposite of US foreign policy. Some people in the US would like to quit the UN (because it's basically useless), and divert the millions of $ back to the countries own needs. Countries causing problems act like little kids complaining that the US is being a bully when trying to enforce UN mandates/sanctions/whatever. That is why the US prefers coalitions, so that other countries may participate and the US can't be accused of acting unilaterally (Even the Iraq War is a coalition of many nations, although the US has the largest force there, enforcing the UN's own rulings, which it them criticizes ).

Well, if you're going to get revenue Tofu, you have to give me my cut if using "DarthTex" or his likeness as they are my registered trademarks That's the law. You can't make money off of someone (or their likeness) without negotiating a contract with said person for their permission.

If I had a side window, along with the lights I would add some curtains

But now that Alienware is owned by Dell, the question is: Are you still an Alienware loyal customer?

I don't understand Krytos, it's only a ~60 meter long bug Just get a VERY LARGE can of bug spray It must be on/in the camera. There is probably something special about space based cameras that would explain why everything is in focus. I would hazard to guess that the bug is SO close to the camera (compared to the surface) that the camera is not focusing on it. But since it is so close, it is in focus. Some people can see "floaters" (and that's the technical term according to opthomalogists) on their eye surface while focusing on something else (it is physically impossible to "focus" on something that's "on" your eye). Just my two bits worth

Rebel Uprising II! Day 500, current status. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK! Quelli sector: The uprising on Dathomir has been subdued! Emperor Palpatine is making quick work of restoring order and support to the Empire. Snake Plissken has arrived in system, and Admiral Roget Jiriss has tagged along with her fleet. The arriving fleet of 1 bulk cruiser & 2 corvettes joins the lone bulk cruiser blockading Dathomir. Snake is dispatched with 11 infiltrators and 4 decoys to abduct the Emperor. After several days of waiting, Snake report backs in ... success! The Emperor has been captured! When you want a tough job done right, get the right person for the job; and that person is Snake Plissken. Snake and the infiltrators escort the captured Emperor Palpating out of the sector taking the two corvettes heading to the Atrivis sector (to an Alliance occupied abandoned pirate base). With morale running high for the Alliance, the two bulk cruisers under Admiral Jiriss head to Vinsoth to bombard the Imperial garrison there. Disaster strikes! The bulk cruiser that arrived with Admiral Jiriss, must have been internally sabotaged by the same Imperial agent who messed by the gunnery systems of the other bulk cruiser. The bombardment takes out the Imperial Army garrison, but also destroys a civilian mining facility. The (temporary) Alliance systems of Amorris, Kirrek, and Selaggis have gone back to being neutral, and the neutral systems of Varn and Thrakia have rejoined the Empire! The Alliance systems of Pil Diller and Corstris have support slip some, but due to the arrival of additional garrison troops, those systems are still loyal to the Alliance. Pellaeon and Dorja eventually bring Rafa and Varn to support the Empire 100%. Admiral Jiriss is regulated to blockading different Imperial systems in this sector, but under NO circumstances are bombardments permitted! Dolomar sector: After the last raid by the Imperial Navy in this sector, I have my shipyards at Phorliss start to produce a large batch of B-wings (18 of them) upon the completion of a Golan III defense platform for Phorliss. A lone Imperial dreadnaught has blockaded Caprionril. Caprionril was a former Imperial system, without any defenses. Defensive facilities are still tied up in procurement and weren't scheduled for construction for at least another couple of months. The Imperial dreadnaught takes full advantage of Alliance bureaucracy and bombards the system. The dreadnaught focuses its attacks on the civilian production facilities. The 7th fleet (my sector fleet: 1 VSD, 2 Neb-B frigates, 2 escort carriers, 9 X-wings, 12 Y-wings) heads out from Tangrene (centrally located in the sector) to break the Imperial blockade at Caprionril, which will take several days. In those few days, the Imperial bombardment destroys 3 training facilities (2 of which were advanced), 5 mines and 1 refinery. My fleet arrives and the dreadnaught flees (my fighters score some hits before he jumps). A large Imperial fleet then arrives at Phorliss (5 VSD's, 2 ISD's 2 dreadnaughts, 6 carracks with 21 Tie Fighters). In defense I have the Golan III and 18 Y-wings. It now appears the attack on Caprionril was a diversion, pulling my fleet away from the real target. To make the best of this, I attack 2 of the carracks with 9 Y-wings each, and have the Golan III target one of the ISD's. The Y-wings manage to destroy 1 carrack, heavily damage another and attack a 3rd carrack before the Tie Fighters totally annihilate them. The Golan III has stripped the shields from the ISD and started damaging the hull, before the combined firepower of the Imperial fleet finally silences the Golan III. Now, it's a sitting duck being target practice for the Imperial gunners. It doesn't take long before it's debris starts falling from orbit. The Imperial fleet then bombards the system, again targeting civilian facilities. The first salvo takes out 9 shipyards (6 of which were advanced), and the following salvo takes out the remaining 3 (2 of which were advanced). Phorliss is now a floating rock in space (it still has its energy slots). My fleet at Caprionril is dispatched to Phorliss. The Imperial fleet is long gone by the time my fleet arrives, with the exception of 1 heavily damaged carrack. Other than its current shields, every system is offline. I dispatch all my fighters to attack the carrack. As soon as the first fighters arrive, the carrack's hyperdrive comes online. But the ship is so heavily damaged, I think the shields are the only thing keeping it together (the hull is about ~97% gone). Within a couple of shots, the carrack is destroyed. All construction yards in this sector are now producing Gen Core II's for all systems without shielding. After which, I will rebuild the shipyards at Phorliss. Dufilvan sector: All info on the Imperial system of Ord Pardon has dried up. Something is going on, but I don't know what. I've sent for Han & Chewie, so they can pull some recon and such for me (besides, they have the fastest arrival time). By the time they arrive, my 6 Bothan spies have finally succeeded in getting some info. Brandei is gone (he was probably the reason all my missions were failing), and 4 Nogrhi are enroute, as well as a VSD. I send Han & Chewie on a sabotage mission against one of the Imperial Army garrison troops. The mission is foiled and Han is injured. I let him rest up. It takes awhile, but he's finally healed; so back to that sabotage mission. In the mean time while Han healed, one of the Nogrhi has arrived and a probe droid is enroute. I send Han & Chewie after the Nogrhi. Calaron sector: Fwillsving has joined the Empire! I don't know who pulled that mission off, but I've sent my guerrillas there to slow down or hopefully reverse Imperial progress. Kubindi and Morvogodine each now have 4 SY's, and Jerijador has 4 ATF's and 1 TF. Apparently facility R&D is winding down for the Imperials as only Grand Moff Tarkin is left doing R&D. Wile E. Coyote has been spotted enroute to the Glythe sector and Orlok has disappeared. DarthTex is still General of Morvogodine. Imperial support on Skor II and F'tral is growing, and my uprising missions are starting to get foiled. I keep sending them back. An ISD has shown up over Norval II blockading the system. The ISD must be playing with me because it only bombards the garrison once every day. After several days it has destroyed 7 Sullustan units and 2 Army units. I've moved 3 Sullustan and 2 Army units to Kessel through the Imperial blockade. My 7th fleet has left the Dolomar sector and secretly arrived over the Jerijador system. I bombard the local garrison of 3 Imperial Army units and destroy them. In the process I've also taken out the single Imperial TF (not the advanced, but the old facility). The 7th fleet is now enroute to Norval II, and then will sweep through the sector eliminating any Imperial forces it encounters. The damaged ISD that attacked the SY's at Phorliss is now at Morvogodine making repairs. I have a couple of interdictors under construction and hope one will be ready for the 7th fleet soon. This ISD is last on the target list as I await my interdictor. Glythe sector: Jack O'Neill has been shipped off to the Dolomar sector to be the "general" on Ketaris for the "great rebuilding" project. Mon Mothma is now doing diplomacy at Vortex and has 98% support for the Alliance. The latest intell shows a single Imperial galleon at Sedri. The Imperial system of Elrood is a "rock" in space (no facilities) and has 2 espionage droids and 1 Imperial commando. Enroute to Elrood are 2 espionage droids, 1 Imperial commando and Wile E. Coyote. Farfin sector: The 14th fleet (4 escort carriers, 2 Neb-B frigates, 1 MonCal cruiser and 2 VSD's, with 12 A-wings, 8 X-wings and 16 Y-wings) with Pink 5 has arrived at Kinyen. Also, the 16th fleet (1 VSD, 2 escort carriers and 4 Neb-B frigates with 3 X-wings, 12 A-wings and 12 Y-wings) under Admiral James T. Kirk has arrived at Kinyen. My fleets are waiting patiently for the arrival of a CC 7700 interdictor coming in from the outer rim. While waiting, intelligence has received info that the large Imperial fleet that raided Phorliss in the Dolomar sector is enroute to Charmath! My interdictor will arrived with a couple of days to spare, to catch the Imperial fleet. As soon as the interdictor arrives, the 14th and 16th set out to Charmath. Charmath is defended by a damaged dreadnaught (the one that raided Caprionril) and a single Tie Fighter. With my combined fleet, the Imperial craft don't last very long. Two days before the large Imperial fleet is due to arrive, a small Imperial task force of 2 carracks drops in. I have no idea where these ships have come from; intelligence apparently is totally NOT "in the know". But like the previous dreadnaught, the 2 carracks don't last very long. The big day arrives, but the Imperial fleet is late. Two days later I'm still waiting. Apparently, I've fallen for some bad intelligence. I bombard the garrison out of frustration; they're wiped out. Great! (that was sarcastic) Pink 5 accidentally has taken out an Imperial SY, so Alliance support in the sector shrinks a tiny bit. "Sorry" doesn't help. I redistribute the fleets to be a little more balanced: the 14th fleet now consists of 3 Neb-B frigates, 3 escort carriers, 2 VSD's and the interdictor with 24 A-wings, 12 Y-wings under the command of Admiral James T. Kirk and Commander Taggert. The 16th fleet (now) under Admiral Bel Iblis with Commander Pink 5 consists of 3 Neb-B frigates, 3 escort carriers, 1 VSD and 1 Mon Cal cruiser with 6 A-wings, 11 X-wings and 16 Y-wings. The 16th fleet heads to Phraetiss to blockade the system and bombard the Imperial garrison. The garrison is eliminated, but a CY is also destroyed in the process. Pink 5 reported that [Pink 5 voice on] "The square-ish army buildings and CY thingies all look alike: blocky and drab. How am I supposed to know NOT to shoot at that particular one. Sheesh! They should like make those buildings in 'fuscha' so they stand out. I had this really hot fuscha outfit once; we went to the this totally fab club and ... what's wrong? Are you sick? Your face is all ... squished up and all." [/Pink 5 voice off] Ugh!! I transfer Pink 5 to the Golan III at Kinyen, hopefully she'll stay out of trouble there. Admiral Bel Iblis departs with the 16th fleet to Berchest in the Fakir sector. Fakir sector: Not too much is happening in this sector. The Empire has started to reinforce some of its systems (Delaya and Ando). Imperial Army units and Tie Fighters are being deployed/procured. Should all of the units arrive, each system will have 6 army units and 6 Tie Fighters. Leia and Jan Dodonna continue to do diplomacy and bringing all Alliance systems to 100% loyalty. The only thing of significance is the impending arrival of Darth Vader to Halowan (provided the information is accurate). He is still about ~60 days out. I might just have enough time to send a corvette to Kinyen and collect Ben Kenobi, and then to the Abrion sector to get (Jedi) Luke. Luke & Ben out to get Darth, Ooowww! Stay tuned for that one. Sluis sector: Nothing much happening here. Umgul (my shipyard planet) is stockpiling fighters for future combat replacements. There are 12 B-wings stockpiled, 5 enroute and 7 under construction, along with 20 X-wings stockpiled and 4 under construction. Sesswenna sector: The entire sector (with the exception of Coruscant) has joined the Alliance. New updated info on Coruscant shows General Griff in charge, Brandei and Iceman Kazanski enroute. All of the fighter cover has been stripped from the system and there are a couple of replacement Tie Fighters enroute. All the ASY's and ACY's have been scrapped. Several ships of the Imperial Navy are enroute (some carracks and VSD's, plus a lancer). All previous characters have departed ... to parts unknown ... Corellian sector: I've had no new updates on this sector. When time permits I will try some diplomacy on one of the neutral systems, to get my "foot" in this sector. Orus sector: With the disappearance of the large Imperial fleet from the Dolomar sector, and then their (supposed) arrival at Kinyen. I've decided to move Alliance HQ to a new location, Chrondre (next system over). I've fortified Chrondre with 4 Gen Core II's, 2 LNR II's, 2 Golan III's (1 is still under construction), 15 Y-wings, 12 A-wings, and 10 Army units with General Andrimetrum and Commander Narra. I have 3 interdictors under construction at Kiffex, and need to add some A & B-wings to defend HQ. Atrivis sector: My 4 bulk transports have arrived at Generis. I've sent one of the transports to garrison six of the uncharted systems for the Alliance. The ships are waiting patiently for their orders. Kanchen sector: The Imperial systems of Munto Cudro and Smarteel have been receiving facilities from several Imperial CY's in the core. I've yet to do a recon on these systems, but will definitely put them on the priority list for a future op. Raw materials are around 300, refined materials are 0 with maintenance points around 2850. The interdictor class ship became available shortly after my last post, and now the assault frigate is available. The Alliance headquarters is now located on the Chrondre system in the Jospro sector. 452

Rebel Uprising II! Day 400, current status. Glythe sector: Jack O'Neill is still on Vortex on a diplomacy mission. His "reports" on a lack of progress reflect on his diplomatic abilities (not very good). There has been no progress with the locals (even a tiny bit) with regards of joining the Alliance. Some interesting information has been received regarding the Imperial Navy at the outer rim system of Sedri. Apparently the bulk of the Imperial fleet is in orbit with other ships still enroute (5 VSD's, 3 ISD's, 3 dreadnaughts, 12 carracks, 1 escort carrier & 1 galleon). The fleet has a compliment of 33 Tie Fighters out of a max 51; there are no troops are command personnel. Whatever they are up to, it's not good for me. I'll definitely need to keep my eye on the fleet buildup and disposition. Farfin sector: Kinyen is the Alliance base of operations for this sector. There are over two dozen Bothan spies based here constantly getting info on the Imperial sectors. I have a dozen infiltrators onsite, another dozen enroute, and 6 more being trained. Ben Kenobi is also doing spy missions. I have 23 troops stationed here (1 Army, 12 Sullustan & 10 Mon Cals), with 2 Gen Core I's, and 12 A-wings. A Golan III is enroute for system defense. Interesting facts learned about the Empire so far: Charmath now has 3 SY's with 1 under construction. Ysanne Isard is "General" at Phraetiss, where Prince Xizor is doing facility research. Covell is doing troop training at Byss. Support for the Alliance is starting to grow on some systems from the tyrannical oppression of the Empire. There is some small support (~20%) on Khomm, Bilbringi and Tanaab, and nice support on Rishi (~45%). This sector is the only "main" Imperial controlled core sector. Dolomar sector: My fleet was enroute to break an Imperial blockade at Pantolomin. By the time they arrive the Imperial fleet has already left orbit for parts unknown (maybe Sedri with the other Imperial ships?). I send the fleet to Tangrene (at the center of the sector) to wait for further orders. Otherwise, all facilities are busy producing or upgrading war material for the Alliance. After a very long time, I get a brief message than Omwat is under blockade. By the time I check, the Imperial fleet is gone and I'm left wondering what ship(s) were involved. Shortly thereafter, the Imperial fleet is at Tangrene! The Imperial fleet consists of: 2 ISD's, 5 VSD's, 2 dreadnaughts and 6 carracks (with 21 Tie Fighters). To face the Imperial fleet I have: 1 VSD, 2 Neb-B frigates, 2 escort carriers, 9 X-wings, 12 Y-wings, plus land based fighters: 3 X-wings and 10 Y-wings. I'm not sure what to expect, other than to get my arse handed to me. I let the Empire make the first move. They're retreating! Quite the surprise I do say. I send all fighters to target one of the ISD's. By the time they make their first attack run, the Imperial ships make their jump to hyperspace. The next day, another Imperial fleet blockades Ketaris (1 dreadnaught and 5 carracks). They immediately start general bombardment. The system was only able to fend off one of the four attacks. Destroyed are 2 ACY's, 2 mines and 3 refineries. I dispatch my fleet from Tangrene, but it will be a couple of days before they arrive. The Imperial fleet is long gone when my fleet arrives. The general bombardment did not do anything to endear the public for Imperial support. I'm going to have to call in fleet reinforcements and deal with the Imperial fleet. More fleet reports will follow below. Sluis sector: The Sluis sector is also busy producing or upgrading war material for the Alliance. I have a small support fleet at Umgul: 2 escort carriers, 1 MonCal cruiser, with another MonCal cruiser under construction. There are 6 A-wings and 6 Y-wings available. These ships are to join the 14th fleet under the command of Pink 5. Her fleet is due to arrive in 20 days and consists of 2 escort carriers, 2 Neb-B frigates and 2 VSD's, with 6 A-wings, 8 X-wings and 10 Y-wings. Fakir sector: My base of operations for this sector is at Berchest. Han & Chewie are doing spy missions on the Imperial systems along with a dozen Bothan spies. My attempt to capture Darth Vader at Halowan has failed, as Darth has pushed on to another unknown destination. Leia has brought Carida over to the Alliance, and Jan Dodonna has brought Palanhi over to the Alliance. My guerrillas have successfully initiated an uprising on Bimmisaari. Han & Chewie, along with a couple of infiltrator squads are targeting the Imperial garrison. Within a short time, the missions are successful, bringing Bimmisaari into the Alliance. The neutral systems of Obroa-skai, Mrisst and Ralltiir also now join the Alliance. Leia and Jan Dodonna are working on bringing all Alliance systems to 100% loyalty. Spy missions continue against the remaining Imperial systems. With the exception of Jango Fett and some Imperial commandos enroute to Ando, all Imperial military personnel and units have left this sector. Calaron sector: I'm continuing spy missions on the four Imperial systems of Jerijador, Skor II, F'tral and Morvogodine. Skor II and F'tral are rocks in space (nothing here but mines and refineries) so far, but now Imperial garrison troops and Tie Fighters are being constructed and are enroute. Jerijador and Morvogodine are still difficult to get information on. A spy mission to Jerijador has finally succeeded, revealing 3 ATF's under construction and 1 enroute. Boba Fett is there with Jerjerrod and several Nogrhi enroute. I'm about to send Snake Plissken and his infiltrators to capture Boba Fett, when new intelligence arrives. Emperor Palpatine has been located on Dathomir in the Quelli sector. Snake and his crew take their corvette and head for the Quelli sector; Boba will have to wait. DarthTex continues to foil all missions to Morvogodine, but still information about the system comes to the Alliance (through other systems). Wile E. Coyote is now joined by Orlok and Grand Moff Tarkin doing facility R&D. Dufilvan sector: The Imperial system at Ord Pardon has received 3 Imperial Army troops for garrison duty. Brandei is still enroute, but all other Imperial personnel have been redeployed (including the Nogrhi). One squad on Imperial commandos are now enroute. The Imperial ships have departed for parts unknown. Other than that, this sector is quiet. Sesswenna sector: There are no changes in the sector. All facilities are busy producing or upgrading war material for the Alliance. Darth Maul is enroute to Coruscant, as well as Daala! Griff is the "General". Some Imperial ships are enroute, probably recalled from the other core sectors. Quelli sector: After the fiasco with my bulk cruiser awhile back, I have recalled it to blockade some of the Imperial systems. Apparently support for the Alliance is growing. It seems some of the latest systems to join the Empire may have been a bit hasty. My bulk cruiser blockades the Kirrek system which has a lone Imperial Army unit for garrison duty. A bombardment of the system eliminates the troop without any civilian collateral damage (the Imperial sabotage of the gunnery system has been repaired). Kirrek joins the Alliance! The Imperial systems of Varn and Thrakia have gone back to being neutral. The neutral systems of Amorris, Pil Diller, Corstris and Selaggis have now joined the Alliance. Support for the Alliance has grown on the remaining Imperial systems causing Dathomir into uprising! Intelligence on this sector shows Pellaeon enroute to Rafa for diplomacy, Dorja enroute to Varn for diplomacy, Iceman Kazanski enroute to Dathomir to subdue the uprising, and Emperor Palpatine already on Dathomir trying to subdue the uprising. There are approximately a dozen troops enroute to reinforce the 3 Imperial Army units there. I have dispatched Snake Plissken and several infiltrators on a corvette to this sector. It will be several weeks before they arrive and then try to capture Palpatine. To keep the Emperor here as long as possible (subduing the uprising), I sent my bulk cruiser to blockade Dathomir, denying him more garrison troops. Only 2 Fleet regiments and an Imperial Army unit have arrived before the blockade. It will only be a matter of time before an Imperial ship comes to break my blockade. I will start to cycle through the sector blockading Imperial systems to keep the Imperial Navy guessing as to my bulk cruiser's exact whereabouts. Corellian sector: There are no Alliance systems in this sector. The Empire controls 6 systems with the remaining four neutral (though starting to lean a bit towards the Alliance). Intelligence for this sector has been spotty, but some information has come in. There is at least 2 ISD's enroute/patrolling this sector. And an interesting tid bit, Grand Moff Conway is enroute to Corfai for ship R&D (and is due to arrive shortly). The entire Imperial ship R&D now rests with Grand Moff Conway, as I have already captured the "core" researchers (Klev, Thrawn, Lemelisk) at Phorliss in the Dolomar sector (see last report). Although his R&D capabilities are not shown in-game, his other stats are quite impressive. I'm sure Grand Moff Conway will probably succeed better than all of the others combined! Time will tell. Orus sector: Mon Mothma has completed recruiting, with Peter Quincy Taggert being the last to help the Alliance. Mon Mothma is now doing diplomacy on outer rim neutral systems. I've assembled a small strike fleet under the command of Admiral James T. Kirk, with General Bel Iblis and Commander Taggert. The fleet consists of: 1 VSD, 2 escort carriers and 4 Neb-B frigates with 3 X-wings, 12 A-wings and 12 Y-wings. The fleet in enroute to Tierfon in the Sumitra sector to pickup some troops. The fleet is scheduled to link up with Pink 5's fleet at Kinyen. From there I hope to link up with the 7th fleet at Ketaris. With this "super" fleet I hope to track down the Imperial Navy and destroy them. Of course, without an interdictor, this will be very difficult. I can only hope my ship R&D comes through in time. Otherwise, I'll head for Coruscant and try to capture it! I have a secret invasion force of 4 bulk transport loaded with troops enroute to Generis in the Atrivis sector. They are on standby for invasion orders! Raw materials are around 200, refined materials are 0 with maintenance points around 4600. Most SY's have been upgraded to ASY's, with about 75% complete. The B-wing is now being procured, and I expect an update on the next ship class to become available hopefully in the next month or two. The Alliance headquarters is still located on the Cardooine system in the Jospro sector. 372

The US might not ever use them, and it's been stated that they would never(?) be used as a "first strike" weapon. But, it is the policy of the US, should it be attacked by weapons of mass destruction by another nation, the US would respond in kind. Since most 3rd world despots can't afford nuclear weapons, their usual choice of weapons of mass destruction is biological or chemical. Those with the $ (Iranian oil $) can afford to try and develop nuclear weapons. Libya tried to develop nuclear weapons for years, but with sanctions from most of the world, their economy tanked and they could no longer afford it. They eventually agreed to give it up for the lifting of sanctions (and they gave up some of those pesky terrorists they've been hiding). Since the US is destroying its stockpile of biological and chemical weapons (developed for the Cold War), the only thing left is nuclear. If another country "gasses", bombs or starts a biological epidemic in the US, then the US will vaporize them. The Iranians have mentioned they will destroy Israel. They are known supporters of terrorist organizations throughout the Mid-East. Should they develop nuclear weapons, what's to prevent them from ... accidentally making an extra bomb, or losing one, that conveniently lands in the hands of terrorists? The terrorists would have no qualms of using the device to further their ideals (especially since the majority of us are called "infidels" and deserve to die anyway). They can deny they supplied any such nuclear device. Basically Iran can NOT be trusted. As for nuclear power, they can say all they want, but they can't prove to the world (because of past statements, and current gov't/religious views) they won't do it. All it takes is for them to enrich the uranium (that's used for the nuclear power) to get weapons grade material. Sure they can say they won't enrich it, but what about the fact they already have the necessary equipment to enrich it? If you're not going to enrich, then why do you have the equipment to do so? It's simple, they're going to develop nuclear weapons and deny it for the rest of their lives. And one last thing, nuclear weapons are the great "equalizer". If you were standing on the ... let's say South Korean DMZ, and over 1 million enemy soldiers come barrelling across the border at the same time, how are you going to stop them in time from completely overrunning the country. The US only has ~37,000 troops to help South Korea. Unless each US soldier can take out ~30 enemy soldiers before getting killed, they don't stand a chance. But one nuke at the right place, at the right time can make thousands of enemy soldiers disappear in a flash (<-- quite the pun, huh?). Nuclear weapons aren't superfluous at all, they will always make others think hard and reconsider starting a war, knowing they could get their butts fried even if they did win.

Yeah, and you do it in public so the rapist is humiliated (rape is about power, not sex). I also like the "three strikes and you're out" philosophy. OK, so maybe the first time was a fluke (or accident, depending on the crime); strike one. You now get another "chance" at life after paying for your crime. Screw this one up, and you get a final chance . Mess up anymore and ... so long sucker