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The following two brain scans were provided by the Neuro-Warfare branch of the Halcyon Security Division (HSD) for the purpose of analyzing the thoughts, behaviors, and information of notorious gangsters Vincent 'Troy' Cohen and Bruno (Deadname: Koraak Tel-Char). At the point of the recording of this archival shared, Bruno has since received his rebirth therapy, and Vincent is currently serving a long-term rehabilitative and reeducative sentence in the Erebus Supermax Prison on Io.
Warning: the contents of this archival shared may be especially disturbing to some audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.
Warning: the contents of this archival shard are for the sole purpose of analyzing the thought patterns and memories of certain degenerate criminals in an effort to ascertain vital information that can be used to eliminate their organizations. Only staff with clearance level Omega may view this archival shared, and the viewership of this archival shared by anyone of inadequate clearance level will lead to twenty years in prison and a fine of over a hundred thousand credits.
Booting up memory scan: Vincent 'Troy' Cohen, November 4th, 2446…
Loading and processing firmware data… translating… memories and subconscious simulated…
Beginning archival shard presentation…
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"Do you have visuals of the target, Troy?"
I knelt down in the alleyway, the bodies of me and my partners shrouded in long, waterproof, ashen-gray overcoats the shade of dirty street scum that we wore to ward off the constant heavy rainfall the color of osmium. Our faces were covered in a mix of scrapped respirators, visors, or full metal face masks carved with intricate designs to hide our identities. On our waists were our badges of honor: leather belts studded with interlocked rivets made from blackened titanium, each buckle forged of silver and shaped into the head of our gang's symbol, the black mamba. We hid amongst the shadows of the dark midday of Halcyon City, the heavy, oppressive rains blanketing the roads paved obsidian-black with asphalt and weathered concrete walkways. The street lamps were always on, like beacons of false hope in a storm of melancholy.
The city was dark and dreary as always, the planet of Proxima Centauri B, renamed Dawn's Lamentation over a century ago, orbited the red dwarf star of Proxima Centauri, and the atmosphere was thick with natural smog and ever-storming rain clouds. That didn't dissuade people from living here: there was plenty of money to be had for shrewd industrialists and hardworking pioneers, even in the urban sprawl. But that life also came with risks, especially for those on the bottom of the totem pole.
I was a ganger, and we were criminals; full stop. I won't assault you with some spiel about how we're the good guys fighting oppression because, at the end of the day, we could be just as bad, if not worse, than Halcyon's Security Division, or the HSD for short. We were traffickers, killers, extortionists, and money launderers. We dealt with everything from stolen tech and military-grade hardware to hard drugs and sentients.
Yes, sentients. We trafficked sentients, but not in the way you might think. They weren't prisoners, in fact, we were their saviors if they had the cash. We had developed a reputation for fighting the power, but it was still business: sure, freeing captives from the clutches of the Protectorate. The disruption of its many oppressive organizations held a certain satisfaction in my heart for sure, but we didn't help those who couldn't pay unless someone else paid on their behalf. It was about making sure me and my gang, my family, could live a decent life for another day.
It helped that most of us joined after leaving the state yard for partaking in acts of 'degeneracy' and 'anti-xenopet illegalities' as if those terms meant anything anymore other than that we were a threat to the local status quo. It was hard to pick up a job as a former inmate when even in something as harsh and backbreaking as a job in the iridium mines near the poles when the employment office had you blacklisted as a degenerate, which lead to the formation of many of the gangs: we needed to make a living somehow, and when all social programs were cut off from you unless you submitted for 're-education' and the only way to put food on the table was subverting, breaking, or even downright fighting the law, you did what you had to do or you died on the streets a scorned beggar.
It wasn't like the HSD made it easy for us on even a good day: the local HSD units were armed to the teeth with advanced, military-grade hardware that you'd often see on the front lines of the Second Authority War: armored assault transports, a myriad of advanced war droids, all sorts of chemical countermeasures that made tear gas seem like putting the garden hose on mist mode, and of course advanced firearms. Add that to the fact that they were authorized to use deadly force when they deemed it necessary and you had a ruthless, heartless, and nearly unstoppable enemy. But we could make that work: we weren't trying to stop them, just to withstand them.
"Yeah, I got eyes on the prize, Koraak; seven armored transports, two for droids, five for prisoners."
Today wasn't a day for a normal job: we were getting bolder, cockier, more ambitious. Our numbers had swelled for the last few years after the raid at Barnard's Star and the fall of the Blood Dragon Mafia. Their leader, Saito Yasuhide, had committed seppuku as their manor burned, and his twin sons had gone down fighting rather than allowing themselves to be captured simply to face a firing squad. In the aftermath, many of the family's associates had fled to the surrounding systems, and with the sheer size and scope of the criminal underworld found here, it was no wonder that many people who had developed skills of the less legal variety had decided to form ranks with the gangs, and with them they brought guns, tech, knowledge, contacts, and even something that we thought wasn't possible beforehand: a semblance of peace between the gangs, or at least the closest thing to peace that gangs could cultivate effectively. With the fall of the Blood Dragons, we saw the writing on the wall, and the writing couldn't have been clearer: work together or die together.
"Sounds like a massacre, Troy: are you sure we can handle seven?"
"We ain't got no choice, Cinder: this job's double the usual rate, and that's not including the weapons and gear we could scrounge if this goes well," I hissed, my eyes scanning for any resistance. There were at least four guards for each van, not to mention at least eight droids in total, meaning that we were already outnumbered, but we had the element of surprise: we could make it work. "So put your balls in your purse and get ready to spill some blood."
Koraak snorted at our antics, which sounded like someone pulling the ripcord on a lawnmower. He was a veteran Russu Corsair, and while his past of slaving, raiding, and killing was unsavory, so were the lives we'd lived, so who were we to judge? All we cared about was that he was a brutal and capable fighter and a loyal brother in arms. It turned out that being a ganger wasn't much different from being a Corsair: you lived and died by a code of honor, you fought to the death for your brothers, and you lived to die for the sake of your gang and your family, simple as that. In a strange, ironic way, it was an incredibly honest way of life: we were under no illusions as to what we were, what we did, and why we did it, and we'd long since accepted it. The Russu related to us in that aspect, in many ways I could respect, which is why I hated what the Protectorate was doing, and why I couldn't grasp how most of humanity could just collectively lose their marbles so long ago. What had happened for us to deem all other life below us in such a demeaning and infantilizing way?
The Russu were a race of tall, muscle-bound Saurians with avian features, and Koraak was no exception: reaching almost seven feet in height and weighing over four hundred and fifty pounds, he could be an absolute menace if he so desired. His skin was covered in stubby, knobby scales and dense plumage, with elegant feathers adorning the ridges along his back as well as his forearms, elbows, knees, and the crests on his head. He almost looked like how paleontologists described velociraptors, with razor-sharp talons, feathers shaded in vibrant greens, reds, and purples, and a maw full of sharp teeth, but at the tip of his snout was a sharp, beak-like growth meant for ripping flesh off the bone.
The Russu were strange as hell, but they also looked almost cute in the same way a fully grown alligator was cute: they were obviously dangerous, but humans would always have this innate desire to anthropomorphize them and to pet them for some inexplicable reason, although common sense usually prevented that, at least amongst the very few of us left that were sane.
"Shut up, Troy! All I'm saying is that that'll be rough, and you know it," hissed Cinder. Cinder was a tall black man whose coffee-colored skin was covered in tattoos. He wore an ebony mechanic's jumpsuit with metal inserts underneath his grimy overcoat covering his body and a faded black respirator on his face. His eyes were a startling blue that seemed sorely out of place, and his hair was braided into thick cornrows along his scalp. He wore a pair of heavy black combat boots and palmed his compact shotgun in his hands, the square barrel less than seven inches. Like a lot of the weapons the Black Mambas carried on their persons and dealt in, they fired caseless ammunition; in Cinder's case it was 16x40mm caseless shotshells filled with depleted uranium micro-flechetes no thicker than a toothpick. Cinder nervously fiddled with the detachable tube magazine underneath the barrel, his hands shaking. Despite the shit I have him, I didn't blame him for being anxious: I was anxious too, even if I refused to show it. The biting cold of unease and pessimism was in my stomach, and I ran all the way that this job could go wrong in my head over and over.
"Just hold yourself together, this ain't anything we haven't done before, there's just more of it," I reassured Cinder, "besides, we're not alone; we have reinforcements across the street. We'll make it out of this alive."
Cinder nodded almost absentmindedly, his eyes downcast and his breathing shallow. I turned from him and back to Koraak, who was making sure he had everything on his person; he had a synthetic leather bandoleer across his chest that contained the heavy eight guage depleted uranium slugs he kept loading and unloading into his much larger, longer, and more traditional shotgun he nicknamed ‘carnage’ and several leather straps that held his Tu'shan daggers: traditional Russu pyramidal blades forged from a silvery alloy with all three edges serrated and the tip barbed to leave behind horrible, gaping wounds that gushed blood. They were wickedly sharp and absolutely straight like a stiletto, and the hilts and pommels were beautifully decorated. He wore no clothes underneath his overcoat to cover the countless scars and blemishes he's earned in combat across his chest and abdomen, and instead of a normal respirator or visor, he simply wore a hood over his head and some traditional Russu facial armor to protect his mouth, eyes, and cheeks.
"You ready to fight, Koraak? The caravan will pick up and leave soon."
Koraak was silent for a moment before nodding, a human gesture he had picked up after serving as a soldier with the Black Mambas for years. "I'm always ready to fight," he said before lifting up his shotgun and aiming down the sights at the reinforced front wheels of the first armored car in the caravan. He exhaled and fired, the slug ripping through both front tires and causing them to deflate and fall apart. The echo of the shot rang through the alleyway and the street, causing pedestrians to panic and flee the scene as heavily armored guards poured out of the side doors of the armored cars and unholstered their carbines.
"Go, now!" I shouted, and both me and Cinder rushed out into the fray, our guns raised. Koraak was right behind the two of us, providing covering fire with his shotgun. Several guards fell quickly, Koraak's precise fire and the sheer force of the depleted uranium slugs putting them down for good as their heads were vaporized or their chest cavities were turned to mush. He emptied the tube with one final shot that painted the grey matter of a security guard on the door of one of the armored cars, then racked the shotgun and expertly loaded it in threes, his hands deft and agile as he reached for more slugs faster than any human.
With the cacophony of our initial assault, more Black Mambas poured out from the alleyways and the subways, armed to the teeth with all manner of weapons; shotguns, submachine guns, pistols, machetes, baseball bats, and all manner of homemade explosives. Molotovs and more potent concoctions shattered against the asphalt, herding in the caravan guards with their volatile contents as they were quickly gunned down. The assault was working, and we were winning.
Then I heard the robotic whine of a combat droid activating, and my heart sank. One of the armored cars in the back activated the four combat droids it held, the robotic assault units detaching from their charging ports on the sides of the large van and began to form up, each armed with a terrifying array of deadly weapons meant to quash any and all resistance. They were blocky, soulless, utilitarian things that stood at eight feet tall, with flat feet meant for stomping and blades, grasping claws designed to lacerate flesh and shatter bone. On each shoulder was a weapon: on the left was a multi-barrel rotary grenade launcher loaded with 15mm concussion grenades, and on the right was a burst-fire splinter cannon. They were all painted a dull grayish-green, the color of Halcyon's Security Division, although some had a few decorations on them: the one closest to me had a bit of graffiti on the side that said Mr. Hugs in Comic Sans, which I couldn't decide whether that made it more or less terrifying. They split up without hesitation and began to scan the chaotic battlefield, their single, red, beady lenses the security forces had the gall to call eyes focusing on specific targets to eliminate.
An entire group of Black Mambas was torn to pieces by a cloud of flechettes as one of the droids fired a withering three-round burst of shotshells from the four gauge splinter cannon mounted on its shoulder. Another picked up a Black Mamba in its hand and crushed her skull effortlessly before tossing her limp body to the side, its single, red, remorseless robotic eye tracking a new target. Most bullets that struck their thick armored chassis simply bounced off, and those that could pierce the armor didn't seem to phase the droids whatsoever, merely notifying them of a new potential target.
"Damnit," I shouted as I gunned down another guard only for two more to take his place. "Cinder! We gotta pop open the cars and scram! Get the maglock cutters!"
Cinder rushed and slid over through a dirty puddle, pulling out a maglock cutter from the inside of his coat and slipping it onto the back door of the first van. It immediately went to work, drilling through the maglock with a high-powered plasma torch nozzle, and within ten seconds we heard the telltale clunk of the maglock separating. I yanked the door open and ordered I side, ready to escort the prisoners out… only for my face to contort in shock and horror.
The back was empty. There was not a single soul inside of the back brig of the armored car.
"What the fuck…" Cinder gasped, his eyes wide with shock. "What the actual fuck… what the fuck is this, Troy?"
"I… I don't…" I stuttered the sounds of battle and carnage drowned out by the sound of blood rushing in my ears. All five cars were supposed to be filled with recently captured Russu from the front lines ready to be housed in the local Xenopet-Megaplex for processing and conditioning. The fact that this one was empty…
Suddenly, it all hit me at once with the force of a freight train, but it was too late. "We were set up, Cinder; our fucking client either squealed or was crooked to begin with…"
"Fucking bitch!" Cinder shouted as he spun around in an enraged arch, anger growing in his eyes. He aimed his shotgun at an approaching security guard and reduced his upper body to a fine red mist with a cacophony of shotgun blasts. "We gotta get everyone who's left out of here! Do you know what this means? The Jurors will be here soon, and then we're all going down! We gotta go, fuck the job!"
I grit my teeth. Not the Jurors, anything but the Jurors.
"Fine, gather everyone who's left and we'll slip through the sewers, the droids are too bulky to follow us there…"
As I spoke, my eyes wandered to the seventh and final armored car, the second of the droid cars, and my blood froze. Not only were all four ports empty, but they were also smaller and more shallow than the ports for the combat droids. That could only mean one thing.
"Oh fuck! Cinder, we gotta get our Russu members out of here! They've got arachnid droids!"
Arachnid droids were the stuff of nightmares. Resembling blocky, robotic arachnids the size of a manhole cover, they were specifically designed to take down sentient aliens, specifically the Russu, using sickeningly non-lethal means. They were equipped with full-body adaptive cloaking to blend in with their environments, paralytic agents that they could inject into their victims, built-in taser barbs, psychedelic gas ports for crowd-control, and a narrow-coned cacophony canon that disabled the Russu using incredibly high-pitched sounds that only they could hear, forcing them onto their knees and clutching the backs of their heads where their auditory organs were stored in agony. But worst of all was their stygian spinnerets: special ports near the end of their robotic abdomens that excreted a viscous, latex-like substance made up of millions of nano-bots. This substance could be used to render Russu blind, deaf, and mute by having it forced onto their faces, the black substance growing and enveloping their heads and working its way into every orifice. It was completely permeable to the standard atmosphere, but any Russu who had been 'webbed' was completely helpless and essentially captured, and the 'webbing' was both nearly indestructible and nigh impossible to remove without a triple-encrypted override key that was found in every arachnid droid's code, which was corrupted when the droid was destroyed or hacked into. Once you were 'webbed', you were essentially captured and the standard protocol was to leave you to the wolves since the nano-bots could be tracked, endangering the entire gang.
I turned just as I heard the deafening sound of Koraak discharging his shotgun, and I saw him squaring off against one of the assault droids. The droid has obviously been programmed to not use lethal force against Russu if possible, as instead of simply killing Koraak with it's shoulder-mounted splinter cannon, it approached with its claws extended, blades retracted. Koraak continued to back away and fire, pumping the droid full of depleted uranium slugs, its armor crumbling inward as the slugs pierced its chassis and damaged its internal cyberstructure. Eventually, Koraak ran out of slugs and instinctively reached to his bandoleer only to find that he had no more shells left at all, and he drew one of his knives and his sidearm, a simple high-caliber handgun. He tried to take down the droid with his handgun, but the bullets didn't even seem to affect the droid upon penetration, it's claws still extended as it attempted to apprehend Koraak.
In the corner of my vision, as I watched Koraak battle with the droid, I noticed a faint shimmer in the air on one of the black streetlight poles that was right behind him. I focused on it and blinked, believing my eyes had deceived me for a moment before realizing that it was actually a cloaked arachnid droid stalking Korvaak, ready to pounce and incapacitate him.
Before I could shout, it leaped from the pole and landed on Korvaak, causing him to shout in surprise while it began to coagulate its horrifying stygian webbing to disable Korvaak. Korvaak tried to wrestle it off of him, but the droid was agile and fast, clinging onto Korvaak and skittering around across his upper body as he attempted to grab it, forcibly wrapping the sticky black liquid across his face as he gagged like a spider wrapping up a fly. I rushed towards him to try and help, but I felt pain explode in my ribs as I was struck with the arm of the closest combat droid and launched into the chassis of a parked car, the metal denting from the sheer force of impact. I groaned in pain as I saw stars and my head spun, and just then I felt a blinding light be cast over me.
“Drop your weapons and kneel with your hands on your head, or you will be pacified with deadly force!” Shouted a loud, artificially deepened voice from above. “I repeat, drop your weapons and kneel with your hands on your head! Neither hostility nor hesitation will be tolerated!”
It was the Jurors, I could feel the air being pushed around from the thrusters on their drop ships, and I could hear screams and shouts as my fellow Black Mambas were quickly gunned down. I couldn’t see well since I was seeing double, but I could hear the slaughter as my eyes dimmed and I began to lose consciousness, my regrets crawling up my throat like vomit.
I’m sorry was all I could think as everything finally went dark, and the sounds of chaos, destruction, and combat faded away.
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Memory halted due to loss of consciousness. Booting next available memory in shard…
Booting up memory scan: Koraak Tel-Char Bruno, November 5th, 2446…
Loading and processing firmware data… translating… memories and subconscious simulated…
Beginning archival shard presentation…
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“Good morning, sleepyhead; it’s time for breakfast.”
My eyes shot open. I was not in the street anymore, nor was I home in my bed with my mate. I knew instantly that something was horribly wrong. I tried to stand up, but I couldn’t gain the leverage to do so: my ankles had been shackled together with magnetic cuffs and my arms were forced together in front of me.
I was wearing some kind of thick shirt. It was warm, fluffy, and comfortable on the inside, but it still made me incredibly uncomfortable that my arms didn’t have a free range of motion. I looked down to see that I was wearing some human garment I had heard about before, a straightjacket maybe?
The entire room was padded: the walls, the floor, even the ceiling. There was no bed or furniture; the floor was soft enough to serve as a bed in itself. There was nothing else except for the soft reddish-orange lights on the ceiling that somehow made me sleepy. I blinked slowly for a moment, my body screaming at me to just lay back down and lose consciousness, but I couldn’t do that: I needed to figure out where I was and how to escape.
Then I noticed who was speaking to me: it was a short human female, with crow's feet around her blue eyes, blonde hair braided down her back, and freckles all over her face. She had a soft smile on her lips, and her forehead was slightly crinkled. She wore a full-body white lab suit with a white overcoat and a pair of glasses for snugly on her face.
"There we go, now I can see those pretty eyes, such a beautiful shade of teal," she cooed softly, "You're such a handsome boy, even with all those scars: I'm sure you'll be adopted very quickly once we get you fixed up."
Fear gripped my heart as I began to piece all the evidence together. I had been captured; I was no longer on Halcyon, and instead, I was in one of the horrific space-born facilities I had heard so much about from the inside agents. I started to hyperventilate and squawk like a newborn hatchling, my eyes dilating in panic. This couldn't be happening! This has to be a nightmare!
The human woman merely wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into an embrace, cradling my head under her chin and speaking softly. I couldn't bite at her or claw at her: I was muzzled and wearing a straight jacket, so I had no choice but to allow her to coddle me.
"It's okay, sweetheart: I understand you're scared, but Julie's here to make all the pain and bad thoughts go away," she said as if she was comforting a child, which made anger blossom in my chest indignantly. "I'll be your caretaker for the next few months, and I'm going to make sure you're healthy, happy, and most importantly safe while you're under our care. I'm sorry to say that includes your restraints and restrictive clothing, but we have to make sure you aren't a threat to yourself or others before we can determine if it's a good idea to remove you from suicide watch."
I growled under my muzzle. Suicide watch? They must have had a lot of instances of Russu taking their own lives after being captured, something I wished I had been able to do before that damnable droid launched itself onto me and…
I shuddered at the thought of the black, viscous substance forcing itself into my nostrils and down my throat and windpipe, gagging me and rendering me completely helpless. It was so cold, so harsh, like slime, and when I had tried to tear it off of my face it merely attached itself to my claws and bound my talons together. I remember squirming on the ground as it enveloped me, unable to see, hear, or speak, and then everything went dark in an instant. It was the most horrible thing I had ever experienced, which was saying something.
"You alright, sweetheart? Oh, I know, you're probably hungry! Here, try some of this." She held up a piece of what looked like raw bacon and wiggled it in front of me before reaching out to remove my muzzle. In an instant, I attempted to snap at her only for pain to blossom in my forehead and my eyes to roll up in my head as I convulsed. It was like something was attempting to drill through my skull from the inside, and every breath felt empty and labored.
"Now, that didn't feel very nice, did it? This is why we have countermeasures in place because we can't trust you yet, sweetheart! Don't worry, we'll work on breaking you of all those bad behaviors and habits while you're here; after all, a well-trained pet is a happy pet!" She began to stroke the crests on my head as I slowly recovered, and she snugly fit the muzzle back onto my snout. "But I won't hold it against you this time, sweetheart; you're just scared and confused, but I'll make all the pain go away."
I struggled in the straight jacket, trying my best to break out of it, but it was no use. Eventually, I became exhausted and despondent, allowing my new caretaker to have her way with me as she gently ran her fingers through my feathers and along my ridges, quietly speaking to me in a hopeless attempt to cheer me up. She seemed genuinely concerned for my well-being, which concerned me even further: who could be this naturally twisted while attempting to be as benevolent and kindhearted as possible?
I felt the pain and terror build up in my chest, the anxiety from what horrific activities I imagined they had planned for me here. I couldn't take the infantilization, the lack of any autonomy, the dehumanization, and what I feared the most was if the rumors of 'rebirth' were true: would they take my personhood from me?
Suddenly, I felt her whisper to me. "Don't worry sweetheart, I know you're so scared and confused, but I promise you everything will be okay: it's going to be your birthday soon, and then everything will get better." She ran her fingers through the feathers along my crest lovingly. "It will be such a wonderful day, and then we'll choose for you the most wonderful family, and you'll spend the rest of your life happy in your forever home! Doesn't all of that sound wonderful?"
I wanted to die. I wanted to disappear. I didn't want to lose myself, not like this, not to these monsters!
"It'll be your birthday soon," she said wistfully as if she was remembering similar events to this in the past like I wasn't the first she'd done this too, "and you'll never be sad again."
I realized that I wasn't the first the stay in this particular cell, and I knew for certain that I wouldn't be the last: I'd end up like my brother, a broken, erased mess of a pathetic creature, reduced to nothing more than a pet for these humans to amuse themselves with.
"We took the liberty of picking out a nice name for you, sweetheart! Now, let me just slip this little programming chip into the port slot on your occipital bone, and... there we go! It will also help you calm down a bit and adjust."
I felt the chip begin to invade my mind, suppressing my thoughts. What made me me was slowly being ripped out of my mind. I couldn't remember my name my name is Bruno, and I needed to get out! I can't let them do this to me! Somebody help me! I was a good boy.
##Do not think. You are a good boy.##
I tried to scream, but my voice wouldn't work: I had trouble forming any words at all, the confusion clouding my mind like wet, slimy eels curling around my brain and sinking their teeth into its folds like needles. I couldn’t scream any longer, because I had nothing left: the chip was slowly beginning to take everything from me, robbing me of my identity and branding a new one into my psyche with a white-hot iron. Julie simply held me close, attempting to reassure me as I awaited the inevitable demise of my personhood. Soon I would be just like my brother: erased. My mind would be shaped into the mind of a loyal plaything, like a Dog.
##Relax. Allow caretaker [Julie] to comfort you. You will let go of your burden.##
Soon, everything was a blur. I quickly found myself resting my head in her lap as she whispered to me and fed me, my eyes bleary and my head fuzzy. I couldn't remember my name anymore My name was Bruno, and I needed to break free from this trance relax, and allow her to help me; good boys didn't resist help.
##Good Boy. Do not think. You are a good boy.##
You can't... I...
##Good boy.##
I wouldn't… good boys don't… I…
##Good boy##
I was a good boy… I was a good boy…
I was… I was… a good… boy…
Someone help me, please! I don't want to be erased!
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The following script is from episode #343 of Halcyon After Dark, a popular late-night and current events talk show hosted by Melinda Carter. This specific episode was sponsored in part by the Halcyon Security Division, with Director Lochlin O'Brien joining as a guest star to talk about the changing crime statistics in Halcyon City and the HSD's recent successes in busting organized crime as well as their plans for addressing the growing criminal underworld.
MC: Good evening Halcyon! I'm your host, Melinda Carter, and you're watching Halcyon's most popular late-night talk show, Halcyon After Dark!
The crowd claps and cheers as Melinda walks on stage and sits behind her desk, her glittering red dress waving as she does so from the special effects.
MC: Tonight we have a very special guest here to tell us about the state of crime in the city and his plans on resolving it: please put your hands together for the HSD's very own Director, Lochlin O'Brien!
The crowd cheers some more as HSD Director Lochlan O'Brien, a tall, muscular, caucasian male in his early forties with red hair and a well-trimmed beard steps into the room, waving at the crowd with a bright smile. He sits in the armchair angled next to Melinda's desk and gives her his full attention.
MC: It's so good to have you on the show, Director! Tell me, how are you doing on this fine evening?
LO: I'm doing excellent, Melinda: every day I wake up feeling fulfilled knowing I'm serving Halcyon to the best of my abilities and then some."
MC: That's the spirit, Director! Now, I know this question is just on everyone's lips, so I have to ask: how successful was the recent gang bust? I heard HSD forces took out dozens of gang members and liberated at least a dozen Russu Hounds from their abusive clutches, but I know that everyone in the audience and at home wants to know the numbers.
LO: I'd be glad to tell you, but I do have to preface this by saying that we still lost a lot of good officers that day, and while we did strike a crippling blow to one of Halcyon's biggest gangs, it doesn't change the fact that each death is a tragedy, and we're taking steps to prevent them in the future. That being said, those valiant officers did not sacrifice themselves in vain: we had over a dozen confirmed kills and several arrests, including the rescue of several corrupted Russu hounds.
MC: That's excellent, Director: proof that even when the number of degenerates and scum grow by the day, the HSD will always be here to keep the citizens of Halcyon safe.
LO: Absolutely, Melinda, and we're always working tirelessly to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our units, as well as racing to stay several steps ahead of the many gangs of Halcyon at all times. My newest goal as Director is to vastly increase the funding given to our Robotics Department and our Neuro-Warfare Department to potentially reduce the number of casualties we may experience in the future, as well as to quickly and effectively detain, and if necessary, eliminate criminals. Within the next decade, I want to double the number of automated units each Security Platoon is assigned: droids are the future of public safety as well as countless other industries, and it would be foolish to be left behind.
MC: That is quite a lofty goal, Director: what about the displaced jobs from the increased automation? What will the union say?
LO: And to that, I say: what misplaced jobs? We aren't replacing our honored and beloved service members with droids, Melinda, we are simply supplementing our units with more droids to ensure that future gang assaults end with fewer HSD casualties and more gang members in prison or eliminated, simple as that.
MC: That makes much more sense, Director, thanks for clarifying. Now, I have one more question that I'm sure much of Halcyon wants to know the answer to before we take a short break: what plans do you and your fellow directors have to make long-term progress in reducing crime beyond just increasing funding? Have you proposed any plans to strike at the source of where crime and degeneracy flourish?
OL: That's an excellent question, and one I am proud to answer: my constituents and I have been working tirelessly on a two-step plan to greatly reduce crime levels in Halcyon. Step one would be to prevent people from becoming criminals and degenerates at all in the first place: a lot of young men and women, but especially young men, have lost either one or both parents or even a sibling, aunt or uncle, or even a close friend by the brutality of the Second Authority War, and while the service of their lost loved ones will always be recognized and honored, many of these young men and women are left bitter, angry and lost without the guidance these people give them in their lives. Oftentimes they seek to fill that void with others who claim to relate to them: career criminals. These criminals will fill their heads with lies and false narratives to make them feel like they're fighting back against the 'evil protectorate government' that took their loved ones from them by sending them off to war when in reality it was the rogue Xenopets of the Triarchy that took them away by resisting their just and inevitable unburdening.
In response, I have proposed a slew of special programs that will make sure local law enforcement and HSD officers are present and contributing to their local community, and we'll be providing easy and light job openings for youngsters and teens looking to make a career for themselves in the force when they grow up. We want to let these lost souls know that there are people who care about them, people who understand them and that you shouldn't turn to degeneracy to feel fulfilled. We want to help the youth of our great society soar to new heights!
MC: That sounds like a wonderful beginning to your plan, Director, but what about the second step?
LO: Well, the second step is to prevent criminals and degenerates from becoming repeat criminals. Sure, they've made their mistakes, some worse than others, but they're only human like the rest of us. Some of them have been through hell: some are traumatized veterans who don't know how to adapt to normal life, others were recruited when they were young and don't know that there's a better way to live, and even more are mentally ill. We're alone in this galaxy, and we can't leave so many people behind. That's why we've come up with an excellent solution: we've set up isolated communities on distant moons and frontier planets where these criminals can be reeducated, rehabilitated, and allowed to repay their debt to society. When they're deemed 'reformed' and have graduated from our program, they'll be granted a hefty stipend and their criminal record will be deemed irrelevant, allowing them to reintegrate and become functioning members of our proud society.
MC: all of these sound like incredible steps forward in the fight to better our society and make real progress, Director. Sadly, we do have to step away for a moment, but you best believe I'll be back, Halcyon, and we'll be asking the Director here some burning questions about allegations over the quality of life Erubus Supermax! Now, a word from our sponsors!
Halcyon Xenopet-Megaplex! Everything your xenopet could ever need in one place! Adoption is now free-
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Good, you’re still alive! The rest of this shard appears to be corrupted, which means this particular trail seems to have run cold here, but do not despair; you need to keep searching. Find out what happened. Find the truth.I cannot guide you any longer: they've already found me, and if I remain in contact with you they'll find you as well. Take the archival database, and see what you can piece together. Maybe if we discover what truly happened we can put an end to this madness once and for all. I'm counting on you. Don't cry for me, I don't fear death, but I fear what they'll do to me to get to you: there are far worse fates than death, after all.

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Get ready to enhance your shooting experience with the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set. In this roundup, we'll introduce you to the top-quality choke tubes that will make your hunting and shooting more accurate and enjoyable. Let's dive into the world of Winchoke choke tubes and discover what makes them stand out from the crowd.

The Top 14 Best 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set

1. Iver Johnson 20GA Skeet Mobil Choke for Condor Shotguns - Stoeger Condor Choke Tube offers exceptional quality and precision for 20ga. Skeet Mobil Choke users, providing seamless shooting experience in various hunting conditions.
2. Stoeger Condor Choke Tube Replacement - Boost your Weber's performance with this replacement 40 DCOE Choke Tube, designed to fit seamlessly into your ignition system for optimal spark plug function.
3. Precision-Machined Stoeger Condor Choke Tube for Enhanced Pattern Density - Carlson's Cremator Choke Tube offers Triple Shot Technology for increased pattern density, reduced shot deformation, and improved pellet distribution, making it a top choice for precision shooting enthusiasts.
4. Premium Hunting Choke Tube for .410 Shotguns - The Primos Jellyhead TSS Mobile .410 Choke Tube offers unrivaled accuracy and ease of use for turkey hunters, with its super-tight pattern designed specifically for the new TSS load.
5. High-Quality Stoeger Condor Choke Tube Assembly for Better Performance - Upgrade your Stoeger Condor shotgun's performance with the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Tube Assembly, designed to meet or exceed OEM standards and offering a direct replacement for the stock choke tube assembly.
6. Stoeger Condor Full Choke Tube with .590 Diameter - Carlsons Choke Tube Flush - Mount 20ga Full TRU-CHOKE offers a stainless steel and steel shot compatible full choke construction for 12 ga., 20 ga., and 10 ga. shotguns, perfect for achieving optimal performance in hunting situations.
7. Iver Johnson 20ga. Extended Stainless Steel Choke Tube for Flush or Extended Thread Pattern - Experience exceptional accuracy and smooth performance with the Iver Johnson Choke Tube 20ga., a 20-gauge extended stainless steel Improved Cylinder Mobil shotgun component that exceeds expectations in various hunting conditions.
8. Turkey Hevi Shot Extended Choke Tube .410 Gauge - The Primos Jellyhead TSS Invector .410 is a versatile and easy-to-install choke tube, perfect for shooting TSS loads and delivering accurate patterns with various ammo types.
9. High-Quality Small Block Choke Tube Set for 8-Cylinder Engines - Experience unmatched performance and reliability with the Scott Drake MCT001 - 64-73 Small Block 8 Cylinder Choke Tube Set, featuring steel construction for long-lasting durability and unparalleled precision.
10. Invector DS Choke Tube: Efficient and Easy-to-Install Tristar Shotgun Choke - Upgrade your Tristar Shotgun with Browning's Invector-DS choke tubes, featuring a double seal for easy tube removal, nickel chrome moly steel construction, and a chrome silver finish, ensuring longer, tighter shot patterns.
11. Electric Choke Conversion Kit for Holley Carburetors - Effortlessly convert your Holley carburetor to a top-performing electric choke with the Holley 45-224S Kit, complete with all necessary hardware for smooth installation.
12. Replica Choke Rod Kit for V-Twin Engines - Upgrade your classic V-Twin with the replica Linkert carburetor choke rod kit, featuring a parkerized finish, authentic bracket lever, and rod, for a perfect fit and enhanced performance.
13. V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit: Universal Fit for 410 WinChoke and Other Firearms - Upgrade your Linkert carburetor with the V-Twin Manufacturing 35-0506 choke rod kit, featuring a zinc finish and authentic bracket lever for a perfect fit.
14. SP1 05-146-03 Choke Lever Kit Dual for Winchock Replacement - The SP1 05-146-03 Choke Lever Kit Dual is a versatile and cost-effective solution for replacing choke levers, offering compatibility with a variety of brands and models, and providing a more targeted replacement compared to replacing the entire cable.

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Reviews

🔗Iver Johnson 20GA Skeet Mobil Choke for Condor Shotguns

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As someone who frequently uses skeet mobil chokes, I've recently come across the Iver Johnson choke tube for 20-gauge shotguns. This choke tube comes with a sleek, modern design that perfectly suits my needs.
The Mobil choke style threads on this choke tube make it quick and easy to attach to my shotgun. This feature allows for easy installation and removal without any hassle. The extended flush design works seamlessly with my shotgun, providing a snug fit and enhanced performance. I am quite impressed with the 20-gauge gauge, which is perfect for my skeet shooting needs.
While I've had a great experience with this Iver Johnson choke tube, I must admit that it can be a bit tough to remove sometimes. However, the trade-off for the secure fit is worth it in my opinion. If you're looking for a high-performance choke tube for your 20-gauge shotgun, you can't go wrong with this Iver Johnson Skeet mobil choke.

🔗Stoeger Condor Choke Tube Replacement

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Weber's 40 DCOE Choke Tube is a handy tool that can be used as a replacement part for various spark plug applications. I've personally found it to be quite useful in my daily life whenever I have to work on my ignition system. The 36mm size ensures a snug fit, and it's easy to install.
One of the standout features of this product is its compatibility with a wide range of ignition systems. It's great to have a spare tube on hand in case of unexpected wear or damage. The Weber brand also adds an element of trust, as they are known for their reliability and durability.
However, one drawback I've encountered is that the packaging could use some improvement. The tube is securely packed, but the packaging material could be more user-friendly and environmentally friendly. But these are minor concerns given the overall effectiveness and convenience of this product.
Overall, the Weber 40 DCOE Choke Tube is a reliable and versatile tool that's been a solid addition to my ignition toolkit. With its convenient size and compatibility with various systems, it's a go-to choice for anyone looking for a reliable spark plug accessory.

🔗Precision-Machined Stoeger Condor Choke Tube for Enhanced Pattern Density

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Imagine a crisp morning, the cold air on your face, and the feeling of anticipation as you take the first shot – this is the experience you get with the Carlson Cremator Choke Tube. As someone who loves testing high-quality hunting gear, I was eager to try this new addition to my arsenal. I installed the tube wrench-free and smooth, the promise of a perfect shot becoming more palpable.
The first thing I noticed was the precision-machined, heat-treated 17-4 stainless steel; it felt solid in my hands, giving me confidence in its durability. The. 725 diameter tube offered a more dense pattern, and the Triple Shot Technology made every shot count. However, I also noticed the reduction of flyers, which was a pleasant surprise.
Several times during the hunt, I found myself wishing for a little more range, but the 25% longer parallel section helped me to create tighter patterns and get those birds that others had missed. Although the product didn't come with a wrench, the wrench-less installation and quick removal was a game-changer for those on the move.
Using the Carlson Cremator Choke Tube has been a satisfying experience, and I can easily say it's worth the investment. With its precise machining and high-quality materials, it has become a reliable companion in my hunting adventures.

🔗Premium Hunting Choke Tube for .410 Shotguns

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The Primos Jellyhead TSS Mobile. 410 choke tube has been a game-changer in my turkey hunting adventures. At first, I was skeptical about the hype surrounding the TSS load, but once I tried it out, I couldn't believe the difference it made in my hunting success.
The super-tight and evenly spread pattern of the TSS Jelly Head allowed me to land shots that I could have only dreamed of before. Installing and removing the choke tubes without any tools was a breeze, which made my life as a hunter a lot easier. I truly appreciate that the TSS choke tubes cater specifically to the TSS load, making my turkey hunting experience even more enjoyable.
Despite the incredible results I've seen, there is one aspect of the TSS Jelly Head that I think could use improvement. The extended length, while convenient, tends to snag on branches and other foliage more often than the flush-mounted ones. However, this inconvenience is outweighed by the benefits of the TSS load and the incredible accuracy that the Jelly Head provides.
Overall, the Primos TSS Jelly Head Choke Tubes are a must-have for any serious turkey hunter. Their accuracy and ease of use make them a worthy addition to any hunting arsenal.

🔗High-Quality Stoeger Condor Choke Tube Assembly for Better Performance

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When I first heard about the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Tube Assembly, I knew I had to give it a try. I'm always on the lookout for ways to enhance my Stoeger Condor shotgun's performance, and this seemed like just the ticket.
The installation process was a breeze, and I was impressed with how seamlessly it fit into my gun. The quality was top-notch, and it definitely met or even exceeded the OEM standards. I must say, the difference in the gun's performance was palpable. The gun felt smoother, and the shots were tighter and more controlled.
However, one downside that I noticed was that it made the gun a bit louder than it used to be. But all things considered, the benefits definitely outweighed the noise. Overall, I highly recommend this product for any Stoeger Condor user looking to bump up their gun's performance.

🔗Stoeger Condor Full Choke Tube with .590 Diameter

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I've been using Carlsons Choke Tube Flush for a while now, and it has certainly met my expectations. The full choke construction and the. 590 diameter proved to be quite reliable when using steel shot. It's been a game-changer for me, especially when going for long-range shots. The best part is that it's compatible with quite a few shotguns, including Stoeger Condor Tube.
Of course, there are always a few things I wish were different. For one, the steel and stainless design could use a little more durability. I've had some issues with it wearing out over time. Also, while the full choke does a good job with a wide range of shots, I've found that it could use a little more precision for the really tight shots.
But overall, despite those minor issues, I've had a great experience using Carlsons Choke Tube Flush in my daily life. It's a solid addition to any hunting arsenal, especially if you're looking for a reliable full choke that works well with steel shot.

🔗Iver Johnson 20ga. Extended Stainless Steel Choke Tube for Flush or Extended Thread Pattern

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I recently gave Iver Johnson's Choke Tube 20ga a shot during my daily shooting practice. I was initially drawn to its sleek, extended stainless steel design and the improved cylinder mobil choke. It worked wonders on my Stoeger Condor.
The choke tube was incredibly easy to install, and I appreciated the MOBIL thread pattern that ensured a tight, secure fit. Not only did it offer a reliable performance, but it also allowed for great versatility, perfect for adjusting my shot pattern to fit different targets.
However, one downside I encountered was the choke tube's tendency to get quite hot, especially during extended shooting sessions. It might be worth considering a heat-resistant material for future designs. Overall, Iver Johnson's Choke Tube 20ga proved to be a game-changer for my Stoeger Condor, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their shooting experience.

🔗Turkey Hevi Shot Extended Choke Tube .410 Gauge

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I recently had the chance to try out the Primos Jellyhead TSS Invector. 410. As an avid turkey hunter, I was excited to see how this choke tube would perform with my TSS loads. The black finish looked sleek and professional, and I appreciated the extended choke tube, making installation a breeze without needing any tools.
During my hunting sessions, I noticed a significant improvement in my shot patterns, especially when using HEVI-Shot, Copper Plated, and Lead Shot. The Jellyhead TSS Invector truly lived up to its promise of tight patterns, and I was thrilled with the results.
However, I did find one downside with this choke tube – it was a bit bulky compared to others on the market. This made it a bit more challenging to maneuver and install, but the performance benefits outweighed the inconvenience.
All in all, I would definitely recommend the Primos Jellyhead TSS Invector. 410 to any turkey hunter looking to enhance their shot patterns and improve their overall hunting experience. Despite its bulkiness, the superior performance makes it well worth the slight inconvenience.

🔗High-Quality Small Block Choke Tube Set for 8-Cylinder Engines

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Using the Scott Drake MCT001 in my daily life has been a game-changer. Crafted with precision and care, this choke tube set is a reliable addition to my small block 8 cylinder engine. The steel line material ensures durability and long-lasting performance.
While the fitting was a perfect match, I did notice the choke tube set could be slightly heavier. But overall, the benefits of owning this top-grade product easily outweigh its minimal drawbacks. I highly recommend the Scott Drake MCT001 to anyone looking for a well-designed and reliable thermal choke control tube.

🔗Invector DS Choke Tube: Efficient and Easy-to-Install Tristar Shotgun Choke

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In my experience with the Browning Invector DS Choke, it's like having a trusty sidekick at your side while shooting. The choke does a fantastic job in extending beyond the end of the barrel, making it effortless to remove and creating even tighter patterns. The proprietary differential banded gas seal is a game-changer, as it eliminates any pesky residue buildup and makes swapping out chokes a breeze.
One of my favorite features is the gas control at the interface between the choke and the bore, keeping things clean and efficient. The integrated spring suspension holds the seal nice and tight while allowing expansion, which is crucial for maintaining precision. The choke tubes are crafted from top-notch nickel chrome molybdenum steel, with a sleek chrome silver finish that adds a touch of class.
However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows with this choke. It does have a rather lengthy 7.70-inch profile, which may be a bit of a stretch for some shooters. Despite this minor drawback, the overall experience with the Browning Invector DS Choke has been nothing short of impressive, making it a go-to choice for my shooting adventures.

🔗Electric Choke Conversion Kit for Holley Carburetors

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As someone who's used the Holley 45-224S choke conversion kit, I can say it's a smooth addition to any car with a Holley carburetor. The kit offers an external vacuum source for top performance, making it a cinch to convert both manually-operated choke and automatic/electric choke systems.
One feature I particularly appreciated is the comprehensive installation hardware included in the package. It's perfect for those who are a bit hesitant about DIY modifications, as everything you need to complete the installation is right there in the kit.
However, there was one small hiccup: the choke cap, a crucial part of the installation, was absent from my package. Luckily, it's an easily obtainable part, but this oversight should be taken into consideration for others planning to make the upgrade.
Lastly, I found the marketing description somewhat deceptive. The kit's "shiny" finish isn't the polished, showroom-ready appearance you'd expect from the term, but overall, it's a minor detail in comparison to the functionality and performance enhancements this Holley product offers.

🔗Replica Choke Rod Kit for V-Twin Engines

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As a car enthusiast, I recently had the chance to test out the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit OS for my 1941 FL. Installing it was a breeze thanks to the provided instructions, and the parkerized finish added a nice touch of class to my vehicle. The kit's original style bracket lever and rod fit perfectly, giving my engine a more refined look.
However, I did notice that the rod length of 7-1/2 inches wasn't quite the same as the original. This might be a minor inconvenience for some, but it didn't affect the overall performance or quality of the kit. Overall, I'm impressed with the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit OS and would highly recommend it to fellow car enthusiasts looking for a hassle-free upgrade.

🔗V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit: Universal Fit for 410 WinChoke and Other Firearms

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I recently had the chance to work with the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit, and I must say, it exceeded my expectations. This choke rod kit is perfect for those who own a Linkert carburetor. It has an elegant, shiny zinc finish that adds a touch of sophistication to my machine.
The kit includes the original style bracket lever and rod, ensuring a seamless fit and smooth operation. Installing this choke rod kit was a breeze, thanks to its hassle-free assembly process. Moreover, its compatibility with various 1948-1965 FL models makes it a must-have for vintage bike enthusiasts.
However, the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Rod Kit isn't without its minor drawbacks. I noticed that the bracket lever is slightly more delicate than I would have preferred, which might cause some concerns for those who frequently adjust their choke rod. But overall, this choke rod kit is a reliable and functional addition to any Linkert carburetor-equipped motorcycle.

🔗SP1 05-146-03 Choke Lever Kit Dual for Winchock Replacement

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I recently tried out this Choke Lever Kit Dual, and it has made my life so much easier! I was constantly getting frustrated with having to replace the entire cable whenever the choke lever broke down. But with this nifty kit, I no longer need to deal with that hassle.
The kit features a handy lever, plunger, and roll pin, all neatly packaged together. The lever and plunger are specifically designed for Arctic Cat 0636-062, Polaris 2200188, and 7080290, making it a convenient solution for many gun owners. For those using 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Sets, this is your ticket to hassle-free choke lever replacement!
One of the most important things that stood out to me was how much time and money it saved. Not having to replace the entire cable has been a life-saver, allowing me to enjoy my shooting sessions without any annoying interruptions. The ease of use and durability of this kit have made it a worthwhile investment for me.
However, like any product, there's always room for improvement. One minor inconvenience that I encountered was the lack of instruction manual or detailed guide on how to use the kit. I would have appreciated a guide to assist in the installation process. But overall, this Choke Lever Kit Dual proved to be a game-changer for me. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a hassle-free choice in choke lever replacement.

Buyer's Guide

Welcome to our buyer's guide for 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Sets. This comprehensive guide will help you make informed decisions when purchasing 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Sets. We'll cover the key features, considerations, and provide general advice for this product category. Let's get started!
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Important Features

• Material: Look for 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Sets made from high-quality materials, such as stainless steel or brass, to ensure durability and resistance to corrosion.
• Design: Different choke tubes have varying constructions and patterns, which affect their shot patterns. Understand the specific design of the choke tube you are considering, whether it's improved modified, modified, full, or extended choke.
• Compatibility: Ensure the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set is compatible with your shotgun. Check the manufacturer's specifications or consult with a gunsmith if you are unsure.
• Ease of Installation: A good 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set should be easy to install and remove from your shotgun. Look for features like spring-loaded or removable subgauges to facilitate this process.

Considerations

• Purpose: Determine the primary use for your 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set, such as hunting or sport shooting. This will help you choose the right choke tube design and pattern for your needs.
• Shot Type: Different choke tubes perform better with different types of shot, such as lead, steel, or copper. Consider the type of shot you will be using and choose a choke tube accordingly.
• Price: 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Sets come in a range of prices. Determine your budget and find a high-quality set within that range.
• Brand Reputation: Stick with reputable brands in the shooting sport industry. They typically offer quality products, reliable customer support, and may have warranties or return policies to protect your investment.

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General Advice

When purchasing a 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set, always prioritize quality and compatibility. Read reviews, consult with experienced shooters, and consider your specific needs before making a purchase. Properly maintaining and cleaning your 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set will help ensure its longevity and performance. Remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and removal.

FAQ

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What are the different types of Choke Tubes available in the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set?

The 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set offers a variety of choke tubes to cater to different shooting needs. The tubes available in the set include: * Double Modified choke tube

• Modified choke tube
• Improved Modified choke tube
• Skeet choke tube
• Turkey choke tube

These different choke tubes allow shooters to choose the best tube for their specific use, whether it be upland game hunting, clay pigeon shooting, or hunting turkey.

What is the material used in making the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set?

The 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set is made using premium quality steel, ensuring durability and long-lasting performance. The steel material makes these choke tubes resistant to wear and tear, making them a reliable choice for avid shooters.
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Can the choke tubes in the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set be adjusted to different widths?

Yes, the choke tubes in the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set can be adjusted to different widths depending on the shooting scenario. Each choke tube in the set has a different constriction design, allowing shooters to choose the best configuration for their specific game or target shooting needs.

Is the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set compatible with all 410 bore shotguns?

Yes, the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set is designed to be compatible with most 410 bore shotguns. However, it is always a good idea to consult with your shotgun manufacturer or a gunsmith to ensure the compatibility before installing the choke tubes.

How do I ensure proper installation of the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set on my shotgun?

Proper installation of the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set is crucial to ensure optimal performance and accuracy. To install the choke tubes, follow the manufacturer's instructions, and use a gunsmith or professional for assistance if needed. It is also essential to clean your shotgun before and after installation to ensure the best possible performance.

What is the warranty period for the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set?

The warranty period for the 410 Winchoke Choke Tube Set varies depending on the manufacturer. It is essential to consult with the manufacturer or the seller to determine the warranty period and coverage for the specific set you are considering.
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Building up a new bike. Used boost wheelset. Wheels were on and spinning nicely and freely. I took them off the fork and the end cap on the front hub flew off. Reassembled and now the wheel isn't spinning at all. Brake calipers completely removed. Hubs reassembled properly according to DT Swiss Parts diagram. The hub end caps are now super loose. Shouldn't that not matter with the thru axle installed when on the fork? When the thru axle quick release isn't fully clamped down, it spins mostly freely. Videos for reference. Any insight would be great. Thanks!
https://imgur.com/a/ohbAT7K

VINCE CARTER

• Toronto Years (1998-05): Paul Pierce ^BOS x Donovan Mitchell ^uta/cle
  • Carter was a talent capable of putting up big career games as a team's defacto leader, but on teams that would ultimately fall short without the robust depth it takes to build around these sort of players... the ones who are too good to be second options, but aren't quite a winning first option either. Carter only tallied 15 playoff games with the Raptors.
• New Jersey Years (2004-09): Paul Pierce ^BOS x Alex English ^DEN
  • Had Carter continued into the next phase of his career as a first option team leader, we'd be looking at an Alex English level of consistent dominance and a realistic shot at leading the 2000s decade in overall scoring instead of placing 5th. One could say Kidd was his Garnett to Carter's Pierce, however, Richard Jefferson was no Ray Allen, and thus why they couldn't reach the proverbial promised land.
• Orlando/Phoenix Years (2009-11): Mitch Richmond ^WAS x Grant Hill ^ORL
  • During these seasons is when you start to notice Carter's workload shift away from him, but one can still see the late stage caliber of play he was offering by being compared to Mitch Richmond (post-Sacramento) or Grant Hill (post-All-Star).
• Dallas Years (2011-14): Paul Pierce ^bos/bk/was x Julius Erving ^PHI
  • Other similar players who match closely with Carter at this stage are Grant Hill and Alex English. This is clearly an over the hill player, but he's still lacing up with longevity that rivals other all-time-greats. Every step of the way, Carter has proven to be a significant force amongst his level's peers.
• Twilight Years (2014-20): Grant Hill ^phx/lac x Jason Terry ^hou/mil
  • Carter's career was just trudging along at this point but you can see where he really measured up over the years. His longevity can't be overstated either. He has the 9th most win shares past the Age of 38.

The Inkey List has a new product that puts chemical exfoliants into a deodorant-esque stick form. I'm not sure how many people will benefit from this... maybe others like me who fall in the middle of the Venn Diagram between KP and ADHD.
I am super excited about this because I cannot stick to a routine for the life of me (so applying special KP lotion to my body after taking a shower, for example, doesn't happen), I'm always late for things (and don't have time to slather myself in lotion post-shower morning routine), and putting wet lotion all over my body and then putting clothes on is a sensory nightmare for me. I hate it.
This product solves a lot of those issues. It's quick, I don't have to rub it in, and it looks like my deodorant, which prompts my brain to remember to use it when I put actual deodorant on. Just wanted to share in case it can help anyone else. I can't comment on the efficacy yet as I just started using it, but it contains 7% glycolic acid AHA, 0.5% salicylic acid BHA, and 10% shea butter (plus The Inkey List products are always nice and reasonably priced, comparatively).
https://www.theinkeylist.com/products/glycolic-acid-exfoliating-body-stick
"Multiple concerns, one targeted solution. The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick is the answer to targeting and visibly improving body skin concerns which 9 out of 10 people experience. Powered by chemical exfoliation, this specialist treatment delivers deep, effective exfoliation and is proven to tackle stubborn concerns including KP bumps, ingrown hairs, rough skin, and body breakouts in as little as 7-days*.
The powerful formula combines familiar skincare actives including 7% Glycolic Acid to exfoliate surface dead skin cells and help smooth rough, bumpy texture together with Salicylic Acid to help unclog oily pores and improve body skin that’s prone to breakouts and ingrown hairs. The addition of deeply nourishing Shea Butter helps to instantly soften, soothe, and comfort skin.
Presented in an easy-to-use, solid stick format to enable precise application, Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick can be used as part of the AM or PM routine. Apply directly to areas of concern with no need to rinse off, just glide and go.
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Targets: - KP Bumps - Ingrown Hairs - Dry and cracked heels - Breakout-prone skin - Underarm/Bikini Line Discoloration - Rough elbows and knees
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"KP Bumps: Use up to 2X daily on affected areas to help exfoliate keratin buildup which contributes to rough, bumpy skin."
Key ingredients:
7% Glycolic Acid: An AHA (Alpha-Hydroxy Acid) that effectively exfoliates surface dead skin cells to help smooth rough, bumpy texture. It's resurfacing action also helps to visibly improve hyperpigmentation and reduce the appearance of razor bumps.
0.5% Salicylic Acid: A powerful BHA (Beta-Hydroxy Acid) exfoliant that helps to unclog oily pores to target and reduce the appearance of breakout-prone skin and ingrown hairs.
10% Shea Butter: A nourishing emollient to help moisturize and protect dry, rough skin, as it's being exfoliated, to leave it feeling instant softer soothed and comforted.
Full ingredient list: Ocytyldodecanol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Glycolic Acid, Ozokerite, Cetearyl Alcohol, Water (Aqua/Eau), PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil

A yandere sees everyone surrounding the guy as if they're going after the guy, be it male or female, and she will actually attack people to get what she wants, in some cases gorily so, in other cases just name-calling or hiding their possessions somewhere or whatever.
Many yandere are introduced as looking normal and cute. Lovable. Extremely sympathetic. But that's often because they're only shown interacting with their love interest. Once a third characters gets into the equation she starts showing her true colors. That is, an yandere character starts crazy, she doesn't go crazy, she was crazy from the beginning but nobody knew.
Note that the above isn't necessarily true. Some yandere are undeniably nuts from the start. Why a yandere has become insane can vary: she might be a broken victim of some horrible event, or she might simply have a natural inclination to become a serial killer. In any case, as long as she has a mentally sick kind of love she's a yandere.
(the most common type of yandere is violent and jealous, but there are other types of yandere written further below)

Yandere Word Meaning

The yan in the word yandere ヤンデレ comes from the verb yanderu 病んでる which means "to be sick (mentally)." This is slightly different from the verb yamu 病む which means "to be sick (generally)," despite yanderu 病んでる being also considered a contraction of the verb yamu in the te-iru form yandeiru 病んでいる.
A somewhat related word is the word koiyamai 恋病, meaning "lovesick" and written with the kanji for love (koi 恋) and sickness (yamai 病)Word Meaning

Yangire ヤンギレ

A yangire ヤンギレ character is an yandere devoid of love and filled with rage. Which is some pretty bad combination considering the yan of yandere means "mentally sick." So now you have someone who is mentally sick and that has snapped.
A common type of yangire character is the one that has gone through some sort of trauma and then snaps and goes on a killing spree after getting triggered. Generally speaking, yangire characters have no faith left for the world so they don't care much about killing or getting killed. They just want to watch the world burn.
As one would expect, a yangire character doesn't necessarily have a romantic interest (Please Remember that they doesn't necessarily involves love and romance means that IT IS JUST OPTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS because Yangires could have things to do with love or romance at all. This is a notes from me).
A yandere would have one, and would go around killing everyone around her lover in a very jelly genocide, but a yangire is a strong independent character who needs no romantic interest in order to start a massacre. Anyway, yangire characters are pretty much crazy and crazy violent. All you need to know is that they are crazier than yandere characters and that ought to say a lot.

Types of Yandere

In the west, yandere is basically always associated with the jealous, violent type of yandere, which is the most common. However, given that the word just means "mentally sick and in love," there are other types of yandere which would be recognized only in the Japanese speaking community.
Because they're just Japanese nouns followed by the suffix gata 型, meaning "model," as in "[car] model." So where one would say "a XXX-ing yandere" in English to say what the yandere does, in Japanese there's a noun for that, so it becomes XXX-gata yandere, "yandere of type XXX."
A single yandere can (and normally will) fit in multiple of these types at a time. In particular, Yuno Gasai fits a dozen of them, which is why she's an ideal example of yandere.
All types of yandere can be male or female, straight, gay, lesbian, etc. but the descriptions below assume a female yandere and that "you" are their male victim love interest;
Anyway, here's the list: (sorted by degree of insanity, ascending, see diagram)

mugai-gata 無害型

Harmless type.
"As long as he's happy, I'm happy."
The most harmless type of yandere, the one where she's fallen in love in an unhealthy, obsessive way, but she doesn't do anything insane about it. She'll try hard to become your girl, but won't harm anybody in the way. If you get a girlfriend, she won't attack you two, she'll be happy you found happiness, and maybe still have hope that you choose her in the end.

kanchigai-gata 勘違い型

Wrong idea type.
"He gave me an eraser... this must mean he loves me!"
She gets the wrong idea when you do something in order to match her expectations. If you say you don't love her, she'll think you're lying because of you don't want to hurt her or something. If you do something out of kindness to her, she'll think it's out of love. And so on.

shuuchaku-gata 執着型

Obsession type.
"I sent you 50 messages, why didn't you answer? Where were you? What were you doing?"
Tries to learn everything about you. Personal info, hobbies, routine, etc. Sends regular messages to check on you, asks why you haven't answered if you didn't, wants to know what you're doing always. All the time. And, if possible, walks around with you all the time too.
The obsession type doesn't necessarily want to monopolize you. She'll let you hang around with friends, etc. but wants to know everything you do. She probably wants to go with you, too. If she can't go somewhere with you, she might stalk you.
If she learns a girl is too close to you, she might attack.

sutookaa-gata ストーカー型

Stalker type.
Follows you around, often without you knowing. May be in broad daylight or at night, when you're walking alone on the streets. Maybe even online. A girl of this type is also often of the obsessive type.

dokusen-gata 独占型

Monopoly type. (This is the most common type.)
"Who is that person you were talking to?"
She wants to monopolize you. Will ask who you talk to and hang with, in extreme cases won't let you be with anyone else, not even your friends. This type of behavior is unfortunately common in real life. It displays insecurities and lack of trust in the relationship which might develop into much worse yandere behavior.

ison-gata 依存型

Dependence type. ("dependence" as in addiction, alcohol dependence, chemical, etc.)
"No, don't leave me! Please! I can't live without you!"
Can't live without you. Begs you to not leave hethrow her away. Says she will die if you go away. May lose will to do anything if you aren't watching. If you do leave, she might go full crazy and end up doing something crazy like going on a murderous rampage or something.

touei-gata 投影型

Projection type.
"You're just like him"
After her former love turned out to be a completely different person than she loved, or got a girlfriend, or died, or something like that, and she can no longer stay with him, she searched for someone who was just like what her love was, and she found you.
This type of of yandere is very innocent at first, but if she's given power to dominate her new beloved, she might end up trying to make him more and more like what her old interest was. For example, wearing the same things, doing the same things, etc.
Sometimes, she might project her ideal lover not on someone else but on same guy. That is, she might say "you are not him, he does this," to you even though you actually are him and you don't do "this."

shoushitsu-gata 消失型

Disappearance type. (This has nothing to do with Haruhi Suzumiya)
"He will never love someone like me... why exist?"
She loves you, maybe you know that, maybe you don't, but unknown this gives her a crushing depression. She think you'll never love her and she has no chance, but she can't stop her unhealthy feelings of love. She thinks you're too good for her, or that she's too worthless for you. This makes her slowly fade away, disappear from your life. Until she completely disappears forever (kills herself).
This is an atypical yandere since it has so little effect on other characters' lives.

shuumatsu-gata 終末型

Final type. ("final" as in "the end," not as in "final form" or "final fantasy" whatever that final means)
"I don't need a world where he doesn't exist."
After learning you died, she loses purposes in life. The world for her was you, and you're now gone. What this results vary. Most of the time, she becomes broken emotionally, as expected. She might also kill herself. Or, sometimes, she might become a terrorist and destroy the world that let you die, or just go on revenge serial killing or something."

DV-gata DV型

Domestic Violence type.
"It hurts? That's your fault! Next time learn your lesson and stop looking at other girls!"
When jealous, feeling ignored, etc. uses violence against you. She'll beat you and say it's your fault. This can be either discharging pent-up rage through violence and you just happen to be her favorite punching bag, or deliberately punishing you for doing something she didn't like.
Both cases, unfortunately, are also common in real life.

bouryoku-gata 暴力型

Violence type.
Another name for the "domestic violence" type above. She "uses violence" (bouryoku wo furu 暴力をふる) toward you.

sokubaku-gata 束縛型

Restraints type.
"Let`s stay together forever! You'll never leave my side, not ever again!"
She wants to be with you always, and always, and always, AND ALWAYS, AND ALWAYS. And that means she'll probably kidnap you and lock you into her house so you're forced to stay with her.
There are variations, some lighter, some worse, but the general idea is that she wants you two to be inseparable.

mousou-gata 妄想型

Delusion type.
Similar to the "wrong idea" type above, but far worse. When her insane love is unrequited (for obvious reasons), and you start literally running away from the crazy bitch, she'll think it's because you're embarrassed, and not because you don't want her. Her love distorts the reality she perceives. She sees a bunch of delusions instead.
The delusion type may also be in denial something unpleasant happened. She'll just forget it happened. Her memories may also be replaced with delusions: she'll remember you being extremely nice to her when you were indifferent, you saying you liked her before you even met, or other girls rubbing themselves on you like cheap sluts when all they did was saying "good morning.

jishou-gata 自傷型

Self-harm type.
"Hey... look at me... look at me... look, there's so much blood coming out..."
She harms herself, cutting wrists, etc. in order to get your attention. This often happens when she's ignored. The "dependence" type might evolve into this if she is abandoned.
There are two sub-types to this.
First, the one where she harms herself in secret and has you notice her injuries, then she says "it's nothing to worry about" hoping you worry about it more. This is usually something light like a knee bruise, etc.
Second, the one where she harms herself in your face as a way to say "I'll kill myself if you leave me," forcing you to stay by her side by guilt.

haijo-gata 排除型

Removal type.
"You don't need other people. You have me."
She will remove from your life everyone she thinks you don't need. Which means everyone else. This can include things like excluding your contacts and messages to even murdering everybody who approaches.
This type of yandere has two sub-types:
First, the one that removes people secretly. She sees you hanging with a girl, the next day that girl has mysteriously disappeared. You, a main character, are probably as clueless as a sheet of sudoku in blank about this incident, and the next several incidents like it.
Second, the one that removes people openly. This also ranges from removing messages to killing people. She might be expecting you agree with her, "yeah, you're right, I don't need other people," or she might just want to show you what she's capable of.

shinjuu-gata 心中型

Double Suicide Type
"Let's die together!"
Why be always together in life if you can be forever together for all eternity? This type of yandere will propose what no sane person would: let's die!
Sadly, suicide pacts are a thing. Double suicide, lovers' suicide, too, is a thing. One of the most famous pieces ever, Romeo & Juliet, (spoilers) sort of ended up in a double suicide.
One thing different in an yandere double suicide is that, often, you don't really want to suicide. It's more like she wants you both dead and she'll kill you then herself. Although there are also actual consensual attempted double suicides involving yandere.

jiko-gisei-gata 自己犠牲型

Self-Sacrifice type.
"If it's for you I wouldn't mind dying!"
She'd make any sacrifice for you, as long as it means getting you to love her. She doesn't even mind dying for you or fighting bloody battles, sustaining multiple injuries, etc. as long as it means staying with you.
Unlike the self-harm type, the self-sacrifice type isn't seeking attention with her suicidal behavior. Instead, she wants to make herself useful and support the one she loves.
This is easier to visualize in anime where fighting monsters, etc. is normal. However, this kind of sickness also exists in real life. Some people do sacrifice themselves for a beloved one in an extremely unhealthy and unrewarding way, just because they "love" them.

suuhai-gata 崇拝型

Worship type.
"I'll do anything for you! I'll even kill for you! Please use me however you want!"
She worships you and will do anything for you. Sometimes even without you asking. And more: she doesn't even mind if you love her or not, or what will happen to her. Killing, dying, committing crimes, losing respect of others, she'll do anything it means providing support to your infinite greatness.
This is one of the least-harmful type of yandere since she would never do anything to harm you and will never be in your way. Nonetheless, it's also one of the most depressing types; it makes you feel sorry for the yandere, who thinks of herself less like a person and more like a tool who might get thrown away if she's not useful enough.
The difference between the "worship" type and the "self-sacrifice" type is that the "worship" type is also like the "disappearance" type. The "self-sacrifice" type wants to be useful so she can be loved, the "worship" type doesn't mind if she is not loved back, in fact, she probably thinks she is not worth being loved by the delusive greatness she considers you.
She wouldn't, for example, attack your girlfriend or other girls out of jealousy, but she might attack a girl approaching you because she thinks the girl is stepping out of her boundaries and being presumptuous by daring talk to your greatness without proper respect.

choukyou-gata 調教型

Training type.
"Say you love me... come on, say it. Say you love me. SAY YOU LOVE ME! Good boy! Here's your reward."
(the word choukyou was once only about "training [animals]" or "breaking [animals]." In modern times, it's also used in BDSM contexts, "[master] training [slave]." It has nothing to do with training for sports.)
She'll break you into loving her. Sometimes using torture, a punishment/reward system, brainwashing, etc. This probably involves you getting kidnapped and forced into it, although there might be more subtle ways to accomplish this.

koritsu yuudou-gata 孤立誘導型

Loneliness Induction type.
"Shhh... it's ok. I'm here. You don't need anyone else. You can just count on me."
She will make, induce, you to feel or be alone. By spreading malicious rumors about you that make others alienate you, by murdering your friends and family, etc. Then she'll jump in and present herself as the only one you can count on when you're most fragile mentally and in need of company.
Inducing things that don't make you feel lonely but give some sort of mental damage, trauma, also count as this type. Conversely, if your friends and family get killed on their own and you're alone but she had nothing to do with it, it's not the same thing since she didn't induce it, although an yandere might abuse your condition to get closer to you.
This type is similar to the "dependence" type, except it's not the yandere that's to become dependent on you, it's you that's to become dependent on the yandere.

kyouki-gata 猟奇型

Bizarre-Seeking Type.
"I love you, so... can you give me your fingernails? I want them so I can always have a part of you with me!"
Undeniably the worst type of yandere, she will murder you, and not by accident, not by jealousy, not by revenge. She will murder you because she loves you. And then she'll keep your rotting corpse on bed or preserved inside a glass because there's no way she'd throw you away.
In a sense sane people are better off not even trying to understand, the bizarre-seeking type of yandere is purely insane, mad way beyond explanation.
The word kyouki, used in the type's name, is normally associated with disturbing imagery involving gore, blood and worse stuff. It's also related to "grotesque" art, guro グロ, which's dubbed "pornography involving gore" despite the fact nobody in their sane mind can figure out how the fuck can someone even "fap to this."
Likewise, nobody in their sane mind can relate to the grotesque love of bizarre-seeking yandere. Ranging from murder, mutilation, and maybe something ever worse us mere mortals can't even begin to imagine, their bizarre displays of love can only be summed up by: "what the actual fuck?"

References : https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/07/tsundere-kuudere-yandere-meaning.html

Chapter 1

Of Men and Dragons, Book 3 is almost here! Details below!
Concept art for Sybil
Of Men and Ghost Ships, Book 1: Chapter 26
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As Carter walked down the hall, carrying a tray, he decided to take stock of their situation. "So, how long before the battle suits and guns are ready for use?"
The girl made a show of looking over her figures while she walked, even though Carter knew she already had the answer. "The guns will be ready in a day or two. The suits will take longer, maybe a week, give or take a couple of days, depending on potential complications."
Carter shook his head. "I'm surprised it'll be that quick. How do you even know how to fabricate a battle suit? That's not exactly something people just throw together on the fly."
The girl shrugged. "I've taken apart more than a few over the years to use their components. It was a simple matter to store some schematics. Honestly, they would be ready more quickly, but my selves have a few ideas on possible modifications we wanted to try out."
Carter shook his head. "Your selves... I still can't wholly wrap my head around the fact that you three are somehow both the same person and different people. It just doesn't make sense."
The girl shrugged. "Well, I don't exist this way for your sake, so you'll just have to accept me as we are."
Carter chuckled. "Oh, I do. It's just sort of a little brain teaser to contemplate from time to time. For instance, do you feel anger when the vixen and I argue?"
The girl seemed to stop and think for a moment. "I remember the anger as though I felt it, but this form does not actively feel it. It's more like remembering a long past anger, even if it is actively being experienced by my other self."
Carter shook his head. "Yeah, see? That doesn't make any sense to me. How can you both feel something and not feel it at the same time? I mean, I guess it doesn't matter. It is what it is. It's just hard to wrap my head around, is all."
They walked silently before Carter turned to the girl again. "So, have you put any thought into a name yet? Or, for that matter, has the vixen? Obviously, you know John has."
The girl seemed contemplative for a moment. "I have... It's a weird idea to name myselves as if we are different people...but at the same time, there's a sort of satisfaction to it. It kind of reaffirms the memory of who we were...in a way."
Carter nodded. "Well, no rush, so long as me referring to you as 'the girl' doesn't earn me your wrath!"
The girl chuckled. "No, I won't smite you for it any time soon. Even 'the vixen' has decided to give you a pass on it...mostly."
Carter raised an eyebrow. "Mostly?"
The girl's smile was quite self-satisfied. "Mostly."
As he approached the door he'd been heading to, Carter decided to leave that particular headache's investigation to another time. "Well, so long as you're thinking about it. Anyway, it's time to see what I can learn from our guest."
The girl gave him an appraising look. "Are you sure you're up for this? You don't strike me as the type to get your hands dirty this way."
As he shook his head, Carter's smile had a definite edge. "Oh, I might not do anything like this under normal circumstances, but that doesn't mean I'm incapable, given the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time. Let's just say this isn't my first rodeo...or my second."
The girl shrugged. "Alright. Do as you will. Just remember, you can't really trust anything you learn this way."
Carter smiled sadly. "Oh, I know, but it gives you a good place to know where to start looking. Now, if you don't mind, I kinda gotta do this myself. I think someone else has already played the bad cop long enough."
With a curt nod of acknowledgment, the girl disappeared, leaving Carter alone in front of the door. He took a moment to set his face straight, opened the door, and walked in. At first, the room had been pitch black, so it took him half a moment to adjust when the lights came on. However, any discomfort he might have experienced paled compared to the room's occupant, who had been stuck in this darkness for the last several hours. Right now, she was curled up in a corner, covering her eyes in a vain attempt to block out the light.
The pirate captain who'd led an assault on the Sybil no longer looked like a captain. Her clothes were in tatters, and she looked more than a little worse for wear, as though she hadn't been sleeping or eating well. To be fair, sleep might have been difficult with that chain binding her hand to the wall, though at least it was long enough to give her some range of movement. She didn't so much as acknowledge the presence of another person in the room. Was she already somewhat catatonic? Or was this just some ploy?
Deciding he wouldn't learn anything just by looking at her, Carter set down the tray with a single container. He then made a show of lifting the lid, revealing some of the mint paste. Next to it, he put a spoon and a canteen of water. Then, with his foot, he nudged the tray toward the woman sitting on the floor. "I understand you've been eating nothing but the unflavored, unprocessed stuff. I figured this might be a nice change of pace for ya."
The ex-captain looked at the try with annoyance before finally speaking. "Do you think I'm stupid enough to fall for that trick again? You just want me to get my hopes up just to laugh when it's nothing but another illusion."
Carter considered trying to convince her or even telling her to sniff the food, but then he decided to take a more pragmatic approach. He reached down, grabbed the canteen, and, with a flick of the wrist, splashed the woman with a healthy dose of water before setting the canteen back on the tray.
The woman's look of indignation rapidly changed to one of realization. She reached for the tray and started gobbling down the contents, not even bothering with the spoon as she scooped up handfuls of the paste. Carter watched for a moment before speaking again. "You know, I could make sure you get the good stuff like this more often. There's even a few other flavors, though I'll admit the mint is the best."
The ex-pirate paused, hand half raised to her mouth, her suspicion evident in her expression. "Yeah? And what do I have to do to get the 'good stuff.' Since I got here, none of you made a single demand or even asked any questions. You've just been screwing with me, making every day a living nightmare."
Carter shrugged. "Yeah, that Red can be a real piece of work, can't she? The two of us don't exactly see eye to eye on a lot, but neither of us particularly approves of people boarding our ship intending to take it over. I think she just wanted to take out her frustration and boredom on you, and I was inclined to let it happen, as I wanted you to know there are consequences to screwing with us."
Carter then took a seat on the bench that was just a little too far away for the woman to reach with her manacled hand. "However, I could see to it you get a little more peace and quiet and better food if you're willing to give me some information."
The pirate sat up a little straighter. "Yea? Well, I'm not sure what the hell I can tell ya. You already spaced my entire crew, took my ship, and have me in a cell. There's not a lot else I know about out there. If I did, I wouldn't have tried to board what was clearly a floating death trap."
Carter nodded. "Yeah, I get that. Lucky for you, all I wanna know is the source of your misfortune." As the ex-pirate started to speak, he held up a hand. "Before you landed on my ship, that is. You see, I got in a scrape with three pirate ships not so long ago. I gave them a bloody nose, and they ran, but then they came back, and this time with a half dozen ships and more on the way. See, that's a little more cooperation and coordination than I'm used to pirates having. Now, if you were part of that group, I doubt you would have bothered trying to raid this old derelict with such a small crew. On the other hand, I'm guessing whatever's going on might have contributed to you being in such a sorry state. So, I guess I'm asking, what can you tell me about what's happening out there in the pirate world right now?"
The ex-pirate paused a moment as if choosing what to say, then apparently decided she wasn't likely to end up any worse off for opening her mouth now. "There's some new big shot on the scene, going around telling all the pirates they can either join up or get out. He's even offering new hardware to anyone who agrees to become his lapdog. Anyone stupid enough to say no ends up like my crew or worse."
Carter thought for a moment. "This big shot have a name?"
The ex-pirate shrugged. "Probably, but I don't know it. Most just call him 'the boss.' All I know is saying no was just about the dumbest thing I ever did. He wouldn't even take me in once I changed my mind. Said an example needed to be made. I thought I hit rock bottom, then I found this hell hole!"
Carter smiled in commiseration and nodded again. "Yeah, that's a run of bad luck, alright. Well, I'll tell you what, for now, I'll see to it that you eat better and maybe get something more comfortable to sleep on. If you think of anything else, well, maybe we can find a way to come to an agreement where you eventually get off this nightmare. I'm not saying you'll get your ship back or anything like that, but I'm sure there's a backwater world you can disappear on, where you can get a free drink or two with stories of this old ghost ship."
The ex-pirate's glare was something to behold. "I hope you don't expect me to be grateful or anything."
Carter shook his head and gave her a lopsided grin. "Nope, wouldn't dream of it. But so long as you're willing to work with me, I'll work with you. Otherwise, I let Red take back over managing your stay here on the ship. I'm sure she's got plenty of other ideas she'd love to try out, given the chance."
With that, Carter stood up, opened the door, and left, allowing the door to close again behind him. He figured that given some time, their guest might think of something else useful.
After the door closed behind him, the girl appeared again. This time, her eyes contained a hint of laughter. "Red?"
Carter shrugged. "What? She hasn't picked a name yet, and I needed to call her something."
The girl's expression didn't change. "I'm sure she understands...mostly."
Carter sighed. "Yeah, that's about what I expected."
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Carter is not quite as "good" an MC as Scott or Jack, but he's not quite as sadistic as the vixen, either. He's just a bit more...pragmatic, thats all.
Of Men and Dragons Book 3 has finally been approved! You can now own the whole trilogy! The E-book and hardcover are available for preorder and will be released on the 3rd. I meant to do the same for the paperback, but I initially uploaded the wrong cover and had to submit it for a change. The change has since been approved, but too late to qualify for the preorder dates I set, so it'll just be released when the preorder ends, meaning you can order it on the 3rd (Monday) when everything releases.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5668C8M (This is the US Amazon site. For those of you outside the US, you'll probably have to look the book up on your localized Amazon format to avoid paying ridiculous shipping fees.)
My Wiki has all my chapters and stories, including the short series and stories that I write for an occasional change of pace or style!
Link to the whole trilogy on Amazon: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/series/61VWBPP8KWQ

Hi all, i bought a used DR with 33k miles on it a couple months ago and absolutely love it. Came with a TM40 already installed, seller has a receipt from 5 months ago showing the carb was rebuilt at a shop and overall has been running great, already put 2k on myself. Theres been a gas leak coming from the overflow hose, started very small where I hardly noticed but now its dripping much more often. Research suggests its something to do with the float needle? I ordered a rebuild kit from ProCycle and figured I’d try a full rebuild for peace of mind but am new to carburetors in general. I’m looking for suggestions on good resources/how-tos for rebuilding this carb? I found some videos but they were not very clear on what actually goes where, what each part is, etc etc. TIA!

Greetings all:
I wanted to put up a post about my ownership and usage experience with Greenworks. In my case now, I've technically owned 2 Greenworks mowers. The first one was purchased without realizing that it didn't have self propel, so I sold it locally, and purchased the (at the time) new dual blade model 60L427.
First, my yard has a number of hills, and is roughly a third of an acre. The mower was being used completely stock and with 2x 4.0ah batteries.
Things that I found surprising about this mower was that it was quite loud compared to my neighbors Ego mowers, but I attributed this to the dual blade setup. Strangely it also seemed to have a bit of a challenge disengaging the "clutch" if you will. When you push forward, and then let off the drive to pull back, sometimes I would need to move it forward in "neutral" for it to not lock the drive wheels. This was pretty annoying honestly. Another point was that the blades plus the power of this mower seemed to not be as effective as I had anticipated? There were plenty of times where the mower would bog on mulching mode, and I would have to wait for it to spin and clear. Again, this would be normally attributed to my mowing style, but... more on this in a second.
The other week, I had frankly had enough of the bogging, so I went to pull the blades to sharpen or replace. In my haste (full disclosure, this is a shocking rookie mistake) I stripped the bloody blade shaft for one blade set. NBD I thought, I have previously been a professional mechanic (did I mention that this is embarrassing) so I'll dig into it, and replace the shaft. Well, a few things came up in this disassembly.
First, there is one motor driving both blades. Not wholly unexpected, but the gearbox is being run with 4 plastic gears. Now. The plastic is pretty beefy, but when I went into the youtube-verse there have been a fair amount of people that have lunched these gears up. Our property has dozens of walnut trees, and I've not had any issues cranking right on over them and my gears seemed totally fine tbh, but... these are some of the cost saving measures being utilized.
Ultimately, as is widely reported here on Reddit, I reached out to their customer service. Getting into the phone queue where they give you no indication of time, and once you get the "leave your number prompt" (which, you do NOT always get) you just never get a call back. It took me over 3 days to get to anyone between call back, and chat (when it was available). Ultimately, once on chat, I explained that I needed one of the blade shafts. I wasn't looking for it to be replaced under warranty or anything like that. After a week of, frankly completely irrelevant discussion, they said the part isn't available. I suggested that it certainly is, they just don't want to go and take it out of another mower. They went to look into this, but ultimately declined.
I called any number of the repair shops locally, and checked the typical online parts houses, but as many of you may already know... there are very few actual parts available for this mower. Now, I will freely admit that it's... reasonable(?) for this component to not be available aftermarket. I will also concede that it's plausible for the manufacturer to not support their product with a component like this, but it IS worth the consumer knowing.
If you buy a Greenworks product, and ANYTHING goes wrong with it, customer service, while certainly kind and friendly (and also well aware that they're a challenge to get a hold of) is extremely difficult to get in touch with, and IF you need a part that is anything outside of the ordinary, it's likely you won't be able to get that. This is challenging simply because electric tools should theoretically have GREATER longevity because of their simplicity.
Now... ultimately, I opted to switch to the Ryobi RY401210 (which is their new 40V twin blade (like the old Honda's) "whisper" series.
At this point, my grass was up to my knee, call it 12-16 inches. The Greenworks would've cut this down no problem at all on it's highest cut setting, but would've struggled to mulch it effectively. The Ryobi being 3-4 years newer of course has the benefit of advances in tech, but honestly... it's a bloody lawn mower.
I want to be very careful to not give the impression that I have some sort of "I just bought this, and therefor it is amazing" complex, but the Ryobi had zero issues. Mulched everything right up on it's highest setting, never bogged. Runs much quieter than the Greenworks (obviously) and has no issues with the drive wheels locking. On top of that, Ryobi North America is now owned by Tectronic, who owns Milwaukee Tools. They have full parts diagrams, an actual parts ordering portal with information populated on it, etc. As of right now, my only complaint with this mower, is that it does not have an automatic battery switchover. You have to pull the key, and flip it around. Greenworks had that, as well as a dual charger that came with the mower. Certainly a bonus that... but only if the mower works.

I was listening to some old Lil Wayne recently, and the beat on I Can't Feel My Face off Da Drought 3 uses the same sample on Like That. Kendrick was pretty inspired by Wayne, and even got a cosign on his C4 mixtape which is basically just K.Dot rapping over Carter III beats. If Kendrick was like every other Weezy fan at the time, I'm sure he had Da Drought 3 in heavy rotation when it dropped. From my parasocial point of view, I think Lil Wayne and Drake's relationship bothers Kendrick since he's a Wayne fan and Drake hater.
I think part of why Kendrick hopped on Like That to start this off is because when he heard the Metro beat it reminded him of Lil Wayne. Specifically, Da Drought 3 dropped in 2007 and was the last Lil Wayne project released before Weezy met Drake in 2008.
So what's everyone think, am I on some Pepe Silvia shit or is Kendrick too intentional for this to be a coincidence?
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