Commencing start-up sequence ...
Life support ... Nominal
Power Plant ... Nominal
Engines ... Powered up and ready
Frame Shift FTL Drive ... Ready
Sensors ... Online
Testing Thrusters ...
Horizontal RCS ... Nominal
Vertical RCS ... Nominal
Lateral RCS ... Nominal
Main Thrusters ... Nominal. Maximum speed rated at 550 kph
“Alright, Frostfire, it's been a while but you're still going strong. Command, this is Commander Rawen, ship identification Krait II, callsign Frostfire, ship ID RA-28K; requesting permission to depart.”
“Copy RA-28K, permission granted. Observe safe speed limit of 100 kph inside and within close vicinity of the docking port. Safe travels, commander.”
With a soft purr of the main thrusters, Frostfire lifts off of the platform, quickly reaching the maximum allowed speed. Rawen gently leads his “beast” out of the port and into an open space. “Alright, bud, give me the roar!” says Rawen as he hits the “Boost”. And the beast obeys, filling the wolf commander's ears with the simulated sound of the engines. “Oh yes, I missed this. Ok, time to plot the course.” Rawen opens the map and sets destination to the GER system, planet HMBG, station CCH.
“Frame shift drive, charging ...”
The sound of the FTL drive slowly spinning up fills Rawen with anticipation.
“Ready to engage. Accelerate to maximum speed and proceed outside of the range of any gravity well.”
Rawen hits the boost once more to get Frostfire out of the masslock. The moment the ship reports no masslock, FTL drive kicks in:
4 ...
3 ...
2 ...
1 ...
ENGAGE!
That's right. Woof has been on an adventure again. This time a bit closer to my home as I could travel by land (despite my Elite-themed intro). Visiting the one and only Eurofurence in the German metropolis of Hamburg. How was it? Well, let's embark on the journey beyond the frontiers of known universe.
Ok, it’s offical. I’m making this a series. This time I’m going to pick someone whose name might not sound familiar at the first glance but he’s quite important and his quote is very relevant; Frank Colletti, the consigliere (chief advisor) of Don Ennio Salieri from the Mafia game series.
Says the whoever fash-shit propagandist is now “hot”. Well, I already own barely anything. And believe it or not, it’s not because of the “degenerate Left”. In fact, when I look at folks who would fit into the “modern Left” box, they own quite a lot. And I mean own not possess. What’s that? I’m toying with words again? Oh yes, for it is slowly but surely becoming one of my favourite mental exercises. There’s a reason people told me I’d make a good lawyer. And this is among the reasons I never will. But enough sidetracking. Let’s dive into this idiotic screech from the “saviour slavers” and tear it apart like a swarm of piranhas.
And it’s you who is the abuser. Yes, you. The very person who has been suffering and probably still are. You hold so much anger inside and it wants out. But where? Where to vent it? Outside? At whom? You don’t want to hurt anyone, do you? So it goes in. Either in a form of self-abuse or an edgy joke so it’s easier to brush off, right? Sure, you chuckle but did it feel good? No, no it didn’t. In fact, you betrayed the one person you should never ever betray; yourself. So tell me, why do you do it? Why do you keep hurting yourself? Well, let me share a story with you.
“On this day, it was only a month until you’ve blessed this world for eight decades. But sadly, life decided otherwise.” It’s been 4 years already since my grandma passed away, exactly a month before her 80th birthday. It was during one of the last restriction-filled periods of 2021 so I wasn’t even able to be around. And true, she would’ve largerly disapproved of who I am right now, for her faith was stronger than her own self, but with the passage of time, I can understand why. And as I’m remembering her today, I’ve decided to write down this little exercise of mind; what would I do if I could talk to my relatives who already passed away for one more time?
Alright, time for something rather bland but at the same time thoughtful. It’s been just a bit over a year since I started making my online presence a little bit more visible. Previously, I barely had any since I nuked my Facebook account back in 2020 (good riddance), Twitter I set on fire the moment the ketamine-fueled egomaniac took over (very good riddance) and my fledgeling Reddit presence which ironically got me among the fluffy folks I doused in acid and let it dissolve back when it though it’s “the shit”. And to give credit where it’s due, it is indeed “The Shit”; the one rotting and festering pile of narcissistic and elitist brainrot that’d best launched into sun and scorched.
Anyway, enough rant. Last year I stared my journey in the realm of BlueSky and Mastodon. In the case of latter I already had my dwelling but mostly quiet and honestly, a little shaky due to the culture shock. But that’s where the story begins.
Wait what? What the hell? Rawi, do we need to intervene? No, you don’t. Or at least not yet. But the topic I’m about share my thoughts on is something I’ve been noticing for a bit and it makes sense when I look at how I was on the “supplier” end of this chain. Because now I’m sometimes on the receiving end as well and it opened my eyes to some things.
Wait, what? This is a new headline. Yes, it is. My relatively recent replay of the Mass Effect trilogy, combined with the events of the present kind of planted the idea that I maybe I could put some quotes from well known popular character and think about their meaning in the real world context. And since there are more than plenty of such quotes, that could and often times will be misinterpreted, let’s join the fray. By the way, feel free to chime in with some quote that comes into the mind of yours. The only condition is that I need to know the context, which will often mean I probably need to play the game or watch the movie or series. But enough rambling, let’s start with one of my favourite characters from the Mass Effect trilogy … Javik, the Vengeful Ancient.
… and aligning yourself with a villain doesn’t grant you power. Do I need to continue? Possibly not but I will anyway. Otherwise this would be one really short lesson.
We see this phenomenon all the time, especially recently with all the mess in the world. So many people align themselves with some verifiably evil people just so they too can “benefit” from the power. Or they’ll bend over before the seemingly stronger force just so their calm doesn’t get upset. But what do they gain? Well, my dear reader, keep reading and you’ll find out. (muhahaha, clickbait >:3)
“Rawi, are you sure you want to do this?”
”Yes, my already traumatised conscience. Yes, I am.”
I’ve indeed had this inner dialogue multiple times but only now with this outcome. I may have already hinted at my views when it comes to various philosophies or ideologies and mainly religions. The title pretty much sums my view up but also simplifies a lot so a longer and more detailed stream of thoughts is warranted. So, let’s begin.