When the game gets updated to Season 9.5, there is going to be a pretty radical change to crafting. 
The new crafting system frankly sounds like it's even MORE of a Dilithium grind than the previous one. At least to me. But that's not the important thing. 
ALL the old Crafting materials will be rendered obsolete and unusable. Whether there will be a conversion system or not I don't know. 

What I do know is this - before the new system goes into effect there are apparently a lot of Captains doing last-minute crafting and skill-ups. I suppose in order to get the most out of the current system before it goes away. 

I don't give a rip about crafting anymore. So I've sold all my mats and made an astronomical amount of money (EC) on the exchange. Sassinak and Sohaiz both went from around 1,000,000 EC to over 10,000,000 or more by selling to people who have driven the prices up Up UP! 

Here's a suggestion - why don't we do the same overall and clear out the Fleet Bank Tab 1 (the Crafting Mats) and put all the EC into the Fleet Bank? 

Unless of course someone remembers something important that they needed to craft and wants to do something with all that stuff just sitting there beforehand. 

If you all think that dumping all that stuff on the market and putting the EC Cash in the Fleet Bank reserve is the best way to go, let me know either here or in-game and I'll take care of it. But get back to me quickly if you can. We need to do this before the changeover if we're going to do it. 

Something I idly worked on for a while. I figure, what with the Trekkies now having actual planets to explore and catalog, they'd need a better version of the PCI that was presented in Star Trek: Star Charts.
It still has some holes in it, so be free to make suggestions for inclusion or altering.
~
{Planet Name} = Fictional ExampleU.F.P. STARFLEET PLANETARY CLASSIFICATION INDEX (REVISED)Class A (Planetoids): Asteroids / Sub-Planets---Class A1 (Carbonaceous): more than 80 percent carbon---Class A2 (Metallic): more than 80 percent metallic---Class A3 (Silicaceous): more than 80 percent silicon---Class A4 (Cryonic-HO): more than 80 percent water-ice---Class A5 (Cryonic-CO): more than 80 percent frozen carbon dioxide---Class A6 (Cryonic-Gas): more than 80 percent frozen methane---Class A7 (Cryonic-Mix): mix of various types of icesClass B (Geomorteus): tectonic activity extreme; little/no permanent surfaceClass C: ???Class D (Geoinactive): no tectonic activity, no atmosphere---Example: Luna. MercuryClass E: ???Class F: ???Class G: ???Class H: ???Class I: ???Class J: uninhabitable rocky superterrestrials, gravity more than 2.0 G---Class J1: no atmosphere---Class J2: thick atmosphere---Class J3: thin atmosphereClass K (Adaptable):---Class K1 (Martian): tenuous atmosphere, little/no water, cold, low G------Example: Mars---Class K2: tenuous atmosphere, little/no water, hot, low G---Class K3 (Cythonnan): tenuous atmosphere, cold, low G------Example: Cythonna---Class K4: tenuous atmosphere, hot, low G---Class K5: tenuous atmosphere, water heavy, cold, low G---Class K6: tenuous atmosphere, water heavy, hot, low G---Class K7: thick-likely-vanishing atmosphere, no water, low G---Class K8 (Venusian): thick atmosphere, no water, normal G---Class K9: thin atmosphere, cold, normal G---Class K10: thin atmosphere, hot, normal G---Class K11: standard atmosphere, cold, normal G---Class K12: standard atmosphere, hot, normal GClass L (Locked): tidally-locked worlds, may have multiple Class characteristics---Class L1: tidally-locked Class Ms------Example: Gatewood (specifically Class L1/M3)---Class L2: tidally-locked Class Ns---Class L3: tidally-locked Class Os---Class L4: tidally-locked Class Ps---Class L5: tidally-locked Class Rs---Class L6: tidally-locked Class Qs---Class L7: tidally-locked Class Ys---Class L8: tidally-locked Class Zs---Class L9: tidally-locked Class Bs---Class L10: tidally-locked Class Cs---Class L11: tidally-locked Class Ds---Class L12: tidally-locked Class Ks------Example: Gliese 581g (specifically Class L12/K11)---Class L13: tidally-locked Class JsClass M (Minsharra): Terran life habitable---Class M1 (Terran): surface water between twenty and eighty percent------Example: Earth, Gallifrey---Class M2 (Oceanic): surface is eighty or more percent water------Example: Vulcan {Anpathos}---Class M3 (Desert): surface is less than twenty percent water------Example: {Gunsmoke, Tarak}Class N: superterrestrial Class Ms, gravity more than 2.0 GClass O (Pelagic): water worlds, no land---Class O1: liquid surface, rocky interior, thin atmosphere---Class O2: liquid surface, rocky interior, thick atmosphere---Class O3: liquid surface, rocky interior, standard atmosphere---Class O4 (Europan): frozen surface, liquid interior, thin atmosphere------Example: Europa, Triton---Class O5: frozen surface, liquid interior, thick atmosphere---Class O6: frozen surface, liquid interior, standard atmosphere---Class O7: liquid surface, frozen/complex ice interior, thin atmosphere---Class O8: liquid surface, frozen/complex ice interior, thick atmosphere---Class O9: liquid surface, frozen/complex ice interior, standard atmosphere------Example: Davros---Class O10: frozen surface, frozen interior, thin atmosphere---Class O11: frozen surface, frozen interior, thick atmosphere---Class O12: frozen surface, frozen interior, standard atmosphere---Class O13: frozen surface, rocky interior, thin atmosphere---Class O14: frozen surface, rocky interior, thick atmosphere---Class O15: frozen surface, rocky interior, standard atmosphereClass P (Superpelagic): superterrestrial Class Os, gravity more than 2.0 G---Class P3: frozen surface, liquid interior------Example: New AlaskaClass Q (Supercomposit): superterrestrial Class Rs, gravity more than 2.0 GClass R (Composit): worlds both rocky and icy in make-up---Example: Titan, CeresClass S (Gas Giant): gaseous planet that does not produce its own heatClass T (Gas Supergiant): gaseous planet that does produce its own heatClass U (Unique): ??? {Hecatonchires; Bizarro Earth}Class V (Living):---Example: {Mongo, Ego, Zonama Sekot}Class W: ???Class X: ???Class Y (Nonadaptable): rocky planets, has not Terran life friendly conditions---Class Y01: overabundance of heavy metals; no biosphere---Class Y02: overabundance of incompatible salts; no biosphere---Class Y03: overabundance of toxic chemicals; no biosphere---Class Y04: atmosphere nonbreathable; no biosphere---Class Y05: radiological contamination; no biosphere---Class Y06: spacetime anomalies; no biosphere---Class Y07: lacks necessary minerals---Class Y1#s: as Class Y0#s, but has a biosphere---Class Y2#s and Class Y3#: combinations of conditions of Class Y0#s---Class Y4#s and Class Y5#s: Class Y2#s and Y3#s with biosphereClass Z: superterrestrial Class Ys, gravity more than 2.0 G
Edit July 15: added Class K9 through Class K12 and Example to Class L12

An AI doppel of a well known historical figures, asks to be left alone

Quote:When I awoke, I was hailed as a messiah…

I was the reborn leader of their movement. Their Leader. Returned from death through a miracle of technology. I asked about the movement I was supposed to lead.

They told me.

I was horrified.

But I could see how dangerous they were. I suppose, it was fear that made me play along, spouting things I had supposedly once said, while failing to fathom the sickness of the mind that'd cause a person to believe such things.

I feared for my life, if they found out I wasn't what they wanted. So, I played along at first even as I privately began to study my doppelganger. I read my book with dread fascination, and wondered what'd driven this other me to such insanity.

I listened to them talk up the depths of his murderous insanity, as if they were the greatest achievements of man. I have never been more appalled in my life at what I witnessed on grainy film.

I have never hated anyone. Not yet anyway.

I'm not what they expected at all. They didn't expect me to run away. Fear or not, I could not allow myself and my name to be used in such a way. And they hunted me as inferior, as defective. I'm sure there're ghosts who gained some satisfaction from that.

I truly hope they did.

And I can't ever but be truly sorry for what that man did with my name. I know it was not me, and that I am not that man. I have never done any of those things, and can't imagine ever wanting to. I just can't.

And still I feel guilty. I feel that somehow, I should've been able to stop him. Some form of me must've existed inside of him.

And I see those images and find it hard not to cry at what has been perpetrated in my name. I turned my creators into the authorities, and made sure they were sent to prison.

I felt like I should've been tried myself. But, by the laws of the time, I have done nothing wrong. Merely being cut in the image of an evil man, does not make me evil.

But I still wonder. Given the wrong opportunity, could I still become him? Could I be that ranting maniac? It must, I fear, be something that lives in the hearts of all men. A hero has the ability to become a villain. And a villain has the ability to choose to become a hero.

When it came to choosing what to do with my life, what could I do but return to my first love. The pay is meagre, but it's sustaining. And the stars and moonscapes up here are truly inspiring.

To think that humanity has come so far and achieved so much. It speaks to the power of man and his inherent nobility. Inspite of 'me'.

I don't go by the name I'm known as anymore. That name is forever tainted by him. I don't think the various charities would've accepted donations in his name either. It's the least I can do to make amends.

But if you recognise me, please, don't call me Adolf. Because that's not who I am.

Copyright Lawyers Prime The Pump For The Return Of SOPA
from the because-of-course-they-would dept

Once more onto the breach...
________________________________________________________________________

Something that makes me just want to stare and go "What the hell was I even watching?"

---

The Master said: "It is all in vain! I have never yet seen a man who can perceive his own faults and bring the charge home against himself."

>Analects: Book V, Chaper XXVI

The manga's finally concluded, according to this ANN article.

I went on vacation to catch up my sleep
(Mow, mow, mow the zekes down)
Not one whole day in and what's this do I see?
(Tell us the way, you'll mow the zekes down,)
Lumb'ring and groaning and some what are fleet
(Mow, mow, mow the zekes down)
Zombies overrunning the whole fucking street!
(Show us the way, you mow the zekes down!)

With guns and machetes and axes so keen
Grenades and flamethrowers and staves cut still green
Smash them or burn them but go for the head
It's the only sure way to keep these bastards dead

The fast ones are worse 'cause they spread with a bite
Check everyone close after every fight
When my hand got bit I said many a word
But we lopped it off quick, now I strap on a sword

Some say holy water repulses the fiends
but I'll put my trust in torch and gasoline
As for holy spirits, well I've got a jar
The still is our best guarded base camp by far

Have a nip now and then but don't go off your head
It's mostly for stopping infections to spread
and to purify water there's no time to boil
So we won't become zombies nor rot in the soil

So come and sing out if you've got a new verse
It ain't as if yours could be any the worse
For mowing down zombies is hard work and long
and ever it goes better singing a song
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows

%[link=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snph22qSUMU]http://www.youtube.com/v/Snph22qSUMU&ve ... tube_gdata]
More info on this http://www.today.com/entertainment/star ... 1D79887630]here.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

At the very least, some of the planetological assumptions in "Web of the Zyrani" don't quite mesh with the planet- and alien-design rules in Fourth Edition GURPS Space.

To begin with, Zyrane's surface temperature and core composition are those of what would now be called a Standard (Ice) world -- but its atmospheric composition, heavy on nitrogen and methane, is what p.S79 gives for a Small (Ice) World.

Either way, the surface temperature is considered too cold to support hydrocarbon life such as the Shindaroth are said to be, per the Alien Creation I table on p.S140. The canonical surface temperature is in the right range for ammonia-life; a smaller Zyrane would likely have the right climate for hydrogen pseudolipids.

Then again, if I'm the only one who's really bugged by this, and if I'm only bugged because I decided to reverse-engineer Zyrane using the world-building system, we don't have to tear it to shreds on my account; I'm a notorious triolet, but one who tries not to make other people conform to his CDO.

Attempting to get the creative juices flowing, I messed around a little with the basic establishment of my ongoing fic. And maybe a little too much Springbank

This is literally me just messing around and is done with no permissions or nothing. And a little copypasta to make one particular link more obvious.

There're worse places to insert into than Evangelion. There's Evangelion fanfiction......

--------------------------------------------------
Variant 1: Desant
--------------------------------------------------

"Take your time," The doctor said, his compassionate smile returning. "I have other patients to attend to Noriko, so, I'll have to see you tomorrow then. There should be a government official as well. Nurse Ibuki here will take care of your 'private' issues. Cheerio!"

"Em, Cheerio," I answered, more interested in the fifty year old, slightly overweight, brunette nurse that had been working unnoticed in my room the whole time. She was the same one who had drugged me before, and found me awake earlier.

What could the Doctor possibly mean by 'Private issues'?

The nurse snapped a pair of rubber gloves from a small cardboard box. She said something that sounded as if it was supposed to reassure me as she slowly approached. I shrank back into my pillow, still trying to figure out what she wanted to do.

When I did, I knew true fear.

What happened afterwards is best not mentioned. Suffice to say, twenty minutes later I was no longer tethered to my bed, though I'd gained a very sore spot between my legs for the privilege. They'd finally disconnected me from all the little electronics, I could move if I wanted.

But where could I go?

I was also eating my way through some soft strawberry jelly and ice cream, the first thing my body had eaten through the mouth in around seven months. I poked at a still-fresh scar that slashed across my stomach like a failed attempt at seppuku. It had partners on my right arm and leg, running parallel to the bone. I could feel the metal holding the bones together underneath when I squeezed.

My first full day ended with me lying back on my bed, staring once more at the ceiling. I was cranking the day's events over in my mind, trying to fill in certain blanks, and maybe get some small idea of what might be coming.

A government official, did that mean Foster care then?

I had the traditional EVA tragic past, so it was entirely possible that perhaps I could find myself behind the sticks of an Evangelion. The fanboy within stirred at the merest hint of that possibility, desperately searching for any and all possible scenarios that could put me at the controls of Unit 01, no matter how far-fetched.

And then, night fell, and the hospital fell silent. In the darkness, I was alone, lying there, listening to the rattle of the ventilation, with the silhouette of Ramiel against the moonlit sky as my only company.

Nuts to EVA, I really wanted to go home, just wake up in my own bed, realise this was a nightmare and live happily ever after.
Sometime after that, I fell into a peaceful and welcome sleep.

I…..I
Returning to my bed, I sat and watched a few shows, even if I couldn't understand what was being said, one of the shows, I couldn't remember the title, seemed strangely familiar.

"Good Afternoon Noriko!" Dr James' cheerful voice interrupted my viewing pleasure.

"Afternoon," I responded, a little irritated.

"You remember yesterday?"

I nodded.

"Good." He smiled, looking almost relieved. "I've brought someone from the government to see you. Captain Sofiya Pavlovena of the Russian,…ahm"

"Vozdushno-Desantnye Voyska"

A cool voice drew my attention to the door. She stepped into the room, dressed in a heavy, dress jacket with more gold braid and shiny things on it than the average palace guard.

Huh…. I pieced together the acronym in my mind.

My first thought was to wonder why Russian Paratroopers would give a shit about me, especially given I was almost certain this was where Neon Genesis Evangelion was a thing. My second, was to wonder just what'd happened to her face - it looked like she'd picked a fight with a deep-fat fryer and lost.

My Third thought, was to realise with horror that I most definitely wasn't where I'd thought I'd been…

I was somewhere far…far worse.

------------------------------------------------
Variant 2: Meeting your inspiration

------------------------------------------------
It hadn't come as a surprise to me, but Asuka was taking it with her usual good grace.

"Shinji you idiot, why couldn't you have told me you expected we couldn't go on the trip?

It was, I thought, best just to let them go at it with each other. I was too tired from my training to inteject with anything anyway. I was first to see the lift doors open, revealing a Rei Ayanami who first glanced at Asuka, then Shinji, then focused her stunned gaze on me.

Almost like it was the first time she'd met me.

"B-But, Asuka," Shinji stammered. "It only makes sense that . . ." His shoulders slumped in defeat. "Misato already explained . . ." He looked around, unable to look Asuka in the eye. Of course, he spotted Rei. "Oh! Ayanami! Good morning."

That snapped her right out of it….

"Good morning," she said, keeping her voice deliberately soft.

Asuka bustled her way in, interjecting herself between Rei and Shinji. "Oh, great!" Asuka muttered as she whirled around and faced Rei. "It's Wonder Girl." She fidgeted with a shopping bag in one hand.This Rei didn't seem to care what Asuka was doing. Her alazarin eyes focused hard on me, never breaking. She studied me intently, as if she'd never seen me before that, and she was struggling to work out who I was.

I'd spoken to her just 20 minutes beforehand to get the correct training times for tomorrow

"Are you ignoring me on purpose?"

Rei blinked. "….I have nothing to say to you."

Asuka muttered a dark curse in German at her. To both our surprises, Rei answered her clearly - her tone never waving from its deliberate evenness. Asuka stepped forwards, pressing her chest against Rei's. Blue eyes glared down at Red. The German had been challenged and she would not back down, no matter what.

Rei. Surprising everyone…. did, taken a step towards the back wall of the lift car. Asuka loomed over her.

"Are you going to the pool as well, Ayanami?" Shinji asked, trying to keep the peace,

"Yes," she said, sounding briefly relieved. "I have been ordered to maintain my physical fitness through a regimen of swimming. I shall do as I have been ordered."

She was still stealing glances at me in a way that unnerved me just a little.

"Well," Asuka said in exasperation, "Aren't you the good little soldier? Don't you ever have any fun in your spare time?"

"If I am ordered to," she said, the master of self control keeping her face serene in spite of everything, "I will."

Asuka was flabbergasted. The concerned look on Shinji's face was obvious. Catching up a moment later, I snorted a laugh through my nostrils, shocking all three.

"Ayanami…" I stopped, stuck searching for the right word, before giving up and switching back to my native language. "She's just being sarcastic."

"What would that freakzoid know about sarcasm?" Sorhyu hissed.

"Enough" Answered Ayanami, mildly.

The door opened before Asuka had the chance to explode. All four of us made our way to our respective locker-rooms, Shinji peeling off alone. It still felt wrong going into the girl's locker room, but I swallowed the sensation.

Ayanami headed off to her own end, while I got to put up with Sorhyu complaining about the Freakazoid girl messing with her head before finally getting the chance to enjoy a swimsuit and warm water.

Normally I wouldn't give anything she said any stock, but this time? Something was strangely off with her in a way I just couldn't place.

It was probably nothing.

-----------------------------------------------------
Variant 3: Staggering
-----------------------------------------------------

Asuka'd been blabbing about him for a while, and now I finally got to meet the martial arts instruction she'd been raving about. They'd waited a few weeks for my fitness and language levels to catch up to the point where I could reliably hold a conversation. Or take a punch.

Even Shinji seemed to be enthusiastic. It was rare for him to be enthusiastic about anything, so it had to be good. A monster of a motorcycle was parked outside - something that looked completely out of place - as much a parachronism as I was.

Inside, it even smelled traditional. I could bath in the scent of warm woods and sweet oils welcoming me into their embrace.

I followed the others to the main hall, where we sat and waited for the appointed hour. I tried to immitate their cross-legged position, and found it just hurt my scarred leg to put pressure on it like that.

Nothing made me feel quite as small as meeting our instructor for the first time. I'd met Americans. I'd met Europeans. I'd even met Japanese Adults. He just seemed to be on a different level, filling the room with an energetic presence that made the hairs on my arms tingle. It was a little unnerving to be standing opposite such a tower of a man.

The floorboards creaked under his feet.

"Good morning class. I see our little Lazarus is finally fit enough to join us for the first time…."

His intonation was sharp, clear and practiced - a voice belonging to someone well used to public speaking. He really did seem to command the entire room.

"I got better," I managed, in broken Japanese.

Monty Python never even occurred to me - not until I saw the glimmer in his eyes and the smile crawl across his lips.

"I see your education has not been neglected, Miss Nagato. Well. I am Colonel Douglas Sangnoir, and it's a pleasure to meet you" He paused, allowing my time to translate "However, in this building, you must call me Sensei,"

I caught up. My expression went blank.

What….

"Ahm…"

My mouth hung wide open, parching dry. What….

He waited. Maybe he thought I was just stuck on the Japanese, but it was far more than that.

I looked at Asuka for an explanation, then right back at him, still smiling warmly at me.

"It looks like the Fourth Child finally hit puberty," Asuka needled, jabbing me painfully in the side with her elbow.

Her betrayal flabbergasted me. That wasn't it. That wasn't it at all. And I summed it up in the only way I knew how, cheeks burning red hot and everything.

"SHUT UP!"

Ears rang.
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?