(Ultimates) Just 'cause

[Gatac]

Why? Just 'cause! Now more than ever.

http://lessdramamorebullets.blogspot.com/search/label/justcause

With the new site comes the next chapter of this Ultimates field trip to South America. This is Number 21, entitled "Das weisse Licht" after the Oomph! song.

Instead of printing the lyrics, here's a link to the video. (Not for the faint of heart, though.)

With Eva's departure, her Children have lost some of their prestige. It's easy to politely dismiss that wild story of being shot by your own subordinates, especially when a) you've just been dead and are a bit confused about what happened to you b) there's a dozen witnesses saying that the escaped girl killed you (she did have a Hand sidearm, after all!) and c) you're part of an army that is slanted towards assassinating one's superiors. Freyr and Pantoja have sort of switched places...now the Child has to prove he's worth the expense of resurrection and cybernetic enhancement.

Don't get stabbed in the armpit, kids. It's not good.

There's two more chapters to go, plus an epilogue. Hold fast, dear readers, we've almost made it.

Gatac

[Equinox]

Just read the latest. Have to say that I loved it.

[Gatac]

It's Chapter 22 (finally). This time, we're back under the able musical support of Apollo 440, rockin' this chase with Carrera Rapida.

Chasing
Wasting
Blooding
Hiding
Squeezing
Squeezing
Running
Hiding
Stealing
Feeling
Holding'n
Dealing
The basic chases

Blow out to miami, riding to the ocean
Blow out to miami, riding to the ocean
Blow out to miami, riding to the ocean
Blow out to miami, riding to the ocean
We gonna rock it
Blow out to miami, riding to the ocean
We gonna roll it
Blow out to miami, riding to the ocean
We gonna rock it
Blow out to miami, riding to the ocean
We gonna rock it

The S-class 65 AMG does get up to a bit above 150 MPH. This is semi-comfortably above the stall speed for a military cargo aircraft like the Antonov. (Though researching that was a real bear.)

Similarly, satellite-based blue laser communication with submarines is near-future tech. Certainly the only one that would allow anything close to the transmission speed shown here. Current transmission technology for submarines at depth is one-way ELF (extremely long frequency) radio transmission. There's a grand total of three stations in the world that can send these messages. (Two in the US, one in Russia.) These stations effectively use the Earth itself as an antenna and require tons of power to run. The data rate is measured in bits per minute. (And this doesn't take into account error correction.)

Mark isn't supposed to be singing any real song (or parody thereof). I do have the melody in my head and encourage similar expressions of personal creativity in my readership. (No, I will not sing it.)

The entire scenario has become a question of chuzpe versus the laws of physics. Let's see who wins. (My money's on the laws of physics, but then again, I'm a party pooper like that.)

Gatac

[Gatac]

Instead of chillin' like a villain, I decided to let you all off the hook. Here's the 23rd and final chapter of Just 'cause: High Speed Dirt. What's that you said, Megadeth?

Dropping all my weight
Going down full throttle
The pale horse awaits
Like a genie in a bottle
Fire in my veins
Faster as I go
I forgot my name
I'm a dirt torpedo

Oh yes.

(For the more anime-inclined, try it with MELL - Red Fraction, which is the theme song from Black Lagoon. Which I love to death. And recommend you love to death, too.)

Does it strain credibility that they were able to build the escape rigs that quickly? Eh. It's basically just hooking together two things (the harness/winch combo and a crab), then splicing their controls together. Remember, Algernon is very strong in Electronics.

Does it strain credibility that it even worked? Probably, but it looks. so. cool.

The fastest tracked vehicle I know of could do 80+ MPH, but a light tank with Christie suspension went up to 110 MPH when the tracks were removed. They're the real weak link (pardon the pun). Find a method to get them off, then another one to get the vehicle up to speed, and it might just work. I wish to mention here that WW2 Germany had experience with both experimental tanks and rocket-assisted takeoff, so it seemed natural to apply both to the problem.

Also, if you think this is crazy, the Antonov cargo winches are geared for heavy loads. I briefly contemplated having Algernon hook & lift the whole car (it's a nice car, after all), but then thought that there's no way you could safely hook it up in any shape or form while going 150. Besides, this way, it was easier to get Freyr close enough.

I decided to leave it out of the story proper, but the plane is now heading for Ascension Island. British control, few people, big enough rollfield to land the Antonov, heading is basically "how to get out of Brazillian airspace, pronto", plus it's in range if the Antonov was refueled while landed.

What's next? Well, the poll was opened, the masses cast their vote - and it looks like we're doing Mark's past next! Look forward to "Two Guns", coming soon.

(And now I have to use Valentina at some point. Oh boy, where oh where? Maybe she should take a vacation in Japan. )

Gatac

[Gatac]

Also, Daddy loves comments.

Gatac

[Kagemaru]

Brilliant finnisher, an explosion of action. Though I would have wished that Freyr put up a little more of a last fight, I really loved the "reach out for the gun" part. And many thanks for Algernon, I really loved his stunts. =)

[Valentina]

Man, every time I regret to stay atop my Ultimates diet it comes to pass I regret it.
I've read up and that was some 200% adrenaline stuff. Rowena is rediculously hardcore.
I am in awe, sir. =D

So yeah, if you'd be interested in any kind of details for Valentina PM me, and I'll do my best to be informative.