The video originally aired on Saturday, 3 June. Unfortunately, there is not a live stream summary for this video so we are providing the transcript for those who want to know what she said, though for reasons, did not watch the video.
Note: this is from the YouTube transcript which is available to the public. Some parts of the transcript may not be accurate since it's auto-generated.
The transcript DOES NOT have timestamps but with paragraph breaks to keep the random thoughts somewhat separated, and a couple of annotations.

[Music] hey guys, hey guys-hey! what's up! I hope you're doing well so my finger is still not healing. I put Betadine on it but it's annoying -okay - I took the, uh, because I took the bandage off and started doing dishes and things... yeah, I know I should keep the bandage on longer, so, I mean it is healing but ..I..I kind of reopened it when I was doing dishes is what I should say... anyways
so, I have Wendy's here in the Middle East. I have never tried, as you guys know, I haven't done a Wendy's video or mukbang yet
so I just got a few items that I know we don't have in Canada and I thought I would try them out. So first things first- we do have Pepsi in Canada but the cans are, like, long... eh... they look like um energy drinks and we have a rice and chicken bowl.
so this is their spicy chicken, but with rice and it comes with like a Gravy Sauce. Which I can get done with gravy. So let me just do this here, I'm gonna set up and more importantly...I have Tums for post mukbang just in case. No, just in case... I never, I never, usually need them but I found them.
mmm it's like a KFC type of gravy or something
okay let me pour it on top and see what happens gravy [singing] gravy[singing] a cup of gravy...I'm in the right country [Music]
ah see if I need you
okay, and we have a nut --- chocolate and nut Frosty - so this is a different kind of flavor of Frosty here yum and last but certainly not least, .... we have a...mushroom....cheddar burger...yeah, there's like cheese sauce and,mushroom
and
I did get an extra cheese sauce as well
So- because I love cheese sauce, well Kelly, oh Chloe.... all right... let's try this Frosty. I'm craving something sweet right now. I had a halloumi. I made really good halloumi sandwiches for breakfast oh my...gosh.... oh thumbnail
all right, a lot of packaging is matching with my sofa today
okay, so...um, there's like chocolate sauce on the sides and nuts in this Frosty
Beauty bite
hmm
that's good
I was tired of french fries today
all right, so!
oh my gosh - there's like Nutella on the sides or something..what the heck...um, yeah... I think it's a Nutella. I think I misread that [Note: Chantal may not be aware that Nutella is Hazelnut-chocolate spread = nut chocolate]
um
so, today I thought I would talk about...something that literally everyone is talking about - and before I talk about it - I want to put a disclaimer no disrespect intended whatsoever with the topic. I'm just gonna be eating my meal and talking about it. You may have heard about it - it's all over the news -all over tick tock - foreign -it's The Disappearance of Cameron Robbins... this like teen from Louisiana who went to the Bahamas for like a high school graduation trip and they were all partying...on this boat because the the age of majority like the age you can drink there is like 18. and the United States is 21 right?
I used to think 21 was strict but now I understand because to me...going on a party boat and getting...hammered..is... just doesn't seem like a good idea... for like 18 year olds. I don't know. you're just a little more mature anyway. Maybe not much, but at 21 you're a little...more mature.
[Note: Chantal confuses legal drinking age of 21 in the US forage of majority]
um
so, this kid - he's - he's pretty athletic kid... from what people describe. um - I don't know... there's mixed stories...but if he was dared or if he just...decided to do it but...I heard he was dared...um by other classmates to jump off of the boat. It was like the boat was called, like, Blackbeard's Revenge - it was like a little pirate themed boat party boat. So the sides were not too, too high - it's not like a huge cruise ship...whatever happened the motivation for...that...probably just drunk kids doing stupid things as usual.
I was stupid too. I did... I don't know if I did that stupid but...you know I've done stupid things. [Note: Chantal has never gone overboard into the ocean and presumed dead by a Shark and she seems unclear of her stupid being the same as to this tragedy]
so, someone on the boat shot of footage a...small....grainy dark it was dark in the middle of the night, right? video...it shows him in the water in just like.... shorts...
and...
at the beginning of the video....he's swimming in One Direction..and you see a boat, like, a not a boy, but a lifesaver...round orange lifesaver in the water. In that direction that he's going like...let's say left- it was left -but then like when you slow down the video you can kind of see what looks, like, a huge giant like people think it's...a shark or something - it's like a white - blob or whatever...
and then you see - um - Robin's turn the other way and start swimming, like, kicking his feet more but he's swimming...in the opposite direction he goes right....and then you cut you don't see him anymore he just kind of disappears - it's...like, really eerie
so...people are speculating a lot of things...but the, the most popular Theory is that he was attacked by a shark. other people think maybe he was taken under by the undertow...caused by the boat and the. um, the current. Me, in my opinion, it could have been one of the one of the two.
um, they searched for him for like a couple of days and then they, just like, declared him lost at sea because....I mean the likelihood of him being found alive is very, very, slim unfortunately...and it's very tragic and I'm sorry for the family.
I just have, like I have human...like, basic level sympathy at this point...because...like, that is pretty much suicide. Like I won't expect any kind of, you know, sympathy if I do something that...stupid [Note: this is not how expressing sympathy works, sympathy is apparently something she's trying to learn though hard to teach an emotion or feeling]
um I don't wish ill on anyone of course and....I feel bad for the family. very young... but people do really dumb things and for internet attention. I know what you're thinking - yes if I Keel over from eating this I don't expect sympathy, okay -I don't think that he expected to happen... what happened, but, I mean he was probably drinking...um, who knows but if you look at like when I was researching, the, the.... I became interested. So I was watching more videos about it what people's opinions were on YouTube and other video recommendations would come up about other teens. [Note: Her research was watching random YouTubers]
um who were like other people, young adult - team - whatever they were attacked - there was an instance where another woman was attacked by sharks and didn't survive... so she was attacked by sharks as well in the Bahamas there are just many instances of where people were attacked in the Bahamas like by sharks - so apparently the the Caribbean Waters, especially around the area are very shark infested because all admit at first I was like, I don't think it's a shark but after watching those videos of so many shark attacks in the Bahamas I'm more inclined to think maybe you - know and the fact is if he drow - was drowning - the the Lifesaver was right there out of his reach but beside the white blob that looked like a shark he...was if it was, you know, him being taken away by a current he wouldn't be turning around and swimming the other way - it looked like he was frightened by something you know? {Note: Chantal learns sharks live in warm water, like water in Cuba]
He would reach out for the lifesaver... but then again if it was a shark attack we would more than likely see more thrashing, right? that's my thought I don't know... unless he was just pulled down by a huge...shark... that's creepy. Like, one minute he's there - one second he's there - one second this next second he's not - completely vanished.
I'm gonna try this soybean who really knows [Music]
um that's actually really nice very good but I mean spicy it's just weird
it would be really cool - you know, I of course, I like... I said.. I don't like jail, on... on anyone even if they do do really stupid things. it's too bad but I think as prideful humans we think that we're on top of the food chain all the time...and the reality is we're not.
Maybe like, people should be warned more, you know, before drinking around shark infested waters and the dangers of the Sharks. I hope it brings more attention to it but...I heard that the parents are already, like, finding someone just to...um, like, the families looking for someone. I, I, think out of grief you look for someone to blame for a very nonsensical death. Like, a death that was just completely ridiculous and could be easily avoided and in their grief, of course, they don't want to blame their son - right? - but I mean in a way he's....I would say 97 to blame in this situation, you know, becauseI mean he pretty much jumped overboard...it's not like he fell
um so I don't know
it's just I mean, I guess... maybe they could have like a warning. Like I said, on the boat like do not jump in the water...maybe they already do, who knows? maybe they could get the boat company on that. Like, there wasn't a sign warning people not to jump in the water some people don't have common sense. Especially for your -your judgment- is going to be largely impaired -if you are hammered...if you if you're highly intoxicated - you know?
um have you guys heard of this story if you want to know more about it you can just Google or research in the YouTube search engine, like Cameron Robbins, and there's a whole bunch of videos.
wow so I'm not too sure... to me it was either one drowning or shark- I mean what else can it be? who knows. it's tragic. There's also, like, apparently - they did more searching for Madeleine McCann... okay - who went missing in Portugal years ago - like years and years ago ...um...I didn't recently research the case so I don't remember what year...maybe was it like 2004 or earlier than that? 2008 - I don't remember.
I don't know that story to me is weird I, I, I... really I don't don't mean to like blame anybody when I say this, but there's, like, a weird - I get like a weird JonBenet Ramsay Vibe with that case. I don't know why - but apparently they like did some more...digging... um... and they sent away some evidence they found -maybe, or some things that they found - so we'll we'll see when that happens. it'd be nice to know what happened to her... who was responsible for her disappearance -so that's it I mean that's the case. um it's just one of those things - I guess you don't realize how dangerous those waters are especially at night, you know? he probably just thought it was like a giant swimming pool or like going swimming at the beach or in the ocean, you know?
which is like a mistake anyone could make especially if you're you're drinking so, okay...the waters can be really dangerous...foreign freaks me out - I won't be buying a burkini anytime soon.
I think, like - I don't know -I like to scare myself it's weird. Like, before going on a plane I'll watch -not just before going on a plane but, like one of my favorite... I love, like, those Mayday videos and, like, plane crash videos. I don't know how...but it somehow helps me with my phobia or maybe I don't have a phobia of flying...that's why I'm not scared - I don't know.
what is that? seasonings? I can honestly say I've never had gravy on rice...it's good - anyways guys, I just wanted to show you some different Wendy's items here. they had some other kinds of burgers like a tortilla lime crunch chicken burger. they have a double stack it looks like a chicken Big Mac. Wendy's has one of the best in my...opinion...spicy chicken burgers sandwiches. [Note: she only showed how the nutty chocolate shake tasted like Nutella and a burger, she didn't really show anything]
Did you say burger or a sandwich when it comes to chicken? I think I say Burger - chicken burger - I don't know - whatever, please.
uh, thanks for watching and uh, listening to me and I'll see in the next video... bye, guys

Hi,
First time going to Turks.
We would be grateful for any suggestions on

• how adult friendly are the following resorts: Villa Del Mar or Ocean Club Resort or Windsong on the Reef? i.e. which cater primarily to families with kids.
  
• in terms of swimwear for females, are thongs/g-strings common on Gracebay beach?
  
• which of the above hotels have the best beach service? Food, drinks etc
  

If you’ve suggestions on tipping, using reef safe sunscreen, leaving cellphones on beach chairs unattended while in the water etc anything that might be helpful for firstimers, would be most grateful.
Want to make sure we are respectful while making the most of our time.
Thank you in advance :)

A few weeks ago I had a very archetypal dream, it was as follows. I was at the top of a hill covered with sand and tall grass. It was a warm, sunny day, with a light summer breeze. At the top of this hill was a little pond, surrouned on all sides by tall grass and sand. This pond was filthy, I am not entirely sure as to why, but I knew it to be so. It looked a bit 'dingy' and 'stale', as some lakes or ponds do, but visually it did not appear to be too gross, except for the fact that water was brown, foggy and murky. But on some deeper level, I was entirely concious of the fact that this water was much dirtier than it appeared. It made me feel sick to look at it, when I considered it, it even disgusted me. Making its way out from this pond was a small river, more like a steam, pouring itself out and making its way down the hill. I decided to follow this little stream down the hill, towards the larger body of water which it was pouring into. I could see this large body of water from the top of the hill, it appeared to either be a very large lake, or perhaps the ocean. As I walked down the hill, an all-encompassing female voice rung in my head, singing beautiful symphonies and speaking life-sustaining words of truth and eternal wisdom. She was speaking to me as I made my way down the hill, she had only become known to me as I began my descent; I was stumbling all the while doing so, as the walk down was quite steep at times. I was desperately trying to memorize the words she was speaking to me, but in the process of attempting to remember what she had just previously said, I was not being conciously aware of what she was presently saying, and so I remembered none of it. I then got to the bottom of the hill, and approached the mouth of the river and the body of water which it fed. I approached the deeply satisfying, blemish-free, picturesque beach that lie before the water, and then gazed upon the most beautiful, light blue, crystal clear body of water that I have ever seen in my life. I was in complete awe of the sheer beauty of this body of water. That was all the dream consisted of. I only noticed upon waking up, during further reflection, that the woman's voice ceased as soon as I came upon the beach at the bottom of the hill.
I have a few ideas of what this dream could mean, but I would love to hear some responses from the community. Upon recalling it, I was reminded, of course, of a kind of moral relativism, and possibly even the Jungian idea of Enantiodromia.
I recently had a very potent experience on a dissociative drug which reminded me of this dream, and recalling the dream, along with the experience, promoted what I have written bellow.
I wrote this peice bellow at random, many weeks after the dream, and a few days after the chemically induced experience. I'm not sure what parts of me were talking, but I got them into dialoguing, in a bit of a poetic fourm. It all started out from the question listed bellow.
(How can the rivers source be dirty, while it's mouth is clear and clean?)
"Why does life feel most rich when accompanied by music?"
"One cannot live by music alone."
"There is sublime symphony in silence, haven't you heard?"
"I'm aware, who was it that told you?"
"The inward trouble, it was she that told me."
"Inward trouble? Do you feel she is working against you?"
"She shouldn't be."
"Whether she is your friend or your foe depends entirely on you."
"Now look who's finally become wise, eh?" (This is supposed to be in italics, but I'm not sure how to do that on the android app)
"Why do you figure she told you?"
"I assume she wants me to better know her nature."
"Be careful, that mysterious hand is not always a benevolent one."
"I know, it depends entirely on me, I've heard it all before. 'Exercise caution when approaching the inner mistress of the soul.' "
"I can't remember the last time such a message was preached at the pulpit."
"A message of what?"
"A message of silence. A downward motion. An act of returning to that which is human and pure."
"If you try to hold yourself to 'all that is human,' a.k.a, to all that nature herself has already dicated to us, how could you not already be doing that? Who knows? Maybe nature desires plastic in her oceans and neurosis in her psyche."
"I can't even remember which one of us started this conversation."
"We began with music."
"Then we turned to silence."
"But you made it all feminine."
"I know, and I'm well aware of what that makes her."

I used to take daily walks on the beach until a couple of nights ago. The entrance to it is right behind my house, under some low-hanging branches from the old trees in my backyard. My grandmother and I moved in about a year ago, when we wanted a change of scenery and to put some distance between us and our hyper-religious relatives. I liked to walk when the sun was about to set, for the view and also because the sand cooled down and felt nice on my feet. I would walk for a couple miles, sometimes listening to music but mostly just to the sound of the ocean and wildlife. My grandmother never accompanied me, she was too old to walk far and usually was asleep by the time I got home. I was okay with it, I used the time to gather my thoughts and never really liked to have conversations anyway. Colorful houses lined the beach, a few yards away from the water, but most of them were either uninhabited or was temporary shelter for squatters, so the houses were mostly uncared for. In wasn’t a very populated area, a small town in North America. The shoreline houses were mostly deserted because of the hurricanes we had been getting, with most moving farther inland or even out of state. Again, I didn’t mind much because I wasn’t a very social person. Past the rows of houses was a thin clump of tall trees, but nothing made it’s way onto the sand, not even weeds or grasses that reigned over the small low-ground plants in the forests. A few houses down, a memorial stone sat far away from the water, but still in the sand’s territory. It was too weathered to read, but the size of it indicated it was made in the honor of someone important. Despite being weathered, it stood out and was impossible to miss by anyone passing by. Every time I saw it, my stomach sank, for some unexplainable reason. It was unnatural on the line of cute little cottages, but I learned to ignore it when walking by it. The last time I took a walk, a couple nights ago, I followed my same routine. Avoiding the glare of the memorial stone, admiring the cottages and little animals, and stopping to watch the sun disappear under the ocean. After that, I walked on until the cottages dwindled in number and trees lined the sand instead. I was tired that night, which was strange because I hadn’t really done anything all day. I wanted to keep going, and persisted on even though my leg muscles burned and my breath was short. Eventually, I had enough and even though I was barely halfway through what I normally walked, I decided to turn back. Maybe I was coming down with something and if so, walking even farther wasn’t going to help my situation. Suddenly, the water started to recede quickly. I knew the warning signs of a tsunami and sprinted into the trees, tripping on roots and cutting myself up a bit, but didn’t stop for anything. Strange, I thought the group of trees was thin, but from where I was the trees grew more thick and didn’t show a breaking point into the main road. I was panicking a little, so I didn’t stop running until a thought made my stomach plummet. My grandmother was still at the house, most likely asleep and unaware of the danger. I would have continued into the direction I was going in to get to our little house, but like I said the forest only grew thicker. So I turned around and ran back towards the sand, until I stupidly tripped on another, larger root and fell right on my face. I got up, dazed, and felt my stinging face with my bare hands, finding blood on them when I pulled back. I cursed, but continued to run. I could tend to my minor injuries when my grandmother and I were at a safe distance from the ocean. I made it back out on to the sand and ran in the direction of my house, shakily throwing looks to the water to sea how much time I had, only to stop abruptly. The water was back to normal, resuming its usual motion. God, I still don’t know what made me see the water receding that quickly and that far out, but it showed no trace of ever doing that. I was confused as hell and decided at the time that I was extremely tired or sick, and walked back to my house, even slower now that the adrenaline had worn off. My joints were back to aching and my muscles were back to burning, so I had to move pretty slow. When I finally made it back to the low-hanging branches, I instinctively looked towards the memorial stone, only to find it was gone. I was surprised, that thing was huge and no one could have moved it that quickly without me noticing. There wasn’t even imprints in the sand from the stone being dragged. I hurried my way back to the house, in fear that I was hallucinating. It was all a rush from there, but I remember noticing little things, like my flower bushed were now trimmed trees, or that the front door to my house was the wrong color, or the extra step leading up to my porch that hadn’t previously been there, and this freaked my out even more. I ran up the stairs, sure that my grandmother would come into my room and scold me for being so loud, but she never came. I passed out immediately, having dreams that I can’t remember and waking up in the middle of the night in cold sweat, only for my body to go limp and fall back onto the mattress and slipping back into unconsciousness. When I finally woke up for good, it was around 6:00 am. I sighed as I read the clock, but knew I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep. I had completely forgotten about the previous night’s events, but when I touched the door handle it instantly came back to me, and my legs basically collapsed on themselves, but I recovered quickly and got back up. “What the hell?” I muttered under my breath, and stopped. I swear my heart stopped beating. My voice was somehow different, having higher pitch and a slight wisp. I spoke a few more times, small phrases that came to mind. Eventually, my voice went back to normal, and now I really was convinced I was sick with some cold. I made my way carefully down the stairs, trying not to trip or pass out again. My grandmother slept on the ground floor, because of her inability to climb stares due to an injury from years back. I was sure she would know what to do. I stopped myself before I knocked and reasoned that she wouldn’t want to get up this early for something that was probably just a cold, and to be honest, I wanted to go see if that memorial was there. I put on shoes but didn’t bother getting dressed, it would just be a quick look and then right back inside again. I ducked under the branches and walked out onto the sand, looking to my left in the direction of the stone. It was still there. Relief washed over me and I went back inside, sitting down at the table. I started feeling a lot better, and made myself a cup of coffee. I didn’t even feel sick anymore, maybe I was just really tired. The door to my grandmother’s room opened, and I was about to greet her when my mother came out, yawning with a disgruntled look on her face. “Your grandmother called last night, going on about wanting to see us again. As if what she did never happened,” She sat down at the table after making herself some coffee, and finally looked at me. “Oh my god, Sam, what happened? Your covered in cuts!” She got up and tried to touch me, but I snapped out of it and got up as well, and sprinted towards the back door, and ran out into the trees, probably cutting myself up more, but I didn’t feel a damn thing, just kept running. I heard her yelling after me as I jogged on the sand, trying to get as far away from her as possible. I ran to the end of the houses, and turned right into the trees, around where I had originally ran into. When I got there, I stopped, and walked more cautiously into the forest, dodging around branches and roots. Finally, I found the large root that I tripped over, and upon further inspection, realized it wasn’t actually a root. It was too dark at the time to notice, but what I had tripped over was actually a stone. Not natural, either, it was cut into a perfect triangle and wasn’t weathered at all, despite being in the middle of a forest. I got on my hands and knees, and started to dig around it, not really knowing what I was looking for. Maybe and hour passed, and all I did was dig. The ground was soft around it, and I made a lot of progress, and when I was finished I stepped back to admire my work. I was right. It was the same shape as the other memorial stone by my home, except this was was made very recently judging on the fact that I could actually make out symbols. Not letters, not really looking like any of the human languages. I wiped away more dirt from the surface of it, but my finger caught on something and cut it open, causing some blood to run down the side of the stone. I can’t make this up, the thing started to fucking sink into the ground, and my blood got absorbed into the stone. I backed up real quick and started running back to the sand, my head and heart pounding harder with every step. I barley made it to the sand when I fell down, no longer able to take the throbbing headache. I passed out right there, little black spots taunting me even as I slipped into unconsciousness. I woke up in my bed, at 6:00 am. My grandmother was sitting in the corner, watching me. “You came home late last night, I tried to talk to you, but you just passed out. I think your coming down with something.” She said in a worried tone, her eyebrows scrunched up. “You can probably stay home today, but that means no walk tonight. “Where’s mom?” Was the first thing that came to mind and the thing I couldn’t keep from coming out of my mouth. Her face got even more scrunched up, and said, “Back where we came from, why? Did she call you last night?” Her face didn’t change. “No, no, I guess it was a dream.” I muttered, and maybe I would have believed that. But there was no goddamn way she could have carried my up to my room, up those stares, with her bad back, and as far as I was sure, no one else was around to help her. She was good at mimicking the expressions my grandmother wore, but she couldn’t mask the dead, uncaring look behind her eyes as she watched me from her chair in the corner of my room, never leaving me.

My husband and I just got back from a 5-day vacation in Grace Bay. I spent a lot of time on this sub before our trip and posted asking for recommendations about our itinerary, so figured I would follow up with my thoughts if they are useful to anyone who is planning on visiting there as well!
Accommodations: We stayed at Grace Bay Club. Honestly I can’t say enough good things about this place. Yes it is pricey, but IMO worth the splurge for proximity to the beach, amenities and service. We booked through the hotel and had breakfast included every day, which was delicious and had a lot of variety. The service was amazing. All the staff were super friendly and accommodating the entire time we were there. Lastly, I thought out of the other hotels on the beach that GBC had the best beach setup. There is only one row of chairs, so you have an unobstructed view / access to the ocean. All in all, 10/10!
Food / Restaurants: Since we were staying on resort we ate out for all our meals (if you are planning to do the same, be prepared for how pricey it is!) Here’s a list of where we ate with my two cents: - Coco Bistro: Our favorite meal by far! Everything was delicious. We didn’t have a reservation but were able to get a spot by the bar. Coco van (the airstream bar / food truck on the property) was also a fun spot with more casual vibes. - Infinity Restaurant: This is Grace Bay Club’s on-resort restaurant. It’s nice because it’s right on the beach and very romantic. Food was good, definitely pricey. We didn’t have any but we heard the sushi was good. Might be fun for a splurge! - Provence: French-fusion cuisine, located in-town in sort of a strip mall area. We made reservations here because it got great reviews, but honestly I would skip. It was very expensive and not really worth the price tag IMO. I would pick one of the resort restaurants instead for a splurgy night out so you can be on the water. - Da Conch Shack: a close second favorite! Depending on where you’re staying you need a car or taxi to get there, but I think it’s worth the trip. Right on the beach and great views / vibes. Staff were super friendly and food was great. - Omar’s: We probably did ourselves a disservice by stopping here on the way to the airport since it’s close to it, so we didn’t have a ton of time to hang out. A lot of people recommend this place and it is in a cool location right on the water, and it’s probably a great lunch / day trip spot if you have the time.
Excursions / Transport: - As others have said, RENT A CAR! It’s only about $30/40 per day and so worth it. We rented from Grace Bay Car Rentals and the process was easy. Just be prepared to drive on the left side of the road. - We only had one excursion planned which was a half-day snorkel trip through Lady Grace (a charter that I think is run by the Ritz). I’d recommend looking at Lady Grace’s tours, the boat was super nice, has a full bar and great staff. Snorkeling was fun and we made a stop at Iguana Island afterwards which was nice to see. - My husband also did a dive trip off-resort (I stayed on the beach :)). I don’t have a ton of info but I know he really liked it and it was reasonably priced. I can ask him for details if anyone is interested!
Final thoughts: This was one of the BEST vacations we’ve ever had, we’re already making plans to go back. Usually we pack our trips with tours and excursions, but I was perfectly happy to sit on the beach most days because the water and sand are so beautiful. It’s a perfect spot for a low-key / relaxing vacation (probably not so much if you’re looking for a party destination).
Let me know if I can elaborate on anything!

1st pic is one of my healthy girls and the others are my sick plant. I was told i didn’t provide enough info on the last so here is all is.
Happy frog x Ocean forest x perlite soil mixture Mars hydro TS3000 450w Ethos feminized seeds Fed w RO water with a whole line of Advanced Nutrients, back strap molasses and cal-mag every 3 days or so. Ventilation is very good with a dehumidifier in the tent rn. Temp gets up to 82° during the day and around 74° at night. Humidity is at 55-59% Day 16 of flower.

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Happy Monday everyone, welcome to another UPG of the Week. Meet the Omani Arabs in Oman!

Region: Oman

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Stratus Index Ranking (Urgency): 52
It has been noted to me by u/JCmathetes that I should explain this ranking. Low numbers are more urgent, both physically and spiritually together, while high numbers are less urgent. The scale is 1-177, with one number assigned to each country. So basically on a scale from Afghanistan (1) to Finland (177), how urgent are the peoples physical and spiritual needs.

The Stratus Index - Synthesizes reliable data from different sources to clearly display the world’s most urgent spiritual and physical needs.
The vast majority of missions resources go to people and places already Reached by the Gospel, while only 3% of missionaries and 1% of missions money are deployed among the Unreached. This is the Great Imbalance. As a result, there are more people without access to the Gospel today than a decade ago. Stratus seeks to equip the global church with fresh vision to accomplish the Great Commission by addressing some of the factors that perpetuate the Great Imbalance. We hope this tool allows the church to better understand what steps will be required to overcome the barriers that prevent needs from being met, spurring informed and collaborative missions strategy. Stratus Website

Climate: Summer temperatures in Muscat and northern Oman average 30 to 40 °C (86.0 to 104.0 °F). Annual rainfall in Muscat averages 100 mm (3.9 in), occurring mostly in January. In the south, the Dhofar Mountains area near Salalah has a tropical-like climate and receives seasonal rainfall from June to September as a result of monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean, leaving the summer air saturated with moisture and fog. Summer temperatures in Salalah range from 20 to 30 °C (68.0 to 86.0 °F)
The Dhofar mountains in the summer
Terrain: A gravel desert plain covers most of central Oman, with mountain ranges along the north (Al-Hajar) and southeast coast (Qara or Dhofar Mountains). The peninsula of Musandam (Musandem), strategically located on the Strait of Hormuz, is an exclave separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates.[116] Coast of Sur Madha, another exclave, is an enclave within UAE territory located halfway between the Musandam Peninsula and the main body of Oman.
An Oasis in Oman
Wildlife of Oman: Oman has many animals for its relatively small land size. It is one of the last places in which the Arabian leopard survives is the Dhofar mountains in southern Oman. Other carnivores present include the striped hyena, the honey badger, the red fox, the caracal, the sand cat, Blanford's fox and Arabian wildcat. Some other mammals include the the Arabian oryx, the sand gazelle, the mountain gazelle, the Nubian ibex, the camel. Off Muscat there are other humpback whales, pygmy blue whales, Bryde's whales, sperm whales, false killer whales, Risso's dolphins, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins, and the occasional killer whale. Most of the approximately one dozen or so snake species in the country are harmless, but the uncommon horned viper, carpet viper, puff adder and cobra are venomous. There are no monkeys (afaik) in Oman!
The Arabian Leopard
Environmental Issues: Both drought and limited rainfall contribute to shortages in the nation's water supply. The nation's soil has shown increased levels of salinity. Pollution of beaches and other coastal areas by oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman is also a persistent problem.
Languages: Arabic is the official language. There are dialects of Arabic spoken, all part of the Peninsular Arabic family: Dhofari Arabic (also known as Dhofari, Zofari) is spoken in Salalah and the surrounding coastal regions (the Dhofar Governorate). According to CIA (freakin lol), besides Arabic, English, Baluchi (Southern Baluchi), Urdu, Bengali (spoken by Indians and Bangladeshis), Hindi, Malayalam, Tulu and other Indian languages are the main languages spoken
Government Type: Unitary Islamic absolute monarchy

People: The Omani Arabs of Oman

Omani Arab man
Population: 1,967,000
Estimated Foreign Workers Needed: 39+
Beliefs: The Omani Arabs of Oman are 0% Christian. That means out of their population of 1,967,000 there are little to no Christians at all.
Most Oman Arabs belong to the Ibadi sect of Islam, one of the religion's oldest and most traditional branches. Ibadi principles of puritanism and idealism have greatly influenced Arabs in surrounding countries.
The Great Sultan Qabus Mosque in Oman
History: During the 8th century BCE, it is believed that the Yaarub, the descendant of Qahtan, ruled the entire region of Yemen, including Oman. Wathil bin Himyar bin Abd-Shams (Saba) bin Yashjub (Yaman) bin Yarub bin Qahtan later ruled Oman. It is thus believed that the Yaarubah were the first settlers in Oman from Yemen.
Over centuries tribes from western Arabia settled, making a living by fishing, farming, herding or stock breeding. Arab migration to Oman started from northern-western and south-western Arabia and those who chose to settle had to compete with the indigenous population for the best arable land. When Arab tribes started to migrate to Oman, there were two groups. One group, a segment of the Azd tribe migrated from Yemen in A.D. 120/200 following the collapse of Marib Dam, while the other group migrated centuries before the birth of Islam from Nejd (what later is Saudi Arabia), named Nizari. Other historians believe that the Yaarubah from Qahtan which belong to an older branch, were the first settlers of Oman from Yemen, and then came the Azd.
The Azd settlers in Oman are descendants of Nasr bin Azd and were later known as "the Al-Azd of Oman". 70 years after the first Azd migration, another branch of Alazdi under Malik bin Fahm, the founder of Kingdom of Tanukhites on the west of Euphrates, is believed to have settled. According to Al-Kalbi, Malik bin Fahm was the first settler of Alazd. He is said to have first settled in Qalhat. By this account, Malik, with an armed force of more than 6000 men and horses, fought against the Marzban, who served a Persian king in the battle of Salut and eventually defeated the Persian forces. This account is semi-legendary and seems to condense centuries of migration and conflict into a story of two campaigns that exaggerate the success of the Arabs. The account may represent an amalgamation of traditions from not only the Arab tribes but also the region's original inhabitants.
In the 7th century CE, Omanis came in contact with and accepted Islam. The conversion of Omanis to Islam is ascribed to Amr ibn al-As, who was sent by the prophet Muhammad during the Expedition of Zaid ibn Haritha (Hisma). Amer was dispatched to meet with Jaifer and Abd, the sons of Julanda who ruled Oman. They appear to have readily embraced Islam.
Omani Azd used to travel to Basra for trade, which was a centre of Islam, during the Umayyad empire. Omani Azd were granted a section of Basra, where they could settle and attend to their needs. Some of the Omani Azd who settled in Basra became merchants and, under their leader Muhallab bin Abi Sufrah, started to expand their influence of power eastwards towards Khorasan. Ibadhi Islam originated in Basra through its founder, Abdullah ibn Ibadh, around the year 650 CE; the Omani Azd in Iraq would subsequently adopt this as their predominant faith. Later, Al-hajjaj, the governor of Iraq, came into conflict with the Ibadhis, which forced them back to Oman. Among those who returned was the scholar Jaber bin Zaid. His return (and the return of other scholars) enhanced the Ibadhi movement. Alhajjaj made an attempt to subjugate Oman, then ruled by Suleiman and Said (the sons of Abbad bin Julanda). Alhajjaj dispatched Mujjaah bin Shiwah, who was confronted by Said bin Abbad. This confrontation devastated Said's army, after which he and his forces retreated to the Jebel Akhdar (mountains). Mujjaah and his forces went after Said, successfully flushing them out from hiding in Wadi Mastall. Mujjaah later moved towards the coast, where he confronted Suleiman bin Abbad. The battle was won by Suleiman's forces. Alhajjaj sent another force (under Abdulrahman bin Suleiman); he eventually won the war, taking over the governance of Oman.
The first elective Imamate of Oman is believed to have been established after the fall of the Umayyad Dynasty in 750/755 AD, when Janaħ bin ʕibadah Alħinnawi was elected. Other scholars claim that Janaħ bin Ibadah served as a Wāli (governor) under the Umayyad dynasty (and later ratified the Imamate), and that Julanda bin Masud was the first elected Imam of Oman, in A.D. 751. The first Imamate reached its peak power in the 9th century A.D. The Imamate established a maritime empire whose fleet controlled the Gulf, during a time when trade with the Abbasid Dynasty, the Far East, and Africa flourished. The authority of the Imams started to decline due to power struggles, the interventions of Abbasid, and the rise of the Seljuk Empire.
During the 11th and 12th centuries, the Omani coast was in the sphere of influence of the Seljuk Empire. They were expelled in 1154, when the Nabhani dynasty came to power. The Nabhanis ruled as muluk, or kings, while the Imams were reduced to largely symbolic significance. The capital of the dynasty was Bahla. The Banu Nabhan controlled the trade in frankincense on the overland route via Sohar to the Yabrin oasis, and then north to Bahrain, Baghdad and Damascus. The mango-tree was introduced to Oman during the time of Nabhani dynasty, by ElFellah bin Muhsin. The Nabhani dynasty started to deteriorate in 1507 when Portuguese colonisers captured the coastal city of Muscat, and gradually extended their control along the coast up to Sohar in the north and down to Sur in the southeast. Other historians argue that the Nabhani dynasty ended earlier in A.D. 1435 when conflicts between the dynasty and Alhinawis arose, which led to the restoration of the elective Imamate.
In 1552 an Ottoman fleet captured the fort in Muscat, during their fight for control of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, and departed after destroying the surroundings of the fortress. Later in the 17th century, using its bases in Oman, Portugal engaged in the largest naval battle ever fought in the Persian Gulf. The Portuguese force fought against a combined armada of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and English East India Company support by the Safavid empire. The result of the battle was a draw and resulted in the loss of Portuguese influence in the Gulf. Cities were sketched in the 17th century and appear in the António Bocarro Book of fortress
The Ottoman Empire temporarily captured Muscat from the Portuguese again in 1581 and held it until 1588. During the 17th century, the Omanis were reunited by the Yaruba Imams. Nasir bin Murshid became the first Yaarubah Imam in 1624, when he was elected in Rustaq. Nasir's energy and perseverance is believed to have earned him the election. Imam Nasir and his successor succeeded in the 1650s in expelling the Portuguese from their coastal domains in Oman. The Omanis over time established a maritime empire that pursued the Portuguese and expelled them from all their possessions in East Africa, which were then incorporated into the Omani domains. To capture Zanzibar Saif bin Sultan, the Imam of Oman, pressed down the Swahili Coast. An obstacle to his progress was Fort Jesus, housing the garrison of a Portuguese settlement at Mombasa. After a two year siege, the fort fell to Imam Saif bin Sultan in 1698. Saif bin Sultan occupied Bahrain in 1700. The rivalry within the house of Yaruba over power after the death of Imam Sultan in 1718 weakened the dynasty. With the power of the Yaruba Dynasty dwindling, Imam Saif bin Sultan II eventually asked for help against his rivals from Nader Shah of Persia. A Persian force arrived in March 1737 to aid Saif. From their base at Julfar, the Persian forces eventually rebelled against the Yaruba in 1743. The Persian empire then tried to take possession of the coast of Oman until 1747.
After the Omanis expelled the Persians, Ahmed bin Sa'id Albusaidi in 1749 became the elected Imam of Oman, with Rustaq serving as the capital. Since the revival of the Imamate with the Yaruba dynasty, the Omanis continued with the elective system and, provided that the person is deemed qualified, gave preference to a member of the ruling family. Following Imam Ahmed's death in 1783, his son, Said bin Ahmed became the elected Imam. His son, Seyyid Hamed bin Said, overthrew the representative of his father the Imam in Muscat and obtained the possession of Muscat fortress. Hamed ruled as "Seyyid". Afterwards, Seyyid Sultan bin Ahmed, the uncle of Seyyid Hamed, took over power. Seyyid Said bin Sultan succeeded Sultan bin Ahmed. During the entire 19th century, in addition to Imam Said bin Ahmed who retained the title until he died in 1803, Azzan bin Qais was the only elected Imam of Oman. His rule started in 1868. The British refused to accept Imam Azzan as a ruler, as he was viewed as inimical to their interests. This view played an instrumental role in supporting the deposition of Imam Azzan in 1871 by his cousin, Sayyid Turki, a son of the late Sayyid Said bin Sultan, and brother of Sultan Barghash of Zanzibar, who Britain deemed to be more acceptable.
Oman's Imam Sultan, defeated ruler of Muscat, was granted sovereignty over Gwadar, an area of what later is Pakistan. Gwadar was a part of Oman from 1783 to 1958. This coastal city is located in the Makran region of what is later the far southwestern corner of Pakistan, near what is later the border of Iran, at the mouth of the Gulf of Oman.
The British empire was keen to dominate southeast Arabia to stifle the growing power of other European states and to curb the Omani maritime power that grew during the 17th century. The British empire over time, starting from the 18th century, began to establish a series of treaties with the sultans with the objective of advancing British political and economic interest in Muscat, while granting the sultans military protection. In 1798, the first treaty between the British East India Company and the Albusaidi dynasty was signed by Sayyid Sultan bin Ahmed. The treaty aimed to block commercial competition of the French and the Dutch as well as obtain a concession to build a British factory at Bandar Abbas. A second treaty was signed in 1800, which stipulated that a British representative shall reside at the port of Muscat and manage all external affairs with other states. As the Omani Empire weakened, the British influence over Muscat grew throughout the nineteenth century.
In 1854, a deed of cession of the Omani Kuria Muria islands to Britain was signed by the sultan of Muscat and the British government. The British government achieved predominating control over Muscat, which, for the most part, impeded competition from other nations. Between 1862 and 1892, the Political Residents, Lewis Pelly and Edward Ross, played an instrumental role in securing British supremacy over the Persian Gulf and Muscat by a system of indirect governance. By the end of the 19th century, and with the loss of its African dominions and its revenues, British influence increased to the point that the sultans became dependent on British loans and signed declarations to consult the British government on all important matters. The Sultanate thus came de facto under the British sphere.
Zanzibar was a property as the main slave market of the Swahili Coast as well as being a producer of cloves, and became an increasingly important part of the Omani empire, a fact reflected by the decision of the Sayyid Sa'id bin Sultan, to make it the capital of the empire in 1837. Sa'id built palaces and gardens in Zanzibar. Rivalry between his two sons was resolved, with the help of forceful British diplomacy, when one of them, Majid, succeeded to Zanzibar and to the Omani domains on the Swahili Coast. The other son, Thuwaini, inherited Oman and the Asian domains. Zanzibar's influences in the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean indirectly introduced Omani customs to the Comorian culture. These influences include clothing traditions and wedding ceremonies. In 1856, under British arbitration, Zanzibar and Muscat became two sultanates.
The British imperial development over Muscat and Oman during the 19th century led to the renewed revival of the cause of the Imamate in the interior of Oman, which has appeared in cycles for more than 1,200 years. The British Political Agent, who resided in Muscat, owed the alienation of the interior of Oman to the influence of the British government over Muscat, which he described as being completely self-interested and without any regard to the social and political conditions of the locals. In 1913, Imam Salim Alkharusi instigated an anti-Muscat rebellion that lasted until 1920 when the Sultanate established peace with the Imamate by signing the Treaty of Seeb. The treaty was brokered by Britain, which had no economic interest in the interior of Oman during that point of time. The treaty granted autonomous rule to the Imamate in the interior of Oman and recognized the sovereignty of the coast of Oman, the Sultanate of Muscat. In 1920, Imam Salim Alkharusi died and Muhammad Alkhalili was elected.
On 10 January 1923, an agreement between the Sultanate and the British government was signed in which the Sultanate had to consult with the British political agent residing in Muscat and obtain the approval of the High Government of India to extract oil in the Sultanate. On 31 July 1928, the Red Line Agreement was signed between Anglo-Persian Company (later renamed British Petroleum), Royal Dutch/Shell, Compagnie Française des Pétroles (later renamed Total), Near East Development Corporation (later renamed ExxonMobil) and Calouste Gulbenkian (an Armenian businessman) to collectively produce oil in the post-Ottoman Empire region, which included the Arabian peninsula, with each of the 4 companies holding 23.75% of the shares while Calouste Gulbenkian held the remaining 5% shares. The agreement stipulated that none of the signatories was allowed to pursue the establishment of oil concessions within the agreed on area without including all other stakeholders. In 1929, the members of the agreement established Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC). On 13 November 1931, Sultan Taimur bin Faisal abdicated
Said bin Taimur became the sultan of Muscat officially on 10 February 1932. The rule of sultan Said bin Taimur was backed by the British government, and has been characterised as being feudal, reactionary and isolationist. The British government maintained administrative control over the Sultanate as the defence secretary and chief of intelligence, chief adviser to the sultan and all ministers except for one were British. In 1937, an agreement between the sultan and Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC), a consortium of oil companies that was 23.75% British owned, was signed to grant oil concessions to IPC. After failing to discover oil in the Sultanate, IPC was interested in some promising geological formations near Fahud, an area located within the Imamate. IPC offered financial support to the sultan to raise an armed force against any potential resistance by the Imamate.
In 1955, the exclave coastal Makran strip acceded to Pakistan and was made a district of its Balochistan province, while Gwadar remained in Oman. On 8 September 1958, Pakistan purchased the Gwadar enclave from Oman for US$3 million.
Sultan Said bin Taimur expressed his interest in occupying the Imamate after the death of Imam Alkhalili, thus taking advantage of any potential instability that might occur within the Imamate when elections were due, to the British government. The British political agent in Muscat believed that the only method of gaining access to the oil reserves in the interior was by assisting the sultan in taking over the Imamate. In 1946, the British government offered arms and ammunition, auxiliary supplies and officers to prepare the sultan to attack the interior of Oman. In May 1954, Imam Alkhalili died and Ghalib Alhinai was elected Imam.
In December 1955, Sultan Said bin Taimur sent troops of the Muscat and Oman Field Force to occupy the centres, including Nizwa, the capital of the Imamate of Oman, and Ibri. The Omanis in the interior led by Imam Ghalib Alhinai, Talib Alhinai, the brother of the Imam and the Wali (governor) of Rustaq, and Suleiman bin Hamyar, who was the Wali (governor) of Jebel Akhdar, defended the Imamate in the Jebel Akhdar War against British-backed attacks by the Sultanate. In July 1957, the Sultan's forces were withdrawing, and were repeatedly ambushed, sustaining casualties. Sultan Said, with the intervention of British infantry (two companies of the Cameronians), armoured car detachments from the British Army and RAF aircraft, was able to suppress the rebellion. The Imamate's forces retreated to the inaccessible Jebel Akhdar.
Colonel David Smiley, who had been seconded to organise the Sultan's Armed Forces, managed to isolate the mountain in autumn 1958 and found a route to the plateau from Wadi Bani Kharus. On 4 August 1957, the British Foreign Secretary gave the approval to carry out air strikes without prior warning to the locals residing in the interior of Oman. Between July and December 1958, the British RAF made 1,635 raids, dropping 1,094 tons and firing 900 rockets at the interior of Oman targeting insurgents, mountain top villages, water channels and crops. On 27 January 1959, the Sultanate's forces occupied the mountain in an operation. Imam Ghalib, his brother Talib and Sulaiman managed to escape to Saudi Arabia, where the Imamate's cause was promoted until the 1970s. The exiled partisans of the abolished Imamate of Oman presented the case of Oman to the Arab League and the United Nations. On 11 December 1963, the UN General Assembly decided to establish an Ad-Hoc Committee on Oman to study the 'Question of Oman' and report back to the General Assembly.The UN General Assembly adopted the 'Question of Oman' resolution in 1965, 1966 and again in 1967 that called upon the British government to cease all repressive action against the locals, end British control over Oman and reaffirmed the inalienable right of the Omani people to self-determination and independence.
After deposing his father in 1970, Sultan Qaboos opened up the country, embarked on economic reforms, and followed a policy of modernisation marked by increased spending on health, education and welfare. Slavery was outlawed in 1970.
In 2002, voting rights were extended to all citizens over the age of 21, and the first elections to the Consultative Assembly under the rules were held in 2003. In 2004, the Sultan appointed a female minister with portfolio, Sheikha Aisha bint Khalfan bin Jameel al-Sayabiyah. She was appointed to the post of National Authority for Industrial Craftsmanship, an office that attempts to preserve and promote Oman's traditional crafts and stimulate industry. The Sultan continued to rule by decree. Nearly 100 suspected Islamists were arrested in 2005 and 31 people were convicted of trying to overthrow the government. They were ultimately pardoned in June of the same year.
Inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings that were taking place throughout the region, protests occurred during months of 2011. While they did not call for the ousting of the regime, demonstrators demanded political reforms, improved living conditions and the creation of more jobs. They were dispersed by riot police in February 2011. Sultan Qaboos reacted by promising jobs and benefits. In October 2011, elections were held to the Consultative Assembly, to which Sultan Qaboos promised greater powers. The following year, the government began a crackdown on internet criticism. In September 2012, trials began of 'activists' accused of posting "abusive and provocative" criticism of the government online. 6 were given jail terms of 12–18 months and fines of around $2,500 each.
Qaboos, the Arab world's longest-serving ruler, died on 10 January 2020, and the government declared 40 days of national mourning. He was buried the next day. On 11 January 2020, Qaboos was succeeded by his first cousin Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.
Nakhal Fort, one of the best-preserved forts in Oman.
Culture: Typical qualification that all people groups can't be summed up in small paragraphs and this is an over generalization.
The Omani Arabs live in extended family units. Their society is patriarchal, or male-dominated. The men seldom abuse this authority because they believe that their families should obey them out of respect rather than fear. Also, there are clearly defined roles for both sexes. Even the children are given gender-specific duties. The men work outside in the fields while women work in the homes. Men and women often eat separately and never pray together. While men worship at mosques, women attend ceremonies conducted at home by female religious leaders. Marriages are generally pre-arranged by the parents. Children are a considered the family's greatest asset because they provide the parents with additional laborers and social security.
An Omani Souq
Cuisine: The cuisine of Oman uses spices and marinades to complete a dish, which usually consists of chicken, fish, and lamb. Unlike that of many other Asian nations, Omani cuisine is not spicy, and varies regionally. Everyday meals generally have components such as rice, a wide variety of soups, salad, curry, and fresh vegetables. For dessert, a known Omani sweet Omani halwa is usually served. This is usually served before the consumption of kahwa, a preparation of coffee with cardamom, which is very popular and remains a symbol of hospitality. Other popular beverages include tea, laban (a kind of salty buttermilk), yoghurt drinks, and soft drinks like mountain dew.
Omani Halwa
Prayer Request:

• Pray for a spiritual discernment and hunger that will allow Omani Arabs to seek and find Christ.
• Pray for Holy Spirit-directed believers to go to the Omani Arabs.
• Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to spread far and wide among Omani Arabs.
• Pray against Putin and his insane little war.
• Pray for our nation (the United States), that we Christians can learn to come alongside our hurting brothers and sisters and learn to carry one another's burdens in a more Christlike manner than we have done historically.
• Pray that in this time of chaos and panic that the needs of the unreached are not forgotten by the church. Pray that our hearts continue to ache to see the unreached hear the Good News.

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)
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Here are the previous weeks threads on the UPG of the Week for Reformed from 2023 (plus a few from 2022 so this one post isn't so lonely). To save some space on these, all UPG posts made 2019-now are here, I will try to keep this current.

People Group	Country	Continent	Date Posted	Beliefs
Omani Arabs	Oman	Asia	06/05/2023	Islam
Turks	Bulgaria	Europe	05/22/2023	Islam
Kinnara	Sri Lanka	Asia	05/15/2023	Buddhism***
Yonaguni	Japan	Asia	05/08/2023	Animism
Persian	Iran	Asia	04/10/2023	Islam
Ngazidja Comorian	Comoros	Africa	04/03/2023	Islam
Uyghur (2nd)	China	Asia	03/27/2023	Islam
Aimaq	Afghanistan	Asia	03/20/2023	Islam
Shughni	Tajikistan	Asia	03/13/2023	Islam
Punjabi	Canada	North America	03/06/2023	Sikhism
Kurds	Turkey	Asia**	02/13/2023	Islam***
Krymchak	Ukraine*	Europe**	02/06/2023	Judaism
Talysh	Azerbaijan	Asia**	01/30/2023	Islam
Shan	Myanmar	Asia	01/23/2023	Buddhism***
Shaikh - 2nd post	Bangladesh	Asia	01/09/2023	Islam
Hindi	United States	North America	12/19/2022	Hinduism
Somali	Finland	Europe	12/05/2022	Islam
Hemshin	Turkey	Asia**	11/28/2022	Islam
Waorani (Reached)	Ecuador	South America	11/21/2022	Christianity

* Tibet belongs to Tibet, not China.
** Russia/Turkey/etc is Europe but also Asia so...
*** this likely is not the true religion that they worship, but rather they have a mixture of what is listed with other local religions, or they have embraced a liberal drift and are leaving faith entirely but this is their historical faith.
As always, if you have experience in this country or with this people group, feel free to comment or let me know and I will happily edit it so that we can better pray for these peoples! I shouldn't have to include this, but please don't come here to argue with people or to promote universalism. I am a moderator so we will see this if you do.
Here is a list of definitions in case you wonder what exactly I mean by words like "Unreached".
Here is a list of missions organizations that reach out to the world to do missions for the Glory of God.

I wrote this last night, after reading a bit of Night Shift and watching The Boogeyman. Would appreciate any feedback, even if you think it sucks. It's been several years since I've sat down to write, so I may be a bit rusty.
UNTITLED
He hadn’t meant to kill her. They’d been fighting. She was yelling and screaming, hitting him with balled up fists. Perhaps she’d thrown something at his head, something ceramic which had shattered against the cabin wall behind Arthur as he ducked it. Still, killing her never crossed his mind. He just wanted her away from him. And so he’d pushed, and it was at that same moment that a swell of water rolled the boat which gave her fall the necessary force as her head connected with the corner of the counter.
There was a soft crunch and she went limp. Arthur stood in shock for a few seconds, expecting her shake her head and glare at him with renewed fury, but Patrice’s neck lolled loosely, and blood seeped from her ears and the deep indentation at the top of her skull. Her eyes stared at something just past him, unfocused, unblinking.
He fell to his knees in front of her, panicked. “Patrice, baby. Are you ok?” He touched her shoulder and gave it a shake. “Can you hear me? Wake up!” He shook his head. Don’t be stupid. You can see her neck, the blood. You know she’s… His mind began to race. He hadn’t meant to kill her, but it wouldn’t matter. They were alone on the Sea Turtle, anchored off the coast of Catalina Island. They’d both been drinking and had had a fairly public fight at a restaurant on the island. It wasn’t his fault the waitress had been attractive – and just his type, too.
A dark haired and olive-skinned Spanish woman in her mid-20’s. They’d been flirting while Patrice was in the bathroom and she must have caught it on her way back. She’d sat back in the booth, her eyes full of hurt and murder as she gulped down her vodka and asked the waitress (a different one) for a double this time. After a couple of those, she’d started yelling, letting the restaurant know about his past indiscretions. This was supposed to be a nice night out and she was making a scene because of a light touch on the arm. He hurriedly paid the check and then grabbed her by the elbow, “Let’s go.”
“Fuck you,” she said, through tears. “Babe-“
“Don’t you fucking call me that!” She threw her fourth vodka double of the night in his face. A fat ice cube bounced off the bulb of his nose as the liquor soaked his shirt. Anger welled up and his neck turned purple. He’d thought about killing her then, but that’s normal in these kinds of situations, isn’t it?
He wiped his face with his bare hand and shook away drops of vodka. He hoped to Christ he wouldn’t get pulled over on the way back to the marina. He remained quiet, staring at her while he took in deep breaths and grabbed a cloth napkin from the table to dab at his face and shirt. Arthur knew she wanted him to blow up, to slap her and start calling her ugly names.
He could feel the eyes of the restaurant on them and saw the manager coming up to ask them to leave. Arthur put his hand up and nodded. “I’m sorry about this. She seems to have misunderstood something, and well…”
“I didn’t misunderstand anything.”
“Ma’am, are you ok?” The manager asked her. He was keeping his distance from Arthur while he addressed her. “Do you need me to call someone?”
“No, we’re fine,” Arthur told him.
“I was asking her, sir”. The manager had some steel to him. He looked Arthur in his eyes with a gaze that said Try me. He stood no chance against Arthur, but it seemed women made to cry by their philandering husbands was this fop’s Superman Juice. Still, Arthur had no intention of making this worse. He put both hands up in acquiescence and backed up a step. “Ma’am?”
Patrice looked at him amid runny eyes and sniffles, looked at the gaping onlookers of the restaurant, and then at Arthur with his hands in his pockets, now quiet and calm.
“No,” she said. “You got your show for tonight.” With a final sniff, she pulled herself out of the booth, straightened her silk dress as she stood and walked out without looking at anyone.
“Listen, I-uh- I’m sorry about the fracas.” Arthur pulled out his wallet and held out a hundred dollars to the manager, who shook his head and put his hands up.
“I don’t need your money, and I don’t want it.”
Arthur shrugged and laid the bill on the table. “Then make sure Jessica gets this, as an apology.” He turned and saw the young waitress who’s laid a soft caress on his forearm and motioned to her. “Really, it was a misunderstanding.” Jessica hugged herself and shrunk back behind the bar.
“Please leave, sir.” Arthur looked back at the foppish manager who probably thought his Tai Bo sessions translated to fighting prowess.
“Again. I’m sorry.” He turned and followed Patrice out the door and found her shivering next to the car, waiting for him to unlock it. There was no more fighting on the way back to the marina, just silence. She knew better than to put on the radio, and he didn’t touch it, so they drove in silence; tears drying on Patrice’s face, vodka drying Arthur’s.
Who knows why she had started on again once they were anchored, but she had. She had and that had been the death of her. Now Arthur sat over her body, with her neck lolling with the rocking of the waves and the blood pooling under her head on the hardwood flooring. His mind was whirling and he saw his life falling apart. He saw murder charges, possibly life in prison. His daughter, Maddy, hating him the rest of her life. Everything he’d worked hard to build at the firm would go up in smoke. His whole life finished over a waitress. No, he couldn’t let that happen.
He rushed to a nearby closet and grabbed towels and stuffed them into her head wound. He used another to start soaking up the blood on the floor. He clambered up on deck and pulled a tarp from the wheelhouse storage closet to wrap her in. Once that was done, he went back topside and checked around for nearby boats. There were a few about a hundred yards away or so. Maybe he could start up the engines and not be noticed. He needed to get to isolated waters. He turned the engines and kept an eye on the boats for signs of life as he motored past, going further west, past Catalina.
After a couple of hours, he stopped. It was now midnight. He ducked below deck and grabbed the tarpaulin wrapped body and began dragging it up on deck. He checked around to make sure no boats had come up while he was below and was satisfied to see the waters empty, with Catalina Island a long, ghostly shape in the distance. Arthur muscled Patrice’s body over the railing and let her slide out of her tarp wrapping, head-first. She splashed into the water and quickly sunk, the seawater perhaps getting into her fractured skull. Arthur stared at the water for several minutes and then eventually willed himself to move.
Down in the cabin, he again stared at the pool of congealed blood and soaked towels. Going back into his closet, he pulled out bleach and gloves and got to work at scrubbing the floor. After another hour of this, he was satisfied. He tossed the towels overboard and began motoring back to his previous anchor spot. It was about 3am when he dropped anchor again at Catalina Island. Still no sign of interest from the other boats. Maybe he was lucky.
He went back down to the cabin and pulled out a bottle of whiskey from the dry bar. Uncorking it, he took several long pulls before recorking it and putting it away. He staggered to bed and was dead to the world for the next several hours.
There had been questions after he reported Patrice missing the next morning. Some suspicion, certainly. He couldn’t blame them for that. He was honest with the police about everything up until they got to the boat. Patrice went back to drinking and decided to sulk on deck while Arthur went to bed. She must have slipped.
“I’m sorry, Officer, I never heard her, I tend to sleep pretty heavy.”
Maddy was, of course, beside herself with the news. What 15 year old girl would be? Her mother was missing. Arthur had to take some bereavement time off from work and spent most of it with his daughter, consoling her. Sometimes, he would walk along Huntington Beach Pier and stare at the waters of Catalina Island wondering if Patrice had simply sunk to the bottom of the ocean or had been eaten by a shark. Were there sharks here? There had to be. There always is a shark, and they’re always hungry.
After a couple of months, Maddy’s nightly tears had stopped, and Arthur no longer needed to comfort her as often. She’d found her coping mechanism amongst her friends. Arthur was still putting away about a half a bottle of whiskey a night. Most nights he would drift off to late night TV, staring bleary-eyed at some unfunny half-wit, hucking it up for a dutiful crowd. Some nights he would stare out his window in the direction of Catalina and would replay the image of Patrice sinking. Those nights, he took a sleeping pill with whiskey.
On one such night, he stared out at the water and heard the crunch of her skull, saw the roll of her neck as it snapped. Her empty stare at something just past him in the cabin. Arthur went to the medicine cabinet in his bathroom and popped one of his sleeping pills and chased it with a long pull of whiskey. No TV, tonight, he decided. He would lay in bed and drift off in the darkness.
He climbed in bed and waited for the pill to do its work. To take him to a dreamless sleep where his guilt couldn’t touch him. He felt his eyelids drooping and his breath began to slow. He began to smell seawater and heard a dripping on the carpet of his bedroom. He wasn’t even asleep, yet, and he’d already started dreaming. He wasn’t supposed to be dreaming. He was supposed to be
(dead)
dreamless. He heard a wet shuffling of feet drawing closer to his bed. Through his drooping eyes he could barely make out a shape standing over his bed.
“Maddy?” It was a drunken slur, barely above a whisper. “Why are you getting water on the carpet?” The figure didn’t answer. It just stood there, dripping water on the carpet. Long hair hanging in wet tendrils over its face. “Maddy?”
The figure shuffled closer and gave a soggy moan, “How could you treat me this way?” Arthur felt the bed shift as the figure began to crawl on to the bed, soaking the duvet. She nestled up to Arthur’s left side and tucked her head into his chin. There was a dent on the top of her skull that his chin fit into like puzzle piece. Her arms encircled Arthur’s chest and she brought her knee up to rest on his thigh, just how she used to in better times. “I’ve only ever loved you.”
Arthur was finding it hard to breathe now. His eyes were too heavy to open and his arm was on fire. He felt Patrice squeezing the breath out of him, her own breath gurgling in her throat. As he left consciousness for the final time, he heard that soggy moan again, “I miss you. Come back to me.”

Hey all, was hoping for some insight / experience from the community. My girl is ~4 year old border collie that LOVES to swim. In the summer months she spends a lot of time in the pool. She chases and bites the splashes and ends up drinking a lot of pool water.
I'm looking at taking her to the beach for the first time and concerned about her ingesting ocean water. Is it likely that she'll end up drinking a ton of ocean water like she does in the pool or do dogs have some instinctual disinterest (tastes bad, too salty, whatever) in the water that will keep her ingesting it like she does in the pool?

Hey all, was hoping for some insight / experience from the community. My girl is ~4 years and LOVES to swim. In the summer months she spends a lot of time in the pool. She chases and bites the splashes and ends up drinking a lot of pool water.
I'm looking at taking her to the beach for the first time and concerned about her ingesting ocean water. Is it likely that she'll end up drinking a ton of ocean water like she does in the pool or do dogs have some instinctual disinterest (tastes bad, too salty, whatever) in the water that will keep her ingesting it like she does in the pool?

I’m still 10 years from retirement, but I can start dreaming (and especially planning) now, right? My wife and I should be ok financially to move most places in the United States. We love many natural terrains, but unfortunately for our wallets, we, like a lot of people, are attracted to the salt water smell of the ocean.
That doesn’t mean we have to live on the ocean. In fact, some climate change maps suggest that might be a bad idea due to rising sea levels and other natural disasters. What I’m looking for is someplace warm, slightly inland , yet allows us an easy shot to the beach. Does such a place exist? Thanks in advance.

Where to begin? Deep breath
I'm planning to pop the question to my partner. I have no idea what I am doing because I am nervous. Not sure why I am nervous. We are madly in love and have been together for a long time. She is my best friend. We have been discussing a simple ceremony this fall. She wants a proposal I know this because she told me once. We have no money. She and I work full time but we barely scrape by. I have two options:

1. Propose to her at the beach. 🌊 A simple casual easy day at the ocean. I would drive her there, it's a couple hours drive, with a simple picnic packed and listen to music while she rests on the way. A blanket on the sand. Alone together. Put our toes in the waves. I would probably set my phone up to record a video of us and tell her "let's pose in front of the water" Then instead of us playing in the waves I would get down on one knee and ask her. She would probably lose it in a good way. Music on the way home, happy memories.
   
2. Photo Shoot Proposal 📸 I won gifted a free photo shoot from a raffle and she gets to be in some of the photos. We will dress up a little bit coordinated and take photos near some local landmarks. I would ask the photographer ahead of time if it's ok to ask her while we are posing for photos. Maybe hold up a chalk board with "will you marry me?" (I feel my heart begin to beat fast with nerved just typing this!) We would then have beautiful photos of the moment I asked her and her response. Probably more clearly than my phone but that doesn't super matter to me. What matters is her happiness. I want to really make her feel special.
   

Which one sounds more romantic and sweet? She deserves to have a beautiful magical moment because she works hard and she has a heart of gold. We definitely don't have the $ for more, and I don't have any family or friends to help with the planning or set up and neither does she unfortunately. Thank you!

Introduction:
When it comes to awe-inspiring wildlife encounters, few experiences can rival the thrill of whale watching. Imagine being surrounded by the vast blue expanse of the ocean, witnessing majestic whales breach the surface, and hearing the sound of their magnificent exhales. If you're seeking a truly remarkable adventure, look no further than a Baja Whale Watching Camp in Mexico. In this blog post, we'll delve into the captivating world of whale watching in Baja, Mexico, and why it should be at the top of your bucket list.
Discover the Enchanting Waters of Baja:
Nestled on the Pacific coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Baja offers an ideal habitat for various whale species. Its pristine waters are known as a crucial migratory route for whales, making it a prime location for whale watching. From gray whales to humpback whales and even the elusive blue whales, Baja is a treasure trove for marine enthusiasts. A Baja Whale Watching Camp allows you to witness these incredible creatures in their natural habitat, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Immerse Yourself in a Unique Camping Experience:
A Baja Whale Watching Camp provides an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in nature. Imagine waking up to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, breathing in the fresh ocean air, and stepping out of your tent to witness the mesmerizing sight of whales frolicking in the distance. These camps offer comfortable accommodations, blending the ruggedness of camping with the convenience of modern amenities. You can connect with like-minded travelers, share stories around the campfire, and forge lifelong friendships.
Expert Guidance and Knowledge:
To truly appreciate the marvels of whale watching, it's crucial to have expert guidance. Baja Whale Watching Camps are typically led by experienced naturalists and marine biologists who possess a deep understanding of these magnificent creatures. They will educate you about the behavior, migration patterns, and conservation efforts pertaining to the whales. This invaluable knowledge enhances your whale-watching experience, allowing you to appreciate the significance of these gentle giants and their role in the ecosystem.
Get Up Close and Personal with Whales:
One of the most thrilling aspects of a Mexico whale watching camp is the opportunity to get up close and personal with the whales. While adhering to responsible whale-watching practices, you may have the chance to observe these majestic creatures from a small boat or kayak. Imagine the adrenaline rush as a whale breach just a few meters away, spraying water into the air and captivating your senses. These intimate encounters create lasting memories and leave you with a profound appreciation for the wonders of nature.
Explore the Breathtaking Surroundings:
While the main focus of your trip may be whale watching, Baja offers a myriad of other attractions to explore. From its rugged coastline to pristine beaches, and from charming fishing villages to vibrant marine ecosystems, Baja is a haven for adventure seekers. Snorkeling, diving, hiking, and exploring desert landscapes are just a few of the activities you can indulge in during your visit. Immerse yourself in the rich culture and vibrant colors of Mexico while also being awestruck by the incredible marine life.
Conclusion:
A Baja Whale Watching Camp in Mexico is a gateway to a world of natural wonders and unforgettable experiences. The opportunity to witness whales in their natural habitat, combined with the unique camping experience and expert guidance, makes it an adventure like no other. Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply seeking an escape from the ordinary, a Baja Whale Watching Camp promises to deliver an extraordinary journey that will leave you in awe of the beauty and grandeur of these magnificent creatures. So, pack

So I was in Spain, it was really really hot and nobody else was about, it was midday but nobody was awake yet so I decided to go to the beach. It was a rocky beach with no sand and there was a sort of pier leading into the ocean. I went into the ocean and floated there but then my goggles fell off my head as I put it under the murky water and I dived down to get them, I was able to reach them. Then, it happened again, this time I couldn’t reach them so I started heading back up to the village to ask for help when I saw a man coming down the stairs of an apartment building who was a professional swimmer. He got my goggles for me and then he left. After he left I dropped something else, I can’t remember what it was, I tried to dive down to get it but there was some sort of physical barrier stopping me from going under the water, I started to panic and then I woke up. What does my dream mean?

We did the May 31 - June 4 Key West, Bimini cruise. I'll give some pros and cons but overall loved the cruise and put money down for our next cruise, hopefully one of the Mediterranean ones.
Loved: 1. Food. Test kitchen was tons of fun and one of the best dishes we had the entire cruise was the mushroom course. So good!
Extra virgin was just great. Our server pretty much just told us that he would bring out one of each of the appetizers. He also brought out extra pasta. Everything here was great.
Pink Agave. This was our consensus favorite meal of the entire cruise. Our server gave us all of the small and medium plates. We each ordered a different large plate and requested more of the small plates. We also had all of the desserts. We were here for well over two hours and enjoyed every minute. Relax, you're on a cruise. Enjoy your food!
The Wake - we ate here once for brunch and once for dinner. Some of us are the soup for both meals. Everything here was excellent. It wasn't the best steak house in the world, but it was very good.
The Dock House - we snacked here multiple times. The shrimp and the hangar steak are great! This was pretty much lunch everyday.
Pizza place - fantastic pizza.
The galley - the taco place and the Ramen place were the best parts of the galley. We didn't try the Burger place at all. Breakfast tended to be disappointing so we started eating at the other restaurants for breakfast. They were great!

1. The boat - so many great spaces to just hang out. We played board games, read, did trivia, colored, drank, ate. We just loved this boat. Spent tons of time on deck 7 aft.
   
2. Bimini Beach - both the pool and ocean are great places to be.
   
3. Scarlet night - so fun. Just go with the flow
   

Needs improvement:

1. Bars - we had a bar tab and didn't spend almost $70 because it was almost impossible to get a drink. And the bars were not that crowded. More bars need to be open. Sometimes all the inside bars were open and all of the outside bars were closed or vice versa. Considering everything else is included and this is the main place virgin is going to make money during the cruise, I'm surprised virgin doesn't make it a bigger priority to sell alcohol.

Pool area- pool deck is made of lava. It gets way too hot. Wellness pool is actually a giant hot tub. Not what one wants when we're at sea and it's 95 out. It made the other pool feel even smaller. And the other pool is too small.
Service- really great at some places ( extra virgin, pink Agave, test kitchen,) OK in some places (The Wake) and bad in others (parts of the galley, most bars)
Scheduling - tons to do but many of the things we wanted to do conflicted with dinner. And we love the dinners. We're not skipping dinner for trivia. Move the trivia.
Beach club trams - had the weather been good, this would not have been an issue but there was a big storm with lots of nearby lightening and everyone tried to leave at the same time. Very unorganized. Lots of people running and leaving others who had been ahead of them without seats. It was not the finest moment for some people.
Redemption spa - tons of potential. Just very unorganized. Getting a robe and slides were difficult. I ended up sitting in a line for massages thinking it was the line for the spa. Mud for the mud room is no where near the mudroom. It's a great space and I really enjoyed the spa but it was much more stressful than it needed to be. Also the big tub in the floor should be the hot tub.
Pizza place - again we loved the pizza. But they need to explain to people what kind of pizza they serve and what they should expect. It's wood fire pizza. It's cooked at very high temperature. The crust will have some blackness on it. It tastes great! Don't return your pizza or ask for another one. Saw so many rude who made the wait ridiculously long for everyone else.
Water stations- Loved the water stations except they need more. They are very hard to find and the majority of them seem to be outside. Some drink stations on deck 7 would make a lot of sense.
Again we loved this cruise. We booked another one while on board. The things that need improvement were minor compared to the things we loved. We traveled with friends and that made a huge difference. Had it just been two of us, I think the activity scheduling would have been a bigger deal. We were just there to chill and we had a blast.

Hello
Here's a thought experiment. Imagine that, in 2017, Activision did not publish Call of Duty: WWII but instead Call of Duty: Eternal. This is a story which is very much the same as what Call of Duty: WWII transpired as but with a couple of significant differences. For a start, it's not set during World War Two - it's set in a fantasy world with a 1940s/50s level of technology. A global war is raging between mankind and Orks, with the Orks having conquered great tracts of the world, and the story opening with the efforts by humanity to retake "Albion" from Ork occupation. I like to imagine the faces of Call of Duty fans when the first trailer came out and, seeing what looked like D-Day, got excited that at last the franchise was going back to its roots - only to see that the enemies are Orks and the main character is a Lenape woman.
To help with this imagining - below you'll find the full script for the first mission of Call of Duty: Eternal, based on the first mission of Call of Duty: WWII. The rest will gradually follow.
You might find it useful to follow along using this video - a walkthrough (no commentary, thank God) of the actual first mission in Call of Duty: WWII to help with visualising it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7y1bDQBEhA
Call of Duty: Eternal Mission 1 X-Day
Text slowly appears on-screen:
The world is bathed in flames.
The Ork clans, united for the first time in centuries, are on the march.
Man faces extermination.
A human skull is shown before an Ork boot comes down on it, shattering it.
Radio broadcast: With unmatched ferocity, the Ork war machine has launched its onslaught against the world… mankind faces the abyss.
The camera pans up on the Ork boot to show an Ork soldier as, behind him, Ork soldiers and tanks move through a devastated city.
Radio broadcast: As we brace for our darkest hour, we must summon our strength to be the bulwark against oppression.
Ork bombers are shown bombing London, recognisable for the Thames if not for the architecture. They are four-engine bombers, like B-17s, and the camera closes in on a propeller which shifts to a ceiling fan.
Radio broadcast: The Ork onslaught will be the greatest test we'll ever face.
The camera pans down from the ceiling fan Mona Kanti, a young Lenape woman and the protagonist, is shown joining the Imperial Armed Forces. She stands in a line in a recruitment office as a recruitment officer stamps her papers.
Radio broadcast: But face it and defeat it… we must.
To punctuate the “we must,” a sudden cut to black with the sound cut out. Then, we hear the voice of the Ork Primarch. A speech plays, meant to mirror FDR’s D-Day Prayer, with shots of the Ork war machine we’ve been hearing so much about.
Primarch: With this war we set upon a mighty endeavour.
Fade from black to show huge lines of Ork soldiers in formation, like big Nazi rallies, are shown.
Primarch: A struggle to restore our civilization…
Ork soldiers on one knee in this rally are shown, closer up, dressed in battle gear and their faces daubed in war paint.
Primarch: …and to set free a suffering people.
A view from the rear of the rally, with the vast architecture of the Primarch’s palace shown looming over it all, resembling the Palace of the Soviets.
Primarch: Our Sons. Pride of our Clans.
Another panning shot of the assembled Orks, this time from the side.
Primarch: May the Mother lead them straight and true.
An Ork mystic, on the balcony overlooking the assembly, blesses the troops with hands raised to the sky.
Primarch: The road will be glorious. Men's souls will be broken with the beauty of war.
A shot from behind the mystic, seeing the assembled troops stretching towards the horizon.
Primarch: In this time of fire and blood…
The face of one Ork soldier is shown up close.
Primarch: …we shall prevail.
With the slightest of grimaces, the Ork uses a knife – and, in the background, we see the others doing the same – to ritualistically slice his forehead and let blood trickle down.
The cutscene then shifts to the Imperial Navy ships, including battleships of a scale similar to the Super Yamato, that are heading for the beaches of Albion. Mona Kanti is writing a letter to her sister, Luna Kanti, and we hear her voice-over as we view shots of the fleet.
Kanti (narrating): Luna. Oh, I wish you could see this, sister. An armada from one horizon to the next. I turned sixteen too late to help free Ériu. But not Albion – and it’s gonna be tougher. Much tougher. You know, I think I could bear the blood, and the misery… and the Orks. But the waiting… well, that’s a whole other battle.
Inside the troopship living quarters. We are now in first-person as Kanti. Kanti is sat at a table, hanging out and talking with her squad-mates Kinsi Rei (female Somali; shaved head), Thea Adlai, (female Swedish; ginger, freckles, glasses) and Ren Tao (male Chinese). Ren Tao is eighteen – the others are all sixteen. Bunks are stretched out behind them and other soldiers, of all ethnicities and sexes, walk by throughout. Rei is holding court while playing with a knife, every now and then jabbing between her fingers.
Rei: So she asks me for my watch and I'm thinking, "what in the Nether do you want my watch for; your parents make like fifty times mine!" But I turn around, and I felt this punch. And it's cold like ice.
Some of the dialogue is drowned out by Kanti’s narration. Every now and then, Kanti glances down at her fingers as she snaps them, but whatever she’s trying to do with that isn’t happening.
Kanti (narrating): Believe it or not, I managed to make some half-decent friends in Basic. All scared as can be. But nobody’s letting on.
Rei keeps playing her knife game as she talks.
Kanti (narrating): I hated Rei when I met her – and now she's my best friend. Funny how that works. She's always looking for trouble. If there wasn't already a war on she'd be off trying to start one.
Rei offers her knife to Thea Adlai and, though we can’t hear her given the narration, seems to be asking her if she wants to try the knife game. Adlai refuses.
Adlai: Besides, I gotta keep all my fingers if I'm gonna take photo of the year.
Kanti (narrating): Adlai says she's gonna be a photographer for a fashion magazine. She’s got a good eye. Except when she takes off her glasses – then she can’t see shit.
Rei offers her knife to Kanti and Kanti turns to Ren Tao.
Kanti (narrating): Tao's the vet but, if I’m honest, he's what kokomi would call “a bit of a bumpkin.”
Ren Tao is tempted to play Rei’s knife game.
Tao: Okay, okay. Let's make this interesting.
Rei: It’s not interesting? Kanti – what’re you doing?
She says this in reference to Kanti’s finger-snapping.
Kanti (narrating): I swear I used to be able to do this…
Tao: So you keep saying.
Tao take off his talisman and dangles it in front of Rei.
Tao: Xu Yaling. Spirit of war.
Adlai: And sex, right?
Tao: Sssh. (Rei and Adlai laugh) He's had my back since Sabha. And, yeah, that’s real gold. (drops the talisman down on the table) Rei, three times in ten seconds, and he's all yours. (Sits back down)
Rei: I don't know.
Tao: Oh, you could always wimp out. That’s a choice, too.
Kanti: My money's on Rei.
Rei: Okay. Okay, I'm in.
Adlai: I can't watch.
Tao: I can.
Rei looks to Adlai.
Rei: Just time me when I tell you. Back to my story – me and my girls, we muscled our way into this chess game that the wrestling team had going. We had a bona-fide genius among us – but it was me playing. We worked out a system where she can signal to me what moves to make. You should have seen the Head Girl’s face when I took that pot. (To Adlai) You ready? That's what happens when you try to hustle a hustler. Now…
Rei plays the knife game while Adlai times her and wins the bet in a few impressive seconds.
Rei: Checkmate!
Tao: There ain’t no way!
Kanti (narrating): Tao had enough fight in him for two men.
Rei: Much obliged.
Rei offers to shake hands with Tao.
Tao: My mother told me never touch a Nube.
Rei doesn’t flinch but you can tell she’s ready to throw hands. Instead…
Rei: That's not what she said last night.
Rei winks and Tao shakes her hand.
Kanti (narrating): And enough bigotry for six.
Tao: Meh, who needs a stupid talisman anyway.
Rei: Apparently, you did. Here, have it back.
Tao: You won it.
Rei: It’s fake gold.
Tao: What? No, no, no, that’s as real as you or I.
Rei: A hustler always knows.
Tao: Ah, whatever, if it’s fake I don’t want it. I'm gonna get something better. A real trophy. You'll see.
Rei: Good luck with that.
Kanti snaps her fingers and finally produces what she wanted – a finger of flame, like a lighter, appears.
Kanti: I did it! Look, look, I did it!
Rei: Well, by Baphometh, isn’t that something?
Tao: That’s very pretty, Kanti. You’re ready to take on the Primarch, I should think.
Rei: She was always ready. Right Kanti?
Tao: You got any healing spells we could use or is it all evil magic with you?
Kanti: Well-
Rei: Oh, go on, tell him, Kanti! Tell him about that thing you can do!
Adlai: What thing?
Rei: And there’s no such thing as good and evil magic. Just good and evil people.
Kanti: It’s not that I can do it; it’s just that it happens sometimes. When someone’s dead I can kinda, you know, see into their past. But they have to of died recently. And I can’t do it with most people.
Tao: Well, we’re invading Fortress Albion, my friend. Good time to find yourself some corpses.
Rei: Maybe even your own.
Adlai: Hey, Kanti, do that spell again for the camera.
Adlai raises her camera then, seeing her watch, realizes that they are late for the mission briefing.
Adlai: Oh! Never mind, briefing’s at 18:00; we're gonna be late!
Adlai jumps up and runs from the room. The others also stand.
Tao: Run, little mouse.
Rei: I got us covered Kanti; don't worry about it (Showing the pendant to Kanti and winking). It is real gold.
As Kanti and Rei leave the living quarters, they encounter Khand, their turban-wearing sergeant, and in terms of personality very much a cranky sergeant stereotype.
Khand: Briefing's about to start; what in the Nether are you idiots doing?
Kanti (narrating): Then there's Sergeant Khand. He’s a sweetheart.
Khand: Oh, you think you're special, huh? The Orks are gonna eat you alive.
Rei: No, not me, sergeant. I’m high in salt.
Khand: Watch your lip, Rei. On me.
Khand leaves. The other two move to follow.
Rei: Since I'm obviously on a lucky streak, whatever happens, stay close. First Albion, then the Great Pale, then home in time for tea and medals. We got this, Kanti.
Scene fades out.
All of the 66th Infantry Division troops are on the deck of the ship as the rain pours down and Colonel Kitwana, a Swahili man, gives his pre-battle speech. As he does, we see the soldiers assembled watching him.
Kitwana: Today… we embark on an operation of unparalleled importance. To establish a beachhead in Albion… and roll back the Ork horde... that has terrorized the world since before many of you were born. We are all that separates the world from darkness. This is so much more than a chance to be heroes in our own lifetimes. If we prevail… our triumphs will be etched into the hearts and minds of a grateful world for untold generations. I'm talking about glory. True glory.
Kanti narrates her letter to Luna and soldiers begin to climb down the cargo net on the side of the ship into landing craft. These craft start making for the Albion coast.
Kanti (narrating): Colonel Kitwana can give a nice speech. His pep talk reminded me of the one Coach Pakwa gave us on our Mother’s Night game against Susquehanna. I'm sure you remember we lost by 67 points. (Focuses on Sokolov and Khand) Always looking over Khand’s shoulders is Lieutenant Sokolov. He's got him on a tight leash. But if Khand breaks free, we'll all get bit. Ever since I found my gift, I wanted to be like you, Luna. You've always been a tough act to follow. But I'll do my best.
Gameplay
We are now in first-person again as Kanti.
Kanti (narrating): It's now or never.
Kanti is writing in her notebook, the photo of Luna pinned to a page, as their landing craft drives for the Albion shore. Kanti is interrupted by Rei.
Rei: Hey! I wish I was coming home to her!
Kanti: That’s my sister! Just wait ‘til we hit Lutetia. Enough girls for the rest of your long life.
Rei: I’m starting to realise how far away it is.
Kanti take a quick glance at her notebook and closes it before tucking it into her pack.
Sokolov: Remember. No digging in at the shore. You advance. You need to stay low and do not bunch up. Stick to your training and you're gonna make it through.
Khand: Most of you, anyway.
Medium bombers pass by overhead, resembling the Junkers Ju 88 (in this universe known as Dragons) on a heading towards Albion.
Tao: Alright! Give em hell, boys.
Text appears across the screen.
X-DAY Lùnastal 17th, 397 NE Rheged, Northern Albion
Rei: The beaches are meant to be flattened, right?
Khand: You sound scared, Private.
Rei: No, sir.
Khand: You should be.
Driver: Hey, you! You!
Kanti turns to look at the landing craft’s driver behind her.
Driver: Got a light?
Kanti: Sure thing.
Kanti snaps her fingers a couple times and produces the flame again.
Driver: Oh – you’re one of them.
Soldier: Never trust a witch.
As the driver lights his cigarette on her finger, a bullet hits the boat’s machine gunner in the throat; he falls, flailing, with blood spurting out of his neck like in a Tarantino film. Shells start to fall.
Driver: Bastards!
Sokolov: Everyone down!
Rei: This is it!
Ork artillery lands in the grey ocean all around, spraying the craft with water. Kanti crouches with the rest of the troops.
Soldier: Watch out!
Bullets bounce off the landing craft’s armour.
Soldier: This isn’t fun!
Driver: Five hundred yards!
Another shell lands nearby and sprays the craft with water. Kanti trips but is held up by Khand grabbing her arm.
Driver: We’re gonna have to pull off!
Sokolov: No, we stay on mission! You're taking us in!
Driver: We must have drifted! I can't see the landmark!
Khand: You heard the lieutenant. Full speed!
Sokolov: Incoming!
An artillery shells blows up the neighbouring landing craft.
Soldier: By the Gods!
Sokolov: Hold tight!
An artillery shell, again, lands near the boat.
Kanti: Damn it!
Driver: Two hundred yards!
Looking up, a Dragon bomber is visible coming down with an engine on fire.
Driver: Twenty seconds!
Sokolov: Remember the plan! Get to the seawall!
Khand: Ceres! Aradove! Get the bangalore to the wire, fast! Everyone ready? Here we go!
Sokolov: Drop the ramp!
Driver: There's no cover!
Khand: That was an order, damn you! Drop it!
The ramp drops just as a landing craft consumed with flames comes crashing into theirs.
Rei: Oh, shit!
Kanti is knocked off her feet by the impact. Looking up, she watches as machine gun fire from the clifftops chops down a number of soldiers on the boat now that the ramp has been dropped. One has his head blown off and his neck is left spouting blood over Kanti as others are also cut down.
Sokolov: Over the sides! Now! Now!
Kanti follows as the survivors climb over the boat’s side. She stays underwater for a few seconds before being helped to her feet by Sokolov, spluttering.
Sokolov: I got you, child!
Just behind him, the beach is consumed by fighting and the noise of war is deafening.
Sokolov: Get your head down and keep moving!
Sokolov leads Kanti out of the surf, a burning soldier falls screaming from another landing craft and into the water, while carnage reigns all around. Bodies are floating all about and the water is red with blood.
Sokolov: Kanti; on me!
Running through the sand as explosions go off all around, artillery can be seen curling from the Ork lines towards the beach. Sokolov and Kanti hit the deck in front of some Ork tank traps.
Sokolov: Demolition team is dead! Take the bangalore and get to the seawall! We need to clear a path to the bunkers!
Kanti temporarily looks away, back to the water, and witnesses the bloodshed of soldiers dying, and a number running out of a landing craft on fire, while a warship close to shore opens fire on the coastal defences. Sokolov gets Kanti’s attention.
Sokolov: Kanti!
An explosion goes off nearby, half-soaking Sokolov’s face with gore. Someone just blew up.
Sokolov: This is your job! You got that?! Now pick up the banger!
Kanti moves the severed arm of a dead soldier to retrieve the bangalore. She looks upon the dead soldier’s corpse and, suddenly, her vision fades away and she sees his memories. This is the first of the Internal Vortex collectibles which can be found throughout the game, whereby additional lore is provided through Kanti’s ability to tap into the memories of certain corpses (human and Ork). In this case, the accessed memory tells a brief story of the soldier (Private Omid Afshani) and how he was part of a traditional military family and all his brothers have already fallen, told he would be a general someday, how he was born on a ship evacuating Persia (which goes some way to explaining why the Imperial military is so multiethnic – the whole world evacuated to the Americas) and how his last letter home from the ship told of how “I can’t wait to hear the birdsong again.”
Afterwards, she returns to lucidity.
Sokolov: Kanti! Kanti! You with me?!
Kanti: Yes!
Sokolov: You can do this!
Sokolov stands and starts running up the beach. Kanti watches after him.
Kanti: I hope so, sir!
Kanti looks at the dead soldier that was carrying the torpedo bangalore, and with one hand closes his eyes.
Kanti: Sorry.
Kanti takes the body’s R7 Remi rifle (comparable to the M1 Garand) and proceeds up the beachhead, trying not to get killed. The machine gun nests in the clifftop fortifications will open fire on the soldiers then wait for a few seconds to reload. This will be the player's chance to move up to avoid taking damage. The player moves from cover to cover – tank traps, the wreckage of vehicles such as half-tracks and light tanks, and shell craters, mostly.
Khand: Hurry before they reload! Move it!
Sokolov: Kanti! This way! Hurry! Stop and you’re dread!
Tao: Shit!
Sokolov: Those MGs are killing us! Get off the beach!
Khand: Private Kanti – get to the seawall!
Rei: Get to the seawall! I’ll meet you there!
A couple of armoured vehicles – light tanks resembling Soviet BT-7s, here called LT-5 Termites – are now also moving up the beach and providing fire support. One blows up.
Sokolov: Keep low. When there’s a break in the fire, run for it!
There’s a break in the fire – you run for it.
Sokolov: Kanti, get the bangalore!
When Kanti reaches the seawall, which is made up of a big mound of sand lined at its top by barbed fire and burning gasoline, she falls against it. Her fellow soldiers fall in alongside her or are already there. A lot of wounded are also there, being treated by medics as machine gun fire flies over their heads. Rei falls next to Kanti, her face covered in dirt and blood.
Rei: Kanti! Use the banger; I'll cover you! After we breach, keep pushing toward the bunker!
Kanti: You’re covered in blood.
Rei: It’s not mine. Focus!
Kanti sets up the torpedo bangalore, made up of two cylindrical rods, with the second able to fit inside the first. Her handling is shaky and she drops one rod. Rei picks it up for her and gives it back.
Rei: We're nearly there!
Kanti pushes the torpedo bangalore into the seawall.
Rei: Pull it! Pull it!
Kanti: Fire in the hole!
Kanti scrambles backwards and the bangalore explodes, tearing a hole in the seawall for the soldiers to pour through, dirt pouring down like rain.
Sokolov: Weapons ready! Fix bayonets!
Kanti fumbles for her bayonet and fixes it to her rifle. You can now use this as a melee weapon against enemy infantry.
Rei: Ready to see your first Ork?
Sokolov: Attack!
Sokolov leads the troops through the hole – and many, though not Sokolov, are cut down.
Rei: Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!
Sokolov: Push forward!
After passing through the hole, you are faced with a clearing sprinkled with tank traps and barbed wire. After that, trenches, and then the bluffs with fortifications spitting machine gun fire.
Rei: Into the trench! Hurry!
Soldier: Orks!
You now face your first Ork drones as you push towards the trenches. Once you get into the trench, you slowly clear it and a mortar position, presumably losing Health as you do. Once done, you turn a corner deeper into the trenches where Rei is located.
Rei: That wound looks bad! Here, take this!
Rei throws a health pack to Kanti. The player can now call on Rei, when the squad meter fills, to add a pack for a total of four.
Kanti: Many thanks!
The player moves through the trenches, clearing out Ork drones. Friendly troops leap across the trenches. The player then gets to the end of the trenches and reaches the bluffs covered by Ork fortifications. A slope goes uphill between the bluffs but machine gun fire pins the friendly troops down and makes it impassable.
Khand: We can't advance with those MGs firing on our position!
Sokolov: Hold tight. Fire support incoming!
Khand: Kanti, mark the target!
Khand throws a canister to Kanti. Kanti catches it and throws it uphill towards the Ork bunkers. Red smoke emanates. Sokolov is shouting into a radio.
Sokolov: Kestrel, target is lit up! Hit it now and hit it hard!
Radio: Roger, we have your smoke visual. Attack run inbound.
Explosions hit the MG bunker as rockets from a trio of dive-bombing jets which resemble de Havilland Vampires (in this universe called Banshees) come in and obliterate the fortifications. The jets pass by close overhead.
Tao: That's it! Let 'em have it!
Adlai: MGs are dead!
Kanti: (laughs) They tore them to shreds!
Sokolov: Get to the top!
You and your squad move up the hill – a wounded Ork, both arms missing, stumbles from the smoke and still tries to fight by biting at Sokolov. Sokolov shoots it down.
Sokolov: Crazy bastards.
More Ork infantry advance.
Ork: I shall wear your hide as a coat!
After defeating these Orks, the player advances to the top of the hill through which additional trenches burrow.
Sokolov: Kanti; I need you and Rei to take point and clear those bunkers! Go!
Rei: Had to be us!
You move in with your squad. There are five bunkers to clear. The first has a clearing full of mortar positions, where Ork infantry defend, and there’s more firing at you from inside the bunker itself.
Sokolov: Orks are dug in. Kanti, get a grenade in that bunker!
You break into the bunker and clear it out, including the machine gun post covering the beach.
Rei: First one’s down!
Sokolov: Bunker’s clear – everyone out.
You move on. Taking the adjoining trenches, you come across an Ork Officer – larger and more heavily armoured than the Drones you’ve been fighting so far – holding a human soldier by the neck. Assuming you shoot him in the head, the only non-armoured part, he’ll go down and the soldier is saved.
Soldier: Thanks! I owe you!
If not, and your bullets bounce off the Officer’s armour, he crushes the man’s neck in his hand and comes for you.
After that, you drive on through the trenches, killing a few more Orks, before turning and entering an underground bunker. Inside, the entry is covered by a machine gun post.
Khand: MG's pinning us! Someone toss a smoke!
You can do that, or you can perhaps kill the machine gunner. Up to you. Afterwards, you drive on through the underground bunker. It’s a bit of a catacomb full of dormitories and a radio room. Eventually, you clear it.
Khand: Bunker's clear. Let's go!
Sokolov: Everybody out, bunker's clear!
You head back outside, 2 of 5 bunkers complete. You continue through the trenches, meeting fresh Orks.
Rei: There’s artillery hitting the beach! The next assault wave won’t make it!
Khand: Keep pushing! That artillery is hammering our ships!
Kanti: On it, sir! Yeah, I can do this, I can do this…
You carry on through the trench. Some Banshee jet fighters screech overhead. Reaching the entrance to the next bunker, you see a friendly – Corporal Lieu – with an F3 Inferno – a backpack flamethrower. He fires it down the bunker at unseen enemy troops before being gunned down.
Kanti: I'm going in!
Rei: Careful!
You enter the bunker – you can pick up the F3 Inferno as you do, which doesn’t last long but which is fun to use.
Ork: Come, little men!
You clear the bunker. As you reach the machine gun post, you enter into a quicktime moment. Kanti gets ambushed around a corner by an Ork soldier, who grabs her by the throat and pins her to the wall, but she jams her combat knife into his neck. Falling from his grasp, she sees the machine gunner just as a shell from a ship offshore hits the bunker dead-on and blows it, and him, to smithereens. Rei appears from the dust and helps Kanti to her feet.
Rei: Shit! Fucking Navy. Don’t they believe in us?
Returning from the machine gun nest, some Orks have shown up to try and retake the bunker. Take them out and then the bunker’s cleared.
The next bunker is just a hop from this one – you enter, at first finding nobody, before discovering an Ork pinning an Imperial soldier to the wall.
Soldier: Somebody help!
You, I should hope, kill the Ork.
Soldier: Thanks! Oh, hey, a girl…
Kanti: You wish.
You drive into the bunker, in the heart of which is a mortar position, and take out the Ork defenders. With that, the bunker is cleared.
Khand: Move up, move up!
Everyone rallies at the big steel door at the end of the bunker.
Khand: Adlai. Tao. With me. Kanti, you and Rei clear the next bunker. Rally at the top of the bluff, and for fuck’s sake try not to get yourselves killed.
You interact with the big steel door and open it, before going with Rei down some more trenches.
Kanti: Alright, Rei. One more!
Rei: We got this!
You turn a corner into a clearing before the bunker. There’s Orks both defending it on the ground and a sniper on top of the bunker itself. After dealing with this, you head inside, Rei behind you.
As you enter the bunker, Kanti is ambushed by an Ork Major – she is thrown to the floor and the Ork stands over her, pulling out a knife.
Ork: Never did fear smell so sweet.
Rei jumps onto its back and holds onto him around the neck. The Ork manages to throw Rei onto the ground before stabbing her through the belly.
Kanti: Rei! Oh, shit, no!
The Ork soldier leaves the wounded Rei, knife still sticking from her stomach, and approaches Kanti.
Ork: Stand and face me, woman. Show some honour.
Kanti stands and fights the Ork, which through its superior strength easily ends up on top of her, taking away her knife and now pushing it down towards her with both hands. Then, Kanti’s hands light up and the flames return – her whole hands are on fire. The Ork roars in pain and surprise and backs away, looking at its burned hands, before Kanti runs at him as the flames go out and tackles him to the ground. The Ork is still stronger and goes back to throttling her – but they’ve fallen near Rei, who yanks the knife out of her belly and jams it into the Ork’s chest.
Ork: The glory…
The Ork dies. Kanti climbs off and approaches Rei, who suddenly brandishes a pistol.
Kanti: Whoa, Rei…
Rei: Duck!
Kanti does so and Rei shoots the unseen Ork which was behind her. Kanti looks back to Rei, who is dealing with quite a lot of pain.
Kanti: Come on, you’re okay, you’re okay.
Rei: I can't walk.
Kanti pulls up Rei’s uniform to see her stomach – the wound is gushing blood.
Kanti: Oh, shit…
Rei: That bad?
Kanti: It’s not great.
Rei: Would you mind getting me out of here?
An explosion, presumably artillery – Kanti looks down the bunker to see it shudder, rubble falling from the ceiling.
Kanti: Yeah, course, no problem Kinsi, just stay with me, okay? Can you do that?
Rei: I’m gonna have to try. Pulling that knife out was pretty fucking stupid, huh?
Kanti: No comment. Come on.
The player starts dragging Rei out of the bunker and outside. Across a pretty dangerous clearing are friendly lines.
Kanti: We've gotta get back to friendly lines!
Kanti starts dragging Rei across the grass
Rei: On your left!
Kanti shoots the Orks which appear from the left with her pistol and keeps going.
Rei: You’re gonna… have to tell me… how you did that fire thing.
Kanti: I will when I figure it out myself!
They keep going.
Kanti: Not much further. Just keep pressure on that wound.
Rei: I’m trying!
Kanti drags Rei to a wall of sandbags and clambers over them.
Kanti: We gotta take cover!
Rei, in what is pretty clearly a painful endeavour, follows suit and lays in the mud. With her pistol, Kanti faces the Orks now coming for them.
Ork: Tasty, salty man-flesh!
Rei: How many?
Kanti: Too many!
Once the Orks are dispatched, Kanti looks back down at Rei.
Kanti: We're clear! Come on!
Kanti starts dragging Rei through the mud.
Rei: You call that fuckin' clear?
They skirt the edge of the trenches – an Imperial soldier with a flamethrower is dousing a group of Orks in fire. They continue along the edge of the trench, which is lined with barbed wire and so inaccessible, at least for Rei.
Rei: I'm losing too much blood. I think. You need more than half, right?
Kanti: Just hang in there! I gotta find a clearing to get in the trench!
Kanti places Rei down as smoke canisters pop, obscuring the next Ork wave to come their way.
Ork (from somewhere in the smoke): The clan will feast on you!
Kanti: Keep your head down!
Rei: Did you get 'em?
Kanti: They keep coming! How many of these fuckers are there?!
After taking out four or five, Kanti turns back to Rei.
Rei: Watch out!
Rei, with her sidearm, shoots down an Ork drone running at them from behind.
Rei: Still got it.
Kanti: Now’s our chance!
Kanti keep dragging Rei along the edge of the trench, smoke from the Ork canisters obscuring everything. As she goes, an Ork grenade lands at her feet.
Kanti: Fuck!
Kanti throws grabs it and throws it away. She sees an open area in the trench.
Kanti: Bingo!
Kanti jumps down into the trench, up to her ankles in mud, then turns back to Rei.
Kanti: I got you!
Rei rolls off the edge of the trench and lands in the mud at Kanti’s feet. A few more Orks appear from the smoke and Kanti shoots them down. She then looks down at Rei, who’s on the edge of losing consciousness, and then looks down the trench where more Ork infantry are coming at them.
Kanti: Oh, give us a break!
Kanti takes them out. Then, she turns back to Rei and starts dragging her down the trench.
Rei: Oh, wow, I'm actually bleeding out.
Kanti: Just keep pressure on it!
Rei: I’m trying! I’m trying!
Kanti: Almost there!
They reach some concrete steps – a friendly soldier is at the top.
Soldier: Come on up here! Move, move!
Kanti starts dragging Rei up the stairs – the soldier runs down and helps.
Soldier: I got you!
Two Orks come around the corner – someone on the top of the stairs shoots them both down. They reach the top of the stairs and find themselves in the middle of a friendly improvised triage centre. Kanti lays Rei down, whose face is very dazed, as she flicks off her helmet, blood trickling from her mouth.
Kanti: Okay. Stay with me. Healer!
Nobody comes – everyone’s busy.
Rei: I need morphine. All the morphine.
Kanti takes out a syringe of morphine, pulls off the cap with her teeth, and injects Rei in the thigh. Rei’s breathing is strained and painful. Kanti puts a hand under her head as a pillow.
Kanti: You gotta hang on. Those girls in Lutetia are waiting for you.
Rei: Really?
Kanti: Of course.
Rei: I… uh… how about another look at your sister?
Rei manages a smile, sniggering through the pain, and Kanti laughs, too.
Kanti: You’re infuriating.
Rei: It's okay. I can't see shit. I'm just gonna rest right here.
Rei’s eyes close.
Kanti: No, no, no, you need to stay awake. Hey.
Kanti puts her hand against Rei’s face, slapping her awake, and Rei’s eyes open.
Rei: Mona…
Kanti: I'm here.
Rei makes eye contact.
Rei: Help me.
Kanti: I need a fucking Healer!
A Healer finishes treating a wounded soldier and rushes over, taking over from Kanti in trying to stop the bleeding.
Healer: I got this! Go!
Kanti looks back down at Rei.
Kanti: But… but I…
Sokolov appears, standing over them.
Sokolov: Kanti! He'll take care of her. I need you with me. (to others) Listen up! There's an Ork cannon just a little up the road. It's tearing up the beach – we’re gonna stop it. Let's roll!
Kanti looks back down at Rei, who’s reaching out to her. Kanti takes her hand for a moment.
Kanti: Just stay alive, okay?
For a moment, with Rei on the very edge of death, little flickers of her memories flash before Kanti’s eyes. We see her mother telling her she’s a disappointment, Rei sitting in a prison cell, and then being told by a recruiting officer that “the Army’s running out of men – we need some ladies ready to be heroes.” Then Kanti returns to lucidity and Rei’s face.
Rei: I promise.
Their hands part and Kanti stands, grabbing a rifle, and joins the rest of the squad.
Sokolov: Check your ammo and grenades!
Khand: You heard him! Up the road, now!
Kanti and the rest of the squad move out of the top of the bunker, along a field pock-marked with craters, then go onto a dirt road leading towards a farm.
Kanti: Moving up!
Khand: Let's move!
Sokolov: Be ready – these Orks don’t look like the surrendering type!
You keep moving up the road, finding some dead cows as you go.
Khand: Move fast! They're shelling the beach to shit!
You reach the target – a machine-gun nest is set up in a half-destroyed farmhouse and starts shooting at you as you appear.
Sokolov: MG in the hay loft! Take cover and take it out!
After taking out the machine gun, you keep moving up to fight Orks among the farmhouses and hay bales. A large artillery cannon is in the centre and you move to clear it and secure the area, moving in a couple of the farmhouses to do so.
Adlai: Where’s all the civilians?
Khand: In the Ork’s stomachs, probably!
Once you’ve cleared everything, silence seems to fall.
Soldier: Orks coming in from the south! A lot of them!
Sokolov: They’re gonna try to retake the cannon! We gotta hold this position!
Khand: Not a step backwards!
The squad defends the position as a couple waves of Orks swarm towards them. You can use the machine gun posts in the upper floors of the farmhouses to help fight them off.
Adlai: There’s too many of them!
Khand: Hold! Have courage!
Still the Orks swarm the field to the south – until explosions start to blow them away. Termite tanks appear from the left, their 45mm guns tearing through the Orks, which are either slaughtered or flee.
Tao: Our boys are coming in!
Adlai: Look at them scatter!
Sokolov: Alright, everyone. We mopped them up good. I don’t think they’ll be back.
Khand: Clear! Destroy that cannon!
Kanti goes to the cannon and crouches down behind it. An Imperial soldier appears next to her.
Soldier: Thermite!
The soldier carries a number of thermite charges inside his helmet like a bucket and empties them out in front of Kanti. Kanti lights one of them.
Kanti: Fire in the hole!
Everyone backs away – you probably should too – and the thermite explodes. The cannon is destroyed.
Sokolov: Excellent work, Kanti. Alright, everyone, rally on me to the assembly point. Khand, I'll need a casualty report. We lost so many.
Khand: But we took the beach.
Sokolov: What a price.
At the rally point, Rei is on a stretcher on the ground, a cigarette in her mouth as Tao is knelt next to her.
Rei: Kanti...
Rei tries to sit up and Tao puts out a hand to encourage her to lay back down. Given the pain on Rei’s face, that’s probably a good idea.
Tao: Man, I thought I'd seen everything…
Kanti: She gonna be okay?
Tao: Yeah. They taped her up pretty good.
Rei: I should’ve stayed on the boat.
Tao: Oh, now she tells us.
Kanti: Hey, what you did back there… I owe you. Big time.
Rei: I’d say we're even.
Kanti: We'll see this through.
Rei smiles.
Rei: To the end. I guess.
Kanti: Whenever that may be.
Sokolov and Khand walk by behind Rei; Sokolov addresses everyone. Kanti glances up at them, then back at Rei, who just gives her a knowing nod, then stands as she looks back at their superiors.
Sokolov: Beachhead's secured. We'll bivouac at the second hedgerow after the ridge. It’s not over, everyone.
Behind them, a couple of dead Orks are being examined. Adlai is taking photos of one while a soldier gently kicks the head of another.
Soldier: Stop kicking it.
Soldier #2: I don’t wanna.
Khand regards Kanti. There’s blood in his beard.
Khand: Welcome to the Smiling Sixty Sixth. You're a long way from home, farm girl.
Khand walks off. Sokolov watches Kanti, then approaches when Khand is out of earshot.
Sokolov: That’s his way of saying he’s grateful. You did well. Not bad for your first day.
Kanti: Thanks, sir. I, uh…
Sokolov puts a hand on Kanti’s shoulder.
Sokolov: You'll be alright, child.
Kanti: Yes, sir.
Sokolov pats her shoulder, nods, then walks off. Kanti looks down at her hands, covered in dirt and blood, which hold each other before slowly separating.
Kanti: Course I will.
The level ends.