MOD NOTE: Thunder, by the time your fleet got to Rigel, the battle between the Pirates and the RA/Horoth would already be over.
Also, Nelson, it should be obvious that the Savior is a lot bigger than a Federation Battlecruiser. 
------------------
If at first you don't succeed...Hit it harder! - Me
--------------
Millennium. Its coming, prepare for it.
Coming to the (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiaSW.com/games/ev/chronicles.html")EV Chronicles(/url).
Captain Carnotaur, I couldn't get to the map. Probably just these stupid PC's they have at school........
------------------
"Thank you, thank you. Now you're all under arrest!"
The production of the space-farms had stopped threedays ago and the small station was under construction. The spacerovers and robots were assembling it near the multi-purpose docking system, were material could be welded rapidly. In five weeks, the station would be ready to start again the cosntruction of space-farms. At the Solidairty-council, the members had event thought about building a real station for the future, but the idea had been put aside rapidly, for the whg and the sladerization were more important.
The scientists working on the whg had done goodwork the two method of transportation had been evaluated and the computer tests done on each sides. Both teams gave their data card to the commite formed by representatives of the Horoth, the Federation and the Sladerei. The time for the evaluation had not been decided, but in less than two weeks, the verdict would be known. Either the continuous worm-hole of the half worm-hole would be used.
The Savior was known under heavy construction: the constant power plants hadded would be used to power a good amount of shield when it would have ended its trip. The energy abort could be calculated to the one emited by a small star during half one million of a second. This would be useful to protect but not enough to travel. The answer would come from the Horoth when they would answer the message sent last week. If their great power could be transported in the Savior, "all" problems would be solved.
The wam-up of the sub-space flux generators and the tachyons emittor had been done in the morning and the results had been useful. The would have to be more power ful to travel to the Andromeda galaxy but were slightly too weak to go to the Magallantic cloud. Also, they were not relable enough, their stability would have to be increased.
------------------
Salutations ŕ la vie
Quote
Originally posted by Cap'n Redeye:
**Captain Carnotaur, I couldn't get to the map. Probably just these stupid PC's they have at school........
**
OOC: Odd. Ah well, don't worry. To start off, just say that you head to Kayia. That's where a lot of the high ranking admirals and stuff are at the moment. I think you could meet with Admiral Firebird or Cheif of Staff Jackson.
---------------
The Akrahd hoard charged the Igadzra with full force and full ferocity. Diverting all possible power to weapons, shields, and engines, the Akrahd flung themselves on the Igadzra. Though individual Akrahd ships were weak, the pure force of over 400 ships firing did a devastating amount of damage to the Igadzra.
The Akrahd immediately called for reinforcements as soon as possible, but they knew it would be a while before they arrived. In the meantime, the Akrahd fought on like the savage warriors they were. The Akrahd used their speed to give them an advantage, while at the same time severely damaged vessels rammed any Igadzra ship in site...
------------------
If at first you don't succeed...Hit it harder! - Me
--------------
Millennium. Its coming, prepare for it.
Coming to the (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiaSW.com/games/ev/chronicles.html")EV Chronicles(/url).
(This message has been edited by Captain Carnotaur (edited 11-05-2001).)
With seventy five ships left, the Igadzra faced approximately three hundred and fifty Akrahd. Ships were falling like flies on the Igadzra side - admittedly faster on the Akrahd side, but the IGNA were wearying.
The battle was slowly turning to the Akrahd side as more IGNA ships fell to concentrated Akrahd fire. The Igadzra knew they had to do something, but they didn't know what.
When the Defender fell under fire from a wolf-pack of ten Akrahd Battleships, their weapons somehow managing to portray violence and anger, IGNA knew they had to do something. The Defender's weapon's grid fell offline, and quickly the hyperdrive and main thrusters also fell. Before the Akrahd could tear it apart, the Templar moved in with a knot of IGNA vessels, incinerating four of the battleships, the other six retreating back, damaged.
Meanwhile, the transports were due in the system in just an hour and a half. IGNA begin fighting with more and more feriocity now, knowing that everything hung in the balance. Several Igazras collided into Akrahd ranks when they were almost destroyed, setting off emergency self destructs - in the form of a massive thoron overload - which devastated Akrahd ranks.
Still, the battle roared on, and it almost seemed that IGNA had a chance...but whether they would come out with anything but the Templar was debatable.
OOC: Carnotaur, please stop posting "oh we all know we're going to die" battle posts. C'mon, man, fight me!
--------------------------------
Meanwhile, five Miranu heavy freighters, seven Miranu freighters, eight Couriers and ten armed Stargliders assembled in NSI-838, under ITA command. President Heraphar himself was aboard one of the Stargliders, although he would take another ship back to Bellaraphon before the "peacekeeping" convoy moved into place.
Messages were sent to the Miranu requesting ships rendevous with them there.
----------------------------------
SilverDragon agreed to the Network, and a link was quickly opened to Carnotaur. He sent the specs for the IXD plans, including anti-Edien weaponry and basic ship outlines, through to Carnotaur, awaiting a response.
"All I ask is, say, one or two million every few days to help get the operation on it's feet, and the use of some of your shipyards and research departments. All designs will go straight to you, as will anything we gain off the Ediens."
SilverDragon awaits a response...
------------------------------------
Titan was a warzone, off limits to any non-Rebel ships, although in theory they had little power. Fifty Loyalist vessels fought it out aganst the already weakened Rebel force, who relied heavily on quickly taken ground defence turrets until they could prepare a charge.
The battle, once the charge had finished, started fading off to an end. Thirty five Loyalist ships were destroyed, and about twenty to twenty five Rebel ships. Their current ship count was uncertain, but reports said some ships had defected. General Rathon's "opinions" had failed to true Zidagar spirit, and now the Isolationists would gain about five more captains on their side - luckily no Zigras.
Codax, meanwhile, was plotting seriously. Rathon would die, and within the next three days if possible.
------------------
Word.
Message to Emperor Tarisna
From Helena, second in command of the Miranu
I think we should meet in video confrence, since it's much easier to organize our fleets from our HeadQuarters, don't you agree?
end message sequence
Helena looked at the message from President Haraphar and nodded at the message. They would have to meet them there. She organized some Heavy Freighters, some couriers, and an very large, to take no chances, escort, mostly comprised of Miranu Warships, and Miranu Fighters.
No one would get near there ships this time. She looked thoughtfully at the escort fleets, and then sent some Lazira's along. They needed the middle warships too. Helena added some aradas. She nodded in satisfaction. Perfect defense fleet.
------------------
Of course Women don't work as hard as men....They do it right the first time.
My AIM is Rima17456
the battle rages in Rigel...
Another emergency fleet from joint station soon arrives, and all RA ships are ordered to ram the pirate vessels rather than explode from weopons fire, so any RA ship with less than 5% shields rams the pirates, but to little avail considering how spread the pirates are. The RA/horoth fleet spreads out to avoid being surrounded, and continue to swarm. REDchigh makes a last ditch effort to save the system by calling in the grounded defense fleets from the central, southern, and western systems, and in a few short hours, 50 RA ships jump in, mostly warships, and salvo after salvo of SDM's rip through the pirates, disabling and destroying a lot of them, and the RA/Horoth soon get the advantage. Both sides are taking heavy losses, but the Pirates are losing obviously. After another day of constant warfare, the last pirate vessel is destroyed when it rams a damaged RA warship.
The Horoth head to joint station, where they load up with mines, and begin to reinforce the minefields even more. the RA ships work on rebuilding, and then the Kayans jump in, a little late to fight the pirates, but the repairing work is accelerated.
Operation: Soup
ETC: 5 posts (heavy slowed due to fact that capital planet is damaged)
Message to: thunder
The RA and Horoth thank you for the fleet, and we owe you. The RA would like to ask for freightors of materials to help with repairing, and for a few freightors defensive stations around my core planets.
thank you.
end
------------------
All the problems we face in the United States today can be
traced to an unenlightened immigration policy on the part of
the American Indian.
--- Pat Paulsen
It was, at that moment, that 20 more Akrahd vessels arrived, including 2 battleships. It wasn't much of a reinforcement group, with the only big ships being 2 battleships and 3 destroyers, but it would help the Akrahd enough.
As the battle continued to gain intensity, the Akrahd matched the Igadzra ferocity with their own, targetting especially the Defender. At one point almost half of the fleet broke off to engage the Defender. Though they delt extreme damage to it, they had to back off when the Templar got too close.
The battle continued on...
------------------
If at first you don't succeed...Hit it harder! - Me
--------------
Millennium. Its coming, prepare for it.
Coming to the (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiaSW.com/games/ev/chronicles.html")EV Chronicles(/url).
Grunadulater had chosen the best pilot at the academy and was fixing the fighter up good. The fighter had been piled with enhanments, especially for turning. It could whip a 360 in a millisecond.Or it would be able to when it was done.All lasers had been removed and the missile launcher had only 5 missiles.It was very, very fast...
---------
The limping Edien fleet jumped out of the system only to find themselfs in the middle of a huge armada, aparently all high strung because they immedieatly started firing. a call for about 90,000 other vessles was sent.
------------------
"Are you sure the powers off?"
However, it isn't over yet...
With very little ships left, the RA are critically weak. The Pirates then jump in with a second fleet of 150 vessels, which have been the real backup fleet. The other one was just an extra strike group. The Pirates ambush the RA, and destroy almost all of their tattered space fleet. The Kayans, or course, battle back with ferocity, but they are outmatched.
The battle rages across the skies of Rigel. The remains of the RA and Kayans back off, while the Pirates begin orbital bombardment. As fire reigns down, the RA decide they simply cannot wait. They charge, catching the Pirates by surprise. The Kayans charge as well, but by that time the Pirates are ready for them and the RA and Kayans are slaughtered.
However, the Horoth save them as their fleet jumps in and engages the Pirates. The Pirates are heavily weakened, but yet another reinforcement fleet saves them.
The battle for Rigel continued on and on and on. The skies of Rigel at night were filled with explosions and energy blasts and the many fleets dueled in the sky. Many derelict ships and much wreckage fell down through the atmosphere, some of the ships exploding in the glows, giving off an eerie red glow.
The firestorm of gunfire continued for hours, and to some it seemed like it would never stop. But finally, it did. Lars Magna, seeing that his fleet would soon be annihilated, ordered an immediate retreat. The Pirates had lost over 250 vessels, but the Horoth, Kayans, and RA were also severely weakened and battered.
The Battle for Rigel was over.
----------------
FLEET STATS
(Not counting Merchant Vessels)
Edien
Total:30 Million
Total In Milky Way: 2.6 Million in Milky Way
-Igadzra - 0 (Igadzra Sector Taken)
-Azdgari - 1,700,000
-Zidagar - 300,000
-Crescent - 500,000
-Miranu - 100,000
Rarkyl - 12.5 Million
Horosk - 1.8 Million
Sladerei - 360 (Counting merchant vessels)
Voinian - 800,000
Federation - 800,000
Pirates (Milky Way) - 200
Igadzra Republic - 65
Kiran - 600
Pirates (New Galaxy) - 520
Igadzra Union - 90
Renegade - 100
Horoth - 450
Akrahd - 700
Miranu - 390
Zidagar - 450
Kayan - 380
Azdgari - 600
------------------
If at first you don't succeed...Hit it harder! - Me
--------------
Millennium. Its coming, prepare for it.
Coming to the (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiaSW.com/games/ev/chronicles.html")EV Chronicles(/url).
(This message has been edited by Captain Carnotaur (edited 11-05-2001).)
REDchigh's fleet solemnly watches the pirates retreat, and slowly, regretfully, go around to pick up the few surviving RA and Horoth escape pods. REDchigh is saddened that this was such a costly battle, and that so many of his brethren were killed, not just in the warfare, but in the planetary bombardment... debri starts to disperse, and a shadow comes into focus. a disabled pirate warship. Unscathed except for where a RA fighter rammed it, and caused a hull breach that let out the artificial atmosphere. Maybe the Horoth and RA can figure out how the fleet got through the minefield....
almost 200 horoth vessels are sent to help rebuild RA space, and another hundred Horoth freightors full of civilians, marines, and mostly equipment warp into the system. RA's vessels immediatly get to work clearing the debri (but keeping the metal), and repairing Rigel, but the Horoth and RA scientists get to work on an emergency project...
------------ **
Operation: Soup
ETC- 4 posts**
-------------
Message to Kayans
Due to the devastating pirate attacks, we, the RA, are requesting your help. We have a new plan- a defense drone. We were about to begin research, but we soon heard of your plan to build a similar type vessel. We have a strong long-range weopon- the SDM launcher. I will gladly give you the plans for you to port to make your defense drone more devastating, as long as you supply us with a decent defense until we get our ships built up, either by supplying us with drones, or ships, Either way, please help us in this time of need. We also need freightors to help with repairing of Rigel, and shipyards to build ships. Please assist. We know this will be a strain on all of our economies (horoth, RA, kayan), but it will be for the better good. We extend our condolences for your losses.
end
REDchigh sends the message, leans back, and prays that the Kayans and Horoth will do enough....
------------------
All the problems we face in the United States today can be
traced to an unenlightened immigration policy on the part of
the American Indian.
--- Pat Paulsen
Message to the Renegade Alliance - high band encryption active.
Point of origin - Galactica System - South Tip Station - Office of Militia Commander Lasin
We the Kayans are glad to provide assistance to the RA in this time of need. We realize that our two races once had very close ties before we left Milky Way, and we will not abandon our friends. Your plan to upgrade our planetary defense drone is intriguing - and we will take you up on your offer if you accept our proposal. In return for your blueprints of the SDM (and launcher), we will provide you with the blueprints to a version of the planetary defense drone without the enhanced defense pod launchers - the Kayan Senate would prefer to keep that particular technology a secret. Of course, the defense drone will still be a very potent defensive measure even without the enhanced defense pods - and I'm sure your engineers will find some fitting weapon to put in it's place. In addition, the remainder of our fleet (we took moderate losses in the Battle for Rigel, but more than half of the vessels we sent are either intact or salvagable) will remain to patrol Rigel and the surrounding systems, to make sure no further innocent lives are lost. 20 additional fireflies will be sent to patrol along the Pirate border - not as an attack fleet, but as an early warning / detection net - hopefully they'll be able to give us a heads-up if another attack is on the way. Our scientists on the joint station have been granted access to the latest versions of the research for the planetary defense drones. It would be in both our best interests if your engineers there put forth their full effort to integrate the SDM technology and speed up production - we hope together we can make this an effective project.
In an effort to aid with the repairs of Rigel and the other attacked systems, three cargo vessels (Miranu freighters modified to Kayan specs.) have been deployed with metal, repair equipment, and emergency medical supplies. Expect them to arrive in your core sysetms within the day.
Finally, as is Kayan tradition, our space is open to RA and Horoth refugees should they need a place to stay. Emergency refugee shelters, complete with medical facilities, have been set up on several of our worlds closest to the RA / Horoth border. We would encourage all those in need to come and recieve help.
Again, our condolances for all the lives lost, soldiers and civilians both. They will not be forgotten. Lasin out.
END MESSAGE
Tech report - Planetary defense drone - 4 posts to completion (RA engineering assistance, if given, will speed up production)
------------------
Ad Astra Per Aspera - "A rough road leads to the stars"
Cap'n Redeye heads to Kaiya in his trusty little scoutship. He waits eagerly to meet up with someone......
------------------
"Thank you, thank you. Now you're all under arrest!"
The Savior was now an experimental vessel: all the material needed to colonize or settle ahd been left on Grenit. The whg had a mass of 23 000 tons and still had to be fitted with more sub-space generators, tachyons emittors and more power suplly.
Some words had filtered from the commitee in charge of chosing the way the Savior would travel into the worm-hole. They were enough for the scientists to have an idea. They returned to their worked. In the room where the comitee was holding the meeting, the main preoccupation was to decid between the two security. The first one was to go and come back, the second one, not to fall in an ennemy or to miss the "target" by a ten of a light year.
The physists working on the tachyons emittors realized that the unstable way the emittors worked was caused by the presence of Grenit. They understood that while the second warm-up was done on the further part of the elipsial path of the Savior around Grenits. That new element was critical in order to create a worm-hole that would not disturbed the surround space. The next objective was to to let the tachyons build the worm-hole and find a way to stablelize them over al long distance.
The small station was starting to look like a real station, but smaller. The multi-purpose docks had been fitted to the life support section so that now shuttles and freighters could bring bugger chunks of metal to constructed it.
In the space laboratories of Jaleis, the research for a stellar defence mecanism had started. The Solidarity-council had approuved a small budjet to increase the defence of the system, so that if the Savior does many galactic trips, Grenits could defend itself. The efforts were concentrated on a upgrade to the old kinetic weaponery and a stellar defence. The kinetic upgrade would take some time since the old mecanism would have to be completly change. On the other hand, the greater scale defense, would use the space-farms. The way, putting two turret on each farm. The only problem was to command those turrets from Grenits, the farms cannot house Sladerei because of the presence to Green Booster, which is present in a gaseous form. In the next few weeks, these wo project will evolve slowly.
Ł ˘ Ł ˘ Ł ˘ Ł ˘ Ł ˘ Ł ˘
Sladerei Action Outline:
- Investments in the eight cities to keep up with the sladereization of Grenits.
- Development of a worm-hole (whg) with the Horoth Union and the Federation.
- Creation of the small station (6 posts).
- Military reasearch and development (5 posts).
- Low shipbuilding development (1 ship per 2 posts).
Ł ˘ Ł ˘ Ł ˘ Ł ˘ Ł ˘ Ł ˘
------------------
Salutations ŕ la vie
Captain Rick Hardslab, commander of the Federation light cruiser Rubicon strolled through the Kayia Intergalactic Spaceport. He suddenly noticed an old scoutship sitting in one of the landing pads. Walking over to it, Rick marvelled at it. "This thing's ancient, they've been decomissioned years ago. I used to have one a while ago. Wonder where the pilot is..."
Rick looked around, spotted Redeye, and walked over to him...
---------------
When SilverDragon was first hooked up to the network, he found himself it what looked like the breifing room of a Federation Light Cruiser, with a nebula (presumably the Proxima Nebula) out the large window. Of course, SD knew that he was still on the light cruiser Wombat , and that this was all just electronic signals being relayed to his brain.
As SD looked around, he saw Carnotaur at the other end, dressed in his Federation uniform. Carnotaur just stood there for a moment, taking in all of the information that the Igadzra had given him. Then he walked over to SD and shook his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, SilverDragon. I have been told a lot about you." The half-Human half-Azdgari looked around and smiled. "Amazing invention the network, isn't it? I first got the idea from an ancient human film called 'The Matrix'. With some tweaking, we'll even be able to meet with people in the new galaxy, virtually. If you want I can have the hookup connection equipment installed on your ship."
Carnotaur then looked at the long table in the center of the room, as holographic images of all three IXD ships appeared.
Walking around the room, eying the ships, Carnotaur spoke. "These are some pretty interesting designs. Same goes with the weapons. They show quite a bit of promise." But he stopped and looked straight at SD. "But I'm afraid myself and my superiors will be a little apprehensive about the use of radioactive weapons like this. We don't want to be responsible for the death of dozens, perhaps hundreds of IXD pilots who are killed by radiation poisoning. Not to mention we don't want to burn off the atmosphere of some moon or turn a planet into a crated radiation zone. Mira and many other planets were devastated due to radioactive warheads. Unless you can prove that this is all worthwhile we will accept the radiation problems. What do you say?"
------------------
If at first you don't succeed...Hit it harder! - Me
--------------
Millennium. Its coming, prepare for it.
Coming to the (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiaSW.com/games/ev/chronicles.html")EV Chronicles(/url).
(This message has been edited by Captain Carnotaur (edited 11-06-2001).)
(This message has been edited by Captain Carnotaur (edited 11-06-2001).)
Message to: thunder
We cannot express our gratitude for your offer, but unfortunately the RA lack the resorces for any excess shipbuilding. We ask that you supply us with a few drones, to defend us while we shipbuild. We will gladly give you the SDM plans either way, but please help us with this. We do not have a problem with the lack of defense pods, for the defence pods would have been removed anyway for space for the SDM's. We again express our sincere thanks.
end
Ship construction is halted, to speed up reparations, and the Kayan freightors hyper into Rigel, to see a fleet of Horoth and RA vessels salvaging equipment, and a RA frightor dumping out suited scientists to explore the wreckage of a stable disabled pirate warship. The Kayan equipment will speed up operation soup, and the remaining RA ships are sent to Kayan space for repairs.
Freightors and a few fighters are based at every planet, ready to Evacuate the elderly to Kayan space if the worst comes to worst.
---------------------------------------
Operation: Soup
ETC: 4 posts
------------------
All the problems we face in the United States today can be
traced to an unenlightened immigration policy on the part of
the American Indian.
--- Pat Paulsen
Quote
Originally posted by Captain Carnotaur:
**
Walking around the room, eying the ships, Carnotaur spoke. "These are some pretty interesting designs. Same goes with the weapons. They show quite a bit of promise." But he stopped and looked straight at SD. "But I'm afraid myself and my superiors will be a little apprehensive about the use of radioactive weapons like this. We don't want to be responsible for the death of dozens, perhaps hundreds of IXD pilots who are killed by radiation poisoning. Not to mention we don't want to burn off the atmosphere of some moon or turn a planet into a crated radiation zone. Mira and many other planets were devastated due to radioactive warheads. Unless you can prove that this is all worthwhile we will accept the radiation problems. What do you say?"
**
SilverDragon frowned. "The radioactivity isn't much of a problem externally. It shouldn't be too difficult to make the weaponry used actually quite contained. As for the crew...I already know a lot of pilots willing to take the risk. And if you would note, the carrier has one crew, the Shadow also one, and the Executor just over a dozen, of which two are in any danger at all - the weapon's crew. And to add, our main station of operations, the mentioned IXD Outpost, would be in an uninhabited system."
"Carnotaur, what must be done must be done. Within Federation ranks especially, IXD could create chaos among the Ediens. If I may state an Igadzra saying; 'to win the war of reality we must sometimes lose the war of ethics'."
"And personally, I doubt we're passing much over the boundary here. They say if you pass it at all you can't stop going further...they are wrong. Trust me, Carnotaur. We have fought our battles longer than the Federation has fought it's, be it Zidagar or Akrahd or Ediens."
"What must be done...must be done."
------------------
Word.
Carnotaur smiled. "Yes, but just remember that you were lost badly against the Azdgari Empire when they invaded. I'm not trying to say that the Igadzra are weak, or that your tactics are totally useless, I just want to say that this will be risky. A crew of one is more likely to be stunned than a 6 man crew. Radioactive weapons have been known to seriously impair the performance of ships. Innocent lives could be lost.
"The Federation will agree to fund you for a 2 month period. After that, if you have not yet demonstrated the full potential of the IXD, we will have to cut funding. If, on the other hand, you show that the IXD is highly useful and will be of great help in defeating the Ediens, we will continue to fund you.
"Agreed?"
------------------
If at first you don't succeed...Hit it harder! - Me
--------------
Millennium. Its coming, prepare for it.
Coming to the (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiaSW.com/games/ev/chronicles.html")EV Chronicles(/url).
Message to the RA - encrypted
Point of origin - Kayan Militia Headquarters
We realize that your shipbuilding capability has been crippled by the vicious renegade attacks, and we will provide you with as many defense drones as we can spare once the design and testing of the drones is complete. We hope to provide you with enough to deter attacks on your core systems long enough to repair your shipbuilding facilities, so you can produce even more drones of your own. In the meantime, our fleet in RA space is in good condition, and we are ready to conduct repairs on RA vessels that arrive in our space, and aid RA civilians in need of shelter or medical attention.
We wish you best of luck with the rebuilding process, and will continue to help as best we can to rebuild your destroyed colonies.
Message ends
At the New Kayia science institute, work on studying the principles and mechanics behind the Spacial Flux Enhancer (the device that made intergalactic travel through the rift possible) had rapidly picked up again from where it left off with the re-opening of the gateway. Several scientists theorized that the principle of targeting a weak point in subspace with the Flux Enhancer and then hitting it with a powerful coherent energy beam might be extended to other weak points in subspace as well. Certain cosmic events, such as supernovas, black holes, and large neutron stars, were known to weaken subspace around them due to their intense release of energy. Unfortunately, such events were rare - only three were known to exist in the New Galaxy. Fortunately one laid within Kayan space - an aincent supernova remnant near the fringes of the Galactica system. Already science vessels were scanning the remnant to see if it held the same properties as the rift zone - namely a weak point in the fabric of space.
------------------
Ad Astra Per Aspera - "A rough road leads to the stars"
"Agreed," SilverDragon smiled. "And if a single Igadzra backs out from duty, and panics, you can cut the funding, so confident am I."
------------------
Word.
