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GLADIUS Mission #01: Deep Trouble; HERMES division
Topic Started: Apr 30 2009, 10:29 PM (2,945 Views)
Lawman
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The research worker grunted and growled as he struggled ineffectually against the chains which burst forth from Laevateinn, binding him and preventing him from attacking Johnson. Firing a shot from his pistol, Johnson blew off the head of the pick axe before approaching the female researcher. "Ma'am.. What exactly happened here..?" the HERMES lieutenant asked.

It took a while for the woman to recover from the shock, although she eventually managed to recompose herself, resting a hand on her chest as she breathed deeply. "I don't know what happened - just yesterday we were working together, and then all of a sudden half of them went crazy and started attacking the guards and researchers!" The female researcher replied, still breathing heavily.

"But you can tell from their eyes... the red in their eyes; it's like something is controlling them," she continued, rising to her feet and looking at her former colleague who was still bound, the reddish glow in his eyes becoming more intense as he mouthed obscenities at his captors. "She might know what happened and how the others became like this... the project coordinator, Bai Ling," the research worker continued, looking at a tunnel entrance to the north wall that led away from the excavation site.

"Th... the way behind you is clear, isn't it?" The researcher asked, obviously anxious to get out of the place.



Meanwhile, deeper in the tunnels...

"She couldn't have gone far..." One ATHENA division guard spoke to another as they made their way down the dimly-lit tunnels - they were dressed in the standard fashion of the ATHENA division guards for this expedition - rock-gray camouflage BDU's, combat boots and tactical armor vests. In the poor lighting conditions of the tunnel, their eyes glowed a deathly red while the guards kept their HK416 assault rifles - fitted with barrel-mounted illuminators - trained on the tunnel ahead of them.

"Roger, all intruders will be dealt with," the other ATHENA division guard replied. As the two former guards walked down the tunnel, a slim and somewhat athletic Chinese woman in her late 20's with shoulder-length black hair slipped out of a small alcove, garbed in a blood-stained and slightly tattered but still recognizable GLADIUS dress uniform. Bai Ling's breath came in ragged gasps as she staggered down the tunnel, taking care to keep to the shadows, clutching a pistol in her right hand while her left hand rested over a wound on her stomach, her blood still seeping from the bullet hole.

I... I can't die here... Bai Ling thought as she quickly hid herself behind a stack of crates after hearing footsteps coming down a nearby tunnel junction, merely seconds after three former miners armed with various hand tools led by a shotgun-wielding former ATHENA division guard passed by her hiding location.

That's funny... Bai Ling emerged from her hiding spot after the next mob had passed - they, along with the other two former guards from earlier on seemed to be heading towards the first excavation site near the main operations area. Of course, she had no idea that a HERMES detachment had been deployed on the scene, so she could only wonder.



"HERMES team, what's going on? I thought I heard a scuffle down there... what's your status?" Achilles' voice came over the radio.

Meanwhile in the nearby tunnel, a contingent of former guards were on the move - mostly armed with HK416 assault rifles and SPAS-12 shotguns.

"You two, provide cover," a gray-uniformed guard who wore on his head a red beret bearing the GLADIUS insignia spoke to two of his uniformed subordinates. Before he was turned this man served as a sergeant who led the ATHENA division guards assigned to this expedition, and even after being turned he appeared to fulfill the same role with his fellow former guards. Two former guards watched their sergeant's rear flank as he led another four former guards down the tunnel - it would only be a matter of time before the neared where the HERMES team was!
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Katyusha
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"It should be, but it's a long climb up." Marina said casually as she walked to the bound lunatic.

She listened to the woman's explanation as she calmly got down to a knee near the worker, pulled out a cylindrical device, and applied it to the man's neck. It was an autoinjector loaded with a shot of ketamine, sufficient to render a healthy man unconscious. She then removed the needle and affixed it to his shirt, bending it down, so that medical teams would know what he was drugged with and in what dosage.

"Goodnight, gracie" she said quietly, waiting for the drug to take effect before binding him handcuffs. Due to the rushed nature of the projection, it wouldn't last for more than a few minutes. "That should keep him out for a few hours, should be enough time to drag him back to the surface to be dealt with by a medical team."


"HERMES team, what's going on? I thought I heard a scuffle down there... what's your status?"


"Fate, we have 2 survivors, had to disable one, and the other one is shaken. They need to be moved to a more secure location for questioning and possible treatment. Recommend preparation of the Ares team for deployment if we find more people in that state. And more medical personnel. Over." she responded to the radio call, walking towards everyone else.

"Someone should take them both back to the surface. If there's any more of them about, it will be difficult to protect them."
Edited by Katyusha, May 2 2009, 09:13 PM.
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Cypriss
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'Uhm.. You might not want to split your attack force right now..' Beaumont said mentally 'I detect three incoming survivors who all feel just like this guy does...'

'No, that's MORE reason to get the civilian and the mind controlled worker our of here before they get shot..' Johnson sent back to Beumont. 'We're going to have to... split up. Beaumont, advance to the bottom of the shaft to increase your range down here. Marina, you take your captured target topside then get back here. Me and Cypriss will hold position for now and if things turn ugly we'll bail out..'

'Just like old times! Me and Johnson against the world!' Cypriss said with a dry laugh, nervously moving through the room and pressing himself against the wall. He then turned invisible. 'Can I use lethal force, already?'

'No! These are good men under some sort of control.. We're going to try to use nonlethal force if possible.'


'Man it's hard o fight with these kid gloves on..'

Johnson moved to the other side of the doorway, readying his gun and staying out of sight.
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Lawman
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"It should be, but it's a long climb up." Marina casually answered the female researcher before approaching her former colleague.

The former researcher ceased his thrashing and fell unconscious after Marina delivered to him a dose of ketamine from a military-grade autoinjector. Which was a good call on her part considering her projected weapon wouldn't have lasted more than several minutes due to it not being fully charged and all. "Goodnight, gracie" Came her quiet comment. "That should keep him out for a few hours, should be enough time to drag him back to the surface to be dealt with by a medical team."

"Fate, we have 2 survivors, had to disable one, and the other one is shaken. They need to be moved to a more secure location for questioning and possible treatment. Recommend preparation of the Ares team for deployment if we find more people in that state. And more medical personnel. Over." Marina radioed back to the command outpost. Achilles nodded as he turned his head towards an ATHENA division guard.

The ATHENA division guard spoke through the radio, "This is sergeant Bradley from command post - we're sending down a squad to assist in the e-vac of the two survivors."

"All right boys and girls, we've got some work to do!" Sergeant Bradley shouted as he left the command tent, stopping outside the mess tent and gesturing for his men to move.

"Johnson, Achilles here," Achilles radioed in. "We're sending in a team of ATHENA division guards to assist in the evacuation. In the meantime, get the teleport beacon ready."

"Jones! Hudson! Send the elevator down and keep out backs covered!" Sergeant Bradley gestured towards the elevator controls. As the two guards lowered the elevator, the sergeant and his remaining men rappelled down the mineshaft ahead of the elevator.



Uhm.. You might not want to split your attack force right now... Beaumont relayed his thoughts to those present. I detect three incoming survivors who all feel just like this guy does...

No, that's MORE reason to get the civilian and the mind controlled worker our of here before they get shot... Johnson relayed back. We're going to have to... split up. Beaumont, advance to the bottom of the shaft to increase your range down here. Marina, you take your captured target topside then get back here. Me and Cypriss will hold position for now and if things turn ugly we'll bail out..

Just like old times! Me and Johnson against the world! Cypriss added with a dry laugh, moving nervously through the chamber, keeping close to the walls as he turned invisible. Can I use lethal force, already? The agent asked.

No! These are good men under some sort of control.. We're going to try to use nonlethal force if possible. Johnson replied as he moved to the other side of the doorway, staying out of sight as he readied his gun.

"The lights, kill it." The former sergeant said to a guard who held a control device in his gloved hands. Nodding, the corrupted ATHENA division guard pressed a large red button on the control device - shrouding the excavation site in darkness as the lights went off.

"Squad, ready your night vision," The corrupted sergeant raised his right hand as he motioned for his men to turn on the night sights on their assault rifles - which were accessorized with AN/PVS-14 night vision scopes. Leading the way, the corrupted sergeant led four of his men into the chamber, sweeping their surroundings in search of enemies, while two guards stayed close to the tunnel entrance leading out of the chamber, deeper into the mines, to provide cover for their comrades. In the near-complete darkness the only thing that indicated the guards' presence were the sounds of their boots crunching against the gravel and the reddish glow from their eyes.
Edited by Lawman, May 3 2009, 12:30 PM.
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Katyusha
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Not good... she thought to herself as the lights went out.

It was however, in a way, convenient. If they didnt kill the lights, then she was going to anyway, so you could say that it was all the more convenient.

Marina closed her eyes for a moment.

Begin projection (TRACE ON)

Loading Projections

Composition: High Carbon Steel
(VOIDING)

Altering base composition material (SET)

Composition: Zirconium/Magnesium


It was an almost ridiculous alteration to the design of the Sword of Goujian. It was, put it simply, not being replicated quite as a sword, but as a sword-like weapon composed of pyrophoric material.

Having shut off the lights, the guards would undoubtedly use NVGs, which work by amplifying the little amount of light there was to produce a viable picture. For this reason, they were never worn in daylight - Because there was too much light to create a picture with. Of course, a sudden bright flash while the eyes were used to darkness with an NVG's picture... would not be pleasant for the wearer.


Everyone, hit the deck and cover your eyes! she thought aloud to everyone linked to Beaumont, as she smashed her fist into the projection, following her own warning as she did so.

The phantasm roared to life and exploded into bright incandescence.

Posted Image
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Cypriss
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"HAHAH! With those night vision goggles on that's gonna hurt like a bitch." Cypriss said laughing. The flash of light faded and Cypriss moved quickly around the corner taking two shots at the approaching guards' legs.

'Telepathic communication, Cypriss!" Johnson's entire body began to glow with a faint red aura. He moved forward with super human strength and speed, gripping the captured prisoner by the bindings while the enemy was blinded and Cypriss provided cover fire. In an instant he was moving back around the corner.

'I'm down at the bottom of the shaft. I've got a clearer image of things. I can tell you this, these guys are retaining their training and memories.' Beaumont said from as great distance away.

"Ma'am!" Johnson said to the rescued worker, taking cover again. "Get against a wall and stay out of the way.." Johnson readied his device, teleport was looking more possible now. Even so, they hadn't come close to checking this whole shaft for survivors...

'Cypriss....'

Cypriss focused, drawing in the low light that was available. The mine shaft hallway they were moving through became completely pitch black, far to little light remained for even night vision goggles to magnify. Now everyone was on equal terms.

No, that was a lie. He had a psychic to guide him.
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Lawman
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The former guards had no idea what just hit them as pyrophoric copy of the Sword of Goujian projected by Marina exploded in a burst of incandescence. The men screamed as what they saw on night vision blinded them. "Team! Stay in formation!" The sergeant yelled amid the roar of automatic weapons fire as his men began firing wildly into the darkness, lighting up the underground chamber with the flashes from their assault rifles.

"HAHAH! With those night vision goggles on that's gonna hurt like a bitch." Cypriss laughed before taking two shots at the legs.

"I'm down!" One of the former guards shouted amid the din of gunfire as Cypriss' shot caught him in the right knee, while the other was harmlessly deflected by his tactical armor vest - still the shot in the knee was what counts as the man sank to the ground.

Telepathic communication, Cypriss! Glowing with a faint red aura, Johnson moved with a superhuman speed as he picked up the bound prisoner by his bindings, lifting the man up and moving back around the corner.



I'm down at the bottom of the shaft. I've got a clearer image of things. I can tell you this, these guys are retaining their training and memories Beaumont relayed from his position at the bottom of the shaft just as Sergeant Bradley and his men hit the gravel. The leader of the team of ATHENA division guards gestured for his men to fan out and position themselves at strategic points around the general operations area, keeping their gun sights on the tunnel entrance the led away from the area to the first excavation site where the survivor and first mind-controlled researcher were located.



"Ma'am!" Johnson addressed the female researcher as he took cover from the hail of fire. "Get against a wall and stay out of the way.." The HERMES lieutenant instructed as he readied the teleport beacon.

"Oh, all right," The blond researcher nodded meekly just as a bullet struck a nearby scaffolding with an audible clang, causing the woman to cringe as she ducked and kept close to the walls, hiding underneath a nearby table.

It was now Cypriss' turn to make his move as the Esper focused and began drawing in whatever little ambient light there was left, such that the area of the mine they were in became pitch-dark, a zone of total darkness where even night vision would fail.



"Sarge and the others need backup!" The two guards covering the exit exclaimed as they switched on the combat illuminators on their rifles, using the barrel-mounted flashlight to sweep the area ahead as they entered the excavation site.

"Defensive formation!" The sergeant barked as the men formed a tight ring around the downed guard, with each of the six (the sergeant and his three remaining men + the two reinforcements) having to cover a 60° arc of fire. "Everyone, use tactical illuminators!" Six narrow beams of white light shone weakly in the darkness as the men scanned their surroundings, listening carefully to any noise that would indicate sudden movement.

Meanwhile, Bai Ling walked slowly down the tunnel, nearing the excavation site, keeping her hand against the wall at all times to get a clue on her location. She wasn't sure why it became pitch-dark all of a sudden, but her instincts told her that the cavalry has most likely arrived.
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Katyusha
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Marina ducked for cover as the troops opened fire blindly. It wasn't like in the movies. there was no sparking or clanging as the bullets hit, just the sound of dirt being forcibly moved by the impact of high speed projectiles.

In a way, that made it scarier.

The area needs clearing before we can call for an Ares team. she thought loudly to everyone else. The question of course, was how.

"Defensive formation! Everyone, use tactical illuminators!"

And therein lay the answer.

Everyone, stay behind cover until their weapons are disabled.

It was a pretty dumb move for trained operators to use flashlights. Afterall, it told you where things were, but it also told everyone else where you were, and in small unit battles, placement was pretty important, and so was knowing where your enemy was.

She estimated a distance of about 20 metres, she thought, still behind cover to avoid being spotted by the lights.

That they didn't move much made it almost too easy.


Begin projection
(TRACE ON)

Loading Projections

Composition Material: High-Carbon Steel
Total Length: 51.5 inches
Point of Balance: 1 inch from cross
Center of Percussion: 22.5 inches from cross
Weight: 1.415kg ....

....

Total Length: 48 inches
Point of Balance: 3 inches from cross
Weight: 2.10kg

...

Total Length - 38 inches
Point of Balance - 4 inches from cross
...


---

The designs and schematics of dozens of swords and spears flashed through her mind. Processing the information of process of construction, basic theory and principle, the tools and means of manufacture, every detail to completely recreate every weapon took barely 10 seconds.

Processes completed. (SET)

She stepped into the Darkness, and calculated the trajectories of the weapons to be fired as they materialised around her...

All projections stand by.
Ceasing decompression. All projections successive fire


Posted Image

And a volley of weapons streamed down, aimed towards the rifles...
Edited by Katyusha, May 4 2009, 07:24 PM.
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Cypriss
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'Aw man! She gets to send a bunch of swords flying around.. looking all badass and blowing shit up and making chains out of hell swords summoned form the devil and what do I get?! blinding people, draining light.. You guys just wait until I get to fight something I don't have to hold back on!' Cypriss said resisting the urge to laser people into piles of liquid goo.

'Cypriss! Cut the chatter!' Johnson said sternly. As the swords swept into the room destroying the guns.

'Alright, I'm moving in for stealth kills.' Cypriss turned invisible, sneaking into the room using the noise of the blades to cover even the small sound his silent movement made. He moved carefully, taking out a autoinjecter. He moved in with a thrust, hoping to immobilize the first enemy without being noticed.

'Guys, your backup is almost there!' Beaumont said to the entire crew mentally. 'Just hold out a bit longer.'
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Lawman
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The former ATHENA division guards roared in frustration as the projected weapons launched by Marina shattered the barrels of their assault rifles, rendering them useless.

Aw man! She gets to send a bunch of swords flying around.. looking all badass and blowing shit up and making chains out of hell swords summoned form the devil and what do I get?! blinding people, draining light.. You guys just wait until I get to fight something I don't have to hold back on! Cypriss was clearly tempted to simply go wild and unleash a storm of laser beams upon the corrupted guards.

Cypriss! Cut the chatter! Johnson replied sternly.

"Squad, fall back!" The sergeant yelled as two of his men grabbed their downed comrade by the arms and helped him to his feet. The HERMES team was obviously beyond their capacity to handle, and it was clear that they would need to retreat deeper into the mines, where they could re-arm themselves at the armories and hook up with the other corrupted OASIS personnel. The men began backing towards the tunnel leading out of the excavation site and deeper into the mines - with the two guards carrying the injured guard moving ahead, while the sergeant and the remaining three men drew H&K USPs from their sidearm holsters to cover their comrades' retreat, moving more slowly behind them.

Alright, I'm moving in for stealth kills. Cypriss activated his invisibility as he moved quietly through the pitch darkness, readying a tranquilizer autoinjector. The man covering the sergeant's left flank didn't know what hit him as Cypriss' autoinjector sank into his neck. The guard staggered as the drug took its effect, before slumping to the ground - although the noise made by his sidearm hitting the ground alerted the sergeant to what happened to one of his men.

"Move it, quickly!" The sergeant barked his order for his remaining men to fall back. The sergeant continued to fall back with the other two men who were evacuating their fallen comrade, while the other two moved slower to cover the sergeant's retreat and to rescue their downed comrade - firing a pair of shots in Cypriss' general direction with their pistols.

Guys, your backup is almost there! Beaumont sent a mental message to his colleagues. Just hold out a bit longer.

HERMES team, this is Achilles - the ARES team at headquarters are ready for deployment, just set up the teleport point when you're ready. Achilles relayed his thoughts to the team present whose minds were linked to Beaumont.
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Cypriss
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It wasn't as easy to hit an invisible person as they might have hoped. After the person's body went slack and his position was given away he instantly retreated from his location using his tail of light to pull himself to the roof. The shots fired uselessly where he had been. He clung to the roof feeling a bit glad for his silly and somewhat stupid power. He swung himself back to the doorway and ducked aorist the corner before becoming visible. Tail and all. "We can't let them run!" He said sternly.

'Don't worry..' Johnson said mentally. He then activated the teleportation device, setting it on the floor in the middle of the room in front of them to give it plenty of room. "We're not going to."

Cypriss gathered his light power into his monkey tail. "This is so dumb. I hate this so much.." He said as it grew into a large rectangular shape to fill the doorway as a shield against the retreating figures shots. "Everyone is gonna see me making a monkey-tail-door. This is really dumb. I hate this."

'.. My power is to summon my comatose brother. Most poeple tihnk I'm CRAZY.'

'Cut the useless chatter you two..'

'Sorry sir..'

'.. I've detected someone deeper in the mines.... Someone.. not.. controlled...'
Edited by Cypriss, May 4 2009, 08:55 PM.
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Katyusha
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"Considering they have comms devices Im sure everyone down here already knows we're here. Either way, the LZ seems secure enough for the ARES team now. This has gone from beyond field intelligence to a full scale combat assignment." she offered.
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Lawman
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The teleport beacon began to emit a blue-white glow, so intense that it pierced the surrounding darkness as it lit up the subterranean chamber, as a crackling sphere of energy emanated from the device, bringing with it the GLADIUS operatives from the headquarters in Nova Oasis - instantly transported thousands of miles away in a salt mine near the India-Pakistan border.

Taking advantage of the momentary illumination, Lavender stepped forward just as two of the retreating guards were firing upon Cypriss' shield. "Team, fan out!" Lavender ordered the team to spread out upon initially arriving to prevent themselves from being easy targets when clustered together. Lavender raised her hands, sending two Aero Whips at the guards - there was a sudden rush of wind as violet energy trails followed the air currents, streaking towards the two men and swirling around them as the corrupted guards found themselves lifted into the air. Lavender's emerald-green eyes narrowed as she clapped her hands together, causing the two men to fly towards each other, slamming together headfirst before collapsing into an unconscious heap on the gravel.

"I need those who possess ranged offensive abilities to take out the remaining men!" Lavender barked her orders as she rolled aside to avoid a gunshot as the former sergeant fired back at her. "Arutha!" Lavender addressed the newcomer. "Stand by and follow my lead!" Although the chamber would only stay lighted for a few seconds at most, she knew it would be enough for the rest of the agents to get a bead on their targets and respond accordingly.
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Yosuke
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Rule 63 is fun.
Emilya still wasn't used to the teleportation device, it just felt...weird and left her momentarily disoriented. Still, the sound of gun fire, patterned with the orders being issued the feeling didn't last too long as she moved to prevent them from being caught in a clusterfuck.

"I need those who possess ranged offensive abilities to take out the remaining men!"

"Tch, even if I could use what I got it'd likely do more harm then good." Emilya mused, opting not to use her sealed bow or just simply launching a sword or something down there. Disabling type attacks were not her forte, and she didn't want to have to kill her comrades unless left with no other option.
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Pikachu_Fragger
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Powered by love, guts, determination, and little girls. Frequently.
Teleportation, like a lot of things, take some getting used to. And she did feel quite disoriented when the room they were in was suddenly enveloped with light then the familiar walls of the GLADIUS teleportation room was suddenly replaced with unfamiliar rock and wood scaffolding. However, she knew she had no time to keep feeling disoriented and took cover using some rocks behind Emilya when the order to fan out came.

"I need those who possess ranged offensive abilities to take out the remaining men!" Lavender ordered.
"Tch, even if I could use what I got it'd likely do more harm then good," Emilya mused.
"If you're worried about killing them, just don't aim for their heads or vitals then," whispered another voice. "Better them than us, and I can just regenerate wounds that have been dealt anyway," Liz Scott said as she followed behind Emilya. "As it is, I'm just support at the moment, so all I can do is pick up where you guys leave off!"

Idly, she looked at Cypriss and chuckled. "Nice ass, Cypriss," she couldn't help but say. "Anyway, what's the status so far? How many hostiles are we dealing with here?" she asked in a more serious tone.
Edited by Pikachu_Fragger, May 5 2009, 07:33 AM.
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