Emmett.hendrick

quote:Originally posted by ShoHashi: Emmett, I picked this up over the weekend and it's okay...not the best thing since sliced bread, but okay. A lot of people who played the X-COM games (including me) are going to be disappointed. You can't compare it to X-COM. Sure, some of the basic premise is the same, but a lot is totally different. If you decide to go play it, don't think you'll have a worthy replacement for X-COM. You can grab the demo from fileplanet if you don't mind the wait. Actually I got my Broadband setup last night/yesterday and I downloaded the demo last thing last night (40 mins for 170mb I was impressed). I haven't played it much but what I have played reminds me of Apocolypse but I'll make a final decision when I play more of the demo tonight.

O.K. Games I am playing and want to play. Diablo II Enjoyable beat em up and even though at heart it's fairly repeative it's so much fun you don't notice and keep coming back for more BCM Need I say more Anarchy Online My first ever foray into the world of MMORPG's and I was impressed. Played well on a 56K modem aswell. Wanna get Homeworld II Played the demo - very impressed (but then I loved the first game) is on my WANT list UFO Aftermath Not the next official X-com game but in the same vein - updated graphics, bigger story line and some RP/character devolopment to boot - there is supposidly a demo available on the net but I have yet to find it - more info go to www.ufoaftermath.co.uk. Jedi Academy Played the demo and yes it is basically more of JK II but hey it's JK II. And yes the lightsaber combat is a little 'off' but it's still great fun to play. UC See BCM comment Star Wars Galaxies I have been watching the devolopment of this game for two years and waiting anxiously. I have a few friends who are playing and I was involved in the last two weeks of the beta. European release is the end of this month and my ADSL goes in tomorrow so wife already knows that this and UC should be in my Xmas stocking if I don't have them already.

quote:Originally posted by Steve Schacher: quote:I try not to bring to much "chick" around here but this I just can't contain!!!Maybe that's what this place needs from time to time. You may be right there!

quote:Originally posted by Jaguar: quote: Originally posted by Echo What a potty mouth! The old saying "do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" comes to mind rather quickly. Not impressed with his language any of my kids wrote/spoke like that there would be hell to pay!

quote:Originally posted by Huwie: Alright then, Hostile Waters by Rage. Anyone remember Carrier Command? Well, Hostile Waters is like a massively updated version of it. Yea I have Hostile Waters - fun game but Carrier Command was much better as you had full control of your carrier. I'm just waiting now for the Naval units in UC - gonna have some fun then

A few hours later James sat at the head of the Commanders table for dinner. He was surrounded by his most senor officers and his wife, Geraldine Meagher, had joined them also. Before dinner James and Geraldine had been involved in quite a heated discussion regarding her involvement in the up coming mission. Geraldine had fought her corner well and in the end James had, grudginly, yield to her demands to be allowed come along. No matter how he had argued for her safety she had refused to give in. She was a very stubborn woman and it was one of the reasons James had fallen so deeply in love with her so he had, eventually, yielded to her demands and allowed her to store her belongings in his quarters alongside his own. Now she sat beside him at the table while his first officer, Phae Talla, sat on his left. Also at the table was Roy Faulker, the Andromeda's chief engineer, the majority of the bridge crew and LT John Tucker, who had recently come on board to command the Andromeda's marine compliment after her previous combat officer was killed during the Omega incident. James sat silently sipping his drink as he stared at his crew assembled around his and the other tables in the dinning area. The rest of the crew mixed well he was happy to see and members of all areas of the crew happily conversed over dinner. After dinner James stood up and walked away from the table calling for the attention of his crew as he did, drink still in his hand. "Good evening all!" he started, "Some of you have been part of this crew for a long time. And some of you are new. To the new members I welcome you aboard, to the old I am happy to once again be going in action with you again." He paused for a moment to allow his greeting carry to all in the room. "As from now the Andromeda is in a state of lock down, all supplies are aboard, all weapons are loaded, repairs are done and we are ready to depart, and in little over two hours we will depart on our latest mission." "I have briefed all the supperior officers on our mission and they have been ordered to inform you all of the details once we are underway. I must unfortunatly inform you that the details of this mission are confidental and must not be discussed with anyone outside of yourselves. To this end all personal communications will be barred in one hour." "I know many of you have your doubts and worries I'd be lying if I said I didn't have worries of my own. But I promise you this this crew will show the same dedication, the same determination and the same savy that we have approached all our previous operations. We will make Wraith proud of this ship and Galcom proud of Wraith. We will perform all that is required of us by duty and we will prevail!" With that a cheer arouse for the crew and a thunderous round of applause filled the dinning area for 5 minutes. Eventually the applause died down and James concluded. He held his drink high "To Galcom, To Wraith and to the Andromeda!" The crew responded by raising their own glasses and repeating his call TO GALCOM, TO WRAITH AND TO THE ANDROMEDA!! James sat down to thunderous applause and cheers from the entire crew.

Echo Echo Echo Ah well back to ship repairs! *sighs*

James stood staring at the datapad that sat on his desk for a few moments, unsure of what it contained he was uncertain about reading it, the last thing he wanted today was more bad news. Eventually he plucked up the courage and snapped the pad from his desk. Activating it a confidental message from FC Tac appeared.. To: Commander James Smyth, GCV Andromeda From: FC Tac James once again I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking this mission, I know it can not have been an easy decision for you but with your extensive time in Gammulan space to date you have possibly one of the best chances of pulling it off. Not to belittle your expierence but I have authorised some upgrades to the Andromeda to help guarantee your success. By the time you read this Wraith Engineers should have finished upgrading the hull, shields, reactor and engine of the Andromeda, however you will also find that they have fitted an IOD device to your ship also. The upgrades are not much but I hope they help in someway. I have also authorised delivery of as much fuel as you think you will need for all your systems and you will find two replacement IC's in you cargo bay also God speed Andromeda. We await your return. James turned off the Pad and turned to look out the view port, he watched for a few moments as shuttles travelled too and fro transporting matierals and fuel as required. Out of the corner of the view port he noticed the Invader sitting quietly in the hanger also. James smiled, a bit surprised that the had not notice the MK 2 before but assuring himself that he had been failry distracted on his return to the Andromeda. He thumbed the com link to engineering, Roy Faulker's gruff voice answered "Engineering!" "Roy this is Smyth have you had a chance to look over Wraith's work?" "Bumbling group of children. Yea I had a glance surprisingly they seem to have done a good job but I have one of my teams looking it over to be sure!" "Efficient as always! Roy can you go to the main gun and check the installation there?" "Main gun what the Frell did they fit there." he paused for a few moments as James heard him below something at one of the engineers behind him "Sure I'll take a look shortly!" "Excellent!" smiled James "Oh and Roy don't take long I expect to see you at my table for diner!" "I'll be there" barked Faulker as the com line was cut.

OOC: Welcome aboard Bandus but just to let you know the Andromeda is docked in Wraith station not Galcom HQ. IC: The door to the bridge silently opened in front of Smyth and the Andromeda's bridge once again revealed it's self to him. As he stepped out of the lift he took a quick glance around. The subtle drone of constant radio communications echoed from every station as crew members co-ordinated teams through out the ship. Computer displays constantly updated with new information on ships status flashed at every station. At the command chair Smyth spied his second in command, Lt Commander Phae Talla, surrounded by half a dozen crew members with reports for her attention. Busy as she was she was unnerving in her determination and she was making quick work of barking orders to each of the crew in turn. As soon as she spotted Commander Smyth she stopped, snapped to attention and called. "COMMANDER ON THE BRIDGE!" The entire bridge stopped, the incessant radio chatter remained by the back to front banter and operational discussions between crew members ceased almost immediatly. The entire bridge stopped, turned to face him and snapped a salute. All except for a poor maintenance engineer who caught his head on a console as he hurried to pull himself up to great his commander. Smyth stiffled a smile and returned their salute "As you were!" he commanded as he crossed the bridge to his second in command. As he approached the other crew members quickly finished their business with the LT Commander and hurried back to their posts. James hid a wiry smile as he pulled up beside his first officer and gave her a quick glance up and down. LT Commander Phae Talla, 24, female, human, originally from Lyrius. She had joined Galcom as soon as she was elible and had literally clawed her way up the ranks, James was not sure but he thought she may just be the youngest first officer in Galcom but he never got around to confirming that idea. She was dressed, as usual, in her full military uniform which was kept maticulously clean. Her hair was short, to just above her shoulders, well within regulations. On the bridge she ran a tight ship, but James also knew that socially she was a very easy going and easy to get on with person. She was also very efficient, the crew on the Andromeda we're well trained and combat hardened but Talla had managed to increase their efficiency even further and James was very impressed with her service record to date on his ship. He also knew she had been offered her own command, actually that was not true she had been offered her choice of commands. They had discussed it shortly before the Omega Six incident and she had said that she was being pulled towards Naval duty although space travel still pulled at her too. To his knowledge she had not made a decision, but he knew that if she went she would be sadly missed by all on the Andromeda. "How goes it Lt?" asked James as he pulled up beside his first officer. "Well sir!" she smiled "We are just about ready to depart, Wraith's engineers have been working in the engine room all day but they report they work is done also, personally I don't think Faulker would have given them another tweenty minutes down there without barging in on them to see what they were doing!" James smiled, Roy Faulker had been the Andromeda's chief engineer for as long as he could remember, even before he was her commander. Faulker was a bit of a gruf man, slightly over weight but great fun when surrounded by his friends. He had a very unhealthy relationship with the Andromeda, almost boardering on an obsesion and he loathed letting any other engineering team any where near her engines. "Once the station engineers are finished tell him to go in a check their work, that should make him happy. I should be able to tell him what they were doing by then!" "Yes sir. On that a private transmition came in for you from FC Tac while you are away. I had it piped to your desk." "Thank you Lt Commander," smiled James "If you need me I'll be in my quarters!" Phae nodded her head as he exited the bridge the way he came. James felt a little strange leaving the bridge as they were preparing to depart but he knew LT Commander Talla could look after things and he was only at the end of the com link should anything go wrong. As the turbolift started on it's journey to the crew quarters he wondered about the upcoming mission about the datapad waiting for him is his quarters. What were the extras that Tac had talked about and why had Galcom engineers baned his chief engineer from his own engine room for almost two days. Hopefully the Datapad would give him the answers to these questions.

The silent shape of the GCV Andromeda sat in the hanger of Wraith station, in orbit of Lyrius. As the giant ship slept engineers busily made their way, by jetpack and shuttle, around her massive frame. Last minute checks were being carried out, all systems prepared and her cargo was being loaded on board. As Commander James Smyth stood silently behind the glass of the Fleet commander's office and watched as his ship was prepared for another mission he wondered what the mission would be this time. In her time the Andromeda had seen much action indeed her starboard hull still carried a discoloration from a PTA blast taken while she last saw action during the Omega operation when she had served along side the Invader and her commander, Elio Jason. Smyth sighed lightly as he watched the engineering teams bustling around her like an angry nest of bees, he glanced down for a moment at his cap which he had tucked neatly in under his left arm as he waited on Wraiths XO to brief him and let him know where he and his crew where going this time. The sound of the elevator surprised Smyth, he had assumed that FC. Tac was already in his office. But as the lift came to a stop outside the FC's office Smyth wasn't so sure anymore. The lift door hissed open and Tac's stern facade greeted James from across the room. Slowly but commandingly Tac made his way across the room and stopped at his desk. He seemed to ingnore Smyth as he approached his desk, deeply involved instead in some papers in his hand. He read them intently and mumbled something to himself as he did so. As he reached his desk he thumped the papers down on the desk and cast a look at Smyth and at the Metalic Goddess slumbering in the hanger beyond. "Hows she bearing up Smyth?" Tac more commanded than asked. James snapped straight before responding, "Engineers reports say she's bearing up well sir. Although they won't tell me what her cargo or weapon load is they assure me we will be ready to leave first thing!" "Excellent, excellent! And your crew?" "Already back on station sir - ready to embark!" "Excellent!" grinned Tac and his expression softened somewhat,"And yourself James how are you?" "Geraldine seems to think I'm fit for duty sir although the leg still gives me pains!" replied James nodding at his right leg with his head "Geraldine?" replied Tac a little confused, "Ah yes your old medical officer." He paused for a moment before continuing,"You married her didn't you?" "Yes sir I did! Soon as I got out of hospital after the Omega operation!" smiled James. "Yes yes" mumbled Tac, he remembered the day the Andromeda was towed back to dock after that operation, half the ship's starboard hull was missing, one third of her crew dead and the rest only barely survived. It had taken weeks to rebuild the ship and months to heal some of her crew, including Smyth who had been greviously injured in the final fire fight from one of the Omega craft. James had not been the same since but Tac could understand why. Slowly Tac sat down behind his desk and motioned James to sit down in front of him, James did so although a little too formally for Tac's liking and he ordered the Commander to relax a little. "Excuse me Sir!" interupted James, "But are you going to tell me where we are going?" "Yes off course Smyth" retorted Tac as he stood up again from his desk and activated a holoscreen tactical display on the board behind his desk. "James this is Gammula1, somewhere I'm sure you are familiar with, and this is the moon which orbits Gammula1. I'll get straight to the point. Intelligence has found out that the Gammulan's have some sort of weapons production plant located on this moon but that is not all they also believe that they have a weapon research plant on the planet also" Tac paused for a moment as he moved away from the display "Now usually this would not bother us however we have learnt that this plant are involved in the mass production of R.A.N.D.O.M OTS missles and the research station are looking at devoloping a version of this weapon that could take down an entire solar system. We have learnt that the production facility is not online just yet, however research at the other facility is moving at a brisk pace." Tac looked grimly at Smyth "James these reports are unconfirmed and as such Galcom will not commit a strike force to hit that deep into Gammulan territory. Nothing withstanding the probably losses that such a strike would incure on both sides and we still could not guarantee success. So Wraith Fleet have been tasked with confirming these plants exist and taking both out of action." James stood up and faced his XO "So how many ships in the strike team sir?" "Just one! The Andromeda!" replied Tac Grimly "Just the Andromeda sir?" Queried James. "Well not quite. A day after you leave two other ships will leave on a slightly different course but with the same goal. If you fail they must suceed!" "So we are the decoys?" complained James "No James your no decoy" reassured Tac putting his hand on Smyth's shoulder. "You're going in fully armed to do the job, I expect you to do the job. The Andromeda is getting 5 Bugnor class OTS missiles and full compliment of missiles. Your also getting 2 tonnes of demolition explosives and an extra supply of ATS missiles for your IC's. Your brief if very simple get in, confirm the existence of these facilites, and blow em to hell!" James lip quivered for a moment as he contemplated this mission, the odds against one ship making it that far into Gamulan space undetected were astronomical but he knew the odds were better than a strike force trying to charge it's way head long across the Galaxy. James put his cap on his head and saluted his XO. "If you'll excuse me sir I have to go say goodbye to my wife" he snapped "Fraid not James, there is no replacement medical officer available. Geraldine in going with you!" James stopped dead in his tracks and spun viciously on his heel. "No way! not going to happen! I am not taking her on a death mission!" "I know how you feel but there is no other medical officer available Geraldine is a qualified Galcom doctor, she's combat trained, she's....." "Pregnant!" snapped James Tac stopped mid sentence, "I'm sorry James I truly am but we have no other choice!" "I'll go without a chef medical officer her second in command can do the job!" "Very well" sighed Tac "You leave tomorrow morning!" James snapped a salute and then turned on his heal and walked to the lift. As the lift doors hissed closed Tac called after him. "James I have authorised a few upgrades for the Andromeda check the details when you get on board!" With that the doors hissed closed and James started his return to the slumbering Goddess in the hanger.

I don't pray but you are in my thoughts Silk

I went for an eye exam before getting my licence and was told I didn't need glasses to drive, six months later I did a private eye exam and have been wearing glasses ever since. Now I hate going for an eye exam as I end up having to change my glasses everytime I go!

Man those Naval pics rock!!!

My personal faourite would have to be the Nightstar carrier - but for no other reason than looks - it reminds me of a modern day carrier and also the SDF1 from Robotech. Checking the shots for UC I love the new look of the Nightstar - Very impressed - SC as usual you and your team are doing a GREAT job!

That would make my daily commute so much easier!! Way cool!

I use the on board sound on the current board (see machine specs link) It's nothing mind blowing but it does function well (even supports my 4.1 speaker system which I originally bought before I 'lost' my SB live) SC works fine so won't be replacing anytime soon.

quote:SITCOMs-- Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids.Yup that sounds like me and the wife alright.

Welcome back to the fold!!

Sorry to hear about it mate. In much the same situation myself. I went self employed about 3 years ago and it has not been a good three years. I have had a few occasions where I have been out of work all I can say is take anything that is out there - personally I got a job delivering pizzas for a local company which helped keep food on the table at least. Hang on in there I know it's seems hard but keep your spirits up, something will come along

nine planets at the moment AFAIR. More promised to come soon (and more playable species too and vehicles toooo!) And nope there is no way to download it online and start playing(have to say loved that feature of Anarchy online) and I don't think there will be an option either(but I may be wrong)

I like the SG series actually the characters/actors on the series were (IMHO) better than the people they had for the movie.(only thing the flick had was the bigger budget for the special effects)

The battle scenes in DS9 rocked! Sky are doing re-runs at 6am over here at the moment and this mornings episode was when the defiant retook DS9. The scene where the Defiant is skimming along the hull of the dominion/Cardassian ships while being chased and simultaneous shooting down a Jem Hadar fighter is just soooooo cool

I'm still trying to pop in as much as possible. Weathar over here is great - not quite as hot as the UK - just nice and comfortable.

Ok after reading the comments here and the advice to try from quite a fwe in the community I decided to take the plunge. So I cast of the shackles of IE6 and downloaded Mozilla Firebird and then downloaded a neumber of plug ins some themes and some other bits and stuff and ......... So far so good - have 1 or 2 issues with work web sites but nothing major. So again another good recommendation. Congrats guys on converting a true child of Gates and showing me there is light outside of Microsoft

Have to admit Angelina is a very beautiful woman but I don't think she pulls off Lara quite right. Although I am basing my opinion on the half baked original. I may change that opinion after seeing number: 2