VK-318

Why a building that resembles an insect-headed PEZ container looming over your home would make anybody feel more secure is beyond me. It's a great building. The greebling on the side walls is spot on, and I think that's the best M.A.N.T.I.S. head I've seen yet.

Fantastic take on the "gritty" city style - it's a lot of work, and I really like how it came off here. Very much in keeping with M.A.N.T.I.S.' style.

I love the creative use of headlight bricks. Good to see Raven's family finally coming back together! Hopefully this won't end tragically ...

Thanks!

Thanks!

You're right. I implied it, but it would be a good idea to specify.

I love the crenelations. I haven't seen rounded crenelations in a MOC before, but it looks very nice.

Location: G10 Onix Tags: Civil Building Note: All parts of this build except the parts shown in the spoiler are re-used - that is, the main room, torture rack and restraints (but not the larger frame around it), and the two small implement-holders are all re-used, and therefore should not be judged. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "AAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!" "AAAAAAAAGHNOOOOOOO!" Clunk. "What was that?" "What the ..." Crack! Thud. Crack! Crash. "Silvia!" "That's far enough, Viktor." "Girault. You're going to pay for this." "I don't think so." "I don't know how you managed to get this far into my base without raising any alarms. For that matter, I don't know how you even managed to enter the system. But I really don't care. Torture is so much more effective when you it's somebody else suffering, and your wife has been most uncooperative." "No.. Please, no ..." "It's under control, Silvia." I fixed Girault with an icy gaze. "It won't take but a minute. In fact ..." If you want to break a standoff, do it in the middle of a sentence. In fact, do it in the middle of a conversation, if you have the option. It delays your opponent's reaction time by a critical fraction of a second. I snatched a hammer from the wall and threw it as hard as I could. He fired, of course, but his aim was off and I was already out of the way. Then the hammer struck him in the head and he collapsed limply. Not dead - just out cold. "... It's already taken care of," I finished. "Let me get you out of that thing, Silvia." "I can't move," she said weakly. "He's stuffed me full of drugs." "I know," I said. "T1-N1 had a chat with their computers while I was on my way. I'm so sorry, dearest. I came as fast as I could." "I'm just glad you made it," she said, sighing with relief as I loosed the restraints. I wrapped her in a cloak and cradled her in my arms. "Just one more thing to do, and then we can be going." With one arm already full, it was not easy to remove Girault's shirt, or to drag him up onto the torture rack, but I did it. He had loaded Silvia with stims to keep her conscious through the torture session, and the syringe he had been using was almost empty. I injected what was left of them into him, then waited for him to wake up. It only took a few seconds. "I'm sorry I don't have the time to properly thank you for everything you've done for my wife," I said, "but I hope you'll accept this parting gift. As soon as I'm gone, the Variga will destroy this base, and I don't plan on waiting around, so you probably won't have time to pass out from the pain, but you should be well entertained until you die. Goodbye, Girault." I pulled the lever, and the machine came to life. With Girault's screams echoing off the metal walls, I carried Silvia out and down the corridor. "Are there any more pirates here?" she asked. "I don't think so. T1-N1 sealed off most of the base, and I've lost count of how many people I've killed. My bolter's power clip must be about drained." She sighed. "I'm so tired. Can I rest now?" "Yes, dearest." I smiled. "Once we get back to the Variga, we're going to rendezvous with the fleet. They'll patch you up. You're safe now. You can rest all you like." "Thank you, love. I think I will." And she did. This week, I did two new builds that expand on something I did previously. I had more story to tell in this particular location than I could tell in one week, so I came up with some expansions that can stand as a build in their own right. They're in the spoiler. C&C welcome!

I love the mining drill - the drill tip is both awesome and blindingly simple.

I love the plants! I can't image how frustrating this must have been to take pictures of.

Thanks! Thanks for the color tip. I'll try to remember that next time I work on a shoreline. I spent quite a while figuring out how to make the position of the boat in the water look "right." I'm glad it works.

That micro railroad! This is a beautiful micro build. It makes me wish I were better at cityscapes.

Please transfer all my credits to EpsilonEta. Thanks!

I'm glad you like my build! Thanks for the photo tip. The build is still together, so I'll probably take some more pictures of it like that and put them up here.

Thank you! The vegetation was a last-minute addition - I literally kept rearranging it until right before I shot those pictures. I had trouble deciding how much there should be that close to the water. I'm glad it works for you. Thanks!

Great micro building - I especially love the base, it looks very realistic and familiar somehow, though I have no idea what it reminds me of. I also like the use of color - this building really snaps.

Thanks! I'll remember that next time I work on a shoreline. Thank you! I look forward to building the story.

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=130464 And, after three days trying to find my camera battery charger, I'm in! I have also named several locations. If names for these places already exist, let me know so I can change them in my build, but otherwise: The river on which Nordheim is seated is the Bearclaw River. The westernmost large inlet on the south coast of the Bay of Seals is Gronnfjord.

The Bay of Seals. An inhospitable body of water even in the midst of summer. In the early weeks of spring, it is a positively murderous expanse of icy blue. It was not a particularly inviting place to come ashore, but it was not dusk of the second day since the Blanchefleur had foundered east of the Bay of Seals. The wind had driven hard from the north, and rather than fight against it to reach the mouth of the Bearclaw River and the port of Nordheim, the castaway had rowed south, coming ashore in an inlet on the east bank of Gronnfjord, the westernmost tributary of the Bay. The ground was hard rock - sheltered for the most part from the weather by the steep sides of the fjord, there was little sand on the beach, merely a rugged slope of gray stone, broken somewhat by small plants, and no doubt exposed by whatever cataclysm had cut the Gronnfjord into the into the land. A chilly, damp wind, bearing with it an icy tinge of the bay, swept up as the lone, weary traveler laid the oars on the rowing bench and climbed stiffly out onto dry land. He lifted a wooden staff from the bottom of the boat. It was taller than he, completely smooth and straight save for a large knot at one end. He settled the staff in his left elbow as he pulled his cloak tighter around himself and pulled down his weather-beaten hat. He reached back under the cloak and checked the position of several items strapped to his back, then stood erect and looked around him. The failing light of the sun revealed a path, not perhaps comfortable but at least safe, winding its way up the side of the fjord. Gripping the staff in his gloved right hand, the traveler climbed the beach, leaving the rowboat hanging by a few rocks under its keel. The first good rain or strong wind would dislodge it, but the traveler did not care. Where he was going now, he would have no need for this rowboat. Many long leagues lay between him and his destination, and doubtless many perils and adventures. The fate of one small Avalonian rowboat mattered little to him. At long last, he returned to his homeland, Mitgardia, but for how long and to what end remained to be seen.

The guard at the door, Jason, is the same guy who was with Girault when they found the misplaced space probe in "An Unfortunate Oversight." When I picked his head, I did not anticipate the... incongruities of having a continuously grinning henchman.

The red cross is really brilliant! I also like the way you used cheese slopes and bricks to make Jex sit hunched up in the bed. It's wonderful.

Thanks! I have too many of those boxes. And yes, caffeinated beverages are critical during long interrogations. Thanks. I struggled for quite a while over whether or not I should even do this build, and how I should do it. I'm glad people seem to like it.

Location: G10 Onix Tags: Civil Building ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Boss? She's here." "You sure took long enough. Bring her in." "Silvia Kramer. Allow me to welcome you to my home, or at least, one small part of it. I hope you will enjoy your stay." "Save the pleasantries, Girault. You know my husband will be coming for you." "We'd better get down to business, then. Jason, would you do the honors?" "With pleasure, boss." "Now, now, Silvia. You shouldn't struggle like that - you've gone and gotten yourself a nasty bruise. This way, please." "Please make yourself comfortable, ma'am. We've got a lot to discuss." "Girault, you know Viktor. He's not going to let you get away with this." "I'm afraid he'll have no choice. Just this last week, we completed the installation of a new sensor relay station. If any ship comes out of the Gate, I'll know right away. Besides, no luxury cutter has the firepower to breach our defenses. "Humans have been in the business of inflicting pain on each other for such a very long time, but when the victim struggles, it can make a torturer's work so much harder. Awesomnium has provided us with an invaluable aid to this process. "This syringe contains an awesomnium-based solution that I think you'll find most interesting. We bought the original from a fellow called Laszlowe, from M.A.N.T.I.S. It was supposed to serve as a long-lasting sedative, a hibernation drug. But it didn't work quite as planned." "I - I - I can't move. I can't move!" "But you can still feel, can't you? That's the beauty of it. Your sensory receptors are still firing, but your brain can't send anything back but critical body functions. It's the perfect torturer's tool." "Don't do this, Girault." "I'm afraid I don't have much choice. I need the passcodes for the Kawashita Group's private Gates, and I don't have time to convince you to give it to me. This is quicker. "Also much more entertaining." "No - no, please - no - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Kramer to Variga, good work. I'm through the breach." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yep, we're still pretty dark over here. I promise I'll lighten up in a few more builds. The name is a reference to The Princess Bride.

I like the holo-table, and the war-room in general. It has a nice feel to it.

These are some seriously beautiful vehicles! The plane is especially delightful.