Atia
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Post by Atia on Jul 19, 2014 13:48:22 GMT -8
She stopped her sprint ten paces before the tent.
Her night didnt turn out as she thought it would, she layed herself down filld with thoughts, believing she would not sleep an incling. Instead, she was gone in minutes. She woke in time, when it was still dark. She cleaned herself, made sure her rags were as clean and tidy as she could have it for her first day at school. Even the golden gaffi was sining. She counted the paces in her mind, how much time it would take for her to get to Nartagas home, so she would be exactly in time, for dramatic effect.
Her calculations were perfect, she got to nartagas hut just as the twin suns started to light the sky over the horison, knocked and entered and found.... nothing.
Panic. She got to the closest Tusken and asked about nartagas whereabouts. That was when she started sprinting.
she stood ten paces away from the shamans tent, panting. Taking a couple big breaths, she got the hyperventillation out of her sistem and seemingly calmly walked into the tent and sat down across nartaga after a bow of respect.
-Six-
"Morning, Techer Nartaga."
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Jul 19, 2014 14:52:20 GMT -8
The smoke was thick in the tent, and smelled of pallies. Nartaga bowed his head and gestured for Six to sit down. The tent was poorly lit, the fire not being lit yet, and Nartaga made no move to light it.
-Nartaga-
"I hope you slept well. It would not be good to fall asleep while trying to enter a meditative trance."
Nartaga crossed his legs and placed his palms on the ball of his knees. He waited for Six to copy him.
-Nartaga-
"This is starter position we teach to all Shaman learners. You are more than welcome to create your own meditation position, but it is important we start with the basics. We are going to move on from yesterday and try and teach you to see your surroundings without sight. We use Shamans with this ability when the Enclave is under attack. They can detect anything out of sync with the Enclave's natural energies. It also opens up to other abilities."
Nartaga tilted his head up slightly, and began slowing his breathing.
-Nartaga-
"Just like before you focus on your breathing, close your eyes, and clear your mind. When you feel your mind is clear, let everything back in, and focus on one thing you can hear outside the tent. Paint a picture of it within your mind. See what is happening with your mind's eye. One you have painted that one picture, move out. Feel the people around us, and paint them as they live their lives within the Enclave. The Banthas, the Sentries, the Uli-Ah, even the two of us. Feel the energy and form it into a picture."
As Six would attempt this, Nartaga would tilt his head back down, watching her, trying to discern whether or not she was succeeding or not. Succeeding on the first try would be a miracle, but he had high hopes for his pupil.
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Atia
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Post by Atia on Jul 19, 2014 16:28:46 GMT -8
Six had some faint memories of the stance from her Sakkat clan days, she was just starting her shaman training, like now.-Six- "This... 'Could have been useful a year ago' she nearly said, but finished it diferently.-Six- "...Sounds intresting." She did as asked. Mixing her faint knowledge of peacefull meditation from the day before. She started with first calming down her thoughts. Since this was morning, it was rather easy. All she had thought about was her first lesson, and she was here, so there wasnt much else.
reaching a calm, she tried to do as told. Not concentrating on herself and her memories this time (thank the mistress) but the outside. Not outside the tent though, she went with outside her head. The tent. She concentrated on the smoldering fire, the rug, the folding of the tent wall, the rags that served as a door.
What she found calming and helping was the smell. She never understood the workings of incense, beside masking the smell of heated, rag covered bodies. Now, as she smelled the mirth, she really could imagine the tent. She focussed on her breathing, as told, and took in all of the incence. She had it, she imagined the tent, from what she had seen to what she had felt and smelled.
...
She has it.
...
...
......
Energies... where are the energies? She was medling in her own memory of the place, not in the place itself, as Nartaga was telling.
Sounds. She started with the most obvious, the sounds that came in from the outside. As Anakin once said, not just the adults, but the women, and the children too.
She concentrated on them, how they looked, what they might be doiing from the sounds. There were two lauhing and joyfull Uli-ah running past the tent, the trembles of their steps were thee and she imagined them as such, but as they were gone, so was her picture of them.
Energies. How could she summon energies? The Force?
The Mistress had thought her some. It was at the end of her time in the Crucible. Atia wanted her to at least be able to practice some for herself, but she did not dare.
The mistress always hummed on a melody. A sweet sweet melody. she has a beautiful voice, Six always knew.
She started humming, an old old melody from Ryloth mothers used to make their children sleep. It helped Six with focussing on the little stone she was supposed to move.
She started humming.
she started getting it back, the adults, the women, the children too. The dogs, the wind, the leather in the tents. She remembered the feeling of the stones and the humming that came with it, the incence.
She was not Six any more. She was the tent, the Teacher, the Student, the leather, the bone the sand the...-Six- "I HAVE IT!" She lost it.
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Jul 20, 2014 8:10:12 GMT -8
Nartaga could feel Six connect with Tatooine and use her power to unlock her own within her. It was amazing. She appeared to have a deep connection to Tatooine, to be able to learn so fast. Nartaga continued to watch, and could not help but laugh as Six exclaimed her success out loud only to lose it. It was a simple mistake.
-Nartaga-
"Do not worry. Your mind is not yet honed enough to see without intense concentration. It shall become easier as you practice, and after you master it, it can become second nature."
Nartaga held out his hands for Six to take.
-Nartaga-
"Next, you will see outside of the Enclave. For this I shall help you, but no more than what is barely necessary. It is much like before. Focus on the sounds, it is a good starting point. Move beyond the walls, following the trail of sand moving in the wind. When you tap into Tatooine's energy it will become much easier."
Nartaga waited for Six to take his hands so he could channel some of his energy into helping her.
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Atia
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Post by Atia on Jul 21, 2014 10:16:13 GMT -8
Six took his hands and did it again. Added the smell, the sounds, the materials, the tusken. No humming, for some reason it all came in stronger, and grander. She wasnt seeing her version of the tusken, she now realised. Compared to the experience a minute ago, she saw them as they were. Not copies of her own mind, but actual people. She saw the bucher and his two Uli-ah, two shamans in an other tent, and many many more. She didnt get out of the enclave though, she was too exited and fascinated of what she saw.
She also saw auras. Souls? Powerfields? Something.
Green, blue, yellow, aquamarine etcetera et cetera. It was beautiful. She felt like nothing hovering over the world, she saw the enclave from above with all its life, all its power. She herself shone.
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Jul 22, 2014 7:45:27 GMT -8
Nartaga eased into the meditation himself, and then carefully looked into Six's mind, trying to see her progress. He saw that she preferred watching the Enclave. While she was doing good, he had told her to look beyond it. He tried to mentally nudge her in the direction of Mos Eisley. She would feel a gentle spiritual pull away from above the Enclave and towards the spaceport city.
Come, Six. There is still much to see.
A wind would pick up in the sky, sweeping Six towards spaceport city, to watch it above just as she had done with the Enclave.
What differences do you see, Six?
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Atia
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Post by Atia on Jul 24, 2014 7:05:23 GMT -8
She was watching the enclave in all its glory, pride, dirt and rags, when suddenly it became further and further and further away. She would have gasped if she knew how to when nartagas words echoed. No direction, it just was, a voice inside Six.
-Six-
I cant control it, I am being pulled!
A tusken shaman learner said far far away, over the dunes, somewhere on the horizon. She flew through the skies, and didnt. Somewhere a tusken girl with a collar around her neck was sweating in her rags, hyperventilating, exited and scarred at the same time. Here? Above the Dunes she so loved and still loves, being pulled by an unknown power that somehow felt similiar, but she couldnt put her finger on what or whom it actually was, and she had no mouth, had no need for air, nor eyes to see.
-Six-
"What is this?"
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Post by Nartaga on Jul 24, 2014 18:25:47 GMT -8
Nartaga wrapped his presence around Six to calm her. He was not there, but he was felt, like a blanket, or even a protective barrier. Words echoed in the Tusken girl's mind, but no one was speaking.
-Nartaga-
Remain calm, Six. It is me, Nartaga. I am guiding you to an Outsider settlement. Use your mind to speak. I will hear it. Now...tell me what you see different from the Enclave here.
They were above Mos Eisley. The city was bustling. Ships were flying to and from the spaceport, and the streets were packed with merchants, thieves, bounty hunters, and even regular citizens trying to eke out an existence in the galaxy's most renown hive of scum and villainy.
-Nartaga-
What differences can you see? It is much bigger than the Enclave, but look closer. What about the people?
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Atia
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Post by Atia on Aug 1, 2014 5:44:20 GMT -8
She had seen cities before. Juvex City mostly, and one could call the Crucible a town, it had the size of it. Moes was somewhat between the two. Six had even seen the two locations on Juvex from above, so that wasnt new.
The stench was. Not with her nose, but with her mind, she felt and saw the odour. It was something close to what she felt in the crucible, but not as vile. Not as eleborate and focussed, but it was there. What she really saw, was the colours. Different from the one in the enclave, a lot of reds, blacks, some blues and greens, but they were in the minority.
-Six, far away, on the ground in a hutt-
"I see... colours, and a black smoke like fire without flames. I see dark colours, and some bright ones."
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Aug 1, 2014 9:05:32 GMT -8
-Nartaga-
The Outsider territory of Mos Eisley is filled with bounty hunters, criminals, and other examples of worst of Sentient life, and we often watch them, to try and see if they are ready to accept us into their city peacefully. That day is still far away.
The winds started again, bringing Six back towards the Enclave, back to the tent, and back to her body. Nartaga was sitting across from her, his body still. Finally he moved, his hands overlapping.
-Nartaga-
"You saw the differences between the Enclave and the Outsider settlement. It is important that their free will is accepted by us, even if we do not approve. To try and force them to change would be wrong. Many of our teachings come from allowing things to be as they will be, and happen as they will happen. To alter the flow of events is to disturb Tatooine's Plan for us. Not only the Tusken, but the Outsiders as well."
Nartaga untied his water bladder from his side and held it out to Six. She would no doubt be thirsty, they had been in the meditative state for several hours of real time.
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Atia
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Post by Atia on Aug 11, 2014 7:14:46 GMT -8
She took the water bladder... or at least tried. For the first, she was dizzy, her vision had shrunk from.... well, everything to the normal vision of the tusken goggles. It was as if her eyes had opened, even more then when the Mistress pulled the mask from her head so many months ago. No, this was like loosing a sense, an extra set of eyes worn like a necklace. It wasnt just like that, She first couldnt lift her arm. The movement was still in her, that feather light wisage, the flight over the dunes, the weightlessness of it all. She felt like a stranger in her body for a short moment, but could calibrate pretty quickly. And yes, she WAS thirsty. Hungry. Tired. The entire shebang.
She didnt realise that she was gulping the life giving substance of trade down as if it was .... well, water on on other planets, more like Cammino. She gathered herself, trying to act more like a greatfull student before her respected master, and tried to think of something smart to say, tried to make Nartaga proud.
this was the first step she took, unbeknowst to her, towards actually again becoming a tusken. Finding an other "master". An other mentor.
-Six-
"What... What is Tatooines plan IS for us to alter the course of... well, us, outsiders... one of these, or all?"
Was all she could come up with.
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Post by Nartaga on Aug 11, 2014 11:50:31 GMT -8
Nartaga waited for Six to readjust returning back to her body. He remembered the first time the Elder had taken him on the same journey, which had also ended in a similar philosophical conversation. He nodded in understanding at Six's statement.
-Nartaga-
"Tatooine's plan is far beyond our own comprehension. If that is her plan, then that is her plan. It is not our place to try and interpret it. To try and make it known to mere mortals like ourselves would lessen its meaning and purpose. There are only two people who had the power to connect with Tatooine on the level needed to tr and grasp it...both of them are missing."
Nartaga was referring to the Elder and the Sith Lord Jud'dayus. Both had been unheard from for months. He doubted they would show up again anytime soon, but it was a nice thing to hope for.
-Nartaga-
"When her plan is revealed to us, it will be far beyond our control, maybe even beyond her control. Tatooine is strong, and more powerful than we can conceive, but she is old and tired. Even the most powerful beings must rest, and she has been guiding those on her surface since before time began for the R'Crurak. All we can do is continue on and hope we are there to see her plans comes to fruition."
Nartaga overlapped his hands and bowed his head, saying a small prayer to Tatooine under his breath. He looked back up to Six and stood up. He held his hand out to Six.
-Nartaga-
"So...shall we continue?"
~~~~~~Elsewhere, on the Enclave mountain landing zones.~~~~~~
Kar'Orzh, Chief R'Crurak Engineer was elbows deep in the Shaadlar-type troopship. The Tusken Engineers and Jawas had been doing ongoing repairs to the old troopship. The shield dampeners had been re synchronized, and were fully operational, and the only remaining obstacle was getting the ship to break atmosphere. The dampeners could handle it, but Kar'Orzh was not taking any risks with their newly acquired ship. The Jawas were constantly running stress tests on the ship's systems. Their abilities were limited, but Jawas coud work miracles with even the most defunct technology. In another few days the ship would be ready.
Kar'Orzh jabbered at the Jawa who was holding his light source, and the Jawa snapped to attention, bringing the light back up. The Tusken Engineer took his hands out of the panel and took a drink from his canteen before returning to work.
~~~~~~In the Enclave's Great Hall~~~~~~
Councilor Gr'Ish sat across from Councilor Ruk'Arr, leader of the R'Crurak Shamans. His arm propping his head up on the table they were sitting at. His head slipped for a moment, his head falling down a few inches before he caught himself. Ruk'Arr looked up from the datapad he was looking at and shook his head. Gr'Ish extended his arms out in a gesture that could only mean 'What?'
-Gri'Ish in Tusken-
"You seem to be very interested in the spy satellites that the fallen Tusken, Six, brought to us. Why haven't you informed the Engineers about them yet?"
Ruk'Arr chuckled and continued tapping away at the screen. He was currently looking over Mos Eisley with one of the satellites. He could make out the hairs on a Human's head with the magnification. These satellites had potential, but he still felt that those who had given them these gifts, the Banshee clan, could be spying on the Enclave through them as well.
-Ruk'Arr in Tusken-
"They will know when it is time. For now, I will continue watching."
Gr'Ish huffed and crossed his arms.
-Gr'Ish in Tusken-
"I do not see how a Shaman could understand Outsider technology better than our Engineers or the Jawa we ally ourselves with."
Ruk'Arr swept his gloved fingers across the screen several times, focusing in on different parts of the city of Mos Eisley, making mental notes of the streets and paths that were off the main roads.
-Ruk'Arr in Tusken-
"Before I was a Shaman, I used my powers to aid the Chieftain before Nartaga to raid Outsider settlements. I used my natural abilities to learn much from their computers and droids. Once I have what I need, I will pass control of these satellites over to the Engineers and Sentries. It will be most useful in the future."
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Atia
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Post by Atia on Aug 14, 2014 10:31:40 GMT -8
They did continue. Hours upon hours. Even when the old man took a break, the yong continued, to her limit. That is how she was thought, always to find the limit and go beyond. She was eager and wanted to learn, but the wise master stopped, ordering her to rest.
Days went by like this. The two of them training, Nartaga bouncing knowladge to Six, and she giving her views. The two of them bounced ideas of philosophy back and forth for days, but the message has to come, and it came.
They were in deep descussion on what the Force was, the Winds of Tatooine.
-Six-
"The one who thought me said that the Force is the core of all living beings, and not only that, but of nature itself. She... she showed me how to make... well... how to make things grow too. Not a tree, but a flower. I think the two of you should meet sometime."
Her Datapad pinged, she looked it while Nartaga answered.
----------------------------
The Spy satelites pinged for a new arrival, the Ardent class was in range of their sensors in orbit.
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Post by Nartaga on Aug 14, 2014 11:41:33 GMT -8
After days of teaching, and philosophical talk, Nartaga had come to understand the potential locked inside Six. He was impressed. If she had not been taken from her homeworld, she may have grown to represent her clan as a chief Shaman. Maybe they might have met under far different circumstances. Still, he was glad to have her as a pupil.
-Nartaga-
"We believe that Tatooine blessed her children with the gift of her power, what Outsiders call the Force. It is not beyond our beliefs that other planets gifted their children as well. In fact it basically supports it. Without Nature, our world, we would not exist. It is a gift I know many have squandered, but..."
Nartaga looked over as Six turned her attention to the datapad at her side, pausing for a moment. He decided to move on.
-Nartaga-
"The ability to make things grow is a rare power among our people, as I told you before. I would like to meet her someday."
~~~~~~The Great Hall~~~~~~
Shaman Ruk'Arr stood up. The datapad linked to the spy satellites was picking up a ship coming down towards Tatooine. It was marked as friendly. He did not understand much besides the name. Ardent-class. An Outsider word for passion, among other similar meanings. The Shaman tapped the chin of his mask. If they were friendly on the sensors, that could only mean the ship was from the Banshee clan. Another delivery, perhaps? Ruk'Arr settled back into his seat and readied to watch the ship as it progressed.
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Atia
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Post by Atia on Aug 14, 2014 12:18:03 GMT -8
-Six, while reading her datapad-
"She told me, her kind can do it, all of them and more."
She seemed a bit distant, and then focussed again. She stood up as much as she could in the tent.
-Six-
"The next delivery has come. It brings some more weapons, the medicine and the canons I promised. We will need more banthas for transport."
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Aug 14, 2014 13:17:53 GMT -8
Nartaga paused again. An entire people who could make things grow using the Force. It almost seemed to good to be true.
-Nartaga-
"I am definitely interested in learning more of her and her people then. Our Shamans may be able to learn a thing or two from them."
Nartaga nodded when Six told him of the new delivery.
-Nartaga-
"Yes, of course. We should take the shuttle. It is much faster, and easier on the Banthas. It is nearing their mating season. I believe my own Bantha has finally found a suitable mate, and do not want to separate them. She will be a fine mother. The Elder's Bantha understandingly...is too old to mate, and also too old to make the journey alone..."
Nartaga stood up and dusted his robes off.
-Nartaga-
"Besides....Kar'Orzh, our chief Engineer, has been begging me to get it out on something besides scouting runs."
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Atia
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Post by Atia on Aug 16, 2014 8:13:20 GMT -8
She simply nodded and deepened in her datapad, knattering and beeping away. Answer came with an other beep, seconds later.
-Six-
"It is possible. Me, the merchandise, Nartaga a pilot and four guards. They will give us coordinates and landing protocol. Weapons are allowed, you might need them. Few had fought a Tusken fairly in my clan. They might want to try."
She gathered her things.
-Six-
"What can I send back? When will we embark?"
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Post by Nartaga on Aug 16, 2014 20:15:13 GMT -8
Nartaga crossed his arms and thought about how long it would take to get together four Sentries. He would want Kar'Orzh there as the pilot. He knew the ship the best, besides the Jawas that was. He did not know why Six thought the new arrivals would want to attack any of them, being allies, but sparring could be arranged. Still, he would like to bring along his finest Sentries. Most of the Dunewalkers were out on patrol, but there were a few around the Enclave. If he had a choice he was have brought Kal'Shor, but he was busy training an Outsider apprentice on the outskirts of R'Crurak Territory.
-Nartaga-
"If any of them want a sparring match, I am sure the R'Crurak Dunewalkers would give them a challenge. Give me an hour and meet us up on the mountain landing zone. Just look for the place where all of the Jawas are around. Either that or the ships themselves."
Nartaga uncrossed his arms and prepared to take his leave to gather together the three Dunewalkers he knew were in the Enclave, as well as a Sentry Shaman. He paused as Six asked what she could send back to her allies that were bringing the next delivery.
-Nartaga-
"What did you want to send back? If it is about the trade, I thought our agreement was for water. Unless, of course, you mean information?"
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Atia
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Post by Atia on Aug 18, 2014 7:19:25 GMT -8
She waved his question off, clearly a missunderstanding.
-Six-
"I mean, your answer. If they came wth an Ardent, it is likely a Named one is aboard, with her handmaiden Banshees. Sparring matches are highly possible. Trade and political alliances are always nice, but all real historical turningpoints are decided by battle. The Named ones may want to test the Tusken, and R'Curack Clan."
She did not add the obvious. The fact that the "Banshee Clan" may not be so impressed by their recent meeting with the Tusken. The one where they aquired the Banshee now called Six.
-Six-
"I will get the wares in order and some way to transport it. Thank you for the lesson, Nartaga."
Six bowed and left. She had one hour to get the things in order and then get someone to help her transport the stuff up to the hill.
It went well. For a couple packs of sugar, she manadged to hire a Bantha and a rider to transport the things up, and that is how she arrived to the ships, not about a hour later. The merchandice were well packed so it would be easy to move.
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Post by Nartaga on Aug 18, 2014 18:13:46 GMT -8
Nartaga mentally shrugged as Six waved off his question, and left. When the hour was over, Nartag was sitting on the edge of one of the hatches. Behind him were three R'Crurak Dunewalkers, the most experienced of all the warriors of the R'Crurak clan. Kar'Orzh was already in the command pod, with the Sentry Shaman. They were all armed with Gaderffii and Cycler rifles. The Dunewalkers had not adopted the new blaster rifles that the R'Crurak had gotten, preferring the weapons they had been using for generations.
Nartaga extended a hand up, greeting Six. The three Dunewalkers stood behind him like statues. They were here to protect the High Councilor, and had been told they may get to spar with warriors from the Banshee clan. It was something they were looking forward to. With a nod from Nartaga, the Dunewalkers jogged down the forward ramp and began loading everything onto the shuttle.
-Nartaga-
"We'll get this packed and then be ready to go. When I told Kar'Orzh about the trip, he was excited to say the least. The ship has mostly been running scouting missions on our borders. It's good to know it is useful for something else."
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