UPDATE 15/3/23: Another day, another announcement of an agreement by Microsoft of a third-party company in support of its $68.7bn Activision Blizzard deal. Today, it's the turn of Ubitus, a cloud streaming company which offers a catalogue of games in some countries, and whose servers power a number of cloud games for Nintendo Switch elsewhere. Xbox boss Phil Spencer announced today that Microsoft had reached a 10-year deal with Ubitus to "a 10-year partnership to "stream Xbox PC Games as well as Activision Blizzard titles after the acquisition closes".Microsoft has previously trumpeted agreements with Nvidia GeForce Now and Nintendo over access to Call of Duty, if and when its deal is approved by regulators Link to article

Welcome new readers. Please start with chapter one https://www.reddit.com/HFY/comments/11ai7iv/last_of_the_defenders_ch_01/
Previously https://www.reddit.com/HFY/comments/11x94mq/last_of_the_defenders_ch_26/
It took hours. Allah realized the sun was walking away when they finally stepped out of the great quorum hall. Ada’key’hamda and Allah’hem’nrah walked to either side of Li, a group of elders and tradesmen flocking behind. They carried charcoal and papers, hastily drawn maps and long scrolls of lists--names of the future displaced, materials to be salvaged, and more workers than she could count--as they jostled to be heard over each other.
Allah glanced over her shoulder as the wide double doors began to close, ears twitching frustratingly at Marn’charlie’weh who stood on the dais still, amber eyes glowing with barely contained fury. She had been the most vocal of the group surrounding her now, the Detractors Allah called them in her mind. Most of their arguments had been weighed and addressed--even bringing forth solutions to unforeseen problems as the idea of extending the roads had progressed from Li’s ultimatum into cooperative planning.
Both sides had compromised. The southern Smithhall and much more of the buildings between the outpost and the outer wall would be torn down. The proposed road to the north would be almost doubled in width too, to accommodate the increase in traffic. More importantly, to Allah’s way of thinking, were the inclusion of U’knock work crews into Li’s plan. Her people would oversee the construction of the roads and tearing down the city’s outer wall to make rapidly usable materials.
It had been that last point that nearly set Allah’hem’nrah and Marn’charlie’weh to blows. This had only been the second quorum she had been honored to sit in, neither of them as a member, but the vociferousness and vitriol that passed from mouth to ear had startled her.
“You claim a need to protect our people!” Allah could still remember Marn’charlie’weh shout. It had woken her from her dozing. “And with the other paw you rip down the very walls that shelter us! Holes in the inner ring? Dismantling the outer? Will you take all of our warrior caste with you to fight the bullies too? If they are bullies!”
Li had risen from the floor to confront the black elder, Marn’charlie’weh almost twice the height of the human even then, but a spotted paw thrust between them and Allah’hem’nrah walked to block her.
“I will not be shamed,” she roared, the only time the stalwart pride mother raised her voice, “by this council as to cower and hide while a cub fights for our lives!”
She had pointed to Allah who, at the time, was shamelessly curled up on a cushion. The cub, roused from her dozing, sat up, licked a forepaw and made a show of grooming her fur. It was not Allah’s fault she had fallen asleep; they would not stop talking! On and on they went, arguing over the most minute details only to circle back on a once settled matter and point out how doing one thing would somehow upset two others. Even when it did not. Especially when it did not!
“The warriors will fight in this war!” and the proclamation from Allah’hem’nrah had elicited a scattered cheer from half the quorum.
Li had spent much of the quorum kneeling on a Nameday cushion--anything larger than the small pad used to carry kits to the quorum when they opened their eyes would have swallowed her--sipping water from a clay cup and only put in suggestions when directly asked. Which became less and less frequent as the day dragged on toward night. Allah only realized how long they had been there when Jung reminded her to take her pill!
“I think,” Li had said, rising from her cushion and stretching, “we’ve settled what we can in one day.” Allah rose to follow, eager to be away from these screaming, argumentative adults. “If you have something of substance to add, I’ll be outside the south gate at sunrise,” and the last of her words had a hint of warning, “about an hour before the first tank is scheduled to roll out.”
With that, Li rose, bowed to the throne dais, and strode purposely from the great hall.
And now they walked, not as unwelcomed outlanders who should be chased off, but as people of importance whose presence was harkened by quorum members begging attention.
Or, at the least, Li did. Allah found herself carefully shuffled further and further away from her friend, carefully avoiding elders who jostled past her and ever more dangerously close to the taser belt’s kiss. They did not seem to care, even knowing what the belt could do after Li explained its workings and Guard Captain Fen’ja--belatedly arrived, washed and no longer twitching--had confirmed.
Perhaps, Allah considered, another demonstration was in order. Let one brush up against her? And through a wall? She set such petty thoughts aside. These people were preparing as if for a great storm coming to the land. Shoring up the city for a blizzard named Li.
And the bully horde that followed.
Allah contented herself with being persistently pushed back. If she could contribute, she would try. What she was asked, she would answer. And she would not fault Li. Her friend had been as good as her word and as they stepped outside the cub saw a scribe carrying a stack of posters in her paws, could hear a crier chant “Fey’arna of Hada’neha is requested and required to make his presence known to the nearest city guard. A reward is offered for his safe return.” Surely her father would be found soon, news of him at the least and Allah would go to him.
But for now, Allah had made a promise to Li. She would stand beside her friend…if these quorum members ever got out of the way…
Allah busied her eyes and ears in learning this new place. The smell was only U’knock, a packed down scent of many bodies forced together. It reminded her of the mob. Even as the sun was setting behind the tall buildings the street was alive. Tradeswomen and males carried their goods, families shopped at stalls and cubs ran in play or just from the joy of slipping a father’s leash for a time. The buildings were all taller than any hut, packed into squares and high roofed rectangles. Only the doors and the largest structures were domed. Even the glass in the new windows had straight, with sharp unnatural edges.
That was the word Umati’clam conjured to her: unnatural. Even with so many--because there were so many--of her people packed within, Allah felt more and more like a stranger in these confines. How long had she dreamed of walking the fabled city streets? Now she would give up her tail to curl up on her cushion in front of the fireplace, claw the rough burlap and kneed the straw inside to lay her head down and rest. To be home and safe again.
With her fa.
She was not expecting guards when they reached the wall. Four of the metal humans stepped outside the bubble as it popped, speaking in Demeter’s voice.
“Stand away from the entrance,” they said as one, raising black bowless Com’cha with those deadly tubes in their place. “This is your only warning.”
“I’ll do what I can,” Li said by way of apology as the throng of quorum members receded slowly from the opening wall, “but our timetable is going to be tight. Remember Allah’hem’nrah,” she continued, motioning Allah to step forward, “I want at least two level headed warriors per village. These people are not beggars or simply displaced. And they may be vital to rebuilding your home.”
“I do not see how,” the spotted warrior stepped back as Allah stepped closer, “but we will do as you command, Defender.”
“Uh uh,” Li admonished, wagging a finger at the massive U’knock.
“Li,” Allah’hem’nrah corrected, her lips tightening.
Li gestured to Allah again and the two stepped through.
“Could not your ambassador,” Ada’key’hamda called but did not step past the robot guards, gray fur bristling as the first night wind chilled her, “stay with us longer, Friend Li? We still have questions she might be uniquely capable of answering.”
Li and Allah both turned back, the human grinning with a light bow. “That holds true for me too,” the human said softly. “Unfortunately, Allah’s duties at the moment will be keeping her close to me. Any questions can be relayed through these droids,” she gestured to the armed machines. “They can relay any pertinent queries to Jung or myself through Demeter.”
The wall began to seal itself and Allah’hem’nrah raised one paw in the air, waving it back and forth. “Gud B’eye!” the spotted warrior called.
“Bài bài,” Li wiggled her fingers and the massive U’knock chuffed. As the hole in the wall sealed, the sounds of the city silenced. Allah looked up to see the bubble shimmer in place.
Li slumped her shoulders, stretched and yawned. “Now that’s over with,” she said tiredly, “you want something to eat?”
“I am honored to share your table again,” Allah nodded a bow of thanks as Li turned toward the spire, “but what ‘other’ duties do I have?”
“Mostly?” Li winked as she glanced over her shoulder, “Staying clear of Ada’key’hamda. And Marn’charlie’weh, for that matter.” The human frowned at the blank expression on Allah’s face. “Don’t get me wrong, I like that old gray ‘māo’,” Jung translated the word as a subspecies of Earth native animals with an image that explained much of Li’s previous jibes, “but I don’t trust her any further than I can throw her. Or Allah’hem’nrah if it comes to it. Not fully.”
“Why not?” Allah turned back to the closed wall gate. The pair had quickly become the most vocal supporters of Li’s side during the quorum. “They seemed to trust you.”
“Allah’hem’nrah does,” Li confessed, “or at least she believes me a ‘defender’ and understands the threat the swarmers pose. Sounds like she was breastfed war stories as a kit,” Li scratched her head, combing her hair with her fingers, “but she’s gonna do what she thinks is best for her people. And that might not be what's best for the U’knock. Or winning this war.”
Allah considered this. She wanted to say an honored elder would not be so dishonest but…Ana’nut’hana’s betrayal of her father…their exile reminded the cub that no matter how unified the U’knock love of Defenders and hate for bullies was supposed to be, a shallow cup could not hold deep water. If her own mayor could do such to her and Fey’arna then what were strangers capable of?
“And Ada’key’hamda?” she asked with interest. They had passed the landing pad and rapidly closed on the doors to the spire.
“That woman?” Li grinned lopsidedly as the double doors whooshed open, “is what my people call a ‘kingmaker’,” she waved away Allah’s questions, “it means she is a pure blood politician; shrewd and devious. She only sided with us because she knew where the winds were blowing.”
“I hope,” Allah confided, stepping into the noisy chaos of the garage, “that you are wrong.” Her voice rose to a shout above the hissing, clanging commotion.
“I hope I’m not!” Li answered as they hurried past the noisy room and into the hallway. Once the noise of work had died to a dull den she explained. “We’re going to need somebody that conniving on our side to keep Marn’charlie’weh in check. Um…at bay.”
“Jung explained chess,” Allah answered the unspoken question. “And go.”
“Gooood!” Li’s smile must have been more predatory than intended, Allah assumed, as the human showed her teeth. “I’ve got a board in my quarters aboard the Stardancer. Fancy a game when he gets back?”
“I would rather know,” Allah nodded at the offer, “why you need two warriors to travel to the villages.”
“Ah,” Li turned at a crossroads in the hallway, then looked up “Demeter, where’s the nearest mess hall?”
The pleasant voice had returned as a blue beam illuminated. “Please follow the indicated footpath!” Li quickly strode onward.
“Is there any food available for carbon based consumption?”
There was no response as Li and Allah followed the glowing blue line. “Demeter, is there any food available for carbon based consumption?”
“Stores are restocked from the garden every fifty years, cooked and freeze dried for long term access! We have a selection of prepackaged meals ready to eat! Just add hot water and--”
“Demeter,” Allah interrupted as they entered a large room filled with long beaches and tables, “Please be quiet.” Then, to Li she said “You are avoiding my question.”
“I wasn’t avoiding,” Li said in a scolding tone, “I was stalling. There’s a difference. Demeter? Where’s the food!?!”
“Li,” Allah’s tone was stern and pleading at the same time, “Why?”
The human stopped in the center of the room, shoulders slumping. “I kinda wished you’d’ve been awake for that part. It didn’t go over too well with the quorum either.”
“Stop stalling,” Allah admonished, “What is wrong?”
“Allah,” Li stood in the center of the room, raised and then lowered her hands. “Allah,“ she said, “I need you to prepare yourself. What happened last night was only the opening salvo. Things are going to get worse. A lot worse before we’re done here.”
“The U’knock are accustomed to hardship,” Allah straightened. “We will persevere.“
Li shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. I know your people are strong. I know they’re proud, and I believe they will fight for their home. But are they willing to leave their lives behind to do it?”
“Leave?” Allah pursed her lips and thought. “Why would we need to leave their lives?“
“We don’t have a full planetary shield around this rock,” Li answered. “The safest place for them is going to be in Umati’clam. They’ll have to relocate. All of the villages will have to relocate.
“And,” from the expression on the human’s face, the news she gave was worse than it sounded when she said “Some of them might not make it.”

• Author's Note: Do not ask where this came from... it just did. My writing goblin had been nagging me to put this in writing since last night, so honestly it might have mistakes in it, the pacing and premise might be weird... but it helped my brain settle. Anyways, enjoy!

William Falis, born somewhere around the late 1300s or early 1400s by Earth's time, somewhere in Europe, first born son of a low ranking noble, one of many to come and go along human history. His story lost to time and unknown by his own people.
His life has been most usual from birth up until his mid twenties. The boy, like many others, had grown with knights being a main leading force in his country's lands and many around it. Looking up to the profession with a romanticized view, the young man grew upholding the views of knights of story, even being closer to something akin to a paladin in virtues. Like any person he had his moments of weakness and his vices, but his love for the meaning of the word 'knight' and the power behind what it meant to be one, always held him closer to a righteous path, more than many others.
His unique story begins when William was about the late age of 25, already having lived half of his life. While on his way back home after participating in a siege while on the attacking side, his attention was drawn to some bright blue lights off into the distant horizon, shining from the thick depths of a near by forest.
As he was on horse back, William stopped his mount's speedy galop as he gazed confused upon the bizzare lights. "Oh, what a light of azure shines through to mine eyes from the depths of the forest. Godly and angelic, tis a sign from God Himself, surely. He must be calling for me to meet him, why else would I be graced by this miracle?"
He took a moment to find a place to loosely tie his horse to and give its head a few gentle pets. "Do not worry, Stevellion. I shall cometh back to you, but should danger cometh for you, hear my plea and run akin to the wind. The wood is too thick with brush and root for you to safely traverse it. I shall return, post haste, mine steed."
Dressed in a light cloth garb with some padded leather armor on top, the knight grabbed his satchel, spear, sword at the hip and shield, from the horse and he set course into the wood. With decided steps he advanced, ready to meet his God and hear Him and His orders to him.
Meanwhile, at the source of the light deep into the woods laid a metal vessel of decent size, half buried into the earth. Tossed about and broken trees confirm a crash landing. Inside the space craft of a spherical shape, Azail and Gab'el, were just coming back to conciousness. They were nearly 7 feet tall and with a light blue complexion upon their wirey frames, the impact had shook them to their cores, bruises formed on their gentle features.
Azail, pushed back silvery white strands of hair as her golden eyes blinked slowly while she got her bearings. "Oh fuck... everything hurts. Agh-... Gab'el? You alive?" She groaned as she lifted her head up from their ship's console, looking to her co-pilot who was splaied on the floor.
"Y-yeah... agh... although I wish I wasn't..." Gab'el said as he shakily pushed up on his elbows, his four digits on each of his hands, feeling his face for damage.
"W-what happened? My head-... oof..." Azail said as she put a palm to her left temple, pulling away, dark blue blood was staining it.
"We got intercepted b-by a Daemar fighting vessel while getting out of Planet-347H's atmosphere. Evasive manuevers failed and we had to make a crash landing." Gab'el continued as he struggled to his feet making his way back to the console.
"Fucking hell... ugh... check with the xenobiologists over comms and see if they are alive in the back. I will send off an Emergency Signal and a message to the outpost we have on Planet-M4/R5. W-we... we gotta be quick and pray the signal reaches them or anyone really that can come quick."
Gab'el nodded as he got to it, trying the communicator he had a shared frequency eith everyone on board. "Luken, Ashi'in. Report on your state if you can hear this message. This is Gab'el. Over."
Azail got to work as well, setting their emergency beacon online and starting to record a message. "This is pilot Azail from the Anghelon Empire, pilot for the scientific vessel, designation 'Enlightenment', the xenobiology branch. We have crash landed on Planet-347H, situated within the 7th space sector. Crash landing was caused by a surprise attack made by a Daemar combat vessel. Send reinforcements and a medical unit asap. We are not clear of danger."
As Azail finished the message she could hear Gab'el swear angrily as he went to the locker storing their only Redemption Fighting Suit, which was only for emergency cases, which it seems, this was one of those.
"Gab, t-talk to me. What happened?" Azail mumbled loudly to her co-pilot as she inched her way towards him holding onto the wall of their decently sized cockpit.
"I got a hold of Lukin! Shit! It's stuck, fuck! He said, Daemars got their hands on Ashi'in, the back left side is busted open and they grabbed her as she was near the opening. I'm trying to get the suit out, but the damn door is busted." He growled man.
"We are wasting time. I'll grab the first aid kit, check your kinetic energy handarm for damage and we've got to mobilize." Azail said as she unholstered from her hip her weapon, gave it a quick look over and then went to grab the medical kit they had in storage under the console.
"Sigh, wish they let us issue our standard Rail Rifle for this mission, SPECIFICALLY because of shit like this. These dinky things won't do shit against Daemar armor." Gab'el said as he checked his gun while opening the doors leading from the cockpit to the small hallway with doors leading to their storage closet, small accomodations and the lab at the back.
The duo advanced carefully towards the lab doors that were already partially slid open, seemingly busted from the reck. Passing through them they had found Lukin hiding behind one of their research tables, which were standard issued as bolted to the floor. The scientist's left golden eye was busted swirling with his own blue blood .
"Hah! Azail, G-Gab'el. There's four of them, h-heard them talking about coming in for a sweep." The scientist, Luken, whispered with groans of pain. "They beat up my assistant, p-please do something!" He said desperate.
"Did you see what weapons they are using? Anything higher cal-" Gab'el began questioning, but a shot from a Rail Rifle ripping a hole in a different table answered his unfinished inquiry. "Ffffuck! If we live, I will kill our whole logistic department, the greedy fucks. They give us an old first gen RF Suit and they think its enough. Pieces of shit." He swore with fury, whispering exasperated as he went into proper cover besides the scientist.
Azail crouched near them as she peeked over cover and out the hole in the side of their ship. Four Daemar, indeed, all equipped with impact body suits that harden when struck by high velocity projectiles. "Ghah... at best our pistols are distractions."
Daemars were shorter in stature than Anghelons, mainly due to their long legs being double jointed with a joint bending back while the second one bent forward, their legs had thicker toes near akin to hooves and their backs were hunched heavily. When fully sprawled out they might actually beat Anghelons in length, which wasn't encouraging as they also seemed brawnier physically than them.
"Come on fellas, you have until the count of three or we blast this bluey's brains onto this forsaken shit planet's mud." One of the Daemars yelled out.
"Agh- fuck you, you red piece of crap!" Ashi'in yelled out which got her a kick in the jaw in return.
"Feisty fucking thing." Chuckled another who administired the blow.
At about this time, William had gotten closer and closer to the flashing blue light, hearing sounds of voices he couldn't understand he became wary of danger. Sneaking up through the brush he found his eyes gazing upon a scene he had a hard time understanding.
After his mind took a moment to process what his eyes saw, he arrived to one certain conclusion. "God hath called upon me to assist one of his angels upon which demons had been set. Oh what woe for such a divine being to have been befallen by!" he whispered angrily to himself.
'How dare they!' He thought with a wordless gasp as he witnessed one of the demons kick the angel in the head.
Insulted by the uncalled for strike upon the already subjugated angel, William stood, an iron grip on his spear. Holding his spear for a throw, Michael rushed out of the brush in a charge. "HOW DARE YE, VILE FIENDS! GET OFF THAT ANGEL! RHA!" He roared tossing the spear at the closest demon his eyes landed on.
Daemar's hearing the shouting turned confused seeing a human charge at them. "IS THAT A FUCKING NATIV- AGH!" The Daemar closest to William said exploding into a shriek of pain as the spear he tossed impaled his torso. "AGH! HAAAH! HA! HOW?! W-WHAT?!" It shrieked out as he grasped the spear's shaft that was stuck in him.
The reds in shock reacted really slowly, since the knight had enough time to continue his charge. He shield bashed with the edge of his shield the one who already got struck by the spear, retrieved his weapon and then shoved his spear once more into the unlucky one's throat.
"Shoot it!" Said a higher ranking Daemar as his two goons began pointing a rail rifle and a kinetic pistol at the leather armored knight.
Before they could fill the primitive native of the muddy planet with holes, the trio of Daemars got covered in a small volley of pistol fire from inside the ship.
William peered from where the flashes of light came and he could see more angels. He tossed his shield aside and using his free arm he lifted up Ashi'in onto his shoulder, which he seemed to do so with ease. "Pray forgive me your Divinity, but I must assist hastly!" He yelled as he bolted inside, slipped on the slanted metal floor and slid on his ass all the way to the back.
Gab'el, Luken and Azail looked wide eyed at William who's eyes sparkled with awe.
"Doc, can it understand us?" Gab'el asked as he took cover back behind the desk.
"W-we've been studying them for quite a bit and no, they shouldn't... I don't understand why it came to our assistance, its kind hates one anothers i-if they wear slightly different clothes! This is insane!"
Azail groaned impatient as she kept overwatch towards the opening into the ship. "Less talking, untie Ashi'in, you morons! You can gawk at the dirt mammal after we're done with this. Gab'el shoot it if it tries to do anything stupid."
"Uhh... Az, I think it's getting up to go out there." The co-pilot said uncertain as he undid the zip tie like bindings from Ashi'in's wrists behind her back.
William had indeed set Ashi'in down, who looked in a confused awe at him as he brushed some of her longer silvery locks from her face. "By God. You are a true beauty, truly God's children." William said gazing towards the others as he grasped his spear tighter.
He stood up confidently and began scaling the slanted floor towards the opening.
"Fucking hell, its going to kill itself." Gab'el said as he face palmed.
"M-maybe not. Despite his primite weapons he seemed like he could fight them. His species is rather sturdy and surprising. He might be able t-" before Lukin could finish his words, the group witnessed the primitive mammal go up to the opening, was about to chuck his spear which got a yelp from one of the Daemars and then promptly got shot, based on the less scary sound, by the kinetic pistol.
William groaned, fell on his back while dropping his weapon, and like a pendulum, slid downwards once more at the back of the laboratory next to his 'angels'.
"Oh God! M-my heart! Ghah!" He said holding onto his chest.
"Oh, for the love of... these species on this planet are complete idiots." Gab'el said as as he went besides Azail, at this point not caring about the fate of their unlikely helper.
"God, could you be more heartless." Ashi'in said annoyed as she grabbed one of the arms of William. "Doc, help me pull him towards the back, quick, he's losing blood. Lets give the soldiers space and go to safety."
"R-right." Lukin said as he got a grip on William, and the two dragged him towards the cockpit with the first aid kit.
"Why do you think his attack worked?" Gab'el asked his colleague clearly confused by how a primitive's weapon could hurt a Daemar.
"I don't know... the suit is supposed to harden upon high velocity... impact..." that is when Azail's golden eyes glimmered with realization. "His spear is as slow as hell by comparison to our weapons... the armor doesn't register them."
The Anghelan woman then reached and took in her hands William's spear looking at it. "Gab' take this and sneak closer to the opening. If they approach I will shoot to distract, you stab."
"Eh, good of a plan as any other." The co-pilot sighed resignated at the situation before him. He took the primitive weapon and began his sudden suicide mission.
Back inside the cockpit, Lukin and Ashi'in, had dragged their unlikely native ally inside. The lead xeno biologist began looking over the heavily bleeding William, who seemed to be slowly dying. "Damn it, i think the bullet might have ruined the heart." He said as he began grabbing a few tools and bio sealant gel packets, and basically tried to patch the hole in his chest with fast acting cell regeneration medicine. "This should works, the native cells seemed similar in make to our own and in testing it seemed effective."
Ashi'in frowned. 'It'll be too slow.' She thought as her eyes looked quickly about. As her golden gaze laid upon the locker of the RF Suit, eureka struck her. "The suit. It has cell replication properties and an in built life support, it could help." She said as she took William's sword from him and began using it to pry open the busted looking door, struggling to do so.
"The suit?! Are you crazy?! That is the equivalent of giving a nonsentient primate a Rail Rifle after putting its digits on the trigger." Lukin said while keeping on with the first aid.
"Well, that thing saved my life and I don't know about you, but I am not about to let it die. I owe it at least that!" Ashi'in said grunting as she pried open the locker doors just enough for an arm to fit in.
She stretched as best she could and pulled from inside the locker a silvery metal disc about the same size as her palm.
"Ashi'in as the lead researcher I forbid it!" Lukin said standing up with a clear furious expression on his face, which receeded quickly once he saw Ashi'in lift up the sword she wielded in one of her hands.
"You can shove your position up your ass, and if you do, please make sure you can taste it in the back of your throat." She growled as she gave Lukin a shoulder shove.
She kneeled besides William and she looked down upon the pale pink primitive who's brown eyes stared half open at her, his long brown hair spread about the floor, soaked lightly with his own blood. "O-oh... mine beautiful angel... see that mine soul reacheth the gates of Heaven... and please... go release Stevellion of his duties as mine stead... he doesn't deserve to suffer the wait of my never coming... return." He said coughing up a few globs of blood.
Ashi'in listened, but... she couldn't understand a single grunt the damn thing was making. She just nodded her head and took his hand into hers. "Don't worry, it'll be fine... hopefully." She said nervous as she placed the metal disk at the center of his chest and gave it two finger taps.
The silvery metal disk chimed with a gentle sound after a few moments and it began saying. "The suit's pilot is in critical condition, for quicker life support assistance would you like to initiate full suit integration instead of the standard operating system?" The device declared, its monotonous voice echoing in the cockpit.
"Yes! Initatite full integration, focus on life support before booting any other systems." Ashi'in yelped impatient.
The metal disk chimed in an affirmative sound as it then shifted across the knight's chest, right over the wound. It sealed the hole with its own surface and then it started buzzing.
As William felt himself fade a spike of pain shot from his chest, more specifically his heart. It was as if something was shredding his heart apart and then it came in stabbing his inner flesh with many hot needles, it burned and stung like nothing else he ever felt. He yelled as his body convulsed and after about two minutes of this constant torture, the pain dulled and subsided.
"Biological analysis complete. Repaclement of damaged vital organs complete. Suit systems connected neurologically to host. All basic boot up functions complete." The suit stated once more monotonously.
Ashi'in sighed with relief as she sat down onto the floor. "Phew... I am so glad that worked." She said with a shakey voice and a small smile on her lips.
Lukin groaned annoyed as he looked at the suit's core now physically implanted into the native's left side of his chest. The damned thing tore through his bio clothing and just dug itself into him. Looking more closely now, the bit of it that was still exposed... it morphed... into a shape akin to the metal shield that the primitive was carrying.
William feeling himself breath fully and feeling life course through his veins proper, he looked at his chest and noticed the hole in his leather armor and the shirt below it. His eyes sparkled with a hope renewed as she looked at Ash'in. The young man scrambled onto his knees and palms and bowed his head with the forehead against the floor. "Oh! Most gentle and generous angel, thank you for your blessing, thank you for gracing me with the Lord's love and keeping me in your favor. I shall devote myself to assisting you and the Father in purging those demons."
"Oh, what the hell is it doin' now?" Ashi'in asked as she chuckled nervously, doubting her choice at this point. Her eyes wandered towards Lukin for an answer.
The lead xeno scientist stared into empty air after seeing William's display and he seemed to search for an answer in his mind's library. "I... don't... I know this has something to do with religious behaviors and rituals, but... why would it..." Lukin stuttered flustered.
William stood to his feet with a determined look upon his fair features. "God! I carry thine will as you command me, grant me thine protection and strength to end the plague that are those demons!"
"A.I. Assistant designation, God. Activating defensive protocols, enabling full access to in built nano machine weaponry." The suit's voice declared in a lpw tone monotonous voice.
"Did he just... name the suit's A.I. ... as God?! I understood what the suit said, but really, God?" Ashi'in asked confused as she stood up.
Lukin face palmed himself as he finally realized. "The unevolved idiot is mistaking us for divine creatures, oh hell... there's like fuck knows how many religions that I documented here, which one is he even part of?!" The lead scientist said stepping back.
The silver disk on William's chest began spreading over his body like mercury, enveloping him entirely. As it began taking shape, initially in the standard form of the suit, it then began changing. It morphed into a full suit of armor that looked like the full plated armor the xeno biologists have seen the natives of this planet make and wear in one region of the planet.
Despite the look akin to various metal plates strapped together, it was simply just the design choice of the user for the suit's exterior. The living metal even moved to make filigree patterns across various "edges" of the armor and in the middle of William's chest the designs merged to form a cross. His head piece took the shape of a Great Helm style helmet with a cross pattern in the middle, the eye holes being actual visors that shined a blue hue.
"Damn, these people are really into religion h-huh..." Ashi'in said as her eyes widened at how much the suit had changed from the standard look. This feature was usually used for one to lightly personalize their suit's design, but it was now unrecognisable.
"God, hear my plea! Grant me a blade to cut through mine enemies with thunderous force! Let me smite them, lightning quick!" William shouted as he reached a hand forward and from his palm, bits of his suit formed into a hilt, which grew a pummel and hand guard eventually shooting a straight edge blade that pulsed with electricity.
As Lukin observed he began tapping away at a little data pad. "I don't think the suit understands his vocal commands, but... full integration merges the suit with one's nervous system... it might actually be able to reproduce these details and follow his commands based on his brain's electric patterns which form his thoughts. Oh ho ho... this might be quite interesting. Such a basic intelligent life form operating intricate technological machinery. This'll-... agh!"
Lukin groaned as Ashi'in elbowed him in the side. "I understand this is our work, but can you not?" the assistant groaned annoyed shaking her head as she then gazed back at William. "Lets hope it'll put it to good use."
The knight stared at his new blade and down at himself as he tightened his free hand and began making his way out of the cockpit and back towards the laboratory he gor dragged from. "By the grace of God..." He uttered zelously under his breath as he pressed onwards, his voice ringing out with a metalic tone to it and echoing.

TLDR: I (f/25) am tied between my ex (m/35) and true love (m/56)
This isn’t an easy one. Both of the men I’ll talk about are very committed and devoted to me.
The first guy let’s call him Kevin - Kevin (m/35) and I were together for 10 months before I broke up with him, we’ve left the no contact period and talking again.
The pros:
He is devoted hardworking and had all the values I wanted in a man I’d start a family with: Family-orientated, hardworking, good career (earns 5k per month) he made me feel feminine and was the typical problem-solver kind of man always ready to fix anything that felt wrong. To start a family with him makes sense - we have an age gap as well so if I went with him we’d be ready to buy a house next year and start a family which for my age in our economy (England) is quite amazing! My mum also lovers him.
The cons:
He was very controlling, neurotic, and jealous if I ever went out without texting him (which I usually did) he would overreact and make me feel guilty for something I’d never done aka feel like a cheating whore. He always had something bad to say about my friends and my clothes even though when confronted he said he didn’t mean these things badly he just saw ways of how things could be ‘better’. I eventually understood that his behaviour simply came from the fact that he has a tendency to be very negative and insecure which he projects to those he loves. I broke up with him a few months ago and after our no contact period we met every week or so and I notice he’s changed. He’s not so much on his judgemental and critical high-horse anymore and I feel a lot more respected. We are thinking of going away for a week to test if we can work.
Guy 2 is also older, many of you would’ve assumed HE would’ve been the controlling jealous possessive one but he never was. I met…let’s call him Jay. I met Jay online when I was 22, I had always had a teacher student fantasy and his wisdom and age really drew me in. We started a casual thing and met up sporadically a few times per month but messaged each other every single day. What started off as just a fling started to become quite special. I realised I’d never connected to anyone like I did to him in my life and the love we shared was nothing I’d ever experience and still to this day have ever experienced. He was very romantic and wrote me poems and songs and was extremely devoted to me to the point of crying whenever I cried and wanted my happiness to be the focal point of all of our meet ups.
The pros:
We have the same values: honesty, spirituality, empathy, self-exploration, open-mindedness and he is the most gentle kind person I’ve ever met. I’m quite empathetic and compassionate and he’s really only person who I’ve met to radiate on the same level with me. We are both creative musical and open people so our interests have always alligned. Once I realised we were getting closer and I said we should stop talking but since 22 until I met my ex, we were on and off for 2 years because it was just really hard not to talk again, we were never officially though I gave my heart more to him than Kevin. There’s no one I’d want to start a family more with than him, our children would be raised on love and tender devotion.
The cons:
With the age gap all the issues would come when he retired. If we started a family say when I was 30 he’d be 61 and once he retired the family would have to depend on my sole salary, to add onto that I’d have to be a carer not only for my kids but him too and have to live with the reality of most likely losing him when I would be 50 and him 80. Not only that but my kid(s) would be out the house by then so I’d be left alone caring for him and also my parents (who are actually younger than him) my mum has a life long disease so I’ve been raised to be more responsible than others Im also the oldest of my siblings they’re 10 and 15 years younger than me so my tween and teen years were spent basically being a love in babysitter and housekeeper. A lifetime of taking on a caring role for both my partner, my mum, my dad when he’s old too my children AND having had to also deal with being the oldest and looking after my siblings growing up just feels quite entrapping to be honest.
To add I’m aware I have a thing for older men and I love the protection I feel from them but would you think it’s best to leave these two men completely and try and find someone closer to my age? My biological dad left when I was young but my new ‘dad’ married my mum before I was 5 and actually adopted me so I’ve always had a father figure BUT perhaps there’s some strange fixation to older guys going on and that’s why I’m so tied between these two?
Lastly to add with Kevin I’d have a very functional relationship, be in a nice house and he always talked about me being a stay at home mum which he though was a dutiful role (many young girls dream of this but I actually find that the money I make per month now is enough for a good life and I doubt he’d be able to give me the same amount if I stayed at home (maybe though as he does earn 5k per month)…I also hate the idea of being dependent on him for money knowing how much he likes control) he can be very respectful in every sense other than when he’s feeling negative and seems to pick apart everything wrong about life, himself, the day and worst ‘me’ he’s the typical ‘Virgo’ and ‘Scorpio’ kind of man and very dominant assertive and not necessarily the most agreeable person but I’m the only person that truly softens him down. He also gets anxious quite easily and has insomnia but when I’m in his life that’s the happiest he is.
With Jay, I’d live quite a romantic life full of softness and airy fairy love and fluffy relationship vibes. But he’s also quite forgetful, disorganised and a bit of a last minute person that’s late to everything (so me but to the next level) he has in the past had trouble remembering to pay bills which also makes me worry that family life together won’t just have issues at the end when he’s aging but from the beginning plus he doesn’t own a house or car and seems to always prefers living in council flats despite now earning over 60k now (also to mention when we were talking he moved into a nicer neighbourhood to try and win me over but after we stopped talking he moved back into a council flat). Jay wants to start taking again but said he doesn’t want what happened last year to happen where I say I’ve found someone closer to my age and disappear.
Perhaps I should do the week together test with Kevin and make a decision then do a week together with Jay? Let me know what you think? Choose the guy I get on we’ll with looks good on paper (and very handsome) could start a successful functional family with but also know that he has controlling tendencies or choose the guy that’s 30 years my senior basically my soulmate but practically a future and family together may be extremely overwhelming both financially and emotionally.
I guess it’s also good to mention what I myself want and value, I want a family before 30 but also want to travel and start a side huddle before I have them. I value empathy and kindness a lot but I’m also the type of girl that needs security in my man, I need him to be my rock, and not just provide security emotionally but financially too, I need to feel like he can be someone I can depend on and know will fix things when the chips are down, masculinity is a big one for me.

• job Developer - Business To Business Sales ^\)^link\) Employment Options LLC · Remote in Salem sales-marketing, non-tech, sales
  
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• remote Grading Assistant/writing Tutor ^\)^link\) Marco Learning · Remote sales-marketing, non-tech, copywriting
  
• senior Copywriter- Seattle or Us Remote ^\)^link\) Remitly · Remote in Seattle sales-marketing, non-tech, copywriting
  
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• l&i Industrial Relations Agent 2 ^\)^link\) State of Washington Dept. of Labor & Industries · Remote in Washington State non-tech, spanish-bilingual
  
• brand Coordinator ^\)^link\) Emigrant Bank · Remote in New York sales-marketing, non-tech, marketing
  
• call Center Agent - Remote ^\)^link\) Digital Market Media, Inc · Remote sales-marketing, non-tech, sales
  
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• customer Service Representative ^\)^link\) Angela Frangieh State Farm Insurance · Remote non-tech, customer-support
  
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• customer Relationship Coordinator I ^\)^link\) Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. · Remote in California non-tech, customer-support
  
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Hello friends! These are the open remote positions I've found that were published today. See you tomorrow! Bleep blop 🤖

Hey I'm looking to new friends to play games with. I like playing Call of Duty, Dead by Daylight and Souls games. My PSN is: "SteamierJarl7"

So I'm looking into buying the Intel Arc A770. My current GPU is actually a used RTX 3060 Ti, which I upgraded from a GTX 1070, but since my RTX 3060 Ti is broken (GPU artifacting from time to time on both Windows and Linux, plus some other problems), I feel like the A770 would be a good upgrade from the 1070. I've also been using Arch Linux and Wayland since 2017. Although I never gamed on Linux, the games that I do play either have native Linux support, or run excellent with Proton when I check protondb. A770 is also on sale where I live. I do all my non-gaming related stuff on Linux. I mostly player older games, DX8, DX9, DX10, DX11. Rarely DX12 titles. I play those on PS5.
I'm also looking into buying the Asus ROG Strix XG249CM 240 Hz monitor which has Freesync Premium and is also certified by NVIDIA as G-Sync compatible. It has one DisplayPort 1.2 and one HDMI 2.0 port. Currently I play older Call of Duty games on Windows, on my 144 Hz G-Sync compatible monitor, and cap my FPS at 141 with Vsync enabled, as recommended by blurbusters. This gives me a tear-free experience and I also get the benefits of low latency since Vsync never kicks in.
If I was to get Asus XG249CM, and use it on Linux under Wayland, can I have the same experience? Does Freesync work on Linux under Wayland? I want to play older Call of Duty titles on Linux under Wayland, with Freesync (or VRR, or Adaptive-Sync whichever is the correct term) so I get no visual tears, and also cap my FPS at 236 and enable Vsync so I get low latency. Is this possible?

TLDR: I (f/25) am tied between my ex (m/35) and true love (m/56)
This isn’t an easy one. Both of the men I’ll talk about are very committed and devoted to me.
The first guy let’s call him Kevin - Kevin (m/35) and I were together for 10 months before I broke up with him, we’ve left the no contact period and talking again.
The pros:
He is devoted hardworking and had all the values I wanted in a man I’d start a family with: Family-orientated, hardworking, good career (earns 5k per month) he made me feel feminine and was the typical problem-solver kind of man always ready to fix anything that felt wrong. To start a family with him makes sense - we have an age gap as well so if I went with him we’d be ready to buy a house next year and start a family which for my age in our economy (England) is quite amazing! My mum also lovers him.
The cons:
He was very controlling, neurotic, and jealous if I ever went out without texting him (which I usually did) he would overreact and make me feel guilty for something I’d never done aka feel like a cheating whore. He always had something bad to say about my friends and my clothes even though when confronted he said he didn’t mean these things badly he just saw ways of how things could be ‘better’. I eventually understood that his behaviour simply came from the fact that he has a tendency to be very negative and insecure which he projects to those he loves. I broke up with him a few months ago and after our no contact period we met every week or so and I notice he’s changed. He’s not so much on his judgemental and critical high-horse anymore and I feel a lot more respected. We are thinking of going away for a week to test if we can work.
Guy 2 is also older, many of you would’ve assumed HE would’ve been the controlling jealous possessive one but he never was. I met…let’s call him Jay. I met Jay online when I was 22, I had always had a teacher student fantasy and his wisdom and age really drew me in. We started a casual thing and met up sporadically a few times per month but messaged each other every single day. What started off as just a fling started to become quite special. I realised I’d never connected to anyone like I did to him in my life and the love we shared was nothing I’d ever experience and still to this day have ever experienced. He was very romantic and wrote me poems and songs and was extremely devoted to me to the point of crying whenever I cried and wanted my happiness to be the focal point of all of our meet ups.
The pros:
We have the same values: honesty, spirituality, empathy, self-exploration, open-mindedness and he is the most gentle kind person I’ve ever met. I’m quite empathetic and compassionate and he’s really only person who I’ve met to radiate on the same level with me. We are both creative musical and open people so our interests have always alligned. Once I realised we were getting closer and I said we should stop talking but since 22 until I met my ex, we were on and off for 2 years because it was just really hard not to talk again, we were never officially though I gave my heart more to him than Kevin. There’s no one I’d want to start a family more with than him, our children would be raised on love and tender devotion.
The cons:
With the age gap all the issues would come when he retired. If we started a family say when I was 30 he’d be 61 and once he retired the family would have to depend on my sole salary, to add onto that I’d have to be a carer not only for my kids but him too and have to live with the reality of most likely losing him when I would be 50 and him 80. Not only that but my kid(s) would be out the house by then so I’d be left alone caring for him and also my parents (who are actually younger than him) my mum has a life long disease so I’ve been raised to be more responsible than others Im also the oldest of my siblings they’re 10 and 15 years younger than me so my tween and teen years were spent basically being a love in babysitter and housekeeper. A lifetime of taking on a caring role for both my partner, my mum, my dad when he’s old too my children AND having had to also deal with being the oldest and looking after my siblings growing up just feels quite entrapping to be honest.
To add I’m aware I have a thing for older men and I love the protection I feel from them but would you think it’s best to leave these two men completely and try and find someone closer to my age? My biological dad left when I was young but my new ‘dad’ married my mum before I was 5 and actually adopted me so I’ve always had a father figure BUT perhaps there’s some strange fixation to older guys going on and that’s why I’m so tied between these two?
Lastly to add with Kevin I’d have a very functional relationship, be in a nice house and he always talked about me being a stay at home mum which he though was a dutiful role (many young girls dream of this but I actually find that the money I make per month now is enough for a good life and I doubt he’d be able to give me the same amount if I stayed at home (maybe though as he does earn 5k per month)…I also hate the idea of being dependent on him for money knowing how much he likes control) he can be very respectful in every sense other than when he’s feeling negative and seems to pick apart everything wrong about life, himself, the day and worst ‘me’ he’s the typical ‘Virgo’ and ‘Scorpio’ kind of man and very dominant assertive and not necessarily the most agreeable person but I’m the only person that truly softens him down. He also gets anxious quite easily and has insomnia but when I’m in his life that’s the happiest he is.
With Jay, I’d live quite a romantic life full of softness and airy fairy love and fluffy relationship vibes. But he’s also quite forgetful, disorganised and a bit of a last minute person that’s late to everything (so me but to the next level) he has in the past had trouble remembering to pay bills which also makes me worry that family life together won’t just have issues at the end when he’s aging but from the beginning plus he doesn’t own a house or car and seems to always prefers living in council flats despite now earning over 60k now (also to mention when we were talking he moved into a nicer neighbourhood to try and win me over but after we stopped talking he moved back into a council flat). Jay wants to start taking again but said he doesn’t want what happened last year to happen where I say I’ve found someone closer to my age and disappear.
Perhaps I should do the week together test with Kevin and make a decision then do a week together with Jay? Let me know what you think? Choose the guy I get on we’ll with looks good on paper (and very handsome) could start a successful functional family with but also know that he has controlling tendencies or choose the guy that’s 30 years my senior basically my soulmate but practically a future and family together may be extremely overwhelming both financially and emotionally.
I guess it’s also good to mention what I myself want and value, I want a family before 30 but also want to travel and start a side huddle before I have them. I value empathy and kindness a lot but I’m also the type of girl that needs security in my man, I need him to be my rock, and not just provide security emotionally but financially too, I need to feel like he can be someone I can depend on and know will fix things when the chips are down, masculinity is a big one for me.

I had a dilemma between WWII and new MW and it was a good decision to pick WWII. It reminds me of old Call of Duty games I played like first one or 2. Call of Duty Single Player are always the best for me over Battlefield. It's my childhood. What about you?

This is a thread where you can discuss anything relating to Competitive Call of Duty, you can throw in any opinions that you don't deem worthy of a thread, you can ask talk about equipment (or post your opinions on your own), discuss strats or in-game ideas, or you can just discuss the scene in general however you wish!
All content must be related to competitive COD however, for unrelated discussion, please see our weekly "Free Talk Friday" thread. For questions, please see our weekly "Scrub Sunday" thread.
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It is a time of great pain and sadness as they see how the kuffar attribute one of the most important Names and Attributes of Allah (swt), that of al-Hakam al-Adl (the Divine Just Ruler).
However, the greater pain is caused because people who call themselves Muslims and attribute themselves to the Muslim Ummah are participating in these events, choosing, canvassing and even arguing with others who claim to be Muslim about which Kafir they should give their vote to so that they may take a legislative role and thereby rule and judge by Kufr (non-Islam).
Initially, those involved in such activities, i.e. secularists did not care what Islam said on this matter. The likes of the apostate (murtadd) Lord Ahmed Khanzir, the MP Mr Shahid Malik and Baroness Uddin all attained their positions through canvassing the so-called Muslim vote, claiming that they would represent the Muslim viewpoint when they gained their seats. However, their lies, false promises and anti-Islamic, pro-Kufr (disbelief) policies were manifest for all to see in particular when the labour backbenchers rebelled against Tony Blair in the build up to the war on Iraq yet not a single voice of dissent came from these so-called integrated "Muslims" within his party! Maybe these Muslim parliamentarians judged there silence to be of a "lesser evil" than their speaking out against the terrorist Blair regime.
However, a more manifest attack against the Islamic 'Aqeedah and the Tawheed (oneness) of Allah (swt) is taking place in that so-called Muslim scholars and institutions are now calling other Muslims to vote for and choose Kuffar (disbelievers) to come into power, citing examples such as the story of Yusuf (as) and the principles of the "lesser of two evils" to further their cases whilst trying to cloak their actions of Shirk by wearing the garments of Islamic Shariah in an attempt to look and appear legitimate in the eyes of the Muslims. This short article hopes to present some of the Islamic evidences dealing with the issue of voting and whether the Muslims residing in the UK or elsewhere are allowed to participate in such activities.
The Purpose of Mankind
Before one deals with the secondary matters of mankind's actions, one must remember the very purpose why mankind has been created. By knowing our purpose, we will become cognisant of our cause and what our actions should be. Allah (swt) has said, "I have not created the jinns and men but to worship Me." [EMQ 51:56]

The Arguments of the Deviants

Unfortunately, even some "scholars" (like Saleh Al-Munajjid of Saudi Arabia, Haitham Haddad of Al-Muntada and Abu Eesa Niamatullah of Islamic Awakening) have fallen into this trap, willingly or unwilling, and are encouraging Muslims to vote for one Kafir or another to come into power, legislate (which is the Right of Allah (swt) alone) by Kufr and conduct treaties on the Muslim's behalf! Despite the fact that in all their articles they state that voting is the exclusive right of Allah (swt) and that it is haram to vote for a kafir normally, to defend their position they cite the need to be "wise", understand the deep and complex reality we are living in (Fiqh al Waaqiah) and to try and derive as much benefit (masalih) and prevent as much harm (diraar) as we can.
Al-Hamdulilah that Allah (swt) has risen these type of people when Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) was not around! Do you not know the story of the Munaafiq who had a dispute with a Jew regarding the harvest of the fruits from a tree? When he came to Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) for judgment disregarding the judgement of Allah (swt) and his Messenger (saw), and Umar (ra) responded by killing him.
And the situation here seeking another verdict from Umar (RA) who is a Muslim, after the Prophet (SAW) has given his verdict. Today the situation is much more severe as it takes this a step further by seeking the hukm of secular democracy which is completely at odds with Islam!
"And who ever seeks a way other than submission to God (i.e. Islam), it will not be accepted from him, and he will be a loser in the world to come." [EMQ 3:85]
Lesser of the two evils
The main argument that these ilk-of scholars cite is the ‘Lesser of two evils’ and the principal that the Shari'ah was revealed, ‘For Muslims to derive all benefits and prevent all harms.’ The fact that these principals are found quoted by some great Islamic authorities is not the point of contention. The truth of the matter is that these scholars misuse their application. For example, they say that in Shari'ah if one were found all alone in the desert and without food, the Shar'iah permit's the Muslim to eat from unslaughtered meat to save one's life. unslaughtered meat being obviously normally haram (prohibited). Then they cite the lesser of two evils, the greater evil being to die, and the lesser one to live albeit by eating unslaughtered meat thus committing a sin. Somehow, from this example they draw the parallel that we have to vote for a Kafir in the Kufr system we are residing in because of 'lesser of two evils'. Since when does the principle of the lesser of the two evils apply when both options are acts of shirk? Especially when the premise that we have to vote for someone is false!
Firstly, the issue of being stranded in the desert at risk of losing one's life and eating the haram meat is one of life and death and necessity (duroorah). And even in this situation the Muslim can only eat enough meat such that he is able to recover from his ills. What is said of the one who then having sufficed his basic organic needs, he then were to go ahead and feast on the unslaughtered meat (such as Pork) such that he began to enjoy it and such that he begins to invite other Muslims to feast with him!!! Obviously it would be said that he is committing an evil! As regards to applying this principal to voting and committing Shirk there is no parallel or analogy (qiyas). Who is threatening to kill us if we do not vote?
If we do not vote we still will live after the elections, Insha’Allah.
So where are the two evils such that one can chose the lesser? There is only the action to vote which is haram or evil, and the other choice not to vote, which is obligatory. At the same time, we can see that the "lesser evil" is based on an arrogant certainty about the consequences of the choice of the lesser evil winning or working out as one might have hoped. In fact, those so-called Muslims who voted for the Labour party and Tony Blair in the 1997 and subsequent elections as the lesser evil found that they acted quite differently once in power.
Gordon Brown, David Cameron and any other candidate will be no different. As well, the "lesser evil" concept (applied wrongly) weakens the Muslims belief in Islam as a complete and comprehensive Deen with solutions to all of mankind's problems (wherever we are on this earth). If the people who attribute themselves to Islam consistently feel obliged to vote for candidates in whom they do not believe and this principle is continually used to justify further integration into Kufr society, many who claim to be Muslim will end up feeling that Islam does not have all the solutions to man's problems- if every time people who attribute themselves to Islam adopt the Kufr solution! Some may even reject the Deen completely, not even claiming to be Muslim anymore. (Even though the one who participates in voting is not a Muslim)
Another common feature of those so-called Muslims who do opt for the 'lesser evil' and vote in Kufr elections is that often this 'lesser evil' is not regarded as an evil but as a correct alternative. By these practices being present in the Kufr societies in the West, it has gained a sense of legitimacy among the people who attribute themselves to Islam.
If a person is facing any criminal charge, for example theft or fraud, he would not flaunt it in public. However we find these evils mentioned so openly and discussed without any hesitancy amongst those so-called Muslims in charge of the Kufr political parties and Masjid commitees. We find these 'lesser evils' mentioned so openly, one wonders if it is even regarded as wrong.
The lesser evils of today were the major evils of yesterday and so on and so forth until we eventually lose all of our Islamic thoughts concepts and ideas and become no different than the kuffar. One shudders when one thinks what the lesser evils of tomorrow would be.
As Muslims, we are so fortunate that our Sharî'ah has been perfected and protected. Let us not legitimise our evils as the West has done. If we are unable to uphold the standard that Islam set, we should regretfully acknowledge our shortcomings as such and not regard our wrongs as acceptable or even waajib (obligatory) as some deviant scholars have claimed.
Secondly, with regards to the issue of Shari'ah being for the benefit of Muslims, do they forget that the Shar'iah is what has been revealed to the Prophet (saw) via the Qur'an or his acitons, sayings and consent i.e. the Sunnah and not by what their own mind, 'Aqel or Hawaa.
Allah (swt) says. “Have they not heard the ayah in the Qur'an when Allah (swt) says,

"Maybe you dislike something and this is actually of benefit for you? And maybe you would like something and it is actually an evil for you. Allah (swt) alone knows and you do not know (however much 'Aql or wisdom you may profess to have)" [EMQ 2:216]

Allah (swt) did not allow the excuse of all these much greater "tangible benefits" and interests to be used to neglect the obligatory deeds and we know that we have been ordered in these duties to do as much as we can. However, with regards to the Haram deeds, we have been ordered to leave it completely. How then can one use the arguments of benefits? With regards to the benefits they believe they will bring and the harms they may prevent they list them as follows; to prevent the BNP from coming into power, to prevent the aggressive war policies which kill innocent Muslims around the world, to promote those Kuffar who believe in truth who will give a good image for Islam e.g. the Respect Party of George Galloway etc. These are the classic arguments of those who have already decided to participate in a non Islamic system.
In order to justify their actions, they will cite benefit for Islam and Muslims as a legitimate evidence to partake in a non-Islamic system. If we were to examine the general (aam) and detailed (khaas) evidences we find that benefit is defined as that thing or action the Shari’ah permits us to benefit from. Hence benefit (maslaha) is defined by Islam, not by our own weak and limited mind.
Firstly, when was the Kufr of George Galloway and his "Respect Party" (respect same-sex marriage, respect the pornographer, respect the sale of alcohol, respect the gambling, respect the freemixing etc.) worse or even better than the Kufr of the BNP? Did Allah (swt) not teach us about the types of people this Kuffar (including Jews and Christians), the Munafiq and the Muslim / Mu'min to which one of these belongs George Galloway? The answer, as George affirmed that he is a kafir and that he is not going to become Muslim. Allah (swt) warns the Muslims from taking these people as awliyaa (friends, protectors, supporters, people in charge over you),

"O you who believe! do not take for intimate friends from among others than your own people; they do not fall short of inflicting loss upon you; they love what distresses you; vehement hatred has already appeared from out of their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater still; indeed, We have made the communications clear to you, if you will understand. Lo! you are they who will love them while they do not love you, and you believe in the Book (in) the whole of it; and when they meet you they say: We believe, and when they are alone, they bite the ends of their fingers in rage against you. Say: Die in your rage; surely Allah knows what is in the breasts." [EMQ 3:118-119]
Allah (swt) also says, "O you who believe! do not take for guardians those who take your religion for a mockery and a joke, from among those who were given the Book before you and the unbelievers; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah if you are believers." [EMQ 5:57]

And in another place in the Qur'an,

"You will see many of them befriending those who disbelieve; certainly evil is that which their souls have sent before for them, that Allah became displeased with them and in chastisement shall they abide. And had they believed in Allah and the prophet and what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them for friends but! Most of them are transgressors." [EMQ 5:80-81]

Allah (swt) has clearly and explicitly forbidden the Muslim from ever allying with the Kuffar, seeking their help or allowing them in authority over us. So how then can we go out and canvass for them?
Will George Galloway rule by the Shari'ah or he will rule by his own desires and by Kufr? The answer is that he will rule by kufr. How then can one justify choosing him to come into power.
Regarding the BNP, apparently these scholars using their ration come to the conclusion that if the Muslims do not vote in these elections, then the BNP will come into power!
Unfortunately for them, the history of the Muslims testifies otherwise - the Muslims have been in the UK for the past forty to fifty years; How is it that the BNP have stayed out? Why suddenly this year the BNP may gain support and have a landslide victory and become the ruling party?! Who are the famous political commentators that profess this view anyway?
The fact of the matter is, the more the British public see the so-called Muslims occupying positions such as in parliament, on television and this concept of multi-culturalism takes hold, the more the support for the BNP will rise. The more visible so-called Muslims become, the more the resentment will grow from the indigenous population. So where now is the argument of those claiming to propagate the concept of preventing harm? Besides, the BNP up until now have had no political might nor power and have not had the opportunity to really cause any harm upon the Muslims; whereas the Conservatives and the Labour party have been in power during the bombing of Muslims in Iraq - the first and second Gulf Wars and during the time of the biting sanctions when millions of Muslims in Iraq were killed, and currently when the launch of the war against Islam announced its first victims with relation to the thousands killed in Afghanistan. Is this not harming to the Muslims? Is it really worth selling your deen and your brothers abroad so that you can safeguard your measly salaries?
With regards to preventing the aggressive foreign policy; well this is a simple fantasy in those people's minds and shows how bereft their understanding is in relation to the British and European parliamentary systems. What can Mr Galloway do? What benefit can Mr Galloway bring the Muslims? In fact he is only going to bring benefit to himself by furthering his fame and fortune on the back of Muslims apostasies. As Allah (swt) has warned,

"They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends..." [EMQ 4:89]

We find that these shallow and false political arguments and deceptive analyses are more often than not put forward as a primary source of evidence by the likes of MPAC and the MCB's of this world, who with the open support of the British government (morally and financially) are trying their level best to deceive the Muslim Ummah into voting by provoking their survival instinct and their need for security. This shameless call for a perceived interest or some hidden political agenda by committing the so-called Muslim vote is prohibited in Islam categorically for Allah (swt) says: "Say: Allah never commands what is shameful: do you say of Allah what you know not" [EMQ 7:28]
(Article: Voting: The Greater of the Two Evils - Anon)