Pillsbury + 1 year:

[Dave]

Where's that formula for transparent aluminum when you really need it?

[jwhouk]

Let's just say Kronwulf Contractors did a great job fixing everything up...

[Dave]

4 x879 grain bullets moving at Mach1.8? They don't make glass for that...

Where's that formula for transparent aluminum when you really need it?

Hmmm. It looks as if the new AlON (aluminum oxynitride) ceramic might do the trick. Probably a bit too pricey to use for an industrial/office building, though, unless it's the headquarters of a thionite-smuggling ring.

1.6" thick ALON armor is capable of stopping .50 BMG armor-piercing rounds, which can penetrate 3.7" of traditional glass laminate.

Single-crystal sapphire, or composites, might do even better.

[Just Old Al]

Let the goat rodeo begin (sorry, Nicodemus).....

Justin and Shelley drove through the dimming light, headed for the Alexander estate in Maple Grove.

Justin, disgruntled and riding shotgun as he had to with Shelley said, "Why are we doing this? I know we invited them and the rest to the small ceremony, but why are we going to the Library via the Alexander place? Gods alone know that Daisy and Al can find their way to the Library without us - and it's not like they'd be able to miss us or the ceremony."

Shelley, concentrating on the road this dark December evening answered, "That's not it and you know it. They invited us to dinner after the ceremony - it's their anniversary, too, and you know how they feel about us."

How Al and Daisy felt was not a question. Even after the Battle of Pillsbury both of them had stayed close to Justin and Shelley - not obtrusively, but as a supporting presence. This had included periodic dinners at the Alexander estate, along with Al and Daisy making trips into the city.

Shelley continued. "Look, it's simple enough. We get there, we go do the ceremony, we go back to Alexander House and have dinner, and we go home. No late nights, no craziness - and you stay out of the garage and stop me from drooling over Al's latest project."

Justin started a bit, remembering an important detail. "Don't forget - it's New Alexander House now - the old place is a - really big - guest house now. They finally got tired of dealing with the human-sized house and built a proper Centaur house that doesn't look like one. Nice comfortable rooms and floors, doors the right size and lots of open space. The place is beautiful - the architect did a great job on it."

Shelley sighed. "I know - but I have to say I'll miss dinners at the old place. I still remember the big dinners there, with Rosalita and Edward serving with help and all the noise and bustle. That was a really bad time, but it was a good one too...does that make sense?"

After a moment’s thought Justin answered, a thoughtful tone in his voice. "Ton of sense - we'll never be closer to a bunch of people then we were in the pinch. Pickle running around, the old guys arguing, the food, the laughter...it's a time to remember. We're here - now remember - no going out to the garage or we'll be here all night."

They pulled up to the gate, with its big central plaque of the centaur with a scythe. Pushing the button on the box resulted in the gate opening immediately - they were expected. Driving up the access road was the work of a moment, and they parked in the parking circle in front of the new house.

Off to the left sat old Alexander House - neatly maintained as it had always been, but dark in the cold. Shelley looked at it sadly as they went up the walk to the new house.

Daisy met them at the door. Married life had agreed with her - she was back to being the vivacious matron that they'd first known when the troubles started. Unobtrusively, Edward was there, and took their coats and cold-weather items as Daisy greeted her guests

"Hey, kids! Good to see you - thanks for coming out and indulging a couple of old fools on your anniversary. Goldeneye's checking on dinner - he'll be along in a minute." Hugs and kisses were exchanged, and they walked through the hall and turned left. The double doors of the great room were open, and they stepped through.

The great room at New Alexander House was very different from the old one. Warm in natural wood and stone, its high ceiling contained cleverly mounted lighting to provide a shadowless light where wanted. Fixed and movable lights were used for fill-in around the conversation groups, and much of the floor was covered in Southwestern patterned rugs to suit the leather furniture.

At the center of the room, built into a column extending to the roof was a glass sided case. Brightly lit, the case held five rifles and three ammunition cans, as well as a rack of pistols, no two alike. These were the remains of the Battle of Pillsbury – the four Maxi-14s – one burned out and rusty from overheating – Chryso, the elf-modified Lee-Enfield .303, the Walther, Webley and Colt pistols. With the colour coded ammunition cans – one sporting Union Jack stickers – they were a proud reminder of a very bad time.

Shelley and Justin did as they always did – stopped to pay their respects to the prototypes. None of the Maxi-14s had been fired since that day – and all were held in the greatest respect.

Justin asked the question that was always in his mind when he stood looking into the case. "So, how goes the argument?"

Daisy replied easily. "It's over - Al won. Rowdy's Maxi-14 is not going to be restored."

"Good.I wasn't going to express an opinion while the discussion was going on, but it doesn't deserve to be meddled with. It earned its scars - to make it all nice and shiny again would be just wrong."

"There was actually a third opinion - Rowdy wanted it destroyed. It reminded him too much of the fight - and he still has nightmares on that front every now and then. Al talked him out of it - he asked him if Rose deserved to be destroyed because Al got shot in the fight - and of course the answer was no."

Justin nodded. "I'm glad it got the answers it needed - it deserves to hold its battle scars. It was never made to do anything but defend family, anyway - taking it out hunting or just target shooting would demean it. That reminds me - how do you hide things when norms come into the house? This thing is just a little out of place, isn't it?"

"Simple - watch this!"

Daisy picked up a small remote and typed a non-obvious command sequence. When she did, the weapons disappeared. In their place the column was a silvery mirror with gold tracery of the Alexander logo where the clear glass had been.

"COOL!" Justin was truly impressed.

"LCD display technology is built into the outer glass. In short, one switch and they disappear."

With the remote worked again, the weapons and their ammo cans returned to their pride of place.

Daisy led them to a seating group by a bay window - that coincidentally contained a wing chair that was completely unsuited to the decor.

"Yes, that's Neil's chair from the old house - the Alcove just didn't look right without it. Goldeneye's satisfied enough with the new couch, though, so it's the only piece we brought over."

Al bustled over, to a reception of hugs and busses. "I checked with the folks - dinner will be waiting for us when we get back." A look passed between Daisy and her husband that the younger folks missed. Was that a wink?

The older couple donned their coats to walk to the portal, and the four of them walked the path to the stables and through the door into the Library.

[Sgt. Howard]

There's something so basically WRONG in my mind of retiring a weapon or not repairing one... but then I am a gunsmith, so I will have my prejudices...

[Just Old Al]

Agreed - but burned out like that the heat treat on that barrel is gone, and nothing else is going to be trustworthy without rework. There's a point where it needs to retire to a place of honor - like Al's Webley .455 - cracked frame. Trust me, that was a hard decision for him to make.

[Sgt. Howard]

Agreed - but burned out like that the heat treat on that barrel is gone, and nothing else is going to be trustworthy without rework. There's a point where it needs to retire to a place of honor - like Al's Webley .455 - cracked frame. Trust me, that was a hard decision for him to make.

Actually, extending the frame with TIG welding, a custom cylinder slightly longer than stock issue and chambered for .45 Colt, sleeve the barrel and the beast will preform as good as new with a bit more 'oomph'... ammo is readily available and I can make speed loaders. Redo the charcoal blue and you're good to go. I have resurrected worse. The extractor activator will have to be replaced with a longer one (fabricated) as it will be too short- and your holsters will require rework. Everything else is go-

[Dave]

Actually, extending the frame with TIG welding, a custom cylinder slightly longer than stock issue and chambered for .45 Colt, sleeve the barrel and the beast will preform as good as new with a bit more 'oomph'... ammo is readily available and I can make speed loaders. Redo the charcoal blue and you're good to go. I have resurrected worse. The extractor activator will have to be replaced with a longer one (fabricated) as it will be too short- and your holsters will require rework. Everything else is go-

"Only $4800. Needs some suspension work and shocks. Brakes, brake pads, lining, steering box, transmission, rear-end. Also new rings, mufflers, a little wiring...." (Dr. Ray Stanz, "Ghostbusters")

[Sgt. Howard]

Actually, extending the frame with TIG welding, a custom cylinder slightly longer than stock issue and chambered for .45 Colt, sleeve the barrel and the beast will preform as good as new with a bit more 'oomph'... ammo is readily available and I can make speed loaders. Redo the charcoal blue and you're good to go. I have resurrected worse. The extractor activator will have to be replaced with a longer one (fabricated) as it will be too short- and your holsters will require rework. Everything else is go-

"Only $4800. Needs some suspension work and shocks. Brakes, brake pads, lining, steering box, transmission, rear-end. Also new rings, mufflers, a little wiring...." (Dr. Ray Stanz, "Ghostbusters")

I could do what I just described in my shop for under $600

[FreeFlier]

Agreed - but burned out like that the heat treat on that barrel is gone, . . .

Barrel and action.

And being able to re-heat-treat the action without it warping out of tolerance is unlikely.

--FreeFlier

[Warrl]

I'd say it's also a gesture of respect to Rowdy, to not repair that gun. It's his soul that the thing seared. And he didn't want it repaired.

[GlytchMeister]

The closest analogy I can think of is retiring a jersey in sports.

Rowdy's gun is on the same level as named swords, in my opinion. It was wielded exactly one time by a man who did battle with evil one time only, in defense of his kin, his friends, and in retribution for a woman he might have loved. You will be hard-pressed to find a more noble weapon, especially in the modern age.

That is not a fault or a break or a damage. That is a story. To repair the weapon would be to erase the story. It would be to burn the book. There is a memory there. A lesson.

The gun now serves a higher purpose - it is no longer a weapon. It is an artifact of history. An object that carries with it an opportunity to learn and contemplate and become a better person, a wiser person, for it.

[Just Old Al]

The closest analogy I can think of is retiring a jersey in sports.

Rowdy's gun is on the same level as named swords, in my opinion. It was wielded exactly one time by a man who did battle with evil one time only, in defense of his kin, his friends, and in retribution for a woman he might have loved. You will be hard-pressed to find a more noble weapon, especially in the modern age.

That is not a fault or a break or a damage. That is a story. To repair the weapon would be to erase the story. It would be to burn the book. There is a memory there. A lesson.

The gun now serves a higher purpose - it is no longer a weapon. It is an artifact of history. An object that carries with it an opportunity to learn and contemplate and become a better person, a wiser person, for it.

Got it in one...

[GlytchMeister]

Got it in one...

*mic drop*

[Sgt. Howard]

I was talking about the Webley- the Ruger is beyond the pale

[Just Old Al]

I was talking about the Webley- the Ruger is beyond the pale

Too many memories from what he told me. Couldn't bear the thought of holstering that one again.

He does eventually find another one, right, Sarge?

[GlytchMeister]

Glytch took a final deep breath and managed to wipe the last vestiges of his evil grin from his face before making his way back to the rest of the group. His preparations were all in place - the modifications to his clothes had finally managed to dry and integrate with the fabric without violently decomposing into a rapidly expanding cloud of hot gases and charred textiles. The staging area was set - the band was setting up now. The Lady in the Lake was fully assembled, filled with distilled water, all dissolved gases had been removed, all bubbles flushed. The relevant VORP command had been written, checked for bugs, primed, and was ready to go. All of the installations had been done to code, wired, and checked over by three separate contractors. His computer and equipment was ready to go.

All that was left was the ceremony... Then, showtime.

[Dave]

"What could possibly go wrong?"

[GlytchMeister]

"What could possibly go wrong?"

"DON'T SAY THAT!""

[Just Old Al]

"What could possibly go wrong?"

SHUDDUP YOU!