International Rescue: The Next Phase: Chapter 10

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Re: Winds of Change [message #1775 is a reply to message #1774]

Sat, 28 July 2012 00:26

Tikatu
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Registered: April 2012
Location: South Carolina

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Field Commander
Ubiquitous one

From: susanmartha Sent: 7/25/2007 8:20 PM

Wednesday, September 12, 6:25 p.m., Christchurch, New Zealand

"Hi, hon, what's for dinner?" Ryan Hanson tossed his jacket on the couch and went into the kitchen to kiss his wife. "How was your visit to Tracyland?"

"Chili. I only got home an hour ago, so I took some out of the freezer. I'm making corn bread to go with it. It will be ready in about fifteen minutes. And my visit went pretty well, actually. Two of my patients are making progress and a young man came and vented at me about the games his ex is playing. The normal soap opera."

Ryan grinned. His wife had been making comments about "the normal soap opera' as long as he'd known her. He reached over to switch on the TV set. The TV wasn't allowed on during dinner but they usually watched the news together while dinner was being fixed.

"Our top story tonight, a plane has gone down in the Pacific. International Rescue has been called to the scene and we understand there are survivors. For more on this story, we go to Jane Arlington in Santiago, Chile. Jane?"

"Jake, according to the control tower, one of flight 7002's engines caught fire about halfway through the trip. The pilot managed to put the fire out and, normally, this type of plane should have been able to make its destination with only three engines. But authorities believe a main fuel line was punctured and the plane lost most of its fuel. Just 20 minutes ago we learned that a second engine was on fire. We have just been told that the plane has landed in the water and is still in one piece."

"It didn't break apart on impact?" The anchorman was trying to look grave but instead he only looked mildly interested.

"No, this is one of the newer designs, built to stay in one piece. And it has the new, automatically deploying, flotation devices now mandatory on all planes flying over the ocean for any distance. So there is a good chance for survivors if help can get there in time."

"Well, thank heavens for International Rescue, then. Do they expect to be able to pick up the survivors?"

The field reporter actually looked like she was worried about the plane. "We hope so. Several ships have been diverted to help with the survivors."

"Are there any theories as to why two engines caught fire?" The anchorman was now trying to look grave. Instead he looked bored.

"Passengers reported hearing explosions as the engines caught fire. And the fuel lines are designed to shut off when a leak is discovered, but apparently these didn't. Authorities are refusing to comment about the possibility of sabotage."

"Why would anyone want to sabotage this flight?"

"Along with over 200 passengers, flight 7002 carries two giant pandas, a gift from China to Chile. Relations between the two countries have been strained, since both are competing to win the lucrative Glenn space station contract. The station will assemble the vehicle for the next Mars mission. The pandas were meant as a peace offering to help seal a compromise worked out by the International Space Agency."

"Let's hope International Rescue can pull off another miracle then. Thank you, Jane. Be sure to keep us updated. In other news...

Ryan reached over and turned off the TV set. "Why did the station hire that twerp anyway? He looks like the only thing he cares about is his hairstyle. Do you want me to grate the cheese, hon?" He looked over at his wife to find her staring distractedly at the salad mix in her hand. "Hon?"

Anna came back to earth with a thump. "Sorry dear. I was just thinking of a patient." A plane crash. And in the water. Elise, I hope you're not involved. If you are, I hope you can handle it.

My IR:TNP OTP!

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Re: Winds of Change [message #1776 is a reply to message #1775]

Sat, 28 July 2012 00:27

Tikatu
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From: lillehafrue Sent: 7/26/2007 2:35 PM

Luke stood and offered to help Kyrano, who was burdened down with a tray full of coffee and teacups. The servitor nodded, and he took the carafe of coffee from the laden tray. Kyrano set the tray down on a low table, and retrieved the carafe, pouring coffee for those who indicated they wanted it.

As he chose a cup for himself, Luke tuned in to the talkback again. He felt antsy; he realized he would have loved to be out there as the team worked.

"Lowering the rescue cage now." Virgil's voice sounded out from his picture.

"F-A-B," responded John. "You're right on target. Ten meters more..."

The tension in the room began to rise as the rescue cage, holding Alan, John, and a supply of Brains's blue goo, descended to the wing of the stricken plane.

"Five more meters," John said.

"F-A-B," Virgil replied.

Luke frowned, suddenly puzzled. He approached the desk. "Mr. Tracy?" He spoke quietly so he wouldn't be picked up by the microphone that Jeff wore.

Jeff, who had been handed a cup of coffee by his wife, took a sip, then put the cup back down in the saucer. He tapped his earpiece, and turned his attention to the newest recruit.

"Yes, Luke?"

"Uh... well, I keep hearing the team use the term, 'F-A-B'," Luke said. "I was wondering... what exactly does it mean?"

To Luke's surprise, a faint blush flooded Jeff's face. "Well, um....it...ah...."

Dianne grinned at her husband's discomfiture. "Yes, dear. Tell him what it means."

Jeff shot her a look. "You're not helping."

"I know."

Luke glanced from husband to wife and back again. "If there's something... embarrassing..." His words trailed off.

Jeff sighed and turned back to Luke. "In the early days of space exploration, one of the Mercury astronauts, Gus Grissom - for whom my son, Virgil, is named - used a particular phrase a lot when he was in agreement with something that someone else said." He blushed a little redder. "During the building of Thunderbird Five, I sort of... let loose with it a few times."

Dianne nudged him. "And.....?"

"And, the phrase was 'F--kin' A Bubba'." Jeff let out a big breath. "It sorta stuck, and we cleaned it up for our purposes."

"In other words," Dianne said, still grinning, "Our little acronym is more appropriate for an open mike and... uh... tender ears."

Luke chuckled. "I can understand that. We used 'Roger' until one of the other teams actually hired a Roger. We ended up with 'Gotcha." He shrugged. "Kind of lame, I know, but it worked for us."

Jeff heaved a deep breath, then smiled a little. "Y'know, Luke, you're the only one of our recruits who has asked that question."

Luke looked surprised. "Really? I would think it would be a logical question."

"I guess no one has really wondered." Dianne took a sip of her coffee. "Or they've asked one of the boys... I know neither of the nurses has asked me."

"Maybe it was something they thought they should already know?" Luke responded as Virgil's voice sounded across the speaker again.

"Could be," Jeff replied, then turned his attention back to the rescue.

--The Origins of FAB, by Tikatu and Lillehafrue--

My IR:TNP OTP!

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Re: Winds of Change [message #1777 is a reply to message #1776]

Sat, 28 July 2012 00:30

Tikatu
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Location: South Carolina

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Field Commander
Ubiquitous one

From: Tikatu Sent: 7/29/2007 6:16 PM

"Thunderbird One from Thunderbird Four, what's next, Frankie?" Gordon asked. He and Brandon had been patrolling around the plane, checking the other flotation cushions, making sure they were stable.

"We've got Indy and Quasar on board the plane. Their job is to seal up the pandas' crates with that waterproof stuff of Einstein's." Elise said, reviewing her plans in her head. "Sweet suggests that we use the plane's emergency chutes to evacuate the passengers. That means moving the pod closer."

"How many chutes can we use?" Gordon asked. "How far apart are they?"

"In this model of jet, the emergency exits are roughly 30 to 35 feet apart. The door on the pod is 40 feet across, so we should be able to use two."

"I guess that means our next task is to move the pod, right?" Brandon said from the jump seat behind Gordon.

"You've got it, Big Mac." Elise grinned. "I'll have them deploy the chutes and help direct you. One of you might have to get out and pull the chutes into the pod. Neither Tynan nor Angel will be able to grab them without getting dunked."

"F-A-B," Gordon said. "Let's get this show on the road."

"F-A-B." Elise toggled a switch. "Flight 7002, this is Thunderbird One. Please deploy starboard emergency chutes 1 and 2 so we can begin evacuation."

Thunderbird Four surfaced close to the front of the pod, and Brandon stepped out of the side airlock onto the ramp. There was a muted thump, and in the glow provided by Thunderbird Two's spotlights, two wide, yellow ramps opened up, inflating with a loud hissing sound. Gordon took Thunderbird Four down.

"What's going on?" Nikki asked of Brandon as he entered the pod, fully equipped for a dive.

"We're going to move the pod closer to the plane, and pull those emergency chutes into the pod," he explained. "You might want to sit down somewhere so you don't fall down." He suited his actions to his words, and sat on the edge of Thunderbird Four's platform.

Nikki glanced back at Dom. "Better put the ramp up or it'll make moving difficult." Dom, who was closest to the door's controls, reached over to raise the door. Water spilled inside as it rose from the water. The two nurses then found seats for themselves on Thunderbird Four's platform.

Behind the pod, Gordon deployed Four's two hydraulic rams, and with help from Elise in a hovering Thunderbird One, he pushed the empty pod slowly toward the plane. When they were a dozen meters from the bobbing ends of the chutes, Brandon opened the door again, and jumped in.

It was dangerous. The pod was still moving forward from momentum; the water was dark. Gordon moved Four from the rear to the side, nudging the pod carefully into position. Brandon got under the first chute, pushing it upwards, climbing the pod's wide door to bring the chute's end within. The pod was still moving sideways when he went for the second one.

Inside the pod, Dom and Nikki fastened the chute to the floor, pulling it to within two feet of the door's edge. Outside, Brandon pushed the second chute upwards, just as Gordon, under Elise's instruction, brought the pod to a halt.

"Thunderbird One from Thunderbird Four. I'm on stationkeeping, Frankie," Gordon informed Elise.

"F-A-B, Cousteau." She tapped her earpiece. "Tynan from Frankie. Are you ready?"

"Nik?" Dom asked. "Are we ready?"

She turned from helping Brandon secure the second chute. "As ready as we can be."

"F-A-B." Dom tapped his earpiece. "Frankie, we're ready."

"F-A-B." Elise toggled a switch. "Thunderbird One to Flight 7002. We're ready to begin the evacuation. Injured and women with children first."

My IR:TNP OTP!

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Re: Winds of Change [message #1778 is a reply to message #1777]

Sat, 28 July 2012 00:34

Tikatu
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Field Commander
Ubiquitous one

From: Tikatu Sent: 7/29/2007 8:44 PM

Elise circled Thunderbird One around the accident zone and tried not to think about the water surrounding her. She closed her eyes and took a few deep, steadying breaths.

In...out...in...out... A sudden beeping made her snap back to attention. Looking at the radar screen, she smiled. "Thunderbird One to Thunderbird Two, I have three ships bearing down on our position."

"Best news I've heard since this started," Virgil responded with a smile. "Sweet is in the hold, waiting for Quasar and Indy."
"Tynan and Angel report that they're ready. Cousteau has Four on stationkeeping so the pod will stay put. All you and I have to do is keep things lit up. It's gotten awfully dark."

She heard another beeping. "There. Our fourth ship has just hit my radar. We should be able to wrap this up within an hour or so."

xxxx

John and Alan made their way through the plane's cabin, following Xiong's lead. The other flight attendants were checking on the passengers, assigning them places in the pending evacuation. When accosted, John assured whoever asked that help was on the way, and that they were in no danger. Well, not much anyway.

They finally reached the back of the plane, and Xiong indicated the doorway leading to the cargo bay. Making their way down the narrow steps, they crept forward carefully. They heard voices up ahead and quickened their pace.

"Quasar! Indy!" Tin-Tin called out as she saw them. "Did you bring the goo?"

John hefted a container at his side. "Got it right here. What's going on?"

Tin-Tin quickly filled them in on the situation, introducing Zhen and Jiao. John fired out a few questions in Mandarin and after their initial surprise, the two keepers smiled as they replied.

John turned to Alan. "We'd better get....Hello! Earth to Indy!"

Alan started from where he had been staring into one of the crates holding the pandas. "They don't look real, do they? They remind me of overstuffed teddy bears."

"Yeah well, if we don't get these crates secured, they'll be soggy teddy bears. C'mon."

"I'll head topside and see what I can do to help speed the evacuation along," Tin-Tin said. She moved past them in the crowded hold and headed for the stairs.

"We'll be up when we're through." John stepped forward and aimed his nozzle at the base of the cage. He pressed the trigger and a bright blue substance began oozing out of it. He carefully sprayed the base of the cage, then moved up the sides, paying special attention to the seams. On the other side, Alan did the same to the second cage. It took time, but they managed to create a watertight seal two thirds of the way up the cage before stopping.

"There," John told Jiao and Zhen. "That should hold while we move them. You sedated them?"

Jiao nodded. "Yes. They should sleep for another six hours."

"Good. Plenty of time to get them out of here. Van Gogh? Our monochromatic friends are secure. How are things on your end?" John asked.

"We've started evacuating the passengers," Virgil replied. "Sweet could use your help."

"F-A-B, Indy and I will head back up there and give her a hand." John waved to Alan, who was back to peering at the bears. As they made their way back up the stairs leading to the main cabin, John nudged his younger brother. "So, you thinking of getting a panda?"

Alan looked startled. "What? No. I've just never seen one up close before."

"You know, you could build it a pen, right next to your alligator. Add a few of the kittens and you have your own little zoo. Call it "Alan's Animal Adventures'."

Alan responded by thwacking his brother in the back of the head with a wet glove.

--heading for the finish line, by Lillehafrue and Tikatu

My IR:TNP OTP!

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Re: Winds of Change [message #1779 is a reply to message #1778]

Sat, 28 July 2012 00:35

Tikatu
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Registered: April 2012
Location: South Carolina

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Field Commander
Ubiquitous one

From: ArtisticRainey Sent: 7/31/2007 10:33 AM

Dominic had never been so grateful to see cuts and bruises, because that was about the limit of the passengers' injuries.

One small boy had received a fractured wrist, but he was too busy babbling about something to seem to care. Eventually, the child's mother, a fluent English speaker, explained.

"The pandas. He can't stop thinking about them. Since he found out they were onboard, it's been nothing but pandas, pandas, pandas."

Dominic grinned as he finished tying the sling around the boy's arm.

"How do you say "panda' in your language?" He asked the mother.

""Xiongmao'," she said.

Dominic pointed out towards the downed plane and repeated the word. The child nodded his head enthusiastically, and continued to speak quickly, repeating "Xiongmao' over and over. Dominic chuckled, outwardly at the child's excitement and apparent lack of pain, and inwardly at the mother's outright annoyance and bafflement at the whole situation. He patted the child on the shoulder, nodded at the mother, and moved on to the next patient.

xxxx

Nikki shucked off her gloves, and deposited them in the clinical waste bin she and Dominic had brought down to the pod. She clenched and unclenched her fingers; she had never liked the feeling gloves left on her hands. The floor of the pod had become a sea of faces, and the air was filled with a salty tang and a cacophony of voices. She raised her eyes briefly, thinking, Someone's looking out for us. No Doctor Tracy and no TB7, and yet in this terrible situation, Dom, myself and the med bags were enough.

"Angel from Frankie."

Nikki started out of her thoughts. "Angel here."

"The first of the ships is here to pick up the passengers. How are things on your end?"

"Tynan, Sweet, Indy, Quasar and I have pretty much dealt with the injuries. None serious, most superficial."

"FAB. Prepare for evacuation."

"FAB, Frankie. Thanks."

My IR:TNP OTP!

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Re: Winds of Change [message #1780 is a reply to message #1779]

Sat, 28 July 2012 00:36

Tikatu
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Registered: April 2012
Location: South Carolina

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Field Commander
Ubiquitous one

From: Tikatu Sent: 8/4/2007 9:59 AM

The lights in the distance illuminated the downed plane and the undersides of the two Thunderbirds that hovered above it. Dez pulled out her digital camera, trying to get a better look through its zoom lens. She surreptitiously shot a few pictures, hoping that they were outside the range of whatever device IR used to block photography. The cruise liner hadn't been able to get too close, not with three other ships crowding around. The fishing trawler, being smallest, had gotten closest, but the liner was given priority as far as taking on passengers was concerned since they had more room. The launches had already brought back two loads of passengers, four or five of whom were taken to the sickbay.

"Well, there you are, Dez." A booming voice was followed by a tall, rugged man with dark skin and equally dark hair pulled back smooth against his head. His name was Johannes Masekela, and he was the president in charge of development for the Hwange Technology Group. He shouldered aside a few of the gawkers who lined the railing, watching the rescue unfold, and came up behind Dez, putting his hands on the railing on either side of her. Dez stifled an irritated sigh, then turned to her mark with a charming smile.

"Yes, here I am, Johannes," she said. She motioned to the scene ahead of them. "Aren't they wonderful? So selfless. Those ships of theirs... magnificent."

"Magnificent," Johannes echoed as he glanced toward the plane. He pulled back some strands of her blonde hair and leaned in to kiss her neck. "Not as magnificent as you, Desdemona."

Normally, Dez would take the opportunity to further seduce the man she was hoping to dupe, but this time his advances just irritated her. "Let me get one or two more shots, luv," she said, turning to murmur in his ear. "Then we can go back to my cabin..."

"That's something I wanted to discuss with you," Johannes said in her ear as he wrapped an arm possessively around her waist. "The purser is looking for empty cabins... why don't you move into mine for the duration of the journey?"

She was in the middle of a shot, and it blurred when he grabbed her. She took a calming breath and smiled sweetly at him. "Why Johannes. What will people say? More importantly, what will your wife say?"

"Hmm." While he was thinking over the ramifications, she got off two more shots. Then she turned in his grasp.

"It's a lovely idea, Johannes, but we've been far too indiscreet as it stands. We should maintain separate quarters; it'll look more... decorous." Besides, I've got a little redhead on a string, too, and I can't exactly bring her to your quarters. I don't particularly like having a threesome.

"All right, you win," said Johannes as he nibbled on her earlobe. "But come away now, my dear. As interesting as I find the Thunderbirds, I find you far more fascinating."

She stifled another sigh, and saved her pictures. She had work to do. "Of course, luv. I'll have far more fun with you than standing ass to elbow with the hoi polloi." So saying, she kissed him lightly, and slid an arm around his muscular waist, allowing him to lead her away.

My IR:TNP OTP!

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Re: Winds of Change [message #1781 is a reply to message #1780]

Sat, 28 July 2012 00:36

Tikatu
Messages: 813
Registered: April 2012
Location: South Carolina

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Field Commander
Ubiquitous one

From: ArtisticRainey Sent: 8/5/2007 4:48 PM

The last boatload of passengers had just departed from the pod, leaving the motley crew standing on Thunderbird Four's ramp. In the distance, they could hear a small boy's voice yelling "Xiongmao' over and over.

"Well, at least that's over and done with," John said, before opening the comms channel on his headset. "Thunderbird Two and Thunderbird one from Quasar."

"Thunderbird Two here, go ahead."

"Thunderbird One, receiving you strength five."

"Passengers are all evacuated. Now for the pandas."

"FAB," Elise said. "Thunderbird Two, pick up the crew using the rescue cage, then hover over the open cargo hatch and ready the grabs. Quasar and Indy, you'll be going down with them to secure the cages and make sure they stay that way. Thunderbird Four will be standing by at the tail to assist."

"FAB Frankie," John and Virgil chorused.

"The rescue cage will be down momentarily. Stand by," Virgil said, before signing off.

In less than a minute, Dominic, Nikki, Alan, and John had secured themselves inside the cage, and it began to ascend. As they rose, they got a better view of the downed plane, which was looking mournful surrounded by the blue depths. As the cage clipped into position and its passengers disembarked, the nurses bid good luck to John and Alan, and the former two headed for the cockpit, while the latter went to get ready for their next descent, this time without the rescue cage.

"It's just a case of delivering those black and white babies and getting out of here," Alan said as he donned his harness.

"Yeah. Delivering those very important black and white babies," John added. "It's pretty crucial."

"Yeah... Y'know, I was thinking about what you said about 'Alan's Animal Adventures'... Does Chile really need two pandas?"

John answered with a sharp thwack to his brother's head.

xxxx

Tin-Tin stood with Jiao and Zhen under the open cargo hatch, waiting for rescue to come.

"They're very beautiful animals," Tin-Tin said, and her words were translated into Mandarin.

"Yes," Jiao said. "I almost didn't want to give them up. But it's for a good cause."

"We hope," Zhen added.

Tin-Tin glanced over at the goo-covered cages for a few moments, before her communicator sounded.

"Sweet from Thunderbird Two."

"Sweet here."

"Lowering grabs now. Quasar and Indy are descending, and Cousteau should be coming aboard to help also."

"FAB."

The International Rescue personnel converged on the sleeping pandas with swiftness, and together with Zhen, they secured the first of the pandas into the grabs, and began the ascent. The bear didn't make a sound. Jiao looked concerned for its welfare, but Tin-Tin smiled gently and tried to reassure her.

"They're in the best of hands, apart from yours and Zhen. And they'll be back in your hands soon enough."

The process was repeated for the second panda, and then Virgil lowered the rescue cage to bring Tin-Tin and the panda keepers up into the safety of Thunderbird Two. The bears were snugly secured, and still under the sedation. Jiao finally looked relieved.

"Thank you so much," she said to Tin-Tin. "Our thanks go to all of your people for rescuing the bears, and us."

"Well, I hope we never meet again, and I mean that in the best way possible."

Jiao chuckled.

"I, also."

"Sweet from Van Gogh. Are you staying with the bears?"

"Yes, Van Gogh. I think I will."

"FAB. We're retrieving Thunderbird Four now, and then on to Chile to drop off our special passengers."

"FAB."

Tin-Tin went up to one of the cages, and peered over the blue goo to watch the panda some more. They really are beautiful... I think even I will miss them once they've been delivered...

My IR:TNP OTP!

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Re: Winds of Change [message #1782 is a reply to message #1781]

Sat, 28 July 2012 00:37

Tikatu
Messages: 813
Registered: April 2012
Location: South Carolina

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Field Commander
Ubiquitous one

From: ArtisticRainey Sent: 8/5/2007 5:04 PM

Virgil was on final approach to Santiago Airport. He could see the long stretch of runway that had been cleared - not that he needed it, but the further away people were, the better - and could even make out the flashing of emergency service vehicles' lights. Thunderbird One was circling above, having went on ahead to make way for her sister ship.

Gordon unbuckled himself and stood.

"I'm going down to the panda enclosure help Tin-Tin with the unloading."

"Me too," Alan said, attempting to leap from his seat. Unfortunately he had forgotten his safety belt.

Gordon rolled his eyes playfully, and waited for Alan to disentangle himself before leaving the cockpit. Nikki, Dominic, and Brandon sat in relative silence.

"Sweet from Van Gogh, landing in one half minute."

"FAB Van Gogh."

The VTOL engines brought Thunderbird Two down with a grace that belied its cumbersome appearance, and the crew set about unloading their special passengers.

Tin-Tin watched as Jiao and Zhen fussed over the pandas, and folded her arms as they were transported onto a waiting truck. Jiao turned and waved just before she hopped in with them, and Tin-Tin reciprocated. Pandas...I never thought we'd rescue pandas... She watched as the truck moved off down the runway, and smiled, before heading back into Thunderbird Two, and home.

My IR:TNP OTP!

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