So, here's the deal. I've been having this issue for the past couple of days. I'm stuck in a captcha loop with DDownload that goes as follows:

• Download starts
• It asks for a captcha
• Opens my browser
• I solve the captcha
• Countdown starts
• Status changes to "Disconnect?"
• Download restarts
• It asks for a captcha
• Do it all over again

Why is this?

I'm mostly basing this off this thread in the Trek BBS forum: https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/a-confederate-empire-in-the-trekverse.291407/

It's the year 2259 when a civilian survey vessel sends some information to Starfleet about reports of a small interstellar population of humans in the Beta Quadrant well away from Earth, just outside Federation space. As such, the USS Enterprise is sent to investigate, with Starfleet believing it might be a lost Earth colony or something similar to Terralysium. After a few weeks, they enter the sector in which humans have been sighted (beyond Klingon, Romulan, Gorn, and Federation space) and quickly find what they're looking for, as three ships with human life sign readings approach them. The ships look like a cross between an old Zeppelin/airship and some early Earth ship designs, comprised of a round cylindrical hull evocative of something like the Hindenburg, with a diameter of 61 meters with warp nacelles extending a further 20 meters in diameter, and a length of 265 meters in the main body with four impulse engines arranged radially at the aft where an airship's fins would be, adding a further 10 meters to the length. Its armaments included phase cannons and spatial torpedoes, as well as polarized hull plating for defense. But more striking is the insignia the ship bears on its hull...

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Balkenkreuz_upperwing.svg/600px-Balkenkreuz_upperwing.svg.png

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Luftwaffe_swastika.svg/600px-Luftwaffe_swastika.svg.png

When hailed, the Enterpise bridge crew is met by the image of a well-groomed man with glasses in a Nazi uniform who, in the refined tones of an educated German military officer, identifies himself as SS Colonel Otto Ackermann of the Raumfleet vessel New Germania, and states that the Enterprise entered the space claimed by the New Germanic Reich. He is somewhat cordial once he finds out that the crew of the Enterprise is mostly human, and makes an offer for Captain Pike to come aboard his ship for dinner and to exchange information on how things have been for the past few centuries in their respective worlds. There is some awkwardness involving crew members such as Cadet Uhura and Doctor M'Benga.

Basically, what happened is that sometime in the 1930s, an Iconian Gateway was found in a cave by the SS, when activated, the Gateway opened a portal to another world (the planet that became known afterwards as New Earth). The Wehrmacht quickly entered and explored the new world, and brought some civilians and untermenschen slave labor to settle it and provision the facilities. The planet was a lot like Earth in general, and was populated by some humanoid natives which had purple skin, ridged arms and legs, cat-like ears, a tail, and were omnivorous. Technologically, they were at a bronze-age level of development with some small organized settlements. When the Red Army reached Berlin, hundreds of thousands of refugees were sent by the Party through the Gateway, as well as 80,000 military and paramilitary personnel, 120,000 Nazi Party members (including Hitler and much of the Party's leadership, as well as things such as Hitler Youth, BDM, and Strength through Joy members), and 110,000 jews, slaves, and other prisoners. To prevent the Gateway from falling into Soviet hands, it was blown up with TNT, disabling the Gateway and collapsing the cave. The over 600,000 men, women, and children that passed through the Gateway were left on New Earth. As such, they dug in, building new farms, towns, and factories, raised their families, estabilished a new Reich and soon moved to conquer this new world. Since they had tanks, aircraft, artillery, and guns while the natives had padded cloth vests, spears, bows, arrows, and animal hide shields, the locals were subdued and put into the same category as jews, with the Party claiming that as non-humans their people were superior and had dominion over them. Gradually, the New Germanic Reich expanded its influence over the planet as new armies were raised and more natives were enslaved and exterminated. Their sphere of influence grew steadily, as did their population, as they pushed through the African-sized continent and beyond.

At the rate that they were going, given total population, level of education, level of competition, amount of natural resources available, as well as social factors in the Fourth Reich, the course they were originally on would've led to them achieving 21st century levels of technology by the 2250s, but in 2151 they found a crashed alien Starship, which they excavated, studied, and eventually managed to power on some of its systems, including a fusion reactor, a shuttle, and some of its library computers, which contained enough information to accelerate their development by a wide margin. The fact that New Earth was rich in dilithium crystals was also a good thing for them. They achieved interplanetary spaceflight within a decade, and in 2181, they launched their first warp-capable vessel, the Valkyrie, causing them to turn their eyes to the stars and eventually led to the colonization of two habitable planets in nearby star systems (one of which was uninhabited, while the other had another pre-industrial species that they subjugated), and they had enough trouble with pirates and other threats to build a fleet to defend themselves, and bought, salvaged, and stole new technology to upgrade their starships, industrial infrastructure, and so on, and so forth.

The Fourth Reich spans 40 star systems and 47 inhabited worlds, and has a population of about 10 billion humans (they've used cloning to boost their population growth in the past half-century) and 25 billion subjugated aliens that exist as "untermenschen". They had something akin to the civil rights movement stretched out over the 20th, 21st, and early 22nd centuries, and after some considerable debate, eventually gave women the same rights as men in 2057 due to a shortage on military and paramilitary manpower. All male citizens after serving in the Hitler Youth are required to serve for at least 4 earth years in the military and to drill every year until they're 55, with the exception of career military people. Female citizens after their service in the BDM/HY can serve voluntarily. Their surface forces are on the whole professional and have armored infantry, ground vehicles, artillery and air and space support. The Fourth Reich's society is a fascist dictatorship, every citizen of the Reich has a right to vote, but in practice they have a one-party system where the Nazi Party is in charge, and the politicians are chosen by a few prominent families who run large megacorporations and conglomerates. Most of everyone not in the party works for them, and voting against your employer's candidate is a big no-no, as outside of charity and party programs, there is no form of welfare. Many of the big combines run by said families have cloning operations in which favorite employees are cloned, raised, and taught by said company and are employed by them afterwards (usually having to work for 5-10 years to pay off the debts incurred by their creation and education). The only party candidates who have a chance in hell of winning an election at anything more than mayor-level are either true Nazi loyalists and members of the great families, or are party members who may or may not be in the payroll of the megacorps. Slaves and untermenschen are outfitted with tracking implants that can stimulate pain receptors and nerves and induce seizures to keep them in line while their owners and party officials have the power of life and death over them, with most of them living in concentration camps or large industrial facilities or farms, while others are employed in the service sector, as personal servants or workers for the government. A few million slaves have been trained by the government to be soldiers modelled on a mix of the Volksturm and the Ottoman Janisseries (though under supervision by human officers).

The Nazi Raumfleet has a total of 40 active starships (with more under construction) of which the New Germania class is the newest and largest, being able to reach Warp 5. Half of them have been sent to meet the Enterprise and a fight between them and a Constitution-class starship could go either way. In addition, there are hundreds of civilian vessels, both for in-system and interstellar transportation, which can be militarized and armed at a moment's notice. The Fourth Reich has no ambition of invading Earth, barring the the fantasies of some party officials and military officers, though they do feel that, in order to secure the future of the Reich, they need to estabilish themselves as a major power in the quadrant. At Warp 7, they are a couple of weeks away from the Romulan Empire.

What happens next? How would you advise Captain Pike and Starfleet to handle this discovery?

As an example, F1 was a big thing in Brazil (my country), so when they showed IndyCar on TV, they called it "Formula Indy". By the same token, post-split CART/ChampCar was known as "Formula Mundial" (World Formula or Formula World, not sure how to translate it).

Background

It is the mid-to-late 2010s. A strange anomaly has appeared at Point Nemo on Earth. It formed a barrier that kills the Tau'ri (humans) and destroys their tech, also reformatting the planet at the atomic level. One unfortunate navy ship confirmed this. The next day, Celestia and a diplomatic delegation from Equestria arrive on Earth through the Stargate at SGC. She informs them that she knows of their plight, and is willing to offer a solution: set up facilities to turn humans into ponies, as the barrier will not harm them.

Homeworld Command considered her proposal (while Celestia went ahead and started setting up the facilities anyway), but many were skeptical, especially considering the timing of her arrival. Fearing something similar to what the Aschen did to the Volians, SGC sent recon teams to Equestria and nearby worlds to investigate.

What they found was alarming: the barrier was created intentionally as a form of terraforming, and many other worlds and races have succumbed to this. Not only that, Equestria was in the process of building a massive armada of powerful spaceships, and the methods through which Tau'ri were "ponified" also changed their consciousness to be more pony-like.

Now that the Tau'ri knew, Celestia declared that they and other non-Equestrian species were too evil and dangerous to be left alone, and thus it is Equestria's duty to uplift their civilizations into a more harmonious state by making them all ponies. The Stargate program also became public during this. Many Tau'ri would not stand for this, and soon, war was declared against Equestria.

Differences from Canon

SG-1, Atlantis, Universe, Origins, and the movies are all canon, maybe with cancelled plans for Atlantis and Universe coming into play (e.g. Atlantis ZPM factory). Games, books and comics are optional. SGC can dial Destiny, but it is too far away to be of help, and only 1-2 galaxies away from completing its mission. The upcoming Amazon show will not be considered as it hasn't come out yet.

Considerations

• The Tau'ri fleet is comprised primarily of Prometheus-class and Daedalus-class battlecruisers operated by individual nations, alongside some salvaged Ancient and Asgard ships. F-302s serve as primary fighter craft, with Puddle Jumpers and Tau'ri-built shuttles serving as transport craft. Atlantis has returned to Pegasus after the events of Atlantis Season 5 and serves as Tau'ri HQ in that galaxy. As mentioned previously, Destiny is too far away to help in the war, but it can be used as an ark by the Tau'ri in the event the worst comes to pass.
• Tau'ri ground forces are also operated by their respective nations, and have equipment accordingly. For US troops, this includes the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV), Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH), M4A1 carbine, SIG Sauer P320 sidearm, and seven magazines of ammunition, among other things. Combat vehicles include M1 Abrams and Humvees, with portable railguns used as artillery and air defense.
• The Equestrian fleet is comprised of capital ships that roughly resemble airships. Standard capital ships are equipped with pulsed magic cannons and machine guns for point-defense, as well as missile launchers and magic beam cannons for offensive weapons. Fleet command ships have the same weapons, but in larger numbers. Fighters have two projectile/magic guns and four missile hardpoints. All ships have magic shields.
• Equestrian ground forces are multiracial, with magic abilities depending on the species. Standard protection includes a set of Royal Guard armor that can resist small-arms fire, other types of armor are available. Troops with horns (Unicorn, Kirin, etc.) are capable of firing magic beams and raising magic shields, as well as teleporting. Troops with wings (Pegasus, Griffon, etc.) are capable of flight. Combat gear includes saddles similar to those from War Thunder.
• Both sides have weapons of mass destruction, the Tau'ri, of course, have nuclear weapons, such as the Mark III and Mark VIII nukes. The most powerful of them are the Mark IX "Gatebuster" nuke. Equestria, meanwhile, uses megaspell weapons such as those from Fallout: Equestria, often ponification and balefire megaspells. Yields are not as high as Tau'ri nukes.
• The Tau'ri can ally with other Milky Way and Pegasus races such as Todd's Wraiths, Genii, and Free Jaffa. Both the Tau'ri and Equestria can bolster their numbers through conscription. Both sides can infiltrate and sabotage the other.
• Once Earth is hers, Celestia and her forces will hunt down remaining Tau'ri and other races in the known worlds.
• Time until the barrier consumes the Earth completely: 20 years.

The war

• Round 1: The Tau'ri will mostly follow the rules of war, and will be in character (e.g. O'Neill risking his life to help his friends). Equestria will also be mostly in character but may resort to desperate measures as the war drags on. Tactical WMDs only, at least at first. Victory will be achieved by capitulation of either side, conquest of territory, destruction of forces, and/or elimination of leadership (Tau'ri: UN Security Council, 190+ heads of state and government, Homeworld Command, among others. Equestria: Celestia, Luna, other alicorns, Royal Guard command, fleet command/admiralty, among others.). Mid-to-late 2010s.
• Round 2: Both sides are war criminals, no restrictions. Collateral damage and civilian deaths are acceptable. Celestia may or may not be Daybreaker. No restrictions on WMDs. Pyrrhic victory is still a victory. Villains may or may not be aiding Equestria. Same timeframe as Round 1.
• Round 3A/3B: Same as before, but in the mid-2000s (late SG1/early Atlantis). The Asgard are present as allies to the Tau'ri, and can help augment the Tau'ri forces with Asgard tech. Victory conditions unchanged. Max. 1-year prep for either side.
• Bonus Round: The remnants of the Goa'uld are colluding with the Trust and Equestria's villains to rule the universe, and it is up to SGC and Equestria to stop them. Tau'ri and Equestrians get one month of preparation.

Recap

Section	Summary
Background	TCB barrier appears on Stargate's Earth and starts expanding. Celestia approaches Tau'ri (us) and suggests everyone becoming pony. Tau'ri find out her plan, Celestia revqeals true intentions, war begins.
Timeline	Mid-to-late 2010s. SG series and movies up to and including SG Origins are canon but all else is optional and subject to change.
Considerations	Tau'ri fleet with indigenous (BC-303, BC-304) and salvaged (Aurora-class, O'Neill-class) designs, Tau'ri troops with standard military gear plus SG-verse tech, nukes available. Destiny cannot fight, but can be used as an ark.
	Equestrian fleet with conventional and magic weapons available, Equestrian troops with varying capability depending on race, megaspell bombs available.
	Infiltration and sabotage are permitted, as is conscription. Tau'ri can recruit allies.
	Earth will be consumed by the barrier in 20 years, Equestria will hunt down Tau'ri and other Milky Way/Pegasus races even after the 20 years are up.
Round 1	Tau'ri (+allies) and Equestria in character (but may resort to drastic measures), tac-nukes only. Victory by elimination, conquest of occupied worlds, decapitation, or capitulation of either side.
Round 2	Tau're (+allies) and Equestria are war criminals, no restraints. Celestia might be Daybreaker. Pyrrhic victory is acceptable to either side. Villains may assist Equestria.
Round 3A/3B	Rounds 1 and 2 in late SG1/early Atlantis timeframe. Tau'ri have Asgard allies, both sides have 1-year prep. Same victory conditions.
Bonus Round	Equestria and Tau'ri have to team up and stop Goa'uld and pony villains, 6-month prep.

And that's it. Thank u/lordolxinator for this format.

Just happened in the livestream last week. Not sure anyone has clipped it yet.

For reference, Representative Babin is essentially Senator Cruz's counterpart in the House of Representatives, and has significant control over legislation affecting NASA.

Got this from u/jadebenn.

To recap: they will be limiting grid sizes to 27 outside the 500, meaning that, outside the 500, charters will become mandatory to race.

IMO, This is pretty much overkill. Even with the 23XI charter drama, banning open entries is something NASCAR has never even dared to consider. Even at tracks like Phoenix, where we know there is room for more than 27 cars, you will only get 27 cars.

If it were me implementing this, I would see how much room is in each track, and let opens in based on how much room is there. Places like Mid-Ohio would still be charter-only, but bigger places like Phoenix and Road America would let a certain number of opens in.

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