Wasn't expecting the "Big Guns go Boom" squad to clean up the mess with swords and air horns. Good thing those-who-plan paid attention last year.
Assumptions about Max-Earth cleaning up their end without an issue borne out. I shan't comment on the AI's idea of "fun." Interesting, yes, fun, no. Once in a while there are hints of darkness in the AIs.
I saw the drawing on Facebook first and didn't immediately twig to it being Mid-Earth tactical armor, but it's a fun, chunky design. I like how the arm armor is thick and faceted. Most modern armor designs tend towards sleek and boring, and yours has some faint echoes of Mars Division armor from Genesis Climber Mospeada/Robotech: The New Generation around the top half. A complement as Mars Division armor (and Battle Ride Armor/Robotech Cyclone) are some of my favorite designs of all time. I just spent several hundred Euro on collecting some Cyclone toys. I haven't bought a toy or collectable in over a decade.
Surely the conspirators by now have figured out Max-Earth could handle three larvae. They might not have been able to anticipate changes to SDC. Still...
Was this another feint move for something else? The conveyers were still working. Did something else get smuggled through this distraction? The viewpoint pasty wouldn't know, and he's dead, anyway...
Oh, I don't. I don't think whatever was going on with bugging the SDC has anything to do with, say, Earth First (which most likely has a small cabal behind it). I do, however, think the ktengo eggs were related to the group who did the bombs. That's the "burn it all" group. I don't think the bomb guys are the same group that's smuggling QAI segments. The QAIs have their own agenda, but seem mostly benevolent. Still, that's five factions I think I know about.
I don't think there are more than two groups messing around with sending things through the main portals, mostly because that route is high security and you'd have to be organized and have resources to pull it off. Those are two of the bigger groups.
Thanks, William. The scope has indeed been increasing! Which is an interesting challenge, in terms of keeping track of everything (for me and readers!). Styles being abroad of course widens the range of stories and geographically opens things up significantly. Safe to say that we've moved a fair way from the case-by-case procedural the story started out as.
Thanks for reading and commenting! I've decided to stop paywalling author notes and comments, which I never felt entirely happy about anyway, so it's gratifying to hear from readers!
Definitely a successful chapter!
My pleasure.
Wasn't expecting the "Big Guns go Boom" squad to clean up the mess with swords and air horns. Good thing those-who-plan paid attention last year.
Assumptions about Max-Earth cleaning up their end without an issue borne out. I shan't comment on the AI's idea of "fun." Interesting, yes, fun, no. Once in a while there are hints of darkness in the AIs.
I saw the drawing on Facebook first and didn't immediately twig to it being Mid-Earth tactical armor, but it's a fun, chunky design. I like how the arm armor is thick and faceted. Most modern armor designs tend towards sleek and boring, and yours has some faint echoes of Mars Division armor from Genesis Climber Mospeada/Robotech: The New Generation around the top half. A complement as Mars Division armor (and Battle Ride Armor/Robotech Cyclone) are some of my favorite designs of all time. I just spent several hundred Euro on collecting some Cyclone toys. I haven't bought a toy or collectable in over a decade.
Another thought.
Surely the conspirators by now have figured out Max-Earth could handle three larvae. They might not have been able to anticipate changes to SDC. Still...
Was this another feint move for something else? The conveyers were still working. Did something else get smuggled through this distraction? The viewpoint pasty wouldn't know, and he's dead, anyway...
I guess we'll find out eventually.
All I'll say for now is: don't assume that there's only one group of conspirators, with a single agenda. :)
Oh, I don't. I don't think whatever was going on with bugging the SDC has anything to do with, say, Earth First (which most likely has a small cabal behind it). I do, however, think the ktengo eggs were related to the group who did the bombs. That's the "burn it all" group. I don't think the bomb guys are the same group that's smuggling QAI segments. The QAIs have their own agenda, but seem mostly benevolent. Still, that's five factions I think I know about.
I don't think there are more than two groups messing around with sending things through the main portals, mostly because that route is high security and you'd have to be organized and have resources to pull it off. Those are two of the bigger groups.
I can of course, be wrong.
Scope for this 'season' seems even bigger. I'm wondering how Styles is going to factor into the aftermath of these events.
Thanks, William. The scope has indeed been increasing! Which is an interesting challenge, in terms of keeping track of everything (for me and readers!). Styles being abroad of course widens the range of stories and geographically opens things up significantly. Safe to say that we've moved a fair way from the case-by-case procedural the story started out as.
Thanks for reading and commenting! I've decided to stop paywalling author notes and comments, which I never felt entirely happy about anyway, so it's gratifying to hear from readers!
Fascinating storytelling.
Thanks, Jim! Appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.