*Post Read Comments (v2 after v1 failed to upload, and what the hell did I say, anyway?)*
Right. The koth wouldn't know what to look for, but I'll bet PB has some antennae and protruding hull plates ending in perfectly flat, mirror finish surfaces from scraping the portal's thresholds in transit. Some more minor damage to go with the virus, whatever damage Could Kill and Just Enough inflicted, any diminished processing capabilities given to the drones which disabled Could Kill, any damage taken from re-entry, and any damage taken from impacts during re-entry, transit, and crash, and their reactor being offline.
Probably Better is wounded.
And we know the maxim about a wounded animal.
Probably Better also needs to take time to analyze and assess their situation, surroundings, and current functionality. Such assessment probably finished at about the end of this week's chapter.
Oh, dear.
I don't think Probably Better was fed Kaenemor's diary (why would Matheson scan that and feed it to an AI he thought would never get to Palinor - it's irrelevant to controlling Max-Earth!), so Lola, Yana, et.al. shouldn't have to worry about being directly targeted by the MAGIC WIELDING MEGASHIP, as long as they stay on task and leave them alone.
Silver lining.
If Palanorian Gods DO show up - and the MAGIC WIELDING MEGASHIP pulling enough raw power to DIM THE SUN would certainly attract attention - their ass-kicking will buy Yana more time.
I wouldn't have thought day to day magic use would affect the sun until his note about the "unspoken agreement." A star is finite, but massive. It should take (literal) universe shaking magic for that much power draw. Still, it's all been set up fairly, from the extinguished star in the beginning, to PB being built with Palanorian materials, to the PB battles...
PB may not twig to the completion of Kaenemor's spell until Yana's power draw affects theirs.
But...um... Yeah, Palinor's sun could be damaged. Meaning Palinor may be MORE damaged than Mid and Max Earth in the end.
I have no doubt thus novel ends with successful completion of the spell. It's collateral death and damage which determine the final cost, and it's going to be high.
Correct about magic use: a wielder using a spell to, say, cook their breakfast is not going to accidentally drain the sun of all its energy. It's more that if somebody tried really hard, on purpose, they could theoretically cause some significant problems. A terrorist group deliberately suppressing the sun, even if only temporarily, in order to damage crop yields in a particular area, for example.
It's not easy or safe, though: Kaenamor had the good conscience to make use of distant stars rather than his own, but the intensity of the energy draw and the complexity of the spell didn't go well - and he was a master of his craft.
PB not really knowing what's going on, and having incomplete data on the situation, is giving everyone else an edge, but that probably won't last long.
Glad you picked up on the very specific title of the chapter, too. I thought that would get some readers' attention. :D
Comment addendum: I do not get to claim "called it!" on Probably Better being magic capable. Yes, I posted the possibility last week, but also said I didn't think Simon would do it.
*Pre-read comment*
Um. We've met literal Gods of Palinor. Is Simon about twist _Dues ex Machina_ into _Machina Deum occidit?_*
*I have no idea if Google Translate did that correctly.
*Post Read Comments (v2 after v1 failed to upload, and what the hell did I say, anyway?)*
Right. The koth wouldn't know what to look for, but I'll bet PB has some antennae and protruding hull plates ending in perfectly flat, mirror finish surfaces from scraping the portal's thresholds in transit. Some more minor damage to go with the virus, whatever damage Could Kill and Just Enough inflicted, any diminished processing capabilities given to the drones which disabled Could Kill, any damage taken from re-entry, and any damage taken from impacts during re-entry, transit, and crash, and their reactor being offline.
Probably Better is wounded.
And we know the maxim about a wounded animal.
Probably Better also needs to take time to analyze and assess their situation, surroundings, and current functionality. Such assessment probably finished at about the end of this week's chapter.
Oh, dear.
I don't think Probably Better was fed Kaenemor's diary (why would Matheson scan that and feed it to an AI he thought would never get to Palinor - it's irrelevant to controlling Max-Earth!), so Lola, Yana, et.al. shouldn't have to worry about being directly targeted by the MAGIC WIELDING MEGASHIP, as long as they stay on task and leave them alone.
Silver lining.
If Palanorian Gods DO show up - and the MAGIC WIELDING MEGASHIP pulling enough raw power to DIM THE SUN would certainly attract attention - their ass-kicking will buy Yana more time.
I wouldn't have thought day to day magic use would affect the sun until his note about the "unspoken agreement." A star is finite, but massive. It should take (literal) universe shaking magic for that much power draw. Still, it's all been set up fairly, from the extinguished star in the beginning, to PB being built with Palanorian materials, to the PB battles...
PB may not twig to the completion of Kaenemor's spell until Yana's power draw affects theirs.
But...um... Yeah, Palinor's sun could be damaged. Meaning Palinor may be MORE damaged than Mid and Max Earth in the end.
I have no doubt thus novel ends with successful completion of the spell. It's collateral death and damage which determine the final cost, and it's going to be high.
Correct about magic use: a wielder using a spell to, say, cook their breakfast is not going to accidentally drain the sun of all its energy. It's more that if somebody tried really hard, on purpose, they could theoretically cause some significant problems. A terrorist group deliberately suppressing the sun, even if only temporarily, in order to damage crop yields in a particular area, for example.
It's not easy or safe, though: Kaenamor had the good conscience to make use of distant stars rather than his own, but the intensity of the energy draw and the complexity of the spell didn't go well - and he was a master of his craft.
PB not really knowing what's going on, and having incomplete data on the situation, is giving everyone else an edge, but that probably won't last long.
Glad you picked up on the very specific title of the chapter, too. I thought that would get some readers' attention. :D
*Live-read Comments*
MIKE: *Reads Chapter Title*
We've MET Gods from Palinor.
Are you about to twist "Deus ex Machina" (God in the machine) into Machina Deum occidit (machine kills God)?
And did Google Translate give me the correct Latin for the Substack comment?
I'm about to find out!
SIMON: (MR-BURNS-SMIRK-SIMPSONS-GIF)
MIKE: Lykasra is brave. Too ignorant to be stupid about this recon.
Ah, reactor offline. Batteries only. That's good for our heroes. PB will have to manage resources carefully...
Unless the MAGIC WIELDING MEGASHIP (called it!) is now solar-powered, which would fit both tech and the magic rules...
Comment addendum: I do not get to claim "called it!" on Probably Better being magic capable. Yes, I posted the possibility last week, but also said I didn't think Simon would do it.
Should have quit last week when I was ahead...
:D
Wow! Great segue to Part 2!