Andrea's facial expression in the last panel perfectly captures her complete bewilderment about what just happened.
On the bright side, Seeker Olive directly requesting Centcom put Andrea on the case instead of one of Cent's angels has got to reflect positively on her next performance review. I mean Seeker Olive choose Andrea over Centcom's best angels. That is high praise.
This is the sort of case that's going to either boost Detective Valorian's career into stratosphere or crash it like a meteor. And that's before worrying about security implications (Why did Epiphytes want her specifically? Is she compromised in some way?) or potential diplomatic consequences of failure.
I think the Epiphytes chose her because she actually cares. Simple as that, she wants to know who did it and why and bring them to justice. She has no deep motive, political goals, or prejudices / preconceptions.
Of course the epiphytes chose her because she cares. They're telepaths and could literally see that she didn't have ulterior motives or that kind of stuff. Might also be that epiphytes have problems "reading" androids and thus wanted a real human whom they can 'read'.They'll also know (and probably understand) if Valorian does her best but still fails due to ill fortune or simply because the case is unsolvable.
It's New Troy's own security apparatus and it's paranoia which may become a problem in future for Valorian. How vengeful Coburn will be in future is also a question mark. Don't you love high-visibility political cases?
Aaand Andrea is completely blown away. Her expression in the last panel is priceless.
Seeker Olive's position is impressive. Not too many get to tell CentComm what to do. "We don't want any of your constructs; we want Andrea."
Re: Alt text, I can imagine Britta's reaction to be a silent, tiny-fisted, wide eyed, teeth gritted, Coburn Slow-burn. *Andrea turns to Britta* "You know all those forms and stuff you mentioned? You should get going on those.
Britta: (((!!...)))
It is always instructive to observe people’s reactions to CentComm being decisive. I particularly like the tiny Coburn ‘speech balloons’ conveying her reactions, even though we cannot see her expressions. Nicely done.
I am puzzled about what makes Seeker Olive so impressed by Detective Valorian, compared to one of CentComm’s angels. After all, a central theme of this webcomic has been that Humanity is about who you are, not what you are made of. Why would there be a presumption that any of. CentComm’s angels would be any less caring, compassionate, or motivated than Andrea? Especially when they can be constructed to order.
I feel like MirrorField's comment above is probably the big reason. The epiphytes have problems reading androids. Even if the epiphytes *could* read androids, CentComm's crystal children are sufficiently integrated that she could effectively alter their behavior irrespective of their feelings, with basically no warning.
But I doubt that androids are particularly easy to read even apart from any meddling from CentComm. As intractably difficult as telepathy is, the vast difference in how human brains work versus androids virtually has to have an impact on how and even if telepathy could work at all. We've seen at least one person who has an ability to do telepathy with machines, but Dr. Silver can't do telepathy with humans as far as we've been shown. It stands to reason that the epiphytes would also be limited to being able to read one sort of mind or another.
So much for Britta's empire. Must really be frying her brain to know Andrea now pretty much outranks her.
...and Andrea is baffled...
...glad to see Andrea will be able to work the case - my question: is she still able to come back when killed or is this after she lost her 'curse'?
*lol* pronouncing Homeship Aster in the Epiphyte's language seems not so easy for humans...
@alt text: aaaaawwwwwwww... that would have been too precious to see...
And yes, this is even more fun than downward flying lessons!
On the bright side, Seeker Olive directly requesting Centcom put Andrea on the case instead of one of Cent's angels has got to reflect positively on her next performance review. I mean Seeker Olive choose Andrea over Centcom's best angels. That is high praise.
It's New Troy's own security apparatus and it's paranoia which may become a problem in future for Valorian. How vengeful Coburn will be in future is also a question mark. Don't you love high-visibility political cases?
Seeker Olive's position is impressive. Not too many get to tell CentComm what to do. "We don't want any of your constructs; we want Andrea."
Re: Alt text, I can imagine Britta's reaction to be a silent, tiny-fisted, wide eyed, teeth gritted, Coburn Slow-burn.
*Andrea turns to Britta* "You know all those forms and stuff you mentioned? You should get going on those.
Britta: (((!!...)))
It is always instructive to observe people’s reactions to CentComm being decisive. I particularly like the tiny Coburn ‘speech balloons’ conveying her reactions, even though we cannot see her expressions. Nicely done.
I am puzzled about what makes Seeker Olive so impressed by Detective Valorian, compared to one of CentComm’s angels. After all, a central theme of this webcomic has been that Humanity is about who you are, not what you are made of. Why would there be a presumption that any of. CentComm’s angels would be any less caring, compassionate, or motivated than Andrea? Especially when they can be constructed to order.
But I doubt that androids are particularly easy to read even apart from any meddling from CentComm. As intractably difficult as telepathy is, the vast difference in how human brains work versus androids virtually has to have an impact on how and even if telepathy could work at all. We've seen at least one person who has an ability to do telepathy with machines, but Dr. Silver can't do telepathy with humans as far as we've been shown. It stands to reason that the epiphytes would also be limited to being able to read one sort of mind or another.