Very good point, Beltboy. That last OH tells me that Calliope has discovered things about CeCi that she didn't know. Changes how she sees CeCi's and Dolly's chances.
"Partly because she is Dolly", that says volumes about Dolly. Seriously remind me to NOT harm ANY of the family, my chances for survival would not be measurable in normal terms!
Other then Itsy Bitsy, and I don't think that that is a scientic term...
I actually think that's a good thing. Because the part about what he'd do to Lynn might have been an incentive to plan and set in motion an invasion.
Or assassination.
Heh. You just reminded me of a bit from a Louis L'Amour western - Galloway Sackett explains to some local would-be bad-asses just what happens when you mess with the Sacketts.
They decide that Colorado sounds a lot more intersting than Texas, just at the moment.
He heads back out onto the street, and his twin, Flagan, has been watching benevolently over him from afar.
Flagan says. "Well? Did you read to them from the Book?" and Galloway says "No - but I showed them some of the pictures."
Most of an order of magnitude lower, actually. Surface to geostationary lag is around 150ms each way, depending on geometry. LEO and MEO comsats are usually single digit milliseconds. (For comparison, earth-moon is around 1.33 seconds surface to surface.)
It's around 100ms or so each way for sound propagation from the person speaking to the mic, through an ADC, and the network hops to the antenna and the reverse process at the other end. So the limiting factor's more the first and last kilometer and not so much the 2500 to 80000km in the middle.
@Fairportfan: Only if LunaComm provides remarkably poor service. Comms based on a lunar bounce don't work the half of the day the moon's below the horizon. Once satellites are in place to handle that there's no reason to route an Earth to Earth call through the moon. If one has some kind of fancy neutrino doohickey so the planet doesn't get in the way it doesn't help any with latency.
However, it is much cheaper in energy to move items from the moon to low earth orbit than to move the same objects from Earth, so Luna has an easy monopoly given their much lower costs.
I'm assuming the law of conservation of mass and energy still applies here...
as stated elsewhere in the comments - the signals for earth communications are routed though earth orbit satalights and as needed handled by "operators" in the case of critical comms or comms that require special handling ..
I don't think it will be a huge problem, DLK. Dolly and CeCi should be able to identify Dr. Silver and Major Ramesy at the very least. They are both known entities in New Troy.
On the flip-side, I expect that Major Ramesy at the very least was provided imagery of both Dolly and CeCi. Since recovery of Dolly was part of his mission package.
They may not expect to encounter each other, but both groups think pretty quick on their feet.
"...I expect that Major Ramesy at the very least was provided imagery of both Dolly and CeCi. Since recovery of Dolly was part of his mission package."
That was shown in-comic at the beginning of the early morning, ultra secret "Alpha Black" briefing Cent-Comm made when Major Ramesy and white angel Cella were introduced to this problem and given this mission. I'm too lazy to find the page number...
Though, now that I think about it, Ramesy may not be aware of CeCi per se. I believe he knows that a black angel was assigned to Dolly. But he did not indicate recognition of CeCi's connection to Dolly when he had Dr. Silver fix CeCi's cascading morality issues. If Ramesy knew that CeCi was the black angel with Dolly, he might have done something more drastic as he could not afford for CeCi to go quote, "H9K" as losing Dolly would mean losing his secondary objective.
The Major was ready to go for the kill switch, xpacetrue (on the page for 17 June 2013 - H9K) not to protect Dolly, but to protect EVERYONE near the unit. He trusted Dr. Silver to fix the problem though so didn't need to go there.
I can't tell if the Major recognized CeCi as the unit accompanying Dolly or not. Did he focus on the Black Angel part, treating her like a weapon system (like his coffee maker). Not recognizing her as an individual because he didn't think she was one. Still he moved quickly to ensure that the unit didn't get out of hand by immediately putting the best resource (Dr. Silver) he had to deal with the problem.
Stormwind: BlackAngels are not your run of the mill android, and sadly to classify them in with the normal androids of NT would be unfair and an insult to the androids of NT.. The creation of BlackAngels are nothing more than weapons systems with with highly educated synthbrains... they are general left in cold storage till they are needed.. they do the job they were programmed/assigned to do.. when they return.. *if* they return they are wiped and put back in to storage till they are needed again.. this is why until Dr Silver Says that she sparked I treated her as I would any intelligent weapon systems, such as drones, mobile weapons platforms.. BlackAngels do have much in common with normal androids but have had the morality framework removed which allows for them to do the jobs they need to do with out having a nervous breakdown if they have to do harm to humans or do things that are "wrong, immoral, illegal, and generally not nice
Some androids such as TeeDee.. or lawenforcment, or even MilSec, have a reduced Morality framework.. its still there but they can justify things in the name of the greater good... or with TeeDee, just the way the Synthbrain put its self together much like that of humans when they grow and become productive members of sosciety. Dr Silver can explain it a LOT better than I can...
Any danger here lies more in plans colliding than teams colliding. And the former can usually be rectified. Depending on circumstances even to a benefit.
Chances are, the higher danger lies in one of the parties (let's not forget the third one here that no one from New Troy is aware of yet) succeeding without the others realising it in time. And consequently staging their own attempt into a room/area now devoid of their target but filled with guards.
Dolly: Okay, I get get Lynn at 11 sharp and escape through the Caspian's private hangar on the north face of the palace (Where did they all GO anyway?). Thanks to CeCi the hangar on the east side is going to suffer some cluster munitions malfunction at the same time so pursuit should be light and confusion high.
Marcus: Okay team, we can get to our objective at 10:45 and escape via the main military hangar fifteen minutes later. Fortunately Ada found one of the Imperial guard's IDs in the lizard's.... leftovers.
Ada: I disinfected it, you can pick it up Marcus...
marcus: TeeDee and Silver's balls-
Dr Silver: SPHERES!
Marcus: ...Her 'droids will smash the Caspain's hangar at the same time. We'll make our own door and pick you up there. Watch out for the Caspains. If you see any, take them down.
Teedee: FI-NA-LLY!
Team NT Marcus,TD , Ada and Silver all know Dolly and Ceci's faces so no danger there.. Dolly will recognize Silver on sight as her and Calliope have kinda a BFF / hate thing going on.
That's why I'm thinking the bigger danger here lying, to take Pirtnac's example, in Marcus' team succeeding and getting away. Then Dolly running straight into the guards gathering to investigate and on high alert with her own attempt.
Actually with the more we learn and the way things are going I'm kind of interested in knowing what game Luna is playing, what hidden dice they have to roll. Cause right now I'm thinking they're the reigning Bene Gesserit's playing with nations and bloodlines.
We get glimpses of Luna politics in the Luna Star comic. But, esp. compared to Datachasers, only small glimpses.
My interpretation is that - at least OFFICIALLY - Luna's policy is probably to stay the h*ll out of business that does not concern them. Luna Star had glimpses of news feeds and stories about countries becoming hostile to each other and even their own citizens. Earth experienced an apocalypse, while Luna most likely did not.
It sounds like Luna managed to survive and even thrive by being neutral - staying out of Earth's politics and avoiding taking sides. It should tell us something that in Datachaser's time all Earth communications is provided by a Lunar monopoly.
But then, as the neutral powers in WWII were neutral officially, but were most definitely "meddlesome" unofficially, Luna may have a similar policy. Remember Logrin and Dusty from many, many pages ago? It was strongly inferred that Logrin was a Luna operative of some sort. Most likely, he is semi-retired and positioned undercover on Earth to monitor the major powers. (Or is Logrin a New Sparta operative?)
I say "semi-retired" because, considering that CentComm helped end hostilities on Earth many generations ago, this should be an easy post. But Logrin seems as sharp as a whip, so he probably recognizes something major is brewing. And if push comes to shove, he may act in Luna's or even humanity's best interests.
Humanity nearly faced extinction from the last wars. It was only Helios' Miracle that saved what was left - and even that is quite precarious. Any alien or foreign power might conclude that they can't afford another major war as it would be the end of them. And I bet trade with Earth, particularly with Luna's communication monopoly, is profitable.
So, I'm still expecting that sly old fox Logrin to become involved - somehow - before this story reaches a conclusion. Then, we may consider that Luna provides all communication... Though, to be fair, they can't afford it becoming public knowledge that they monitor communication or if they actually do take sides. That's a very tricky situation and very risky. As such, I may be completely wrong. That said, Luna Star did begin with Galina being used as a tool to secretly monitor and decode all Earth communications.
The presence of Luna medical tech isn't so much an indication of Luna being meddlesome as maintaining trade relations. (Weapons can be gotten on the black market or through back channels by anyone who has a stupid amount of money.)
I would love, just once, to see CentComm from DC do a rant like Yzma's in this clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfIxMNm7roU) with Calli next to her. It would be a scream of a good time!
Very good point, DLK. Calliope was in shock, I'm sure. Her child was stolen away. She has now decided to take a hand in matters. The shock has worn off, the steel remains.
I'm guessin' all of Centcomm's droids/bots/borgs have IFF built in, so there's no chance of them taking each other on. The humans, I dunno. The droids will set 'em straight.
I'm also wonderin' if Prince Douchebag is thinkin' of sendin' an assassin squad after Calliope. He's just wacked-out enough to pull a stunt like that.
He's buckin' for Nova Roma to be a green glass lake, I swear.
"Droids" must be slang for androids, though it always reminds me of Star Wars. "Borgs" must be slang for cyborgs, though it always reminds me of Star Trek.
IFF? I don't think they would broadcast an IFF or an identification number. Teedee, Ada, and Dolly are disguised to pass for human. Really, I don't foresee much of a complication if they do happen to meet. Marcus just said he has been briefed and I know he knows what Dolly looks like.
That said, we have seen them "speed talk" or talk covertly via radio to one another. I assume they do so on a highly encrypted signal. Perhaps they even rotate frequencies on set patterns? They shouldn't be detected, considering how primitive Nova Roma's security tech seems to be.
However, a Cassian within earshot would recognize the speedtalk for what it is. Radio signals too, probably.
Droid is a derogatory slang for Androids in DC as is clockwork or in some cases calling a Andriod a "doll" as dolls have no real minds..
Actual bots are called bots or drones or anything else .. call Teedee a driod and you will be looking for your jaw and teeth .. and most of your skull ..
Seriously......I think DEci has only 2 WORKING brain cells.....and Lynn may have given one of htem a concussion and now the other's jealous and wants one too...
http://pharaoh.thecomicseries.com/comics/6
Other then Itsy Bitsy, and I don't think that that is a scientic term...
... all the stray kittens
... every single one !
They would be saved!
Or assassination.
Is Cent going to show the rest of the pictures on the left?
And most of all does Cent know what Rose is dooing?
They decide that Colorado sounds a lot more intersting than Texas, just at the moment.
He heads back out onto the street, and his twin, Flagan, has been watching benevolently over him from afar.
Flagan says. "Well? Did you read to them from the Book?" and Galloway says "No - but I showed them some of the pictures."
as for Cent knowing what Rose is doing .. what do YOU think ?
It's around 100ms or so each way for sound propagation from the person speaking to the mic, through an ADC, and the network hops to the antenna and the reverse process at the other end. So the limiting factor's more the first and last kilometer and not so much the 2500 to 80000km in the middle.
@Fairportfan: Only if LunaComm provides remarkably poor service. Comms based on a lunar bounce don't work the half of the day the moon's below the horizon. Once satellites are in place to handle that there's no reason to route an Earth to Earth call through the moon. If one has some kind of fancy neutrino doohickey so the planet doesn't get in the way it doesn't help any with latency.
I'm assuming the law of conservation of mass and energy still applies here...
so the call really has no lag
So, let us hope it all works out...
Although in different circumstances, A showdown between Ceci and Teedee would be ...interesting...
On the flip-side, I expect that Major Ramesy at the very least was provided imagery of both Dolly and CeCi. Since recovery of Dolly was part of his mission package.
They may not expect to encounter each other, but both groups think pretty quick on their feet.
That was shown in-comic at the beginning of the early morning, ultra secret "Alpha Black" briefing Cent-Comm made when Major Ramesy and white angel Cella were introduced to this problem and given this mission. I'm too lazy to find the page number...
Though, now that I think about it, Ramesy may not be aware of CeCi per se. I believe he knows that a black angel was assigned to Dolly. But he did not indicate recognition of CeCi's connection to Dolly when he had Dr. Silver fix CeCi's cascading morality issues. If Ramesy knew that CeCi was the black angel with Dolly, he might have done something more drastic as he could not afford for CeCi to go quote, "H9K" as losing Dolly would mean losing his secondary objective.
I can't tell if the Major recognized CeCi as the unit accompanying Dolly or not. Did he focus on the Black Angel part, treating her like a weapon system (like his coffee maker). Not recognizing her as an individual because he didn't think she was one. Still he moved quickly to ensure that the unit didn't get out of hand by immediately putting the best resource (Dr. Silver) he had to deal with the problem.
Some androids such as TeeDee.. or lawenforcment, or even MilSec, have a reduced Morality framework.. its still there but they can justify things in the name of the greater good... or with TeeDee, just the way the Synthbrain put its self together much like that of humans when they grow and become productive members of sosciety. Dr Silver can explain it a LOT better than I can...
Chances are, the higher danger lies in one of the parties (let's not forget the third one here that no one from New Troy is aware of yet) succeeding without the others realising it in time. And consequently staging their own attempt into a room/area now devoid of their target but filled with guards.
Dolly: Okay, I get get Lynn at 11 sharp and escape through the Caspian's private hangar on the north face of the palace (Where did they all GO anyway?). Thanks to CeCi the hangar on the east side is going to suffer some cluster munitions malfunction at the same time so pursuit should be light and confusion high.
Marcus: Okay team, we can get to our objective at 10:45 and escape via the main military hangar fifteen minutes later. Fortunately Ada found one of the Imperial guard's IDs in the lizard's.... leftovers.
Ada: I disinfected it, you can pick it up Marcus...
marcus: TeeDee and Silver's balls-
Dr Silver: SPHERES!
Marcus: ...Her 'droids will smash the Caspain's hangar at the same time. We'll make our own door and pick you up there. Watch out for the Caspains. If you see any, take them down.
Teedee: FI-NA-LLY!
Yep, I think like that.
Operational Remote Battle system ( Is one of the codes :D )
Or GONADS for short....
Which means that Dr Silver has bigger balls than Marcus, this is now official!
They probably even have an IO port that Dr silver can connect to directly! What a kinky lady!
My interpretation is that - at least OFFICIALLY - Luna's policy is probably to stay the h*ll out of business that does not concern them. Luna Star had glimpses of news feeds and stories about countries becoming hostile to each other and even their own citizens. Earth experienced an apocalypse, while Luna most likely did not.
It sounds like Luna managed to survive and even thrive by being neutral - staying out of Earth's politics and avoiding taking sides. It should tell us something that in Datachaser's time all Earth communications is provided by a Lunar monopoly.
But then, as the neutral powers in WWII were neutral officially, but were most definitely "meddlesome" unofficially, Luna may have a similar policy. Remember Logrin and Dusty from many, many pages ago? It was strongly inferred that Logrin was a Luna operative of some sort. Most likely, he is semi-retired and positioned undercover on Earth to monitor the major powers. (Or is Logrin a New Sparta operative?)
I say "semi-retired" because, considering that CentComm helped end hostilities on Earth many generations ago, this should be an easy post. But Logrin seems as sharp as a whip, so he probably recognizes something major is brewing. And if push comes to shove, he may act in Luna's or even humanity's best interests.
Humanity nearly faced extinction from the last wars. It was only Helios' Miracle that saved what was left - and even that is quite precarious. Any alien or foreign power might conclude that they can't afford another major war as it would be the end of them. And I bet trade with Earth, particularly with Luna's communication monopoly, is profitable.
So, I'm still expecting that sly old fox Logrin to become involved - somehow - before this story reaches a conclusion. Then, we may consider that Luna provides all communication... Though, to be fair, they can't afford it becoming public knowledge that they monitor communication or if they actually do take sides. That's a very tricky situation and very risky. As such, I may be completely wrong. That said, Luna Star did begin with Galina being used as a tool to secretly monitor and decode all Earth communications.
She so has it in her, I can sense it!
I think by now, she should know to not judge by apperances. Practically everyone in this comic isn't who they appear to be.
She's back now, and unhappy about that mess in the livingroom!
Mua ha ha ha ... noone will see this coming! >:)
I'm also wonderin' if Prince Douchebag is thinkin' of sendin' an assassin squad after Calliope. He's just wacked-out enough to pull a stunt like that.
He's buckin' for Nova Roma to be a green glass lake, I swear.
IFF? I don't think they would broadcast an IFF or an identification number. Teedee, Ada, and Dolly are disguised to pass for human. Really, I don't foresee much of a complication if they do happen to meet. Marcus just said he has been briefed and I know he knows what Dolly looks like.
That said, we have seen them "speed talk" or talk covertly via radio to one another. I assume they do so on a highly encrypted signal. Perhaps they even rotate frequencies on set patterns? They shouldn't be detected, considering how primitive Nova Roma's security tech seems to be.
However, a Cassian within earshot would recognize the speedtalk for what it is. Radio signals too, probably.
Actual bots are called bots or drones or anything else .. call Teedee a driod and you will be looking for your jaw and teeth .. and most of your skull ..
(If this isn't funny, let's all blame my cold and insomnia!)