Personal bodyguard... That implies that something does not feel right to Maximus. What the prince has tried to do once, he may try to do again. In a different way of course.
My concern is that the good guys are not paranoid enough.
Hmmm and deeper Hmmm how will this affect Miraiko's plan to "Kidnap" The Princess Nova Roma and "The Princess" of New Troy?
And I hope the Praefectus realizes his death wish may well be granted sooner than later.
I don't think that Decimus can really see any of his plans as falling apart, until they actually do so. As for his death, I don't think that he can imagine himself as dying. Ever. Except in some distant far off time when he dies of old age. He has done a lot so far without suffering fatal backlash. I really think he feels himself immune to anything fatal.
Unfortunately the word decimated comes from the ancient Roman practice of pulling the entire population of a troublesome village out, going down the row and killing one out of every ten.
Same reason small dictatorships across the world aren't turned over.
A lot of high status people with lots of money are prospering under Decimus' rule.
That said, sometimes there are additional issues.
Take real world Belarus, for example, it is ostentatiously a democracy, though almost everyone thinks it's a dictatorship, run by Alexander Lukashenko, who's been at it since 1994.
So, why haven't they thrown him off ?
Well, to the north, there is Russia, which he has managed to stay friends with.
To the south is Ukraine, which he has somehow managed to stay on cordial terms with.
So his people look in both directions and go "Oh hell no, we do not want to be in the same situation as Ukraine!" and then "maybe having a rabid dog on the throne keeps our country safe?"
And thus, through intimidation, violence and a genuine need to keep his country safe, Lukashenko has managed to walk the tight rope for decades.
You pretty much hit it on the head .. The prince has made sure that a LOT of the men and women in power share his view and he keeps them happy - So thats one large road block to Acantha she is a lot more "honorable" and good guy morality than the Prince...
But we can still destroy his ankels knes hips wrist elbows and shoulders and jaw. leave him like the Superman actor without the use of a twizzle stick wheelchair controller. Yes, Virginia there are worse things than death.
why? he's still alive, breathing and thinking. seriously for these contingencies to be this invasive he must be half cyborg or living in the future version of an iron lung.
OKay Stab him in the head with a Nano mmachine laced spike that enters his brain and co-opts his conscious mind fucntions mimicking his normal brain patterns for the Congincy sensors while Rendering him a VEgitable Til they can be transferred and then Feed him to TEdee's MT pet and go get lunch?
Well, for one thing, if they tried and failed, the consequences would be too horrible to imagine. Dec would outdo himself coming up with new ways to execute the "traitors." :(
I'm curious. "Praefectis Cohortis" actually means "Commander of the Guards", or "Captian of the Guards". Does that mean Damoclus has men underneath him to help with protecting Acantha?
And now I'm thinking of a certain scene in "Life of Brian". Those poor, poor dudes playing the guards were told (albeit falsely) that they absolutely COULD NOT crack up or they'd get sacked...
I did research it sadly Roman ranks are confusing as hell .. He got bumped to a "corporal" instead of a "private" so meh.. I blame google - thats my story :D
As a rank/title it could or could not involve having actual troops under it to command, but did entitle the bearer with the authority TO command troops. So in his capacity as her guardian he can legally command other troops to aid or desist from actions in her defense.
Praefects were sort of like general duty officers, they could be assigned political duties, field commands, staff functions, or individual assignments.
Rank wise it can be anything from a major to one star general in authority, depending on the circumstances. (Or be a police chief, fire chief, Military District Director, trouble shooter, quartermaster, add infinitum) So our boy got quite the promotion. But if it comes with the authority and responsibility it probably does, he may not be getting paid enough.
I was going to comment on this earlier (for me, but it was about 4 years ago for you), but I like the "baby fat" you seem to have on Acantha's face - compared to every other character, at least. It reminds me that she's still a 16-year-old girl, who hasn't -quite- grown into herself yet.
Prefect Damoclus is wearing red armor, which is kinda like wearing a red shirt. Is there some sort of foreshadowing here? And what is Prince Douchebag's strike team up to? Paying a visit to the VIP Guest Suite, mayhap?
Cassians wear whatever they damn well want to wear, and noone gets to say otherwise.
.. well, except for that one time when Malati wanted to stalk Decimus while naked, Kali put a stop to that, right quick!
Ofcourse, Malati wasn't *really* going to harm Decimus, just fool around with him a bit .. y'know .. for fun, and terror. :)
So why jis Maxus using this poor red guy and not a gold guy? Course this guys going to ned induction into a whole new cadre, as those that are only loyal to the Princess and are only answerable to Kali.
Because he's sure of both his loyalty and capability. And after what happened before his willingness to protect Acantha no matter what, even against the Prince himself if need be.
At Lukkai and Cent. I can understand that. But if he's holding this position he needs at least Gold level equiptment and armor. As well as advanced training that we can hope he received while the girls were away, advanced enough that the only ones that could hope to stand against him in battle would be the Cassians.
Of course if I was trying to protect someone for a madman I'd probably be more interested in getting the one I'm trying to protect into the best MANTIS armor Luna manufactures, rather than relying on bodyguards.
Logic would say yes, enfact logic would say she should have already had a detachment of Silver/Blues. But I think getting that past Deci would have been hard and I doubt we really want troops loyal to him in the same building with the Princess's. Knowing Deci the Silver/Blues are like Sardaukar: convicts turned death troops.
Patton was a genius, his speaches are still rembered to this day.. and I firmly believe in his words... my job is not to die for my city.. its the make the other bastards die for theirs.
Hehe. The exchange in panel one really is great. ;)
Formal answer first, then of to casual. After all they know each other well and are not exactly in a place where they'd have to hold up appearances.
Dictators usually are well received at first, until some adviser starts doing things the people don't like. Course the dictator gets the blame, which means the dictator gets out the jackboot to "put the people back inline" and things just get worse from there.
My concern is that the good guys are not paranoid enough.
By the way, I liked the humor here!
The humor is all Rose :D
You did something to him though, he looks a lot better now than he did then. New model, I'm guessing?
And I hope the Praefectus realizes his death wish may well be granted sooner than later.
At least you'd have a nice view along the way. If you survived the initial blast and acceleration.
WHY THE HECK has no one Put DEci in a Coma And let Kali and Maxus rule as Steward til Acantha's old enough?!?!?!?
A lot of high status people with lots of money are prospering under Decimus' rule.
That said, sometimes there are additional issues.
Take real world Belarus, for example, it is ostentatiously a democracy, though almost everyone thinks it's a dictatorship, run by Alexander Lukashenko, who's been at it since 1994.
So, why haven't they thrown him off ?
Well, to the north, there is Russia, which he has managed to stay friends with.
To the south is Ukraine, which he has somehow managed to stay on cordial terms with.
So his people look in both directions and go "Oh hell no, we do not want to be in the same situation as Ukraine!" and then "maybe having a rabid dog on the throne keeps our country safe?"
And thus, through intimidation, violence and a genuine need to keep his country safe, Lukashenko has managed to walk the tight rope for decades.
I suspect Decimus is doing something similar.
You pretty much hit it on the head .. The prince has made sure that a LOT of the men and women in power share his view and he keeps them happy - So thats one large road block to Acantha she is a lot more "honorable" and good guy morality than the Prince...
And don't worry guys, I got his shoelaces already ! :)
Besides, it is possible for two groups to be in agreement on quite a few things, and still be very much at odds with one another.
And then the contingencies go off.
OKay Stab him in the head with a Nano mmachine laced spike that enters his brain and co-opts his conscious mind fucntions mimicking his normal brain patterns for the Congincy sensors while Rendering him a VEgitable Til they can be transferred and then Feed him to TEdee's MT pet and go get lunch?
Well, they will meet Leo at the dinner and abducti him to repair and heal A...
/stink-eye at Cent
And now I'm thinking of a certain scene in "Life of Brian". Those poor, poor dudes playing the guards were told (albeit falsely) that they absolutely COULD NOT crack up or they'd get sacked...
Praefects were sort of like general duty officers, they could be assigned political duties, field commands, staff functions, or individual assignments.
Gives both Cent and Rose a hug!
Although...isn't Acantha skinnier than Lynn? Or was that what we call deliberate irony? XD
Did Acantha just call Lynn fat?!
Red : General Army / Centurions they are the rank and file of Roma
Gold /other colors : General Maxus's pretorians these are highly trained and loyal to the Princess and Maxus
Blue/silver : The Princes elite pretorians they guard the royal chambers and the royal family they also get top of the line armor and weapons
Cassians: Spec/ops - wetworks OTHER
these vary by personal choice of the Cassian so they don't really have a uniform or rank.
.. well, except for that one time when Malati wanted to stalk Decimus while naked, Kali put a stop to that, right quick!
Ofcourse, Malati wasn't *really* going to harm Decimus, just fool around with him a bit .. y'know .. for fun, and terror. :)
Successful bodyguards don't lay down their life in their principal's defense - they lay down the other poor bastard's life in defense of it.
Formal answer first, then of to casual. After all they know each other well and are not exactly in a place where they'd have to hold up appearances.