This page lead me to rereading the most 'previous assignment' I found this snippet:
Maliti: 'Define alive:'
Boss lady: 'Capable of rational speech within two days of medical care'
Presuming extermination has a similarly opposing minimum requirements...
Princely 'witness' and General 'target' gives plently of leeway for a moral assassin to play with! ^^
This may take some thought on what is going on, but it looks like an assassination and a kidnapping. I suspect that this is why he wanted to talk to the commander of his guards. Needs a safe place to stash the terrible duo.
somehow I see Dolly getting involved in this. They have not seen anything yet, I am sure.
Of all the characters I have seen, I think Dolly is one of the most dangerous. Even Centcom agreed with this. She rated Dollies survival as obvious. "Because she is Dolly."
I smell a "White Mutiny". Is there "anyone" in Nova Roma unquestionably loyal to its prince? And anyone taking full and adequate precautions in attacking a certain former gladiator will probably never actually get around to actually attacking him. Warning him that he's going to be attacked, most assuredly, but actually getting to the bang, biff part, not likely. Too many loose ends.
Noctis, you have the makings of being a TRUE Machiavellian! By informing Kali of your plan, AND getting her to acknowledge agreement to it, you have made her a co-conspirator!
I think you're a little unclear on whose plan it is: I'm pretty sure Noctis is explaining Kali's plan to the people in the room who may not have fully caught on to how she plans to subvert Prince Decimus' orders.
Does that "Not Fully Loyal" mean the two of them are now stuck with the emperors catgirl (what was her name again)?
After all she was the only one deemed to be "Fully Loyal" by Kali in the past.
They're up to something! Possibilities are nebulous. Could it be...?
Malati: #Third hourly report: kept target in sight. Numerous opportunities to strike presented but rejected. The perfect opportunity will arise in time, allowing me to obtain the optimal result as desired. My target will not see me and nor shall anyone else and nor shall I leave a mark. Have patience. End.#
Kali: #ALL CASSIANS: While we were all busy on our assignments, the Emperor was assassinated. We must take steps to apprehend his killer.# #Malati: Go and interrogate the gladiators. They may know something. Use any method you consider appropriate.#
Later...
Malati: #Third daily report: no leads yet. Sweat testing: negative. Muscle stress analysis: negative. Close questioning: negative. I am beginning to think the gladiators were experiencing an unrelated stress reaction to me personally, especially when I enter the changing rooms or showers. This reaction now appears to be fading, and I may need to recalibrate my baseline. I need more time. A lot more time. Thanks, boss. End.# :-)
To go along with Hagean2005's theory there, I can agree a bit. Although, I've had my suspicions about Lynn. True, she's a key figure to kidnap, to use as a barganing chip...but I still think it's probably more than that. There might be something REALLY special about her even she doesn't know. Everyone in this story has something to hide, and the same could go for her, even if she's unware she's hiding something to begin with.
I don't know; I guess I'm just expecting her to turn out to be a super advanced android or something. Or she has some important device implanted in her for safe keeping. This comic is called "DataCHASERS"...chasing data, yes...but what kind of data?
Well the title actually has little to do with the Strip ( surprise ) :D And Lynn is very special.. Shes Calliopes baby girl .. Otherwise shes just your ordinary slightly spoiled above average intelligent teen :D
This looks bad for Maxus (I assume that he is the dangerous cyber enhanced male). It also looks bad for Acantha and Lynn (again I assume that they are the females in question here). I don't think that The Prince of Pecans (because he's nuttier than an orchard of pecan trees) has found out about the two New Troy teams yet.
Not to change the subject but Noctis has a cutest darn little nose I ever seen on a cyborg-killer-spy. It just came over me and I had to say it, so there.
As an interested side question, who would Decimus call in to enforce his will over the Cassians? Who has oversight over Kali if she decides to be difficult.
Long ago, on a page far earlier in the story, it was explained that Kali and all the Cassians have inhibitors built in. These inhibitors function just like the collars.
There's a huge difference between following orders blindly and interpreting orders as they see fit. If the prince realizes that the Cassians are exercising a great deal of selectivity in how they carry out his orders it's the same as disregarding them (from his point of view). This leads to the question asked, who could he turn to to discipline them if they wouldn't want to discipline themselves?
"Eliminate the target and any witnesses...." Um. These Cassians are hardcore. They could contemplate their own death as a form of protest/rebellion. And after eliminating the target, the Cassian has become a witness.....
Nope, I'm pretty sure that option's out. Much as any of them would like to be able to, they've got inhibitors. Their poor brains would melt if they decided to kill the prince. He is very specifically protected by their programming, but they themselves aren't, and without them Deck wouldn't last a day.
And yes The Cassians are specifically forbidden to touch Decimus he could walk up to someone and blow there brains out and all a cassian could do is watch. and tell Maxus. Kali has a BIT more lassitude but not much :D
The operative phrase here is " ... the greater good of Nova Roma," which Price Douchebag's vendetta against Lynn and the others is not contributing to one iota. Granted, while none of the cyber assassins can kill the Prince, he can be placed in isolated 'protective custody' until things 'stabilize' in the kingdom. Not having the likes of Maxus and Kail backing him up, the Prince is pretty much toast.
Does that include any people knowing of the operation that are not directly involved in its execution? And if yes, how direct do they have to be involved to not be considered a possible witness?
Any other problems this might birth aside, it simply means that as soon as Deci would fall into the "possible witness" group, the order can't be fulfilled anyway.
Seeing the beginning of these orders be fulfilled, like the first move on the target, the dialogue makes so much more sens e now. Like what details were chosen. Everyone has focused on the wrong detail.....
I'm still not 100% clear on the details, but I can see some of it forming (I think)
Maliti: 'Define alive:'
Boss lady: 'Capable of rational speech within two days of medical care'
Presuming extermination has a similarly opposing minimum requirements...
Princely 'witness' and General 'target' gives plently of leeway for a moral assassin to play with! ^^
Unusual.
This may take some thought on what is going on, but it looks like an assassination and a kidnapping. I suspect that this is why he wanted to talk to the commander of his guards. Needs a safe place to stash the terrible duo.
somehow I see Dolly getting involved in this. They have not seen anything yet, I am sure.
Of all the characters I have seen, I think Dolly is one of the most dangerous. Even Centcom agreed with this. She rated Dollies survival as obvious. "Because she is Dolly."
It is a statement to ponder I think.
Dangit, what is Aeneas up to now ?
he can trust her.
She is a cat
after all!
Bwuhahahahah!
I hope Malati can see the light, though...
Now make sure that the only witness is douchie - and witnesses must be eliminated... (direct douchie order) ^_^
After all she was the only one deemed to be "Fully Loyal" by Kali in the past.
Quote: "You still have your cat."
Malati: #Third hourly report: kept target in sight. Numerous opportunities to strike presented but rejected. The perfect opportunity will arise in time, allowing me to obtain the optimal result as desired. My target will not see me and nor shall anyone else and nor shall I leave a mark. Have patience. End.#
Kali: #ALL CASSIANS: While we were all busy on our assignments, the Emperor was assassinated. We must take steps to apprehend his killer.# #Malati: Go and interrogate the gladiators. They may know something. Use any method you consider appropriate.#
Later...
Malati: #Third daily report: no leads yet. Sweat testing: negative. Muscle stress analysis: negative. Close questioning: negative. I am beginning to think the gladiators were experiencing an unrelated stress reaction to me personally, especially when I enter the changing rooms or showers. This reaction now appears to be fading, and I may need to recalibrate my baseline. I need more time. A lot more time. Thanks, boss. End.# :-)
>:=)>
I don't know; I guess I'm just expecting her to turn out to be a super advanced android or something. Or she has some important device implanted in her for safe keeping. This comic is called "DataCHASERS"...chasing data, yes...but what kind of data?
The more petinent question, is wether or not the vault itself will end up pulling a Borderlands ending ?
Smooth, spotless, cute and utterly emotionless.
Besides, beware the nice ones.
"Eliminate the target and any witnesses...." Um. These Cassians are hardcore. They could contemplate their own death as a form of protest/rebellion. And after eliminating the target, the Cassian has become a witness.....
On a side note: Kali's face goes totally blank when she is not speaking. Creepy.
*sage nod*
"Any witnesses." Not specifically EYE-witnesses.
Does that include any people knowing of the operation that are not directly involved in its execution? And if yes, how direct do they have to be involved to not be considered a possible witness?
Any other problems this might birth aside, it simply means that as soon as Deci would fall into the "possible witness" group, the order can't be fulfilled anyway.