Hmmm, is CentComm over playing her hand, or purposely getting Lynn, Calliope, and Dolly coming together with her as the focal point? ;) She even has Calliope starting to advocate FOR Lynn being able to visit Acantha.
Will Lynn notice that Calliope is siding with her against Cent?
I'm leaning towards your way of thinking, Pickles. CentComm has been shown to manipulate events (and PEOPLE) over the course of the comic. I get the feeling that she is pushing everyone away from one stance toward another (while potentially not optimal) that she can live with. Getting the trio to agree on something should reduce some of the internal antagonism which would be a bonus for her.
Agreed centy is actually making. This situation worse not calming it. I think she's spent so Mich time rationalizing and logically working out things so Mich she's lost the ability to interface even empathize with humans on more than the most basic levels.
You know Cent may end up regretting this style of tactic the nano second Lynn realizes she has the authority to override anything Cent does
Effectively "Sit Girl!"
+5 internet points to anyone who gets the reference
Well, if Centcom is trying to manipulate the situation as it seems like she is, then all I can say is this is one of those literary plot situations that can work in a story because the authors can control how all the characters will respond to the situation and thus achieve the desired results (whatever they may be). In real life situations such mind games usually blow up rather quickly (and often violently) due to unexpected individual reactions and at best yield only marginal results. But it does make for good story telling.
@Timotheus, the main thing here, is that CentComm doesn't always relate well to people. She can calculate thousands of scenarios, but fail to realize what you mention here: the fact that it could easily go sideways. The characters' reaction is under the control of the storytellers, but they themselves sometimes "let" things go sideways. ;)
That's the shadow from the chain ringing the top of the blouse Calliope is wearing you see on on Cent's front. Lights from all directions employed here!
Not letting Lynn visit Acantha while she's sleeping and not about to wake up is probably medically sound, so long as Centy doesn't accomplish that by goading Lynn into telling Acantha in the worst possible manner.
That said, if Lynn and Dolly were to visit with timing such that Acantha was about to wake up anyway, so Lynn was in the room when she woke up, and Dolly told her about the spike while Lynn went along with the spin Dolly put on it, it would probably smooth things over about as well as could be.
But Centy goading Lynn like this does not seem likely to be able to maneuver the situation into such a state in the amount of time available. Introducing sleeping drugs into Acantha's IV to provide more time for Dolly to mollify Lynn would probably not go over at all well when it was discovered. When, not if, because those things tend to come out when the stakes are this high...
Since Noctis knows this already, timing is important, because if Acantha wakes up, and no one but Noctis is there, she might discuss it as part of briefing Acantha and getting her up to speed.
It pretty much says that Lynn Dolly and Calliope better get over there sooner rather than later, if they want to be first in line to inform Acantha.
*edit: Does Noctis know the particular details about Aeneas, or just that the contingencies were disabled, and that Aeneas is repaired?
@megados what particular details are you thinking of? Since Rosie's announcement (through the undead Nox head), she does know that Commie's agent tried to spike Aeneas, but was prevented. (Presumably by Rosie along with others -- though she didn't make it very clear who exactly and how they were involved...) I guess others might have given Noctis further information in the mean time -- though I can't think of anything that would actually be relevant to the current situation?...
As for timing, Commie bringing up Acantha's health, makes me assume she is thinking in terms of days rather then hours... Though you are right that she probably should try to secure Noctis's cooperation on this point :-)
@antrik, yes that is what I mean; whether Noctis knows just who and details surrounding the spike, and what the intent was. It is possible she might forego painting an incomplete picture. It would buy some time for however they plan to tell Acantha about the event.
I didn't get the impression that Acantha would be sleeping for days, rather, an amount of hours. Noctis is with her, and as soon as she wakes up, it would be prudent to have their plan in place for telling her, lest Noctis tell her what she knows in the interim.
Of course Acantha won't sleep for days -- but that doesn't mean it wouldn't endanger her health if someone told her immediately once she wakes up...
Good point regarding Noctis's insight on Commie's motivation. Since Commie hasn't tried to justify her actions to Noctis when confronted about them (or even admitted to her involvement), Noctis might very well be thinking it was an attempt at conquest...
Totally agree, HiFranc. After the isolation that Acantha was subjected to in Nova Roma, cutting her off from her friend, her SISTER, would be a horrible mistake.
I'm still wondering if the psytech did that to force Lynn to confront her demons. Get them out in the open where they can be cleaned out. Instead of having them fester while she focuses on Acantha.
Maybe CentComm is trying to get Lynn to open up to allow her wounds to be cleaned. Getting her riled up and then smacking her (like she did last page, by getting her to acknowledge her animosity toward CentComm) might lead to her doing it quicker.
I'm thinking that without something 'external' to focus on (Acantha) Lynn is more likely to think about some of her personal problems. Especially when CentComm blindsides her and gets her thinking about her feelings toward CentComm then Calliope leading possibly to what she has bottled up from her recent ordeal.
I could be wrong, but it was a thought why people are treating Lynn the way they are. CentComm knows the players in this piece pretty well, so she might have a favourable projection for such an attempt.
Edit- Thank you Rose, I was trying to get it answered. :-)
After reading all the comments on this page, I'm reminded of a science fiction story I read as a child. In it there is an alien species that has kidnapped children and experimented on them. Someone gets the contract to make the aliens likeable to mankind.
After these last several pages, I think Tokyo Rose will need to "step in" and inform Acantha & Noctis that several factions were involved trying to prevent Douchimus from destroying Nova Roma and everyone else and that unfortunately none were overtly aware of each others plans. Maybe this way she can mitigate the relationship damage CentComm caused by initiating the spike to Aenaes.
@antrik...went back and verified you are correct, Noctis does know and TR told her.
So I guess it comes down to who would be the best to tell Acantha...and when?
Logical analysis running: Lynn appears to be using anger to distract from her pain and anyone looking at her as a victim. She has now opened up a wound that has festered for years that she likely would never have admitted to without that anger overriding her restraint. Calliope needs time to process this before she can handle it without it risking pushing her back into the same self-destructive mindset she just pulled out of. Assesment: They need a new target to focus on.
Continue thought: Lynn is used to thinking of Cent as only a cold, calculating machine, and will be unlikely to attribute empathy as a motive (whether learned or felt is irrelevant). Redirect Lynn's anger to Cent and her fury at her mother will drop away as it is only pain and not actual anger that she feels there. In addition, most humans can only focus anger at one target at a time (when multiple targets are aimed at, it tends to be a group that is the target, not the individuals that make it up). Expect Dolly to prevent baiting from getting out of hand because she won't be able to watch Lynn's rage fed "without reason". Dolly's empathy for the pain the Taylor's are feeling will override emotionless analysis. If the prior statement is incorrect, and Dolly identifies the gambit, then she will be forced to play along or risk making the situation much worse. Her cooperation, knowing or otherwise, is assured. The realization that Cent is redirrecting anger in order to pull Caliope out of Lynn's sights should put Lynn off-balance enough to make her receptive to logic. Lynn will likely remain extremely irritated and displeased, but the probability of this strategy leading to a positive solution is far higher than immediately identifiable alternatives.
Summary: Dolly, your statement was mostly correct right up until you made it.
These are my thoughts on what is going on here.
With Tokyo Rose, no one would notice her snooping. She would use the very cameras and sensors that Cent could have used. I am not sure how a person in a stasis pod would eat popcorn, so I guess it would have to be virtual popcorn. All of the flavor and none of the fat.
I doubt the invite: Commie is already very suspicious of their clandestine research cooperation -- an invite like that would probably qualify as outright treason, considering the rather confidential things going on in this lab...
Treason? How so? Calliope is a free citizen of New Troy and in her own lab. Tokyo Rose is not in charge of hostile city state or country. Tokyo Rose is not interested in toppling New Troy's government nor is Calliope, to the best of my knowledge. Neither is planning on murdering their 'master', so I don't see a treasonous activity if Calliope invited Tokyo Rose to take up residence let alone to virtually visit.
She is a free citizen, but she is surely working under NDAs, as a government contractor... Not sure about her other research; but at least her maintenance of Cent-Comm is clearly highly confidential. I would be surprised if she isn't doing anything related to that in her lab...
Cent has guaranteed communications to New Rome. It would be very dangerous for Acantha/Noctis to not have communications to New Rome. Lynn can't just be cut off from Acantha. She would have to be cut off from LunaComm, New Rome, and physically be prevented from leaving for this communication channel not to be used.
Maxus is unlikely to prevent the relay.
Cent has a losing hand here and the consequences for cutting this communication link are horrific as Noctis predictably attempts to extract Acantha based on the comm cut.
Will Lynn notice that Calliope is siding with her against Cent?
Effectively "Sit Girl!"
+5 internet points to anyone who gets the reference
I wonder why Cent did not consult Dolly beforehand or per Android speak...
What happend there in the last panel? =O
...someone painted on Cent's chest...
Never actually thought I'd say that.
I think that Dolly would be the best person to do it. Maybe it would be a good idea if Lynn was there at the time but I'm not sure.
{edit}
I think that not allowing Lynn to visit would be the fastest way to alienate Acantha and New Rome.
Not letting Lynn visit Acantha while she's sleeping and not about to wake up is probably medically sound, so long as Centy doesn't accomplish that by goading Lynn into telling Acantha in the worst possible manner.
That said, if Lynn and Dolly were to visit with timing such that Acantha was about to wake up anyway, so Lynn was in the room when she woke up, and Dolly told her about the spike while Lynn went along with the spin Dolly put on it, it would probably smooth things over about as well as could be.
But Centy goading Lynn like this does not seem likely to be able to maneuver the situation into such a state in the amount of time available. Introducing sleeping drugs into Acantha's IV to provide more time for Dolly to mollify Lynn would probably not go over at all well when it was discovered. When, not if, because those things tend to come out when the stakes are this high...
It pretty much says that Lynn Dolly and Calliope better get over there sooner rather than later, if they want to be first in line to inform Acantha.
*edit: Does Noctis know the particular details about Aeneas, or just that the contingencies were disabled, and that Aeneas is repaired?
As for timing, Commie bringing up Acantha's health, makes me assume she is thinking in terms of days rather then hours... Though you are right that she probably should try to secure Noctis's cooperation on this point :-)
I didn't get the impression that Acantha would be sleeping for days, rather, an amount of hours. Noctis is with her, and as soon as she wakes up, it would be prudent to have their plan in place for telling her, lest Noctis tell her what she knows in the interim.
Good point regarding Noctis's insight on Commie's motivation. Since Commie hasn't tried to justify her actions to Noctis when confronted about them (or even admitted to her involvement), Noctis might very well be thinking it was an attempt at conquest...
I'm still wondering if the psytech did that to force Lynn to confront her demons. Get them out in the open where they can be cleaned out. Instead of having them fester while she focuses on Acantha.
Maybe CentComm is trying to get Lynn to open up to allow her wounds to be cleaned. Getting her riled up and then smacking her (like she did last page, by getting her to acknowledge her animosity toward CentComm) might lead to her doing it quicker.
Prevents her from focusing on Acantha to the exclusion of her own mental health.
I could be wrong, but it was a thought why people are treating Lynn the way they are. CentComm knows the players in this piece pretty well, so she might have a favourable projection for such an attempt.
Edit- Thank you Rose, I was trying to get it answered. :-)
So I guess it comes down to who would be the best to tell Acantha...and when?
Continue thought: Lynn is used to thinking of Cent as only a cold, calculating machine, and will be unlikely to attribute empathy as a motive (whether learned or felt is irrelevant). Redirect Lynn's anger to Cent and her fury at her mother will drop away as it is only pain and not actual anger that she feels there. In addition, most humans can only focus anger at one target at a time (when multiple targets are aimed at, it tends to be a group that is the target, not the individuals that make it up). Expect Dolly to prevent baiting from getting out of hand because she won't be able to watch Lynn's rage fed "without reason". Dolly's empathy for the pain the Taylor's are feeling will override emotionless analysis. If the prior statement is incorrect, and Dolly identifies the gambit, then she will be forced to play along or risk making the situation much worse. Her cooperation, knowing or otherwise, is assured. The realization that Cent is redirrecting anger in order to pull Caliope out of Lynn's sights should put Lynn off-balance enough to make her receptive to logic. Lynn will likely remain extremely irritated and displeased, but the probability of this strategy leading to a positive solution is far higher than immediately identifiable alternatives.
Summary: Dolly, your statement was mostly correct right up until you made it.
These are my thoughts on what is going on here.
Maxus is unlikely to prevent the relay.
Cent has a losing hand here and the consequences for cutting this communication link are horrific as Noctis predictably attempts to extract Acantha based on the comm cut.