Well she didn't HAVE to wait; however, CentComm laid down the rules and there would be... reprecussions if she didn't keep to her own rules. She told Mira if she came any closer she would be killed. If she handed over the message though she would be pampered and wined... So, unless she wants all sorts of bad things to happen to her (they probably are going to anyhow, and deservedly so :-D) she needs to stick with her word. :-)
It occurs to me that by letting Mira into Helios Tower Cent-Comm has lost any chance of of keeping the fact there is a message from Ms. Taylor.
So why didn't Cent-Comm just secretly bug Mira and gracefully facilitate the meeting?
Depending on the message she might be able to be diplomatic with Ms. Taylor or at least take her by surprise.
The way things are Ms. Taylor is loaded for bear and a little shaky in her trigger finger no mater what the message turns out to be.
Evil-1 is in self preservation mode, ie get that damn message no matter what,cover the contents up and preserve Evil-1 as the top dog in New Troy. With Lynn Taylor dead 80+% chance using Evil-1 strategy Calli is reduced to a manageable drunk and no danger to Evil-1's authority.
I guess Cent-Comm could just lock Ms. Taylor in her Tower and step up the liquor deliveries.
But gee, didn't she develop Dolly's Type Five body without Cent-Comm knowing about it? Gotta wonder what else is in the tower!
I just remembered when Cali called Dolly Momma that CentComm was wondering what that was all about too! That had to set off alarm bells with CentComm I would think.
I dont know if Cent is pushing for a reason to shoot, but stalling Mira isnt working. She could (and likely has in the past) simply burn down Mira where she stands, regardless and cover it up easily enough, so what is Cent really waiting on?
She's aware of the possibility that those in Calli's suite have been alerted. If she can get Mira to give her the message and back down, all is good in CentComm's "la-la I'm still in charge" land. If she fries Mira without provocation, Calli just might dismantle and redesign her from scratch. And has absolute final authority on doing so, and CentComm knows that and wouldn't be able to prevent it.
>>>>>***ANYONE***OR***ANY*** INTELLIGENCE***<<<<< Who orders the death of any young person for any reason, especially to preserve their status quo is EVIL, Despicable, and utterly devoid of any redeeming characteristics. To solve the problem all Evil-1 had to do was have Calli rewrite that section of the code removing the Taylor Clan DNA as the unlock feature for the weapons.
Edit Note: Further discussion on this subject should be taken to private message either here or dragonrider33 at g mail dot com. The story is excellent with plot twists, turns and switchbacks enough to please the most discriminating reader. I just don't for reasons stated agree with that one portion of the plot.
Problem with that Dragonrider is If Calli DID that...then Centy would have NO Failsafe on her just going logical and Uncaring on humanity or what is left of it.
Also I do agree on the ORDERS part. *HAlo fan and Sick of people all accusing Dr Halsey of being a monster when she was jsu the scientist who Proposed a concept not the HEad of the ONI who ORDERED her to do it and Made it all happen.
Dragonrider, I have to disagree with your statement (at least as it's written) on a fundamental level. Ordering the death of a young person (or, sometimes, thousands of young people) isn't necessarily an evil act. It's sometimes a regrettable but necessary act, and preservation of the status quo is, by default, the reason for at least half of those orders. Just ask any military officer (commissioned or not) who's ever had to give orders under fire.
Cent-Comm is, at her most basic level, a military system, tasked with the preservation of New Troy. With that in mind, and given a certain understandable paranoia, why would she have any real reason to trust an 'outsider' anywhere near a vital military asset like Calli Taylor? After all, she's already been 'burned' once (with Lynn).
I'm not necessarily coming to her defense here, just pointing out that, given her background, and the origins of her core programming, her position, while somewhat extreme, isn't exactly incomprehensible.
Statement stands as written! There is a very slippery slope between that order and sending children with remote detonate satchel charges into razor wire to create a breech in base defense. Blowing up your enemies loaded school buses, sending children with plastique vests into police stations to demolish them. Parts of our society are way to casual in the weaponizing children and I find no reason to think that tendency goes away in the future. [/soapbox rant]
So, in your world, General Eisenhower was just as evil (because he ordered thousands of 18 year old kids to their deaths on D-Day) as the regime he was fighting? Are you honestly claiming that there's no moral or ethical difference between legitimate military action (with its inevitable and unfortunate casualties) and terrorism?
If that's the case, folks, pull the plug on SETI, we've already found alien life.
We can discuss Eisenhower off list, he was a coward, aplayboy and because of his policies we got the Vietnam war. He did not order the D-Day Invasion is was ordered by General "Wild Bill" Donovan of the OSS and signed off on by Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
No objection to war IF NEEDED, most of the time it's an economic exercise for the benefit of the rich, so is rarely really needed.
@cattservant umm no.
This is the 'altruism' gene, which survives because the 'hero' dies not in spite of it.
Simplifying, the hero's sisters carry the altruism gene to the next generation because the young male adolescent died preventing the predator from reaching them.
Also, if the hero does somehow not die, the alpha female (or the junior alphas in later protohumans) reward him with sex, thus adding the gene into the pool again.
Currently observable with baboons. (Probably others, but the baboon is where I live)
CentComm (the AI) isn't evil, just a TOUCH paranoid is all. And ruthless in dealing with... issues. Her aim isn't to be evil though, but some of her acts aren't what I would call GOOD. :-p
Now as far as the artist of the comics we like... that CentComm is totally EVIL! She keeps leaving us hanging on, waiting to see who lives and who dies! Gah!!! Everyone get their pitchforks and torches out! :-D
Oh, so you just mention the artist and not the writer? Who has, on multiple occasions, buttonholed Le Artiste and ear-banged for hours to plan out these scenes for Maximum Effectiveness?!
Mister Black, fetch me the amaretto, it is time for mopey crying over my status as an undervalued creator!
I'm sorry. I know how much EVIL you are injecting into the comic, Rose. It is just now I expect to be able to catch BOTH of you with the pitchforks and torches... I mean, you live in the same area now. And get together all too frequently for this reader's peace of mind. :-D
Of course, being Arizonia I'm not sure you are going to NOTICE torches or us burning the place down even. :-D
"There is no way that writers can be tamed and rendered civilized or even cured. The only solution known to science is to provide the patient with an isolation room, where he (or she) can endure the acute stages in private and where food can be poked in to him (or her) with a stick." - Robert Heinlein
So, it is just EXPECTED behavior out of the author to be evil. Part of the disease. :-D
She's not evil ... she's just drawn that way.
I think she's more concerned about new Rome turning on the engines of destruction than she is about her power or self-preservation. Complex situation and everybody has a worthwhile position of honour. Love your work.
I believe it was mentioned earlier *in* the comic that Calli is unaware of just how much power/authority that she has over CentComm...and that CentComm has every intention of *keeping* it that way...
I believe Discussions (28 May 2012) is what you are refering to, velvet. :-)
Though it sounds like the true scope is hidden, not that she doesn't know she has authority over CentComm. I think Calliope is smart enough to know that she has a LOT of power over CentComm. :-) She just probably has more than even she realizes.
I doubt it, Sheela. Mr. Black is 'employing' Miss Direction... and I know he wants to keep Murphy as FAR away from him as he can. :-D Now they could be sneaking around behind has back, but I wouldn't hold out much hope of Mr. Black not finding out about it.
It means way more than a LOT to Mira. I mean, she is risking her LIFE to keep her word. She could be snuffed like a candle in a hurricane playing at this level but she refuses to break her word. That is integrity... Some would also call it STUPIDITY, but Mira is a determined young woman. :-)
Bit of Column A, bit of Column B.
Young idealists often fail to understand the depth of their own foolishness, which they like to label as "dedication". XD
As was pointed out before, Mira's a Wastelander. Their word and reputation is all they have that can't be taken away, and can mean the difference between staying alive or being killed in a place as lawless as the wastes.
There was a reason why "an eye for an eye" was law during the viking age, it had a tendency to cut arguments short when it came down to bare knuckles. XD
Probably did, highlander. And that would make her MORE suspcious I think. I mean, scavenging dead bodies is a way of life in the wastes (and MANY an adventure game :-D). So, did Mira get the information from Dolly or Dolly's corpse? That is the question CentComm wants answered. :-)
Considering CentComm put them on Ceci before Ceci was initially activated, I'm pretty sure CentComm saw them. But that doesn't mean anything, it's likely a fairly common earring design. (it's been a pretty common design since, oh, I dunno, the 60s?)
The design is pretty basic, this is true velvet. I bet CentComm has analyzed the metal content, the jeweler's mark/manufacturer's mark as well as the shape and can tell with a high degree of certainty that they are the same pair. My only question is, will CentComm ask Mira about where she got them? :-D
Well CentComm saw Dolly face-plant after waking up in a new body. And there was some signs that she wasn't totally integrated into her new body while being introduced to CeCi. So, CentComm might be concerned someone could have gotten them away from her by some subterfuge.
I'm beginning to wonder though if CentComm might really be trying to protect Calliope. Suppose the message is the last will and testament of one Dolly Taylor. Dolly had arranged for the message to be delivered back if she died. How would Calliope Taylor take Dolly's death in the frame of mind she is in? If CentComm can intercept the message and bury it, until the crisis with Lynn is resolved... It might be dealt without destroying Calliope or become 1000 times worse, depending on THAT outcome. CentComm might simply be playing for time, trying to keep things as normal as possible for as long as possible.
There's no doubt in what passes for my mind that she's trying to protect Ms. Taylor. The important question isn't "Is she protecting her?", but "Protecting her from what?" and "Protecting her why?". Details and motive make all the difference in the world.
Yeah, I agree,velvet. Instead of drawing lines in the sand I thought CentComm should pull her aside and ask some tough questions about the why's and how's of her being picked for this mission. They might have told her plenty to better gauge the threat Mira poses to Calliope... and herself.
CentComm probably should have also brought more than the heavy stuff. Something that could restrain Mira, so that she could be uncooperatively moved to a safe location might have been a good idea. Then CentComm could have taken the time to properly question Mira.
Of course, the longer CentComm takes the more chance there is of Calliope taking notice of the situation and sticking her spoon into the batter. :-) And then the cake gets ALL sorts of messy. Which I think is about to happen anyhow. :-D
My only comment to that Sheela, is there is NOTHING common about courtesy in this stupid, crazy modern world we live in. :-p
"...but a dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot." - Robert Heinlein (Friday, page 242)
Kind of seems that way, doesn't it Antonious? He was talking about Corporate Wars in Friday, and it feels like America is a battle ground for the corporations.
So, CentComm might be concerned someone could have gotten them away from her by some subterfuge.
</quote>
Hmm, true, Stormwind, she might have extracted that knowledge from Dolly by the use of alcohol given to an unsuspecting Dolly girl that does not know about drinking at all...
Yeah, mjkj. I mean, Dolly was hemorrhaging all sorts of 'secret' information to Breaker, and to the bar in general even. He didn't have to even LEAD her to the information, just ask a general question and out came enough information to destroy her mission and possibly the world. :-p
Dolly knows about drinking. She just doesn't know how her new body reacts to it, or at least she didn't until Breaker. Of course, CentComm doesn't have the slightest clue how the model 5 would react to it, either, so that would justify that particular concern.
After for reading thru all the comments on just this page I can think the weekends are too long for Monday to get here for the next page. But then Cent Comm and Rose (see- I did include you) wouldn't have something to get together, drink and laugh
their ass' off about the different directions and plot twists we comment about!
@Stormwind13.. No, what they need is the excuse to get out the liquor. That way Cent is hung over and in an even more EVIL mood to bring us Commenters down another dark alley to ponder and go WTF?! LOL
Meh. If she was smart she would just turn this chick into fine red mist and worry about the consequences never. This message needing to be delivered in person is really all the clue she should need to believe the information is damning to her and her mission of "Save Lynn, but execute the hell out of the little shyte and incinerate every trace if there's a 1 in a kazillion chance of prince douchebag getting his way"
For Peace we should be rooting.
And it may well be Wednesday before all the pieces are on their squares.
*is impressed by Mira*
*hugs Mira*
Dolly really prepared her - but CentComm somehow is more of a stick in the mud ay anticipated by her - and poor Mira's patience is running short...
Well, Krystal is standing by and enjoying the scene - I believe she would sit down and pop out the popcorn if that was possible... :D
*hugs Krystal*
*looking forward to the next update* :)
Krystal has a very high A&U quotient!
So why didn't Cent-Comm just secretly bug Mira and gracefully facilitate the meeting?
Depending on the message she might be able to be diplomatic with Ms. Taylor or at least take her by surprise.
The way things are Ms. Taylor is loaded for bear and a little shaky in her trigger finger no mater what the message turns out to be.
But gee, didn't she develop Dolly's Type Five body without Cent-Comm knowing about it? Gotta wonder what else is in the tower!
That has to really sting, considering that a military AI is supposed to hold all comm lines in and out of it's "demesne".
Edit Note: Further discussion on this subject should be taken to private message either here or dragonrider33 at g mail dot com. The story is excellent with plot twists, turns and switchbacks enough to please the most discriminating reader. I just don't for reasons stated agree with that one portion of the plot.
Also I do agree on the ORDERS part. *HAlo fan and Sick of people all accusing Dr Halsey of being a monster when she was jsu the scientist who Proposed a concept not the HEad of the ONI who ORDERED her to do it and Made it all happen.
Cent-Comm is, at her most basic level, a military system, tasked with the preservation of New Troy. With that in mind, and given a certain understandable paranoia, why would she have any real reason to trust an 'outsider' anywhere near a vital military asset like Calli Taylor? After all, she's already been 'burned' once (with Lynn).
I'm not necessarily coming to her defense here, just pointing out that, given her background, and the origins of her core programming, her position, while somewhat extreme, isn't exactly incomprehensible.
If that's the case, folks, pull the plug on SETI, we've already found alien life.
No objection to war IF NEEDED, most of the time it's an economic exercise for the benefit of the rich, so is rarely really needed.
The enemy has loaded schoolbusses ? SHIIIT !!! o.O
*looks for rocketlauncher*
This is the 'altruism' gene, which survives because the 'hero' dies not in spite of it.
Simplifying, the hero's sisters carry the altruism gene to the next generation because the young male adolescent died preventing the predator from reaching them.
Also, if the hero does somehow not die, the alpha female (or the junior alphas in later protohumans) reward him with sex, thus adding the gene into the pool again.
Currently observable with baboons. (Probably others, but the baboon is where I live)
Now as far as the artist of the comics we like... that CentComm is totally EVIL! She keeps leaving us hanging on, waiting to see who lives and who dies! Gah!!! Everyone get their pitchforks and torches out! :-D
Logic Does Not Care.
Oh, so you just mention the artist and not the writer? Who has, on multiple occasions, buttonholed Le Artiste and ear-banged for hours to plan out these scenes for Maximum Effectiveness?!
Mister Black, fetch me the amaretto, it is time for mopey crying over my status as an undervalued creator!
And here I thought you were just setting Centcomm up as the fallguy for all your evil deeds ?
Of course, being Arizonia I'm not sure you are going to NOTICE torches or us burning the place down even. :-D
Authartistor and/or Artauthorist...
Ouroboros.
"There is no way that writers can be tamed and rendered civilized or even cured. The only solution known to science is to provide the patient with an isolation room, where he (or she) can endure the acute stages in private and where food can be poked in to him (or her) with a stick." - Robert Heinlein
So, it is just EXPECTED behavior out of the author to be evil. Part of the disease. :-D
*hugs rose,, organizes a Universal TOKYO ROSE holiday with CEnty Dunkign tank*
I think she's more concerned about new Rome turning on the engines of destruction than she is about her power or self-preservation. Complex situation and everybody has a worthwhile position of honour. Love your work.
Though it sounds like the true scope is hidden, not that she doesn't know she has authority over CentComm. I think Calliope is smart enough to know that she has a LOT of power over CentComm. :-) She just probably has more than even she realizes.
Is he having an affair with Miss Direction ?
I would rather suspect Mr. Black to hire Murhy as an infiltrator of his
enemiesopposition !Things go right too often for him.
Young idealists often fail to understand the depth of their own foolishness, which they like to label as "dedication". XD
There was a reason why "an eye for an eye" was law during the viking age, it had a tendency to cut arguments short when it came down to bare knuckles. XD
*sniffs* ;)
I just hope you are not too much starving, CentComm...
...and I can do only so much - which also adds to not being able to come...
I'm beginning to wonder though if CentComm might really be trying to protect Calliope. Suppose the message is the last will and testament of one Dolly Taylor. Dolly had arranged for the message to be delivered back if she died. How would Calliope Taylor take Dolly's death in the frame of mind she is in? If CentComm can intercept the message and bury it, until the crisis with Lynn is resolved... It might be dealt without destroying Calliope or become 1000 times worse, depending on THAT outcome. CentComm might simply be playing for time, trying to keep things as normal as possible for as long as possible.
However, CentComm *should* be asking about Dolly and Ceci's status, even if only to gauge Mira's reaction/response as a form of polygraph stress-test.
CentComm probably should have also brought more than the heavy stuff. Something that could restrain Mira, so that she could be uncooperatively moved to a safe location might have been a good idea. Then CentComm could have taken the time to properly question Mira.
Of course, the longer CentComm takes the more chance there is of Calliope taking notice of the situation and sticking her spoon into the batter. :-) And then the cake gets ALL sorts of messy. Which I think is about to happen anyhow. :-D
You don't know if they're screwing up
Or just being super devious!
"...but a dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot." - Robert Heinlein (Friday, page 242)
Hmm, true, Stormwind, she might have extracted that knowledge from Dolly by the use of alcohol given to an unsuspecting Dolly girl that does not know about drinking at all...
/devils advocate
their ass' off about the different directions and plot twists we comment about!
And we're OK!
We type all Night
And sleep all Day!!!