28||0|3995|0|yes 0|0|0|||||Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Meagen||10:46:07|07/30/2008|Play-by-play time%2C now that I%27ve had time for it to sink in a little.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EHe sighed. %22-So- tempted to conquer the universe right now.%22 %0D%0A%0D%0AI liked this sequence. It really shows off the essential paradox of being the Good Guys. %0D%0A%0D%0A%3E The young Valkyrie hesitated%2C then plowed on%2C %22I%27m probably not%0D%0A%3Esupposed to say this in so many words%2C but think about it%3A We are%2C in%0D%0A%3Eeffect%2C making you a goddess tomorrow%2C Utena.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AThis sequence%3F Made me realise how much you Get It. A lot of people out there on the Interwebs would say that you%27ve %22ruined%22 Utena by pairing her up with your original character. But you go out of your way to acknowledge that if Utena accepted the role of a bride without misgivings%2C she wouldn%27t be Utena%2C and not even True Love can change that. %0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Gesturing to another%2C much less sleek robotic figure in the%0D%0A%3Emiddle of the room%2C Eve turned pleading eyes to Corwin and said%2C %22Help.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C her prayers have just been answered.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22... -You%2C-%22 Chad managed%2C every hair on the back of his%0D%0A%3Eneck standing erect.%0D%0A%3E %22Me%2C indeed%2C%22 Sivar replied. %22We have much to speak of%2C Chad.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s hard being agnostic in a world where you can bump into your deity at a friend%27s wedding.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Utena considered that%2C then gave her old friend a surprised%0D%0A%3Elook. %22You know%2C you%27re right. So... he came all this way just to%0D%0A%3E-piss us off%3F-%22%0D%0A%0D%0AYou know%2C where I come from%2C we call this %22trolling%22.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %3C%3Cyou do not belong here%2C%3E%3E said Kosh.%0D%0A%3E %3C%3Cnot in this place%3B in this world%2C%3E%3E %0D%0A%3E %3C%3Caberrant corrupt soulless%2C%3E%3E %0D%0A%0D%0ANever saw B5%2C but I believe we may be seeing an interesting reversal%3A we know %2Aexactly%2A what Kosh is talking about. But how does he %2Aknow%2A%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E His formal facade cracking under the weight of his frustration%2C he looked%0D%0A%3E up%2C met Corwin%27s eyes%2C and blurted%2C %22I%27ve had my -fill- of Freyja%27s crazy shit. %0D%0A%0D%0A...ow. You %2Aknow%2A he%27s sincere.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Eve scowled. With a sharp CLACK%2C her right arm transformed from%0D%0A%3Ea slender%2C wing-like structure with a manipulator at the end into a%0D%0A%3Efull-length%2C large-bore cannon%2C complete with coaxial targeting laser.%0D%0A%3E %22Directive%3F%22 she asked%2C her voice harsh.%0D%0A%0D%0AHm. That%27s... kind of a strong reaction. I can%27t see this being motivated %2Ajust%2A by symathy to Corwin. If I had to guess%2C I%27d say something happened after she and WALL-E met...%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Corwin angled his head vaguely toward the door. %22What about%0D%0A%3Ewhat%27s-his-name%3F%22%0D%0A%3E %22Pff%2C%22 Utena replied. %22He had his chance. The hell with him.%22%0D%0A%3E %22Okay.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AThis was a great moment. Even aside from seeing each other in their wedding finery%2C it%27s clear that Corwin and Utena draw strength from just being together.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Maybe you should change yours%2C%22 she quipped%2C then called back%0D%0A%3Eover her shoulder as she entered the transporter room%2C %22See you at the%0D%0A%3EIP%2C Corwin.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AIf he does%2C can we refer to the Trinity as %22Mr.%2C Ms. and Utena Tenjou%22%3F 1|1|0|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Gryphon||11:24:46|07/30/2008|%3Ewe know %2Aexactly%2A what Kosh is talking about. But how does he %2Aknow%2A%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AIndeed - and when he says %22we are watching%2C%22 who does he mean%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E Eve scowled. With a sharp CLACK%2C her right arm transformed from%0D%0A%3E%3Ea slender%2C wing-like structure with a manipulator at the end into a%0D%0A%3E%3Efull-length%2C large-bore cannon%2C complete with coaxial targeting laser.%0D%0A%3E%3E %22Directive%3F%22 she asked%2C her voice harsh.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EHm. That%27s... kind of a strong reaction. I can%27t see this being %0D%0A%3Emotivated %2Ajust%2A by symathy to Corwin. If I had to guess%2C I%27d say %0D%0A%3Esomething happened after she and WALL-E met... %0D%0A%0D%0APossibly%2C but it%27s at least in part just because Eve is a very young robot and hasn%27t learned the value of moderation yet%3B and it%27s not sympathy in the %22aw%2C poor guy%2C I feel bad%22 sense so much as that she%27s attuned to how very angry he is. As for why she%27s blithely willing to go blast some guy on behalf of a man she%27s only just met%2C well%2C he %5Bi%5Ddid%5B%2Fi%5D spend all night rebuilding her best friend%2C and while she may not understand it intellectually%2C it%27s entirely possible that she at least senses some hint of his... how to put it%3F His cosmic significance to her and her kind.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28It%27s kind of a nod toward the film%2C too%2C in which Eve%27s default reaction to any obstacle%2C problem%2C or unwelcome surprise is to at least consider blasting it%2C especially early on. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E Corwin angled his head vaguely toward the door. %22What about%0D%0A%3E%3Ewhat%27s-his-name%3F%22%0D%0A%3E%3E %22Pff%2C%22 Utena replied. %22He had his chance. The hell with him.%22%0D%0A%3E%3E %22Okay.%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EThis was a great moment. Even aside from seeing each other in their %0D%0A%3Ewedding finery%2C it%27s clear that Corwin and Utena draw strength from %0D%0A%3Ejust being together. %0D%0A%0D%0AThanks. I especially enjoy that little conversation myself%2C largely because%2C beyond %22You look fantastic%2C%22 I didn%27t have a plan for it%3B it just... %5Bi%5Dflowed%5B%2Fi%5D that way.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 2|2|1|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|StClair||12:48:07|07/30/2008|%3EThanks. I especially enjoy that little conversation myself%2C largely %0D%0A%3Ebecause%2C beyond %22You look fantastic%2C%22 I didn%27t have a plan for it%3B it %0D%0A%3Ejust... %5Bi%5Dflowed%5B%2Fi%5D that way. %0D%0A%0D%0AIn my experience%2C that%27s how you know you%27ve got it right%3A when it just does.%0D%0A%0D%0A 4|2|1|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|mdg1||18:06:01|07/30/2008|%3E%3Ewe know %2Aexactly%2A what Kosh is talking about. But how does he %2Aknow%2A%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EIndeed - and when he says %22we are watching%2C%22 who does he mean%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AMaybe I should dust off my %22Vorlons are hyperevolved Daleks%22 theory. %3B%29%0D%0A 3|1|0|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Wedge||12:53:15|07/30/2008|%3E%3E %22... -You%2C-%22 Chad managed%2C every hair on the back of his%0D%0A%3E%3Eneck standing erect.%0D%0A%3E%3E %22Me%2C indeed%2C%22 Sivar replied. %22We have much to speak of%2C Chad.%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EIt%27s hard being agnostic in a world where you can bump into your deity %0D%0A%3Eat a friend%27s wedding. %0D%0A%0D%0AAin%27t that the truth.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.gweep.net%2F%7Ewedge%2Fufchad_ficon.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd%5DChad Collier%0D%0ASmirking Kilrathi%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%230000CC%5DThe Captain of the Gravy Train%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 5|1|0|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Bad Moon||07:23:54|07/31/2008|Stream of Consciousness play by play Bad Moon Edition.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EDerek put a hand on Gryphon%27s shoulder and said in a tone only fractionally less mild%2C %22Gryph.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AWhen Derek Bacon gets fractionally less mild%2C it pays to pay attention%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EYeah. It looked like this was going to go according to plan after all.%0D%0A%0D%0AYou know%2C for somebody who%27s trade is the Future%2C Skuld should know better than to tempt fate with that train of thought %3AP%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EShe wrestled with it for a few minutes%2C but finally decided that%0D%0A%3Ethere was no way she could explain the situation that wouldn%27t seem%0D%0A%3Ecompletely stupid to an outsider.%0D%0A%0D%0AOne of the problems of being in the military%2C especially the super secret part%2C is that you can%27t just take time off work because one of your best friends is getting married. Even if you have a cool boss.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhen I first read this scene%2C I must admit the last part where Starbuck sees Kozue staring pensively at Wedge%27s door I thought Kozue was not upset that she could go to Corwin and Utena%27s wedding%2C but that CORWIN was getting married. I changed my mind later%2C but it did make me think about something. The closing of the Trinity has been a long time coming%2C and I%27m as enthused about it as anybody%2C but when the first signs of it started falling into place back in 2409%2C I will admit to feeling a little bittersweet about it. Poor Kozue%2C the first great guy she meets and falls in love with wasn%27t hers to start with and she has to give him up to something that was practically prophisized. And even if everybody feels badly about it%2C and even if Kozue herself has no regrets%2C she%27s the one that got left out in the cold. Again%2C not saying Anthy%2FCorwin%2FUtena isn%27t Right%2C just... poor Kozue.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EChad meets Sivar the War God.%0D%0A%0D%0AThat conversation was... interesting. Not simply because it gives a load of back story about our resident Kilrathi film maker%2C but the implications from %5Bi%5DDay of Infamy%5B%2Fi%5D given that Kilrah sends a Sivar blessed conquest fleet to help kick in the Earthforce%2FFederation%27s teeth in when the galaxy goes to shit in 2412.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EHe was just considering whether to give it a discouraging kick%0D%0A%3Ewhen it was joined by another%2C this one of similar build but leaner%2C%0D%0A%3Esporting some black in its coloration%2C and wearing dark goggles.%0D%0A%0D%0ABest use of beagles and %5Bi%5DNew Hope%5B%2Fi%5D quotes EVER.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EVorlon Ambassador Kosh Neranek gazed silently at the Fallen Prince for a few moments%2C then spoke.%0D%0A%0D%0AComing this summer%2C to a theater near you. %5Bi%5DWedding Crasher Kosh%21%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22If that son of a bitch so much as twitches%2C%22 she reported to%0D%0A%3Ethe rest of her team%2C %22I%27m gonna blow him straight to Derna.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd now %5Bi%5DRed October%5B%2Fi%5D quotes%3F This movement is one of the quipiest on record.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22I%27ve had my -fill- of Freyja%27s crazy shit. This madness must end... %22 He looked down at the floor again. %22... for now I truly fear that%27s what it is.%22%0D%0A%0D%0ASeriously%21 You%27d have to be batshit insane to think that bringing Akio freaking Ohtori to this or ANY wedding isn%27t an act of naked aggression and will be responded to in kind. Honestly%2C if Freyja%27s plan was Operation%3A Piss of the Planet%2C then mission accomplished%21%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd the only part of the Wedding Force%27s handling of Akio%27s arrival that disappointed me was that in ignoring him%2C they didn%27t get to watch in glee if they had somebody%2C say%2C Belldandy Morisato%2C babysit him. Granted%2C she was doing more important things%2C but it would have been immensely satisfying to watch Akio fume while every barbed%2C poisonous comment he made was turned aside with a beatific smile and the knowledge that if she got really annoy%2C she was strong enough to just barbecue him and be done with it. Oh well.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EUtena and Corwin gawk at each other.%0D%0A%0D%0AA beautiful scene%2C made better by their characteristically not getting bogged down in dramatics. One thing that I wonder though%2C Vigdis said that the wedding was also%2C in effect%2C declaring Utena a goddess%2C and the marks of divinity Utena ends up having made me wonder if it wasn%27t the literal truth. Is it too much to ask if this were the case%3F Or is it just a honorary%2C you%27re one of us now type of thing and not having the weight of it like when Corwin ascended%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Exactly what I was afraid would happen when we started%2C%22%0D%0A%3EGryphon finished sadly for her. %22Greeley%27s a snake%2C and he answers to%0D%0A%3Ethe king snake%2C Bill Clark. I had a feeling this was only a matter of%0D%0A%3Etime... but I didn%27t think the situation would develop this fast.%0D%0A%3ENormally there are weeks of ultimatums and saber-rattling before any%0D%0A%3Ereal -action- in a case like this...%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m a little surprised they let the Earth Alliance have an opportunity to even let the initial invasion go buy uncontested. I%27d have thought the defense treaties Tau Ceti signed would have had a couple warships around so if the EA shot first%2C they could at least claim self defense. Were they relying on the fact that the Earth Alliance would hesitate more in potentially starting a shooting war or was the EA that confident they could wave aside any treaties as bogus%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Eand HMS Illustrious of the Royal Salusian Navy...%0D%0A%0D%0AWait%2C Salusia was a signature with Tau Ceti%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E... in the precise center of the space between the two sharply angled Muspel-brands on Nanami Kiryuu%27s forehead.%0D%0A%0D%0AOh for the... Akio you dumb shit%2C this space station is full of gods%21 Viking gods%21 Pissed off viking gods who are already annoyed enough at you for metaphorically putting you dick in the mashed potatoes. Not to mention all the other mortal asskickers who despise you and are itching to have at you. Do you really think sending a minion to hamper the guy who BRANDED you with his pure hate is really the smartest thing to do%3F And doing it by threatening his best friend no less%21 Just... call a mulligan on this one and go back to Oriphos and maybe have a beer and take the rest of this decade off. You clearly are not on your A game.%0D%0A%0D%0AAm VERY much looking forward to the next movement. And now%2C I%27m off to reread the entire Symphony. It%27s about that time anyway.%0D%0A%0D%0A------%0D%0AJon Helscher%0D%0A%0D%0AThat thing you burned up isn%27t important to me. It%27s the fluid catalytic cracking unit. It made shoes for orphans. Nice job breaking it%2C hero.%0D%0A%0D%0AGLaDOS- Portal 7|2|5|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|mdg1||10:55:58|07/31/2008|%0D%0A%3EAnd the only part of the Wedding Force%27s handling of Akio%27s arrival %0D%0A%3Ethat disappointed me was that in ignoring him%2C they didn%27t get to %0D%0A%3Ewatch in glee if they had somebody%2C say%2C Belldandy Morisato%2C babysit %0D%0A%3Ehim. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s not nearly sadistic enough.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27d have him escorted by an IPO officer named Kuramitsu Mihoshi... 8|2|5|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Gryphon||13:23:22|07/31/2008|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-31-08 AT 01:24 PM (EDT)]%3E%3EYeah. It looked like this was going to go according to plan after all.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EYou know%2C for somebody who%27s trade is the Future%2C Skuld should know %0D%0A%3Ebetter than to tempt fate with that train of thought %3AP %0D%0A%0D%0AEh%2C what%27s the worst that could happen%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI thought Kozue %0D%0A%3Ewas not upset that she could go to Corwin and Utena%27s wedding%2C but %0D%0A%3Ethat CORWIN was getting married.%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C to an extent%2C she is. I mean%2C she knows she did the Right Thing%2C but that doesn%27t stop it from hurting. %28As Corwin once asked %5Bi%5Dher%5B%2Fi%5D%2C %22If this is the way things are supposed to be%2C if I did everything right and helped put the world back in its proper shape%2C then why do I feel so fucking %5Bi%5Dbad%3F%5B%2Fi%5D%22%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Eimplications from %5Bi%5DDay of Infamy%5B%2Fi%5D given that Kilrah sends a Sivar %0D%0A%3Eblessed conquest fleet to help kick in the Earthforce%2FFederation%27s %0D%0A%3Eteeth in when the galaxy goes to shit in 2412. %0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C keep in mind%2C that%27s primarily a political thing. I mean%2C the Sivar Cult back on Kilrah has %5Bi%5Dthought%5B%2Fi%5D what they were doing was blessed by Sivar all along%2C and%2C well%2C signs point to %22you%27re all on crack.%22 Them saying %22we%27ve got a fleet blessed by our war god here%21%22 doesn%27t necessarily mean it%27s any such thing.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EComing this summer%2C to a theater near you. %5Bi%5DWedding Crasher %0D%0A%3EKosh%21%5B%2Fi%5D %0D%0A%0D%0AHe didn%27t crash%3B he was invited. All the key members of B6%27s diplomatic staff were. Besides%2C they couldn%27t leave out the %5Bi%5DKoshmeister%5B%2Fi%5D%2C I mean%2C come on. He and Minbari Ambassador Delenn were the highlights of the great trick-or-treating expedition of 2405. The trick he pulled when the ambassador from the Greater Rigel Sector Co-Prosperity Sphere didn%27t come across with some candy is still %5Bi%5Dlegendary%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E%22If that son of a bitch so much as twitches%2C%22 she reported to%0D%0A%3E%3Ethe rest of her team%2C %22I%27m gonna blow him straight to Derna.%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAnd now %5Bi%5DRed October%5B%2Fi%5D quotes%3F This movement is one of the %0D%0A%3Equipiest on record. %0D%0A%0D%0AYeah%2C I went a little overboard with that action%2C perhaps. In the interests of fuller disclosure%2C there%27s also a riff on %5Bi%5DThe Right Stuff%5B%2Fi%5D just above the %22they don%27t like you%22 scene. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EOne thing that I wonder though%2C Vigdis said %0D%0A%3Ethat the wedding was also%2C in effect%2C declaring Utena a goddess%2C and %0D%0A%3Ethe marks of divinity Utena ends up having made me wonder if it wasn%27t %0D%0A%3Ethe literal truth. Is it too much to ask if this were the case%3F Or is %0D%0A%3Eit just a honorary%2C you%27re one of us now type of thing and not having %0D%0A%3Ethe weight of it like when Corwin ascended%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AThe latter%3B the marks on Utena%27s face were a gesture on Verthandi%27s part while she was doing Utena%27s makeup%2C not anything to do with the Celestial System itself. Though for certain administrative and diplomatic purposes%2C Utena is %28or will be - the status of her marriage is a little nebulous right now%2C thanks to Frigg%27s insistence on a partial ceremony out of sight of most of the crowd%29 considered a %5Bi%5Dd%EDs%5B%2Fi%5D %28as minor Asgardian goddesses not part of the bands of the %C6sir and Vanir are known%29%2C but she%27s been accorded no %28additional%29 supernatural power. She%27s not the goddess %5Bi%5Dof%5B%2Fi%5D anything%2C if you like%2C in the way that Thor is god of thunder or Derek is god of comedy.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EWere they relying on the fact that the Earth Alliance would %0D%0A%3Ehesitate more in potentially starting a shooting war or was the EA %0D%0A%3Ethat confident they could wave aside any treaties as bogus%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AAs Gryphon said when he was briefing Utena and the rest%2C the assumption was always that there%27d be the usual few weeks of diplomatic harrumphing and some kind of fake incident along the Polish border to establish %5Bi%5Dcasus belli%5B%2Fi%5D. Nobody figured the EA would just roll out of bed one morning and say%2C %22Welp%21 Time to reconquer Tau Ceti%21%22%0D%0A%0D%0ASo no%2C there weren%27t any ships on station at the time. If the IPO stationed a ship everywhere they had an ally who might be attacked one day%2C they%27d need quite a lot more ships. There were a few%2C both from the IPO and the WDF%2C hanging around the neighborhood through the %22provisional government%22 phase%2C but once the new constitution was ratified and the elections taken care of%2C the immediate danger appeared to have passed. Gryphon suspected the EA might get up to some kind of shabby trick%2C but like I say%2C he figured there%27d be handwaving first.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3Eand HMS Illustrious of the Royal Salusian Navy...%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWait%2C Salusia was a signature with Tau Ceti%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AOh%2C oops. That%27s a mistake. %5Bi%5DIllustrious%5B%2Fi%5D belongs to the Salusian Imperial Guards%3B she%27s the ship assigned to escort the royal envoy %28HRH the Princess Jessica%2C Baroness d%27Alkirk%29 to the wedding %28and the one we saw early on in the movement%2C when Corwin was arriving at B6%29. Since Princess Jessica is a reserve member of the IPO and this is an IPO alert situation%2C she has the right - indeed%2C the obligation - to get involved. As a member of the imperial family%2C she also has the right to take command of any Guards assets around - like %5Bi%5DIllustrious%5B%2Fi%5D - and bring them with her. Unlike the RSN%2C the Guards don%27t answer to the Ministry of War%3B anything they do is on the imperial family%27s personal dime%2C not that of the political entity that is the Empire of Salusia. This is perhaps a fiddly point%2C but it%27ll stand up in court. Technically%2C %5Bi%5DIllustrious%5B%2Fi%5D%27s involvement isn%27t the Salusian government butting into a treaty situation in which it is not involved%3B it%27s Jess bringing along some bodyguards. ... Okay%2C about 1200 of them%2C but still. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Technically%2C since the RSN has mutual aid agreements with the WDF%2C regular navy ships %5Bi%5Dcould%5B%2Fi%5D get involved%3B the WDF would just have to ask them for backup. That%27s what HMS %5Bi%5DUnfathomable%5B%2Fi%5D is doing in the Tau Ceti system%2C though they aren%27t expected to shoot at anybody. For the shooting part%2C this way is simpler and doesn%27t get the Ministry involved.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EYou clearly are not on your A game. %0D%0A%0D%0AAll very true... assuming%2C of course%2C that Nanami%27s following orders. At this juncture I couldn%27t possibly comment on that. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 10|3|8|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Norgarth||17:46:49|07/31/2008|%3E%3E%3EYeah. It looked like this was going to go according to plan after all.%0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EYou know%2C for somebody who%27s trade is the Future%2C Skuld should know %0D%0A%3E%3Ebetter than to tempt fate with that train of thought %3AP %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EEh%2C what%27s the worst that could happen%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0AAt least she didn%27t say it out loud. 8%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EOne thing that I wonder though%2C Vigdis said %0D%0A%3E%3Ethat the wedding was also%2C in effect%2C declaring Utena a goddess%2C and %0D%0A%3E%3Ethe marks of divinity Utena ends up having made me wonder if it wasn%27t %0D%0A%3E%3Ethe literal truth. Is it too much to ask if this were the case%3F Or is %0D%0A%3E%3Eit just a honorary%2C you%27re one of us now type of thing and not having %0D%0A%3E%3Ethe weight of it like when Corwin ascended%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EThe latter%3B the marks on Utena%27s face were a gesture on Verthandi%27s %0D%0A%3Epart while she was doing Utena%27s makeup%2C not anything to do with the %0D%0A%3ECelestial System itself. Though for certain administrative and %0D%0A%3Ediplomatic purposes%2C Utena is %28or will be - the status of her marriage %0D%0A%3Eis a little nebulous right now%2C thanks to Frigg%27s insistence on a %0D%0A%3Epartial ceremony out of sight of most of the crowd%29 considered a %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5Dd%EDs%5B%2Fi%5D %28as minor Asgardian goddesses not part of the bands of the %0D%0A%3E%C6sir and Vanir are known%29%2C but she%27s been accorded no %28additional%29 %0D%0A%3Esupernatural power. She%27s not the goddess %5Bi%5Dof%5B%2Fi%5D anything%2C if you %0D%0A%3Elike%2C in the way that Thor is god of thunder or Derek is god of %0D%0A%3Ecomedy. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0AI%27m not sure Utena %5Bi%5Dneeds%5B%2Fi%5D any additional powers.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EWere they relying on the fact that the Earth Alliance would %0D%0A%3E%3Ehesitate more in potentially starting a shooting war or was the EA %0D%0A%3E%3Ethat confident they could wave aside any treaties as bogus%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAs Gryphon said when he was briefing Utena and the rest%2C the %0D%0A%3Eassumption was always that there%27d be the usual few weeks of %0D%0A%3Ediplomatic harrumphing and some kind of fake incident along the Polish %0D%0A%3Eborder to establish %5Bi%5Dcasus belli%5B%2Fi%5D. Nobody figured the EA would %0D%0A%3Ejust roll out of bed one morning and say%2C %22Welp%21 Time to reconquer %0D%0A%3ETau Ceti%21%22 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ESo no%2C there weren%27t any ships on station at the time. If the IPO %0D%0A%3Estationed a ship everywhere they had an ally who might be attacked one %0D%0A%3Eday%2C they%27d need quite a lot more ships. There were a few%2C both from %0D%0A%3Ethe IPO and the WDF%2C hanging around the neighborhood through the %0D%0A%3E%22provisional government%22 phase%2C but once the new constitution was %0D%0A%3Eratified and the elections taken care of%2C the immediate danger %0D%0A%3Eappeared to have passed. Gryphon suspected the EA might get up to %0D%0A%3Esome kind of shabby trick%2C but like I say%2C he figured there%27d be %0D%0A%3Ehandwaving first. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0AAnd the EA%27s planners may well have decided to attack now specificly because of the wedding. After all%2C they could be sure that many of the IPO%27s top personel %28and the EA%27s biggest pains in the ass%29 would be far from Tau Ceti now%2C with their attention firmly focused on B6.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EOh%2C oops. That%27s a mistake. %5Bi%5DIllustrious%5B%2Fi%5D belongs to the %0D%0A%3ESalusian Imperial Guards%3B she%27s the ship assigned to escort the royal %0D%0A%3Eenvoy %28HRH the Princess Jessica%2C Baroness d%27Alkirk%29 to the wedding %0D%0A%3E%28and the one we saw early on in the movement%2C when Corwin was arriving %0D%0A%3Eat B6%29. Since Princess Jessica is a reserve member of the IPO and %0D%0A%3Ethis is an IPO alert situation%2C she has the right - indeed%2C the %0D%0A%3Eobligation - to get involved. As a member of the imperial family%2C she %0D%0A%3Ealso has the right to take command of any Guards assets around - like %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5DIllustrious%5B%2Fi%5D - and bring them with her. Unlike the RSN%2C the %0D%0A%3EGuards don%27t answer to the Ministry of War%3B anything they do is on the %0D%0A%3Eimperial family%27s personal dime%2C not that of the political entity that %0D%0A%3Eis the Empire of Salusia. This is perhaps a fiddly point%2C but it%27ll %0D%0A%3Estand up in court. Technically%2C %5Bi%5DIllustrious%5B%2Fi%5D%27s involvement %0D%0A%3Eisn%27t the Salusian government butting into a treaty situation in which %0D%0A%3Eit is not involved%3B it%27s Jess bringing along some bodyguards. ... %0D%0A%3EOkay%2C about 1200 of them%2C but still. %3A%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0AReminds me of an early scene in 300%2C King Leonidas says %28paraphrased%29 %27I%27m not mobilizing the army%2C I%27m just going for a walk with 300 of my friends.%27%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EYou clearly are not on your A game. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAll very true... assuming%2C of course%2C that Nanami%27s following orders. %0D%0A%3EAt this juncture I couldn%27t possibly comment on that. %3A%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E--G. %0D%0A%0D%0AHeh%2C that was actually my own thought. Akio said %5Bi%5D%22Follow them. You know what to do.%22%5B%2Fi%5D Just cause she knows what to do doesn%27t mean she actually does it. We already know that she hates Akio%27s guts%2C and she likes Corwin. Frankly%2C I figure her holding Nall at swordpoint might have been more to make sure he didn%27t attack her before Corwin arrived. 11|4|10|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|remande||18:46:56|07/31/2008|%3EAnd the EA%27s planners may well have decided to attack now specificly %0D%0A%3Ebecause of the wedding. After all%2C they could be sure that many of %0D%0A%3Ethe IPO%27s top personel %28and the EA%27s biggest pains in the ass%29 would %0D%0A%3Ebe far from Tau Ceti now%2C with their attention firmly focused on B6. %0D%0A%0D%0Awhich makes it actually the worst timing possible. All the Heavy Hitters can huddle in realtime%2C rather than suffer the logistics of some transgalactic %28indeed%2C transdimensional%29 conference call. Also%2C the two or three fastest ships in the galaxy are there at their beck and call%2C allowing them to breathe down your necks en masse in a matter of hours%2C rather than arriving in dribs and drabs over the course of a week. Even if the wedding went through as planned%2C you%27d only delay the inevitable by a dozen hours or so.%0D%0A %0D%0A--rR%0D%0A 14|5|11|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Star Ranger4||01:28:29|08/01/2008|%3E%3EAnd the EA%27s planners may well have decided to attack now specificly %0D%0A%3E%3Ebecause of the wedding. After all%2C they could be sure that many of %0D%0A%3E%3Ethe IPO%27s top personel %28and the EA%27s biggest pains in the ass%29 would %0D%0A%3E%3Ebe far from Tau Ceti now%2C with their attention firmly focused on B6. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3Ewhich makes it actually the worst timing possible.%0D%0A%0D%0AHeh. Hell%2C the only reason the idiots in the EA have survived as long as they have in power is because of the handfull of Mysterions who have infiltrated the high command%2C as seen in Infamy... If you asked me%2C though you didnt%2C I%27d say this is also the inevitable result of the Psi Corp%27s hidden agenda of Humanus Psionis superioria. 16|6|14|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Nathan||09:15:05|08/01/2008|From the standpoint of fostering the growth of human telepathy%2C AEGIS makes much more sense than the Psi Corps. It is%2C after all%2C a much more popular group that%27s much %5Bi%5Dless%5B%2Fi%5D likely to find enemies and resistance everywhere it goes.%0D%0A%0D%0AFrom the moral%2C or human rights perspective%2C AEGIS is clearly and unarguably the superior option.%0D%0A%0D%0AFrom the standpoint of restraining telepathy related crimes%2C the two come out about equal%3B the Corps%27 greater control and coverage starts as many problems as it blocks.%0D%0A%0D%0AOnly from the standpoint of the EA%27s fascist-flavored government%2C or a genetic minority%27s fear of persecution%2C does the gulag-slash-mamelukes approach of the Psi Corps begin to make sense... And unless there%27ve been cases of Tau Ceti%27s native telepaths being beaten to death by howling mobs%2C I%27m hard pressed to see where the %27protect our own%27 angle internal to the Corps would have them driving the invasion. 17|7|16|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Star Ranger4||10:42:05|08/01/2008|%3EI%27m hard pressed to see where the %27protect our own%27 %0D%0A%3Eangle internal to the Corps would have them driving the invasion. %0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C its not directly related. Kind of more of a side effect that given the psi corps hidden agenda of Psionisists are the superior beings and are supposed to be in charge%2C they tend to make sure that people they can control with minimal amount of effort are in their puppet positions. Remember that the Psi Corps we are the future and you are ours agenda is kept as hidden as possible%3B only the high command on both sides of the issue and those responsible inside the corps for making it happen are breifed in on it.%0D%0A%0D%0Athis results in persons in higher command positions than they are competent to manage%2C you see%2C and results in the sort of thinking that kicked this off. %22Hey%2C lets do this while we know everyone%27s at that Hutchins brat%27s wedding and not here%22%2C as three posts up put it without%2C as ReRob pointed out realiszing that ALSO means that all their heavy hitters are in one place and ready to decend on them like the wrath of god. 26|8|17|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Terminus Est||12:41:25|08/05/2008|Several angry gods%2C actually. Just sayin%27. 18|4|10|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Gryphon||12:40:26|08/01/2008|%3EAnd the EA%27s planners may well have decided to attack now specificly %0D%0A%3Ebecause of the wedding.%0D%0A%0D%0ANo%2C actually%2C the people who planned the invasion of Tau Ceti didn%27t give one-tenth of one crap about the wedding pro or con. Probably didn%27t even know it was happening%2C and wouldn%27t have cared if they did.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 15|3|8|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Meagen||09:04:11|08/01/2008|%3Ethe marks on Utena%27s face were a gesture on Verthandi%27s part while she was%0D%0A%3Edoing Utena%27s makeup%2C not anything to do with the Celestial System itself.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Eshe%27s been accorded no %28additional%29 supernatural power. She%27s not the%0D%0A%3Egoddess %5Bi%5Dof%5B%2Fi%5D anything%2C if you like%2C in the way that Thor is god of%0D%0A%3Ethunder or Derek is god of comedy. %0D%0A%0D%0ASo you might call it the symbol for %22Utena Tenjou. Just... Utena Tenjou.%22 19|3|8|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|MOGSY||13:13:20|08/01/2008|%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EI thought Kozue %0D%0A%3E%3Ewas not upset that she could go to Corwin and Utena%27s wedding%2C but %0D%0A%3E%3Ethat CORWIN was getting married.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWell%2C to an extent%2C she is. I mean%2C she knows she did the Right %0D%0A%3EThing%2C but that doesn%27t stop it from hurting. %28As Corwin once asked %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5Dher%5B%2Fi%5D%2C %22If this is the way things are supposed to be%2C if I did %0D%0A%3Eeverything right and helped put the world back in its proper shape%2C %0D%0A%3Ethen why do I feel so fucking %5Bi%5Dbad%3F%5B%2Fi%5D%22%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0ABingo. That%27s a big reason why I don%27t think things are as settled as all that%2C Right Thing or no%2C and if anything%2C it%27s something a smart%2C manipulative enemy could try to exploit... 6|1|0|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|jhosmer1||09:36:26|07/31/2008|%3EIf he does%2C can we refer to the Trinity as %22Mr.%2C Ms. and Utena %0D%0A%3ETenjou%22%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AMr.%2C Ms.%2C and PRINCE Tenjou%2C thank you. %3B%29 12|2|6|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Peter Eng||00:30:58|08/01/2008|%3E%3EIf he does%2C can we refer to the Trinity as %22Mr.%2C Ms. and Utena %0D%0A%3E%3ETenjou%22%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EMr.%2C Ms.%2C and PRINCE Tenjou%2C thank you. %3B%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AFollowed by Utena saying%2C %22Oh%2C stop that. You can call me Utena. %28Sheesh. Just when I think I have everybody trained...%29%22%0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AI%27m only a Charter Member because of the DCForum upgrade%2C and because there%27s no rank below %22Clueless F%21wit.%22 9|1|0|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|drakensis||16:18:00|07/31/2008|%3EI was going to stay silent until I%27d finished re-reading Ash-knight%2C but this %0D%0A%3Egrabbed me.%0D%0A%3E%3ECorwin%3A %22Nanami%2C I just got married. I know it might surprise your %0D%0A%3E%3Ebrother and your boss%2C but you know I%27m not going to screw that up.%22 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EUm I hate to say this%2C but there is no chance that Corwin is going to screw %0D%0A%3Ethis up. He gave his oath at the Monolith%2C and he%27s kept it throughout the %3Emadness. If Nanami needed help or comfort%2C then Corwin would do what ever %0D%0A%3ECorwin would do and Utena would not be hurt. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EMan%2C I can%27t even believe some people actually thought sex between Nanami and %0D%0A%3ECorwin would be an issue...%0D%0A%0D%0AI wasn%27t precisely meaning infidelity here%2C at least in that sense%2C although that would probably fall under the blanket.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt was intended as an implied%3A %22I know and you know that Akio isn%27t going to put me off my game... so if you want to come hang out%2C I%27m cool with that.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A...which probably isn%27t at all what I%27d think reading it cold. Sorry. 13|2|9|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Peter Eng||00:59:03|08/01/2008|%3E%0D%0A%3EIt was intended as an implied%3A %22I know and you know that Akio isn%27t %0D%0A%3Egoing to put me off my game... so if you want to come hang out%2C I%27m %0D%0A%3Ecool with that.%22 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E...which probably isn%27t at all what I%27d think reading it cold. Sorry. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AI don%27t know where Gryphon is going with this%2C but I could easily imagine Nanami%27s next line being%2C %22Are you still willing to help a girl in trouble%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AI%27m only a Charter Member because of the DCForum upgrade%2C and because there%27s no rank below %22Clueless F%21wit.%22 20|3|13|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|BlackAeronaut||09:51:55|08/02/2008|%3EI don%27t know where Gryphon is going with this%2C but I could easily %0D%0A%3Eimagine Nanami%27s next line being%2C %22Are you still willing to help a %0D%0A%3Egirl in trouble%3F%22 %0D%0A%0D%0ATo which everyone present is going to react with the galaxy%27s biggest WTF%21%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd%5D%5Bhr%5D%5Bfont size%3D%222%22 face%3D%22Arial Narrow%22%5D%5Bb%5DBlack Aeronaut Technologies%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0ACreative aerospace solutions for the discerning spacer%0D%0A%5Bi%5D%22Here at the Advanced R%26D Center it%27s not a normal fiscal year until we have to save the universe.%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 21|4|20|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Peter Eng||16:02:19|08/04/2008|%3E%3EI don%27t know where Gryphon is going with this%2C but I could easily %0D%0A%3E%3Eimagine Nanami%27s next line being%2C %22Are you still willing to help a %0D%0A%3E%3Egirl in trouble%3F%22 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ETo which everyone present is going to react with the galaxy%27s biggest %0D%0A%3EWTF%21%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0ANah. If it went that route%2C Corwin would say%2C %22That%27s what a knight does.%22 Everybody else would be boggling%2C with the possible exception of Nall%2C who would have to figure out how to boggle without cutting his throat on Nanami%27s sword. %0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AI%27m only a Charter Member because of the DCForum upgrade%2C and because there%27s no rank below %22Clueless F%21wit.%22 22|5|21|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|MOGSY||18:49:46|08/04/2008|%3E%3E%3EI don%27t know where Gryphon is going with this%2C but I could easily %0D%0A%3E%3E%3Eimagine Nanami%27s next line being%2C %22Are you still willing to help a %0D%0A%3E%3E%3Egirl in trouble%3F%22 %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3ETo which everyone present is going to react with the galaxy%27s biggest %0D%0A%3E%3EWTF%21%3F %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AI admit%2C I was expecting everyone%27s reaction to Nanami%27s presence at the end to be a wide variety of sound effects%3A %22snap. hiss%21%22 %22snikt%21%22 %22ka-chak%21%22 %22click%22 %22DRAW%22 you get the idea.... %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AI actually half expected %22snap. hiss%22 to be the last line of the story. %3A%29%0D%0A 23|6|22|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Gryphon||22:45:40|08/04/2008|%3EI admit%2C I was expecting everyone%27s reaction to Nanami%27s presence at %0D%0A%3Ethe end to be a wide variety of sound effects%3A %22snap. hiss%21%22 %0D%0A%3E%22snikt%21%22 %22ka-chak%21%22 %22click%22 %22DRAW%22 you get the idea.... %3A%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI actually half expected %22snap. hiss%22 to be the last line of the %0D%0A%3Estory. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AGiven that the only people %5Bi%5Dthere%5B%2Fi%5D were Corwin%2C Wall-E%2C and Eve%2C that scenario would involve a few rather flagrant causality violations.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 27|7|23|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|MOGSY||18:13:03|08/05/2008|%0D%0A%3EGiven that the only people %5Bi%5Dthere%5B%2Fi%5D were Corwin%2C Wall-E%2C and Eve%2C %0D%0A%3Ethat scenario would involve a few rather flagrant causality %0D%0A%3Eviolations. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0ATrue. But Corwin could have always upgraded Eve and Wall-E with the %22Acme Thousand Hidden Weapons%22 module while we weren%27t looking %3B%29 %0D%0A%0D%0ABut I%27m guessing not from the sound of things. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%22A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week%22 - Gen George S. Patton%2C Jr. 28|8|27|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Norgarth||00:47:25|08/07/2008|Much as I like Wall-E%2C he%27s a bit too clumsy to be weilding a lightsaber. 8P 24|1|0|||||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|cuso4||08:35:42|08/05/2008|%5Bsmall%5D%0D%0A%3E Warming to the subject now%2C she went on with passion in her%0D%0A%3Evoice%2C %22This is a tremendous honor. All Asgard is prepared to hail you%0D%0A%3Etomorrow. Utena Griffonsdottir%2C Tenjou the Bold%2C who won the right to%0D%0A%3Ecall the Midgard-knight %27father%27%2C and the very heart of Valhalla%27s%0D%0A%3ECavalier in Silver and Black%2C with her courage%2C skill%2C and virtue.%22%0D%0A%5B%2Fsmall%5D%0D%0A%0D%0AIs %22Griffonsdottir%22 the agreed %28by Utena and gang%29 Norse-ish last name%2C or is it improvised by Vee %3F Anyway I like this last name a lot. Very fitting. %28%5E_%5E%29%0D%0A%0D%0ABTW%2C IMHO%2C the best part of the movement is Utena and Corwin%27s conversation after Utena passing through the mirror. %0D%0A%0D%0A--%0D%0ACuSO4%0D%0A 25|2|24|||1||RE%3A Clairon Call %28new thread%29|Gryphon||11:43:17|08/05/2008|%3EIs %22Griffonsdottir%22 the agreed %28by Utena and gang%29 Norse-ish last %0D%0A%3Ename%2C or is it improvised by Vee %3F%0D%0A%0D%0ANeither%2C but at the same time%2C a little of both%3B it%27s what she%27s generally called in Asgard%2C but no one%27s certain precisely who coined it. The Midgard-knight%2C slayer of Fenris%2C is a personage of some renown there%2C so an up-and-coming sort like Utena would be more immediately recognizable to Asgardians first hearing of her by some sort of association therewith. In Asgard%2C no one cares if you%27re adopted.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D