Schlock Mercenary VII: A T.A.D. Too Much Dialogue These Days

[memnarch]

Try switching from HTTP to HTTPS -- they upgraded the site security a while back. When I updated my bookmark my loading performance improved noticeably.

Ah, good to know. I'd thought it'd seemed slower myself on the old bookmark I'd had.

[Boring McReader]

I think the AIs made that decision themselves.

One of the unspoken terrible truths of the SM setting is that to some degree the AIs are allowing the organics to be in charge.

The AIs have spoken that truth to each other on a number of occasions.

[Gnoman]

Try switching from HTTP to HTTPS -- they upgraded the site security a while back. When I updated my bookmark my loading performance improved noticeably.

This fixed it. Thanks.

[Kantaki]

New comic

Somehow I foresee a exiting game of football in the ship-lord's immediate future.
As in he's going to be the ball and he will exit the ship in the progress.

[factotum]

I don't think the actual commanders of the Toughs will allow him to kill the shiplord--it would be a diplomatically poor move. It's a pretty amazing coincidence that his lover's coat and tlumnph happened to be the one the shiplord stole, though!

[Kantaki]

Isn't our „marshal” female?

Also I think that's mostly a extension of the handshake metaphor to make clear just how ludicrously well made the shiny thing is.
Well, not the killer part maybe.

[Gez]

It's just a simile (not a metaphor since the comparison is made explicit: "it's like"). It'd be very corny if Gugro had somehow lost track of a lover and then found out she was killed by the random overconfident idiot who decided to get in her way.

Said overconfident idiot was promised to have his arms torn, so that's what should happen next. That was in the threat that Tagon ordered her to execute and we've had several scenes of her building up enough anger to actually go through. Fox did tell the medic bug to stay.

Of course it's so heavily telegraphed that it's what should happen next that we can expect a twist.

[Max_Killjoy]

I don't think the actual commanders of the Toughs will allow him to kill the shiplord--it would be a diplomatically poor move. It's a pretty amazing coincidence that his lover's coat and tlumnph happened to be the one the shiplord stole, though!

As an aside, Peri is female.

The narrator's comments are illustrative, not informative. Any fobotr'r could have picked up that plate and had the same experience.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Of course it's so heavily telegraphed that it's what should happen next that we can expect a twist.

Of course we must expect a twist. Hard to pull an arm out of a socket without at least a bit of a twist. You need to break those ligaments, after all.

GW

[Rockphed]

Of course we must expect a twist. Hard to pull an arm out of a socket without at least a bit of a twist. You need to break those ligaments, after all.

GW

We were promised: "I will flay that coat from your mange-boiled back, and then, with just one hand, I will personally rip off your only pair of arms." Flaying the coat from his back was conducted in an unconventional manner. Perhaps we will see an interesting way to remove arms from tiny kittenoids.

[Doran]

Perhaps she’s going to destroy his ship guns

[factotum]

OK, the shiplord is clearly an idiot. There's no other explanation for acting like this when he is clearly powerless and completely under the control of his enemies.

[PraetorDragoon]

Seriously, what is the housecat doing? There are easier ways to commit suicide than Hubris.

[HandofShadows]

Getting himself killed may be a plan to get the Toughs in trouble. They kill him the real local military might step in. And they aren't stupid powerless. I wonder though, did Shiplord Kitty commit piracy to get this ship? Because it is starting to seem that way to me.

[Kantaki]

A ego the size of a planet, a brain the size of a pebble...
How this kitty survived so long we'll never know.

[PraetorDragoon]

Getting himself killed may be a plan to get the Toughs in trouble. They kill him the real local military might step in. And they aren't stupid powerless. I wonder though, did Shiplord Kitty commit piracy to get this ship? Because it is starting to seem that way to me.

Dunno. Most planet-sized Ego militia don't think that they can be killed.

Seems like the ship was stolen from the four-arms.

A ego the size of a planet, a brain the size of a pebble...
How this kitty survived so long we'll never know.

Luck. And competent allies.

[Gez]

He's Zapp Brannigan as a squeaky furball.

Imagine Billy West's Brannigan voice, but on helium.

[Max_Killjoy]

Shiplord Litterbox is a zealot and egomaniac.

The "theft" he's talking about is probably that he "caught" the fobotr'r engaged in trade in Upplestan.

The "begging" he's talking about is probably that fobotr'r died begging him not to murder her crew.

[keybounce]

He's Zapp Brannigan as a squeaky furball.

Imagine Billy West's Brannigan voice, but on helium.

You win!
/thread

[Onyavar]

The "begging" he's talking about is probably that fobotr'r died begging him not to murder her crew.

My thoughts exactly. I have no idea about the theft yet, but id guess It's also a play of words.

Getting himself killed may be a plan to get the Toughs in trouble. They kill him the real local military might step in. And they aren't stupid powerless.

My thoughts exactly.

Perhaps we will see an interesting way to remove arms from tiny kittenoids.

im glad that we both didn't see how the arms were ripped off, yet we DID see how she managed to do it with just one hand. Creative.

Was Neeka the one who did it, possibly with surely? Or will she be busy with reattaching them? Probably the wrong way? Or will she just busily cauterize the wound?

[PraetorDragoon]

I actually don't think the Shiplord wants to get himself killed. I do think he might know that the Mercs don't want to get into trouble so they won't kill him.

He's Zapp Brannigan as a squeaky furball.

Imagine Billy West's Brannigan voice, but on helium.

Oh god. Shiplord Furball Brannigan. Fits perfectly.

[factotum]

im glad that we both didn't see how the arms were ripped off, yet we DID see how she managed to do it with just one hand. Creative.

Given Elf was holding the shiplord by the arms, and she's wearing a power suit, I'm guessing she just pulled them off in response to the finger snap. Must have been arranged in advance.

[Kantaki]

Some people just don't know when to shut up.
If he keeps talking now he might deserve a honorary Darwin Award. And would be tougher than he seems.

Also, does this count as disarming the shiplord?
It definitely makes him 'armless.

[PraetorDragoon]

Some people just don't know when to shut up.
If he keeps talking now he might deserve a honorary Darwin Award. And would be tougher than he seems.

Also, does this count as disarming the shiplord?
It definitely makes him 'armless.

Yes. Yes. it counts.

[HandofShadows]

Yes. Yes. it counts.

It very, very painfully counts.

But the Shiplord will survive. What's the punishment for piracy in most the Schlockvers?

[PraetorDragoon]

It very, very painfully counts.

But the Shiplord will survive.

So..... are schlocks forcing the kitties to watch Neeka perform field surgery?

[factotum]

So..... are schlocks forcing the kitties to watch Neeka perform field surgery?

Um, obviously not since Elf just asked for the bridge to be cleared? Neeka having to interrupt her to ask the prisoners to raise their hands implies they were about to be taken outside as well.

[PraetorDragoon]

Um, obviously not since Elf just asked for the bridge to be cleared? Neeka having to interrupt her to ask the prisoners to raise their hands implies they were about to be taken outside as well.

Ah, misread that. Silly language barrier at times when stuff gets implied.

Good to see the Toughs aren't that monstrous.

[Max_Killjoy]

Ah, misread that. Silly language barrier at times when stuff gets implied.

Good to see the Toughs aren't that monstrous.

One of the usually unspoken but kinda scary things about the Schlockverse setting is that the Toughs are almost always the good guys.

[Wayson]

New update!

I think the end has begun.