It doesn’t take much for a tense situation to get out of hand. Events have a way of accelerating when you really wish they wouldn’t.
So I’m not writing much this week. Basically, it’s all but certain that I’m going to have to move my entire living arrangement in the next few weeks. Realtors have been bringing potential buyers through my apartment at intervals, and though I’ve been trying to put a good face on it, it’s quite clear that the vast majority of them can’t wait to get rid of me so they can tear the house down. However, I have a good possibility “two towns over,” as they say, that my own realtor is looking into for me, so we’ll just see what comes of it. God willing, this will all be over very, very soon; but if there’s a service interruption here, that’s what it means. Things are moving quickly, and I’m kind of just trying to roll with it.
And now, I must sleep. Man, this has been a hell of a couple days. Hoo BOY. I’ll tell you the whole story sometime I’m sure, but for now… sleep. All the best, folks.
That’s one powerful (shot?)gun Sr. Confederate has there. And he knows how to use it.
Good work on the armor breaking apart/ impact (or should I say “expact”?) effects.
// “Blues” = UNA, “Reds” = FSR, CONASUR = “Yellows”? and those Arab chaps are “Greens”?
He’s well trained. It’s a weird thing that is common to tanks, that the back and forth between armor and gun power means that tanks will frequently be armored well when they’re designed, but by the time they’re in the field, their intended opponents will have been up gunned to defeat them, and they then rate as UNDER-armored. CONASUR has new and very powerful guns, and the shot is coming from close range.
And yes, Blues are the UNA, Reds are the FSR or the “commies,” Golds are the South Americans and Greens are the Arabs.
–M
I dunno. As I see it, things nominally stay consistent. You can design for what you think will be, but then you never really know. Further, upgunning requires lots of things that don’t really play well.
therefore, instead you get a nominal amount of big spike in performance, sharp increase in armor protection to counter, and then both taper off with improved armor and munition designs.
I’d expect that in the 500-800m bracket, most modern tanks regardless of which would be able to penetrate eachother with SABOT.
…that said, infantry…
I’d expect something more of ablative armor plating. If the power of incoming fire is too much to bear for an extended time, a few will suffice.
…but then again this could easily be the plate being hammered a bunch until failure.
Some observations:
1. I agree with Ulrich on the great quality of the artwork and effects of the trooper getting blown apart, but I would have figured his arms being more spread back by the reaction to the impact of the rounds into and through the armor. Of course odd things can happen in regards to the laws of physics and ballistics.
2. Now things between the UNA and CONASUR are really hitting into high gear now. I just wonder how the good Colonels are gonna try to handle the situation with Mike now?
3. I for one would understand completely if you would have to put things on a short hiatus until you get your living arrangements settled, just do what you gotta do. I’m willing to wait a bit for more 6-Commando!
…just not too long 🙂
Your take on the gunfire is quite valid, and I appreciate your making it – it was a bit of a liberty with the laws of physics, but I justified it to myself by thinking that the shots are fired from a rifle designed to penetrate powered armor, and at point blank range. Maybe not totally on the up and up, but good enough to keep the story moving, I hope.
As to the hiatus, I’m trying to avoid that and stay on schedule, but I might miss a week when I actually make the move. I hope not, though.
–M
Right when you thought it couldn’t get any worse…
It can always get worse.
–M
I’m presuming the UNA Marine fired by accident, since he was still in the middle of saying “Don’t make me…” and then only hit the shoulderplate, which by the looks of the CONASUR armour, is probably one of its thickest sections. And it may just be the very close range they are firing from, but it looks as if that UNA powered armour didn’t really count for much against what I presume also is a rail-gun type weapon.
I think I can also concur with the sentiment, that things seem to be getting worse by the minute, with the possibility of a full on firefight breaking out between the UNA and CONASUR forces in the base, in addition to the neuclear holocaust topside and Mike’s apparently becoming a Deus Ex Machine
Yes, it was intended to represent an accidental discharge. I was really, really worried that wouldn’t translate right. I should have done this in two pages instead of one, but it didn’t pace right. Oy.
–M
It appeared that it was AD to me as well, now that I had a night’s sleep and another chance to view the strip. 😀
I have to agree about the artwork. It looks great. Looks like a quick burst hitting him while he is still moving. And the reading order is intuitive enough to be completely effortless.
Most armour and helmets have historically been just barely to weak for close encounters, and, at least for projectiles, exit holes are always larger than entry holes.
It looks like the UNA marine accidentally fired to me as well, but I guess that’s irrelevant by now. Also it seems only mutual trust and diplomacy could cool things down, too bad neither Haulley or Zaballa are good at either.
As for your living arrangement, take some time for taking photos if you are the kind that looks back on things once in a while. I often wished I had done that. Oh, and I keep my fingers crossed.
You got that the shot was accidental! That’s great. I was trying to make this whole scene work out in one page instead of two and I was afraid it didn’t. I’m sure it could still be clearer, though – ugh. I’m such a second-guesser.
–M
I’m surprised that the armor couldn’t withstand a few shots. Of what use is it then? Or are the ‘guns’ they are using extra powerful? And I’m totally confused about what’s going on. I’m going to have to go back and read it again. If I get the time.
Oh, dear, I’m sorry you’re confused. And I hope you will get the time to reread the last few pages – the story is very complicated at this point since I’ve wound the whole thing up so much, and now that its unraveling I’m hoping I’m not losing anyone as I go. I am trying to make things clear, I promise – the fact that you don’t think they are is making me rethink a couple things.
As for the guns, well – the armor they wear withstands a lot, but they carry high-powered rifles, and he was just shot at point-blank range. So I gave myself a little dramatic license. Not too much, I hope.
–M
By the bye, to save you time:
While interrogating Sarah and Tom, Col. Haulley realized that Mike only acts under orders. However, a search of his order log indicated that someone was passing him instructions without authorization. An examination of the phone record from the CONASUR observers indicated, also, that they have been making and receiving calls that were not traceable, with contents that match Mike’s command codes. Haulley ordered the guard down near the South Americans’ part of the base to arrest the CONASUR officers, but he accidentally fired his gun while doing so, leading the CONASUR guard to return fire at point blank range, as shown above, with violent results.
–M
It’s even better!
Haulley thinks Zaballa can direct MIKE at will, but those secret communicatiosn from the Feds to the outside world are merely Zaballas attemtps to contact his superiors…
That poor Aussie.
Well, crap’s hit the fan. I went back and re-read the story again from page one, and I think I’ve got a better handle on it. I think part of the problem is the fragmented nature of the weekly updates. (Not complaining, I’m just saying if anyone tells you they have a problem understanding what’s going on they should read through the archives.)
I still, however, have no freaking idea what the whole reality-bending aspect comes from. An AI developing enough of a personality to go rogue? Staple Sci-Fi, good and tasty. Alternate history? Delicate spice, good when carried off well as it is here. Nuclear war? A flavorful favorite. Intrigue and subterfuge? Fascinating.
…But the whole “doors to other places and miraculous healing”? It’s like finding an apple in a bowl of sherbert; I have no idea how it got there, and although it’s not intrinsically bad, it does make one wonder how it got there and whether or not it’ll actually help the flavor or mess up the dish.
Again, I’m not trying to complain, I’m just hoping we get some answers to what’s going on, especially with regards to what look like time-space warpgates right out of an SCP entry.
Hope your living accommodations get sorted out to your favor.
I don’t take anyone’s suggestions as complaints – and I promise, we’re getting to the explanations soon, I PROMISE. I’m seriously grateful that you’re bearing with me!
–M
It sucks for the blue though why am i not surprised that they are lagging behind even the commies seem a bit ahead in the fact they have the autonomous battle droids so why not the golds having heavier armor and better guns. they way that thing hit is pretty much like an imperial guard goig up against a space marine the poor IG din have a bloody chance
on another note loving the comic and cant wait to see the doors explanation and how they were cured that will be quite interesting
The UNA has its moments, but sometimes someone gets the drop on them.
😉
–M
Never mess with a man whose faceplate looks like Boba Fett’s, no good can come of it.