Fiction meets reality, headline on ZDNet: Meet Aurora: Finland's AI assistant aims to give each citizen tailored advice. 😃
Alright less then 20 hrs till #11 comes out. Standing by..
Jason - you are right about the Seikki being stealth jump drive equipped. I re-read one of my own posts from about 1.5 yrs ago and even I mentioned that the Seikki had been so equipped - go figure. I didn't pick up on Nathan not really having been exposed to what caused the B-D plague. So good catch. Obviously, we know about it because of the Fall of the Core books.
If the alliance get the Aurora ZPEDS installed and gets repaired in the Orwellian shipyard (the only available place we are aware of) then Katie-bar-the-Door because the she will have unprecedented power available for shields, weapons and jump-juice!!
Putting my self on report I've managed to spell Seiiki three different ways; The right way- Seiiki. Then two wrong ways - Sekki & Seikki. Age will do that to ya!
#11 A Rock and Hard Place is downloadable off Amazon now. I'm reading it!!
CONTAINS SPOILERS
Finished "A Rock and a Hard Place" this morning. My immediate impressions of the episode are overall positive with only one major issue: Commander Stethan Andreola. The issue being with his dialogue tags and not the character itself. As an example, in chapter eight, when he and Jessica use the jump sub to visit Orswella to perform reconnaissance for a potential strike on the planet by the Alliance, Andreola has told Jessica she may call him Stethan and immediately after the dialogue tag identifying his dialogue switches from "Commander Andreola" to "Stethan". Oddly a little while later it switches back to "Commander Andreola" and seems to alternate at will between the two for the rest of the book. And that leads me to another issue I had with his dialogue tags. Why exactly is he being identified as "Commander" Andreola instead of simply Andreola? I can understand him being identified as "Commander Andreola" when he is reintroduced initially into the story because we haven't seen him since the episode in which he was captured, but we really don't need to be reminded of his rank every time he says something. Once should be enough.
Another minor issue I noticed was later during the battle to liberate Orswella when I believe the Aurora is facing off with the three remaining Orswellan cruisers. And again it's with Andreola. In an exchange with Nathan, he refers to the Orswellan Guard as "The Guard" when it should be "the Guard", lower case.
Character wise I have to say the drama with whether or not Loki would leave the Aurora really didn't appeal to me because I didn't really feel that he would actually really leave. I was more surprised by Abby's decision to stay with the Aurora through the battle than Loki's arc. As I said above, there was never really any reason in the story for be to believe that he would actually leave.
I'm curious to see what Ryk does with the SilTek arc he introduced here and whether they'll turn out to be a friend or foe of our heroes. Their representative on Sanctuary seems to be able to learn too much about our heroes to not be someone of interest to them (maybe we'll see an impromptu meeting between him and Jessica next episode). And we learn here that it was SilTek that built the Sugali fighters and designed the AIs that assist their pilots. So maybe we'll see SilTek upgrading the Aurora's systems or something. Maybe Aurora, the AI, will be permanently integrated into the ship instead of running on a disassembled Sugali fighter stored in the hangar.
Speaking of the AIs, we learn here that they require an operating license issued by SilTek and that Casbon only paid for temporary licensees for one Casbon year. So I have to ask... how long is a Casbon year in comparison to an Earth year? And what will happen to Leta (Talisha's AI), Max (Prechitt's AI), and Aurora when that year is up? Will Deliza and Ranni Enterprises purchase full licenses before that time? Will someone tell Nathan that that time limit exists before it's too late?
On the Dushan front, General Hessen is dead, betrayed by his trusted Lieutenant Vulan, and now Lord Dushan has all the evidence he needs to execute the Takaran nobles who were plotting with Hessen and assume direct control of their assets. But Lord Dushan has little time to savor his victory as he promptly losses 5 battleships and 2 missile frigates to an AI-equipped, superjump-capable Aurora.
Meanwhile, in the Sol Sector, the Jung are on the move having declared holy war on the Sol Alliance and have no less than three battle platforms less than a month from Earth along with a number of other ships. All hidden in "sensor cloaks". I see three possible outcomes:
1) Earth will be threatened and almost fall before being rescued by the Aurora.
2) Earth will fall, but the rest of the Alliance (probably lead by Tau Ceti) will resist and almost fall before being rescued by the Aurora. The Aurora and the remaining desperate defenders of the Alliance will then proceed to liberate Earth.
3) The Sol Sector will be conquered by the Jung (either through surrender or conquest) and Nathan and the Aurora will have to liberate them again.
I think there is some explaining to do of how they were able to go from a 30/60 Jump Range of 900, it's great and all. but it seems like a massive jump. Was it because they created Batteries from the material on Casson?
Also with ZPM i thought their Shield Strength would be increase but maybe, they need to swap out the shield emitters, and power lines for those designed to handle increase power? same goes for the weapons? maybe.
Next thing they'll need so is a super cool material.
so they added speeds which gave the ship more power generally. new emitters for the jump drive to extend range, and new energy banks to push it out further. they put new power lines to the jump emitters too.
they did not improve the power lines to the guns and the heating issues to overclock them remain
the shields might be recharged faster with speeds but otherwise no changes were made to them.
the jump range is a big leap, I think they talked up the potential jump range last book but this one they just kind of seemed amazed by it...
Well ok then I now have my FS hit out of the way thanks to #11 "A Rock and Hard Place". So these are some of my thoughts after reading it 2 times;
1. I agree with Jason regarding the SilTek arc. Although we found out some interesting tidbits, there are a lot of unknowns in that story line. One - how they get all the info the rep on Sanctuary is privy to. Two - we know they upgraded Sanctuaries defenses. Will they upgrade the Aurora's? They developed the AI's for and built the Sugali fighters so where ever their system is located they have a potent industrial capability - one the KA needs to tap into. They control the operating licenses for the AI's so the KA is going to have to work with them in some fashion. This whole SilTek arc reeks of a shadow Mil-Ind-Complex (MIC) conglomerate that controls a complete system. May or may not be a good thing.
2. We got an update on the Sol Sector and Jung response to Galiardi's preemptive strike on their battle platforms. The Jung have been positioning forces (1 month away and in sensor cloak mode) for the past seven years. Not sure how you hide the gravity signature of a battle platform the size of a small moon but hey anything is possible. The Jung currently have 87 ships just outside SOL space and 34 inside Sol space. That's 121 ships and there is no way Earth/the Core can handle that. Galiardi gave the Jung the perfect reason to declare a Tonba-Hon-Venar. Again, I agree with Jason's assessment of possible outcomes but there might be one more. The KA has irrefutable evidence that the Dusahn were responsible for the false flag incursions and could present that evidence to prevent a Jung attack. Dom Jung-Mogan mentions that they do not know the true reason for the Sol attack so its possible if the truth was revealed there could be a way to avoid another SOl/Jung war. In a quid-pro-quo situation Nathan could make a deal with the Jung to deal with Galiardi himself which I'm looking forward to. Of course, the Jung discovering he is still alive creates a whole other story arc.
3. Got an interesting update on Miri's recovery. At least we know she is responding to the treatments.
4. Let's talk about the Aurora. After the Orswallian and Dusahn battles the AI tech is here to stay. It will get more integrated if the KA strikes a deal with SilTek for upgraded versions and unlimited licensing. The ZPED installation is a huge improvement in available power for rapidly charging additional energy banks installed in the old anti-matter reactor rooms. Remember the Manamu tested the 4th Gen emitters prior to installation on the Aurora so they were rather confident that they were going to be able to significantly extend the single jump range. That range puts them one jump from the PC and Orswella systems but also 1-2 jumps from SOL. I agree with Palmer/Four Islands that the shield emitters and weapons have to be upgraded to handle the increase power available with the ZPEDs. That sounds like something SilTek could provide.
So with AI combat system integration, extended jump range, stronger & faster rechargeable shields and more powerful plasma weapons the Aurora turns into one bad--s ship. Throw in jump missiles that can penetrate shields and you've got Mad Max in space!!
5. Just how many ships can the Dusahn possibly have left. One dreadnought, another battleship that went missing, some number of cruisers/frigates, probably a good number of gunboats, octos and that's about it. In addition, they are highly vulnerable to the Nighthawks jumping inside their shields to destroy their emitters. They have no access to a shipyard, they lost a butt load of Dusahn sailors on the 5 battleships and their ability to control the PC has got to be shaky at best. Lord Dusahn has evidence to kill the remaining Takaran nobles and take over their assets but so what. The sticky part is how the KA can liberate the PC without the Dusahn glassing every world.
6. I know we aren't even 1/3rd of the way through the whole Frontiers Saga but Ryk may have let on to how Nathan and Cam go riding off into the sunset. In the "Happiness" conversation they had, Nathan wants to "explore" space and Cam wants to have her own command again. So there it is at the end of book 75, Nathan on the bridge of the Aurora headed out into uncharted space with "Happy Trails are Here Again" playing ship-wide. And Cam with a new command running drills 24/7/365!!
#11 was a great read and there is more to discuss but Ryk better be working #12 already.
@p-d-nelson I think the missing battleship was actually one of the 4 that the Aurora ambushed outside the Rogen System. And the destruction of all of those battleships leaves the Dushan with only one remaining known battleship in addition to Lord Dushan's dreadnought. That leaves Lord Dushan with his dreadnought in the Takara System and a battleship above Corinar.
I like your idea about the Aurora arriving with proof that not only is Nathan alive but that it was the Dushan that conducted the false flag operation. Maybe we'll see a version of it. I could see Earth being conquered and the Jung about to take Tau Ceti when the Aurora arrives with the proof. If that were the case, I wonder if Dom Jung-Mogan would relinquish control of Earth or not. And I'm curious to see how Nathan and everyone learn of the attack. Maybe Earth and/or the rest of the Alliance is conquered and a lone Alliance destroyer makes the track to the PC to alert them? I think that storyline could be neat, especially if Ryk were to make that destroyer the Tanna. That way Robert could verify that it's really is old crew.
If Nathan decides to leave with the Aurora to explore the galaxy, maybe he'll sit in his command chair and tell Loki: "Second star to the right... and straight on til morning." Loki can be like: "What?"
Some Question arising
Does Lord Dushan have anywhere to fall back to, or his he cornered in the PC? a cornered animal is a dangerous one.
Do you think he would go back to the Jung and trade jump tech for reintegration?
I couldn't say if there is a missing jump Dushan battleship, but if there is could it be that it's heading out to Sanctuary to investigate? If so it might come in all buddy / buddy. and try and make friend with SilTek? a bit of Clock and dagger politics?
The Dushan may be down on Ships, but how many boots on the ground do they have?
If Lord Dushan, goes ahead and kills all the Nobles and confiscates there wealth and Lands could this leave Takara open for Deliza Takara to return and be made Ruler of Takara by the Citizens?
Even if the Nathan did want to help in the Sol Sector i don't think the Aurora would be much help, with the amount of ships, They need the Shields and weapons power increased and the short range stealth jump array installed at minimum?
As there is away of 'jumping' inside Dushan shields would it be possible to jump troop pods in side there shields and capture some ships? Or possible a disabling device? a Capture Dushan Dreadnought would be handed back in the Sol sector, or something to leave behide in the PC while the Aurora goes off.
@palmer So far as we know, Lord Dushan has nowhere to fall back on expect the PC. Orswella was the Dushan's only position held outside the PC and now it's been liberated by the KA. Best guess we'll see him lose even that in the next two or three episodes. Nathan and the KA will probably chip away at the Dushan until all they hold is Takar. In the end, Lord Dushan will probably be:
1) Defeated aboard his dreadnought
2) Killed by Nathan in ritualistic combat on Takar
3) Decide to sterilize Takar with nuclear weapons out of spite when it's clear he's about to be defeated, leading Nathan to mount a desperate mission to stop him and save as much of Takar as possible.
I don't think Lord Dushan will return to the Jung Empire in defeat and barter jump technology with them. Everything Ryk has shown us about the character is that he is an arrogant, self-deluded man that believes he above all others has the correct vision for his people's future. And that all who disagree with him as disloyal and therefore subject to elimination. We learned in Ep. 11 that he essentially murdered his way into power by killing all of his older brothers in ritualistic combat. And he killed a subordinate for failing in his assigned mission to defeat the Aurora in the Rogen System. A man like that wouldn't throw himself at the feet of his Jung cousins. He'd rather die in a meaningless battle that he believes he can actually win even when everything says he can't. In short, Lord Dushan is suffering from a God complex.
I really believe the missing Jung battleship was headed to meet the battleships Lord Dushan amassed to attack Rogen. We've seen no indication in any episodes yet of Part II that the Dushan are even aware of the existence of Sanctuary. But I wholeheartedly believe that SilTek has its own agenda there and with the KA. They probably want access and favorable trade terms with a liberated PC.
I believe the Dushan have 10,000 troops on Takar and I believe Ep 11 said there were 30,000 more troops in the transports that accompanied the two battleships from Orswella to Rogen. Since only the battleships were destroyed, I can only assume those transports returned to Takar with Lord Dushan's dreadnought. That would place 40,000+ troops on Takar plus whatever troops that are dispersed to the other planets of the PC to maintain Dushan control. Meanwhile the KA has 100 Ghatazhak/5000 Corinari, most of whom are tied up pacifying Orswella.
Best guess, Lord Dushan will kill all the nobles as an example for their treachery in plotting with General Hessen, leaving the door open for Deliza to return as the last daughter of Takar's founding noble house to rally the people around her and rebuild their society. Deliza won't like it. She never liked being called "Princess" by Josh, but I think she would see it as her duty to her people to restore her father's throne.
There are many ways that Nathan and the Aurora could defuse the situation in the Sol Sector. And the outcome hasn't necessarily have to be a military victory for the Alliance. Should the KA intervene with proof of the Dushan false flag operation it could be enough for the Jung to halt their attack. And in the same instance Nathan can provide proof against Galiardi too. The assassin that Galiardi tried to use as a fall man for his assassination of President Scott and the other political leaders of the Sol Alliance is alive somewhere in the KA fleet even though we haven't seen or heard of him in several episodes. Galiardi and his cabal of traitors within the Alliance will be exposed.
You could probably design a jump capable boarding sled that can jump through Dushan (and maybe Jung) shields, but I doubt it would be a priority for the Alliance. I doubt there'll be much need to leave a ship behind in the PC once Dushan are defeated and the threat to Sol will probably be too pressing for Nathan to wait or leave anything behind when he heads to the rescue.
I think between all of you, you’ve got it.
I was convinced, because the battle was going so well, that the free AI year was going to run out in the middle of battle. That and Vlad took a bunch of shortcuts installing the jump drive. The fact Ryk made a point of mentioning it, it seemed everything was going to fail. So wait for it, we might still get it.
So I have two speculation points.
1) Lord Dusahn kills all the nobles, Nathan defeats LD in combat, Deliza regains her family’s throne, Ta’Akar rejoins the Alliance.
2) Now that Nathan is leader of the Jung, he rides into the Sol sector, declares himself such, the Jung all stand down. Galiardi meets some gruesome but deserve-able fate. End of story.
We have to tie off a lot of loose ends before this comes to pass but it’ll be fun.
And as much as I like Jason’s (@darkscribe) end of story, I have always thought the end would be someone going back in time, telling the story of how Nathan saved the universe as we know it (over 1000 years name morphs into Na-tan) and, presumably accidentally, the bio-digital plague is released. The Netcast series kinda puts this down a little but it’s not finished yet. Hmm… Maybe the AI from Siltek has a place in all this.
I certainly hope Ryk gets this Amazon BS figured out, I look forward to seeing how wrong I am with the story.
Am I the only person from the 21st century to have ever been to Takara?
How can I upload a photo to this forum?
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