So, I Think this was a good chapter in the series. Nathan did feel a bit overpowered, lucky.
Why didn't Jessica Question Dr. Symyri knowledge of Nathan and his salvation? When she was all over Max Senah Just for recognising Nathan. Is Dr. Symyri, Good, Evil or Crazy? Will he and Dr Sato, recreate the Cloning technic that Dr Sato Stumbled upon when trying to save Nathan?
On Max, I think this could be Captain Dubnyk, who somehow managed to get his mind transferred into a new body. possibly a younger clone, Question is how? Dr. Symyri? And if so why did the Dusahn let him go after they acquired the Jump Drive technology from him, what deal did he make?
If I were Nathan I would be sending a couple of squads of Ghatazhak back to the Isabella to remove the Last of the Jofa, and see about possible repairing her. if she is jump capable, I think it would be worth it, even if she doesn't join the fleet straight away and would be a resource drain, having a ship better designed for the troops and supporting land operation would be good. Also, there is the possibility of Max having some intelligence on the Dusahn. Although it Could be retro fitted to be a Gunyoki carrier and given co-ownership with the Rakuen Government. There by sharing the cost of retro fitting her and extending the range of the Gunyoki. Of course, if you parked her by the Gunyoki race platform while these modifications were taking place you would make it a clear target for the Dusahn.
The Dusahn really did take a back seat in this book, licking their wounds. I would have like to have seen a gun boat raid on Rakuen, like was hinted at, I thought I might come just before the Karuzari launched their Liberation Missions, allowing them to come to the rescue, when it was obvious that Rakuen couldn’t stand up to the Dusahn, you can explain this away by the Dusahn having intelligence about the infighting and deciding to let them squabble while they prepare a bigger attack. However, this need a scene with Lord Dusahn discussing this with his General.
I am excited by the introduction of new technically, the Mk II Ranni Enterprise shuttle is going to be a big hit. Although the introduction of Personal shields for the Ghatazhak I think need more down falls, E.G. the cost of them is very high, it makes the user there easier to detect, takes a minute to power up.
I don’t think in this book there were any loss, for the Karuzari, maybe to Eagles, on the Oli taker raid. But I don’t think that was confirmed. Not sure how that sits with me.
Symyri explained his knowledge of Nathan being a clone as being from his own deductive reasoning based on the evidence provided by an extensive unofficial intelligence network (built up of his multiple contacts lists of contacts) what was Jessica ment to question of someone they need on side who they hope has a ethical compass.
Max - Dubnyk does seem like a good bet.
Isabella, His ship, was listed as being of one world previously mentioned by Lord Dushan as being captured by his people. So it seems likely that he got the ship in trade. And having a pirate attacking and being a nuisance in neighbouring sectors is a win win for the Dushan.
As to if he is a good guy or not - he comes across a bit evil but maybe he just wants to play king in his own story.
Because Max has become a force in the sector, we have to move past the fact that his people looked like clowns when facing the Karuzari. He has capable people working for him. Possible enough to find out about where Max was taken and or where he would be sent later in long haul stasis FTL and rescue him. I dont think finding the Isabella would be fast or easy.
This episode took about a week of time. Lord Dushan sent a request for ships that likely took a days travel time and we should expect his ships to arrive in the next episode. The Taksran Lord is likely playing a careful balancing act between leaking and being discovered. I assume it's only a matter of time before the Jung trace the lost of the shipyard back to him. So it's probably in his interests to become a player so that he is not disposable.
The Karuzari didn't loose anyone or any assets in this episode. That I think is a first. But it was about two weeks of story following massive losses. And the Rauken suffered losses. Losses to an Ally even if it firms up the Alliance are losses to the Alliance.
Love this story.
I thought it was an awesome episode. It was cool to see Gen Telles doing a standalone op. The Aurora crushing it while Nathan and crew were barfighting and engaging in piracy. Also, the potential for cloning for the Ghatazak and bringing new technology for the Karuzari was a smart move; I think there's going to be a huge fight in the future where all tech and hands will be needed to take on the Dushan, the Jung (don't think that is over) and of course.. Galliardi.
Overall, a Great read; looking forward to see where this story will go
I find it ironic Max will be loaded in a stasis pod and sent hundreds of light years away, waking, once again, alone over an alien world. All his back stabbing and amoral choices will have got him nothing in the end.
Given that we didn't get an answer on Max's true identity, I suspect we're not done with him yet. He's gonna weasel his way out, or perhaps Nathan wants his ship and needs his assistance getting access to it or something.
I'm also not sold on Max being Dubnyk. It's almost 99% for me, but I have a small suspicion that it's someone else.
I can wait to find out who Dub-Max is. But I strongly suspect that his pirate allies will rescue him as he is good for business and he probably has some serious countermeasures in place of him being sidelined against his own people as motivation.
There will be a big fight in the next book. We should see Lord Dushan's trap fall into place. The attack on Rauken followed by the Takaran Trap using the Dushan controlled warships of their other captured worlds. I imagine that the gunyoki have a lot to do next episode.
Max Dub? I was left wanting more as usual. But I think what we have seen here is the last of Nathan Scott's doublethink. I think he's finally becoming who we all have wanted him to be. Decisive and even ruthless if need be. Galardi info would have been nice too. That price of crap will get his.
Awesome episode!
But I would have called it, "Pirates on the Cloneibeing"
I think we are looking at part 2 being largely a fight between the Karuzari and the Dushan (If we have seen little of them in this episode it's mostly to ensure a large set piece battle later!)
I imagine the next step would be Part 3 being a unification of the larger part of the PC and the surounding sectors the infighting to set that up along with interference from Sol.
Part 4 being the Gilardi front! Which I think would be a massive shadow to keep holding over Scott!
Leading into Part 5 the next Jung war.
First of all I liked the book.
I agree with the above authors Max is Dub. He is not from PC, he knows Nathan, he has Isabella (which is a spanish Name) a ship from Orswellans (let me guess the name was inspired by Orson Welles?) and the Orswellans were the hideout for the Dusahn. I think it was his gain from the deal giving the Dusahn the jump drive. Why is he so young? If I have to guess because of Symyri. He is big in cloning body parts, everyone on Sanctuary was looking young and healthy and the receptionist said to Nathan: ... my son ... and Symyri is looking old. Symyri has invented/created a way to rejuvenate humans.
He will with Satos help solve the Problem of cloning. I can now see a cloned army of Ghatazhak. ^^
Isabella is a must get for Nathan. He is short on starships and Isabella is perfect as a carrier. In my opinion it is implausible to expect once again that Nathan will win a war with just one starship. He Needs a fleet AND an army AND lots of people to support him. I do not expect Ryk will solve the problem with Galiardi in this cycle. Nathan will once again save the PC (this cycle), then rush to the sol sector while PC will build up its power (next cycle). After all he has a mobile base. In the next cycle Nathan will defeat Galiardi with the help of the jung, because G. is bombarding the Jung into submission. The only thing left what the jung will have is their fleet without jump drive and no logistics to support them. Nathan will have quality and the Jung will have quantity ... a perfect match. And the Jung will join the Alliance, the only way to unite Humanity.
Just two other points.
Lord Mathize is a typical politician. As a politician he will avoid to choose any side. He is only interested in the power he can get for his house and ultimatly for himself. Therefore he will help any side as long he thinks he can get away with it. But mayby I am wrong and he will become the center of resistance on Takara. Ryk will tell.
The trap Lord Dusahn is preparing. Maybe Nathan will fall for it, but I think he must expect the Dusahn to react in any way. No obvious sign of it would make me suspicious and problably Nathan too. At least Telles should get doubts. Or Jessica is taking a detour from Sanctuary to Tweeson and will interrogate Max. Maybe he has informations which will be helpful to avoid the trap.
I was thinking about how I would fight the Dusahn. I came to the conclusion that it would not help to defeat the Dusahn in PC when they still have their homebase somewhere. I would harass the Dusahn in PC and find their "homeworld". Here is Max the right person to give directions. After I captured/destroyed Orswella the Dusahn have nowhere else to go and would hopefully fight until the end.
I love how the PC has become just a small piece of a larger region of humanity. That there are other sectors right next door that we hadn't noticed before because who talks about nations it takes half a year's fyi to fly to?
Aurora intelligence are already suspicious of how quick the Takaran spy is providing Intel. The real test will be to see if the Dushan spring the trap early and the Alliance can jump clear... I would love to have the Aurora and co use the stealth jump and or the micro jump tech they now have access too to clear out of a trap, making Lord Dushan look incompetent 😆
Hey long time lurker first time poster.
I have a question regarding episode 8 I haven’t heard anyone mention yet.
During the raid on the 2 tanker when the cobra is jumping away a large ship is detected.my thought is this was a battle platform or some other support ship but we haven’t heard of any duschan battle platforms yet.
I’d love to hear any theories!
Four Islands - "The real test will be to see if the Dushan spring the trap early and the Alliance can jump clear.."
What if the trap has already been set? What if the trap is Sanctuary?
Let's assume that Max is Dubnyk and that he sold the jump drive to the Dusahn for the Isabella. Or did he sell it to Tweeson first and then turned on him to sell the technology to the Dusahn. That would explain why Tweeson wanted Max so badly.
Now, Max was cloned by Dr. Symyri. Did everyone swallow the story that he put together Nathan's history all by himself? That is quite a stretch! And Tweeson sent Nathan directly to Symyri! For one, I smell a rat.
toombs88 - You're quite right. Those two tankers were bait and I fear the Ghatazak and pilot crew now aboard are sitting ducks for the Dusahn. Moreover, Rakuen's main defences were obliterated by the Karuzari Alliance and the planet could well be a very tempting target for the Dusahn right now, before it has time to rebuild its defences and upfit its Gunyaki fighters.
Finally, Nathan ended up not going, but if Miri, her children, Vlad, Jess, Drs. Sato and Chen and their Ghatazak escort all walk into a trap on Sanctuary, Nathan and the Karuzari will be fighting for their very survival.
Sanctuary's storyline is so well crafted and there are so many possible developments that it is anybody's guess where and how the story will actually evolve. Nice job Ryk!
