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RUTE 1

COMMANDER

DA KOMMER HAN BORT OG FØRER VANNET GJENNOM LUFTEHULLENE FOR Å SEPARERE KABLENE OG DEAKTIVERE APPARATET.

RUTE 3

TEKSTBOKS

OG DET ER HELE GREIA.

(cont.)

TRYLLEFORMELEN ER STANSET. VI HAR REDDET OFRENE. VI HAR REDDET VERDEN. DE ER FERDIGE.

(cont.)

ALT SOM DA GJENSTÅR ER AT MILITÆRET KOMMER OG RYDDER OPP.

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PANEL 1

COMMANDER

HE’LL THEN COME OVER AND MANIPULATE WATER THROUGH THE AIR HOLES TO SEPARATE THE WIRES AND DISABLE THE DEVICE.

PANEL 3

CAPTION

“AND THEN THAT’S THE WHOLE BALLGAME.”

“THE SPELL IS STOPPED. WE’VE SAVED THE SACRIFICES. WE’VE SAVED THE WORLD. THEY’RE DONE.”

“ALL THAT’LL BE LEFT WILL BE FOR THE MILITARY TO ARRIVE AND MOP UP.”

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The Young Protectors: Engaging The Enemy Chapter Three—Page 77

November 7, 2014 Alex Woolfson 210 Comments

So, Commander envisions a cinematic, happy ending where they all get to be big, damn heroes- Wait a minute! Why is Spooky checking out that soldier’s package in the last panel? Exactly what kind of happy ending is Commander planning?!

I’m currently at BENT-CON 2014 in Los Angeles. If you’re in the neighborhood, please stop by and say hi! It’s awesome!

We had our sixty-ninth bonus page in a row on Wednesday and thanks to your generous donations, and in addition to our regular Saturday updates, there will also bonus pages on Wednesday, November 12th (page 78!), Wednesday, November 19th (page 80!), Wednesday, November 26th (page 82!), Wednesday, December 3rd (page 84!), and an additional bonus page (page 86!) on Wednesday, December 10th!

Special thanks go out to long-time supporters Antonia S. (who makes their twelfth generous donation to The Young Protectors!), & Saxon B. (who makes their 123rd generous donation to The Young Protectors!) and a warm welcome and grateful bow go out to new supporter St R. for their generous donations over the last few days!

Big hugs go out to Robert B., & Christopher D. for their super-generous $25 donations! And this makes Robert’s ninety-second and Christopher’s 117th super-generous donations to this comic! Thank you so much, Robert & Christopher!

Thank you all so much for your generous support!

So! Easy as pie, huh? I guess the military must have some real game to be able to lead The Annihilator and The Platinum Priestess away, trussed up like that. It looks like Kyle gets to have a moment, though… Is this really how things are going to go? How will the team react to this plan? And could Commander be forgetting something… or someone?

Tune in this Wednesday to find out! Hope to see you there! 😀

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210 Comments

Oh wow *Excited, anxious – and waiting for Doki’s reaction* xD

congrats on the v-card. i thought i had a shot today. oh well. (*_*;)

but im still happy for u anyway. ;-D

^_^ *squee* Mitch!!!! Isn’t he just the cutest? *giggles* I guess he is “above” such things. *giggles*

Is it wrong to look up at Mitch from below while he is flying? Is that like looking up a girl’s skirt? How high up is it wrong to look? Should MItch keep his legs closed when he is flying over people?

No. Only if he flies while wearing a kilt. It is never wrong to look (unless he is in a kilt and then the polite thing would be to not look without permission). Only if he wants to.

I smell potential Fan Art… 😉

If I had any drawing talent you would have more Mitch fanart than you would know what to do with. ^_^

Yes, that plan will work, absolutely, positively.

What are those collars they have on Sircea and Duncan in this wonderfully optimistic vision? Are those to suppress their powers?

That’s my guess.

Good old X-Men style power inhibitor collars? Yes, that was my first thought, but then I thought about what Commander said back when the Protectors got on the plane and they started talking about the power neutraliser that Hunter and Killer were using. She said that she hadn’t heard of that kind of tech before – but that depends on what the “that kind” means.

Did she mean that she hadn’t heard of power inhibitors at all? Or did she mean that she hadn’t heard of power inhibitors that worked by creating an area effect but the touch contact ones that the Priestess and Annihilator are shown wearing on this page are well know? My gut reaction is for the latter, but at this point we have ambiguity and simply don’t know.

To my knowledge power inhibitors in the “big” comics are all touch-based so yeah, an inhibitor field might be a game-changer as new tech. I enjoyed how you responded to the question, Saxon! Good thinking.

Bahaha.. Alex’ comment about Spooky xD

Considering that this is Amanda’s vision, if Amanda/Spooky is canon and not just the result of shipping goggles being worn by the commenters, it makes me want to know the particulars of their relationship.

They could be secret swingers. In-between training, looking up porny fanart of themselves, and saving people, they could attend monthly swinging parties.

It could be that they have an open relationship, but I have to admit that my mind immediately went to telepathic threesomes.

And now for something completely different.

KABOOM! *body flies, limbs flailing crazily*

I think Amanda must know how slim their chances for success are. It makes me wonder what else she’s got up her sleeve, because she doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who doesn’t have a backup plan.

There you go Dokidoki, you’ve got some Fly Boy. A pity it doesn’t mention him in the actual plan, so I guess it’s another case of him rlling his eyes as he’s relegated to emergency escape and backup, again.

He’s the lookout again!

And who do you think flew off and found the military, huh? Must make contact in person. Radio silence and all that. (Who needs coordinates when Flyboy is a homing pigeon?)

So Amanda has made an absolutely amazing plan fails to utilise a member of her team and possible overextends another and also utilises the half-demon team member in a way that might activate the demon ring of hell.

No problems in that plan whatsoever!

Well, I think our candles and incense and good vibes worked – plus it looks like this page might be followed by one where Mitch will get to talk!

Hm. If it was that easy for the military to “mop up” these two, wouldn’t Duncan and Sircea have been arrested some time in the past already?

Only if they could find them.

So this is Amanda’s plan. Does this mean that we’ll now get it as it really is, and where Mitch won’t be too happy about being left out – so he’ll butt in too? 😉

Who is she forgetting? Flyboy, obviously. But that is hardly a problem. Hunter and Killer? Would they make much of a difference? Laampros? But the whole idea is to keep him out. Who could it be?

There is Mitch, but what did he do? Did he hover around the whole time? Poor kid.

Well there is Mitch!

Wow, this is the WiP colors? It looks great already, so I bet the finished version is going to be amazing!

Yeah, when I saw this page I was like WOW!!! The water is so beautiful.

I just get the warm fuzzies looking at Sircea, knowing that if she goes down it’s almost certainly not going to be like this, meekly led away in restraints. There’s havoc to be wrought!

And I’m about to pass out, so I’ll check in later. Even in-progress colors look gorgeous, so the page will be blindingly stunning once Vero’s done working her magic. Thanks for pushing through con exhaustion to get the page to us, Alex!

You’re welcome, silibub! I’m glad you’re liking what you see! 🙂

Soooo… In Amanda’s mind, Duncan stares at Kyle while he’s being taken away with a look on his face I can’t decipher (is it surprise? Is it shame?), while Kyle takes his revenge with his fists clenched?

She has a dramatic imagination!

Even better, in her imagination Spooky is looking at that guy’s package…

I think that’s Alex predicting *our* imagination! 😀

Lets admit it, sooner or later someone would comment on where Spooky is looking and -is it significant to the plot???!!??!! 0.o

I see that eye contact between Anni and Kyle. It’s going to be interesting to see how that will play out when it really happens.

Btw.. Like how this is ‘just’ the WIP colors. Just shows how high the coloring quality is on TYP 🙂

I’m wondering what Mitch is thinking as he appears to be staring at the Duncanator.

“I could take him!”

‘Wonder how high a drop he could survive?’

How high does he bounce?

I didn’t know why I expected to see Duncan in anything but a leotard over tights not dissimilar to what I wore while doing gymnastics as a kid, but he is, that belt cuts up the lines of what he is wearing. Is it just so odd to know that Supervillain Duncan has the same fashion sense of my 7 year old self.

I’ve got to say that Tsunami has an impressive amount of fine motor control with his water bending if he can insinuate the water into the box and then use it to tear the wires apart. This sort of control was hinted at in chapter 1 when he said he was turning water into mist and spreading it through the burning building, but this takes it to the next level. (I’m also wondering whether Tsunami has any tactile feedback through his water constructs, since that would be even more awesome. The comments he makes in chapter 1 about not being able to see the effect he’s having with the mist is ambiguous given the context: there might be a difference between tactile feedback from a solid water column and an aerated mist.)

Wondering about how far Tsunami’s powers go: as far as I understood it, he needs a water source, in this case, the river nearby. Can he also work with the water in the air? What about humans? We mostly consist of water – would he be able to drain a human body of its water resources, creating a mummy-like human shell? O.o

so. weve reached the end of the planning stage. i wonder if tsunami will voice objections / concerns about her plan. or if spooky will mention the likelihood that the area is protected by wards.

i read duncans expression when he looks at kyle as a combination of respect and regret. but it could be wishful thinking. *scratches head.

An impressively unlikely plan. Somehow I don’t see Sircea giving in while conscious.

good planing but…it smells too perfect to really happen without an hitch

Well it’s good to know the plan, and how they think it will go. I’m pretty sure that it’s not going to go anything like that. So I wonder what sort of pig’s breakfast its going to turn into.

What a visual…

The part of the plan that worries me is that Amanda is assuming the enemy will just react. That they have no defensive plans of their own already. Both PP and Annihilator are too sneaky – they will have plans in place to obstruct them.

dayum! kyles body iz hawt last panel. correction: kyle looks hawt last panel.

And now that we have seen it all during the planning, there is no reason to show it again. Page 78 will take up after the events shown here.

Or then again, maybe not.

It will be the details we didn’t get to see 🙂

And we all know who is in the details.

Bob? Bob is in the details? I wondered where he got to.

I think you’re being far too optimistic, Klaus. We still have to get through Commander outlining some of the more obvious counter-attacks for when (not if) Team Silver tries to defend themselves – having Spooky relieve the Annihilator of his sharp’n’pointy toys can’t be full extend of overcoming their defenses. (I may not particularly like the Priestess, but I’d be a fool not to respect her abilities.)

the trouble with plans is, that is all they, foreplay.

So now let’s see what actually happens. Probably something heart breaking. O_O

I wonder if Amanda is projecting this plan so PP intercepts it. You know a foil, give the enemy the wrong plan, so when they actually land they do something completely different.

Wicked little mink, aren’t you?

It’s a good idea, don’t you think, sir?

Of course, and a right sneaky one too!

Fingers crossed. 😀

What we get to see of Spooky’s face in the last panel is just so cute that I totally didn’t notice Mitch hovering in the air until I re-read the page and tried to drink in all the details. Um. Yeah. I guess flying teens are normal by now.

…. You didn’t see Mitch???? He was the first thing I saw in that panel!!!

Doki, darling, you have Mitch programmed into your targeting scanners. You could likely pick him out of a “Where’s Waldo” portrait in pitch darkness while on a centrifuge. Hee, love ya!

….that might actually be fun…. I kinda want to try that…

I guess I’m just more Spooky-focused…Spoocused? Especially when he’s checking out other people’s packages.

Am I the only one thinking that PP might be reading her thoughts and seeing their plan?

Uncertain but it seems very likely that she expects TYP to attack given how much she and Duncan researched the kids. They researched Amanda too so I imagine they planned counterstrategies well in advance, as in “before Duncan and Kyle met” advance. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the power dampener was on the field specifically to take TYP out as soon as they stepped on the field.

This seemed a bit paranoid when I read it previously but given how much the Silver Duo has studied the kids it is possible that they set bait and traps all across the field, including the hostages. It would be quite a surprise if TYP were the intended sacrifices. Given what is at stake and how other heroes are offworld the “no touching kids before 18 rule” might no longer apply. It might also be void if said kids take the offensive against villains. So, luring TYP Into a trap might be a way to void the warrantee, so to speak. We’ll have to wait and see.

That would be risky because it would also take out Duncan’s powers. And isn’t Mitch the only one under 18 at this point? That might be why Amanda is keeping him out of the plan. Not that I think he will stay out, but still…

Fluke is also under 18.

It would be risky, yes, unless the field was set up in such a way that the Duncanator and Platinum Platypus stood just outside its range, trapping the kids inside. If so, then they just send in the minions who aren’t affected by the inhibitor field. Amanda and Paul look like they might do fine without powers but the others, not so much.

Platinum Platypus wouldn’t be affected anyway. She could just lob magic grenades into the field without worry. I imagine Gordon’s not a bad hand to hand guy either–didn’t he say he trained the others?

Heh… That field could still backfire if they take away Mitch’s powers and he drops the glider on them. 😉

HA! I’d pay to see that!

Bahahaah. So much sunshine and rainbows.

Now I’m scared after this panel. How dark is it going to get after this? I really hope our juniors heroes are actually going to make it out of this in one piece.

Maybe the Priestess is wanting them to attack. Maybe she plans to use them as the sacrifice the people in the box a ruse?

“We had our sixty-ninth bonus page in a row on Wednesday”

1. lol, sixty-nine.

2. That is seriously awesome. Way to go, everyone!

Minion: Heh-heh, sixty-nine.

Spooky lookng at the package… made my day xD

but the bigger question is: where the hell did Mitch show up from?!?!
Oh I get it, he was taking the snapshots we followed the last 2 weeks! ….
no really why is he SUDDENLY there?! was he leading the military ships there? Or sth?

straaaaaange

Guess Amanda thinks Mitch’s power of flight is useless in a fight.

Um… Amanda?

Last time I checked, water conducts electricity. That might not be the smartest approach.

Not that it matters, as I fully expect things will go haywire well before that point, but I thought I should mention it. 😉

All that I can think is…. Glaring contest!! XD *between Kyle and Duncan*

And you really believe that’s how it’ll go down? *pats head* That’s cute Amanda. It really is. But the only way it’s going down like that is that this is a subversion to the Unspoken Plan Guarantee, and we’re seeing the plan play out as you’re explaining it.

I wonder. What if all this is actually showing what happens, and the next page focuses on Priestess, who smiles at Amanda and simply asks, “Did you really think the real ritual would be in such an open, and indefensible place?” Then the scene cuts to the real sacrifices right as the ritual activates. Oops.

SO that is plan A. However, from experience it always plan C or D that works. So, What is Plan C? I guess they will have to just wing it. Never just have one plan the first always fails. See any episode of Stargate.

This keeps reminding me of an episode of Laverne and Shirley where they plan to break into their boss’s office to take back an angry letter they wrote. Before we see them attempt the break in, we see a complicated sequence of how they plan to do it, where everything runs smoothly. And of course, when we see them try to actually fulfil the plan, everything goes wrong.

By showing us how they *want* things to go, we can be 100% certain it’s not going to go that way.

I remember that episode. Well this whole scenario was a very entertaining fairy tale, but now let’s watch it all go to sh*t. Odd that the whole planned is based on the fact that EVERYTHING goes perfect. There’s not a single contingency.

What is it that you want Amanda to do? Just send them in without a plan? Or have huge flowchart specifying every thing that could go wrong, and what to do about it? Neither would work. Here is the plan. When something does not go according to plan, improvise.

No of course not they need a plan. The problem is that in this plan if one step goes wrong the rest of it is ruined and that makes a bad plan. Your steps should have little to do with each other so if something goes wrong in one step, the other parts have ways to work around it. There is no wiggle room in this plan.

yep this is exactly what I think… now the question is at which step it will go wrong! Someone wrote last page that the whole scene is an illusion, just think about it! They’re still at the wrong place?!?! not totally impossible, right? (though unlikely xD)
but this is just one possibility :/

Always love when we get a rear view of Kyle. What a great butt.

alex is going to take us to a Very Dark Place.
isn’t he?

I suspect he has something bigger in mind, yes.

dun dun duunnnn

i can’t wait to see what it is.

i’m not a pussilanimous gent, after all.

i can’t wait to see what that might be.

as, i’m not a pusillanimous gent, after all.

In the time that they’ve been discussing their plan, the Platinum Priestess and the Annihilator opened the portal to hell thirty five minutes ago.

Well, we got a cameo of Mitch when the President and the army rolled in. *face-palm*

Separate comment. In a page like this the tiny little details matter. Adam slipped in an intriguing little shot with Spooky looking back over his shoulder. Is he checking on Kyle? Is he checking out the Annihilator’s ass? Both? I have to give it to Adam for cleverness if he did this on his own. I wouldn’t put it past Alex to direct Adam to do it just because he knows we will chase our tails in circles trying to figure it out. Alex is wonderfully wicked that way. Anyway, The scene looks positively pollyannish. I’m reminded of “Independence Day” with it’s deliberate play on cheesy patriotism.

As for the plan? I can say it is… optimistic. I voiced my opinions previously but held out on a final thought until Amanda finished. Now that she has, with a bow tie, an apple pie, and saluting Old Glory I can’t seem to disengage my face-palm. HELP! IT’S STUCK!

1. Too many steps each which spells disaster if any one fails.

2. Way too many assumptions about the defenses and capabilities of the opposition

3. Spreading forces thin with Spooky over-utilized and Mitch left out entirely. This after a speech wherein she said she needed every one of them to play his part for this mission to succeed.

I’ve seen some comments criticize, “Would you rather there was no plan at all?” That is absolutist, defensive thinking. I applaud that Amanda is able to plan quickly under pressure. I don’t knock Amanda but I can observe where she might be stumbling under pressure, planning under the worst of circumstances. I go into this knowing that I have the benefit of hindsight and no pressure. That out of the way, I now “put up or shut up.” There is a way to plan this with a reasonable chance at success.

Focus on one objective and put everyone on it — rescue hostages. If they all focus on the diamond cube they can react quickly to any surprises with the detonator. They are also able to bring their collective might to bear. I presented in previous pages that they could uproot the entire cube with sacrifices and slide it on a water ramp to the river.

This has a number of advantages. Amanda knows next to nothing about the defenses the opposition has in place. Focusing on one objective enables the team to encounter fewer defenses and react to them quickly, with their full strength.

Focusing on one objective makes the plan flexible. Go into it knowing there will be a plan B, C, D, E, F, on down the rest of the alphabet. A fast, flexible, adaptive team is able to yank out a victory from certain defeat simply by keeping an eye out for unexpected opportunities.

Lastly, setting one objective keeps the team focused in the event they become separated. If everyone knows the mission is to rescue civilians then they know to take every shot they can to free them when chaos erupts on the field.

Fact: chaos happens. Communication is unreliable in battle. It is very likely the team is split up so it’s best to be in a position to cover each other. This is a search and rescue team. I imagine they go into burning buildings with this exact strategy. Why change it now? Think of the opposition as the burning building and stick with what the team knows best.

I suspect strongly that Alex has a deeper message at work for this scene from the opening page of Amanda’s planning through to today. Why else devote so many pages to it? I sit back now and wait to be pleasantly blown away. My speculation is only a fun exercise to pass the time and chat with you until the shoe drops and we all marvel at Alex’ evil genius. I only hope you find my speculation entertaining. =3 Thanks all and thanks to Alex and team for a great comic!

By golly, I think you’re right! And yes. I’m entertained. ^.^

D’Awww… thanks! I’m blushing!

I think the key is Fluke.
(Apologies if this has already been pointed out and I missed it, BTW…)
Donald, you’re points about the plan being at somewhat over-complicated are well made, and they’ve been quietly driving me crazy (okay, fine, more crazy…). You’re right, tactically it doesn’t seem to make sense.
Then it just occurred to me that with a luck manipulator like Fluke it may well be the case the Commander thinks that everything will just fall into place and they can just waltz in and overwhelm Team Silver. Now, tactically that still is a bit iffy, since it’s placing the full weight of plan on one weak point (Fluke) with no backup or redundancy. And if Team Silver has been doing research on all of the Young Protectors rather than just Red Hot, then they will know this and try to take out/neutralise/subvert Fluke. Looked at it from this point of view, it suggests that Commander is a bit on the desperate side for a win here – understandable, what with the fate of the world riding on it and everything.
(Another nasty thought that occurs to me is that with enough foreplanning the Priestess might be using her magic to deliberately influence the Commander’s desicions.)
So, anyway, when taking Fluke’s power into consideration I think the Commanders’ plan isn’t so much insane, as merely very, very risky.

Well considered Saxon and thank you for the kind words. Fluke is quite literally a wild card and you might be right in everything you suggest. I keep in mind that Alex writes what he knows and he knows far more than I do. There are so many ways this can go that I’m content to sit back with some popcorn and watch the show.

I might be right or I might be wrong. But over the past few pages I’ve had a sinking feeling that the comic’s readership were collectively missing something.

It felt to me like a repeat of the great kerfuffle we had when Annihilator left Red Hot naked and alone at the warehouse at the end of chapter 2, and we were all wondering “Oh, how is Kyle going to contact his team mates in order to warn them in time!?”. But then at the start of chapter 3 he simply picked up his flame-proof Young Protectors communicator and called the guy on monitor duty, and we fans all stared boggle eyed and went “How the heck did we not think of that?”

Bottom line, I trust Alex to throw sneaky curve balls in his story telling, but I also trust Alex to play fair: nothing that violates genre conventions and no deus ex machinas appearing out of nowhere. You pointed out a potential plot hole, so logically there needed to be a solution. Fluke’s good luck powers were a solution that occurred to me in a blinding flash earlier today. It might not be *the* solution, but at least it fits the facts as we understand them.

I’m just feeling a bit sheepish that it took so long to think of it. And, yes, that sheepishness feels pretty much the same way it did when Kyle picked up his communicator off the warehouse floor and called Paul.

No need to feel sheepish. You illustrate my point better than I can. We can only work with the material Alex has released. Alex has the entire story with which to work. My speculation is inherently limited and I acknowledge that up front.

“It’s just that easy, guys! What could possibly go wrong?” ^.^

With the way Kyle is evil eyeing Duncan there, this isn’t going to end too smoothly. Unfinished business is unfinished. Fists clenched and heart on fire.

*is Kyle’s cheerleader*

either Kyle as inquisitor, or perhaps something a little more S&M’y 😛 at least Duncan introduced him to his dad.

If Duncan thought he got “burned” the first time around…..he may be in for a real surprise this time!

Oh god guys, I just realized Mitch isn’t in the plan!

OH MY GOD. Hahhahaha. Pobre!

He is too quiet. I hope he won’t try anything unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Somehow, I am reminded of the saying, “The plans of mice and men oft go astray.” There has to be a fly in the ointment.

Everything seems actually pretty plausible…until it comes down to having the minions dispatched*quite* so quickly, and then relying on Spooky being in like 3-4 places at once. For me, that’s where it breaks down.

Commander is an excellent leader… so I do believe she is aware that this is not how things will go at all, but at least it provides them with a guideline and specific goals to achieve, even if they have to improvise when things start going south.

Still.. this is going to be rather painful for our guys…

Now that I have a little more time to watch the page I, as sadly as it is, just realized that Kyle and Duncan look at each other!

I mean sure, this is still the “how to” by Amanda but yet when I look at them I have a feeling Kyle would want to say something to Duncan! It’s like he’s got it on the tip of his tongue already ^^
And Duncan’s face says “oh please I don’t want to hear it”

very nice! Even though it’s still the what if situation we see here, it may leak a little of what is to come in the real situation, or rather after that 😀

great work all of you Alex, Adam and Vero 🙂

I can understand why people want Flyboy to hang back. I think Commander is forgetting Kyle’s daddy, I can’t see him just letting this chance get away without trying to change the outcome somehow. He does get to be Free Bird if at goes to PP’s plans. (No juvenile jokes allowed.)
I see that the bad guys are not only trussed up, but wearing some kind of power-dampening devices. That’d be a great call, the Terrible Two are crazy-powerful.
Vindication for Kyle would be sooooooooooooo sweet…

I’ve mentioned that Laampros terrifies me, haven’t I?

Which means I hope he manages to pass through the gate and come to Earth because then things will turn really interesting!

Fail plan, fail!!! *looks around to make sure nobody heard her*

Laampros terrifies you? I have to admit that Laampros kind of turns me on. All he needs is a tail and he would be my perfect Fetish Fuel Station Attendant.

He does have a tail, Terri…in the front. 😉

I was talking about a “tail” tail, not a “euphemism for a penis” tail.

Although if we are going in that direction, according to Chris Claremont, Nightcrawler has three “tails”.

Oh, Claremont!

I think this is what Cards Against Humanity refers to as a “fear boner.”

lol

No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.

ALL OF MY LIKES FOR THIS COMMENT

“if you want to make god laugh, tell him your plans”
That is all I can think as the Commander finally reveals the plan. This will fail beautifully I am sure.

OR the heroes have doomed us all.

If we get Hell on Earth will I get to see George again?!

There are lots of people that miss George. ^_^

MY GEORGE! GRRR!

….

I mean, yes Doki, many miss our eye in the sky.

*hugs Holly* Sweetie, I am more interested in Laampros than George. ^_^ I was just saying that you are not the only person who is missing the all seeing eye that is George.

I am just excited for the future

Aren’t we all? ^_^

Who is George?

That’s what the readers have named the Floating Eye in the sky, in the hell realm. 🙂

Oh. That’s cute. I like the name.

I still don’t see what Amanda is doing wrong here.

The plan is too complicated. You need to have one objective. They do have one objective: stop the ritual. But that is not much of a plan. How to stop the ritual? Neutralise the hostiles. When it is safe, or reasonably so, to do so, disable the presumed electrocusion devise. Seems simple enough to me.The only complication I see is that they will knock over the circle first.

Spooky is overextended: this is a desperate situation. The ritual must be stopped, end there is no time to wait for reinforcements. They have to chance it even though they are outnumbered. And it is hard to avoid overextending when outnumbered.

If you look at the plan as a whole there are actually four objectives: 1. stop the ritual 2. Capture Duncan 3. capture PP 4. Save hostages. They don’t neutralize the treats until the same time when Kyle and Gordon are destroying the gate. Meaning if Duncan or PP don’t get defeated right at that time step one goes to hell. Getting the bad guys have to come second to stopping them, especially if your information says the next time they can cause damage is long time head.

With Spooky it not so much that he is overextended to me as much as we are assuming a lot about magic. Duncan has been in the supervillan game for 20+ years, he has most likely has some magic defense .

I understand what you are saying though they need a plan to get it done, so that I am not only dissing on Amanda I say what I would do.

1.Make a distraction of trying to destroy the gate, have Kyle put a ring of fire around it so the grunts can’t get though, this way ,in theory, you only have to worry about the 2 of them.

2. While fighting Duncan and PP have flyboy take care of the timer in the cage, his arms can fit though the air holes and his knowledge of electronics will make the job go faster.

I see your point. However, I do not agree entirely.

Catching PP and Duncan would be a plus, but it is not an objective. Saving the sacrifices is a necessary objective since these are heroes. And it would stop the ritual.

My plan: Hit the two main villains with everything you got as a distraction. Have Flyboy carry the box of sacrifices away. Then disable the device in a safer environment. Only what to do if the box is attatched firmly to the ground? And even if it succeeds, how are the team to make their escape? Flyboy would need to return to pick them up, of course, but how?

I don’t think it is such a good idea for Flyboy to reach into the box. It is likely to be booby trapped. Not to harm the sacrifices ahead of time (they are sacrifices, not hostages), but to harm anyone tries to disable the device.

We do not know that Flyboy knows anything about electronics. He is an expert of computer use, but that is entirely different.

Just devoted how many pages to carefully laying out the plan? Yeah, the Law of Narrative Conservation and the Law of Drama say that the plan absolutely can not go to plan. If it did then we would just be seeing the same action twice.

And yeah, Flyboy doesn’t get much of a role. I think Kyle mentioned before that he’s like 15 or something so he gets to hang back and pout. Well, per the *plan* anyway. But we already know that’s not how things are gonna go.

I don’t know how everyone else feels, but I really don’t like how predictable this is all seeming. We all know it wouldn’t make sense for the plan to work, and that there is a plot twist around the corner, but I really hope Alex has a surprise in store for us – either the plan works, and that’s exactly what PP and Anni want, or something totally unpredictable happens to spoil the plan.

No offense, Amanda, but this whole plan sounds like a Saturday Morning Cartoon. Especially the “happy ending where no one gets hurt” part. I highly doubt that the plan will go as planned, and you should have a backup or two planned as well that we don’t see because if we don’t see it than it’s more likely to happen.

In other news, sorry I’ve been away so long, I had a WIC appointment, band practice, and my Ultrasound all on Friday and I’ve been worrying about the baby and stuff. Who is, by the way, 11 weeks and 4 days in the womb now. <3

I’m pretty sure Commander is making this plan up *as* the words come out of her mouth. About five minutes have elapsed since she arrived at the ritual site and began assessing the situation. If there’s going to be a Plan B, she’ll have to start thinking of it next, now that she’s finished coming up with Plan A… And she’d better do it damn quickly because there’s a literal clock running out here.

For those of us who’ve had a month to think about it, this seems like a woefully inadequate plan, but it’s really pretty good for something that she just pulled out of her ear in the space of a few minutes with inadequate information..

Getting close to the three-month mark then, right? Also, what instrument do you play in your band?

Yep, so excited! <3
I play the autoharp, actually, but mostly I sing and write music. 🙂

Nifty!

My popcorn is ready for next update 😀

It would have made more sense for me to point this out on the last page, but: assuming that Amanda’s being completely straightforward and this is her actual plan in entirety, I’m very concerned that she’s putting Kyle up against Sircea more or less alone. Amanda couldn’t know this, but if Sircea actually is resentful of Kyle and any feelings Duncan might have for him, then dangling Kyle in front of her like that is practically begging her to take the excuse to wipe him off the map. If Spooky’s restraints work, then Duncan wouldn’t be able to do anything about it, either.

“Dearest, of course I killed him — he was practically burning me alive on a pyre! I was a witch during the Middle Ages; I’m sensitive about these things.”

(Right.)

Oh f#@k that a really good point that I don’t want to think about.

“Dearest, of course I killed him — he was practically burning me alive on a pyre! I was a witch during the Middle Ages; I’m sensitive about these things.”

silibub, you are too fabulous! Do you think Sircea still has the magical juice to turn him into a toad? What? Too cliché? We’ll just have to see…

Well it is either put him up against the PP or put him up against Duncan. I have to say that putting him up against Duncan is a worst idea.

What could possibly go wrong?

So the next update will finally be the downfall or the start of the downfall of the YP’s plan?

I have a feeling things are about to get uuuuuuuugly.

Am I the only one concerned about Kyle? Amanda seems to be making him do a lot of the leg work for this plan and we all know that he’s been through a significant trauma. Trauma like that can really mess with your head, consciously or not, and while he says he is fine, when he actually gets on the battlefield his powers can be greatly affected. He may or may not have the necessary control over his powers like he did prior to the sexual assault when he sees Duncan there. Also, who knows what the curse that brought his father did to his powers too. It something that very much concerns me. I hope that Spooky, being more aware of these things than the others at this point, will be vigilant.

Same. I have a bad feeling that Kyle will be in danger due to his demonic heritage and that Spooky will be in danger due to Platinum Priestess viewing him as a threat/magical rival.

I’m not too worried about any demonic attributes at this point because Spooky would have said something and he said no part of the curse was lingering; that would have screwed with his demonic attributes the most, but it could have affected his fire powers as the curse relied on his fire powers to work. Since the curse relied on his having an orgasm to harness that fire power, it could cause a psychological rift in Kyle’s brain so he associates using that power with a bad experience and it could make his powers become nothing but a puff of smoke.

Spooks generally can handle himself from what we have seen. He got out of Hell on his own which I’m sure involves monsters more powerful than the Priestess when they are in that realm. Hell is a realm we didn’t learn too much about, but I’m pretty sure it had a whole new realm of baddies. I can see why Amanda gave him the Priestess; in many ways, he’s on even footing with her. Of course, we’d all feel better if they pulled a Captain Planet or Sailor Moon gig, but that isn’t what they would do, of course.

OMG, maybe the YP are set in Russia.

My mind is blown!

Or maybe this is a universe where Russia has a military worth its weight, and countries buy Russia’s old military equipment instead of the USA’s.

Another possibility. TYP searched for the correct site for hours. Nobody said where Duncan and Sircea set up their bony stargate. What if Amanda called it in and the local, i.e., Russian or perhaps a country that uses Russian helicopters responded? Who said this was strictly limited to American soil?

Well, Duncan did promise Laampros he could have the world except for the Americas. It would make sense to place the portal away from the Americas then. Why open the portal in either of the Americas when that is territory they don’t want him in?

I had actually forgotten that when I reasoned out why the helicopters were Russian. Good one, thanks for pointing that out!

I don’t know why, but I’ve a feeling that things are not going to be so smooth for anyone… Not at all.
I hope I’m wrong, although!

How’s that for a slice of fried gold?
Yeah boy-ee!

http://d2tq98mqfjyz2l.cloudfront.net/image_cache/1274213367629053.jpeg

Yeah, there is no way that that can go horribly wrong. :}

Happy Camping Day!

I forgot it’s Wed/day -_-

Well you did just have an awesome vacation.

And first day back in the office is kicking my butt. :0/

You need another vacation. 😀

Happy Camping day! I am kind of not feeling all that well, so I am not sure how long I will be here. My stomach is all sorts of not happy with me.

Aww, feeling ill sucks. Feel better!

Thanks. I hope so. I do tend to get a lot of 24 hour bugs though.

Maybe some probiotics would help?

Acidophilus etc, helps with the flora in your gut, keeps it healthy. Just a thought.

There’s a lot of probiotic yogurt out there that helps with the digestive system.

Poor Doki! I hope you feel better soon.

I think I am going to skip out on camping. Good hunting!

Okay. Good night, and I hope you get well soon!

Naw! 🙁 Bad stomach, stop being so mean!

Sorry you’re not feeling well, Doki. Take care. *hugs*

Happy Camping Day! Got home from work and it’s time to go watch the Walking Dead while I eat. Sure would be great if I could come back to an update!

I always hope, if I have to leave my computer, that there is an update when I return. 😀

Brave soul to watch Walking Dead while eating… hopefully no meat… XD

Yay camping! 😀

Yay!

In and out for camping. “Supernatural” 200th episode is on so I’ll be watching my Twitter feed but I’ll check back here from time to time. @starrwinter:disqus and @admiraljane:disqus I didn’t have a very good day either but feeling much better now.

Definitely going around.

Poor Gryph! Hugs for you.

Bad day… but making great food offset w/ cleaning *meh, shrugs* No more bad luck!

I’m sorry you had a bad day! Great food does indeed help, though.

It must be going around. I had a bit of a bad day yesterday.

Oh dear…

Well, for once, I had a superb day. My man got the day off (not a veteran, but willing to take advantage of the concept). We walked dogs. We lazed around. We ordered really good food and watched sports on TV. My Kickstarter copy of Smut Peddler 2014 arrived in the post and it’s wayyy cool. We cruised the webz… on separate laptops… puhleeze… we do not share web-taste. WE WERE SHAMELESSLY SELF-INDULGENT. I’m sorry (not sorry) about this post. I’m just offering it up for cosmic balance.

You may hate me now.

Wishing everyone and excellent CAMP!

So glad you have a wonderful day, Mr. Chris. Yay!

Balance is restored! That sounds really nice — I’m pleased for you both.

😛

Such bragging, Mr Dangerfield.

*GASP — chris clutches the pearls, but in a manly way.*

No bragging, Admiral. Only the truth for YOU! 🙂

better than clutching your oysters. . .
o-O
O-o
Oh my

Considering the day everyone else had… 😛

The balance of the good has to go somewhere today, right? Job / Relaxing day for two, broken back car windshield for me + broken iPad last week (please no #3…)

I am waiting for my Smut Peddlers to get here… and Tripping Over You…. and Always Raining Here… and a few various zines ^^ hopefully this week as my mail has sometimes not been arriving *rage*

Massive sympathies. Paul is clearly not working on balancing luck for you today. This probably means I’m in trouble tomorrow and it’s going to be all roses for you. Enjoy! 🙂

Let me win the lottery this week and we’re even (and ALL going on a trip…) 😉

Poor AJ!

There are just somedays that need a time out or a do over. Today was uneventful, so Yay!

Yay for better days!

*sets up camp* I will not miss it this time!

Semi-good day. At least yesterday I got my flat tire fixed by cheating and putting the snow tires on my car and not buying a new tire. If the garage has the new tire I’ll buy it and keep it for spring. I don’t know if the delivery truck was behind me at 5:55pm on a promised 11am delivery.
I swear I’m cursed or at least my tires are cursed.
Too much running around.
I had two handymen suddenly discover that my attic fan required them to go on the roof, outside. . . Then they asked me if I knew what was up on the roof and all I could say was “shingles” . . .
I can’t climb a ladder and am not allowed on the roof (even at 4/12 pitch) So how would I know?
aw rats!

So sorry DFrag, that sounds sucky all the way around. Cosmic rebalancing… BLARG. Well all I can say is shingles on your roof is better than shingles on your body.

Does that help? Nope probably not, but feel better!

Page is up! http://webcomics.yaoi911.com/archive/ete-ch3-page-78