Tag Archives: High Command

Shout of Honor – Chapter 10

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In which a lot of people are going places.

I enjoyed that. And I look forward to seeing Vepal and Ochin again, as Vepal’s plans make it likely we will.

Vepal’s comment about having been to Omenski before is the kind of small detail I really appreciate and would never have noticed if I hadn’t embarked on this project: way back in Agent of Change, when Val Con gets them through a police cordon with a forged ID claiming they’re part of the Yxtrang embassy, Miri asks if they’re going to have the Yxtrang ambassador after them as well and he assures her that the Yxtrang delegation is currently far away, on Omenski. I suppose that settles the lingering question I had about whether there is only one Yxtrang ambassador.
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Shout of Honor – Chapter 8

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In which Ochin has been thinking.

I am curious about whom Cheladin intends to quote Ochin’s assessment to. I can’t think of any regulatory body that would be able to claim and enforce jurisdiction if he’s right about what’s going on.
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Shout of Honor – Chapter 6

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In which Commander Vepal checks his mail.

We’ve encountered the Yxtrang word “kojagun” a few times before, a couple of times in scenes with Hazenthull and once with Vepal himself in The Gathering Edge (his internal monologue acknowledging that JinJee Sanchez is not kojagun). Previously, it’s generally been glossed as “not a soldier”; this is the first time it’s been said that it also means “prey”, although in retrospect both aspects of its meaning would fit the occasion Haz uses it in Neogenesis.
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Shout of Honor – Chapter 5

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In which Commander Sanchez offers her assistance.

Of course, there’s also something to be said for being obvious.

(Though I stand by my distrust of obvious and tidy conclusions. We’re still some distance from any kind of conclusion, and if Vepal’s suspicions about his own emotions are correct, this development at this time makes the situation less tidy rather than more.)
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Shout of Honor – Chapter 4

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In which Erthax exercises his creativity.

From some authors, I would say that Vepal and Sanchez are obviously being herded in a particular direction. From these authors, I tend to be more cautious of expecting obvious and tidy conclusions.
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Shout of Honor – Chapter 3

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In which Commander Vepal goes to meetings.

The idea that a troop reflects its commander seems to be setting itself up as a recurring theme. It will be interesting to see what is reflected in Commander Vepal’s troop when push comes to shove. One might also wonder: what does the behaviour of Perdition Enterprises say about its commander?
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Shout of Honor – Chapter 2

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In which Commander Vepal finds an ally.

The drinking establishment named “The Headless Yxtrang” echoes an established pattern on Earth — there have been, for example, several taverns that commemorated some soldier’s deeds in the Crusades by being named “The Saracen’s Head”. Vepal sees a more metaphorical resonance with his own situation: the problem he is trying to solve is that the Yxtrang are collectively headless, in the sense of lacking the leadership they need.
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Shout of Honor – Chapter 1

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In which Commander Vepal considers a field tour.

Ah, Ambassador Vepal. I’ve been wondering what he and his team were up to since they didn’t show up in Neogenesis.
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The Gathering Edge – Chapter 17

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Arak ek zenorth
En route

In which there is breakfast.

I wonder if Vepal renamed the ship when he acquired it, and if so what “arak ek zenorth” means. I suspect we’ll find out at the dramatically appropriate moment.
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The Gathering Edge – Chapter 16

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Bechimo

In which the ambassador greets Grakow and his attendants.

Between Hevelin petitioning for Tree Junior to be included in crew meetings, and the seed pod it gave Theo a little while back, I’m beginning to suspect that when they do eventually hand over Spiral Dance to Korval, Tree Junior is not planning to go with. That makes sense, come to think of it; unlike its parent, who’s had centuries to get used to being in one place, this tree still has fresh memories of travelling around having adventures with Jela and Cantra, and might want to stick with Theo and have more adventures.
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