Page 207: Tempo showing off

[Arioch]

Mizol generally do not use amplifiers. For a variety of reasons.

[Dan Wyatt]

Mizol generally do not use amplifiers. For a variety of reasons.

Why? Is there a issue of sensory or telepathic overload?

[GeoModder]

Mizol generally do not use amplifiers. For a variety of reasons.

Why? Is there a issue of sensory or telepathic overload?

An amplifier is kinda hard conceal if you're an operative.

[Nemo]

I imagine its more to do with what you are applying the power to. It is one thing to augment your ability to lift and toss objects. Another to increase the power output on your ability to marionette your target. A brain is a terrible thing to fry.

[Jagged]

I still don't get this. The Umiak know of the "witch-elves" trickeries, but they still send just a single trooper in?

I suspect this may be advance mind-****ery that you don't see very often. Tempo one serious badass!

[Jagged]

I am not surprise Alex is looking shocked. I think I would be shocked if I saw Tempo using someone else as a puppet.

[Krulle]

Or, another variant, written by anonymous Russian reader:

The elite Umiak marine, having more than a dozen boardings and battles with psykers behind him, immediately realized who fate had brought him together with. Fortunately, he has been traveling around the galaxy with his cruiser for more than two decades - he has seen and suffered everything. And the difficulty is not great - the Loroi paint the spacesuits almost like clowns, so that any opponent could accurately identify the rank and type of troops of each particular blue-eared. Even in this Umiak surpassed their opponents - nothing gave away the very high rank of the marine. The enemy does not need to know about this.
He successfully rolled a saving throw on the "Will", the benefit of direct contact with the psyker did not work out. The metal of an artificial exoskeleton is not a living organism for you, and the Loroi witchcraft conducts poorly. Only the "good word" of the psykers was supplemented by plasma rifles in the hands of two other Loroi. Many years of experience suggested that in this situation it is better to simply deceive the blue-eared, pretending that they really managed to fool his brain. Fortunately, to understand their desire - you do not need to be bright. Yes, yes, now we will turn around, go out and cheerfully stomp down the corridor. And then we'll come back... With a repairman. Some green recruit would have rushed to the assault, but the marine was not a recruit. The door to the vestibule will simply be welded and barricaded, after which the vestibule will be depressurized by several shots from the outside. After that, it will just have to wait until the breathing mixture runs out in the blue-eared spacesuits. Maybe then some of Loroi will even be able to be resuscitated. This happens in war... It's called "unlucky".
That's how the next Loroi once again failed to pass on a terrible military secret to their own - Umiak also has an elite on the front line.

Interesting idea, but I think the light flashes shining through the door indicate there is a shooting outside.(last panel )
Since Tempo seemed rather unarmed, and the red harpy shows no pain on their faces, I think Tempo is making the Umiak hardtrooper shoot its fellow boarders.

We will see how it plays out, but I do like the idea of the Russian Anonymous.

(but why weld the vestibule door? Simply leave the shuttle and pepper it with air leaking holes for all compartments, not just that one barricaded compartment)

[Arioch]

In order to do the things that a Mizol does, you need your telepathy power to be a minimum level, but beyond that it's mostly a matter of skill. Amplified telepathy is useful for the sort of brute-force telepathic attacks that a Teidar might use, but above a certain level it doesn't help much with the abilities that require subtlety.

Also, an amplifier makes it obvious to anyone who sees you that you're a psi combat specialist, and that's not what you want as a Mizol.

In general, if a Loroi has psychokinesis and responds well to amplification, they make her a Teidar. If she doesn't, but has a minimum unamplified level of telepathic power, they make her a Mizol.

[grixit]

I wonder if it would be possible to arrange an explosion that would coincidentally knock them towards the Prophet's Wisdom.

[boldilocks]

I wonder if it would be possible to arrange an explosion that would coincidentally knock them towards the Prophet's Wisdom.

going by page 135, and a heartbeat being about 1 second, the Prophet's Wisdom is more than 4 hours away, while moving at high propulsion. An explosion is unlikely to provide enough thrust to get them there before they die of starvation, unless it's powerful enough to kill them from G-forces.

[Bamax]

I wonder if it would be possible to arrange an explosion that would coincidentally knock them towards the Prophet's Wisdom.

going by page 135, and a heartbeat being about 1 second, the Prophet's Wisdom is more than 4 hours away, while moving at high propulsion. An explosion is unlikely to provide enough thrust to get them there before they die of starvation, unless it's powerful enough to kill them from G-forces.

That's why whoever makes the highest tolerance grav-stabilizers (better term for inertial dampers) would or should be faster than anyone else.

Just imagine a 1000g inertial damper LOL.
Loroi would love to have one of those.

Then they would be cruising at 100g instead of 30g!

[CrimsonFALKE]

Will we see more of the Umaiki after this?

[Mk_C]

I still don't get this. The Umiak know of the "witch-elves" trickeries, but they still send just a single trooper in? There are multiple shadows in the first panel and it's not like a couple of them would not fit in there. So why not send three? Or one and a couple of remote-controlled probes? With their advanced tech such a drone could be bug-sized (pun intended).

A force that opposes, say, US military, would know of Delta Force operators with wide-angle nigh-vision goggles, cutting edge comms, newest ATGMs and drone support. Would it be generally wise for such a force to expect a full Delta squad under every bombed-out wreck of a humvee, and surround each one with a company of troops with AA cover before looking inside?

Warfare is generally not built on cutting edge capabilities - it's built on routine encounters and operations. That's what makes shells so strong - they are good at making a lot of regular stuff and conducting a lot of predictable, easy, but safe and functional ops, so that most of the awesome shit that Loroi can pull is just drowned in a deluge of minor successes for the Hierarchy, that eventually build up into strategic victories. Our side of the story being seen through a highly unusual POV doesn't mean that the shells would deviate from doing the most regular and simple things as long as they have no reason to expect something of plot-relevant tier importance in this particular wreck.

As I said, with the monomaniacal nature of the Umiak it's doubtful that there would be no safety measures.

Bruh. The Hierarchy fleet generally works with the margin of error of "plus-minus a fleet of a few hundred vessels". They are not fixated on minimizing casualties - they are fixated on not risking massive strategic losses. The threat from anything on the shuttle is nullified by a fuckhueg krooza sitting on top of it - as Beryl said a few pages prior, the shells have no reason not to just blast the shuttle if they deem it dangerous, and there's nothing to keep them from doing it. And they are not aware of nay plot-related dangers than Alex may pose since they don't know about Alex and have no reason to expect it. They are not in a threatened position regarding anything on the shuttle to worry about conducting it's boarding, and if a simple lookaround ends up in casualties - they literally couldn't give less shits. Blow it up and move on.

I think that Tempo may have a pocket Historian of her own (or a high level electronic warfare suite in her armor/luggage).

The best counter to telepathic shenanigans is electronic surveillance and if the Loroi in turn want to counter that, then they in turn would invest heavily in electronic warfare.

She and Fireblade have psionic EM-field manipulation skills on their GURPS sheets. Essentially they can just blast solid EM-interference from their brains. And Arioch has already pointed out himself that drowning the battlefield in endless digital surveillance data feed is not a viable solution for fighting an opponent of a similar technological level.

[Cthulhu]

A force that opposes, say, US military, would know of Delta Force operators with wide-angle nigh-vision goggles, cutting edge comms, newest ATGMs and drone support. Would it be generally wise for such a force to expect a full Delta squad under every bombed-out wreck of a humvee, and surround each one with a company of troops with AA cover before looking inside?

That's exactly what I tried to explain using the bear-sized example. In order to counteract Loroi mind tricks it would be prudent to add some subroutines to the standard AI package of every hardtrooper or/and adjust standard tactics. It's not that difficult to do, but the effect would be significant. Think of it like having an antivirus, except against mind-hacking. Have you tried VR yet or have you seen what already existing military AR devices can do? Now imagine an advanced version of that assisting every hardtrooper in its cyborg "suit". It processes data from its sensors, compiles it according to parameters and shows all that on its HUD. Threat vectors, path markings, aim assists, possible cover spots, approximate mine locations and also warnings in case of psi-interference. It would have been a wholly different matter if Tempo could manipulate that boarder from a distance, out of sight or it being an unenchanted Umiak, but getting close to a cyborg?

Besides, your example is way off, because here both militaries have the same capabilites. It's not an engamentent with insurgents in Absurdistan. Also a delta squad does not have superhuman capabilites, no matter what Hollywood tries to convey. Here, however, the enemy does have supernatural advantages and the Umiak do their best to counteract this.

Warfare is generally not built on cutting edge capabilities - it's built on routine encounters and operations. That's what makes shells so strong - they are good at making a lot of regular stuff and conducting a lot of predictable, easy, but safe and functional ops, so that most of the awesome shit that Loroi can pull is just drowned in a deluge of minor successes for the Hierarchy, that eventually build up into strategic victories. Our side of the story being seen through a highly unusual POV doesn't mean that the shells would deviate from doing the most regular and simple things as long as they have no reason to expect something of plot-relevant tier importance in this particular wreck.

What I'm trying to say is that it would require something as simply as going in pairs, having a drone accompany the troopers or installing a basic subroutine to counteract such scenarios, nothing fancy. I think the Umiak had enough experience with Loroi tactics to prepare standard approaches to engagement whenever there are Loroi involved or suspected.

Bruh. The Hierarchy fleet generally works with the margin of error of "plus-minus a fleet of a few hundred vessels". They are not fixated on minimizing casualties - they are fixated on not risking massive strategic losses. The threat from anything on the shuttle is nullified by a fuckhueg krooza sitting on top of it - as Beryl said a few pages prior, the shells have no reason not to just blast the shuttle if they deem it dangerous, and there's nothing to keep them from doing it. And they are not aware of nay plot-related dangers than Alex may pose since they don't know about Alex and have no reason to expect it. They are not in a threatened position regarding anything on the shuttle to worry about conducting it's boarding, and if a simple lookaround ends up in casualties - they literally couldn't give less shits. Blow it up and move on.

The Umiak are not the Zergs and you left a critical hole in your logic. Since the Umiak risked to get in close to a shuttle of the "accursed enemy" (which could've been stuffed with bombs, by the way), they wanted to investigate it instead of simply destroying it. The value of the shuttle itself as scrap is too low for that. But because they thought that the possibility of this shuttle having anything interesting in it outweighted the value of an entire cruiser, they should have been much more throurough with their investigation. Going back to your example it's like surrounding a wreck with an entire company, then order a single soldier to get in there. Even if you have no drones, going in a pair could at least alert the other if it's an ambush, especially if the enemy has supernatural powers. Not caring about casualities is one thing, but wasting troops without any gain is foolish and the Umiaks proved that they are no fools. I'm not against sending a single trooper because it might be killed, since the Umiak do not care about individuals and their fate. What I'm saying is that sending in a single one is risky because there is a chance that it may not accomplish its task before it is killed. Sending multiple ones, hovewer, is still "inexpensive" but has a much higher chance of success.

[Mk_C]

It processes data from its sensors, compiles it according to parameters and shows all that on its HUD. Threat vectors, path markings, aim assists, possible cover spots, approximate mine locations and also warnings in case of psi-interference. It would have been a wholly different matter if Tempo could manipulate that boarder from a distance, out of sight or it being an unenchanted Umiak, but getting close to a cyborg?

This entire argument hangs on this specific solution being very easy to do in a reliable and stable execution at the combatant's technology level.

If it's very easy to do in a reliable and stable execution then there's no reason for anyone to employ manpower - everything could be done by AIs. Which we know to require Historian-tier TL at least.

here both militaries have the same capabilites

Here, however, the enemy does have supernatural advantages

I'll have to just blow raspberry and shrug on this one.

What I'm trying to say is that it would require something as simply as going in pair

That just doubles the minimal size of the boarding party.

having a drone accompany the troopers

The troopers are already effectively drones. Them having wetware or silica brains doesn't have any difference since Loroi can mess with electronics as well, and Historians bloody specialize in it.

or installing a basic subroutine to counteract such scenarios, nothing fancy.

If it can reliably detect and distinguish various and sometimes impercievable threats in rapidly changing and non-standard environments and make good decisions to react to those threats - then why would you still need a meaty brain within it? And how's what is effectively a combat AI is "nothing fancy"?

I think the Umiak had enough experience with Loroi tactics to prepare standard approaches to engagement whenever there are Loroi involved or suspected.

Why would standard approach consider an ambush by a Mizol veteran and one of the most powerful Teidar ever, working together to be left alone by the boarding party? What sort of warfare do you imagine where what's happening in the plot right now is "a standard encounter"?

The Umiak are not the Zergs and you left a critical hole in your logic. Since the Umiak risked to get in close to a shuttle of the "accursed enemy" (which could've been stuffed with bombs, by the way)

It's spehhs. Explosions don't travel well in spehhs, and the krooza is rated for surviving multiple direct hits with AM payload. The shuttle needs to carry tons of antimatter, or the krooza needs to be literally docked to it, for such a suicide trap to be effective. As of right now, it's not threatened by the shuttle in any way at all. The part about them seeing the contents of the shuttle as more valuable than the cruiser is a pure invention on your part.

What I'm saying is that sending in a single one is risky because there is a chance that it may not accomplish its task before it is killed.

If it's killed - then it has accomplished it's task. There's definitely something very dangerous aboard the shuttle and it should be doused with plasma. Avoiding that is specifically why Tempo and Fireblade are mind-tricking the hardtrooper instead of just tearing him apart. Use your brain, arrir.

Sending multiple ones, hovewer, is still "inexpensive" but has a much higher chance of success.

It's multiple times as expensive because you literally multiply the minimal necessary force.

[Cthulhu]

Ugh, what in snippity-tarnation is that formatting and that language?

This entire argument hangs on this specific solution being very easy to do in a reliable and stable execution at the combatant's technology level.
If it's very easy to do in a reliable and stable execution then there's no reason for anyone to employ manpower - everything could be done by AIs. Which we know to require Historian-tier TL at least.

It is not only possible on our tech level, it is already being used in jets for at least a decade. There are also prototypes for infantry usage, the only problem being the cost and the lack of long-lasting batteries. I also said nothing about doing everything by AIs.

That just doubles the minimal size of the boarding party.
The troopers are already effectively drones. Them having wetware or silica brains doesn't have any difference since Loroi can mess with electronics as well, and Historians bloody specialize in it.

Using up one or three hardtroopers is not a problem, but them being killed before investigating, or even worse, mind-tricked, is a problem. The cyborgs are not drones since they still have brains and those can be manipulated. However, computers cannot be tricked in the same way. The best the Loroi can do is jam them, which would simply alert the Umiak.

If it can reliably detect and distinguish various and sometimes impercievable threats in rapidly changing and non-standard environments and make good decisions to react to those threats - then why would you still need a meaty brain within it? And how's what is effectively a combat AI is "nothing fancy"?

We already have pattern recognition AIs that can quickly identify people despite them wearing a mask by profiling their body language, gait and proportions, even in a crowd. I think that a more advanced AI could very well recognize a Loroi and identify what she is doing, e.g pointing a gun or touching your suit. But it is still the brain that is pulling the trigger, since combat has a multitude of other factors. With just an AI, you'd get a fancy decoy. It's the combination that could produce a much greater threat.

Why would standard approach consider an ambush by a Mizol veteran and one of the most powerful Teidar ever, working together to be left alone by the boarding party? What sort of warfare do you imagine where what's happening in the plot right now is "a standard encounter"?

I do not think the Umiak know the full capabilites of the Loroi or how many skilled psionics they have or where they are. What they do know however, is that some Loroi have the ability to do all kinds of tricks and thus they should be wary of all "witches". Previous boarding actions or the guerilla warfare Fireblade went through must have taught the Umiak to at least act in pairs, just as shown in her dream. Besides, this is a VIP shuttle, it has a higher chance for a nasty surprise.

It's spehhs. Explosions don't travel well in spehhs, and the krooza is rated for surviving multiple direct hits with AM payload. The shuttle needs to carry tons of antimatter, or the krooza needs to be literally docked to it, for such a suicide trap to be effective. As of right now, it's not threatened by the shuttle in any way at all. The part about them seeing the contents of the shuttle as more valuable than the cruiser is a pure invention on your part.

But the shuttle is docked and even a couple of torpedo warheads could destroy or at least damage a cruiser, otherwise there's no point in using them.
They do see the shuttle as valuable, since they went out of their way to approach and inspect it, instead of simply shooting it down.

If it's killed - then it has accomplished it's task. There's definitely something very dangerous aboard the shuttle and it should be doused with plasma. Avoiding that is specifically why Tempo and Fireblade are mind-tricking the hardtrooper instead of just tearing him apart. Use your brain, arrir.
It's multiple times as expensive because you literally multiply the minimal necessary force.

If it is killed before reporting anything, then it accomplished nothing and if it simply returns reporting nothing, then the commander cannot be 100% sure that there was truly nothing. Even on the presumption that there could be Loroi on board of this Loroi shuttle and that some of the Loroi can do mind-tricks should have prompted the commander to be wary.

[boldilocks]

Arioch should redo the page with two hard-troopers being pulled into the room and mind controlled.
But wait, to stave off the obvious answer to that, I mean, clearly umiak commanders should know better than to send a mere 2 hard-troopers to investigate some random shuttle, I suggest he redo the page with every single umiak in existence filing into the cabin one after another, with a death star parked outside the shuttle, set to fire on it within 7.5 seconds if a "hold fire" command is not returned by at least 11 of the umiak within the shuttle, thus rendering this standard loroi tactic utterly ineffective.

[Arioch]

The vestibule doors were specifically left open just enough that one trooper could fit through the door. The troops behind it saw the first one lunge through the opening after peeking around the corner; they have no reason to think there is anything strange about that.