I got a translation (with a little help from a cryptogram solver to get me going).
Pilot: I find myself hoping that the humans' identification is mistaken, but I fear the worst.
Ship(?): Agreed. Making final approach now.
Pilot: Acknowledged.
You're welcome. I read a lot of webcomics, play a lot of games, and such, and decoding this stuff is always fun. =3
(I took a shortcut this time since it looked small-and-complicated, and I have less time than I used to. ^_^;; I probably still could've done it all myself with enough time and effort, though. =)
I'm suddenly glad that I actually wrote out the exchange, rather than copying a random text string or just rolling my face over the keyboard to produce pretty-looking symbol groups.
Assuming a sufficiently tough vine that it won't break and a sufficiently strong grip on said vine, I see several possible outcomes.
1. It's not that different from jumping off the roof normally, except for a brief almost stop in which the person dislocates one or more shoulders before letting go.
2. Miscalculation on the length of vine, and it's just a normal jump off the roof, except for the clutching of the vine uselessly.
3. With sufficient horizontal momentum and the expected attachment point, swing out, swing back smack into the building.
4. With sufficient horizontal momentum and the ideal attachment point, swing out, swing back, slide along the side of the building and really hope it's not a brick ("cheese grater") or wood outer wall. Though thinking about that, metal splinters can also be really bad. Also, unless the building is lubricated somehow, it's probable the friction will cause one to spin, possibly enough to lose ones grip. But even if grip is retained, momentum won't be, as the energy to spin had to come from somewhere, and the vine will do its best to dampen that spin.
None of those options seem to be like what I'd expect one to mean by "play Tarzan all day".
On the other hand, I could be making this too hard.
Just_IDD *didn't* say a roof to jump off. They could be meaning that they're just going to be standing there in their Tarzan outfit holding a vine seemingly failing badly at yodelling. So long as I don't have to be in earshot, I think I don't have a problem with this option.
I could drape the vine over the edge of the building and Rappel down and use the fine for climbing up and down the building and also running along the walls. If you're at the end of the vine when you're start running around on the wall then you can just run around on the wall and you never hit harder than you jumped off
Re: Alt text, What *I* think of Coburn isn't as important, as what the Epiphytes think. I just hope that whoever they sent has enough experience with humans to know that Coburn is sort of an outlier.
I don't know a lot of their world view, but I suspect they have a general opinion about humans, but I kind of think they might recognize Coburn as an outlier. They strike me as being quite perceptive. :)
I'm not sure if they have emphatic abilities - they might be able to pick up on thoughts, but not emotions. Still, I'd think annoyance might come from BOTH - just only one might have aimed at the Epyphites.
Hmm... I was speculating on whether they could block out certain thoughts, or sources of thoughts. But if so, they wouldn't have needed to send a psychic null to deal with Deck. Or needed someone particularto help with that one incident...
@ JacobJSebastian Yes, some of use would have like subtitles. :) Also, if they're telepathic, then who are they talking to that would cause the need to use vocal language?
Some of us also noted with interest that at least one screen in their shuttle was showing English. Perhaps a beacon display from New Troy ATC?
I may be mistaken, @Rocket, but if you are talking about the big red “ALERT” sign, I think that is actually some kind of billboard from the exterior street seen through the viewport of the Epiphyte shuttle on its approach.
Ah! I see it now. Yes, I was talking about the "ALERT" display. At first look, it seemed to be a floating display in the cockpit, but after looking again, I agree with your billboard idea.
Ictuan nailed it pretty squarely. Almost all Epiphyte tech has telepathic capability, but telepathic conversations are not easy to convey in visual format...
Okay, I managed a translation (see my reply to JacobJSebastian near the top), and it looks like it's probably a smart computer - the brain of the ship.
What would be funny is if the Epiphytes strongly suggest Coburn join then on a return to Luna to greet the new ambassador and explain why the Medical procedures were done.
Minor nit: In the final panel, the positioning of the two word balloons suggest the camera is placed between the two ladies and seeing a profile of the Epiphyte shuttle. But the previous frame clearly shows the shuttle approaching the ladies head-on. I suspect it was done this way to lend balance to the composition of the ‘shot’, but it was a little disorienting when I was trying to picture the overall arrangement.
It looks more like a 90° change of camera angle, going by the lighting direction and skyline view change.
The word balloon positions still retain their relationship to one another to try to keep track of who said what.
I have to agree with @megados here, it's a 90° change of camera angle. Also, if you compare the two panels showing the exterior of the shuttle, you'll note side thrusters seem to be shown at different angles between the two panels. I suggest those two can swivel forward and back.
I am pretty sure there are three thrusters on the shuttle: two ‘wings’ on either side, with comparatively thin struts connecting them to the main body, and a third ‘tail’ thruster, with a thicker, more integral connection to the fuselage. It is just that, in both shots, one thruster is concealed by the shuttle’s main body each time.
I agree that the skyline suggests a camera change, rather than a shuttle aspect change. But one thing on which we can all agree: It is a pretty shuttle. ^_^
I like the change in camera angle. It gives us a different view of the shuttle, a more interesting skyline than the approach shot, etc. I just think, clunky as it might have been, pushing the shuttle a bit to one side of center and having both word balloons coming from the same edge might have worked just as well.
Your comic, your story, your way. I am just sharing my opinion in the spirit of 'feedback'.
“Because putting it in writing isn’t part of my job. Solving homicides is my job. Getting it in writing — as the designated official representative of the bureaucracy — is your job. Or else, why are you up on this roof?”
I have no doubt that Coburn would do well with an impromptu flight test. I am rather more curious as to her ability to [b]LAND[b] after said flight test. Speaking from personal experience, that is the part we humans tend to have the most problems with. Cursed gravity!
I am becoming concerned about how many people seem to think that Being Annoying ought to be a capital crime. (Note To Self: Ask if someone is a DataChasers fan before going up on a roof with them.)
Of course not. It is clear that Andrea is indulging in stray thoughts to while away the time while awaiting the arrival of the Epiphyte representatives, not serious contemplation of the possibility.
"Any crash you can walk away from is good crash." -Launchpad McQuack
I mean...he's not wrong, but I'm glad our erstwhile hero and murder solver isn't so irritable that she's not into wanton homicide. It would detract from her credibility as a law enforcement agent. :)
Coburn's likely problem is that she's been too focused on her career and is ignorant to, or oblivious of, the understanding of other people. I wouldn't be so quick to judge her despite her aggravating behavior, because she likely has a number of reasons behind why she acts the way she does, even if she isn't aware of them herself.
"Ahh. Not so well, then."
And throwing Coburn off the roof has my stamp of approval..
Pilot: I find myself hoping that the humans' identification is mistaken, but I fear the worst.
Ship(?): Agreed. Making final approach now.
Pilot: Acknowledged.
(I took a shortcut this time since it looked small-and-complicated, and I have less time than I used to. ^_^;; I probably still could've done it all myself with enough time and effort, though. =)
1. It's not that different from jumping off the roof normally, except for a brief almost stop in which the person dislocates one or more shoulders before letting go.
2. Miscalculation on the length of vine, and it's just a normal jump off the roof, except for the clutching of the vine uselessly.
3. With sufficient horizontal momentum and the expected attachment point, swing out, swing back smack into the building.
4. With sufficient horizontal momentum and the ideal attachment point, swing out, swing back, slide along the side of the building and really hope it's not a brick ("cheese grater") or wood outer wall. Though thinking about that, metal splinters can also be really bad. Also, unless the building is lubricated somehow, it's probable the friction will cause one to spin, possibly enough to lose ones grip. But even if grip is retained, momentum won't be, as the energy to spin had to come from somewhere, and the vine will do its best to dampen that spin.
None of those options seem to be like what I'd expect one to mean by "play Tarzan all day".
On the other hand, I could be making this too hard.
Just_IDD *didn't* say a roof to jump off. They could be meaning that they're just going to be standing there in their Tarzan outfit holding a vine seemingly failing badly at yodelling. So long as I don't have to be in earshot, I think I don't have a problem with this option.
Note that this is my opinion and only my opinion, but it feels right.
Hmm... I was speculating on whether they could block out certain thoughts, or sources of thoughts. But if so, they wouldn't have needed to send a psychic null to deal with Deck. Or needed someone particularto help with that one incident...
Some of us also noted with interest that at least one screen in their shuttle was showing English. Perhaps a beacon display from New Troy ATC?
- Their computer.
- Someone on the other side of a comm link.
- Someone who is telepathically impaired.
- Their robot friend.
- Maybe there are multiple telepathy dialects and using a spoken language helps bridge the divide.
- Maybe they're performing vocal warm-ups, knowing they'll need to be communicating with the non-telepathic shortly.
Maybe they like the sound of their voices?
- Maybe telepathic tech is hard to come by, even for Epyphites.
- Maybe they're hesitant to use telepathic tech after something that happened...
The word balloon positions still retain their relationship to one another to try to keep track of who said what.
Your comic, your story, your way. I am just sharing my opinion in the spirit of 'feedback'.
Nice work on the shuttle: a convincingly alien yet still pleasing aesthetic.
Valorian: *facepalm*
""How do you know they are her family?"
Because an official representative of the Epiphyte government, using valid ID codes, so stated."
[!!!] "And you couldn't put that in writing because?"
"..."
"Are you the only one who is allowed to know this?"
Though I am not supporting her speciesist attitudes.
I mean...he's not wrong, but I'm glad our erstwhile hero and murder solver isn't so irritable that she's not into wanton homicide. It would detract from her credibility as a law enforcement agent. :)
Coburn's likely problem is that she's been too focused on her career and is ignorant to, or oblivious of, the understanding of other people. I wouldn't be so quick to judge her despite her aggravating behavior, because she likely has a number of reasons behind why she acts the way she does, even if she isn't aware of them herself.