Range Patrol #2: Invasion Praxis

[jpholding]

Oh kay!

http://www.tektoonics.com/intro/rangtoon2/rangtoon2001.html

Have fun! Here are some notes....

* We get to see how the Ketterlings relate to each other in some depth this time (just some hints at the end of RP #1). The shy, tremorous Annabelle of RP #1 is no more now that they're together again! :thumb: (Just as an FYI, when Annabelle is not around for a while, Brett tends to turn into a nervous wreck too...but we won't see that any time soon.)

* Couple of baubles to look for that are connections to ST #1. Just two and both are visual (and obvious stuff like what's on the last page are not what's in mind).

* If you paid attention at all to the old Ask Sheila thread, you'll already have a good idea what the cause of the event on page 24 is. Special kudos go to Darth for this idea, which has helped me formulate future Hearthstone storylines and earns him a special reward: He's got a Tilkrig bad guy (evil genius) named after him, who will first be noted to exist in RP #3.

Anyway, since this (the cause) isn't a secret, I'll discuss it a bit more after folks have read and commented on the story. But if you're clever, there's a new concept piece in the Etc. section that gives you an idea where else I'll go with it.

Whew. That's all for now. Have fun!

[JSDileo]

Oh kay!

http://www.tektoonics.com/intro/rangtoon2/rangtoon2001.html

Have fun! Here are some notes....

* We get to see how the Ketterlings relate to each other in some depth this time (just some hints at the end of RP #1). The shy, tremorous Annabelle of RP #1 is no more now that they're together again! :thumb: (Just as an FYI, when Annabelle is not around for a while, Brett tends to turn into a nervous wreck too...but we won't see that any time soon.)

* Couple of baubles to look for that are connections to ST #1. Just two and both are visual (and obvious stuff like what's on the last page are not what's in mind).

* If you paid attention at all to the old Ask Sheila thread, you'll already have a good idea what the cause of the event on page 24 is. Special kudos go to Darth for this idea, which has helped me formulate future Hearthstone storylines and earns him a special reward: He's got a Tilkrig bad guy (evil genius) named after him, who will first be noted to exist in RP #3.

Anyway, since this (the cause) isn't a secret, I'll discuss it a bit more after folks have read and commented on the story. But if you're clever, there's a new concept piece in the Etc. section that gives you an idea where else I'll go with it.

Whew. That's all for now. Have fun!

Hey JP!! I'm on the third page, just want to say that you've improved the dialogue a lot. So far, it's excellent.:thumb:

[JSDileo]

Hey JP!! I'm on the third page, just want to say that you've improved the dialogue a lot. So far, it's excellent.:thumb:
OH COME ON!!! I'm on page 37, and every time that one of the characters is going to explain how the Cartel reproduce, you SKIP OVER IT! I wanna know! Auugghhh...

[jpholding]

OH COME ON!!! I'm on page 37, and every time that one of the characters is going to explain how the Cartel reproduce, you SKIP OVER IT! I wanna know! Auugghhh...

Gotta keep you reading somehow. :teeth:

[Darth Executor]

Ok I'm back. I'll start reading now. :teeth:

[Darth Executor]

Dude you gotta tell Eidolon to do something about his hair! :rofl:

[jpholding]

Dude you gotta tell Eidolon to do something about his hair! :rofl:

What do you expect? It was the style 40,000 years ago. :lol:

But really, why do you think he wears a hood in the first place? :wink:

(Hee hee -- no, but I DID come up with a subtext story as to why he wears one...he doesn't want to be recognized at large...as what or who? Find out...in Shrike Team Number Three.)

[Darth Executor]

Ok this one felt WAY SHORTER than the previous one. :brood:

I do have a question howerver: why did Beamer react so violently to Eidolon's picture? It sounded like they were enemies or something. :huh:

[Darth Executor]

By the way, the drawing quality really is improving a lot. Directly proportional with cutting stories in half. :brood:

[jpholding]

Ok this one felt WAY SHORTER than the previous one. :brood:

You're done ALREADY? :glare:

I don't think it was shorter in reality....I'd have to count, but I think if you work out the number of single rows in RP #1, versus double rows in RP #2, #2 is actually longer.

In fact maybe I will count when I take a break later. But I suspect it's just that the pace was faster.

I do have a question howerver: why did Beamer react so violently to Eidolon's picture? It sounded like they were enemies or something. :huh:

Beamer? Or Bimf (as Beamer said)? I'll answer both just in case.

Beamer, as you may have guessed from the interludes in the desert, is (at present) an atheist and so has a thing against those he thinks of as religious fanatics. Plus, he's very protective of Sheila. Remember what it says in his profile?

"....but he DOES have another romantic interest he'll have to get over first...and we'll find out about that in the fifth Rangslinger tale..."

Now you know who his other romantic interest is. :thumb: And it'll be three more stories before he gets over it.

If you meant Bimf, I don't mind giving that away. The Sanslorian have long been, as a people, devoted the the Covenant of M'kai and so recognize Eidolon as a prophet. Bimf's reaction was more one of honor and respect (though Beamer would hardly realize this). In a future crossover story when Eidolon arrives at the Range Patrol station, Bimf will also have a very strong reaction (for a Sanslorian, at any rate!).


By the way, the drawing quality really is improving a lot. Directly proportional with cutting stories in half.

I appreciate knowing that (improvement). 15-20 years is a long time for rust to accumulate. I may hit a plateau soon with that associated with the limits that exist to the tools I use (Pen Stix).

Fear not, RP #3 will wrap up all three cliffhangers. Then RP stories will be contained units for a while, though ST will continue to be more of an epic for a bit.

[Xavier]

Pg 22: "... He'd sleep through the Resurrection."

:huh: Is there a general resurrection event already in place in their religion?

[jpholding]

Pg 22: "... He'd sleep through the Resurrection."

:huh: Is there a general resurrection event already in place in their religion?

Future expectation of one. They're preterists of course. :teeth:

("he'd" = "he would" future tense)

[Darth Executor]

You're done ALREADY? :glare:

Actually I spent half that time eating lunch. :tongue:

I don't think it was shorter in reality....I'd have to count, but I think if you work out the number of single rows in RP #1, versus double rows in RP #2, #2 is actually longer.

In fact maybe I will count when I take a break later. But I suspect it's just that the pace was faster.

It probably is the pace, but usually I keep track of time. This time It just ended really fast.


Beamer? Or Bimf (as Beamer said)? I'll answer both just in case.[/quotw]

Beamer. Bimf didn't have much of a reaction.

[quote]Beamer, as you may have guessed from the interludes in the desert, is (at present) an atheist and so has a thing against those he thinks of as religious fanatics. Plus, he's very protective of Sheila. Remember what it says in his profile?

"....but he DOES have another romantic interest he'll have to get over first...and we'll find out about that in the fifth Rangslinger tale..."

Now you know who his other romantic interest is. :thumb: And it'll be three more stories before he gets over it.

:hrm:

Isn't she a bit... too big for him?

If you meant Bimf, I don't mind giving that away. The Sanslorian have long been, as a people, devoted the the Covenant of M'kai and so recognize Eidolon as a prophet. Bimf's reaction was more one of honor and respect (though Beamer would hardly realize this). In a future crossover story when Eidolon arrives at the Range Patrol station, Bimf will also have a very strong reaction (for a Sanslorian, at any rate!).

Is the future story RP3?



I appreciate knowing that (improvement). 15-20 years is a long time for rust to accumulate. I may hit a plateau soon with that associated with the limits that exist to the tools I use (Pen Stix).

Fear not, RP #3 will wrap up all three cliffhangers. Then RP stories will be contained units for a while, though ST will continue to be more of an epic for a bit.

Actually now that I think about it, ST's cliffhanger wasn't that bad because I knew what was going on and where the story stands. This one ended with me confused and knowing next to nothing about why they are invading.

[jpholding]

Actually I spent half that time eating lunch. :tongue:

Is your keyboard, er, free of debris? :brood:

It probably is the pace, but usually I keep track of time. This time It just ended really fast.

I gave up trying to calculate. RP #1 actually has too many sort of odd shaped setups for me to to a fair calculation.


Isn't she a bit... too big for him?

Yes. :smile: And that's part of the pathos -- it's a dead end for him, something he can't pursue, even under Nullabor's liberal views of mixed marriages. In fact, we'll see in RP #4 that he's been suffering with this since he first met her. In RP #5, though, we'll see the whole thing resolved and the way paved for Jelica to become his intended. I'll keep the "how" a big secret, thanks. :rasberry:

Is the future story RP3?

No, the crossover issue will be placed as RP #6 by the timeline I have laid out.

Actually now that I think about it, ST's cliffhanger wasn't that bad because I knew what was going on and where the story stands. This one ended with me confused and knowing next to nothing about why they are invading.

Well, you already know from the intro notes that the Cartel wants Nullabor as a station to use for their criminal activities in the East (easier access to the Egalitarian Confederacy -- much easier to ship those giant robots to the crime bosses, eh?). The only mystery I *did* leave is the one that has Dileo rattling my cage. :teeth: And I may or may not reveal that in RP #3 after the invasion is over and I let Campion Charlock have the stage for a brief wrap up at the end.

One thing you can probably reason out, though, is that the Cartel advanced their own plans for the invasion after the discovery of their depots. It wasn't their ideal setup, either, but they had to do it before any and all tactical advantage was lost. They *are* desperate...I will give you that.

Did you spot the two baubles? You did last time.....

[Darth Executor]

Did you spot the two baubles? You did last time.....

No, but I didn't know I was supposed to look. And I think someone else got one of them last time (Punkish IIRC). I'll look for them in a bit, I found some old flour in the kitchen and want to make some pancakes.

[Darth Executor]

http://www.tektoonics.com/intro/rangtoon2/rangtoon2011.html

Picture of Brom on the desk.

[Darth Executor]

[/url] [url]http://www.tektoonics.com/intro/rangtoon2/rangtoon2048.html (http://www.tektoonics.com/intro/rangtoon2/rangtoon2048.htmlPlant)

Plant on the desk.

[jpholding]

No, but I didn't know I was supposed to look. And I think someone else got one of them last time (Punkish IIRC). I'll look for them in a bit, I found some old flour in the kitchen and want to make some pancakes.

Old pancakes, I guess? :pot:

But anyway, yep, you found Bauble #1 and #2. :thumb:

With the few minutes I have left before I leave to pick up the Mrs., since there seem to be enough comments I'll go ahead and make a note or two about the events of p. 24. If you recall the Ask Sheila thread, you'll remember Darth gave Sheila advice for building a rail gun. I decided to run with that, with one huge change -- I made it so that the Cartel would be the first ones to make one rather than the good guys.

So, yes, the missile that hits the station was propelled from Cartel territory with the use of a rail gun that takes advantage of Hearthstone's powerful magentic field. Figuring this out will be one of Beamer's goals for the next few stories, but in the end, because it involves something he doesn't specialize in (use of magnetic technology), he's going to need help to figure it out. That's where Jelica will come in. (If anyone's wondering, Brett's speciality isn't in that area either, but the Ketterlings *will* be giving Beamer permission to incorporate the Met-Pan technology into his weapons and inventions, and that's going to be a huge help.)

Gotta go. Back maybe tomorrow.

[JSDileo]

Old pancakes, I guess? :pot:

But anyway, yep, you found Bauble #1 and #2. :thumb:

With the few minutes I have left before I leave to pick up the Mrs., since there seem to be enough comments I'll go ahead and make a note or two about the events of p. 24. If you recall the Ask Sheila thread, you'll remember Darth gave Sheila advice for building a rail gun. I decided to run with that, with one huge change -- I made it so that the Cartel would be the first ones to make one rather than the good guys.

So, yes, the missile that hits the station was propelled from Cartel territory with the use of a rail gun that takes advantage of Hearthstone's powerful magentic field. Figuring this out will be one of Beamer's goals for the next few stories, but in the end, because it involves something he doesn't specialize in (use of magnetic technology), he's going to need help to figure it out. That's where Jelica will come in. (If anyone's wondering, Brett's speciality isn't in that area either, but the Ketterlings *will* be giving Beamer permission to incorporate the Met-Pan technology into his weapons and inventions, and that's going to be a huge help.)

Gotta go. Back maybe tomorrow.
Tell me, JP, is Beamer big into politics? He claimed that he was present at the signing and writing of an international treaty.

[jpholding]

Tell me, JP, is Beamer big into politics? He claimed that he was present at the signing and writing of an international treaty.

I think it'd be better to say he wanted to be sure and influence policy where the Cartel was concerned rather than that he's into politics generally. RP #4 (titled, "A Sanslorian's Tale") will be about he and Bimf (several years back, of course) helped lead the Sanslorians out of Cartel territory and across the ocean to the East, specifically to the home country of the Prycenes, where the whole setup was done for the Sanslorian to be trained and sent out to various police organizations to help fight the Cartel. I have the general idea that while he stayed with the Prycenes, Beamer did what he could to share the intelligence he had with them and also influence their policy, and that (being aware of the danger the Cartel posed) they were very astute and careful listeners when it came to his expert point of view. I may not develop it more specifically than that unless the need arises.

However, expect some interesting things to happen because of this in the future, since as noted in his profile, Brom Skriker was one of the Prycenes who took a role in helping the Sanslorian train and relocate (this will play a minor role in ST #2). Naturally we expect he and Beamer/Bimf must have at least known OF each other, if they didn't actually meet in person. And we'll see at the end of RP #3 that Beamer knows the Prycene ambassasdor to Nullabor, and has built up a lot of goodwill with him and his people. (You can bet THEY have a stake in that rail gun problem, too!)

[jpholding]

A few random thoughts about the origins of RP #2's three storylines, while I work up lunch for the day and scan in the first 30 or so ST #2 pages....hope to post page 1 (per custom) of that tomorrow, BTW.

The storyline involving the three original RP members began with the simple idea of the destruction of the RP HQ building and the scene on page 24 of Bimf protectively shielding Sheila from the blast. Darth's description of the rail gun which I noted is the piece I needed to tie the storyline together with the future tales. The big problem was thinking of something within Hearthstone's technological capabilities (and the restrictions of having no fossil fuels) that could pose a threat to another continent, and could also reasonably be "discovered" at that stage in the world's history. Darth saved me a lot of trouble with that idea. Thanks, Darth!

I liked being able to use this storyline to show the depth of the relationship between the three original RP members. I've already noted Beamer's hidden affection for Sheila; with Bimf, it's more like a father-daughter thing with her, and I think that shows.

The storyline involving the Ketterlings was centered around a scene that won't be revealed until RP #3. The biggest problem for #2 was how to keep them in the city when everyone else was off to the military camp. The reconsitiution ceremony was originally intended to serve this purpose, by making it so that they sealed themselves off from the outside world and would not be aware of what was going on once it was morning. It occurred to me later than as "visitors" they would not be on the Elapine's relay system, and that that would suffice, but I kept the ceremony scene anyway to add some depth to the depiction of their relationship.

I'm purposely keeping it so that depictions of characters like Miles Angwin are never seen. He (and the President of Nullabor, who I see as a sort of Clintonesque happy-face panderer of prosperity) are meant to represent the faceless bureaucrats who often stand in the way of necessary progress to pursue their own ideals for political purposes. Expect news of the President's resignation to be at the end of RP #3 -- and no, Charlock does not want OR get the job! :teeth:

The last storyline, involving the invasion itself and the general Elapine response to it, underwent significant changes even while I was drawing the first 30 or so pages. There was originally no cliffhanger here -- I had pages in which the Elapines engaged the Cartel soldier-thugs and won a very difficult victory; Raglen's role was merely to enter the city and rescue Jess Sandrunner, who would escape alone with the news of his heroic, sacrificial death on her behalf, and would also let Charlock know that the Ketterlings were trapped in the city. In the end I decided I wanted to make the tribute to Allen Glenn a little less gloomy (!) and though it meant HE would be the one rescued by Jess instead, it actually worked out for the better and allowed for the third cliffhanger.

I think my rice has soaked enough now so I'm gonna go eat. :cheers:

[jpholding]

OK, I forgot before I sign off for the night....first page of ST #2, per custom.

[TuckEverlasting]

Thoughts:

-Overall: awesome, as usual. :thumb: And, as usual, I like the cultural lessons. :yes:

-The lovey-dovey stuff is making me wish I could :puke:, just so I could say that it actually made me puke. I'm half-serious, I almost stopped reading. :eww:

Guys, next thing you know, JP's cartoons are going to have musical numbers like any other Disney movie! :uhoh:

-After reading about Beamer's sleep habits, I like him more and more. Kinda reminds me of... me! :lol:

-The panel where whats-her-name mocks the bad guy by saying 'na na nee nah na' made me :rofl:. :lmbo:

-The bad guy on the very last page looks totally :cool:.

Can't wait to see what happens next! :smile:

[JSDileo]

Thoughts:

-Overall: awesome, as usual. :thumb: And, as usual, I like the cultural lessons. :yes:

-The lovey-dovey stuff is making me wish I could :puke:, just so I could say that it actually made me puke. I'm half-serious, I almost stopped reading. :eww:

Guys, next thing you know, JP's cartoons are going to have musical numbers like any other Disney movie! :uhoh:

-After reading about Beamer's sleep habits, I like him more and more. Kinda reminds me of... me! :lol:

-The panel where whats-her-name mocks the bad guy by saying 'na na nee nah na' made me :rofl:. :lmbo:

-The bad guy on the very last page looks totally :cool:.

Can't wait to see what happens next! :smile:


OK, when did I allow you to incorporate a quote from myself in your signature?:brood:

[jpholding]

-Overall: awesome, as usual. :thumb: And, as usual, I like the cultural lessons. :yes:

Much appreciative. :teeth:

-The lovey-dovey stuff is making me wish I could :puke:, just so I could say that it actually made me puke. I'm half-serious, I almost stopped reading. :eww:

You won't want to visit my house for dinner then. :rasberry: We're even worse. Well, I'm actually not the one that's hard to wake up, though.

And it occurs to me -- how exactly were you planning to comport yourself when you took Sheila out, then? :glare:

Guys, next thing you know, JP's cartoons are going to have musical numbers like any other Disney movie! :uhoh:

No way. Not unless the score is by Weird Al Yankovic.

-The bad guy on the very last page looks totally :cool:.

Can't wait to see what happens next! :smile:

Thankee much!

[ShadowLands]

Dang cliffhangers. And the stories are too short.

(In other words, hurry up and write the next chapters! :teeth:)

[jpholding]

Dang cliffhangers. And the stories are too short.

(In other words, hurry up and write the next chapters! :teeth:)

Hee heee.... :teeth:

Well, if all goes well ST #2 may actually be up before April 1....