Girl Genius XXIX: A giant corkboard of continuity madness

[Wayson]

Yes-yes! Kill-slay the man-things! Take-steal the time-device! Conquer-invade the surface world, for the glory-pride of the Under-empire!

Skaven filth!

[Fyraltari]

He had the ship sabotaged in advance.

I think this is more likely to be an emergency landing procedure. The crew would probably have noticed a brand new big honking red button.

[Alandra]

I think this is more likely to be an emergency landing procedure. The crew would probably have noticed a brand new big honking red button.

Maybe he sabotaged the emergency landing procedure? Blowing up your ship to land it seems a bit counterproductive.

[Fyraltari]

Maybe he sabotaged the emergency landing procedure? Blowing up your ship to land it seems a bit counterproductive.

It's an airship, to go down you release the gas that holds you up. To go down fast, such as in an emergency you release a lot of gas, the most efficient way being destroying the chambers holding that gas. Sure your ship won't work (as well) afterwards but that's why it's for "emergency landings" and not "landings". That kind of things is supposed to be used in situations where you are happy if some of the crew plus passengers survived, regardless of the sate of the ship.

[geoduck]

I think this is more likely to be an emergency landing procedure. The crew would probably have noticed a brand new big honking red button.

But having the emergency landing activator being a single large easily-pushed button isn't a whole lot better.

[Kantaki]

But having the emergency landing activator being a single large easily-pushed button isn't a whole lot better.

It being easy to push seems to be the whole point.
If you're in a situation where you need to go down fast you don't really have time for complicated procedures.
But they could at least put some cover over it so it can't be pushed by accident.
So a wee bit less easy might be a good idea.

[Manga Shoggoth]

It's always a toss-up with Big Red Buttons.

Half of the ones I've seen have had some form of Molly-Guard on them, the others haven't. I suppose the driving question is "in an emergency, how much of an added risk is the delay dealing with a guard".

[wingnutx]

It's not a self destruct, it's an emergency blow.

Like a submarine in reverse.

[Kantaki]

New comic

Oh well, at least someone is happy with the situation...

[factotum]

You kind of forget (what with the whole "murder at the drop of a hat" thing) that there's a good reason the Baron and Gil both kept Bang on the payroll--she really knows what she's doing.

[Ailurus]

New comic

Oh well, at least someone is happy with the situation...

Aye, and while it would be horrifying in real life, Happy Bang is just fun. And for her, it's a really happy day. She got to kill (or at least choke out) someone who needed killing, she got a new hat, she gets to command a new airship and she may well get rum. What more could a pirate queen want?

[Agi Hammerthief]

... she got a new hat, ...

and that scull emblem just magically appeared from one panel to the other.

[Shining Wrath]

It's always a toss-up with Big Red Buttons.

Half of the ones I've seen have had some form of Molly-Guard on them, the others haven't. I suppose the driving question is "in an emergency, how much of an added risk is the delay dealing with a guard".

I'm going to go with "crashing your ship, possibly over water or mountains, with a misplaced cup of tea is too much risk". YMMV.

You kind of forget (what with the whole "murder at the drop of a hat" thing) that there's a good reason the Baron and Gil both kept Bang on the payroll--she really knows what she's doing.

Bang just saved the day, and possibly the lives of everyone aboard. Of the entire GG crew, she is THE person you want coming onto the bridge at that moment. Kudos to one of our favorite sociopaths.

Aye, and while it would be horrifying in real life, Happy Bang is just fun. And for her, it's a really happy day. She got to kill (or at least choke out) someone who needed killing, she got a new hat, she gets to command a new airship and she may well get rum. What more could a pirate queen want?

I believe that small bottle she's holding is a flask of rum. And I'm glad to see the Chief Officer is alive and able to recognize that Bang is not-large but very much in charge.

As to what more a pirate queen could want? BOOTY. And vengeance! And terrified victims begging for mercy from someone who feels none! And more booty!

[Rodin]

and that scull emblem just magically appeared from one panel to the other.

That's because the hat is smart and wants to continue being a hat.

[Ivrytwr]

Yeah, Bang is back in her element! She has been a bit off ever since she got smacked by Agatha.

[Radar]

and that scull emblem just magically appeared from one panel to the other.

i think there is a tiny time skip implied before the last panel as that rum flask along with a comfy chair could not appear out of thin air. Besides, you do not go from a full scale emergency to relaxation in a single beat. She might have had time to draw that skull on the hat.

[Shining Wrath]

i think there is a tiny time skip implied before the last panel as that rum flask along with a comfy chair could not appear out of thin air. Besides, you do not go from a full scale emergency to relaxation in a single beat. She might have had time to draw that skull on the hat.

Between the penultimate panel and the ultimate, she:
1) Found a chair
2) Got Krosp calm
3) Got a flask of rum
4) Did a little quick art

Might take a minute.

[Scarlet Knight]

...As to what more a pirate queen could want? BOOTY. And vengeance! And terrified victims begging for mercy from someone who feels none! And more booty!

I figured that's why panel five was drawn as an over the shoulder shot...

[Agi Hammerthief]

Between the penultimate panel and the ultimate, she:
1) Found a chair
2) Got Krosp calm
3) Got a flask of rum
4) Did a little quick art

Might take a minute.

it nicely illustrates priorities.

[Manga Shoggoth]

I'm going to go with "crashing your ship, possibly over water or mountains, with a misplaced cup of tea is too much risk". YMMV.

I'd have gone with "no food or drink allowed on the flight deck" myself (same reason you don't eat over your keyboard...), but Bang clearly agrees with you. For rum, at least.

[The Glyphstone]

On one of Her Majesty's airships, tea is no mere drink, it is a sacrament.

Same goes for rum on a pirate ship.

[Shining Wrath]

On one of Her Majesty's airships, tea is no mere drink, it is a sacrament.

Same goes for rum on a pirate ship.

Which means that privateers serve rum in their tea?

[Gez]

On one of Her Majesty's airships, tea is no mere drink, it is a sacrament.

Same goes for rum on a pirate ship.

From what I've heard, rum is also a sacrament for Her Majesty's Royal Navy. As well as the lash. And some other things best left unmentioned.

[Kantaki]

Which means that privateers serve rum in their tea?

Of course not.
They serve tea in their rum.

[Willie the Duck]

From what I've heard, rum is also a sacrament for Her Majesty's Royal Navy. As well as the lash. And some other things best left unmentioned.

Ah yes, the Daily Tot. Part morale boost, part method of keeping sailors from finding other (perhaps more boat-risking) ways of getting libations at sea, and rum instead of the previously traditional beer because it was more space efficient and less likely to spoil. It lasted up until 1970.

[Manga Shoggoth]

From what I've heard, rum is also a sacrament for Her Majesty's Royal Navy. As well as the lash. And some other things best left unmentioned.

What? What's wrong with lawn care?

No - wait a minute - that's Everyday Heroes.

[PraetorDragoon]

Sounds like it is time for the classic triple bluff.

[Traab]

Sounds like it is time for the classic triple bluff.

Here is my theory. Madwa is going to expect trickery, so DONT USE IT. Fly the ship back and forth like its on auto pilot and send out the decoy sneaky insertion attempt. The ship runs out of fuel and crashes on autopilot while her troops go after the sneaky decoy. The crew actually stayed on board the ship and timed its loss of fuel to coincide with landing where they wanted it to. Airships dont fall out of the sky like bricks after all, the landing will be more than survivable. The timing is important, they need to make it seem like they really left the ship and the ship has to land before madwa can confirm the decoy was a fake. Maybe toss in a second, even stealthier attempt using the first as cover to convince her that violetta is on board and aware the first decoy wont sneak by.

[Shining Wrath]

The airship won't fall out of the sky at all if it runs out of fuel. It will start drifting, and Bang says the winds at this latitude are easterlies and will take the airship west to the Americas. As a lighter than air craft it does not depend on forward velocity for lift.

If you want a crash, you have to take fire that damages the buoyancy. Taking exactly the right amount of fire to crash where you want is tricky.

I suspect that a different sort of trickery is afoot. "Show them what they want to believe" will be showing them that all the sparks are on board and coming down trying to fight their way through an ambush. Madwa's first choice was to waltz on board with Prende's lantern and kill everyone. Her second choice is probably for them to attempt a D-Day landing against a foe that knows they are coming. So that's what Bang needs to fake, with the help of some sort of Sparky invention.

EDIT: Is Agatha cuddling Rakethorne? She may, in fact, be cuddling.

[St Fan]

You should notice the rest of the crew barely blink at the fact that Bang just assumes control of the vessel.

Which just show that they have their priorities straight. When your former captain just shot the chief officer and tried to crash-land the ship, you don't waste time arguing about the legitimacy of whoever takes over, even if she's an ex-pirate queen. Especially since she's obviously competent, and giving orders that should keep them flying. It is not blind obedience to orders, it's recognizing what is in their best interest in a situation where you don't have the luxury of dithering.