One would hope. But I don’t know what appeals to Alfie. He seemed…interested…in girls when they went to the safehouse. But it’s been awhile…he’s been at sea…and, come to think of it, what happened to his sisters?
Leg? What leg? May I take this opportunity of emphasizing that there is no cannibalism in Skin Horse. Absolutely none, and when I say none, I mean there is a certain amount, more than we are prepared to admit, but all new ratings are warned that if they wake up in the morning and find any toothmarks at all anywhere on their bodies, they’re to tell me immediately so that I can immediately take every measure to hush the whole thing up. And, finally, necrophilia is right out.
See, now if Jonah and Nera had come along, I would have called them “Nerd and Hot Nerd”. Nick and Virginia would be “Brain Guy and Brain Lady” (or maybe “Game Boy and Librarian”). For a second, I actually thought he was calling Virginia “Head Chick” (and I wasn’t at all surprised to hear that she wanted to find out how far she could launch herself – I could see a contest between Virginia and Unity) until I went down the roster of who was there.
I’d think Nick and Virginia could find somewhere more comfortable than a lifeboat to make out in. Maybe it’s on their bucket list.
I believe it was Sir Pterry who said every organization had to have one designated Sane Person, who actually knew what was going on and could keep the company moving. Sadly, this unenviable job for the Habbakuk has fallen to poor Alfie. Sweetheart could take him aside to commiserate and give coping tips.
What the heck is a “cable launch” supposed to be? I’ve never come across the term, and Google doesn’t recognize it either, just brings up results for cabling.
Is he referring to an aircraft catapult? Because those are steam powered piston systems. Could he maybe be referring to arresting gear, which is the system where a plane landing on a carrier is “caught” by arresting wires / cables and slowed? Because those wouldn’t work to launch things like a slingshot.
Aircraft catapults were less common in WWII, reserved mostly for particularly heavy aircraft that couldn’t take off from the deck on their own, but they were around.
That said, the majority were hydraulic powered, with a small number being powered by either rockets or explosive charges. In all such cases, you’re not using cables to launch an aircraft, but a high speed powered sled.
I was thinking it was a crane for a cable-tied submersible, but a catapault launch makes more sense. According to Wikipedia, before 1954 they used counterweight-powered launches. Basically an airplane trebuchet, so that is probably what she’s doing.
To be fair, this is a universe where Mad science is common. A slingshot using a cable would be pretty simple even for a non-Mad scientist to design. What such a device would be doing aboard a 75 year old aircraft carrier is beside the point.
I mean, nobody’s even questioned how a ship made out of ice hasn’t melted in 75 years, but you’re confused about a little thing like a “cable launch”?
And a pretty substantial refrigeration system that keeps the pykrete down to something like -16F..
Habakkuk has some interesting advantages over any modern ship, mainly that you can cheaply make so much armor no conventional explosive poses a threat and even when something does crack it the incoming seawater will freeze and seal the crack.
Yes, pykrete – which is 86% water (ice). And they’ve kept that refrigeration system running for 75 years? Without it breaking down? I’m just saying that it’s pretty impressive that it hasn’t melted yet.
Actually, the Habakkuk was supposed to be big enough to have *normal* land-base sized runways, 2000 feet long. No need for any complicated catapult or “cable luanch” system. Just ordinary take off and landing evolutions.
Florida is where the zombies have to go
The masquerade means that nobody will know
They’re not staying in Kansas, they have a brand new plan
For saving the day, saving the day
Virginia built a machine for the undead swarm
Skin Horse found themselves safe from harm
Meeting Leo and Bubbles, a borderline vaycay
With makeouts and games, always the same
The unprofessional elite, they can’t be beat, by crazy feats (slight derision)
Living and dead, barely ahead, no sign of dread
(This song is probably too epic for the situation, but you may want to listen and judge for yourself.)
I like that little pleasant greeting between Sweetheart and Bubbles. I know it was only every Sweetheart who had the animosity but it’s still a cute sight.
If Unity gets eaten by fish does she just control the fish?
If she takes over a shark and makes it leap out of the water, can we say Unity jumped the shark?
“I now pronounce you Nerd and Hot Nerd!” – sounds like perfect nuptials!
But which is which???
Hotness is in the eye of the beholder.
When Alfie says “nerd and hot nerd,” I assume he means Jonah Yu and Nera. But which is the nerd and which is the hot nerd?
My mistake—immediately corrected. Nick and Virginia. But the question stands.
Jonah would be “Nerd”, and Nera would be “Hot Nerd”.
One would hope. But I don’t know what appeals to Alfie. He seemed…interested…in girls when they went to the safehouse. But it’s been awhile…he’s been at sea…and, come to think of it, what happened to his sisters?
We haven’t seen rum or the lash yet, so there’s really no reason to assume any leg of that particular trinity.
Leg? What leg? May I take this opportunity of emphasizing that there is no cannibalism in Skin Horse. Absolutely none, and when I say none, I mean there is a certain amount, more than we are prepared to admit, but all new ratings are warned that if they wake up in the morning and find any toothmarks at all anywhere on their bodies, they’re to tell me immediately so that I can immediately take every measure to hush the whole thing up. And, finally, necrophilia is right out.
I don’t think Alfie has any legs.
See, now if Jonah and Nera had come along, I would have called them “Nerd and Hot Nerd”. Nick and Virginia would be “Brain Guy and Brain Lady” (or maybe “Game Boy and Librarian”). For a second, I actually thought he was calling Virginia “Head Chick” (and I wasn’t at all surprised to hear that she wanted to find out how far she could launch herself – I could see a contest between Virginia and Unity) until I went down the roster of who was there.
I’d think Nick and Virginia could find somewhere more comfortable than a lifeboat to make out in. Maybe it’s on their bucket list.
Funny, Nick doesn’t *look* like a Brain Guy… see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bV4-w2H5qE for proof!
It’s probably not Passover; maybe Nick wants an American beer.
Good thing we have an angsty adolescent to keep things professional
He’s only an adolescent in human years. In snake years, he’s more like a grumpy old man.
I thought Nick was supposed to have been a young adult when his brain was schlorped. Now mental age, on the other hand…
Thought the “angsty adolescent” was Alfie.
I believe it was Sir Pterry who said every organization had to have one designated Sane Person, who actually knew what was going on and could keep the company moving. Sadly, this unenviable job for the Habbakuk has fallen to poor Alfie. Sweetheart could take him aside to commiserate and give coping tips.
Bubbles is fairly sane, too. Her main problem is that she often needs an interpreter.
I can understand Bubbles just fine. Can’t you?
Joy.
What the heck is a “cable launch” supposed to be? I’ve never come across the term, and Google doesn’t recognize it either, just brings up results for cabling.
Is he referring to an aircraft catapult? Because those are steam powered piston systems. Could he maybe be referring to arresting gear, which is the system where a plane landing on a carrier is “caught” by arresting wires / cables and slowed? Because those wouldn’t work to launch things like a slingshot.
The Habakkuk is WWII vintage surplus—what did they use then?
Aircraft catapults were less common in WWII, reserved mostly for particularly heavy aircraft that couldn’t take off from the deck on their own, but they were around.
That said, the majority were hydraulic powered, with a small number being powered by either rockets or explosive charges. In all such cases, you’re not using cables to launch an aircraft, but a high speed powered sled.
I was thinking it was a crane for a cable-tied submersible, but a catapault launch makes more sense. According to Wikipedia, before 1954 they used counterweight-powered launches. Basically an airplane trebuchet, so that is probably what she’s doing.
Without any reference, I assumed a ship mounted line thrower.
To be fair, this is a universe where Mad science is common. A slingshot using a cable would be pretty simple even for a non-Mad scientist to design. What such a device would be doing aboard a 75 year old aircraft carrier is beside the point.
I mean, nobody’s even questioned how a ship made out of ice hasn’t melted in 75 years, but you’re confused about a little thing like a “cable launch”?
Pykrete.
And a pretty substantial refrigeration system that keeps the pykrete down to something like -16F..
Habakkuk has some interesting advantages over any modern ship, mainly that you can cheaply make so much armor no conventional explosive poses a threat and even when something does crack it the incoming seawater will freeze and seal the crack.
Yes, pykrete – which is 86% water (ice). And they’ve kept that refrigeration system running for 75 years? Without it breaking down? I’m just saying that it’s pretty impressive that it hasn’t melted yet.
In the last appearance of the Habakkuk, Shelby did say they were shifting north because of high temperatures…
Actually, the Habakkuk was supposed to be big enough to have *normal* land-base sized runways, 2000 feet long. No need for any complicated catapult or “cable luanch” system. Just ordinary take off and landing evolutions.
Tune: “Ghost Division”, Sabaton
Florida is where the zombies have to go
The masquerade means that nobody will know
They’re not staying in Kansas, they have a brand new plan
For saving the day, saving the day
Virginia built a machine for the undead swarm
Skin Horse found themselves safe from harm
Meeting Leo and Bubbles, a borderline vaycay
With makeouts and games, always the same
The unprofessional elite, they can’t be beat, by crazy feats (slight derision)
Living and dead, barely ahead, no sign of dread
(This song is probably too epic for the situation, but you may want to listen and judge for yourself.)
This is Alfie talking, not Lovelace.
This pretty well sums up the entire story.
I like that little pleasant greeting between Sweetheart and Bubbles. I know it was only every Sweetheart who had the animosity but it’s still a cute sight.