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we-r-nomad — Mistress and Commander
#armada #commander #fawcett #fmp #heavy #masa #lenscruiser
Published: 2016-04-18 02:24:46 +0000 UTC; Views: 2151; Favourites: 46; Downloads: 108
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Just had some random thoughts concerning MASA, and their uniforms.Initially I was going to have them be jet black , as is a befitting raiment of the iron clad fist of a corrupt and bloated war machine, but then it occurred to me that red in strategic places would render them reminiscent of Napoleonic era British uniforms, which would potentially be even more appropriate.
I don't know if this would be standard throughout the armada, or simply used for flamboyant ace types, such as the Lenscruiser commander, pictured above, but I do like the aesthetic.
Another observation I had was that I had their sashes facing the wrong way.
Live and learn.
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Comments: 55
Do you think she ever stifles the bell, or does it ring during moments of extreme tension on the bridge? 
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Oh, she HAS TO stifle it from time to time, just to catch the crew gossiping about her when they think she's not around. I'm sure they'll jump pretty high when she suddenly clears her throat.
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There's no good excuse for wearing a bell in public. 
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No, there really isn't. I just put it there as visual shorthand to demonstrate the good captain's true loyalties.
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I like it! It also harkens back to their origins in Victorian Britain, against the Martian invasion when it was a 'thin red line' (usually packing heavy artillery) that took on the invaders. (Which probably sticks in the craw of any old Navy grognard who clearly remembers the Thunderchild, blast it! 
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Heh, I like this very much. I suppose many of her ONG comrades would resent Captain McHampton strutting around in a scarlet suit coat, but considering how many of them impeded her rise up the ranks, I suppose she would enjoy thumbing her nose at the old guard in this manner.
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Glad to hear it.
I like the whole cowlick antenna thing, but it's usually used on cute characters. I thought it would be novel to attach one to a mean girl.
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Why must the angry hot commanders already be taken? lol The outfit looks rather unique, which I prefer it to be that way for the various commanders or captains throughout the MASA fleet.
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Someone upthread pointed out that British naval uniforms of the era I was borrowing from were actually blue. Since I want to use blue and white a lot with the armada, as a color scheme honoring sacred mother Earth, (The armada rallying cry is simply to repeat the word "EARTH! EARTH! EARTH" in as sonorous a bellow as one can muster. Done correctly, it creates a roll similar to that of a pack of barking mastiffs.) this would work well for the rank and file, and lend a distinctiveness to the officers' red.
That's not to say I'm retiring the black uniforms altogether. I think that the more sinister types within the armada, who work most directly with the Benefactors, would work well in the dark uniforms.
BTW, I've had occasion to think on the character of the captain. At first I was going to have her be Kadmas' eponymous OC, but since she seems to no longer be on DA to seek fair use permission from, I thought this would be a prime opportunity to invent a new original character of my own.
For now her name is Captain Meridies McHampton, (At least until I come up with something I like better.
She was never kidnapped. Having spent her entire professional life among armada jocks who dismissed her abilities as an officer and a pilot even as they made frequent romantic overtures* that were as clumsy as the were unwanted, Meri was taken by the polite, respectful and urbane manner of the powerful and influential AREX 4275, and pursued him with an enthusiasm usually reserved for her aerial combat exploits.
For 4275's part, the robot passed off the bell collar as a custom brought from his world, and was clever enough to make Meri think the whole maid play thing was her idea.To her knowledge, their romantic exploits are a concession made by 4275 to satisfy the illogical human's amorous eccentricities. In short, she honestly believes she is the only woman he is maidifying.**
Being unaware of her "toyfriend's" true nature, Meridies is likewise oblivious to the fact that her bell collar effectively protects her from being targeted by other Benefactors, and may have something to do with her ascent past the glass ceiling, separating many excellent female officers from vessel command.
* As you now doubt already know, Alistaire's romantic overtures are nothing new to the good captain.
** Whoa be unto 4275 when Meri learns the truth. The only question would be would she be angrier to learn that her boyfriend is a lying, deceiving enemy of mother Earth, or because he's maidifying other women.
Meri: "I can't BELIEVE you've been doing this with other women!! Am I not enough?!!!"
AREX 4275: "It would be easier to address that query without the incinerator pressed against my brain case."
Allistaire may have dodged the bullet beam here.
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Why must you be tempting me with such information about a deadly human commander from the MASA armada? 
Knowing Alistaire, he would probably be the one to slip an anonymous tip to Meridies about the other maids AREX 4275 has stashed away lol.
If you were to actually make her a new/revamped OC, I'd be highly interested in seeing where you go with this lady 
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Alistaire ratting out 4275?! 
I guess the "Bro-Code" doesn't apply to robots. (Hmmm, "Ro-Code"? "Ro's" before "Ho's"? But I digress.
Still, I suppose it would be a more or less simple matter for 4275 to weasel his way out of this. Since every effort would have been made to spin the Heart Broadcast as an act of video terrorism, aimed at discrediting the Benefactors, 4275 could simply say that the damning evidence presented against him is another salvo launched in an ongoing mean spirited smear campaign.
*Trying to ignore the gun at his braincase*
4275: "Meri my sweet capacitor, you have taught this unit that the foundation of all intimate association is trust, without which the participants in a connection such as ours would be destined to disparate trajectories.
This united has told you that these records are falsifications, optimized to create the negative emotional effects you are presently experiencing. You only have this unit's word as evidence of its innocence in this matter. If that is insufficient data for you to dismiss this character assassination, then you may as well pull the trigger.
It would be a more pleasant experience than losing you."
Meri drops her incinerator clasps 4275's braincase in her hands and kisses it passionately, causing her hair to rise slightly, like a less intense Van De Graaf effect. Leaving a lipstick stain on the clear sphere, Meri catches her breath ling enough to say,
"You really do have a silver tongue."
I suppose sometime after the two come up for air, and 4275 catalogs the phenomenon of "Post-Argument-Repose" he would seek out Alistaire and thank him for the experience.
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One is probably the HUGE main thing that your FMP and my Draginonican's have in common? A desire for wanting more
"Damnit damnit damnit.....why must women...." *pausing in his thoughts and thinking of the four ladies he has in his harem and how they have been smitten and swept off their feet and into his clutches* "Son of fried toaster over....I can be angry at that tin can but he and I are just in the same scheming line of work."
Sitting in the cockpit of his own little spaceship and watching the stars move about as he was in orbit over a planet, "I'd rather not get too personally involved in this. Enough enemies as is." knocking himself lightly in the side of his head.
(Leave to my dragonmale to make crazy ass plans lol)
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It's almost a shame to see Alistaire see reason. I could see him firing one last parting shot across his rival's bow.
Meeting Meri one final time before pursuing opportunities elsewhere the dapper mercenary could lean in close to the comely captain and say,
Alistaire: "I know you think your toyfriend is of a better sort than libertines like myself, but we do have more things in common than you realize."
Meri: "Like what?"
Moving with typical Draginonican agility, Alistaire swoops in and steals a kiss. So fast are his trained reflexes, that he avoids a punch that would have felled most men.*
Barely.
Alistaire: "We're both jealous creatures."
Meri: *Waving off her marines (And likely saving their lives.) and wiping her mouth with disdain* "Get off my ship."
On his way out, Alistaire makes sure say hello to a visiting 4275. The robot is glad to see the mercenary depart, that is until he notices traces of Meri's lipstick on his mouth, and an absence of the sort of defensive wounds one would expect from such a contact.
4275: "I see Alistaire has departed."
Meri: "Yea. Good riddance."
4275: "Indeed."
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If it weren't for the fact that I've seen what some of the robolords are capable of (poor muscled guy getting turned to ash in Heartgear's comic lol) Alistaire would have been a little more ambitious on driving a wedge between Meri and 4275.
This however does not mean the wildcard/dark hero has a portfolio on the dear commander. Gathering more information and seeking out potentially more fruitful avenues to win over Meri.
*Typing in new coordinates and bringing up two other profiles. A small 3D hologram of Prin, The Pink Death and Nomoko, Female Menace. Both of them being classified at long term targets*
"I really do have a type that I hunt for......"
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For some reason this makes me think of the old Robotech uniforms...
That said, the uniform looks pretty good, but I worry it might be too fancy to show in a lot of different poses without causing visual confusion.
- Polecat
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You make an interesting point as always. I'm considering dispensing with the gold piping, in order to give the outfit a cleaner, simpler look.
BTW, in the real navy, is being a pilot an asset when one is seeking command of a ship, or are the two disciplines separate and distinct career paths?
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Possibly. The more complex the lines are, the harder it is to show from various angles. I'd go look at some of the real dress uniforms the Military has, they tend to be pretty simple.
The Captain is an officer path. The guys who actually steer the ship are enlisted men. Usually a petty officer (e4 to e6) and it's considered a watch station, not a vocation/career path. Officers man the conning station, who give orders to the helmsman, who in turn carries out those orders. Basically an officer tells the enlisted guy where to go, and the enlisted guy points the ship thataway.
- Polecat
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Thanks for the extra information, but I don't think that it addresses my question. (Or maybe it does, and I'm that slow on the uptake. 
What I'm curious about are the officers exclusively. (At least for the present.) Since the end of the second world war, only officers can become aviators, and of course only officers can command capital ships. What I want to know is can a officer who becomes an aviator later command a ship, or are the two career paths so disparate as to preclude one another? If not, does success as an aviator have any affect on one's chances command a ship?
Also, if a aviator can command a ship, would they only command carriers, since that would leverage their aviation experience, or can they command other vessels? For that matter, would an aviator, with an eye toward carrier command have to command a smaller vessel before qualifying for the massive responsibility of carrier command?
I hope my questions are making sense.
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Ah, I see the confusion, and this will be a bit of an odd one. In the Navy, those who fly are separate from those who are on a ship. In the navy it's kinda odd because those who deal with Aviation are called "Brown Shoes", mostly because aviation folks use brown shoes instead of the traditional black ones.
That said, looking it up (I wasn't totally sure myself), it says that aviators are eligible to command a ship. To my knowledge tho, it's fairly uncommon. This link might explain a little better: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_S…
I apologize, I thought you were speaking of ship pilots (Helmsmen) and not aviation pilots.
- Polecat
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This wikipedia entry is invaluable.
"US Code Title 10 requires that US aircraft carrier commanding officers be Navy unrestricted line officers designated as either naval aviators or naval flight officers .[11] Prior to assuming command, these officers first command a deep-draft ship and serve as executive officer of an aircraft carrier and go through an extensive training syllabus in ship handling and nuclear propulsion."
The part mentioning a requirement that a prospective carrier commander first command a deep draft vessel, pretty much confirms my suspicion, and is in line with my idea that McHampton would command MRS Fawcett as a step up her career ladder toward eventual carrier command. This is beyond helpful--thanks!
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No problem. I didn't have much experience myself in this myself, so had to look it up.
- Polecat
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Very nice work. Although red is actually British army colours, the navy wore...well navy blue😉 if your going for a napoleonic feel. On the other hand most navy officers were loyal and good at their jobs while the pre wellington army upper ranks had a lot of corruption, bought their commissions and had the occasional traitor. Guess that sounds more like MASA...
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I like the idea of blue uniforms. I did want blue to be a frequently used "theme" color for the armada. Although my lazy butt has never gotten around to depicting it, their ships are painted blue and white in honor of the sacred home world. Blue Napoleonic naval uniforms would fit well with this general scheme.
I suppose I can still have Captain McHampton's uniform still be red. She climbed through the ranks as a celebrated Centaurmor ace, so her scarlet uniform could be a privilege of rank and status. (Much like Char from Gundam.
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Cool thank's for responding.
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A bell on her collar? I knew there was some sort of collusion going on, but this is just... Bloody robots! Also, how did I not notice that little touch before, in the comics on Heart's page?
The uniform design is fantastic, by the way - I definitely picked up on a Wellingtonesque colour scheme. As you say, it's perfect for an expansive Imperialist power, even if they are secretly full of bell-necked traitors...
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If you look at the first page of the guest comic, you'll notice that her bell is engraved with the serial number of her custodian robot.
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...I must actually be blind, to have missed that. 4275 sounds familiar too, but I may be imagining that... Robots and numbers tend to blur together, and at any rate it's probably not wise to hang about looking at AREX units for too long. Still, I guess you could say it...
...Rings a bell.
I'm not going to apologise for that pun.
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Actually 4275 is the 'bot that was in the process of abducting Heart when Nomoko intervened.
The idea is that Meri McHampton* here is enraged that Nomo dared dent the brain case of her beloved "toyfriend". Her concern regarding the pirate broadcast is tertiary at best.
It's a pretty deeply imbedded Easter egg. I really didn't expect folks to get it, and wasn't critical for enjoying the vignette.
* Yes, she is Captain McHampton. I'm not above the dark art of punnery myself.
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...I grudgingly acknowledge the powers of your pun-processor, because that was a pretty good one. It even made me groan and roll my eyes, and that's saying something. I'll clearly have to step up my game next time.
Also, I rather like your deeply-embedded Easter eggs, so please keep 'em coming!
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hehe still love the Lenscruiser commander, shes a great design and i can guess her fate for failing :3
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That was my thought at first, but I find myself warming up to the character, and thinking of more an more things to do with her.
I suppose her status as a Bellneck isolates her from being...er...demoted since she is already slated to a Benefactor. At worst, she would spend a couple of weeks hopping and dusting before being put back to work hunting the Benefactress.
It's possible she would not consider this a punishment.
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Hmm.
That works well, I also became fond of her even from the small interaction we got from her and the chance to see her -if temporarily maidified would be lovely.
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Gotta love the tried and true "bangin' on the captain's chair arm in anger" move.
- JC
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I wouldn't mind bangin' on the captain's chair... but probably not in the way you're referring to.
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Unfortunately, you're not her type.
Note the bell collar.
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I could dress up like a robot, if she's into that. Or would she prefer a teddy bear?
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No, she definitely prefers the "Lamp posts" to the bears. And she's pretty much monogamous to one particular 'bot.
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I am considering the idea of her actually dating a Benefactor, and completely unaware of her "Toyfriend's" other line of work.
She could just think the bell is an odd custom of the robot homeworld, and that the kinky activities that crop up during their alone time is done solely in deference to her secretive submissive tendencies.
I imagine if she ever found out the truth, her first reaction would be jealously that 4275 was maidifying other women.
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Haha, I love that idea. Also "Toyfriend" is hilarious.
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I like it myself, along with the idea of a woman and a Benefactor having an actually dating relationship. Rather than being captured, Captain McHampton* would pursue 4275 socially, finding him urbane, charming, and perhaps even handsome.
I have no explanation for this unsolicited "mechs-tiality". I don't want to go with anything obvious like she was cared for by robotic nannies in her youth. Perhaps, after rising in the ranks among hard changing hard headed MASA types, a sophisticated intellectual sort, like 4275, is an attractive change of pace. 
* Just thought of the name. Pretty much a ham fisted play on the "Captain, my captain" schtick from Dead Poet's Society. It's my first attempt at a name. My come up with something better later.
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That does sound like a really interesting little twist within the universe you've developed. I'm curious: is 4275 the same Robolord who tried to capture Heart in Suspicious Links?
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YESSSSS!!! Someone got the Easter egg!!!
The rage that Meri McHampton shows during the guest comic I drew is over the fact that Nomoko dented her toyfriend!!!! She's probably not even thinking about the pirate broadcast.
Imagine Meri rushing to repair facility where 4275 is getting his brain case fixed. The usually stoic commander is a hysterical, tear soaked maniac as she sweeps aside all of the human obstacles between her and her beloved. Not prepared for a decorated combat veteran, the repair staff is helpless before the captain's tantrum, until 4275 reassures her that his has not been irreparably damaged.
Later, when they are alone, the Benefactor carefully crafts his version of events, in which is was HE who tried unsuccessfully to stop Nomoko The Rogue from abducting two innocent women.
Meri: "For a genius robot, you're really stupid. You're not a combat mech. You should have called for help."
4275: "I did, but she has a MUCH stronger antenna. She jammed my transmission."
Meri: "You still shouldn't have risked yourself. That was just illogical."
4275: "Yes, heroism is not logical. Perhaps I've begun to imprint your behavior."
Meri leans into the repair alcove and hugs the robot tightly.
All too aware of the standard issue incinerator slung on her hip, the Benefactor experiences profound relief over the maidifiable buying his version of events.
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Hah, brilliant! I had been wondering why she was so pissed off in that guest comic over something that didn't seem all that emotionally charged.
This whole comment thread has me wondering if Benefactors are... ehem... "equipped" for romance with humans. ; )
I also like Ms. McHampton's name even more, now.
Hmmm, I just realized... who are the staff at the repair facility? You said they're human, so is Meri simply not noticing, in her tear-soaked hysteria, that they're all fettered maids?
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Hmm, how do I put this.
Yes Benefactors can physically augment themselves so they may participate in intimate encounters with humans, but their greatest asset in this respect is their advanced medical technology.
Benefactors can chart any indivual human's entire nervous system and have an detailed knowledge of pressure points and nerve concentrations which, when manipulated, can achieve certain desired effects. These effects can be triggered at will by the Benefactors, who can precisely control their frequency, intensity, and duration.
To the lucky Bellneck, a Benefactor effectively becomes a drug dealer who maintains exclusive control over her own endorphins. This is counted among the reasons that Bellnecks are so fiercely devoted to their custodians.
Repair facilities on Earth or any of its colonies are staffed with normal men and women, working alongside robots and drones, all of whom enjoy blissful ignorance regarding their true nature, or why there's such incredibly high turnover among the nursing staff.
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