Certainly not the direction I thought this was headed, which is why I love this strip. Aaron, I gotta ask – the detail of the gantries (hope that’s the right word!) … any Herge influence there?
Yeah, I wasn’t expecting this either. Funny enough, though, is that just an hour ago I was thinking about how the topology and geopositioning map shown in yesterday’s strip was attained, whether Endtown had a communications or GPS satellite in place. And if so, whether the Topsiders knew about it and what they’d do if they did. (That is, how yesterday’s display could show where the two dustcrawlers were.)I can see, though, why Mallard would be upset with Flask. How COULD her security rats miss this one? Looks like several days worth of construction to get this far…
That makes sense. Otherwise they could have found the entrances much sooner.Clearly they, and maybe the other cities, will have to make a strike. It’ll probably be well defended. Could also be a trap, after all something that game changing would be too hard to not take action against. Either way I think we’ll see something of a fight between the topsiders and the people of Endtown and maybe the other cities.
Let’s see… Wally’s had years of practice living and surviving on the surface. He’s intelligent and resourceful. See how he knocked out that Topsider transporter with just some pieces of junk he found lying about. Maybe he can have a hand in putting this delicate rocket out of commission.
umm, gotta make some points here….1)why haven’t they developed subterranean agriculture yet? Hydroponics, square-foot farming, flowerbox gardening, SOMEthing? Self-sustenance should have been job one, starting with year one. And they should have had at least the basics for that built FIRST…. especially if Endtown was a repurposed cold-war era bomb shelter, as I suspect.
2)Why are they sending people topside ON FOOT? That’s suicide… and it’s pointless! A single person can’t have the search range possibly carry back enough resources to make the risk worthwhile. An ordinary pickup truck, rebuilt to run on solar, electric, methane, biodiesel, or whatever phlebotinum fuels the Endtown power plant, would increase their range and the amount they haul back—- and would drastically reduce the amount of time they’re out and exposed.Besides, they HAVE to have both a freight elevator and access to machinery that can be re-purposed into topside vehicles (Endtown wasn’t excavated by hand, obviously, and all the building materials for those houses weren’t hauled down there on mutant backpacks.)
3)Shouldn’t they have an entire network of tunnels as well, rather than just one elevator shaft…. and several emergency escapes, backup caverns, choke points, and fortifications? One entrance/exit= one tombstone for the whole settlement.
All will be revealed, I suspect. Aaron has planned this quite a lot, he’s just letting us know the information bit by bit. :) This said, capital twist, old chap! Well done! And yes, now we see how Wally will go back topside, and Holly with him.
The problem with Wally going back topside for this mission is that no one in the planning committee knows who he is, and at the moment there’s no open call for volunteers. Walter’s a poor choice if it comes to making decisions, so I expect that Fran and Finneman are going to be the pivotal ones. Flask may be sent out as part of an action team as punishment, but Mallard may not want to risk losing her “expertise”. If there is an action team, then I can see Petey volunteering for air surveillance.
“Topsider” seems a monolithic tag They share a symbol, uniform, and fear But does the surface carry just one flag? Perhaps some other factions might appear (We’ve moved into a field I quite enjoy I’ve rented space on satellites like this And followed launches since I was a boy From Shepard, Glenn and Gagarin, in bliss) It’s interesting to see what tech survives The infrastructure needed here is big But they use high-tech guns for taking lives Let’s hope they think of “space” and not “to dig!” =|====/ Level Head
They can send out some dust crawlers with a missile to take it out. Or a dust crawler that is a missile. Unless they don’t have the fuel for it. The Topsiders may have the only access to rocket fuel.
What, no warning from the Oracle (or did they not ask the right questions)? This supernatural pool of whatever is sitting in the cave. Why is it not being consulted?
OK, I have a few thoughts. The topographic map might have been created using reverse seismology from the dustcrawlers. I don’t think there are any working satellites still up there or the Topsiders would have more-than-likely found a way to re-establish communication and control with them. I just hope that the rocket isn’t being prepared for something other than a reconnaissance satellite. Perhaps something worse, such as an orbital weapons battery utilizing the disintegration beam weapons they favor.
Well the radiation in question doesn’t exactly LINGER…And a vehicle may draw attention (and there are ways around that) but so do people on foot. (That is a poser, really. Bloody great flat desert, anything taller than a snake’s belly will stick out for miles.) and there are ways around that problem— camouflage, smoke screens, etc…. besides which, again, CARRYING CAPACITY. Which is more likely to be noticed, one fast trip with a truck or a dozen slow ones by people on foot?
Bronkster Premium Member over 12 years ago
Certainly not the direction I thought this was headed, which is why I love this strip. Aaron, I gotta ask – the detail of the gantries (hope that’s the right word!) … any Herge influence there?
Ida No over 12 years ago
Yeah, I wasn’t expecting this either. Funny enough, though, is that just an hour ago I was thinking about how the topology and geopositioning map shown in yesterday’s strip was attained, whether Endtown had a communications or GPS satellite in place. And if so, whether the Topsiders knew about it and what they’d do if they did. (That is, how yesterday’s display could show where the two dustcrawlers were.)I can see, though, why Mallard would be upset with Flask. How COULD her security rats miss this one? Looks like several days worth of construction to get this far…
IsshouFuuraibou over 12 years ago
That makes sense. Otherwise they could have found the entrances much sooner.Clearly they, and maybe the other cities, will have to make a strike. It’ll probably be well defended. Could also be a trap, after all something that game changing would be too hard to not take action against. Either way I think we’ll see something of a fight between the topsiders and the people of Endtown and maybe the other cities.
Kazookie over 12 years ago
Alas ! Endtown is barely able to get sufficient food beside beans and the topsiders are about to reactivate spaceflight ! What are they gonna do ?
Jenner Premium Member over 12 years ago
Let’s see… Wally’s had years of practice living and surviving on the surface. He’s intelligent and resourceful. See how he knocked out that Topsider transporter with just some pieces of junk he found lying about. Maybe he can have a hand in putting this delicate rocket out of commission.
3hourtour Premium Member over 12 years ago
..great story and even better art…
Francis362003 over 12 years ago
NWO is now coming of age in this strip. So sad.
RHJunior over 12 years ago
umm, gotta make some points here….1)why haven’t they developed subterranean agriculture yet? Hydroponics, square-foot farming, flowerbox gardening, SOMEthing? Self-sustenance should have been job one, starting with year one. And they should have had at least the basics for that built FIRST…. especially if Endtown was a repurposed cold-war era bomb shelter, as I suspect.
2)Why are they sending people topside ON FOOT? That’s suicide… and it’s pointless! A single person can’t have the search range possibly carry back enough resources to make the risk worthwhile. An ordinary pickup truck, rebuilt to run on solar, electric, methane, biodiesel, or whatever phlebotinum fuels the Endtown power plant, would increase their range and the amount they haul back—- and would drastically reduce the amount of time they’re out and exposed.Besides, they HAVE to have both a freight elevator and access to machinery that can be re-purposed into topside vehicles (Endtown wasn’t excavated by hand, obviously, and all the building materials for those houses weren’t hauled down there on mutant backpacks.)
3)Shouldn’t they have an entire network of tunnels as well, rather than just one elevator shaft…. and several emergency escapes, backup caverns, choke points, and fortifications? One entrance/exit= one tombstone for the whole settlement.
Niall-Can over 12 years ago
All will be revealed, I suspect. Aaron has planned this quite a lot, he’s just letting us know the information bit by bit. :) This said, capital twist, old chap! Well done! And yes, now we see how Wally will go back topside, and Holly with him.
willg1970 over 12 years ago
Luv this strip I didn’t see that one coming
JanBic Premium Member over 12 years ago
Mission Time!!Will Holly accompany Wally? Or follow him?Will the Comicpalooza Poster now become reality?Stay tuned!
Ida No over 12 years ago
The problem with Wally going back topside for this mission is that no one in the planning committee knows who he is, and at the moment there’s no open call for volunteers. Walter’s a poor choice if it comes to making decisions, so I expect that Fran and Finneman are going to be the pivotal ones. Flask may be sent out as part of an action team as punishment, but Mallard may not want to risk losing her “expertise”. If there is an action team, then I can see Petey volunteering for air surveillance.
Efogoto over 12 years ago
“reconnaissance” is spelled incorrectly in the strip. /pedant
Demonick over 12 years ago
Where are topsiders GETTING all of this stuff!!!!!!!!!!!
Lyons Group, Inc. over 12 years ago
Let me guess: If they put that bird in orbit, and if anyone out there from below ground goes topside, they’re history?!
EricAlder over 12 years ago
I always wondered what became of Howard The Duck.
Level_Head over 12 years ago
“Topsider” seems a monolithic tag They share a symbol, uniform, and fear But does the surface carry just one flag? Perhaps some other factions might appear (We’ve moved into a field I quite enjoy I’ve rented space on satellites like this And followed launches since I was a boy From Shepard, Glenn and Gagarin, in bliss) It’s interesting to see what tech survives The infrastructure needed here is big But they use high-tech guns for taking lives Let’s hope they think of “space” and not “to dig!” =|====/ Level Head
Coyoty Premium Member over 12 years ago
They can send out some dust crawlers with a missile to take it out. Or a dust crawler that is a missile. Unless they don’t have the fuel for it. The Topsiders may have the only access to rocket fuel.
Franz Obern over 12 years ago
It’s hard to find something to say when everyone has said everything. Maybe the other mutant communities will get in on this problem as well…
JanBic Premium Member over 12 years ago
What, no warning from the Oracle (or did they not ask the right questions)? This supernatural pool of whatever is sitting in the cave. Why is it not being consulted?
Dunligiel12 Premium Member over 12 years ago
OK, I have a few thoughts. The topographic map might have been created using reverse seismology from the dustcrawlers. I don’t think there are any working satellites still up there or the Topsiders would have more-than-likely found a way to re-establish communication and control with them. I just hope that the rocket isn’t being prepared for something other than a reconnaissance satellite. Perhaps something worse, such as an orbital weapons battery utilizing the disintegration beam weapons they favor.
RHJunior over 12 years ago
Well the radiation in question doesn’t exactly LINGER…And a vehicle may draw attention (and there are ways around that) but so do people on foot. (That is a poser, really. Bloody great flat desert, anything taller than a snake’s belly will stick out for miles.) and there are ways around that problem— camouflage, smoke screens, etc…. besides which, again, CARRYING CAPACITY. Which is more likely to be noticed, one fast trip with a truck or a dozen slow ones by people on foot?