meh, it strongly depends of the war. Here, maybe, but when your country is the agressor, revenge is not admirable at all, not even close. Like us soldiers hating on vietnamese ppl, they’re morons.
Ok, story time! My great-uncle fought in the Pacific, was in the Marines. Wasn’t really a hardass or anything in the time I knew him. Just a nice guy, if a bit reserved. So be me, aged 16-18, just found out about samurai swords courtesy of movies and TV. They were COOL, man. I mention to Uncle that I wanted one. He was disgusted. Asked “Why would you want something like THAT?” Turns out he found plenty of Japanese officers who’d sliced themselves open with samurai swords before the Americans got there. Ritual suicide. He saw the swords as horrible… Read more »
On the flip side, there’s also plenty of WW2 Vets (and Vietnam / Korean War vets) who returned frequently to those countries because they loved them.
My fiancee’s grandfather is one such person. Loved Asia, despite serving for quite a few years in the region during WW2. Never talked about his time in the war, other than telling funny stories about people he served with.
Certainly carried his own scars. But definitely didn’t despise the people because of his experiences.
There’s a huge difference between dying for your country, as in fighting a battle where you can hope to win something (even if it’s just time for your comrades to retreat), and dying senselessly. If you’re in a sinking lifeboat and you have no chance to seriously harm the enemy, you continuing to shoot has no benefit to your country. At that point, it’s far better to surrender, survive, and keep the enemy busy guarding you in prison as you try to escape, than to just die and have your contribution to your country end there. There is no honor… Read more »
She’s the soul survivor of her squadron, and suffering from classic survivor guilt, with some PTSD thrown in for flavor… Yeah killing some bad guys is about all she has left.
Mr. X
8 months ago
Does anyone else find Calway kind of boring? I don’t think she’s a bad character, but her personality and motivations feel generic and she just seems like any other soldier. She’s the kind of character I feel exists in so many books and movies that should just be a minor side character. I hope as the story progresses, we get to learn her backstory and perhaps hidden motives.
I see what you mean, but on the other hand, i think she is a narrative tool to show the perspective of a normal soldier in the Federation army. If we only ever see the story from the view of very untypical characters like Cort or the higher-ups, I think its easy to miss the bulk of whats going on and some events look weird and unmotivated. To follow someone with a name and understand their motivations makes things less abstract. Its a bit like the farmers on that destroyed planet, even if you know they are going to die… Read more »
She is a minor side character? She’s there for color and to see the federation from a different angle. If she gets paired with the main group and hits primetime I’m sure she’ll get more characterization. If the comic lingered on her for a long time delving into her character before then it would be boring and delaying the main story.
Gonfrask
8 months ago
Be careful with what you wish, the last time you lost your wingwoman and probably your chosen one.
She was crushing on a girl she worked (works?) with. She thinks that girl is gone, and it remains to be seen if she miraculously survived.
Eodyne
8 months ago
I’m guessing Calway is going to be something of a motivator for Cort to decide to help the Federation.
But I do hope Tim has more than just that as a plan for her character.
Actually I think she’ll be an antagonist. One who causes a lot of trouble just because she wants revenge. Even going so far as trying to get the starcaster from Cort either to use it herself or even just Cort to use him as bait for the Dranglaex. It will either backfire and cause her untimely death or backfire and many others die and she’ll feel regret and remorse and kill herself or she will feel regret and remorse and actually join the team as penance
Well, Tim has pointed out several times that this is the Starcaster Chronicles. If something were to happen to Cort I think Calway is the contingency plan. That’s why she is so shallow; she is just there… waiting for a vote that kills Cort…
Yes, patrons on the starcaster patreon get to vote on what decisions Cort and co make. Those votes guide the narrative.
Tim started with that format with a different story, but then after the reboot introduced the starcaster chronicles. For the first year or two voting was here on this site. After time Tim stated that the cost of producing starcaster chronicles (he hires someone else to color it in a more unique style than his) So he moved the voting (and earlier access to the episodes) to patreon.
Doesn’t matter what your rank is, you are not allowed in a place you are not authorised to be in. Pilots have no reason to be in the security area unless they’re the ones locked up.
And Lieutenants are not “ranking” officers, they are scat-trash, dime-a-dosen replaceables that are being trained by enlisted personnel with more time in than they have
William
8 months ago
I know this is supposed to be sci-fi, and we’re giving a side character a retrospective moment here. But WHY would a pilot, or anybody else not assigned to the Security Division be allowed anywhere near or within eyesight of a holding cell?
Especially a holding cell that will house a gadget (and its wearer) that will alter course of a military campaign?
Any competent captain or security commander would have restricted access to that area, or would have chosen a higher security area? What, military ships do not have zones for keeping stuff secret when necessary? Or can’t they opaque out the forcefields at the least?
You can always think of it as highlighting flaws with the faction’s organizational structure overall.
From a narrative perspective it also proves to us, the reader, that this side character is aware of Cort and party’s location, which is interesting because it makes that character’s motivations a little suspect…
what bugs me is that they paraded him in plain sight so all could see the starcaster. You’d think they’d be keeping that information a bit on the down side considering they’re just on a small ship that can be easily overtaken when attacked
To be honest? I think she’s better suited for the starcaster not Cort. He clearly has no desire to be a supersoldier or a hero. I think we’re looking at the future user? Whether Cort takes the chopping block or not, she is a fair bet to be the next user, and one the Federation wants.
I doubt the federation wants a loose cannon that’ll just go blow up any planet just cuz it has a dranglaex on it
Vedrit
8 months ago
“I was told we’d cruise the stars for Dranglaex ships, fire no guns, shed no tears! Now I’m a broken pilot on a Federation ship! The last of green squadron!”
-Lt. Rogers, probably.
KArrde
8 months ago
I’d be interested in seeing a depiction of Dranglex civilians in play. See what their culture is like, how willing they are on a societal level to continue to fight after their leadership is defeated.
24
A soldier in the army pining about not killing enough space nazis is… a vibe, I suppose.
Captain America: The First Avenger
I spent all that time trying to join. Now I am here, I’m wearing tights.
So is she lamenting a lack of killing, or feeling like she isn’t contributing by doing this instead?
Revenge for a lost comrade is human enough, even if not admirable.
meh, it strongly depends of the war. Here, maybe, but when your country is the agressor, revenge is not admirable at all, not even close. Like us soldiers hating on vietnamese ppl, they’re morons.
Revenge can be done well. The movie Princess Bride shows us that. Very admirable revenge in that movie.
You’ve never met American WWII vets who’ve faced the Japanese, then.
Ok, story time! My great-uncle fought in the Pacific, was in the Marines. Wasn’t really a hardass or anything in the time I knew him. Just a nice guy, if a bit reserved. So be me, aged 16-18, just found out about samurai swords courtesy of movies and TV. They were COOL, man. I mention to Uncle that I wanted one. He was disgusted. Asked “Why would you want something like THAT?” Turns out he found plenty of Japanese officers who’d sliced themselves open with samurai swords before the Americans got there. Ritual suicide. He saw the swords as horrible… Read more »
On the flip side, there’s also plenty of WW2 Vets (and Vietnam / Korean War vets) who returned frequently to those countries because they loved them.
My fiancee’s grandfather is one such person. Loved Asia, despite serving for quite a few years in the region during WW2. Never talked about his time in the war, other than telling funny stories about people he served with.
Certainly carried his own scars. But definitely didn’t despise the people because of his experiences.
Eg, worst scar to your great-uncle was meeting soldier actually willing to die for their country rather than surrender
There’s a huge difference between dying for your country, as in fighting a battle where you can hope to win something (even if it’s just time for your comrades to retreat), and dying senselessly. If you’re in a sinking lifeboat and you have no chance to seriously harm the enemy, you continuing to shoot has no benefit to your country. At that point, it’s far better to surrender, survive, and keep the enemy busy guarding you in prison as you try to escape, than to just die and have your contribution to your country end there. There is no honor… Read more »
They just killed her friend and her love interest. Its still raw and some vengeance related thoughts don’t seem very out of place.
Her friend, yes, but was it shown that the engineer was killed (or her ship destroyed) ? I might have missed that one.
this is understandable indeed.
She’s the soul survivor of her squadron, and suffering from classic survivor guilt, with some PTSD thrown in for flavor… Yeah killing some bad guys is about all she has left.
Does anyone else find Calway kind of boring? I don’t think she’s a bad character, but her personality and motivations feel generic and she just seems like any other soldier. She’s the kind of character I feel exists in so many books and movies that should just be a minor side character. I hope as the story progresses, we get to learn her backstory and perhaps hidden motives.
Yes
Tim no doubt has a plan for Calway. He has never let us down yet.
I see what you mean, but on the other hand, i think she is a narrative tool to show the perspective of a normal soldier in the Federation army. If we only ever see the story from the view of very untypical characters like Cort or the higher-ups, I think its easy to miss the bulk of whats going on and some events look weird and unmotivated. To follow someone with a name and understand their motivations makes things less abstract. Its a bit like the farmers on that destroyed planet, even if you know they are going to die… Read more »
Feels more like a puzzle piece we haven’t found a place for yet. Set it down with like parts and continue assembling the edge…
to be fair, we have seen VERY little of her. in the scope of the series i dont think she has had her share of the spotlight.
She is a minor side character? She’s there for color and to see the federation from a different angle. If she gets paired with the main group and hits primetime I’m sure she’ll get more characterization. If the comic lingered on her for a long time delving into her character before then it would be boring and delaying the main story.
Be careful with what you wish, the last time you lost your wingwoman and probably your chosen one.
Chosen one?
She was crushing on a girl she worked (works?) with. She thinks that girl is gone, and it remains to be seen if she miraculously survived.
I’m guessing Calway is going to be something of a motivator for Cort to decide to help the Federation.
But I do hope Tim has more than just that as a plan for her character.
Actually I think she’ll be an antagonist. One who causes a lot of trouble just because she wants revenge. Even going so far as trying to get the starcaster from Cort either to use it herself or even just Cort to use him as bait for the Dranglaex. It will either backfire and cause her untimely death or backfire and many others die and she’ll feel regret and remorse and kill herself or she will feel regret and remorse and actually join the team as penance
Well, Tim has pointed out several times that this is the Starcaster Chronicles. If something were to happen to Cort I think Calway is the contingency plan. That’s why she is so shallow; she is just there… waiting for a vote that kills Cort…
People vote for what happens in this comic?
Yes, patrons on the starcaster patreon get to vote on what decisions Cort and co make. Those votes guide the narrative.
Tim started with that format with a different story, but then after the reboot introduced the starcaster chronicles. For the first year or two voting was here on this site. After time Tim stated that the cost of producing starcaster chronicles (he hires someone else to color it in a more unique style than his) So he moved the voting (and earlier access to the episodes) to patreon.
Indeed, for 5 bucks a month you can vote and read the next couple issues now!
$2
Based on a ~8 pages back: careful with what you wish for…
Think they’d be in a high security area where not just any random crewmembers would be able to gawk at them.
this
They are not random, at least she is a ranking officer… lieutenant it was?
Doesn’t matter what your rank is, you are not allowed in a place you are not authorised to be in. Pilots have no reason to be in the security area unless they’re the ones locked up.
And Lieutenants are not “ranking” officers, they are scat-trash, dime-a-dosen replaceables that are being trained by enlisted personnel with more time in than they have
I know this is supposed to be sci-fi, and we’re giving a side character a retrospective moment here. But WHY would a pilot, or anybody else not assigned to the Security Division be allowed anywhere near or within eyesight of a holding cell?
Especially a holding cell that will house a gadget (and its wearer) that will alter course of a military campaign?
Any competent captain or security commander would have restricted access to that area, or would have chosen a higher security area? What, military ships do not have zones for keeping stuff secret when necessary? Or can’t they opaque out the forcefields at the least?
You can always think of it as highlighting flaws with the faction’s organizational structure overall.
From a narrative perspective it also proves to us, the reader, that this side character is aware of Cort and party’s location, which is interesting because it makes that character’s motivations a little suspect…
what bugs me is that they paraded him in plain sight so all could see the starcaster. You’d think they’d be keeping that information a bit on the down side considering they’re just on a small ship that can be easily overtaken when attacked
And the Drangalex’s spy on that ship has already reported the presence of a Starcaster. Federation OpSec could use some tightening up.
and on que, here come the drangs to ruin your day.
Calway is feeling more and more like our backup Cort if Patreon ends up getting Cort blasted into oblivion.
To be honest? I think she’s better suited for the starcaster not Cort. He clearly has no desire to be a supersoldier or a hero. I think we’re looking at the future user? Whether Cort takes the chopping block or not, she is a fair bet to be the next user, and one the Federation wants.
I doubt the federation wants a loose cannon that’ll just go blow up any planet just cuz it has a dranglaex on it
“I was told we’d cruise the stars for Dranglaex ships, fire no guns, shed no tears! Now I’m a broken pilot on a Federation ship! The last of green squadron!”
-Lt. Rogers, probably.
I’d be interested in seeing a depiction of Dranglex civilians in play. See what their culture is like, how willing they are on a societal level to continue to fight after their leadership is defeated.