Stream of Consciousness play by play Bad Moon Edition.

>Derek put a hand on Gryphon's shoulder and said in a tone only fractionally less mild, "Gryph."

When Derek Bacon gets fractionally less mild, it pays to pay attention!

>Yeah. It looked like this was going to go according to plan after all.

You know, for somebody who's trade is the Future, Skuld should know better than to tempt fate with that train of thought :P

>She wrestled with it for a few minutes, but finally decided that
>there was no way she could explain the situation that wouldn't seem
>completely stupid to an outsider.

One of the problems of being in the military, especially the super secret part, is that you can't just take time off work because one of your best friends is getting married. Even if you have a cool boss.

When I first read this scene, I must admit the last part where Starbuck sees Kozue staring pensively at Wedge's door I thought Kozue was not upset that she could go to Corwin and Utena's wedding, but that CORWIN was getting married. I changed my mind later, but it did make me think about something. The closing of the Trinity has been a long time coming, and I'm as enthused about it as anybody, but when the first signs of it started falling into place back in 2409, I will admit to feeling a little bittersweet about it. Poor Kozue, the first great guy she meets and falls in love with wasn't hers to start with and she has to give him up to something that was practically prophisized. And even if everybody feels badly about it, and even if Kozue herself has no regrets, she's the one that got left out in the cold. Again, not saying Anthy/Corwin/Utena isn't Right, just... poor Kozue.

>Chad meets Sivar the War God.

That conversation was... interesting. Not simply because it gives a load of back story about our resident Kilrathi film maker, but the implications from Day of Infamy given that Kilrah sends a Sivar blessed conquest fleet to help kick in the Earthforce/Federation's teeth in when the galaxy goes to shit in 2412.

>He was just considering whether to give it a discouraging kick
>when it was joined by another, this one of similar build but leaner,
>sporting some black in its coloration, and wearing dark goggles.

Best use of beagles and New Hope quotes EVER.

>Vorlon Ambassador Kosh Neranek gazed silently at the Fallen Prince for a few moments, then spoke.

Coming this summer, to a theater near you. Wedding Crasher Kosh!

>"If that son of a bitch so much as twitches," she reported to
>the rest of her team, "I'm gonna blow him straight to Derna."

And now Red October quotes? This movement is one of the quipiest on record.

>"I've had my -fill- of Freyja's crazy shit. This madness must end... " He looked down at the floor again. "... for now I truly fear that's what it is."

Seriously! You'd have to be batshit insane to think that bringing Akio freaking Ohtori to this or ANY wedding isn't an act of naked aggression and will be responded to in kind. Honestly, if Freyja's plan was Operation: Piss of the Planet, then mission accomplished!

And the only part of the Wedding Force's handling of Akio's arrival that disappointed me was that in ignoring him, they didn't get to watch in glee if they had somebody, say, Belldandy Morisato, babysit him. Granted, she was doing more important things, but it would have been immensely satisfying to watch Akio fume while every barbed, poisonous comment he made was turned aside with a beatific smile and the knowledge that if she got really annoy, she was strong enough to just barbecue him and be done with it. Oh well.

>Utena and Corwin gawk at each other.

A beautiful scene, made better by their characteristically not getting bogged down in dramatics. One thing that I wonder though, Vigdis said that the wedding was also, in effect, declaring Utena a goddess, and the marks of divinity Utena ends up having made me wonder if it wasn't the literal truth. Is it too much to ask if this were the case? Or is it just a honorary, you're one of us now type of thing and not having the weight of it like when Corwin ascended?

> "Exactly what I was afraid would happen when we started,"
>Gryphon finished sadly for her. "Greeley's a snake, and he answers to
>the king snake, Bill Clark. I had a feeling this was only a matter of
>time... but I didn't think the situation would develop this fast.
>Normally there are weeks of ultimatums and saber-rattling before any
>real -action- in a case like this...

I'm a little surprised they let the Earth Alliance have an opportunity to even let the initial invasion go buy uncontested. I'd have thought the defense treaties Tau Ceti signed would have had a couple warships around so if the EA shot first, they could at least claim self defense. Were they relying on the fact that the Earth Alliance would hesitate more in potentially starting a shooting war or was the EA that confident they could wave aside any treaties as bogus?

>and HMS Illustrious of the Royal Salusian Navy...

Wait, Salusia was a signature with Tau Ceti?

>... in the precise center of the space between the two sharply angled Muspel-brands on Nanami Kiryuu's forehead.

Oh for the... Akio you dumb shit, this space station is full of gods! Viking gods! Pissed off viking gods who are already annoyed enough at you for metaphorically putting you dick in the mashed potatoes. Not to mention all the other mortal asskickers who despise you and are itching to have at you. Do you really think sending a minion to hamper the guy who BRANDED you with his pure hate is really the smartest thing to do? And doing it by threatening his best friend no less! Just... call a mulligan on this one and go back to Oriphos and maybe have a beer and take the rest of this decade off. You clearly are not on your A game.

Am VERY much looking forward to the next movement. And now, I'm off to reread the entire Symphony. It's about that time anyway.

------
Jon Helscher

That thing you burned up isn't important to me. It's the fluid catalytic cracking unit. It made shoes for orphans. Nice job breaking it, hero.

GLaDOS- Portal