That whole "Cammy being kicked upstairs" thing. It strikes me as deeply odd for a variety of reasons, some pretty obvious, some less so.
- Cammy clearly (to the readership) didn't want to have to shut out Gryphon. Judging from what we knew of her character beforehand, she probably wouldn't have wanted the promotion anyway, even if she did take it.
- She went from "field operative on vacation" to "admin" over the course of a few days, with no warning. Usually, successors are groomed.
- Cammy is an amazingly effective field operative. One of her major strengths is that she is a world warrior, with all of the athleticism, combat skill, and endurance that that implies. Those abilities are almost completely wasted as administration. Other operatives, who specialized in things like information processing, or social manipulation, would have much more applicable skillsets.

I guess the Cammy thing only really makes sense to me if
a) someone is deliberately pulling strings to cause Cammy/Gryphon pain (implied)
or
b) The previous M was assassinated, they think that attempts will be made on the replacement, and they need someone who can defend themselves, at least until the threat can be eliminated.
or
c) (the obligatory) both.

Any other ideas are, of course, welcome.

Now, I was loking through battle 2 in search of random remniscences about Ler Drit training technique, and I ran across an implication that I had not expected. I then reread battles 1-4 and most of the message boards to make certain that I wasn't making a fool of myself, and so far as I can tell, it is only implied, so...

Battle 2:

> That checked me for a second. I have a habit of forgetting
> just how old Rose must be -- I don't know any exact figures, but given
> the fact that her meeting with my grandfather reportedly coincided
> with the birth of my father in 1952, she must be considerably older
> than she looks, which isn't much older than I. Every time I stop to
> think about it, it gives me a moment's pause, but I always pass over
> it well enough. Of all the things we have done together, the only
> thing I regret is the time we spent divided by anger, pride, and
> foolishness.

and I said to myself "uh-huh."

and then...
Battle 1:

> I used to have a problem with hanging around attractive
> women -- I'd sort of freeze up, or, failing that, turn into Jerry
> Lewis, which was worse. It's another character flaw Rose cured me of,
> and that's another 'how' which is none of your business.

and I said to myself "I see..."

Now normally, I would have just scanned right past these (and, indeed, the first couple of times through, I did) but what with my mind already in the Eldritkar/Valdritkar gutter from the previous (now locked 'cause it was too long) thread, I cannot help but think that, well, she didn't do it for his fear of *heights*, but....

That having been said, I also ran into a few other amusing notes/confusions, and, seeing as it is *very*, *very* late for me, I thought I'd post them. (it looks early, but really, it's late.)

Battle 3:

> "It was lovely meeting you, too, and I'm glad you're feeling much
> better," I said. "You're still very pale, though. You need more sun."
> "You're silly," she said. "I don't even play the cello. Bye!"
> It took me a moment to realize that she had not only parsed my
> reference but come around the back side of it, and by then, she was across
> the street and heading into the big gray bulk of the station, past the big
> silver disc with the 'T' knocked out of it they have standing out by the bus
> stops.

Okay...so what is this in reference to?

more Battle 3:

> - Ryu is the galaxy's most inept driver.

I know it'll never come up in the main plot, but it really might be rather amusing.

and...

> Hah! The day I can defeat Ryu AND Ken in succession is the day I go
> to M. Bison's island fortress and rifle his sock drawer.

Same battle, same comment. Might be really entertaining fodder for NXE-style bonus theatre, though.

Gryphon-WL ends up, bizarrely, with another set of back-to-back battles against Ken and Ryu. Beats one without really breaking a sweat on a fluke, takes the other down without gettint too injured.
"Wait a moment! What time is it?"
<someone tells him>
"Quick, Zoner! I need a ride! We only have a few hours left before nightfall!"
<scene change>
"Wow. Pink cotton knit. I never would have suspected."

Okay, right. I'm a punchy little weasel. I think I go now.

Sirrocco
Zen...errr...zen. Really! Zen! weasel. Honest.