Chapter 33-2 Red Winter

[LiamKerrington]

Hi there.

Thank you, Penguine. Basically I expect something to happen along the lines you write.
Never been to the army though; and even if I was in the German army, this one I don't consider an army, but a bunch of d-bags ... So I don't know much about the rules within the military services.
The question for me would be like this: Michael disobeyes an order and will have to deal with a pissed Colonel. Now, if rules of war of whatever kind would apply, would Kimmet have the right to even death-sentence Michael for disobedience? Or would Michael as just a Sergeant be allowed to question Kimmet even in a way to 'overrule' Kimmet and take command?
No way something like Duari-Scratch will happen in the literary sense, but how unlikely would be a more astract scheme of Michael overthrowing chain of command and taking control ...
Edit: so basically the same question like HardKor raises there ... /edit ends.

All the best!
Liam

[Privateer]

Well, any idea that Michael is gonna take over, has to take into account Cross' rank, and what billet he's filling. Yeah, he knows a lot, and would probably be able to hack the job, but unless he gets a brevet promotion by the command structure (or even a commission from the civilian chain of command), there are other officers in front of him in line for command. The Army, from what I understand, doesn't usually let a staff sergeant fill a colonels' billet.

[Cabbage Patch]

You're absolutely right. Kimmet and Michael aren't going to end up fighting to the death. But Kimmet seems pretty erratic. Just something about the sound of his voice makes him seem like he's about to snap. Could it come down to Michael having force Kimmet to step down if he goes off the deep end? Just a thought...

I think that before the Kimmet/Michael crisis can fully develop that we're going to have to get to know other members of the military leadership at Fort Irwin and Boulder. Kimmet's acting erratic. Michael may bring the issue to a head by challenging him on the issue of zombie research. However, if Colonel Kimmet falls, whether he is relieved of his duties, or suffers a collapse, or dies, it's not going to be Staff Sergeant Michael Cross that takes command of the military. There are bound to be other officers and more-senior NCOs in the chain of command between Kimmet and Michael, and one of those is going to be the one to take charge.

I suspect that before this issue can really come to a head that we're going to meet a new character that is a Lieutenant Colonel, or a Major, either at Fort Irwin or in Boulder, that will be the one to, figuratively, pull-the-trigger on Colonel Kimmet and take over.

[7oddisdead]

i have a hard time seeing a conflict at boulder becoming anything more than a looming threat for this season. that would make for a very nice cliffhanger. man, just think abouot how screwed boulder is if he actually does make it there though.

agree with A_heros thoughts on the little one. also, #2 is enough evidence to say they have been "growing" into their bodies....and all the subsequent fun stuff we learned about the "bit by a lil one, become one" stuff....

good episode, we got a lot of confirmation here

[LiamKerrington]

Mh, OK ... I see. Yeah, the gap between (staff?) sergeant and colonel might be too big ... But I like the prospect of having a hgh-ranked officer screwing up and giving heroes a chance to step up ... But is Michael the hero dude?
At least his action is something I highly approve! Knowledge is power. And actually the sweat-bombs as well as the KODI-activities are based upon knowledge about the Zeds ... So any more information about the special ones is at least just as vital ...

Yet I still wonder what Kimmet will do with Michael ... And how would Puck react to it. I mean, if Kimmet has broken a couple of vital rules within the system, would Puck have the right to enforce the law, since he is/ was MP? This is going to be very interesting.

Interesting would also be, if the soldier in the chopper really bags up #2 instead of the captain, because this soldier actually had a clear order from Kimmet and would not have obeyed to it, if he takes/ took #2's body ...

This is getting more and more complicated ...

All the best!
Liam

[LiamKerrington]

I would love it if Boulder were over run. That missing private that broke out of his restraints...I wonder where he is. 30 miles in the cold is a long way for an Advanced Little One to go. I'm wondering if it would even make it that far. They might be resilient against the cold, but I doubt they are impervious. And even then, they'd have to have some highly advanced sense of smell or something to know which direction to head.

Unless the turned little one retains some/ all of the knowledge of its former being as a human ... Then Boulder, although being 30mi away, won't be as far away anymore, wouldn't it ... *snip*
We actually know that "lil'ones" are smart to some degree; if they have access to the knowledge ... => uh Oohh!

[Privateer]

Mh, OK ... I see. Yeah, the gap between (staff?) sergeant and colonel might be too big ... But I like the prospect of having a hgh-ranked officer screwing up and giving heroes a chance to step up ... But is Michael the hero dude?
At least his action is something I highly approve! Knowledge is power. And actually the sweat-bombs as well as the KODI-activities are based upon knowledge about the Zeds ... So any more information about the special ones is at least just as vital ...

Yet I still wonder what Kimmet will do with Michael ... And how would Puck react to it. I mean, if Kimmet has broken a couple of vital rules within the system, would Puck have the right to enforce the law, since he is/ was MP? This is going to be very interesting.

Interesting would also be, if the soldier in the chopper really bags up #2 instead of the captain, because this soldier actually had a clear order from Kimmet and would not have obeyed to it, if he takes/ took #2's body ...

This is getting more and more complicated ...

All the best!
Liam

Its a good question, as to if the soldier on the ground, having heard Kimmets' order, will be liable for punishment.The MP is charged with enforcing the UCMJ, but as far as we've seen, he hasn't done anything wrong. He may well be the one escorting Cross to the stockade though. As far as Kimmet going of his rocker, his decisions have been consistent, really. He's not being erratic, just conservative, and as the base CO, he's allowed to make that decision. It might be the wrong one, but Michael doesn't have the legal right to disobey a direct order, especially one that could less to serious consequences. I think Michael will lose more then a stripe.

[Adventureless_Hero]

I had thought on Kimmet's reluctance to bring the Advanced Little One in for dissection. Sure he is being cautious and he says so by saying he doesn't want a repeat incident where one of the Forts is over run. BUT, what if there is something else? Something he knows about the blood in zombies. That could be why he hasn't let Michael provide Tanya with a zombie sample other than to let Tanya cross reference her own blood samples with those of uninfected. I bet that with the sample Michael provided, Tanya is going to find something startling. Just a thought.

[LiamKerrington]

I had thought on Kimmet's reluctance to bring the Advanced Little One in for dissection. Sure he is being cautious and he says so by saying he doesn't want a repeat incident where one of the Forts is over run. BUT, what if there is something else? Something he knows about the blood in zombies. That could be why he hasn't let Michael provide Tanya with a zombie sample other than to let Tanya cross reference her own blood samples with those of uninfected. I bet that with the sample Michael provided, Tanya is going to find something startling. Just a thought.

This kind of idea lingers in the back of my head as well ... Like, you know, kind of an Umbrella-thing making Boulder kind of a more localized testing facility or whatever ... But my ratio keeps this idea back ... for now!

[UndeadSweeper]

Interesting. I would love it if Boulder were over run. That missing private that broke out of his restraints...I wonder where he is. 30 miles in the cold is a long way for an Advanced Little One to go. I'm wondering if it would even make it that far. They might be resilient against the cold, but I doubt they are impervious. And even then, they'd have to have some highly advanced sense of smell or something to know which direction to head. Still, I really hope Boulder gets over run and Kimmet cracks under the pressure, blaming himself leaving a spot open for Michael to assume command.

Let's see what Tanya learns from the corpse of #2. Since it is so low in tattoo number, it could be one of the very first variant zombies Pinstripes created.

I also need to work on the timeline. Knowing when these events take place in relation to the Saul/Maller timeline might help us predect when Michael will get in touch with the group in L.A. I imagine there will come a day when Michael's SAT phone goes ring ring and Victor, Lizzy, or Saul will be on the other line.

I think the quick turn and harden skin could be us that it can probably survive the cold and maybe going on his memory of where Boulder is. So we are passing new traits through genes? Wow!? Is Pinstripes a mad scientist?

Oh dear. Michael might be getting into a heap of trouble here. His aggressive approach to research and intelligence is good, but Kimmet's conservative easy of doing things means Irwin I'd still around. It'll be interesting to see if Michael gets fitted for this, out if this is the start of the end for Boulder and Irwin. A behemoth in Boulder well be a bad thing.

That being said, immensely enjoyed the banter in the beginning! Awesome ep!

Kimmet in a way is doing the same thing with get the girl body back. He also putting Boulder in danger.


Also isn't the responsibly of the intel officer to gain intel?