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flower_of_justiceCrossposted to Tumblr, here. (This entire post is one big spoiler for the climax of the novel.)
Ancillary Sword p.326, Breq’s about to go into what she’s about 95% certain is an ambush, and that ambush is likely to be the immediate precursor to an attack on her ship. So she makes preparations: gets her gun, thinks about whether to bring Tisarwat and four Kalrs on the station for backup, decides to leave them clear. Then this happens:
Breq doesn’t spell out her reasoning here, but her priorities are pretty clear, and she assumes Ship’s with her on this: have Ship and her most experienced officer ready and waiting for Sword of Atagaris to attack Mercy of Kalr, leaving Breq clear to worry about the ambush she’s walking into alone (leaving Tisarwat and four Kalrs clear to… I’m not even sure if Breq’s anticipating even summoning help if she needs to, or is just hoping that Tisarwat will have to pick up after Breq if Breq suddenly dies.)
She doesn’t have to explain anything to Ship, because Ship’s already been watching and listening through Breq’s eyes. But Ship can’t read thoughts, and Breq doesn’t give any orders or spell out what she has in mind. She assumes (with some relief) that Ship’s onto it and their priorities are in line.
Then on page 328, Breq thinks “Why hadn’t Ship warned me that Tisarwat had followed me?” Later on the same page, this happens:
So yeah, Breq’s made a reasonable (but, we find out later, incorrect) assumption that Mercy of Kalr and her crew are out of communication because they’re in battle or destroyed.
But notice what Breq did not ask herself. She asked “Why hadn’t Ship warned me that Tisarwat had followed me?” She did not ask “How did Tisarwat know to follow me?”
Later on, she reprimands Seivarden. She doesn’t reprimand Tisarwat for coming after her, which is understandable since Tisarwat’s a total wreck at this point. (She does think of doing so, on p.338, and just hugs her instead.) But notice who she also didn’t reprimand? Who she didn’t even question about what just happened? The person who told Tisarwat she was in danger. The same person who told Seivarden what was happening, for that matter.
Breq doesn’t ever ask Seivarden whose idea the rescue was, for that matter (I think it was a joint decision, but it doesn’t occur to Breq to even wonder - she assumes that was all Seivarden. Not that Seivarden wouldn’t have made the exact same decision entirely of her own volition, but I don’t think she did make it on her own. I think it was a collaboration.)
p.334, Breq thinks “I was going to die here. Mercy of Kalr, and Seivarden and Ekalu and Medic and all the crew, were gone. I was sure of it. Ship would never leave me unanswered, not by its own choice.” Mercy of Kalr was out of communication for some of that time because it was gating. How much of that time Ship was out of communication because gating, and how much of the time Ship was sticking its metaphorical fingers in its metaphorical ears and saying LALALALALA I CAN’T HEAR YOU and deliberately shutting down Breq’s access to its data because if Breq knows what Ship and Seivarden are planning then she can order them not to, I can only guess.
On p.344, Seivarden asks “Do you see what Ship sees?” That is a very good question. Breq answers, truthfully, “Sometimes.” But I think the answer is more complicated than even Breq knows.
Ancillary Sword p.326, Breq’s about to go into what she’s about 95% certain is an ambush, and that ambush is likely to be the immediate precursor to an attack on her ship. So she makes preparations: gets her gun, thinks about whether to bring Tisarwat and four Kalrs on the station for backup, decides to leave them clear. Then this happens:
Mercy of Kalr was another matter. “Yes,” Ship said, without my having to say anything at all. “Lieutenant Seivarden is in Command and the crew is clearing for action.” There was little else I could do for Mercy of Kalr, and so I focused on the matter at hand.
Breq doesn’t spell out her reasoning here, but her priorities are pretty clear, and she assumes Ship’s with her on this: have Ship and her most experienced officer ready and waiting for Sword of Atagaris to attack Mercy of Kalr, leaving Breq clear to worry about the ambush she’s walking into alone (leaving Tisarwat and four Kalrs clear to… I’m not even sure if Breq’s anticipating even summoning help if she needs to, or is just hoping that Tisarwat will have to pick up after Breq if Breq suddenly dies.)
She doesn’t have to explain anything to Ship, because Ship’s already been watching and listening through Breq’s eyes. But Ship can’t read thoughts, and Breq doesn’t give any orders or spell out what she has in mind. She assumes (with some relief) that Ship’s onto it and their priorities are in line.
Then on page 328, Breq thinks “Why hadn’t Ship warned me that Tisarwat had followed me?” Later on the same page, this happens:
Mercy of Kalr wasn’t telling me what was wrong with my shoulder, whether it was dislocated or broken. Mercy of Kalr wasn’t telling me what Tisarwat was feeling, or where Bo Nine was. I reached, but could not find Seivarden, whom I had last seen in Command, who had said, to Sword of Atagaris's lieutenant, days and days ago, the next time you threaten this ship you’d best be able to make good on it. Sword of Atagaris must have made its move when I fell off the rock wall. At least Ship would not have been caught entirely by surprise. But Swords were faster, and better armed, and if Mercy of Kalr was gone, I would make Seivarden’s warning good, if I possibly could.
So yeah, Breq’s made a reasonable (but, we find out later, incorrect) assumption that Mercy of Kalr and her crew are out of communication because they’re in battle or destroyed.
But notice what Breq did not ask herself. She asked “Why hadn’t Ship warned me that Tisarwat had followed me?” She did not ask “How did Tisarwat know to follow me?”
Later on, she reprimands Seivarden. She doesn’t reprimand Tisarwat for coming after her, which is understandable since Tisarwat’s a total wreck at this point. (She does think of doing so, on p.338, and just hugs her instead.) But notice who she also didn’t reprimand? Who she didn’t even question about what just happened? The person who told Tisarwat she was in danger. The same person who told Seivarden what was happening, for that matter.
Breq doesn’t ever ask Seivarden whose idea the rescue was, for that matter (I think it was a joint decision, but it doesn’t occur to Breq to even wonder - she assumes that was all Seivarden. Not that Seivarden wouldn’t have made the exact same decision entirely of her own volition, but I don’t think she did make it on her own. I think it was a collaboration.)
p.334, Breq thinks “I was going to die here. Mercy of Kalr, and Seivarden and Ekalu and Medic and all the crew, were gone. I was sure of it. Ship would never leave me unanswered, not by its own choice.” Mercy of Kalr was out of communication for some of that time because it was gating. How much of that time Ship was out of communication because gating, and how much of the time Ship was sticking its metaphorical fingers in its metaphorical ears and saying LALALALALA I CAN’T HEAR YOU and deliberately shutting down Breq’s access to its data because if Breq knows what Ship and Seivarden are planning then she can order them not to, I can only guess.
On p.344, Seivarden asks “Do you see what Ship sees?” That is a very good question. Breq answers, truthfully, “Sometimes.” But I think the answer is more complicated than even Breq knows.
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Date: 2014-11-20 08:01 pm (UTC)Breq's POV is so compelling that it took me however many reads of that chapter I'm up to by now to notice her UNBELIEVABLE BREATHTAKING HYPOCRISY in that paragraph. No wonder Seivarden's indignant. :D
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Date: 2014-11-21 04:42 am (UTC)(I wish there were a way to make a blank AI computer for her so she could somehow pour herself back into it. There probably isn't.)
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Date: 2014-11-21 05:31 am (UTC)In Ancillary Justice when she wakes up in Medical after the shuttle fight, she asks outright why she's alive. She's honestly confused about why anyone bothered.
(I wish there were a way to make a blank AI computer for her so she could somehow pour herself back into it. There probably isn't.)
Yeah. Except, I don't think she would make more ancillaries. Not now. Not any more. And having an AI computer and one ancillary segment is not a lot better than having one ancillary segment and no AI. :(
Edited to add: wait. I just thought of one possible ethical way she could make more ancillaries, if she had an AI brain and the technology: grow her own, the same way Anaander Mianaai does it. brb, having nightmares now.
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Date: 2014-11-21 09:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 10:06 am (UTC)Yeah, no, I agree with you. And it's one of the series' major themes anyway, that even identical cloned and brain-linked people who all identify as the same person can still end up making different choices.
But what do you do if you were in Omelas, were reasonably happy in Omelas, and then all of a sudden without even knowing why, hit the eject button and shot out of Omelas like you were rocket-propelled, and now will miss Omelas all your life but still wouldn't go back even if you could, now that you've left?
I guess "be very angry with Seivarden, kill as many of Anaander Mianaai as possible, and do your best to make the conditions that make Omelas possible impossible for Anaander Mianaai (or anyone else) to ignore, also try to find some friends who understand" is as good an answer as any.
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Date: 2014-11-21 06:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 06:40 pm (UTC)All three of those scenarios make the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and I congratulate you.
I have the unpleasant feeling that I know exactly how Anaander Mianaai would handle that, as soon as she found out. Not!Anaander Mianaai... is now Anaander Mianaai. Which would be all kinds of horror for Not!Anaander Mianaai, growing up and trying to survive while knowing that as soon as they run into one of their doubles, they will be assimilated.
Which brings me to the plot idea I haven't worked out how to write yet, but keep thinking about, set during Ancillary Justice while Breq's still busy growing a new pair of lungs, and after Anaander Mianaai's been having some covert discussions about who Mercy of Kalr's new captain should be. Seivarden has a quiet word to Mercy of Kalr on the subject of "if you try to make her your ancillary I will destroy you, I'll find a way, you would not be the first ship I've met who ended up dead." Mercy of Kalr has no intention whatsoever of making Breq its ancillary, and is about as intimidated by Seivarden as it would be by a very small, very damp, snarling kitten, but even so it's really not the best first impression a new officer has ever made on Ship. All the same, it lets Seivarden think she won. And never tells Breq about that conversation.
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Date: 2014-11-21 06:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 06:43 pm (UTC)(I think Kalr would actually raise its eyebrows a bit metaphorically but have a reaction that was more "yes dear" than anything resembling dislike? like, tolerant amusement? but yes!!!)
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Date: 2014-11-21 07:34 pm (UTC)I think Ship is amused but also a little dubious at first. Because Seivarden... well, she's by now ditched the visible-only-to-AIs Kick Me sign she'd had on her back for her first 47 years of life (the one she put there herself) but she's still recognisably... the kind of officer you'd expect to see on a Sword. Ship would have thought that before even interacting with her, just from name, face, bearing. And then, well, she has lost her ship and then fled the Radch after she woke up, and has now reappeared as some sort of a servant with no armour or even proper clothes. But clearly she's important to Breq, and also loyal to her, and Ship can respect that.
Then Ship gets them aboard and their comms implants connected, and has very complete telemetry on her. And raises its eyebrows some more. ("Kalr Five, could you just raise your eyebrows a moment for me?" "Sure, why?" "No reason.") And definitely talks to Medic about her in absentia, and they decide that she's fit for duty, more or less, but yeah, "is six months out of an eight year kef habit" is not what Ship really wanted to find out about her new first lieutenant either. But she's turning out to be a capable officer, and is very dedicated to Breq, and Ship can value that.
Actual liking and concern are not far behind that.
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Date: 2014-11-22 04:56 am (UTC)...do I like evil thoughts? O-:> #haloonnastick
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Date: 2014-11-22 06:22 pm (UTC)And I can think of one alien race that has more advanced medical technology than the Radchaai, and also highly uncivilised ideas of what constitutes fun.
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Date: 2014-11-23 05:47 am (UTC)Also:
Date: 2014-11-22 06:48 pm (UTC)Re: Also:
Date: 2014-11-23 05:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 04:53 am (UTC)I think Breq would probably be a little happier as a Ship, even without ancillaries? She's getting large amounts of data from Mercy, but it's still having to be filtered through one organic brain. If she could have spy-implants (...well, that's what they ARE...) in troops, like Mercy has, then she might feel a bit more at-home? She's been used to a multitude of viewpoints, and now she's down to one. Poor AI. O:(
The cloning idea was certainly in my mind, now and again, too! (...how much do ancillary minds affect the AI personality? I mean, it might be FAIR if she assimilated a few Anaanders. >_>
Edit: But not if they'd mess with her personality.)
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Date: 2014-11-22 06:41 pm (UTC)Hmmm. I... kind of agree? In that I think if you went to Breq and asked her if she'd like that, she might say yes, but if you asked Mercy of Kalr if that would be a good deal, Mercy of Kalr would say nononononono. And not only because she'd be out a captain.
(...how much do ancillary minds affect the AI personality? I mean, it might be FAIR if she assimilated a few Anaanders. >_> Edit: But not if they'd mess with her personality.)
Ooh. I'm not sure I can see Breq doing that, but damn, some AI or other should have thought of it! Maybe the Ghost Ship.
I'm imagining that how much they affect your personality would depend on how many you have and how diverse they are. For instance, if out of your two thousand segments, you have one who has a physiological and neurological predisposition to get angry quickly, or for whom cherries taste weird, or who gets jittery on caffeine, then you make allowances for that where possible and appropriate. But if you have a quorum of ancillaries who all have the same quirk, then that's your quirk, not just that segment.
I think if an AI assimilated one of Anaander Mianaai, that ancillary segment would raise the ship's waterline for aggression, risk-taking, and unsettling sense of humour.
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Date: 2014-11-23 05:50 am (UTC)In that I think if you went to Breq and asked her if she'd like that, she might say yes, but if you asked Mercy of Kalr if that would be a good deal, Mercy of Kalr would say nononononono. True...
I wonder... if there is any way to cause "backflow"... If someone might get volunteers? I mean, hey, it's almost like mortality! If your AI doesn't get blown up.
...the whole AI+ancillary thing is speculation catnip for me. *facepalm*
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Date: 2014-11-21 09:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 10:21 am (UTC)I couldn't actually tell, unless she thinks Seivarden wasn't expecting a real reprimand at all.
(I also can't tell how Seivarden expected that conversation to go, except not like that. I agree that she's not upset for the reasons Breq thinks.)
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Date: 2014-11-21 10:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 05:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-21 05:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-22 10:47 am (UTC)And also how that intersects with how ships love their officers, and sometimes really really love their officers, and I don't think it's occurred to Breq yet that she's Mercy of Kalr's captain now (any more than it's occurred to her that Seivarden isn't her lieutenant - I mean, she is, but not in the sense that Seivarden is Mercy of Kalr's lieutenant.) Or that almost everything that she found loveable about Awn is also a trait that Mercy of Kalr could find loveable about Breq.
I think Breq still largely thinks they're two ships hanging out together. But from Mercy of Kalr's perspective, on the one hand, absolutely yes they are, but on the other hand they're really not, and it never actually knew Justice of Toren personally, and... some things you can't help.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-23 05:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-23 09:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 04:26 am (UTC)(...like, if anyone wrote Romance novels for Ships, this would probably top the list. ...Untapped market! Fictional authors need to get writing! >_< )