FMP: A Dancing Very Merry Christmas Discussion *Spoilers*

Geshron Tyler · Post by **Geshron Tyler** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 7:19 pm

w00t, I say, w00t!

Geshron Tyler · Post by **Geshron Tyler** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 8:49 pm

This chapter... ROCKS

Stand by for serious spoilers

Kaname and Sousuke draw off the Arastols, while Tessa tries to deal with our favorite US submarine captain, only to meet up with Captain Harris *boo*hiss* Mardukas prepares to "duke"
it out with 3 high-speed (50 knots!!) mini-subs. Kaname has definately realised that she loves the big otaku lunk *lol*, and bemoans that her "romantic" Christmas Eve is being spent battling terrorists (the real ones)
We've also learned that Tessa's father was a submariner, and both Mardukas and Captain Sela knew (and served) under him. We've also had a some resonance between Kaname and Tessa.

Arrgh! Cliff hanger though- the chapter ends with the De'danaan preparing to battle its foes, they still haven't opened the safe, the ship might be destroyed/sunk with all on board, and Captain Harris got the drop on Sela and Tessa, and is trying to make good his escape with a "gift" for Almagam.

Anysia · Post by **Anysia** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:09 pm

Edited because I overcame my fear of IRC long enough to grab the chapter.

Holy HELL, that was one kick-ass chapter. Tons of Sousuke and Kaname fluff, drama with Tessa (I'm actually sympathetic towards her and hoping she'll be alright...), overall drama...wow.

I'm actually rather speechless.

reinselft · Post by **reinselft** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 3:07 am

o_o !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

now I must wait for the http... yes we wait... must not read spoiler post...

Pyrite · Post by **Pyrite** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:32 am

Incredible. (Admittedly, though, that picture of Mardukas doesn't really do justice to the scene, habit or not. But the Duke's still cool.) The backstory among the submarine captains is interesting... who would have known?

EDIT: I'm reading ODBD right now, and the line about Mardukas's cap suddenly seems more significant. "He looked down at the hat that he had received a long time ago from someone as a memento..." Hmm... I wonder whose it could be?

Wild Goose · Post by **Wild Goose** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:26 pm

About Tessa's Dad being a submariner - it's already been hinted that he was in the armed forces. Tessa went to school on the base in Okinawa (my guess is the Marine base, not Kadena AFB), and Adm. Borda in ODBD mentions having her Dad serve under him.

And the cigars that Sela took that are smelling familiar to Tessa....

If Mardukas got that cap from someone important, that would suggest that that person is Bristish, as Turbulent S87 is a RN sub. According to ADV's site, Mardukas has had 20+ years service with HM's Royal Navy too... perhaps the person who gave him his hat was his Teacher.

The Teacher is the officer who trains a bacth of students in the Perisher Course, the RN's submarine officers training course. It's a ver tough course, and more than 20% wash out - with nervous breakdowns and mental disorders. Once they get through though, students who graduate have the utmost respect for their Teacher.

Pyrite · Post by **Pyrite** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:00 pm

Wild Goose wrote:About Tessa's Dad being a submariner - it's already been hinted that he was in the armed forces. Tessa went to school on the base in Okinawa (my guess is the Marine base, not Kadena AFB), and Adm. Borda in ODBD mentions having her Dad serve under him.

And the cigars that Sela took that are smelling familiar to Tessa....

If Mardukas got that cap from someone important, that would suggest that that person is Bristish, as Turbulent S87 is a RN sub. According to ADV's site, Mardukas has had 20+ years service with HM's Royal Navy too... perhaps the person who gave him his hat was his Teacher.

The Teacher is the officer who trains a bacth of students in the Perisher Course, the RN's submarine officers training course. It's a ver tough course, and more than 20% wash out - with nervous breakdowns and mental disorders. Once they get through though, students who graduate have the utmost respect for their Teacher.

Just read the chapter. You'll see where the cap comes from.

Anysia · Post by **Anysia** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:38 pm

I apparently have all this webspace with Comcast that I'm not using, so here's the file for you non-IRC people (myself included--I just got lucky...):

http://home.comcast.net/~bri-chan/Rando ... _ch04b.pdf

pseudo-chan · Post by **pseudo-chan** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:10 pm

Anysia wrote:http://home.comcast.net/~bri-chan/Rando ... _ch04b.pdf

I love you. No, really, I do. *tears of joy*

*scampers off to read...*

Weltall Elite · Post by **Weltall Elite** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 12:55 am

Hey, pseudo-chan, according to your sig, you're due for 10 shots.

Wild Goose · Post by **Wild Goose** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 3:22 am

Well.

It seems that Shark-1 may have served under Mardukas, as through the anime, Mardukas has been depicted as a less capable, nervous kinda officer.

And then now, we learn that he's "The Duke", an invicible submariner who saved Sela and Cdr. Testarossa, Tessa's dad. Man.

That explains all those rows of decorations we see on his uniform, contrasting with Kalinin's unadorned uniform... speaking of which, where is our fearless Operations Director? And now we understand the meaning of the cap: an USN cap, with the Turbulent's insignia and number, given by Cdr. Testarossa. And here I was thinking that it was a Turbulent hat... but at least my guess that he was CO of Turbulent was correct.

Him turning his cap around... it's like Ash doing that before a Pokemon battle, but somehow, I have a feeling that Mardukas injects it with more dignity and purpose than Ash. And the last time he did that was in 1996, unlike Ash who does it almost everyday. And that line of his:

"Our lady of a warship is the dominating queen of death here in the deep."

Best line EVER that he's said.

Sela realizing that Tessa is Captain of the Toy Box - if he learns that she's Cdr. Testarossa's kid, and that "The Duke" is the XO, he'll surely feel guilty about shooting them... maybe. He might even become a valuable ally - him and the USS Pasadena on the side of the Tuatha De Danaan.

Che. This is FMP: When do things EVER work out that smoothly?

That trick with Al blowing all the Astorals was pretty good. ^_^ hotdamn, he's pretty kickass. And the banter between him and Sousuke is also kinda funny.

Pyrite · Post by **Pyrite** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 3:54 am

*snickers* The thought of Mardukas sending out Pokémon is almost as disturbing as the Tessa cosplay scene in Fumoffu.

Almost.

On hindsight, though, the latest chapter also reminded me of the time when Tessa visited Jindai High School in Fumoffu - her cover story had "Ricardo Testarossa" *superimpose image of Mardukas here* as her father. But now we know how far back the relationship goes... and, probably, get a little insight into the origin of Mardukas's role as Tessa's guardian.

What are the chances that we'll see much more exposition on Tessa's dysfunctional family in the next novel? I'd give pretty good odds.

Wild Goose · Post by **Wild Goose** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 4:07 am

That may explain why Mardukas was so protective of Tessa, and threatened Sousuke in Tokyo:

"Sergeant, if you think of taking advantage of the situation of living under the same roof as the Captain.... if you act dishonourably to the Captain, I sweart to God and Her Majesty I will shove you into a torpedo tube with 300kg of high explosives and FIRE! I will rip you to shreads! Do you understand?"

"Sir, that is absurd-"

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND, SERGEANT?"

But yeah, there are good odds for exposition into her family. Mardukas will, at the end of this, earn the greater respect of his crew - he's not at all like the worrying XO in FMP or the mother-in-law/Father-stand-in from Fumoffu.

This is 'The Duke', and he is in his element. Abandon hope, all ye who enter in.

sj4iy · Post by **sj4iy** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:03 am

I love how this story, while not actually advancing the overall storyline that much, takes the opportunity to really get to know more about the characters. All of them are put in situations we normally don't see them in, and therefore, we get to see another side of their personality. Not only does this help us get to know the characters better themselves, but we get to see the grow, as well (Sousuke's thoughts about Kaname was something I found very promising).

HELLFIRE · Post by **HELLFIRE** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:31 am

Pyrite wrote:*snickers* The thought of Mardukas sending out Pokémon is almost as disturbing as the Tessa cosplay scene in Fumoffu.

....I think I'd take the pokemon over seeing Mardukas crossdressing :pukes:
Couldn't sleep for a week after seeing THAT scene...

Shouts out for http-hosting it Anysia!!

Regards

FullMetal*Panic!

FMP: A Dancing Very Merry Christmas Discussion Spoilers