The only thing more complicated than constructing a machine that can travel between star systems is the paperwork giving it permission to do that.
Transcript
Idrisah: (menacingly) ...TALITA.
Talita: I'm not in on this. Even if the papers can be done legally, there's—
Idrisah: (ASL, to Gillie) Which papers??
Gillie: (ASL) Customs and Duties.
Idrisah rubs her eyes with her palms in frustration.
Idrisah: (ASL) That's the LAST half the exit paperwork! To even get out of orbit, you’ll need an exit packet with a flight plan, ATGS code, and transponder code. Which needs to be scanned and approved by the gatemasters!
Inset panel: A spacecraft's path is shown leaving orbit of Dirtball, communicating an ATGS code with the orbital station, and a transponder code with the wormhole gate. A second inset panel shows the occupants of the orbital station are a group of elderly tailed spacers. The wormhole gate is a huge structure. Triangular radiators take up most of its bulk, with a spherical wormhole generator and small entrance hole in the center. Its communications center is on a beam separating it from the generator body.
61 thoughts on “Runaway to the Stars: Page 118”
QueerGeologist
I love how much Talita looks like a dog who was told they can’t have chocolate in the last panel
JoB
Sooooo you need to communicate data electronically to the two “authorities” involved beforehand, to allow for even more online communication. And one of you is an AI with extensive hacking experience …
… I’m sorry, what was the problem again? 😛
Greebus
I live the art style of this comic
Tentament
Very kind of Bip to continue transcribing the conversation even while being yelled at.
creetur
They’re a little dubious, but considerate nonetheless.
Cat
Is it bip doing that? I assumed it was something built into Gillie’s computer
JoB
It’s something that Bip *has* done previously (in particular, on Talita’s tablet), and *if* it were a builtin function of Gillie’s setup, there wouldn’t be much reason why the lastest transcriptions would suddenly be *removed* in page 117 panel 4.
gigithebear
poor talita is having to have this entire conversation hunched over in a too small room. i can’t imagine having to talk to someone on while on my hands and knees
JoB
… while STILL towering above them … 😉
Half Phased
Panel 4/5 Idrisah really seems like she wants to yell, “if you’re going to be idiots helping the rogue AI, can you please be higher tier idiots rather than failing at the first hurdle?”
Ruby
So what you’re saying is that there’s a chance?
arf
… also, Talita, you are such a terrible fibber.
evileeyore
She’s not fibbin! She’s not in on this… yet. (We all know she wants to help, but without serviceable parts, rebuilding the Runaway would just be putting a dangerous ship back into space.)
arf
Bip contemplates changing name to ‘Mal’
(perhaps it could be done with the rest of the paperwork that Idrisah will tell them they haven’t thought of?)
JoB
If that were possible, they’d be going by “Bobby Tables” for *decades* now. 😛
https://xkcd.com/327/
cain
I don’t think Bip’s name is in the paperwork. Talita couldn’t find them in the database.
Montydragon
Talita is hitting that perfect “face you make when your married friends are arguing”
hessian
the orbital station grandma polycule!!!!
Red
Monogamy? In this economy!?
Bravo
Hmmm. Idrissah has either been thinking about this, or deals with it in the regular.
the Inmara
Yeah, we can see a path to her helping out pretty clearly now. It starts with her explaining in detail what they need, protest. And then, somewhere along the line she’s convincing herself to join in.
the Inmara
At least, that’s the typical ironic narrative twist. Jay might have written in differently.
un_pogaz
Well, if it’s used so often, it’s probably because the tropes work really good.
JoB
Panel 4: “… amateurs. I’m trying to keep my former … *career* a secret while swimming along with bloody amateurs who wouldn’t know which side to weld open a simple safe from.”
Storel
Wait, Idrisah has a former career that she’s trying to keep secret?? She’s the only person in panel 4.
Tyrone the Miner
If eye-stare could kill, Talita would spontaneous combust in the first panel!
Idrisah can really shift into “Mean modus”. I have a hunch she had to claw her way up between a load of brothers in her upbringing.
SIGSTKFLT
she’s so scrungled
feesh
i cant tell if this is a mistake or not, but the transcript says “a transponder code with the orbital station, and an ATGS code with the wormhole gate” when the panel looks like it’s the other way around?
Jay Eaton
Fixed.
TeethBurglar
Idrisah face in the first panel is priceless!
Translunary_Animus
Every time I see Talita my eyes are immediately drawn to her shoes and how well they’re adapted for her feet. Really love the little elastic band around her ankle/wrist section!
Greenjoe
What does ATGS stand for?
JoB
… Allowed to Try a Getaway into Space? ;-P
Carmenifold
Aunnaway To Ghe Stars :] hope this helps
Gar G
Oh I just noticed Bip in the first panel
Tye
How do you decide which part of an ASL sentence to draw? With open mouth speaking it’s easier to draw a generic syllable, but I imagine trying to do that with ASL would make it look odd to an ASL user.
Peter Jensen
I think the trick is usually to either go with a key word in the sentence or one that’s emphasized. For the second ASL panel, it’s “last”. For the first we’ve got “papers” and the eyebrows making it a question, and I think “duties”. I’m not sure what word is used in the last ASL panel, though. My exposure to the language is pretty limited, basically this comic, a bit in another, plus some double-captioned ASL versions of Jonathan Coultan songs (they’re a pretty fun way of showing non-signers how sign language can be structured).
Feather
I think Jay’s said previously that it’s either a word that’s important to the sentence or one with a handshape that fits the composition well. I’m learning BSL, but ASL is a different language so I’m fully lost in trying to identify the signs!
Lilac
Talita looks like a sad cat here jffhdhsdhshs
Uh
Talita she started talking about paperwork, this is your chance, escape
Peas
On the next page there’s just a Talita-shaped hole in the wall
Greebus
I’m cracking up @ Talita’s large pants in the second panel
Trees
Woe betide he who falls afoul of….
T * H * E G * A * T * E * M * A * S * T * E * R * S ! * ! * !
Coming to a holocinema near you, Christmas 2333!
dokki
orbital station grandma polycule spotted!!!!
theplushfrog
I love them so much
matt
What’s ATGS?
Jay Eaton
Automatic Transferable Guidance System. An ATGS code allows vessels to transfer control to automated pilot systems and pilot drones. Not all ships have a working ATGS system (in which case a manual pilot is doing the job via radio communication with the orbital station,) but pilot AI like Bip have one. ATGS allows modifications to a flight plan to be communicated between orbital computers and a vessel, which is handy because stations usually have a far greater awareness of potential debris hazards and local ship and satellite paths than the vessels themselves do. It also lets the orbital station know when you aren’t following the correct path.
spaghettios
is that the orbital station grandma polycule :0
Jay Eaton
lol yes
0xabad1dea
If you want an expert’s help, don’t ask for their help. Start to do it wrong in front of them.
Peter Jensen
Don’t even have to start doing it, just explain how it’s easy and get it very wrong. Worked on Talita for Bip, with the repairs.
Green Heron
Tailed spacer grandma polycule!
creetur
Scolded type look from Talita is priceless. Bip’s avatar seemingly bored, too
Teod
I think they’re more offended/disappointed than bored. She insulted them on the last page.
Tantusar
“You’re doing crimes wrong. Do better crimes.”
Lake coven
I understand the fact that she is attempting to tell them all of the reasons this couldn’t possibly work but I really think she’s just telling them what problems they need to solve. (If I’m reading this correctly she is going to be not happy about unwittingly helping I think)
Robin
Big fan of the blurb for this page
Claire
Talita’s hitting that “puppy who knows she’s in trouble” vibe a little too hard
There, there, Talita
hirsch
not a big fan of applying animal language to her but i don’t know how else to word this other than i love Talita looking like a soggy large cat in the last panel
Trees
My brain immediately supplied: ‘big, soulful dog, too large for apartment’.
NTLS
Gosh, I love Talita’s face in the first panel. And I do appreciate Idrisah not really yelling but instead immediately pointing out why things wouldn’t work. love this comic…