[Wild Goose]

Originally Posted by Alastor Mobius Toth

Also, my idea about Alt. V is not just about it sounding, in pure theory, as something more likely to work than Alt. IV - it's also that in twisted way, Alt. IV didn't solve much! Think about it - yes, Original Hive is destroyed, but many more battles remain before BETA will be pushed out, and there's no way of telling if mankind won't screw something up along the way. Also, the rampant nationalism and politics still remain, with only the threat of BETA in space holding mankind together. That's not a very stable glue; anything may go at the moment, and frankly, Yuuko is not an unmistakable genuis - nor is she a very altruistic politician.

Vast swathes of Earth were also already devastated by BETA, and it remains to be seen just how well it can recover.

In some ways, just starting anew on another planet may make things better, especially when national governments are more interested in making the most out of Earth's ruins.

Spoiler for For Unlimited End:

If we think about it that way, Unlimited ends on better way than Alternative, Big-Picture wise. Yes, Earth is devastated and people there go through gehenna. But epilogue shows that colony ships successfully landed, and 100 000 people are completely safe, while being already armed with know-how on countering BETA. May not seem much, but Mankind's population was already around 1billion at that point anyway. And all those pesky Earth governments? They all thought it would fail anyway, so they largely ended up staying on Earth, if U.S and France are any indication.

This actually makes a certain kind of sense, I guess. And to be fair, if the G-Bombs hadn't fucked over the environment, it woulda been the best of both worlds.

Also, I ended up with Tomcat and Fulcrum as males because I like gender equality.

Spoiler for Jive Turkey:

"Now now, ladies, please, make way."
The deep bass voice had started Shiranui and Raptor away from (un)fortunate Yuuya. Before them stood a dark-skinned man, with a well groomed impressive facial hair and rougish ponytail. He was wearing dark sunglasses.

"Now, I believe 'dem lovely cupcake needs some airr, no?" His deep bass voice was absurdly smooth as he slipped by the two stunned girls, and casually brought his arm around Yuuya, gently leading him out of ladies assault.
"I AM SEEING SPARKLES!!!!!~KYAAAH, WHY AM I SEEING SPARKLES!? Shiranui mentally screamed, why Raptor just stood there rooted to ground.

"Now then Young Man, why don't we have some cold shakes, ain't that right?" He drawled to Yuuya, before pushing him towards another bar. Behind him, the man's companion slapped his ginger hair. "Bloody Hell Tomcat...we're so going to get it now..."

No need to thank me.

I ain't thanking you.

This reminds me of a lulzy line in Yellow Eyes, by Tom Kratman:

Will we be male or female? asked the AID.

We shall be female, came the answer, as are most like us. Russian warships are male but they are mostly gay.

Originally Posted by wavehawk

- Not just the Plane AI. The Tactical and Strategic computers, et al are all included. The JAM would probbaly see them as a sort-of semi Hive Mind in the sense that the planes go out collect info and hunt, and then share this information at the central hub (Tactical Computer and Strategic computer at base).

The comparison with Muv-Luv is when you notice that early in the war the BETA tended to attack mechanisms but not individual soldiers (except as raw materials). For all the BETA Superiors know, the TSFs were using humans as power sources or tactical weapons computers...

That... puts an interesting spin on things. Very interesting...

- I actually have a short story with that in mind, but I'll probably be stoned for using original characters even before anyone read it.

Not from me; my story is essentially populated by OCs.

- Just remember that there's the obvious Japanese bias---having been on the receiving end of a WMD, it's usually the scariest thing they can think of. So much so that any solution involving a WMD is the worst possible solution.

Also my take on Alternative V: I do not mind, and actually encourage humanity to reach out and find a new home beyond Earth...but it has to be BY CHOICE, not because we're being overrun by Alien bugs.

...that, and what happens if the BETA drop by on that new planet before the population is ready?

Good point. And I'm actually out of insightful and witty things to say atm, except that this is an interesting perspective indeed.

Human beings (both as individuals and groups) have two problems that work in the favor of ANY Alien invader:
1.) At a subconscious level we do not care for anyone who does not support them or have anything of value we can make use of.
2.) Majority of human beings have an inabilty to think long-term.

The breadth of these discussions prove, without a doubt, that Muv-Luv is hardly just some pron game. But then, we all already knew that.

...Total Eclipse VN had BETTER have a Yui end, btw. And a 3rd person shooter using the ACE engine would be totally sweet...