Regarding Fear the Reaper (Spoilers)

[l33telboi]

The power of those things is something I've been pondering ever since I first saw the name of the charges on Starcraft2.com. "Deuterium-8" charges. At first glance you'd think that the name implies we’re talking about deuterium with an atomic weight of 8, but that's impossible. Deuterium comes with an atomic number of 2. So it's more likely that 8 is simply a number added to the weapon to distinguish it from others, i.e. the D-8 charges follow the same naming convention as the C-14 Gauss Rifle and other various weapons. In any case, my point is, the mention of Deuterium is interesting, to say the least. If a bomb is called a Deuterium charge, then it naturally follows that it incorporates Deuterium in some fashion. Deuterium is about the most non-explosive compound there is... except when used in something we in modern days refer to as thermonuclear bombs.

So the name seems to imply they're mini-nukes. In that sense their extreme explosive power would be logical.

Or it could be that the guys who invented the D-8 charge just thought Deuterium sounded cool.

[Lupino]

Probably because it sounds futuristic-y

In this case, it's a matter of the artist's style rather than one D-8 taking out the entire structure. The panel that shows the aftermath of the explosion is simply a bit of scorched ground with the background white. The white background is in a number of panels, most likely to focus the reader's attention on what's going on in the foreground. Besides which, you can see the actual explosion itself is rather small, not more than a dozen meters wide at best, hardly enough to completely level a multi-story military complex. And anyway, they're there to steal stuff, not blow it all up.

This does show a pretty dangerous trend for the Dominion; first they have a Thor and a Siege Tank stolen away to go grave robbing in "Thundergod," now they have Reapers running off to commit theft and murder in "Fear the Reapers." It's a wonder they know what's going on in their own military half the time

[Kimera757]

There's more of that in the StarCraft comic.

Tamsen Cauley is almost like a minor Mengsk; not quite as smart, not quite as charismatic, not quite as treacherous, and not quite as crazy. And Mengsk picks this guy to be the director of the Internal Security Division? (That's basically the KGB.) And the "I'll serve whoever is in charge" Kevin Bick is currently the director of the Ghost Academy. Cauley has betrayed the Dominion already. Bick is still loyal (he has no ambition).

Then again, Mengsk put Duke in charge of his military, saying that Duke was "looking for an opportunity to commit an atrocity". Maybe dictators just can't resist surrounding themselves with untrustworthy backstabbers... it's almost like they want copies of themselves around them.

[Pandonetho]

He's obviously going senile.

[Kimera757]

At age 40ish?

[l33telboi]

In this case, it's a matter of the artist's style rather than one D-8 taking out the entire structure. The panel that shows the aftermath of the explosion is simply a bit of scorched ground with the background white. The white background is in a number of panels, most likely to focus the reader's attention on what's going on in the foreground. Besides which, you can see the actual explosion itself is rather small, not more than a dozen meters wide at best, hardly enough to completely level a multi-story military complex. And anyway, they're there to steal stuff, not blow it all up.

Well, I haven't seen the entire manga yet, but from what there is in the preview, it seems there's nothing but a few scorched pillars remaining after the bomb. Had the structure been there then it should be visible... instead of the few pillars sticking out of the sand. I guess it could be an artistic style... but it'd be a very weird one. The wiki also says the base had been 'wiped out', which would suggest that major structural damage had been done. Though I'm not sure if that's interpretation or something actually said. Kimera probably knows more (I'm guessing he's the one who wrote it ).

And did they steal something? My impression of the preview was that they went there to steal, but then Nero decided he'd rather just blow it all up to satisfy whatever aggression enhancement bla bla bla he's been given.

[Kimera757]

Well, I haven't seen the entire manga yet, but from what there is in the preview, it seems there's nothing but a few scorched pillars remaining after the bomb. Had the structure been there then it should be visible... instead of the few pillars sticking out of the sand. I guess it could be an artistic style... but it'd be a very weird one. The wiki also says the base had been 'wiped out', which would suggest that major structural damage had been done. Though I'm not sure if that's interpretation or something actually said. Kimera probably knows more (I'm guessing he's the one who wrote it ).

Yeah, I wrote the article. They did blow up the base, but they didn't necessarily blow the whole thing up with one demolition charge.

And did they steal something? My impression of the preview was that they went there to steal, but then Nero decided he'd rather just blow it all up to satisfy whatever aggression enhancement bla bla bla he's been given.

They never really said if they managed to steal something, but I think they did. There was some talk of not leaving witnesses...

[Lupino]

Well, I haven't seen the entire manga yet, but from what there is in the preview, it seems there's nothing but a few scorched pillars remaining after the bomb. Had the structure been there then it should be visible... instead of the few pillars sticking out of the sand. I guess it could be an artistic style... but it'd be a very weird one. The wiki also says the base had been 'wiped out', which would suggest that major structural damage had been done. Though I'm not sure if that's interpretation or something actually said. Kimera probably knows more (I'm guessing he's the one who wrote it ).

Yeah, it's just artistic style, and the fact that the individual explosion itself was not that large. Since "white background" appears in the other panels, unless the rest of the planet was simply leveled, there's only the one logical choice. There have been weirder artistic choices made before.

And did they steal something? My impression of the preview was that they went there to steal, but then Nero decided he'd rather just blow it all up to satisfy whatever aggression enhancement bla bla bla he's been given.

I'm pretty sure they did, I'll have to re-read to remember.

Then again, Mengsk put Duke in charge of his military, saying that Duke was "looking for an opportunity to commit an atrocity". Maybe dictators just can't resist surrounding themselves with untrustworthy backstabbers... it's almost like they want copies of themselves around them.

Considering how often Duke screws up, especially on Bhekar Ro, it's a wonder Mengsk kept him in charge of anything; his screw-ups under the Confederacy were covered up because he came from Old Money, but that doesn't excuse his performance later.

[Pandonetho]

Well to be honest he's also has an outstanding history as well, defending Tarsonis in over 30 or something Major battles?

[Lupino]

Just him blowing smoke up your ass about how he's a great general. Read I, Mengsk, Uprising or (if you can stomach it) Shadow of the Xel'Naga and tell me Duke should be given responsibility over...anything, really.