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Cally prequel CD - review
"Flag and Flame" is the second drama on the Cally prequel CD. The first drama is 5/5 on my rating, but the second one only gets 3/5.
Skate and Merrin Cally are closer than most clones having been reared as a twin pair. They can share thoughts, even the taste of a hot chocolate, they're that close. Twins are particularly useful to Auron for long-distance reconnaissance, as they can maintain telepathic contact over a much greater distance, thus enabling radio silence to be maintained.
Skate is sent on a mission which it becomes clear is more dangerous than she was originally told. When things go wrong, the difficult question then becomes that of whether a rescue mission should be sent. (In this aspect, the two dramas on the CD share a thematic link) The dilemma is clear - is it more important to attempt to rescue a pilot at all costs, or to accept that a rescue mission would almost certainly result in the loss of more lives now that the enemy has been alerted? (I felt the writer's treatment of this issue came across rather one-sided - it was clear where the listener's sympathies were intended to be.)
However, the issue is more complex than just the risk to other pilots - was there a reason why Skate was selected for this mission?
This is one point where the story felt weak. Skate and Merrin live almost continually in each others minds, yet Skate has a secret that Merrin doesn't know. It seems implausible.
I would also have liked to know more about how long it takes to raise a clone to maturity. Skate and Merrin mention their time at school, so this suggests a normal rate of growth. However, Skate claims that twins are a disposable commodity - lose a pair, crack open the vats and have a new pair. This is a valid suspicion if clones can be grown rapidly, but not if it takes a couple of decades.
In conclusion, I'd say that the Cally prequel CD is worth buying for the first story alone. Regard the second story as a bonus - It's worth listening to even if it isn't as good as the first (and I suspect from the way the story develops that Merrin Cally might be the one to eventually join Liberator, even though I'd personally prefer Ariane Cally).
Skate and Merrin Cally are closer than most clones having been reared as a twin pair. They can share thoughts, even the taste of a hot chocolate, they're that close. Twins are particularly useful to Auron for long-distance reconnaissance, as they can maintain telepathic contact over a much greater distance, thus enabling radio silence to be maintained.
Skate is sent on a mission which it becomes clear is more dangerous than she was originally told. When things go wrong, the difficult question then becomes that of whether a rescue mission should be sent. (In this aspect, the two dramas on the CD share a thematic link) The dilemma is clear - is it more important to attempt to rescue a pilot at all costs, or to accept that a rescue mission would almost certainly result in the loss of more lives now that the enemy has been alerted? (I felt the writer's treatment of this issue came across rather one-sided - it was clear where the listener's sympathies were intended to be.)
However, the issue is more complex than just the risk to other pilots - was there a reason why Skate was selected for this mission?
This is one point where the story felt weak. Skate and Merrin live almost continually in each others minds, yet Skate has a secret that Merrin doesn't know. It seems implausible.
I would also have liked to know more about how long it takes to raise a clone to maturity. Skate and Merrin mention their time at school, so this suggests a normal rate of growth. However, Skate claims that twins are a disposable commodity - lose a pair, crack open the vats and have a new pair. This is a valid suspicion if clones can be grown rapidly, but not if it takes a couple of decades.
In conclusion, I'd say that the Cally prequel CD is worth buying for the first story alone. Regard the second story as a bonus - It's worth listening to even if it isn't as good as the first (and I suspect from the way the story develops that Merrin Cally might be the one to eventually join Liberator, even though I'd personally prefer Ariane Cally).