The Predator

[Tim Bruening]

Ax and the Animorphs have been captured by Visser Three, and their morph time is running out.  However, Visser One arranges for them to escape.  PP 138-139: A Hork-Bajir sent by Visser One gives directions to the escape pod, and tells Elephant Rachel that she will have to demorph to fit inside.

PP 146-147: Ax and the Animorphs reach the pod, and all the Animorphs demorph.

I wonder if Visser One had the presence of mind to plant cameras in the escape pod in order to videotape the Animorphs demorphing.

[Chad32]

I wouldn't see much point in her knowing the identities of the Andalites that survived the Dome Ship battle.

[Sorunome]

^that, remember that she thinks that the animorphs are andalite bandits.

[Tim Bruening]

^that, remember that she thinks that the animorphs are andalite bandits.

But wouldn't it be useful to capture pictures of the "Andalite bandits" so that Visser One's intelligence experts could later identify WHICH Andalites are involved, and work up profiles?

[AndaliteBlues]

In the Andalite Chronicles its stated that the Yeerks probably couldn't tell Andalites apart, although that does seem to be something Visser One would do.

[cally2]

That never made any sense to me. Visser Three can tell Hork-Bajir apart, right?

[itw2009]

thinking really abstractly, i'd think that it'd be less about identifying who the andalites are than which morphs they're most likely to be caught in. in fact, where on earth would six grounded andalites be caught looking andalite and why would it make a difference to identify and capture a specific member of the group? (well, okay. identify and kidnap the andalite equivalent of 'jake' and see how quickly things deteriorate... but still. a hostage is a hostage.) i don't think that dossiers that include photos/videos of andalites would be useful to the yeerks unless those andalites made it off earth and needed to be identified later- after, say, yeerk conquest of earth and a subsequent attack on the andalite home planet. then, it might be about revenge, but it'd have little to do with tactics.

that being said, v1 always seemed to think further outside the box than most. i'm intensely surprised that she didn't earlier conceive or investigate the idea that the bandits might be human. or not andalite. (but then, seerow's kindness and andalite arrogance would make the scenario so unlikely to begin with... thanks, mr. ellimist.)

[Tim Bruening]

thinking really abstractly, i'd think that it'd be less about identifying who the andalites are than which morphs they're most likely to be caught in. in fact, where on earth would six grounded andalites be caught looking andalite and why would it make a difference to identify and capture a specific member of the group? (well, okay. identify and kidnap the andalite equivalent of 'jake' and see how quickly things deteriorate... but still. a hostage is a hostage.) i don't think that dossiers that include photos/videos of andalites would be useful to the yeerks unless those andalites made it off earth and needed to be identified later- after, say, yeerk conquest of earth and a subsequent attack on the andalite home planet. then, it might be about revenge, but it'd have little to do with tactics.

that being said, v1 always seemed to think further outside the box than most. i'm intensely surprised that she didn't earlier conceive or investigate the idea that the bandits might be human. or not andalite. (but then, seerow's kindness and andalite arrogance would make the scenario so unlikely to begin with... thanks, mr. ellimist.)

It seems to me that Visser One should want to gather as much info on the "Andalite bandits" as possible, which she could use to capture them herself and thus gain brownie points.

[itw2009]

potentially. but would yeerks have access to andalite military personnel databases in order to get any backstory on recorded andalites? i would assume not; otherwise, the andalites would have lost the war a long time ago.

chances are- even with photos/video- V1 wouldn't be able to identify said andalites by name... not without some significant effort. i wouldn't be surprised to know that her priorities were capture, torture, and then acquire backstory.

[Tim Bruening]

PP 134 of The Predator: Ax and the Animorphs have been captured by Visser Three, and locked up in a holding cell on the mother ship.  Were there any cameras in the holding cell so that Visser Three would be warned if the "Andalite bandits" demorphed to Andalite or morphed some other animal?  If not, why not?

Were there any cameras in the hallways?  If not, why not?  If so, why didn't any alarms sound when Visser One's minions freed the Animorphs?

[itw2009]

imo- there ought to have been cameras. KASU, really.

but i speak from the pov of military intelligence, earthside, 2013. there are cameras everywhere. in everything.

god only knows what a warmongering, conquering alien race might put, security-wise, in their vehicles of war - their primary means of invasion - to avert spy infiltration, but they sure as heck missed the ball on that.

[donut]

It seems to me that Visser One should want to gather as much info on the "Andalite bandits" as possible, which she could use to capture them herself and thus gain brownie points.

IDK, even if she captured them, the invasion still has V3's name on it, he'd get the credit for Earth.

Even if there were cameras in the halls, someone had to be watching while they were escaping for it to matter.  I would think V1 would take care of whoever was watching if they were.

but i speak from the pov of military intelligence, earthside, 2013. there are cameras everywhere. in everything.

I didn't think it had gotten that bad.   

[Tim Bruening]

It seems to me that Visser One should want to gather as much info on the "Andalite bandits" as possible, which she could use to capture them herself and thus gain brownie points.

IDK, even if she captured them, the invasion still has V3's name on it, he'd get the credit for Earth.

Even if there were cameras in the halls, someone had to be watching while they were escaping for it to matter.  I would think V1 would take care of whoever was watching if they were.

But after the escape, wouldn't V3's forces review the camera footage and notice V1's minions busting the "Andalite bandits" out?

[itw2009]

but i speak from the pov of military intelligence, earthside, 2013. there are cameras everywhere. in everything.

I didn't think it had gotten that bad.   

LOL. maybe in the context of military intelligence: on their own vessels or in their personally protected buildings. xD

but really.... *serious face* everywhere. in everything.

maybe we're going about this the wrong way. if this was hollywood, what would the protagonists do to break out a comrade? find the control room, knock out the security, loop all of the cameras over blank hallways/rooms. aaaand done.

[NateSean]

Were there any cameras in the hallways?  If not, why not?  If so, why didn't any alarms sound when Visser One's minions freed the Animorphs?

Two words: Inside Job.