God in the Machine U-DO Retrospective

So the first part of the new U-DO article is now up:
http://forums.xenotensei.com/index.php?topic=652.msg7845#msg7845

Woot woot! :D

Alrighty, I've decided to make a table of contents page, which will feature links to the new posts as they come in.

CONTENTS:
(this section will be gradually updated as more sections are posted)

Introduction: http://forums.xenotensei.com/index.php?topic=652.msg7845#msg7845

Part 1: The Logic of Manifestation

1.1 General Characteristics: http://forums.xenotensei.com/index.php?topic=652.msg7846#msg7846

1.2 Early depictions: http://forums.xenotensei.com/index.php?topic=652.msg7846#msg7847

Part 2: Color Codes and Link Experiments

2.1 Color Coding : Zohar and U-DO energy: http://forums.xenotensei.com/index.php?topic=652.msg7892#msg7892

2.2 Color Coding : The Local Matter Transmutations: http://forums.xenotensei.com/index.php?topic=652.msg7897#msg7897

2.3 Zohar Link Experiments: Who Connects to What: http://forums.xenotensei.com/index.php?topic=652.msg7935#msg7935

Now posted section 2.1: http://forums.xenotensei.com/index.php?topic=652.msg7892#msg7892

Now section 2.2 is ready. Lostsa pictures in this one: http://forums.xenotensei.com/index.php? ... 97#msg7897

Section 2.3 is now up: http://forums.xenotensei.com/index.php?topic=652.msg7935#msg7935

Maybe I will add pics later.

I haven't caught completely up on the entire article (I especially need to re-read the reconception of U-DO from XS! to XS3), but I've always thought that Cherenkov was referring to something other than KOS-MOS when he was referring to "IT" in that sentence.  He IS terrified of KOS-MOS, knowing what sort of destruction she was capable of, but if he's okay enough to head a mission that depends on her battle capability, then it would make sense that U-DO would be the other opposing force in this instance.  

When I was first playing XS1 and I heard that line, the first thing that popped into my head was the image of Deus from the opening scene of Xenogears and I got a little excited.

If anything, Cherenkov had to have known a little bit about the destructive power of U-DO due to Albedo's relationship with U-TIC.  The incident with Architype KOS-MOS left him (but moreso Shion) with a bit of post-traumatic stress, but if he ever paid attention to the way Albedo generally acts, (and he probably had to) coming out of overexposure to U-DO that cracked is a lot more scary than just getting physically torn to pieces by KOS-MOS.

Speaking of getting torn limb from limb by KOS-MOS, I used to think that Cherenkov's intentions of shooting her in the head on the Elsa were more to try to protect himself, because he observed that that was the only way Shion was able to stop her before.  Anger at the loss of his soldiers makes sense, but for some reason, I didn't think of it until now.  I always thought Cherenkov's revulsion for her was entirely based on fear, but I'm not so sure now.  With the way he was swept under the rug after Episode I, the devs may just not have thought on it as long and hard as we have.

katimus_prime wrote:I haven't caught completely up on the entire article (I especially need to re-read the reconception of U-DO from XS! to XS3), but I've always thought that Cherenkov was referring to something other than KOS-MOS when he was referring to "IT" in that sentence.  He IS terrified of KOS-MOS, knowing what sort of destruction she was capable of, but if he's okay enough to head a mission that depends on her battle capability, then it would make sense that U-DO would be the other opposing force in this instance.  

Take your time. I'm pretty sure some people want to wait until the whole thing is up, while others can't devote hours to these verbose posts.

And I'm glad to have confirmation that other people also think that the "IT" should be something other than KOS-MOS.

If anything, Cherenkov had to have known a little bit about the destructive power of U-DO due to Albedo's relationship with U-TIC.

I'm not sure if Albedo had something to do with it, but U-TIC was definitely in the know about U-DO. That's gonna be part 3.

Speaking of getting torn limb from limb by KOS-MOS, I used to think that Cherenkov's intentions of shooting her in the head on the Elsa were more to try to protect himself, because he observed that that was the only way Shion was able to stop her before.

Could very well be the case, though I'm not sure if it was ever confirmed that he saw Shion blow her head off. There was definitely a gap between those events that I'm not sure was ever filled. Perhaps in the DS version?

With the way he was swept under the rug after Episode I, the devs may just not have thought on it as long and hard as we have.

I'm pretty sure Cherenkov would've returned during the Ghost of Old Miltia arc, given the fact that this was the war that left him behind. They probably dropped that for good to narrow the focus.