MBoP: Columbus Day, Chapters 6 & 7: Fort Arrow and Colonel—Breaking It Down Barney-style

Welcome back to the Merry Band of Pirates, the unofficially official Expeditionary Force podcast! Join Pirates Andy, Joey, Steve, Mariane, and Charlie as they discuss this two-chapter block of Columbus Day: Chapter 6: Fort Arrow and Chapter 7: Colonel.   Episode Breakdown: The chaos, consequences, and career-changing events in Joe Bishop's life. Fort Arrow and the Ruhar Whales: We follow Joe as he transitions to his new post at Fort Arrow on convoy duty, only to have his day off, spent hiking to a crashed Kristang frigate, interrupted by a devastating railgun strike that levels the base. Joe must overcome his self-doubt to rally a small, motley crew, securing a tactical victory by bringing down two massive Ruhar troop carriers known by humans as Whales. The Unprecedented Promotion: Fresh off the battlefield, Joe receives an unheard-of Kristang-mandated promotion, rocketing him from Sergeant (E5) to Colonel (O6) overnight. A Cornerstone Character: Chapter 7 introduces Lieutenant Colonel Chang, Joe's newly promoted counterpart, whose rigid military discipline acts as a crucial "yin and yang" to Joe's cowboy style. The Truth Revealed: The pivotal moment arrives when a drunken Kristang officer exposes the species' true intentions, referring to humanity as nothing more than "slaves" and "pets," confirming Joe's deepest fears about their allies. Behind the Scenes: The Pirates also discuss the reoccurring "Barney-style" reference, characters' leadership philosophy, and the importance of having good maps in an alien jungle.   Reach out to the Pirates on social media with any ideas or suggestions!  Listen to Episode 7: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMerryBandofPirates/videos  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/720226687805258 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mboppod/  𝕏/Twitter: https://x.com/mboppod  Email: [email protected]    ...And if you haven't done so, yet, download and listen to The Expeditionary Force series on Audible: https://www.audible.com (Not yet a sponsor!)    Until then, always Trust The Awesomeness!