The Merry Band of Pirates (An Unofficial Official Expeditionary Force Podcast)

MBoP: Columbus Day, Chapters 10 & 11: Skippy and Away Boarders | Bacteria with Potential #MBoPPod

In this episode of the Merry Band of Pirates, we pick up the second half of Chapter 10 ("Skippy") and continue our discussion into Chapter 11 ("Away Boarders"). We are joined by special guest Pirate Gaylon Williams as we recap the chaotic, hilarious, and pivotal moments just after Joe Bishop teams up with the "A super smart, nay, impossibly, inconceivably smart, talking beer can!" can for the first time. This episode covers the high-stakes escape from the Ruhar facility, the formation of the original special ops task force (The Merry Band of Pirates), and the daring boarding action to capture a Kristang frigate. We break down the "Away Boarders" naval terminology, the St. Crispin's Day-style inspiration for Joe's speech to the troops, and why exactly our favorite AI prefers the shape of a Bud Light Lime can. Key Topics Covered: * The Escape: How Joe, Skippy, and the team hijack the Dodo and bluff their way off the planet. * Recruitment: The formation of the 24-person task force and the introduction of Major Sims. * Away Boarders: A breakdown of the tactical and naval history behind the chapter title, and the intense action sequence of the ship-to-ship boarding action. * The Mission: Why the real mission isn't just about survival—it's about the fate of Earth (and, according to Joe, potentially finding a decent cheeseburger). * Pop Culture Check: From "No plan survives contact with the enemy" (Von Moltke/Napoleon) to Skippy's unique slang like "hunky-dory" and "street cred". Featured Quotes & Highlights: * "You aspire to be as smart as bacteria." — Skippy * "It's sort of a hobby. I tried collecting stamps, but messing with the universe is so much more relaxing." — Skippy * Discussion on the brilliant writing behind the action sequences and why this "haphazard" task force actually works. Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, and leave us a comment! You can find us on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. And as always, remember to Trust the Awesomeness.

Columbus Day, Chapter 10: Skippy | First Impressions, Windows Vista, and Schrödinger's Cat #mboppod

It's finally here, the chapter we've all been waiting for—the one that changes everything! In this episode, the MBoP crew (Andy, Joey, Steve, Maryanne, and Charlie) finally discuss Chapter 10 of Columbus Day: "Skippy." This is the legendary meeting between Colonel Joe Bishop and the series' true co-star: Skippy, an arrogant, millions-of-years-old Elder AI beer can. We break down the insult-laden banter that immediately defines their dynamic—from Windows Vista (the ultimate computer insult) and Schrödinger's Cat ("I'm a dog guy"), all the way to the rare moment Joe scores his first point. Beyond the laughs, we summarize Skippy's complex, mutually beneficial plan to bust Joe out of jail, recruit a 'spec ops' team, and ultimately save humanity from the galactic war (so Joe can eventually get a cheeseburger). Plus, we roll out our new segment, "Nice Pop Culture Reference," to dissect the deep-cut allusions (like James Bond, I Love Lucy, and Jeopardy) that author Craig Alanson casually drops into the story. We had so much to say; this is just Part 1 of our discussion! "Don't go away mad, just go away." -Skippy

Merry Band of Pirates: Columbus Day Chapters 8 & 9: From Colonel to Prisoner to Pirate | Episode 10

Welcome back, fellow monkeys, for Episode 10 of Merry Band of Pirates, an unofficially official ExForce podcast, where we cover Chapters 8 ("Planting Potatoes") and 9 ("Jail") from Columbus Day, book one of the amazing Expeditionary Force series. In this episode, we witness newly promoted Colonel Joe Bishop make a definitive moral stand by refusing an illegal order to execute Ruhar civilians, ending his career with UNEF and landing him in a Kristang jail on death row. Following a missile strike that weakens the jail's foundation, Joe breaks out and escapes with three other prisoners. This escape leads to the moment we've all been waiting for: the formation of the core group of the Merry Band of Pirates! Joe is joined by Staff Sergeant Adams (who Joe totally sees as a soldier first, a woman second), pilot Fal Dasai, and Lieutenant Colonel Chang. Their adventure concludes when they are taken into custody by the Ruhar. Also in this episode: * Show News: We officially announce that Jake has left the podcast for personal reasons, but remains a pirate. * Fan Corner: Shout-outs to Tony Wagner and our furthest away fan, Isaiah Mueller from Australia. * Book News: Craig Allenson has debuted the cover for his next Convergence series book, Dead World, due out THIS WEEK! * Next Week's Tease: The epic build-up is over! Get ready for the episode we have all been waiting for, as we finally cover Chapter 10... Skippy! Reach out to the Pirates on social media with any ideas or suggestions! Listen to Episode 7: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMerryBandofPirates/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMerryBandofPirates/videos] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/720226687805258 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/720226687805258] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mboppod/ [https://www.instagram.com/mboppod/] 𝕏/Twitter: https://x.com/mboppod [https://x.com/mboppod] Email: mboppod@gmail.com [mboppod@gmail.com] ...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!) TTA, Baby!

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: mboppod@gmail.com ...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!

MBoP: Columbus Day, Chapters 4 & 5: Paradise and Intel—The Schlumpernur Inside You | Ep 8

Welcome back to The Mary Bandit Pirates and "Unofficially Official" Expeditionary Force podcast. In this episode, Andy, Joey, Mariane, Steve, and Jake, plus guest pirate Adam, discuss Chapters Four and Five of the first ExForce book, Columbus Day: "Paradise" and "Intel." This is the episode where Sergeant Joe Bishop's worldview gets shattered on the planet Paradise as he learns the true nature of the war and humanity's role in the galaxy. In this episode, we break down: - Lester Cornhut: The introduction of the memorable Ruhar (hamster) farmer and unofficial mayor of the Village of Teskor, along with a discussion of their lab-grown "steaks." - The Burgermeister's Intel: Baturnah Logellia, the Deputy Chief Administrator of Gehtanu, reveals the massive lie: the Ruhar attacked Earth to protect it from the Kristang. - The zPhone Revelation: The shocking discovery that the Kristang are actively eavesdropping on all human communication and technology. - Galactic Politics: Another exposition into the senior species, including the genetic duplication practiced by the Thuranin, more insight into the Maxolhx, and the explanation of the powerful Sentinels (elder weapons) that prevent galactic annihilation. - A-Team Reassignment: The Pirates discuss Major Emily Perkins showing up at the end of Intel to reassign Joe Bishop to hide him after receiving disruptive intelligence. Side Quests & Pirate Banter: - RC Bray: Hear about the private voicemail recorded by the audiobook narrator as Skippy the Magnificent. - The "Schlumpernur": We explore the Ruhar word that translates to a "damp musty blanket" and how it's used to describe a mood and the weather. - The Next Chapter: We look ahead to Chapter 6, "Fort Arrow," where Joe Bishop finally gets into the first battle. Follow the Merry Band of Pirates: Reach out to the Pirates on social media with any ideas or suggestions! Listen to Episode 7: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMerryBandofPirates/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMerryBandofPirates/videos] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/720226687805258 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/720226687805258] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mboppod/ [https://www.instagram.com/mboppod/] 𝕏/Twitter: https://x.com/mboppod [https://x.com/mboppod] Email: mboppod@gmail.com [mboppod@gmail.com] ...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!