The secret police is looking for scapegoats, how unsurprising. Well, apart from the fact they seem to have at least some grasp of the situation (that Halmer was hampering them).

I can see how "#1" thought better than to simply report that they messed up code management and thus had to rely on whoever was still alive to complete the mission. Good old lying to the rescue of idiots in positions of power, a classic.

it's weird though, the last remaining JSP member was the definition of a himbo who tried to get the nuke codes from his would-be-targets.

i guess being the new #1 unlocked his hidden reserve of a single functioning brain cell.

Poor Halmer, I hope his family didn't get much blowback from the JSP's narrative.

@que Reporting that Halmer was a "coward" still seems like a brainfart on his part, when he could have accused Halmer of high treason.

Honestly, from what I remember, the JSP would consider not nuking Haven the moment the Nightmares started to run around as an act of cowardice.

In other words, he Abandoned the JSP's "Mission to Nuke The Magic-Infested City To The Ground" out of his "Cowardly Desire To Live & Keep As Many Justopean's Alive As Possible". Shortened, for the sake or clear information, to "Abandoned the Mission in Cowardice".

See. The JSP are not lying. Just omitting some words in a way that doesn't showcase how they're stupid extremists with an ego problem.

Gotta learn saying the truth while fitting the narrative, like

"His body stayed firm and strong,
only Halmer's head ran away."

Does this mean the one guy won't get a bridge named after him? I'm also curious as to how the JSP could be mad at Halmer. The only members that were there are dead, and the 3rd guy who wasn't there didn't seem to be aware of anything. Though I guess he could be blaming Halmer for the fact that he didn't blow the place up. Seems like sticking to whatever the original cover story was for not doing that, would have been better. The plan for not blowing it up did in fact work after all, despite the JSP.

Halmer was a real one. o7

Halmer did talk to the new #1 on the radio so that might be why they have a record of him giving them false codes and disagreeing with them. But it looks like the official story might involve a lot of scapegoating whoever did not survive or whoever is not perceived as useful enough.

My boy Halmer better get his bridge.

Oh these damned bastards of course they'd do that

Ah bollocks! Of course the only reasonable, competent and reliable guy is the one who gets scapegoated.
This empire needs burning to the ground...

Rip Barney Bridge :(

People are focusing on Halmer, but I'm pretty interested in "I'm glad at least one of you kids remained." Has there been a mass defection? Aside from Noah, I don't think any of them knew the full story about Malhart and the Empire and Chernyl and the JSP, but it's not like it's a well kept secret at this point, especially since Malhart has at this point little reason to keep the secret - Even if it *doesn't* get out, he and his children are no longer confined to painted Haven because of Chernyl's wished-for control.

@Cellphone The "at least one of you kids" part is already explained a few pages back. The rest of the children have already been sent elsewhere, because they didn't need medical attention. Captain Hermans is just glad he has one in his base, so he can ask what actually happened.
I don't think the Veda/Barnrose Project would still be alive if there was a mass defection. Also I don't know if Malhart was in any position to stage an escape, considering he was shot with black crystal and in the military's care last we heard.

@Cellphone

He probably just means that all the others have moved on to their next assignment, whatever that is. Noah was left behind due to being injuried.