Mission #14 - Follow Up and Vote

[lucetimods]

By the conclusion of this mission, the volunteers will have the option to either help the Iron Eye or take measures to ensure they fail. There are four options to take, each with their own pros and cons, as well as chances for success or failure. The involvement of the Lucetians will have a significant impact on future drafts and missions.

Of course, the question is: what are the Iron Eye up to? If you haven’t figured it out, you may have to make a decision with just what you’ve figured out.

The voting will impact things thusly:

Options 1 and 2 are pro-Iron Eye. By voting for them, one vote is ADDED to their chance of success.

Options 3 and 4 are anti-Iron Eye. But voting against them, one voted is SUBTRACTED to their chance of success.

Whichever of the four options get the majority vote will be the one that is used to determine the outcome of the mission. So, for instance, if Option 3 is chosen with 10 votes for Anti-Iron Eye, and 4 votes for Pro-Iron Eye, we could end up with:

40% - 10% + 4% = 34% chance of success. This means the Iron Eye would very likely fail, which is the desired option of the majority vote.

Once we have the votes in, we’ll use the random dice roll in an AIM chatroom, where we will roll a 100-sided die. If the dice rolls 34 or higher, the Iron Eye will fail. Likewise, if the success percentage is at 85%, then any dice roll over 85 will result in failure.

Bear in mind that there are 28 characters involved, which means that there is a lot of sway on the success rate based simply on agreeing with any one option.

The dice roll will take place in lucetiplot on September 15th at 11:00PM EST for those who wish to observe. If you do not have your vote in by then, it will not be counted. But this should give you ample time to try and figure out what’s really going on and decide what your character will do.

And so your options are thus:

1. They help the Iron Eye find the entrance to the cultist’s underground city and do not report to the Malnosso. Although this dramatically increases the chances to succeed, it will also put them in danger of some reprisal.

Pro: This route secures them an alliance with the Iron Eye. The repercussions could dramatically shift the war away from the cultists.
Con: Direct collaboration would make them accountable to the Malnosso, and they would lack the ability to deny their involvement.
Chance of Iron Eye Success: 80% + one point for each volunteer supporting the Iron Eye.

2. They help the Iron Eye by not telling the Malnosso what’s going on. This increases the chance of success and doesn’t put them in any kind of danger. They claim ignorance.

Pro: This route frees them of accountability. The repercussions could dramatically shift the war away from the cultists.
Con: Their relationship with the Iron Eye and Malnosso is not improved, but it isn’t ruined either. Luceti’s influence is not altered.
Chance of Iron Eye Success: 60% + one point for each volunteer supporting the Iron Eye.

3. They report the Iron Eye’s activities to the Malnosso, informing them of their ultimate goal. This also reveals Bil’s location. This decreases the chance of success and doesn’t put the volunteers in any danger.

Pro: This route guarantees they secure some tangible physical reward for Luceti in return for their loyalty to the Organization. This could be new infrastructure, an expanded barrier, or some other surprise gift.
Con: This route leaves Bil and the Iron Eye’s fate to the Malnosso, which is not promising for either of them.
Chance of Iron Eye Success: 40% - one point for each volunteer opposing the Iron Eye.

4. They find a way to sabotage the Iron Eye’s activities, but don’t report it to the Malnosso. This dramatically decreases the chance of success, but puts them in danger of reprisal.

Pro: This route leaves the Iron Eye and Bil in tact, but foils their plans. They maintain good relations with the Malnosso.
Con: The route sours relations with the Iron Eye.
Chance of Iron Eye Success: 20% - one point for each volunteer opposing the Iron Eye.

Characters will find out the results of their decision via an NPC post sometime later in September.

Comments

[goldenglasses]

"I don't want to do anything that could risk the Iron Eye or Bil. I don't particularly trust either of them with my life, but I trust the Malnosso less." At least that he could easily agree with. "Although using a weapon like this against a city of Third Party doesn't seem like the best solution. Especially if they are only people who have been driven mad by this world and lead astray. They'll come back again, angrier, and knowing that there is a power like this bomb out there."

He speaks softly and calmly; as if he was only stating options. Not something he actually cares really passionately for. Children who grew up in this world may eventually side with the Third Party. Would that maybe become true for Noah one day?

[yourfononsarewhack]

"They'll come back with penalties and one less city. We will be potentially handicapping and scattering some forces. And who knows what plans of theirs that will upset? This act could prevent another invasion scenario - or any other type of attack that we would have ended up being drafted to help with."

[floralogy]

"Bomb or not, angry or not, the Third Party will still try to kill us and we will still be drafted to deal with them."

And really, who wants to get drafted again to fight a war that isn't even theirs?

"At least, if we blow up a city, we'll have less to deal with. I don't trust the Iron Eye but like Mister Vash over here, I trust the Malnosso less. It's repulsive to know that the other enclosures think we're close to them when we're all just prisoners here.

I also had a hand in protecting Bil before and while I also don't trust him entirely, my friend risked his life to safeguard him at the time. I think it'd be useless that we risked our lives protecting him when we report back to the Malnosso with his location.

All I'm saying is that Haruhi's right. We should risk this."

[goldenglasses]

Vash nods, he understands what is being said. Sees the value of it and can't help but question if he didn't know of the kids who have been born in this world if he would agree to the destructive power of the bomb as easily.

"I just wish we knew more of the Third Party. We're told to go fight them. That they think death is the only way to escape this world. They must have more thought behind them then just death for everyone. Some sort of reasoning to why what they are doing will work." At least he'd like to believe a group who has managed to give the Malnosso such a hard time are more than a band of raving lunatics. "Maybe one we just don't fully grasp because every time we've seen them is when we've been sent into battle with them."

Vash shakes his head. "Of course, that's over simplifying it. I'm not trying to exactly side with the Third Party on this. Just to destroy a group of people we know so little about apart from what we've been told by people who experiment on us? It just doesn't sit right to me."

[yourhatred]

"They won't come back."

Itachi has been silent up until now, if indeed he'd been present at all, but he speaks up now. He's standing in the corner of the room, arms crossed over his chest as he listens to the debate.

"The shift bombs create, in essence, a dead zone. No one within the area will be returning to life for a good long time." Something to consider, while everyone was coming to a decision.

[godbent]

Now seated, and planning to keep out of the conversation now she said all she needed to say, Haruhi just narrows her eyes and has her gaze dart over to the man in the corner. Had he been there the whole time? And seriously, what was the point of keeping quiet about that?

...

And then, after her initial surprise and annoyance wash over her, she decides that even she needs to think about that. People - well, cultists - would be denied another chance. It would be erasing people from existence, so it's not the same as killing--

... When did she start to think of "death" as not being final?

[selphie_t]

The concept of death will never sit well with Selphie even after all that she's experienced. It's an overwhelming concept that leaves her full of cold rage but it had to be said. This is the consequence of what leaving this bomb in tact will have. She starts to breathe short, quicker breaths to remain calm but she needs to leave the tent.

Which is exactly what she does at this point in time. She doesn't have anything to add to the debate as slips quietly to the side of the tent and makes a quiet exit. She doesn't go very far however. There's an empty supply crate just outside the tent where she seats herself to listen in the cooler air. She'd see this through to the end, no matter how disgusted it left her feeling.

[falenandawn]

Frey's gaze follows Selphie as she exits, but he does not make to follow, even as a sad look overtakes his expression. As much as he would like to comfort his friend, he needed to hear what was being said. Questions were being asked, and new information was being placed on the table. Even with his own mind trying to grasp at all the consequences of this new information, he knew one thing.

He had to stay. This was too important to walk out of, even for her sake. He'd apologize later..... but for now, he stayed where he was, listening to the questions being asked and taking in the information being presented.

[yourfononsarewhack]

Jade turned to face Itachi somewhat sharply. "Elaborate. What do you know about the bomb's capabilities? And what is meant by this 'good long time'?" This changed things.

[deathsdoctor]

"A few hundred years."




"At minimun."

[yourfononsarewhack]

"So the deaths are still not permanent," he muses. "Essentially, this bomb will be removing these Cultists from the battlefield for the entire foreseeable future? My, my... This would certainly be a boon for the war effort."

[misterbrief]

His head turns to the side. "Whatever it is, it's not long enough." But hearing that, that was good. "If someone important in their ranks is down in that city, then we can kiss them goodbye."

"What I want to know is how the dead zone that's created is going to react with the natural shifts in the area, if at all. If not? Blast those cretins into oblivion." He doesn't care for a single one of them.

[deathsdoctor]

"We don't know."

Law's going to elaborate. "Yes, this is an area with a heavy degree of Natural Shifts. See... the entire planet is unstable. It's been described as in a state of constant shift."

Now he sounds like he's quoting something. He is.

"According to the files we found, they state Natural Shifts are caused by the planet itself, which itself acts a massive conductor for Shifted particles. Its unpredictable nature can be devastating to living beings and in some parts of the world, are completely lethal."

"It's why enclosures and other protective equipment were designed to protect individuals from them, among other reasons. Messing with them can produce unfortunate results... like we learned a few months back."

"It went on to theorize that the Cultists own shifting prowess was fueled by these shifts as well as contributing to their insanity. Not even the people who are born here and sane are able able to Shift like they can. The Malnosso rely on a very rare element mined from deep withing the planet to fuel their own Artifical Shifts. So... that's perhaps why they're based here in the first place. Because of the Natural Shifts."

"So we can only guess. Could it interact with Natural Shifts here? It's a possibility. It could not. It's one more risk to add to the pile."

[misterbrief]

"I don't like those odds." Or the lack thereof. He shifts, tightening the arms folded up against his chest. "And from what we've heard so far, it's been approved somewhere within the Malnosso. As if the stage is set and all the Iron Eye need to do is blast them into oblivion. But I know better than that. They would turn a blind eye if this group of mercenaries were wiped out in the process. Then they'd be rid of a group that was becoming too dangerous, having access to power like this; and ridding themselves of the blue man and his allies. Perhaps that's what they're hoping for."

Sounds like a really familiar situation to him. A few things are different but the end result is the same.

[deathsdoctor]

"If I was in their position, I know I would wish for that. This goes off and the genie is out of the bottle so to speak. Once one bomb is used, it's logical to assume that the Eye would be willing to use and make more. Furthermore, if I were Malnosso, I would be noting that this power would be in the hands of a group that sells its services to the highest bidder.

That would be very frightening to me. We do not know who else is out here aside from the Eye, the Malnosso, and the Cultists. Could there be other groups that seek this power? Certainly. It's a possibility.

If I were Malnosso, I might consider this the trigger to begin developing my own Shift Bombs just in case. The line's been crossed, I have no choice, and perhaps I want the threat of mutually assured destruction as a negotiating tool when dealing with these people from now on."

Law's expression is emotionless. Stone. "All I know is that things will escalate. In what way? Who ultimately knows - I can't claim I know the world and all the factors involved completely. Predicting how people will react is always a gamble at the best of times, and these are the worst. An enemy pushed into a corner is at their most dangerous and unpredictable. And even the very wise cannot see all ends."

"We're paying a price regardless of the option chosen. This isn't a situation where we can come away clean. So I suppose it comes down to instincts. What are yours telling you?"

[misterbrief]

He listens to Law intently. It's rare for Vegeta to meet people he considers to have common sense and logic, and that is a trait he can respect, even if he never, ever shows it.

His voice is at an even cadence, holding a matter-of-fact tone, and speaking from experience. "You want to know what my instinct tells me, eh. Well," he pauses, organizing his thoughts in his mind, "you realize you're asking a Saiyan warrior what he thinks of battle. It's play to win. Whatever it takes. The strong will survive and the weak shall perish. And what we see now is no different. If I didn't know any better I'd say the Iron Eye are being played for fools, and what are we but mere pawns in this game. For what purpose, I couldn't say. To test our mettle? To be reassured we will follow their every order like idiotic simpletons, never questioning and serving blindly? Who can say for certain. But there's an undeniable fact that there is far more to it than we can even begin to fathom."

"But at the same time we are met with those who seek to destroy us, take away anything and everything we hold dear. The blood that runs through my veins holds an insatiable hunger to be the one responsible for the oblivion of their kind. These Third Party. And my instincts, they tell me that the time is nigh and that we cannot afford to miss this opportunity. No matter what the cost."

[deathsdoctor]

"Then mine and yours speak the same."

The Surgeon of Death replies.

"They say blow them all to hell."

[thefinaljedi]

Luke's listened to this entire exchange quietly. He looks from Law to Vegeta, then back to Law. He doesn't know Vegeta, but Law? He trusts the man, despite his youth. And honestly, Vegeta's speaking the truth. A military target, a chance to change the war and make an ally? At first, yeah, he's argued against using the weapon. But he's had time to think. And it's Vegeta's near Mandalorian ideology that finally makes his decision. The scale of it...well...there's not that much difference between it and anything else. And there's even more reason to do so than on Byss or Dromund Kaas.

"As much as I hate to say it. I have to agree with both of you. In war we have to do things we don't like. To survive. This will tip the odds in favor of that. Frak it. It's no Death Star."

Luke bows his head, the gravity of the Jedi Grandmaster finally entering his bearing. He straightens his back, closes his eyes, and finishes in a grave tone.

"We won't have another chance like this one. May the Force be with us."

[voidseeing]

Gai has remained quiet for the most part-- quieter than he'd like, as he'd usually be up there with his leader face on, but his head is starting to swim and talking is becoming more of a challenge. When Law speaks, however, he nods in agreement. The two of them are on the same wavelength, as always; it's one of the things he appreciates the most about the doctor.

"Any choice we make will come with risks. Might as well make the choice that has a chance of getting us something out of it. Siding with them will gain us allies who have the potential to change the situation, and either way, we'll be striking a decisive blow against the cultists. They're going to use the bomb no matter what we do-- even if we tried to sabotage it, I doubt that would be more than a temporary deterrent. They're determined to make this work."

Now a smirk makes its way onto his lips, eyes determined. "This is our chance to throw in our lot with a player who could bring something new to the table. We'd be fools not to take this chance."

[misterbrief]

He takes a moment to look around at all the men that had chimed in to this conversation. There was sense to be had around here, who would have thought.

"Then why don't we make sure they get sent to a cold oblivion. I don't think anything would make me happier than that."

[goldenglasses]

Vash is quiet for awhile. Listening as some he thought might side against the bomb voicing for it's use. He knew he had been beat, even knew that this might be for the best. Perhaps the Third Party had gone mad past the point of being saved anyway.

Yet, he couldn't let go of the thought of Noah one day growing up and being within those ranks.

"I'm sorry. Using this kind of destructive force against a city we don't know hardly anything about I just can't stomach very well. I don't blame you; I can see the benefits of striking now. Just the line that the Malnosso had people within range of the bomb I can't stop thinking who else may be in it's range. Prisoners of war. Maybe people who haven't gone completely mad yet, but just trying to survive." He shakes his head sadly. "I'm sorry, but if I may request a selfish act in that if at all possible I wish to play no part in this past not stopping it."

As already he knows he doesn't think he'll be able to forgive himself for even that.

[misterbrief]

He looks over to his former brother, expression hard. "We will take care of things. You can sit on the sidelines and witness the events around you, but I hope you one day realize you aren't going to be able to keep this ridiculous righteous attitude of yours. The worst is yet to come."