thebastion | Event: Day 355 [OPEN]

[Oh hey look, Nathaniel is calling everyone for something!]

Guys, I've picked up a core signature, and it's coming from the quarry.

[He doesn't look too happy about it, though.]

We combed through that quarry several times now. For one to just show up suddenly like this...I don't think I even have to say the word.

Trap?

Is trap the word?

[No, Bird is the word--

Ok, not really. But even Rin is making faces at this.]

That sounds fantastic.

And by fantastic I mean "can we not?".

Can we afford to pass on this Core?

You're asking the wrong question.

The question is...

"Can we realize this is a trap?"

The answer is already yes.

I prefer the second question.

"Can we get over feeling insulted enough to realize that core energy means something?"

[Rin let out a sigh at that, reluctantly agreeing.]

Yeah, yeah, I figured that was gonna be the case...

[Zulf awkwardly attempts to give some reassurance.]

If it is a trap, at least you have some idea of what to expect, correct?

Zulf has a point. We know that quarry inside and out, so we can go in prepared and hopefully avoid an ambush.

Passing on this core means delaying the completion of the Bastion, and with trouble nipping at our heels I think it's best to avoid any further delays. Ultimately it's up to you guys, but if you feel alright with going, then we should go for it.

[Rin hadn't been going out on the skyway much, for multiple reasons, but even if she wasn't the only strong fighter in the Bastion anymore she felt like this might require more than just one muscle.]

... I'm in, if anyone else is.

[Zuko nods.]

So am I.

With what the others want to do with those cores... I don't think we can risk letting them keep it either.

We won't go in blindly this time.

I don't think we should pass on this.

But I've got a somewhat unorthodox idea...

[He glances between everyone. Even Zuko, but don't worry Zuko, he isn't going to keep his gaze on you for long.]

If you're all up to Unorthodox, anyway.

[There's a rustle of Paarthurnax's leathery wings.]

There is no harm in merely hearing a suggestion.

Unorthodox might be what we need. What did you have in mind?

Let's get the obvious out of the way. We ALL think that this is the other group, right?

I personally suspect they're counting on us sending out fighters, on us expecting a trap.

They're probably planning either a rescue mission or an attack while our forces are split...

If they're planning an attack, not a rescue mission, there's not much we can do to throw a wrench in that plan unless we want to ignore the slim chance of a core.

But if they're planning a rescue mission, well... THAT we can do something about.

I think we should extend our hand in cooperation instead. Send out two fighters, one of our brains, an extra set of hands... And Red.

Whatever they're expecting, they won't be expecting that. And it will give us a chance to show Red that we're not as evil as they think we are, letting her come along with a core on the line and maybe even have a say in it... Plus, it gets her out of here if they're planning to sneak in and rescue her.

And if they're planning to spring a trap in the quarry, they'll have to change their plan unless they want to catch Red in it. I know it's not without risk, but nobody would be expecting it. And it has the potential for a good pay-off in probably eighty percent of the possible scenarios.

Edited 2015-09-25 03:39 (UTC)

It's a liability, bringing her along.

We won't just have to stay alert for whatever trap they're springing. She'll be looking for any opportunity to sabotage our efforts.

[But 80% of the reason she's bringing this up is because it's Colin. Fucking Colin.]

I could help with that.

[Psii- the former Helmsman- is probably easy to miss. The only sound he's made in ages has been an impressive display of vulgarity and that one time he tried to garble at Colin.]

[...Also he's splayed across the grass in an utterly graceless way, but whatever.]

[Those large mismatched eyes stare up at everyone blandly.]

Zuko's probably right on that, but I don't see why we can't "convince" her otherwise.

[And by convince, Rin means intimidate.

Which is probably what Psii was hinting at as well.]

Oh, she's absolutely a liability. A huge risk, a drain on resources.

But we're the good guys, aren't we?

I'm proposing we do something nice and cooperative. Self-serving, certainly. But if we work with her to get a core, even if there is no core... Well, that does weaken their leader's position that we're heartless murderers, doesn't it?

We don't even need to convince her. The chance to get out of that cell, the chance to be out in the open, the chance to get away OR help her people... she'll leap on that. If she DOESN'T, then we've got real trouble.

[He smirks at Psii.]

What did you have in mind, in case you didn't mean dominant persuasion?

[...]

[She's here, but there's been no urge to speak up. Even now, she still feels distracted.]

[On the other side of the coin, she trusts many of those in attendance. And if there's a way for her to be useful...she trusts them to find that, too.]

Let's avoid using powers to force her to do anything. That wouldn't endear her to us.

[Also, Bon is going. Because like hell is he going to let Rin go on her own and get in trouble.]

[There's a sort of vague annoyed noise because WOW RUDE he is not advocating physical force or anything.]

[y'all have so little faith]

[Talking so much- even if just a sentence- seems to be rather tiring for the alien and he takes a moment to breathe. His voice is even more hoarse than before.]

Theer. Thycic too. Could go along. Keep eye out.

[Have fun with his shitty lisp, he's not up for talking enough to help you through it.]

Let's not treat this idea as anything but throwing them off.

If we force her to help, it'll just confirm her feeling that we're the bad guys, but being nice won't suddenly change her mind either. When you're as desperate as they are, it takes a lot to reexamine your actions.

If she comes, we watch her like an eagle hawk.

[Which is maybe what that weird guy was suggesting? But Zuko only understood the second half of what he said. Who knows if the first part even translated at all.]

This plan sounds risky, and I don't like the idea of sending a small force. Maybe a bit more than the number you mentioned, Colin? Two fighters just doesn't seem like enough to handle both Red and whatever trap there might be there, unless one of them is Tobias or Meg or someone else who can quickly get backup.

Unless...what about having a secondary team nearby, to help the first?

[Bon, how many times has she been out without you?

Ignoring the one time she nearly died it's not like she gets in to trouble that often.

... still. She's not... against the idea of him being there. She just hopes that it's not going to result in a repeat of what happened to Night.]

A second team? I don't see why that couldn't work. Havin' backup right there is better than none at all.

A second team is possible, but it also takes away from our defenders here.

This is just me, but I don't think the main threat's going to be at the quarry. I can't imagine why they'd try to get us out there unless it's to weaken us here. If we responded to this plan like it were an actual core, we'd be sending out a lot of fighters.

But I'll leave that up to everyone who wants to go out there. As long as we can keep a defensive force here too, we'll be okay.

[He glances at Rin and Bon, and then he nods at Psii]

A telepathic scout will be amazingly useful. If you think you're up to it, everyone would benefit from it.

Event: Day 355 [OPEN]

At the Bastion: pre-exploration

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