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“Who did you bring with you to Auditorium?” You question your prisoner, making up your mind.

“Just the Gentleman, I swear! I'd never lie to you, my king! Sure, maybe a...creative omission or two, but lie? Me? Never! Trusty Spotweld is a name of sterling reputation!” His voice is so oily it's almost flammable.

“And that is why you will live today.” You scan the cockpit ball for bombs, and are a little surprised not to find any. Then again, it would be a gambit with only the death of a moderately good pilot for payoff, the enemy couldn't guarantee hitting you or even substantially penetrating your armor with such tactics. It pains you to admit it, but they came a little closer to getting you this time than usual. Your enemies have grown smarter. You get on the comms, and call for a squad of Rocs. “Spotweld, you are going straight into the brig, and I strongly suggest cooperating and answering any questions to the best of your ability. Persuade me to keep my wife and her blade away from you.”

“Yes my king! Of course my king! Your mech looks even more grand from up close, my king!” Trusty Spotweld gushes as the Rocs carry his cockpit ball away. You sigh heavily, and shake your head.

“Don't trust him. Not one little bit.” Clemmy grumbles, the S-Flowerhorn crossing its arms.

“Neither do I, but he might be useful.” You remind her. His words bother you, though. If Captain Marx really gave up the freedom of open space and strength in void combat for organized crime, that's a different sort of challenge than what you're used to. One thing you do believe is that Spotweld was telling the truth when he claimed Marx had a lot more soldiers with him than you do. “This is starting to feel like a project.” You grumble. “This is the sort of thing I keep Miles around for.”

“I agree!” The Flowerhorn waves its arms, “I always hated that part of being an officer, only the fighting made it worthwhile! We should just go wipe them out together!”

“Or perhaps we should regroup, and you can try not to lead our husband into another trap.” A voice that is practically a growl, well-bred Martian accent raised like a banner, chimes in, “I am absolutely furious with you, Alice C. Farragut. What would you have done if he was captured?”

[Continued]

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“Take him back.” Clemmy responds carelessly, without an ounce of shame, “And I told you to call me Clemmy.”

“Fatima, dear, Clemmy is absolutely right. We have a pair of squads the UJCIDF at its very best cannot match. We could just overpower them. Their space forces are gone, let's just go tear the Hextarchy's offices off the asteroid and throw them into space.” Rosita chimes in.

“Non. Pardon, but for le legitimate and true monarch zhat is not how 'e does zhings. Zhese traitors must look 'im in le face and explain zhemselves before facing le ruler's justice. Pirate or non, mon Rowarc is a king.” Loriette disagrees.

“Stay out of this!” Fatima snaps, “Rosita, don't encourage her.”

“I'm not, and don't talk down to me!” Rosita snaps right back, full of haughty grandeur, “He should have taken me along instead! Ranged support might be a bit more helpful than another close combatant...I said 'might', Clemmy, there's no need to growl. Other than that, it was fine, nothing went wrong.”

“Oui, nuzzink went wrong ZHIS time! And do NOT bark at me, saracen dog! Mon 'onor answers to mon 'usband and not to his Martian 'arlot! I have suffered enough of your barbs!” Loriette is not taking Fatima's attitude today.

Fatima, predictably, begins calling the Avalonian girl several things a well-bred Martian woman should not be saying, and Loriette responds in kind, the two of them berating each other with ever-increasing vitriol and unkind creativity.

[Continued]

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>>2100980
AWAKEN MY KESTRELS!

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“It could have gone wrong.” A quiet voice interjects, Samantha sounding rather subdued in the face of so many bristling feminine egos, “I saw it. Caesar was telling the truth, there's another Nightmare and it was here. I tried to follow it but it just...vanished. I'm pretty confident in my shadowing skills, but I didn't see any signs of it from the moment it disappeared. It was like it just stopped existing.”

“No wonder YOU'RE worried, sneak, but Roarke tore the first one apart in seconds. Seconds! He beat Colonel Stern, NOBODY beats Colonel Stern!” Clemmy roars.

“But-” Samantha tries to interject.

“No buts! Have faith in him!” Clemmy doesn't let her get a word in edgewise.

“But what if the pilot is better than Cabo-” Samantha tries again.

“Then he'll still win!” Clemmy insists, “He always does! He always has, and he always will forever and ever! My Roarke is invincible!”

[Continued]

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You're flattered but a bit overwhelmed and feeling rather sorry for all of your wives who are being yelled at by the others. The urge to just bundle them together and hug them until they stop fighting is strong, “Please, enough.”

“But-” Several voices say at once.

“Enough! Please!” You hold the Kaiser's hands up, and to your relief they all settle down. “We're sending a detachment of mecha to each colony. Put up our flag on the administrative building on each colony, step on anyone who tries to stop us, show we're here and we won, then we march on the asteroid and make the Hextarchy sign a surrender. We'll let them deny blame for this ambush if they want, but their careers are over with and they have no more power to prevent that.”

“...Can I say something? Please, Roarke?” Clemmy asks.

“You don't need my permission to talk, you're my wife, just don't pick on Samantha. I love her too. I love all of you.” You grumble.

“Okay~! Hey, you, little sneak...I'mnotgonnabullyherIswear...I mean, Sammy. It bugs me when you act all unconfident. So what if there's a Nightmare?”

“Please call me Samantha.” Samantha responds stiffly, “And what do you mean? The Nightmare is exceedingly dangerous and-”

“Right, whatever.” Clemmy cuts her off, “So what? You're pretty dangerous. This whole attitude you've got, it really annoys me, because I've seen you fight. Everything you've hit, you've beaten. Your W/L record is nothing to joke about. S-Squilla was a secret project, according to what the few buddies I still have in the UJCIDF tell me, and your SOUL prototype unit tore it apart. That's impressive. Stop acting like you're weak, it embarrasses me and you both. That's all. If the Nightmare didn't run...I'd bet on you to win.”

“I'm surprised to hear this coming from you.” Samantha replies, warily.

“Roarke believes in you, so I believe in you. I just think your attitude is messed up.” The Flowerhorn shrugs.

“With all due respect, that's my problem with you, too. You're not invincible, none of us are, and if you keep acting so recklessly and get hurt...I know it would break his heart. You're a legend, and not everyone has as much raw piloting talent as you do, but we're not fighting for the sake of our pride. We have a larger cause, a nation and a family. Please try to think more about who would be hurt if you did something rash and it ended badly.” Samantha keeps her voice carefully neutral, “...Because I don't ever want to see the man I love lose someone important to him ever again if I can help it. Even someone who's habitually rude to me.”

[Continued]

>>2101044
>>2101036
>>2101024
I am glad that I got some snacks ready for this.

>>2101044
This is going to get so much worse.

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“Oh dear.” Rosita chimes in, “Are you subtly trying to tell me something too? I've had many solo flights with darling, after all. Really, I think your whole feud with each other is tremendously silly. You're both right in your own way, and both completely incapable of seeing the good points in the other. Try to learn from my example, find a balance between spotlight-grabbing confidence and the shrewd cunning of a natural leader. As your spiritual big sister, I'm always here to provide mentorship.”

“Karen said she thinks red might be her color.” Samantha remarks innocently, “She told me if she dyed her hair pink and started emphasizing her chest more, she'd never have to worry about you stealing Roarke away for the night again.”

“I'll strangle her with her own braids! I thought we were past that kind of petty one-upswomanship!” Red Siren howls indignantly, “M-my look is practically trademarked!”

Clemmy bursts out laughing, “Not bad! Not bad at all!”

“Hmph. Lying is unkind.” You can hear Rosita's pout in her voice. In the background, you can hear Arabic and French grumbling, but at least the Martian and Avalonian are no longer yelling openly at each other.

“In the spirit of sisterhood, I won't tell Karen what you just said. We both know what she'd do.” Clemmy sounds a bit gleeful.

“Reverse the controls on the Betta?” Samantha hazards a guess.

“At the very least! You might get off light with the whole Double Girl Alliance thing, but if I did it...I don't even wanna think about that.” the Flowerhorn drapes its arms around the Kaiser, nuzzling its cheek against the Kaiser's faceplate like a giant, affectionate cat, “Right Roarke?”

[Continued]

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“You all met her after she was a grown woman.” You remark, wincing, “You missed the mood swings and the...inventive...things she used to do to my Harpy whenever we had a spat back when she was a teenager.”

“That's because you took forever to realize she was interested in you.” Samantha doesn't sound very sympathetic.

“There's an age difference, a man has to have principles where that's concerned.” You protest.

“You two still act like you've been married the longest.” Clemmy adds.

“I DISAGREE!” Rosita trills like an upset songbird.

“It makes me a bit jealous sometimes, but then I remember that what we have is special in the perfect way and I stop being jealous.” Clemmy sails right past into what she clearly actually wants to talk about, “...We should have kids. Ours would be the best babies, the strongest babies. I'm not really much good with children, but I bet raising them is a lot like dealing with a squad of really green rookies that cry a lot, and I know how to do that.”

“Oh Minerva no. That is not how motherhood works!” Samantha sounds panicked at the vision of Clemmy treating Roarklets the way she treats new recruits to the Iron Kestrels, or possibly how she treated recruits back when the two of them were in the Jovian military.

[Continued]

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>>2101067
>The baby question has been brought up
Oh God get ready for this.

>>2101067
>I'm not really much good with children, but I bet raising them is a lot like dealing with a squad of really green rookies that cry a lot, and I know how to do that.
Really green rookies who shit themselves over everything and need to be spoonfed and handholded until they can walk on their own two feet.
So X-Com original recipe rookies.

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>>2101086

>>2101086
If worse comes to worse, slowly float back into the static chaff.

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“Absolutely! You have to be kind, and FOSTER their talents without trying to live vicariously through them and forcing them to work so they can support your drinking habit! And buy them the presents they WANTED instead of the ones you know they won't use so you can quietly take them instead. Childhood should be the happiest years of someone's life and if it isn't, it's the fault of the child's parents.” Rosita sounds a bit bitter.

“Don't you 'ave servants to raise zhe petit ones?” Loriette sounds puzzled, “Surely zhere are reliable wet-nurses and governesses among le peasantry of Phaeton, non?”

“That explains so much.” Fatima sighs and explains slowly, “No, no. Parents must be the beacon of a child's life, present to guide them but not slavishly catering to their whims. A constant source of love and comfort, but also firm in instruction and willing to punish bad behavior when necessary. My parents were both older when they had me, my mother moreso than my father, but...they were both wonderful, I can only hope I live up to their example. I wish every day that they were here to guide me. I feel like their spirits were present at my wedding, but...teaching Roarke's firstborn the tenets of Islam without a grandfather and grandmother there for spiritual support is going to be difficult.”

“Wait, firstborn? You're pregnant?” Clemmy asks, sounding astonished.

“What? No, not yet, but I mean...why wouldn't I be first? I'm Head Wife!” Fatima sputters.

“Zhis was not somezhing le rest of you agreed to, was it?” Loriette sounds gleeful.

[Continued]

>>2101099
There's no escaping the hell that's about to be unleashed. We live with it.

>>2101101
NEWS OF SOL TODAY: KING OF PHAETON IN CRITICAL CONDITION DUE TO BROKEN PELVIS.

>>2101106
How well do you think they'd take Roarke suggesting drawing straws?

>>2101113
I'm going to say not very. Roarke better make sure to sleep in the Kaiser tonight.

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“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” Clemmy shouts.

“That's right, I remember all the details of the arrangement and there wasn't anything about you getting to have Roarke's first baby.” Samantha agrees firmly, “Especially considering that Hakimite Muslims are a minority on Phaeton and you're raising your children in your faith.”

“Per'aps I should be le first. After all, le Kennedy line is renowned for le strong offspring, non?” Loriette still sounds gleeful, “Rowarc! Impregnate moi!”

“DON'T YOU DARE!” Fatima roars, “I'm first!”

“It's not your decision alone, Roarke has a say in it and he promised me we could...you know...visit a clinic and arrange it. Maybe I can't do it the way you can, but there's still ways.” Samantha timidly interjects, but there's a core of determination in her voice that's a bit terrifying.

“Mmm. I don't really care. I want babies someday, but...I mean, I'm still plenty young and the window of opportunity isn't as small as it used to be before modern medicine.” Rosita remarks.

“I care! I should be first! The strongest babies! Roaaarke!” Clemmy barks, “Hey, where did he go?”

You, naturally, are fleeing, back to the Rhinehawk and safety, or the closest thing to it, through the welcome protection of the dissipating chaff below. Some battles are just scripted losses in disguise.

>[Back to the Rhinehawk]
>[Hide on Oda's ship]

>>2101131
>>[Hide on Oda's ship]

>>2101131
>>[Hide on Oda's ship]
No one will expect us amongst the weebs. It's the perfect hiding spot.

>>2101131
>[Hide on Oda's ship]
And I bet we're about to find out Oda and Jane are a couple.

>>2101131
>[Back to the Rhinehawk]
I feel like they'd expect Roarke to do the unexpected.

>>2101157
That or Jane rats us out. Still, if we go to the Rhinehawk, Karen will be waiting. Who knows how much she has been listening in and how many red comets she drank?

>>2101131
>[Back to the Rhinehawk]
This is thr path we choose

>>2101169
I'm more worried about an annoying little "magician" snitching to her big sister.

>>2101178
Implying Karen doesn't have a dozen tracking and listening devices hidden throughout the Kaiser

>>2101131
>[Hide on Oda's ship]
Its time to awaken our ninja arts!
>>2101178
.....
To be fair she is probably very occupied with the battle right now.
Dammit Thunder, stop reading my movements!

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You choose the Yamato. Your wives will never think to look for you there.

You nearly bump into a very pink mech as you enter the Yamato's mechbay. It's very colorful, with a lot of Japanese runes everywhere, and the pink mech practically dances around yours, “Tei-to-ku-sa-maaaa! Ohayo! Welcome aboard! Oh no, um, Teitoku-sama isn't right anymore, it's...” You can practically hear the Bosun's fingers flicking as she does a holonet search, “TENNO-SAMA! At least, I think so! Are you here to discuss strategy with Taishou-sama?”

“That's right.” You inform her, hoping this isn't a terrible mistake.

“Sugoi! I'll prepare bays for your waifus at once, Tenno-sama!” Za Walkure skips away, “Can onee-sama come along? I want to drink tea with her and show off my kawaii Victor-kyun's new uniform!”

You'd spotted the modified Knight Victor uses, alongside the one Magnarus of the Iron Kestrels has, leading Knights from Loriette's troopship. Apparently her Avalonian pilots don't mind fighting pirates, which is alright with you, you had no plans of asking them to fight their own people and they can throw themselves without reserve against the Five Man Band, “Akai, I'm here alone. Please don't tell anyone I'm here, I want to consult with your Captain privately, where is he?”

“Oda-sama just returned. He said his nanobot-ken is truly sugoi but he needs more practice with it.” Za Walkure bows floridly. It's hard to believe at one time it was Oda's prior Osano-Wo.

Soon enough, you're relaxing in the Yamato's hydroponics section, a small corner of which has been sculpted into a garden of cherry blossom trees, their limbs growing crazily in all directions as a result of the zero gravity. Jane Mappa, resplendent in a sky-blue-and-white kimono with a crane pattern on it, offers you tea from a space-compatible thermos shaped like a gourd. She seems very pleased with herself.

Oda sits across from you at a small table, trying to teach you how to play Go, “It's all about territory, senpai. Think several moves ahead.” He tells you.

“It would be useful if I could. We're outnumbered on the Colonies, they have more troops than we do. Sure, we can put up our flags and make a show of force, but who knows how many sleeper agents and assassins the Five Man Band has waiting down there?” You remark, setting down a black stone with a decisive click.

Oda rubs his stubbly chin, then sets a white stone down on the board, “I know how many. A lot. Too many.” His voice sounds uncharacteristically gloomy, “We can't just shoot everyone, and we can't just leave our backs exposed. This is going to take time, and effort.”

“California Station was your territory until recently, their roots should be fairly shallow. Any newcomers or strangers, plus the usual gangster scum, you could feel free to expel.” Jane points out.

[Continued]

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You glance askance at her, “Why are you even here? You're part of the UJCIDF, they can't have given you that much vacation time.”

“I've won the Cleanest Room Award every month since General Hatsheput was promoted to run the Praetorian Guard.” Jane says proudly, “It all adds up if you save it up, and besides, I've asked her nicely and she's letting me act as a temporary military advisor to the Storm Dragons as part of a mutual operation to increase cooperation and multi-national unit efficiency in the future.”

From a very great distance, you almost hear someone saying “Forbidden love~!” In a gushy, singsong voice. At least, you imagine it vividly.

You blink, “Wouldn't I have been consulted about this?”

Jane bats her eyelashes smugly, “I only just now had time to send the paperwork to you. I didn't have time to disembark at the Academy, you were in an emergency situation and I thought I'd do the right thing, as befits a ranking military officer of an allied nation.”'

“Yare yare da ze~ It's fine just to have you as a guest, Jane-chan.” Oda remarks, sipping his tea comfortably and fanning himself with a folded fan pulled from within his sleeve. The go board is lightly magnetized and the pieces must have iron cores, because as he sets down another stone it sits in place.

“Hey, no cheating. You skipped my turn.” You remind him.

The big man chuckles, “Just seeing if your brain was daijobu, aniki. You're distracted, stressed. Relax. This is why I have a garden, everyone thinks more clearly when they're relaxed. It seems like we have two options, don't we?”

“We take the asteroid now, and then begin work on the colonies, or we take the colonies first with everything we can muster and then besiege the asteroid.” You say grimly, pick up Oda's illegally placed piece, and flick it back into the cup holding his pieces before setting one of yours down in its place.

He nods, “What will you do, senpai?”

>[Try to take the asteroid, then besiege the colonies]
>[Try to take the colonies, then besiege the asteroid]

>>2101466
>>[Try to take the asteroid, then besiege the colonies]
Best to try to cut off the head quickly before they can muster up something more.

>>2101466
>>[Try to take the asteroid, then besiege the colonies]

>>2101466
Hmmm... Can you explain a bit about the layout of both? I don't even remember anything about the asteroid.

>>2101466
Tough choice.. but the best bet would be
>[Try to take the colonies, then besiege the asteroid]
The colonies would be where we would have both the most sympathizers and the gangs are likely not going to put up a fight if they are scrubs. This will cut off the Hexarchs from escaping into the colonies.
We don't need to cut off the head of the snake. Just smoke it out.

>>2101466
>[Try to take the asteroid, then besiege the colonies]

>>2101466
>>[Try to take the colonies, then besiege the asteroid]
Meh, lets deal with their main force first. It probably won't solve itself with just focused attacks if we are dealing with hidden enemies and war on the streets.

>>2101485
Sides, >>2101471
The main objective is seizing control of California station. The hexarch have control in name, but by clearing out the remaining games and cutting them off, we can get further control. The hexarchs likely didn't plan on a siege, and if the people turn against them, they can either starve in that asteroid or come out. That asteroid is likely on high alert now anyways.

>>2101517
The problem is the time it takes to siege and take over all the colonies will give them time to bunker down and plan out things to fuck with us. Focusing on taking them out quickly will help us a lot more considering they'll have no time to clean up anything they left and we might catch more info on the Bo5.

>>2101536
A valid point, but if we go straight for the asteroid, they can flee into the colonies and go underground.. if not stir unrest. If they were to plan out something, what exactly can they do? Yes, they could have data on the 5mb, but the ship yards in the colonies likely have that information as well. It also means seizing any weapons or prepped machines they have in those bays.
The enemy is going to bunker down in either scenario, but I would rather have them bunkerdown in 1 place, than in 4 different ones. Besides, the gangs might start wrecking the place if we don't root them out and the bar chick proved more useful than Mr. Turtle.

I wish the best luck for all of you tonight... But I have training tomorrow and finals begining monday, have fun guys, see you later.

>>2101466
>[Try to take the asteroid, then besiege the colonies]

I'd rather not give the Hextarchs time to beat feet.

>>2101581

I'm ending it here tonight because I know a lot of people still have finals and stuff and because game resumes Monday with your decision and putting it into action.

Also, because for some reason the beginning took me almost no time to write up.

>>2101782
Aye. Also, any bit of info that can help figure this out would help. Will try to plan an idea for either scenario.

>>2101466
>[Try to take the asteroid, then besiege the colonies]

>>2101782
The pics of cats representing the wives talking/arguing had me giggling in the middle of work. Thanks for that wong

>>2101466
>[Try to take the colonies, then besiege the asteroid]

>>2100980
is this quest going to end anytime soon
because i dont wanna catch up 100 threads on a dead quest

>>2104406
It's like, at mid point? Second Arc began only a few threads ago and there is still another big bad hinted at after this

>>2104426
thanks
100 threads are gonna take a while but i will go through the effort

>>2104406
>dead quest
Its just finals and holiday slow down, and we still have a shit ton to do so I doubt were ending anytime soon.

>>2104505
i meant finished

>>2104527
There will be probably a hundred threads more to go.

>>2104673
there is also a potential continuation with us controlling one of the roarklets.

>>2104707
...Who was also trained by one of the surviving tourneygoers... That reminds me, what should Dio be good at?

>>2104756
embroidery.

>>2104756
Getting punched in the dick.

>>2104756
Failing everyone while surviving, and having his fellow survivors only make it through by violating every ideal Dio holds to be true and righteous while he himself just kind of lucks out and doesn't have to actually live up to his ideals.

A constant failure who is never personally tested while those around him pay the price and whose hopeful optimism is salt in the wound of the only people who could understand him or grant him absolution.

>>2104756
Like get seriously Greek on his ass. I want to see your power want marty stu suffer while retaining all his snowflake bullshit.

>>2104756
I want Dio to be so insecure in his own abilities and values that he's desperate to die for them, not realizing that this further causes suffering to those around him as his unfulfilled death wish slowly drives away or kills off anyone close to him while reinforcing his desperation to prove himself right.

I want him to eventually die for his own pride, pointlessly and costing the survivors immeasurable suffering as he finally outright fails the Galaxy at large.

I want his death to teach him nothing, for him to pass on with a smug satisfied feeling of justification. "Knowing" that true heroes only exist in the grave, proud of himself that he truly "gave it his all". Deluded and selfish to the core.

Hey you asked for this when you named him Dio.

>>2104756
Really, anything to prevent railroading into a shounen DBZ universe 6 style bullshit power levels.

Now come. Shitpost at me bro.

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>>2105610
>>2105620
>>2105668
>>2105679
>tfw he described Keith if Roark didn't exist.
That almost happened and maybe is happening in another universe.

>Really, anything to prevent railroading into a shounen DBZ universe 6 style bullshit power levels.
Changing the Protag should deal with that.

>Now come. Shitpost at me bro.
This is no way to start a shitpost war, you can't just challenge me to shitpost duel, this isn't the true way of the shitpost, it must be expontaneous, true and crazy, it cannot be just mathematically defined and mass produced at the whim of some sane mind.
You're nothing to me more than another blink in the long history of chaos and order in this universe, just another confused spectator who doesn't understand the true nature of the forces who flows through mind and matter, man and internet, you came to the shitpost expecting answers but I was born into it, molded by it and became the answers itself.

It cannot be just given to you anon, you must become worthy to receive the true that resides in it but only really comes from within yourself.

I'll be waiting for you until then.

>>2105730
True. If you want to shit post at BR, you either develope a new mech for him to review or start making fanfiction between him and thunderbird.

>>2105610
>>2105620
>>2105668
Woah, its everything alright buddy? That rant seems to come from deep within.

>>2105755
Poor guy. Probably got touched by a Mary Sue when he was young.

>>2105744
See, my secret is that I know BA always shitposts so it's less of a challenge, more of a resignation.

I mean he straight up posted, what if it isn't a copypasta already, definitely is one now.

>>2105755
True suffering is ignorance of the self and other people. Making it all his own fault is just so people aren't able to sympathize with him, merely pity him. Especially with the fake out progression of him at first appearing to simply be strong in his convictions, before slowly revealing his obsession with them as idealized actions is because of his fear of losing them as he has nothing else to build his personality on. The longer this goes on, the more zealous he becomes in them until dying for them is the ultimate rebuttal not only to his critics, not only to the universe at large, but to his own self-doubt about whether or not he is a "good" person and not just an imposter that hasn't been caught yet.

It's delightful to my mind how he would become his own dogged inquisitor, worrying his own actions for evidence of his failure like an animal unable to stop grooming itself. Shedding his self esteem to pieces in his excessive effort to maintain it. Because if you look hard enough for flaws, you'll eventually find them.

And other people's dismissals of his manufactured self complaints only show how less than complete adherence allows the rot to set in.

Honestly it would be a much more interesting character than "BORUTO IN SPAAAAAAAAAAACE" I think.

It's also straight up classic Greek Tragedy. Pride and fear, because if Dio is less than perfect he's worthless in his own opinion. Oh, it's fine for others to be flawed, he doesn't expect more from them.

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>>2105795
Classical education + scarred by how shit a lot of Shounen treats power creep. Might as well start a Capeshit game if you want to go that way.

>>2105730
You hear me, BA? You're Capeshit.

>>2105840
I would beg to differ. Making a character who is completely conceited and destined to fail everything tends to not go well. There were a few quests like that, one being Princess Guard quest, that just sort of became big ol' messes.

Flawless or broken beyond measure, both tend to do poorly because there is no growth. Superman is dull due to having everything, but at the same time, a character that simply does not grow can be just as bad. Look at shows like family guy. The characters never really overcomes their flaws, never improve, and continue making the same mistakes. Sure it's funny or interesting at first, but after a point it's just a punching bag that slowly loses it's stuffing.
It's why I enjoy this quest. The characters do learn. They do improve. Hells, Jesus himself has grown to actually be decent as a person. Meanwhile, you have Fairchild, who never really grew as a person and suffered for it.

Sides, I feel like Roarke and Clemmy would be the two parents who would be the most on watch when it comes to making sure their kid doesn't become fairchild 2.0.

>>2105907
See, the thing is that the character does grow. Just not healthier.

It's an arc not a line. Ending with their eventual death because after having built up the need to validate their ideals through sacrifice, that's the only acceptable proof that can't be niggle away. It's the ultimate refuge, as suicide always is, they just have to go through the tortorous journey of convincing themselves it's noble. Devaluing objective life compared to the purity of their ideals,a purity they have come to believe is impossible in existence.

The character slowly drives themselves to suicide.

What you enjoy is success. The happy ending. That's why you mistakenly thought here was no progress made.

May I recommend you watch the movie "Falling Down" with Michael Douglas? It's very good.

Or "It's Always Sunny". Dennis slowly becomes a serial killer.

Family Guy is episodic pap and pretty much not relevant to anything. It's a sitcom where they've lampooned how *nothing* changes.

Whereas a single character being unable to change entirely can be done well, even, so long as the world around them changes. Slowly they find themselves more lost and out of touch, ending not with a bang but a whimper as they're simply left behind.

As for your last point

> Good parents don't have bad kids

Also BA was far more on point about Dio being a Shit-Keith than Fairchild. Fairchild reveled in being hypocritical and abusing her power, justifying it as the end results excuse the means.

What I described was the opposite. Personally unwilling to compromise no matter how impractical and then blaming the universe for not being perfect, essentially.

>>2105907
>Meanwhile, you have Fairchild, who never really grew as a person
She did grow, she grew in a negative direction. Just because people become worse doesn't mean they don't grow.

>>2105907
Also we were shown several times in Fairchild life where she wasn't as monstrous as when we met her.

It was even pointed out how she degraded when Cabot got involved.

Your concept of growth is very one dimensional.

>>2105936
I like to think of it as a "hot house" personality being what I wished on Dio. Without external pressures to define it by, personality traits can grow wildly and with exaggerated characteristics that eventually become unsupportable and collapse the system entirely. Exhausting the available nutrients, choking on their own waste, breaking the hothouse and dying being completely exposed, or just collapsing and suffocating themselves under their sheer weight.

But really it's just narcissistic tendencies with some imposter syndrome.

>>2105947
I would rather have the focus of his character be his trying to match up to his father and all of his incredible actions and how he either comes to terms with it or it leads to his demise.

>>2105950
I mean that is part of it. But what if there's nothing worthy to prove himself against?

I guess I was just focused on the bad end where his obsession destroys him. Because most people either surpass their father or come to terms with their limitations.

Legacy stories are so often boring. That's why writers kill the parents off so often.

>>2105950
To be fair, to be inspired by the original character, he would be someone who just believes that "MIGHT IS RIGHT" and wears a mask of civility because social mighty is a form of strenght.
But knowing Wong, I expect him to be humanized in some form by his flaws and any redeming features.
I don't think that pulling another Fairchild would be "better" thought, to have something new his growth would have to be a surprise, not a straight line up or down.

>>2105975
Undone by his insecurity of his social status and obsession with Joestar leading him to force himself to prove the righteousness of his might instead of choosing to not fight Joseph at all.

>>2105998
To be fair, he won against Joseph and only losed because he thought he was the only one with the time-stopping power.

Somewhat unfortunate news, I'll be running Tuesday and Wednesday instead of Monday, probably. Mondays at work tend to be extremely busy and I frequently come home with a headache, which makes writing impossible. That's all my goofup and nobody else's fault.

>>2101478

Sure, why don't I tell you a bit about California Station first? Although Roarke has never personally been to the asteroid, the rock California Station was built around is a mined-out asteroid that once held remarkable mineral wealth. This wealth, and the miners it attracted, led to the creation of the colonies that would become California Station. First one, then two, then three. As the veins of precious ores became depleted, the space station nearly became a ghost town, but the California Bay Shipbuilding Company (holders of a Bahamutcorp franchise license) noticed that the zero-g environment of the asteroid combined with its tremendous open caverns and substantial tunnel network that produced much of the superstructure that normal freestanding shipyards utilize all added up to a good place to build ships, and that it was well situated along several major routes. Shortly after the Great Sidereal War, the company bought the asteroid for cheap, and the need for workers revitalized its economies, while the new facilities attracted new traffic. The company changed its name officially from California Bay to California Station Shipbuilding Company when they managed to acquire a franchise license to produce and service Martian ships as well as Jovian vessels. However, while the company owned the asteroid itself, the colonies were still owned by the descendants of the original miners. Some of these landowners were quite poor, but others had seen the purchase of the asteroid coming and invested heavily in buying out their neighbors and creating private armies of thugs and criminals to defend their rights against corporate thugs. A compromise was reached, roughly around the time of Roarke's birth, where a government consisting of six representatives would run California Station's administrative affairs, while using as light a hand as possible so that the shipbuilding company wasn't dictating matters on the colonies and the colonies weren't dictating the running of the company. This far-from-ideal-but-still-semi-practical system left a large gap in terms of local authority and policing, however, which led to an influx of pirates and criminals who were eager to spend their ill-gotten wealth at California Station businesses in an environment where there was at least some level of possible censure over anyone causing TOO much trouble. The Hextarchy was happy to look the other way, because the money the pirates bought in made the nicer parts of the Station truly luxurious, Colony Four in particular is known for its "Golden Pavillion" district of extremely upscale hotels and other entertainment facilities.

As for the asteroid...

>>2106077

...The asteroid is a big lump of rock, full of tremendous manmade caverns that have almost all been reinforced and enlarged for the production of ships. You almost can't see bare rock anywhere because it's got factories growing off of it like tumors, but the six-sided administrative tower of the Hextarchy is unmistakable. Ironically, most of the California Station Shipbuilding Company corporate offices are on the COLONIES, because it's more pleasant to work in a gravity environment near where you actually live and sleep, the only people who tend to be on the asteroid are the menial workers and technicians. The Hextarchs only use the tower for face-to-face meetings and to vote on issues, which tells you something about the fact that you were contacted from there.

>>2104505

Let's hope it's just finals and holiday, but I know sometimes we have a lot of lurkers and not many posters. I blame this on people not shitposting nearly enough and provoking angry REEEEEfests, clearly.

>>2105947

It's an interesting take and you might be right in the end, but Clemmy as a mother is very much an external pressure. JJBA Dio's personality came about as a result of having a tremendous scumbag for a father and a mother who was barely there, while he himself possessed tremendous luck and talent that made life easy for him. This Dio, on the other hand, would have Roarke and Clemmy for parents, just as someone using Kamille's portrait with Roarke and Samantha for parents would be more stable than the original because Kamille's actual family life wasn't very happy.

>>2106083
It might also be the crypto-fascists absconding with your players.

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>>2106083
I mean Clemmy isn't the most stable, and Roarke can't seduce his own son.

Can he? Probably end up having Dio be pissed that all his GF hit on his dad.

>>2106083
>Let's hope it's just finals and holiday, but I know sometimes we have a lot of lurkers and not many posters. I blame this on people not shitposting nearly enough and provoking angry REEEEEfests, clearly.

Lurker here. Honestly can't find time to post decision because the decisions are't attractive enough one way or another.

Wong, how long did it take you to collect all the cat pictures?

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>>2101131

>>2106121
You are also assuming that Dio will only have two parental figures, while in reality it will have something close to 7 at the very least. If young Dio cant find clemmy as a suitable mother figure, somebody will eventually fill that need.

>>2107169
I bet if we went to the Rhinehawk Karen would tottaly take advantage of Roarke during the precious minutes that would take then to return to the Rhinehawk.

>>2107252
And thats how you get Oda as a major influence of your childhood.

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>>2107367
>tfw this is Dio

>>2107252
>It ends up being Fairchild

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>>2107458
>implying it won't be this one here

Before we begin, an important note. In the event one of my posts ends in [Continued], feel free to write stuff in to say or do, if I catch it and like it I might incorporate it. This was the standard in earlier threads and led to some really memorable stuff.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

For starters, roll 1d10+14, Intelligence+Awareness.

Rolled 3 + 14 (1d10 + 14)

>>2109804
Alright. +1 here

Rolled 6 (1d10)

Rolled 10 + 14 (1d10 + 14)

>>2109804

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"We're going to the asteroid, then. Prepare a landing party, we can't maneuver mecha inside the tower and I don't want any unexpected surprises. Nobody goes in without at least anti-ballistic armor and a gas mask." You accept fresh tea from the diminutive serving woman hovering unobtrusively at your shoulder.

"Including you, aniki?" Oda questions, barely glancing at the woman and bowing his head with a muttered, "Arigatou" as he takes the tea she offers, then back at you.

"Including me." You make a face. You don't really like wearing heavy armor, it makes you feel as though you need to be protected. At least in your mech, you can move unhindered, "I'm a married man, I have to be responsible."

"Hai. Who are you leaving to command things up here?" He asks, taking a sip and nodding approvingly, "This is good."

The woman, in a black kimono and one of those shallow, conical Nipponese-style hats whose name you can never really recall, bows formally.

You pick up the tea, "Fatima. I owe her for sneaking off, and besides...I want to give her a little time to calm down."

You don't see the woman standing behind you smile as you sip your tea and work out the details of the operation with Captain Oda.

[Continued]

>>2109819
..gods damn it. Did a poisoner get on Oda's ship?

Oh, right, roll a 1d10.

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>2109856

>>2109860

I don't have a reaction image for this.

>>2109865
Is that a good 9 or a bad one? Because it's really hard to tell.

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>>2109868
We died.

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>2109856

Rolled 9, 9 = 18 (2d10)

>>2109874
We really need to know more about what the heck is going on. It is hard to tell when a random die roll can get us killed.

Rolled 10, 2 = 12 (2d10)

Rolled 6 (1d10)

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You're vaguely aware that Jane's shamisen music in the background has stopped.

"This tea tastes familiar." You remark, glancing down at the unobtrusive white thermos. It's soft, a sort of squeezable, cylindrical juicebox with a little straw at the end. "It reminds me offffffnnnn..." Your tongue suddenly feels far too fat in your mouth, then abruptly you can't feel it at all, or your lips, or your chin. You reach up to touch your face, and your fingers miss. Unbalanced, you tumble over to the side, and see Oda do the same. You turn your head, and it feels like trying to lift a mountain, spotting Jane slumped over where she'd been tuning a shamisen.

The woman smiles, and removes her hat, tossing it aside. In zero-gravity, it whizzes across the room with nothing to slow it down. She tosses her head back and smiles vindictively. She has caramel skin made more pale by makeup and long hair worn back in a single braid, "Sorry for not making it quick, usurper, but this is about sending a message. The bigger the blood spatter, the larger the dissent between your own forces, and the sooner the war to determine who really runs the belt will be." She draws a tanto knife, likely picked up on the Yamato itself, with a flourish from her sleeve.

From your vantage point, you see the door slide open...and hear a sound best described as 'fwit'.

[Continued]

>>2109908
do we have a silent alarm on our pc or something?

>>2109908
We really need to stop letting people we don't know get this close to us. This is the 3rd? 4th time? Tempted to hire assassins and see how they like it for once.

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>>2109908
>tfw James and Akai duel a ninja.

>>2109908
Oh shit, guess the roll was for recognizing the poison.
I've been reading this quest of going on years now and I STILL have no fucking clue how these fucking dice work.

>>2109938
No one does

>>2109938
I'm pretty sure Wong just enjoys watching us all panic when the dice start flying

>>2109928
To be fair, this was Oda's fault, because its his crew. On the other hand, holy shit, she movilized fast, considering almost no one knew we were on the ship.

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"I would have liked to hear more." A calm, polite, feminine, and extremely familiar voice replies, "But I won't let you bring that blade any closer to him."

The assassin stumbles forward, reaching around towards the small of her back. From your position, you can see something sticking out of her kimono, gleaming. A long needle, perhaps, or a throwing knife as slender as a pen, "I'll kill you too!"

"Mmm." Samantha rolls the sleeve of her pilot suit down, covering up a sort of bracer with several more tiny, narrow throwing blades slotted onto it, "That's not likely."

"I'll...urgh..." The assassin grasps her own wrist as her entire body violently twitches. "How did you...?"

Samantha shrugs, "At first, I was just following you because I didn't know where my husband was. I also wanted it to be a surprise, so I shadowed you as quietly as I could." She smiles sweetly, "I can be very quiet when I want to be. You made three mistakes." She holds up three fingers, getting out her stun baton with her other hand, "First, you were too furtive. That made me suspicious. You stopped, and were opening one of the thermoses when you heard some of the pilots approaching from the other direction and quickly kept going. When you did put the poison in the tea, you did so without being absolutely sure I wasn't watching you from around a corner, you were in a hurry. That's your second mistake. I think it frazzled you. This leads to your third mistake. When you stopped to fix your makeup, you must have wanted to layer it on thick so nobody realized they hadn't seen you before. You took your time to do it right...and while you did, I swiped the tea, poured it out, and replaced it with mine. That's why Roarke recognized it."

The assassin grins suddenly, and tears off her outer kimono, revealing a thick anti-ballistic chestplate beneath, the tip of the knife sticking out of it, "Thanks for the lesson, now die!" She lunges.

Samantha sighs, taps the point of the knife aside with a classical fencing parry...and puts the point of her stun baton in the woman's armpit. The assassin drops to the floor, twitching.

You feel sensation start to return to her limbs as Samantha pads over, kneels down, and lifts your head onto her lap, "Strong stuff." She remarks, "There was only a trace of it left in the thermoses, a full dose would have slowly stopped your hearts. Deep breaths, get your blood pumping."

>[What say?]

>>2109949
She was there the whole time waiting for the time to pull the rug under us.

>>2109953
"I can always count on my Killer Queen to have my back, especially when I don't know I need it."

>>2109953
thank her. Maybe in our drugged state also try to give put on her our glasess as if she was an unknown that just saved our life.

>>2109953
>Its somewhat ironical that in a ninja ship the guests would be the most dangerous ones.

>>2109953
It is certainly good to see you Samantha.
...the others are going to give me no rest tonight because of this, are they?

>>2109953
>>2109970
Probably can't say all that with our body all numb, but we can try.

>>2109974>>2109953
>the most dangerous shinobis aboard*.
meh sounds better.

>>2109970
This because we're drugged as fuck and it's corny.

>>2109953
Tank too Tam

>>2109977
Pssh. That's quitter talk right there.

>>2109970
Then look at the assasin and whisper:
>Another one bites the dust...

>>2109977
Druggedly mumble it while trying to act cool

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"Mmnnnn..." Your tongue feels way too big, but sensation is returning to it. Samantha peacefully strokes your hair.

The assassin tries to rise onto all fours, and Samantha peacefully smacks her across the back of the neck with the stun baton until she's prone and only twitching slightly, clearly unconscious.

"Tank tooo Tamaaaanttttna..." You try to speak.

"Shhh, say it slowly. Take your time. I'm not going anywhere." Her black lips curl in a smile.

"I caaaaan always counnnnt ooohhhnnn..." You take a deep breath, "My...Killa Queeen...to habb my back. 'Specially when...when I...don't know I neeb id..."

Samantha blushes prettily,

"Sugooooooiiiiiii...proppaaa waifu behaviuh..." Oda curls the fingers of one hand inward except for his thumb, turning his arm enough to point his thumb up.

You work your lips and tongue, stretching your face into a grimace, and manage to speak more clearly, glancing over at the assassin, "Another one bites the dust."

Samantha nods perkily, "This is the first one we've captured! I'll make sure she doesn't have a suicide pill or any way to slit her wrists. Don't worry." She takes your PC, activates it with your thumb, un-mutes it, and makes a call, "Hello, Yamato bridge? Yes, this is Samantha Starwind, please send a squad of orderlies to the hydroponics lounge, there was an unsuccessful assassination attempt. Er, can I get her to stop screaming at you over vidcomms? No. I'm afraid she's venting, she's very upset at Roarke for playing hookey. She called you what? Oh...oh dear. Just endure it, alright? Please? Thank you!" She hangs up, looks at your PC, and raises her eyebrows, "You have an awful lot of calls from the others. Most of them, anyway."

You groan, "Tell them I'm paralyzed for a while longer."

She tuts, "I can't lie to them."

"They're going to give me no rest tonight because of this, aren't they?" You groan again.

She nods, a little smile on her lips, "I expect they won't."

"Why didn't you call the guards the moment you caught her doing something suspicious? Damn it, your training..." Jane manages, through sheer bloody will, to sit up, trying to reach Oda.

"...In Intelligence taught me the value of capturing an enemy agent. While she was on her guard, there was no point, she would have died rather than be taken prisoner. It had to be after she thought she won, when her focus was disrupted." Samantha serenely replies, petting you even more, "I recognized the poison she used, I wasn't taking a risk."

"It's ironic that the most dangerous ninja on the ship was the guest." You remark.

Oda snorts with laughter, "Roarke, you baka-ass motherfucker."

>[Face the music, deal with the wrath of your wives, and then lead the assault on the Hextarchy tower]
>[Make puppy eyes at Samantha and convince her to corroborate a phony story of lingering effects from the poison as an excuse to stay heroically in bed and avoid the immediate wrath of Fatima while potentially being fussed over]

>>2110018

I don't know where my name went I hadn't even posted anywhere else this time.

>>2110018
>>[Face the music, deal with the wrath of your wives, and then lead the assault on the Hextarchy tower]
We only have ourselves to blame. At least we got a live assassin.

>>2110018
>>[Make puppy eyes at Samantha and convince her to corroborate a phony story of lingering effects from the poison as an excuse to stay heroically in bed and avoid the immediate wrath of Fatima while potentially being fussed over]

>>2110018
>>[Make puppy eyes at Samantha and convince her to corroborate a phony story of lingering effects from the poison as an excuse to stay heroically in bed and avoid the immediate wrath of Fatima while potentially being fussed over]

>>2110018
>[Face the music, deal with the wrath of your wives, and then lead the assault on the Hextarchy tower]

As much fun as it would be to sweet talk Sam into helping us play Hooky, we have got stuff to do and some Justice to dole out

>>2110018
>[Face the music, deal with the wrath of your wives, and then lead the assault on the Hextarchy tower]

Order for extra energy drinks and food to be ready tonight.

We're gonna need to keep our energy up.

>>2110018

Obviously we'll pick the mature answer
>>[Make puppy eyes at Samantha and convince her to corroborate a phony story of lingering effects from the poison as an excuse to stay heroically in bed and avoid the immediate wrath of Fatima while potentially being fussed over]

>>2110018
>>[Face the music, deal with the wrath of your wives, and then lead the assault on the Hextarchy tower]

This is what we do. We take our risks and deal with the repercussions.

>>2110018
>>[Face the music, deal with the wrath of your wives, and then lead the assault on the Hextarchy tower]

>>2110018
>[Face the music, deal with the wrath of your wives, and then lead the assault on the Hextarchy tower]

>>2110018
>>[Face the music, deal with the wrath of your wives, and then lead the assault on the Hextarchy tower]
We need to deal with it personally.

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You're really, really tempted to do something you're very good at. Namely, whispering sweet nothings into Samantha's ear until she melts and forgets her moral principles and corroborates your filthy lies so that you can heroically lie in bed feigning aftereffects of the poison, avoiding all repercussions for your behavior and being fussed over by every single one of your wives.

However, you just can't do it. You have things to do.

Returning to the Rhinehawk is like stepping into the jaws of some immense beast, and the scolding you get makes your ears burn. Even a guy as cool as you can't handle being overwhelmed by the rest of your wives in unison, and you find yourself nodding and promising to be more careful in a subdued voice as Loriette and Fatima tug on your ears and Rosita vows to beat up Oda for being careless enough to let an assassin onto his ship. Samantha, naturally, is extremely smug over her victory.

Surprisingly, Karen saves you, appearing in a whirlwind of rage and threatening the others with terrible consequences for their mecha if they bully you anymore. It's a little embarrassing having to be rescued by the mechanic's swinging autowrench nearly clipping the other girls or having her nearly suffocate you hugging your face into her chest and telling you how glad she is that you're alright.

You manage to recover most of your dignity eventually, in time to lead the assault on the Hextarchy tower. Which proves to not be much of an assault at all. Your first clue is when you spot numerous civilian shuttles clustered around the tower's docking bays. The six-sided tower of the Hextarchy, a smooth obelisk rising up from the rock-and-metal potato that is the mined-out asteroid used as the factory for the California Station Shipbuilding Company, almost resembles some great tree shedding its leaves as the shuttles buzz back and forth, respectfully making room for your forces as they land.

"...And I mean it, Roarke Susan Starwind, don't you EVER scare me like that again! Your life isn't just yours anymore, it belongs to your people, to your wives, to the Solar System League, to all of the people who count on your continued existence!" Fatima has apparently decided to soothe the sting of her earlier tongue-lashing by scolding you more gently as the Tarrasque coasts down to land beside the Knuckle Kaiser. Despite your assessment that she would take being left in command up above as a compliment, for once she refused. Or rather, clung to you and demanded not to be left behind this time. She descends the liftwire at the same moment you do, and immediately takes your hand in hers when your feet hit decking. The look in her eyes resembles that of a mother bear, implacably watchful, and she has a short lever-action rifle of antique make in a short scabbard on her hip and a much larger rifle slung on her back.

[Continued]

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Marian is there, along with a motley army of what look like shopkeepers, local constabulary, gang members, and farmers, along with a surprising number of what are clearly shipyard workers and administrators. Other workers are huddled together on the floor, hands on their heads with various weapons being pointed at them.

The bubbly blonde woman looks at the way Fatima holds your hand, and makes a whipcrack noise with your mouth. Fatima glares at her until the girl looks away. Marian is actually surprisingly well outfitted for this escapade, wearing black body armor over her civilian clothes and holding a shotgun with a drum magazine. She salutes, "Hallo, boss-man! And, uh, boss-lady. We've secured all but the last floor, we didn't encounter much resistance and for the most part...these guys didn't even seem to know anything weird was going on." She gestures with the shotgun at her captives, who rightfully flinch at the blatant, casual muzzle sweep.

"And there's no chance the hextarchs escaped?" You ask.

She shakes her head, "No siree! We've confirmed all of their personal shuttles arrived here, and they were seen entering the tower." She winks, "Did I do good, boss?"

>[Yes, good job taking the initiative]
>[Not really, next time wait for my orders]

>>2110147
>You did fine, but if you want to be in the Kestrels chain of command you need to wait for orders next time.

>>2110147
>>[Yes, good job taking the initiative]

>>2110147
>You are almost to good to be true.

>>2110147
>>2110152
>You did fine, but if you want to be in the Kestrels chain of command you need to wait for orders next time.

>>2110147
>[Yes, good job taking the initiative]

Rolled 2 + 16 (1d10 + 16)

Oh, and while I'm typing, another 1d10+14

>>2110147
>>[Yes, good job taking the initiative]
Just keep us informed when you do so.

Rolled 9 + 14 (1d10 + 14)

>>2110147
01

>>2110169
It would seem that's a crit

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"You did fine." You start.

She fistpumps, "Woohoo! Thank you, your majesty!" She makes a sweeping bow, looking incredibly pleased with herself.

"A good job, even, taking the initiative while my troops were busy." Also, while you were busy getting poisoned. "However, if you want to be in my chain of command, you need better coordination with the rest of our forces. We didn't know you were coming here in advance and you didn't have any orders to do so. Consider this a commendation, and a word of advice."

"Always strive for improvement." Fatima looks at you, and you can tell she's proud of your reply, "Well said, my husband. We'll make a fine king of you yet."

"I think I've been doing a good job." You protest.

The Martian woman laughs, "For your circumstances, certainly. You're my favorite king in the whole galaxy, love of my life, but I would be remiss as a wife if I did not urge YOU to improve too."

Marian snickers, but wisely doesn't say anything to irritate Fatima, "Mind if I come along, your majesty? I've never been in here before."

You shrug. You have plenty of your own troops, and you are wearing body armor...with a larger than usual version of your trademark jacket over it...but having some locals along adds a sense of authenticity to this takeover. "Why not?"

[Continued]

>>2110171
Seems getting poisoned opened his eyes.

>>2110174
>you are wearing body armor...with a larger than usual version of your trademark jacket over it
Someone need to make a drawing out of this.

>>2110184
im imaging it kind of looking like the Riot armor from New Vegas

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“Sooo...chain of command, you said?” To Marian's credit, she waits until your party is well inside the tower before mentioning that.

“I did.” You confirm. Fatima looks as if she wants to say something, but her natural tendency to support you overwhelms it, and she nods with a serious expression.

“I'll do my best to earn it. I wish mama was alive to see her little girl make it big.” Marian sighs happily, attaching a rather unnecessary monofilament-edge bayonet to her weapon. The Hextarchy's personal guards in their elaborate chromed body armor and angular helms are seem to have put up a fight, you see dozens of them littering the floor with plasma and slug wounds perforating their bodies, and dozens more being led away in cuffs by Marian's partisans.

“You know, I'm surprised the enemy Captain didn't give you more trouble getting here.” You remark as you enter a large lift with one-way glassteel walls to show off the building even in transit while giving privacy to those inside the lift. The tower itself is positively opulent, with marble floors, paintings on the walls, and a lot of fancy neo-baroque decoration and a rather obscene amount of gold leaf, as if styled after the golden palaces of the great rulers of old, like Kublai Khan's Xanadu or Donald Trump's fabled Trump Tower. You pass magnificent indoor hydroponic gardens, flowers growing huge and soft in the zero-g environment, reception rooms worthy of upscale Europan colonies, an auditorium set up for an orchestra to perform in, even a gravball arena.

In a way, it's incredibly sad, so much to enjoy in a building that sees so little use.

Marian gives you a sour look, “You think California Station's just going to roll over like a cheap hooker for a bunch of newcomers? I bet they wanted to, but even a thousand thugs are no match for every able-bodied person with a gun on the wall or a kitchen knife in the drawer. It's going to be a slog getting rid of all of them.” She hesitates, then says, quietly, “Also, there's a rumor I heard. It, uh, concerns you, and...you'll want to hear it but...” She shakes her head fiercely, “Damn it, Mary, not now. Sorry, your majesty, I shouldn't have said anything, but it's dangerous to say it now, or here. I'll tell you as soon as we're done and can speak privately, and I mean absolutely no years but yours. It's that kind of information. Not that I'm implying you should reward me or anything, but...well...it's good stuff. Involves a guy you know.” She taps the side of her nose, and winks. She tries to look cheerful but it comes off as kind of nervous, as if she really wants to talk about it but it would be dangerous even surrounded by people loyal to you.

[Continued]

Getting that ominous feeling again. What are the odds that Marian is another possible assassin?

>>2110200
I was thinking about it since this session began... She probably is, and the one with the greater chance of sucess, I'm somewhat expecting her to pull something up soon.

>>2110200
As I said earlier, she is almost to good to be true.

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You want to know now, but the lift dings as you arrive at the top level. Here, the needle-like shape of the tower compresses towards its point, and as you exit the lift only two directions of travel present themselves. First, towards a private shuttlebay that you absolutely guarantee is swarmed by guns outside preventing any of the Hextarchs from fleeing. Secondly...to a room warded by an imposing door bearing the symbol of an ornate hexagon. You gesture, and a squad of breaching specialists in clunky blast-proof armor step forward. A small series of controlled explosions and liberal use of a plasma cutter later, and you step over the wreckage of the door into a darkened room dominated by a six-sided table, columns of dusky light illuminating six chairs surrounding the table for dramatic effect.

Fatima pulls the large rifle off her back, and chambers a round.

Each chair has a figure in it, shoulders slumped and heads down. You smell the coppery taint of blood in the air. The Hextarchs wear ornate, expensive robes and high-crowned hats of office, but you can still see the neat little holes left by some neat little pistol in their foreheads.

Now that you're on high alert, you also see shoved into a darkened corner the corpse of one of the Hextarchs, and that one of the seated figures is much younger than the rest. You point immediately, “Shoot him.”

The assassin jumps up, drawing a pistol...and Marian fills his chest with buckshot. Shotguns still work just as well now as they did hundreds of years ago when the first blunderbuss was developed. He stumbles back, the armor beneath his robes exposed and pitted, one arm a bloody ruin, and Fatima coolly puts a trio of real bulletholes through his chest before shooting him in the face, as if it's a drill she's practiced for years.

At this moment, the holographic display on the center of the table flickers on, displaying the visage of an elderly man. He has a bent back, but surprisingly wiry muscles, a long, white beard and mustache, and a head so bald it gleans. He removes his glasses, and polishes them with a cloth, speaking in a crackly voice, “My, this certainly hasn't been a profitable day for me. Welcome to California Station, Roarke Starwind. I suppose you'd like the opportunity to gloat, and it wouldn't be sporting of me to deny you. Once you retire, you learn to stop taking things so personally.”

>[What say?]

>>2110210
>Marx, I assume.

>>2110210
"This is one hell of a way to spend your retirement."

>>2110210
>i'll gloat once all of this is over.

>>2110210
"Less gloating, and more asking why. You fought in the war, you know what greenmen can do, so why join the five man band who seem to be working with Avalon?"

>>2110210
"I dont really gloat. Not unless its a sure thing.

I suppose you're gonna offer me some deal?"

>>2110210
>Don't like monologues. It's a surefire way to embarrass oneself when his enemies turn things around. And the fight's not over yet, old man. So how about you give yourself up and you'll at least get to spoil your grandkids without being in cuffs.

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“Captain Marx, I assume.” You cross your arms over your chest, “It's a bit too early to gloat, maybe once this is all over.”

He raises one eyebrow, “Whippersnapper, I'm much too old for obvious questions. I'm certainly not that poor, pain-mad boy Meridian, and I'm certainly not the King, so there's not much room for me to be anyone else, is there?” He scratches his chin, “Although if you'll take my advice, you'll gloat while you can, you never know when your last chance might be.”

“All the more reason not to get complacent. You've caused me a lot of trouble, Captain. This is certainly one hell of a way to spend your retirement.” You look around at the room full of dead Hextarchs.

He snorts, “I'll say. I didn't plan on it, figured that once the organization was all set up it could run itself, and I could relax all day enjoying the profits, bathing in the finest liquor and titties the galaxy has to offer.”

“So why? You're old enough to remember the war, to have fought in it. You know what the Green Men can do, so why join the Five Man Band? They're working with Avalon, after all.” You keep your voice even with difficulty.

He exhales so heavily it blows his mustaches up, “You're so young, Starwind. I remember being all impetuous and full of fire like you, only seeing the enemies in front of me and being aware of the enemies just past them. Now I'm old, I see all the enemies I have in the galaxy, those close and those far in the future, and decrepit as I am I don't give a damn if they get me so long as I leave behind the world I want. This isn't about Avalon winning, nobody wants that, as far as I know it may not even be possible unless they pull out some miracle...this is about what the galaxy will look like afterwards.” He holds up one finger to forestall your questions, “And that's the big answer, right there. Why come back? Why join the Band? Ideals. Ideals bright and beautiful even to an old man's jaded eyes. Ideals that take criminals and madmen and turn them into something more, into heroes for a cause worth fighting for. Heroes that will shape the new age. The ideals of the true King. Those ideals are what lifted my eyes from just accruing credits and made me see what the real treasure to be had was. Of course, credit where it's due. You're part of it. I wanted to experience you, to fight against what seemingly can't be fought. To find out if you really are the pirate King thinks you are. When you joined the League, I won't lie, I was disappointed. I hope I'm wrong, I hope you didn't sell out, that you're planning the biggest heist of all, that you'll rob all those bastards blind and show them that in the end the great can be defeated by the small.”

>[What say?]

>>2100980
>n

>>2110237
>I intend to do what's necessary to control my own destiny, League or no. We'll see how things play out once I've dealt with your 'Four' Man Band.

>>2110237
"Well if I did plan on doing the greatist heist in history, your "king" sending a batshit crazy cyborg to kidnap my wife put that plan to pasture. If a monster like Meridian is needed to bring about your ideals, then your ideals are garbage."

>>2110237
Ohshit Marx is alive and he's masters Roshi!
I seriously thought they killed him and had stolen his identity and wealth.
>"I'm a Pirate, and once I'm done taking everything of value from today's skirmish. I'm coming for the rest of the 4 Man Band and anyone stupid enough to fly their colours"

>>2110237
>Ideals... Did ideals motivate a king to send assassins after my wife? Did ideals set up an ambush and consigning thousands of lives to fruitless death because someone did not want to face the consequence of losing?

>And the great can be defeated by the small in battle. But never in a war. Living a life on the run in perpetuity doesn't appeal to me either.

>>2110237
"Well, that certainly has some truth. I have no love for the Megacorps, I had no love for Fairchild and those who supported her, and I certainly have no love for the sort of people who killed my brother and my captain. However, I also have responsibilities to my family, my people, and those who put their trust in me. I protect my own, and take what I and my people are owed.

So when someone tries to steal one of my wives, tries to turn my Captain's old turf into a trap, and had sent Assassins to try and take cheap shots at me, I can't really consider them 'Heroic'. Those are the sort of acts that lead to the crimes that Fairchild and the Greenskulls commited, and ideals that are based on that are nothing more than fools gold and glass stones."

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“I intend to do what's necessary to control my own destiny, League or no. We'll see how things play out once I've dealt with your Four Man Band.” You shrug.

He leans back in the opulent armchair he's sitting in, and puts his feet up on the table, “It could be Five again. If you joined us.”

You sigh, “I knew you would try to make some kind of deal with me. If I did plan to betray the League as part of some grand heist, your King sending some batshit crazy cyborg to kidnap my wife put that plan to pasture. If a monster like Meridian is needed to bring about your ideals, those ideals are nothing but garbage. This is why I don't like monologues, they embarrass you when your enemies turn things around, and this fight is far from over. So I'll offer you a deal, give up, and enjoy your retirement without spending it in a brig on one of my ships or in a Jovian prison cell.”

He chuckles, “There's the pepper I was expecting. Weren't you listening, boy? King's ideals are the only thing that redeem monsters like Meridian, or me for that matter. You're not exactly innocent in the matter of kidnapping other men's wives, are you?” He looks directly at Fatima, then whistles, “I can't blame you, a beauty like that...oh yes, glare at me more. Men would pay for that contemptuous stare, and do more than pay for a smile from such a stern one! You're a lucky man, Starwind!” He cackles.

“Yech.” Marian remarks under her breath, wrinkling her nose.

“Lucky or not, you're avoiding the point. These ideals have cost thousands of lives, and for what?” You're starting to get angry.

[Continued]

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The old man winks, “Let me tell you a secret, boy. It's one young people hate, but every old person who doesn't embarrass himself desperately clinging to his existence knows. Human life? It's worthless. Absolutely worthless. Dust in the wind. Countless people are born, tick away their lives to the movements of some great machine they have no say in the running of, and die without ever mattering a damn. So why bother with anything? Ideals. Because some of us want to do more than live or die, we want to change the course of the machine's function. We want to alter the shape of the galaxy. I'm not immune to these plans either, if I don't die of old age I might very well die fulfilling these goals, I wouldn't ask my people to throw away their lives if I wasn't prepared to do the same in the end. Do you know what's at stake? Galactic fucking peace. As you said, I remember the Great Sidereal War. Better than you do. I remember the cost, the sheer bloody cost of it. Not just lives, but entire cultures, entire philosophies and concepts, just...gone...and so when King gave me the chance to make sure it never happened again, to build a galaxy where it can't happen again, I came out of retirement willingly. The new age is worth fighting for. Thousands of lives? You're underestimating me. Millions, if you count what we've done to make the war with Avalon last longer. Pointless deaths, tragic deaths, gruesome deaths, appalling deaths...I'll carry the weight of them all on my shoulders if it means two thirds of my species isn't destroyed again.”

“Forgive me for not seeing the heroism in what you've done.” You remark, “I have no love for the megacorps, for Fairchild, for the structures that allowed her to ruin so many lives for so long, for the people who killed my brother and my Captain...” You lean forward, your voice steely, “And the one who killed my Captain, I have reason to believe, was on the battlefield today.”

[Continued]

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"So they were." He remarks, without much emotion but a faint smile.

"Where is that monster? Who are they?" You demand.

He shakes his head, “Gilgamesh would be a monster by today's standards, so would Achilles, or Cao Cao, or the Apostle Paul, or even the prophet your Martian woman worships. Pick a hero of mankind's most primordial age, crack him open, and inside you'll find a monster. We accept that, us monsters of the Band. We're the real heroes, Starwind. You've been told that before. The stakes are worth the wager of lives and morality. But at the same time, I've gotta acknowledge that we're relics, too. The monstrous heroes exist because of the times, the decay of the War reset humanity and we're relaunching the cycle of our development anew. Implicit in our existence is the knowledge that the next generation of heroes, shining, bright, and devoid of our flaws, will cut us down and shame our memory out of history, casting us as villains. For the sake of the galaxy, we accept that. We accept the weight of that sin for the good of mankind. Our rotting remains will be the fertile soil of a glorious future, our legacy. Even poor, tormented Meridian has played his part. King had his eyes in that meeting, in that mechbay, just as he does everywhere. He told me what happened.” He closes his eyes, “You destroyed a being as personally powerful as Meridian in a single blow, turned him into blood and pulp. That's how legends start, Starwind. It can't be reduced to a rumor when it happened in the heart of the Academy. The Jovians can't cover it up entirely, people will talk, just as they'll talk about you defeating a mech barehanded on Auditorium. Meridian's life and death have become part of your legend now. He lives on in you. Tell me honestly, if you knew what we were doing would create a galaxy where an event like the Great Sidereal War would never happen again, a galaxy that brought out the best in the species instead of the worst, a galaxy where people like your mother...yes, King knows about Christina LeChance Starwind...would never have to experience such tides of blood and trauma, could you honestly say it isn't worth the cost? I've seen worlds die, Starwind. I've stood on a hill and, in every direction I looked, seen nothing but corpses horizon to horizon. There's an awful lot I'd do to make sure nobody else ever sees that again. Even if it's individually worth almost nothing, human life on that scale is worth preserving. Otherwise, next time we might go extinct.”

>[What say?]

>>2110285
>Hah. Galactic Peace is overrated. Green Men fought for Galactic Peace, look at how it turn out. Your King is a pretender to the throne, a coward within the shadows ready to burn the world for want of a nebulous ideal.

>>2110285
>>2110287
"Just cause someone's life is worthless to you, doesn't mean it's worthless to everybody. One mans junk is another mans treasure. Not the most elegant analogy, but you get the point."

>>2110287
There's no place for Pirates in a perfect galaxy, how boring would that be.

This is all pretty important so we're calling it here. You can, of course, keep responding, and the game will resume tomorrow night.

>>2110287
> Laugh in realization. "So that is your game. You are not playing to win. You guys are playing kingmaker, and I'm your current candidate for king."

>>2110287
>No one can tell the future. Anyone who says otherwise is trying to con you. As for the war? Good or ill, it resulted in Mom meeting my Dad, so I'd say it worked out pretty well so far.

>>2110285
I find it funny that with the likes of Fairchild and Marx who say they want to prevent the wiping out of 2/3rds of humanity like the green men did are using technology, tactics and killing a whole lot of people and cultures through their acts. In the end, even the Greenmen wanted 'peace' in their own way, and all it did was make things worse for everyone. Which leads to..
>>2110298
That or make multiple 'kings'. People with huge legacies. Heroes who cannot die, warriors who can shatter armies on their own. It's basically the plan Biggs' dad had back then; Rather than have armies fight, just have heroic demigods decide the wars on their own.

Hells, thats it isn't it? Rather than going for something giant like the megabass and try to find a pilot for it, find the perfect 'hero' and just build the mech around them.

>>2110287
>Too much words for a message full of nothing, you've been going on and on about how "true peace like this has never been attempted before" and about "how I can predict the future to go exact how we want" while unacountable numbers of people have been saying things like this a conning billions into living hell in some way or other, besides, you still didn't explain how your new plan differs from anything the other guys tried before.... And I would be suprised if you revealed yourself to not be as cartoonishly predicable as to stop before explaining as this new doomsday machine works.

>You know, this may not be the real communism, but its just more empty marxism to me.
BA DUM TSSSSS

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>>2110307
>tfw they are litterally putting Dame Brazilia philosofy of life in pratice.

>>2110287
> All your hands know how to do is kill, which is why you tell yourself that it's possible to build a new world with those bloodstained weapons.

> It's the easy way out, you pussy. You "Accept your sin"? Who the fuck said you got to accept it, like some sort of backdoor absolution.

> The means you say the end justifies, only guarantees that you won't ever make the future you pretend to want. But that's okay, because you don't *really* want it. You want a justification for your past crimes, and excuse for your current ones, and a "noble" death that you can pretend was something other than a necessary end that you pushed the responsibility onto someone else.

> At any time, you could just choose to stop being a monster. None of this ideal bullshit is necessary.

> I've done more so far, without resorting to being a monster like you. You don't even get results, and you want me to accept the cost? How did you ever even get rich.

>>2110287
> Gotta make mountains of corpses to prevent mountains of corpses!

Is this nigga serious? What, and when it doesn't work he's going to just try making a bigger mountain next time?

Sheeeeit are we sure he didn't fight for the Green Men in the sidereal war? Because it sounds like he supported them. Sure does sound like he thinks so little of humanity like he doesn't even recognize why throwing his own away makes him unsuitable to judge humanity.

>>2110313
>>2110307

Well hey if he wants to make us a hero let's oblige him. First by killing monsters. He can fall in line or get in line.

>>2110313
It's not just that, it's also making the biggest boogey man possible. Like if big brother would actually show up at your house wearing power armor because you tried to download some 2D tits. An actual reason NOT to go to war or cause trouble because they can wreck your shit and cannot die.

But thats the sort of thing that leads to Superman scenarios. Where the people grow lax or do nothing out of fear out of being hammered into the ground. It'd ruin the competitive spirit, individual drives, and the desire to improve oneself in a worse case scenario. If anything else, that would crush humanity's spirit.

>>2110316
>How did you ever even get rich.
by being a monster I assume. It's pretty easy to get rich if you lack scruples. After all, a lot of our money has come from killing, kidnapping, and stealing.

>>2110307

If you reread what Marx is saying you will notice that he is alternating between saying things that will rile Roarke up and that they are the real heroes even if they are monsters and are fully willing to sacrifice themselves.

>>2110316

Marx (and the other 5 Man Band members) seems to be attempting to be the local "dragons" that the hero must slay so that the belt will see Roarke (and crew) as the unifying hero(es) when he defeats them instead of conquering warlord (and army).

>>2110321
I wouldn't say Dragons for Roarke. It feels more like they are trying to raise up multiple candidates which fits the demi god hypothesis. The First Mate could be another contender there as well. Even if a nutter, she did have skills to harm various big name pirate fleets and was likely going to betray the green skulls and fairchild as well.

Perhaps this war is used to find these canidates? After all, you have Amos Wedge, Caesar, the Paladins, all individuals who are capable of fighting large hoards of lesser mechs. You could say some battles and fronts were won or lost solely on how they did.

>>2110327
Didn't Ceaser almost get fucked up when he tried to fight a horde of lesser mechs without support? On the prison moon?

>>2110321
Yeah, what I'm saying is that they're fucking bullshitters. They're trying to pretend like it's okay that they're being monsters, when really they're just scared old men who can't accept that they aren't able to control what happens when they die.

"It's okay to kill people because I accept my own death" like who said you have the right to decide that for other people you fucker. How about you try living for other people, so that they can live too. Oh, but that's HARD and you have to still accept that you can die and I guess that's not FAIR wah wah waaaaaah.

If you want to be a good guy, then you have to actually be the good guy. Case in point, it's unlikely any of those "Heroes" he mentioned would consider themselves heroes at all either. Other people called them that to excuse them, because they were cowards.

>>2110287
>To be honest I really don't give a shit. You can tell yourself whatever pretty words you like, but at the end of the day you had someone hunt down my wife, and another try. Your ALL on my shit list and I plan to collect mother fucker.

>>2110316
>which is why you tell yourself that it's possible to build a new world with those bloodstained weapons
You mean what Roarke did with Phaeton and all the corpses he built his kingdom on?

>>2110338
You can't tell the difference between Roarke, who is widely known for doing his best and not killing even his enemies unless forced into it and a bunch of genocidal bastards sacrificing millions of innocents?

We already even offered him a way out

> So I'll offer you a deal, give up, and enjoy your retirement without spending it in a brig on one of my ships or in a Jovian prison cell.”

So your entire post >>2110333
is contradictory to what we already said.

Thanks for coming out though.

>>2110327

There are no multiple candidates that the 5 Man Band is working on. Roarke (and his "knights") is the only candidate the belt-centric 5MB is working on currently raising. The conspiracy behind the 5MB might be working on multiple candidates, but Roarke is the 5MB's project.

The First Mate isn't a hero candidate, it is a monster that they have built up for their chosen heroes to slay. Fairchild was likely another "monster" with Clemmy originally planned as a low level mid-boss just like Fatima's former fiance.

Caesar is likely one of the other hero candidates that the conspiracy is working on building up.

>>2110329
>Yeah, what I'm saying is that they're fucking bullshitters. They're trying to pretend like it's okay that they're being monsters, when really they're just scared old men who can't accept that they aren't able to control what happens when they die.

No, it looks like Marx, the 5MB and those backing them are trying to forge "heroes" to unify the galaxy. They are not playing to win. They are playing so that Roarke will win on their terms. Marx and the remaining members of the 5MB want Roarke to beat them while they are intentionally playing villains. The 5MB are doing the dirty work so that Roarke ends up being a legitimate hero king in the eyes of the people of the belt instead of a warlord.

Marx is half spouting bullshit to rile Roarke up and half saying stuff to get Roarke to realize that the 5MB are secretly supporting him from the other side.

>>2110339
>who is widely known for doing his best and not killing even his enemies unless forced into it
The only people we consistently haven't killed are Jovians and that was to prevent them from curb stomping us. How many Greenskulls are left? How many of those Avalonians from Psyche are still alive?

>>2110340
The Bullshit I believe is that they are pretending that it's okay for them to be monsters, because they recognize they're monsters.

That because they abandon their hope of redemption, they're free to do "what is necessary".

They have survivors guilt to the point where they figure they're damned no matter what, so they might as well get their mileage out of it.

They need to have the fact that redemption isn't just possible, but it's available the second they stop denying it.

Didn't you ever hear the message of Christ boyo? All they have to do is stop choosing to refuse to forgive themselves. Evil is an abstract

> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J9qAqwIW704

>>2110342
People from psyche? You mean all the kids we saved, the Avalonian troops that we offered surrender terms to and avoided popping the cockpit balls of, and the mother and son pair we pretty much blackmailed into surviving so they wouldn't commit suicide?

Your arguments aren't very good.

>>2110340
What a bunch of losers they are, is my point. They're so scared of actually trying, that they prefer to guarantee they're on the losing side and fob all the effort of success onto us.

They're taking the easy way out.

>>2110344
Actually they have not abandoned hope of redemption. They believe that their current actions (playing the villains) will redeem them.

I think they are intentionally playing the villain because they believe the final result (creation of heroes that can unify the galaxy) will vindicate them.

Marx calls himself a monster but says that in the end they are really the (secret) heroes because they will help the heroes become what they need to be.

This is a standard "The ends justify the means," mentality.

>>2110345
>What a bunch of losers they are, is my point. They're so scared of actually trying, that they prefer to guarantee they're on the losing side and fob all the effort of success onto us.

My point is that they believe they are taking the losing side in order to give the right people (Roarke and co) the rewards of success.

It isn't that they are scared of trying, they believe dying for their cause even if it means being remembered as villains because they know that Roarke will succeed because of their actions.

>They're taking the easy way out.

They believe that they are taking the hard road to make things better in the long run.

The mentality is bullshit and is only making things tougher, but they figure that intentionally creating a villain that will lose to the hero is better than the chance that a villain who can defeat the hero will appear.

>>2110342
are the mixtapes still a thing?
the google drive links in the archives dont seem to work

>>2110357

If they weren't pussies, they would fight WITH us instead if against us with the intent to lose.

They believe they're "sacrificing" when they're simply indulging themselves.

They're bullshitting themselves most of all.

>>2110147
>makes a whipcrack noise with your mouth

Lewd.

>>2110287
>Gilgamesh would be a monster by today's standards, so would Achilles

Gilgamesh wasn't that bad. Achilles was a dick but not a monster.

>>2110340
Roarke being the only canidate? Them specifically raising monsters for us? If anything it seems to be the other way around. They seemed to have been trying to stop us from getting Biggs files with the first assassin, and Meridian's ambush would have been much worse if we were forced to face him on the station. These weren't acts to build a hero, these were acts to kill a Tiger before it rips out their throat. While we could be a candidate, we are also a direct threat to them. That assassin was no joke, after all.

Remember, King was on Qu'lir 'checking up on something' during VietNyan that wasn't the green man.Assuming that they would focus on a singular existence is a way to get one blindsided.

>>2110488
Well, it would make sense for the tests to be deadly. That said, the Gentleman and the King almost certainly have different motivations than Marx.

>>2110503
There is deadly, and then there is 'complete counters'. A vast array of ships with high damage designed for the Rhinehawk to come alone. Missiles that nullify not only our team work, but the bits and beam weaponry many of our top officers and wives use. Units designed to work inside said zones. An assassin who hit us through poison with the intent to sow chaos by making our death bloody. The reason it fell apart was because each segment was dealt with systematically. Meridian couldn't force us to go alone and died before he could either get his own mech, or get into a position where he'd have his own snipers or traps. Their hidden beam spam was found out, and we brought more than one ship. Because we wiped out their biggest ships pretty quick, they deployed a fraction of their mechs. That attack could have gone differently if there were more Teslas. Not to mention assassins in the wings.

If we had simply rushed in or let Meridian get away, the trap would have had a much higher chance of success. But it failed due to underestimating Roarke in hand to hand, the breadth of his connections, and the allies around him. I do agree with you that Marx seems a bit different. He feels like that one old guy who's done a bunch of shit, but is trying to be good so he could go to heaven. Like refinding his faith in non-sniper jesus.

Man for an old dude Marx-ster Roshi sure is dumb. You can't have peace as long as there are people with free will. And if you don't have people with free will you may as well just kill everyone and replace them with robots.

It's not in human nature to have peace, really. Always fighting over something or other. Even stupid shit like the color of a piece of cloth or an opinion. Maybe people don't go to war just because someone said their soup is bad but people never stop fighting.

Greenmen were right but fuck them anyway. Life isn't worth living if there isn't some struggle to grow from.

>>2110421
They may believe that fighting AGAINST Roarke will HELP Roarke far more than fighting BESIDES Roarke.

To most Belters the Kestrels, Stone Soldiers, Red Siren's Crew and Oda's Crew are privateers at best or pirates at worst. They likely believe that having a Cyborg Assassin and Crime Boss on the team will make things harder in the long run more than their bodies fighting alongside will help make things easier in the short term.

The Hexarchs were likely planning to bow to Roarke giving us California Station, but staying on as what the 5MB see as a cancerous growth. Killing the Hexarchs and then having us sweep in as liberators and appearing to stop the 5MB from pulling a coup gives us a lot of political legitimacy with the locals while excising the tumor.

Fighting Meridian in the open in the Jovian Academy enhanced Roarke's legend.

>>2110488

Roarke isn't the only candidate for the conspiracy, the 5MB is the Belt/Roarke focused task force of the conspiracy. Considering they came in to being as a reaction to our coming into power.

The first assassination's goal might have been to get us to realize the importance of the Biggs files and actually look at them.

Meridians ambush and Karen's kidnapping were very sloppy. He was practically waving a sign saying "I am around and up to no good" with all the hints and it pretty much forced us to deal with California first rather than jump directly into the war effort. Meridian's confrontation with Roarke was likely always going to be visible and possibly televised.

This most recent assassination attempt was stopped to cleanly. The 3 mistakes Sam referred to may not have even been mistakes. The furtiveness might have been intentional to get attention of the right kinda person, she may have put the poison in fully knowing that Sam was watching, and she might have taken so long to fix her makeup to give Sam enough time to do the swap. Sam also recognized the poison used.

We may think of Roarke and co as a Tiger, but it is starting to look like we are part of some Lion Tamer's Big Cat act.

King is likely a member of both the 5MB and the higher conspiracy. King was likely on Qu'lir for a conspiracy mission rather than a 5MB mission.

>>2110503
Yeah. They are trying to create a "real hero king" rather than a "fake hero." Coddling the candidates likely will not give them what they want.

>>2110525

> A vast array of ships with high damage designed for the Rhinehawk to come alone.
And how did we find out about those ships? An almost to good to be true girl who is trying far far to hard to be an asset.

> Missiles that nullify not only our team work, but the bits and beam weaponry many of our top officers and wives use. Units designed to work inside said zones.

Which is a really good way to make us look like a hero in trouble rather than an unstoppable monster.

> An assassin who hit us through poison with the intent to sow chaos by making our death bloody.
A very messy, very showy assassin that on further examination did everything wrong.

> Meridian couldn't force us to go alone and died before he could either get his own mech, or get into a position where he'd have his own snipers or traps.

That would only be true if Meridians objective had been to kill us or get us to California alone. He had ample opportunities to make assassination attempts before the wedding and one of the best ways to make certain someone comes with back up is to demand that they come alone.

> Their hidden beam spam was found out, and we brought more than one ship. Because we wiped out their biggest ships pretty quick, they deployed a fraction of their mechs. That attack could have gone differently if there were more Teslas. Not to mention assassins in the wings.

And it might have also been staged to make us think that.

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>>2110437
>The story introduces Gilgamesh, king of Uruk. Gilgamesh, two-thirds god and one-third man, is oppressing his people, who cry out to the gods for help. For the young women of Uruk this oppression takes the form of a droit du seigneur, or "lord's right", to sleep with brides on their wedding night. For the young men (the tablet is damaged at this point) it is conjectured that Gilgamesh exhausts them through games, tests of strength, or perhaps forced labour on building projects.
By Wikipedia

He literally is a tyrant who fucks everybody's wives.

But, you know, value is subjective, so maybe you don't have a problem with that.

KEK

>>2110546
>Blue Oni
I still didn't recognized the Blue Oni style of writting with 100% certainty in this thread but I'm almost sure that he isn't you.
Mainly because he never assumed his own existence to avoid creating a clear opposition to the Red One as the latter would be better equiped to deal with.

>>2110384
Yeah its on pastebin now https://pastebin.com/BQ756VLe

>>2110533
Agreed, though his line of thinking feels slightly similar to the Greenmen. The people are still controlled by superior beings, it's just that said beings are human.

>>2110287
"So, whats your plan then? Raise up singular beings who can do all the fighting? Have these heroes and monsters decide everything in clashes that can shake the stars and thus save the average people from the carnage? That's more than likely to destroy the spirit of humanity than save it.

Yeah, the war was horrible. Not going to say it wasn't. Mom couldn't handle a salad or a garden when I was growing up due to it. However, it was not the only war that humanity faced that could have led to it's end. Crusades, 100 year wars, mustard gas, even the atomic bomb all had the potential to wipe out humanity in it's crib on earth. Each one was fought, ended, and the survivors took what lessons they could from it. It wouldn't surprise me if after those wars there were people like you who'd want to stop such things from happening again.

And sure, Heroes and beings can show the brightest parts of humanity. But they weren't alone, and they weren't perfect. Gilgamesh had Enkidu and through his journey, learned of his mortality and learned to govern his people as a good king. Achilles was strong, but let his emotions get the better of him and got done in by a arrow to the heel by Paris, a man of little renown. Their legends are made to inspire humanity, but also to warn them. If your group wants wars and conflicts to be decided by god kings and unbeatable heroes, then humanity will stagnate and rot.

Humanity requires conflict to grow and to understand. I met some of the best people in my life through butting heads with them. Constant challenges have allowed me and my people to grow and improve. Sure we have lost precious people, and seen tragedies that should not have happened, but we stood up and grew from them. To completely prevent wars, which happen due to the very nature of humanity, perhaps life in general, is to take away those conflicts, those fights, and those moments from the people. Those very moments that make people heroic and rise up.

Even if it perserves humanity, it's not worth it if it snuffs out the flames of humanity's spirit.

>>2110537

Too many coincidences, how did she know Sam was watching? Looking at the dice, it seems like Sam might have only hit her because of good rolls and if she hadn't been there and rolled well Roarke and Oda AND a UJCIDF officer would have died messily destroying any confidence in Phaeton as a state and assuring a war between Mars and Jupiter sooner. I don't think "galactic fucking peace" means "no conflict anywhere" or that Roarke is in any way the first and only plan.

>>2110546
>And how did we find out about those ships?
through Sam if said too good to be true girl wasn't there.

>Which is a really good way to make us look like a hero in trouble rather than an unstoppable monster.
It is also a good way to make us look like a beast that broke through a trap set up by a hero. The possibility of one does not exclude the possibility of the other.
>A very messy, very showy assassin that on further examination did everything wrong.
Only against a better sneak who is far more skilled. Sammy is very good at what she does, so her words is akin to Robin hood talking down to a archer who only got one bullseye. She still managed to sneak past Oda, Roarke and the others.

>That would only be true if Meridians objective had been to kill us or get us to California alone.
Except that was the case. He was to kidnap Karen, bring her to the king, and deal with us. Those are actual words from the nutter's mouth. You also forget his other missions. The spying, getting the paladin out, and floating in space screaming until someone picked him up.

>And it might have also been staged to make us think that.
And sometimes the pen is just a pen.

Just wanna chime in and say that we should be very wary about Marian. Double agent suspicions aside, she's a young woman with a casual attitude to violence and actually had fun torturing that prisoner. She's an ambitious sociopath at best and we really don't need that kind of person near or around us and actually encouraging that behavior is dangerous.

We should put her under surveillance ASAP plus gather a psych profile on her.

>>2110632
I agree with being suspicious of her and keeping a close eye on her, but lets not kid ourselves we have plenty of fucked up people on our payroll.

We should also be checking the room and bodies for explosives, I'm sure that's Marx's ace in the hole.

>>2110632
>>2110636
Agree with everything.

>>2110636
We've got our original kestrels and ever since we started recruiting from other gangs and volunteers we had security screen every single person in our navy. We, or rather our security, knows who we have and what their major malfunctions are.

While many of our most trusted friends and personnel are nutcases they are also that, our most trusted. This girl is nothing but a stranger and she's ringing my warning bells big time.

>>2110647
Being suspicious of her is completely fine its just acting like our shit doesn't stink and being a hypocrite is another thing. We really can't shit on having a sociopath who enjoys torture when we were trying to get the old Clemmy to join our crew.

>>2110595
>I still didn't recognized the Blue Oni style of writting with 100% certainty in this thread but I'm almost sure that he isn't you.
>Mainly because he never assumed his own existence to avoid creating a clear opposition to the Red One as the latter would be better equiped to deal with.

I'm the guy who was arguing with Thunderbird several threads ago when Wong brought up Roarke having a Red Oni/Blue Oni on his shoulders rather than an Angel/Devil. Wong called Thunderbird a Red Oni and felt that since I was the one arguing with the "Red Oni" at the time I was the blue Oni.

I don't post very much, but figure I'd start using the trip to showcase I'm looking a things from a thoughtful rather than emotional perspective. I'm not denying the emotions reacting to things.

Marx is spouting bullshit, but I'm trying to figure out the why behind the bullshit rather than how Roarke feels about the bullshit.

>>2110623
>through Sam if said too good to be true girl wasn't there.
Point being was that we were fed info.

>Only against a better sneak who is far more skilled. Sammy is very good at what she does, so her words is akin to Robin hood talking down to a archer who only got one bullseye. She still managed to sneak past Oda, Roarke and the others.

Unless the assassin is better than we think. Sam is good but that doesn't mean she is the best or that the assassin wasn't on the same level.

Hard to tell which rolls are for which character when they are all blind.

> It is also a good way to make us look like a beast that broke through a trap set up by a hero. The possibility of one does not exclude the possibility of the other.
They chose the wrong pilot if they were going to do that. Patches is in no way a viable hero.

>Except that was the case. He was to kidnap Karen, bring her to the king, and deal with us. Those are actual words from the nutter's mouth. You also forget his other missions. The spying, getting the paladin out, and floating in space screaming until someone picked him up.

He also complained about theatrics despite all the theatrics he was doing himself while we were in his head.

> And sometimes the pen is just a pen.
Still a good idea to check to see why things happened when it unexpectedly breaks.

>>2110652
Do you just want to argue for argument's sake? Should I not have given a reason behind my suggestion to put her under surveillance? I'm certain you'd just jump me for just throwing it there without justification too.

>>2110632
>>2110636
It is good to be cautious, though we should be careful in not getting too paranoid. Background checks, physical, and psychological make sense when bringing in new officers and she is using a background we can ask trusted people to know if she's legit.

>>2110657
You are not the only one who butts heads with Thunderbird, in that thread, or others. Really, this is why I dropped my tourney name after it was done.

As for your points, while she may not be 'the best', Sammy is likely in the 18s for her subterfuge and fighting skills while it seems that this person is likely a 16. That is still quite a gap, even if it's not enough to get her a fancy title like roarke. For the girl, her being a part of the plan is sort of counter productive when they could use other methods. Is she suspicious? Yes, but there is more than one side of the conflict. She could just as well be rebelling against the 5MB or perhaps want a batch of roarke seed to make some super babbies.

As for the hero, Patches is not it. Remember, the Teslas, the mechs with the actual pilots, were not leading; it was the unmanned mech. We know of one person who uses that sort of tech and she was waiting in the wings taunting us.
>He also complained about theatrics despite all the theatrics he was doing himself while we were in his head.
That doesn't make his mission false, it just makes him a hypocrite.

>>2110657
Dutch is the blue oni

>>2110665
I even agreed with you, its just saying that she's suspicious because she isn't a moral person is a bullshit excuse considering the people we've hired to join our crew.

>>2110623

The idea of Meridian floating in space, autistically screeching, is funnier than it has any right to be.

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>>2110691
>I'LL GET YOU NEXT TIME, ROARKE STARWWWIIIINNnndddd....

>>2110689
Dude being immoral is a great reason. An asshole can call an asshole an asshole.

Call it hypocrisy if you want but there is absolutely nothing wrong with being wary of strangers and just because a person is a cunt doesn't mean they have to enjoy the company of other cunts.

>>2110706
She hasn't been acting like an asshole though.

>>2110710
Okay fuck you if you're going to be this childish about it.

>>2110689
Careful Thunderbird, thats the sort of claim that can lead to Thunderbird/Dutch rivalry Yaoi written by Wong.

Alright, so. Marian. What are the odds that she's our designated California contact versus the odds that she's a FMB agent? Does Wong like using red herrings?

>>2110714
Either way I'll use her as a designated street

>>2110713
He doesn't have the balls to do it.

>>2110714
Wong is really, really good at misdirection. He's got our goat several times because of a few tricks he pulled. It could be a trick or it could be true. We don't know because we don't have enough information.
>>2110712
Easy there. You both have valid points on this. Thunderbird is right. We have had some pretty crazy characters help us, and some were more willing than others. End of the day, it's a matter of trust. She might gain it, she might not. Doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared for it, but this is the sort of situation where we can't jump at shadows either. Karen and Sam are likely capable of making sure the private time is not a ambush... or an attempt for Roarke honey.
>>2110734
You can never tell with Wong. Who knows what anon fanfics lurk in that skull of his.

>>2110747
>>2110713
I WILL REEE AT THIS WITH THE FORCE OF A THOUSAND SUNS AND REACTION IMAGES WHEN I GET AT HOME.

DON'T YOU TWO DARE TO GO AT IT BEHIND MY BACK.

I'M CALLING AN UBER AT THIS MOMENT.

WTF THUNDER I THOUGHT WE HAD SOMETHING SPECIAL ;-; AND HERE YOU ARE NOT PLAYING 32D CHESS AND CALLING THE FIRST PERSON YOU SAW WRITTING CORRECTLY AS YOU BIG RIVAL.

HOW COULD YOU!

>>2110595
I didn't remember that. Not exactly monster territory though. More of a Tyrant.

>>2110859
Ah good, a way to rile up both Thunderbird and BR in one fell swoop.

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>>2110903
You know... In the way here I had time to think and realize that instead of being angry at thunder, I should be flad, because he not only finnaly understand my point but he is also giving me a new rival to motivate me to step up my game and become a better person... *snif* *snif*
>>2110734
You should have said that from the beginning you Baka!

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>>2110903

>>2110943
Don't do that, thunder!

That gun's a revolver, so you should be emptying five rounds into other people first instead of cutting it short with just yourself. C'mon, if you're gonna go out, go out like yourself.

>>2111053
Something the hexarchs should have done. 6 bullets, 6 heads. They could have just shared the same gun. Bet the Leader of Colony 3 is why they didn't do it, the damn pussy.

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“Honestly?” You run a hand through your hair, “My parents wouldn't have met if not for the war, so...”

“So answering that question objectively would mean denying your own existence. I understand, it's not the way to reach you.” He sounds oddly sympathetic. “My only criticism is that you're seeing things on such a small scale, as if you were still just a pirate officer on a single ship. You're more than that. This purity of spirit you exhibit is fascinating, I can't decide whether it's naive or wonderfully human...but it blinds you.”

“There's a lot there I disagree with.” You remark slowly, taking it in.

“As I expected.” The old man replies, “It's an interesting paradox. Those with a lot of life left to live are always in such a hurry, rushing to get everywhere, while those at the end of our existence are as patient as the stones. Take your time, Starwind.”

“For one thing, there's no room for pirates in a perfect galaxy. You might be content to sacrifice yourselves, but I'm not.” You start, “Have you ever thought that galactic peace might be overrated? After all, even the Green Men fought for galactic peace.”

He nods, “You're absolutely right. A perfect galaxy isn't our goal. People need trials and hardship to give their lives meaning. Too much of a good thing and they'll destroy themselves and everyone around them. No, pirates like you are a necessary part of the new age. Heroes need villains to stand against, whether it's a wicked pirate captain or a tyrannous military general like the bitch Fairchild. As for galactic peace? We have a very different idea of what that means than the Green Men did. They wanted stillness, an end to conflict permanently, with humanity surviving like animals on a farm, domesticated. Declawed. They couldn't understand the human condition, that large-scale peace can only be achieved through carefully managed, constant violence on a small scale.”

[Continued]

>>2111443
Woah we ain't a Villain. Not when the system is bad.

We aren't a hero either, like Gilgamesh and shit.

We're just trying to do the best for people we care about, while not being an asshole who doesn't value anyone else.

Any system depends on the people within it to be any good, and if it's run by assholes then it's going to end up garbage no matter how it's set up.

That's why this guy's plans are BS.

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“At what cost? You can't just dismiss people's lives as worthless. All lives are valuable to someone. One person's junk might be another person's treasure, to use a scavvie phrase. A life you deem worthless might be valuable to someone else, a parent might value a wicked child or a child might idolize a flawed parent.” You can't keep the anger out of your voice.

He nods, “Exactly. What we seek to create will turn even the most wicked people to good purpose. Their existence will create heroes to stand against them. Yet, we can't say that preserving all lives is the highest good, especially if we recite that mantra while knowing that the sacrifice of the few will preserve the many. It's simply closing our eyes and letting more people die so we can pretend to be blameless.” He smiles, “Perhaps that's why King chose us, those who knew our souls were already stained, those who could not feign moral purity even to ourselves. I'd like to correct you on something, though. You act as though our plan is endless mass murder, it isn't. At this stage, lives are being lost because wars have become so massive in scope. Because numbers matter more than individual might. We seek to restore the age of the hero who can reshape a conflict on his own. Heroes like you, Starwind.”

You laugh in sudden realization, “So, that's your game. You're not playing to win, none of you are. You're playing kingmaker, and I'm your current candidate.”

He sighs, rather scornfully, “You're barely half right, and fully cocky about it. As far as I understand King's ideals, there is no single candidate. There are as many as the galaxy can hold. If you fail, you become an obstacle for the next potential hero. Consider the Paladin Lucas Ford. We built him up because he wanted to challenge the established order of the Paladins, and because we needed a testing ground for our technology. He was in every way an abject failure, he bungled his command of Avalonian forces on Qu'lir, he committed monstrous acts that would surely have seen him executed by his fellows, he utterly misinterpreted the desires and ideals of the creature he loved as a goddess and worshiped with all of his heart...at least, as far as I can tell from studying Avalonian philosophy...and yet, look what sprouted from him. The hero Major Amos Wedge of the UJCIDF, the Blue Knight of SOUL, the Muragi of a new generation. A corrupt and deviant organization found its heart in the destruction of a true villain. Is that not wondrous? Is not a conflict between heroes and their willing followers more noble than the wanton destruction of an unlimited number of tiny cogs in the vast machine of war orchestrated by those who were born at or bribed their way into power? Shouldn't those who fight wars be the ones who decide why the war is fought, and how they want to fight it?”

[Continued]

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“The only way to achieve this end.” He continues, “Is to destroy and break up any power base, any organization, capable of repeating the mistakes of the CUSS or unleashing the combined power of the Green Men, and to establish a moral precedent for doing so. After all, we will not endure forever, and even if we achieve our goal, what stops some new Galactic Empire from forming when one hero conquers the rest?”

You're still trying to take this in, “You have a lot of confidence in the world you're trying to build, but you can't predict the future, no one can, how will you make it turn out the way you want?”

He spreads his arms wide, “As far as I know, we cannot be sure of anything. All we can do is endeavor to create the future we want, the same as anyone does. Just like you. Your role in this is yours to create. Perhaps you'll simply be content to be the toady of Jupiter and Mars. Perhaps you'll end up as Emperor of the Galaxy. Perhaps you'll become a villain so nightmarish that Galbadie, Fairchild, Hakim the Kinless, Rudolph Merrow, the Lady, and all the rest of us vanish into your shadow. Perhaps you'll die as a noble and tragic hero who saved the galaxy, leaving behind hope for his children. Perhaps our plans will be completely misguided, and you'll set them right...and won't that be grand too!”

You shake your head. This is too much, too much to absorb. If it's madness, it's a hard knot of it that needs skill and patience to unravel. If it isn't...that's too unsettling to think about. You're a space pirate, not a philosopher, “What about the First Mate? The one whose mech has the green demon's face?”

“Someone I greatly admire, boy. A saint who has denied their own potential, who willingly accepted villainy for the sake of guiding the galaxy. One capable of boundless love and endless self-sacrifice. A creature who conceals most of what it is, and expresses it through action rather than letting its spirit shine so the galaxy can see its vision.” The old man sounds far more tired suddenly. “One who may one day outgrow us, too.”

[Continued]

>>2111463
>Shouldn't those who fight wars be the ones who decide why the war is fought, and how they want to fight it?”

Then you've merely shuffled the seats on a sun-bound transport. War isn't a process, merely the outcome of men who are passionately convinced they are in the right.

What you're doing, isn't some noble deed of prevent another Great Sidereal War. You're trying to be CUSS, now instead of isolating Sol, you're doing it to all of humanity. Keep us primitive, to hit each other with rocks and stones and then smite us from above if we so much as act out of line.

>>2111463
Yeah.. figured as much. That ties up some whys I was worried about. It's the same thing Papa Biggs wanted; rather than giant weapons like the Mega Bass, it's heroes. Cause enough of a conflict that heroes and villains rise up, gear and empower them, then have them lead.

The crap part is he has a point. Lucas Ford was a horrible villain. Amos became a great hero. The planet was saved due to him. Same with Galbadie and Fairchild. Horrible people, but great fodder for others to grow and a important lesson.

It's a horrible thing, but at the same time, it's got a off sort of logic. Hell, it's like trying to industrialize the heroic journey. Manufacture villains put them in the right situations, and cultivate any heroes that pop up.

>>2111485
It's like he's making a point and then immediately contradicting himself

>We've got a grand and noble plan
turns into
>Who can predict the future? We certainly can't!

>Heroes are great! They come out and change things!
turns into
>Fallen heroes that change things for the worse are just stumbling blocks for new and better heroes!

>We're a noble conspiracy guiding humanity to a better tomorrow!
turns into
>Maybe you're actually the hero and you might win in the end!

It's like he's trying to apply hindsight, but towards FUTURE EVENTS which is just stupid.

>>2111567
If this was a logical situation, we wouldn't be in a council room that has a bunch of dead politicians in it. Mind you, their Leader is named King and wears Yellow, so a cultish mind set makes sense to a degree.

>>2111567
Reminds me of an Oglaf skit.

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You don't, though, there's a fire in your belly now, “I hate to say it, but you won't like my answer to a lot of this.”

“I don't have to, that's the beauty of reality. People don't need to agree for things to happen.” The old man ripostes.

“Exactly. You're trying to be the CUSS, only instead of isolating the Solar System, you'll do it to everyone. Keep us weak and primitive and smite us from above if we so much as act out of line." You point out.

"Not really." He replies mildly. "We have no interest in rulership. Indeed, that would be beside the point. If you're worthy, then I can only assume eventually we'll be having this conversation in person."

"Which, considering I have such an interest in rulership, is a problem. I can't get behind a philosophy that industrializes the loss of human life, that measures out acceptable sacrifices to stop a preset outcome, that seeks to stymie any flourishing civilization, like mine." You toss your orange mane back to keep it out of your face in the zero-G environment, and stare him down, "The truth is, I don't care about your ideals. All of this philosophy, I don't care about it. I know my cause, I know my own dream of happiness and prosperity for those under my flag, and my fists will crush anyone who gets in the way of that dream. You can spin whatever pretty words you like, but at the end of the day, you interrupted my wedding...repeatedly. Threatened my wives...repeatedly. Sent assassins after me...repeatedly. You've made yourselves my enemy, and if you don't understand now what a titanic, galaxy-shaking mistake that is, it's fine. In fact, I'm glad you don't get it, because it means I get to show you. I get to teach all of you the same lesson I taught Meridian. Go to your King, tell him I am coming for his head. Tell him that there is only one Pirate King, and his name is Roarke Susan Starwind.” You tell him simply. The fact that you are going to brutally murder the Four Man Band the way you murdered the Green Skulls is just that, a fact.

“A primal and heroic response. Very well, I will repeat your words exactly. Good luck, Starwind.” With that, the old man bows his head deeply, as if acknowledging a loss, then hesitates, “Do keep in mind. If you disdain philosophy, and think only of what is best for yourself and your people...then a galaxy balkanized into individual planets and warbands, one where your Phaeton can compete evenly with the remains of Avalon and the Solar worlds, would certainly be in your best interests.” He terminates the connection, leaving you in a room full of corpses and surrounded by your underlings.

Who seem to be looking to you for a response.

>[What say?]

>>2111595
Look alive we have several colonies to inform about the change in management.
And stay sharp, no telling what other nasty surprises they have laying around for us.

>>2111595
>Men, secure the asteroid and the rest of the colonies. Marian, see if you can get the locals to maintain order. Since the Hextarch is dead, we need to hold an election for all 4 colonies to elect to stay independent or join us.

>>2111595
"Secure the place, make sure there are no traps, and find any files or documents we can use. Don't let your guard down just yet, Marx or the Hexarchs might have left a parting gift.." Keep professional for the moment. If anyone asks our thoughts with the speech with Marx, answer simply.
"No matter the words, the actions are still there. They picked this fight and got a lot of good people caught in it. They aren't walking away from that. For now, let's try to get California station back in proper order."
We might have to give a speech to the population of California Station as well.

>>2111595
>"Did we manage to record both sides of that? If so send a copy to Wedge."

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"Look alive. We have to inform the colonies about the change in management, but first...secure the place, make sure there are no nasty surprises left behind, find any files or documents we can use. Don't let your guard down just yet, actions speak louder than words and the Band has been sending assassins ever since 16-Psyche."

"The nerve of that man, thinking he can destroy the League with a handful of pirates!" Fatima hisses like an angry goose.

You turn to go, "No matter what he said, those actions still speak louder. They picked this fight, and killed good people pursuing their so-called ideals, sacrificing many of their own in the process. I won't forgive that, but our first priority is getting California Station back into working order. Once that's done, we can determine how the Station's new adminisration will function." You might have to give a speech later, but not right now, the fighting isn't done yet. "Marian. Have your locals maintain order where possible. I'll be dispatching officers to form temporary citizens' militias for now. Also..." You wave to your troops, "Get to work, I need to speak with her alone. Aside from you, Fatima."

Fatima smiles triumphantly, "But of course, my dear wolf."

You look at Marian directly. You're suspicious of her for no easily explicable reason. She's TOO helpful, TOO much of a fan, and too...involved...with all of this. "Is that a problem?"

She frowns a little as if not understanding, then shrugs, "Nah, not at all. You trust her, right? I mean, if she was an assassin...I bet you'd have been too distracted to survive the wedding night, right?" She winks. "Marrying is probably why you're still alive. I've heard of your reputation, your majesty." She laughs at her own joke, as the last of the troops clear the room, then takes a deep breath, suddenly looking nervous, "Look, like I said...this is just a rumor, alright? Don't get your hopes too far up. Don't blame me personally and, like, snap my neck or anything if it turns out to be bullshit. I haven't confirmed any of this myself, I haven't even been to the neighborhood he supposedly lives in, but...word is, there's a man living out in the slums of Colony 2 who's supposed to be dead, a man you know."

"Who?" Speculating would hurt. Speculating would hurt too much. She has to say it for you to even let the name enter your mind.

"The rumors started after you publicly killed the Jupie officer who killed him. That duel got a lot of attention, and your fans, well, they did their research. So, uh, on a certain corner of the holonet I won't name because, um, you might judge me over some of the more questionable, um, content...I saw a few postings about this neighborhood in Colony 2, about a guy who was fixing the locals' machinery for a small fee, living in an abandoned tenement. A guy with a face kind of like yours. A guy with blonde hair, artificial legs, and some kind of throat wound."

[Continued]

>>2111742
Well damn this is perfect bait.

Not like we have much choice but to accept our brother's wish to live his own life. But he's been found once by someone so we should send him a message about that and let him know his cover might be blown.

If he wants to reach us, we're pretty visible.

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You feel the bottom of your stomach drop out, "If you're lying..."

"I told you I can't confirm anything!" She stamps her foot, "I don't know if he's your brother or not! I just knew if I heard a rumor and didn't tell you, it would be worse than if I told you and I turned out to be wrong! If I had siblings I'd want to know, damn it! Besides, there's a problem."

"There's no problem that just landing outside in the Kaiser won't solve. I'll call the Rhinehawk, we're going now." You announce firmly.

Marian stamps her foot again, "Boss! That neighborhood is at the heart of ganger territory, and I'm pretty sure they work for the Band. You go in with your army or your mech or anything as blatantly obvious as that, and you'll be in for a siege with him at the very center of it, or at least constant ambushes. There were pictures posted, too, apparently he's got traps set all over his building, too, since he's the only resident. Calling your ship might give it away to any spies there, too." She sighs heavily, tugging her twintails, "I thought about going by myself, but I doubt he'd believe my good intentions. It's gotta be you, but from what I've heard you can handle yourself. I'm happy to serve as your guide, and if you need to bring a few more people along to feel safe or because you don't trust me...and in your case, I wouldn't, we just met even if I AM kind of a huge fan...then go ahead and bring them, but the bigger the group, the more attention we'll get. I was thinking we could take a jetbike, a helmet will hide even YOUR mop, but if you want more people along I can maybe line up a groundcar with some tinted windows, although we might still get stopped."

>[What do?]