Vote for Page 15.20

Option 3: I see what your doing there. This is a 'Troll Option'. No way I'm picking it. Option 1 & Option 2: "When faced with two choices, simply toss a coin. It works not because it settles the question for you. But because in that brief moment when the coin is in the air, you suddenly know what you are hoping for." -Anton Chigurh, "No Country for Old Men" Flip coin. Mid-air, my heart really wants Option 1. That's what I'm voting for. Back fill justification, Option 1 will make it more believable for the Federation that Quel had been jumped by an emotionally distraught Odrossian that had suffered from PTSD after a century of torture at the hands of the mob and had violently knocked a bunch of troops out then shot a medical laser console. Option 2 with a more reasonable Nyrah holding a surgeon at gunpoint might make smarter Federation members start to think Quel was in on it.

I don't even know at this point, can't predict the results... what I'd love to see at some point is a decision tree, learn what would have happened if we chose A rather than B at point 1, 2 etc... at least, as far as it was planned. Could we have that? Maybe at the end of the story?

Strategically, Nyrah has the upper hand by acting immediately. If she takes the surgeon hostage, that just gives time for someone to notice the guards missing out front or a nurse to hit a panic button and for backup to arrive--putting her in a standoff in the middle of a navy ship. Cutting power to the laser means ending the immediate threat to Cort and buying time for the sedative to wear off. She's already assaulted the guards and the gov't has already deemed Cort expendable. The only path forward is fighting their way off the ship and going back to surviving on their own.

I changed my mind from blast the laser to hold surgeon at gunpoint, not because the effect will necessarily be better but because this is something Nyrah would do. Such as she did to Lani when she caught Cort in the throat when they met. IMO holding surgeon at gunpoint still allows them to much freedom to finish the cutting, and I'm not sure how much time she has until it's too late.

I think by the time Nyrah rush into the room the surgeon will already be cutting his arm, she should cut the power immediately if she want to prevent any risk of Cort loosing the starcaster. Holding him at gun point would just mean he could be startled and maimed Cort or finish his job before being distracted by Nyrah.

As pointed already pointed out, discharging a firearm inside a Navy ship that is already on high alert will only bring more guards to the MedBay and complicate the eventual escape. Threatening the surgeon and stalling until Cort comes about might open two paths: - allow a stealthy escape without alerting the crew of the Dreadstorm until they blast off - allow Cort to perhaps call out the Federation on their underhand tactics and renegotiate the relationship

I'm surprised by how many people think that shooting first is a great idea. I think he's made it clear that the authority's power is unassailable, and any actions like this must be kept local, which they won't be if she starts firing. Threatening at least has the possibility of not escalating beyond the point of no return, and being mitigated once all the facts of the rushing to surgery come out. I see no way to not get her permanently branded an enemy and criminal once she shoots.

Is the Starcaster capable of defending Cort on its own, due to their bonding?

You do not discharge a firearm aboard a navy ship with a crew member that can shoot plasma from their hands. PLEASE don't be reckless here And don't pick watch either, all that will happen is Cort will get his arm cut off

We just need to stall. They were warned that the sedative would not last, and they can't cut once Cort comes to. If she opens fire, then getting away is going to be a lot more complicated! However, I think many people are voting for whatever causes the most chaos, cause they like to make Tim work for his money.

"Watch and see what happens" feels like an amazing troll, but I think I'll go with "hold the surgeon at gunpoint" We have no idea what could happen if the console gets damaged, some kind of power surge right near Cort's arm and the starcaster, seems too risky to me.

The violence of action is the best approach here. Blast the console removing the laser as a threat. As soon as they remove the drugs being fed to Cort he'll wake up. No easy solution though. He either signs the intake papers or fights his way out which seems unlikely.

You gotta think strategically. These are the Starcaster Chronicles, there's no option where the starcaster just goes away. The first two choices just get our folks into more trouble; the third choice is the one where something really interesting happens.

I think the caster will defend the wearer.

Oof. I hate all of this, and all of these options. Why couldn't we just finish the intake papers?? I'm not gonna make my mind up quite yet. I'll have to think about this.

She can tell then to stop and keep up the bluff that it is too dangerous in that or could damage the sarcastic. They care about it.

Tricky. Attempting to stop the surgery will just ultimately get them into even more trouble, but their leverage is gone once the starcaster is off.

decisions decisions

I wonder if the third option would show us that even the surgical laser isn't fast/powerful enough to overpower the Starcaster's healing factor.

I feel like damaging the console will trigger all sorts of alarms and will have the room crowded with guards before Cort wakes up... Being discreet seems like the best option here