Poll for Issue 17, Page 12

Nyrah's life is on the line - whatever option that keeps her intact is the one we need to pick. I'm skeptical on how the Avisar will react to option 2. And we absolutely can not ever go back on the ship (or near any Federation facilities) as we risk Nyrah being arrested on the spot for assaulting Federation officers.

In any negotiation or disagreement, each side needs to indicate their willingness to talk. We've been running full tilt away from the federation since things went south. I think offering to stay in proximity is important. I don't think we will be ABLE to do that, but I think making the offer to La'ni before things to to hell will give us a big ally moving forward. If the federation betrays us, we need them to be the bad guys, if we never even offer breadcrumbs, then we are the unreasonable ones in the face of an unreasonable ask. I bet La'Ni will get the ship to stand down, or they will fire on her, which will put her firmly on our side.

I get the feeling that no matter Cort WANTS to do, it's about to get worse. Because that's what our heroes' luck has been since the start of this!

I'm willing to bet that Speck is smart enough not to stay in proximity to a warship with guns trained on him. So I suspect that option 1's offer to stay in proximity would be dependent on the cruiser powering down its weapons. What's more, if La'Ni witnesses Cort agree to stay peacefully and the cruiser still fires on them, then that may get La'Ni more on Cort's side of this argument. I think this is the best option. I don't think Speck can jump with La'Ni in front of them anyway, and she'd be tempted to disable their ship herself if they try to flee.

Decline (#3) just isn’t an option…and I think #1 is set up already as “if we stay, that kinetic blast is gonna make things 1000x worse across the board.” I like the idea of jumping but trying to keep an open comm with La’vi, though I’d strongly prefer us staying and hashing it out now…

I'm going with decline. I don't want to see another run of "let's join the Federation but defy them at every turn" arc

If cort dies, I'm guessing you don't go away for 3v yes and plot a new universe backstory and main character story in a whole new world? Will you continue this series with a different character or spin cort back up somehow?

Federation is literally willing to chop him to pieces for asking a question. There's no reasoning with them. It's time to bail.

I'm keen to see how Avisar evolves as a person away from the Federation. Give her some room to breathe and plot a way to get revenge on the Dranglaex. Maybe she's more dangerous than anyone thinks.

I knew that the decline option was going to be unpopular but the thought of a rouge Starcaster that spies can't easily listen in on sounds like an extremely powerful option.

Staying in proximity will serve nothing. The captain is right, Vicen From themselves asked to get the Starcaster by any means. All that'll happen is Cort and friends will go back in cells at best, or killed at worst. But La'ni is also right that not helping with the war will mean the Drangalex are gonna win, since they got 2 starcasters now. So middle option is best.

I'm looking for the "Join the Dranglaex, because they're apparently less likely to betray him at this point" option. Not to mention their operation doesn't seem to be chock full of traitors. Are we sure the Federation are even the good guys anymore?

He gave them a chance and feels betrayed, I don't think he's going to stick around even though he wants to help.

Good grief, these questions keep getting harder. This feels like one of those "Choose your own adventure" flip-page books where 90% of the paths lead to me getting my blood sucked out by a 10-foot ghost spider.

What does 'stay in proximity' mean, exactly?

My first time voting! Very tough decision between what *I* want and what I think Cort would do