What does Cort do?
Cort is faced with a decision: Trust Quel, and surrender to the Federation or choose to trust only his crew and continue on their own.
Vote to decide what Cort feels is the right path, and which argument he makes in an upcoming discussion with the crew.
Comments (21)
"One step ahead". If this were true, I'd be tempted to vote thus, but it so very much isn't! Their resources are all but gone, the Dranglaex are after them, and we now know that what Cort is running from is basically some trouble with the law, not some big conspiracy where the entire Federation is dirty and needs him dead before he exposes them. What he has against him is a history of taking bribes. What he has going for him is being a semi-trained starcaster bearer, and the thing can't be removed unless somebody slashes his arm off violently (and IF so). They are in the middle of a war, and even if they wanted to go the "slash arm off" way, they won't have the time to put the starcaster on someone else and get him trained. I'd say it's in the Federation's best interests to just strike some bargain with him and give him a pardon if he helps. Which becomes much easier if he comes willingly, with the man that said he can be reasoned with. Politically-wise, the starcaster does NOT belong to the federation, but rather to another civilization, the last of which (Nyrah) actually put it on him, while she was trying to get to the Federation. Again, a mess that the Federation would be unwise to stir now; Nyrah could have precious information for them. Plus, I'm tired of this whole dynamic of Quill trying to help and Cort acting out. Let this particular sh1t hit the fan and see what happens; at least Quill will have had his shot and be a better help. TLDR; I think he will be safer with the Federation in the short-term, and if they have really nasty plans for him long-term, well, as others said, he should at least be able to steal better resources, because right now, he's either going to be blasted by the Dranglaex, or their ship will crap on them midspace and they'll die drifting into space...
Part of me wants Cort to go with Quell just so Quell will have to witness what they do with Cort. He made a promise, right? I imagine a Dranglex mole forces Quell to break a few Federation rules as he tries to rescue Cort from the corrupted cage he put him in...and then things get really messy! Let's get another refugee on Cort's team!
Part of me is wondering if the last comic is insinuading that Quell might be working for the Dranglex....even if that seems way outside his personality so far.
The specific words were "Within Federation Borders." Not In the Federation Itself. The chances of Marshalls being direct double agents is low. Criminals who have law enforcement in their pocket being in a business relationship with the Dranglex? Very high.
Quell is the other asset and will turn on Cort as soon as that gun is lowered. Better to kill him and have Spec melt him down. Strip his ship for needed parts or just steal it.
That... seems highly improbably from what we've seen of Quel in public AND private.
Cort left the Federation more because it wasn't really for him, than anything else. He learned from his new friend (don't remember his name), how to be a survivor, be on his own, be... lawless. And in being a survivor, Cort knows the Federation is his only chance... For now. "Safety" from the Dranglex and others he may have crossed, until he learns how to handle the Starcaster, figure out a clean getaway, and maybe help destroy the Dranglex if it comes to it.
The more i think on options. Why can’t Cort try and convince Quel to join him? That sounds like a very cort decision honestly. Corts always been a good guy at heart and Quel is a good man by all measures.
The problem is the Federation is getting desperate. That means bad things for Cort if stays away, and Quel knows it. I just know Cort could quickly find he has no place to hide, and everybody selling them out at every turn if they go on their own.
This is the same Cort who gambled his only means of income in a game of cards. His ship is almost kaput, he's been found on the MOST unfindable location the three of them combined could think of, and Cort is starting to get the hang of his annihilation beam. He's finally got some leverage. This is the time to come in and negotiate a deal that will get Cort money, resources, and a position of HIS choosing. Time to take a gamble, and see if he can swing the corruption inside the Federation to his advantage. It wouldn't be the first time he's done it. And he needs to do it before another Starcaster gets diverted into hunting him.
We just saw a page where the bad guy talks about how he has more moles in the Federation. Obviously Cort doesn't know that so it wouldn't factor into HIS decision, but I'm the one being asked to vote and knowing it certainly factors into my decision. If Cort goes to the Federation and ends up having to do another big escape from crooked agents like the last time he went to the Federation, it's just going to look even worse for him. Instead of still being on the run, he got brought in and then escaped, which will just piss the Federation off even more. So obviously, I vote to keep running.
The thing is this time, we also know there are people not working for the bad guys to. A fighter pilot comes to mind for example. Just if Cort really tries to trust, and people like Quel see that...well if the corrupt elements come for Cort he may not be standing so alone. I can see Quel and others pulling a better ship for him to run on if it all goes bad.
I'm in the same boat as anyone here. They've been flying on broken wings, pursued on all fronts by multiple parties. There's only so far they can run before they are backed into a corner they can't get out of. In addition, I'm still fully sure that Quel truly wants Cort to be well, and if Cort doesn't accept this in person, things might go bad, and Quel could end up another weight on Cort's conscience. I think it'll turn ugly if Cort refuses again. It's time for me to change my vote and chance it with the Feds.
If one marshal was able to find him in just a few days, imagine being hunted by them all. No, it's time to cooperate and hope the Federation would rather supply resources to keep him pointed at the Drangleax instead of anyone else. "The enemy of my enemy"
This is too big for Cort to handle himself ..at some point he needs to join up with a larger group and get organised against the Dranglaex ... and as the starcaster is attached to Cort now the Federation will at least give Cort some leeway as I think it will not bond with just anyone and it will take time to teach how to use it even if hey found a new one ..so they will tolerate Cort as long as they think they have the upper hand.
Tough choice. We've had similar votes before, and Cort/Spec consistently have chosen to run. But this may be their very last chance to return peacefully to the Federation. Yet, surely the Federation will demand to hand over the Starcaster - separated from Cort one way or another. I'd really be interested to hear Nyrah's opinion on this first - now that she's witnessed the inner workings of the Federation first hand, would she trust them again?
There will be a discussion, but right now this is a "Cort Perspective" vote, and will determine how he begins the discussion.
I just feel at least if he goes to the Federation and it goes to nerf dung, he can steal a better ship. Also I think it more a case of there are corrupt branches in the Federation, but there are also good parts too.
Cort is a free soul. The Federations Red Tape might be too much for Cort. Im sure he will demand to be considered a unique existance, at the price to joining the Federations defense against the Dranglex.
Corts at the end of his rope at this point, with the only chance at survival is trust.
Juicy cliff!