Vote for Issue 14 Page 12

I miss the early issues where we would get a map showing rough sketches of what would have happened if other choices were taken. Last vote was August 22, the one before was May 21 and we still don't know what would have happened in the other scenarios...

We were missing on option on this one, they could always enlist. Seems like its time for everyone to help defend the federation, and both of them are clearly valuable assets. Why wouldn't you want someone who's spent decades getting to know startcasters and a mimmion on your side?

I hope this works

I say, “Issue an Ultimatum”. Speck and Nyrah aren’t just “civilians”. Nyrah is an Odrossian soldier with military experience. Speck is a mercenary with engineering experience. Militaries give clearances to civilian contractors and advisors all the time. And right now, the Federation could use all the help it can get. It just lost to the Dranglaex a fleet of ships, two planets, and a Starcaster. On top of that, the Dranglaex pulled that off by infiltrating the Federation. The Federation needs some playing pieces that are a little off the grid. An Odrossian soldier, a Mimion mercenary engineer, and a ship doesn’t look and scream “Federation” (e.g., the Aphelion) could certainly be helpful. Plus Mimion muck seems to be a valuable, tradable commodity. The Federation would be fools to shoot themselves in the foot this way by turning Speck and Nyrah away. Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time in history a military shot itself in the foot with a bad decision. Let’s see whose bridge gets crossed and whose bridge gets burned.

From their conversation, I am getting the impression that the Aphelion can't be completely fixed on board this vessel and Nyrah will need to go elsewhere to get a new body. If they stay on this ship, that seems to mean that the Aphelion and Nyrah will remain hobbled. I think it would be better for them to get their upgrades so they're in a better position to help in the future. Who knows, maybe Nyrah will get a combat-capable body as opposed to her current fragile medical body and Speck might upgrade the Aphelion to better survive a firefight. All they would need is a means to communicate so they can meet up again after the upgrades.

He can make quite the argument about Nyrah helping him work the caster, so it will only make sense to let them stay.

We're not sending our friends off and we're not leaving our duty post. They stay right where they are. Edit - Now that I think about it, Speck will probably bail regardless of what we do because he hates Feds. But I know if we send them off then they are not going to be a part of the story anymore, so this is our last shot to keep at least Nyrah - since the Feds have suicide bomber spies on their ships, we'll need her watching our back.

You know what I need Quel? A personal secretary. Speck is good at that kinda thing, so I'm hiring him. And something DANTON could have used was a Bodyguard, so yeah, Nyrah is getting hired for that too. Any complaints? Take 'em up with my new secretary.

Just flat out leaving the feds seems like an odd non-option. He'd be a fugitive again, and even MORE hunted than the first time. There could be slight value in sending Speck and Nyrah away for a bit, to get their ship and her body fixed, but I honestly think they would both be a boon to the Feds to have around. Speck is good with tools and sciency stuff, seems like a smart cookie who could assist several areas within a military operation. Nyrah has older history with starcasters, and I feel like she could maybe even be good in an assistance/advisory position. Plus, they're both warriors good in a fight in a pinch. They don't need to join up, as someone already said, many militaries hire civilians for various purposes. Ultimatum: Nyrah and Speck stay, I promise (even though I'm already in uniform) to be a model federation soldier, starcaster student, and cooperate freely and happily.

Federation lost a Starcaster. That makes Cort WAY, WAY more valuable than before. And he already was so valuable the Feds were ready to promise a lot. Just issue an ultimatum, Quel won't like it but he also knows how important at least Speck is to Cort. That's also a good time for Cort to assert his position and get as much power as he can right now inside the Federation.

It kinda makes sense for long-range vessels to have civilian and military components though. You'd think they could stay on as civilian hires. Pretty much every military in the world has civilians working for them.

He's in no position to make demands, as they could cut his arm off. He's too devoted (and too much of a rebel) to abandon his crew. And, let's face it, we all want him OUT THERE making snappy, bad decisions!