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Arcalinte is about to interrupt in an attempt to calm Delegate Andar before the other delegates step in and do that for him.
He frowns a bit as they seem to split into different conversations. Unity was what was needed now, and there was little time. Being the most familiar with Delegate Nor, he approaches when the wily necrovite has a quiet moment. He thought he understood what Nor's game was this time, but he knew Nor played his cards close to his ribcage, so he had to make sure.
"This brings back memories, doesn't it?"
Nor eyes Arc for a while before answering "A touch different, wouldn't you say? You're no longer a bright eyed little animal, and the threat in front of us is far more immediate, and far less convenient of an opportunity." Arc isn't able to draw out exactly what Nor thinks is the biggest threat, with the Eoxian dancing around the issues at hand.
On the other hand, Arc does get a sense for what makes Nor tick. The Eoxian delegate appreciates someone whose way with words can match his own, as well as any experts at the magical arts. He's also definitely colder toward people he isn't already familiar with.
Directorate Members (World - Name - Important Stats) Bold have been successfully influenced:
Eox - Nor - Influence (Diplomacy or Sense Motive, hard; Mysticism, medium)
Verces - Klendalikh - ???
Absalom Station - Melacruz - ???
Stewards - Camulan - Influence (Engineering or Piloting, medium; Profession (soldier), easy), Priority (Station Defense)
Castrovel - Losifaran - Influence (Culture or Sense Motive, medium; Diplomacy, medium-hard)
Idari - Andar - ???
Triaxus - Choh - Influence (Diplomacy or Sense Motive, medium; Athletics, Profession (comedy), Survival, easy), Priority (Station Defense)
Ajithu 3 actions left
Arc 3 actions left
Achlyss 5 actions left
Shocca 1 action left
Ajithu will attempt to size-up Klendalikh, Melacruz, and Andar.
Information is power... let's get the rest of it so we can proceed with our eyes wide open.
The kalo proceeds to stick to research on his datapad, scouring not only official references but gathering clues from social media about the delegates.
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Arcalinte nods a bit. Opportunity was an interesting way to frame this crisis, but it was how he expected Nor to frame it, considering he knew Nor to be a man who found opportunity in interesting situations. He also knew Nor didn't appreciate overly-curious Starfinders getting too nosy about those opportunities, so he decides not to press that matter further...at least, not directly.
"I understand, Nor...sometimes the best defense against a threat is to know how it works. It's clear the Sivvs possessed insights into the immaterial that even now we're lightyears away from replicating. Considering they had one of Eloritu's missing runes hidden away under Hibb all this time, and we never suspected...who knows what other secrets Ark Prime itself must hide? Secrets that we'll have to decide if they need to go the way of the Stellar Degenerator and be forgotten in fire, or if they can be turned from their destructive purpose to more...productive ends."
Ajithu searches up what information he can find on Klendalikh, Melacruz and Andar's personalities and inclinations. He finds that the shirren Klendalikh is known in some circles as a bleeding heart and always committed to finding solutions that will preserve the lives of sentient creatures. Though it's not well publicized, there's also the perception that she's a bit of a pushover under menacing pressure . He isn't able to learn much more than surface level information about Melacruz. Andar on the other hand he finds quite a bit about. The elderly kasatha is as risk averse as she seems, perhaps even more so. However she respects individuals steeped in tradition who observe proper protocol, and are observant and economical with words.
Nor listens to Arc while still watching the rest of the Directorate keenly. He tilts his head at the mention of one of Eloritu's missing runes, and looks back at Arc as he mentions more 'productive ends'. "Always an important concern. If we weather this, and I do not doubt that we will, there will be opportunities in the Ark for the taking. Ones we can all benefit from..."
Directorate Members (World - Name - Important Stats) Bold have been successfully influenced:
Eox - Nor - Influence (Diplomacy or Sense Motive, hard; Mysticism, medium)
Verces - Klendalikh - Influence (Diplomacy or Medicine, medium-hard; Intimidate, easy)
Absalom Station - Melacruz - ???
Stewards - Camulan - Influence (Engineering or Piloting, medium; Profession (soldier), easy), Priority (Station Defense)
Castrovel - Losifaran - Influence (Culture or Sense Motive, medium; Diplomacy, medium-hard)
Idari - Andar - Influence (Diplomacy or Perception, medium; Culture or Medicine, easy)
Triaxus - Choh - Influence (Diplomacy or Sense Motive, medium; Athletics, Profession (comedy), Survival, easy), Priority (Station Defense)
Ajithu 0 actions left
Arc 2 actions left
Achlyss 5 actions left
Shocca 1 action left
Though she made a poor first impression, Shocca returns to Andar and tries to establish her expertise in the medical traditions of the Pact Worlds.
Shocca approaches Andar with full intention of getting on her good side using her medical knowledge. After examining the kasatha, she recognizes that Andar's symptoms are a match for a rare degenerative nerve disease that kasatha sometimes suffer from. However, as she attempts to bring up her medical knowledge in conversation, Andar furrows her brow "Another that thinks she knows what's best for me, is that it? Begone with you."
Directorate Members (World - Name - Important Stats) Bold have been successfully influenced:
Eox - Nor - Influence (Diplomacy or Sense Motive, hard; Mysticism, medium)
Verces - Klendalikh - Influence (Diplomacy or Medicine, medium-hard; Intimidate, easy)
Absalom Station - Melacruz - ???
Stewards - Camulan - Influence (Engineering or Piloting, medium; Profession (soldier), easy), Priority (Station Defense)
Castrovel - Losifaran - Influence (Culture or Sense Motive, medium; Diplomacy, medium-hard)
Idari - Andar - Influence (Diplomacy or Perception, medium; Culture or Medicine, easy)
Triaxus - Choh - Influence (Diplomacy or Sense Motive, medium; Athletics, Profession (comedy), Survival, easy), Priority (Station Defense)
Ajithu 0 actions left
Arc 2 actions left
Achlyss 5 actions left
Shocca 0 action left
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Arcalinte grimaces as he sees Shocca attempt to smooth things over with Andar and completely blow it, so he swoops in shortly afterwards to make his own attempt.
"I'd like to apologize on Dr. Nemmac's behalf," he says to her in Kasatha, bowing respectfully. "She means well, but her brilliant mind can sometimes outrun her sense of decorum."
"I share your concerns: we must not value the lives of Absalom Station's people over the Idari's. Both are tragedies that must be prevented as much as possible."
Arc's respectful approach earns a much more receptive response from Andar. The elderly kasatha murmurs "Well then, at least one of you has some manners, and some sense." Then continues a little louder "The others are foolish to trust blindly that technical solutions will get the Idari out of the path of this Ark. The danger the Idari faces demands more concerted action."
Directorate Members (World - Name - Important Stats) Bold have been successfully influenced:
Eox - Nor - Influence (Diplomacy or Sense Motive, hard; Mysticism, medium)
Verces - Klendalikh - Influence (Diplomacy or Medicine, medium-hard; Intimidate, easy)
Absalom Station - Melacruz - ???
Stewards - Camulan - Influence (Engineering or Piloting, medium; Profession (soldier), easy), Priority (Station Defense)
Castrovel - Losifaran - Influence (Culture or Sense Motive, medium; Diplomacy, medium-hard)
Idari - Andar - Influence (Diplomacy or Perception, medium; Culture or Medicine, easy)
Triaxus - Choh - Influence (Diplomacy or Sense Motive, medium; Athletics, Profession (comedy), Survival, easy), Priority (Station Defense)
Ajithu 0 actions left
Arc 1 action left
Achlyss 5 actions left
Shocca 0 action left
Shocca walks away from the kasatha, saddened that her medical knowledge has let her down once again.
Arc spends some time watching Melacruz, recalling what he knows of her. He knows she's been a bold Prime Executive for Absalom Station, outspoken and forceful in her crusade for corporate accountability and solutions for all the station's residents. She's known to be frank and outspoken, respecting others with the same traits. Notoriously difficult to sway or impress, she'd likely be a tough nut to crack
Directorate Members (World - Name - Important Stats) Bold have been successfully influenced:
Eox - Nor - Influence (Diplomacy or Sense Motive, hard; Mysticism, medium)
Verces - Klendalikh - Influence (Diplomacy or Medicine, medium-hard; Intimidate, easy)
Absalom Station - Melacruz - Influence (Sense Motive, very hard; Diplomacy, hard)
Stewards - Camulan - Influence (Engineering or Piloting, medium; Profession (soldier), easy), Priority (Station Defense)
Castrovel - Losifaran - Influence (Culture or Sense Motive, medium; Diplomacy, medium-hard)
Idari - Andar - Influence (Diplomacy or Perception, medium; Culture or Medicine, easy)
Triaxus - Choh - Influence (Diplomacy or Sense Motive, medium; Athletics, Profession (comedy), Survival, easy), Priority (Station Defense)
Achlyss 5 actions left
Achlyss moves from delegate to delegate, attempting to utilize his natural charisma, athletic talents, and sometimes just pure presence to impress and endear himself. Unfortunately, while several of the delegates are receptive, or at least polite, none of them seem swept up by Achlyss' capabilities. At the end, you find Andar, Nor and Losifaran are the only ones who are looking to you for more of your input - the other delegates have largely kept to each others' counsel.
The ongoing discussion is suddenly cut off as comms devices all across the Star Chamber start going off. The delegates refer to their devices and fall silent as they read the incoming message. After a long pause, Melacruz is the first to speak up "Civil unrest. People hurt, lives at risk, all while we sit here squabbling. We know each others' positions. I suspect any further discussion will only leave people more entrenched. I say we put the distribution of the Pact Fleets to a vote." Though there's a little argument from Andar and Klendalikh, the delegates quickly assent to Melacruz's suggestion and return to their respective seats.
Klendalikh rubs her mandibles for a moment before speaking up in a practiced, officious tone "Then, on the issue of distribution of the Pact Fleets, the Directorate is now in order. Considering the time delay in communication and mobilization time, any decisions made here are likely to be final. We have four major concerns identified by our distinguished delegates."
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"First, the question of the rogue Eoxian Fleet. Delegate Nor would have us send several fleets to support this rogue Fleet, bring them back into the fold, and then engage in a skirmishing strategy to delay the Ark and buy the rest of us more time."
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"Second, the question of the Idari. The estimated path of the Ark shows it will pass dangerously close to the worldship. The Idari's engineers are attempting to restart the ship's main engine but may not be able to do so before the Ark arrives. As Delegate Andar reminds us, this poses great risk to the entire population, and requests a significant Fleet presence to cover the Idari and hopefully deflect the Ark's path. With aid, the Idari's own forces could be freed up to join in the defense of the Station."
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"Third, the question of the Station's garrison. Due to the existential threat at play, order has already begun to break down on the Station, as our most recent message hammers home. Representative Melacruz reminds us that several fringe political groups are already threatening to seize control of the Station due to the situation. She suggests that we keep several Fleets garrisoned to ensure the Station doesn't fall to internal fighting before the Ark even arrives."
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"Fourth and finally, the question of the Station's defense. We have no solution yet to countering the Ark directly. To maximize the opportunity to develop one, and to buy as much time as possible for evacuations, Director-General Camulan has requested that we concentrate our forces around the Station and attempt a coordinated defense."
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Shocca first speaks in the team comm. "Delegate Nor is not wrong in suggesting that the Eoxian Fleet with some help could delay the Ark, at least for a time. With good tactics, the combined Fleets may even be able to make a fighting retreat to the Station and join any other remaining Fleets there. However, this would be rather challenging to execute..." She speaks up hesitantly to the broader group, not trusting her own charisma. "It would be tough, but the Eoxian delegate's plan has merit." She looks over at the kasatha. "It could buy the time the Idari needs. A fighting retreat would save lives, but it would take our best pilots and soldiers to pull off."
Looking at the charts, Shocca gasps as she recognizes that the situation here is even more dire than many in the Star Chamber have yet realized. She speaks up immediately, pointing to the hologram. "Speaking of, the Ark's trajectory passing so close to the Idari is very unlikely to be by chance given the current planetary positions. It seems the Ark is intentionally pursuing the Idari as a secondary target." She pauses to allow that to sink in. "Without a substantial escort fleet, the Idari is at significant risk of going down in flames. Perhaps, if we combine those ideas, the fighting retreat could join forces at that point and redirect the Ark away from the civilians."
"Prime Executive, I hate to speak against the weight of your expertise. But I've studied sentient neurochemistry for several decades. The stress of the moment will divide these opportunistic political groups away from your leadership, yes. But it will also divide them from the general public and each other at the same time. Their lack of organization means that the Station can probably get away with only a token force. We need our forces joining the Eoxians and the Kasathans. Every ship counts."
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Achlyss tries to analyze some of the options the council is considering, but the large scale of the operations is beyond his tactical training as a soldier.
[b]"Put me in the right choke point with my squad and nothing will get past. But the mobilization of all the forces of the station--that's for a general.
When Shocca brings up the potential impact of Nor's plan for the salvation of the Idari, Andar considers and then nods his assent. Losifaran on the other hand seems to take in the additional information about the Idari with a thoughtful frown. Melacruz on the other hand eyes Shocca with a practiced sternness. She speaks up to say "Will our guests please allow the Delegates to deliberate? Thank you."
Klendalikh nods to Melacruz and then says "Now, to the precise distribution of the twenty fleets currently at the Pact's disposal. Delegates, we will proceed in order from inner planets to outer, allowing comments for the assignment of each fleet. Then, after comments are complete, or after no more than five minutes, we will vote on assignment to one of our four objectives." Klendalikh clicks her mandibles then continues after a perfunctory assent from the group "We begin with Castrovel's first fleet..."
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Ajithu perks up at mention of developing a counter-attack.
Developer a counter-attack... coordinated defense... evacuation. We certainly won't have time for all three.
This is the most troubling priority to assess, since as it stands, it appears that the Armada will be no match for the full power of the Ark. However, if a better method of fighting back is found, there will need to be sufficient defensive forces in place to implement it. And failing to defend the Station would be beyond catastrophic.
The kalo glides about the room, looking at various individual delegates as he addresses all of them.
Ajithu then returns to his team to discuss the situation more privately. He describes what he could contribute in swaying the votes on fleet assignment while they decide how to distribute their talents and tackle this.
Shocca, completely untalented at people problems, allows the others to speak to the delegates. Privately, she does weigh in on the fleet prioritization. "We should definitely reduce the garrison to 1 fleet." She eyes the local delegate with irritated eyes. "There's still not a lot to go around. If things go well with the Eoxians, we could stack ships there and they'll make it back to the Station in time. But if things don't go well..." She looks outside the window with concern.
As the conversation starts moving toward more of the fleets being assigned to the garrison, Ajithu and Achlyss step up to present a confident combined front that emphasizes the horrors that await should the fleets not be spread correctly. Andar and Losifaran look momentarily to you all for guidance, giving you the opportunity to influence a few fleet distributions...
Shocca purses her lips. "Well... do we go all in on the Eoxians' fighting retreat? Or do we abandon them to die?... Again." She types in her HUD, then sends over two lists to the group for their consideration.
Join with the Eoxians for a risky and difficult series of hit and run attacks that could result in the best possible scenario:
4 Fleets to the Idari
9 Fleets to the Eoxians
6 Fleets for Station Defense
1 Fleets for Station Garrison
Leave the rogue fleet to their fate and focus on protecting civilians.
8 Fleets to the Idari
0 Fleets to the Eoxians
10 Fleets for Station Defense
2 Fleets for Station Garrison
Leaving any group to their own fate seems like it could bite us as the situation proceeds. It calls for playing to win, not to "avoid losing." The latter strategy becomes self-fulfilling loss when the situation gets to an existential level... I believe we are there.
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Shocca ducks between Ajithu and Achlyss to whisper to Andar and Losifaran. "Alright... This is what we think you should do. ... 7 Fleets to the Idari, 6 Fleets to the Eoxians, 6 Fleets for Station Defense, 1 Fleets for Station Garrison."
The voting and discussion continues, but you notice several of the fleet deployments falling more and more in line with your intentions - it seems you've left a significant impression on the Directorate. After half an hour of sequential voting, the final distribution of fleets is determined and Klendalikh moves to adjourn the meeting. The shirren announces "The challenge we're facing here is great, but with the Pact Worlds' best minds and strongest forces working together, I'm certain we can overcome it. Thank you, members of the Directorate. We are counting on you all to uphold the decisions made here today and honor our shared commitment." She nods to Andar "And may the gods protect us too."
With that, the Directorate begins to split up. Eisyfina Nott and Cambrisa Jun make their way over from where they were watching the proceedings from the edge of the chamber. Cambrisa's brow is furrowed and her eyes once more cloudy and distant. It appears she's seeing something once more. Ms. Nott speaks for both of them and says "You've handled yourselves as well here in the Star Chamber as you did on Jedarat. Clearly you're people of many talents. People that Abadarcorp could-" She cuts off her own words as Losifaran of the Directorate approaches. "Ah, we can talk more later. If you'll excuse us, Delegate." She and Cambrisa take their leave.
Over the course of the next several minutes, first Losifaran, then Andar and eventually Lin Camulan approach your team for brief private discussions.
I think I can speak for my teammates when I say we certainly won't abandon the situation as a whole, thought we're still weighting how to best contribute directly. What do you hope for from "personal support"? Specific technical skills that you alluded to?
He glides along in a circle intensely pondering the options.
A recovery and retreat logistics problems, a non-specified Idari skills need, and fortification and defensive organization here at the station.
Looking around at the group he knows they all have these skills separately...
Shocca frowns thoughtfully. "Though I do not have a great love for the eoxian fleet, I do feel for those we sent in their defense. Losifaran is right, we should support them." She continues to ponder the problem. "But... I suppose that role is not for me. I will go to the Idari to assist them with their engines."
"Perhaps we need to split, to better support this plan we have influenced. The best leaders lead from the front, and all that." The ikeshti stands quietly for a few seconds, unsure.
It is unclear whether I can help with the Idari's engines. It sounds like they're looking for creative solutions. Perhaps I could meet with them remotely and determine if my skills apply.
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Arcalinte watches the votes with a furrowed brow, even as things slowly take shape in a way he thinks will be effective. This was very different than it had been in the Dead Suns crisis. There he had been at the forefront, the dashing hero lighting the way into the darkness. Now the scope and scale felt much bigger. Now he had to be a different kind of beacon. A steady, shining core the rest of those battling this crisis could orbit.
He nods politely at Eisyfina's praise, and bows to the different delegates as they approach and make their requests.
As the party begins discussing how best to allocate their aid and leadership, Arcalinte chimes in.
"There is one more thing we have to remember; if we're delayed or worse, Cambrisa's life is on the line. I do not know if her vision shows us being on the Station for the five days she specified or if we just have to be here on the fifth day alone to keep her alive, but that's a risk we have to take into consideration. Yes, thousands of lives are at stake, but I'm of the opinion that we should try to save as many of those lives as we can, and if we have a means of guaranteeing even one person's survival we should take it."
Considering the elaboration at length, Ajithu concedes I suspect Shocca is more suited to helping the Idari than I. I believe I could be of help with the Eoxian fleet, but that does leave one of us to stay with Cambrisa. What do yo think Arc?
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