Petals of Titanium -- My Life as a Mecha Setting Bridge Bunny Quest

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[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
 
[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst

I just don't see there being some zealots who cannot accept the outcome.
Having infrastructure and people to pull new troops from is almost more important than having a force of true elites.
The loss of the Guard will be felt, but I like the narrative idea that they were lost to trigger the surrender. That they were effectively wiped succeeding in their duty to the people of Titan.

Treatment of surrendering prisoners is an important topic and it would be best for the surviving defenders to do it properly in the long run.
 
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[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst

The first is neccessary to minimize the amount of lose of life due to the other side fighting to the bitter end seeing as a lot of them simply joined the winning side, and the latter is necessary to have a stable recruiting pool of loyal soldiers.
 
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[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
 
[x] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[x] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst

War ought to be slightly less hell.
 
[ ] A defeated enemy laid down their arms as one

pointless, since they'll be irrelevant in the long run as scattered remnants are far easier to defeat, and they won't have long to live given how they have little to no supplies left.

[ ] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies

worthless, because what happens to them is less important than keeping allies and civilians alive.

[X] The Imperial Guard weathered the storm

important for long term stability and continuation of the Royal family's protection

[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst

The MOST IMPORTANT, given how it's the objective of the entire war and all future developments of the empire.

So yeah, saving all the people on this side is far more important than anything else. That and being able to also save enemies is a luxury, while saving your own side's people is the priority. So unless there are more than two options that can be picked, always pick the allied side first.

Long live the empire.
 
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[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
[X] The Imperial Guard weathered the storm

Mostly because the other two taken together as not happening tells a story of it's own to be debated for centuries to come. Some say that the defenders thought themselves attacked by a perfidious admiral allowing attacks to continue after waving a flag of defeat when the enemy mutineers lashed out, others say that it was a decade of hatred and rage let loose all at once.
I do like this, but I'm hesitant to take it since my first reaction to it was something like "yeah, it's not as bad if we commit war crimes in that context." Dunno if I should be feeding that.
 
[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst

I like this combo. I think we'll need to brace for another tragedy though, given that we're leaving hostile remnants active and removing the imperial guard at the same time.
 
I do like this, but I'm hesitant to take it since my first reaction to it was something like "yeah, it's not as bad if we commit war crimes in that context." Dunno if I should be feeding that.
I like it mostly as a black mark with enough ambiguity that defending it doesn't get you run out of serious scholarly circles.
 
[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
 
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
[X] The Imperial Guard weathered the storm
 
[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
 
[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
 
[x] A defeated enemy laid down their arms as one
[x] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies



Bye-bye, IG.
 
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[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The Imperial Guard weathered the storm
 
"The last time I spoke with my girlfriend," you say, smiling in spite of everything, "I reminded her that she owes me dinner. Nice dinner."

"You do seem like you'd be an expensive date," Satou agrees, unthinkingly.
See, we now have outside evidence that Amani North is obviously marrying up in the world! Like I proposed earlier, first we make a North-Fenbeck allegiance, and then we use our shared J6 memories to bond with Daystar (since we were more or less J6's only friend outside of the princess) to set up a marriage our children and the next heir. It is so obvious a plan even this extra can see it!

please forgive me I need the levity baseless theorising brings. this war hurt me

Things feel... different this time. So soon after Jaycee, the full realisation of what those words mean hits Daystar in a way that it never has before. What it means, holding the power of life and death over millions. What it really means. One can very credibly argue that the Imperial Civil War and now this entire invasion is an internal dispute amongst her own family, spilling out onto the entire Solar System. One day, if they survive this, if nothing truly spectacular happens politically to jeopardise her position, Daystar will be the one on the throne. She'll be the one who those words are spoken about. How many more people is she going to see die for her, or because of her? How many more Okellos or Jaycees?

The deepest truth Daystar knows, right at this moment, is that she does not want it anymore. She doesn't want to have the throne, the title, the power, the responsibility. She doesn't know if any one person should have those things. How many times in the history of the Solar System has that much power been wielded badly, through malice or good intentions?

But, at the same time... there are things that must be done. That only Daystar can do, that she will need that power to accomplish. Whatever she might personally want doesn't matter anymore. Like her Lady-High Commander, Guardswoman J6 was strong until the end. Daystar will have to be the same.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Recognising this is something the usurpur could not do (at least not in time to stop this), and is a requirement to not be a terrible monarch.


It all makes him think of Guardswoman J6. They've been separated for hours, of course, and she hates him on general principle, but all the same... He finds himself hoping that she makes it out alright, just as he leads another flight back into a waiting mass of enemy machines like the Navy pilot he isn't.
Owusu my man, it's good to see you alive. Assuming you don't die from the aftermath vote, I sincerely hope we get to see your technically-not-officially-declared-boyfriend.

In a meta sense, J6's death is the reason you're still here. So Empress damn it, you have to make the most of it! As your number 1 fan I demand you stay happy!

What are the lasting impacts of this day? How is the Battle of Titan remembered by the Solar System?
What does it say about me that, of all the aftermath votes, this is the one I find most troublesome to choose from?

... Though I say that, I am actually pretty clear on what to pick.

[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
I need this. Oh by every single star in the sky, do I need this.

Mosi is a prisoner of war right now. Not only is she a prisoner of war, she is a prisoner of war who participated in one of the most hideous warcrimes we've been presented with.

Yes, she defected and gave us vital intel, but she did it after killing hundreds civilians, and I'm afraid I'm underselling that number by a factor of ten. Even if the higher courts decide to show leniency, all it takes is one person with a mind set on vengeance at the right time, and Amani won't have a sibling anymore.

... I don't want that. I really, really don't want that.

I do in fact want it so little that I am just going to grab the most popular plan that features mercy and boost it even further! What's the other part of that vote?

[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst

Right, the protect the innocents one, that's always a good choice. Particularly because not picking it leaves us open to a gut punch of Second Best Boy( M a z l o) 's family being dead amongst the collateral damage, and though he is a bit of a dick he doesn't deserve that.

[ ] A defeated enemy laid down their arms as one
Though it is worth pointed out that by not picking this, we risk running into Commander Green as part of the hold-out enemies. Normally, I wouldn't worry too much, as he seemed to make a point of pride out of knowing when and how to roll over to survive, but he might not have a had a chance yet. And the rule of nominal importance says he's bound to play a part in the future battle.

[ ] The Imperial Guard weathered the storm
This is normally the vote I and the rest of the thread easily ignore, but I do want to point out that last we saw Owusu, he was heading into the fray against the same forces the Imperial Guard only possibly weathered.

... I don't need to say out loud why I worry, right?
 
[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst

As heroic and self-serving as it can get, but I won't apologize.
Frankly, protecting civilians is essential for the restoration and war effort soon to follow, and we've done it enough times already that it should be automatic by now. The second option ensures a very good spot of propaganda and sets an important precedent: those that surrender, will be treated fairly. Aside from highly prominent political figures, lol, but I'll take what I can get from imperial aristocracy.

And, as it is, I will be surprised if there isn't a mutiny after that order. Fanatically devoted to the God-Emperor people don't usually "surrender to the enemy".

About the guard, well. That's actually what they are for. A last-ditch elite defense force to protect the capital. They did their job. All that's left is ensuring that after that their successors won't have to do that job again.

That's my full reasoning.
 
[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
 
[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
 
See, we now have outside evidence that Amani North is obviously marrying up in the world! Like I proposed earlier, first we make a North-Fenbeck allegiance, and then we use our shared J6 memories to bond with Daystar (since we were more or less J6's only friend outside of the princess) to set up a marriage our children and the next heir. It is so obvious a plan even this extra can see it!

please forgive me I need the levity baseless theorising brings. this war hurt me


Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Recognising this is something the usurpur could not do (at least not in time to stop this), and is a requirement to not be a terrible monarch.



Owusu my man, it's good to see you alive. Assuming you don't die from the aftermath vote, I sincerely hope we get to see your technically-not-officially-declared-boyfriend.

In a meta sense, J6's death is the reason you're still here. So Empress damn it, you have to make the most of it! As your number 1 fan I demand you stay happy!


What does it say about me that, of all the aftermath votes, this is the one I find most troublesome to choose from?

... Though I say that, I am actually pretty clear on what to pick.

[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
I need this. Oh by every single star in the sky, do I need this.

Mosi is a prisoner of war right now. Not only is she a prisoner of war, she is a prisoner of war who participated in one of the most hideous warcrimes we've been presented with.

Yes, she defected and gave us vital intel, but she did it after killing hundreds civilians, and I'm afraid I'm underselling that number by a factor of ten. Even if the higher courts decide to show leniency, all it takes is one person with a mind set on vengeance at the right time, and Amani won't have a sibling anymore.

... I don't want that. I really, really don't want that.

I do in fact want it so little that I am just going to grab the most popular plan that features mercy and boost it even further! What's the other part of that vote?

[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst

Right, the protect the innocents one, that's always a good choice. Particularly because not picking it leaves us open to a gut punch of Second Best Boy( M a z l o) 's family being dead amongst the collateral damage, and though he is a bit of a dick he doesn't deserve that.

[ ] A defeated enemy laid down their arms as one
Though it is worth pointed out that by not picking this, we risk running into Commander Green as part of the hold-out enemies. Normally, I wouldn't worry too much, as he seemed to make a point of pride out of knowing when and how to roll over to survive, but he might not have a had a chance yet. And the rule of nominal importance says he's bound to play a part in the future battle.

[ ] The Imperial Guard weathered the storm
This is normally the vote I and the rest of the thread easily ignore, but I do want to point out that last we saw Owusu, he was heading into the fray against the same forces the Imperial Guard only possibly weathered.

... I don't need to say out loud why I worry, right?
I don't think you're right about Owusu. His first attack was a feint to draw the enemy away from the IG's push, then he attacked the same group he just feinted against while they were confused to keep them from reacting to the IG attack. I have to imagine those fights were on opposite sides of the battlefield from each other, so the fate of the IG shouldn't be connected to Owusu.
 
[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
 
I don't think you're right about Owusu. His first attack was a feint to draw the enemy away from the IG's push, then he attacked the same group he just feinted against while they were confused to keep them from reacting to the IG attack. I have to imagine those fights were on opposite sides of the battlefield from each other, so the fate of the IG shouldn't be connected to Owusu.
Except that if the forces Owusu were distracting broke through, then the IG would suffer additional losses.

So the more losses the IG suffer, the more likely it is that the enemy broke through the flanking forces. And by extension it is more likely that they broke through Owusu.

Is it unlikely? Extremely so! Unfortunately, I am a crack shipper at heart and can't emotionally tell the difference between 0.1% chance of something happening and 20%.
 
I wasn't going to vote anymore, but.... sure, why not, might be the last vote but one.

[X] A defeated enemy laid down their arms as one

[X] The Imperial Guard weathered the storm

Ends the fighting quickly and makes sure a core of our forces survive. Be wary, this might be the vote that determines if The Girlfriend survives.


[ ] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies

You know what, screw the Divine Navy. They can take it.

[ ] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst

Those civilians on Titan? I take sole responsibility for their deaths. This is my crime and the crime of those who vote with me and no one else's. Not the PC, she's stuck in her escape pod. Not even the Divine Navy; they don't have any control. They're not responsible for killing these people even though in-universe they're the ones who killed those people. This is me, the voter, coldly deciding to reach out and breach their habitats so that I can have some of the other good outcomes.
 
[X] The virtuous defenders swallowed their anger at their helpless enemies
[X] The heroic defenders shielded Titan from the worst
 
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