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Petals of Carbon Steel -- You're a Pilot, Not an Ace. Try your best.

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Could voters provide an explanation for their vote? I'm trying to make up my mind, and it helps when people say why their option is the least bad.
 
[X] There isn't a breakdown of relations with either of the other rebel groups

I think that if we care about the survival of the cause as a whole this is the only viable option. Set aside the personal and frankly small world of the Esther Strova and her pilots. Historically the success of insurgent movements against an outside occupying force depends in large part on the internal coherency and cooperation of said insurgent movement. While not an exact analogy, we can effectively consider the moons and habitable stations of Jupiter as an archipelago far off from the occupying power, the HSE in the inner systems. Because of the inherent strain of projecting power over so much... "surface area" the same way Indonesia has trouble patroling its lengthy coastline, even very small efforts at forming coherent long term goals and basic coordination can put tremendously more strain on such an occupying power. as the same gross occupying force is required to run itself even more ragged as it faces constant activity rather than the more sporadic efforts of single groups. If we allow this conference to fail, the stress on the HSE and Duchess Grangier's administration will be reduced significantly as our movements fritter away strength on a lack of coordination and infighting, and we as the questers understand that they are stretched to their very limits as it stands.

The whole goal of this conference has been to bring the disparate movements for Jupiter into some sort of accord or understanding. Without that, everything else has been for very little in the grand scheme of things. If these rebel groups begin pointing fingers at one another as a result of this ambush, the movement will remain as atomized as it was before at best, and at worst they may begin openly fighting against one another. The Titan government ultimately has no choice but to deal with these Jupiter centered movements in some way or another if it ever desires to defeat the HSE or even maintain a stalemate. As painful as it would be to lose SRI support at this juncture for ourselves, in the long run they must come to terms with the movement as a whole. But an opportunity to form some sort of understanding or United Front with the other rebels may not come again for many years if it ever does.

Everyone has had to stick their neck out for this to some extent or another, just look at the faux-ditz Galilean Source. The time it may take to regain that trust is unlikely to come again before the HSE rallies from the political turmoil that is the aftermath of the Battle of Titan. As such, this is the only choice I can support for this vote.
 
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Sturmi said:
[X] There isn't a breakdown of relations with either of the other rebel groups

I think that if we care about the survival of the cause as a whole this is the only viable option. Set aside the personal and frankly small world of the Esther Strova and her pilots. Historically the success of insurgent movements against an outside occupying force depends in large part on the internal coherency and cooperation of said insurgent movement. While not an exact analogy, we can effectively consider the moons and habitable stations of Jupiter as an archipelago far off from the occupying power, the HSE in the inner systems. If we allow this conference to fail, the stress on the HSE and Duchess Grangier's administration will be reduced significantly as our movements fritter away strength on a lack of coordination and infighting, and we as the questers understand that they are stretched to their very limits as it stands.

The whole goal of this conference has been to bring the disparate movements for Jupiter into some sort of accord or understanding. Without that, everything else has been for very little in the grand scheme of things. If these rebel groups begin pointing fingers at one another as a result of this ambush, the movement will remain as atomized as it was before at best, and at worst they may begin openly fighting against one another. The Titan government ultimately has no choice but to deal with these Jupiter centered movements in some way or another if it ever desires to defeat the HSE or even maintain a stalemate. As painful as it would be to lose SRI support at this juncture for ourselves, in the long run they must come to terms with the movement as a whole. But an opportunity to form some sort of understanding or United Front with the other rebels may not come again for many years if it ever does.

Everyone has had to stick their neck out for this to some extent or another, just look at the faux-ditz Galilean Source. The time it may take to regain that trust is unlikely to come again before the HSE rallies from the political turmoil that is the aftermath of the Battle of Titan. As such, this is the only choice I can support for this vote.
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Convinced.

[X] There isn't a breakdown of relations with either of the other rebel groups

None of the options are remotely good. But if we cannot build a united front, we are all doomed in the long run.
 
[X] You don't further alienate your Imperial allies

I kind of have the feeling that our various rebels don't really get along and some kind of breakdown is inevitable. Whether staving it off for later would be better I do not know. Also, important allies hurt is a far better descriptor than 'lost' or 'dead'. They can be injured so long as they are around to be allies.
Ah who are we kidding, things are bad for our intrepid side characters.
 
I'm actually for the imperials for three reasons.

First, they have an R&D program, unlike the rebels who are scrambling for cast-offs. So we might get less material support, but it will be stuff that gives us an edge. And with the rebels factioning, being part of the group with imperial backing means more flows to us.

Second, I agree there is a fissure between the rebel groups that has happened before and will happen again. I want to get it over with now, before we are fully engaged.

Third, I think the backing of the imperials is likely to get us more turncoats from our enemies, because I think it'll be easier for nobles to think 'I'm switching loyalty to the better imperial' than to think 'down with the system!'

[X] You don't further alienate your Imperial allies
 
[X] You don't further alienate your Imperial allies
[X] None of the Esther Strova's pilots are lost.

I got Z in my brain and I'm rolling with it.
 
[x] None of the Esther Strova's pilots are lost
The rag-tag band story. Tight focus because everything else is on fire.
It also implies that failing to take this guarantees at least one "lost" pilot. Could be a defection, could be a particularly confusing white-goods emporium, or maybe they decided to repeat Kana's efforts at explosive melee combat but lacked our luck, but if none of them are going to be "lost" then this does nothing...
[ ] No important allies were hurt
This feels like two specific people, but is only "hurt". I feel that this choice focuses upon special agents. So it would retain the larger scope of the latter options, but not actually depict it on that scale, because there are only a handful of people who actually matter.
[ ] There isn't a breakdown of relations with either of the other rebel groups
This is grand strategy, for Jupiter's liberation. Jupiter's rebellion are neither grand nor strategic, so this seems poised for entertainment.
[ ] You don't further alienate your Imperial allies
The grand strategy option for the larger "Earth takes all comers." storyline, and thus pretty much dooms the Jupes to protectorate-at-best status. However, given that punching the, uhh, Divine... Imperial... Combat? Knight? Squadrons? ... ... .. whatever they are called, they have really rallied some ire against themselves, so punching them seems like a worthy goal, even if it does sink Jupe Rights.

So imma just vote for no character death like a propa coward!
 
[X] You don't further alienate your Imperial allies
[X] None of the Esther Strova's pilots are lost.

I do what I can.
 
Oh goodie, another patented Gazetteer Combat Vote, I'd almost forgotten what these were like :V

Ah, those halcyon days...
 
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[X] None of the Esther Strova's pilots are lost.

This has my preliminary vote, but I think this might be a situation where burning our last second chance is worth it.
 
My monthly dose of absolute masochism reading has arrived!

[X] There isn't a breakdown of relations with either of the other rebel groups

It's not like our Imperial Allies were going to be long-term anyway due to ideological differences, and we were due to losing more people anyway 🙃
 
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