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I don't care.

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I don't care.

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Total Members Voted: 0

Voting closed: January 04, 2021, 02:28:47 am

[19_EgarAlnis]

The Pontifex's guards blink as you approach again, they do not hesitate as they open the door for you, once again allowing you entrance into the Grand Cathedral. A guard gestures towards the door of the office, and you and Emma enter. The Pontifex is hunched over his desk, reading through a book. He looks up, past his glasses, and then takes them off-- fixing you with a pleasant smile.

"What else can I do for you today, Sister Alphira?"

"I would like the dossier you gave Iyal, if you would."

"Oh dear. It will take some time to assemble, but I can easily comply with your request."

"If you please." While he works, you inform him of your negotiations with SEED, and how they went well.

"Of course they did, I did hear the edicts, after all. Congratulations and all that are in order." He hands you over the folder, and you open it to browse through the documents. Its a list of twenty people organized numerically by order of importance, along with photos labeled one through twenty of each of the targets.

You gloss over the names-- none of them ring a bell after all, until you get to number five: Eric Applegate. You blink, finding his picture-- and Eric has grown in the years since you last saw him. He's far more muscled, with long brown hair and darkly tanned skin.

[ZBridges]

"Can you tell me about the five top targets?"

[Naturegirl1999]

"Can you tell me about the five top targets?"

+1

[19_EgarAlnis]

"Xavier Mack, Guardian, Elder of the Guardian Ethics and Law Tribunal. A firm believer in SEED and a bloodhound for corruption within the Holy City. A wrathful man, who is quick to anger from slights against SEED's justice." A tall, muscled man wearing full Heavy Guardian kit, flexing for the camera.

"Monica Colgan, Junior Officer for Crusader General Hardy, suspected to be his heir to the position. All accounts point to her having an analytical mindset, but one that firmly believes in her Elder's teachings. I.E. Attrition Warfare." A brown-haired, dark-skinned woman in a Crusader Military outfit, holding a pad of paper.

"Nicole Parker, Senior Science Officer, in charge of Societal Direction Research. A firm believer in SEED, and personally feels as if the Pontifex's position is one that isn't required." A beaming black-haired woman in a scholar's robe, holding up an award-- the picture is too small to make out."

"Cassandra McSoar, Major General, in charge of the Draft." It's an older lady in a well-maintained Crusader Military uniform, mid-inspection of young troops.

"Eric Applegate. A bright young officer being held up by the Crusaders as an exemplar of their creed. Rather naive, but a strong champion being used for press coverage. His death will enable you to have more...coverage, and he's a loyal soldier to the Crusaders, no matter what." You look over Eric's picture, and he beams at the camera, rifle in hand, blood-stained and cracked armor speckled with dirt. Soldiers pose behind him, smiling, putting on brave faces.

[ZBridges]

I think we can take all these targets, besides Cassandra, who doesn't strike me as particularly dangerous.

"Would you agree that these assassinations are necessary, or am I acting rashly?"

[19_EgarAlnis]

[2/20 vs 14] "Completely necessary." The Pontifex smiles at you, and Emma gives you a side glance.

"You aren't believing this shit, are you?" She asks, bluntly, directly in front of the Pontifex. You look over to her, in surprise and concern. "What does the Guardian have to do with military matters? Or Eric? Why kill him when we could bring him under our wing. The scientist isn't in charge of anything having to do with the military-- her focus is on what laws our society should enact to follow SEED's plan of paradise. If we need to kill her it can wait until after the war." She explains, calmly, as the Pontifex opens and shuts his mouth.

"Of all of them, Monica Colgan is the only one that strikes me as a viable target." Emma shakes her head again, giving another disgusted glance to the Pontifex. A voice full of reproach, "If you actually believed this...I'm disappointed in you. Maybe you aren't any better than an attack dog."

"Daughter Emma you will no--"

"Shut the fuck up, Ponti, or I'll break your jaw." Emma snaps, turning to affix the Pontifex with a gaze hard as steel, before returning it to you. "The grown ups are talking now."

[Naturegirl1999]

Silently listen. Be ready for if the Pontifex attacks Emma

[ZBridges]

Sorry guys, I made a misstep with this I suppose.

"I should have expected he would pad the list with his political rivals, but I didn't and made a mistake.  Should we just target Colgan?"

[Naturegirl1999]

Sorry guys, I made a misstep with this I suppose.

"I should have expected he would pad the list with his political rivals, but I didn't and made a mistake.  Should we just target Colgan?"

Emma said “the grown ups are talking”
To me this implies we should keep quiet lest we mess things up more

[ZBridges]

I think she was meaning that Emma and we are the grownups.  She told the Pontifex to shut up.

[Superdorf]

"...She's right." Start pointing down the list, in turn. "Xavier's a bulldog, Monica's of the old strategies-- the old engine-- but Nicole Parker? She's dangerous to you, not us. Cassandra? You've given me her position and nothing more-- why's she even on this list? And Eric..." Sigh. "...He's a poster child. He could be our poster child. He's not got a suspicious bone in his body."

In earnest now: "Completely necessary, you say. Necessary for what? I'm trying to unify this force under my own banner-- you've given me a list to tear it apart from the inside out."

[ZBridges]

"...She's right." Start pointing down the list, in turn. "Xavier's a bulldog, Monica's of the old strategies-- the old engine-- but Nicole Parker? She's dangerous to you, not us. Cassandra? You've given me her position and nothing more-- why's she even on this list? And Eric..." Sigh. "...He's a poster child. He's not got a suspicious bone in his body."

In earnest now: "Completely necessary, you say. Necessary for what? I'm trying to unify this force under my own banner-- you've given me a list to tear it apart from the inside out."

+1

[19_EgarAlnis]

[11 vs 1/4] "I did not! All of them are--" Emma is across the desk before you or the Pontifex can react, grabbing him by the collar and slamming his head into the desk. He yelps-- and Emma lifts him easily out of his seat in a beautiful exhibition of Empyreal strength, pulling him in front of her. "What. Did. I. Say."

The Pontifex, shriveled and scared, only nods in answer.

"Good boy." Emma looks over at you, frowning as her grip tightens on the man's collar. Her shoulders are tense-- then she shoves him away, relaxing. "I recommend you answer Alphira honestly." The Pontifex opens his mouth to speak to you, before looking to Emma, who gives a very Thornton smile, "You can talk now."

"You're righ-you're right. I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I'll write up a b-better one!"

[Naturegirl1999]

"...She's right." Start pointing down the list, in turn. "Xavier's a bulldog, Monica's of the old strategies-- the old engine-- but Nicole Parker? She's dangerous to you, not us. Cassandra? You've given me her position and nothing more-- why's she even on this list? And Eric..." Sigh. "...He's a poster child. He's not got a suspicious bone in his body."

In earnest now: "Completely necessary, you say. Necessary for what? I'm trying to unify this force under my own banner-- you've given me a list to tear it apart from the inside out."

+1

+1

[ZBridges]

"Please do so.  Do not try to deceive me again."