07-24-2025, 09:38 PM
Hearing the news from the Captain only made Beno think harder. They had a lot of information now—enough to start forming a bigger picture. Saying the problem out loud might even make it clearer.
"Jonas has been here ten years without incident. The Federation sends someone to replace him, and suddenly her shuttle gets shot down, her tech looted. Our diplomat is now being treated by doctors unfamiliar with her physiology. Mobsters have blocked off-world communications. That means they’ve got influence in more than one area." Beno wasn’t speaking to anyone in particular—just voicing her thoughts for anyone who might be listening.
"Then Jonas gets himself shot while we’re walking him home—to make sure he gets there safe. The irony isn’t lost on me." She gave a short laugh. It sounded more ridiculous said aloud than it had in her head.
"And now the people who took Saida are asking for our help with the tech they stole. They’re holding her in detention while they do it. If we help, we shift the balance of power. No one here wants that—they’ll do whatever it takes to stop it."
"If we break her out, we prove the isolationists right. The Federation loses all credibility here. "Or—" She paused, weighing the words. "We kiss the brass ring. Get them to take Jonas back after our doctors save him. In return, they give us Saida and the stolen tech. The local powers get what they want: superiority, security—and maybe even thank us for it in their own twisted way." No one in the room looked like they were holding their breath for that outcome.
"The Federation pulls out with a ‘not right now’ stamped on the whole mess." That was all Beno had, for now. Maybe someone else had something to add.
==Tags Everyone==
"Jonas has been here ten years without incident. The Federation sends someone to replace him, and suddenly her shuttle gets shot down, her tech looted. Our diplomat is now being treated by doctors unfamiliar with her physiology. Mobsters have blocked off-world communications. That means they’ve got influence in more than one area." Beno wasn’t speaking to anyone in particular—just voicing her thoughts for anyone who might be listening.
"Then Jonas gets himself shot while we’re walking him home—to make sure he gets there safe. The irony isn’t lost on me." She gave a short laugh. It sounded more ridiculous said aloud than it had in her head.
"And now the people who took Saida are asking for our help with the tech they stole. They’re holding her in detention while they do it. If we help, we shift the balance of power. No one here wants that—they’ll do whatever it takes to stop it."
"If we break her out, we prove the isolationists right. The Federation loses all credibility here. "Or—" She paused, weighing the words. "We kiss the brass ring. Get them to take Jonas back after our doctors save him. In return, they give us Saida and the stolen tech. The local powers get what they want: superiority, security—and maybe even thank us for it in their own twisted way." No one in the room looked like they were holding their breath for that outcome.
"The Federation pulls out with a ‘not right now’ stamped on the whole mess." That was all Beno had, for now. Maybe someone else had something to add.
==Tags Everyone==