audio;

[backsassin]

Sorry, I missed the memo; are we trying to ruin every planet we stop at now? Because this plan -- this mercenary deal -- sure makes it seem like it. I mean, it would be bad enough on a terrestrial planet, but a hydrogen atmosphere gas giant? That’s where we’re planning on putting a bunch of firearm-toting mercenaries?

Look, maybe some of you weren’t here for our stops on the last few planets, but trust me when I say that getting involved in local affairs ended very, very badly. For everyone. And that was without hiring mercs to solve problems that aren’t ours to begin with. The best thing we can do here is to take what we need and leave.

And if you have been here long enough to remember: don’t make us responsible for another Cadacus Primary.

Comments

Audio

[needsnoface]

Well, it's nice to see that logic and thinking hasn't been completely stripped away within the fires of moral indignation that many of the crew seem to be basking in.

Even if it is quite likely the pesky thing known as morals are currently running the thought process of most of our crew. Thus no one is taking a look at the bigger picture.

audio;

[backsassin]

[Such clear thinking is one of the many benefits of Zam being relatively amoral compared to the rest of the crew. Not amoral enough to watch another planet die, but certainly enough that "whales dying" vs "planet on fire" seems like a fairly simple value judgment to her.]

That “moral indignation” is going to end up killing a lot more than just the whales if it gets out of hand.

[needsnoface]

I honestly can not find any fault with such a statement, and can only add the worry about what would happen if these mercenaries decide that what we are giving them is not enough and our own crewmembers end up on the wrong side of individuals that have no obligation towards them.

There are far too many ways for this entirely delicate situation to go awry by allowing another element we can't fully control to be brought into the equation. It's a bit distressing.

text;

[ex_forcechoke292]

Hold it. EVERY planet?

Re: text;

[backsassin]

Only the ones where someone’s stuck their nose where it doesn't belong.

So half of them from what I’ve seen.

text;

[ex_forcechoke292]

Disappointing answer from anyone, let alone someone who trades in information. What do you mean by "ruin"?

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[backsassin]

[You know, she would’ve told you for free if it weren’t for your attitude, Jedi.]

I don't see you making an offer.

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[whoami]

The problem is that this is a bad idea amongst a list of bad ideas. Without a better idea to throw out there we've got a serious problem, because the bad idea happens anyway.

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[backsassin]

What other “bad ideas” have people proposed? I can’t imagine many worse.

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[whoami]

You know what? Nevermind. A blockade of mercenaries is the worst idea yet. Because no matter what we'll have to come back to pay them, and that's if they don't get into the business of selling off whale parts themselves.

I say we go for that Dr. Banner guy's shield thing and call it a day.

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[backsassin]

Exactly.

The shield’s supposed to allow people out, but not in, right? I suppose that’s fine as long as the whales don’t plan on developing interplanetary commerce any time soon... [It’s a somewhat sarcastic observation; Zam’s not entirely convinced the whales are actually sentient. If they were, you’d think they would have come up with the means to deal with the hunters themselves by now.]

Video

[devilofohara]

[Oh hey look it's that kid what does the spooky stuff with the arms. And she's agreeing with you, Zam.]

I don't really understand how it's supposed to help, anyway.

Mercenaries are people who do bad things for money, right? What happens when they find out that there's bad things they can do to the whales for money?

video;

[backsassin]

[THIS KID. THIS KID RIGHT HERE GETS IT.]

Mercenaries just do things for money, period. Besides that, yeah, you’ve pretty much got a better grasp of the situation than most of the adults onboard combined.

Video

[devilofohara]

[Zam gets a flat look in response. She's not buying that 'Mercs just do things for money' pitch.]

Nobody hires a mercenary to help them chop wood or build houses for the needy. They do bad things.

[Not that she has much experience with mercenaries, but she knows enough to know that that's bullshit.]

audio

[beautifulspaceraptor]

Technically, firearms on a hydrogen rich planet is worse for the person wielding the firearms more than the local environment. If the planet was that easy to ignite, the sheer amount of static electricity generated by the atmosphere alone should have done it in waaaayyy back when.

But I agree on the mercenaries not being a sound decision for this venture, especially armed conventionally.

[Tangent aside, the final part does make Nihlus curious.]

So what happened on Caudacus Primary?

audio;

[backsassin]

You’ve still got a bunch of idiots starting gas fires on a planet covered by nothing but improvised structures.

[There’s a pause at the question.] Just a warning, you’re probably going to feel a lot worse about being here if you know.

[beautifulspaceraptor]

I would think that'd make it even more important to know.

video;

[redshitlord]

W-wait, what?

They're gonna blow up the planet?

video;

[backsassin]

“Blow up,” maybe not. “Set many different parts of it on fire with no means to control the spread,” yes.

Though knowing our track record, the first option’s not entirely out of the question.

video;

[redshitlord]

Wait. Hold on.

But that's gonna kill like -- everything down there!

video

[diamondslap]

I can't say I particularly care about the fate of this planet, but I can agree with you on this.

[she shakes her head.]

I simply don't understand what it is that drives these people to get involved! Emiri was fun, yes, but this just seems like some obligatory save the whales protestation to make themselves feel better. Ridiculous.

video;

[backsassin]

[Ah yes. This woman. Zam finds her vaguely unsettling, but she’s also made insinuations about hiring Zam in the past, so the bounty hunter’s opinion of her more-or-less cancels out into neutral territory.]

You answered your own question. They’re probably trying to make up for the things we’ve done on other planets in their own minds.

Re: video;

[diamondslap]

It's baffling that they're doing it by hiring mercenaries of all things. None offence-- well, some offence, but you people aren't exactly known for doing the right thing.

I suspect these people will care not even a bit about the whaling problem, just the pay out. And how are they to be paid? I shan't be donating any shares, that's for sure.

Video

[aminerproblem]

This persistent need to brashly stumble through the problems of every planet we happen to come across is going to be what puts this crew in someone's crosshairs.

[Organics always find so many ways to get themselves into trouble. Trouble he has no interest in getting involved in.]

Not particularly conducive to getting to our destination.

video;

[backsassin]

Agreed. Given what happened on the last couple of planets, I’m surprised no one’s come after us yet. I’ve seen bounties posted for a lot less.