[h2][center][color=steelblue]Riggs[/color][/center][/h2] [hr] Riggs watched as the Captain collapsed, far less surprised than he should've been. He held back a laugh, watching the usually stern and firm Villianian slide into the embrace of darkness. As she fell, she reached out with connections of anger and frustration that quickly faded as her head bounced upon the hard floor of the ship, almost comically. Riggs let out a hiss of air, both releasing the tension from his held back laughter and expressing his exasperation. [color=steelblue]"Well, as it seems the Captain is no longer in a position to defend her side, I shall step in and display, once again, the laughable lack of strategic knowledge present in your feeble minds."[/color] Riggs said in a commanding voice. His wide grin of a mouth cracked open slightly more as the words fell out, voice smooth as honey. [color=steelblue]"If I may interject here."[/color] He began, pausing for effect. [color=steelblue]"While it is noble of this crew to want to spare our Captain a beating, I'm going to have to side with her plan for the most part. In my years, I've done my fair share of dealing on Nomad. Now, picture this in your mind, if you've got the brainpower to spare."[/color] He said, standing and raising his hands with fingers spread out in inverted L's, mimicking a screen. [color=steelblue]"You're a scummy pirate, black market dealer, or just all around ne'er-do-well, drinking with those of like persuasion. Then [b]BANG![/b] A new ship pulls into Nomad -but wait, this ship is no slaver ship you've ever seen. Not a pirate ship either, no this ship has official council markings on it. Maybe you know it as a Picker ship full of criminals, but if you do, then you're likely also privy to the fact that these are lead by a Council captain and lieutenant. So when a big ugly red [i]chodura[/i][sup]1[/sup] comes in, you're already suspicious."[/color] He said, vaguely gesturing to [color=khaki]Pax[/color] with his bottle to punctuate his swear. [color=steelblue]"So suddenly, this Trakqian, or Veslinian, or Zeluurian is asking you where to buy some big guns. Is any dealer worth their salt going to give them the time of day? Chodu[sup]2[/sup] no! More likely than not, they're going to see this as some half baked council sting, not a genuine deal. You'd be lucky to get out without getting your ga'and[sup]3[/sup] beaten in, let alone getting a name to sell weapons. No, we need the mutiny story to have any credibility with these people as long as we're cruising in on this shiny chrome council trashcan."[/color] He glanced over at [color=blueviolet]Nine[/color] pointedly. [color=steelblue]"Unless our lovely chauffeur has some way to get us a new ship on the way to Nomad, that is."[/color] He said, sliding back into his seat and leaning back. His eyes opened wider as he kept his gaze focused on the pilot. [color=steelblue]"That being said, Pax isn't entirely incorrect. If the Council truly wants to take us down -which they most assuredly will be, when they are alerted of our plan, if they aren't already..."[/color] Riggs said, giving a pointed glance to the security cameras on the ship. In all honesty he wasn't entirely sure if the Council had access to the cameras on board, but he wouldn't be surprised if they did. Amending his statement, Rigger continued. [color=steelblue]"[i]When[/i] the council finds out about our plan, no number of guns we could buy would give us a fighting chance, even assuming we had unlimited funds -which we most definitely do not."[/color] He said, glancing around the ship as he attempted to take a mental inventory of just how much of the ship they could scrap while keeping it intact enough to fly. [color=steelblue]"It's clear that if we are to go against the Council, our only options are to follow the Captains plan, or ditch both the plan and this ship. That being said, perhaps I was hasty in my dismissal of the moral and ethical implications of this mission. In truth, [color=khaki]Pax[/color] and [color=slategray]Ven[/color] do bring valid- though shortsighted points to the table. By no means are any of us morally obligated to save the human race -in fact it could be argued that the universe is better off without their 'invasive attitudes' as our bandaged friend so acutely put it. But this is far bigger than that. You would let the Council get away with the extermination of an admittedly inconsequential race? Then why would they stop to think twice about the extermination of another race? Another hundred? Where do we draw the line? Will we wait to act on this injustice until the Freckans are extinct? Perhaps the Ukai? No, the fish rots from the head."[/color] Riggs said, drawing a line across his own throat with his thumb, before turning to Grick with eyes gleefully narrowed. [color=steelblue]"Forgive the metaphor."[/color] Though he felt he had finished his contribution to the conversation for the moment, Riggs mind kept racing along. As he thought up endless plans and counter plans for their excursion, his florescent tattoos raced along his skin, changing rapidly. They would need a drop team to pick up weapons and spread the story. [color=slategray]Ven[/color] would be a necessity for this part of the plan, as his poker face would be integral in the lie. Accompanying him, they would need one of the more intimidating of the crew to escort the Captain. Possibly [color=orange]Z[/color]? Riggs quickly dismissed that thought. Couldn't present [color=orange]Z[/color] as the face of this rebellion, simply too stupid. His eyes flicked over the rest of the crew. [color=olive]Cu[/color]? Same problem as [color=orange]Z[/color]. [color=darkviolet]Grick?[/color] Not aggressive enough. [color=blueviolet]Nine?[/color] Too weak. His eyes came to rest on [color=khaki]Pax[/color], the best suited for the job. Riggs wondered then if he should accompany the drop team as well, as he was rather well versed with the ways of Nomad, but mentally decided that [color=khaki]Pax[/color] seemed to know her way around just as well. It was then that the Captain so kindly made her debut return to the world of the conscious. [color=steelblue]"Ah, lovely. The Captain once again graces us with her presence. Now that I'm done playing devils advocate for you, [color=red]Aksel[/color], I'd like to second the complaints of Grick. Exactly what the [i]chodu[/i] is this plan going to accomplish, save for painting a target on our backs?"[/color] Riggs said hastily, his tone snapping to a harsh tone unlike the honey-smooth voice he was using to coerce the crew. He could clearly see the weakness of the Captain at the moment. A more noble soul in his position would've offered The Captain a shoulder to lean on. Riggs instead chose to keep up his verbal assault, even though he was already on board entirely with the plan. If The Captain was too weak to lead them, better she be rooted out now than when she could jeopardize their mission. [sub]1-Chodura roughly translates to fucker 2-Chodu roughly translates to fuck 3-Ga'and is Corvidaen slang referencing genitalia[/sub]