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The option is (SAN -7|5, INF -3|+3). This reflects the fact that Celling still thinks it’s a very risky proposition that puts his loved ones in the line of fire, but the reactions of others may range from “Hey, Celling is awesome and standing up to intimidation!” to “Oh no, this guy, inexperienced in politics, is taking on someone he can’t beat.”
But that was actually an excellent suggestion.
Celling turned menacingly toward Pychim. “Would that be blackmail, sir?” he asks in a quiet tone.
Pychim smiles. “Think of it as more of a… motivation. From our dear friend, Tyro Padelheb.”
Celling stepped a yard closer to the man. “I ask you again. Would that be blackmail, sir?”
Pychim steps back a little. “ It’s time for you to realize that Padelheb won’t back off anytime soon. This is a game you shouldn’t play, Celling. Don’t play unless you can win.”
Celling stops and stares down at the man. “One last time. Would that be blackmail, sir?”
“Saying it again won’t change your situation, Wenton,” Pychim laughs. “But yes. Blackmail.”
There is a tense few seconds of silence.
Then Celling draws his gun and jabs it at Pychim.
“Thank you. You are under arrest for blackmail. Sir.”
In the stairwell leading down to the base, Celling bumped into Lieutenant General Madeline Merrowitz, the highest-ranking military officer on the continent. By now he’d handcuffed Pychim, removed all his weapons and possessions, and called in reinforcements over the radio.
Celling saluted his commanding officer. “Lieutenant General-”
“At ease, Celling. Good morning, what are we arresting this chump for?”
“Absolutely nothing!” Pychim whines. “I was taken without reason! Celling just grabbed me! Let me go! This is military overreach!”
“We’re an evil overlord, military overreach is the name of the game!” Merrowitz shot back. “Now shut up!”
Wenton Celling ignored Pychim’s protests. “This chap comes from Antarctica on behalf of our good friend Sir Tyro ‘Littlefinger’ Padelheb,” he said. “Tried to interfere on behalf of his master, intimidated me and threatened my family.”
“Well, that settles it. To the jailhouse with you,” Merrowitz replied. She nodded at the security detail she’d led upstairs and they dragged Pychim away.
“I did nothing!” he continued to protest. “False imprisonment!”
“Oh, you’ll be given a fair trial, all right,” Merrowitz answered. “We’ll see about that.”
As Pychim was dragged out of earshot, Celling turned to Merrowitz and whispered. “Where there any witnesses? Recordings, maybe, or neutral parties that might be called in?”
“We don’t have miniaturized recorders yet,” she answered. “I don’t know about witnesses. I’ll question everyone in the area and see if we can get someone to testify.”
“How long can we lock him away, then?” Celling asked.
“For threatening a military officer? Five or ten years, I’d say,” Merrowitz answered. “I’ll go ahead and try to throw in a treason charge, in which case heads will roll. With Padelheb in political control of Antarctica, though… I doubt that we can get a conviction.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Celling replied. “The important thing is, Padelheb will have to answer these charges.”
Merrowitz smiled. “That’s right. In a few days, it will be painfully obvious that Padelheb isn’t the benevolent interventionist he pretends he is. I’ll write a letter notifying the South of our charges. In the meantime, there are a few more things you need to handle.”
“Such as?”
Merrowitz handed him a note. “This came in the mail.”
This note should find its way to one Captain Wenton Celling. In fact, I know that it will. Tee hee hee.
I am the leader of a group of people with a limited ability to perceive future events. We have some information we must exchange with Celling and thus call him for a meeting at our temple at the attached coordinates. Please come unarmed.
Celling read it and looked up. “Are you kidding me?”
“Like I said, we got it in the mail. The coordinates lead to a mountain peak in the Andes. We’ve already planned a path and transportation.”
“No, honestly now. What is going on? I just got summoned - by precognitives? A gaggle of prophets is telling me to take a hike?”
“Would seem so. You want to go?”
Sanity check
Chose to arrest the messenger: SAN -5 INF -1
Made headway in getting rid of Padelheb: Fame +2
Begun a new story arc: SAN +9 (Yes, I’m back to +10% regen again… I’m a terrible dev…)
Sanity: 100%
Influence: 98%
Fame: +2
Your reply?
A: “Just ignore that whole thing. It’s probably a rebel trap.” (SAN -0, INF -1|0)
B: “They might have something to say. I’ll make an unarmed trip.” (SAN -3, INF +0)
C: “I am not going without a weapon.” (SAN -2, INF -1|0)
D: “You should really come as well. If these precogs have something to say, you’ve gotta hear it.” (SAN -1, INF -2|+2)
E: “It never pays to be safe. Gimme a whole squad of soldiers, armed to the teeth, and we’ll find out what they have to say.” (SAN -1, INF -3|+1)
F: “I have better things to do. Send a squad without me, get them for interrogation. (SAN -1|2, INF -4|+1)
G: Something else…
Notes.
This is all a flashback. The parrot arrived the day of Padelheb’s takeover. All this happened the next day. The rebels were re-found on day 5, so we’re chronologically before that time right now, i.e. in a flashback. Stay in-character.
In this instance, sanity loss is because of Celling’s own concerns about walking into a trap - less if he has reinforcements, more if he’s unarmed. Influence is how Merrowitz might think of you disobeying the note’s command to come unarmed.
Sorry for the slow updates lately. Have fun.
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Topic: (SG) SPAMOVERLORD: Epilogue: Guest Week (Read 287985 times)