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Love Belle
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After giving it some thought, Albert is probably right about the tripwire. However likely it is to work, the increased suspicion is just too big of a problem. Especially since, even if you did get the gun, the main trap failing would mean you might have to use it.
That’s… not something you want to think about.
The rest of the group agrees, and the idea is set aside. Instead, the discussion comes back to Albert’s cane.
Roger: “What if we used it to lure Sheppard in?”
Roger: “He probably heard it plenty when he was chasing us around earlier. Hearing it again wouldn’t make him suspicious. It’d just sound like us moving around.”
Albert: “Hmm…”
He twirls the cane around, looking at it skeptically.
Albert: “...Couldn’t you get the same result by walking back and forth, creating the sound of footsteps for him to follow?”
Roger: “Maybe, but I don’t think it’d be as noticeable.”
Albert: “Perhaps. My cane certainly produces a more audible reverberation.”
Albert: “So then, won’t it be equally notable when that sound comes to a stop? I believe, if anything, it was louder when we ran earlier.”
Albert: “Additionally, if you enter his sight for even a moment, he’ll definitely notice that you’re holding a cane that you clearly lack the need for.”
…You hadn’t considered either of those cons. While you don’t wish to give up on the idea, no counter-argument occurs to you. Seeing that you have nothing, Albert continues.
Albert: “I suppose that there is a chance he might not notice it, but we create the possibility that he will and grow suspicious if we advance in that direction.”
Albert: “Considering the risks this would put me under, leaving me incapable of traversing the plant without aid, I’m inclined to Reject this suggestion.”
Drat. Without that option, you’re split on what the best way to lure in Aiden’s dad is. You’ll have to revisit that thought later.
The discussion continues, but the others all have different ideas on how the backup should act, or what weapons they should carry. Your own feelings aren’t clear, so you ultimately agree to let whoever fills the role decide for themselves.
Naturally, that transitions into the final topic…
‘Bec: “So, who’s doing what?”
Albert: “Well, we have three roles to split into. Lure, Pushers, and Backup.”
Albert: “We only need a single person to act as Lure, so it’s the other two groups where we need to split ourselves.”
‘Bec: “Alright, so two Pushers and two Backups then?”
Enid: “Wouldn’t three Pushers be better? Then there’d be less of a chance that we even need Backup.”
Enid: “Although, if everyone was up there, and something did go wrong, we’d probably be in a lot of trouble…”
Roger: “That’s the whole reason we’re assigning people to act in the event of failure. This plan might work, or it might not. We need to be ready for either scenario.”
Albert: “The more resources we devote towards our reserve plan, the more likely it is we’ll need to rely on it.”
An even split would leave things in a better place if your plan fails, but a more weighted split would lower the odds that such a failure occurs in the first place. That’s a tough call to make…
Roger: “Do any of you have a preference on what role you get?”
Enid: “Um, I’m fine with Anything except for Lure.”
Enid: “I’m not very fast, so I’m a little scared that Mr. Sheppard would catch me…”
Enid: “I’m not very strong either, so… maybe I’d be better as Backup?”
Enid: “If we do three Pushers though, I think I’d prefer to be up there. I don’t know if I can carry the full weight of having to stop Mr. Sheppard if the main plan fails.”
Albert: “I also will accept Anything besides Lure.”
Albert: “In my case, I’m fully incapable of performing the responsibilities of the role.”
He taps his cane against the ground for emphasis.
Albert: “I don’t believe I’ll offer much to either of the other positions, so I suppose I’d prefer to be a Pusher.”
Albert: “A fight with Sheppard would surely land me in the Hospital, if not the Morgue.”
Clive: “...I’m fine with Anything.”
Clive: “Just tell me where you need me.”
‘Bec: “Well since you both don’t want it, I’ll gladly take the job of Lure.”
Albert outright scoffs at that.
Albert: “Honestly, I felt it went without saying that Roger would claim that position. It suits his skills the best.”
Albert: “You would do better than any of us in the Pusher or Backup roles. Why waste that on the one role in which we have a superior option to you?”
‘Bec: “Hey, @$%hole, we’re talking preferences here.”
‘Bec: “I would rather be out of the room or hiding when y’all try to kill Farmer Blood. That’s what I want, even if it ain’t what’s gonna happen..”
‘Bec: “I’ll do whatever I gotta do, but let me be clear: I ain’t killing this guy.”
‘Bec: “You put me on Backup, I’ll swing at him and shit, but someone else is finishing the job.”
It’s a reasonable stance, no matter what Albert thinks. Honestly, you’re half-convinced he’s just disagreeing with ‘Bec at this point because he doesn’t like her. You aren’t her biggest fan either, but you can’t deny that she’s been helpful, however rude she may seem. Actions speak louder than words.
Roger: “I’m fine with anything, and Albert is probably right that I’ll probably end up just being the Lure. The only role I’d rather not have is Backup.”
Roger: “I… understand that what we’re doing is necessary, but I don’t think I can be that close to the action. I might hesitate, and if I did that… Somebody could die.”
Roger: “If I mess up and get hurt, that sucks. If it were someone else though… I couldn’t live with myself if that happened.”
Enid: “That’s everyone then…”
Albert: “All that’s left is to decide.”
Roger: “...”
You take a breath and close your eyes. When you open them, all eyes are staring back at you. It’s immediately clear to you why that is. Under normal circumstances, you’re sure that everyone could sort themselves out, or that one or more of them would have tried to dictate roles for everyone.
Now though, with the stakes literally being life and death, there’s a real weight to these final choices that need to be made. In the face of that, they all reach the same conclusions.
Albert’s opinions are too harsh, ‘Bec’s too self-centered, Clive’s too apathetic, and Enid’s too unsure. Silently, it seems they all concluded that the final call was yours to make.
You take another breath, and consider your options carefully…
This will be the final choice before you execute the plan. If you’d like to change any previously decided details or toss out a few last suggestions, do so now.
Assign each member of your party a role
Roles:
[ Lure ]
-The individual who will bait Sheppard into the trap
-This will be the first person to be exposed to serious risk. If they get killed or seriously injured, nobody else will be put at risk, but the plan will be a failure
-In the event of a Failure State, this individual will have the opportunity to either run, help the Pushers get down quicker, or assist the Backup in taking down Sheppard
[ Pusher ]
-The individuals who will push heavy machinery onto Sheppard’s head, ending him
-You need at minimum two people for this The more people you have assigned, the better your timing and odds of success will be
-However, the more people you have assigned to this, the more likely Sheppard notices them before the trap can be set-off
-In the event of a Failure State, this group will have to spend several rounds getting off of the shelves before they can flee or fight, during which they risk getting targeted by Sheppard if their Backup is insufficient
[ Backup ]
-The individuals who, in the event of your plan’s failure, will execute Plan B by attacking Sheppard
-You need at least one person in this role, otherwise Sheppard is guaranteed a free shot against your Pushers after the trap’s failure
-If the Backup is forced to act, they are the most likely group to face retaliation. There should be an expectation of injury if you have to rely on them
-Since no consensus was reached on whether to disarm/execute, whoever you assign to this role will choose what they’re comfortable with, and will take the appropriate weaponry
Kids:
Roger
-Preference: Anything but Backup
-Everyone can agree he’d be the best lure, due to his speed. In the event of a Failure State, Roger will be inclined to distract/disarm Sheppard to protect his friends
-He’d be a perfectly good pusher for sure, at least as strong as Clive
-Roger can get a good swing in as back-up, but might hesitate to deal a lethal blow. He would borrow Albert’s cane, and aim to Disarm
‘Bec
-Preference: Lure
-Long legs and quick on her feet. She’d be about as good as Roger as a Lure, but if you enter a Failure State, she’ll probably run and save herself
-She’s bigger and stronger than anyone else in your party, making her an exceptional fit for the Pusher role
-’Bec is just as good as Backup as she is a Pusher, thanks to the crowbar and being larger than the others. She’ll only use her Crowbar, and she won’t do anything other than Disarm Sheppard
Enid
-Preference: Backup if even split, Pusher if there are three
-Enid has very short legs. She would not be a good Lure, period.
-Enid is smaller than most kids, and won’t be an amazing Pusher either
-Enid has little personal attachment to Sheppard, and is willing to serve as Backup. She’d be fine in the role, but wouldn’t have the force for blunt weaponry. Enid would take the Knife, and aim for a Lethal Blow
Clive
-Preference: None
-Clive has long legs, and could definitely stay out ot Sheppard’s range, but he may have a harder time holding Sheppard’s attention, due to his quiet nature. In the event of a Failure State, Clive would try to strike a lethal blow on Sheppard
-Clive would be a perfectly good Pusher, sitting at the middle of the pack here in terms of strength
-Clive would be very effective Backup, but if you force him into the role and make him take the lethal option, his Fear may max out and VERY BAD THINGS will happen. You… aren’t sure what he’ll lean towards
Albert
-Preference: Anything but Lure
-Albert ABSOLUTELY cannot be the Lure. He will laugh in your face if you ask him to do it
-Albert is a terrible Pusher, mustering less strength than anyone else. If your only Pushers are Albert and one other person, your odds of success will be low
-Albert is terrible Backup, as he will almost certainly break several things if Sheppard retaliates against him. Albert would take the Knife, hoping to finish Sheppard off before the farmer can make him regret it
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