TEAM OFFENSE PLANNING! (AS IC AS YOU WANT TO BE)

[squadgoals]

So, similar to how the old punishment system worked, this post will work as a semi-IC style of OOC posting. I'll write out my starter in character, and players can feel free to respond as IC or OOC as they like. The IC part of the whole post is ACTION. Because of this, feel free to threadjump — but please be respectful of people!

Examples of responses:
"Shepard votes for THING because COMPLEX SERIES OF REASONS. If anyone looks at her during the meeting, she is posing super cool."

Or just:

"Shepard votes for THING because it's an awesome option, A+ dude I like it."

Or forget character stuff:

"Ok I vote for THING because everything happens so much."

Feel free to get as creative or lazy as you feel you want to or need to be!

TEAM OFFENSE LEADER: COMMANDER SHEPARD (squadgoals, OOC contact via PM or nijikai)
LINK TO ALL PREVIOUS DISCUSSION!

(At an early, but reasonable hour on the 21st, everyone in Team Offense receives a short message on their MID from Shepard:

I'd like to have an organized, in-person meeting for our team to hear all opinions, and formulate a solid plan. I've spoken to the captains, and all duties are waived for the remainder of our meeting.

I understand that there's disagreement with regards to how the Captains are handling the situation, and I'm happy to hear it at the meeting, but all I ask is that you do attend, regardless of your feelings on the matter. Everyone's voices will be heard.

Attached is a location, (The Lounge) and a time (just after lunch of the same day). If your character chooses to attend, Shepard will greet everyone personally as they enter, checking their name off a list. The tables have a selection of baked goods on them — both raisin and raisin-free — as well as several jugs of water. Come on, who comes to meetings for anything but the refreshments?

Once everyone has arrived, Shepard quiets the room, and presents her thoughts on the matter. She introduces herself to those who don't know her, adding on the "Commander" part of her name for once, and highlights her background as a Lieutenant Commander in the Systems Alliance military, and a strike leader in offensive attacks, but she's careful to point out that this isn't her universe. So, while she has the technical expertise, there's people present who know much more than she does about what they're up against, having been aboard the Moira when they docked at C-Primary. Additionally, people who haven't been here long can offer incredible insight into options and solutions veterans may have missed, and emphasizes how important it is that everyone have a say.

There's a pause, and she starts speaking about the team split. Without speaking ill of the Captains, she notes that people have been unhappy with how this strategy was chosen, which is understandable, but asks everyone for their patience, both with her, and with the Captains themselves. Although they are on the offense team, what she wants to present is a strategy that equally encompasses all areas — while each team has a focus, each should also be employing parts of the others.

Shep starts outlining her thoughts so far, starting with emphasizing that priority number one is their own crew's safety — you don't have to love each other, you just have to have each other's backs. Secondly, she wants to stress that while the crew needs to work together, no one should be forced to take part in fighting. If you'd feel more comfortable helping make meals, or assist in shoring up defenses before any attacks take place, then taking to safety if or when any battles happen, there's no shame in that.

The plan is broken into several parts:
PREPARATIONS: This involves fixing, shoring up, and otherwise preparing the ship for invaders, attackers, whatever. Checking and improving artillery, training people who will be in charge of these things, sealing entrances, and much more. ADDITIONALLY, this should involve digital preparations: that means hacking their computers as silently as possible, code-breaking (if there is one), revealing messages and plans of the combatants without being caught. C-Prime ship schematics, weaponry, artillery capabilities, transporters for boarding, on-board list of materials, number of crew and their strength and capabilities — anything relevant to improving the Moira's chances. The best offense is a good defense, after all.

FIRST STRIKE: Rather than head-to-head, Shep recommends several stealth teams board the opposing vessel, teamed up with technical assistance from aboard the Moira, in order to guide them, and disable security, doors, and traps remotely. The stealth teams would strike at the ship's main points, disabling engines, artillery, tech, transporters, etc. — essentially hobbling their ability to strike at, or board the Moira herself. The "first" part of this actually comes from the fact that Shepard suggests attacking before the nine days are up. Whether that's one or three days before is up for discussion.

DEFENSIVE: There is always the chance that the C-Primers will have foreseen all of this, so there HAS to be people on board the Moira ready to defend. This is, she notes, probably the most offense-like part of the plan. This team will be made up of people skillfully using the Moira herself, as well as their own powers and abilities to trap, disable, and beat back any invading groups. As the goal is non-lethal combat, this will involve a good deal of finesse. She breaks this down into scare, subdue, and detain. These can all be done via a number of methods, but she notes that everyone should do whatever they feel most comfortable with. There's a pause, and she touches on the fact that, while their goal is non-lethal, in the event that a combatant comes at you, or a fellow crew member, and there is little to no chance of repelling them in a non-lethal manner, deadly force is acceptable. Crew is paramount. She dryly notes that the Captains (and others) may not agree with her on this point, since the ship has the ability to re-surge the dead, but she refuses to sacrifice fellow crew like immortal pawns.

NEGOTIATIONS: The C-Primes have made it clear that, unless they are wiped out, or give up, they probably won't stop pursuing the Moira for retributions. Ideally, this step doesn't even need to happen — the C-Primes give up on their own, and leave. But realistically, that's a pipe dream. People will have to push them to reach a compromise. It may not be a mutually beneficial one (in one way or another), but the right negotiation will result, at the very least, in an agreed-upon ceasefire and cessation of combat in the long-term. Shepard asks if there's anyone who feels particularly confident in the abilities of their silver tongue, pauses, and specifies that she meant table negotiations.

Finally, she stresses again that while non-lethality is the goal, crew safety is the primary concern. All attack positions, stealth, defense, and otherwise, are on a volunteer basis. As long as you can find some small way to assist your fellow crew members, you are helping and taking part. No one will be forced into a role they don't want to do. There's a beat, and she smiles.

"Except for being a part of this team. Alright, Floor's open, people. One at a time."

Comments

TEAM OFFENSE PROPOSED PLAN

[squadgoals]

-> Priority number one is the Moira's own crew's safety.
-> Main goal is bloodless victory via non-lethal engagement.
-> While the crew needs to work together, no one should be forced to take part in fighting. If characters feel more comfortable helping make meals, or assist in shoring up defenses before any attacks take place, then taking to safety if or when any battles happen, there's no shame in that.

PLAN BREAKDOWN
PREPARATIONS/GATHERING INTEL: This involves fixing, shoring up, and otherwise preparing the ship for invaders, attackers, whatever. Checking and improving artillery, training people who will be in charge of these things, sealing entrances, and much more. ADDITIONALLY, this should involve digital preparations: that means hacking their computers as silently as possible, code-breaking (if there is one), revealing messages and plans of the combatants without being caught. C-Prime ship schematics, weaponry, artillery capabilities, transporters for boarding, on-board list of materials, number of crew and their strength and capabilities — anything relevant to improving the Moira's chances. The best offense is a good defense, after all. A lot of this has already been done and shared by Tony Stark & others. Locating paths to disabling (rather than destroying) equipment and over-riding and taking control of autopilot functions are key here.

NEGOTIATIONS STAGE 1: Organization of brief cessation of hostilities, prior to 9 days being up. Team of negotiators attempt once more to approach C-Primary ship to talk terms of ceasefire and understanding. Although it's generally understood that they won't accept this, this step may help underscore for later that Moira crew are interested in compromise and understanding rather than a battle.

FIRST STRIKE: A large stealth strike team, broken up into units with individual leaders, boards the opposing vessel with the space-warping assistance of Sans (thanks to the pre-testing and stealth mission to figure out relevant data), who will also be dropping off the remnants of C-Prime's artifacts from aboard the ship — statues, garden display, etc. Each unit is teamed up with technical assistance from aboard the Moira, in order to guide them, and disable security, doors, and traps remotely. The stealth teams would strike at the ship's main points, disabling engines, artillery, tech, transporters, etc. — essentially hobbling their ability to strike at, or board the Moira herself.

During this time, the technical team is also working to override the autopilot, and re-program it for C-Secondary, or a similar set of coordinates near their own home planet. If we can get them out of our space, we won't need to fight them at all. If successful, we may not even need to move on to...

Of the offense team, people who have volunteered for this part are: SANS (transport), Snake, Nathan Drake, Genos, Captain Cold, Deacon (also: non-lethal gas grenades!), L (tech), Ava (specifically using dominate to clear paths, and change minds), Med'an (short-range teleportation, invisibility), Isha (tech, building sound-cancelling shoes for stealth ops).

THE BEST OFFENSE IS A GOOD DEFENSE: There is always the chance that the C-Primers will have foreseen all of this, so there HAS to be people on board the Moira ready to defend, no matter what. This team will be made up of people skillfully using the Moira herself, as well as their own powers and abilities to trap, disable, and beat back any invading groups. As the goal is non-lethal combat, this will involve a good deal of finesse, broken down into scare, subdue, and detain.

BUT: While the goal is non-lethal, in the event that a combatant comes at you, or a fellow crew member, and there is little to no chance of repelling them in a non-lethal manner, deadly force can be used. Moira crew is paramount and not to be treated as disposable.

Of the offense team, people who have volunteered for this part are: Jasper (training people, helping shore up the Moira, and defense in general), Yu (using... demons and gods, but not the real ones, for distraction and fear tactics), Wash (definitely not wearing skeleton facepaint, good hand to hand specialist and helping to train), Charlie (dangerous fire, walls of heat, fireballs, incineration if threatened.), Ava (dominate skill to control people's minds), Hawke (offensive and defensive magic), Papyrus (pasta, assistance, being cool).

NEGOTIATIONS STAGE 2: The C-Primes have made it clear that, unless they are wiped out, or give up, they probably won't stop pursuing the Moira for retributions. People will have to push them to reach a compromise. It may not be a mutually beneficial one (in one way or another), but the right negotiation will result, at the very least, in an agreed-upon ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the long-term.

Of the offense team, people who have volunteered for this part are: L.

All attack positions, stealth, defense, and otherwise, are on a volunteer basis. As long as you can find some small way to assist your fellow crew members, you are helping and taking part. No one will be forced into a role they don't want to do. Since the selected plan will be being used by the entire Moira, hopefully more people can be slotted into the different areas, and more comprehensive planning can be done for each.