Concealing Handy in the backpack and slinging it over Cicada’s metal shoulder had the effect of shielding the non-combatant from frontal attacks, as well as screening their true numbers from visual scans and giving them a potential ace in the hole… a valuable commodity when taking on a casino.
The real benefit, though, was that it allowed them to avoid any further arguments based on standing orders/untruths from “The Boss”. It was not that the parahuman necessarily believed everything that Regan told her, or that she couldn’t hear what was happening while she was inside the sack… but it was no longer her concern who was carrying th sword. This was fortunate, as it was awkward for her to scuttle around trying to carry the bulky weapon. Dick appointed the Nick Bradley who was present to carry it, as he was not especially skilled with firearms.
“Your primary duty will be to get that into the hands of Crewmember Designate Bard,” Dick said. “Do whatever you have to. Throw it if she’s unrestrained… the carbon composite is very light… or charge ahead. Fighting our way out is bound to be much more difficult than fighting our way in. Bringing Bard’s unconventional combat skills into play is going to be key to gaining the needed momentum even as we reverse course.”
“If she were really as good as all that, we wouldn’t be rescuing her,” Cicada said.
“She can be overcome the same as any combatant, but I believe that her sword will be enough inspire a rally from her, much like the proverbial spinach in the parable of the sailor-man,” Dick said.
“So, your ‘tactics’ include depending on a lunatic’s response to a blatant psychological ploy,” Cicada said. “Did you have a special officer training program for that?”
“If every psychological ploy came with an unbreakable blade and nanowidth edge, they might have offered such a course,” Dick said. “Now, there is no guarantee… in fact, I would say that there is not even a chance… that the sanctity of the ship will be respected following this incursion. I’ve already ordered the crew to return to the ship…”
“Hold on!” Cicada said. “What happened Lilliana being the only one who can do that?”
“Well, as it turns out, it pretty much just has to be someone other than Mr. Shays,” Dick said. “The bad news is that our crew is somewhat more intelligent than they are loyal… upon receiving an emergency order to return and prepare for immediate departure partway into an announced shore leave immediately following a deadly and costly debacle, only half of them even acknowledged the signal, and two-fifths of those were not responding in the affirmative.”
“So we’re going to be down to about a third of the crew,” Cicada said, shaking her head.
“I don’t suppose there’s any chance that we can enlist their help?” Nick asked. “Regan and Lilliana are relatively well-liked.”
“No, we do this ourselves,” Dick said. “I’d rather keep this small and surgical… relatively… and I’d rather not risk losing any more personnel.”
“You mean in battle, or when they realize what a hopeless case they’ve stuck themselves with?” Cicada asked. “I don’t know why Daniel puts up with the lot of you… you know, this could be the perfect opportunity for us to start over. Hire a new crew, abandon Bard and the others to their fate… find a competent operator who can break the system locks and another pilot if you won’t come around.”
“Oh, yes, and I suppose you’ll do all this while stuck on a station disintegrating into a civil war… a conflict which the Rebellion is already implicitly linked to,” Dick said.
“I didn’t say it was a great plan,” Cicada said. “But it’s got to be up there with most of the ones this crew comes up with.”
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