BSG

Baltar has again selected Piloting (Red) for his extra draw. He has also chosen the -1 food option for your crisis card.

BSG

Hmmm.

BSG

I feel shocked by that choice. Shocked, I tell you. President, I am beginning to suspect you might not have the best interests of your constituency at heart.

BSG

On the one hand, it's not a totally unreasonable choice, one food for half his hand. On the other, our president is seeming a little more weaselly lately. A little clockwork ferret, even.

But is that enough for a coup?

BSG

I never before noticed how handsome Baltar is.

BSG

Well my fellow humans, how suspicious are we of El Presidente and what are we going to do about it?

I, personally, am pretty suspicious. I know I'm no cylon and the Admiral and the Chief have been pulling more weight for Team Human than Baltar for a few turns, at least. And someone making it hard to brig anyone kinda makes me think someone needs brigging.

I could deem this loss of food to be morally reprehensible and reverse it, but then I wouldn't have that possibility in my back pocket for future decisions that might hit us harder. If Baltar IS a cylon and we don't succeed in stripping the presidency from him PDQ, he could wreak some havoc. And, of course, if he ISN'T a cylon, that would really be a waste.

BSG

Well my fellow humans, how suspicious are we of El Presidente and what are we going to do about it?

Does it count as a suspicion if you're convinced? His action helped no one but himself. He made it harder for us to brig or depose him. He drew not one but two Red. Red is far more commonly negative than positive in skill checks, including in Administration and Admiral's Quarters checks; in addition, he can't use the Maximum Firepower cards at all. Finally, he chose -1 Food here without discussing it at all.

Of course, he'd really tipped his hand last turn, when he didn't play anything into the Prison Labour skill check, despite them being good colours for him.

The only question now is, what do we do about it? Ideally, we want him out of office and brigged yb his next turn. We have three human turns on which to accomplish it. Here's my suggestion: Helo, on your turn, XO me to work the Press Room. Chief, on your turn, XO me to Administration and we'll take the Presidency away from him. One of you can also move to the Admiral's Quarters. Finally, on my turn I'll XO whoever's in the Admiral's Quarters to brig him.

I suggest this way, because it means that: we have time to draw lots of cards for each check (YG for Admin, GP for AQ) and it forces Baltar to play earlier into each check, making it easier for us to counter him without overspending.

We could modify it a little: Helo moves to AQ and XOs me, then the Chief XOs him and we brig Baltar first. That would limit him to one card into the Administration check. I prefer the other way (the Other Way!) because I think it works better with our card draw, and because the Administration check is easier than the Brig check.

OK. Thoughts?

BSG

So, that would be a no on using my OPG at this time? Because that would cut his hand in half and make deposing and/or brigging easier for us, right?

Eta: I agree, ideally we want a new president and Baltar in the brig by his next turn. I'm uncertain as to what order to try.

BSG

As an FYI: Per his request, I am waiting on a final decision on Helo's OPG (reversing the crisis decision, and thereby forcing Baltar to discard 5 cards) before I post the end-of-turn summary for Baltar's turn.

ETA: OPG x-post!

BSG
 
Yeah, I was convinced last turn too, but like a dope didn`t say anything. I actually think the OPG might not be a bad use here, although I don`t know what we have coming up. The gain is not that huge, but it`s a unique opportunity with the cards. It`s likely Starbuck will be stirring up trouble on her turn, too, so that`s another thing to keep in mind.