#dadcarsten

[collectivestuck-blog]

54

Another perfect operation completed due entirely to your management skills. As always, calm, confident direction saves the day.

Ms. Nestore proved surprisingly resourceful in a desperate situation. You're still not quite certain how she managed to rewire the strange small one's explosives, but it produced results. In the end, nothing else matters.

You consult your PDA for updates on your team. Now that you wrested control of the Battlefield's sendificator, you can travel between Prospit and Derse with acceptable levels of hassle. The arrangement isn't perfect, but it serves well enough. You don't do any of the traveling, of course; management needs to sit back and be objective, a state difficult to maintain when avoiding inconvenient stabbings.

Derse is now down three archagents. The Curious Deputy was dispatched by the Nestore girl's handiwork, and the Dersites learned the folly of using explosives. Stelios fought the Hale Behemoth several times before the giant finally succumbed to its wounds. You must give the old man credit; while fist fighting the beast was far from the most efficient solution, it did frighten the Derse royal guard into giving you room to operate. An effective leader allows his team to function according to their strengths, and the old man has a right hook worthy of song.

The Duplicitous Drudge proved far more difficult to overcome. Unlike the other two, he was intelligent enough to avoid frontal confrontations after his encounter with Ms. Garrison. Your games of cat-and-mouse occupied most of the last month. He would appear to threaten your subordinates, and you would attempt to draw him into disadvantageous fights. Even with you coordinating careful traps, your team was unable to pin him down. Finally, you pulled out your secret trump. The Drudge never expected Madam Marek to wield a cane with such ferocity. He didn't realize his hostage was a plant until she was raining blows upon his carapaced head.

All that remains is the Sinister Schemer himself. He's clearly your dark mirror, maneuvering his team in attempts to counter yours. Each move has been carefully calculated; he managed to neutralize Ms. Orrin, and it cost you dearly to recover her. The folly you committed in trying to place her in the field demonstrated the enemy's cunning and resolve. You haven't made that mistake again - she's far more useful organizing the Prospit army.

At last, though, the game is coming to a close. You've deduced the Schemer's location with minimal Prospitan sacrifices, and you've placed your team in position to prevent his escape. A reserve unit is on its way from the Battlefield. The noose is tightening with every passing second. It's a shame to see such a worthy adversary fall, but you'll savor the victory regardless.

…

Of course. Every plan must have its wrinkles.

-- anonymousAdvisor [AA] attempted to address efficiencyExpert [EE] --

AA: I told you we would not speak again. I'm afraid that was not entirely accurate. AA: What is about to happen will happen regardless, but I am now inclined to give you a short explanation. EE: I have nothing to say to you. Our business was concluded. EE: And after the threats I received previously, I will do no further business with you. AA: I had no intention of working with you again. AA: I am merely fulfilling my previous promise. EE: You made no such promise. AA: I told you that your son would be caused incredible strain when you would be hurt. AA: And indeed, it will. AA: I would say that I am sorry for this, but I have lied enough already.

-- anonymousAdvisor [AA] announced an adieu to efficiencyExpert [EE] --

That man.

You have no idea what nonsense he was spewing, but-

…

You are no longer in the Orrin girl's tower on Prospit.

You are now in the throne room of Derse.

In front of the Black Queen.

Who has a fully prototyped RING OF ORBS SIXFOLD.

And a terribly wicked smile.

This was not part of the plan.

[collectivestuck-blog]

38

You close the door to your son’s room and wipe away a tear. He’s going to do just fine.

-- mathMatriarch [MM] activates an assembly -- -- efficiencyExpert [EE] attends – -- bombasticBuff [BB] attends – -- sneakySage [SS] attends –

MM: okay, i’m done. EE: Excellent. That completes our task. EE: I had to dismiss our help. I no longer trust his motives. BB: i suppose that means no more teleportation EE: No. We’ll need to find our own way to travel between Prospit and Derse. SS: crud SS: i was thinking we need to get my sis off derse SS: its too dangerous here BB: agreed BB: they grow em damn big here EE: This will be a character-building experience. They need to learn to handle the pressures presented them if they’re going to succeed. Coddling them will do only harm. MM: there’s a big difference between being overprotective and being negligent MM: we can’t throw them to the wolves BB: im sure as hell not just leaving them alone SS: can we at least watch over them? EE: You are welcome to do as you please. Our business is concluded. MM: wait MM: suppose we turn the problem around SS: what do you mean? MM: we want to keep the kids on derse safe MM: but we know that they have something they have to do there MM: so let’s tackle it from the other end MM: we make derse safer BB: and how in the hell do we do that MM: our advisor told us about the archagents running derse MM: we’ll take them out of the picture MM; i already ran into their vice-commander BB: and i pulped the big one MM: we'll find the leader MM: and the kids only have to defeat the king MM: we're completely free to topple the queen EE: That’s quite the bold initiative. How do you intend to do that? MM: it’ll require careful planning MM: precise execution EE: Yes, yes. You can skip the flattery. EE: I see the logic in your plan. I suppose I’ll draw up a stratagem. SS: okay SS: gramps SS: you and me are still here on derse BB: aye BB: well play bull in a china shop then SS: you know it MM: i’ll find ms. marek and ms. orrin EE: Then we meet again in two hours. SS: sounds good BB: agreed

-- sneakySage [SS] aborted the assembly – -- bombasticBuff [BB] aborted the assembly – -- efficiencyExpert [EE] aborted the assembly –

[collectivestuck-blog]

[collectivestuck-blog]

31

You study your PDA, keeping tabs on the progress of the Derse team. Apparently the Nestore girl has already found her sister. The other two have encountered obstacles, but that was something you planned for. An effective leader is always prepared for the unexpected.

The team on Prospit is also facing difficulty, though in a far different manner. You can’t make many moves without encountering someone who insists on dropping and bowing at your feet. For anyone else this would be overwhelming, but an effective leader is never fazed. You’re quite used to inspiring awe anywhere you go.

As you escape yet another worshipping crowd, you check the timetable again. Plenty of time before you need to reach your destination. The plan your strange informant gave you was impressively detailed – for an amateur – but you quickly made the necessary adjustments to solidify it before distributing it to your subordinates. PRIOR PLANNING PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE. With proper structure, you compiled a stratagem that leveraged your team’s strengths to efficiently complete your objective. As always, you adapted quickly to unknown circumstances and rose to the challenges of leadership; the Carsten name is and always will be synonymous with bold direction and confident decision-making.

Your informant insisted that waking your son’s girlfriend first. Supposedly the knowledge she would gain would be invaluable and provide some sort of context to the rest of the ordeal. You quickly dismissed that notion; it would involve waiting for her arrival, which would be an inefficient use of time. As Ms. Nestore proved, you can reach the others quickly, and they all benefit from being awakened. Besides, your son is more than capable of processing the knowledge this procedure supposedly generates, and he can instruct the others on what needs to be done.

By the clock, the older gentleman should have found his grandson by now. The plan laid out by the informant insisted that he be woken last, as his abilities most need the guidance that the others would provide. You were willing to go along with this, but the older man refused to cooperate. This is hardly the first time one of your plans has been waylaid by a loose cannon, and you were quickly able to adapt to accommodate his demands. An effective leader understands the importance of flexibility.

You tuck your PDA into the pocket of your business suit. Now that you’ve reached the tower, you simply must wait until the final spire is lit.