Evangeline Radcliff is the Freestar Collective's head ambassador to the United Colonies. She originally served in the Freestar Intelligence Service and held the rank of lieutenant before retiring to become a diplomat. Her sister, Angelica, fought in the Colony War and was permanently crippled, and as a result Evangeline bears an enduring grudge against the UC. Evangeline has ambitions of attaining a seat on the Council of Governors, but her applications continue to be rejected.
[Freestar Collective Settler] I'm here today on behalf of the United Colonies, but I'm a member of the Collective just like you."Ah, so you're the one they called about. Failed to mention you were Collective-born."
You seem like a lady who wants to stop more Terrormorph attacks. Well, have I got a deal for you."What are you--"
Captain (Name), UC Vanguard. You and I need to talk, Ambassador.
I'm here on behalf of the United Colonies. We need the Freestar Collective's help.
"Ah. You're the one MacIntyre called about. The eyewitness. She said you were at the spaceport. You have my thanks for what you did down there. Truly. Saved many lives. Now, she also mentioned that - and maybe it was just a bad connection... ... that now the UC wants Terrormorph data from the Armistice Archives - some of the most highly guarded information in the galaxy - in order to protect us all. I can only presume you're here to tell me I misheard her and that they didn't send you, local hero, to futilely beg on their behalf. Tell me I've got that right."
You heard correctly. We need access to the Archives."Hmm. I was afraid of that."
You need to help us. Otherwise, any more deaths are on your hands."Excuse me? A less level-headed person might think that was a threat, Captain."
Nope! They sent me to beg. Please, please, pretty pretty please!"Stop. You're embarrassing yourself."
"Let me be frank, Captain. The answer is "no." That information is there because it is dangerous. I will not be the one responsible for its release. Now, why don't you quit wasting my time - and yours - and go."
Are you serious? There was just an attack on the city! You're really not going to help us?"No, Captain, I'm not and I'll tell you why. What you experienced down there at the spaceport... I've lived that once before already. Fought tooth and nail as aliens rampaged in the streets of my home and others all throughout the Collective. But my aliens were placed there by UC hands. So I'm not interested in anyone getting power like that ever again. The UC most of all."
Fine. I'll just figure this out some other way."I guess you will. Feel free to see yourself out."
[Persuade] Please Ambassador. Just listen to what I have to say."... you're really going to push this? All right. I will give you one chance - one - to convince me. Understood?"
Thank you, Ambassador. Just hear me out."I'm listening."
"Captain, I'm sorry, but my answer is not changing. The UC is just going to have to find another way. Now, I presume you can see yourself out."
"Well Captain, you... you make some good points."
"But if I'm really granting you access, I'm going to need the following concessions... Your access will be limited. You can only take out the items related to stopping these Terrormorphs. The monitors will make sure of it. And all research done with the data will be monitored. If this data's being used to save the galaxy, the galaxy needs to be involved in the oversight. Freestar scientists will watch your people like hawks. So do we have an agreement?"
Uh, I think I need to speak to Deputy MacIntyre first."Well then. I guess you better get a move on."
That's way too much."I'm sorry if you don't like the offer, but I refuse to be the person who lets such dangerous information be misused."
Agreed."Excellent. Follow me."
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If one chooses to blackmail the Ambassador:
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"Did I not make myself abundantly clear, Captain? You're not getting access to the Archives."
I know your plan to "replace" someone on the Council of Governors."E-excuse me? I... I have no idea what you're talking about."
There's evidence. I imagine bad things would happen if your bosses found out.
The UC is more powerful than you can imagine. We know all your secrets.
Don't play dumb, Ambassador. It's embarrassing.
"H-how... no, no. If-if the Council found out, I'd lose my position. I'd be exiled. I'd be... Look, I believe we may have gotten off on the wrong foot. The issue at hand is one of... trust, no? So perhaps if I can trust you to keep this little secret between us, then maybe we can... find a way to trust the UC with access to the Archives?"
I'm going to take some time to think about it."Well, I ... I hope you'll decide to do the right thing."
You call that a negotiation? Without even offering me a gift?"But where are my manners. Here. My pistol. Laredo. Custom-made. Now with my error rectified, I presume we have a deal?"
Fine, but I want you to beg me not to turn you in."You... you're joking, right?"
Yup. Just a little joke between new, trusted friends."Oh? Oh. And a good one, too. Well, trusted friend, I appreciate it. A great sign of the relationship our two factions can have working together."
Here, I can get you started. "Pretty please don't tell my bosses I was planning to double-cross them.""I... okay. P-please. Pretty please. Don't tell my superiors I was thinking about double-crossing them. It was just talk. Nothing more. And I know, you, my dear, dear friend, wouldn't let anything like that get in the way of the two of us - and our factions - working together."
I am absolutely not joking. I want tears."You want-- okay. P-please. Please. I spoke... hastily. And I know, you, my dear, dear friend, wouldn't want to let anything get in the way of the two of us - and our factions - working together. And isn't that ultimately what this is all about?"
You've got yourself a deal."Good. Good. I appreciate you working with me - just like I'm sure our great powers will."
"In fact, I think there's an opportunity here. Keep both our factions happy and ensure an air of legitimacy to the whole proceeding. I can only let you get the information on the Terrormorphs. Anything else and people will get suspicious. And all research will need to be monitored. Freestar scientific observers making sure everything's being used for the right purposes. But those two items should be enough to allay any suspicions."
Pass. You're in no position to bargain right now."Good. Good. Okay. Let's go get you your access."
That plus my negotiation fee seems like it should all work out just great."What on earth are you-- Ah. Yes. How could I forget. Here. The fee. Now, let's go get your code piece so you can be on your way."
I can agree to those terms."You won't... you just need some time to consider. I can tell. Let's just go get you your code while you decide what a reasonable idea this is."
Show: Persuasion Checks
Something good can come out of this bad situation - the UC and Freestar Collective cooperating.
"A step towards better relations. I could see some value there."
"Oh yes. This banned research is precisely what the factions need to kick start their relationship. Let's breed a bioweapon together!"
I've seen twice now how bad these attacks can be. I don't want to see a third.
"No one does, Captain. The only question is how to do it..."
"And if the United Colonies abuses this Terrormorph data? I'm not going to just trade one threat for another."
I'm a Freestar Ranger. I know right from wrong when I see it. And the UC is trying to do right here.
"A Ranger serving the cause of the Colonies... you must really believe in this little endeavor..."
"I don't care if you're the God-Emperor of Neon. I won't make the same mistake you are right now."
The Collective's my home. I just want what's best for it. And that's working with the UC.
"In the end, we all just want to be safe in our little fiefdoms, don't we?"
"Don't let yourself be taken in by their propaganda. This is a power grab, nothing more."
We're asking for access to knowledge of the known universe here. Nothing sinister.
"That... that is actually something worth thinking on. You could acquire that knowledge again without our input. So this may just be our chance to have it managed responsibly. An interesting thought."
"You can say pleasantries here, but that's not ultimately up to you, is it?"
What happened here - and in Londinion - could happen in the Freestar Collective unless you help us.
"Londinion. They had to abandon the planet. But that couldn't happen again..."
"Are you suggesting we can't defend ourselves? The results of the Colony War prove that's not the case."
Every moment we spend in debate is time not spent fixing the Terrormorph problem.
"Working on borrowed time, aren't we?"
"Responsible governance will not be rushed."
We're only asking for the Terrormorph data from the Archives. Nothing more.
"And the Archival monitors could ensure that's all you take... that would work..."
"That's all the UC would need to do some damage."
There was an attack on your doorstep and you're going to do what? Nothing?
"A fair point. How would it look if the Collective simply sat by while more attacks came to pass..."
"Doing nothing is certainly preferable to doing something irresponsible."
The city was attacked! How can you do nothing in a situation like this?
"You're right. Because if not this... what other options do we have?"
"I'm sorry, but acting just because you're afraid doesn't justify the action."
So your response to a possible crisis is inaction? Great plan.
"You're not wrong. We do need to do... something."
"Inaction sometimes is the only sound choice one can make."
I know you've got it in you to do what's right.
"I never was the sort to turn my back on people in need."
"You're not going to flatter me into acting against the Freestar Collective's best interest."
It's only in moments of crisis that real heroes emerge. Now could be your moment.
"I... could be the hero here."
"If you think some flowery language is going to change my mind, you're gravely mistaken."
Be the person the galaxy needs, Ambassador.
"There's a lot of scared people out there right now... and I could do something about it."
"Oh please. Buttering me up isn't going to get us anywhere."
There are lives at stake here!
"I-I suppose you might be right. Easy to lose sight of the big picture sometimes..."
"Please don't talk to me like I'm some cold-hearted monster. I'm trying to protect lives, too."
Are you willing to risk more deaths? Because that's what you're doing by not helping us.
"The cost of being wrong is a high one."
"Oh, I understand precisely what's at stake here - the balance of galactic peace."
Innumerable lives may hang on your decision here.
"And those lives are in my hands..."
"Preventing more deaths is precisely what I'm trying to avoid by keeping the Archives sealed."
Like Sam said, the Freestar Collective owes it to its people to act.
"The Coes do have a way with words. Imagine how it'd look if the next attack occurred in Freestar space..."
"The UC doesn't get to tell the Freestar Collective what it owes to anyone."
You were a soldier. It was your job to protect. And that's what we intend to do with this data.
"I suppose you're right. Our job and our responsibility."
"It's a job I take very seriously. It's why I'm even entertaining what you're suggesting right now."
The Terrormorph Xenoweapons project was a failure. That knowledge isn't dangerous.
"You... you know that for sure? That is interesting."
"The warmongers of the UC will find a way to make it dangerous, you have my word."
How many lives are you willing to risk here because you have a grudge against the UC?
"It's possible I might be letting my history cloud my judgement. Possibly."
"You think this is about a grudge? This is about safety. And that's not something I take lightly."
The UC might've done wrong in the past, but it's been nearly twenty years since the Colony War.
"I... I suppose I have seen some promising actions by this current administration..."
"Less than a generation. Hardly long enough to claim the UC is completely reformed."
Conversations[]
Show: Friends Like These
Radcliff:"Terrormorphs? As in more than one? All that security and they still can't protect their own spaceport. The UC never fails to disappoint. I just wish I hadn't received the news from an SSNN broadcast. We have a strategic advantage to maintain, Mr. Long." Cameron:"Of course, ma'am. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again." Radcliff:"Uh, excuse me. Are you supposed to be in here?"
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Recording of the Listening Device:
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Listening Device:"Agent detected. Patching in playback." Radcliff:"Son of a bitch. Son of a BITCH! CAMERON!" Cameron:"Are you all right, Ambassador?" Radcliff:"It seems the Council of Governors has... rejected my appeal to join. Again. Which means you and I are stuck in this Colonial rat cage until we die. But I think we might need to... we should... expedite the process." Cameron:"What... are you getting at, ma'am?" Radcliff:"I mean, my requests keep being rejected because they don't want to add a seat, right? But what if... what if one opened up? Elias' heart... isn't what it used to be. It's not like anyone would miss him." Cameron:"Eva, I think it's time you get some sleep." Radcliff:"Just... think about it. Maybe we can... we can reach out to some experts at that sort of thing." Cameron:"Good night, Eva."
Quotes[]
"So, then. You've thought about my offer? I grant you access, you allow Freestar monitors to observe the research. Win-win." -While under blackmail
"Ah, I'm glad you're back. Very glad. So, what do you think? I grant you access, you don't mention what you've learned to... anyone?" -While under blackmail
"What you said earlier. The Council of Governors. And me? I'm sure you were just sharing some gossip you heard... right?" -While under blackmail
"Back at last. I presume the Deputy was receptive to our proposal. Are we all in agreement?"
"Captain. Changed your mind about speaking to Deputy MacIntyre? Are you ready to sign off on our little agreement?"
"Well, Captain? What do you say? Do you agree to my terms? Freestar observers for access to the Archives?"
"So, I do believe we might be able to help you, Captain."
"They tell me it should only take a moment. And... there. Here. I'll reach out to Deputy MacIntyre. We'll coordinate the necessary oversights. To unlikely allies, I guess." -When getting the code for the Archives
Trivia[]
Sam Coe can try to persuade the Diplomat, pointing to the possibility of attacks on Akila City, Neon, though this will fail.
