User blog comment:So-Pro Warrior/Season 1-Battle 8: Battle of the two Forces of Good Armies: The Systems Alliance vs. The Grand Army of the Repubic/@comment-5795750-20130328130040

BG1's "OMG You're Making Me Do the Longest Vote Ever" Edges Part 1 - the Leaders:

Ashley Williams vs Captain Rex
Melee: The Omniblade is made of a very tough material (almost as hard as diamond) but the Vibroknife is the knife guaranteed to get an insta-kill. However, the added safety force field and its searingly hot capabilities gives the Omniblade the edge here

EDGE: Ashley

Pistols: Hmmm... one very accurate pistol vs dual deadly pistol... since the Predator is accurate and it has a range advantage, maybe dual wielding the DC-17 is not a good idea despite the power and ammo advantage, especially considering the weight of those guns perhaps hindering physical performance when it comes to a very heated gunfight

EDGE: Ashley

Rifles: Easily goes to the Avenger since it is more reliable in combat and has versatility. Sure the DC-15 has a bigger ammo size but it is heavy and it has a let down with its rate of fire (coupled with the instability of the plasma in the rifle)

EDGE: Ashley

X-Factors: Average of 87.3 for Ashley, Average of 88.2 for Rex

EDGE: Rex

Overall Winner: In this match-up of leaders, if it were gonna boil down to a solo battle then I think that Ashley Williams is going to take this one - sure Rex may be the more mentally healthy and equally determined out of the two, but honestly, given the weapons edges, plus Ashley's armour, combat experience and perhaps physicality (as noted by GSFB, she did undergo gene manipulation to give her more stamina), she will pull through with this

James Vega vs Commander Cody
Melee: As noted above, the Omniblade is superior to the Vibroknife for its user-friendliness and its heat-generating capabilities. Also, bring H2H combat in and you have yourself one warrior ready to attack with everything he's got

EDGE: James

Pistols: As it has been noted, the Carnifex has a small ammo clip and yet it is extremely accurate. In my above edge with pistols, I gave it to the Alliance pistol but that's because it had range as well as accuracy, whereas with this pistol I am not so sure. However in this case, I now think the DC-17 dual wield blasters will win out here.

EDGE: Cody

Rifles: The DC-15S as I read it is slightly more versatile, accurate, reliable and is able to fire faster than the guns A cousin (held by Rex). To me this seems enough and valid reason why it trumps over the Avenger - although the Avenger has its good qualities too, it mainly loses out on ammo capacity so...

EDGE: Cody

X-Factors: Average of 92.25 for James, Average of 89 for Cody

EDGE: James

Overall winner: In a one-on-one situation, I might have to go with James Vega as the winner here - he may not have as much training as Rex and not very good weapons but when it comes to close combat, Vega's physicality (coupled with his H2H combat and Omniblade) and armpir will carry him through

Admiral Steven Hackett vs Admiral Wullif Yularen
X-Factors: Average of 95 for Hackett, Average of 93 for Yularen

EDGE: Hackett

Overall winner: In a battle of wits and strategy, I guess combat experience combined with training and leadership all make for a very proficient tactician so I may have to give this to Admiral Steven Hackett.

That's it for the leaders... now for the troops and the navy and overall winners in separate votes so stay tuned.