Say, for example, you were a high level politician who along the way had been corrupted by the deep state and had been doing their bidding for the last several years. If Q team presented evidence to you that implicated you in horrible things, then asked for your help... what would you do?
You now have a choice. You can continue to work for the deep state knowing you'll most likely eventually be caught and put in prison or put to death. If you choose this option, you'll forever go down as a traitor and all the evidence against you will be made public. Also, your family may be also charged as complicit in your crimes. It will be a dark shadow on all your future descendants.
OR... you can ACT like you're continuing to work for the deep state, but actually will now work for the white hats. This won't spare you prison or a potential death sentence. But, like McCain, your legacy will be spared and your family will be spared.
What would you do?
If you're trying to manipulate people to do what you want then compelling them into a "this or that" choice is a great strategy. Works better though if there is a nice incentive for them to take the path you want them to take. I'm not sure if "prison and death" v. "prison and death" are sufficiently distinct motivational choices.
Would the average criminal really care about legacy, I think not. Family maybe, but you might not have any leverage on the family who may be entirely innocent or at least not clearly involved and not enough evidence for you to go after.
Yes I know, "no deals", but there would surely have to be some sort of sweetener in there for the DS creature to make do the right thing.
Yeah, this is why I'm mostly thinking there's basically no way I'd do the right thing in the presented scenario. I'm being spared a hit piece, only...it's the bad guys that control the media worldwide to begin with.
Even sparing my legacy means not betraying these people. There would have to be incentive, like not dying and a cozy prison.