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With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

Shouldn't that say 'testiculos'?

"When you have their full attention in your grip, their hearts and minds will follow."

The full quote is "Cuius testiculous habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum," which Terry Pratchett translates, "When you have their full attention in your grip, their hearts and minds will follow." The correct translation was supposedly featured on a sign in the office of Chuck Colson, one of the Watergate conspirators, which brings the circle back to Illuminated conspiracy.
 
22nd April 2012
10:26 GMT -5
Earth 8096


"…mean well, Anthony, but historically speaking diplomacy has not exactly been your greatest strength."

He… I suspect that he's glaring inside his helmet, but I can't actually see his eyes and his current generation armour tends to scatter my scans.
I see Tony's not been idle with OL's hypertech around. I can't imagine the scan disruption isn't intentional, the man does have a bit of a paranoid streak alongside his many other psychological subscriptions.

"You wanna talk to the Kree so badly? Fine, go ahead. I'll get into position for when it doesn't work."

I clap my hands together in a praying gesture.
I'm sure you'll enjoy getting your ass beat into tinfoil by the opposition...

"Thank you."

"Yeah, I'm not getting my hopes up." He increases power to his repulsors as he lifts off. "Break a leg."
Eh, he's rather break their legs. Or at least chop their negotiating position off at the knees. :p

I nods and smile before turning to face the Kree delegation.

"Gentlemen. Grand Accuser."
Oh, boy. If you thought the MCU version was a bagful of crazy, you ain't seen nothing yet.

I drift closer to where Ronan's floating platform hovers just above the kree shuttle and accompanying soldiers which are currently menacing central New York. I know it was a bit of a joke in the comics, but it… Really is always New York where this stuff happens.
Blame it on the original comic writers, who were happy to use their home-town as the focus. At least they didn't make a new city for every title.

The quinjet carrying Hulk, Steve and a severely hung-over Skurge set down on the other side of the plaza, my friends exiting as soon as the landing ramp opens. I hoped that Amora would come, but… Thor was a bit blunt about things last week, and she's off 'not'-sulking. Skurge on the other hand was perfectly happy to get a fight. I think he's gradually coming to understand that the woman who claims to love only Thor and who has been obsessively pursuing Thor for -as I understand it- several centuries might just possibly not be interested in him.
...That is an ugly aircraft design. The MCU did it better. At least Skurge is finally catching on that silently pining proclaiming your eternal loyalty for a lady isn't going to make her more appreciative of you.

I feel a bit sad for him, actually, but since he and Hulk appear to be getting on okay I haven't wanted to stick my oar in.

Ronan looks down at my colleagues, and then raises his head to look at me. His giant hammer -which I assume had some special name in the comics but which I'll be darned if I can remember- is held casually in his right hand, the butt of the staff section resting on his flying pad which the oversized head is high enough up that he can see under it. By itself it's clearly an impractical weapon, so I assume that there's some sort of clever energy weapon build into it.
The Universal Weapon, a do-anything-the-plot-demands piece of hypertech. Unfortunately, it tends to get used as about as subtly as the hammer it resembles.

"You represent the leaders of this planet?"

"I am empowered to negotiate on their behalf."

Which is technically true, if the hurriedly written e-mail from the Secretary General was genuine.
At least EMH!OL isn't mean enough to take advantage of any legal loopholes it might contain.

"Surrender your planet to the Kree Empire, and you may live."

"What have we done to warrant your illustrious presence?"
Besides, you know, existing in your line of sight?

In the lead amongst the soldiers are… Ah, that's Mar-Vell and… a kree officer with three orbital paths on his logo rather than Mar-Vell's one, which presumably means that he's in command. Or are those electron orbits-? Doesn't matter.

"The Kree Supreme Intelligence believes that this world may have value. I am here to judge whether or not that is correct."
Well, it's a regular convention of historically significant Kree characters. The joy of being an adaption of sixty years of continuity.

"That depends what you're looking for. Our technology is far more primitive than yours, and I can't imagine that we'd be able to add much to your military strength-. Or is this about the wormholes?"

"You do not need to know the reason. You merely need to know your place."
Okay, buddy? Inside voice, please. Otherwise they'll be able to hear you in Jersey.

"I beg to differ. Thor of Asgard briefed us on the fact that is extremely easy to make wormhole portals to and from this system. I'm not.. ignorant of its strategic value. But the point is… It's the system that has value. Not.. this planet. If you wanted to build a fleet base around Jupiter or on Mars, you… Could, and you would receive the exact same benefit that you'd get from building in near Earth."
Admittedly, the ease of wormhole creation has its drawbacks. Such as destabilising the Sun, as seen during Operation: Galactic Storm. And that's no fun for anyone nearby.

I… Think he's considering it? The chap with the purple decoration is outright scowling at me, but he isn't interrupting his superior. Ring, let's risk a peek-. Oh, yes, he wants to kill the world's greatest warriors, decimate the rest and then work the survivors to death. What a worryingly short-sighted man he is, though I suppose that given kree eugenic practices he might well have been engineered to be incapable of thinking about other species in any other way.
Sadly, when all you can see are nails, it's easy to want to look for a hammer. :p

"With the added benefit that there wouldn't be a native population for skrull infiltrators to hide in. I mean, I like Earth, but it doesn't seem to be your sort of place."

"It is the inevitable destiny of the universe to become part of the Kree Empire."
Now, see, that sounds nice. But Earth is nothing but trouble, you know. Between the dozens of races that tried to invade and got beaten back, and the native costumed lunatics, do you really want to stick your nose into this mess? :rolleyes: It's likely to get bitten off.

"Right, but is it important for Earth to become part of the Kree Empire now, where there are a great many other things you could so with the resources it would take, and when your own second looks like he's extremely dubious of the idea that we have any use at all? Is there an advantage that I'm not seeing?"

"That this offer is being made at all is a sign that the Supreme Intelligence sees some potential in you. The Kree Empire's normal procedure is to simply exterminate species with nothing to offer. Already your delaying tests my patience. Surrender my world and accept my judgement."
Let's not go counting your chickens before they've hatched, big guy...

"No, I don't think I'll be doing that." I shake my head for a moment, closing my eyes as I do so. I make a point of not making an aggressive action because I know that my team mates are a bunch of barely restrained blood knights at the best of times and I don't want them deciding to jump in to save me. "I'm just going to make you leave."

"Deluded alien. One of your number already tried to fight me, and she now lies in a crater."
That'll be Carol Danvers, right? Now, I'm sure fighting one hero seemed easy enough... Fighting all of them might be trickier.

"Oh, I'm not going to fight you. I can make you leave-" I hold up my right forefinger. "-with a single word."

"A word." I nod. "What word is that?"
Oh, don't worry, it's not an obscenity. Your delicate sensitivities will be perfectly fine. :D

I extend my right hand and make a beckoning gesture with my forefinger.

He doesn't move.

"You're not going to want anyone else to hear this, and if you're not impressed then I'll be within hammer range."
Sweetening the offer, eh? Such the sweet talker, EMH!OL...

He watches me for a moment, then floats.. closer. Oh, he's a big fellow. A big fellow who makes a point of floating slightly above me. I rise up until our faces are level, then lean close.

"Shi'ar."
And believe me, that is a whole other barrel of crazy. Let's not forget the fact the Celestials have an interest in Earth too.

His eyes narrow. "How do you know that name?"

"Princess Lilandra is dating my daughter's head master." I shrug as his hand clenches around the shaft of his hammer. "Now, I know that the Shi'ar Empire is an awfully long way away, but I also know of a system that forms a natural wormhole nexus. And you know that a man like Majestor D'ken wouldn't be able to approve our annexation fast enough if we made the request. And Lilandra could probably talk him into appointing her Imperial Governor and she'd tend to defer to her consort on local matters, so it's a much better deal for us. Quite aside from the fact that the shi'ar generally treat their alien subjects far better than the kree do."
That would be from the Wolverine and the X-Men series, right? I'm guessing the events of the series haven't transpired yet, then. At any rate, no smart man would want to get anywhere near that big furball of drama.

I drift back slightly.

"Do you want to fight the Shi'ar Empire? No, of course you do. But can you afford to now?"
Especially if the Kree don't have some advantage to overcome the Shi'ar. Like, say, an Omni-wave Projector based Nega-Bomb.

"We will accept the rest of the system-."

"That's not on the table any more. You know, I grew up watching Star Trek. I wonder what it'll be like to live like that?"
Suggesting Earth would take the Kree's technological distinctiveness and add it to their own? :p

"They have no fleet here."

"How long will it take you to learn to exclude non-kree ships from the nexus? Because shi'ar psychic consorts can communicate instantly over any distance. I make a call, D'ken gets a call, and a fleet is en route within a few minutes. Now, if the Kree Empire made a huge strategic redeployment you could probably beat the first wave, but… Can you afford to do that?"
Ah, the good old 'Summon Bigger Fish' spell.

He stands still, glaring at me. And I've got to say, I'm impressed with his discipline.

"You have made an enemy of the Kree Empire this day."
Now, if you're done with your dick-waving, Ronan?

"No, you were already our enemies. Now shoo."

A slight tremor in his expression, then his flying disk turns around and flies back to his shuttle. His subordinates clustering around, presumably to ask what the heck just happened.
Good boy. Do pass on Earth's regards to the Supreme Intelligence.

"Okay, Orange." Tony flies back down to my level, and I can hear the incredulity in his voice. "How exactly did you manage that?"

"Oh, you know. Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum."
Yeah, when you've got them by the balls, you have their full attention, indeed.

He looks askance at me. "What d'you mean by that?"

"You just have to know what people want. And in his case, it was not getting his habes ripped off."
And Tony just rolls his eyes at EMH!OL's poor Latin. It is a bit punchier a boast, even if it's incorrect.

Big interplanetary kerfuffle nicely defused, thanks to a bit of metaknowledge and empathic insight. I wonder how many other plotlines he's bypassed with his talents? No doubt many of the villains find great frustration in his achievements. Still, I'm sure the average person on the street appreciates the peace and quiet. Better for property values, if nothing else. :D
 
He should get a noble prize because wow he's a talented negotiator
He's really not...

The canon reason Earth isn't just blown up by one empire or another in Marvel is Earth's continued neutrality.

This Paul just blew that up by publicly claiming they would ally with the Shi-ar if push came to shove.
 
He's really not...

The canon reason Earth isn't just blown up by one empire or another in Marvel is Earth's continued neutrality.

This Paul just blew that up by publicly claiming they would ally with the Shi-ar if push came to shove.

Neutrality in a small, effectively unarmed, polity like earth is here means having a rolodex of people who would like to annex you and using everyone else in it to keep whoever is making noise this week from getting ideas, as demonstrated in the chapter.

Neutrality of the Swiss sort requires the ability to be at least a minor boon or bane to your larger neighbors in order to use your own utility or obnoxiousness to enforce said neutrality.
 
Neutrality in a small, effectively unarmed, polity like earth is here means having a rolodex of people who would like to annex you and using everyone else in it to keep whoever is making noise this week from getting ideas, as demonstrated in the chapter.

Neutrality of the Swiss sort requires the ability to be at least a minor boon or bane to your larger neighbors in order to use your own utility or obnoxiousness to enforce said neutrality.
Except that's not what he did.

He threatened to join one specific group.

Which without Zoat protecting Paul from the consequences of his actions would result in the Kree going back to their ship then teleporting a black hole bomb with a one second fuse into Earth's core and calling it a day as the Earth goes ploink.
 
Except that's not what he did.

He threatened to join one specific group.

Which without Zoat protecting Paul from the consequences of his actions would result in the Kree going back to their ship then teleporting a black hole bomb with a one second fuse into Earth's core and calling it a day as the Earth goes ploink.
yeah, but that also mean that whoever is dating Xavier is gonna get cheese off and the Kree will have to deal with it
 
yeah, but that also mean that whoever is dating Xavier is gonna get cheese off and the Kree will have to deal with it

Lilandra. Emperor's sister.

So yeah, blowing up the planet when Xavier is a royal consort would seem like a good way to start a second war, because they are already at war with the Skrulls, and the Shiar Empire is in fact bigger than either the Kree or Skrull Empires.

Especially since D'Ken is probably a total fruit loop. To paraphrase BtVS- He's not playing with a full deck, he's got a couple of threes.

Unless Zoat is doing a particularly uncharacteristic version, but Zoat has been very charitable with his characterizations of other villains so it's certainly possible.
 
Especially since D'Ken is probably a total fruit loop. To paraphrase BtVS- He's not playing with a full deck, he's got a couple of threes.

Unless Zoat is doing a particularly uncharacteristic version, but Zoat has been very charitable with his characterizations of other villains so it's certainly possible.
Oh, D'Ken's not crazy, just power hungry to the point that it's overwhelming his caution. He would most certainly be interested in a) getting access to the Milky Way for his empire and b) getting his other sister off the throneworld.
Thank you, corrected.
 
And Skrull!Steve didn't interrupt this time. Wonder what Mar-vell thinks, though he has gone a bit native.

Except that's not what he did.

He threatened to join one specific group.

Which without Zoat protecting Paul from the consequences of his actions would result in the Kree going back to their ship then teleporting a black hole bomb with a one second fuse into Earth's core and calling it a day as the Earth goes ploink.

Ronan made the situation very clear: He was going to subjugate or exterminate. Paul offered an alternative for them to get what they wanted without doing so, and was turned down. Ronan's second in command simply wanted to go all genocide happy. So Paul chose a tactic that would get the Kree away from Earth after his other negotiating tactics failed.

If it keeps the Kree and Skrulls off Earth's back without firing a shot, then it's an effective tactic that at minimum buys Earth time to build up better defenses and a way to go 'back off' without having to resort to calling in an Empire. And if the Shi'ar here about it, well, as Paul outlined Lilandra would probably be in charge and I doubt the Shi'ar would be too upset about having a planet willingly join their Empire. As long as the Shi'ar aren't all kill happy, it's a better deal than what Ronan is suggesting.
 
22nd April 2012
10:26 GMT -5
Earth 8096


"…mean well, Anthony, but historically speaking diplomacy has not exactly been your greatest strength."
That is unfortunately very true.


I drift closer to where Ronan's floating platform hovers just above the kree shuttle and accompanying soldiers which are currently menacing central New York. I know it was a bit of a joke in the comics, but it… Really is always New York where this stuff happens.
There are actually some exceptions but otherwise... Yeah it really is New York where all this stuff happens.


The quinjet carrying Hulk, Steve and a severely hung-over Skurge set down on the other side of the plaza, my friends exiting as soon as the landing ramp opens. I hoped that Amora would come, but… Thor was a bit blunt about things last week, and she's off 'not'-sulking. Skurge on the other hand was perfectly happy to get a fight. I think he's gradually coming to understand that the woman who claims to love only Thor and who has been obsessively pursuing Thor for -as I understand it- several centuries might just possibly not be interested in him.
I wonder how that went?


"You represent the leaders of this planet?"

"I am empowered to negotiate on their behalf."

Which is technically true, if the hurriedly written e-mail from the Secretary General was genuine.
Much better introduction than Tony.


"I beg to differ. Thor of Asgard briefed us on the fact that is extremely easy to make wormhole portals to and from this system. I'm not.. ignorant of its strategic value. But the point is… It's the system that has value. Not.. this planet. If you wanted to build a fleet base around Jupiter or on Mars, you… Could, and you would receive the exact same benefit that you'd get from building in near Earth."

I… Think he's considering it? The chap with the purple decoration is outright scowling at me, but he isn't interrupting his superior. Ring, let's risk a peek-. Oh, yes, he wants to kill the world's greatest warriors, decimate the rest and then work the survivors to death. What a worryingly short-sighted man he is, though I suppose that given kree eugenic practices he might well have been engineered to be incapable of thinking about other species in any other way.

"With the added benefit that there wouldn't be a native population for skrull infiltrators to hide in. I mean, I like Earth, but it doesn't seem to be your sort of place."
Did Paul discover the Skrulls already?


"It is the inevitable destiny of the universe to become part of the Kree Empire."

"Right, but is it important for Earth to become part of the Kree Empire now, where there are a great many other things you could so with the resources it would take, and when your own second looks like he's extremely dubious of the idea that we have any use at all? Is there an advantage that I'm not seeing?"

"That this offer is being made at all is a sign that the Supreme Intelligence sees some potential in you. The Kree Empire's normal procedure is to simply exterminate species with nothing to offer. Already your delaying tests my patience. Surrender your world and accept my judgement."
The Kree's normal procedure is a definite red flag and that Kree commander may be problem in the future. I somehow get the impression that Paul thinks that Earth should be a part of one of the three major galactic powers and that the Shi'ar are the best option.


"No, I don't think I'll be doing that." I shake my head for a moment, closing my eyes as I do so. I make a point of not making an aggressive action because I know that my team mates are a bunch of barely restrained blood knights at the best of times and I don't want them deciding to jump in to save me. "I'm just going to make you leave."

"Deluded alien. One of your number already tried to fight me, and she now lies in a crater."

"Oh, I'm not going to fight you. I can make you leave-" I hold up my right forefinger. "-with a single word."
It is an unfortunate fact that most of the Avengers can be pretty hot headed. The fact that Paul only has to use one word to turn back an alien occupation is very impressive and why he's probably called the negotiator. I wonder how Obi-Wan Kenobi would feel about Paul's diplomatic skills.


"Shi'ar."

His eyes narrow. "How do you know that name?"

"Princess Lilandra is dating my daughter's head master." I shrug as his hand clenches around the shaft of his hammer. "Now, I know that the Shi'ar Empire is an awfully long way away, but I also know of a system that forms a natural wormhole nexus. And you know that a man like Majestor D'ken wouldn't be able to approve our annexation fast enough if we made the request. And Lilandra could probably talk him into appointing her Imperial Governor and she'd tend to defer to her consort on local matters, so it's a much better deal for us. Quite aside from the fact that the shi'ar generally treat their alien subjects far better than the kree do."
I'm very glad that you included Xavier's and Lilandra's relationship but from what's being said I am wondering why D'Ken is sane and still the Majestor and did Xavier even get into his comma in the first place or did someone, probably Paul in one form or another, wake him up?


"How long will it take you to learn to exclude non-kree ships from the nexus? Because shi'ar psychic consorts can communicate instantly over any distance. I make a call, D'ken gets a call, and a fleet is en route within a few minutes. Now, if the Kree Empire made a huge strategic redeployment you could probably beat the first wave, but… Can you afford to do that?"

He stands still, glaring at me. And I've got to say, I'm impressed with his discipline.

"You have made an enemy of the Kree Empire this day."

"No, you were already our enemies. Now shoo."

A slight tremor in his expression, then his flying disk turns around and flies back to his shuttle. His subordinates clustering around, presumably to ask what the heck just happened.

"Okay, Orange." Tony flies back down to my level, and I can hear the incredulity in his voice. "How exactly did you manage that?"
Maybe Tony will listen to him more often now. The only thing I think that really went worse than in the show is how Sydren is still a Kree slave. Well, they may have to fight the Kree in the future but not for the time being.
 
The quinjet carrying Hulk, Steve and a severely hung-over Skurge sets down on the other side of the plaza, my friends exiting as soon as the landing ramp opens. I hoped that Amora would come, but… Thor was a bit blunt about things last week, and she's off 'not'-sulking. Skurge on the other hand was perfectly happy to get a fight. I think he's gradually coming to understand that the woman who claims to love only Thor and who has been obsessively pursuing Thor for -as I understand it- several centuries might just possibly not be interested in him.
Mr Zoat What exactly happened for Skurge to get the memo that Amora's not interested in him at all, she's been rejected by Thor plenty and she's still pursued him for who knows how long? Also, why is Ronan's speech in bold is he projecting his voice or something?
 
Mr Zoat What exactly happened for Skurge to get the memo that Amora's not interested in him at all, she's been rejected by Thor plenty and she's still pursued him for who knows how long?
A free and frank sparring session talk with Thor, where Thor offered to help him.
Also, why is Ronan's speech in bold is he projecting his voice or something?
Yes. If you watch the episode you'll hear what it's like.
 
How does that relate to the opinion the Avengers and X-Men have on Paul?
Ah, sorry, I misinterpreted. I though I was being asked how this changed their opinion.

Most of the X-Men haven't met him. The few who actually know the circumstances of his relationship with Anna Marie have a mildly positive view of him.
 
Ah, sorry, I misinterpreted. I though I was being asked how this changed their opinion.

Most of the X-Men haven't met him. The few who actually know the circumstances of his relationship with Anna Marie have a mildly positive view of him.
I see, that's good for those who know he adopted Rogue and understandable that most haven't met him. But what about the other Avengers and what's the status of Professor X, last I checked he was still in the coma where he communicated with the X-Men from the future, has something changed?
 
I see, that's good for those who know he adopted Rogue and understandable that most haven't met him. But what about the other Avengers and what's the status of Professor X, last I checked he was still in the coma where he communicated with the X-Men from the future, has something changed?
...

Yeah, I haven't actually watched the X-Men cartoon from that continuety. So... Pass.
 

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