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

Darko · Mar 18, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
looking at. "Can you shut it down?""

Remove one "

Mr Zoat said:
Maybe they were testing a new weapons

"weapon"

Handlewithcare · Mar 18, 2023

Must be nice, as a civilisation, to have something alien to blame all your shit on.

Maybe earth has a Cauldron of Dickishness buried somewhere?

Z000 · Mar 18, 2023

Handlewithcare said:
Maybe earth has a Cauldron of Dickishness buried somewhere?

Earth is ground zero to everything in the entire DC universe

they can legit just blame reality itself for all it issue

moralrelativity · Mar 18, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
atmospheric filter could come with.

come -> cope

Chojin Patriarch · Mar 18, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
21st January 2013
10:18 GMT

Construct barrier shimmering around us, Ilana and Razer stare at the ash-gushing super volcano with a mixture of horror and awe. The full caldera is about fifty kilometres across, and unlike the examples on Earth that's not an old caldera filled with water. I can see the rubble that was thrown out by the initial detonation and heavy enough to fall back to the ground, and it covers the ground horizon to horizon… Where it isn't buried by ash.

The detonation point of the nuclear weapon itself isn't really visible to the unaided eye. I can tell where it was by scanning the stresses in the rock, but it's… With everything else…

Volcanic eruptions are already dramatic, destructive events. One sparked by a nuclear explosion should be even more impressive, of course. And that's just little burps. A full-blown super-volcano? Well, people would think of them as an apocalypse...

Ilana half-turns her head towards me. "You said that there are three more of these?"

"Three more that could be opened with nuclear weapons of an equivalent magnitude."

Not unsurprising given their lack of tectonic activity. Volcanos tend to be a result of geological pressure, not a cause. Consider the Ring of Fire, for example

Razer looks away from the base of the ash plume, searching for… What's he searching for? Something to use to better comprehend the scale of what he's looking at. "Can you shut it down?""

"Yes, but this… Volcanoes exist as a result of geological pressure. This one was triggered early, but it would have gone off eventually on its own. Same with the other three. It might be better to let it vent itself before blocking it."

Heh. A god's-eye-view really makes it difficult to appreciate the immensity of such a sight, doesn't it?

I have my ring's AI compare this to other examples of supervolcanoes on file.

"Yes, it won't erupt again in the probable lifetime of your species if we leave it."

...Not unless some other idiot decides to shove a big bomb into one.

"Is it causing any other damage?"

"It's putting out heavier than air poison gas. But the nearest settlements are far enough away that they shouldn't be affected. The caldera will be unsafe for a long time, but the rest will disperse on its own."

A natural byproduct of eruptions, sadly. Seriously, some of the substances underground are really not pleasant for human exposure.

Ilana shakes her head. "We should go to the nearest city. This is…"

"Yes." Razer nods sombrely. "It is."

Well, the nearest surviving city. Unless the people were wise enough that they didn't build right in the shadow of the giant rumbling mountain...

"Alright."

I pick up the sphere surrounding them and fly at speed towards the city in question. I don't know if they were the target or if they were for some insane reason that ones who made the attack. Maybe they were testing a new weapons and didn't know about the supervolcano? I didn't see any rocket launch sites or obvious airports when I looked at the city earlier, but that doesn't mean that they didn't have some other way to deploy it.

I mean, given the possibility of it being an alien device, who's to say it didn't have some kind of underground burrowing capability?

The city is covered with a thick layer of ash and dust, still warm to the touch but not hot enough to burn. The sky is black, and the little light available that doesn't come from my rings is provided by shuttered lanterns borne on poles. The few people outside wearing cloth masks to keep it out of their lungs. It looks like someone's tried to organise a cleaning system, with people shovelling settled ash onto carts pulled by their fellow residents. There's an obvious film of fear over the place, but they're being fairly stoical, inwardly. When there's nothing to do but tough it out, most people will tough it out.

And without outside aid around, this city would probably be on the verge of being abandoned eventually. They're fighting a losing battle against the ash-fall...

It would probably be a good idea to make a favourable impression. I float over to near to the ash dumping ground by the front gate. The people there look up at me for a moment, and then bow their heads and return to work because, well: how am I going to make things worse?

Time to make a favourable impression.

Well, who'd have thought a day like this would appear? OL showing up not making things worse somehow?

I raise my left hand and cause a shield construct to swell and expand. At first it simply resembles a wall, but as it grows and grows it's clear to all onlookers that it's going to envelop the entire city. With the ash fall increasingly cut off I deploy construct vacuum cleaners to hoover up the ash drifts already on the ground and dump the material outside of my new barrier. Once the area around us is sufficiently cleared, I deposit Ilana and Razer on the ground to talk with the locals while I concentrate is… Cleaning off this dust-with-delusions-of-grandeur.

Ah, the joy of a little bit of OCD about cleaning coming handy.

Hm. The ash fall is far more than a normal area effect atmospheric filter could come with. At this point it would more or less have to be a force field with selective permeability. It would need a power generator on-site, and I can't guarantee that it would actually stay in place. Sure, I'll get the ash out of the atmosphere before I leave, but that will mostly involve putting it on the ground and high wind will keep picking it up for years yet.

And dumping it in the ocean would simply end up poisoning the life there. ...Maybe crush it into a new bit of landmass?

I notice Ilana and Razer reach the local ash-dumpers and start trying to explain what's happening. I'm no sure if their language is similar enough to be mutually intelligible; it's a single continent and there aren't any impassable geological barriers between this city and theirs, but it's still quite a long way and I don't know how much their language has drifted.

Damn, that's a lot of ash. I take back what I said about it being good for the soil: this is smother-quantity.

Given how much language can vary in the space of a few hundred miles (compare Edo dialect to Osaka, for example...) It might be workable with a translator or two.

Right, that's… Clear enough for now. The mass is building up on top of my barrier, but we weren't getting any sunlight anyway, and other than opening a tube to space that's the best I can do.

I fly over to the ash-dumpers, and give them a friendly smile.

Pity this planet is otherwise out of the way. Calling in a couple of Orange Lanterns might be a good idea, otherwise.

"Hello there."

"Is this your work?"

Oh, I'm sorry. Were you getting paid to sweep the streets?

"The eruption? No. When I want to bombard a place, I just bombard it directly. This sort of thing makes resettlement harder. Can I take it that you don't know who caused it?"

"Our alliance with Crelan collapsed recently. They seem like the sort-."

...Say no more. Though it might be worth getting the Crelanic side of the story too.

Razer's eyes narrow. "That sounds like pure conjecture."

One of the others slumps. "What do you want, outlanders? We're all going to die choking under the dust."

Well, someone's feeling pessimistic, aren't we? ...Understandable given the circumstances, but still...

"I need some information, then I can deal with that. If you don't have any leads on who activated the volcano… Do you have any records..? Or folk stories, of people being filled with maniacal rage?"

"What? Why?"

...Just curious. No ulterior motive... Really.

"I have reason to believe that an object that has that effect is on this planet, and it's my job to find it and remove it to a place where no one will be harmed by it."

"Ah…" They sort of look at each other… There area few negative gestures. "Not really? There are stories where people become angry, but the reason why they get angry is usually something the other characters do. I mean, that's the point, isn't it? Moral lessons?"

Damn. Lost amongst the parables... And if the battle with the Butcher was long enough ago, no-one might have knowledge of it.

"Darn. In that case, do you know why your relationship with Crelan ended?"

"Their Dal was married to our Dal's sister, but their son died fighting against Alanak and so he decided to divorce her and marry a younger woman. Our Dal didn't like that, or the way he disinherited their other children. So he broke our alliance, and we both tried to find other allies. Then this happened."

...Well, they both sound like dicks. But the Crelanic Dal definitely sounds like the one who took the wrongest step...

"That sounds… Petty."

"There might be more to it than that. Not like the Dal needs to tell me anything."

Dal: "I don't even know who you are..."

"Did they have any off-world weapons?"

"Probably? We all do, don't-" He looks at Razer and Ilana. "-we?"

No time to try and be secretive now, kids.

Razer indicates a negative. "Nothing this powerful."

"I think I should speak with your Dal. Where might I find him?"

I'm guessing not in the palace...

"Out with the army, west of here. Of course, he might have gotten buried under the ash."

"How long have you and your neighbours been at loggerheads?"

...Well, shouldn't be too hard to find them either way.

"Well it's… So… About..? Eighty years?"

"Ilana? Razer? Is that normal?"

Yeah, I guess these folks like to hold grudges... Nurse them like favoured children...

Ilana makes a gesture of uncertainty. "Our city is more isolated. We hear later about large wars, but we're not always involved."

Razer makes an affirmative gesture. "But it is not unusual."

Though I bet there's a natural seasonal tempo involved. Can't make war all year long. Someone's got to plant and harvest the food.

That sounds like a lot, but is it really all that different to Medieval Europe?

"Let's… Hope that we can fix that."

Pfft. Good luck with that.

Well, he's getting closer to the culprit of this potentially world-ending tomfoolery, at least. Pity the Butcher's Blood search isn't panning out, though. Hopefully Jade and Orion are having more luck over their side of the continent... Assuming he's stopped yelling at people yet. And hasn't found others to take his frustration out on.

...Kind of surprised he left them to get on with things back there, really.

...or if they were for some insane reason that ones who made the attack.

...or if they were for some insane reason the ones who made the attack.

The few people outside wearing cloth masks

Add 'are' in there, maybe?

AmericanNumbers · Mar 18, 2023

Handlewithcare said:
Must be nice, as a civilisation, to have something alien to blame all your shit on.

Maybe earth has a Cauldron of Dickishness buried somewhere?

In canon, the Anti Life equation is hidden on Earth. That qualifies.

Mr Zoat · Mar 18, 2023

Ngamer11 said:
That should say 'on'.
That should say 'not'.

Darko said:
Remove one "
"weapon"

moralrelativity said:
come -> cope

Chojin Patriarch said:
...or if they were for some insane reason the ones who made the attack.
Add 'are' in there, maybe?

Thank you, corrected.

Silveraith · Mar 18, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"Ah…" They sort of look at each other… There area few negative gestures.

Are.

Mr Zoat · Mar 18, 2023

Silveraith said:
Are.

Thank you, corrected.

mastermenthe · Mar 18, 2023

AmericanNumbers said:
In canon, the Anti Life equation is hidden on Earth. That qualifies.

...it is? Where? I don't recall this from the wiki.

Assblaster5000 · Mar 18, 2023

mastermenthe said:
...it is? Where? I don't recall this from the wiki.

Technically it could be counted as "hidden" on Earth. What I assume they're talking about is the fact that fragments of it just... show up sometimes on Terra Firma. Which is part of why Darkseid is interested in the planet.

I don't think we've ever gotten so much as hint about why, aside from the theory that Earth is Fifth World I guess, but it happens fairly consistently.

Rafin · Mar 18, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Hm. The ash fall is far more than a normal area effect atmospheric filter could cope with. At this point it would more or less have to be a force field with selective permeability. It would need a power generator on-site, and I can't guarantee that it would actually stay in place. Sure, I'll get the ash out of the atmosphere before I leave, but that will mostly involve putting it on the ground and high wind will keep picking it up for years yet.

How much ash fits into the ring storage space? Wouldn't it be easy to transport it all into orbit if leaving it on the ground isn't what you desire to do?

Mr Zoat said:
"Their Dal was married to our Dal's sister, but their son died fighting against Alanak and so he decided to divorce her and marry a younger woman. Our Dal didn't like that, or the way he disinherited their other children. So he broke our alliance, and we both tried to find other allies. Then this happened."

"That sounds… Petty."

"There might be more to it than that. Not like the Dal needs to tell me anything."

How come the ring doesn't translate the word "Dal"? What makes it different from any of the many many English/Earth-native words for ruler that exist?

Mr Zoat · Mar 18, 2023

Rafin said:
How much ash fits into the ring storage space?

Quite a lot, but it's awkward to put something that diffuse into storage.

Wouldn't it be easy to transport it all into orbit if leaving it on the ground isn't what you desire to do?

Throwing the ash into space would actually be fairly difficult. It wouldn't stay in orbit, for a start.

How come the ring doesn't translate the word "Dal"? What makes it different from any of the many many English/Earth-native words for ruler that exist?

Flavour, mostly. Or for the same reason that Caesar doesn't translate to baldy.

Stsword · Mar 18, 2023

mastermenthe said:
...it is? Where? I don't recall this from the wiki.

Well, less "hidden on Earth," and more "hidden in humanity."

In DC there are people who are apparently just born knowing the Anti-Life Equation, or parts thereof.

Like Billion Dollar Bates, who thought he was just very charismatic because people just do what he asks them to do.

Or the Forever People's ally Sonny Sumo.

It's not actually limited to humans though, Death of the New Gods reveals that Scott knows the Anti-life Equation, and since it's unlikely he went looking for it I assume he just knows it like Bates, and it's been very much implied that the reality warping of the 5th dimensional imps is from mastery of the Anti-Life Equation.

Bramble Thorn · Mar 18, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Quite a lot, but it's awkward to put something that diffuse into storage.

Ok, what's the problem with gathering lots of the ash in one place and compressing it?
Tech level 0 Humans can manage rammed earth, and OL has a power ring.
Make a few devils rocks of the compressed ash he plans on taking from the atmosphere.
This should be lots easier then cleaning the oceans, which he was able to do.

Mr Zoat · Mar 18, 2023

Bramble Thorn said:
Ok, what's the problem with gathering lots of the ash in one place and compressing it?

Gathering lots of the ash into one place and compressing it.

Tech level 0 Humans can manage rammed earth, and OL has a power ring.
Make a few devils rocks of the compressed ash he plans on taking from the atmosphere.
This should be lots easier then cleaning the oceans, which he was able to do.

The volume was far less, as he was focusing on a relatively small area of the ocean where the particle count was highest. Once he's gathered the ash, he can do whatever he likes with it.

Vaermina · Mar 19, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
21st January 2013
10:18 GMT

Real pity he can't just create a few of those weather control unit's he helped create and stick them around the volcano's caldera to keep the ash from escaping.

Oh wait... He could...

Ngamer11 · Mar 19, 2023

Vaermina said:
Real pity he can't just create a few of those weather control unit's he helped create and stick them around the volcano's caldera to keep the ash from escaping.

Oh wait... He could...

If I remember correctly, those used metamaterials that are too energy intensive for Paul to create with his ring.

Vaermina · Mar 19, 2023

Ngamer11 said:
If I remember correctly, those used metamaterials that are too energy intensive for Paul to create with his ring.

I don't think so? They were being mass produced back on Earth.

Ngamer11 · Mar 19, 2023

Vaermina said:
I don't think so? They were being mass produced back on Earth.

I thought Io was making the original ones, and then Ted Kord brought in guys who could learn to blacksmith from her, which is how he could afford to make so many weather control units.

Vaermina · Mar 19, 2023

Ngamer11 said:
I thought Io was making the original ones, and then Ted Kord brought in guys who could learn to blacksmith from her, which is how he could afford to make so many weather control units.

That was for producing Jovium. Not the weather control devices.

Ngamer11 · Mar 19, 2023

Vaermina said:
That was for producing Jovium. Not the weather control devices.

They didn't use Jovium in those things?

Mr Zoat · Mar 19, 2023

21st January 2013
10:31 GMT

The force field around the city crackles faintly in the distance, barely visible through the ash clouds that continue to fall. Razer and Ilana are staying behind to get updated on local news. The army in the field…

Ah, heck.

Looks like they've taken refuge in a small town, which is packed with refugees as well as a reasonably sized army. There doesn't seem to have been enough space in the actual buildings for everyone, and from the scraps of fabric I can see sticking out through the dust piles it looks like they tried to use their tents to create a cover over the streets. That might have worked alright for a smaller amount of ash, but it completely failed here.

I erect a construct dome and start clearing the build up, focusing on those ash heaps that still have living people under them. Piles build up outside the town palisade, and I'm… Probably burying crop fields doing this, but nothing under there is going to be alive at this point anyway.

I shove somewhat cooked bodies aside and hoik out a survivor, using a construct gas mask to feed them a little more oxygen to try and help him recover. With more space cleared I begin laying out the living and dead alike, a purple healing ray patching up the survivors. I don't think… No, I haven't seen people slow-cooked like this before.

Every day's a.. learning experience.

With the windows of the buildings cleared, light from my constructs leaks through into the interior. I get long enough to finish my triage efforts before the first brave soul risks opening a door, the rags jammed around the frame to keep the ash out meaning that it needs a strong shove before allowing them passage. I float down and raise my right hand in greeting. While I think I can work out which of the people taking shelter are the important ones, there doesn't seem to be much marking out the Dal from the other officers.

"Hello! You appear to be having a bit of an apocalypse."

"That-. That we are. Ah, sir."

A soldier. A junior one, shoved-. Yes, shoved in like sardines with.. some local people. They're all spilling out now, and-. One loses his lunch when he sees some of those that the ash fall killed, but most of them just wince or.. make a gesture that I assume is the equivalent of crossing yourself.

"Short version: it's a volcano, I can stop it but I need to know who started it first, where's the Dal?"

"What's a-? What?"

"The ash. It comes from a volcano. And it will keep coming for several days. I need information, and the Dal seems like he's most likely to know."

"You're a… An orange Lantern?" He looks up and left, taking in the size of the shield and the ash piling up outside it. "Ah, yes, yessir. He was taking shelter with the mayor, over that way." He points towards the only two-storey building in the town, which I'd assumed was a barn. "He's in there."

"Thank you. Please check on your wounded. I think they're alright, but this is the first time I've encountered your species."

"And the… The rest?"

I hadn't realised, but I think he's… Young. Too young to really know what to do in situations like this. One of the others should be an NCO, but…

"I don't know your people's funerary customs, but I suggest that you get started. Your officers should have orders for you soon."

I fly towards the taller building, noticing that experienced-looking soldiers with-. Yes, those are plasma pistols. An elite bodyguard, or people wealthy enough to-.

I spot the moment they see me, dart their eyes towards the shielding dome and don't go for their weapons.

"Might I speak with the Dal, please?"

One motions to one of the others, who steps back inside the building. I look inside as he talks to… Probably the Dal, who then proceeds to exit the building and look up at me.

"We have you to thank for this?"

"The barrier, yes. The volcano was set off by a nuclear device. Do you-?"

"Damn him! He told-!"

The Dal fights down his rage before looking back at me.

"Dal Cryoncus made contact with me a short time ago. He claimed to have bought a weapon from off-world arms merchants that would destroy our shared enemies. He needed access to my lands to site it, and I allowed him to send a small party."

"Are his lands close? They would have been covered by ash as well."

"His city is shielded by mountains. They have caves to retreat to, and the prevailing winds will spare him the worst of it!"

"Your enemies-?"

"None of them have had dealings with off-worlders lately. We keep track of such things about one another. It can make the difference between victory and defeat in battle, it changes the terms it's wise to offer in trade, it changes… Everything. And it provides information about a city's wealth if off-worlders think that it is worth visiting."

"Right." I land next to him and generate a construct map. I think I know which city he's talking about, but it makes sense to check. "This one?"

He considers the map for a moment. "Yes, that one. The people who would have killed us all."

I hear the anger in his voice, but as far as I can tell that all comes from him.

"How fares my city?"

"I cleaned it up and then put a shield around it. It should be fine. I suggest that you allow me to take everyone in this town there before I go to speak with Dal Cryoncus."

He makes a gesture of compliance. "Staying here would see us all dead. I will get everyone organised."

"Given the massive environmental damage your world has suffered, might I prevail upon you to agree to a general ceasefire? At least for a growing season or two?"

"Who would guarantee such a thing?"

"I'll either do it myself, or find someone else to do it on my behalf."

He looks in the direction of his city, though I doubt that he can see much through the ashfall.

"Are we the closest to it?"

"Yes."

"So we're undoubtably the worst affected. Yes, I'll agree, if my neighbours do as well. It's not as if it would be practical to launch an attack in these conditions."

"Thank you. I'll leave you to your preparations."

I rise back into the sky as he begins issuing orders. Transporting a few thousand people will be easier for me than arranging food and accommodation will be for him at the far end. Heh, the ash pile outside my shield is already about halfway up. It's astonishing how dangerous geology can be.

"Illustres to Jade. Anything worrying going on?"

"The militia are back inside. Orion and I are heading to the next nearest city to try and talk them into doing the same thing."

"Good idea. When you say '-."

"He's going to shoot things until they do what he says."

"Very efficacious. I've got a lead on the nuker. I'll let you know if it's actually them."

Darko · Mar 19, 2023

Ngamer11 said:
They didn't use Jovium in those things?

Those things were partly magical, and this planet may not have magic, so they may not work.

Darko · Mar 19, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
No, I haven't seen people slow-cooked like this before.

Every day's a.. learning experience.

School sucks.

Mr Zoat said:
where's the Kal?"

"the Dal"

Ngamer11 · Mar 19, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"The ash. It comes from a volcano. And it will keep coming for several days. I need information, and the Kal seems like he's most likely to know."

That should say 'Dal'.

Mr Zoat said:
"The barrier, yes. The volcano was set off my a nuclear device. Do you-?"

That should say 'by'.

GhostKing 666 · Mar 19, 2023

Just pointing out, Paul will need more then oxygen masks and even purple healing rays to deal with the effects of long-term breathing the ash. Volcanic ash isn't normal ash, it's made of shattered bits of stone and rock. Not only can it potentially scar the insides of your lungs, but worst-case scenario results in it combining with the moisture in your lungs and becoming a sort-of cement-based mixture. He needs to get the ash out of the lungs to fully heal the inflicted.

Vaermina · Mar 19, 2023

GhostKing 666 said:
Just pointing out, Paul will need more then oxygen masks and even purple healing rays to deal with the effects of long-term breathing the ash. Volcanic ash isn't normal ash, it's made of shattered bits of stone and rock. Not only can it potentially scar the insides of your lungs, but worst-case scenario results in it combining with the moisture in your lungs and becoming a sort-of cement-based mixture. He needs to get the ash out of the lungs to fully heal the inflicted.

Pretty sure he's just doing the bare minimum here to get the locals to lead him to the most likely person to have the blood.

Because him learning that nuke came from offworld should mean he could call in the Green's to preform a full humanitarian mission. Yet he didn't even attempt it.

Handlewithcare · Mar 19, 2023

Ah, good old fashioned saving the world.

Good classic Paul adventures.

Chojin Patriarch · Mar 19, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
21st January 2013
10:31 GMT

The force field around the city crackles faintly in the distance, barely visible through the ash clouds that continue to fall. Razer and Ilana are staying behind to get updated on local news. The army in the field…

Ah, heck.

Hopefully not smothered by trying to make camp in tents. No cloth could withstand that weight, much less the scalding heat. And even then, you know it's the higher-ranks that would get the sturdiest cover...

Looks like they've taken refuge in a small town, which is packed with refugees as well as a reasonably sized army. There doesn't seem to have been enough space in the actual buildings for everyone, and from the scraps of fabric I can see sticking out through the dust piles it looks like they tried to use their tents to create a cover over the streets. That might have worked alright for a smaller amount of ash, but it completely failed here.

I erect a construct dome and start clearing the build up, focusing on those ash heaps that still have living people under them. Piles build up outside the town palisade, and I'm… Probably burying crop fields doing this, but nothing under there is going to be alive at this point anyway.

As long as most of the people live, it's fine. Worry about feeding them later.

I shove somewhat cooked bodies aside and hoik out a survivor, using a construct gas mask to feed them a little more oxygen to try and help him recover. With more space cleared I begin laying out the living and dead alike, a purple healing ray patching up the survivors. I don't think… No, I haven't seen people slow-cooked like this before.

Every day's a.. learning experience.

...Worst case... Well, cannibalism is easy, even with the risks of disease.

With the windows the of the buildings cleared, light from my constructs leaks through into the interior. I get long enough to finish my triage efforts before the first brave soul risks opening a door, the rags jammed around the frame to keep the ash out meaning that it needs a strong shove before allowing them passage. I float down and raise my right hand in greeting. While I think I can work out which of the people taking shelter are the important ones, there doesn't seem to be much marking out the Dal from the other officers.

Let me guess, they're all holed up in the larger buildings, in the rich part of town?

"Hello! You appear to be having a bit of an apocalypse."

"That-. That we are. Ah, sir."

Yeah, that's about the reaction I'd expect of a young man who might never have seen a Lantern before. So when a flying, glowing alien turns up, well...

A soldier. A junior one, shoved-. Yes, shoved in like sardines with.. some local people. They're all spilling out now, and-. One loses his lunch when he sees some of those that the ash fall killed, but most of them just wince or.. make a gesture that I assume is the equivalent of crossing yourself.

"Short version: it's a volcano, I can stop it but I need to know who started it first, where's the Kal?"

I doubt the queasy young fellow can make more of a mess down there.

"What's a-? What?"

"The ash. It comes from a volcano. And it will keep coming for several days. I need information, and the Kal seems like he's most likely to know."

Accurate. Volcanoes do continue to spew out debris and detritus for several days after the initial kaboom. Though I doubt it'll be too much of a problem once he gets underway on cleaning up.

"You're a… An orange Lantern?" He looks up and left, taking in the size of the shield and the ash piling up outside it. "Ah, yes, yessir. He was taking shelter with the mayor, over that way." He points towards the only two-storey building in the town, which I'd assumed was a barn. "He's in there."

"Thank you. Please check on your wounded. I think they're alright, but this is the first time I've encountered your species."

...Hey, it could still be a barn. Often, places of leadership were also storehouses for community resources...

"And the… The rest?"

I hadn't realised, but I think he's… Young. To young to really know what to do it situations like this. One of the others should be an NCO, but…

Help the living... Bury the dead. Or whatever they do around here.

"I don't know your people's funerary customs, but I suggest that you get started. Your officers should have orders for you soon."

I fly towards the taller building, noticing that experienced-looking soldiers with-. Yes, those are plasma pistols. An elite bodyguard, or people wealthy enough to-.

Yeah, that looks like the grand poobah's hidey-hole.

I spot the moment they see me, dart their eyes towards the shielding dome and don't go for their weapons.

"Might I speak with the Dal, please?"

Wise men. Evidently not promoted solely on the merit of their bloodlines.

One motions to one of the others, who steps back inside the building. I look inside as he talks to… Probably the Dal, who then proceeds to exit the building and look up at me.

"We have you to thank for this?"

That depends on what you mean by 'this'...

"The barrier, yes. The volcano was set off my a nuclear device. Do you-?"

"Damn him! He told-!"

I'd say the Crelanic Dal seems to be the prime suspect here, huh?

The Dal fights down his rage before looking back at me.

"Dal Cryoncus made contact with me a short time ago. He claimed to have bought a weapon from off-world arms merchants that would destroy our shared enemies. He needed access to my lands to site it, and I allowed him to send a small party."

Good to have a name, at least. But really? You believed him? I assume this was before he kicked your sister to the curb, then.

"Are his lands close? They would have been covered by ash as well."

"His city is shielded by mountains. They have caves to retreat to, and the prevailing winds will spare him the worst of it!"

Oh, joy. A natural fortress, huh? At least, against what the locals can bring to bear...

"Your enemies-?"

"None of them have had dealings with off-worlders lately. We keep track of such things about one another. It can make the difference between victory and defeat in battle, it changes the terms it's wise to offer in trade, it changes… Everything. And it provides information about a city's wealth if off-worlders think that it is worth visiting."

I'm sure the espionage business was booming, before this.

"Right." I land next to him and generate a construct map. I think I know which city he's talking about, but it makes sense to check. "This one?"

He considers the map for a moment. "Yes, that one. The people who would have killed us all."

Which is honestly short-sighted of Cryoncus. Oh, sure, all your enemies will be dead. But so will all their land and livestock...

I hear the anger in his voice, but as far as I can tell that all comes from him.

"How fares my city?"

Ah, a decent leader, I see. Or is he just concerned he's now a ruler without a place to rule?

"I cleaned it up and then put a shield around it. It should be fine. I suggest that you allow me to take everyone in this town there before I go to speak with Dal Cryoncus."

He makes a gesture of compliance. "Staying here would see us all dead. I will get everyone organised."

Well, road trip for the locals! I'm sure the army will appreciate not having to walk home in this weather either.

"Given the massive environmental damage your world has suffered, might I prevail upon you to agree to a general ceasefire? At least for a growing season or two?"

"Who would guarantee such a thing?"

Worried that some other loon will try this again or take advantage of your weakened state? Reasonable enough.

"I'll either do it myself, or find someone else to do it on my behalf."

He looks in the direction of his city, though I doubt that he can see much through the ashfall.

Still, if it comforts him in this shitshow... Let him imagine.

"Are we the closest to it?"

"Yes."

Anyone closer would be dead by now.

"So we're undoubtably the worst affected. Yes, I'll agree, if my neighbours do as well. It's not as if it would be practical to launch an attack in these conditions."

"Thank you. I'll leave you to your preparations."

Let's hope said neighbours are as sensible.

I rise back into the sky as he begins issuing orders. Transporting a few thousand people will be easier for me than arranging food and accommodation will be for him at the far end. Heh, the ash pile outside my shield is already about halfway up. It's astonishing how dangerous geology can be.

"Illustres to Jade. Anything worrying going on?"

Yeah, humanity ain't got anything on what Mother Nature can do...

"The militia are back inside. Orion and I are heading to the next nearest city to try and talk them into doing the same thing."

"Good idea. When you say '-."

What's the bet the next city ends up being the lands of the guy Orion vented his annoyance on earlier?

"He's going to shoot things until they do what he says."

"Very efficacious. I've got a lead on the nuker. I'll let you know if it's actually them."

All signs point to 'Yes' thus far.

Well, one step closer on his search. And doing a little good in the process, despite it delaying him. With any luck, he can get the Butcher's Blood, in whatever form it might have taken, and send it on back with Orion, while he lends a hand here. And maybe get on the horn to the Greenies once his objective is secured. I suspect they'd object to him taking it if they were here, after all.

With the windows the of the buildings cleared...

Delete 'the'.

To young to really know what to do it situations like this.

Too young to really know what to do in situations like this.

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

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