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

Chojin Patriarch · Monday at 7:15 AM

Mr Zoat said:
18th September 2013
07:11 GMT -1

Senior Pilot Niraan Tel looks down at the wrecked ship through the shuttle's belly camera. "Yes, that's well within our lift capacity. Do you want me to pick it up?"

"Yes please. I didn't realise that shuttles like this had dedicated haulage tractor beams. Doesn't that negate the purpose of having a cargo hold?"

Ah, clearing wrecks from sea channels and harbours that went unmanaged during the Anti-Life? I mean, the really important shipping lanes probably got cleared right quick, but less critical ones... They might have languished for years if not for super-powered aid.

"Ah… It's an either-or. Our mass manipulation system doesn't care much if the mass is inside or outside. Inside lets us fly faster and strap things down, but as long as you don't want it hauled out-system this works fine."

"Neat."

And trying to fly at any significant speed is just asking to snap bits of hull apart. Because cargo ships aren't designed to fly.

She side-eyes me for a moment as she works the controls. "Can I ask you questions?"

"I sometimes wonder how much easier things would be if everyone did that."

I mean, OL, you don't know everything, and you don't have a monopoly on Common Sense either. That's for your alternate self.

"Ah…"

"Sorry. Yes, you can. In fact, I strongly encourage it."

"How come you're not doing this? I love this fat bird, but a power ring would be a whole lot faster."

Because it's like using a pile-driver to press a thumbtack. Massively overpowered for the task.

"Ah, two reasons. Firstly, there are a lot of these ships. Between the sheeda and the Anti-Life, it's… Not been a good couple of years to be a wet sailor. Us Lanterns try to focus on the most urgent and important things, and since these need to get taken to a dry dock or a breakers yard eventually but don't need to get taken there right now… We wouldn't be getting around to if for a few years, if ever. Secondly, because you aren't used to interacting with humans, so we want to give you a job where you have to interact a little bit, but not too much."

And he can't just reduce them to constituent materials because they might be reclaimable and their owners can't be reached?

Some of them might be so damaged it'd be cheaper and faster to take the materials and just build a new one. At least dismantling stuff will provide work for people in need of money.

A turn of a dial, and a hull-broken container ship floats upwards from the shore… For a few metres, and then the weakened part snaps and the prow falls back onto rocks.

"Sorry, nothing I can do about that. The field doesn't completely neutralise mass or momentum. If it isn't solid enough to hold together, it breaks. Have to make a second trip."

Plus, as I said, most large ships aren't designed to fly, much less hold their own weight together without the support of water or an extensive dry-dock.

"It's fine. Set course for Hartlepool."

She fiddles with her route planner for a moment, then rotates the shuttle and gradually accelerates us in the direction of Britain.

This particular ship was headed for the wrecker's anyway, then. I'm guessing this one drifted away from moorings and ran aground somewhere awkward.

"And…" There's a slight awkward tension in her flight muscles. "Why are you, a Lantern, here with me now?"

"You're in charge of the shuttle crews, right?"

"I have seniority, but… It's like in the military. The officers are in charge. I just organise things."

Which means you're basically doing all the work of being in charge without the corresponding pay-rise. Yippee.

"And your commanding officer is..?"

"I thought it was you."

And OL is delegating that command to Mister Atom and the League for the most part. This is just liaising work.

"Ah. Well, welcome to LEGION, the food is adequate."

"Thank you, sir."

Eh, adequate works when you're serving it to hundreds of different species with their own palates, preferences and nutritional needs.

"Hm. Alright, it's recently become painfully apparent to me that my understanding of Thanagarian Empire society isn't all that it might be, so I'm going to give you two options. The first is, I don't tell you anything. That way you won't get in trouble for finding out something you're not cleared for, but you might end up not having the knowledge required to navigate a situation you find yourself in. The second is, I give you a full explanation."

That's actually a reasonable offer. She's going to have a hard time deciding how much responsibility she wants.

"And that could get me in trouble."

I shrug, and she's side-eyeing me again. "It's the lack of wings, isn't it? Makes the body language hard to read."

I wonder if generating construct wings could assist in body language? Or would it feel like an uncanny valley prosthetic?

"A little. It's… Disconcerting."

"Because you keep thinking that I'm a crippled thanagarian?"

The drawbacks of them sharing similar body plans, other than the wings.

"… Yes sir."

"I'm not offended: obviously I look like that. It would be worse if you could actually see my shoulder muscles."

An interesting perspective. I suppose it'd be like dealing with a human without certain facial features.

She nods. "Because you don't have the muscles to support wings, and a thanagarian who'd lost their wings would. What..? What sort of thing would I be finding out about, sir?"

"A slightly more accurate than official version of Thanagar-Alstair relations, Nth metal production rates and Seven Devil-worshipping cults."

In other words, exactly the sort of thing she'd get in big trouble for knowing.

"Those exist?"

"Yes."

"I mean, now? Today?"

To be fair, it'd be like us learning there were actual cultists of some ancient religion running around doing terrorisms.

"Unless the fellow who tried to blow up a star last week was the last of his faith, yes."

"This star?"

Fortunately, no. That would have resulted in a far larger crossover drama.

"No, Antares, but the technique would work on this star. Most stars, actually."

"I thought they… Died out."

Wishful thinking, sadly. As long as there's someone who remembers the Devils and what they can offer, there's going to be people foolish or greedy enough to accept in hopes of gaining power.

"I'm afraid not. We've actually got a woman who was alive when your ancestors originally overthrew the Seven Devils on Earth if you want to ask her about it."

"That was thousands of years ago."

Ah, she's about to get her first real taste of Earth Bullshit™.

"Yes."

"Thanagarians don't live that long."

You'll note that he didn't say that she was thousands of years old, ma'am. Which she isn't.

"Not usually, but where Earth's concerned, you get some really weird outliers. Most people from my adopted home country are between two and three thousand years old, and humans usually die in their mid-eighties."

"Is this part of what could get me in trouble?"

No, most alien races who encounter Earth Bullshit™ have this sort of reaction. It's hardly a secret.

"N-. Well, it could get you in trouble, particularly if you visit, but it's not related to what I was talking about."

"I… Think I should think about it."

Probably for the best. I don't remember if... Kendra? Is particularly looking for thanagarian guests anyway.

"An eminently sensible -if indecisive- decision. Do you have any questions?"

"Is Katar Hol related to Paran Katar?"

"Yes, his son, actually."

I'm guessing there's a strong familial resemblance, despite the oddly different-yet-similar names. Seriously, it's like a reverse patronym.

Her wings tighten in shock. "What's the.. man whose father invented Nth metal synthesis doing here?"

"He's an idealist with a strong commitment to public service." I allow my eyes to flare. "Trust me, I checked."

And depending on the state of the government of Thanagar, that can probably feel threatening to said government.

"You did a background check?"

"I looked at his soul. It's sort of like how I know that you're not a Crow or an informant, which honestly surprised me. Now, about your LEGION personnel file…"

Ah, the other reason he's here: Paperwork.

It's always fun to see an extra-terrestrial reacting to learning about Earth Bullshit™. For instance, learning that a Thanagarian castaway has been serially reincarnating for several thousand years due to an ancient curse. I expect our earnest shuttle commander here will be having a good long think about hearing what OL can tell her after that...

Vaermina · Monday at 7:34 AM

Mr Zoat said:
Us Lanterns try to focus on the most urgent and important things,

That's certainly one why to say your ring makes you too scatter brained to get it done.

BR549 · Monday at 7:37 AM

Chojin Patriarch said:
I expect our earnest shuttle commander here will be having a good long think about hearing what OL can tell her after that...

After having a good long drink. Or three. Of the strongest stuff she can find.

But it could be worse! It could be Earth of the mainstream continuity in the present day, which I think is up to nine Green Lanterns.

Neruz · Monday at 8:49 AM

BR549 said:
After having a good long drink. Or three. Of the strongest stuff she can find.

But it could be worse! It could be Earth of the mainstream continuity in the present day, which I think is up to nine Green Lanterns.

Earth does seem to have a habit of collecting Lanterns, probably the Life Entity's influence.

Mr Zoat · Monday at 11:21 AM

BR549 said:
But it could be worse! It could be Earth of the mainstream continuity in the present day, which I think is up to nine Green Lanterns.

How many of them aren't American?

B00ki5h · Monday at 4:23 PM

Mr Zoat said:
"Ah. Well, welcome to LEGION, the food is adequate."

After talking to who knows how many vets and current service personnel I understand how much of an endorsement that statement is.

Ardy · Monday at 7:13 PM

Mr Zoat said:
How many of them aren't American?

In their hearts, they're all American, Zoat

RichardWhereat · 2026-06-30T02:44:04+0100

ScoobyDoo-one-two said:
You would not believe the ethical questions...

That I ignore and trample over every single day.

Such a beautiful signature.

BR549 · 2026-06-30T05:36:19+0100

Mr Zoat said:
How many of them aren't American?

Keli Quintela, Teen Lantern, is from Bolivia.

She found Krona's gauntlet in a junkyard.

I wish I was making that up.

(Also Star Sapphire is on the Justice League and Sinestro is green again now?)

Mr Zoat · 2026-06-30T06:15:03+0100

21th May 2284
02:36 GMT -7

The Washington Brotherhood has been busy. The roads which they needed to support their advances south, east and north have been cleared of debris and kept clear of snow. I've even seen groups under the direction of Brotherhood knights carrying out road repairs with either reconditioned equipment or manual labour. No one's stopped us because we're one convoy of lorries amongst hundreds transporting materials and soldiers around their territory.

The one time someone did decide to hassle us, my borrowed scribe uniform and Abel's glowing eyeholes convinced them to limit themselves to a cursory inspection.

The roads we're on now are far less well travelled. We're driving in low gear and the trucks are fitted with snow tires, but we're still taking it a little slowly. Nice thing about nuclear-powered vehicles is that refuelling is less of an issue than…

I look up the side of the mountains surrounding us.

Than petrol.

I reach forwards and pick up the lorry's radio handset. "This is Krono. We're under observation."

The speaker crackles. "You know who?"

"Haven't poked their brains yet. Some people can feel it, particularly if they've been exposed to telepathy before. Is there anyone else it can be?"

"Local trappers. Brotherhood spies. Fucking Miscounts, Communists, ghouls..."

I frown. "Miscounts?"

"Raider gang. Used to be a big deal around here, until the Wardens drove them out. Probably a few survivors around. They'd have to have come through these mountains."

"Ah." I nod. "Well, the other problem with using telepathy with someone on the side of a mountain is that they might fall off."

"Right, lemme retune the radio…"

I return the handset to its cradle, and glance at my driver. She's another Warden of the White, nominated for the job because she has more familiarity with this area than anyone else. "Are there any landing strips up here?"

"Not so far as I know. Why?"

"If the N.C.R. goes to war with the Washington Brotherhood, they could use a staging area. Otherwise… How would you feel about being ruled over by a queen?"

"Huh?"

"East of these mountains is the Kingdom of Manitoba. They're a constitutional monarchy."

"I thought the Communists were in charge out east."

"Not any more."

"Good riddance. They were the main reason why Canada fell apart after the war."

"Oh?"

"Chinese and Russians shipped 'em supplies so they could fight the American occupying army. Half the time they just fought each other."

I nod. "Same thing happened in Afghanistan when the Russians invaded it during the Cold War. Britain and America supplied the local religious crazies with weapons, and they mostly just killed the other locals who were differently crazy to them."

"Right. So when the War ended, the Chinese sure weren't sending supplies no more. The Chinese mostly just nuked the places where the U.S. had bases, so Canada kind of still existed. Mighta got put back together."

I nod. "But the Communists didn't want to cooperate with the nationalists."

"Or anyone, or each other. Sure wrecked a whole lot of stuff, though."

"I take it your family's from Canada?"

She snorts. "What was your first clue, eh?"

The handset crackles. "Okay, we have contact."

I pick it up. "Who are they?"

"Outfit calling themselves Foxtrot Uniform. Wardens of the White. Apparently some of my old friends made it up here as well. They wanna check us out, but they'll take us. I'm pulling over."

My driver slows the truck, eyebrows raises. "Well shit. Good luck. Forgotten what that was like."

"Mm." We did take some food -mostly flour and salted fish- from Seattle, but taking even a few lorry loads of new people when you live somewhere that doesn't have all that much room for farming… That's a big deal. I don't know how tight knit the Wardens are…

**[I close my eyes, reaching out to my saucer and nudging the controls, bringing it closer and readying the plasma cannons.]**

Just in case.

Our lorry halts, pulling up alongside the lead lorry. The next three follow suit, and I'm very glad that these things have fully closed rear compartments and internal heating, because it is cold out there and I've never quite got the hang of heating myself comfortably.

Won't help outside…

"Alright, you stay in here where it's warm." I pull my coat tighter around myself to conceal my stolen scribe robes and then reach for the door. "I'll go and meet our hosts."

"Good luck."

I open the door and jump down -brrrh!- and then jog over to where Sergeant Matthew Willas of the Wardens of the White is waiting. He's looking a little nervous, though the pacing is probably just him trying to keep warm. He looks around as he hears me approach.

"Heh. Cross your fingers, Mister Wizard."

"Why? These are members of your organisation, aren't they?"

"Infighting between outfits wasn't unheard of. They might just decide that we're not worth the risk."

I raise my hands, and cross my fingers.

"Yeah, keep those raised."

I cautiously turn to see three soldiers in winter gear, guns pointed at us. Minds… Cautious, not planning on killing us. But would if they were ordered to do so.

"Hey." Willas nods. "Got my unit badge. Want me to get it?"

"For a start."

He slowly reaching into his coat, and pulls out a metal star. "Hotel Lima."

"Thought you were dead."

"We mostly are. Though I'll warn you now, we got a Brotherhood deserter in power armour in the back. He's… Okay. Don't shoot him."

"If he's in power armour then we've got fuck all that could hurt him anyway." The foremost of the trio comes closer and checks the badge. "It's legit. Show me the rest."

Willas winces. "C'mon guys, it's cold out here."

"Show me."

He… Lifts up his coat and unbuttons his.. trousers, before… Mooning them, a star tattoo clearly visible.

Three guns are immediately lowered. "Yeah, it's him."

Willas pulls up his trousers in haste. "Thought that was you, Conner. Knew you always wanted my ass."

"Yeah, great. Look, you're one of us so we'll take you, but we got our own problems. The Black Bastards sent most of their power armour north, but we got guys dressed up like knights massing to the East. Our trade routes are cut off and I'm pretty sure we'll be eating our boots before long. You might be better off just turning around and trying to get south."

I perk up. "Knights, you say?"

Chojin Patriarch · 2026-06-30T07:07:49+0100

Mr Zoat said:
21th May 2284
02:36 GMT -7

The Washington Brotherhood has been busy. The roads which they needed to support their advances south, east and north have been cleared of debris and kept clear of snow. I've even seen groups under the direction of Brotherhood knights carrying out road repairs with either reconditioned equipment or manual labour. No one's stopped us because we're one convoy of lorries amongst hundreds transporting materials and soldiers around their territory.

And stopping every convoy would be a waste of their time and the convoys'. So Krono and company have a relatively free hand to sneak around, as long as they don't make any trouble.

The one time someone did decide to hassle us, my borrowed scribe uniform and Abel's glowing eyeholes convinced them to limit themselves to a cursory inspection.

The roads we're on now are far less well travelled. We're driving in low gear and the trucks are fitted with snow tires, but we're still taking it a little slowly. Nice thing about nuclear-powered vehicles is that refuelling is less of an issue than…

Nothing says 'all clear' like a black-clad giant clearly scowling at you despite showing no emotion on its helmet.

I look up the side of the mountains surrounding us.

Than petrol.

Ah, Krono's feeling someone up there? Rebels eyeing up a defenceless-looking convoy, perhaps.

I reach forwards and pick up the lorry's radio handset. "This is Krono. We're under observation."

The speaker crackles. "You know who?"

"Haven't poke their brains yet. Some people can feel it, particularly if they've been exposed to telepathy before. Is there anyone else it can be?"

Okay, definitely safer to try more mundane means of saying hello, then.

"Local trappers. Brotherhood spies. Fucking Miscounts, Communists, ghouls..."

I frown. "Miscounts?"

"Raider gang. Used to be a big deal around here, until the Wardens drove them out. Probably a few survivors around. They'd have to have come through these mountains."

I'm betting there was a story behind that name, but given they basically don't exist anymore, it's lost to history.

"Ah." I nod. "Well, the other problem with using telepathy with someone on the side of a mountain is that they might fall off."

"Right, lemme retune the radio…"

Well, that's polite of him. After all, those falling bodies might land on them.

I return the handset to its cradle, and glance at my driver. She's another Warden of the White, nominated for the job because she has more familiarity with this area than anyone else. "Are there any landing strips up here?"

"Not so far as I know. Why?"

"If the N.C.R. goes to war with the Washington Brotherhood, they could use a staging area. Otherwise… How would you feel about being ruled over by a queen?"

Good old Krono, always thinking ahead. I doubt they could win this fight with, say, a few squads dropped by vertibirds, after all.

"Huh?"

"East of these mountains is the Kingdom of Manitoba. They're a constitutional monarchy."

And laying the groundwork for future diplomacy too.

"I thought the Communists were in charge out east."

"Not any more."

Sounds fatal. And messy.

"Good riddance. They were the main reason why Canada fell apart after the war."

"Oh?"

"Chinese and Russians shipped 'em supplies so they could fight the American occupying army. Half the time they just fought each other."

That seems to be a common occurrence. I bet it was mostly over differences of doctrine between cells.

I nod. "Same thing happened in Afghanistan when the Russians invaded it during the Cold War. Britain and America supplied the local religious crazies with weapons, and they mostly just killed the other locals who were differently crazy to them."

"Right. So when the War ended, the Chinese sure weren't sending supplies no more. The Chinese mostly just nuked the places where the U.S. had bases, so Canada kind of still existed. Mighta got put back together."

Joy of Canada being so large and relatively empty. The whole Nuclear Winter aspect was probably troublesome, but most of the ecology ecidently came off well.

I nod. "But the Communists didn't want to cooperate with the nationalists."

"Or anyone, or each other. Sure wrecked a whole lot of stuff, though."

Honestly, they're lucky the communists died out (or were wiped out.) They'd probably still be causing trouble after all this time.

"I take it your family's from Canada?"

She snorts. "What was your first clue, eh?"

Just a hunch.

The handset crackles. "Okay, we have contact."

I pick it up. "Who are they?"

"Outfit calling themselves Foxtrot Uniform. Wardens of the White. Apparently some of my old friends made it up here as well. They wanna check us out, but they'll take us. I'm pulling over."

'F.U.', eh? One guess who they're resisting. Lucky Krono spotted them before they could attack the 'Brotherhood' forces.

My driver slows the truck, eyebrows raises. "Well shit. Good luck. Forgotten what that was like."

"Mm." We did take some food -mostly flour and salted fish- from Seattle, but taking even a few lorry loads of new people when you live somewhere that doesn't have all that much room for farming… That's a big deal. I don't know how tight knit the Wardens are…

Yeah, could be a hassle to accept that many new mouths to feed. The folks could find themselves driving onwards.

**[I close my eyes, reaching out to my saucer and nudging the controls, bringing it closer and readying the plasma cannons.]**

Just in case.

No support like air support.

Our lorry halts, pulling up alongside the lead lorry. The next three follow suit, and I'm very glad that these things have fully closed rear compartments and internal heating, because it is cold out there and I've never quite got the hang of heating myself comfortably.

Won't help outside…

Suck it up, hero. You're the one who volunteered for this mission...

"Alright, you stay in here where it's warm." I pull my coat tighter around myself to conceal my stolen scribe robes and then reach for the door. "I'll go and meet our hosts."

"Good luck."

She's probably also thinking 'Glad I don't have to go out there in this. Poor bastard.'

I open the door and jump down -brrrh!- and then jog over to where Sergeant Matthew Willas of the Wardens of the White is waiting. He's looking a little nervous, though the pacing is probably just him trying to keep warm. He looks around as he hears me approach.

"Heh. Cross your fingers, Mister Wizard."

And for once, that's kind of accurate. Because he knows magic...

"Why? These are members of your organisation, aren't they?"

"Infighting between outfits wasn't unheard of. They might just decide that we're not worth the risk."

Oh, joy. Now you mention it...

I raise my hands, and cross my fingers.

"Yeah, keep those raised."

I cautiously turn to see three soldiers in winter gear, guns pointed at us. Minds… Cautious, not planning on killing us. But would if they were ordered to do so.

Well, you guys are disguised as Brotherhood.

"Hey." Willas nods. "Got my unit badge. Want me to get it?"

"For a start."

Since anyone can be handed a badge and told to show it off, as a cover identity.

He slowly reaching into his coat, and pulls out a metal star. "Hotel Lima."

"Though you were dead."

"We mostly are. Though I'll warn you now, we got a Brotherhood deserter in power armour in the back. He's… Okay. Don't shoot him."

Tough times make for strange bedfellows, after all.

"If he's in power armour then we've got fuck all that could hurt him anyway." The foremost of the trio comes closer and checks the badge. "It's legit. Show me the rest."

Willas winces. "C'mon guys, it's cold out here."

...Let me guess, a tattoo in an embarrassing place.

"Show me."

He… Lifts up his coat and unbuttons his.. trousers, before… Mooning them, a star tattoo clearly visible.

Lot harder to fake, anyway.

Three guns are immediately lowered. "Yeah, it's him."

Willas pulls up his trousers in haste. "Though that was you, Conner. Knew you always wanted my ass."

Oh, Myyy. </takei> Ah, old friends, I see.

"Yeah, great. Look, you're one of us so we'll take you, but we got our own problems. The Black Bastards sent most of their power armour north, but we got guys dressed up like knights massing to the East. Our trade routes are cut off and I'm pretty sure we'll be eating our boots before long. You might be better off just turning around and trying to get south."

Oh-ho. Looks like the Manitobans got a message in and are sending aid.

I perk up. "Knights, you say?"

We're totally gonna meet the Prince Consort again, aren't we?

Good thing Krono can clear up any potential misunderstandings before the Wardens started taking potshots at the Manitobans. They're probably going to make for a very useful hammer to start pounding on the Immortal's facilities here. Once Krono gets the word out, there's going to be a lot more folks heading that way in a rush...

Ngamer11 · 2026-06-30T08:30:46+0100

Mr Zoat said:
"Though you were dead."

Willas pulls up his trousers in haste. "Though that was you, Conner. Knew you always wanted my ass."

Those should say 'Thought'.

Graeme · 2026-06-30T09:07:49+0100

Mr Zoat said:
Haven't poke their brains yet.

poked

Mr Zoat · 2026-06-30T13:50:38+0100

Ngamer11 said:
Those should say 'Thought'.

Graeme said:
poked

Thank you, corrected.

Mr Zoat · 2026-07-01T06:13:46+0100

18th September 2013
11:56 GMT

The Jellos system flickers into existence in front of me as I end my warp, four ships from less developed worlds in the region hanging from construct tethers.

"I'd like to thank you for flying Orange Lantern spaceways. The return journey will be in five days. I hope that your time here is productive."

This isn't an inhabited system. Two super massive gas giants with a handful of barren rocks orbiting them, a main sequence star, some uninteresting asteroids and a space station dragged here by the Polaran contingent for the benefit of everyone too primitive to build liveable ships. The Polarans have the largest fleet, and the Margavians have the second. Unlike some situations where the two largest fleets might posture at each other, the Margavians are making a point of being as close as they can to their new partners without actually crashing into them. I don't know enough about their culture to know what that signifies. Maybe they're making it clear that they're not intimidated? Maybe they're genuinely feeling friendly?

The four ships I brought here are heading towards the space station at what I assume is their best possible speed. It's.. not very fast. Not by the standards that I'm used to. It's probably quite fast compared to normal Earth spaceships, but compared to LEGION or even Thanagar… Well. We weren't expecting fighting ships from them anyway.

I think my standards are getting messed up.

There's a flicker of green as Lantern Guarn brings the last of the invitees into the system, my ring shimmering as he releases them.

"Orange Lantern?"

"Here."

"Were there any problems?"

"Two of the worlds I went to are having significant internal disputes about this whole thing."

"Which?"

"Skrererer aren't happy about other species getting involved in mining in their system. It's some sort of religious thing."

"I know of them. They call the crust of their planet 'The Universe', because for most of their history the exterior of the planet was extremely hazardous to them. They thought the rock was all that there was, and the outside killed them because it was a formless void."

"What changed?"

"There was a crashed starship. One of my predecessors set up a temporary radiation shield while the crew carried a survey. The underground people send up a probe to study the vibrations."

"I see."

"It caused a religious war."

"Ah. Yes… That can happen."

"Millions of them died."

"That explains the reluctance."

"I…"

"You're worried that you're repeating their errors by exposing civilisation that aren't ready for it to interstellar civilisation?"

"Yes. I know it is better than leaving them to Thanagar or leaving Thanagar to you-"

"Thank you."

"-but I am still concerned about the damage this could cause."

"Life is change. The universe will throw problems at you and yours and if your civilisation isn't ready? If it can't adapt? Things get nasty. My species has lost far more than a million to the attacks we've suffered in the last couple of years."

"And you are stronger for it?"

"Not yet. We're still learning the lessons on how to rebuild better. Still rebuilding, in a lot of places. And…"

I sigh as the ships start docking.

"I'm not sure if I like the lessons which seem to be emerging."

"Is that because you are part of the previous paradigm?"

"Probably. Or that the schematic systems I'm using are. See… When we were technologically primitive, most of our population was either hunting and gathering, or farming. It was the only way to get enough food to keep everyone alive. Once we had farming there were a tiny number of people who could engage in other professions… And that mostly lent itself to god-kings. Small nations with highly centralised power structures. And as we've developed technologically, that's involved more education and more specialisation… And it usually results in societies with mass participation in governance. Our wars became mass participation events, too. But now… Our last crises were resolved by a small number of people. Individuals who are far more physically powerful than the vast majority of my species. And that… Small group of exceptional people survived the crises better than other structures, took over the reconstruction… And… I resolved the Alstair-Thanagar conflict in a few hours, and that's been going on for decades…"

"I don't really understand what you're saying."

"We're building an alliance here, and everything that I feel about things like this tells me that this is the best way to handle it. But I also know that I could probably destroy the Thanagarian fleet, and that would achieve the same result. So am I doing this because I'm using the old programming, and I should be more autocratic? Is that what I should take away from this?"

"I don't…" … "Your society is changing from being controlled by the masses to being controlled by a small group?"

"Looks like."

"I don't know if it helps, but the Green Lantern Corps is the oldest multi-species organisation in this galaxy. And the Guardians rule as an oligarchy. It is not possible to 'become' a Guardian. Venerated as the Honour Guard are, they have no say in the direction of the Corps. I myself am in no way accountable to the people of this Sector, except morally. It would be impractical."

But I'm aware of some of the things that the Guardians have done wrong. And if there are things that I'm aware of, there are almost certainly more things that I don't know about. And they've never been held to account for any of it… But what good would that actually do?

"How does your society make decisions?"

"The Queens rule as autocrats, and avoid one another. We are not good at disobeying them." He thinks for a moment. "I received this ring after agitating for a different settlement regarding asteroid mining than what my queen dictated. I am… Unusual in how good I am at disobeying."

"In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king."

"That is an apt metaphor. But as you observed, the Green Lantern Corps trains its Lanterns to competence, not excellence."

"I think I'll see how this goes before-."

"Alert! Will detected!"

"Did your partner finish their-?"

"Alert! Rage detected!"

And then the space station shatters!

Ngamer11 · 2026-07-01T06:19:18+0100

Mr Zoat said:
"Skrererer aren't happy about other species about aliens getting involved in mining in their system. It's some sort of religious thing."

This seems redundant.

"Alert! Will detected!"

"Did your partner finish their-?"

"Alert! Rage detected!"

And then the space station shatters!

I wasn't expecting Red Lanterns already. I can't wait to see how this plays out.

BR549 · 2026-07-01T06:34:42+0100

Ngamer11 said:
I wasn't expecting Red Lanterns already. I can't wait to see how this plays out.

...the last we knew, Atrocitus was still stuck on Ysmalt.

So either Orion's gone off the reservation, or something has drastically changed.

Someguy Somewhere · 2026-07-01T06:48:48+0100

BR549 said:
...the last we knew, Atrocitus was still stuck on Ysmalt.

So either Orion's gone off the reservation, or something has drastically changed.

Orion threw his ring at OL's feet after giving him the 'if I see you again I'll kill you' ...so he'd have to forge a new red ring for himself if he was gonna do something like this. Which, I mean he managed the first time with Mathusian help.

With the Will Detected, and the chatter from the High Mor earlier....I have a guess on where this is coming from, and if I'm right then we have seen them before. I'm just waiting for 'Fear' to Show Up.

thebishop8 · 2026-07-01T06:54:25+0100

Mr Zoat said:
"Alert! Will detected!"

"Did your partner finish their-?"

"Alert! Rage detected!"

And then the space station shatters!

Is this the thing with the former High Mor paying off already? He said that it was himself and a volunteer, and this is two people here.

Vaermina · 2026-07-01T06:55:07+0100

Mr Zoat said:
"Alert! Rage detected!"

And then the space station shatters!

About time the Red Rings showed up with all the angry people Orange Lantern has been creating.

Duke Long · 2026-07-01T07:28:30+0100

Mr Zoat said:
This isn't an inhabited system. Two super massive gas giant with a handful of barren rocks orbiting them, a main sequence star, some uninteresting asteroids and a space station dragged here by the Polaran contingent for the benefit of everyone too primitive to build liveable ships. The Polaran have the largest fleet, and the Margavians have the second. Unlike some situations where the two largest fleets might posture at each other, the Margavians are making a point of being as close as they can to their new partners without actually crashing into them. I don't know enough about their culture to know what that signifies. Maybe they're making it clear that they're not intimidated? Maybe they're genuinely feeling friendly?

'giants'
'Polarans'?

That is pretty weird. Wonder if it is just culture or has something to do with the attack.

Mr Zoat said:
The four ships I brought here are heading towards the space station at what I assume us their best possible speed. It's.. not very fast. Not by the standards that I'm used to. It's probably quite fast compared to normal Earth spaceships, but compared to LEGION or even Thanagar… Well. We weren't expecting fighting ships from them anyway.

'is'

Mr Zoat said:
There's a flicker of green as Lantern Guarn brings in the last of the invitees into the system, my ring shimmering as he releases them.

Extraneous 'in'

Mr Zoat said:
"I know of them. They call the crust of their planet 'The Universe', because for most of their history the exterior of the planet was extremely hazardous to them. They thought the rock was all that there was, and the outside killed them because it was a formless void."

This one's always a fun concept. I guess they're unhappy about mining because some of their religions decided that their whole star system is holy? Or am I misunderstanding and they're just isolationist because they're worried exposure to alien cultures will trigger more wars?

Mr Zoat said:
"We're building an alliance here, and everything that I feel about things like this tells me that this is the best way to handle it. But I also know that I could probably destroy the Thanagarian fleet, and that would achieve the same result. So I am doing this because I'm using the old programming, and I should be more autocratic? Is that what I should take away from this?"

'am I'?

Glad to see more of Oh El worrying about super-person oligarchy. It's cool.

Chojin Patriarch · 2026-07-01T07:42:27+0100

Mr Zoat said:
18th September 2013
11:56 GMT

The Jellos system flickers into existence in front of me as I end my warp, four ships from less developed worlds in the region hanging from construct tethers.

"I'd like to thank you for flying Orange Lantern spaceways. The return journey will be in five days. I hope that your time here is productive."

I suppose having him ferry people from slower FTL civs makes it easier to ensure everyone gathers in a good timeframe. Saves some of the more skittish species from feeling separation pangs, if they have them.

This isn't an inhabited system. Two super massive gas giants with a handful of barren rocks orbiting them, a main sequence star, some uninteresting asteroids and a space station dragged here by the Polaran contingent for the benefit of everyone too primitive to build liveable ships. The Polaran have the largest fleet, and the Margavians have the second. Unlike some situations where the two largest fleets might posture at each other, the Margavians are making a point of being as close as they can to their new partners without actually crashing into them. I don't know enough about their culture to know what that signifies. Maybe they're making it clear that they're not intimidated? Maybe they're genuinely feeling friendly?

I'm sure he'll be able to find out if things go well.

The four ships I brought here are heading towards the space station at what I assume us their best possible speed. It's.. not very fast. Not by the standards that I'm used to. It's probably quite fast compared to normal Earth spaceships, but compared to LEGION or even Thanagar… Well. We weren't expecting fighting ships from them anyway.

As long as they don't take weeks to get from place to place, it'll be fine, I suppose.

I think my standards are getting messed up.

There's a flicker of green as Lantern Guarn brings in the last of the invitees into the system, my ring shimmering as he releases them.

A good show of skill. I expect FTL Towing is a required skill for Lanterns to learn, but it can't be easy to maintain focus that long.

"Orange Lantern?"

"Here."

"Were there any problems?"

Ah, now to see how smoothly this is likely to run.

"Two of the worlds I went to are having significant internal disputes about this whole thing."

"Which?"

Only two? The others must be quite internally stable.

"Skrererer aren't happy about other species about aliens getting involved in mining in their system. It's some sort of religious thing."

"I know of them. They call the crust of their planet 'The Universe', because for most of their history the exterior of the planet was extremely hazardous to them. They thought the rock was all that there was, and the outside killed them because it was a formless void."

Not an unreasonable belief for a subterranean species. After all, when 'up' can be a rock roof that can cave in, of course it feels strange for important things to be up there.

"What changed?"

"There was a crashed starship. One of my predecessors set up a temporary radiation shield while the crew carried a survey. The underground people send up a probe to study the vibrations."

At least they're lucky the locals didn't decide they were 'Demons' for being from the 'killing void'.

"I see."

"It caused a religious war."

Oh, boy.

"Ah. Yes… That can happen."

"Millions of them died."

"That explains the reluctance."

Not the best time for British understatedness.

"I…"

"You're worried that you're repeating their errors by exposing civilisation that aren't ready for it to interstellar civilisation?"

Ah, now we see the relevance. But really, it's better to meet your neighbours on good terms than when some warlike species comes knocking.

"Yes. I know it is better than leaving them to Thanagar or leaving Thanagar to you-"

"Thank you."

That's a bit of a problem, OL. You just know Thanagar is already trying to weasel around the treaty terms.

"-but I am still concerned about the damage this could cause."

"Life is change. The universe will throw problems at you and yours and if your civilisation isn't ready? If it can't adapt? Things get nasty. My species has lost far more than a million to the attacks we've suffered in the last couple of years."

True, OL. But you need to remember, Earth is playing the game on Hard Mode.

"And you are stronger for it?"

"Not yet. We're still learning the lessons on how to rebuild better. Still rebuilding, in a lot of places. And…"

Humans are adaptable, but not that adaptable yet.

I sigh as the ships start docking.

"I'm not sure if I like the lessons which seem to be emerging."

"Is that because you are part of the previous paradigm?"

If anything, OL's not part of it, which is why he feels uncertain about it. The general... Oddness humans experience so casually...

"Probably. Or that the schematic systems I'm using are. See… When we were technologically primitive, most of our population was either hunting and gathering, or farming. It was the only way to get enough food to keep everyone alive. Once we had farming there were a tiny number of people who could engage in other professions… And that mostly lent itself to god-kings. Small nations with highly centralised power structures. And as we've developed technologically, that's involved more education and more specialisation… And it usually results in societies with mass participation in governance. Our wars became mass participation events, too. But now… Our last crises were resolved by a small number of people. Individuals who are far more physically powerful than the vast majority of my species. And that… Small group of exceptional people survived the crises better than other structures, took over the reconstruction… And… I resolved the Alstair-Thanagar conflict in a few hours, and that's been going on for decades…"

He's worried Humanity will fall back into the 'god-king' method thanks to superheroes?

"I don't really understand what you're saying."

"We're building an alliance here, and everything that I feel about things like this tells me that this is the best way to handle it. But I also know that I could probably destroy the Thanagarian fleet, and that would achieve the same result. So I am doing this because I'm using the old programming, and I should be more autocratic? Is that what I should take away from this?"

Or maybe because you're well aware of the limitations of a single-point-of-failure system.

"I don't…" … "Your society is changing from being controlled by the masses to being controlled by a small group?"

"Looks like."

A neat summary of it.

"I don't know if it helps, but the Green Lantern Corps is the oldest multi-species organisation in this galaxy. And the Guardians rule as an oligarchy. It is not possible to 'become' a Guardian. Venerated as the Honour Guard are, they have no say in the direction of the Corps. I myself am in no way accountable to the people of this Sector, except morally. It would be impractical."

The problem is when the people in charge start to change their opinions, or allow mistakes to creep in for whatever reason...

But I'm aware of some of the things that the Guardians have done wrong. And if there are things that I'm aware of, there are almost certainly more things that I don't know about. And they've never been held to account for any of it… But what good would that actually do?

The drawback of those in charge being near-god-like entities fuelled by stubbornness and resoluteness.

"How does your society make decisions?"

"The Queens rule as autocrats, and avoid one another. We are not good at disobeying them." He thinks for a moment. "I received this ring after agitating for a different settlement regarding asteroid mining than what my queen dictated. I am… Unusual in how good I am at disobeying."

I suppose that might be useful in future. Ideally it doesn't get him in trouble.

"In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king."

"That is an apt metaphor. But as you observed, the Green Lantern Corps trains its Lanterns to competence, not excellence."

Anything past competence depends on the Lantern themself, yes.

"I think I'll see how this goes before-."

"Alert! Will detected!"

"Did your partner finish their-?"

Or an Honour Guard is enroute. Having OL hanging around probably has someone ready to leap in to assist the local.

"Alert! Rage detected!"

And then the space station shatters!

Oh, hell.

Oh, that's not good. Either the Reds are making one heck of a debut, someone is staging a Lantern-based terrorist attack to discredit the alliance, or something devilish is afoot. And given that this assembly is anti-Thanagar, the latter seems rather likely. But before they can work out who is attacking, they've got a lot of people to rescue first.

Mr Zoat · 2026-07-01T08:31:27+0100

Ngamer11 said:
This seems redundant.

Duke Long said:
'giants'
'Polarans'?
'is'
Extraneous 'in'
'am I'?

Thank you, corrected.

This one's always a fun concept. I guess they're unhappy about mining because some of their religions decided that their whole star system is holy? Or am I misunderstanding and they're just isolationist because they're worried exposure to alien cultures will trigger more wars?

No, they can't cope with the idea that stuff exists outside of their planet's crust.

Glad to see more of Oh El worrying about super-person oligarchy. It's cool.

It's more that he's not sure that it's the best way to handle things. And if he was sure, he'd be concerned because he knows that his judgements about his judgements are no better than his other judgements. But if he was sure, and over a period of time the evidence was that he was right, he'd stop worrying. He's not conflicted because he dislikes it in principle.

Duke Long · 2026-07-01T09:08:17+0100

Mr Zoat said:
No, they can't cope with the idea that stuff exists outside of their planet's crust.

Huh. Figured they'd be over it by now. I'm surprised they have spacecraft.

Mr Zoat said:
It's more that he's not sure that it's the best way to handle things. And if he was sure, he'd be concerned because he knows that his judgements about his judgements are no better than his other judgements. But if he was sure, and over a period of time the evidence was that he was right, he'd stop worrying. He's not conflicted because he dislikes it in principle.

Yeah. I look forward to whatever conclusion he comes to.

Chaoswind · 2026-07-01T09:41:15+0100

So the other party in that call was qward? No the qwardians aren't that polite nor would they ever learn the language of an alien.

I think this is the Dominator alliance of evil guys, and the dominators are paying the qwardians to supply their rings. The will is from one of their slave rings and rage is a new development of the woman that made the fear ring. Then again this could be atrocious or just people from a different universe.

WereDragon · 2026-07-01T11:29:53+0100

Mr Zoat said:
But I'm aware of some of the things that the Guardians have done wrong. And if there are things that I'm aware of, there are almost certainly more things that I don't know about. And they've never been held to account for any of it… But what good would that actually do?

The don't need to be perfect, they just need to be better than any practical alternative.

And then the space station shatters!

Someone is about to make Paul Come Over There again.

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

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