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

[Stsword]

Yeah, I decided that retcon was too stupid to even consider including in this story. 'Man bad woman good' is really quite insulting to half our species. Psions 16 reproduce artificially as described when the Reengade visited their crèche.

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Retcon? I hardly consider myself an expert on the Psions, but what facts about Psion reproduction/society did that revelation contradict?

I can't really picture a DC comic showing a Psion having a family dinner, throwing the ball with their kid a little bit, then going to the lab to see how much energy they could pump into Starfire and her sister before they blew up like meat balloons.

Also, you also made the sociopathy a matter of indoctrination and not biology, so that's a second way you made them better than the comics.

 

[Sordid Snake]

No. Not just a couple of hours.

Consider that question until tomorrow.

Who had a motive?

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The ones who let Psion super-weapon tech spread to the Alignment (and ONLY the Alignment? Not likley) And quite resonably suspected that OL & Guy went to Vega to investigate the Psion end of the tech transfer. So they nuked it from orbit, to be sure that no witnesses or evidence remained.

But who would know that OL and Guy had discovered that? AFAIK only Guy knows about it. But Guy would have filed a report with OA, or at the very least his ring and the Smurf malware in his ring would know about it.

So the top suspect is Smurf shenanigans (Isn't this the top reason for universal crisi in DC already?).
Secondly the Manhunters who might have left enough malware on Oa that they read all their in-office mail.
Thirdly the Quardians: Sinestro might have left either malware or co-conspirators on Oa.

And since the Alignment seems to have resonable anti-green lantern defence (Realignment part 17) I lean towards someone wanting to harm or destroy the GLC by stirring shit up and setting things up that when the single or handful GLs arrive to investigate/suppress they impale themselves on the suprisingly effective defences.

So add the Reach on a shared second place with the Manhunters, but in that case I'm unsure how they got wind of it so fast. Unless they simply assumed that if OL visited the Alignment he WOULD find out.

And as a distant fourth: Real Grayven wanting to prove to daddy that he's a good conspirator and mastermind ("And not dumb, like everybody says!") by destroying the GLC using only his own resources (since Apokolips have used tech transfer as a weapon before).

 

[TheEyes]

No. Not just a couple of hours.

Click to shrink...

Right, this happened while OL was digging through the Honden, heard a shout, then was too slow to teleport; we're talking seconds at most. I mean, the comparison is to the destruction of Alderan, which in the movie was a single shot that vaporized the planet.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Retcon? I hardly consider myself an expert on the Psions, but what facts about Psion reproduction/society did that revelation contradict?

I can't really picture a DC comic showing a Psion having a family dinner, throwing the ball with their kid a little bit, then going to the lab to see how much energy they could pump into Starfire and her sister before they blew up like meat balloons.

Click to shrink...

The psions underwent total societal collapse due to the action of Omega Men in The Omega Men 30. They gained full access to their entire history. Are you telling me that they took a look at the way male psions treated female psions and decided 'seems fine to us'?

Also, you also made the sociopathy a matter of indoctrination and not biology, so that's a second way you made them better than the comics.

Click to shrink...

Why can't it be both?

Right, this happened while OL was digging through the Honden, heard a shout, then was too slow to teleport; we're talking seconds at most. I mean, the comparison is to the destruction of Alderan, which in the movie was a single shot that vaporized the planet.

Click to shrink...

The mass killing didn't take long. The planning could have taken any length of time.

 

[Lord Ernest]

Wait, now that I think about it, Amalak and his mercenary company patrols a, probably, big area of the border the Vega trench and the Crown Imperium's borders (including the planet of the Spider Guild and its surroundings) and Jarko controls Asryx and probably patrols a considerable area of the border... but I don't think Vega is that small, so I guess there are relatively unobserved areas that the Crown Imperium fleet (or someone else) could take advantage of to get in the Vega Systems undetected.

Still, it would require a lot of resources and firepower to defeat the Psions relatively quickly and then scorch Wombworld fast enough that the Illustres felt like it was abruptly done. I mean, I guess the Illustres hasn't really been paying attention to Vega at all (the Corporate War and the Karnan Retake both took him by surprise), so the Psions might have been fighting their attackers for a while now and just recently lost and got wiped.

Personally my first possible culprit would be Captain Comet and Komand'r, maybe with some assistance; between the both of them I could see enough power for this. Then the Crown Imperium, although they haven't demonstrated a grave hatred for the Psions. The Omega Men and the Karnans in third place but they seem occupied with the situation in Karna, even though their fleet isn't doing that much right now.

 

[Chaoswind]

Technically all you need is to smuggle a sufficiently powerful antimatter bomb and psion defenses are probably weak to magic, so the omega men might be capable if they had the right amount of support...

But again a fleet isn't needed when we know FTL weapons capable to glass planets exist.

 

[Lord Ernest]

Technically all you need is to smuggle a sufficiently powerful antimatter bomb and psion defenses are probably weak to magic, so the omega men might be capable if they had the right amount of support...

But again a fleet isn't needed when we know FTL weapons capable to glass planets exist.

Click to shrink...

I don't discard the possibility of FTL planet-destructive weapons, but at the same time interdiction fields exist and it is the Psions' home base, to me it would be kind of weird if they didn't consider the possibility and prepare possible counter-measures to FTL weapons. As you said, the Omega Men, if they had the right support and/or connections could have acquired a sufficiently powerful bomb and accomplished it and they have been active in Vega for a while now; not saying the Psions are that genre-savvy but at least the possibility should have passed through the minds of their high command.

To defeat the Psions and glass their planet I believe it would be needed an elite force (with a lot of power or advanced equipment) or a fleet with a lot of firepower and/or resources (with good planning and knowledge of Psion defenses or at least one that accepts they're going to take a few punches).

 

[Chaoswind]

I don't discard the possibility of FTL planet-destructive weapons, but at the same time interdiction fields exist and it is the Psions' home base, to me it would be kind of weird if they didn't consider the possibility and prepare possible counter-measures to FTL weapons. As you said, the Omega Men, if they had the right support and/or connections could have acquired a sufficiently powerful bomb and accomplished it and they have been active in Vega for a while now; not saying the Psions are that genre-savvy but at least the possibility should have passed through the minds of their high command.

To defeat the Psions and glass their planet I believe it would be needed an elite force (with a lot of power or advanced equipment) or a fleet with a lot of firepower and/or resources (with good planning and knowledge of Psion defenses or at least one that accepts they're going to take a few punches).

Click to shrink...

I am talking about weapons that bypass THOSE, remember the Thanagarians?

 

[King of Frost]

Well, someone just fucked up in a major way.

The problem is there's a number of people it could have been, and that's assuming it wasn't a number of groups working together. And it might not even be the most likely suspect.

 

[Lord Ernest]

I am talking about weapons that bypass THOSE, remember the Thanagarians?

Click to shrink...

I believe you mean the bypass the Thanagarians were creating in Earth 50 to attack New Gordane? I don't think it was a weapon, it was a bridge/portal so that the Thanagarians Fleet could attack the Gordanian Empire with impunity and bypassing distance, defenses and interdictions. It's just that the activation of the Bypass would blew the systems where they were built when activated. At least that's what/how I remember.

 

[Chaoswind]

I believe you mean the bypass the Thanagarians were creating in Earth 50 to attack New Gordane? I don't think it was a weapon, it was a bridge/portal so that the Thanagarians Fleet could attack the Gordanian Empire with impunity and bypassing distance, defenses and interdictions. It's just that the activation of the Bypass would blew the systems where they were built when activated. At least that's what/how I remember.

Click to shrink...

If the Bypass allows a Fleet to ignore interdiction fields, then it also allows near FTL KKVs to do the same.

 

[hance1986]

Rereading the last part, OL telling Gavyn he had a problem with killing all his problems away made Gavyn afraid.

Was Gavyn involved somehow in the attack in Wombworld to gain some street cred versus his sister? Fighting gordanians and pirates is nothing while Gavyn helped strike down the psions?

 

[⸺⸺⸺]

del

 

[PDV]

But I honestly can't take this at face value; how would the Crown Imperium destroy the Psions? Their fleet couldn't cross the region controlled by Amalak and Jarko without a fight so how would it get into Vega so easily now?

Click to shrink...

You may want to think about that statement a little more.

Click to shrink...

The Crown Imperium playing the part of Fortinbras, possibly. Though Amalak's leadership is not likely to have the palace intrigue to duplicate the canon ending.

 

[Pinklestia]

It's the Psion homeworld.

Click to shrink...

The Specter approves this mass killing.

If there is a single species in DC that deserves to die more than the New Gods and the Reach, is them.

 

[Massgamer]

Some kinda doomsday weapon even a super advanced species couldn't stop?

 

[Valiran]

Narrowly avoided summary execution after his father's death, something Crown Imperium tradition apparently mandates when a new monarch ascends to the throne.

Click to shrink...

How very Amarr of them.

 

[gattsuru]

So... other shoe dropping on the Conquest! Gordanians? Because when I think "planet turned into hellscape", Apokolips is pretty high on the list, and OL unintentionally gave the notSeneschal here pretty much blanket permission to spend Apokolyptic power on anything that could be framed as 'an enemy of my enemy'.

 

[Mr Zoat]

9th February
12:48 GMT

The ships arrayed around the planet are still firing, but at this point… There's no point in trying to stop them. Everyone on the surface is dead. I can see a handful of points of yellow light from what I presume to be heavily shielded bunkers, but… The attackers aren't pushed for time. And… You don't put regular civilians or experimental subjects in bunkers like that. If anyone deserves this it will be the people there.

A few more lights go out as my jaw clenches and I take a closer look at the ships doing the firing. The ships closest to me-

"New Vega Alliance fleet to Orange Lantern."

-are Crown Imperium vessels. Markings indicate that the group is comprised of nearly all of Admiral Oswin's command, plus.. all of their fleets apart from the Home Defence Fleet. And those ships… Those belong to Amalak. A smaller flotilla have hulls decorated with the design that shows their membership of the Jovial Marauders. Another detachment is made up of the ragtag group of ships that the Omega Men have acquired over the years.

"New Vega Alliance fleet to Orange Lantern."

And ships from Emana. And from those worlds neighbouring Amalak's territory that still maintain their own fleets, and from Vega's numerous minor powers and-.

"New Vega Alliance fleet to Orange Lantern."

**Illustres to Adam Blake. I would like an explanation, please.**

No response. Oh, come on, a single mind in space should stand out well enough for him to-.

**Yes, it does, but I had to explain what you are doing to my fellow commanders. They're somewhat concerned.**

Concentrated fire on one of the oceans finally breaks through the clouds of steam to puncture the planet's crust beneath, the planet's mantle explosively venting into the upper atmosphere.

**I'm still waiting for an explanation.**

**You weren't here.**

?

**People aren't that complicated. It was a matter of initiative. You destroyed the Citadel and then left. The fate of Vega was left entirely up in the air and there wasn't anyone with the status to bring people together.**

**So, what, this-.**

**I'm not complaining about what you did, Paul. But you left, and Vega had to forge ahead without you. And this is what happened. That peace you thought you were trying to broker? I did that four months ago.**

**And did the psions forget to protect their home from telekinetic faster than light travel as well?**

**As it happens, yes, though that isn't what you want to-.**

**Where's Koriand'r?**

**She was attempting to recover some of the psions' slaves. Unfortunately, there wasn't really time to mount a serious rescue-.**

Of course there wasn't. I look-. I transition downwards as far as I can and then generate an armoured construct wedge to force my way through the airborne rock, ash and superheated steam between me and the faint glow of Koriand'r avarice. There's a surge of light from my right as one of the ships high above me tries firing again, though what they think they're hitting is anyone's guess. There's too much stuff in the air; energy weapon hits will disperse through this mess without doing much to the ground beneath it.

"Illustres to Lantern Koriand'r, stand by to be relieved."

I brake and erect a construct bunker to shield Koriand'r and the… Handful of people she's holding from the superheated water and rock around us. She looks at me in relief and what was left of her shield-bubble fails completely.

"Thank you."

"Where are you taking them?"

Five Tamaraneans, eleven dredfahlans and a changraylynian. A tiny fraction of the number they would have been holding.

"There is a ship from Changraylyn above us. Their people refuse to fight, but they will take refugees."

Ring, scan.

"Okay, got it. We can-."

My construct judders and the rescuees cringe in fear as.. a railgun round strikes us and then rolls off the shield into the churning mass!

"Illustres to fleet, the next idiot who shoots me gets a positron beam in their reactor! I am NOT in the mood."

**Admiral Oswin is confirming your instruction. Is Koriand'r alright?**

I look her over. **Appears to be. She's got a whole seventeen slaves with her.** I smile at them. "Nothing to worry about. We're heading up now."

And up we go, slower than on the way down. There are pockets where the material in the air has been converted to plasma by the bombardment. My constructs are strong enough to take it, but I'd rather avoid them anyway.

"Lantern Koriand'r, once we're out, will you be able to escort them to the ship?"

"Yes." She flexes her left hand and her environmental shield flares as we leave the atmosphere. Such as it is. "I will gladly see them to safety."

She recreates her shield bubble, and since we appear to be out of danger I allow my own construct to fade away.

"I will speak to you once this operation is over."

She looks mildly puzzled, but turns and flies her charges away.

**As I was saying, there wasn't time to rescue them all. The psions have been working on reverse engineering Dominion mass transit portals. They were planning on relocating to another safe area.**

**They thought that the dominators would take them in?**

**Could we have this conversation face to face? All of the commanders are on Admiral Oswin's command ship.**

I step out

and reappear in their war room. Admiral Oswin is leaning back in his chair at the centre of the table's arc, looking rather pleased with himself. Komand'r and Blake seated to his immediate right while the place to his left is occupied by an okaaran warlord I know works for Amalak.

"Orange Lantern." Oswin's smile broadens. "So glad that you could join us."

"Was there a reason I wasn't told that this was in the works? And no-" I turn to Blake. "-Blake, the fact that I wasn't prioritising it myself isn't an excuse for not giving me a one minute call by power ring."

Oswin shrugs. "What business is it of yours?"

"I made it my business when I came to Vega. How many ships did you lose attacking the psions' orbital defences or from their ground-based weapons? Do you really think that the two Lanterns I assigned to this region are the sum total of the force I could call on?"

The Okaaran looks at me curiously. "You are not troubled by our planetary cleansing?"

"I'm troubled by it in the sense that it represents a sub-optimal resolution, and one that could easily have been avoided if someone had called me. Based on the force available to you I recognise that it wasn't a terrible solution."

Komand'r looks pleased, though Blake merely looks thoughtful.

"Though I should make you aware that the continuing presence of the psions was the only thing keeping the Green Lantern Corps from returning to this region. Green Lantern Green Man."

My ring blinks, then a construct of the man appears in front of me.

"The psion species is now either extinct or near extinct. These people would like to talk to you about it."

 

[The Unaligned Player]

"I'm troubled by it in the sense that it represents a sub-optimal resolution, and one that could easily have been avoided if someone had called me. Based on the force available to you I recognise that it wasn't a terrible solution."

Komand'r looks pleased, though Blake merely looks thoughtful.

"Though I should make you aware that the continuing presence of the psions was the only thing keeping the Green Lantern Corps returning to this region. Green Lantern Green Man."

My ring blinks, then a construct of the man appears in front of me.

"The psion species is now either extinct or near extinct. These people would like to talk to you about it."

Click to shrink...

Ohhohohohooo. Some people 'gon die T'night.

 

[nic611]

"Though I should make you aware that the continuing presence of the psions was the only thing keeping the Green Lantern Corps returning to this region. Green Lantern Green Man."

Click to shrink...

Did you mean "from returning" or?

 

[Massgamer]

I really am curious why people didn't tell Paul at all, not even the sisters.

Why?

 

[Simonbob]

"Though I should make you aware that the continuing presence of the psions was the only thing keeping the Green Lantern Corps returning to this region. Green Lantern Green Man."

My ring blinks, then a construct of the man appears in front of me.

"The psion species is now either extinct or near extinct. These people would like to talk to you about it."

Click to shrink...

"I'm not happy about this, but I'm not going to kill you all. I'm just going to speed up the consquences."


Nice.


Although, that's pretty much this ark in a nutshell.

 

[Handlewithcare]

So how many slaves did they kill right now? Morons.

Yes OL was gone, but he could have been called in a second and also he was busy building up his corps against the Reach, since, you know, Vega isn't the only crisis point in the galaxy, but nooooo.

It's also pretty clear Oswin tried to position himself as a "saviour" to make his claim to Vega stick. I bet he doesn't give two shits about the Psions or their victims.

 

[thebishop8]

"Lantern Komand'r, once we're out, will you be able to escort them to the ship?"

Click to shrink...

This should be Koriand'r

Well, this chapter answered some questions, but raised some others. That's the end of this episode though. I wonder who we'll get an interlude of, assuming there is one.

 

[Massgamer]

So how many slaves did they kill right now? Morons.

Click to shrink...

Not only that but like Zoat stated all data on any Pisons off planet, their deals with others, the information of sold slaves/experiments, and tons of other useful data that would have been worth fighting to get.

I still don't understand why seemingly everyone in Vega thought they couldn't tell Paul or ask for his help on this matter. He needs to discipline the sisters, who are his subordinates, why they didn't tell him anything either.

This whole thing was an idiot ball on a massive scale with everyone Paul thought he could work with actively keeping information from him and not believing he would assist if asked literally any time.

 

[Bigking321]

I really am curious why people didn't tell Paul at all, not even the sisters.

Why?

Click to shrink...

I'd assume they would like some ability to act on their own without having to defer to Paul.

Also the same reason Paul often does things without talking to others. They might say no.

 

[Fireboy13]

9th February
12:48 GMT

The ships arrayed around the planet are still firing, but at this point… There's no point in trying to stop them. Everyone on the surface is dead. I can see a handful of points of yellow light from what I presume to be heavily shielded bunkers, but… The attackers aren't pushed for time. And… You don't put regular civilians or experimental subjects in bunkers like that. If anyone deserves this it will be the people there.

A few more lights go out as my jaw clenches and I take a closer look at the ships doing the firing. The ships closest to me-

"New Vega Alliance fleet to Orange Lantern."

-are Crown Imperium vessels. Markings indicate that the group comprises of nearly all of Admiral Oswin's command, plus.. all of their fleets apart from the Home Defence Fleet. And those ships… Those belong to Amalak. A smaller flotilla have hulls decorated with the design that shows their membership of the Jovial Marauders. Another detachment is made up of the ragtag group of ships that the Omega Men have acquired over the years.

"New Vega Alliance fleet to Orange Lantern."

And ships from Emana. And from those worlds neighbouring Amalak's territory that still maintain their own fleets, and from Vega's numerous minor powers and-.

"New Vega Alliance fleet to Orange Lantern."

**Illustres to Adam Blake. I would like an explanation, please.**

No response. Oh, come on, a single mind in space should stand out well enough for him to-.

**Yes, it does, but I had to explain what you are doing to my fellow commanders. They're somewhat concerned.**

Concentrated fire on one of the oceans finally breaks through the clouds of steam to puncture the planet's crust beneath, the planet's mantle explosively venting into the upper atmosphere.

**I'm still waiting for an explanation.**

**You weren't here.**

?

**People aren't that complicated. It was a matter of initiative. You destroyed the Citadel and then left. The fate of Vega was left entirely up in the air and there wasn't anyone with the status to bring people together.**

**So, what, this-.**

**I'm not complaining about what you did, Paul. But you left, and Vega had to forge ahead without you. And this is what happened. That peace you thought you were trying to broker? I did that four months ago.**

**And did the psions forget to protect their home from telekinetic faster than light travel as well?**

**As it happens, yes, though that isn't what you want to-.**

**Where's Koriand'r?**

**She was attempting to recover some of the psion's slaves. Unfortunately, there wasn't really time to mount a serious rescue-.**

Of course there wasn't. I look-. I transition downwards as far as I can and then generate an armoured construct wedge to force my way through the airborne rock, ash and superheated steam between me and the faint glow of Koriand'r avarice. There's a surge of light from my right as one of the ships high above me tries firing again, though what they think they're hitting is anyone's guess. There's too much stuff in the air; energy weapon hits will disburse through this mess without doing much to the ground beneath it.

"Illustres to Lantern Koriand'r, stand by to be relieved."

I brake and erect a construct bunker to shield Koriand'r and the… Handful of people she's holding from the superheated water and rock around us. She looks at me in relief and what was left of her shield-bubble fails completely.

"Thank you."

"Where are you taking them?"

Five tamaranians, eleven dredfahlans and a changraylynian. A tiny fraction of the number they would have been holding.

"There is a ship from Changraylyn above us. Their people refuse to fight, but they will take refugees."

Ring, scan.

"Okay, got it. We can-."

My construct judders and the rescuees cringe in fear as.. a railgun round strikes us and then rolls off the shield into the churning mass!

"Illustres to fleet, the next idiot who shoots me gets a positron beam in their reactor! I am NOT in the mood."

**Admiral Oswin is confirming your instruction. Is Koriand'r alright?**

I look her over. **Appears to be. She's got a whole seventeen slaves with her.** I smile at them. "Nothing to worry about. We're heading up now."

And up we go, slower than on the way down. There are pockets where the material in the air has been converted to plasma by the bombardment. My constructs are strong enough to take it, but I'd rather avoid them anyway.

"Lantern Komand'r, once we're out, will you be able to escort them to the ship?"

"Yes." She flexes her left hand and her environmental shield flares as we leave the atmosphere. Such as it is. "I will gladly see them to safety."

She recreates her shield bubble, and since we appear to be out of danger I allow my own construct to fade away.

"I will speak to you once this operation is over."

She looks mildly puzzled, but turns and flies her charges away.

**As I was saying, there wasn't time to rescue them all. The psions have been working on reverse engineering Dominion mass transit portals. They were planning on relocating to another safe area.**

**They thought that the dominators would take them in?**

**Could we have this conversation face to face? All of the commanders are on Admiral Oswin's command ship.**

I step out

and reappear in their war room. Admiral Oswin is leaning back in his chair at the centre of the table's arc, looking rather pleased with himself. Komand'r and Blake seated to his immediate right while the place to his left is occupied by an okaaran warlord I know works for Amalak.

"Orange Lantern." Oswin's smile broadens. "So glad that you could join us."

"Was there a reason I wasn't told that this was in the works? And no-" I turn to Blake. "-Blake, the fact that I wasn't prioritising it myself isn't an excuse for not giving me a one minute call by power ring."

Oswin shrugs. "What business is it of yours?"

"I made it my business when I came to Vega. How many ships did you lose attacking the psions' orbital defences or from their ground-based weapons? Do you really think that the two Lanterns I assigned to this region are the sum total of the force I could call on?"

The Okaaran looks at me curiously. "You are not troubled by our planetary cleansing?"

"I'm troubled by it in the sense that it represents a sub-optimal resolution, and one that could easily have been avoided if someone had called me. Based on the force available to you I recognise that it wasn't a terrible solution."

Komand'r looks pleased, though Blake merely looks thoughtful.

"Though I should make you aware that the continuing presence of the psions was the only thing keeping the Green Lantern Corps returning to this region. Green Lantern Green Man."

My ring blinks, then a construct of the man appears in front of me.

"The psion species is now either extinct or near extinct. These people would like to talk to you about it."

Click to shrink...

I'm curious to see how the situation goes and the consequences for all involved, the anticipation is killing me.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

The ships arrayed around the planet are still firing, but at this point… There's no point in trying to stop them. Everyone on the surface is dead. I can see a handful of points of yellow light from what I presume to be heavily shielded bunkers, but… The attackers aren't pushed for time. And… You don't put regular civilians or experimental subjects in bunkers like that. If anyone deserves this it will be the people there.

Click to shrink...

And they're about to die anyway.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

-are Crown Imperium vessels. Markings indicate that the group comprises of nearly all of Admiral Oswin's command, plus.. all of their fleets apart from the Home Defence Fleet. And those ships… Those belong to Amalak. A smaller flotilla have hulls decorated with the design that shows their membership of the Jovial Marauders. Another detachment is made up of the ragtag group of ships that the Omega Men have acquired over the years.

Click to shrink...

Nearly every power in Vega.

"New Vega Alliance fleet to Orange Lantern."

Click to shrink...

Persistent, aren't they?

**Yes, it does, but I had to explain what you are doing to my fellow commanders. They're somewhat concerned.**

Click to shrink...

They should be.

Concentrated fire on one of the oceans finally breaks through the clouds of steam to puncture the planet's crust beneath, the planet's mantle explosively venting into the upper atmosphere.

Click to shrink...

Wombworld is now officially dead, short of dropping a Blackstone Fortress on it.

**People aren't that complicated. It was a matter of initiative. You destroyed the Citadel and then left. The fate of Vega was left entirely up in the air and there wasn't anyone with the status to bring people together.**

Click to shrink...

Argh. Figures that would bite OL in the ass.

**Where's Koriand'r?**

Click to shrink...

She's one of the few I could see being less happy about this.

Of course there wasn't. I look-. I transition downwards as far as I can and then generate an armoured construct wedge to force my way through the airborne rock, ash and superheated steam between me and the faint glow of Koriand'r avarice. There's a surge of light from my right as one of the ships high above me tries firing again, though what they think they're hitting is anyone's guess. There's too much stuff in the air; energy weapon hits will disburse through this mess without doing much to the ground beneath it.

Click to shrink...

Probably just instinct, to smash and smash until there's nothing left.

I brake and erect a construct bunker to shield Koriand'r and the… Handful of people she's holding from the superheated water and rock around us. She looks at me in relief and what was left of her shield-bubble fails completely.

Click to shrink...

Rookie mistake! And a clear sign she's a better Blue than she is Orange.

Five tamaranians, eleven dredfahlans and a changraylynian. A tiny fraction of the number they would have been holding.

Click to shrink...

Got to love the 'handful of scrabble tiles' approach to DC alien naming.

My construct judders and the rescuees cringe in fear as.. a railgun round strikes us and then rolls off the shield into the churning mass!

Click to shrink...

That gunner? His ass is grass.

"Illustres to fleet, the next idiot who shoots me gets a positron beam in their reactor! I am NOT in the mood."

Click to shrink...

...Oh my. I suspect there were some browned trousers up there at that.

And up we go, slower than on the way down. There are pockets where the material in the air has been converted to plasma by the bombardment. My constructs are strong enough to take it, but I'd rather avoid them anyway.

Click to shrink...

Why waste ring charge better used to beating some idiots with other morons.

"I will speak to you once this operation is over."

Click to shrink...

Seriously, OL, you need to get her a Blue ring.

**As I was saying, there wasn't time to rescue them all. The psions have been working on reverse engineering Dominion mass transit portals. They were planning on relocating to another safe area.**

Click to shrink...

Relocating their entire homeworld to another sector? One that won't have a treaty with them? I thought they were smart.

"Orange Lantern." Oswin's smile broadens. "So glad that you could join us."

Click to shrink...

Resisting urge to knock that smarm down his throat...

"I made it my business when I came to Vega. How many ships did you lose attacking the psions' orbital defences or from their ground-based weapons? Do you really think that the two Lanterns I assigned to this region are the sum total of the force I could call on?"

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They thought the first Beast was bad? OL can be so much worse...

"The psion species is now either extinct or near extinct. These people would like to talk to you about it."

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I expect the Guardians will have quite a few words for them too...

Well, the damage is done. Now for the fallout.

 

[TheEyes]

I really am curious why people didn't tell Paul at all, not even the sisters.

Why?

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They didn't want to bother him? I mean, if anyone knows to keep as much distance from the Orange light as is feasibly possible it's Vegans.

I'm more curious as to how everyone managed to hide this from Paul as he was doing his surprise rounds. This seriously didn't pop up in anyone's emotions?