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

[Mr Zoat]

And Oh El could have prevented her death but did not, because he doesn't care to give warnings like Grayven would have.

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Grayven did the best monologue on the subject, but the SI isn't trying to prevent every death he could theoretically prevent.

Edited for politeness.

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Well done. You'd be amazed at how many people forget to do that.

 

[Idkusername]

Well done. You'd be amazed at how many people forget to do that.

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Aww. Thank you.

But seriously, I don't like it when people are dicks without reason, and without self-awareness. It's part of why I was rude in the first place; the guy's comment riled me up, but on reflection he really wasn't insulting, just blunt.

 

[Gantradies]

Keep in mind that the fact that he actually read/consulted with a subordinate who'd read (or delegated planning to one) the OLC charter Whilst playing himself off as the kind of fool that would just blunder into the situation like an imbecile raises the possibility that Khan MAY be obsficating stupidity-
or at least actively playing up his eccentric nature to throw "potential competitors/regulators" off base with their threat assessments...

I noticed that,untill he realised this, OL was beginning to subconsciously dismiss him as an actual threat/serious problem- AND keep in mind the kind of threats booster gold,for example is constantly fighting beneath his kayfabe- at least some of this could be an act....

there's an old one dating back to the Cold War...
the greatest compliment you can give an espionage agent is saying "no, no, s/he's too dumb to be A spy"...

Grayven did the best monologue on the subject, but the SI isn't trying to prevent every death he could theoretically prevent.

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The thing is, in some jurisdictions and some circumstances,actions along those lines can literally be the base for a a specific form of murder Charge,if the defendant knew the victim was in lethal danger (though the intention is primarily for when the danger is a direct result of the defendants actions- I don't think that interpretation would neccesairally stand here)and made a conscious effort to not warn them/act when it would have otherwise been doable without undue risk of harm...

 

[Coda]

He has many worthwhile character traits, the undesirable ones just outweigh them.

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Semicolon.

If Dox thinks Earth is low risk then he isn't remotely as smart as he thinks he is. There are multiple individuals and organisations on Earth that could make immense nuisances on a vast scale if sufficiently roused.
He can't even claim ignorance as this is the planet that required a general mobilisation of the entire OLC, giant snake included, when something big went down.

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It's not that Dox considered Earth to be low risk. ClusterCorp is a way to deal with Earth in a low-risk manner. Earth is much more likely to become a problem with, say, a show of blatant military force, but the whole point here is that they're not prepared for an out-of-context economic force.

The thing is, in some jurisdictions and some circumstances,actions along those lines can literally be the base for a a specific form of murder Charge,if the defendant knew the victim was in lethal danger, and made a conscious effort to not warn them/act when it would have otherwise been doable without undue risk of harm...

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Yes, but that's not what he said. "Theoretically prevent" goes past "without undue risk of harm." OL would also be able to pursue preventative measures even if people weren't in immediate lethal danger, which would be deaths he could "theoretically prevent" that he doesn't take action on, because otherwise he'd be spending all of his time doing nothing but safeguarding the world.

I feel reasonably confident that if OL walked past someone being held at gunpoint that he would casually remove the gun from the situation with a construct and give the assailant a brief talking-to, and he'd probably make a construct crash mat (as he has done before) if someone was falling off a building.

 

[Darko]

Keep in mind that the fact that he actually read/consulted with a subordinate who'd read (or delegated planning to one) the OLC charter Whilst playing himself off as the kind of fool that would just blunder into the situation like an imbecile raises the possibility that Khan MAY be obsficating stupidity-
or at least actively playing up his eccentric nature to throw "potential competitors/regulators" off base with their threat assessments...

I noticed that,untill he realised this, OL was beginning to subconsciously dismiss him as an actual threat/serious problem- AND keep in mind the kind of threats booster gold,for example is constantly fighting beneath his kayfabe- at least some of this could be an act....

there's an old one dating back to the Cold War...
the greatest compliment you can give an espionage agent is saying "no, no, s/he's too dumb to be A spy"...




The thing is, in some jurisdictions and some circumstances,actions along those lines can literally be the base for a a specific form of murder Charge,if the defendant knew the victim was in lethal danger, and made a conscious effort to not warn them/act when it would have otherwise been doable without undue risk of harm...

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OL is also a good example of someone who is eccentric but can be extremely dangerous.

He once made a giant cake and danced to cameras while singing, things which are extremely funny.

On the other hand he also destroyed the Citadel by using some of their mind controlled soldiers who he then killed.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Semicolon.

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Thank you, corrected.

 

[Rafin]

Why hasn't Paul actually asked Dox what his intentions were? Isn't he just a phone call away?

 

[Mr Zoat]

Why hasn't Paul actually asked Dox what his intentions were? Isn't he just a phone call away?

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I should probably have made it more obvious, but the reason why he's made declarative statements about Dox's intentions is that he did. When he says 'why', he's not literally asking a question, he's bemoaning the situation.

 

[WereDragon]

The SI's big thing is social improvement. As he said to Mr Luthor, he doesn't want things like this to be pawned off on superheroes when there are other bodies that should be dealing with them. If he deals with it, then that's exactly what will have happened and will probably continue to happen.

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Wrong problem. Earth having no unified foreign policy, or the infrastructure to enact that policy, is a problem. One that has been around for quite some time.
The OLC employing a corporate megalomaniac and sending him somewhere as potentially valuable (and volatile) as Earth is an entirely new problem. One OL is responsible for creating and given his position, both official and otherwise, in the OLC also responsible for resolving.

While it can be argued that there is value in using your own mistake to beat someone else over the head with their mistake, it is not an endearing strategy.

 

[Galacticplumber]

Wrong problem. Earth having no unified foreign policy, or the infrastructure to enact that policy, is a problem. One that has been around for quite some time.
The OLC employing a corporate megalomaniac and sending him somewhere as potentially valuable (and volatile) as Earth is an entirely new problem. One OL is responsible for creating and given his position, both official and otherwise, in the OLC also responsible for resolving.

While it can be argued that there is value in using your own mistake to beat someone else over the head with their mistake, it is not an endearing strategy.

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Mistake? Were I in his position, and actually thinking ahead, I'd do this DELIBERATELY. It's all that good shit the light talks about except with actual controllable elements you can use to prevent anyone dying. As in what they'd do if they actually did care about their stated objective instead merely using it as an excuse to supervillain.

 

[Ace Dreamer]

Educational.
Also, This. And now all is referenced.

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I might have written a (sadly stalled) fanfic on 'Twisting the Hellmouth' which crossed Buffy with PPG, using YAHF... Xander became the Professor... The relevance is Jesse became Mojo Jojo, even though he happened to be rather dead by that Halloween...

(In case there's any interest, the story is Save The Day, 28k words.)

((I suppose the story including the self-called 'Justice League of Sunnydale' (JLS) *cough* Martian Manhunter *cough* might be relevant, but, that's pushing it. ))

 

[Impartial Panic]

Why hasn't Paul actually asked Dox what his intentions were? Isn't he just a phone call away?

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Dox isn't taking his calls unless they are an emergency.
Remember Dox doesn't actually like Paul he tolerates him since he's useful.


Earth while not Low risk is actually a low Priority for Dox.

He's got a war with the Reach to oversee, a corps to construct and various agencies to coordinate.

Earth has a few interesting novelties but few critical resources of any immediate strategic value.

so he sends a lantern not really useful for the front line and lets cluster corp act as an unsolicited subcontractor
to deal with earth.

let them expend resources on uplifting earth into a useful asset while LEGION, the Darkstars and the Orange lanterns focus on more critical matters.

 

[Maxx Crowley]

I....honestly dont' understand what OL is doing right now. Just letting some....space corporate buffoon do whatever he wants...with one of his rings on?

But I rarely understand what he's thinking these days.

 

[Galacticplumber]

I....honestly dont' understand what OL is doing right now. Just letting some....space corporate buffoon do whatever he wants...with one of his rings on?

But I rarely understand what he's thinking these days.

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He wants that buffoon to act as a reasonably safe challenge for a hopelessly atrophied part of earth's primary government in a form not even slightly consensual rust removal. Earth government fulfilling its actual purpose successfully, and getting used to that, will improve long-term stability, and lower long-term work being foisted on he, and his colleagues.

It's like the good earth king once said, when everything is already doing exactly as you want it to, you do nothing. Not enough people consider the do-nothing tactic. It's optimal WAY more often than you'd think.

 

[Maxx Crowley]

He wants that buffoon to act as a reasonably safe challenge for a hopelessly atrophied part of earth's primary government in a form not even slightly consensual rust removal. Earth government fulfilling its actual purpose successfully, and getting used to that, will improve long-term stability, and lower long-term work being foisted on he, and his colleagues.

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It just strikes me as something that just can't end well.

 

[Galacticplumber]

It just strikes me as something that just can't end well.

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What part of this story about continually forcing superhero settings through at least two different transformative lenses at all times made you think the main character wouldn't deliberately upset the status quo at every opportunity?

 

[LazySloth13]

Not to mention he's a Discordian, at the very least he's trying to have faith in his goddess and other gods, so causing a bigger uproar is in his wheelhouse. If Paul decides to invite his other space-faring contacts to Earth it would force the U.N. to create an actual plan to deal with alien forces who aren't looking to invade the planet, at least openly where they can be righteously face punched, and have them not only have them create plans for peaceful contact but for conflict as well.

In Canon the Justice League/The Team barely managed to protect the planet and couldn't personally stop Mongul, the only reason why it worked out was because the Reach had a fleet of hidden ships on the planet and Black Beatle fight Mongul himself. The Earth's own defenses barely managed to add 13% to the heroes' 64%.

 

[Mr Zoat]

8th April
22:36 GMT

"Aaaah…"

Jediah Rikane stops the moment he sees me, his protection detail immediately spreading out to make sure that they have a clear shot.

"Chief Minister. A pleasure to see you again."

"Yes. I.. expect-."

"To save us both some time: I'm annoyed about your government trying to keep me out of the loop and out of the way during the burning of Womb World, but it's not as if I'm actually going to miss the psions. I'm annoyed because I could have saved more of their test subjects than Princess Koriand'r managed and because you giving me the run around was insulting."

"I… Understand." He nods slowly. "And what do you consider to be reasonable recompense for the insult?"

"You have a perfectly legitimate foreign policy aim in straightening out Vega. And I don't have any objection to you helping a friendly government come to power. But that's it. You don't annex territory inside Vega and you ensure that I have access to the data I need to confirm that."

"That is.. what we were planning on doing anyway, so it doesn't present any difficulty. Duke Oswin is perfectly happy with the territory the Crown has awarded to him without intruding upon the Vega Moat."

"Good. The last thing this region needs is any further violent conflict." I open my mouth-. And close it again. "Oh, and in case it wasn't obvious: my concern is the probity of local powers and their ability to act in the greater good. This is the worst possible time for obfuscation or using 'clever' language to deceive me. I will find out, and I will be angry."

"There... The idea of Duke Oswin having a political marriage with a notable woman from Vega has been mooted, as has the idea of Prince Gavyn accepting a court position of some kind. Nothing is decided yet, and if gaining a claim on Vegan territory is one of your red lines then it probably won't happen."

"No talk of Prince Ryand'r marrying your Queen?"

"No."

"If you've been communicating with King Myand'r, then you should know how I feel about political marriages."

"He.. did.. mention it. I imagine that the.. cultural context is rather different. Had you done for a noble of the Crown Imperium what you did for Koriand'r and Lord Karras… It's just not done."

"I can't imagine letting something that no one wants to happen happen."

"No, I imagine that you can't. Tell me, are you married yourself?"

"No."

"Betrothed? Or.. however your civilisation arranges their affairs prior to marriage?"

I nod. "Yes. But.. while it's desirable for people to get on well with their partners' families, it's the couple who are going to have to live together, support one another and raise their children together. There are many women who might be 'better' matches in some sense. There are none whom I love as I do her. None whom I desire-"

My environmental shield flares, triggering desire-associations in all of those present, and giving me a fairly generic slideshow.

"-as I do her."

"I assume that your civilisation isn't governed by a hereditary aristocracy, then."

"You assume correctly."

"Thus, you don't consider lineage to have.. wider significance. Perfectly reasonable with an alternate social order, but for us it's… I'm afraid that you'd be cast as the villain in our social dramas."

"I think I'll live. The intelligence reports?"

"I will have them compiled for you."

"Thank you."

"Do you intend to stay in the region for long?"

"No, this is just a check up. There's a.. situation on my homeworld that I'm.. monitoring, in case I need to take action, but for now I want to stay out of the way of the people who are supposed to be managing it."

"What sort of situation? Is there anything we can do?"

"I appreciate the thought, but probably not. My world is isolated, but has.. weirdly advanced technology in some areas. We're being visited by an interstellar trading corporation which… Could be really useful, if we were actually organised enough to respond with any sort of unity. As it is, people are running around like headless chickens and buck-passing for all they're worth and I suspect that we're going to get the worst possible outcome."

He frowns. "I'm… Not sure that translated properly. 'Headless chickens'?"

"A simpleminded food animal. Usually they're killed by decapitation as the first stage in the preparation process, but if you cut too high then enough of their central nervous system survives that they can... Sort of keep going, though without eyes or ears or reasoning. The expression serves as a metaphor for failures of leadership."

He chuckles quietly. "My word. How… Completely appropriate. You wouldn't have a recording of such a beast, would you?"

Ring… Do I?

Yes.

When did I..? Why did I-?

"I'll upload a copy to the palace server. How long will it take your people to collate those intelligence reports?"

"I presume that you're mostly interested in the period since your last visit?"

"Mostly. Though I'm also curious about the decision making process which led up to the alliance I encountered during my last visit. I mean, it's nice to see the forces of civilisation coming out ahead, but I think I'd benefit greatly learning from a worked example."

"A day or so should do it."

I nod.

"Any problems I should attend to immediately? Amalak behaving himself?"

"As well as one can expect from a rogue such as him. There was some talk of granting him a title in exchange for bringing his holdings into the Imperium, but… Since he's expanding into Vega I imagine that you would disapprove. And there are clear advantages in maintaining a buffer state."

"I agree." Hm. "I think that's everything. I'll return tomorrow. Thank you for your time."

"You're welcome."

I raise my right hand to my forehead

step out and

back, appearing on Tamaran.

**Adam, you're an omnidisciplinary genius. Earth needs your advice.**

**Then I'll be happy to offer it.**

 

[Idkusername]

"No talk of Prince Ryand'r marrying you Queen?"

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you -> your

Adam, you're an omnidisciplinary genius. Earth needs your advice

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This reminds me of some iconic dialogue - I think it's from the Avengers - but I can't put my finger on it.

 

[Flux Casey]

When did I..? Why did I-?

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That... Is a phenomenal question.

 

[Darko]

Which woman is Oswin supposed to marry exactly as part of a political marriage?

 

[Idkusername]

That... Is a phenomenal question.

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The ring has probably internalised his British sense of humour, which is very fitting for a self-professed colonialist.

 

[dxdragon]

"I assume that your civilisation isn't governed by a hereditary aristocracy, then."

"You assume correctly."

"Thus, you don't consider lineage to have.. wider significance. Perfectly reasonable with an alternate social order, but for us it's… I'm afraid that you'd be cast as the villain in our social dramas."

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Wait.... OL would be the ntr bastard who tries to steals the mc's girl, or a Villainess prince in an otome game wouldn't he?

He's even got the ntr lantern color!

 

[RichardWhereat]

**Adam, you're an omnidisciplinary genius. Earth needs your advice.**

**Then I'll be happy to offer it.**

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The first President of Earth?

 

[Cuchulin]

The first President of Earth?

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He'd resign before the week was over.

 

[rkyeun]

You can only steal a planet's entire internet so many times before you get a headless chicken video.

 

[Cuchulin]

You can only steal a planet's entire internet so many times before you get a headless chicken video.

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It just tends to get buried under all the Cat videos and porn, then forgotten about.

 

[RichardWhereat]

It just tends to get buried under all the Cat videos and porn, then forgotten about.

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But not above the furry cat porn videos.

 

[Idkusername]

But not above the furry cat porn videos.

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Porn for cats is a much more creative and relevant genre of film, imho.

 

[Prince Charon]

When did I..? Why did I-?

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My guess would be that Ophidian did it.

You can only steal a planet's entire internet so many times before you get a headless chicken video.

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Kind of like that.

**Adam, you're an omnidisciplinary genius. Earth needs your advice.**

**Then I'll be happy to offer it.**

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Oh, good. Calling in an expert, very wise. Of course, the headless chickens might not listen.

This reminds me of some iconic dialogue - I think it's from the Avengers - but I can't put my finger on it.

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If you find out, please let us know, you've got me curious.