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

Vaermina · Dec 12, 2020

It's both interesting and worrying that they know about Paul's mind enslaving....

Darko · Dec 12, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
you're do insistent about this?"

'you're so'

Mr Zoat said:
Make me a little less intimidating.

Not sure that worked.

BlueMangoAdea · Dec 12, 2020

Vaermina said:
It's both interesting and worrying that they know about Paul's mind enslaving....

It's not exactly a secret that Paul uses mind control. The Reach probably told them to discourage them from working with the Orange Lantern Corps. Probably left out a lot of context.

Idkusername · Dec 12, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
"The Orange Lantern Corps doesn't hold naked self-interest against people. If your company made a deal with the Reach to keep yourselves alive… Heck, I'd probably have done the same in your position. But we're going to be working with the people of this region and expelling the Reach with extreme violence. If you or particular members of your company have gained too much notoriety, then I'm afraid that we'll give you a show trial and then kill you because we're not offering you a chance to live because we're nice but more because you're not worth the bother."

I have to say, sacrificing innocents just because they gained notoriety and because it's convinient is out of character for OL. Unless you meant they gained that reputation by actually committing crimes.

FreeGod · Dec 12, 2020

Paul is doing the intimation thing rather well. Of course it's easy when you have overwhelming force.

Darko · Dec 12, 2020

Idkusername said:
I have to say, sacrificing innocents just because they gained notoriety and because it's convinient is out of character for OL. Unless you meant they gained that reputation by actually committing crimes.

If they've gained notoriety then they most likely have done some very, very bad things.

If he lets them live then the people they are trying to save from the Reach may lose some faith in him and the OLC, and they need that faith.

Cherico · Dec 12, 2020

this isnt a police action this is war, those tend to be pretty different.

Vaermina · Dec 12, 2020

BlueMangoAdea said:
It's not exactly a secret that Paul uses mind control. The Reach probably told them to discourage them from working with the Orange Lantern Corps. Probably left out a lot of context.

It's not a secret on Earth.

But Paul's in space dealing with the Reach.

Someguy Somewhere · Dec 12, 2020

Aside from the random Ring lanterns Larflees sent out being 'slaves' and such, Paul's first big public appearance in Vega, working for the queen of the spider guild, in front of all the other pirates started off with him mind controlling a potential assassin in front of everyone. I'm sure that story got around pretty quick in similar circles. And even if the story didn't filter down to them via the grape vine, the Reach themselves have likely started a anti Orange Lantern Corps PR campaign that would be more then willing to play spin doctor with what little they know so far.

Mr Zoat · Dec 12, 2020

Darko said:
'you're so'

Thank you, corrected.

Not sure that worked.

There's a lot of theories that didn't pan out. Lone Gunman. Communism. Geometry.

Chojin Patriarch · Dec 12, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
3rd July 2012
10:59 GMT -5

"…matter what you do to me, you damned bilge-rat!"

I suppose that in the grand scheme of things she's not wrong. I send a construct-spike up into the second cruiser's primary drive, my construct shield easily absorbing the fire from its frigate escort.

Yep, he's taking them down easy as ~~pie~~ cake. Probably feels like an endgame MMO character walking through the starter zones...

Grey mobs, grey mobs everywhere...

These clearly aren't Reach ships, just small fleets they hire to 'provide security' in the areas they're observing. Mostly to make sure that external parties don't get a better look at the Reach's true fleet capacity. And also to indulge in a little raiding here and there against targets who are reluctant to accept Reach 'protection'.

They're basically privateers, then. Private citizens given limited capacity to roam and raid anyone not flying Reach colours... Something that wouldn't fly on Earth, under modern rules of engagement.

My construct sheer snips through the shielding around the frigate's dorsal turret and slices it clean off the hull.

Still, on the off-chance that they're a reasonably upstanding private security firm, I'd rather not slaughter them out of hand. Heck, Dox would probably hire them on in a slightly modified version of their current role if he thought they'd keep to the terms of the contract.

Probably dependant on how willing they'd be to change their ways, I suppose? I suspect they've grown quite accustomed to raiding, and just declaring 'Oh, they weren't Reach, so it's fine.'

Probably need to stick their ships back together a bit, first.

"I'm still perfectly willing to accept your surrender."

Nice guy OL. After all, killing them is a waste of useful resources. Whether it be any information they can provide, or their future service.

The cruiser that still has guns fires another volley… In my general direction. I'm close enough that sensor lag shouldn't be a problem, so I… Guess that their gunnery just isn't accurate against small targets?

"May I ask why you're do insistent about this?"

Wait, do they think he'll kill them if they surrender? Has the Reach been telling tall tales about Orange Lanterns?

I'm not transmitting to their communications array. I'm broadcasting to every communications device on each of the ships, which means that the entire crew can hear that I'm saying that not interested in fighting them.

"Because you're enslaving people's minds and forcing them to serve you!"

Hey now, he's only done that once. To a large group, anyway.

I frown, scoffing as the sheers snip through the hull, severing a main power conduit and causing the ship's safeties to shut down most of the ship's systems.

"You work for the Reach."

Honestly, what did they think they were doing? Did no-one on the crew stop and ask "Are... Are we the bad guys here?"

"We do not work for the Reach!"

"You're a Security Fleet in the Reach Periphery. Who do you think you work for?"

Probably a shell company, funded by another company and another, in a chain reaching back to the Reach themselves. Plausible Deniability, and all that...

"It's a development zone!"

"That's technically an accurate statement, yes."

As long as the 'development' is Reach space expanding. At the cost of local populations...

I grab the now-disabled frigate and reduce its relative momentum to zero before shoving it into a cluster with the other crippled ships.

"In the same sense that I 'develop' a forest when I cut it down so I can build a mine. Look, you're running out of functioning ships. Once they all stop working the option for parole rather evaporates."

In simpler terms: Come along quietly, or there will be trouble. ...Well, more trouble.

"I won't be-!"

There's a… Humming round.

Sounds like the crew is taking matters into their own hands... Or whatever manipulation extremities they might have. No guarantee they're anthropomorphs.

"Commodore?"

The still-mobile ships kill their acceleration and close what still-functioning gun ports they have.

Yeah, that's a pretty clear sign of surrender. Or some bizarre form of 'just kill us now, then.'

"This is Captain Graan. The commodore-."

"Say no more. Do you have the authority to negotiate with me?"

Given he just shot his boss in the back? I'd say he's claiming it whether he does or not.

"At the moment, yes. What are your intentions?"

"I'm going to check your crew for Reach plants or mental tampering. After that, you'll have a choice between leaving the region or remaining. I will warn you now that if you opt to remain, we will take a significantly closer look at what you've been doing in this region."

And you don't want that. It might prove to be.. terminal...

"And what else?"

"The Orange Lantern Corps doesn't hold naked self-interest against people. If your company made a deal with the Reach to keep yourselves alive… Heck, I'd probably have done the same in your position. But we're going to be working with the people of this region and expelling the Reach with extreme violence. If you or particular members of your company have gained too much notoriety, then I'm afraid that we'll give you a show trial and then kill you because we're not offering you a chance to live because we're nice but more because you're not worth the bother."

Rather reasonable, really. It all comes down to how nice a group of privateers they were...

"I'm not-. We just do patrols."

"Then you probably won't have anything to worry about. And of course if you accept parole and come back while the war is still ongoing then we'll automatically kill you, so that's not a safe option."

Because that will imply collaboration, and the next orange Lantern they face might not be so reserved as OL.

Quick scan…

"I'm afraid that I'm going to need to rush you. My presence is required elsewhere."

Ah, the shooting's started elsewhere? I see Dox is wasting no time at all.

"Is that something we can assist with?"

"Possibly. I'm willing to suspend judgement and offer payment relative to the level of aid you are actually able to provide. "

So be very clear: Just how useful can you be to him?

I begin jamming communication out from the fleet. They can talk to each other, but they can't warn anyone else.

"We're liberating the Reach-held world of Callallan. Any data you can provide on Reach operations there would be appreciated."

So, that's the world they're hitting, the lightly-touched annexed planet. Anyone recognise the name? The DC Wiki finds nothing.

"We have.. maps-?"

"We have maps. I was really more talking about-."

Anything more than something even the most basic ring-user can manage to learn? Because they aren't really showing their best cards here.

And there's the emergency transponder squawk Reach plants use.

"Excuse me a moment."

Because of course the Reach had infiltrators in the fleet. They're such control freaks, why would they allow anything to operate independently without being monitored?

I step out

and reappear next to… Oh, that's a bit obvious. They weren't even trying to keep their mind-state anything like it's original shape. I grasp the purple flesh of the plant's bald head and brand. Are they-?

Not subtle, then. I wonder if the guy was a member of the crew before they started under the Reach, or if he joined after?

The sigil shimmers into existence and the Reach-programmed 'security' operative drops their communicator.

No suicide device. Low priority, or a long term asset, I wonder?

Easily replaced tool, probably. About as valuable as a surveillance bug... in a Bond movie.

"Sorry, one of your crew just tried sending a message out. Looks like a class two neural overlay. Might I suggest vetting people in future?"

"You're-? On board?"

I bet they thought they were safe when he flickered out of sight. Bet there were spikes of Hope...

"Not on your ship. I felt that having a conversation remotely might make things easier. Make me a little less intimidating. So I'm afraid that I'm going to have to take this gentleman off your hands until we can get it removed. Can I ask-?"

"We will accompany you and offer you any and all aid. Some.. of our ships will need repairs-."

Pfft, no. As if OL would allow you a gun to shoot him in the back, or a horse to run away on?

"No no, I'll just drag them with us. You're far too slow anyway. Please bare in mind that I'm going to be really upset if you try and backstab me."

"I will not forget."

Basically dismantling his fleet's ships with about as much concern as, say, buttering a slice of bread, probably goes a long way into convincing him to play nice.

"Good show."

I

step

back outside the ship and drag the more distant vessels together.

"Warp in two, one, now."

Now, let's see what Dox and the NEMO fleet have been getting up to, eh?

A pleasant little diversion. Like stopping during a timed quest to pick up a crafting material node.

OL really doesn't take this kind of side-work seriously, does he? Just a little thing to get him out of Dox's hair for an hour or two...

My construct sheer snips...

I frown, scoffing as the sheers snip through the hull...

Should these be 'shears'? In which case, the 'snips' in the first case might work better as 'snip'?

DAT_NOOB · Dec 12, 2020

Vaermina said:
It's not a secret on Earth.

But Paul's in space dealing with the Reach.

Someguy Somewhere said:
Aside from the random Ring lanterns Larflees sent out being 'slaves' and such, Paul's first big public appearance in Vega, working for the queen of the spider guild, in front of all the other pirates started off with him mind controlling a potential assassin in front of everyone. I'm sure that story got around pretty quick in similar circles. And even if the story didn't filter down to them via the grape vine, the Reach themselves have likely started a anti Orange Lantern Corps PR campaign that would be more then willing to play spin doctor with what little they know so far.

Darko · Dec 12, 2020

Chojin Patriarch said:
Wait, do they think he'll kill them if they surrender? Has the Reach been telling tall tales about Orange Lanterns?

They probably have.

If they are just pirates then that's probably standard operating procedure when capturing a vessel, kill all on board, or just sell them into slavery, or keep them as your own slaves.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Hey now, he's only done that once. To a large group, anyway.

And said group was full of sociopathic monsters, unlike Tangseids group.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Honestly, what did they think they were doing? Did no-one on the crew stop and ask "Are... Are we the bad guys here?"

The Reach don't really use a lot of skull imagery, and their tech seems to be colored blue, which is a heroic color.

I think a lot of people would make that mistake.

Chojin Patriarch said:
So, that's the world they're hitting, the lightly-touched annexed planet. Anyone recognise the name? The DC Wiki finds nothing.

It may have shown up in the comics, but was never given an official name, like that planet with the blind women.

Chojin Patriarch said:
As if OL would allow you a gun to shoot him in the back,

Unless he's trying to prove a point.

Bramble Thorn · Dec 12, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
Thank you, corrected.

There's a lot of theories that didn't pan out. Lone Gunman. Communism. Geometry.

You think Geometry is a discredited theory? Like On the list of bad science it goes young earth creationism, followed by triangles and rhombuses?
That tessellating tiles are juat a hoax perpetrated by M.C. Escher then?

Tyrantviewer said:
Frankly this is the sort of mistake that it is reasonable for a very smart person to make- I just hope it isn't indicative of other issues due to Dox taking on too much personally.

There is a difference between known unknowns, and unknown unknowns.

Yeah, Grayen coming in like a space flea to surprise attack their surprise attack may have been an to much to plan against specifically.

But things going fubar in the heat of combat because the guy in charge of everything got taken out and he made no effort to designate a unified chain of command or make any accommodation for something happening to take out the commander of a battle during the battle he was present at?

That is something even a doofus would recognise as a thing that can happen. I mean it is covered in most battle manuals. That taking out the enemy leadership is a good thing to do if you can do it.

Massgamer · Dec 12, 2020

Vaermina said:
It's both interesting and worrying that they know about Paul's mind enslaving....

I mean, I'm sure the other Orange Lanterns have been turning others into constructs which is a much more permeant version of enslavement compared to Paul's branding. It was mentioned in earlier update not to attempt to turn Scarabs into constructs since they had suicide devices.

Orange Lanterns main ability is turning thing into constructs so natural that news of it would spread.

Mr Zoat · Dec 12, 2020

Chojin Patriarch said:
They're basically privateers, then. Private citizens given limited capacity to roam and raid anyone not flying Reach colours... Something that wouldn't fly on Earth, under modern rules of engagement.

You'd be surprised what private military companies can get away with.

Given he just shot his boss in the back? I'd say he's claiming it whether he does or not.

Not necessarily. Depending on how they're organised, it might go to the next most senior captain, who would probably be on one of the other ships.

So, that's the world they're hitting, the lightly-touched annexed planet. Anyone recognise the name? The DC Wiki finds nothing.

Almost none of the named worlds will be canon worlds, as I don't think any Reach-held worlds get named in canon.

Should these be 'shears'? In which case, the 'snips' in the first case might work better as 'snip'?

Thank you, corrected.

Bramble Thorn said:
You think Geometry is a discredited theory? Like On the list of bad science it goes young earth creationism, followed by triangles and rhombuses?
That tessellating tiles are juat a hoax perpetrated by M.C. Escher then?

I'm quoting Joey Tribbiani. I wanted to find a video clip of the episode where he says it, but couldn't find one.

AidanMorgan · Dec 12, 2020

I love the sheer confusion and fear that some of these random people have, who have acknowledged that the nice polite orange man just does whatever he wants and roll with it lest he very politely render you down to your constituent atoms.

webxro · Dec 12, 2020

I wanna say a thing about the Reach claiming Paul has Mind Control, they might not know it to be true, but that doesn't mean their PR wing cannot claim it to be true, it could be a happy coincidence for it to be true.

Darko · Dec 12, 2020

webxro said:
I wanna say a thing about the Reach claiming Paul has Mind Control, they might not know it to be true, but that doesn't mean their PR wing cannot claim it to be true, it could be a happy coincidence for it to be true.

Paul did make his big galactic debut when he mind controlled that assassin in Vega, so they may have found out about that when they researched him.

Other Orange Lanterns have probably also mind controlled someone, so the Reach may have found out about it from observing them.

Also the Reach were allied with the Light, so they may have told them about Paul's abilities.

webxro · Dec 12, 2020

Darko said:
Paul did make his big galactic debut when he mind controlled that assassin in Vega, so they may have found out about that when they researched him.

Other Orange Lanterns have probably also mind controlled someone, so the Reach may have found out about it from observing them.

Also the Reach were allied with the Light, so they may have told them about Paul's abilities.

That's true, but I am saying that just because a person is right doesn't mean they actually have info, they could be right by accident.

Mr Zoat · Dec 12, 2020

Darko said:
Paul did make his big galactic debut when he mind controlled that assassin in Vega, so they may have found out about that when they researched him.

Vega is a long way away from the Reach. The only obvious way for them to find out would be if Grayven told them, and I doubt that they'd take his word for it.

Darko · Dec 12, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
Vega is a long way away from the Reach. The only obvious way for them to find out would be if Grayven told them, and I doubt that they'd take his word for it.

Maybe, though that still leaves them finding out about it from watching other Orange Lanterns do it, or from the Light.

Gantradies · Dec 12, 2020

i could legitimately see it as believable that they got Intel/rumors from Vega, and did research to confirm them-
the Citadel might have been a relatively localized power bloc, but we're still talking an entire star-fairing power/race obliterated in less time then the average CITY falls to an invasion against land/air/sea-bound forces ,especially prodded given rumors from their connections to the light-

you could liken it to a good chunk of old Europe sitting up and paying attention when japan dismantled the Tsarist Russian navy in the war before ww1-still a distant problem, and still a second/third-class power getting stomped against the curb, but it was one of the minnows that did it...

Mr Zoat · Dec 12, 2020

Gantradies said:
i could legitimately see it as believable that they got Intel/rumors from Vega, and did research to confirm them-
the Citadel might have been a relatively localized power bloc, but we're still talking an entire star-fairing power/race obliterated in less time then the average CITY falls to an invasion against land/air/sea-bound forces ,especially prodded given rumors from their connections to the light-

you could liken it to a good chunk of old Europe sitting up and paying attention when japan dismantled the Tsarist Russian navy in the war before ww1-still a distant problem, and still a second/third-class power getting stomped against the curb, but it was one of the minnows that did it...

It's... Would really more like Mercia hearing about the Chinese defeat in the Goguryeo–Sui War. They... Might, after enough time passed, but it would be a long time later and fourth or fifth hand.

Pinklestia · Dec 12, 2020

Vaermina said:
It's both interesting and worrying that they know about Paul's mind enslaving....

The Reach told them and other Oranges may have used it.

Oh El lack of humanity has made it so I don't care about him anymore, he has basically become a walking plot device.

Is like if Watchmen was all from the point of view of the naked blue guy, it would be boring.

I know how very temping is to write walking plot devices instead of characters but I didn't like it in the Ambush Bug snips and I don't like it now.

You have to use it on moderation and when you reach the point when your main character can just fix the universe by poking at it then is better if it stops being the main character.

There is a reason why holding back the plot rock is a thing.

DougA · Dec 12, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
. Please bare in mind

Should be 'Please bear in mind'

Mr Zoat · Dec 12, 2020

DougA said:
Should be 'Please bear in mind'

Thank you, corrected.

Mr Zoat · Dec 12, 2020

A while ago someone brought up a character from Jason Blood's comic who studied magic scientifically, and was able to separate Blood and Etrigan. Does anyone remember what the character's name is?

Darko · Dec 12, 2020

Mr Zoat said:
A while ago someone brought up a character from Jason Blood's comic who studied magic scientifically, and was able to separate Blood and Etrigan. Does anyone remember what the character's name is?

Elphius Levi.

He basically made a sludge composed of foreskins and liposuctioned fat to separate them.

You planning on adding him in this story?

Will it be in the paragon or renegade side?

Mr Zoat · Dec 12, 2020

Darko said:
Elphius Levi.

He basically made a sludge composed of foreskins and liposuctioned fat to separate them.

You planning on adding him in this story?

Will it be in the paragon or renegade side?

Thank you. Just a name check on the Renegade side at the moment.

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

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