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

Khornelius · Jun 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
No, it's the same as the canon explanation: America blackmailed the Japanese Prime Minister with evidence of corruption and the soldiers got called off.

Wait, are you saying they actually want a tribute in flour?

In a roundabout way …maybe?

Having more land to produce food would make them more self-efficient and save them likely billions of dollars. The latest statistics show Japan spent around 70.2 billion dollars on agriculture products in 2022. They import roughly 60 percent of their food each year, with 12% of that being from America. 70 billion is about 8% of their total GDP as a nation. The ability to produce their own food and one day actually begin exporting it would save them billions of dollars.

Though such an economic development would take years to implement and are wholly reliant on the portal remaining open. But it would give them a darn good reason to be interested in going to the other side to build those farms.

I'm uncertain if a year or monthly tribute of flour and food products would be big enough to even make a dent in the city the portal is in. Let alone the rest of the country. But frankly building massive farms on the other side and driving food trucks back through make a lot more sense than resource mining, at least in the near future.

mossconfig · Jun 15, 2023

I don't think anybody in GATE Japan is making those kind of good decisions.

Lord Ernest · Jun 15, 2023

The simple fact that a stable treaty, even if in favor of this Japan, would result in no more chaos or similar interactions for the Gods to derive entertainment from, ultimately means that they would close the Gate in a relative short amount of time. So even with good decision making on the part of this Japan, it wouldn't amount to anything. It would be like building over a glass bridge, suspended over a swamp. No stability plausible at all.

Vaermina · Jun 15, 2023

Lord Ernest said:
The simple fact that a stable treaty, even if in favor of this Japan, would result in no more chaos or similar interactions for the Gods to derive entertainment from, ultimately means that they would close the Gate in a relative short amount of time. So even with good decision making on the part of this Japan, it wouldn't amount to anything. It would be like building over a glass bridge, suspended over a swamp. No stability plausible at all.

The God's can't close the Gate.

Mr Zoat · Jun 15, 2023

21st August 2015
21:12 Japan Time

I'm blind!

No, you've just been exposed to a bright light. It's like walking from a dark room to the bright outdoors. Focus on your desire to see and you'll be fine, or have the ring's sensors direct you.

Oh.

Also, you can fly.

Ah.

It's alright, we'll work on it.

Thank you.

A small impulse and his eyes clear, revealing a large probably-American soldier standing just in front of him and a couple of others providing cover from behind nearby trees.

"…probable target, please advise."

Diabo nods. "Yes, I was probably the target. I appreciate-" The soldier's eyes widen and he takes a half-step back, his gun rising slightly. "-your efforts in fighting the Chinese."

Definitely an American accent. My guess would be Kansas or Nebraska, though training for commando units means that they might have picked up the accent from outside of their home state.

"Ah. You're welcome. Sir."

"Though I would appreciate it if you could keep your.. 'flashbangs'? To yourself in future."

The soldier looks… Surprisingly awkward about things.

"Sorry sir. You just sort of appeared. I was aiming for the Chinese."

I notice that one of the other soldiers is speaking urgently but quietly into his radio.

"…made contact with-. The Chinese were here, too. No, he did. With a glowing orange sword, so I'm not exactly-. Yes, Unicorn Three is..."

"Are any of your tent-mates injured? As I said, I-."

"No, thank you, sir. Sir, my commanding officer would like to speak with you quite urgently."

"I would be happy to thank him in person. I'm currently being quartered at the resort through the woods. Please send your commander through as soon as you've checked the perimeter for other Chinese soldiers."

Diabo turns away, rising off the ground as he does so and flying back towards the resort. At the entrance the lieutenant and several other soldiers have thrown their body armour on over whatever they were wearing and grabbed their guns, readying to sally out. Diabo lands just in front of them.

"The Chinese appear to be dead, and the Americans are securing the perimeter."

The lieutenant looks mildly puzzled.

"Americans?"

"Yes? I believe they're your nation's allies?"

"That's…" He looks a little awkward. "True. But we weren't told about any Americans being sent here."

"And you weren't told about the other Japanese soldiers withdrawing. I suggest having your messenger flogged."

The lieutenant smiles. "A-hah. It's probably a miscommunication. It happens sometimes."

"Then flog the miscommunicators." Diabo walks past them and back into the resort. "The leader of the Americans will be visiting later. Please escort them to me."

"Ah, the thing is… Sergeant, take over here." An older sergeant nods as the lieutenant scurries after Diabo. "Prince Diabo, the Americans are our allies. But there has been a… Polite disagreement about the best way to handle the gate."

"But it's in the middle of your country. And it can't be moved."

"I.. don't think I'm supposed to talk about it. I don't really know what the Prime Minister and the American President talk about."

"Am I going to have to-."

"Lieutenant!"

Diabo and the lieutenant turn at the sergeant's shout, as-. One of the American soldiers walks out of the woods, his gun at rest across his chest. The Japanese soldiers look surprisingly unsettled by that, but I suppose that a relatively junior soldier in a politically sensitive situation might well feel out of their depth.

"Who're you?!"

The American soldier halts. "Captain Thompson, 1st Special Forces Group. The Prince invited me."

Realistically, a captain probably won't be much more in the loop than a lieutenant. He certainly wouldn't have the authority to deploy a squad in a friendly country on his own recognisance. But he could well be the most senior American on-site, and it might not be practical for their ambassador or whoever to get here from the embassy.

The lieutenant nods. "Are the Chinese dead?"

"Yeah. No identification, so the Chinese will probably say they were all Korean." Captain Thompson shrugs.

"Have you seen the squad who was supposed to be guarding the resort?"

"No. But I didn't see their bodies, either. Ah. Okay, real talk? I think someone at the embassy pulled some strings so we could talk to the Prince."

The lieutenant's expression hardens. "They got the security detail removed?"

The captain shrugs. "It's not like they knew that the Chinese were gunna send in a team. Guess they just wanted our meeting to be off the books."

Ah. Yes. Someone upstairs decides something stupid and the sensible people have to run around pointlessly trying to make it happen instead of doing what they know is the more sensible thing.

"Is that why we can't contact them?"

"I didn't get any orders about jamming you, so I guess so. Someone on your side probably ordered them not to answer."

The lieutenant doesn't look too happy.

"You just want to talk to the prince. Why?"

"This is just me guessing, but I think your government's being a bit slow about forwarding intelligence. After the portal appeared in Tokyo, everyone got scared that a portal might open in one of their cities. And we all know that the Self-Defense Force went through… But we're not getting any information."

The lieutenant nods slowly.

"Personally, I'm just pissed we weren't already involved. I was on base when the weird Roman army came through in Ginza. We were mounted up and ready to go, but no one could get authorization. Coulda been on site in minutes."

The lieutenant looks shocked, then his expression morphs into one of anger . "I didn't know that."

Diabo nods. "Perhaps I could put your mind at rest?"

Chojin Patriarch · Jun 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
21st August 2015
21:12 Japan Time

I'm blind!

No, you've just been exposed to a bright light. It's like walking from a dark room to the bright outdoors. Focus on your desire to see and you'll be fine, or have the ring's sensors direct you.

Hell, one quick Wholeness Rightly Assumed would fix him up no problem. Pity OL can't set the program up for him, the way he's connected to the Ring right now. One more annoyance courtesy of the Gods.

Oh.

Also, you can fly.

Maybe later, if you're still around, you can work on transitions.

Ah.

It's alright, we'll work on it.

Rookies...

Thank you.

A small impulse and his eyes clear, revealing a large probably-American soldier standing just in front of him and a couple of others providing cover from behind nearby trees.

And probably very confused and a little concerned at the superhero.

"…probable target, please advise."

Diabo nods. "Yes, I was probably the target. I appreciate-" The soldiers eyes widen and he takes a half-step back, his gun rising slightly. "-your efforts in fighting the Chinese."

...They did see what the Chinese team's guns did to Diabo, didn't they? As in, Fuck All?

Definitely an American accent. My guess would be Kansas or Nebraska, though training for commando units means that they might have picked up the accent from outside of their home state.

"Ah. You're welcome. Sir."

No doubt OL has quite the catalogue of American accents since his time with the Team.

"Though I would appreciate it if you could keep your.. 'flashbangs'? To yourself in future."

The soldier looks… Surprisingly awkward about things.

Yeah, best to be embarrassed when you tossed a grenade at the guy who took down your opponents for you...

"Sorry sir. You just sort of appeared. I was aiming for the Chinese."

I notice that one of the other soldiers is speaking urgently but quietly into his radio.

Probably calling it in to his boss. This was quite the turnabout.

"…made contact with-. The Chinese were here, too. No, he did. With a glowing orange sword, so I'm not exactly-. Yes, Unicorn Three is..."

"Are any of your tent-mates injured? As I said, I-."

Surprised he doesn't have a Purple healing Ray in subspace or something. Though it might still be in OL's lockup rather than his personal setup. Which he might not even be aware of yet.

"No, thank you, sir. Sir, my commanding officer would like to speak with you quite urgently."

"I would be happy to thank him in person. I'm currently being quartered at the resort through the woods. Please send your commander through as soon as you've checked the perimeter for other Chinese soldiers."

In other words, a nice little diplomatic play. Showing trust that the yankees can clean up, while forcing their leader to come to him...

Diabo turns away, rising off the ground as he does so and flying back towards the resort. At the entrance the lieutenant and several other soldiers have thrown their body armour on over whatever they were wearing and grabbed their guns, readying to sally out. Diabo lands just in front of them.

"The Chinese appear to be dead, and the Americans are securing the perimeter."

Body armour and yukata.

That's a combination.

The lieutenant looks mildly puzzled.

"Americans?"

Not expecting company, LT?

"Yes? I believe they're your nations allies?"

"That's…" He looks a little awkward. "True. But we weren't told about any Americans being sent here."

I suspect the Americans weren't actually invited.

"And you weren't told about the other Japanese soldiers withdrawing. I suggest having your messenger flogged."

The lieutenant smiles. "A-hah. It's probably a miscommunication. It happens sometimes."

And no doubt he'll have words for whoever's responsible. Polite ones if they're a superior officer, nasty ones if it's a subordinate...

"Then flog the miscommunicators." Diabo walks past them and back into the resort. "The leader of the Americans will be visiting later. Please escort them to me."

"Ah, the thing is… Sergeant, take over here." A older sergeant nods as the lieutenant scurries after Diabo. "Prince Diabo, the Americans are our allies. But there has been a… Polite disagreement about the best way to handle the gate."

Let me guess: America wanted to be all 'Team America' about it and take charge...

"But it's in the middle of your country. And it can't be moved."

"I.. don't think I'm supposed to talk about it. I don't really know what the Prime Minister and the American President talk about."

Well, not quite the middle of the country proper. But definitely smack bad in Metropolitan Tokyo.

"Am I going to have to-."

"Lieutenant!"

Have to go smack a politician or two? Probably might help them sort shit out in a hurry...

Diabo and the lieutenant turn at the sergeant's shout, as-. One of the American soldiers walks out of the woods, his gun at rest across his chest. The Japanese soldiers look surprisingly unsettled by that, but I suppose that a relatively junior soldier in a politically sensitive situation might well feel out of their depth.

"Who're you?!"

I'm guessing the only reason they noticed him was that he wanted them to.

The American soldier halts. "Captain Thompson, 1st Special Forces Group. The Prince invited me."

Realistically, a captain probably won't be much more in the loop than a lieutenant. He certainly wouldn't have the authority to deploy a squad in a friendly country on his own recognisance. But he could well be the most senior American on-site, and it might not be practical for their ambassador or whoever to get here from the embassy.

Especially if this whole thing wasn't officially sanctioned.

The lieutenant nods. "Are the Chinese dead?"

"Yeah. No identification, so the Chinese will probably say they were all Korean." Captain Thompson shrugs.

Naturally.

Plausible deniability.

"Have you seen the squad who was supposed to be guarding the resort?"

"No. But I didn't see their bodies, either. Ah. Okay, real talk? I think someone at the embassy pulled some strings so we could talk to the Prince."

Seems a bit risky. Turning up with an armed strike team might be taken in so many wrong ways.

The lieutenant's expression hardens. "They got the security detail removed?"

The captain shrugs. "It's not like they knew that the Chinese were gunna send in a team. Guess they just wanted our meeting to be off the books."

And thanks to that, they nearly got him killed, if nor for his supernatural defences.

Ah. Yes. Someone upstairs decides something stupid and the sensible people have to run around pointlessly trying to make it happen instead of doing what they know is the more sensible thing.

"Is that why we can't contact them?"

There's a term for that: Rear-Echelon Mother-Fuckers.

"I didn't get any orders about jamming you, so I guess so. Someone on your side probably ordered them not to answer."

The lieutenant doesn't look to happy.

Yeah, someone is going to get yelled at, I bet.

"You just want to talk to the prince. Why?"

"This is just me guessing, but I think your government's being a bit slow about forwarding intelligence. After the portal appeared in Tokyo, everyone got scared that a portal might open in one of their cities. And we all know that the Self-Defense Force went through… But we're not getting any information."

No doubt the Japanese high command didn't want 'those American cowboys' interfering with their 'Glorious Imperial Victory'...

The lieutenant nods slowly.

"Personally, I'm just pissed we weren't already involved. I was on base when the weird Roman army came through in Ginza. We were mounted up and ready to go, but no one could get authorization. Coulda been on site in minutes."

Again, no doubt someone wanting to keep it in-country, I bet.

The lieutenant looks shocked, then his expression morphs into one of anger . "I didn't know that."

Diabo nods. "Perhaps I could put your mind at rest?"

About the chance of other Gates opening, I assume...

Well, I was right, it was a fustercluck. And it's gonna be messy for whoever ordered it, I bet. No doubt some politician somewhere will quietly be stood down. Still, maybe the people who actually have to solve the problems their bosses create can sort all this out more easily. Meanwhile, I would have assumed OL would have tried to reacquire his own body by now... Must still be stuck working under the otherworld's rules...

Mr Zoat, some Corrections:

The soldiers eyes widen and he takes a half-step back...

'Soldier's' or possibly 'soldiers' ', depending on how many's eyes are going wide.

"Yes? I believe they're your nations allies?"

"Yes? I believe they're your nation's allies?"

A older sergeant nods as the lieutenant scurries after Diabo.

An older sergeant nods as the lieutenant scurries after Diabo.
...but I suppose that a relatively junior soldier...
Double Space there.

The lieutenant doesn't look to happy.

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

The lieutenant doesn't look too happy.

Cuchulin · Jun 15, 2023

Two military terms come to mind here, Charlie Foxtrot and SNAFU.

BR549 · Jun 15, 2023

Cuchulin said:
Two military terms come to mind here, Charlie Foxtrot and SNAFU.

I think there's a very appropriate Schlock Mercenary for this.

"You should ask politely BEFORE firing into somebody else's Charlie Foxtrot!"

Mr Zoat · Jun 15, 2023

Chojin Patriarch said:
'Soldier's' or possibly 'soldiers' ', depending on how many's eyes are going wide.
"Yes? I believe they're your nation's allies?"
An older sergeant nods as the lieutenant scurries after Diabo.
...but I suppose that a relatively junior soldier...
Double Space there.
The lieutenant doesn't look too happy.

Thank you, corrected.

Silverias · Jun 15, 2023

KenNM said:
https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Jarro

So...I just found out Batman adopted a Starro? Apparently

Edit:

it's even heartwarming

<censored>

You proooobably shouldnt' link to stuff like that. Copyright infringement is a good way to get fried.

Mr Zoat · Jun 15, 2023

KenNM said:
Understood

KenNM · Jun 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:

Yeah yeah, message recieved I've deleted it.

And now that I'm here anyways, I'm gonna ask something that's bugged me for a while.

Why choose Eris as his patron? You do know her domain is Strife ie conflict and disorder not Chaos, for someone so attentive to details it's very weird you overlooked that.

Her most famous act is literally causing a war for shits and giggles. She isn't Chaos that is change, she's disorder and conflict.

Mr Zoat · Jun 15, 2023

KenNM said:
Yeah yeah, message recieved I've deleted it.

I linked to a comedy sketch based on an actual campaign. In my country you can use a certain percentage of any printed work without it being a copyright issue, and a single page is well below that.

And now that I'm here anyways, I'm gonna ask something that's bugged me for a while.

Why choose Eris as his patron? You do know her domain is Strife ie conflict and disorder not Chaos, for someone so attentive to details it's very weird you overlooked that.

Her most famous act is literally causing a war for shits and giggles. She isn't Chaos that is change, she's disorder and conflict.

I believe this was covered in the story. The SI's position RE Troy is that all Eris did it put an apple in a room. It was everyone else acting like prideful belligerent idiots that caused the war.

The SI is perfectly aware that he's going to be involved in and cause a great deal of strife. There wasn't any point in pretending otherwise.

Sordid Snake · Jun 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"Personally, I'm just pissed we weren't already involved. I was on base when the weird Roman army came through in Ginza. We were mounted up and ready to go, but no one could get authorization. Coulda been on site in minutes."

The lieutenant looks shocked, then his expression morphs into one of anger . "I didn't know that."

"The Ginza Gate was an inside job!"

Mr Zoat · Jun 16, 2023

13th February 2013
21:06 GMT -5

B'dg and I approach the kiosk. I'm smiling brightly, but apparently B'dg feels that professional detachment is a better mien.

"Hello sirs, and welcome to Talok IV." The mature woman manning the desk has the usual blue skin of her species, but her hair is streaked with grey rather than being the matte black of her younger counterparts. She blinks after completing her first line of her spiel, her eyes focusing on the lantern sigils on our chests. "Oh-h. Do you-? Do you want to talk to the Interior Ministry?"

"No." / "Yes."

She looks from me to him and back again. "Um…"

"He does, because the Green Lantern Corps has a cooperation agreement with your government. I don't, because I'm just a nosy parker."

"This is a tourist information kiosk, sir." Her eyes move to B'dg. "Would you like the Interior Ministry to send a car, or would you like to speak with them in a private booth?"

"Booth, thanks. If I need to talk to someone in person I'll just fly there."

She points to the right. "Just through there, sir, the privacy shield will engage once you're inside."

"Thanks." B'dg flies off, and the sound cuts out a moment later.

"What would you like to know, Orange Lantern?"

"Okay, so, I'm looking for someone I'm pretty sure came to this planet sometime in the last year." I generate a construct image of Peldak. "She also had a power ring."

"While we don't habitually track our visitors, I can help you navigate our public information systems. Unless visitors set a 'no monitoring' order, that's usually enough to work out approximately where they are."

"I love visiting other planets sometimes. It's like being at home a couple of decades in the future."

She looks like she doesn't quite know how to take that.

"Fine. Please do a perfectly legal search. Her name's Peldak."

She begins pressing buttons.

I could… Bypass the whole thing, obviously. Ring-hack their computer systems and access all of their logs. But Talok isn't on fire, and since Peldak doesn't seem like the sort to register her flight plans, finding out where she's gone if she's not still here will rely on Dreamer. And Talok is in a Sector with two mid-tier Green Lanterns, is civilised, prosperous, on good terms with its neighbours and… Generally, it's the sort of place I wouldn't mind Earth having as a neighbour, or turning into. Heck, they even have a culture of superheroes, and that's really rare in the galaxy.

Sure, they've all got the same power, but the principle is the same. And that cultural background is probably why this woman is being so accommodating. The only bad thing about it is its proximity to some Dominion tributaries, which is how Ms. Mallor came a cropper, and that's hardly their fault.

"I'm not seeing a 'Peldak'. Is your image life size?"

"Yes. Ah, hang on." I generate Peldak's name in local standard phonics. "Try that? Or Indigo Lantern?"

"I don't think that she came through a port access portal."

"No, she'd probably just have flown down."

"We do discourage that."

"Her species usually faint if anything happens anywhere near them. She's let the fact that she doesn't do that any more go to her head."

"Ah… No, nothing-. Oh."

"Oh?"

"I was looking for 'indigo', and I found several mentions of a shower of indigo lights over one of the Shadow Champion hermitages about half a year ago." She presses a button to call up an image. It's the right shade of indigo, certainly. "We discourage that sort of thing as well, but the police investigation didn't turn up anything and the Champions didn't think it was worth worrying about."

"I know what a Shadow Champion is, but I don't know what the significance of the hermitages is."

"They're the sacred sites where they go to meditate on the power of the Father of Shadows to activate their own. Disturbing them is very illegal. Have you met a Shadow Champion before?"

"Yes, and there's a man on my homeworld with the same sort of ability."

"Which one did you meet?"

"Lyrissa Mallor."

"Ah. Yes, she gave herself to the Dominion to save an entire world. A noble sacrifice in the finest-."

I frown. "You do know she's still alive, right?" She looks surprised. "The Dominion were keeping her at a prison I liberated. I sort of assumed that she'd have got back in touch with her homeworld by now. Has she..? Not?"

"I… If she has then it's not been publically announced. It… Might cause trouble with the Dominion if they… If they saw her."

"Normally I'd say 'to heck with them', but I've got quite a lot of war on my plate already. I'll have a word with her. Who do I need to talk to about visiting the hermitage?"

"By visiting-. You can't go inside the hermitage; that would contradict it's-"

"Of course."

"-entire purpose. If you want to visit the site, then the person to talk to is Lyssa Drak."

…

This is presumably before she met-. Before she joined the Sinestro Corps.

I don't remember the comics really… Covering her back story. I mean, she must have done something with her time before becoming the Sinestro Corps' personnel officer on Qward. And she definitely hasn't visited Qward in this timeline.

Honestly, I hadn't even realised that she was from here. I thought that she was just some blue woman Sinestro picked up somewhere.

"Okay, great. Can you make me an appointment, or do I need to talk to someone else?"

"I can request an appointment."

"Please do. I'd like to bring a few friends along, but we can make it just Lantern B'dg and I if she prefers."

"I will send a message now. I-." B'dg flies back in, looking unhappy. "Is something wrong, Green Lantern?"

"The Guardians aren't happy about this."

"How unhappy?"

"The entire Corps is getting put on alert to find these people."

"Makes my life easier."

"They want the whole thing shut down. It was her using the green light that pushed them over."

I shrug. "As long as they wait until the Anti-Life is gone, that's fine with me."

Darko · Jun 16, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
They Dominion were keeping her at a prison I liberated. I sort of assumed

'The Dominion"

RoninSword · Jun 16, 2023

I'm surprised at how ok he is with the Indigo Tribe being shut down (even with the caveat of waiting until after Earth has been purged)
Especially as he has mentioned Apokolips as a target multiple times. A full spectrum of Lanterns would be the best thing. Good luck at getting more Indigo Rings if the Guardians shut it down and lock down the ingredients used to make them.

Ngamer11 · Jun 16, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"Her species usually faint is anything happens anywhere near them. She's let the fact that she doesn't do that any more go to her head."

Those should say 'if' and 'anymore'.

Mr Zoat said:
"By visiting-. You can't go inside the hermitage; that would contradict it's-"

"Of course."

"-entire purpose. If you want to visit the site, then the person to talk to is Lyssa Drak."

…

This is presumably before she met-. Before she joined the Sinestro Corps.

I don't remember the comics really… Covering her back story. I mean, she must have done something with her time before becoming the Sinestro Corps' personnel officer on Qward. And she definitely hasn't visited Qward in this timeline.

Honestly, I hadn't even realise that she was from here. I thought that she was just some blue woman Sinestro picked up somewhere.

Is it too much to hope that Paul can somehow avert her becoming a member of the Sinestro Corps? I wouldn't mind it if she didn't join the OLC, but maybe Paul can help her in another way. Also, that should say 'realised'.

Mr Zoat said:
"I will send a message now. I-." Bd'g flies back in, looking unhappy. "Is something wrong, Green Lantern."

"The Guardians aren't happy about this."

"How unhappy?"

"The entire Corps is getting put on alert to find these people."

"Makes my life easier."

"They want the whole thing shut down. It was her using the green light that pushed them over."

I shrug. "As long as they wait until the Anti-Life is gone, that's fine with me."

I foresee the bobbleheads having heated debates about outright destroying the Indigo Lantern Corps the way they destroyed the Anti-Green Lantern Corps.

RoninSword said:
I'm surprised at how ok he is with the Indigo Tribe being shut down (even with the caveat of waiting until after Earth has been purged)
Especially as he has mentioned Apokolips as a target multiple times. A full spectrum of Lanterns would be the best thing. Good luck at getting more Indigo Rings if the Guardians shut it down and lock down the ingredients used to make them.

It's possible Paul assumes that even if the Guardians try to wipe out the entire Indigo Lantern Corps, some members will survive and go into hiding. Indigo is the best color to use at remaining hidden.

w34v3r · Jun 16, 2023

RoninSword said:
I'm surprised at how ok he is with the Indigo Tribe being shut down (even with the caveat of waiting until after Earth has been purged)
Especially as he has mentioned Apokolips as a target multiple times. A full spectrum of Lanterns would be the best thing. Good luck at getting more Indigo Rings if the Guardians shut it down and lock down the ingredients used to make them.

He doesn't think they'll succeed at anything except pissing off the tribe, and possibly aggravating the other nascent corps.

BlackCoat13 · Jun 16, 2023

RoninSword said:
I'm surprised at how ok he is with the Indigo Tribe being shut down (even with the caveat of waiting until after Earth has been purged)
Especially as he has mentioned Apokolips as a target multiple times. A full spectrum of Lanterns would be the best thing. Good luck at getting more Indigo Rings if the Guardians shut it down and lock down the ingredients used to make them.

I don't think he believes they can do it, and I don't believe it either. Certainly they've got the man power and force to do it, but the Indigo Lanterns are essentially the space stealth faction. The Greenies would have continued right on not knowing they even existed if Paul didn't have cheating metaknowledge.

The Guardians and the Greens will have a hell of a time enforcing their edict when they can't even find their targets.

Chojin Patriarch · Jun 16, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
13th February 2013
21:06 GMT -5

Bd'g and I approach the kiosk. I'm smiling brightly, but apparently Bg'd feels that professional detachment is a better mien.

"Hello sirs, and welcome to Talok IV." The mature woman manning the desk has the usual blue skin of her species, but her hair is streaked with grey rather than being the matt black of her younger counterparts She blinks after completing her first line of her spiel, her eyes focusing on the lantern sigils on our chests. "Oh-h. Do you-? Do you want to talk to the Interior Ministry?"

Ah, the joy of dealing with civilised space-faring species who know what you are. Having glowing sigils floating around you opens so many doors. Bonus points for her professional demeanour in the face of two space cops. (Yes, I know OL isn't a police officer, but would she know that?).

"No." / "Yes."

She looks from me to him and back again. "Um…"

Don't worry, ma'am. That's not an uncommon reaction around OL.

"He does, because the Green Lantern Corps has a cooperation agreement with your government. I don't, because I'm just a nosy parker."

"This is a tourist information kiosk, sir." Her eyes move to Bd'g. "Would you like the Interior Ministry to send a car, or would you like to speak with them in a private booth?"

I'm guessing she heard the rough translation of the 'nosy parker' concept and filed him under 'powered vigilante'.

"Booth, thanks. If I need to talk to someone in person I'll just fly there."

She points to the right. "Just through there, sir, the privacy shield will engage once you're inside."

Handy. I guess tourists will always want to call home without spending their own Roaming minutes.

"Thanks." Bd'g flies off, and the sound cuts out a moment later.

"What would you like to know, Orange Lantern?"

Nice of her to guess about his title. After all, he's like a Green Lantern, but orange.

"Okay, so, I'm looking for someone I'm pretty sure came to this planet sometime in the last year." I generate a construct image of Peldak. "She also had a power ring."

"While we don't habitually track our visitors, I can help you navigate our public information systems. Unless visitors set a 'no monitoring' order, that's usually enough to work out approximately where they are."

Though there's probably considerable paperwork involved in getting that 'no monitoring' request. After all, just asking would raise some suspicions.

"I love visiting other planets sometimes. It's like being at home a couple of decades in the future."

She looks like she doesn't quite know how to take that.

Heh. The joy of slowly bootstrapping Earth into a science-fiction magitech information-era paradise. Even if humanity isn't quite comfortable with it yet.

"Fine. Please do a perfectly legal search. Her name's Peldak."

She begins pressing buttons.

Kind of cocky to assume she entered their borders legally. Still, worth checking.

I could… Bypass the whole thing, obviously. Ring-hack their computer systems and access all of their logs. But Talok isn't on fire, and since Peldak doesn't seem like the sort to register her flight plans, finding out where she's gone if she's not still here will rely on Dreamer. And Talok is in a Sector with two mid-tier Green Lanterns, is civilised, prosperous, on good terms with its neighbours and… Generally, it's the sort of place I wouldn't mind Earth having as a neighbour, or turning into. Heck, they even have a culture of superheroes, and that's really rare in the galaxy.

...Reminds me of the Asari from Mass Effect - Their Justicars probably qualify as superheroes. Scary ones with unrestricted lethality, but still... Can you tell I've been playing the series?

Sure, they've all got the same power, but the principle is the same. And that cultural background is probably why this woman is being so accommodating. The only bad thing about it is its proximity to some Dominion tributaries, which is how Ms. Mallor came a cropper, and that's hardly their fault.

"I'm not seeing a 'Peldak'. Is your image life size?"

Still, just having the same power doesn't mean some have more of it than others.

"Yes. Ah, hang on." I generate Peldak's name in local standard phonics. "Try that? Or Indigo Lantern?"

"I don't think that she came through a port access portal."

Yeah, like I suggested. Kind of hard to stop a Lantern just plunging down from space if they don't feel like putting up with red tape.

"No, she'd probably just have flown down."

"We do discourage that."

Heh. The joy of a sufficiently advanced culture.

"Her species usually faint is anything happens anywhere near them. She's let the fact that she doesn't do that any more go to her head."

"Ah… No, nothing-. Oh."

In other words, she'd still be riding something of a power high. Not uncommon for the newly empowered.

"Oh?"

"I was looking for 'indigo', and I found several mentions of a shower of indigo lights over one of the Shadow Champion hermitages about half a year ago." She presses a button to call up an image. It's the right shade of indigo, certainly. "We discourage that sort of thing as well, but the police investigation didn't turn up anything and the Champions didn't think it was worth worrying about."

So, they're down to just six months behind. Better than before.

"I know what a Shadow Champion is, but I don't know what the significance of the hermitages is."

"They're the sacred sites where they go to meditate on the power of the Father of Shadows to activate their own. Disturbing them is very illegal. Have you met a Shadow Champion before?"

I bet they're places where the material world is worn a little thin relative to the local branch of the Shadowlands.

"Yes, and there's a man on my homeworld with the same sort of ability."

"Which one did you meet?"

Still surprised he hasn't looked deeper into the Shade. But I suppose there needs to be some points of difference between Paragon and Renegade.

"Lyrissa Mallor."

"Ah. Yes, she gave herself to the Dominion to save an entire world. A noble sacrifice in the finest-."

A quick reminder: Lyrissa Mallor. And her previous appearance here (in Part 1 of 'Authority'.)

I frown. "You do know she's still alive, right?" She looks surprised. "They Dominion were keeping her at a prison I liberated. I sort of assumed that she'd have got back in touch with her homeworld by now. Has she..? Not?"

"I… If she has then it's not been publically announced. It… Might cause trouble with the Dominion if they… If they saw her."

Yeah, I could see that happening, to avoid a diplomatic incident.

"Normally I'd say 'to heck with them', but I've got quite a lot of war on my plate already. I'll have a word with her. Who do I need to talk to about visiting the hermitage?"

"By visiting-. You can't go inside the hermitage; that would contradict it's-"

Another thing for the 'to-do' list, eh?

"Of course."

"-entire purpose. If you want to visit the site, then the person to talk to is Lyssa Drak."

Ooh, there's a worrying name. But fortunately...

…

This is presumably before she met-. Before she joined the Sinestro Corps.

...Perhaps OL can prevent a future tragedy.

I don't remember the comics really… Covering her back story. I mean, she must have done something with her time before becoming the Sinestro Corps' personnel officer on Qward. And she definitely hasn't visited Qward in this timeline.

Honestly, I hadn't even realise that she was from here. I thought that she was just some blue woman Sinestro picked up somewhere.

To be fair, OL, there are plenty of exotic skin colours in comics. By comparison, humans' pink, yellowish beige and reddish-brown colours seem boring.

"Okay, great. Can you make me an appointment, or do I need to talk to someone else?"

"I can request an appointment."

Interesting. Surprisingly wide range of services for a tourist kiosk.

"Please do. I'd like to bring a few friends along, but we can make it just Lantern Bd'g and I if she prefers."

"I will send a message now. I-." Bd'g flies back in, looking unhappy. "Is something wrong, Green Lantern."

Ah. Looks like bad news from Command.

"The Guardians aren't happy about this."

"How unhappy?"

On a scale of 1 to 'Unleash the Third Army'?

"The entire Corps is getting put on alert to find these people."

"Makes my life easier."

Well, that won't trigger an early War of Light, I bet.

"They want the whole thing shut down. It was her using the green light that pushed them over."

I shrug. "As long as they wait until the Anti-Life is gone, that's fine with me."

And given the capabilities for stealth, I don't fancy their chances.

Well, I foresee that little announcement to make OL's job of convincing an Indigo tribesman to help just a bit harder, if they find out it was because of him. Still, at least they've narrowed down the last place Peldak was seen around here. That'll save some time, and hopefully let them narrow the lead she's got. The hunt goes on!

Ngamer11 · Jun 16, 2023

Mr Zoat, I just noticed that your folder for December 2011 chapters includes chapters for November of 2011 as well, so the TOC needs to be edited.

ForeverShogo · Jun 16, 2023

Ah. Lyssa. Another shining example of what female fashion among supervillainesses is like. Not a criticism. Rather, it's a joyous reminder.

I wonder how many people take up villainy just to have an excuse to enter that social circle and eat the eye candy?

Mr Zoat · Jun 16, 2023

Darko said:
'The Dominion"

Ngamer11 said:
Those should say 'if' and 'anymore'.
Also, that should say 'realised'.

Me said:
"Is something wrong, Green Lantern."

Ngamer11 said:
Mr Zoat, I just noticed that your folder for December 2011 chapters includes chapters for November of 2011 as well, so the TOC needs to be edited.

Thank you, corrected.

Huttj509 · Jun 16, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Bd'g and I approach the kiosk. I'm smiling brightly, but apparently Bg'd feels that professional detachment is a better mien.

One of those names is wrong.

Mr Zoat · Jun 16, 2023

Huttj509 said:
One of those names is wrong.

Thank you, corrected.

NightmareWarden · Jun 16, 2023

I like to imagine the Guardians were huddled around a monitor, waiting for Bd'g to leave Paul's presence to make their call. They like how stubborn their lanterns are, and they need to lay down a plan without Paul asking dangerous questions or subverting them.

Stsword · Jun 16, 2023

The Indigos are very good at teleporting, and those staves of theirs? Those are their power batteries.

So even if the Greenies were as good at teleporting as the Indigos are, which they are not, the Indigos can keep teleporting without worrying about running out of ring charge.

Duke Long · Jun 16, 2023

Huttj509 said:
One of those names is wrong.

This made me suspicious, so I decided to check the proper spelling of his name and skim through his appearances. Mostly it was correct, but not always. Hopefully I didn't miss any, because I'm not going to double-check.

Mr Zoat said:
Bd'g nods. "No, but the statejians are the most aggressive species in this region.

'B'dg'

Mr Zoat said:
Bd'g frowns. "I doubt they'll answer a polite question. They're pretty aggressive."

'B'dg'

Mr Zoat said:
"Bad constructs." Bd'g floats next to my head.

'B'dg'

Mr Zoat said:
Bd'g frowns. "Huh. Did you know they could do that?"

'B'dg'

Mr Zoat said:
I drift away from the damaged siphon as the Forevercar flies in, followed by Lightray and Bd'g-.

'B'dg'

Mr Zoat said:
Bd'g and I approach the kiosk. I'm smiling brightly, but apparently Bd'g feels that professional detachment is a better mien.

'B'dg'
'B'dg'

Mr Zoat said:
"This is a tourist information kiosk, sir." Her eyes move to Bd'g.

'B'dg'

Mr Zoat said:
"Thanks." Bd'g flies off, and the sound cuts out a moment later.

'B'dg'

Mr Zoat said:
"Please do. I'd like to bring a few friends along, but we can make it just Lantern Bd'g and I if she prefers."

'B'dg'

Mr Zoat said:
"I will send a message now. I-." Bd'g flies back in, looking unhappy. "Is something wrong, Green Lantern?"

'B'dg'

PDV · Jun 16, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"They want the whole thing shut down. It was her using the green light that pushed them over."

They can teleport anywhere at-will. I don't think the bobbleheads will succeed without active cooperation.

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