Darko
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2019
- Messages
- 23,332
Now I can't get the image of her cutting him open to examine his insides while they have sex out of my head, all of this is with Paul's consent of course and he is using his ring to stay alive.
Oh, yeah. That might make it awkward if he's working in Earth space. Short of desire-washing him.8th April
21:23 GMT
"…summary, but I need to know which of my ideas you want me to put into operation because none of them can be implemented quickly."
Kal-El looks dubious. "Didn't you tell me that Amalak wanted to kill every surviving kryptonian in the universe?"
Yep. If he can't look past his old hate, it's going to take altering his desires to stop him... Even beign able to work to restore his homeworld's ecology is not likely to cool his head."Naturally, I'd try and talk him down from that position first. I'm hoping that Jor-El or Har-Zod have genetic records of life on his homeworld I can offer him in trade. And I've got scans of the Citadel's cloning technology which he almost certainly doesn't have. But while I'll know almost immediately whether he's genuinely prepared to call off his vendetta the only way I'd be able to prevent him acting on it once I tell him that you're here is by altering his mind or killing him."
Huh. They're staying hands-off? The Hawks' reports must have convinced them Earth is too crazy to mess with openly."Katar?" King Orin looks over to the Honourable Member for Thanagar. "What will Thanagar do when they hear about this?"
"Nothing. Whatever future plans my government might have regarding its relationship to Earth, the ClusterCorp isn't an entity our government considers a threat. Until they start selling things produced on Earth to our enemies I can't think of a reason for the Thanagarian government to intervene."
Which would be quite the side-trip, given they're operating in Vega primarily... Sixty-plus light years, wasn't it? That's quite the commute.In a way, I'm pleased that all of the Justice League members here are wearing their wards. But as always, it does make my life just a little harder. His answer is reasonable and it would be difficult for Thanagar to take any action quickly even if they wanted to. But I don't know for sure.
"And if Earth hired the Blades of Alstair to run our security?"
Heh. Too much? Hopefully that's not a political opinion.His eyes dart to me for a second before fixing on King Orin.
"I would strongly suggest not recommending them to the UN."
...That feels like a major oversight. I expect it'll quickly get amended due to what happens here. Obvious Rules Patch for the win.Batman doesn't look up from his copy of the Orange Lantern Corps Code of Conduct.
"How does the Orange Lantern Corps define 'Competent Authority'."
"It doesn't. The rule exists to encourage cooperation wherever practical without compelling it, because for the most part we trust our Lanterns with their rings and there are all sorts of situations where it's convenient to ignore people."
After all, it might get in the way of his bottom line.I carefully avoid making eye contact with anyone in particular when I say that line.
"There isn't any body on Earth with the authority to determine interstellar trade policy, and Manga Khan has set up shop in territory that he could 'reasonably' claim isn't owned by anyone. That implies but doesn't prove that he's actually paying attention to our Code of Conduct. If the Security Council votes itself the authority to regulate interstellar trade and all members ratify the decision, he might pay attention to it."
Expulsion from the Corps, at a minimum, I would hope?Batman freezes the relevant sections on three holographic screens.
"And if he doesn't?"
Yeah, you don't need Dox yelling at you again for ruining more experiments..."He has to refrain from using his power ring, or he gets ejected from the Corps. And that's a decision I can make without referring it to Dox."
Though I probably shouldn't make it without referring it to Dox.
Hopefully someone less obsessive about profit.King Orin nods. "But that wouldn't make him leave."
"Correct. And it would probably result in Dox appointing someone else."
Now wouldn't that be a butterfly from hell? Orange Lantern Lex Luthor, without needing the War of Light."Such as?"
"Anyone with strong avarice and a sense of mission. Amalak would be an appropriate, as he wants to create stability and to recreate his species. Lex Luthor is similarly well motivated."
Admittedly, I wonder if he could control himself enough to avoid attacking Superman. Imagine if Supes kept getting harassed by minor orange constructs whenever he came too close to LexCorp Tower?
Ah, OL? I though you were trying to play hands-off here?"I considered him myself prior to him deciding to double down on the Light. He has many worthwhile character traits, the undesirable ones just outweigh them. Dox told me that he is experimenting to see what sort of person makes the best Orange Lantern. I don't know who he'll pick next, and chances are he doesn't yet know either. And of course doing nothing is an option because now that we're reasonably confident that Manga Khan isn't a military threat dealing with this isn't our j-."
That's better.I blink.
"Sorry, isn't your job. I'm happy to enact any of my proposed solutions, though I reiterate that doing nothing is very much an option. Is there anything else you would like to know?"
I'm impressed he didn't sigh and rub his throbbing headache.
I assume the other Leaguers present know about the Venturian situation...And in a remarkable display of self control I don't stick my tongue out at him.
"Thank you. On the subject we were discussing before we were so rudely interrupted, do you actually want to run a 'remain' campaign?"
That's putting a lot of trust that the Venturian people will listen to his offers... But when the alternative is possibly military action..."Does it matter?"
"It's the difference between them running the referendum in two months or next week."
"… Yes, I will."
I imagine their situation is complicated...I nod politely.
"I will inform King Cyprian. I imagine that you can liaise with him via Venturia's ex-senators, who.. are still in Poseidonis, to sort out the particulars."
I'm sure there'll be discussion once he's gone, mostly on the topic of complications...Apparently, they're under house arrest. With Poseidonis backing Ptra and Venturia backing Cyprian something like that was inevitable. But there's no need for me to underline it.
I raise my right hand to my forehead.
"I will bid you all a good evening."
Sensible. No need to set off the alarms again.I step out
8th April
20:27 GMT -1
and reappear just outside of King Cyprian's private quarters, next to the charmed circle set aside for magic teleportation.
Ultimately, it comes down to what the Venturian people want...The duty magician recognises me immediately.
"Orange Lantern. What news?"
"King Orin opted to run the campaign, though I suspect that it's just a delaying tactic."
Yay, playing messenger boy. The pleasure of being a mostly neutral party.She nods.
"Do you wish to be escorted to the king?"
"No, there's.. no need. Please just pass the message on. No need for an immediate reply."
Just a flying visit...
Do remember to make it clear that you're taken, OL. Don't want to tick off Jade..."Would you..? Object to me recording your teleportation? My mentor was one of those who aided you against the eye creature, and his description made it sound fascinating."
"Not a problem at all. Actually, if you want to study it in detail I'm happy to make room in my schedule."
Boy, that conversation could sound so wrong to the right ears..."I-. Yes! That would be splendid."
I smile at her.
"I will be fascinated to hear what you discover."
Thank you, corrected.Think it should be 'be appropriate' or 'be an appropriate candidate' instead of 'be an appropriate'.
I think that either is fine.
A woman who never wanted children now has hundreds.That mention of Amalak and the cloning facilities reminded me about Karsta. How's that going in the Grayven tl?
I don't get why Dox just wouldn't send someone reliable and suited to do the job? Can anyone explain this point to me? What's with sending Manga Khan, or the possibility of Dox appointing Amalak or Lex Luthor for the job? Is the Orange Lanter Corps so hard up on unbiased and suitable candidates that it has to resort to this? Or maybe explain why Dox has been antagonised to the point where he's sending someone who clearly priortises his own self-interest over his mission.
As inconvenient as it is for the SI, Earth and ClusterCorp is a low risk way of trying this approach out. In addition, the SI expected it to take months for them to arrive because that's how long it takes for other people to travel from Maltus to Earth. ClusterCorp was much closer.I don't get why Dox just wouldn't send someone reliable and suited to do the job? Can anyone explain this point to me? What's with sending Manga Khan, or the possibility of Dox appointing Amalak or Lex Luthor for the job? Is the Orange Lantern Corps so hard up on unbiased and suitable candidates that it has to resort to this? Or maybe explain why Dox has been antagonised to the point where he's sending someone who clearly prioritises his own self-interest over his mission.
Channeling Mojo Jojo, probably not a good sign.
OL, do you really want others to learn how it's done?!?"Would you..? Object to me recording your teleportation? My mentor was one of those who aided you against the eye creature, and his description made it sound fascinating."
"Not a problem at all. Actually, if you want to study it in detail I'm happy to make room in my schedule."
"I-. Yes! That would be splendid."
I smile at her.
"I will be fascinated to hear what you discover."
Sure. But two thoughts on why it still might be a bad idea:Knowledge does not imply ability. She'd need an orange ring to simply attempt it, then enough skill to actually be able to access the Hornden, then she'd have to somehow miraculously retain her sanity, find somewhere to exist, and then do that.
I miss the Funny rating.
Would you..? Object to me recording your teleportation? My mentor was one of those who aided you against the eye creature, and his description made it sound fascinating."
? She said that she'd record it, presumably so that they can study it. Given that they are magical researchers, I think they'd probably follow their safety practices, so I don't see anything too risky with this?Using Elemental planes as a shortcut tends to end horribly unless you know what you are doing.
See this?
This right here is why I prefer Grayven.
In a similar situation Grayven would have told right away about the mind altering consequences and other possible consequences.
Hence why he doesn't let anyone that doesn't directly work for him and is awakened use Apokolips tech and nowadays that's basically reduced to armor and a few melee weapons because he doesn't trust it. Not after the whole deal with Father Box.
Think I have nailed down what annoys me about this arc.
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.As inconvenient as it is for the SI, Earth and ClusterCorp is a low risk way of trying this approach out. In addition, the SI expected it to take months for them to arrive because that's how long it takes for other people to travel from Maltus to Earth. ClusterCorp was much closer.
She's just gathering data. She would eventually be shown things like that anyway, but had an opportunity to get some primary data herself. She probably won't understand enough of what she's seeing to do much with it, but it's not as if amateur astronomers add to the total of human knowledge by looking at Jupiter.Using Elemental planes as a shortcut tends to end horribly unless you know what you are doing.
See this?
This right here is why I prefer Grayven.
In a similar situation Grayven would have told right away about the mind altering consequences and other possible consequences.
Hence why he doesn't let anyone that doesn't directly work for him and is awakened use Apokolips tech and nowadays that's basically reduced to armor and a few melee weapons because he doesn't trust it. Not after the whole deal with Father Box.
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.Think I have nailed down what annoys me about this arc.
OL's big thing is fixing problems and being proactive. Now he is faced with a problem that he caused and is doing everything he can to avoid fixing it. Even the proposals he gives in this update are all ways to facilitate someone else fixing the problem.
Using Elemental planes as a shortcut tends to end horribly unless you know what you are doing.
See this?
This right here is why I prefer Grayven.
In a similar situation Grayven would have told right away about the mind altering consequences and other possible consequences.
Hence why he doesn't let anyone that doesn't directly work for him and is awakened use Apokolips tech and nowadays that's basically reduced to armor and a few melee weapons because he doesn't trust it. Not after the whole deal with Father Box.
? She said that she'd record it, presumably so that they can study it. Given that they are magical researchers, I think they'd probably follow their safety practices, so I don't see anything too risky with this?
Think I have nailed down what annoys me about this arc.
OL's big thing is fixing problems and being proactive. Now he is faced with a problem that he caused and is doing everything he can to avoid fixing it. Even the proposals he gives in this update are all ways to facilitate someone else fixing the problem.
A secondary issue is OL ignoring his own problem: That being that the galactic enforcement organisation he created is starting to go off the rails.
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.
If nothing else the fact that they are sourcing their mages from the place should make it a priority to handle with care.
Are you or not living in a superhero setting?
If the answer is yes then may I remind you at the invisible primate with power armor?
Then she'll die, and everyone else will learn a valuable lesson.Are you or not living in a superhero setting?
If the answer is yes then may I remind you at the invisible primate with power armor?
Then she'll die, and everyone else will learn a valuable lesson.
Sure. But two thoughts on why it still might be a bad idea:
(1) learning how it works might allow some shortcuts in the process to be found, and
(2) learning how it works is still the first step in mastering it and perhaps that's not something that random NPCs shouldn't be allowed to know.
Doesn't the evil overlord list say something about guarding your sources of power?
And Oh El could have prevented her death but did not, because he doesn't care to give warnings like Grayven would have.
And Oh El could have prevented her death but did not, because he doesn't care to give warnings like Grayven would have.