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

[NightmareWarden]

Hypothetical; if he had assimilated one of the pre-Dream spell cats before the ritual, would it remember the pre-Dream spell world or would it be affected like all the other cats were?

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That's a tough one. There are plenty of powers which can make a ring glitch, so I reckon the spell would affect the assimilated cat. Unless, unless the cat was in some pocket dimension- not just in the ring.

 

[Mr Zoat]

14th September 2013
08:22 GMT

The Thanagarian cruiser-carrier in front of me deploys thrusters and accelerates backwards away from me as my construct Ophidian glowers at it. For something like this, scaring a military vessel out of someone else's territory, actually calling on her power is entirely superfluous.

And… I'm a little uncomfortable with how… Merged we were getting when I browbeat the High Mor into signing the treaty. The Ophidian isn't hostile. Quite the contrary, according to Hinon she likes me more than anyone and anything the Controllers have on record. And the Ophidian has no problem with helping me. She wants everything, and having perspective is something that she values. So calling her whenever I need her is fine as far as she's concerned; she's doing what she wants to.

But being perfectly fine merging with the Embodiment of Avarice is moving away from being human. And that's… That's something that I want to hold on to as long as possible. All other things being equal.

I mean… Apotheosis is a thing that can happen. And even without divine heritage, the exotic energies I've been absorbing… I'm probably going to experience something like that eventually. And that's… Fine. Plenty of minor members of the Hellenistic pantheon used to be mortals. The original version of Wonder Woman ended up becoming a goddess in the comics. Not sure what it will mean in practice…

The thanagarian ship finally gets enough distance from me that the pilot feels that it's safe for them to turn the ship. It rotates so that it's nose up relative to the orbital plane of this system and activates its main sub-light drive, rapidly accelerating out from between the odd binary dwarf planet pair and towards 'safety'.

State-endorsed piracy. It's disgraceful. Not only are there plenty of worlds within easy reach of the Thanagarian Empire that they could easily terraform, not only do they already have plenty of worlds they're not using to anything like their peak capacity, but they insist on subjugating by brute force rather than using their superior economic power to bring other worlds into their sphere of influence. Hyathis is giving more generous terms to places she's been at war with for centuries than the Thanagarians use as their opening offer.

This isn't an efficient use of my time, but I can't say that I regret it.

I raise my right index figure to my forehead

and

appear next to Lantern Guarn as he watches from orbit around the system's one inhabited planet.

"They're leaving."

He makes a gesture of acknowledgement and gratitude, tilting his head back and flaring his throat sacks.

"I'm trying to understand Green Lantern rules of engagement. Isn't chasing off pirates your job?"

"Pirates, yes. But… The Guardians know that we're not all as strong as Lantern Gardner or… You. The Thanagar Empire was getting to the point where I would need to take action, but I can't defeat them by myself. Instead, I would need to ally myself with their enemies, or raise a coalition to oppose them."

"Your partner?"

"On Oa for training. My previous partner was killed by… Pirates."

"That sounds like something that should have caused more disquiet."

"The galaxy is a large place, Orange Lantern. There are many expansionist empires, and only a handful of Honour Guard Lanterns. I cannot take time away from my primary tasks to focus on increasing my own power, not without a partner to cover for me. Even with one it would feel like an indulgence."

"Do you know of anyone who would make a good Orange Lantern?"

"What characteristics are required?"

"Ideally, they would be someone who has a selfish desire to create peace. Who was so unsatisfied with the state of things today that it created a powerful sense of disquiet within them."

"Hm. No one comes to mind. There probably are people like that amongst the slaves and lizarkons, but I don't interface with their hives."

"And I don't want to take the time away from Earth that I'd need to in order to train them up. And not just because of the time it would take; it would be an obvious sign to Thanagar that I've decided to become their enemy."

He stares at me for a moment.

"Do you not think that grub has already moulted?"

"There's a difference between someone who has interests and ambitions contrary to yours and may oppose you, and someone who is obviously building up with the intent of finishing you off. Thanagar is the violent and xenoservus empire. I'm curtailing their influence… Fine. They won't like it, but they know that they'll survive. But if it looks like I intend to wipe them out, then they'll employ any and all methods to dissuade me."

"Their slaves would make good hostages."

"The thanagarians of the old colonies would make good hostages. Particularly if Andar or Hyathis turn the ones on the colonies they're occupying, which is entirely possible."

"Would they make good Orange Lanterns?"

"I don't think Andar would. Hyathis… Maybe. I'm not sure that she's got the mental stability to stay on-mission…"

The alternative is that I get an existing Orange Lantern to do it. But who? The Reach are a far larger problem than Thanagar-.

For a moment I consider giving rings to Hawkman and Hawkwoman.

No.

Everyone in Vega is going to be busy. I could probably look out across the universe and find someone with exactly the right set of desires…

"Standard practice is to build an alliance between at-risk worlds?"

"Yes."

"I'm assuming that there isn't any one good nucleus world?"

"Alstair."

"So no."

"Alstair fulfils the requirements. Orange Lantern, is your aim to unmake the Thanagarian Empire?"

"Yes. By which I include reforming it so substantially that it effectively becomes something else."

"Hyathis is best positioned to achieve that aim."

"But a substantial proportion of the Empire's population will resist to the death. But if we could promote an internal reform process…"

"How? The High Council has enforced a monoculture. There is no separate internal locus of power."

"The old colonies?"

"Not unified, either internally or with each other. And they have just as many slaves as Thanagar itself."

"Alright. How about this world?"

"They're barely interstellar. They have only eight billion people spread across their home system, and none outside of it. Their internal development strategy-."

"But they're better people than the thanagarians?"

"Yes. Though that may only be because they lack the reach."

"They we may as well start with them."

"Yes? Ah. We?"

 

[Ngamer11]

State-endorsed piracy. It's disgraceful. Not only are there plenty of worlds within easy reach of the Thanagarian Empire that they could easily terraform, not only do they already have plenty of worlds they're not using to anything like their peak capacity, but they insist on subjugating by brute force rather than using their superior economic power to bring other worlds into their sphere of influence. Hyathis is giving more generous terms to places she's been at war with for centuries than the Thanagarians use as their opening offer.

This isn't an efficient use of my time, but I can't say that I regret it.

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Yeah, they really are just asking to be taken down in OL's eyes.

"Standard practice is to build an alliance between at-risk worlds?"

"Yes."

"I'm assuming that there isn't any one good nucleus world?"

"Alstair."

"So no."

"Alstair fulfils the requirements. Orange Lantern, is your aim to unmake the Thanagarian Empire?"

"Yes. By which I include reforming it so substantially that it effectively becomes something else."

"Hyathis is best positioned to achieve that aim."

"But a substantial proportion of the Empire's population will resist to the death. But if we could promote an internal reform process…"

"How? The High Council has enforced a monoculture. There is no separate internal locus of power."

"The old colonies?"

"Not unified, either internally or with each other. And they have just as many slaves as Thanagar itself."

"Alright. How about this world?"

"They're barely interstellar. They have only eight billion people spread across their home system, and none outside of it. Their internal development strategy-."

"But they're better people than the thanagarians?"

"Yes. Though that may only be because they lack the reach."

"They we may as well start with them."

"Yes? Ah. We?"

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Good to know Paul is going to get others interested in the absolute defeat and possible reformation of Thanagar to help him rather than do everything himself. Also, that should say 'Then'.

 

[Darko]

I mean… Apotheosis is a thing that can happen. And even without divine heritage, the exotic energies I've been absorbing… I'm probably going to experience something like that eventually. And that's… Fine. Plenty of minor members of the Hellenistic pantheon used to be mortals

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Heck, Hephasestus mentioned that Hades was planning on making you the god of greed when you died.

The Thanagar Empire was getting to the point where I

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"Thanagarian"