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

Vaermina · Oct 14, 2024

Ardy said:
Well duh, it's based on Old World Blues, not just canon.

Don't forget that Old World Blues is Fallout 3 DLC, so you might want to specify that you're talking about the Hearts of Iron IV mod.

Mr Zoat · Oct 14, 2024

30th April 2013
10:56 GMT

Lantern Natu looks at me askance. "I could do that myself."

I nod as the first of the replacement bodies is carefully removed from the bio-printer.

"As could I, and Lantern Nax, and… A few others."

She returns her attention to the brain tanks. "Is this supposed to be a lesson in self control?"

"No. This is a lesson in how to bio-print replacement bodies and install brains. We cannot guarantee that there will always be Lanterns around with the right mindset, so we have to make sure that there's a non-Lantern solution available."

"So we just leave them there while we practice?"

"They're sedated. They're… Dreaming at worst. More likely they're-."

"Having the worst possible nightmares because their mentors cut their brains out."

"No, I had the Atlanteans make some dreamcatchers. I doubt that their thoughts are going to be pleasant, but they-" She frowns at me. "-aren't going to have nightmares."

"'Dreamcatchers'? You mean those bits of netting?"

"Yes. I usually use the opposite, but they're quite efficacious." I smile at her. "I know that finding out that-."

"How do they work?"

"If you want precise details, you'll need to speak to the wizards. Broadly, a nightmare is a sort of… Bad magical trip, where your mind connects to the realm of dreams and pulls all sorts of cruel creatures and negative narrative strands to expand an uncomfortable throught into something really nasty. Dreamcatchers filter the connection to the Dream so that the… Lure, if you like, can't go out."

I sigh quietly.

"Of course, sometimes, having a nightmare is a good idea, but I'll refer you to the goddess Melinoë if you want to have that discussion."

"I think they've had enough nightmares."

I nod. Threllian is going over the data the Darkstars recovered from the town. He wanted to help with the re-bodying, but I convinced him that his own feelings about the Reach might result in him inadvertently altering their minds, and he-. Very much wants to avoid doing that.

"What about the rest?"

"The Scarabs? Not much we can do for them. I mean, if we get very lucky-."

"No. The-. That wasn't their original homeworld, was it?"

"No."

"So there's nothing to stop the Reach cloning them again."

"Probably not. And when I feel it I'll take a look, but they'll probably fortify it better next time." I sigh again. "But they have to give them some sort of upbringing or their brains don't develop properly. We've bought a decade… Maybe a bit longer."

She nods slowly. "I can't get my head around this kind of evil."

"Oh? Nothing like this is Korugar's history?"

"Sure, but-. The people who did experiments on people-. They were some of the most evil people my world ever produced. When they were… Working for a government, they had to keep what they were doing secret, because it would have caused riots. And when crazy.. murderers did it on their own, the moment they were found out…"

"So you're asking why everyone in the Reach is fine with it, to the point where random cargo handlers know exactly what's going on?"

"They opened two continents for settlement. They didn't care which of their people found out about it."

"Lantern Natu, when I told you that the Reach were evil, what did you think I meant by that?"

"I.. thought they would be brutal expansionist militarists who ran a police state. And then I read the briefing documents, but I thought they might be.. exaggerated. And then the Darkstars started sending me examples of Reach biotech from.. liberated worlds, or N.E.M.O. members who were fighting off their infiltration attempts, and… I don't… Understand how they… Became this."

"Pass. Next question." I shrug. "We don't have good records until just before the start of their war with the Green Lantern Corps. I honestly can't tell you how they became the way they are. My best guess is that they used genetic engineering to change the way they socialise, but that's an educated guess at best. Feel free to go archive-diving if you want to try to find out."

"There must be… Some records of what they were like. If they can cooperate with each other they must have had normal social instincts at one time."

"The Spider Guild doesn't have any moral problem with eating people, and they can cooperate with each other. You shouldn't assume that just because a lot of intelligences share certain characteristics that we all do."

"What about records?"

"Everywhere that had records of the pre-expansionist Reach has long since been subsumed, and in most cases their populations eradicated. The Reach themselves might have copies somewhere, but we've never found them."

"What about the Green Lantern Corps?"

"Didn't bother keeping detailed records that far back. Border locations, yes, laws, yes. Minor points of sociology or biology? Not unless the local Lanterns made records themselves." She looks slightly dubious again. "It's a big universe."

Checks finished, the empty-skulled body is wheeled into the chirurgical suite while the printer starts work on the next one.

"I'm going to try. Try finding out about their history. I just.. need to know."

I nod. "Then I'll wish you the best of luck. I -on the other hand- am clocking off." I raise my right hand to my forehead. "Let me know if they need me, or if you actually find something."

"I will."

I

step out, looking for

Mr van Wyck, whose head jerks up as I appear- "Oh." -and then returns to the door to Controller Jevek's workshop.

"Any news?"

"No. The Controller thinks it probably possible to get them up again, but it's not easy. Making…"

"Making more is easier and fulfils the same strategic necessity."

"Something like that."

"Can you do anything to help them recover?" He frowns, shaking his head. "In that case, the surviving Darkstars and I were going to have dinner. Do you and your people want to come as well? There's some… Great restaurants on Maltus?"

He thinks for a moment, then hesitantly nods. "I don't know about the others. But I will. Thanks."

Chojin Patriarch · Oct 14, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
30th April 2013
10:56 GMT

Lantern Natu looks at me askance. "I could do that myself."

I nod as the first of the replacement bodies is carefully removed from the bio-printer.

A giant 3d-printer for meat, I see. Presumably with the skull empty, waiting for the intended brain to be slotted in and linked up via nano-surgery. I expect the surgical teams are going to be busy with that for a while.

"As could I, and Lantern Nax, and… A few others."

She returns her attention to the brain tanks. "Is this supposed to be a lesson in self control?"

And what if you aren't around to do it? What then? Always have mundane backup options.

"No. This is a lesson in how to bio-print replacement bodies and install brains. We cannot guarantee that there will always be Lanterns around with the right mindset, so we have to make sure that there's a non-Lantern solution available."

"So we just leave them there while we practice?"

The transport pods probably put them in stasis of some sort. Otherwise they'd go insane from the sensory isolation. Amusing, given the Fallout side of the episode and this both deal with debodied brains...

"They're sedated. They're… Dreaming at worst. More likely they're-."

"Having the worst possible nightmares because their mentors cut their brains out."

Could be, could be. Given the one they spoke to seemed to be aware that his boss did this to him (or at least ordered it done.)

"No, I had the Atlanteans make some dreamcatchers. I doubt that their thoughts are going to be pleasant, but they-" She frowns at me. "-aren't going to have nightmares."

"'Dreamcatchers'? You mean those bits of netting?"

Don't underestimate Earth Bullshit™. A silly-looking craft project can be surprisingly powerful.

"Yes. I usually use the opposite, but they're quite efficacious." I smile at her. "I know that finding out that-."

"How do they work?"

At least she isn't dismissing it out of hand the way some might do. Looks like she read OL's notes about Earth...

"If you want precise details, you'll need to speak to the wizards. Broadly, a nightmare is a sort of… Bad magical trip, where you mind connects to the realm of dreams and pulls all sorts of cruel creatures and negative narrative strands to expand an uncomfortable through into something really nasty. Dreamcatchers filter the connection to the Dream so that the… Lure, if you like, can't go out."

A rough enough simplification for a being whose people probably don't have their own equivalent mystical tradition.

I sigh quietly.

"Of course, sometimes, having a nightmare is a good idea, but I'll refer you to the goddess Melinoë if you want to have that discussion."

Pity her therapy idea got shot down by the medical industry, if I remember right.

"I think they've had enough nightmares."

I nod. Threllian is going over the data the Darkstars recovered from the town. He wanted to help with the re-bodying, but I convinced him that his own feelings about the Reach might result in him inadvertently altering their minds, and he-. Very much wants to avoid doing that.

Good plan. You want these poor guys to be angry of their own accord, not because someone expects them to be.

"What about the rest?"

"The Scarabs? Not much we can do for them. I mean, if we get very lucky-."

The one Marty decapitated might be recoverable, at least...

"No. The-. That wasn't their original homeworld, was it?"

"No."

That was conquered long ago, wasn't it, and Threllian is the descendant of people who fled, yes?

"So there's nothing to stop the Reach cloning them again."

"Probably not. And when I feel it I'll take a look, but they'll probably fortify it better next time." I sigh again. "But they have to give them some sort of upbringing or their brains don't develop properly. We've bough a decade… Maybe a bit longer."

Yeah, they kind of blew their advantage here, between the deep-penetration strike and the knowledge of the colony's location. i expect there'll be some paranoid investigations, then the project will be restarted in a much more secure site.

She nods slowly. "I can't get my head around this kind of evil."

"Oh? Nothing like this is Korugar's history?"

Heh. Say what you will about Sinestro, but he would not have this sort of thing. And anytime before him...

"Sure, but-. The people who did experiments on people-. They were some of the most evil people my world ever produced. When they were… Working for a government, they had to keep what they were doing secret, because it would have caused riots. And when crazy.. murderers did it on their own, then moment they were found out…"

...About what I expected, really.

"So you're asking why everyone in the Reach is fine with it, to the point where random cargo handlers know exactly what's going on?"

"They opened two continents for settlement. They didn't care which of their people found out about it."

"Lantern Natu, when I told you that the Reach were evil, what did you think I meant by that?"

I mean, 'Evil' can come in many flavours. And one culture's evil might be different to another's. Consider Ragnar's culture and killing opponents in battle.

"I.. thought they would be brutal expansionist militarists who ran a police state. And then I read the briefing documents, but I thought they might be.. exaggerated. And then the Darkstars started sending me examples of Reach biotech from.. liberated worlds, or N.E.M.O. members who were fighting off their infiltration attempts, and… I don't… Understand how they… Became this."

It wouldn't have been overnight, certainly. One little change after another over millennia...

"Pass. Next question." I shrug. "We don't have good records until just before the start of their war with the Green Lantern Corps. I honestly can't tell you how they became the way they are. My best guess is that they used genetic engineering to change the way they socialise, but that's an educated guess at best. Feel free to go archive-diving if you want to try to find out."

I doubt it was intentional, but the Reach people do seem to have rather reduced compassion towards other species. And what little they feel is more 'oh, how sad that they aren't enlightened like us...'

"There must be… Some records of what they were like. If they can cooperate with each other they must have had normal social instincts at one time."

"The Spider Guild doesn't have any moral problem with eating people, and they can cooperate with each other. You shouldn't assume that just because a lot of intelligences share certain characteristics that we all do."

Nor that they recognise other sophont species as being morally equal to themselves. Like the Spider guild mention - They mostly see the usefulness of other beings, but in the end, they're still food.

"What about records?"

"Everywhere that had records of the pre-expansionist Reach has long since been subsumed, and in most cases their populations eradicated. The Reach themselves might have copies somewhere, but we've never found them."

If they kept them, they'd be in data-vaults deep in the heartlands of the empire. Long forgotten archives of 'assimilated' cultures kept for curiosity...

"What about the Green Lantern Corps?"

"Didn't bother keeping detailed records that far back. Border locations, yes, laws, yes. Minor points of sociology or biology? Not unless the local Lanterns made records themselves." She looks slightly dubious again. "It's a big universe."

And before you say it, yes, seven galaxies is still a huge space to deal with.

Checks finished, the empty-skulled body is wheeled into the chirurgical suite while the printer starts work on the next one.

"I'm going to try. Try finding out about their history. I just.. need to know."

That's your prerogative. Just don't let it get in the way of your day job.

I nod. "Then I'll wish you the best of luck. I -on the other hand- am clocking off." I raise my right hand to my forehead. "Let me know if they need me, or if you actually find something."

"I will."

Yes, take Jade out for a nice romantic dinner, 'snuggle' her into insensibility and spend the night sleeping comfortably. You owe her that much for the trouble.

I

step out, looking for

Mr van Wyck, whose head jerks up as I appear- "Oh." -and then returns to the door to Controller Jevek's workshop.

Ah, yes, the critically wounded Effigies. He's taking their loss personally, isn't he?

"Any news?"

"No. The Controller thinks it probably possible to get them up again, but it's not easy. Making…"

Still not ruling out the possibility he pumps Dark Energon into them as a test. When he has the time, anyway...

"Making more is easier and fulfils the same strategic necessity."

"Something like that."

Not time- or cost-effective, eh? Still, I hope he's not disposing of them. Perhaps after the initial building-up stages, he'll be able to revive them.

"Can you do anything to help them recover?" He frowns, shaking his head. "In that case, the surviving Darkstars and I were going to have dinner. Do you and your people want to come as well? There's some… Great restaurants on Maltus?"

He thinks for a moment, then hesitantly nods. "I don't know about the others. But I will. Thanks."

Good, form some bonds outside of Jevek. Sooner or later, the Controller will reveal his true colours, and you'll want people on your side who aren't him.

And that's both plots wrapped up. A pity about the downed Effigies, and I suspect Marty will be feeling responsible for their injuries. So commiserating about it with veterans like OL will probably help him deal. Still fun to see two different plot-lines about stolen brains playing out, and it'll be interesting to see what comes of it. Now, what next for OL...

...where you mind connects to the realm of dreams...

...where your mind connects to the realm of dreams...

...to expand an uncomfortable through into something really nasty.

...to expand an uncomfortable thought into something really nasty.

...then moment they were found out…"

...the moment they were found out…"

Darko · Oct 14, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
We've bough a decade…

"bought"

Mr Zoat said:
What about records?"

"Everywhere that had records of the pre-expansionist Reach has long since been subsumed, and in most cases their populations eradicated. The Reach themselves might have copies somewhere, but we've never found them."

Though it's possible that their leaders destroyed those records so that no one may want to go back to what they were.

Heck, even the current leaders may not know that they were ever different since their predecessors never bothered telling them.

Signaller · Oct 14, 2024

Re the Reach history, I wonder if some of it might be inscribed in the walls of the various Hondens?

Dur'id the Druid · Oct 14, 2024

Signaller said:
Re the Reach history, I wonder if some of it might be inscribed in the walls of the various Hondens?

Unlikely. 1. It's a mental construct that not all the lantern sources use. 2. Trends to record individuals, not civilizations.

Bud-E · Oct 14, 2024

I'm glad Paul and Effigy are becoming friends I hope it turns out well for them both!

Mr Zoat · Oct 14, 2024

Chojin Patriarch said:
...where your mind connects to the realm of dreams...
...to expand an uncomfortable thought into something really nasty.
...the moment they were found out…"

Darko said:
"bought"

Thank you, corrected.

Signaller said:
Re the Reach history, I wonder if some of it might be inscribed in the walls of the various Hondens?

The sorts of things Reachians desired at different points in their history, yes. But it's a very partial view.

Steelplaza · Oct 14, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
I honestly can't tell you how they became the way they are. My best guess is that they used genetic engineering to change the way they socialise, but that's an educated guess at best.

That would be the non-comic book, most-likely sensible explanation that requires no extra actors. But who are we kidding, this is the DC Universe.

9 out of 10 chance a Big Bad Evil Guy did it to them in order to make them his perfect tools of conquest, and he's hiding in the center of Reach civilization (or somewhere anyway), puppet mastering the whole enterprise through their sacred Writ.

Someguy Somewhere · Oct 14, 2024

Maybe they're just Darkseids escaped pet sea monkeys.

Prince Charon · Oct 15, 2024

Chojin Patriarch said:
Pity her therapy idea got shot down by the medical industry, if I remember right.

She might have more luck in places that aren't too heavily Westernized, and that aren't Abrahamic-majority nations. Tethadom would at least listen, I think.

Darko · Oct 15, 2024

Chojin Patriarch said:
Pity her therapy idea got shot down by the medical industry, if I remember right.

I think they just stopped exposing Crane to nightmares.

And thinking about it, you can see why they'd do it.

It's basically bombarding a mentally ill guy with nightmares.

Prince Charon · Oct 15, 2024

Darko said:
I think they just stopped exposing Crane to nightmares.

And thinking about it, you can see why they'd do it.

It's basically bombarding a mentally ill guy with nightmares.

Said bombardment being done by an expert with millennia of experience who know how to use them to help people, IIRC, with the doctors in question just dismissing all that because she's not in their clique.

Ardy · Oct 15, 2024

Prince Charon said:
Said bombardment being done by an expert with millennia of experience who know how to use them to help people, IIRC, with the doctors in question just dismissing all that because she's not in their clique.

Honestly I think the big issue wasn't the customized nightmares business but the "be mentally ill for an hour to understand your patients better" business. Theoretically a good idea, freaked out most people they wanted to try it on

Mr Zoat · Oct 15, 2024

25th December 2282
13:08 GMT -6

As far as I know, the Eighties don't celebrate Christmas. No presents, no trees, no carolling and no prayers. But they do mark the 25th of December with a motor parade, followed by a communal feast.

I'm looking down at the parade now.

It's been decades since Warchief Super Bee fled Sac City ahead of the Shady Sands/Redding/Boneyard army. Most N.C.R. textbooks refer to it as the N.C.R. Army, but the N.C.R. Constitution hadn't been signed yet, even if it was clear to all parties that it was inevitably going to be. A large, technologically sophisticated band of raiders squatting on the N.C.R.'s neck couldn't be tolerated, so they had to go.

Unfortunately, and perhaps also inevitably, the attack was poorly planned. The various city states had armies made up almost exclusively of light infantry. The Lost Hills Brotherhood weren't involving themselves and the Desert Rangers were still trying to hold Arizona. Against a raider army which was mostly driving cars and trucks and even had a few restored tanks, they could gradually grind them down but weren't able to prevent a breakout. Thousands of heavily armed Eighties drove towards New Reno and then Vault City, committing brigandage and enslavement wherever they went.

And they finally set up shop here, in Wendover, where they built their new home, conquered some of the weaker proto-nations and then sat here menacingly. Eastport aside none of them are places the N.C.R. cares about, and since Eastport's conquest has mostly just resulted in them paying the Eighties proper to leave them alone it's not really a pressing concern.

Until they started talking to Wyatt. So now it's time for hardball.

The parade is going slow, Thunderbird taking time to wave at his admirers and toss bottle caps into the crowd. Other luminaries drive just behind him, engines revving, drivers and passengers having shouted exchanges with one another and the crowd. Behind that… Tanks. Not final generation American army tanks, but certainly more advanced than anything fielded during World War Two. I'm a little concerned that they're a novel design rather than just a copy of the Abrams or something, because that indicates a level of technological skill that we didn't think they had.

There, in the second rank. That's Wyatt. So at least I know where he is.

Behind the tanks are trucks and cars, all heavily customised. Some trucks are modified with armoured plates and welded-on machine guns. Others have rocket launchers or anti-air guns mounted on the back, and one has what looks like a ludicrously oversized flamethrower. Eighties tribesmen standing in the transport vehicles are shouting and waving at the crowd…

Some of the trucks have bound slaves instead. I spot a few heavily worn vault suits amongst Canaanite cotton and leather and patched pre-War clothing that could have come from just about anywhere. **[I reach out]** but I don't feel any Sky Reavers or Sky Walkers down there. That's not surprising; we only got a border with Eighties-controlled territory fairly recently and they don't have much of a presence near us.

**A song? A song!**

My eyes widen as I do hear a telepathic voice, and…

**Will it join us? Will it sing to the hole in the sky? The chorus is so quiet now.**

That's a Crimson Acolyte. I didn't think they'd all died, but I'm going to need to get on that.

But first things first. Stealth field off, acceleration increased, Ride of the Valkyries on external speakers, prepare to launch flares and skim!

My saucer zooms through the air towards the back of the convoy, burning magnesium flying from the air like falling stars all around me. Some of the people below duck or scrabble for their guns, while others shout and cheer.

All part of the fun.

I pull up, go nose up, spin and then aileron roll into a drop back onto the parade. At the point Thunderbird has brought the slow-moving convoy to a halt and is standing in his seat to watch me. He isn't laughing. And neither is Wyatt.

I level out, put the saucer into a plate spin and fire off a new round of flares as I drift towards the front of the convoy using the anti-gravity system and my momentum. The leadership all have guns in their hands, though they're all trying to conceal it at least a little. I stop the spin just as I pass Thunderbird, dropping to just above the ground and popping the canopy.

"War Chief Thunderbird. Merry Christmas."

His eyes narrow slightly as he gazes into mine. "Chief Krono. Surprised you're here now. Not surprised you came."

"Then you know why I'm here." I raise my right hand in greeting. "Wyatt."

Wyatt guns the engine on his… Bike.. chariot thing, and pulls up level with Thunderbird. Normally that would be an insult, but he needs to be involved in this talk. "Krono. Nice ride. Build it yourself?"

One of the slow-on-the-uptake lieutenants in one of the cars behind them make an ooooh noise. Suggesting that a man can't work on his own car is a pretty serious insult both amongst the Eighties and in Two Sun. Fortunately, I can repair most of the systems in a saucer. It wouldn't be safe for me to fly on my own if I couldn't.

"Did some work. What happened to your car?"

He waves his right hand dismissively. "I drive it all the time. This is a parade."

"That thing's going to have rarity value, soon. So." I turn back to Thunderbird. "Reason I'm here. The Legion's going to be dead soon. The N.C.R. wants to talk to you about the future."

"Ain't nothing to talk about. I-Eighty is ours. Republic might beat the Legion, but then their army is going to be spread out all over the desert. No dice."

"The N.C.R. will offer to normalise relations and recognise your ownership of your current territory. They will grant you the right to travel the I-Eighty in their territory as you please, subject to their laws. And they will agree to begin making repairs to the road, with the aim of restoring it to its original state." He looks mildly intrigued by the last point, and unmoved by the rest. "You could even visit Sac City again."

"So I can visit my own home. Nice. And what else?"

"You release your slaves and prohibit slavery."

His eyes widen in surprise, then he chuckles. "I meant for me. For us. But that's it? Not even a truck load of caps? Nothing?"

I nod. "Nothing. Can I have a quick answer? I'm having the in-laws over."

"Get outa here, psyker. Stop wasting my time."

I shrug. "As you wish."

And then I sit back down in the cockpit, close the canopy and accelerate directly upwards.

Activate target designator. Open channel to vertibird air wing. Lock on to the lead cars, anti-air trucks and significant concentrations of armed men.

"Targets received, missiles away."

I watch as Thunderbird frowns at the sudden increase in illumination. And then I smile as Helios fires a giant burning beam down from orbit, completely obliterating him, his car, and most of the Eighties leadership! Missiles begin slamming into cars a moment later, fuel detonating, fragments of destroyed vehicle scything through anyone nearly!

Then I switch on my own guns, pulses of energy precisely striking anyone who even looks at the slave trucks. I designate a new batch of targets as the people manning the few fixed anti-air guns in Wendover work out that they're being attacked, and only a handful of hopeful shots are fired before the second wave of missiles silences those as well.

As this point everyone who can run is running, crowds and militia alive fleeing for cover. Some try to drive away, but with the wrecks blocking the road a good many are forced to abandon their vehicles and flee on foot.

My Christmas present and bride-price to my father-in-law: the rest of Utah.

"Convoy destroyed. Bring in the transports."

Oglymogly · Oct 15, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
My Christmas present and bride-price to my father-in-law: the rest of Utah.

Very nice present! The Eighties biggest strength seemed to be their mobility and decentralization, so ambushing them when they're gathered together is a great strategy. I wonder if this will be recorded as one day war in the history books,

Ngamer11 · Oct 15, 2024

Oglymogly said:
Very nice present! The Eighties biggest strength seemed to be their mobility and decentralization, so ambushing them when they're gathered together is a great strategy. I wonder if this will be recorded as one day war in the history books,

More like a completely crushing defeat.

NightmareWarden · Oct 15, 2024

Maybe one of the first scarab-wearers (like their creator) tried to make a slave-empire from their original race, and damaged their souls in the process? I recall WTR's soul-generation guidelines and the presumed fact that Reach worlds are low-magic, but… I can't believe that the main impetus for their weird behaviors was deliberate. Too little magic for souls to overcome the damaged state of their thaumosphere, and after many generations baby Reachians just mirror their parents' soul-structures. More like a DnD devil than a demon, which translates to rigid adherence to their hierarchy and the other present day characteristics.

Through genetic engineering they pruned themselves into their current biological state, one with minds that are in line with the shape of their souls.

I could also buy that something like Thanagar's Hawkwoman weirdness is happening. Reincarnation, Nth metal, and such. Some rot that renews itself and maintains stagnation at the heart of the empire. A mirror to Vandal Savage.

Chojin Patriarch · Oct 15, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
25th December 2282
13:08 GMT -6

As far as I know, the Eighties don't celebrate Christmas. No presents, no trees, no carolling and no prayers. But they do mark the 25th of December with a motor parade, followed by a communal feast.

I'm looking down at the parade now.

Presumably recognising the significance of the day but not the religious aspect. There's a reason most ancient European cultures recognised Midwinter as something special, after all. Heck, if they're car-obsessed, it could be also something like Australia's Summernats.

It's been decades since Warchief Super Bee fled Sac City ahead of the Shady Sands/Redding/Boneyard army. Most N.C.R. textbooks refer to it as the N.C.R. Army, but the N.C.R. Constitution hadn't been signed yet, even if it was clear to all parties that it was inevitably going to be. A large, technologically sophisticated band of raiders squatting on the N.C.R.'s neck couldn't be tolerated, so they had to go.

History is written by the winners, after all. Though the Eighties probably have their own spin on the tale.

Unfortunately, and perhaps also inevitably, the attack was poorly planned. The various city states had armies made almost exclusively of up light infantry. The Lost Hills Brotherhood weren't involving themselves and the Desert Rangers were still trying to hold Arizona. Against a raider army which was mostly driving cars and trucks and even had a few restored tanks, they could gradually grind them down but weren't able to prevent a breakout. Thousands of heavily armed Eighties drove towards New Reno and then Vault City, committing brigandage and enslavement wherever they went.

Cavalry, or in this case, mechanised infantry, will always outmanoeuvre foot-sloggers without proper encircling tactics...

And they finally set up shop here, in Wendover, where they built their new home, conquered some of the weaker proto-nations and then sat here menacingly. Eastport aside none of them are places the N.C.R. cares about, and since Eastport's conquest has mostly just resulted in them paying the Eighties proper to leave them alone it's not really a pressing concern.

Until they started talking to Wyatt. So now it's time for hardball.

Ah. Yes, two enemies joining forces makes for a bigger threat, of course. They might start getting ideas about hitting bigger, more valuable targets.

The parade is going slow, Thunderbird taking time to wave at his admirers and toss bottle caps into the crowd. Other luminaries drive just behind him, engines revving, drivers and passengers having shouted exchanges with one another and the crowd. Behind that… Tanks. Not final generation American army tanks, but certainly more advanced than anything fielded during World War Two. I'm a little concerned that they're a novel design rather than just a copy of the Abrams or something, because that indicates a level of technological skill that we didn't think they had.

To be fair, modern tank design kind of plateaued at the current form of 'low-slung body with low-profile mounted turret.' Which is a pity, some anime designs are so much more stylish. If a little impractical.

There, in the second rank. That's Wyatt. So at least I know where he is.

Behind the tanks are trucks and cars, all heavily customised. Some trucks are modified with armoured plates and welded-on machine guns. Others have rocket launchers or anti-air guns mounted on the back, and one has what looks like a ludicrously oversized flamethrower. Eighties tribesmen standing in the transport vehicles are shouting and waving at the crowd…

Sounds like a Mad Max cosplay gathering.

Still, from what I know of Fallout raiders' fashion, that's more apt than anything.

Some of the trucks have bound slaves instead. I spot a few heavily worn vault suits amongst Canaanite cotton and leather and patched pre-War clothing that could have come from just about anywhere. **[I reach out]** but I don't feel any Sky Reavers or Sky Walkers down there. That's not surprising; we only got a boarder with Eighties-controlled territory fairly recently and they don't have much of a presence near us.

Probably a good thing, since they'd probably do something foolish that pissed you off.

**A song? A song!**

My eyes widen as I do hear a telepathic voice, and…

Oh? Some manner of natural psychic mutation?

**Will it join us? Will it sing to the hole in the sky? The chorus is so quiet now.**

That's a Crimson Acolyte. I didn't think they'd all died, but I'm going to need to get on that.

Even without looking, a name like that sounds bad.

But first things first. Stealth field off, acceleration increased, Ride of the Valkyries on external speakers, prepare to launch flares and skim!

My saucer zooms through the air towards the back of the convoy, burning magnesium flying from the air like falling stars all around me. Some of the people below duck or scrabble for their guns, while others shout and cheer.

Heh. I bet he's been wanting to do that for years. And the display is always impressive.

All part of the fun.

I pull up, go nose up, spin and then aileron roll into a drop back onto the parade. At the point Thunderbird has brought the slow-moving convoy to a halt and is standing in his seat to watch me. He isn't laughing. And neither is Wyatt.

Always helps to make an impressive introduction. Though it doesn't look like they appreciate the showmanship.

I level out, put the saucer into a plate spin and fire off a new round of flares as I drift towards the front of the convoy using the anti-gravity system and my momentum. The leadership all have guns in their hands, though they're all trying to conceal it at least a little. I stop the spin just as I pass Thunderbird, dropping to just above the ground and popping the canopy.

Hopefully with multiple layers of kinetic shielding on you, yes? This would be kind of ruined in some jackass decided to just shoot you.

"War Chief Thunderbird. Merry Christmas."

His eyes narrow slightly as he gazes into mine. "Chief Krono. Surprised you're here now. Not surprised you came."

Well, with such an aggressive display of machismo...

"Then you know why I'm here." I raise my right hand in greeting. "Wyatt."

Wyatt guns the engine on his… Bike.. chariot thing, and pulls up level with Thunderbird. Normally that would be an insult, but he needs to be involved in this talk. "Krono. Nice ride. Build it yourself?"

I'll admit, I don't know who Wyatt is. Old enemy Krono encountered off-screen previously? Probably not his equivalent of Nylor Truggs, though...

One of the slow-on-the-uptake lieutenants in one of the cars behind them make an ooooh noise. Suggesting that a man can't work on his own car is a pretty serious insult both amongst the Eighties and in Two Sun. Fortunately, I can repair most of the systems in a saucer. It wouldn't be safe for me to fly on my own if I couldn't.

Still, there's only so much you can do, as we saw with the fight against the Banshees.

"Did some work. What happened to your car?"

He waves his right hand dismissively. "I drive it all the time. This is a parade."

And you'd rather be nice and visible to everyone to show off your handsome face?

"That thing's going to have rarity value, soon. So." I turn back to Thunderbird. "Reason I'm here. The Legion's going to be dead soon. The N.C.R. wants to talk to you about the future."

"Ain't nothing to talk about. I-Eighty is ours. Republic might beat the Legion, but then their army is going to be spread out all over the desert. No dice."

Ah, the joy of an enemy who's a little behind the times.

"The N.C.R. will offer to normalise relations and recognise your ownership of your current territory. They will grant you the right to travel the I-Eighty in their territory as you please, subject to their laws. And they will agree to begin making repairs to the road, with the aim of restoring it to its original state." He looks mildly intrigued by the last point, and unmoved by the rest. "You could even visit Sac City again."

I-Eighty? One of the longest and most useful travel routes across the entire mainland United States? Now I see why it's so important.

"So I can visit my own home. Nice. And what else?"

"You release your slaves and prohibit slavery."

His eyes widen in surprise, then he chuckles. "I meant for me. For us. But that's it? Not even a truck load of caps? Nothing?"

See, here's the problem, son. You're outlaws. Not a respectable tribe or nation, outlaws. Criminals. Slavers and bandits. That's not really conducive to the restoration of civilisation...

I nod. "Nothing. Can I have a quick answer? I'm having the in-laws over."

"Get outa here, psyker. Stop wasting my time."

I love how he's treating this so casually. Just a little flying visit before dinner.

I shrug. "As you wish."

And then I sit back down in the cockpit, close the canopy and accelerate directly upwards.

Well, you tried, Krono. The carrot failed...

Activate target designator. Open channel to vertibird air wing. Lock on to the lead cars, anti-air trucks and significant concentrations of armed men.

"Targets received, missiles away."

...Time for the stick.

I watch as Thunderbird frowns at the sudden increase in illumination. And then I smile as Helios fires a giant burning beam down from orbit, completely obliterating him, his car, and most of the Eighties leadership! Missiles begin slamming into cars a moment later, fuel detonating, fragments of destroyed vehicle scything through anyone nearly!

And a very big stick it is. That first shot alone will cause all manner of trouble amongst the gang.

Then I switch on my own guns, pulses of energy precisely striking anyone who even looks at the slave trucks. I designate a new batch of targets as the people manning the few fixed anti-air guns in Wendover work out that they're being attacked, and only a handful of hopeful shots are fired before the second wave of missiles silences those as well.

...Though from the sounds of it, Krono doesn't intend to leave any adult members of the gang alive.

As this point everyone who can run is running, crowds and militia alive fleeing for cover. Some try to drive away, but with the wrecks blocking the road a good many are forced to abandon their vehicles and feel on foot.

My Christmas present and bride-price to my father-in-law: the rest of Utah.

"Convoy destroyed. Bring in the transports."

And one hell of a message sent.

I suspect the old man is going to be very happy with the news of his biggest foe being annihilated. The fact it also eliminates threats to the rebuilding West Coast government is a definite bonus. What remains of the Eighties is probably going to be very polite towards their neighbours, in the short time before they're engulfed by the 'legitimate' powers of the region.

The various city states had armies made almost exclusively of up light infantry.

The various city states had armies made up almost exclusively of light infantry.

...we only got a boarder with Eighties-controlled territory...

...we only got a border with Eighties-controlled territory...

...a good many are forced to abandon their vehicles and feel on foot.

...a good many are forced to abandon their vehicles and flee on foot.

Neruz · Oct 15, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
Behind that… Tanks. Not final generation American army tanks, but certainly more advanced than anything fielded during World War Two.

Aww, you mean they're not running these ridiculous behemoths?

Or is Paul just not aware that this is what the latest generation of pre-war main battle tanks looked like. (They're fusion powered! Very easy to hotwire and get running again even after spending centuries sitting idle in the wasteland! Also ridiculously heavy.)

Nugar · Oct 15, 2024

Get out of here, stalker.

Yeah, that was pretty much my response, too.

Mr Zoat · Oct 15, 2024

Chojin Patriarch said:
The various city states had armies made up almost exclusively of light infantry.
...a good many are forced to abandon their vehicles and flee on foot.

Thank you, corrected.

...we only got a boarder with Eighties-controlled territory...

Que?

Even without looking, a name like that sounds bad.

Psychic demon worshippers he dealt with for the N.C.R..

I'll admit, I don't know who Wyatt is.

Infamous warrior from Two Sun, a Legion tributary. They've never personally met.

Neruz said:
Aww, you mean they're not running these ridiculous behemoths?

Or is Paul just not aware that this is what the latest generation of pre-war main battle tanks looked like. (They're fusion powered! Very easy to hotwire and get running again even after spending centuries sitting idle in the wasteland! Also ridiculously heavy.)

No, that's why he mentions that they don't have War-era tanks. I remember watching a YouTube video about how rediculous those things are.

Chojin Patriarch · Oct 15, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
Que?

Whoops, yeah.

That'll teach me to double-check my corrections before I hit 'post'...

The Froggy Ninja · Oct 15, 2024

So was Thunderhawk just stupid or did he have any reason to believe the Saucer was unarmed? Considering that the obviously implied "what else" was "also I don't kill you where you stand"

Mr Zoat · Oct 15, 2024

The Froggy Ninja said:
So was Thunderhawk just stupid or did he have any reason to believe the Saucer was unarmed? Considering that the obviously implied "what else" was "also I don't kill you where you stand"

Thunderbird suspected that it was probably armed, but 99% of the damage here was done by guided missles and a satelite weapon. He might have heard of guided missiles but he's never seen one before, and he had a lot of friendly guns around him. I doubt he'd have any idea what a satelite is.

Steelplaza · Oct 15, 2024

The Froggy Ninja said:
So was Thunderhawk just stupid or did he have any reason to believe the Saucer was unarmed? Considering that the obviously implied "what else" was "also I don't kill you where you stand"

The Saucer being armed wasn't the problem. If it was the Saucer alone attacking with only its onboard weapons, they could have dealt with it. It was the satellite weaponry and missiles from the vertibird air wing that did the damage.

EDIT: Post beaten by seconds by Zoat saying the same thing.

Mr Zoat · Oct 15, 2024

Steelplaza said:
EDIT: Post beaten by seconds by Zoat saying the same thing.

Woo!

Impartial Panic · Oct 15, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
My Christmas present and bride-price to my father-in-law: the rest of Utah.

Not quite a grandiose as giving your bride the Capellan Confederation, but at least Krono doesn't have to deal with comstar shenanagans.

Neruz · Oct 15, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
No, that's why he mentions that they don't have War-era tanks. I remember watching a YouTube video about how rediculous those things are.

They are completely and utterly absurd, just like most Fallout technology really.

BlackCoat13 · Oct 15, 2024

Vaermina said:
Don't forget that Old World Blues is Fallout 3 DLC, so you might want to specify that you're talking about the Hearts of Iron IV mod.

Fallout New Vegas. 3 had Anchorage, The Pitt, Broken Steel, Point Lookout, and Mothership Zeta.
Fallout NV had Honest Hearts, Dead Money, Old World Blues, Lonesome Road, and two item packs (Gun Runner's Arsenal and Courier's Stash)

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