Doctor Helios entered shortly after Lunk. Though still wearing his modified PACS, he was looking a lot less weary than in days past. He sat next to Lunk, and carefully placed a reinforced briefcase on the table.
@Shadow Phoenix - Union roleplayer and number-cruncher
Bastinado of the Hyperion Watchmen entered. He took his usual vantage point away from the seated council members. Would the threat of further Rikti attacks be enough to hold together a treaty too ridiculous to exist outside of war? He made an almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgment to Coile of the Silent Tempest.
The war had fired things within him dulled by months of investigation and dead ends into the so-called League behind the Rivera incident that had changed the lives of some, ended the lives of many, and given birth to the Watchmen.
Leading the Watchmen on guerrilla strikes against the invaders in the concrete jungle of Steel Canyon and Skyway City had convinced him they were now ready to confront the cause of their problems head on. To do that he would need to push for an end to the ceasefire between heroes and villains if the opportunity arose.
@Romanov
Nadja Romanov, Lily Pink, Little Death - The Cadre
Estoque, Bastinado, Spidermonkey, Chic Doyle - The Militia
Miss Teen, Dead Reckoner, Dee Dee Diablo, Kaneko
"Mamamama!" Michael Rolando said, fidgiting a little on his mom's lap.
"Shhh sweetie, your other Mommy or someone will be here to pick you up soon." Zorielle said with a soft smile, rocking the child gently on her thigh. "You and your sister just need to be good and sit on my lap till then."
Stroking Kelly's hair a little, Zorielle looked up apologetically. "There wasn't time to drop them off before getting here, I lost track of time."
Once again, Juniper set up her laptop to take the minutes as Britanic's adopted daughter Rachel, known as Vigilante Storm of the Militia, followed her in. "Anyone mind if I sit in?" She asked. "I gotta learn this diplomacy stuff sometime. I won't make declarations." She took Brit's seat.
'You lose more of your femininity every day Doroe. It's very appealing.' - SLEDGEHAMMER!
Drade came into the room and noticing the kids he frowned before look for his seat, he was holding a small silver device which seemed to be talking to itself in a low volume.
Sitting down he placed the device on the table and looked around at the others there before taps the few buttons on the device.
the alien known to the media of the world as The Cactus brawler walks in, noting the children what appears to be a frown crosses his face.
Leaning against the wall he takes a metal tube from one pocket and a blow torch from the other, setting the flame to the end of the tube it begins to smolder as the herbs inside are lit.
Inhaling a few times he cracks his knuckles and waits.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
Twilight Shinobi enters, for once uncloaked. A large smile grows across his face. With the war over he feels it's bussiness as usual. No better place to hunt heroes with there guard down than the Council of war.
Jakob enters unarmoured, wearing instead a pressed maroon jumpsuit, and a scarlet beret. Setting his data pad down on the table, he takes a seat and waits for the meeting to commence.
Lunk shoots a knowing grin towards Twilight Shinobi, as he pulls a newspaper from his pocket and salutes him with it, before putting it on the table.
"...shall we get started? Firstly, I would like to say congratulations... to all of us...and to all those that helped push back the Rikti threat. Secondly, I would like to suggest holding a memorial on the 18th outside the hero corps building for those lost in the attacks. Thirdly, as of today, EVIL has recommenced business. The treaty should be considered inactive due to the removal of the Rikti menace, and I would like to apologise in advance for any of those who may get caught up in one of our contracts."
He smiles broadly and chuckles to himself, before his face returns businesslike "it should also be noted that although the treaty is no longer valid, there are reports of those among us that violated it whilst it was still active. You WILL pay for this, as was set out in the agreement, even if I have to front bounties myself"
Cactus Bralwer looks slightly unconfortable as he hears about treaty violations and bounties.
Blowing out a cloud of herbal smoke and burning tin, he glances over to Twilight and flashes him a quick almost guilty looking grin.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
Zorielle held her two children close to her on her lap and smiled sweetly.
"The Unity Vigil will still work with those who the law considers on the 'other side of the tracks', when the arrangement can be considered mutually beneficial. After all, the Mothership is still operational, and I'm a firm proponent in the old adage, that the enemy of my enemy is my friend." she said, before her expression shifted to one of a steely glare around the room, mostly directed at one undesirable in particular.
"I'm also a firm proponent in keeping my friends close, and my enemies closer. I'll offer aid to any of those who are doing some good for the city or need medical attention, but those who take advantage of the Unity Vigil's hospitality, or use mutually agreeable situations as a front to get the upper hand versus any member of the group will face me."
Smiling softly, she kissed her twins foreheads and nestled them close to her. "In less grim and steeled words, Unity Tower will remain in operation as the refugees within are relocated back to their home or more suitable accomidation. In total, we lost one member, Bowfire, who died in the line of duty helping a woman and child escape from Rikti fire, one member is missing in action, we believe he is currently in the Etoile Isles, so if you see me in the neighbourhood, I might be coming to get answers out of someone. The concert was a success, DVD's of it will be sold and the money will go towards some of the charities set up to help those who lost homes in the war. I've made sure that some of it -will- be going to the Rogue Isles, but I am currently looking for someone trustworthy to distribute it."
"Gentlemen," Rachel commented, seemingly forgetting that she'd just promised not to remain silent as she stood up, "You say the war is over? Neat. Where's the declaration of their surrender? I haven't seen one, or heard that anyone else has got one. They have ceased their attacks, which is good, but going from that state to a 'war is over' stance is a hell of a leap. We have no idea the size of their forces, we have no idea how much they've thrown into these attacks. We don't know if we've crippled their military machine or bitten it like a mosquito. What we DO know is that we have tens of thousands of heroes dead worldwide, tens of thousands of other powered warriors too, and millions of civillians dead. In the case of defences and buildings they've targetted power stations and civilian buildings as much as they have defense installations. They've effectively crippled half of the planet. This alliance needs to hold because, if it was a first strike, it's achieved most of it's objectives." Rachel sat back down.
'You lose more of your femininity every day Doroe. It's very appealing.' - SLEDGEHAMMER!
"The invasion is over. The war is just beginning. They've made the mistake of starting something that we're going to finish. Strike while the iron is hot."
"Precisely my point." Rachel agreed. "The alliance is still needed. Neither side can win this alone."
'You lose more of your femininity every day Doroe. It's very appealing.' - SLEDGEHAMMER!
Doctor Helios cut in
"Indeed. What me must not do now is let this tenuous alliance fall apart, just when we are poised to do the most good. The Rikti are not defeated. They have *succeeded* in whatever objective they were attempting, and have withdrawn their forces to prepare for whatever the next phase of the invasion may be. As Ben says, we must strike them now before they have a chance to launch another assault."
@Shadow Phoenix - Union roleplayer and number-cruncher
"I disagree... I believe that political and cultural action, using connections to the Traditionalist movement on Earth and the Homeworld would be best for lasting peace. If we march and slaughter the Rikti on their homeworld, we'll lose the support of the Traditionalists." Zortel said, looking around the room.
"Then I suggest we do both." Rachel commented. "If we can win the war through peaceful means, we must try. However," - here she glanced at Shinobi and Lunk - "we should also prepare for the possibility what we're gonna have to end this with a lot more bloodshed. Steel Hands with Velvet Gloves and Steel Gloves with Velvet hands. Do whatever we can to end this."
'You lose more of your femininity every day Doroe. It's very appealing.' - SLEDGEHAMMER!
"Maybe so, but you may have noticed a lack of Traditionalists in the squads that have been attacking our homes. Peace may come, but not before we put their militant faction out of action."
@Shadow Phoenix - Union roleplayer and number-cruncher
"Mostly because Traditionalists belong to the non-military castes of Rikti society. And then you're proposing bringing the war to their homes and cities, which will more than likely sway them -in favour- of Military action against us? Conspiracys about what brought them to attack us have been covered, and counter-information is being delivered to the Rikti homeworld from what I last heard." Zorielle said patiently.
Resting the smoldering metal cigar on top of his head Cactus Brawler rubbed his chin for a moment before saying.
'Say what you want but this kinda war ain't going to end till one side can't fight no more. Think either side will forgive the other? You've been killing each other on a massive scale'
Placing the cigar in his mouth again he takes a massive drag before continuing
'If you don't wipe them out then ten maybe twenty years they will be back you don't forgive war ever'
Looking over at Twilight he shurgs in a half apology
'Frankly I don't care what happens to the rest of you ape people but I'm not going to watch the TLF get killed because your too chicken hearted to finish this war'
His piece said he places the cigar back in his mouth and puffs away.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
"Then we attack military installations. Just because they carpet bomb us, does not mean we have to retaliate in the same way. A tactical strike to their core military administration will help slow any further offensives. We are not advocating the killing of innocents and children, Miss Zorrielle, we are talking about a precise strike to the core of their armed forces."
The Doctor looked nonplussed
"Whoever mentioned attacking the homeworld? I will be merely content to remove the greater part of their military strength from our own planet, cut off reinforcements, and send their leaders home with their tails between their legs"
@Shadow Phoenix - Union roleplayer and number-cruncher
Zorielle smiled. "Good, just making sure. Stating the obvious... like 'The fire is hot, so don't touch', mothers mode of thinking." she chuckled.
Drade looked over at The doctor beofre looking around the room and beginning to speak.
"if i may, i found something which may or may not be of interest to this little council here, I found this when i was doing some investigating near the mothership.. well under the mothership in the vast maze of caves.. it looks little some sort of portal way, or gate."
Drade clicked on the device he had sitting infront of him the displayed an item of a strange looking semi built it seemed gate device. (( this is what it looks like.gate 1 gate back1))
He paused and looked around the room.
"Now, to me, this looks worth looking into more. I only had time to take these two photos of it, but this may be how they can bring in more of themselves to our world."
Drade lent back into his seat, placing his hands together, waiting for someone else to speak.
What caught Coile's attention was the children. They reminded him of the most important reason of all to keep fighting. The existence of his own son was a carefully guarded secret that would remain so at least until it was time to get him out of his tank but nonetheless it had become one of his driving forces.
With the Rikti dealt with there was just the Hand of Andros that remained as a viable threat. For that there was no need for any alliances, and along with the Rikti gone was also the need for treaties.
Silent Tempest would fend for itself once more. All that remained was to say it aloud. Coile looked at Lunk to see when the meeting would be pronounced open.