28 ❄ ( VIDEO; CONSOLE )

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack's taking some time out of his evening to address something that's drawing rather close. As fun as participating in the Mystery Games has been, he feels like someone should maybe point out the elephant on the turtle. He's seated at one of the consoles in the Welcome Center, the recognizable backdrop visible behind him. ]

Sooo... that super-formal Justicar lady sounded like she means business. Is there like-- I don't know, a plan or something? Has anyone even attempted to let the Chihuelans know that someone's coming? Wait, are we even picking sides in that?

[ He runs a hand through his white hair, causing it to spike and settle. At least he looks better in the face of the oppressive outside heat, and less like he's about to melt. ]

Like I'm not in any way favouring the "immediate execution" thing, but if we're not going to stop this group that's coming, then we should be trying to help the others. Doing nothing seems like we're... almost as bad as they are.

Comments

[highprofilerichkid]

Whatever the Chihuelans that are still here did, I don't think we should just let the rest of them come in and set up shop. We don't know that they have our best interests at heart any more than the original invaders. This could just be a set-up for a second attack.

The kedan fought them off before without our help - all of us together shouldn't have any problem with them this time.

We don't need to take any side but our side. If the rest of the Chihuelans want their buddies back, they can ask us nicely. If they're just going to show up and try to tell us what to do, we should send them packing. Keeliai isn't an easy target, anymore.

[Ain't nobody tell Tony Stark Keeliai what to do. THE NERVE.]

...Also, we can't technically commit treason against an empire we're not a part of. [So there, Grand Justicar Chosheni!]

[wintershepherd]

I don't think anyone thinks our best interests are anywhere in their minds, Tony. But if they're planning a second attack, why let us know a month in advance?

[highprofilerichkid]

As a threat. They probably hope we're too afraid of another war, and if they act tough enough, we'll take the chance they're telling the truth rather than risk fighting them.

[wintershepherd]

[ Well. He can't deny that's certainly a possibility of what they wanted. ]

So what do you think is the right response?

[highprofilerichkid]

If they contact us again, tell them we're willing to talk if they're willing to negotiate without an invasion force backing them up.

If they say no? Get ready for a fight.

Stockpile whatever food we can, and build up the city's defenses. When they get close, everybody who can fly and has strong magic or other abilities should try to chase them off before they can land. If that doesn't work, at least scatter them. Throw them off and break up their lines of communication. If they get to the city, we want them to already be on the defensive when they do. Maybe then they'll feel more like negotiating instead of demanding.

[wintershepherd]

I'm not sure we have time to prepare for a full-on siege, Tony.

You don't think that kind of thing will just encourage them to send another invasion-sized force?

Besides, that could make things really difficult for the kedan if something happens to us, the Foreigners I mean.

[highprofilerichkid]

It's better than sitting around and doing nothing, [Tony points out.] If we don't put up a fight, it'll just encourage everyone to come take whatever they want from us whenever they feel like it.

The kedan did fine without us when we were in the Dreaming, but we might as well help while we're around. [A little dryly, he adds,] I don't think we have to worry about them getting too dependent on us. [No, the kedan seem quite insistent on maintaining their independence from the foreigners, these days. Which Tony has to respect them for - even if it makes all his dealings with SI really aggravating.]

[wintershepherd]

That's my whole point though, we have been sitting around and doing nothing. Seriously, what's been done since the Justicar's announcement?

They didn't do fine, a couple thousand of them died. That's not fine.

[highprofilerichkid]

It's a lot better than all of them dying. [Tony says, a little more sharply than he means too. Hmm, projecting there a little bit, Tony?

He frowns and shifts uncomfortably.] We haven't done anything because the kedan haven't asked us to. There's a lot we could be doing, [should be doing, it sounds like he wants to say] but we're supposed to be letting them make their own choices.

[Obviously frustrated, he crosses his arms and settles back into a surly slouch.] I think we should send the Chihuelans packing. I think whatever they're planning, it isn't going to end up being good for Keeliai. The foreigners are here, we're powerful, and we've stood up to a worse threat already.

But if the kedan want to cooperate with the Chihuelans and see where that gets them... [He shrugs, the small gesture really capturing his current "I'm pretending not to care but I actually do care, a lot" attitude.] We'll be here to help when things go south. [Which they inevitably will.]

[wintershepherd]

No, they haven't asked, but have we offered? Seriously, has anyone gone to Yunxu or Xuiyu or whoever and said, "hey, what can we do to help"?

[highprofilerichkid]

If they want our help, why haven't they asked? Isn't that what we're here for?

[He's not being snide: it's an honest question. The foreigners may not be the most predictable or organized force in the universe, but their defeat of Malicant proved that they can do what needs to be done when they're called upon. Tony doesn't think relations between the kedan and the foreigners are bad enough that the kedan would turn down their help.]

Zanru's got a huge stick up her ass, but she's AWOL, and Yunxu... [Tony remembers that this conversation is public, and manages to bite his tongue before saying 'an untrustworthy creep.'] ...well, he's kind of cooperating with Xuiyu and Heojin now, and they're pretty reasonable.

[wintershepherd]

[ To be fair, Jack hasn't had any direct dealings with the family heads, but he's not discounting Tony's experience with them. ]

The kedan just got their independence back from whatever Eshai did to them. To them, they've only got about a year of being in charge of their own lives. Being prideful isn't an only-human thing, and I'm pretty sure none of the Foreigners can claim we've never done something we shouldn't have, just because we didn't want to feel like we needed the help. I know I can't.

[highprofilerichkid]

[Turning down help that he really needed because he was too proud and stubborn to listen to the good advice of people who cared about him? Noooo, that's not something Tony's ever done, certainly not.

Tony 'hmph's thoughtfully and rubs the back of his neck.] I want them to have their independence, I just... don't want anyone to get hurt.

[Except maybe people who deserve it. Like a certain Justicar, who definitely deserves a few swift kicks to the butt.]

Being in charge of their lives doesn't mean they can't have allies. [And that's a lesson Tony had learned the hard way. Maybe the hard way is the only way the kedan will learn it, too.]