Preparations for a Fierce Battle

[forcegalactic]

Who: Everyone
What: A meeting to discuss the plan of attack against Palitutu
When: July 13th
Where: Old Observatory
Warnings: Threadjacking and discussion is heavily encouraged

[Anyone approaching the Observatory can smell the meeting long before they enter the building. Mordecai and Ellena worked hard the past several days cooking dishes for the Heroes and any guests they brought, resulting in a tiring contests of who could cook the most.

Dishes from Mars. Dishes from Ellana's world. Pastries. Any snack the two of them could find the recipe for. If there were some people that were unsure whether to come to the meeting or not, free food is the strongest argument.

The largest meeting room is prepared with tables and chairs for everyone to sit down, with sofas lining the sides. When everyone settles down and grabs a plate, Mordecai steps onto an area at the end of the room devoid of tables and chairs.]

Alright, alright. We got food in our stomachs, so it's about time we get this started.

Now, we all know why we're here. Palitutu's comin' in less than a month, and we still need to come up with a plan of attack. Seein' how big this team grew, there's gonna be a wide differences in opinions. Last thing we need is all of us disagreein' on what to do at the last minute.

[Like a few days ago. That was a disaster.]

We have plenty of reason to believe that she's not gonna listen to anythin' we say and kill us at the start, so we'll need to prepare our openin' move. There's plenty of ways to fight a WEAPON, but we gotta work together to do it in an efficient manner.

So. Now that I got your attention, what ideas do you have to offer?

Comments

[unalive_them]

[And at that, Deadpool gets to his feet, clears his throat and speaks...]

I suggest we get the entire town to stand up and fight along side us. I mean, don't they have Jobs, too? [Yes, there are looks.] I know, I know, 'they're citizens, we're supposed to protect them', blah, blah, blah, but the last time we tried to play bodyguard, we kinda lost a few people. And besides, training the town citizens is a really popular trope in these sorts of situations!

[A beat]

Iiiiif that doesn't work, I'm going to need a Magitek Armor and someone to make a really big sword for it to hold. I got Cyber Ninja all maxed out and since our wonderful mods never clarified what exactly we can't cut, when the little rampaging tater tot decides to shoot us, I can jump in and cut the laser!

[theendiswherewestartfrom]

Jack manages to prevent himself from rolling his eyes as he stands up. "I'm going to have to advise the exact opposite. We have reason to believe that the native life on Crystallis is what is generating the crystal that holds back the Calamity. The more of us who come here from other worlds, the faster it spreads. But the more people are still alive on the planet, the more the planet can oppose the Calamity. Our top priority needs to be keeping people alive to give us more time to fight the Calamity."

[umslay]

Ales is quiet during the meal. He had slowly been losing faith in the rest of the Heroes since January, but today, his calm and tired eyes are stark contrast to the energy he used to have when talking. Palitutu has to die.

During a lull in the conversation, Ales stands up.

"Last year, I heard that a group of Heroes hacked into Ultima WEAPON. If we want the tides of the fight to turn in our favor, we'll need to take control once more. I'll hack into it as long as someone helps me sneak over there."

[thegreatninja]

As much as Yuffie didn't like Ales he had a point; sorta. "That only worked because we had the crystallized heroes as a distraction. It took a long time to do and a lot of people. Also it wasn't our idea. Wouldn't sure expect that?"

She'd argue just to see if he's thought this through. She's tapped on ideas and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't refined either.

[thegreatninja]

I've fought the weapons before, each one has their own ticks. We just need to figure out what it is. Maybe attack on two sides. Have a few heroes, maybe those with Onion Knight mastered take it on in the front while others take it apart another way.

[Yuffie rolls her shoulder in a shrug.]

It's just a machine. It can be taken apart or whatever, we just need to survive and make sure that a whole city block isn't taken with it this time.

[That last comment is spoken with more venom than she intends to use.]

[unalive_them]

"And I advise that he gets overruled because we already tried the 'save everyone' route and look where that got us!" Deadpool said. "I mean, okay, what if the mashed potato decides that kick all of our asses next month. Who's going to defend the world, hm? We die, boom, she wins!"

He begins ticking off his fingers. "I mean, by training the citizens to actually fight, we are able to have greater numbers, a better chance to fight back and since this is taking place at the very end of their little festival, what better what to bring up morale than, for one grand day, actually kick someone's sorry butt, even if they gotta die!"

[forcegalactic]

"And I ask who's gonna teach the regular folks how to fight? They got a festival goin' on, and most don't wanna fight unless they got an obligation to," the Barkeep chimed in.

"Teachin' 'em how to defend themselves is good as a last resort, but we need an actual army to help us out."

[unalive_them]

"As a matter of fact, I will." Deadpool said, matter of factly. "Look, just because I like to talk a lot doesn't mean I'm stupid! I'm a mercenary and an Avenger and being Avenger means you're in the big leagues!"

"Besides, let me ask you something - if you had the chance to finally stand up and fight alongside your heroes, would you? Don't give me that 'I gotta protect the innocent people here' crap - I've seen New Yorkers get angry and chase off supervillains when their favorite hero gets overwhelmed in battle. Doesn't happen to me, but semantics!"

[zodiac_brave]

I do not know if I agree with the strategy, but Lady Prajapati suggested that we gather up reinforcements, and attack from many fronts. They would sacrifice themselves to distract the Weapon long enough for us to kill it. None of us wish to lead the soldiers of this world's armies to their death...but if it will help protect their families and their homeland, they may be willing.

[Ramza looks down. It is not the way he wants to go, but he does not know if the Heroes alone will be enough. At least the soldiers would go in knowing what they wager.]

I think we should find another way. Any other way. But the option remains, as a last resort.

[thegreatninja]

Why can't we do it? We come back...

[Her voice trails off remembering heroes who haven't come back.]

The people here shouldn't have to die Ramza. [Yuffie gives him a look as if she's seeing Ramza as a different person. Yes, it isn't an awful idea but she never thought to hear it from him.]

There are plenty of heroes here to fight. If we need reinforcements they can round the back.

[line_piece]

I'm going to fight her giant robot with my giant robot.

[Plain, simple, elegant.]

[scriptrix]

Thanks to the help of the Crystal Knights and other Alchemists, I've managed to produce enough enhanced armor to protect six Heroes of Light from having their Jobs disabled by Palitutu. All I need to do now is figure out who's going to get the equipment. I'll be sending out a Mognet notice about it soon so we can get that all figured out, but if there's anyone here who wants to make a case for it, I don't mind talking about it now.

[im_pancake]

If you don't mind me saying, you'd probably have better luck giving them to those who have all ten Jobs mastered. With ten Jobs completed, we'd have the full power of Onion Knight on our side.

[umslay]

Just six, hm? We need.to be picky about who should get them. There's the Onion Knights, obviously l, if they retain the ability to keep their jobs no matter what. However, we have to keep tactics in mind. A few knights won't take down a WEAPON. Not saying that I should get hold of that armor if I can hack into the WEAPON, but...it would be a good idea.

[im_pancake]

I want to put this out right here and now - we need to stop thinking selfishly. This idea that this is a fight that only we should fight and no one else should get involved because they would die is... it's just silly. Crystallis is their world as much as it is ours.

Yes, we were brought here to save it from the Calamity, but we shouldn't hold the burden to ourselves. When Palitutu contacted us, she told me that she never liked how selfish we acted with our other actions - how our parties and such only involved us and not the citizens of Aqures Ixen. And that's what we're doing now. We're not "protecting" them as so much as we're just pushing them to the side.

I want to ask each and every one of you this - if the shoe was on the other foot, if the people in this world was brought to your world to save it, would you want to join in, too? Or would you rather hang back and go "this is not my problem"? You just assume that everyone here thinks the latter, but I guarantee all of you that they think the former.

[umslay]

"She expects us to talk it out. If we are throwing assaults left and right, why would she care about a Teensie hidden from view?"

He didn't trust the others to take it down themselves. All ideas had to be considered.

[umslay]

[Ales agrees with her reasoning, it's obvious they need all the allies they need, but...

It's Twilight. His opinion of her has plummeted in the past few days, especially since he learned of her part in what happened on the 3rd.

He grumbles to himself with a tiny nod and lets the other Heroes debate it among themselves.]

[nomorecowbell]

What if we would? Not that it wouldn't me my problem, if it was Earth, but I couldn't do anything if aliens or whatever invaded Earth and people with magic or special powers showed up to help. Maybe the police, or the military would be willing to step up, but some people just want to be safe.

[And Nanami's going to stop and look around nervously.]

I mean... I can't be the only one who thinks that?

[Because what if she is? What if she's the only one who is fighting so she can go home and go back to a life where most things didn't try to kill her and no one was destroying the world. Well, probably no one.]

[What if everyone else thinks she's a horrible because because she said that? Zelda probably wouldn't have said that.]

[im_pancake]

[Twilight's reaction? Is to blink in surprise at Nanami before approaching her in curiosity.]

...how long have you felt this way?

[It's... not out of pity, but out of curiosity.]

[theendiswherewestartfrom]

Jack is going to immediately step up to defend Nanami. "This is not their job. Sure it's their world, but none of them should ever be asked to make this decision. We didn't get asked, either, but we have more ability to defend it than they do. It's not selfishness to step up so other people don't have to. We die, we come back. They die, it's for good. We die so they don't have to, it costs us so much less."

"And I'm going to repeat my earlier point. The people, the life on this planet is what is giving it the ability to defend against the Calamity. The crystal is keeping the Calamity from spreading and overtaking this planet already. If the people die, even if we're still standing? The planet itself is going to give up the fight."

[forcegalactic]

[Well. When the group has been fighting monsters and travelling the world for months, it can be easy to see that some of their members and just kids. Nanami's breakdown touches something deep in Mordecai, something he hadn't felt since before he got his space powers.]

Most people ain't the type to run out of their houses brandishin' pitchforks and runnin' to risk their lives. They got families and their futures to worry about. I admire a folk hero as much as the next guy, but you're not in the wrong.

I used to be like that, a few years ago. Didn't want to get involved in no trouble that came to Mars. Doesn't mean it's wrong to be scared.

[nomorecowbell]

"We can die for good, too. Remember Zelda? And all the visions we've had. I don't want to die before I even grow up."

Crystal Stasis and getting hurt is scary, but it didn't feel real. A bit like a fairy tale, where the kiss or the tears of one's True Love could awaken the sleeping princess or remove the curse. But they couldn't count on coming back any more., just like the locals died for good.

[forcegalactic]

"Not me. Not without the Force Galactic."

Other people, maybe. Most townspeople on Mars opted to stay in their homes when danger was afoot.

"Won't stop you from makin' a militia."

[nomorecowbell]

What changed?

[Because Nanami didn't want to die, and didn't want to be left out and didn't know how to get what she wanted throughout this.]

[im_pancake]

"That doesn't make it any better!" Twilight replied, snapping at Jack. "I mean, look at what you just said - you've practically said we're disposable just because we're here and we can keep dying and coming back to life! You're saying that we should just keep throwing our lives away on the off-chance that other people not dying will help protect this world."

"I don't want my life to be meaningless just because I can die and come back to life! That's what it is right now the way you're talking! What good is this... this... immortality if we just get back right up after a fight?! What's the point that everyone else around me can die and I can't unless some monster decides that I should be killed to prove a point?!"