The Call To War (Pre-mission briefing!)

[Your Mom~]

A few hours...she had a few hours to tie up her loose ends before diving into the most dangerous mission she'd ever undertaken. One that, as David had so eloquently put it, some of them may not return from.

David...Marcus...Mathew...three of the most able bodied men at this table. But they were also immortal. Marcus was her unlikely friend, spawned from an encounter in a construction yard. He was a good man, he had passion and fire, hopefully his fighting spirit would see him through this. Mathew, Mathew always had a plan. Even his plans had plans. He was crafty, smart, and strong. His quick acting on-the-fly strategic talent and skill should allow him to walk away once this was all over. David...David had heart. He had too much heart. She knew he would put everything he had on the line for those he loved, even if it meant sacrificing himself. But she couldn't imagine him not coming home from this. She couldn't even begin to let herself think that.

As for herself? She'd give barker hell alright. He ruined her future, killed her family, and had made her into a monster. Killing him would not even begin to be revenge for the horror he caused. But the men were right, Barker was just one man. What secrets lay in the shadows? They would soon find out.

She would wait for the order to dismiss, her gaze trained hard on the table, the corner of her lip between her teeth. There were preparations to be made.

[David B.]

When Mathew finished, David stared, but didn't answer the question.

"Make him stand trial...."

This...didn't sound terrible. But he knew that a few of the people here may have an issue with his death, and probably require it. He turned back toward them, then looked at Mathew.

"Thank you, for discussing this with me before hand. As much as you'd like to, you don't lead alone. Try mentioning something this big to me next time, so at least I can be on board."

He would ignore whatver snark Mathew responded with, if he responded at all, and instead look to Delilah and Marcus and the rest of the Crows.

"I don't have a problem with a trial. You guys okay with this?"

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rai looked at Mathew, but that was all he would do upon hearing that Barker should live. Mathew had done many things to make surprise Rai so this was just as unexpected as any of Mathews other crazy plans. Things just became more fun.

[Lucien DeChain]

Lucien frowned. David's words hit home, that it wasn't just him that had the risk of dying. All of them could die. Perhaps they would.

How would Long Beach go on? Some of the most influential people in Southern California were here. Dragons, Crows, it wouldn't matter anymore. Especially so if they failed to detain Barker.

How would one feel if he was the only survivor...?

"I agree that Barker should stand trial for his crimes. But, under whom? Whose law? It might sound like a small detail, but if he was tried under Crows, he'd be sentenced to death."

Mathew was running this meeting. Maybe he had some sort of idea about it.

[Mathew Amtrum]

"We will run the trial and confine him in God Territory. I am telling you right now. I'm taking the death penalty off the table. And should the trial happen I will speak for his defense."

He didn't trust anyone else to actually try to be unbiased. Or to just not kill him.

"Assuming he is even willing to cooperate. It's possible that he will be unwilling and just need to be put down like a rabid dog."

A sharp blade of Earth shot out of his sleeve. Either way, if they were going to kill him no matter what then Barker had no reason to play ball. When you put an injured animal against a wall with no escape they would fighter harder and with every ounce of strength.

No, in his mind. The smart play is to let Barker live but strip him of his powers so he is no threat.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie's eyes were quiet. Thoughtful. She caught on that Barker wasn't going to be killed if Mathew had any say. That he would be tried.

Justice.

Justice, not vengeance. Even though there was no justice in what Barker did. No chance for everyone to live. They either died in the blasts or the aftermath. A lump lodged in the back of her throat.

That was something Kyrie lived by. Much as it did leave a bit of a sour taste in her mouth. But that was swallowed away and breathed as a sigh.

[David B.]

David shrugged.

"Its highly unlikely he's gonna come willingly. But in the off chance he does, we'll put him up for trial. But after, I expect a prison where he can't get out- perhaps one you could make a few hundred feet under ground. That ought to hold him."

He would take a deep breath.

"I think we all agree this is fine. Just...try not to hold out so long on bringing ideas like this forward. We expect our followers and allies to fight with us- we should be up front about the goal."

He looked around.

"Any other questions? Comments? Concerns before we adjourn and prepare?"

[Delilah A. Black]

Mathew didn't trust her. Not an issue, she had expected it. But it gave her a very good idea of his thoughts.

He wasn't leading them into battle for them to die. He didn't want them to. But at the same time, he couldn't trust any of them to stay alive. Or so was her thinking.

She nodded and patted Kyrie on the shoulder, returning to her place beside Lucien to listen. And wound up scowling, but Lucien had said the piece she was about to say, so again, she would nod.

"I am against a trial. The innocent victims of his crimes did not have judgement passed on them when the bombs fell. The Experiments, whom he captured and warped to suit his whims, were not given an 'innocent until proven guilty' chance to vouch for themselves. We give him food and water to keep him alive while a trial happens, or imprisonment, while refugees struggle and die? That is not justice; that is a slap in the face to those who have suffered.

"He had his chances. Several of them, before the bombs. He made his bed and he should lie in it. And if I have anything to say about it, that bed will be his grave."

She stared hard at Mathew for a moment.

"If you must imprison him, say he gets one more chance. If he resists, kill him and be done with it. No sense in dragging his life out."

[Mathew Amtrum]

He just shot Delilah a wink at her last comment about making it quick. Her objection was noted, and expected. He thought the Crows would be the ones most against it. Hence keeping it close to the vest. But it was out now.

"Trust me."

He started to head out, stopping only to grab his own figure off the table and heading out. He needed to collect himself.

[Your Mom~]

Olesya held her tongue. Part of her wanted to rip Barker's limbs off one my one and feed them to him. But...they had a point. She would reserve judgment for now, focusing on the preparations she needed to make.

Would David bid Maddie goodbye?

She only let the thought linger for a brief second before she turned from the table and left. She couldn't bear any good byes here.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie swallowed slowly. She smiled to Delilah, to each of them in turn, but it was solemn. And yet, full of fierce hope. She stepped towards David and pressed something to his hand.

A single, simple, black tear.

She said nothing while doing so, that one gesture saying everything she needed to.

Live.

"Focus on living. We have so much to live for..."

Now and in the future.

She took her chess piece, looked up at Mathew, bowed, and moved out.

[Marcus Prasad]

"I honestly don't know. Really I don't. How I went from a stranger in a strange land knowing next to noone here besides one or two close friends, to suddenly finding myself here, among you all. A Friend, an Equa- Well, a Friend and Ally, Heha."

Marcus looked from person to person.

"Look, All i want to say is. Thanks. For everything guys. I honestly can't think of anyone else I'd want to be doing a do or Die mission like this with. So.....Yeah. Don't any of you fucking die on me or I'll be REALLY put out after laying it out like this."
He muttered the last bit, going red in the face and crossing his arms over his chest. Speaking from the heart like this never was easy for him.

Marcus knew damn well the chance of people in here not coming back.

"Y'all.....Y'all really made me feel at home. Okcommonlet'sjustgetthisoveranddonewith."

[Levi Kayamei]

Levi shook his head. He had many doubts and had not gotten a chance to seek the answers to his questions. This plan seemed like it would have a decent chance at killing Barker, but at the cost of everyone's life. Too many things could go wrong and Barker's military strength was relatively unknown. What Levi did know is that based on their encounter with the ogres and the general that was with them, the external forces would be hard pressed to live through an engagement with them, let alone win. There were three factors Levi did not know: How much the Crows were planning/contributing, how much Matthew's sources/the gods were contributing to this cause and how much military strength Barker truly had; The last one, he was certain everyone stood in the same boat on.

Too many unknowns, too many variables apparently no considered.....

Levi would normally protest and refuse to lead his soldiers into such a strategy, but if Kyrie and all of his friends and loved ones were going, his strength had the potential to save them and he would never forgive himself if he did not go.

[David B.]

David would nod, grab his figure, and follow mathew out, taking to the sky as he did so.