Idealism

[not_the_deer]

[Tobia is watching a news bulletin. What is it about? Conflicts being ended; it's about how OZ and White Fang ceased hostilities. And Le Garite and De Metrio. And the Moonrace. And how A-LAWS stopped fighting and are probably getting disbanded. White Chalice's is not mentioned once, but its involvement is heavily hinted at between the lines.]

That Treize guy kept his promise after all! I knew we made the right decision.

Humans are violent by nature, but somehow we're closer to world peace than ever! Terrorist groups are still present, but from ongoing conflicts, isn't only the fight between the Clans left? Maybe, when all of humanity is at peace, Kairos Aspida will seek peaceful cooperation as well.

Comments

[space_macgyver]

That'd be kinda awesome, wouldn't it.

You know Tobia, people will always keep on fighting each other. If not for one thing than another. But it still feels like the worst is behind us already. And the Earth, too.

[not_the_deer]

I know. Starting wars over anything is simply what humans do.

But there will also always be people who work towards stopping conflicts!

[space_macgyver]

You can bet I won't be standing aside and just watching, either!

[not_the_deer]

You better not. I want to see the power of the Junk Guild again!

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff." Matthew says quietly to Tobia. "Could I talk with you about that? The war with the Clans, I mean?"

[not_the_deer]

Huh? Sure. What do you want to tell me?

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"If..."

He looks sheepish and leans forward.

"If you were planning on engaging in a solo operation to bring the mutual war efforts of the Clans to a halt...how would you go about it?"

[not_the_deer]

Hmm... Ending a conflict in a single operation isn't easy, especially if it's a solo one...

[Thinking, thinking.]

You guys have that honorable challenge system, right? Can the stakes be anything you can think of?

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Theoretically, Aff." Matthew says, frowning in thought.

"However, most Clan Mechwarriors will decline a challenge Trial if the stakes are too ridiculous, or if the other side is clearly trying to exploit their sense of honor..."

Matthew nods to himself. "In the end, it all comes down to what they have to gain: what could I offer them if they won a challenge?"

[not_the_deer]

Simple. If they win, Clan Wolf surrenders to them. But if they lose, then they have to surrender!

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"What?" Matthew says, blinking in alarm.

"Aff, I suppose they would be interested in that...but there is no way the leaders of Clan Wolf would agree to such a thing, especially if the offer was made by a ex-Jade Falcon!"

Matthew starts pacing back and forth. "What? What could I surrender to the forces of Jade Falcon that it is my right to–"

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew stops mid-stride. And slams a fist into his palm.

"Of course!" He exclaims. "If I win, they have to call off their war with Clan Wolf and the natives of this world for 3 years. And if they win...I will grant them the secrets of Spiral Energy!!!"

[not_the_deer]

Do you actually know how to pass that secret?

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Maybe!" Matthew declares proudly.

[not_the_deer]

I see. So it's not a matter whether you know, but whether they think you know.

[rolla_up]

Here's to hoping it can all go that smoothly.

[not_the_deer]

Yeah. And if there are complications, we'll be ready for them!

[rolla_up]

Here's to hoping.

[emorangerpink]

That'd be the best case scenario, wouldn't it? So it's probably not a good idea to count on it. Still, it's a relief to see things coming together, for a change.

[not_the_deer]

Nothing ever goes smooth, huh? Well, I never said building peace is easy...

[emorangerpink]

At the very least, having fewer ongoing conflicts means fewer situations Kairos Aspida can exploit to win allies. Fewer opportunities for them to make themselves look like heroes, too.

[not_the_deer]

Yeah. But I noticed they haven't been doing it that much lately.

After what happened after Christmas, I think they're... scared.

[emorangerpink]

Scared is good - if it keeps them quiet. If it makes them do something stupid in a panic, though...

[not_the_deer]

I don't think their leader would do something like that. But his men, on the other hand...

[emorangerpink]

Maybe it's their divisions we should be trying to take advantage of. Even if the leaders are still out to remake the world in their image, if everyone else is done fighting each other, then some Kairos Aspida troops might prefer to just find lives for themselves.

[not_the_deer]

That could be good. Maybe some of them will see our point of view. They're not the only ones fighting for the future, after all!

[curse_u_reflexes]

Well, this is a ship of miracles, after all. It's managed to change history so much by being here, uniting so many people.

And our efforts are really starting to pay off. Before, problems were always springing up, new groups or aliens or monsters or something. But now we're making headway, either stopping dangerous threats or, in KA's case, maybe reaching peace with them.

[not_the_deer]

There will always be someone to fill the niche after current warmongers and dictators are defeated. I don't think that will change much in the future. But eveything we did means it will take some time until they show up again, at least.

[sexygodofscienceandwar]

...You forgot about the dude with all the tentacles.

[not_the_deer]

But he's not a country leader, is he? He can't wage war on anyone, he's more like a terrorist.

A really dangerous terrorist who wields mind-shatteringly powerful sorcery.

[sexygodofscienceandwar]

Well, he can probably wage war on everyone at once. Dude's effectively a nuclear state-remember what happened with that nuke?

So yeah, stuff's gettin' better all the time, but we ain't out of the woods yet.

[not_the_deer]

This just means we have even more incentive not to fail now. Not after we've done so much good already and got so close to ending it all!