bravenewworld | The Ultimatum

Entry tags:

!plot

The Ultimatum

In the aftermath of the Day of Fire, the morale of the people of Union had slowly begun to recover from the difficult battle they had previously fought and the decision that they had made. Their reprieve is brief, however. Barely a week following the report to the Council, the news returned: Sanctuary, after extensive discussion, had refused to give up their Homunculus program merely because Union demanded it.

The issue now, of course, was how to proceed with this new information. Should the people of Union shun Sanctuary altogether? Should they establish minimal contact with sanctions? Should they attempt to negotiate, requesting that Sanctuary stop the worst of the abuses in exchange for diplomatic favors? Should they simply turn a blind eye to the Homunculus program and hope it works out?

The next decision would likely be the final one.

[As there are many directions this can go now, we have three options here: Normalize Relations, Open Partial Relations with Imposed Sanctions, or Abandon Relations. Please vote under the one you support. If you vote under 'open partial relations with imposed sanctions', you must also voice your opinion on each of the following potential sanctions: restrictions on the Homunculus program that would make it acceptable, refusing to trade or contribute to the economic welfare of Sanctuary, refusing to allow immigration from Sanctuary, refusing to open communication with Sanctuary in regards to the Warp Band network, and refusing to share information concerning legendary activities and discoveries with Sanctuary.

Each player may only vote once. As people with five or six characters in game could potentially unfairly unbalance the vote, the final vote is how you, as a player, would like to see the game change. You are of course free to vote in a manner reflective of how the majority of your characters would feel.

As before, there will be a section for IC discussion and OoC questions.]

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[Lucas hates conflict. For the majority of his life, he had run away and hid every time anyone had gotten into an argument. But now... if it meant that there was a chance his own opinion would be heard...

The boy raises his voice and launches himself into the ring.]

We can't just leave them.

Leaving them means abandoning any hope of helping the Homunculi, too. It's just telling them 'we don't like you' and... and playing in our own corner, instead. It doesn't do anything. I know we're all about being 'better' [and there's a faint tone of cynicism there] but it's no good being better off on our own when someone else is suffering.

Even if it means we've got to accept some part of what they're doing, the important thing is that we've got to still be there. We can't help anyone if we're pretending they don't exist.

...Unless someone is saying we should attack Sanctuary and free the Homunculi. I mean...

I'd rather not.

[And on her end, Fuuka can't help but smile]

I agree, we simply can't leave them behind and pretend on saying that we are better than them. It doesn't seem right when there is a lot more that we could do.

[However that smile eventually turned into a sad one]

But I can't help but wonder will they listen though.

They probably won't if we just... talk at them.

[He's glad, at least, someone seems to agree.]

But what if we send some scientists or diplomats or... other people there to study what they're doing? And to stop the parts we really can't accept. If we're trying to be involved instead of sending messages from a distance, they might be more willing to compromise. And we'd have people there who could report on what's happening.

That seems like a good idea!

I believe trying to establish a more open network might be for the better. And with what's happening at the moment, there are quite a few homunculi who would probably want to talk with them themselves.

[...] Although, I must ask what do you mean parts we can't really accept? Ah...if you don't mind me asking?

I think it will take some work to expand our network again. Last time, there were all sorts of materials and things like that... We're about at our maximum again, I think.

But we should definitely try.

[A slight pause.]

...Well, I mean. The parts where they... kidnap people.

Well, is there anyone who would be willing to establish communication with them? I certainly wouldn't mind if there's still a need for people!

[Fuuka what are you doing?]

Oh. [Pause] ...Of course, we can't have that either. But at this point, I think we must has well destroy the program completely.

Even if this program is volunteer based, I highly doubt it will go well either.

...It's a long way to travel, but maybe we can have a kind of official representation there. Sort of like, um. The way the Seekers have headquarters in each city.

[And thus Lucas invents embassies.]

It's probably a little early to think about sending actual people, though.

[Another slight pause.]

I don't know if there would be many volunteers, right. And... what exactly are Homunculi? I get that Enhanced are supposed to be like Enlightened, but... are Homunculi just... better Enlightened?

How about we make one near the forest? It seems like it would be easier for people to see it! Early or not, it's still nice to think about it ahead of time!

[Then she gave a giggle but it quickly turned somber]

To be honest, I'm not sure myself. I always thought they were but they probably don't even know the answer themselves. At least, that's what I think. ...It's...really quite sad.

I guess that's kind of what I mean about learning more about the program, too. None of us really know what's going on.

[Well, maybe except the actual Homunculus.]

There might be ways to turn it into something positive that we wouldn't be able to see right now.

[That's probably a long shot.]

There's nothing wrong with that. I'm just hoping that eventually things will sort itself out soon.

Because it seems like this whole issue has split the Union apart.

[And then she gave a pause]

And I think that's the last thing we need right now.

Oh --

[Fuuka's response, for some reason, comes as a bit of a surprise to him. Despite that he hated bickering, he hadn't quite considered it that way.]

You're right.

We're not... really living up to our name right now, are we? ...Um.

[A slight sigh.]

I guess whatever the majority decides... we should try to support it.

No, we aren't. At least I don't think so but at the same time, I think we are slowly working on a way too. It must might take a lot longer than we might think.

[And then a pause]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so somber! I just don't like fighting.

[But then again, Fuuka isn't good with confrontation as a whole]

[For as intense as Rei is being today, she still hasn't lost her warm heart, and hearing Lucas compare all of this to playing in their own corner of the sandbox is not only amusing, it's...]

A most apt description of the situation, Lucas-kun. We don't have the right to just leave them, not now. We got ourselves involved, for better or for worse, and while there isn't going to be an immediate solution to the problem, closing ourselves off to them entirely will hurt the people. And not just the people who've created the Homunculi.

[She smiles somewhat joylessly, the expression failing to reach her eyes.]

And no, we're not going to war to free the Homunculi. That isn't our way. We...aren't a morality police, and the effects of such an attack would be even more detrimental to the health of the city. Both cities.

[He shakes his head slightly, recognizing Rei's expression for what it is.]

We've had enough wars...

[The next time a city pops up with some heart-wrenching story about how Gigas is oppressing them, they should probably take it with a grain of salt.]

I don't want to say 'pretend', but... I think we should try to be as friendly to them as we can stand. They're not going to listen if they think we're against them, but... if we understand their culture and understand more about their program, they might be more willing to hear what we have to say. At the very least, having our scientists study their program means we know what parts of it really have to be stopped.

[a pause]

It might take a while before they trust us, though, it's true...

[This is a very Lucas solution, somehow.]

We have, and so have they.

[Refuge and Citadel had been different. Very different. Isolation and being attacked by a god weren't a war, and that was...in a way, relieving.]

And that's as good a solution as any I've seen yet. It's not that we're against Sanctuary's culture and safety...not at all, but the safety of those poor people has to be ensured as well. A military excursion would not help that. But a peaceful discussion, an investigation? That's probably a bit more manageable.

[He allows a soft smile. With the harsh words flying around, he's glad someone else feels similarly.]

Thanks, Miss Rei.

I just... I know there are people who have lots of reasons to hate Sanctuary and what they've done [no namedropping here, jack] but I just don't think open opposition will really get us anywhere. Much less an actual war.

It won't. All it will do is hurt different people. That's what war does, and if we went to war then the people of Sanctuary would have it worse. Which might seem just to some...but I cannot think so. And I cannot believe all of Sanctuary was behind that program.

[Her eyes may be hard, but she's really not angry, just focused.]

I don't, either. An open war... that would definitely hurt more people than we would save even if we won and rescued the Homunculi.

[Unless they miraculously won again in about two days, but given that there was no element of surprise here, it seemed unlikely.]

Maybe we should hear from the normal people of Sanctuary, even. They might not even support what's going on themselves. If we can get pressure from inside, too...

That's an excellent idea, too. And an argument in favor of making the Warp Band open to them. It would make communication and the flow of information and ideas much more free.

[Sow the seeds of rebellion young boy...]

[do you hear the people sing singing the song of angry men]

That's right. We should work on that, shouldn't we? I think we've explored as far as we can within the limits of the Band now, haven't we?

...I'm saying 'we', but I actually have no idea how that might happen.

I think we should be. [Rei nods at that.] And aside from a few ruins, I do believe so. Though I may be wrong. I'm not much of an explorer.

In any event, it's better than not having a way to communicate in case we are needed again. Because Gigas is the real enemy.

Well.

[In Lucas's world, they can all live happily ever after with Gigas, too, but.]

At least... it seems like they're always doing something we disagree with.

[A slight pause.]

Didn't they tell us once about another city that Gigas had taken over?

[In Rei's ideal world, places like Gigas don't exist. But...]

They are. What they see as right and just is just...not...to our way of thinking.

[And she has to frown at that.]

I don't know? Do you remember something I don't?

[Because the mun may not.]

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I've seen enough war from my homeland, I don't want to see more here - especially if there's another way.

[He sighs quietly]

There's absolutely no way we should abandon them, and let Gigas take them while the city's still recovering.

Oh --

[Is it bad that he'd completely forgotten about Gigas in all of this.]

...That's right. They must be really upset about everything that's happened, too.

[A slight pause.]

Should we... be concerned that they'll eventually launch a counterattack?

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