With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

[Mr Zoat]

Also, since I'm here,

than

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Thank you, corrected.

 

[Mr Zoat]

25th February 2284
09:02 GMT -5

"Mister Krowno." Governor Autumn rises from his seat to greet me as I'm escorted into his office. An interesting change from my last visit: my escort isn't in power armour or even a member of the Enclave military, just a regular civil servant who backs out now that his boss has hold of me. Autumn offers me his hand and I shake it with a smile. "Did you have the chance to examine ower little town?"

"Just a brief look as I flew over. I intend to get a better idea of what's going on after our meeting."

The old barrack houses they built when they first moved into the area are still there, but with a foundry and a brickworks and a concrete plant set up they're building actual buildings again with frames of recovered steel and stone and brick both new and reclaimed. The only thing they're really lacking is good timber, but there's only so much that Diana can do to make hardwood grow faster and shipping it from Canada is… Difficult for a variety of reasons.

"I'll happily give you the tour mahself." He releases my hand and sits back down, and I take the chair opposite him. "Ah was surprised when Governor Hayes sent me his message. Iowa does not yet have a fraction of the industreh that California does."

"Hayes is surprisingly okay with being first amongst equals. I think reports about things like the Odious King and Cerberus convinced him that collegiality was the way to go."

"And hwhat is the purpose of this convention of governors?"

"Formally setting out the process to recreate the United States of America, nat-"

He blinks in shock. "Wu-what?"

"-urally-. Yes?"

He… Takes a moment.

"Ah must apologise for my discomportment, but you understand that ah am somehwhat surprahsed."

"And I'll try not to be hurt by that surprise. Mister Governor, recreating America was always the aim. It's just that things have happened in such a way that we can start being a little more direct about it now."

He nods slowly, still trying to keep himself under control. "When you descraabed the slow way, ah assumed that you would need more than one yeuh."

"Well, yes, I need a lot more than one year. This is barely a constitutional convention. We're going to get maybe six stars on the flag, and forget the Commonwealth system, there's no support for it."

"States, then. And ah doubt that such an agreement could give rahs to a federal government."

"A federal government is a 'nice-to-have'. This isn't going to work if it looks like one party annexing the others."

"Then in practical turms, hwhat will we achieve theyah?"

"The leaders of the states taking party will get to know each other, and hopefully agree to cooperate on infrastructure projects like road and rail connections between their territories… Intelligence sharing, mutual defence… We're going to have to go through the process of building a nation in the minds of its inhabitants before we can do anything more concrete."

"At this moment, the State of Iowa has little that it can offuh."

"You have two things, Governor. Patriotism and power armour. I know… That Hayes is on-side, but for everyone else, this is the one state where I know that everyone wants the United States of America to begin functioning as a unified whole once more."

"Ah would have thought that their prior exposyuh to the Enclave would make the people of California the most sceptical of awl."

"Regardless of the precise legalities, most Californians regard the Enclave as separate from the pre-War United States of America. With their separation of powers, free speech and individualistic culture, they've actually fallen back on America's fundamentals, rather than the form the nation took in the immediate pre-War era."

"Ah take it that you approve."

"The America of that period had a lot going wrong with it, and not all of it was the fault of the People's Republic of China. Simply trying to recreate that exact thing would build those problems into it. Having a simpler structure instead would guard against that, and it's not as if we have to prepare to fight an external enemy."

"Ah myself along with most of mah fellow Iowans are more use to a strict hierarchy. But ah have increasingly found that leaves something to be desiyad when dealing with the civilian population." He looks down for a moment, before nodding. "That, ah think, was mah greatest failing in mah dealings with the people of Washington. There were those who were open to awuh message, but ah had no idea how to take advantage of that opportunitay while the Brotherhood of Steel did."

"You were a little unlucky there. Usually, Brotherhood chapters just as cack-handed at that as you were."

"Still, that does not excuse mah failure. Hwhat do you intend to do with awuh power armour?"

"Well, since you're not under threat here, I thought that you could offer to deploy them as rapid response units in areas under sporadic threat. The N.C.R,'s army is far larger than yours, but it's a bit lumbering and struggles with hardened targets like Deathclaw packs."

"Hwhy would they not use Brotherhood soldiers for that purpose?"

"The Brotherhood has agreed to use its paladins for clearing dangerous pre-War sites, but they have manpower issues and… Most people don't really want the Brotherhood claiming the old military bases in their territory, and the Brotherhood isn't all that keen on America coming back. Elder Rusk genuinely loves Texas, but he's going to be the hardest person to convince to go along with this. And the rest of the Elders are worse."

"Ah was not expecting a favorable reference from Elder Lyons. Will they be joining us?"

"No, not at this stage. The N.C.R. are dealing with Lost Hills and the Mojave Chapter, WARDEN's dealing with what's left of the Maxson Chapter, The Alamo Chapter are dong their own thing but don't really want to have to deal with anyone else, the Midwest and the Capital Chapters are rebuilding and while the Washington Brotherhood technically qualifies due to controlling the entirety of Washington State… We're not on good terms with them. One… Slight issue, though."

"Yes?"

"I'd prefer it if you sent Vice Governor Granite rather than going yourself."

"But this is an historic occasion! Every other governor will be in attendance! We are behand enough as it is without me sending a man who -while entirely competent- is lowuh in status than mahself. And ah want to go. Ah want to be theyah when we take the first steps towards restoring America with the consent of its people. Whay should I send Douglas in mah place?"

"Because it's not just about the agreement itself, it's about getting the state leaders used to dealing with one another. Leaving aside the fact that you being there would immediately end efforts in bringing Washington D.C. on board peacefully... I want them to get used to working with Douglas because I intend to finesse things so that he is ultimately considered a universally acceptable candidate for the position of Vice President."

Autumn calms a little as he tries to work out my reasoning.

"That's… Going to be a decade or two in the future at best, and I haven't began campaigning yet-."

"Whay Douglas?"

"Why him rather than you, or why him out of everyone I could nominate?"

"Both. Ah am not offended, but ah am… Curious."

"He has more experience than you in dealing with the wasteland's diverse peoples. Early on, most of the Vice President's job will be travelling around and encouraging peoples to work together, and hopefully voluntarily join up with our newly reformed union. You're a better military administrator than he is, but you lack his charisma. And he's… He's an American idealist, while you're more of an Enclave pragmatist. You're better for the position of Governor in a state inhabited by Enclave people, but for America as a whole…"

"Ah see." He nods. "And ah am forced to concede to your point. Ah will have to meet with the other Governors at some point; ah do not want another President Eden situation and ah very much suspect that they do not either."

I nod. "Thank you."

"But ah wundah; if you want Douglas for Vice President, who would you have for President? Is it Hayes? He has Enclave blood, and he has worked with you for the longest time."

"No, not him. California is going to be the most powerful state in the union, and I'd rather have a known quantity in charge of it. No, for President, we need an experienced administrator who's good at negotiating compromises and making them stick. Who can govern but has no strong desire to rule over people. Who has strong ideals, but can put them aside when necessary. My first pick for President -assuming that he's still alive at that point- is Elder Lyons."

Governor Autumn stares at me for several moments, then exhales slowly.

"Then perhaps ah should make arrangements to stay in Iowa for the foreseeable future."

 

[Ngamer11]

"No, not at this stage. The N.C.R. are dealing with Lost Hills and the Mojave Chapter, WARDEN's dealing with what's left of the Maxson Chapter, The Alamo Chapter are dong their own thing but don't really want to have to deal with anyone else, the Midwest and the Capital Chapters are rebuilding and while the Washington Brotherhood technically qualifies due to controlling the entirety of Washington State… We're not on good terms with them. One… Slight issue, thought."

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That should say 'though'.

"No, not him. California is going to be the most powerful state in the union, and I'd rather have a known quantity in charge of it. No, for President, we need an experienced administrator who's good at negotiating compromises and making them stick. Who can govern but has no strong desire to rule over people. Who has strong ideals, but can put them aside when necessary. My first pick for President -assuming that he's still alive at that point- is Elder Lyons."

Governor Autumn stares at me for several moments, then exhales slowly.

"Then perhaps ah should make arrangements to stay in Iowa for the foreseeable future."

Click to shrink...

As someone who's never played the Fallout games, how big of a deal is this?

 

[Parzival95]

It's genuinely hilarious is what it is. Granite was Enclave who flipped and helped the Chosen One at the end of FO2 while Lyons was the Brotherhoods big good in 3, who defeated Autumns Enclave in the original timeline.

Enclave dissident vice president and Brotherhood reformer Lyons President.

 

[KyleDaScourge]

As someone who's never played the Fallout games, how big of a deal is this?

Click to shrink...

Autumn lead the Enclave in a small-ish scale war against Lyons' chapter as part of his plan to seize a project which would have supplied clean water to DC and instead convert it into another Enclave attempt at a "kill all the wastelanders" weapon. Is my understanding, if I'm getting the characters right and remembering Fallout 3's plot.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

25th February 2284
09:02 GMT -5

"Mister Krowno." Governor Autumn rises from his seat to greet me as I'm escorted into his office. An interesting change from my last visit: my escort isn't in power armour or even a member of the Enclave military, just a regular civil servant who backs out now that his boss has hold of me. Autumn offers me his hand and I shake it with a smile. "Did you have the chance to examine ower little town?"

Click to shrink...

Good gawd, I can hear the accent. At least Krono's stocks have risen to the point where he's not met with often thinly-veiled hostility from certain parties anymore. Indeed, many will be happy to see him as word of this conference spreads.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

"Just a brief look as I flew over. I intend to get a better idea of what's going on after our meeting."

The old barrack houses they built when they first moved into the area are still there, but with a foundry and a brickworks and a concrete plant set up they're building actual buildings again with frames of recovered steel and stone and brick both new and reclaimed. The only thing they're really lacking is good timber, but there's only so much that Diana can do to make hardwood grow faster and shipping it from Canada is… Difficult for a variety of reasons.

Click to shrink...

It'll go in as it comes, I suppose. Easy enough to work with reclaimed materials for now.

"I'll happily give you the tour mahself." He releases my hand and sits back down, and I take the chair opposite him. "Ah was surprised when Governor Hayes sent me his message. Iowa does not yet have a fraction of the industreh that California does."

"Hayes is surprisingly okay with being first amongst equals. I think reports about things like the Odious King and Cerberus convinced him that collegiality was the way to go."

Click to shrink...

He'd rather have a few buffers between his territory and the wasteland's threats, eh?

"And hwhat is the purpose of this convention of governors?"

"Formally setting out the process to recreate the United States of America, nat-"

Click to shrink...

Not going to happen quickly, but if things go well it will happen, I suppose.

He blinks in shock. "Wu-what?"

"-urally-. Yes?"

He… Takes a moment.

Click to shrink...

Huh, an unusual reaction. Surprised that everyone's willing to make that effort, was he? Especially given how hostile some parties may be towards each other historically.

"Ah must apologise for my discomportment, but you understand that ah am somehwhat surprahsed."

"And I'll try not to be hurt by that surprise. Mister Governor, recreating America was always the aim. It's just that things have happened in such a way that we can start being a little more direct about it now."

Click to shrink...

Less potential disasters to worry about out in the wild areas, for a start, and someone going around and smoothing ruffled feathers...

He nods slowly, still trying to keep himself under control. "When you descraabed the slow way, ah assumed that you would need more than one yeuh."

"Well, yes, I need a lot more than one year. This is barely a constitutional convention. We're going to get maybe six stars on the flag, and forget the Commonwealth system, there's no support for it."

Click to shrink...

And there's still the distant matter of sorting out how East and West will meet up. Given the wide expanses of the middle of the continent, that's a long way off, though.

"States, then. And ah doubt that such an agreement could give rahs to a federal government."

"A federal government is a 'nice-to-have'. This isn't going to work if it looks like one party annexing the others."

"Then in practical turms, hwhat will we achieve theyah?"

Click to shrink...

Promises to not try and conquer each other, for a start. Pretty important detail there.

"The leaders of the states taking party will get to know each other, and hopefully agree to cooperate on infrastructure projects like road and rail connections between their territories… Intelligence sharing, mutual defence… We're going to have to go through the process of building a nation in the minds of its inhabitants before we can do anything more concrete."

Click to shrink...

Getting people used to thinking like tribes to consider folks over the next hill as friends, not rivals for local resources.

"At this moment, the State of Iowa has little that it can offuh."

"You have two things, Governor. Patriotism and power armour. I know… That Hayes is on-side, but for everyone else, this is the one state where I know that everyone wants the United States of America to begin functioning as a unified whole once more."

"Ah would have thought that their prior exposyuh to the Enclave would make the people of California the most sceptical of awl."

Click to shrink...

I imagine they're being very cautious, yes. But ultimately, this will be better for everyone.

"Regardless of the precise legalities, most Californians regard the Enclave as separate from the pre-War United States of America. With their separation of powers, free speech and individualistic culture, they've actually fallen back on America's fundamentals, rather than the form the nation took in the immediate pre-War era."

Click to shrink...

Kind of inevitable after a cataclysmic event like that. The survivors seek comfort in ideals that encourage survival together. As opposed to going all 'Lord Humungus' or 'Immortan Joe' on their neighbours.

"Ah take it that you approve."

"The America of that period had a lot going wrong with it, and not all of it was the fault of the People's Republic of China. Simply trying to recreate that exact thing would build those problems into it. Having a simpler structure instead would guard against that, and it's not as if we have to prepare to fight an external enemy."

Click to shrink...

Tempting fate there, i wouldn't wonder. Fortunately, Fallout tends to have smaller scale drama going on.

"Ah myself along with most of mah fellow Iowans are more use to a strict hierarchy. But ah have increasingly found that leaves something to be desiyad when dealing with the civilian population." He looks down for a moment, before nodding. "That, ah think, was mah greatest failing in mah dealings with the people of Washington. There were those who were open to awuh message, but ah had no idea how to take advantage of that opportunitay while the Brotherhood of Steel did."

Click to shrink...

At least he can recognise where he fouled up, and is hopefully working to fix that.

"You were a little unlucky there. Usually, Brotherhood chapters just as cack-handed at that as you were."

"Still, that does not excuse mah failure. Hwhat do you intend to do with awuh power armour?"

Click to shrink...

I'm guessing the Brotherhood aren't generally that flexible in doctrine. That branch got lucky with a capable leader, then?

"Well, since you're not under threat here, I thought that you could offer to deploy them as rapid response units in areas under sporadic threat. The N.C.R,'s army is far larger than yours, but it's a bit lumbering and struggles with hardened targets like Deathclaw packs."

"Hwhy would they not use Brotherhood soldiers for that purpose?"

Click to shrink...

I'm guessing it's political.

"The Brotherhood has agreed to use its paladins for clearing dangerous pre-War sites, but they have manpower issues and… Most people don't really want the Brotherhood claiming the old military bases in their territory, and the Brotherhood isn't all that keen on America coming back. Elder Rusk genuinely loves Texas, but he's going to be the hardest person to convince to go along with this. And the rest of the Elders are worse."

Click to shrink...

Hopefully they won't interfere with the conference or subsequent reunification efforts. Chances are not low.

"Ah was not expecting a favorable reference from Elder Lyons. Will they be joining us?"

"No, not at this stage. The N.C.R. are dealing with Lost Hills and the Mojave Chapter, WARDEN's dealing with what's left of the Maxson Chapter, The Alamo Chapter are dong their own thing but don't really want to have to deal with anyone else, the Midwest and the Capital Chapters are rebuilding and while the Washington Brotherhood technically qualifies due to controlling the entirety of Washington State… We're not on good terms with them. One… Slight issue, thought."

Click to shrink...

So the Brotherhood will be an impediment to regaining overall control of things. Though diplomacy will always be the better option, sometimes you gotta apply the boot.

"Yes?"

"I'd prefer it if you sent Vice Governor Granite rather than going yourself."

Click to shrink...

It's not the accent, is it?

"But this is an historic occasion! Every other governor will be in attendance! We are behand enough as it is without me sending a man who -while entirely competent- is lowuh in status than mahself. And ah want to go. Ah want to be theyah when we take the first steps towards restoring America with the consent of its people. Whay should I send Douglas in mah place?"

Click to shrink...

Damn, that's some strong feelings. Krono better talk fast to avoid trouble.

"Because it's not just about the agreement itself, it's about getting the state leaders used to dealing with one another. Leaving aside the fact that you being there would immediately end efforts in bringing Washington D.C. on board peacefully... I want them to get used to working with Douglas because I intend to finesse things so that he is ultimately considered a universally acceptable candidate for the position of Vice President."

Click to shrink...

Ah, I see. Autumn here is in good terms with the East coast, while his deputy is better for the East.

Autumn calms a little as he tries to work out my reasoning.

"That's… Going to be a decade or two in the future at best, and I haven't began campaigning yet-."

Click to shrink...

Still, FEV means Krono is going to be around for quite a while, right? So he'll still be able to play a part then.

"Whay Douglas?"

"Why him rather than you, or why him out of everyone I could nominate?"

"Both. Ah am not offended, but ah am… Curious."

Click to shrink...

At least he's aware of his limitations. I doubt he'd be suited to such a lofty position.

"He has more experience than you in dealing with the wasteland's diverse peoples. Early on, most of the Vice President's job will be travelling around and encouraging peoples to work together, and hopefully voluntarily join up with our newly reformed union. You're a better military administrator than he is, but you lack his charisma. And he's… He's an American idealist, while you're more of an Enclave pragmatist. You're better for the position of Governor in a state inhabited by Enclave people, but for America as a whole…"

Click to shrink...

Ah, well-rationalised. Yes, makes a lot of sense.

"Ah see." He nods. "And ah am forced to concede to your point. Ah will have to meet with the other Governors at some point; ah do not want another President Eden situation and ah very much suspect that they do not either."

I nod. "Thank you."

"But ah wundah; if you want Douglas for Vice President, who would you have for President? Is it Hayes? He has Enclave blood, and he has worked with you for the longest time."

Click to shrink...

Ah, there's the question. Who is going to be capable of wrangling all these intense personalities in the early years?

"No, not him. California is going to be the most powerful state in the union, and I'd rather have a known quantity in charge of it. No, for President, we need an experienced administrator who's good at negotiating compromises and making them stick. Who can govern but has no strong desire to rule over people. Who has strong ideals, but can put them aside when necessary. My first pick for President -assuming that he's still alive at that point- is Elder Lyons."

Click to shrink...

...Unless everyone decides Krono would be a better pick. But he'd probably refuse every offer.

Governor Autumn stares at me for several moments, then exhales slowly.

"Then perhaps ah should make arrangements to stay in Iowa for the foreseeable future."

Click to shrink...

Ah, that's the sound of a man very glad to not be sticking his hand into that piranha tank.

If Krono's plans play out, things are going to be very interesting for the next couple of decades. At the very least, it's going to set precedents for years to come, and leave quite the impression, no matter how it ends. And I have to wonder if he's even asked either man about their opinions on the matter yet...

 

[Silverias]

Autumn lead the Enclave in a small-ish scale war against Lyons' chapter as part of his plan to seize a project which would have supplied clean water to DC and instead convert it into another Enclave attempt at a "kill all the wastelanders" weapon. Is my understanding, if I'm getting the characters right and remembering Fallout 3's plot.

Click to shrink...

Autumn didn't want to do the "Murder everyone" plot. That was Eden, who was a computer.

 

[Mr Zoat]

That should say 'though'.

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

It's genuinely hilarious is what it is. Granite was Enclave who flipped and helped the Chosen One at the end of FO2 while Lyons was the Brotherhoods big good in 3, who defeated Autumns Enclave in the original timeline.

Enclave dissident vice president and Brotherhood reformer Lyons President.

Click to shrink...

Granite is the son of the man who flipped and helped the Chosen One. Want to guess who his mother is?

Autumn lead the Enclave in a small-ish scale war against Lyons' chapter as part of his plan to seize a project which would have supplied clean water to DC and instead convert it into another Enclave attempt at a "kill all the wastelanders" weapon. Is my understanding, if I'm getting the characters right and remembering Fallout 3's plot.

Click to shrink...

President Eden wanted to kill some people with it, but it's not all that clear exactly what proportion. It wasn't all of them. Autumn didn't even want to do that.