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

Reader mode
Mr Zoat said:
I don't think that can be true. Between fracking and tar sands, the US has plenty of production capacity, and they choose not to use it.
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Actually nowadays the USA could be self sufficient but shipping costs keep that from happening. Also fracking is a money losing business unless the petrol oil barrel price is over a hundred dollars in price.
 
Mr Zoat said:
21st August 2015
21:08 Japan Time

"-easy-going!"​

The bullet flattens against the part of the environmental shield covering his forehead, penetrating just enough to embed into it and delivering just enough kinetic force to knock him back a step. Construct armour snapping into place around his body, he raises his hand to check for blood even as he braces himself.
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I suppose in the heat of the moment, both OL and Diabo can be forgiven for thinking it had hit him fair in the forehead proper. Still, that must be a hell of a shock, having something smack into your face with that much force.

His hand finds the bullet and for a moment he's more confused than anything else. He's mentally off balance and it's not an immediately familiar object. Most bullets around Alnus Hill didn't hit anything that hard and so didn't deform quite as much, and the word he hears for 'bullet' refers to stones use in slings.

Then he realises what it is, and throws himself through the door.
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Ironically, that concept of a bullet, the stone from a sling, is the root notion of the gun-fired projectile. Wouldn't be surprised if his shields flickered in the brief moment of fear, though. Sloppy.

"Guards!"

The lieutenant and one of the other male soldiers are already running towards us, also dressed is yukata but with their sidearms at the ready.
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Wow, seriously? Talk about informal surroundings. I'm guessing they transported Diabo to a hot springs resort or similar to continue negotiations, since I doubt the politicians would be willing to hang about on the far side of the gate.

"Prince Diabo, are you okay!?"

"Someone shot me in the head!" He holds out the flattened bullet as proof of his injury. "See!"
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Heck of a memento, though, even if you might have to explain to Imperials what it is.

The soldier looks Diabo over. "It doesn't look like you're bleeding, your highness."

Diabo isn't reassured. "Who's attacking us?!"
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Yes, very good question. Keep on that tack, folks.

The lieutenant looks a little awkward. "We don't know, but the perimeter security should be all over them. It was probably just a stray bullet rather than one that was aimed at you specifically. We should move further towards the middle of the resort."

He gestures down the left hand corridor, and Diabo follows his direction.
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I doubt the walls are any sturdier deeper in.

"Were any of your people injured, Lieutenant?"

"No." He takes the lead as we come to an intersection, checking both directions with his gun ready before stepping forward. "Our radio operator is trying to contact our command, and the rest are getting their equipment."
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Well, this is all just a fustercluck, then.

Diabo, we could resolve this ourselves.

That would make them think that we think that they're incompetent.
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Well, tell them first, and make sure they understand this isn't a knock against them specifically. :p

You did get shot in the head in the middle of their sea-bounded country. At a certain point it's something they thank you for doing to save them the embarrassment.

He slows down, looking at me on his left hand and nearly having the soldier on rearguard walk into him.
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On the up side, you can be sure this is enemy action, as guns aren't exactly common in Japan.

I know that you're used to being relatively powerless, but the image of strength-.

Alnus Hill was different! I had to do it there! I have guards here!
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Boy, you're an Orange Lantern now. You have a duty to resolve situations like this.

I hate to sound like a-. Person who repeats themselves, but I'm forced to ask once again: what would the Diabo you want to be do?

He'd be surrounded by loyal guards who would put themselves between him and people who could kill him!
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Heh. Yeah, I doubt you have time to explain what a record is, and how it can be broken.

Have you seen your shield?

He stops completely, causing the Lieutenant to give him an interrogative look.

Are you certain that they don't have anything that can hurt me?
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Honestly, no. Not short of very obvious heavy weaponry. Most of which need line of sight for effective use.

Am I? His construct armour is reasonable. Good, even, for someone who has been using a ring for only a few days. Repeated anti-material rifle shots would go through it, but would anyone have actually brought one of those? Regular sniper rifles wouldn't even penetrate his environmental shield thanks to his underlying need for personal safety. I haven't seen any weapon lasers or exotic weapons. A suitcase nuke would kill him, but the chance of someone bringing one of those…
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Any attacker would probably assume he's an ordinary man, and planned accordingly.

While I can't promise that for certain, the chance of them having anything that can hurt you while you maintain your focus is vanishingly small. Use this ring to expand your awareness if you want to be certain.

"Ah, your highness? We should move."
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Knowing wouldn't hurt, I suppose.

His eyes glow orange as he turns in a circle, trying to see who it is outside the spa resort. I see… Asian faces with… No unit patches, obviously, but overwhelmingly carrying genes from China. The other side in the gunfight appear to come from a more mixed background, which doesn't actually narrow it down. Very few places have special forces soldiers from a single ethnic background; they could come from just about any former European colony. Though given that this is Japan-
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Yes, not many countries with an interest in Japanese affairs, especially in this story's setting. :D It's Team America!

Diabo blinks as he focuses on the Lieutenant.

"The Japanese guards have vanished."
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Or are taking the room temperature challenge. And winning... :oops:

-I would guess they're America. They're all using NATO equipment, but for the Chinese that's probably because they copied it.

The Lieutenant nods. "That explains why we can't reach them."
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...Gee, you think? :rolleyes:

Diabo, the fight outside appears to be between Chinese and American soldiers. China is a strategic enemy of Japan while Japan and America have been allied for seventy years. Given that the only obvious reason for the absence of the Japanese soldiers is their deaths, I would guess that the Americans are answering their call for help.

Are America and Japan equals?
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...Not going by post-war relations. :oops:

Oh gosh no. America has more than twice as many people, a far larger military and strategic nuclear weapons.

What are-? Oh.
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Oof. Yeah, sometimes it's better not to ask things like that...

Yeah. Want to know why Japanese men are all thin? It's because last time they had a fat man, a city vanished.

"Lieutenant, I… I think I should go outside and help your allies."
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Good on OL for trying to lighten the tone with black humour, but I don't think anyone is in the mood.

"Ah… Well, we hit you with everything we had when you landed on your dragon, and you didn't get hurt. But we're supposed to keep you safe."

"I appreciate that." Diabo takes a moment to get himself-. He's thinking of himself as emperor, how that will make him safe both physically and socially. "But I've got a god in a ring on my finger and you don't. Thank you for your trouble."
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And to be fair, Diabo is quite a bit tougher than you right now, LT.

Diabo hasn't got the hang of transmission, but the idea that being an apostle means that he should be able to move faster than a normal man is a far easier one to grasp. The wood-panelled walls blur past us as he runs, a construct sword-

Really?
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Like he has time to learn how to shoot a gun, or is in the mood for destruction pulses?

I know how to use it.

-appearing in his right hand. And then we're outside, flickers of light and bursts of sound echoing from the woodland surrounding us. The gunmen are using suppressors, but all that does is muffle the noise a little.
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Yup. 'Silencers' are a movie myth. A suppressed weapon is still fairly loud, if not deafening anymore. Never mind trying to suppress the noise of supersonic ammo or shotgun rounds...

The ones who look like the Japanese, but with rounder faces?

Check that their equipment matches, because there are ethnic Chinese and Japanese in America.

Alright. I see… There.
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Sadly, I doubt they're so foolish as to be wearing unit patches or flags.

The wood blurs past, and I see through his eyes as he bursts through a bush into a Chinese fire team. They don't have time to reposition themselves before he's among them, sword stabbing through necks and eyes. As they fall he checks again and dashes towards the other cluster of Chinese survivors. This time one is facing the right way to see the oncoming orange glow and gets a volley off with his automatic rifle, but Diabo's armour construct is easily up to the task of stopping it. And stopping the blood spray as he slashes with his sword, sending the man's head flying.
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Like a fucking blender. :D Nice.

Diabo checks his surroundings, sword at the ready and breathing far harder than his level of exertion really warrants.

"American soldiers! The Chinese are dead! I thank you for your assistance! If you have injuries, I am willing to offer my aid!"

And then the flashbang goes off.
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...Not that it'll do more than surprise him, given the environmental shields.

What's the bet that's the opposing force, caught by surprise by the glowing buzzsaw shaped like a man and reacting naturally? That or both skirmishing groups were out to deal with Diabo and the little summit. Regardless, he might have to do some more cutting before things calm down... Which might be awkward, but efficient.

...also dressed is yukata but with their sidearms at the ready.
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...also dressed in yukata but with their sidearms at the ready.
; they could come from just about any former European colony. Though given that this is Japan-[/i][/COLOR]
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Broken tags there following the link, though it may already have been fixed...
He's thinking of himself as emperor...
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'Emperor' or 'an emperor', I think.
 
Pinklestia said:
Actually nowadays the USA could be self sufficient but shipping costs keep that from happening. Also fracking is a money losing business unless the petrol oil barrel price is over a hundred dollars in price.
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If we go by the in universe year for the Gate, then the US is probably not energy independent yet. It's likely the US is net oil exporter by the end of 2023 (at least for some months), functionally so with Canadian oil imports anyways.
 
Mr Zoat said:
Diabo, the fight outside appears to be between Chinese and American soldiers. China is a strategic enemy of Japan while Japan and America have been allied for seventy years. Given that the only obvious reason for the absence of the Japanese soldiers is their deaths, I would guess that the Americans are answering their call for help.
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And if this was any setting but GATE, OL would be right in this assessment...
 
In Gate the Americans are "allies" of the Japanese and both sides know it.

It's implied the plaza accords fell through and the Japanese economy didn't slow down and stagnate, so Japan has become a rival towards the US. The US doesn't tolerate economic rivals in the Gate universe and arguably that is also true in real life.
 
Mr Zoat said:
"American soldiers! The Chinese are dead! I thank you for your assistance! If you have injuries, I am willing to offer my aid!"

And then the flashbang goes off.
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You'd think that after seeing an orange buzzsaw cut through your opposition, you might hesitate before engaging your target.
 
Mr Zoat said:
"American soldiers! The Chinese are dead! I thank you for your assistance! If you have injuries, I am willing to offer my aid!"

And then the flashbang goes off.
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I'm gonna chalk this up to poor timing rather than malicious action. If he's been moving through an active combat zone theirs a high chance that due to the lack of coordination, he'd get hit by something meant for the Chinese.
 
Khornelius said:
m gonna chalk this up to poor timing rather than malicious action. If he's been moving through an active combat zone theirs a high chance that due to the lack of coordination, he'd get hit by something meant for the Chinese.
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Gate is weird Japanese militarism propaganda, in this universe the America is cartoonishly evil.
 
Khornelius said:
I'm gonna chalk this up to poor timing rather than malicious action. If he's been moving through an active combat zone theirs a high chance that due to the lack of coordination, he'd get hit by something meant for the Chinese.
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GATE U.S.A is pretty terrible as far I remember. Everyone is fucking awful actually. The guy that made it has strong feelings towards Imperial Japan and their "non" crimes, so everyone of note is fucking flanderized and evil, there is little nuance, even "good guy" Japan is awful when looked objectively, the only way to be a good country is to be irrelevant enough to not show up in the original narrative at all.

Edit: I remember reading translated moon runes (Japanese fan translation) of an interview. The justification in regards to the hostile relationship between Europe/US and Japan being that the US failed to "sabotage" the Japanese economy and by the time the gate opened Japan was regarded as a rival by the US and Europe rather than a regional ally.

In short if Mr. Zoat hasn't changed the original narrative the Japanese soldiers killed in this encounter likely died with NATO bullet holes on their backs and the lesser Chinese men tried to use the opportunity created by the US troops as the lesser scoundrels they are.
 
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mossconfig said:
Gate is weird Japanese militarism propaganda, in this universe the America is cartoonishly evil.
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Chaoswind said:
In short if Mr. Zoat hasn't changed the original narrative the Japanese soldiers killed in this encounter likely died with NATO bullet holes on their backs and the lesser Chinese men tried to use the opportunity created by the US troops as the lesser scoundrels they are.
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Stsword said:
Yeah the guy who wrote Gate comes across as the type who is disappointed that the future isn't going to be a cyberpunk dystopia where Sony-Mitsubishi rules the world.
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Wow that is a weird view to take on history and geopolitics. Japan is heavily reliant on import food to sustain their population. So a theoretical Superpower Japan either needs a lot more territory, alternative trade alliances, or futuristic farming technology. I say alternative because apparently the UN, USA and China are all hostile forces. Then you have to remember a lot of 1st world countries use American weapons systems, which implies this Japan is either sourcing them illegally or has been making their own equivalents, which is difficult to effectively do for any single nation.

So basically everyone else is stupid evil, and Gate! Japan are the "good guys" because it's modern japan with 1940 views. When I first read Zoat's Gate chapters, I thought Japan was a standin for America or something.
 
Chaoswind said:
In short if Mr. Zoat hasn't changed the original narrative the Japanese soldiers killed in this encounter likely died with NATO bullet holes on their backs and the lesser Chinese men tried to use the opportunity created by the US troops as the lesser scoundrels they are.
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No, it's the same as the canon explanation: America blackmailed the Japanese Prime Minister with evidence of corruption and the soldiers got called off.
Khornelius said:
Wow that is a weird view to take on history and geopolitics. Japan is heavily reliant on import food to sustain their population. So a theoretical Superpower Japan either needs a lot more territory, alternative trade alliances, or futuristic farming technology. I say alternative because apparently the UN, USA and China are all hostile forces. Then you have to remember a lot of 1st world countries use American weapons systems, which implies this Japan is either sourcing them illegally or has been making their own equivalents, which is difficult to effectively do for any single nation.

So basically everyone else is stupid evil, and Gate! Japan are the "good guys" because it's modern japan with 1940 views. When I first read Zoat's Gate chapters, I thought Japan was a standin for America or something.
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Wait, are you saying they actually want a tribute in flour?
 
Mr Zoat said:
Wait, are you saying they actually want a tribute in flour?
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Food production was actually a pretty major component of imperialism in the real-world albeit with a bit more nuanced system of exploitation than just demands for tribute. This is the origin of the term "Banana Republic". Fruit and chocolate production were both particularly significant examples and arguably still are. It would make sense for this pattern of behavior to be repeated in regards to the Gate world.

Creating a puppet-state in the Gate world that is tasked with only providing food products would make a great deal of sense for Japan. It wouldn't require nearly as much infrastructure investment for them to provide innovations that can massively increase the food production of the region. This would also remove the risk of the puppet-state eventually leveraging their superior resources and population (after decades of growth) to turn the tables on Japan as they would only need to share a limited level technology.
 
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Mr Zoat said:
No, it's the same as the canon explanation: America blackmailed the Japanese Prime Minister with evidence of corruption and the soldiers got called off.

Wait, are you saying they actually want a tribute in flour?
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In a roundabout way …maybe?

Having more land to produce food would make them more self-efficient and save them likely billions of dollars. The latest statistics show Japan spent around 70.2 billion dollars on agriculture products in 2022. They import roughly 60 percent of their food each year, with 12% of that being from America. 70 billion is about 8% of their total GDP as a nation. The ability to produce their own food and one day actually begin exporting it would save them billions of dollars.

Though such an economic development would take years to implement and are wholly reliant on the portal remaining open. But it would give them a darn good reason to be interested in going to the other side to build those farms.

I'm uncertain if a year or monthly tribute of flour and food products would be big enough to even make a dent in the city the portal is in. Let alone the rest of the country. But frankly building massive farms on the other side and driving food trucks back through make a lot more sense than resource mining, at least in the near future.
 
The simple fact that a stable treaty, even if in favor of this Japan, would result in no more chaos or similar interactions for the Gods to derive entertainment from, ultimately means that they would close the Gate in a relative short amount of time. So even with good decision making on the part of this Japan, it wouldn't amount to anything. It would be like building over a glass bridge, suspended over a swamp. No stability plausible at all.
 
Lord Ernest said:
The simple fact that a stable treaty, even if in favor of this Japan, would result in no more chaos or similar interactions for the Gods to derive entertainment from, ultimately means that they would close the Gate in a relative short amount of time. So even with good decision making on the part of this Japan, it wouldn't amount to anything. It would be like building over a glass bridge, suspended over a swamp. No stability plausible at all.
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The God's can't close the Gate.
 
Gateway (part 9)
  • Threadmarks
    • 21st August 2015
    21:12 Japan Time

    I'm blind!

    No, you've just been exposed to a bright light. It's like walking from a dark room to the bright outdoors. Focus on your desire to see and you'll be fine, or have the ring's sensors direct you.

    Oh.

    Also, you can fly.

    Ah.

    It's alright, we'll work on it.

    Thank you.

    A small impulse and his eyes clear, revealing a large probably-American soldier standing just in front of him and a couple of others providing cover from behind nearby trees.

    "…probable target, please advise."

    Diabo nods. "Yes, I was probably the target. I appreciate-" The soldier's eyes widen and he takes a half-step back, his gun rising slightly. "-your efforts in fighting the Chinese."

    Definitely an American accent. My guess would be Kansas or Nebraska, though training for commando units means that they might have picked up the accent from outside of their home state.

    "Ah. You're welcome. Sir."

    "Though I would appreciate it if you could keep your.. 'flashbangs'? To yourself in future."

    The soldier looks… Surprisingly awkward about things.

    "Sorry sir. You just sort of appeared. I was aiming for the Chinese."

    I notice that one of the other soldiers is speaking urgently but quietly into his radio.

    "…made contact with-. The Chinese were here, too. No, he did. With a glowing orange sword, so I'm not exactly-. Yes, Unicorn Three is..."

    "Are any of your tent-mates injured? As I said, I-."

    "No, thank you, sir. Sir, my commanding officer would like to speak with you quite urgently."

    "I would be happy to thank him in person. I'm currently being quartered at the resort through the woods. Please send your commander through as soon as you've checked the perimeter for other Chinese soldiers."

    Diabo turns away, rising off the ground as he does so and flying back towards the resort. At the entrance the lieutenant and several other soldiers have thrown their body armour on over whatever they were wearing and grabbed their guns, readying to sally out. Diabo lands just in front of them.

    "The Chinese appear to be dead, and the Americans are securing the perimeter."

    The lieutenant looks mildly puzzled.

    "Americans?"

    "Yes? I believe they're your nation's allies?"

    "That's…" He looks a little awkward. "True. But we weren't told about any Americans being sent here."

    "And you weren't told about the other Japanese soldiers withdrawing. I suggest having your messenger flogged."

    The lieutenant smiles. "A-hah. It's probably a miscommunication. It happens sometimes."

    "Then flog the miscommunicators." Diabo walks past them and back into the resort. "The leader of the Americans will be visiting later. Please escort them to me."

    "Ah, the thing is… Sergeant, take over here." An older sergeant nods as the lieutenant scurries after Diabo. "Prince Diabo, the Americans are our allies. But there has been a… Polite disagreement about the best way to handle the gate."

    "But it's in the middle of your country. And it can't be moved."

    "I.. don't think I'm supposed to talk about it. I don't really know what the Prime Minister and the American President talk about."

    "Am I going to have to-."

    "Lieutenant!"

    Diabo and the lieutenant turn at the sergeant's shout, as-. One of the American soldiers walks out of the woods, his gun at rest across his chest. The Japanese soldiers look surprisingly unsettled by that, but I suppose that a relatively junior soldier in a politically sensitive situation might well feel out of their depth.

    "Who're you?!"

    The American soldier halts. "Captain Thompson, 1st Special Forces Group. The Prince invited me."

    Realistically, a captain probably won't be much more in the loop than a lieutenant. He certainly wouldn't have the authority to deploy a squad in a friendly country on his own recognisance. But he could well be the most senior American on-site, and it might not be practical for their ambassador or whoever to get here from the embassy.

    The lieutenant nods. "Are the Chinese dead?"

    "Yeah. No identification, so the Chinese will probably say they were all Korean." Captain Thompson shrugs.

    "Have you seen the squad who was supposed to be guarding the resort?"

    "No. But I didn't see their bodies, either. Ah. Okay, real talk? I think someone at the embassy pulled some strings so we could talk to the Prince."

    The lieutenant's expression hardens. "They got the security detail removed?"

    The captain shrugs. "It's not like they knew that the Chinese were gunna send in a team. Guess they just wanted our meeting to be off the books."

    Ah. Yes. Someone upstairs decides something stupid and the sensible people have to run around pointlessly trying to make it happen instead of doing what they know is the more sensible thing.

    "Is that why we can't contact them?"

    "I didn't get any orders about jamming you, so I guess so. Someone on your side probably ordered them not to answer."

    The lieutenant doesn't look too happy.

    "You just want to talk to the prince. Why?"

    "This is just me guessing, but I think your government's being a bit slow about forwarding intelligence. After the portal appeared in Tokyo, everyone got scared that a portal might open in one of their cities. And we all know that the Self-Defense Force went through… But we're not getting any information."

    The lieutenant nods slowly.

    "Personally, I'm just pissed we weren't already involved. I was on base when the weird Roman army came through in Ginza. We were mounted up and ready to go, but no one could get authorization. Coulda been on site in minutes."

    The lieutenant looks shocked, then his expression morphs into one of anger . "I didn't know that."

    Diabo nods. "Perhaps I could put your mind at rest?"
     
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