Welcome to Gaia! ::

Crossing her arms under her chest as the 'hostess' took her position at the center of the crowd, Stibnite felt her eyes narrow slowly. She was thinking, listening, being a visual sponge if one so dared to call her that. Amphitrite looked nervous. And then, something lit up her face.

It was interesting to watch, especially the motion to the one she refereed to as her 'sister'. Stibnite had to admit she was making mental notes to herself. If this one every went rouge, who to use against her.

But it was her last words that caused those red eyes to open wide and she shot her own look towards Leucite. Their General Queen gave her blessing on forming a team of corrupts? To be led by one who was 'reformed'? This did not sit well with the young agent.

Although Alkaid would have loved to speak with Amphitrite at length, she fell to silence the moment the senshi stepped back and began to address the crowd that had gathered at her beckoning. It was surreal to watch as one by one, the people gathered in the room fell to silence and allowed a corrupt to address them as an equal. Her mind leaped unbidden to old memories, to different faces standing in the same space they occupied now, and the way they had looked down upon her with disdain - or simply refused to see her at all.

Whether it was by personal opinion or forced social evolution, the times had changed.

The ascendant was torn between knowing that they needed chances to prove themselves, chances like this one, and knowing that they had all committed unimaginable sins against humanity - in this life, and times before. It was a hard line to walk, as a creature born of the same fragile, but blossoming faction, but also a being instilled with the knowledge that there was more to redemption than simply being reformed. She could only hope that they all found their path, eventually - and now Amphitrite, the corrupt she had found by chance in the dark of a Destiny City night, was a spearhead forging the way for them all.

Her eyes lingered on the seafoam senshi with a mixture of pride and curiosity, making her judgments and assumptions quietly to herself. As their eyes met briefly, the ascendant smiled and granted her a small, encouraging nod.

"If I may," she began, breaking the silence that followed Amphitrite's final words, "what are your goals with a team? We were once simply weapons, under the whim of soldiers as they saw fit. If you're to be in charge of your own will, how will you wield the power? Destruction?" A pause. "Reform? Recruitment?"

Her hands raised before her and spread with splayed fingers, leaving an open gap for Amphitrite to fill. Stating a goal, a dream, was one thing - knowing how to accomplish it was another entirely.

Quartz didn't look up from what he was doing, but he did snort very quietly to express his derision to the Mauvian and the corrupted dancer accompanying him.

"This is the most obnoxiously precious thing I've ever heard," he whispered to his companions. "Whatever you do, make sure you're not on that first team of 'promising corrupts' that Little Miss Thing is talking about. Anyone who doesn't get chosen is bound to resent the ones she picks, and anyone who does get chosen has to deal with the growing pains of her figuring s**t out as she goes." He shook his head. "Wait till the water's had a chance to warm up before you go dipping your toes in -- and don't paint a target on your back. Otherwise, you want to learn what your coworkers' powers are and impress people with how non-useless you are? March your ostrich a** down to the Records Room and open some files. It's not a magic trick."

Umber listened to her speech, expecting any manner of new proposition or mission or brave request of all who gathered there, and yet she chose simply to request a team. His gaze narrowed while he watched her, his arms folded over his chest, and he expected further response. At least Alkaid was willing to question the point of a team and its purpose. Likewise, she offered more glimpses into the old history of these recruits. Momentarily he looked to his brother, who he considered one of the likely examples for why they weren't trusted before.

Likewise he recognized the mention of the starseed operation, and all of the constituent problems therein. He himself knew several of them firsthand - along with the lack of trust to mission orders for those who considered themselves better tacticians than those who stood at the head of it all. He could not speak for Brimstone, but he knew that the remainder of those present were not completely innocent of the result - not even himself. Someone, he thought, should have known what would come of all those starseeds in a concentrated location. As a general, he expected better of himself; if ever he encountered a similar situation, he knew what to look for.

But Umber had his own questions for Amphitrite and her proposal. "The goals you mention can apply to a team of senshi, of a mix, and of agents. Why, then, do you choose Negaverse senshi specifically? What can you offer them that you cannot apply to agents?

"There is still a distinction between agents and senshi, which this choice of team reinforces. I am not asking that you include agents in your roster. I want to know why you think that only senshi belong on this team. I want to know why you are restricting this approach to senshi instead of trying to reform all of Negaverse networking." You're better than this, Amphitrite. Give me a reason. Don't feed the animosity.

"I also suggest that you build on the Negaverse database to include an index of Negaverse senshi and details on their magic. Having an index with a fixed location benefits more than trying to find a Negaverse senshi to ask."

His thousand yard stare transfixed on a singularity far beyond Iolite's fluff. Ochre heard the words, processed the gist of it - a team, he knew, but he doubted he would be allowed a part of it. Not for a long time. The people here, they expected corrupted senshi to pull their weight and not ask questions and prove themselves for far longer than he had before they could join any kind of team, maybe. But they expected more of corrupted senshi. He was sure he didn't hit the mark on that one.

He looked to the other kitty that camped out on Chrysocolla's foot and wondered if cats would be welcomed into the team. If they were, then it gave him something to aspire toward. He could work hard, and prove himself, and join a team because kitties. Maybe that was all he needed right now. Maybe he just needed kitties. All of the kitties. Wasn't there a cafe with kitties in it that opened recently? Maybe? He wasn't sure. But kitties.

"What do you think of the team?" Ochre resumed zoning out at Iolite, continuing to pet her while he waited for the idea of a team to come under fire.

She wished she could be as sure as Jarosite was when he spoke. Senshi had yet to win her over. White Moon were idiots and their so called corrupt...

Well that did not matter. Her own personal concern was quickly brought up by a general she had never seen before. It allowed her to remain quiet and watch. Cursed rank. Not that her voice would matter much.

The matter of the train was proof enough that things needed to be straightened out. People from both sides had panicked. She had watched others go for 'friend's when it came time to finally leave. This was not all for one and one for all.

So here was another means to create a divide. "You also add in another point if you are attempting to add the element of a team and not pull away from other posts." Stibnite found the words leaving her mouth as she eyed the senshi of shells. "Loyalty. When it comes down to in a matter of distress, like the train you remind us all of, and things must be done, you would put your chosen members in a divide. Are they loyal to their team or their commanding official?" She made sure not to say officer. That would be saying they were above the senshi..."Especially if you believe in one action and the other believes different."

Jarosite, for his part, earned a warm smile from the corrupt, along with a small nod of her head in thanks. If not for Umber speaking up when he had, she would have come into more detail about how beneficial those efforts would be.

Umber questioning her so harshly did not frighten or disappoint; rather, honestly, she had gotten some of her best ideas from just talking with him. The fact that he was here at all and interested enough to question was kind of flattery in itself, at least in her book. The other lieutenant, Leucite's little pet, was less so - her question did less to make Amphitrite sweat and more to both amuse and exasperate. In particular when she saw Leucite lean in and whisper to her. So desperate to try and cast a shadow of me, you b*****d?

Still. The corrupt was unruffled. "You are completely correct, General, in that the database needs expanding - I'll be sure to take that on as a project, if no one objects, " the thought of another undertaking thrilled her, really, "Officers should have ready access to their knowledge. But I maintain that when it comes to having such a database and developing a closer interpersonal bond, you'll find the second really does make a difference. Especially since having these bonds might ultimately be what keeps drifting senshi from purifying - which, given some prevailing attitudes towards us, " she was in no way referring to anyone specific in the room, "Some of us could frankly use all the support we can get."

Amphitrite's smile broadened. "My intention is to in no way drive a deeper rift between senshi and officer - after all, I myself was trained by officers, not corrupts like myself. That is why I invited both alike to come here today, for full disclosure. But officers and corrupts already work together, be it through GenOps and SpecOps or whatever division. Corrupts as a whole are a much smaller group than officers, and we are spread more sparsely among these divisions. - as a result, it's much easier for some of us to get lost among the shuffle. For example, for those who knew her - "

She gestured out to the crowd. "How long did Persephone go unaccounted for before anyone realized what became of her? - not to say officers are not prey to the same, but as I said, senshi are a much smaller group." And as a result, much easier to keep tabs on with a collaborated effort. Magic was a resource in the Negaverse, something that Amphitrite had quickly come to learn, and they couldn't afford to keep going on and losing it without consequence. "One more thread to tie us together, essentially - although - "

Amphitrite dipped her head to Umber. "I had not considered the ways that this approach might be used on a wider scale." She was ambitious, that was to be sure - but she was still a single super rank senshi, and to assume too much in her position might make or break her. Something she was also too aware of. "If you think there's a way we could effectively revamp all Negaverse networking with this tactic in mind, I'm not remotely opposed to that. Please - I'd really love to discuss it with you later and see where we can take it."

Her gaze fell back to Leucite's pet. "As for loyalty - no, there would be no divide. We all still serve Metallia and our commanding officers." Although really, Amphitrite was something of an anomaly in this; she had never been properly issued a commanding officer, bar Galena as caretaker, and bar Laurelite who had corrupted her by her own hand. She liked to think this was more because the general queen saw her potential and eagerness than any issue of being overlooked. "I have no interest in contradicting any commanding officers when we all serve the same goal. The only exceptions to this would be if we were to undertake a mission of my design, which would be fairly standard regardless, or if corrupts were sent to me with no commanding officer to begin with. Again, I am looking to tighten bonds and increase effectiveness and accountability, not to promote insubordination."

a-disgruntled-dragon

Strickenized

Sirene Naiads

Torvil

You're missing my point, Umber thought with exasperation. It isn't about how much better you come together when you have magic in common. It's about justifying to the officers who distrust Negaverse senshi that this team was formed with impeccable purpose. That you're not promoting segregation. That lieutenant has head enough on her shoulders to sense it too. This is not easy territory.

Umber sighed through his nose. "Persephone's shift to Dark Mirror went dark for so long because it was very carefully and very quietly executed. You've obviously read the database; you should be aware that General Schörl reported her behavior as alarming and in need of correction before she left our ranks. Do you think you would be able to circumvent another instance of this with a team? How do you expect to handle it?

"And lastly, by having a team of Negaverse senshi alone, you acknowledge that you are instituting segregation. This will breed animosity. You're hearing it already. How do you plan to diffuse that when officers are automatically barred entry into any kind of team with Negaverse senshi?" Umber frowned; he doubted Amphitrite as proper choice of leader from a political standpoint. Alkaid proved a far superior option for how deeply she served the Negaverse and how well she proved herself throughout her career. She could now stand among youma without fear, and was honored with equivalent title to those of his rank. She could diffuse any sort of animosity.

But Amphitrite? She was but a super senshi that came of the White Moon. She required a longer track record if she intended to be taken seriously in her efforts.

However... Umber knew that great benefit came with great risk. He would support her, surely, for if she could pull this through successfully... Perhaps she could lend an overall benefit to her fellow Negaverse senshi. He would, indeed, need to speak with her afterward.

"I request that Ascendant General Alkaid oversee your team if she has no objection. I believe that would satisfy both ends of the argument."

Amphitrite did not appear ruffled. By poking more holes and putting more words into her mouth not uttered - she told herself that Umber surely meant well, that he surely had the best of intentions at heart. But privately, it was hard not to be a little disheartened when he was in that moment the greatest dissenting voice.

I'm putting too much stock into his words. Besides, I must think he's probably just saying what others are thinking. Still, it was nice to hear another general speak up on her behalf, even if she hardly needed it - this meeting as a whole had been a wonderful indicator as to which officers were more able and likely to support corrupts. That knowledge would be useful in the future.

Again, not that she thought Umber did not. She resisted the gut urge to assert that she did have Laurelite's direct approval for this venture, that this was something meant to be her's, and instead smiled. This was something she needed to be smart enough. However it came to be - she wouldn't exactly argue with working more closely with Alkaid in the future. "If she has no objection, then neither do I."

Strickenized

Felyn

a-disgruntled-dragon