Quartz had no stomach for killing. He had never had any interest in becoming a member of the Special Operations branch, and Hessonite wasn't about to change his mind. She was brutal, aggressive -- clearly tactics that had worked for her before -- but she was also new, and obviously she'd gotten off on the wrong foot in Destiny City.
It wasn't her fault, he privately thought. She probably hadn't expected such a vast parliament of fools, idiots, and feral creatures. As armies went, the Negaverse was generally pretty terrible.
The negative response she was getting, though, didn't surprise him. He'd met plenty enough agents to know how many of them mindlessly spouted the we're-heroes-of-Earth! claptrap they'd been told when they were recruited, and he saw the ridiculous coddling that so many agents received, meant to foster a sense of camaraderie between them. This sort of snarling dog defensiveness was, in fact, just the sort of thing he expected from someone like Cinnabar -- no great shock to see her at the vanguard of insubordination, crying foul because Hessonite was being mean to people Cinnabar gave a s**t about, and asking her to do a simple menial task.
Hessonite did not yet understand the temperament of the Special Operations branch she'd been given. They were largely deluded and paid little attention to what, exactly, this branch was said to entail. They ignore unpleasant truths.
Quartz made a general practice of not caring about any of this. What did give him pause, however -- the one person whose reaction had the ability to impact him, leave him surprised -- was that Schörl herself threw in her lot with Cinnabar.
Publicly. Against a superior officer. Over handing out cameras and whether or not it was scary to talk about defectors. It took a situation that had started out unpleasant and shot it thoroughly into the realm of unsalvageable.
Quartz, who'd been lingering at the back of the room, sent one of All-One's many small bodies fluttering discreetly through the room near the floor, over to perch delicately along Schörl's decorated shoulder.
"Is this wise, General?" All-One echoed Quartz's voice softly near Schörl's ear.
Are you planning a mutiny? he wondered silently. Do you imagine you need to drum up popular support before then? What the hell are you thinking, making a public spectacle of this? She'll be weak if she overlooks it now -- are you trying to create a tyrant?
Whatever Schörl's plan here was, Quartz hadn't been asked to participate in it -- and he had no intention of doing so unless it was required of him. Instead, he simply flipped through the packet of papers Axinite had given them and turned to the questionnaire, taking out a pen.
Next to Proposed Improvements, he wrote: Internal Affairs cannot be handled by this city's division of Special Operations. Internal Affairs should be separated from Special Operations and redesignated as its own unit, staffed by agents who are committed to the work. Destiny City's SpecOps unit has traditionally handled very little Internal Affairs work, and typically only post-defection work. They lack the core culture necessary to police their own members without squeamishness.
Perhaps it was worth requesting a private meeting with Hessonite as well, at this rate.
Ivynian
GENERAL????
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 5:04 pm
Ashanite glanced over at Xenotime, giving her a very serious raised eyebrow.
Perhaps his tolerance for insult was just very high. Perhaps his natural and generalized inclination towards self-preservation was kicking into particularly high gear. Whatever it was, the General held his tongue, even through the brutal little demonstration with the starseeds. He did glance over at Lapis, to make sure his Lieutenant hadn't passed out or panicked or anything, seeing two of his fellows be part of such a dramatic demonstration, but he was not feeling eager to disrespect a General-Queen.
Not even in protest of her little photography project - he'd discuss it with Lapis, later, and it did make something unpleasant crawl up his spine (would it have stopped his corruption, if there had been an implied threat hanging over his family? would he have cared, at all?) but he was willing to accept that in some cases it might be necessary.
He considered how little thought he had given his own civilian life, when he said that. He didn't recall there being any sort of agony involved in that part of his decision. He thought he had an idea of what she might be trying to accomplish, but it was possible he was completely off base and everyone slavering for her blood was right.
No skin off his nose either way, unless Hessonite decided he was a potential security risk. He would have to meet with her at his earliest opportunity, and lay his cards on the table for her. Head off any potential incidents before they came to pass.
There was plenty he wanted to say, but in the wave of insubordination he was witnessing, he suspected it would not, currently, be welcome. So he held his tongue - not something he was usually known for, but there was a time to shut up and listen.
The youma hard by expressing concern was almost touching, but she did not take the questioned Title as one after her well being so much as tutelage. Checking after any other sort of reason for the madness of what could be 'mutiny'. There is not a single motivation here, offensive as pieces of the inefficiency are. If we play only one move ahead in chess, we lose every game. And this is a game of kingmaking and unification.
Words came on an exhale, unvoiced but toned, through parted lips, for All-One and Quartz to the small inquiry of explanation. A character of a book set aside on a table amid other war and psychological studies for Lazarus and Ceraskia's perusal. "Hyrum Graff."
It was one strategy among many in an arsenal of politics Schörl mostly cared little for. The whole ordeal was trying, but there was one thing that was easy to pick out- the usually laissez faire atmosphere of the branch had coalesced into something more. A group of officers had come together. They weren't just bored or standoffishly catting at each other. With a new set of conditions, a way to create a leader was to deliberately set the individual up to be Separate. Hessonite had been doing it marvelously, if it was deliberate. Like a Drill Sergeant, unimaginably unpleasant in a barracks. The move with the lot supported the growing set up of the Sovereign as the 'opposition'. Not the enemy, as Order was, but something to prove against and strive with in a different sort of ambition than just rote rank and file.
Schörl weighed the price small against the boost to amity to be called on with the other Generals, and the formation of a working brotherhood in the ranks. It could be a circle of camaraderie to approach generals like Xenotime and Leucite all the more readily through.
Shazari
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 8:09 pm
Well. Hessonite raised a brow, watching each of the Generals as they said what they ‘felt they had to’. Interesting. Just as she feared. “It seems, that you have the horrible syndrome of when the cat’s away. Well, the cat is back now. Or the b***h is here, if that’s what you are so inclined to call me. You have forgotten one of the fundamental rules of being in Special Operations. You have forgotten how to follow orders. General Cinnabar, I am highly disappointed in you. Your record was so promising. I gave you a simple order, just to see if you would be able to follow it, yes, Cinnabar. I saw you lunge towards me, but you stopped yourself, and I was giving you another chance. I do not give second chances lightly.” Her eyes moved over the other Generals who had spoken out, lingering for a little longer on both Xenotime and stopping on Schörl.
“Those of you who have decided to speak your minds, that is fine. Speak them, but know that when your lieutenants, and the captains that follow you speak their minds to you, you have taught them this oh so wonderful skill. Cinnabar, Xenotime, Schörl, and Leucite, with all due respect, you are dismissed. I do not want you in this branch if you cannot follow basic orders and when you feel that you have a better idea then your superior officer of how to run things. This branch is about following orders, and I see that none of you can do that easily. If you so desire to perhaps join us again, you will have to have a private meeting with me, and I will see if you deserve to come back. Until then, get out of my sight.”
Her tone was firm, and she summoned her weapons into her hands. She was not allowing any room for insubordination the agents here had plenty of time for that.
“You there, the one who thinks he’s the class clown.” She pointed one of her slender swords at Typhon. “Pass out these cameras. Now.”
Beejoux
If you want your character to rejoin special ops, please PM the Mule for a private rp with Hessonite to get reinstated!
Whimsical Blue
If you want your character to rejoin special ops, please PM the Mule for a private rp with Hessonite to get reinstated!
Silent Spy
Ivynian
If you want your character to rejoin special ops, please PM the Mule for a private rp with Hessonite to get reinstated!
Torvil
If you want your character to rejoin special ops, please PM the Mule for a private rp with Hessonite to get reinstated!
Typhon's jaw dropped at the dismissing of several top generals at once, particularly Xenotime, who is the only reason he has chosen to stay apart of this operation anyways. As far as he was concerned: the Negaverse had officially gone to s**t, and it was all thanks to the terrible ruling of General Queen Hessonite.
"Will all due respect, use a blade as a d***o and go ******** yourself," Typhon spat back before exiting.
[exit]
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 8:55 pm
There was a short moment where Leucite thought that perhaps they had gottend through to the General-Queen, that their dissent, unified as it was, would be noted, and at the very least she would want to speak to them and try to gather a solid consensus as to why they were balking at these commands. However, the moment Schorl began to speak he knew that they had pushed too far. There was no way she was going to take full on insubordination on the nose and let it stand. It would completely undermine any power she had gained with her demonstration, and so when she spoke, he already knew what was coming.
It didn't make him feel any better when it did though.
Leucite had been a part of Special Operations since his initiation into the Negaverse. He knew it was where his talents and skills would be bet put to work. However, he knew that Hessonite had to maintain what power and control she had on Special Operations. If that meant gutting it of the majority of its command staff... Well that was her choice.
He had seen the loyalty of his officers and he was not going to question it. He felt that Hessonite would only make the current issues with morale and retention worse, not better. But all the same, when she dismissed him, he simply bowed his head in a nod.
Words would be wasted now. As would any show of theatrics at being removed from Special Operations. The only thing that galled him, was Stibnite had suffered in vain. Well perhaps not in vain, she had suffered to alert those who were joining Special Operations as to what sort of environment they might expect from their new General-Queen, and to that end he supposed some good had been done.
His gaze found Stibnite, hoping she was at least aware enough of her surroundings to stand, and with a glance and a motion of his head, he turned to dismiss himself from the room. He had some thinking to do. Hessonite had not left him with a good first impression, not that it mattered now, since he was freed from her chain of command. But all the same...
When Hessonite told him he had done a good job and to put Stibnite's starseed back, Huntite lowered himself the the ground and carefully did so. He stayed kneeling down for a bit as he waited for Stibnite to recover but his attention was soon caught by the many Generals and Captains who were speaking out and/or leaving. He watched this all happening and kept his mouth shut as the words ranged from carefully cautious to outright mutiny.
On one hand he could see how a more tangible threat hanging over officer's heads could lead to some defecting if possible, on the other hand those who turned away from the Negaverse already had the death penalty anyway. Personally he wasn't close to anyone outside of the Negaverse beyond one, and that one person was a Mirror Senshi, anyway so the thought of someone taking pictures to keep as blackmail didn't bother him but he was very sure that wasn't the case for everyone. He however could not see why Cinnabar had such a reaction for following an order about simply passing out camera's.
Either way though, speaking up in front of everyone instead of doing the smart thing and bringing concerns up in private with Hessonite was clearly not the answer as the General Queen was soon dismissing those who spoke out of turn. Huntite stood up from where he was kneeling at the same time as the corrupted's, Typhon, reaction and he shook his head with a frown. Those types of reactions were not going to get anyone anywhere.
The Space Cauldron
Sirene Naiads
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 9:22 pm
Lieutenant Natrolite
As soon as Hessonite dismissed his general Natolite started to move from the side that the lieutenants had been pushed to. He wasn't invited to join the party and since his ride was leaving, well, why stay? A smirk set firmly on lips but they remained silent. There was no need for him to say anything as in his opinion Typhon had summed it up pretty good.
Arms folded over chest and he gave Xenotime a look before awaiting her words if any before their leave.
He was a loyal little solider boy...but his loyalty was to Xenotime above Hessonite.
It seemed that her lapse in judgement had broken some leash that had been holding her fellow generals back. She couldn't say it had been clever thing to do, and it was very much an inability to check her temper, but as first one and then another of them voiced their concerns, in far more articulate and polite manner than she had, she found herself wondering if perhaps she was not in the wrong here.
The finally proof was Schörl stepping forward to join her, laying out a list of ways the General Queen had mishandled her new branch. It smoothed ruffled feathers, and when Schörl mentioned this being a test, she could even consider that perhaps she had over reacted to it all. This woman had been chosen by their queen. Metallia's knowledge was vast, and as far as her underlings need be concerned, absolute. She would not have put someone incompetent above them...
But while she expected some rebuke for their behavior... the reaction they got from the General Queen was not one she had considered. Rather than answer their concerns, or even issue a verbal warning, Hessonite simply dismissed them with as much care as she had treated this entire meeting.
Anger flashed hot and thick through the general and her lips pulled back from her fangs in a snarl she took no care to disguise this time.
She was being dismissed, from the branch she had served since captaincy, with as little regard for the sacrifices and duty she had given it. Dismissed as though she had not earned this station by shedding blood and humanity for it. As though a thinking mind were exactly the wrong attribute to have here.
Everything about this was wrong, and the longer she stood here and listened to the condescending tone of the General Queen's voice, the deeper the anger burned, until blackness feathered the edges of her vision and threatened to swallow her completely.
"You didn't give me an order, General Queen." She rumbled, her voice a rattle in her throat. "You asked for a favor. And I had not refused to grant it... I simply asked a question before doing so."
Red-black eyes darted to the lieutenants Cinnabar had brought with her and she lifted her chin to each as she turned and paced to the back of the crowd. She had been dismissed, so she would go. But this would not be the end of it. She had a promising record, as Hessonite had said, and the gratitude of their newly risen Queen. They would see, in the end, who had the right of it.
The general waited long enough to see if either of hers would join her before she teleported herself and whomever did out of the meeting room.
[ Cinnabar Exit ]
hanging gallow
Kolina
The Space Cauldron
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 7:59 am
General Xenotime
What followed might have been expected if it had been one soldier stepping forward to speak up, but four of the leading generals in the division? The dismissal came as quite the shock, and pale eyes widened in obvious surprise before violet brows dipped incredulously. Not a single thing any one of them had said appeared to have sunk in, and that was truly unfortunate.
Hessonite seemed to fail at grasping one thing, and that was just how loyal the officers in this city were to each other. If she thought that it would end with the four of them being removed, she was sorely mistaken. In that one critical move, she had started a ball rolling that could not be stopped, and it would end in the collapse of the Spec Ops division as a whole. Where the generals went, their flocks would follow, unwilling to stay behind with a sovereign that showed an obvious lack of care towards their survival. Why should they?
The weapon summons, in the generals humble opinion, was just one more bad decision in the wealth that had been made today. It showed a weakness, a fear, towards the officers she was trying to wrangle into control, that not even the dismissal of the generals could cover completely.
The first to express his outrage at the situation, unsurprisingly, was her super of hurricanes. His outburst drew her gaze, the flicker of something approving pulling at pale features, and then he was gone. Turning back to face the irritated General-queen, she noticed that Natrolite as well separating himself from the rest of the lieutenants and made his way to her side. Her hand lifted to rest on his arm.
Leucite left, Cinnabar's demeanor of calm had folded away to reveal the beast within, and Xenotime could only smile and shake her head. It wasn't funny, not in the least, but she was having trouble keeping herself from laughing at just how asinine it all was. Decorated, long standing officers that had showed nothing but loyalty and duty to the cause dismissed, and over what? Standing united in the face of a perceived threat to division and subordinates that obviously cared a great deal for? It was a just a bit backwards.
There wasn't a point in leaving her two-cents with the rest. She felt Hessonite had said quite enough without Xenotime, or any of the other generals, needing to bother.
Fingers wrapping snugly around Natrolite's arm, the general teleported out of the meeting. It would be interesting to see how things played out in the coming months as a result of this.
Lapis had been quiet through out the meeting. A cold detached mask on his face that he had learned to wear through many unpleasant moments with his parents. Outwardly he remained calm but inwardly he was terrified, the general queen woman had attacked some of the lieutenants.
Why? To make a point? A good sword is the one left in its scabbard. She only drives her subordinates to fear and anger. Yet still she is queen, they are wrong to speak to her like this. They that are bound must obey. And are we not bound to our kings and queens. Even if she is wrong what good do we do by enraging someone with her power and authority with disobedience and disrespect. He thought looking from the senshi who stormed out with a base insult as his parting comment to the queen's drawn swords.
Lapis looked to his general to see if he could glean some understanding of what to do in this situation. Ashanite did not speak up like most of the other generals did nor was he storming out. Perhaps he feels that this is appropriate actions for a Negaverse queen to take. Or perhaps he understands it is wise to not go against a queen's decisions. Either way I should follow him, if he chooses to obey this queen then so will I.
He did want this situation to calm down however, he wanted the queen to sheathe her sword. He took a tentative step forward, somewhat scared to speak. "Your majesty...if it would please you I will hand out those cameras." He offered in a soft shaky voice not wanting to incite her wrath.
The Space Cauldron
Noir Songbird
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 6:12 pm
Ashanite's eyes flickered to Xenotime, ordered out of the meeting. Part of him hoped his former General wouldn't protest, wouldn't dig her hole deeper. Or maybe that she would just visibly reprimand her Senshi for his He would find her and speak to her later, perhaps, but for now...
For now, Ashanite was going to do what he did best, and that was ingratiate himself with people in power.
Thank God Lapis was being helpful in that aim, because Ashanite could turn to Hessonite and offer her a winning smile,and say, "General-Queen, my Lieutenant," he gestured to Lapis, "and I are happy to help you in whatever you might require." Obedience and charm. Let those always be his saving grace.
It was, a bit surreal to find herself on the floor, but as awareness came back, that was exactly where she was. On the floor, at Hessonite's feet and being given praise. Interesting. Still, Violane was not pleased to be in such a weak position. As soon as she gained full control of herself again, she pushed herself up from the ground carefully.
The whole presentation had been lost to her. One moment she was listening to Hessonite talk about starseeds, and the next she was 'waking up' from the extraction of her own. It had not been the most pleasant of experiences, but it certainly was an eye opener to the new Lieutenant. It pushed home that she was very much at the bottom of the totem pole and had a lot a head of her to learn. If this was some of the power that would be available to her, to rip a persons soul from their body, she was quite excited to dive in and begin. That was a power she could get use to possessing. It seemed though, that others had not at all been amused by the little show.
After her own General stated her thoughts on the whole thing, others began to step forward and gave their own opinions. Some were incredibly harsh in Violane's opinion, but then again, she wasn't someone who naturally felt a loyalty to anyone except numero uno. It was a curious thing to learn indeed. These people were more than robotic military officials and that...well...that was something she could work with in the future.
Still, with all the words said, she would be lying if she said that she wasn't surprised that HEssonite had felt the need to dismiss not just one, but all of the Generals that had said their peace. She wants total control over this entire department, and Hessonite can't get that if people aren't willing to listen to her orders without complaint. It was incredibly interesting to the Lieutenant, but unfortunately, it appeared she wouldn't get to stay to find out what else would happen.
Hessonite had made it rather clear that Lieutenants would be unable to join the branch, anyway. So, Violane had time.
With a glance to Cinnabar, Violane turned her attention back to Hessonite and graced the woman with a small bow of her head. "I believe my ride is leaving, so I'll take my leave." She said cooly and with no real emotion. After all, as powerful as the General Queen was, Violane knew she wasn't quite willing to tackle the woman yet. Not here anyway. She needed more time and information.
So, taking her leave of the General Queens presence, Violane walked to her Generals side to hitch her ride out of the meeting.
[Violane Exit]
The Space Cauldron
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:06 pm
Lt. Stibnite
As her eyes quickly flickered opened, Stibnite had one thought: Ow.
Pain from where her head had hit the floor beat out the pain in her chest. This headache was going to require some Advil. But first, she had to get through this. All she could hope for now was that their General Queen was done with using her to make points for that day.
Voices of the Generals present had the woman lifting her head up to gaze around just in time to catch the wording of one general in green. The words even made the huntress wince. You did not say something like that to someone who could snap her fingers and have you killed.
But ignoring Huntite , Stibnite began to rise to her feet just to hear the dismissal of not just one but four Generals including her own.
That woke the woman back up.
Turning on her heels, Stibnite watched as Leucite made his exit. That left her in a position. She could remain. This was the branch he had been training her for after all. She was a killer and had no issues removing a problem being. However she also knew something Hessonite did not: Leucite could do some serious damage when he was left unchecked. That was the other reason she was always at his side.
In silence, Stibnite turned back to face the General Queen and gave the woman a low bow at the bend of her waist. "Excuse me, My Queen. I hope we meet again one day." Stibnite spoke, lifting her eyes to gaze at the woman once more before turning to follow Leucite out of the room.
It was going to be a long few days. Did the Negaverse had a bar tab?
[Exit]
Torvil
The Space Cauldron
Natsuko-neko
Sirene Naiads
Romantic Senshi
Offline
itspao_
Witty Punching Bag
Offline
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:13 am
Lt. Carminite
Frozen in place. That's what he was; frozen in place as he listened to the commotion go on in the room. Generals speaking their minds and being dismissed, their lieutenants speaking out of turn and promptly following after (or sometimes just the latter). He didn't have to imagine the displeased look on General Queen Hessonite's face; it was plain as day, as was the blade of her sword that was now directed at someone in the crowd as she tried once again to pass out the cameras to those that stayed. He was still standing there, silent for the sake of self-preservation, but also because the cameras she was handing out might prove useful in the future.
He didn't really have any issues with people prying into his life, looking for things to hang over his head. His past was long behind him, and he hadn't spent any of his time as a kid building bridges. He had no ties to anyone, at least nothing that was of particular importance to him, so anybody in the Negaverse could look all they want and he doubted they'd find anyone or anything to use against him. So there he was, eyes scanning the remaining officers and falling last on a general who sounded like he was ready to kiss some serious a**. The lieutenant wasn't impressed, but it really didn't concern him.
He'd be there long enough to grab a camera and to hear the rest of what General Queen Hessonite had to say before he got the hell out, likely to never come back to another meeting for this branch.
