VIDEO -> TEXT. UN: DAGNY.

[dagnyology]

[ Dagny's face appears on the network. Behind her are snowy plains, where small gnomes are jumping and playing. Her face is flushed from the cold, but she smiles. ]

Hello! I hope you're all doing well! The Timeline has finally computed your mission objective — sorry it took so long! Sometimes he gets a little slow. Now, I know he may seem— different, but he's always been correct! Just... ah, be careful when talking to him? He's a learning machine, and all he really knows is about missions, so sometimes he says some strange things when he goes off topic. But don't worry! He tries his best. I'll connect you to him now.

TIMELINE.EXE IS PROGRAMMED TO RELEASE MISSION PARAMETERS. MISSION OBSERVATION IS COMPLETE AND RESULTS FOR MISSION: Nalawi ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Hello World ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/ Take the hassle and confusion out of the
Mission,
Try this One Weird Trick!

To help NALAWI, you will need to DEFEAT the GODDESS NALANNI so the energy can return to the world.* In doing so, the people of NALAWI will LOSE THEIR POWERS but the world will continue on. If this objective is not reached, NALAWI will BURN OUT PREMATURELY.

*NOTE FROM TIMELINE.EXE: Giant squid of the Sea, too
2 or 0 Not 1! Thank you

[OOC NOTE: This will serve as an IC discussion post. The OOC discussion post is here!]

Comments

audio; [KINGOFHEROES]

[babbylon]

Understood. They shall fall to my hands.

[Gilgamesh will, surprisingly, refrain from scolding his comrades with an I told you so. But odds are quite good he's thinking it anyway.]

[evantuality]

And how? What's your plan? Surely you don't mean you're going to tackle this entirely by yourself.

video; un: deathweaver

[respired]

[ At first, there's nothing but laughter. Deep, stone-scraping, reverberating laughter; raucous and despairing and very slightly maniacal.

It is an awful sound.

After a few moments of this, Koltira manages to get hold of himself. It's been a long week, after all, and he never expected--this. ]

There you have it. These gods are tumors, and they will be excised.

What say you now, ALASTAIR?

[ What say you now? ]

video; [KINGOFHEROES]

[babbylon]

Behave, Koltira. Not all among us are so enlightened.

[But he's switching to video deliberately for this, just so Koltira and everyone else can see him sneer his approval.]

[evantuality]

[Evan has stayed largely silent throughout the entire debate. The last weeks have sobered him and have really driven home the fact that he is way out of his depth, and maybe for the first time in his life he hasn't felt equipped to weigh in. The fervency, the violence of opinions, and the sheer stakes -- this is the opposite of dealing in the hypotheticals that he has preferred to deal in up until now.

That does not mean he has not been forming an opinion.

When he speaks on the network, his tone is slow and subdued, and his expression is inward-focused, a very far cry from the enthusiasm and good attitude he's been trying to show these past months. His face, still bandaged over his missing eye, is not focused entirely on the camera.]

If that's what we have to do. It would have been nice to know that sooner.

I'm going to put forth a suggestion. Taking out Nalanni while she's still... being held by Pomarr. That strikes me as a dangerous proposition. Like we're going to be doing Ryba and Pomarr's dirty work for them. I mean -- Pomarr wants Ryba to suck Nalanni dry, who's to say killing Nalanni while she's still in Pomarr's hold won't expedite that process?

We should, perhaps, look into... dealing with Ryba first. If she sucks Nalanni dry and we look like we're going to be a threat... I doubt there's any guarantee that she won't use all that extra energy to destroy us rather than revive the dakal.

That is. If this isn't supposed to be, like... a simultaneous thing.

video; un: king

[agrizzlysin]

Can we afford to split our forces at this point? [Though King looks young, he also looks haggard, and dead serious. Talking strategy sounds nice right now, if only because he can't fight the way he wants to.] Can we afford not to? I don't know the full strength of ALASTAIR's forces, let alone the goddesses'. With so many variables... an uneven split may actually be best.

video; un: apocalypseArisen

[timebender]

The Timeline is a he, and also slow? [ And then, after a pause, ] Are you telling me our trajectory on the local timeline is being managed by a computer program?

[ She has priorities, alright? ]

Nevermind that. We'll have to take his word for it, won't we?

TEXT. UN: TIMELINE.

[futurologists]

Hello I am whatever you want me to be here is my function:

TIMELINE.EXE was programmed to calculate the mission objectives that will produce the most energy for the multiverse, keeping certain universes from fizzling out prematurely due to lack of energy.

text | un: archer

[anti_altruisms]

[ Well...that settles that, then. ]

Will the powers that were stolen from us be returned once the goddesses are dealt with?

[ He assumes that's the case, but...might as well be sure. ]

[dagnyology]

Oh, yes, I did hear about that. I'm terribly sorry! From what the Timeline has calculated, it seems the world is running very low on energy. So low that it couldn't power your own abilities!

I can't say anything for certain, but I do believe so. The energy to be released from these goddesses should grant you return of your abilities, but if it doesn't, you'll find them working at full capacity again once you return to Oska -- it has plenty of energy to run on, being so small.

video; username: baaaan

[perma_banned]

[Thinking he wasn't entirely visible, Ban could be seen picking his nose with his pinky. He was grinning to the brim, finally pleased with something.]

There we aaaare~. Some clear and direct orders for once!

[He flicked it somewhere along the beach.]

We just gotta kill 'em boooooth, then?

video; un: king

[agrizzlysin]

[Ugh, Ban. Gross.]

You could at least try not to look so happy.

[Though King's tone is characteristically dry, he's not exactly against these orders either.]

voice; un: poindexter

[weirdologist]

Dealing with one I was expecting. Dealing with both, on the other hand, might prove to be a bit more difficult.

[Sigh. Things are never quite that simple.]

Re: voice; un: poindexter

[evantuality]

And with our luck so far, it's going to have to be a matter of taking them out at the same time.

I'm convinced that Ryba should go first, if anything. Nalanni is demonstrably dangerous, but Ryba seems like... like a plotter, for lack of better description.

Voice | UN: ANIKI

[dokyuu]

Oh, yeah, thanks. Just wait 'til everyone's good and pissed off to actually be helpful. Nice operation you're runnin' here.

[dagnyology]

Oh, I don't run it -- nobody runs it, actually! We've evolved past hierarchies like that. We all work together for a common cause. As for the delay, I'm sorry! Usually, it isn't this slow, but I suppose there are a lot of factors to remember when it comes to Nalawi. Goddesses, powers, deer, kitty cats, it sounds like quite the mission!

audio; un: PARTY

[wardance]

"Burn out?"

TEXT. UN: TIMELINE.

[futurologists]

World needs energy to be world
World running out of energy

video; un: coolskeleton95

[boneafide]

Oh.

...

video;

[aspearation]

...hey.

[ What does she even say? ]

Sometimes these things... it's like... this kind of thing...

[ Damn it. She's not doing very well. What would Asgore say...? He always knew how to deal with these kinds of things; except for her, it was usually because she got too excited about killing humans, and not the other way around.

Nah, screw it. All she has is her own words. ]

I'm not gonna tell you it doesn't suck, but if we don't stop them, it'll be even worse.

video. un: G.SLQHV

[twinpeak]

... Both of them?

[ Guess that answers that conundrum for everyone. ]

I can already tell this is gonna be a fun "weird trick" to pull off. Can we even make it through one deity here?

[aspearation]

What's this we?! You're staying here, where it's safe!

[ Wherever here is, anyway. She's making assumptions now... ]

un: pearl | audio

[beyourrock]

[Oh how uncomfortable. Then again, nothing is ever easy with ALASTAIR. Then again, Pearl sounds uneasy as she responds.]

Thank you both for the information.

[And she speaks more to herself aloud.]

Defeating gods though... Dear stars, how are we supposed to do that?

video; [KINGOFHEROES]

[babbylon]

[The answer? Easily.]

I am here, Pearl. This is the very meaning of our contract, of our partnership. We do this together.

video; username: sakurakinomoto

[keystaff]

W-what....? You're saying we can't figure a way to get them their powers back? We have to kill Nalanni?

[She had thought maybe once the recruits figured a way to get their powers back that the same would be true for the Nalawi. Apparently not? It doesn't seem fair. Killing, again.....even after Chantes.]

TEXT. UN: TIMELINE.

[futurologists]

To help NALAWI, you will need to DEFEAT the GODDESS NALANNI so the energy can return to the world.* In doing so, the people of NALAWI will LOSE THEIR POWERS but the world will continue on. If this objective is not reached, NALAWI will BURN OUT PREMATURELY.

video; user name: shepherd

[historiology]

The--wait, the goddess of the sea too, you mean? Just fighting one of these goddesses is probably going to be tough, when I know I'm not the only one without our usual power....

[These are gods, after all. They have to be really powerful, right? It would be nice to have their usual abilities back to take care of this.]

Are we sure there isn't some other way? Where we can try save the Nalawi?

[Obviously, the Nalawi have a history and issues and mistakes like any race, but at the same time, Sorey's not sure how comfortable he feels on this.]

[dagnyology]

I'm sorry, but I don't know! The Timeline has never been wrong, though -- if there's a way to save Nalawi, this is it.

text | sn: sieglindesullivan

[grunehexe]

[Blood for the hounds? Pefect. Sieglinde wants nothing to do with it, and not just because she has reservations about fighting gods... but.]

At the very least, make sure you kill Nalanni first. Otherwise, there might not be any of us with healing abilities able to save those of you who go up against gods.

video, @ashraf

[healplz]

I agree completely. [ and dear god he's SO TIRED of not having magic ] We don't know what to expect of Nalanni herself, though. Even in captivity, she may be a challenge.

VIDEO - un: p. parker

[webdesigned]

( he's pretty alarmed by the strength of the discourse here. between the recruits and from this woman that is apparently a fellow member of ALASTAIR. really, that's the solution, murder? no matter what Ryba nor Nalanni have done, he doesn't see the valor in killing. )

There's got to be a different way. If Pomarr can syphon energy, then surely we can find a way to divert it. Away from the goddesses and back to the people. If these ... Goddesses are powerless, then it's the same as defeat, and we won't have to kill anyone to do it. Two wrongs won't make a right. More death isn't going to bring back those that are already gone. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, but you can't learn anything from death.

( maybe nobody will agree with him on this, but he's definitely outspoken on the matter. )

[futurologists]

I'm sorry you are incorrect, powerless goddess is still goddess

Thank you for suggestion p. parker

[Voice | un: tsukuyo]

[sekimorinashi]

[ Why so cheerful about murder, weirdo ... program ... thingy. ]

Could we get more details on how you came to that conclusion?

TEXT. UN: TIMELINE.

[futurologists]

Algorithms
I was programmed to calculate this!

World needs energy
Goddesses taking energy
No goddesses, world has energy
Understand?

text; un: man of still

[figureitout]

okay, aside from THE OBVIOUS here, which is that killing them is literally the only way to solve this mess so thanks for stating the obvious, you wouldn't actually have any good ideas on how to do it?

I mean, if you're supposed to be, like, our mission parameters, shouldn't you also tell us not only what to do but how to get to the desired result?

TEXT. UN: TIMELINE.

[futurologists]

That is not my function!
I only calculate mission objectives
Understand?

video; un: agl

[lionheart]

[So he'd been right when that ALASTAIR member had told him about past missions. Alec had still had his doubts it could be that bad, but now he didn't. He could easily see them destroying worlds now. Simply because they'd been ordered to. (Doing the wrong, stupid thing, just because they believed they were right.)

This was insane levels of interference. They were acting like gods . Gods deciding to slaughter other gods. This was exactly why the Clave had them stay out of Downworlder business. This is the exact kind of thing that happened -- on a larger scale.]

I don't think so. That sounds like another stupid, terrible idea. [The fact that people are listening to what he could only describe as Siri with half the intelligence is -- Angel, that's not good. This feels too much like a group of mundanes tasting their first mouthful of power, and losing control of it.]

video; un: strongfish91

[aspearation]

Next time can we maybe go on a mission that doesn't end in someone dying?!

[ But... ]

You were sort of right right about the bomb. Sort of. We're totally sure it's totally right this time??

[ The evidence is there, and Dagny did say that this... computer program has always been accurate before. But she just has to be sure this is really the right course of action. ]

[dagnyology]

I hope you can! I promise they don't all end up like this. One of mine ended with me cuddling puppies once! They were so fluffy -- oh, I'm sorry, right. The bomb was never the Timeline's idea, just the kitties trying to help out. But this is straight from the Timeline! I know that he's right, Mrs. Strong Fish Ninety-One.

audio; un: Tohsaka Rin

[defenceless]

So it's all about energy. I get the sense the Dakal's decimation didn't figure into the Timeline's calculations in the slightest—or if it did, it didn't make much of an impact.

[her voice is flat; steady but muted, revealing nothing.

she doesn't know how she feels about this. she's not vindicated. it isn't wonderful that those recruits who sympathized with the dakal receive such a shoddy answer.]

Not that I can deny the objective itself is logical. With a world that lasts longer, the Nalawi will have a chance to rebuild.

[boneafide]

[Well, since Rin is so smart, he figures he might as well ask her.]

Rin, do you think people can become gods?

text; seraph

[circulets]

So, the key to all of this was with the Goddess, after all.

audio | un: hound

[ofobedience]

Goddess killing. Now there's a tall order.

[Though he has a 'Goddess' of his own, needs no other, so despite the confused disorientation that still rattles through him, he's up for a challenge. Perhaps a little death and destruction will do something to settle his clamorous nerves.]

But I could do with a spot of fun.

video | username: olivia

[winces]

[ killing? again?

olivia can't help but wonder how often the "right thing" involves doing something that feels so very, very wrong. ]

...Isn't there some other way to return the world's energy without resorting to more killing? S-Surely there are other tricks we can use!

video ; un: PARTY

[wardance]

[ oh, Olivia :( ]

Don't get your hopes up, Olivia...I'm not even sure this course of action will result in what is hoped for, either.

[ TEXT ] [ username: FruitsParfaitSamurai ]

[naturallywavy]

_{[ you can't see him, but he's waving his hands.. HE'S FRUSTRATED, ALRIGHT. ]}
next time you have us do a job, be clear about it

_{[ look, he does odd-jobs for a living THIS ISN'T HOW TO FILE A REQUEST. ]}
put our asses here when you know what the fuck we're actually supposed to be doing

video; username: baaaan

[perma_banned]

Hell yeah.

What's a pain in the ass is that they couldn't scout this mission out any better. There's tons of stuff they could have done to avoid wasting our time up until now~.