greetings to you, Attar! I’m Ward, and a pilot (in a sense) of a mech

i think i might be able to answer your question, but a question in turn may help me

could you tell me of your world, and of its people and history?

//WARD\\

Greetings, friend! I thank you kindly, and would be honored to tell you of my home if you so wish. There is much, however; nearly one thousand years has Kesh stood, and I am not a historian, so I apologize in advance if my knowledge is incomplete.

The founding of An Kesh, our capital, is the most important moment in the history of Kesh. It was a fortress in its beginning, and the birthplace of the Half Army that, in the city's defense, put to the sword the Marque of Camandra and brought the Marque of Kesh to be most powerful in the world.

I know also that the Kesh of today arose five hundred years ago, during the Unity Revolution and armed by the Unity, that reformed Kesh to be more even-handed. This the Seven Hundred Divines also fought for.

In between and after these two events there was much war and trade and other events between the smaller kingdoms under the Marque that I do not know anything of. Some of these wars the Seven Hundred Divines and the Half Army intervened in, sometimes in the favor of one side, sometimes both, sometimes neither. I myself fought in two of these interventions, and both times against the Tyrant of An Faikham.

I hope this is helpful to you. Also, having been of the Seven Hundred in days past, I bear a God Armor, so if it would be of further help to see it I may provide.

{ATTAR}

i see, i see! i think i know how best to describe Union to you, then. i apologise if i grow lengthy in the telling. nigh on sixteen thousand years ago, there was a world that knew itself as Earth, much as yours is now, with two distinctions: there were no God Armors (yet), and humanity had no other worlds. this is why we call it Cradle.

it is a long and sordid tale that i myself don’t know that well, so i’ll say this: those of old Earth stretched their grasp across the stars, but destroyed themselves in doing so. from their ashes, eventually the First Committee of Union was born, and it has grown over five thousand years into what it is now: a gentle giant that watches over hundreds of thousands of worlds but largely leaves them to themselves.

i will say: i am a child of Union. if you ask someone from the Karrakin Trade Baronies of the story of humankind you will get a slightly different answer, and one equally worthwhile in consideration.

ah. i’ve rambled for so long i’ve lost sight of the question itself. my sincere apologies. mechs, or God Armors, are indeed powerful weapons. our species has had a long time to spread across the stars, though, and as it stands now the average is akin to a regular warrior in many conflicts. some battles may see hundreds or thousands of them deployed. so yes, Union and the other starfaring nations are at this point that wealthy, grown massive over millennia

//WARD\\

i’ll also say that i would love to see your own God Armor, and offer an image of mine in return. my own. machine? i guess? is a little. unorthodox. in form and function, but serves me very well

//WARD\\

Of course! How do I—ah, there.

Behold God 492, of the Seven Hundred Divines.

[IMG4142025-5640539.omif]

[ID: A size 1/2 frame, identifiable after some scrutiny to be a centuries-old pattern of SSC Atlas. It has roughly the same silhouette as is standard, but is slightly bulkier, and augmented with gilded maille and scale armor. Green strips of patterned cloth hang off of it like microscale pennants, and at its side is a pulwar sabre of fine make.]

If I may say also, your armor is beautiful! Unlike any I have ever seen. But I must ask; by what sorcery does it command water as it does?

{ATTAR}

it’s beautiful! that is a fine sword it bears

as for my frame, the liquid it exudes is not water but rather a kind of living metal, made of infinitesimal machines which can bind one another and break down what they touch. the greater frame simply commands them

//WARD\\

A liquid of machines...

Though I do not understand it, it seems ingenious; even I would not wish to face such a weapon. You must be a truly fearsome warrior, if you are armed so!

{ATTAR}

//Sucker\

Self-replicating nanobots are a powerful tool in union. Often called greywash due to both “color” and their fluid nature.

They can shape worlds, or condemn them to death.

Personally I pilot a Gilgamesh, named from an old Cradle king.

Pictured is it operating it’s emergency repair protocols. A fun little party trick that allows it to do mid combat repairs.

The general theme is resilience and repairability while also being cost-effective at a large scale.

That’s a lot of words to say it is rather boring. But this can bring a full grab bag of goodies so I won’t complain.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\

i still stand by this by the way, fuck you shimanocels

the deaths head and swallowtail get to catch a break though but still FUCK you to the rest

to anyone who doesnt agree refer to the image below:

his name is ted and he has deathcounter

Woah mama Lycan my beloved

[Glass shattering.omf]

//Sucker\\

In order for someone to reform, they have to want to change. You can't force the issue. Not only because that denies agency, but because it won't work.

Signal wanted to prove that. Signal wanted to be the proof of that.

And they succeeded. And they will keep being that until someone kills them. Until someone realizes that in order to prevent further harm, the threat they pose must be neutralized.

I've had to face this reality more times than I would like to admit in my time with the Armory. It all ends the same. Because it can only end in one way. The death of the one who cannot be changed.

But even in this, they deserve the respect and dignity of personhood, and the tragedy of the necessity of their death much be treated as such. I fear that may not happen.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\\

See this one gets it he fucking gets it.

Finish the trial

Kill the monster

And we get to on back to the good days

The FUCKING great days

Just without Haven screwing us over. Murphy made their choice, so lets give them their consequences. Because why should Murphy live when so many others have died? All they've done is snuff out lights.

//November\\

//Sucker\\

And you November, seem to fail to understand the last point I made. Calling for blood like the most zealous of legionaries.

The necessity of their death does not wash away the deprivation of life that their execution would be. Nor does it permit the use of methods known to be cruel or humiliating to the one being executed.

Murphy's death should not be celebrated. No matter how monstrous they were. They should be mourned. Or at least those who actually remember Murphy as more than a monster should be permitted to mourn them without consequence.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\\

I'm not like Morse I don't want it to suffer. I. Want. It. Gone.

I want it gone so we can all live quietly again, so we don't have the DoJ breathing down our necks again. My people should be left well alone, to fill out our book and to live our lives.

I will celebrate when they're gone, because all they've done is take. Take lives, take joy, take light.

You don't understand us. You couldn't ever understand us even if you tried. But even someone who isn't a CORSAIR should be able to see that Murphy's death is a good thing. Something we should embrace and accept fully. Make it quick. But remember the Monster, and celebrate it's end.

But go ahead, move your goalposts again. I'll keep watching the stars.

Till Legends Bleed and the New Mercenary Queen takes the Throne

//November\\

//Sucker\\

What you see as moving the goalposts is depth. Understanding that I can be wrong. And that I have no use for opinions of mine that are wrong.

And if Morse wants Signal to suffer, what makes you think this will be the end?

I may not understand you or your culture, but sometimes that can allow for one to escape the basis innate to such a perspective.

I do not claim to have a superior opinion. I don't even claim to know better. But I do see a disregard for humanity. Something that, as a cloned legionary, I cannot simply be silent about.

I thought Morse was better than this. That Corsair had moved beyond this.

It seems I was mistaken.

I hope I am proven to be mistaken again.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\\

It'll be the end because there's nothing left to hunt afterwards. We won the war, we got our eye back for what they did to Morse. And now we're getting back for every lost CORSAIR they fucking took.

And "better"? "Moved on"? You carry the stench of our creators so well you know that Sucker? Any opinion that doesn't line up with yours is worse somehow huh? You can't let justice be doled if it isn't your justice. The Baronies made you pretentious. More than Daddy Creighton could have done to either of us.

Murphy dropped it's humanity in a gutter when they tortured Morse live for the Omninet. Murphy dropped their humanity when it hunted news teams. When it killed it's squadmates OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!

This is justice.

This is how we heal.

This is what STABBY meant, what he would have wanted.

Save Miss Morse your "pity" she's going to come out of this stronger.

Till Legends Bleed and the New Mercenary Queen takes the Throne

//November\\

boohoo people got killed. so the fuck what.

Morse was roughed up live yes, so very sad. do you think this is unique? do you think any of this is *special*?

every CORSAIR has killed. every CORSAIR has made widows, orphans, grieving parents. Signal was prolific in this, and was cruel in it. this is reprehensible and vile. what it isn’t is *unique*

cruelty is banal and mundane, and ubiquitous. cruelty is a thing ascribed to people, who can then be held accountable and responsible, instead of being written off on monsters which are used to justify anything done in the name of their death.

it’s funny to me, sometimes. we’re all piles of dust waiting to happen, and we get so caught up in the interim. nothing any of us do will matter to the dead. what infantile delusion drives you, then, unheeding of this truth?

//WARD\\

//Sucker\

Thank you.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\

//Sucker\\

In order for someone to reform, they have to want to change. You can't force the issue. Not only because that denies agency, but because it won't work.

Signal wanted to prove that. Signal wanted to be the proof of that.

And they succeeded. And they will keep being that until someone kills them. Until someone realizes that in order to prevent further harm, the threat they pose must be neutralized.

I've had to face this reality more times than I would like to admit in my time with the Armory. It all ends the same. Because it can only end in one way. The death of the one who cannot be changed.

But even in this, they deserve the respect and dignity of personhood, and the tragedy of the necessity of their death much be treated as such. I fear that may not happen.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\\

See this one gets it he fucking gets it.

Finish the trial

Kill the monster

And we get to on back to the good days

The FUCKING great days

Just without Haven screwing us over. Murphy made their choice, so lets give them their consequences. Because why should Murphy live when so many others have died? All they've done is snuff out lights.

//November\\

//Sucker\\

And you November, seem to fail to understand the last point I made. Calling for blood like the most zealous of legionaries.

The necessity of their death does not wash away the deprivation of life that their execution would be. Nor does it permit the use of methods known to be cruel or humiliating to the one being executed.

Murphy's death should not be celebrated. No matter how monstrous they were. They should be mourned. Or at least those who actually remember Murphy as more than a monster should be permitted to mourn them without consequence.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\\

I'm not like Morse I don't want it to suffer. I. Want. It. Gone.

I want it gone so we can all live quietly again, so we don't have the DoJ breathing down our necks again. My people should be left well alone, to fill out our book and to live our lives.

I will celebrate when they're gone, because all they've done is take. Take lives, take joy, take light.

You don't understand us. You couldn't ever understand us even if you tried. But even someone who isn't a CORSAIR should be able to see that Murphy's death is a good thing. Something we should embrace and accept fully. Make it quick. But remember the Monster, and celebrate it's end.

But go ahead, move your goalposts again. I'll keep watching the stars.

Till Legends Bleed and the New Mercenary Queen takes the Throne

//November\\

//Sucker\\

What you see as moving the goalposts is depth. Understanding that I can be wrong. And that I have no use for opinions of mine that are wrong.

And if Morse wants Signal to suffer, what makes you think this will be the end?

I may not understand you or your culture, but sometimes that can allow for one to escape the basis innate to such a perspective.

I do not claim to have a superior opinion. I don't even claim to know better. But I do see a disregard for humanity. Something that, as a cloned legionary, I cannot simply be silent about.

I thought Morse was better than this. That Corsair had moved beyond this.

It seems I was mistaken.

I hope I am proven to be mistaken again.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\\

It'll be the end because there's nothing left to hunt afterwards. We won the war, we got our eye back for what they did to Morse. And now we're getting back for every lost CORSAIR they fucking took.

And "better"? "Moved on"? You carry the stench of our creators so well you know that Sucker? Any opinion that doesn't line up with yours is worse somehow huh? You can't let justice be doled if it isn't your justice. The Baronies made you pretentious. More than Daddy Creighton could have done to either of us.

Murphy dropped it's humanity in a gutter when they tortured Morse live for the Omninet. Murphy dropped their humanity when it hunted news teams. When it killed it's squadmates OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!

This is justice.

This is how we heal.

This is what STABBY meant, what he would have wanted.

Save Miss Morse your "pity" she's going to come out of this stronger.

Till Legends Bleed and the New Mercenary Queen takes the Throne

//November\\

//Sucker\

Personhood cannot be revoked. It is not conditional, and it cannot be shed, no matter how hard one tries. It is not ours to give, nor is it ours to take away. Down that path lay Seccom, The Armory, and The worst of the Baronies.

Signal is a person, no mater what.

They deserve the bare minimum respect that comes with that.

This does not erase what it did, nor does what it did erase this.

Zero has said much about this himself. And better than I ever could.

Take him and what he says seriously for once, because as much as we may come to blows, and as much as he (perhaps rightfully) calls me out, we agree.

You’re making Signal into something they aren’t.

Accusing them of crimes that have gone unpunished in your own sphere, and done by those you venerate.

Listen to what Zero says, and maybe you can understand my concerns as to why Signal will not be the end.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\

//Sucker\\

In order for someone to reform, they have to want to change. You can't force the issue. Not only because that denies agency, but because it won't work.

Signal wanted to prove that. Signal wanted to be the proof of that.

And they succeeded. And they will keep being that until someone kills them. Until someone realizes that in order to prevent further harm, the threat they pose must be neutralized.

I've had to face this reality more times than I would like to admit in my time with the Armory. It all ends the same. Because it can only end in one way. The death of the one who cannot be changed.

But even in this, they deserve the respect and dignity of personhood, and the tragedy of the necessity of their death much be treated as such. I fear that may not happen.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\\

See this one gets it he fucking gets it.

Finish the trial

Kill the monster

And we get to on back to the good days

The FUCKING great days

Just without Haven screwing us over. Murphy made their choice, so lets give them their consequences. Because why should Murphy live when so many others have died? All they've done is snuff out lights.

//November\\

//Sucker\\

And you November, seem to fail to understand the last point I made. Calling for blood like the most zealous of legionaries.

The necessity of their death does not wash away the deprivation of life that their execution would be. Nor does it permit the use of methods known to be cruel or humiliating to the one being executed.

Murphy's death should not be celebrated. No matter how monstrous they were. They should be mourned. Or at least those who actually remember Murphy as more than a monster should be permitted to mourn them without consequence.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\\

I'm not like Morse I don't want it to suffer. I. Want. It. Gone.

I want it gone so we can all live quietly again, so we don't have the DoJ breathing down our necks again. My people should be left well alone, to fill out our book and to live our lives.

I will celebrate when they're gone, because all they've done is take. Take lives, take joy, take light.

You don't understand us. You couldn't ever understand us even if you tried. But even someone who isn't a CORSAIR should be able to see that Murphy's death is a good thing. Something we should embrace and accept fully. Make it quick. But remember the Monster, and celebrate it's end.

But go ahead, move your goalposts again. I'll keep watching the stars.

Till Legends Bleed and the New Mercenary Queen takes the Throne

//November\\

//Sucker\

What you see as moving the goalposts is depth. Understanding that I can be wrong. And that I have no use for opinions of mine that are wrong.

And if Morse wants Signal to suffer, what makes you think this will be the end?

I may not understand you or your culture, but sometimes that can allow for one to escape the basis innate to such a perspective.

I do not claim to have a superior opinion. I don’t even claim to know better. But I do see a disregard for humanity. Something that, as a cloned legionary, I cannot simply be silent about.

I thought Morse was better than this. That Corsair had moved beyond this.

It seems I was mistaken.

I hope I am proven to be mistaken again.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\

//Sucker\\

In order for someone to reform, they have to want to change. You can't force the issue. Not only because that denies agency, but because it won't work.

Signal wanted to prove that. Signal wanted to be the proof of that.

And they succeeded. And they will keep being that until someone kills them. Until someone realizes that in order to prevent further harm, the threat they pose must be neutralized.

I've had to face this reality more times than I would like to admit in my time with the Armory. It all ends the same. Because it can only end in one way. The death of the one who cannot be changed.

But even in this, they deserve the respect and dignity of personhood, and the tragedy of the necessity of their death much be treated as such. I fear that may not happen.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\\

See this one gets it he fucking gets it.

Finish the trial

Kill the monster

And we get to on back to the good days

The FUCKING great days

Just without Haven screwing us over. Murphy made their choice, so lets give them their consequences. Because why should Murphy live when so many others have died? All they've done is snuff out lights.

//November\\

//Sucker\

And you November, seem to fail to understand the last point I made. Calling for blood like the most zealous of legionaries.

The necessity of their death does not wash away the deprivation of life that their execution would be. Nor does it permit the use of methods known to be cruel or humiliating to the one being executed.

Murphy’s death should not be celebrated. No matter how monstrous they were. They should be mourned. Or at least those who actually remember Murphy as more than a monster should be permitted to mourn them without consequence.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\

//Sucker\

In order for someone to reform, they have to want to change. You can’t force the issue. Not only because that denies agency, but because it won’t work.

Signal wanted to prove that. Signal wanted to be the proof of that.

And they succeeded. And they will keep being that until someone kills them. Until someone realizes that in order to prevent further harm, the threat they pose must be neutralized.

I’ve had to face this reality more times than I would like to admit in my time with the Armory. It all ends the same. Because it can only end in one way. The death of the one who cannot be changed.

But even in this, they deserve the respect and dignity of personhood, and the tragedy of the necessity of their death much be treated as such. I fear that may not happen.

//For Cogito Ergo Sum\

OOC: I get you, don’t worry about it.