2022-06-30: Proliferating Light ~RESHUFFLE~

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<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.


        The are advantages and disadvantages to the way the Shuffles are distributed. The lack of centralized bases means it's harder to cripple the organization with one strike. On the other hand, the reason there are no centralized bases is Sayla having a harder time finding a place she considers sade after the organization was crippled in a single strike. But now they have numbers again, it's something that has to be considered.

        Sayla has booked a secure conference room in Berlin. There's food, water, juice, etc because it's easy to tune out when you're hungry. And Sayla is hungry. She's on the bullet train from a meeting with Princess Euphemia, and she's working out how to convey to to logistics she wants to open an office in another dimension. It's difficult. And that's not talking about everything else. She switches modes as she steps in the door, a little late.

        She takes her seat, looking around the room. The room is safe, swept, and noise machines on every window. There's a screen, should examples need to be shown.

        "Thank you for coming. For those who haven't met her, Miss Renais Cardiff has joined us, formerly of the AEU's Chausseur. She will be leading this briefing on the enemy identified as Triple Zero. I will try to fill in any gaps on their actions between. This isn't a meet and greet, I'm afraid. We'll be distributing this to those who could not make it in person." Sayla's all business today, even as she grabs a coffee and a sandwich cut into quarters. 

<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.

Renais Cardiff stands off to one side of the room, bowing her head briefly as she's introduced. She sips from a paper cup of coffee--anyone who takes a cup will likely find it to be a cut above the usual meeting-room blend.

        "Bonjour." Her tone is somewhat grim. "As Dr. Mass said, I'm Renais Cardiff... and until quite recently, I was under thrall to the force known as the 'Oath Over Omega', or 'Triple Zero'." She's calm and serious on the outside--but to a psychic's "eye," she's anything but. This is difficult for her. Emotions, most of them negative, are being held back behind a dam.

        "It's been thoroughly purged from me," she assures, "But... I am the only person who has experienced this and come out the other side, as yet. There are others... the former members of the Gutsy Galaxy Guard, exiled five years ago by your clocks, that are are plotting and working to destroy us. I have some knowledge of them, and of Triple Zero itself... and it's important that you all know what I do."

        "First, and... perhaps hardest to believe, is the source. GGG's exile, which I accompanied, took us through a portal to the end of the previous universe. But that is..." She pauses and sighs, pushing something back down. "Largely irrelevant. We were unable to get back without, ah... attempting to tunnel out. A forced portal that took us to the time between the end of that universe and the beginning of our own. That is where it infected us--that is *what* infected us."

<Pose Tracker> Ana Kambinda has posed.

Not so long ago, Ana was at Sweetwater, trying to figure out how much of her mind Shelby Korts could read. It was one of the more embarrassing experiences she's had since the big trial.

The transport wound up back on Earth pretty quickly. Then a notice went out and Ana had to go shopping in Berlin on short notice for something nice to wear.

"Thanks for the invite," she answers as she picks up a cup of coffee and sinks into a chair. She'd run into a decent formalwear store on the way in and come out with the only thing that looked decent to her: A set of high-waisted pants and a smoking jacket in crisp black, both in black, which she put on over a sandy yellow blouse she left open at the neck and collar for lack of fucks to give about ties. She paired them up with a pair of shoes that definitely came from a menswear store somewhere. Her sole concession hairstyle-wise was that the band containing her ponytail matches the blouse.

The coffee, at least, is above the ordinary. Ana flashes Sayla a quick smile before giving Renais a pensive look. She doesn't recognize her; she was buried in the deepest hole the OAC could put her in at the time Triple Zero made its appearance.

She crinkles her nose and curls her hands around her cup, crossing one leg over the other as she hunches forward against the table. "Infected?" she echoes with a frown. "Sounds pretty serious."

        No shit, Ana, her inner monologue chides her.

<Pose Tracker> Qivi has posed.

Qivi recently made a trip back from the Orbital Ring - not a place she goes often but a place that she seems to know, at least a little bit. Berlin is her first stop on Earth since she's back.

"I'm listening," she says, having arrived early. She may have come dressed casual (almost too casual to fit in with showing up in a conference room: jeans and a tank top with a camo pattern, except in various shades of dark blues, so it doesn't actually blend in with anything) and be leaning back in her chair, a cup of coffee and a sandwich and a half in front of her, but that seems to have more to do with Qivi's apparent disregard for authority figures telling her what to do and less an intention to signal she's not paying attention. She's actually watching quite intently!

"Hey, question," Qivi says, raising her voice just enough. She's not yelling, she just wants to ask a question. "In what universe is a portal to the last universe 'irrelevant'?" She pauses a moment, working through that. "Except that one, I guess," she accepts. "Okay, I'm, uh, really listening, I promise, 'cause I don't see how there's anything there at all to get infected by."

<Pose Tracker> Gemini Sunrise has posed.

Aw shucks.

Gemini had never been on Earth before, which is propably partly why she had been sent to represent the Neo-America Combat Revue at this meeting. "It'll be good to get your gravity legs!" Mr. Sunnyside had said. So here she was, surrounded by the rest of the Alliance, wow, there were more of them than she thought. She sipped her coffee and listened intently to Renais, her hand tightening as she tries to retain as much of the information as possible to relay to the Revue.

"Gee, this sure is a lot to take in." 

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Hey, it's Riku!

He's settled in with a cup of coffee and a sandwich himself. Well, three sandwiches, he had a long ride and he's hungry. When Renais greeted them he gives a wave and a smile. Like she never nearly about murdered them all.

Though he does start listening to what she is saying about T0. Trying to wrap his head around this. Strange that he's never heard of it before..? Has Zero? Zero has been around a lot longer.

"What...is T0 exactly then?" 

<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.


        Seated exactly as far away from Qivi as possible, there is one young lady in a sweatshirt with her hood drawn up, writing down notes on a small spiral-bound pad, the most effective and modern of techniques in today's world.

        Fresh off a disasterous meeting with Qivi and horrifying Ana beyond compare, Shelby has been on the move over and over in loops between Earth and the Sides; a few points prior to the meeting starting, she even looked like she was nodding off in her chair off and on as the foul spectre that is known as sleep claiming her attention until someone came too close, or spoke to her, or-- or, had thoughts just too loud.

        'Oath Over Omega,' former members of the GGG, and -- the prior universe?

        Chewing on the cap of her pen, the young Newtype's brow scrunches as she tries to keep up. Yeah, sure, she was in the area and available for this but ... this is one of those science things where it would have probably been better to send ... anyone else, really. Ms. Mesua, or Anser. Maybe Ava, if she could be kept on-track.

        Pointedly, despite her outward appearance, she does not partake of any of the coffee right now. Instead, she just listens-- listens, and chews on that pen cap, and also stares at Renais like a puzzle box begging to be solved.

<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.


        Renais looks over at Qivi and raises an eyebrow. "The portal no longer exists," she says curtly, mostly hiding her annoyance.

        "It is a mental infection," she continues. "Tied to the energy of that place. All of the energy that makes up our universe, condensed into a hyper-dense energy field... with an asertion. An idea that implants itself into the mind, as it lends you that immeasurable power. Your beliefs and sensibilities reshape to accommodate it. You rationalize it with whatever means your mind will allow, but... no further."

        She sits down. "That idea is a simple thesis. The universe must end. It matters less *how*, and more that it *must*. But... sapient life--us--holds the power to keep that from happening. Miracles like the Axis Flash, or the power of the G-Stone to turn courage into power..." She taps the green gem on her golden cybernetic hand.

        "We can reverse that. We have the power to keep that from happening." She takes a sip of coffee. "... and so, we must die. All of us. The Oath Over Omega convinces you that all intelligent life must die for the good of the universe. And so we were--they are--all bent upon omnicide... and have the overwhelming power to back that up, thanks to the energy of that place. It allows rapid regeneration, massive power boosts, and the ability to warp and animate machines to their will."

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Riku listens to exactly what T0 is and...well Riku does not frown easily, but that sure...puts a damper on his face. "How...is that for the good of the universe? The universe must die, but we can prevent it. How is that good for the universe?"

Riku doesn't understand the logic. How is the universe dying good for it? That outlook just does not make any sense to him. He shakes his head, this is absolutely awful. 

<Pose Tracker> Gemini Sunrise has posed.

Gemini puts her mug down and rubs her chin. "Well, I reckon I don't know much about alla this universal mumbo jumbo, but I remember my master teachin' me about Buddhist teachin's, the cycle of death and reincarnation. Maybe...the aliens see it in that way. The universe dyin' and bein' reborn is an important part of the natural order."

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.


        "...I can understand why it's a concern Qivi. But it is my understanding the previous universe no longer exists, either. Which means it doesn't connect to the dimension Riku comes from, Tsutsujidai, or that space." She looks specifically at Shelby here. She'll know what it means. At least that's what Sayla got from Guyt. The coffee IS good. She doesn't recall ordering any thing special. Sayla has her presence as a newtype locked down right now, mostly for Shelby's sake. She doesn't need to feel that hate and fear that radiates off Sayla for Triple 0. It's very much something that goes against everything she believes. But it went against everything Koutaro believed too...

        "Axis Shock." She corrects, not harshly by darkly. She doesn't like thinking about the event. And there are people where were there. She closes her eyes. Ana and Shelby, on different sides. Sayla slides a note to Shelby. 'If you need to get out, there's a quiet space through the door in back. We'll have a report for Miss Mesua if need be." That first M is definitely a corrected N. Sayla's usually more careful than that.

        "I want to be clear here. This is not a matter of willpower. None of you knew GGG before they left. They were the strongest willed people out there. Even people like Koji, Tetsuya or Ryouma would struggle to match them." She gives a sad smirk. "Chief Taiga had it in the charter they never give up for god's sake, and they kept to that charter. Miss Cardiff is no slouch either. Please remember that."

        She looks to Riku, and pauses. "There used to be trees on the Britannian continent. Sequoias, I think. They required forest firest to breed and spread their seeds." She pauses. "Or maybe it's simply the concept that as human life is finite, so must the universe's life be finite."

<Pose Tracker> Ana Kambinda has posed.

Ana hides a smile behind her coffee mug when Qivi speaks up. She ended up sitting to the left of the wanzer gladiator, and she sends a look her way. The question's a good one, after all.

Renais doesn't seem to find it nearly as funny as Ana does. Ana winces slightly and lowers her coffee, reaching for a sandwich and biting off the corner as she listens.

Tries to listen. Ana Kambinda grew up on a maize farm in the Angolan highlands and never went to college. Her education had nothing to do with quantum physics, overlapping realities or energy fields, and everything to do with how to husk maize and how to rotate crops. Her eyes glaze over a little as Renais gets into the details of how the universe works. Shelby Korts - whose presence Ana hasn't noticed yet - probably gets the best view of Ana's inner monologue:

        Hey dummy, focus!!
                da *daaaa* doot doo themesong to tv's detective haroooo
        NO STOP LOOPING THE THEMESONG TO DETECTIVE HARO IT'S DISRESPECTFUL
                da na na *naaaa* rolling into mysteryyyy rolling into genkiiiii
        GHHHHHHGH I HATE BEING DUMBwait did she say Axis Flash

That one Ana can relate to - her inner monologue is broken by a flash of memories. Fire and pain and fear and hope and green and disappointment all at once. She sits up straighter, swallowing her mouthful of sandwich and frowning. "...So are you saying that if you shout loud enough and believe it, you can break the laws of the universe somehow?" she asks incredulously. "And that the Triple O virus knows that and figures the only way to stop it is to genocide the universe?"

The psychic can tell Ana is really, really hoping she got it right.

<Pose Tracker> Qivi has posed.

Qivi sat away from Shelby, too, but she keeps glancing over in that direction. It's awkward all around. She wants to say something, but this isn't the time.

"If you're gonna start with an impossibility, someone's going to ask a question about it," Qivi says, apparently unperturbed. "Because as far as *I* knew, until not very long ago, I thought you were exiled for starting a coup, and nobody told me about a portal." She gives Sayla a slight nod - she understands. (More or less.)

But she listens.

Qivi's expression changes because she is completely incapable of a poker face. Dismay, then anger. "What the hell!" Her voice only raises a little bit; it's mostly her tone that changes. "How does that even make sense? Am I missing something about why it wants that? Does it - the Oath, I mean - *want* to collapse into that energy field so it exists, or something? Or does it just want that cycle? You'd think it'd take care of itself if it just waited long enough..."

"But I'm guessing if you got free from it you want to do something about it, too. I'm not saying it's willpower, given - " Qivi tilts her head toward Sayla. "But you don't want us to sit on our butts and wait for it, right?"

<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.


        The explanation from Renais continues to have very basic, straightforward notes jotted down -- her handwriting is a little on the atrocious side but her spelling is good enough -- but it slowly starts to fade away, crowded out by the sound of a specific voice ringing out in her mind: Ana, perhaps trying her absolute hardest to not think of anything in the presence of Shelby Korts. And failing, spectacularly.

        The young woman's fingers slip under the frames of her glasses, lifting them up with her knuckles while she pinches the bridge of her nose and tries *so hard* to tune it out, but it's basically impossible, and--

        The note is slid her way. Picking it up and feathering the paper open as quietly as possible, she gives it a quick read before glancing at Sayla and giving her a small, firm thumbs-up.

        'Axis Shock.'

        Shelby's head cants to glance at Qivi, Gemini, Renais, Riku -- just soaking in the reactions before her mouth presses into a flat line. 'Break the laws of the universe,' too. She makes sure to write that one down, pen making a few loud scrawls on the paper at full tilt.

<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.

Renais sighs. "Axis Shock. My apologies, Dr. Mass." To the question echoed through the room, she answers, "It is... it is, in some way, like the universe *asked* us to do this. That irreparable harm would be done to the universe if we didn't. The old man and the other scientists must have come up with explanations for what that harm was, but it was beyond me. And worked backward from a conclusion they were absolutely convinced of, which I don't *think* is how science works."

        Who 'the old man' is, she doesn't say, but there's a bitterness to her thought as she says that.

        She nods to Ana. "That is... correct. Axis..." She trails off a moment, looking at Sayla briefly before skirting around it, "The G-Stone is... it uses your willpower and courage as energy, but feeds into those feelings. Which it can draw on as more power." She stacks her hands one on top of the other, repeatedly, until her hands sit at about eye level. "In the hands of a suitable person... it seems there's no limit. Infinite power. I may not be a physicist, but I *believe* that violates thermodynamics, and can... reverse entropy, I believe he said?" She nods toward Gemini. "The cycle of reincarnation may not be too far off, but... that gives too much credit to a belief which wants to kill us all." She also nods to Qivi. "That's right. I can't guarantee that changes to the plans haven't been made since my, ah, recovery... but I know at least some part of their plans." 

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.


        Sayla pauses. "Some context. For Miss Cardiff, only a few weeks passed since she left for the Trinary Solar System. For the rest of us, it's been five, six years?" The others could use that. She's thoughtful as Renais answers the questions. She takes a bite of the sandwich as she thinks.

        "...Triple Zero has no physical form, is that correct? It's not sentient, it's not living, it simply is?" She's looking concerned, as she lays these thoughts out calmly as always. She looks to Qivi. "I don't think it 'wants' so much as..." She pauses, trying to think how to describe it. "Have you heard of cordyceps? It makes the user override their wants to allow it to grow and spread. But it's not a want, it's not even an instinct. It's a requirement." How many weird plants does Sayla even know about?

        She pauses at Renais' talk of the old man, but nods. "...Right now, I don't know how we could stop it, but it reacts to us as a threat so that means we can hurt it. But I think our bigger problem is the Gutsy Galaxy Guard. They're some of the strongest and smartest people from the Earth Sphere- and beyond. And I imagine Chief Taiga has a plan." 

<Pose Tracker> Ana Kambinda has posed.

The mention of the Axis Shock at least got Ana's brain to stop cycling children's TV showtunes. The bad news is, she's thinking back to grim memories experienced by a younger Ana from the cockpit of a Jegan in the midst of a horrible crisis. They're not entirely pleasant.

Then she glances to the side and realizes that Shelby's there. Her lips come together and she glances up at the ceiling, immediately trying to divert her thoughts to something more professional.

        Oh, yes, hm, so it's universal physics.
        I must definitely remain focused on this.
        My understanding of the science is great.
                AGH NO BRAIN STOP WE HAVE A LISTENER
                I HOPE THIS IS FUNNY TO YOU, *KORTS*

Renais, at least, puts Ana at ease with an affirmative answer - one that makes her feel less stupid than she felt a minute ago. Of course, that affirmative in and of itself presents an idea that seems utterly ridiculous even to her relatively limited understanding of science. Taking a bite of sandwich to try and divert her thoughts down a path that will neither blow her mind nor embarrass her brain in front of Shelby, she chews as she tries to come to grips with the will-malleability of the universe.

It doesn't quite sink in. She eventually swallows, takes another bite and glances at Qivi, then down at her plate, at a loss for what to actually think.

"...Maybe I'm the optimist here, but I'm pretty against movements that want to kill us all," she opines before her eyes shift to Sayla. "Though movement might be the wrong word...? Regardless, it sounds like we're going to have to confront it anyway. And the GGG people."

She pauses, then: "...Will we have to start breaking the laws of physics *ourselves* to actually be, uh, effective?"

Ana is fairly sure she cannot break the universe. Yet.

<Pose Tracker> Qivi has posed.

Qivi glances over to Shelby again, still feeling awkward about that. She nodded to Ana when she came in, but otherwise didn't say much to her - she'll catch one of the two on the way out, she hasn't decided which one yet. She *doesn't* know Gemini, and now is not the best time to meet her. That may have to come later.

Context helps. "Five years," Qivi says, "because I remember it; it was the year before the Gundam Fight. That does make a difference then." And Sayla asks if she knows what cordyceps is. "No idea what that is, but still. To get into someone's mind and steer it like that... blech."

She picks up her coffee, takes a long drink from it while Renais explains. "Cool. Count me in," Qivi says, punching her fist into her open palm. "I don't know anything about thermodynamics or whatever - infinite energy or not - but if there's anything I *can* do to help, I'll do it."

She expects Renais has more information, and she waits for it, this time actually showing some patience. For a change. Until Ana asks a question. "Uh, yeah, if that's a requirement I think I might not be as helpful." 

<Pose Tracker> Gemini Sunrise has posed.

"Well, shoot! Y'all know ya got the full might of the Neo-America Combat Revue with ya too!" Gemini pops her cup down with an audible clack, getting maybe a bit too rowdy. She clears her throat and tries to conduct herself better. "Well, it might be a bit presumptuous ta say that without runnin' it past Mr. Sunnyside, but I'm positive he'd be all for it!" 

<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.


        'Few weeks, five or six years.' That's -- quite awhile, now that she thinks about it. Where was she when Renais was getting weird experiences beyond space-time, anyway...? She hadn't yet made it out to space, by that point, she's pretty sure. It leaves a mild weight in the pit of her stomach, thinking about it.

        Leaning out past Sayla to be more visible, Shelby does not actually *say* anything to Ana, but just stares at her with distant, tired eyes and a bit of dismay before she just very simply starts to shake her head at her before she leans back into her chair again.

        Her notes include 'OOO is bad,' 'Neo-America Combat Revue = good,' 'time works differently,' and so on on a fresh page of the small spiral-bind pad.

        Shelby nods, while looking at Gemini, finally speaking. "I have to admit that I don't totally get all of this, but I'll bring it all back to Ms. Mesua. If there's anything that we can assist with, I'm sure we'll figure something out."

<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.

"Two weeks, give or take," Renais confirms, nodding. It's not something that sits well with her. "It... is a belief, an overriding belief inserted into your brain. I was still 'me'... just... with a new belief." She sighs, shifting uncomfortably. She still feels responsible. That's a large part of why.

        She shakes her head to Ana's question. "You shouldn't. When Soldato J--" a name that elicits complex feelings... "attacked PLANT not long ago, his ship's regenration couldn't keep up with the continued assault by Earth Sphere forces. And I was saved by clever maneuvering. I don't believe we'll need any more than the standard number of miracles to fight back." 

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.


        Sayla takes a long sip to let it all sink in. "Well, you all have spirit. That's something." She pauses briefly. "We have the means to kill Triple Zero's current agents, but with extreme difficulty. We also know other parties will intervene. 3G Blue will intercede, which brings with them NERV. I have been working with Guy- Chief Shishioh informally but ideally I don't want NERV to know we exist. We also know that Alexis Kerib may involve himself, but it is impossible to say on which side."

        She takes a few more moments to let this sink in. "...And I believe I have several people, including in this room, who would find it unacceptable to not at least try to save them. And that means we need people who can purify creaturs like Zonders. Two, at least." She did her homework. She was there. She saw what happened. "...Queen the Spade may be capable, as might the other crest holders, but... The first time I saw such a thing happened it killed the previous wielders. The second time, well. Most of you know how the King of Hearts handled the Devil Gundam." She sighs. "And...I think those our only options, unless Mamoru or Guy taught you some secrets, Renais."

<Pose Tracker> Qivi has posed.

"Oh, well then." Qivi accepts *that* in stride, at least. "At least that still works."

Qivi listens to Sayla's explanation. Then: "Why two? Just because it's hard? And do you have a plan past, uh, 'fight them, purify them'? It's OK if you don't, that's the kind of plan I understand, but if you know a little about what they're gonna do you might have something more."

<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.


        "There's another," offers Renais. "I believe he's serving in the Gutsy Global Guard with Amami right now, in fact." Amami being Mamoru Amami. "Ikumi Kaidou. He's-- he *was*... J's partner, and I understand he has the same powers of purification as Guy and Mamoru. As for why it needs two--" She shakes her head. "I don't know, honestly. I was busy, ah, bleeding out from a spear wound. You might ask Alexis Kerib--though you'd likely get better results from Shishioh."

        "The plan is something we still need to work out. I know that they plan to strike specific locations to gather the access codes for the..." She pauses. No, too much explanation for right now. "For a terrifying weapon. I've seen it used--we *can't* allow them to get those codes. The details, and the plan itself... we'll need to discuss that when we can make more formal plans of our own." 

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.


        Sayla shakes her head. "...This is decidedly not my field. I think our best bet is Guy. It's not like the previous shuffles passed down the details when it happened. We're dealing with a near impossible threat. I'll be communicating with Captain Testarossa towards creating a plan. I think we are strictly on the defensive. I hate it, but it plays to your strengths." She sighs.

        Sayla puts the empty coffee down. "The upside is Guy will contact us when they appear, and we can respond as quickly as we can. I don't know how effectively it spreads, but I don't think there are any protections either. Is there anything else, Miss Cardiff?" Sayla's unease is palpable. It's a hideously dangerous foe that they don't understand.

        And the solution is another Axis Shock every so often. She hates the idea. 

<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.


        "Well. We'll see what can be done. I know where they intend to strike, and they can't change that much." Renais wrinkles her nose. "And it's unlikely to be a passive spread risk, honestly. It's... absolutely possible for them *to* spread it, and we'll need to be careful of that, but..."

        "Mm. Nothing else at the moment. I'll put together something more formal for a proper briefing..." She relaxes, and some of the tension fades out of her. Her mind shifts away from the matter of the meeting, and she closes her eyes. "Thank you all for coming." She opens them again and, quite unceremoniously, excuses herself from the room.

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