Diplomacy: Future of Rann

[scourge_of_mars]

"Good evening leaders of Earth. My name is Ma'alefa'ak, diplomatic representative of the Neo-Rann governent. I will be meeting with you so that we may bring a quick, decisive end to the current misunderstanding between out two worlds. Therefore I propose a meeting on neutral ground, here..." An image of the planet Mars would appear to the

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[j_onn_j_onzz]

At that moment, the air shimmers in a blank area near Hal, and in a second, the Martian Manhunter materializes next to Hal. "It took some doing to triangulate the coordinates of your ring, Ha..."

That's when he sees Malefic. And J'onn's eyes begin to glow.

"You."

[scourge_of_mars]

Malefic views the arrival of J'onn. A rictus grin forms on his face, stretched by his morphing abilities. His emotions were at war. Amusement that he put his brother in a situation in which he couldn't attack him, and hate for the long ago grudges and his own inability to attack.

"Hello, J'onn."

[beware_my_power]

Hal's ring glows, ready to intervene if necessary. He knows how he'd feel if it were Henshaw doing the negotiation.

"Thanks for coming, J'onn. I would have warned you, but I wasn't sure if you would be able to make it."

[j_onn_j_onzz]

"I came, Hal, because of a great sense of foreboding regarding these negotiations that came to me during meditation." He looks squarely at Malefic. "It appears I was correct."

[scourge_of_mars]

"I love you too, brother." Malefic said sarcastically, smile still plastered on his face. "Still the dramatist. There is no need for foreboding, as you put it. I am simply here so that we can resolve our current situation."

[jla_galaxy]

"The people of Rann want their home back. That is our position. I have come here to relay that to you, and to listen to what you have to say, because despite whatever lies or propaganda that may have been spread, we are a peaceful people."

Sardath pushes his eyewear up on the bridge of his nose.

"That said, I have established contact with L.E.G.I.O.N., and begun preliminary negotiations for their support in reclaiming our planet. Vril Dox, when he realized the number of unique specimens he could acquire by assisting us, offered me a substantial discount."

[jl_aliens]

"Try it, Rannian!" Grallex spoke again, fury coating his features. "It's precisely groups like L.E.G.I.O.N. and the Green Lantern Corps, who think they can police the universe, that brought many of our allies under the Cyborg's umbrella. If the L.E.G.I.O.N steps so much as one foot into our territory, it will ignite a war you can't even comprehend. The Dominators, Khunds, the Spider Guild, and even species reluctant to send us material aid will come. Because even they agree that such groups have no right to operate! You send in L.E.G.I.O.N, and you unite even more enemies against you!"

[jla_galaxy]

"L.E.G.I.O.N. is not a police force, it is a private security force that contracts out to planets, like Rann, with difficulties mounting defensive forces of their own. And have no fear, if that comes to pass, L.E.G.I.O.N. won't set foot in your territory. Merely Rann's."

[scourge_of_mars]

"What my friend here is TRYING to say is this," Malefic said, casting a scowl at Grallex. "Whether it be the Corps or MERCENARIES, neither would be welcome in occupied territory. And as there is no Rann at the moment. You have no governmental authority to hire these people legally. Then again, I wouldn't expect a profiteer like Vril Dox to care. If they show up, you'll be lucky to ever go hime." The last was a cold statement of fact as far as Malefic was concerned.

[beware_my_power]

"An invasion doesn't invalidate Rann's government, Malefic. No matter how many patsies and conspirators you have that will agree with you. That's just not how it works. If you want to pretend that the people of Rann have no claim to their own planet, I'm not exactly sure what you came here to offer."

[scourge_of_mars]

"I'm saying Lantern that if even ONE of those mercenaries sets foot in our 'occupied' space, then war begins. Perhaps you should have spoken to your friend about hasty actions that can lead to far greater consequences before you came here!"

[beware_my_power]

"Last I checked, you were already at war with Rann. Are you threatening the Earth if Rann chooses to hire mercenaries to fight back? I doubt that does much to dissuade the Rannians, or the mercenaries. Earth has nothing to do with your conflict. It does, however, expose your efforts at peace as a sham."

[jla_galaxy]

"Well said. We would move the Rannian population off of Earth if such a course becomes necessary, to remove any shred of pretense they might have to attack your world. Then an attack would expose them as the liars and war-mongerers that I know them to be, and their allies could no longer stand beside them. Earth is protected by treaty."

[scourge_of_mars]

Whatever front he put up, Malefic is every bit as insane as his benefactor. The holier than thou attitudes expressed by his opponents reminded him far too much of the narrow-minded idiots that had once ruled Martian society. It took every ounce of self-control Malefic had not to morph his hand into a blade and take the Rannian's head off.

"You seem to forget Lantern that it was a human who had interjected himself into an affair not his own. Contrary to popular belief, the Green Lantern Corps is not officially recognized by any government as a legitimate peace-corping force. And when we took him prisoner as per our right, an EARTH group came and abducted him from our custody. You cannot pretend you're planet is not involved in this, Lantern."

[beware_my_power]

"Actually, billions of worlds do recognize the Corps as a legitimate peace-keeping force. And as Guy is also a member of the Justice League, we have the wherewithal to rescue him as well - an operation that involved exactly zero representatives of the Rannian government, mind you. It was an entirely separate matter. I'm still not buying what you're selling, Mal."

[scourge_of_mars]

The line was tight and ready to snap.

"Mal? MAL!?" Malefic was on the verge of raging. "How dare you!? You will address me as Malefic or Ma'alefa'ak. Not MAL!"