Her comfort was welcome, and helped dispel some of his misgivings. She was right. They were in, and the runners, for all their secrecy, had the same desire as he did. The betterment of mankind. His being here was essential, even if it did frighten him. The realization--that he was scared more than threatened--surprised him, and he spent the last few minutes they had alone pondering it before the door opened and they were summoned.<br/><br/>He left his weapons behind. Having them stolen was just a risk he'd have to take. He needed the Runners, needed their trust and support. Four Striders alone against what was coming would not be enough, no matter how skilled they were. When he was introduced he stayed silent and bowed his head, doing his best to show that he was not a threat. He stepped back as she took the floor and explained the situation as it stood, the destroyed chapters, the Striders with the skulls, hinted at the scope of it all. When she finished he stepped forward and looked each of the five in the eye.<br/><br/>"First of all, allow me to apologize to you for the death of Oliver Gillian. I was there when he was killed, and as a Strider--as a person--I accept responsibility for his loss--"<br/><br/>"What makes you Striders so god damn qualified to shoulder everyone else's lives, hm?" interrupted one of the other councilors. Carson looked his way and spread his hands.<br/><br/>"Nothing. We have no divine right to take care of the world. And I can't speak for all my brothers and sisters who have decided to become Striders, much as I'd like to. But for my own part, when I come to a town I consider it my personal responsibility to take care of every civilian within it. Nobody asks me to, and I am often resented for it. There is no qualification on caring, sir. I just do the best with what I have." He turned back to Michael, his shoulders rising and falling before he set his jaw. "Those with the skull tattoo call themselves the Vanguard of Death. I believe that the destruction of the Runners is just the first stage in what will eventually become an all-out war.<br/><br/>"Have any of you ever heard of Safeco? Far west from here, on the coast?" He let them think on it for a moment before he continued. "Safeco was a massive settlement, well over two thousand strong, with high walls and defenders well-versed in fending off raiders and the occasional mutant. It was destroyed in seven days by an army, which bore the symbol of the skull and three others. The most dangerous of them displays crossed swords, generally painted white on red flags, and red across their chests. I believe once the Runners are destroyed, the Vanguard will move to notify the rest of their cabal about the now-crippled settlements, and the army that destroyed Safeco will move in to destroy everything here."<br/><br/>He folded his arms behind his back and stood straighter. "I have come here to propose an alliance with you. I have myself and three other Striders, all of us experienced and capable and prepared to fight whatever foe we must. Together with the Runners we could find this Vanguard of Death, move out, and destroy them before they destroy us. And if the crossed swords come all the same, then together we would be able to stand and fight. We have weapons, shelter, armor--more than four Striders alone can use. Two days from here we have a shelter called Central, an Old World military bunker with plenty of space for shelter, medical facilities, the works." He looked around the room again and let himself deflate a little. "We need each other, Runners and Striders. We<i>might</i>survive alone, but we<i>will</i>survive together."