<div class="floatright">(http://orig10.deviantart.net/3f32/f/2012/002/5/6/dust_and_smoke_by_shimmering_sword-d4l4dg7.jpg)</div>Name: Darclight<br/>Where: Simport City Harbor<br/>Doing What: Post-Combat Cleanup<br/>Milestones: Riders on the Storm and Ignorance Cannot Dictate the Course of Men<br/>1 PP | 0 Physical | 0 Mental | 0 Emotional | 22xp<br/><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Mechanics</div><div class="spoiler_body"></div></div><hr/><br/><tt class="bbc_tt">"You wish to recruit...quite literally the person we just put back into jail." </tt>Darclight responded when Ace told him her plan.  The hero - both computer and man - had reservations about recruiting from the villainous populace in general, but this was taking it to a new, extra high.<tt class="bbc_tt">"This is not precisely what I would call the most well-conceived of plans..."</tt>Killing the external speakers, and engaging the total sound baffles - Darclight wasn't about to have a conversation right here in front of someone who might be able to hear him through the armor - one half turned to the other.<br/><br/>"What do you think, Khaj?"<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">"There is merit to what Miss Ace is suggesting, sir.  We wish to rebuild Stormwatch after Retirement, for the eventuality of the Deathmarks' return."<br/></span><br/>"This isn't the kind of rebuilding I had in mind, though.  I want Red Team - all of them, if I can get them - back.  Plus whatever we can get of Black and Blue Teams.  And whoever we can pillage from CHESS, or bring out of retirement from other supergroups."  Darclight's plan was ambitious in the extreme - he wanted<em>one</em>global superteam, with himself in a, if not<em>the</em>, leadership role.  This was not just some dream, however, it was necessity: man and machine had agreed that when the Deathmarks came looking, the most efficient solution would be to have everyone in the world - each and every last hero he could - playing his song.  After all...<br/><br/>...he<em>was</em>the expert.  And more to the point - he had alluded to it earlier, but he simply did not trust CHESS to get the job done.  CHESS was, in the end, an organization run by humans, run by bureaucrats, run by political appointees.  It was - in their semi-expert opinion - simply too riddled with holes to effectively mount a solution.  Even though the various teams attached to the national branches had superheroic leadership, when you analyzed it, there were more people than supers directing the organization.  Now, there had been a non-super in such a role at Stormwatch - the Weathermen were almost by necessity required to be simply very smart and savvy unpowered individuals - but the leadership table consisted of the Weatherman and each of the team leaders.  Three against one, in a manner of speaking.<br/><br/>But we are digressing.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">"Sir, if I may.  We are seeking the unification of all superpowered individuals on the planet in order to prepare for invasion, correct?</span><br/><br/>"Yeah, we even named it - the Stardust Crusaders Initiative."<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">"Would not someone like Silvia Atel qualify under such circumstances?"</span><br/><br/>"...Khaj, this isn't as simple as you're making it sound."<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">"And why not?  If we can convince someone to change sides..."</span><br/><br/>"...Khaj, you want it to happen.  This Ace girl wants it to happen.  Hell, part of<em>me</em>wants it to happen but it's not just a matter of saying 'Hooray, you're a good guy now!'  There has been trust damaged, if not destroyed, by what she's done.  I'm willing to stretch out a hand, but not if it means that half the heroes on the planet will tell us to go kiss the sun!"<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">"Sir, if that is the case, then how heroic can they be?"</span><br/><br/>"..."<br/><span class="bbc_u"><br/>"Sir?"</span><br/><br/>"Dammit, Khaj, I'm thinking!"  He was right.  In that irritating, infuriating way only a machine could be.  "Khaj, turn off the baffles, and switch the speakers back on."<br/><br/>"<span class="bbc_u">Sir.</span>"<br/><br/>Darclight had been a bit quiet for a while, but he raised his head to look at Ace.<tt class="bbc_tt">"Apologies.  Was running...projections.  Your idea has merit, and I will consider recruitment.  However.  There are a few logistical issues that need addressing before I can interview Miss Atel for the position.  The first is that we lack any sort of operational base.  Before Retirement, Stormwatch possessed four bases around the globe.  Our primary HQ was located on the island of Malta, with three Watchpoint posts located in: Aomori, Japan; Calgary, Canada; and Raipur, India.  If we can get any of these bases back, then we can come back online.  The HQ on Malta or the Aomori Watchpoint would be our best options, but at this point, we have to take what we can get.  Get me one of those bases and we can move this.  The second is that we will need more staff.  At this time, only you, I, and Auxilia are officially members of Stormwatch.  I'm not ready to call it a superteam with that.  A half dozen, give or take, plus her.  After all, I cannot watch her <em>all</em> the time."</tt><br/><br/>Darclight had ticked off the first two points on his index and middle fingers, and now he added the last via his ring.<tt class="bbc_tt">"Third and final.  If you plan on speaking to Ms. Atel regarding this before I do, make this <em>abundantly clear</em> - she will be monitored, no part of her life will remain unopened.  Even something as simple as stepping out for a pizza slice will require an armed guard to go with her.  Until she has earned <em>my</em> trust.  Not yours, not that of the organization at large, <em>mine</em>.  Because until we find someone who is better, I'm handling the leadership role, though I suspect we will find a suitable person to lead soon enough.  Am I understood?"</tt>