10th Mission // Text // Links are IC

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Jacob Taylor here. I've got an update on the investigation into the OTO. That's Otherworld Technologies Organization for the new people on the Network: they're a group that's been responsible for a lot of the bad things that have happened this year. The report is here for anyone who wants to take a look at it.

If you're going after the OTO, be careful. They're seriously bad news. But we need to keep chasing them down, before they hurt more people. The government's been supporting our operations so far: they're on our side on this one. If you find anything out, you can tell me or another member of the RISE team.

That's not the only thing I wanted to talk about, though. Last week, a friend of mine took a life in combat. He's facing the consequences for it now. I've done the same thing plenty of times, in the military and out of it. And I know some of the OTO's scientists didn't survive the raid on their cloning facility last month.

It's a heavy thing to deal with. Sometimes it's necessary. But a lot of people think imPorts are dangerous right now. If we do too much damage, we're going to risk proving them right about us. Doesn't matter if it's because we're battling bad guys.

I think this fight with the OTO is just getting started. It's not going to be the last time we have to make those kinds of choices. And we need to work together if we're going to beat them. I figure that'll be easier if we're all clear on where we stand. About what we're willing to do to get it done.

So here's what I want to ask you: would you kill, to save a life? Or is that going too far for you? And how do you want to hold people accountable for something like that?

Comments

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[dejerate]

I've killed before. But that was Horsemen or vampires. Not other humans.

[Humans.....that's different. Maybe not so physically different in appearance from vampires, but even so. It's not a step that Yuu has taken yet. Outside of nightmares or close calls with him losing control, anyway.]

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Vampires are people just like humans. At least, that's what the vampires I know say.

[Hi, Kanaya.]

What's a Horseman? I don't think you've told me about them before.

[am_i_a_monster]

Someone killed to save my life.

I wouldn't hold anyone accountable for trying to survive. Sometimes, it's all we can do.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

There are things you just can't do. Even if it is for survival.

[He's thinking about Cerberus in his own world- an organization that would do absolutely anything in the name of preserving humanity.]

I'm glad you had someone to save you when you needed it, though.

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[bindsthedead]

That 'quantum particle transmuter' is my biggest concern. That, and thinking people are 'better' with powers. There's a reason some forms of magic are forbidden.

As for killing- you already know my answer.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

I guess I do. We're lucky RISE regulations give us the authority to do what's needed on missions.

Do you have any idea what that 'transmuter' could be? I'm from the future, and even I've never heard of anything like that.

[crimeboy]

That's a very complex question. Would I? No. I have other options. I'd take any other option, and risk failure before taking the life of another. How should we hold someone accountable for killing in the defense of others?

That's completely circumstantial. There are a lot of 'if's and 'but's. Are we to assume this was a cut-and-dry,
black-and-white case?

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

If these things were black and white, I wouldn't need to ask questions like these. It's rarely that simple. But for what it's worth, I'd say all the examples I just gave were justified. Sometimes failure is an option nobody can afford.

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[picksthenames]

if RISE needs support, the JL is there.

[ Just go ahead and volunteer your whole team, why don't you? ]

as for if i would kill... it depends on if theres any other way to save those lives. depends on who is at stake. or how many. it sounds harsh, but killing one to save a hundred? a thousand? has to be worth the price.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Good to know. The same right back at you, if your team ever needs backup.

I've heard that kind of math thrown around before. It's convincing, but you have to be sure you can trust the information. Predictions about what will happen next can always be wrong.

Voice;

[stylistic_disloyalty]

'How' do we want to hold people accountable?

I think you mean 'do we even want to'. Please don't tell me imPorts are in the business of policing each other, and you're the only one who's got a boner for this.

Voice;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Sorry to disappoint, but I'm definitely not the only one looking to keep us in line. Most of the time, the only thing that can stop an imPort is another imPort.

We have to police ourselves. Otherwise, innocent people get hurt when we go out of control.

[ text ]

[ghoulking]

At the time we got information on the Quantum particle transmuter, our informant Pearl told us USA government was afraid something would be attracted to this universe.

I assume you've heard of Atropos, Jacob.


Regarding your question, I do not kill humans. [ well, normal humans. Clones and mutated scientists might not be included. ]

[ text ]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

I've heard the name. The monster that destroyed the City, right?

What stops you from killing humans?

[siriusly]

How much of this information you have known to civilian authorities? It'd be in everyone's favor to share, probably...
Most people shouldn't have to make the choices we have. I don't want them to, imPort or otherwise... That's part of what I've been working for.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

It's all being shared. The government's cooperated with us all the way on this. No reason not to return the favour.

I'm fighting for the same thing. Having to choose between taking a life or watching someone else lose theirs isn't something people should have to do.

[Text]

[caduceusvalkyrie]

Killing someone is against everything that I stand for. I myself couldn't do it, if pushed then perhaps, but I know it would break me. I've been in wars, I know there's no escaping death in these circumstances. But I would prefer to see other approaches taken if there was a chance.

I know that sounds selfish, saying I couldn't do it, even if it were to save another, but I don't think physically I could pull the trigger to kill.

[Text]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Let's hope you never get put in that position then. It would be sad as hell if you got broken along with whoever you were fighting.

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[dumbfound]

[ Jacob Taylor, huh? This must be the guy that Junseo was told could get him a nullifier! Only... only all things considered with this death talk, this really doesn't seem like the right time to ask about it. Maybe he can awkwardly ease into the conversation? ]

Uhhh...
Killing just kind of seems bad in general?
Unless its like self defense or i guess saving other peoples lives?
So maybe its ok...
I dont know.

Also someone told me you could get people nullifiers?

[ Boom. Flawless transition. ]

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Long. Pause.]

That depends on what the nullifier is needed for.

[He's not going to touch the other stuff right now.]

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[knaval]

depends on the context i think
i would be a mass murderer by human standards but it was all during war time and in self defense

so

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Right. War has its own set of rules. You can kill or be killed. Or watch the people you care about get killed.

What rules are we playing by here though? We're not exactly at war with the OTO. But I don't think you could call things peaceful either.

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[drivesadesk]

I honestly don't know the answer to that question. Killing's really not my thing, but I probably could, in the right circumstances. Like there's this guy back home, Ozzie. I'd do whatever it took to keep him safe.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

You must really care about him Jonathan. I hope you never have to go that far though. For him or anyone else.

It's not exactly something anyone should be too okay with, you know?

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[the_caped_crusader]

You're a military man, Jacob. So, you know the duties of government are to safeguard freedom and preserve life. All life.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Yeah, I know that's how it's supposed to work. But sometimes there's no way to do that without fighting. Government's wouldn't need a military otherwise, right?

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[pillz]

lots of imports have been working in and with the community to turn things around after how bad they've got. guess the checks and balances are still checking and balancing.

you're probably right about oto.

you gonna kill them to save some lives?

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

There's been a lot of good work getting done. Let's hope it turns out to be enough.

As for killing OTO: it's probably going to come to that. I hope I'm wrong, but we have to face what we're dealing with here. This isn't an ordinary group of criminals, or even terrorists.