"Yes, I agree. We should wait and choose carefully who we deem "incompetent." As Old Laowai as shown, not all Indies are as slow as they seem."
Juan then looked up at the other Elder on the viewscreen above them all. Montoya had been gone for several days, and Lucendez and other Elders had to pick up some work that he had left behind. What was he doing there? This question had been cropping up in his head for the last couple of hours as they debated in the Council Chambers. Although Juan had respected Montoya throughout his Eldership as a wise and trusted leader, he couldn't shake the feeling that something incredible was on the horizon, an Elder going on vacation in the middle of wars was not something that happened everyday. Lucendez pushed the question out of his mind, he didn't dare challenge his fellow Elder on vacation spots.
"The secondary question of the AW is upon us, and I'd like to share my reactions with the Council."
Getting a nod from his fellows, he moved and activated a screen in front of everyone at the Council, detailing his latest chat with the leader of the Asgard Warriors.
"The AW are lead by a woman named Aurelia Silvan. She seems to be living in the past, attempting to rally the heavily fragmented Asgard Warriors and lead them on some insane Brotherhood hunt. As you all know, ever since the fighting between the AW and the TBH ended some time ago, the AW of Theta have atrophied into something barely resembling an organization. Since they can not patrol their area of space, the cease-fire had been revoked and nullified. "
"Recently, as many of you have picked up, they are attempting to reinforce the dominance they once had, by taking the few people that are still loyal and manning some sort of Battleship to go and prey on smaller Corsair ships, primarily Tinky. The correct course, however, has not shown itself to me, and I must admit I'm confused as to Ms. Silvan's response to my message. Her anger and fear were very apparent, but I had assumed that up until the peace accord, the AW were winning the war and peace was forced upon her."
"The reasoning behind her malevolence is allusive. Personally, I share both Laowai's reaction to Ms. Silvan and Carlos'. If the AW want to be "hostile," then we will come with halos of fire. Ha! Friendliness with Outcasts will not be tolerated, those who take the side of the demons will be dealt with, harshly."
"Don't you agree, Montoya?"
Lucendez turned around and posed the question at the viewscreen.
"The thirteen saloons that had lined the one street of Seney had not left a trace. The foundations of the Mansion House hotel stuck up above the ground. The stone was chipped and split by the fire. It was all that was left of the town of Seney. Even the surface had been burned off the ground.
Nick looked at the burned-over stretch of hillside, where he had expected to find the scattered houses of the town and then walked down the railroad track to the bridge over the river. The river was there."
