14745/Shi'Ar and Savages

Shi'Ar and Savages
Date of Scene:	22 April 2023
Location:	Security: Triskelion
Synopsis:	The Shi'Ar SWORD Agent gives a briefing on Deathbird and the Brood.
Cast of Characters:	Natasha Romanoff, Johnny Storm, Michael Erickson, Phil Coulson

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Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Given the appearance of Deathbird in the Savage Land attempting to usurp some of the local tribes and take control of some of the ancient computers that held power over the Savage Land before she was driven off by the X-Men, the Brood Infestation going on simultaneously..
    If there was the possibility for more Shi'Ar intervention in the region, it behooved SHIELD to be on top of things. For any other heroes who wanted in.. And giving it was their Shi'Ar expert.

Johnny Storm has posed:
The Fantastic Four were born in space and have remained at the forefront of the Earth's interactions with worlds beyond this, both dimensionally and in the present universe. Which is why Reed is gone all the time, of course, because he just keeps going to all these dang other planes of existence. Stupid scientific curioisity.

Which is why Johnny Storm is the one who goes to the briefings these days. He can handle it. Probably. He's mature now. That's what it said on his Instagram.

He's wearing his usual Fantastic Four jumpsuit and will find whatever chair he can and sprawl.

Michael Erickson has posed:
    As far as one can be an expert on the species as a member of it can be, at least. Waiting for agents and guests to file in, Agent Erickson stands in slate gray suit and hands behind his back at the head of the room, where a display screen waits for presentations, that sort of thing. PowerPoint city.

    But aren't Shi'ar supposed to have feathers? Not so our Michael E., who is perfectly coiffed with very dark, very human-looking hair. No ray guns. No energy swords. Just boring office couture and a bland smile on his blandly handsome face. Might as well be an extra from a forgettable network TV series.

Phil Coulson has posed:
Phil had heard there was a briefing, and he enjoyed briefings as where else will people just tell you all the things you want to know without some trick, or spy game. SHIELD was different of course, so here he was standing quietly in a back corner of the room entering he stands somewhere out of the way he pulls out a small pad of paper, and a pen so he could take notes. He smiles at Nat when he entered, and noded, but didn't say anything as it was her show. When he see's Johnny enter he smiles a bit as he was glad at least the fantastic four sent someone.

So for now he just stands quietly, and listens waiting to see what this was about, and if he could contribute.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff is there over in the back, having been spending some time looking over data for supplies that would be sent towards the forward operating base that SHIELD would be establishing in the Savage Land. Her arms would be over her hips and she would give a nod over to Michael, and then to Phil.

Johnny Storm has posed:
Johnny Storm puts his hands behind his head as he waits for the briefing to start. He nods to the others as they make their way in, "Hey, I'm Johnny! Pleasure's all mine. I thought about joining SHIELD once upon a time. Secret agents and all that. I played a lot of Goldeneye once upon a time. But I hate wearing suits and I don't like guns, so I was right out," he sighs.

"So, evil alien bird woman. I heard a little about her before during the general 'look there's a giant alien nest in a hidden jungle' meeting they had a little while back. Again, I'll say: if it needs to be burned, just tell me, I'm your barbecue, sweetheart."

Phil Coulson has posed:
Phil smiles, and nods to Johnny, "Hello Mr. Storm, we are well aware I have seen the E-mails." and glances over at Nat considering what he said before looking back. "I am sure this would be a tough for an outgoing person such as yourself. Besides we all know we do not do secret agent stuff." and smiles, and nods to Nat, "Right? Just normal agent stuff here." and chuckles.

Looking over at Michael, and nods, "Please forgive my interuption.. I am all ears here. Perhaps we should start at the begining to catch up everyone?"

Michael Erickson has posed:
    Once the expected seats are properly filled, and Johnny makes with being Johnny, Michael gives the group a tighter species of smile before stepping forward and beginning to speak at a podium set up by the wallscreen.

    "Good afternoon," he begins, "And thank you for joining us today. I am Agent Michael Erickson, or that is my name on this planet. Some of you may know me more as Cal'hatar of Chandrila, formerly an Officer Third Magnititude of the Shi'ar Military and noble son of the Shi'ar Imperium. Before being dispatched to this planet on various clandestine missions on the behalf of the Imperial Epsionage Cadres, I served as a reconnaissance commander and then later an anti-rebellion and anti-terrorist operative in the service of the Throne; these latter years were spent countering, on many occasions, the forces of the individual whom we speak of today."

    Michael takes up a remote, thumbing the screen - the image of a woman with an exotic, double-winged 'hairstyle' appears, her eyes fierce and her beauty of a sharp and cruel nature. Cheekbones so sharp you could shave with, that sort of thing. "This," he begins, "Is Cal'syee Neramani, former member of the ruling house of the Shi'ar Empire. She is known today as the terrorrist and so-called revolutionary known as Deathbird."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would cross her arms over and give a nod. "Deathbird has been encountered a few times though she is primarily ana dversary of the X-Men for those that have not engaged her." That given for reference, Natasha turns over to look at the picture of the woman. Only encountered at best in passing.. Memorizing it. The woman's profile, her targets, her methodology..
    What large royal family did not have members that were willing to do anything to seize the throne?

Johnny Storm has posed:
Johnny Storm points at Michael, "Oh yeah, I remember you. Mike the Shi'ar! Good to see you, dude," he says. He sits up a little bit, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. Look, he only does casual. Formality is anathemic to him.

"Deathbird, huh? Guess she's really not welcome at Shi'ar Thanksgiving," he sighs. "Attempted sibling-cide will do that."

Phil Coulson has posed:
As phil listens every once in a while he will write in his notepad though it is in a coded shorthand, and nods. He had read the files he knew a bit of this, and frowned when he heard about DeathBird as that was trouble. He did chuckle a bit at picture. He considered what would be needed to detain someone on those lines, or how to lure her out. "She has been on earth for a bit then." he said to himself as that would change how hard someone like this was to find.

He doesn't say anything instead just quietly listening, and nodding to Johnny. "Even alien villians don't know to hide their natrual influence it seems. Good to know it isn't just a human thing isn't it?"

Michael Erickson has posed:
    Mike the Shi'ar! That's him all right. Erickson gives Storm a nod, remembering yonder flaming youth, and goes back to speaking. Another image appears, this one of a galaxy - a completely foreign one, overlaid in one corner by the arching wing glyph that marks the Shi'ar Imperium. "Since being disinherited at a young age," he continues, "The Prodigal has been responsible for fomenting rebellion on a number of worlds and in partnership with a variety of powers unfriendly to the Imperium." A number of red dots appear on the map, their exotic names spelled out in glyphic High Shi'ar and English alike. "Time and time again, however, these movements have been crushed by Imperial forces." Like himself, as he has pointed out. "Now, she is on this world. Disaster can only follow."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would take a moment to track them - she wasn't fluent in Shi'Ar beyond a very, very few general phrases that had been given by Michael before - she hadn't been taught it nor how to read the script. "And what is her normal methodology? Salvage? Looking for thsoe to manipulate? Recruit?"

Johnny Storm has posed:
Johnny Storm cocks his head, "Prodigal's got to be an interesting translation of the original Shi'ar. Like, they don't have the Bible there, right? Is there a parable of the Prodigal Shi'ar? Also, the prodigal is forgiven at the end and I'm guessing that's not happening in her case."

"Sorry. I keep being distracting. it's kind of my thing. I promise I'm a really good superhero."

"Also, you'e got to stop saying Imperial Forces, man, any kid who grew up on Star Wars is gonna think you're the bad guys."

Phil Coulson has posed:
Phil considers. "That is going to be... difficult. With so many groups tieing for that same thing, while I don't underestimate her I just mean it will create waves" if someone new moves in and start to turn people under her control. He considers, and will put a note to check the more secret forms of survaliance they had out there, and check for things so if she tries to hit a populated area they will know about it, and not just America. He looks at Johnny, "Do not take his words lightly, she thinks it is her destined right to be the leader... They will do anything in their power if you underestimate that they will supriise you." he then looks at Michael. "Dangerous, well supported, experienced. and coming here. Please continue." and smiles as he too interupted.

Michael Erickson has posed:
    Johnny gets a bit of a smirk. "Better to think Star Trek," Michael tells the other man before looking out around the rest. "We have any Trekkies in this crowd? Because my people are essentially the Romulans, but much more openly militant like your Roman Empire at the height of its glory. Conquering a galaxy makes you arrogant and mean-spirited, nevermind being descended from raptor birds. So here we are." A nod to Johnny. "The unpleasant guys, if not always the bad ones.

    "The Prodigal - which is essentially an equivalent translation of the /polite/ sobriquet given to Neramani in my people's language - has exhibited a number of methodologies in creating her operative cells. As the Empire is a militaristic, conquering force, this means that there are any number of unhappy people in the empire at any given time. Rebellions happen. They get put down. Militarily, if not by some work of statesmanship or assassination. More and more, we track down the Deathbird as the source or at least inspiration for these uprisings."

    That said, Michael clears his throat. "As someone who has turned against the Empire, one might think that I would support this individual - however, I need to express that this individual is not only murderous, she is angry. Anger has turned into madness over time, and now she does horrible things to whomever stands in her way, be they a combatant or civilian. If you do not bend the knee, your legs are removed. I have personally witnessed a number of her crimes."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
That's something that Natasha can understand - after all, even without the Red Room, everyone who grew up in the Soviet era knew the games of the Polituboro. And over the centuries, amongst the Tsarist dynasties and everyone jockeying for power and influence, and constantly backstabbing one another and slaughtering the serfs or blaming them for troubles.
    She turns to Michael to listen and go to frown over. "So she's not only a traitor she's good a tit and has a base of support. Are they swayed by fanaticism or influence? Has she promised them power or are they beholden to her by duty and loyalty?"

Johnny Storm has posed:
Johnny Storm fingerguns at Phil, "Look, man, there's plenty of people being serious and professional. Don't worry, when the chips are down, you can count on me," he says with a wink.

He nods at what Natasha says, looking back to Michael, "I get it, man. Just cause you both quit the team doesn't mean you quit for the same reasons. In her case, the reason is that she's a stone cold psycho. Seemes like the best way to find her woudl be to figure out how she's communicating with her minions. Little m. The little yellow Minions from the movies aren't real."

As far as you know. See Fantastic Four issue 3450, True Believers!

Phil Coulson has posed:
Phil listens for now, and nods to Nat, if the person who worked with her is saying all this it must be bad as the people who saw the most are the ones we depend on. He turns to look at Michael, "How much time?" he asks wondering how long they had as there were many other questions as he glanced at Johnny with a sigh saying nothing but then turning back to look at Nat, "While I worry about this, our planet can not become the battlezone for some rebellion, and empire. Not to mention whatever this lady is going to bring with her, it might be difficult to do quietly." hoping that since it was a rebellion maybe she would step lightly at first overestimating the humans.

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "That," Michael says with a look turned to Phil, "Is the million-unit question, Agent Coulson. I cannot say for certain. To be honest, I'm worried more about the Brood. These creatures exist for one reason, and one reason only: to breed and consume. I'd compare them to locusts but they're actually intelligent - and they delight in the agony they cause by implanting living beings with their young. Like children who tear the wings off of flies before eating them."

    Michael shuffles a couple of papers on the lectern and sets them aside. "This planet is going to be a battlefield regardless of what it wants, I'm afraid - now that it has come into galactic prominence as a cradle of immense metabiological power thanks to the superhumans and other beings that live on this planet and protect it as their home, it is the equivalent of a tiny independent country with an American-scaled nuclear program. It will always be, to some degree, a threat. And, for those who do not consider it a threat, it is a backwater upon which their plots and plans can be carried out." He takes a deep, tired breath, but his eyes are hard as he looks across the room. "This is going to be the new normal. The enemy will never only be from terrestrial sources anymore."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would nod at Michael, "WE don't know how well they've managed to infest hte local biosphere." That's something they'll need to determine in the field and through patrols. And through the messiness that will be engaging them over in close quarters to thin them out.. Or get samples. Brood at close quarters are dangerous.
    "They have so far been observed to infect and subvert a large number of the local fauna."
    Because huge dinosaurs infected with alien parasites are a requirement.

Johnny Storm has posed:
Johnny Storm nods, "We always knew the Spaceport would invite a certain degree of off-world negative attention. There will always be those who attack anything resembling progress or unity or peace. Which is why we peacefully kick the asses of those who try to stop it."

"I agree tha the Brood are the bigger immediate threat. They're the equivalent of a serious biological infection to the planet. Deathbird's the suspicious mole we have to get removed after we've dealt with the infection."

Phil Coulson has posed:
Phil nods, and thinks about it. "The Brood are a threat level I might need to talk to some higher ups." he admits as he understood their threat, and it was the same as any invasive species on a new enviroment... Real bad this was at human level. "But Nat if they can.. we might we might have a Chrono left... If they get a hold of an area it is the only way to be sure." he knew that was on the higher end of things, but if they made a nest their options got really limited really quickly. "Even without this whole rebellion thing they are one thing we need to keep clear."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "The rebellion can wait, in my opinion," Michael affirms. "And I suggest that we immediately begin collecting specimens of these amalgamate creatures to turn over to the science division. In any case...that is what we know at the moment. They may serve as a distraction brought here by the Prodigal in her political games, too; I said as much in the briefing at the spaceport, where I suggested that a Brood infestation brought on a planet without sufficient percieved ability to combat it might cause the planet's biosterilization by outside powers just to keep the surrounding sectors clear."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would glance at Michael, "You mean that the Imperial Guard decides even with the number of this planet's meta-being population that Earth is too high a risk of infestation and no matter the cost to go for a planetary sterilization?" By which she means 'glassing it'.
    She would nod at Phil, "Good idea. Bring it up with the Commander."

Johnny Storm has posed:
Johnny Storm nods to Natasha, "Can you blame them? Think about some fo the beings we have on Earth. Superman. Captain Marvel. The Hulk. Yeah, a lot of them could fight off a Brood, but imagine if one of them got infected, became some sort of hybrid? Worse, could spawn others like them, passing that power on? I mean, I don't know how the Brood's weird...breeding thing works, but I'm sure that it's both disgusting and effective. They're already massively dangerous without adding Uber-Brood to the mix."

Phil Coulson has posed:
Phil smiles, and raises a hand. "No Agent Erickson this is shield.. We are good at multi-tasking." he looks at Nat, "Continue following up the brood.. I will try to get a hold of him." he says with a sigh. It was always a pain, in a submarine somewhere, or hanging from a cliff as he was sping on some base. Never just go to his office, but Phil knew some dead drops he might be able to cotact him. He looks at Nat, "I am going to get people to start looking for signs of this rebellion, but my guess is they are together. Two different alien species doesn't just drop in at the same time. While your hunting them I will be watching for them trying to spread their influence either through tech, people, or even brood." he looks at Michael. "If there is any tech for anti-brood that you haven't shared now is the time. If we can keep them isolated, and wipe them out we stand a chance, but once they get out.... that is when we need to start thinking of plan B."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "The Shi'ar is only one power in the universe," Michael points out to Natasha. "The Kree might decide such a thing, or another power. The Badoon might do it just to salvage the remainders." He shakes his head. "In any case. One planet, even one such as this, is very unlikely to be gone to war over to protect its population."

    That said, he nods to Phil. "I don't have anything that is specifically useful against them or I'd already have shared it. The Empire scours planets clean of Brood infestation, even if it means scouring the rest." Exterminatus, thou art not simple just a game concept. "I will speak with the Xaviers, and other contacts that I have. I must stress that hard, potentially nuclear options might be required to roust these creatures before they form too much of a threat."

    So there's that. Nuke them all from orbit. It's the only way to be sure. "Briefing ends. I'll take any other questions, but otherwise you're dismissed."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would nod at Phil, "We need as many options and contingencies as we can, Agent Coulson. The moer we have on hand to deal with things, the better. Excellent thinking." She would nod to Johnny, "YOur own powers would be extremely effective agaisnt the Brood, particularly if they come in numbers. If you're available I wouldn't mind you being present for field missions, if only to give air support and help saturate the area." Even if they couldn't nuke everything, they could still incinerate it to ashes.

Johnny Storm has posed:
Johnny Storm :slaps his hands down on his knees, "Well, that all sounds...okay, it sounds really awful, but we'll handle it. We always do. Hell of a briefing, Mike. So...does this place have a taco truck?"

Phil Coulson has posed:
Phil looks at nad and frowns. "I can't go, I have too much knowledge if they were to get to me too much would be compermised. But when you find them." he puts a pair of keys in her hand. "Do not use it for anything else, but when the mission starts look in the trunk." and he smiles to her. He gives her the keys to Lola, and clearifies. "Only for this.. and bring her back." He would have to deal without her for a little bit, but would do alright as occastionaly he did take other vehicles.

"Agent Erickson, very informative, and I will be in contact to compaire events with you when they arrive so I hope I can count on your expertise again?" he smiles, and holds out a hand for shaking. "I believe we can save her with all the resouces we have. Let us not let a some lady crazy with power delusions take it away from us right?"

Finally turning to Johnny, "Also thank you, I know you are busy. To be honest with what you do, perhaps you would of made a good agent."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    With people departing and some looking more than a little spooked, Michael nods. "Alas, I am usually the bearer of shitty news. You get used to it." A faint, rueful smile is given Johnny. "Hit the food court and tell Gabriella at Oacaxan Fresh that I said to give you the home special. You can't go wrong." It's the least he can do, that Mike, given he just laid a grim bloody tiding down on people.

    A nod to the rest, then, and he makes to take his leave. "Good evening, then."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would nod over at the rest, "Come on Agents, we have work to do. Review matters, and get back to Agent Erickson if you have further questions. You all may not end up being deployed to the Savage Land, but we can expect to be on call. Dismissed."