A/N: Sorry for the super-long absence. I've been busy with other projects, work, and a massive case of writers-block. Hopefully this'll help me get back into the swing of things. Enjoy.
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General Eddington glowered at the Misfits as they stood in his office, flanked by General Hawk. None of them had been offered a seat and were still standing at attention.
He let the silence stretch out for a solid ten minutes before he finally spoke. "Well," He said. "You've screwed up royal."
"Sir, I—" Althea's attempt to defend themselves was stopped before it ever began.
"Enough!" Eddington barked. "Spare me the excuses, I saw the reports. When confronted with Magneto and his terrorists the Sentinels were activated to apprehened them. Your team HELPED Magneto's group attack and destroy the Sentinels, letting them get away AND denying Genosha the Sentinels!"
"Those Sentinels attacked the Acolytes and US indiscriminantly!" Althea snapped. "Not to mention causing extensive destruction to everyone around them, including jeapordizing the lives of the docking crews! We didn't want to fight the Sentinels but we HAD to! And by the time the Sentinels were stopped, we were exhausted and Magneto and his lackeys had already bolted."
Eddington didn't bat an eye. "HOW, convenient." He drawled.
Althea took a deep breath. "General, with all due respect, one has to wonder at intelligence of using older-model Sentinels that were made of metal. Magneto tore them apart like they were made of kinder. Even if the Sentienel's hadn't forced us to defend ourselves, Magneto would've torn them apart anyway."
"They were what we had available." Eddington said shortly. "The military has been...developing more advanced Sentinels for deployment. The ones we were giving to the Genoshans were surplus."
Todd couldn't keep his mouth shut. "Then hey, what's the problem? Just send some of those to Genosha...no harm, no foul right?" General Eddington stared at him like something he scraped off his boots.
"...There was a malfunction with the new prototype Sentinel." He said finally. "It self-destructed, taking out the research faciliy, as well as Generals Lazar, Kincaid, Eiling, and Ross.
General Hawk look dumfounded. "You mean, they're ALL dead?"
"Don't sound so upset Hawk." Eddington sneered. "I know you must be happy."
"Happy?!"
Eddington nodded at him. "None of them like you or you them. They're policies were all diametrically opposed to yours, and with them gone...it means you have that much better a chance to rise in ranks." Hawk grew stormy.
"THAT, General, is a load of crap." Eddington waved his denial off.
"If you say so, General Hawk. However the facts remain the same: The Sentinels for Genosha are gone. The new Sentinels will not be completed soon enough. So that means," An unfriendly look lit up his eyes. "That SOMEONE has to go to Genosha to fight the mutant rebels." His gaze fell upon the Misfits.
Hawk expoloded. "No, absolutely not!"
"The mission...has already been approved, GENERAL." Eddington said. "Either your crew of Misfits goes...or they get written up on charges for desertion AND for colloborating with Magneto's crew. They're wanted terrorists and you of all people should know what happens to people accused of terrorism these days...or those accused of HELPING terrorists..."
"We'll go general." Althea said quickly, all the while fuming at Eddington's underhandedness.
"And G.I. Joe will go with them." Hawk snarled. "The Misfits won't be dropped alone into Genosha!"
Eddington kept his faced schooled to hide what he was thinking. He smiled amiably "As you wish General Hawk. I certainly won't stand in your way."
"No, I'm sure you'll be behind us." Hawk agreed, then mentally added. "Ready to stick a knife in our backs."
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