Eidolon
"He's dying out there."
Ironwood was slumped in a dejected poise as he once again asked if anyone had a question, it was awkward, pathetic and honestly kind of pitiable, I felt a little angry, these were supposed to be professionals.
"Good, he's supposed to."
I blinked at Alexandra's statement.
"Do you think he's some kind of double agent?"
There was a pause.
"No, from what data we have collected Ironwood is a completely legit and sincere in his defection. We've confirmed that Endbringers have a core. Lyon was a major victory for us and the cost savings from his mass healings have already more then paid for the security detail we have watching him. He's going to be an asset, a big one."
"Then why this?"
"Because we need to build up an organic connection between the american people, hell humanity in general and Ironwood. Ok, what do you feel right now?"
"I'm kind of angry, this is well, really rude."
"Well everyone on the planet now knows that we're being exterminated for shits and giggles, and like it or not Ironwood was the source of that bad news. So we need to build up sympathy for him, and it has to be organic and not forced."
"And this?"
"Is a part of that, in the beginning people are going to feel elated but as it continues on it's going to get more and more painful to watch, just before people get bored and change the channel we will end the interview."
"And then?"
"Then we start bringing in civilians, desperate ones cancer kids, get them back to normal and have support build by word of mouth, and then when we have a enough of a tipping point some data will be stolen from the PRT by a hacker. Secret stuff, about Ironwood, the whole slavery thing."
"And?"
"We've calculated it out, it won't get him adolation but it should make him more palitable, we need the american people to tolerate him and honestly that's going to be an uphill battle. If we try to shill Ironwood it will backfire."
"So this continues."
"Unfortunately yes."
"We-"
"Contessa's plan says this is necessary..."
"That bad?"
"We're in for a very long and very bloody war for the survivial of the human race, Ironwood is an important asset but we can't win without broad based support. I'm sorry, but he's going to have to earn the american people's trust."
The awkward Q and A ended and Ironwood dejectively shuffled off. He sat slumped in the van as we drove back to the van.
"It could have been worse."
I blinked at his statement, the screen turned from static to a black and white smily face.
"At least they didn't boo right? Or throw the tomatos?"
I looked away.
"Give them time...it's just a lot to take in."
