[12th November 2010]

[Mount Justice, Happy Harbour, Rhode Island]

'Well the cake is still fresh. Huzzah!' I noted eagerly eating a slice and picking from the other bits of food that we'd left several hours ago to go off fight the ice-fortresses of doom. All the leftover sandwiches, cake, and other cold snacks were rather welcome to an empty stomach after all the exertion of the past few hours. That and the irritation at the fact we'd completely failed capture, or kill even, whoever had been operating the five flying ice-cruisers. Even with the three the military had managed to destroy or severely damage, mostly with Tomahawks or some JADMs from fighter-bombers, had seen their operators flee by means unknown...

"Wait, so Kid Flash outsmarted Count Vertigo? Wow, did not see that coming!" Robin stated in amused surprise, as to his side, the aforementioned Kid Flash played the security footage on the screen and puffed out his chest in pride. Then blinked and gave Robin an annoyed look. Maybe I shouldn't have healed up his wounds?...because he was really playing up the hero thing since Doctor Fate portaled him back home. Really they could have done that from the start, but that wouldn't have lured out Vandal Savage or Count Vertigo of course.

"Hey! Dude! A little more respect here for the Hero of Vlatava!"

I blinked "Wow, and you got a sword too as well...hmmm...Wallace, it seems for your birthday you got a personal quest-line and won the affections of the Queen of an absolute monarchy. Congratulations Oh Mighty Hero of the Realm!" I paused and brought my hand up to scratch my chin to thought "...also, are you Sir Wallace now, or Sir Kid Flash since she's given you a sword and apparently just knighted you...either that, or declared you as an acceptable potential suitor. I'm not really up on Vlatavan customs"

"Dude she's like...ten!" he protested back waving the National Heirloom of the Royal Family hand around the blade's sheath as a few of the others snickered, and Kaldur seemed to pause in thought at my words. Yes, I doubted that was the case...maybe...but I was tired, hungry, and had lots of paperwork to return to so might as well amuse myself messing with my teammate.

"So? She's like royalty, and they often get married in name only as children and don't even see each other till their adults sometimes..." I motioned at him, then at the sword, and finally at the frozen image of the young queen giving Kid Flash's back puppy dog eyes.

"...and he just literally brought her a heart to save her life while running through the icy depth of winter to do so, defeating powerful foes to arrive just in time. And then, through cunning and wits, tricked the traitorous vizier in revealing his evil plans to kill her and steal her birthright. Overwhelmed by your heroism she offers the precious blade of the royal family taken from the traitor so that it can be wielded by the only one she deems worthy of it! The brave hero who has won her heart; and in the process saved her nation from the dastardly villain and a ruinous war!"

"Wow...that does sound like something from a storybook or computer game when you put it that way..." Robin admitted chuckling and patting the suddenly nervous looking Kid Flash "...good look Sir Kid Flash, Brave Knight of the Round Table! Don't worry, it's not like she's got her own army to catch you or...oh wait, sorry forget I said that!"

Ah, it seemed he was playing along I judged from his barely concealed grin. Kaldur though seemed to be taking the suggestion seriously from the look upon his brow, and the tone of his contribution "Indeed my friend, it is a deed out of Legend when looked at so, it would not be strange for even one so young to see you as a royal champion or even future consort"

"Your...just joking...right guys?"

I shrugged back at Wally's question "Eh, maybe, maybe not Though I wouldn't be taking an trips to her rather poor little country...which brings me to an actual serious concern; how in the heavens did Vlatava of all places build five flying fortresses that were covered in advanced energy weapons and having ice villains aboard. Because honestly, as cover stories go that's absolutely stupid when her nation can barely afford modern farm equipment let alone anti-grav technology and laser canons"

"Yes I tend to agree with Skulls on that..." Robin replied hopping into the seat beside Connor with a slice of pizza in his hand "...Bats was pretty tight lipped about it so the League probably think the same. Specially' since Skulls here complained about it, and wanted the government to study the fortresses as well"

"Hey I work for the government, well my nation's one anyway, and they are the legitimate legal authorities and studying the wreckage helps find out who was really behind all this. Honestly...because really? An all out attack on the United States and Canada to stop a surgery on one person? That's just...fucking stupid all around really, even for Count Vertigo. Cuz even if won it'd be declaring war on USA and NATO all after killing a little girl. Honestly he should thank what dark gods he prays too that it was Wallace here that tricked him into getting sent to Belle Reve because that was an invitation to a...regime change...in that country. Truth be told...Queen Perdita is probably going to spend the next few years under heavy guards because Vertigo probably wasn't alone in the attempt"

"Friend John is correct in that, if such an attack as this was to come upon Atlantis and supported by another nation it would be cause for much anger and even war. Truly Count Vertigo is an uncaring fiend to betray not just his kin, but his entire nation in pursuit of his own ambitions. For member of the nobility to sink so low, it is sad to see" Aqualad replied with a sad shake of his head while Artemis gave me a curious look as she brought her booted feet up to rest on the table and rest back into the couch.

"You don't really think it would have led to war do you Skulls?"

"Honestly...yeah it would if people found out. The blizzard is still going on, and the Zeta Tubes are still down so that means most regular transport is going to be down till the weather calms down and returns to normal. Lot of folk are going to get injured or even killed in the next few hours, days, till this mess gets sorted out. All from a foreign country? That's grounds for war right there...though Vlatava barely has a military so it'd be less a war than a few bombing runs and occupation with the marines unless they've more outside support"

"It's actually a bit worse than just the weather actually..." Robin agreed with a nod chewing on his pizza as Kid Flash relaxed from us no longer teasing him and we got away from repeat episodes of his saving the day as he called it "...all the crooks and crazies came out while the Justice League were away Bats told me. Like someone blew up almost half a block in Bludhaven, and another one started all these fires in a farming town outside Metropolis. And we still don't know who the Ice Villains behind this were since the ones we know could do this are still safely locked up in Belle Reve..."

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[14th November 2010]

[Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate, North Yorkshire]

I glanced up from warded laptop as the printer started to make the whirring noise as it began to print off the file I'd just sent over to it. My own small contributions to the proposed legislation that had been discussed in the various workshops of the conference the past few days; that and my report for the battle against the Ice Fortresses and other minor little issues like that. All to join the fairly serious stacks of paper now resting on the floor of the conference room because we were concerned the weight might break the table. Or at least that's what I liked to imagine anyway.

"I believe this has been a most beneficial and productive conclave do you not agree young man?" Kent Nelson said coming over to sit beside, hands resting on his walking stick as the rest of the room engaged in idle chatter in small groups. I sighed, resting back in the office chair and taking up the cup of coffee into hand.

"Hopefully had has been Mr. Nelson, though we've still two or three days left in it, if anything there seems to be more people here now than when everything started. Still I want to thank you for all the help you've given in the past few days, and Nabu's aid too of course, in the planning for a more expanded organisation and future laws to prevent abuses"

He chuckled as I took a sip of the now lukewarm coffee "Oh it is I who should be thanking you Mr. Fortune in truth; it seems I will finally get a chance to pass on the mantle and properly retire. Albeit at the expense of perhaps a few more years of active service I admit, but training so many young eager future practitioners of the arcane arts makes all of that worthwhile I believe. Nabu agrees, though perhaps that is just eagerness at once again having something akin to his old order in existence, and to encourage organised and proper study of magic for humanity. Times may have changed, but seemingly the dangers beyond the veil have not even with the removal of Klarion at long last"

"Oh you have no idea how glad I, and basically both governments...the Americans too probably...are to have you and Nabu onboard with getting everything organised and to teach students. Otherwise it ends up being me..." I gestured at Constantine and Finn chatting in the corner to one of their friends who'd rejoined the fold thanks to a salary on the table "...and the sell your soul for stupid things brigade over there. Sigh. Though I think I'm being included in that category to some folks"

"Heh, perhaps you are, but then so would myself on that logic with Nabu. Power and Knowledge but losing control of my body, while you appear to have only sought the Knowledge from your patron. Nabu finds that an odd choice, but I can understand the benefits of such an agreement..." the old man grinned "...and truly a better deal than trading ones soul for quality wine"

I sighed "Yeah, and him and Constantine are trying to dodge that deal in whatever way they can. Probably why we've had to put in dozens of pages full of legal articles dealing with idiots making demonic pacts, and how to deal with them...well, and tax them too if need be. Because there's always someone looking to try and sign a contract and catch everyone else in the crossfire; the budget for hiring solicitors and barristers is going to be rather large I'm told"

"Oh that shall be a joy I imagine; Demonic Contract Law" Mr. Nelson chuckled in agreement "...but it's a necessity to educate practitioners on such things, as it's not just demons but the infernals of other planes, and those whose morality are just totally different to those of humanity. Having a Host to commune with is needed for a Lord of Order for preventing...overzealousness from those of that Plane upon this one"

"Don't I know it, ya count on Constantine to teach that decently enough. He's decent enough for advice on dealing with them..." I shrugged at Nelson disbelieving look "...hey, he doesn't follow his own damned advice, but he does actually know it's a bad idea..."

Amanda Waller and two of the US delegates had re-entered the room, talked to my own government's delegation and I trailed off as one of them came over to me and whispered in my ear "Lex Luthor has contacted the US Government; we may have another Omega Protocol Contingency on our hands"

"What?" I hissed out sitting up straight, spilling a little bit of my coffee as I moved, others around the room were starting to move swiftly and talk excitedly as well "Which one?"

"It's believed to be the Puppeteer Scenario, the Justice League need to be informed about..."

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