[19th February 2011]
[Mount Justice, Happy Harbour, Rhode Island, United States of America]
Teenage hormones could very irritating sometimes, most of the time, Batman found as it seemed in the period just following the Olympian attack had resulted in...relationships. Multiple ones at that it appeared as his cowled head took in the room and its inhabitants. Not exactly the best for unit cohesion, but the situation was as it was so he and the League would just have to work with that. Richard it seems was attempting to imitate his own situation since Talia had turned up with Selina in tow; despite his subtle objections, and what should be very apparent unease at dealing with the situation with both aggressively minded women. Instead here the boy was attempting to woo both Giovanni's daughter and Icon's apprentice Rocket at the same time.
"Grrrr" he growled under his breath at that future explosion...and running into Diana, smiling, and placing her hand upon his shoulder to halt his movement. Another apparent issue having arisen from his announcing his coming marriage to Selina, and then her faith in her Gods tested, had been Diana's alternating between being mad at, and being overly familiar with, him for unknown reasons. It was mild frustrating as he gave her a curious look, seeing as her apprentice had departed to awkwardly approach Mister Fortune and the dangerous trenchcoat clad form of his mentor, and between both the teenage half-demon he'd been forced to help sire thanks to his foes.
"Ah, Batman, it is good to see you as there are some matters I wish to discuss with you after this meeting...and I know your schedule has been very hectic of late"
He nodded "Of course Diana, no difficulties have arisen in relation to the peace efforts"
"Merely frustrations my friend, all is going well, but I think we might discuss matters over a meal to gather my strength once again for escorting my mother's three chosen to their new, temporary, home tomorrow"
"Two guards?"
"Indeed, Alexa is...nice, and should care adequate to the task at hand. The two others should hopefully keep each other in check as they protect her and keep her company, Mother says so at least, but I fear I must spend some time with them ensuring that they adapt to Man's World"
"Understood, we can discuss it later in more depth" he agreed with a nod considering the matter and silently noting to record all data she supplied on the three amazons, and then to gain access to psych profiles on the trio when available. Maintaining stability despite the sudden resurgence of magic and old gods was vital, and even the terms of this 'peace treaty' between the Olympian deities and various world governments and their magic based agents were dangerous. Diana was reasonable, but all indicators pointed to her people being less so; even judging by her own apprentice's significant inexperience in knowing how to deal with her future male teammates beyond sparing with Superboy of late.
'Who is still hardly the most socially experienced of people being only a few months old' he thought to himself noting Connor Kent and J'onn's niece talking together and body language expressing further closeness and a budding romance. Hnnn. Dangerous outcome there if such a relationship were too turn sour and hostilities commence between ex-partners. Richard's antics were irritating enough, or Artemis Crock and John Fortune's apparent hook up, but teenage hormones and superpowers were a dangerous mix even above impacting on team morale and effectiveness. Still, that was an area beyond his control and now was the time to get this herd of irritable hormonal cats organised in some manner he thought motioning for attention and for the youngsters to take seats or stand comfortably to listen to his instructions.
"Now, I need your attention, we have some ground to cover and I do not wish to repeat myself"
That was always the trouble with dealing with youngsters, always took longer than needed for them to assemble than it should have. Of course there were more of them than usual, and several were new, so he reminded himself allowances should be made as he stood with data-pad impatiently in hand and resisted glowering at the lot of them and their mentors. That would be unfair, especially as Giovanni and John Constantine had resisted doing so to each other with admirable, and surprising, restraint. Or for the fact Oliver and original Roy Harper were struggling through the awkwardness between them, and for the fact a healed former villain Huntress was here silently watching over her daughter Artemis like a hawk.
"As you all no doubt know, recent events have highlighted issues, ones that have been under review since the formation of the original youth team several months ago, that have required reform of the structures as originally intended. This would include of course some variation to the purpose of the Team, taking a more public profile as a result, and primarily in the expansion of the ranks of the Team, just as the Justice League itself has been forced to reorganise itself as our numbers have expanded in the face of several recent crisis and natural disasters"
He motioned with his hand to forestall questions "When we have finished detailing matters requests for further information can be fielded"
"Now, the first matter is that in the wake of the attack upon this facility..." to get at, and kill, the small cheerful girl Cassandra sitting happily beside Fortune he left unsaid to prevent unease rising in the children "...there has been a major overhaul of the Mountain's defences, from the installation of Green Lantern Corps shield generator to the creation of several layers of magical defences. I can assure everyone here, your safety is paramount to us, and the greatest efforts have been made towards that ends"
"In regards the Team's functioning, we have decided, after discussions between the various mentors, and with members with the Team the longest, that there will be three classifications for members; Active, Reserve, and Support. This has been deemed the most effective and efficient manner in which to allow all of you, and prospective future members, to juggle personal lives, training, and of course what level of fieldwork that is thought acceptable based upon those factors for yourself, or by members of the Justice League. It is also due to the fact it has become apparent to the Justice League membership that certain areas, such as coordination, communications, and non-combat related support abilities have been neglected by ourselves. Just because someone is not deploying into the field does not make their contribution any less necessary or vital than one who has..."
He gave brief nods towards various people in the room "...such as the case with the healing of Speedy's severed limb, or when the events of the Children's World Crisis required effective information and communications control. Effective coordination with local law enforcement, or the military, can be far more useful than attempting to subdue certain subjects on your own...or even merely to ensure the civilian population has been evacuated from an area should, or needs to be cordoned off..."
Within the League it had often been his role, or J'onn's, during several previous crisises but that had broken down of late with the constant demands placed upon them and his desperate efforts to stabilise Gotham post earthquake and vampire attacks. That fact that John Fortune had managed to survive the wrath of a, albeit heavily inebriated, Goddess and had managed to heal Roy Harper's arm showed the benefits of a having a healer available as well. Hiring, security vetted, trained staff could handle the first for the League in the immediate term, and investigations into potential recruits, such as one of China's new official super team, could help address the second till a more permanent solution could be arrived at through this training programme with the youth team...
--
[19th February 2011]
[Mount Justice, Happy Harbour, Rhode Island, United States of America]
I listened as Batman outlined the more structured nature of how the Team would function into the future, and made brief introductions for Maria sitting beside me, and Tula and Garth from Atlantis who would also be signing on. My new familiar was uncomfortable about the whole situation, but less than I expected and largely due to Cassie's divine nature apparently rather than the large cluster of young heroes and wannabe heroes all around us. An actual training programme to work with, wasn't that grand?
{He's a scary bollocks in'he?}
[Yeah, he is, he is Batman after all and the Arrows just know how to rub the wrong way I guess. Your Da too of course, but he's less phased by peoples angry glares. Used to them I guess] I projected back as the black cowled man gave Green Arrow a bat-glare over an ill-thought comment shared with my own dumbass mentor. Aqualad being made official Team Leader was fine by me too, though being second-in-command was hardly ideal with me being In Reserve for now, and having a busy schedule elsewhere. Oh...and being SHIELD Liaison as well; lots of fancy titles that made me do lots of work.
Kaldur at least gave a decent speech about cooperation and fellowship, and welcoming new members. Very important as Jinx looked caught between eagerness and concern, while Gemma was glad to hear her 'Support' role was perfectly fine as she had little interest in fieldwork. Really it just allowed her more time to train with me in healing necromancy and biomancy as my apprentice alongside Cassie, and now Maria to a somewhat lesser degree. Malcolm Duncan and Karen Beecher were also in the support role, alongside an actual planned Justice League staff member in Snapper Carr, but unlike my apprentice both seemed intent on becoming superheroes given time as they interacted with Kaldur. Just as the time turned around to me having to speak, pushing myself up to stand with a sigh.
"Hi guys, glad to be back and see you all first thing I'll say. Second thing I'll say is; yeah I'm alive, and a few of you have had the reason why. Long story made short is an emergency teleport keyed to when I nearly died, so sorry for not contacting as I nearly dead for a time, and then under lockdown. We can talk later on all that if anyway really wants too..." I sighed, rubbing at the back of my head "...now, as you all heard I'm second in the line of command. I'm ALSO the official liaison for SHIELD, and through then, with the Irish, UK, and US governments...so if you need anything, like request something of a magical nature or knowledge, then I'm the person to ask"
"Now, I'll say for the short term I'm largely in a Support role..." I pointed at Kid Flash as he gave me a 'what?' gesture "...because shit happens and my bosses think it's not conductive to my mental health to rush back into the firing line. Something I agree with, this is not a stress free career, and while Black Canary will handle much of this for you I do encourage you all to have an outlet for dealing with it, either an approved and security vetted psychiatrist, priest, or whatever allows to let off stream when needed"
"Unto equipment: I am also your point of contact if you want any magical gear, or equipment from outside sources that has been approved by the Justice League..." I continued pulling out my freeze ray pistol "...down to non-magical weapons such as this Freeze Pistol. Yes I am a wizard, but that does not mean I don't use tech, or other things...and I encourage everyone to do the same and have a backup of some sort. It's not my area, but for the moment the queue for gear I'm making is; my own, Rocket and Jinx's armour, and then Gemma and Maria's...so don't ask an expect stuff the next day folks, please..."
Rocket was the primary effort there after my own equipment and scrolls, after all she was letting my bosses science team, headed by Doctor 'I'm a Priestess of a Party God Now!' Roquette:- and getting even shoddy knock-offs of her belt would be a huge boon for helping keep others alive. But Jinx, since she seemed focused on the whole teaming up with Kid Flash thing, also needed armor to go into the field and enchanting whatever Batman supplied along with Zatanna came immediately after that. Lots of work to be done...
--