CAMILLE
Hours had passed since Malt and those he could trust had performed the repair works on Camille, which wasn't as easy or trivial as well. And while she did want to immediately confront the one *directly responsible* for putting her on that previous condition, Malt did inform her that the whole act of hers on the battle reflected too badly for her on the eyes of the Merchant Nobles. Not only falling to Urgot, but also the entire debacle with the enforcers at the Bridge.
Hence, she had Malt organize a meeting with the Nobles as soon as she could, because she knew too well the consequences of remaining passive, and that was something she could not afford, not at this stage.
The meeting was set up this time on the old, ruined Council Chambers, left vacant since the bombing. Heimerdinger, as Malt also reported, was confirmed to have been out on the street, starting to make contacts with old acquaintances to organize and provide relief efforts to all those affected by the cultists' onslaught. Jayce was reported to remain on his workshop, working at late hours, no doubt to try and wear himself out to sleep, while Ambessa Medarda returned to the safe confines of her ship.
That left Camille alone to face them. Which was all for the better... and yet all for the worse, for the lack of support she'd need to talk her way out of this. She knew the outcome was more reliant on chances than certainties.
So be it.
"I wonder what excuse she'll have this time...", Erinne Torek commented, clearly impatient.
"We might've gotten *too hasty* with granting her those intervention powers.", Detros Cadwalder followed. "Too influenced by that chemical strike."
"Oh, and you think things could've been any different under Talis and Medarda?", Tyrell Morichi asked. "Did you forget that this strike and the Academy both happened on *their* watch!?"
"Easy, Tyrell.", Tartrus Holloran said. "For starters, all of this mess starting with the earthquake caught us all off-guard."
"And clearly caught Ferros even more!", Nereus Tariost retorted. "And look *how well* she handled it!"
Camille took her time, on a corner, absorbing these criticisms - except arguably for Holloran's - before she then stepped in, the sounds of the blade legs marking her entering presence before the dominant nobles of the City of Progress.
"Esteemed gentlemen.", Camille greeted, as calm and collected as she could.
"Lady Camille...", Erinne greeted, trying to force civility. "So, what's the excuse, this time?"
"There are no excuses, Lady Erinne.", Camille replied. "Excuses are a refuge of frail foundation, on fragile ground."
"Is this some sort of confession or a laughable attempt at a boast?", Erinne asked a second later, angrily. "Neither are helping your current situation!"
"Today's debacle has indeed put some serious doubts on your leadership abilities.", Tartrus said, a second later. "Not only the evident results, the fact that a *Noxian* of all people was credited for assisting with the defense!"
"That Ambessa Medarda would try and squeeze prestige out of this cataclysm was expected of her.", Camille replied.
"Yet it was only made possible by *your* faltering!", Detros replied. "In both combat and command!"
"A command that cost us far more enforcers than we can replace them, now!", Nereus followed. "Especially because of the Bridge, what was even *that*!?"
"It *was* to be an effective defensive strategy, that just happened to be upset by an unlikely event.", Camille answered. "The unfortunate evidence that the zealot Urgot and his cult had more support than first believed. If you did read the reports from the battle, you'd have noticed a particular detail concerning the Sidereal Precinct, where the notorious criminal Jinx was witnessed in the building, gunning down any personnel within indiscriminately. Couple that with the fact the explosion had an uncharacteristically purple coloring, almost akin to Shimmer, and it's not as difficult to connect the dots."
"Regardless, it was *your* command, Ferros!", Tyrell retorted. "*Your* responsibility! You assured us that everything would be under control if Article 42 was to be implemented!"
"I do not recall assuring anything in our previous reunion, Lord Morichi.", Camille replied. "I simply asked what you were prepared to do and how would you like that Piltover remembered you."
"We'll be certainly remembered for that...", Erinne noted, in sarcasm. "Even if a footnote we'll be remembered, for elevating you to center stage of this disaster!"
"Esteemed gentlemen, if I may remind you all of the initial reports in about six hours prior to the tremors and since Article 42 was implemented, you'd have noticed the immediate results that have sprung from the actions taken.", Camille said, assertively, hands behind her. "Over ninety-four detentions and eight street gangs neutralized, to not count the takedowns of known criminal elements that operated under the Chem-barons, especially those under the Scrap Hackers and the Sludgerunners. The most expressive result since the intervention powers were granted, one that was only disrupted by an element OUTSIDE of our control, which were the tremors."
"And *how exactly* can these results gloss over what just occurred!?", Tartrus asked. "And may I remind you, the answers here will very much determine your future in this intervention!"
The Warden-Marshall's loose right hand slowly formed into a fist that squeezed.
"For starters...", Camille started, glancing at each and every one of the nobles. "I never stated *any* of the past achievements would somehow manage to 'gloss over' the results of this cataclysm. But the facts had to be shown, concerning the results so demanded by this body. And now, because of a single result to the contrary, the method-"
"Single result to the contrary!?", Nereus bellowed. "Over THREE THOUSAND dead, Ferros, armed personnel above *half*! How DARE you trivialize it!"
"A result brought, I repeat, by elements *outside* of our control!", Camille raised her tone. "And now the methods that brought the positive results all this time are to be replaced for this alone? To replace the able surgeon at the operating table for a carpenter?"
"Well, this whole thing hasn't exactly renewed any faith in your abilities.", Tyrell argued. "That's not something you get to just look away from!"
"And let us not forget another detail.", Camille said. "That in spite of the losses and the invasion, Piltover *has* remained firm."
"More to Talis and Medarda's credit than yours, we fear...", Detros argued.
"But it still stood.", Camille said. "And because of this, Urgot's numbers have been thinned as much as ours, and this allows us open opportunities to retaliate."
"Retaliate?", Erinne asked, incredulous.
"Yes, retaliate.", Camille said. "Because lines of volunteers have already began to form up at the Enforcer Academy, clearly waiting for opening hours to sign in. The tragedy and Councillor Talis' declaration, in a way, had indeed galvanized Piltover into recollecting itself. So the question here should be who'd they'd be best employed by."
"And you think you'd employ them the better?", Tartrus asked. "In spite of all that's happened?"
Camille took a step forward.
"I need only say this.", she started. "If you wish to replace me, do so, I'll leave at once and return to my Estate, no resentments. Only I will wonder by then... when the next debacle occurs, and it *will, if the supposed replacement will be met with the same scrutiny and criticism which I am, at this moment. And if responsibility for this replacement will indeed be taken..."
The Merchant Nobles simply kept on glancing at her, although very subtle looks of nervousness and hesitation could've been noticed in all of them. Something that the Gray Lady could perceive, as well.
"Now, if there is nothing else to discuss...", Camille said as she then turned around to leave after a couple of seconds, leaving the Nobles to their own, which they themselves took a couple of seconds as well to break the silence.
"Unbelievable...", Detros started. "The nerve!"
"She's beginning to spiral out of control.", Erinne shook her head. "This clear stand to keep her post..."
"And she's still got a point!", Tyrell said. "We force her out and the replacement fails, we'll be painting *ourselves* as a target. For protest and mockery!"
"For as long as these two, Urgot and Jinx, are *still* at large.", Tartrus pointed. "Maybe a more *direct* method is in order..."
Eyes glanced at each other for a couple of seconds, each of them nodding.
"It'd take months, Holloran.", Nereus argued.
"You have a better idea, Nereus?", Tartrus asked.
"Well then...", Erinne started. "Assuming they are *indeed* dealt with eventually... then what?"
"What do you think?", Tartrus asked, a couple of seconds later. "Why take a chance? To not mention... Article 42 was never made to be lasting. Not without consequences..."
The nobles looked at one another as they then nodded at the suggestion, as they then turned around to leave.
And of course, many failed to note that, underneath the once majestic cog-shaped Council Table, where the then illustrious members have once sat, in particular beneath the position Cassandra Kiramman once took her seat... there was something underneath the table, tied up by the magic of duct tape, the wiring taped as well as it ran to avoid it being exposed in any way.
A wondrous device so small and yet... so noisy.
The very wonders of radio and it's transmissions...
