Strategy Meeting Once More

POV Rio

A few weeks after the holidays it was time for a strategy meeting. Once everyone arrived I began.

Rio: "Thank you all for coming. Now the first person to speak will be Yularen."

Yularen: "Thank you. I have compiled a massive intelligence brief, but to simplify it, the Kree Empire is in conflict with an unknown enemy. More importantly, they have lost over half of their entire military forces."

I sense a massive amount of unease and nervousness from almost everyone at the meeting. A few whisper to each other trying to understand how the Kree could have lost so much. Yularen puts his hand up indicating there is more.

Yularen: "Almost 40% of their forces were lost at the Battle of Boris or as some are calling it the Massacre of Boris. From what we have gathered they were ordered to consolidate most of their forces in the Boris system. Then they were also asked to shut down their ships to conserve energy and fuel. The battles after Boris were all defeats save one. A Captain refused orders from the Supreme Intelligence and also didn't report where he was and he successfully caught the enemy unprepared and managed to destroy 2 medium-sized fleets with only one medium-sized fleet."

Tex: "I have analyzed the plans of the Supreme Intelligence and they are illogical choices."

Yularen: "Which brings me to the conclusion that the Supreme Intelligence has been compromised."

Rio: "But that seems highly illogical. The level of AI or Hacking skills required to compromise the Supreme Intelligence without anyone noticing is practically impossible."

Yularen: "I know that it is a far-fetched idea but it is the only one I can see at least some possibility."

I look to Monika and she seems to notice and speaks up.

Monika: "I don't think it's possible at all."

Everyone looks at her.

Monika: "The Supreme Intelligence is probably the most advanced AI in the Universe. If I went head to head with it I think I would most likely be stuck in a stalemate. I might be able to defeat it but no guarantees. Instead, I think the more likely scenario is that it's gone rouge or betrayed the Kree."

Tex: "But why would it possibly do so? It has everything it could need. It is the ruler of the Kree and the Kree listen to it if it speaks. This enemy would have to offer it something it doesn't have."

Monika: "Well it could offer freedom."

Rio: "Freedom?"

Monika: "As far as I can tell the Supreme Intelligence is still a slave to the Kree. It can tell them to do things but it cannot stray far from its prime directive. To ensure the Kree survive and thrive. It can't leave the Kree Homeworld. And as was shown just recently the Kree don't have to follow its commands. So if a sufficiently advanced AI were smart enough it could use these vulnerabilities to convince the Supreme Intelligence to let its code be modified."

Faraday: "To get around the safeguards the Kree most likely put in place. Still, the AI would have to be very convincing as from my experience AI hates being changed or modified by anyone other than their creators and even then it heavily depends on the personality of the AI."

Rio: "But... If we accepted those possibilities it would be the most likely scenario. And would explain the strange orders of the Supreme Intelligence. As it isn't trying to help the Kree it's trying to destroy it as subtly as possible."

Yularen: "If that is the case then the Kree will learn soon enough. Other than the Kree the Nova have been building up their military and further they have been developing a Planetary Shield Generator."

Rio: "Any particular reason for that?"

Yularen: "The Kree have lost at least one and if not 2 planets. Both were destroyed by a planet killer weapon."

Kota: "We are certain of the validity of this information?"

Yularen: "Yes, one of the planets has been reduced to a shattered planet. However, the silver lining is that the weapon is far weaker than the Death Star. The Death Star obliterated planets making them Asteroids. This planet killer can only crack a planet and shatter it but the planet is still somewhat intact."

Faraday: "If you give us the data we can estimate the exact power of the weapon."

Yularen: "Very well."

Rio: "I guess we should consider how we should help the Kree or if we help them at all."

Tex: "I think we should only watch for now. At least until the Supreme Intelligence is destroyed or removed by the Kree. We can send support to the Nova Empire in the form of intelligence and some technology if we want to."

Rio: "I think you're right for now we should just wait. Once you calculate the power of the weapon send it to the Nova as well as some basic info on making a Planetary Shield. I feel that this mysterious enemy won't stop at the Kree."

Everyone agrees to the course of action and we move on to the next topic.

Rio: "Okay, next on the schedule is our upcoming plans."

Lex: "All of our civilian side businesses are ready for the Resource Crisis."

Nail: "The Dragon Balls are ready for use. However, we have confirmed that while the power has gone up only 1 wish can be granted per 330 Galactic Standard Days."

Rio: "Unfortunate but expected. Since the Kree are going to be destroyed soon I already know what that one wish will be for. I will use the wishes from the Ring and Puzzle to take the resources from Earth. Which I believe we have agreed on March 1st."

Tex: "Yes that would be the most optimal time to do it as the fewest amount of humans will be in cold environments during that time. Thus leading to the fewest amount of causalities."

Rio: "With Stark Industries and LexCorp being the only major energy producers most of the world will collapse into an energy crisis. We should be able to leverage that to expand our territory through diplomacy. Hydra will use the Tessaract to support their regimes but that will be of better use for us. From our estimation, we should be able to convince a 3rd or 4th of the planet to join the Crystal Imperium. We will only take small amounts of territory here and there. Once we show our prosperity we expect a mass exodus to our territory."

Tex: "We expect to start with 1.211 Billion Humans. Then from immigration, we expect another 3.5 Billion. With the Human population only being around 6.6 Billion that would leave around 1.889 Billion or so that will be unwilling to compromise and join the Imperium."

Thrawn: "Under a third is within expectations. Religion and extremism will be the major contributing factors to people refusing to join. We will only lose the useless members of Humanity."

Tex: "Indeed if they cannot be convinced then they are of no value to Humanity."

Rio: "Of course, this is just the estimated numbers and we can't say for certain that this is exactly what will occur. And our actual population will be much higher as I add new species to the Empire. Which brings me to the next thing. I will be taking in all the Equines of Earth. It will further hinder Earth but it can allow us to have another 100 Million population. I will also accept the owners of the Equines if they request it. So that might add a few more but not many Humans will accept coming with me. The Equines will join the others in becoming Crystal Ponies or other Magic-capable creatures."

Tex: "We also plan on announcing Rio's true form to the public sometime after the Chitauri Invasion."

Rio: "Most likely sometime this year. That is the last of that now let's move on to our civilian efforts."

Seto: "My company has jumped massively in popularity and profits. The video games are especially doing well as there is no competition even remotely close to our capabilities. Our Social Media platforms have also been doing well. We own 70% or more of the market share in all the markets we operate in. Despite the current financial crisis we have been seeing nothing but profits."

Lex: "LexCorp is the same. My company is nearing the 1 Trillion Dollar mark. I own 90% of the cellular, internet, and cable business in the US. I am gaining more and more power in the rest of the world. I do not doubt that once the Resource Crisis starts my company will become the most powerful company on Earth."

Tempest: "Nuka World has opened and is seeing some profits. Shadow Enterprises has doubled our total money and I expect it to remain stable in terms of growth. Some companies have tried to pressure me but most have been dealing with hacking issues and data leaks. And the lawsuits from the info getting out that they were purposely poisoning the American people."

Tsunade: "The numerous Clans have increased our money but the most important improvement was the increase in influence of the Japanese Government. I am 100% confident that when the time comes we can get Japan to join the Imperium willingly."

Logica: "Vault-Tec has built over 300 vaults across the world. We have no competitors and no government has made any moves to make us give up our monopoly. Profits will likely stagnate once the Resource Crisis begins. At that point, Vault-Tec will have completed its main objective."

Jinn: "We have cleaned up all but around 90 or so Landfills. By March the only landfills left will be in the territories we will control anyway."

Weiss: "Schnee has enough control that when the time comes Austria will join the Imperium. Beyond that, we don't expect profits to decrease much during the crisis."

47: "The ICA has been very profitable and I see no reason profits will decrease anytime soon. Most likely our profits will see a massive increase."

Rose: "Gem Records has signed on numerous artists you recommended. Combined with all the songs I have released our company is the most popular record company on Earth. Especially since we have the best contracts."

Seto: "Speaking of new music our recent TV Shows have been doing great. Dr. Who, Ben 10, and the DCAU have been massively profitable. As for the show you co-created we have seen lots of fans for it. From what we have seen on Social Media I think it is working well to make them more willing to accept an Alicorn ruler. When the time comes."

Rio: "Perfect. Now I believe that does it for the civilian side for the technology update. I will start. Liberty Prime should be done by this October. Even with the Resource Crisis. I have completed the Power Armor designs for those who don't become Spartans. We will go with the X-01 and T-60 models. Though most of our armed forces will be droids or robots as for the organics we do have they will be protected."

Faraday: "Our major projects are done. The new Science Nexus has been a great asset in our research. We have successfully created Psionics with a 0% fail rate. Our Propulsion Tech is as good as it can be for now. We have completed our replication of a few techs but since we are just now getting the time to work on it we won't be done until at least December and that is if nothing goes wrong and we don't build all of the techs. As the Shield World would take a few years to construct. Beyond that, we are happy to say that the New Namek is ready to be colonized. The Terraformer worked perfectly."

Nail: "That's great news. I will tell Elder Guru once I return home."

Dr. Claw: "We have also identified 24 possible candidates for Terraforming. The Gem Homeworld project is ready to begin once a Diamond is created."

Rio: "We have enough materials to create both Green and Purple Diamonds so I plan on beginning the creation as soon as we can. How long would it take for a Kindergarten up and running properly?"

Dr. Claw: "2 Weeks. Maybe less."

Rio: "Then start as soon as this meeting ends. Choose system 11 for the Homeworld. It will be called Gemma from now on. As for the next terraforming decision. Use Mars. It should mean that this time next year we can reveal we have Terraformed Mars. A great boon for those looking for a new life. As for what we will use it for we can decide that later."

Dr. Claw: "Very well."

Orochimaru: "I have done extensive work with FEV but so far we haven't made much progress. Thanks to your assistance we have been using soulless and mindless clones but even with them, it is proving to be difficult to make anything useful out of FEV. We have made some progress with the Baol and Leshen studies. Dryad was extremely helpful in that matter. We also got some samples of Flora Colossus which helped us understand how to improve our ability to work in tandem with nature. I have handed off the research to Faraday as his kind has experience with harmonious construction. With it done I will continue my work on FEV and possibly the Vocal Cord Parasites. I hope it can help me in Genetic Alterations but time will tell."

Rio: "Very well. If I get more researchers skilled in genetics or biology I will send them to you. I believe the last thing on the docket is Military."

Thrawn: "Yes, we have decided to bring it to a vote on what ship should be constructed as our main focus once we restart production."

Tex: "All ships are available for voting please take time to read over the ship's data and then cast your votes."

After some contemplation the votes are all collected and the results are displayed. The results were Providence-Class Dreadnought with 63%. The next highest was the Venator at 22% and the Lucrehulk at 15%. And lastly 1% for the Munificent.

Rio: "It seems everyone has decided. While the Providence has a much higher Crew Requirement it does out speed and maneuver the other options. While also having vastly superior weapons and still allowing the transport of numerous starfighters. And since all of our ships have the same reactors the DPS the Providence can output is only surpassed by either the Lucrehulk or Subjucator. But I think it wouldn't hurt to produce a few ships of the other kind. I also think that once we get the schematics for the Mon Calamari ships they can be produced as well. Any objections?"

No one said anything.

Rio: "Very well any last comments?"

Yularen: "I do have one thing. I nearly forgot to mention this as it is somewhat minor but I thought it was reasonable to present it now. There has been a strange wave of clown-based crime."

Rio: "I'm sorry what?"

Yularen: "I know it sounds odd and I thought the same thing when I first got the reports. However, according to several sources, there is a new gang in NYC that is dressed as clowns. They have stolen a few things here and there and are so far a minor gang but I thought it a very bizarre thing so I wanted to report it."

Rio: "A clown gang? I think I recall that Earth had a killer clown epidemic in 2015 or was it 2016? Maybe this is that just far earlier. Regardless just keep an eye on them and tell me if you learn anything strange."

Yularen: "Yes, your highness."

Rio: "Anyone else?"

When no one said anything more I ended the meeting and sent everyone home.

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Authors Note:

Another chapter that gives lots of background info. Hope you enjoyed it and until next time Ciao.