Chapter 20: The Eyes of God

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

Keitoleinen is a little shocked that Calithin and Kith may have been talking about killing him. It doesn't seem unrealistic, since Kith seemed upset with him over the treatment of Linnea, however, it is still difficult to believe that they were truly plotting against him. Calithin seems to deny it, but, it is a matter that Keitoleinen wants to explore further.

First things first though, he will answer Momo's question.

"Momo...you mistook me for a human, which I don't mind. How would you know any different? The truth of the matter is something I don't often share with people. I am, in fact, an ancient Finnish god. The last god that I know of. I am the Finnish god of destruction." Keitoleinen says of himself.

[Momo Kurokawa]

"A god? That's ridiculous." Momo replies to Keitoleinen. She refuses to believe it. There are no such things as gods, except Father Manala, who most people know is just a myth. She folds her arms over her chest and looks around the room.
"Tell me, is he really a god?" She asks the other members of the council. If someone she trusts confirms this, she will believe it, but it is too absurd to accept. Keitoleinen must take her for a fool.

[darian]

Darian nods respectfully to Master Scrag, pleased to be in the pressence of someone of his prestige. When he mentions that someone may have been there that witnessed the attack first hand, Darian did not hesitate to report as he turned his suit's cloaking off and seemingly materialized out of thin air; an act that perturbed some from the government council who was not used to seeing people just blatantly appear out of thin air.

"Pardon the intrustion... but I was among those in combat with the mechas." Darian cut in, not sorry that he did though he was simply being polite. "The attack has left several neighborhoods in ruin and a great many more severely damaged. If SOTA had not deployed it's personnel when it did, I would have run out of bullets..." Darian explained in a simple manner; not arrogant so much as simply stating a fact. The fact that he managed to take out even a single mecha meant that if it was solely up to him he would have destroyed them all.

[Max Alexander]

Max sat around the table in shock.

"So we dont know what is going on yet? My contacts inform me of mass destruction, and that is clearly visible on the screens. What are we to do?" Max drank a bit of water.

[Bonifaz Artz-Lehrer]

Bonifaz watches the news a little longer, then calls up to his sister. "Come down here and make us something to eat. We just got back." Bonifaz calls up to Frieda. He knows she is probably in the house, even if she hasn't made herself known to them.

"Yeah, that is good. I wonder if you should be there at the meeting..." Bonifaz replies to Gunther.

"I think Sota might be willing to work with us, but, we should approach a lower level employee first to feel them out. I was thinking....Genetech might be willing to work with us as well. It's a long shot, but what if instead of bombing the factories we gave the workers an illness...an illness that we have the cure to. It would help our business while preventing the production of the blimps and satellites. Why not kill two birds with one stone?"

[Ariel Tal Shachar]

"It may be difficult to believe that Keitoleinen is a god. I do not entirely accept this as well. The name god, what does that mean? All that matters is that Keitoleinen is a powerful being. The video footage is enough proof of that. He made short work of your machines." The moderator states to Momo. He won't confirm that Keitoleinen is a god, but does accept that he is powerful.
"Members of this council have expressed that they want you to pay for damages to Helsinki. I want you to call off the attack at the very least. The council will decide what is appropriate. I will state though that the tsunami that hit Japan today caused more damage in life and property lost than Momo's attack. If Momo must pay to rebuild Helsinki, I feel it is appropriate for Sota to help rebuild Japan. I don't believe that the natural disaster of such a magnitude was a mere coincidence."

[Yasmin Seyyedi]

After Yasmin finish using the bathroom and exit the room, she look trhough the windom and notice the mechas are not attacking anymore. Soon enough, she remembers which company create those types of machines.

"It was Momo then...." Yasmin mutter to herself before heading the living room.

"Hey Lucio. Can I go outside now? The mechas are not attacking anymore....."

[gunther]

Gunther sighs as Bonifaz suggests that maybe he should be at the meeting; so many politics. Generally the meetings bored him and he could not wait for the day when he would no longer have to attend these silly little gatherings. "I suppose if I must. It would not look good for the company if it was missing to many of it's representatives." Gunther replied heading for the door. "If anyone asks I will tell them that you were called for some other business and couldn't pull yourself away." Gunther says half way to the door as he nods to Archer on his way out.

Not to long after that, Gunther punches in the code for Switzerland and makes his way to the emergency meeting that he really should have been at earlier; no doubt he had missed Momo writhe in the wind... or maybe not. Either way he was sure this meeting was going to be boring as all ways as he silently made his way over to a chair with a plaque saying, "Artz Lehrer Pharmaceutical" above it. Already in their chairs were a couple of the other executives of the company. Gunther then took his seat and watched the show unfold...

[Momo Kurokawa]

Momo never considered that the volcanic eruption and the tsunami could have been caused by Keitoleinen. She thought it was only an unfortunate coincedence. She bites her bottom lip and feels like strangling someone. He did this to ...not only her, but her entire country? And she is made to be the villain.

"At most, a few hundred people died in Helsinki. At MOST, a few dozen buildings were destroyed. I have not been back to Japan, but I am told that thousands died and entire communities were washed into the sea. I am made to be the villain here?!" She asks the audience angrily.

"I am only following the ideas of Father Manala. It seemed to me that Sota was weak. I did not have all of the information. I am confident in the strength and capability of Intelligent Design and wanted to not only test that strength, but enhance it. Is THAT a sin? No, those are the very ideas that ...Manalism is supposed to be teaching." Momo says in her own defense.

"I think that the council is racist. You are against me because I...am Japanese. I wanted a base in Europe and better access to the European market. You want to keep me out. I think...you're afraid of Asians!" She accuses.

[gunther]

"In all due respect miss Momo, had you not allowed yourself to become blind by arrogance you could have made more of an effort to find out all you could about your enemy before attacking." Gunther spoke up as if he had been there the entire time. It seemed that by some freak occurence, Momo had suffered vastly more in damage then SOTA. This knowledge made Gunther giddy with excitement which was reflected in the cheshire grin on his face. Gunther wanted to add insult to injury, but knew better then to taunt Momo any further. The company's own private army while a decent size, would not be enough alone to repell a full attack by mechas.

Gunther wanted so much to twist the dagger, but knew he shouldn't. He could feel the words well up in his throat just wanting to come out; wanting to add insult to injury so badly but if he did it would surely cost the company dearly. Gunther was sure that there could be consenquences for his initial out burst.

[Annette Rosenthal]

"On behalf of the council, I would like to point out that we have done away with racism. Momo's accusations are completely unfounded. Why, the Speaker for the council is Chinese. There is no conspiracy to keep Asians out of the European market. For instance, Global Bank buys Creditors from Sota not because we have anything against Japanese products, but because out of the androids available, theirs seemed the most durable and powerful." Annette states on behalf of the council and Global Bank.

"Racism and nationalism are obsolete, so your racial pity party is unwelcome here."

[Ariel Tal Shachar]

"It is not common knowledge that Keitoleinen is not human." The Moderator says on behalf of Momo. "So, even with research into the matter, she may not have found out what she was dealing with." He adds.

"Momo was the aggressor in the situation, but, Keitoleinen's response...the tsunami, was excessive. Both parties should have to pay for damages caused to one another. Though, because Momo initiated the conflict, more responsibility should fall on her and her company."

[Momo Kurokawa]

"I will call off the attack and pay for damages caused." Momo replies. "I am willing to take personal responsibility for the failure to take over his company. It was indeed my fault for not knowing my enemy well, even if there are aspects of him that are not public knowledge."

Momo takes a moment to make a call. She orders the retreat of all machines and personnel in Helsinki and Finland as a whole. Her losses there were great. It will take some time to rebuild her company. She feels bitter, but, she sees her mistakes. She glances at Gunther, but does not show any expression. She notes his grin, and returns her gaze to the council.

"I would like to request at least some aid for disaster relief. Perhaps loans from Global Bank or help from Sota. There will be thousands homeless and thousands dead."

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

I notice that the little girl, Yasmin is here. I smile at her and am happy to see her. "You can go play. This meeting would be boring for you anyway. But be careful out there!" I tell her.

I then turn to my comrades and the other rebels. "I think that was all I had to say for my report, so we can move on to the political report. Gee though, this is the most chaotic meeting we've ever had!"

I take a seat by Kasper and Armin and wait for Malak or Armin to give the political report.

[Heikki Toivonen]

Heikki takes a moment to change his shirt when he gets back to Germany. He borrows one of Bonifaz's, which he hopes it okay. They are about the same size. He picks out a plain, black shirt and heads downstairs to watch the news with the others.

"I like the disease idea. We could give the disease to the socialists, since they will be visiting the factory workers to try to organize them. They will pass on the disease to the workers and we won't have to do much...except, I guess, infect the socialists." Heikki suggests. The idea seems a little...bad...in that, it would harm the socialists as well. But, since they are going to meet with various factory workers anyway, it seems like the easiest way to spread the disease.

"I am willing to meet with someone from Genetech to discuss the disease. Unless we have some lab samples of diseases at your dad's company, Bonifaz."