video | 003

[ura_no_ura]

[Video]

[ When the video first goes on, the screen is covered by a glove-covered hand, but after a slight shaky moment as it's set down on some sort of ledge, the hand retreats, revealing Kakashi standing outside. A few trees, still droopy with melting snow, can be seen in the background. Those familiar with the terrain might recognize it to be near Flame Building. ]

Hello, Luceti.

[ Kakashi dips his head in greeting, since he's addressing all of Luceti. ]

My name is Hatake Kakashi. Some of you may be familiar with me. For those of you who aren't, I'm a shinobi from a village called Konohagakure -- or Konoha for short -- in a country called "Fire Country." I am also the Commander of the Third Division, which is primarily a short-to-mid-range combat division, of the Allied Shinobi Forces. Many of you may be acquainted with or might recognize my comrades, amongst whom include Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, and Rock Lee. [ The names Kakashi lists aren't at random, but selected based on his observations of how recognizable those names would be. ]

The reason why I reach out to all of you today is simple. While things in Luceti currently are peaceful, and it appears we have nothing to worry about, the ever-present threat of the Malnosso and the Third Party remains. Kidnappings still occur, with seemingly no conceivable way to stop or fight them. Should there be an attack on the enclosure, at present, there is no organized force that can fight in concert to protect the enclosure and ensure the safety of civilians who might not be able to fight back. While some of us may be used to working together due to missions and drafts, as far as I am aware, no formal training or maneuvers are ever held to ensure all parties working together are using the best tactics and strategy. And from what I know, there are no formal safety measures in place to protect civilians or evacuate them to safer ground should a fight break out, as it did a few months ago.

On behalf of Konohagakure and Fire Country, by order of Namikaze Minato, the Yondaime Hokage-sama, I would like to formally extend an invitation to anyone who has military training, unique or magical powers, or immense skill in battle strategy, espionage and intelligence-gathering, field medicine, hacking, or other specialized skills to join us in forming an alliance. This alliance would not only give those of us from different worlds a chance to meet and discuss our shared interests in protecting Luceti's inhabitants, but would also give us the opportunity to learn and adapt how to fight with and against those with different training or powers. By conducting shared training sessions, maneuvers, disaster simulations, and taking missions together, we can share resources and power, as well as develop strategy.

As for who's in charge... seeing as we're all from different worlds, it would make much more sense for us to establish a council of leaders from different worlds. We invite leaders from other worlds who might have similar shared interests to contact us, and open a line of dialogue.

We look forward to hearing from you all.

[ Speech finished, Kakashi bows to the camera again, then reaches out and turns off the feed. ]


[Action | Flame Building | Afternoon ]

[ Yup, that sure is Kakashi walking vertically up the side of a wall. Just strolling along like it's no big deal. ]


[ Text | Filtered 100% to fellow ninja, written in extremely formal language ]

By order of Yondaime Hokage-sama, the Konohagakure Jounin Exams will soon be held for all qualified Chuunin. If you are interested in participating, a sign-up form has been placed on the door of Yondaime-sama's place of residence. Direct any questions you might have to Hatake Kakashi.

[ Text | Filtered 100% to Shikamaru ]

Shikamaru, I've nominated you for jounin promotion to Yondaime. Though we've decided to hold jounin exams, I've requested a special exception for you. However, if you would like to take the exams in the interest of fairness, you are still welcome to do so. - Kakashi

[ Text | Filtered 100% to Naruto ]

Naruto, I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for jounin promotion. However, because you are still genin, it will be necessary for you to take the exam. - Kakashi

[ Text | Filtered 100% to Sakura ]

Sakura, I've nominated you for jounin promotion. Usually, this means immediate promotion, but because your peers don't have anyone to nominate them, we've decided to hold exams this year. Let me know if you would like to compete in them. - Kakashi

KONOHA JOUNIN EXAMS	LUCETI ALLIANCE DISCUSSION		ACTION
Kushina & Lee Kushina & Kakashi Kushina & Ino Kushina & Minato Temari Sakura Sasuke Lee Neji Naruto Ino Mikoto Shikamaru	Aang Adela Billy Bones Deadpool Eleytheria Elizabeth Gai Ginia Ikki Iroh Jean Johanna Karla Kirk	Law Loki Luke Masaomi Minato Peggy Riku Rogue Saleh Saori Steve Teddy Thor Vegeta Yuffie	Erwin Lea Sasame Trunks

((ooc: Since this is a call for discussion, feel free to thread-jack and hold your own conversations throughout the post. Kakashi will try his best to answer all comments. Also, feel free to comment on this post even it's super late. As long as we're within the 3 month bracket, we're cool!))

Comments

[Video]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke bows in kind, and pulls back the hood on his black robes of office. This feels like something he should speak officially for, for the Skywalker Family at least.]

Good afternoon, Commander.

My name is Luke Skywalker, Grandmaster of the Jedi Order and General in the New Republic Armed Forces, and I don't believe we've met before. Naturally, I'd like to support such a movement, for the safety of the village and it's inhabitants. I'd like to meet with you when you have time to discuss this proposed alliance.

[In other words, not over the network.]

Would you be amenable to such?

[Video]

[ura_no_ura]

Afternoon, Grandmaster.

[ It had taken Kakashi a moment or two to decide what to call him, as this man -- Luke -- seems to have a very long title. Or set of titles. He opted to go with the first, as that was what came sequentially. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you over the network. I would be amenable to meeting, and have some time this evening to meet, if you are available.

[Video]

[thefinaljedi]

[It's several titles, and more than a decade of war. He's really not all that formal most of the time, but this felt like one of those times where he couldn't be quite as cavalier as his brother-in-law.]

That would be fine. Shall we say in front of Good Spirits around seven? I'd rather not talk about these things in any building the Malnosso built, or anywhere near journals.

[Video]

[ura_no_ura]

Understood. Can we make it 6PM?

[Video]

[thefinaljedi]

Certainly. That's no trouble at all.

video | action

[ura_no_ura]

See you there.

[ Kakashi sends the message, then closes his journal.

A few hours later, about ten minutes after the determined meeting time, Kakashi strolls up to Good Spirits. ]

| action

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke's waiting there, dressed a bit less formally, in a lighter colored robe with his utility belt and Artoo by his side. Luke nods in his general direction and walks over.]

Good evening. I apologize for the need to meet personally, but to be honest the network is a terrible place to talk about anything of worth.

[ura_no_ura]

No need to apologize. I'm aware the network is monitored by the Malnosso.

[ Kakashi says, and he wouldn't be surprised if Luke finds that a bit surprising, given the fact that he made such an audacious post. ]

It's good to meet you in person, by the way, Grandmaster.

[ And here he bows his head slightly in greeting. ]

[thefinaljedi]

Just Luke, if you don't mind. I'm not fond of titles, if that's alright with you.

[He extends his right hand, which an astute observer would note was gloved and slightly larger than it should be.]

Also, I hope you don't mind. This is R2-D2, my astromech droid. He's been a little strange lately, has been for a couple of weeks, and he doesn't like being alone.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi glances down at the "astromech droid." Which is apparently a living... thing? Pet? Kakashi's not sure what it is, but when he first saw it (him)? he though that he (it?) was some sort of garbage disposal or something along those lines, with his round body and domed... head.

Interesting. ]

I've never met an... astromech droid before.

[ Kakashi says after a moment, glancing down at the droid, then back up to Luke. ]

[thefinaljedi]

[R2 beeps and whistles cheerily, his eyelight blinking.]

I'd expect not. I'm familiar with your world, through Chouji and Shikamaru, and I'm given to understand that it's nowhere near as technologically advanced as mine. Artoo is a navigation and technical specialist, as well as a personal secretary, in a sense. I'd like for him to record what we talk about, for my compatriots, if that's alright.

[Yes, Luke is that careful.]

[ura_no_ura]

[ A pseudo-living object that can record like a machine. Kakashi looks down at Artoo, then back up at Luke, and nods his assent. He doesn't see any harm in their conversation being recorded -- so long as it doesn't end up in the wrong hands.

But somehow, he has a feeling Luke isn't the kind of man that would let that happen. ]

Mm, I don't see anything wrong with that.

[ He's glad to hear that Luke is familiar with Kakashi's world, though. That makes the task of having to explain things unnecessary. ]

[thefinaljedi]

[Artoo is as close as family to him, and any of the Skywalkers would fight to the death to protect the little droid. Artoo beeps and whistles again and clicks on a holorecorder.]

Good. Then let's head out towards the farmland. There are some things there I think you'd be interested in seeing.

[Like the weapons cache he, Daisy, Mordin, and Tony had worked on two summers ago.]

And if you don't mind, I'd like to know more about what you and the Hokage have planned? I assume that's a title, and not a name, yes? The Flame Shadow?

[Oh yes, and he's got a handle on Japanese as well, thanks to his girlfriend.]

[ura_no_ura]

Mm, I think "Shadow of Fire" would be more accurate.

[ Kakashi nods as he waits for Luke to lead him to this "farmland," a bit curious as to what those interesting things might be. ]

In my world, the title of "kage" is only bestowed to the leader of ninja villages. Since Konoha is in Fire Country, the Hokage is the title that is given. Here in Luceti, Namikaze Minato-sama is currently the acting Hokage. [ He explains all this, not because it's particularly important for what they're about to discuss, but because he'd like to share as much information about his world to make it a little easier to understand.

After all, what is the point of suggesting cultural exchange if one does not, in fact, share culture. ]

In terms of what we have planned, to be frank, we don't have anything concrete in place yet. Part of this is because we weren't sure what the response would be. I've heard from Shikamaru that others have tried something like this in the past, and for whatever reason or another, those attempts failed. Understanding why they failed while simultaneously opening dialogue to the community of Luceti so that we might be able to find a productive way to begin working together in a more... hmm... official capacity... is the goal, I think.

[ It's a vague answer, but then, what they have right now is just an idea. ]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke nods, happily absorbing the tidbits of information about the world of his friends. Chouji had been family, after all, and Shikamaru a longtime ally. When that's finished, he nods.]

Shikamaru is correct. There have been other organizations in the past. The Blue Rogues, which were founded by a man named Vyse some time ago, and were taken over by Adell and Chief Petty Officer Daisy of the UNSC when he departed. And later a Luceti chapter of the Avengers, founded by Tony Stark to act as an emergency response unit two summers ago. Stark left last fall. Another group, Brave Vesperia, acted as a sort of construction unit until they too lost their leader.

If I where to be honest with you, I would say the primary reason they've failed is that their leadership keeps vanishing. Having some sort of order of succession would be a step towards that, something established well before one departs.

Another bit of advice? I would avoid trying to call anything official. Lucetians are generally quite resistant to being given orders, even in a battlefield setting. The fighters among them are mostly not military men, but rogue heroes and renegades.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi takes all this in, and nods in understanding. Shikamaru had suggested more or less of the same, but Kakashi had thought that it was important to have more concrete relationships in place. ]

I didn't really think this would be a sort of alliance where anyone would be giving orders against anyone's will. [ In other words, you accept the order if you so wish; if not, there are other ways to work together. ] That being said, if it isn't in a more official capacity, wouldn't it be difficult to find committed parties who would truly share interests and resources?

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke nods again]

That's wise, I was just offering a bit of what I've seen. There are people here who hate organization and rules, like Loki, but who'd probably work with you. Though, resources are something we're lacking a little bit. Weapons aren't a problem, if it's small arms you're talking about. I know very few fighters who don't have a personal weapon here. And as for myself, I'm more than happy to commit some of the resources I've gathered to the cause.

[Smiling, he keeps walking and gestures ahead]

Forgive me, the walk is a bit far, maybe a mile.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi's not sure how long a mile is, as he tends to measure things by kilometers, but he assumes it can't be any further than the distance between Konoha and Suna. ]

It's fine, I'm used to long distances.

[ He continues to walk at an easy pace, following Luke without any sort of discomfort, keeping his eye on the road for the most part. Though, from time to time, he does glance at Luke, and down at Artoo.

Kind of hard not to, especially since Artoo is such a fascinating... creature. ]

In terms of resources, I've been told that going on missions can help us acquire more. If that's the case, then it stands to reason that the alliance can send teams on regular missions to not only gain favor with the Malnosso, but also bring back more resources.

[thefinaljedi]

[Much, much shorter.]

It can, yes. Though you should be careful of anything the Malnosso provide. And I imagine that after Stark's portal incident they'll be a little more cautious with anything they hand out in the way of technology. But yes, that's one way. Some of the mercenary companies that work outside the barrier operate that way, getting Malnosso resources with mission points.

I've done it myself for a few things, and I have a small bank of points I'd planned on using to improve the clinic's medical facility.

[ura_no_ura]

Well, we're limited to what we can get our hands on... But working within limitations will just have to be one of the challenges we overcome.

[ At the end of the day, what they're working towards is more important, as it not only means the safety of civilians, but perhaps even better living conditions or a way out of this place, and that's what matters. ]

[thefinaljedi]

Lack of information is another problem, but that's nothing new.

If you don't mind my asking, how many have you gotten to agree to this?

[ura_no_ura]

By my last count, around thirty, give or take.

[thefinaljedi]

Just shinobi, or others as well?

[ura_no_ura]

Shinobi make up about half, and we haven't yet begun to personally reach out to our network here in Luceti.

[thefinaljedi]

[He nods.]

A start. Though, I suppose on the subject of networks, I'd like to point out the locked network. Anyone can see the posts, save the Malnosso, even if they don't know about it. John's assured us of that...and John's survival depends on it, so it's fair to say he's on the level. Next time, please remember that, or we may find ourselves under more scrutiny.