xp_logs | Genosha: Four Kings

Back in the US, allies and associates of the X-Men meet over Genosha, and come to some depressing conclusions.

Fred Duncan was an angry man. As the Deputy Assistant Director of Investigations for the FBI, he had remarkable power and answered to only the highest levels as to how he conducted his department and his men. When he lost two of those he considered his own, he swung the might of the Bureau into building his case, as sure of anything that the clues would lead right to the Genoshans. There had been diplomatic protests, but he had persevered. That was up until he'd received a phone call from the Director, ordering the case shutdown as a request directly from the Oval Office.

Now, he sat in a dull boardroom in the capital, seething as the meeting started. Val Cooper gave him an understanding look, but his foul mood prevented him from even congratulating her on her promotion. Assistant Director or not, it was her boss that had shut him down. In contrast, ADDO David Langstrom looked like he was handling a stack of dull paperwork. His expression barely changed from the bland pleasantries to sitting down with the file. Director Nick Fury had been equally short, but his face showed signs of nights as long as Fred's recently were.

"Can we get started? My schedule is tight today." Langstrom closed his file and said.

"Of course, David." Val said smoothly. "The Chief of Staff thought that we should discuss the situation - map out a uniform response for what is likely to crop up regarding it."

"What, you mean when someone notices the disappearance of 20 mutants during a protest?" Fred said sourly. "The regular press might not have it yet, but I have it on good authority that Ben Ulrich is starting to ask the right questions."

"That helps your case, Fred." Langstrom's rejoinder did not pass unnoticed.

"I don't leak information to the press. You know me better than that."

"I didn't come here to play 'he said, she said' across the table." Fury broke in. "Fred, what the hell happened last week? I'm having trouble wading through the bullshit to get a straight answer."

"As far as I can tell, the staff and students of Xavier's that attended the protest in front of the Genoshan Embassy disappeared about the same time as two large smoke bombs were detonated nearby. The driver of their bus rental said none of them returned to where he was parked. A few weeks prior, several suspects regarding a mutant smuggling operations escaped from custody using what we think was a kind of electronic teleportation." Duncan waved his hand at the files. "You've seen what we put together. I could never make it hold up in court, but there's enough evidence to pass the smell test."

"There's the problem. State doesn't want another upset with Genosha, so unless you've got anything solid, they'll push to not make waves. RENEGADE can't get caught out defending a private militia group. No matter how helpful they are."

"So they get a free hand to kidnap American mutants? I think these assholes have been using third party units to take teenagers from across the US."

"If that's the case, Fred, it's SHIELD territory." Nick said softly.

"I don't see SHIELD doing much of anything other than sticking Brand up my ass."

"Calm down, all of you." Langstrom said finally. He was a decade older than the others, and carried a quiet authority, from both his presence and the fact he spoke for the Agency. "It doesn't matter what you can prove. If the US goes after Genosha publicly, they can expose a lot of secrets to the world; the Agency's involvement in mutant weaponization and assassination since the 60s, SHIELD's secret stash of government mutant research that hasn't been entirely shut down, not to mention the handshake and a wink agreement that RANGER and now RENEGADE have made with the X-Men. That goes public, and we're on the hook for Pakistan, India, Wakanda, Hungary, Russia, and a hell of a lot else. No wonder State is scared shitless."

"I don't suppose you're shedding any tears over Xavier's being shutdown, are you, David." Fury said pointedly.

"My view has always been that trusting an outside, civilian militia with national security is a dangerous and unstable policy. All being proved right does is make my job harder. So, no, I'm not going to shed any tears over them if they end up in an unmarked Genoshan grave."

"Fuck you, Langstrom." Duncan shot back. "We have to do something. It's not just the fact that two of my guys are over there. If we're going to let Americans be held and executed by a foreign power because it's politically risky to do something, what the hell are we all doing here?"

"You've got a point, Fred, but I'm at a loss. Sending the 7th Fleet to blockade Genosha isn't on the table. Without something that gives us ironclad reasons before the UN Security Council to move, Genosha is protected."

"Not entirely." Fury leaned forward. "SHIELD does have some resources. We can't stage an operation. It's outside of my mandate and Congress wouldn't approve it. But there was the UN resolution to send an exploratory group to Genosha to study the claims made by Moreau and Ransome. We might be able to get some people inside."

"Your call, Fury, but the Agency is sitting this one out." Langstrom said. "We've been burned before and I'm not putting the CIA on the line for Xavier's."

"Relax, David. You don't need to be an asshole all the time."

"This isn't getting us anywhere." Val said with finality. "I'm sorry, Fred, but we've got our orders. If we can help Xavier's people, we will, but none of us are going to go rogue doing it. If I know them, the best thing we can do is make sure once they get themselves out is to help keep Genosha off their necks. ELPIS is about this close to getting their NGO status pulled because Genosha's submitted documentation about their staff operating aiding terrorist groups inside Genosha. They sent pictures."

"There is something very rotten here, Val. And the stink is getting worse."

"You're not wrong. But for now, this is what we can do."

"If you don't mind, I'll skip the group hug. I have a meeting." Langstrom got up and walked out. Fury gave the remaining two a wry smile.

"Hopefully the Wizard agrees to give him a heart."

The Genoshan Ambassador makes a visit to Langstrom's office.

“Sir, the Genoshan Ambassador is here to see you.” Langstrom’s intercom buzzed, and he looked up from the contemplation of his hands, running the discussion with the others over and over in his mind. He pulled himself together and sat back.

“I don’t know he was on the schedule, Carole.”

“He’s not, sir. Meeting with the Director just ended. He asked if you had a few minutes free to see him.”

Interesting. Langstrom rubbed his chin with his knuckle for a moment. “Carole, show the Ambassador in. And go get some lunch. Charlie can show him out when we’re done.”

“Right away.” She said, and David rose as the Ambassador came through the door.

"I do apologize, David - may I call you David? - for imposing like this. But the opportunity seemed too good to miss." The handshake was delivered just right, strength without the machismo need to prove it. "I have heard great things about you, you know."

"I'm flattered, Ambassador. Please have a seat. Can we get you something? Coffee, something stronger?" David said as he settled back behind his desk, pleasant smile affixed on his bluff features.

"Tea, if you have it." The Genoshan smiled self-deprecatingly. "It's been a hectic week, my nerves could use a little steadying." He gave Langstrom a knowing, 'we are all men of the world here' look. "Although I suspect nothing like the problems that must roost within these walls."

"It can be an interesting watch some times, Mister Ambassador. The Chinese had a saying that every man could bear 48 problems. The wise man knows that he can't deal with all 48 all the time, but instead focuses on a few, ensuring that he avoids adding the forty-ninth." Langstrom rang for the tea and a coffee for himself. "Or something like that. University was a long time ago."

"Bennet, please, David." The Ambassador smiled again. "I do agree, though. In this job, I often find myself longing for the simpler days of the military. Different tactics, and different skills. Bigger problems. And more of them, all the time!" He chuckled, accepting the cup with a grateful nod. "I think, however, that I am finally learning the basic truth that is key to success..."

"Really? The wonks at Foggy Bottom like to say that those of us in National Security with military backgrounds look at everything like an objective to be taken and defeated, as opposed to an opportunity." He shrugged. "I think I prefer our way. So what's your basic truth, Bennet?"

The Genoshan sipped the tea and clicked his tongue in appreciation.

"As it turns out, it's quite simple - never be too proud to accept help. Delegation, David. It has magic all of its own." Creighten-Hayes carefully placed the cut on the table and looked Langstrom directly in the eyes. "I am a student of British history, in my spare time. As I suspect you are as well? With considerably greater practicality - looking for lessons from your predecessors, juggling the problems of the latest superpower. Of which, as you say, there are many. I found, in situations like these, that friends and colleagues with similar goals could be of great comfort. I suggest that Genosha and the United States have one such problem in common. And my country could be of considerable utility to your superpower, in its own small way."

"Go on." Langstrom folded his hands, his gaze calculating.

"I think we can both agree," The Ambassador gestured slightly "That the problem of mutants is the premiere issue of the modern age. But then you understand better than most, having been at the frontlines of this particular war for a very long time. Yet, as I said, by its very nature your ability to act is constrained. Partially because your focus has to reflect that of your masters. The interests of the United States are global, and the resources -as vast they may be - are still limited."

Bennet leaned forward, his face earnest, his hands splayed flat over Langstrom's desk. "And in addition to that, of course, your Agency lacks the purview to deal with some aspects of the problem. A frustration I can only imagine - clearly having the best capability for addressing the issue and yet being legally prevented from operating on the US soil."

Creighten-Hayes caught the eyes of the ADDO with his own. "Genosha is a small country. Our focus, perforce, has to remain undivided. Mutants are our primary concern. It is becoming clear, however, that it is no longer possible to address this threat purely on local or regional level. As I am sure you are aware - they are becoming increasingly organized on transnational basis, armed with ever more sophisticated ideology and sense of identity. This, then, is the crucial time. When this danger can be choked off, before it becomes uncontrollable. We can work together to make that happen. Share data, coordinate policies and..."

The Genoshan coughed delicately "When it becomes necessary to help each other implement such actions as are difficult for either of us to do directly. But the possibilities are there for the taking, David - as I think we have demonstrated with this recent affair concerning Xavier's school. Such operations, if put on a more permanent basis and coordinated with your office, could provide the answer to many of our common problems. People in my government are prepared to be more than accommodating with helping you and yours in providing a safe and low-key way to remove the more troublesome members of the American mutant community from the circulation."

"And Genosha's benefit in all of this would be an increase in your- industrial sector resources, I presume?" The look affirmed at, and Langstrom paused, turning the idea over in his head. "Now, let's say this agreement can be made. What happens to our existing situation?"

Creighten-Hayes's eyes crinkled in an amiable half smile. "We would like to think of this arrangement as building on the already extant foundation of friendship and partnership. And as my father often said, the true measure of a friend is how reluctant he is to air your dirty laundry in public. These messy trials, leaks, the sensationalist stories of assassins and terrorists on the payrolls of democracies, the attendant media circus..."

The ambassador's mouth moved in a faint moue of distaste. "They can be unfortunately necessary, sometimes, for the countries unsure of their security. for those who are fortunate to enjoy the friendship and protection of the United States, however, they would only be a distraction, don't you agree?"

"You make a very persuasive case, Ambassador. It would almost be worth it just to see the expression on General Fury's face." He leaned forward, indicating Bennet to do the same. The latter placed his hands on the desk and bent in. "You'll excuse the theatrics, but even these walls have ears, and I want to be completely clear." Langstrom said with an encouraging smile.

An almost imperceptible sign drained the tightly-held tension out of Bennet's shoulders as he mirrored Langstrom's movement. "Unfortunately, I understand completely, my friend. Even Hammer Bay, alas, is not free of the sort of people who are willing to go to any length to coddle these... " The Genoshan grimaced companionably at the ADDO, "One does so hesitate to call them people, no?"

Langstrom smiled, and almost idly reached for his stapler. It was an old government issue, heavy and made of steel; the kind that used to be found in every office in Washington. "People. That's debatable." He reached out, taking hold of Bennet's wrist, and drove the stapler straight down, hammer-like, into his hand. The small bones crunched under the impact, and Langstrom's iron hold kept his hand there as he drove the stapler back down again, shattering more bones. "They are citizens of the United States. And in what fever dream did you think your backwards flyspeck African shithole gets away with trying to threaten us." The stapler came down a third time, and Langstrom yanked him close.

"Listen to me." He said, an ugly intensity in his voice. "You want to drop Xavier's crew into a deep pit where they're never heard from again, fine. You want to waive Gambit around in a showy trial, I've got an entire department that can prove that the one you’re holding is a fake. But this is the end of your free pass. I don't give a shit whether they're mutant, human, or the fucking Presidential pet; if another American citizen goes missing and there's so much as a whiff of Genosha's involvement, I will declare hunting season open on your people through-out the Agency. Do you understand what that means?"

The pain, shock and hate welled up in a toxic and horrifying brew just beyond the Ambassador's gaze, as his lips whitened and the muscles locked with the inhuman effort of holding in the scream. The 'yes' slithered out in a snake hiss, low and intent, followed by a shallow gasp of agonized breath. "Perfectly."

"Good." Langstrom let go off the man's wrist and touched his intercom. "Andy, the Genoshan Ambassador has had an accident. Get him over to Mercy General and make sure to send a couple of men to escourt him." His eyes found Bennett's. "Send a car for his wife and daughter. She'll be at their residence in Montauk and Annie will be at Northbrook Elementary. Sixth grade, room 219. Math, I think. We want him to understand clearly how carefully that the Agency is looking after him and his family. Good day, Ambassador."