by The Great Nevareh » Sun Jan 02, 2005 1:11 am
"Unless they're in the process of working together, the Zodiacs. The Committee does not seem like something that would make moves without a true motive, yes, but also remember the sheer amount of power and resources we have seen in the running of this tournament. That Momo person has performed tricks that could outdo us all without much effort, if any of you saw the show at the very beginning. There is high technology and high magic at work everywhere in the workings of this set-up to the point that it would be kind of pointless for them to put forth this much effort if all they sought to do was have us kill eachother. They could have spared themselves the expense and the problem by just trapping us in the initial labyrinth that we couldn't get out of without their help. If the committee's goals are annihilation, they are very, very bad at it strategy-wise."
Zachary munches on a piece of chicken.
Gobble.
Snarf.
Snap.
"So the problems we might have in worrying about the Committee itself is that the Committee is not necessarily bound by the inherent rules of the tournament and they most likely aren't going to get someone else coming down and telling them they've broken a rule. So, going after the Committee would be kind of fruitless so long as we are in their power. The Zodiacs, on the other hand, hold no power over us, so they would be the easier targets. This whole thing might be a sting operation to catch them, except for the fact that waaaaaay too many unwitting accomplices have died in the process of this entire tournament for the group running it to be legal or governmental in nature. Since they're either very poorly organized or very cruel in their methods, we can rule out extermination of us all by virtue of either ineptitude or meritocracy. If they wanted us dead, they're either too disorganized or poorly managed to pull it off. However, I think it would make more sense for them to want the best of us alive so they could proposition us to be allies, or try to subvert us to be tools. That would make more sense, if they have any ulterior motives in running this tourney, than that they want us all dead."
He eats some more chicken.
Yum!
"The Committee also has access to resources that the Zodiacs are temporarily going without- distance, explosives, time, secrecy, home turf, weapons variety, a whole lot of advantages that the Zodiacs just don't have so long as they're here. I'm unfamiliar with their assassination tactics, but I am assuming that they don't always bust inside wide open and then overpower their foes, especially since they themselves have been overpowered by single entities while here in mostly fair combat. They must usually have intricate plans and intelligence information before going in and doing something, and they must also have access to equipment and the like- Bruce may have been strong, but against a fireproof armored suit he'd be useless and he'd get killed by a reasonably strong concusson or explosion. The way they're successful is that they not only knew the rules of engagement, they also knew exactly how to avoid these rules and thus do their thing without any harm coming to themselves. Here, they might know the rules of engagement, but they can't retreat and re-arm and they don't know how to avoid a fair fight in this setting. Trying to do what they're doing is foolish since they can't use assassination tactics. Though that's only if they don't usually use brute force to accomplish their goals. If they DO use brute force to accomplish their goals, then there's something going on here that's dampening their powers or their resistances. That's the way I can explain why essentially random fighters from around the world are succeeding one on one where highly trained governmental agents en masse have not. Why this would be the case I won't know unless I can somehow gain insight into the workings of the Committee and their goals."
More chicken is eaten!
Zachary gains status effect: Delicious!
"In theory, really, the greater threat is, was, and always will be the Committee, but in terms of scale it's just smarter to go after the known enemies before we determine that we HAVE to fight the Committee. The Committee is a threat, yes, and a very large one at that, but it has yet to show itself as hostile. And who knows? Maybe they're looking for new hirees as an ulterior motive. If they wanted to kill us, really, they've had the chance so often that it doesn't make sense that we're still alive."
Zachary begins to munch on the bones. Sweet, sweet marrow!
"My biggest worry, really, is whatever it was that killed all those army soldiers back in the first preliminary. Whoever that is either doesn't have their powers damped down like the Zodiacs might or they're so powerful that even with dampened powers they're still of godlike strength and skill. That person is probably the most powerful being here, by far, and I'm almost positive that he/she/it has nothing to do with neither the Committee nor the Zodiacs just because it doesn't fit any of the patterns I've seen coming from those two groups. Maybe that third entity is the overall greatest threat to everyone, and I certainly don't want to fight it in the ring."
Zachary, finally having finished his meticulous process of eating the chicken, gulps down some orange juice with citrusy finality.