War Room

[Nick Ryder]

"Mac or Jason are available... always was curious as to their telepathic potential." Nick suggested. "If you ask, they'll give it a shot. If i ask, they'll get nervous and tell me no." he glanced at Jon and Bella. "Hey Bella... is Cece or little Carly too busy with Presidential business to help with an interrogation."

"You want to use a child to get intelligence?" Jon raised an eyebrow.

"My best spies were kids. Ask Angelica and Olivia." Nick replied with a smirk. "People spilled a lot of information around them. I wish Jack and Kinsey would get back, but all things considered those two earned their leave."

[Isabella price]

“Carly is with them and I would prefer to leave Cece out of it...I might have someone else in mind.” Bella replies with a wicked glint in her eye. Solar was untrained but maybe her linage would be enough to loosen Bartyn’s tongue. Her parents would never go for it but they didn’t need to know, yet.

[Nick Ryder]

"Ohhhh I know that glint." Nick whispered with a smirk. "Like you learned so well, easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission." he winked. "Make it happen Mrs President."

[Julie Lei]

Julie was escorted into the war room by her mother, the Ambassador Sasyaki and saw NIck and Bella together.

"It's like you two never quite can stay away huh?" Julie commented. "I must say though... Decker is much more reasonable to work with than Sharpe. Neopostism does have its advantages."

"Nicole is a highly decorated, skilled, experienced spy master and I would trust her even if she wasn't a cousin." Jon said in her defense. "But I do agree... she is much more reasonable than Sharpe. I heard about how she treated Selene and Kinsey in the past." he shook his head. "Not on my watch and as long as you abide by the terms of your asylum and aide... I will continue to defend you as well."

"Well, that's why I came." Julie said and looked at Isabella. "If my being here is causing this... then... maybe you need to turn me over to them. I know you saved my life and I am eternally grateful, but I can't let any more die in my name." she handed Isabella an isolinear chip. "Mother and I both agree that perhaps this may be a way to save some lives. On that chip is a confession of my crimes, apologies, restitution and my files. My will as it were."

"Tell them why you're suggesting this." Anjali said with a shake of her head. "I agree to it but I don't like it one bit. It leaves us nothing to bargain with."

"Because I know who sent Bartyn. Her name is Bellatrix, and I screwed her over. I... know the reality she came from. A counterpart of mine came here years ago in an effort to keep control of her Empire. We collaborated and I sent her tech and info once I took over and created the Imperium. That is entirely her MO, she's ruthless, sociopathic and cold. There is nothing that she wouldn't do to achieve her goals and that would include working with Dominus as a means to the end." Julie said and crossed her arms. "I've been a dead woman walking since I made Kaikoa the new Emperor... rather have it save some lives than simply just happen randomly."

[Isabella price]

“Some how I don’t think turning you over is going to stop anyone.” Isabella said matter of fact and raised an eyebrow. “Is Bartyn from your reality?”

[Julie Lei]

"Yes." Julie nodded her head. "There are a few... we used to call them Mirror Universes that were similar, we got together. I think he was from mine, but he worked with the others too, he was a mercenary Ajem'dasis, honestly I would even wonder if your father is strong with the Iljuna as well, given how preternatural his accuracy is with nearly anything. I saw him throw a pen at an apple from half a room away." she sighed. "Look, I'm not suicidal but we pretty much turned Tiberius into micro-molecules and I am just as if not more guilty than he was. I deserve it. But I continually forget how much this Alliance and the rest of you embody what we tried very hard to eradicate."

[Valeriya Lyashev]

"Iljuna... I think good training and skill can still beat it." Val Lyashev said coldly and approached Bella. "Mrs. Price, until the crisis is abated and we have more of these Ajem in custody, I think you and Jon could refrain from staying in the normal house, few know of this new War Room. We are keeping to family and line of succession only. Foster and T'Kir are holding up in the one under the Compound, but taking them out won't destabilize us as much as you and Jon and Nicholas being taken out. Ask your mother, it's what she would have done and what I would have done."

"Russian agents... so cheery and warm." Jon mused.

"Better cold and icy than dead comrade." Val replied and cocked her head. "And I like your wife. She is the granddaughter of Khan, I would walk through fire for that man. Actually I have. He kept us Augments protected and alive. Which is why I also work with your former boss and your father. Things could go very very bad for our kind. There are other realities in which our kind were executed on sight."

[Isabella price]

“Our house is far safer then the compound and we’re not going to start hiding.” Isabella said firmly leaving no room for argument. “And Lei you are not turning yourself over unless I say so and that’s final.”

[Valeriya Lyashev]

"Certainly know who is the real President here." Val said with a smirk. "As you wish, but I will still guard you two." she looked at Julie and shook her head. "Sacrifice plays rarely work the way you plan. You still end up dead and the bad guys still do what they will do, you just save them some effort."

[Julie Lei]

"Perhaps." Julie agreed and sighed. "My life is in your hands either way Isabella. Whatever you two decide, I will abide by it."

"I have never seen you this submissive before Julie... " Nick commented quietly.

"You never committed the kind of things I have and had nearly everyone that you are related to disown you." Julie whispered. "And you're right, I do not like being submissive. I'd rather die. But you know me and debts of honor. I do abide by them."