In the ruins

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[After the battle in the Iraqi desert as the bodies had been cleaned up, Alex could be found walking around the dig site. Stopping to look at newly broken statues or just around where the battle had been. It wasn't really a very big site all told, but did that really matter?]

It's weird. This place has been lying quietly for millennia and war returned to it like this...At least it didn't turn into a full-blown massacre.

Comments

[glorystargo]

It didn't turn but it was so close to it.

Some people are so messed up, they don't even need a real reason to kill others!

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I'm not sure. National independence is a real reason. That doesn't make it right, but it isn't like they were just serial killers.

[glorystargo]

Yeah, but what if the nation in question didn't really exist since, well, ever? At least as far as my knowledge of history goes.

It's a like if Unity Group went "okay guys, we're independent now".

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Most countries were founded out of no prior existence.

...I'm not saying they're right about anything, just that we need to take them seriously. Their motives are something that can attract followers.

[glorystargo]

You're taking this very seriously already, I can see that. You sure you're only just starting the whole piloting and fighting business?

But yeah, that's right. We can't afford to make light of anyone like that, motivations don't matter.

[whats_a_good_end]

It almost did though... and for just what cause?

[Ana looks down, seeing a smashed-apart vase. So much for that ever finding a home in an exhibit.]

Were they hoping for another Asag?

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Or another Enki.

[She bowed down, picking up a pottery shard and turning it in her hand.]

[whats_a_good_end]

That desperate to find power...

... What even drives people to things like these? You said it yourself, the Flanders' region isn't impoverished or anything!

[itbelongsinamuseum]

People do weird things when nations are on the line. And when they can convince themselves other people are parasites living off the wealth they earn.

[a_louse]

This battlefield must be a sorry sight for someone interested in archaeology, such as you.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[Alex looked at the broken remains of a lamassu statue, turning away to nod as Roger approached.]

Yeah...I saw some of those winged bull-thingies when I was at the Louvre as a kid. It's not unique...But who knows how many priceless tablets holding new knowledge have gotten crushed by mecha here?

[a_louse]

This is what happens when greedy and corrupt men seek out such knowledge, only with the intention of benefiting from it. All they wanted is the opportunity to find another Enki, and didn't care about anything else here.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Yeah. They're just looting the dead for their own benefits...Most people who do that only want to get rich, they don't kill people or use their loot to overturn governments.

[sang_av_helten]

War appears when one least expects it. It is a predator that stalks the footsteps of all beings capable of thought without care of when, where or even why.

[The cat sits next to Alex and looks at one of the statues. He grooms his left paw casually before looking up at Enki's champion.]

Still... we have achieved a victory, and that is what matters isn't it?

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[There was a long pause before Alex finally said something.]

A man died and who knows how many priceless artifacts were destroyed. All for some harebrained scheme to get superweapons to use for national independence of a country that isn't even being oppressed in any way.

[sang_av_helten]

Bah, this scheme is no different from many others like it in history. A group that believes itself to be in the right for a cause of questionable validity choosing to rampage and slaughter and pillage and often ensuring a loss of both life and knowledge.

[Skald continues to groom himself.]

If anything you should be thankful that the loss was that miniscule. Instead of one death and the loss of several trinkets, it could have been many deaths and the absolute erasure of what little remained of the discov- [KAFF] Discover- [HACK] discover- [HAAAACK]

[The cat proceeded to hack up a hairball. He then proceeded to let out a polite cough before batting it aside to allow the winds of the dig site deal with it like some sort of disgusting tumbleweed.]

... of the discovery.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Yes, things could be worse. That doesn't mean you can't be affected by how they are.

[broken_puppet]

Is it really so odd that war would return to a site in this world? Human history has been one war after another for as long as we've lived. Resources, ideology, wealth, boredom, fear, and self-preservation have always been reasons to fight and the history of human science and advancement has been tied into military purposes for as long as people can remember. Why are you so confused by it?

[itbelongsinamuseum]

How many wars get fought in archaeological digs well away from anywhere important? Or over the faint hope of maybe finding ancient superweapons?

[broken_puppet]

I admit that the specifics make it somewhat unique but it is not uncommon to see forces act against others in search of power for their own ideals. The DC acted in similar ways because they felt the rest of humanity was taking to weak a course against the alien threat. The colonies fought for their own independence from Earth despite their reliance upon the planet for certain resources.

How is this that different in the grand scheme of things.

[Lamia picks up a shard of broken pottery from the battle as she thinks to herself.]

And why should anyone care?

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I'm an archaeologist and I might specialize in Greek artifacts, but it still hurts to see people treat the past as a quick source of power. And I'm not a professional soldier, I'm still getting used to actually have to face combat myself.

[caressthedarkness]

...Is it truly freedom that means that much to them?

I...do not understand...

[For people to bring this up into an already tense series of conflicts, it definitely confuses her.]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

No, it is pride and some inane idea that small variations in language and how you decorate for Christmas makes it impossible for people to live together.

[caressthedarkness]

The best I could have managed...would have been to ask them to wait until there is an opportunity to discuss this...

But when there are innocent lives involved, there is no 'wait'...the more time is wasted, the higher the chances that a defenseless person will...

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Yeah. And it's not like they would be willing to change their minds. They've got to have spent a lot of time convincing themselves that what they're doing is the right thing.