The Admirals sit on their chairs on the patio connected to the Execution Scaffold. Their hands folded in a variety of ways as they stay focused on the battlefield in front of them. They have only interfered in the battle when they must retaliate against large offenses and to serve reminder that they are lying it wait at all times.
"How long do you think it'll be until they reach the second Layer?" Nokotori asks, looking to Kuroryu. The mans hard faces shaded by his brow and the sun that was gradually lowering through the sky to the horizon
"If." The Black Dragon corrected the Deep Blue Bird "Those Marines out there may be weaker than us. But they are all still Commissioned Marines of Ensign and Above. Each one of them in some way adheres to absolute justice."
"And if they do?" Murausagi, The Purple Hare, poised.
"Then we will enter the battle. You both already know that. I do not know you even need to ask." Kuroryu grimaced as he crossed his arms.
"Best to be clear. And besides. I'm bored. If we wanted. We could just kill Redbeard right now." The Light Light User jeered a complaint.
"And you know exactly why we can't do that. There is chains of command for a reason. We act when we are needed. Because we are strong. We do not do the work when others can do it for us. We act when our Justice is necessary."
Kuroryu's 'Sense of Justice' was known by himself as 'Supreme Justice'. The idea that his justice. No matter how its done. Is righteous because of his strength. And that strength justifies and is self-evident of its existence as fact. He also believed that the world governments Absolute Justice was this exact same. The Justice of Supremacy. Of enforcing its ideas because they were strong. And that meant they were right.
"And you just love taking orders…Don't you." Nokotori snapped back in that same quiet voice. There'd always been tension between the two Admirals after Tovara. Kuroryu had been the one to order fire onto escaping civilian vessels. Where Nokotori had been the one to let Raven go and give her safe passage.
Nokotori's sense of justice was that of 'Inpartial Justice' having changed from the burning sense of 'Frigid Justice' the sense of delivering justice with calmness and Efficiency. But after Tovara. It became 'Impartial Justice' seeking justice only when it benefited him was 'Impartial'. Often that benefit to himself was utter ignorance and disobedience of orders.
"Watch it." Kuro warned. "We all take orders. Some more reliably than most." Asashi side eyed Seiko with annoyance. "And I take orders because I know that they are Just. If they come from the World Government. Then it is the right one to do. Morals or my own opinion on it have no purpose on the matter."
"That is if I didn't totally and vehemently agree and wish that they were even more direct and forceful with their actions."
"So gaudy so so gaudy." Murausagi chuckled to himself. Compared to Nokotori. Him and Kuroryu were much closer. As Murausagi was an easy going by incredibly vigilant and clear man. Let alone for his sense of justice. Originally it was 'Swift' but upon becoming an Admiral it was 'Definite Justice'. The sense of being precise, wide, expansive. Much like his light was. It also meant he was very timely with his missions and was sent on time sensitive operations. And always took pleasure in it.
"There still sitting there…" A Pirate spoke as he peered through the Spy Glass. Jansen was next to him. Patching up a few of the Pirates. "They're up there the same reason why Pa is still standing on the ship. Polo…" Jansen grimaced. Wishing that the 1st Commander had been with him at that point
"Polo explained that Pa needs to wait for a right time to get into the fight. If not the fight will loose focus if hes too busy fighting to give orders and watch over us." In truth. It was his health. But also the fact that there were many obstacles in his path. Many that would serve no other purpose than to waste time. Others waste his energy. But there was also the Admirals. If he moved. They'd move. And if they moved he'd have to. He could not risk going against them all at once. In current state even facing one was a danger that was even more uncertain than when in his prime.
There was also Jack…And Muromachi. Two individuals that he'd faced before. The only reason why they did not kill him here and now. Was because the point of this all, was political. The Death of Azar was first and foremost rather than the 'Man Closest to the Throne' that was Redbeard.
Redbeard. The Strongest Man in the world, as his says, needed to play smart when faced with 'The Strongest Organization in The World' that was the Marines.
"Shit…Shit!" Cried a Marine as he ran across a trench line as laser beams shot through the the air above him. Far and way from hitting him. But his mind was in a swirl. In utter awe at the technology in front of him. Bayren, a Lieutenant Junior Grade, had served in the Marines for decades. He had grown up on an island inspired by the clock work Inventions of Chro Knoe. And innovations of such by Tehertz. But even these Machines! The Tanks. The Harbingers. These weapons like the M1 Carbine in his hand were far more advanced than he ever imagined. He thought that the Marines were the most advanced in the world!
The steam ships. Motors. Engines! But never did he expect the likes of this! For it was because of the Most Advanced island in the world, Ampule, the Home of Tehertz, that allowed for the Marines to be the most technologically advanced organization. Thus also was the World Government. Though they were a tad slow to widely adopt technology like computing machines unless on islands like those of The Citadel or on Marineford.
Musket shots from a group of Redbeard Pirates slammed into the sand bags near his head! Sending sand into the air! Bayren slammed to the deck! His hand shook, covered in blood. Tremors from hyperventilating. Scrapes and cuts having been bandaged by the medical can he'd be given.
His fingers messed with the mag release, the magazine clattering against the ground. The spring shaking on the inside, cartridges no longer compressing it. Fabric of his pouch rubbed against his finger tips as he pulled the buckle open and shoved a hand in and retrieved a magized of .30
But by the time he slammed the mag in, hitting the bottom to make sure it latched just as he was trained. He tugged on the bolt and chambered around only for the redbeard pirates to leap into Trench right as a beam just barley missed them a microsecond after they were in the air!
One held a musket. Another held blades. One an axe. Another a Garand that had been taken from a marines corpse.
"Wait don't shoot!" He screamed a plea as his hands went into the air. One handing the Rifle as he attempted surrender.
"Shut the fuck Marine! Why should we huh! You tryna kill us! Kill azar!" Most of the Redbeard pirates were not political like member of the Milita would be. But they'd always felt society never fit them. Perhaps in a reactionary way of wanting to do their own thing. Or to fell that there was a more just world.
Redbeard himself was not a Revolutionary Thinker. All he wanted. Was family. Comfort. Yes a part of him wanted to stray from society because it did not accept him. A gut reaction to defy. But a deep understanding that there was something wrong with the world. But it was not his place he thought to fix it. Nor truthfully…Did he want to…Roger wanted to. He just wanted certainty
Bayren began to speak. But his eyes focused behind them. Seeing that there was a marine sneaking up behind him. An older man. Once very strong, but now no stronger than an officer. He was supposed to be none combatant. Leading soldiers to victory.
Or their death.
"Behind you!" Bayren raised his rifle and shot! The bullet cracked! And cracked again as he empty his magazine into the man. Falling to the ground in a heap. Bleeding but still alive…Residual Strength
"Ah…Ahh…" He groaned.
Bayren continued to pull the trigger. Only for it to click empty.
"Why did you do that?" A pirate asked…As he was helped to his feet. A sound of squelching in the back as the Marine was finished off
"All this death…For one man…" He began to croak. "A Pirate…Ye-Yeah but…Because of him…My wife…She was killed here…Is it really worth it? Why not just kill him…Why make us fight…Why…Why…"
He fell to his bottom. Hands covering his face as he began to sob…The Pirate left him there.
50 Minutes have passed since the beginning of the war.
And the start of the Supreme War was over.