Beyond The Impossible

Imperial Palace, Midgard City, Earth

Officially, this meeting is not taking place: the Mortal Empress should consult with the Olympian Senate before discussing war.

But now Noriko Null is one of the only three mortals in the room where an exceptional summit has been assembled quickly. The second mortal is sitting to her right: Lyra Syzar, the recently elected Prime Minister. To her left is the Divine Empress, Hebe.

Their three divine vassals… Athena, Helen and Aphrodite… are also sitting at the table, while the Minister of Defense and Goddess of War Enyo watches over them.

They are all looking at the third and last mortal in the room, the current Minister of Galactic Security and former Oracle of Apollo, Shaina.

She’s giving a presentation on the Aegian Galaxy: in addition to a map of the realm, the screen behind her is projecting pictures of all its major gods.

<Poseidon, Class-1 God of the Sea. His sector covers a little over 25% of the Galaxy, but we believe he does not rule it directly. Most of the administration reports to his wife Amphitrite, a Class-2 goddess, but Poseidon is known to spend the majority of his time on the capital world Atlantis.>

<What are its defenses?> Noriko asks.

<Atlantis is impregnable.> Athena quickly adds.

<Care to elaborate on that?>

<Atlantis lies close to the galactic center, the feeding ground of one of Poseidon’s hounds: Charybdis, the monstrous son of Gaea who feeds off the galactic core’s black hole. It’s also dangerously close to the nebulas patrolled by Scylla, the most powerful daughter of Typhon and Echidna. Any attempt to approach Atlantis uninvited, via ship or teleportation, would invoke the swift retaliation of these Class-2 monsters.> Athena elaborates.

<Alright, so a covert mission to Atlantis is a bad idea. What about the other vassals?>

<Poseidon’s only surviving son Triton and his eldest daughter Rhodos rule 25% and 20% of the territory, respectively. They are both Class-2.> Shaina informs her.

<Poseidon is quite close to them; I would advise against antagonizing them. Perhaps we could contact Thetis to suggest a diplomatic solution?> Hebe suggests.

<She controls about 10% of the galaxy. Titan goddess of the ocean, Class-2 as well.> Shaina rapidly informs Noriko.

<According to my sources she and Calypso are the only vassals not part of this conspiracy. I don’t think they’re influential enough> Noriko responds.

<I would be very curious to learn about this mysterious source of yours.> Helen points out; Noriko couldn’t risk revealing her connection to Roxiana, not when Athena’s allegiance is questionable thanks to her former association with Ulysses.

<Sorry, I’m exercising imperial privilege on that information. What about the other two vassals?>

<Proteus, class and domain unknown. We basically know nothing of him.> Shaina admits.

<His motives are as ever-changing as his shapeshifting form. An enigma wrapped in a mystery sealed inside an insane mind.> Athena comments.

<Lastly there’s Despoina, a Class-3 goddess of fertility. She claims to be the daughter of Poseidon and Demeter, but her mother is officially Amphitrite.> Shaina concludes.

<How can there be doubts about her mother’s identity? Doesn’t a divine pregnancy last at least a hundred years?> Lyra wonders out loud, the first time she’s spoken during the meeting.

<For what it’s worth, my sister Ilithyia used her powers to confirm that Amphitrite really is Despoina’s mother, and that she’s just deluded.> Hebe adds.

<No offense, my Empress, but your departed older sister was hardly a bastion of sincerity and truthfulness.> Athena snarks.

<Indeed.> Enyo comments, the first time she’s opened her mouth.

<So, as the Goddess of War, is it your expert’s opinion that a military operation against Poseidon’s forces is out of the question?> Lyra asks.

<No.> Enyo answers.

<Yes.> Athena answers at the same time.

The two war goddesses look stare at each other, each one upset at being grouped together.

<I believe the Prime Minister was talking to me, Athena, as I would never back down from a war.>

<I am sure you wouldn’t, Enyo, which is why the Prime Minister would likely prefer the opinion of the goddess of wars that can actually be won.>

<Both of you, knock it off.> Noriko reprimands them.

<My apologies, Your Majesty. I though the Prime Minister implied that massive mortal casualties were unacceptable. If that is untrue, then I agree with Enyo that a military operation against Poseidon can be successful.> Athena replies.

<Define “massive casualties”.> Helen adds.

<In the hundreds of billions, conservatively speaking.> Athena clarifies.

<You’re exaggerating. I have run studies on the feasibility of a war against the other Nine Gods…> Enyo explains, interrupted by Noriko.

<I explicitly told you that we are not going to declare war on any of them!!!>

<I know. But in a defensive war, we would be successful and only suffer less than 40 billion mortal casualties and half a dozen divine ones.> Enyo concludes.

<I can’t believe we’re actually listening to this!> Lyra exclaims.

<Neither can I. War is absolutely out of the question, guys, all I want are options to rescue the Vanguard from Ulysses and his allies.> Noriko clarifies.

<We can’t negotiate with him. He’s a traitor and a liar. Our only option is to find his base, kill him and retrieve the hostages.> Helen proposes.

<Wouldn’t that result in Poseidon’s vassals attacking us?> Lyra worries.

<Not if the Empress kills them.> Shaina adds.

Everyone stares at Noriko Null, studying her reaction. She does consider it for a moment or two.

<We haven’t reached that point yet. It would signal the rest of the Nine Gods that Olympus is starting a war of aggression, plus… if I’m being completely honest, I’m not 100% sure that I can kill Poseidon. Not yet anyway.> she admits.

<What does Poseidon want with the Vanguard anyway? Is he trying to provoke us?> Helen asks.

<The most likely scenario is that he wants to blackmail the Mortal Empress into opening the Gate of Heaven for him. Which is absurd because you are no longer in possession of the Key of Heaven as per your agreement with the Primordial Gods, isn’t that right Noriko?> Athena asks her former protégé; her voice is calm, but underneath there’s a tone that implies she knows more than she’s willing to reveal.

<You sure know a great deal about information that is supposed to be secret.> Noriko comments.

<It’s who I am.> the goddess shrugs.

<Wait I zoned out for a second, what’s this about the Gate of Heaven?> Aphrodite asks, finding anything interesting in this meeting besides fidgeting with her hair.

<Were you even listening to anything we were saying?> Athena asks.

<Not really. It’s an estrogen parade here, when are you going to invite some males to this party?>

<This is the Galactic Security Council, not one of your orgies.> Athena reprimands her.

<Is this how the rest of you spend your time? This is so boring.> Aphrodite complains.

<When did you “zone out”?> Shaina asks, rolling her eyes.

<I believe it was when you said Poseidon controls 50% of his Galaxy.>

<It was “a little less than 25%”.> Shaina mumbles to herself.

<But I heard you mention a Gate of Heaven, so it got my attention.>

<Why would someone like you be interested in that?> Athena asks, not bothering to tone down the utter disdain in her voice.

<Because I have one of those in my sector!> Aphrodite cheerfully exclaims.

<You have WHAT!?> Noriko asks.

<A Gate of Heaven. You should see it, it’s the loveliest thing!>

<I would like to see it, for sure. If I study it, I might find a way to sabotage Poseidon’s Gate… perhaps even using it as a backdoor?> Noriko wonders out loud.

<Speaking of backdoors, if you brought males I could show you an exciting…>

<It is risky.> Athena interrupts Aphrodite.

<Not if you use the right lub…>

<I was talking about the Gate.>

<I agree with Null, it is a worthy option to explore. But we should prioritize finding a way to access the headquarters of Ulysses.> Lyra says.

<According to our sources, the Zenith base is in a pocket dimension created by Skorpios; we have not discovered a way to trace the use of her Drylon device.> Shaina explains.

<I have checked the Grimoire of Drylon Weapons. Her Manifold device does not register, possibly because she’s inside that dimension.> Athena adds.

<Then our last lead is trying to establish communications with Atlantis Uprising, the Aegian Galaxy’s terrorist organization. But needless to say, it should be through unofficial channels.> Helen proposes.

<Agreed. Shaina, Athena, work on this with Eros and Hermes… the former has contacts there, and the latter can reach the galaxy without a ship.> Noriko orders.

<Why them? And why do you need both of us?> Athena asks.

<Plausible deniability: they don’t technically work for the Olympian government and are not vassals. Plus I don’t trust Hermes unless he’s under the strictest possible supervision.>

<What about you?> Hebe wonders.

<I’m going with Aphrodite to check out this Gate of Heaven.>

<With a man.> the goddess of sex adds.

<Aphrodite, this is not the time for…>

<You will bring a man or I will not allow you to set foot in my realm.> Aphrodite declares, defiantly crossing her arms. Which is fine by Noriko because this means it’s the first time her breasts have been covered during the entire meeting.

<Fine, I will figure out something. I really should hire more guys.> Noriko agrees, lowering her voice for the second sentence. When she stands up from her chair, she frees the others:

<Meeting’s over, I’ll keep you posted. You’re dismissed.>

Everyone else slowly leaves the room, except for Aphrodite and Hebe. The Divine Empress approaches Noriko and places a hand on her shoulder.

<I could feel the sadness in your voice. Is something wrong? You’re not just worried about your friends, isn’t it?>

<The Vanguard will be fine, I have the utter faith in them getting through this. I’m just upset at Ulysses trapping me like this… I should’ve gotten rid of him a long time ago. I keep underestimating him as much as other gods underestimate me.>

<It’s not just that. It was Aphrodite’s request that upset you, even more than she typically embarrasses you.>

<Normally I would’ve asked Kylon to accompany me on the trip, but he’s stuck as a statue of ice. Another reminder of my failures.>

<Surely he’s not the only man you know?>

<Of course he isn’t. But this is a sensitive mission, I can’t take someone who’s not into this whole Olympus business… and I’m not putting into danger yet another ex-boyfriend just to entertain Aphrodite’s lust.>

<If you really are without options, I could ask my husband Herakles to escort you.>

<That would be lovely! It’s been years since I’ve had sex with him!> Aphrodite excitedly exclaims.

<Or maybe not.> Hebe changes her mind.

<I’ll figure out something.> Noriko sighs.