Carth's magical adventure, ROUND TWO, MOTHERFUCKERS!

[Carthrat]

Carthrat leans in close. "You know what'll happen, though, don't you?"

[Anastasia]

"I have a few guesses," he says, a bit guarded. "My question is how much are they going to interfere."

[Carthrat]

"Who cares about *how*," says Carthrat, shaking his head. "You know how many treaties will be broken when somebody openly lands on Earth."

[Anastasia]

"More than I care to count," Tir replies. "But if we're going to hash this over, let's at least do it over breakfast." He goes and picks up the bags again, taking them over to the table. Fresh bread, milk and butter is inside. As he's unpacking these, he finally notices Rachel, who took in the news about Earth with wide, worried eyes, yet was too stunned to reply.

"Oh, hello there," he smiles a bit. "You're Rachel, that friend Carthrat mentioned?"

[Carthrat]

"She's a native!" whispers Carthrat.

[Anastasia]

Tir nods back, an tiny motion not meant to be seen by anyone else.

"Hello," she manages, then glances down at herself. "Is Earth in that much turmoil?"

"'Fraid so," Tir nods, sitting down. "As our friend was saying, if it reaches the point where someone openly lands, it's going to be a mess of huge proportions."

[Carthrat]

Carthrat nods. "North Korea first.

It *might* end there. I don't think anybody liked them, anyway.

But China and the US.. I don't want to think about what might happen there if they're left unchecked.

And I don't want to think about what will happen out *here* if somebodies goes in to do something about it."

[Anastasia]

"No one really did, not even South Korea," Tir agrees. "To be honest, it's not an entirely bad thing that North Korea is off the board now." He takes a moment to take out a small knife from the bag and cut a slice of bread off, then butter it. "With that ruling clique, it was a matter of time before there was some massive ballsup.

Now, the US and China...heh." Tir sighs. "The problem is that I'd bet both of them not only have nukes, but that the US has gotten enough alien tech to stop China's nukes. You remember that Star Wars cover thing they did?" Tir pauses to bite into his bread. "Not bad. Anyway, the US will probably win, and win big. China is still too behind in Earth and stolen technology to win if it comes to that.

So where does that leave us if we don't interfere?"

[Carthrat]

Carthrat shakes his head. "China will lose, but that's because Japan *hates their guts*," he replies.

[Anastasia]

"Heh. Yazuka space tech or not, the US has them beat already, I think." Tir shrugs, working away on his breakfast. "Let's say the US does turn China into a matching North Korean crater and everyone mostly survives the fallout elseware.

You'll have a totally dominate US over the rest of the world. If they can keep that long enough..." he shrugs helplessly. "I don't have anything against the US, but I rather like a non unified planet for a change of pace, ya know?" Tir takes a drink of milk, wiping his lip with his forearm. "That'll probably speed Earth up even more.

And that assumes, of course, no one from outside stirrs the pot much, so take that how you will."

[Carthrat]

"Too many outside int- hey, Rachel," says Carthrat, glancing over at the girl.

[Anastasia]

Rachel looks a touch pale, and is quietly taking Tir's ramblings in.

"Yes," she replies, but her voice betrays her with a bit of shakiness.

[Carthrat]

Carthrat sighs. "Look, we'll talk about all this crap later. Why don't you have a shower and freshen up a bit."

[Anastasia]

Rachel nods. "Yeah, that's a good idea..." she says, getting up and shuffling off to the shower with haste. She looks even paler by the time she's gone off.

Once she's gone. "Bah, sorry. I got a touch carried away in my discourse," he says by way of apology. "Stupid of me."

[Carthrat]

Carthrat shakes his head. "My fault, too, really," he says.

"If someone does interfere.. hoo.. this is not a place I want to be," he continues.