>The Bureau for Supernatural Control (BSC)
>Information
The BSC was formed to monitor the actions of supernatural individuals, entities, and organizations. They have authority in all UN countries, and all operatives have base clearance of level one.

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>Information (Classified, level one)
The main purpose of the BSC is to control the Hermit League and restrict their power. All activities of its members are monitored strictly. The BSC is authorized to use S+ class weapons against members of the league, though there has been debate as to wether research for higher class weapons for use specifically against the league should commence.
———

"Alright everyone." Xisuma emerged from the bathroom, helmet on. "gather round.."

All of the present hermits gathered around a big round table in the center.

"We have no choice but to press forward without Joe," Xisuma said.

A few of the groups murmured, unsure if that was the right call.

"But we can't seriously expect to.."

"He was the lead strategist.."

A few voices of protest slowly rose, but they all knew it was the only way.

"What if we went to his house?" Grian piped up. "We could try to sway him in person. But he said he'd report us if we called him.. so.."

"Well it doesn't mater if he reports us, a lot of us aren't Americ-" Iskall piped up.

"The BSC has international authority," Stress cut him off. "But they don't have the power to take us out. We could just pester him until he hel-"

"That won't work. They don't have the power to face us alone, but with Joes help they would." False interjected.

"You really think he would sell us out?" Ren spoke. "I mean.."

Murmures arose in agreement.

"We can't afford to take that chance," False retorted.

"But I don't think he wou-" Ren started.

"Even if he did we could take them ou-" Stress cut Ren off, only to be cut off herself.

"That's a bad idea!" False shook her head.

More and more voices spoke up, clashing into one sea of uproar.

"I'll go." The one person who had remained silent through this spoke up, Zombie Cleo. "No offense, but this arguing isn't getting us anywhere. I'll try to convince him, worse case? I take Hypno, Bdubs, and keralis with me and we force him." Cleo had resolve. Even if the group disagreed, she would go alone.

A few murmurs of protest, but in the end it was held to a vote.

Only a few disagreed. Thank god for democracy.
———

"One problem," Xisuma- who supported Cleo- voiced. "How do we get to Nashville?"

A collective 'fuck' was murmured.

They were based in Europe, and Joe.. was not. They were all classified as high risk by every officially recognized government. Of course, they weren't criminals.. but it was illegal for them to fly anywhere under any circumstances unless approved by the BSC.

"I could wipe us from the database." Mumbo volunteered. "That would give us about thirty minutes to get through security and off the ground before someone notices."

"Yeah? And then what. The plane is forced to land at the nearest military base and were arrested. You know the bureau has been itching for an excuse. Even if all of us aren't on the plane they'll arrest us." Stress piped up, not usually this cynical, but always the reasonable.

"We could contact the bureau and request to trav-" Grian started, but was cut off by a collective 'no'.

"The bureau can't know what we're doing." TFC, of all people, spoke firmly. A chorus of agreements followed.

No one could seem to come to a consensus, each persons idea getting shot down. All there was was back and forth, but then a blessing in disguise wormed into the picture.

A blood curdling scream came from Mumbo as his knees buckled, clutching his temple. xB and Grian were immediately at his side.

"EVERYONE BRACE YOURSELVES THEY'VE BROKEN THROUGH MY ENCRYP-" was all Mumbo was able to get out before every screen in the room- including the big movie theater style one on the wall- came to life.

A man in a tidy looking suit appeared. He was an old wight man, balding with light gray hair. He looked like the kind of man who wouldn't oppose racism. The kind of person who thought climate change was 'Fake news'.

To most people he was just another politician, but to the people in the Hermit League a coat of bile formed at his sight. The leader and founder of the BSC, the source of most of their problems.

"Doing what?" The man said, a shit eating grin on his face.

"Let's get to the point. The building is surrounded. Lethal force has been authorized. You all have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and three gazillion charges of being a pain in my ass. Surrender or be annihilated."

As he spoke a group of heavily armed men filed into the room, surrounding the table and aiming their guns up. There were two men for every Hermit.

Each of the people around the table exchanged glances, Mumbo still clutching his head.

Bdubs and Keralis, the dynamic duo, linked hands. Each powered each other up, and Bdubs telepathy was now able to link all of the people in the room.

"We need a strategy." Xisuma's voice bloomed in everyone's head. Everyone agreed.

"I say we kick their asses." That was, to no ones surprise, Doc.

"Not a bad idea, but too risky. That would mostly militarize the UN, that's a fight we can't win without Joe." Xisuma rationalized.

"But they must have flown here, no? So I say Hypno let's loose with a little help from Bdubs. It's quick enough to buy us time, and if Joe finds out the BSC has militarized that might be enough for him to join us. So we knock them out, hop on their ship, fly to Nashville, pick up Joe, and initiate the plan from there." Xisuma mentally communicated quickly, but everyone got the point.

"Good plan, but I don't think I can hypnotize everyone." Hypno communicated sullenly.

"I could boost with vex magic." Cub offered.

"I'd need to at least double my normal outpu-" Hypno started.

"I can do it." Cub reaffirmed.

"Ok, it's settled." Xisuma communicated. "Everyone else, defense. Zedaph, Impulse, Tango, protect. Doc, don't kill anyone. Same goes to everyone else. I want minimal casualties. Are we clear?"

Everyone physically nodded.

All of this had been happening over around 5 seconds, mentally communication took less time than speaking. When they all nodded, the man on the screen furrowed his brow.

"No funny business, I have grade S+ plasma blas-" blah blah blah. None of the hermits heard a thing, they were all getting ready.

"Three," Xisuma communicated.

"Two."

"One."

"GO!" He yelled out, jumping on to the table along with most of the other hermits.

Zedaph, Impulse, and Tango ran towards each other, the second their fingers touched they transformed into a 15 foot hellbeast. The fancy plasma guns did little to make them flinch.

Meanwhile, Keralis, Bdubs, Hypno, and Cub all touched hands as well. The sat like that for the longest few seconds out of their lives.

Hypno took in a long breath, and then let out a scream of pain as all of their attackers dropped to their knees.

They clutched their heads, trying to resist, but each passed out.

Unfortunately so did Hypno, who fell limp. He was caught in Rens arms, who scooped him up. "I got him! Let's go!"

A sort of portal opened up on the table, sucking all of them through.

They appeared on the roof of the building- which was a rundown factory in the middle of no where Russia. Xisuma's hypothesis was proven correct, as there was a fancy looking airship on the ground.

"No way!" Doc said, breaking from the group and jumping off the building. He landed with a roll and practically sprinted towards the ship.

"This is the latest model! Could take you to Neptune and back in a day! I'm driving!" Doc was the kind of person to freak out over the latest airships and starships.

Mumbo, who's arm was hooked over Grians shoulder, looked up excitedly. "The newest mode-" he started a violent coughing fit when he tried to finish. When he opened his hand, there was a small smattering of blood.

xB was already at his side, murmuring a long string of curses as he tried to heal Mumbo.

"It wont work.." Mumbo croaked as Xisuma opened up another portal. This time they were dumped in front of the ship. Doc had already made his way inside and fired up the engines.

The hermits made their way inside and dumped the pilots outside.

The ship was pretty open, it had a slim nose but expanded out towards the back like a triangle. There was no separation between the bridge and the main room, so the hermits could talk without having to use auto pilot, but for now, they stayed grounded.

Since Mumbo couldn't talk, they communicated mentally.

Mumbo started with an explanation: "Somehow they overrided my encryption. I don't know who could have possibly done it, but I know their methods. They can't pull the same truck twice." He was confident in that. Unfortunately, that did not stop whoever they were from finding new ways around his encryption. Setting a new encryption was a temporary solution.

"Unfortunately, we can't either." Impulse reminded the group. "Once they figure out what happened here we won't be able to use the same tactic. We should come up with a new plan. Just in case."

"If we can't get Joe on our side, we steal a ship and hyperspeed it to the nearest Minecraftian system. We pick up some support, and do this the hard way." The suggestion came from Jevin. He was usually quiet at meetings, but his suggestions were usually quite reasonable.

"So what we run back with our tail between our legs?" This time it was Doc. "Nah the leader won't like tha-"

"Bull, Earth is a powerful trade hub. It practically controls the Milky Way highway. We knew we'd encounter resistance from the beginning. If we went to the leader and requested extra support for a military take over, we'd have a higher chance of success. The leader is reasonable- he should see that-" Stress's rant was cut off by Doc.

"We can stage a takeover on our own! We don't need the Minecraftians support!" Doc's suggestion was met with a few murmurs of approval.

Grain fired back, "this was supposed to be a peaceful takeover! If the Earthborns get taken over by force that will just make them rebel. More future headaches. I suggest we open up talks with diplomats and negotiate a-"

"You of all people should know how the Earthborns treat outsiders. They'll see us as a threat, negotiations will do nothing." Cleo butt in. "I say we get Joe and stage the uprising. While the Earthborns will resist us at first, they'll come to reason."

"But-"

"I still think we should ask for-"

"And what about-"

The debate continued to drag on. In the end it was put to a vote.

By one vote, it was decided that the group would attempt to get Joe and stage an uprising.
———

Fucking hell I wrote both of the first chapters in three nights-

I don't even..

Anyway, here's a few questions:

Do you think Joe will end up being persuaded to join the group?

Which would make for a better story?

-yours, Spider Tea