After a rather interesting series of events yesterday, a good glass of scotch and a good night’s sleep, Herbert arose from his bed. He had received the call from Lilith asking him to use his particular set of skills to address the masses about the events in Chicago and Detroit that had happened yesterday. He knew Takkar had already made his own points and opinions known, but it was time for the windy city to step up to the proverbial soap box and say some words. Putting on his best pin stripe he lit a cigarette as he left the house, headed down to the corner, waited for the crowd who had already gathered to silence, and prepared to speak.

Hello everyone. I’m sure you’re all wondering what lead the leaders of Chicago to attack a family and Godfather that they themselves had authed as well as the residents of 12th street. I’m sure some of you have already listened to the points that Chairman Takkar have raised on the matter but I am here to speak for the Loop, Chairman Lilith, and Chicago as a whole. My points won’t be all that different from what you have already heard, but I find it important when something like the killing of your own auths happens that we speak about it. Let us not forget the regimes of the past who spent more time killing those serving them than those who opposed them in a futile attempt to hold power over a world ready to pass them by. That’s not the kind of ship we run around here, and I think a lot of you know that, despite what those dead would want you to believe. I’ll get to that part in a second though, let’s start with what occurred.

Chicago, along with our Allies in the other 6 cities got word recently that 12th street and Godfather Wendigo thought they might be able to make a play for all the marbles. Claims were made that a large amount of skilled hitters, fifteen to be precise, were prepared to take the lives of those currently in power so that they could take that power for themselves. Frankly, a little too much talking to the wrong people trying to grow their numbers was done and before you knew it multiple little birdies were chirping in every ear you could imagine. Enough to know the songs they were singing were likely true. It’s a good lesson for anyone quite frankly, loose lips sink ships. You better know who you’re talking to in this thing of ours. Now, I do have to say for myself, I don’t fault them for trying to make a play, business is business after all, but I won’t lie and say they were good at it. I think the list of the dead will show you that.

Now, discussions had already begun by the commission of what should be done about these bad apples that wanted to upset the apple cart and if we could indeed confirm their intentions, but not too long after we had begun talks we got word that Wendigo and BrandonHeat were already laying low for protection. Indeed, we had direct witness statements. Now if that isn’t a canary in a coal mine, I’m not sure what is. We realized this, said the word “go,” sent our hitsquad leaders rushing off to the nearest pay phone and the rest, is history.

Now I am sure there are those around who want to paint a bad picture of Lilith for being a Godfather chairman killing her own auths. Arguments of a totalitarian nature, lambs being authed for the slaughter and what not. You could even make the argument that the silver lining for those in the ground is the bad picture that could be painted from the story of killing your own auths. Frankly, this just isn’t the case. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. We are not that regime. We have some respect for this thing of ours. Wendigo and crew were given every opportunity short of running an entire city. I don’t know what more you could ask for. The thing is chaps, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t plot against your own Chairman then call foul when you get what’s coming to you. You fucked around, and you found out. Plain and simple. So go ahead and send some nasty anonymous credits my way cause it wont change your reality today and I could frankly use the extra income.

In the end we did what we did to protect those who were loyal to us. As far as Chicago goes, I’m not quite sure why Wendigo wanted to bite the hand that fed him and plot against the very person who was the reason he was called Godfather, but such is life. Not everyone can be happy with where they are at, sometimes you must shoot for the stars. The thing is, in this world, you have to be carful which stars you shoot at. There might be a reason why they’re a star in the first place…

Herbert pauses for a moment to let that sink in.

To the fallen, including our adversaries I say rest in peace. Your kin are welcome in this world. To those who did not plot against Chairman Lilith but died defending your leader, I salute your honor and bravery.

With that, Herbert tips his hat at the crowd, steps down from where he was speaking, and hops in a town car heading up town.