章 62: 5.4
Location: Justice League (almost) bunker (temporary base).
Time: Invasion Day + 5 hours.
Superman stood from his seat at the head of the table, to greet me.
"Magnus! Good to have you here. Sit down, your friend as well. We were just about to begin the briefing." Kal El said, getting to the point, before sitting down again.
I nodded and took the side opposite him and no one even questioned this, subtle power-play that it was. Black Lightning at Superman's side also said a quick hello and from the right Captain Marvel waved energetically. Wonder Woman seemed particularly interested in Gunnr, probably because she felt some parallels between them, although her gaze did pause to size me up.
Then I felt a strange sensation and turned towards Martian Manhunter, who must be looking into my memories.
[I know what you're doing. I have anachronous knowledge, so don't be alarmed that I know most, if not all the people here to some degree.] I thought at him.
He looked at me and nodded faintly. {I do indeed have much curiosity concerning this knowledge. However Kal El has given me access to his memories also and thus I know of your unusual beginnings.} He replied mentally. It was like a voice I couldn't hear. {However your potential telepathic talent was obvious and I wished to test it.}
[Later, when the chaos dies down I'd like your aid in training it. But for now we have more important matters.] I thought back.
[I would like to help you in this task. But you are correct, time is fleeting at the moment.] He agreed.
Batman stood up from beside Superman.
"We shall begin. At the current moment we under invasion from a technologically superior enemy, comprised of blue alien humanoids. They have struck the North American continent in several cities, including Canadian Vancouver, perhaps by mistake. Those attacked include Washington DC, New York, Metropolis, Gotham and Central City. Additionally several other cities have come under bombardment from orbital weapons and the lightest class of assault ship they use.
In Europe Paris, France and London, England were attacked.
Several smaller nations in Africa claim to be infiltrated but no reports have made it out other than by word of Flash. India and Pakistan have both been hit hard and China seems to be fighting back fiercely. The USSR is also under significant attack, however they refuse to tell anyone to what extent. Basically every nuclear power is being targeted."
He cleared his throat, before continuing.
"So far we have only one report of the aliens being beaten back..."
Flash interjected. "Two. Paris is free and clear for now."
All eyes at the table turned to me with surprise. "I destroyed many fighters, the large troop ship and Gunnr beside me took down a different class of ship, some kind of Heavy Assault ship armed with some different weapons. We also aided the efforts on the ground."
Batman nodded. "Noted. Please elaborate on the new weapons systems and their effectiveness later. Back to the report: Metropolis is also free and clear. The efforts of Superman and Black Lightning coordinating was sufficient deterrent."
I raised my hand. Batman pointed to me. "Are all of you aware of the Mothership? It was the cause of the eclipse we are currently under. It is sitting out there casting a shadow over us. I observed it by flying into orbit."
"Somewhat, we knew an artificial object was in place to obstruct our sunlight, but it was only speculated to be a ship." Batman replied. "Reaching it will be difficult."
"Really? Superman, Captain Marvel, myself and Gunnr are all space capable I would assume. Are you able to survive in space, Martian Manhunter?" I asked.
Superman seemed surprised. Oh right, forgot to mention it to him.
"I can survive in a vacuum for extended periods by shape-shifting." Manhunter replied.
"That makes a serious strike team between us if it comes to that. I can also carry a few people, if we add some oxygen tanks to my gear." I pointed out. "You only need to hold your breath to travel in space." I whispered under my breath, so Superman could catch it. He slightly nodded his head in reply.
A shame we didn't have a Green Lantern. That would have made things easier. No way these particular alien attackers would cross the Green Lantern Corps. They're obviously not powerful enough.
No Aquaman either? Odd he isn't here.
A thought occurred to me.
"Are any aliens being seen operating over the ocean or seen submerging?" I asked.
Batman looked at me strangely. "Yes. Why?"
"Then we need to help there too, they are attacking Atlantis as well." I pointed out.
"The mythical city?" Batman responded dubiously.
"No it exists. I do not know the people who control it in this age, but my people know of the nations under the waves." Wonder Woman spoke, backing me up.
I nodded. "They would make good allies in this fight, they have significant magical resources. It is how they live down there." And would get Aquaman and his military reserves to back us up. One good turn deserves another.
Batman seemed to accept this. "We will account for them in our planning. Anything else? No? Alright, moving on. We now know the current situation, we will be attempting to remove the enemy by coordinating with the other members at this table and local forces. I am proposing that we split into a number of teams, to better face the opponents. The three members, Superman, Magnus and… Gunnr was it? Will be placed to strategically deny them air superiority as other members deal with the ground forces."
"Together with my Lord Magnus, we are almost untouchable to the current forces. I wish to continue this advantage. I have also sworn to Frigg that I will keep him safe and I cannot do so on the other side of the Earth." Gunnr interjected.
"Two teams then. Those joining with Superman, I would propose Flash, Marvel and Black Lightning. Those with Magnus and Gunnr: Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and myself. To explain these choices; The four of you are all speedsters to a degree, able to traverse great distances at high speed, while Martian Manhunter is relatively fast, Wonder Woman and particularly myself have a very limited movement speed which Magnus can remove by carrying us to our assigned locations." Batman explained.
Manhunter nodded. "It is a shame we do not have a zeta beam transmitter available, travel would be improved significantly."
"Zeta beam?" Batman asked.
"A form of teleportation device. I have contact with the inventor of the device on Earth. It is how I came to be on this planet." Manhunter explained.
Batman seemed impressed. "We will need safety assurances, but it sounds like a useful system to have for rapid transportation. We will discuss it when time permits."
Captain Marvel raised his hand.
"Yes?" Batman asked.
"Can I just say, it is exciting to be working with you guys! This is great! We're gonna save the world!" Billy blurted out.
"Heck yeah!" Flash agreed. "Are you hyped? I am!"
"Yes. I think we all are. This is the start of something special." Diana added.
"To the forming of the Justice League of America!" Flash added.
I coughed and tilted my head toward Wonder Woman. "We aren't American." Gunnr added her glare to make a point.
"Justice League of Earth then!" Flash hastily amended.
章 63: Sidestory: The Resistance Revived
"Get down!" Jean yelled as the blue freak lined up that damn cannon thing again.
Debris flew and the sound of the alien weapon firing made a chill run up his spine. He knew from experience it would obliterate everything it hit, melting concrete and steel like wax. And it was opening fire on the building around them.
Impact after impact spewed from the barrel of the gun of that blue bastard and the structure began to crumble as it was dissolved by the spray of fired globes.
"Where the hell did that come from?" A security guard across the hall asked from behind a column, still reeling because of the suddenness of the assault.
"I'm just guessing, but they brought friends to the event?" Jean snarked back. He checked his service weapon and held it ready, he counted out with his fingers to the other officers.
Three.
Two.
One.
Go!
He popped up from behind the wall and fired. The bullet whining as it missed the blue alien, who blurted something in a language closer to that one with clicks and whistles in it than French as he scrambled out of the line of fire.
Focus! Jean chided himself.
He noticed a flash of blue out the corner of his eye and turned, seeing a second blue freak in bondage gear armed with a beam pistol flanking them he fired. The alien cried out as it was hit, yellow-green blood spilling from the shoulder wound. It clutched at the injury and pulled back, yelling incomprehensibly.
"They're trying to flank us!" Jean yelled.
"Shit!" One of the other officers swore. "Pull back and take cover!"
"No!" Jean yelled. "They may be trying to pin us down for another airstrike! We need to push forward!" The Police station was all but collapsing already under this sustained fire.
An explosion overhead made them duck, then this was followed by several more.
"Are they shelling us now too?!" A detective from the vice squad, Vincent asked terrified.
As if in answer, a crash was heard as a huge piece of rubble struck the building, moving at high speed and burrowed in, sending the officers scrambling for cover. After a few moments waiting for the dust to clear, it became obvious things were not quite as one sided as they appeared on the ground. This was the hull of one of the alien ships. Twisted like a pretzel.
"Some one up there is giving them a pounding!" The lone security guard from across the street remarked.
"Yeah." Jean replied, some hope restored.
A young officer, fresh out of the police academy emerged from the evidence room. "I've got five more pistols, an Uzi and would you believe I found a Tommygun?!"
"Great hand 'em out. We need all the firearms we've got. Give the Uzi to the rent-a-cop over there, its not like spray and pray isn't our current tactic of choice!" Vincent ordered. "Take the Thompson for yourself!"
"Cool." The younger officer exclaimed, hefting the gun one handed.
"Look out!" An older detective yelled, as two blue figures entered through the new gap in the wall made by the downed alien fighter.
Both had rifles that unleashed flashes of black energy on their targets.
Then the building rocked as an explosion occurred too close above it. Everyone, human and alien took cover. But Jean made his next shot count, nailing the left one in the head. He collapsed like the first one he killed on the street at the start of this chaos.
The second seemed outraged and hooted and howled as it raised the rifle to spray his position with rapid fire flashes of destruction.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Jean gasped as the cover around him was hit over and over and disintegrated.
Then the roar of a machinegun ended the assault, perforating the remaining attacker repeatedly.
One of the officers by the window yelled out, as he fired repeatedly with his service weapon. "We need to get somewhere with better cover! They're coming here, a full platoon! And they're equipped with heavy weapons!"
That was all the enticement they needed to vacate the station.
"Hey kid, were there any explosives in the evidence room?" Jean asked.
"I found a block of C4 and what I think is a detonator!" He yelled back over the sporadic gunfire from the window.
"Pass it here, I trained how to handle the stuff in the bomb squad!" The older detective yelled. The officers pulled back, the old man setting the timer on the bomb with a tense face.
"You sure you know what you're doing old-timer?!" Vincent yelled over the chaos.
"Well, if I mess up I'll just kill us quick. Those yellow ball things, they make a man die slow. So win-win." The detective replied grimly. After a few moments he nodded. "Got it. I've set it for two minutes on my mark. Now. Let's lure them in and make them bleed for attacking Paris like the filthy Nazi."
"Okay guys! A fighting retreat is the plan." Vincent added. "We'll try for the courthouse next."
"Here they come!" The kid yelled, before firing a burst from his gun.
The two new squads of aliens were different from the last one, Jean noted. More ornate bondage gear. Heavier weapons. This was an assault team, wasn't it?
The more accurate fire was proof enough, as the security guard was nailed in the chest by a black beam. Like it had the other times, Jean saw the corpse drop as it collapsed missing everything above the hips.
"Go, get out of here!" Jean yelled as he pulled back to the hole in the wall and followed the other officers, pushing the kid out and then the old timer. Vincent paused opposite him and they both unloaded on the alien soldiers advancing into the building to slow them down a few more seconds.
"Time to go!" Vincent yelled.
They had only a few seconds at most. They ran, the aliens following closely several reaching the hole and firing at their retreating forms… until the muffled detonation of the bomb brought down the building around their heads.
The relief that they had survived faded as they saw the chaos in the skies, beams crisscrossing and fighters in every direction converging on the flying figure of the boy the city had called its hero. He looked harried, pushed to the limit and fumbling for a way to escape as the second class of alien ship entered their view.
Then the impossible happened.
The world seemed to radiate calm as that figure appeared and destroyed the ship like a gnat.
Seeing her made Jean pause, starstruck. Her words carried across the city like she was beside him.
Her words about Odin. A real valkyrie.
He'd heard the old war stories from his father about the Axis having valkyries and how they seemed unstoppable. Here was another, this one radiating cheer and enthusiasm. Fighting for them.
Her face, her smile he couldn't forget them even as Vincent grabbed his arm and towed him to safety and cover. He was lost in thought when Vincent slapped him across the face. "Are you with us?!"
"Yeah… I'm awake now." Jean answered.
"Good, we've encountered some stragglers from an enemy squad. Get your head in the game!" Vincent ordered.
"Got it." Jean wondered if perhaps dying now would be so bad, when guarantee of a paradise awaited. After all if Valkyries existed, so too must Valhalla. If there are more girls like that there, what Frenchman wouldn't want to go?
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