章 67: 5.8
Location: Justice League Base, Gotham sewers (temporary).
Time:~7 hours after Invasion Day.
"Anyway, I'm glad all of that is off my chest. I've been waiting my whole life to let that out. But I couldn't until now or I might cause it to not happen due to butterflies." I announced.
"How do butterflies, charming as the insects may be, influence anything?" Superman asked, curiously.
"Oh… right. Pop culture reference from a movie and book series released in a few years. Basically the theory goes that unforeseen consequences can emerge from simple actions, such as a butterfly flapping its wings may be the root cause of a devastating cyclone months later." I explained. "Movies were campy but good, too."
"So, now all of you know how flatfooted I felt meeting him in Paris for the first time." Superman commented. "Chances are he's still holding back the really weird stuff too."
"Regardless, the mysterious lack of Aquaman is troubling. I would suggest our next move incorporate retrieving him and securing Atlantis. Not least of all, because he has an entire country's resources at his command." I pointed out. "But also we need to go on the offensive. I suspect what we have faced is a replaceable part of the enemy's forces. The cannon fodder, mostly. The way they protect the troop transports, pulling them back when seriously threatened, I would suspect they are not so disposable. The heavier attack ship I faced earlier would be the same, considering the fact we haven't seen more committed to the fight and especially the Mothership."
"I would concur with elements of this analysis." Batman interjected. "While this 'Aquaman' is an unknown quantity, his people must be suffering due to their isolation and from what I have observed these are not a highly trained, crack front-line division by any definition. They show competence with their weapons, possibly from simulations but they are entirely too reckless and disorganised to be anything more than regulars or green recruits."
Diana nodded her head. "There was no professionalism, they were not properly trained warriors or soldiers. They were eager, yes. But not nearly experienced enough. They also did not know when to retreat, to their detriment."
"However Martian Manhunter's investigation was particularly damning." Batman concluded. "These aliens call themselves the Myrmitons, they hail from a stellar cluster that is their race's territory and they are what we would term corsairs or privateers."
Green Arrow was first to respond. "Space pirates? Seriously?"
"Not entirely correct, they are legally engaged in a war with a second party and from what Martian Manhunter could ascertain they are losing. So they are engaging in what the Romans called 'scorched earth'. A campaign of attrition, they are here to raid and plunder any resources or technology they can take that is useful to them and to deny the enemy the resource called humanity. They are here to kill us all before we can be press-ganged into service of their enemies." Batman explained with a scowl. "Which leaves us only one option, we need to make the fight too costly for these Myrmitons to continue. The 'Mothership' as it has been coined by Magnus is our target. It is an interstellar craft, a battleship carved out of an asteroid to be precise. It has interdicted our solar system and once the raids are complete will literally bomb us back into the stone age or worse utterly exterminate us."
"What should we do?" Red Tornado asked.
Batman's face cracked into an evil grin. "We are going to capture one of their precious 'Troop Transports' and use the age old Trojan Horse tactic to board their battleship and either capture or sabotage it sufficient to our purposes. I believe Superman, Magnus, Gunnr, Martian Manhunter and myself capable enough for the task. Myself for the technical expertise I bring, Superman and the team work of Magnus and Gunnr for the sheer versatility of their powers and Martian Manhunter for translation and infiltration. We will be facing entire divisions of experienced soldiers and far better quality weapons but we will prevail. Because we must."
J'onn agreed, with a simple statement. "I will join you in this. Mars is their next target."
Wonder Woman nodded seriously. "Meanwhile the rest of us will be your diversion."
"Yes. We will need Green Lantern to provide us our alibi for the retreat, by inflicting superficial damage to our commandeered vessel." Batman explained.
"So who are we sending to help our waterlogged pals?" Flash asked.
Marvel raised his hand. "I don't need to breathe and I'm strong. The Wisdom of Solomon says I would be a good choice."
Red Tornado spoke carefully. "I do not require air to function. I will assist."
"Perhaps Green Lantern could move to reinforce Captain Marvel and Red Tornado after performing in our ruse? Everyone else should move to capture the cities still under attack, starting with Washington." Superman proposed.
"They should prepare to take advantage of the chaos sure to follow when these aliens discover our infiltration." Batman added. "Which will be far too late to do anything significant if we each play our roles correctly."
"That is hard to determine; I don't even know how large that Mothership really is. But it dwarfs the troop ships. We may be forced to dig straight through the hull if their security is good, which will take time." I pointed out. "But between us we will find a way to get it done."
"Odin watch over us all." Gunnr breathed out in ecstasy. "For we will take pride of place in Valhalla for this deed, win or lose! But think of the toasts in our honour if we win..." She went into shivers. "We will be legends among even heroes."
"Say… out of curiosity J'onn, I have a question. Who is the enemy of our enemy?" I asked. Please don't be the Reach or Apokolips…
"Thanagar." He said.
"Ah. That does explain it." I remarked. "Sometimes they are the ones to do the invading in my visions. But that is just a very militant faction of the bird themed aliens."
"Bird themed...?" Green Arrow queried.
"A couple of their law enforcement people will probably join the League to keep an eye on Earth and name themselves after hawks." I add.
"Do they call their headquarters the aviary too?" He asked eagerly, joking.
"I'm not sure, but they might." I admitted. "Do you call yours the quiver?"
"Touche kid. But no. Hearing about a Batcave just now does make me want to have an Arrowcave through." He admitted, laughing.
章 68: 5.9
Location: Washington DC, outskirts.
Time: ~8 hours after Invasion Day
Time to play distraction.
Gunnr and I chewed through the fighter cover over the American Capital, which was still holding strong. It seems something from the past few generations filtered into vast differences, because apparently the Pentagon is equipped with laser cannon defences? Who knew?
Oh, and a burning figure powered by radiation is fighting tooth and nail. Captain Atom it seems is force to be reckoned with. I let Superman handle that encounter, I'll pass on cancer in my everything. Even if my magnetic fields can defend me against radiation to some degree. I think. I'll need to assess that.
Preferably never.
It didn't take long, before something happened. A flash of light and disorientation… which lasted for several minutes. My senses were all jumbled up. After puking I managed to realise I wasn't in Washington airspace anymore.
Batman stood there impassively watching me.
"I have delicate senses... And you're going to put this in my file aren't you?" I wasn't really asking a question.
"Of course." He replied.
"Dammit." I pulled myself to my feet and felt around the hull of the vessel we were inside. Huh. So this was the teleporter room? Somewhere in the aft section of the massive ship. It looked just like all the others, all science fictiony. Glowing lines that served no obvious purpose on the walls and sterile as Chemo's chest cavity. No aliens for at least seven or eight metres, behind walls since this room is sealed.
"Martian Manhunter?" I asked.
"Moving to take the bridge." Batman replied. "Superman will beam in on the next scheduled supply delivery. After him we'll bring Gunnr..."
"I'm already here! Do you think you could keep me away from watching this daring stratagem play out?!" She asked from behind him, causing even Batman to turn with a batarang ready to throw in surprise. She stepped from the wall into reality.
"Supernatural beings. What can you do?" I remarked dryly. "She's excited, it's our big debut. This must be like Christmas day for her. War aspect that she is."
"When this is over we are going to have a long talk." Batman growled.
"But only about the stuff that involves you. Most of what I know is personal to the others or involves us as a group. Threats and the like. I have a few things I'm worried will change things too much. Change you too much." I replied.
"Explain!" There's the angry voice again.
"If you could choose to change a defining moment in your future, would you? One that is a mix of good and bad." I asked. "Because you might have to if you get that knowledge."
"Tell me now!" He ordered.
"No." I replied. "Not while you are on a mission. We get the job done and then we talk. Not before."
"This isn't over." He began to announce, before a flash and Superman was with us.
Kal El looked between us. "Is everything alright?"
"A brief disagreement, but it is settled for now." I said, matching Batman's glare. I'm not scared of you. "Isn't it?"
"For now." Batman stated. He turned away and began tapping at a panel beside an oblong in the wall, a very obvious door.
"Hold up, guards." Superman says, and I concur. A patrol is passing the door down a corridor.
We wait several more seconds before they turn around a corner.
"We're clear now."
The door slides open with a whirr. Empty passageway, as expected. Superman zips forward to the end of the corridor, scouting ahead. Batman follows cautiously, behind him Gunnr and I walk down casually. If I can't sense it, Superman can see or hear it.
[Magnus, I have achieved control over the vessel.] Manhunter communed.
{That was quick.} I remark.
[I have replaced their commander and subdued him in his quarters. Everyone on the bridge has been screened. I cannot replace them, the authentication process for docking at the 'World Breaker' is complicated and requires three separate individual responses from the bridge crew and cross checks against the biometrics of all of us on the bridge. I can spoof the system, I have done so once already. Find a secure area and I will initiate the escape protocol soon; Green Lantern has appeared on scope.] J'onn responded.
"Hey, guys. Martian Manhunter says he has everything under control, we are to take cover in an out of the way place and avoid detection while he and the unaware crew retreat back to base. "Also, the Mothership is named 'World Breaker'. Which is sapping any mercy I had left for these invaders. It was already slim to none."
Kal El winced. "Anyone who names their ships like that isn't even trying to hide behind a veneer of civility."
Searching we eventually found what must have been a storage. It looked relatively untouched and some of the items were quite bulky.
Settling in, we slumped behind them and waited. After several hits rocked the ship, none terribly close (it was a big ship) we felt the vessel take off and ascend. Whatever gravity manipulation tech they used was able to smoothly transition from gravity well to space.
And now we're awkwardly waiting here, Batman with his arms crossed constantly glaring at me.
I guess it's okay, we do have time to kill.
"Fine. I'll tell you. It has been on my mind since I visited Gotham the first time." I explained, as I admitted defeat. "This is about your future adopted son."
That had his eyes widen. Gunnr sniggering at his reaction.
"His name is Dick Grayson, part of a family of professional acrobats. The circus will be extorted and his parents killed by a mobster, as he watches. Orphaned you take him in, but he wants revenge so much he tries to get it despite the fact he is younger than me. So he becomes your pupil and graduates to become your partner. He becomes Robin. Then finally he takes his first steps out from under your cape as the hero Nightwing. So do you see my dilemma? On one hand you can save his parents and he lives happily ever after while you are robbed of some of the defining moments of your life or you let them die and profit from his suffering." I glared back. "Happy now that you know?"
"I… I don't… there is only one choice I can live with. I have to save them." He finally gritted out.
I nodded. "I would have expected nothing less from you. But, I have thought about it for a long time. I would like to offer an alternate solution: you save them and then you ask him if he wants to be like you. You can spin it to his parents as a scholarship for the best school in Gotham, they are poor circus folk and regularly move around the country. You can offer to be his host during this time. It won't be quite the same as it would be if he was formally adopted, but close enough to count. There are more Robins after the first, but I wouldn't want to spoil your meetings with them."
"I will need to think about it." He gruffly replied. "But I do appreciate what you are going through now, just a little."
"Please stop with these public displays of affection." I snarked.
Meanwhile Kal El just quietly laughed at us.
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