Chapter 54 - Unyielding General Kneels to None - Part 3 (Updated)

Sector 2814-Pluto, the dwarf planet in Earth's Solar System

A round spacecraft, having followed the signal broadcasted from a buoy it had previously dropped upon entering the system, landed in a nearby crater. The ship's hatch soon opened, and its occupant, donned in a spacesuit fabricated from nanotech inside the ship, stepped out. The occupant approached the buoy, which was slightly damaged but still broadcasted the signal. After scanning the buoy thoroughly, the occupant noted issues and started his analysis.

Subsequently, he returned to the ship to create components for repairing the buoy and potentially strengthening its signal. So engrossed in his work and plans for upgrading the buoy, he lost track of time. He even dismissed a slight, sudden wave of unexplained nausea that came over him, simply shaking his head thinking he still was recovering from his battle injuries, before returning to his work.

Sector 2814 - Earth-Gotham City

Almost a week had passed since Orach left Earth. The inhabitants, once shocked by their place in a vast, strange universe, had resumed their routines. Seeing their heroes, their symbols of hope, either flying in the skies or patrolling the streets brought a comforting sense of normalcy.

During this time, Bruce Wayne had been engrossed in his work at Wayne Tech, collaborating closely with Lucius Fox. They were diligently deciphering the schematics and data left behind by Orach. Bruce started assembling a team of experts from his company to work on the projects, ensuring strict security protocols were maintained. Meanwhile, Lucius had already begun procuring the necessary materials and creating a proper timeline for the project.

To facilitate Orach's future involvement, Bruce had even prepared a new identity and title for him, as an R&D senior researcher. He had also organized a separate lab, fully equipped and ready for Orach's return.

One of their main projects was the Med pod. In Orach's absence, Lucius had taken the lead in supervising its development, given that it was destined to be a Wayne Tech product. Although initially slightly dissatisfied upon learning about Orach's off-world tests, Lucius had decided to do his part. Bruce's assurances that Orach would return soon had also soothed his concerns.

In addition to the Med pod, both during the evening worked on the armor project. Working together with Victor, who had joined them later in the week, Bruce and Lucius began with scanning the armor Orach had left behind in the Batcave. The sheer number of unknown variables from the readings of the armor left them stumped. However, Orach's schematic of a simplified version served as a valuable basis for designing a new suit for Bruce.

As the new Bat armor suit was fabricated, it underwent rigorous testing, both non-destructive and destructive. The armor pieces were exposed to extreme conditions, testing their limits. The armor's durability was astounding. It withstood swords, daggers, and both light and heavy caliber bullets, remaining unscathed.

Impact simulations demonstrated that bullets, regardless of caliber, didn't dent the material. The suit dispersed the vibrations from impact evenly. While the best available bulletproof vests in the market might have some of their layers torn and still transmit impact to the wearer, this wasn't the case with the new armor.

By the weekend, Bruce had donned a prototype suit in his signature colors and took it out for a test during his patrols. While he didn't encounter any serious action, he did cross paths with a couple of handguns. The bullets were utterly ineffective against his new suit, bouncing off him. The suit, while extremely durable, was surprisingly comfortable and versatile, allowing Bruce to move with his usual dexterity. This was a game-changer, this new suit offered unmatched protection without compromising on mobility.

As Bruce patrolled the streets in his new armor, news of the Bat's upgraded suit spread across all Gotham crime families. This increased their fear and heightened their vigilance for the Bat.

Washington-Department of Defense (D.O.D) base

While the terror of the Bat of Gotham rose to new height, an unidentified ship was detected entering the area of space monitored by a D.O.D base. Following the recent alien invasion, all D.O.D bases were on high alert for potential alien ships.

"Get General Swanwick ASAP!" The urgency in the analyst's voice echoed sharply across the monitoring station as he spotted an unexpected signal near the moon. The image of a mysterious silhouette appeared on his screen, its sudden appearance causing immediate concern in the control center.

"There's no need to shout, soldier. I'm here. What happened? Report!" General Swanwick's commanding voice instantly took over the room, cutting through the rising tension.

"General, our defense satellites have detected an unidentified ship," the analyst paused, his fingers quickly working over the console to bring up the image on the main screen of the control center. The image of the unknown ship hovered ominously on the screen, its sudden appearance near the moon raising numerous questions. "Approximately 2000 hours ago, the ship materialized seemingly out of nowhere and has now established a lunar synchronous orbit. We've tried to initiate contact, but so far, we've been unsuccessful in getting a response."

"Establish a secure channel with General Lane," Swanwick ordered, his gaze never leaving the image of the unresponsive ship.

"Sir, shouldn't we inform the Sec Def?" A lieutenant standing nearby questioned.

"I'll handle that after I've spoken with Lane," Swanwick replied, picking up a phone connected to a secure frequency. He moved to his office for some privacy, closing the door behind him.

As soon as the call connected, a voice from the other end asked, "Hello, General. What's the situation?"

"Lane, I need you to contact Superman. We have an unidentified ship near the moon that's ignoring all our hails. I need him to report to the Washington D.O.D base immediately," Swanwick instructed, his voice firm and commanding.

"…Roger that. But, General, we need to have a discussion about this when it's over," Lane responded from the other end of the call.

"Don't worry, Lane. The only person aware of your connection to Superman is me, and I wouldn't have revealed this card if the situation weren't dire. Superman has proven himself a hero over the past few years. His recent performance during the alien invasion has won over many skeptics here in DC, including myself. I bear no ill will towards him or your daughter. In fact, your experience dealing with aliens could prove useful," Swanwick assured him, hoping to alleviate any concerns.

"Understood. I'll catch a chopper and head to D.C. Out," Lane responded before ending the call.

After his conversation with Lane, Swanwick promptly contacted Sec Def on a secure line, filling him in on the situation. Having updated his superiors, he returned to the bustling command center.

While the team worked hard to track the ship, a broadcast unexpectedly took over TVs and mobiles everywhere. The message, spoken in every language, was simple yet chilling: "You are not alone."

Given the recent alien invasion, the people of Earth, though scared by the abrupt message, couldn't help but feel a sense of irony. As fear and confusion spread, a collective thought echoed around the globe, a snide response to the alien message, "No Shit!"

Soon a silhouette of a man appeared on the screens, declaring that Earth was sheltering one of their kind and demanded his return within 24 hours. The figure called out to this citizen, "Kal'El," and ended with a clear threat, comply, or face attack.

Many didn't recognize the name, but those familiar with Superman knew that Kal'El was his Kryptonian name. They understood the gravity of the situation, a ship of Kryptonians had arrived with ill intent. For many, including Batman, this was a nightmare scenario. Handling one Kryptonian, Superman, was manageable with his contingencies in place, but a group of Kryptonians presented a significant challenge.

Bruce immediately returned to the Batcave, where Victor and Lucius awaited him, their faces tense from the broadcast. Recognizing the imminent crisis, Bruce didn't waste time and called all League members to assemble. Clark responded that his military contact had summoned him to DC and he likely wouldn't be able to meet the group in Gotham. Upon hearing this, Bruce decided to reveal a recent acquisition. He changed the meeting location to an old building in Washington DC, which he had purchased with the intention of turning it into the Justice League's terrestrial base until the space tower was built.

Upon receiving Batman's message, every team member, regardless of distance or current engagement, arrived at the designated meeting spot within three hours. This location was an old dome-shaped building, sparking initial intrigue among the members. However, their trust in Batman eased any apprehensions, allowing them to proceed inside without hesitation.

Once inside, they were taken aback by the noticeable changes in some of their fellow members. Batman, always stoic and formidable, donned a new, sleeker suit. It was more streamlined and somehow even more ominous than before.

Diana had notably transformed, now donned in a new armor and tight-fitting pants, a stark shift from her traditional attire. The inspiration for her new armor came from a Goddess who guided her in her soul space. This Goddess, appearing as Diana's double, revealed her potential and gave her a glimpse of her possible future. Inspired by this vision, Diana collaborated with Hera, who engaged Hephaestus to create an armor prototype. Though the final version was still in development, the urgency of their current situation led Diana to wear this prototype. She had used it during training, and now it accompanied her to this pivotal meeting.

Among the others, Arthur and Flash stood out, albeit for different reasons. Both were unusually quiet, only engaging in light pleasantries. Their preoccupied demeanor was unlike their usual selves, hinting at underlying concerns or thoughts that occupied their minds. Arthur, typically more boisterous, was noticeably quiet, his gaze distant. Likewise, Flash, usually energetic and enthusiastic, was surprisingly restrained. His usual playful banter was missing, replaced with a pensiveness that was unusual for him.

While others greeted one another, Diana approached Bruce, asking if he'd heard from Orach. Bruce shook his head, calming Diana's worry by saying Orach should return soon since she was here. Diana nodded, and everyone took their seats at the round table in the hall. Batman then briefed them about the spaceship near the moon, using data from Wayne Tech satellites. Superman shared information from his meeting with General Swanwick. After understanding the situation, they all agreed not to bow to the Kryptonians' demands and to stand together against this threat.

Batman said, "I had planned to introduce the Justice League at a press conference, but this situation also seems like a good way to make our debut."

Everyone agreed with his words. Superman smiled and thanked everyone for their support. His super hearing had picked up some disturbing chatter from the general populace demanding he surrender himself, which dampened his spirits. However, seeing his comrades support and remembering his parents, Lois, Jimmy, General Lane, and all the humans who made him feel at home on this planet, he was determined to face this challenge. He was ready to seize his future on this world, alongside the people he loves.

*Near the moon - On the Kryptonian Vessel*

Aboard the Kryptonian vessel, as the Earth's forces were preparing themselves for the impending showdown, the Kryptonians were busily scanning the world beneath them. Their intent was to assess the technological capabilities and defense mechanisms of this unfamiliar world. The scanning process was intensive and thorough, stretching over a period of approximately five hours.

"General, the scans are complete. The overall technological level of this planet is mediocre, at best. Their most advanced weaponry is nuclear-based. The world is divided and predominantly ruled by a handful of nations," reported Faora Ul to General Zod. Her tone carried a note of disdain towards the inhabitants of the primitive world beneath them. She continued, "Their society is unsophisticated and barbaric, favoring the affluent while the weak and impoverished are left destitute and defenseless. However, we did notice certain areas where our scans failed to penetrate. We suspect the existence of hidden civilizations or powers possessing sufficient technological advancements to evade our sensors."

General Zod was not surprised by the majority of the report but found himself intrigued by the mention of areas their scans couldn't breach. "Dispatch scouts to investigate those areas," he commanded.

"Understood, General," Faora acknowledged.

As Faora was about to leave, General Zod voiced a question that had been playing on his mind, "Faora, any news about Kal?" Faora turned to Zod and replied, "While Kal has not surrendered, whilst reviewing the data from this primitive world, we came across this image." She paused to bring up the image of Superman on the main screen of their ship's control center and continued, "Sir, observe the symbol."

"…House of El…That's Kal'El," Zod recognized the emblem immediately after looking at the image of Superman. Faora then began to show many other images of Superman from the fights he had participated in throughout his life. As Zod watched many of Superman's battles, anger started to well up inside him. He couldn't comprehend the restraint, the need to protect such a weak and pitiful race, and what he found most absurd was Superman's or rather Kal'El's willingness to abide by the laws of this world and being questioned by pitiful individuals like Lex Luthor.

"ENOUGH!" Zod's roar of rage echoed throughout the control room. "I have seen enough! That is no Kryptonian, but a mere HOUSEPET! How did the mighty house of El, filled with brilliant scientists, fall to such an extent? These people…HOW DARE THEY POISON A SON OF KRYPTON?"

His words lingered in the air, followed by a moment of silence. His anger was not only directed at the people of Earth but also at Kal-El. To Zod, Kal had forsaken his Kryptonian heritage by choosing to defend these primitive beings, by deciding to assimilate, by opting to be...human.

The thought was unbearable, igniting a flame of rage in Zod's heart. He made a vow then and there, he would not let this stand. He would bring Kal back to his roots, back to his Kryptonian heritage, even if it meant tearing down the world he had chosen to protect.

"General, I have something else of interest to report," Faora said, her tone cautious. She was aware of Zod's volatile mood and was careful not to provoke him further. "Proceed," Zod commanded, his voice firm yet laced with a quiet fury.

With Zod's permission, Faora initiated her report. "There's a high chance that Kal-El has a special interest in a specific human female." She paused briefly to project an image of Lois Lane on the display screen. "Her name is Lois Lane. Kal-El reached out to her to share his story and present himself as a hero intent on using his abilities for good. Lois Lane is the one who named him 'Superman'. His frequent appearances around her indicate her importance to him."

Upon learning about Lois, Zod's eyes narrowed, and he immediately began strategizing. He perceived an opportunity in this new information. Without hesitation, he ordered, "Go. Capture her, but make your actions public. This will surely lure Kal-El out of hiding. Once we have him, we'll have the codex."

"Understood, General," Faora saluted, her eyes filled with determination. This was not just another mission; this was a crucial step towards their ultimate goal, the resurrection of Krypton.

With that, Faora and her team descended on Earth in a ship, heading straight for Metropolis. While other scout vessels were soon launched with the goal to investigate the spots where their ship's scans failed.