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.