Friends
Written by Amazonia V
Chapter 18:
"We're at war!" Jimmy exclaimed.
Lois couldn't believe it when the President announced it. The newscast had been interrupted for the President's address to the nation. This was quickly followed by the UN General Assembly address to the world.
At the offices of The Daily Planet, everyone was excited and anxious, and rumours abounded. The truth was a shock.
Earth was being invaded by the Kryptonian Empire. A far-off planet in a solar system that was lit up by a red sun, Earth had only recently heard of Krypton.
Everyone wanted to ask questions, and some of The Daily Planet staffers cried. But Jimmy Olsen was as excited as ever. "Are you sending us out to cover the story, Chief?" he called out.
"Yes, of course, I expect the story to be covered, but while you keep yourselves safe," Perry answered firmly. "You are to remain in this building at all times, and under no circumstances are you to leave or to try and go out. When I know that it is safe, I will tell you. Until then you will have to be patient."
"How could that be Kara?" asked Superman in disbelief, looking at the images of the Kryptonian fleet.
"It is her, Kal-El," came a cool, controlled voice from behind them. "The warp in the threads of time have just not reached this moment yet. We have only a few hours to act. Already, the time threads are unraveling and Chronos reigns in chaos."
As the group turned to face the newcomer's voice, Wonder Woman registered disbelief.
The speaker was a woman of great beauty, the type of beauty that comes from having lived through life's challenges and triumphing. She had long black, curly hair and a face that mirrored Wonder Woman's own face. Dressed in a long gown decorated with delicate stitches, a crown adorned the unruly curls that framed her face. Clear blue eyes looked back at her.
"Ou'le, sister! Who are you?" asked Wonder Woman, giving her the traditional Amazonian salute, hands crossed over her breasts.
"You wear the colors and symbols of Themyscira's champion, do you not know me?" asked the woman, coming forward to stand in front of her. "My name is Diana, and I am Queen of Themyscira," she said more softly now. "It is my tenure now, to preside over the Council. I am she whom you seek."
"Where is Queen Hippolyta?" asked Wonder Woman.
"She no longer reigns. She has another role to fulfill and other duties to do," replied Queen Diana. "I can only share a limited amount of information with you, for the future changes as does the present when the past does. What I can tell you is that the Timor is no simple foe. The gods lend themselves to this battle. And not since Troy has the world seen the gods take sides."
"The gods – you mean the Olympians? Is this the work of Ares, then?" asked Wonder Woman.
"Aye, Ares is ambitious, and ambition in gods, as in men, is dangerous. Ares has raised Chronos, and turned time back on itself. Ares, vying for Zeus' throne, has allowed Chronos to release Aither and Chaos. Chronos himself is the force that has created the Timor. As for Ares, he himself has let loose the dogs of war. He has promised much to each god to desert Zeus, but some still hold true to the Father of the Sky. Yet, while the gods war among themselves, all the Universe suffers. The oracle has been consulted. It is you, the Champion of Gods, Diana of Themyscira, now called Wonder Woman, who must bring peace to the gods and to us."
The ships that had taken off from Kandor and Xalaharon had reached Metropolis, Gotham and Star City.
At Gotham, the Kryptonians had positioned heavy atomic artillery to attack. Scores of invaders took to the air, the yellow sun affecting their physiognomy to give them the powers of flight, super strength, super-vision, etc.
The battle for Earth took place between air and ground and was one-sided. The Kryptonians shot at anything in the city, their purpose seemingly to destroy everything. They used heavy weaponry to bring down buildings around them. Each bright beam left a blackened pockmark in the surface of the earth. But the firepower from the large battle-cruisers floating above the city was much more effective. In one blast, a dozen regiments of the military forces of Earth would be blown to fiery fragments. And the ships fired down at the packed streets constantly. It was a protracted and devastating offensive.
The metas and other heroes remaining, who had not been affected by the rift of time fought valiantly against the invaders. But each of the invaders was as powerful as Superman. It was like fighting against a thousand Supermen at once. And the Kryptonoians had taken to the sky – exulting in their new found powers, trying out heat vision and super strength, flying like locusts across the great cities of Earth.
To escape the onslaught, Earth's heroes would hide in the ruined buildings, or race down the entrances of the underground rapid transit system. The underground tunnels were perfect for them. Here they could move about the city unobserved, safe from aerial attack, until they emerged again to attack the Kryptonians. But as soon as they reappeared, the ships would float towards them again, firing down at any metas in the street, or who were exposed when a building was hit. And many buildings were hit.
At first the Kryptonians were reluctant to fire down at the grand buildings in the city, but when the first of their ships finally succumbed to the constant barrage of laser blasts from below (commandeered by the Titans) and it fell into a suburb engulfing the houses in a ball of fire and smoke, their reluctance ended. From then on, the earth was doomed.
In the end, the heroes gave up to avoid destroying their own cities and killing their own people.
The news was not good.
The Daily Planet reported the unprovoked attack in the square, and the battle in the streets that had followed. It was a battle that was still going on. But worse news was to follow.
As the people remained glued to their television screens, the mayor of Metropolis made a brief appearance on air. She spoke gravely, but without emotion.
"At four-fifteen pm today, Metropolis fell to the Kryptonians. We are now under military law. Commander Kara of the Kryptonian Empire assures us that you will be treated well. You are to be evacuated to refugee camps immediately. Transports are waiting outside. Please follow the Marshall's instructions and move calmly and quickly to the exits."
There were gasps of amazement and cries that it couldn't be true. And amid them all were stronger protests, different reactions…
One of the young students watching in the malls waved his arms in the air. "What about my mum and dad?" he shouted.
A young lady with two children in the street outside cried, "I'm not going anywhere without daddy! He'll be coming for me! He will! I know he will!"
Bruce Wayne felt a moment of annoyance, he would have to cancel his golf game today, if he had to be evacuated. Why did no-one know the weaknesses of the invaders?
Oliver Queen was in bed with two sinuous models – he had gotten into bed with them the previous evening and had yet to get out of bed. Despite being irritated that his amorous interlude was interrupted, he felt that he was missing something.
As she watched conquest of this star system from the Kryptonian Council Room, Kara felt a twinge of familiarity, almost déjà-vu. The Mayor had not lied - the people were going to colonial camps. From, there, they would be taken to inhabit and work in the colonies on the outposts of the Kryptonian Empire, where loss of life was high. She watched as Cosmic-Marshalls evacuated the building called The Daily Planet. It was a news paper gency.
This primitive world still read newspapers. A lady with dark hair and a young man with yellow hair were being pushed along by the crowd.
Kara felt she knew them, but surely she had never seen them before?
(Author's note: Some scenes in this chapter are a tribute to the fanfic penned by ben10987654321a titled 'Invasion Earth'.)