Short A/N: Please feel free to comment on and give constructive criticism. This story is set to take place in the DC animated movie universe and leaves off immediately after The Judas Contract.

I do not own any of the stories published by DC Comics. I write this story under fair use and do not profit in any way from writing it. Thank you.

Prologue

"-there have been no demands, and very little in terms of communication. The perpetrators known only as 'the Dawn', claim that their goal is to rid the Earth of super-powered individuals. Citing multiple incidents and scandals involving the Justice League, they assert that the League and all that support them are corrupt, and "Care nothing for the lives that are lost in their battles with the villains they claim to protect us against". The Dawn did not publicly acknowledge the pleadings for peace talks called by The Justice League, and soon after the Dawn decimated the Hall of Justice, following with it several other League headquarters across the world. Attacks were reported in Berlin, Moscow, and Paris. Even more shocking than the devastation of the attacks were the support for it. Across multiple social media platforms, groups praising the Dawn's message are flooding in. One forum has accumulated well over one million followers. One supporter on Twitter writes, 'The Daily Planet says that the Dawn are terrorists, and yet they have taken less civilian lives than the Justice League have. Who are the real terrorists here?' In other news, Gotham's own Harvey Dent-"

Bruce ended the stream on the Batcomputer. No matter how the Free Press spun it, Gotham was burning along with the rest of the world. At the rate and power that the Dawn was proceeding, there would soon be very few places the League could hide. Already there had been death among their ranks, to the point where Superman had ordered all members of the League two years and under to not engage in combat with the Dawn. It was clear that they had done extensive research on all of them- but worse was that they knew nothing of the Dawn. Not where they originated, not where they stationed their headquarters; not even how deeply their organization ran. Every minor victory that they had won was repaid by a stab in the back from an ally they had previously thought they could trust.

Frustration gripped Bruce, and he nearly knocked over his chair from how quickly he stood.

"We have nothing Alfred. People are dying, and we have no idea of how to stop it." Bruce said through grit teeth, pacing back and forth.

"You are doing everything within your power, Master Bruce. The Justice League still has many an ally who still support them- I have faith that a solution will be found." Alfred remarked, steadfast as ever.

"It's not enough. In Gotham alone crime has risen to a point that is beyond what it was before I even started as Batman. Criminals are seizing the opportunity to take whatever they want while the police and military forces are occupied with the Dawn. We need more manpower Alfred if we are going to keep this city under control." Bruce rubbed his forehead with his palm in an attempt to soothe a headache that had begun to throb beneath his skull.

"Shall I call for Master Damian and Master Dick?" Alfred offered.

"Damian, yes. Leave Dick, he's got enough to deal with in Blüdhaven as it is." Bruce said pensively, turning his attention back towards the Batcomputer.

"As you wish Master Wayne. I will contact him immediately." Alfred said with a brisk nod before disappearing into the gloom of the Batcave.

Left to his own thoughts, Bruce obsessed once more over the few details they had gleaned of the Dawn. His eyes burned from a fatigue that came from spending too many hours awake. How they had remained so elusive for so long confounded him. There had to be more to it than clever planning and control of information. They had simply appeared out of nowhere with such force and intensity that Bruce found it hard to believe that they were not backed by a larger power. Who? Who benefits from this the most? Bruce thought furiously, scouring his brain for potential suspects.

"Bruce! Bruce are you there? We have- we have something. It's urgent." Clark's voice came crackling through Bruce's signal device. Crossing the room in several strides, Bruce seized the communicator.

"What is it? What's happening?" He demanded.

"We have some intel on the Dawn's next move. Well, their current movement. They are headed east from Indonesia into the Pacific ocean. There are some islands north of New Zealand that they are particularly interested in. We're not sure exactly what they're after. All we know is that they're out in force, and have all but seized control." Clark said, his voice dull and exhausted. Bruce knew he had been working around the clock to try to restore order across the globe, and the toll was beginning to show. "The Australian government is in mayhem, and it's at the tipping point of an all-out military assault. They are allowing us to go in first to try and end things before it comes to that. I don't know what will happen if we fail." Clark sighed shakily.

"Send me the coordinates. I'm on the way." Bruce said curtly, already beginning to garb himself in the Batsuit.

"We've gathered up whoever we can spare. Diana, Barry and I will meet you there. The Teen Titans, Aquaman, and some others are also on their way. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but everyone else is preoccupied somewhere else with these damn terrorists, and we have to do something. We expect heavy resistance. You head towards the islands, we'll keep them off your back."

Darkness engulfed the Batjet as it cut through the air of the night sky. The craft was near indistinguishable, save for the covering of the stairs as it went by. Bruce steeled himself for what was to come.

"Be careful Bruce. Whatever they're after, they'll kill for."