I would like to make a few things clear before you get into the story.
First of all, this is in no way meant as a dig at DC, only that Man Of Steel fell drastically short in a very fundamental manner in regards to it's story. I could go on for some time about it's choice of direction and lack of characterisation in it's "characters", but I don't want any of this to come off as a rant. No, I am just of the belief that it truly could have been better had those behind the movie properly devoted more time to a story they were trying to tell, instead of just the Superpunches and the total annihilation that came about because they wrote Supes into a corner.
A while back I watched Belatedmedia's 'What if Star Wars Episode I Was Actually Good?', and that in itself is the major inspiration for this story. For those that don't know, this is going to be nothing more than what I would have changed to the script had I been involved in the writing process. So the story will retain much of what the eventually movie was, just with a few adjustments where necessary in character and plot to try and actually make a cohesive, engaging story. And again, this is because I believe the movie fell short in these areas and could have very easily been lifted above what we did get from Goyer and Snyder. I am sorry if anyone feels that I am insulting them, DC or Superman by doing this, but if you have read this, please read at least a small chunk of the story before dishing out any ridicule.
The last thing is that I am aware many people may (re:will) find a movie script difficult to read, so I have forgone writing in that format and do it as a proper narrative. If you do choose to read just remember that the following is nothing more than my opinion of what Man Of Steel could have been.
All the characters are the property of Warner Brothers and DC Comics. The following story is for entertainment and 'education' purposes only.