9 Justice League Front Lines
"Grundy!" Roxy nearly shouted at Solomon Grundy as she appeared in the mecha operations room. Mike Dugan was ensconced within the STRIPE command module and was shut out from the outside world. Grundy was his guardian.
The reason being was two-fold. First being that Solomon Grundy, while having been a member of the Justice Society of America, had been shut out of Justice League membership. And the second reason was, even if he had been granted membership, he wouldn't be allowed aboard the Watchtower. Grundy didn't mean any harm but the world was far too fragile for him to be within it sometimes. And when the cold, hard vacuum of space is relentlessly pressing in on the hull, you don't want an accident prone zombie with the power to tear those walls apart, aboard your space station.
"Yes, Light Lady?" Grundy slowly asked.
"My name is Roxy," Roxy told him for the umpteenth time.
"You are made of light. You are Light Lady," Grundy repeated his mantra on the topic.
Roxy rolled her holographic eyes. While she was actually composed of servers and microprocessors, her avatar was composed of laser light, "Okay, you got me. The point is: we have intruders!"
"Bad people?" Grundy wondered.
Roxy found this moment to be ironic because Grundy himself was commonly viewed as one of those "bad people". If Galatea had not insisted on bringing him with her when she exited the Legion of Doom, he definitely would never have been given this chance at redemption.
"Very bad people," Roxy advised, "They're outside. Hit anyone wearing yellow. Got it?"
"Yellow bad," Grundy mulled it over. After a moment's rumination, he began heading for the exit, "Hurt yellow people."
"You go, big guy!" Roxy cheered. Next she alerted the Blackhawk Squadron. Lady Blackhawk was still down from her injuries last week but the others were in fighting trim. Word was they'd all received commando training. Now she guessed she'd learn firsthand.
Now if she could only munch on some popcorn, Roxy mused to herself.
At the UN building, General Wade Eiling stormed through the evacuating member state missions. Eiling snorted in disgust, "Civilians."
Eiling had gone from an avowed opponent of the Justice League Unlimited to its representative to the United Nations Security Council when the JLU was officially endorsed and sponsored by the UN. Eiling had been irked that Sue Dibney had received the job of Chief of Operations but he begrudgingly had to admit the former novelist knew her stuff. The bulk of the staff had been evacuated by means of a teleporter station hidden with the League's UN offices some time ago.
Sue had begun the evacuations as soon as the 5th Fleet went under. She'd seen the writing on the wall and it was written in Atlantean script. Eiling had stayed with the Security Council until they had finally taken their final measures and cleared out.
Eiling had returned to his office only to find his assistant frantic. It seemed one member of the delegation wasn't budging. Eiling had to admit it was a helluva time for Max Lord to grow a pair of balls.
"Lord! Pack up and haul ass!" Eiling thundered as he stormed into Max's office.
Max and L-Ron exchanged a look. Max faced Eiling, "Sorry General. I'm staying right here. Someone needs to be brought before Aquaman and I suppose I'm the best qualified for the job."
"Noble," Eiling sneered, "Now are you coming willingly or not? Because I will drag your sorry ass out of here if I have to."
Max gave L-Ron a pained expression, "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be, your Lordship," L-Ron aimed a "hand" at Eiling. Its components separated and a small emitter extended itself forward. A silvery discharge surged forth and stunned Eiling into unconsciousness.
"Ah! I never got to test this before. It was right out of the spring catalog just before Manga Khan traded me to the League," L-Ron boasted, "Shall I tie him up, Milord?"
"No," Max sighed, "Wade might actually prove useful later on. I'll seem incredibly reasonable by comparison."
"Oh, the tangled webs you weave, Lord Maxwell," L-Ron chuckled, "Is it any wonder I feel at home with you?"
"You mean Manga Khan was incomparably brilliant too?" Max inquired.
"If I may dare say, even Manga Khan's delusions of grandeur pale before yours in grandiosity," L-Ron ventured. Seeing he'd hit his mark, he added; "And he appreciated a groveling boot lick on occasion as well. So does Mistress Waller. But she wants to be discreet about it whereas you like to flaunt my supplications. It brings joy to my central processor."
"I'm more than happy to oblige, L-Ron;" Max confessed, "One can never have enough servants debasing themselves before you."
"Too true!" L-Ron gleefully agreed, "Now about the General? Should we see exactly which muscles can be stimulated into involuntary action by my electron probe? With luck, he may vacate his bladder."
"Feel free," Max waved him on, "I think we'll have some time to kill."
Lt. Barbara Gordon of the Gotham Police Department was currently coordinating an evacuation. Police Commissioner Maggie Sawyer and her assistants were in direct contact with the military units scattered throughout Gotham and outward towards the coastline. Several military units had been overrun and their avenues for retreat and regrouping and become blocked by the snarl of the evacuation.
As the unofficial "troubleshooter" of the department, Gordon and her partner, Sgt. Harvey Bullock, had been pulled off of their coordination with the GCPD SWAT units. SWAT had been deployed to cover the progress of the Army units desperately engaged in a harried retreat. The Atlanteans had continued to prove what had been suspected since their naval attack: they weren't interested in leaving survivors.
Explosions ripped down the end of the street that Barbara occupied. She turned to Bullock, "Harvey, get the Homicide and Major Crimes Units up here on the double. The uniforms can handle traffic."
"Ya know Lootenant, we ain't got the firepower to stop these squids," Harvey retorted.
"We have to buy the civilians as much time as we can," Barbara vehemently snapped back, "This is the last cluster of them. Once they reach the highways, they're out of danger."
"So ya think," Harvey replied sadly.
"I have to have faith, Harve," Barbara stated, "Now scoot."
"Ya gonna hold `em off by yerself? Like freakin' John Wayne?" Bullock snorted.
"You of all people should know exactly what I'm capable of," Barbara replied in a steely voice.
Harvey held up his hands, "Just leave some fer us, Lootenant. That's all I ask."
"No promises," Barbara chuckled.
Barbara heard screams and she turned to see soldiers running for their lives. A few stopped to shoot at their pursuers and lay down some suppressive fire. Part of Barbara was somewhat pleased to see women made up parts of this shattered unit. The military had finally opened up combat roles to the "fairer" sex. Since female soldiers had literally been fighting for their very lives in open combat for a decade now, it was only right that it should become official.
She also noted that some of the soldiers were laying down fire on full auto. That just shortened your reload time. While the "spray and pray" might look cool, and feel cathartic, it rarely accomplished anything. The GCPD's assault rifles were locked in semi-auto mode. They could only release a round as fast as the trigger could be pulled.
As the last of the Army troops filtered passed her, she tucked the rifle butt into her shoulder. The Atlanteans first emerged from the smoke riding open cockpit flying vehicles. Barbara wanted to swear. Of course they would have flying machines. After all one flew underwater all the time.
Setting her sarcasm aside she took aim at what seemed to be the pilot. She shot him through the eye and the orca-like craft took a nosedive. The gunner that had sat behind the pilot was dumped on the ground. As he rose, Barb put two rounds in his chest.
She was gratified when he also went down. The cops didn't have armor piercing rounds like the military so she hadn't been certain her bullets would penetrate the Atlantean's body armor. Heavy energy fire rained down on her position and Barbara began searching for an escape route.
Suddenly gunshots rang out. A half dozen gunners and two orca ships went down. Seeing the approaching cops reinforcing the line, the soldiers had regrouped and decided to get a little payback. Using any cover they could find, the combined force took up positions all across the street.
"We need snipers on the rooftops," Barbara declared.
"Already taken care of," Harvey said as he settled his bulk in next to Gordon, "The Commish issued the orders herself."
"She redirected everyone here?" Barbara realized.
"Yup," Harvey said grimly, "We're supposed ta bottleneck `em here and wait for reinforcements."
Barbara gave him a wry look, "Harve, everything west of the Rockies is already on this coast. They're spread from Maine to Florida."
"Then we're in for a long wait, ain't we?" Harvey retorted.
"Did you ever think anyone would make you miss the Almeracians?" Barb suddenly inquired.
"Oh, hell, no!" Harvey snapped, "Ain't nuthin' makin' me wish that Kalea bitch was back."
A vibration began to fill the air. Barbara frowned, "I think we're about to meet the counter attack."
"It'll take forty-five minutes ta clear the logjam out ta the highway," Harvey answered her next question before she could ask it, "So I guess we gotta make it for at least that long."
Barbara grinned, "I guess we do."
'So just give the word, Lootenant. We're ready ta march into the jaws of hell for ya," Harvey promised, "And that's from the whole force."
"Hopefully it won't come to that just yet," Barbara said wryly, "But it's appreciated."
"Y'know, when Sawyer steps down ya could take her place," Harvey suggested.
"I've only got time to worry about the next forty-five minutes, Harve;" Barbara said ruefully, "You can plan my next career move if we survive that long."
"Sorry ta say it, but that ain't lookin' too likely," Harvey stared down the street at the Atlantean response.
"How come it's never easy?" Barbara muttered to herself and pulled her radio off of her belt, "Head's up. We've met the enemy and it's pretty damn ugly."
That's when the creature roared its displeasure. Everyone covered their ears. After the din died down, Barbara got back on the radio.
"I don't know what that is but kill it," Barbara ordered.
And then gunfire erupted.
On the outskirts of the city, near the imploded wreckage of what had been the JLU-Gotham base hidden under Wayne Aerospace, Batman waited beside the Batmobile. He was growing impatient when a large blue flash brought twelve people into existence.
Batman immediately confronted Nightwing, "I told you to never wear that costume in this city. I might allow everyone else to be here but you have to leave."
"Sit on a carrot and screw yourself, Batman," Nightwing retorted, "I'm here and I'm staying."
Catwoman was smirking. Batman got into her face next, "And you're encouraging this? I know you're just running a scam, Selina. Eventually you'll break this JLU mold and I'll have you back in prison where you belong."
"I think I agree with Nightwing," Catwoman flippantly remarked, "Who knows? You might even enjoy it."
"What's the situation here, Batman?" Black Canary took charge.
"The situation is that you're neither wanted nor needed. I have everything under control," Batman declared.
"According to the satellite feeds we viewed before coming down, the situation is wildly out of control and rapidly escalating," Black Canary countered.
"It's. Under. Control," Batman grated.
"What about the skirmish on 12th Avenue?" the Question interjected.
"Lt. Gordon is trying to make a stand in order to evacuate a column of civilians. She's wasting her time. But let her conglomerate the Atlantean forces. It makes implementing my plan easier," Batman said.
"Shouldn't you be helping Lt. Gordon?" Nightwing asked archly.
"She doesn't want or need my help. She's serving her purpose," Batman said coldly.
"Seems to be a lot of that going around today," Catwoman remarked.
Batman looked tempted to pop her one in the mouth, "It is covered by my plan."
"So, what is your plan?" Black Canary inquired.
"You don't need to know because you're not staying in Gotham," Batman decided.
"Look!" Black Canary was near the end of her patience, "Sue asked that we confer with you. We've done that. Are you telling me we'll have to fight you to get into the city and help?"
Batman mulled it over and then simply said, "No."
"Well, thank God for that," Black Canary exclaimed.
"Just stay out of my way when I implement the plan," Batman instructed.
"That would be easier if we knew what the plan was," Black Canary fired across his bow.
"I know their weakness," Batman said.
"And that is?" Black Canary felt like she was pulling teeth on a very awake and struggling animal.
"They need water," Batman shared.
The Huntress broke into a fit of laughter, "Of course they need water. They're Atlanteans."
Batman glowered at the interruption, "They can only stay in the open air for thirty hours. Afterwards they need to return to the sea for twelve. We keep them busy for that length of time and then keep them from returning to water. Afterwards they will capitulate."
"Or they might choose to die," Question interjected.
Now Batman looked ready to pop him. The Question breezed over the glare, "You're plan, while…feasible…leaves a wide margin for fatalities. The Atlanteans don't seem inclined to take prisoners, civilian or military."
"I. Have. It. Under. Control," Batman grated again.
"Look, you poor overworked dear. We're here now. Just leave it to us. We'll take care of everything," Huntress tried to soothe him.
Batman stormed off, climbed into the Batmobile, and roared off. Huntress turned to her fellow JLers, "Was it something I said?"
Black Canary turned to Nightwing, "When did he stop giving a damn?"
"You have noticed that Robin is no longer around?" Nightwing asked.
"Of course. I figured he'd graduated to the Teen Titans or something," Black Canary admitted.
"Robin isn't in uniform any more. It's a long story and one I shouldn't share. The thing is, the events of that night broke Batman," Nightwing revealed.
"Broke, as in, broke broke?" Green Arrow wondered.
"As in shattered," Nightwing shared, "He'll never admit it but I think the signs of it are obvious."
"So that's what happened to Batgirl?" Black Canary wondered, "I mean, we all knew he was being a prick when she got wounded on her last mission, but something like that happened?"
"Batman ordered all of us out of uniform. It was that or leave town. Batgirl stayed in town because she had family and I left," Nightwing divulged.
"What about Batwoman?" Green Arrow wanted to know.
"She was always an outsider. Commissioner Gordon actually drove her away before those events occurred," Nightwing put the pieces together for them.
"Okay," Black Canary heaved a heavy sigh, "That leaves us gaining access to the interior of the city and we only have two people that can fly."
"I can get us there," Zatanna announced from outside the circle of confidantes, "The spell will have to be anchored at two points. Departing and arriving. I suggest you send Aztek ahead into town. His armor is a mystical focal point I can lock onto. Firestorm can stay here and catch up later. His nuclear energies provide enough resonance that I can use him as the departure aperture."
"Sounds good, Zee. How long will it take to set it up?" Black Canary asked.
"Probably the length of time that it will take Aztek to get there," Zatanna assured her.
Black Canary gathered Aztek and Firestorm while Zatanna got her preparations underway. Batwing and Vixen chatted away, having both come from the same country. They'd worked together in their civilian guises and now that they knew about each other's secret lives, they felt a stronger bond than ever. That left Metamorpho trying to get a reaction out of the Question. He didn't quite seem to grasp that the faceless mask couldn't smile.
Minutes passed and then Aztek signaled Black Canary and she in turn informed Zatanna. Zatanna recited a series of reverse incantations and a doorway opened. She instructed the other to go through it and they did. The Justice League found themselves behind the GCPD and the Army as they confronted a living wall of monsters.
While Firestorm flew across town to join them, Aztek took a look from the air; "It doesn't look good. This is only the first rank."
"Can you see the end of the procession?" Black Canary asked over her signal device.
"I'm not certain it has an end," Aztek glumly informed her.