Very little progress had been made in the days since the Virginia warehouse had been investigated. John Stewart and Hawkgirl didn't find anything else that J'onn and Flash may have missed. Diana's interrogation of the men stationed at the warehouse hadn't revealed any new piece of information either. Anxiety grew with every passing day as their deadline approached.

It was the 28th now and the entire League was on high alert. Flash was making a patrol of the entire Northeast Corridor, crisscrossing the region multiple times an hour. Superman, Diana, John, and Hawkgirl had taken to the air and were making their own, smaller patrols over four individual areas. It had taken much planning and coordination to make sure none of the heroes were without backup being minutes away, which led to intersecting territories. Flash, of course, could be anywhere in a couple of minutes, perhaps less if pushed.

This left J'onn up in the Watchtower, monitoring the computer feeds for any sign of activity. He had been watching the satellite feeds every day for the last two weeks, coming away with nothing to warrant such scrutiny. However, he did not let feelings of frustration and doubt blind him to the fact that something was going to happen. His instincts were confirming that much to him—as a colleague of his once said, "Always follow your instincts."

He fully intended on doing such.

That said, J'onn was aware that this day may be just one more step in an unknown plot before the true goal was revealed. If that were the case, then the Justice League would need to discover what that step was and use it to narrow their search further.

"Watchtower, this is Diana," the Amazon suddenly called in. The dark-haired woman was stationed in the Boston to New York area and considering her tone, she was merely calling in to report her status. "There is no activity in my sector."

"Understood," J'onn answered her. His attention was drawn to a computer screen that had a map of the Northeastern region of the United States. Symbols for each of the heroes were in various areas; for instance, the golden W for Diana was near Boston with her current trajectory heading for New York.

Superman's S symbol was over upstate New York, covering the majority of the state. South of that was the Green Lantern symbol over by Philadelphia, which left the Hawk symbol in Northern Virginia, currently closing in on Washington D.C. The lightning bold for Flash was moving at a greater rate than the other four, the speedster currently making his way south in New Jersey.

Speaking of whom…

"Hey, J'onn," Flash called in. "Everything's quiet on my end. I'm about to take a short snack break, ya know, so I can keep myself in tip-top shape."

"Very well, Flash," the Martian responded to him. "Keep me updated to your status following your break."

"You got it, big guy."

Ending his focus on the monitor, J'onn turned his attention to another one, this one being divided into multiple boxes. Each one was of a different news network, many of which had TV anchors reporting their area's most important news—or at least what they viewed as such. A few others showed pictures of various buildings, or people, a news report being read over the images.

The thinking was that one or multiple networks would be reporting on any unusual activity as soon as it happened. Though John had argued he doubted "some criminal mastermind would take over the airwaves to announce his plan" would happen, it was best to be cautious than not.

"You are out there," J'onn spoke, his eyes staring intently at the news screen. "Where will you strike?"


It was a relic of the Cold War. As tensions heightened between the United States and the Soviet Union, precautions had been taken to ensure the safety of the President and various cabinet members.

Below the White House was a series of tunnels made of concrete and reinforced with a layer of the period's highest quality of steel. If a nuclear strike was imminent on the East Coast, the tunnels would be accessed and would lead to a bunker that allegedly would keep its occupants safe from the nuclear fallout. It had never been used and its whereabouts forgotten after the Cold War ended.

It was because of this that it wasn't guarded nor maintained. A light film of dust had settled along the barren walls. With no access to light, it was totally dark.

First a tremor shook one of the tunnels, a dull roar growing louder with every passing second. And then a wall blew apart, sending chunks of concrete and steel flying in every direction. Most crashed against the opposite wall, while others scattered and skipped across the floor. A thick cloud of smoke flooded the tunnel, cloaking it from sight.

It took several moments before the smoke and dust began to dissipate, but before it did, men in black combat fatigues emerged from the thinning cloud. M16 assault rifles were poised at shoulder height, red beams of lights coming from targeting devices attached just below the barrel. The armed men took tactical positions throughout the tunnel, the lead man reaching a certain point in the tunnel before jerking to stand next to the wall, keeping aim further down the corridor as the next man darted ahead, going further down the tunnel before assuming the next post.

Soon, calls of "All clear!" rang out. By then, the smoke cloud had disappeared, revealing a large hole in the wall. Even more men came out, surrounding a man in a dark, military uniform. His black hair was slicked back, a neatly trimmed mustache and beard covering his face. His eyes examined the fortified tunnel in an instant.

"Sir, the Canidite worked," a soldier informed him.

"Of course, it did," he scoffed. "Onto the next phase; it's only a matter of time before the Secret Service remembers these tunnels are down here. I want the entrances covered before they have a chance to set up their position."

"Yes, Sir!" The man made a gesture with one hand and the positioned men immediately took off towards the ends and intersections of the tunnel, vanishing from sight. In the meantime, the black-suited man and his entourage began making their way to the right, reaching the end of the corridor where they were forced to make a left turn. Further up ahead was one such door he had mentioned, a hive of red dots covering the steel door.

Next to the door was a panel, which one man was currently working on. He was entering the pass code for the door to open and succeeded moments later. The man came to a stop as the door opened and his men then swept through the opening.

Immediately, there was gunfire ringing out, all from automatic weapons. There was an occasional handgun, but these men, these mercenaries were the best of the best. With the element of surprise, there was no way they would lose.

The man raised a hand up and looked at a watch. Everything was going according to schedule. Soon, the White House would be his.


The first sign that J'onn received that something was wrong was when one of the news stations became a picture of static. Turning his attention to the monitor, he watched as the static crackled over the screen before a picture slowly emerged.

J'onn immediately recognized the background as the Oval Office. The open drapes revealed a window that showed the Washington D.C. skyline. However, the man sitting behind the President's desk was most certainly not the current President.

"Good evening," a man with black hair greeted the television audience. "My name is Vandal Savage and as you can see, I am seated in the Oval Office. As of ten minutes ago, I have seized control of the White House and have taken its inhabitant's hostage. Their ultimate fate, however, is out of my hands."

"Hey, J'onn?" Flash's voice came through the Martian's comm link. "I'm standing in front of an electronics store and it's showing some creepy guy in the White House. You getting this?"

"I am," the green man immediately answered.

"I am fully aware of the U.S. military's capabilities," this Vandal Savage continued, "and if a move is made on the White House, I will execute each and every hostage I have, which includes the President. If I feel a threat is imminent, I will not hesitate to blow the White House sky high.

"There is only one course of action this country has: accept me as your new leader and no one will be harmed. Because I am a generous man, I will give this country's remaining leaders until dawn to inform me of my new position. If I don't hear back by then, well, I can't guarantee the safety of the 535 Congressional families.

"Remember, until dawn."

And then the feed cut off, the screen going black. Immediately, J'onn was on the comm. "Attention all Justice League members: the White House has been invaded."

There was a brief moment of silence before he got a response. "Dear God," John swore. "I'm in route, shouldn't take me more than fifteen minutes."

"I must warn you, there are hostages. The leader is threatening to kill them if the military takes any action," J'onn quickly told him.

"Then it's a good thing I'm not with the military then."

"I'm with you there, buddy," Flash chimed them. "I'll meet you there."

"Not before me, you're not," Hawkgirl spoke. "I'm on the outskirts of D.C., in view of the White House. I"ll take point."

There was no point in holding them back, even though J'onn felt caution was their best choice here. The entire League was full of uneasy energy and it was bursting at the seams when they began their patrols.

"Be careful," he said instead. "We do not know their full armory aside from the Canidite and the Kalanorian weapons. Do not put yourself in unnecessary risk."


Unnecessary risk? Pfft…

Shayera couldn't help the smirk that was on her face. J'onn was right to be concerned; she was fully intent on barging through the front doors and beating down anyone and everyone she came across. The others probably had the same thoughts as well.

Of course, they were going to have take care of her sloppy seconds.

She hadn't been lying about the White House being within sight. Even as she drew closer to it, she could see the roof quite clearly. With her heightened eyesight, she could pick out several men on the rooftop, getting into position, no doubt as snipers. When she got in view of the front lawn, she could see it was most definitely different than what the brochures showed.

What looked like riot shields the police used—and large ones at that—were at strategic positions between the building and the front gate. The metal shields were easily three normal riot shields across, which meant three gunmen could conceivably hide behind them. Soaring in at the angle she was, she could make out a couple men behind each shield, armed with gun-shaped weapons. There was no telling if they were your average machine gun or a plasma rifle, especially since the men kept their weapons close to their bodies.

Eyeing the White House, she couldn't help but notice the lack of damage to the exterior. If this place was invaded like J'onn had said, why was it still intact? What, did they dig a hole under the building and popped up right in the middle?

Drawing her mace, Shayera shook that thought off. A fight was right in front of her, the cries of war shrieking in her ears. Well, that could've been the wind, but that would've just ruined the mood.

Passing over the fence, the Thanagarian dove, heading right for the nearest metal barricade. She didn't make a sound as she glided towards them, her hands clutching tightly on her mace's handle.

Then, at the last second, she let out her war cry. "Haaaaaaaaahhh!" A heartbeat later and the head of her mace smashed into the shield, a huge dent cratering right where she struck it. The force that hit it threw the shield off balance, causing it to fall right on top of the two surprised gunmen, both of whom cried out as they were crushed underneath it.

Agilely, Shayera immediately swooped over the ground and to the right, lifting back up into the air, but not before she reached another riot shield. It suffered the same fate as its predecessor as she slammed her mace against it, knocking it over and on top of the men hiding behind it.

By then, however, the rest of the armed men had taken notice of her and opened fire. Whatever questions the winged woman had about their arms were immediately answered as bullets flew at her, and energy beams burned through the air. Jerking to one side, and then the other, she dodged the firepower, gritting her teeth as a plasma blast flew right above her left wing, another below her right, and bullets whizzed all around her.

Suddenly she wished she had a shield in front of her.

That said, she just had to make use of one that had been there for nearly two centuries. Lifting higher and higher into the air, she soared right for the side of the White House, taking cover behind its corner, pieces of its exterior being chipped off by the bullets as she passed it. An energy beam cut right through the corner and just missed taking out her legs, something she was grateful for.

Of course, that was when gunshots were made from above her.

Instantly, Shayera dipped back to the ground, the manicured lawn being pelted by hot lead as dirt was launched up into the air around her. The men on the roof, she groused. She'd be dealing with them in a moment, though. Reaching the next corner, she hugged it as she turned around it.

There was a slight reprieve from the machine guns, which gave the Thanagarian the time she needed to fly straight up. By the time she reached the roof, one of the gunmen had appeared, looking over the edge to get a shot at her.

For all of his efforts, she greeted him with by extending her leg in front of her, keeping it bent at the knee. Said knee rammed into his face and sent him flying backwards and onto the ground, where he laid sprawled out. Immediately cutting to her left, she plowed into another gunman, her bent elbow finding its way into the man's face and knocking him out cold before he even touched back down on the roof.

That took care of two of the men here; the others she couldn't see at the moment, but she'd worry about that later; right now she wanted to get back to the front.

Soaring once more, the moment she reached the front side of the building, she saw she had company. Flash was dashing from one side of the front lawn to the other as he avoided all of the firepower being aimed at him.

Well, well, look who had made himself a distraction. Diving back down to the ground, Shayera made her way to the men positioned closest to the White House. With Flash out front and her from the rear, they could take these guys out with a classic pincer maneuver. Swooping up as she reached the grass, she closed in on the two men, who had their backs to her. Leaning backwards at the last second, she swung a leg out and delivered a kick to the side of the leftmost man's head, knocking him clear out from his cover, flying headfirst into he crashed back onto the ground. Spinning around in a circle in midair, she kept the same leg extended and smashed it against the back of the other man's head, sending him face first into the riot shield. The metal barricade shook from the blow, but held itself in place.

And she was on the move again. Holding her mace out in front of her face, she began to twirl it in a circle with her hands, making it go faster and faster until it was a blur in front of her. By then, the next two gunmen had spotted her and were firing machine guns at her—thankfully they were bullets. The sound of the bullets clanging against her mace as she closed the distance between them was loud, but nothing she couldn't handle.

A second later and she plowed right into the two, knocking the first man she hit right into his friend behind him. While the second guy hit the ground, Shayera stopped spinning her mace and grabbed the first guy she could reach by his shirt. Rising up into the air, she lifted the man up with her, timing herself just right before she let go of him, sending the guy screaming as he fell back to earth. Of course, he landed on two of his buddies behind another riot shield.

Veering in her flight, she caught sight of Flash racing back across the lawn, this time going right behind a riot shield and knocking the two gunmen there out. He reached the edge of the lawn before making an abrupt turn and racing back the other way.

Counting the rest of the barricades, Shayera felt confident Flash could handle the ones remaining on his own. That left her with clearing out the roof. Turning back towards the White House, she caught sight of three men at the edge of the roof, looking over to see Flash's handiwork. This, of course, lined them right next to each other, which was easy pickings. Flying towards the side of the building, she made an abrupt turn and flew parallel with the roof's ledge. None of the men knew what hit them until she barreled right through all three of them. All of them cried out as they were hit, but fell silent the moment they hit the roof.

Flaring her wings out, the winged woman came to land on the roof, looking over the edge to see how her friend was doing. "I've got the roof clear," she said over her comm link.

She didn't get an immediate reply, instead seeing a red blur dash towards a riot shield. However, it was one that had men already unconscious, thanks to the Thanagarian herself, which caused Flash to come to a stop next to it. "Front is secured," he replied to her. "How are things up top?"

There was a sudden explosion from the back of the White House. Launching herself up into the air, Shayera caught sight of a familiar green light—in this case, a giant mallet. It seemed John was here and he was taking on the barricades on the back lawn. In all honesty, Shayera wasn't sure how many were back there since she hadn't been paying attention; she had been more concerned with the gunmen on the roof at the tame. That was all fine though, John was more than capable of handling that on his own.

"Looks like John's joined the party," she remarked. "Superman and Diana must be on their way as well."

Of course, that was when a bright light appeared next to her and J'onn appeared, hovering in midair with her. She knew a teleportation light when she saw it and it seemed the Martian wanted in the action as well. "J'onn here too," she quickly added.

"Great, so now we go in?"

"Damn straight." She then addressed J'onn. "I'm going in through the roof, how about you?"

"I will do the same," the Martian intoned.

She then switched back to her comm link. "J"onn and I are going through the ceiling for the upper floors; you take the front, Flash. I'm sure John can go through the back when he's done."

"Sounds good to me, Wings. See ya inside."

Looking to J'onn, she then said, "Ladies first," a smirk on her face. Not waiting for a response, she then dove back to the roof. There was no doubt a roof access somewhere, but where was the fun in using that?


Alright, the front of the White House was secure. Hawkgirl and J'onn were about to do some damage on the upper levels, and GL would be coming in through the back. That just left Flash with kicking in the front door.

He could do that.

In the blink of an eye, he was right in front on the wooden doors. Part of him wanted to knock for propriety's sake, but since he was kinda in a hurry, he'd save that for another time. Grabbing the door handles, he twisted them only to find they wouldn't budge.

Huh, who would've thunk they would've locked the doors…

There was a pretty easy fix for that. Releasing the door handles, Flash began to vibrate his body, appearing to shake to the naked eye. He moved forward and slid right through the doors as if they weren't there. Slowly, the encroaching sight of the doors coming to him were filled with the wood itself for a moment before it changed to the front lobby.

The normally clean room was most definitely not that. There were bodies of Secret Servicemen sprawled about the place, their bodies riddled with bullets and blood pooling around their corpses. Blood spatters painted the walls, either as big spots or tiny droplets.

However, Flash wasn't the only living person here. It seemed his and Hawkgirl's exercise outside had alerted everyone inside the White House to their presence and there were quite a few guards with guns aimed right at him.

Those guns turned out to be the space laser guns as multiple gunmen fired at him, beams of yellow light burning through the air. Flash didn't stop his vibrating as the energy blasts hit, then passed right through him harmlessly. The same couldn't be said of the doors as holes were burned right through the wood.

The moment the beams had successfully went through him, Flash stopped his vibrating and took off running. He didn't even blink his eyes as he slammed a fist into one man's face, not even pausing to watch him go flying backwards and into two of his friends that happened to be standing right there.

No, Flash was most interested in the stairs. There were two staircases in the room, one to the left and the other to the right. Both staircases had men stationed on the steps and the red-clad man wanted to take them all out quickly. Going to his left, he ran up the stairs, dodging left and right as he weaved his way through the men. He didn't pass them without striking out though; to the ones on the left, he'd punch them in their clean-shaven faces and the ones on the right he'd push hard enough for them to go flipping over the railing. By the time he had reached the top of the stairs, he stopped to look at his handiwork, watching as gunmen either had their faces pressed into the wall or were in the process of hitting them, or were in mid-flip as they slowly edged their way over the stair's railing.

Heh, it was times like these he enjoyed the slowing down of time when he ran.

Going back to business, he darted to the start of the other staircase, finding a gunman slowly stepping down a step. Figuring he'd give the guy some help, Flash came up behind him and gave him a gentle push—a push that sent the guy stumbling forward and falling face first into the man in front of him.

Stopping right there, time sped up over the course of a second. The sound of multiple skulls cracking against the wall rang out, coupled with the screams of the men falling over the railing of the stairs, which ended when they landed headfirst on the floor.

That was just one set of stairs. As for the other one, the domino effect was in full gear. The gunman at the top of the stairs—the man Flash had pushed— fell right into the one in front of him, who in turned plunging forward to collide with their comrade before them. It was almost parody as armed men awkwardly lunged forward, knocking over the man in front of them, before falling onto the stairs. And as luck would have it, many of them hit their heads either on the steps—or for the ones on the lower steps, the floor—which knocked them out cold. Their limp bodies slid down the stairs until a pile of bodies rested at the foot of the staircase.

Spotting a couple of heads poking themselves out of the heap of body parts, Flash quickly leapt onto the railing and slid down it, jumping at the last second to land on the floor. Darting to the pile, he quickly grabbed the back of one of the heads and slammed it down on the floor. He did this for the rest of the moving, groaning heads until no one else budged.

Well then, the lobby was clear. Time to check the rest of the White House.

Eyeing an archway on the right side of the room, Flash dashed to it and through it, only to skid to a stop as he threw his head and shoulders back as he leaned as far backwards as he could. An energy beam flew right over his face, courtesy of a plasma rifle-toting gunman.

The moment the blast passed, Flash darted back through the archway and took cover around the corner, his back pressed up against a wall. That had been close; it was a good thing he was so flexible, otherwise he'd have a nice, burning hole in his face and he was rather fond of keeping his handsome mug unblemished.

So what to do? If he tried running headfirst at the guy, he'd take a laser beam to the head again. That wasn't the smart way to go. If he could get around the guy and hit him from behind, it would end everything in an instant.

That was entirely doable, actually. Considering the room itself was right along the front wall of the building, there was no need to actually go search for a room behind it. Dashing off, he went out the front door and ran along the long porch of the White House, stopping immediately where he knew the gunman was. Vibrating his body again, he slipped through the wall, coming out slightly behind the guy as he kept his plasma rifle trained on the doorway. Heck, Flash could just barely make out the last vestiges of his blur as it faded from sight through the archway.

Fully through the wall, Flash stopped his vibration and raised an arm up. Chopping the gunman on the back of his neck, the guy's body went limp and he dropped to the floor in a heap.

See? Simple.

"Snooze, ya lose, buddy," Flash quipped, a smile growing on his face before he took off to search the rest of the building.


To Guest: That would be no. The Toy Weapons was just a cover to transport actual weapons, since some toys are designed to look realistic. As for the significance of the 28th, I don't really have any. More to just show the passage of time than anything.