In geostationary orbit above the Earth an artificial satellite hung hidden from view, camouflaged from human eyes, an alien technology, the device had been dormant for centuries. Then on the European Continent a tell tale signature was detected. Dormant systems engaged. Program parameters were consulted, the calculation engaged a subroutine, a command to seek definitive confirmation. The alien Probe waited.

-'S'-

Steve Trevor and Jim Blake skirted the perimeter of the Citadel's installation. The main complex had been surrounded by other less substantial buildings, in recent days temporary structures had been erected, and both the rail head and road traffic had increased. The two shabbily dressed American Agents wore civilian clothes, dark brown coats, over work worn trousers. Blake carried a pair of rabbits he had snared, they looked like a couple of friends out in the countryside looking to get some meat for their table. Trevor reasoned this should be a plausible cover for the field glasses he carried too. That said he had no intention on being caught to put this story to the test, if it failed he reckoned he and Blake would disappear, a quick death would be the best they could hope for.

Trevor looked at the Citadel through the binoculars. The Germans had hung camouflage netting from the edges of the concrete rim to mask the fact that the complexes superstructure was really floating – he estimated about eight feet clear of the ground, most of the substructure was still hidden in the hole below. The two spies visual assessment of the situation more than confirmed Wonder Woman's report. Now they observed the Nazi installation as the Third Reich rapidly equipped the Citadel with both arms and men.

Steve felt certain something was going was happen and soon.

-'S'-

Anton Hastor climbed the metal steps that reached from ground level to the edge of the concrete deck of the newly designated Citadel Lutftwaffe.

Hastor was elated by his success. This is all my work he thought, my personal triumph. The Fuhrer will notice my worth now I have tamed the Annunki's gravitational engine's power. Hastor imagined the ancient reptilian race's anger at his presumption, but he did not care, they were not his concern. Yet their technology would make his own plans easier to achieve.

Agent Zytal greeted him as he stepped onto the Citadel.

"Doctor Hastor, it is good to see you. I have great expectations for a successful test flight today."

The red haired youth possessed a remarkable intellect. During his brief stay in Berlin Hastor had been given access to agent Zytal's file he now understood the peculiar details of his secret origin.

Zytal-Luthor was a clone of an American scientific genius, a young man called Lex Luthor. Cloning was another product of borrowed technology.

Hastor had been briefed on the importance of this American defector to Project Ahnenerbe SS. Frankly Anton Hastor resented it. He had been beaten to the punch, Luthor had been recruited before him.

Hastor respected Luthor's genius however and he quickly decided that Luthor – the real Luthor was too dangerous to deal with directly – at least for now. Befriended certainly, as Sun Tzu had said – Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Hastor had no such reservations about the clone. Agent Zytal was in reality only a few months old, and his entire life had been spent working on the flying disc project for the Luftwaffe. Zytal-Luthor was in Hastor's estimation a more malleable asset, and a window into the mind of the original genius of which he was a copy.

Hastor shook the younger man's hand.

"And I too hope for a great day, I am sure it will be – for us both, and for the Third Reich."

Developmentally Hastor put Zytal in his late teens, no older than many who served in the German Army. Zytal's unquestionable intellect was according to his file in Berlin a product of experimentation. The Annunki could educate clones during the accelerated growth phase. The Reptillians had also learned how to trigger genetic memories which could give the clone much of the experience and knowledge of the donor subject. This had been done successfully in the case of Zytal.

"Doctor Hastor how was Berlin?" Zytal asked him.

"It was a pleasant jaunt, but I am eager to begin here."

In truth Hastor's improved standing in the eyes of his Nazi pay masters was not without its limits, and too his irritation, much of Luthor's research remained classified. Such was the nature of the Riech's instinctive secrecy. He however had gleamed enough from Agent Zytal's file to determine that Luthor was trying to master the process of cloning, to manipulate both the physical and mental consequences of the Annunki's growth acceleration.

"We should begin." He told Zytal.

The two men walked across to the Citadel's main building. Hastor's aides followed them. These young men were of middle eastern extraction, tall and heavily built. Together they carried with a trunk between them, each taking one end of the locked box.

"Reich Marshall Göring has approved more funds, men and materials for our project, providing today's principal test goes well." Hastor explained.

"I have absolute confidence in the numbers." Zytal's assured him.

Hastor nodded. He harboured no doubts. "Have the candidates arrived?"

"Yes, they are already here."

"Good." Hastor smiled everything was coming together. "I hope these volunteers prove to be suitable." He saw the puzzled expression on the younger man's face. "I will explain my other project to you in due course." Hastor told Zytal. He liked the idea he too had his own secrets.

He had explained to Colonel Walther Wüst, the President of the Research Institute of the Ahnenerbe SS the properties of Nth Metal could only be utilised by people of the right calibre, and that he would have to test volunteers to assess their compatibility.

Wüst saw a natural fit between the gravity defying power of Nth metal and the Luftwaffe's ongoing research into the Annunki's flying disc technology. Hence Wüst had introduced Hastor to Agent Zytal.

Today's test offered the opportunity he needed to quickly assess the candidates who had been assigned to him, again success begot success.

Now within the complex the two scientists, descended into the main chamber where the stripped down flying disc was secured to the Citadel's superstructure.

The Annunki gravitational engine hummed, its radiations safely neutralised by the paper thin foil skin of Nth Metal that Hastor had provided.

Hastor's aides placed the locked metal travelling chest on the floor of the laboratory, and the two burly Arabs stood over it, taking up positions either side as watchmen.

Hastor turned to Zytal who was staring at the box questioningly.

"All will be revealed shortly." He told the red haired youth.

"Very good Doctor, I look forward to your further revelations." Zytal bowed ever so slightly, acknowledging Hastor's supremacy in this.

This pleased him. He stroked his beard saying. "Please ask the candidates to join me in here."

Zytal replied. "Certainly." delegating this task to one of the technicians who stood close by. Zytal looked to his watch. "I will commence the count down for ten hundred hours as agreed."

Hastor smiled. "Of course. Sound the alarm so our people are ready for the test."

-'S'-

Steve Trevor checked his watch. It was almost ten in the morning. He looked back at the Citadel. The activity in an around the complex became frenzied. Whatever the German forces had been preparing for was about to begin. He observed white coated technicians leaving the hovering building, filing out in an orderly manner and descending to the ground. Others were embarking.

Lastly the metal steps were wheeled clear of the Citadel. Then there was a siren followed by an erie silence. Slowly at first the Citadel began rise vertically, incrementally gaining speed. Blake gripped his arm, the huge edifice of steel and concrete moved higher and higher, shrinking as the distance grew between the ground and the flying fortress.

"Damn." Trevor whispered. "This is bad – really bad."

-'S'-

Aboard the Citadel Zytal monitored the hastily installed instrumentation, the altimeter measured there steady progress into the atmosphere, the power flow from the Annunki engine increasing steadily to a predetermined setting. Around the Citadel men stood observing the buildings superstructure, checking it's integrity.

Test showed that a Nth metal energy field encompassed the building, radiating along the steel skeleton, that was connected directly to the flying disc's chassis and in turn it's motor. The bubble of Nth energy maintained the Citadel's integrity.

Simply the energy field was being generated by the Nth metal provided by Anton Hastor, the lift by the Annunki motor.

Zytal looked across to where his colleague was. Hastor stood close to the well, he had ordered the candidates to stand perfectly still, each one a loyal member of the party had obeyed. Hastor stood them in a circle at the edge of chamber that contained the Annunki engine. Zytal counted twenty men and women in equal number, and the volunteers wore next to no clothing, just a vest and shorts, as if they were expected to perform rigorous exercise. Now as the gravitational motor worked in and through the Nth Metal the Doctor was walking around the ring of candidates observing each one of them as if he was looking for some tell tale sign.

Inevitably as the citadel climbed the air temperature dropped, Zytal noted his breath misting in the cooling air.

Hastor occasionally tapped one of the candidates on the shoulder, the selected individual would step back and leave their place in the circle. He always made his choices one sex and then the other in succession; first assessment, then a pair would be chosen, and cut from the circle. Initially his choices were rapid, but as the numbers declined to eight, four men and four women, he took longer in his deliberations.

It was now getting noticeably colder, and as Zytal drew his coat around himself, he felt pity for them, dressed only in gym clothes, exposed to the frigid air. Those candidates Hastor rejected were allowed to gather up woollen blankets and leave the laboratory in search of warmth.

Zytal checked his watch, the test was scheduled as a twenty minute ascent followed by a twenty minute hover at the predetermined altitude of twenty thousand feet, and then the remainder of the hour was designated descent, when the output of the Annunki motor would be dialled back returning the citadel to it's original resting place. He smiled, there was a nice symmetry about those numbers.

Zytal attended the controls while he watched his colleague whittle down the candidates. Zytal decided upon the method in Hastor's experiment; the test must be related to the power generated by the Nth Metal, and the volunteers were being judged on their reaction to this energy field.

Suddenly the answer struck him, it was the cold! Hastor was watching for the slightest signs of discomfort, perhaps a shiver, even goosebumps on the skin, or any discolouration. The remaining couples had not reacted to the plunging temperature.

Zytal watched the time, the last phase of the test was about to begin, and Hastor now made the final cut, leaving just two people with him beside the pit.

Zytal acted, flicking the switch that would dial back the Annunki motor, and the distant hum changed as the citadel's gradual descent back to ground began.

At the well side Hastor gestured to the chosen volunteers to follow him, back up to where Zytal controlled the Citadel.

"Hold our position once we descend to three kilometres." Hastor instructed him,

Zytal accepted the other man's command even though it contradicted the agreed test schedule. He was interested to see what Hastor would do next.

Zytal watched the altimeter. Since the descent was marked by a controlled deceleration they would reach the half way point in around five minutes.

Hastor indicated to his aides, and the burly Arabs opened the trunk they had brought with them.

Hastor reached inside, and brought forth two silvery cloaks one in each hand. Zytal glanced from his instruments and back to Hastor, the material was metallic, made up of individual scales. Zytal looked again, no he decided, not scales but even finer still, these were feathers, each moving as if forged individually.

Zytal pondered this. Could these be Nth metal constructs? If so had Hastor brought with him artefacts of power - Weapons of Magical Domination?

"For you Fanz Hack." Hastor said passing the first cloak to the man.

"And for you Fräulein Kaethe Egger." She took from Hastor the second.

"You know what to do." Hastor told them. "As we rehearsed."

The two volunteers nodded. Together they took hold of the leather straps that were attached to the metal cloaks, and fastened them around their torso's. The belts crossed and like a safety harness were held in place my a central locking clasp, finally a third belt was buckled in place around the waist. Zytal observed that the harnesses fit the chosen candidates perfectly, tallying with something else he had noticed, all the men and women had been of equal proportions – at least in terms of their torso's. He concluded the candidates had been chosen because they were a physical match for these existing harnesses.

Initially the silvery material hung lifeless across their backs, falling to the ground, but as they adjusted the final clasp about their middle, the material flickered taking shape and form. The Metal cloaks became wings.

"Excellent." Hastor smiled. "The Nth Metal reacts properly to you, you will be able to make use of it's abilities.

Zytal was intrigued, so Hastor did have more Nth Metal, and this was at least a partial answer to that troubling question. The Nth metal sword Hastor had used to create the foil that wrapped the Annunki motor, had been crudely made, but these cloaks – no wings, he corrected himself, had been forged with a precision of a true artist.

From the trunk Hastor presented the Nazi agents a dark black Helmet, crafted again by a skilled hand to resemble a bird of prey. "Here are your helms 'Eagles of Third Reich'." He told them with a theatrical flourish.

"We are at three kilometres." Zytal told Hastor. He flicked the switch to arrest the steady decline of power and the descent of the citadel.

Hastor turned to the Reich Eagles. "Reich Knights the time has come to spread your wings."

Zytal watched as Hastor led the newly created Riech Eagles from the laboratory.

-'S'-

The Justice Society of America met in New York at the home of Carter Hall. Superman took his seat. Hawk Man had installed a round table, around which the members of the Justice Society could meet.

"You have a fine home." He told the blonde haired archaeologist. Carter's wings were draped across his back in such a way they ceased to resemble wings at all, but rather a cape almost like his own. Hawk Man chose to forgo his distinctive beaked helmet, and this rested beside him. Otherwise he had been in costume when Superman had arrived.

"Thank you." Hall replied. "There are advantages to remembering past lives." Superman considered the idea.

"Such as inheriting your own possessions?" He asked, drawing conclusions from the wealth of antiques and artefacts that decorated the house.

Carter Hall chuckled. "I think of it more as working things out by trial and error, or maybe I should say, how to learn from past mistakes. "

Hawk Girl joined them shortly followed by Wonder Woman.

The two women were bonded, Superman could see it in their easy manner. He judged them to be friends as comrades at arms, both were in costume.

Clearly this seemed the appropriate way to dress to them all.

Superman found his eyes lingered on Diana's classically perfect features, she was an artist vision given life. Very different to Lois, who was for all her feisty verve, in his hands, a slight china doll. Especially compared to the Amazon, who was tall enough to look him in the eye, whose body was like that of athlete or a dancer; a warrior Superman reflected, from a race of warriors. Yet she was at the same time regal, and refined, yet very capable of getting her hands dirty. She was a Princess, and a fighter, she exhibited a innate compassion that was genuine and warm. Diana's innocence was both enchanting and disarming, altogether childlike she was completely oblivious to the feral power of her own sexuality.

Lois on the other hand was accomplished and confident in her womanhood, she understood her powers and used them. In this way she more compelling to a young man from Kansas, even though the flawless Amazon stood head and shoulders above the girl reporter, Superman was still the sum of his experiences.

On the stroke of the hour the Flash appeared his broad smile telling them all he had timed his arrival to the second. "The Green Lantern sends his apologies." Jay Garrick told his colleagues. "Alan is tracking a beast of a man, he says he's not sure it's really alive."

"Yes I have heard of this destructive Metahuman." Carter Hall said. "I believe he has taken the name Soloman Grundy after the nursery rhyme character." The Flash nodded.

Superman looked across at Diana. They should begin.

Wonder Woman's ebony hair fell across her shoulders, the warmth from her blue eyes was almost maternal. The Amazons were in a way a religious sisterhood, indeed if the Jesuit Priests or the Shaolin Buddhist monks had a female equivalent it was the Amazons.

"Diana asked us to convene." He said inviting her to take the chair.

Wonder Woman began. "Friends we now know the Germans have acquired the ancient secret of Nth Metal."

"Yes." Shiera said. She spoke with such disdain that Superman suspected Hawk Girl felt violated by the Nazi's knowledge. He understood. Hadn't his own birth heritage been despoiled by creation of K-Metal and the crystalline form, Kryptonite? He felt that way about the damnable green poison from the start, and even more now Wotan carried it's power through magic.

Shiera her hands making fists said. "Diana you told us how you saw with your own eyes some kind of Nazi fortress float in Nth suspension."

Wonder Woman brought to the table a brown manilla file and slid out a series of images. "This man has been seen coming and going from the complex."

Hawk Man glanced down and frowned so deeply that Superman thought him enraged, fit to burst. Carter angrily pushed the picture across to his fiancé.

Shiera gasped. "Hath Set! How can it be, I thought he was dead again."

"Who?" The Flash asked.

Carter Hall spoke coldly. "In this life he was – rather still is, an American, called Anton Hastor, a respected expert in the fields of Electricity and Magnetism, but known to us by another name, his ancient Egyptian name, Hath Set. He was an Occultist and Priest." Hawk Man pointed to the dark haired bearded man. "Both I and Shiera have died at his hand more than once."

"Ahh." Jay responded. "The whole reincarnation thing."

Superman understood the Flash's reticence – reincarnation was something that sat outside of his mother's simple Methodism, but he had been studying the concept since encountering the Hawks.

"So that explains how the Nazi's gained access to the secret of Nth Metal." He concluded. "Hath Set, like you possesses memories from previous lives."

"Yes." Shiera confirmed. "That is the case, unfortunately."

"And it also explains this." Diana pushed another photograph toward the Hawks.

"Damn." Carter said. "Nth Metal Wings."

Superman saw the figures in the air, his vision powers centred on the photograph and resolution of film allowed him to examine the image closely. A man and a woman were wearing wings in flight, close to the Nazi Citadel, the fortress was floating high above the ground.

"How many of these wing apparatus exist? He asked.

"We didn't know Hath Set had these!" Shiera said. "I mean Nth Metal is so very rare - rare to the extent we believed Carter and I possessed an unique pair."

"And we're frankly very unhappy to be proved wrong, unfortunately memory is not always perfect, especially memories that come from the distant past." Carter Hall stated.

Diana crossed her hands over the file. "The latest information I received indicates that Reich Marshall Göring has adopted the Citadel as a vanity project and has thrown his considerable weight behind seeing the fortress equipped with heavy weapons, even massive naval guns. It appears load is no longer a constraint."

"That isn't the case – or shouldn't be at least." Carter Hall said. "With Nth Metal, as Shiera and I know from experience there is an upper limit to the weight that we can lift or at least cancel out using Nth metal."

"What are you saying?" Superman asked.

Hawk Man said. "Either there is an unparalleled quantity of Nth Metal in the hands of Nazi's or more likely there has to be something else providing lift to make something like this fly."

Superman's eyes narrowed – remembering the Nazi's secret allies, he had his suspicions. He said. "I propose we send a team to investigate. I'll inform Alsos via Colonel Lane that we are going to undertake an operation. Since Hath Set or rather Anton Hastor is an American, I think we have an obligation given Alsos's remit to find out how this fortress is flying."

"Who should go?" Flash asked. "I'm happy to volunteer, but I would be the first to admit I'm not much of a flyer."

Superman saw Garrick's point. "I think it should be the Hawks, Diana and myself."

"And I'll keep the home fires burning." Jay said cheerfully.

Superman said. "The Green Lantern may yet need help, and the fifth column is still active." There was now doubt in his mind that the scarlet speedster's role at home was an essential one. Superman wanted Jay to understand that too.

"I have my Plane hovering above." Diana said. She got to her feet. "Let us not waste time."

-'S'-

Baron August Von Gunther awoke from his stupor, his mind was confused full of hauntingly real images that lingered from his vivid dreams.

He breathed long and slow, vaguely aware that the world appeared tinged with a green hue.

"The subject is responsive." Eve Teschmacher told her boss.

Lex Luthor leaned over the Baron, and shone a pencil torch into his eyes. August blinked. His senses seemed to overwhelm him. So much noise, so much information.

"Dial back the Green Light." Luthor told his assistant. "Setting three."

The greenish tinge that enveloped the bed faded, but remained.

"August?" Luthor asked.

Extending his arm the Baron reached out towards the scientist, his limbs felt heavy, and he ached,which made him wonder, have I been racked by fever? Blinking August stared in disbelief a his own arm, it could not be his, and yet this thing moved as he willed it. His flesh was a grey armour that covered him like a second skin. August brought his hands together, his palms were white as snow, but their surface was steel grey, a bony hard skin through which he could feel his own touch. August grabbed his own forearm and found it thick and muscled, hard as stone. There was something else, something silvery and fine, like metal vines wrapped around each of his wrists, woven into bracelets. Gasping in surprise and disbelief, August touched his face and felt the same tough and unyielding surface like warm iron.

"What have you done to me?" He demanded, rising from the bed. Struggling to do so, he twisted and his feet almost fell to the floor, growling he dragged himself upright.

"Luthor! Damn you to Hell. What have you done to me?" He stumbled forward towards the scientist.

His first step took all of his effort, then his second came easier.

Luthor's assistant looked to her boss, she moved to the box whose weak green light washed over his bed. Luthor raised his hand to her. "No Miss Teschmacher."

August felt stronger, and he reached out to Luthor but before he could touch the scientist a terrible pain engulfed him, agony from deep within causing him to collapse to his knees, striking the ground he heard the hollow thud of his unnaturally hard armoured skin contacting the floor, that did not hurt him, the pain was entirely from within.

Luthor released him, August saw it, a movement of the hand against the scientists own wrist. "I possess a device, one connected to you – wired into the meat of you. I can bring you to your knees, shock you into unconscious and even end your life with nothing more that flick of a switch.

"I am telling you this, because I want you to understand that I am in control – always."

"Damn you – you bastard."

Luthor laughed long and hard. "Now Baron I will explain what has been done to you, what you volunteered for."

August would have frowned but his face was hard mask of bone, instead he growled in frustration. Yes the American was right, he had 'volunteered.' He had been given little choice, death or this. August looked at himself, covered from head to toe in grey armour, and he believed death would have been better, and he cursed his cowardice, and his ambition.

"You have been empowered beyond your wildest dreams Baron." Luthor told him. "This hardened skin can withstand bullets, nothing but heavy ordinance will affect you, your strength is multiplied many times, your senses heightened, you are no longer a mere man."
"If not a man, what am I?"

Luthor sniffed disdainfully. "What use is man? Can a man best a tank?

"That is what you are my good Baron. Just as the Mechanised Infantry can travel faster and hit harder than army of foot soldiers, so you outstrip all men. Why you are Blitzkrieg personified."

"Is that what I am to be – living Blitzkrieg?" August roared.

"Baron Blitzkrieg." Luthor said. "Don't you think that has a certain ring to it Miss Teschmarcher?"

"Yes sir." His aide responded with her delicate tones.

Baron Blitzkrieg hammered the wall of the bunker in frustration. The building shakes, dust falls, and the wall cracks, jagged splinters zig-zag from the epicentre of his strike.

"Mien Gott!"

"I think he looks quite noble, like a Teutonic Knight – don't you agree Miss Teschmarcher?"

"Yes Sir. Very much like a Knight."

"See my good Baron you are an inspiration! Men like you will win this war."

August looked at his fist, he felt an alien strength within him, and as he contemplated the possibilities of his new found powers he decided his fate was not as terrible as it first seemed. "I will need a uniform befitting my rank." He told Luthor.

"It shall be done, my good Baron. It shall be done."

-'S'-

Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Hawks sat in Diana's invisible plane. The twin engined enigma powered it's way out into the Atlantic and towards Bermuda. "Why are we taking this route?" The Man of Steel asked.

Diana looked across at the handsome man beside her, leaning back in the co-pilot's seat, his nonchalance an illusion, she saw him search the skies around them.

Diana knew that he was everything a woman in Patriarchs world would have desired, but that desire, that kind of passion was something Diana had not experienced, and she did not understand it, and yet so much of the culture of this world was dedicated to it.

"Believe or not Kal this is a short cut." Diana replied.

"Diana, if it were any one else who told me that, I wouldn't believe them."

"But you believe me?"

"You are an avatar of truth or so your sisters told me."

"I am blessed by Hestia's illuminating fire." She tapped her Lasso. "So yes that's true - I would never lie to you Kal."

"Nor I you."

"Can I believe that – truth from a man?" She found herself laughing quietly at him. Teasing him.

Superman frowned, again so quickly another being would miss it. "I was raised that way."

"The Amazons were betrayed by Heracles, who was incited by Ares to rape them and conquer the city of Themyscira." Carter Hall told Superman. "It was after their home was sacked the Amazon's left the Earthly realm for their Paradise Island, a gift from their goddess patrons."

"If Diana appears cautious with her trust, it is because her peoples history is defined by that betrayal." Shiera said.

Diana knew the Hawks beside being students of History, had memories of those events having lived through many historic times. She however wanted to explain something of her people's history to Superman, so he could better understand them and her. She said to him. "These bracelets – or properly called Vambraces are worn by every Amazon always. It's our way of remembering, that the Amazons – my sisters were held shackled in cuffs, made slaves, by Heracles and his army." Diana hoped Kal would grasp the importance of this symbolism as she guided her plane into the Bermuda Triangle.

"And that is why you do not permit men on Themyscira's mainland?"

"Yes."

"What of family, of children?" Superman asked.

"We are immortal in every way that matters, our population is almost static, although other women have joined our ranks, becoming Amazons, as it happens I was the first child born on our sacred Island."

She could see he wanted to ask how that might be, but he kept silent. "Kal we are not like your women. I mean the women of Patriarchs world.

"Shiera loves Carter I see it, and it is a wonderful thing, but I don't have that... need, as immortal beings it doesn't make sense for us to have those kind of desires because there's no need for new generation to replace the old."

"You don't know love?"

He appeared shocked to the core, and she felt disappointed in him. "Of course Kal – of course we have love – your English word love is stupid, I'm sorry to be so blunt, but it is – I mean just one word for all kinds of love; love of family, for friends, for a beloved animal, for your gods – and then the same word for sex, for Eros.

"Is it so unbelievable that Amazon have no need for Eros? Kal I am full of love I assure you, love for my sisters, for my friends, for the living world. I have no time or need for romantic love."

Diana searched his cerulean blue eyes, and saw both understanding, and passion. She turned away guiding her plane through purple haze of wild electricity as the portal that had swallowed Steve Trevor's experimental plane opened at her behest and sent them hurtling to Themyscira in an instant.

Emerging over the Island Wonder Woman thought of Steve Trevor, of his forward compliments, his habitual pet name for her, beautiful. She knew he truly meant it, just as she saw in his eyes animal hunger, but she also felt his coldness and condescension to her alter ego Diana Prince. She knew Steve was a good soldier and a brave man, but he was also flawed, weakened by his libido. He wanted her as Heracles had her mother, yet he needed her loyalty to his country. She knew he wanted both.

Yet here was Kal. Strong and noble. A young man who acted justly and spoke the truth. She could see this with certainty, just as Trevor's conflicted role was clear to her. Yet Diana also saw that Superman had passion and desire; she hoped he would find the kind of happiness Carter Hall enjoyed with Shiera Sanders. Above all she was glad Eros did not affect her heart, life was complicated enough.

Diana opened the portal once more and exited her homeland this time emerging over the Greek Islands, on a heading for Germany.

-'S'-

The Dark Angel Valkyrie felt the world around go dark and then the dismal shadows came alive as she and Wotan crackled into existence. The Dark Lord had brought her to the headquarters of project Ahnenerbe SS porting direct from the Castle Wewelsburg to Berlin.

She recognised the Colonels Wüst and Willigut, beside Wotan these men were the first beings she had seen after her rebirth. Deep within her psyche Valkyrie knew she had been someone else, but that someone no longer mattered, a legion of Dark Angels had been woven into one corporate entity, and Valkyrie was the sum of their power.

Beyond the two SS officers, stood a man, his bald head was familiar, his dark suit indicated he was a civilian, and yet his bearing suggested he was something more. Valkyrie saw two winged figures standing beside a third dark haired bearded man. Valkyrie felt a twinge of recognition, both men were ghosts from her world before.

"Lex Luthor." Willigut greeted the bald man with a bombastic enthusiasm, that Valkyrie did not believe. Neither of them was happy to see the other, yet they shook hands like old friends.

Beyond him was another figure looking to all intents and purposes like a knight of old, and yet his armour was not grey metal, but something else entirely.

"May I introduce Baron Blitzkrieg." Luthor said passing Willigut a file.

She tensed, not knowing why she felt anger and loathing.

Willigut looked at notes Luthor had given to him, and then the SS Colonel walked around the Baron. "I did not think your super soldier program was to bear fruit so quickly."

Luthor smiled, he was evidently pleased by Willigut's surprise. "I was following an alternative line of research. One which seems to have born fruit for us both."

Willigut scowled. Luthor's raised hand pointed to her. Valkyrie believed Luthor felt pride in her, it was as if he had a hand in her making.

She scowled at the civilian. "I am Lord Wotan's." She said defiantly. Repeating what she felt – a passion that defined her existence.

Baron Blitzkrieg wore the Nazi flag as his cape, red with the white disc and black swastika at it's centre. On his chest the same emblem fixed to his bony hide. Black shorts covered his modesty, black boots completed the look which both aped Superman's costume and that of military grey worn by the German army.

His face was a mask of immobility, he chose to wear a close fitting helmet over his bony features, below which his grey jaw jutted.

He strode to her.

"I am Vaklyrie." she said.

"Paula?" He whispered hoarsely.

She pulled back from him, why she wondered, was she so angry?

Wotan came between them, taking hold of the Baron by his arm, saying. "She is only Valkyrie. No less, no more."

The Dark Lord's touch seemed more than enough to force Baron Blitzkrieg away, the grey Knight shivered at her Lords touch, his knees buckling as Wotan released his grip, letting the Baron recover. Blitzkrieg stood tall once again, but he did not look at her.

"The Baron should understand his place." Willigut said. Valkyrie approved of that sentiment, intensely.

Willigut continued to Luthor. "Wotan possesses the power of alien crystal which is your super soldiers Achilles heel."

"And the means by which we both succeeded in our work. The meteor rock is in your possession because of me." Luthor said. "Without it could there even be a Wotan?" He asked his contemptuous smile betrayed him.

Valkyrie gasped silently, could her Lord Wotan not be the god she imagined, the god she was created to serve? She dismissed her doubts, burying them.

"Doctor Hastor has found a man and a woman able to make use of the Weapons of Magical Dominance he brought to us." Wüst stated as he walked between Willigut and then Luthor. He was like an angry school teacher separating squabbling boys.

"Here are the Reich Eagles." Hastor announced, pointing to the winged man and woman.

Wotan stepped forward. "I find the metal these wings are made from most interesting."

"As I find you, Lord Wotan." Hastor said, bowing as he spoke.

"My Reich Knights." Wotan declared. Each of the costumed warriors snapped to attention, such was the innate power of his words. "I have sensed within the territory of Greater Germany interlopers, beings of power who are the enemy of our glorious Third Reich. Together we must defend our country from them."

-'S'-

Diana's invisible plane pushed deep into the territory of the Third Reich's.

Superman tried to gauge how Wotan's magical influence was effecting his well being. He did not feel his strength ebbing away which was good, but on the other hand his super senses felt blunted. Reaching out he caressed the translucent skin of Wonder Woman's invisible plane. Superman wondered if the same magic that hid Diana's aircraft from the world might also afford him some level of protection against the magic influence of Wotan.

Time would tell. Superman steeled himself for the inevitable moment when he must face his fears and he hoped that he could be, despite Wotan's magic, strong enough. Superman did not want to fail his friends.

"The Citadel is located in the countryside to the east of Berlin." Diana told her passengers.

Superman looked forward using his telescopic vision, normally he could see further and more clearly, but Wotan's magical influence reduced his field of vision.

Eventually he was able to say. "I have located a hole in the ground that I think matches the descriptions of the Citadel's location, but I can't see the Citadel itself."

"Then the Nazi's have progressed further still." Carter Hall said. "Could the Fortress be travelling to another location?"

Superman thought this the likely answer. "Any ideas how we can track this thing?" He asked.

"I have the eye of Artemis, goddess of the hunt." Diana replied. "I can track anything."

"You are a psychometric?" Carter Hall asked.

"Yes in the sense I can see the trail every living thing leaves, the echo of it's passing, nothing no matter how light footed can escape me, I see the truth of where it has been, and I can track a bird's path through the air, so the Citadel cannot escape the eyes of the goddess of the hunt."

"Because the Nth Metal gives the Citadel a soul." Hawk Man concluded.

With those words Diana turned to pursue the Nazi's flying fortress.

Superman determined they were flying west towards the English Channel.

-'S'-

Zytlar-Luthor guided the Citadel steadily across occupied France, Göring had given the order that they were to rendezvous with the Luftwaffe escort, a squadron of fighters, and then onto London in formation. The Reich Marshall believed the sight of the Citadel in the sky above the enemy capital would be a huge propaganda victory.

Zytal did not doubt this plan, but to him it smacked of desperation. The Battle of Britain was proving to be harder to win than predicted. Göring's Luftwaffe had to achieve air superiority if the invasion of the English Mainland was to take place. Although traffic through the English Channel had been halted, the RAF had not been broken.

German Bombers had begun targeting the civilian population in an effort to break morale, the consequences devastating. Göring made sure to arm his flying fortress with heavy ordinance too, the Citadel was to rain death down onto London as it past over head. Thousand pound bombs were stacked on the deck ready to fall from the Fortress.

The Citadel had been armed with heavy machine gun emplacements, and naval guns alongside the existing anti aircraft weapons. In this way it was already well protected. The Messerschmitt 109 escort was an extra line of defence, but the fighters could only stay with the Citadel for a mere ten minutes over London. Their range was too limited for a longer flight time. Göring believed the risk to his Citadel was worthwhile because the sight of the flying fortress would be strike terror into the civilian population of the city.

Zytal-Luthor valued his own skin, even if others did not. He was a kind of Frankenstein's Monster, and his less than human status made him the ideal choice to work with the hitherto lethal flying discs. Simply Zytal was expendable. A rare early success among the many experiments carried out by his 'father', but he had no doubt Lex Luthor would master the process in due course. That he was repeatable.

His mission was to get the Citadel over London.

"If all else fails. If the British bring us down." Hastor had told him. "My Eagles will fly us clear, and the Citadel will make a giant hole in London."

Zytal knew this was true, if the worse happened this flying building would be the ultimate bomb. "You can be sure Anton that the British will throw all they have at us once we are seen."

"We will no doubt surprise them." Hastor said with confidence.

It was a confidence Zytal did not share.

His attachment to the Luftwaffe had given Zytal access to various projects that might have a bearing on his work with the Annunki's flying disc. Among these had been the science of Radar. The early prototype had be called Freya after the Germanic goddess. Zytal had monitored the Luftwaffe's progress, and had come to the conclusion his superiors were too anxious to exploit the offensive potential of this new science, the Nazi's attention was captured by the possibilities of more accurate bombing, and Zytal could see his bosses had ignored the value of defensive Radar installations. Zytal had studied the aerial battle over the last weeks and days, and he was sure the British were using Radar defensively. The RAF was getting the jump on the Luftwaffe because the British had advanced warning of the German aircraft. He was certain the huge Citadel would appear as irresistible target.

-'S'-

King George VI looked out across the city of London from Buckingham Palace, palls of smoke rose past the barrage balloons that dotted the skyline as a deterrent to enemy planes. When the first German bombing raid on London had struck, Saturday September 7th 1940, estimates put civilian deaths at around a thousand. Over three hundred aircraft had pounded the city. He and his wife Queen Elizabeth had chosen to remain in London at the outbreak of war, and he remained determined to do so, even in the face of these nightly raids on his people.

"Majesty I must leave you."

The King turned from the window to face Sir Justin. The Shining Knight's spoken English still had a certain exotic ring to it. The King understood as a man out of time, Justin wrestled with the nuances of modern language. "Duty calls?" He concluded.

"Yes Sire." Sir Justin bowed. His golden armour shone reflecting the light as did so.

"More Bombers?" The King asked. The papers were calling these brutal attacks the Blitz.

"Something." Sir Justin replied. The Shining Knight's expression became tense as he searched for the right words. "Something very big. Not expected."

The King was no wiser, he would have to call Downing Street, and the subterranean war rooms for a clearer answer.

"I thought the Germans had switched to night raids to avoid heavy losses." The King mused more to himself than to the warrior from a former age. The man appointed as his guardian.

"Perhaps the something – is something they wish London to see." Sir Justin replied. Adding. "With your permission Sire?"

"Of course man, good Lord, God be with you." He replied watching the golden armour of Britain's hero leave his presence.

Above the palace, there was a flash of orange light, as the fiery steed Victory, the magic mount of the Shining Knight carried him skyward.

-'S'-

Superman fell from the blue, swooping down on the Citadel as it crossed the narrow band of water that separated the European mainland from the coast of England. The Man of Steel was glad to be in action, especially here and now, here where the influence of Wotan's magic waned. Superman was happy to take any advantage he could.

Approaching the Citadel's concrete superstructure Superman estimated the speed of the flying fortress to be about two hundred miles per hour, the Nth energy bubble around the fortress crackled around him like static electricity as punctured the envelope that enabled the Citadel to fly. Landing on the concrete deck of the fortress, he was immediately met by a hail of high calibre bullets, the machine gun installations barking into life as his arrival was spotted. Within the bubble of Nth energy the German soldiers were protected from the worst of the wind but they were still exposed.

Superman shrugged off the hail of hot metal as the high power rounds rebounded from his near impervious hide. He felt them more keenly than he might, and he counted himself lucky, that he was too close to the building itself to be targeted by the much heavier naval gun installations.

From a concealed entrance within the series of interconnected towers the Nazi Reich Eagles burst forth, their wings outstretched, carrying heavy chain fed machine guns, the belt ammo hung from shoulders, and they added their fire to the fight.

It was all part of Superman's plan. He was exposed and visible, a distraction. From within the hidden plane flying above, Hawk Man and Hawk Girl suddenly emerged, swooping down towards their Nazi doppelgängers, heavy maces in hand the Hawks struck the Reich Eagles from either side, the metal body of the machine guns deforming as the simpler older steel of the Hawks made the modern weapons useless.

An aerial battle between the winged warriors broke out above the Citadel in the sky. The Hawks dived and wheeled around the Reich Eagles who resorted to lighter guns, but the Hawks carried shields empowered by the Nth Metal energies in their hands, and these repelled the Nazi's fire.

Superman sped past the rain of bullets and broke the machine guns targeting him, first one and than a second, back and forth he raced on route to heavy steel door, the entrance to the Fortress.

At speed, in a split second, he readied to break it down. Hundredths of a second later the whole door exploded outwards, Superman bounce back away as the door swung towards him, a blow struck him, followed by the whip crackling noise of a fist flying at supersonic speed, the punch landing before the sound.

Superman rolls and staggers back his feet scraping on the deck of the Citadel.

The grey hulking warrior leaps forward, to rain in a blur of motion blows at the Man of Steel. As it strikes the creature cries out its name like Stuka Bomber screaming in its attack dive. "Baron Blitzkrieg!"

Superman counter punches, the body of the Nazi ubermensch does not yield, rock hard skin - as tough as own his steel-like hide deflects his counter-attack. Superman's x-ray like vision tells him the impossible – the armour is the skin of this strange man.

Superman tastes blood in his mouth, the creature has great strength, but it is not the first time Superman has fought a being of power, and he cuts loose, smashing into Baron Blitzkrieg, his punch rockets the Nazi warrior back into the doorway from whence he came. The Citadel shakes as Baron Blitzkrieg shatters the concrete inner wall, and pulls himself free from the bent steel mesh within. With a mighty leap he smashes into Superman once more.

-'S'-

Diana enters the complex unseen, past Superman and the Metahuman Knight as they fight. Wonder Woman runs along the path she memorised in her last brief visit, around her the Citadel is in uproar, but Diana moves faster than the soldiers and technicians can react, the sheer force of her passage knocks them aside sending all sprawling in the corridor behind her. Wonder Woman arrives at the entrance to the main laboratory bunker. Insubstantial guards block her path, behind them a substantial metal door seals the bunker. Machine guns bark as the German soldiers open fire, her arms flash in a blur of movement, bullets fly away from her, deflected by her vambraces. Diana moves past the guards; her hands and feet make contact, knocking them out cold. Grasping the heavy metal vault Wonder Woman rips the door open. She swings around it, leaping down the stair well in a single graceful bound, sliding into the large open space where the flying disc chassis is secured.

"I was waiting for you child of Magic. Come pledge your loyalty to Wotan."

Diana recognises the Nazi god, the Dark Mage was as green skinned as Superman had described, she watches him, ready to strike; according to Dr Occult's explanation of his powers, the Nazi Sorcerer would not be as powerful as he was in Berlin.

Wotan suddenly launches an attack of directed magical energy, Diana crosses her bracelets and Wotan's burst of fire whips around her like tornado, and with it's passage she reaches for her Lasso, the golden cord flashes from her waist hurtling through the air toward Wotan.

Suddenly Diana is snatched from behind, as in the same moment Wotan laughs at her as he snaps out of existence, out of the path of the Lasso, crackling away from view.

-'S'-

Superman digs deep and battles Baron Blitzkrieg, blow for blow he knows he is stronger, now the Nazi flag his opponent wears is nothing but tatters. Superman lands a mighty punch on the body of the Nazi enemy and he feels the Baron's armoured hide cracks under his fist, blood leaks from the shatter pattern of the wound, evidence that his enemies armour is his skin. The Baron snarls in pain and rage, but the Man of Steel presses his advantage. From above there is falling human form. A Reich Eagle, the woman tumbles against the citadel walls to bounce hard on the floor of the concrete deck.

Superman hammers the Baron a final time propelling him into the buildings super structure, Blitzkrieg's metal helmet deformed and his jaw broken. Superman his own hands battered and bruised, his nose bloodied. The second Reich Eagle crashes to the deck propelled by Hawk Man, Carter Hall releases him and with his mace ensures the Nazi joins his partner in unconsciousness.

Superman breathes deeply, and with relief he genuinely feels wipes the blood from his face. Then Wotan crackles into existence before him.

Superman has to act, dodging the first beam of magical energy Superman dives at the Dark Mage, but at the last moment, he turns away his feint is deliberate. Hawk man hammers his mace into the Sorcerer, together with Hawk Girl they strike from either side, aiming for the green creatures head.

The maces collide, but not with Wotan, rather the Dark Lord's body crackles with energy, a magical shield of power, and the Citadel lurches as if Wotan leaches from the engine within.

The Hawks are propelled away from him, shocked backwards by magic, they tumble across the deck and fall away from him, as Wotan spreads his hands the energies force the stunned flyers from the citadel and over the edge. Superman can see them fall, he leaps skyward intent on saving them. Wotan magic grips him in great whip like tentacles of energy, bruised and battered by his fight with Baron Blitzkrieg, Superman struggles against his foe.

-'S'-

Diana feels the arm around her neck, a strong grip intending to apply pressure to her throat, a hand takes her wrist, she reacts turning into her assailant. Wonder Woman twists down and out from under the grip, into the crouch where she sweeps the feet of her attacker. Valkyrie leaps upward jumping clear.

Diana flips backward snatching her lasso back into her hand, before landing to face the Riech Knight.

She sees the dark armour of her magical opponent glowing red. Her face is stern glowering in rage, and Wonder Woman gasps in recognition. "Paula von Gunther."

"I am Valkyrie!" The silver haired Warrior bunched her fists. Her scream echoes around the bunker.

Diana shivered. "Hera what has been done to you?"

Valkyrie answered with a imperceptible movement of her hand as fine silver cord flashed across lashing itself around Wonder Woman's wrist.

Diana yanked hard on the cord, and found it as irresistible as her own god-forged golden lasso.

"You will not break the Gleipnir, it is the magic chain that bound the Fenris Wolf, ravager of the world, slayer of gods, it is strong as creation itself."

Diana felt her will sapping from her mind, the rage, the adrenaline fired fight instinct evaporated for her. She felt ready to fall to her knees and yield, but she held in her hand a gold chain forged in the fires of Hestia from the girdle of the Earth, it's magic kept her mind true. Wonder Woman released the Magic Lasso which encircled Valkyrie's wrist in like fashion.

Images rushed into Diana's mind as the Magic's wrestled one with the other.

She sensed deep within the corporate mind that was Valkyrie's consciousness was Paula's identity, but over layered was a legion of Dark Battlefield Angels.

The Gleipnir carried an enchantment, as did her own Lasso; both were unbreakable but the Gleipnir did not illicit truth, it instead robbed whoever was held within it's grasp of the will to resist. The Fenris Wolf had been destruction personified. If the beast that brought the Norse apocalypse – Ragnarok, could be tamed by the Gleipnir, then any lesser being would be completely defeated.

"Where is the Hand of Mars?" She demanded.

Valkyrie laughed at her. "All the way to the Necropolis and you didn't find it?"

Diana realised that Valkyrie was as clueless as herself. The two warriors strained one against the other, irresistible unbreakable magic forces meeting.

-'S'-

Superman struggled within the tentacle of magic, preparing for Wotan's wrath. He could hear the approaching roar of Merlin engines, the RAF Supermarine Spitfires were on there way to intercept the citadel's fighter escort. He prayed Wonder Woman was still in the fight, that she could stop whatever engine made this thing fly.

Unexpectedly Baron Blitzkrieg leapt back attacking him. Incredibly the Nazi warrior had recovered, his body had healed. Angrily the Iron Nazi lashed out at the Man of Steel, Wotan released Superman from his magic, the Sorcerer seemed content to stand aloof from the battle, to watch Baron Blitzkrieg attack. Superman wondered what had become of the Hawks, but has he tried to block the blows raining down on him from the Reich Knight, he was forced to concentrate. A whip of magical energy lashed out from Wotan. Superman had been wrong, Wotan was just toying with him. The Sorcerers magic sent Superman smashing into the Citadel's main tower, as he dragged himself from the broken concrete covered in white dust, Baron Blitzkrieg charged at him once more.

Superman roars in rage, thinking if I'm going down, I'm going to go down fighting. His punch hits the Baron hard, and Blitzkrieg staggers back, then another blast of energy from Wotan smashes Superman to the ground. Superman shakes his head groggy, fighting unconsciousness.

Wotan rises his hands aloft they crackle with violence and he drives the fire from his fists towards Superman.

But the fire does not reach it's target instead a golden figure riding a fiery steed, charges the magic bolt dividing it with his sword.

Superman sees magic meet magic. The terrible blast is divided and deflected. The Man of Tomorrow uses the brief respite to recover and charges forward, running between the beams directing his strength at the Baron.

Superman does not recognise this golden armoured Knight, but he does the Union flag. His allegiance was with the British. Clearly the armoured man wields powerful magic, and Superman is glad this surprise is on the side of democracy.

Superman drives at Baron Blitzkrieg hard, and he let's his fists do all the talking, he keeps nothing back, the Reich Knight is highly resilient, Superman thinks like me Blitzkrieg can be hurt, and hurt back; like me, he heals very quickly. The Man of Steel felt no qualms about hammering the Iron Knight with all his might, they were too alike, while privately wondering how this creature could be.

-'S'-

Sir Justin's armour reflects the magical blast of the Wotan as if they were water, the power of Merlin's old magic is strong within him, and this is not the first time he has faced the Dark Lord. In his hand Justin wields his enchanted sword Veritas, a magical weapon that is the equal of the Clarent, the sword in the stone, and Excalibur, the sword from the Lady of the Lake.

Wotan brings to hand his own weapon a blade that glows red hot, and burns as if newly forged. Justin steeped in magical lore courtesy of Merlin, recognises the Zorn, Wotan's sword of wrath. The magical blades clash, and the air crackles with lightening and reverberates with thunder.

He sees as he turns duelling with Wotan, how the American, the hero called Superman fights a hideous Knight, more monster than man. Together their blows compress the air, the cracks and booms shatter the Citadel yet further, glass tumbles, concrete cracks and crumbles. Justin battles on against the magic warrior, facing Wotan, swords clashing in the dance of death and steel.

-'S'-

Wonder Woman and Valkyrie struggle, a tug of war wedded to ballet, as they strike at each other with their feet, kicking and blocking as best they can.

Diana wrestles her powerful opponent, suddenly she absorbs a viscous body blow, she grunts in pain. Diana uses the magical ropes, that bind her and Valkyrie to each other, to stop her self from falling. Wonder Woman's regains her balance and strikes out, her foot catches Valkyrie's triumphant face.

Paula tumbles back and Diana falls with her. Valkyrie readies her feet, and Diana feels the boots of the Nazi warrior smash into her chest, the Amazon finds herself propelled backwards. Diana summons her power of flight. "Hermes help me." She spits.

Diana pulls on her lasso, she pulls on the Gliepner, Valkyrie resists but Diana rolls adding momentum to her swing, she catches hold of the heavy steel frame that secures the flying disc's chassis to the Citadel with her legs. Firmly placed Wonder Woman yanks Valkyrie to her. The Nazi now must resist both her and the mammoth Fortress, pulling against the concentrated Nth metal power amplified by the Annunki Engine.

Diana understood this principle and exploits it, fighting the concentrated minds of a legion of Dark Battlefield Angels, she wins.

Valkyrie hurtles towards her and crashes directly into the exposed lattice of the flying disc's structural frame, smashing into the Annunki's gravitational motor. Electrical energy arcs around Valkyrie's body, she shudders, screams, and struggles.

With a violent crackle and groan the Nth metal field wavers, Valkyrie's hands tear at the wafer thin foil of Nth Metal that both shields the motor, and amplifies the energy bubble around the fortress. This field wavers, and so the building's mass returns, it's rigid structure begins to fail, and to fall around them.

Diana drags Valkyrie from the motor's energy field, the Nazi warrior falling into her arms unconscious. Wonder Woman must carry her enemy as she leaps out of the concrete well where the flying disc is locked in place, and runs out onto the deck of the crumbling building. Around her the crew, technicians and guards flee, grabbing parachutes they began to bail out, leaping over the side of the deck and away from the failing Citadel.

Diana could see Superman pound the grey warrior Baron Blitzkrieg, she had heard him shout his name at the outset.

Now the Nazi looked like a crushed snail, in Superman's hands, his body armour, shell like, had been shattered, and he was slick in red blood. At last the grey Reich Knight succumbed to the Man of Steel, and the Baron fell back unconscious onto the deck.

The Hawks had returned. Carter Hall held his left arm tucked into his chest braces, was evidently injured Diana observed. Shiera Sanders was bloodied but in better shape, they had defeated the Reich Eagles.

Diana called out to her colleagues. "The engine beneath is damaged. It would be wise to get away before it blows." She landed next to Superman, but her attention was directed at Wotan and the man he fought.

"Who is that Knight?" She asked.

"I don't know." Superman replied. He panted, catching his breath. "He's British, and I'm glad he arrived. For a moment I thought I would have to handle both Blitzkrieg and Wotan."

"I would dearly like to meet Wotan." Diana spat. Her hand itched for a spear.

"Lets take him." Superman said.

She looked at him with admiration. He was a warrior, his bloodied hands and battered face declared it. He clearly never backed down. Together they leapt at the Dark Sorcerer.

Yet Superman and Wonder Woman found only the lingering smell of ozone where Wotan had stood. Wotan clearly deciding the battle had turned against him, and with a defiant roar and a foul curse even as they charged at him, the Dark Lord teleported from the Citadel.

"The blaggard runs." The Knight cried. Waving his Sword above his head in triumph, before turning to her. "Britain thanks you all for your aid." He said.

"I should thank you." Superman replied. "But I do not know who you are?"

"Sir Justin, called the Shining Knight. "I know of you both."

Sir Justin then bowed to Wonder Woman. "Fair Maiden, your call, your shout, this has me troubled."

Diana agreed with him, as she felt the Citadel shake even more. "We're going to have to go, the engine of this thing is about tear this place apart." She said.

"Aye, and it will fall upon the ground. See we are at the White Cliffs!" Justin gestured with his Sword. England's coastline lay below.

"We can't allow that to happen." Superman said leaping into the air he flew beneath the concrete structure, gripping the Citadel. Wonder Woman joined him.

"We must try and get it back over the water." He shouted.

"Titans?" The Shining knight called out. "What would you have me do?" He hovered on a fiery steed, it's vast flame wings beat the air.

Diana recognised a mystical Pegasus spirit, a horse of fire and magic, which explained how the Sir Justin had reached the Citadel.

"I'm not concerned about the building itself hitting the water." Superman shouted, his face grimly set with determination and labour. "But I don't want the motor to explode close to shore. From what I have learned about these engines they are incredibly destructive if they fail, like a bomb of immense power."

Diana sensed his urgency. "Sir Knight." Wonder Woman asked. "Can you cut the engine free from the metal that holds it?" She hoped his sword was enchanted with such power. "It lies there!" She pointed to the centre of the Citadel lowest protruding bunker.

Without responding in words, the Shining Knight chose deed. He sliced into the body of the Citadel, hacking into the concrete well where the flying disc was secured to the steel superstructure. Once inside Sir Justin stuck again at the metal chassis, his enchanted sword cut through the metal releasing the engine from it's shackles, the motor and its fractured N'th metal shield fell, tumbling into Superman's waiting hands.

Wonder Woman heaved with all her might and the shattered building, it's bombs, and guns fell into the waters of the English Channel. Superman flew away, below the water exploded as the Citadel splashed down, and the Metropolis Marvel sped on faster, upwards ever higher.

-'S'-

High above the alien satellite flickered into action, its years of hibernation over. Tell tale radiations were being detected by it's sensors, the exact signature the probe been constructed to detect, and had long sought, was found.

Below Superman pushed himself, he had never flown this high, he used all of his strength to drive the motor up, up, and away, until Superman hung in the whisper thin upper atmosphere, perched on the very edge of space. Superman cast the critical reactor from his grip; turning like an athlete he gave a tremendous heave as he hurled it like an Olympic hammer away into the void. Below him lay the curve of the Earth, above him the damaged Annunki Engine flashed into the distance, hurtling free of gravity, until moments later the motor exploded in bright white ball of fire.

Beyond Superman the alien probe centred in on the explosion, this the crucial event. Critically at last particles of Nth metal were definitively detected. The on board computer homing program engaged the hyper drive engine and the probe flickered out of normal space back to it's master.