Author's note:

I wouldn't mind a general consensus on how to upload future chapters: Do you prefer me to release one chapter as soon as possible, or would you be willing to wait longer for three or four at the same time? leave your opinions below and don't forget to review and like.

Thanks again, guys. On with the story.

Metropolis, New York State, USA*

*US Government sponsored safehouse*

"As God as my witness, I will never understand it." Green Arrow quipped as he sat at the large metal table, looking at total ease as he rested his feet up, leaning back into the chair.

He pinched the brown expensive fabric, savouring the feel. "Yeah, premium Italian leather, now what would a Spook sponsored team of Supers need for premium leather seats, can anyone explain that to me?" he asked to nobody.

"Wow, somebody call in, Question…" Hawkgirl snarked, drawing a lazy smirk from the Emerald Archer.

The sound of a whizzing arrow went past at the distant, which gained the two's attention. Green Arrow only sighed, knowing full well who it was.

At the area at the back of the hall, which was used as a training ground, Roy Harper, known as Speedy, shot arrows at the moving targets with a naturalness and ease as someone putting on a jacket in the mourning.

There was frustration however, frustration and impatience from a young man who wanted action.

As he took the heads off the couple of targets, he found that he had exhausted his supply of arrows. With frustration on his mind, he simply preformed a massive spin kick, taking the dummy's head clean off.

As he came back to the ground, recovering, he threw his bow to the side with a growl.

"Damn it! How long are we going to be kept here? We should be out there already stopping Batman!"

With his hands up in surrender, Oliver went over to calm the hot-headed sidekick down.

"Speedy, take it down a notch. We have to have a plan first. Supes and Wonder Woman will be back."

That did not calm him.

"And by the time they do, what then? we stay here, and Batman's strength grows every day. In case you didn't notice, he'll have the League of Shadows on side soon."

"We don't know that…" Ollie tried, though in truth, even he wasn't convinced of his own words."

"Yes, I do. We're wasting any chance we have to take him down before he become too strong.

At that, a voice quipped in.

"It seems he isn't wrong, Green Arrow."

It was Wonder Woman and Superman who came in, behind walked the others: Batwoman, Donna Troy, Shazam, Green Lantern and Aquaman, the later of whom looked decidedly angry, with a reasonable hint of worry.

The Amazon crossed her arms and sighed.

"We can confirm: Ra's Al Ghul has now pledged the League of Shadows to Batman. We have more than just the Clan and Rogue Justice Leaguers to worry about."

All looked disheartened by the news: None had ever been as close to Al Ghul like Batman and his team had been, despite the occasional interaction on a joint mission or two. They had hoped that Ra's well-known integrity would ensure he stand with them against Batman, but it would seem the personal relationship had won out. Another potential ally had now turned into a new enemy.

"Damn it!" Ray yelled, punching a nearby wall that left a noticeable dent.

He pointed a finger towards the Kryptonian and Amazon:

"This is your fault! We should have made a move the second we formed. Press the attack while we had an advantage, now its lost."

It was Aquaman who joined in.

"I must concur with Red Arrow." He looked across to the Clark and Diana, "You made me a promise that this would be in Atlantis' interests. That we could reasonably oppose Batman. That seems less likely every day." He grimaced, gripping his trident hard.

It was Batwoman who spoke.

"How about you be quiet and listen, we have a plan."

Wonder Woman stepped forward to elaborate, sending a thankful nod to Katherine Kane.

"We have eyes in their camp, but we need more. Taking out the more powerful of Batman's allies is what we must do from here."

Superman continued.

"We must avoid an all-out war at all costs. I know it may not seem it, but we still have a chance to avert conflict, perhaps covertly convince the others on Batman's side to see reason if he will not."

Hawkgirl simply raised an eyebrow:

"And how will we do that?"

Wonder Woman spoke up.

"I have a plan."


Myanmar, Southeast Asia

12:34 GMT

The Tatmadaw never seemed to learn, no matter how many times they came here.

Hawkman smashed his Axe into the next tank, blowing it to pieces as the sorry excuses of soldiers ran for the hills, out of the sacked town.

A group futilely emptied their entire magazines into Martian Manhunter, who simply phased himself, allowing them to pass through him with no problem.

The ease of this disgusted the Thantagarian, who quips that while he enjoys the opportunity to fully enforce law and order as he might have back on his own planet in the old days, the lack of challenge is beginning to bore him.

Wonder Woman had worked through the details. Ensuring both these men were out of the way was important for different reasons.

"Red Arrow, Green Arrow, Wonder Girl, Black Lighting, get ready, their coms to the Batcave and WatchTower should now be jammed."
"Let's do this." Roy confidently announced, happy for action at last. "I second that." Quipped Oliver Queen.

"Ready to go, Princess." Donna Troy responded."

"All good to go." Said Black Lighting.

They waited behind the walls of the village, the green of the nearby jungle and dug out trenches.

Diana knew that Myanmar's dictatorship would not honour their agreement to peace, she and the others had arrived an hour earlier, evacuating the Karen tribesmen before the army arrived. By the time the soldiers came, along with the infamous war criminal, General Tee Kyaw, so had Manhunter and Hawkman.

Katar Hol was a hothead and a true man of violence if there ever was one, in hindsight, it disturbed her that they had allowed such an individual into the Justice League in the first place. She always sensed a darkness in him, even before all this.

Fortunately, his preference for a fight ensured that he and Manhunter would be too busy to notice any of them and keeping their presence a secret was key if this plan was to work.

As the last soldiers were either defeated or retreated – plenty had died – it was the cowering excuse of a mass-murdering general who was left. He sank to his knees in the dirt, pleading in his own tongue for mercy.

Hawkman and Martian Manhunter flew down, looking at the man in disgust.

Katar glared a freighting look, roughly picking him from above the floor like he was a bottle cap.

"I ought to take your head right now, you worthless scum." He grazed his axe dangerously close to the older man, who shrunk as best as he could from the blade.

Jon'zz placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Hawkman, don't. Batman demands he go on trial. We must deliver him as planned."

Katar only grimaced and nodded, both went up into the air, the squealing general begging for them to leave him be.

"Wonder Girl, go."

At that, Donna flew fast against the unaware duo, who flew at a much lazier pace, snatching the general away.

The dazzled pair went into a defensive formation, but Black Lighting caught to two with a strike from behind, knocking them to the ground.

As they both arose, they took in the multiple attackers who had once been their comrades and even friends.

Hawkman gritted his teeth in fury. Eyes transfixed on Wonder Woman, who only glared back, arms crossed.

"If you think you'll get away with this, wench, then you're stupider and more ignorant than I thought."

"You fell into our ploy, Katar, not the other way around."

J'onzz seemed to go for a softer approach. A look of betrayal on his features.

"We were friends, Wonder Woman. How could you do this to us. Should heroes not stand as one, to save the world together?"

She looked on at the last Green Martian with genuine pity.

"Please forgive me, J'onzz, but you left us no choice." He turned towards Red and Green Arrow, each had a unique arrow, forged with reinforced knockout gas.

They fired, knocking out pair who had been Batman's top enforcers.

"Goodnight, assholes." Roy spat.

All took a moment, realising what had just occurred.

Black Lighting spoke up.

"There's no going back now. We've just entered a war, and we must win." She looked back to the others, "For everyone's sake."


Diana was no fan of the US administration or the president, but even she had to admit, they truly gone out of their way to had provide everything.

Even these helpful prison cells, specifically designed to hold meta beings.

J'onzz had awoken first, but had spoken no words and simply gazed out, as if judging each one of them. His cell held many features specifically meant to keep him in; any attempt to break through, phase through or use his heat vision, or if he tried to send a telepathic attack, the room would erupt into flames, and if he did not stop, it would kill him.

Diana and Clark did not want to later to be the case and had informed the Martian of his state as soon as he had awoken.

When Hawkman awoke, it was a different story.

As soon as he comprehended his surroundings – his helm, axe and armour missing - and remembered how he had got here, eyeing Wonder Woman, Superman and Wonder Woman. he rushed the cell door with all his might, cursing and yelling, but not as the electrified gates threw him back.

The Thanagarian practically growled.

"Figures you could never take us on in a fair fight, cowards." He gave a smirk, "You don't think Batman will find us? He'll be searching by now, and when he discovers what you did, you're finished." He spat.

"Don't count on it, husband." Came Hawkgirl's voice. She came into view of the holding cells, a look of disgust and disappointment on her face as she glared at Hawkman.

It was an expression he returned in kind, "I should have known you would be involved in this, woman. I should have taught you better. When I get out of here, I'll correct that, you'll come around the way things are done now." speaking of his wife as if she were some piece of property.

Wonder Woman kept a hand on Shiera's shoulder, preventing her friend from acting against her better judgement and beating the brute into a bloody pulp.

"As soon as we put an end to Batman's madness, you're taking a trip straight back to Thanagar, Katar. You've overstepped your authority, oppressing a foreign populace. If you're lucky, you'll maybe get three hundred years of imprisonment, with the possibility of parole later."

She leaned in, "Either way, you've disgraced the name of Hawkman, and of our people."

Hawkman did not back down, "The only thing I'm guilty of is not acting to improve this world sooner. It took Batman and his clan to experience a tragedy to see the truth, but I've always known it, Shiera, as do you. When we ruled Egypt together a thousand years ago, we established such peace and order that our society is still remembered to this day. Humans are a stubborn breed; they need a strong hand to guide them to fulfil their potential now just as they did then. It's up to us to do that. For the good of this planet."

"That was a different time, Katar." Argued Hawkgirl, "Things have changed now, and humanity will never accept oppression."

Hawkman's rolled his eyes, as if hearing the grumblings of a child.

Superman decided to intervene between the couple, glaring towards Katar.

"That's enough Hawkman, you won't be leaving here anytime soon."

Before Katar could respond, Clark continued, "And you won't need to worry to much about Batman looking for you, we already have that covered."

For the first time, Martian Manhunter seemed to come alive, an expression of shock and panic. '

"No."


*Northern Darfur, Sudan-Chad border*

GMT 13:04

They call the crisis in Sudan a "civil war".

A conflict that began in 2003 and has carried on now, and which could rise and fall at varying levels, depending on the mood of the outside world, if the situation was topical.

It's a lie. This was genocide, not a war.

A war implies that the two sides are at least somewhat equal. Which cannot be said here. The government has decided these people must be removed, simply because they are African and not Arab. It hides behind the militia known as the Janjaweed, to do most of the mass murder for it. But it's own role is an open secret.

Almost five hundred thousand men, women and children have been slaughtered since the genocide begun, with five hundred villages burned. The UN is meaningless here, unless something happens within its own jurisdiction, they can do nothing as more and more are slaughtered.

Before Gotham, Dinah Lance had never seemed to have the time to learn what happened outside her bubble of crime fighting in Star City. As was a similar case with the women she had come here with; Huntress, Zatanna, Catwoman and Batgirl.

They watched as the Janjaweed came, riding on camels and technicals, armed to the teeth, ready to destroy this next village. They all kept their communicators turned off for this one. They would only buzz if the situation truly was severe.

Starvation, rape, mass murder, it was a daily occurrence here.

Not anymore.

As the Militia reached the wooded gates set up by the villagers, a feeble effort to protect themselves from the inevitable attack, they aimed their weapons at the villagers, while some went over to the young women, but suddenly, the vehicles were lifted in the air, men inside, not understanding what was happening.

They were too late as Black Canary, Huntress, Batgirl and Catwoman dropped from the Batwing to attack.

Canary saw a militiaman as he manhandled a girl, no more than fifteen years old, who fought back as the man backhanded her.

Dinah Lance kicked the man in the face, hard, teeth and blood bursting from his face as the girl scurried away, hiding behind an older woman who she assumed was her mother.

That pissed her off more.

She grabbed him by the collar of his neck, "You wont touch her again." She growled. She did not hold back as she punched the man, whom she later learned was the unit commander.

Before long, the Janjaweed had given up, lifting their arms in the air, still with their guns in hands.

She dragged the nearly unconscious man with her. Some had died, thanks to Huntresses' skill with her crossbow.

She looked to the villagers, most were elderly, women and children. Most young men had either been executed by excursions or raids, or some had fled to avoid that fate.

Canary spoke for the team. Hoping somebody would understand her at least.

"You have nothing to fear anymore. We will take this man away, and the others will face judgement."

It was an elderly and dignified woman who spoke up.

"And you will stay to protect us?"

Canary was taken aback then, she looked to the others, who held the same unsure expression as hers. She tried not to show it.

"We…"

The woman saw through it.

"This will not stop them. Others will take their place. Take his place. On what grounds can you lock them away? The outside world has told us our tormentors will face consequences, but they never do. We put our faith in the west to help, but they did not. Please, do not give us false hope, do not lie to us."

It was rare Dinah Lance was taken aback, Ollie would always say she was a smartass, never was one to keep her mouth shut, often to her own detriment.

Here though… just what was she doing? How could she be so ignorant, to arrive here, with her fellow Birds, just to wallow in self-righteousness before leaving, while men like the scum in her hands would be back, and it would be like this intervention never occurred.

No, I won't let it happen. She thought.

Before anyone could say or do anything, she went to the commander, now seeming to regain some sense of consciousness and kicked him in the head again, falling flat onto the dusty ground. Dinah looked back to the Birds and the Villagers.

"Cover your ears, all of you."

She lifted his head directly to her face, mere inches. Close enough to smell the unwashed scalp.

Then, she screamed.

Villagers, Birds and Janjaweed alike all stepped back, many covering their ears as they were asked to.

The sonic scream overpowered the man's own, as his upper orifices all bled out heavily, his eyes, ears and mouth.

As the volume increased, the sound travelled down to his lungs and to his heart. The bastard died from the inside out; blood and brain matter falling out.

She allowed him to collapse to the floor, as dead as his many victims.

A silence came over the town, nobody saying her doing anything. But then a click of a gun was heard. A brave or very stupid gunman tried to ready his weapon and aim it at Canary, but Zatanna caught it first, and cast a spell.

The man's gun jammed, and he himself was thrown some fifty feet in the air. No doubt breaking many bones upon landing.

Canary and the other birds saw the dilemma; what to do now, no doubt as soon as they left, the killers would simply return again.

It was Zatanna that Dinah looked to first, then Catwoman, Batgirl and Huntress.

They all practically read each other's minds (and very literally in Zatanna's case) they were all in agreement. Any vague ideas of handing these men in gone, No second thoughts as to what they would do next.

Huntress pointed her crossbow to the militiamen, "Drop your weapons!"

When they did not respond quick enough, she shot a bolt right into one's throat, he collapsed to the ground, choking on his blood.

"Now!" she growled.

Unsurprisingly at the sight of her reloading her crossbow, the militiamen did as she asked.

Canary turned to the villagers, "Pick them up, use them to defend yourselves for the time being. This region will be turned around very soon, you have our word on that." She pledged.

Hesitantly, the elderly and women picked up the guns on the ground: assault rifles and side-arms.

The Batwing was called down.

The woman who had previously spoken to Canary looked to her, now herself, armed with an AK-47.

"What happens next?" she asked, but in a tone that showed she knew the answer already.

Canary looked to her, then to the disarmed Janjaweed, these monsters who had collectively ruined thousands of lives.

"That's up to you."

They all boarded the Batwing.

As they left, the sounds of gunfire and screams of dying and wounded men filled the air.

Dinah looked back down to the dropping bodies, the villagers executing the militiamen.

If not for the urgent buzz from the call to return to the Watchtower, if she was honest with herself, part of her could have watched for hours.


*Justice League Watchtower, outside Earth's orbit*

16:31 GMT

The Birds of Prey had returned as quickly as they could, not having discussed what had occurred in Darfur, and had all silently agreed to not bring it up to the others. Though it was unlikely they would face any condemnation, it was not something anyone bragged about lightly.

They came through the doors, all were assembled: Bruce himself, as were Nightwing, Oracle, Starfire, Raven, Robin, Captain Atom, Cyborg, the Flash, Green Lantern, Red Hood, Red Robin and Power Girl.

Ra's Al Ghul had also arrived.

Batman looked up, an unhappy expression.

"You're late, and why were your communicators off?"

Black Canary decided to dodge the question and get to the point, "Never mind that, what's the emergency?"

Barbara answered, "Martian Manhunter and Hawkman are missing. Their last transmission was that they were going into Myanmar to stop an army attack, but since then we've heard nothing."

It was Batman who went on, "They left no tracks. Nobody saw anything, but I suspect Superman and Wonder Woman's hands in this."

Guy Gardener looked unsure, "We don't know that for sure. If it was them, we would know. They aren't exactly the Atom."

Ra's Al Ghul spoke up, one hand stroking his goatee, "They will be smart enough to not reveal it was them. No doubt, to have taken down such powerful beings as Martian Manhunter and Hawkman, they will have devised a precise plan to not leave any clue to their involvement."

He looked to Batman, "My son, no doubt you've come to the same conclusion as myself."

Batman nodded, "This is just the beginning, they will pick us off, one by one."

"Then we look for them, right?" Asked Huntress.

"We'll pair up in teams of four. Oracle will-"

"No need, Batman, I'm here and Martian Manhunter is safe."

All turned back to the door, there stood a normal and seemingly safely returned Hawkman.

Batman only gave a glare.

"Where is J'onzz?"

Hawkman simply put his hands up, "We got ambushed, some ambush by the Tatmadaw. They got J'onzz badly with fire. Wonder Woman and some others came and helped. Manhunter is being taken care of. They wanted me to simply give you a message; talk with Wonder Woman and Superman. There's no need for a fight."

He continued.

"I don't see any reason to not at least consider it."

Batman only gave a hint of a raised eyebrow.

"I'm sure you don't. Miss Martian."