JSA: Atrocity
By Bruce Wayne
DISCLAIMER: Most of the characters portrayed in this story are copyright by DC Comics, an AOL/Time/Warner company. They are used without permission for entertainment without profit
by the author.
An Elseworld's story: Stories, situation or events involving familiar characters in unfamiliar settings.
Chapter 15
"So is what I hear through intelligence channels true?" Wonder Woman asked. She was sitting at the large round table in the main meeting room of the Justice Society of America headquarters.
"Want a sandwich?" Sandman asked.
"No, thank you, Sandman, but a glass of water would do nicely," she answered. Wonder Woman was used to the attention her male counterparts gave her. Batwoman and Hawkgirl were never amused by the drooling of some of the mystery men in the room gave to Diana.
"I'll get it!" The Atom swiftly rose to fill Wonder Woman's request.
Sandman watched as The Atom's chair almost tipped over because he had moved so quickly. "Let me open with a question since I've been somewhat filled in -- what would be the problems if VX nerve gas were released in a major city?"
"Good God, man, don't even think such a thing," Wildcat said.
"What would happen?" Sandman pressed for an answer.
The best qualified person in the room to answer the question, Hourman, began, "Let's say Manhattan, with Grand Central Station being where the gas was released. Potential of millions of lives lost. It would be staggering."
"I think this qualifies as a case the JSA should handle," Hawkman quipped.
"Indeed, it does," agreed the Caped Crusader from Gotham City.
The Spectre asked Wildcat, "I heard that you ran into a bit of trouble a few days ago."
"The other night. Some hitmen ambushed me. They obviously failed. One was killed.
"Good show," said Dr Mid-Nite. "All right, can we get started?"
Hourman spoke up, "Yes, as you all surely know by now, a gang of highly sophisticated and deadly thieves stole one hundred containers of VX nerve gas from a convoy that I was leading from Tyler Chemicals. We can all imagine what such chemicals are capable of."
"Wonder Woman, how much muscle would you have with the U.S. government, if you needed it? Really needed it?" Wildcat asked.
"Quite a bit, actually. If it were so required to push, I might be able to convince certain policymakers -- high up -- to go along with us," she replied.
Batwoman and Hawkgirl looked at one another with raised eyebrows, if they could had been seen through their masks.
Wonder Woman continued, "I could convince my high sources to lean considerable influence in other countries, as well, should we need it. What is all of this leading uo to?" She took a sip from the glass of water that The Atom had brought her and smiled to her colleague.
The Atom merely nodded in acknowldegement.
"What's it all leading up to?" Batman repeated.
"Yes," Wonder Woman said. "Do we have a plan of action?"
"Before we get into a plan of action, I hope you all remember that telegram that I sent a few days ago," the Caped Crusader said. "We weren't able, for some reason to get together to discuss my suspicions."
"You always have suspicions, cowled one," The Spectre boomed out.
Batman nodded. "Yes, but I learned that a past enemy of mine, the European criminal known as False-Face, was able to free another well-known criminal from German custody who goes by the name of The Boomer. The Boomer is an expert in bombs and ... chemicals. Some of the pieces fit, but I can't tell you one hundred percent if it was them who stole the nerve gas."
"Well, what's this False-Face look like? Maybe I can tell you if it fits the guy I saw," Hourman asked.
"That's the problem," Batwoman answered. "Nobody knows what he looks like. He's the ultimate master of disguise."
Sandman looked around the room wondering if False-Face could even impersonate one of his fellow crimefighters.
There had been a long silence in the room. Wonder Woman continued sipping at her glass of water and then finally said, "I agree with what was previously said. The United States will not tell her allies -- at least nothing in detail. The news will be blacked out. The fact that Hourman is still alive, though they don't know it was Hourman, the FBI won't like that one bit."
"Can you pull their plug?" Batman asked.
Wonder Woman looked up. "I'm sorry?"
"Can you pull the plug on the Feds?" The Atom interrupted. "Can you get us a free hand to investigate this case?"
Wonder Woman seemed to think for a moment, then said, "I can -- all of that. But don't expect any help. They'll resent our knowing, our interfering. They'll not aid us."
"Us," The Atom repeated.
"Us," Wonder Woman emphasized. "I've come to another conclusion. With all of us in the field, there'll be arrangement to be made, egos to smooth, feathers to unruffle. Coordination -- that'll be my job. And we could start doing our jobs if we only could agree on where to begin. Somehow we have to stop those vicious criminals from using that nerve gas."
Hourman glanced at the clock.
"By now, I'd say at least some of the VX is on its way out of the country. We can't stop that," the Man of the Hour said. "What interests me most is where they might use the nerve gas first --"
"You really believe they'll use it?" Hawkman interrupted, sitting forward in his chair because of the large wings on his back.
Hourman spoke. "He said --"
"Who?" Dr Mid-Nite asked.
"General Franklin or whoever the hell it was."
"I think it was False-Face," Batman said.
"You truly believe it was this master of disguise, Dark one?" The Spectre inquired.
"Yes," the Masked Manhunter from Gotham replied. "He is a known right-wing fanatic. A man of the highest competency level. Not to sound trite, but he truly is a master of disguise. I'd say we'll find out shortly that General Franklin was murdred and False-Face substituted for him." Batman cleared his throat and looked back to Hourman. "But you were saying about General Franklin -- or whoever?"
"I was saying," Hourman went on, "that when he was holding a gun on me --"
The Spectre watched as Hourman continued, staring off into space as he recounted what happened.
"He said something about a poetic place -- the first use of the gas would be used in the most poetic place."
"Gateway City," Batman told him quietly.
"Gateway City?" Dr Mid-Nite murmured.
"Depending on what False-Face meant," the Caped Crusader explained. "If it was False-Face, and I believe it probably was, the one poetic place in the country is Gateway City. It's on the ocean, it has fog, nightlife and ... the bridge. He'd want to hit America's jugular. It's also one of the largest cities in the United States."
"We could give that information to the FBI," Hourman said halfheartedly.
"Let's," Sandman told him. "But not for thirty-six hours. That will give us twelve hours to get some sleep, then get to Gateway City. Then twenty-four hours to get the ball rolling there. Who knows? Maybe if we need them down the line we can get their help."
"Agreed," the Man of the Hour murmured. He then looked to Wonder Woman. "Diana, you just got started as coordinator. You'll need to stay here and act as liason between us and the U.S. government."
"All right, but --"
"We'll sack out here," Sandman interrupted, glancing at his watch. It was nearly one in the morning. "You have four hours to rest, Diana, then get on the phone. Make your plug-pulling calls first. Then we can put through the other ones and not care who's listening."
"I think it would be best if I went back to Washington and did this coordination at the highest level --" Wonder Woman started.
Batwoman and Hawkgirl looked at one another again.
"-- in person," she explained. "I may need to be able to persuade my sources in person."
The two other female crimefighters in the room almost snorted.
Wonder Woman added, "I have my invisible plane at the airport nearby. I can be back in Washington in less than four hours."
"Good," The Spectre said. "I, too, shall leave and return to Gateway City to prepare for your arrivals. I do not require sleep."
The Atom looked at The Spectre, then at Wonder Woman, "Later, guys. Time for some shut-eye."
Batman started across the room, then turned to The Spectre. "When I make it out to Gateway City, I'll look up Mr Terrific."
"You believe that he may be of assistance?' The Spectre asked.
"He's an old rival crimefighter who might help -- depends on his mood,"
the Caped Crusader replied. "But we're going to need all the help we can get on this one."
TO BE CONTINUED ....
***
Come visit me and/or Chris Dee and the other fine writers at Gotham After Dark Message Board at: http://pub101.ezboard.com/bgothampm
By Bruce Wayne
DISCLAIMER: Most of the characters portrayed in this story are copyright by DC Comics, an AOL/Time/Warner company. They are used without permission for entertainment without profit
by the author.
An Elseworld's story: Stories, situation or events involving familiar characters in unfamiliar settings.
Chapter 15
"So is what I hear through intelligence channels true?" Wonder Woman asked. She was sitting at the large round table in the main meeting room of the Justice Society of America headquarters.
"Want a sandwich?" Sandman asked.
"No, thank you, Sandman, but a glass of water would do nicely," she answered. Wonder Woman was used to the attention her male counterparts gave her. Batwoman and Hawkgirl were never amused by the drooling of some of the mystery men in the room gave to Diana.
"I'll get it!" The Atom swiftly rose to fill Wonder Woman's request.
Sandman watched as The Atom's chair almost tipped over because he had moved so quickly. "Let me open with a question since I've been somewhat filled in -- what would be the problems if VX nerve gas were released in a major city?"
"Good God, man, don't even think such a thing," Wildcat said.
"What would happen?" Sandman pressed for an answer.
The best qualified person in the room to answer the question, Hourman, began, "Let's say Manhattan, with Grand Central Station being where the gas was released. Potential of millions of lives lost. It would be staggering."
"I think this qualifies as a case the JSA should handle," Hawkman quipped.
"Indeed, it does," agreed the Caped Crusader from Gotham City.
The Spectre asked Wildcat, "I heard that you ran into a bit of trouble a few days ago."
"The other night. Some hitmen ambushed me. They obviously failed. One was killed.
"Good show," said Dr Mid-Nite. "All right, can we get started?"
Hourman spoke up, "Yes, as you all surely know by now, a gang of highly sophisticated and deadly thieves stole one hundred containers of VX nerve gas from a convoy that I was leading from Tyler Chemicals. We can all imagine what such chemicals are capable of."
"Wonder Woman, how much muscle would you have with the U.S. government, if you needed it? Really needed it?" Wildcat asked.
"Quite a bit, actually. If it were so required to push, I might be able to convince certain policymakers -- high up -- to go along with us," she replied.
Batwoman and Hawkgirl looked at one another with raised eyebrows, if they could had been seen through their masks.
Wonder Woman continued, "I could convince my high sources to lean considerable influence in other countries, as well, should we need it. What is all of this leading uo to?" She took a sip from the glass of water that The Atom had brought her and smiled to her colleague.
The Atom merely nodded in acknowldegement.
"What's it all leading up to?" Batman repeated.
"Yes," Wonder Woman said. "Do we have a plan of action?"
"Before we get into a plan of action, I hope you all remember that telegram that I sent a few days ago," the Caped Crusader said. "We weren't able, for some reason to get together to discuss my suspicions."
"You always have suspicions, cowled one," The Spectre boomed out.
Batman nodded. "Yes, but I learned that a past enemy of mine, the European criminal known as False-Face, was able to free another well-known criminal from German custody who goes by the name of The Boomer. The Boomer is an expert in bombs and ... chemicals. Some of the pieces fit, but I can't tell you one hundred percent if it was them who stole the nerve gas."
"Well, what's this False-Face look like? Maybe I can tell you if it fits the guy I saw," Hourman asked.
"That's the problem," Batwoman answered. "Nobody knows what he looks like. He's the ultimate master of disguise."
Sandman looked around the room wondering if False-Face could even impersonate one of his fellow crimefighters.
There had been a long silence in the room. Wonder Woman continued sipping at her glass of water and then finally said, "I agree with what was previously said. The United States will not tell her allies -- at least nothing in detail. The news will be blacked out. The fact that Hourman is still alive, though they don't know it was Hourman, the FBI won't like that one bit."
"Can you pull their plug?" Batman asked.
Wonder Woman looked up. "I'm sorry?"
"Can you pull the plug on the Feds?" The Atom interrupted. "Can you get us a free hand to investigate this case?"
Wonder Woman seemed to think for a moment, then said, "I can -- all of that. But don't expect any help. They'll resent our knowing, our interfering. They'll not aid us."
"Us," The Atom repeated.
"Us," Wonder Woman emphasized. "I've come to another conclusion. With all of us in the field, there'll be arrangement to be made, egos to smooth, feathers to unruffle. Coordination -- that'll be my job. And we could start doing our jobs if we only could agree on where to begin. Somehow we have to stop those vicious criminals from using that nerve gas."
Hourman glanced at the clock.
"By now, I'd say at least some of the VX is on its way out of the country. We can't stop that," the Man of the Hour said. "What interests me most is where they might use the nerve gas first --"
"You really believe they'll use it?" Hawkman interrupted, sitting forward in his chair because of the large wings on his back.
Hourman spoke. "He said --"
"Who?" Dr Mid-Nite asked.
"General Franklin or whoever the hell it was."
"I think it was False-Face," Batman said.
"You truly believe it was this master of disguise, Dark one?" The Spectre inquired.
"Yes," the Masked Manhunter from Gotham replied. "He is a known right-wing fanatic. A man of the highest competency level. Not to sound trite, but he truly is a master of disguise. I'd say we'll find out shortly that General Franklin was murdred and False-Face substituted for him." Batman cleared his throat and looked back to Hourman. "But you were saying about General Franklin -- or whoever?"
"I was saying," Hourman went on, "that when he was holding a gun on me --"
The Spectre watched as Hourman continued, staring off into space as he recounted what happened.
"He said something about a poetic place -- the first use of the gas would be used in the most poetic place."
"Gateway City," Batman told him quietly.
"Gateway City?" Dr Mid-Nite murmured.
"Depending on what False-Face meant," the Caped Crusader explained. "If it was False-Face, and I believe it probably was, the one poetic place in the country is Gateway City. It's on the ocean, it has fog, nightlife and ... the bridge. He'd want to hit America's jugular. It's also one of the largest cities in the United States."
"We could give that information to the FBI," Hourman said halfheartedly.
"Let's," Sandman told him. "But not for thirty-six hours. That will give us twelve hours to get some sleep, then get to Gateway City. Then twenty-four hours to get the ball rolling there. Who knows? Maybe if we need them down the line we can get their help."
"Agreed," the Man of the Hour murmured. He then looked to Wonder Woman. "Diana, you just got started as coordinator. You'll need to stay here and act as liason between us and the U.S. government."
"All right, but --"
"We'll sack out here," Sandman interrupted, glancing at his watch. It was nearly one in the morning. "You have four hours to rest, Diana, then get on the phone. Make your plug-pulling calls first. Then we can put through the other ones and not care who's listening."
"I think it would be best if I went back to Washington and did this coordination at the highest level --" Wonder Woman started.
Batwoman and Hawkgirl looked at one another again.
"-- in person," she explained. "I may need to be able to persuade my sources in person."
The two other female crimefighters in the room almost snorted.
Wonder Woman added, "I have my invisible plane at the airport nearby. I can be back in Washington in less than four hours."
"Good," The Spectre said. "I, too, shall leave and return to Gateway City to prepare for your arrivals. I do not require sleep."
The Atom looked at The Spectre, then at Wonder Woman, "Later, guys. Time for some shut-eye."
Batman started across the room, then turned to The Spectre. "When I make it out to Gateway City, I'll look up Mr Terrific."
"You believe that he may be of assistance?' The Spectre asked.
"He's an old rival crimefighter who might help -- depends on his mood,"
the Caped Crusader replied. "But we're going to need all the help we can get on this one."
TO BE CONTINUED ....
***
Come visit me and/or Chris Dee and the other fine writers at Gotham After Dark Message Board at: http://pub101.ezboard.com/bgothampm