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Selection: Historical Events – The Darkseid War
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Timespan: One week
Casualties: 15 million (Human/Amazon/Atlantean/Alien Allies); Unknown (Apokoliptan)
Combatants: Nations of Earth, Themyscira (allied directly), Atlantis (Third Party, marginally allied), Green Lantern Corp versus Apokolips.
The importance of this event cannot be overstated. By all accounts, the Darkseid War is one of the deadliest conflicts in human history, both in terms of body count and also how quickly the death toll rose. It was only thanks to the actions of myself, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Green Lantern Corp, and Lex Luthor that the world order didn't collapse outright.
Despite the war being over for the past ten years, with no further contact with Apokolips since then, the danger has not passed. Darkseid is still out there, undoubtedly plotting ways to overpower our defenses. We must remain vigilant at all times, and understand exactly how this conflict came to be.
Build Up:
The first contact with Apokolips was made in Metropolis roughly thirteen years ago between Superman and a scouting force of three-hundred Parademons, led by Darkseid's son, Kalibak {see Apokolips – Leaders and Forces}. Superman, who at the time believed himself to be a human modified in a secret NASA experiment, was able to fight them off. Hundreds of casualties followed the struggle, but Superman forced Kalibak to flee. As the Apokoliptan did, Superman made contact with Darkseid himself and was quickly overwhelmed. Rather than press his advantage, Darkseid simply took Kalibak and left. It appeared he was more concerned with making his son suffer for his failure.
In any case, an offhand comment regarding Kryptonians led Superman to discover who he truly was, as well as the location of several abandoned Kryptonian colonies near the solar system, including the planet Argo and the destroyed colony of Kandor. (Note: Subsequent information gathered from Kryptonian archives following the arrival of the Remnantians suggest that Kandor, rather than be destroyed from internal fighting following Krypton's destruction as previously thought was instead captured by Brainiac.) Recovered Kryptonian technology from these colonies went into the creation of Superman's Fortress of Solitude, which included an incomplete Regeneration Matrix.
Contact with Apokolips was reestablished two years later when a meteor crash landed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Metropolis, although this wasn't known until after the fact. The meteor was recovered by Lex Luthor, who detected strange metallurgical properties inside. It turned out that the meteor was a prison for a creature of gargantuan strength, size, and durability, which broke out in transit next to a small town near Metropolis. Subsequently, it murdered two-hundred-and-thirty-three people in a bloodthirsty rampage, causing Lois Lane of the Daily Planet to dub the creature Doomsday.
Superman arrived to take on Doomsday just after it reached Metropolis. There, the two fought, destroying much of the city. After a long, titanic struggle, Superman and Doomsday beat each other to death, with Superman himself dying in Lois Lane's arms to an audience of millions of people around the world.
Video - Death of Superman:
Ruined remains of Metropolis skyline. Fire and smoke billowing upwards, sirens blaring in the background. Camera focused on large dust cloud, Lois Lane in front center focus.
Dust cloud dissipates, revealing the motionless body of Doomsday. Superman, heavily wounded, stumbles out and collapses onto the ground. Lois rushes forward and pulls him into her arms.
Lois (emotional, tears running down face): "No, no no! Stay with me! Please!"
Superman (pained): "I… Is… Is he…?"
Lois (sniffling): "Yes… You did it. You saved everyone. Like you always do…"
Superman (relieved, at peace): "Good… That's…all that…matters…"
Superman closes eyes and passes away, a smile on his face. Sounds of Lois and Jimmy Olsen crying hysterically drown out background noise. Video ends.
I confronted Lex Luthor after Superman's state-sponsored funeral in Metropolis and accused him of being behind the creature due to similar events previously. {see Subject Analysis – Bizarro}. Lex informed and showed me evidence to back up his claims that the creature had nothing to do with him. He was actually insulted by the accusation. It appeared that, although he wanted Superman dead, he himself wanted to do it after executing a plan or scheme. Seeing Superman be killed by a, quote, "overgrown space-baboon" hurt his pride.
I took the evidence and left, and subsequent analysis suggested the metal was Apokoliptan in nature. Follow-up with S.T.A.R. Labs proved the connection. The answer to the question 'why' came shortly after:
Doomsday was sent to Earth to deprive it of its greatest defender, and it was only a matter of time before something would kick open the door. Various world governments began preparing for this possibility.
Contact made with Diana Prince during Metropolis Funeral and files stolen from LexCorp pointed towards the existence of powerful meta-humans capable of potentially defending the planet from outside invasion. I focused my efforts on reports of a woman warrior who fought in the trenches of World War One, called the 'Wonder Woman' by trench fighters, as well as reports of an 'Aquaman' sighted along the Atlantic coastline.
Doomsday's body, after extensive study, was thrown into the Phantom Zone via a Kryptonian Phantom Zone projector recovered in the ruins of Argo.
Actual Events:
One year after Superman's death, I began investigating reports of disappearances of scientists around Gotham City. Further investigations showed this phenomenon was occurring worldwide, which forced Robin, Batgirl, and myself to reach out and contact Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Aquaman refused to cooperate, while Diana reached us first.
We discovered the disappearances were tied to an Apokoliptan general named Steppenwolf attempting to create a device powered by a Mother Box that would create hundreds of Boom Tubes across the planet simultaneously {See Apokoliptan Technology}. Diana and I tried to combat him, but we were overwhelmed, and Steppenwolf was able to accomplish his goal. Had Aquaman not had a change of heart and came to our rescue, we would have died then and there.
Millions of Parademons attacked major military and civilian installations simultaneously across the world. Major casualties in India, China, Russia, and America followed as no one was truly prepared for such a large-scale invasion. Aquaman attempted to convince Princess Mera to rally Atlantis' forces to defend the planet, but it is only after the mysterious death of King Orvax, and the subsequent ascension of King Orm, that Atlantis takes the threat seriously. Four of the Seven Kingdoms of Atlantis rally together to combat Parademon armies located in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, along with several terraforming structures located therein, but no assistance is granted to the surface world.
Lack of Atlantean assistance prompted Diana to return from exile to Themsycira following the destruction of Bana-Mighdall. She pleaded with her mother to assist 'Man's World' in defending the planet. Amazon reluctance was anticipated, forcing Diana to passionately detail everything she had learned over the past seventy years, both the good and bad in Man's World. Coupled with insulting remarks by Artemis of Bana-Mighdall that questioned the Amazon's pride as warriors following their refusal prompted Queen Hippolyta to pledge the Amazon's assistance to liberating the planet.
Moscow, Beijing, London, New York City, and several capitals around the world were captured, followed by the subsequent surrender of many countries.
Battle of Gotham City – Large scale military conflict between U.S. military and Apokoliptan forces led by Granny Goodness and her Furies. Aquaman and I assisted in holding the city while Diana arrived with Amazon reinforcements, marking the first time Themyscira had revealed itself to the outside world in over two thousand years. Diana subsequently fought and convinced the chief guard Big Barda to abandon her post and lend her assistance to Earth's defense, granting Earth the first significant victory of the war. Extensive damage done to the city's infrastructure caused Gotham to regress, allowing gangs and super-criminals to again rise to power.
Despite the victory, the resulting casualties involved in victory proved that the fighting would be unsustainable. Global nuclear stockpiles were disabled following a Parademon attack, leaving only the conventional ground, air, and naval forces. Parademons had already begun to terraform the planet into an extension of Apokolips to facilitate its eventual teleportation into the Fourth World, with the central hub established in Metropolis. I suspected the location was chosen in order to posthumously mock Superman and his dedication to the city.
A long shot effort by Earth's remaining military forces and the Amazons to destroy the source in Metropolis was launched. I concluded that, without Superman, the chances of victory were non-existent, and the world was doomed; I resolved to correct that.
While Aquaman traveled with the last remaining armies to Metropolis, Diana and myself gathered Superman's still perfectly preserved body from his grave in Smallville and took him to the Fortress of Solitude. We attempted to use the Regeneration Matrix to bring him back to life, but the machine, although slightly repaired by Superman in the years prior, was unfinished. Diana pleaded with the gods to help restore it, and so the god Hephaestus personally answered the call and repaired the structure. Zeus' lighting powered it, while Apollo and Helios bombarded it with so much sunlight that it almost blinded the two of us.
The effort worked (the Matrix destroyed beyond repair afterward), and a very confused Superman rose from the grave. Diana and I explained the situation to him, and the three of us set forth to Metropolis.
Battle of Metropolis – Last and decisive battle of the Darkseid War. Largest military conflict in human history, with nearly ten million combatants from across the world converging on Metropolis against millions of Parademons and Apokoliptan forces. During the fighting, former Air Force pilot Hal Jordan returned to the planet with fellow Green Lanterns Kilowog, Arisia Rrab, and Sinestro to lend their assistance. Marine sniper John Stewart conducted a battlefield rescue of dozens of civilians under fire that not only awards him a Medal of Honor post-war, but also the attention of the Green Lanterns themselves.
Despite the effort expended, the Parademon forces led by Steppenwolf and Darkseid himself began to overwhelm Earth's forces until Superman arrived, followed shortly by myself and Diana. Superman's resurrection and arrival boosted the human army's morale significantly, especially as he made short work of thousands of Parademons all at once. Aquaman stayed behind to take on Steppenwolf personally while myself, Superman, and Wonder Woman continued to Darkseid. After an extensive struggle, Darkseid's avatar on Earth was killed, and Aquaman defeated Steppenwolf in one-on-one combat. Superman destroyed the terraforming machine, while other Parademon reinforcements were annihilated around the world by Atlantean forces. A heavily wounded but enduring Steppenwolf was forced to retreat along with all surviving Parademons through Boom Tubes back to Apokolips, ending the war.
Aftermath:
The aftermath of the fighting was extensive. Much of Gotham, Metropolis, and several other cities and countries were in ruins. The world threatened to devolve into chaos, forcing myself, Superman, and Diana to work overtime to prevent societal collapse. Superman used the Fortress of Solitude to grow crops and clean water for newly destroyed communities, the Amazons provided stability, and Aquaman commanded fish to feed millions along the coastline. Even Lex Luthor extended his massive wealth and intellect to improving the lives of those who were most affected, if only to propel himself forward.
The possibility of a permanent League was discussed after months of work. However, Diana was preoccupied with reconnecting with her people as well as reestablishing the Amazons as a functional member of the global community. Aquaman, a loner at this point in his life, was unwilling to form a long-lasting alliance and disappeared shortly after, while the Green Lanterns had to continue back to their respective duties. Big Barda settled down in a suburban neighborhood, eventually meeting and marrying the New God Mister Miracle. Superman, Diana, and I remained in extensive contact with one another, and our relationship grew to the point where Lois began referring to us as the 'Trinity.' The name stuck, despite my efforts to eliminate it.
Military analysts conclude that Darkseid's desire for slaves and people to torment caused his military effectiveness to suffer, thus explaining the relatively low casualties despite such a large scale invasion.
A noticeable increase in the meta-human population was noted around the world, and the chaos becomes ripe for the creation of many of today's superheroes and supervillains, including Black Canary, Green Arrow, and the Flash.
Atlantis, under the direction of King Orm, remained in hiding from the rest of the world and prospered. This status would continue until Aquaman finally ascended to the throne after deposing his brother four years later, who was attempting to spark a war with the surface world over ocean pollution. Atlantis was fully revealed two years later as a result of the feud between Aquaman and Black Manta.
It wouldn't be until the invasion of the White Martians that the Justice League, as we know it, was finally formed.
[~][~]