Please note that this chapter will be the shortest one as this involves the Justice League foiling Darkseid's second preemptive strike on Earth before the major invasion. Hope you all enjoy!


Chapter 3: Strike One

As the Justice League had promised, the Cadmus and LexCorp weapons were delivered to each country that had agreed to fight Darkseid's invasion. By morning on June 13th, each allied nation was armed with the new technology from the U.S. to as far as Japan. The Justice League was glad to see so many people working together at home and elsewhere in the world, but Superman and Batman both knew that the technology from LexCorp still wouldn't be enough, so the Justice League contacted each allied country and informed them that several alien-tech armaments that the League had stored for safekeeping would be delivered as well and incorporated into Earth's arsenal for the coming battle. The United Nations agreed to put the alien technology under the Defense Arms Accord, and when the President approved it, the alien armaments were delivered, and then the Justice League sent its heroes who were tech experts to provide instructions on incorporating some of the new technology into each nation's military vehicles.

On the Watchtower, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were looking out from the carbonized dome at Earth while the Watchtower computer allowed them to monitor the younger heroes were training intensely for the battle, which could come any day.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" said Wonder Woman. "Just ten years ago, the League was only composed of seven members. Now we have thirty full-time members with a few part-time friends, and so many of us have apprentices to carry our banners in the future."

Superman placed a hand on Wonder Woman's shoulder and nodded in agreement. He said solemnly, "Fighting Darkseid may be the most difficult battle our younger allies will face. We can only hope that they will come through."

"I have no doubt," Batman assured his friend. "We trained them well, and they've gotten better each time. We might just live through this together if we keep our heads in the game."

Superman and Wonder Woman gave Batman a hopeful smile as they resumed their vigilant watch on Earth. After another few minutes of contemplation, they went to meet with their protégés. While the others took a break, Superman came to Superboy and Supergirl, who had been sparring together for most of the session. He received a surprise contact message from Supergirl and Superboy at the Hall of Justice, and for a moment, it seemed as though the danger was behind them.

"You know, Kal, if the Justice League keeps offering this kind of support around the world, we may be taking vacations soon," Supergirl said.

"Don't be so sure, Kara," her big cousin replied. "Crime grows and evolves all the time, so the Justice League may be sticking around for a while."

Their bonding time was cut short when Superman saw the computer pull up the holo-map. Six large red dots appeared on the projected globe, one for each continent except Antarctica. The other Leaguers came over, and Flash said, "What's going on with the computer?"

"The Watchtower is picking up huge energy impulses on Earth," explained Batman. "They're emanating from the Grand Canyon back home, the Andes Mountains in Peru, Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Swiss Alpines, Siberia, and Horizontal Falls in Australia."

"My scarab is now detecting the energy readings," said Blue Beetle on the computer holo-screen. Then he immediately confirmed the group's worst fear. "They're Father Boxes."

"Darkseid's trying to take Earth before we can fight back," confirmed Captain Atom. "We've got to think of a way to stop the Father Boxes before they can activate the Boom Tubes."

The Justice League and their teenage partners had to think fast before it was too late, but even Superman couldn't think of an idea to sabotage Darkseid's first attempt at an all-out attack. Then Black Lightning's protégé, Static, had a sudden thought. He typed a message to Batman, who typed in a computer code on the Watchtower while Static called a friend whom he addressed as "Gear". Suddenly, the Zeta Tubes to the main Hall of Justice activated, and the computer at the Hall announced, "Recognized: Gear, B-3-4."

Gear turned out to be another teenage hero: a blonde boy about Static's age in a white uniform with a deep green oval design from his collar to his midsection. Instead of a mask, he wore a white motorcycle helmet with a green visor to keep his face unrecognizable, and he also wore white gloves and roller skates.

He skated over to meet Static and the two did a classic fist bump. It became plain to the other teenage heroes that Static and this Gear were close friends.

"Hey, S-Man!" chortled Gear.

"Hoo hoo! The super-brain is in the house!" Static replied with a whoop. Then the two heard Superman say, "Glad you could bring your friend up here, Static."

Gear turned to look at the heroes of the Justice League on the computer screen and their protégés in front of him and his jaw almost dropped with excitement. He had wanted to meet every one of them and now he could, and his best friend was working with them on the biggest emergency the Justice League had ever faced. Gear had to rein his excitement in before he made himself giddy, and seeing Batman giving him a serious look immediately got him into the right mood for the business.

"So could anyone care to explain why Static brought me here?" asked Gear.

Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman filled him in on Darkseid and his plan to conquer Earth and about the current situation with the Father Boxes. When he was questioned about a plausible solution, Gear thought for a moment, and he soon had an idea.

"I've got it!" he said while snapping his fingers. "We just need to apply the Lorentz force law of electromagnetism on a global scale and produce enough power to generate interference. That way, we could prevent these Father Boxes from pouring Darkseid's forces out into the world."

"Okay, but what does that mean in non-super-scientific English?" inquired Red Arrow.

"Simple. If we can run a supercharged flow of electricity through the Earth's core from one pole to the other, we should be able to increase the planet's magnetic field and disrupt the Father Box signals from Earth to Apokolips," replied Gear.

"But how do we generate enough power to pull that off?" asked Robin.

"I know," said Superman. "We still have the devices at the North and South Pole that we repurposed after we salvaged them from the Injustice League two years ago."

"Great," said Captain Marvel. "What are they?"

"The Magnetosphere Stimulation Generators," answered Batman. "Lex Luthor had them constructed to be used as weapons to coerce the world's governments to send large sums of money to the Injustice League. If they didn't, the Injustice League would use the generators to batter their cities with lightning storms. We repurposed them to protect Earth in case the Injustice League or their allies intended to weaponize solar energy in the same manner."

"Then if we're going to use them, we'd better move," said John Stewart, the second Green Lantern in the Justice League. "The energy output from those Father Boxes is rising. I guess Darkseid's trying to lure us into a false sense of security by keeping them on hold."

At a nod from Superman, Doctor Fate sprang into action and magically transported Black Lightning to the North Pole and Captain Marvel to the South Pole. Once there, the two superheroes searched several square miles for the Magnetosphere Stimulation Generators. When they found them, Batman instructed Black Lightning and Captain Marvel to use their powers to increase the machines' power. After a minute, the rest of the League heard, "Black Lightning to Watchtower. MSG North is a go."

"Captain Marvel to Watchtower. MSG South is a go."

With that, Batman typed in a command on the computer right after Black Lightning and Captain Marvel were magically whisked back up to the Watchtower. At the North and South Poles, the MSGs activated and the Earth's magnetic field began to increase exponentially. The Father Boxes were ready to open their Boom Tubes and allow Darkseid's Parademons to come into the world when Batman activated the generators, and before Darkseid or his minions knew what was happening, the signals to Apokolips were immediately disrupted.

Back at the Hall of Justice, Blue Beetle did a preliminary scan and said, "That's it! We've blocked the Boom Tube signals! Now we just need to destroy the Father Boxes before any goons from Apokolips try to get them back."

So Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Steel used the Zeta Tubes to beam to each of the six major continents and there, they destroyed each of the Father Boxes planted. When that was taken care of, Batman instructed the remaining members of the Justice League to beam back to the Hall of Justice to meet with their protégés and plan their strategy of defending Earth.