Hope you enjoy more Star Wars callbacks, 'cause that just means the Justice League's battle of the century is about to begin!


Chapter 4: The Plan In Motion

WASHINGTON D.C.
JUNE 13, 09:05 EDT

The Justice League departed the Watchtower and met with their teenage allies at the Hall of Justice to discuss the strategy for Earth's defense. They all hoped that Darkseid would not attack Earth before they had the opportunity to mobilize, but knowing his evil mind, it seemed exceptionally likely that he would try it.

"Darkseid's forces will attack on different fronts to divide our forces and pick them off. If he follows our predictions, his battle plan will involve attacks on population centers first," Batman was saying to the rest of the Justice League and teen heroes.

"This means he will strike targets closer to other major cities, so once he has us out of the way, the armies around the world will be easily overtaken," Aqualad said worriedly.

"Agreed," affirmed Batman. "Our best chance is to divide the League into squads and send each member's protégés with them for support."

"And if I know Darkseid, he'll be watching the battle from one of his flying fortresses in Metropolis," said Superman. "He's been trying to settle his personal score with me just like Luthor has for so long."

"Then we develop the plan now and alert the governments of our ally nations that it will be time to move out," urged Green Lantern.

But before the plan could be started on, Wonder Girl raised a hand and said, "Wait a minute. What about the civilians around the world? If Darkseid's invasion is coming that quickly, we won't be able to evacuate them in time."

"And if he overtakes us, they won't be safe outside their cities," Robin added.

"The League took precautions well before this," Batman replied. "The underground storage facilities where Luthor hid his weapons for the Injustice League are scattered throughout cities across the planet. Luthor had them positioned that way so he and his associates could access his technology for smuggling. We had them expanded and repurposed as shelters in case of emergencies happening too quickly for evacuations."

With this reassurance, the Justice League contacted the President and the U.N. and told them about the emergency with the Father Boxes, urging them to take action to prepare for the arrival of Darkseid and his armies. The U.N. received the message with utmost urgency and sent it to the leaders of every nation that had agreed to fight the invasion alongside the Justice League. Then the Justice League began strategizing their counterattack and determining who among their ranks and their teen allies would go where. Now Batman didn't agree that Gear should go into the battle with them as he was only a small-time hero and Static had been working beside the League for a while, but with a little pep talk between Superman, Wonder Woman, and Black Lightning, he understood why Gear really came and agreed that it was time both friends were allowed to work together on a global-scale mission.

Then Wonder Woman said, "I'll send a message to my Amazon sisters. If we are going to win the day this time, we'll need all the help we can get."

Flash suggested, "I could run to Themyscira and let them know what's going on. After all, your mother told us that the Justice League was welcome there."

"Yes, but some of the others may not understand," Wonder Woman replied warningly. "Fortunately, I have a way to get it there just as quickly." With these words, she went to a bookcase and took a hand-sized amulet inset with a diamond that seemed to be filled with every color.

"The Amulet of Iris," she said. "Mother gave me this if I needed to speak with her while in man's world."

Wonder Woman held out the amulet and said, "Iris, messenger of Zeus, let me look upon Themyscira, the sacred island of Hera who is queen among the gods."

The amulet began to shine and hum and in a moment, Wonder Woman was looking upon her home island. Everything looked so peaceful there one would think that the Amazons had nothing to worry about, but the Amazon heroine knew that Themyscira would be no safer than the rest of the world if Darkseid managed to take control of the Earth. So Wonder Woman waited until her amulet connected with the one in the possession of her mother.

She wouldn't need to wait long, for she soon saw her radiant and strong mother; Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. The older woman looked through the amulet's image and smiled, saying, "Hello, Diana. What news from the outside world?"

"Believe me, Mother, I wish I had contacted you for a different reason, but I thought it would be best coming from me," Wonder Woman said.

Hippolyta looked worried and asked, "What is wrong, my daughter?"

"The world is threatened," replied Wonder Woman. "A plan to conquer and enslave all the people of Earth has been set in motion, and I and my friends in the Justice League are preparing to fight it. But the stakes are higher than any we've faced before, and even us and our apprentices combined with armies from around the world will still only have a small chance to win."

Queen Hippolyta did not understand why her daughter would bring such news. After all, Themyscira and the Amazons lived away from man's world and they had few dealings with strangers. She questioned, "Why then should we hear of it? The dealings of men are of no concern to us. If it is their battle to fight, they must fight it."

"Do not think that Themyscira will be any safer than the rest of the world if the foe should gain victory, Mother," Wonder Woman said. "If the Justice League should fail and the armies of our allied countries with us, then our civilization will fall with them, for we are all bound to the fates of one another and a simple choice can rule the fortunes of many."

That was what it took to shake Hippolyta's thoughts entirely, for she knew Diana didn't lie when it came to crime and emergencies in the world beyond the safety of Themyscira, and if the situation was that dire, then it would have to be helped. Hippolyta said, "I shall have our sisters prepare for battle at once, Diana. We shall go to help mankind face this danger. It is the wise thing to do."

Wonder Woman smiled in reply and wished her mother well, then turned to her companions and confirmed, "My mother and sisters are preparing for battle. They have promised to stand with the rest of the world against Darkseid."

"Then I will assemble my army," said Aquaman. "If Darkseid gains ground on the surface, Atlantis will face the threat of attack as well."

Then Aquaman activated the Zeta Tube and beamed off to Atlantis as the computer recorded, "Recognized: Aquaman, 0-6."

The rest of the Justice League and their protégés went over the plan, and after another ten minutes, Superman and the other co-founders headed to the White House to meet with the President, the head of the Department of Defense, and the top commanders of the United States Armed Forces. But before they left, Green Lantern sent out a signal with his power ring which earned a glare from Batman until he whispered that he too was calling for help.

Superman and his friends arrived at the White House at precisely 9:15 and were escorted to the State Room to meet with President Anthony Wilson and the heads of the Armed Forces and the Department of Defense. The President said to them, "Thank you for coming, Justice League. We need to know what your strategy of defense is so our allies can mobilize their armies and follow the plan accordingly."

With that, Batman used a holoprojector to provide a globe map and with the touch of a button, blue dots appeared on the six major continents. He said, "We've calculated all the logical targets where Darkseid will send his armies to attack. The Justice League intends to send squads of Leaguers and teenage protégés to each of the cities at threat, but to determine which ones are the targets, we'll have to wait until Darkseid makes his move."

President Wilson and his associates frowned at that. They didn't like the idea of waiting for something so catastrophic to start happening. But somehow they felt that Batman was right; speculation was dangerous in such a major emergency, so the head of the DOD questioned, "So when the army of Apokolips does arrive, how do we rally in time to stop them?"

"To make sure that armies of each allied nation can aid one another, the League has had aircraft installed with wormhole generators similar to the one used on the Javelins," Batman went on. "Ships have had propellers replaced with booster engines so they can move at speed over great distances and steer at high speed to avoid collisions with other ships or hazards at sea. As for ground forces, we'll mobilize them as soon as we have a definite fix on their targets."

This was encouraging to the leaders gathered there, and then Colonel Trevor, whom Wonder Woman was fond of, wondered, "So then how do we go about fighting these invaders? Who goes in first and draws their fire?"

"Drawing fire from them won't be entirely necessary," explained Superman. "The Justice League will assist ground forces both on the ground and in the air when possible. In the meantime, the Air Force here at home will be the first to engage Darkseid's Parademons, which should catch them by surprise as Darkseid doesn't expect us to put up much resistance. We'll need some Air Force and Special Operations Units to cover the ground forces in case the Parademons try to attack from the rear. When Darkseid's warriors and war machines come to ground, the League will do most of the work while the ground forces keep them at bay. With the advanced technology Earth's armies are incorporated with, it should be a more even match."

"In the United Kingdom, we'll have the League and ground forces attack and then have ships attack from the rear while aircraft hit them from the sides," added Green Lantern. "We'll have to rely more on ground and air forces when it comes to the target cities in Africa and Europe, but ships may be able to use the new missiles that were selected for use. Sea and air support will also come in handy for South America and Australia."

The President and his military officers thought it sounded like a brilliant idea; well-planned, relying on teamwork, and clearly requiring finesse as well as strength. Most of them were in agreement to follow through with the plan. However, there was one individual at the State Room table who wasn't so satisfied: General Wade Eiling, who had worked with Amanda Waller at Cadmus before she shut down Luthor's projects following his arrest along with most of the Injustice League. He may have admitted that trusting Luthor was a mistake, but in his mind, trusting the Justice League to lead a military operation this big was lunacy.

"Mr. President, with all due respect, it shouldn't be in the hands of superheroes to plan military strategy," Eiling said gruffly. "Fighting alongside militaries around the world is fine with me as we could use their power, but leave the planning to real military men."

"And under normal circumstances, I'd be fine with that, General," President Wilson answered. "But we're not dealing with a fellow nation threatening war. This emergency is on a scale bigger than the Injustice League and we need planning as well as power from those who have real experience dealing with super-criminals."

"I say we put it to a vote," Steve Trevor said.

Everyone agreed to this, and the President said, "All in favor of the Justice League's plan, say 'aye'."

The vote was almost unanimous.

"All opposed?"

Only General Eiling raised a hand, but said nothing.

"Then we agree," finished the President. "Superman, we'll follow through with the strategy you and your teammates have put forward."

"Thank you, Mr. President," said Superman with a handshake. "Now, we must also inform you that Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Green Lantern are bringing some additional help to provide extra strength in numbers."

General Eiling looked gobsmacked at that and he complained, "Mr. President, we already have plenty of soldiers in each country fighting beside us. If the Justice League brings too much help, they could overrun us. They could…"

"That is enough, General. We'll discuss any such matters later if necessary," the President said sternly. "In the meantime, we need all the help we can get."

A short time later, Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter were outside with the President speaking to the press about the League's strategy, which was then televised to each allied nation across the world with instructions to mobilize their armies and wait for the signal to move out. However, the interview was cut short when one reporter cried, "Look! Up there!"

Everyone in the vicinity looked to the sky and saw a circular window of red light hovering over them. Batman pulled up the holo-map again and found that similar windows were appearing in locations all over the world. But while the reporters were all wondering what this was all about, Superman and his teammates were looking at the window with cold looks. Darkseid was in that window, smiling coldly at the people of our world in each area his windows were appearing.

"Attention, citizens of Earth," he proclaimed. "I bear a message for your world. I am Darkseid, lord of Apokolips, and I hereby claim Earth as property of the Apokoliptan Empire. I know that many of you desire to fight for your world, and your so-called heroes have convinced you that your planet must fight. It is folly. No army has stood against mine and won, and every victory Superman and his underlings have achieved against me has done nothing but delay my conquest of the cosmos. But know that I, all-powerful Darkseid, am not completely without mercy. I grant you all two hours to peaceably await your subjugation. Prepare."

Darkseid's space channel closed with a small boom, and then Superman said to the President, "It's time to put our counterattack plan into action, Mr. President."

...

Before the Justice League and their protégés departed for the front, the co-founders had to meet up with Wonder Woman and Aquaman and their allies. The President and the top military officers were waiting for them as well, but not for long. As Superman and the others looked out over the Potomac River, one of the Navy officers pointed and called, "Look!"

A fleet of ships were entering the river as though the wind itself was carrying them along. In fact, the wind was carrying them as they were sailing ships with a single great mast sporting square sails. As the ships came closer to the shore, the group saw that there were three rows of rowing galleys and an eye design on each ship's bow. At last, the vessels dropped anchor and planks were set to the dock, and to the astonished eyes of the President and the soldiers, Wonder Woman stepped forward to greet several other women, each as beautiful and strongly built as she was, only they were all wearing battle gear from ancient Greece and carrying weapons from that time period.

"It can't be," one soldier said with surprise. "The Amazons are real?"

Wonder Woman saluted the President, then looked to the soldier and said, "I assure you, sir, my mother and sisters are as real as I am."

Hippolyta stepped forward and gave the President a courtly bow, saying, "It is a great honor to finally meet you, Mr. President. I am Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons and ruler of Themyscira."

The President greeted Hippolyta and welcomed her and the other Amazons, although briefly since the situation was so dire. When Superman and his fellow co-founders filled the Amazons in on the situation, Hippolyta agreed to have her army aid the forces on the Mediterranean Sea. When it was decided, the Amazons prepared to leave when suddenly Aquaman showed up, and behind him was a host of two thousand Atlantean soldiers. Aquaman leapt from the water and said, "Mr. President, I bring a fraction of the Atlantean army to fight alongside the League and our world's militaries. I will send my warriors to aid Central America and South America as we have so little time to act. As for me, I will aid Superman and the others here in the States and meet up with my warriors later if we survive."

"I'll inform the President of Mexico that you and yours are assisting them in the battle," the President assured him. Aquaman saluted in reply and then ordered his soldiers to depart. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman embraced her mother and her closest friends and told them, "May the gods protect you all."

"And you, my daughter," replied Hippolyta.

With that, the rest of the Amazons boarded their ships and the winds blew them on toward the Mediterranean. Then Superman said to Green Lantern, "I take it you called in some of your fellow Green Lanterns?"

"Not just some of them, big guy," Lantern winked. "A whole bunch of 'em."

No sooner had he spoken then the group looked up at the sky and got quite a surprise. A few hundred Green Lanterns had arrived on Earth, and the first ones Hal saw were his closest friends; Kilowog, Katma Tui, Galius Zed, Salaak, Ch'p, Iolande, and Tomar-Tu and his son Tomar-Re. President Wilson approached the other Green Lanterns and introduced himself, saying, "I don't believe we've been introduced, have we?"

Kilowog was the first to speak and introduced himself. "Kilowog of Bolovax Vik at your service, Your Honor."

"Katma Tui, from Korugar."

"Iolande, queen of Betrassus."

"Galius Zed."

Salaak, Tomar-Tu and Tomar-Re introduced themselves and Ch'p, and then Hal said, "Sorry to interrupt, guys, but we have a major time-sensitive mission to complete."

"Right," agreed Kilowog, remembering not to give away Hal's secret identity. Then he said to the President, "We'll serve as reinforcements at different locations, Your Honor. There are four hundred of us, so we'll try to cover what ground we can."

He and the others gave Hal some words of assurance, and then the rest of the Green Lanterns took to the sky on Katma's orders. Then Green Lantern explained to the others that Star Sapphire and her Lantern Corps had also agreed to help out. Most of them thought the extra help was really getting somewhere, but General Eiling kept thinking that the League plus the assistance of their outsider friends was giving them too much power, and it only got worse when Batman explained that a few other heroes who were friends to the Justice League had agreed to help.

They just want the attention. It's what the Justice League depends on, he thought. They're probably deciding to run things even after this is over. Well, in the Air Force, the General gives the orders. They'll see how the President will reward me for preserving the lives of our troops.

A short while later, the Justice League was back at the Hall of Justice with their protégés, giving the last-minute instructions before the battle. They had received word that sheltering of citizens was occurring at that moment with more than an hour and forty-five minutes before the invasion began, and now it was time to prepare to move.

"Remember, everyone. Each protégé will be sticking with his or her mentor on each squad," Batman instructed. "I know that a lot of you are used to making these decisions yourselves, but this mission calls for stern organization. We can't afford going beyond our mentors' eyes on this one. Last thing before we head out: give them everything you've got. Don't give Darkseid's monsters mercy because Parademons give no mercy to their opponents. In their minds, we're prey, which is why we have to fight back."

Then Superman gave the group his "rally address". He said, "No matter what happens today, every one of you has earned your place among the superheroes of your generation. We have fought crime and adversity together, and we can do it again now. So now is not the time to give in to fear. Be strong. Never be afraid. Our world and our lives depend on the teamwork that will come from this effort. Think of your friends and your families. Think of what you fight for: hope, justice, freedom, and peace."

Everyone in the chamber gave a rousing cheer for Superman's oration, and then Batman gave the order to move out. Each squad departed for a different part of the world to fend off the invasion of Darkseid and his army.

...

At 10:20, President Wilson and his family were in the U.S. Army Department base awaiting the updates on the battle plan. It was at least forty minutes before Darkseid made his move, but every personnel member at the base was more tense than usual. The Justice League was bringing in updates from their assigned occasions around the world including the reports of citizen safety measures and the mobilization of their allies' forces.

The President received a surprise when General Hardcastle entered the meeting room, and he had a displeased look on his face. The President took his presence welcomely and asked, "Is there news from the front, General?"

"Mr. President, the Justice League has confirmed that two Apokoliptan probes just destroyed the machines that were allowing the Earth's magnetic field to prevent a surprise attack under our noses," Hardcastle informed him. "The League and their teen allies are now meeting with militaries in each country at threat of attack and have moved out to the most likely targets. However, we received a call from Griffiss Air Force Base which said General Wade Eiling has ordered all air force units to keep back until the Justice League has fallen back."

President Wilson frowned and said, "That's no military order. General Eiling intends to have us hold back our air support so the League will waste their strength repelling the first onslaught."

General Hardcastle couldn't help but say, "He must've felt that to have the League fight first would ease the burden…"

"That man is as thoughtless as he is untrusting!" The President said sternly. "If he carries this out, the League will not be able to hold the line and our forces on the East Coast will be overrun. General, prepare the ground forces in Metropolis for ground assault."

"Yes, sir. I'll fly there immediately once the order is given," Hardcastle replied with a salute. Then he departed the room while the President contacted Griffiss Air Force Base. The central monitor in the room flickered to life, revealing the meeting room at Griffiss where General Eiling and Colonel Trevor were now waiting. General Eiling immediately stepped out with a confident and rather arrogant smile and he said, "Mr. President, you'll be pleased to know that the new Air Force planes are ready for takeoff and we are waiting for the Justice League to…"

The President raised a hand to stop him and said firmly, "You have undervalued lives for the last time, General." Then he turned his attention from Eiling, who stepped away from the screen, and the President said, "Colonel Trevor?"

"Yes, sir?" the bold pilot asked.

"Give the order for all air support on the East and West Coast to be alert for attack and launch the frontal aerial counterattack so that we can conserve the Justice League's support and our military manpower. You are in command of the Air Force now, General Trevor."*

Steve Trevor could hardly believe his ears. He knew Eiling's order to hold back until the Justice League faltered was a stupid idea, but getting promoted to take Eiling's place? With surprise and worry swirling inside him, the newly appointed General Steven Trevor saluted and said, "Thank you, Mr. President!" Then he went to carry out the order and then join Superman and the other founders of the Justice League in Metropolis.


A/N: Hope you liked this fun little scene. Next chapter, the Justice League's battle with Darkseid is coming up! Also, I chose the President's surname to be "Wilson" as tribute to President Thomas Woodrow Wilson.

Feel free to rate and review, and remember, the Star Wars callbacks are just done for this story. I own only the plot, not the material. See you really soon!