Hi, fellow writers and readers. We're in Metropolis again for this chapter with more Justice League action and some more callbacks to Star Wars. Have fun reading, and hold on tight, 'cause the real fun is about to begin!


Chapter 18: A Ray of Hope

METROPOLIS
JUNE 13, 17:30 EDT

Back in the U.S, Superman, Batman, and the others were still giving everything they had to keep Darkseid's main attack force from overwhelming Metropolis and then ravaging the whole East Coast of the United States. Fortunately, the seven founders of the Justice League and their protégés were all accounted for and the U.S. military was still going strong, but their units had taken a few rough blows. A number of the enhanced tanks had been torn apart or blasted by fireballs, a number of alien-tech turrets and mortars had been decimated, several fighter jets had been destroyed in the subsequent dogfights, and several hundreds of soldiers lay wounded or dying. Moreover, the outer edge of Metropolis had received a high level of damage, but the battle for Earth's freedom was not lost.

Superman signaled to the others to group up and hold the line. They fought back and countered the advance of Darkseid's Parademons, then moved back a little to gain an advantage as the Hell Hounds and Draco-Tanks lumbered up the streets. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman stood beside each other as the fight went on, and then Batman said, "The President just contacted me. The rest of the American army and reserves have moved out on the West Coast and here, and reinforcements are being moved out to fight at every city at threat. We should be able to push them back longer."

It was true, for in a few moments, several Boom Tubes opened and more American soldiers rushed out and took their positions before launching their counterattack. By now, the ground forces in Metropolis numbered over 380,000 and 40,000 jet fighters had joined the air counterattack. Out at sea, several hundreds of submarines and battleships had arrived to render assistance. One of the enhanced aircraft carriers, dubbed the USS Democracy, remained with the rest of its flotilla out of range of Darkseid's flagship as it loomed before the city coast. On board was Admiral Curtis Melville, who was about to receive the status report from Ensign Ernest Cadwell.

"We're in attack position now, sir,"* said Ensign Cadwell.

"We hold here, Ensign," replied Admiral Melville.

"What do you mean? We're not going to attack?" his first officer wondered.

"I've just received orders from the President himself. The Justice League has called in a special package for these invaders. We only need to keep our distance for a while."*


WASHINGTON D.C.
JUNE 13, 17:30 EDT

In Washington, President Wilson was observing the situation from the department base at Fort McNair and he had received the call from Superman at the front in Metropolis. He took the time to give his nine-year-old daughter Sophie a hug and assure her that everything would be all right. Then the President said to the bodyguards and military men in the room, "Gentlemen, the Justice League and our allies have held back Darkseid's armies quite well. Now they'll witness the full firepower of this free and well-protected planet."*

He pressed a button on the computer dashboard and said to Admiral Melville on the Democracy, "Fire at will, Admiral."


On the bridge of the Democracy, the crew prepared to unleash the all-new ship-mounted superlaser. Once the laser cannon was at full power and locked onto Darkseid's mothership, Admiral Melville gave the order. "Fire!"

In a minute, the aircraft carriers, battleships, and destroyers at the front of the Naval reinforcements extended large cannons that resembled magnifying glasses and fired brilliant red beams of destructive energy at the Apokoliptan vessel. The lasers struck with surgical precision and a portion of the hull the size of a football field was blasted away, setting the damaged sections of five floors ablaze. On the bridge of the ship, Darkseid and his cohorts felt the ship quake from the blow and the bridge monitors displayed the damage report.

"Great Darkseid, the generator rooms! They're red-hot!" Desaad shouted, losing his composure.

"Impossible!" answered Darkseid. "No planet's army has stood against us in this manner." Then he clasped his great hands and said, "It matters not. Earth is ours, whether Superman and his underlings surrender or not. Give orders for our forces to continue the battles around the planet."

"But, Sire!" protested Desaad. "They are-"

"That is an order!" Darkseid thundered with a dangerous red glow in his eyes.

Unnerved at his master's anger, Desaad ordered all ground and air forces to kill all defenders, superhero or soldier, and take no prisoners anywhere. There would be time for that when Earth was finally claimed for Darkseid and the Apokoliptan Empire.

...

The battle for Metropolis had only intensified as the hours passed, and still, the founders of the Justice League and their teenage protégés were not backing down until the struggle was over. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman and their teen allies were in the thick of the fighting and had already littered the streets with the armored remains of broken Parademons, downed Doom Hawks, and shattered Hell Hounds and Draco Tanks. Flash and Kid Flash were fighting more Parademons on the flanks of the Metropolis ground forces while Aquaman and Martian Manhunter and their protégés were slowing the advance of Darkseid's heavy artillery. As for Green Lantern, he was currently leading a squad of his fellow Lanterns, among whom was his friend Arkkis Chummuck. At the same time, a large squad of Star Sapphires arrived and kept Darkseid's aerial attackers away from the U.S. Air Force. As the battle progressed, Green Lantern contacted Superman and the others from the air.

"Not sure we're really breaking their ranks in the grand scheme, but our counterattack has allowed the military to maintain their focus on holding back the enemy lines," Lantern said through his comlink.

"We've got them pinned down here," replied Superman as he punched several more Parademons out of his path. Then as he tore a Draco-Tank apart, he said, "Just keep holding the line. We should have an endgame figured out in a moment."

Batman was busy throwing batarangs and smoke pellets at more squads of Parademons when he contacted Green Lantern once again. "Perhaps it's time you and your fellow Lanterns used the strongest attack you can muster. That should slow Darkseid's troops down for a while."

Green Lantern agreed to this and then told his fellows, "Okay, guys. Take positions and get ready for them. It's time to declare the oath of the Green Lanterns." He contacted the other Lanterns helping the Justice League and their allies across the world, and then he and his squad recited the oath of the Corps just as another horde of Parademons and Doom Hawks came at them.

"In brightest day, in blackest night,
no evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might
beware my power- Green Lantern's light!"

The rings of the Green Lanterns glowed more radiant with each verse of their oath until they became so bright, they seemed to be small, green suns. Then as the Parademon and Doom Hawk hordes came within a few yards of them, Green Lantern shouted to the others, "All right, everyone! Let them have it!"

With that, the Green Lanterns unleashed their rings' maximum power beams, which cut through the ranks of the Apokoliptan invaders for well over a mile. They held this position for a full five minutes and after that time, their power rings were still at full power, having been charged through the group reciting their oath. The Star Sapphires observing this thought the Green Lanterns had the right idea, and together they began to recite the oath of their Lantern Corps.

"For hearts long-lost and full of fright,
for those alone in blackest night,
accept our ring and join our fight.
Love conquers all with violet light!

Once their rings reached full force, the Star Sapphires unleashed an awesome barrage of violet energy blasts that blew hundreds of Hell Hounds and Draco-Tanks to pieces, allowing Superman, Batman, and the rest of the Justice League on Alpha Squad to push Darkseid's forces further back from the city center. However, the invaders were still pouring on in a nigh-endless horde and still attempting to gain ground. But just when it seemed that the tide of the battle might turn against the Justice League and their allies, Green Lantern and the other members of the Corps suddenly felt the power of their rings increase exponentially. Their bodies were filled with a strength and light greater than even the Green Lantern Oath had given them and the green glow surrounding them became like a strong yet peaceful flame. And then, everyone in Metropolis heard yet another Lantern oath spoken.

"In fearful day, in raging night,
With strong hearts full, our souls ignite!
When all seems lost in the War of Light,
Look to the stars, for hope burns bright!"

Suddenly, from out of the sky, more ring-bearing Lanterns appeared. But unlike the Green Lanterns and the Star Sapphires, these Lanterns had blue torsos on their uniforms and their insignias were more elaborate. Moreover, they were all surrounded by an ocean-blue aura that seemed to ripple like water. As they came out of the sky, these new Lanterns saluted the Justice League and their protégés. One of the soldiers who saw them said out loud, "How many Lantern colors are there? First it's Green Lantern, then these Star Sapphires, and now… what? Blue Lanterns?"

The leader of the newcomers: a humanoid alien with pale skin and dark eyes, floated overhead and replied, "Yes, human. That is who we are. I am Saint Walker of Astonia, leader of the Blue Lantern Corps. We are proud to defend Earth in its hour of need."

With that, Saint Walker and the Blue Lanterns moved into action, joining the battle in the sky along with the Green Lanterns, the Star Sapphires, and the U.S. Air Force. The Blue Lanterns moved out across the world to each of the major cities under attack from Darkseid's invasion while Saint Walker and a number of other Blue Lanterns remained in Metropolis and joined the Justice League and the U.S. army in defending Metropolis.

Back on his ship, Darkseid's rage was burning within his stone-cold heart. He could not believe that despite the moderate losses in manpower of each country's army and the overwhelming numbers of his own army, the Justice League and their allies were preventing his Parademon hordes and war machines from pushing any further into the centers of each population center under attack.

"Granny Goodness, Kalibak. You must go to this city yourselves," he said. "Kill the Earth heroes there, but leave Superman to me. I will deal with him myself."

"As you command, Sire," answered Kalibak with a bow of his hairy head. "Hail Darkseid."

As Kalibak left the bridge of the ship with a Father Box in his belt, Darkseid said to Granny Goodness, "Granny, my orders were to leave Superman's destruction in my hands. But I trust you can settle for making him miserable for now by killing his brat cousin for me."

A cruel smile crossed Granny's face as she chuckled, "Goody."


Can the Justice League stop the armies of Apokolips in time? Or will Darkseid finally succeed in claiming Earth as the crowning jewel of his evil empire? Stay tuned and see in the next chapter of Justice League: All-Out Attack!