Chapter 29

Helena woke up well after sunrise and was shocked she had slept so long. Normally, when she was anticipating a major event, she woke up early. She was glad this time was different as she knew she needed the rest. She certainly felt rested.

She checked the twins' room and saw they were gone. She hoped they weren't anywhere they were not supposed to be. She walked downstairs to the dining hall to find everyone gathered around the table eating their breakfast. Clark was the only one absent as he didn't need to eat, of course. Helena wondered if he was still sitting up on the roof. She didn't feel it was good for him to be up there all by himself given what was happening.

The mood in the hall was cheery and lighthearted. She knew everyone was putting on a good face for the sake of the twins. She went along with it and for a moment was able to put out of her mind the horrid situation they were facing.

After breakfast the Wayne family changed into their costumes and everyone met in the Batcave for the briefing. Helena brought up several things on the computer monitor and began explaining her plan in detail.

"Using several satellites from Wayne Industries, I've been able to make a map of the camp that Lash built. Its a hundred miles to the southwest of Metropolis. Clark is set to meet with Lash right outside of Metropolis. It will be advantageous to have Lash away from the camp, but Clark, we could probably use your help, and I'll leave it up to you to decide whether you come, or stay away."

"I'll have to see how events unfold," he replied. Helena didn't feel the need to press Superman any more on what he was going to do. She moved on to covering what everyone needed to do.

"It's a large camp, particularly for something that was built in a day, but he had a huge slave force to build it. The camp is encircled by a fence twenty feet high that encompasses a space the size of a large city. Much of what is inside the fence is still open field that is being used as landing ports for all the ships that come and go. Near as I can tell the command center is the large tower that is near one end of the wall. Mom, this is the area you should attack as your diversion. You will have to fly out yourself as we don't want anyone knowing you might have traveled most of the way in something undetectable. The forces of Apokolips appear to be sitting back. I don't think they will attack you unless you make the first move."

"I can do that," she answered simply.

Helena took a deep breath. She had been worried how the older adults would respond to her plan. She was glad they were accepting her proposals.

"With the invisible jet undetectable, Dad and I should be able to put down right in front of the prison. Lois will blast a whole in the facility while Dad and I leap out and enter it. We should then draw the forces at the facility to us. Hopefully, we will have the assistance of several freed superheroes by the time they arrive."

"We are going to have all the forces in the country converging on us when we attack," her father said. "It's not going to be easy. We are going to need that help you're expecting."

Helena knew they were taking on blind faith the part where Maril and Rex showed up with the combined armies of Tamaran and Thanagar. She had faith in her friends, though, she knew they would come. They were going to be ready for them.

Helena gave Barbara her instructions. "Barbara, you can use the Wayne company satellites to scan for the appearance of the Tamaranean and Thanagarian forces. When they arrive, send them a message and tell them to assist us at the prison camp."

Barbara didn't say anything, but nodded her head in indication that she understood her assignment. Everyone else stayed silent for a minute. Helena had nothing else to say and thought someone else might have some questions. When it was clear no one did, she knew it was time for each of them to be on their way.

"We should all get ready to go," she told them. Her parents, Lois, and Clark headed off to due the last minute things they needed to get ready. This left Helena alone with Barbara, a situation she had hoped would happen.

"I need to ask a favor of you," Helena said to woman.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Last night I heard my parents and Lois making a plan behind my back to follow Clark if Lash takes him anywhere. I need to able to follow them, which is why I need you to send the Batwing out to the camp once Maril and Rex arrive. Once their army is here the invasion force won't be paying attention to a lone vehicle and shoot it down.

"I can do that," Barbara said with a smile.

Helena jumped out the Batcave opening and landed in the backyard. She saw her father pacing outside the open door of the jet. He stopped when he saw her. "Ready?" he asked her.

She didn't answer him immediately. She waited until she was right in front of him so she could speak to him in a quiet voice. "There was just one thing I wanted to run by you. We have that piece of Kryptonite in the hidden vault in the medical tent. Do you think it might help to subdue Lash?"

"He's carrying around his own Kryptonite, so it probably woundn't do much to subdue him," her father answered. "We should keep it safe for now. We don't want to lose it. If everything works out here it will be good to have it for the next crisis with a Kryptonian."

Lois flew the jet as Bruce and Helena sat patiently. They followed their course on the console of the jet so they would have something to do. They were very much flying blind and they didn't like it one bit.

Superman and Wonder Woman had taken off before them. They weren't following them with the satellites as they didn't want any signals sent to the jet. Helena worked out estimates when they would reach their destinations and she knew her father would as well. She looked at the path she had tracked for Clark and saw he would be at his rendezvous point with his son by now. She typed a message to her father on her console telling him this. She didn't want Lois to be distracted by any conversation about her husband.

Her father sent her a message it would be two and half minutes until their mother reached the camp; two and half minutes after that they would launch their attack. They felt the plane stop and knew they were hovering above the camp. Lois started their descent. The two of them got out of their chairs and went to the lower deck in preparation. Now that they were alone they could speak freely.

"So what do you think Clark's going to do?" she asked her father.

"He'll find his way here," he answered. "He won't leave us to fight ourselves, even though we'll be fine without him."

Helena wished she could have shared her father's confidence. She knew the odds were stacked against them. There was no telling what condition the rest of the League was in. While she was sure Maril and Rex would show up, she was beginning to doubt what kind of force they would have with them.

"You want the right or the left?" her father asked her.

"Why don't you pick," she replied. "Age before beauty," she said with a smile.

Her father didn't seem so amused. "I'll take the right," he said as he positioned himself in front of the door. Helena took her position next to the other one as the jet rested on the ground.

They could hear the sounds of a battle when they landed. Helena knew her mother was giving them their distraction and hoped she wasn't facing too much at the moment.

"Dad, be careful," she told him with a heavy voice.

"Don't worry about me," he shot back. "When we are out there don't do anything exceptional to protect me. We have a mission to do and it can't be compromised because you're trying to babysit me."

"I'll let you make your mistakes," she replied. "It will be just like old times. Still, can you do your best to stay close to me when we are in the prison?"

"I am going to fire at the prison in five seconds," Lois's voice said over the intercom. "5. . .4. . .3. . ."

Both Helena and her father braced themselves to make a quick exit. "2. . ." They both activated their doors and they slid open. "1. . ." They heard the guns of the ship fire as they jumped out of their doors.

"We are exiting hyperspace now," the admiral of the fleet yelled back to Rex and Maril. Rex and Maril stood side by side, looking out the cockpit window, as Earth came into view. Maril teared up a little, seeing her old home again. She hoped there was enough left to defend.

Maril started worrying about her family and what might have happened to them. All kinds of horrible thoughts filled her head. She reached out and grabbed her husband's arm, then worked her way down and took his hand in hers. The comfort of the touch of a loved one soothed her.

"All the ships are here," the admiral yelled. "I'm not picking up any hostiles on the scanners. We are safe and alone for now, but our ships are scattered all over the place. It might take some time to get them in formation."

"We need information about what is happening on the ground," she yelled to the communications officer. "We should be able to pick up news feeds. They couldn't have shut them all down."

"Ma'm," the officer said with a confused tone. "We're being hailed by someone. And they are using a frequency of yours."

Maril immediately became relieved as she realized it had to be Helena. She let go of her husband's hand and ran to the communication console. The officer leaned back and let her have at the controls. She fiddled around with everything and replied to the hail.

"I'm here, Helena," she said into the communicator.

"This is Barbara, Maril," came the voice from the other end. "Helena asked me to contact you and tell you what to do."

Maril almost cried when she heard her stepmother's voice. She was extremely relieved to know at least one person was okay. "How is everyone?" she asked with apprehension. She knew she should have concentrated on business, but she just had to know about her family."

"Don't worry about us," her stepmother answered. "Helena and her parents need your help immediately. The invasion force built a large camp in the middle of Kansas. They are attacking it right now. She wants you to attack it with as many forces as you can spare. I'll send you all the details we have on it."

"Thanks," Maril replied as she backed away. She tried to put her family out of her mind and focus on the task at hand. The communications officer retook his spot and started working the controls as the information started coming in.

"Put everything on the large viewscreen," she commanded him. A map of the United States appeared with details on the positions of all the armadas of Apokolips as well as the location of the main base Lois had mentioned.

Maril looked it over and knew immediately what they needed to do. "We have to concentrate on the camp, but also protect the major cities. The Royal Fleet will head for the main camp. The rest of you pick an armada to attack and go after it. I trust you can do all this on your own." The captain of every ship radioed in the affirmative as Rex started directing the Royal Fleet in the direction of Kansas.