"Direct confrontation would not be a suitable way of dealing with this situation." Superman lead the meeting. Before him, sat the entire league and their protégés. Superboy sat near the empty chair that belonged to Superman along with Colin Kent. Down the lineup was a larger than average crew. Usually, the team was not allowed at Watchtower meetings. But through some careful, yet persistent convincing, they were allowed to sit in. Even retired heroes like Barry Allen, Jai Garrick, who had for some time now passed on their name of the Flash. Along with Raquel Ervin who had only just recently retired but kept in good contact with the League. This was because Batman believed this affected all metas and ex-heroes.
"Then how do you propose we deal with the situation?" Wonder Woman countered.
"Well, I propose we prepare several stages of defense. The first being a peaceful, but publicised conference where myself, Batman and Wonder Woman or anyone else voted, talk it out."
"Why go public with this?" Captain Marvel inquired raising his hand slightly looking puzzled.
"To get anyone we can on our side. If the public sees this unfair treatment, the government will be more easily pressured and persuaded." Superman answered. The hero addressed the whole group with each answer. The Man of Steel spoke well; he was usually the one to make public announcements and such. "If that does not work out well, we move into a more demanding phase and take a slightly more defensive stance."
"Don't you think they'll just turn that back on us only being interested in our own agenda or something?" The Flash questioned. Irey nodded agreeing with her mentor's point. It was hard for her to stay so quiet, but Bart insisted she try her best. Instead whenever she was frustrated she would glance at Damian, who sat directly across from her at the large conference table. Beside him sat Batman, Nightwing, Red Robin and Batgirl. She would scrunch up her face in frustrated motions as she were trying to say something or ask questions. She did so in such an overdramatic manor, Damian quite often had to hide his snicker. Robin did not snicker or smile. But Irey frequently challenged that.
"It is risky. But we must stand our ground." Superman said back to the Flash
who nodded considering this. "The final phase is complete resistance. I propose our final phase of defense from this ludicrous stipulation from the government, be isolation. No one makes any contact with any official and all missions be completely covert."
"You want us to go into hiding?" Tigress asked. Jai had actually said it first but only in a low voice to his mother. "Not hiding. Think of it as a peaceful refusal to cooperate." Superman said to Jai. He had heard him. After giving his answers Superman scanned the crowd before him, they all appeared to be thinking. "Anyone else have a proposal?"
"What the fuck. How did we end up in here?" Iris asked. She looked around to see all her teammates, the protégés, the teens, the sidekicks…. They had been left behind at Mount Justice on monitor duty. They were instructed to be the "back-up", extra muscle should something go wrong.
"What the hell, they promised!" Jai snarled, cursing loudly. The teen ran a hand through his thick auburn hair in frustration. Taken aback by her brother's sudden aggravation, Irey stared at him for a moment along with everyone else.
"What? Oh, come on! I can't be mad too?" Jai looked at the group a little pissed.
"it's just...you're usually the calm one…." Colin said looking to one of his best friends. It was true. Jai usually was the one to keep a level head. Being ops manager came with that; keeping calm and keeping everyone else relaxed and focused. Disregarding this, Jai faced his team.
"Okay this time we're not just going to sit here and literally watch from a safe distance. We are going to get the hell out of here, and we are going to go to that goddamn meeting." Jai firmly declared.
"Alright hermano." Miguel said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"How do propose we do that?"
"Where are the kids?" Wally asked as the meeting was about to begin. He stood in civilian clothing next to Artemis also in civies. Both were placed along with a few other heroes in disguise while Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman led the public and publicly broadcasted debate of sorts. They were going up against the CIA meatheads they had earlier encountered, including Joseph Reid, and Will Bennett who had also brought some "concerned" United Nations members and some old guy from the army.
"Uh, Dick has them occupied." Artemis absent-mindedly responded, as she was quietly scanning the crowd of civilians who had showed up to watch; she was in total mission mode, looking for anyone or anything suspicious with a cautious hand on her concealed and compacted crossbow in her jacket.
"Do you mean that he locked them up somewhere again?" Wally fussed. "How did-" Artemis started, she shook her head, it didn't matter how he found out.
"No, we didn't. I-" She sighed frustrated.
"We need to keep them out of this. They're not ready. We…. I just don't want them getting hurt." Artemis said looking at him finally.
"You realize you sound exactly like the League did whenever they talked to us how many years ago? And how fair was that? From the looks of it, they're pretty well trained. Keeping them away and locked up isn't preparing them for what's out there…" Wally waged on, pleading with her He touched her shoulder with a gentle hand.
"Wally. Being a parent has changed me okay? I don't think like the crazy twenty-year-old like you remember. Now the twins are my number one and I couldn't live with myself if something happened to them." Artemis looked more sad than mad. Wally studied her face for a moment. He was about to speak again or maybe he was just going to stare into her eyes a bit longer like he always did when she was upset.
"We're on a mission." Artemis broke the eye contact suddenly. She peered over finding Dick in the crowd who stood off to the side in his civvies and dark sunglasses. He nodded to her, the signal to get into position as the debate was about to begin.
"Everyone ready?" Jai questioned looking at the team. The teens stood before him all suited up in their respective costumes and gear. They all nodded at him. Jai had taken charge. Robin was not particularly enthused to be taking orders from him, but he hadn't come up with any better plan.
"Alright. Everyone remember the plan? Chris and Colin head in first-" Jai's recap was short-lived and interrupted by a loud bang. The team's heads all turned in search for the source of the sound. It had echoed throughout the cave and the source was hard to distinguish.
Chris immediately stared straight at the front entrance to the Cave. The new Boy of Steel slowly inched closer, as a second crash seemed to hit the wall. Everyone else noticed and crept up behind him cautiously. The slams continued, the bangs happening more and more frequent. Chris snapped out of the shock and confusion. He used his x-ray vision to peek outside and see what the source was. The second he saw, his eyes widened.
"GET DOWN!" The Kryptonian screamed, flying and reaching for Jai and flew him to safety. Irey reacted quickly and grabbed Damian speeding him away, while Rachel grabbed Colin, as Miguel created an energy construct of a giant shield. The team gathered under it. Bunker held up the purple, brick-like shield with both hands struggling a bit as Chris held Jai down, protecting his friend. The rest of the team stood defensively under the makeshift barrier, protecting them from this unknown invasion.
"What the hell is that?" Robin called to Miguel who had the better view.
"No se? It looks like someone literally crashed our door in? With a giant battering ram?" He said holding the debris up from hitting the team.
"Someone call the League...Like now!" Chris said.
"Abuse to League. Code red. We have a massive problem. Intruders at the cave. Only the team is here. Requesting full League response. I repeat we have intruders." Colin said into his earpiece.
"What do we do?" Irey asked. There was then the sound of yelling and hum of large running vehicles outside.
"Batman to cave. We've sent several leaguers down. What is the status?" The sound of the Dark Knight's voice rang through their earpieces in its usual monotone.
"It sounds like we're being attacked. Big forces, we're trapped in the cave." Colin answered.
"Sending Leaguers over immediately. Do not engage. Batman out." The Dark Knight was gone and the sidekicks were once again left alone and stuck. Bunker had to continue holding his energy construct or the mass would completely crush the team.
"That wasn't a direct order, right? He can't expect us to just be sitting ducks!" Impulse said loudly, cleared frustrated. "No but we should listen to him." Jai responded.
"I can speed out of here and get a head start before the League shows up…" Irey pressed on. The sounds outside grew louder and the yelling intensified. The team couldn't make out what was being said or if they were even talking to them at all. The team didn't even know who "they" were.
"Impulse don't. We don't know what we're fac-" Chris was cut off.
"eh eh eh that's not a bad idea ese...me and Rae can't hold a whole wall up forever." Bunker called from below the wreckage that they were managing to hold up, but he was right. The weight wasn't getting any lighter. The wall that had collapsed was being pushed further on Bunker and Raven. They maintained a firm grip but time was running out.
Before anyone else could talk Irey was gone. She had zipped past them and through a small gap in the cave's wall. Pushing herself through the narrow hole, small fragments sliced her skin but it was already speed healing. Impulse soon found herself outside on the grass before a large armada of military vehicles. Helicopters, trucks and armed soldiers the whole sha-bang. She heard a familiar click and their weapons were aimed at her.
Back in the cave the entire wall seemed to be coming down around the team. Miguel and Rachel both struggled. "Where's Impulse…." Robin asked suddenly noticing her disappearance. Jai sighed and rolled his eyes. "We gotta get out of here, she's gonna need back-up…"