"The kids are secure." Lena said as she approached Kara and Alex in the DEO. "They are only going getting out of that lab if Eliza and Alura let them."
"Thanks." Alex said. "How were they coping?"
"From the looks on your faces, better than you two." Lena replied glancing from Alex to Kara, before asking. "How long until they arrive?"
"They should be approaching orbit in the next three hours. It will be another two hours after that until we can use our defensive net."
"What's stopping them just blowing us up?" Lena asked.
"We are hoping human slaves are more valuable than revenge. Plus based on the last report Nia and Brainy sent it sounds like Mongul wants to take Supergirl and the Flash prisoner." Alex said. "But if they start firing before they get to our defensive net we are in trouble."
"If your theory is wrong, and they are coming to destroy us, any idea how to stop them?" Lena asked.
"We can't win a straight fight." Alex said. "So the only thing we can to is encourage Mongul to come to surface."
"How?" Supergirl asked
"Mongul lost face in the battle with your cousin. You may be able to goad him into coming here and fighting you. If he is here, fighting you, they probably won't bomb the planet. At least that is what we hope."
"Well in light of any better plan that's what we will go with." Kara said.
"If he does meet you, he will probably still send down several squads. I am guessing they will be deployed all over the Earth so that are forces are split."
"You deal with his forces, I'll deal with Mongul." Supergirl said. "And yes, I know he is going to be hard to beat. But the more backup you give me the more innocent people will die. Besides if he is as strong as we think he is, even with the new suits, your teams will be no match for him."
"The other Kryptonians may be." Lena pointed out.
"They may have powers, but they are completely untrained." Alex said. "My guess is if they did fight Mongul he would overpower them and then use them against Kara." She then looked at her sister and said. "We will deal with the other threats. But when they are done they are coming to help you." Alex said.
"Ok." Supergirl said before asking. "Can we set up a radio link to Mongul?"
"Yes. But it will take a couple of hours for them to be closer enough to have a conversation. Why?"
"I want to talk to him. Rather than waiting and see what he does, let's go on the front foot and make sure he comes down to fight me."
-00-
"It is too late to beg for mercy." Mongul said as he appeared on the screen.
"I wasn't planning to." Supergirl said from where she stood in in one of the DEO interrogation rooms. "But I am willing to discuss your surrender."
"My surrender?" He asked bemused.
"My baby cousin, who I have beaten in combat plenty of times, beat you. Do you really think you can beat me?" Supergirl said.
"I will enjoy enslaving you and making you watch as I crush this planet." Mongul responded.
"Does that mean you are too scared to meet me in person?" Supergirl pressed. "Your army must be very loyal or very stupid to follow such a coward."
"You dare call me a coward?"
"You are the one hiding up there." Supergirl pointed out. "But I guess that is understandable, I mean you must be scared."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" J'onn asked Alex from the other side of the two way mirror.
"Honestly, I have no idea. But Nia and Brainy said he was desperate to re-establish his power to the galaxy. Anything Kara can do to chip away at his power should force him to come down here and prove himself." Alex replied.
"She is definitely getting him angry." J'onn commented.
"More angry than I was expecting. I just hope he doesn't get so angry he launches a planet wide attack."
"I guess it must be true, you really aren't the leader you once where." Supergirl kept going, oblivious to the conversation between Alex and J'onn.
"I know what you are doing. You are trying to distract me." Mongul said. "Your pitiful planet hopes if I fight you we won't obliterate it. Your pathetic attempt to buy time is pointless, it won't save you."
"Then you have nothing to lose from fighting me." Supergirl said. "Unless of course, you are afraid. It looks like Kifi was right about you." Supergirl said before looking to her side at the door and ordering the waiting guard. "Bring him out." Moments later the Lieutenant that Supergirl had fought weeks before was led towards her and stood in front of the monitor.
"I owe you an apology," Supergirl said to him. "You were right Mongul is nothing but a coward who is no longer strong enough to fight his own battles."
"You have betrayed us all." The Lieutenant said to Mongul in different language.
"Your family will pay for your failure." Mongul said to the Lieutenant.
"It is only a matter of time before the rebellion cuts off your head." The Lieutenant said, once again in a different language.
Mongul then looked at Supergirl.
"I will fight you. But when you lose you will give me the traitor."
"I won't lose." Supergirl said.
"Your death will begin in one of your human hours." Mongul said before the link went dead.
"Are we sure it is off?" Alex asked one of the Agents as she entered the room.
"Yes Ma'am."
Once he had heard the confirmation Kifi shape shifted back into J'onn and said to Kara. "You definitely have his attention."
-00-
"Are you sure you are ready?" Alex asked her sister who was looking out over the city as she waited for Mongul.
"Yes."
"Remember yo may not need to beat him, the important think is to stall him until his ships are within range of our defensive needs." Alex said.
"I know, and I have plenty of ideas about."
"Good. But Kara, you need to know he will not hesitate in killing you." Alex warned.
"I know."
"There may be only one way of stopping him and that is killing him."
"I don't kill." Supergirl said.
"Kara-"
"I will fight him and I will win." Kara said. "But I am not going out there with the intention of killing him."
"But-" Alex started.
"You told me you always had faith in me. Don't change that now." Kara smiled.
"I will always have faith in you." Alex said hugging her. "But please be careful."
"I will." Kara said. "I love you."
"Love you too." Alex said finally releasing her.
"Oh, Barry just called." Kara said. "He said don't worry about defending Central City and Star City, it is in hand."
"It is?"
"He got some of the old teams in both cities up and running." Kara said. "Barry is going to come to National City and help you."
-00-
"Okay, that is all working." Lena said when she checked Ruby's suit. "But I will remind you this suit will make you stronger but not invincible, even with your powers. And if the gem gets damaged the suit will be useless."
"I've got it." Ruby said as Alex entered the room.
"And if you get hurt I can't protect you." Alex warned.
"I know." Ruby said.
"What she meant was she wouldn't be able to stop your mother killing you, then her and then me." Lena clarified.
"I'll be fine." Ruby said. "But I will be careful." She said hugging Lena. She then walked towards the door where Alex was standing and paused wondering if she was meant to hug Alex or merely treat her as her boss. Alex settled the debate by pulling her in for a hug.
"Please be careful."
"I will." Ruby assured her before leaving the room and joining up with her squad.
"The best place for you to be is here." Lena said sensing Alex wanted to be in the field.
"I know. But I hate siting on the sidelines." Alex said.
"You aren't just sitting on the sidelines. You are coordinating the defence of this planet." Lena reminded her.
"That doesn't make it any easier to send people out there knowing they are likely to get hurt or killed."
"That is the cost of leadership." J'onn, in his Martian form, pointed out as he entered the room. "Trust your team."
"I do. It's my preparations I don't trust." Alex confessed.
"There is nothing else you could have done." Lena said. "And everyone knows what is expected of them."
"Director." Ramierez said entering the room. "POTUS is about to address the nation."
"I'll go take up my position." J'onn said to Alex.
"Good luck." Alex said hugging him.