[15th November 2010]

[10th Mountain Division HQ, Fort Drum, New York]

"We're going to lose Metropolis, or at the very least everything outside of the planned safe zones if we retreat like you're proposing" he stated calmly despite the anger burning inside him at the statement. What's worse it felt like they were running, tail between their legs, and allowing the alien vermin to take exert control over a large part of the city. All they could do with current numbers was help secure, or rig for destruction, the most important facilities and protect the highest concentrations of civilians.

"Somewhat over-dramatically put Wade, it's not a retreat when the division hasn't deployed there more than brigade strength. But yes, we know we're allowing the city to essentially fall under siege for the immediate term but till we can consolidate...any ensure infestation free...the National Guard units then for the next twenty-four hours, the 10th Division will be used to support the securing of New York, Gotham, and the clearance of Bludhaven before its overwhelmed. All that and protecting our communications infrastructure as the organism over the past eight hours has made rather frantic efforts to try knock out our capacity to coordinate, or even just communicate with, the civilian response. Metropolis will have to handle itself for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours"

General Wade Elling sighed, shaking his head in frustration "Dammit Sam, we've only a brigade in there, maybe another worth of the National Guard, and the police force in Metropolis is a joke. Outside their Special Crimes Unit their just a glorified paddy wagon collection service! We know the creature is trying to throw hundreds, maybe thousands, of its spawn at...

On the screen, his commanding officer raised a hand for him to be quiet "Look Wade I know, which is why we're moving to secure areas where police forces can assume control after we sweep and clear like Gotham and New York first before moving in force to an area further away. The fact there are warehouses full of chemicals that can harm the creature in both Gotham and Bludhaven also means moving to secure them is rather urgent. Till then we'll have to rely on local support to handle holding the safe-zones, LexCorp and the Metropolis Civil Defence have distributed all the hazard suits they possess and local defence volunteers are barricading sectors under regular army officers. And we have confirmed the Kryptonian will not interfere and risk being taken over...and I've authorised emergency response batteries to open up if he does"

'Rent-a-cops, mercs and armed civvies defending the city outside of vital areas he means' Wade mentally grumbled but nodded in acceptance "Has there been any further information on the situation?"

His superior's face remained grim "Not much more than we already know, you and your boys are in the worst of it looks like so far. Both CDC, and the rest of the Joint Chiefs including myself, are relatively certain that the outbreak started in Bludhaven after the theft of the creature from Star Labs. It's tried to spread itself as far and wide as possible from the looks of it, but the North-East looks to be the worst affected in the country. Worldwide even. We had to bomb the airport there only three hours ago due infested flights attempting to take off, and that doesn't even include dealing with the meta-humans! One of the teleporters, alias Mirror Master, spread it Denver and up into Canada before someone up there put some bullets into him and took him down..."

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[15th November 2010]

[Old Kogat Lands, West of Atlantis, East of Continental United States]

"It is as we had feared my Prince, the wreck and ruins has many of the creatures and it would appear they are attempting to utilise it as a breeding ground" the lead scout reported as around them a full division of the Royal Army of Atlantis waited on guard. Orm, Son of Atlanna and currently Prince of Atlantis nodded as best he could in the full body armour that all facing the creature must wear to avoid corruption. It was truly stunning how quickly the creature could spawn more of its filthy kind, merely requiring food and energy to pour them out by the hundreds, maybe thousands.

The area before him seemingly had both of these in some measure for the creature; in only a few days of freedom it had seemingly established a nest around one of the ancient research outposts of his people. Then immediately begun to utilise nearby wrecks of surface world cargo vessels lost in one of their wars for resources alongside controlling, then eating, much of the living things in a radius around it. Most concerning was the larger version of the creatures that had been spotted amongst them; ones warned of by the fool of his brother's ally with the green ring as being perhaps capable of flight.

"The surface-worlder vessels also stalk close to these lands your Highness..." the other scout half hissed behind her clear face mask. While such attitudes would normally be welcome he silenced her immediately with glare before he answered disdainfully.

"Of course they are fool girl! It was the creature attempting to seize their vessels above that alerted us to these nests. I have communed with their commander mere moments ago so that they will know the will of Atlantis and aid us in this task if required. This invader threatens all, so calm your distaste and work towards victory afore we all find our homes, ours as well as theirs, overflowing with these creatures as they control our minds, and those of our loved ones!"

'Damn you Al Ghul! Savage! You assured me the creature was dead!' he raged internally as some small fragment of his anger lashed out at the idiot scout despite keeping a calm tone and face '...it is only luck that this creature awoke upon the surface and not in the heart of my kingdom! What if it had been me who'd been amongst the first to fall? Me, the True and Rightful King! Damn you and all your promises! Now I must lead our armies to swift victory or face the destruction of all my dreams!'

He raised his trident, activating the communicator at his neck and commanded his part of the Royal Army "Warriors of Atlantis! Brave Brothers and Sisters of the Seas! Before us lies a monstrous foe that would rob us of our freedom, of the very sanctity of our minds themselves! A creature that would seek to use us as pawns and hurl us against our friends! Our families! Our Kingdom and all that the glory of Atlantis means!"

Raising his voice he illuminated the tips of his trident in a faint display of light that indicated readiness to attack "But today that abomination fails! Today it meets the Might and Glory of Atlantis and it WILL FALL BEFORE OUR BLADES LIKE CHAFF! THESE ARE OUR SEAS! THIS IS OUR WORLD! NOW LET US SHOW THIS INVADER THE PRICE OF ITS AMBITIONS! FORWARD! FOR VICTORY! FOR FREEDOM! FOR ATLANTIS!"

"FOR ATLANTIS!" A thousand voiced roared their agreement as he signalled the attack; and to the surface-worlders commander to have its submersibles launch their own at the whales hovering near to where the Starro-creature had nested in numbers. His own advance would be slow, but organised, and hopefully the creature would be distracted for a moment and attack the surface-worlders allowing his own warriors an easier time to attack its spawn grounds. Or, at the very least, be harmed by the concussive effect of the surface-worlders primitive weapons...

--

[15th November 2010]

[Fortress of Hidden Green Beauty, Himalayan Mountains, Border People's Republic of China]

'Luthor you will feel my vengeance for this betrayal. None who cross Ra's Al Ghul has ever been able to avoid my wrath. Soon you shall beg for the swift release of death!' he snarled to himself silently slamming the bottom of his fist into the side of his throne as the last of the League of Shadow's operational bases in the Americas was confirmed overrun. This time by US Army Rangers rather than that Starfish creature's ones, but it matter little who had taken save that decades of progress had been undone in mere months thanks a fools bargain with that traitorous young bald bastard Lex Luthor.

Now, all across the world, hunting season appeared to have declared upon his League of Shadows almost collectively by world governments. Who, thanks to that wretched man in Metropolis, both blamed him and his servants for the creature. As well as believing them likely to have been compromised by the creature thanks to the actions of that incompetent fool Crook and his compatriot Nigma. Ra's Al Ghul was going to ensure Sportsmaster was taken alive and well, and then he was going to locate that man's ex-wife and daughters and ensure he saw him torture them to death in the most excruciating ways possible before moving unto him...

"Master, I must sadly confirm that the alien device known as the Father Box has been self-destructed in some manner and we have been unable to remedy this" his ever faithfully Ubu stated with a bow. Ra's gave a wave of his hand in understanding. It was just as he expected sadly; Queen Bee had suddenly vanished, there had been atomic detonations in two locations, and soon after the tools of their Other alien patron had suddenly ceased to be functional. All the fault of Luthor he expected...it was so like him and all the other cretins to attempt to oppose Ra's Al Ghul and the building of a perfect Utopia free of pollution and overpopulation.

"Understandable my faithfully Ubu, there is little to be done now but weather the storm and then rebuild when it has ended as we have ever done. Then we shall have our righteous vengeance on all those who have betrayed my vision and sought to bring the League of Shadows low. Has there been any further word on my daughter since her believed capture?"

"No Master, I must regretfully say we have been unable to locate the holding facility Lady Talia has been transported too"

'Unfortunate, but she will not betray me in captivity so it perhaps a positive she has not been taken by the creature. That would have a disaster with her knowledge of the League's operations...or what is left of them' he thought with annoyance at the loss of such a useful tool as Talia had been. Recovering her once matters had calmed down would be a priority of course; it would be much easier if it was the US Government rather than Luthor, but it was still impossible to tell who had ambushed her other than they had not been infected by the Echinoderm from the last bits of footage from her bodyguards.

"Then Ubu we shall...

Sadly the personal servant named Ubu would never get to hear the words of his Master, nor would the hundred other support staff and assassins within the mountain fortress of the League of Shadows. For at that moment a DF-15C 'Bunker Buster' Baliistic Missile launched by the People's Liberation Army at the express order of the State Council of the People's Republic of China slammed into the facility with a thundering rumble. None within its confines realised they were dead before the non-nuclear warhead detonated in a wave of fire and death that incinerated all within its path. Even before the supports gave way, and part of the mountain above the fortress crushed downwards, the individual known as Ra's Al Ghul was burned from existence along with his ever loyal Ubu and his marvellous creation the Lazarus Pit...

--

[15th November 2010]

[Beneath LexCorp Prometheus Research & Development Facility, Metropolis]

"Goodbye you senile old bastard" he stated simply and too softly to be heard with a last glance at the map of the globe that flashed with information. While it was unfortunate that he himself had not managed to do the deed, directly or indirectly, it did solved a number of future problems thanks to the actions of a rather incensed Chinese Politburo it seemed. Idly he made a mental of note of sending a gift basket to the Premier and the rest of the State Council in the future under some pretext in thanks for their aid in removing a potential thorn in his side.

'Now, if someone would remove the Caveman and Krytonian and my day would be complete' he thought for a moment before reverting to the task at hand. With a few steps he moved over to the large conference table containing those individuals tasked with ensuring the safety of his city now the US Army have decided to let them fall under siege for several days. An unsurprising more once he became aware of the extent of the infestation by the Echinoderm. He gave a friendly, and fake, smile to the alien on the screen as he took his seat beside the good Mayor on his right, and Colonel Kane on his left.

"Ah, Superman, it is most beneficial of you to join us in this strategy meeting. Your input having reviewed our plans would be most beneficial as we secure the city we both call home against this alien threat. May I ask has there been any progress in linking of systems from your space-station and Lantern Gardner to scanning equipment?"

Pleasant smile, keep up the pleasant and helpful smile he reminded himself, watching the Krytptonian maintain his calm stoic look before giving a slow nod "Indeed Luthor, it is why I have contacted you; we believe that Lantern Gardner can begin interfacing with various survey satellites and networked environmental systems in the next few hours to give a clearer image of Starro's movements..." the Kyrptonian paused a moment, perhaps discomfort? Anger? Due to the recent revelations about Project Match "...and I have been informed you came forward about another of the abuses of Cadmus Labs?"

Ah, so it was bothering the filthy alien. Good. "Of course, as soon as they crisis hit I began immediate studying my records for any potential dangers, such as a rampaging Kryptonian, and to my horror came across the abuse of my trust in those myself, and the Justice League, left in charge of Cadmus operations. I felt it my patriotic duty to come forward with such information no matter the cost to my own reputation, or that of LexCorp, due to unfortunate actions of others"

"All very good, but can we focus on the matter at hand..." the bearded form of Commissioner Corporon interjected tiredly motioning at the map in various shades of colours that gave an interactive overview of Metropolis and its environs "...such as the situation with Styrker's Island and those held within. Especially after the infected Toyman attempt a few hours ago"

Colonel Kane gave a wave of it being not a concern "We've planted charges in the Penitentiary and have standing orders on how to handle the situation; just as happened with the destruction of Blackgate Prison in Bludhaven late last night. I can assure all here that none of those imprisoned will be allowed to escape and prey upon good honest citizens, be they either infected or otherwise. Between my own 3rd Combat Brigade and your SWAT team Commissioner we took down Toyman with minimal casualties"

"You killed him Colonel..." ah so the Kryptonian could show anger through the facade "...and the destruction of Blackgate was unnecessary if League support had been allowed to..."

"Legal and approved by both the President and Joint Chiefs of Staff. I feel no sorrow at having to put down a mad dog when civilians are in..."

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