S.T.A.R. Corps! The Metropolis branch of Scientific and Technological Advanced Research Laboratories was jumping as the first alarms came in, the massive object at the edge of the solar system showing up on all their sensors. Men and women worked quickly to confirm the data, using satelites and sensors set up for dozens of scientific projects throughout the reaches of space. "Yes Mr. President," Dr. Kitty Faulkner said, her brown and grey hair falling into her eyes, "we've confirmed the planetoid's arrival. The information the Justice League provided us has all checked out perfectly." The older man looked pensive as he sat back in the monitor image. "Thank you," he said, "though I almost wish you had said it was a hoax." "Sorry," Kitty smiled slightly, "the gravitational anomolies that a mass like that generates are very destinctive." The President nodded gravely, "Keep me updated." With that they signed off, then Kitty got up and left her office. The STAR Labs branch was noisy as people hurried too and fro as Kitty made her way down the halls, eventually reaching the main monitoring womb. Here, researchers accessed data and pulled together information, hurrying from station to station and speaking together excitedly. Dr. Louise Lincoln, the former supervillain Killer Frost, excitedly studied the data on Warworld's arrival. "Was that a hyperspace exit," she wondered, her lighter brown hair falling into her eyes, "or possibly a Boom Tube?" Dr Doris Zeul frowned, the redheaded eccentric leaning over as she read. "It doesn't match the data we got on Kaliback's attack on Metropolis using a Boom Tube," she noted. Looking up towards a monitor screen she asked, "Hamilton?" Professor Emil Hamilton nodded grimly from his prison cell in the Slab. The grey haired villain said, "I'd expect it was warp transit, though how they managed it with a mass that size I don't know. I hope the Justice League captures it intact so we can study it." The bitter tone in Hamilton's voice made Kitty shake her head sadly. Once upon a time Hamilton had been one of Superman's closest allies, but jealousy over what he percieved as another taking his place drove him to villainy. As Ruin he tried to destroy Superman, nearly succeeding in killing his loved ones before Superman finally defeated him. "That's assuming the Justice League can stop it," Doris noted, her mixed feelings about the situation evident in her voice. Years ago Doris Zeul had been dying of a rare blood disease and had attempted to use a mind swapping device to take over the healthy body of Wonder Woman. Defeated she first transferred her mind into a gorilla then into the comatose body of a circus strong woman, eventually adopting the identity of Giganta. Kitty smiled wryly as she remarked, "They have to, or the Earth is going to be serving whoever's on that thing." "True," Louise agreed. She looked around, "Anyone manage to get any internal scans of that thing?" "Not yet," Veronica Cale said, communicating from the facility based on Oolong Island, a sort of refuge for mad scientists. The beautiful blonde executive shook her head wryly, "Whatever that thing's hull is made from, it's nearly impervious to conventional sensors." "Then let's get unconventional," Hamilton used his artificial arm to scratch at his beard, "do any of your science boys have a more exotic scanner, Cale?" Veronica looked thoughtful, "I'll round up the boys and let you know. Supposedly TO Morrow has time viewing technology, that might help." "Have we got the uplink to Will Magnus' lab yet?" Kitty wondered. "Sounds like Magnus has had another nervous breakdown," Louise said regretfully, "he's calling himself Veridium and claiming he's a metal man." "Damn it," Kitty sighed. "The good news is, he's more creative in this state," Doris noted optimistically. "Last time he was like this he created a Plutonium Man and nearly destroyed New Jersey," Kitty pointed out, "I don't think we want that again." "True," Louise acknowledged. ‘When did Star Labs become a refuge for former super villains?' Kitty thought to herself with some amusement. "I'm here," Lena Luthor hurried in, the redheaded business woman shrugging off her jacket, "how can I help?" "Ma'am, slow down," Jessica Olsen complained, grabbing her boss' coat as the freckled, orange haired woman kept pace. "Good to see you," Doris nodded. "We could use a hand in scanning through Warworld's outer shell," Louise suggested as they cleared a work space for the new arrival. Lena tied in to the computers back at Lexcorp as she asked, "Has anyone tried a neutron beam as a probe?" "Do you have one?" Kitty blinked. "Daddy dearest," Lena said sarcasticly, "built one as a weapon against the Justice League." She typed quickly, "If I turn it towards Warworld and properly modulate the beam..." "Best drop the power level a bit more," Doris quickly noted, "or their shields will just decide it's an attack and bounce it away." "Thanks for the reminder," Lena admitted. "Anyone need coffee or refreshments?" Jessica asked. She smiled at her boss, "Black, two sugars as usual?" "Thanks," Lena nodded as the others ordered. Despite his history with the Luthor family Hamilton also pitched in, helping come up with a means of interpretating the data. "All right," Hamilton said as a graphic began to appear on the screen, "that should do it." "Remarkable," Kitty muttered as they studied the image. Warworld, despite it's imposing appearance, wasn't solid. It resembled a colony ship of fiction, with enormous open areas within presumedly set up with earthlike conditions. It's outer layer was made up of metals previously only seen in star ships, studded with unknown offensive and defensive systems. "I'd estimate it could support an entire planetary population in there," Doris mused, "assuming they are also serving as the crew." "That fits," Kitty agreed. She looked over at Lena then at Hamilton's image, "Any chance we can determine the actual population of the ship?" "The neutron beam isn't that precise," Lena shook her head. Hamilton nodded, "Besides, to even try we'd have to up the power, making the beam more detectable and not incidentally harming any life forms we sweep with it." "They are invading our planet," Doris said to them dryly, "I really don't object to frying a few of them for data." "I'd rather save the neutron beam for later," Kitty pointed out, "we might need it as a weapon if things get bad." "Humph," Doris pouted. They worked for a while improving their model of the interior of Warworld, including where readings indicated where the engines and larger weapons emplacements might be. "All right," Kitty finally said as night began falling, "I'll package up what we've got and send it to the government and the League." "Dr. Faulkner?" Lena said as she was leaving. "Yes?" Kitty looked curious. "Could I speak to you, Louise and Doris once you're done?" Lena asked. "Certainly," Kitty agreed. She returned to her office and sent the report to all the required parties, then headed to the cafeteria where the others had arranged to meet. "Does anyone have some beer?" a visibly tired Doris wondered, "After that much work, I want a cold one." "Maybe later," Kitty sounded amused. Lena Luthor smiled somewhat seriously as she said, "I think we all know what's going to happen when Warworld arrives?" "They'll hit the major cities like Metropolis," Louise said, "obviously." Lena nodded, "I'm certain the army and police will do all they can, but I was thinking we could also offer them a hand." "Oh?" Doris sounded displeased. "I know Giganta is in retirement," Lena nodded to Doris then looked at Kitty, "as is your alter ego, Rampage. But all our lives are on the line if the aliens attack." "And what are you going to do?" Louise asked curiously. Lena smiled wryly, "I plan to borrow a Lexcorp battle armor and do all I can." "If you do," Louise smiled slightly, "my frosty alter ego will be there too." "So will Rampage," Kitty agreed. "Doris?" Lena smiled. "Are you nuts?" Doris laughed, "I intend to be on the first train out of town."
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