Prelude to War: Earthfall They spotted the first ships on the Watchtower sensors at the edge of the solar system, quickly identifying and sorting the various vessels. There were an astonishing mix of craft, from a dozen worlds including Dominators, Khunds, Thangar, Tamaranean and many more, all battered and showing signs of battle. "Space task force," Kyla Scott said, the Green Lantern of Earth leading a mix of space based heroes away from Earth's orbit to meet the incoming fleet, "let's see what's going on." J'onn Jonnz' voice echoed in their minds as the green skinned Martian Manhunter said, "I'm only picking up fear and terror in the incoming ships, not aggression." "That's comforting," Captain Atom said, his silvery skin gleaming. "I'm getting distress transmissions on multiple frequencies," Steel reported, B-ko's heavy space armor gleaming, "many of the ships are on their last legs." "All right, we'll intercept the ships and guide them into orbits around the moon," Supergirl took charge, her only concession for the rigors of space a simple breathing mask. She smiled at the questioning looks, "We don't want a panic on Earth, which is what would happen if all these ships took up orbits there." Using the Green Lantern power ring, telepathy and standard communications the team quickly began guiding ships into taking up positions in Lunar orbit, even as heroes provided emergency aide. Power ring bubbles maintained atmosphere in badly damaged ships, emergency welds and other repairs keeping them safe for now. Of course, something had to go wrong. "Too badly damaged..." they heard over a sputtering communications system as the Thangaran warship barreled by the startled heroes, it's engines flaring wildly as it vented atmosphere, unable to change it's course. Swiftly the heroes tried to intercept it, power ring constructs and physical power slowing it's wild pace but they were unable to stop it. Oracle spoke calmly from her station within the Watchtower base, reporting, "I'm plotting it's course, it's going to splash down in the Atlantic ocean." A short pause, "I'm dispatching Aqualad, Mecha and Mermaid to assist." Beneath the sea Orin smiled slightly, the red headed Atlantean swimming easily to where the ship had impacted to the ocean floor. 'My first mission with the JLA,' he mused, 'I wonder if I'll always get the sea jobs?' "We'll reach the ship in moments," Mecha reported, the golden skinned robot jetting through the water via engines mounted on her back and feet. "I'm surprised I was called in," Mermaid said mildly, the half Atlantean woman moving through the water like a shark with her fish's tail, "considering I'm a member of the Ultramarines." The blonde haired woman had been taken captive by the notorious mad scientist Dr. Sivana years ago, his experiments leaving her with enhanced powers but also her more fishlike traits. Orin smiled back wryly, "I think that Supergirl doesn't really care about what team you're on, if she needs your help, she asks." Mermaid chuckled as they plunged deeper into the depths, tail fluttering gracefully as she murmured, "I noticed." The ship lay on a broken section of reef, air bubbling out of it ominously as it took on water. The Thangaran warship looked much like a bird of prey, even with all of the damage, a wounded hawk waiting for care. "I'm picking up lifesigns," Mecha reported as she scanned the wreck, "but they're very weak." A pause, "I can probably project a forcefield around it, keep more water from getting in, then we can try to pull the passengers out." "There might be another way," Orin offered, "let me try." The red haired young man concentrated, liquid swirling around his hands, then the water literally pulled back from the vessel, forming a bubble around it. Water concentrated below the battered ship, quickly solidifying into a hard shelf beneath it, then slowly began to lift the vessel up towards the surface. "You can create solid water?" Mermaid said in awe as they followed the ship up to the surface, "That's incredible." "A gift I inherited from my mother," Orin said distractedly, most of his attention focused on the ship and raising it safely. They broke the surface, the ship resting on the top of the sea as in a flash of light Green Lantern arrived. "We haven't had a chance to check on the pilot," Mecha called as she used her thrusters to launch herself out of the water, quickly converting to flight mode. Kyla slapped a green platform underneath it to take the weight off the visibly tiring Orin, then they gathered at the main hatch. "No response," she murmured as she tapped the open switch, "I guess I'll have to use the ring..." CLACK! The hatch shuddered then jerked up as the passenger opened it, smoke billowing out from within the vessel. The pilot staggered out, coughing as her red hair spilled from the back of the hawklike helm she wore, her Thangaran military uniform battered and burned. Pulling off her helm the beautiful young woman smiled grimly, her brown eyes narrowing. "My name is Katar Thal," she introduced herself tiredly, "and I hope you're the Justice League, or we're all in trouble." And with that she flopped over in a dead faint, D-ko barely moving fast enough to catch her. "We'd better get her up to the Watchtower," Orin blinked, "does anyone know who she is?" "I do, maybe," Kyla blinked. "I'd love to stick around," Mermaid said with a half smile, "but I think my fellow Ultramarines could use an update." She smiled right at Orin, "If you need any more help, just ask handsome." With that she was gone, sliding away beneath the sea with a splash of her tail. "I think she likes you," Mecha said impishly as the teleporter activated, in an instant sending them to a large chamber in the Watchtower's hangar bays. "Just leave it alone," Orin muttered, blushing. Not long after, members of the Justice League gathered to confirm notes. Kestrel and Oracle had organized the eight vessels in parking orbits around the moon, providing supplies and resources for the damages ships,. All had similar stories, the crews refugees fleeing a powerful invasion force made up of different war-like races. "Apparently," Helena Wayne said from where she sat at the meeting table, her black hair slicked down a bit from being under her Kestrel costume's cowl, "most of these ships are from races that actually signed on with the invasion. They disagreed and were either imprisoned or attacked, hence their decision to bolt." "The ships are spaceworthy," B-ko reported tiredly, her blue hair flowing in a wave over her shoulders, "but they've been through the wars. We'll need to provide additional supplies and repairs if we want them to stay up there for any length of time." "Do you think..?" Helena looked at her curiously. "Lexcorp has already pledged to help," B-ko smiled wryly thinking of her short conversation with her mother, "though I think she's just eager to get a look at those ship's technology." "Good enough," A-ko nodded, red hair flowing. She looked to Orin, D-ko and Kyla, "So what about our splashdown?" "She collapsed almost as soon as we got her out of her ship," D-ko revealed, "J'onn is in sickbay with her now." "Her name is Katar Thal, a Thangarian soldier," Kyla Scott said seriously, "if I'm right about the name, I think she's related to Shayera Thal, who for a while was called Hawkwoman." "She's my mother," the tired voice said. Looking up they saw Katar standing in the doorway, leaning on J'onn for support and wearing just a medical robe. "I hate to interrupt," she sighed, "but you need to hear this now." A chair was brought over and the woman nearly collapsed into her seat. "You should be resting," A-ko said, "you're in no shape..." "Warworld is coming," Katar cut her off, "an entire planet built for combat, armed and armored to be nearly undefeatable." She took a breath, "They have warriors from a dozen species, as well as leaders who seem even more powerful than anything I've seen." "How long until they arrive?" Helena demanded. "A week, maybe more," Katar answered, "they seem to be taking their time." You could have heard a pin drop in the room. "I have some more bad news," Kyla said grimly, "after we saw the ships inbound, I contacted the Green Lantern Corps." Feeling their eyes on her she continued, "Green Lanterns from nearby sectors have disappeared without warning, I assume trying to fight this Warworld." "Then I guess we'll just have to step up our preparations," B-ko said grimly. "Flash is earthside along with Firestorm," Oracle noted, "I'll page them again." "I wonder if their date went better than expected?" Kyla murmured, getting some surprised chuckles from the others. "Helena?" Oracle asked softly, getting the attention of the young heroine. "I ran through the databases of the ships and found something important." "Yes?" Helena looked curious. "Your biological mother, Nightstar, is aboard the Tamaran refugee ship," Oracle revealed.
Back to The New Adventures of Supergirl Index - Back to Project A-ko Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction