Chapter 64

The introduction of the New League members would have to wait. Helena, Whitney, and Sara took four of the new recruits for the Team into the cave. Stephanie Brown, Helena's successor as Robin, Cassandra Sandsmark, Donna's as Wondergirl, Ruby Arias, the Blue Beetle, and Karen Beecher, Bumblebee, stepped into the cave. They all whistled when they got a good look at the scenery around the cave.

"This really isn't our main headquarters anymore," Sara admitted. "Just a place to indoctrinate the newbies, and also to store the junk Whitney hoards."

'A-hem, they're souvenirs, thank you," Whitney said.

"Wow, that's...that's history right there," Ruby said in awe.

"It's sure something," Karen said. "So, when do we get the real Headquarters of the Team...and do you have another name, other than the Team? Like some kind of Young Justice League, or something?"

It had been a simple enough question.

"No, because technically we're not official to the public," Sara said. "Not like the League or the Teen Titans or the Fantastic Four...or any of those other teams out there."

Stephanie's awe only increased. She had been training for the past nine months with Helena, as Helena passed the mantle of Robin down to her, like Nightwing did to Helena all over those years ago.

"Keep your eyes in your head, or you'll miss all the action," Helena said.

"Oh, it's just...going from interviewing superheroes on my podcast, to actually being one, it's kind of sweet," Stephanie said.

"It's a rush," Karen said. "Nadia...sends her regrets she can't make it today. But you know how she gets, and she, Jan, and Lana are working on the new prototype. And more importantly the security to prevent the prototype from being in the wrong hands."

In the other room, Jessica Cruz, the newest Green Lantern stepped out.

"How are you doing?" Sara asked her.

"Oh, a bit banged up, but otherwise pretty good," Jessica said. "So, you have some sort of Junior Justice League thing going on?"

"Well, it's not an official thing, more like...well a super secret covert operations, which took on a life of its own over the past couple of years," Sara said. "And there's a spot for you on the Team if you want it."

"Seriously?" Jessica asked. "Because, I don't think I made the best first impression."

"We really do need a Green Lantern on this team," Whitney said. "We had...everything the League has, other than the Green Lantern...okay a lot of us are moving up into the League, when the big six finish...talking about whatever they're talking about."

M'gann stepped into the room to join them.

"Harry told us he's fine, just at the DEO dealing with...a situation," M'gann said.

The way M'gann said this, caused some concern from the team.

"He's okay, right?" Ruby asked. "Because, he had to convince Lena until he was blue in the fact that he wasn't an inch away from having his arm chopped off by those blue aliens. I heard Mom and Lena talking about it."

"He'll be fine," M'gann said.

Harry had to really sell her on the fact he was fine because he lost a lot of blood. Thankfully Whitney and Jesse cleaned it up, because the last thing they needed was a Bizarro clone of Harry flying around. With all of the mad scientists moving around.

"Is that the Helmet of Fate?" Cassie asked.

"Merely just a powerless duplicate," Whitney said. "I thought that the shelf looked wrong without it, it was our most prominent artifact for a long time so Harry whipped up another one. And before you ask, that's not the real Sword of Beowulf either."

Cassie knew that one, her mother had it locked up tight at an undisclosed location.

"Explanation," Harry said.

"I'll get to the point," Lyta said. "I've intercepted this Kree transmission. It shows the Justice League's attack on several planets."

The images of the League attacking. The most damning one was Superwoman attacking a group of Kree soldiers, burning one and stabbing the other. Kara flinched at the look.

"They're wanted for charges across several galaxies," Lyta said.

"Fortunately, their charges at the Court of Rimbor is an easy one," Galatea said. "You throw a big enough bribe at that court, and the charges just mysteriously disappear. Even if you blow up a planet, they have a price."

"And the Kree aren't so easy," Carol said.

"Well, that was obvious," Galatea said. "They won't stop until the people who attacked their planets and anyone who is remotely connected to them, will be destroyed."

"There's got to be a trial," Kara said. "They have to listen to reason."

"Oh, there's no reason the Kree will listen to when they've judged their enemies," Galatea said. "Oh, yes, there's going to be a trial, but it will be an excuse to humble their opponents. When the League surrenders themselves, they'll sign their own death warrants."

"And what if the League don't surrender to the Kree?" Kara asked.

"They will annihilate this planet until the League surrenders, or it is reduced to ash," Galatea said. "Unless you have something to deter the Kree from trying and I doubt very much you have a weapon that powerful. Because they will fight to the very last drop."

A buzz in Harry's ear dragged his attention away from the impossible choice.

"Dinah?" Harry asked.

"Full League meeting has been called, and that includes the Senior Team members," Dinah said.

"Right," Harry muttered. "Let's go."

Kara followed him, along with Carol, and Galatea and Lyta followed. As promised the DEO members woke up some times later, with nothing other than a few small bumps and bruises.

The entire League and the senior members of the Team arrive at the Watchtower. The League six arrived, and one of the Guardians of Oa appeared. He looked grim.

"My name is Ganthet," he said. "I'm one of the Guardians of Oa and I am here to relay this most dire message and evidence along with it. The Kree has declared the Justice League to be in aggression and if they do not surrender to the Kree, then Earth will bear the brunt of the consequences."

Ganthet took a moment to survey them all. The looks on the members of all of them, Batman, Superwoman, Wonder Woman, the Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, and Hawkwoman all looked dire.

"I will do everything in my power to ensure the League receives adequate representation," Ganthet said. "But, the relationship between the Kree and the Guardians are notoriously strained. Especially considering the fact that one of our own Green Lanterns has been forced to participate in this event."

"You're going to turn yourselves in?" Power Girl asked.

This revelation caused some frustration to occur and many of the members of the League, other than the original six, were not happy about this situation.

"We have no choice," Superwoman said. "We allowed ourselves to be compromised and we put the people of the Earth at risk. If we put them at risk, we cannot represent them. Therefore, the six of us will be leaving the League. Power Girl and Black Canary will be more than adequate to lead the League in the future."

Both sides descended into a shouting match, going back and forth with each other. Superwoman craned her neck back and broke out into a very obvious sigh. She really wished she could have another option, but weighing all their options, things did not look very good at all. The Kree pretty much had them over a barrel and not in a good way.

A three-dimension image appeared in the midst of the Watchtower. Everyone rose up, shocked and surprised at this figure approaching.

A large, imposing Kree solider appeared before them.

"It's live," Black Canary said. "He's broadcasting everywhere."

"The people of this planet have been judged based upon the actions of their representatives," The Kree soldier said. "And the Justice League has been judged to be murderous monsters. The Reapers will be coming down to...."

"Wait!" Superwoman cried out. "We surrender to the Kree!"

Batman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, and Hawkwoman nodded in agreement.

"Spare Earth," Claire said.

Karen, Harry, and Kara all exchanged anxious looks. They were not too pleased at what Claire was doing, but they knew her mind was made up.

"Very well," The Kree General said. "If this is a trick, then the people of Earth are going to pay for your deception. And you will all burn."

"Spare the Earth and there will be no tricks," Claire said. "Allow truth and justice to prevail."

"That's what the Kree was all about."

Claire turned to the rest of the League who all nodded. Superman rose up to his feet, with the images of the Kree flashing about, and them falling to the League. Grisly and damaging, damaging and most importantly the entire world saw it. And would judge them to it.

"You have one Earth cycle to present yourselves," The Kree General said. "Fail, and the price for your crimes will be the decimation of the human race."

The entire world saw it. Saw Superwoman's surrender, a big admission of guilt as far as many of them were concerned. And Lois Lane could not find the words to properly describe how she felt about Claire turning herself in.

"I know you're not happy," Claire said.

Claire had been sent off by Harry, Kara, Karen, Lana, Lois, Chloe, and Martha. It had not been something which had been really popular with her family.

"I can't find the words to describe how monumentally stupid this is," Lois said.

"We have no choice," Claire said. "But...despite this, I know we're not done with the Kree."

"There's not a coincidence Savage set you up for this one," Harry said. "Given the history the Kree has with Krypton. But what does he mean to accomplish with this? Because every one of his schemes has some kind of means to the end."

"Only something demented which makes sense to him and him alone," Chloe murmured.

Lana just said her goodbyes to Claire. She pulled away and left Martha to just hug her daughter goodbye. Without any words, she conveyed the fact she hoped Claire would come home safely.

"Harry," Claire said.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Harry said. "For all of our sakes."

Claire took Harry into a long hug and kissed him on the lips. The two pulled away from each other, with Claire's fingers sliding back down off of Harry's arms when she let him go.

Off elsewhere, Batman met with Rebecca, Barbara, Stephanie, and Helena, along with Kate Kane, his cousin, who came to see him off.

"I know you will take up the fight without me," Batman said.

"We will," Rebecca said.

"Yeah, we...we'll do it," Helena said.

"Lucius knows the plan in case I'm gone for an extended amount of time," Batman told them.

Without another word, Batman motioned for Kate to follow him over. She followed him, out of ear shot to the rest of the group.

"Remember, the Knightfall Protocol," Batman murmured to Kate.

Kate's eyes widened and she nodded. Bruce slipped her a case and moved over to join the rest of the League six who would be joining them.

"Well, I thought I was stepping up soon," Donna said. "I just didn't say I think it would be this soon."

"Stand tall, and fight," Diana said. "And it's now time....I would not give you such a burden, if I didn't know you were ready."

Diana passed the armor over to Donna.

"Keep it safe,'"Diana said.

Not just any armor but Diana's. Donna swallowed a lump in her throat as Diana moved over to join the rest of the team.

"Make sure to water the plants when I'm gone,," J'onn told M'gann. "And all my stories are DVRed."

"They'll be ready to binge when you get back," M'gann said. "And don't worry about the plants, I've got them handled."

Right before they joined together, Lena appeared in front of them. Claire broke away from the rest of the group to walk up towards him.

"It's funny, just when we've patched things up, it's time to say goodbye,," Lena said. "But, at least we're parting in good terms this time."

"This time will be different," Claire said.

"Well, your optimism is contagious," Lena said.

She wrapped Claire up a hug and moved over to the others. Claire smiled at her family and said something in Kryptonian to Kara, Karen, and Harry. Harry smiled, he figured as much and judging by the looks on the face of Kara and Karen, they did as well.

The League Six joined Ganthet. A flash of green light emitted and they would be gone, off to see the Kree.

"So, they all told me for years I was soft on the Justice League, about how they were all about Truth, Justice, and the America Way. Even when the Amazons were revealed to be nothing other than genocidal manhaters, people tried to explain it away. They said me Aresia was the exception to the rule. Not all Amazons were not way, hashtag not all Amazons."

The images of Wonder Woman brutally attacking several Kree soldiers flashed on view screens, right in front of the one and only G. Gordon Godfrey.

"But, the champion of peace and understanding, along with the paragon virtue of Truth, Justice and the American Way spilled gallons of alien blood," Godfrey said. "And they put the Earth in the crossfire, by these Kree. Now, G. Gordon has to ask this. Why did they wait all of these years to do a noble surrender? No, it wasn't because they were sorry, it was because they were caught. And now we must wonder whatever crimes the Justice League enacted over the years."

The Team watched Godfrey's disgusting takedown of the League. Having just enough truth in there to make his claims valid, but twisting things in the worst possible way. Godfrey was the epitome of everything wrong with the modern mainstream media.

"They give this guy television time," Artemis said.

"People want their biases confirmed," Raquel said with a shrug. "It doesn't matter who you are, there are people who grab onto the things which make them be able to point the finger at the people they don't like."

"And a good bit of fear mongering gets ratings," Stephanie darkly replied.

"That too," Raquel said.

"Why are we watching this again?" Artemis asked.

"Know your enemy and know what he's saying," Helena said. "And Godfrey, he's the enemy."

Harry stepped into the cave and saw the television program just go to a commercial break.

"So, what's up?"

"The Team's not joining the Justice League," Harry said. "Mostly because there's no Justice League to join."

"Wait, what?" Artemis asked.

"They were disbanded by the UN just this morning, pending an investigation," Harry said. "But, I doubt the investigation is going to go in anyone's favor. The moral crusaders have gotten their way. We're shutting down the League, in the eyes of the public. Dinah and Karen agreed, and...here we are."

Harry had a feeling they might have dodged a bullet.

"Please tell me they aren't trying to put through that stupid SRA bill again?" Zatanna asked.

"Well, it would be ripe for those senators who are talking about how the League is a bad influence on the children to try and push it through again," Harry said. "Fortunately, the right people are going to crusade against it again, because it's a monumentally stupid idea."

And also, because certain people in the government wanted super powered weapons.

A blip on Harry's cell phone caught his attention. He received a text message which read "Sheldon Park, 11:00 PM. One glimpse to the other members of the team indicated they got the same message.

A small group of Kree members met together.

"The criminals will pay," the Kree soldier said. "Especially the Kryptonian."

"Earth will be polluted soon," another one of the Kree soldiers said. "Once the Reach gets a hold of Earth and infects it...."

"Then we will strike," the lead Kree said. "And two diseased races will be wiped out in one fell swoop."

"We should strike suddenly and swiftly, Kasius," one of the more forceful Kree. "Earth allowed these murderers to be bred."

"Patience, Ronan," Kasius said. "Their time will come. The roaches will all be wiped out and their breeding ground will be eliminated."

The Kree left to attend to the will of their Supreme Intelligence. Kasius turned to the figure in the shadows.

"All goes as planned, great one."

"Good."

A fearsome figure, even one who would make the most hardened of Kree soldiers to quiver in their boots stood before Kasius. The one and only Darkseid observed from the shadows, pleased at how.