Comments | jla_watchtower: The Rise and Fall of The Great Powers

mrpierce2u in jla_watchtower

The Rise and Fall of The Great Powers

Sep 19, 2007 18:48

The perspective changes from this side of the White House. Jefferson Pierce knew it would happen, of course, but he still wasn't prepared for how total it was ... how encompassing. Once upon a time ... seems like a million years ago, now ... he turned down JLA membership because he believed they overlooked too much, they were too far above the real ( Read more... )

snakes and other planes, batman, mr. bones, black lightning, elongated man, green lantern hal jordan, superman, wonder woman

Comments 38

_man_of_steel_ September 20 2007, 10:12:10 UTC

The first to arrive is the Man of Steel. "Mr. Vice President." he says plainly, yet without a hint of derision. The paragon of politeness and respect.

mrpierce2u September 20 2007, 12:15:31 UTC

"Superman," says Pierce, extending his hand. His face is stone serious.

Nearly everyone in the room's jaw drops at Superman's appearance. Only Jeff and the president himself seem immune to his aura. The president offers a nod across the command room at The Man of Steel, but is far too engaged with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to participate directly in debriefing the JLA. Jeff knows that's gotta hurt. He and Clark have history. Old history. But this isn't a class reunion.

"I'm glad you could be here. I'm sure by now you realize how bad the situation is."

His face remains stone, but he can't help but flash back to the first few times he and Superman met. Back when he accused The Man of Steel of not doing enough to help the people of Metropolis' Suicide Slum.

Dear God, those were simpler times ...

look_upinthesky September 20 2007, 13:57:31 UTC

Pete's the least of his concerns, other than as a friend. This was no time for reminiscing, after all.

"My question is how could Kobra get this organized this fast? Ever since the first Kobra was killed by Black Adam, it's been wave upon wave of smaller-level terrorism, with no seeming rhyme or reason. Now they've apparently overtaken one of the more military-savvy countries out there. Something's not adding up.

"I will vouch for the veracity of one of their claims. Before your edict, the Ray attempted to go into airspace for recon purposes only, and found himself teleported into Lake Erie."

mrpierce2u September 20 2007, 14:04:52 UTC

Jeff nods.

"We're not entirely sure yet," says Pierce, and the words seem to be sour in his mouth. "Checkmate and the CIA report that there's new players in the command structure, but we've yet to get IDs on them. They've also had a cash infusion. Checkmate says The League of Assassins has invested serious money into Kobra's operations, but the CIA says they've also picked up a few indirect state sponsors."

He gives Clark a serious look. It's obvious the last bit that concerns him.

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lanternslight September 20 2007, 14:24:06 UTC

"Superman?" Hal's voice comes over the coms. "I'm stationed in the air between Cuba and Florida. If Kobra launches so much as a fly, I'll be on it."

look_upinthesky September 20 2007, 16:04:32 UTC

"Stay out of sight." Superman says. "Your mere presence, if they pick up on it, could cause them to start killing off civilians just because they can."

lanternslight September 20 2007, 16:30:34 UTC

"You got it," he replies, shifting himself into an invisible spectrum.

itsastretch September 20 2007, 19:24:56 UTC

Ralph wheels himself into the room, trying to stay quiet an unobtrusive until he's heard enough to catch up on the situation. When there's a pause, and he catches attention, he adds, "My wife and I have been on the phone to a couple dozen ambassadors, trying to get a better international perspective on the situation. I've got messages to the Global Guardians, and into several Eastern European nations to try and get an idea on the sponsorship and where exactly Russia stands since their vote to abstain. I'll let you know if we hear anything ( ... )

mrpierce2u September 20 2007, 19:41:17 UTC

"I've had a lot of the same phone calls, Ralph," says Pierce. "Here's the situation ( ... )

anotherknight September 20 2007, 21:50:36 UTC

"And the fears that aren't superficial?"

mrpierce2u September 21 2007, 15:15:11 UTC

"This," he says, and at his command a video screen turns on, playing footage of a team of metas: All apparently of Asian origin, fighting what seems to be a battalion of Gordanians in what appears to be Northern China. A large man with metal skin blasts at one of the Gordanians' war tanks, destroying it utterly. Alien shock troops fall before the arrows of an archer who bounds carefree above the assault, their blasts never touching him. A distinguished-looking man walks calmly to the center of the assualt and speaks a word, which seems to cause three ships to explode. From above, what appears to be a Durlan warship adds air support to the metas, routing the attack ( ... )

Thread 19