17

Los Angeles' sky was filled with its prototypical layer of smog. The atmospheric inversion that caused rising air to arrest its climb and pool about over the city had heightened beyond its usual limits and caused public safety officials to alert the public to a dangerous rise in air quality contamination. But Jade willfully ignored the public warnings as she ferried her half-sister, Mayflower, along in a Green Flame construct of a gondola.

She lowered Mayflower to the entrance of an expensive high rise apartment complex. Mayflower glanced at Jade, "You really hope he isn't here. Don't you?"

"Would you?" Jade asked defensively, "The building is owned by a prostitution ring madam and the tenets are her employees."

"Still, judging the book by its cover, it's a fairly opulent ring," Mayflower replied.

That garnered her glare from Jade. Mayflower shrugged, "I know literally dozens of East Enders back in London that would sign their lives away for an opportunity to move in here."

"If Todd does live and works for Vivid, I'll kill him," Jade growled, "They can bury the corpse if they ever find it."

Mayflower halfway believed her.

"Stormwatch reported an alien craft approaching Earth," J'onn Jonzz the Martian Manhunter reported to the rest of the Justice League Unlimited in the cavern encompassing headquarters.

"I'm still uncomfortable with your ties to this Stormwatch and the Shadow Cabinet that runs it," Superman admitted, "You're either completely with us or completely against us."

"I don't see anyone objecting to John's ties to the Green Lantern Corps or Barda's affiliation with the New Gods on New Genesis," J'onn replied calmly, "Your paranoia is worthy of Batman."

"I'm nothing like him," Superman snorted, "I didn't terrorize a city and a state so effectively they passed anti-vigilante laws against non-legally sanctioned costumed adventurers."

"So that's what they call us now," Blue Beetle chortled.

"Of course you're nothing like that thug, Batman," Obsession soothed Superman's ire.

Barda wanted to vomit. Obsession still wore her "Mrs. Superman" outfit. Superman hadn't bothered suggesting she change out of it. Of course, if Barda were to puke all over the outfit, Obsession would be forced to change clothes.

"Regardless of where the alert was sourced from, we need to check it out," John Stewart, the Green Lantern permanently assigned to Earth and its surrounding sector made a point.

"Did we pinpoint a landing site yet?" Shayera Hol, the former Hawkgirl and current Mrs. Stewart, asked. The Thanagarian's history in military intelligence drove her to learn about the potentials foes as quickly and quietly as possible.

"It landed in steppes of Kazakhstan," J'onn was pleased the pair was taking this report seriously. As two of the original founders of the Justice League, their voices carried extra weight with Superman, just as his own once had.

"I see we wait for a trouble alert to inform of our potential guests' intentions. If the aliens create an incident upon encountering humanity, then we intervene and not before," Barda suggested.

"And how many lives get lost while we gear up to respond?" Jesse Quick asked, "I can't live with that kind of math."

"We could send a simple scouting party and reinforce it as needed," Captain Atom reasonably suggested.

"Captain Atom has a damn good point," the Atom voiced his support for the proposal.

"Blue Beetle, prep the Bug," Superman decided, "You'll fly J'onn, John, Shayera, Apache Chief, Samurai, and Black Vulcan to the landing site. Remember this is a scouting mission first and potential diplomatic overture."

"Well done," Obsession whispered knowing Superman could hear it.

But others in the room could easily read her lips. Fire, and even Ice, looked ready to gag. Barda knew Superman was laying a trap to ensnare Obsession's true master but when did the trap turn itself around and snare its creator? That was why Barda was in the loop. To prevent Superman's hubris from betraying the JLU.

Beyond the outermost edge of the Sol system, an Almeracian skiff emerged from hyperspace. Kalea-El reported so to Power Girl, "We are secure and free to navigate in real space once more."

Galatea Hamilton, now generally known as Power Girl, reported to the cockpit, "I must be a lousy copilot since I don't know how anything works."

"There was a time I couldn't imagine living amongst humans. They're just so primitive. But almost a year on a dead world like Argo brings everything into perspective," Kalea stated, "Of course, you enforcer types and your code names are still ridiculous. I mean, I understand your wanting to honor a fallen comrade, but 'Power Girl' of all things? And my father's arrogance at calling himself 'Superman'?"

"Try one on, it'll grow on you," Power Girl smirked.

Kalea snorted her derision. Kalea was a child of three worlds. She was the daughter of Maxima, empress of all Almerac. She was Kryptonian though her father's side. And her past, present, and near future seemed to revolve around Earth Prime.

"Frankly, I didn't think you'd even come back to Earth until you said 'yes' to my request," Kalea admitted.

"I didn't know it either," Power Girl confessed.

"Well, I'm glad you did. My history with humans leaves a lot to be desired," Kalea sighed.

"Adding flesh to your arm, legs, and eye means you won't stand out as well," Power Girl pointed out.

"Which is why I did before I came to Kandor looking for you," Kalea shared.

"Their tortures almost broke me. You'll never know how grateful I was to see you come into that room and kill everyone inside," PG was happy to report, "And your clothing is amazingly simple compared to most Almeracian fashions and nondescript enough to be a uniform without looking like one."

Kalea knew her all black outfit would remind humans off yoga pants and a leotard. But her knee high combat boots destroyed that gentle image. Her black gloves had fingertip sensors that displayed its results in her bionic right eye's Heads Up Display. And her mother's genetics had blended with Kal-El to produce auburn hair in Kalea.

"The prison some Earth agency set up on Pluto has been destroyed. Evidence supports the theory it was a Red Lantern," Kalea said as she entered the Sol system and Power Girl sat beside her, "The moon base indicates the same builders were involved. They've adapted their sensors to try and detect stealthed ships. They undoubtedly detected the Kryptonian Ranger Scouts but they won't even sense us."

"If they do detect us, can they destroy this ship?" Power Girl wondered, "Maybe even through a natural means?"

"There's nothing natural about space travel," Kalea chuckled, "This skiff is of a type I've used quite a bit in my role as an imperial agent. I've never been found out before I land. Recent improvements have increased the terrestrial stealth capacity so the ship will be invisible until called upon."

"Anywhere special?" Power Girl wondered.

"What?" Kalea was confused.

"The places you've been inside one these buckets," Power Girl clarified.

"I made it through Gordanian space to my meetings with the Dominators and the Khunds," Kalea answered.

"Rumor has it Maxima offered to restore your Imperial citizenship for that accomplishment and again for Kandor's conquest," Power Girl tried to sound nonchalant, "But you refused both times."

"I've had my reasons," Kalea demurred.

"I think you've paid whatever penance you felt you've owed," Power Girl opined.

"Have you faced your demons?" Kalea asked sharply, "When you can tell me you've achieved peace of mind, come talk to me and I'll reconsider my decision."

"I'll get back to you on that one," Power Girl backed down.

"And if you're thinking you haven't helped, you monitored the auto systems when I took care of official matters with Almerac," Kalea assured her, "And your being by my side will help sell my position as a helper rather than an enemy that much sooner."

"Probably not given how I just disappeared with you," Power Girl groaned.

"They'll take you back," Kalea promised, "After dealing with Lord Superman you've proven you're the only one that can kill my father. And the time is coming where that ability may save the multiverse."

In the Hall of Justice, Colonel Steve Trevor reported to Amanda Waller. Waller was the director of two distinct ARGUS programs. One was the Justice League of America, the public face of the superhuman phenomenon working for the government of the United States. The second was Task Force X. The Suicide Squad was the black on black facet of ARGUS that even the President of the United States wasn't cleared to know about.

"The guard at Area 51 came out of his coma and indentified his attacker as being Kalea-El," Trevor reported on the longstanding mystery, "So now we know Power Girl disappeared with Kalea."

"Why would Kalea care about Area 51?" Waller pondered it, "Nothing is missing from the inventory."

"Power Girl is," Trevor reminded her.

"Very well, we've assumed until now Galatea went underground for personal reasons after Blackhawk's death. But no evidence leading us to believe she left Earth with a war criminal that invaded Earth. Twice," Waller grumbled, "Now the question is: if Power Girl ever returns to Earth, what will she want?"

"And who will she be working for?" Trevor asked, "Maxima?"

"Or even Kalea herself?" Waller posed the final question.

Conner Hawke and Mia Deardon rode their motorcycles through Los Angeles to get from Green Arrow's LA based lair to the local ARGUS facility. Their government issued plates and ARGUS IDs got them through security regardless of the fact they weren't dressed as Green Arrow and Speedy.

En route they'd spotted Jade and Mayflower outside Vivid's apartment building. Mia had lifted her visor in question at a traffic light but Conner shook his head. He'd heard stories about that building. If Jade and Mayflower got in over their heads, the LAPD would get the call to assist and ARGUS would relay that summons to them.

Jade and Mayflower entered the high rise. Men and women both cast them nary a second look. From the LAPD's files they learned every tenet was also a meta-human. So green skin hardly drew attention.

Vivid was no longer a performer in pornographic films but she now produced a distributed videos starring metas with or without human partners. Seemingly the greatest demand for porn stars was for those between ages eighteen to twenty-nine. Thirty seemed to, in most cases, kill the demand for a headline performer. Some of Vivid's metas stayed on secondary billing stars but most migrated to the escort service where their infamy lived on as well as their costly demand.

The LAPD's Vice Division couldn't explain the unbreakable loyalty Vivid's escorts felt towards her. They'd rather face jail time and fines than betray her involvement in their prostitution. Having consulted the FBI, DEO and ARGUS, the only conclusion the detectives could arrive at was that Vivid exerted some kind of mind control over her employees. Which could explain why she had no shortage of porn stars or escorts.

Obsidian represented a perfect choice for an escort. He was unstable and looking for a tether to tie his life down. His infamy as a JLer turned bad would garner multiple clients. He was also gay, thereby providing for a niche clientele that was frequently overlooked in escort services.

Jade reached his door and frowned, "He's not here."

"Have you ever considered knocking?" Mayflower chided her.

"I told you that Todd and I share a telepathic bond. I know he's not here," Jade reached a decision, "So we'll just wait for him."

"Lobby?" Mayflower wondered.

Jade's power pulse in her left hand flashed green flames and Obsidian's door opened, "Kitchen."

Mayflower just hoped Obsidian didn't bring his work home with him.

Blue Beetle's Bug aircraft floated nearby while the JLer scouting party examined the smallish spacecraft landed in the Kazakh outskirts. John was the first to comment, "They definitely soft landed."

"This technology seems familiar," J'onn warned them.

"There are tracks leading away from the craft," Apache Chief pointed out.

"This is Kryptonian design and tech," Blue Beetle said sourly, "I consulted with STAR Labs when Professor Hamilton began his studies of Superman's spacecraft."

"Superman travelled to Krypton," Shayera reminded them, "It was completely destroyed and it knocked Argo out of its orbit and everyone but Kara froze to death."

"But any civilization capable of breaking into hyperspace is bound to colonize," John said, "Look how many Daxamites there are. They're a former Kryptonian colony. There were bound to be others."

"Then why hadn't Thanagar or even Mars known about them?" Shayera wondered.

"They probably didn't want to be found," John theorized.

"And these are soldiers," J'onn pointed out, "They're weapons lockers are full and their armor unworn."

"Meaning they knew what physiological changes would occur when they reached Earth's sun and atmosphere," Shayera grimly deduced.

"There are thirteen of them," Apache Chief reported, "Their tracks lead in that direction and then uniformly disappear."

"Flight?" Black Vulcan spoke up.

"Probably," Apache Chief agree.

"We face a dangerous group of foes then," Samurai added to the discussion.

"Then we call in backup," John asserted.

Superman went over the ship in amazement, "It's unmistakably Kryptonian down to the glyphs on the control surfaces."

"But they don't intend on ever leaving," Blue Beetle pulled out a char and laid a fractured crystal down on it, "Those represents the ship's CPU. They intentionally destroyed it."

"I can find them," Obsession volunteered.

"You're certain?" Superman asked.

"Remember, I can see even better than you can, babe," Obsession cockily reminded him.

"Then do it," Superman instructed.

"You recognize them?" Kalea asked Power Girl.

The Almeracian skiff was in orbit and Kalea and tuned in the sensors to the location of the Ranger Scouts' ship. It provided multiple displays of various types of data including visuals. Galatea studied the visual display.

"Most of them," Power Girl admitted, "But the woman wearing the Superman 'S' is a stranger."

"First it was Kara In-Ze," Kalea seethed, "How many people will he allow to wear the sigil of the House of El?"

"He's the scion so I guess it's as many as he wants," Power Girl remarked.

"True, but that doesn't mean his heirs have to like it," Kalea grumbled.

"I guess the more we think we change the more we actually stay the same," Power Girl gently chided her friend.

Kalea shot her an annoyed glare. Then she shook her head, "Sorry. Earth and its memories tend to bring out the worst in me."

"Works that way for most folks," Power Girl sighed.

"The Justice League is departing. They seem to be headed for the largest metropolis in the area," Kalea reported, "I want to look at the Kryptonian ship."

As Kalea brought the ship to the surface in Kazakhstan, Power Girl described the political and ideological differences between the Justice League Unlimited, The Justice League United, the Justice League of America, the Justice League Dark, and other teams and the passing of the Justice League International."

"Healthy competition is one thing but this borders on self destruction," Kalea judged.

"We'll see," Power Girl stiffly replied.

"Yes, we will," Kalea smirked.

It had been Mayflower's idea to lock the door back up so that Todd Rice wasn't already on guard when he entered the apartment. But Obsidian still detected Jennie-Lynn Haden's presence. He noticed Mayflower but largely ignored her. His ire was directed towards his twin sister.

"You can come out, Jennie-Lynn, I know you're here," Obsidian grated.

"I'd hoped the police were wrong," Jade confessed as she showed herself.

"Who's that?" Obsidian pointed at Mayflower.

"She's Briar Rose," Jade explained, "She's our sister on mom's side. And under the name 'Mayflower' she carries on the family business."

"Like the flower or the boat?" Obsidian asked harshly.

"Both actually," Mayflower finally spoke.

"Before you condemn my life, remember you lied to me and trapped me in the Shadow Realms," Obsidian accused Jade, "You knew I was free and could have looked for me but you didn't until now. So kindly get the hell out of my apartment and maybe I'll send you a Christmas card some year."

"Todd…," Jade was at a loss.

"I'll report you for breaking and entering if you don't leave quietly," Obsidian threatened.

"Nice meeting you. Have a nice day," Mayflower pulled Jade out of the apartment and Obsidian slammed the door behind them.

Obsidian went on a profane tirade after kicking out his sister and…half-sister? He knew Vivid would take steps to ensure he remained in her employ and he also knew Jade wouldn't let this go. This meant he needed to be a step ahead of her.

Kazakhstan had traded hands numerous times over the centuries. Its current name meant "Land of the Kazakhs" whom eventually seized the land and held even through Soviet domination. Almaty had been the capital from the 1800s until 1997, whereupon the first, and last, democratically elected president moved the capital out of the largest and most populated city. Little did the Kazakhs realize, in their exuberance to choose their own leader, that they'd elected a dictator for life.

Kazakhstan was known for several notable facts. One was that it was the largest landlocked nation in the world. Second it possessed the last two functioning Cosmodromes that the Russian, and now the American, space programs depended upon to launch capsules to the International Space Station. Kazakhstan was also one of the first signatories to president Putin's Free Trade and Defense treaty.

The thirteen Kryptonian Ranger Scouts had no clue of where they were landing but their enhanced vision showed them Almaty. And they decided to begin their conquest of the planet there. For that was the role of Ranger Scouts. They'd descended upon primitive planets and enslaved them for Kandor. And with Kandor in Almeracian chains, they were now working as mercenaries for Darkseid to take the Earth and hand it to the Dark Lord of Apokolips in exchange for Kandor's liberation.

"These physical enhancements are everything they were promised to be," Lieutenant Gar-Lo stated to Sergeant Inara Ye-Nev.

"Yessir," she quickly agreed from her vantage point over the city whereby she and Gar-Lo directed their troops by merely speaking and allowing for the rangers' super hearing to detect the commands. And the vision powers they all had enabled Gar-Lo and Inara track the soldiers.

"I distrusted that vile Desaad but Steppenwolf spoke the truth. The solar panels had us at full strength before we entered this misbegotten system. These hapless fools should be conquered before tomorrow," Gar-Lo boasted.

"Steppenwolf did warn of enhanced defenders," Inara reminded him.

"And where are they, Sergeant?" Gar-Lo laughed.

The JLU distributed themselves around the war torn city. Updates from headquarters alerted the JLU that Kazakhstan's overwhelmed military had called in the Russian Rocket Red Brigade. Superman had to finally come to grips with the blatantly obvious.

"They are Kryptonians," he groaned, "Beetle contact Barda and have her bring in the rest of the team."

"And how about the JLA, the Justice League Dark, and the new kids in the Justice League United?" Blue Beetle suggested hopefully.

"Don't make me laugh," Superman sneered.

Kalea sat her skiff down several miles away from the ranger scout ship. She wasn't certain if its auto antiship defenses were down or not but she wasn't going to take chances. It became obvious the antipersonnel defenses were already down thereby allowing the JLU in and out unimpeded.

"The solar panels seemed to have fully recharged you," Kalea observed of Power Girl.

"I felt back to full strength a few days ago. Not like I ever left Earth or Almerac. And certainly not like I ever set foot on Kandor," Power Girl assured her.

Power Girl's cells had been fully charged by the rays of a yellow sun when she went to the red sun system of New Krypton. Once she'd committed her various acts of sabotage, the Kandorians simply wore her down through constant energy expenditures until she was a mere Argoan again. And as such, she endured a week of unspeakable tortures at the hands of the Kryptonians. Tortures she still wouldn't discuss even with Kalea who'd interrupted them.

They explored the ship. Kalea examined the core interface and saw the crystalline CPU had been removed. A quick search located it remnants. Power Girl asked Kalea to join her in the weapons locker.

"They left everything behind," PG pointed out, "Including this apparatus. Look familiar?"

"So, the reports indicating the Kryptonians met with envoys from Darkseid are true enough," Kalea said regretfully, "That spells trouble on several levels."

"One, the scouts already have full access to their powers," Power Girl recited, "And they've made a deal with Apokolips."

"Presumably Earth in exchange for Kandor," Kalea said grimly.

"You knew," Power Girl accused.

"Remote scouts and listening posts detected signal traffic between the realm Apokolips exists in and the path the ranger scouts were infrequently detected on," Kalea explained, "We knew for certain they were headed to Earth. But the why of it was a mystery until now."

"But why?" Power Girl asked, "Besides the usual."

"Darkseid is obsessed with obtaining a corps of Kryptonian soldiers. That's why he used Mala and Kal-El to harvest a dozen fetuses and well as leave Mala herself with three of her own. And Lord Superman fulfilled another experiment by having him impregnate a Female Fury named Precious."

"But now he could skip the growing process and simply bend New Krypton and its citizens to his will," Power Girl fully realized with some horror, "And Superman participated in these…matings?"

"Oral techniques were employed to arouse him before Mala mounted him and rode him to ejaculation. Fertility drugs were used to enhance her reproductive cycles and she'd simply harvest embryos as soon as they developed and the drugs made her generate fresh eggs to be fertilized," Kalea explained.

"You sound irritated," Power Girl observed.

"How would you like to learn you have over a dozen half-sibling ready to vie for position in the multiverse?" Kalea grated.

"Try being a clone," Galatea advised her, "Then we can discuss insecurities."

"They'll worship Darkseid and they'll be pitted against Almerac," Kalea finished, "And I'll have to kill them one by one or all at once."

"Could you be that heartless?" Power Girl wondered.

"I'm still the same woman that launched an invasion of this Earth that cost thousands of lives," Kalea reminded her, "Don't ever forget that."

Power Girl suddenly knew she shouldn't.

"Lieutenant! Airborne attackers!" a private named Fal-Jegg reported.

"More of these worthless flying machines?" Gar-Lo scoffed.

Obsession's super speed punch knocked Gar-Lo over the horizon. Fal-Jegg swallowed, "Um…no."

Obsession wildly attacked Fal-Jegg.

Superman struck out at two more Kryptonian privates named Ran-Dul and Jag-Set. They were better prepared than Gar-Lo or Fal-Jegg. Barda chose the sergeant, Inara, as her opponent. She found her a worthy foe.

J'onn dealt with Fet-Ed as John and Shayera tag teamed Dal-Uv. Captain Atom bombarded Kira Id-Zo and Shara Yi-Nil with red solar rays. But Ursula Hav-Net attacked Captain Atom from behind and threw him into orbit.

"Shall we rescue the so-called men?" Ursula laughed. Kira and Shara joined her.

Fire and Ice joined the Atom in coordinating an evacuation. Jesse Quick grabbed a hold of Hourman and raced off following Gar-Lo's trail. Samurai created a vortex around Apache Chief and Black Vulcan and carried the aloft as they kept apace of Jesse from above.

Jesse swept Hourman along by infusing him with a portion of her power derived from the Speed Force. He dispensed some Miraclo as they hurried along. Well aware of the Super Friends travelling with them, they all felt confident in the ability to deal with the ranger scout commander.

When they stopped, or landed, Gar-Lo was standing, awaiting their arrival. He beckoned Hourman forward. Rick Tyler was confused.

"Why me?" he asked.

"You're wearing a cape. So are all of them," Jesse explained to him.

Gar-Lo pointed at the dirt. Hourman grumbled, "Yeah, yeah, take a knee."

His right cross knocked Gar-Lo over again. Now Gar-Lo wasn't amused, he was angry. And he came up swinging. Apache Chief intensified his atomic density and joined in Hourman's defense. Black Vulcan stunned Gar-Lo with an electrical discharge. Samurai's elemental powers hurt Gar-Lo because they were magically based. Jesse threw several supersonic punches that staggered Gar-Lo.

Finally, Gar-Lo flew off for Almaty. Jesse breathed a sigh of relief, "How in the world is he fully powered if he just arrived on Earth?"

"Just be glad he hasn't gone all heat vision yet," Black Vulcan added.

"Someone prepared these Kryptonians for life on Earth," Apache Chief deduced, "But not for its mightiest defenders.""

"But we cannot squander that advantage, slim as it is. Their tactics seem well established so I would surmise we are not the first planet they have attacked," Samurai observed.

"We need to brief the others," Hourman realized.

Even before Gar-Lo returned, the JLU was simply outmanned. Superman found himself wishing that Matrix, Strange Visitor, or especially Kara or even Power Girl were present. And then as if from a dream sequence, Power Girl ripped into the Kryptonian ranks and threw them off balance. Barda quickly maximized the disruption Galatea caused.

John was sidelined tending to Shayera's broken wing. J'onn was reinvigorated by Power Girl's arrival. Obsession seemed confused as how to react to Galatea. Captain Atom dropped out of orbit to rejoin the fight. And then the biggest surprise of all occurred when Kalea intercepted Gar-Lo and fought him one on one.

Kalea whistled and every Kryptonian clasped their ears. Then she kicked Gar-Lo's face. As he stabilized himself, she ruthlessly attacked him. Inara abandoned Barda and went to rescue her squad leader. Power Girl smashed her into the ground.

Gar-Lo's rage accessed his heat vision and Kalea expertly dodged it as he sounded a retreat. The ranger scouts fought their way back to their ship and then lifted off with a four person escort. Kalea pulled the JLU back.

"Even without the crystal shard CPU the automated defenses can be manually overridden. Most of you wouldn't survive them," Kalea warned them.

"What are you doing here?" Superman asked his eldest daughter.

"You're welcome," Kalea drolly retorted.

"Don't think I won't hand you your impudent ass," Barda snarled, "Your attack on Supertown set our defensive posture back years."

"And yet the New Gods endure," Kalea was dismissive.

Power Girl fretted. Kalea hadn't mentioned attacking New Genesis. What else was being hidden from her?

"You harbored a fugitive from Almeracian justice," Kalea reminded Barda, "My mother to be precise."

"Whom you arrested just to take her back to Almerac and put her back on the throne," Superman stated.

"We all play our separate roles," Kalea shrugged.

"So, you're the infamous Kalea-El," Obsession finally got it, "Darling, introduce me."

"And who the hell are you and why should I care?" Kalea snapped.

"I'm your stepmother," Obsession boasted.

Kalea cast an accusing glare at her father.

"She isn't," Superman promised.

"Almost," Obsession interrupted.

Barda clenched her fists. Kalea took that as a positive sign. She was warming up to Barda.

"I think we owe them the full story," Power Girl intervened.

"Gather everyone you can and I'll brief your combined forces," Kalea offered.

"The rest of our team is on the ground," Superman ignored the obvious intonation.

"Not just you, everyone who defends this world," Kalea countered.

"You don't come to Earth and dictate terms," Superman was angry now.

"You've fought a handful of Kryptonians and a few hundred partially energized Daxamites. Do you think you can defeat the full thirteen fully powered members of this ranger scout unit?" Kalea asked tartly, "And keep in mind, Almerac just fought a war against a Kryptonian colony. Or did you think the Daxamites were just a happy accident?"

"Why are they here?" Barda knew enough to be respectful now.

"They lost their world and were offered a new one to exchange for the liberation of theirs. The planet is Earth and the dealmaker is Darkseid," Kalea shared.

"There aren't any more Kryptonians," Superman grated.

"Have you ever heard of a colony?" Kalea rebuffed.

"It's true. New Genesis has kept New Krypton under observation for years in case Darkseid decided to harvest the world," Barda ignored Superman's sullen glare, "We think in terms of multiversal security, not just your feelings."

Obsession smugly smirked over Superman's hurt feelings. Kalea wanted to snap her neck. Barda seemed indifferent.

"Blue Beetle," Superman used his ear piece to signal Ted Kord's alter ego, "Contact the JLA and other teams. We need gather to face this new threat. And tell the JLA we picked up one of their strays."

"The JLA will offer the use of the Hall of Justice," J'onn predicted.

"We can give them that," Superman decided that would be the only concession he would grant. The JLU were the first to respond to this newest invasion and the JLU would retain supremacy over the response.

The ranger scouts landed in Antarctica and the stealth field baffled human detection. It also reminded the scouts of the frigid world they'd left behind. To their surprise even their native adaptations to extreme temperatures were heightened.

"I don't even feel cold," Gar-Lo boasted.

"The troops are restive," Inara warned him, "Humans weren't supposed to be capable of resisting us."

"Get Kira working on tapping into their transmissions and newsfeeds and Fet-Ed had better get our translators working again before she's finished," Gar-Lo ordered, "I rather doubt Darkseid is honest with anyone. Least of all himself."

"Nice of you to attend," Trevor mocked Power Girl, "Did you have a nice vacation?"

"It was for a cause," Power Girl told him, "The exact precursor to this one, in fact."

"Where is she?" Trevor wanted to know.

"Who?" Power Girl played dumb.

"Kalea-El," Trevor spouted the name.

"Ask and ye shall receive," Kalea moved through the parting crowd milling about the foyer.

"Would you like to know the exact number of war crimes you've been charged with?" Trevor wondered.

"Well, it wasn't in the name of duty so I can't excuse myself that way," Kalea shrugged.

"Kalea was convicted under Almerac's legal code and exiled for life on Argo," Superman interrupted.

"She looks exiled on dead world," Trevor sneered.

"Give it time," Kalea retorted.

"Is that a threat?" Trevor wondered.

"A warning," Kalea clarified.

"She's here to help," Superman vouched for her, "And she has invaluable information to share."

"You'd say that simply because she's your daughter," Waller came out of her hiding place.

"I'd say that because we have thirteen more Kryptonian on Earth out to conquer to barter with Darkseid to get their own home planet back," Superman countered, "So we need to set aside our infantile rivalries and start listening to what she has to say."