B E Y O N D . C R I S I S

Katana’s blade clangs off the swords of two attacking mummified knights before slicing through them both with quick precision. Manhunter, in full werewolf mode, scampers past him as she continues tracking a scent through the halls that will lead Shadowpact to the exit portal that will safely take them to the surface. Blue Lady trails behind at the rear of the group as she drags a heavy ball she is chained to along with her, demanding incessantly that Z or Ibis undo the binding spell restraining her abilities.

( There is not enough to for them to stop and accomplish that, though. )

A dockyard has erupted into chaos as Green Lantern and the CCPD have raided a major smuggling operation. However, the the criminals have a secret weapon, the metacriminal known as Concrete.

Green Lantern catches a large shipping container with her ring before it falls on her and the three police officers around her. She returns it to sender, hammering it down on Concrete. However, he merges with the asphalt ground and easily slips out from under the container, advancing on her and rising from the ground with a stone-fisted uppercut.

( CODE ORANGE ALERT. CODE ORANGE ALERT. )

”But I don’t wanna be in charge!”

Aphrodite stomps her foot and pouts at Aquagirl. The goddess arrived moments after preparations began for the challenge at another location on the island. Some of the men still have yet to pick up their jaws.

Except for Vince Reynolds, who has been separated from everyone and given a seat out of the way to present for the challenge. Three sirens attend to him, and all three seem to be prior acquaintances of his with strangely fond memories of that time.

However, it seems that Aquagirl has... misrepresented her goddess in declaring a challenge for Poseidon’s throne. Being up for dominion over the seas definitely appears to be an unwelcome shock for Aphrodite, who had to leave in the middle of a really fun volleyball game on her love boat to come see what is going on here. Now, Aquagirl has some explaining to do and has to hope that their deaths as the only alternative to going through with this is enough to sway Aphrodite.

There is much whining and moaning as well as repeated questions regarding with Aquagirl is sure this is the only way.

( Ohhhh! Fine! )

Liberty Belle leads the Freedom Fighters in an ambush of a Nazi squad trying to move into position to assist the SS against the Justice League. Manta Ray, Starwoman and Firebrand take out the tanks and heavy artillery. Agent Liberty removes the snipers from the equation. Libery Belle goes right for top and confronts the squad commander.

...Who bears an uncanny resemblance to herself.

( Awkward! )

Tourists and average citizens are suddenly swept into a panic as an energy surge erupts from the Justice League Watchtower without warning. Nearby inactive streetlights overload and explodes. Aerocars passing by are thrown out of control. Small portions of the Watchtower's outer shell rupture and shatter with violent outbursts of energy.

This is all only a small measure of the devastation that has taken place inside the Watchtower, which succeeded in containing the majority of the sudden blast. Inside, every level has suffered damage and has small outbreaks of fire that the automated system is too damaged to completely cope with. Areas with working lights only barely have them as they flicker on and off, threatening to go out at any moment.

Starman regains consciousness in the Monitor Womb -- or what is left of it. Most of the consoles and displays are completely fried. A few displays are still functioning, though barely. The audio is pretty bad as well, since he can barely understand what transmissions are coming through. The flickering screens tell him enough of the story though. He is looking at images of portals opening in the sky and huge blimp-like battlecruisers emerging from them. Every one has a very distinct and familiar symbol.

( The Nazis are here. )

Having lost the Justice League, Nightwing has made the mistake of entering the airspace of Washington, D.C. and therefore picked up the attention of others -- the Freedom Fighters.

Two balls of fire are flung ahead of her, exploding in a blast that gives her pause in the air. This was the desired effect, because it sets her up perfectly for what comes next. While tiny, Gulliver is propelled by Starwoman's baton down at it. He positions himself into a flying kick, increasing his size rapidly at he goes. His boot connects with her back when he is roughly three times her size and crushes her into the ground at a factor of fifteen. He quickly steps off her and returns to his normal size.

The Freedom Fighters quickly take positions surrounding Nightwing, with Starwoman, Firebrand and Ray staying airborne to intercept her if she takes flight. Haunted Tank lands, though. The pilot's compartment opens at the chest, and Liberty Belle exits from the pilot's seat. Haunted Tank then closes back up and takes a position next to her.

( Nightwing is told to stand down and surrender. She is not getting past them. )

The assembled media at the White House have only a loose idea of what to expect from the president. President Newman's administration has become notoriously frustrating for its lack of leaks, and this day is no exception. The best guess circulation through the members of the media is that they are about to hear an announcement about Saintmax. The transition of moving metacriminals from other prisons to that one has slowed and become difficult. A change in those plans seems reasonable to expect.

( What the media gets... are the Freedom Fighters. )