This fits between
Lois and Cl... Kal-El and
Plane Storm-------------------------------------------------
“Commander, we’ve picked up a ship approaching Earth,” one of the SHADO radar technicians reported over the intercom to Commander Spainhauer’s office in the underground complex of SHADO Headquarters. “They’ve just passed the outer markers and are slowing to sub-light.”
“Identification?” Spainhauer responded.
“Unknown,” the technician stated. “We are following standard protocols – greetings in Mandarin, Spanish, English, Arabic, and Hindi as well as Danaen, Rokan, Aurisan, Chou-chin, and Mell-da’asha on sub-light and subspace frequencies.”
“And of course they’re not answering,” Spainhauer commented.
The technician shrugged. “Hold on, we have a reply.”
“In what language?” Spainhauer asked, coming out of her office to stand by the technician.
“English.”
“Put it on the speakers.”
The technician flipped a switch and a man’s voice came out of the wall speaker above their heads. “Greetings to the House of El. Please prepare to receive the emissaries of the High Council of New Krypton.” The message repeated.
“The House of El? New Krypton?” Spainhauer asked no one in particular. “Get me General Straker.”
-O-O-O-
Ed Straker had been charged with putting together the Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization back in 1970 to defend the planet against an alien threat. He had also been the one in charge in 1982 when SHADO discovered they had allies in their war against the alien threat that now had a name – the Rokan-Shui, a violent political faction from a dying planet.
They now had the technology, including some that hadn’t originated on Earth, to do the job easily. They were still at war, but casualties were light now.
Andrea Spainhauer had been head of the military arm of SHADO for the past ten years. Spainhauer was good at her job, interfacing and coordinating with national militaries the defense of the planet against outside aggression ever since the previous senior officer chose to take on the responsibility of dealing with the influx of aliens into the Earth’s population. The words ‘Alien Defense’ had taken on new and additional meanings. SHADO, through its diplomatic arm, protected the Earth-born (normal humans) from non-terrestrials and protected the non-terrestrials from the Earth-born.
But now a new mystery was presenting itself. It was known, not just from articles in the Daily Planet, that Krypton was a dead world, destroyed when its star died. It was not publicly known that they had at the time of the disaster, an off-world colony. As far as Straker knew, even the one Kryptonian survivor living on Earth didn’t know of the colony. Krypton had possessed a peaceful, enlightened civilization, if a little insular. At the time of its destruction, Krypton had few trading partners or allies. No one knew what New Krypton was like.
“Well, I’ve got to give them this,” Straker observed when told of the ship that was now in an orbit just beyond Jupiter. “They’re punctual.”
“Punctual?” Spainhauer asked. “You know who they are?”
“I think I do,” Straker amended. “Kal-El of Krypton comes of age in about a month. They’re here to fetch him home.”
“And Kal-El of Krypton is…?” Spainhauer asked.
On the other end of the line she heard Straker chuckle. “You don’t read the Daily Planet, do you?”
“You don’t mean…? They’ve come for Superman?”
“They’ve come for Superman,” Straker confirmed. “They should be sending a shuttle down sometime in the next couple hours or so. Let me know when and where it sets down.”
“Yes sir.”
-O-O-O-
The two emissaries of the High Council looked fully human, but then so did Superman. Of course, SHADO’s research had already shown that Kryptonians probably originated on Earth, as had the Rokanni, the Danaen, and the Aurisans. The genetic differences were minor and had obviously been artificially induced. The researchers doubted the beings that made the changes had any idea how powerful some of those minor ‘adjustments’ had been.
The woman, Zara, was a little above average in height, dark hair and eyes. She carried herself like a woman who expected to be respected and obeyed. Ching, her bodyguard and advisor was also athletic looking. There was a calm stillness about the man that reminded Straker of a martial arts master, or a Rokan-shou mental master. They were both dressed in dark body suits. The woman wore a capelet trimmed in red brocade.
Straker and a small team of SHADO first contact specialists were waiting when the shuttle landed in an abandoned warehouse in Metropolis. The building’s skylights were already broken out, allowing enough room for the small craft to land without damaging the rest of the structure.
Zara and Ching had both masked their surprise at finding a diplomatic contingent representing the Planet Earth waiting for them when they appeared outside their shuttle. They hadn’t done quite as good a job hiding their surprise at finding a Rokan-shou mental master greeting them.
<They are who they say they are>, the master said mentally, nodding in Straker’s direction. <Lady Zara Sen-Ra and her advisor Ching, representing the High Council of the Kryptonian colony of New Krypton. They seek Kal-El. They seek to test him.>
“Welcome to Earth, Lady Zara, Ching,” Straker said with a smile. “To what do we owe the honor of your visit?”
“The heir to the Great House of El comes of age in one cycle of your satellite,” Ching said. “He must be tested, deemed worthy, and made ready for his position and responsibilities.”
“And if he chooses to remain here?”
“That is not an option,” Zara stated. “Do you know where we can find the heir?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” Straker admitted. “He’s called Superman and he lives in this city. Would you like an introduction?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Ching stated. “We will introduce ourselves when the time is right. We simply need to know where to find him.”
“I can get you that information,” Straker told them. “However, I would advise against putting anyone on this world at risk for whatever ‘tests’ you have planned for him. We take threats against us very seriously.”
The former SHADO Commander caught the look that passed between Zara and Ching. Neither seemed happy to be on this mission although both were resigned to it. It was something he understood perhaps too well. Rank imposes its obligations. Duty must come before honor, before self, before anything, before everything.
“I assure you, General Straker,” Ching said. “We have no intention of harming anyone of this world. But we do need to test the mettle of Kal-El, the future ruler of our people.”
<He is not completely truthful,> the mental master stated in Straker’s mind. <He will do whatever is required to protect his people by completing his mission.>
As would any of us, Straker added mentally, shielding his thoughts from the Kryptonians.
As would any of us.-O-O-O-
Straker’s people got the pair documentation. She was now Sarah King and he was David Miller. She was hired on at the Daily Planet as a researcher and ‘David’ was given a job with a real estate agency as a clerk.
Straker didn’t ask about the tests they had planned for Superman. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted Superman to pass the New Kryptonians’ tests. Superman had been watching over Metropolis for three years now. He’d saved the EPRAD Space Habitat program almost single-handedly, saving the shuttle from sabotage then literally lifting the fully loaded shuttle into orbit.
Jonathan and Martha Kent would be devastated if the New Kryptonians forced their son to leave. But Straker had a feeling the New Kryptonians weren’t going to leave Kal-El much choice in the matter.
-O-O-O-
The overhead monitor in SHADO’s Metropolis offices was on. Today was the planned inauguration of EPRAD’s space habitat.
“... and in just five minutes, at nine o'clock Eastern Standard Time, we'll take you live to the opening ceremonies of the United Nations Space Station,” the announcer was saying.
“Home to over one hundred orbiting scientists and astronauts lead by Commander Bob Rozakis. Rozakis, by the way, is on his eleventh space… just a moment... I'm...” On the screen the announcer pressed his hidden earphone, eyes widening in surprise. He listened to the voices on his earphone.
“Apparently, um, there has been some kind of... technical difficulty. The station's thrusters have... misfired and are driving... the station towards the Earth's atmosphere,” the announcer looked stunned.
“Where the astronauts will burn up... if re-entry can't be prevented.”“What the devil is going on?” Straker said to no one in particular.
“Mission Control is in contact with the station... but so far they are unable to ascertain the reasons for the station's thrusters firing. For those of you just tuning in, the Congress of Nations' Space Station's thrusters have inexplicably ignited and are driving the station towards the Earth's atmosphere... So far, the crew has not been able to shut down the engines. Mission Control now estimates that the friction from the Earth's atmosphere will cause disintegration of the station to commence in...”“Major malfunction with the station’s control system,” Lieutenant Evans explained.
“Just a minute... we've just received an unconfirmed report that Superman has arrived at the Space Station! We don't know yet what he will attempt, but... he appears... to be trying to stop the station's descent.”Straker stared at the monitor for a long moment. Someone on the station had a camera and was transmitting video of Superman straining to slow the satellite.
“Find David Miller,” Straker ordered. “I want to talk to him
now!”
-O-O-O-
“You assured us you had no intention of harming anyone,” Straker stated. Ching glared sullenly him. The younger man held himself stiffly, arms folded behind him, like a soldier at parade rest
“No one was harmed. The machine was programmed to recover its altitude in the event ‘Superman’ failed to save it.” Ching grimaced. “So far, your people have done a better job dealing with the challenges than Kal-El has. He hasn’t located the transmitter yet. I have doubts as to whether he will.”
“What have you got planned for your other tests?” Straker demanded.
“Intelligence and resourcefulness under pressure,” Ching said, staring at a point on the far wall. “His sense of duty, responsibility. Necessary attributes for a Kryptonian leader.” He looked over at Straker. “Assuming Kal-El does his part no humans will he harmed.”
“And if he fails?”
“In the event Kal-El fails, the mechanisms involved can be rendered inert using a remote signal.” Ching said. “I have told you we intend no harm to anyone of Earth.”
“So you’ve said,” Straker agreed, stepping closer to the young man. “But understand this, Lieutenant. I know how important this mission is to you. I also know you and Zara have come into your powers. I know what you’re capable of, maybe even better than you do. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because I can’t fly under my own power, that I can’t defend my world against your kind. I know about element 126.”
“I was not aware that humans knew about it,” Ching admitted. “Or that there was any on this planet.”
“We know about it and we have it,” Straker told him.
“On New Krypton, it is considered only theoretical,” Ching said. “The possibility of it actually existing is a closely held military secret, as is its specific attributes. I’m told it was rare, even on Old Krypton.” Ching stood for a moment, eyes focusing elsewhere and Straker suspected he was communicating with his superior telepathically. After a moment Ching’s eyes focused back on Straker. “You should know that although we have high hopes that Kal-El’s ascension to the ruler-ship of his house will avert a descent into chaos, there are those who feel they should be allowed to emigrate to a more congenial planet.”
“Without guarantees of behavior, we cannot allow your people to come here,” Straker told him simply. “And any attempt to do so will be met with deadly resistance. Make sure your High Council understands that.”
“I will pass along the message,” Ching promised. “And now, if you will excuse me, I have a test to conduct.”
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