June 27, 2077
‘Cousin Esperanza. I thought I’d put together another packet for you before things get too hectic. The Quidditch World Cup finals will be in mid-September, but the preparations are already underway and the Planet’s in the middle of it. My own fault – we sponsored the drive to host the games.’
‘CJ’s youngest is on the Metropolis team, but chances are the Raptors won’t make the finals but stranger things have happened – like Earth being able to defend itself against an alien invasion. The invasion barely warrants a footnote now although it could have gone horribly wrong.’
From Clark Kent’s personal journal: September 25, 1996
Earth looks so fragile from a distance. It really does look a blue marble flecked with white, green and brown. I’m homesick already.
Zara described the mother ship as a palace and she was right. I don’t know what I was expecting – something out of Buck Rogers, maybe. The ship looks like something out of science fiction, all gray with ports and lights and engines in the back. The inside is something else, though. Draperies and arches and a sort of Arabian Nights sort of feel.
Coming onboard the mother ship was strange. Zara insisted I wear the same leotard outfit Ching wears, only mine is trimmed in blue with the El family crest on the chest. The fabric feels strange but I guess I’ll get used to it. There was a brief ceremony when we came on board, acknowledging the contracted marriage between myself and Zara and the alliance of the two houses. I’m still not sure what it all means.
Excerpted from ‘A Year on New Krypton’ by Clark Kent © 1998
I think I understand a little better what people in the time of the sailing ships felt when they looked back to see their homelands disappear beyond the horizon. All they knew was that there was land somewhere ahead of them and, if God was with them, they’d make it there and live to see their homes again.
Earth looks so fragile from a distance. It’s been called the Big Blue Marble and it really does look a blue marble flecked with white, green and brown. But it isn’t big at all. It’s a tiny island of life in the midst of an immenseness of cold blackness. Even the stars look cold.
I wish I’d brought a camera. I’m the first Earthling to see the Earth and Moon together from space.
The New Kryptonian ship was waiting for us near Jupiter. Ching told Kal-El and me that it was staying far enough away from the gas giant to avoid the radiation. Even with my limited eyesight, I could see lightning flashing between the colored clouds on the surface. Up close, you can actually see the storms moving within the cloud bands.
The ship looks like something out of science fiction, all gray with ports and lights and odd protuberances. Lady Zara described the ship as a palace and that does describe the interior. The ship’s designers were obviously thinking of creature comforts when it was built. The floors and walls are inlayed with ornate designs and walls that aren’t decorated are covered with draperies and tapestries. There is a very Middle-Eastern, oriental feel to the decor. For a planet that is described as barren, the décor feels very opulent. Maybe it’s as a response to the environment, a way to counter the desolation outside.
Lady Zara and Lieutenant Ching insisted Kal-El and I wear traditional Kryptonian garb when coming on board the ship. His is black with bright blue trim with the crest of the house of El on the chest. As I am not a member of the El household, my outfit is plain black.
Lieutenant Ching has explained that dress denotes rank in Kryptonian society. Only members of the high houses are permitted wear the house symbol prominently on their clothing. As Kal-El is the only surviving member of the house of El, only he is allowed to wear the symbol. Kal-El’s retainers wear blue trim on their clothing and only the house of El is allowed that particular shade of blue. The other houses have their own distinctive colors.
There were about twenty people waiting for Lady Zara and Kal-El when they entered the main hall together. The greeting committee was made up of junior members of the various houses that have been supporting Lady Zara’s mission to bring Kal-El to New Krypton and some of their retainers. Both Kal-El and I were briefed on what to do. Tradition is very important to the New Kryptonians and Kal-El must adhere strictly to the customary forms, at least until he gets a feel for how things run.
For myself, I must simply follow Lieutenant Ching’s lead and remain inconspicuous. The colonists don’t trust outsiders and I am an outsider in more ways than one. Luckily, Ching and Lady Zara were able to telepathically implant a knowledge of the Kryptonian language in my head so I wouldn’t need an interpreter.
The greeting ceremony was a simple one. There was a fanfare reminiscent of something Elgar might have written. Lord Kal-El walked two paces ahead of Lady Zara. He approached the elders at the far end of the chamber with arms outstretched, palms up. “Brothers in the bonds, I greet thee thrice.”
The chief elder introduced himself as Trey and greeted Kal-El in return. Trey is older than anyone else here. An old gray man who, Lady Zara told me, had been a retainer and advisor for the house of El even before Krypton’s destruction. Apparently Jor-El himself named Trey the custodian of the house until Kal-El was able to take his position as head of the house on New Krypton.
As soon as the greeting was finished, all the retainers and onlookers except for Kal-El and the elders, dropped to their knees and touched their noses to the floor in some odd show of subservience. Even Lady Zara was on her knees. Lieutenant Ching made sure I went down as well. That floor was hard.
There was a second ceremony Lieutenant Ching hadn’t briefed us on. Two retainers brought out brocade robes for Lady Zara and Lord Kal-El and helped them into them. The robes were very ornate, gold and black embroidery on Chinese red. Lady Zara’s even had a crimson train.
Trey and one of the other elders, a fellow named Jen-Mai, led Lady Zara and Lord Kal-El over to a small altar-like table. One of the other elders handed Trey a scroll that looked positively ancient. Trey unrolled it and began to read: "Kal El and Zara, married since birth... In accordance with the laws of your forefathers... Having come into your majority under the laws of our people... It is now time for you to accept the responsibilities of your positions and the obligations of adulthood."
Trey took a gold cord and bound Kal-El and Lady Zara's right hands. "Kal-El and Zara, as this cord binds your hands, may this joining bind your hearts as your souls have been bound from birth."
Attendants with incense led the couple into an adjacent room and closed the doors behind them. Lieutenant Ching seemed resigned to all this – I know he loves Zara, even if he doesn’t want to admit it to anyone else. And he’s just lost her to a man he’s not even sure he respects. Kal-El may be Superman on Earth, but here he’s an untested lordling being handed a kingdom he has no idea how to rule.
From Ed Straker’s personal journal: Sep 25, 1996
Superman is gone. The New Kryptonian shuttle took off on schedule from Metropolis and the mother ship is still in its station-keeping position near Jupiter. We assume they are preparing for the journey back home.
One odd matter – Spainhauer reports that the mother ship may have dropped another shuttle as the one carrying Zara, Ching and Kal-El left Earth. SHADO is currently tracking it and is on alert.
SHADO report: 18:55 GMT, Sep 25, 1996
Long range tracking has detected another shuttle from the New Kryptonian mother ship approaching Earth. Standard contact protocols followed. No response. All SHADO stations are on high alert until further notice.
As far as the rest of the world was concerned, the first hint of trouble came when communications went down in Smallville, Kansas. Aerial reconnaissance showed that the area surrounding the town was covered with a force dome of some nature. A unit was deployed from the nearest military base and the results were ‘unfortunate’. Six men dead, two artillery pieces destroyed by an unknown heat-based weapon.
“General, I think it’s confirmed that we have an incursion occurring in Smallville, Kansas,” Spainhauer told Straker over an encrypted phone connection. “Colonel Cash and his team is on the way.”
“Inform him that I’ll meet him there,” Straker told her. “And send a message to the New Kryptonian mother ship that this incident is being construed as an act of war.”
“Yes, sir,” Spainhauer just before she rang off.
SHADO report: 20:15 GMT, Sep 25, 1996
We have confirmed reports that a team from New Krypton has taken the city of Smallville, Kansas. Attempts by standard U.S. military units have been met with lethal force and advanced weaponry. General Edward Straker and Colonel Ambrose Cash have been dispatched to handle the situation.
Matters in Smallville had deteriorated. There was at least one dead and the leader of the invasion team was sitting down in front of a live television camera and giving an interview. Straker watched the live feed on the monitor.
“... Hello, this is Leeza Gibbons coming to you live from Smallville Kansas. With me today is my very special guest... Lor-Et of New Krypton,” the interviewer was saying. “Welcome, Lor-Et.”
“Thank you, Leeza.”
“So what brings you to Earth?”
“We're a planet that cares, Leeza,” Lor-Et responded with a toothy grin. He was dressed in leathers reminiscent of ancient Japanese armor. Behind him stood four other grim-faced men dressed in similar, if simpler, clothing. “An advanced culture sharing its bounty with a more primitive one,” Lor continued.
The interviewer looked dubious. “I see. Mr. Et, the tough questions: Why a force field? Why over the entire city?”
“I don't have to tell you about crime, Leeza. The field is basically a protective device. To keep the town safe from intruders.”
“But not to keep the people of Smallville in?”
“Well, that's up to them. Needless to say it would be vastly safer for them to remain inside.”
“How would leaving endanger them?”
“They'd be killed. By me.”
“I’ve seen enough,” Straker announced, turning off the monitor. He turned to Cash. “Are we ready?”
Cash nodded. Straker didn’t have to ask how the colonel was doing. The officer was shaken, but would do his job.
“Then let’s do it.”
The dome was not as impermeable as Lor-Et had implied. SHADO researchers had already determined the control frequency and there were places the dome didn’t cover due to the terrain. Kansas was flat, but there were still dips and ditches. Getting inside the dome was simple.
The interview was still going on when Straker arrived in the Smallville town park. Lor-Et didn’t seem to notice him, even though Straker was dressed in his dress blues with all the ribbons.
“And what more do you want?” Gibbons was asking.
“To educate the entire world along similar lines. In fact, if any kings, princes, presidents, or interested world leaders are listening, we really should get together to discuss the rapid transfer of global power. To me.”
“C'mon, you expect legitimate heads of state to accept this situation?” Gibbons responded. Straker was impressed. The woman had to be shaking in her boots but she kept going even though she knew that Lor could kill her with a glance.
“Indeed,” Lor said with a smirk. “If there is any doubt, we will start killing two quivering citizens of Smallville every day until we get a polite response.”
“Lor-Et, heir of the House of Et of New Krypton?” Straker asked loudly enough to be heard. The cameraman swung the camera around on him. Lor-Et started to glower.
“And you are?” Lor-Et demanded.
“General Straker, United Nations Alien Task-Force,” Straker told him. “I’m as close to a legitimate head of state you’re ever going to meet on this planet. The governing body of New Krypton has already been warned that any attempt at invasion will be considered an act of war and will be met with force.”
“And that is supposed to frighten me, you simpering primitive? I can kill you where you stand,” Lor-Et sneered. “Bow down to your god!”
There is no fear, Straker found himself repeating in his head. He had a personal force-shield, but there was no guarantee it would hold against Kryptonian heat vision. Aloud he said, “You and your men have a choice, go home alive or go home in body bags.”
Lor-Et stood up, knocking over the chair he’d been sitting in. “I will destroy you,” the New Kryptonian growled. The guards stepped closer to Straker.
“Body bags it is,” Straker stated. A fusillade of shots rang out. Lor-Et simply looked stunned as the camera swung around once more in his direction. Gibbons had turned white and was staring at the blood dripping out of a small hole in Lor-Et’s cheek as he dropped to the ground, eyes staring lifelessly. The four guards were also down, blood seeping from various wounds.
“He said they were from the same planet as Superman,” she said. Her voice was shaking as she watched Straker tuck his automatic pistol under his uniform jacket.
“They were from the planet Superman went to help,” Straker corrected. “And they were here in violation of their own laws. The ruling body of New Krypton was warned several days ago what the consequences would be if there was an incursion.” He nodded to the camera man, who to his credit was still standing behind his camera. The red light was on. The deaths of the invaders had gone out on live television.
Straker pulled a small control device from his pocket, pressed a button and the force-shield covering the town went down. The ear-bud he was wearing squawked then resolved into a voice. “Satellite readings indicate no Kryptonian bio-signatures,” a SHADO operative announced. “Mop-up should be completed in twenty minutes. Sir, do we go with standard procedures?”
“Negative,” Straker responded, keying the tiny microphone at his throat. “Clean-up and clear out. Have Lor-Et’s body put in his shuttle and see that a tech programs it to return to the mother ship.”
“Who are you?” Gibbons demanded.
“A soldier, Ms. Gibbons,” Straker replied. “A soldier doing his job defending this planet from the scum of the universe.”
SHADO report: 04:18 GMT, Sep 26, 1996
The thirteen New Kryptonians were dealt with. Special ops with kryptonite ammunition and ‘charms’. Five civilians unaccounted for and presumed dead. Clean-up is going according to standard protocols. The body of the invasion leader (Lor-Et) is being sent back to his people. SHADO’s top-secret status is still in place. General Straker told the press he was with the UNATF.
From Ed Straker’s personal journal: Sep 26, 1996
Lor-Et and the other invaders are dead. Five civilians dead in Smallville. Technically they are unaccounted for but witnesses claim to have seen them murdered and their bodies burned by two of Lor-Et’s minions, a man called Drull and one called Ran.
The same witnesses claim the other New Kryptonians favored rape over murder. From the tissue samples we got three years ago from Kal-El, Jackson, and his team, believe that Kryptonian males cannot father viable young on an Earth normal woman – something to do with mitochondrial incompatibility. I hope they’re right. I certainly don’t want Smallville given the notoriety of being home to a bunch of half-breed super-beings. These people didn’t deserve this.
From Clark Kent’s personal journal: September 26, 1996
Zara and I have agreed to hold off becoming intimate. We both know the elders expect it of us, but neither of us are ready, especially since neither of us are with the ones we want to be with. I miss Lois so badly and I know Zara would rather be with Ching. I saw the look in his face during the union ceremony even though he tried to hide it. I also saw the look of resignation in Zara’s face, although I don’t think she realizes how transparent she is.
Zara believes there may be a traditional way for us to get out this but she’s not sure who on the council of elders can be trusted to help us figure it out, aside from Trey. Apparently the root problem is that the head of House of El doesn’t have an heir. There is no one legally able to become the head of the house upon my death or resignation. (Although I’m also told that resignation is out of the question – I would have to be declared incompetent by the council and that hasn’t happened in centuries.)
Ching told me this morning that Lord Nor wasn’t with the retainers at the union ceremony. Neither was his brother, Lor or his two most trusted retainers, Ran and Drull.
This afternoon we found out why: Lor, Ran, Drull and ten other of Nor’s elite squad left the mother ship as Zara, Ching and I were leaving Earth. They attacked Smallville and Earth’s military took them out. General Straker had Lor’s body sent back on Nor’s shuttle along with a copy of the interview Lor gave Leeza Gibbons and photos of the rest of the dead.
The general also sent along an official notice that no New Kryptonian ship will be allowed access to Earth unless it is under the flag and protection of Kal-El and the House of El. Ching reported that Nor was furious, but the elders saw the recording of what Lor told the people of Earth, the demands he was making and the deaths he caused.
The council is demanding Nor repudiate his brother or else they will be forced to take putative action against the House of Et for involving the council in an act of blatant adventurism. Zara doesn’t think putative action will do any good. Nor will simply repudiate his brother and the retainers to save himself even though Zara and Ching both say Lor was nowhere near bright enough to even begin to plan an invasion.
Zara is concerned that I’m keeping a journal, but Zara, Ching and I are the only ones who speak or read English and even Zara doesn’t read longhand very well.
My thigh still hurts from the inoculations I was given – apparently I have little immunity to Kryptonian diseases since I was raised on Earth. The medic is Trey’s wife and she served both my parents before Krypton died.
Excerpted from ‘A Year on New Krypton’ by Clark Kent © 1998
The mother ship was ready to leave for New Krypton when word came through that a number of Nor’s retainers, as well as his younger brother, were missing from the mother ship. Nor’s personal shuttle was also missing. We were forced to wait an extra day until the council could determine exactly what happened to them.
Word of their fates was brought to the council later that same day – all thirteen men were dead after a failed attempt to invade Earth. They got as far as Smallville, Kansas, though why they chose to land there is anyone’s guess. I’m not so vain as to think it has anything to do with the fact that I’m from Smallville. I’m just a simple journalist who happens to be on an alien space ship.
Apparently the council has decided I am one of Lord Kal’s retainers, which will allow me to wear the colors of the house of El. This will also act to assure my safety: none of the other houses wants to alienate the House of El right now by damaging one of Lord Kal’s retainers. Neither Lady Zara nor Ching can predict how long this ‘honeymoon’ will last.
I want to get to work interviewing the council, get a better picture of the rules and politics of this society, but despite Lady Zara’s assurances to them, the council does not trust me unless Lord Kal or Lady Zara is present and they will not speak freely in front of either of them. Also, the New Kryptonians do not trust people who ask too many questions and the idea of the public’s right to know is simply beyond their comprehension, as is the notion that a government only rules by the consent of those governed. I have no doubt that this is something both Lord Kal and I will be working on once we reach New Krypton.
Lor’s body was sent back in Nor’s shuttle, along with a recoding of the interview he gave Leeza Gibbons. There were photos of the other dead retainers and a document from General Straker giving notice on behalf of the United Nations that no New Kryptonian ship will be allowed access to Earth unless it is under the flag and protection of Kal-El and the House of El. The document was written in English and in Formal Danaen. While no one on the council reads English, several of them read Danaen.
Nor was furious over Lor’s death and wanted revenge since his brother died at the hands of what he termed ‘retka’(vermin). Luckily the elders didn’t agree and saw fit to refuse Nor’s demands after seeing and hearing what Lor’s plans had been for Earth and what he and his men had been doing to the people in Smallville. The one holdout was Jen-Mai, who apparently has a long history of supporting Nor’s militaristic plans. The fact that Lieutenant Ching had already passed along General Straker’s warning to the council not to attempt violence against Earth seems lost on both Nor and Jen-Mai.
Luckily the rest of the council is not quite so self-serving. The council is demanding that Nor formally repudiate his brother and his actions, to wash his hands of the debacle. There is little doubt that Nor will do so.
I spoke to several people who knew Lor. It would appear that anyone who knew him recognized he wasn’t bright enough to come up with a plan by himself to conquer Earth. That is, anyone besides Nor and Jen-Mai. Both men insist that Lor, Ran, and Drull were the conspirators and acted without Nor’s knowledge or permission. One little problem with that scenario – according to the people I talked to, Ran and Drull would never have taken orders from Lor unless following Nor’s express instructions.
No one I spoke to expressed any grief at the death of Lor, Ran, or Drull, only that they died so ignominiously. Lor was shot to death as was his personal guard. Ran and Drull had both been garroted. Amazing what a little kryptonite can do. Most of the others had their throats slit. An ignominious end to people who fervently believed in their own inherent superiority. Apparently garroting was a form of execution reserved for traitors on ancient Krypton.
As much as I abhor violence, I find it fitting that Ran and Drull were executed as traitors according to the ancient laws of conquest they were trying to invoke on Earth.
