Post by redsycorax on May 29, 2021 3:35:30 GMT
Countless alternate Earth's populations perished from nuclear warfare in the fifties, sixties, seventies and eighties. However, one anomaly is Earth-169. Here, as on many datum alternate Earths, President Richard Nixon responded angrily when North Korea shot down a USN Lockheed EC-121M over the Sea of Japan, resulting in the loss of all thirty two US military personnel aboard. At South Korea's Kunsan airbase, several months later, F4 Phantom jets were ordered to load B61 nuclear weapons onboard and launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the communist state. On other worlds, the jet never took off as it was countermanded by US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, given Nixon's inebriation. But on Earth-169, Kissinger couldn't be reached and the jet took off. Although the nuclear devices used were less than ten kilotons, the situation threatened to rapidly spiral out of control. Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev angrily demanded answers to what had happened on the Moscow/Washington hotline but to no avail. Determined to punish the United States for its provocative act, the Soviet Union launched a volley of nuclear weapons at US warning posts. One hit Guam. There might have been four billion casualties if the planet's superhuman population hadn't intervened. But they did and this is what happened next.
JUSTICE LEAGUE SATELLITE:
As Superman brought the mainframe on line, he reflected on the changes that had befallen them all lately. J'Onn had left Earth when he found his Martian homeworld devastated and was now on an interstellar journey searching for the remnants of his Green Martian civilisation. Diana had lost her Wonder Woman identity when the Amazons had left the Earth's dimension for one more suited to their mythical origins and had become Diana Prince, adventurer, shortly after the tragic slaying of Colonel Steve Trevor, the man she had loved. He couldn't imagine a world without Lois Lane in it and the event had shocked them all. Still, at least she had her mysterious tutor I Ching alongside her now. As Oliver Queen, Green Arrow had lost his fortune to an embezzling employee, changed his uniform and grown facial hair. Black Canary had arrived on Earth-A [Ed: Earth-169] from Earth-B [Ed: Earth-170] after the malignant energy being Aquarius had murdered her husband Larry. Snapper Carr, their 'mascot' of several years, had betrayed the team and left under a cloud. The JLA had been forced to abandon its former mountain headquarters and establish a satellite base, 22, 300 miles above the Earth, impervious to terrestrial infiltration, accessible through airlocks or a newly built teleporter system only, and out of range of terrorist nuclear missiles should they ever become feasible.
Still, he was troubled, as much about the transformations about to take place in his own life as with the others concerns. The Daily Planet, his long-time employer, had recently been purchased by the WGBS television station, an outpost of Morgan Edge's Galaxy Broadcasting System upstart television network. To his surprise, he was headhunted, had had an excellent interview with Edge and along with Lois Lane, he had been offered a job as WGBS news anchor and journalist. Over coffee with Bruce and Dick in Gotham, he discovered that Dick was about to start at Hudson University during the next year. He wondered how Bruce would take the departure and newfound autonomy of his long-time partner. Ah well, there was still Alfred to look after him. And those new gym sessions in the Batcave were certainly developing a new physique given the pending departure of his sidekick. He'd taken Bruce aside and told him about what to expect, given that Supergirl was a few years older and at Stanhope University.
With a blur of light, the JLA teleporter produced its first operational transit as Batman materialised amidst it:
"Clark? I've heard some quite disturbing things through Wayne Enterprises' Asian and European offices. There's trouble brewing on the Korean peninsula."
"What do you mean? I'd heard that a vehicle had been shot down in the Sea of Japan, Bruce, but surely it'll all..."
Abruptly, there was a klaxon throughout the almost empty newly operational satellite. Bruce swallowed: "And I'm afraid that's the problem."
Superman turned: "All members of the Justice League! This is an orange alert! The United States has just fired a fusillade of nuclear missiles at North Korea. Atom, Flash, Green Lantern, proceed immediately to the area for missile interception and disposal. Hawkman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, handle evacuation and law enforcement in the United States."
"What the hell is happening, Clark?" Green Arrow's voice sounded weary.
"It looks like Nixon has just launched a nuclear attack on North Korea, Oliver. Look, draft in everyone else you can, stateside. The former Teen Titans, non-aligned superheroes like Metamorpho, Zatanna, Elongated Man, everyone else you can contact. We need to be ready if this gets worse. I'm leaving for Korean airspace now."
KOREAN PENINSULA:
Almost fourteen million people lived in North Korea, half the number that resided in South Korea at thirty million. The Demilitarised Zone had long been a feared flashpoint between the two nations and the downing of a surveillance aircraft, and the panicked response of Richard Nixon, now threatened all of those lives. As ICBMs arced over the peninsula, the cities of Pyongyang, Hanju, Huchon, Haesang, Kanggye, Kimchaek, Kusong, Manpo, Sariwong, Sinpo, Sinuiju, Songrim and Wansun lay exposed and vulnerable. The Atom, Flash, Kid Flash, Superman, Supergirl, Green Lantern and Wonder Girl tried their best to deflect one or all of the deadly bombardment, but with the departure of major players like Wonder Woman and J'Onn J'Onnz, the League was shortstaffed, even with their allies. Inevitably, thre were missed opportunities. Four of the missiles got through and radioactive death descended on three cities- Pyongyang, Chongjin and Hamhung. Dazed and horrified as they heard millions of screams and cries of agony, the Justice League could only watch on as half of North Korea's population disintegrated in the funeral pyre of their three major cities. Supergirl pointed to the distance, where North Korea had just launched a fusillade of its own chemical weapons at its rival and southern neighbour. And although the Justice League and its allies tried valiantly to stave off corresponding destruction in the southern nation, a malfunctioning chemical weapon killed Kid Flash and Wonder Girl in their attempt to halt the onslaught. Supergirl, Superman and Green Lantern tried their best to neutralise the retaliatory bombardment, but the loss of the two Teen Titans had traumatised them, especially the Flash. Seoul, Busan and Incheon were amongst the successful targets- as the yellow of the chemical toxin intersected Green Lantern's route while he sped toward burning Seoul, he fell from the skies.
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW:
On both sides of the Atlantic, tempers had frayed, words had been exchanged and frantic military advice had been offered to President Nixon and Premier Brezhnev. It was to the world's profound misfortune that hidebound, paranoid conservatives occupied positions of executive authority in both the Soviet Union and United States at that point in history. As Superman and Supergirl exchanged wide-eyed glances at the distant horizon, their superhearing heard the opening of nuclear missile silos across both countries. Leaving the Flash to get Green Lantern to safety, the two Kryptonians grimly set out to avert planetary apocalypse and omnicide.
To some extent, they succeeded. But in the process, more metahumans perished. Zatanna's magical abilities were overstretched deflecting and neutralising incoming Soviet ICBMs on such a vast scale and it caused fatal cardiovascular and respiratory distress given the amount of thaumaturgic energy it required, even from such a disciplined and powerful mage as Zatara's daughter. Metamorpho was fatally irradiated after absorbing several ICBMs and catalysing their internal composition to relative harmlessness. Hawkman and Hawkgirl used their starship to intercept several missiles as they reached orbit or destroyed them before they could be launched. The Flash returned and sabotaged several hundred more missiles on either side before they could be fired on either side. Numerous Soviet and Chinese metahumans also operated to defend their homelands, destroy their own national nuclear arsenals before they could provoke response or to disarm any incoming enemy ICBMs. Because of their efforts, Doomsday never dawned on Earth-169 and billions of lives were saved. It was the Justice League's finest hour and the world's inhabitants cheered on their heroes and mourned their sacrifices. When the last missile was defused, the League met on their satellite, pensive about what came next.
JUSTICE LEAGUE SATELLITE:
"All right, what do we do now? I know we try to avoid intervening in global affairs, but humanity has just tried to destroy itself, courtesy of a couple of martinet political leaders on either side of the Iron Curtain." Superman spoke first.
"Brezhnev is hamstrung at the moment. He can't be seen to punish Soviet metahumans for defending the motherland from your ICBMs. Added to which, the rest of the Politbureau and Communist Party are deeply concerned at his unilateral action in declaring war against the United States. We have a free hand" Leonid (Redstar) Kovac said
"Dear God, Clark. Isn't it obvious? Nixon is unfit for office. He should never have been elected in the first place. The man is a fanatic." Green Arrow exclaimed
"Ollie. Barry, how's Hal?"
"Carol is at his bedside at the moment. It doesn't look good. if he does...die...we'll need to show a new Green Lantern for this sector the ropes. And...thanks for attending Wally's funeral, everyone. Iris and I really appreciated it."
'Has anyone heard from Diana?" The Atom asked.
"She blames herself for Donna's death. She's taken her body to Themiscyra and she's told me she'll stay there. With Steve dead and Donna dead in the line of duty, she told me she thinks her time in Man's World is done and she probably won't be coming back. It hurt being unable to lift a finger while the rest of us tried to stop humanity destroying itself."
"Oliver, about what you just said..." Hawkman brought the conversation back to the question at hand.
"Kovar, are you and your Soviet colleagues willing to get rid of Brezhnev at the same time?"
"He almost destroyed the motherland. Absolutely, yes. I think we'll have enough support within the KGB, Red Army and Politbureau to topple him."
"Then what? We can't very well act as their jailors."
After a pause, Batman asked: "Clark, what about the Phantom Zone?"
"After a decent trial and the presentation of evidence, Bruce, yes, that would be appropriate, I think. For both Nixon and Brezhnev."
WASHINGTON DC:
"You can't do this to me! I'm the elected president of this country, I..."
"He was drunk at his post, Superman. He's too much of a risk to be allowed to continue to govern. Please, take him away." Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said, turning away from the unshaven, unkempt and drunken Richard Nixon, as Superman wrapped him in his impervious cape and flew him to the Hague. Shaken by what had just happened, Spiro Agnew resigned from the Vice-Presidency on the spot as well.
MOSCOW:
"Nyet! Nyet!" The Soviet Premier's face had turned ashen grey as a contingent of Soviet metahumans surrounded him- RedStar, Bolshoi, Molotov, Pravda, Hammer and Sickle.
"Da, Comrade Premier. Your time is done. You would have incinerated us all."
"The Americans...they destroyed socialist North Korea."
'Da," RedStar nodded, "and their President Nixon will also pay for that. But you are our Premier. You were entrusted with protecting the motherland. Instead, you would have destroyed it."
"This is treason!" Brezhnev stammered.
"Nyet, Comrade Premier, it is not. We still get to maintain the communist system, but there will be changes. In return for that, we hand you over to face international justice." Still stammering and resistant to his forced abdication, Leonid Brezhnev was led from the Kremlin. No-one around them lifted a finger to stop them from doing so, because, in truth, no-one could.
GENEVA:
It took only a fortnight for Richard Nixon, Leonid Brezhnev and Kim Il-Sung (found deep in a North Korean bunker) to be found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to several hundred years apiece in the Phantom Zone.
EPILOGUE:
On many other Earths, the taste of power corrupted the metahumans who encountered it and the result was global metahuman tyranny and dictatorship, only to be overthrown in time due to the lack of consensus and an enduring ethos of accountability to baseline humans. Mercifully, though, on Earth-169, this was only a strategic intervention and the Justice League and its counterparts stood back from further, more micromanaging, interference in human affairs. Without their nuclear arsenals, the new leadership of the Soviet Union, the United States and other global powers proved willing to sign a global multilateral disarmament treaty, and stopped backing authoritarian and corrupt puppet regimes, which fell as a result. Without a continuing Cold War, global resources were directed against global famine, disease, homelessness and lack of education, resulting in a kinder, gentler world. By 1980, a joint Soviet/US mission had landed on Mars; the Gallilean satellites were next, as humanity shared the resources of the Moon and asteroids. As the new century dawned, it was a time of peace and plenty. Superman, Supergirl and their companions took a back seat as crime and international disasters fell and during the decades of peace and prosperity that followed, many superheroes retired and many supervillains reformed. Their lives were ones of relative normality- forming relationships, having children and looking on at a world that had outgrown their need for costumed adventurers.
From the Phantom Zone, balefully, Nixon and Brezhnev looked on with ill-concealed contempt and anger at a world where they were powerless to interfere, frustrate liberty or the self-determination of others. In time, they became almost forgotten bad memories and dark legends, except for the monuments to those metahumans who had sacrificed themselves in the War to End All Wars. Eventually, even the radioactivity within the devastated Korean peninsula died down enough for some limited resettlement to occur. Humanity had narrowly avoided the precipice but in the end, it was enough to insure that maturity prevailed.
THE END
JUSTICE LEAGUE SATELLITE:
As Superman brought the mainframe on line, he reflected on the changes that had befallen them all lately. J'Onn had left Earth when he found his Martian homeworld devastated and was now on an interstellar journey searching for the remnants of his Green Martian civilisation. Diana had lost her Wonder Woman identity when the Amazons had left the Earth's dimension for one more suited to their mythical origins and had become Diana Prince, adventurer, shortly after the tragic slaying of Colonel Steve Trevor, the man she had loved. He couldn't imagine a world without Lois Lane in it and the event had shocked them all. Still, at least she had her mysterious tutor I Ching alongside her now. As Oliver Queen, Green Arrow had lost his fortune to an embezzling employee, changed his uniform and grown facial hair. Black Canary had arrived on Earth-A [Ed: Earth-169] from Earth-B [Ed: Earth-170] after the malignant energy being Aquarius had murdered her husband Larry. Snapper Carr, their 'mascot' of several years, had betrayed the team and left under a cloud. The JLA had been forced to abandon its former mountain headquarters and establish a satellite base, 22, 300 miles above the Earth, impervious to terrestrial infiltration, accessible through airlocks or a newly built teleporter system only, and out of range of terrorist nuclear missiles should they ever become feasible.
Still, he was troubled, as much about the transformations about to take place in his own life as with the others concerns. The Daily Planet, his long-time employer, had recently been purchased by the WGBS television station, an outpost of Morgan Edge's Galaxy Broadcasting System upstart television network. To his surprise, he was headhunted, had had an excellent interview with Edge and along with Lois Lane, he had been offered a job as WGBS news anchor and journalist. Over coffee with Bruce and Dick in Gotham, he discovered that Dick was about to start at Hudson University during the next year. He wondered how Bruce would take the departure and newfound autonomy of his long-time partner. Ah well, there was still Alfred to look after him. And those new gym sessions in the Batcave were certainly developing a new physique given the pending departure of his sidekick. He'd taken Bruce aside and told him about what to expect, given that Supergirl was a few years older and at Stanhope University.
With a blur of light, the JLA teleporter produced its first operational transit as Batman materialised amidst it:
"Clark? I've heard some quite disturbing things through Wayne Enterprises' Asian and European offices. There's trouble brewing on the Korean peninsula."
"What do you mean? I'd heard that a vehicle had been shot down in the Sea of Japan, Bruce, but surely it'll all..."
Abruptly, there was a klaxon throughout the almost empty newly operational satellite. Bruce swallowed: "And I'm afraid that's the problem."
Superman turned: "All members of the Justice League! This is an orange alert! The United States has just fired a fusillade of nuclear missiles at North Korea. Atom, Flash, Green Lantern, proceed immediately to the area for missile interception and disposal. Hawkman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, handle evacuation and law enforcement in the United States."
"What the hell is happening, Clark?" Green Arrow's voice sounded weary.
"It looks like Nixon has just launched a nuclear attack on North Korea, Oliver. Look, draft in everyone else you can, stateside. The former Teen Titans, non-aligned superheroes like Metamorpho, Zatanna, Elongated Man, everyone else you can contact. We need to be ready if this gets worse. I'm leaving for Korean airspace now."
KOREAN PENINSULA:
Almost fourteen million people lived in North Korea, half the number that resided in South Korea at thirty million. The Demilitarised Zone had long been a feared flashpoint between the two nations and the downing of a surveillance aircraft, and the panicked response of Richard Nixon, now threatened all of those lives. As ICBMs arced over the peninsula, the cities of Pyongyang, Hanju, Huchon, Haesang, Kanggye, Kimchaek, Kusong, Manpo, Sariwong, Sinpo, Sinuiju, Songrim and Wansun lay exposed and vulnerable. The Atom, Flash, Kid Flash, Superman, Supergirl, Green Lantern and Wonder Girl tried their best to deflect one or all of the deadly bombardment, but with the departure of major players like Wonder Woman and J'Onn J'Onnz, the League was shortstaffed, even with their allies. Inevitably, thre were missed opportunities. Four of the missiles got through and radioactive death descended on three cities- Pyongyang, Chongjin and Hamhung. Dazed and horrified as they heard millions of screams and cries of agony, the Justice League could only watch on as half of North Korea's population disintegrated in the funeral pyre of their three major cities. Supergirl pointed to the distance, where North Korea had just launched a fusillade of its own chemical weapons at its rival and southern neighbour. And although the Justice League and its allies tried valiantly to stave off corresponding destruction in the southern nation, a malfunctioning chemical weapon killed Kid Flash and Wonder Girl in their attempt to halt the onslaught. Supergirl, Superman and Green Lantern tried their best to neutralise the retaliatory bombardment, but the loss of the two Teen Titans had traumatised them, especially the Flash. Seoul, Busan and Incheon were amongst the successful targets- as the yellow of the chemical toxin intersected Green Lantern's route while he sped toward burning Seoul, he fell from the skies.
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW:
On both sides of the Atlantic, tempers had frayed, words had been exchanged and frantic military advice had been offered to President Nixon and Premier Brezhnev. It was to the world's profound misfortune that hidebound, paranoid conservatives occupied positions of executive authority in both the Soviet Union and United States at that point in history. As Superman and Supergirl exchanged wide-eyed glances at the distant horizon, their superhearing heard the opening of nuclear missile silos across both countries. Leaving the Flash to get Green Lantern to safety, the two Kryptonians grimly set out to avert planetary apocalypse and omnicide.
To some extent, they succeeded. But in the process, more metahumans perished. Zatanna's magical abilities were overstretched deflecting and neutralising incoming Soviet ICBMs on such a vast scale and it caused fatal cardiovascular and respiratory distress given the amount of thaumaturgic energy it required, even from such a disciplined and powerful mage as Zatara's daughter. Metamorpho was fatally irradiated after absorbing several ICBMs and catalysing their internal composition to relative harmlessness. Hawkman and Hawkgirl used their starship to intercept several missiles as they reached orbit or destroyed them before they could be launched. The Flash returned and sabotaged several hundred more missiles on either side before they could be fired on either side. Numerous Soviet and Chinese metahumans also operated to defend their homelands, destroy their own national nuclear arsenals before they could provoke response or to disarm any incoming enemy ICBMs. Because of their efforts, Doomsday never dawned on Earth-169 and billions of lives were saved. It was the Justice League's finest hour and the world's inhabitants cheered on their heroes and mourned their sacrifices. When the last missile was defused, the League met on their satellite, pensive about what came next.
JUSTICE LEAGUE SATELLITE:
"All right, what do we do now? I know we try to avoid intervening in global affairs, but humanity has just tried to destroy itself, courtesy of a couple of martinet political leaders on either side of the Iron Curtain." Superman spoke first.
"Brezhnev is hamstrung at the moment. He can't be seen to punish Soviet metahumans for defending the motherland from your ICBMs. Added to which, the rest of the Politbureau and Communist Party are deeply concerned at his unilateral action in declaring war against the United States. We have a free hand" Leonid (Redstar) Kovac said
"Dear God, Clark. Isn't it obvious? Nixon is unfit for office. He should never have been elected in the first place. The man is a fanatic." Green Arrow exclaimed
"Ollie. Barry, how's Hal?"
"Carol is at his bedside at the moment. It doesn't look good. if he does...die...we'll need to show a new Green Lantern for this sector the ropes. And...thanks for attending Wally's funeral, everyone. Iris and I really appreciated it."
'Has anyone heard from Diana?" The Atom asked.
"She blames herself for Donna's death. She's taken her body to Themiscyra and she's told me she'll stay there. With Steve dead and Donna dead in the line of duty, she told me she thinks her time in Man's World is done and she probably won't be coming back. It hurt being unable to lift a finger while the rest of us tried to stop humanity destroying itself."
"Oliver, about what you just said..." Hawkman brought the conversation back to the question at hand.
"Kovar, are you and your Soviet colleagues willing to get rid of Brezhnev at the same time?"
"He almost destroyed the motherland. Absolutely, yes. I think we'll have enough support within the KGB, Red Army and Politbureau to topple him."
"Then what? We can't very well act as their jailors."
After a pause, Batman asked: "Clark, what about the Phantom Zone?"
"After a decent trial and the presentation of evidence, Bruce, yes, that would be appropriate, I think. For both Nixon and Brezhnev."
WASHINGTON DC:
"You can't do this to me! I'm the elected president of this country, I..."
"He was drunk at his post, Superman. He's too much of a risk to be allowed to continue to govern. Please, take him away." Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said, turning away from the unshaven, unkempt and drunken Richard Nixon, as Superman wrapped him in his impervious cape and flew him to the Hague. Shaken by what had just happened, Spiro Agnew resigned from the Vice-Presidency on the spot as well.
MOSCOW:
"Nyet! Nyet!" The Soviet Premier's face had turned ashen grey as a contingent of Soviet metahumans surrounded him- RedStar, Bolshoi, Molotov, Pravda, Hammer and Sickle.
"Da, Comrade Premier. Your time is done. You would have incinerated us all."
"The Americans...they destroyed socialist North Korea."
'Da," RedStar nodded, "and their President Nixon will also pay for that. But you are our Premier. You were entrusted with protecting the motherland. Instead, you would have destroyed it."
"This is treason!" Brezhnev stammered.
"Nyet, Comrade Premier, it is not. We still get to maintain the communist system, but there will be changes. In return for that, we hand you over to face international justice." Still stammering and resistant to his forced abdication, Leonid Brezhnev was led from the Kremlin. No-one around them lifted a finger to stop them from doing so, because, in truth, no-one could.
GENEVA:
It took only a fortnight for Richard Nixon, Leonid Brezhnev and Kim Il-Sung (found deep in a North Korean bunker) to be found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to several hundred years apiece in the Phantom Zone.
EPILOGUE:
On many other Earths, the taste of power corrupted the metahumans who encountered it and the result was global metahuman tyranny and dictatorship, only to be overthrown in time due to the lack of consensus and an enduring ethos of accountability to baseline humans. Mercifully, though, on Earth-169, this was only a strategic intervention and the Justice League and its counterparts stood back from further, more micromanaging, interference in human affairs. Without their nuclear arsenals, the new leadership of the Soviet Union, the United States and other global powers proved willing to sign a global multilateral disarmament treaty, and stopped backing authoritarian and corrupt puppet regimes, which fell as a result. Without a continuing Cold War, global resources were directed against global famine, disease, homelessness and lack of education, resulting in a kinder, gentler world. By 1980, a joint Soviet/US mission had landed on Mars; the Gallilean satellites were next, as humanity shared the resources of the Moon and asteroids. As the new century dawned, it was a time of peace and plenty. Superman, Supergirl and their companions took a back seat as crime and international disasters fell and during the decades of peace and prosperity that followed, many superheroes retired and many supervillains reformed. Their lives were ones of relative normality- forming relationships, having children and looking on at a world that had outgrown their need for costumed adventurers.
From the Phantom Zone, balefully, Nixon and Brezhnev looked on with ill-concealed contempt and anger at a world where they were powerless to interfere, frustrate liberty or the self-determination of others. In time, they became almost forgotten bad memories and dark legends, except for the monuments to those metahumans who had sacrificed themselves in the War to End All Wars. Eventually, even the radioactivity within the devastated Korean peninsula died down enough for some limited resettlement to occur. Humanity had narrowly avoided the precipice but in the end, it was enough to insure that maturity prevailed.
THE END