[COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][COLOR=SILVER][SUB][SUP][H3][b]KRYPTON[/b][/H3][/SUP][/SUB][SUB]Rao System - Andromeda Galaxy[/SUB]
[SUP][i]A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away[/i][/SUP][/color][INDENT][color=#ffffff]“The Council rests. Take Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van into custody for processing.”[/color] 

Ro-Zan ordered as members of the Military Guild stepped forward. Suddenly, a loud splash echoed across the cold, stone floor as Lara stood there in stunned silence, a puddle between her feet, before gasping in pain as her knees began to buckle. 

[color=#ffe599]“Jor-” [/color]She mustered.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Now!”[/color] Jor-El yelled as the two members of the Military Guild suddenly turned their weapons on the Council and Jax-Ur. Screams came from the dark as weapon fire illuminated the various Kryptonians seated in the audience. Jor-El rushed to his wife’s side as the roar of a jetpack overhead alerted him to the presence of a shocktrooper. Fighting against his restraints, Jor-El used his body to shield his wife before the trooper raised a weapon towards the couple.

A low-yield blast erupted from the barrel, missing Jor-El and destroying the link between the restraints. In the ensuing scuffle, Jor-El used his now-freed hands to grab the sidearm from the soldier’s hip before raising it and squeezing the trigger. 

Behind the soldier echoed the sound of a weapon clattering to the floor as a member of the Science Guild dropped dead. Taking a step back, the shocktrooper raised his weapon, clearing the room before retracting his helmet’s mask.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Zod,”[/color] 

Jor-El managed to smile between breaths, [color=#9fc5e8]“You took your time.”[/color] He added, patting the soldier’s shoulder armour as Zod returned the expression and held out a hand. A sigh escaped from between Jor-El’s lips before he took the outstretched hand and stood. Spinning around, he helped Lara back to her feet. 

[color=#9fc5e8]“We haven’t much time. It looks like Kal knows a thing or two about making a dramatic entrance.”[/color]

[color=#e06666]“A flair for the dramatic, he must be your son.”[/color] Zod smiled, guiding the couple out of the courtroom and into the open streets of Kandor. Smoke rose in the distance, catching the attention of Jor-El who looked to Zod.

[color=#e06666]“You were right about Krypton; it didn’t take much to electrify the third rail.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“Civil War is upon us, then?”[/color]

[color=#e06666]“Aye.”[/color] Zod nodded, [color=#e06666]“The Labour Guild was all too willing to throw their lives away so that no one else should live in the squalor they’ve been forced into. I’ve gathered a few loyal battalions, but we’ve still got a long fight ahead of us. Don’t suppose your brother made any headway with allies from the Science Guild?”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“I haven’t heard from Zor-El in a while. He had to move Allura and Kara to the colonies to ensure their safety.”[/color]

[color=#ffe599]“This is [i]shiny[/i] and all, my Love, but I-”[/color] Lara cried out again, [color=#ffe599]“Do believe, I’m about to give birth for the first time in a millennium.”[/color] 

[color=#e06666]“Then let’s make sure this isn’t happening on the streets of Kandor.” [/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“How do we get out of the city? We should regroup with the others offworld.”[/color]

[color=#e06666]“I still have friends in Argo.”[/color] Zod replied, [color=#e06666]“We’ll steal away in among a departing argosy.”[/color]

[color=#ffe599]“The sooner the better, gentlemen,”[/color] Lara muttered as she held onto Jor-El. He kissed her hand while keeping an arm wrapped around her, supporting his wife’s weight. The chaos from inside the council chambers had already spilled into the streets, Kandorian armed forces facing off against Zod’s loyal, while members of the Labour Guild rushed to join the fray, quickly armed by their fellow rebels. While the other Guilds possessed the coveted genetics and their accompanying abilities denied to the lowest Caste, the Labour Guild outnumbered the other four Guilds at a ratio of at least two to one.

[color=#ffffff]“STOP THEM!”[/color]

[color=#e06666]“Jor, can you cover us?”[/color] Zod asked, tossing his weapon to Jor-El, who nodded in return. Scooping up Lara with ease, Zod retaliated against their pursuers with a blast of his heat vision while Jor-El laid down cover fire. Kandor was the largest city on Krypton and heavily developed, lending itself to numerous alleys and pathways through the thriving metropolis as the trio shook their tail and made their way to the nearest port. 

Putting his fingers to his mouth, Jor-El whistled sharply. In the distance a howl was heard in response before Jor raised his weapon and laid down fire. Despite his best effort, Jor watched their pursuers continue to gain ground. Raising the weapon to fire, he felt it suddenly jam, a combination of steam and smoke rising out of the chamber as the overheated thermal clip ejected to cool. 

Nodding to Zod, Jor-El urged him to continue, Lara cried in protest as Jor-El simply yelled over the din.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Kal must survive.”[/color]

[color=#e06666]“You have my word, Jor,”[/color] Zod replied,[color=#e06666] “I will spare the child the war so he can be the future that neither of us will see.”[/color]

With a nod, Jor-El took a hold of the firearm and swung it, shattering the helmet on the nearest guard. Delivering another hard blow with the butt of the rifle, he drove back the next assailant until the weapon came back to life as the thermal clip was reinserted. 

Raising the weapon, he felt heat slice through his arm. A cry of anguish echoed through Kandor as Jor-El stumbled, nearly dropping his weapon. The hum of armed weapons being trained on him caused him to look through the fog of pain, as the last of their pursuers moved to arrest him.

Until suddenly a white wolf was atop of them. 

Cloned from an ancient Kryptonian species, the beast was stronger, faster and more capable than any of the Caste born.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Krypto!”[/color] Jor-El managed, taking another breath. He looked towards the Kandorian guards with a smug smile before speaking again.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Tear them to shreds.”[/color][/indent][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01999ab1-cb01-748d-bd12-afb19d17251c.webp[/img][COLOR=SILVER][SUB][SUP][H3][b]EARTH[/b][/H3][/SUP][/SUB][SUB]Sol System - Milky Way Galaxy[/SUB]
[SUP][i]Previously[/i][/SUP][/color][INDENT][color=#c27ba0]“Jimmy!” [/color]

Lois pointed from the bow of the small rigid inflatable boat, gesturing for her hired stringer to follow the direction of her barely visible hand as she pointed towards the elevated deck of the [i]Excelsior[/i].

Another flash of red illuminated the night, the blast barely audible over the sound of crashing waves in the Metropolis Harbour. Surrounding the hull of the cargo ship were small crafts of an unknown make to Lois. They weren’t conventional jetskis, and they weren’t something she’d seen growing up on military bases. 

[color=#c27ba0]“Did you get that, Jimmy?”[/color] 

[color=#ff9900]“I actually prefer Ja-”[/color]

[color=#c27ba0]“Did you get that?”[/color]

[color=#ff9900]“Lois, I can’t see a thing out here.” [/color]

[color=#c27ba0]“On the deck, weapons I don’t recognize,”[/color] Lois gestured, [color=#c27ba0]“Look they have lasers and space jetskis,”[/color]

[color=#ff9900]“So what do they want with a Luthorcorp ship?”[/color] 

[color=#c27ba0]“You’re assuming those aren’t from the ship, Jimmy!”[/color] Lois countered as they killed the engine and floated atop the rocking waves.

[color=#c27ba0]“Get recording, night vision, I want to see everything they’re taking from the ship.”[/color] Lois ordered as James held his camera steady. 

[color=#ff9900]“Long as you’re paying, you got it, boss.”[/color]

[color=#c27ba0]“Enough lip, Jimmy,”[/color] Lois retorted,[color=#c27ba0] “Give me the DLR, I want to get some snaps of that big crate.”[/color] 

[color=#ff9900]“Looks like it’s an AmerTek.” [/color]Jimmy muttered as Lois clicked the shutter a couple of times.

[color=#c27ba0]“Yeah, so there’s definitely a story there. What was Luthorcorp transporting for AmerTek and who are these guys, why do they want it?”[/color] 

[color=#ff9900]“Probably just a random hit.”[/color]

[color=#c27ba0]“There’s nothing random about this, Jimmy.”[/color] Lois snapped back, [color=#c27ba0]“That’s some serious hardware those guys are packing and this is not where you’d dock a ship.”[/color]

[color=#ff9900]“Pirates then?”[/color]

[color=#c27ba0]“In Metropolis? Get your head out of your ass, Jimmy.”[/color] Lois looked down on the camera, examining the photos she had taken before pressing the zoom.[color=#c27ba0] “There’s a number on the crate, I bet we can get this cross referenced.”[/color]

[color=#ff9900]“How?”[/color]

[color=#c27ba0]“People owe me favours,”[/color] Lois replied,[color=#c27ba0] “Where are the authorities? I tipped them off half an hour ago.”[/color]

[color=#ff9900]“Why are you worried about the police?” Jimmy snickered, “Thor will show up any second now,”[/color]

[color=#c27ba0]“Oh not you too,”[/color] Lois replied, [color=#c27ba0]“Guy is just a gloryhound with a chip on his shoulder. These superheroes are no replacement for actual law and order. They aren’t the police and they aren’t a courtroom. We have these systems in place for a reason, even if they are broken, they’re not as broken as taking the law into your own hands. If he actually wanted to help, he’d work with the system, help fix it. Not, well whatever it is he does.”[/color]

[color=#ff9900]“You’re not a fan of the big guy then?”[/color]

[color=#c27ba0]“If you ask me, he’s likely not that big, and no, I prefer men in a uniform who have earned it, thank you.” [/color]Lois replied re-dialling the police.

[color=#ffffff]“9-1-1, What’s your emergency?”[/color]

[color=#c27ba0]“I need police, there’s a Luthorcorp ship, the Excelsior-”[/color]

The line suddenly went dead.

[color=#c27ba0]“Definitely not a random hit.[/color][/indent][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01999ab1-cb01-748d-bd12-afb19d17251c.webp[/img][COLOR=SILVER][SUB][SUP][H3][b]EARTH[/b][/H3][/SUP][/SUB][SUB]Sol System - Milky Way Galaxy[/SUB]
[SUP][i]Now[/i][/SUP][/color][INDENT][color=#8e7cc3]“Metropolis does not need a man in a silly red cape to save it.”[/color] 

The press stood gathered outside of the front steps of the Daily Planet as Lionel Luthor roared from the temporary podium erected in front of the brass trimmed revolving door. 

[color=#8e7cc3]“The newspaper is supposed to be informative and reflect the opinions of the people. Not the swooning of a schoolgirl crush. I don’t know what editor approved this front page, but this derivative dribble belongs in the Inquisitor.”[/color] A mirthless chuckle rumbled from his throat  as cameras flashed from every angle. The Mayoral candidate had caused quite the fuss with his impromptu press conference, leaving his opponent, Bradford Sackett, little time to prepare. 

[color=#8e7cc3]“Like Metropolis, the Daily Planet needs a strong guiding hand and for that reason, I have begun the process of acquiring the Daily Planet. Much like Luthorcorp’s twin towers, the Daily Planet is a feature of Metropolis’s skyline. Should it not reflect the city it dwells within?”[/color]

[color=#8e7cc3]“The same city where just last night one of my cargo ships was attacked. Where was Thor then? The entire crew that was aboard that ship is missing, gone without a trace. Our hearts are with their families, and I personally am pledging a year’s salary to the families to help should the worst come to pass. I pray that it won’t, but I won’t be praying to Thor.“[/color]

Lionel hung his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as he took a deep breath.

[color=#8e7cc3]“These so-called superheroes are appearing all across this great country, but who are they accountable to? And what of the escalation they incur? First we have extraordinary vigilantes, then we’ll have superhuman criminals? What’s to stop someone like Thor from having a bad day and attacking civilians. Where are the checks and balances? The accountability?”[/color] 

A murmur went through the crowd, most of them suddenly finding themselves agreeing with Lionel.

[color=#8e7cc3]“When I am your Mayor, I will be working closely with Commissioner Henderson and we will be drafting a Vigilante Registration Act. If these people want to uphold the law, they will do so while wearing a badge and under the scrutiny of the people. Not by hiding in the shadows or through exposés. Who elected Thor?”[/color] Lionel yelled, met with a chorus of agreement as the crowd began to engage with the mayoral candidate.

[color=#8e7cc3]“Crime has in fact risen in Metropolis since the appearance of a red-hooded hero. Instead of helping our fair city, he’s proven to be a lightning rod for trouble. As of this moment, I am calling for the immediate arrest of Thor and am putting out a reward. A thousand dollars to anyone who provides a tip that proves useful regarding his identity, a million to anyone who can bring him in.”[/color]

Cheers rose up from the crowd, drowning out protests from Sackett as the incumbent mayor scrambled for the microphone. 

[color=#ffffff]“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?” [/color]He hissed at Lionel,[color=#ffffff] “The chaos you’ve just brought to our streets?”[/color] Bradford argued,[color=#ffffff] “How many dead boys in red hoodies is it going to take for you to call off your witch hunt?”[/color]

[color=#8e7cc3]“Don’t worry, Mr. Mayor,”[/color] Lionel patted Sackett on the back, [color=#8e7cc3]“Thor started wearing armour, he doesn’t parade around in a hoodie anymore.”[/color] He smiled before speaking into the microphone again.

[color=#8e7cc3]“It’s time to take back our city.”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]