Chapter 3
"...in a surprising turn of events, after communications broke down with the United States and other UN representatives, North Korean leadership has announced they have been in contact with the alien representatives.
Officials have said they have been negotiating an alliance and exchange of technology and resources which would benefit all mankind. This has caused panic not only among the US and its allies but among North Korea's staunchest allies, Russia and China, as well. Experts believe…" - The Daily Planet.
"European officials continue to call for UN action after North Korean officials reported that the Republic has agreed to create a special autonomous zone for the Kryptonians on the island of Sinmi-do, North Korea's largest island only over 100 km north west of Pyongyang.
When pressed for answers North Korean officials have cited a cultural communist brotherhood with the Kryptonians based on evidence presented of the organization of planet Krypton. Unofficial sources have reported an exchange of technology in communications, material science and missile launch capabilities, for this concession…" - Euronews.
"...in a surprising turn of events China has blocked what was supposed to be a unanimous UN Security Council resolution to denounce and impose a total blockade on North Korea and the Kryptonians. Chinese officials have stated that upon consideration, cooperation is the better route to ensure a peaceful relationship with both North Korea and the Kryptonians. …reports are surfacing of a flurry of emergency last minute calls between North Korean, Chinese and Kryptonian leaders.
Experts believe the Kryptonians have made concessions to semiconductor technology, a long standing weakness in the Chinese industrial arsenal, further disrupting the balance of power in the world. The aliens have so far politely rebuffed all attempts at communications…" - Al Jazeera.
"...North Korean officials have announced a grand festivity will take place in Pyongyang to recognize the official formation of 'The Kryptonian Nation' on Earth, with General Zod as its leader. Officials will sign an everlasting declaration of friendship between the People's Democratic Republic of Korea and 'The Kryptonian Nation' and several treaties on cultural, technological and resource exchange.
Officials have confirmed that 'Kim Jonh Un' has convinced the Kryptonians to release several technologies to the wider world as to benefit the whole of humanity. The breakthrough technologies will be announced at the ceremony.
World leaders, experts and analysts have denounced this move as a thinly veiled attempt at gaining acceptance on the world stage. Limited number of foreign journalists and diplomats from France, UK, Iran, Russia, China and the United States have been invited to witness the ceremony…" - Gotham Global News.
Scene Break
Kal-El grimly pondered how he'd gotten himself in this situation as he flew past the edge of the atmosphere.
'Guilt' he thought. Overwhelming guilt.
He had not intended to be the intermediary between the US government and the Kryptonians but there was no one else who could do it.
Literally.
The General had politely refused all attempts at further communications with the US government and its allies.
And it wasn't as if the government could send diplomatic personnel to knock on their door and bother them. The General had retreated back to their prison cell mothership in space.
Which said the spaceship was now positioned in low orbit over North Korea.
Of course he knew Zod was planning something, he felt it in his gut, his fath…the AI said so as well and literally every government analyst as well.
Still nobody quite expected the collaboration with North Korea, nor the speediness with which the relationship moved forward or the acceptance and support from China nor the outright willingness of the Kryptonians to share critical technology.
'A megalomaniac dictator collaborating with another megalomaniac…' In hindsight things made a lot more sense.
So here he was at the insistence and pleading of the US government to try to open up relations with his supposed compatriots.
As always when he approached the spaceship Zod along with two others exited the ship to meet him in the deadly, cold, void of lower Earth orbit.
This time it was the hulking one called Nam-Ek and the stone faced Tor-An.
They had never invited him in their spaceship. The government analysts said it was because they likely feared him for some reason or simply as retaliation that he wasn't willing to help them.
AI-Jor El agreed with the assessment though indicating that they not only feared his physical prowess but the AI itself as it would have the power and know-how to infect their systems.
An action that Jor-El had advocated multiple times though not one that he himself was willing to do.
So far he saw no reason to antagonize the General and his team.
"Kal-El." The General started calmly facing him as the other two positioned themselves floating in a flanking formation. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
The suits they were all wearing would allow them to breathe and communicate with each other.
His own space suit was fashioned by his AI-Father.
"You know why I am here, Zod. You have thrown the world order into chaos. Why?"
"I have? How? I certainly did not notice it. The world seems fine to me." He said and looked down at the planet.
"Enough with the games Zod. You allied with North Korea. An authoritative murderous regime. You are sharing advanced technology with them. You surely knew what that would mean to the rest of the world! " Superman paused briefly.
"Why? Why do this? Why cause this chaos? Why not cooperate with the US government or the European ones?"
The General looked at him for a moment as if he was perplexed.
"Has the memory of your father continued your lessons on Kryptonian history?" Zod asked. "Has he explained to you how Kryptonian society worked?"
Clark nodded and couldn't help but grimace a bit.
Jor-El had in fact 'enlightened' him on the Kryptonian society and its flaws.
"Good, then surely you understand that the North Korean system, this state driven communism, as they call it, is by far the closest organizational system we are familiar with." the General started.
"Everything on Krypton was planned out, resources be they labour or capital were allocated according to actual needs of the greater society as a whole. The Koreans' attempts at this organization are understandable and familiar to us…primitive as they are. "
Kal-El wanted to interject but the General quickly continued.
"And yes, Kal, not to worry I understand the pitfalls of where this can lead…I still blame myself for not saving our people." The general said awkwardly.
"Nonetheless we have found common kinship in the Korean spirit and its people. They are fighters…rebels against the imposed world order just like we were. And they are willing to work with us without compromising our autonomy and independence."
"They are a dictatorship that oppresses its people." Kal-El spat back with venom.
"Yes they are." Zod answered back coldly. "And they are willing to lend us the workforce and resources we require in order to rebuild ourselves back."
"You could have struck deals with the US and European governments, where people's rights are respected…where life is respected."
"Not without compromising our independence." Zod answered coldly. "You know that very well Kal-El you were at the negotiating table."
And that was the crux of the problem.
The US and its allies couldn't possibly give them what they wanted without looking weak.
"Besides, even if your government offered us favourable terms, how long would that last? Until the next elections when a new administration takes over?"
He was right about that as well any politician that ceded territory would be replaced in the next election.
"To those of you who were born into that kind of system it is the right way to do things. To us that is chaos we cannot afford. We need stability, to build, to grow."
Clark begrudgingly couldn't argue against that point though he still felt like something was off.
"I know you're up to something Zod, I don't know what it is but I will be keeping my eyes on you. If you become a threat to this planet…to humanity…I will stop you." Clark as seriously as possible.
"Duly noted Kal-El and make no mistake we will be watching you as well." The general replied. "Now is there anything else or are we done here?"
Feeling that this conversation was going nowhere Superman decided to simply get it over with, so with a deep sigh he responded.
"The US government would like to start over. They recognize they overreacted in the last few months and that collaboration is indeed better than animosity. They would like to open up official and diplomatic lines of communication with 'The Kryptonian Nation'." He finished flatly.
"Ah, of course, though one small problem, you see I have promised The Supreme Leader that I would not engage in any bilateral relations without The People's Republic at the table…and specifically that I would not speak with the Americans." Zod replied with an amused tone. "Perhaps in a few months once we are more settled we can revisit this situation."
Superman grimaced, nodded and turned to leave.
"Ah, actually, one more thing Kal-El." The general said stopping him.
"I forgot to thank you." Zod said with a sly smile.
Superman looked at him confused. "Without you we would not have been able to progress so fast in our negotiations with the Koreans."
"What? What do you mean?" He asked, confused.
"Your presence…your collaboration with your government…you being as American as apple pie has made many of your government's enemies and allies ask themselves:
'How can we stop 'The Superman'? What technology is he sharing with the government?'
And it seems the Korean government has chosen to have us on their side in case you decide to follow orders. So thank you, without you this wouldn't have been possible."
Clark wanted to retort but he knew deep down it was true.
The government kept trying to rope him in more and truly who could stop him but another Kryptonian.
Superman flew off with a bitter taste in his mouth.
Scene Break
Kwan hesitated to look at his watch as he felt the last rays of daylight slip away giving to the dark of nightfall. The thick blanket of cloud cover would ensure no wayward rays of moonlight would pierce the night sky.
In a few moments he would have to make the most monumental decision of his life, his family, his country and humanity.
The aliens would soon make their move.
The festivities had gone exceedingly well with the Kryptonian General Dru-Zod signing all the agreed upon treaties and proceeding to converse and charm the government officials and the attending foreign dignitaries and press.
The general played his part to perfection with not a word or movement being out of place as per the agreement with the regime.
The only other Kryptonian present at the General's insistence was the hulking one called Nam-Ek to act as personal bodyguard.
How the regime was convinced to allow it was beyond Kwan.
Technically there was also the Kryptonian woman Car-Vex who was piloting…well technically supervising the team from the regime who was going to pilot the dropship into North Korean custody.
But she was stuck on the drop-ship giving tours to all the foreign dignitaries and their entourages.
It was honestly funny to see them sweating as she explained the capabilities of the ship. With this one ship the regime would technically be in the top ten air forces of the world.
Of course this was still merely just one ship and using it directly for military purposes was incredibly stupid.
So it was even funnier to see them relax when they were assured the ship would be grounded and not used for military activities.
The value of the ship was in its technology.
The ship was going to be leased to the regime for a period of fifty years where a joint Korean, Chinese and Russian team, along with Kryptonian assistance, will study it and work on replicating all its technologies.
The ship would also be hooked up to the country's power grid to fuel the impending industrial expansion.
'Hmm…' Kwan mused thoughtfully '...one way or another it always comes down to power…' Even if in this case it was literally electrical.
The fusion reactors and the thermo electrical converter technologies were the prize in his opinion.
'...once you have power you can do everything you want…' he almost chuckled at the thought though he knew the Kryptonians were not sharing the best they had.
General Kwan turned his thoughts back to the festivities.
With nighttime setting in the outside public portion of the ceremony was coming to an end. All that was left was for the ship to fly off being piloted by the North Korean contingent signifying its official transfer.
All the while fireworks would be going off in the background to celebrate the joyous and momentous occasion.
Which meant he would soon have to make a choice.
'...the honeyed words of a madman…or…die for the regime…'
He mused as the crowd watched with amazement as the bug shaped drop-ship spread it's beatle like wings and slowly maneuvered into the sky.
The regime was milking this for all it could.
Suddenly a brief flash of light streaked across the cloud covered night sky.
VRRBOOOM!
Everyone's eyes widened as a fiery mushroom detonated against the sleek armor of the drop-ship knocking it of course. It's bug-like wings and repulsors moving spastically trying to keep it floating.
Shouting and panic were already ensuing around him as well as the military police swarming the place.
"MY SHIP!" He heard General Zod shout over the crowd. His voice was likely enhanced by his suit. "NAM-EK GET THEM INSIDE PROTEC THEM! I'lL GET THE SHIP!"
The alien leaped from his spot with the higher ups of the regime over the panicking crowd in an attempt to get to the ship only to be struck mid-air by another explosion launching him into the stands of the lesser officials.
In quick succession another explosion hit the large Kryptonian knocking him directly into the assembly building while barreling through the bodies of military policy and higher officials and the second hit the drop ship again.
Kwan saw a blue shield like energy and a build up of wild electrical arches spring from one end of the ship to the other.
The security forces were shouting commands to the crowd, though they were confused as to where the attacks were coming from.
The capital was on complete lockdown. A security breach of this magnitude was unimaginable.
"General please we have to get to safety!" Screamed his secretary, Lieutenant Pak.
He was a good man with a soft heart, wholly unsuited for any military life, let alone one in their country, but he was his eldest daughter's husband so he had to take care of him in a cushy position.
"Not yet." He stopped the thirty year old Lieutenant by grabbing his hand.
VVVBOOM!
A massive electrical blue shockwave exploded from the ship as it sailed downwards to the ground.
Followed by darkness and stunned silence.
"Now." He grabbed his son in law's hand and dragged him not to the safety of the assembly building but pushed his way through the cordoned off side of the building.
"Sir?" The frightened Lieutenant asked.
"We need to get to my office."
Visibility was now at a premium and nothing even remotely electronic was working.
Everywhere the eye could see it was dark. The whole of Pyongyang and likely beyond was drenched in darkness.
Then it started.
The darkness pierced by fiery flashes of gun fire.
"Kill the ALIENS!"..."Our land is not for sale!"..."Long LIVE KOREA"..."KILL THE TRAITORS"
The shouting was heard over the screams of the panicked military police.
Flashes of gunfire and screeching screams of pain and panic ripped through the darkness from outside and within the security perimeter.
"Kill the Alien lovers!....Kill the Traitors!...LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE'S PARTY!...Kill the Aliens"
The shouts continued from outside and within the assembly building.
Confusion.
Chaos.
No one could tell what was going on.
"Our country is under attack by rebel forces." Kwan responded and lit up his cigarette lighter.
The security forces were turning on eachother.
Scene Break
I grabbed the panicked soldier from behind and held him against me. One hand covering his mouth and the other forcing his primitive gun to fire in bursting bright flashes on his comrades.
His struggling strength was nothing against mine.
"Die traitors! Traitors to Korea! Die Aliens" The audio illusion played from my suit.
His fellows die easily and confused until some of them smarten up and fire back killing my unwilling partner and some behind us.
I swiftly flew to the next group and then the next group with silent efficiency, until everyone was shooting at each other blindly.
The cloaking capabilities of our technology and the cover of darkness made us practically invisible.
Officially as Commander I was holding the rest of our unit on the Black Zero observing the celebrations.
But in reality myself and Nadira along with ten combat drones are leading the assault on this celebration.
The others have their own assignments around the country.
The General himself by now was doing his part in the assembly building.
A false flag attack, Dru called it, a strange human term but if it would achieve our goal I did not care.
The soldiers cried, panicked and screamed as explosions happened all around them. Their superior officers shouted contradicting orders in the darkness.
I felt nothing as the soldiers died all around me, confused why their friends were suddenly shooting them.
They were Our enemies, the enemies of Krypton.
And I was born to kill them.
Scene Break
Senior Colonel Choon Doo-hwan paced nervously under the flickering light of the candle in his office in the People's Army's 6th Division's headquarters.
Half an hour since the black-out and nothing.
Nothing was working, not the phones, not the cars, not the dam wind up radios. It was as if they had all gone back to the stone age.
It wasn't natural, it wasn't the usual rolling blackouts his country experienced.
In those cases some things still worked and back-up generators would kick in for facilities that had them.
In this case nothing, even the back up generators and the dam flashlights weren't working.
His mind had immediately thought maybe this was it. Nuclear war was starting but even then they at least would have seen the gargantuan explosions the destructive weapons would make.
So it couldn't be that.
He of course had sent out a few men on foot and bicycles with makeshift torches to recon what was happening in but even if they were the closest division to the capital it would still take them an hour to march there on foot and that was in daylight not in the pitch-black of this night.
Worse than that was that even if he'd gotten the men ready to march he wasn't able to reach his superior the Colonel General Chung Il-Kwon. If he were to order the men to march on Pyongyang under mistaken pretenses they and their families could be seen as traitors to the regime and be put under the death penalty.
He sweated thinking about the purges that happened as the young leader took power just a few short years ago.
"Sir a bike messenger has arrived." His subordinate announced it suddenly.
"One of ours?" He asked as he they both rushed outside.
"No Sir! From the capital says he's from the Military Communications Coordinations Office."
"Sir!" The messenger saluted instantly as he saw Choon. "I'm officer Hyon Sir."
"What's happening out there? What can you tell us?" The Colonel asked impatiently.
"Sir, I have orders from General Choe Kwan." He said and handed the Colonel an envelope.
Choon quickly read the envelope under the torchlight as his eyes bulged and anxiety built in his chest threatening to burst and end his life right then and there.
"Sir, He requests that you march the men of the 6th division and restore order to the capital."
"What?" His subordinates screamed. "What's happening?"
"The capital is under attack by rebel forces. General Kwan said they are trying to kill the aliens and the top leadership." The messenger replied and hesitated. "He said he was barely able to get away, they attacked the aliens and the drop ship with rockets sir…he thinks the blackout is because of the attack on the ship as it happened after the massive attack…Sir…the General said the attack came from inside the security perimeter…Sir."
"That's impossible!" Another one of his officers said and he agreed with the sentiment.
The security for the Ceremony was tight as it could possibly be. For any breach to come from inside the actual security perimeter would mean collaboration from the…
"A Coup is happening…" He said softly.
"...and I have no idea whose side I'm on…" his thoughts finished silently.
For a quiet moment he watched, under the flickering orange flame of the torch, the dancing shadows of the officers surrounding him as realization set into their faces.
Worse than that he had no idea on which side they were on.
Scene Break
Her fingers traced the cold grooves of the pistol with anxious gentleness.
She saw the backs of her bodyguards stiffen as the sounds of shots and screaming echoed louder and louder closing in on her location.
Her last line of defense, they were all women she had chosen personally.
Loyal to the bone…she hoped.
She had warned her brother not to get involved with the Aliens.
But as much as her brother was ruthless and pragmatic he was also an idealist.
He wanted to get things done.
Their grandfather had created, their father had maintained…barely and poorly at that…and he wanted to be known as the one that truly ascended.
So when the Kryptonians came with their offer her brother took a chance.
Their offer at first had been superficially reasonable.
Breakthroughs in material science, genetics, power generation, fusion and others which would revolutionize not only their country but the whole Earth.
All that in exchange for land, autonomy, manpower, resources, a portion of their whole economy and industrial capacity dedicated to projects the Kryptonians wanted.
Cities, orbital platforms, ships, a moon colony, and many more.
Things they would all jointly benefit from…even the breeding program.
It seemed fair at a first glance until you sat down and thought through the logistics and implementations of some of the breakthroughs.
Were they an advanced country like the USA, or their southern brothers, they would have been able to fully take advantage of everything within ten years.
But they weren't.
Anywhere outside of the immediate technology the Kryptonians needed to achieve their goals it would take them at least thirty to forty years to go from theory to production and implementation.
And in the meantime they would be hamstrung on resources and manpower by the same commitments.
So of course they negotiated and negotiated them down until the deal was just reasonable and practical enough that it would work within their lifespans.
Even so not everyone was happy with the deal.
Her brother was generally good at judging people but she was better. It's why she was head of the Publicity and Information Department and personally in charge of all of his public events…including this one.
Just because the young leader was willing to take the risk didn't mean they were.
They were of course fair in their concerns but keeping things as they were and slow and steady was leading them to fall further and further behind.
More and more strange things were happening around the world, metahumans, gene splicing, cybernetics and odd ends of technology were popping up in often unexpected places.
So in the end she had to agree with her brother's strategic assessment at least they would deny their enemies, for if they refused the Kryptonias would surely try with others.
And now they were in this situation.
Still it didn't make sense… the people that she knew were dissatisfied with the situation and could have pulled something like this would not have acted so brazen
Something was off…
She took a look at the mechanical clock in the room, the only way they could tell the time now, it would soon be daylight.
Her guards readied themselves as sounds of the troops outside being dispatched stopped.
Whoever they were…to be able to penetrate her safe-house bunker so quickly…was entirely too suspicious.
"Lady Kim!" She heard a male voice shout. "I am General Choe Kwan, head of the…"
"I know who you are General Kwan! What are you doing here?"
"I came to secure your presence. The rebel forces have been beaten back, the coup attempt foiled. The capital is being secured as we speak and we need your help to…"
"Do not speak lies to me General." She said derisively.
A brief silent pause followed.
"Very well Lady Kim. We are coming in."
Her eyes widened as the reinforced door bulged, buckled and then was lifted off its hinges.
Her guards got ready but she just waved them off.
It would be useless.
"Why, hello there" The man said as he threw the door to the side as if it was made out of paper.
"Hello General." She said looking at the rugged features of the Alien.
General Cheo Kwan and his men quickly followed suit taking positions around the Alien.
"...yes…" she thought ruefully as her mind went through all the scenarios "...we've been played…"
Chapter End Like
:
Saw a lot of comments on why the MC is bothering with a coup. Hopefully this explains it enough.
Chapter 4
General Kwan dismissed his men to the rest of the building and listened with reluctant interest as the conversation unfolded between the alien General and lady Kim Yo Jong.
Lady Kim's bodyguard contingent were still in the room trying to look as intimidating as possible.
A chuckle almost escaped his lips.
They were loyal, it was commendable but ultimately useless.
He'd seen upfront the power of these aliens. It was one thing to read from third hand sources the power of 'The Superman' and another to witness it first hand in his compatriots.
The events of the past day and night still seemed surreal to him.
A night filled with chaos and death and soon even more chaos and death will follow.
And he chose…he chose life…for him and his family to survive.
"My brother?" Lady Kim asked.
"Dead, unfortunately the rebel forces got to him." Zod replied.
Kwan saw the young woman stiffen up with furious rage.
"Rebel forces? Do you truly expect me to believe that? At an event with the highest security possible in the heart of Pyongyang? At our seat of power? Who could have possibly rebelled?" She asked with disbelief in her voice. "General Ri, General Park or perhaps Vice-Marshal Ri Yong?"
Those fossils were some of the young leader's strongest supporters and admittedly some of the ones that were against the deal with the Kryptonians, thought Kwan.
They certainly had power but considering they were one foot in the grave they lacked will.
In the end it didn't matter what names the young lady said none would be right and all would be right.
And she knew it as well.
"Do not patronize me Alien!" She spit out with venom.
Kwan saw Zod smile, not one of happiness but like a predator that had found interesting prey.
"So the rumors seem to be true." The alien general said with satisfaction. "Had you been born a man you would have been your father's heir. I see it now."
The young lady said nothing.
"Very well." Zod continued. "I killed him and I orchestrated this whole little rebellion."
"Why?" she asked.
"Control, why else?" Zone replied back. "Did you think we would just simply give up our biggest advantage, our technology so easily?"
"We had an agreement!" She spit back. "We were giving you our land and people we were…."
"Please, we both know that agreement would only last until you sucked the last drop of blood from us. You would have broken it the moment it was not profitable for you. While the knowledge we give you…well once we give it we cannot take it back now can we?"
"My brother would have upheld out part of the agreement."
Kwan saw the General look at her thoughtfully for a moment.
"I liked your brother. I really did. He genuinely seemed like he cared about his people. And perhaps you are right and he would have upheld his part of the agreement. But for how long? Ten, twenty years? Eventually you would not need us. But we would still need you." Zod paused briefly.
"But more importantly I told you. All of you. We are trying to rebuild our people, our civilization, a new civilization, a new Kryptonian nation in our image and nine people and a few children a civilization does not make."
"We would have provided you with the women you require as per the agreement. Certainly you could have rebuilt until you had a viable population and then left with your kind? You could have built your cities, your ships and your colonies in peace." Kwan saw lady Kim reply with a hint of confusion. "Why go through all this trouble? "
Kwan saw the General reply back with a cold smile.
"It is precisely because you gave us everything and more. We are soldiers but we are not stupid. We could have built up our numbers with the half breeds in peace like you said.
With six males each siring an average of five children per year for the next twenty years would bring out numbers up by another six hundred. A drop in the ocean that is Korea let alone humanity." The General paused briefly.
"And these children. Tell me, do you think they would identify with us? Love us? Listen to us? How much time do you think we would have to spend with them individually to form a bond? Even if we do not sleep there are only twenty four hours in a day and that's assuming we dedicate all of our time to rearing the children."
Zod paused briefly as Lady Kim did not respond.
"In the meantime the children will be raised by their Korean mothers and grandparents, taught by their Korean teachers and waited upon by Korean servants. The workers building the city will be Korean, so will the shopkeepers and most of the inhabitants. Even media they will consume will be Korean or even worse when, Rao forgive us, we give them access to the broader internet. Who do you think those children will identify with culturally?"
Kwan saw Zod pause his little rant briefly as Lady Kim's eyes went big in possible disbelief. Frankly he hadn't thought of it to that level either but it made sense.
"What? Did you think we would keep the children secluded from their mothers and their families? Keep them locked up in a cage and try to brainwash them?" Zod said and scoffed. "That's a sure way to breed resentment into them or make them little psychos."
"We are soldiers, not monsters. We are soldiers that are trying to rebuild but we are not stupid. We are but a drop of water floating in a Korean bucket floating in an ocean of humanity."
Zod stared at her intensely for a moment.
"So if our children are our future and they will inevitably fill the Korean bucket and we cannot fight against an ocean, what are we to do, Lady Kim? What would you do if you were us?"
Kwan saw the young woman almost snarl in response as if she hated what she was about to say.
"Take over the bucket. Change it, shape it to my needs."
"Exactly." Zod confirmed. "I am glad we are of one mind. It shows why you are the head of the propaganda machine."
"So? Why am I still alive? Surely your pet over there and his band of traitors can handle the government." Kwan couldn't help but feel a bit of shame as she said the words and stared at him.
"Oh, General Kwan here was telling the truth earlier. The rebels are being beaten and Pyongyang is being secured but there are many protests, insurgencies and even desertions that have happened in the confusion. And while I'm sure with our subtle help the general here will eventually be able to bring it all under control everything would go much faster if there was let's say a well known and loved figure folks could rally too."
"The audacity you have, Alien!" Kim Yo Jong said fiercely. "You want me to be your puppet? To fix the chaos you started? To hand you the country on a platter? And then what ? Just discard me like my brother?"
Kwan saw Zod just shrug his shoulders as if unaffected by her refusal to cooperate.
"You have two options." The alien general said interrupting her rant.
"Option 1."
"You do not cooperate. In that case we use our superior technology to simply fake you for a period of time as we calm things down and Kwan here can establish control. Then in that case we find a reason to discard you and that will be the end of the Kim line all the while a new junta takes control.
It will lead to a lot more deaths of your people and it will be harder for us on the international stage but eventually we will recover."
"Or Option 2." The general said with a more predatory smile.
"You live. You cooperate with us in earnest. You will nominally be in charge of the country while Kwan's little cabal hold the real power. You work with us to create a newer, better society for all of our people." The general paused briefly once more.
"And as for discarding you." Kwan saw the alien general say with a cold, intense gaze yet soft tone and smile.
"What kind of monster do you think I am…"
"…to do such a thing…"
"…to the mother of my children…"
"...the future rulers of this country?"
Kim Yo Jong's eyes went wide as she was stunned speechless.
"...you my dear are the bucket…" Kwan thought silently.
Chapter End Like ReplyReport Reactions:Jarudazuigu, Samael Eli, rickardlindrothyahoo and 461 others
Chapter 5
Superman slowed down and looked up as he heard the familiar sound of air particles bouncing off the distinct armored suits his fellow Kryptonians were wearing.
"I wouldn't do what you are planning to do Kal-El!" Zod's voice boomed as he floated down in front of him.
This time it was the general along with Nam-Ek and the once called Dev-Em, they intercepted him about fifty miles over the ocean from the eastern border of North Korea..
"I won't let you hurt these people Zod!" He replied back.
Like everyone else he watched the Ceremony and was torn on whether to interfere once rumours of a civil war happening started.
He understood the chaos that could cause.
However when reports came of the Kryptonians using their technology to help one side he made up his mind to go stop them.
"Hurt them? I think you are confused, Kal-El. They are the ones that tried to hurt me."
"You know very well what I'm talking about! You're using your ship, your technology to help one side butcher the other!" Clark couldn't help but say passionately.
Zod just looked at him.
"If you are referring to the drop ship that is under the control of the Korean government. We are merely providing assistance to their pilots. We are not the ones deciding who to fire upon. We are not even the ones pulling the trigger."
"Zod! Enough with the word games. If you don't stop them from using Kryptonian technology to kill people then I will!" Superman said resolutely.
They all floated in silence for a moment as Clark saw an expression of disgust come across the alien General's face.
"Kal-El" Zod started and Clark could feel the venom in his voice. "We are not enemies, even if we have our differences, not truly. However…" Zod paused briefly.
"...mark my words. I swear to you right now, on Rao himself, that if you dare even put your hands on our ship I will do everything in my power…I WILL dedicate the rest of my life to making sure YOU and YOURS SUFFER and DIE a most painful DEATH." The General finished with righteous fury.
Superman was shocked momentarily by the passion and sheer vitriol the General expressed.
"To you Kal" Zod continued. "That is just a ship, but to us that is a most precious artifact, a piece of our culture, a lifeline. We risked everything to get it, we put our lives on the line to scavenge the parts to make it operational. We will not let you destroy it."
"Is that why you gave it to the North Korean regime? Because it was precious to you? Please do you expect me to believe that?" Superman answered derisively. "You won't get away with this Zod, I'm stopping that ship." He made to fly but was stopped by Zod and the two other flying right in front and blocking him.
"Get away with this? Are you serious right now?" Zod asked anger coloring each word. "Those people attacked us! They tried to kill me! They tried to destroy our ship! Do you think we can just make a new one? Do you think it was easy for us to give up a second ship? Were we supposed to throw away everything we worked for?"
"You could have sat out. You could have refused them. You could have come to us…"
"And we would have lost everything we negotiated for. Do you think we can just take back the knowledge we gave them? Stop them from using it? Don't be naive, that's not how things work!" Zod spat out.
"It would have been better than this! Now move out of my way or…"
"OR WHAT?" Zod practically screamed.
Superman saw the other two Kryptonians tense up ready to make a move.
"Or what?" Zod repeated softer. "You will beat us…kill us…?"
The Man of Steel tensed up ready to make his move.
"...just like your father…"
Clark felt a bolt of electricity go down his spine as a thick knot formed in his chest.
"...Kills us just like Jor-El wanted." Zod continued. "...Selfish just like him…"
He felt frozen in place, anxiety and doubt seeping in, chipping at his previous determination as Zod spoke softly with melancholy tinging his words.
"Truthfully, you are much more powerful than us. You could rip us limb from limb but it won't be only us." Zod continued his voice regaining a thread of venom.
"The moment you cross that border you will be condemning this whole region if not the Earth to nuclear fire. Lady Kim will launch her weapons wherever she can."
"No she wouldn't. She wouldn't risk it." Superman said though the conviction wasn't nearly as solid as he'd previously thought. "I'll stop her, I'll…"
"Maybe one or two…perhaps but even you can't be in two places at once…not while fighting us."
"She wouldn't be that insane to do it." Superman said again thinking about it logically. "She would destroy herself and…"
"You have not met her, Kal-El, I have. Trust me when I say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned…and that woman…well she scorned would be least of things that she was…" Zod paused ever so briefly.
"...she loved her brother you know…so if you want to kills us all…go ahead…Kal-El"
"...be selfish…"
"...be like your father."
Zod finished and looked him in the eyes.
Superman felt his jaw grind as his fist squeezed, the knot in his chest grew in weight until he broke eye contact.
With a defeated look he turned back and started the long and silent journey across the Pacific.
He didn't know if Zod was bluffing but he couldn't risk it.
He was not like Jor-El…
Scene Break
" …we now know that the sudden interruption of the Ceremony of Friendship broadcast from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) along with the subsequent electronic blackout that hit all of the republic along with neighboring parts of South Korea and China was a result of a brazen coup attempt at the highest level against the regime of Kim Jong Un, according to North Korean officials.
With the broadcast being on a five minute delay it was not clear why it suddenly stopped just as the closing ceremony was about to begin. Sources say high level players in the Kim regime revolted due to the deals struck by the regime with the newly founded 'Kryptonian Nation'... " - The Daily Planet
"...early reports from Brussels diplomats and foreign press indicated a horrific attack which left thousands dead both from spectators to combatants…some diplomats have reported they only survived due to the quick actions of the leader of the Kryptonians General Zod and his bodyguard Nam-Ek with both being injured in the process…
…the attack was also primarily targeted at trying to kill the Kryptonians…there are still many missing foreign diplomats as North Korean officials are not forthcoming with the full casualties…sparks of unrest are still ongoing throughout the country…" - Euronews
"...after shocking revelations of the death of Kim Jong Un, the people's republic's neighbours China, Russia, South Korea and their allies the United States fear that the and the ongoing unrest in the 'People's Republic' which is now being called a civil war will spark a greater war in the region that has the potential to go nuclear…it is unsure which of the factions vying for power have taken control of the nuclear arsenal…
…mass desertions and crossings of the DMZ into the south have been taking place with both military and civilians running from the regime by the thousands and tens of thousands overwhelming the South Korean government and facilities which had a standing open door policy to help North Korean deserters…
…South Korean lawmakers are calling for support from the United States for a pre-emptive ground initiative to secure the country's borders…" - Al Jazeera.
" 'A new Iron Lady is born!' as Kim Yo Jong the sister of Kim Jong Un, the youngest scion of the Kim family, takes control of the country bringing an end to the month long event that now is being called the North Korean Civil war.
…an unexpected contender between the rebelling forces and the older remaining Kim family members attempting to gather power around their persons…
…her ability to rally the battered forces of the capital and restore order to Pyongyang in the first few days of the coup ensured her rise among the political elite of the regime…
…analysts believe her bringing on her side the faction controlling the nuclear arsenal and issuing the 'Iron Verdict' as media outlets have been calling it to not interfere or else risk a nuclear strike were what settled the power struggle…
…other military experts have touted her strategic mind in allying with and convincing the Kryptonians in deploying a secondary drop ship to the control of her faction giving her complete air superiority over the country.
This move was denounced by all world powers including North Korea's staunchest allies China and Russia as Alien interference into not only domestic issues." - Gotham Global News
Scene Break
Swanwick, along with everyone in the room, watched with increasing dread the satellite videos of the alien dropship conducting bombing raids on fortified positions, taking anti-aircraft missiles without a scratch and utterly obliterating the remnants of the North Korean airforce.
"...as you can see the capabilities of the Kryptonian ships are completely superior to anything we have…" The analyst droned on.
This wasn't the type of fight they were used to seeing and preparing for, long distance, missiles use.
This was an up close knife fight.
The bug-like ship, zipped across the sky in impossible maneuvers at outstanding speeds. One moment it was across the country the next it was floating right next to you, or above you or below you.
By the time your instruments registered something there it was too late.
The blue energy shield keeping it safe while obliterating everything with its plasma cannons.
Just one ship, that's all it took to bring North Korea's air force, outdated as it was, and ground to air-defences down.
The damage it could do was simply outstanding.
And the Kryptonians had four more if you included the supposedly broken one from the ceremony.
The kicker was that they were supposedly small exploration and transport ships not actual fighters or war ships.
Swanwick shuddered to think what an actual Kryptonian warship could do.
The presentation went on for another half hour until they finally reached the piece they all wanted to hear.
"...in conclusion based on the presented scenarios and only taking into consideration only the current 'Bug' ships our forces will be able to bring them down with heavy losses…"
That brightened the room up a bit.
"...however if we add in the capabilities of the Kryptonians, even with an assumption of them being only a third as powerful as.." the analyst hesitated for a moment "... Superman…" he finally said "..we believe it will take them less than twenty four hours to completely obliterate all of our forces…"
Essentially they were fucked.
"...there is no scenario in which we win…" the analyst paused briefly.
"...not without Superman…"
Silence stayed heavy in the room.
He knew exactly what everyone in the room was thinking.
They needed Superman and they needed his technology.
And the government was going to do everything possible to get it.
Swanwick felt a heavy pressure increase in his head as he knew deep in his bones that whatever the bonehead politicians and eggheads were planning it would all spectacularly blow up right in their faces.
Chapter End Like
you are early." Jax remarked, without turning from his holo display. "I trust that all went well on your mission."
"As good as it can go. We eliminated our enemy." I replied as I took my usual seat.
"Good. That bodes well for the plan." He said neutrally.
We sat in silence for a few moments waiting for the others.
With a twitch of his finger the display changed to show power readings and status of several systems and supplies.
I frowned.
It was his subtle way to give me a heads up that things were not looking good.
As the only one of us that belonged to the science cast, Jax had long ago taken the burden to keep us updated on the status of our ship.
The Black Zero, our prison, our home.
Even after all this time, after learning and sharing the responsibilities to keep our home running, to keep us alive, he always worried the most and worked the most in repairing, deciphering and re-building our scavenged technology.
The remnants of our home.
He felt compelled.
It was in his nature the same way it was ours to be soldiers, to take orders, to protect, to fight, to kill our enemies.
The others shuffled in with Dru taking a seat beside me.
"We are all here. Shall we get this started?" He said neutrally.
It was only six of us, including Jax.
Tor, Car and Nam were out assisting the Korean forces.
"Very well." Jax said and changed the display.
"As you can see we are strained to our limit." He started neutrally.
"This operation has cost us dearly. The Phantom Zero Modular is almost depleted. We are using the fusion generators of the remaining two drop ships as well as routing power from auxiliary systems from the World Engine to keep us running at optimal needs." He paused briefly as the holo display changed.
"Running the fabricator for the creation of the combat drones was a big drain on the power reserves and our metal and crystal alloys supplies." Jax continued.
I couldn't help but sigh.
The drones did the job but they weren't even real combat drones, merely 'KL' series personal assistants.
Simple ones at that.
From the designs we salvaged it was the only one we could produce with our ancient fabricator and supplies.
Jax switched the image with another flick of his finger.
"The interdiction field was another colossal power drain. Had we not…"
I felt Dru sigh next to me.
"Jax, we've been over this. A simple EMP would not have been enough. The Earthlings have ways to counteract it and recover. A total blanket was necessary to mask our involvement." I saw Dru pause slightly.
"I cannot stress this enough, we must not ever underestimate them, even with our lead in technology and our natural gifts. They are a resourceful and willful lot. I would be surprised if there aren't already ideas being pitched in the other countries on how to counteract our interdiction field."
I could see everyone scowling around the table.
Some of us like Tor, Gor and Jax had wanted to take a much more direct approach, it was only at the insistence of Dru that we had gone with the false flag attack.
Still we could not truly complain as the plan was yielding the results we wanted.
"Very well, we wouldn't be able to run it again anytime soon anyway." Jax finished.
The presentation continued in the same dire manner.
We were low on everything, all material supplies that were needed to keep the ship running to feed the fabricator to make the parts needed to repair the ship and the now partially damaged drop ship.
Silence permeated for a moment as Jax finished his update.
"So, really nothing much has changed since we've started our journey." Nadira remarked sarcastically.
I had to agree.
Our long journey through the stars had been fraught with danger and moments we thought it was all over.
Looking back it must have been Rao's will that we made it through.
That and Dru's sheer tenacity to never give up on our dream.
Everytime we seemed to break, he found a way to stitch us back together.
Jax interrupted before anyone else could say anything.
"There is one more thing. The irradiated pieces of our planet that made it here with Kal-El the…" I saw him hesitate for a moment. "...the Kryptonite that you had Dev gather from around the world." He said towards Dru.
The General nodded his head for Jax to continue.
"I've had some time to look at it and it should be suitable as a power source. Quite potent actually. It would speed up our regeneration time quite a bit but I would need to make some modifications to the World Engine fusion generator to make it work."
"And why are we not doing that?" Gor asked.
"To make the parts I need the fabricator and…" Jax continued.
"And to run the fabricator we need power, more power at least." Gor said in obvious realization.
"And materials." Jax finished.
Silence permeated for another moment.
"Well, we at least have a foothold on Earth, a place we can start to build our base." Dev said thoughtfully. "So at least now we have time on our side, to breathe, re-asses and build right? So it's not all bad." He finished positively.
We all nodded in agreement.
I stole a glance Dru next to me and his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"And we will build!" Dru continued confidently. "Our grasp on the Koreans is almost complete. We will make this our home. We will succeed." He said resolutely.
And I believed him, we all did…we had to.
There was nothing else for us.
We needed the dream to keep us going.
We needed hope.
Scene Break
Cheo Kwan took a long silent drag of his cigarette.
The adrenaline hit and nicotine rush kept his mind clear and alert as his tired eyes scanned the documents.
The situation was dire but stable.
He blew the smoke out and in response heard a stifled cough.
His eyes drifted up to look at his son-in-law.
"Are you alright Lieutenant Colonel?" he asked.
He had promoted his son-in-law just as he himself had been promoted.
No more a mere general now.
He was Grand Marshall of all the military forces, whatever was left of them.
A consequence of his gamble, of his 'betrayal'.
"Yes sir." The man said, slightly embarrassed. "It's just the smoke sir. You shouldn't smoke so much sir. Your wife will be wrought with you and so will my wife."
His wife and eldest daughter were the least of his worries now.
There was too much to do and not enough time.
They had won the month-long conflict. The Great North Korea Civil war as the foreign media was calling it.
In truth it had taken another three months before they could reasonably say they had the situation under control.
"And it's really bad for your health." His son-in-law, Pak continued.
Lady Kim was now supreme leader, in name only, and still the General Secretary of the Workers Party of Korea.
Official and powerful titles just a few months ago under a different world, now without much teeth.
The titles having been stripped of the military ranks , officially the 'Grand Marshal' was now the highest military authority in the country.
Not that the civilian side was much better.
"If the alien's technology is as good as they say and they keep their word then I won't have to worry about cancer and neither will you." Kwan replied neutrally and looked back down at his papers.
Just like the military, all civilian organized structures had been thoroughly purged.
The People's Assembly, the State Affairs Commission the Standing committee and many others were now simply former shells of themselves.
A month to win militarily and then three more to finish the purges.
Not finished, not really, they were still ongoing. There was always someone else to purge.
It was downright frightening how quick the aliens moved, let alone how they knew which targets to purge.
Most ministries' leadership was simply gone.
The Ministry of State Security and secret police were fully rolled up under him. The Supreme Guard were utterly destroyed along with the Kim family members they were protecting.
It had been a blood bath.
"And if they aren't sir?" The Lieutenant Colonel asked.
The toll was over three hundred thousand between military and civilian deaths, disappearances, desertions and of course the purges.
But he knew how his country operated and likely the toll would climb higher closer to four hundred thousands or maybe even higher.
"If they aren't then I get to enjoy a few more pleasures before retribution comes."
His son-in-law swallowed tightly in silence.
He himself focused back on the reports.
With the unrest and destruction of organizational infrastructure soon things would start to unravel.
The reorganization of the whole government and military apparatus was no easy task.
Famine, well more famine would set in if the channels to collect and distribute food were not restored.
Which would lead to even more unrest and more deaths.
His train of thought was broken as he felt his son-in-law shift nervously in his seat.
"Is something the matter, Lt. Colonel?" he asked more sternly.
"No sir." Came the crisp reply though Kwan didn't believe him and gave him the appropriate look.
"Well sir. I was just wondering, Zod's plan…about…the…babies…will the others agree to it sir?"
Grand Marshall Cheo Kwan leaned back in his chair and took another long drag of his cigarette.
He let the silence sit for a moment and then blew the smoke out.
He had had no choice but to bring his secretary 'in' on the plan. While his son-in-law was generally good nature and entirely too soft he excelled at the mundane managerial parts of the job.
"Not all but most will. At least when they understand what it will mean for the future of himself and their families."
His 'comrades' that survived either by happenance or by his will, the ones that were going to rule this country,l were still being brought up to speed.
Naturally some took to the plans, others he bribed and negotiated with and other were or will be against the new direction of their country and people.
Those will end up purged.
"And if they don't have daughters to provide?" Lt. Colonel Pak asked.
Kwan understood where the man was coming from. So Pak and his daughter had only one son.
His only grandchild.
"Then they will get nieces, cousins or adopt girls and then raise to marry the halfbreed offspring back into their line. You will see people are more resourceful with this stuff when the future of their family is on the line."
Zod's plan was simple and absolutely crazy aside from the plethora of women he will need to revive the Kryptonian race Zod wanted all the new ruling families to provide daughters or women of their family for the program.
They would be the first to be artificially inseminated and give birth to kryptonian-korean hybrids.
He understood the reasoning in a very medieval and primal way.
These hybrids would then grow and take over positions of power in their new society.
They would create an entirely new class of people that will slowly take over the country.
It was a crazy plan but he understood it as the only way to really try to unite their people. To get both sides invested in the new society.
He himself had negotiated that for his comrades they would be allowed to choose whether they wanted boys or girls as Zod had planned for there to be a ratio of thirty percent boys and seventy percent girls for all the hybrids.
That would instead be left for the common breeding program.
"I see." the Lt. Cologne replied in silence.
"I know you're worried." Kwan said. "But as long as I am Grand Marshall I will ensure suitable mariages and positions for all my grandchildren. And if we are lucky Nari will agree to have more than one child, perhaps a girl we could pair with little Geon."
Nari was his third and youngest daughter.
His dream of a son was only realized with his grandchild Geon.
And now his little Nari, a woman grown, would have to carry the burden for the whole family.
The deal with Zod had been that his little Nari gets a son.
A son who would then marry the next Supreme Lady, the daughter of Lady Kim and General Zod.
A hybrid princess in all but name.
But while his line would forever be part of the ruling dynasty his grandsons would never truly be Supreme Leaders.
Not in the first few generations at least.
It was the part that Lady Kim negotiated with them as part of her cooperation.
She would only have daughters, so as not to cause a succession crisis but it would be her daughter who would become Supreme Leader and hold real power and then it would be her granddaughter and so on so forth.
Korea would only ever have a Supreme Mother, only a woman at the helm, never a son.
"And if you are not Grand Marshall anymore?" He asked.
Kwan took another drag of the cigarette.
"Then I hope you are smart enough to take the family and flee the country." He said as a matter of fact.
"Now bring me the reports from the northern regions and the candidates for Finance Ministry."
The keys to the kingdom still needed to handed out.
Chapter End
AN: Hopefully I was able to convincingly convey that the Kryptonians while having advanced technology are not all powerful. As well Zod(SI) needs to play both his fellow Kryptonians and Earth people to make sure everyone stay alive.
Let me know what you guys think about Zod's plan and what would be a good name Kryptonian name for the city Zod will build.
Thank you for reading and reviewing. Like ReplyReport Reactions:JerkRyanShadowWanker, Selias, Jarudazuigu and 252 others