14532/Fire From The Heavens: Power and Glory

Fire From The Heavens: Power and Glory
Date of Scene:	16 May 2023
Location:	Isolated Planetoid, Space Sector 2426
Synopsis:	The Justice League and their allies face down Despero, seeking to put an end to the threat posed by The Third Eye and the Flame for good. Battling on a distant planetoid, the League confronts the alien despot in one last battle.
Cast of Characters:	Barry Allen, Monet St. Croix, Barbara Gordon, Audra Meridian, Hal Jordan, Clea, Zatanna Zatara, Clark Kent

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Barry Allen has posed:
So, after much plotting and planning the time has come at last to put an end to the threat of Despero. Perhaps just as important is removing the threat that the Flame of Py'tar and the possibility of the alien tyrant laying his hands on it once again represents. This time though, this time the battle will not be fought on the streets of Metropolis. No, the League and their allies have insured a different battleground. One far from Earth and devoid of innocent bystanders that the ruler of Kalanar can call upon with his formidable mind influencing powers.

The planetoid selected is not entirely barren and while there are indeed rocky plains, there are also little islands of alien vegetation scattered here and there, along with rocky outcroppings that offer up some cover. The sky is a rather brilliant shade of purple and the heavy cloud-cover mutes the light somewhat as well, lending a dream-like quality to the moon.

Of course, that could easily become a nightmare once Despero arrives.

The trip to the isolated planetoid goes off without a hitch and all indications are that Despero -- and his fleet -- have indeed taken the bait, streaming their way to capture the Flame of Py'tar and put an end to all resistance from the Justice League and their allies. Almost as soon as they have arrived planet-side Barry Allen -- The Flash -- springs into action and with the help of the others begins to assemble the teleportation device at speeds which are truly super. In short order their escape hatch is up and all systems indicate that it is a go so the speedster slows down at last, coming to a stop in front of the assembled heroes gathered to put an end to the threat of Despero once and for all.

"Everyone good with the plan? We keep the Flame away from Despero. I believe Zatana has agreed to continue to try and reach a break through in communicating with it. Despero can't get his hands on it, no matter what. From what I understand it is possessing the flame that allowed him to control the entire world of Kalanar. It will bolster his powers to absolutely ridiculous levels. If it looks like he's going to breakthrough, we use the teleporter to escape with the Flame," he says, glancing around slowly.

Hopefully everyone is on the same page. Up in space the crackle of dozens of hyperspace portals fill the area with electric discharges as a fleet of ships arrives.+scene/

Monet St. Croix has posed:
The group arrives and Monet St. Croix is quick to look up and around at space. She has been into space before, on ships.. But never to another planet. Never seen things of such scale. She was part of nothing when the Shi'Ar attacked, during any of the alien invasions.. So upon this, as the group arrives and is face to face with dozens of hyperspace portals opening, she has to disguise the partof her that would look up in awe. Now is not the time, she's not going to gaze like some sort of star struck teenager. She has standards. And they have far more important things to deal with now beyond those things of her fascination.

She goes to quickly rise up and over into the air, going to extend her telepathy. She goes to use it to act as a forward recon - trying to extend it as far as she can to try and get an idea of what they're up against in the immedaite area. They'll have to work quickly after all. And that means she has to give them as much forewarning as she can.

To at least give them a chance to intercept and fight back. Even if in a direct fight she's way out o fher league here.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Barbara Gordon has never left Earth's gravitational pull. She's never even been in orbit of Earth, let alone nowhere near it. But when the call for help came from the Justice League, who was spread a bit thin around their home planet, Batgirl responded.

Here and now, Babs is wearing her armored Batsuit, and has been helping with the creation of this teleportation device. If Babs is anything, she's a hell of a engineer, and tech.

Raising up to her feet after helping align some of the parts of the machine, Babs looks up to where the newly arrived can be seen above. "Great." She quietly says, with her cape and fiery red hair waving gently in the wind behind her shoulders. "This should be a Hell of a series of memories to take home."

If she ever gets home.

Audra Meridian has posed:
The scientist in her is sad that she's on a planet besides Earth and there's not really any time to nerd about it. Not with pressing matters like making sure their safety exit is working, and any other preparations needing to be made. Fortunately they have Flash's speed and Batgirl's ingenuity to help, because while she's got the basic tech knowhow herself Teleportation is still a little out of Windrose's field. She does make it easier to charge it up with electricity and be ready though. Zap zap zap.

Once the teleporter is finished she takes a device out of her belt and fiddles with it. The environment was earth-like, emphasis on the 'like', so she still needed to fine tune her equipment a little. She glances up, adjusting her goggles a bit, and stares at the sky for a moment. Then back to the device, making a few more adjustments while muttering something about hoping at least part of the cloud cover stays.

Hal Jordan has posed:
There was NO WAY Green Lantern was going to miss this.

Glowing with green energy with the ring of his namesake on his right hand, Hal was more than happy to join his fellow Leaguers in telling Despero where he can shove his evil plans. He takes an aerial approach, servin to assist Barry in putting together the machine with hard light constructs offering him the parts.

(Not that he really needed it, but a helping hand goes a long way).

"You got it, Flash. We won't let him get that Flame. Even if it ends up being the most dangerous game of Keep Away we ever play." This was one of a Green Lantern's priority duties: protect worlds. At least this time it's with friends.

Clea has posed:
Clea's found her way into this group of people. Given she's from another dimension entirely this doesn't bother her and space...she's fine here. The crown of fire that is usually unnoticeable on Earth blazes bright at the moment though and she's got a serious look on her usually serene face as she listens to the Flash talk over the points of things. She's floating in the air, which is normal for her. It's normal where she is from.

The alabastrine haired woman is dressed for combat as opposed to social. "I don't have any questions." she states with a dip of her head to Barry. She was there to help out. And that's what she intended to do!

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna had been among the ones that wanted the fight taken away from Earth. Their adversary had displayed no caution for the inhabitants of the City, proving themselves reckless with life.

One of the last to arrive. It is nusual for the mistress of magic to travel using a device, she steps through the teleporter in a 'space suit' of her own making. A silver outline encases her from head to toe, shimmering around the black skin-tight suit and knee-high boots she is wearing. No fishnets or tuxedos for this foray.

She carries precious cargo wrapped in enchantments to protect it and attached to her a by magical tether. The center of this fight; the Flame casts a warm flickering light from within its transparent orb. Presently, it floats at waist height.

Barry Allen has posed:
For some present it is undeniably a pretty unusual experience. They're definitely not in Kansas anymore and it's not like they have a ton of time to come to terms with that particular fact either. Nothing like being thrown right into the fire. Most of them have come face to face with Despero already. They've watched him stand up to everything the League could throw at him, watched him stare down Dr. Doom without fear, watched him match strength with Superman himself. They know the stakes. Of course, a few of them -- including the Flash himself -- have not had that pleasure. Oh well. No time like the present to get acquainted.

Their field of battle is chosen and prepared, their escape route in place -- just in case. Not that they want to make use of it naturally. Keeping Despero and his forces far away from Earth is definitely a priority at this point.

And on that front they've succeeded because there is a whole armada about to come crashing down on their heads. The fleet of Kalanorian ships that crackles into real space above the planet begins to descend, dropping rapidly into the atmosphere of the isolated planetoid. Those purple-tinted clouds roil and electric discharges flash across them, streaks of red lighting up the sky before the first of the alien warships breach that cloud-cover. Dozens of fightercraft take the lead, racing first towards those airborn heroes who are the first line of defense, but the heavier crafts are not far behind, an intimidating presence to be sure. Troop transports drop rapidly, already launching dozens of troops with jetpacks to fly out and begin to swoop down towards those more earth-bound heroes who surround the teleporter, blaster weapons beginning to glow and streaks of light leaping out to pepper the ground all around the League and their allies.

And there, in the center of the formation, there he is. Wrapped in a green bubble of power, the towering Kalanorian stands, purple skin, that fin stretching atop his head and the unmistakable third eye glowing with it's terrible power. Towing him to the field of battle is the mind-controlled Green Lantern he has enslaved -- Torquemada -- green cloak rippling around him as he drops, face unseen beneath the cowl of it. But the most powerful mystic who also bears a Green Lantern ring practically radiates magic to those sensitive to such things.

<< SURRENDER THE FLAME AND DESPERO WILL ALLOW YOU TO LIVE >> the powerful psychic voice practically screams in all of their minds as a beam of shear psychic force accompanies those words, tearing into the ground and sending up a rain of rocks that begins to fall all around them.

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark Kent was where he always was when the world was about to end. Explaining to others that he had to be excused, just because....

...this time it was extricating himself from a "reporter" thing, and moving to a private area to don his "work clothes"...cape, tights, and an unmistakeable "S" - a symbol of Hope.

With a flash, he was gone, heading to the skies above the city, knowing this was going to be a knock down, drag out fight.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
What's the point of mind control on an extremely willful being? It can only be done with brute power and it has to be constantly maintained. Any Lantern will struggle every single thought of the way. So all that means is that there has to just be the smallest lapse for them to fight free and get a moment to rally themselves.. At least in theory. Despero's mind control is strong and potent.
    <<If you can disorient his control on the Lantern.. I may be able to disrupt his hold>> Even now she's thoughtful. There's no need for her to keep up a battle link here - everyone is capable of it in their own way. Then she's going to call out in a taunt along at Despero over that she goes to boom and echo.
    <<All of us have better things to do tonight than die, abomination. Surrender now and we will give mercy. Because humanity has shown /extreme/ creativy when it comes to suffering. And we're more than happy to showcase it>> The taunt flies up and over towards Despero, and then M is going to blast along on the attack. She's not heading towards Despero.. But rathe rtowards the mind controlled Lantern.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
When the rocks and debris come raining down atop their heads, Batgirl's cape comes up to shield her from it all. When she lowers it, her green eyes peer out from within her Bat-cowl. She stares at the presence of the incoming forces in the sky. "This is what I get for skipping to the end of the season." Batgirl says in a dry bit of distracted humor as her grappling gun comes up, and out.

There comes a heavy burst of discharge from the gun, as it sends a wire up to a nearby cliffside of outcropped rocks. Batgirl launches herself up to them, and there-in she slips between the rocks in to shadow.

From said shadow, some of the equipment she brought with her begins to be deployed. Rapidly moving Bat-drones that whiz out of the rocks like a squadron of relatively small fightercraft. From the dark of the cliffside, Babs commands her drones from her wrist-mounted projector, the drones already scanning their potential new enemies to send to Babs all the information they can possibly get from the quickly approaching foes.

Audra Meridian has posed:
Windrose winces slightly at the mental bellowing, then holds up a finger in response to the claim of letting people live if they surrendered the flame. "If that was a true intent, you wouldn't of started a mass assault -before- saying it."

But of course Desparo didn't come alone, because what super villain ever does. "First though, we need to do something about these mosquitos buzzing about." She means you, jetpack troopers, but you're aliens you probably wouldn't get it. She's calling you annoying little bloodsuckers.

She engages her own ionic thrusters to veer away from the rocks being flung about, not letting it distract her from the other task at hand. It's simple really. If she can deal with these lesser swarms, the big hitters on the field can get a focus on the main target.

The projectors on her gauntlets engage as she lines up shots, each one firing with a powerful burst of air pressure to send clusters of frozen hailstones at the jetpack troops like icy shotgun blasts!

If nothing else this long wild ride has helped her learn to be more intuitive with what her technology can do, even with it's scaled limits.

Hal Jordan has posed:
Despero.

The Conqueror has come.

Hal Jordan looks up at the sky, the white film widening considerably when he sees who is puling the transport of the Kalanorian warlord. "Torquemada..." A shroud of green energy surrounds Green Lantern and he takes off into the sky right after Superman, matching the Kryptonian's speed. "He has a Lantern at his helm. We have to free him!" He calls to the Kryptonian.

His ring starts to glow with brilliant power, his Will shining through the darkness that Despero's mere presence gives. <<In the name of the Treaty of Oa and by the power invested in me by the Guardians of the Green Lantern Corps, surrender now and no harm will come to you. You are tresspassing on this planet and it's people. You will not be given a second warning.>>

Especially for the crime of mentally imprisoning another Green Lantern, an extremely difficult feat of itself.

"Come on...make my day." He mutters under his breath as numerous hard-light constructs of a fleet of F-18 fighter jets start to appear in the air, weapons fully trained on Despero's fleet, originating from the Power Ring on Hal's hand.

Clea has posed:
Clea's calm is something that she takes pride in, but when the action starts there is a shift in the demeanor of the woman. She's fierce in her retaliation against the incoming fleet. The Faltine is already in the air when they start raining down. Her movements are elegant as she conjures magical lines above them, turning the debris into non-lethal pieces.

She then changes her focus, her hands outstrech, her voice echoing as she calls on the ground itself to follow her commands, the woman brings up her fist and the dirt of the planet rises in kind to mimic her. The giant fists start to swat some of the fighters out of the sky with a force that makes the ground shake a little.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The moment the fleet appears overhead, the globe tethered to Zatanna disappears from view. It is still attached but no longer visible to the naked eye. Well, to most naked eyes. The owner of the Third Eye likely can track it with only little difficulty.

Next to Despero, she fears the enthralled Lantern the most at this point in the battle. The fighting is already in skillful hands. Her role will be to protect the Flame. Though, the mage has planned a diversion with Barry.

The 'space suit' she wears is ample protection from the rocks that pound the ground around them. Smiling without humor at St. Croix's taunts, she begins to chant an incantation that she has concocted since the last battle. Ribbons of occult light weave around her and float away on an ethereal wind - a magician's version of radar chaff scattering the most discerning magical eye. While around her, powerful bursts of ammunition are fired at the incoming enemy, and an armada of fighters appears in the sky.

Barry Allen has posed:
"This is it," Barry calls out as the first attacks start to land amongst them, laser blasts fired from the descending Drop-Troopers and the falling rocks and debris pelting them from Despero's all too physical psychic blasts. It's only the sheer amount that is much of a threat to -- arguably -- the Fastest Man Alive as he bursts into action, less than a blur as he moves amongst those that linger close to the teleporter, adjusting the positioning of those nearby so that neither lasers nor debris have much of a chance to find his allies. "Pick your targets and go to town," he urges. There's certainly no shortage to pick from.

That's the problem with entertainment these days. So much of it builds upon the previous episode. Miss one or two and it's easy to get lost! Those fighter craft swoop in towards Monet but find her racing past before they can draw a bead on her. Instead they find themselves engaged by Batgirl's drones, the buzzing little devices far smaller and more agile then the heavier space fighters. Laser blasts rip through the purple sky, each more then powerful enough to obliterate the drones. But they are so small and nimble compared to the fighters that the drones slip amongst them to deliver their own attacks, the first of those starships beginning to plummet towards the rocky plain below, smoke trailing from them.

While Batgirl has the starfighters preoccupied and flying in circles trying to take down the drones, Windrose turns her attention towards the Drop-Troopers that are pelting those below with laser blasts, their efforts frustrated by the blur that is the Flash. And while they try to draw a bead on the blurring shape that ensures that no one stands in the same place for more than a second or two, it leaves Audra free to line up the largest cluster of troopers, that blast of cold air sending them scattering, veering crazy-like through the air. More troubling for them, the barrage of hailstones play havoc with those jet packs and in short order the regimented drop is a scattered mish-mash of flying soldiers desperately trying to keep airborn at all.

The Green Lantern's declaration doesn't seem to be much of a deterrent. That's the problem with intergalactic space tyrants. They're not much of a respecter of galactic treaties. So while words might not be having an impact -- at least not on Despero, but is that a flicker of emotion on the concealed features of the mind-controlled Lantern and Sorcerer? -- a squadron of hard-light F-18s make much more of an impact as they begin to stream towards the larger battlecruisers that are just cresting through the purple-tinted cloud cover. Power beams of light begin to blast out from those cruisers, but for each green fighter jet taken out, two more seem to take their place.

Barry Allen has posed:
Of course both Barbara's drones and Hal's fighter jets have assistance as Clea is suddenly their amongst them, taking advantage of the distraction posed by the green energy constructs to begin ripping into the approaching dreadnaughts -- before they can begin to bombard the teleporter sight. The giant fist of dirt probides remarkably effective as well and another half-dozen fighters are soon plummetting from the air, wings smashed and engines clogged with debris.

Of course Clea isn't the only sorceress on the field of battle today -- an advantage even more important then normal given Despero's acess to his own magical assistance in this fight. The magical chaff begins to spread out across the rocky plain, obscuring those special senses that only a few present are blessed with. And potent enough to deter even the formidable power of the blazing third eye that lashes out at all of them. With the added firepower directed towards the fighters as well, increasingly the League and it's allies keeps the skies immediately overhead clear of threats.

And then there is Monet. If she intended to get the attention of Despero, she has definitely succeeded. Clearly he remembers her from their previous run-ins. Perhaps he recognizes her as a fellow psychic as well, and if she is not quite in his league, she has certainly made a nuisance of herself. << INSECT >> comes that overwhelming mental shout that seems to tear through even the most resilient mental shields. << YOU ARE NOTHING NEXT TO ME >> he proclaims as a giant hand of pure, invisible force slams into the flying mutant, bearing her rapidly back down towards the surface of the planetoid below.

But those words serve their purpose. The unbridled rage of Despero is definitely piqued. And maybe, just maybe his mental hold over Torquemada begins to fracture.

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman's job here was to run interference for the brains in the team to get the job done. Taking out the big guns, using his invulnerability as a "human" shield, and trying his best to keep everyone in the city safe from the invasion.

Fightercraft, and other space borne vessels fall to Superman and his heat vision. Next up was his fists, and punching through them without a loss of life. On both sides, if possible. That was when he felt the rays of mystical energy erupting from the captive of Despero, preventing Superman from rescuing the captive Green Lantern.

Then, Hal Jordan arrives. "Hal. Thank Rao! You are right, someone needs to get the Green Lantern out of Despero's grasp, so we can get to him. I feel a wave of mystical energy around him...do you know this Lantern?"

That was sent over JL communications, not just to Jordan. And others who were giving the frequency for coordination as well. "Anyone have any bright ideas? I'm open to suggestions."

Then. It went crazy.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
The hand goes to CRACK hard into M, and she goes tos lam down over to the ground with a loud -CRACK- as she's left an impact crater in it. She goes to slowly crawl her way out, agonizing by agonizing pull, until she is up and over in the groundo n her knees. She's in agony, but the rage is shielding her. She's had time to refine her powers, to work on her shielding, and she knows how he works. Such control and skill.. More than anyone she has encountered short of perhpas Jean or hte Professor.

But she does not give in, even as she goes to force hereslf up and on her feet. <<.. I..>> She takes an idea, taking the chittering, mad sounds of the Brood hive that she ha dsensed while in the Savage Land. The chaotic cacophony of endless noise that made up the hive. The desperation of thier awareness at having the Phoenix there. The sensation of thousands of beings chattering in total panic amplified without the guidance of a Queen.
    <<Have had..>> She goes to blast it out and over at Despero as she's unable to fly or do more than just hold herself up.
    <<OF YOU!>> She screams, even as she blasts ou tthat at all cries. She remembers the time-lost when she was but a parallel to Flamebird. She adds that to the telepathic hammer. Burning, screeching, flame haired daughter of Rao that had given her an afterimage.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
The role of the Bat-drones in this scenario is to scan the enemy ships, discover any possible way in to their computer systems, and try to slip in to those systems to disrupt them in anyway possible. Babs sets an AI coding language in to play, and the drones fan out moving in a wide pattern that has them avoiding the flight paths of the enemy ships while trying to lock on to specific ones to infiltrate their core computer brains. It's a 'zombie' take over of the enemy's craft's systems, from propulsion, to weapons, to defenses, each of the Bat-drones is doing its best to slip inside, and gum up the works...

Batgirl, meanwhile, has crouched down in the shadows of that small cave on the rockface of the cliff. She's opened the second case she brought with her, and is rapidly assembling something. Her hands slip metallic pieces together, twist tightening fasteners, and activate power supply switches...

What exactly is she doing?

Well that question is answered, when from the crevace on the cliffside, Batgirl steps out... with a massive shoulder-mounted RPG launcher hoisted up on her right shoulder. She aligns the targeting reticle with her green hued right eye pupil... she tracks one of the enemy duos of wingmen, and squeezes the trigger on the launcher.

What comes from said launcher is a burst of bright glowing blue-white flame that crackles in the air as it sizzles toward the enemies... It is a mixture of freezing power, and melting acidic explosive power... technology salvaged from both Mr. Freeze, and the Joker... combined in to a brand new weapon by Barbara's own 'mad scientist' ways of playing with the tech she steals off the fallen enemies of her Gotham City foes!

Audra Meridian has posed:
"In the short amount of time I've had dealing with psychics," Windrose replies to the question poised by the Man of Steel, and for anyone else listening to the coordination frequency, "is to not let him focus on one thing for a long period of time. Focus lets him compile his effort behind one specific act, and if he turns it towards mind controlling someone.."

She pauses a moment, watching the jetpacked drop troopers do more drop than trooping thanks to the hail blasts. Got to keep them scattered and not able to coordinate back into formation. Their strength is in numbers. But numbers are divisable.

Windrose shifts her manipulation slightly, increasing the wind force while drawing from the clouds overhead. She can't create new weather wholesale, but she can shift what is present in the environment. What she does is create a cluster of spiraling wind and cloud... and send it dropping down amonst the drop-troopers trying to get resituated, the rush of winds spinning outward from where she aimed it.

In short, she took the phrase 'bomb cyclone' and, while on a smaller scale, made it much more literal.

Hal Jordan has posed:
"Thank God, this guy's an ass. Hang in there, Lantern. I'm coming for you."

Hal promises as his hard light constructs keep multiplying: The F-18's keep getting blasted out of the air and like some hydra, two more take it's place. "Let's let him have it then!" Those constructs suddenly unleash numerous blasts of Willpower as vessels experience intense damage from the firepower. Hal even gives them the 'missiles' from the generated F-18's that...won't be pleasant if they hit.

"Superman! WOuldn't miss this for the world. I do. Green Lantern Torquemada. How Despero took control of him is beyond me. I bet you he's fighting like hell to get out of that control. He's one of the only Green Lanterns who can use magic. He's dangerous if he sicks him on us."

Bright ideas?

"Well, someone's gotta distract Despero while we lay waste to his fleet." He points at Audra. "What she said!" He remarks.



A blast strikes Hal in the side, but his ring protects him from damage as the energy that keeps him flying deflects the energy. "These guys are everywhere!"

No wonder Despero's been able to conquer so much.

With Monet dealing with Despero, or trying to distract him....Hal has an idea.

The jet's numbers grow ever fewer as he conentrates.

And a giant green train is falling towards Despero, with every intention to crush him with it! Or, more likely, to buy Monet some time to hit him /hard/.

Clea has posed:
Clea's trying to take on bigger combatants given she's able to take bigger amounts of physical damage and things. The Sorceress Supreme of the Dark Dimension switches up the earth battering fists to sending magical bolts of energy at the fighters that are contesting them and tries to keep the opposing force off of Zatanna and the others that are on the ground.

One of her bolts goes towards Despero, because that's the biggest threat on the field...or well, to her it is. The other might be if she explodes herself emotionally, but she's not expecting anyone to set her off like that. There's a grimace when Hal is hit, but she focuses on trying to keep up with the incoming drop soldiers and aircraft.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna winces as some of the psychic energy directed at St. Croix leaks across the battlefield. It is pure reflex on her part to throw a healing spell at the mutant woman. But she is perhaps too late. A psychic screech of monumental proportions reassures her of Monet's existence.

Around her, rock shatters and hail ricochets to the ground along with debris from the fighters. Dust devils dance on the plain, adding to the chaos. All too close for comfort.

With a wave of her hand, a purple line appears. She steps through it, teleporting away from the nexus of her chaff spell. Still, the occult chaff endures, giving her time to put the next step in her plan into play.

<Barry?>

<Want to play a version of hide and seek? Drop by when you can. And grab a few Flames.>>

It's a dangerous moment. The invisible orb shimmers back into existence and then multiplies. Soon, the mage is encircled by twenty exact copies of the Flame, each carrying its unique magical signature, waiting for Barry's fleet feet to scatter across the planetoid.

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman smiles at Hal's bravado. "Well my friend, I am right there with you. Distractions it is." He takes a page out of Audra's book, and tries to make sure Despero doesn't focus on any one...or anything.

"Keep it up everyone! Flash. Zatanna. Green Lantern. Monet. Team. (For those he didn't know). Do what you do best!"
Superman then launches himself into battle, doing what he did best.

Barry Allen has posed:
Thus far, the League and their allies have managed to keep Despero and their troops away from the teleporter. They have almost cleared the nearby skies of both fighters and Drop-Troopers though a number of the downed soldiers have begin to regroup and advance towards the device their enemies seem so determined to protect. And of course Zatanna has laid the groundwork for their next gambit as well. Things are going according to plan -- thus far. Now they just have to stand up to the sheer physical and mental domination of the alien overlord who continues to descend towards them as well.

While lasers are proving fairly ineffective at bringing down the drones that buzz and fly about under Batgirl's commands, the same can't be said for their hacking algorithims. Of, they might take a little longer then if they were pitted against more Earth-based technology, but increasingly the feweer and fewer fighters that fill the sky begin to simply drop towards the ground with no sign of external damage at all. Fear the revenge of the machines. Of course if that was not enough that deadly spray of freezing and acidic slush does a number of everything else flying nearby. Though it does draw the attention of a squad of Drop-Troopers who begin to sweep towards the cliff-facing, lasers lashing out all around the mouth of the cave that Barbara has taken shelter in.

While a number of the crashed troopers do not get up again, a large number of them do manage to make a controlled enough landing to stay in the fight -- though no longer having the advantage of being airborn. Still, it is not a small formation of them that begin scurrying across the alien landscape, advancing towards the teleporter -- and of course the true objective, the Flame of Py'tar that Zatanna has started to conceal. But once again their efforts to mass their firepower runs into a substantial obstacle in the form of Windrose. She still does very much have the advantage of being airborn and the air blasts that begin to pelt the downed Drop-Troopers scatters their formation again, sending a number of them flying while others see cover amidst the alien brush, the first beginnings of scattered laser fire launched Audra's way. But again, she has managed to foil those efforts to mass up and coordinate so the suppression barrage is a scattered thing.

Those green constructs continue to wreck havok amongst the heavier cruisers that continue to battle to take up position over the battlefield to better bring their powerful blaster cannons and missiles to play. But each time they are kept back, be it from the bursts of willpower coming from those green energy constructs, or Clea's sorcery or even the Man of Steel's heat vision ripping through the hull For now at least, the full might of Despero's naval armada is held at bay.

What remains of the battered starfighter squadrons try to form up, giving up their efforts to assault the teleporter site and instead racing higher, zeroing in on the Sorcerer Supreme of the Dark Dimension, laser fire beginning to fill the skies around her

Barry Allen has posed:


On the ground, Zatanna and the Flash continue to defend the teleporter site. The first line of defense is of course Superman, Green Lantern, Clea and Monet who keep the bulk of the fleet and Despero himself occupied. The next, Batgirl and Windrose who have foiled every effort at straffing the battlefield below. And now it's time for them to introduce their next line of defense -- misdirection. Barry flashes Zee a tight grin and under the cover of the mystic chaff laid out earlier he races towards her to pluck the illusionary duplicates of the Flame of Py'tar. << On it! >> the Flash agrees as they put their gambit into play. In seconds the Scarlet Speedster has raced all around the battlefield, littering it with those false duplicates, concealling the real Orb amidst dozens upon dozens of others, all designed to confuse and foil Despero's Third Eye.

In the skies above the planet, Despero is having a bad day. Things are not going at all like expected. The overwhelming force of the Kalanorian Armada is being held at bay. The heroes of Earth have proven surprisingly resilient and if he is able to shrug of their attacks, they refuse to give up under his own assaults as well. Between his own defenses and his enslaved Green LAntern, he is able to turn aside the attacks from Hal, Clark and Clea. But his progress is definitely stalled. Descending, he confronts Superman, Green Lantern and Clea head on, waves of telekinetic force lashing out in front of him with the slightest motion of his hand, lashing them with psychic knives that cut and stab and even bringing his sheer phusical might to bear as he pounds on the Man of Steel. For a moment it seems that he might actually break through.

And then that psychic scream hits. One problem with being a xenophobe, clearly Despero has never encountered the Brood before and Monet's psychic assault utilizing her experiences with that alien menace is surprisingly effective. His own mental defenses are breached and the alien tyrant roars in pain, hands ceasing their assault on Superman as he clutches at his head. He doesn't even see the following train that slams into him, the green glowing construct driving him down towards the surface of the planetoid to make a brand new and answering crater to Monet's own.

The psychic assault has another advantage -- one intended all along. With an audible, pained gasp Torquemada snaps free of the mental domination he has been under for the past several weeks. Sucking in a long breath, his expression haunted beneath that green cowl, he shudders. "Hal Jordan. You and your friends have saved me. Allow me to try and assist you in return," he says, voice growing colder even as some of that fire lights in those troubled eyes.

The sorcerous Green Lantern drops towards the planet in a rush, descending to crouch weakly by Zatanna. "I remember you. You guarded the Flame of Earth. I have learned much while Despero has made me his slave," he says, lips twisting in disdain -- all directed inward. "I'm sure you have realized that the Flame is sentient. It is the living embodiment of Kalanor itself. You must reach it. You must free it. But not here. It is too wealk away from KAlanor itself. But if this transport device can be returned, if you can travel there now and free Py'tar it can take back the gifts it has bestowed on Despero. It can strip him of the mental domination that holds an entire planet in his sway," he urges.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
And Monet goes to keep it up, with the howling and the screaming. <<You're PATHETIC. You're pathetic even by the standards of Earth. I can only imagine how you compare to the rest of the galaxy. You don't even rate the effort, no doubt.>> Monet goes to keep up with the taunting, even as she's still on her knees, trying to keep up the force on Despero as the others go to keep up hammering him and his forces. She braces one hand on her knee.

<<You mean NOTHING. I can think of so many above you>> Hit supervillains over in the ego. Monet goes to broadcast the cackling screams of the Shadow King when he was dancing with souls on the Astral Plane. She adds the flames of Firebird.
    The terror of the angels or demons that had invaded Earth a year ago. The powers of warping existence that beings like Franklin had. The burning ash that was the Phoenix. The hyper-focused entity that was Cable. To these Monet keeps on piling on. Each overwhelming sensation of being so small, so inconsequential.
    If this nothing of an Earth girl could readily throw so many things which completely outclassed him so readily, that could dismiss him even while she threw so many things a thim.. All she had to do was break his ego, break his focus..

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Another shoulder-mounted 'ice rocket' is fired from Batgirl's launcher, with the rocket twirling through the air of this far away alien world. Without waiting to see if her latest shot landed on its intended target, Batgirl drops the launcher on the ground at the edge of the cliff she's perched on, then takes two confident strides before she drops off of the cliff. Her cape flashes out on either sides of her, and the Batgirl soars through the air, rapidly descending toward some of the troops on the ground who have recovered and are closing in on their objective.

She lands right in amongst them, and does not hesitate a beat. Her hands come up, as she slams two EMP explosives on to the rigs of two of the enemy troops, before she detaches another tool from her belt.

Her 'groundhog' cannon that she aims at another, pulls the trigger, and launches a chain weapon at the soldier. It lashes out to attach to the soldier's armored chest, then launches its chain in to the ground to pull the victim down to the earth where it will try to hold them directly attached to the ground itself.

Batgirl marches onward, twisting the ammunition cylinder of the groundhog cannon as she pops in another round and prepares to fire again on yet another enemy target!

Audra Meridian has posed:
Normally Windrose would zip and zag to use her aerial mobility to avoid incoming fire. But she doesn't for two reasons: one being not wanting to loose track of the alien troops taking cover in the brush, and two not wanting to break their attention on her so they can bumrush Zatanna and (presumably) the real Flame.

So instead she sucks it up for the moment, ionizing her gauntlets and holding them up in a cross formation to shield her head and upper body from the laser shots. Sparks fly where energy collides with energy, leaving burn marks in the gauntlets' exteriors. That's going to be a bitch to clean off later. But sacrifices need be made in times of trial.

"Alright you alien scumballs..." Windrose partially lowers her arms afterwards, sparks still arcing about. The 'tron lines' in her suit start to glow more vibrantly in a blue-greenish hue that contrasts against the lavander and grey outfit almost ominously.
The light glints off her goggles in a way one would expect when someone is about to bring SCIENCE into the fight. In ways she wouldn't normally, because there would be civilians and collateral damage to worry about. On this far away uninhabited world? She can use it to her advantage and not hold back as much. "Here's a lesson on how wildfires are started!"

She releases the building current, sending a bolt of lightning forking towards the surface below! It doesn't really matter if actually hits one of the hiding troops.

Not when they're going to have to deal with the intense energy and heat igniting the very brush they tried to use as cover!

Hal Jordan has posed:
It was difficult.

This many constructs was no doubt going to eventually start seriously draining the Power Ring. But that doesn't stop Hal Jordan from giving his all to stop Despero's plot. Hitting those heavier cruisers, those constructs are going to continue their work as programmed by the Power Ring until they are all destroyed.

If they stop Despero, they stop the fleet.

THe timing of Monet's psychic attack overwhelms Despero completely and it allows Hal to SMASH him with the train construct until he makes a new crater in the ground. "Torquemada." Hal smiles brilliantly at his friend. "There was no world where we wouldn't. We'll take all the help we can get." He nods at Torque and he proceeds to fly down towards Despero.

"Round 2!"

He covers himself in brilliant green hard-light armor, akin to the one known as the Juggernaut, with every intention of cannonballing directly into the conqueror!

"Keep on that pressure!"

Clea has posed:
While Clea and the others are doing a good job of battling, the forces are something that could overwhelm if something happens and the tides shift. The woman with the white hair decides that this is a time where they can probably safely call on higher powers and things of that nature. Plus...she can use her reserves to fuel magics. Which for her is dangerous on Earth. With the other Lantern being freed it gives her little reason to not go all in.

It's still dangerous here given the energy drain that can happen to her.

She reaches out, calling on the powers to help in this endeavor as she speaks in her soft tone, drown out in the din of the fight, but heard by those she was reaching out to.

Clea's aura brightens the sky in an neon violet that covers her form in the flames that are from her people. She lets out a scream as she unleashes the power called upon on Despero and the fleet that he'd brought with him. Thankfully there was a safety net for her allies. They weren't going to be hurt and that is what mattered.

Or well, she hoped Hal was going to be unstoppable like the Juggernaut...

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The plan is a simple one. Confuse the enemy.

The Flash makes quick work of scattering copies across the plain. Distracted watching him flash from point to point, Zatanna is unprepared to find the ensorcelled Lantern crouched nearby. She steps back, realizing in a rush that he has broken free from his torment. She is glad for him.

"I did and do now!" she declares. "I have felt its life force ebb when it has been on Earth. Your words explain the mystery. Thank you." His explanation now confirm what the Justice League had suspected.

Explosions shake the ground under her feet as their Team's weapons unleash their full fury. Lightning sears, crackling across the sky against a backdrop of violet as the mage strides toward the transport device, her eyes narrowed in determination. She hates depending on technology without magical underpinnings but must trust the device to take her to Kalanor.

<<Barry. Come back and beam me up. Coordinates: Kalinor.>>

She cradles the Flame in her arms, talking to it, "We have never spoken, but I know you are a force for good, robbed from your birthright and enslaved. Let's go home."

Barry Allen has posed:
It's a good thing that they brought this fight to a deserted planetoid r ather then allowing Despero to lay seige to Metropolis once more. Even without the battlecruisers above laying waste to the ground with their battalion of weapons the rocky plains of this isolated moon have taken a beating. And while the tide may have turned in the heroes favor it won't be over until the alien tyrant is taken down once and for all.

That is something that might be closer to being accomplished then ever. With Despero's forces now decidedly seperated -- the battlecruisers pinned against those purple-tinted clouds and the Drop-Troopers in small, scattered groups on teh ground -- both are ripe to being dealt with. Those troopers are especially pinned between a rock and a hand place. Which one is Batgirl and which one is Windrose is up for debate, but what is not is the effectiveness of their tactics. Using cover, the troopers blast away at the tempting target a floating Windrose offers, but those shields hold -- enough anyways -- for the current to build up before unleashing in a string of electrical strikes that begin to rain down on those concealled positions. Clearly the plain is somewhat on the desolate side -- the rocky outcroppings and only scattered vegetation suggest the area doesn't get a ton of rain -- which means everything is so very dry. The lightning has hardly begun to fall before fires begin to race through the brush, sending the soldiers scrambling out into the open. Right into the waiting arms of Batgirl and that 'groundhog' cannon. In moments a dozen soldiers are pinned to the earth, struggling futilely against the ingenuity of Bat-Tech.

The glowing, emerald fighter jets continue to harass the rest of the powerful space armada above, holding them back, diving in front of each cannon burst or missile strike directed downward towards the surface. It gives them the time they need to try and deal with Despero before he can bring all his power to bear. And they're going to need it.

With Hal needing more and more energy for the battle with Despero, the skies could become fraught with danger once more all too soon. Fortunately Clea stands ready to take up the burden, And how. As the extra-dimensional Sorcerer Supreme chantsm the feel of released magics is likely enough that even not-practioners can feel it and the growing barrage from above is abruptly cutoff as true higher powers are called upon and intervene and the radiance emmenating from Clea drives back the Armada -- before turning downward towards the fallen space tyrant.

Barry Allen has posed:
For a moment there might be real hope that the combination of Monet's psychic assault and Hal's freight train to the head could be enough to take out the alien tyrant. But that hope is shattered rather quickly -- just like the energy construct that fills the crater where Despero landed. For a moemnt -- after the ground stops shaking -- there is stillness. Then fine, glowing lines begin to ripple out through that train engine before the hard light construct explodes entirely, a leaping space tyrant emerging from the energy shards with an inarticulate scream of pure rage. Already the scratches and cuts from the strike and the impact are healing, the trickle of blood slowing before vanishing entirely. That glowing third eye pulses and Despero searches out new threats.

He begins to cut a literal path through the battlefield, that glowing psychic blast proceeding him as he starts to stalk towards Monet -- looking very much intent on tearing her limb through limb. He does not shout anything intelligible now, even psychically, apparently too overwhelmed with rage to be coherent in the least. And he only pauses when the sense of dozens of Flames of Py'tar all around him pierces that haze of fury long enough to distract him. His progress stalls -- just as the armored up form of the Green Lantern slams into him right along with Clea's blast from above.

And again Despero finds himself under seige.

<< You got it >>. Ask and you shall receive. Barry prides himself on being pretty dependable and though the ground of the battlefiend is a torn up mess, he never breaks stride as he places the last of the illusionary duplicate Flames before racing back to base camp. He doesn't slow down, even as he arrives at the teleporter, beginning to reprogram it at incalculable speeds. << You're good to go >> he lets the League's Mistress of MAgic know, standing ready to bring her back.

And then both Zatanna -- and the real Flame of Py'tar -- are sent careening through space, hundreds of light years away to Kalinor itself, to the center of Despero's power and the home of Py'tar, living embodiment of the planet itself.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
There's a grunt over from Monet as she's sent flying backwards by psychic aftershock of her link being shattered as she falls flat on her back, stunned. Her nose is bleeding and she's blinded by blood going down her face from the overload. She's too disoriented to try and telepathically attack him now, or to even charge at him. She can barely pick outw here he is over on the battlefield. she can't link to one of the others to see what they see by their minds.. But.. Despero is at least still followable by the rage.

Monet is not particularly strong, in this battle of Kryptonians, of Lanterns, of Magic Users and those that speak to items of power to reassure it that thing will be okay. What she is..

She goes to launch herself in the direction of Despero, flying at slightly under Mach 3, leg going to kick back.. Presuming that his anatomy is -roughly- the same as a humanoid's.. She goes to try and hit him over right in what's called 'the crumplezone' for as much as she can, if she can.

What she is is a dirty fighter.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Batgirl's goal in this fight was to provide support. With things closing in ever more rapidly upon the teleporter, and the potential capture of that goal that the foes had come for, she's right there trying to help where she can. She's no heavy hitter like Hal Jordan, or this French woman that seems to be facing off with the General of this enemy army though.

What she does do, is end up near Barry at the teleportation controls. She looks over his shoulder as he works to reprogram it with that rapidity that only the Flash can work at.

"I hope you get the numbers in right. A fraction off kind of spells for significant levels of doom." She idly comments as her eyes look up to the action still unfolding.

Audra Meridian has posed:
"That's one way to tie down some loose ends," Windrose approves of Batgirl's 'groundhog' gadget as she comes to hover near the teleporter, which has gone from being their emergency exit to a pretty important pinion in the plan as Zatanna uses it to take the Flame home. "Now we gotta make sure no one else follows her." Especially the big pissed off psychic.

Hal Jordan has posed:
Hal Jordan-naut SMASHES into Despero hard enough to put him right back into the ground, assisted by the momentum and power of the Faltine flames that Clea unleashes. The armor releases and Hal floats right back up to the sky, looking towards where Zatanna had once been. << Good luck, Zatanna. >>

Now then...where was he? Oh right.

Despero.

"Want to make this 3 - 0?" He looks up, noticing that Clea is hoding the enemy at bay. A smile on his face. "Damn good work, Clea." A fist clenches and quad-form of gatling guns form over the crater Despero was pressed towards, intending to unleash a hailstorm of green energy bolts towards the monster!

"Come on...stay down..."

It's taking his focus. He has to give Despero some of his best or this is gonna go south /real/ quick. "Can you shut him down?!" He calls towards Monet. She did it once, at least hard enough to put him in pain. Can lightning strike twice?

Clea has posed:
Clea's still letting out the energy, but the drain is real. Her aim is to take out the Armada while the ground crew work on getting Despero downed...for this round at least. The white haired woman is starting to show signs of fatigue. There's blood starting to flow and her control is starting to slip.

Which was bad.

She brings her hands together and chants more, her energy flowing out through the wounds that she's sustained, "We've got this!" her voice booms out as another wave goes over the Armada. Trying to thin out the numbers for the allies below.

Because darkness was settling in and Clea wasn't going to be able to outrun it. She's even losing altitude as the final little wave of energy hits their enemies.

She keeps conscious as she lowers herself to the ground, but it's an unsteady sort of conscious that sees her shutting herself off from the others, so that she doesn't accidentally hurt anyone.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Suddenly the din of battle disappears. "It's an improvement over the Bifrost," Zatanna murmurs before dissolving into atoms.

Her senses return, sight, hearing, feeling - the sensation of weight in her arms. The Flame flares, too bright to look at, burning away its prison, liberating itself. It leaps into the air, hovering for an instant. A sound on the edge of perception rings through the air, shaking the ground. Zatanna senses deep happiness and wordless gratitude as the Flame dissipates, returning home.

After a deep breath and a squinted look up toward Kalanor's two suns, Zatanna dips her head, "You're welcome." A step back and she is at the transporter, which she fervently hopes is programmed to take her home.

"Here goes."

Barry Allen has posed:
Oh Gothamites. They're just so full of cheer. For the moment the teleporter remains secure, but keeping it so would be a big plus. At least if they want to be able to pull Zatanna back across the intervening light years. Not that it is quite as big a deal when there are a couple of Green LAnterns nearby. But Torquemada looks spent, weeks enslaved to the will of Despero leaving him kneeling on the ground, hardly able to lift his head. And while Hal still looks spritely enough, he's put out a pretty hefty amount of power too -- and will need to do more before the fight with Despero is through.

So, despite Batgirl's little ray of sunshine reminder of just how the smallest of miscalculations could send Zee ramming through a passing c omet, or burning in the core of a swarf star Barry only flashes a smile her way in return. "Thanks for the reminder. And for not mentioning it to Zatanna. She might have decided not to go afterall. It will be fine. I'm ninety-nine percent sure that I didn't make any typos. Well, maybe ninety-five percent." He's kidding right? Yeah, he's gotta be kidding. At least he seems unflapable as laser blasts and psychic beams of death tear into the ground all around them.

The Flash does grow a little more serious as Windrose soars over to join them and he turns his gaze out towards where the battle still rages, Despero alone for the moment, under assault by the ture heavyweights brought to bear in this fight. "They don't get near the teleporter," he agrees, seeming to almost vibrate in place despite otherwise seeming still.

The fight is on. But just how it will go is still open to debate. Clea has fantastical powers at her disposal -- but for the moment they remain split, keeping the fleet at bay with only the reserves turned against Desspero. The will of a Green Lantern is never to be underestimated, but Hal has had to draw rather extensively on the power reserves of his ring already. And Monet, Monet has taken a bit of a beating, there is no denying that. Though again and again she gets back up and comes back for more.

Stay down? That hardly seems likely. Past words, past anything but that inarticulate rage, the alien tyrant screams his defiance, the psychic imprint pounding at them, battering at their minds like an endless scream filled with the anger of an entire world. In an instant the purple-skinned brute is back on his feet. Despite towering over the rest of them, he moves so shockingly fast, rearing back and lashing out at Hal with a punch that would rock back Superman, a test for even that emerald construct armor. In a flash he is whirling, batting aside Monet's attempt to geld him. Indeed, it is only Clea's fading power, discharged in that last rush that prevents Despero from battering her senseless into the ground, driving him a few steps back.

Barry Allen has posed:
There is no visible sign, not on this distant, lonely planetoid. But back on Kalinor, in the temple that has been the heart of this cut-off world for the past decade since Despero rose to power, the air is infused with a bright, brilliant glow as Zatanna releases Py'tar from it's confinement. There are no words, no communication in the conventional sense. Just the feel of gratitude. And satisfaction. The Justice League's sorcerer will have a moment to bath in that comforting presence before the teleporter reaches out across all those light years, drawing her back. Just in time to see the aftermath reach through the cosmos.

It is like throwing on a light switch, illuminating a darkened room after months of being deserted. The soldiers on the ground -- the few still upright -- abruptly stop, most throwing away the weapons they hold in disgust. High above the battlefield, the formidable naval armada begins to pull away, withdrawing -- not because of Clea's power but because the decade-long hold that Despero has had on their minds has been well and truly broken at last.

And as for Despero? Those eyes go wide in shock and the brilliant glow of that Third Eye that marks him as unique amongst Kalanorians begins to fade. More, that eye begins to close entirely, fading away leaving his forehead unmarked. The cry that he lets out is no longer filled with runbridled rage, but instead of pain and loss and the hulking nine-foot giant begins to shrink down on himself, shrinking to something more human-like right before their eyes.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
M's charge over at Despero does little more than break her leg over in very painful ways - it does knock him back a couple centimeters! Maybe. That's likely due more to the Lantern, the magic, and everyone else dogpiling over on him. But still, her ego has been satiated at having made some sort of contribution. Though she has to float now rather than try and stand or walk. And she still can't see out of her eyes and tehre's too much disruption going on for her to so much as dare to try to pick things up telepathically.

Too much noise to use her ears - she has at best moderately enhanced senses. She's too disoriented and there's too much chaos for her to get anythingmore than Despero is screaming, and terrified. which is good. Though she's floating away from him more at speeds of a VW overloaded with hippies trying to go uphill than she is with any sort of finesse.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Batgirl's eyes leave the teleportation computer consoles to look over to Audra. They then glance down to the 'groundhog cannon' held in her right hand by its beefy grip. "It really packs a punch. One to the body, then once more when they hit the pavement." She says with a visible smirk that comes and goes rather swiftly.

Overhead, Batgirl's drone squadron buzzes in again, sweeping over the island battlefield as they swarm whats left over in the aftermath. Several of the drones were lost in the fighting up in the sky, though half the group still remains, flying in V-formation as they run on Batgirl's homemade AI systems.

Despero draws Batgirl's attention though, and she walks around the computer station to eye the villainous man from afair, her cape and hair flowing in the sharp winds off to her right side. She slowly shakes her head from side to side then, her gloved fingers tightening on the grip of that anti-troop anchor weapon.

"Assholes in Gotham, assholes across the universe. Some things seem to be consistent, sadly, in this case."

Audra Meridian has posed:
Audra Meridian visibly cringes as Desparo's screams go from unfathomable rage to distress over loss and depowering. The soldiers are abandoning their arms, the armada is backing off. "I think that means Z's field trip was a success--OH the fire!" There's not enough moisture to make rain so she has to settle for blowing dust over the blackened foliage to smother the flames. It's the same concept in the end. No oxygen to fuel it and it'll fizzle out.

Just because it's a distant uninhabited world is no excuse to leave a brushfire unregulated.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna steps into a scene of strange contrasts in time to hear Batgirl compare Despero to all universal assholes. (She doesn't disagree.) The sparse rocky landscape further devastated by a raging battle is peopled by their former enemies, weapons at their feet, looking around themselves dazed. She spies Barry lurking nearby and gives him a thumb's up.

"It worked." She holds her hands out in front of her. "The Flame is home and happy. And I came back with all my fingers and toes."

Hal Jordan has posed:
"Crap."

Is about all Hal can say as a very angry Despero is marching towards him and throwing a punch that could end the argument of the unstoppable force versus the immovable object. Hal /quickly/ makes a shield around himself before he's punched into oblivion, but the green armor *cracks* with the weight of the blow and sends Hal rolling onto the floor, cutting and tearing at suit and skin.

Hissing in pain as he pushes up to his knees as Despero cries out, he lifts his hand and clenches his fist and...stops.

He's without his power. He's living his darkest night. "Good job guys..."

Barry Allen has posed:
Look at that. They're even cleaning up after themselves.

The planet may indeed be deserted but there is certainly no reason to burn the place down. And there is also the question of what exactly that they will do with Despero now that the Flame of Py'tar has recalled all the gifts that it granted to him. They could of course turn him over to the Kalanorians and let them judge him, though it might not be the best idea to return him to the world where he seized power. Ore turn him over to the Lanterns and let him be imprisioned on Oa. Or perhaps their dealings with Faust have set a precident and it would be best to strand the former alien despot here, on this abandonned planetoid, capable of bearing and supporting life but devoid of anyone to hurt.

Something for them to decide before they head home.

Flashing a brief grin towards both Batgirl -- for the asshole comparison which, admittedly seems apt -- and Zatanna for returning with all of her various appendages intact, the Flash nods in agreement. "Did you have any doubts? It's just moving through space. It's not like I was sending you through time. Now that gets complicated," Barry says with a smile.

Over in the crater where they battled so recently, Despero kneels in the dirt, fingers idly playing over his own face, his forehead, feeling for that third eye that is no longer present. His powers gone. Silent tears stream down his face, his cries fading away. Hal's not wrong. His Darkest Night is not an inaccurate way to put it at all.

"So, the plan came together in the end afterall. Good job," Barry says, echoing the Green Lantern. There are injuries to be healed -- poor Monet -- and Torquemada and Clea look like they could sleep for a week. And the final fate of Despero still needs to be determined. But for now, the threat of the Third Eye and the Flame is dealt with.

The League and their allies stand triumphant once more.