6th April
04:18 GMT
Batman's eyes narrow at the holographic representation of the Cluster ship as it opens its primary docking bay, releasing three craft.
"Where are they going?"
I know that I don't need sleep and that Manga Khan and I are part of the same organisation, but that doesn't actually mean that I have any insight that I couldn't share in five minutes. And yet since he arrived I've been more in demand than ever. Are people seriously only just waking up to the idea that the rest of the universe exists? I'd say 'no', but…
I look over to John Stewart, who raises his eyebrows.
"He's talking to
you."
"I'd have thought that the Green Lantern Corps' records on ClusterCorp would make you the expert.
"
"You're really not taking any responsibility for this, are you?"
"If he were a Green Lantern Sector Lantern and I was the Illustres of the Green Lantern Corps, I wouldn't have any responsibility for him outside of a war zone unless the Guardians gave it to me.
"
But
anyway, I turn and look through the Watchtower's hull towards the Cluster ship.
"Looks like… Someone on the surface radioed them and they're going to make a trade. Not something profitable; they're just doing it to build market confidence.
"
Kal-El frowns at me. "But the UN hasn't finished negotiating trade terms yet."
"Manga Khan will start caring about that the moment it impacts his bottom line. He has no intention of giving even lip service to any agreement that he isn't a party to and doesn't serve his interests. The fact that Earth doesn't have any space-based weapons means that the UN has no way of preventing him from landing where he wants and doing business with whomever he wants, with the possible exception that governments that want to do business with him might try and hide the fact.
"
King Orin's arms are firmly folded across his chest.
"Do you have any
helpful suggestions?"
"Those landers are pretty cheap and.. probably only crewed by dumb robots. Destroying them would send a clear message about territorial sovereignty, though that would imply to anyone watching that the Justice League are the rulers of Earth with total executive authority on the subject of foreign trade.
"
Lines appear on the holographic display as Batman tries to work out where the landers are going.
"Central Australia, East Africa and the South Pole."
Kal-El raises his eyebrows slightly.
"Not exactly bustling trade centers."
King Orin looks at me. I look at John.
"
Why are you trying to be so hands off with this?"
"Because this is Earth's first contact with an extra-terrestrial political entity and
I -may I remind you- have no legal authority to act. I have the
capacity to act-.
"
Kal-El nods. "But you don't want us to get off on the wrong foot."
"It's not that I'd
mind being made King of Earth…
" I frown.
"No, I would. I'm not even comfortable making a joke about it. But… You've been openly kryptonian for… What, fourteen years? If no one's got a plan for dealing with this sort of thing by now then it's trial-by-fire time because they've had
plenty of notice.
"
"The ship heading towards East Africa is most likely going to land on the disputed border between
Zambesia and Kahndaq."
"Is Zambesia still disputing it? Brave of them.
"
King Orin continues to be unimpressed. "Do you have any idea
why?"
"No one owns the South Pole, no one owns Bir Tawil and Central Australia is basically empty. I imagine that Manga Khan is going to claim that they're unowned, and as such that no government has the authority to restrict what happens there.
"
John looks at the holographic projection. "I think the Australian government might take issue with that."
Batman enlarges the image of the lander. "Are they armed?"
"I'd be armed if I had to deal with
Koalas all day.
"
"Are the
landers armed?"
"They're usually not, though the crew will be lightly armed.
"
He looks at King Orin. "Did the Security Council give you any indication of how they wanted us to handle this?"
"Nothing actionable. Not unless they attack somewhere. Until things change, the most we can do is monitor the Cluster ships and keep them informed. Orange Lantern."
"Aquaman.
"
"Go and talk to Manga Khan. Try and get a better idea of what he wants."
…
"Um.
"
His face hardens. "I don't care that he's not under your authority. You just need to have a conversation with him."
"Aquaman… Aside from the obvious conflict of interest, you don't… Actually have the authority to give me orders. I'm not-
" He grimaces.
"-a member of the Justice League, and I'm not one of your subjects. If you want me to do you a fav-?
"
"Orange Lantern." Batman turns to face me. "Go to the Cluster ship and talk to Manga Khan. Try and find out for certain exactly what he wants here."
"Certainly, sir.
" I raise my right index and middle fingers to my forehead.
"I'll let you know when I have something.
"
I vanish,
reappearing just behind the landers and facing the Cluster ship. It's big, but I've seen much bigger. And the design… The original design was for something like the Star Wars Trade Federation Lucrehulks, a ball-shaped central unit with additional units stuck on the outside as needed.
This abomination is the result of them deciding that it was cheaper and easier to just stick the balls together, especially given that their form of FTL doesn't require much in the way of structural stability.
But
still…
"Orange Lantern Illustres-
"
"Paul."
"-to Lord-Lantern Comic King. Please respond.
"
My ring.. glows, as if he was responding. But my ring doesn't show his face. Then the
roomba-like head of an L-series personal assistant robot appears.
"Lord-Lantern Comic King is currently engaged-"
"Manga Khan!"
"-in legitimate commercial activity, pursuant to-."
"I know you are. I've been told to do the laziest sort of corporate intelligence gathering and just ask you what you're planning.
"
"They want me to tell them what I'm planning?"
And suddenly I remember one of Lord-Lantern Comic King's most well-known personal attributes.
"Yes. I'm obliged to listen to him talk about it for as long as he likes.
"
"Let him on board! I will astound him with the brilliance of my business strategy!"
The robot's eye lights noticeably dim.
"You're shouting again, sir."
