Located on the surface of Earth’s moon, the Watchtower serves as the base of operations for the Justice League. Imbued with alien technology derived from Mars, Krypton, Thanagar, New Genesis and Earth, the Watchtower allows the world’s greatest heroes to monitor activities on Earth.

Unfortunately for the two current occupants of the Watchtower—Steel and Green Lantern—the facility had come under the control of another. The alien being known as Brainiac. While Steel had attempted to access North Korean defense systems, Brainiac had taken the opportunity to enter the Watchtower’s systems and bend them to his will.

Steel pounded on the doors of the Monitor Womb with his sledgehammer, attempting to get through but with no effort. "He’s locked the doors," he said.

"Pounding won’t do any good, the promethium is nearly unbreakable," said Green Lantern.

Steel’s hammer collapsed into a miniature version of the weapon, which he stored beneath his red cape. He went to the computer systems and a small compartment on the back of his wrist slid open with his cybernetic command. A wire emerged, which Steel connected to the monitor’s computer systems.

"What are you doing?" asked Green Lantern.

"Trying to bypass Brainiac’s control over the computers," said Steel.

"And by doing that, you’re making yourself vulnerable to him."

"Don’t you think I know that?" asked Steel. "The important thing to remember is that Brainiac has access to North Korea’s defense computers, which means he was responsible for launching that missile. If he wanted to, he could launch the other missiles at any time. Or worse, gain access to other computer systems. And now he’s cut off all Watchtower communications, so we have no way of warning anyone on Earth. Trying to find a loophole in his program is the only hope we have of countering him."

A thought had just occurred to Steel. "Unless…" He looked at the Green Lantern.

"What?" asked Green Lantern.

"Your ring can do anything, right?" asked Steel.

"What’s your point?"

"Can it get you out of the Watchtower?"

"Promethium is unbreakable and even if it wasn’t, it’s far too dangerous to punch a hole through the Watchtower," said Green Lantern.

"Not through force," said Steel. "Can the ring teleport you out?"

"What?" asked Green Lantern.

Steel rephrased his question. "Can you use the ring to teleport?"

John Stewart looked at the ring on his finger. He shook his head. "I don’t know. I don’t think so."

"I thought these things are only limited by your imagination," said Steel.

Green Lantern thought about these words and then responded with, "you’re right. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t work…"

"I sense a ‘but’ coming," said Steel.

"I imagine it’d take a great deal of energy to warp time and space like that, so there’s no telling what the range is or where I’d end up or even how much power the ring would have left."

"You willing to take the risk?" asked Steel.

"You have to ask?" said Green Lantern. "I’ll try to get to Earth, see if I can warn Superman and prepare some kind of defense against Brainiac."

John Stewart concentrated on where he wanted to go. The power ring began to glow with its green light, and his eyes also began to glow with the same color. As he concentrated his willpower, he whispered the Green Lantern oath under his breath.

"In brightest day… in darkest light… no evil shall escape my sight… Let those who worship evil’s might beware my power… Green Lantern’s ligh—"

Before John could finish the chant, he vanished in a flash of green energy and when he rematerialized, he found himself right above Earth’s atmosphere, his body weak and he could barely generate a forcefield to protect himself from the environment as he plummeted from the heavens.

In Washington, D.C., the Secretary of Defense stepped onto the stage in the White House press room. As he came behind the podium, photographers began snapping pictures, including Jimmy Olsen. Clark Kent sat behind him, a digital voice recorder in his hand.

The recorder was more for show than anything else. Clark’s powers were not only physical—the Earth’s yellow sun also affected his brain to an extent, granting him a photographic memory.

"Good afternoon," said the Secretary. "As all of you know, a missile was launched from a North Korean silo early this morning, directed at America’s west coast. Thanks to the efforts of Superman, any potential catastrophe was averted. North Korea has issued a statement that the missile launch was unintentional. We’ve already spoken with the U.N. and the President, for now, believes that the best approach is to take things slowly. We are investigating the possibility of a glitch in North Korea’s systems and the U.N. stands completely behind us on whatever course of action we may choose. In addition, China and Russia have placed additional pressure on North Korea to get to the root of the problem quickly. I’ll take your questions now."

"Mr. Secretary, is it possible that this was intended as a first strike by the Koreans?"

"North Korea claims it has no intention to attack America. As of right now, we’re willing to accept either possibility."

"Mr. Secretary, has there been any response from Superman?"

"Both the Pentagon and the U.N. have made several efforts to contact the Justice League, but so far all our communications have been met with static."

Clark paused and thought about this. He knew John Stewart was on monitor duty, and Steel had told him he was going to the Watchtower to investigate North Korea’s claims. Why wouldn’t they be answering calls from Earth?

He tapped Jimmy on the shoulder and handed him the digital recorder. "Take over for me, I need to get some air," he whispered.

"You’re going now?" asked Jimmy.

"Don’t worry, you can handle this," said Clark. He made his way out of the press room, being careful not to cause too much of a scene. Once he was out, Clark found a secluded spot and activated his signal watch. He whispered into it, "Superman to Watchtower, come in."

The only response he got was static.

Clark pressed the signal button again and repeated his message, "Superman to Watchtower, come in."

Again, nothing but static.

"G.L.? Steel? Do you read me?"

Still, static. Clark sighed and adjusted his glasses. He left the building and circled around, finding cover in the shade. As he stepped out of sight, Clark removed his glasses and slid them into the breast pocket of his jacket. He removed his tie and unbuttoned his collar, speeding up his actions and pulling open his shirt to reveal the symbol of the House of El.

In the White House’s Oval Office, the President watched the Secretary of Defense’s press conference with the rest of his staff. They were still no closer to determining what had happened with North Korea, and that was when the phone rang. He answered it and when he heard what the speaker had to say, the color instantly drained from his face.

"Yes… I understand," he said. "Get on damage control immediately, see if there’s some way we can stop this."

He hung up the phone and the Vice President looked at him with concern. "What happened?"

The President rubbed his eyes. "One of our missiles was just launched at North Korea. Whatever caused their glitch seems to have spread to our systems as well."

Superman flew through the air, on a course for the Earth’s moon, hoping to reach the Watchtower. Before he had even reached the upper edges of Earth’s atmosphere, his hearing could pick up something else.

News reports. Another missile, this time launched from America towards North Korea.

Superman instantly switched his position and pushed himself forward, flying at his top speed. The scenery below him was a blur and soon he was moving at the speed of light, and the missile soon came into view. Superman pushed himself harder, and caught the missile by the tail. He held it sturdy as he flew towards the atmosphere. He hurled the missile out of the Earth’s atmosphere with all his strength and watch it fly harmlessly into space.

The Man of Steel turned back towards the moon and flew in that direction. As he began to circle the Earth, he saw something plummeting towards the ground. A green streak.

Superman followed the streak, and he focused on it with his telescopic vision. Once he could see what it was—or rather, who it was—he flew down and grabbed John Stewart. Superman flew to the top of a nearby building and set his teammate down.

John started coughing and slowly opened his eyes. "S-Superman?"

"What happened?" asked Superman.

"Teleported… from the Watchtower… used up all my energy…" muttered John.

"John, what’s going on? Why can’t anybody reach the Watchtower?"

"…Brainiac…"

Superman froze and his face turned pale. Brainiac was one of his most dangerous adversaries, simply for how resourceful the alien intelligence has proven himself in the past. Once, it took most of Earth’s heroes to stop him. And it didn’t take long for Superman to piece together the rest of the puzzle.

"He launched the missiles, didn’t he?" asked Superman.

The Green Lantern nodded. "Took over the Watchtower… Steel’s trapped…"

In the Watchtower’s Monitor Womb, Steel was busy trying to bypass Brainiac’s control over the facility’s computer systems. His attempts to break through had been met with nothing but resistance.

{{Your efforts are valiant but ultimately futile.}}

John Henry Irons tried to ignore Brainiac’s words. But as he continued, he found it harder to deny what Brainiac was telling him. He was hit with roadblock after roadblock. Nothing he did seemed to have any effect on the Watchtower’s systems.

"What did you do?" asked Steel. "How could you have corrupted such vast technology so easily?"

{{The answer is simple. I had help.}}

"Help? What kind of hel—"

Steel cut himself off as the revelation came to him. The code that flashed before his eyes confirmed his suspicions... and his fears. And if Brainiac had access to this kind of technology, then all was lost.

"It can't be..." muttered Steel. "How?"

{{That does not concern you.}}

Superman landed in front of the entry port to the Watchtower's hangar. It was the only way to get inside the Watchtower without the aid of teleportation units. He looked up at the vast expanse of the Watchtower and spoke with a firm, commanding tone.

"Brainiac, I know you're behind this. Let Steel go. It's me you want."

The monitor by the side of the hangar lit up, showing the three dots which served as Brainiac's symbol and they flashed as he spoke. {{Is it really, Kryptonian? What if you're wrong?}}

"You have me here, ready and willing to enter into your captivity, and you're going to pass on this chance?" asked Superman.

{{Actually yes, I would. But I believe what you'll find contained within to be too delicious to avoid.}}

The hangar bay opened and Brainiac's voice spoke again. {{Enter.}}

Superman hovered above the ground and moved inside the hangar. The bay door shut behind him. Brainiac's voice rang throughout the entire facility.

{{Your friend is located in the Monitor Womb. I believe you can find that on your own.}}

"I can," said Superman. "What's this all about, Brainiac? Why take over the Watchtower? Why launch those missiles?"

{{Observation, pure and simple.}}

"You launched the missiles just to see what would happen?" asked Superman.

{{Of course. How would America react if North Korea launched a missile? How would North Korea react if America launched one? It is a simple matter of observing the destructive force of human nature.}}

"This isn't a game" said Superman. He stepped into the transport tube and it carried him to the Monitor Womb.

{{That's exactly what it is, Superman. A massive game of chess. And humanity serves as the pawns.}}

The tube opened and revealed the Monitor Womb. With Steel laying in the center of the room, his body limp. Superman zipped to his friend's side and listened for a heartbeat. It was there, not as strong as Superman would like, but Steel was okay. He quickly used his x-ray vision to examine Steel's body, but found nothing which would cause any lasting damage.

{{I didn't kill him, just gave him a simple shock when he tried to co-opt my system.}}

"Brainiac... he's different..." muttered Steel.

"Different how?" asked Superman.

"He's... using Kryptonian technology..."