Breaking News

[lexcorp-media.livejournal.com]

We interrupt this program to bring you live coverage from the White House Rose Garden, where President Pete Ross has called an impromptu press gathering.

We go now live to the president's address.

"My fellow Americans," says the president. "As you know, I earlier today declared a national state of emergency. As we speak, the United States ... along with allies in the scientific and metahuman communities .. is battling to halt the spread a deadly virus ... a virus alleged to have been inflicted on the country by a metahuman terrorist. As we've done all day, we implore you to remain calm. We will find a solution to the threat that faces us today."

"But I understand that it's hard to have faith in the government so soon after President Luthor's abrupt resignation. The coutnry was already uneasy ... unsure of what would happen next. With that in mind, these dark days have made clear to me that there was only one man I could appoint as my vice president. A man who had already taken the point on the government's relief efforts in this time of need."

"That man is Jefferson Pierce. Jeff has already been acting as the point man between the White House, The Centers for Disease Control, FEMA and the Justice League, and with leaderhsip like his at the helm, I'm confident we'll be able to see through the storm." 

 

Time it was and what a time it was

[oracle-watching.livejournal.com]

Right now Oracle wants nothing more than to hail the Watchtower and talk to her husband, find out how their daughter is doing, find out when they can both come home. But she has to satisfy herself with occasionally glancing at the medical records as they're updated in the Watchtower sick bay. It's not enough. But it's all she has time for.

Emergency services dispatched to the STAR lab in upstate New Jersey. Doing what she can to pass along promising lines of data to the right researchers. Resisting the urge to flame a few thousand idiots to a crisp because they can't stop blogging about stupid stuff that doesn't matter even when there isn't a crisis going on. Every once in a while she permits herself a bite of the sandwiches Zinda has been making for her.

Then all of a sudden, emergency channels erupt. Department of Corrections--New Jersey, Louisiana, California. Federal, state, local--

Mayday, mayday, prison break--oh, God, please help us--they're everywhere--there was this monster--there were these things--Blackgate--Belle Reve--Alcatraz--they're heading for Arkham--for San Francisco--for us right now--is anyone receiving--been trying--been jammed--20 minutes--lifetime--they're laughing--screaming--shots fired.

Officer down, officer down!

Chicago lights up her inputs next: no prison break, but something going on. Magical? It doesn't make sense. She hates everything that doesn't make sense, which means she hates a lot of things right now.

She goes wideband:

"This is Oracle to JLA, JSA, Titans, all affiliated groups. We have multiple prison riots. Locations known to include Blackgate, Belle Reve, Alcatraz. Law enforcement communications jammed 20 minutes ago. Multiple metahuman fugitives, all locations. Reports still coming in--"

All villains are equal, but some are more equal than others

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Alcatraz was cracked open and the prisoners spilled free eagerly, but not everyone was spirited off the Rock. Some prisoners had only themselves to blame for that: they were too distracted by the chance to take revenge against the guards or the prison itself to grasp the larger freedom that awaited them across the Bay. As for the rest of the population....

A select few were taken directly to the mainland.

Many others were supplied with inflatable rafts equipped with small lightweight engines.

Some were given inflatable rafts and a set of oars.

Others, either through desperation or cunning, headed for the prison's own docks, where official motorboats awaited those able to overpower the guards.

The warden barricaded himself in his office and continued to sound the mayday, hoping that some help--any help--would arrive soon, before the Rock crumbled into the waters.

When sorrows come, they come not single spies...

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Blackgate is rioting.

The prisoners are managing to get out of the facility but more of them are staying - for the moment. The chance to turn the tables on their jailers is not often presented and many of them are taking advantage of the opportunity.

The standard alerts have been set out but what hope is there of a response when the heroes are fighting each other? What hope is there of response with all of the things that must surely be ccupying their time and their focus?

As the rioting prisoners of Blackgate spread and spill out of the building, there is a worry about those contained in Arkham. How long will it be until the join in the chaos? Those incarcerated in Arkham need little reason to attack their captors and some of them are all but precient in their ability to sense the mood of the city.

Most of Gotham City rests between these two attempts at oubilettes. Most of the time the city allows the high walls, fences and guards to lull them into a sense of security. Tonight, however, the city is afraid.

With good reason.