On the far side of the moon, eternal darkness and deathly silence shrouded the craters.
Without warning, a spatial rift tore open in the void.
Dark red light surged wildly within the rift.
Five hundred grotesquely shaped warships, resembling deep-sea predators, burst out of warp space.
They settled steadily into synchronous orbit around the moon.
This was the Advance Reconnaissance Fleet of Apokolips.
On the flagship's bridge, a four-armed Parademon commander stared at the images of Earth relayed to the main screen.
The glaring green canopy stretching across all of North America made all four of his eyes narrow.
"What is that?"
"Reporting, sir," the adjutant beside him answered.
"According to our database comparison, that is the energy signature of the Green Lantern Corps."
"The Green Lantern Corps?" The commander gave a contemptuous snort.
"A bunch of flies throwing their weight around with rings."
"They dare interfere with Apokolips's conquest?"
He waved one of his arms.
"Ignore that green light."
"Execute Plan B. Deploy the 'Annihilation Seeds' on the far side of the moon immediately."
"Before the main fleet arrives, I want the great Lord Darkseid to see this planet's defensive shield cracked like an eggshell."
"Yes, sir!"
The five hundred raider ships immediately scattered into a vast ring formation, completely encircling the far side of the moon.
Hatches opened on the undersides of the warships, and enormous metal cylinders engraved with intricate Apokoliptian runes were dropped onto the lunar surface.
These metal cylinders were the "Annihilation Seeds."
Once their array was fully deployed on the lunar surface, they could draw upon the energy of the moon's core.
Together, they would form an Antimatter Annihilation Cannon capable of shattering a planetary defensive shield with a single shot.
In the One God Temple, upon the throne.
"Master."
Luthor's voice came