The noisy crowd of reporters fell dead silent for a second, then erupted into even more frenzied questions.
"Mr. Luthor! General Zod said he would destroy Earth, and even the Pentagon is helpless! How can Vought guarantee our safety?!"
"Did you call this press conference to surrender to the aliens on humanity's behalf?!"
"Quiet!"
Lex Luthor sharply struck the microphone. The piercing electronic blast made everyone in the front rows instinctively cover their ears.
He surveyed the newly silent hall with satisfaction, a feverish gleam of ambition in his eyes.
"Surrender? That's a word for the weak! Years ago, Vought International foresaw that humanity wasn't alone in the universe. To prepare for today's so-called crisis, we took precautions long ago, secretly assembling a group of Supes with godlike power!"
He spread his arms like a fanatical cult leader preaching to the world, his voice reverberating in everyone's ears through the microphone:
"Aren't you all curious where Kal-El, the one who brought this deadly threat upon us, is hiding? I hereby formally announce to all humanity, and to that heap of scrap metal sitting in lunar orbit: tomorrow at noon, in Nevada's uninhabited Blackstone Desert, Vought International's Supes will appear on schedule, bringing Kal-El with them!"
His words hit the hall like a depth charge.
The camera flashes instantly reached a fever pitch, their brilliant light nearly merging into a dazzling sea.
"We will not back down, much less hand Earth's fate over to a band of alien thugs!"
Lex Luthor stared straight into the live broadcast camera at the center.
"Vought International hereby formally extends an invitation of the highest level to media outlets worldwide! Bring your finest cameras and your most reliable satellite broadcast trucks to the Blackstone Desert tomorrow! We will broadcast live to the entire universe as