by Addar Norton
Brisbane, often overshadowed by its flashier siblings, Sydney and Melbourne, was on the brink of a transformation. With World Expo 88 just around the corner, the city was about to step into the limelight — whether it was ready or not.
Maddie Chambers sat in a stuffy boardroom while her father, David Chambers, droned on about budgets and projections. He had insisted she be there, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why. Bored out of her mind, she thought, Bloody hell! I could be anywhere but here!
Glancing out the window at the clear blue skies, she daydreamed about transforming into Austar and leaping from the building to freedom. A deep sigh escaped her lips as reality set in. No way was she pulling that stunt in front of her old man. Resigned, she turned her attention to a newspaper lying on the table.
The front page featured her debut as Austar, detailing how she had thwarted a gang of crooks in a high-speed chase. Another article mentioned a mystery man in Sydney who had stopped a heist at a museum, while a third highlighted a heroine in Melbourne breaking up a drug deal. The Sydney hero called himself the Roo, and the Melbourne mystery woman went by Reef.
Interesting, she mused, a smirk creeping onto her face. And it’s damn well about time, too. Maddie had never wanted to be the only active super-hero in Australia; that kind of pressure was a recipe for disaster. Hesitant to make her debut, she had been especially wary with the Ranger fading from the headlines and the Tasmanian Devil off gallivanting in Europe with the Global Guardians.
As she continued reading, she stumbled upon a mention of an incident from a year ago when the original Green Lantern had taken down a lunatic mutant named Aurora in Western Australia. (*) The reporter had the gall to question why none of the new Australian heroes had stepped in to help, leaving it to an American to do the heavy lifting. Maybe it’s because we didn’t have our powers back then, you drongo! she thought, irritation bubbling up.
[(*) Editor’s note: See Green Lantern: Rumble Down Under.]
Suddenly, the building began to shake, and screams erupted around her. Maddie’s father ducked under the table, his face a mask of panic. Typical, she thought, rolling her eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of something outside. Rushing to the window, she gasped. A massive ship was hovering above the Brisbane central business district.
“Bloody hell! Now this is just wonderful,” Maddie whispered, her heart racing.
Without a second thought, she bolted for the stairs, knowing her father wouldn’t waste a moment worrying about her. He was too busy trying to save his own skin.
Upon reaching the roof, she looked up at the ship. “Mmmm… now that is one big ship!” she exclaimed. “If this wasn’t real, it would make for a great movie!”
With a determined leap, she jumped off the roof, her clothes transforming into her Austar costume midair. She soared toward the ship, circling it like a curious bird. To her surprise, it wasn’t doing anything — just hovering ominously. “Why does this happen to Australia every bloody time?” she muttered. “Is it not enough that we’ve had our fair share of alien nonsense, what with being cut off from the outside world?” (*)
[(*) Editor’s note: See Captain Comet’s Rehab Squad: Strange Visitors.]
Austar flew to what she assumed was the front of the ship and knocked on the door. “Knock, knock! Avon calling! Can I speak to the woman of the house?”
The door swung open, and a blast from an energy weapon shot out, sending her crashing back to the ground. She landed hard, creating a crater in the pavement.
“Ouch! Now that’s going to leave a mark!” Austar groaned, picking herself up. Thankfully, she was unscathed. Thank God for these powers of mine!
While the locals remained indoors, some brave souls cheered her on, urging her to fly back up and give those aliens a taste of Aussie grit.
“Wish it was that easy,” she replied, realising this might be a bit beyond her solo capabilities. But then an idea sparked. “Mmm… wonder if I can contact those other mystery men in Sydney and Melbourne. We could form a Justice League of Australia!” she pondered aloud. “Come to think of it, I bet they’re grappling with ships just like this over there.”
Meanwhile, the ship loomed ominously over the city, and news reports confirmed her suspicions — similar vessels were hovering over Sydney and Melbourne.
Australia was once again being targeted as an alien foothold on Earth, and neither Austar nor the people of Australia were about to take it lying down. “Time to rally the troops,” she declared, determination flooding her veins. “Let’s show these drongos what we’re made of!”
***
The Rocks in Sydney was a place steeped in history, where the echoes of the past mingled with the vibrant pulse of the present. It was here, not far from where Captain Cook first set foot on Australian soil and claimed it for the English Empire, that the first settlement had been established. Little did Cook know how far this sunburnt country would stretch, or how many stories would unfold within its borders. Among those stories was that of a young man named Danny Call, who had carved out his own niche in this historic district.
Currently, Danny hunched over a workbench in his underground lair, a cavern he had stumbled upon a few years back while exploring the area. This hidden gem beneath The Rocks was filled with remnants of the eighteenth century — old bottles, rusted tools, and even a few coins that had seen better days. It was a treasure trove of history, and judging by the dusty records he had unearthed in the city archives, the city itself seemed blissfully unaware of its existence. Danny had taken full advantage of this secret hideout, transforming it into his personal workshop and headquarters as the Roo, one of Australia’s newest crime-fighters.
Behind him, his dark red suit with a hood and a black jacket hung on the wall, a silent reminder of the hero he aspired to be. The television flickered in the corner, playing an old episode of Space Trek 2022, the familiar sounds of space battles and alien encounters filling the otherwise silent cavern. This welcome distraction kept boredom at bay as he tinkered with his equipment, adjusting gadgets and checking his gear.
Suddenly, the episode was interrupted by a news bulletin, the screen flashing with urgency. At first, Danny thought it was just another plot twist in the sci-fi series, featuring giant spaceships and intergalactic drama. But then he heard the names — Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne — and his heart sank. Those ships weren’t part of the show; they were real, and they were hovering ominously over three major Australian cities.
“Crikey!” Danny exclaimed, his eyes widening. “This is just what we need!” Quickly, he donned his Roo uniform, the fabric clinging to him like a second skin, and bolted out of the cavern. Emerging onto the bustling streets of Sydney, he looked up to see the massive ship silently hovering above, casting a shadow over the city.
“Well, this is bloody wonderful!” the Roo shouted, throwing his arms up in exasperation. “If it isn’t one thing, it’s another! Why do these aliens think Australia is a soft target? We’ve got enough on our plates without dealing with this rubbish!”
People gathered on the street, their faces a mix of awe and fear, eyes glued to the ship above. The murmurs of the crowd echoed his frustration. “What’s the go with these blokes?” one man grumbled, shaking his head. “Can’t they find somewhere else to invade? Like, I dunno, Mars?”
“Right?!” Danny chimed in, feeling a surge of camaraderie with the citizens. “You’d think they’d have better taste than to pick on us! We’ve got enough dodgy blokes of our own without adding bloody aliens to the mix!”
The Roo sensed the collective resolve in the air. The people of Australia were fed up — fed up with two-bit hoods and extraterrestrial invaders trying to take over their country. Surprisingly, the government seemed to be on the same page for once, but the pressing question remained: what could be done about it?
As he contemplated his next move, a thought struck him like a lightning bolt. He needed to contact Austar, the new hero from Brisbane, and Reef, the mystery woman from Melbourne. They had to band together, strategise, and show these aliens that Australia wasn’t just an easy target; it was a land of fierce fighters.
“Right, time to get cracking!” he declared, determination flooding his veins. He hurried back to his cavern, his mind racing with plans and possibilities. “Let’s see what we can do about this ship and give those aliens a proper welcome to Australia. They’re about to find out that we don’t take kindly to uninvited guests!”
With a grin on his face and a fire in his heart, the Roo set to work, ready to rally his fellow heroes and defend his homeland against whatever cosmic nonsense was headed their way.
***
The super-heroine known as Reef stood atop the tallest building in Melbourne, rain pouring down in sheets, as it often did in this unpredictable city. Watching the droplets dance on the pavement below, she knew full well that the rain would soon give way to the sweltering heat Melbourne was infamous for. It was just like this city to experience all four seasons in a single day — one minute, you were dodging raindrops, and the next, you were sweating like a pig under a blazing sun.
Today, however, the weather was the least of her worries. As she squinted into the gloomy sky, a massive ship floated ominously toward the city, settling above like a dark cloud ready to unleash a storm. Reef felt a sinking sensation in her gut. “They’re not here to borrow a cup of sugar, that’s for sure,” she muttered, her brow furrowing.
Judging the distance between her perch and the ship, Reef took a deep breath, her heart racing. With a powerful leap, she soared through the air, landing deftly on the hull of the alien vessel. The rain pelted her like tiny bullets, but she was used to it. Pulling open an air vent, she slipped inside, skimming through the ship’s dark, metallic belly.
No memory of her origins lingered in her mind — no recollection of where she came from or who she truly was. Reef’s first memory was from the last alien invasion in Australia, back in February of 1986, when Martians had decided to throw a party on Earth. (*) She had woken up just as she was now, with no past to anchor her.
[(*) Editor’s note: See Justice League of America: Between Sea and Sky, Chapter 2: War of the Worlds 1986.]
Talk about a rough start, she thought, shaking her head. Her skin felt strong, and her muscles were taut with power. She could leap great distances and had strength that surpassed that of normal humans. The name “Reef” had simply sounded good at the time, a nod to the ocean that surrounded her adopted home. One thing she did know, after spending over a year living in Melbourne, was that she had developed a deep affection for this country and its people. She had absorbed the culture and language like a sponge, and now she felt as Australian as a meat pie at the footy.
As Reef navigated through the ship’s labyrinthine air ducts, she was surprised that no one had discovered her yet. Maybe they thought no one would be foolish enough to attempt such a stunt. She made her way toward what she believed was the control room, peering through the grate of the air vents.
Movement caught her eye, along with voices. To her astonishment, they weren’t speaking in some strange alien dialect but in English, complete with thick Australian accents.
“Well, is it all done?” the first voice asked, sounding as casual as if they were discussing football scores.
“Yeah, mate, all done,” the second voice replied. “The ships are in place, and it seems the local hero in Brisbane is trying to make her mark on the ship.”
“Right, if our plans go ahead, the people of Australia will think it’s just another alien invasion,” the first voice said, dripping with smugness. “They’ll be like sheep to us, and the government will do anything we ask! So say I, Captain Thunderbolt!”
Bloody hell, this bloke is a few stubbies short of a carton! Reef thought, following them through the air vents, her mind racing.
Captain Thunderbolt and his mate entered a large room, and Reef peered through the grate, her heart pounding. In the centre stood a figure cloaked in shadows, but as he stepped into the light, she gasped. Bloody hell, he’s decked in armour! The suit looked oddly familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.
“Well?” the armoured man asked.
“Everything is in place,” Captain Thunderbolt answered, his voice brimming with excitement.
“Good. It’s time for us to take our revenge on the people and the government!” the armoured man announced, his voice booming with a mix of anger and zeal. “Over one hundred years ago, they called our ancestors criminals and strung them up. But now, we, the sons and daughters of those brave men, will have our revenge!”
“Call the dogs of war!” yelled Captain Thunderbolt, his enthusiasm infectious. “We are ready for battle!”
Reef’s mind raced. She had to escape and warn the government and the people. Remembering the other new heroes of Australia, Austar and the Roo, she realised she needed to contact them.
“Kelly! Sir, we are ready!” a voice called out in the darkness of the room, snapping her back to the present.
Suddenly, it hit her where she had seen a suit of armour like that before. Over the past year, she had spent countless hours visiting museums and reading Australian history to blend in as a citizen. She had seen armour similar to this on display at the State Library of Victoria. It was an updated version of Ned Kelly’s homemade suit of armour, the very same that he had worn during his infamous last stand against the police over a century ago. The thought of this idiot thinking himself a modern-day Ned Kelly made her roll her eyes. But that led to another pressing question: where the hell did they get these ships?
Navigating through the maze of air vents, Reef finally found her way outside, her heart pounding with urgency. She leaped back down to the building where she had started, landing gracefully on the rooftop. Without wasting a moment, she hurried down the staircase and burst onto the bustling streets of Melbourne, determined to figure out how to contact the other heroes of Australia.