She wondered for a moment whether a spacesuit was necessary, then reached out and materialized a respirator, handing it to him. "A respirator modeled after Korugar technology. It can handle the atmosphere of most regions in the universe."
General Swanwick touched the object that felt almost substantial, quietly marveling at it. "How do we get up there?"
"Wait for me to make a plane..." Thea gazed into the distance. The opposing ship didn't have space-restricting technology, so opening a portal would be the fastest way. However, she didn't want to expose that ability in front of so many people. To display her identity as an Earthling, she constructed an F-22 Raptor.
"Come, get in!" Thea waved to the black general.
"Does this thing have a weapons system?" General Swanwick was familiar with his own military's planes. He sat inside out of habit, touched around, and suddenly remembered a question.
"It's all imagined; it's all fake." Thea knew what these people were thinking and immediately dispelled his notion.
"Sit tight, we're departing." Someone had already opened the roof of this office—a layered mechanical structure claimed to be able to withstand medium-range missile attacks. Thea controlled the constructed plane, rising vertically. After reaching a thousand meters above the ground, she flew directly toward the moon.
Flying out of the atmosphere was quite an experience for the Secretary, but his emotions were soon replaced by deep fear. He forced himself to stay calm and asked, "The opponent won't attack first, will they?"
"They won't." Thea answered decisively. Actually, she didn't know either, but judging by her impression, Zod was a person with leadership bearing and caution. Since the two of them were obviously coming to talk, he wouldn't shut them out.
"Mr. Secretary, you truly have courage." Thea meant this sincerely. Seeing that they were getting closer and closer to the Kryptonian ship, General Swanwick actually calmed down. Back when he first got on the plane, his legs were shaking like noodles.
"At my age, no matter how bad it gets, I can't lose face in front of a little girl like you, hehe!" General Swanwick threw away the politician's disguise at this moment, revealing his true colors. He didn't have Thea's strength, nor did he know if Thea would care about him in a crisis. Abandoning all concerns, he only wanted to complete his mission. From certain angles, he could be considered a hero.
Thea chuckled twice but didn't speak, because they had already arrived at the side of the Kryptonian ship. The opponent didn't attack; instead, they opened a bay door, signaling them to enter.
This ship was truly not small. Thea piloted the plane into the bay before observing her surroundings. The Kryptonian civilization level was very high. If they hadn't courted death themselves, with their physical fitness and technological level, they would absolutely be an extremely strong force in the universe.
"Earthlings, what is your business?"
The one welcoming them—if it could be called that—was a woman wearing black mechanical armor. She wore some kind of translator, speaking in Earth's English.
Thea was pleased—she wouldn't have to do any translating. She was already preparing for the escape plan if negotiations broke down.
"I am General Swanwick. I represent the Earth's government. I want to see your leader!" Since communication was smooth, General Swanwick perked up. Waving his arm to match his tone, he revealed his determination and conviction.
The black-armored woman seemed to use some communication device to exchange a few words with the inside. "Wait here."
After speaking, she didn't leave. She stood there stiffly, staring straight at the two, especially Thea.
"What? Kryptonian, you want to spar?" Kryptonian genetic engineering technology was very advanced; Thea had planned to go inside and observe it properly. She hadn't expected the opponent to be so crafty—the leader preferred to come to the edge of the ship to meet them rather than letting them enter the internal area.
Thea was a little depressed and felt a bit angry being stared at unblinkingly by the black-armored woman.
"You are not Kal-El. Your ability is truly marvelous. This isn't a physical entity, is it?" The black-armored woman wasn't angry; she just looked curiously at the plane Thea had constructed.
"Rarely seen, hence strange..." Thea had just said a phrase when she was interrupted by another deep, muffled voice.
Accompanying the voice was a middle-aged strongman, 1.9 meters tall. The man had a very short beard, hard facial lines, and a majestic expression.
"Faora, that should be some kind of Construct. I heard there is a group of people in the universe calling themselves the Green Lantern Corps, but those people utilize green constructs. This fellow is yellow; there should be a connection between them."
The middle-aged strongman, General Zod, glanced at Thea's construct a few times and spoke with some uncertainty.
Thea gave a noncommittal response, leaving the conversation space to the two generals.
"What will it take for you to leave Earth?" General Swanwick's momentum was a bit low, but he mustered his courage to speak.
"Find Kal-El, and the Codex that was stolen back then." Zod was much calmer than him, as if stating a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him.
"What Codex?" General Swanwick didn't understand the term. He intuited that it should be some black technology valued by aliens, but Zod wasn't prepared to explain it to him. The black Secretary could only look at Thea.
Seeing his expression, Thea knew he was probably thinking in the wrong direction, so she could only explain, "It's about the same as our Human Genome Project map. Many alien planets have this thing."
Oh... Hearing "genome map," General Swanwick instantly lost interest.
Zod was originally puzzled why an Earthling knew about their "Codex," but hearing the second half of Thea's sentence—many alien planets have this—he realized something. He had been busy for thirty years modifying the ship and arming these subordinates, then came straight to Earth. He'd been completely cut off from outside information, and he indeed didn't know what was happening in the wider universe. Associating her with the Lantern Corps, Thea was automatically upgraded in his mind to a "knowledgeable and well-traveled" Earthling.
The two of them quietly let the matter of the Codex drop.
"If we hand over the person and the Codex to you, will you leave Earth?" This was what General Swanwick cared about most.
"I will leave as soon as I get the items. I swear by Rao." Zod said very seriously.
Swanwick again sought help from the "knowledgeable" Thea. The meaning in his eyes was clearly asking: Who is he talking about?
"Uh, that's the God they believe in..." Thea couldn't figure it out either. Were these Kryptonian Gods and Martian Gods real deities, or just figments of ordinary people's imagination, or simply The Presence's alternate accounts (smurfs)? She could only explain vaguely.
"You are very frank. As a soldier, you are worthy of respect. I agree to your conditions. You will get what you need."
After speaking, General Swanwick signaled to Thea: We're pretty much done talking, let's retreat quickly!
Thea had no objections. She could fight in space, but her strength wasn't as good as in planetary combat, and there was no benefit at all. She wasn't so bored as to take the blame for Superman. This mission was completed perfectly. General Swanwick consolidated his position in the Department of Defense, and Thea successfully connected with him. Amanda Waller and General Lane could stand aside next time.