- "There are five attack ships converging from the east. Citadel's defenses are being scanned and evaluated,"
- ―Kelex[src]
The Attack on the House of El Citadel was a confrontation between General Dru-Zod and Jor-El over the Growth Codex, which took place moments before the launch of Kal-El's starcraft, in which Jor-El was ultimately killed.
Background[]
- "Jor-El, by the authority of General Zod, surrender the Codex."
- ―Sword of Rao soldier to Jor-El[src]
With the birth of his son, Jor-El went to the Council of Five to gain access to the Growth Codex, in order to fuse it with his son's genetic material to ensure Krypton's survival in the face of the planet's impending destruction. However, after the council refused, the Sword of Rao led by General Dru-Zod stormed the Legislation Chamber to decree a planet-wide military coup, planning to assassinate the Council of Five in order to usher in a new Krypton.
At this, Zod attempted to recruit Jor-El into his alliance, but Jor-El refused upon learning that the degenerative bloodlines would be eliminated, claiming that he would honor the man Zod once was, but not the monster he had become. Upon hearing this, Zod ordered Jor-El's arrest, who was able to escape from Zod's custody with the help of his service droid Kelor and his war kite H'Raka. With no other options, Jor-El headed to the Genesis Chamber to steal the Codex, despite the fact that it meant committing a crime. Once he obtained it, Jor-El was pursued by a troop of the Sword of Rao to the House of El Citadel.
Attack[]
- "We've had a child, Zod, a boy child. Krypton's first natural birth in centuries. And he will be free... free to forge his own destiny.
Heresy!" - ―Jor-El and Dru-Zod[src]
Dru-Zod and the Sword of Rao arrive at the Citadel.
Upon arriving at House of El Citadel, Jor-El quickly encoded the Growth Codex into the genetic material of his son, Kal-El, whom he prepared to be sent on a starcraft to Earth, a planet populated by Humans and with a rich atmosphere for his cells. In the process, Kelex informed them that five enemy ships from the Sword of Rao were approaching the Citadel, causing Jor-El to quickly don Kryptonian Battle Armor to confront them. Soon, General Dru-Zod and his troops arrived at the Citadel, where he led an attack on the Citadel's gateway. There, Sub-Commander Faora-Ul notified Zod of the launch of a ship, and he ordered the platform to be hold.
Upon entering, Zod was reunited with Jor-El, who revealed that he had fathered a son through natural means and was free to choose his own destiny. Calling it heresy, Zod ordered his guards to destroy the ship, with Jor-El stopping them to save his son. Losing patience, Zod engaged Jor-El in combat. Despite being a skilled warrior, Zod was greatly outmatched by Jor-El, who stood his ground to mark his forehead. Defeated, Zod pleaded with Lara Lor-Van to abort the launch of the ship, but she ignored him, causing the ship to take off with her son, causing an enraged Zod to use a switchblade to kill Jor-El.
Dru-Zod and the Sword of Rao are arrested.
As Lara lay mourning over Jor-El's body, Zod asked her about the planet her son's ship was headed to. Lara, however, revealed that his name was Kal-El, who was out of his reach. As they left the Citadel, Zod ordered his troops to destroy the ship. However, at last minute, a Kryptonian Gunship appeared to destroy Zod's ships and arrest them, putting an end to his coup d'état.
Aftermath[]
- "General Zod, for the crimes of murder and high treason, the council has sentenced you and your fellow associates to 300 cycles of somatic reconditioning."
- ―Lor-Em to Dru-Zod[src]
The Sword of Rao is sentenced.
With Dru-Zod's troops massing at the House of El Citadel, the Council of Five regained control over Kandor, eventually arresting the Sword of Rao. During their judgment, the new High Eminence Lor-Em sentenced the entire Sword of Rao to 300 cycles of somatic reconditioning in the Phantom Zone for their crimes of murder and high treason. Furious, Zod declared that Kal-El would be found no matter where he was sent, before being cryogenically frozen and sent aboard the Black Zero along with the Sword of Rao.
Moments later, just as Jor-El had predicted, Krypton finally imploded, as Lara Lor-Van bid farewell to her husband and son. After four months of travel, Kal-El's pod was able to reach Earth, landing in rural Smallville, Kansas, where he was adopted by Martha and Jonathan Kent as Clark Kent.