Hawkman #26

Synopsis

Hawkman and Hawkgirl are called home when the Thanagarian fleet in the Ilian quadrant falls, and when General Ariosto, head of the winged police force, addresses the assembled operatives, he announces that one of them is a traitor, who has leaked defense information through his Absorbascon. The Synaptic Flexometer reveals the traitor to be Katar Hol, who escapes with Shayera's help. Stalked, with Shayera in custody and the real traitor loose, Hawkman heads to subspace and Earth to determine who stole his Absorbascon. Meanwhile, Queen Elda of the Infinite Empire has ordered her man on Earth, Colonel Alpheus, to stop him. Hawkman had recently discovered the Egg of Harlin on Earth, which he believed to be a harmless relic, but which is actually a nullification device invented by the enemies of the Empire, and which had prevented its conquest of the Universe for three centuries. Katar escapes with the egg into hyperspace, although his ship is badly damaged and is attacked when he approaches his home. His ship is destroyed and Hawkman is wounded, but he still manages to get to headquarters, and gives the egg to Ariosto, which raises doubts in the general's mind whether he is truly a traitor. It becomes obvious that the test administrator, Colonel Oyama, is the true culprit, and Hawkgirl prevents the destruction of the egg, which is decoded, and halts the Empire's invasion. Katar and Shavera are finally cleared of all charges.