Superman: The Animated Series (TV Series)

The Prometheon (1997)

Charles Napier: General Hardcastle

Quotes 

• Gen. Hardcastle : [about Superman]  He's an alien. He has no allegiance, no jurisdiction. I don't trust what I can't control, Hamilton. And I don't like what I can't trust.

• Gen. Hardcastle : Continue firing at will. We've got him on the ropes, boys. Hasn't moved an inch since we engaged him.

  Superman : It hasn't moved because it hasn't wanted to. It's soaking up the heat from the explosions.

  Gen. Hardcastle : Ready the NX missiles.

  Superman : Didn't you hear me? You're feeding it!

  Gen. Hardcastle : Alien, I listened to you and that crackpot Hamilton once before, and look where that got me. This time, we're doing it my way.

  [into his radio] 

  Gen. Hardcastle : Fire!

• Gen. Hardcastle : N-X gel, ten times hotter than napalm. We're gonna have us a down-home barbeque!

  Superman : [the monster roars angrily]  Better hold off on the marshmallows.

• Gen. Hardcastle : People, we're in a war. The stakes are high. If we lose, that asteroid will hit Metropolis in a matter of hours. Ten million lives will be wiped out instantly. And they'll be the fortunate ones. It's up to us to destroy it as we would any other enemy, utterly and completely. Any questions?

  [his soldiers chorus "no, sir"] 

  Gen. Hardcastle : [to Professor Hamilton]  Still think we need the alien?

  Prof. Hamilton : I'd feel a lot better. Can't understand how he missed liftoff.

  Gen. Hardcastle : It's no loss. The last thing this mission needs is your friend's grandstanding.

  Superman : [tapping on the cockpit window]  Sorry I'm late. Earthquake in Albania.

  Prof. Hamilton : We're just glad you could make it. I'll get you the explosives.

  [to Hardcastle] 

  Prof. Hamilton : We'll keep your team on standby.

• Superman : There, that was easy enough. I'm moving to the other side now.

  Gen. Hardcastle : Just get the job done, hero. And no showboating.

• Prof. Hamilton : What are you doing?

  Gen. Hardcastle : Detonating the charges.

  Prof. Hamilton : But Superman's out there.

  Gen. Hardcastle : Wasn't his party to begin with.

• Prof. Hamilton : There's no doubt about it. The creature was slightly warmer than the asteroid. And listen to this.

  Gen. Hardcastle : [hearing a steady thumping]  Heartbeats?

  Prof. Hamilton : That's my guess. There's also a transmitter within the rock. It's broadcasting some kind of binary code. I'll need some time to decipher it.

  Gen. Hardcastle : You'll have all the time you want... after the demolition.

  Prof. Hamilton : Are you crazy? That's a living thing out there.

  Gen. Hardcastle : A living alien. And it would die when it hits the Earth's atmosphere, anyway.

  Prof. Hamilton : In good conscience, you can't...

  Gen. Hardcastle : Jeopardize the lives of millions? You're absolutely right, Professor.

  Superman : Gentlemen, there may be another way. I might be able to push the asteroid into Earth's orbit.

  Prof. Hamilton : Yes. Even if it was a decaying orbit, it would buy us some time.

  Gen. Hardcastle : That's not my mission. I'm under orders to destroy that thing.

  Prof. Hamilton : Superman, if you can alter the trajectory by five degrees...