Sam Lane (UE-43)

"My job is to keep us safe, which means being prepared for any scenario, no matter how unlikely."

- General Sam Lane

Samuel "Sam" Lane is a retired four-star military general serving as the director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Lane is also the father of Lois and Lucy Lane, the father-in-law of Clark Kent and the grandfather of twins Jonathan and Jordan Kent.

For years, Lane neglected his family and focused on his job to protect his family until he discovered the truth of his son-in-law, who was in fact Superman. He then allied the Defense Threat Reduction Agency with Superman and had a close relationship with him, making him the first person to call when danger arrives. However, when his grandson unlocked his Kryptonian abilities, Lane switched his focus on his family and worked alongside them against Tal-Rho.

After defeating Rho, Lane retired from active duty but still assisted the family on matters regarding his replacement. When his replacement went rogue, Lane was once more brought back as the director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency under direct commands of General Hardcastle, leading the organization against Ally Allston.

Meeting Superman
At some point in the 2000s, Lane's daughter married Clark Kent and he was informed of Clark's identity as Superman, who he later worked closely with.

Nuclear Power Plant Attacks
In fall 2020, Lane was sent to the Elison Nuclear Power Plant to handle an explosion caused by an armored individual. Knowing the army is unable to handle the situation, Lane called Superman for help using his ELT. After throwing a block of ice from the ocean into the power plant, the situation was neutralized and Lane talked to Superman about his overtime working as vigilante and told him about bringing the grandkids to fishing.

Later that week, Lane arrived in Smallville shortly after Martha Kent's passing in order to attend her funeral. Lane also returned once more after the army discovered another attack on a nuclear power plant and sent Superman on the destination.

Grandsons
Lane soon visited the Kent family and questioned Clark's judgement in revealing his identity to the twins, reminding him about Jordan's mental health and how the secrets could worsen it. Lane soon returned to the DOD and was attacked by The Stranger, who demanded Lane to not trust Superman and gave him a keychain numbered 7734.

Days later, Lane arrived in Smallville and watched Jordan's first football match. The next day, Lane asked for Superman's oversight over Thaddeus Killgrave's prison transfer and he refused. In order to further understand his refusal, Lane decided to stay and briefly returned to monitor Killgrave's transfer. However, Killgrave had escape as Superman was missing due to him being occupied by the football match.

Lane later returned and talked to the twins about Kent having a double life, meaning sometimes he cannot be their father and Superman at the same time, telling them to consider when to ask for his help.

Due to the speech, Jordan and Jonathan did not call for their father's help when they were in danger. This caused Jordan to be slightly injured in the incident with Tag Harris, who was later searched by the DOD under Lane's orders. Later that night, the Kent family and Lane talked about the reason the twins did not call Kent, with the twins telling the truth and about Lane's speech. Lane explained about Harris' situation caused by a yellow phosphorescence in the mines when Jordan's heat vision started emerging. Kent told Lane about the twins being his top priority as he was banished from the residence.

Returned to the DOD, Lane held the keychain of 7734 and started planning Project 7734, a weapons designing project involving Kryptonite.

Hunt for Tag Harris
After Tag Harris' attack on Jordan, Lane and the DOD found him in Metropolis. Lane soon called Superman to the DOD. Lane later led a group of soldiers to guard the football match between the Crows and the Spartans.

Luckily, Lane and Superman were able to find Harris and sent in a squad of soldiers. Lane ordered them to shoot Harris with Kryptonite bullets and was prevented by Superman. Outraged, Superman questioned Lane's judgement in using Kryptonite against a child.

Abilities

 * Leadership: As a military general, Lane has been able to lead a large group of soldiers at once.
 * Marksmanship: Lane was trained with using standard firearms in the army.
 * Hand-to-Hand Combat: Lane is able to fight two Kryptonian-possessed Humans.

Current Equipment

 * ELT: Given by Superman, Lane is able to use the device in order to reach for Superman's help.

Former Equipment

 * Guns: Lane is able to use a firearm under the army's rules and trainings.
 * Keychain: Lane was given his doppelgänger's keychain with the numbers "7734" written on it by The Stranger. He then used the numbers to create a project focused on the research and weaponization of Kryptonite.