A government toppled by civil war!
Refusing to accept Princess Undina as
the next ruler of Atlantis, the Non
people join the Separatist Alliance and
launch an all-out attack on the Anthros
Caught unprepared, the young
Princess and her Shinobi protectors are
quickly overwhelmed and forced to
retreat in the caves far below the
capital city, leaving Dimitri and
his allies to plan their next move….
Krakiota and Sharka were in the council room speaking to a hologram of Dimitri "And the young Princess, has she been captured?" "No, my lord. Unfortunately, she escaped capture and is hiding with what's left of the Shinobi and their army". Dimitri seemed indifferent to this news "Do not underestimate this girl, Sharka. She must not become a symbol for the Anthro people to rally behind". Sharka scoffed "This child is but a coward. She is no leader" "That is irrelevant. The whispering of her name can rekindle hope, and hope can spark a greater threat". Krakiota moved forward "Excuse me, Dimitri, but what of the prisoners?" "They are to be processed. Internment camps have been set up below the city. Gather the rabble there, then set them to work". Krakiota was bothered by this "Surely you do not mean all of them, the woman and children-" "Are to be sent as well. Is that understood?" "Yes, my lord". Dimitri stared at him before looking away "Sharka, I'm sending you reinforcements. Hold them in reserve and wait for the Republic next move" "As you wish, Dimitri".
In the caves the Shinobi, Striker and Undina were speaking to a hologram of Blaze and Merlin "We've lost contact with all clone troopers and Anthro soldiers. The Nons ambushed us. They were ready to attack long before the peace talks came to an end" Saline said. Blaze sighed "The situation is. We can reinforce your position with clones-" the hologram started glitching. "Master, please repeat. Are you sending reinforcements?" Saline said but the transmission broke. "Are they coming?" Undina asked, "I don't know. But they know our situation. They must know to send help". Shadow crossed his arms "Yeah, but it may take them a while to get here. We're gonna have to get ourselves to the surface and get off this rock" "I will not leave my people to die" Undina told him. Shadow sighed "With all due respect, Your Highness, if we stay, we all die". Tikal nodded in agreement "We must reach the surface and see if our ship is still there" "The Princess will decide our course of action" Striker said defensively. Undina thought for a moment and then "I think it is best for us to try and escape using your ship". Shadow nodded "As you wish, Your Highness. Follow me".
The rest of the Council were in the war room "It'll take us days to outfit another clone regiment for underwater combat" Merlin said, "Days our friends don't have" a hologram of Espio added. Blaze nodded "Perhaps we should look to armies other than clones to help our cause" "We'd need an underwater race that has a standing army and is close enough to send help quickly" Merlin said. Espio pondered "Albion" "Yes. We must look to Meropis". Merlin nodded We shall contact them immediately".
The group were staring above them as badniks and Nons swam past "That's a lot of enemy troops between us and the surface" Tikal said. Shadow smirked "It's no problem. I just hope you're a fast swimmer" "Says the boy from the desert planet". Coral was behind them "Are you certain your ship is still there?" "There's only one way to find out". Saline nodded "I'll create a diversion so you can get past those patrols" "Alright, try to get a mini sub or two. It'll help us reach the surface" "No problem". Saline swam up without getting spotted and saw three Nons leading away clone prisoners on a mini sub. Saline used the Force to throw the Nons against the wall before throwing the mini sub down to the others "Amy, you're first. Take the Princess and Senator Coral" Shadow said. They grabbed onto the sub and raced upwards. Saline released the clones and handed them blasters as more Nons arrived. Saline ignited his lightsaber and grinned. The clones took out one on another mini sub and they threw it down to the others as well. This time Shadow, Tikal and Striker used it to follow Amy.
Sharka and Krakiota were waiting in the council room when a hologram of a manta ray appeared "Sir, the Shinobi have reappeared with the Princess. They are headed to the surface". Sharka scoffed "Predictable. Let them get within sight of their ship. I want them to watch their hope sink to the bottom of the sea".
Once both subs got close to the surface, they saw the outline of the ship. But once they got closer the ship suddenly blew up. They both had to move to avoid the debris when two Lancers appeared below them. Shadow ignited his lightsaber "Well, Princess, how do you feel about fighting again?" "Master Shinobi, we're too vulnerable here. We must reach the seafloor!". Shadow nodded "Grab onto the debris. Let it carry you to the bottom" they all did, allowing them to get past the Lancers.
Saline was still fighting but the clones around him were getting killed. He saw the debris and swam over to one Shadow was holding onto "Back so soon" "Yeah, the ship had some problems" "I can see that… all around me". Striker turned to them "This is our only chance. We need to split up and hide the Princess' whereabouts" "I'm not sure that's the best strategy". Undina climbed down the debris to them "I'm sure that Captain Striker's words are my own. It will give us the best chance of surviving if we split up". Shadow reluctantly nodded "As you wish. Amy, you, and the Princess go with Saline and take the clones. I'll take the Senators and Captain Striker. Lay low. Our only hope is that Master Blaze can send help in time". Striker shook his head "No, Princess Undina is our only hope" he said before following Shadow. Undina who nodded to the Senator before they all let go of the debris and swam in different directions. The Lancers lost track of them from all the debris
In Meropis King Puff was speaking to a hologram of Blaze "Master Blaze, Ma'am, to what do we owe the pleasure of your transmission?" "The Republic needs your help. Senator Tikal, your long-time ally, is trapped on an occupied planet". King Puff looked deep in thought "We will need some time to think about this news". Razor stood up "Thinking? What's there to think about? Tikal would have helped us. She has helped us. We have to move now!". King Puff stared at him causing Razor to clear his throat "Your Majesty" he said standing straight. King Puff then surprisingly smiled "We shall mobilize our army immediately" he said to Blaze
Saline's group were hiding in a cave "I don't think we've been followed. Commander Monk, post a lookout" he said to a pronghorn clone who led the others outside. Undina didn't look confident "We have no army, and we don't know if reinforcements are coming. What're our options?" "We sit tight. There's not much we can do". Monk returned "Sir, you'd better come see this". They went outside and saw Lancers and Nons leading away a large group of Anthro prisoners. Undina was shocked "So many. Where are they taking them?" "To become slaves" Saline said coldly. "I can't believe Krakiota and the Nons would agree to this" Undina said. Amy put her hand on her shoulder "Dimitri rules here for now, not the Nons" "What you see, Princess is the future of all the people of this world, Anthros and the Nons. All slaves for Dimitri and the Raiju".
Shadow's group were sneaking through the city which was filled with Kar-Leks "Captain Striker, which of these structures houses the city's interplanetary scanners?" "It's over there, across the square. Why?" "Well, just in case Master Blaze is sending reinforcements, I thought it'd be helpful if the enemy couldn't tell they were coming". Striker smirked "They won't see them until they're right on top of the city" "Assuming someone is coming" Coral said. Tikal looked optimistic "I'm sure Master Blaze will find a way to send help. Shadow, it's your move" "Follow me".
Undina was at the back of the cave with Amy "There must be something more I can do" "I know it's hard, but you have to be patient" "But you saw my people. I've failed them". Amy smiled "Remember Captain Striker's words: You are the hope of your people. As long as you live, they will endure" "I need an army. We have to fight back" "You don't have to carry a sword to be powerful. Some leaders' strength is inspiring greatness in others". Undina sighed "But my people don't even know I'm alive. How can I inspire them if they think I'm dead?".
Shadow's group made it to one of the supports for the structure. "Cover me" Shadow said before he closed his eyes and held out his hands, the supports began to shake. Three Lancers saw them, Striker and Coral fired on them, "Shadow, hurry!" Tikal yelled. Shadow tried to keep his concentration. Eventually the metal began to snap causing the structure to collapse and destroy the scanner. This distracted the lancers allowing our group to escape.
The Throne room went dark and Sharka looked around confused "What's happening? Report" he said to a Lancer, "We've lost all radar and sonar scanning, sir" "Re-establish connections" "We cannot, sir. The building that housed the radar is gone". Sharka pushed the Lancer in anger "We're blind! Prepare for an attack" "But there was nothing on the scope prior to the damage" Krakiota said. Sharka swam right up to him "That is precisely why we must assume an attack is immanent! Guards, to me!".
A battle started between Shadow's group and the Lancers when he saw that the Kar-Leks were descending "At least we're taking attention away from the Princess" Tikal said.
Undina was standing outside of the cave staring out at the prisoners being taken. She blew into a conch creating a loud noise causing the prisoners and guards to notice her "It's the Princess!" "She's alive!". Undina raised her right hand "People of Atlantis, all people who would not be slaves, have hope!" "We will fight for you, Princess!" "You won't be prisoners much longer!". Amy swam out of the cave "Okay, I think the show is over. The guards will be coming. We have to go". The Lancers fired on them, Saline and Amy gave Undina cover but they suddenly heard a noise above the surface of the water. They weren't able to look but suddenly the Lancers were destroyed by laser blasts. They looked up and saw an army of Meropis descending. Undina stared in amazement before joining the battle with the Shinobi and clones following her.
Shadow's group were surrounded but the Kar-Leks were suddenly scattering. They saw the Meropis swimming towards them throwing bombs at the Kar-Lek which were able to drive them off. They then saw Razor swim towards them "Guys! I'm glad you're okay" "Perfect timing, Razor" Shadow said. Razor looked confused "Sorry, give me a second. Ears haven't popped yet".
Krakiota was in the council room trying to work his commlink "Sharka! Sharka, come in". A hologram of Sharka appeared "The Republic reinforcements are overwhelming our defences. We must retreat, now!" "I warned you this attack was coming. Where are the Shinobi concentrating their attack?". An Egg Lancer moved forward before Krakiota could answer "There are two groups of Shinobi, one in the lower city centre and two releasing prisoners near the coral base". Sharka pondered "The prisoners? The Princess must be with them. I'm committing the reinforcements that Dimitri sent to the attack. She will not escape this time".
Undina and the Meropis were freeing the prisoners when assault craft descended on them and started to spin. They were all spun around in a world pool, but Amy pushed Undina to the centre "Stay in the centre. There's less turbulence". The doors of the craft opened and Sharka swam out right towards Undina. Amy saw them and quickly pushed Sharka away and got between the two of them. Sharka pressed a button on his belt before swimming out of the world pool. Five Lancers then appeared and fired on Amy. She tried to stop them but, in the distraction Sharka appeared behind Undina and dragged her out of the world pool. He was about to bite her throat, but Saline appeared and knocked him back.
Shadow's group were still fighting when another craft appeared and started a world pool. Shadow saw the Meropis getting thrown in every direction as well as Tikal. Shadow got to the centre and saw Striker "Shadow! We've got one chance!" they both helped each other swim up towards the craft.
Saline was fighting Sharka now without his lightsaber "Amy, get the Princess out of here!". Amy grabbed Undina and used a grappling hook to pool her out of the world pool and they swam as fast as they could. Saline dashed towards Sharka when dozens of Lancers appeared and surrounded him. Saline raised his hands in surrender.
Striker gave Shadow a boost and he used his lightsaber to sever one on the craft's legs. The craft began to explode allowing the Meropis to escape but Shadow, Tikal and the others were now surrounded by Lancers. He then saw Razor and Coral spinning past them both hugging each other in fear when they suddenly realized they were surrounded as well.
Amy was in the cave with Undina, she tried to comfort her, but she sighed "We're the only ones left" "I'm sorry, Undina" "I know what I have to do. I know my people need me. But I just don't know how to win this war". Amy took her hand "Look, I know you're scared, but you can't let fear control you" "Aren't you scared?" "I used to be, all the time, until I realized that if you make decisions out of fear, you're more likely to be wrong". Undina tried to hide her fear "I will unify Atlantis again. I promise" "W, Amy heard a noise getting closer "We have to go".