The Plains of Themyscira - A Week Later
Hippolyta stood at the head of the largest Amazon formation ever assembled since they had isolated themselves on the island. Two thousand warriors stood in row after row behind her. Some were sporting spears and shields, while others donned bows and arrows. There was also a small cavalry division that was currently placed at the back of the formation, awaiting orders of where to flank and when.
On her shoulders, Diana and Donna stared out at the grass and distant cliff. They were dressed in their ceremonial armor and clutching their shields tightly in their grips. Looks of both nervousness and excitement plastered on their faces beneath their helmets. This would be the first time either of them had participated in actual combat.
If Hippolyta had her way, they would have both been left behind in the palace. Surrounded by what remained of her elite guard while the rest marched with her to face the Spartan. But both of her daughters were strong-willed and stubborn. They refused to be coddled like children while their sisters rode off to war. Never mind that there were still eighteen thousand other sisters who would need their guidance should she fall. But Nubia had insisted they come and at least witness the fight.
The General had also been the reason behind this mass mobilization. It hadn't taken long for word of a missing huntress party to spread. At first, her people figured they had just gone out for a bit longer. It wasn't unusual, many hunting parties often decided to extend their hunts. Mainly because they felt they hadn't captured enough game.
But then a day became two and then three. Usually, someone would ride back to the city and let the guard know that the party would be out for a bit longer. This time, no rider came. By the fifth day, another group of huntresses took it upon themselves to investigate and report back. They had ridden out that morning and returned that evening, having found nothing but old horse tracks. Which ended near the forest just outside the Spartan's domain.
From there, things spiraled out of hand. Cries for a full investigation and even retribution rattled her halls. Hippolyta had tried and failed to quell these cries, not having the answers to the many questions her people had leveled at her. Such as, why there was a large cloud of smoke over the Spartan's territory a few days ago, or where did the huntresses' horses go?
Nubia had been the loudest of the voices among these cries and she couldn't allow herself to be seen going against her oldest friend. Especially for a stranger who called himself a Spartan. Her people would have rioted in the streets. So, she had mobilized part of their army. A too large part as some had argued, but after seeing the Spartan in action, Hippolyta didn't want to take any chances.
"The wind favors us this day, my Queen," Nubia observed behind her. "Our arrows will fly further than normal."
"Perhaps the gods favor us as well then," Hippolyta answered stoically. She then turned to face Nubia and the rest of her assembled Generals.
"Show me what you've planned." She ordered and Nubia bowed. Her General then led her and her daughters behind the ranks and into a small clearing in the center of their army.
Immediately, a map of the island was rolled out on a small table the army had brought with them. Diana and Donna followed along as the group peered down at the map. Nubia's hand shot out and slowly began to trace a small section of the forest where the Spartan lived.
"He's set himself up under what used to be a small hill, his craft embedded within its dirt and stone. Surrounding the hill is a small field, giving him a clear view up until the tree line," Nubia explained as she outlined the field.
"Our sisters shall advance as one through the trees and surround his craft. The front rank will be made up of our sisters carrying shields, who shall provide cover for our huntresses…. We will then bait the Spartan out by requesting his aid in locating our missing party. Once he exits the craft, Callisto will order our archers to fire once they have sighted the target."
"What if he doesn't exit his craft?" Donna asked. Nubia flashed her a predatory smirk.
"Then we will keep him surrounded until either a ram can be brought forward or we assemble enough horses to force open his craft. From there we seize his vessel." She explained.
"But we still do not know that he is responsible for the missing huntresses. Should we not at least try asking him?" Diana objected as she looked to each of her sisters in turn.
"We already have enough proof! The party's horses' footprints stopped outside of his forest. Which means the huntresses must have gone into the forest and never returned." Callisto snarled.
"But that does not mean that the Spartan is the one responsible!" Diana pointed out.
"Then where are their bodies, princess? Where are their horses, their weapons, their armor?" Another General, Evadne, retorted.
"Maybe wolves got to them and dragged them off. Or another pack of minotaurs have appeared on the island and dragged them away. But we cannot just assume that it was the Spartan!" Diana cried.
"Quiet!" Hippolyta ordered the table. She then turned her head to face Diana. "I understand your reasonings, daughter. But the facts are clear. The group went into the forest and never returned. The only thing we know of to be a threat in the forest is the Spartan. It has also been a week and there have been no sightings of any wolves or other beasts on the island. Which only leaves the Spartan as the responsible party."
"But, mother." Diana started.
"Be silent, daughter," Hippolyta ordered with narrowed eyes.
The table went silent as they watched the stare down between the mother and daughter. A silent battle of wills raging between the duo, and it would have gone on longer had one of their sisters not run up to the table.
"Your Highness! Generals!" She cried as she slid to a stop before them.
"Calm yourself, soldier!" Nubia ordered, the woman straightening under her gaze.
"Apologies, General." The soldier panted. "But our soldiers have spotted something."
Instantly, the group of Generals and royals tensed, wordlessly signaling the soldier to lead them to whatever their warriors had spotted. She turned and ushered them through the lines, heading straight back to the head of their army.
Hippolyta and her Generals re-emerged at the head of their army. But the previously clear grass plain had changed. Now, there was a large, dark figure standing in the middle of its emptiness. Her Generals and daughters spread themselves out behind her as each of them noticed their new visitor.
"Soldier! Where did he come from?!" Nubia snarled at her warrior.
"I…. I don't know, General! He just appeared there a few minutes ago! The sentries never saw his approach!" The soldier stammered slightly.
Nubia growled lowly as she turned back to the Spartan.
Suddenly, something else phased into being halfway between the Spartan and their army. From her current position, Hippolyta thought it to be some sort of silver crate. Barely exceeding two feet in height. The voice of the Spartan's construct rang out.
"Send out two of your warriors to collect the package!" She ordered.
Nubia strode up to her side and glared out at the package and the man beyond.
"What are your orders, my Queen?" She asked.
"Do as she says," Hippolyta ordered without breaking her gaze from the Spartan.
Nubia turned and yelled out to their ranks. Ordering two random spearwomen forward and toward the crate. Without hesitation, the two women began to make their way into the plain between them, each step cautious and watching for movement from the Spartan. But he seemed to be ignoring them, his golden visage locked on the Queen and her Generals. In his hands, he was holding a gray box of some sort. It was both longer and bulkier than the previous black box he had when he had first interacted with them. It also had a yellow line along the back of the centermost box.
Her two warriors came to a stop a few feet away from the silver crate, one of them reaching out with their spear to poke at it. Checking to see if it were some sort of trap.
"Please do not poke the Urns with your spears." The construct admonished, "I assure you, there is no trap or trick. We are simply returning what is yours… Deliver the crate and the file on top back to your Queen and Generals."
The two warriors shared a quick look before both turning back to Nubia and the Queen, silently requesting further orders. Nubia shot Hippolyta a quick glance, but her Queen stayed as stiff as a statue. Making no effort to give her any sort of direction. So, she nodded for her two soldiers to bring them the crate.
They moved to opposite ends of the crate and crouched, grabbing a pair of handles that were attached to the crate's sides. They then stood and began to make their way back to their army. The only sounds on the plain were the clanging of their armor and weapons as they moved.
Eventually, they returned to their sisters' ranks and lowered the crate slowly onto the ground. One of them then pulled free the black envelope that sat atop the box and made her way toward the Queen. Nubia stopped her a few feet away and held out her hand for the envelope. Her soldier handed over the envelope before saluting and returning to her position in the formation.
Nubia opened the envelope and felt the air rush out of her lungs. Inside the envelope were two sheets with photos of the missing huntress party, laid out in a three-by-five grid. Under each photo of a huntress sat a number, going from one to thirty. Nubia's gaze hardened as she passed the two sheets of paper to her Queen and looked across at the dark sentinel staring them down.
Hippolyta took the offered pages and quickly looked through them, her spine straightening as she recognized each of her missing sisters. The Spartan's construct spoke once more.
"Those pictures you're holding are of the thirty Amazons that attacked us last week. We do not know who they are, so we've assigned each of them a number to assist you in identifying them. Those numbers correspond to the numbers printed on each of the urns we have just provided you." She explained.
Hippolyta tore her gaze from the pages in her grip and snapped toward the crate the Spartan had just given them. Upon closer look, she could clearly see numbers imprinted on each of the metal urns they had just been given.
"In case it wasn't clear, those urns contain the remains of your sisters." The construct clarified.
Now that, had every single one of the warriors looking at the crate in a mix of rage and horror. If they weren't going to war before, they definitely were now. But strangely, even when faced with two thousand angry Amazons, the Spartan didn't even flinch. He just stood there, his gaze unwavering and still locked on their Queen.
"So! You mean to declare war then?!" She growled at the Spartan.
"It was your people who started this! But make no mistake, there will be no war!" The cold voice of the Spartan retorted.
"Surely you jest?! Can you not see the two thousand sisters who have marched out, seeking your blood, man?!" Nubia snarled.
"There will be no war because, if you attack, I'll turn this entire field to ash before doing the same to your palace, farms, and homes!" The Spartan explained.
"Liar!"
"Murderer!"
"Demon!"
Hippolyta's sisters cried, rattling their weapons and chomping at the bit to tear him to pieces. Even Diana and Donna appeared ready to join their sisters in battle, despite Diana's earlier protests.
Then, distantly, a low explosion was heard. Somewhere far beyond the tree line and in the forest. The explosion was followed by a streak of yellow rocketing into the air, trailed by a plume of grey smoke. This streak disappeared into the clouds above, but still, the Amazons could hear the growl of its engines. A sound that grew until the yellow streak returned once more, but only for a second. The world then went silent as all of the Amazons were thrown from their feet as the earth rocked and the sun disappeared. In its place was a large cloud of gray smoke, rock, and dust.
Hippolyta scrambled around on her hands and knees, searching for her two daughters she had lost in the cloud of the explosion. Her hands ran over something cold and metallic and pulled it towards her. Immediately, she was met by the sputtering form of Nubia, who was covered in dust. She appeared to cough as her hand came up to wipe her mouth, but Hippolyta heard no sound.
Hippolyta crawled out further, occasionally brushing against another of her Generals. But her efforts were eventually rewarded when she was able to cup Diana's face in her hands. Her daughter's eyes were blown wide, looking about in a dazed and confused state. But they then sharpened and she jerked upwards onto her elbows. She looked around at the surrounding chaos, crying out… something. Hippolyta couldn't hear what she was saying.
Donna then appeared beside Diana, just as confused as her sister. Yet, even amid this horror, they maintained their brave expressions. Even if Hippolyta could see the fear bubbling, just underneath. She was so proud of her daughters.
The Queen spun and tried to stand, but fell forward onto her arms in a daze. She pressed her arms against the ground again and pushed herself upwards. Shakily, she got one of her legs under herself as her hand grasped around on the ground below her. It eventually found one of her warrior's spears and she grabbed it as if it were a lifeline. Its point was stabbed into the earth as she levered herself up using its handle.
Her ears then began to ring as she took in more of the surrounding destruction. All around her, her warriors were sprawled in various states of consciousness. Those who were still awake were struggling back to their feet, much like she had been. While the rest just stayed where they fell, covered in dirt and dust. She couldn't tell if they were alive or dead, nor could her sisters if their silent screams were any indication.
The ringing then crescendoed with a pop and the sounds of the world returned to the Queen. All around her, her sisters screamed for their friends to rise. Trying to rouse those they could. Her own heartbeat pounded in her ears as she turned back to where the Spartan had been standing, only to find him still there. His position was the same as before the world went silent, watching them behind that golden visor of his.
A loud siren then ripped through the air as something large and fast swooped by above them. Its engines sending a few of her sisters back to the ground with its jet stream as it passed. It then turned off towards the sea, only to disappear into the sky and clouds behind it, as if by magic. The world then went silent again, only the breeze and crashing of distant waves interrupting the silence.
"Are you ready to listen?!" A cold, familiar voice tore through the air, instantly pulling her attention. She looked across the plain, at the figure that had called down this chaos and nodded.
"That was one M58 Archer missile. Fired from my ship and programmed by Phoebe…. Its target was a tree at the outer edge of its lethal range, and your army….. Its attack angle was also further altered to decrease its concussive wave and force its pressure wave upwards and away." The Spartan explained easily, his tone unwavering.
"I'm explaining this to you because I want to make a point. Phoebe and I did everything in our power to keep it from killing any of your warriors….and yet this is still the result."
Hippolyta's blood went cold as the ramifications of what he just explained hit her. Because all of this… was him trying not to kill them and still he had brought them to their knees. Without even having to move. He then continued on.
"Further, this was one missile. One missile in a pod of thirty, of which I have fifteen….. That means I have four hundred and forty-nine more missiles ready to fire upon you and your home, and that's not even the most powerful option I have at my disposal." He then went quiet as he allowed that to sink in.
Once he was satisfied that they had received the message, he continued once more.
"So here's what's going to happen. You and your army are going to go home and tell your people what happened here. You're then going to tell them that coming armed into the forest is forbidden, along with hunting within its borders…. Anyone who disobeys and enters my territory with a weapon will be sent back to you in a box…. Do you understand?" He finished.
Hippolyta took another look around at her fallen sisters, with Nubia and her daughters pulling up alongside her as she did. She then turned and looked toward her two daughters, who were covered in dust and doing their best to mask their horror as they looked around at their sisters.
She then turned to Nubia, who still had a defiant gleam in her eyes. But it was lost under the sheer horror of what her army had been reduced to with only one shot. The Spartan had destroyed their morale and worse yet, may have broken a few of her sisters' will to continue to fight. She met her Queen's eyes, a silent conversation passing between them. Before she looked away and back to her sisters.
Hippolyta then turned to the Spartan and gave him a stuttering nod. He stared at her for a few moments more before returning the gesture, signaling he had seen her capitulation. He then threw the box he held over his shoulder and onto his back before turning away. He took a single step and disappeared, exactly like his ship had before.