Chapter 10

BATTLE FOR THE PLANT


THERE were those who said it couldn't be done. Some would say it wouldn't be done. And there was a minority who thought it could be done. And yet it was done.

Shortly after 6am, the Ocean Door began to open, and once it had, a fully-repaired and seaworthy Stingray emerged from the long tunnel from Marineville. Troy's miracle had come as he'd hoped, and he, Phones and Marina were now on their way towards the Uranium Plant with one goal in mind - to retake it and drive Titan and his Aquaphibians back into the depths of the ocean.

"Tower from Stingray. Seaborne," Troy reported.

"How's she handling, Troy?" asked Commander Shore over the radio.

"As good as ever, Commander," Troy replied. "Tell those boys they've done a swell job."

"It'll take time to thank them individually," joked Commander Shore. "But I'll see to it that they all get your thanks, Troy."

"Thank you, sir."

"Oh, and Troy?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I will not make any further transmissions from now on just in case any radio messages get intercepted by the Plant. You're on your own with this one. Good luck…and may the Gods of Fortune be on your side."

"We sure hope so, sir," said Troy. "Stingray out."


Commander Shore placed his microphone back into its holder and looked up at Atlanta who was standing beside his Hoverchair. "Well…that's it, Atlanta. All we can do now is wait."

"What chance do they have, Father?" asked Atlanta.

"In all honesty, Atlanta, I don't know," replied her Father grimly. "Stingray barely survived that last encounter with a Terror Fish."

"That was because Troy wasn't in command though," said Atlanta. "They always fare better when he's on-board."

"I know," said Shore as he moved over to one of the windows that looked out over Marineville. "But Troy hasn't faced one with atomic power. In this situation, it's Phones who will know what to look for. I just hope that shark Titan doesn't send all his fleet on them at once."


As Stingray made its way towards the Plant, Troy too was beginning to wonder whether what they were doing was nothing more than a one-way trip. "How long before we reach the Plant, Phones?" he asked.

"At present speed, just over an hour from now, Skipper," Phones answered.

Troy checked the time. "So we'll be there just after 07:30 hours," he said. "I wonder whether any of the guys have been able to do their thing?"

"What thing?" Phones asked inquisitively.

"When I snuck in I was able to communicate with some of the imprisoned personnel there," Troy said. "I gave them an instruction that could turn the tide in our favor. Just as long as they've been released from their cells to work on the Terror Fish that is."

Phones was intrigued, but decided not to ask. He felt sure that Troy would tell him when the time was right.

In the seating area at the back of the cabin, Marina watched from her seat as Troy and Phones continued to take Stingray deep through the depths of the ocean as it made its way towards its destination.


Titan was in the Main Control Room of the Plant along with X-2-0 and three Aquaphibians. The latter of which were manning the controls. Titan was still in a bad mood over the events of the previous night. "I was so close. So close to having Tempest at my mercy! And yet once again his good luck is his saviour! One day, X-2-0. One day he will be mine again. And when that day comes, I will make sure that he suffers before I end his miserable life."

"I wouldn't mind getting back at him myself, Your Majesty," said X-2-0. "What he did to me was most humiliating."

Titan didn't share X-2-0's humility. Secretly he found it somewhat amusing although he didn't say that it did. "Be patient, X-2-0," he said. "Our time will come. Just you wait and-"

"Mighty Titan!"

Titan and X-2-0 turned to the Aquaphibian that was manning the Aqua-Scanners. "What is it?" Titan demanded.

"I'm picking up an approaching underwater craft," said the Aquaphibian. "Distance one-hundred marine miles and closing."

"Have we a Mechanical Fish in the area?" asked Titan.

"We do."

"Then send it to investigate," ordered Titan. "And have the new atomic-powered fleet ready for immediate dispatch. If it's what I think it is, then our time may have already come."

"It can't be Stingray surely though?" wondered X-2-0. "The damage it sustained was far too severe for it to have been repaired so quickly."

"I am inclined to agree with you, X-2-0," said Titan. "In which case, it'll make this intruder's destruction all the more easier." He began to laugh maniacally.


As Stingray edged closer to the Plant, it came within viewing range of the Terror Fish that Titan had ordered to investigate. The two Aquaphibians inside it were somewhat surprised when they saw what the approaching vessel was. They wasted no time in making contact with Titan. "Mechanical Fish Seven to Uranium Plant. We have sighted the intruder, Mighty Titan. It is Stingray!"

Titan leapt to his feet. "WHAT?!" he exclaimed. "That isn't possible! You must be mistaken!"

"No. Not mistake, oh Mighty One," said the Aquaphibian. "It is one-hundred percent Stingray."

At first, Titan was at a loss for words. But then he found his voice again. "Pursue Stingray but do not engage!" he ordered. "I'm sending out the new Atomic Fleet. This will be their first taste of marine-blood!" He turned to another Aquaphibian. "Launch the fleet!"

The large gates of the Plant opened inwards to allow five of the newly-converted Terror Fish to sail out in formation before diving beneath the surface to hunt their prey.

"There they go, X-2-0," said Titan. "Now we await the results. It should be glorious."


Phones raised a hand to his right earphone. "Troy, I'm picking something up," he said.

"Mechanical Fish?" asked Troy.

Phones nodded. "Yep. No mistake," he said. "And the critter's behind us!"

"Green, one-eight-zero!" ordered Troy. "Let's take it out before it has a chance to warn Titan!"

Stingray performed a quick turn to Starboard. As it straightened out on a reverse course, its searchlights illuminated the pursuing Terror Fish.

"They have spotted us!" cried one of the Aquaphibians.

"Get us away!" ordered the other.

The Terror Fish made its own sharp turn to Starboard and began to race away as fast as its motors would allow it. Stingray turned in pursuit and it quickly became clear to Troy and Phones what they were dealing with.

"This one isn't outrunning us!" said Phones.

"Then not all of them have been converted yet!" said Troy. "This is good. Get ready with Port Sting-Missile."

"Sting-Missile ready."

"Fire!"

The sleek missile shot out of the Port Torpedo Tube and closed in on its target. It struck the Terror Fish and detonated. The Fish exploded in multiple bright flashes and the remains sank swiftly to the ocean floor.

"Got him!" said Phones. "That was easy."

"Too easy," said Troy. "I have a feeling our task may have just gotten harder, Phones."

Phones frowned as he put his hand to his earphone again. "You got that right!" he said. "I'm picking up more of them."

"How many?"

"I make five!" said Phones. "And they're coming in our direction at tremendous speed!"

Troy gritted his teeth. "This is it then," he said. "Titan's been forewarned of our approach and released his new Atomic Fleet upon us. Get ready for one helluva fight, Phones!"

Stingray changed its course back towards the Plant and on course for an interception with the approaching Atomic Fleet. Maybe, Troy thought, if they could catch the fleet off guard, they might have a chance of taking some of them out.

"How far?" Troy asked.

"2,000 yards and closing fast," replied Phones.

Soon the shapes of the five Terror Fish began to appear ahead of them. On the outside they looked like all the others they'd encountered, yet it was very clear that they were different in the massive increased speed they were making.

"They're closing in," said Phones. "What's the action, Troy?"

"Just grit your teeth and wait, Phones," Troy replied. "Get ready as many Sting-Missiles as you-"

Troy never got to finish his sentence for the dark seas were suddenly lit-up by a bright white light as the lead Terror Fish mysteriously exploded without any explanation. As its remains sank towards the seabed, it wasn't just Phones and Marina who were surprised by what had just happened. The crews of the other four Terror Fish were equally as confused.

"What happened?" asked one of them.

"Did Stingray get it?" another asked.

"I didn't see any Sting Missiles!" cried another.

In the control room at the Plant, Titan and X-2-0 were listening in to the confused and panicked commotion over the radio. They had seen a huge column of water rise from the ocean some distance away at the same time as the Terror Fish had exploded.

"What's going on down there?" Titan demanded.

But before he could get an answer, a second Terror Fish exploded. Then a third one. As their remains sank towards the seabed, the remaining two then exploded as well. Within thirty seconds, all five were now resting in burnt out and twisted wrecks on the ocean floor whilst Stingray sailed by without having had to do anything.

"I don't get it, Troy," said Phones. "What happened to them?"

Troy gave a smirk. "The Plant boys, Phones," he said. "I told them to fix Titan's fish. Looks like they were able to after all!"


Having seen the explosions, Titan tried desperately to raise the Terror Fish on the radio. But all he got was silence. He was beyond furious. "You BUNGLING IDIOTS!" he bellowed at whatever Aquaphibians were nearby. "STINGRAY SHOULD BE IN PIECES BY NOW! INSTEAD MY OWN FLEET IS DESTROYED! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!"

Of course none of the Aquaphibians could explain what had happened, which only enraged Titan further.


Alarms wailed around the Plant as the Aquaphibian forces scrambled around trying to make defences. A large gun mount was located on one of the walls near to the Control Tower and Titan and X-2-0 watched from inside as a group of four Aquaphibians worked frantically to get it ready.

"Mighty Titan! There they are!" X-2-0 said suddenly, pointing.

Titan looked and saw that the cabin of Stingray had broken the surface and was moving around heading towards the gates of the Plant. "Keep those Pen Doors closed at all costs!" Titan ordered. "I cannot have them getting inside!"

The Aquaphibians had almost gotten the gun ready for action and slowly began to turn it outwards so that it could be aimed at Stingray. Unfortunately for them, the danger they posed had already been spotted.

"There's a reception committee waiting for us, Troy," Phones said.

"Right!" said Troy. "Fire Starboard Sting-Missile with a localised charge. We don't want to cause too much damage to the Plant."

"You got it!" said Phones. "Firing now!"

The Sting-Missile shot out from the newly-repaired Tube and raced through the water at high speed. It struck the wall just as the Aquaphibians had got the large gun lined-up. The resulting explosion caused the wall to break apart and the mount that the gun was on collapsed into the sea in a burning mess, taking the Aquaphibians with it.

With no weapons of their own, Titan and X-2-0 could do nothing but watch as Stingray moved around towards the Pen Doors. "How many Mechanical Fish are left?" Titan demanded.

"Only two, Mighty Titan," answered an Aquaphibian. "And they haven't been converted,"

"There's also my craft as well, Your Majesty!" said X-2-0.

Titan grimaced as he fixed Stingray with a hateful glare. "You will pay with your life for this, Troy Tempest!" he cursed. "Order the two remaining Mechanical Fish to hold them off! X-2-0, you will take me back to Titanica! MOVE!"


Stingray had come about and was now facing the Pen Doors. Along the adjacent walls and on top of the gates themselves, large numbers of Aquaphibians were positioned, firing their weapons in a vain attempt to stop it from advancing.

"Those fish-faces really think their weapons can do anything to us?" Troy remarked. "If I were Titan I'd sure be embarrassed about that right now."

"Likewise," agreed Phones. "What now?"

"Ready more missiles," said Troy. "Titan's not gonna just open the gates for us. We'll have to blow them open. Stand-by!"

"Standing-by."

Stingray closed in to within five-hundred yards of the gates. All the while, the Aquaphibians continued to fire their weapons upon them.

"Fire!" ordered Troy.

Two Sting-Missiles exited the super-sub simultaneously and streaked towards the gates. Their trails were easily noticed by the Aquaphibians who began to panic and tried to run clear of the gates. Most of them were able to, but a few unlucky ones were still on the gates when the missiles struck. Two almighty bangs rocked the plant as the gates were blown completely open, their great steel masses sinking to the bottom of the Pen and leaving the mouth exposed to the open sea.

As Stingray moved inside, Troy and Phones saw the remaining two Terror Fish emerge from behind one of the moored Tankers. They turned and began to approach them.

"Here come some more," said Phones. "How many does Titan have?"

"Not that many more, I'd say," Troy replied. "Stand-by more missiles. We may be able to take them both at once."

"Sting-missiles ready," said Phones.

"Fire!"

Once again, two Sting-Missiles were launched from Stingray's tubes and raced directly at the two approaching Terror Fish. They struck hard simultaneously resulting in two powerful explosions, one significantly larger than the other for the missile had gone right into the open mouth of the Terror Fish which had been getting ready to launch one of its own. Its magazine exploded, ripping it to pieces and sending debris falling all over the plant whilst the other one sank with half of its head section missing.

As the Terror Fish sank, it dropped down right into the path of X-2-0's own Fish-shaped craft which was making a break for it.

"LOOK OUT, YOU FOOL!" Titan yelled when it seemed X-2-0 was going to run into the sinking wreckage.

X-2-0 hastily adjusted the controls and sped up just avoiding a collision with the sinking Terror Fish which along with the other one that had been destroyed rested on the bottom of the Pen along with the wreck of the other Terror Fish which had been sunk by the Albatros's depth-charges.

X-2-0's craft raced through the open gateway to the Pen and out into the open sea, leaving the Plant far behind and taking Titan with it.


Phones listened into the Hydrophones. "Something's made a break for it, Troy," he said. "Doesn't sound like a Terror Fish though."

"That must be that X-2-0's craft making a break for it," said Troy. "And I have a hunch that Titan is aboard."

"You mean he's made a run for it?" asked Phones.

Troy nodded. "Of course," he said. "I knew he wouldn't stick around once he knew he was going to get beaten. Let them go, Phones. Our job was to force Titan to leave. And we succeeded."

"So now what?" asked Phones.

"We'll go ashore and round up any resistance," Troy said. "Then we'll free the prisoners."


Within half an hour, the few Aquaphibians that did remain at the Plant were forced to surrender by Troy and Phones. They then set about going through the Jailhouse and freeing everyone who was imprisoned there.

Troy personally opened the cell with the three men he'd spoken to before. "Out you come, fellas," he said. "Mighty fine job you did on those Terror Fish. Well done."

"And well done to you, Troy," said Day.

"You only told us what to do," said Buckman. "And we're mighty glad that you did."

"Yes, sir!" finished Russo.

Troy smiled. "One thing's for sure after this," he said. "Titan will certainly think twice before he tries a stunt like this again."

Phones gave a chuckle after releasing his share of the prisoners. "I would love to see what he's looking like right now," he said.

Troy also chuckled. "A right mess. You can bet on that, Phones," he said with a grin.


Troy's prediction about Titan was right. After returning to Titanica, Titan went straight to his Throne Room where he slumped into it and let out a brooding sigh of defeat. "Curse you, Tempest!" he fumed. "Once again you have ruined everything! One day I will have my revenge!"

"What about the Terror Fish, Mighty Titan?" asked X-2-0.

Titan didn't answer for a moment as he continued to brood. "In future, X-2-0, all Terror Fish will run on normal power. It may be slower…but it's a lot safer."


THE END