Aquaman

“We demand you stop hiding and come out and take responsibility for your actions!”

“My nation has committed no crime and done nothing wrong!”

“Then explain the dead American citizens. How did they die, then? Their blood is on your hands and all the water you live in won’t wash away that stain!”

Tempest clenched his fists and resisted the urge to shatter his desk. The background noise was almost deafening. The Speaker of the House was shouting to be heard over the commotion.

“Order, Order! This is the United Nations, not a bar! If you are going to brawl, take it outside!” he cried from his chair at the front of the lowered semicircle.

The American representative gripped his pen in a white-knuckled fist, veins prominently on his forehead. “Thirty members of the United States Navy died on that submarine; 30 men and women now dead. They had families, children. The United States will not condone ANY act of terrorism, even from Atlantis.”

“Which was in no way responsible for the assault on your sub!” Tempest countered.

“Santa Prisca wasn’t enough for you? Do you have to control all the oceans?”

“Santa Prisca was…is…an isolated incident which they brought upon themselves. Atlantis is not trying to ‘take over’ the oceans and did not attack your sub!”

This meeting, like all the rest, was quickly going down hill. It had been like this since the attack on the sub a couple weeks ago. A feeling of déjà vu danced down Tempest’s spine. He didn’t need telepathy to guess what the next comment would be.

“Fast moving personal subs with energy weapons; technology far beyond any other nation’s armed forces; subs more advanced than even the S.T.A.R. Labs prototype underwater vehicles. Must I call Doctor Dinarzad in here again? And there were multiple sightings of your king, ‘Aquaman’, in the area.”

“He saved the sub and prevented a meltdown!”

“No, the Martian Manhunter did. Every sailor in the US Vern will testify to that fact.”

“It was a joint operation. Look at the League’s files…”

“Which could have been altered to protect one of their own!”

The speaker slapped his hand down hard on his desk, the entire room jumped. “This meeting is over! I will not have the UN turned into a place of slander and, as of yet, unfounded accusations.”

The US ambassador sighed and straightened his tie. “Very well. But I have been authorized to read this declaration from the desk of the President of these United States. Atlantis has 12 hours to hand over the responsible Atlantean parties or we will treat them like any other nation that harbors terrorist parties. Good day gentlemen.”

As he turned and walked out, the room exploded with talk. Tempest gripped his hands tighter, feeling his fingernails bite into the palms of his hands. This could mean war…

Tempest tore off his business suit and tossed the jacket against the wall as he stormed into the Atlantean embassy on the New York City waterfront. He slammed the door behind him splintering the frame and sending wood shards down the corridor. “Bastards!” he said through clenched teeth.

Aquaman straightened behind his desk. “Keep that up, Garth, and you’ll be confused for me.”

Garth looked up and blushed slightly. “Dammit, did you hear? This time Luthor has gone too far!”

Aquaman held up a large document with the presidential seal on the front.

Garth collapsed onto a chair. “What’s the JLA doing?”

“Nothing. They don’t get involved in politics.”

“What are we doing, Arthur?”

“I’ve been looking for the owners of the sub. The Watchtower computers helped me find the corporate office for O.G.R.E. here in New York,” Aquaman said. “I just came back from paying them a visit.”

“And?”

“They are the Oceano-Graphic Researchers and Environmentalists. A ‘tree-hugging’ organization that specializes in the oceans and seas.”

“And??”

“They tried to get me to sign a petition to ban whale-watching because it interferes with their mating patterns and disrupts their environment.”

“And???”

“I told them whales love whale-watchers because they get the opportunity to show off, sing a couple of new songs and splash people. They like getting people wet, they think they look funny.”

“They’re not our terrorists?” Tempest said looking somewhat disappointed. He sank deeper into his chair.

“No. But I have J’onn looking into them just to be sure.”

“Have the fish told you anything? Did they spot any more subs?”

“Not a sighting anywhere else on the globe,” Aquaman said checking again just in case. He could feel the presence of all marine life on the globe but that couldn’t help him find a submarine.

“There goes our only lead.”

“Not so,” Aquaman said, standing up, “Let’s go see Vulko.”

The Hall of Science in Poseidonis was an impressive structure that seemed to defy logic and gravity. Aquaman and Tempest entered through one of the roof entrances and swam down to the sub-bay. The large dock was filled with proto-type engines and hulls, the birthplace of the best of Atlantis’ fleet. The largest bay was dominated by two slightly damaged mini-subs…subs that had attacked the Navy submarine just a couple of weeks ago. Vulko greeted the two warmly and brought them to the chief scientist.

“Why can you not just hand over the pilots and these subs?” the portly advisor asked. He had been the chief scientist years ago but had since resigned and focused on politics.

Aquaman shook his head. “No way to prove they piloted the ships, and the US believes the pilots were Atlantean. Even if we hand over the pilots they’d never believe us.” He turned to look at the scientist. “Found out anything useful?”

The scientist swam down off the roof of the sub and settled beside the sea king, “Well, they are fairly sophisticated and maybe even a match for one of our own subs. A lot of the science and technology is comparable to ours.”

“Anything to tell where it came from? The metals used, the design, anything?”

“No, the components seem varied and the metals could have been mined anywhere, but from the mineral concentrations I’d say they were pulled from the sea-bed. And with the exception that they were designed to keep water out instead of in, they are similar in design to Atlantean craft.”

Aquaman swore; there had to be something useful. Something he was overlooking. “What powers the subs? Could we trace the fuel source?”

“No, it uses an electrical engine and motor. The battery is rechargeable and quite efficient. Standard chemicals and minerals so it is nothing we can trace unfortunately.”

Aquaman grumbled. “How very eco-friendly of them. I’ll have to remember to thank them when I…wait. How long would that battery last between charges?”

The scientist did a series of mental calculations. “Approximately 4 hours, less if they used their weapons. Fairly good for a battery of that size and a sub that powerful.”

Aquaman’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go, Garth.” He said abruptly and swam off.

“What? Did I miss something?” Tempest said as he followed behind Aquaman. Vulko thanked the scientist and swam after them.

“If it has a four hour battery it had to have a base somewhere near by. Even at its top speed it was 5-6 hours from shore.”

Tempest nodded with recognition. “Of course. And because they’d need to get back we just need to search a two-hour radius from the attack site. Still a big area though. Fishy friends help?”

Aquaman stopped. “Good idea,” he said and let his mind roam into the Clear. Every sea animal from the largest whale to algae floating in the sun was connected to him; his soul floated through them like a strand of seaweed though a lake. It gave him hope and showed him how everything was connected but at the same time always reminded him what was at stake if he failed…all the lives that depended on his actions. He sent out a mental image of the mini-subs and the sound they had made to every creature in the area. Nothing had seen anything near there; no fish in the 2-hour radius knew anything. How could something as big as a sub base stay hidden he wondered.

“Anything?” Tempest asked.

Aquaman frowned; he was so close to catching the bastards. His people depended on him, and lives were at stake. He focused his mind tighter spreading his thoughts through the ocean. Realization hit, the world cleared up like swimmer heading to the surface, everything brightened and came into focus. “I have it.” He said. “No fish saw anything because there are no fish there. The sub base heats up the water slightly, so all smaller animals left. The water became uncomfortable. And the big animals followed their food.”

“How does that help us?”

“There’s a dead zone, a spot without life. Or at least only a fraction of what should be there. That’s where the base is.” The pair swam off.

The base was smaller than expected, only the size of a couple of city blocks. It rested in the darkness of the ocean floor silently and motionless. Dozens of the small mini-subs covered the exterior of the structure, all just as advanced looking as two in Atlantis.

“That’s it?” Tempest asked ducking below a rocky outcropping.

“I’ll bet more is underground. Dig and mine and use the metals found to add to the base and make more subs, pillaging the ocean of its riches.” Aquaman gripped the edge of the rock face and squeeze until it began to crack under his fingers.

“An attack on a US sub, an environmental group and an undersea mining operation; how are all three connected?” Tempest asked. “It feels more like an opening to a joke than an evil scheme.”

“I don’t know and frankly I don’t care. How much time?”

“It’s been five hours. Seven more before Luthor does something we might all regret,” Tempest said, checking his timepiece.

Aquaman thought quietly to himself figuring out the best strategy. “Alright, you get their attention and draw them to the starboard side while I sneak in to the port. Keep the subs busy, no need to rush though. I’ll see what I can find inside.”

“Right,” Tempest nodded. In many ways he was more powerful than Aquaman. His powers let him control water movement and temperature as well as fire powerful optical blasts. The problem was he was more of a disadvantage inside or on land than Aquaman. Aquaman was faster, stronger, and tougher.

The sea king swam off keeping a wide berth from the base. He opened his mind and reached out for Tempest’s. “Garth. Can you hear me?” he asked mentally.

Tempest focused on his own weaker telepathic abilities. “Loud and clear. Say when and I’ll let em have it.”

Aquaman neared the base sticking close to the seabed, the fine muddy sand brushing up against his skin tickling him slightly. “Wait for my signal. I think I see an airlock. And try to be as noisy as possible.”

Several miles above and to the north a fleet of US Naval destroyers cut through the ocean sending white spray away from the hull. Their mission was simple; get to the middle of the Atlantic.

Captain Conseil frowned as he looked at the large map that dominated the bridge. They were rendezvousing with several other destroyers and carriers, as per President Luthor’s orders, above the city of Poseidonis. They were closing in fast but they had heard nothing from base.

The radio technician suddenly jumped to life, “Incoming transmission captain!”

“Put it through.” Conseil said straightening his uniform.

President Lex Luthor’s face appeared on a small monitor of the control panel. “Captain,” the bald man said.

“Yes Mr. President, sir. Awaiting orders sir.”

“You have heard of my ultimatum to Atlantis?” Luthor said.

“Yessir.”

“Good. We are stepping up the schedule. Commence attack at your leisure.”

The Captain’s expression broke into amazement, “Sir? Attack Atlantis?”

Luthor’s brow knotted. “They attacked us first soldier. Killed thirty men and women. If my information is correct your own brother was among them. They are a hostile enemy nation as seen by their unprovoked and unsanctioned actions against Santa Prisca. They are a rogue nation led by an un-human power-mad ‘hero’ who has taken it upon himself to dictate policy for the world. Democracy, your president and your brother all order you to strike.”

The Captain straightened, “Yessir. Attack will commence right away.”

“Knew I could count on you, Captain. I just pray for the innocents down there brought into a conflict they never asked for.” The transmission cut out.

Captain Conseil turned to his crew. “You heard the man, arm depth charges and prepare to deploy. Load the torpedo bays and get our mini-subs manned. NOW!”

The crew scrambled to work, the ship burst to life. Across the water they could see the other ships doing the same.

Captain Conseil leaned on his desk and looked out on the water and smiled. They had brought this on themselves, now they would pay the price for the spilt American blood!

To Be Continued...

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