[Clank] [Clank]

Aquaria Neptunia twisted as she shot forward. Her lithe body was nimble as she avoided the giant, metal claws trying to cut her in half.

She stared at the enemy and took aim. Her trident speared into the war machine. The crab-robot began to balloon as the superheated area forced everything to expand. The power core was pierced and was reacting with the sudden intake of seawater.

She grunted as the explosion wave broke over her Atlantean body. Her incredible physic endured and stood unharmed. A normal human would have had every bone broken.

Aquaria spied Namor turning and swimming to another giant robot crab.

Whatever this invasion was, it was frustrating. She panicked as their goal seemed to be the central pillar that held up Utopia.

Torpedoes slammed into the royal magitech shield. The final layer protected the new capital of New Atlantis. Aquaria’s heart clenched with every flicker of the royal shields.

The combination of hard light, and compressed water was strong. It was also not invincible.

Any request for help from the surface had been met with the same problem. They were also getting invaded.

If anything, reports had them facing the worst things. They had several Mega-robots to deal with.

[BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!]

Aquaria was thrown forward and into another war machine. The robot whine at the impact and tried to grab at her. The laser weapon was only good up close, but she was ironically too close as they couldn’t focus on her.

The laser system couldn’t hit her and she recovered and punched a hole through this one as well. The seawater would take care of the rest as it shorted and began to sink.

The blue woman took a breather as she sank with the robot. She stared up to see massive metal pieces sinking down. The odd parts began to paint a picture of some kind of mega-robot.

They were huge and the pieces sinking made her shiver. What had destroyed such a weapon? Would they focus on New Atlantis next? If one of those attacked, would they stand a chance?

Aquaria looked around and felt helpless. The robots were everywhere. Despite the best efforts of the guard, the royal guard, and Namor himself, they were losing.

The Atlantians were superior in every aspect except numbers. Their technology was superior, and their armor prevented deaths. The shield held firm, but it would not last forever.

These fragile invaders, however, seemed to swarm without end!

Aquaria picked up her trident. Her pale body changed to a deep blue as she drew forth the strength of an Atlantian royal champion. She would most likely pass out at this rate, but it didn't matter.

Namora was a title she had earned. Her form shot for like a pinball. Each forward surge was at a robot launching missiles and they exploded as she struck each one.

A series of explosions filled the basin of New Atlantis.

If she could destroy enough, then the shield would last longer. Long enough for reinforcements!

[BWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]

The world went white. Or was it black?

Aquaria wasn’t sure since her body felt as if it was on fire, and she had gone blind. She did recognize the sea floor as she slammed into it and dug out a trench.

The world quieted as she floated up a meter. She felt weak and her hands were empty. Her trident was missing and the world hazily returned in vague blobs of color.

[BWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]

The world went white again and Aquaria could feel the pressure wave slam into her. Her posture was good this time and her legs held firm as it dug into the sea floor.

The vision returned faster now. The reduced aches and pain meant she had braced past the worst of it, and she saw it.

A massive mega-crab. Its pincers were the size of scouting ships. Its main body is larger than the imperial vessels. Ships that usually patrolled the central pillar.

The ships had reported emergencies. Interference cut them off before they could report anything more.

This explained their problem.

The crab opened its mouth again. A glass sphere began to gather in light and energy. It took a minute before it spat out a beam of energy.

Aquaria squeezed her eyes shut and covered her eyes with her hands. Even with that, she could see the light as its energy beam smashed into the central shields.

Aquaria opened her eyes in time to see the royal shields break into tatters. Like a cut net, it disintegrated into the sea as the magnetic field holding it together failed.

“Nooo!” Aquaria screamed as she shot forward. If nothing else she had to hit that energy projector. The people were in danger!

The central pillar held the homes and lives of all citizens of New Atlantis. She would die before she let them face death.

Namor reached it first.

His massive punch dented a part of its shell and brought its body to the sea floor. A considerable feat, but not enough. It scrambled to stand as it began to use anti-personal tactics. Energy lances blasted out lasers from hidden parts of its metal legs.

Namor grimaced and flinched, but withstood the attack. He focused and readied himself for another punch.

The king of New Atlantis was blindsided as a swarm of smaller crabs latched onto him. Their metal claws were sharp, and the motors strong.

They could do little more than cut into his first layer of flesh, but it was enough to restrain him. To slow him down enough.

The mega-crab opened its mouth and Namor screamed as he freed an arm. He swam forward but the swarm doubled. Tripled.

It pulled him away.

Aquaria shot past him and their defensive net. Her trident smashed into the lens and it cracked. Her body was tackled and the smaller attack crabs tried to tear her limb from limb.

The mega-crab opened its massive pincers and grabbed onto them. It began to squeeze.

Namor and Aquaria screamed. The 20-fold larger motors succeeded while the smaller ones failed. Their bodies were designed to live amongst the deepest part of the seas, but this was beyond even that.

[Vreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

Two massive green lasers pierced into the crab’s arms. The artificial limbs exploded and the two champions were released. Heat baking them in boiling water.

The two took a moment to look over and saw a mega-robot with octopus-like legs move into view. Unlike the invading robots that took on aquatic lifeforms, this robot was different. More angular than streamlined.

It aimed at the crab and released another two lances of green light.

[Vreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

Parts of the crab’s armor ballooned and exploded outward. The intense heat melted, inflated, and exploded vulnerable parts of its body.

Part of the invading force turned and began to harass the new ally. The blocky mega-robot ignored the smaller attacks as its own shield sprang to life.

From the arms that held the main lasers, it had smaller ones. They began to rapid-fire at the swarming robots.

Explosions rocked the area as the 'small' lasers were enough to destroy the crabs in a single shot.

Namor and Aquaria wasted little time as they were freed. The two scrambled into the exposed mega-crab and tore into the sensitive components.

The resulting explosion hurt but was satisfying since it meant it could no longer pose a danger.

The new ally didn’t stop moving. It made a beeline for the central pillar and the two stared at each other.

Why was this new ally getting so close? Was this a ruse?

[Vreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

The two lances of light targeted something in the distance. The sea boiled from its attack, but there was no explosion. Did it miss? Was the lasers too weak to hit?

[BWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]

[BWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]

One beam hit the ally mega-robot. Its shield took the hit and it shattered. Parts of its legs exploded, and its back erupted into fire and spark.

It didn’t stop moving forward.

The other beam punched into the central pillar. The very earth rumbled as the intense heat ruptured the very rock that New Atlantis was built on. The central pillar shook as metal and rock exploded out of the damaged areas.

While the area held was mostly docks, it also held emergency shelters. Fortified shelters.

The gaping hole was now showing glowing red-hot metals from the energy attack.

[Vreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

The allied mega-robot attacked again as it got between the pillar and the enemy robots. Its outer armor was under heavy attack and the metal began to deform. It bravely charged forward.

Namor and Aquaria swam at top speed. Their bodies were like rockets as they flew forth and reached the other two mega-crabs.

One had red hot spots where the armor was damaged, but otherwise intact. The other was unblemished.

Aquaria noted this and her mind supplied that the royal navy must have failed. Frustrating but not as critical as this moment.

They opened their mouth again.

Aquaria did not hesitate to charge forward.

[Vreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

The friendly support attack was missed as the enemy crab dipped. With the distance and water sapping the laser’s strength. The top armor absorbed the superheated strike. The color changed and deformed, but it was not enough.

It opened its maw to fire another laser, but she was there.

Anger. Rage. Hate.

Aquaria channeled them all as she cocked back her fist and then punched with everything she had.

She didn’t have the raw power of Namor, king of Atlantis, but she was still a noble. The thick blood and modified DNA worked together to unleash pure power.

[CRACK]

The crystal split in half and the crab exploded. As it injected power into the cracked crystal, it backlashed. The crystal sent energy beams everywhere, and since most of it was the housing unit, it was sent back into its body.

Aquaria cheered. She had done it!

She turned around to celebrate with Namor. That punk had always been an annoyance but rarely failed when the low tides hit.

She saw Namor rip open the crab’s armor and seawater flood in. He had done it as well!

Wait, was the projector crystal still glowing?

[BWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]

Aquaria’s thoughts stopped as her eyesight left yet again. They had failed.

The pressure wave of a horrific explosion washed over her before a much larger pressure wave also hit.

She had not been braced as relaxed as she was in celebration. The world that was shrouded in darkness stayed that way as she began to float and settle down in the wreckage.

—

Aquaria woke up to the sounds of the hospital machines humming. Her eyes were bleary but quickly cleared as she tried to sit up and return to the world outside.

She was strapped down, and various tubes were strapped to her. The starfish-style clamps were injecting her with nutrients and other chemicals.

The robots. The siege!

“Shhhh,” a nurse quickly floated over and touched the screen to tighten the straps. “The battle is over. We survived and won.”

Aquaria shuddered as the adrenalin rushed through her system but now had no release.

“We won and the robots were all destroyed. The central structure has been damaged. We are prepping a mass evacuation to relieve stress,” the nurse said as she checked over the woman’s vitals.

“I hear a but,” Aquaria said as she noted the odd ceiling. She was not in the pillar’s hospital room.

“The council fears that too much damage was done,” the nurse said with a sigh. She had high hopes that this place would have been her new home, but it seemed her hopes had been dashed yet again.

Aquaria nodded as she closed her eyes while tears welled up and vanished into the surrounding water. Despite her full effort, she still failed.

“Don’t be sad, Lady Namora,” the nurse said as she used Aquaria’s noble title. While it had been given by a human, it had been coralized by her feats of courage and justice.

“You defended us. What should have been fatal has only been only a big inconvenience.”

Aquaria opened her eyes and stared at the nurse.

“The people of Utopia above say they can repair the damage, but the council wishes to move. While I do not know the specifics, I do not disagree either,” the nurse said as she smiled and loosened the straps.

Aquaria nodded but said nothing. Her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts.

The help Utopia had promised did not happen, and New Atlantis could have been wiped out in one battle.

“Where is Namor?” Aquaria asked as she refocused. She could get answers soon, but she needed to know what was the current situation.

“Ah,” the nurse turned sad as she looked out into the front of the temporary hospital. "His highness has recovered. He is currently channeling his displeasure into the wreckage of the invaders.”

Aquaria winced. Namor had a temper and she had no doubts that the king was currently crushing metal. Literally.

“Rest now, Lady Namora,” the nurse said as she bowed her head. “The battle was hard, and Val Verde is currently assisting with cleanup. All in exchange for wreckage rights.”

Aquaria’s eyes widened at that fact. “Val Verde? Was that giant robot theirs?”

Why was Val Verde here? The military country was to not encroach on foreign territory. She also knew the real way countries worked.

Any empire worth it's freshwater had undercurrents. Subterfuge and dark water dealings. The pools that sustained and bled any empire.

“Ah, yes. The Val Verde titan took the final hit, and the robot was destroyed. The pilots survived, and we had them in the hospital until an hour ago.”

Aquaria nodded absently. Her mind was swimming in possibilities and conspiracies.

She needed to talk to Namor.

Closing her eyes, she focused inwards and began to meditate. The world slowed and her mind drifted clear waters.

Once there, she allowed herself to fall asleep.

—

“Of course, Lady Namora,” the guard gave a half bow and let her pass.

The metal wrecks had been tossed here. They would process the raw materials when they had time to work.

The area was silent, and she swam to the center. There were only a few designs for these robotic invaders. Small agile attackers, a sensory type of some sort, and the titan class.

Aquaria swam gracefully as she playfully weaved between a titan’s claw when she saw him.

Namor sat on top of the head of a broken titan. The monster’s faceplate stared into the shallow waters above. Where sunlight streamed into their kingdom.

“Aquaria,” Namor whispered. His voice was firm but weary. “Why does it seem that every decision I make, ends in tragedy?”

“Is it you, oh king, or is the fabled curse of our first king?” Aquaria shot back. The finicky fable of Delta, the First King. He unified and freed us from the shackles of Atlantis.

It was a funny story, of how a cloned slave freed his fellows and gained freedom. Though the king of Atlantis ordered their deaths, he in fact allowed them the freedom to leave and live.

The following centuries had those slaves founded a new city and stability. The splintering of the Royal line of Triton had a blood decedent find shelter in that city. Renamed New Atlantis, they became a beacon for those who despised the tyranny of King Kruwo.

Namor said nothing as he continued to stare at the sunlight above. It streamed in without word or sound.

Aquaria swam to her friend’s side. They made an odd pair, but both were unified in their devotion to their people.

“I feel that I have made too many mistakes,” Namor said. “Namora, you will lead Atlantis. Leave this place and find safer waters.”

Aquaria’s heart stopped. Not again. “Namor, please.”

“We lost thousands, Aquaria. Tenfold injured,” Namor turned to look at his friend and confidant. “The promise of help did not arrive, and yet I cannot grow angry over that. The mutants above suffered far more losses.”

Aquaria said nothing as she drew her knees in. The waters felt cold all of a sudden.

“Utopia is too unstable. Those that dared attack will do so again. I cannot have my people stay here. The promised safety was a myth,” Namor said as he returned to gazing at the sun above.

Aquaria winced as she heard and felt the metal ripped off the titan's face. Namor squeezed the metal and the water hissed as it glowed red hot.

The surface alloy could not withstand Namor’s strength and anger.

Aquaria pondered if Namor even realized what he had just done. He often held his great strength in check and most did not realize how powerful the man was.

“Where would we even go?” Aquaria whispered. The New Atlantis had settled in virtually every corner of the sea. There were very few safe places left now that the land dwellers advanced in technology.

The robotic menace was now a massive problem as well.

“I have spoken with the Royal Council, and the Supreme Leader of Val Verde,” Namor began. “He was surprised to learn that his soldiers had invaded our kingdom. He relaxed when he realized what had transpired. He helped us with no requests for additional rewards.”

Namor turned and looked her in the eyes.

“If you so choose, there is a place with Val Verde,” Namor said. “We will require to provide them assistance with territorial defense, but little more... or so the Supreme Leader says.”

“Namor…” Aquaria started but fell silent. What could she say? He was stubborn as a whale when desired and no force could sway him.

Namor did not utter another word, and after an hour of silence, Aquaria swam away. Her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts and apprehension.

She had a Royal Council to talk to.

————

Chapter 69: Ocean Front