The submarine slides silently among vibrant coral reefs. The ship is barely visible due to barnacles and mollusks covering its shell left over the years as camouflage. The ship comes from an underwater city located much deeper. Sunlight cannot penetrate there making it perpetual night. Being that deep allows significant protection from harsh conditions of the atmosphere above. Inhabitants who live there adapted over hundreds of years.
Refreshing cruising so close to the surface with sunshine. Lights on the vessel are not needed when observing abundant marine life enticed by the reef. Yellow tiger fish striped black hover swallowing plankton as do others with many colors of a rainbow’s spectrum. There are big and small red fish, blue fish, somewhat transparent jellyfish and on the ocean floor not far below lobsters, shrimp, and crabs crawl around in homemade shells casually going about life. Not unusual when a black sting ray or two or various types of grey sharks appear possibly enjoying the environment as looking for food. All seems peaceful with barely a sound.
Quite another situation inside the submarine. People bustle around making a clamor while going about chores and chit-chat pass the time while sitting next to one of many small windows displaying colorful reefs and abundant nautical life. Jake’s at the helm steering the ship through channels and cropping’s. Kate’s to his right in a high-backed chair studying maps and sonar signals ensuring no mistakes are made. Though beautiful, inadvertent scraping one of the corals could be disastrous. Enchanting out the large glass windows enclosing the cabin. Pleasure aside, it is the crew’s mission to scout for intruders who may jeopardize harmony of their civilization in the sea. Finding none they follow the ocean floor deeper and deeper into the black depths home.
It hadn’t always been like this. Back in the twenty-first century all humans lived on the earth’s surface. Then one thing led to another. Population growth results in burning more carbon fuels resulting in global warming. Polar glaciers melt and seaside communities melt into oceans. Inhabitants move further inland only to be met by wildfires fueled by vegetation dried by warmer temperatures. Earth’s climate goes on a roller coaster with unpredictable seasons and fierce, howling winds. There are more people with less food being produced. Competition for subsistence results. Nuclear missiles become ready for deployment between nations.
The space race goes into overdrive. Space stations are built at amazing rates able to sustain life with extensive gardens producing oxygen as well as food since sunlight is always available in space. Colonies are established on the moon and Mars. This space endeavor however requires an extensive amount of rocket propellant and metal. Mining on earth becomes a very lucrative business for those able to survive its harsh conditions.
Jake and Kate’s ancestors took another approach by turning to the oceans. It only made sense since seventy percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water. At first their colonies floated not far from shore but as time went on gradually migrated further below the surface from polluted winds, erratic weather, and atomic radiation. Seas provide hydrogen and oxygen to burn and breathe. Plenty of metals too often extracted from sandy ocean floors without deep excavation.
Hard to tell by looking as the submarine approaches the compound erected on the side of a mountain range jutting out of one of the ocean’s many trenches. The dome sheltering a small city is completely covered with barnacles and other debris which seem to accumulate as fast as additions are built. Sunlight only penetrates around 200 meters into the ocean and since this structure is much deeper than that there is little point in installing windows and keeping them clean just to peer into murky black. Sea growth makes excellent camouflage for anything or anyone not needing to know the structure’s there. As the nautilus approaches a hatch opens at the dome’s base for the ship to enter.
Inside the compound is a different story. Bright lights welcome the crew and several inhabitants are there to meet them. “How did it all go?” inquires Rebecca. “Not bad at all”, replies Kate. Natural resources on the planet’s surface are running low. Although there is plenty of room in the oceans for development it doesn’t take a genius to figure out it’s simpler for others to acquire what they have accomplished rather than start building from scratch. Kate goes to her quarters to freshen up and change into something more comfortable before going to one of the many restaurants in the plaza for a tasty meal. They returned in time for Jake to play a water polo game soon.
Although winds can wreak havoc on mars, it is a nice day now. Alpha 12 goes about checking parameters on the compressors supplying oxygen to the cave in rusty red boulders where this compound is located for protection from very cold nights. Not that Alpha 12 needs oxygen since he or she is an android. Constructed to look masculine who’s to say whether computers are more male or female. Alpha 12 is making sure everything is ready for the humans aboard the spaceship about to land. The crew at the compound in the cave are eager for fresh arrivals. It takes a while for radio transmissions back and forth making conversations with earth clumsy. They are aware conditions on earth are not getting any better.
Theirs’ is not the only colony on mars with its two moons. Russians have a base as do Chinese and other nationalities. There may be major conflicts on earth but all seem to get along fairly well on mars happy to have neighbors. Melisa happens to be commander at the American martin colony and leads a crew outfitted in space suits to meet the incoming ship. Alpha 12 tags along. Marty leads the crew out of the spaceship. They all go into the cave and close the sealed door allowing oxygen compressors to do their job so everyone discards the cumbersome space wardrobe and retire to the cafeteria. Freeze dried food available on the spaceship taking several months to arrive is better than nothing but cannot compare to fresh vegetables grown in the gardens of mars.
Melisa cuts right to the chase. “What’s up?” They hadn’t requested backup and she wants to know the purpose of the recent arrival. “The wars on earth are getting worse.” Replies Marty. “The American Republic is afraid all might go nuclear any moment. We are sent here in hopes of ensuring our culture.” “Isn’t there anyway of stopping it?” inquires Melisa. There is a tired look in Marty’s eyes. “Our only hope lays with those who live in the sea.”
Jake suits up for water polo similar to the game done on horseback days gone by. Competing in the sea exhibits quite another display though. This equipment not only has head gear providing oxygen to breath but must be able to withstand more pressure down in the water. Originally performed on horses other means of carriage is obviously necessary and sharks seem to work best. Amazingly some seem to take to saddles and bridles hooked to their gills work nicely when directing them around. Even though flood lights surround the playing field on the ocean floor, being this deep doesn’t permit sunrays, and there is an advantage mounting head lamps on the sharks. Great white sharks don’t work well being too large and unruly. Mako and tiger are some that can be jockeyed much better. The object used to score is an abandoned tortoise shell although other types of seashells are oftentimes used.
This match consists of an even number of guys and gals on each team. Jake’s team has Doris, Frank, Bettsy, Peter, and April. Rebecca heads the other team of Sam, Susan, Vic, Kris, and Phil. The playing field is approximately fifty meters long. Spectators line the sides either floating in their dive suits or sitting on sharks themselves. The turtle shell is maneuvered back and forth until going over the goal line scoring for one team over the other. After an exhausting hour of play Rebecca’s team finally won seven to six.
There seems no end to harsh conditions above. War and havoc rage across the land. Space expeditions are going well as can be expected but hardly provide any relief for those on earth. Terrestrial governments have one thing in common, time has come to conquer the independent colonies inhabiting the sea and launch a fleet of submarines of their own to negotiate surrender of the submerged cities.
Attack from above is clumsy at best even though their submarines are much larger than those of aquatic dwellers and have many types of destructive torpedoes aboard. These bulky subs are painted flat black to conceal their arrival in the murky depths but prove no match for the smaller vessels developed to travel and maneuver faster and certainly cannot blend into the ocean environment quite like those covered with barnacles used by the subaquatic people, especially when lying motionless on the ocean bottom. Maritime civilizations also developed lasers proving much more effective in erratic currents than torpedoes. With camouflaged domes as well the submerged strongholds can be anywhere in the five vast oceans and sometimes seemingly everywhere. Attack by the terrestrials becomes a dismal failure and it becomes apparent other means will be needed to acquire the wealth below.
Although land nations remain divided, drilling and mining operations amongst them have become consolidated by a company called United Development Corp. In a way this company has become more powerful than individual countries. Nations are now dependent on terms and conditions required by the corporation. Incursion into the seas is not by nations but by United Development Corporation. Investors and board of directors in particular became extremely powerful and wealthy in essence becoming autocrat over nations. Unfortunately absolute power clouds minds without consent much like Alzheimer disease. That much freedom cannot be allowed under the sea since it only encourages unrest in others. If ocean people cannot be controlled militarily diplomacy becomes another option, and by that it’s meant offering inclusion into the company of a strategic few.
Meetings are set up between land and sea dwellers in hopes of coming to some type of compromise whereby aquatic leaders would be allowed to remain in charge provided terms of United Development are met. These conditions are abruptly rejected by the those elected in the many oceanic cities. If United Development want unrestricted access in the waters they would have to abide by democratic policies as those living there. Bartering goes back and forth without resolution. The terrestrials cannot be trusted and the only way conferences will be agreed upon will be at deep, tactical locations.
On the way to one of these rendezvous Jake can’t believe what he’s seeing on radar. It isn’t as if one of the corporate submarines is leading three others but more like it’s being chased by the trio. Even more surprising is when the other three fire torpedoes at the one in front. Due to superb tactical maneuvering most of the torpedoes miss but then the lead ship is finally hit and floats hopelessly to the ocean floor. Jake’s at complete loss what action to take. Should he try to defend the disabled vessel from onslaught by its peers? Jake gets to thinking this can very well be a trap. With his ship covered by barnacles it rests invisible and silent beside large boulders thinking it best to wait it out. Much to his amazement the three submarines sail off without causing further damage to the one laying helplessly in the sand. This surveillance goes on for several days, if you can call them that being rather difficult to keep time in perpetual night without the sun’s luster. After consulting with headquarters Jake finally decides to contact the wreck.
Timothy is commander of the doomed sub and much relieved to be getting radio contact although not sure from where. Jake wants to know exactly what and why they’re there. Timothy explains they broke protocol with the company in a way that could not be tolerated. The crew on board had questioned decisions by the United board of directors and were fleeing prosecution. It had been their intent to seek refuge in the sea. Were they telling the truth or is the whole thing just a rouge to gain access into the nautical society? At any rate it is apparent the vessel is damaged beyond repair and those inside do not have much longer to live. Also apparent is that United Development is not coming back for them. What a quandary? Of course it is the consensus among headquarters they’d be better off to let their competitors perish in the desperate ship but that’s not sea peoples way. It is apparent the company’s playing a mean hand they have every intent of winning. It’s finally agreed for Jake to take the other crew aboard his ship to the vaulted city where they will be closely monitored.
On board Jake’s ship Timothy can’t believe what he’s seeing in the headlights. They were heading straight for a mountain ridge in a deep ocean trench. Just when he thought they were going to sail into it a large door opens at the base allowing entrance of the ship into a hidden city. No wonder they weren’t having luck locating where the sea people live. That in itself is a significant amount of valuable, unknown information to the Company. What else can he learn about this elusive society? His crew of fifteen are then taken to a dormitory and told to relax. The captured crew figured to be treated harshly but that is not the case. Tired and hungry they are allowed to eat in the cafeteria. The food is delicious compared to the submarine’s. The marooned crew not only finds themselves grateful to be alive but treated so graciously.
After what seemed a good slumber Timothy is led to a conference room accompanied by several residents of the village expecting to be harshly interrogated for information. Surprised, Rebecca appears to be in charge of the enquiry. She is a middle-aged woman of medium build with a pleasant smile. Aware of the routine Timothy cuts right to the chase and tells his story. It is true United Development devised this scheme making his vessel a target of the other three and here he is exactly as planned. The company figured he and his crew would eventually be released giving the board of directors’ valuable information to better negotiate terms of compliance in the sea. What they didn’t know was that Timothy is part of a greater alliance being developed by nations to become independent of the monopoly held by United Development Corporation. He had volunteered to the dangerous Company’s clandestine operation not to gain information and subterfuge for them but to make contact in interest of the Unified Nations. If countries are to have success breaking free of the Company’s monopoly it surely won’t hurt having support of the aquatic people including their help.
Listening in, underwater headquarters now has more information than bargained for. Obviously, a fight’s brewing. It makes no sense to remain uninvolved as managed for centuries and they indisputably don’t want United Development to succeed. Besides they are being attacked by the company and to do nothing will be suicide. Even though Timothy and his crew can be critical infiltrators, for the Unified Nations to return them to shore would cause suspicion, possibly catastrophic. It is decided to return them to the gloomy ocean bottom for a while as if they had never been found in hopes the Company will eventually return to learn their fate and tow them back to port if they were still alive. Continually receiving distress signals the firm can’t ignore it anymore sending a submarine to implement a rescue. Once taken to the corporate office Timothy maintains contact with aquatic people is useless as does his crew.
The United board of directors are hardly stupid enough to buy Timothy’s story. These submarines replenish their air supply much like gills on a fish that must pass through the water to absorb oxygen. Enough elapsed time was allowed after abandoning the decoy sub making it necessary for rescue by the sea dwellers to prevent their suffocation. Since the captain’s story overlooked this dilemma something fishy is going on. The director’s panel don’t pursue drastic measures getting to the bottom of this paradox on purpose thinking it much more strategic keeping Timothy and his crew handy and feed them errant information sure to surface one way or another.
United Development Corporation didn’t start as a monopoly. Their intentions were noble providing much needed natural resources and distributing them among countries. Some regions had more of some commodities and not enough of others. It first began by transporting merchandise but with the disarray of global catastrophes they increasingly became more involved in production. Being highly efficient is generally considered a good attribute until eliminating competition and diverse ideas. Over the years United Development has become so enormous it no longer caters to supply and demand but sets services and prices to different nations in return for political favors. Wealth and power have a mind of their own with an appetite for more wealth and power.
Transporting cargoes often necessitates travel by sea. Up to now ocean dwellers kept to themselves regarding events on the surface inconsequential leaving United Development Corp. free to sail as they pleased. With the arrival of Timothy, the marine people now know harmony below the sea is at peril. United Development also has a pretty good idea the cat is out of the bag. It is a big gamble insulting those who ultimately have a big impact on what happens not only in the sea but what occurs on it. What a quandary? To jeopardize safe nautical conduct can obviously prove to be a huge mistake but at the same time resources on earth’s surface are growing thin and the answer lies beneath the sea.
Jake and Kate anchor their boat off the shore of Greenland. They have been invited to join a meeting of the newly formed Unified Nations. Radio contact had been prohibited sure to be intercepted by United Development they assuredly do not want to attend. Evidently Timothy’s rouge worked conveying the invitation to oceanic headquarters. It seems strange now that the massive glaciers once present on the small continent have melted. The conference congregates in a fjord surrounded by steep cliffs by United Development. Their corporate control centers now operate from several orbiting space stations high above earth. From these positions earth is observed as if under a microscope. Holding the rendezvous at the bottom of these high mountains is an attempt to conceal its activities from outer space as much as possible.
Conversations go pretty much as expected at the assembly. It don’t seem right those on luxury space stations should have this much control over the population majority living in perilous conditions on earth. Adding insult to injury is pitting countries against each other to fuel corporate greed and seems intolerable. If solutions are to be developed to ease worsening conditions on earth all nations must all labor together. The nuclear threat hanging over all their heads can no longer be tolerated. Not so easy to resolve is how to get corporate cooperation. Paying them off is certainly not an option since they control the economy anyway and to what end could more power be needed. Military reprisal by the Unified Nations might be the best option but then again how much control does the Corporation have over nuclear missiles scattered around the world? It is agreed there has to be another way. Of course negotiation is always the answer but what can the nations offer the corporation wants? Only one way to find out and that’s to make clear rebellion is imminent unless concessions are considered.
Jake and Kate return to their underwater compound amazed that the nations are capable of acting in each other’s interest so much. Surely the board of directors soaring about the earth in their space stations outfitted much like luxury yachts must at least be somewhat sympathetic to complaints of the land people. The subaquatic civilizations united long ago with an ultimate council called headquarters located in the Mariana trench deep in the Pacific Ocean. Very few citizens know where it is since they had all deducted a century ago to conceal it as much as possible knowing quite well time would come when their submerged world inevitably became desirable to those on land. This precaution is now more valuable than ever making it invisible to corporate board members peering down from space. Even though this city is secluded, highly evolved technology allows communication through the water with all cities at the speed of light. In this way everyone is allowed to vote pro or con whether to support the Unified Nations on land. Certainly not unanimous, they decide to assist although remain separate since there are no guarantees terrestrials can be trusted either.
The Unified Nations now has the assurance they desperately need. Without cooperation of the sea people United Development can sustain significant damage on open oceans. Every coin has two sides. On one hand it is essential some have significant wealth to sustain costly buildings and infrastructure and the means to transport commodities as well as produce them. On the other hand, what is the purpose of it all without cooperation and content of the population?
