The South China Sea
"Position?!"
"300 meters!"
Deep beneath the surface of the South China Sea, the crew of the Chinese Ballistic Missile submarine, the Lóng Shēn, had always been confident in their state-of-the-art technology. However, that confidence began to wane as warning alarms blared through the dimly lit command center. A thick tension filled the air, punctuated by the urgent voice of the chief engineer.
"Control systems are failing! We're losing power to the propulsion unit!" he shouted, scrambling to analyze the readouts flickering erratically on the screens.
Captain Chen's heart raced as he surveyed the chaos around him. "Re-route power from auxiliary systems! We need propulsion to surface!" he commanded, struggling to maintain his grip on the situation.
But the lights flickered ominously, and the vibrations that had been a steady hum of life aboard the vessel turned into a violent shudder. The Lóng Shēn began to tilt, the sudden loss of stability causing crew members to stumble and grasp for support.
"Depth gauge reading: 500 meters and descending!" shouted a young crew member, panic creeping into his voice.
"Activate emergency ballast!" Captain Chen barked, yet deep down, doubt gnawed at him. The protocols were in place, but the sheer depth and the failing systems rendered them all too fragile in this moment of crisis. Clenching his jaw, he issued a silent prayer as the crew scrambled at their stations, yanking levers and flipping switches, desperate to halt their descent.
The sound of rushing water grew louder, an ominous reminder of the crushing weight of the ocean outside. Alarms blared more furiously now, almost drowning out the frantic shouts of the crew. "Water levels increasing in compartment three!" came the distressed report from the communications officer.
"Seal the hatches! Now!" Captain Chen ordered, but the realization hit him like a cold wave: the more they sealed, the more isolated each crew member became from potential rescue.
As the Lóng Shēn continued its relentless plunge toward the dark abyss, the reality of their mortality hung heavily in the air. Oxygen levels began to dwindle, and fear seeped into their hearts. The crew members exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting a desperate will to survive despite the looming uncertainty.
"If we sink any further, the sub will implode!" a terrified crew member yelled.
The lights flickered ominously, casting eerie shadows before plunging the crew into an abyss of total darkness. The only sounds that pierced the suffocating silence were the blaring alarms, relentlessly blaring, and the distant, ever-growing symphony of water pressure building outside the fragile hull.
The frantic breaths of the men echoed like desperate whispers, each inhale a testament to their confrontation with the impossible. With every agonizing second, the icy waters closed in around them, gradually enveloping the submarine, causing its metal frame to creak and groan under the immense weight of the sea.
With despair tightening its grip on their hearts, the crew prepared for their grim fate, knowing there was no glimmer of salvation left for any of them. As the shadows of the cold, dark depths closed in, they steeled themselves for the crushing embrace of the very submarine they had once commanded with pride and skill.
Except their deaths never came.
"375… 350… 300 meters! We're ascending!" a crew member shouted with uncontainable joy as he watched the submarine's depth monitor climb steadily upward, the numbers flickering like a beacon of hope.
Captain Chen's brow furrowed in disbelief. "How… how is this possible?" he asked, his voice tinged with both astonishment and curiosity as he struggled to grasp the miraculous ascent.
Outside, amidst the frigid, turbulent depths of the sea, a radiant figure shimmered with ethereal brilliance beneath the massive, looming silhouette of the submarine.
With an unyielding determination simmering in his core, Atomic, enveloped in his Kaio-ken form, unleashed a mighty battle cry as he used all his power to lift the massive submarine.
Straining against the colossal weight of the submarine, his muscles taut and veins pulsing with energy, he pushed back with sheer force of will, unwavering even as the weight of the vessel far exceeded his current capability.
He attempted to decrease the density of the submarine, but due to the vessel's sheer mass and length, he was unable to fully envelop it in his energy to reduce the weight. He could try to change the surrounding water to try to carry the sub out of the water, but he would still need to bear the weight as he currently was holding. Changing the subs' materials was out of the question, at least, not without placing the lives of the crew in danger.
He had no choice but to try to lift the massive vessel.
Simultaneously, he deftly and carefully adjusted the internal pressure within the sub as they ascended, a complex manipulation designed to safeguard the crew members from the potentially perilous effects of the rapid changes in pressure surrounding them.
Damn it! It's too heavy! Atomic thought as he felt his power begin to buckle under the immense weight of the submarine. Not even the power boost from his Kiao-Ken form was enough for him to accomplish what was his most challenging task yet.
Even with that knowledge, Atomic kept trying to prevent the submarine from sinking any further.
For now, he had to at least stop the submarine from sinking any further, because he knew that his reinforcements would arrive soon.
In a spectacular flash of metallic grandeur, ten towering RAG-79 Gundams, each standing an imposing five meters tall, surged forward to assist him. Their thrusters roared to life in a synchronized display of power and precision, creating a chorus of mechanical might in the depths.
Like a heroic phalanx forged from steel and light, they flanked Atomic, pooling their formidable strength alongside his own. Together, they slowly managed to lift the submarine with all their combined power against the submerged leviathan, steadily rising higher and higher as they pierced through the icy, suffocating grasp of the ocean's depths.
With one final, thunderous push, the submarine broke free from the tenacious grip of the water, soaring skyward into the open air like a legendary beast stretching its wings for the first time.
Now liberated from the peril of being crushed by the immense pressures of the ocean depths, Atomic and his fleet of Gundams skillfully maneuvered the damaged submarine to the surface of the ocean.
As his time limit was about to end, Atomic released his Kiao-Ken form and emerged from the water tiredly, droplets cascading off his form as he hovered over to the vessel.
He landed and placed a hand on the submarine's surface, analyzing its structure with a quick pulse scan, highlighting the damage and dents that marred its once-sleek body. Once aware of everything that was damaged, Atomic unleashed a concentrated pulse of energy. The powerful wave surged around the submarine, enveloping it in a shimmering aura.
The damaged hull began to shimmer and shift. Cracks healed, and dents smoothed out as if the submarine were reshaping itself under an experienced engineer's touch.
Within moments, the once-crippled submarine emerged revitalized and sea-worthy, ready to continue its journey through the vast, blue expanse of the ocean.
"Eve, please return the RAG-79 units to the hangar base," Atomic commanded as he read over his Gundam's internal readings on his HUD. "Their thrusters and frames have taken significant damage from hauling the sub and require some repairs."
"Understood," Eve replied promptly.
Atomic watched as the RAG-79 Gundams gradually backed away from the submerged vessel. With powerful movements, they propelled themselves through the crystalline ocean waters, their sleek frames slicing through the surface with precision.
As they made their way back to the underwater repair station, explicitly designed for the upkeep of his aquatic mechas nestled in the depths of the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, trails of frothy bubbles spiraled behind them, creating a breathtaking display that marked their swift passage through the sea.
Inside the dimly lit confines of the submarine, Captain Chen gripped the cool metal of the periscope, his heart racing with anticipation. He adjusted the lens, scanning the surface of the water for any signs of life or clues that could explain their unexpected emergence and the miraculous repairs that had revitalized their vessel.
To his astonishment, he spotted Atomic standing boldly atop the submarine's surface, his vibrant costume contrasting sharply with the ocean's deep blue.
Noticing the periscope turn to him, Atomic raised a hand in greeting, the sunlight glinting off his drenched costume.
"Atomic! Atomic saved us!" Captain Chen yelled, his voice echoing through the cramped quarters. A wave of excitement swept over the crew as they jumped to their feet, whooping and cheering at the revelation. Relief and gratitude washed over them, their fears dissipating at the sight of their savior. The once-quiet submarine was now filled with jubilant laughter and shouts of happiness as they celebrated their unexpected deliverance.
With the danger now over, Atomic burst upwards and flew away. Flying towards wherever he was needed next.
••o••o••o••
Unkown Location
Alexander Goodwin Pierce, the cunning and calculating Secretary of the World Security Council, presided over a dimly lit chamber that pulsed with tension. His authority was unquestioned as the acting leader of HYDRA, but today, that authority was being tested.
Before him sat HYDRA's most dangerous and influential members: the ruthless Baron Von Strucker, the cold-blooded assassin Tomi Shishido, the ambitious Baron Zemo, the sharp-witted Elisa Sinclair, and the unpredictable Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Each of them carried in their eyes a glimmer of desperation, a reflection of the organization's precarious position against a single man—Atomic.
"Care to repeat that, Sinclair?" Pierce's voice was low and laced with irritation, his gaze piercing as it fell upon Elisa. A flicker of anger ignited in her dark eyes, but she met his challenge with unwavering defiance.
"You heard me perfectly well, Pierce," she snapped, her tone icy. "Why have you not yet sent the Winter Soldier after Atomic? That lethal weapon of yours should have no problem tracking him down and putting an end to his menace once and for all."
Pierce leaned back slightly, a sardonic smile creeping across his lips as he considered her words. "If it were that simple, I would have had Atomic eliminated years ago," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper yet saturated with contempt. "The man is a force of nature. No bullet, missile, or bomb in our entire arsenal could possibly touch him before he turns them all into dust with a mere gesture. Sending the Winter Soldier would be a waste of a perfectly good asset."
Strucker interjected, his voice as hard as steel, "Even so, we cannot afford to remain passive. His relentless 'acts of goodness' are crippling our operations. New York was one of our most valuable resources for human test subjects. With Atomic scaring every trafficker away, we're rapidly running out of fresh supply. His mere presence is suffocating our plans, and the fear he instills is rapidly spreading globally."
Tomi, his eyes narrowing with focused intensity, added, "Not to mention Reth Igwe's sudden withdrawal from our strategies to destabilize Africa. Starting anew with another figurehead will take years, not to mention the inevitable downfall they will face, just like Igwe. Atomic is a parasite that needs to be expunged."
Zemo leaned forward, his keen mind always calculating. "What about his true identity? Your director, Nick Fury, knows it, does he not? Surely, that knowledge could be leveraged."
"He does know," Pierce admitted, his expression darkening with frustration. "Fury may seem unyielding, but he has a deep respect for Atomic. Fury won't break the trust he has carefully built with him. While this is an admirable quality for him, it poses a significant obstacle for us."
"So, what you're implying is that we do nothing?" Valentina asked, her voice a silken whisper that dripped with a latent threat. "That we allow Atomic to roam free while he dismantles our carefully constructed plans piece by piece?"
"Absolutely not," Pierce snapped, leaning forward in his seat, a flicker of urgency sparking in his eyes. "You seem to underestimate my resolve. I've been devising a strategy that will neutralize Atomic for good. But this plan must be ironclad. We cannot afford a single misstep."
Turning to Strucker, he asked sharply, "Do you have the manpower I require?"
"With the MRD facility in ruins, thanks to that red and white pest, our new army of enhanced HYDRA soldiers has been severely diminished," Strucker replied, his frustration palpable. "Yet, the soldiers we do have and my experiments are yielding results. It won't be long before we have the required numbers for your plan."
"Good," Pierce said, nodding, his demeanor sharpening like a knife's edge. "Zemo, what's the status of Project Iron Coffin?"
"Progress is slow, as anticipated," Zemo replied, though a hint of doubt crept into his tone. "I foresee completion within a year or so. But are you certain that it will be enough? If Atomic catches wind of our intentions, the plan will inevitably collapse before it can even begin."
"It won't fail," Pierce asserted, his voice cold and unwavering. "Every aspect will be executed meticulously, down to the smallest detail. When we're finished, Atomic's little heroic crusade will be nothing more than an insignificant blemish in HYDRA's history."
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AN:
Hello Everyone. I hope you enjoyed today's chapter. Unfortunately, it may be the last one I will release for a while.
As of now, I will be taking a break from writing this story in favor of focusing on my other book and taking the time to read other people's works. I'm sure this will disappoint several of you, but I can't in good conscience continue to write more chapters if my heart isn't in it.
Without further ado, I hope you've all enjoyed what I've released so far, and I'll see you all soon!