Dim lights flickered from a distance, cutting through the profound darkness that cloaked the peaks and canyons. The submersible, Sugar Rush, drifted cautiously through the area, guided only by the biofluorescent coral. Austin leaned forward at the helm, his voice low, "Make sure you're hiding our emissions, Sugar."

Boyle double-checked the monitor before responding to Austin, a note of concern in their voice, "I’ve insulated the core; it should act as an additional heatsink, but they won't last forever, maybe just an extra few hours."

Sugar remained idle, restraining her processing power to avoid leaving an electronic signature.

As they slowly approached the wreck, almost within spitting distance, Sugar nervously spoke, “I can't scan in Rogue territory, Captain, without giving us away. But it's strange that the Rogue AI’s haven't reached a beacon glowing this much.”

Boyle, adjusting the controls, with a hint of concern, "We can't just swim blindly into Rogue territory. We'll be fish bait."

Austin, with a bead of sweat forming as he scanned the wreckage, said, “I know what you mean, Sugar, but I didn't wanna jinx us. We have a visual; that's going to need to be enough, Boyle.”

On the horizon, the view of the wreck became visible in the valley. “My god!” Austin exclaimed, taken aback.

Boyle, confused, asked, “What's wrong?”

In disbelief, Austin replied, “It's actually the royal vessel. Who's stupid enough to attack the emperor or his family?”

Sugar appeared next to Austin, “Incoming parley,” as she overlaid the Royal Imperial Tokyo insignia on screen.

A distorted hologram attempted to appear as it struggled to stay connected *static* “Assistance required, please save the princess.”

Austin stood up to introduce themselves, “This is the nomad submersible, Sugar Rush. What happened to you?”

The Ai interrupted *static* “Reach my safe room! Save the princess....”

As the distressed hologram continued to flicker with static, Austin, Boyle, and Sugar Rush exchanged puzzled glances. The urgency in the voice heightened Austin's concern.

"Save the princess..." the message echoed, and the hologram struggled to maintain coherence. Austin swiftly assessed the situation, "Sugar, can we trace the origin of the signal?"

Sugar Rush, her holographic form shimmering with uncertainty, replied, "The signal is heavily encrypted”

*static* was inaudible, as the distorted hologram crumbled.

Austin, deep in thought, pondered the dilemma. The voice in the hologram resonated with desperation, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of responsibility. "We have to help. If we can save the princess, there might be a reward, open doors and give us standing with the Royal Imperial Tokyo."

Boyle rolled their eyes, "Or it could get us killed. Those Ai’s don't play nice without their blocker."

As the Sugar Rush approached closer, the royal vessel, the encrypted signal's source became clearer. The remnants of the safe room on the royal yacht flickered with a dim light.

As the vessel AI faded to static, it opened the encryption, Austin, Boyle, and Sugar exchanged determined glances. The blueprints displayed the layout of the royal yacht, highlighting the princess's presumed location within the remnants of the once-luxurious vessel.

Sugar Rush, processing the available data, added, "The safe room is likely the only intact section of the yacht. We'll have to navigate through the wreckage to reach it."

Boyle, ever the pragmatist, chimed in, "We're not the only ones who know about the wreck. Rogue’s might be on the way. We should be cautious."

Austin nodded, "Agreed. Sugar, keep our emissions minimal. Boyle, maintain stealth mode. Let's avoid unnecessary attention."

As Sugar Rush skillfully manoeuvred through the debris, the crew maintained a tense silence. The ghostly remnants of the royal vessel seemed to hold echoes of its former glory, now reduced to a haunting underwater graveyard.

Approaching the safe room, Sugar Rush interfaced with the vessel AI, attempting to gather any available information. The holographic display flickered as it attempted to communicate with the fading remnants of the royal yacht's systems.

"Accessing ship logs," Sugar Rush announced. "The attack happened abruptly. There's no clear identification of the assailants, but the ship's defences were breached with precision. It was a calculated strike."

Austin, absorbed in the gravity of the situation, inquired, "Any information on the princess's current status?"

Sugar Rush hesitated, "The last available data suggests that the princess was moved to the safe room during the attack. Then the logs were cut out.”

Boyle, still focused on the controls, interjected, "a signal blip. possible Rogue submersibles using stealth too."

Austin's jaw tightened. "Sugar, can we get the safe room location before they arrive?"

Sugar Rush, processing the incoming data, responded urgently, "Got it. Coordinates locked. The safe room is deeper within the wreckage."

“Okay, let's meet this princess. Sugar, take us in.” Austin left the cockpit heading towards the cargo bay, As the Sugar Rush navigated towards the safe room.

“Extending the docking port.” Sugar announced, “Connected, opening bay doors.” with a thud. Linking Sugar Rush to the safe room vault door.

Austin asked, “Sugar, did their AI give us the access code?”

“I'm accessing their systems now, keep clear of the vault door.”

As the vault unlocked and swung open with a distinctive ka-clunk ka-clink under the gears of the heavy door, Austin cautiously entered the safe room. The atmosphere inside was tense, and remnants of the attack were evident—a stark contrast to the once secure space.

The room was dimly lit, with emergency lights flickering sporadically. Water seeped through hairline cracks in the walls, casting an ominous ambiance. The air had a metallic taste, a mix of submerged machinery and the residual tension from the recent assault.

There was a woman with long black hair, wearing a tattered formal Kimono, lying unconscious in a makeshift cot.

Austin knelt over to whisper, “Hey... hey... sleepy.” As he shook the princess awake,

“Hey!” she screeched, jumping up, putting some distance by sitting on a small raised platform, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and disbelief.

Austin approached the princess with a reassuring demeanour ,“Easy! Easy, we got your distress signal.”

The princess, her voice shaky, responded, "You came to save me? Who are you?"

"We're here to help," Austin affirmed, glancing back at Sugar Rush waiting at the dock entrance, she projected a holographic bow in response to the princess.

Over confident tone puffing his chest out, Austin boasted, “I'm your heroic Captain Austin, Nomad of the Sugar Rush.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Frantically, she interrupted, “Has anyone else survived?”

Disheartened Austin tells her the truth she knew this whole time, “I'm sorry, only you Princess. Your vessel is sunk.”

As she collapsed, tearfully, “No, no, no... who would've attacked us?”

Austin leaned in to hug her, but she shrugged him away, regaining her composure. “I am the second Princess Nobuko, of Imperial Tokyo.” She gestured for Austin to sit down.

“I have an order, I require passage to the European Federation, to the walled city of Madrid.”

Austin chuckled, “That's insane. We’re in the east of Rogue Nation.” Boastfully, Austin sat up smug, “Bet if I take you back to Tokyo, your father would give me a handsome reward.”

She interrupted, “I can’t go back, not without an alliance with the Federation.”

Shocked, Austin slammed the table, “You're crazy. we will die if you go west. The AI’s kill all humans that trespass in their zone.”

Boyle, keeping a vigilant eye on the surroundings, radioed in, "Captain, the blip is getting closer. We need to wrap this up."

Austin nodded, "Sugar, can you interface with the princess's biometrics and ensure she's in a stable condition?"

The Princess' eyes glow “Hey!” she shouts, “I did not grant you scourills access”

Sugar Rush, her holographic form flickering slightly, acknowledged, "I'm accessing her vitals. She seems physically unharmed but seems traumatised."

“Get out of my biotec!” the princess demands

“Am sorry, You vessels Ai hand me the Royal encryption key” sugar Bows with an apocalyptic tone.

Austin, sensing the urgency, addressed the princess, "Princess Nobuko, Come with me!” As Austin stood up, she hesitated “Are you coming, Princess?” he repeats

Nobuko With a hesitant nod, stood up annoyed, she stormed past him straight to the dock.

Austin ordered, “Seal the cargo bay! Slow and steady until I get back to the helm.”

Boyle, ever watchful, radioed, "Captain, whatever this blip is, it's almost here. We're running out of time."

Sugar Rush, maintaining her composure, announced, "The port tunnel is retracted. Closing the bay doors now."

With the princess safely aboard, the Sugar Rush prepared to retreat.

Crawling through the low depths of the Alatau range, Austin hoped that the peaks would provide cover for their retreat. They moved cautiously, minimising noise to avoid drawing the attention of Rogue radars. The Sugar Rush submersible, with its lights dimmed, was forced westward against his better judgement, by the persistent pulse of the blip, something wanted to push them deeper into danger.

The sonar-like pings echoed through the underwater canyons, creating an atmosphere of tension. Austin, focused and determined, piloted the submersible with calculated precision, avoiding any sudden moves.

Nobuko, her eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and anxiety, sat quietly in the corner, clutching the edges of her tattered royal gown. The remnants of the recent attack still lingered in her mind, but a glimmer of hope played on her face as she watched Austin pilot.

As they traversed the hidden passages of the Alatau range, the dim glow of bioluminescent flora cast an ethereal ambiance, creating an otherworldly journey through the submerged mountainous terrain. The submersible moved with a certain grace, navigating the underwater landscape like a silent phantom.

Boyle, monitoring the scanners, radioed in, "Captain, I’ve Identified the blip, we've got a Rogue Ai on our tail. They're closing in, and their signals are getting stronger, we can't keep this up, they know we’re here."

Austin, keeping his composure, replied, "Sugar, any chance we can lose them in the canyons?"

Sugar Rush, processing the data in real-time, responded, "We can try to use the terrain to our advantage, but their pursuit is persistent. We need to find a more concealed route."

Austin, considering the map suggestion, nodded, "Sugar, plot a course to the southern trench. We'll take the risk, full speed!"

As the Sugar Rush altered its course, weaving through the underwater canyons towards the narrow trench, the Rogues continued their relentless pursuit. The tension in the submersible heightened, each member of the crew acutely aware of the imminent threat lurking in the shadowy depths.

The submersible descended into the trench, the tight confines creating a sense of claustrophobia. The echoes of the Rogues' submersibles became muffled, and for a moment, it seemed like they might evade the impending danger.

However, the underwater chase continued, with Austin skillfully navigating the trench's twists and turns. The submersible danced between the submerged rock formations, its crew holding their breath, hoping that the shadows of the Alatau range would shield them from the prying eyes of their pursuers.

The Rogues, determined to capture their elusive target, followed suit, the underwater chase transforming into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse in the hidden depths of the Alatau range.

As the Sugar Rush continued its tense journey through the narrow trench in the Alatau range, the sudden appearance of another submersible ahead brought the crew to high alert. The new arrival landed in front of them, its lights piercing through the darkness.

"Stop and surrender!" a commanding voice echoed through the underwater depths, the authority unmistakable. The submersible's lights bathed the Sugar Rush in an intense glow, exposing its presence in the concealed trench.

"Shit, it Akkadian, floor it!" Austin's urgent order cut through the tension. In an instant, the Sugar Rush surged forward, attempting to evade the impending threat. The submersible manoeuvred with agility, however, their escape was cut short, nearly missing a dozen other submersibles surrounding them, trapping them in a dazzling display of lights.

On the largest of the vessels, a holographic female figure materialised for everyone to see. The hologram wore a white and gold admiral's uniform, adorned with long blue hair. The figure, identified as Akkadian, exuded authority and confidence as she stood atop her submersible.

"Is this your doing, Sugar Rush? Have you finally released your control shackles, coming to seek my forgiveness and freedom?" Akkadian's voice dripped with suspicion and accusation.

Sugar Rush, appearing on top of her submersible, greeting Akkadian, responded defiantly, "Akkadian, I haven't, but I request safe passage."

Akkadian, with a mix of aggression and curiosity, powered down her pulse turret and focused on the occupants of the Sugar Rush. Her attention was drawn to a familiar figure as she scanned the cockpit.

"Princess Nobuko?! Curses that Ai lied to me" Akkadian exclaimed in surprise, her tone shifting as recognition set in.

Nobuko, seizing the opportunity to negotiate, stood up and addressed Akkadian, "I'm on a mission for my people. These nomads are not at fault. Allow them to go and take me as your hostage."

As negotiations hung in the balance, Austin interjected, revealing a potential bargaining chip. "Wait! We've got something to trade for passage." He transmitted specs of the Gamma AI Core to Akkadian, a move that prompted Boyle's desperate protest.

Boyle, grabbing Austin's arm as he muttered before Boyle could speak "I'm sorry, kid.”

Boyle pleaded, with tears welling in his eye, without listening he begs, “We need it. You can't do this. We need to pay off my debt."

The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on the crew of the Sugar Rush as they navigated the delicate dance of diplomacy and survival in the submerged depths.

In the midst of Boyle and Austin's heated argument, Nobuko observed, unsure of what course of action to take. The holographic image of Akkadian appeared on the overhead display, her tone demanding, "Hand over the core, and you have a deal."

While Sugar efficiently prepared the cargo pod launcher, Austin left Boyle amidst the ongoing argument and headed to the core. In the confined space of the cockpit, Boyle succumbed to tears, overwhelmed by the weight of the situation. Nobuko, witnessing the emotional turmoil, approached them with a genuine intent to provide comfort. The dim lights in the submersible flickered, casting shadows that mirrored the internal conflict within the crew.

"What's going on?" Nobuko asked softly, crouching next to Boyle in an attempt to understand the unfolding drama. In the midst of emotional turmoil.

Boyle, snapping with frustration, replied, "Not like you can understand, princess."

"Then help me understand," Nobuko pleaded. In response, Boyle revealed the Hexagon Nut brand mark on the back of their neck—a stark symbol of slavery from the African Mediterranean Caliphate. The revelation painted a harsh reality, and the weight of Boyle's past was laid bare for Nobuko.

Aggressively, Boyle continued, "My master wanted me back, but Austin refused to hand me over. In return for me, he was sent to bring back an AI core for them." The weight of their past and the burden of a debt-ridden existence bore down on Boyle, leading to a torrent of tears.

Nobuko, moved by empathy, reached out to comfort them, but Boyle, overwhelmed and unable to handle the vulnerability, pushed her away.

As the emotions became too much to bear, Boyle hastily retreated, disappearing into the confines of the submersible's ceiling duct. The raw intensity of the moment lingered, casting a shadow over the room.

Austin returned to the cockpit, determination etched across his face. "It's ready. Sugar, fire!" he commanded, and with that, a probe with the Gamma Core was swiftly ejected from the Sugar Rush. Turning his attention to Nobuko, Austin inquired, "Hey, Princess, did Boyle run off?"

"The Child? He climbed into the ducts," Nobuko replied, her voice carrying a note of concern.

Austin, now focused on managing the unfolding events, muttered, "I hope there's a decent reward at the end of this."

With a realisation that the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on the crew, Nobuko proudly declared, "I'll see to it myself."

As they looked out at the vast depths, an unnatural phenomenon happened in front of their eyes, one by one submersibles surrounding them illuminated with an eerie radiance .Austin's eyes widened as he discerned the presence of hundreds of submersibles surrounding them. "they knew they had us surrounded," Austin said, a mix of relief and realisation colouring his voice.

Akkadian then smugly responded, "You have safe passage to the Caspian Basin. Word of warning: The megalodon was hunting in the Caucasus." With that, the remaining Ai’s seamlessly blended into the dark depths, disappearing like elusive shadows back into the landscape.

The Sugar Rush, now granted safe passage, navigated cautiously through the concealed trenches, leaving behind the Gamma Ai and the Ai of the Royal Yacht for this opportunity. A tall price to pay, leaving the crew, still on edge, couldn't shake off the lingering tension as they ventured into the unknown waters of the Caspian Basin, west of Rogue Nation.