EDGE: I, Hero Quests: Atlantis Quest 1 Read online

  “This is the Barracuda,” replies Crabbe. “The Mer people helped us to build it. It is the most advanced sub in the world. Shen will tell you all about it.”

  Shen shows you around the Barracuda.

  “It is amazing,” you say. “But why are you showing me this?”

  “We need you to pilot it,” replies Crabbe.

  If you already know about Triton, go to 29.

  If the admiral hasn’t told you about the Atlantean threat, go to 9.

  23

  “I’ll use the sub-aqua bike,” you say. “You load the mines and program the bike autopilot, so I can attach them in exactly the right place.”

  You put on an aquasuit, while Shen carries out your orders.

  “I’ve set the mines to explode thirty minutes after setting them,” Shen explains. “That should give you enough time to get back to the Barracuda.”

  “I’d better be quick then,” you smile.

  “You can attach the mines using the robotic arm or swim out and attach them,” Shen tells you. “There’s a chance that the ship’s scanners will detect the bike so near to the hull, but it will take longer if you swim.”

  You nod. “I’ll decide when I get to the ship. You stay here and keep the Barracuda hidden until I return.”

  Soon you are heading towards the mother ship on the sub-aqua bike. The autopilot takes you to the spot where the mines must be attached.

  You radio back to Shen. “In position. Ready to deploy mines.”

  If you wish to use the robotic arm to attach the mines, go to 48.

  If you wish to swim over to attach them yourself, go to 30.

  24

  “Launching torpedoes,” you say.

  “That’s not going to work,” cries Shen. “They’re SMART torpedoes…”

  You see what she means. The incoming torpedoes simply dodge your torpedoes and head towards you.

  Shen shrieks, “Activating countermeasures!”

  But it’s too late. There is a huge explosion and a flash of light as the Barracuda is blown apart.

  You have failed! To begin again, go to 1.

  25

  “We need to know more about the ship,” you say. “Run a scan.”

  Shen obeys. Within seconds a 3-D hologram of the ship is displayed on the control screens. You scan through the data file.

  “What’s the probability of a successful frontal attack?”

  Shen shakes her head. “Practically zero…”

  To attack the ship anyway, go to 36.

  If you want to find another way to destroy it, go to 10.

  26

  You check for a “code rainbow” on your computer. A data file comes up.

  “Code rainbow refers to all ORCA vessels.”

  You are still puzzled. You type “What is ORCA?” The screen goes blank.

  The fast attack craft is getting nearer. You have to make a quick decision.

  If you wish to attack, go to 47.

  If you wish to make contact with the approaching boat, go to 12.

  27

  “I’ll deal with the divers,” you tell Shen. You turn the sub-aqua bike around and head for the incoming divers.

  You open fire with the sub-aqua bike’s sea dart missiles. The explosions take out a couple of the enemy. They return fire but you easily dodge their razor darts as you spin the bike through the water. Again you fire at the Atlanteans, and again your aim is good. Another enemy falls to your attack.

  However, the other fighters split into two sections to outflank you. You can’t fight both groups. You are in big trouble!

  If you wish to surrender, go to 7.

  If you wish to fight on, go to 34.

  28

  “Fire water cannon!” you order.

  A stream of high-pressure water hits the steel nets and rips them apart, releasing the Barracuda.

  But you are not out of danger just yet. “Nautilus Cruiser closing in,” Shen warns. “We should get out of here.”

  To attack the enemy sub, go to 37.

  To take evasive action, go to 8.

  29

  Admiral Crabbe scowls. “Our sonar scouts and unmanned underwater vehicles have detected a large fleet of underwater craft heading towards a volcanic island in the Pacific.”

  “So?”

  “The island is home to a top-secret missile base. We think that the Atlanteans want the brand-new rocket technology that is being developed there.”

  “Then send over some cruisers and blast them out of the water,” you suggest.

  “We already have,” says Crabbe. “The Atlanteans have wiped out every vessel that was sent to intercept them. The only ship that can get there in time and take on the Atlanteans is the Barracuda. You have to get to the island and stop the Atlanteans getting the missiles. And that’s just the first part of the quest. If you do that, then the next step is to drive the Atlanteans back under the seabed.”

  “It’s a do-or-die mission,” says Shen.

  “Then what are we waiting for?” you say.

  Go to 3.

  30

  “I’m going to attach the mines myself,” you radio Shen.

  You stop the bike, pick up a mine and swim to the mother ship.

  Shen’s voice comes over your headset. “You’ve been spotted! The scanners have picked up a squad of enemy divers heading your way!”

  “I’ve only attached one mine!” you say. “How long before they reach me?”

  “A couple of minutes,” replies Shen.

  “I won’t be able to swim to the bike and get back in time to attach more mines,” you say. You get back to the sub-aqua bike just as the divers arrive.

  Go to 27.

  31

  You shake your head. “I’d rather find out about the quest.”

  Admiral Crabbe bangs his hand on the table. “You have a serious attitude problem! Atlantis is the quest. And you need to know about it. Are you ready to listen?”

  You nod meekly.

  You swallow your pride. Go to 15.

  32

  “Maybe we should look for the mother ship. If we destroy it we’ll stop the attack,” you say.

  Shen nods. “I’ll scan for it.”

  Soon you are heading away from the Atlantean fighters and searching for the mother ship. Within minutes Shen finds it. “Enemy fifteen hundred metres, bearing 310 degrees.”

  “Bring up visual.” You gasp. The ship is huge!

  “Leviathan class,” the Barracuda tells you. “Command mother ship.”

  To attack the ship, go to 36.

  To find out more about it, go to 25.

  33

  “Torpedoes locked on! Fire!”

  The torpedoes speed through the water and hit the Ray Fighter. The Atlantean vessel disappears in a massive explosion.

  You report back to Admiral Crabbe, who tells you that the missile base is already under attack from the Atlantean fleet. The troops there are holding out, but time is running short.

  “Get to the island and try to keep the Atlanteans occupied while we get reinforcements to the base. Use jet boost to get there.” He signs off.

  Shen looks concerned.

  “What’s the problem?” you ask.

  “If we use jet boost, we won’t be able to use stealth mode,” she replies. “The Atlanteans will know we are coming. But if we don’t use jet boost, we might get there too late.”

  If you wish to use jet boost, go to 5.

  If you decide to use the stealth mode, go to 20.

  34

  You decide to carry on fighting and draw the divers away from the mines.

  Razor darts from their weapons fizz through the water, but you manage to avoid them.

  However, there are too many enemy fighters for you to keep track of. A explosion behind you sends shock waves through the water. You are thrown off your bike and pass into unconsciousness.

  Go to 13.

  35

  The screens fill with a picture of a great door
way in the seabed.

  “This entrance to New Atlantis is 15,000 metres under the sea,” explains Crabbe. “It is at such a depth that no submarine can reach it – it would be crushed. That’s why Shen’s people guard the entrance.”

  “Just a minute,” you say. “The Mariana Trench is supposed to be the deepest point of the seas, and that’s only 10,900 metres deep.”

  “That’s what we want people to think. We don’t want people to panic.” Crabbe looks grim. “The Atlanteans have broken through the seabed. Shen’s people are desperately trying to find out where exactly. In the meantime, the Atlanteans have threatened humans with total destruction. And that’s why you are needed.”

  If you want to know more about the Atlanteans, go to 9.

  If you want to know about your quest, go to 22.

  36

  “We should attack now,” you decide.

  Shen protests, but you ignore her. You steer the Barracuda towards the mother ship and launch a barrage of torpedoes.

  As you do so, the vessel’s huge metal doors open. Dozens of Atlantean Ray Fighters pour out. Hundreds of torpedoes head your way. Your mouth hangs open.

  “Deploy countermeasures!” Shen orders, knocking you to one side. “We need to take evasive action,” you cry, but it is hopeless. There are too many enemy vessels. A torpedo hits, taking out the Barracuda’s power systems. The Atlanteans move in for the kill, and in a flash your world implodes.

  Go back to 1.

  37

  “We could get trapped in the nets again,” you say. “We’re going to attack! Lock on torpedoes and fire.”

  The Barracuda’s torpedoes launch. The Nautilus Cruiser takes evasive action and avoids one torpedo. The other one strikes, forcing the ship into one of the Atlanteans’ own steel nets. The Nautilus is trapped! It tries to break free, but cannot. It is helpless.

  If you wish to destroy the cruiser, go to 46.

  If you wish to leave it and get to the island, go to 18.

  38

  “Saving humanity? Sounds interesting,” you reply. “How do I sign up?”

  “You come with us,” the man replies.

  You hand over the training mission to your second-in-command, and follow the ORCA agents to their boat.

  Soon you are heading out into the ocean. After an hour of travelling, the boat comes to a stop in the middle of nowhere.

  At that moment the boat begins to rock violently as a submarine emerges from the water. It looks nothing like any sub you have ever seen.

  “Welcome to ORCA’s HQ,” says the woman. “Admiral Crabbe is waiting for you.”

  Go to 6.

  39

  You wait for the mines to detonate…

  5… 4… 3… 2… 1…

  There is a series of explosions and the mother ship rocks. Huge explosions follow as the Barracuda’s torpedoes strike the engines and the Leviathan’s power source.

  Lights flash and alarms sound. Walls begin to buckle and seawater starts to pour in. The Atlanteans rush around in total panic.

  Hydros snarls at you, points his harpoon gun and fires. You just manage to dodge the deadly missile. He aims his weapon at you again. “This time I will not miss,” he snarls.

  At that moment, there is another explosion and the command centre’s window shatters. As water floods the room, you are astonished to see Shen appear on a sub-aqua bike! She opens fire at Hydros, hitting him before he can shoot you. The Atlantean commander floats away in a cloud of inky blue blood. Shen passes you a breathing apparatus. You quickly put it on and grab onto the bike.

  As you head to the safety of the Barracuda, you glance back to see the Atlanteans abandoning the mother ship. The Atlantean ships that were attacking the island are fleeing by diving back down into the depths.

  Go to 50.

  40

  “We can’t let it report back,” you say.

  Shen agrees.

  “So it’s time to see what the Barracuda’s weapons can do!”

  If you wish to attack with torpedoes, go to 33.

  To attack with the pressure cannon, go to 11.

  41

  “OK,” you say. “We’ll get to the island and see what we can do to stop the attack.”

  As you approach the island, the Barracuda’s 3-D scanner is full of moving dots, showing at least thirty Atlantean vessels attacking the island with rockets and sea-to-surface missiles.

  “Are you sure we’re doing the right thing?” asks Shen.

  If you wish to attack the Atlantean ships, go to 4.

  If you wish to try to find the mother ship, go to 32.

  42

  “Reverse engines, full power,” you order. The Barracuda strains against the steel net, but cannot break free.

  “Enemy attack imminent,” warns the Barracuda.

  “Forward, full power,” you order. Again the submarine thrusts against the net, but remains trapped.

  Shen shouts, “Do something!”

  But it’s too late. The Nautilus cruiser fires its water cannon and you disappear in a fiery explosion.

  The Barracuda has been destroyed, taking you and Shen to a watery grave. Go back to 1.

  43

  “Tell me what this quest is,” you say.

  “Reveal the Atlantis quest,” Crabbe says.

  The 3-D screens light up, showing images of strange sea creatures. “The Atlanteans weren’t happy being just rulers of the sea,” says Crabbe. “They wanted to take over the land and waged war against humankind. But we had an ally – the Mer.”

  Shen continues the story. “The Atlanteans enslaved my people. We rebelled against them and, after a long war, together we finally defeated them. They were exiled to an ocean realm beneath the seabed. The only entrance was sealed and guarded by my people.”

  Go to 35.

  44

  By not telling Hydros about the mines, you realise that you will probably die, but you shake your head. “I was just trying to find a way in,” you reply as you struggle to your feet.

  “You did that,” laughs Hydros.

  You look at your watch. There is one minute until detonation! You brace yourself for what is to come.

  If you fixed one or two mines to the hull, go to 21.

  If you attached four mines to the hull, go to 39.

  45

  You swing the Barracuda away from the incoming torpedoes, but they change course and continue to head towards you.

  “Fifteen seconds to impact,” warns the Barracuda’s computer voice.

  “We won’t be able to shake these off,” says Shen. “They are SMART torpedoes – intelligent and deadly!”

  “Can’t we use our torpedoes?” you ask.

  “No, they’ll just avoid them.”

  If you want to launch the Barracuda’s torpedoes anyway, go to 24.

  If you decide to ask for Shen’s advice, go to 17.

  46

  “Moving in to destroy the enemy,” you say.

  The Barracuda moves slowly towards the trapped Atlantean ship.

  At that moment a huge claw swings round from the Nautilus and grabs the Barracuda.

  “Warning. Hull at critical pressure,” the Barracuda’s computer voice says.

  But there is no escape. The Barracuda is crushed between the giant pincer.

  You are fish food! Go back to 1.

  47

  You decide to attack. “Fire torpedoes,” you order.

  The tigershark torpedoes launch. The incoming ship stands no chance. The torpedoes hit and the boat erupts in a massive fireball.

  “Target destroyed,” confirms your crew man.

  Minutes later a message comes in over your satellite phone. It is Admiral Sanchez, your boss. “You idiot!” he shouts. “You’ve just destroyed an ORCA vessel. It was coming to collect you for a top-secret quest. Didn’t you receive the code rainbow alert?”

  You don’t know what to say.

  “Get yourself back to base,” continues the admiral. “You’ll be a
nswering to a military court for what you’ve done.” The line goes dead.

  You shouldn’t have attacked! There’s no place on a quest for hotheads like you. Cool down and return to section 1.

  48

  You decide to attach the mines as quickly as possible and use the robotic arm. You begin to load up the mines into the robotic arm and then move the bike into position. You attach the first two mines to the hull without any problems.

  Shen’s voice comes over your headset. “You’ve been spotted! The scanners have picked up a squad of enemy divers heading your way!”

  “I’ve still got more mines to attach,” you say. “How long before they reach me?”

  “A couple of minutes,” replies Shen.

  “I won’t be able to attach all the mines,” you say. You wonder if two mines will be enough to blow open the hull…

  If you want to attack the divers, go to 27.

  If you want to continue to attach the mines, go to 16.