The swell violently dragged 595 against the verdant sides of the tunnel. Jagged rocks slashed her sides, mixing blue ichor in with the clouds of debris that’d come loose. Skin lighting up with pain, she used her powerful tentacles to push out from the wall and down, away from the initial surge.

“Stay close!” The Agent signed, maneuvering round a two-storey boulder that’d come free of its coral moorings and was sinking to the bottom. She searched desperately for an exit along the sides of the tunnel as they swam in loose formation, but all the main causeways were now jammed with hundreds of giant cephalopods desperately trying to escape all at once. Even more were emerging from their homes in chasms below them, swerving erratically to avoid being crushed by falling parts of the reef.

Another monumental explosion rocked the reef, and a billowing mushroom of superheated water exploded through a new crack in the roof a mile in front of them, vaporising dozens of their kind instantly. 595 did an abrupt about face, scanning the area ahead when two long tentacles grabbed her from the side and spun her around. She found a bulky soldier in full armour, with just her head and two arms sticking out of a borehole in the reef. “Where is your Senator!” They shouted at 595 through the chaotic din. “Who?” 595 signed back, confused.

The soldier immediately lost interest in her when Vreta swam into view. The tentacles dislodged from her and wrapped around the smaller male squid, pulling him towards the hole. “Senator! I need to get you to safety right now!”

Just then, a long, eerie, alien wail penetrated the waters. It was similar to the sound their ancient predators made when on the hunt, but finished with a deep thumping that almost sounded like...laughter. Most of the civilians in the tunnel cried out in fear and panic, redoubling their efforts to flee. The distant sounds of battle, weapons and bombs, wafted through the water from above somewhere, assaulting 595’s senses.

“What is happening!” She demanded, swimming over to the soldier, wrapping one tentacle around Vreta to stop him moving. The soldier looked at her. “It's here. Let go.” was the reply.