Written by Keith Ansell
Illustrated by Pauline & Robin Day
CHAPTER ONE

Bitterness was a feeling that Surface Agent X20 tried hard to suppress every time it arose within him. Even now he fought against it as he sped through the Pacific Ocean towards one of the deepest sub-sea trenches in the world and the underwater city of Titanica that lay waiting there.
He had been summoned to a meeting with the tyrant who had destroyed his home city and enslaved his people-a tyrant he now addressed as 'Majesty' and 'Oh Mighty One
X20 let his mind wander from the controls of his shark-like submarine. He could not remember what his parents had looked like no matter how hard he tried - Titan had condemned them to death and him to the lifelong slavery of a surface agent over seventy-five marine years ago.
His assignment was to spy on Marineville off the coast of California and report every move that the craft of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol, who were based there, made. In particular Stingray, the combat sub' commanded by Titan's arch enemy Captain Troy Tempest.
X20 had recently observed momentous activity at Marineville on his hidden scanners from within the seemingly derelict old house on the Isle of Lemoy. After briefing Titan on what he had seen the green-skinned Monarch had ordered him to leave for Titanica immediately.
Why should he be so cringing; why...
His shark-shaped craft did not stand a chance.
A vast shard of crumbling rock suddenly fell away from the trench wall X20 had been descending and cleaved his vessel in two - to be followed by more and more debris which quickly buried the wreckage when it reached the sea-bed far below.
He finally saw his mother's face as darkness closed in on him..
Two circles of green light probed through the depths to bathe the wreckage and its dead occupant with energy before it was completely covered. An exact replica of the vessel and its pilot came into existence and continued on towards Titanica as if nothing had happened - but this X20 was answerable to a different master.


X20 was escorted into the throne-room of Titan's palace by two aquaphibian guards.
'Leave us' ordered Titan from his ornate shell-encrusted throne. The green half-crustaceans creatures obeyed without question and Titan was left alone with his surface agent. 'Now X20, you say the activity at Marineville is due to the coming arrival of one of the Terrainean's oldest nuclear-powered submarines - but what is the purpose of such a visit?'
'It is a publicity campaign to promote the role of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol to the taxpayers of the surface world, Oh Mighty Titan. The submarine has been taken from the museum where it has been stored to its original construction site in England. It will sail from there in seven days time.'
'Then we will destroy it before a worldwide audience' intoned the undersea lord.
'...But how, Mighty One?' questioned X20. 'It will be escorted by many Terrainean craft - including the accursed Stingray.'
'Be silent!' roared Titan. 'Your words offend my ears. A plan is already perceived by my superior intellect.' Quickly he rose from his throne and walked beneath the airtight observation dome to a great conch shell. Taking up a coral bar he struck it and before the vibrations had died an Aquaphibian guard reentered. 'Summon my chief scientist to me at once, guard. He is to bring his latest invention with him -from what I have heard it is the answer to our problem.'
'Yes, Majesty,' said the creature in its strange warbling voice and left to carry out Titan's command. Only a few moments passed before it returned to the chamber with another green-skinned being - more human in appearance than the Aquaphibian and wearing flowing yellow robes.
'Here it is, Master,' announced the chief scientist handing Titan a metallic cylinder about three inches long and half an inch in diameter. 'I have finally perfected the prototype for a hand-held matter disrupter. When the trigger is activated this device will emit a ray of coherent energy that will completely disintegrate any object within its range.'
'Excellent, excellent - now leave your inventions with me and be gone,' ordered Titan. The Lord of Titanica slowly rose from his throne and descended the steps from the dais to stand beside X20. 'You will go to England with the disruptor. Disguised as a Terrainean you will infiltrate the base from where the submarine will be launched - use a hypnobeam on one of its crewmembers and instruct him to take the disrupter and carry out as much sabotage as possible when they are halfway through their voyage. With luck the ancient vessel will be completely destroyed - and my enemies discredited in the eyes of their own people.'
'I will use it,' said X20 as he took the cylinder from Titan's hand. 'But for the Mysterons' purposes and not yours. First, though, it must be tested - and it is only fitting that it be tested on you, Oh Mighty One.' X20 raised the disruptor and pointed it at Titan.
'You dare threaten me - Titan ofTitanica! You -a mere surface agent. I will-'
Titan's last words were cut short as the Mysteronised X20 fired the disruptor. A purple ray hit the tyrant, transfixing him in an incandescent halo of pure energy. Two green circles of light suddenly appeared and bathed Titan's body seconds before it completely disintegrated.
In his place now stood a Mysteron recreation.
'You know what you must do, Titan,' said X20. It was more a statement than a question.
'Yes, X20. I will not fail. The Mysterons' plans will be carried out,' responded the sea king in a lifeless tone. 'But you must prepare the way. Take the disruptor and go-do what must be done.'

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