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Another world in another time. An ancient temple is unearthed in the middle of a mining camp settled in a colony known as YUMMARRA. Within it lies the tomb of GORAK, a figure that legends proclaim led the forces of darkness against the forces of light. Prophecy states that the discovery of Gorak's tomb will herald another great conflict, centered on the recovery of seven crystal shards that will empower a descendent of the evil priest to harness their supernatural powers for enlightenment or destruction. An investigative survey team is dispatched, led by the renowned archeological scholar JOSEF ARCANNA. Familiar with the prophecy, and faced with translating centuries old hieroglyphics on a stone obelisk that may point to the resting place of the seven crystal shards, Josef calls upon the assistance of his daughter JESSA, a linguistics and history professor who teaches at a university within the ALLIED REPUBLIC capitol city of CENTROPOLIS. Notified of her father's request by Prime Minister ORLOV ROMLOCK, who is also her uncle, Jessa is informed of the utmost secrecy surrounding the discovery, lest the information filter to their enemies in the KAMMARIAN EMPIRE. Romlock expresses concern that if the legends are true, the powers of Gorak's Crystal Shards could be used by the Kammarians, who have already invaded several countries on the opposite side of the globe in an effort to dominate the planet. Romlock assigns the task of escorting his niece and her robot assistant EVE to Captain VALANCE TORWALD and his Lieutenant JACE TORLENT, two Allied Republic Airmen whose heavily armored amphibious aircraft the SEAHAWK is designed to outrun and withstand almost any enemy attack. Rounding out Valance's crew are gunner/mechanic MUSTAPHA COLTON and engineer BERL KLIGSON. Not privy to the secret details of Jessa's mission, and thinking it is nothing more than a milk run, Valance and his crew transport the young woman to Yummarra, far across the planet. Anxious to return to more pressing military matters, the crew of the Seahawk are nonetheless dutybound to remain in place while Jessa and Josef work. No sooner do the father and daughter team decipher the ancient markings however, that the island is attacked by the forces of the Kammarian General HEIRONYMOUS DARKBLOOM and his second-in-command IKARIS SHRECK. Fearful that Darkbloom and the Kammarians may fulfill the prophecy of the shards, Josef and Jessa destroy the obelisk. Unable to retrieve Gorak's other artifacts in time however, the father and daughter team flee with the information they have uncovered, barely escaping with their lives as the crew of the Seahawk rescues them in a harrowing and narrow escape. Darkbloom and his officers secure the artifacts in Gorak's tomb... Believing that the prophecy may be linked to Darkbloom or perhaps even the supreme commander of the Kammarian Forces, Josef instructs Jessa's assistant EVE to process a lineage trace that will identify the evil priest's present day descendent. He then asks Valance to transport them to an area in SEAZONE near the island colony of SEAGAIT. It is here that he and Jessa know the obelisk points to as the final resting-place of Gorak's lost shards. Valance and his crew are resistant; the Kammarian invasion of Yummarra has also consumed several surrounding Republic allies, including Valance's native islet SIMMORRA. Contacting his commanding officer, Valance requests permission to aid in resistance efforts, but is instructed that Prime Minister Romlock himself has ordered them to continue with their current assignment. Discovering that Valance's family in Simmorra is probably in danger because of the Kammarian invasion, Jessa relents and reveals the true nature of her and Josef's mission, causing the airman and his crew to grudgingly recognize they have no choice but to press on. Arriving at Seagait, the band meets regional administrator LYRA FALLTOWER, who once knew Valance when they both attended the same university together. Now assigned to govern the tiny islet city, Lyra shares that it has become a haven for dissidents of the countries invaded by the Kammarians. Understanding the importance of the prophecy and it's relation to current global events, Lyra agrees to assist the group with their search, providing them with a short range craft that they can use to reach the dormant volcanic island that the obelisk points to. Dusk turns to evening and as Jessa and Josef chart out the next day's schedule with EVE, the crew enjoys a brief shore leave. Jace, Mustapha and Berl become very friendly with the locals, particularly a blue skinned Seagait native girl named GWENDYLL, while Valance spends time reminiscing with Lyra. As daybreak arrives and the adventurers prepare to set out, Seagait is surrounded by a Kammarian Naval detachment that orders the ocean colony to surrender or be bombarded. Rushing to repel the invaders, Valance and his crew's attempts to mobilize the colony's defenses are thwarted by the appearance of Darkbloom's landing party, and as EVE announces that her lineage trace has yielded results, Prime Minister Orlov Romlock appears. Having colluded with the Kammarians, Romlock has used Jessa, Josef, Valance and his crew as pawns in his quest to reclaim the crystal shards, because as EVE confirms, it is he who is the direct descendent of Gorak. Demanding that the group lead him to the islet and temple where Gorak's shards lay, Romlock states that he and Darkbloom have forged an alliance by which the renegade general has agreed to assist Romlock. Convinced that the Kammarians will soon rule their world, Romlock believes he can utilize the supernatural powers of the crystals to forge a new order with them. Josef replies he is mad, and that anyone attempting to harness the powers of Gorak will only be consumed by the powers of darkness. Realizing that the band refuses to cooperate, Romlock defers to Darkbloom, who orders Lyra's execution in an effort to coerce cooperation. Carrying out the order, Shreck raises his sword to Lyra. Valance breaks free of the guards in an attempt to protect her but in the scuffle, she is nonetheless killed while she tries to protect him in turn. While Valance cradles Lyra in shock, Shreck moves on to Jessa, but Josef intercedes, stepping forward with the information his brother-in-law demands and in turn, saves his daughter's life. Romlock and Shreck depart with Josef, Jessa, and Valance under heavy guard while Darkbloom has Jace, Mustapha and Berl imprisoned. Jace tries reasoning with the General, pointing out that Romlock will undoubtedly turn on all of them should the crystals be found. Darkbloom in turn replies he does not believe in the prophecy, but by aiding Romlock, his emperor has already gained military secrets that the Kammarians can use against the Allied Republic. Romlock's captive entourage reaches the island and utilizing EVE's sensors, locates Gorak's sanctuary. Atop the altar and glowing in the darkness lie the seven crystal shards. Garbing himself in Gorak's ceremonial robes, mask, and gauntlets, Romlock chants an ancient tome meant to contact the forces of the netherworld. At Seagait, Darkbloom prepares to leave for his command vessel in the harbor when new explosions suddenly rock the island colony. It's an Allied Republic counter-strike! Having requested backup from his commanding officer en route to Seagait, Valance's prior instincts now lead to his crew and Seagait's salvation. Taking advantage of the sudden attack, Jace, Mustapha and Berl are able to break free and coordinating Lyra's defenses, begin to repel Darkbloom's forces as the battle outside begins to rage. While Jessa, Josef, Valance and EVE watch grimly, Romlock's mastery of the occult begins to manifest itself as demons begin to materialize over the altar, their electrical energy raining down onto the shards which in turn shoot lightning out at the embroidered crystals and onto Romlock's vestments. Filled with the otherworldly energy, Romlock opens his eyes in triumph and looks upward but distant explosions from Seagait suddenly break his concentration. As the temple shakes, Romlock quickly refocuses his attention on the shards and re-enters his trance. A stone pillar cracks and collapses under duress from the supernatural forces manifesting themselves, breaking wide open a fissure that releases volcanic steam from deep beneath the island's surface. Taking advantage of the distraction, Valance and Jessa overcome the guards, as Shreck scrambles his other soldiers to stop the heroic duo. Josef tells them both that to stop Romlock, they must destroy the altar and the crystals so that the netherworld gateway can be closed once and for all. Another crack that opens in the floor however separates Valance and the Kammarian soldiers from Josef, Jessa and Shreck, who are now the only three within range of Romlock and the altar. Outside, the battle of Seagait rages as Jace, Mustapha and Berl coordinate with Gwendyll, who now assists in rallying the local defenses with the battle torn Allied vessels. Darkbloom's devastating losses however, make the general all the more determined to crush the Seagait resistance. As Valance fends off Shreck's remaining guards, Josef and Jessa attempt to stop Romlock. Shreck cuts down Josef, and then turns his sights on Jessa but is stopped by Valance, who has made his way across the fissure separating the temple. As Jessa tends to Josef, Valance grabs a dead Kammarian soldier's lance and duels with Shreck. Distraught, Jessa believes that this is the fulfillment of the prophecy but Josef tells her she can change it. Because she has some of Romlock's bloodline in her on her mother's side, she is a descendent of Gorak as well and her actions might be able to harness the supernatural powers away from her uncle Romlock. Empowered by her father's words, Jessa rushes the altar, engaging her uncle. With the energy now raining down on Jessa as well, it refocuses away from Romlock. Concentrating, Jessa redirects the energy of the crystals as Romlock is thrown against one of the cavern walls. Enraged, he gets up and stalks toward his niece, who now uses the power of the shards to end the carnage in Seagait harbor. Outside, a beam suddenly cuts across the waterline from the small island where Jessa struggles with Romlock, blasting holes into Darkbloom's naval vessels and destroying them. Realizing they are dealing with powers they cannot overcome, Darkbloom orders a retreat. Taking advantage of the sudden supernatural phenomenon, the Allied Republic Forces quickly drive what's left of the Kammarian Navy out of Seagait. On the island, Valance kills Shreck, exacting retribution for Lyra's senseless murder. Turning to help Jessa, he sees that she and Romlock are now both filled with the power of the Shards, causing a bright ball of energy to engulf them. Fearful for all of their lives, Valance rushes the altar and grabs Jessa. Broken free from the power of the shards, Jessa, Valance and EVE grab Josef and rush out of Gorak's Temple. Turning to blast the shards on the altar with a weapon he has acquired from Shreck, Valance see the walls around them begin to tumble inward. Seeing the fate of the shards is already sealed, he turns to guide the Arcannas and EVE out. As the power of the shards engulf the still entranced Romlock, causing the structure to collapse, molten blasts of lava release from beneath the surface of the island causing the temple and the island itself to implode. Valance, Jessa, Josef and EVE flee in the Kammarian transport skimmer that brought them there. As they look back to see what's left of the island sink into the sea, Josef proudly congratulates Jessa for stopping Romlock and fulfilling the prophecy of the shards. As the tearful Jessa cradles her father, he dies in her arms. Valance watches Jessa gently lie her father down, and quietly reflects on the cost of their mission. With Romlock presumed dead and the Kammarians fleeing, Valance, Jessa and EVE reunite with the Seahawk crew on the Allied Naval Vessel Dominion. Laying Lyra and Josef to rest in a memorial at Seagait, they ponder the losses they have suffered and the conflicts that may still lie ahead of them. For now though, the SEAHAWKS remain victorious.
"THE SEAHAWKS" © 1999 Jerry A. Vasilatos
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