AN: I couldn't make up my mind so I threw a dice. Wakanda won Coup of the Year award.
AN2: I re-watched clips on youtube about the Wakandian aircraft in action. Those thigns are surprisingly fragile considering that Wakanda loves to use vibranium for everything. This is especially important, because their energy weapons don't appear to pack up that much of a punch, yet are perfectly able to blow up most of their fliers. So now vibranium has a plot armor too that makes it as awesome as needed, and easy to blow up when required, or what?
Disclaimer: I do not own any movies set up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or Star Wars movies, cartoons, games, books, or comics. They belong to their respective copyright owners. This story is not created with a commercial aim. It is not for sale or rent.
Phase 14: Disclosure
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Part 6
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Royal Palace
The Golden City
Wakanda
T'Challa jumped in surprise, tangling himself in his sheets when his bedroom door burst open.
"My Prince, you need to come with us!" Ayo of the Dora Milaje wasted no time in pleasantries. Her small callused hand grabbed him by the shoulder as he was still trying to untangle himself and dragged him off the bed with the help of one of her sisters in arms.
"What is happening, Ayo?!"
"There is a coup underway!"
As if to confirm her words, an explosion shook the palace, followed by the immediate wail of alarm.
"Such things don't happen in Wakanda!" T'Challa shook his head, though he let the Dora Milaje drag him out of his room. The metal floor felt freezing to his bare feet. He could hear shouts and sounds of fighting now.
"This way!" The Royal Bodyguards pushed him toward the landing pad.
Within moments, Shuri joined them, literally carried by two larger Dora Milaje.
"The King feared that he might be killed over his policies as of late, and so did we, but not this," Ayo shook her head in disgust. "Either way, we have contingency orders in case something unfortunate happens," they were now all but running toward the landing pad.
T'Challa could hear the distinct sounds of Dragon Flyers buzzing outside and firing on the place and its defenses.
Ayo tilted her head to the side and briefly stiffened, then moved even faster.
"I got a word from Okoye. I am sorry, my Prince. The King has been poisoned, and the Dora Milaje with him don't believe they can hold against the enemy for long. I have final orders from the King, my Prince."
Beside him, Shuri gasped and shook her head in disbelief at those words.
"The King believes the purpose of this coup is to remove his and the Golden Tribe's opposition to crippling the outsider's development efforts by targeting Tony Stark and everyone working on his technologies."
"We ran simulations!" Shuri protested. "They all end us with us discovered and overwhelmed!"
"This coup is proof that enough people in power disagree, Princess," Ayo countered.
They could hear fighting ahead, and after turning around the next corner, T'Challa saw Dora Milaje and Border Guards in full gear fighting it out in the hall.
"Protect the Prince and Princess!" Ayo shouted, and most of their retinue charged into the fray. Energy blasts and vibranium blades flashed through the night, killing people with deadly precision. The surprise attack allowed the remaining members of the Royal Guard to push T'Challa and Shuri through the battle, even if two of the Dora Milaje fell, shot in the back.
Ayo shoved the Prince into it through an open ramp, then Shuri followed. Warriors of the Border Tribe and black forms that could only be War Dogs poured into the landing pad. Two Dora Milaje ran to slow them down while Ayo jumped into the craft.
"Lift off now, or we are all dead!" she shouted.
T'Challa wasted no time and activated the Royal Talon Fighter's systems, going for emergency liftoff. He closed the ramp with a press of a button and winced when energy blasts hit the hull. Vibranium alloys were tough, and the craft was made of almost pure vibranium, making it tougher. Despite that, it was far from invincible.
Rear cameras showed how the heavily Dora Milaje left outside fell, cut to pieces by overwhelming numbers. They stabbed two traitors each before the others fell upon them like a pack of rabid dogs. T'Challa forced the engines, and the Royal Talon shot forward. Its exhaust slammed into the treacherous snakes, slamming some of them against walls and throwing a few off the landing pad to their deaths.
"This isn't happening," Shuri mumbled. "This can't be happening! We are Wakanda! We don't get coups!"
"We do now, my Princess."
T'Challa activated the cloak and accelerated away from the city when the Talon's systems told him there were many Dragon Fliers converging on his position.
"What are we going to do now? What about father and mother!?" Shuri demanded.
"They are either dead, or my sisters managed to spirit them to safety against all odds," Ayo quietly suggested. "We have our final orders from the King. Will you honor them, my Prince?"
"I've seen the same simulations. If you are right about what those fools are about to do, we have no choice but to warn the outside world. We can't allow them to believe the whole of Wakanda is behind what might be happening even as we speak! One of you, get satellite access and find me the closest safe place to make contact."
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Bridge
Juan Carlos I /Spanish Navy Amphibious Assault Ship/
Mediterranean
Commander Jorge Esteban had the night shift on the bridge, enjoying a quiet and reasonably cool evening. He sipped from a cup of good Navy coffee and kept an eye on the junior officer at the radar station. If there were any mistakes to happen on his watch, it would be from the youngster still getting his bearing. The rest of the night shift was experienced enough, as it befitted those chosen to crew the newest and arguably most important ship in the navy.
In practice, the Juan Carlos I was Spain's discount carrier, carrying British Harriers and helicopters as its strike arm. In the future, she would have fixed-wing fighters when the budget allowed. Fusion took precedence, and the Commander couldn't disagree.
Esteban put down his cup and slowly walked around the bridge, glancing over the shoulders of his people. This was the Juan Carlos I's second cruise, and he wasn't about to have any avoidable incidents at his hands. Everything looked as it should, and everyone appeared wide awake and alert. So far, so good. The Commander lingered at the radar station, ensuring everything was all right there. He found no surprises, with the closest ships to the carrier being her escorts sailing in a triangular formation.
"Spanish boat, do you copy! Spanish boat, can you hear me?!" A loud voice asked in English with an accent Esteban wasn't familiar with. And a boat? They were a warship! A powerful carrier at that, even if one that couldn't compete with the monster the Americans built! The question crackled over the radio so loud it made the Lieutenant stationed there wince before answering.
"This is Juan Carlos I; identify yourself! This is a restricted military frequency!"
"I am Prince T'Challa from Wakanda and have come to warn you! Look through your window!"
Esteban's head snapped from the Lieutenant to the front of the bridge. A futuristic-looking black craft simply materialized, hovering in front of them. He could see the tired face of a young black man with a fantastic beard… and no shirt? The Commander blinked a few times, trying to process what his eyes were telling him.
"Action Stations! Awake the Admiral! Lieutenant request that the Prince lands on the deck and explains his warning," Later, Esteban would be proud when he heard a recording of his voice for how calm and professional he sounded because at that moment he felt anything but.
"We will land. We come in peace, bringing a warning! There was a coup in our country, and as you can see, we are more advanced than anyone believed us to be," The T'Challa fellow rapidly explained. "We believe the traitors will aim to cripple scientific efforts aimed at advancing the outside world by assassinating people like Tony Stark and hitting vital infrastructure in development like fusion reactors!"
What? Just what kind of insanity was this? Esteban could hear the words of the warning. He could understand them, but the meaning just didn't compute. It was that insane sounding.