You step into the central council hall of Oceanis Prime, the city that will pioneer life beneath the waves. The bioluminescent walls cast a pale glow over an audience of citizens, reporters, and officials, all waiting, all watching. Tonight is more than a debate. It is a test of your ability to lead a city built for humanity’s future.

Your opponent, Robert Geiger, leans into the podium, eyes sharp and calculating. He dredges up the scandal from the city’s first day, Ashley Gennaro and Tyler Metzler caught in an affair, and questions whether you, touched by controversy, can shoulder the weight of governance. Whispers ripple through the hall, tension thick as the water outside.

You glance at Olivia, your strategist and anchor, her presence steadying you. Nearby, Ashley and Tyler murmur quietly, demanding fairness even as Geiger’s smirk sharpens. Every second counts. You weigh your response, anger, counterattack, or a demonstration of calm, unwavering leadership that shows the city you are defined not by private scandal, but by vision and competence.

Then, the low pulse of an alarm breaks the moment. Pressure readings in the outer dome spike. The hall shifts, attention torn between personal conflict and the very real threat to the city’s fragile environment. Even Geiger falters.

You stand at the podium, the weight of expectation and responsibility pressing down. Every eye is on you. Every word could shape the fate of Oceanis Prime. Outside, the deep ocean swirls, dark and infinite, reflecting the uncertainty that now hangs over both the city and your future as its leader.

Robert Geiger, the opposing candidate who does not shy away from underhanded tactics

This is the prequel to Below Sea Level: The Longest Hour on Election Day.

You can find the complete Below Sea Level series via the link below 🔗📚

• Below Sea Level Universe