Splatoon: Old Hatreds

Splatfest

Part 3: Retaliation (chapters 11-15)

With Inker, Kal, Neon and Sky safely back in Inkopolis it seems like things have gone back to normal, however there is little time to rest. Inker, still healing from his wounds cannot go back to Octo Valley for some time, giving Acting Leader Octavia time to plan her next move.

Enter the Octobot King, Octo Valley

The familiar sight on an Octarian saucer came into view, as a new splatoon of Octarian soldiers came to replace the current one lying in wait.

This process was repeated every day for over a week, nearly every splatoon in Octo Valley has had a turn hiding inside the Octobot King, waiting for Agent 3 to arrive and rescue the last Inkling they had.

The only ones who had yet to play this role, was the Elite Octolings.

"Acting leader, may I ask why we are leaving a dangerous opponent like Agent 3 to the hands of regular troops?"

Amongst a room full of Elite Octolings, one had dared to ask a question.

'How brave of them.' Octavia thought

However, she had to keep the real plan to herself, until she was absolutely certain, nobody could know why she had set up an ambush like that without tipping of any Inklings at all.

"Because we will be needed later, we are Octo Valley's finest, we must be kept for when we are absolutely certain that Agent 3 is back."

Unfortunately, Octavia's response made everyone question her.

"Wait, so Agent 3 might not show up at all?"

"Come to think of it, how would Agent 3 know where to go?"

"Yeah, we didn't spread the word about this, I don't think anyone outside of the valley would know where that last Inkling is."

"Even if he did know, this is Agent 3 we are talking about, would he really come for one random Inkling?"

These Elite Octolings questioning Octavia's plan so openly irritated her.

"You guys, do you not believe that there is more to the plan than I'm letting on?"

"How would we know?"

"Exactly, trust in me for now, oh and prepare yourselves, there are few more splatoons who have yet to guard the Inkling a second time. If Agent 3 does not show up after a week, we will abort the mission."

"Abort?"

Octavia had never done such a thing before

The Elite Octolings thought it was weird for her to keep something secret even from them, however Octo Valley was in a bad enough condition as it is and Octavia had announced that she was considering aborting the current plan.

"Could the Acting Leader have learned something from the previous failure?"

At the mention of "failure" Octavia swole up a bit, however even she acknowledged the bit of truth in that statement.

'Yes, I think I did learn something, something important actually.'

"Whoever said that, you are possibly correct, whether you are or not however remains to be seen. In the meantime let the regular troops know of our plans, and be ready to move on a moments notice."

She was smiling, it was a smile that showed everyone that she was not worried at all.

Inkopolis, Inker's house