Boundless Sea — Nadia Scrieva

With Queen Aazuria missing, the undersea kingdom of Adlivun has been thrust into political unrest and turmoil. Elandria is expected to take over her sister's responsibilities, but she is overwhelmed with depression. The sea-dwellers are desperately in need of protection from the foreign submarine superpower known as The Clan of Zalcan. Although it is ancient tradition for the mermaids to conceal and protect their people from land-dwelling societies, they decide to finally reveal themselves to the American public and seek assistance. After much political debate by the countries of the Pacific Rim, America and Russia have decided to help: on one condition. The mermaids must join APEC and contribute endless labor to the organization, helping to build and indefinitely maintain a massive trans-pacific highway tunnel which will link Alaska to the Chukotka Peninsula. This will allow land-traffic to travel between North America and Eurasia for the first time, changing the economy of the world forever. The proud citizens of Adlivun must decide whether to sacrifice their dignity and become the equivalent of modern-day slaves in order to guarantee their safety and protect their way of life. The alternative is taking their chances in fighting an impossible war on their own -- and risk losing their kingdom, and losing everything they have treasured for centuries.