- "Yield, and Wakanda will protect your oceans. We will protect your secrets. Yield, and your people will live. Vengeance has consumed us. We cannot let it consume our people."
- ―Black Panther to Namor[src]
The Ambush on the Talokanil was a decisive battle of the war between the armies of Wakanda and Talokan.
Background[]
- "You speak of my mother as if she’s still here. Of what she would’ve wanted for me. Her hopes and her dreams. But she’s dead. She’s gone! Namor drowned her, right in front of me! So, her dreams, her goals, her hopes for me… it doesn’t exist. It doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is what I want. And what I want is Namor dead! And you’re going to help me get it."
- ―Black Panther to M'Baku[src]
Ramonda dies
In 2025, due to Wakanda refusing to deliver the young prodigy Riri Williams, who had invented a Vibranium Detector, to the Talokanil, a war erupted between the people of Wakanda and Talokan. Despite attempts made by Namor to convince Shuri to ally with him in order to protect Wakanda against the rest of the world, open conflict became inevitable as retaliation for Shuri being rescued by Nakia and escaping, knowing about the existence and location of Talokan. The war claimed many lives, especially in the heat of the Attack on the Golden City which saw the death of Wakandan Queen Ramonda, a loss that emotionally devastated her people, most notably Shuri. Namor threatened to annihilate Wakanda if they did not join his forces against his impending war on the world.
Shuri takes on the mantle of the Black Panther
In order to protect the remainder of the Golden City's population, the survivors retreated into Jabari Land, where they had to figure out their next move regarding Namor's intentions. Knowing that they would need the powers of the Black Panther to contend with Namor, Shuri successfully recreated a synthetic Heart-Shaped Herb that enabled her to acquire the powers of the Black Panther, taking the mantle for herself. She then rallied the Wakandan and convinced them to set up an ambush on the Talokanil in open sea, aboard the Sea Leopard, despite M'Baku's reluctance to risk an eternal war between the two people.[1]
Ambush[]
Capture of Namor[]
The Wakandan army revealing itself
- "I am the Black Panther, and I’m here for retribution!"
- ―Black Panther to Namor[src]
The Wakandan forces, led by Black Panther and comprised of the Dora Milaje, the Jabari Tribe, the Midnight Angels, Nakia and Riri Williams, sailed the cloaked Sea Leopard into the Atlantic Ocean, activating a Vibranium Detector to attract attention from Talokan. Led by Namor, the Talokanil reacted quickly and approached the detector, which had been rigged to emit strong sonic pulses, forcing the Talokanil to reach the surface, where the Wakandan army, awaiting them, revealed itself.
The Dora Milaje confront the Talokanil
The battle thus began, with two Dragon Flyers attacking the Talokanil who dove again under the sea, even though the two aircrafts were quickly taken down by Namor. The rest of the Talokanil then reemerged and climbed onto the ship's hull to invade it, but were confronted by the Dora Milaje who directly stood in front of them while being held in place by members of the Jabari Tribe. Black Panther also aided in protecting the ship, using her Vibranium Gauntlets to take down the opponents. Meanwhile, Ironheart faced Namor, assisted by Griot flying the Royal Talon Fighter, in which the leader of the Talokanil was captured.[1]
Duel on the Beach[]
- "It could’ve been different."
- ―Namor to Black Panther[src]
Leaving her troops fighting the Talokanil, Black Panther boarded the Royal Talon Fighter and activated pervaporation cells that began to drain Namor's powers. While Black Panther was distracted and gave instructions for the battle that kept raging on the Sea Leopard, Namor used his Vibranium spear to greatly damage the aircraft, forcing Black Panther to ask Griot to take her fight against Namor into the desert. As they arrived near the cost, Black Panther and Shuri traded violent blows against each other until Namor thrusted his spear into the aircraft, destroying it.
Black Panther is wounded by Namor
Namor violently attacked Black Panther once they crashlanded, taking her into the air before plunging onto the ground and punching her. However, Black Panther retaliated by cutting one of Namor's foot wings. Both then continued their brutal fight, dealing violent blows against each other. Black Panther temporarily gained the upper hand, throwing Namor onto the ground, but he was able to grab his spear and stabbed Black Panther in the stomach, greatly wounding her.
Namor admits his defeat
Namor claimed they could have reached a different outcome for their people, and abandoned Black Panther to try to reach the sea, hoping to regain his forces thanks to the water. However, Shuri found enough inner strength to draw the spear out of her body and resumed the fight against the weakened Namor. She then remotely activated the destruction of the remains of the Royal Talon Flyer, severely burning Namor on his back. Shuri initially intended to finish off Namor in revenge for Ramonda's death, but upon having a flash vision of her mother inciting her to show her opponent who she was, she gave up on her vengeance and elected to spare him, and asked him to yield in exchange of the promise that Wakanda would protect the Talokanil and their seas. Namor accepted the offer.[1]
Battle at Sea[]
Initially, the bulk of the Wakandan troops was supposed to retreat to Wakanda after Namor was captured, but they were unable to carry out this plan due to Namora successfully destroying the Sea Leopard's sonic emitter. This enabled the Talokanil to approach the ship from under the surface and detonate dozens of Hydrobombs onto the hull, greatly damaging the ship. Multiple Wakandan soldiers fell into the sea due to the ship instability, where they were slain by the Talokanil warriors. However, the Wakandan army received backup support from the Midnight Angels.
Thanks to their numerical superiority, the Talokanil, led by Namora and Attuma, were able to climb onto the Sea Leopard's deck, directly confronting the Wakandan soldiers. They did, however, meet an enduring resistance spearheaded by the efforts of Nakia, M'Baku, Ayo and the Midnight Angels, with Okoye directly confronting Attuma, while Ironheart was assaulted by Namora. Both Talokanil warriors were defeated, with Okoye disarming Attuma before kicking him back into the sea while Ironheart fired a powerful energy beam at pointblank at Namora.
The Talokanil agree to cease fighting
Nevertheless, the Wakandan fighters remained overwhelmed by the sheer number of the Talokanil troops, who soon cornered a small group of survivors including M'Baku, Ayo, Aneka, Nakia and Okoye. However, as the Talokanil were about to force them to fall into the sea, they saw their leader returning, standing next to Black Panther with whom he had convened a truce. Namor then declared the fight to be over and his followers immediately bowed and ended the hostilities, sparing the remainder of the Wakandan troops.[1]
Aftermath[]
M'Baku challenges for the throne
- "Dus Boox Báalam'o yan taak'in pinu mai'het en wini'ki de tu la'tal le'da ha'eiton e'nooknumo jaan'no komilo. Baale’ menan o'hmo anulte. Behlae’ tunni uch-ik och'ki u ti’ le enale'al Talokan. Yetel lok doc'tiknetah, Talokan bin il-aak'heh hachamu'gachon'ta meyhish donchi. Lith'ka hoo chon'choo kamilo chenu'vadi khoo Wakanda, Wakanda tuni enu'koti kot ondee.[3]"
- ―Namor to Namora[src]
With Wakanda and Talokan now at peace with each other, the Wakandans were able to repair the Golden City which had sustained significant damage during the war, enabling life to resume in the capital city of Wakanda. Riri Williams was allowed to leave Wakanda, even though she had to leave her armor behind. Shuri then decided to travel on her own for a while, giving M'Baku the opportunity to challenge for the throne of Wakanda and be appointed the new King.
The outcome of the conflict left a bitter taste in some Talokanil such as Namora. However, Namor insisted that the truce they had agreed on with Wakanda would be beneficial to Talokan, since Wakanda had no true ally on Earth and could only rely on Talokan for assistance, which would help cement their strength.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- ↑ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Deleted Scene
- ↑ Translates from Yucatec Maya to: "The Black Panther is the most powerful person in the most powerful nation on the surface. But she has no allies. Now she has empathy for the people of Talokan. With this alliance, Talokan will be stronger than ever. The surface will come for Wakanda, and Wakanda will turn to us."