Burning of Asahla

The Burning of Asahla is regarded as the worst tragedy in recent times, across the The Pleiadian Alliance but especially within the Atlantean Empire. What makes it worse is the fact that it was a supposed 'good force' Sailor Atlas that instigated it and to this day no one is really sure what her motives were. Thousands died when the city went up in flames and smoke and a battle raged between the local senshi as the city crumbled.

The Conflict

Prelude

There was little build up to the Burning of Asahla. Whilst there are those who, in hindsight, claim that Pythia acted unusual in the months leading up to it, no one can truly say there were any clues that indicated what was going to happen.

Deployment

When the first fires broke out, only Sailor Atlas, Sailor Hyas, Sailor Eudora and Sailor Aesyle were present on Aesyle. The other senshi of the Atlas System were on Ambrosia. At first, it was unknown that Sailor Atlas was responsible, so it took several minutes for any senshi to respond. Sailor Hyas was the first to realise that Sailor Atlas was causing the unnatural flames and she called for backup from Sailor Eudora and Sailor Aesyle. It was, in fact, a civilian Galen who raised the alarm with the other senshi, who responded as quickly as possible. But by this stage, the city had been burning for almost an hour.

Battlefield

The city itself became a battlefield, though by the time the real conflict began, most of it was aflame and beginning to crumble.

Conditions

Sailor Atlas struck the city at the height of the dry season, meaning that everything was dried out and a spark away from going up in flames - and she provided more than just a spark. The senshi were forced to fight in confined areas that were ablaze and many were at a distinct disadvantage because there was next to no water to fuel their hydrokinetic abilities - and what little there was quickly evapourated in the heat.

The Engagement

Sailor Hyas was the first to engage Sailor Atlas. She found the other senshi via the use of her clairvoyance and tried to sneak up on the other senshi, to end the conflict quickly. Unfortunately, Atlas had an advantage with her precognition - something that she used to her advantage throughout the conflict. She saw through Hyas' attack and countered it. However, for unknown reasons, she didn't take advantage of Hyas being alone, which allowed Sailors Eudora and Aesyle to arrive.
Combat really started at this point, though it was quickly apparent that Sailor Atlas still possessed the advantage, seeming to know exactly how to avoid the attacks thrown her way.
Back up came in the form of the other Atlantean Senshi, arriving on the scene two or three at a time. But this did little to change the way the fight was going.
It was only when Sailor Aethra persuaded Sailor Hyas to use Void Control that things began to shift. By taking control of (most) of the other senshi in the fight, Sailor Hyas was able to manuoevre her teammates into positions where they were able to land hits.
Ultimately, Hyas was able to disarm Sailor Atlas of the Empyreal Blade and injure her. However, Sailor Atlas revealed that the fires would burn until she willed them to stop. Her hand forced, Sailor Hyas killed Sailor Atlas with her own blade and, sure enough, the flames began to subside.
And in the aftermath, the Empyreal Blade vanished.

Outcome

The city burned, thousands died and Sailor Atlas was killed.

Aftermath

It took several years for the city to be rebuilt and longer still for the population to recover - the city was reminiscient of a ghost town initially, devoid of all the bustling life one is accustomed to seeing in a city its size.
Already disliking senshi on principle, many citizens grew to hate senshi, blaming them for what happened - it didn't matter that it was just one individual who was responsible and that several others tried to put a stop to it. The native senshi learnt not to show themselves in the city and banned all others from setting foot within Asahla.

Historical Significance

Legacy

A monument was erected within the centre of the city; a tall pillar with the names of victims enscribed upon its four surfaces. Whilst there was some uproar over this - as there were many who claimed there were names missed off it - it has become a central part of the city's new identity.

Conflict Type

Skirmish

Battlefield Type

Urban

Start Date

506PA

Ending Date

506PA

Conflict Result

• Destruction of Asahla

• Death of Sailor Atlas