Lost City Raiders

In 2048, global warming has flooded most of Earth, leaving survivors to fight for dry patches. In New Vatican, Cardinal Battaglia declares that the ancient 'scepter of Moses' may be the key to parting the seas and ending the disaster. He initiates contact with a treasure-hunting family to locate the artifact.

Cardinal Battaglia reaches out to John Kubiak and his sons Jack and Thomas, who spend their days raiding sunken cities for valuables. Their mission is framed as a chance to save the planet by retrieving the scepter. This recruitment ties the family's loot-driven skills to a higher purpose.

The Kubiaks team up with Brother Fontana and Father Giacopetti to pilot a submarine into submerged districts in search of the scepter. They accept dangerous work to retrieve the artifact and avert a planetary crisis. The mission blends faith, greed, and tense rivalries as other interests close in.

Nicholas Filiminov, a ruthless land dealer, hatches a plan to seize the scepter for his own ends: create floating communities and buy sunken land cheaply after the waters drop. His scheme would leave survivors at his mercy and maximize his wealth. He also enlists Giovanna Becker, Jack's ex, to help locate the scepter.

Giovanna Becker, Jack's ex, aligns with Filiminov to locate the scepter, weaving personal history into the high-stakes treasure hunt. Her involvement sharpens the tension for Jack and the crew as loyalties collide.

A waitress named Cara joins Team Kubiak as ship mechanic, bringing practical skills to the submarine crew. She becomes especially important after their father is killed, helping Jack and Thomas continue the mission.

Filiminov's men launch an assault to seize control of the mission; John Kubiak is killed while trying to fend them off. His death deeply affects Jack and Thomas and reinforces the stakes of the expedition.

An increasingly erratic Father Giacopetti tries to intervene, interpreting the Rising as punishment from God for humanity's sins. His actions highlight the religious turmoil surrounding the mission, even as the team presses forward.

The Team Kubiak discovers and activates an ancient chamber that triggers a gas explosion, causing the floodwaters to recede. The event demonstrates that certain mechanisms can alter sea levels, though the effect is not global.

The explosion reduces the Mediterranean by about ten meters, but the rest of the world remains largely flooded. The team uncovers a map listing thirty-one other chambers, hinting at a larger network to unlock for a real solution.

The team shares a dinner after the chamber event, reflecting on their damaged world and the path ahead. They acknowledge that true salvation will require unlocking additional chambers beyond the first, keeping hope alive.

With the map pointing to thirty-one more chambers, the group commits to continued expeditions to restore Earth. They understand that activating a single chamber yielded only a partial retreat of the seas, and their future depends on unlocking them all.