Aquaman: The Drowning

Plot
2003

David Hyde is a mercenary and treasure hunter who look for treasure when suddenly he discover Atlantis. as a injured man he was treated by Sha’lain’a a native Atlantis. she fall in love with him but he's intention was to steal the trident of Atlantis but Aquaman stop him in time but escape.

2024

The Trench invade Atlantis Aquaman and his armies fight them off. when Aquaman came back to his throne Mera inform he got call from surface. it appear the trinity from watchtower inform him that there was a attack on several cities along the coast using Atlantean weaponry and tactics making it seem like Atlantis was attacking the surface world. As a result of this America declared war on Atlantis destroying any Atlantean vessels they found. Aquaman told them he didn't order any assault like that. he will investigate and let them know. he call his Commander of the Atlantean Royal Guard and told him to find out what's going on. It appear before Orm was went prison he sell some Atlantean weaponry to a organization known as the National Enforcement Macrocosmic Order (N.E.M.O. for short). After receiving this information  from Orm Arthur informed the Justice League who helped ease the tension by heralding Aquaman as a hero, as relations began to take a positive turn news of an Atlantean invasion hit the world.

David Hyde now goes by the name of Black manta now with a team call N.E.M.O.

As the conflict rose and N.E.M.O. continued attacking American soil the Justice League agreed to help Aquaman by attempting to prove N.E.M.O.'s existence. As the Justice League and Kaldur'ahm (The Regent of Atlantis) headed to the White House with the proof the F.B.I agents found, Arthur traveled to fend off U.S. forces invading Atlantis, Arthur discovered that his adversaries were actually N.E.M.O. and not Americans he attempted to capture them as proof of N.E.M.O.'s involvement, however their heads exploded to a coral implant in their heads which was triggered by a strong signal.

After learning about the League's failure to negotiate with the President, from Kaldur'ahm. Arthur consolidated with his council on what to do next but was attacked by a covert group of U.S. soldiers who were biologically engineered to kill the King of Atlantis known as the Aquamarines. Aquaman survived the assassination attempt from the help of Kaldur'ahm, Tula and Mera.

and incarcerated the Aquamarines, it was then that Aquaman realized he could track the signal put off by the coral brain bombs to their source, leading him to the leader of N.E.M.O.. Aquaman tracked the signal to its source where he discovered that Black Manta is the leader of N.E.M.O.

who had orchestrated the entire war. Manta tell Kaldur'ahm he is his father and he should be on his side. hearing that Kaldur'ahm is manta's son shock both aquaman and Kaldur'ahm. right then Manta blew himself and his men up in an attempt to leave no proof of N.E.M.O.'s existence and escape. After having a meeting with the President and providing proof of N.E.M.O.'s existence, Aquaman was able to reopen peaceful relations with the surface world

Trivia

 * Storyline inspired by Aquaman: Black Manta Rising 2017