| “ | It's been 5000 years since our empire was born deep inside the Earth. We predate the light. We've been living in solitude in deep the darkness. But that will soon be history! Our deep and magnificent empire knows only one leader. Our king has announced we will conquered that world that is overflowed by light. | „ |
| ~ Anagmas's speech announcing the Tube's invasion of the surface world. |
The Underground Empire Tube (地底帝国チューブ) are a vast underground civilization seeking to conquer the surface world and the main antagonists of Hikari Sentai Maskman.
They are a coalition of various underground tribes united under a single spanning empire. They were originally ruled by the Igam Family until Emperor Zeba took power, desiring to rule both the underground and the surface.
History[]
Tube was originally a peaceful kingdom ruled by the Igam family, home to a variety of underground creatures but predominently populated by underground humans. Among the beings inhabiting the underground were the Earth Imperial Beasts, creatures pledged to serve the Tube royal family. At one point an Earth Imperial Beast known as Lethal Doggler rose in rebellion to the Igam family and began terrorizing the underground, leading the Igam family to have the beast hunted down and executed.
Although peace returned, Tube would face another uprising much later led by a mysterious figure named Zeba, who overthrew the Igam family and became the new ruler of the Tube Empire. As Emperor, Zeba transformed Tube into a warmongering kingdom and enslaving its human population.
Although he had slaughtered most of the Igam family, Zeba kept their two surviving children, Igam and Iyal, alive in order to make use of them. As he had been told the two sisters would together bring about his downfall, Zeba kept the two apart from each other. Igam was raised as a male to make her a suitable heir to Zeba and pledged loyalty to him, in the hopes that he would one day pass down the throne of Tube to her and she would be able to reclaim rulership of the Underground Empire for the Igam family. Desiring to add the surface world to his dominion, Zeba sent Iyal to the surface as a spy. However, Iyal fell in love with Takeru and decided to warn him about the Tube invasion, causing Zeba to seal her in ice as punishment.
After a buildup of its military, Tube began its invasion of the surface world. While their Ungler Soldiers wreaked havoc on the ground, the Empire's Unglermon Fighters bombed and destroyed buildings. However, the Tube's invasion was met by a team of five who had been trained in anticipation for their attack - the Hikari Sentai Maskman.
Under Zeba's direction, the Tube would eventually begin work on a final plan to conquer the surface by packing the Underground Castle full of Evil Particles and then raising it above ground, where it would be blown up to scatter the Evil Particles across the world and terraform it into a land of darkness. This plan was foiled when the Maskman vaporized the castle and the Evil Particles within it. Zeba was then slain by the Maskman, allowing Iyal to reclaim the throne of Tube and reform the kingdom.
Arsenal[]
Underground Castle[]
- Main article: Underground Castle
The Underground Castle is the headquarters of Tube and the location where its rulers reside. It is here where the Emperor meets with his inner circle to discuss the invasion of the surface.
It is not immobile and can be raised by manually operating a special mechanism built within it. The castle also holds the power to distribute "Evil Particles" which are capable of terraforming areas to be more like the cold environment of Tube. It is the goal of Emperor Zeba to levitate the Underground Castle to the surface, so it can spread Evil Particles across the Earth and turn its outside into a dominion of the Tube.
Besides its function as a weapon of war, the Underground Castle also has a number of chambers that serve other purposes. Among these are a library which holds documentation of the entire history of the Tube civilization. It also has a confinement area called the "frozen crypt" where those who commit treason against Tube and other crimes deemed heinous are held.
Unglermon Fighters[]
Unglermon Fighters comprise the aerial force of Tube's military. They typically fly in formations of three and attack by firing lightning bolt-like blasts. Their core is led by Prince Igam.
When a number of Unglermon Fighters are gathered, they can merge to form a massive war machine known as the Unglermon Snake.
During the Tube's initial attack, Unglermon Fighters were used to carry out bombing runs on cities and to destroy buildings to stoke fear and panic.
Underground Trains[]
The Tube make use of Underground Trains to transport their soldiers. These trains run along a vast rail system that lays beneath the surface, that was built to allow for easy transportation for soldiers to and from the battlefiend. Underground Trains appear to mainly be used by Ungler Soldiers, although Commander Baraba also rode on one to lead the attack on the surface.
Hierarchy[]
The underground is home to a variety of tribes and clans, united under the banner of the Tube Empire.
Igam Family[]
The Igam Family were the original ruling family of Tube, prior to Emperor Zeba's uprising.
- Prince Igam
- Princess Ial
Fu Clan[]
The Fu Clan are a tribe of ninjas who serve the Igam Family as bodyguards. While some would serve Zeba under his reign, others, loyal to the original Igam dynasty, would rebel and try to reestablish the Igam as rulers.
- Fumin
- Yu
- Ijin
Buyon Clan[]
The Buyon Clan are a tribe of ninjas who serve as warriors for Tube.
Baluga Clan[]
The Baluga Clan are a tribe of warriors within the underground, many of whom serve in Tube's military.
- Laraba
- Baraba
Members[]
The lead commanders of Tube, Igam and Baraba, with their ninja bodyguards Oyobu and Fumin.
- Emperor Zeba - Ruler
- Prince Igam - Crown Prince
- Commander Baraba - Army Commander
- Oyobu - Bodyguard
- Fumin - Bodyguard
- Anagmas - Advisor
- Kiros (formerly; betrayed)
- Ungler Soldiers
Earth Imperial Beasts[]
- Igua Doggler
- Capila Doggler
- Skull Doggler
- Drilla Doggler
- Doll Doggler
- Saber Doggler
- Magne Doggler
- Bagil Doggler
- Zora Doggler
- Shinobi Doggler
- Garaga Doggler
- Akame Doggler
- Geruge Doggler
- Gamaro Doggler
- Giba Doggler
- Garubo Doggler
- Igara Doggler
- Horn Doggler
- Dokuro Doggler
- Kimen Doggler
- Majin Doggler
- Ryu Doggler
- Henge Doggler
- Jiruga Doggler
- Beam Doggler
- Rock Doggler
- Deathga Doggler
- Devil Doggler
- Ragon Doggler
- Lens Doggler
- Gra Doggler
- Gigira Doggler
- Guron Doggler
- Haniwa Doggler
- Nimen Doggler
- Mezume Doggler
- Time Doggler
- Magma Doggler
- Bard Doggler
- Hariga Doggler
- Kinoga Doggler
- Gizee Doggler
- Yoroi Doggler
- Gamesu Doggler
- Godai Doggler
- Spin Doggler
- Baruga Doggler
- Jigoku Doggler
Gallery[]
.jpg "Tube concept (written in Japanese).jpg (60 KB)")
Trivia[]
- Several members of Tube are referred to by the prefix "Earth Imperial" (地帝, Chitei), a pun on the Japanese word for "underground" (地底, Chitei).
See Also[]
[]
 Villains
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Underground Empire Tube | ||
