First Salvo
a Zootopia fan fiction by Dan

Rated M+

(c) Zootopia 2016 by Disney Animated Studios
(Artist Ownership) Ayden Gull from BRO GULLS by Anti_Dev
(Artist Ownership) “I will Survive by William Borba 2017
(Artist Ownership) Sheath and Knife by Harmarist
(Artist Ownership) Anubis and the Buried Bone by Harmarist
(c) (Artist Ownership) The Kzinti by Larry Niven
(Artist Ownership) Don Carnage Disney’s TAIL SPIN
(Artist Ownership) Ikkey the Fox Kit by Inkbunny;s Ikkey
(Artist Ownership) Master Guns Flash by Inkbunny’s Flash Timberwolf
(Artist Ownership) Characters From Omaha the Cat Dancer Reed Waller 1994
(Artist Ownership) Jag Damien Tiger from Inkbunny’s Fluffy Puffy
(Artist Ownership) Dean Wilson from Animalolympics 1980
(Artist Ownership) Tanya Mousekovitz from American Tail
(Artist Ownership) Blotasky and Perkins from Cat Shit One by Motofume Kobayashi
The Chipmunks and Chipettes (c) from the 1980‘s cartoon series

Chapter 43
“Barukan no hi no hi!” part 3
(The Day of Vulcan’s Fire)

April 3, 2028
Mansion of Don “Mister Big” Lanzoni
Tundra Town

       Seven year old Jackson Wilde sat dressed in a pair of cubby overalls with a rabbit sized children’s book resting on his folded lap as he read out loud before Don Lanzoni and Lanzoni’s young son Sunny...

      “It is good to always help mother with chores. It is respectful to sit and listen as father tells you things you must learn. It is wrong to talk back to your mother when she corrects you. It is wrong to curse in your home...”

      “Yabba, yabba, yabba....enough already, I’m going to play some mouseket-ball.” Sunny Lanzoni, the young shrew, yelped as he stood up from where he was sitting next to Jackson.

      “Sunny?” Jackson asked. “You didn’t ask Godfather to be excused?”

      “He’s my Pop Jackie! If you wanna sit here and say the same silly stuff over and over that I’ve heard a thousand time before? Eh? Your party there fluffy tail.”

     Jackson put a paw down in front of the little shrew as he tried to walk away...”You’re being very disrespectful to your father Sunny!”

     “Jackie?” Mister Big said as he stood waving a paw finger. “Let Sunny go if he wants.”

      “But he dis-respected you?” Jackson snorted. “You deserve to have your butt turned red Sunny!”

      “Jackie?” Mister Big warned. “Enough little Compadrino...let him go.”

      Jackie lifted his paw and watched the growling young shrew stomp off....”Why the nerve of that little cotton tailed, long eared Skapoosh? Dare to have me spanked? Why you little floppy eared rat? ’l’ll have a polar bear snap you a round like a whip you little.....”

      Jackson almost jumped to his feet when Mister Big shooshed him!

      “Jackie?....no!” Mister Big said. “We have been going a little long all morning. Why don’t you go play or maybe take a nap?”

      “No.” Jackson replied. “I wanna stay here and listen to you Godfather. I want to learn....I like to listen to you.”

       Mister Big walked up and patted Jackson’s leg...”And I like you Jackie my wonderful little friend. Sunny? He’s a little short fused and he doesn’t have the temperament to sit still for very long and I have to work around that. He is my concern....not yours.”

       Jackson looked over his shoulder...”You make excuses for his behavior Godfather...he shouldn’t be so disrespectful of you. It makes me mad.”

      “And you make me joyous.” Mister Big replied. “You have a zest for knowledge Jackie and a good head on your shoulders. I think you will do very well and amaze your parents huh? What is the most important thing above all else Jackson?”

      Jackie rested on his paws and replied...”La Familia. Mama and papa.”

     “And for all that? Are you willing to do everything and anything?” Don Lanzoni asked.

     “Si (see) Because dishonor is disgraceful and shame is unbearable. It is wrong to make Mama cry and Papa to weep in disgrace.” Jackie recited. “I live to put a smile on my Momma and a fire of pride in my father’s heart.”

        Mister Big glowed with appreciation. He tenderly pulled on Jackie’s paw and stroked it...”You are my best and brightest student my boy, my little padrino. My son? Eh...perhaps a little late to the ball game but even shame and envy has their advantages. You keep up your good behavior and Sunny will have no choice but to stop being foolish. At least it will save me a good belt eh?”

       Jackson laughed. “I doubt it! His head is like a rock!”

       Mister big waved a paw...”Go now....go play or see Big Pauley and take a nap. We’ll start again at 1pm.”

      Jackson leaned down and gave Mister Big a tender kiss on the head. “I love you Godfather.”

      “And I love you my Compadrino.” Mister Big replied. “Go now.”

March 14, 2030
Judy and Nick’s house
Downtown

     It started when a fox from Savanna Central went on a weekend hike in the North Country...it was there that he got bit on the back of his neck by a bat. He came home, spent a few days with friends and family, went to work, felt sick and went to the doctor for what he thought was a cold...

    72 hours later....Willow Winx, a 27 year old Siberian fox lay dead in the emergency room of Cental Hospital. He was patient zero of the deadly “Foxbat flu” outbreak. Within days the flu was a rampaging contagion all over Zootopia, striking and killing foxes no matter their species nor their ages. In Bunny Burrough...Gidian Gray would lose his parents, his grandmother and his youngest son Taddy in a space of two days. Nick’s best friend Fennick would lose his older brother Yancy from Rain Forest. The hospitals were full to bursting with sick and dying foxes. Many of them suffering alone without their families or anyone to comfort them in their last moments as the fears of the contagion running wild beyond the fox species had the whole city cowarding in fear.

      Then Nick Wilde caught the flu on foot patrol with the ZPD. Not even the robust and often constantly moving “Officer Nick” could take down nor scam away this opponent. With the hospitals and clinics straining to keep up with the terrible tide...Nick was kept at home unless his symptoms turned deadly and had they? Nick wouldn’t have lived long enough to see his next birthday let alone the next hour...

       So it was that Jackson was compelled to stay home from school. The police force was on full mobilization, no one could be spared to stay home. Judy had to go in and against her determined and stubborn child...arguments were doomed from the start.

      Nick was terribly sick from the flu, even more so the first time he could think clearly enough to see his son standing by his bed. Jackson held a weak paw and comforted his father between pressing a wet towel over his head and gently kissing him on his nose.

     “Jackie?” Nick asked quietly...”You should be in school...”

     “I can do my class work here by computer.” Jackie replied firmly. “My place is with you dad.”

     “But Jackie?” Nick said with worry...”You’re part fox? If you catch this thing? Where’s your mother?”

     “Dad?” Jackson replied. “I think you told me that I’m more bunny than fox? Stop trying to tell me what to do? And don’t try to use your scam artist charms? You taught me way to many things to win me over.”

      Jackson wrapped ice bags in towels and tucked them under Nick’s arm pits. “Have to get this fever down...”

      Nick reached for a paw and gripped it.....”Jackie? If I die?....”

     “Hmph! Fat chance there Dad.” Jackson replied looking determined. “I won’t let you die. You have to take care of Mom.”

      Jackson took a moment to pull back the bottom of the sheets and blankets and quickly took a brush to Nick’s thick fox tail. He then dropped the other end of the sheets, pulled Nick’s tail up between his legs and dangled it over Nick’s chest...

      “Look who needs a snuggle Dad?” Jackson said with a soft smile. “Would you die and leave Shantelle suffering?”

      Nick reached out., pulled his tail to his chest and snuggled her like a Teddy bear....”Son?.....I.......”

      Jackson slowly tucked Nick’s blankets around him...”We’re gonna “whack” this flu Dad. Give it a pair of concrete shoes and chuck it into the river.”

      “You’ve been hanging around your Godfather way too long.” Nick said as he looked a little brighter and kiss licked his beloved tail.”

       “And ewwww....you’re licking your tail and it hasn’t been washed.” Jackson snickered. “Don’t kiss me Dad ok?”

       Nick replied with teared up eyes....”I love you Jackie. Can I have some juice?”

       Jackson leaned over the bed and kiss licked his father on the head. “You can have anything you want. I promise Dad...you and I are going to kick this flu’s butt together!”

18 October 2020
9am
Nick and Judy’s house
Downtown Zootopia

“KABLOOM!” “CRASH!”

“YIE!” “YIE! “YIE!....” Nick cried as pulled Judy practically through his chest, trying to shield her from what was coming! He heard the plywood boards splinter, heard Jag roar from being hit, felt the house violently shake and thought death was at the door!

“NICK! NICK!” Judy screamed as she clawed at her husband’s arms! “FRITH OF INLAY SAVE US!” She screamed!

a thousand things went through Nick’s mind....”Where was Jackson? When was this going to end? How many more? How bad was the house going to be wrecked? Was Jag dead?”

“KABLOOM!” “CRASH!”

18 October 2020
9am
ZPD First Prinky, Precinct One
Downtown Zootopia

“KABLOOM!” “CRASH!”

“GET DOWN! GET DOWN!” Grant the Panther cop screamed as he ran through the front foyer of First Prinky and vaulted over the reception desk! He fell upon Page Clawhauser who was trying to protect the crying fox toddler bundled under her curled up body!

“DAMN IT GRANT!” Page snapped as she swiped a paw at Grant’s snoot! 

“Page! This is NOT the best place to be right now!” Grant snapped as he moved to put himself atop both Page and her precious bundle!

“It’s about the only spot I got out here!” Page snarled. “GET YOUR PAW OFF MY BUTT YOU PERVERT!”

“MAAAAAMEEEEE! I WANT MY MAAAMEEE!” The little fox screamed! DAAAAADEEEEE!”

“KABLOOM!” “CRASH!”

“Shhhhhh.....it’s alright baby....shhhhhhh.....we’re safe, you’re with me.” Page said as she kissed and hugged her little charge.

   “YIE! YIE! YIE! WATCH OUT BELOW!” A grey fox officer screamed as he vaulted over the counter top and fell onto his stomach! “OOF! Son of a bitch!” He snapped as he pushed himself up against the back of the counter facing!

    “Welcome to the party Wess!” Grant yelled!

“KABLOOM!” “CRASH!”

“KABLOOM!” “CRASH!”

    “Things always get jacked up on my birthday!” The fox yelped as he covered his head! “Last year I totaled my police bike...now my birthday’s trying to kill me!”

     Wess noted the crying and sobbing youngster fox and pulled a baby pacifier from his pocket. “Page! Give this to the kit!” He said. He then pulled out one for himself and suckled hard on it!

“KABLOOM!” “CRASH!”

    “Wess?! Seriously?!” Grant snapped!

    “Pop!” “When facing crisis mammal? Revert to what makes you stable!” The fox replied. “Pop!” “suckle, suckle, suckle.”

“KABLOOM!” “CRASH!”

     “Wess?” Grant asked. “You got another one dude?”

    
18 October 2020
9am
Fudge n Packers ice cream parlor
Downtown

     “Inside the office where we were all packed in like sardines, I’m taking about three huge bull elephants and one 16 year old wolf, you couldn’t hear or see them coming but you damn sure knew they were hitting something. The whole building shook! The concussions made your insides flop around like jello. Mister Packer pushed me into a corner and he and Elias covered me with their massive bodies. I was going to be a Marine? I wanted to be like my bad ass Uncle Chance, a lean, mean, steel toothed killing machine of droll snarling bad-butt-ery. I uh.....I pissed myself as I sat curled up like a ball. Epic fail my first time out experiencing war. Then there was this super loud explosion! I felt the building jump from its’ foundation and everything went black! I heard Mister Packer and Elias screaming from their trunks.....then.... nothing.”

Alexander Gray
20 years later

     “Damn!” Alex snarled as he fumbled around the dark for his cell phone amid the smell of smoke, the taste of dust in his mouth and the still mammoth bodies lying on top of him...

     Even worse? The cell phone was broke...”ugh.....FLUCK!” The angry wolf teen snapped as he shattered the remains of the phone on the concrete floor!

“KABLOOM!” “CRASH!”

      They were still raining down! When would there be a pause?! Alex struggled to get out from under the two masses of flesh and realized his paws were wet and stank of iron....

     “Blood?” He thought....

     “Mister Packer?” Alex asked the still elephant to his left. “Sir? Get up? Are you ok?” Alex turned to Elias and checked him...No pulse... at least from where his paw fumbled for some indication of a pulse...

     Alex grimaced for a moment....then he saw light poking through between the two fallen elephants. That’s when he knew the building over them all had fallen and the two elephants covering him in the corner of the office had bore the full brutal impact of falling debris around them...

    Alex took hold of a large ear and sank his face into it for a moment... there was nothing more he could do. Better to chance out in the open than remain and join the poor elephants who probably died to protect him. Grief turned to anger and then to snarling rage! One way or another... some cats were going to die for this!

9am
The Fleet Amphibious Assault Ship Sayoni
Sandy Point Naval Station
Sahara Square

    “They made this “Wump, wump, wump” sound when the engines were powered up. As long as you heard that, you’d be ok. When the sound changed from “Wump, wump, wump” to “HISSSSSSSSSSS!” You knew quick to look up and then hope.....you weren’t about to get flucked. We’d just gotten free of the pier and were pushing towards the mouth of the bay when I heard....“HISSSSSSSSSSS!” and said to myself.....”FLUCK!”

Kerdle
20 years later.

     Kerdle jumped off the flight deck and lucky he didn’t miss the safety net that he landed in just as the falling missile that looked to be coming towards him penetrated the flight deck not three feet from where the fox jumped! It passed through two upper decks before it came through the ceiling of the main equipment and aviation hanger and exploded inside the cavernous bay!

“KABLOOM!”

      The forward right side (starboard) hanger bay door was blown off it’s tracks and flew just under Kerdle’s legs as the fox scrambled to get off the safety net and back onto the flight deck!

     “FLUCK!fluck,fluck,fluck,fluck....FLUCK!” Kerdle machine gun swore as he scrambled onto the flight deck and almost tumbled into the hole in the steel made by the missile that punched it out!

“KABLOOM!”

“KABLOOM!”

   Two more rockets smacked the water around the warship throwing up huge geysers of foam as the Sayoni cleared the mouth of the bay and raced to catch up with the destroyer Zootopia who’s guns big and small were throwing up streams of lead against the still incoming demons above her!

      A rabbit Sailor came running by and caught Kerdle by his arm as he almost fell into the bomb hole in the fight deck, pulling him away and down as the ship was rocked by another explosion!

      “GRRRRR! FLUCK!” Kerdle yelled as he looked back to see the back of the ship on fire!

      “Must have hit the Aviation gas line!” The bunny screeched as he got to his feet and pulled Kerdle behind him! “We have to get to the zone suppression button and set off the foam sprayers!” The rabbit yelped as he and Kerdle ran for the “Island” structure on the flight deck where the Rabbit pulled open a safety panel and mashed his paw against one of the red and white striped buttons for the foam spraying nozzles that covered the ship’s flight deck!

     “Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!” The back of the ship looked like the fountain jets at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas as creamy white fans of fire fighting form shot out and smothered the fast moving flaming waves of burning aviation gasoline!

     “What’s your name shipmate?!” Kerdle yelped as he followed the rabbit to a fire fighting hose station where other mammals were already drawing out the hose lines to attack the flaming back end of the ship!

     “Sam Gangee!” The rabbit replied. “You?”

     “Kerdle!” The fox replied as he and Sam took their places with an attack team rushing through the bed of foam towards the flames consuming the back end of the flight deck! “How bad do you think we’re hit?”

    “One in the hanger bay and one in the ass but we’re still moving! Mother fuckers are going to pay for this damn shit!” Gangee snarled.

      Kerdle looked back to see massed columns of smoke and bright balls of exploding ordinance peppering Sahara Square and father past into the dense downtown core of Zootopia....his awareness was restored by Sam’s hard head slap....”Get your head in the game Kerdle?! We have to get this fire out!”

9:05am
Zootopia Fleet Marine School of Infantry
Savanna Central
Fleet Marine Corps Base, Camp Quanaco

“KABLOOM!” 

“KABLOOM!” 

“KABLOOM!”

     In times of danger, though now just four, the brothers bonded together...paws clasped tight together, bodies snugged to each other,teeth all clenched together, all complains and cowardice replaced by mutual words of strength and encouragement to each other. Like everything else....this thing would pass....

     Owen turned his face to Captain Oakley...”Sir! Do you have a unit to lead?”

    “Obviously not.” Oakley replied. “I’m only half way through infantry school myself.....why?”

    “Well consider us your first command.” Owen replied. “Whatever you ask for Sir....we’re yours!”
 
     “I like your enthusiasm Sargent!” Oakley said. “Our first thing is to get the hell out of this stupid ditch! I’m sick of sitting here jerking my carrot stick. You all with me?!”

     “Damn right!” Powen snapped!

     “Flucken boring around here!” Nori yelled!

     “It’s not doing a thing for my excitement level!” Ori yelped!

     Oakley stuck his head up and looked around quick! “There’s the Deuce truck! Hasn’t been hit!....We get out of here, drag up some more Marines, get to the armory and get some weapons!”

     “Fluck yeah!” Nori screamed! “Lead on Sir!”

     Oakley got to his feet waving his paw over his head! “GET ON YOUR FEET MARINES! UP AND AT THESE BASTARDS!”

     Oakley charged across the open ground with the four Hopps brothers hot on his feet and soon other Marines crouching for their lives chose boldness over waiting for the storm to be over! They bounded up the rear gate of the truck and flopped into the bed as Oakley jumped into the drivers seat, flipped the ignition switch and pealed out over the dirt and grass and onto the road!

“KABLOOM!”

     A V-1 Rocket came down close, shattering the windows and covering Oakley and Owen in shattered glass as the Lieutenant fought to keep the truck from tipping over!

    “I’m beginning to have buyers remorse about this idea Sargent!” Oakley screamed!

    “I’ve had it for the last three minutes but I have a no return stamp so I can’t complain!” Owen replied as he held on to the “Cheese its” handle!

9:05am
The Fleet Amphibious Assault Ship Sayoni
Underway with the destroyer Zootopia

Drone control center
Ensign Deshurley....Drone 503

      “Got another one!” Deshurley yelped as the bunny gritted his teeth and shuffled himself in his seat! The action playing out on the screens around his faux airplane cockpit made him jump and shift as if he was really in the drone getting thrown around by twists, rolls and turns as he worked the triangle shaped pilotless craft through an up side down roll then into a steep dive against the wave of incoming rockets five feet below the aim point of his four nose mounted 50 caliber guns!

   “How’s your fuel and amo Deshurley?!” Shouted Commander Jack Links from his chair at the head of the group of cockpits....

    “I have enough Sir! Don’t bother me right now!” The excited rabbit snapped! He looked to his right to see another drone drifting too close for comfort as they dove in tandem towards their targets....

    “Back off me Cartman! Your going to fly up my butt!” Deshurley yelled as he pointed a paw finger at the cockpit next to him!

    “Dude. You are not going to become the first ace of this war...not gonna happen.” The portly hare replied with a waving paw finger....”Nah ah ah....”

    “Oh you are such a snit head Cartman!” Deshurley snapped as he rolled his drone around to find another target.

     “I am me dude....Par excellence in pain assery...the dean of butt hurt...” Cartman said proudly as he closed his eyes....

“BEEEEEEEEEEEP!”

     The Commander of the drone squadron jumped to his feet and slammed his paws on his desk! “CARTMAN YOU STUPID BASTARD! YOU JUST DROVE YOUR DRONE INTO THE DAMNED OCEAN!”

     Deshurley leaned over towards Cartman’s cockpit with a smirk on his face....”I just got number five there....oh Par Excellence.”

     “Bite my fluffy tail and suck on my cheese balls loser.” Cartman snorted as he hopped out of his cockpit and started for the room door...

     The Commander snarled at Cartman...”And just where do you think you’re going Mister?!”

     “To my berthing Sir.” Cartman replied with a shurg. “Crashed my drone and we don’t have any spares so I guess my work is done for the day.”

    “Not on your damned life you’re done!” The big March Hare snarled as he got up from his desk and pressed his nose into Cartman’s face! “Just so happens Mister Cartman? You have a job I think you’re well suited for! Emptying the cockpit piss buckets.”

     Cartman looked around the room....”Sir? Seriously? You want me? A fellow officer? To empty the piss buckets?”

     The Commander reached out, snatched Cartman’s officer bars off his collar and threw them on the floor! “There! You’re no longer a flight officer! Now get to work and empty those buckets Mister!”

    Cartman grimaced.....”Oh.....Son of a bitch!” 

The Growler
8:47am
Zepher and Demish in the water

     “No!” Zepher had just enough time to scream then pull in a quick breath as the big Rhino under him morphed into his anthro form and dove deep under water to escape the detection of the Kizinti destroyer that bore down on the helpless pair of struging mammals!

     “How far is he going to dive?!” The fox thought as he struggled to keep his paws tightly clenched to Demish’s shirt and air in his lungs! After an eternity....Demish rolled himself around and shot for the surface of the ocean frantically stroking his powerful arms till he broached!

      “GASP! GASP!” YIE! YIE!” Zepher huffed and screeched as he pulled himself over Demish’s back...”Damn! Warn me next time Demmy! Snit! Where’s the ship?!”

      “Over there!” Demish pointed. “She’s listing, she’s smoking, she’s on fire.....”

     “KABOOM!” The aft 8 inch gun belched hate and a shell slammed into one of the Kzinti ship’s aft gun mounts and ripped it apart like a tuna can!

     “She’s hurt but she’s still fighting!” The Rhino cheered!

    Zepher wrapped his paws in Demish’s shirt...”Do you think they can keep her from sinking?!”

    “You better hope they can!” Demish snapped back. “I’m not falling into the hands of those insane cats! I’m not being turned into minute steaks!”

     “Promise me you’ll snap my neck if they try taking us prisoner?” Zepher cringed...”They’ll cut my tail off before they kill me! I don’t want to live to see that!”

     “You’re not going to die so shut the fluck up!” Demish snapped back! “Stop being a real pussy ass Zeff!”

The Growler
8:47am
Rudy Dolf and Commander Winsor in the 
armored control bridge compartment.

     “Listing to starboard ten degrees Sir!” Rudy said as he reached to flip a few switches....”Transferring ballast to port blister tanks! Flooding port bilges!”

     “Speed?” Winsor asked.

    “Barely twelve knots.....still have manual helm control, limited side thruster control!” Rudy replied. “Main guns still working, Port side 40 millimeter guns still operational but the gunnery chief reports the enemy is refusing to present themselves. They’re turning sharply on our bow and stern!”

    Suddenly an ear shattering noise and a violent shake tossed both mammals out of their seats and slammed them hard against the walls, decks and clutter around the armored room! A Kzinti shell had slammed into the thick protective box of the slopped armored bridge, deflected and exploded close above!

    “CAPTAIN?!” Rudy screamed! “CAPTAIN?!”

    “Son of a bitch!” Winsor snarled as he got to his feet. Seeing Dolf laying on the floor, Winsor stumbled to him and pulled him to sit up. “Talk to me Mister Dolf...”

    “I think I busted a leg Sir.” Rudy grimaced. “Yup....broke it.”

    Winsor made a quick assessment and pulled the emergency medical kit from a nearby metal locker....”Let me splint this! Can you continue?!”

    “Do I have a choice?” Rudy replied. “Give me a sound powered phone Sir...”

     Winsor fitted a sound phone over Rudy’s head...

     “Ensign Dolf in the battle bridge.....Ensign Dolf in the battle bridge, all stations report status...”

     “Fluck Ensign.” Winsor said as he bound up Rudy’s leg. “Consider yourself a damn Lieutenant. Battlefield commissions are my perogative for faithful service. Sorry I don’t have your collar devices, your certificate or a service entry but here’s a kiss.”

     “Does this mean were lovers Sir?” Rudy snickered.

     “Don’t push yourself Dolf.” Winsor said as he picked Rudy up and set him back in his control station. “Buckle yourself in tighter. I don’t think you can afford two broken legs.”

The Growler
8:50am
Ayden Gull’s Repair Party
2nd Deck

      Aden dropped the sound powered phones he was wearing as his crew struggled to get another fire under control in the main galley. He grabbed Jackson by his shirt and shook him!....

     “I want you to get up some of our electrical guys and as many mice as we can carry!” Ayden snapped. “We’ve been without power for too long, someone should have restored it by now!”

     Jackson looked around....”This fire’s really bad Ayden!”

     “Tell the other two hose teams to do what they can! If they feel they can’t control it? Tell em to fall back and isolate the Galley section so it doesn’t spread! If we don’t get power back to the ship...she’s done for!” Ayden directed the crew he was with as Jackson ran around from hose to hose....”Lenny! (Fox) Berk! (Wolf) Tracy! (wolf) Paula! (otter) scoop up our mice and follow me and Arden!”

       In Jackson’s pockets...Myler and Albert were changing out their small tanks of compressed air on their air packs...”Finally some action! We were starting to get board!” Myler snorted. “What’s the scoop Jackson?”

     “Looks like we’re going to try and get the power back on.” Jackson replied. “If we have a main bus board down in “E-CENT” (Electrical Supply Central) to work a patch-a-round with!”

    Albert chirped....”E-CENT” is Repair Four’s responsibility.”

    “Well it’s now everyone’s responsibility.” Jackson snorted. “You want to tread water Albert?”

    “As long as you can float.” Albert replied. “You were a hell of a log roller but as a swimmer? You suck.”

    “Such confidence.” Jackson replied. “Just remember to keep your heads when we get down there? Can’t afford to lose our only chance because one of your little guys decided to become a torch on a hot wire.”

     Myler snickered. “Nothing wrong with a little electrical stimulation!”

    “You’ve always been a twisted little flucker My My!” Jackson replied. 

The Growler
8:50am
Main decks and the superstructure

    Crew-mammals were shooting back at their antagonist with whatever they could bring to bare....rifles, pistols, fruitless yet determined throws of hand grenades...anything they could bring up from the ship’s weapons locker! Burley lion Chief Boastwain Petty Officer Wess Gabell with Kelly Stearforth, a wolf sea-mammal, on his tail came charging up out of a hatch near the ship’s exhaust stack “mammal-handling” an MG-42 heavy machine gun! Wess slamed it down on the deck atop it’s heavy tri-pod and charging back the bolt as Stearforth slapped a belt of 15 millimeter bullets into the receiver bed!”

     “Pat pat!” Wess hit the Chief on his helmet. “YOU’RE SET! KILL THOSE FLUCKERS!”

     Chief Gabrell aimed carefully as the Kzinti ship made a close aboard pass on the Growler’s damaged starboard (right) side for another raking broadside and aimed for the opposing bridge deck....

     “GAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRPPPPPP!”

      The MG-42 sounded like an angry out of control buzz saw as it’s high rate of fire made distinguishing individual bullets being fired impossible. But it’s effect and the skill of the operator were obvious! The windows of the enemy bridge were shattered as the combination of armor piercing and incedent shells tore through the thick panes and probably slaughtered whoever was driving and commanding the vessel!

      The Kzinti destroyer’s guns cut loose a broadside as it wildly turned away from the wounded Growler...two shells slammed into the hull! One hitting below the water line aft, flooding a compartment and killing the most aft damage control crew. The other passing through the “clipper knife” of the Growler’s bow, through the deck below the main deck and out through the other side when it spashed into the ocean!

      “TAKE THAT YOU FLUCKS!” Stearforth screamed! “YEAH! FLUCK YOU!”

      “Bought us a little time at least.” Chief Gabrell snarled. “They’ll replace their bridge crew and come back into the fight for sure.”

      Stearforth looked over the ship around him. “We are seriously flucked Chief.”

      “Didn’t notice?” Gabrell groaned. “As long as the Captain’s still alive, we’re still in the ball game.”

18 October 2020
9:38 am
Nick and Judy’s house
Downtown Zootopia

      There hadn’t been an explosion for the last ten minutes but that didn’t mean anything. Judy was still wrapped on top of Nick and Jag the Tiger was still wrapped on top of them in the basement of the house. The smell of smoke was everywhere...so too were the cries and calls of mammals, of screaming cubs, of pleas for help and sirens going off all over the city...

     Judy petted Jag’s chest....”Jag? Jag are you alright?” She asked.

     Jag growled and groaned a little...” Nothing some booze wouldn’t cure right now....I mean....a little antiseptic would do wonders.”

     Judy gasped...”Are you hurt?!”

    “I took some fragments through the plywood I think? Or I got splinters stuck in my back.”

     Judy crawled from under Jag’s body and tore open the back of his shirt with her claws...”You have some deep lacerations...I see some wood splinters....how’s your breathing? Does anything hurt when you breath?”

    Jag tested a deep breath...”Nope...lungs are still good....feel like I’ve been stung though? Am I bleeding?”

    “A little.” Judy replied. “I’ll go get our first aid back pack.”

    Judy stopped to pull Nick into a sitting position against the wall. “You ok?” She asked him softly.

    “Oh sure.” Nick said as he threw a paw around. “I always look forward to being bombed. I’ll just sit here and hold the wall up.”

     Judy ran from under the protection of the plywood and came back dragging the first aid pack behind her....

     “So much for property values.” She sighed....”Half the house is gone.”

      “Hopefully our cottage in Ayden is still ok.” Nick replied as he watched Judy work on Jag’s wounds...

       “I don’t see any back injuries that are shrapnel caused.” Judy said to Jag as she poured clotting agent over the various blood spots. “I didn’t get a good look Jag but from what I did see? Our whole neighborhood’s been pounded hard.”

       “I’m sure my family is alright.” Jag replied. “We better hope they didn’t send a second wave.”

      Nick gestured to Judy. “Are you sure half our house is gone?”

      “Lucky we moved most of our valuables and “what nots” to Ayden when we did. “Judy replied. “Everything from Jackson’s old baby room from the first floor to the second is gone.”

      Nick closed his eyes...”I feel like a lead weight.” He said as if he was useless.

      “Well you’re not...so don’t start.” Judy warned. She finished with Jag by having him sit up while she wrapped a bandage around his back and chest...”This is the best I can do to be thankful.” She said as she gave the tiger a kiss on the cheek.

    “Don’t get to cheerful.” Jag replied. “This isn’t over just yet. You two stay here...I’m gonna run to my house real quick and check on the family.”

9:40am
Will and Gilly’s Apartment building
Sahara Square

     Will climbed out of the concrete pipe he’d been sheltering in and sat in the dirt and grass field wincing as he slowly worked his arms after morphing back into his anthro form. The close in detonations threw him around the pipe like a rag doll and he was more angry at his own feeling of cowarding than the painful bruises he suffered...

     He paused to look at his cell phone and saw the texts from his parents...his mother begging him to reply or try to call. Then he looked at Alex’s....

    “Holy fluck bro! I’m alive!...you ok?....Mister Packer’s dead. Will try to get to you as soon as I can.”

    Will took in a breath a relief and wiped his dirty face clear of a tear before he stumbled to his feet...

    The apartment building had been torn in two pieces...a wide swath of the building center had been blown away...including the apartment...

    “Fluck.” Will said exasperated. “Dirty tail hole fluckers.” He snarled as he started to walk towards the damaged building. All around him he could see columns of black and gray smoke, buildings on fire, police and rescue vehicles navigating the destruction...

     A whole family of camels....mother, father and two foals were blown to bits in their running and lay not far off in pools of blood. Will could see mammals in various distress...some walking like zombies, their shock etched on their faces. Some with wounds, others with broken limbs, others screaming or running without purpose or reason other than shear horror.

     “WILL?!” Came a scream from the wolf’s left. “WILL!” A red English fox yelled as he ran up. It was Jaden from the apartment complex who’d been a school mate and off and on interest of Gilly’s before he went into the Navy. Jadan was a successful accounts manager at a financial firm in downtown Zootopia...

     “You alright Jaden?” Will asked.

     “No!” Jaden replied with his paws held to his chest. “It’s Marty! He’s hurt bad! He can’t move!”

      Will gestured Jaden into a run! “Where is he?! Is he trapped?!”

      “He’s in the West end stairwell!” Jaden cried.

      Will followed the panic’d fox through the broken door and up two flights of steps to the landing where Jaden’s partner, a male otter who’s head tuft and tail were dyed in multi-colors of purple, pink,red and yellow lay on his back...

      “Marty? It’s Will mammal....how you feeling?” Will asked as he paw’d over the grimacing water mustalde...

      “On a scale of flucked to seriously flucked? Past seriously to super.” Marty replied....”Can’t move my legs...I think my back’s broken...”

       “Cough! Cough!” The otter coughed and red foamy spit drooled from his mouth....”Ugh.....punctured lung too......I think....”

       Jaden took a paw....”Mart?! Stay with us mammal!”

       “Not intending to go anywhere.” Marty replied.

       “Hopefully my car’s still ok.” Will said out loud.

       “Ah......no.” Jaden replied. “It summer-saulted into the apartment block pool.”

       “Fluck me.” Will snapped.

       “But I can hot wire a car or a truck?” Jaden said. “We could take Mister Turnabull’s truck? He’s.....not going to be using it any time soon.”

       “Why?” Will asked.

       “He doesn’t have a head.” Jaden said mournfully. “Hate to speak ill of the dead.....but fluck that gay bashing bovine butt wipe.”

       “Do it.” Will snorted. “I’ll find a way to get Marty on a flat board.” Will remembered his cub scout training and rolled Marty on his side. “This is so you can breath Marty.”

        “I’m a surfer and I couldn’t control my wipe out on the stairs? Pathetic mammal.” The otter moaned as he reached out to hold one of Will’s paws....

        “Please don’t leave me?” Marty begged.

        “We’re going to get you help Marty...” Will replied as he petted the suffering otter on the head...

         By the time Jaden returned.....Marty was gone.

     

9:40am
Downtown Zootopia

          “Zootopia has suffered under a swift and powerful military attack. Right now....one thing is clear....Zootopia is at war. We know that the Kzinti have launched a massive rocket attack on Zootopia and that hundreds of rockets have hit targets in Tundra Town, Savana Central, Sahara Square and Downtown Zootopia. The great Palm Hotel in Sahara Square has collapsed trapping and killing hundreds of mammals. Numerous buildings downtown are on fire or have collapsed. There are unconfirmed reports of an attack on going against the Outback Islands, that some of our destroyers may have been attacked and or sunk and that a Kzinti invasion fleet has been sighted off the coast of Sahara Square...”   

        A bicycle was better than walking. Alex was lucky to find one left behind by the owner who had fled to find cover. The young wolf felt honor bound to leave contact information and a note where he scooped up the ten speed. ”...name, number, address....I will return it, have no intention of keeping it, please call me? Alex.”

        Alex’s first worry was Tina. She wasn’t going to be working till the afternoon so she would have been at the apartment, or so he hoped she wasn’t or at least she got to the basement before the rockets struck. Everything was in chaos....the roads choked with cars and debris or packs and herds of fleeing mammals who had no specific place to go and no purpose of direction to move towards.

        Alex stopped to try his phone again and growled when he couldn’t use it. He swiped open his text messages and sighed with relief that Will had replied...

       “I’m all right. Trying to help some friends. Don’t try coming to me. Everything is flucked. Stay where you’re at. Mom and Dad fine. I love you.....Will.”

        That “bucked” Alex’s spirits up. He sped through the mess around him and turned a corner towards his apartment building where his heart crashed hard....

       The old seven story building had collapsed into the street!

       “FLUCK!” Alex screamed as he jumped off the ten speed and ran towards the wreckage! “TINA! TINA!” Alex climbed atop the destroyed rubble and began screaming and clawing at it! “TINA! TINA!”

      ALEX!” Tina screamed from behind which got Alex’s attention. She stood in a bath robe between the foxes Akisawa (A brown and white fox) and Isana (A blue sable and white fox) from high school!

      Alex bounded off the pile, ran and caught Tina around her waist! “Oh my gawdess! Oh my gawdess! Oh my gawdess!” He happily licked, kissed and snuggled the female white wolf before he slobbered himself over the two young foxes who saved her!

     “DUDE! NUFF MAMMAL! NUFF! DOWN BOY! DOWN!” Isana yelped. “UGH! You tongue flucked my throat dude! Sick!”

     Alex stood back....”I’m sorry.....I’m sorry.....You....you don’t know what you’ve done! How freaking happy I am right now!” He then looked at Tina as she covered her own nakedness...

     “Huh?” Alex gave Tina a coked head look. “Where’s your clothes?”

    “I was in the bath tub and didn’t hear the sirens or the television because I had my bluetooth head phones on.” Tina replied. “So all of a sudden? Here comes Isana and Akisawa through the bathroom door, they grab me up, I’m going totally “dawg snit” on their butts, biting their arms, snapping and scratching at their snoots...we just get out the door and I’m all naked and covered with shampoo with bombs going off.....it? Was not a good morning Alex!....”

     Alex laughed hard....

     “Oh you think it’s funny?!” Tina yelped! “It wasn’t funny at all! I couldn’t call you! I’m soaked! I’m naked and these two “fur-verted Vulpines” are gazing at me with snit falling all around us!....”

      Alex kissed Tina on the snoot....”Oh you are so hawt when you’re angry.”

      “Hmph! Find me some clothes to wear!” Tina yelped.

      “No one’s going to complain if you just go feral?” Alex yelped. “I’ll go feral if you want?”

      “What I want right now is to just find a safe place to sit in if we get bombed again!” Tina sighed. “Oh gawdess Luna...my parents! I don’t have my phone!”

      Alex pulled out his phone. “You just had to ask. You can’t call though because the system’s blocked. But texts are getting through.”

     Alex turned to the foxes...”What about you guys? Your families?”

     “We don’t know.” Isana sighed. “We sent texts but no replies. What about your family?”

      “My parents and my big brother are all right.” Alex replied. “As far as I heard? The rockets couldn’t reach past downtown so like the Meadows, Rain Forest and the Burroughs’s are fine. Why don’t we all hang together?”

       “Better than nothing.” Akisawa replied with a shrug. “Not like school’s going to be open. In fact? We should go check out the school house to see if it’s livable? It’s supposed to be an emergency shelter from what I heard on the radio.”

       Alex grabbed up the bike he took and walked with Tina and the foxes...”What have you guys heard? How many rockets did we get hit with? How much damage is there?”

      “Take a look around us Alex?!” Isana snapped. “Duh! You think we just got shoulder tapped here?!”

      “I heard it was over five hundred of those things.” Akisawa said as he rubbed his head. “Oh my Gawdless Vulpix, I can’t believe we’re being so calm about this whole thing! Dudes?! We’re walking through a war zone like it’s a stupid public park!”

      Alex wrapped an arm around Tina’s shoulders...”I’m sure your parents are ok knowing your Dad. My Dad’s probably running to the recruiter to get re-enlisted knowing him. My Uncle’s probably getting ready to ship out with his company....if the Marine base is still there.”

General Bug’s home
Savanna Central
9:40am

        Bugs came stomping out of his house with Porky and “Wild E” chasing after him....

        “ I had one come down in my back yard and destroy my wife’s prized garden Admiral. Tell me again what the words “Pissed off” really mean. You tell my wife to calm down, I’ll dig your grave. What do we know so far? How bad are we hit? What about the Outback Islands?” Bugs asked Admiral Don Carnage.

        “We lost communications with the Outbacks just before the first impacts. We’ve lost communications with the Destroyers Growler and Gnu York. The Amphibious Assault Ship Sayone took two hits but she’s still capable. Savana Central, Sahara Square, Tundra Town and the Downtown area took the brunt of the attack. All suffering severe damage and massed casualties. The Tindra Town shipyard was hit but thankfully the dry docks, the building slip ways and the fuel tank farms were spared.”

        Bugs turned to “Wild E”....”Get on the horn with Quanaco and Recruit Training Command...issue a general mobilization order, fleet opposed invasion of Zootopia expected...”

        Admiral Don carnage replied...”Bugs? Do you think they’ll try an invasion?”

       “I expect them to come.” Bugs replied. “Consider what ships you have at sea to be done for. If you can’t reach Gnu York or Growler, they’re probably already sunk. This was probably an opening salvo shot, I fully expect them to hit us with another wave then drive their Navy right up our rump with an invasion force.”

       Don Carnage asked. “What then? What’s your plan?”

       “Clear out Sahara Square, fortify the coast and hope to hold them there until all our mammals can get to the Northern Country or back to the Rain Forest. After that? It’s kill or be killed on every street and every house. Better to jump onto the grill now then wait and hang like meat displays.” Bugs said as he took papers from Porky. “Tell Quanaco to get a gun to everyone....cooks, clerks, janitors, prostitutes....who ever can shoot, I don’t care.” Bugs said to Porky. “Admiral? You can back me up with what you might have left?”  Bugs said to Don Carnage.

         “I have plenty of submarines.” Don Carnage replied. “Those feline bastards will have to swim their tails off to get to the beach when I’m done with them.”

         “Awesome.” Bugs replied. “A little modification on “Hasenfeffer” we’ll just call it “Pussyfeffer.”

       “Sometimes general? You disturb me.” Don Carnage said snorting.

       “It’s my side job. I demand I get paid extra for it.” Bugs replied as he pulled out a carrot and chewed on it.

The Growler
8:59am
2nd Deck towards main PDC (Power Distributor Center)

      The passages near the PDC were wrecked...Quarter inch steel bulkheads (walls) buckled like tin foil. The steel decking bent and torn up. Busted water pipes, lubrication pipes, foam fire main pipes and most worrying of all.....the smell of fuel mixed into the slime and sludge now coating the decks as the small damage control party made their way along with only a few yellow “battle lights” in their paws....

     And every few seconds to minutes....another “BOOM!”.....another violent shake and the ship moaned, creaked and groaned on the edge of dying...

     Lenny the fox cringed and whined, tucking his tail between his legs... “I don’t wanna die...I don’t wanna die....”

     Jackson snatched the fox by his arm and shook him....”There’s no where else to go Lenny! You think swimming will help you?!” Jackson said as he wrapped a paw in Lenny’s “DC” Cover-alls. “I got you ok? We’ll get through this! Don’t freak on me or I’ll bite your snoot!”

    Jackson bore his combination fox/bunny teeth....”Trust me? These will hurt!”

     Lenny nodded and took a deep breath as the ship shook again! “Just don’t let go of me!”

    “You still owe me fifty zoo bucks for losing that spade game last week you weasel.” Jackson snickered.

     “That’s speciest!” (spee-shish’d = racist) Lenny snapped.

     “Oh grow some bush on that tail will you?” Jackson snapped back!

     Arden Gull led the group to the entry hatch of “PDC”....”Grab that hose over there and form up in case the compartment’s on fire!” He yelled to his crew. Looking at the extent of the damage to where they were at....Arden looked back at Jackson with worry....

    “I’m thinking we’re not going to find anything to work with Jackie. This part of the ship got hit by one of those missiles at the get go of all this snit.” Arden said.

      Jackson felt the deck hatch with the back of his paw....”It’s not hot!” The fox/bunny yelped as he reached for the small escape scuttle in the center of the larger steel door and cranked open the locking wheel till the securing arms clicked clear of the hatch rim!

     “Give me a battle light!” Jackson asked as he looked into the dimly lighted compartment and saw a shimmer coming off the deck below...”It’s taking on water....” Jackson said to Arden...

     “There’s......there’s bodies floating down there.” Jackson said mournfully.

     “They probably got caught by the first explosion.” Arden replied as he turned to the others...”Burk! Tracy! You two and myself will handle the flooding. Lenny? Paula? Jackie? You guys and the mice will find a transfer box we can work with. Be careful...make sure you guys are “rubbers up”, we can’t afford a “meat roast” shorting out our only chance!”

”CRASH!” “KABOOM!”

      A really close hit and explosion caused the group to jump and scatter! Jackson was thrown from where he’d entered the compartment at the top of the ladder to a splash landing in the sea water and muck filled PDC compartment where he struggled to get on his feet!

     “JACKIE?!” Arden yelled from the hatch above. “YOU ALL RIGHT?!”

    “NO!” Jackson replied. “I just drank sea water and crap!” The angry fox/bunny snapped as he fumbled his way through the mess around him. “Hurry up Arden and get down here!” Jackson snapped as his paws came down on something soft....

     He looked down to see a body floating face down in the water that was up to his stomach. It “was” a rabbit....or had once been a rabbit...

    Jackson rolled the unfortunate bunny onto his back.....and stared into the dead eyes of Gilly.

End of Chapter 43