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 44
“Barukan no hi no hi!” part 4
(The Day of Vulcan’s Fire)

September 12 2040
Midnight
Sahara Square.

      “How much? Mmmmm..... “hick”......ah howwwwwwww much? “hick up” Ow much? Do I love? Do I love........do I love you Jackson Wilde? And......and I.....I wanna be clear! “Hick up” That.....that I love you? Not.......naaaaaaaaht.......not......in a gay way! Ok? “hick up” Is that clear? This is nawt!....mmmmmm....(smiling drunk) Nat...gay love.” Gilly slurred as he hung off Jackson Wilde’s shoulders as the two Sailors stumbled through the streets of Sahara Square after Jackson had thrown Gilly a bachelor party...

      Jackson looked at Gilly’s placid and happy drunk face with a smile. “We are sooooooo....ah........drunk!” He said to Gilly as he played with the rabbit’s cheeks....”We’re blithering hammered Gill! Oh if we go back to the ship now? We’ll be worse than screwed. Conduct unbecoming Sailors of the finest Navy in the whole world.” 

      “That!.....”hick up”.......we certainly........arrrrrrr my very....best....friend.” Gilly said as he flopped his arms over Jackson’s shoulders. “Yeeoooo.....Jackson.....are my.....mmmmm....best.....pal.....ever!" Gilly broke from Jackson and tried to walk but flopped onto the side walk. “Woe boy! I’m so hammered......”hick up”.....I can’t hold on.....to the side walk. Mmmiff...fluck you sidewalk!”

     Jackson picked Gilly up. “We gotta get to a hotel room before we get spotted by shore patrol.....sheesh....I can’t walk at all “giggles”.” Jackson yelped as he and Gilly flopped onto the sidewalk together!”

    “We’re a couple of totally flucked up Sailors.” Gilly giggled....”But you gave me the best bachelor party of my life!”

      “Too bad it wasn’t very populated.” Jackson said frowning. “You deserved a better one.”

      “Who cares!” Gilly yelped back. “You’re the best friend I have in the whole world Jackson! Who cares if a hundred showed up or just Darla showed up....you showed up! “hick up” I love you....that’s what matters! I don’t deserve!......I don’t deserve the friend you’ve been to me! I thought no one would care snit about me! My own family disowned me! My town disowned me! But you’ve cared about me and I don’t deserve that.....(crying)......”stupid booze! I sound like such a whinny bitch!”

       “Nothing worse than a crying drunk bunny.” Jackson said as he hugged Gilly tight...

       “Yes there is!” Gilly replied. “A flaming gay drunk bunny who loves his best friend in the whole damn world! But not in a gay way!” (crying)

       “Shhhh.....damn Gill?” Jackson said as he pulled Gilly and himself off the pavement. “We gotta find a place to crash or we’re screwed! You know over intoxication in uniform is a serious offense with the Captain?!”

       “I’ll give him a floor show to make him happy.” Gilly replied smirking.

      “No.....you fricken won’t!” Jackson yelped back.

      “I....always considered myself quite the knock out fag bunny.” Gilly said as he tried to cop an effeminate pose while holding and playing with his long rabbit ears”....hell! I got me a wolf! Me!....a nobody bunny...got himself a beautiful knock out of a gray wolf! And I love.....mind you.....love my future life partner to death! But! But? But....I damn!......damn sure now!.....I damn sure love my best friend Jackson Stewee Wilde....but not in a gay way....no Sir...gotta be clear about that...”Hick!” Ugh....I am flucked up three ways to Sunday huh? “Hick-up”.”

      Jackson and Gilly found a small motel by the beach side where they stumbled through the room door after paying at the front desk and Jackson flopped Gilly onto the single bed....

      “Oof!.....oh mammal.....gonna feel this in the morning.” Gilly said as he felt Jackson fumbling with his uniform...”Wa? Waaa yah doing?”

     “Taking your uniform off so you don’t mess it up.” Jackson replied.

     Gilly giggled....”I knew you were a closet hare.....“giggles”....”Rape me you stud bunny!”

     “Fox Bunny there shipmate.” Jackson said as he pulled Gilly’s dress top off and tucked him under the sheets. “You need to stay on your side in case you puke. I’m gonna call Chief Fireball and let him know we’re ok so he’ll cover for us if we show up late tomorrow.”

     Gilly tapped Jackson on the chest....”What do you think? About Will? Do you think he’s choice or what? Did I pick the most gorgeous smartest and most wonderful life mate or what Jackie? Tell the truth?”

     “I think he’s nice, smart, absolutely first rate.” Jackson replied. “He sure loves you.”

     Gilly smiled warmly....”I don’t really feel I deserve to be so lucky. I treated you like snit when we first met and you didn’t care about that. I hated you for being a hybrid...I was a flucken douche compared to how you reacted. I’m low dirt to your guarden mammal.”

     “I didn’t care about how you treated me. I cared about you. And you’re not low dirt so cut that out.” Jackson replied. “I had a good teacher who taught me how to read other mammals. I just felt you needed someone to care about you because that had been missing from your life. Best thing I ever did too Gilly, as a friend? You can’t be replaced.”

     Gilly started to sob.....

     “Oh come on Gill....stop it.” Jackson said as he petted Gilly’s head. “Stop thinking you don’t deserve anything?”

     Gilly wiped his face....”phewwwww....that was some seriously flucked up fermented carrot juice....ugh....I’m just a pathetic babbling mess huh Jackie?”

     “I’m a sucker for babbling mess I guess.” Jackson said as he gave Gilly a hug. “You just spoil Will rotten and have all the happiness you deserve. And don’t get stupid!”

      Gilly sat up. “Albert wants me to work with him and Myler on their start up company. Do our eight years, get some schools under our belts and set up shop downtown.”

      “They made a good choice.” Jackson said as he sat down. “I dunno about me and Darla....we might try and go a full twenty years. She wants to go back to Canal District and become a teacher.”

        “I hear otters are ass holes when it comes to their females marrying out of species.” Gilly snorted. “They better not screw with you, I’ll sick Will on their asses.”

         “I’m not afraid.” Jackson said with a paw wave. “Darla’s no pushy female and I can handle an angry otter...just have to get them first with the right weapons....muscles.”

         “You gonna punch em with brass knuckles?” Gilly asked.

         “No....gonna dump a bag of shucked muscle at their feet.” Jackson replied. “Nothing makes a friendly otter quicker than a gift of muscles.”

        Gilly chuckled in reply then grabbed a paw....”Jackie? Promise me you won’t stop being my friend? No matter how pissed off I might make you at times? Don’t leave me mammal?”

       Jackson gave Gilly’s face a tender rub. “Not on my life. I’m not that stupid.”

      “Hmmmm.....oh snit! Get a bucket Jackie! Get a bucket!....

“BLAAAAAHHH!”

The Growler
18 October 2040
9:04am
Main PDC (Power Distributor Center)

       There were no marks....no wounds....no blood. Gilly’s face was placid as if his last moments were not spent in horror and fear but in peace. Perhaps the concussion of the missile as it struck the ship? Perhaps he was tossed into something and his neck was snapped? Up to now....Jackson had seen death of shipmates....but not this close.....no....not this close and certainly not this one so dear....”

        Jackson pulled Gilly’s head to his chest and lost it...oblivious to the screaming of Albert as he scrambled out of Jackson’s coverall pocket!

        “JACKIE?! JACKIE, COME OUT OF IT! HE’S GONE! GAWD DAMN YOU SNAP OUT OF IT!”

        When the mouse got no answer....he did the only thing he could do. He chomped down his teeth onto an exposed lip!

       “AAAAH.....CHOMP!”

      “YIE! YIE! YIE! YIE!” Jackson screeched! “ALBERT?! WHAT THE HELL?!”

        “YOU HAVE TO FORGET ABOUT GILLY MAMMAL! THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO FOR HIM NOW!” Albert snapped. 

        Jackson grabbed Gilly’s floating body...”I can’t leave him like this!”

       “DAMN IT!” Albert snapped as he tried to slap Jackson’s nose! “HE’S DEAD! WE HAVE TO GET A POWER TRANSFORMER BACK ON LINE DOWN HERE OR WE’LL ALL BE DEAD LIKE HIM! THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR HIM JACKIE!”

      Jackson pulled Gilly’s body behind him to a desk where the top was still above the water in the compartment. Carefully he rolled Gilly onto his back, folded his arms over his chest and softly kissed him on the head as he wept....”Gill....I’m so sorry....”

      “Come on Jackson...” Albert begged. “We have to get this done now! buck up!”

       Arden fell into the water from the ladder and plowed his way through the flooded compartment to snatch Jackson by his arm....”What are you doing?”

        Jackson gestured to Gilly’s body....

        “I’m sorry Jackie. At least? Let’s not let his death be for nothing?” Arden begged. “I’m sorry ship mate for the stupid movie cliche.”

         Jackson took another look at Gilly and gritted his teeth in a rage. “What about the flooding?” He asked Arden.

         “I’ll handle the flooding, you take care of getting a box working and the power bypass cables hooked up!” Arden replied. “I’m going to make sure we can get Gilly out of here when we’re done. He doesn’t deserve to be trapped down here as food for the fish.”

         Arden shook Jackson by a shoulder....”You in kid?!”

         “Fluck yes I am.” Jackson replied with a determined scowl. He turned back to Gilly’s body and touched a paw....”I promise I’ll take care of William, Gilly...you know I will.” Jackson gave his best friend a last tender kiss on the forehead before turning to meet the fight of his life.

9:00am
18 October 2040
The Zootopian Attack Submarine Thresher
Depth: 200 feet
Location: 30 nautical miles from the Island of Roya.

      The list of the deck under his feet told Perkins that the submarine was rapidly changing its course to the commands of the unseen pilot steering it from some location back home. A feeling of a lurch along the lengthwise span of the vessel was indicative of an increase in her speed...

     The steel shark was going on the prowl to kill something. Obviously the previous mission was on the back burner and unfortunately for the ground assault crew packed inside....Thresher was not likely to drop them anywhere any time soon.....or later.

      “Boadah?” Perkins asked as he came up to Botasky while the other rabbit was working communications....”Anything from home?”

      “No Packy.” Bodah replied. “Since Zootopia confirmed my message about the rockets? Everything is dead silent.” Botasky sighed...”Packy? My family all live in Bunny Borough.....What if?”

      Perkins petted his friend and Sargent. “No time for worries Bodah. Obviously the sub’s mission has been changed and we’re all on the ride like it or not. We all have to keep our feelings in check for now. Don’t go to pieces of snit on me buddy. I need my ever steady soldier, side kick and best friend with me....we copy Bodah?”

      Botasky nodded. “We copy Sir.”

      Sargent Major Osa (Tanuki) walked up to Perkins and Botasky. “I figure things have been altered a bit?”

     “Yes.” Perkins replied. “I think the Thresher’s now gone on hunter killer mode. She’s looking for steel to turn into scrap. All we can do is sit tight and make sure she carries out her assignment. We can’t communicate with the remote operator unless they send a code to open the communications system.”

    “Fantastic.” Staff Sargent Gataki said as he stood next his Sargent Major brooding. “Anyone got some Farkle dice?”

     Perkins turned to Botasky...”Bodah? Get on the control console with....Corporal Kiba. Keep me up to date on course, speed, depth and weapons.”

    “Yes Sir!” Botasky said with a snap’d paw salute.

    “Then home has been attacked....hasn’t it?” Corporal Pepper (Otter) said with snarling teeth...”Those barbarian mother fluckers...”

     Perkins looked around the sub...”Everyone listen up! Though the mission of this submarine has changed? Ours is clear. Our homes, our families, everything we love has been attacked. We all must continue to hope but keep in our minds the possibility that things dear to us all have been taken from us. In that case? We make the enemy pay with every hair of fur on our bodies. We kill them and we keep killing them until they bow like bitches before our feet and our claws. If we’re all to die? Then we die taking ten of those maniacs for every one of us. Be sure to save a bullet for your fellow mammal. leave them no living flesh to get the enjoyment of torture from....is that clear?”

      A grim look of stowice resolution showed on every face and maw....

      “Worry not my fellow Zootopians. I for one am not looking to die easy. Now let’s buck each other up and get ready to fight.”

9:00am
18 October 2040
Bunny Valley High School
Bunny Borough

     Alphius was a chocolate and grey spotted hare with a reddish head tuft, a 16 year old academic genius who’d been recruited at twelve years old by the military intelligence branch of Zootopia’s Defense Department because he had one good qualification....he got arrested for hacking into a bank and swiping Zootopian pennies from bank accounts.

    Now he was sitting in the hills among other classmates who were huddled in groups or still busy trying to dig out small warrens for themselves to get some sort of protection from what they heard on the radio. Yet fortune favored by the protection of the prophet El Efrarah, no rockets came down on the tri-Burough region. 

     Alphius’s side kick and tech nerd pair Demitor who was a white bunny with glassy green eyes sat on his hind legs thumping Alphius’s lap with his paws...”Did you get the code?” He asked excitedly.

     “Just went through the last security screen.” Alphius replied.

     “Fricken sweet!” Demitor said with joy. “What boat did you get?”

    “Thresher.” Alphius replied as he swiped his paw finger over the screen. “A hunter killer.”

     Demitor leaned into Alphius till his cheek touched his friend’s. “Any targets yet? Those dirty bastards.”

     “Not yet...sheesh?....You going to kiss me with your stinky breath Demmy? Back off dude?” Alphius asked as he pushed his friend back.“Any news? Is anyone getting radio around us?”

      “Just the same emergency messages.” Demitor said with a shrug. “All the rockets must have fallen on the main city and the suburbs.” His ears were downcasted...”Rush hour....Alphius? Thousands of mammals could be dead? What’s going to happen to us?”

      “Nothing if I can help it.” Alphius snorted. “We’ll make those Kzinti bastards pay for this....well? I will with my smart phone and this sweet submarine.”

      Demitor lay in feral form next to Alphius. “How many torpedoes does it carry?”

      “Twelve sweet Mark 48's dude. Enough to do some damage and sink a few of their ships.” Alphius snorted. “I hope I get a big fat juicy bastard full of em mammal. I’ll blow it in half!”

       Demitor cocked his head to the side. “There’s no one on these subs right?”

        “Not supposed to be.” Alphius replied. “But if there are some mammals on them? They better buckle up. Not having a crew makes these subs more lethal. I can make this thing do somersaults over an enemy ship. Best fricken computer game ever.” Alphius snickered as he lay on his back with the smart phone raised over his head. “Right now? There’s nothing more we can do then go hunting.”

18 October 2040
9:20am
Nick and Judy’s house
Downtown Zootopia

       Jag returned to the basement and helped Nick and Judy from under the slanted sheets of plywood....”My family is alright.” He said as he held Nick like a sitting baby in his big arms while he followed Judy out of the basement and up into her destroyed home.

      Nick sat growling and snarling....”Those dirty felines....those filthy pussies....those....”

      Judy wooshed her angry husband. “Right now Nick? Please try to maintain your cool? Sigh....How’s your family Jag?” She asked the tiger as he sat Nick on the kitchen table...

     “They’re all fine. We have room in the shelter for you two for now. I think we should go before they drop a second wave on our heads.” Jag replied as Judy walked around her damaged home....

     “Have you heard any news?” She asked. “Anything?”

     “There’s a ZOO emergency radio station running. I sat with the family and listened for a minute....it’s......it’s bad Judy.” Jag replied with his ears downcasted...”Downtown took a big strike. Savana, Sahara, Tundra Town...there might be thousands of mammals dead. No news about the military at all. All the police and emergency services are being recalled, the Marines are on full war mobilization. There’s talk of evacuating the Savanna and Sahara beaches for a possible invasion...”

    Judy stood clenching her fists....”Our son’s ship? The Growler?”

    Jag shook his head....”No word on any of our ships except the Zootopia and the Sayoni pulled out of port....” Jags mouth quivered. “They think?......they think some of our ships at sea...." Jag’s head droped low.....they think some of our ships at sea are probably sunk already.”

     Judy looked away....then looked at her husband.....then she stormed upstairs to their bedroom...

     “Jag?” Nick worried. “Go up there and bring her back down here? I don’t know how safe this house is right now and....”

     It wasn’t long before Judy came back down....dressed in her old two tone blue police tactical uniform...

     “Uh? Fluff? What are you doing?” Nick asked.

     “Jag? I don’t suppose my car is still in one piece is it?” Judy asked as she clipped a ZPD badge onto her vest.

     “In fact? It’s still sitting in the driveway.” Jag replied. “From the look of it? The paint job’s probably messed up and the windshield’s shattered but it might still run.”

     Nick reached down for his wife....”Carrots? What are you thinking of doing?”

    “The only thing right now that will keep me level headed. What our son wouldn’t expect less of his mother at a time like this.” Judy said resolved. “The city needs me. I have to go.”

     Jag placed Nick on the floor where Judy could touch his face and console him....”I’m sure Jackson’s alright Nick. We didn’t raise a stupid child. I have to go...you know I won’t stay here another minute worrying.”

     Nick beamed at his wife. “As always....I loose out to the superior bunny.” Nick gently lick kissed his beloved. “Go get em Carrots. Just don’t stay out all night.”

     Judy pulled nick into a hug and tried not to sob over him....

     “Don’t go to pieces now there hero? And don’t worry....I’ll find something to pass the time or? I’ll masturbate like crazy.”

      Judy pushed back, punched Nick in the shoulder and stood heroically before him...

      “That’s my girl...now get to saving the country there Wonder Hare before I change my mind and rape you silly! Go! Shoo! Up, Up and Away and all that silly Furrywood snit! Dat Da DAAAAAAA!” Nick joked as he cut a Superman pose!

      Judy turned and ran out the front door leaving Jag to pick up and tend to his needy charge...

     “She’ll be alright Nick.” Jag said as he walked Nick towards his house and the family shelter.

     “Feel for the Kzinti.” Nick replied. “They’re screwed.”

      Judy hopped into her old police cruiser turned family car and gripped the stearing wheel tight in her paws. “Ok old girl...don’t fail me...turn over.” Judy flipped the ignition switch and the cruiser growled to life. She backed out of the driveway into the shattered street and put the monster cruiser into gear!

      “Looks like four wheels all the way to the station...fantastic.” Judy snarled to herself as she drove the cruiser down the street and onto the main drag heading for the city center.

18 October 2040
9:40am
Near the executive mansion of the Mayor

      “Lucky we parked under that over pass.” Tall Pauley growled to Raymond and Kevin as he slowly drove his town car through the destruction that was once the posh city suburb of Inari...

       “Looks like it took a lot of hits.” Raymond remarked as he scanned the smoking ruins and the injured and dead mammals littering the streets or the yards of demolished houses. One house caught his attention...so too did the carcass blown up in a tree by the rocket attack...

      “Hey Pauley? I think our mark got “zipped” by the rockets. Raymond said as he pointed a paw.

       Pauley stopped his car and he and the other two polar bears walked up to the tree where Pauley gripped the thick head tuft of the dead Yak dangling from the tree branchs...

      “Yup.....that “was” Grandy “The Bull” Yak-o-Linario.” Tall Pauley snorted as he turned to Raymond. “Ray? Go into his house and rape the valuables. See if this slug had any to begin with? If he though death was gonna save his rump from paying? How sadly mistaken he was...”

      Kevin grabbed Pauley by his shoulder...”Hey Pauley? Is that the Mayor’s house?”

      Pauley looked over the property fence at the executive mansion...or what was the executive mansion. Now it was a pile of smoking and flaming ruins...

     “Get over there Kevin.” Pauley said with a paw point. “See if there’s anyone there.”

      Kevin ran around the property fence and across the mansion lawn as Pauley turned to Raymond who was walking out of Yak-o-Linario’s house with a trash bag...

      “The stiff had some good stuff we could hawk off to pay his fee. Even in war we never take a day off do we Pauley?” Kevin said smirking. “Where’s Kevin?”

     “Sow-ver at the Mayor’s house.” Pauley replied. “The place took some direct hits.”

      “PAULEY! RAY!” Kevin screamed from atop the ruins of the mansion. “QUICK!”

      ‘Pauley and Kevin ran onto the mansion grounds, topped the pile that had been the main house and found Kevin holding a paw in his own….it was Caesar’s wife Pansha. She was buried up to her breasts in debris with a trickle of frothy blood running from her mouth….

       Pauley snatched Raymond...”Try to call the cops or text emergency services! Kevin? How trapped is she?”

       Kevin shook his head. “She’s in there good Pauley. We couldn’t get her out if we tried. I think she’s in a very bad way.”

       Pauley bent down to talk to Pansha...”Mam? Where’s your husband? Where’s his honor?”

       Pansha was in obvious pain...so much that she couldn’t talk. She didn’t have too as Pauley looked around and spied a whisp of white fur poking through some debris not far from where Pansha was trapped….

     “Ray?” Pauley said with a paw pointing. “Is that the Mayor?”

     Raymond reached over and dug scoops of dirt and debris from around the tuft of fur and revealed the bloody mess that had been Caesar’s head…

     “It’s him…...it’s him Pauley.” Raymond replied grimacing hard. “Dear Thor of the North Winds…..the Mayor’s dead Pauley!”

     Pansha weakly gribbed Pauley’s suit coat…

     “My cubs?…..Where are my children?” The lioness asked.

     “Where were they Mam?” Pauley asked softly as he petted Pansha’s head….”Maddam First Lady?….Forgive me? Your husband is dead. We’re so sorry. Please? You have to hang on...”

      Pauley turned to Kevin and Raymond. “Tear this fricken pile of snit apart. Find those cubs.”

      “Where do we even start Pauley? I mean the things a pile of burning snit here...” Raymond grunted.

        “I don’t give a frick damn if the thing’s burning to hell you mook. Pick a spot and start screaming, dig…..do something please you complaining brown bear?”

       “I got your Brown Bear hanging right here you Caparatzi Snozah!” Raymond replied snarling as he gestured to his nuts.

       Kevin slapped Raymond off the head. “You heard the Capo, get to work you stupid Munza yipper yapper. The nerve of you to complain when the First Lady is in such a dire state you! Show some respect and empathy will you?!”

      Pauley shook his head then turned to Pansha. Talking off his suit coat, the polar bear mafia chief shaped it into a pillow and tucked it gently under Pansha’s head...”Help is coming First Lady...stay with us. Where were the cubs when the house was hit?”

      Pauley got his head close to Pansha’s maw….”First Lady? Please? Where were the cubs?”

      “Basement...” Pansha replied weakly. Pauley backed away and watched as Pansha’s eyes fluttered, her maw opened up wide, she struggled to get her breath and then she went limp…

     Pauley knew she was gone. He clenched his teeth and balled his paws into fists….”Raymond! Kevin! We’re not leaving until we find those cubs!” 

18 October 2040
9:40am
Naval Medical Training Command
Sandy Cove Naval Installation

        Dori Hopps came running from the medical supply storage facility with a combat medic backpack slung over his shoulders. He dropped it at the feet of a wolf marine with a clip board, bounded up a ladder at the back of a “Deuce Truck” and flopped onto a troop seat between a Tanuki and an Otter from his medical class…

       “Damn...I lost my field trip permission slip.” Dori snorted. “Guess I can’t go huh?”

       The Tanuki, named Strider Kohana, frowned...”Bunny’s are so pathetic at humor.”

       “Tanuki’s have humor?” Dori replied smirking.

       “Well he’s only making a clinical observation.” The otter, Corporal Harshburg said with a waving paw.

       “We’re barely beyond wound administration block.” Dori said with a shrug. “They’re not expecting us to do combat surgery are they?”

       “Gonna have to earn your Corpsemammal badge on the fly.” Kohana replied. “They’re clearing Sahara Square and South Savanna for invasion. My guess is we’ll set up the field dressing station in downtown Sahara.”

      A wolf Marine bounded over the back gate of the Deuce Truck waving a clip board over his head….”Alright Marines! All combat medics will be issued one each standard M-1 Carbine rifle with fifty rounds and side arm service weapon with five ten round magazines! These are DEFENSIVE weapons only! You will not engage in combat unless to protect your patient or the field hospital from enemy aggression! Is that clear Marines!”

      The medical students screamed out. “CLEAR SIR!”

     The Wolf Marine continued….”I know we’re pulling you out of the comfort of the classroom into a possible snit soup. You task is simple! Save lives! Keep Marines alive until they can make it to a proper medical support facility! They are in your paws! No Marine dies in your paws unless they have permission to die for high command….is that clear Marines?!”

      The medical students screamed out. “CLEAR SIR!”

      “If we are not tasked for nor engaged in saving our fellow Marines? The our tasking will be to save our fellow Zootopians. Nothing changes...we will not allow our fellow citizens to die without expending our best efforts to save them...is that clear Marines?!”

      The medical students screamed out. “CLEAR SIR!”

      The wolf Marine stood at the front of the truck bed and broke open the strong box containing the M-1 Carbines for the students. Each were sized according to mammal with bunnies getting the smallest but by far the most powerful as they would be firing magnum rounds designed to “blow tunnels” through dense flesh....

      “Hopps! Weapon serial number B dash Two Six Six!” The wolf Marine growled.

     “SIR! HERE SIR!” Dori yelped as he stood up!

     Dori caught the carbine in his paws, flipped it around, pulled the bolt open, looked into the open chamber then slapped the bolt closed and took his seat...

     Harshburg nodded....”I’m impressed Dori.”

    “I’m fricken amp’d!” Dori replied. “I wish I was with my brothers though. Hopefully I’ll see them there. It sucks being apart from my brood.”

     The truck shuddered under them and soon they joined a line of vehicles heading south amidst a sea of mammality streaming away from Savana by whatever thing could carry them...

18 October 2040
9:40am
Aden in the Tri-Borough region
The village of Falfannon

     The sound of the regimental pipes and drums rolled about the village and the highlands, bounced off the hills and called the 9th combat artillery regiment to quarters and action. Up and down the main street of the village, the local parson, a large fat bellied rabbit dressed in a black suit with a Pilgrim’s parson hat on his head walked the center of the street holding the book of the prophet high above and threw blessings to every house as Marines emerged gathering up their backpacks, tucking their uniforms in or standing to say heart wrenching goodbyes to wives, partners, kin and kittens....

    “Here us Great Frith! Hear our pleas oh Prince of Rabbits! Beloved prophet! Protect our kin! Protect your children going off to war to defend warren and hearth! Give them courage to throw the divine steel of justice on our enemies! Give our boys the heart of lions to deliver your wrath upon our cursed enemies and send them right to hell!”

    Sargent Sandy Culkenny stood in the door way of his small house giving “the French” to his beloved wife....”Damn that parson is long winded.” He said as he broke his kiss...

    “You better go before the Sargent Major comes and shoves his foot up yer tail.” His beloved wife Hailey said as she stroked his face. “Do take care of yourself love?”

    “As if I won’t?” Sandy replied as he stepped back to kiss and snuggle his wife’s paws...”Mmmm...I want your smell to stay with me as long as it can. When I get home? We’re gonna fluck silly.”

    His oldest son Cullen, a kit of 8-years-old, stood dutifully with a tartan scarf in his paws. He said nothing as Sandy bent low to allow the lad to tie it around his neck...

   “Go with love father and do your duty.” The youngster said as brave as he could. His father saw the tears the proud youngster tried to hide...

   “Come up here you little big male you?” Sandy said as he picked his son up and snuggled him tight. “Yer getting too heavy fer me to hold lad. You know what I expect of you?”

    “Doesn’t mean I have to like it Dad.” The youngster replied as he gripped his father tight. “Come home soon?!”

    “Kiss”......”As if I’d want to stay away my little fighter.” Sandy said as he put his son down and wagged a paw finger at him. “Now behave yourself and do your school and chores. Mind your mum and the little’r ones? Be responsible.”

      Sandy ran from the front yard waving as he went and caught up with one of his “Gun Mates” who was the rammer-bunny because of his obvious size advantage. “Big Dorn the Donk” wasn’t called that for the sake of his family rocks. The tri-colored hare towered over everyone else in the gun crew....

    “Party time Donk!” Sandy said confidently yet he couldn’t hide his tears long...

     “You’re so bull snitting me mate?” Donk replied. “Get the crying out you fool? I don’t want you blabbling when we’re trying to kill those fricken crazy cats!”

      Sandy started to sob the moment he knew his family couldn’t see him...

     “Awww you softie.” Donk said as he hugged and consoled his “Gun Mate” “Fear nothing Sand? We’re gonna slaughter those bastards then you’ll have a nice Kzinti Tiger skin rug which to fluck the snit out of her when you come home and drip yer droppings on?”

      “Son of a bitch....I wasn’t ready fer this at all Donk-kee....not one bit ready!” Sandy yelped as he cleared his eyes. ‘I’m so glad yer so stable and understanding.”

      “Sheesh mate? I left mine still on the floor nude and wet. Can’t go into battle without the stink on you? can you?” Donk snickered. “I’m gonna have my hands full when I get home.”

      “Yer already leaving her with fourty little ones you miserable cad! Sheesh yer trying to take over the village and rename it to Donk’s ville aren’t yeah?” Sandy snorted.

      “Damn right me boy.” Donk replied. “Gonna have a glorious statue of my penis commemorated in the square in my honor too.”

The Growler
18 October 2040
9:15am
Main PDC (Power Distributor Center)     

       Jackson sloshed his way to another load center power box....

      “Number three box is dead!” He snapped out as he pushed off that box to another box....”Number four is dead!” He called out again! “Arden? How you making out?!”

“KAH-BOOM!”

     Jackson was thrown airborne by the ship’s violent jolt and flopped down into the water inside the compartment where he quickly fumbled through his pockets to make sure Myler and Albert hadn’t been lost!

     “Cough! Cough! Cough!” “Fluck me!” Myler snapped. “How much more can this ship take Jackie?!”

      “Hopefully more than we think.” Jackson replied as he sloshed up to another box....”Box number five is “peppers”!” He screamed!

Peppers: Means the box has been hit by fragments of material like a shot gun blasted it.

       Jackson reached out to unscrew and pull off a maintenance access panel on the side of the power box! He turned to scream at his two shipmates who were also trying to figure out if any of the power boxes could still work....

      ”Lenny! (Fox) Berk! (Wolf) I think number five’s the best we’re gonna get! Bring the little one’s over here now!” Jackson snapped as he pulled the box panel off and dropped Myler and Albert inside...

     “You guys work fast? But please watch yourself? Don’t get thrown around in there....this box is still live and cooking!” Jackson warned with a paw finger.

       “Just do your part and keep the water from getting in here?” Albert asked as he and Myler checked each other’s equipment while Lenny and Burk emptied their pockets of other mice....

        “And Jackie?” Albert asked. “Gilly would want us all to live...make sure he gets his last wish ok? Me and “My My” got this.”

        Jackson softly petted both of them...”Please be careful you two?”

        “Shoo! Go away! Do hero stuff you nutty rabbit-fox thing?!” Myler yelped as Albert jumped atop a cable line before his small shipmates...”Ok! Everybody split up into teams! Go through this box and make sure every wire, cable, circuit and tube is where they should be! Please don’t become a fried mouse? And for cheese sakes! Do not lick the batteries! “My My” you sick twit?! No battery licking!”

        “Look who’s talking!” Myler snapped back as he started grabbing other mice by their shirts....”You? You! You! You! You! and You! Come with me! We’re gonna check wires, cables and connectors!”

        Jackson meanwhile was taking on a busted sea water pipe in a corner of the compartment when someone screamed down from the hatch above! “Do you need a pump?! Is there any damage down there needing a weld patch?!”

        Jackson ran to the ladder....”Darla?! You alright?!”

        “Obviously I’m breathing!” Darla replied. “Are you alright?”

      Jackson looked over to the desk where Gilly lay...” I’m tired of swimming I guess?” He replied as he thought not to tell her the truth. “How about you drop a hose line and get us a little more dry deck down here?! Arden and his crew have got some of the flooding stopped!”

       “Hose coming down!” Darla yelped as she chucked a fire hose roll down the ladder! “How long is it gonna take to get the power back on?!”

       “I’ll let you know when I do!” Jackson replied. “Stay up top and make sure we don’t lose that pump!”

       Arden came running up to Jackson...”Tell me something good? I have to send a report up to the battle bridge.”

      “We have little one’s working in box five with Lenny and Burk raping parts from the other boxes. We have a pump line to de-water the space and if got the flooding problem in hand? I think we’re in good shape except I can’t promise a time.”

“KAH-BOOM!”

“KAH-BOOM!”

     Two more sharp explosions close by threw all the occupants around the compartment and almost caused Darla to tumble through the hatch and down the ladder had a panther not been quick enough to bound the rungs and catch her....

     “Sorry little lady but the pool is closed.” The panther said smiling.

     “Kiss”....”My hero.” Darla teased.

     “HEY! GET YOUR PAWS OFF MY FUTURE WIFE!” Jackson snapped and snarled.

      “Grrrrrr......grrrrrrrr....strong and aggressive little bunny.” Arden joked.

       Jackson kicked Arden in his shin...”Shut up and do your job “Pee-Oh-One!” (Petty officer first class) tell the bridge we’re working on the power!”

9:16am
Aft 8 inch gun mount
“Michigan’s maulers”

      “Eat this cock suckers!” Senshen snarled as she pulled her trigger lanyard tight and the 8 inch gun barked again!

“BOOM!”

     The hot shell covered the distance but flew a foot over the top of one of the Kzinti ship’s aft gun turrets...

     The Kzinti turrets however...were locked proper on their range. The twin guns of one turret cut loose as the Kzinti ship went into a tight turn and a shell slammed into the faceplate of Michigan’s gun mount....

   “KAAABURPBRANG!”

     The thick front face plate of the mount was the crew’s saving grace, it’s thick sloped armor bounced the offending enemy round airborne over the top of the mount housing where it detonated! The concussion of the explosion however shattered the protective cupola shield of Michigan’s station and threw the Fennick fox from his seat, down into the gun room to a crash landing in the elevation pit!”

      “CHIEF?!” Balstrum the tiger yelped loud as he bent down to pick up with fallen gun chief....”CHIEF! CHIEF! Come on little guy?” The tigger said with deep worry....”Come on Chief? You’re too little a dirty tail hole to die now!”

      The little fennick wiped the blood from the cut on his head. “Cheese and snit damn it?! I didn’t pay for this snitty E ticket ride....tha fluck?!” Michigan said as he looked back up at his destroyed station...

     “Ugh!...I thought that ballistic shield was supposed to be good?!” The Fennick snorted as he held his bleeding head...

     “Made by the lowest ball bidder Chief, what do you expect?” Senshen growled. “At the rate we’re shooting right now? We might as well be throwing spit balls for all this effort is worth.”

      “Well then we throw fricken spit at them!” Michigan snapped as he hopped out of Balstrum’s arms. “Someone tie a rag on my head so I can keep being an ass to you all. That’s what keeps me alive!”

Sahara Square
18 October 2040
10am
Corner of Antelope Lane and Jungle Ave.

     Ben Clawhauser thought he’d eaten too much pastry as he closed the hood of a car he quickly fixed for a family of camels....

     There in the middle of the intersection was a rabbit directing traffic and at one point? Pulling the driver almost out of one car window who decided to do the wrong thing by flipping “her” off...

     “How would you like to get out of this stupid car and have a discussion about your driving habits which let me assure you pal? YOU’LL LOSE THE ARGUMENT! NOW GET BACK IN THERE, PUT THIS PIECE OF SNIT IN GEAR AND GET THE FLUCK OUT OF HERE!” Judy snapped. “Ugh! Hyaenas! Gawd I hate Hyaenas!”

      Ben walked into the intersection....”Judy? Judy Hopps?”

      “Yup! Officer Hopps.....ZPD....!We’re at war, imminent threat of invasion, half my house is gone and I’m being a pain in everyone’s butt. Wonderful day isn’t it Ben?”

       Clawhawser smiled. “You don’t know what a calming effect you’ve always had in that uniform Chief.”

       “Hmmm....” Judy replied. “And what silly ass excuse are you Patrol-mammal Clawhawser?

       “I’ve been doing my part thank you.” Clawhawser said as he got back to back with Judy. “You need a little assistance there bunny rabbit?”

       “What a pathetic situation for a reunion huh Ben?” Judy said as she directed traffic. “What about your family? Page? The precinct?”

       “All my family is safe. My niece is splendid and the precinct’s been reduced to snit and splinters...all in all we’re up by fifty points. What’s the goal here?”

       “To get Sahara Square cleared of civilians so the military can move in and make kitty cat patte out of those crazy tigers. They’re expecting an invasion. I......I couldn’t sit home and worry.” Judy said.

        “I’m not asking.” Clawhawser replied. “And speaking of military? There’s a big line of military trucks coming down the road.”

        Judy blew a whistle and commanded the civilian cars to stop and clear the roads as the Marine deuce trucks started rolling through the intersection...

       Suddenly a bunny Marine jumped on top of the cab of one and machine gun stomped his foot on the hood! “STOP! STOP THE DAMN TRUCK!”

        Ori Hopps leaped off the truck cab and stomped towards his sister with his arms flapping about.....”Sissy? What the hell are you doing?!”

        Owen jumped off the truck with a fist clenched. “Ori you silly idiot! Get back in that truck right now!”

       “Owen? It’s Sissy Judy!” Ori yelped. “Sissy! Get the fluck home!”

       Powen and Nori came off the truck as Judy snatched Ori by an ear! “YOU NEVER TALK TO A POLICE OFFICER WITH THAT TONE YOU JARHEAD SCREW BALL! GET BACK ON THAT TRUCK ORI HOPPS BEFORE I SPANK YOUR BUTT IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE DIVISION!”

       Owen stood shaking his head...”Judy? You can get back to your husband now, we have the situation.”

       “This isn’t a place for you Sister.” Nori huffed. 

       Powen rubbed Judy’s shoulder. “If Jackson knew you were out here? He’d sure snit pellets.”

       “Ugh....are you all going to be stupid today?” Judy yelped. She looked around with a cocked head....”Dori?”

       “Medical school.” Owen replied. “By now he’s probably with the medical corps on his way here. Which is where you shouldn’t be.”

       Judy sighed....”You boys get back on that truck and worry about your own selves. Remember? I am older than you by dirt?”

       “And your bitchiness has aged too.” Ori snorted.

       A voice sounded from outside the little group. “Would some one care to explain why I just pulled our truck over and the rest of the Marines in the back would like to kick some bunny tail for slowing up progress?”

       Owen turned to Captain Oakley. “Captain? Meet our Sister, Judy Hopps, who’s determined to give us all the diarrhea of worry.”

      “Chief Hopps?” Oakley said as he dofted his cap. “Captain Oakley, the commanding officer of these crazy Marines who never stop speaking of how they love you.”

      “If they really loved me? They’d get back on their truck and obey orders Captain. And stop trying to make yourselves look older than you are boys? I may not be a spring chicken any more but I certainly have more season and sense than any of you characters. I’ll be fine. Owen?”
Judy said as she wrapped her arms around Owen...”Owen? Take care of yourself, them and please.....please.....please don’t do something dangerous or ridiculously stupid? Please?”

      “Boy is she fricken trusting?” Ori snickered, then he put his paws up to defend himself....”Ok? Ok? Getting back on the truck now.”

       Owen stopped to kiss Judy on the forehead...”Do us a favor sis? Please take care of Maw and Paw? Especially Pa Pa? We don’t want to be too worried...wouldn’t serve any of us any good.”

      Powen nuzzled Judy’s ear....”Yeah...take care of Daddy? We all want to see him again when this snit blows over.”

      Nori stopped to rub Judy’s chin...”You’re still as cute and adorable as a spring veggie patch dear elder sister.”

     Judy hopped and waved as the brother’s truck began to drive off...”DON’T WORRY YOU GUYS! DAD WILL BE JUST FINE! MOM LOVES YOU ALL! PLEASE! PLEASE DON’T GET KILLED!”

     Judy buried her face in her paws...”Oh Frith! I can’t believe I just said that!” Judy started to cry. “My baby brothers! Oh Frith my baby brothers!”

     Clawhawser closed his arms around Judy and lifted her into a loving snuggle....”They’ll be alright Chief. I’m sure those tigers aren’t that crazy to invade us......at least I sure hope they’re not.

End of Chapter 44