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 45
“Barukan no hi no hi!” part 5
(The Day of Vulcan’s Fire)

18 October 2040
10:12 am
The executive mansion of the Mayor

       “HEY?!” Raymond screamed as he rummaged through the smoking pile of rubble that had been the Mayor’s executive mansion...”HEY?! ANY ONE TRAPPED?! CAN YOU HEAR ME?! (Bear Roar) IF YOU CAN HEAR ME OR MY ROAR?! SCREAM OUT! (Bear Roar)

       Kevin found a basement window and screamed into it....”HEY! IS THERE ANYONE DOWN HERE?!”

       Suddenly....Kevin heard some scratching and scrambling and a small white face popped up into the window with paws wrapping around the iron bars! “Gasp!.....Get us out!” Kimba yelped. “It’s getting hot and smokey! Please?!”

       Kevin stood up.....”RAY?! PAULEY?! I FOUND THE CUBS!” He then dropped to his knees. “Don’t worry kid...we’re gonna get you out. How many are there? Anyone really hurt?”

       Kimba shook his head...”No...but it’s getting really hot...there’s fire down here and the smoke’s getting thick....”

       Raymond and Kevin came running up and slip to their knees with Pauley looking over the collapsed wreckage....

       “We gotta get this snit off the foundation so we can pull em out...Kevin, Ray?! Go find something....four by fours, steel....whatever we can use to lift this pile of snit up.”

        “Where’s our Mom and Dad?” Kimba asked.

        Pauley turned to look at Kimba...”Right now kid? You’re all we care about you hear me? You stay right by this window. You got a little sister right? Bring her to the window and sit tight kid. We’re gonna get you two out of there.”

       “But what about our parents?!” Kimba yelped.

       “Kid?” Pauley snapped back. “Kid? Right now? You and your sister are all I care about....ok? We reach? Don’t tick me off kid? It’s not a good idea to tick off a king polar bear....specially when he’s in the mafia you got my meaning kid?”

      “It’s getting really hot in here Mister...” Kimba yelped.

      “We’re gonna get you two out as fast as we can kid. Stay with me!” Pauley replied as he stood up....”KEVIN?! RAY?! HURRY THE FLUCK UP!” The big bear then turned to Kimba...”Sorry for the swearing there kid?”

      “Grrrrrrr.....Mister! It’s getting super flucking hot in here! I don’t give a damn if you flucking swear damn it!” Kimba screamed back! “GET US OUT!”

      Just then....Kevin and Raymond came charging back with a pair of four by four posts in their arms! “Pauley! Where do we want these?” Kevin asked.

      Pauley pointed....”There......there.....” Then he flopped onto his paws and feet and took on his feral form. “Run em over my back and lift that snit up!” Pauley then turned to Kimba....”Kid?! The moment there’s an opening? Get the hell out of there fast! My back’s not gonna feel too good after this crazy snit!”

     Raymond worried...”Pauley? This could bust you up pretty bad?”

     “Then make sure them cubs haul ass and tails Ray?!” Pauley replied snarling. “And Ray? Don’t take like a leisure Sunday you dirty tail hole because if you do? So help me Saint Catherine of the Ice Fairies, I will so fricken kill you, you silly bruin.”

       Pauley dug himself into the ground and stiffened his legs...”On the count of three.....one......two......THREE!”

       Using Pauley as their fulcrum...Raymond and Kevin threw their heavy bear bodies on the four by four wood planks and lifted part of the collapsed debris free of the foundation!

      “GRRRRRR! MOVE YOUR ASS YOU SILLY LIONS!” Pauely snapped as he strained against the planks on his back....”AWWWWW FLUCK! GET THEM THE FLUCK OUT OF THERE BEFORE MY BACK SPLITS IN HALF DAMN IT!”

      Kevin jumped to the foundation, stuck his head through the gap created by the creaking and cracking debris, snatched Kimba then his little sister by their scruffs and flung them clear onto the grass as Pauley collapsed and the wreckage caved in!

      “Pauley?!” Raymond gasped as he came to the aid of his injured mafia chief....”Pauley?! They’re clear! Damn it you stubborn old coot! I heard your back crack!”

     Pauley looked up weakly....”Ray?”

     “Yes Boss?” Raymond replied.

    “So help me Ray? If you lick kiss me right now? I will so fricken maul your silly ass to hell.” Pauley snorted as he started to roll around and flopped onto his butt...

    “Are the cubs ok?” Pauley asked Ray.

    “A little singed but they’re breathing.” Raymond replied. Kimba got to his feet and cringed as he looked at the destruction of the executive mansion....

    “Mister? My Dad? My Mom? Have you seen them?” Kimba asked. When none of the bears replied...he sounded angrily! “Where are my parents?! Have any of you seen them?!”

     Kevin and Raymond turned their heads down and away as Pauley go to his feet and hobble walked up to place a paw on Kimba’s shoulder....

     “Kid?” Pauley said grimacing....”Kid? Your parents are gone.”

     Kimba threw the polar bears paw off and stomped his foot....”YOU’RE LYING!”

    Raymond stepped up....”Kid?”

    “I’m NOT a “kid”!” Kimba snapped. “Do you see goat horns on my head?! Where are my parents damn it?!”

     Then the realization hit the white lion cub hard as he looked at the pile of rubble and saw his mother’s lifeless face....

     “AAAAAAAAAH! MOM! DAD!” Kimba screamed with grief as he tried to run for the debris pile but got tackled by Kevin!

    “STOP IT! STOP IT KID! IT’S TOO LATE!” Kevin yelled as he cried. “WE’RE SO SORRY! THERE WAS NOTHING WE....”

“KABOOM!”

     An unexploded missile warhead “cooked off” under the debris pile! It caught the un-damaged tank of home heating fuel oil that had been in the basement, set the contents alight and now the entire pile of wreckage was a flame engulfed funeral pyre!

     “ARGH! GAWD DAMN IT! LET ME GO! LET ME GO! (CRYING) MOM! DAD! (CRYING) LET ME GO!”

     Pauley reached down, scooped up Kimba’s little sister and held her tight as she sobbed into his chest...”Kevin? Raymond? Grab the other one and let’s get out of here...”

     Raymond pointed to the flaming wreckage...”In all that’s holy Pauley? We can’t......we can’t just....”

     Pauley got in Raymond’s snoot....”Do you want to get caught if those bastards send another round of rockets at us? There’s nothing more we can do here...let’s get these cubs to safety.”

18 October 2040
10:30 am
Z.O.O. Emergency Radio Broadcast....

      “This is Tommy Gazelle for Z.O.O. Broadcasting Company giving you news and important information on the current situation both in Zootopia and around our known world. News is coming at us with dizzying speed so please bear with us as we try to keep pace in this very horrible moment...”

      “Our city as you know has been grievously attacked. Defense authorities believe that over 300 rockets were fired at our country. Tundra Town, Savanna Central, Sahara Square and the Downtown metro-plex have all sustained horrible damage. Thousands of our citizens may have been killed, thousands more wounded, maimed or injured. The Tri-Borough region, The Meadows, Rain Forest and most of Western Zootopia have by great grace been spared this horror.”

      “Reports that have come in to our network as of now indicate that the nation of Kzin has unleashed a massive assault across the ocean against several mammalian nations including the Outback Islands, Rongalop Atoll, Madagascar Island, The Galapagos Islands and Maloelop Atoll. There are rumors of naval clashes between our Navy, navies of several nations and Kzinti warships but we have no confirmation as of now.”

       “Defense officials have ordered the immediate evacuation of Savanna’s southern coast and beaches and the Sahara Beach coastline back ten miles inland. There are reports that the military expects an attempted invasion of our country. There are also....unconfirmed reports to us at this time.....that his excellency Mayor Caesar Leo and his wife and their two cubs....have been killed by this attack. It is apparent to all of us now....obviously and grievously....that our world has indeed exploded into all out war...

18 October 2040
10:30 am
The Island Nation of Madagascar

        “We will fight them in the coconut fields! We will fight them in the olive groves! We will fight them in our hot tubs! We will never surrender! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!” King Julian screamed shaking his paw as Alex the lion snatched him up and broke into a hard run! “PUT ME DOWN! I COMMAND YOU! A KING MUST DIE WITH HIS PEOPLE!”

        “Right now your majesty?! The best we can do is get into the jungle!” 

        “Please tell me you have a plan to keep my stripped rump from becoming barby rump on a spit there Alex?!” Marty the Zebra screamed! “You do have a plan right?”

         “It’s a work in progress!” Alex replied as King Julian bashed him over his head with a bamboo pole....

        “Un...”bonk”.....hand..”bonk”....me...”bonk”...you.....”bonk”shamefully...”bonk”....cowardly....”bonk”....thing..”bonk”...you!” Julian screeched! 

         Alex got snoot to snoot with the King and roared Julian deaf!

         “That hurt my fealings!” Julian frowned....."and also? my hearing.” Julian said sorrowfully.

        “I’m sorry your highness but right now this is no time for stupid bravery. Especially with hundreds...perhaps thousands of ten foot tall angry tigers armed with guns, artillery, rockets, grenades, big teeth and a mean disposition. Everybody’s best bet right now is the jungle...just trust me on this ok?”

       “I’m gonna ask again there Chief?” Marty snapped with worry. “Do you have a plan to protect my rump from becoming Zebra rump roast smothered in Sweet Baby Ray Sauce or what?!”

        Gloria snatched Marty up like a foot ball! “Will you stop occupying his brain so he can think you silly Zebra?!” The Hippo then turned to Alex. “You.....do have something cooked up right?”

         “I have a friend who owes me a favor!” Alex replied. “Let’s leave it at that and hope he let’s me dial that in!”

         As the mammals of Madagascar fled for their lives around him from the Kzinti hordes pouring from their landing boats...a single small penguin stood amidst the terrified stampede...stone cold still....

        Kowalski the Penguin slid to a stop and ran up to his leader....”Skipper?! We have to get to the jungle Sir! The enemy is closing rapidly on our position! We have no weapons! Our best option right now is retreat!”

        Skipper’s face frowned...”Kowalski? What the hell did you just say to me?”

        “Sir? Our best option for survival is retreat!” Kowalski replied.

        Rico and Private came running up. “What are we waiting for?!” Private yelped. “Guys?! We gotta go! I don’t want to be Cor-don-blue-Penguin....I don’t smell good wrapped in thick juicy bacon....oh that sounds absolutely scrumptious!”

        Skipper snarled....”I can’t believe the disgusting words I am hearing out of my men! Retreat?! Such repulsive cowardice before these stripped cattle butchers?! Well you may all go and live lives of shame and disgrace, but not I! Now is not the time for shrinking away...Now is the dawn of action! And if I must shoulder the burden of saving our fellow Madagaskars from this horrific disaster that has befallen us? Then I accept it, and my possible death? With a spirit of courage and elan that will define the ages. Monuments to my glorious sacrifice will stretch from here to Zootopia. All will know that in the hour of our greatest plight? I “Skipper Guin” stood as a stone wall before the enemy’s hordes like a Spartan at Theromopoli, determined to go down opposing the dreaded enemy and their hate filled teeth to my dying breath! And when my name is spoken by our progeny? It will be spoken with awe and reverence as befitting a mammal who laughed at the face of doom.”

(Skipper strikes heroic pose of awesomeness amidst explosions)

       Kowalski snapped....”Begging the greatest speech of all time Sir? But how in the hell are you going to do anything when we’re all just....uh.....Private? How tall are we?”

        Private whipped out a tape measure....”Oh? about three feet and a quarter of an inch or so?”

        Kowalski turned back to Skipper...”Sir? Just how are we who are three feet and a quarter of an inch tall.....going to take on that?”

(Cut to scene of the invading Kzinti coming off the beach)

       Skipper puffed himself up...”We’ve got two things going for us boys! We’re penguins?! And......we’re bat snit crazy!”

        “And right now? We’re bat snit surrounded Skipper!” Private replied.

        Skipper replied. “Great! Exactly where we wan’t them.” Skipper turned and threw his wing around!

“Kowalski? World War II PT boat! Private? Machine guns! Rico? Camouflage paint! Me? Totally awesome and bitching movie hero personified.” 

(Skipper smiles and teeth glint “ding”)

(zoom in on Skipper’s eyes)

“Boys? It’s time to get us some sweet tiger striped wall rugs.” Skipper said evilly.

18 October 2040
10:30 am
Lion’s Gate beach, South Savanna Central
4th Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Fleet Marine Division

      Chancy breathed a sigh of relief. His sister and Gordon text’d him and now Alex....

      “Me and Will are OK for now “Unk”. Kill those bastards!”

      “Everything ok Gunny?” Sargent Remee, a white wolf in Chancy’s squad asked as they felt their armored transport, an LTV turn and obviously move onto soft sand...

        “Yeah Remee...My sister, her hubs and my nephews are ok. So much for retirement though. My aching joints.” Chancy said with a smile.

       “Poor Gunny.” Remee replied. “You’re just falling all to pieces. Admit it though? What the heck were you going to do out of the Corps?”

       Chancy snickered...”Paw-mart greeter....”Good morning Sir. Glass cleaner on isle two. Organics on Isle seven. Now please enjoy your shopping experience and go about your day flucking off smartly you no good lazy civilian. Did that sound about right?”

      “Perfect.” Remee replied as their squad officer, a wolf Marine captain, got up from his seat....

      “Gunny? Deploy the unit four wolves to a hole. Two with ATM’s, one with a SAW, one sharp shooter.” The Captain commanded.

      “Yes captain!” Chancy replied smartly as he got to his feet. “You all heard the Captain?! Sargent Remee.....Sargent Hunter......Sargent Stock...Sargent Tin Tin....chose your squads! Two ATM (Anti-tank missiles), Two SAW (Squad Action Weapons BAR) One sharp shooter per hole! Four Two Grrrrrrrrrr?!”

      “GRRRRRRRR GUNNY GRRRRRRRRR!” The wolf Marines replied sharply as their LTV came to a stop and the troop ramp swung down and open!

      “GO! GO! GO! GO!” Chancy snapped out! “Remee and Hunter left! Stock and Tin Tin right! Move your butts!” Chancy snarled as his Marines race out to his left and right jumping into quickly bulldozed trenches being dug by combat engineers along the five mile width of Lion’s Gate beach...
 
       “Damn shame to turn a paradise into a battlefield huh Guns?” Captain Pawsraker asked as he stood watching the wolves taking up their positions.

        “What about your family Captain?” Chancy asked.

        “They all live in Rain Forest so they should be ok.” Pawsraker replied. “Everything’s in fricken chaos right now but high command thinks Sahara Beach will be the main show. They might swing here to try a flank and they’ll run into a damn buzz saw of hate here if the swabbies don’t take all the fun out of it. I can’t imagine some little “booger factory” in Bunny Borough playing on his cell phone will see more action than us. Drone warfare?....just not sporting at all. I want to get my teeth bloody and feel that ancient primal killing lust...don’t you Gunny?”

        “I think we all do Sir.” Chancy replied. “But to be truthful? I have two good nephews and if I can keep them from having to pick up the claw and tooth? It won’t make me any less proud of them. If the Kzinti get hammered by drones into stopping their stupidity tomorrow? That’s just fine by me.”

18 October 2040
10:30 am
3rd Battalion Artillery, 1st Fleet Marine Division
Nicknamed “The Gun Bunnies”
Five miles inland from Lion’s Gate Beach

     “Ready left?! Ready Right?!” Colonel Dennis Lannon screamed through a bullhorn. “Open those legs! Move em! Move em! Go! Go! Yah lazy slugs! This is the only sex yer gettin for the rest of the year! Spread those legs wide open!” The Dark brown and Cream white fur coated artillery rabbit Captrain snapped as he watched his gun crews “gang fluck” the tow legs of their field pieces open!

     “Fanny?” Lannon snapped at Sargent Sandy Fannon. “Get some “buns” with yah and start setting fuses! I want yah ta mix em up! Air burst, contact and sub-burst! Get it done boy!”

      “Yes Sir!” Sandy snapped in reply. “Shortie, Quint and Percy on me now!”

       Lannon turned to his executive officer, Kevin Paddington. “Paddy? Make sure each gun has thirty rounds ta start with. Send our observers down to the beach to get a good spot to call fire and make sure our sniper foxes have good spots to cover us if those long tooth bastards make a breakthrough or sneak around our lines.”

       Lannon grabbed his executive officer’s paw....Kevin? About yer father? If it’s confirmed? I’m so sorry boy-oh. I need you Kevin.....I need you whole. Are you with me now? Your my strong second bunny.”

       “It was a direct hit on the old “ba-bits” home I’m told Sir..." Kevin replied sorrowfully. “I’m sure my father didn’t suffer. After all....he was in the “end game” of the disease so to say? He’d long forgotten who I was. At least he went before his son.”

      “You’re not goin anywhere Kevin.” Lannon said. “We have good crews here. We’re going to chew up those freaks like tossed salads. We’ll make them pay hell for their insanity. Can I depend on you tah hold yourself together now?”

       Kevin nodded back. “Firm as a rock Sir! I’ll be gettin to distributing the shells around now Sir!”

       “Get too it lad.” Lannon replied with a paw wave.

The Destroyer Growler
9:35am
Main PDC (Power Distributor Center)
Power load box number five

      Myler forced a mouse size crow bar behind a circuit chip and in one strong body push...popped the busted chip from its’ circuit card!

      “Bring up a C-136 chip!” Myler screamed! Four mice came running up carrying a new computer chip and pushed it into place on the card! Myler then snatched them by their shirts.....

      “Pixy and Eddy? You go over there...pull wire serial A-14 and cross connect it to D24. Dixie and Alphonse? You go over to that wire pack? Pull F-29 wire and cross connect that to G-50! Move it! Come on guys, butt holes and tails move!”

      Albert came running up. “Jackie needs a time “My My”!”

“KABOOM!”

       A close by explosion near the compartment threw the mice all over the load box! “Son of a bitch in a cheese grater!” Myler snarled as he rolled to his feet! “Everyone all right?!”

       A mouse at the far end of the box snapped back! “Broke my leg!”

       “Broke my leg too!” Another mouse snapped. “Add that to my busted arm!” That mouse screeched as he waved his arm around. “Finchy! You have to patch me up again!”

       Myler grabbed Albert...”Tell Jackson that if he could kindly ask the Kzinti for a pause? We might have enough un-injured mice to finish this box in like five minutes or so?”

       “I’ll tell him ten.” Albert huffed. “Then it’ll make you look fantastic.”

       “Your concern for my reputation is so touching?” Myler snickered back. 

      Jackson was working a fever pace on the parts of the box he could do the most good with. Looking down at his feet, the sight of the ever lowering water level in the compartment from the pumps Darla had brought to bear by throwing hoses through the upper hatch made him confident despite the ever present thoughts of Gilly....what could Jackson possibly tell Will? If home was still there and if they’d even get home....The ship was taking a horrendous pounding, the list was become sharper, The impacts and explosions more numerous...

      Lenny (Fox) and Berk! (Wolf) came up with tools and cables in their paws...”We think we can cross box number 6 to 5 and get a super circuit established Jackson?” Lenny said. “It’ll give us some redundancy so we don’t lose power with a single shot.”

      Jackson looked at box 6....”Do it.”

      Albert showed himself at an open panel...”Jackie?!”

     Jackson stooped down...”What you got?”

     “We can hook up and go live with this box in about two minutes but I can’t tell you how long we’ll have the mains back on line! Best guess is just enough to maybe throw some rockets in the air and hope they hit those mother fluckers! Better call the Captain and tell him to get ready!”

       Arden Gull came into the PDC from fighting flooding in the compartment below...”What’s up?! I don’t know how long we can keep the water back from down below. Every time we take a hit? The damage down there get’s worse!”
   
       Jackson patted the number 5 box. “We’re almost ready now! We need to get the bypass cables hooked up! Lenny and Berk are patching box 6 to 5 to give it a little more juice and some stability. We need to call the bridge and tell them to shoot that Kzinti ship with rockets before the power goes out again!”

      Arden shoulder punched Jackson . “Do it! I’ll handle the bypass cable connections!”

9:35am
In the water...Zepher and Demish

      Demish continued to watch the battle between the two ships as he held Zepher to his chest...

     “I’m so tired.” Zepher sighed. “I’ve been swimming so much my legs hurt. I’m not made for treading water for snit.”

      “Don’t worry...I got you.” Demish said as he petted his friend’s head. “You’ll be ready to swim again soon Zeff....just relax.”

      “What’s the use mammal?” Zeph replied. “The ship looks so bad. Everyone’s going to be swimming or dead and I can’t lay like this while you put yourself in danger because of me...sigh....snap my little neck and get it over with Demmy?”

      “What?!” Demish snorted back. “What the fluck did you just say to me?”

     “You heard me?” Zepher replied. “Just make it quick? You have better chances of survival than I do so just spare me? I’ll drown, get shot, or be tortured or killed...why even try to live?”

      “Bump!” Demish bopped his big morphed hand off Zepher’s head! “What the hell kind of stupid talk is that fox?! Huh?! You think I’m just going to give up on you because you’re smaller than me? I hear you calling yourself worthless again you little yip machine and we’re going to have a discussion you’re not going to enjoy!”

     Zepher quickly looked behind his back and yelped....”DAMN! DIVE DEMMY DIVE!”

     The Rhino quickly kicked himself into a backwards dive as the Kzinti destroyer passed by and a deck machine gunner spotted a juicy target he couldn’t miss even with the roughness of the water around him!

     Zepher knew Demish had been struck just by the way his small body was jerked around as his friend held him tightly around his waist! Demish struggled to reach the surface...

     “Gnah! Gasp! Gasp!....Son of a whore damn you!” Demish snarled as he felt his hip....”gnah.....ugh....I took a shot in the hip!”

     Zepher reacted quickly....pushing himself from the rhino, Zepher swam for Demish’s uniform belt. Unfastening the buckle, Zepher pulled the belt free of the pant loops, laso’d Demish’s injured leg and tugged the belt tight above the gun shot wound with all the strength he had!

      “HELP ME DAMN YOU BEFORE YOU BLEED TO DEATH!” Zepher snapped as he climbed onto Demish’s floating body and pulled on the belt....”HELP ME!”

      Demish snatched the belt with his morph hand!...”I thought you were eager to die?!”

      “I’m eager, not you!” Zepher yelped. “Demmy? I can’t lose you mammal? I don’t want to die alone out here! This flucken sucks!”

      The Rhino hugged Zepher warmly. “We’re not done yet Zeph. Just have to be more careful and stop shooting snit.”

      Zepher’s ears downcasted...”I’m such a stupid coward.”

     Demish thumped him off the head with a finger. “Cut that stupid depressing snit out? You’re making me sad. Come on foxy? I thought foxes were good with jokes? Let’s hear a good fox joke?”

    Zepher smiled...”A fox....A wolf and a deer go into a bath room.”

    “I heard that one dude. Please? No scat jokes?” Demish sighed.

    “But this isn’t that joke?” Zepher replied. “Do you want me to tell jokes or not?”

     “You?.....You suck at jokes.....don’t you?” Demish asked.

     “Yeah?.....I kinda do.” Zepher replied. “I’ll just keep my eyes on that Kzinti ship. Damn....the Growler’s beating the snot of em but they’re persistent bastards.”

The Destroyer Growler
9:39am
Main PDC (Power Distributor Center)
Power load box number five

       Jackson snatched up a set of sound powered phones and switched the “com box” dial....”Main PDC to Bridge! I say again...Main PDC to bridge, petty officer Jackson Wilde from ICERM Repair locker calling!”

      “Main PDC, Bridge! Wilde, this is Lieutenant Dolf....report!” Jackson heard Rudy replying.

      “Lieutenant?! Congrats Sir!” Jackson yelped. “Sir! We’re getting ready to restore main power functions here but we’re not sure how long we can hold! You better get some rockets ready to fire at that Kzinti ship!”

      “Aye aye!” Rudy replied. “Good work Mister Wilde! Just give us five minutes! That’s all we’ll need!”

      “Doing what we can down here Sir!” Jackson said as he saw Lenny (Fox) and Berk! (Wolf) throw their paw thumbs up! He then screamed at Arden Gull as the big burley bird worked to get the power line patching completed.

18 October 2040
10:43am
Jag’s shelter in his back yard

       The concrete box was just that.....a box, or more like a walk in closet, but for Nick? Comfortable. At the moment, the fox was sitting on a makeshift bed...a futon mattress sitting on a long wooden bench that stuck out of one wall....cuddling up to a pair of tiger cubs who’d found ample amusement with Nick’s beloved tail...

      “Why have you kept these cubs secret from me Jag? They are absolutely adorable...the uh? Little female here seems to want to marry my tail? Uh? Honey? You should know that my tail is a female and she’s quite fond of me...not you.”

       The little diaper’d cub didn’t seem to care as Nick got her chasing the tail around by wagging it like crazy...”Phewww....I am so glad that even though I can’t walk? I can still wag my Shantelle.”

       Jag sat on the floor...”Are you ok Nick? Obviously you have worries.”

       “Carrots?” Nick replied. “Pfft....please? Judy is nothing like a typical rabbit, trust me. You’d need a direct hit with like ten of those stupid rockets to stop her. She’ll still be bound and determined to put here head through a brick wall when she’s white haired, using a cane and wearing Depends. My son? I do worry. Worst thing is not having anything to say “this” or “that”, You know what I mean Jag? We didn’t raise a dumb tail though...I’m confident Jackson will take care of himself come anything.”

      Nick looked at Jag’s scars on his body more intently than he ever had before....”Jag? Since we have a lot of obvious time here? Why? Why do you have those scars? To be honest? I remember when me and Judy arrested you on that theft charge as a teenager...you didn’t seem to have that many. I know some of these were from knife fights you got into.”

      Jag felt a paw over the ones on his shoulder...”I’ve always been honest with you and Judy Nick but I had hoped you’d never ask that kind of question. I?.....I had a really bad cub-hood. Absolutely horrific. Let’s just say it was nothing to....you know....talk easy about? Bad home situation, un-coping mother, never enough to eat.....father who loved to use you as a pin cushion?.....a lot of pin cushion uses? Then you got “passed around” when money got tight.”

     Nick’s mouth dropped open....then grimaced tightly....”Gawdess Vulpix damn it to hell! Jag?! Why didn’t you tell us when we took you in? Why have you kept this a secret all this time?”

     “Nick? It’s alright. Don’t get too stressed out or the cubs will get upset then they’ll tear up the shelter and the wife will rip my tail off.”

      “It’s not all right!” Nick replied. “He raped you Jag! Look what it did to you! Do you realize how close Judy and I came to blowing you away that night?! That bastard turned you into a damned rabid animal!”

      “And that bastard got his neck snapped by Officer Delgato. Suicide by cop...by a very big cop. Coward left this world in a just way. Saved the taxpayers tons of money and me a world of rehashed nightmares.    “He’s not important Nick. He has no more place anywhere!” Jag said as he walked up to Nick and picked him up in his arms...”You are important to me Nick. I owe you and Judy debts un-payable. Getting arrested and the snot kicked out of me by your wife was what saved me from burning out and becoming just another mange ridden dead pound of flesh in a downtown alley. The young wild and abused tiger I was is a “was and has been” he is dead and buried because for the first time in my life when I met you two? Two mammals stepped up to tell me my life still mattered despite all the torment and hell I was put through as a cub.”

       Jag gently kissed Nick on his head. “I love you Nick Wilde and your wife. I will always and forever be your closest and most devoted servant. That....is my best therapy.”

      Nick began to sob....”Oh Jag....oh Jag I’m so sorry no one was there for you as a cub....”

      Jag hugged Nick tight...”You’ve been here though....that’s what’s important. You’re my best friend Nick. Now? What to eat?”

18 October 2040
10:43am
Zootopia High School number 4
Acacia Street

“We’re at the high school on Acadia Will.” Alex text’d his brother as he, Tina and the foxes Isana and Akisawa stood at the front of the undamaged building.

“I’m heading for Chuck and Omaha’s place. Everyone is being ordered to leave Sahara Square. You should see all the Marines storming in here. Will try to call when I get to Chuck’s. I love you Alex. XXXX.

  Tina tapped Alex on his shoulder as she struggled with the very loose and oversized auto cover-alls Alex had thrown on her...

   “Give me your belt Alex? I can hardly walk in this without tripping over myself.” Tina asked.

    “Oh! Sorry....That was the best I could do.” Alex replied as he pulled off his pants belt and gave it to the white female wolf.

    “Question is?” Isana asked. “What now? Me and Akisawa can’t get home. There’s not exactly a place to eat or sleep around here save the school and it’s crowded....”

      “MOVE! MOVE ASIDE!” Came a scream from behind which caused the little group to side step as a pair of stretcher bearers ran by with an injured deer.

       “ANYONE OUT HERE KNOW FIRST AID?!” A rabbit in a military uniform shouted out the doorway of the school. “ANYONE?!”

       Isana and Akisawa raised their paws....”We’re class two qualified!” Isana shouted!

       “Get in here!” The rabbit yelped. “You’re both drafted!”

       Akisawa shurgged. “At least it’s something to keep us occupied.” He said as he turned to Alex and Tina. “We’ll see you two later? We’ll see if we can score some food and water in the off’ing.”

       “We’ll save some for you two.” Alex replied. He and Tina watched the foxes run into the school....

       “Gasp....” Tina voiced as she flopped on the grass...”This is insane.”

      “No kidding.” Alex replied as he laid on the ground. “Didn’t think they’d get to hit us this hard. We knew this was coming...just? Just didn’t think it would start like......this!”

       Alex put his paws to his face and rubbed the tears trying to well up in his eyes....”Fluck! At least my Mom and Dad are alright and Will’s ok. Gawdess! If I lost Will?....These cats are insane!”

      Tina sighed....”Please tell me you’ve decided “not” to join up? You’re not even close to age yet...”

      “I can get a waiver.” Alex replied. “And no...I haven’t changed my mind. I’m not going to tuck my tail and rub my rump on a wall like a little bitch. Please don’t tell me you want me to be like that?”

      “I don’t want to hear you got killed! Is that in your mind too Alex? Do you think about me?!” Tina begged.

      “You think I don’t?!” Alex yelped back! “All I had on my mind was you when I got out of the ice cream shop, I swear! But....everything is bigger than just me and you...what if they hit us with more rockets?! What if they invade us?! It’s not a selfish thought that I want to go into the Fleet Marines Tina?! It’s for you.....your family....my family... everyone! Don’t ask me to be half a wolf? Not here? Not now? Please?”

     Tina shook her head....”I’m scared Alexander! I don’t want to hear that you got killed! I couldn’t stand it! I’ll die! You mean the whole world to me (crying) I don’t want you to go away (crying) I don’t want you to die!”

     Alex pulled Tina to his chest and hugged her tight....”Here’s one thing the Marine Corps training modules don’t cover.” 

18 October 2040
10:43am
Sandy Ridge Beach north of Sandy Point Bay
Sahara Square

      “DISMOUNT!” Captain Oakley screamed as he leapt from the deuce truck’s cab and the Marines in the back bed jumped over the rear gate to form around him....

      “Sergeant Hopps?” Oakley asked Owen.

      “Yes Sir!” Owen replied smartly.

       “Take one of your brothers? Go around and see if there’s Marines with no unit. Bring them here and we’ll form up a company on the quick. Someone come up with a quick company name?”

       “Rattle tail Company!” Ori Hopps blurped! “Come on guys? Sounds cool? catchy? Sort of spicy?”

       “That’ll do.” Oakley replied. “Rattle tail. Now if you need extra amo? Grenades? That big green monster truck that just pulled up is a weapons carrier. Anyone here AT-4 Dragon rocket qualified?”

       Ori threw his paw up. “Also 203 launcher qual’d Sir!”

       “Uh? Begging the Captain’s caution?” Powen Hopps said calmly. “I wouldn’t give Ori any anti-tank rockets until he came down off his adrenal high? You can always tell he’s about to lose his mind because his teeth are chattering and? You really don’t want to put anything bigger than a pistol in his paws right now.”

      “You want me to smack you Pow Pow?!” Ori snapped at his brother.

      “A first use of Scope in that mouth of yours would be a better start there little brother.” Powen replied calmly.

       “ALL OFFICERS RALLY ON THE COLONEL HERE! ALL OFFICERS RALLY ON THE COLONEL HERE!” A rabbit Marine officer shouted in the distance as a wolf marine waved a red signal flag next to him!

        Oakley turned to Owen...”Find some more Sargents too. Up to now? You’re the company top Sargent, Hopps.”

        “Yes Sir!” Owen replied with a salute. “Nori? On me.”

        “Right Bro!” Nori replied as he shouldered his modified Browning Auto Rifle.

          Captain Oakley ran to where various mammal Marine Corps officers were forming up around the current senior officer in charge of defending the coast at Sandy Ridge....Colonel Elsenore, a Grey March Hare who towered over his fellow rabbits....

          “One at a time....do you have a Company standing or forming up and how many Marines?” Elsenore asked.

           When it came to Oakley.....”Sir! Captain Oakley of Rattle Back company! Forming up thirty Marines Sir!” Oakley said sharply.

           Elsenore pulled the officers tighter in a circle around a large map of Zootopia he laid on the beach sand. Elsenore pulled out a telescoping pointer stick....

           “Sandy Ridge.....Canyon Lands.....Coyote Canyon to our West. The climate wall of Tundra Town to the north. Sandy Cove Naval Base to the South. We’ll be backed by the 3rd and 4th artillery regiments setting up in Heyena Hurst to our West, and the ship’s Savanna and Sayoni out in the ocean with a number of attack drone subs spread up and down the coast.....Mammals? We are going to turn Zootopia, if it comes to it, into a fricken tiger meaty sub grinder. Our task is to defend the Tundra Town gate and a quick shot inland to downtown Zootopia. We will give no fricken ground to these mongrel bastards, not an inch in hell.” Elsenore snarled.

       Elsenore looked around....”Two officers raise their paws.”

       Oakley snapped quick with a wolf behind him....

       “Oakley....Fedalah....come up.” Elsenore asked. “Both your companies will move five miles west from here to the cross junction between Iner-highway One and National Route 394 at Carnifex Station and set up a blocking defense. I want your companies to be Anti-armor heavy so load up on AT-4 rockets. I’ll provide you each three mortar crews for six total and a demolition team to mine the approach road. Are you clear on what I want?”

        “YES SIR!” Fedalah and Oakley replied!

        “Good....Captain Fedalah? Senior on-scene officer. Mister Oakley? I expect you’ll back him up?” Elsenore asked.

         “Totally Sir!” Oakley replied confidently.

          “Get to it then. Report to me when you’re settled in and then it’s all a waiting game.” Elsenore said as he waved a paw to dismiss them.

        Oakley returned to where the Hopps brothers were to find a full company of thirty various mammals in a formation...

         “That was quick Sargent Hopps?” Oakley said impressed.

         “You ask....we get it done Sir.” Owen replied. “You asked for more Sargents? Staff Sargent Tallon (Tiger) Sargent Owens (Rabbit) First Sargent Nishi (Tanuki) First Sargent Milo (Rhino).” Owen turned to Tallon...”Staff Sargent? You are ranking and senior Sargent.”

           Oakley nodded. “Sargent Hopps? You will be Tallon’s second. Everyone gather round...” Oakley drew his company in as he pulled out his own map and explained their assignment....

         “That’s it everyone....we go, we set up, we sit on our tails and wait for who knows how long. Perhaps we get lucky and if they decide to come and party? The Navy sends them to hell. In any case? We are at war and we will behave as such. I know many of us didn’t get through the entire School of Infantry course so it’s take what we learn and improvise the rest. If no one has any objections? I say we sharpen our teeth and claws and get ready to make some Kzinti pot pies.”

        Ori raised his paw....”Sir? I don’t eat meat?”

        Powen replied. “That’s what he hoped he could hide at boot camp.”

        Nori snickered. “Tiger prick is a delicacy with him.” 

        Owen snorted....”Please brothers? Not now?”

       Oakley waved his paw in the direction of some waiting deuce trucks. “Rattle Tail Company?! MOUNT UP!”

9:34am
The Zootopian Attack Submarine Thresher
Depth: rising through 150 feet
Location: 50 nautical miles from the Island of Roya.

       Botasky turned from the submarine’s control dial board and screamed out....”PACKY! TEN DEGREE UP BUBBLE! PASSING 75 FEET LIKE A ROCKET!”

      “Duh! Slanting deck Bodah, tell me the obvious!” Perkins snapped as he ran by Botasky, down a narrow passage and pulled open the armored hatch to the Thresher’s torpedo room! He watched as the automatic loading machinery moved to load four two thousand pound Mark 48 torpedoes into their firing tubes...

      “Ah snit.” Perkins snorted as he turned and walked fast back into the large control and crew room of the drone submarine...”Alright everyone! It looks like we’re crashing the party! Bodah? Get on the periscope and tell me if we’re hunting a target!?”

       “Copy!” Botasky snapped back as he got up from the control board station and ran to the periscope.

        “The rest of you?” Perkins said as he looked at the Tanuki and Otters who were going to land on Roya Island....”The rest of you find a place to stay put and strap yourselves in. My guess is that we’re going to be playing pool ball with some warships quite fast once this sub unloads.”

        Sargent Major Osa (Tanuki) was still sitting at the control board as Perkins walked up...”Depth, heading and Speed Smash?” Perkins asked.

       “Leveling off at thirty feet. Course 298. Speed 30 knots.” The Sargent Major replied.

       “Periscope up!” Botasky yelped as he waited for the hand controls and the eye piece to come into place before him. “Scanning Packy!”

        “Sir.” Osa said to Perkins. “Board shows four torpedoes loaded. Tubes are hot. Outer doors coming open. Air pressure in all four torpedo tubes starting to come up to fire potential.”

       Perkins turned to Botasky...”Bodah? Any surface contacts?”

      “Searching Packy....nothing through North......nothing through South......TARGET!” Botasky yelped. “Target at......at.....206 degrees heading 270!”

      Perkins came running up to the scope. “What is it Bodah?”

      “Let’s just say it’s not a fishing boat and it certainly isn’t a destroyer Packy....son of a carrot field of hot hutch bunnies....damn that’s a big ship!” Botasky said excited.

       “The Thresher’s loading her tubes, let me look Bodah?” Perkins asked.

9:37am
Bunny Valley High School
Bunny Borough

         “Mmmmmmm.....sweeeeeet Frith of Inlay that is one pregnant bitch of a boat!” Alphius said with a devious smirk of satisfaction as a crowd of bunnies gathered around him and his smart phone.

        Demitor was almost “pee dancing” as he held on to Alphius’s shoulders and looked down at the screen...”What is it?! How big is it?”

        Alphius switched the screen to a view through the Thresher’s periscope....”Like what you see Demitor?”

       “What kind of ship is that?” Demitor asked. “What’s those big box things on the deck?”

Note: Demitor and Alphius are looking at a Kzin version of the battleship Yamato.

       “I think they’re gun turrets.” Alphius replied. “And if they are? That is one seriously freaked out warship!”

9:40am
The Zootopian Attack Submarine Thresher
Depth: Attack depth, fifty feet
Location: 50 nautical miles from the Island of Roya.

       Botasky swallowed spit....”Gulp”....Packy? That ship’s monstrous! The size of those cannons?! Cheese en Crackers....it could blow the hell out of downtown Zootopia!”

      “It could blow the hell out of us if we’re discovered...down periscope Bodah!” Perkins commanded. “That big bastard isn’t cruising alone, it has to have a screen of ships around it and we’re about to play a game of chicken like it or not! Everyone make sure your tied down because once we pop off our torpedoes? We’re going to get “popped on”
fast!”

     Staff Sargent Gataki snickered....”Mmmmmm....I love rough sex!”

9:43am
Bunny Valley High School
Bunny Borough

   Alphius was on his back on the grass....his body contorting, his paws turning and twisting his smart phone before his face as his tongue stuck through his lips...

     “Come on you big beautiful piece of floating scrap?....work with me here will you? Come on? Give me a fire solution so I can shove em right up your tail hole you dirty Kzinti son of a bitch.” Alphius snarled as he swiped his paw finger across the screen. Every rabbit around him was equally engaged in prayer to Frith or encouragements to Alphius....

     “Come on Al?!” Demitor snapped. “Kill that mother flucker! It’s pay back time!”

     The flock of rabbits hooted, yelped and drove Alphius with their chanting....”Kill, kill kill! Die! die! die! To the sandy bottom may that tiger bitch lie!” ”Kill, kill kill! Die! die! die! To the sandy bottom may that tiger bitch lie!”

      Alphius poised his paw finger over his smart phone screen and mashed it down on one of the torpedo icons! “One away!” 

9:46am
The Zootopian Attack Submarine Thresher
Depth: Attack depth, fifty feet
Location: 50 nautical miles from the Island of Roya.

      The sound of compressed air being rushed into the sea bounced around inside the hull of the Thresher....

      “Number one away!” Sargent Major Osa (Tanuki) yelled from the control board! 

“FLOOOOOSH!”

“Number two away!”

“FLOOOOOSH!”

“Number three away!”

“FLOOOOOSH!”

“Number four away!”

The Destroyer Growler
9:43am
Main PDC (Power Distributor Center)

      Arden stood up and threw a feather hand out with his thumb up. “POWER SUPPLY PATCHED AND READY!”

      Albert stuck his head out of box number five and waved an arm. “BOX FIVE READY AND UP!”

      Lenny (Fox) and Berk! (Wolf) screamed out....”BOX SIX UP AND READY AND UP!”

      Jackson spoke into the sound powered phone...”Main PDC to bridge! Power coming back on line in three count! Stand by to shoot!”

The Growler
9:45am
Rudy Dolf and Commander Winsor in the 
armored control bridge compartment.

      “Mister Dolf? Stand by your rocket console.” Captain Windsor commanded sternly. “This is going to have to be a “snap” fire with very little time for accuracy.”

       Dolf reached for his rocket panel and kept his hoof hand poised over it....”You realize Sir that some of our own stuff may come down on us?”

      “Then hope the computer chips realize we’re not the enemy.” Windsor groaned. He gripped his command chair as the ship suffered another violent string of shell hits on her side! “THROW THE SWITCH PDC! DO IT NOW!”

The Destroyer Growler
9:46am
Main PDC (Power Distributor Center)

        “AYE AYE SIR!” Jackson snapped! “ON THE THREE COUNT! ENERGIZE!”

       Jackson opened his mouth to say “three” and the world around him suddenly went white......and hot.....

End of Chapter 45