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 48
“Barukan no hi no hi!” part 9
(The Day of Vulcan’s Fire)

20 years later...

     “When I was five years old, I pulled on my mother’s apron as she was making breakfast and asked...”Mom? What’s bunny heaven like?”

     “My mother picked me up, set me on the kitchen counter and said...”Bunny heaven is so beautiful that you will never feel sad ever again! The land goes on and on and on and is full of colorful flowers and fruit bushes and thick tasty grass and lush lettuce. You can run all day and never be tired, You can eat as much as you want and never get really fat, you can ask Prince Rabbit or Frith for anything you wish and you’ll have it. The rain smells of lavender and the air of sweet honey. You’ll see all your family tree for as far as your eyes can see and all of them will know you and you will be so loved that you’ll never want to sleep so you don’t miss a single moment.” My mother said.”

       “So next I went to my Dad in his study and asked....”Daddy? What’s fox heaven like?” And my father replied. “Oh?...it’s the most wonderful place in the universe. Land and hills as far as you can see full of colorful flowers, thick green grass and the most perfect dirt to dig a fox hole, for it never falls apart in the rain and never gets too warm and never gets too cold. The land is full of small game and you can spend all the time chasing them to your heart’s content and you’ll never get tired nor too fat! You can have any female fox you wish, You can even ask Queen Vulpix and she will fill your every whim! If you want a mate or ten mates or a hundred mates? You will find many female foxes so gorgeous that you’ll drool for all eternity? If you ask? So it shall be given. All your foxy relations will be with you as far as you can see them and you will be so happy that you’ll never want to fall asleep to miss a single minute.” My Dad said to me.”

      “Then I threw my parents a zinger....”Mom? Dad? Since I’m not all rabbit and I’m not all fox? How does that work?”

       “My parents looked at each other and you could hear the gears “binding up to a crunching halt!”....my mother said...”Ummm? Well Jackson? Then it’s like you know? When Mommies and Daddies can no longer live together, right Nick?”

        My father replied....”Oh yeah! See? Prince Rabbit and Goddess Vulpix get together and they work out a little arrangement contract where each gets to have you for a certain amount of time. And unlike some custody agreements? This arrangement is perfect and works very well... except when Prince Rabbit starts making excuses...”

       “Nothing’s more shifty than a female fox!” My mother replied with a snort aaaaaand....the fur starts flying! Needless to say?...my parents sometimes left me more confused than I was before. But you couldn’t fault them for their wild imagination.”

       “To be honest? All I saw when I was choking into unconsciousness in that flooded ship’s compartment was.....nothing. No replay of my life, no Prince Rabbit and flowing fields of color...no Godess Vulpix with seventy two naked and waiting foxy virgins...nothing. But I did see my parents...I saw what my death would do to them and in my last scrap of conscious thought.....one phrase boomed out in my brain...”

       “Death.....fluck you.”

From Jackson Wilde’s book
Love Unbounded, My parent’s story. 

5:15pm
18 October 2040
Zepher in the water

      The floating piece of flotsam from the sunken Kzinti destroyer was a blessing! Zepher lay on his back panting heavily for a moment as he turned his head to see where the Growler was. The ship looked almost a speck over the tops of the waves that lapped around the broken wooden frame and paneling...

      Demish was gone....Zepher knew the Rhino could not have survived the underwater explosion of the rocket warhead. Now what about him? A small fox bouncing around the ocean far from the safety of his ship...the picture looked bleak even if he gained enough strength to try for a swim, who was he kidding? He hadn’t reached the point yet of being totally despondent though and he wasn’t ready to entertain the thought of suicide just yet...not that he had anything to make suicide attractive...

      Zepher looked at the sea around him. He heard of stories of how mammals drowned...you intake a nice big breath of sea water and you struggle and choke yourself out of existance....but that? That sounded too painful and scary so drowning himself was obviously out.

     He could maybe pull up a piece of wood, break the plank to get a nice sharp end and impale himself right into the heart? Nope.....noooooo that would fricken seriously hurt! Zepher sat snorting....”I’d be lucky to miss and then that would seriously suck!” He said frowning.

      No.....at the moment he had to keep hope that the Growler would start searching the water for her lost children and by some miracle he would be plucked from the icy fingers of death. Feeling he could try and paddle...Zepher flopped off the piece of wreckage into the water and started to kick it towards the Growler as his face focused intently on reaching that hope of salvation no matter how long or how much he’d have to kick for it!

5:30pm
18 October 2040
The Destroyer Growler
Medical Battle Dress Station Three

      The world at first? A blurry sort of white. Was he in heaven? He couldn’t feel his body at first...not a good sign. No lush grasses, no fruit trees or bushes, no relations, no rabbits, no foxes....ok? Not in heaven and probably not dead? Maybe?”

      Then...as lucidity began to return once more...a furry face popped into view and a moist pair of lips and an exploring tongue worked their magic and confirmed to Jackson.....that he was alive! The Fox/Bunny looked slowly around the room as Darla backed away and leaned over the edge of the medical bed with a big smile on her face...

      “Hello Jackie...” She said happy with a paw wave.

       Jackson rubbed his forehead and felt the bandage over it....”Owww....my head smarts.” He said grimacing. “Darla? How did I get into this bed? Last thing I remember? I was holding onto that hatch as the water filled up the whole PDC compartment.”

       Darla nodded in reply....”I got you out. I ran for the main deck, jumped into the ocean, swam through a shell hole in the hull and snatched you out of there....unfortunately? I couldn’t do it without a few problems Jackie. You?........better check down below....”

       Jackson pulled at and raised his bed covers to find his bunny tail...replaced by a taped wad of bandages. “Oh.....what....happened to my tail?” Jackson asked mournfully.

     Darla replied patting her knife pouch on her web belt. “Your tail got caught by some debris while I was trying to pull you out. I had to cut it off to free you.” Darla said sadly....”I’m sorry!” She yelped as she jumped onto Jackson and gave him a strong hug...”You’re alive....”sob” ......”I thought I was too late!......”sob”......That they couldn’t revive you!”

     Jackson hugged Darla for a moment....then slowly pushed her back. “Dar?” Jackson said in sorrow....”Gilly’s........Gill’s.....dead.”

      Darla shook her head slowly.....”Oh no.........no......”

     “Arden’s dead.” Jackson sobbed.....”Albert....."My My”.....all the little ones?”.......Jackson cried.....”They’re all dead! My best friends! All my friends are dead!” Jackson broke and cried as Darla hugged him...”I tried to reach the little ones but I couldn’t get them!” The Fox/Bunny sobbed and cried...

      “Sheesh! No damn confidence what so ever. Gee, thanks a lot Jackson!” A small voice shouted.

      “What?!” Jackson yelped as he looked around....”Myler?!” Jackson called out!

       And there...sitting at his feet on the bed were Albert and Myler...

       “News of our demise...” Albert said smiling. “Are faker than the Big Foot.”

       Jackson’s face suddenly beamed with joy! “ALBERT! MYLER!” He cried out as he reached down, picked up the two mice and plastered them against his cheeks! “YOU’RE ALIVE! YOU’RE BOTH ALIVE!”

      “JACKSON!” Myler screamed as he was rubbed against Jackson’s cheek! “CUT IT OUT YOU CRAZY RABBIT! YOU’LL CRUSH US!”

       Jackson held the two mice in front of his face and looked shocked! “HOW!? HOW DID YOU GET OUT?! I thought?......sobbing.....I thought I lost you both?!”

        Albert raised a paw finger. “Well lucky for us? Someone in PDC loved their coffee in a big mug. We thought we were dead until this coffee mug floated by the box so me and “My My” jumped into it and paddled our butts off towards the closest ventilation duct.”

         Myler continued....”We jump inside the vent, ran our tails off with water chasing our butts and found another vent opening that hadn’t been secured during General Quarters. We jumped from the vent, told the mammals in the compartment to seal it shut and.....we’re here.”

       Jackson warmly rubbed the mice against his cheeks again....”I’m so happy.” He sobbed. He then kissed Albert on the head...”I called you stupid Albert....I’m sorry.....”

      “What can you do when the adrenalin’s going crazy? Don’t kill yourself over trivial words Jackie? I consider your own escape from death a Miracle.” Albert said as he rubbed Jackson’s cheek. “You realize you’re a hero?”

       Jackson shook his head...”The heroes are still in that compartment. Arden’s a true hero...if it wasn’t for him...we’d all be dead.” Jackson looked around his bed....”Darla?! I need a paper pad so I can write down what I remember! Quick before I forget?”

      As Jackson started to write on the medical pad...Rudy Dolph walked into the medical station on crutches.....”Now there is our big hero of the war! How you feeling Petty Officer Wylde?” Rudy asked as he stood by the bed.

       “How did you break your leg Sir?” Jackson asked.

       “Forgot my seat belt.” Rudy replied. “Thought we were going to lose you.” Rudy said as he patted Jackson’s paw...”I’m sorry about...Petty officer Gull....Gilly.....all the little ones...the others....We got our tail spanked hard.”

       Jackson looked around the medical room....”There’s no one else here....”

      “The wounded are being taken care of in one of the berthings that didn’t get destroyed.” Rudy said as he sat down. “I’m afraid accommodations for the moment are going to be a bit rough.”

       Jackson wiggled his paw in the air....”The ship’s still listing...”

      “She’s been stabilized.” Rudy replied. “We have one very dicey turbine engine left. Our rudder is being held on by rope. We have no internal power since we lost box five. Our weapons are completely down. We have holes like Swiss cheese everywhere...you could say? We’re down to “luck, prayers and swears” and old fashioned piracy.”

      Jackson sagged in the bed....”My parents are probably pissing all over the house....what about home?!”

      “Don’t know.” Rudy replied. “The radio room was hit. Electronics is trying to patch something together so we can call out and hope we get an answer back.”

        “Will? Will we get home?” Jackson asked as he gripped his bed sheets hard.

         “I don’t want to give up hope.” Rudy said. “Like I said? It’s...it’s very much against us right now.”

         Jackson reached for Darla and took her paw...”Sir? Is the Chaplain alive?”

         “Parson Flannigan?” Rudy asked. “He’s been busy....obviously.”

         Jackson smiled at Darla...”If? If we don’t make it home Sir?” Jackson asked Rudy. “Would you be our best man? If....if worst comes to worst? I’d like us to be married. Um?....I don’t have any rings.”

         Rudy nodded....”You both wish to be married right now?”

         Darla pulled Jackson’s paw to her lips and sobbed....”I love you....” She said softly.

        “Well?” Rudy said as he stood up. “At least something nice can come out of all this...let me tell the Skipper and the Parson.”

2:50pm
18 October 2040
Nick and Judy’s house
Downtown Zootopia

       The world had been turned upside down...the house ripped to shreds...the smell of smoke mixed with other un-pleasent odors hung in the air...at any time another rain of deadly rockets could fall and this time a lucky shot would send them both to the lands of their ancestors...

      And Nick and Judy lay naked with each other under a blanket on their couch in the living room...Nick’s tongue slowly bathed his wife’s head and ears into sopping wet fur clumps...

      “I raised my paw over you...” Nick said sorrowfully....”I’m a piece of snit.”
  
      “No....I snapped at you and called you un-caring...” Judy replied as she started to sob again....”I’m so un-deserving of you Nick...sob.....”

       “We’re a messed up soup sandwich aren’t we Carrots?” Nick said as he pulled his tail up between his legs...”Mmmm....comfort pillow my little lover?”

        Judy took hold of Shantelle as Nick gently opened her mouth and slipped his tongue inside....”Mmmmmm...I’m going to eat you my little prize....devour you like a good Swiss “Chock-Oh-Lay-Tay”....

       Nick pulled off and gently rubbed his paws over his wife’s body.... “You realize that Jackson would probably scream....”WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING?! GET THE FLUCK OUT OF HERE!”

      Judy rubbed her head over Nick’s chest...”You?.....Do you think he’s alright?”

     “Do you doubt his genes?! Carrots!” Nick yelped. “Our son? The off spring of the greatest scammer in the history of Zootopia and the toughest bunny cop in the history of the ZPD?! He has every advantage! Cunning! a high IQ, Good legs! Great Ears!......A veritable Don Juan persona?...not to mention the fine art of the magic tongue?....”

      “Nick?!” Judy asked as she raised herself...”Will you be blunt with me please?”

      “I am being blunt with you!” Nick said as he pulled himself into a sit and gently held Judy by her waist...”Our son has the best of both of us Carrots...Survive? Not a single doubt in him and that’s the hope we have to hold on too in all this crazy snit. Our son is alive and he’s coming home....and......and maybe we should get dressed and get on the road before.....”

       Judy snickered and snatched Nick by his jowls....”Too late you over winded dumb fox! You have me aroused....unless you can “do me” while driving? Don’t you want a little taste of my “Chock-oh-la-tay”?”

      Nick was about to kiss Judy when the city wide alert sirens went off!

“AAAAAAAAHHHHHROOOOOOOOOOOOOOO......”

      “OH FLUCK!” Judy yelped as she jumped from the couch and grabbed Nick’s butt cart! “I’m going to help you get down to the basement! Just be patient with me and don’t panic!”

      “Like I have a choice?!” Nick replied. “Damn bastards! Always doing things at the wrong damn time!”

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

      Dennis Lannon looked skywards as he spoke into his field phone...”I’m not seeing any incoming! What altitude?! What direction?! What speed?!”

      The bunny at the other end yelped back...”Radar defense confirms a cluster of incoming vampires between a thousand and five hundred feet coming in fast! Just start throwing steel!”

      “Steel at what?!” Lannon replied. “I’m telling you we have no visual targets!”

      “Radar confirms they are inbound! You have your orders! What if you don’t act?! Start throwing steel up now!”

      “Frith damn it!” Lannon screamed. “I don’t see a damn thing you silly bastard!” He turned to his executive officer Kevin Paddington. “Paddy! Hurry and get the guns cranked up! Elevations from a thousand to five hundred feet! Proxy fuses! Cover the whole damn space and let it fly!”

      “At what?!” Paddington snapped back. “Sir?! There’s nothing coming inbound! My forward observers don’t see anything coming!”

      “The radar says there is! It’s their responsibility! They’re telling us to let fly so damn it let the shells fly!” Lannon snarled.

       “Oh for all the.....Frith.....in stupid hell!” Paddington snapped. “SARGENT MAJOR! LET FLY!”

3:12pm
18 October 2040
Lion’s Gate beach, South Savanna Central
4th Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Fleet Marine Division

       Chancy ran to his Captain...”Incoming?! From which direction Sir?!”

      “They didn’t give a direction! Only that it’s a big blip on the radar screens and it’s coming in fast! Tell the troops to get flat in the trenches and hang on!” The Wolf Captain snapped as he grabbed his field phone. “Damn it! I need better damn information than that!” He snarled as Chancy ran out of the tent towards the trenches of his Company....

      Only to be blown off his feet as an explosion tore the tent to shreds!

      “BOOF!” Chancy hit the sand and rolled as the beach started to erupt in explosions and flying sand! “HOLY SNIT! WHAT THE FLUCK?!” The big wolf marine snapped as he scrambled for the nearest trench!

“BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!”

      Chancy flopped into the trench where Corperal Kodo sat curled up covering his head and gnashing his teeth! “WHAT THE FLUCK GUNNY?!”

      “I THINK I WAS FRICKEN WRONG!” Chancy snapped back! “I THINK THEY’RE COMING AFTER ALL!”

“BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!”

3:15pm
18 October 2040
Rattle Back Company under Captain Oakley
Waddle Plains defense point five miles south of Carnifax Station

      Captain Oakley came running up to Owen Hopps as he checked on a placement team of Marine rabbits with their anti-tank rockets...

      “It’s started!” Oakley snapped. “They’re shelling Lion’s Gate beach!”

      “Shelling?!” Owen asked. “Didn’t they say there were more rockets coming in?”

     “No! I got squawk on the radio! Lion’s Gate is under attack!” Oakley pointed East...”Go from hole to hole, tell everyone to be ready! They might be shooting at Lion’s Gate as a diversion!”

      “Aye aye!” Owen replied with a salute then he ran to the warren hole where Nori was posted...

      “Bear Bear!?” Owen yelped as he jumped into the trench.

       “Yeah Bro?!” Nori replied. “Are they coming?!”

       “Sure looks like it.” Owen said. “Look...I want you to grab a pair bunnies with an anti-tank rocket, pick up Ori and Stenowa, and go forward about a mile east to play “trip wire hare”. You get first crack at the bastards.”

       Nori kissed his BAR rifle and smiled evilly....”With such flucken pleasure Bro.”

       Owen slapped Nori off the helmet...”Don’t get stupid “Bear Bear”? Short, quick and run your butt off back here ok? Go!”

       Nori climbed from his trench and snagged a rabbit by his shirt...”Buster! You and Von are with me! bring your bopper stick!”

3:17am
18 October 2040
Flight deck of the Sayori off the coast of Sahara Square.

      Kerdle was pissed...he missed breakfast, he missed lunch now he was going to miss dinner too? Oh those fricken tigers were going to eat snit! The red fox bounced on his feet as he directed his armed and fueled drone out of it’s parking spot.....

     “Go,go,go,go......and......gone!” He yelped as he passed it off to a deck handler and went to grab the tie down chains...

     “They’re invading us?!” Willabe the sable fox asked as he helped Kerdle to recover his chains.

      “Looks like it!” Kerdle replied. “They’re bombing Lion’s Gate beach! Where’s the rest of our ships? Where’s our submarines?”

      “I don’t want to guess.” Willabe snorted. “I hope your family’s ok?”

      “I know my wife.” Kerdle replied. “She hauled tail and feet into the desert of Savanna. When all else? Get feral. She’s going to have her paws full with the twins though.”

       “At least you can keep your head.” Willabe said. “I don’t know about my family...”

       “Hey?” Kerdle said as he wrapped an arm around Willabe. “I have plenty of room for another mouth....trust me. I just hope my brother got his head together and got my mother to some place safe. Snit this is a real cluster fluck today.”
       
3:20pm
18 October 2040
Lion’s Gate beach, South Savanna Central
4th Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Fleet Marine Division

“BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!”

     Chancy timed the drops as best he could and bolted with Corporal Kodo across the sand and into another trench full of Marines!

      “PLEASE TELL ME SOME ONE HERE HAS A MILITARY ISSUE SMART PHONE?!” Chancy snapped!

     “Gunny? Did they nail our CP?” A wolf Marine asked as he tried to dig himself into the side of the fox hole! “Fluck!”

     “They sure got it alright!” Chancy replied. “Anyone see any ships? flashes? Anything out in the water?!”

     A Private snapped back. “I don’t see jack rabbit snit out there! Where the fluck is this damned “Arty” coming from?!”

“BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!”

    Chancy growled as he dialed the military smart phone. “I’m gonna find out! Son of a bitch!” The wolf gunny snapped...” Gatack, Gatack, Gatack! 4th Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Fleet Marine Division on Lion’s Beach! We are under an artillery barrage! Do you have adversary targets?! I see no enemy targets! Gatack, Gatack reply!”

    Chancy grimaced as a shell almost exploding on the lip of his trench! “GAWD DAMN IT! REPLY YOU STUPID BASTARDS! WE’RE GETTING OUR BUTTS CLOBBERED!”

      A reply came back through the phone...”4th Company! We are assessing the situation, will reply soon.”

     Chancy snarled back...”Well make it soon! We’ve almost got our heads inside our tail holes you crazy fluck!”

“BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!” “BOOM!”

6pm
18 October 2040
The Destroyer Growler
Medical Battle Dress Station Three

       Jackson tried to get out of bed and flopped onto the floor! “WOE!” He yelped....”Mmmmm....oh kay? Maybe not right now?”

      Darla grabbed him under his arm pits...”You lost a lot of blood when I amputated your tail so you need to rest a little bit and eat....if you’re hungry?” The female otter said as she tucked Jackson back into bed. “We’re going to move you into the berthing with the rest of the wounded soon so sit tight. I did manage to gather up some fixings for a salad for you?”

      “We’ll do the wedding in the berthing.” Jackson replied. “That’s enough witnesses don’t you think?”

      Darla smirked. “Your mother will absolutely demand we do it all over when we get to port. Any way? I have to get back to work soon. We’re still patching up holes and trying to weld things to the structure to prevent the ship from breaking in half.”

     Jackson sighed....”You’re probably not going to tell me everything right?”

     “Let’s just say...I am a busy welding fool? I’m seeing flash spots in my eyes.” Darla replied as she wiggled her paw fingers.

      Attention on Deck!” A nurse yelped as Captain Winsor entered the medical room.

     “Easy...” Winsor said as he walked up to Jackson’s bed. “How are you Electricians Mate 2nd class Wilde?”

      Jackson shook his head...”Second? Sir....I....?”

      “I’m allowed to make up to five on site battlefield promotions Mister Wilde, are you rejecting it?” Winsor asked as he sat down...

       “Can I be honest?” Jackson replied. “I....I acted kind of shamefully Sir...”

      “Your honestly right now is quite re-assuring Wilde...all things considering. I think at this moment we need every Sailor to be honest, don’t you agree? How are you?” Winsor asked.

      Jackson wasn’t afraid to show off his taped up stubby....”Sans my fluffy bunny tail Sir....which wasn’t Petty Officer Delaware’s fault! Want that to be clear....because she’s riding a super guilt train and she won’t stop saying sorry! Stop it Darla! ah....hmm? Uh? Other than that? I want to get back to work Sir.”

      Winsor smiled....”First of course is this matter of a wedding and the fact that you both don’t have rings. Well? The pipe shop mammals decided to cobble together a set of wedding rings made out of copper pipes? If you’ll have them?”

      Darla smiled and nodded. “Will make good conversation pieces.”

      All of the mammals chuckled at the thought, then Winsor reached for Jackson’s paw...”From myself on behalf of the whole ship...the debt we owe to you has no measure mister Wilde...”

     Jackson looked at Darla. “Dar? Can you leave me alone with the Skipper for a moment?”

     Jackson waited for Darla to leave then looked at Winsor...”Sir? I know what you’re going to say? Compared to what Petty Officer Gull did? My actions were nothing. Certainly not deserving what I think you want me to have. Fifty five mice and rats threw their lives away getting Box Five fixed up and....and I sat just waiting around. Then I ended up pounding and screaming on a hatch like a selfish coward, everyone heard me over the radio system...I didn’t do anything “beyond the call of duty."......All I did was throw a switch.”

     Winsor stood with his arms behind his back. “Would Seaman Gilly say otherwise? A coward would have ran out of that space Mister Wilde. A coward would have ran to save himself. You didn’t just “Throw a switch”. When the box failed to trip over? You stayed. When it failed again? You stayed. You stayed, you kept fighting, the water kept rising and you kept fighting. A coward by all measure...you were not. As for your last moments which thankfully I will never have to recite as part of a funeral? I think it was a fine capstone that made you more remarkable and mammal to your fellow Sailors. I think?...I think Seaman Gilly would have been especially proud of you...when the faith demanded of you? You never broke the faith. You certainly showed how much you cared about Seaman Gilly...Trundle told me the whole story.

      Jackson started to cry...”He.....he was.....he was my best friend!... (crying) My best friend in the whole world!....(crying)....I’m sorry Sir...I’m sorry.....I miss him...I just miss him so much! He didn’t deserve to die like that....sob......I never got......”

      “No need for that Sailor.” Winsor said as he petted Jackson on the head. “We’re all hurting right now. We’ve lost a big part of our family here and you’re not the only one who’s crying right now. You just take your time and when you can get back to work? You do so. We need every “Jack and Rabbit” we can get our paws on because right now we are one hell of a mess. After all? Can’t marry a Zootopian Mammal of Honor with a dirty, sloppy looking ship now can we?”

      Winsor rubbed his hand over Jackson’s head....”Tooth and claw Sailor?”

       Jackson snarled in reply. “Give em hell no matter what Sir.”

11:07am
The Attack Drone Submarine Thresher
Location: 70 nautical miles from the Island of Roya.
Depth: 400 feet
Situation: Under depth charge bombardment

     The tactic....though to some a choice of absolute insanity....was actually quite sound....or......lacked sound.

      With the two Kzinti warships being so insistent and fast in their chase of the intruder who had so abused their little fleet all to hell...trying to outrun them was a mathematical disadvantage, they would eventually overtake the Growler and then she would be in deep snit.

     The only way to assure her safety was to go cold iron dead with all the systems shut down. At the depth she sat and the shape of her hull, the Thresher would give back to her antagonist only a diminished return which would take an expert sonar-mammal years of experience to pick out of the normal clutter of the sea. So the Kzinti above were throwing depth charge bombs in a wide patten hoping to score one lucky hit...

    “FOOOOM!”..........”FOOOOM!”...........”FOOOOM!”.......

    The concussions and their distance could be timed and worked out with a watch....which Perkins studied with an intense look as the Thresher shuddered and rocked with each hard knock of a sound wave bouncing off the pressure hull....

“FOOOOM!”..........“ten yards“

”FOOOOM!”...........Eight yards.“

”FOOOOM!”..........Fifteen yards.”

       “GET OFF OF US YOU MOTHER FLUCKERS! YOU COCK SUCKERS! FLUCK YOU! FLUCK YOU!” Sargent Komo the Tanuki Recon Marine snapped!

        Perkins snapped....”SQUARE AWAY YOUR DAMNED MOUTH?! SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!” The enraged bunny officer snapped! He then stomped up to Komo and got nosed to nose. “You better PUT AWAY that fricken snarl?! You better shut your stupid maw because every damn thing you say? They could pick up! If you want to live raccoon dog? Then shut your pie hole!”

      Perkins looked at the rest of the mammals...”Every one...keep your heads! We’ll get through this. The controller’s doing the right thing, be patient.”

“FOOOOM!”..........“ten yards“

”FOOOOM!”...........ten yards.“

”FOOOOM!”..........Fifteen yards.”

“BOOOM!”......”Zero!” Perkins yelled as he was thrown off his feet and onto the deck! “Botasky! Everyone! Make a quick check for damage! Busted pipes! Seams! Any water coming in! MOVE!”

 “FOOOOM!”..........”FOOOOM!”...........”FOOOOM!”....... The pace of the muffled explosions seemed to increase as the occupants of the Thresher went paw over paw through every compartment....

“GOT A PIPE BURST IN THE AUX MACHINE SPACE!” Combat swimming Otter Corporal Pepper yelped from the access hatch in the sub’s aft section!”

  “BODAH?!” Perkins yelped. “HELP HIM CONTROL THAT!”

   Botasky came running into the machinery space to see Corporal Pepper jumping onto a spraying pipe line running across the ceiling (Overhead in nautical term) towards the spraying crack in the broken pipe! “PIPE PATCH! PIPE PATCH!” Pepper squeeled. “COME ON AND THROW ME THE PATCH!”

   Botasky snatched a pipe patch off a nearby metal rack and chucked it to Pepper who caught it, ringed the pipe with it, pushed it over the spraying crack and held it in place...

    “ARE YOU GOING TO SIT THERE AND JACK OFF OR WRECH THIS THING SHUT?!” Pepper snapped. “HELLO?! SPEED WRENCH? SHEESH WHAT THE FLUCK DO YOU RABBITS DO ALL DAY? DUH!”

    Botasky pulled a speed wrench from a tool box and started tightening the pipe patch....” You otters can be such fricken dicks!”

     “And you rabbits have too many kittens, too much sex and no fricken brains! Sheesh...no wonder it takes a hundred of you to screw a light bulb? Fifty of you die trying to rape the socket!” Pepper snapped.

      Botasky finished and watched as Pepper slipped off the pipe and flopped onto the deck. “Such Finesse? Those little legs are hell huh?”

      “Must suck to be so mentally retarded huh?” Pepper replied.

    “FOOOOM!”..........”FOOOOM!”...........”FOOOOM!”.......

     “Don’t take anything I say to heart there bunny. I actually like you long ears. Just thought a little sniping and bantering could draw our minds away from these dirty tail holes trying to kill us off.”

     “No problem.” Botasky replied. “What is it with you Mustalde and your stench? Sheesh....you smell like an oily sewer rat.”

     “You should see it from our female point of view.” Pepper snickered. “This smell? Makes female otters wet in their panties. The more racid? The more they want to fluck. You rabbits need musk, you’re way too clean. Then again? Better you don’t have it. We couldn’t support the population explosion.”

“FOOOOM!”..........”FOOOOM!”...........”FOOOOM!”.......

      Sargent Major Osa stood next to Perkins as the bombardment continued....”How long can we hold out?”

      “I can’t imagine them keeping this up for much longer.” Perkins replied. “If we hold out for another thirty minutes? We might get into the clear and run before they can pursue us again.”

6:21pm
18 October 2040
Zepher in the water

        The exhausted fox climbed atop his make shift raft again and flopped onto his side. His desperate exertion to reach the Growler had been in vain. She was no where near being close, in fact, She was obviously moving Westward and away towards home and sadly for Zepher, she wasn’t going to stop to look for any of her crew thrown into the ocean. Zepher thought with a sigh...”I don’t blame you. Good luck shipmates. Get home....why stop for a small fox?”

       Perhaps simply falling asleep wouldn’t hurt? Zepher would fall into a deep sleep, maybe roll off his raft and a shark would rip him apart? Two big snaps of a great white and he’d be pulp. Perhaps he’d just shrivel up in the sun and die? Fall into heat stroke and that would be it. He didn’t want to die, he felt still able to fight and delay...there was always hope? At the moment however? He was too exhausted to decide anything so he curled up the best he could and decided on a short nap.

7:34pm

     Something.....or some one had roughly snatched Zepher on his scruff and jerked him skywards from his raft!

     “HUH?! WHAT?!” The fox yelped as he kicked and swung his arms and legs wildly about as a bright white light struck him in the eyes! “DAMN! TURN THAT LIGHT DOWN! WHAT THE FLUCK?!”

       Then....as the light moved aside and flash spots cleared.....Zepher saw horror!

       His would be rescuers....were Kzinti Sailors!
  
      The terror filled fox screeched, squealed and cried as the monster tigers threw him among themselves!

“Chīsana oishī!” A delicious snack!” One Kzinti snickered!

“Kare no zugaikotsu wa watashinokazoku no kabe no tame no monodesu!” His skull is mine for my family wall!” Another screamed!

“Watashitachi no fune no hatazao no tame no kare no o!” His tail for our ship’s flag pole!” Another snarled as he shook Zepher violently!

“Jaakuna gaichū o korose! Nabe de kare o ikita mama ryōri shite kudasai! Watashitachi wa kare no himei o yorokobudeshou!' Kill the perverted vermin! Boil him alive in a pot! We shall rejoice at his death screams!” Another Tiger snapped!

Zepher was slammed to the wooden deck of the Kzinti submarine and one of the Sailors whipped a sword from his sword sheath!

“NO! NO!” Zepher screamed as his tail was snatched upwards! “NO! PLEASE KILL ME! DON’T TAKE MY TAIL! PLEASE! PLEASE! NO!”

“YAMERU!” Some one suddenly screamed out! Zepher watched as a pair of Tiger feet walked up to his snoot then gently played over his nose....

“Kare wa ima watashi no monodesu. Hantai suru hito wa imasu ka?” The obviously female Tiger asked as she looked around at the others.

“Nashi shirei-kan.” Another said with a bow. “Nashi. Mochiron anata wa saisho no sentakushi ga arimasu.” None commander...no objections of course. You always have first choice.”

The female Kzinti picked up Zepher by his scruff and tickled him... 

“Totemo utsukushī... Anata wa totemo amayakasa rete sodatta petto ni narudeshou.” She then handed Zepher to another Kzinti who carried him into the submarine...

“What?!” Zepher asked as he was carried into a compartment. “What are you going to do to me? What did she say?” The fox shivered as the Kzinti sailor pulled on his uniform...”What the fluck are you doing?! Get your flucken paws off me! GET YOUR FLUCKEN PAWS OFF ME!” Zepher screamed as he fought the intruding claws as they tore away his clothers! “YOU FLUCKERS! I WON’T GIVE YOU SNIT!” The fox screamed as he threw punches, whipped his claws about, tried to nip his captor and bit down as hard as he could on those big uncaring tiger paws!

“Gluck!” “ulk!” Zepher felt a metal mouth bit shoved to the back of his maw and its’ painful restraint made intolerable by the straps that held it fast to his head! “ARRRRRRGH!” “WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?!” The fox thought in terror as something was wrapped around his neck and he saw a long leash dangling from the Kzinti Sailor’s paw....

“WHAT?!” Zepher realized. “A PET?! NO! NO!” The fox fought as he jerked and pulled at the leash and collar! “I’M NOT A PET! I WILL NOT BE A SLAVE! FLUCK YOU! FLUCK YOU BASTARDS TO HELL! I WILL NOT BE A LEASHED BITCH! YOU FLUCKERS!” Zepher went mad with rage! He tried to choke himself, run himself into the walls, anything that could crack his head open! The Kzinti Sailor fought with his wiggling angry charge until he slammed him down on a table and roared him into stillness and fear!

Zepher lay pulling on the cruel leash as he sobbed....”I’m not a pet....I’m not a property....please?.....please just kill me.....kill me please? I’m not a pet! Give me mercy and just kill me please?.......please?......I’m a free fox! I’m not a house pet.......please.......” 
 
 3:15pm
18 October 2040
Rattle Back Company under Captain Oakley
Waddle Plains defense point five miles south of Carnifax Station
Nori Hopps’s anti-tank squad

      The group of bunnies arrived at where Nori wanted to establish their hold on the main road coming from Sahara Square and the coast line...

      “Ok!" Nori snorted as he threw a paw around...."Buster? Von? Go half way up that slope on the left side and dig a two tier warren hole. Buster on the bottom, Von? You're above him with your Mini-mag 14."

       Nori turned to Ori. “Have you got all your crazy little snit out of you?"

      “Yeah....I’m fine brother." Ori said as he shouldered his anti-tank launcher. “After all? This is the real serious snit right?”

       Nori rubbed his brother’s head. “Grrrrr.....get your jollies when you turn a kzinti piece of snit into scrap metal. Set yourself up low over on that dune over there so you can have a flat shot at tracked vehicles. Remember to aim “between” the wheel hubs where the suspension gears are.”

      Nori pointed right. “ Stenowa? Put yourself higher up, think of where you want to be to crack the nut of a tank driver." Nori looked at everyone..."Now all we want to do is hit the first two....tank, truck, horse....then again? I'd hate to see what an AT-4 can do to a horse. Better yet? If they're equipment pulling horses? Spare em....hit whatever they're pulling. We want to delay these creeps and force them to deploy and spread out...hopefully we'll have drones by then to turn a bad day into a real sucky day for them. As for me? I'll be along the road side to give them a little prize to chase. Anyone got any problems? Anyone pissing their fur?”

      Ori smirked as he raised his paw...”Put your fool paw down nit whit?” Nori snorted as he pushed on his brother’s head. “Let’s get set up and see if we nail some tigers.”

7:15pm
18 October 2040
The Destroyer Growler
Berthing converted to a wounded care ward

       The clapping was more than enough to humble Jackson as he walked through the doorway and mammals clapped as they saw him yet the ever trying to stay humble Jackson couldn’t avoid tearing up as mammal after mammal came up to hug him or kiss him or hold his paws in gratitude...

       “Everyone?!” Jackson yelped out....”Everyone please?” He asked..... Please”....I hope you’ll.....I hope all of us....will not forget our friends that are still in PDC...I didn’t do it alone....I don’t want them to be forgotten and alone....if you’ll all join me and if we haven’t already? Let’s all take a moment to be quiet....and remember all our shipmates who died today....”

        The compartment was silent except for the sniffles and whimpers and sobs of those in the crew who’s personal losses couldn’t be kept expressionless or silent. As the moment ended...thoughts and commotions around the compartment returned to their present concerns....

        Jackson walked to where he had a bunk assignment and dropped his blankets and pillow on the mattress...”Wonder if we’ll have to “hot rack” if we’re not that bad off?”

Note: “Hot racking” is two Sailors sharing the same bunk. The rack is always warm because it never goes un-occupied.

       “Hey Jackie.” A voice said from behind and above. Jackson turned to see  Phiegal (Fee-gull) the Bengal Tiger waving from his rack. “You made it so far I see?”

       Jackson wiggled his butt to show he was “tail-less” “Not all of me but at least I’m vertical. You?”

       Jackson jumped up, caught Phiegal’s rack by his paws and pulled himself up onto the mattress....”Oh.....” The fox/bunny voiced as he saw the empty space where Phiegal’s lower legs should be....”I’m sorry.”

       “You with no tail? Me with half legs...” Still? Not a bad score when you think one whole destroyer full of Kzinti went to hell huh?”

       Jackson sighed...”I’m not happy. I don’t think any mammal should die. Not.....not like my friends.”

      Phiegal said. “I shouldn’t be angry that they took my legs from me huh?”

       “I didn’t tell you not to be!” Jackson replied. “Only that we shouldn’t be blinded by hate and revenge. That alone might get more of us killed.”

        Jackson laid back then realized where he was laying...where the tiger’s lower legs should be ”I’m sorry! I’m so sorry Phiegal....”

        “It’s nothing.” The Tiger said. “I talked to Chief Fireball? He says I can sit and do circuit work when I’m ready. Heck....told him to bring it here with a tool box, at least I’ll be contributing you know? Oh? Don’t say anything about him losing his antlers, oh fluck me you want to see a Reindeer totally pissed off? Just say...”Chief? What happened to your antlers?” and “WHAM! Flucknado! Zing! Grass eater wants to eat your ass!”

       “Woe.” Jackson replied. “That bad?”

       “Stumps on his crown.” Phiegal said as he tapped his head. “I forgot how pride full Reindeer are. You take away a signature item and they really let fly with the bitching like they’re now only 1/4 deer.”

        “I’ll try not to get stupid.” Jackson said.

        “So......” Phiegal said softly....”Lance? Salvatore? Gilly? Gull?....”

        Jackson nodded....”Yes....”

        The tiger wet his lips with his tongue....”Already feels empty. You wish you could just say that one more word....that one more sentence....Can I be honest with you?”

        “Sure.” Jackson replied.

         “I was in love with Lance.” The Tiger said....”Can you believe that? Isn’t that fricken strange? A big Tiger in love with a little mouse?”

         Jackson shrugged...”Size doesn’t matter if it was very close and you cared about each other.”

        “You know what I’ll miss the most about Lanny?” Phiegal asked. “His nibble kisses...he enjoyed doing that a lot....specially my ears? And he could talk and make you melt, what a sweet calming voice. I mean...I know mice sound funny with their squeaky voices? But he could say the right words to sooth any savage beast.  He knew where to tickle my fancy. Gawd....I am going to miss him. The last thing I got to say to him?....”Lance? Did you make this coffee?” He never could make an perfect pot of coffee. My last words to him were brutish and selfish...I hurt like hell Jackson. Trying to stoke that “brave fearless Tiger front” Who the fluck am I trying to lie too?”

        Jackson rubbed Phiegal’s paw...”I’m sure his last thoughts were not of hating you.” Jackson said softly. “Get some sleep Phiegal? You look tired as hell.”

        “Yeah....” Phiegal replied. “I feel like a rock too.”

20 years later...

       “Phiegal died a few hours later in his sleep. The ship’s doctor said it was a blood clot that had formed when “Feeg’s” legs were amputated. I think he died from a broken heart, which is what I think took a lot of our shipmates over the course of that night after the attack. I heard the same kinds of regrets from other shipmates around me only to learn they left the world hours later. We were down to half our strength by midnight with a powerless, broken ship barely keeping a crawl through the water. I’m not ashamed to say that at that time? I joined in resolute finality with the rest of our crew...we were nothing more than an old time slaughtering pen packed with lamb and pork waiting for the butcher to cut our throats open.”

Jackson Stewart Wilde
Growl Steel Lady Growl

18 October 2040
3:27pm
3rd Battalion Artillery, 1st Fleet Marine Division
Nicknamed “The Gun Bunnies”
Five miles inland from Lion’s Gate Beach

Dennis Lannon ran from gun to gun...”CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE! DAMN IT TO BLOODY FRICKEN HELL!”

Paddington, Lannon’s second in command, turned from one of the field pieces...”What’s wrong Lanny?”

“We’re shooting at phantoms....Frith damn the silly stupid bah-stad who thinks rain spot reflections are fricken rockets. Son of a bitch...” Paddington yelped as he flopped onto the ground rubbing his head.

  “So?” The startled rabbit asked. “Where did our shells land?”

  Denis threw a fist around. “Right on the beach! Among our own troops! FLUCK!”

   “Son of a bitch...” Paddington snapped. “Might as well look for a job as a fry cook after this fluck up.”

3:30pm
18 October 2040
Lion’s Gate beach, South Savanna Central
4th Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Fleet Marine Division

     Chancy stuck his head above the rim of his fox hole as a semblance of peace settled over the tortured beach...

      Kodo soon stuck his head up too...”Was that? Was that our guns?”

     “Yup.” Chancy replied as he crawled out of the fox hole and cautiously stood up....”FOUR TWO! SING OUT! ANYONE WOUNDED? ANYONE......”gulp”......ANYONE DEAD? BESIDES THE SKIPPER AND I KNOW HE’S REALLY, REALLY DEAD!”

     As other wolf Marines and a few rabbits began to crawl from their own holes....Chancy got the tally....Seven killed and fourteen wounded from cuts, lacerations, shattered or amputated limbs....

      “GRRRRRR....” The enraged Gunny Sargent growled until the need for calm and calculated rationalism came back....”ALL RIGHT! POLICE THE WOUNDED, GET THIS PLACE CLEANED UP AND GET BACK TO WATCH!” Chancy yelped out. Kodo followed his Gunny around....

      “Gunny? What the hell? What the....” The confused wolf asked. 

       “Welcome to war Corporal, where behind every tree, rock and blade of grass? Some dumb ass in an air conditioned command center sees a battalion of enemy troops or something that tickles their dick sheath! Fluck! And like always the dumb tail who ordered this flawless display of fluck-assery will probably receive a “Good Humor” bar on his chest ribbon rack for....alert attentiveness and response to a threatening condition....or whatever document of Shakespherian snit assery some college major in improved mammalian diction can craft for the stupid high level dick wad who reads the snit at the next awards ceremony.....”

       Chancy stopped to scratch himself and brush out the debris from his tail....”And in the mean time? Us poor dogs have to eat the table scraps like always....woe the fluck is us.”

       Chancy turned himself around to view over the destruction. “What the fluck? All this artillery dropped and those stupid rabbits didn’t hit the only “Port a John” on the whole damn beach? Can’t those cotton tail morons do anything right?” Chancy turned to a wolf Marine with a grenade launcher in his hands...”You? Marine? What’s your name?”

      “Sir?” The tall wolf replied as he turned about.

      “Gunny there Marine.” Chancy replied. “What’s your name?”

      “Legosi Sir! I mean....Gunny Sir! Corporal Legosi from Rain Forest Gunny!” Legosi replied with a salute.

     “Come here?” Chancy asked. “Do you see that “Port a John” over there?”

      “Yes Gunny?” Legosi replied. 

      “All this dropped artillery on us and those stupid behind the line rabbits couldn’t hit that stupid thing.” Chancy snorted. “Take your grenade launcher and blow that thing to hell. It offends my sensitivities.”

     Legosi replied....”Uh?.....shoot this? At that?” The tall wolf looked confused...”Gunny? Regulations say....we shouldn’t expend ordinance on meaningless targets without a purpose...”

     Chancy got in Legosi’s face...”Legosi? Are you trained to disobey an order?”

    “No Gunny.” Legosi replied.

    “Did I just tell you that, that stupid “Port a John” offends my sensitives?”

    “Yes Gunny.” Legosi replied.

    “Well then?” Chancy snorted. “Since that thing offends me? It just became the enemy. And where’s there’s an enemy? What do we wolf Marines do?”

    “Uh....we kill the enemy?” Legosi replied.

    Chancy pointed to the “Port a John”. “Ok then.....kill that son of a bitch.....please?”

    Legosi sighed....”Very well Gunny....” He then turned and screamed out. “HEY?! IF YOU’RE IN THE PORT A POTTY?! INCOMING FIRE!”

    Legosi raised his grenade launcher and pulled the trigger!

“KAVOOMP!”

    A forty mili-meter grenade round arced through the air, came screaming down over the “port-a-John” and a wolf marine barely cleared it with his pants down around his ankles before the grenade punched through the plastic roof and blew the portable toilet to pieces!

    Chancy and Kodo raced up to the poor wolf Marine who had his pants wrapped around his ankles....”FLUCK ME! THIS HASN’T BEEN MY DAY!” He screamed.

    “Excuse me Marine?” Chancy asked. “Were you in that thing the whole time during the shelling?”

     “Yes Gunny.” The Marine replied.

     “The whole time?” Chancy asked again.

     “Yes Gunny.” The Marine replied.

      “What possessed you to stay in a stupid plastic port-a-John during an artillery shelling?” Chancy asked as the wolf Marine sat to pull his pants up.

     “I kinda figured that if I ran Gunny? I’d get killed....so?....I thought it smart to take my chances and stay put.”  The Marine wolf said with a shrug.

     Chancy turned to Kodo with a smirk...”My point that bunnies can’t hit snit? Is proven.”

4:18pm
18 October 2040
Route 394 over the Lenny Arson Bridge

     Nick looked down and smiled as he felt his wife in her feral form roll onto her back and snuggle her head into his lap. The gentle curling smile on her face showed that peace had been restored. At least Judy had slept through most of the ride out of the city, which had been slow given that it seemed every mammal was on their way out to the “burbs” and their relative safety.

     Judy had been smart to have the old cruiser fitted so that Nick could drive and control it with his paws. He slowed among the traffic flow over the bridge so he could send some quick text to Fennick...

Nick: Leaving the downtown now. You bringing the wife and kids?

Fennick: Tying things down. Want to wait some more for the traffic to thin out here. Any news on Jackson’s ship?

Nick: No...but I have to keep up the front....for Judy.

Fennick: I’m sure he’s all right. So your house is totaled huh?

Nick: My insurance doesn’t say...”Act of war.” And I’m sure“Rocket damage” isn’t covered under basic liability. I’ll have dinner ready by 9pm for us so don’t show up at like two am.

Fennick: I’ll bring the Fox-en-Brau. After today? We need to get snit faced, get into a screaming brawl and trash the cottage so the wives will have something to do tomorrow.

Nick: You dream. We’ll see you soon buddy.

     The feeling of Judy’s paw rubbing his chin got Nick’s attention...”Hi.” He said softly...”Don’t get too frisky carrots...Im driving ok?”

     “Were you texting Fen Fen?” Judy asked. “Is he coming with the family?”

     “They have to finish loading their van.” Nick replied as he rubbed Judy’s stomach...”You hungry? I can pull over and make a quick salad for you?”

      “Yaaaaaaaawnnnnnn.....” Judy yawned and stretched herself out.... “No...Do we have time to check on my parents?” She asked.

      “As if I would dare pass and not stop to see them?” Nick replied. “Perish the thought Carrots.”

       “Are you sure?” Judy asked as she sat up grabbed her clothed as she morphed into her anthro form. “You know they’ll probably start asking about Jackson and...”

       “And I will be the example of strength and stability that I have come to be known for.” Nick replied smiling.

      “It’s getting deep in here.” Judy snickered as she pulled her legs up in the seat. “Can you handle it Nick?” Judy asked....”I’ll.....I know I’ll start falling apart and then....oh wow....”

      “I have it all in paw Carrots. Don’t worry” Nick said with a confident paw wave.

4:18pm
18 October 2040
ZPD First Precinct “First Prinky”

       Page Clawhauser held the toddler fox in her arms as she stepped around the debris strewn over the main reception foyer as a very worried and very vocal fox officer came running across the floor from the main entry doors....

“YIE! YIE! YIE! KENNY!” Little Kenny’s father David fox yip cried as he came running up to Page with his arms out!

   Kenny Kitsune wasn’t worse for wear...still his clapping and giggling self as he held a balloon over his head...’Yay! Yay! Dah-dee!” He yelped as Page let him down so Officer Glish could crash into his little kit and roll him around the floor!

   “Mmmmmmm! My baby! My baby! Kisses! Kisses! Yum, yum, yum...pffffffft!” Dennis blew on Kenny’s stomach and them leaped into Page’s arms and lick kissed her like crazy! “Thank you! Thank you!Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!......”

    “Dennis?! Ok! Ok!...”gluck!”....sheesh if your wife saw that tongue she’d kill you!” Page said as she lowered Dennis back onto the floor where Dennis picked up and hugged Kenny again...”Where were you when the rockets hit?” He asked Page.

    “Behind my kiosk.” Page replied. “You think my uncle was board? The face plates alone on that thing are three eights thick ballistic steel! Come to find out? Uncle Ben built that thing on a weekend.”

     Dennis kissed Kenny. “Well I for one am not complaining.” He said...”Eeewwww...I think Kenny needs a change.”

     Page picked Kenny up. “I got him. You’re wife told me you’re a diaper disaster. Duct tape? Really?”

    “Ok...ok....so I’m not a surgeon with Pampers, I admit it.” Dennis said with a shrug. He looked around the lobby.....”Wheeoooo....did we get smacked or what?”

     “We think we got two direct hits.” Page said as she put Kenny on her counter to be changed. “One hit the parking lot, the other hit the sky dome and blow up over our heads. Most of the damage here is concussion caused. We can be fully up again in about half a day. Where were you when the rockets hit?”

       “Dry River in West Sahara.” Dennis replied. “We set up a road block to prevent traffic going into the downtown district and road out the attack in an 18 wheeler truck backed behind a rock and sand pile. One rocket same down next to us and blew the who rig onto its’ side! Talk about a crazy ride at Wild Wave Park.”

        Page tickled Kenny’s stomach....”Amazing. He screamed and cried a bit but otherwise he road it out no worse for wear. What did you see coming into the precinct?”

       Dennis’s ears down-casted. “Should I give the blunt version or the condensed safe for cubs version?”

      Page nodded in reply...”Terrible I guess?”

      “With everyone running around crazy right now here?” Dennis said. “Extensive damage.....extensive casualties. It’s going to be a long night.”

       Page finished changing Kenny and set him down on the floor. “What about your wife?”

      “She’s safe with my parents.” Dennis replied. “Her parents? Her family? Only her little brother Henry.....” Dennis drooped his head for a moment...”Can’t mourn right now...We’re needed out there. I’ll drop Kenny off with my the family then I’ll be back. Has there been any word from the city counsel? The Mayor?”

       Page shook her head...”Mayor Caesar’s dead. So is half the city counsel I think. All we have right now is the emergency stuff from Z.O.O. radio. My guess is the assistant mayor is being kept out of sight in case a second wave of rockets hits us. The rumor machine is running like crazy. I’ve heard cannons and explosions.”

4:30pm
Undisclosed Location
The assistant and acting mayor

      The weight of her husband on her back was most reassuring...

       “Mmmmmm....” The big male Lion sounded as he hugged and nuzzled the back of his wife’s head...”How are you holding up?” He asked her.

       “If I said alright? You would bite my nape to check if I wasn’t sleeping.” Sarabi replied. “I’ve just been going over what information has been relayed to me by Shenzi. So far....”

       A knock on the door and Sarabi and Mufasa turned around to see Banzai, their secretary walk into the room....”Uh....Maddam Assistant. The news is confirmed now...uh....Mayor Caesar and his wife were both killed in the attack....”

      Sarabi closed her eyes...”And what of the opinion of the Secretary of Defense?”

      “Well?” Banzai replied. “There can be no opinion because the Secretary was also killed. The pro-tem is outside.”

       In entered a blur of movement and a mongoose scaled a nearby chair and made himself known. “Maddam Assistant? Perhaps the proper title should be employed now?”

       Sarabi cocked her head. “Never expected a Mongoose to be the pro-tem Secretary of Defense?”

       “I can assure you that my credentials meet the need Maddam.” The Mongoose replied with a slight bow. “My name is Richard Tavi...I accept “Ricky” as a good shorthand.”

       Sarabi gestured to Mufasa. “My husband Mufasa. I believe we need the proper witnesses to make things legal if Mayor Caesar is indeed....a very terrible loss for our country. From what you know?.....Ricky?....Where do we stand?”

        Ricky Tavi replied. “We lost the Destroyer Gnu York. The Destroyer Growler is missing...no communications. The first Kzinti attack caused us significant damage, we expect a second wave. Some of our submarines have carried out attacks on both naval and commercial vessels. Three of our rocket submarines were able to waste their loads on the Kzinti home islands before being destroyed but we can’t assess the damage done. Chance of invasion is still high. We’re getting all kinds of wild calls and phantom enemy forces all over Zootopia. We can expect the whole coming night to be chaos. Our artillery even fired on phantom rockets....and then landed on our Marines defending Lion’s Gate Beach. There were.....some casualties.”

       Sarabi looked at Mufasa and sighed...”So much for any inauguration balls and a float parade at this point.”

       “I’d love to see you as a sixty foot vanilla inauguration cake.” Mufasa said snickering. “Have some of that sweet creamy vanilla center.”

       Sarabi swatted Mufasa on the nose! “Really husband! The whole nation in the debts of sorrow and crisis and all you can think of is your wild oats.”

        “Well?” Mufasa said smiling. “Even in the midst of crisis my dear and love of my life? A son would be most desired as a birthday gift for me?”

       “You’ll just have to wait a little longer you.” Sarabi replied as she turned to Banzai. “Banzai? Please inform the broadcasting room that I would like to prepare a speech to the country?”

        “Yes Mam.” Banzai replied with  bow.

       Sarabi turned to “Ricky”. “I guess you and I should sit at the dinner table and have a full situation briefing. As you said “Ricky” we are in for a long night.

End of Chapter 48