Sonic the Hedgehog and associated characters are (c) to Sega, Archie, DiC, etc. They are not mine and never were. Original characters and plot are (c) to me. Thank you.
* * *
Sally poured over the information Uncle Chuck had just sent her. None of it was good. "Please let it be a mistake," She silently begged. "Please..." But it wasn't. Robotnik had gone and done it.
The Eastern Freedom Fighters were gone. Their base had been discovered the night before and Robotnik had utterly annihilated it. It's discovery was kept so secret that even Uncle Chuck didn't learn of it until after the massacre. Only Dirk and a handful of Freedom Fighters had gotten out. The rest were either dead or roboticized.
"Eighteen freedom fighters are gone." Sally said softly. "And there was nothing I could do to stop it." Dirk had reported via Uncle Chuck that it would be several weeks, maybe months before he and his surviving freedom fighters could establish a new base and start fighting again. Months that Robotnik could use to solidify his control and shift his resources against the other freedom fighters. For every SWATbot they destroyed a hundred more would take it's place. When a single freedom fighter was lost, who would replace him? Let alone eighteen.
She shook her head. Pity wouldn't get the freedom fighters out of this mess. What they had to do was beat Robotnik to the punch. Prevent him from capitalizing on his victory. Too much. She sighed. "I better tell the others."
Sally called for an immediate meeting of the Core freedom fighters: Sonic, Bunnie, Antoine, Dulcy, Rotor, and Tails. No sooner had they all sat down than Sally said, "The Eastern Freedom Fighters are gone. Wiped out in a surprise attack last night. Dirk and a few of the others escaped, but it'll be a while before they recoup their losses enough to strike back."
She paused as she watched the impact wash over them. Antoine blanched, Bunnie held her hand to her mouth, Sonic smashed his hand on the table, and the rest had varying responses to Sally's horrifying news.
As soon as things were quiet again, Sally continued. "Right now Robotnik's going to think that he's all but won the war. That he's shown who's boss. That means he's going to be arrogant and careless. And we're about to take advantage of that."
"Now THAT'S what I like to hear!" Sonic said as he punched his fist into the air. "Sticking it to Ro-butt-nik! What's the plan Sal?"
"I've already talked to Lupe, Ari, Paulo, and Griff. They've all agreed to a massive, simultaneous series of raids against as many of Robotnik's factories, outposts, and garrisons as possible."
"But Sally, won't Robotnik be able to replace those losses with forces from the east?" Rotor asked. "Now that Dirk's out of the fight, Robotnik wont need so many forces out there."
"Dirk's out of the fight for the moment, yes. But that's where we come in." Sally paused as she looked out across the table. "I'm planning to take us to the east, where Robotnik thinks he's won, and teach him what it means to be a freedom fighter."
"But what good will this being accomplishing?" Antoine asked in confusion.
"Several things. One: It'll keep Robotnik off balance. Between our planned raid and the ones the others are planning, Robotnik wont know where to strike. Every time he sends troops to one front, we hit him on all the others. It'll get to the point that every time Robotnik has to strengthen one position, he'll have to weaken another. Two: We can bring resources and supplies Dirk's going to need very desperately. Three: While we're there, we can see if we can find any refugee groups or possible recruits to make up for our losses. Any questions?"
There were none. Sally nodded. "Get some rest, tomorrow we head east."
* * *
* * *
Sally poured over the information Uncle Chuck had just sent her. None of it was good. "Please let it be a mistake," She silently begged. "Please..." But it wasn't. Robotnik had gone and done it.
The Eastern Freedom Fighters were gone. Their base had been discovered the night before and Robotnik had utterly annihilated it. It's discovery was kept so secret that even Uncle Chuck didn't learn of it until after the massacre. Only Dirk and a handful of Freedom Fighters had gotten out. The rest were either dead or roboticized.
"Eighteen freedom fighters are gone." Sally said softly. "And there was nothing I could do to stop it." Dirk had reported via Uncle Chuck that it would be several weeks, maybe months before he and his surviving freedom fighters could establish a new base and start fighting again. Months that Robotnik could use to solidify his control and shift his resources against the other freedom fighters. For every SWATbot they destroyed a hundred more would take it's place. When a single freedom fighter was lost, who would replace him? Let alone eighteen.
She shook her head. Pity wouldn't get the freedom fighters out of this mess. What they had to do was beat Robotnik to the punch. Prevent him from capitalizing on his victory. Too much. She sighed. "I better tell the others."
Sally called for an immediate meeting of the Core freedom fighters: Sonic, Bunnie, Antoine, Dulcy, Rotor, and Tails. No sooner had they all sat down than Sally said, "The Eastern Freedom Fighters are gone. Wiped out in a surprise attack last night. Dirk and a few of the others escaped, but it'll be a while before they recoup their losses enough to strike back."
She paused as she watched the impact wash over them. Antoine blanched, Bunnie held her hand to her mouth, Sonic smashed his hand on the table, and the rest had varying responses to Sally's horrifying news.
As soon as things were quiet again, Sally continued. "Right now Robotnik's going to think that he's all but won the war. That he's shown who's boss. That means he's going to be arrogant and careless. And we're about to take advantage of that."
"Now THAT'S what I like to hear!" Sonic said as he punched his fist into the air. "Sticking it to Ro-butt-nik! What's the plan Sal?"
"I've already talked to Lupe, Ari, Paulo, and Griff. They've all agreed to a massive, simultaneous series of raids against as many of Robotnik's factories, outposts, and garrisons as possible."
"But Sally, won't Robotnik be able to replace those losses with forces from the east?" Rotor asked. "Now that Dirk's out of the fight, Robotnik wont need so many forces out there."
"Dirk's out of the fight for the moment, yes. But that's where we come in." Sally paused as she looked out across the table. "I'm planning to take us to the east, where Robotnik thinks he's won, and teach him what it means to be a freedom fighter."
"But what good will this being accomplishing?" Antoine asked in confusion.
"Several things. One: It'll keep Robotnik off balance. Between our planned raid and the ones the others are planning, Robotnik wont know where to strike. Every time he sends troops to one front, we hit him on all the others. It'll get to the point that every time Robotnik has to strengthen one position, he'll have to weaken another. Two: We can bring resources and supplies Dirk's going to need very desperately. Three: While we're there, we can see if we can find any refugee groups or possible recruits to make up for our losses. Any questions?"
There were none. Sally nodded. "Get some rest, tomorrow we head east."
* * *