Our Finest Hour
Chapter 9: The Rain of Fire
Oh Judy… Thanks for sticking around so long. I appreciate all of you who've stuck around! Your reviews and views give me strength. I never know what to say in these notes, so how about we just continue on to the main event? This one is… well, you'll find out.
OOO
Judy awoke warm and comfortable snuggled up to her fox. His scent was everywhere, predatory and sharp, but oddly comforting to the rabbit doe. She could feel his arm tucked safely around her body in his sleep. Judy smiled and opened her eyes, staring at the beams of sunlight washing in through her window. Judy's apartment was sleek and modern, coming with a fantastic kitchenette, two bedrooms and a bath. The front door opened up into a spacious living room with a high ceiling. Her walls were painted a pretty sky blue and Judy's carpets were a nice, light beige. She even had a fireplace in that living room of hers'.
Yawning, the soldier turned around gently so as not to wake her mate. Facing him, she drank in his crimson fur, darkening around the tip of his tail, paws and feet. Carefully raising a paw, she touched the creamy fur of his lower jaw. She knew that it spread all the way down his belly, coloring the inside of his thighs. He was beautiful, she'd long since decided. Beautiful in a way no bunny buck could ever hope to match. Giving him a quick kiss on the side of his muzzle, Judy slid out from beneath his arm and got up from the bed.
Smacking her lips, Judy strode over to her closet and slipped into some clean clothes. She chose a pink flannel shirt and denim jeans, typical farm girl attire. Sauntering over to her bedside end table, Judy pocketed her smartphone and left Nick to sleep in. Closing the door softly, she made her way to the bright kitchenette and saw that her coffee maker had brewed a fresh pot earlier in the morning. From the steam rising from the dark brew, Judy could tell the liquid was still piping hot. Grabbing a mug from one of her cabinets, Judy poured herself some of the caffeinated life-juice and took a sip. Bitter, sharp flavors exploded across her tongue. She smiled. The temperature was just right.
Judy's phone buzzed in her pocket. Setting down her mug on the counter, Judy fished out the phone and stared at the screen. Mom and dad; they wanted to Muzzletime. Judy peered into the hall which housed her bedroom and found the door was yet closed. Straining her long ears, she could detect faint foxy snores. Satisfied Nick wouldn't wake in the next few minutes and reveal their relationship, Judy accepted the call.
She was instantly assailed by her father's sobbing. Her mother, Bonnie Hopps had her arms around her husband in an attempt to comfort him. Bonnie's eyes however were locked on Judy's and they were wide with worry. Judy frowned.
"Mom, is everything okay back home?" She asked, concern leeching into her voice. Bonnie nodded.
"Everything is fine honey, we're just worried about you."
"My baby's going to war!" Stu declared as he buried his face into his wife's shoulder. Oh, that. Judy gave her parents a reassuring smile.
"I'm going to be okay, guys. I'm not stationed on the frontlines. My squad was assigned artillery support yesterday, so you have nothing to worry about." Judy's voice was soft. Bonnie smiled a bit, relieved to hear that.
"You know we just can't help but worry about you Judy. It's our job." Judy giggled.
"I know mom. When dad stops crying, tell him I'm going to be okay." Bonnie huffed in exasperation.
"Will do." And she ended the call. After the call ended and she was safe from her parents' prying eyes, Judy's smile fell away. Putting her face in her paws, she leaned her back against the counter. Stress tightened her chest. The artillery her squad would be operating were of American make and highly illegal. Using such weapons in densely populated urban centers was strictly against international law. Judy felt like bursting into tears. Torn between duty and morality, Judy couldn't decide what she was going to do. Or what she could do. In the end, her sense of duty won out.
"I'm going to be a war criminal." She whispered grimly. It would be something she'd have to live with. Judy had sworn herself to the Zootopian Armed Forces. She would obey her superiors.
"Hmm?" Nick was standing in the hall, green eyes glowing in the shade. He'd put on his boxers. Nick's tame collar glowed like his eyes, a bright, cheery green. The black plastic cut through his fur tight, causing the flesh on either side to bulge a bit. Judy knew because she'd seen it, touched it. How cruel. The thought of collaring mammals and punishing them for even showing an iota of emotion sent a hot flare of anger coursing through her. Judy longed for the day when she could walk the streets holding Nick's paw, when he didn't have to wear that accursed thing. Alas, today was not that day.
"Sleep fine?" Judy asked her mate with a smirk. He replied in kind, walking out into the kitchen.
"Course I did, my little bunny was there, wasn't she?" His eyes zeroed in on the pot of fresh coffee. "Ooh, coffee. The elixir of life." He licked his chops and went for a mug. Filling his cup with a copious amount of 'the elixir of life', Nick took a deep draught, scarcely taking time to breathe. Judy watched in fascination as he nearly downed the whole cup. She liked coffee as much as the next mammal, but Nick seemed to be having a love affair with the drink.
Judy harrumphed, disrupting the Reynard from his drink.
"Do I need to get you two a room?" Judy deadpanned. Nick stuck his tongue out.
"Hardy har har Carrots. You're just jealous of our love." Judy rolled her eyes but couldn't help to chuckle when the fox went to hug his mug. It was at that moment when Judy's phone decided to buzz on the counter.
"Oh for the love of…" Judy sighed, picking up the needy machine. She froze when she saw the caller ID. General Swinton. Motioning for Nick to be silent, Judy answered the call.
"Hopps." Swinton barked. "It's time. Report to your station. The operation will commence in two hours." And the pig hung up. Judy let the paw holding her phone fall limply to her side. At Judy's shocked expression, Nick went into what he called, 'mothering' mode. His tail swished behind him anxiously.
"Hey, Judy? You can talk to me…" He moved to give his mate a soft embrace. Judy blinked, coming back to her senses and returned the hug.
"I'm sorry Nick…" She apologized with a heavy heart. "It's time. I'm going to war." Nick's embrace only became tighter as he whimpered. The light on his tame collar turned an uncertain yellow.
The abandoned industrial zone north of Happytown was a hub of activity. Decked out in her combat fatigues and a nine millimeter colt pistol at her waist, Judy made her way through the marching soldiers. Helicopters buzzed through the air, soaring in place of birds who had fled the inevitable bloodshed. Trucks roared alongside the roads, carrying valuable supplies and troops. This was it, a full scale invasion of Happytown. Judy couldn't remember a time when her stomach felt so twisted. It was like the organ had spun itself into a knot.
Judy adjusted her green beret as she made her way to the ancient line of howitzers. The imposing machines were giants in comparison to her small stature. Giant and old. They required hand loading and precision targeting. She tried not to think of the collateral damage that would incur if they missed their mark. Judy would never forgive herself if innocents were harmed because of an avoidable flaw in their aim.
Judy's squad was already present, hanging around the machines as they waited for their commanding officer. The hum of anxious conversation filled the air. They were just as antsy as she was. That filled Judy with some comfort. She wouldn't have to bear this alone.
"Atten-hut!" Judy shouted, grabbing her soldiers' attention. Like a well-oiled machine they sprang into life and saluted. Their faces were stony as they stared straight ahead. Nodding to herself as she internally smiled, Judy was once again impressed at the discipline she had managed to impart. It was refreshing for someone as small as she to hold the respect of giants. "At ease soldiers." She commanded. "Take your battle stations. I expect the call to come at any moment. We will be prepared." Judy's squad nodded and jumped into action. Her people crewed each of the seven howitzers, prepared to load shells and fire in a heartbeat.
Judy took a deep breath as she stared south. She could just make out the Bellwether wall in the distance. That concrete monstrosity with its coils upon coils of barbed wire. Soon, it would be no more. Destroyed to allow access deep into the heart of enemy territory. The artillery fire was only stage one of Swinton's invasion plan. Take out known weapons and supply depots, and throw the enemy into disarray before the main body of troops could move in and secure the area. Simple enough.
Taking in the smell of sweat and gunpowder, Judy moved to enter her command center, a large green tent outfitted with a cot, multiple radios, ammunition and a desk. Taking a seat at her desk, she adjusted the chair to accommodate her height and opened the laptop sitting on the hard steel. Powering it on, she was privy to a black screen and a wall of green text. Simplicity itself. Entering her password and necessary identification, she gained access to the ZAF's database and awaited instruction. She didn't have to wait long.
Once silent, her personal radio burst into life. It was General Swinton. Taking the receiver to her ear, Judy listened intently.
"Sending you specified coordinates." The pig droned like a machine. "Fire at your discretion until further orders. Am I clear?"
"Crystal." Judy replied briskly.
"For Zootopia. Over and out." Once again her radio fell silent. Only static remained on the line. Judy gulped as a ding sounded from her laptop. Checking the notification, Judy opened up a document that was blank but for two lines of text. Coordinates. It was time. Quickly printing seven pages, one for each howitzer crew, she grabbed them in a rush and hurried outside.
"You know your orders!" Judy shouted as she handed out the slips of paper. Her soldiers glossed over the slips in a matter of seconds before calibrating their artillery via a system of hand cranks. Judy had her eyes narrowed as she breathed down their necks, ensuring perfection. Silence reigned supreme as Judy's soldiers awaited further orders. Taking a moment to herself, Judy gave a deep breath.
Walking a fair distance from the howitzers, Judy could see every single one of the men and women under her command. They watched her with expectant eyes.
"Load the first volley!" She directed, watching as her brothers and sisters began loading silver shells into their behemoths. They were quick and quiet, efficient as any automated service. "Fire on my command." Judy yelled. And then she gave the order that transformed Zootopia. "FIRE!" Time slowed as she watched her soldiers work. It was too late to take it back. The war had reared its ugly head. Death was going to have a field day.
Judy was nearly deafened when the howitzers fired. She could feel the shockwave blast through her flesh and bones as gas poured from the mouth of the cannons. Judy held her breath and peered south, counting down the time until fire clawed its way up into the sky. In the calm before the storm, it was so quiet she could hear her heart beating in her ears. The feeling was surreal. Reality came crashing back down as red and orange filled the horizon. Judy blinked as a bright flash filled her vision. When her eyes adjusted, the rabbit soldier stiffened as she was witness to unreal devastation. Buildings fell to pieces around seven massive fireballs that lifted into the air. Plumes of dark smoke painted the sky black. Judy felt as if her heart was stuck in her throat, but she had a job to do. This was not the place for petty emotions.
"Reload and fire when ready!" Judy ordered imperiously. Duty came first, before all else. She had sworn an oath… And because of that oath, Happytown was burning.
