A RAY OF LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Chapter 14: When Forces Collide

The next night after being with Ulera, the SWAT Kats began yet another sweep of the mountains, the last section to be searched. Four hours later, running on fumes, they gave it up and returned to base.

"Well that was a waste of a night!" T-Bone grumbled irritably.

"No, it isn't, we still have those volcanoes near the bay to check. Don't be discouraged yet, buddy," Razor soothed even though he was just as frustrated.

"Yeah, I know. It's just I can feel time is running out. Dark Kat may be within days of attacking and we still can't find him," the tabby growled, stripping his flight suit off.

"All we can do is the best we can and as fast as we are able and hope it's soon enough." Razor said pragmatically, shrugging his shoulders before changing to his civies. "We better fill the jet's tanks before going to bed.

"Yea, okay." He went to where they stored the fuel and turned the pump on then dragged a long, thick hose to one of the wing tanks. He let his eyes stare off at nothing as he waited. When his tank was filled, he handed the hose off to Jake to fill the other one. An hour later they were done.

Yawning, Chance sighed and realized his friend was right, there simply wasn't anything more they could do as they were already searching night and day plus working in the garage in between. He was seriously beginning to feel the strain. Stretching, he headed for the ladder behind his partner. They went on up to their apartment, had a snack then went to bed. They had work in the garage needing done before going on another search tomorrow.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Feral wasn't having any easier time of it. Colonel Renfur had reported into her the next day after her night with T-Bone and told her the search of all the empty warehouses, abandoned factories and military facilities was a bust. No sign anyone had been at any of the sites for a long time.

"Well, we had to know for sure. Don't beat yourself up about it. It's actually good news as we didn't want to find them in the city anyway," Feral said, calmly.

"You're right about that, sir, but have you heard what progress the SWAT Kats have made on their search?" Renfur asked, frustrated.

"Last time I spoke with them, which was last night, they had covered more than seventy-five percent of the mountain range. T-Bone informed me they still had a ring of volcanoes to search," she sighed, shaking her head. "Dark Kat has well and truly hidden himself away."

"Huh, that's for sure. Nothing to do but wait. I'm a little concerned that the troops are getting really restless and worried, as am I."

"Believe me, I am too. Waiting for an attack is the most stressful time for anyone but wait we must. Meanwhile, I'm using the time to refine my abilities and I'm pleased to say, I have far more control and finesse now. I also am rather appalled at just how much power I possess. It's a bit intimidating," she admitted wryly.

He eyed her carefully. She was uneasy but not too afraid and that was a good thing to his mind. She'd come a long way from when she stood before them her first day back from the hospital. He'd thought she was going to faint or run screaming from the room but she'd made it through everything thrown at her and that's what he admired about her. She'd lead a terrible life but when she became their leader no one would have known that. Then when she was abused again and was exposed for what she was, she still managed to come out on top. What a feisty and brave female she was and the perfect leader, to his mind and one he'd not had trouble following all these years. Knowing she was female and of another species hadn't changed his opinion of her. However, he couldn't deny that bastard who abused her did a number on her self confidence. So, he took it upon himself to give her little pep talks when she needed them, like now.

"You'll do fine, sir. We need that power to win this war and I can't think of anyone with the skill and courage to do it but you," he said sincerely. "And I'm certain once you use it in combat, it will become like your laser, just another weapon you're very skilled with."

She blushed at the compliment and his certainty of her. Her squadron leaders were firmly behind her and did their best to encourage her at every opportunity like Renfur was doing now. She kind of hated being so needy and having her officers know it but they never held it against her. She would just have to learn to believe more in herself.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Yet another night search and T-Bone was getting disgusted they had yet to find the elusive hiding place of the omegas. They were now searching a string of old volcanoes that strung along the bay. One side of the mountains fronted the bay while the other side was mostly a rocky terrain with a forest at its far end, closest to the city. They'd started at the far end and worked their way back toward the city when Razor got a bounce back signal that was rather strange.

"T-Bone hold our position. I think we've got something...some kind of energy signal that shouldn't be here. Start at the far pointed outcropping and begin a slow pass over it," Razor exclaimed. He lowered the x-ray beam as soon as his partner began his pass.

For several seconds he saw nothing but rock and lava flows deep underground then suddenly...

"Hold it right there!" he shouted. Focusing his ray, he pierced the rock and stared at a huge cavern that could easily fit two football fields in it. His jaws tightened as he stared at what they'd been looking for but he never believed it would be this big." In a terse voice, he called over the radio, "Get out of here. I've marked the location in the computer but we don't want them to detect us yet. Make for Feral quarters now!"

Without a word, T-Bone swung away and raced across the sky as if his tail was on fire. "What did you see," he asked anxiously as he piloted for Ulera's apartment building.

"I'll tell you when we're with her so I don't have to tell it twice tonight," Razor said grimly.

That worried T-Bone even more and was glad it didn't take too long to reach Ulera's place. Going to silent mode, he set the jet down light as a feather onto her roof. He shot the canopy back and the two jumped down and raced for the roof stairs.

Fortunately, Feral lived not far from the exit so they weren't seen when they knocked on her door. It took her only a moment to open it and stare at them in surprise but she said nothing as she stepped aside to allow them to enter then shut the door quickly.

"You found them." She said, certain of it by their tense demeanor.

"Yea, we did and it's far worse than we ever dreamed," Razor said grimly.

"Report!"

"Dark Kat's hideout is in the third volcano in the Bay Point Range nearest the city. It's a huge cavern, two football fields in length and filled to capacity with an army that's just plain overkill. From my quick look, there is a full contingency of aircraft, a large number of mutant plants, a tank squadron, and some kind of mini jet fleet, an army of creeplings far bigger than any we've fought before, a hundred or so ninjas, and a double your size black widow."

"How big are the creeplings?" T-Bone wanted to know.

"About the size of a car," Razor growled. "Seems to be about a hundred of those plus a whole flock of his smaller ones. He's obviously been producing those buggers for months to acquire so many."

Feral paled at the numbers but shook herself out and began running over what she needed to do next. Pausing, she eyed Razor. "Do you think you were spotted?"

"I'm fairly certain they didn't catch on we were there and I had T-Bone lit out of there before we could be."

"Do they look ready to attack?"

"From what I saw, yea!"

"Then we have no time to waste. Let me get dressed and we'll head back to headquarters and recall our own army. It's time to fight."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

The moment she hit her office, she put in an immediate recall of all troops and going to DEFCON 1 immediately. While her army was reporting for duty, Feral put in a call to Ms. Briggs. It was going on midnight and she wasn't very happy to lose her beauty sleep but threw off her irritation when she learned what the call was about.

"They found them."

"Yes, and it's far worse than we imagined, Ms. Briggs. I've recalled my forces to duty and as soon as we're ready, we'll head out. Should engage Dark Kat's army at dawn if things work out right. I've gone to DEFCON 1, I just needed you to be aware and prepared," Feral told her.

"Okay, I'll notify the city council and the Mayor. What's the status of the defensive line you're leaving behind?" she asked, briskly, as she ran over all the details she needed to handle in the next few hours. She was already climbing out of bed to get dressed.

"They are next on my list."

"Fine, you do that now and I'll be waiting for the commissioner at city hall. Have him meet me in the Mayor's office when he's got his police in place," she ordered.

"Right. Later." Feral was about to close the connection when...

"Wait!"

"Yes?"

"Bust their tails, Ulera and come back to us safe," Callie said firmly.

"I'll certainly try my best Callie," Feral said humbly then cut the connection so she could contact Henderfield.

A groggy voice, thick with sleep answered her call. "Henderfield, this better be important!"

"It is! This is Feral. Wake up. We're off to battle and you need to set up your defense perimeter. Ms. Briggs wants you to report to her as soon as you're set."

"Hot damn! Finally. How big is the army you're facing?" He asked, more awake and throwing his covers off, making his mate groan in annoyance.

"Far larger than we imagined so we're hoping our early strike will take them down or you're going to be overwhelmed," Feral told him honestly.

"Shit! Well then don't let them reach the city, Commander. We're counting on you."

"We'll do our best. I've got to go."

"Good luck to you! Stay alive and see you back home again in one piece."

"Right!" Then she hung up and stood, making for the conference room. There the squadron leaders all waited along with a Navy Commander and a black ops team, much to the others surprise. With the SWAT Kats, Steele, Renfur and Sgt Fallon by her side, she stalked into the room.

"Alright listen up. The SWAT Kats found Dark Kat. He's located..." She pointed out the location on a map standing on an easel, "...in this volcano." She quickly relayed all the information Razor had given her. Faces turned grim and tense at the news.

"We have to get to the hideout as rapidly as we can without tipping off the omegas. I want all ground forces to be fully outfitted and loaded with the tanks aboard the new transport planes that have, fortunately, been delivered. The jet squadrons and choppers will provide cover for them as they offload. As the ground troops charge the mountain entrance on this side of the volcano..." she pointed out the side closest to the bay.

"...the fighter jets will pound the mountain, shake them up and engage Turmoil's jets. The choppers will be busy fighting Viper's flying creatures and protecting our ground forces. Because this mountain has a bay side, the Navy, already steaming their way there, will bombard the bay side and fight any flying vehicles and/or creatures. Meanwhile, the SWAT Kats, this black ops team that has been training with us, and myself are going to infiltrate from the rear by an entry the SWAT Kats are going to make to connect to a lava tube where we hope to sneak in and take the leaders by surprise," She pointed out the rear of the mountain she was talking about then turned to stare at all the grim faces.

"When we attack, we have to assume this will be the enemy's scenario: Turmoil will have her fighters launch from an upper, hidden flight line or she has another airship to launch from and will engage our fighters. Dark Kat will send out the tanks made from the stolen plans driven by his ninjas against the ground forces while his creeplings create havoc along side Viper's mutations. This is what we face and what our plan of attack will be. Any questions?" she asked.

A few minor details were discussed and ironed out but finally everyone was satisfied. Then she asked, "How far are we on the recall, arming and loading?"

"Tanks are about 70% loaded when I checked before coming here, sir," Major Thorne said briskly.

"Ground troops nearly 80% loaded aboard transports, sir," Lt Col Pierson said.

"Choppers all fueled, armed, and ready, sir," Steele said.

"Jet squadrons, fueled and warmed, waiting for orders, sir," Major Skyfur said.

"My fleet is within ten miles and closing per the last report I received," Navy Commander Tranclaws reported.

"Excellent, then let's finish up and hit the road ASAP. We need to be on target by 0500. Keep in touch on frequency Beta Four Niner," Feral ordered then dismissed the group and left with her own team out the door.

For the next hour, Enforcer Headquarters was a bee hive of frantic but orderly activity. The mass takeoff was at 0400 exactly. If any of the Katizens had been awake they would have seen something spectacular...the sky full of every flying vehicle the Enforcers possessed arrowing their way across the bay and tanks trundling down main street and heading across the bay bridge.

The Navy was already waiting at station keeping for the rest to arrive. The huge transports quickly landed on the dry plain behind the forest that hugged this side of the mountain and disgorged their troops before taking off again. The tanks took a bit longer to arrive, some twenty minutes more but soon, all forces were arrayed around the base of the mountain waiting for the signal for the attack to begin.

The Turbokat took a high altitude flight path so they would come upon the mountain too far up to be seen then waited. They hung there nervously until Feral finally received confirmation that all her forces were in place and waiting. She gave the command to attack.

"You've got a green light!" She called through her helmet radio to the crew above her.

"Roger!" T-Bone barked, responding by taking the jet down until he was just halfway down the mountain then went to hover so his partner could blast a hole.

Razor fired the missile he had waiting. "Mole missile away!"

In seconds, his missile efficiently gouged a huge hole, hitting the lava tube dead on. T-Bone then lowered the jet to the ground just below the hole. Razor hit the cargo doors as T-Bone opened the canopy. All parties rushed out and waited until Razor had secured the jet then headed for the mountain. At the rock face, they scrambled up to the hole using climbing ropes. Already the air was filled with the sound of missiles flying and impacting the mountain, nearly knocking them off their feet.

Because of her abilities, Feral lead the way. The ops team was in the middle with the SWAT Kats bringing up the rear. They moved cautiously as the mountain shook around them. They followed the old lava tube to a hidden ledge above the huge cavern floor.

Below them seethed a carpet of creeplings, plant creatures, and tanks rushing to engage the enemy outside their door. Looking around, Feral spotted Dark Kat on a ledge across from them, pointing a huge laser cannon out a carved hole and firing at the enemy while barking orders to all and sundry around him. There was no sign of Turmoil but it was fairly obvious she was already outside in the air. As for Viper, he too wasn't visible at the moment nor were the other minor omegas.

As they watched the floor clear as all Dark Kat's and Viper's minions left to attack the enemy head on, they noted Dark Kat take a few more pot shots outside before leaving the cannon to a minion and disappearing from view only to reappear on the cavern floor marching to his black widow. Viper suddenly showed up from a side cavern with four of his mushroom monsters around him. He paused to speak to Dark Kat, gesticulating wildly, obviously angry.

"Perfect opportunity," she said then raised her paw and fired at the pair below her. Taking that as a signal to launch their own attacks, the SWAT Kats and half the ops team went down by grappling line to engage the few enemies still there as well as try and find where Hard Drive might be.

Feral's first burst struck Dark Kat dead on, the excess energy catching Viper and sending him flying to the nearest wall. She hadn't killed him. With him out for the moment, she quickly acquired other targets and didn't hold back when they were creeplings and mutant plants. She also took out the laser cannon, melting it to slag. It didn't take her long to finish off all the enemy within sight of her perch. She was about to make a move to head to the floor when the black widow began to raise off the ground. Scowling, she looked around and found both Viper and Dark Kat missing. It wasn't too big a leap of logic to know the two were now aboard the widow.

Furious, she built up a larger than normal amount of energy and before she let it go, she yelled for everyone to clear out. She held it long enough for her team and the SWAT Kats to clear out of the cavern before she fired on the black widow that was beginning to speed out a large exit tube. She unleashed a powerful bolt of energy that struck the flying spider and exploded it within the tube causing the tunnel to collapse and crush the vehicle. She turned swiftly back the way they'd come because the tube's destruction plus the pounding from outside was causing the cavern to also collapse.

A huge billow of dust blew out behind her nearly sending her off her perch. Looking down, she noted the Turbokat was gone, most likely going after Turmoil, she guessed. Her black ops team were engaging in sneaking up on the enemy's tanks and dropping little presents inside before leaping to safey. They'd taken out over six of them so far. Looking away from that scene, she stared off toward the bay, the ledge giving her a small view of the action. The Navy was doing its best to hold its own from some small mini-jets that moved too fast for them to fire on but at least they kept them occupied. She couldn't see on the other side of the mountain so did't know how they were faring.

Frowning in thought, she planned her attack. First the mini-jets pounding the Naval destroyers...she gathered energy then using both paws, fired a broad range spray of force that caught huge cluster of mini-jets and incinerated them. The ones left circled in confusion a moment before figuring out where the bolt had come from and heading for her. She estimated she had time to take out other targets before those jets came close enough to her.

Turning to look at the ground, she eyed the mutants and huge flying creeplings. The spitting acid plantimals and lightning ones on the ground were creating havoc and death. Those had to go now. Using the same method she had on the mini-jets, she sprayed large clusters of creeplings then acid spitters before going to single shooting ones that were engaged against her choppers and tanks.

By the time she'd decimated the enemies numbers of mutants, the mini-jets had closed in on her. She smiled like a shark. The enemy had spread themselves out so as to make themselves a more difficult target. It didn't work. She got them all by starting at one end and spraying across the sky. None were left when she finished. Wasting no time, she turned back to the ground battle and took out enemy tanks, small clusters of pink creeplings, walking mushroom, and attacking spiny vines.

As she fought with seeming ease, she had to constantly remind herself this was a war not fun and games as the energy she was using felt incredible and oh so delightful racing through her. The glorious sensations were threatening to derail her concentration. At one point, as she was playing target practice with giant flying wasps and bees, she was laughing and dancing...her power fanning around her making her look like the legendary phoenix.

Flying over the bay and engaging Turmoil's airship, T-Bone and Razor were startled when a bolt came out of the blue and decimated Turmoil's fleet of mini-jets. they looked behind them and could just make out a glowing torch on the side of the mountain.

"Woah! Is that Ulera?" T-Bone gasped.

"Yea it is and she seems to be having waaay too much fun. We better check on her once we have Turmoil's airship down and out," Razor warned, as he fired a few metal ripper style missiles he'd invented that tore apart huge sections of the air ship but still hadn't brought it down.

As Feral was just hitting her stride, negligently destroying the missiles and mutants being fired at her and enjoying herself far too much, it finally dawned on the Dark Kat's army that someone was doing a good job of eliminating them. They turned away from the Enforcers and began firing steadily at the mountain where they assumed she was standing.

Snorting at their ineffectual efforts, Feral finally decided she needed to just end this melee now. Since she was glorifying in her power a little too much, she nearly forgot her own people were out there in the field as well. Shaking her head, and scolding herself, she pulled back on her power a bit, then got out her radio. She signaled an immediate retreat so that she could clear the field. Though reluctant and very surprised, her troops did as ordered and in quick fashion the field was left to the enemy. While waiting, she noticed the Turbokat was having difficulties bringing down Turmoil's airship. Snorting in annoyance, she fired a bolt of energy that punched clean through the airship leaving a hole big enough for a jumbo jet to cruise through in it. Instantly, it listed to its side and headed for the bay below.

The SWAT Kats were startled but recovered quickly and monitored the slowly faltering airship for escapees and throwing a glance back at the battle. It was then they noticed the Enforcers retreat.

"What the heck is she doing?" T-Bone suddenly asked.

Razor looked out his window and noted the Enforcers retreating then looked off toward the mountain cliff where Feral was supposedly standing. "Obviously clearing the battlefield so she can take out the rest without harming her own forces," he guessed shrewdly.

"Crud! Can she take on that many?" T-Bone wondered aloud.

Razor's guess was confirmed and T-Bone question answered when the entire area was bathed in a destructive wave of energy. Whatever it touched disintegrated to dust. In less than five minutes, the enemy was gone without a trace.

"Holy crap! She did it!" T-Bone breathed in awe.

"It's a sobering sight to see the field of enemies reduced to ash in the blink of an eye. Never guessed she could do something like that and I bet she didn't either," Razor mused.

Below the the airship hit the water and began to sink. Razor had already contacted the Naval destroyers to be on hand for pickup of survivors. The ships were already doing that. Seeing they weren't needed any longer, T-Bone flew back toward the main battlefield.

"I can understand better now why she was a afraid of what she could do," T-Bone remarked. "Think we better go down and see if she needs anything or just a lift back to headquarters."

"Good idea."

The Turbokat landed near the remaining forces and prisoners gathering at the base of the mountain entrance. Jumping out they sauntered over to the group of officers with Feral at their center.

"Alright, gather your troops and let's get everyone home. Use one of the transports as a hospital carrier and load all the wounded aboard. Put up warning beacons to keep sightseers away from here until its been cleared. We will clean up and investigate this site tomorrow. The SWAT Kats will be happy to transport those that need it besides myself and my team." She paused to look around.

"The Navy most likely has her, Commander," Razor spoke up.

Feral glanced at them and nodded. She pulled her radio out and spoke with the Commander of the fleet and found out Turmoil and most of her crew had been pulled from the water and they were now steaming back to base. She thanked them then disconnected. Returning her attention to her officers she said, well that takes care of her. Anyone see Hard Drive?" No one answered.

"Maybe he was never here," Razor said, suggested.

"Possible. Well, a fresh search team might turn him up," Feral grunted.

"What about Dark Kat and Viper? Where are they," an officer asked.

"They tried to escape in the black widow. I brought the escape tunnel down on them...it crushed the widow and the tunnel so I'm certain they are no more," Feral confirmed. Cheers followed that announcement. She smiled and waited a bit before getting their attention again. "Alright everyone gather all the prisoners and pick another transport for just them, ensure there are enough guards for each group of prisoners. I don't want anyone left behind. As soon as everyone returns to base and is accounted for, leave is authorized for the rest of the week. Don't report back until Monday and tell all, great work! So let's all get some needed rest and celebrate our victory. Le't get out of here!" Feral finished her orders.

Everyone cheered both for the end of the battle, the end of the omegas, and the chance to take a well deserved break. All began to board the transports in an orderly fashion. The jets and choppers were already on their way back to base.

The Turbokat was loaded quickly, Feral being the last to board as she saw to all the details needed to secure the site, ensure all transports had left, and the area was clear. The SWAT Kats stood leaning againt the jet waiting patiently for her. She smiled at them sunnily, no sign of strain or exhaustion on her, as she boarded the jet. With skillful ease, T-Bone piloted the jet back to Enforcer Headquarters as the sun rose higher in the sky. Surprisingly, the whole battle had lasted less than an hour.

Dropping off their passengers at Enforcer Headquarters, the exhausted SWAT Kats headed for their hangar having been up more than twelve hours already. T-Bone sighed tiredly knowing he wouldn't be taking a nap at home. Ulera needed all that excess energy dumped so he decided to take a quick shower and grab a bite before heading off to her apartment. Jake waved good bye, deciding not to open the garage today so he could get some rest.

Driving nearly on autopilot, T-Bone zipped through the clogged morning traffic heading uptown. Parking his Cyclotron in its ususal spot, he climbed upward until he was in her apartment. It was no surprise to find Ulera wasn't home yet. Yawning, he walked to her bedroom, stripping his g-suit off on the way, then tossed it into a chair, laying his glovatrix on top of the pile. Climbing into bed, he was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

It was hours later, quitting time, when Ulera called it a day and went home. By now, the city had heard what had gone on and were celebrating. It had been a bit difficult wending her way through the constipated traffic to reach home because of so many being out and about cheering and enjoying the first true peace they'd ever had in nearly a decade.

Reaching her door, she yawned and unlocked it. She felt good, not really tired more energized by all the power buzzing in her still. She pulled her coat off and hung it up in the coat closet then walked to the bedroom. She smiled at the sight of her lover sprawled asleep on her bed.

Leaving him be for the moment, she walked to her closet and locked her gun up in the safe. Then she stripped her clothes off and went into the shower to wash the day off. Clean and feeling vibrant, she turned off the lights and slid into bed. Leaning until she was nose to nose with T-Bone, she kissed him on the nose.

He groaned then blinked his eyes. Before him was an amazing pair of tri-colored eyes staring into his. He smiled lazily and reached a paw up to stroke her cheek.

"Well hello you...what time is it?"

"About six o'clock in the evening," she sighed, enjoying the caress.

"So you stayed the day. You're a glutton for punishment," he snorted then his expression softened. "I'm proud of you. You won and saved the city."

She blushed.

"So, you need a dumping. This near to you, I can feel you buzzing."

"Yea, it feels so good but I'm beginning to feel overloaded now," she admitted.

"I just bet you do. Well, let's just take care of that shall we?" he purred, pulling her atop him.

"I thought you'd never ask," she smirked, impishly.