First Salvo

by Dan Rush

The story of Jackson Jackie Wilde, the son of Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps and the first major at sea clash between Zootopia and the Island nation of K'Zin. The story is now complete as of June 27,2020. This has been my longest completed story so far. The sequel to this will be Dori Hopp's war diary "Gang of Hoppers" which will start in a few months.

29. Chapter 29

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) Will and Alex Gray, Sheath and Knife by Harmarist

(Artist ownership) Anubis and the buried bone by Harmarist

(c) (Artist ownership) The K'zin by Lary 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) Chuck Dawson (cat) From Omaha the Cat Dancer Reed Waller 1994

(Artist Ownership) Jag Damien Tiger from PuffyFluffy of Inkbunny

(Artist Ownership) Dean Wilson from the 1980 cartoon Animalympics

(Artist Ownership) Tanya Mousekovitz from American Tail

Chapter 29

Liberty Time part 4

The Palm Leaves Hotel

Paddy Beach

10am 22 August 2040

Clarissa awoke alone? She sat up in her own bed and looked over at Rudy Dolf with a slight smile. She must have really tied on a few tropical drinks before they found the hotel. He had taken off her dress, leaving her in her bra, her panties and her long socks while he was sleeping atop his covers in his clothes…

"What a Ranger Scout." She said as she slipped out of her bed, walked over to Rudy and gave him a gentle lick on the nose..."Good morning." She said softly as his eyes fluttered open.

"Yawwwwwnnnnn….wow….what time is it?" Rudy asked as he pushed himself up and stretched.

"Ten." Clarissa replied. "You...took off my dress?"

Rudy gasped…."I….I am so, so sorry I did that without you knowing. I didn't… I didn't do anything I swear I didn't..."

"relax Ensign!" Clarissa replied waving her hoof hands. "Don't have a panic attack...it's just that….well….separate beds? You still all dressed up? Sure surprised me." Clarissa said.

"Well…?" Rudy replied. "Do you want a strange equine sleeping with you? I did it because I think you've suffered enough and the last thing you'd want is some uncaring bastard climbing into bed with you. I mean….you wouldn't have expected me to do that would you?"

Clarissa smiled in reply. "I wouldn't have expected it from you? But it wouldn't have been contested?" Clarissa licked Rudy again..."You are so gallant. You could make Sir Galahad envious."

"Truth be told Clarissa? I didn't exactly "walk with you" to the hotel as much to protect you more than myself."

Clarissa cocked her head. "How would letting me stumble alone to the Hotel protect me?"

Rudy sighed…."The one thing about reindeer? They are incredibly species centrist. Mating outside the species, even casual fun? That can get your tail beaten. And they don't discriminate. If you were caught with me by a bunch of reindeer? They would kick the living snit out of you for being "a whore". I just didn't want to chance that a bunch of drunk idiots decided they needed to "course correct" a wayward moron and his….forgive me…..his bitch."

Clarrisa's mouth dropped. "Do they really do that?!"

Rudy nodded. "I saw what happened when I was a teenager in Middle School and one of the school track runners got caught with a female elk out on "lovers point"…There was no love and the poor buck they beat the snit out of got the point...as in antler points to his groin. 23 stitches to repair his torn scrotum. No… reindeer don't play around and they don't care about diversity lessons or tolerance classes. Reindeer have a high job turn-over rate just because they don't "give a flying fluck" when it comes to "species purity".

Clarissa turned her head. "I see...then it's better you just see me to the shipping port so I can go home."

Rudy snarled…"You didn't ask me what my opinion was? Look at my face Clarissa and tell me if I give a fluck or if I'm afraid of a bunch of "dumb back-to-the-woodlots" morons? My nose already marks me for free tail kicks, what's hanging around with a beautiful and loving gazelle gonna do? Worse?"

Clarissa smiled..."You think I'm beautiful? Even if I've been a whore?"

"Don't care about that stuff." Rudy said as he gave Clarissa a lick kiss on the cheek. "All I see is a turquoise eyed delight. A radiantly colorful and wonderfully shaped equine cloud in the sky that has me so captured? You might as well put a collar around my neck, attach a leash and call me you Fido. How's that for a neat description?"

"Rudy? You're silly." Clarissa said as she pushed on Rudy's chest.

"Well…? That's benefit number one. Care to explore all the other available options?" Rudy asked as he slowly kissed Clarissa around her neck. "Just say stop if I become too pushy?"

"You're not pushing enough." Clarissa replied as she wrapped her arms around Rudy's neck and pulled him towards the bed.

Yogi Boob's Pastry and Coffee Shop

Downtown Zootopia

10am 22 August 2040

Judy's phone shook and she answered it then almost quickly dropped it when her son and Darla showed up on the screen..."OH! CHEESE AND CRACKERS SNIT!"

Benjamin Clawhauser almost fell backwards in his chair to avoid Judy's flailing arms! "Woe Judy!" He yelped!

Judy frowned as she looked at her son atop Darla's back as if he was humping her from behind in bed….

"Hey Mom!" Jackson yelped with a smile.

"Hi Judy!" Darla yelped too.

"YOU TWO! UGH! Jackson! Why do you always have to do crazy stuff like this?!"

"Mom? Take a chill pill." Jackson replied. "We're in our underwear I promise."

"Don't lie to her!" Darla snickered. "Oh Mrs Wilde...your son is such a great lover ...moan….sigh…..moan some more…."

"I promise, I swear you two I will so kill you for every time you do this to me. Jackson? You may think making your mother jump out of her fur is fun but one of these days..."

Darla snickered. "You were right Jackie. She's got a nice big one up her tail hole for sure."

"YOUNG LADY?!" Judy snapped.

"Hey!" Clawhauser voiced with excitement. "Is that the little snot machine?!"

"Hey Mister Clawhauser!" Jackson replied as Judy turned the phone to him. "Will you please get the big carrot stick out of my Mom's butt?"

Clawhauser laughed…"She's turning red Jackson...you're really pressing your luck? So how's the Outback Islands? You guys are going to be there a few more days right? How's that bed and the…."extra cushioning" huh?"

"Benjamin?!" Judy snapped. "Please do not encourage my son!"

"Mom! I said we're not doing anything." Jackson said as he sat up on the bed. "See? I'm wearing my BVD's ok? Hey Mister Clawhauser? Have you lost weight?"

Ben looked at Judy..."When is he going to call me Ben? You've raised such a good kid Judy, really. As for weight? I have lost some pounds and my craving for pastry. Celery sticks hah? I'm on track to being a super hawt sexy stick within a year."

"You look great." Jackson said. "Mom? Dad texted me that I should talk to you about the house? That you had something to ask me?"

Judy rubbed her head with a paw..."Jackson? Honey? It was just something your father said...I just haven't had the time to ask you but...but you should come home first then we can talk."

"Mom?" Jackson asked. "Obviously Dad thinks it's very important or he wouldn't tell me to talk to you now so what's up with the house?"

Judy sighed..."Me and your father talked for a little bit and your father made the suggestion that we sell the house and move out to Aiden as soon as we could. I told him I wanted to wait till you were home so you could have a last time to be in the house because it's where you grew up and..."

Jackson waved a paw..."Mom? Sell the house and go?" He said smiling.

"Now….Jackson?" Judy replied.

"Mom? I thought the cord was cut? Why are you going to hang on to a house I'm not coming back to live in? It's yours and Dad's house. Sell the house? You and Dad should have been in Aiden like last week." Jackson said as he patted Darla's paw. "Give me a moment alone?" He asked Darla before he moved out into the hall way outside the hotel room…

"Jackie? We were just being respectful..." Judy said.

"Mom?" Jackson replied. "Mom? Don't make excuses. Don't argue. Don't fuss. Don't cry….sell the house and move to Aiden? The faster you two are up in Aiden? The better me and Darla will feel. Do I have to spell everything out for you?"

"Jackie?" Ben Clawhauser voiced. "You scaring her. Her nose is twitching."

"That's good." Jackson replied. "That should kinda get some fire under her feet to sell the house and get out of the city. I would rather not have my mother tied to my poor father's failing back….in the city! I don't want my poor father who's having a hard time getting around on his own….in the city!"

"Jackie? What do you know? What have you been hearing?" Judy asked.

"Ummmm….I know enough to tell my mother, whom I love like super ten thousand times the size of my own arms, to sell that house in the middle of the city and move to the other side of Zootopia where it's less crowded. Ok Mom? I'm not in diapers any more, I'm not going to live in the old house any more, I'm not interested in a trip down memory lane. You and Dad sell that house and move your butts to Aiden like yesterday ok? Please? Don't wait till your retirement ceremony…..just do it."

Jackson sighed…."Ok….now that, that was easy to solve? How's the rest of your day going?"

The mansion of the Governor of The Outback Islands

Port Stanley, the main Island of Elsbane

10am 22 August 2040

Governor's meeting with Zootopian Navy Admiral, Arthur Ace (Lion) and Marine general Bugsworth Charles Jones (Bugs Bunny)

Governor Osmenia (A Koala) walked about the floor of his personal study as he made references to the pair of maps he had placed on a pair of artist easels before the Admiral, the General and some of their staff officers…

"Forgive me gentle-mammals if I refer to the Kzinti as just "Zints" there is no undo "species hate" (racism) attached to the shortening I assure you. As I previously alluded to you both, we were not honest towards your Mayor or your governing counsel when we described the actions of the Zints over the past year. We wanted to prevent any sudden rash actions on your part which could have made the current situation much worse. Zint activities in this area have been far more numerous and a little more disturbing beyond what we reported as mere harassment passes by their destroyers."

Governor Osmenia walked to one of the maps. "On three occasions...our watchtowers on the highest points here on Elsbane observed what you may call… a naval armada. Each time there were ten to twelve ships that ranged about ten miles from our shores. Three of these ships were large sea going cargo carriers, the rest were warships. Of the warships we identified some as destroyers but four were larger...much larger...and more heavily armed. They were not destroyers."

Osmenia walked to his desk and grabbed some large photographs. "These pictures were taken of the ships and their activities. The only conclusion myself and my cabinet ministers could draw was that this...was an amphibious task force with their version of Marines. We strongly think the Kzinti have their eyes on our islands and at some point they have every intention of invading us, perhaps for our abundant mines and raw materials? Perhaps as a base of operations? We are not sure what they intend….we do understand that if they decide to invade? We're nothing but a speed bump against them."

Admiral Ace pondered for a moment as he played his paw fingers on his mane. "You were right not to get too hasty. I can't determine by these pictures what the capability of these larger warships could be other than they are heavily gunned. The advantage of any action would be with the Kzinti by the time we could muster a response to any invasion. By the time we could arrive? They would be well entrenched on the Islands and ready for a fight."

Ace gave Governor Osmenia a deep scowl of worry…."Governor? You do realize what these predators might do? To You? To Your citizens?"

Osmenia nodded. "Yes….and there really is no safe place for my mammal's to hide. What can we do? Can't you base some ships here? We would do anything you ask of us. Build you a base? Care for your Sailors? We are willing to do what you ask."

It would be seriously dangerous to post ships here." General Bugs said as he chomped down on a carrot stick. "For one thing? Putting Navy ships here would be a clear sign of hostility to the Kzinti, they might decide right then to go for broke and if they can catch one or two of our front line destroyers in port? We can't risk such a loss, we only have ten Zootopia class destroyers. Now subs are a different beast...right Admiral?"

"We could post three of our Trident attack drone subs here." Admiral Ace said with a nod. "You wouldn't need a very large facility to support them, we could rotate them in and out and in case the Kzinti did try something? We could at the least destroy their assault ships and their larger combat vessels but that would still leave the Kzinti task force able to land some combat troops on the islands."

Bugs stood up and walked to the maps..."Which is why I'm going to put forth an idea my staff officers have been working on for the past few weeks. It's obvious that the risk of trying to respond from afar to a Kzinti invasion of the Outbacks is too dangerous for us. Instead of responding...we should make an invasion and occupation complete hell for the potential adversary. What I propose is we base two battalions of recon Marines in the Outbacks, about a thousand total, all of them Otters. Now before you think this is a little looney given their size against a Kzinti...Otters do give us a big advantage. Size is one thing...water is another and there's plenty of water for our Marines to play in obviously. I have a sneaky feeling in my big ears that Kzinti? They may not like water over their heads very much. Otters will be very hard to catch and very hard to kill but where you have a body or a river or a sewer full of water? The adversary can expect…. Death."

Bugs moved to the other map which was a grid / topographical map. "What we will do is stash what's called "Ponkis cashes" all over the islands. Each cash has a GPS becon that can be activated by a long range signal and they are loaded with "toys" for our sweet "water babies" to play with like….rifles, grenades, explosives, Claymore mines, food….especially Kelp, because an Otter without Kelp gets really cranky and hard to deal with, and diving gear. I'd say a thousand Otters will make life for any occupation force very difficult. It would also give the population some hope of getting through such an invasion alive….but let us all be realistic and sober about that. And another nice thing about Otters? They don't require a visible base to live in. They are perfectly happy in sea weed, kelp beds, mud banks, grassy fields and on top of nookie."

Everyone chuckled as Bugs tapped his paw finger on a map..."I didn't say that was funny."

Governor Osmenia sighed..."This sounds like the best possible plan we can have. I'm certain that my cabinet and the Parliament would approve of it but how fast could it be done?"

Bugs looked at Admiral Ace. "The Ponkis cashes could be here by next week and the Marines would start arriving and could be fully deployed in three. We could be ready by next month. My advice to you Governor is to begin planning for your population, specifically your small and vulnerable inhabitants. I know your Kangaroos and dingos would put up a hell of a fight. I think we should mix those in with our Marines to get some good training in covert warfare."

"Whatever you consider best, General." Governor Osmenia said as he turned to another Koala..."Please call the cabinet and have then be here within the hour so they can be briefed? And alert the speaker of the Parliament that I request an emergency session at 4pm.

The Club Expositor

Zootopia's gay district, Sahara Beach

11am 22 August 2040

Bobby and Whitney walked into the club, which was just opening for the lunch hour crowds and met the owner (A female Mink) as she was setting up the cash register.

"Morning Juliana." Bobby said with a wave.

"William's already in the poker room." The pink head tuft'd Mink replied as she pointed. "You two want anything? Food? Drinks?"

Whitney gestured..."I could use a burger and a coke."

"Wait a second?" Bobby asked. "I thought your girlfriend was coming with us Whitney?"

"She'd only make me more nervous." Whitney replied. "You know ferrets are overly fidgety? I'd be spending time just keeping her still and I couldn't concentrate. It'll be alright...I'm just a little nervous."

Bobby waved a paw..."Trust me Whitney, William's the coolest most gentle wolf you'll ever meet."

Bobby led Whitney into the Poker playing room where Will got up from a chair..."You must be Whitney." He said putting his paws out.

"Didn't Bobby tell you I was like six feet tall?" Whitney replied smirking. "Bah….poodles think they're such smart humps."

Will walked up and gave Whitney a hug..."You alright? You sure you want to talk about this?"

"I need to get it out of my head." Whitney replied. "I didn't want to believe it and it just kept nagging at my butt."

Will gestured to a chair. "I promise you...we won't "out" you to anyone. I understand how sensitive this is and how much trouble you could get into. I don't want you putting yourself in any risk if you don't want too, let's be clear on that ok? It's your choice Whitney."

"Let's say what I saw is actually true? What if we're sending spies into Kzin? Is that even legal?" Whitney asked as she smiled when the burger and coke showed up.

"It wouldn't be legal even if the Mayor approved of it." Will said. "I looked it up at the public library. Espionage is considered an aggressive/offensive act that risks antagonism and possible retaliation. No one in the military or the civil government can order such missions under current law."

Will patted Whitney on the paw..."Once again...are you sure you want to talk about this?"

"Yes." Whitney replied.

"So….I guess we should start with the basics? How long have you been in the Navy? What do you do for a job? How long have yo been assigned to Wooly Rocks Naval Base?"

Whitney took a bite of her hamburger…." I joined the Navy July 21st, 2039. Went through boot camp, Electronics Technician school and got assigned to Wooly Rocks in February of this year as an Electronics Maintenance Technician for the Trident class un-mammaled submarines."

Will nodded…."I don't need to write anything down, I have a good memory so when I get home I'll write all the notes. Now...what were you doing the first time this "thing" happened?"

Whitney took a moment to think. "We were doing a periodical switch-out of circuit cards for the GPS guide system aboard number 17 boat at pier number two. Each pier can dock four Tridents nose to tail. Number 17 was the farthest in on the right hand side. Behind her was number 28 boat. When we do the maintenance on the electrical boxes, we usually take them out of the boat where we have a covered tent set up. Since it was early summer and the night was warm. We kept three sides of the tent rolled up and tied to the frame. So I could see boat 28 clearly. Myself and two other "techs" were doing the usual checks on a bench. While we were working….here comes this military truck down the pier with a police escort. Nothing out of the ordinary about that...we see recon Marines all the time coming and going except this time? It's not ordinary at all."

"What made it…."not ordinary"?" Will asked.

"Well…." Whitney said. "There were eight Marines in the group. Two were tigers, three were otters and the other three were raccoon dogs? The dogs and the otters were dressed in the usual Marine uniforms, green drab with floppy jungle hats. The tigers though...they were wearing these light brown uniforms with these caps that had flap cloth on the back….like mud flaps on cars? And these tigers were big...I mean super sized Bengals, the biggest I've ever seen in my life and they were talking this strange gibberish back and forth...a lot of "Wa!" and "Kah!" and "Sue" and…..it was just catching my ears. So? I tried to go back to working on the box and I started hearing "Kzin" this and "Kzin" that and "Target Kzin here" and I knew they were going to do something related to the Kzinti. Then I really kept my snoot in that box."

Will thought for a moment..."Did the submarine leave while you were still working on the pier?"

"Yup." Whitney replied. "And the security mammals said goodbye to the squad as they boarded. Told them to be careful and come back safe and they really sounded apprehensive. That really told me they weren't going to some local training. You don't say things like that to a bunch of Marines just going out for local exercises. At least that's my thinking any way."

"And this was the first of two times?" Will asked.

Whitney took a sip of her soda. "Yes...the second time was two weeks later. Once again it was at night but different boats. I was in the "sail mast" (The sail mast is the part of a submarine that sticks up from the back or spine which has the horizontal fins coming out of it) control board which you use to steer the submarine under manual control. I was installing a brand new electrical box when again here comes a truck under police escort with the same number of Marines but there's five tigers dressed up in those strange uniforms, speaking the same strange gibberish, and again I hear "Kzin" "Kzin" "Kzin" but this time I know I clearly heard..."If you have no other choice...kill and bring the body or bodies with you." I heard that clear as fricken day!"

Whitney stopped for a moment…."And just like last time. Two hours later they were gone."

Will looked at Bobby. "Who told them..."If you have no other choice...kill and bring the body or bodies with you." Did you know who that was?"

"It was pretty dark but I do know he were a hat only an NCO or an Officer would wear, I know that shape. He was also big so we're talking a mammal the size of a Rhino or Elephant but I didn't see a trunk on the mammal."

Will sat back and thumped a paw finger off the table..."You don't say..."If you have no other choice...kill and bring the body or bodies with you." if you're doing local operations...Bobby? I think they're sending Marines onto Kzin. My gawd they're…...they're flucking crazy!"

"Now come on Will..." Bobby replied waving a paw. "You said you wouldn't get too excited. We agreed we'd sit and think about this carefully ok?

Will asked Whitney..."You've never seen these uniforms? No where? And you've never heard the language these tigers were speaking?"

"There's no language like that in Zootopia." Whitney replied. "I'm serious. This is what I heard, this is what I saw with my own eyes. But I don't know if we will get the two "techs" who were with me the first time to back up what I'm saying. They were playing stupid, which maybe I should have been more stupid."

Whitney flopped back in her chair. "Cheese...all I wanted was a nice peaceful four year hitch in the meadows with my girl friend. I wasn't worried about any thing until that mother flucker said that "kill them" snit. Gawd damn it if they're really doing this crazy snit then they could start a gawd damned war!"

Bobby waved a paw finger. "They could have already made the decision that war is inevitable and they decided to spy on Kzin to mark targets."

"You're saying we're going to hit first?" Will asked.

"I don't think we'll hit first but we'll certainly be ready to hit last." Bobby replied. "But damn it...what they're doing is illegal! Then again? We're not certain that what they're doing is exactly that."

Will rubbed his snoot. "Getting second hand confirmation will be a bitch. We're practically bordering on espionage ourselves. But unless we can be certain that they're sending Marines to Kzin, Whitney's all we have to go on."

Whitney sighed..."We might as well accept it...we're going to war and there's nothing we can do about it."

"I'm not accepting that." Will replied with a slight growl. "I have a little brother who wants to be a Marine, I'm not going to turn him over to a slaughter house without a damn fight. We just have to figure out some sly ways of broaching this to get the public's interest up. Maybe cloak it under another issue? Make it part of a suggestive topic?"

Will turned to Bibby. "Call Alex Bore."

"I don't think we should go to Alex Bore." Bobby gasped. "That fat headed tusk'd bastard will blow his chunks from his tail hole mouth and "out" us. I have a better mammal we should talk to...Ben Sheephiro."

Will smirked. "I don't like that wooly mouth any better."

"He's not as crazy as Alex Bore." Bobby replied.

Whitney gestured…."How about "Pink Pashion" on-line radio?"

Bobby thought for a moment..."Miss Piggy?"

"She's got the biggest female following in Zootopia next to Gazelle. And how many of them have kids in the military? Last week she brought up the subject about the use of drones along the demarcation line and that got the Mayor a ton of complaint calls. Let's say she just sneaks in this thing as a thought?"

Will scratched his head tuft..."Hmmm….Bobby? How about you give her a call? Set up a meeting?"

Fleet Marine Base Quanaco

Savanna Central

noon 22 August 2040

Owen hit the sand on his back and felt one of his brothers land on top of him…

"OOFF! HEY?! WATCH IT YOU CREEP!" Owen snapped as he was rudely jerked to his feet and spun around like a top! He couldn't see anything because of the blind fold but he could hear his brothers screaming equally as pissed off as he was. Finally, who ever was roughing him up….threw him onto the sand…

"DO NOT TAKE YOUR BLIND FOLDS OFF UNTIL WE CONTACT YOU BY RADIO!" A snarling voice that was obviously a wolf barked. Moments later the Deuce truck (a 2.5 ton army truck) drove off leaving the Hopps brothers hopping pissed off and hot in the Savanna sun…

"Everyone alright?" Owen asked as he sat up.

"I'm cool." Powen replied.

"No. I got and in my underwear." Nori growled.

"I hope they didn't bust my glasses." Dori snorted.

"They spanked the hell out of me." Ori giggled.

"Sigh….Ori? Not now?" Owen groaned.

Powen tapped Owen on the shoulder. "So I guess this is the navigation and survival part of training?"

"Two days of fun in the Savanna sun." Owen snorted. "We have to find the rest of the company and "pony up" while not roasting or running into enemy patrols."

Owen felt something brush against his cheek. "Here...I found the provision ruck so we're a step ahead. Water guys, but don't drink it all at once." Dori Hopps said as he passed water bottles to the rest.

Suddenly a radio cracked with the voice of Gunny Rahkshah. "Company! Remove your blind folds now!"

The Hopps brothers winced hard as the bright sun hit them in the face. "Ugh...I can't see snit!" Nori complained as he patted around for his ruck sack."

"Here..." Dori said as he placed a battle helmet on Nori's head and dropped a pair of shadded goggles over his brother's eyes. "You're good Bear, Bear."

Nori looked out over the empty desert and frowned. "Yup….we're all going to die. All hope is lost. There's not a Bucky's for miles. Not even a coffee maker."

Ori reached into his back pack and pulled out a small gadget..."Hah! Solar powered coffee maker!"

"I do not want to know how you came into possession of that." Owen said as he stood up with Powen and shared an armored "Paw Tablet" with a GPS map. "At least they didn't leave us totally naked."

"We need to dig in and get some shade." Powen replied. "Walking in the day is crazy. They saw fit not to give us NVG's (Night Vision Goggles) to make things more interesting."

The other three brothers crowded around the tablet, Dori handing out vanilla wafers which gave Nori a near orgasm as he chewed with a smile of pleasure on his face…

"So what's the plan there fearless first out of the hole?" Nori asked. Owen slapped him in the puss…

"You say that about Mom again Nori and see if I don't kick your tail." Owen warned.

"I didn't insult Momma." Nori huffed back. "What's the plan?"

"Dig some holes, drape the reflection tarps and bed down till night." Powen said gesturing. "We can't walk back to base in this heat and there's no moon for the next three days. I imagine more than a few of the company are going to get stupid fever and strike out in the first couple of hours."

Owen pulled his pit shovel from his back pack..."Ok everyone. Start digging holes and get the liners out. Nori. Dori. Hit the sand and keep an eye out for opforce patrols (Opforce = Opposition forces) then you guys can dig when the rest of us are done."

Nori detached his paint ball rifle from his ruck. "Dori? You watch North, East to South….I'll take South, West to North."

"Cool." Dori said as he took a knee and draped a reflective tarp over his body. "You know? I sure miss fishing in the Skakahooch back home."

Nori smiled. "What brought that up?"

"Just a nice memory to block the fact that we're out here in a sand box." Dori said. "Remember that time I tumbled in and couldn't swim?"

"That was a rough ride." Nori replied.

"I never really thanked you for saving me back then Bear,Bear." Dori said softly. He then gave Nori a nuzzle on his back.

"Wasn't a thing." Nori said as he reached back to pet Dori's head. "I was so scared about you that I forgot how much I hated getting wet. After that? Swimming was so fun."

"Yeah it was...specially getting away from old man Gray. "Giggles" fat foxes can't swim worth a damn." Dori replied.

"Then again how hard was it?" Nori said chuckling. "We always threw Ori at him!"

Dori mimic'd Gideon Gray's voice…."Con sarn it you Hopps bunnies! "Spank, spank" When will you learn?! "Spank, spank"

Nori giggled as he teased Ori..."Oh Mister Gray! Harder! Harder!"

"Hey!" Ori yelped from his sand hole. "I don't sound like that!"

"You sure do sound gay!" Nori yelped. "Oh Mister Gray! Lay your big fat paw on me! UGH!"

"Just because I liked getting whipped don't mean I'm queer!" Ori huffed. "Uh...Tina Tawilligar? Ring a bell there Nori?!"

"Only because she was as weird as you." Nori snorted. "Gawd she had a maw that could take an over sized ball gag."

"Likely." Dori huffed.

"Please don't start fights?" Powen said from his hole. "Dori? Nori? Why the hell are you yapping instead of watching?"

Dori and Nori settled down to watching the horizon with their binoculars until their brothers were done with their holes.

"It's going to be a long and boring afternoon." Dori said with a sigh.

"Not if we make a shared hole." Nori said smiling. "We could pass the time playing cards till we fall asleep."

"Now that's gay." Ori huffed.

"Sharing love and comfort with your sibling is not gay Ori." Nori snorted. "You know me and Dori have been close from the womb so shut your yapper."

"Oh come on Nori." Dori said with a paw gesture. "Even the tail gunner needs affection." Dori noting that Ori brought up the rear of the brood.

"That does it!" Ori yelped as he ran from his hole and tackled Nori off his feet! "I'm gonna tan your hide Nori!"

"Ah hah! Exposed tail! CLAMP!" Ori screamed as Nori locked his jaws on his cotton tail!

"NO FAIR! BITCH! GET YOUR TEETH OFF MY BUTT!" Ori screamed!

Powen looked at Owen and shook his head..."This is going to be a messed up family outing."

Owen snorted back. "I hope your belt lasts longer than mine because I'm going to destroy it on Ori's rump for sure."

the Paradise Cove Hotel

Seal Island in the Outbacks

noon 22 August 2040

Jackson emerged from the bathroom still soaking wet from his shower and grabbed up Darla from behind!

"GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE!" He yelped as he squeezed her!

"Ugh! You're soaking wet! Jackie!" Darla yelped as she struggled against him. "And you're still covered in soap!"

Jackson pulled Darla onto the floor..."Ah hah! I got you Dar!" Jackson played as he tried to bind her up with a wrestling hold…

"WHAM!" Darla kicked a powerful foot into Jackson's groin..."And now? You don't have me." She snickered as she broke free of the whimpering Fox-bunny….

"Ouch….That's what I get for morning wood." Jackson gasped and groaned. "Nice shot Dar…."

"You will never beat me in wrestling Jackie." Darla said as she stood confidently before grabbing her panties and walking towards the bathroom. "Contemplate your continued dry spell champ while I shower."

"Fluck..." Jackson grimaced as he stood up and flopped onto the bed. "I hope you didn't just geld me!"

"Your fault!" Darla yelped from the bathroom.

The door bell to the room suddenly rang and when Jackie opened it...there stood Dean Wilson with a wine bottle in his hand…

"Good! You're both up! A gift from my wife and I to the expected nuptials." Dean said with a smile.

"Wow..." Jackson replied a little surprised. "Dead? You don't even know us, we could be a pair of con artists? My dad's a fox and….well at one time he was Zootopia's top street hustler."

Dean walked into the room..."Don't care, don't worry, I can tell you guys by your faces that you are "scood" to me. I came to ask you if you wanted to come down and join a hot tub party in progress with me and the wife? Free food, free drinks…maybe some pot? Maybe some pot brownies?….oh snit….I forgot, you two are Navy aren't you? However? I have a nice substitute that's very safe, trust me."

Darla yelped from the bathroom..."I'm in!"

"She's only in because of your hot sexy butt." Jackson snickered.

"Do you want me to seriously de-ball you Jackson?!" Darla yelped.

Dean chuckled..."We'll see you guys down there my mammal." He said as he gave Jackson a chest tap and walked out. Darla came out of the bathroom dressed in a one piece swim suit and tickled Jackson's chin as she passed…

"You coming?" She asked with a toothy grin.

"I know you're going to freak with my heart strings." Jackson snorted as he followed Darla to the elevator.

"It's good exercise." Darla said as she leaned against the side of the car as it started to drop towards the ground floor. "We're supposed to have fun here Jackie!"

"I still think we should hold off getting married until your father changes his tune Dar." Jackson said as he crossed his arms.

"Jackie, I told you it will be a cold day in hell. My Dad will only change after the deed is done and he feels left out. I think you're trying to worm out of buying my wedding dress. Daddy defiantly won't pay for it as things are." Darla took Jackson's paw as they stepped out of the elevator and walked to the hot tub room.

"Put the worries off Jackie? Let's just enjoy our….." Darla and Jackson entered the hot tub room and their jaws dropped at the size of the tub…

"Hot tub?" Darla yelped. "It's an Olympic swimming pool!"

"Uh….quite a crowded pool." Jackson said. "Crowded and full of naked mammals."

Darla undid the string on her swim suit and allowed it to drop away. "Well? When in Wolf Rome? Do what the wolves do!" Darla ran and jumped into the hot tub then just as quickly flew out and slid into Jackson's feet….

"On second thought? Do NOT just jump in! That's hot!" The female otter said as she stood up and shook herself.

"That's why it's called a "hot tub" Dar?" Jackson snickered as he dropped his shorts and threw them over his shoulder. "Dean's over at the far corner." Jackson said as he took Darla's paw and started walking. "Oh? Here comes a tray of kelp sandwiches Dar." Jackson said as he grabbed a sandwich off the passing tray and offered it to Darla's mouth…

"SNAP!" "Woe! Hey Dar? Don't bite my paw off!" Jackson yelped as he barely avoided the otter's sharp teeth. They walked up to Dean, who was sitting in the water with a group of friends.

"Hey you two!" Dean said with a happy yelp..."Everyone? This is Jackson and his future wife Darla." Dean said. "Jackson, Darla, this enchanted creature to my left is my hood ornament Wendy."

"Hood ornament?" Wendy grabbed one of Deans ears and twisted it. "Try it again silly?"

"She's really charming." Dean replied. "My wife Wendy….ouch….I love you "tickles". He said as he wrapped his arms around his wife and nibbled on that little ear bud he told Jackson about…

"Dean?" Wendy sighed and giggled as she offered Darla a paw. "Is your boyfriend as playful?"

"Only when I let him." Darla snickered. "We have a very adversarial relationship."

Jackson slipped into the tub. "Yup...everything's a game. Cooking, nights out, dinner dates, sex….nothing's off limits."

Wendy asked. "How did you two meet?"

"Started in Junior High School with log rolling." Darla replied. "How did you and Dean meet?"

"Surfing competition." Wendy replied. "Before he qualified for the Animalympics. I could not resist that self-confident playful attitude of his. He woo'd me with poetry."

"That's her best excuse." Dean said as he snuggled Wendy's side. "Let me introduce you both to some of the others in our little party group. Most of them were in the last Animalympics." Dean said as he pointed around. "This Kodiac monster over here is Ge McFloof, he was the star center of the North Tusker Hockey Team when they wiped the ice with the Eurasian Short Horns.

"Wasn't really a "wipe" when you consider we lost all of our star line to accidents, fights and more flights." The big bear replied. "Actually what do you expect from hockey? Ballet? You put a bunch of bears in with a bunch of beef and vollah! A bloody mauling."

Dean pointed to another mammal, a light brown female Minx..."This beautiful thing is Cora Lee Perry, she was in the first Animalympics as Zootopia's floor demonstration gymnast, a gold and a bronze medal."

"So you're both getting ready for the big tie?" Cora Lee asked. "Is it going to be here?"

Jackson replied. "We're both in the Navy, Dar and myself, our ship's here on a visit and we just took the liberty time to come here. But I think I'm going to lose out to Dean…."light smack"….."Ouch! Everyone saw that right?! Darla hit me! She's trying to hide the fact that she's enamored by Dean's…."smack!"….Dar! Quit it!"

Wendy giggled…."You two are just so cute together."

"That's what he hopes the police might think." Darla snickered. "Don't let the innocent bunny face fool you? Jackson's a trickster when he wants to be. He's connected to the Mafia."

Jackson bumped Darla's side..."Please don't play around like that Dar? Some might think you're serious?"

Jackson snatched Darla's tail and the female otter jerked it away! "Two paws Jackie….two paws, not one." Darla giggled. "This is one of our competitions." She said to the others. "Jackson has to grab my tail with two hands when we're in water and he has to stroke it from root to tip once or he doesn't get me this whole time we're together."

Dean chuckled pleasingly…."That's us otters man, we love to play games."

"So….You Zootopians are here because of the Kzinti making trouble off of the Outbacks?" Ge McFloof asked. "We don't seem to have a problem with them? We've had trade with the Kzini for over a hundred years now."

"It could be because Tusker is mostly Ursines." Jackson replied. "The Kzinti seem to see Zootopia as a problem because we're mixed with predators and prey and everyone gets along. That's how I understand it."

"We never see them." McFloof said as he sipped his mug of bear beer. "No one from the outside has ever been allowed into Kzin. Perhaps we don't have problems because we're a landlocked nation with no navy? Our rivers and streams are plentiful with Salmon so we don't have a need for a big fishing fleet. Seems to me the ocean is a contested lot between Kzin and Zootopia."

"I don't understand that at all." Wendy said. "There's more than enough fish for everyone...unless fish is the Kzinti's only meat source, which I find that doubtful."

Jackson sighed. "All I know is….I don't want a war. I want to have what my parents have, a wonderful life with this gorgeous otter, having kittens, cubs or "Cub-its" and "Kit-ubs" and a nice house."

Dean scratched his head. "So? You're part bunny and part fox? If you two do have little furry feet? Ever thought of what you'd like them to look like?"

Darla giggled…."If it's a female? I want her to have Jackie's colors, an otter body and tail and my tits."

"Dar?!" Jackson snorted. "Just be super descriptive huh?"

"Well?" Darla asked Jackson. "Your turn sport? What do you want in a male?"

Jackson thought. "An otter body, rabbit ears, my red hair tuft, my mom's body color and well endowed."

"No fox tail?" Dar asked. "Don't you love your father?"

"Even my dad would say a fox tail on an otter body would look too weird." Jackson replied. "But really? Looks don't matter. I won't love them any less. I'll spoil them worse than my dad did me."

Spring Steps physical rehab center

Sahara Beach, Zootopia

1pm 22 August 2040

The Honey Badger dressed in a white medical smock watched as Nick came around the end of the running track and passed her by with a contented look on his face….

"YOU'RE DOING GOOD NICK!" Mary yelped as she watched the fox run with his morphed forearms while his legs and bottom were strapped into a two wheel animal para-cart…

"MY ARMS DON'T FEEL TIRED AT ALL!" Nick replied as he rounded the track. He came to a stop before Mary and rested his arms on a padded support beam. "This thing fits nicely. I'm comfortable with it."

"I'm glad it works for you." Mary replied. "You're not actually using it are you?"

Nick reached back to unbuckle himself and stood up to stretch..."No...I'm still getting around….all together like a car wreck but I'm still walking."

"Have you told Judy that you bought it?" Mary asked as she followed Nick to the chiropractor room.

Not yet." Nick replied. "I don't want her to panic over it. She starts to panic then she'll call our son and he'll panic and soon everyone's bouncing off the walls. Best she doesn't know till I actually need it."

Nick undressed and flopped on the chiro-bed..."Work your magic hands Mary and don't spare the torture? Wait? Where's my ball gag?"

"Nick?" Mary snickered. "So when's Judy's retirement?"

"We'll do it when Jackson gets home." Nick replied as he coo'd and growled softly to the Badger's claws and paws as they worked his sore back..."Mmm…. I hope Judy doesn't find out about us?"

"Oh stop it you crazy fox?" Mary replied. "How many times a day do you get compliments on your beautiful tail Nick?"

"She's very pampered indeed." Nick said as he reached back to play with his tail. "My son used to do all the grooming before he joined the Navy. Now he does all the foxes on his ship. Maybe he'll ditch electronics for the joys of making foxes happy with their first loves? He's going to get married soon too. Mmmm...life's just worth living you know?"

"I'm so glad you keep that attitude up." Mary said as she stopped to massage and pull on Nick's face. "A lot of mammals sink into depression when they face the possibility of losing their walking and running abilities."

"I don't sink." Nick replied. "I float very well. It's not in me to give in that easily. As long as I can move two limbs? I'll be just fine. Like I told my son? Just attach an engine and go, I don't use gas, I get good miles on a bowl of corn flakes and I'm low maintenance."

Nick's smart phone chimed…."Speaking of the boy...Hey there Jackie? So how's the Outbacks and please don't tease you poor mother when she's having coffee with friends?"

"Things are great Dad." Jackson replied. "Spent some time in the hotel hot tub with some friends and now we're going to do some diving. Did Mom tell you yet?"

"Tell me what?" Nick asked.

"I'll let her tell you." Jackson replied. "She might be a little resistant but I put the press on her so you have to close the deal."

"What deal Jackie?" Nick asked as he sat up on the chiro-bed. "Out with it kido? You're not going to keep me nutzo all afternoon waiting for your mother to get home."

"Well? I told her to sell the house like yesterday and move to Aiden. I don't need to spend time in the house re-living my childhood, you guys own it so sell it and move. I would feel a lot better if you and Mom were up in Aiden instead of being downtown."

Nick replied. "No use arguing with you Jackie. You're as bull headed as your mother. Ugh….you know this is going to raise a fuss at dinner this evening?"

"Just remind her of all the potential fun of spoiling grand-babies in the fresh clean fragrant air of Aiden? Big, big selling point Dad. Close the deal and move?" Jackson begged.

"I'll talk to her tonight Jackie, I promise." Nick replied. "I love you son."

"I adore you Dad." Jackson replied. "Talk to you later ok? Darla wants to get a few hours swimming in before dinner." Jackson said as he waved in the video.

Tundra Town

Highway 394

Elevated freeway over Avalanche Ave.

1pm 22 August 2040

"Feels like old times huh Ben?" Judy said with excitement as she raced her cruiser down the expressway and into Tundra Town.

"I hope the de-icer system is working Judy?" Clawhauser said as he almost ripped the seat covering with his claws. "Are you sure you want to go screaming crazy around here?!"

"From what Officer Comberland said? This accident's a crazy one. I just hope no one's been killed. She said the car involved went over the guard rail."

"Had to be airborne to do that!" Clawhauser yelped..."Oh snit! Judy! Please take it easy! You're retiring remember?"

"Body may be saying yet but my spirit sure is fighting it Ben." Judy replied. "Every time I'm in a cruiser doing what I love? I just feel younger and so alive Ben. I miss pounding the streets every day! Chief's just don't have that much fun!"

"Well I just want to keep having fun in my retirement ok?! Please slow down Judy?!" Clawhauser begged.

"No need to slow down because we're here." Judy said as she stopped her cruiser and hopped out.

"Oh thank goodness." Clawhauser sighed. "I thought you'd mellow in old age?"

Judy turned around…."Ben? Do not call me old and don't call me cute."

"Reeeeowwww." Clawhauser replied with his claws out. "Dangerous bunny. Grrrrrr."

"I love you so much Ben." Judy replied as she ran up to the officers already on the scene. Officer Zorn (Female Cerbal Cat from chapter 15) and Officer Pascal (a Female Wolf) "What do we have?" Judy asked Zorn.

"Mister speed demon down there thought he could outrun our bubble gum machine. He clipped the median, went airborne, tore apart this guard rail and now he's "hanging around" Zorn said as she pointed downwards.

"Oh…..snit!" Judy yelped. The car (A two door red sports "pawus") was hanging only by the end of the metal guardrail that had spooled out like spaghetti after the car snagged it. It was off the elevated freeway and above the ground by 100 feet.

"Emergency services?" Judy asked.

"Tundra Town's EMT's are occupied on another call. We had to request help from Sahara but it's going to take some time and this porker doesn't have time to wait obviously." Zorn said. "Glad you have your rig chief because our cruiser doesn't have a tow winch."

Judy went back to her cruiser, popped the cargo door in the back and pulled out a pair of body harnesses. "Ok….since we can't wait, someone has to be lowered down to try and get him out of that car. Just what kind of mammal are we dealing with?"

Pascal replied. "One Finis Edward Porkton the number three spoiled brat from the Porkton department store family. A nice and plump pot belly pig."

As if on cue….Finis screamed…."WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU COPS DOING UP THERE? GROUP SEX?! GET ME OUT OF THIS CAR!"

"IF YOU DIDN'T TRY TO OUTRUN US ON A SNOW COVERED HIGH WAY YOU STUPID PORKER SON OF A…." Zorn snapped back.

Judy cut Zorn off…."Officer Zorn? We must remain professional despite the inherent stupidity of the suspect."

"Mammal of interest." Pascal noted.

"Ummm…..suspect." Judy replied. "Screw the political correctness, he's a suspect." Judy felt Zorn grabbing the harnesses. "And just what are you doing?" She asked Zorn.

"You are retiring." Zorn said with a smile. "Time for us youngsters to chalk up television interviews, movie rights, Paw Tube celebrity and be graced by Cesar Leo….oh feline goddess he is a hunk!"

"He is also married and I have more experience than you?" Judy snorted as she held tight to the harnesses.

Pascal grabbed the harnesses with a smile. "Chief Hopps? With all due respect? Officer Zorn is right. You're close to retirement, no need to risk your life, let Zorn do it? Besides...That porker is way to big for you to handle….no offense."

Clawhauser walked up to the group. "I have to agree Judy. Let the younger officers do the work. It's their time now."

Judy passed the harnesses to Zorn. "Alright…..But NO crazy chances Officer Zorn! If that…sigh….if that….."gentle mammal" gives you any lip? You have my permission to knock his lights out. I'll handle the winch up here."

Moments later….Zorn went over the edge of the elevated freeway attached to the winching cable from Judy's cruiser…

"How are you doing Zorn?" Judy asked.

"Just fine." Zorn replied. "Let me check on our suspect…..HEY FINIS?! THIS IS OFFICER ZORN! I'M COMING DOWN!"

"ABOUT DAMN TIME!" The pig yelped back. "WHAT WERE YOU DOING UP THERE, A STUPID CIRCLE JERK?"

Zorn replied. "LOOK MISTER PORKTON! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO TRIED TO OUTRUN OUR POLICE CAR AND ENDED UP LIKE THIS! NOW I ADVISE YOU TO SHUT UP AND REMAIN STILL OR YOU "WILL" BECOME CRUSHED PULLED PORK ON THAT STREET BELOW! UNDERSTAND ME?!" Zorn herd nothing back..."GOOD! YOU HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE AFTER ALL!"

"How much further?" Judy asked Zorn as she controlled the winch cable from her cruiser cab.

"You'll know I'm there when I slap some pork." Zorn snorted.

"I could take that so many ways." Judy replied shaking her head and giggling.

"I'm glad you're having fun Chief." Zorn said as she passed the car's rear bumper and carefully looked where the guard rail had caught the falling vehicle. "Chief? This thing's really precarious. It's hooked onto the rear axle but I don't know how long it will hold up."

"Just go carefully." Judy replied. "Hopefully he's not seriously injured. If we have to? We could try to hook the cable rig to the rear axle by the hook."

"Pretty dicey there." Zorn said as she came to a stop at the driver side door and saw the pot belly pig hung up in his seat belt…

"Finally?!" Finis oinked. "Well damn….took your sweet time didn't you officer?"

"You got some nerve to blitch after what you did Mister. You're lucky this guard rail caught you or you'd be strumming a harp someplace and I don't think it would be pet heaven." Zorn snorted.

Finis was holding himself back against his seat by his outstretched arms on the dash board. "Look officer….I just want to get out of this crazy mess ok? I'm sorry I was such a dumb hump if that will make you feel better?" Finis yelped.

"You sitting in a jail cell will be enough for me." Zoran said as she slowly pulled the driver door open..."Now….you be a good little piggy and pay attention? I don't want to have to hold you and your car….not a good idea. I'm going to cut your safety belt apart and get this harness on you but you must be absolutely quiet and absolutely still. Say yes if you understood that please?"

Finis nodded…."Yes…..yes…..yes…...now get me out of here will you?!"

"I'm working on it." Zorn replied as she extended her claws from her paws. "I promise not to give you "cat scratch fever"? Now...after I have you in a harness and cut you out of your seat belt...I will hook you up to my harness and this cable. When I count to three...I will pull and you will jump out of the car. More than likely? Your car will drop. I promise...you will not drop with it if you do as I tell you. Do you understand me Sir?"

"YES!" Finis yelped. "Will you stop stalling and just get me out of this?!"

"Are you injured in any way Sir?" Zorn asked.

"Just my pride. Now please? I'll do everything you ask ok? Just get me out of this car!"

"Amazing." Zoran snickered. "You try to outrun a police car, you go flying like Underdog, you just happen to get lucky having your car snag the guardrail, you're a hundred feet from becoming road pizza and now you're super compliant? You know Sir? If you'd just pulled over when we asked? You wouldn't be here right now."

Judy chirped in Zorn's ear..."You've picked up my bad habits. Jabbing the poor suspect like this? That's not professional at all Zorn."

"Cheif?" Zoran replied. "Blow it out your bunny hole? I'm ready to pull him out now."

Zorn reached into the car and grabbed hold of Finis. "Ok…..on three? You jump, I pull…..ready?"

"Please don't tell anyone I soiled my pants?" Finis begged.

"Hopefully it's solid and there's no one below us." Zorn replied with a toothy grin. "Here we go….one….two…...THREE!"

Zorn kicked away from the car as Finis jumped and the two of them flew out on the cable line as the "Pawus" car broke free of the guardrail and crashed on the street below!

"That wasn't so bad was it?" Zorn asked Finis..."Uh? Sir? You can un-dig your head from between my tits now? You're safe?"

Judy called on the radio. "Is he alright? Did you have fun? Looks like you had fun?"

"We're engaged to be married….shut up Chief and pull us up?!" Zorn cat growled as she pushed Finis away from her and made him dangle by the end of the cable as they were pulled onto the elevated roadway. Finis gave thanks to just about every gawd in Zootopia….

"Oh thank you! Oh thank you! Oh thank you!….(Sound of handcuffs)

"Huh?" Finis yelped as he felt the handcuffs wrapping around his wrists. "What the heck officer?! You don't need these! I said I was sorry! I was stupid and dumb alright?"

Zorn pushed Finis onto the concrete. "Shall we reflect together on your stupidity? It's going to take me hours just to fill out the first report sheet! I told you I'll feel better when your fat butt is in a jail and I meant it Sir! And don't try to pull the "My daddy is rich excuse"? please spare me that?"

Clawhauser watched as Zorn read Finis his rights then pushed him into the cruiser and slammed the door!

"Oh I like her." Clawhauser said as he leaned against Judy's cruiser. "She reminds me of you Judy? Only….with her? Saying she's "cute" would be like having a slap fight with a steak knife set and an angry badger and I'm not cut out for that sort of fun."

Judy ran up to Zorn before she climbed into her car..."Officer Zorn? How about you come over my house for dinner tonight if you're not busy?"

"I'd like that?" Zorn replied. "Bring a guest? My sweat heart Alfred would be delighted to meet you and your husband?"

"Sure! Bring him too!" Judy said with a smile. "Make it 6pm?"

"6pm it is." Zoran replied with a paw wave. "Thanks for the invitation Chief. We'll see you tonight then.

Will and Gilly's Apartment

Sahara Square

4pm 22 August 2040

Chuck came into the apartment to find Bobby and Will sitting in the living room with note books in their paws and talking to each other over coffee…

"How was this morning?" Chuck asked.

"I think she's a real deal." Will replied. "But she's the only one. We need second confirmation, even she isn't too confident of what she saw or what she heard but I think….and I think Bobby's confident in this? There is something going on that's a big red "WTF"

"So the idea is to engineer Miss Piggy to "dime drop" as a sort of "cloaked telegraph issue" to peak the female interest?

"Who else to stir the snit pot than a few mothers who's cubs and kittens are wearing the uniform?" Will said. "It's been effective for us so far. So how's your preparations for the home coming demonstration?" Will asked Chuck.

"Gazelle is on board." Chuck replied. "She's going to cut a new single album too. Very pro-service mammal yet tough anti-war. The Lion's Club has signed on. The fraternal order of Cougars signed on. However?…."

Will replied…."However?"

"Do you have any worries of pissing off the mob?" Chuck asked.

"The mob?" Will replied. "Why would I piss off the Mafia?"

Chuck scratched his head…."Let's just say….oh….a certain "Shew daddy" with a lot of "special interests" might feel a little jilted that a "peacenick" is starting to affect business he owns? Like the Tundra Town shipyard? War is after all a good way to make money and grease the tail holes of politicians and influential mammals?"

Will replied. "And I know some of those Polar Bears who work for Lanzoni have kids in uniform or getting close to service age? How would they feel if Lanzoni was making good money while their cubs got killed in a war we could have prevented? I bet you Lanzoni wouldn't last long. I'm not trying to take away his business? I want nothing to do with him and I don't think he'll waste his time with what we're trying to do when there are more than enough things to occupy his mind."

Chuck put his paws up. "I'm just putting the warning out there for you to chew on. Other than that? I am all for you talking to Piggy if by a sly way it shuts down anything illegal that some in the military or the government might be doing."

Will nodded and raised a paw finger…."I do have one thing to say? I'm going to propose to Gilly when he gets home. We're gonna get married."

Bobby and Chuck clapped their paws..."That's awesome!" Bobby said. "Glad for both of you. But how's your parents going to handle that Will? I mean...a wolf and a bunny and both gay males?"

"Well they know I'm gay." Will replied. "They…..they just don't know I have a love interest and they don't know I'm thinking of being "unnaturally" married. To be honest? I'm not worried because they'll turn to lavish attention on my younger brother Alex and he'll become the "family extender heir apparent" which is what I want…..I…..hope he does. Uh…..long story there."

Bobby patted Will on the shoulder…."Let me and my bough plan the party?"

"I dunno about a big "ta do" Bobby." Will said. "I have to talk to Gill first? He might want it short, simple and private. Just a small paw full of witnesses and a little after party."

"Until then guys?" Chuck said. "We should keep our minds on meeting Miss Piggy and addressing this "spy thing"…..if it really is what Whitney says it is.

The Gray family home

Rain Forest District

4pm 22 August 2040

"Thop!"….."Thop!""Thop!""Thop!""Thop!" The metal BB's punched through the target sheet Alex had set up at the other end of the yard as Kimba (White Lion Cub, Son of the Mayor) let go a few shots.

"You're pretty good." Alex said as he stood with his arms crossed.

"Pretty good?!" Kimba snorted. "I'm all over the bulls eye and you call it pretty good? Are you going to be playing in the paint ball tournament this weekend?"

"Not this one." Alex replied. "I'm going to spend the weekend at the Marine base in Savana camping on the operations range and learning map navigation."

"You are so ate up." Kimba said snickering.

"I want to realize my dream." Alex replied. "I want to be a Marine."

Kimba replied with a smile. "Is it for the Marines or is it to tell yourself that you got a prick and love pussy?"

"Sometimes Kimba? You can be a real dick." Alex snorted as he walked across the yard to look at the target.

"No..." Kimba replied with a raised paw finger. "I am a cat and you are a dog. Of course I'm going to needle you Alex...it's in our blood to be rivals and point out flaws."

"Oh?" Alex yelped. "Flaws? Like you still pee your bed?"

"I can't help my poor water retention." Kimba replied. "Nor the fact that my father puts massive pressure on me all the time as the only other male in the house. He's badgering me again about "prep school" you know? All that "culture" and "proper speaking and walking" aka….nose so far up my ass that I walk like a gay mammal on hot coals with a high voice?"

"And you said "no" right?" Alex said as he replaced the target paper.

"Absolutely no." Kimba snorted. "I want to go to Zootopia University for four years to party, get drunk and break the school record for flucking female cats before I become a miserable cog in the machine that's a reputable law firm. Did I ever tell you I want to be a lawyer?"

Alex snickered back and said as Kimba said…."Lawyers….the only 24 hour profession where the sex never ends because everyone gets flucked!" The two Mid-lings laughed as they walked back to their bb guns…

"So? Did you do it yet?" Kimba asked.

"Do what?" Alex replied.

"Tina? Hello? The white female wolf in civics who thinks you are the drool cup? The one you can smell the pussy drippings from like twenty miles?" Kimba asked.

"For the son of a guy like Cesar? You have a raunchy maw." Alex snorted. "I should bite your tail for saying things like that Kimba…..really?"

"Oh like I can be so proper every second of the day?" Kimba snorted back. "Stop evading the question? Did you call her? And "if" she was in her four legged form and naked? Could you resist not wanting to get your tongue deep in that? She is smitten with you! She is like the third most popular female wolf in school and where are you? "Jacking it" to Marine combat videos….you fricken lost cause, Call her dummy!" Kimba pounded his paw fist on Alex's head. "CALL HER!"

Alex turned around, snatched Kimba by an arm, twisted his body off his feet and went four legged to clamp his maw over the white lion mid-ling's throat! "Oh from here I could so tear out your voice box." Alex snared.

Kimba petted him…."While you're at it? Kiss me?"

Alex stood up and snorted…."Hmph! Rather tongue the butt hole of an elephant. It would taste better. "Bleck" when did you last get a grooming? You stink of litter and snit."

"And you stink like three day old wet dog." Kimba huffed as he sat up. "When are you going to call her?"

"I will all right! Damn….you cats get fixated about everything until you burn holes in things, you know that?" Alex pulled out a piece of rope from his back pocket and dangled it in front of Kimba…."Wow….nice rope huh? You want this Kimba? Wanna bat at the nice strange rope?"

Kimba started to claw at the rope till he shook his head…."Oh fluck you!"

Alex giggled…."Ok….ok…..I will call her tonight when I get home ok? I promise you."

"Oh?" Kimba said. "My father would like to talk to your brother Will some time when he's free?"

"What about?" Alex asked. "Is he in any trouble?"

"Just wants to praise him for what he's doing." Kimba replied. "Your brother's organizing a big welcome home for the fleet."

"He'd do that." Alex said waving a paw. "I knew my brother was planning something like that. Wants to make sure everyone understands he's pro military and not a complete pussy like I've heard some jerks calling him. In fact? I'm going to go to police headquarters and request Will has an officer with him when he's out on the town."

"Threats?" Kimba asked.

"Some mammals have been bravely vocal...calling Will a traitor, a pussy, a cave dwelling little faggot and some real nasty stuff. It might not phase Will but it pisses me off. I don't want some ignorant jerk getting a chance to throw a fist, a brick or worse. As much to keep my uncle Chance from getting himself into a mess because he'll maul a stupid bastard without a care." Alex said as he stood loading and cocking his BB gun. "I might even fill out a request to public carry my pistol….though my parents will fricken flip their gourds." Alex said as he took aim at the target with his BB rifle.

"Well…..just don't get stupid?" Kimba said with a tinge of worry. "I would hate to see you get yourself in trouble for "Lone Ranger Rick'n" over some dumb tails' stupid gums."

"Thop!""Thop!" "I'm not looking for any trouble." Alex replied. "I want to prevent it from starting..."Thop!""Thop!"..."That's all."

Little Paradise Park

Small Mundy Island, The Outbacks

5pm 22 August 2040

"WOOOOOOOOOO!" Tanya whooped with excitement as the roller coaster went into a steep dive on its' tallest hump and flew through a series of tight twisting 360 rolls!

"SNIT!" Myler yelped. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU ALBERT! WHAT CLASS OF RABIES MADE YOU CHOSE THIS!" Myler screamed as they rolled through the 360 corkscrew track and climbed skyward towards another drop!

"YOU SAID YOU LOVED THE THRILL!" Albert yelped. "ARE YOU LOVING THE THRILL "MY MY"?!

"MY PANTS ARE SOAKED THANKS TO YOU!" Myler screamed as the coaster flew down another steep drop and rolled inverted with the ground a mere mouse foot from giving Myler a close fur cut on his head! "OH SNIT!" Myler snapped as he hugged Tanya tight!

"My hero." Tanya said with a smile as she petted Myler's head till they came to a stop. "You can stop crushing me like a drink can now Myler?" Tanya asked.

Albert calmly unbuckled himself from the coaster car and stepped out. "I'm sorry "My My"...I didn't know it was going to be that exciting."

"Exciting?" Myler replied with his paws on his hips. "Exciting? I don't see you dripping from the "excitement" do I?"

"Well you're not wet?" Albert replied. "You're wet with perspiration but other than that? You're fine."

Myler gasped…."He's insane. He's so smart? He's insane. He almost kills me on a crazy carnival ride and yet? Totally emotionless about the whole thing."

"Geniuses never get emotional." Tanya said as she grabbed Myler and Albert's paws…."So? Where net?"

"A slow….gentle...peaceful boat ride." Myler huffed. "Gentle and peaceful there….Albert?"

"Alright "My My" gentle and peaceful it is." Albert replied with a paw wave. "But first? Would our beautiful companion like an ice cream, a beverage or something else to nibble on? And no…..nothing erotic implied."

"A salad would be nice." Tanya replied. "No erotics implied."

They all laughed as they walked to a nearby restaurant to eat and soon were all eating from a very large salad that took up the whole table…

"So how long do you two intend to stay in the Navy?" Tanya asked.

"Oh….maybe eight or more years." Albert replied. "Enough time to get the training, education and some college study. I hope you're not going to abandon your archaeology study because of us?"

"Oh no..." Tanya replied. "I intend to stay with it but...whatever you two pursue? I want to be in on it. I can already tell you're both super ambitious and going places."

"She wants to ride hitch and I don't mind." Myler said as he nibbled on a tomato. "Look...I know with our kind Polygamy's not really a big thing but...what would your father and mother really say about the three of us?"

"They won't say a thing because all they'll see is a professional relationship. Now my brother Fival? He might get a little hot but he's younger than me and sort of an immature brat so I'm not worried. Anyway? My father's always looking to marry me off to some well connected mouse's spoiled brat who I would absolutely hate and probably slug in the snoot on day one. Best I chose who I want to be with and you two are definitely choice."

Albert sat smiling..."She likes the combination."

"What I want to know though? Is if there will be a war. I've been here in the Outback for six months studying ancient Minotian fox culture and I've seen the Kzinti ships off the coast. They are interested in the Outbacks for some reason, I think it's the mineral mines. That's why the Navy's here isn't it?"

Myler looked at Albert…."We?….we can't say too much. We have to watch who we tell things too but if you want our honest opinion? Yeah….it's coming, it's been coming for some time and if it doesn't come in the next year? We'll be shocked because the Kzinti keep pressing their luck."

Albert nodded in agreement…."No one in Zootopia wants war. No one. The anti-war feeling's always been strong in our society so if it comes? It's going to come from the Kzinti and I'm not sure what will happen after they hit first. I hope they don't get that stupid but who's to say?"

Tanya sighed…."I hope we're thinking of moving Little Rodentia or at least putting in an underground shelter for the population."

Myler petted Tanya on the shoulder…."Come on? Let's not sit here and put ourselves into a depression ok? Big salad, two absolutely gorgeous males, a beauty of a female and a whole amusement park...why the hell should we sit here depressed?"

Tanya smiled…."I like him...of course I love you two Albert, don't feel jilted ok?"

"I promise I won't "lemming" myself." Albert said as he waved his fork around.

Executive residence of the Mayor

Downtown Zootopia

5pm 22 August 2040

Cesar's secretary came into the living room…."Mister Secretary? Admiral? General? Would you please come in now? The Mayor is ready." She said as she gestured Baghira, Admiral DonCarnage and the new incoming Marine Corps Commandant, General Bofor Phelps (a Rhino) into Leo's office…

"Welcome gentle-mammals. General Phelps, my congratulations on your appointment." Cesar said.

"Thank you….your honor." Phelps replied.

"So...General Bugs relayed some information about the Outbacks and you all wanted to wait to tell me in mammal...I would guess then that we are dealing with a very dicey situation?"

"As much as the General's opinion described it Sir." Baghira replied. "The Kzinti have been making some aggressive demonstrations, more than the Governor let on in our conversation with himmonths ago. He feared then that if he exposed everything...we would over-react and fall into a Kzinti bush-wack. The Kzinti have been operating what can best be described as an amphibious task force close enough to the Outbacks to cause pee to flow. Descriptions of some of the ships involved seem to show the Kzinti have a larger and more formidable naval force than we believed, a few of their warships are larger than our destroyers. It is General Bugs' opinion that the Kzinti very much desire to invade and occupy the Outbacks and clearly...they could be well entrenched before we could respond."

Cesar brooded over the information. "You also said Baggy that you talked to our young wolf friend Morty today?"

"Yes Sir." Baghira replied. "He came to me this afternoon with some very sobering stuff. He says that according to our Kzinti guest...there's no further use in trying to send overtures of peace. He says it's time you went on television and radio to state unequivocally and bluntly to the Kzinti that any actions against the Outbacks or any further reckless actions on the part of the Kzinti military...will be met with the most severe consequences. We should….I believe and the chiefs with me here agree...we should prepare for conscription and mobilization."

"Your saying I should start a draft?" Cesar moaned. "You're saying I should go on the airwaves and say…."Screw peace...you so much as lift a paw finger and we'll blow you to kingdom come and then tell all the mammals of Zootopia that we're going to start a draft. That's what you want me to do?"

General Phelps raised a hand…."Mister Mayor...the Kzinti simply have no desire for negotiation, diplomacy or peace. General Bugs says that the Governor of the Outbacks will call the Parliament into session tomorrow to ask approval for the basing of two battalions of Recon Marine otters and the per-deployment of ponkis weapons cashes all over the Islands. We will not be able to stop a Kzinti invasion, but we can sure as hell make an occupation bloody for them. To do that? We must start moving….now."

Cesar shook his head. "I will not give up trying to make them see reason. We can't give up on our values, our determination to strive for peace."

"Sir?" General Phelps replied. "Further attempts at peace are useless. The Kzinti are old traditional predators as much as we can understand them, to them our society of tolerance, inclusion and love between predator and prey is an abomination, a cancer that needs to be wiped off the map….everyone knows that fact. If they fail to drive us from our main food source of fish, they will come after us. My I speak freely Mister Mayor?"

"I'm not stopping you General." Cesar replied.

"Sir?" Phelps said. "Our very laws are hampering our ability to know what we are really facing. We won't put our drones to good use, we refuse to use espionage, we won't allow paws on the ground near the Kzinti home islands, we won't even allow our satellites to take photos of Kzin. Every thing our laws say is forbidden and illegal to use to defend our society is an advantage to our enemy and gawd damn it the Kzinti are the enemy and have been so for the past 80 years! We are in a damned Cold War that could turn super hot, real damn quick. Even that "visitor" we keep shut up in a safe house admits that fact. We can't afford to maintain a weak front while the back side is supported by Popsicle sticks."

Cesar raised a paw…."Don't get too emotional General..." Cesar sat back in his chair and brooded…."Gentle Mammals…..my good friends….how do we deal with the Outbacks? What happens if I do go on the airwaves and I announce our intentions to move troops and equipment to the Outbacks? What happens if the Kzinti decide to move then? It is my intention my friends….to do everything possible still to avert war. I will not go into details about the Outbacks...I will inform the city counsel that will are going forth with the deployment of specialist otters and weapons pods. That we will do….we have been requested by our friends and for them….we shall do what they request. I will speak to the City tomorrow evening and I suppose….to the Kzinti as well."

Cesar turned to General Phelps…."General? You have my authorization to proceed with deployments. I want a time line of completion as soon as you can finalize it. I of course have the last word...if I say turn about and come home? You will comply with my orders. Do we have an understanding?"

General Phelps replied. We do Mister Mayor. Absolutely."

Cesar rubbed his paw over his desk. "I think we should meet again soon….perhaps noon tomorrow so we can go over the speech. If any of you are praying mammals? I hope tonight you'll pray like your hair is on fire because I feel about as hot as I ever felt in my whole life right now….it would seem that the issue of peace or war is slipping from our paws and into the hand of all of Zootopia's parent deities. I just hope they're as much on the side of peace as I am. As I am sure….all of you are." Cesar nodded his head for a moment..."Thank you gentle-mammals and hopefully you can all sleep tonight."

the Paradise Cove Hotel

Seal Island in the Outbacks

7pm 22 August 2040

Once again they floated above the multi-colored pastels between the khaki sandy bottom and the coral garden splendor that sat around them as they hugged each other and took turns giving each other faces of love and desire. Of course they couldn't spent time kissing because Jackson was wearing the fish bowl breathing sphere over his head and Darla wore a SCUBA rig with a mouth piece but their sign language spoke enough for them…

Jackson didn't care about the silly game between them, so what if he didn't get laid the whole vacation? So what? As his father told him…."Don't be so absorbed with "scoring" like so many in your generation seem to care about these days. Show her how much you love her for what she is...not what's between her furry legs. And if you screw up? Don't think your old dad might not kick the snit out of you. She's a gift Jackie, don't lose her to your penis."

"No…." Jackson thought to himself. "Of course I wouldn't think of Darla like that Dad...I know better than that."

Jackson floated upright and cupped Darla's head in his paws. He air kissed her from inside his diving helmet and told her how much he loved her with a circular fist rub over his chest. She decided to grab him by the paw and pull him behind her up from the coral reef to some mammal-made underwater caves built into the hotel's facade.

"Splash!" Darla leaped from the water and landed with a flop on the edge of the enclosure as Jackson broke the surface and pulled his helmet off..."Oh this is cool!" Jackson yelped as he grabbed hold of the landing inside the cave and crawled out of the water. "I can't broach water like you Dar."

"It's your feet and paws." Darla remarked as she held out her paw..."But they've never been your big selling points….except in log rolls."

Jackson unashamed of his own nakedness wrapped his arms around Darla and laid her gently across his lap. He cradled her head in one arm while playing with her lips and stroking a paw finger over her teeth..."You have a sweet set of K-9 teeth….did I ever tell you that?"

Darla giggled..."This whole time together will be about my teeth?"

"No…." Jackson returned. "It will be about how beautiful you are and how crazy you make me love you. So? Where would you want to love Dar? A house and a pool? A house and a lake? A house and a river? A house, a pond and a water fall? I like the last one."

Darla smiled..."doesn't have to be about any water at all. Not a big house? Just big enough for maybe a litter of pups….say…..two or three."

Jackson slowly petted Darla's blonde head tuft…."You still want kids?"

"Don't you?" Darla replied. "You're worried aren't you?"

"Well?" Jackson replied…."I am considered….I dunno…..sort of rodentian and you are a Ferret-tation….gnah! I'm going to make you upset..."

Darla rubbed Jackson's snoot. "The only way you can make me upset is if you don't talk to me. Ok? So we'e a lot like your parents in biology but that didn't stop them from having you? And both of us are the same size...I mean your father compared to your mother?"

"Don't hit me with the graphics?" Jackson said as he laid down and allowed Darla to climb on top of him..

Darla laid on Jackson's chest and played with his lips..."There's always options Jackie? Adoption? Surrogate mothers? Tests to see if we could produce? I know for sure I could carry without problems..."

"There's still a big risk Dar." Jackson said with a sigh. "But...I can't deny it. I want a child, you want a child….

"I want "your" child." Darla said softly as she gave Jackson a kiss…."Your child. My child….all fire red fur, big floppy ears, otter tail and angry female of her."

"I knew you'd tend towards a female." Jackson said as he scratched Darla's nose. "I wouldn't mind a daughter. I'd spoil her rotten, my mother would smother her and she'd turn out to be a "Pawsney" princess. Ooooo….that wouldn't end well. On second thought? You'd raise her. I'll just enjoy stinky diaper duty."

Darla giggled as she rested her head on Jackson's chest..."We're a weird couple aren't we?"

"Nope." Jackson replied. "No more than my parents. I actually wish I was born with a fox tail and not a cotton tail but my Dad always says..."Son? You are so fortunate not to be saddled down with tail envy. You always feel like your cheating on someone if you don't give enough attention to both but?….you can not deny the snuggle factor of a sweet bushy tail."

"Our baby would look bizarre." Darla said as she hugged Jackson tightly.

"Between you, me and my parents? She'd run through a brick wall, swim a hundred miles, kick the snit out of bad guys and have time left over to preen her enormous fox tail." Jackson said smiling. "I don't care what he or she looks like. As long as they tun out successful, confident and wonderful. That's what I want. Of course they should look like their mother because she's drop damn gorgeous."

"You always know the right words to say don't you?" Darla said softly as she played with Jackson's ears.

"I never want to be on your bad side." Jackson replied. "Otters can get so pissy sometimes. But seriously? What kind of house do you want?"

Darla thought for a moment…."A small house in rain forest by a river or a pond. Unless you don't want to live there?"

"I'll be comfortable anywhere….but not downtown. That's why I want my parents to sell that house and go to Aiden like my Dad wants." Jackson said as he laid flat and looked up at the roof of the artificial cave.

Darla moved so she could look down at Jackson's face..."You're afraid that if they don't move fast enough? They won't be able to sell the house?"

Jackson sighed and nodded..."They're right in ground zero and with my Dad growing worse and worse health wise? If something should happen….my mother won't leave him, they'll be trapped." Jackson sighed…."Damn it...I ruined our vacation."

Darla placed her paws on Jackson's cheeks..."No you didn't. Like I said...if you'd kept these feelings all bottled up? I probably would get a little pissy. We'll figure out a back up plan, find some one to take them in if things start looking bad."

Jackson smiled a little as he rubbed Darla's chin…"Sorry for being a little worry wart."

"Shows how deeply caring you are." Darla replied. "One of your best qualities I might add. Now? Do we stay in here all night? You've got about twenty minutes of air in your tanks for a slow swim back inside the hotel, there's a nice little night club and I'm gain for some dancing?"

Jackson chuckled…"One of your best qualities…..dancing."

Darla smirked back. "Could go to the hotel pool and get a log thrown in there? Spend the night beating you up?"

Jackson giggled…."Nothing beats rough log sex?"

MCRD Savanna

Quanaco Fleet Marine Base

Combat training range

7pm 22 August 2040

Owen looked down into the small slit trench and chuckled…."Awwww….don't they look cute?"

"Momma always said they came out paw in paw." Powen said as he stood cradling his rifle. "There's never one without the other."

Ori smiled..."Sure would hate to disturb the tender moment."

In the trench, Nori was spooning Dori...his arms wrapped around his brother with his head affectionately resting on Dori's shoulder. There was nothing incestuous about the pairing, Dori and Nori had always been close bonded to each other since they were kittens. Nori being the biggest always looked out for Dori, the most good natured and less offensive of the brothers, who was never allowed to get into any trouble. Nori was always Dori's "Bear Bear" which the bigger brother never minded.

"Ori? Wake em up?" Owen snorted. "It's already five minutes past late."

Ori reached into the trench and patted Dori on the head…."Dori? Dori? Time to wake up."

Dori stirred and reached back to tweek Nori's nose..."Bear Bear? Time to get up."

"Mmmf…." Nori responded sleepishly and looked up to see Owen, Powen and Ori looking down at him and Dori…."Do you all mind? We're having a private moment here?" Nori snorted as he rubbed his eyes.

The brothers all chuckled as Nori and Dori sat up and Dori passed two vanilla waffers to his brother..."Here's your spinach Popeye."

Nori took a moment to saver the addictive taste then patted Dori on his head. "Up and at em "Snugs"." Nori said to Dori. "So what's the sit rep Owen?" Nori asked as and Dori climbed out of the trench and huddled with the other three…

"We have two days to get back to MCRD through the training range." Owen replied. "The company has been scatter dropped all over the place and we have to find the bits and pieces and form up a fight able combat unit along the way. Enemy patrols will be all over the place as well as dug in troops. We avoid if possible, attack and destroy if need be."

Owen pulled out an armored combat tablet from his backpack and swiped it open. "We have two big advantages going for us as a group….our sight and our ears. Wear your floppy caps and keep your ears perked. No joking around, no loud talking, no excessive bull snit. Take this whole thing seriously…...Ori?"

"I'm not gonna kid around!" Ori snapped.

"Better not." Nori warned. "My paw won't be smacking your ass." The big rabbit warned.

Owen pointed to himself…."I'll have point. "Pow, Pow's" our reach out shooter. Dori, You have the left flank cover. Nori, Right flank cover. Ori, rear cover. Sneaking around should not be anything new for us, just like back home stealing pies from old Gideon Gray. Stay alert, cover each other's backs."

Ori raised his paw..."Cept you always threw me behind you to get my but spanked."

"If this were real combat and we threw you behind us? You'd be dead." Powen replied. "And then Momma would murder us."

Owen waved a paw…"Let's be serious now? If anyone sees or hears anything? Don't thump out with your foot. Three pats on the head in front or behind. Direction by point, numbers we're facing by flipping fingers. If we can avoid contact? We do it. If we can't? We show them what a bunch of pissed off Hopps can do to their butts."

Nori turned to Dori..."You? Stay on my tail. You understand me?" The bigger rabbit said as he patted Dori's chest..."Stay….with…...me."

Owen showed Powen the map on the combat tablet..."Best guess "Pow Pow"? Which way do we go?"

Powen studied the map. "The rough way is always the best way. There's this dry river wadi trench to our left that trails North to North East? Ah…..no. That's where some of the company might end up and they'll end up dead. We go a mile to the right and the land slopes upwards then grades down all the way to the camp. It would give us the advantage of higher ground against any opforce and it has a lot of ground scrub and cover. I suspect that's where Privates Druchi and Foreman will go with anyone they have with them."

"You've been planning ahead of time." Owen snorted. "You cheater."

"And you expected less?" Powen replied. Druchi and Foreman were the next best in navigation, map and combat field class so if we don't bump into them? I'll be shocked." Powen looked at the time on the pad….1930 (7:30pm)….we better hoof it fast. Should make it to the crest by 2100 (9pm).

Owen put his paw out…."Ok brothers, tight up time."

The others locked paw fingers with Owen. "Smelling pies through the stubble! time for us to cause some trouble! RAH!" The Hopps brothers yelped together and soon they were walking in a combat line one after the other with Owen in the lead, ears perked strait up and his nose twitching at every strange scent. The objective was simple...get to the front gate of MCRD without getting "killed".

End of Chapter 29