A/N - I'm starting a new section in the story today. It will last for the next 16 chapters.

As always the standard disclaimer applies: I do not own the Happy Tree Friends; they are the property of Mondo Media. In addition the character of Fresko the Feline belongs to Deviant Art user Yoshi Lord. I own only my own characters and this story.

Now here's chapter 52:

52 – PREPARATIONS FOR A TRANSFER

"Let's get off the roof and go get some breakfast" said Barry, "working out always makes me hungry." Fresko agreed and so the two exited the roof and went down toward the apartment where Barry lived under Dane's guardianship. Just as they were arriving at the front door Cuddles came hurrying towards them.

"There you are Captain" said Cuddles. One look was all Fresko needed.

"You've finished the receiver station" said Fresko. Cuddles nodded.

"Yes" said Cuddles, sounding exhausted. "We worked all through the night to get the installing done and the final tests made. Everything's ready for the transfer."

"Good" said Barry, "where's Sniffles?"

"Said he was going to sleep for several hours and was not to be disturbed before three o'clock at earliest" said Cuddles, "I wish I could do the same."

"You probably can" said Barry, "the Council has to approve the plans. If Sniffles didn't call a meeting before going to sleep (and he didn't or I would have heard about it) then I'll call one myself for five this afternoon so we can finalize everything. Sniffles should be plenty rested by then, and so should you."

Barry did exactly as he said, and at five that afternoon the Council met to discuss the imminent prisoner transfer. Cuddles had been invited to the meeting to discuss the details and now he stood before them and explained how it would work.

"We figured" said Cuddles, "that it would be best to send the prisoners through two at time so as to cut down on the amount of time it all takes, yet at the same time not send too many people through at once. There will have be a lapse time of about 20 seconds between the time one pair actually clears the receiving pad before the next pair can come through. That means an average of 6 prisoners a minute. So everything going well we should have the transfer completed in about 3 hours."

"We've set the receiver station up on the city base level right by the entrance to the camp" said Sniffles, "as soon as the prisoners arrive they go straight into a secured area."

"Even so" said Flippy, "I've ordered a large contingent of soldiers to be standing by. There will be a pair of soldiers waiting to meet each pair of prisoners that comes through the transport. They will take the prisoners directly into the camp, but not immediately to the main part of it."

"That's right" said Tony Ride, "I want a chance to debrief all of those prisoners before they join the main population. We've had a section of the camp cordoned off specifically for these new prisoners. They will not be allowed to interact with the main population until I'm satisfied both that there is no new information they can give us, and that they pose no danger of stirring up trouble once they're placed with the rest of the population. The last thing we need is a prison riot."

"I doubt there's much risk of that" said Toothy, "we've always made a point of treating our prisoners well."

"Too well I believe" said Mayor King, "these are people who've tried to destroy us, yet we treat them like guests."

"You make the prison sound like a hotel" growled Virgil, "I assure you it is not."

"Yet we house them comfortably and feed them well" said the Mayor, "The Marauders wouldn't do that for any of us."

"We're not them" said Dane, "thank goodness."

"I'm not so sure that's as good a thing as you think" said the Mayor, "despite everything we've still never won this war, and this prison camp is a potential weak spot. What if some Marauders gained control of it somehow and turned all of the prisoners loose? Instant attack force."

"Do you really think that's that likely to happen?" asked Kevin.

"Just a short time ago" returned the Mayor, "we caught some saboteurs trying to destroy the city flight system. For all of our sakes that must never happen again."

"What would you suggest?" asked Splendid, "kill all of the prisoners?"

"I know none of you like to hear it" said the Mayor, "but there may come a time when, in order to survive, we'll have to do just that. By the way Splendid, how many prisoners do you think you could take out at once with your heat ray eyes?"

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response!" exclaimed Splendid, "don't ever ask me that question again!"

"If the situation should arise – " Mayor King said, but Tony Ride hastily cut her off.

"We can't deal with "what ifs" and "might be" situations right now" he said, "we have enough on our agenda as it is. If worst comes to worst we'll deal with it then, but I see no reason to stir up more trouble among ourselves by insisting on anticipating such scenarios. Let's be rational about these things."

"I second that" said Barry. The Mayor said nothing but looked pensive, a fact which was not lost on the other Council members. There was an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the Mayor drumming her fingers on the Council table.

"I think our arrangements are finished" Tony Ride said at last, "if there are no objections I would propose beginning transport tomorrow morning, say around 10 AM."

"Fine" said Flippy, "the soldiers will be ready."

"Better make them human soldiers" said Dane, "these prisoners are probably tired of animals and might be more amenable to debriefing if they deal with humans or A.I.s as soon as they get here."

"Agreed" said Tony Ride, "although it probably won't make that much difference. They'll hate us regardless of whether we're human, animal, or A.I."

"Yes" said the Mayor, "they'll hate us. Let's make sure they don't get to act on that hate."

(To Be Continued)

A/N - And that's that. Please leave me some feedback before you leave. Cheers!