Chapter 7 - Destruction
Tab Lazenby's POV
I was sitting in my office, when the air raid siren blared. I jumped to my paws in surprise, "this hasn't happened in decades!", an agent outside my door exclaimed, as they ran by my office.
"Do you think D.O.G.S. has become more bold?!", another agent asked, shouting over the siren.
"This isn't like Director Lou", I said, as I placed a video call to his office. A few seconds later, Director Lou's face appeared, "Tab?", he asked, "what are you calling me for?".
"Why are you attacking M.E.O.W.S.?", I asked, "we haven't done this kind of thing since we started doing more covert operations from fear of the humans discovering us".
Suddenly, the whole building shook as a huge explosion was heard outside, "I'm not attacking you, Tab", Director Lou said, "why would you accuse me of that?".
"My agency is being attacked like it's a military base!", I snapped, "the only reason anyone would do something like this is if we were at war and D.O.G.S. is the only ones we're at war with!".
The building shook again from a second explosion, this time dust fell from the ceiling. "They're targeting our generators!", an agent shouted.
"If you're not the ones attacking us, then who is it?!", I shouted.
"I don't know, but I'll-", Director Lou said, but he was cut off when the power went out after a third explosion. I ran out of my office just as an agent ran up to me, "we've lost power over the entire facility, Director", he said, "what are we supposed to do?".
"Do we have any weapons left?", I asked.
The agent shook his head, "all of our defensive systems our down, Director", he said, just as more powerful explosions were felt, "whoever they are, they knew exactly where to hit us".
"What about any weapons that don't run on electricity?", I asked, "battery-powered, or something, I don't care if we have to do things old-fashioned".
"According to our records, we got rid of those shortly after the human's Cold War ended", the agent answered, "we didn't think we would have a need for them again".
"How long until the backup generators kick in?", I asked.
"Two and a half minutes, Director", the agent answered.
"Okay, then we need to hold out for-", I started, but suddenly the wall nearby exploded and sent us flying.
A FEW MINUTES EARLIER
Director Lou's POV
My computer beeped from an incoming video call and Tab Lazenby's face appeared and I could hear a siren in the background, "Tab?", I asked, "what are you calling me for?".
"Why are you attacking M.E.O.W.S.?", Tab Lazenby asked, "we haven't done this kind of thing for centuries from fear of the humans discovering us".
I heard an explosion from his side and I saw the building shake, "I'm not attacking you, Tab", I said, "why would you accuse me of that?".
"My agency is being attacked like it's a military base!", Tab Lazenby snapped, "the only reason anyone would do something like this is if we were at war and D.O.G.S. is the only ones we're at war with!".
I saw the building shake again, as another explosion went off, and I saw dust fall from the ceiling. "They're targeting our generators!", an agent shouted in the background.
"If you're not the ones attacking us, then who is it?!", Tab Lazenby shouted.
"I don't know, but I'll-", I said, but suddenly another explosion was heard and there was just static. "Tab?", I asked, as I hit a few buttons, "Tab!".
There was still static and I knew what I had to do. I tapped my collar, "Butch, Diggs", I said, clearly.
My collar beeped and I knew that Butch's and Diggs' collars beeped as well, notifying them of an emergency. After a few minutes, they came running into my office, "what is it, Director?", Diggs asked, "what's the emergency?".
"M.E.O.W.S. is being attacked", I answered, making them widen their eyes in surprise.
Tab Lazenby's POV
The wall nearby exploded, sending us flying and we both landed on the floor just as the roof collapsed on top of us. I attempted to lift the piece of roofing off of us, but I quickly found it was too heavy. After a few more failed attempts, another explosion shook the building, shifting the roofing on us enough that I was able to squeeze out from underneath. I went over to the agent to see if he was okay and found his fur covered in blood. Placing my paw on his neck, I checked his pulse and felt nothing, "damn", I muttered.
An explosion hit somewhere below where I was and the wall beside me fell, revealing half the building already destroyed. The sun was just peaking over the horizon and I was able to see wolves moving around the compound and M.E.O.W.S. agents fighting them off, but mostly trying to escape the onslaught. A wolf tossed a grenade below me and what was left of the floor I was standing on collapsed after it exploded. I fell and landed on the outside ground with a thud, "well, well, well", a voice said, "if it isn't the Director of M.E.O.W.S.".
I stood up with a groan and saw a light gray Siberian Husky standing a few feet away from where I was. "Your facility is destroyed, most of your agents already dead", the husky taunted, "what are you going to do now?".
"Who are you?", I asked.
"I am someone who believes that we should make the world a better place for canines everywhere", the husky said, "and the name's Shadow".
I widened my eyes, "Shadow…", I muttered, "you're the one that stole D.O.G.S.'s files".
Shadow smiled menacingly, "that I am", he replied, then missiles were fired up from behind him and flew over our heads into the remainder of the M.E.O.W.S. facility. The rest of the building collapsed, sending a huge cloud of dust over the entire area. I coughed, as the dust settled, then I saw Shadow motion to a few wolves and they surrounded me. They prepared to finish me off, but before I could resign myself to my fate, a white long-haired cat and another hairless cat charged at one of the wolves. He was taken by surprise and went down easily, "come on, Tab!", the hairless cat shouted.
I recognized her as Kitty Galore, which took me by surprise, "come on!", she shouted, "we don't have time to sit around!".
The wolves had shaken off their shock and were slowly approaching me. I ran with Kitty Galore away from the compound and the white long-haired cat joined us.
A FEW MINUTES EARLIER
Mr. Tinkles' POV
Kitty Galore and I were back in our cell after helping that husky, Skye, escape a couple hours ago, only for her to betray us. We heard a siren blare across the compound, "what is that?!", I asked, shouting over the noise.
"Oh, no", Kitty Galore muttered.
"What's 'oh, no'?!", I asked.
"That's the air raid siren", Kitty Galore said, making me widen my eyes in shock, "it hasn't been activated in decades".
Suddenly, we heard an explosion somewhere, followed by another one shortly after. "Who would be attacking M.E.O.W.S.?", I asked, "neither M.E.O.W.S. nor D.O.G.S. fought like this since decades ago, because of the humans".
Another explosion rocked the building and the power went out, causing the cell's doors to open. "How about we get out of here before we get blown to smithereens?", I suggested, then Kitty Galore and I ran out of our cell.
We passed by a few other M.E.O.W.S. agents throughout the corridors, or what was left of them. Most of the agents we passed, were either dead from the explosions or didn't seem to care about us escaping. "They seem to be more worried about their own survival than stopping us", I muttered, "cats are selfish".
"That we are", Kitty Galore said, making me chuckle.
The wall beside us suddenly fell from an explosion and we saw wolves moving throughout the compound. "What are wolves doing here?", Kitty Galore asked.
"I don't know", I said, then we saw a few missiles fly into the remainder of the M.E.O.W.S. building and we fell down, as the remainder of the building collapsed, sending a cloud of dust everywhere. Once the dust settled and we regained our balance, I spotted Tab Lazenby being surrounded by wolves, "look!".
"We should help him", Kitty Galore said.
I looked at her with an, 'are you out of your mind?', look, "why?", I asked, "we're selfish".
"We capture him for ransom", Kitty Galore said, "M.E.O.W.S. will do anything we want to get their Director back".
"That's a good plan, but it doesn't look like there's going to much of M.E.O.W.S. left once this is over", I said.
"You get over there and help him out, or I'll tear you apart!", Kitty Galore growled, then we ran over to one of the wolves and brought him down quite easily, since he didn't see us coming. "Come on, Tab!", Kitty Galore shouted.
Tab Lazenby stared at her in shock, "Come on!", Kitty Galore shouted, "we don't have time to sit around!".
By now, the wolves had overcome their shock and were slowly approaching us. Tab Lazenby ran off with Kitty Galore and I followed after them. After a while, we stopped to catch our breath, "thank you", Tab Lazenby said, "you saved my life".
"Yeah, well, don't thank us yet", I said, "we're holding you for ransom, so that M.E.O.W.S. will do whatever we want".
"Didn't you see what happened?", Tab Lazenby asked, "M.E.O.W.S. is destroyed and even if it wasn't, they have more pressing concerns than you two".
"M.E.O.W.S. will do what we want", I said, "doesn't matter what you sa-".
"Quiet!", Kitty Galore snapped at me, then turned back towards Tab Lazenby, "you know who they were?".
"They were led by Shadow", Tab Lazenby explained, "him and his compatriots stole both M.E.O.W.S.' and D.O.G.S.'s files, just so they could destroy our agencies and conquer the world".
"Now why didn't I think of that?", I muttered, "it's absolute genius".
"You didn't think of it, because you have a single-tracked mind", Kitty Galore said.
"Says the cat, who was defeated by a mouse", I replied.
"Enough!", Tab Lazenby hissed, "the sun's coming up and we need to find somewhere safe before we're discovered".
Director Lou's POV
"All available field agents, report to your assigned transport in transport hangar fifty-four", a voice on the P.A. said. Butch, Diggs, and I, were on our way to transport hangar 54 to board a transport that'll take us to M.E.O.W.S.. I gave out an order that D.O.G.S. will assist in the defence of M.E.O.W.S. and assist in their evacuation, if necessary.
"Why are we doing this again?", Diggs asked, "aren't the cats our enemies again?".
"They are", I said, "but they're being openly attacked by a force that's just as large, if not larger, than either of our agencies".
"You don't think it could be Mark?", Butch asked.
"We'll find out soon enough", I said, as we arrived at the transport hangar and immediately boarded ours after getting our gear. The ramp lifted up and sealed us inside, as we strapped ourselves in, then our transport, along with all the others in the hangar, lifted off.
"How long until we get there?", Diggs asked, "I don't really like these things".
"Ten minutes", I answered, "but I think your motion sickness will be the least of your worries once we arrive".
Shadow's POV
M.E.O.W.S. was in ruins. We fired long-range missiles at the generators, which knocked the power out, then Mark flew in with his team and they bombed the building a couple times. My team and I went through the compound and killed any M.E.O.W.S. agent that was brave enough to face us and ran down those that tried to escape. Most of the agents were killed in the initial bombing, but many still managed to escape, Tab Lazenby, Mr. Tinkles, and Kitty Galore, included.
I heard something whirring from above us and looked up just in time to see D.O.G.S. transports getting closer to our location. I snarled and ordered the forces to retreat and we high-tailed it out of there, just as the transports came in for a landing.
