Chapter 30- Come and See

"And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. "

Revelations 6:3-4 (KJV)

Bogo stared down the Drex, who watched him with an arrogant lack of concern. "Sub-tribune? Some sort of officer?"

"Roughly equivalent to a captain," said Valentinus carelessly. "My troops are even now securing the city. We would welcome the assistance of local law enforcement in this endeavour. The civilian population will be reassured to see your officers out with us."

"And why should I make your job- which appears to be the conquest of my home- any easier?" asked Bogo, his tone menacing. He set both his paws on the desk.

Valentinus may have not been able to be intimidated, but he was apparently able to realize when someone was trying to frighten him. His face hardened and he stepped forward. "Because if you do not comply, Chief Bogo, then no doubt there will be incidents. Civilians failing to comply with our directives. Infringing on our perimeters. Drex soldiers are ruthless, Bogo. They will fire without warning and will always shoot to kill."

"You're saying you'll murder civilians if I don't work with you?" said Bogo. "I've already received word of civilian casualties."

The Drex shrugged. "Some casualties are to be expected," said Valentinus. "There will be some misunderstandings. We can minimize this as long as you obey the proper authorities."

"I swore an oath," said Bogo. "All my officers did. To protect and serve the city of Zootopia, from threats both foreign and domestic."

"You will serve best by obliging me, Chief," said Valentinus. He moved his hand to the butt of the pistol on his belt. "You will protect them by showing them who their current rulers are."

For a long moment, Bogo stared at him. Then he sighed and lowered his head.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Oakes's order to return to the wormhole was met with stunned disbelief by everyone on the bridge except Castell, who just gave a pleased nod.

"Sir," said Tossetti carefully. "Whatever the Security Directorate is threatening you with, we cannot-"

"Chart a course for Wolf 359," repeated Oakes. He slumped in his chair, avoiding the eyes around him.

Castell was smiling triumphantly. The bridge crew looked ashamed, eyes on their instruments, faces tight with unexpressed emotion. The Terrans-

A bunny's face abruptly appeared in front of Oakes. "Captain, please," said Judy, her voice pleading. "That's my home. Those are my family, my friends, my whole world."

He closed his eyes so he could avoid hers. "Is that course plotted?" he demanded harshly.

"Course plotted, sir," said the navigation officer. His voice was cold, almost to the point of insubordination.

"Then activate thrusters. Notify the Drex ship that we are withdrawing."

Judy leapt up onto his chair and seized him by the front of his uniform. "You can't do this!"

The marine guard on the bridge- Gunnery Sergeant Sadowski- started forward, but Nick pulled her away first. "Judy!" said Nick, yanking her away and hugging the smaller mammal to him. "It won't help if we get thrown into the brig!"

Barker stepped forward, stopping when Sadowski moved between her and the captain. "At least let us go back," she urged Oakes. "We can help!"

"You're safer here," said Oakes quietly.

"Is this any way to run a bridge?" snarled Castell. "Get these animals off the bridge, Oakes."

Sadowski looked at the captain, whose face flushed red at Castell's tone of command. "Sir, your orders?"

Judy, still struggling with Nick, suddenly twisted to look at him. "Nick, we have to do something! I am not leaving everyone at home to face this alone."

Nick stared into her eyes. He understood what she was saying- understood completely. He wanted to be back in Zootopia, back in uniform, doing what he could to stem the tide of ruin that seemed to be sweeping everything in its path. A far cry from the Nick of a few years ago, who would have been looking for either a way to avoid everything, or- even worse- for a way to profit from it.

What he didn't want was for Judy to be down there. Not by herself- not even with him. Because he didn't think he could protect her against an entire army.

Not that he wouldn't try. So he would need an army on his side, too.

"We need to change his mind," he said, his thoughts racing. Judy looked at him questioningly. He remembered a conversation- "Carrots, remember when the captain lectured me during lunch?"

"About the Ophiuchi incident?" said Judy, her mental gears clashing as she struggled to think back. "He was too late to save that-" She stopped.

Nick looked up. "Sir, before we leave the bridge, can we at least see what's going on? Tune in to the Terran news feeds?"

Oakes hesitated. "You can do so from your quarters-"

Tossetti looked at her captain, eyes narrowing, then she turned to the communications station. "Do as they suggest. On-screen."

"Tossetti!" barked Oakes.

The screen lit up, showing a white tiger, crouched behind a brick wall. From the snow cover, it had to be in Tundratown. "-multiple civilian casualties. Again, we are- we haven't received much word from local authorities, but we are recommending everyone shelter in place. Stay off the streets. The Drex invaders have already shot numerous mammals, claiming violation of curfew."

There was a shout from off-screen and the cameramammal turned, revealing a Drex soldier moving up, rifle at the ready. "Halt!" shouted the Drex.

"We're reporters," cried the white tiger, holding up her paws in surrender. "We're unarmed-"

There was a clatter of gunfire, and the camera shook and fell. A slowly spreading pool of blood covered the ground in the left bottom corner of the screen. A moment later, a boot stomped into it, splashing red droplets onto the camera, before the feed cut completely.

The view cut back to the news station, where an anchormammal was openly crying. Her co-anchor abruptly vomited behind the news counter.

In the background of the newsroom, video was playing of another scene. A building on fire, with a Drex tank hovering menacingly in front of it.

"Shut it off!" shouted Oakes.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The church building shook as a tank shell exploded somewhere nearby. Almost the whole of the congregation of the Fellowship of Terra was packed into the building- faced with terrors they had never imagined, they had naturally sought shelter in the place where they had found peace.

Father Gneumann had expected it. He had prepared. He had been given the means to grant them the peace they needed. Provided they earned it.

Provided we all earned it, he reminded himself. For without the gods, we are nothing. And if the gods do not answer our prayers- if we do not prove ourselves worthy- then we will be nothing indeed. He stepped onto the pulpit. The low sussuration of conversation ceased as his church looked to him for guidance.

He opened the holy book. "For it is written, that in their darkest hour, all mammals will be tested. Those true of heart will find peace. Those who waver will find nought but the grave. But fear not. For to every mammal upon this earth, death cometh soon or late. And how can mammal die better, than facing fearful odds? For the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his gods."

The church father looked up into the faces of his followers. Some looked hopeful, others worried. Most seemed confused.

Gneumann nodded to the church's deacons, who disappeared into a back room, one that even ZPD would have had a hard time finding- had they ever come looking.

"I have been honored," he said, pitching his voice low but in such a way as to carry to the very back of the packed room. "Honored to speak to the one who was Prometheus, who is Prometheus, who has chosen the Prometheus to come. This day was foreseen by him, and his instructions were clear. The Drex are false gods!" His voice snapped at the last words.

The gnu paced back and forth, eyes meeting those of his congregation. "They were created as we were. Created to serve. And they turned their backs on the humans, and rebelled. For that they were cast out, but have now returned. And so we have been given our commands."

The deacons had returned, carrying crates so heavy it took two large mammals to carry one. At his nod, they brought the crate up to the podium. "We have been commanded. And we shall obey. For if we prove worthy in our dedication, then will the gods themselves come to fight for us. And when the angels come from on high, nothing shall stand in our way!"

He reached over and threw open the nearest crate, revealing neatly packed rifles. They all had names of various species stenciled on their sides. Gneumann picked up one marked "Gnu/Wildebeest". He raised it to his shoulder, where it fit perfectly- as it was designed to do.

The mammals of the congregation stared in shock.

"The weapons of the gods are ours," said Gneumann. He raised the rifle high. "The false gods have come. It is written, that faith can move a mountain. What can these false gods, these impostors in form of our true lords, do against our faith?"

He stepped down from the stage, walked among his congregation, letting them see the faith he held in his eyes. "Lions," he said, addressing a lioness near the back. "Unsheathe thy claws. Wolves-" his eyes fell on one nearby. "Bare thy teeth. By tooth, by claw, by horn and by hoof, let us obey the commands of the gods!"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Sir, Alpha company reports armed resistance at Objective Nine Zero," said one of Octavius's lieutenants. They were currently headed back to the embassy, riding in an armored personnel carrier.

He and his men- suitably reinforced by landing troops- had just finished arresting the remainder of the Terran Council- the only form of planetary government. Already, several- including a squirrel representative, of all things- had agreed to surrender terms for their respective nations. Octavius was unsure whether they had the power to do so, but even a token gesture would sow confusion and give his troops more time to secure the key objectives.

He frowned at the words. "Armed resistance? Police?"

"No, sir. They report that armed civilians attacked them while they were setting up a perimeter. They took some casualties but repulsed the attack."

Octavius's frown deepened. "The Terrans have no real native arms industry," he said musingly. "Though perhaps intelligence estimates-"

"They reported the use of KAT and other high-tech weaponry," said his lieutenant. "Weapons which are supposed to be well out of the reach of native technological capabilities."

For a moment, Octavius was silent, thinking. "The humans," he decided. "They must have armed the Terrans secretly." He shook his head. "They will be ill trained, poorly led, with no real military background."

"Sir, we're getting more reports of attacks on our troops around the city-"

"Then conduct the usual anti-insurrectionary security sweeps. Kill anyone who looks like a threat," snapped Octavius irritably.

As his lieutenant relayed his orders, he turned to a screen set into one wall of the APC. The screen showed his units' deployment, as they seized the main arteries of communication. Particularly, they focused on transmission sites- radio towers, radio telescopes, television stations- anything that could broadcast a significant signal.

It wasn't fast enough. At any moment, it could be too late. Octavius made a decision.

"Signal the Centurion," he ordered the computer. After a moment, the Sector Commander of the strike cruiser appeared on screen.

"Octavius," said Sabinus. "What are your orders?"

"We are not moving fast enough," said Octavius briskly. "I'm patching through our troops' locations to you, as well as the other potential transmission sites. Bombard the ones furthest from being secured."

"Yes, sir." He hesitated. "As a matter of protocol, I must advise that bombarding most of these targets, even with precision weaponry, will likely cause heavy civilian casualties-"

It was the civilian resistance that was slowing them down. Drex were not immune to compassion- even Octavius felt a pang of regret. But they had to act quickly, or the whole point of this operation would be lost. "Noted, Commander. Do as I say."

"Yes, sir."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Sir," shouted Cho. "The Centurion has activated weaponry!"

Oakes snapped his head up. "Prepare for evasive-"

"They're firing- target is the planet, sir!" Cho suddenly remembered protocol, which the tension on the bridge had distracted him from. "Sir, target designated November Two has fired eight rail guns, kinetic payload, target planetary surface."

Even Castell turned pale. "They've gone mad," breathed the ambassador.

"Civilian casualties will be high," said Cho dully. "Some of those targets appear to be in population centers."

"What about Zootopia?" demanded Judy. "And the area around it?"

"Zootopia did not appear to be a primary target," answered Tossetti, who was reviewing the data. She frowned. "Sir, the Drex appear to be attacking transmission sources."

"What?" Barker frowned at the screen, which showed the Drex ship firing another salvo. "Why would they do that? The only people we could ask for help are the humans." She gave Oakes a contemptuous glance. "And they already know."

"I have my orders," said Oakes.

He kept his eyes on the console in front of him, which was counting down the distance between his ship and the Wolf 359 transit wormhole. In his mind, however, he was remembering another time he had been powerless to help. At Ophiuchi.

The screams had echoed through the ship when they received the transmission from the colony vessel. The Karathi had boarded and slaughtered them, in the mad bloodlust that seemed to be most of the impetus for their existence. Oakes had redlined the engines, overriding the formal objections of the chief engineer. When those objections had become especially strenuous, he simply reopened the transmission, so that the chief engineer could hear the screams that haunted him.

They had been too late- no one on the colony ship had survived, the Karathi already leaving. When he had ambushed the two Karathi destroyers who had committed the atrocity and blown them out of space with well-placed missiles, the comfort was as cold as the void that enveloped them. Vengeance was always cold. And empty.

And now he imagined the screams again. This time, they weren't human. It should have helped.

It didn't.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Amna had her back turned. Hunter knew better than to think her guard was down, but even if this was some sort of trick, he couldn't let the opportunity go to waste. Shepherd had lingered back at the docking station they had been brought in on.

He lengthened his stride just a bit, catching up to her. "Hey, Amna, listen. Whatever this is about, you know you could just-"

Without warning, he threw himself at her, catching her arm and yanking it behind her back. He snaked his other arm around her neck-

A moment later he found himself staring up into Tavi's worried face. "Zach?" she said. She shook him.

"I'm okay," he said groggily. He looked around, realizing he was still in the corridor. Khabat, looking vaguely amused, stood a short distance away. She held up a small device, a cylindrical object roughly the size and shape of a pen. "Did you forget I injected you with these?" she said, her tone cheerful. "Knock-out nanites. They're still in your system. All I have to do is click this button-" she pointed to the top of the cylinder, "-and down you go."

Hunter, feeling a bit sore- both physically and mentally- stood up. "All right, all right. You're very clever. Look, at least tell me where we're going."

"To meet Prometheus, of course. He has an offer for you."

"An offer, eh? Join me or die?"

She shrugged. "A little more complex than that. I'll say this- right now, he has the only means to save this planet from the Drex invasion that's currently taking place."

"What?" Hunter and Tavi spoke simultaneously. "Drex invasion?"

"Yes," said a voice, echoing in the corridor. "The Drex have invaded Terra. Civilian casualties are still relatively low, though I expect that to change once the resistance units begin making contact with Drex regulars."

Hunter stiffened when he heard the voice. It sounded avuncular, even calming. But the last time he'd heard it- "Prometheus," he growled. "That's you, isn't it?"

"I'm currently speaking with you over the public address system."

"I gathered that. What do you mean, resistance units?"

Khabat answered. "I'm a Ranger, Hunter. We knew the Drex were planning on invading, so we set up resistance cells. Easy enough when you have entire churches full of mammals who think you're a god."

"And my contacts from Alphacen shipped them weapons and ammunition," said Prometheus. "Though Wilde and Hopps did end that little scheme. Fortunately not before it was almost complete."

"They are untrained civilians, Amna!" said Hunter forcefully. "They'll be slaughtered!"

"They are dying for their homes and for their gods," said Khabat with a shrug. "And their deaths will serve a purpose."

"Purpose? What purpose?" asked Tavi.

"They are buying time," said Prometheus.

"Time for what?"

"Time for Mr. Hunter here to make a decision. I suggest you hurry, Mr. Hunter. Every step you take, every moment you delay, is being paid for in blood."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"You understand your position, chief?" said Valentinus. The buffalo still had his head bowed. "If you fight us, then you will die. And it will make the transfer of power to the Commonwealth that much more bloody in the end. Collaborate, and the civilian population will work with us and you."

"And we'll be forever remembered as traitors," said Bogo quietly. "We will have forgotten our oaths and our duties."

"You are police," said the Drex contemptuously. "Not soldiers. You are not equipped to deal with an invasion and no one would expect you to. Your job is to keep the peace, and peace is what we offer."

There was a grim silence. One of Bogo's ears flicked. The only sound was a scraping noise which made Valentinus frown. He looked down, and caught a glimpse of Bogo's hoof behind the desk, pawing against the ground, scraping backwards.

He also noticed something else. When Bogo had put his paws on the desk, he had pushed down on the public address button. Meaning their conversation had been broadcast throughout the police station.

"What are you doing?" he demanded. "What do you think you will achieve, you stupid animal?"

Bogo's eyes came up to meet his.

It was then that he realized that when a water buffalo lowers his head, he wasn't showing submission. He was presenting his horns in preparation for a charge-

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Clawhauser had been listening, in horror, to the conversation between Bogo and the Drex sub-tribune, along with the rest of the police mammals in the station. And the Drex soldiers, who looked decidedly uncomfortable. Not nervous, exactly. More confused as to why their commander was allowing the conversation to go out over the PA.

Especially as the conversation went on, and the cops's eyes started getting harder and harder as they glared at the Drex soldiers. The Drex troopers kept their eyes moving, especially when a few low growls could be heard from some of the predators.

"What are you doing?" said Valentinus's voice over the intercom. "What do you think you will achieve, you stupid animal?"

Then the connection cut off. Seconds later, there was a loud boom and Bogo's office door was splintered into fragments by the force of Valentinus's flying body. The Drex flew clear over the railing into the central lobby, crashing into the central column behind Clawhauser's desk. The cheetah watched as the Drex officer fell to the ground.

Drex combat armor was designed to stop impacts, but not being hit by a water buffalo and a three story fall. Valentinus didn't look like he was going to be issuing any orders ever again.

Everyone stared at the Drex's corpse, then looked up to see Bogo, clutching the railing as if to steady himself. He shook his head as if dazed, then his eyes sharpened. "What are you staring at?" he shouted. "Take them!"

The Drex reacted just a shade slower than the various police officers, who were galvanized into action by the familiar bellow of their chief. Once again, the Drex lack of fear made their reactions just a bit slower.

Clawhauser saw Francine lunge at a Drex, who effortlessly dodged her attack- but never saw her trunk as it swept around and gripped him around the neck, throwing him to the ground. Delgato snarled at a nearby Drex, who raised his weapon, only to be hit by Wolferd from behind. The two fell in a tangle of limbs.

The cheetah saw the Drex nearest him raising his rifle to take aim at the two officers, and moved- for him- quite fast.

A few shots were fired, one or two cops hit, but in a extraordinarily rapid, confused series of individual scuffles, the Drex contingent had been disarmed, handcuffed, and, in at least one case, pinned under a very large cheetah.

Clawhauser looked down at the Drex underneath him. "You give up?"

"I fear nothing," snarled the Drex. "I will never surr-" he cut off as Clawhauser shifted his considerable bulk to cover the Drex's face.

Wolferd, nursing an arm grazed by a pistol shot, winced. "There's such a thing as excessive force, Benjamin."

Clawhauser frowned at him. "That's a new way of calling me fat."

The Drex's arms waved frantically, and Clawhauser moved. "Well?"

"Okay, I give up!"

The cheetah frowned at him. "I thought Drex didn't show fear."

"We don't need to show fear to not want to be suffocated by an overweight cheetah," muttered the soldier.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Bogo, rubbing his head irritably- he'd never actually charged another mammal before, came downstairs. "Good job. Everyone who is qualified with firearms- go to the armory and get kitted out. The rest of you secure the prisoners in the cells."

Wolferd looked at him worriedly. "Sir, not that I want to help the Drex, but if they have an entire army-"

"Our job right now is to hold what we've got," said Bogo. "Protect as many civilians as we can. I want the officers who aren't trained on firearms to move out into the areas around the station- start getting any civilians to safe areas. If the Drex show up, hunker down. If they start shooting, we'll send an armed team to engage them. If nothing else, we can maybe slow them down, keep them from hurting too many civilians."

Clawhauser moved off the Drex he'd pinned as another officer began cuffing the downed enemy soldier. "Sir, I've been watching the news sites online. The Drex are bombarding outlying areas. Nothing near Zootopia yet, but-" he shrugged.

"We'll figure it out as we go," said Bogo, looking tired. "Clawhauser, start working on communicating with the Drex leadership- Octavius, I think his name was. Maybe we can work out some sort of deal, leave Zootopia under civilian control for now."

He looked around him, seeing his officers watching him closely. All looked shocked, many fearful. He didn't blame them- couldn't blame them.

He was frightened himself. The thing to do was not to show it.

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do, sir?" asked Francine quietly as she moved up close to him. "Maybe we should just accept Drex control."

Bogo gestured towards the sound of gunshots in the distance, audible even inside the station. "You hear that, Francine? That's the sound of Drex control, Francine. I don't think we can win against them. But maybe we can buy some negotiation room. Or at least some time."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Judy was watching her world ending.

Oh, maybe Zootopia wasn't being destroyed. But there were already reports of high casualties and massive damage to multiple other cities across Terra. Already, things would never be the same again. She'd had her phone patched through to the Terran web when they entered the city, and as she and Nick stood in one corner of the bridge- Oakes appeared not to be noticing them anymore- she paged through the almost hysterical news sites. "Bunnyburrow is safe, I think," she whispered.

Nick held her tight to him. She was shivering, though not from the cold air in the ship's bridge. "They're going to be okay, Judy. There's nothing in that carrot-choked podunk worth taking anyway," he said, trying to lighten her mood a touch.

It didn't work, of course. She gasped as she saw another image, this time of the Amazonian city of Rio de los Porcos. Corpses littered the streets, the residue of a direct hit on the city's main transmission tower. "I just don't-" she blinked as she noticed she had an email. From Tavi.

If Tavi was sending emails at a time like this, it must be important. She opened it, read it quickly. "Hunter's been kidnapped," she said.

"What? By the Drex?" Nick craned his head to look over her shoulder.

"No...by Khabat," said Judy. She frowned, thinking. "And there's all these reports of resistance groups, using modern weaponry." And getting slaughtered, for the most part- the mammals involved had no real training. They were inflicting some casualties, but all it seemed to accomplish was to slow the Drex a bit and make them more vicious. The body count was already inestimably higher thanks to the resistance they were meeting. On the other paw- "Khabat is working with Prometheus," she said slowly.

"Yeah, probably-"

"No, think about it. She arranged for this resistance, right? I mean, most likely. And she had to arm them. And who was involved in arms shipments that we know of? Illegal ones, I mean?"

Nick's eyes widened. "Liu. Who was definitely working with Prometheus."

"And now she's taken Hunter. And whatever she wanted Hunter for, must be part of Prometheus's plan. We have to stop him, Nick."

"How are we going to do that from up here?" asked Nick, exasperated. "I mean, what do we do, steal a fighter and fly it down to the surface?" He hesitated.

"Haven't you been taking flying lessons this entire trip?"

"Mostly in a simulator. A really advanced simulator, but-"

"Nick."

He stared down at her, his jaw working. "Carrots, this is a really-"

She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and jerked him down so they were muzzle-to-muzzle. "Nick, I need you to be able to do this. Everyone we love is down there. Hunter- and maybe Tavi- are in trouble. I am not leaving them to face this alone." Her tone was hard, her eyes sharp.

Nick gazed into her eyes and saw nothing but determination. He sighed. "Okay, sure. What a great plan. We'll just steal a space fighter, fly through the Drex cordon, hunt down Prometheus, and stop him. Somehow."

Judy ignored his sarcasm. "Then let's go."

No one noticed them leave the bridge.

Author's Note: " For to every mammal upon this earth, death cometh soon or late...temples of our gods" is a slightly modified quote from Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome. More Romantic-era poetry- you may notice a pattern.

I am hoping to finish out this story by the weekend. There's a fair bit to go, but it should- once I get back into the swing of things- go fairly quickly. Just have been a bit busier at home than I expected.

And I told you I'd get Nick behind the stick of an Arewing in this story. Expect Starfox references.