THE SECRET LIFE OF AN ENFORCER COMMANDER
Chapter 5: Preparing for War
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea" T-Bone thought and winced as yet another group of targets and a few boulders turned to ash. Twenty-five feet in front of him, Ulera dropped to her knees in disgust and exhaustion. They had been in the desert for two hours now. He carefully walked up to her and placed a commiserating paw on her shoulder. "Well we didn't think it would be easy the first time out. Are you able to feel how the power is flowing through you?" T-Bone asked carefully.
Worn out, she rasped "It overwhelmingly feels soo good that it's difficult to hold it back and only allow a small portion to escape. I've never been allowed to let my power come up to this level before."
"I can't begin to understand what that must feel like to you" He shook his head in frustration and thought for few minutes. "Maybe you need to just let go right now until you are used to the feel of all that energy. Once you are used to that then it might be easier to control."
Ulera looked up at him considering his words. "Perhaps you're right. For the next few days, I'll do that a few times. I might be able to tolerate withholding some of it. I just hope there's enough time for me to learn this" she sighed. "You shouldn't be around when I'm using that much power and don't come to me next week. Wait until I contact you."
"Check!" He agreed then helped her to her feet. "We can't worry if there's time, it has to be done. We just hope for the best. So are you ready to leave?" T-Bone asked.
"Yes. I'm tired and there is nothing more that can be done today" Ulera headed for the cyclotron. T-Bone followed and moments later they sped through the desert back to Megakat City.
An hour later...
T-Bone tirededly stripped off his G-suit and slipped on jeans and T-shirt. Shutting off the lights, he headed upstairs to their apartment. Jake was slumped on the couch watching David Litterbin on the TV. He looked up as Chance walked in and plopped down in the tattered chair nearby.
"Well? How'd it go?" Jake asked
"A disaster! The energy just pours out of her in a wall of destructive force. She said she just wasn't used to that much power pouring through her because her mate had prevented it." Chance sighed. "We decided to hold off anymore attempts and let her get used to handling that much energy. When she thinks she can get some kind of control over it, she'll call me."
"Does all that energy pouring out cause her pain?" Jake asked in concern.
"Actually, it feels too good. Her words not mine." Chance blushed a little in embarrassment. Jake grinned at his partner's discomfiture.
"Okay! How long did she think she could be ready?" Jake continued.
Sighing again and leaning back staring at the ceiling, Chance grimaced "Maybe about two weeks." Rubbing his face, he climbed to his feet again. "I'm going to bed. I'm bushed. You coming?" Yawning, Jake nodded and followed his partner upstairs.
In the desert, a week later...
Oh Goddess, it's taken me days to get used to all that energy. It feels so delicious that it has been difficult to concentrate on focusing it. But now I think I'm ready to give it a try so concentrating on the group of targets Razor had set up, I press my paws together and point forward with them. My whole body feels alight as the energy pulses within me. With an effort of will I attempt to focus it down through my paws and moments later, I am rewarded with a narrow beam that disintegrates two of the targets. 'Yes' I shout with glee. I spend the next hour fine tuning my control until I'm too tired to continue. I leave for home feeling triumphant. I can't wait to inform T-Bone of my success.
When I arrive to work on Monday morning, my need to inform T-Bone about the past weekend's success is immediately thwarted by an unexpected visitor. It is Police Commissioner Henderfield who is pacing my office in obvious agitation. This is not good. His face is grim as he briefs me on a chilling report he'd received the night before. It seems the local gang that is known for gunrunning has received a paid request for some major munitions from an unknown party. The police got wind of it through an unlikely source. Seems a supplier got spooked about a large order he received for explosives and got cold feet. When the police checked into it, they were appalled by what they had been able to find out.
"It seems this unknown party is getting funds for their munition orders by forced prostitution. Young females around the age of 16-19 yrs old are being snatched around the poorer parts of the city and are being forced to prostitute themselves in small hidden brothels. The money from these poor kids is being funneled back to whoever is running things." Commissioner Henderfield said in anger and disgust. "We are handing this off to you due to the alarming amount and type of munitions being purchased. I'm afraid it sounds like someone is planning a war."
I feel a cold chill race down my spine. 'So that is what the missing omegas have planned.' I shudder with apprehension as I gather as much information I can from Henderfield. He promises to forward all the data they've collected so far and to keep my office informed as their investigation continues. I thank him and escort him out. I ask my secretary to alert all section heads to attend an emergency meeting in an hour in my conference room. Returning to my office, I decide that the SWAT Kats needed to be included in this session as well. T-Bone had given me a personal communicator to reach him when I need to and I quickly made contact. He was understandably suspicious, but when I gave him a bare bones description of the problem he agreed quickly.
The meeting was a grim affair. After getting over the surprise at seeing the SWAT Kats attending, I briefed everyone on the probable disaster heading our way. Exclamations of anger and fear erupted after that announcement. T-Bone's gruff voice cut through the noise and silenced everyone.
"So it's like we thought. The omegas may be planning a major offensive against the city?" T-Bone intoned gravely.
"Yes, it certainly looks that way, though there is still not enough information to know for certain. However, until we know more, it's best we plan for the worst case scenario." I said soberly. "The police are trying hard to pin down any leads to the gunrunners. Our only connection so far is the supplier who backed out. They are also trying to follow the money path back to the prostitute angle. The only thing we can do on our end is to try and track the munitions, increase training of special elite squads, and step up patrols. Now this is what I'd like each of you to do..." I gave each section head their instructions, answered questions, then dismissed them. T-Bone and Razor, however, followed me back to my office. They obviously had something more on their minds. I closed the door behind us and faced them.
"Okay, Ulera. How is your progress coming with controlling your energy?" T-Bone asked immediately.
"I finally succeeded and was going to inform you today before this happened." I assured him. Though my accuracy still needs some polishing, I feel competent enough to consider my energy a viable weapon.
"Good. We were waiting to see if you'd be successful and now that you are we have a plan in mind. Instead of a large force, a small highly skilled attack squad could do the job better at a lower cost of life and property. What we propose is a squad made up of us, you, and one of your black op teams. We would train secretly. Being a small, mobile team will enable us to infiltrate and destroy from within."
"Yeah, once we find out where they are hiding, that is" Razor shook his head in frustration.
"It sounds like a good plan. Let me review my teams to see which one will work the best. Where do you plan to do the training that will be secure enough?" I asked.
T-Bone shrugged "Hey, the desert's worked so far. Most discrete place I can think of unless you have a better idea?"
I thought about that for a minute but could find nothing wrong with the idea. "You're right it is the best place, nothing else comes to mind."
"Good! Then we should get started this Saturday" he said decisively.
I nodded my agreement and they both left. I turned and stared out the window at the city below. 'Where were our enemies hiding? Would we find them before their plans reached fruition?' I felt a grim foreboding as I returned to my desk and began sifting through my files for the perfect team.