The Zootopian Chronicles II: Darkness

by Menser

The Protectors: They came with promises of safety and protection from all the threats facing Zootopia but what if the greatest threat is The Protectors themselves? Nick, Judy and their Furless friend must forge an alliance with old friends and Legends from Zootopia's dark mysterious past to save their city and world against these invaders from within and new otherworldly threats.

22. In Defense of Zootopia

In Defense of Zootopia

Well we finally learn a bit good bit more clues about the strange flying device and boy there were some serious head scratchers there. I imagine a lot of those that learned these details will be head bangers very soon, the literal kind not the music lovers, as they try to make sense of these new revelations. So we finally get to see the madhouse that is the Security Council meeting. Trying to explain the unexplainable to a roomful of very angry bureaucrats is no fun under normal circumstances, but getting them to accept military aid that they mistrust mightily to save Zootopia from this new unknown force with unknown intentions may take every trick poor Drew has and then quite a great deal of luck.

---

Zoodate: 124 – 125 P.C.

As he drove out of the city toward the West Plant, Drew wondered at the amazing beautiful scenery along the highway. He was used to smog, trash, billboards, and the many other signs that humans had staked their claim to nature and laid their mark out for all to enjoy. He always wondered what all the animals thought seeing such signs of human habitation all around them. How strange they must seem compared the pristine solitude and beauty of nature. Tall concrete structures rising out of nowhere, metal barriers, layers of oil and filth mixed in pools along the roads after some rain… and the smells. The smells, humans barely use that sense, but for most every other species that sense was far more acute. Even Judy had a sense of smell over eight times his own. She and Nick could tell him exactly how many days left he had on every item in the refrigerator. He was always sensitive to their noses as he tried to keep everything as clean possible so they would not suffer. And hearing… he was unsure why humans had completely lost this sense as well. He had to be quite careful as Nick could hear it if he opened a can of nuts in the kitchen from his bedroom and come walking in and tell exactly what kind or kinds using his keen sniffer. And forget getting anything past Rabbit Radar. Most all human senses went into vision which seemed to be the only area he had an advantage over most citizens of Zootopia. However with some quite enormous eyes most species had gained through evolution from their primitive forms they had narrowed that advantage quite a bit as well.

His mind had wandered off topic once again as he decided to listen to some digital music and played the latest by Gazelle. While he was not a fan of most mainstream pop, he did find the music catchy. He was trying to learn some of the words so he didn't seem too out of place at the upcoming concert in a six days. He didn't expect to be a Gazelle expert by then, but he wanted to know enough to sing along with some of the songs. Besides he had installed the new karaoke system in the apartment and needed to know enough to sing a few of songs with Judy. She was a far more skilled karaoke expert, but he did like the special computer effects that could actually make his voice sound somewhat pleasant. But the ones that made him sound like a robot, dragon or super villain were the effects he enjoyed most.

He laughed to himself as he tried to think back how his mind went from enjoying the scenery to sonic special effects. But that was just how it worked always going off on tangents and working overtime. He supposed he had to adapt Nick's saying I just gotta be me and roll with it. This was how the Human Ambassador enjoyed his Sunday working non-stop all day to deal with a crisis which threatened the entire world. But it was a job which never truly took a day off unlike most all other government jobs. He imagined the Mayor's job was the same though. When you had the weight of the world on your shoulders… and in his case two worlds… there were no days off. He hoped at least Judy and Nick got to relax for a change. He hadn't heard from Nick since his blow up the previous night, but knowing the fox, he would just likely appear and pretend like nothing ever happened. Judy had planned on catching up on sleep most of the day and relax swimming, reading or watching a movie or some shows.

The human had a feeling he was going to be quite busy as he ran into outer security for the plant. They ran his ID, did a retinal verification, searched and scanned his vehicle and let him through. He appreciated how thorough they were even if he was the only one of his species on the world. But after the reports with this human UAV, he wasn't so sure about that anymore. He hoped he might actually get some answers this morning rather than more questions. The full analysis by his human counterparts had been transferred through the portal and would have to physically be picked up as the data was far too classified to be transmitted over any electronic medium. Besides he was going to need to discuss the findings with The Colonel after going over them in detail.

After going through two more levels of security, he found himself inside the portal receiving area and saw a transfer was coming through. He placed the industrial strength ear protectors on and watching as a shipment of mining parts was received. It was always an amazing sight to see an entire pile of equipment the size of six standard shipping containers used on ships, trucks and railroad cars all appear out of nowhere in an instant. There was an entire organized team to check all items coming through doing a full scan of all incoming items accounting for every molecule and ensuring every item was matched on the invoices. Forklifts instantly went into action removing all items and moving them into organized piles in a massive makeshift warehouse. There the items were loaded onto trucks for transport all over Zootopia. It was quite an impressive scene of organized chaos.

Drew wandered over to the communications system and had his ID, credentials, and retinal scan all verified even though he knew every member of the crew on duty quite well, and he picked up his classified Top Secret TS-GLOWWORM package. This was the code name for anything to do with the Lights in the Sky project. He took it to a secure room in his office and loaded the report into a secure computer and began going over the results. Some of these stood out immediately making him look three times to confirm what he was seeing. He called the communications center to let him know when The Colonel would be available and began to go over the information received.

The main body of human UAV device was made in Silicon Valley in California but used a composite carbon polymer only available in Russia existing nowhere else in the world. The various parts of the device were all in English and made all over the globe. How could this come from Silicon Valley made from a material exclusive to Russia itself?

The next part of the report was of most interest to him as it contained all the data from the core CPUs which were protected deep inside the unit and required very specialized equipment and experts to access.

The data was all in English. This was not terribly surprising as most of the parts and information they had found were all in English. The part however that sent cold shivers up his spine and gave him instant cold sweats was the date he was looking at for estimated construction. It was impossible. He checked it several times but it kept coming back the same. The human UAV had been constructed sometime after 2030. How? How could this possibly be accurate? Was someone in the analysis office on Earth having a joke on them all? But with how freaked out the entire staff was over this device, he highly doubted this was the case as mass firings would be the result of any such action. They were not 100% sure on the date but all available information found supported this evidence.

Analyzing all data collected by the device on the internal CPUs and memory also seemed to support the date. The CPUs were far more advanced than anything known to exist or anything even in planning. The memory was the same. The entire device was an anomaly. It shouldn't exist. Then the next date jumped out at him. All data showed the current date as 2038. How could the device think it was 2038? How could this possibly exist 20 years in the past? This was what he was afraid of. All the information he just received only prompted so many more new questions. It was like the whole GLOWWORM project was a hydra and as you answered one question cutting off one head multiple heads would appear to replace the question answered.

The specifications found for the device were not especially mind blowing as were the previous revelations but it was very interesting nonetheless. Pages of data were listed describing information about how the UAV operated. Data about maneuverability, acceleration speeds, hover stability, fault tolerance, etc. filled the pages.

Some of the specifications included:

Maximum Cruising Height – 4600m
Max Speed (Bare) – Mach 2.0 (2469.6 km/h)
Max Speed (Loaded for Recon) – Mach 0.85 (1049.6 km/h)
Max Range (Bare) – 1500 km
Max Range (Loaded for Recon) – 1200 km
Effective Range (Hunt and Kill operations) – 800-900 km
Hunt and Kill Ordinances approved – TOS-1 Incendiary Rockets, Kazaham Path Finding High Explosives, Bunker Buster Bombs
Power – SMR (Small Modular Reactor)/SAD

The power output of the compact nuclear engine was unknown without further testing. The thing that made Drew sick was imagining that they had been handling a nuclear device that had crashed. The report showed that containment had held as it was designed to withstand extreme impacts, but he would need to have anyone handling the device tested for potential radiation exposure.

Further data from the GPS suggested the device had originated somewhere in the Pacific Ocean near Japan and had traveled across the Pacific into North America. Additional analysis of data from the Black Box showed where it had been traveling over the previous 120 minutes before it crashed. It appeared to be making regular scans over a large area in a predefined pattern until it apparently detected some signal and went to investigate. Drew knew the signal it was detecting was the radio signal by Nick and Finnick.

Long term data collected was data in several spectrums including infrared, thermal, low light optics and normal high resolution data. Numerous hours of trees and landscape were recorded. The only information Drew found of any interest was the tiny forms picked up by the low light cameras and thermal near the time of the crash. It was strange watching his two fox friends in the eyes of this monstrous device hunting them. They seemed so tiny and insignificant in the eyes of this metal beast. He was thankful the device was only equipped for reconnaissance and not hunt and kill operations. He watched the forms of the two foxes running and hiding, diving for cover. How frightened they must have been out in the middle of nowhere alone and unarmed against a strange alien flying creature of metal and impossible powers. No wonder Nick was so thankful to be out of the woods.

The information at the end was the most important which included reports from Russian experts on how to track these human UAVs and how to even follow this specific UAV and others back to its origination point. This information was critical to at least taking steps to defending themselves from these devices. All information regarding equipment which could locate, monitor, track and destroy these devices was listed and would need to be added to his report for the Security Council that afternoon.

He called the Communications Center and told them he was ready for a communications session when they were ready on the other end. He spent the intervening time adding all the information in this report into his presentation. After almost an hour he was told they were ready on the other end and he made his way to the communication terminal as a communications link was opened to the human side.

Communications established

Colonel you there?

Good to hear from you son.

I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances.

Indeed. Did you read everything in the report?

Yes. Is the date valid?

I figured that would be your first question. But it seems so.

How is that possible?

How is it possible the device is there in the first place? It would explain why we had no record of any such device or organic being or beings originating from our end.

Organic beings?

I will get to that next. The communications data we picked up from the base of the unit and operatives was even more disturbing.

I did not see that.

They were cleaning up the data trying to recover a lot of communication that was garbled. I will be sending a packet with a full transcript after our conversation.

What is disturbing about this?

Well quite a few things. The fact that there are unknown creatures speaking in various accents is the most disturbing.

Well that is quite strange as there is not a lot of definitive accents from what I have heard here.

Well the accents were identified as Northern Russian, Southern Russian, Russian Unknown, Lithuanian, Hungarian, American Southwest, American New England, American Texas, Eastern Asian most likely Northern China, Eastern Asian Unknown, British South Wales, German Branburger. We are attempting to pinpoint the accents even more but that was the linguist experts initial assessment.

So there is no doubt the creatures are from our terra?

It would be the only possible explanation.

And that they would be human?

Again it would be the only possible explanation.

That is not good at all.

Again nothing I don't already know.

From twenty years from now?

That is not known. Too much of the other information doesn't make sense.

Such as?

The non-existent assembly factory. The multinational multi-ethnic nature of military operation. The unknown flag. The link to the Soviet Union. And most of all how these beings and equipment could have gotten there.

Can anything be revealed from their conversation?

Fairly typical military chatter and call signs consistent with Soviet, Russian and even American military.

Anything else?

They make reference to possible air support.

What? Aircraft flying over this region?

They just make reference to fly over attempts and refueling at a base.

Any mention of an invasion or mission?

Looks like reconnaissance.

So with this additional data you would recommend all the options listed?

Yes. If they have potential aircraft and hunter killer units there is no other alternative.

Is there any reference to offensive weapons or kill targets?

There is some reference to foxes at the end but we could only clean up a small amount as most likely the lightning strike garbled most of the data.

Kill commands?

Unknown. Just data that was consistent with the final video captured and consistent with the eyewitness descriptions of your two agents. Oh, they named the unit we have in our possession.

Which Is?

Dragonfly 10-71.

I suppose that would make sense with the hovering and buzzing. Will they come looking for it?

Yes. I am not sure they could detect where it was taken but you would need to have any monitoring capabilities on alert.

It sounds like we will need the equipment available as soon as possible. How did you get the specifics on what was needed?

An Ex-KGB Research Inside Officer that was extremely helpful in allowing us to obtain access to the equipment and the ability to track these back to their point of origin.

What about offensive military options?

They are on standby for immediate deployment if any offensive action is detected. We have all scenarios and plans available and already have a lot of the equipment housed here ready for immediate deployment.

What about the harriers?

Within twelve hours counting staff, fuel and equipment.

The one thing I am hoping is that this force doesn't have any knowledge of our ability to counter an offensive attack allowing us to mount a sufficient repelling force and maintain the element of surprise.

That would certainly be my hope as well.

Any hint of communication with local agents?

You suspect they are in touch with elements within your region?

It is possible. There may be a larger plot involving a potential government takeover.

As if this couldn't get worse.

I know. I have agents doing what they can to counter this possible takeover but it very likely could happen.

And you believe this group is in league with these forces?

It is a possibility that can't be discounted. The timing of their appearance and their knowledge and use of this crisis is highly suspicious.

Would this require an action on our part to counter this new government?

Unknown at this time. I would take a wait and see position. But I would set up some contingency plans. I have put actions in place to ensure my group will remain in charge of all operations with respect to your side for the foreseeable future regardless of what happens with the election.

I will pass this information along and setup some contingencies in case we should lose touch with you or your office. It sounds like you are dealing with quite a lot on your end.

Yes even more than you know. My life has gotten quite complicated as of late.

Things all good with the rabbit?

Yes. Everything is great in that area. Probably the only thing going right in my life. It is the only thing keeping me relatively sane.

That is good to hear. When is this election?

9 Days.

Potential transition?
One week after.

That soon?

Things don't usually change much here after an election. That is they normally never did.

Are you prepared?

We have been preparing for a week already so three and a half weeks total prep time.

Well hope it doesn't come to that. Let us know the council's decision immediately. We will prepare for immediate action.

My office is ready with the paperwork. I just have to send them these new details so they can implement them immediately.

Sounds good. Well don't let me delay you. I know you have a lot to do.

Unfortunately too true. Always good hearing from you Colonel.

Same. Colonel out.

Drew got a copy of the conversation for his personal records and had the lines about a possible new government involvement redacted from the conversation. It was an extremely rare action but one which he had authority to perform for anything that he deemed too dangerous to be in the record. The lines about the rabbit were also redacted just as he always did in every conversation with The Colonel. They would have a record on the human side, but he didn't want any members of the new government possibly seeing this part of the conversation in case they were to take power.

He then got a transcript of the conversation the Colonel had been referring to and took it back to his secure office to examine it in detail.

Classification: Top Secret SCI GLOWWORM

Official Transcript 2A

Investigation: Object 234

Note: Data recovered during retrieval. Radio Communications.

Legend: *** (Static-Unretrievable)

Bold (Call-signs identified)

[Start Transcript]

Unassigned1: Alp*** ***** Unit 23, assigned to SWU Armored Rec. Corps stationed in ********

**** Rec******** **peration, on coordinates *******************************

Lead CO of Operation: Captain Ivan Vla****** ******o, λ28-529, assigned call sign during operation is "Epsilon"

Second in command: Captain László ********, λ97-020 assigned call sign during operation is "Alpha"

***** [Approx 20 Minutes]

Epsilon:Epsilon reporting in, testing equipment… seems fine to me… Everyone report in!

Alpha: Alpha, reporting in, all clear on my end.

Tiger 1: Here is Tiger 1, I hear both of you loud and clear!

Tiger 2: Tiger 2 reporting in!

Tiger 3: Tiger 3 here!

Tiger 4: Tiger 4, all clear!

Tiger 5: Tiger 5, the whole Tiger Team is ready sir!

Wolf 1: All clear lads, Wolf 1 ready!

Wolf 2: Wolf 2 reporting in!

Wolf 3: Wolf 3 reporting in!

Wolf 4: Wolf 4 reporting in!

Wolf 5: Wolf 5 here, looks like the whole Pack is ready!

Epsilon: I take the Tigers, Alpha will lead the Pack, good hunting and stay out of sight!

Everyone: Urah!

***** [Indeterminate Minutes]

Alpha: Pack report in!

Wolf 5: All clear!

Wolf 3: This is not what I signed up for, when I joined Spec Ops! If I wanted to walk around seemingly endless forests, than I would have applied to become a boy scout or pioneer or what not!

Wolf 2: Do you have to say this every damn time! I'm starting to think you went crazy during the last *** years!

Wolf 3: Might have to do something with the trees!

Wolf 5: I don't think so, I think you were always this crazy to begin with!

Wolf 3: And fuck you too!

Alpha: Stop the barking jackasses!

Wolf 3: Sorry Sir!

***** [Approx 70 Minutes]

Epsilon: All teams report!

Alpha: Wolf team here, all clear!

Tiger 5: No contact yet, just dense forest!

Dragon Leader: Dragon Leader here Epsilon, the sky is as clear as ever, Dragon team signing out, we return to base and refuel, then make another fly-by!

Epsilon: Roger that! Stay safe, Epsilon out!

***** [Approx 25 Minutes]

Wolf 2: Hey Wolf 4 come in!

Wolf 4: I hear you loud and clear Wolf 2!

Wolf 2: You know that you still own me a drink for that last time, you know, the time when you crashed into that sorry freak-panther thing!

Wolf 4: That was a clouded leopard you asshole! And yes I do remember!

Wolf 2: Sorry for not being a biologist!

Wolf 1: Oh I remember its face! Oh bloody hell, what on earth is this demonic creature!
It was jolly hilarious!

Wolf 4: I nearly gave that sorry thing a heart attack!

Wolf 5: It wouldn't have happened if you haven't been so focused on that com-pad!

Wolf 4: Sorry for being the nerdy tech guy!

***** [Indeterminate Minutes]

Wolf 4: Wolf 4 to Alpha, come in sir!

Alpha: Alpha here!

Wolf 4: Dragonfly 10-71 spotted two heat sings, it proceeds to investigate!

Alpha: Keep an eye out soldiers, we are going to that Dragonfly's location!

Wolf 3: I hate this fucking rain…

Wolf 4: Fuc* ******* ** ******, the Dra****ly was hit ** *ightning!

Alpha: Fuck my **fe! Why **** ev****ing ***** down on ** **** now!

*****: ******* * ********

Wolf 5: I see two con*****, *** ** * red fo*, the o**er is some ***** **** ** fox!

Wolf 4: **** is a ***nec fox…

Wolf 2: ****ission to en**ge targets?

Alpha: No, let **** go!

Wolf 1: R*ge* *****

Alpha: *psi*on **me in! We *** * sit****on!

Epsilon: Eps**************** (static)

[End Transcript]

After reading the transcript twice, Drew thought well this is certainly disturbing. He remembered the missing member of Ground2, Carlos, was a clouded leopard. Probably one of the best climbing cats ever. He was not sure what Nick and his fellow agents would make of that. There was no mention of killing the leopard, but there was also no mention of what happened to him. It sounded like typical humans having no compassion for harming animals with their actions. The callous nature of the conversation with respect to their agent reminded him why he had hated the idea of humans in Zootopia. And now they most likely had them tromping around the wilderness terrorizing the population doing God knows what to them. If they were eating them or turning them into hunting trophies, he would wish them absolutely no mercy and offer them no quarter. He had worked so hard to build a positive image of humanity since the moment he arrived here, and these… whoever they were… were destroying all that work showing humanity to be what Judy had said they were… monsters.

The final part of the transcript seemed to refer to Nick and Finnick and the human UAV code-named Dragonfly. The two foxes had no idea how lucky they had been escaping unharmed. Nick had said they had sensed they were being followed. He supposed the humans had been hoping they would lead them back to their base camp. It was fortunate that the foxes had just hightailed it out of woods instead. He briefly grinned at his pun. Most likely the humans had been waiting on orders, and by the time they got word back the foxes had escaped.

This was going to make his report to the Security Council that much harder. It was hard enough convincing them that the humans had their best interests at heart. But this new information would seem to contradict all that. He would now have to make them believe that these humans were not associated with the humans from his world and the human command on the other side of the portal. He knew that if he attempted to hide any of this from them, it would appear that they were in league with them. But this brought up the question that if they were not associated with his humans, they who the hell were they? Well he had no good answer for that as every scrap of information they had received seemed to contradict each other. The question appeared to be not only where they came from, but when they came from. He couldn't exactly wrap his head around this concept. The concept of being involved with a sentient humanoid-like rabbit seemed quite pedestrian and simplistic compared to this concept. He had to agree with Nick at this point, things were a lot better when they were simple.

Instead of dwelling on all this he focused his efforts on completing his briefing for The Security Council adding this additional information into the report. He knew he would have no answers for all the questions he would get, but this new information was critical for making the decisions that would impact the safety of Zootopia and the potential outcome of the election. Usually he had a staff to help with these kinds of presentations, but because of the highly classified nature of the materials no one was cleared to help, not even his assistant Marvin. This would have to be a one man job. Another joke, but he supposed he couldn't use those anymore if it was confirmed other humans were tromping around. At least he was the only human in Zootopia proper as far as he knew unless they already had agents infiltrating the city. He hoped this was not the case, and it most likely was as humans tended to stand out quite a lot as he had discovered on fairly frequent occasions being the object many strange stares, photographs and videos recorded from the citizens mobile phones. He had gotten quite used to this and just pretended he was an A-list celebrity and acted like he supposed those same celebrities did being an object of constant attention.

He finished adding the new recommended options based on their experts and sent the information to Marvin via a secure encrypted link so the raccoon could start preparing the paperwork for immediate action as soon as a decision was reached at the meeting. It seemed that part of his office would not be getting the day off either. A note to those seeking employment, if you wanted a consistent work schedule with normal hours, the Office for Human Affairs was not for you.

The final step was adding the multimedia links to the video and integrating specification sheets for several of the options such as the Harrier Jump Jets and new recommended defensive options. Drew was unsure what the council members were going to make of those videos, but the words shock and awe came to mind. If they imagined this other force had something similar flying over their skies they were going to be a lot of mammals with sleepless nights in the coming days. He thought join the club. His was not a job for those that enjoyed their sleep. He then went through the presentation testing that everything was working properly. He wished he had Judy to look over everything and give him the impression it would have on the council. From his experience, he had a difficult time anticipating how a Zootopian would react to many of the things he just accepted as normal when it came to the capabilities of humanity especially with respect to making war. That was where it was handy having Judy to let him know, but he would have to wing it this time. Another joke. He figured he was going to need quite a few of those lately to keep his sanity.

Speaking of Judy, he called his bunny love from a secure outgoing phone and made sure she was okay and gave her a brief unclassified update on his progress. She informed him that the packets from their mysterious fox friend had arrived via secure courier with only him and her as valid signatories. He let her know that she should go ahead and look over everything for their business venture. Sometimes it was quite useful having a farmer's daughter as a companion. She would be quite familiar with all the supplies and equipment needed for growing the produce as well as the scheduled growing seasons, harvesting and shipping to market. He would have to depend on her knowledge and her father's on what would be required for this whole venture and what he would need to request from the human world.

It seemed she was going to be having a much more enjoyable day just relaxing in the apartment, not that this was surprising in any way. He was right about Nick appearing as if nothing had happened and not mentioned anything concerning the events that led to his abrupt tirade of the previous night. Drew chuckled at the thought of how predictable the fox was when it came to things like this and how upset he would be if he thought he was predictable about anything. But it was good to hear the fox was okay and seemed to be in good spirits eating well and enjoying the hot tub wearing swimming trunks Judy made sure to happily add. He let her know he had no idea how long this meeting was going to take and not to expect him home anytime soon. Once the meeting was underway he would be incommunicado until it was finished and a decision reached. With this particular meeting, that could take all night knowing the weight of the decisions they would have make. Because of this, he decided to take a nap for a few hours before leaving for the meeting and had one of the people from his office stationed at the transfer point make sure to wake him in case his alarm failed to do so.

---

SCM (Security Councilmammal) Cocho: greatly upset "You propose to bring these giant metal birds to our skies! Of all the fur-brained irresponsible things I have ever heard, this has to be at the top. And you also have to bring dozens of humans, volatile fuel, and equipment to feed these birds?"

The warthog was quite perturbed as he waved his tusks and spittle flew as if to emphasize each point.

The meeting had not gone exactly to plan. Drew now knew what it felt like being the object of hatred faced by a lynch mob with pitchforks and torches. It was not a pleasant feeling. The negativity in the room was playing havoc with his empathic abilities, and was making it very difficult to concentrate on what was being said. How he so wished he had Judy by his side at the moment to help calm him and maintain his confidence and self-assurance. He didn't realize until that moment how much he depended on her. It had made their Covenant presentation to the entire council and media seemed like child's play in comparison with Judy in charge with her determination and control.

The presentation had gone fine until the new evidence regarding the human UAV he had just received was revealed. When the radio communication transcription had been displayed and handed out to each member that was when shit really hit the fan. At that point, Drew was reconsidering his decision to release this information to them. He thought it would help drive home the point that the options he was presenting were necessary, but instead it seemed to undermine both his and the entire human command's legitimacy and competence.

The problem was that it just opened him up to a storm of dozens and dozens of questions he didn't have any answers to. This just served to make him and their human allies look foolish and incompetent. If it had not been for Mayor Le Pew calling for order and explaining how much trust and faith in the council that the humans had in presenting this to them knowing how it would be received, the entire meeting might have broken up right then and there. The skunk was the single voice of reason in a sea of madness. She pointed out that the humans could have easily kept this information buried. She made sure they understood that their human allies were just as upset and determined to find the answers to the situation. That they went out of their way to find every possible option to counter this threat. Drew marveled at this skunk's ability to command a room. Her poise and control were awe inspiring. He was sorely tempted to prostrate himself before her and pledge his undying loyalty to her. If his home country of United States had her as president, he felt the country would not be in the absolute shit it found itself in currently. Unfortunately it had been in that state for quite a long time now and could desperately use a leader like the divine Sharon Le Pew. He would be the first to have the law changed removing term limits specifically for skunks and be the first to scream "8 More Years" at the top of his lungs after her first two terms. Imagining anyone else as mayor of this great city was unthinkable. This whole thing had to work, and this meeting was critical to turning the tide of the public opinion back into her favor.

After she had calmed everyone down, he was allowed to finish presenting all the information found about the human UAV, and then begin presenting the options offered and recommended by their human allies. Realize he had sent some of these options over to them earlier in a report, but reading them in a report and actually seeing the video of things like Special Forces and jet fighter planes in actual combat was quite another. Drew had thought to offer the extreme options first in order to make the more realistic options he would present later seem much more palatable. The problem was that these extreme options caused such an uproar that it was nearly impossible to get through them. The videos and detailed reports on special forces armed with state of the art military equipment was met with such backlash it had taken thirty minutes just to get the meeting back under control. He couldn't fault the councilmammals for being upset by the idea of humans armed with weapons of extreme destruction rampaging around their world. He wasn't very thrilled by that thought either, but with these new revelations, this option was a very real possibility necessary to counter this other human force. The safety and protection of Zootopia and all its citizens was foremost in his mind just as it was for everyone in this room. Anyone who had known him before he ever happened upon a certain caged bunny with huge purple eyes would have never believed in a million billion zillion years he would ever be proposing extreme offensive military options to anybody for any circumstance. But he was not that same person. It is easy being an anti-war hippy type spouting love and peace when you don't have the responsibility of millions of lives and the future of a whole world in your hands or paws. It was quite easy being against everything the "man" stood for when that same man was protecting your freedom to so protest and express your displeasure freely without fear of being grabbed off the street and dumped into a dark hole or executed.

Well once things got under control and he presented the Harrier Jump Jet option… well we can see how that one was received.

SCM Opard: extremely upset "I concur with my colleague. Flying metal birds capable of shooting fire from its mouth destroying everything in the ground and air! This is some vision of a madmammal. Birds without flapping wings driven by furless creatures. The same creatures that seem to have no regard for who they kill or what damage and destruction they do."

It would appear the giraffe council member was not a big fan of humans when it came down to it. Drew would have to remember that. He and humans didn't really have a lot of allies in the room at the moment.

SCM Popo: furious "These missiles this metal beast carries. Whats to prevent them from hitting a tower in the city? Do you have any CONCEIVABLE idea what kind of damage something like that could do?"

Drew still had the image of the Twin Towers in New York City falling in his head. He certainly had quite a good idea how much damage something like that could do. But he also had quite a good idea what kind of damage the opponent they faced could potentially do. However the hippopotamus council member did have a point with regards to the kind of potential collateral damage that could be caused by a dogfight over the city.

This had been going on for quite awhile now and Drew was sweating and shaking. This was one of many downsides of his empathic ability as this much negative energy could cripple him or it would cause him to completely lose all restraint and lash out without thought of the consequences. It was not all kittens and rainbows as Reynard said when being inundated in an enclosed space with constant emotions of anger, frustration, hatred and abject loathing all around the room especially when most of it was directly specifically at the lone human. Drew knew that he was reaching his breaking point fast and the results would not be pretty. It was too important that they continue and get through this meeting for him to have a breakdown. He had vowed to never use a projection in such a situation, but he was desperate and for the good of Zootopia he blasted the entire room with calm, tolerance and serenity. He closed his eyes and directly all the negative energy into a projection, but a projection of this positivity. Something he had never attempted to do before. Normally he would use something like Judy to help him gather positive thoughts. The results of something like this would be completely unpredictable, but he had no choice. He heard the room get very quiet. As he opened his eyes he saw the room was full of confused bewildered mammals. He was unsure what had happened, but at least they weren't arguing and projecting such venom and bile his way.

He decided to use this moment of confusion to address the group.

Drew: calmly "My dear assembled councilmammals. Please let me assure you this was presented to you as an option that we can have available in approximately twelve hours time in the event of an invasion or evidence of hostile aircraft, ships, armored vehicles or large forces grouping. These flying metal beasts as you call them may be the only thing that could possibly repel such an attack. Zootopia is simply not equipped to counter any kind of force like this with its current defenses. This option is not to be undertaken lightly, but is presented as a counter measure to possible hostile aggression by this unknown force with unknown intentions. If these indeed are humans, no one knows more the potential danger they present than myself and the humans at portal command. Please understand this option and as well as military special forces, offensive weapons, armored vehicles or similar responses need to be evaluated and readied for fast turn around in the event they are needed. If we were not prepared with these options, there may not be time to counter any such hostile actions. You need to setup agreements in advance for scenarios that would trigger such approvals or you risk delaying your only salvation."

Mayor Le Pew: confidently "Our Human Ambassador has spoken quite eloquently and thoughtfully. We do not need to make a decision on options such as this today, but we need to address all possible scenarios where such a need would arise. The humans have not presented us with numerous videos showing the devastating capabilities of these tanks, battleships, bombers, jet fighters, rocket launchers, guided cruise missiles and numerous other potential offensive weapons of war these unknown invaders might possess merely to terrify us. They only wish to allow us to prepare for such events if they should come to pass. If these are indeed humans, our human allies would indeed be the only ones to know how to counter such a threat. A flying beast capable of shooting fire from its wings may be the only thing standing between us and the destruction of our way of life and the freedoms that we currently enjoy."

Drew could listen to this lovely skunk speak all day. Zootopia was fortunate to have such a voice of reason and foresight at its head at the moment. Instead of worrying about her campaign and upcoming election in a few days, she was here looking out for the future of Zootopia and protecting the mammals she loved. He wished he could show this image to the citizens of Zootopia and say "This is what a leader should be. Thinking of her constituents first rather than herself."

Apparently the words of the Mayor seemed to resonate with the councilmammals who seemed to recover from their collective confusion and appeared much more agreeable.

The Mayor then directed Drew to continue his presentation. He quickly decided it was best to switch to his palatable options that were just added and updated based on the experts on this human UAV technology. Based on the intelligence by their Russian experts and ex-KGB officers, he presented two CUAV (Counter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) options. These consisted of a special radar system called KRV which was a Russian variant of the CUAV specifically designed to track the type of UAVs this unknown force was using. These consisted of very large radar systems that could be mounted to large vehicles with a large power source and software on a laptop.

There was the smaller version of the KRV which had a range of approximately 92 kms. The advantage of the smaller version was that it could mounted to a smaller faster vehicle and stationed near the outskirts of the city as an early warning system of any activity of these human UAVs within the city limits or suburbs. The other use of these smaller units was the second variant which was designed to reverse the radio frequency detection allowing tracking of the unit back to their source of origination. Essentially the radar could following the controlling signals and estimate the exact location of the source based on the distance and strength of signal. The Ex-KBG Research Inside Officer was very helpful in demonstrating how this could be accomplished on half of the units.

The larger version of the KRV was enormous but fortunately the dish folded and could be fit through the portal without disassembly and then unfolded and mounted to a huge vehicle such as a truck designed for elephants. The radar dish was enormous but the effective range of the radar was over 500 kms allowing it to track nearly all movement of these human UAVs and other aerial targets currently operating to the south of Zootopia. If this unit was situated south of the city it could monitor all movement in the south region as well as Zootopia itself and the surrounding boroughs and suburbs. This unit would have to be powered by one of the new small portable Power-8 generators and require a staff of eight mammals to operate including at least one large elephant sized mammal to operate the vehicle.

The next proposed solution was a brand new mounted laser guided anti-air system called the AWRE (Avenger Weapon Repellent Equipment) that was developed for the US DOD and saw production in late 2017 and early 2018 and were currently in use across several US military departments. A division consisting of fifteen of these units could be re-appropriated for immediately delivery. These units could be mounted to a vehicle similar or larger than a Humvee with a portable high energy source like the portable Power-8 units recently available in Zootopia. A whole network of these units could be setup around the city and linked together and connected into the large CUAV/KRV for a networking targeting system with nearly 100% accuracy. The units are automated so they required minimal training for operation and could be monitored by a central command. The units are relatively compact for easy transfer via dimensional portal and designed to be used with minimal training. Minimal educational is required for maintenance.

Specifications:

Est. Effect Range CBP (Conventional Battery Packs) - 515 km
Est. Effect Range SMR (Small Modular Reactor) - 966 km
Est. Effect Range CPR (Compact Power-8 Reactor) – 1287-1448 km
Estimated RTF: 120 shots/second (7200 RPM)
Shots – CBP – 600
Shots – SMR – 350K
Shots – CPR – 420K+ Est.
Lock on time – 0.012 Sec Est. (no more than 0.03)
Fire time (Time to Impact) – 0.0 seconds

Shot Effect:
Small Missiles – 1 shot
Tank Shells (AP, HE and HEAT) – 1 shot
Ballistic Missiles – 1-3 shot
1st Gen Aircraft – 1-4 shot
2nd Gen Aircraft – 2-12 shot
3rd Gen Aircraft – 4-16 shot
4th Gen Aircraft – 12-36 shot (Harrier)
5th Gen Aircraft – 150-750 shot (SHu Jet/Lightning Fighter)
ICBM (Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles) - 40-100 shot (potential Debris/Fallout possible)

Est Cost: 340 Million US$ per division not including cost of Power Units, Vehicles and Shipping

Detection and Targeting Systems: via Ultra Sound System which identifies exact object form and speed and direction. On-board CPU will determine friend or foe using pattern matching and will ask permission if pattern is not found via computer connection. Because all targets are currently considered foe for Zootopia except the gondolas, it will be set to target and destroy any pattern detected automatically except the gondolas which will be programmed into the system. Automated targeting is 89.73% using only on-board systems. Linking to CUAV/KRV radar detection unit increases detection to 100% and shot accuracy to 99.9%.

With these units equipped around Zootopia it could engage numerous targets at once and because of the mobile nature of the units they could be moved very rapidly. Potential danger to Zootopia would be negligible as the system would only fire on incoming airborne projectiles, rockets or aircraft and would not target existing gondola hot air ships as they would recognized as friendly units. The unit would not fire on anything but aerial objects and posed minimal danger to citizens except from falling destroyed targets. The goal of the extreme long range of the detection, targeting and firing of the system is to target and destroy objects far before reaching the city minimizing possibility casualties on the ground. Major upside to Zootopia is that no rockets, bullets or projectiles of any kind would be required.

The second anti-air option presented was a FIM-92B Stinger which was a mammal portable air-defense system which operates as an infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM). This was considered as only an anti-air weapon and could not be used against any targets other than airborne targets as it required a lock to fire which would only be the heat signatures of airborne vehicles. Thus the missiles would not pose a threat to any Zootopia targets or citizens as the only airborne Zootopian vehicles were gondolas and their heat signature was too negligible to provide a lock. They could be adapted to be mounted on vehicle platforms using a Stinger rack. The effective range of these missiles was up to 4800 m and at altitudes between 180 m and 3800 m.

Drew: "It is the recommendation of portal command that you accept immediate delivery of multiple units of the two short range varieties of the KRV and a full sized KRV unit. The delivery of a division worth of fifteen AWRE Anti-Air Units for mounting on medium-large vehicles mounted with CPR (Compact Power-8 Reactor). This system is critical to defend against hunter killer UAV units and suspected air support. It also protects against a possible missiles attacks via ship, cruise missiles or ballistic missile carrying a possible nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warhead payload. The final recommendation is four to eight mounted and loaded FIM-92B Stinger Racks and sixty individual FIM-92B Stingers."

Whew! Drew thought. He couldn't believe he finally was able to get through the presentation. Well now he had to make it through the questions. He wasn't exactly an expert on the technology, but he had all the manuals and information to search through if necessary. He looked up ready for questions but only saw the stunned faces and muzzles of the Zootopia Security Council.

Drew: concerned "Um… are there any questions?"

Silence.

Well this didn't look good. Perhaps his previous projection had some unintended consequences. Finally he heard a tiny voice speaking into a microphone but he couldn't make out what was said. He heard the reverb of a microphone turned up and then heard from a male rat standing on a table speaking in a microphone the size of his head. He knew this rat. He was usually an ally named Remy, Remy Lingu.

SCM Remy Lingu: "Mr. Ambassador, I believe we are all thankful for your presentation of these defensive solutions. I believe the problem my colleagues and I are having is understanding most of the terms and items you specified."

He saw stunned confused nods from around the room and realized from the Zootopian standpoint nothing he outlined made sense. He was going to have to go through each item and explain each of them in the simplest terms possible.

SCM Remy Lingu: "Mr. Ambassador, could you start at that last one and work your way back."

Drew replayed the video showing the Stingers operating from a rack mount as well as from an individual stance. A female capybara named Charlotte Droch spoke up next.

SCM Droch: "How do we fire those stingers? We don't have those fingers the humans have."

Drew: "An excellent question councilmammal Droch. Obviously something like this could not be fired by a smaller mammal standing due to its size and weight. Most likely you would need a mammal somewhere between a large red fox up to say a large male tiger. While some of these mammals do have digits on their paws that may work in these I am sure we can have them modified for a wider ranger of use similar to how the ACR gun triggers were modified. However mammals too small or two large could still operate the rack mounted Stinger systems."

A brown bunny that looked to be around the same age as Judy's dad spoke up next. Drew remembered his name as Reginald Fuzzly. Unfortunately there was a bit of a feud between the Fuzzly and Hopps families over both a pie contest and some disputed farming land. He only hoped things had been patched up or that the councilmammal didn't extend grudges to very close friends of the family they were in conflict with. With families the size of both the Hopps and Fuzzlys that could involve a huge number of bunnies and mammals if that was the case. However he was a known close friend of one of the highest profile Hopps there was.

SCM Fuzzly: "How are these stingers propelled? And how do they know how to find the target they are aimed at and not hit some innocent barn or burrow on the ground?"

Hmmm Drew did sense some sour grapes there, but was not sure if they were directed at himself or in general. Time to kiss some cotton tail to hopefully gain an ally or at the very least a neutral party.

Drew: "Councilmammal Fuzzly, I am very glad you asked that as this type of energy technology has never been used here. The Stingers use a three stage system to propel the rocket. First the launcher will fire the missile forward using a small ejection motor which pushes it forward so as not to endanger the mammal firing the missile and then the first stage of a two stage solid-fuel engine will engage launching it forward accelerating it up to 2.54 times the speed of sound. The second stage of the solid-fuel will then engage allowing it to travel to its intended target once acceleration is reached. The rocket weighs just over 10 kg and the launcher over 15 kg so it is quite heavy and not recommended for anything but a stronger mammal to use like say a panther or a lioness."

Drew nodded in reverence to Councilmammal Nala Lionheart. She was the cousin of the former mayor and generally waited to weigh in on any decision, but it was always good to get any extra bonus points in he could.

Drew: "The solid fuel I believe is called Ballistite and is made of Nitroglycerine and Nitrocellulose. The rocket releases these two chemicals together to form a powerful directed reaction which in turn propels the rocket forward providing high levels of thrust. Think of these as if the two chemicals were baking soda and vinegar but a thousand times stronger and forced to release all that reaction through a narrow opening. As far as the targeting system, each targeted object has a unique heat signature which emanates from the engine. In the case of the UAV this would be from the Small Modular Reactor inside. The launcher is aimed at the UAV and it detects the unique heat signature and locks onto it. When it launches, it only heads toward that specific heat signature and explodes the warhead only when it comes in contact with that specific source of heat. Even other UAVs nearby would not be touched as it is locked onto only that one specific one. If it does not come in contact with anything and runs out of fuel, it will disarm itself and break apart in the sky. Does that answer the question?"

Councilmammal Fuzzly seemed to nod that he understood although if he actually did or not was still a mystery. Uh oh, his human hating Councilmammal Opard was going to ask a question.

SCM Opard: grumpily "Why would we need protection against this cruise missile or ballistic missile with this AWRE system?"

Drew: "A very valid question and I am afraid I did not explain what these weapons were because I did not want to alarm the council unnecessarily of dangers we were not sure existed. The AWRE was designed to defend the city against multiple types of attacks automatically. With multiple units setup surrounding the city multiple targets could be selected at the same time. If this unknown force was to use something like the Harrier Jump Jets you saw or another type of metal flying bird, as well as a UAV equipped with weapons know as a hunter killer, it could attack and stop many of these all at once. But there are many other types of dangerous weapons besides these two that could easily be used by this unknown force. I will now show a video demonstrating different types of these missiles and the different payloads they could carry."

Drew started the video and casually watched the faces of the council members as he saw the expressions of horror and disgust as the resulting devastation was shown. He was very afraid to show the last one as it was what triggered the attack of sick by himself and his friends the other night. But just as he decided not to hold back the truth from Judy once she had been feeling better on human Earth, he would not hold back now and the Security Council sat in dead silence after watching the devastation of a nuclear missile attack.

The first to respond was the lioness.

SCM Lionheart: shocked "How can this be? Humans are capable of a weapon that can incinerate an entire city instantly!"

There were angry shocked grumbles from around the room all glaring at the lone human.

Drew: "Again the reason I did not want to show you this was because I did not want to alarm you unnecessarily. But yes, these weapons do exist. Yes they are devastating and can destroy a city instantly. They have been used two times in the history of my world 73 years ago to destroy two different cities. But, and this is a big but, we have no idea if these unknown forces have such a weapon. And even if they did, I can see no possible advantage for them to use it. These weapons were only used to end a bloody war which had been raging for many years and costing millions of lives on both sides. The main reason each country has them in my home world was because the other country had them. It was essentially the threat that if one country used them to attack the other with such a bomb the other one would use theirs to attack the one sending the initial bomb. It was a policy called Mutually Assured Destruction which had kept the major super powers from going to war with each other since the bombs dropped 73 years ago. Nuclear war was not good for anyone and could lead to a nuclear winter destroying all life on the entire planet if enough of these weapons were used in a short amount of time. Regardless the use of a nuclear weapon would poison the surrounding area for many years making it useless to anyone."

Drew: "However I would like to say that I find it highly unlikely that this unknown entity would use any kind of nuclear attack on Zootopia. Why come all the way to your world just to destroy a city and public that poses no risk to them? It would be much more likely that they would use a chemical or biological attack than a nuclear one. Zootopia itself offers nothing to this entity if it is destroyed. That said it does not mean that this AWRE Anti-Aircraft System is unneeded. But the benefit is that the system offers protection against many offensive capabilities these humans may have including the ones we know or highly suspect they possess."

SCM Droch: "Then why are these humans here?"

Drew: "With the little information we have, anything I answer would be highly speculative and would not represent any responses from the human portal command, but merely be my own personal theories. That being said I do not feel comfortable presenting these as they would only alarm the members of the council unnecessarily."

SCM Droch: "I don't care. I would still like to hear your theories."

The remaining councilmammals all nodded their heads in agreement.

Drew: "Very well, but please keep in mind that all of this is mere speculation and is based on very little hard evidence. Many of the theories listed are highly improbable with current data, but are just some of the possibilities. The other problem is that much of the information we have is very inconsistent including why the dates on their equipment show a date 20 years in human Earths future and why the data shows that the human UAV we found was manufactured under conditions that seem impossible at least over twelve years in the future by a country that no longer exists consisting of a possible multi-national force. My theories can't explain all these inconsistencies. That being said, it appears their current mission is exploration and reconnaissance. All equipment appears to be setup for reconnaissance operations and no evidence of any kill orders or offensive weaponry is mentioned. They have been careful not to be seen by most mammals, and have retreated rather than interact with any Zootopian gondolas or vehicles. However their treatment of the Zootopian citizens is less than ideal as observed by the communications showing their suspected interaction with our missing agent. While we have found no evidence that our agent or any of the other mammals were harmed, it is obvious by the abduction of our citizens that their purposes are not purely friendly. This is borne out by the pursuit of our two agents from Ground3 by this Dragonfly 10-71 and their subsequent pursuit of them in the southern wilderness."

Drew: "My only theory that does account for most of the anomalous information is that possibly a shadow organization or government on human Earth which identifies strongly with the Soviet USSR discovered the existence of the portal to Zootopia and found a method of creating another portal twenty years in the future off the coast of Japan. Somehow the portal creation contacted your world but twenty years in their past relative to our portal. Again this possibility seems extremely improbable, but it is the theory that explains part of the inconsistent data we found. It is possible the parts were manufactured in secret across the globe the same way the portal would have been constructed. The other possibility is that the Soviet Union is reborn in the near future on our world and partnered with other countries to access Zootopia through this same portal with the same time event occurring."

Drew: "Regardless if all that data is valid or not. Assuming that humans and human technology somehow got to Zootopia in some method unknown to your human allies. The list of possible reasons they are here is very long. The could be here looking for resources in order to send them back. They could be explorers capturing mammals as specimens for their research, and examining and exploring all aspects of the world. They could be looking to colonize the world. They could be using the world for food production. Some of the darker possible purposes could be that they are using the missing mammals for experimentation, food or even trophies."

SCM Opard: apoplectic "FOOD! These humans would see us as something to chop up and stuff in their bellies like… like… monsters!"

Drew: "Again please understand this is very unlikely for several reasons. First there is no evidence of blood or a struggle at any of the locations of abductions. The other thing that makes this unlikely is why go through the incredibly massive expense, energy and cost of building a portal to another world only to eat the inhabitants. It would be far more economical to do this on human Earth."

SCM Opard: angry "So these humans can simply eat fellow mammals on your home world."

Drew: "Yes, humans do eat many species of mammals. However humans do not tend to eat mammals they see as intelligent such as dolphins, monkeys, apes, parrots nor any companion animals. All these animals are primitives and have intelligence a fraction of native Zootopians. It would be extremely unlikely humans would wish to eat any creature with similar intelligence to humans. More likely they would be curious about these mammals, and would want to meet and interact with them. This is what I hope is happening to the missing mammals. There is another possibly. That these mammals are used for some kind of hunting. For a hunter, they would find a highly intelligent creature the ultimate prize to hunt for sport. This brings another possibility regarding the use of mammals as trophies for display. Yet another possibility is that the missing mammals are captured to be slaves for some kind of forced labor. They could also be used for entertainment and brought back to our home world as oddities or special zoo subjects. Again these mammals could be taken as some kind of breeding program. They could use some kind of biological attack to wipe out the population of the planet and take it over. They could be experimenting on the abducted mammals and developing a serum similar to what was developed by the Covenant to disable the existing population."

Thankfully at this point Mayor Le Pew stepped in and bailed Drew out as he might have been there all night coming up with possible theories.

Mayor Le Pew: "I apologize for interrupting you Mr. Ambassador, but I believe that this speculation is pointless without more concrete evidence. I know your have quite the imagination and could go on for some time. I am very sure that the assembled body understands now that the truth could be nearly anything at this point. Because of this, I believe it is wise to give these recommendations our complete attention to prepare us for any possibility. Erring on the side of caution would seem the prudent action in a case like this. It appears your human command believes this to be the case as well. I am sure all these options are all provided at an extremely high costs to the humans. This demonstrates to me and I hope the rest of the council how much the humans value us as partners if they are willing to spend this much and go to such incredible extremes to protect us."

Drew could have kissed the skunk then and there and Judy be damned. He was sure the bunny would have understood. He could have never said it better. If he had said the words, it would have come off sounding hollow and empty. Coming from the skunk it sounded like honey.

There were a lot of nods from the assembled council members and a couple grumbles from the warthog and giraffe, but reading the emotions in the room her words seemed to ring true with everyone. He supposed his endless list of possible theories did show them that at this point that nearly any possibility could be the truth. But this was even more reason that ever that they needed to prepare for anything.

What followed next was a diplomatic negotiation about the pros and cons of accepting the aide from the humans. Fortunately Drew had already prepared a list of pros and cons for each and displayed them on presentation screen as the assembled body went over each item. He had to step in and confirm many of the points and data. He even had to show many of the videos several times. But what was important was that every council member was comfortable with the recommendations and understood any dangers and downsides and compared those to the dangers of not having this technology available for defense.

The discussion, negotiation and frequent shouting match continued for several hours. The warthog and giraffe were frequent dissenters, but Drew was very patient and cordial to each of these councilmammals as he knew they were only so passionate about each of their opinions because they loved their city and its citizens the same as everyone else gathered there, and merely wanted to protect them from any harm. Drew was exhausted mentally and emotionally, but a combination of energy drinks and drawing of positive energy from the Mayor, Remy Lingu and a surprising new ally Nala Lionheart helped him push through. So maybe his pandering from earlier had paid off, or more likely he just got lucky and the lioness liked the idea of defending her den from those that sought to harm her cubs. Drew now realized he had watched too many animal shows about the Saharan.

Finally after assuring the holdouts of the safety of the Stinger missiles to prevent any misuse and several repeat videos featuring those same safety features as well as documentation, all parties agreed to accept the defense measures recommended but with the condition that a proper plan was put in place to make sure none of these devices would fall into the wrong paws and would all be accounted for at all times. The arguing over this went on for nearly an hour. Drew agreed to have tracking units secretly embedded in any items that did not already have built in tracking and a fight over which department would be in charge of each of the devices then took place. It was determined after half an hour that a new department would be created specifically for defense of the city and entire region from outside threats which reported to the Mayor and Security Council. The details of budgeting, personnel, training, deployment, maintenance and execution of directives in case of an incursion or invasion were outlined.

Once they were past the acceptance phase Drew sort of zoned out to all the other except to assure the council that every piece of equipment had numerous manuals and training videos provided for each. The one good thing of bureaucracies such as the Russian and US Military was they never developed any equipment without massive piles of accompanying documentation made so the simplest grunt couple operate them. With signatures of the approvals in hand, and a long list of requests he called Marvin and gave him the details on which paperwork to start pushing through so that the equipment could be transferred immediately. He informed his assistant a courier would be over with the signed paper within the hour. All the recommendations were accepted with the exception that the number of Stingers were cut in half. Apparently worries about exploding barns and burrows were still in the minds of some of the councilmammals, but if that got them to agree to the defensive measures, Drew was quite happy to accept a nearly complete success.

While the rest of the council enjoyed a toast of several bottles of the Salon 2002 Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne Drew had brought over through the portal and had chilling on ice in hopes an agreement could be met, the human worked furiously writing instructions to the human command outlining all the conditions and requests of the council which were to be sent over in an emergency packet to the West Plant for communication transfer in under an hour. The Mayor came over and gently patted the distracted human on the back and offered him a glass of the bubbly. He paused for a moment and greatly accepted the offering sipping the best champagne he had ever tried by far. It had reached its perfect age in 2018 and deserved its flawless rating and outrageous price.

Mayor Le Pew: congratulatory "You held up quite well in there. I daresay not many in the history of Zootopia have ever withstood such a contentious grilling. Lovely stuff this champagne."

Drew: humbly "I really couldn't have done it without your help and support. You saved me so many times out there and were absolutely brilliant. Don't get too attached to that particular vintage or your yearly party budget will be in trouble quite quickly."

Mayor Le Pew: laughing "If there is a party budget to worry about, I will be quite happy to splurge for the good stuff every once in awhile."

Drew: amused "Only you could joke about something so serious and make it sound so casual."

Mayor Le Pew: casually "It's just politics. It comes with the territory. You can't go into politics and let these kinds of things get to you or the stress would destroy you. It is the same way with all the decisions you make while in office."

Drew: "I am new to all this so it is impossible for me not to feel all the tension. I am hoping these defensive steps can be used to give the public confidence. Do you have a media package prepared?"

Mayor Le Pew: "You would have to ask my campaign manager. I don't know all the details, but I am sure they are prepared for a statement to the media."

Drew: "I was going to request all video of the equipment in operation here with Zootopians using it as well as footage of the test firing with the city backdrop in order to splice it with the footage from human Earth to present to the media."

Mayor Le Pew: "I will let my campaign manager know you will be preparing the video. I will be sure to get every bit of video to you. I was hoping you could stay out of the politics and remain neutral."

Drew: "Well thanks to you, I can at least be sure I can't be removed immediately. But I see it as my duty to work toward the defense of Zootopia and provide information to the public to calm their fears no matter who is charge of the current administration."

Mayor Le Pew: "A very politic position. You might just be able to survive with that kind of thinking. Regardless of your statement, I want to personally thank you for all your efforts to help my office and help put this defense in place."

Drew: "Well towards that. Unofficially I have taken steps to recruit extremely strong large scale assistance to counter the spin campaign of your opponent. You should be seeing signs of this effort in the next few days. You might want to let your campaign manager know to expect this and stay out of their way. I just wanted them to know it was a friendly force with your best interests at heart."

Mayor Le Pew: concerned "You should not have interfered in this way."

Drew: "There will be no way of tracking it back to me. You are the only one I am informing so what you do with that information is up to you. The help will only consist of legal political maneuvering to counter the same actions of your opponent. I am sure you would not stoop to such tactics as they have. But this will be in the form of an independent third party which will act on your behalf, but will leave you completely clean as they will not coordinate or be associated with your campaign in any way. We have these where I am from called a Super PAC or political action committee. I figured if The Protectors are using the dirty political methods of my world, that you needed someone who will do the same on your behalf except that you can continue acting as honorably as you always have while they dirty themselves with their despicable tactics."

Mayor Le Pew: "I had no idea you were so invested in this."

Drew: "The future of Zootopia is at stake."

Mayor Le Pew: "Isn't that a bit melodramatic?"

Drew: "No Sharon it is not. I have seen groups like this do horrible things on the human world. I also have worries they may be in league with this unknown force based on information I have received."

Mayor Le Pew: disbelieving "Surely you can't be serious."

Drew: "Their emergence coinciding directly with this current crisis and their usage of the crisis and tactics only seen on the human world smack of collusion. We have seen very similar scenarios from my home world where a group like this will just be a prelude to a much more insidious power who seeks a permanent overthrow of democracy and freedom."

Mayor Le Pew: "This must be one of your wild theories."

Drew: "Everything lines up and looks very likely. The danger is far too great for me to ignore such a threat."

Mayor Le Pew: "Hmm... and here I was thinking you were acting in your own self interests when you came to me a week ago requesting an extended protected appointment."

Drew: "Everything I have done is only toward the betterment of Zootopia and never myself. That is the entire reason for trusting you above any other politician as I see a similar spirit."

Mayor Le Pew: "You have given me a great deal to think about. I do seem to understand your actions a lot more than I did before. It is just so extremely rare that I really don't even consider that as motivation. Did you ever consider office?"

Drew: "No. For one thing I could never hope to have even a tiny fraction of your talent for politics. I am far too obsessed with pleasing everyone. I feel very confident I am in the best place possible to help Zootopia at this time."

Mayor Le Pew: "I agree completely. Well I will let you get back to your work. I suspect very few will ever actually know how much you have really done for Zootopia."

Drew: candidly with a grin "That is the way I prefer it."

Mayor Le Pew: softly "Well just know a few of us do."

The elegant skunk gave him a gentle smile and rubbed the human's back going back to doing the job she did better than any mammal in two worlds heading over to personally thank each councilmammal for all their hard work and spirited debate.

---

It was after midnight before the exhausted human made it home. It would be a long night for his assistant and office as well the human side of the portal, but his job was complete for now and handed off. And yes he could use that phrase accurately. He was human after all. But he didn't feel very human at the moment. He felt like something undead. His mind was completely mush from all the stress and overloaded work of the past day. The three glasses of champagne after he finished handing the reports off for delivery to his office and the portal probably helped to add to that muddled haziness. Fortunately he had the government motor pool drop him off directly at the door to the apartment complex both for his safety and the safety of the citizens he had been working all day to protect.

He quietly opened the door and entered the apartment and found his two friends passed out in their usual conversation area. He quietly dropped off his equipment in the bedroom and took a shower and changed into some sleepwear and got a large glass of ice water from the kitchen. He drank the entire glass greedily and refilled the glass and took it over to inspect his sleeping furry friends. The fox was in the recliner with his feet up wearing his reflective shades. It always amazed the human how relaxed he could look.

He could just make out the ends of two large gray ears sticking out from under a blanket on the sofa across from the fox. He put his glass down on a table in front of the sofa and lifted the blanket and slid in behind the little gray ball gathering it in his arms and covering them both. He vaguely remembered closing his eyes.

An unknown time later he felt something soft brushing his face. He got an unconscious smile on his face. He then felt two paws on his face and something soft kissing him. This was a really good dream he thought and amazingly realistic. He began kissing this dream form back quite insistently rubbing its front fur under some soft clothing. He then heard a good deal of giggling and realized it wasn't a dream. The dream form never giggled in his dreams but instead made sounds more like "ooooh" or "ahhhh".

He opened his eyes and stared at two enormous purple eyes barely visible under the blanket illuminated by the light seeking to force its way through protective thick cloth surface.

Judy: "Why didn't you wake me when you got home?"

Drew: "You two looked so peaceful and I was so exhausted and still a bit tipsy from the champagne."

Judy: hopeful "So you had something to celebrate?"

Drew: "Yes, we got them to accept and approve almost everything we asked for. It took almost nine hours of hell but steps are in action to safeguard Zootopia."

Judy: excited "That is amazing! So the Mayor can be saved?"

Drew: whispering barely audibly "I discussed that with her as well as what we had planned with our mysterious fox. We have quite a lot more work to do, but at least we have a real chance now. But it was more important we get the defense in place more than anything. Much more than just helping the Mayor's campaign."

Judy: concerned "I can tell you are quite upset by something. Since things worked out at the council meeting, I can only assume this has to do with something you found out this morning."

Drew: "Yes, I was going to wait and update both you and Nick together."

They heard a voice a short distance in front them say, "Well you might as well tell us. I can't sleep with your yapping anyway."

The buried couple popped their heads out from under the blanket and the human grabbed for the remote and hit the dimmer blindly lowering the lights to an acceptable low level and told his bunny companion it was okay to open her eyes.

They both opened their eyes and saw the grinning fox across from them with his reflective glasses folded and placed in his front pocket.

Nick: "About time you showed up."

Drew glanced at his phone and saw it was after three in the morning.

Drew: "Got home a few hours ago. Guess I fell asleep."

Nick: "How you slept through Carrots snoring is beyond me."

Judy: insulted "Hey! I don't snore!"

Nick: grinning "I'll be sure to tell that to the neighbors that came by to complain."

Judy: looking at Drew with concern "I don't snore do I?"

Drew: giving her a gentle smile "Snore no. Occasionally you make a little faint whistling noise from your noise or between your teeth if your mouth is open."

Judy: concerned "You never told me that before."

Drew: reassuring "It is very cute." He held up his pretend Honorary Bunny Badge and continued, "It never bothered me in the least. I think it helped me sleep actually."

Nick: miffed "Way too ruin my fun Furless."

Drew: "I don't want you giving her a complex."

Judy: concerned to Drew "Are you sure it doesn't bother you?"

The human gave her a gentle kiss.

Drew: with conviction "Absolutely. Don't listen to your annoying partner."

Nick: "Well spill the beans. I didn't disrupt my sleep schedule to spend my time listening to you two make lovey dovey talk."

Judy: "Hey! We were not doing any of that."

Drew: "He's just trying to perturb you."

Nick: "She's easy pickins when she's half asleep."

Judy: "Annoying fox."

Nick: "Sleepy bunny."

Drew: "Do you want to hear the news or should I just enjoy your banter until the sun comes up?"

Nick: "No please go on, we're all ears right Carrots?"

As if automated Judy's large gray ears rose up like a gossip straining to hear a new morsel to spread to all her friends.
Drew then read them in on every bit of new information received on GLOWWORM.

Judy: concerned "So there are unknown humans running around outside the city?"

Drew: "We don't have visual confirmation, but it is the only explanation that makes sense."

Judy: "And you don't know what they are doing there?"

Judy knew more than anybody what humans could do to innocent Zootopians. And hearing about them taking Carlos and most likely all the other missing mammals did not sit well with her at all. She could imagine them caged and tortured just as she had been only a few months ago.

Drew: "I really don't. They seem to be just collecting information at this point and trying to stay inconspicuous. But abducting innocent mammals and pursuing others like Nick and Finnick do not fill me with confidence that their intentions are friendly."

Nick: "Well at least we know what happened to Carlos and who has him. I only hope the clouded leopard is still alive and okay. His wife is extremely distraught."

Drew: "Well it didn't sound like they intended to kill him, but they were quite callous."

Judy: upset "There are some things worse than death."

Drew held the bunny close trying to reassure her, "We don't know for sure they have done anything like that to him."

Nick: "Sound like Finnick and I got out just in time."

Drew: "Yes, most likely they were trying to follow you back to your base camp to take out or capture any of your companions. If you hadn't fled directly and they hadn't most likely had to call for orders, you might have easily been captured."

Judy: in wonder "Could they really be from twenty years in the future?"

Drew: "That does seem ludicrous. But this is Zootopia where weird is the normal. So much here seems impossible."

Nick: "Do you have any problem with doing anything to these humans?"

Drew: firmly with conviction "No, not if they are a threat to the citizens of this world. They are not my humans. Just like those foxes of the Covenant were not yours. They are not humans associated with those of the human portal command or any government officials we are in contact with as far as I know. If they are harming mammals or wish any harm to this world their lives are forfeit as a friend of mine has said."

Judy: surprised "I have never heard you talk like that about anyone."

Drew: upset "I am sorry Judy, but the thought of humans harming Zootopia in any way makes me so angry it is difficult to think properly. I have spent so much time trying to repair all the damage humans did to both you and this world, and to have something like this happen out of my control is beyond frustrating."

Judy: "Well at least our human allies have gone far out of their way to provide a defense against these unknown ones."

Drew: "I just hope that is enough to protect us, and to demonstrate how much the Zootopia alliance means to the human world."

Nick: "You mentioned something about a nuclear reactor in this device?

Drew: "Yes this is what powered the device."

Nick: "I thought you said this could destroy entire cities."

Drew: "It is a powerful material like Power-8 which can be used to provide incredibly powerful engines for devices. However unlike Power-8 it is very dangerous. If the seal was broken, all of us near the device would have been exposed to extremely dangerous radiation."

Nick: "You mentioned we need to be tested just to make sure we are okay."

Drew: "Yes, depending on our level of exposure, counter measures could be taken to stop the effects of the radiation poisoning."

Nick: "Ummm and what if you are exposed to this radiation. What would happen?"

Drew: "Well your hair and fur would all fall out."

Nick: shocked "WHAT! You mean I would be FURLESS!"

Nick began to unconsciously pet his big soft fluffy red tail in desperation to comfort himself that it was still there and beautiful and bushy as ever.

Drew: "Yes. I suppose so. I hadn't thought about it with respect to you guys. But that is minor compared to the other things."

Nick: frightened "There are worst things than losing all your beautiful fur?"

Drew: "Yes. It causes nausea and vomiting, severe headaches, diarrhea, fever, your internal organs degrade and your immune system can be damaged or destroyed, and depending on exposure levels you can die in just twenty-four hours."

Nick: sickened "I said WORSE than losing all your beautiful red fur."

Drew stared at the fox thinking he was joking.

He was not.

---

Author Note: I want to thank Alkatraz for all his assistance with respect to the military hardware research as well as writing the entire Radio Communications transcript for military accuracy. He tirelessly accessed his contacts in the Russian and US military to get accurate specifications and details on all the weapon systems listed, and confirmed that all would be available for shipment to Zootopia during the timeline of this chapter. (Mid 2018) The accuracy of all military equipment, speed of deployment, size issues for dimensional transport, and difficulty of training, use and maintenance were all considered and fully taken into account.